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!

The midwife who ran my antenatal class recommended not to use Boots tens machines cos they were too complicated but I guess it would help if all the parts worked or were there! Haven't got one myself, if I arrange one for 2 days time then knowing my luck the baby will arrive before the tens machine and if I don't order one I'll still be waiting this time next week....decisions decisions

I think I might just pretend I don't have a mobile anymore cos am also fed up of texts and calls

Also frightened of giving birth now and worrying how I will know when its happening, can picture me still wondering 'is this it' when the baby pops out and not having made it to hospital !

Becks/Lizzz - got my tens machine from tens-hire too, very impressed with service and have only paid £23.95 for six weeks hire which I thought was very good. Tried it out the other day on the highest setting on my hand - warning: do not try this at home!! My hand went into uncontrollable spasm, I was shrieking half laughing half crying as it bloody hurt and DH was laughing so much he couldn't help me turn it off

Have been thinking about you today Lizzz but resisted the temptation to ask 'Any news yet??' - can't believe you have had 17 enquiries!! How bloody annoying.

Will you be telling anyone when you go into labour? I don't think I will actually (except maybe MN) - I would rather be able to ring/text my announcement out of the blue

I am still scared about the birth but my impatience to meet Bubba is overriding the anxiety at the moment.

xx

Amyclaire - it is my DH's birthday on 22nd Jan - one day after my due date and he will be 29! I'm hoping LO will already be here by then [wishful thinking emotion]

Wilkie, I'm 33.
I was 25 when I had ds1...at least I think I was.....might have been 24, nearly 25. Or 25 nearly 26.

God, I should really know that shouldn't I???

I'm not 100% sure how old I was when I had ds2 either....27 or 28.

Bloody hell, this is what motherhood does to you!

I know I was 30 when I had ds3 because I remember my 30th B'day being Pg so at least I remember 1/3.

Back to school tomorrow for ds1+2......Thank fu*k!

Dh has just informed me I was 25 when I had ds1, 27 when I had ds2.

He also said "OMG...how can you write that...you could have worked it out in the time it took to type it"

Well, yes I could if I had a functioning brain!

LTH - all boys! Do you know the make and model of the newest addition or are you having a surprise?

Cos we want 2/3 LO's we thought this would be a nice age to start - had m/c about 18 months ago (unplanned but much wanted).

We have kept this one a surprise - I am convinced it is a pink one and will be SOOOOOO shocked if it's a blue one - honestly dont mind which we get just will be ultra surprised

Amyclaire - DH actually wants it to arrive on his birthday as when LO is 21, DH will be 50 so we can have a cool party?!?!?! I told him a)that is sad that he worked that out and b)how the f*ck did he manage the maths - I agree with LTH - pg brain is like mush

Hello all just to issue a warning to all those living off gaviscon and antacids (I have been having major throat burn) - I have been guzzling down a pinapple in the hope of getting things started but OMG the acid - there is not enough gaviscon in the world to take this away so approach with caution!!!!!!!

BTW I am 29 (30 on the 19th) and Dh is 30 this is our first (and likely only not bl**dy doing this again

I'm 38, DH is 26, this one's my 3rd and DH's 1st (and last, no kidding!)

Was 23 when I had DD and 25 when I had DS.

looshkin you poor thing!
So much for eating healthily when you are pg. I have had NO fruit for months, not even drunk any fruit juice due to major heartburn. I am craving it, but know its just not worth the feeling of throat burn afterwards...hopefully not long to go.

Wilkie - PML at your tens experience! I tried it out on the absolute lowest setting. Have used them before in weight loss experiment. May extend my hire period to use on flabby belly after the baby arrives! (WHEN he arrives)

If he hasn't come by Thursday the midwife is doing a sweep on me. Has anyone had one of these? Do they hurt?

I had a sweep last Thursday - was expecting it to be really painful, but I didn't even know she'd done it until it was over - I honestly never felt a thing! Was 2cms dilated at the time though, so I supposed that helped. Had a bit of bleeding afterwards and had my show late that night. Have had contractions on and off since, but nothing's happened so far. Having another sweep on Tuesday then going to be induced on Thursday if no sign of him by then

4 more sleeps...(not that I'm counting )

Looshkin, I made the mistake of eating pineapple a few weeks ago. I thought I was having a heart attack as the heartburn was soooo bad!!! Was about to get DH to take me to A&E !

I'm 30, DH is 32 and this is our first LO.

I was thinking of hiring a TENS machine, has anyone used one in labour before, and is it worth the money?

Thanks Loubie - hopefully baby will arrive before (for both of us!) inductions and sweeps.

Trixy - I was really unconvinced originally by Tens, but quite a few girls on here have used them and I have had a couple of mates who managed with just Tens/Gas & Air. But like Wilkie - I really recommend tens-hire to get it from.

If anyone is looking for a short term heartburn cure, licorice is really good, but only lasts short term...nicer than gaviscon etc though! x

Can't stop laughing at Wilkie's Tens machine experience! Sounds like something I would do!

