March 2016 Babies #9 - we're on the final countdown!!

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Thread 9!!

Bloody hell guys, already!

suz can you imagine what it would be like if we all actually met up? It would be a 72 hour chatathon!

We are such a chatty bunch it's unreal haha hopefully we have pictures of our babies on here soon

Woah that wasn't even 3 weeks! No wonder I can't keep up!

Will be back later for a proper catch-up, but in the meantime posting the stats sheet on first page for easier access when someone next asks for it: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CWO_z74sygCKB3cdMb7jXf2VP1TwJB8KCTF-M5XbTyY/edit#gid=0

Whoop babies may be born this thread!!!

Place marking on the new thread

hayley glad your scan went well. You said your first DC was big too didn't you? You obviously just make big babies!

I am interested to see how my bump is measuring at my 34 week appointment tomorrow. I have grown a lot over the last 4 weeks since my last appointment!

Just had an NCT class on pain relief. I was hoping to avoid an epidural anyway if I can but i am even more determined to avoid now that I know what it actually involves! They showed us some photos of it being done and omg the needle is huge. I am not that fussed about needles for jabs and blood tests etc but this is something else. DH said if I end up needing one he will have to leave the room as he can't possibly watch them stick that in me and I don't blame him at all, I couldn't watch someone do it to him either!

Just place marking :)

Hi thread 9!

Worked out I only have 8 working days left - whoop! Downside being they're spread over the next 5 weeks so it still feels like ages until I finish. Had a very relaxing day at home today with DCs at school/preschool, it was so lovely! Got loads of sorting out and cooking done. Today's culinary main event was marmalade making. Doubt that will inspire as many of you as the crispy cakes did - I can't stand the stuff but DH loves it so a little treat for him. And will make cheap thoughtful gift for MiL on Mother's Day. Someone might get their baby on Mother's Day, how amazing would that be! Only just crossed my mind, I'm sure someone's already thought of it several threads ago?!

Fingers crossed for good growth scans tomorrow those having them.

Magpie my due date is the 6th and that's Mother's Day, I'm really hoping she either comes before or on the day haha don't want to wait a whole year to celebrate Mother's Day!!

I'm exactly the same Me, just the sound of it makes me get the shivers. I mean, never say never but I'd love to avoid it if at all possible. I'm not squeamish but the needle, the neeeeedle

Had my whooping cough vaccine earlier (I'm just gone 31 weeks, due at the end of March) and it was a bit of a none event. I'd been told it was a stinger by my midwife after my Anti D (Which did bloody hurt) but I actually didn't feel it at all. I had to ask the nurse if she'd stuck it in. Less than 5 minutes later I was out and on my way back home to bed. I am not ashamed to say I had a good quality nap when I got in :D

I fear I'll be joining the sleepless nights brigade soon - I seem to be getting worse now, unable to settle comfortably, tossing and turning, needing the loo more and more. Combined with a case of thrush (I'm taking anti-biotics for a UTI at the moment too, joy) which isn't making things easy!

Glad everyone's 34 week scans are going well :) I had my 31 week one last week and baby was at 3.6lbs, everything looking good so far!

Me Yes ds was 10lb 5oz! Hence being more than a little worried that they think this one is bigger. Eep! Also I agree with you about the epidural. I was against them too anyway, and the size of the needle, and the fact it's in the spine just totally reinforced the idea of saying no to it (shudders). They do spinal/epidural for c section too don't they? That's part of the thing putting me off an elcs lol cut me open while I'm awake fine but do not stick that thing in my spine!

Ooh what date is mothers day this year? I think it's very possible one of us will get a mothers day baby!
Magpie you sound a whizz in the kitchen! Feel free to knock us up some treats

Me I honestly don't remember feeling any pain when the epidural went in. I remember wanting to kiss the anaesthetist for providing the pain relief though. Could have sworn she was an angel .** Also don't remember any pain for the spinal block I had.

Thanks for the new thread paper!

