Due Jan '07 part 7: Are you ready to do drugs, poo yourself in public and bear your fanjo to complete strangers? Then you're ready to have a baby!

[2HappyNewYear]

This one seems to be the winner, and I can't seem to come up with anything more inventive, sorry!

Sounds like a perfectly acceptable idea to me!

As far as the pain goes, I'm not expecting miracles. I don't want to build myself up into thinking that the pain is just going to disappear after the baby is born, but I am concentrating on the fact that I will feel much better without the weight and pressure of the baby. I know I'll have to deal with the CS pain as well, but I think it'll be a walk in the park compared to what I've been through over the last month.

Midwife came today and baby's head is 1/5 engaged which is just adding to the pressure at the moment - it's all fun and games - I think dp will move out before long if this carries on !

How has your pregnancy been overall - apart from the insomnia that is!

Pretty fair I guess. I don't know, it makes me sound whingy (again) but I really enjoyed being pg last time, and I can't put my finger on what's different this time but it just doesn't feel the same. But nothing has gone wrong. Rotten morning sickness for the first 17w, but I had that with ds too. The insomnia really is a bitch, though. And it maybe didn't help that I got pg while still bfing, and continued bfing until ds self weaned when I was 20w, so don't think my body has had much of a break. And I guess I'm mroe anxious this time, having been through it, I kind of know what's coming and I'm worried about how hard it will be while also looking after a toddler.
Still, it has its advantages - am using the time to finally order dh's bday present
How's yours been, until the SPD kicked in?

I have to say that until the SPD, my pregnancy was fab. No morning sickness, no swelling, nothing to complain about at all. If I didn't have a bump, I wouldn't know I was pregnant! Morning sickness for 17 weeks - poor you!

Don't know about you, but I'm getting quite jealous when I've been reading the birth announcements on this thread over the last couple of days.

As far as you not feeling the same with this pregnancy, they do say that no two pregnancies are the same, not that I have any experience of this as this is my first!

Oh totally . Then I remember how worried I am, and start panicking instead, lol! 2 weeks left doesn't sound long, but if it's as late as ds that's still a month to wait!! Can't believe magnolia's lo was 5 weeks old already when she last posted
When did you get the SPD? Would it put you off having another?

I got the SPD at 30 weeks and TBH, seriously considering never doing it again - don't know if I could cope with this for a second time - and of course, I know what to expect now!

Wow, that is a long time, poor you. You'd think they would have invented some sort of cure by now, wouldn't you, I mean we've been doing this pg lark for long enough!
Right, I'm going to see if I can manage a snooze. At this rate, am going to have to ask pil's to look after ds tomorrow as will be fit for nothing! Hope you get some sleep too xx

Good luck with the sleeping thing (Harry grins as if sleeping is a luxury not a basic human need)

Still awake

Hiya. Another one up in the middle of the night!I've been up for a couple of hours now with contraction-type pains, but I really don't know if they are actually contractions or not and its beginning to drive me a bit crazy!! I have had a bit of an upset stomach for a couple of days now (had a bit of a dodgy curry Friday night! stupid i know...) and I think it might still be that, or soemthing else i ate maybe, that are giving me these cramps cos they're not really what i thought labour cramps would be like. They are damned painful though!!
Feel absolutley petrified (which could be why i also feel really sick?) that this could be it though. But trying not to think about it too much at the moment in case it's nothing. Was convinced something was happening on Friday and then just did a big poo and all pains went away (sorry TMI ) which is why I'm feeling a bit sceptical about these pains now too!

Shimmer how exciting, and a much better reason to be awake (well, unless it is just needing a poo, in which case it's probably just as frustrating a reason, lol!)

Hmmm... yes it is quite exciting. And terrifying and painful.... Trying to time cramps to see if there is any kind of regularity to them, but finding this rather tricky as it's quite painful all the time!! You're meant to time from the start of one contraction to the start of another one, right? They seem to be quite randomly varying between lasting anything from 10seconds to 40 seconds and coming anything between 20 mins and 5mins. How confusing! All I feel like doing is sitting on the toilet!

