March 2015 - the babies are starting to arrive as we waddle towards the finish line with maternity leave countdowns and TMI all around!

[Pisghetti]

New (and probably) final thread for those of us due in March (with a few lovely February ladies who didn't want to leave).

That would make me think I was going fish. If not tonight, in the next few days. Fingers crossed!!

Thanks m33r that's the positive attitude I need to hea! He's got a week untill section day so I'd love him to get a move on early.

Here he is His blood sugars stayed good so no more checking, not that he was bothered anyway! He never even flinched being checked!

I'm feeling good! Very impressed by the whole experience really.

Congratulations Coaster he's totally gorgeous
My baby girl had to have her blood sugars monitored too (bit scary having her in the neonatal unit so soon after birth due to blood sugar being 1.9) but she is all OK now and we are finally home from hospital. Both of us are having regular check ups - baby for growth/weight reasons - me for pre-eclamsia checks. All is OK so far...fingers crossed!!

Thank you Durham, congratulations to you too! Glad your girl is ok, the sugars thing is worrying isn't it? They seem to be strong though. I can't believe he's here and mine!

Glad you are home Durham must be such a relief after such a long miserable pregnancy.
When will you be sent home Coaster? Glad his sugars are fine, how are you feeling?

Well not so much as a twinge in the night infact I slept well for once, maybe sleeping well is a sign of things starting?? Ha no chance.
Hope everyone is feeling good today and these baby's get out soon.

coaster he is gorgeous!! Congrats! Glad all is well with sugars.

durham you must be ecstatic to be home!

Babies are a-coming. I hope the rest start to come thick and fast now!

He is gorgeous!

Im 40 weeks today! Do you think the baby knows? lol

Feeling very stressed at the moment. No decisions have been made regarding our Little One. Due to Psychiatric meds the paediatrician still wants an instant transfer to Neonatal Unit for observation, connected to monitors etc for 72 hours minimum if healthy. Having spoken to multiple specialists who feel this is completely un-necessary (and in fact have never heard of it happening before) from pre-conception planning all the way through to now in mothers and babies on psyc meds , my DH and I are currently refusing this. Have yet another meeting about it moved from yesterday to friday, this time finally meeting the paediatrician who we have constantly been told we would see multiple times but never have. Being made to feel like a crap mum despite having changed every single one of mine and my DH's wishes through pregnancy/labour/post-partum to suit them.

Want to clarify that if baby needed help we would of course give it to them, but this is concerning what happens if our Little One is born with no unwell symptoms at all. Our suspicion is that they would like baby in for research purposes and are not being straight with us.

My doctors have advised me to have a non-stressful end of pregnancy and keep the stress down as much as possible post-partum while getting as much sleep as possible - a total and utter contradiction to having to stay on a neonatal unit. I am 10 days away from my due date and have not even got a decision on where I am having the baby yet. Feel hugely threatened and vulnerable at the moment by the medics involved.

On a nicer note:

Durham – She’s gorgeous! Well done to you!
Masking – how beautiful! Hope you’re feeling ok

Rainbow – It’s the kind of method which you really need to have faith in it to work. Will DH be your only birthing partner? My mum is being my main partner/support though my DH will be present, he’s a very emotional guy so wanted him to have this new experience concentrating on keeping himself together iyswim. It’s the meditations which I’ve found most helpful, and mum and your DH could do those with you if they wanted. Have faith in yourself that if it is the right method for you then you will be able to do it in labour, but don’t worry if it isn’t or you don’t feel comfortable with it yet. I’m using oils to help me get in the zone, perhaps something like that could help?

Gudgy – Definitely prioritise just relaxing and being with your little one. So glad your DH is being so fab.

Coastergirl- Squee! How exciting! Hello Callum and huge congrats to mum! What a lovely little face.

Fishfinger – Fingers crossed for you!

Thanks everyone - it's definitely good to be home with my little girl especially after such a rough pregnancy!

Coaster the blood glucose thing is definitely a worry but you are right, they are little fighters

Glad you are home Durham, hope everything is going well.

Smokeandglitter, that does all sound very stressful. FWIW, I think you are totally justified in sticking to your guns and refusing neonatal for baby if everything looks as it should.

I would keep repeating to them what you have said in your third paragraph above, about your doctors advising a non-stressful end to pregnancy, etc, and that you would like to go home asap if things look ok. And that of course you would allow baby to go to neonatal if there was any sign of something amiss, but otherwise you see no reason for it.

Really hope the meeting goes well tomorrow.

38+3 here and nothing happening. My prediction is for baby to arrive a couple of days late, but we'll see. I've got lots on this weekend and next week that I could really do with being able to do, so perhaps my body knows this and is hanging on in there til I'm ready! Just finished scrubbing the kitchen and bathroom floors and I'm planning a toy cull this afternoon to make room for a box of baby toys that need to come out of the loft. I love throwing stuff away at the moment!!

same here life ive got a busy weekend (house needs a good top to bottom clean) the a very very busy week next week. i need to finish up shopping for ds's birthday and get dc's a few bits. baby elijah could do with a few more bits too. oh needs a hair cut and a nice new pair of jeans too so what with that and the appointments ive got including my pre op and keeping the house spotless i could probably do with him arriving when planned tbh

Went to midwife yesterday at 39+1, asked for a sweep and she declined- as its my 2nd baby it is more likely to have an instant effect so have booked in for my due date for sweep. Im willing to have one of those but would prefer to avoid induction.
On one hand I just want her to come out and cuddle her (and stop being pregnant!!) but on the other hand I want her to arrive under her own steam.
She woke me this morning being extra wriggly, her feet were so high up in my bump whereas they are normally very much in my right hand side. Trying not to read too much into this but can't help a little hit of excitement and optimistic anticipation creeping in

hi ladies. i had another bad night last night. over did things yesterday and paying for it now. my thigh is hurting and has been since yesterday afternoon and it kept me awake for most of the night its very sore today but cleaning needs doing so best get on with it. not long now until c section. dc's getting very excited only 11 sleeps to go

Hi blue in the same boat here. Wanting LO to come but want him to come in his own time. Getting more and more period cramps and more and more shooting pains in thigh (though googled and it says that this is prob just LO lying on a nerve). I am also trying not to read too much into it but have told dh I think something is definitely changing.