Oops sorry for the random bolding. Just remembered that the worst thing about the epidural/spinal was having to keep still through a contraction. Not easy!

Evening all,

For those having issues with hunger overnight - I used to take snacks to bed with me when I was pg with DS! I've been expecting it to happen again, so have a box of cereal bars in my drawer! (And rennies!)

Interesting to hear about the crazy kicking people are getting! My students were doing an exam paper today, I was taking to opportunity to mark their last one while they got on with it. Till I realised a couple were barely suppressing their sniggering at me wincing and pulling faces from OctoBaby trying to bust out of my belly Alien-style! Oh, it was sore! Then my colleagues were all watching my belly undulate as he carried on over break. He settled down by lunch, thankfully!

Re early arrivals. A colleague worked out that his due date must've been the same as OctoBaby's, as he was born at ~32 weeks and his birthday is next week! I'd like to make it to 37 really! (The cleaner tells me she thinks this one will be early - in that look-you-up-and-down way that wise old women do).

Oh, Rosie, the bending. I'm really struggling with my shoes now!

Eek, TheM, hope the scan shows unreliable tape-measuring and no GD.

Aargh. marmite! I'm going to continue in ignorant bliss. Try not to remember my strategy of counting to 10 for every feed. It'll be easier this time, surely!

Beaut - it's really weird what a car can do for your psyche. The difference between my 20-yr old rust bucket and this one is amazing. And DHs 'new' car made me feel like we were suddenly grown up and could afford stuff!

Rosie - try not to worry about a rubbish replacement, it'll mean they'll remember you're irreplaceable! I want someone competent enough to take my groups through their exams, but not so good they make me look rubbish! There's unlikely to be a handover in my job though, I may never meet the cover person.

Wow hayley! 5lb14 already!

Ooh, new thread! The one with more babies?

That sounds like active scaremongering, Me. I had a spinal block after having DS. I've no idea of the technicalities/needle length as it was in my BACK! If you're in labour and decide you need an epidural, I guarantee you won't give a shit about the needle! Like Rhu, I don't remember feeling it go in at all. (But then my fanjo was like sitting on broken glass at that point!)

Right. An hour of marking and then bed!

Weyhey! New thread already!
Just plonking my bum so I know where to find everyone.

ffauxlivia can you add me to the spreadsheet? Due 26/03/16 and if the 20 week scan is to go by, we are team blue.

I'm also not wanting an epidural but I've already said to DP "If I can't handle it, I won't be saying no!" That said, I've used gas and air at the dentist and it was AMAZING - was really deep root canal work as well - so hopefully I can get by on just that.

me I was terrified by the idea of an epidural. I had a spinal block for elcs and was with my dad when he had one after major abdominal surgery. He promised that if you're at the point where you need one nothing else matters and the needle could be bigger than you and you'd still welcome it with open arms. You don't see anything yourself and the anetastist who did mine was fantastic about positioning dh where he couldn't see what was going on. Having no pain to begin with I can honestly say it didn't hurt at all, not even a scratch! It was uncomfortable having the lean over with a massive bump in the way. I was more bothered by the canular/iv being put in, I found that really unpleasent. Still more bothered by the tiny mark left by that than c-section scar.

I've got scan and consultant's appointment tomorrow morning. I think dh is hoping for a vbac more than me. Although bump feels like his head down I'm trying not to get my hopes up to much as the placenta could still be an issue if it's still low lying. 35 weeks tomorrow!

Hi, i've not been on MN for ages. Hows everyone doing?

Just marking my place on the new thread

At the point I had my spinal block for ds1 I wouldn't have cared if the needle had been the size of my arm! The pain relief was bliss. I'm a theatre nurse and usually with a spinal/epidural they numb the skin with local anaesthetic so you won't really feel the big needle going in.

My next appointment is on Monday with consultant so we'll see if baby is still breech - eek! Started to pack my hospital bag today with 'help' from ds2! It's all getting close!