Hello all, having benn lurking over the last few weeks, I have been really cheered up by many posts and reassured that I am not alone by other ones. Congrats to all that hve had their LOs. I am now 5 days overdue and a little brassed off, feel OK in the morning after mid morning snooze, go on the old birthing ball until pelvis becomes too painful. By about 4pm cannot put any weight on L leg as feels as though it will just drop off so go to bed and take painkillers and feel grumpy. Not asd bad as harry's SPD by the sounds - I have such sympathy for you - how long have you needed the pethidine, has it helped??? I was worried about taking codeine but have been reasurred that it is oK.

I have been thinking about how I am going to have the active birth that I would like if I can't walk - any ideas???? Have not really been to the GP re the pain perhaps should have done earlier whoops - I think stopping work at 35 weeks made me think it would settle down.

LTH I hope your nipples have settled that pain does not sound nice, I have tried niple stimulation to get things going but nothing grrrrr.

Galum was so pleased to read that your consultant was nice and you feel more reassured about this LO after all you have been though this year.

2happy much general sympathy your way, can DH take DS over to MILs to give you a break???????? will give you a ring when stopped feeling sorry for myself.

Brain has stopped working and cannot remember what I wanted to post to everyone will think on and reply later - keep going ladies we are almost there.

Loosh

Hi ladies,

Lizzz was LMAO at branston pickles!

Had to go to hospital again yesterday for a bp series and bubs heart trace. BP is borderline and got +2 protein in my wee, oh and swollen feet, hands and face. Bub is fine though. Have to go again tomorrow for it all doing again. Why the f*ck can't they induce me now? I'm due on Thursday but having to travel to the hospital every other day til bub is here is going to raise my bp and I find it soooo hard to walk. FFS. They did say if I go over they might consider inducing me earlier, gee thanks! Fingers crossed.

I sympathise with the ladies with insomnia. My sleep is up and down some nights I go right thru til 8-9am and others I'm awake at 4ish!

Urbans post made me all emotional and !

Wilkie-hope things work out ok with your fil. Everything tends to come at once, I got a speeding fine a couple of weeks ago and 3 more points on my licence-just what I need! And I'm sure my washer is conking out, perfect timing for when I'll have all bubs clothes to wash.

ok - its my due date today.....where is my baby??? hmm??
Now what happens? I just have to sit around and wait? I cant do that I'l go mad. I can just about waddle to the end of the road and thats it - so I cant even make it into town to be able to wander round various shops testing their "waters break in here = free stuff urban myths".
I'm bored now. Come on baby!

I think I have found a sort of cure for my insomnia. Stay up late. For the last three nights we have been out and stayed up late, which means I sleep more. Ok, maybe awake from 3-6am but will sleep again till 10am!
Sorry - dont know how you girls with children already cope at all. You must be twice as exhausted. x

Bonjour. Had my bf and hubbie round last night with their little girl who is 14 months. I take my hat off to you ladies who are on your second, third (LTH-fourth) babies - how the hell do you do it? Gorgeous as she is she is bloody exhausting!!!!!

Lizzz - happy due date - where is that Bubba ??

Can I ask a question if you don't mid. How old is everyone on here - it's just that I have kind of guessed how old most of you regulars are but am intrigued if I'm right. Also, how many of you are on your first - reasn I ask is that when I did my hosp tour and went to my active birth class I seem to be the youngest there and I am 25 which I don't think is that young to be having your first?? [nosy wilkie50 emotion]

Wilkie - there's a stats thread here that will give you an idea of the ages of those that have been around for a while. I'm one of the 'older' ones at 36 (I hate saying it out loud!).

Now 2 days past my due date, feels a bit odd, sort of like I've missed it and the baby's never going to come now ....

Good afternoon ladies!

