December - yet another final thread!

[Loulou000]

The last one was getting too long again. There's just no stopping us!

I've been trying to keep up with this thread but don't seem to get a long enough spell without kids/dh to catch up and post so I've given up!! I hope you don't all think I'm being really rude by not acknowledging anything you've said recently, I'm still back at about Nov 6th so I have no idea what's going on !!

Until this afternoon I really didn't have anything other than day to day niggles to talk about - odd bit of backache and finding it hard to get comfy when sitting down but other than that I'm getting away quite lightly compared to a lot of people I think.

However, midwife appointment this afternoon revealed that not only is baby back to back (good, long painful labour here I come!) but I'm also measuring 4 weeks too big and I have to go for a growth scan. Now I'm flapping about what they're going to do and why it might be so big. Urine was fine so not GD, but I don't know what else might be an explanation. MW mentioned that baby hadn't engaged yet but dd didn't engage either and I was fine on my dates with her. Ds and dd were both 8 1/2 pounders so I've had biggish babies. Has anyone else had this? Any guesses on what they might do? Dh suggested early induction but I reckon that may be wishful thinking!!

Also, any suggestions for moving it from back to back to a more labour friendly position would be appreciated!!

Apart from Bewilderbeast and Maroon, have we had any more babies yet? Is Magnolia still hanging in there with her placenta problem? And Lucy's bp/pre-eclampsia issue, is that under control at the moment?

Castles, read about the homeopathy stuff you've done. I'd be really interested in discussing stuff that can aid breastfeeding/ milk supply a bit nearer the time as I really want to succeed this time and I'm willing to try anything that may help. Plus, stuff that might help with the hormonal mood swings and coping with tiredness would also be worth knowing as I know how ratty I'm going to get with poor ds and dd when the sleep deprivation really kicks in!!

Hope you all have a good night's sleep, I'll try and stay on top of this from now on!!

Mawning all! Uh-oh, insonmia kicking in, I've been up all night. DS's cough/my cold doesn't help.

Wa-hay AQ, last day today! Try and bite your tongue until the end of today if you want to go back that is

Welcome back Olihan. Wondered where you had got to. Could you just have bigger than average babies and the m/w is alarming you with her turn of phrase? I got this with DD - "ooh baby is big for dates" etc. I thought I would be having a baby elephant & she was only 7lb 10oz at 38 weeks FFS! Might be big for some (no offence) but I am 5'8", DH is 6'2" & I weighed 9lbs9oz at birth! I posted y'day on some top tips from my Doula about turning babies - including reflexology, lying on a plank of wood, homeopathy (pulsatilla?) & shining a torch etc. Not sure if any of these work but worth a shot. Good luck. Oh yes, and any advice I can give you re b'feeding/hormones post birth (not that I'm an expert or anything), just ask

((HUGS)) SLB & Spina, can I have some of whatever you are taking please - you sound very chilled.

Seeing GP today who may be able to shed light on my period-like cramps, back ache, sickness and leaking "fluid" on and off for a few days now. Someone on PG board said because my LO is a tranny leaking fluid would be constant as I have no plug so pretty sure my waters haven't broken. I have got everything on my list for hospital bag, now I just have to pack it ...

insoMNia ... it is early

Morning all and welcome back Olihan... not sure I could keep up woith this thread if I wasn't sat at my desk at work bored all day! Spina- you're cool! My friend was like you- her house was a bit of a building site when she had her baby and it was all fine- she just never let is rattle her and as she said, the baby doesn't know there's mess everywhere!

Failed miserably to pack hospital bag or do anythign constructive last night- just lay on sofa like a beached whale/ fat heffer, eating fish and chips and cringing at Cherie Booth- anyone who saw her rapping on TV will know what I mean.....cringe....
My childminder did her crystal the other day and it apparently said my baby would arrive before she leaves on hols on 7th Dec (not due until 15th)- I would be quote happy with having this baby in first week of Dec, so hope her swinging crystal is right.

Olihan, I read up on 'optimal foetal positioning' from the homebirth.org.uk website. I've been practising this for weeks now and baby is the right way up and back to my front, iyswim.

My midwife said that just three days of practising what they preach on here can turn a baby with little effort but can't do any harm.