/marks place

Just back from swimming - starting to feel like much more of an effort, but still got 1,200m done and enjoyed it :) Never fails to feel absolutely lovely to let the water take the weight.

and the lush smell of chlorine TriJo Well done on swimming 1200m. Very impressive.

Just popping in to mark my place and say ditto re the epidural. I had one before they put in the syntocin drip, so wasn't in pain before they did it but was massively grateful I didn't have to feel most of those drip induced contractions! I didn't see the needle at all and had a local so didn't feel it going in. Tbh the epidural was amazing! A mostly pain free labour! Although I will try to do without this time, unless I need inducing again.. who am l kidding, I'll be screaming for it as soon as the first contraction starts

Good to hear some positive epidural stories! To be fair my NCT instructor is very balanced and was not trying to put people off them at all - several girls in the class said they definitely want one. I just wasn't keen anyway and then when I saw the picture thought no way! But I'm planning to take it as it comes, if I'm in that much pain that I need one then I'll take it and just try not to think about the needle! I know you can't see it but I'll know it's there

Hi ladies

I hope you don't mind me dropping in so late

I haven't been on since the summer as been so busy and the app went down so found it difficult to keep up

Anyway due on 17/3 and a big member of the can't sleep club... Annoyingly I was woken up by DS at 1, fell back to sleep at 3 and he screamed out at 3.05 so now wide awake again!

Sorry this is a babbling mess... I'm so tired!

Finish work at the end of February and my cover doesn't seem that bothered about learning the ropes which is worrying me slightly... She's really nice but when I first met her I thought she was in her late 40s, turns out she's in her 60s so I feel bad telling her what to do! Plus I work mainly from home so little chance to meet up and discuss work-the last time we did she spoke at me for 2 hours about her life!

With my DS I was terrified of an epidural but more the other bits that came with it like the catheter, I had him unexpectedly at home with no pain relief but had to go in to be stitched up (he was back to back) so ended up with a full spinal, it really wasn't that bad, I think by that time I just wanted it over with! It was worse for dh who was left with the baby not having a clue what to do and worrying about me... The worst bit was not feeling my legs!

I'm planning a home water birth with this one as after 2 very quick labours I don't want to take any chances, I wouldn't have been able to fill it up in time with DS mind you!!

Anyway I really am rambling on now.

Hopefully I will be able to keep up with you all now

X

Hi all! Does anyone have any recommendations for something to take to hospital to use as a distraction during contractions? We don't have gas and air here, and my friend back home said the main benefit of g&a to her was that it something to grab hold of and distract her. What can I try in its place - a stress ball or something???

woolballs that's done for you!

welcome b0nker

trijo I went swimming tonight too - not nearly as far as you but isn't the weightlessness wonderful? I can barely walk 10 mins without discomfort or pain but 30 mins swimming was a breeze!

beaut glad to hear the DH accident had a happy ending with a new car!

Wow thread 9!

me I had an epidural with DD, really didn't want one as they increase the chance of interventions - and I did end up having an episiotomy but avoided ventouse or forceps so on balance could have been worse. However I had to have it due to exhaustion after my long labour and I found the needle itself fine, the main problem was a) having to keep still during contractions which were coming very frequently and b) I'd said on my birth plan I was happy for medical students to carry out procedures - big mistake! He took aaaages, that wasn't painful needle wise but meant I had to sit still through contractions for longer. But the actual 'stick' was fine. I did have bad bruising afterwards but I couldn't see it anyway and didn't give a crap by that point with a baby in my arms. The main problem with epidurals is more the difficulty pushing - not sure this happens to everyone but it took me two hours to get DD out and I think that was due to the epidural and being on my back with reduces sensation.

ffaux I can't believe they don't have gas and air in the US! Was a godsend to me when I was in labour. I have heard stress balls are good and planning to use some in this labour.

My due date is the 8th so could have a mothers day baby but in fact expect the reality will be me spending mothers day fed up and massive waiting for baby to arrive!

It's me, B0nker5mum

I've changed my name as I obv hadn't thought that through when I thought of it!

Lovely to meet you all