I am so not happy.
I have revolting, discusting, hideous heartburn, and can't sleep. I don't understand why I have it. Have eaten little and often today. Nothing spicey or acidic at all. The baby is really low and I have dropped, so I should have more room in my stomach now. But no. Everytime I try and lie (with 4 pillows propping me up!) down, I get severe throat burn/omg going to vom feeling. Have gulped down two lots of gaviscon, taken tablets and eaten a stack of licorice. Nothing f**king works.
So fed up.

Don't want to be pg anymore.

can't believe I am the only person still awake. if it wasnt so cold/dark/windy outside, and I wasnt so pregnant, I'd go for a walk round the block!

Thought I'd add a quick update, I'm still not very well but it seems that was a good thing as after the initial (what I thought) was a leak there's been nothing so it looks like my waters haven't gone. I did spend time at the hospital being re-examined and the doctor couldn't see any clear fluid at all which confirms it for me and she also said that with all the coughing I've been doing she's expect to see something coming out. Of course the senior blokey came to see me and still advised induction (protocol for them once fluid has been seen but they make mistakes too) and I had to sign discharge papers. I'm so glad to let this baby stay inside as long as he needs to as I'm just 39+1 today and he'll come when he's ready.

I used a Tens with my daughter and never would again. After the birth I suffered with tingling sensations up and down my spine for almost a year afterwards which was very uncomfortable and annoying and I began to wonder if it would ever stop, thankfully it did but I wouldn't use one again. I managed with just tens and gas and air with her but with just gas and air with ds.

jodie - what you are going through sounds almost exactly the same as me, except i got induced after THREE (yes, 3) midwives had examined me and said they couldn't see any membranes in front of the baby's head. after 5 hours on syntocinon drip the doctor examined me and said "no wonder she's not having any contractions, the membranes haven't ruptured"...so she then had to break them, which triggered very painful contractions etc etc etc....apparently the leak i had was the hindwaters.

oh, and i got heartburn right up until Zac actually came out, so sorry for those of you still suffering. it does stop once they're out though.

wow - ramble alert....i shouldn't even still be on here, but there isn't anyone on the post natal thread i started. guess everyone else is looking after their babies! honestly though, he's fast asleep.......

btw - i'm 24 and this is my first....

good luck girls! i'll continue to lurk when i can....xxx

Another night, another bout of contractions and still no baby!! Honestly thought this was it - woke up after dreaming I had a really strong period pains - woke up and sure enough it was contractions - worst ones yet every 5 minutes. Started at 3.15pm and continued till about 5ish then just stopped. Me and DH were starting to get excited, I came downstairs for a bit and sat on birthing ball watching my 'Grease' DVD and eating toast thinking - wahey here we go. Bollocks Wank Crap Shit F*ck.

Lizzz and Loubie - have heard of sweeps and know what they are but have never actually heard of them being successful for anyone - why do they other with them if a low success rate or is this just something that hasn't worked for my friends? Mind you, I would be prepared to try it. Lizzz, my friend said it was uncomfy but not painful.

Urban that does sounds similar to me, congrats on having your baby now though Hoping I go naturally soon!

Wilkie I had a sweep last time with ds at 38 weeks and I gave birth the next day. I started having pains from the time I had the sweep and they picked up into labour. I was in and out of hospital with contractions for over a week before the sweep though so I was in early labour I think just niggling and the sweep pushed me over the edge, so to speak.

I'm 28 and having my 3rd, I was 22 when I got pregnant with my first but had her when I was 23.

Urban - do you promise promise promise me that your heartburn has gone now Zac is here. I seriously cant cope with it much longer and what terrifies me more than the actual birthing scenario is that I will be lumbered with it for the rest of my life!

I have given up trying to work out what is a braxton hick contraction compared to a normal one. Pregnancy for Dummies says that normal ones are obviosly more painful and tighten across the top/whole of the bump...and obviously more regular etc.
I woke up after 2 hours sleep this morning with an all consuming contraction. It was weird hadnt had one like that before. Didnt get another one, baby is obviously quite comfy at 40+1 today.
bored bored bored bored! x

Morning everyone - sorry to hear about the sleep problems, it is grim when you are so tired anyway.
Wilkie I am 33 having no 3; 28 having DS1 abd 30 having DS2.
Sounds like things are happening for you - I had a night of contractions like that having DS1 - they died away to nothing the next day, started again in the evening and DS1 arrived at about 5am. Fingers crossed for you! Now is the time for pineapple, curry (it had to be hot enough to stimulate your bowels apparently!), sex, walking - probably not all at the same time though!
Becks - ask your midwife about TENS - I had a HB last time and they brought one with them. I used one having DS1 but didn't find it that good but it does give you something else to focus on.
20 days left and counting (I just know I will be late this time!)

Lizzzombie - your heartburn will definitely go away after the birth - promise!

And as for baring your fanjo... my favourite story comes from a friend of mine who tore badly and was lying with her legs up in stirrups waiting to be sorted out. The tea lady came round with her trolley, had a good look and said 'Ooh! - that looks nasty!'