Main principals are always to sit with back straight and knees lower than pelvis i.e. absolutely no slouching in armchairs in front of tele! (I've been lying down on my side on a chair-bed thing for weeks now) Also, crawling round on all fours for at least fifteen minutes, three times a day (a quick 5 minute sesh won't do it apparently).

MW said to think of baby as being like a hammock, and the spine is the bottom curve of the hammock, so which ever way you angle your bump, the base will swing to the ground - hence the whole all fours philsophy...

The website explains it all much better than I can - hope it helps you out a bit?

Hi all. Can I jump in having just found this wonderful place! I'm 36 weeks and tomorrow is my last day at work! This is my first child though I did have a late miscarriage last year.

I'm due on 08/12!

Hello Beaker! Welcome- jealous you're off tomorrow but you must be very much looking forward to it. Hope you enjoy sharing tips and generally moaning with us over the next few weeks! This site bucks me up every single day

Welcome beaker!

Hi Beaker, welcome along! Glad you've found us - MN is a great place to pass the time on your mat leave!!

Calsworld and castles, thanks for that advice. I think I need to stop slouching on the couch the minute the kids are in bed! I'll have to boot dh off so I can lie down from now on - what a great excuse .

Castles, I hope your gp can give you some reassurance over what's going on - do you have a consultant who might have more of an idea?

My insomnia happens when I first go to bed so I lie awake for ages then am absolutely shattered when dh's alarm goes off at 6am. Luckily ds and dd aren't getting up til about 7:30 so I can doze for a bit but it's still really frustrating! Roll on Saturday when I can lie in!

Thanks for the welcome. I can't wait for the end of work tomorrow. The last week I've been falling asleep at my desk by the end of the day!

It was bugging me last night in bed what IYSWIM means?

Anyone?

Welcome to our moans and groans!And be careful coz you might turn out like us!

"If you see what I mean"

Welcome Beaker! I?m more or less finishing work too-today! I only do two hours a day (and an hour or so doing another job online) but those 2 hours are teaching, two classes of 7-8 year olds! My bosses wanted to me to stay on throughout November( my due date is 1/12)saying that 2 hours isn?t that much etc etc. but I realised on Monday that I just can?t do it anymore. They aren?t very happy but enough is enough. What I need is a couple of weeks to sort things out and not guilt trips.

Judemum-lol at the crap rap-I was on the phone so had the sound off?and it still made me cringe!

Calsword-good advice on posture-I think my LO is in the right position but would like to make sure. And I don?t think my back has been straight in months. Don?t think I could last for 15 mins on all fours though-our cats would just see it as a challenge.

annaspanner - not sure how straight mine is either, but every now and again when i'm sat down at 'puter, i remember to imagine a string out of the top of my head and pull myself up....then roll my shoulders back...it lasts for a little while then i gently sag back to slouch before starting again.... i have the best intentions...!

Yeah, the computer is the worst, especially when I'm working. I can't work at a normal desk now, and I've tried the bed(with a tray) and the sofa but all no good-the bump just gets in the way. Then last week we found this really comfy chair and footstool which I think will be great for breast feeding(only 45 euros from the local supermarket)so now I have my laptop on the footstool and I lean over with my legs wide and my bump coming forward. It's not that comfy but the best I can manage at the moment.
I'll try the string idea next time I'm sitting at the table!
Oh, and do you find that you constantly drop food/toothpaste etc down your bump? Did I used to miss my mouth in the past but not notice it because it just fell onto the floor? Or does my bump attract things?

Anna, I spend half my life wiping mess off my bump. I'm sure I'm not that bad at dropping food, etc when I'm not pg so I'm assuming it's just pg clumsiness and the lack of a gap for things to drop through!

Am sitting here trying to keep my back straight and failing miserably. I think I'll blame MN if this baby stays OP - it didn't happen in the previous 2 when I hadn't heard of MN .

Hey All,

Messy bumps lol. All my tops have stains on them from food I have dropped that I just can't shift. Juice from fresh fruit is the worst - so I stopped eating it

Been to DD's pre-school today for a seesion with her keyworker about how she's progressing and he says he really pleased so no worries there. And around the time the baby is born he's going to talk to her little group about babies and siblings to help her come to terms with the change - he's a really big help. He's also going to endorse veggies with her - good luck on that. then again with him she actually licks carrot, with me and DH she just pushes it round the plate.