Also having a little bit more movement. Anyone else?

Have mw on Monday at 39+4 and hoping I'll be offered a sweep (though she didn't mention it last week). Anyone know if this would be standard? It's my first so hoping that makes it different to you blue.

Sorry you're having a rough time theone. I've done the 'too much' thing and not done it since - I learned! Try to relax if you possibly can...

I just googled 'next full moon'

40+4 today and starting to lose the plot! I don't know if it is Braxton Hicks or latent labour, but I timed contractions from 10.30pm until 3.45am - pretty regular and seemingly progressively more intense.. I think I'm OK with pain and I would have called some of these painful instead of uncomfortable..First baby so not a clue really. Cramping feeling been on and off since Monday, my plug has been going for a few days too. Tell me this will end soon - desperate for nature to take its course, and would love to be a mum in time for mothers day, but starting to think its never going to happen! Baby is going nuts at the moment too - pretty much wriggled for 5 hours straight last night during contractions (or whatever they were).

samza is if possible to go to the labour ward just to see where you're at? As long as you're happy to come home, I'm sure they'll see you??

Good luck!!

Coaster - what a beautiful photo, congratulations.

I had my usual midwife appointment today (37+3) but the heartbeat was very high and the little darling was very active so she sent me to the Maternity Ward so they could track the heartbeat over time. After about 40minutes of tracking all was fine, just the baby is very active today - and I did have 2 cups of coffee this morning instead of my usual one - ooops
Anyway, I had it on my list of things to ask the midwife, to see about visiting the Maternity Ward, and now I've done it without even having to ask! Clever baby!
While I was there it did make it very real that baby can come any time now and I realised that I'm absolutely fine with that. Sod the decorating and my to do list

Mrr3 - I'm having a sweep at 39+4 but it's pre-booked in due to my age and not wanting to go over EDD if possible (really want to avoid induction if at all possible). I'm getting it done by the consultant though not the midwife.
Also, my DD1 birth started off with period pain cramps too.

Thanks M33r

i'm a bit of a trek from the hospital to be honest..and journey includes a ferry trip…I will stick it out over the weekend and hopefully there will be some new developments. DH has since given me a pep talk, and i'm feeling less wobbly. Not looking forward to a painful night of false contractions again though..

thisway i have a to do list and would love everything to be in order when baby elijah arrives but starting to feel the same now.... im sure we will all survive if the washing isnt all put away or the hoovering hasnt been done. and i do still have things to buy for ds's birthday and some things dc's need and food shopping to do but it can all be done online so if he wants out now then i will be happy with that even if it does mean an emergency c section im just so uncomfortable i just dont care anymore

M33r regarding sweep, 2 friends recently gave birth to their 1st babies, both were only days before their due dates. U could ask?

My LO is so low down and finding new nerves to lie on- the little darling. Shooting pains in my hips/groin making my eyes cross over!

Getting less and less sleep as time passes, ironic as we are about to do a monster workout and need all the energy we can muster

Have been awake for hours with bubs punching my cervix!! The joys!!

Love to all of you and hope all is going well for you.

Thanks life. It means lots to hear that.

Had the meeting with the paediatrician, a neonatal matron, a labour ward midwife, a mental health midwife and me, mum and my dh. The hospital have truly screwed up. I came with studies and research to prove how important it is for babies to stay with mum even if being observed for medication related NAS and also details to show that my Meds have not had very detrimental effects. Paediatrician wouldn't budge. He said I would get 2 hours with my healthy baby before they we're put on the neonatal unit, where there is only a rest room for parents. He said this was done across the country and then completely contradicted himself.

After the neonatal matron (who was amazing) spoke, we found out that actually it is just that THIS hospital doesn't provide for babies who have a possibility of having this condition and that they have completely messed up by not working this out until a week before my due date. SE was hugely apologetic on behalf of the hospital and they all said that they would make sure that this issue was properly addressed. Just to add they have been aware of my medication since the absolute beginning. We are in the process of trying to find another hospital which offers baby to stay with mum on a postnatal unit. We won't be hearing anything more until Monday because of working hours. So will be 5 days before my due date and will need to 'book in' again, meet new people and completely change my plans.

None of my own mental health plan can be carried out properly at another hospital because there has not been time to facilitate it. If I was to develop postpartum psychosis then I won't be in the right area for my care. I am also adopted and this whole baby being taken from mum after two hours thing has made me feel completely and utterly sick. Have had to go to stay at my parents currently because if I had an emergency birth before things were decided then the hospital I was at would have forced baby into neonatal.

During the meeting the paediatrician said if we refused care then social services and police would be involved, then we found out that all we have to do is change hospitals and accept their care which is much more appropriate to avoid that. Got to say I totally understand why mothers with mental illness disappear and don't attend antenatal care appointments - I'm not about to do this but by god do I feel like it.

Thank you to anyone who managed to read all of this.