Finally went to sleep at 6.45am - woke up at 8am Woohoo! - getting used to it now though. Doing night feeds for this baby is going to be a breeze - no-ones can say I'm not well practised at getting up in the middle of the night.

Wilkie - FYI, I'm 25 too with my first pregnancy.

I am now counting down the hours until I see my Consultant tomorrow at 2.45pm. Midwife came today - bp quite low 100/60 but head is 2/5 engaged. Not that it matters as I'm having a CS but it's a comforting thought to know that the baby is doing what he should be IYKWIM!

Wilkie you are the right age 25 is perfect I am 28 this is my second my little boy is 2.5.

Urban congrats and what a lovely name, you had the same birth as I had first time round bloody ventouse but hay its worth it when you see there litle face.

Well its my mums birthday today and she wants her grandaughter I have a feeling she will be waiting a little longer however im going to try sex tonight .

Whoo! Go for it Laughalot , it just triggered v annoying BHs for me both times so I have given up at the moment and have alternated to nipple twiddling

Harry2007 - so I'm not a loner funny isn't it that I was thinking 25 was 'young' - my mum was 18 when she got married and 20 when she had my sister. Sorry that you aren't sleeping - mine goes in fits and starts. I am sleeping OKish at the moment although I keeping waking and not being able to sleep between 2 and 4pm but am LOVING my afternoon naps. Sounds sad but have you tried reading a good book for an hour before trying to go to sleep - that seems to help me.

Another lurker arrives! Have been reading for a week or so and reassured by fact that how I feel seems to be normal but of the babies that have already arrived in Jan. Just been out to buy more raspberry tea and pineapple. Date with the birth ball next but TBH am bored with it now.

Lizzombie - today is my due date too and am cross with baby for not knowing its meant to arrive today. Hope its better behaved when it comes out !

Wilkie - I am 28 and first pregnancy.

OH. MY. GOD. Its now 12 hours since i first started having contractions and I'm still at home waiting for SOMETHING major to happen. Been having contractions every 5-8 mins, (but only for about 30 secs and hospital said to try and wait til they're about a minute each) for about 5 hours now and I'm tired and feel like i've been beaten up!! There must be something I can do to speed this up?????

Wilkie i'm 27 and having my first, so not that much older!

Laughalot i managed sex last night for the first time in ages and contractions started about 4 hours later, so maybe it really does work!

Hmmm if sex has triggered your contractions Shimmer I'm gonna give it a go too.... Hope your contractractions speed up and good luck !

5.37pm
number of babies - 0
number of irritating phone calls/texts asking if baby has arrived yet - 17
number of heart burn tablets consumed in last 2 hours - 4

I have such bad heartburn, if the baby has dropped and is verymuch engaged, why am I still suffering with this?!

I am 31 (just!) this is will be my first baby...when he arrrives!

I am with you all on the lack of nightime sleep - let DH go out last night - his mates called for him and woke DD up befoe they went out then they all came back here for drinks and I lay in bed fuming in case they woke DD up again - to be fair they didn't but it meant I was unrelaxed and didn't sleep well at all! Had a 2 hour kip this afternoon which was bliss but now feel wiped out again! Went shopping today and bought a new coat and shirt in the sales but could barely walk for long without my back giving up. For some reason am petrified of labour this time even though I had a really good birth with DD1. The tens i hired from boots didn't work properly - only 2 pads out of four working so took it back today and got another one and now only 3 out of 4 pads work but I can't be bothered to go back again - not a very good service though is it. Shimmer let's hope your bubba arrives some time today.

Becks you poor thing, I got my tens machine from: www.tens-hire.co.uk. it arrived within 2 days and its cheaper to hire from them than from Boots. I think it cost about £35 for 6 weeks hire + spare pads. And if baby is really overdue, then I can phone up and get hire period extended for free.

Can you get your DP to take the Boots one back and try to get one from them instead?

If it helps, I am terrified of giving birth too, but when I think about getting rid of heart burn, and getting more than 2 hours sleep in a row, then I am almost looking forward to it!