Found out from DH's Grandad that IL's are visiting on Sunday as they have offered to bring him with them....would be nice for them to check we're free - we might be jetting off on holiday - yeah right, with me at 37 wks stage and on maternity pay, we're lucky if we can afford to drive off anywhere

afternoon all,

Have just had an nct class, we discussed Vitamin K.
Not sure I'm too happy with the idea of giving Beastie a jab at birth, but interested to know that I can provide it in breastmilk.
Does anyone out there know whether there's anything I can do/eat/drink that will boost levels of Vitamin K so Beastie can get it naturally from me rather than having to have the jab? NCT teacher didn't know...
Any info much appreciated..

Afternoon gang....

Stokey, dd had the K via oral route - no jabs, you should be offered the choice. All it means is gettig it in two doses instead of one, so you have to remember the second.

Olihan, welcome back! Hope the OFP works for you..have to say it hasn't for me (have spent weeks on my side, sitting upright, on all fours, and even shone a torch etc) but I suspect it only works if nature is on your side in the first place: doens't work miracles if you're the wrong shape inside, which I probably am. Incidentally, I find slouching incredibly uncomfortable with a tranny - which is very frustrating when I'm tired and want to slob! But I suppose might account for my lack of backache...

Castles, how did the gp visit go? Would get that leaking checked out, y'know, plug or no plug. Just in case. I've had some periody pains too, and more tightenings than I ever had with dd, but no fluid.

Spina, I think you're cool too

Urgh, I have to go...so little online time I'm in shock Mother was staying (I'm knackered), dd is really picking up on baby arriving soon (home early from nursery yesterday again, 'cos she told her teachers she felt sad and wanted to go home...and kept crying, which is sooo unlike her ) and clinging, and I'm half asleep the whole time. But 37 weeks tomorrow - yay!

have a look here

Sorry crossed message - thats a link for Vit K foods for Stokey.

I have actually put on my birth plan that I want DB to have the jab. Had it for DD and no problems.

thanks Vanilla!

hi all. having a lazy day today - yey! yesterday was terrible as bored, depressed, lots of BHs etc.

I guess as it gets closer we have more niggles.

hope you're all ok. post is getting a bit long to catch up with what's what.

My GP told me the baby is now head down. Erm, I don't think so. Protein in my urine. Is that a problem I ask? No. Not interested in anything I had to say especially about leaking fluid. Oh, you'll know if you go into labour she told me. Felt terrible afterwards like I was a huge inconvenience to her for taking up 10 minutes of her time! Luckily I saw my m/w friend at school and she put me straight bless her. Honestly, I find most doctors/consultants so disinterested.

Had a lovely afternoon though with my SIL, MIL & nephew who is 13 months old. My DCs ADORE their little cousin ... lets hope that's a good indication of things to come

Reading "There's a house in mummy's tummy" (or whatever it's called) to DD this morning and could feel myself welling up. What am I loike?!! It's a lovely book if anyone doesn't have it and needs to get a message across to their DC.

Stokey, I had a leaflet from my mw yesterday about VitK. As Elibean said, you can have it given orally - here (Bristol) it's a 3 dose course over the first 4 - 6 weeks but it says it 'can be less effective as the absorption cannot be guaranteed'.

The basic info about the jabs is that it's to prevent Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding which can cause internal bleeding in newborns. Babies have very low levels of VitK and they need it to help their blood clot normally. Studies show that in babies who do not receive VitK, the risk to the baby of developing VKDB is 1 in 10,000. However, it's not possible to predict which babies are at risk of bleeding, therefore it's recommended that all babies are given VitK after birth.

Sorry, if you were told all that today, just thought the facts might help you make a decision. It doesn't mention anything about getting VitK from breastmilk, presumably you'd have to eat a huge amount of stuff to get adequate quantites to pass it on to the baby which is why they recommend the jab or drops. It might be worth having a chat with your midwife when you next see her and discussing your options with her.

FWIW, both of mine had the jabs and they were given it really soon after delivery, possibly during the first feed (I'm a bit hazy on the exact details!) so they barely noticed. I know the thought of sticking a needle in a tiny baby seems awful but it's over in a second.