Due in Feb 07. It's January its all getting a bit close now

[peachygirl]

Hi new year, new thread!

Me too Smudge... for once I actually slept pretty well last night, but then inadvertently slept another 3.5 hours on the couch this afternoon, and I can hardly keep my eyes open now. I had so many plans for useful things I was going to do today as well, and I just napped the day away.

On the raspberry leaf tea.. don't think it tastes of anything much. The Heath & Heather tea bags (I got them in Holland & Barrett) have hibiscus and rosehip in as well which makes for a fruity taste, or if you are getting it from a specialist herbal shop, they should be able give you a mix to include other things you like.

Also... I don't have any previous DS or DD, but I do have two cats, both of whom have become very very sooky over the last couple of weeks, to the point where I can't read a book, type or stop moving in anyway without being sat on or pawed at. I think they know that they are about to be replaced as the centre of attention round here.

Hello to all the newcomers!

Snugglebumnappies - I am breech now at 34+ although baby was cephalic since week 30! Will get in touch with Helios pharmacy the next few days to order the childbirth kit and ask specifically for advice re breech, too. Have been in touch with lovely mw at local hospital who assured me that there is still time for move to turn, am bravely sitting as recommended, they will try ECV and then cs as a last resort. I try not to worry too much but it is a far cry from what I had hoped for.

Anybody heard from Cadbury?

Welcome to the newcomers - I thought we would be losing people at this stage not gaining them - but the more the merrier

Snugglebumnappies - my LO is still breech at 36 +3 - I am hoping to persuade the MW to change my appointment with the consultant next week to an ECV. The consultant has said that they would not do one because of my past CS but MW has said she thinks that is wrong. I'm not due to finish work until the end of next week & at this rate they will do a CS before I go on ML!

Does Moxa really work and if so how? I'm already wearing holes in the knees of my trousers crawling round on all fours

MoosMa, sorry to hear you had such a rotten day. I'd definitely complain about your treatment by the midwife. I've seen the same one for the majority of my check-ups but at the last two appointments I've seen two different ones. One was lovely and the other was awful. I don't know whether it's because of this but I was looking at my notes after my last appointment and the topics of breastfeeding and the birth plan are supposed to have been discussed with me by week 34. By the time I have my next appointment I'll be nearly 36 weeks and no-one has mentioned the birth plan to me yet! I've prepared one and am also going to write it in my notes - maybe that way they will have to take notice of it!

MoosMa, how many weeks are you? I've only put on a stone altogether and am nearly 35 weeks. I was 7 stone at the start of my pregnancy. I'm not worrying about it though as baby is growing well, moving lots and I'm feeling really well and healthy. I think we're all different and as long as everything's fine at your check-ups I'd just be thankful you won't have much to lose afterwards!

Baby was cephalic at my last appointment and according to the midwife, 3/5 engaged, so hopefully that should mean he/she won't turn breech now since so much of the head is in my pelvis. I have noticed that I have a lot more pressure on my bladder since this happened and need to wee 2-3 times a night instead of just once.

I'm also hoping this doesn't mean the baby will be too early as I'm not due to finish work for another 3 weeks (at the end of week 37).

SmudgeMum, mine's still leaping around like crazy too at nearly 35 weeks - thought they were supposed to move less in the final few weeks? Still, I don't mind as it gives me reassurance that bubs is still OK in there.

Can't remember who said M&S do 7 pairs of knickers for £5 but thank you - I shall be heading there to stock up!

Hello! Hope everyone is well today - had a VERY late start this morning! Cant seem to drag myself out of bed even though every sleeping position I try ends in a cramp, stitch or pain of some sort.

Snugglebumnappies - can you post a link to your website please - would love to have a look at what you stock.

Might be a silly question, but I see lots of you ladies having "growth scans". I havnt been told about these - am I missing out on something or are they only done if LO is too big/small??

CurrantBun I'm 35+5 today and started at 8 stone 4lb and I feel too thin. Normally I don't like to go below 8 stone as I start feeling weak so bearing in mind I have several pounds of baby etc, at 8 13 I'm not very big!

The mw worked out my BMI yesterday as 22 which she said was fine, but I didn't think you could use the normal measurements for pg people??

Has anyone else had the same reaction regarding a home birth as me? I told the midwife months ago that I wanted to have a water birth at home (like last time but diff part of London). She was very positive, and said that there were no problems with that ... until now at 37 weeks she is suggesting that they may not be able to supply 2 midwives and then I'll end up being told to go to hospital.

The hospital in question is one that I REALLY don't want to go to. My alternative is to sign up at the not so close Edgeware Birth Centre which is apparently all very lovely, but not a home birth, of course.

I'm really tempted to just pursue the home birth course and let them panic if I refuse to come into hospital, but on the other hand it is easier to just roll over and sign up at the Birth Centre. It won't be the end of the world, I suppose - just not what I really want.

What do you think? Should I be sensible or militant? It would be ironic to end up in hospital if something went wrong, but I'm not anticipating that of course.

Principles v pragmatism!

Snugglebunny - Ive only had growth scans in this pg because my son was small for dates. I had measured slightly small with him and had a scan at 34 weeks which had said he was average size and then 2 weeks later when born he was 5th percentile so I don't have a lot of faith in them to be honest. Have got another at 36 weeks now (next Monday) so w'll see what happens. One thing I have noticed is that some doctors and midwives kind of feel your bump and push the sides as though they're trying to get the baby in the middle before measuring and some don't so I can imagine that its a highly inaccurate science!

Babe its so hard isn't it knowing how hard to push against the system. I guess only you can answer your question cos only you know how important it is to you and how much energy you have for the fight. I don know though that they can't refuse to attend you if you decide to stay at home. My last labour was very fast once my pains started (although waters broke hours before) and so I'm a bit worried if waters don't go early this time i won't get tot he hospital so am hopingto be able to plan home birth. Have you checked out radical midwives site for their advice? They even suggest a format for a letter you can write to your care team. At the end of the day, if they haven't got two people on call from your own team of midwives they'll get someone from another team to cover. I guess though they probably do have genuine shortages of staff and you con't blame them for encouraging people to make things a bit easier for them. A frazzled stressed midwife may not make for the best decision maker or birth assistant at the end of the day.

Babe, sorry I can't help. I have no knowledge of home births or birthing centres (or anything else to do with birth now I come to think about it but I'm sure someone will respond soon.

Snugglebunny I too took ages to get going today. DH was supposed to be flying down to Southampton so had to be up early. I got up with him at about 6.15 and had a cup of tea. I then went back to bed after he had gone, read for a bit and then went back to sleep. I woke up at 9.45!!!! I haven't had any growth scans either, I'm pretty sure it's as you say, either if you seem big or small for dates then they want to check things out a bit.

Currantbun, I was thinking about birth plan/BF yesterday. I'm 38 weeks tomorrow, not seeing MW again until 39+3 and haven't had any discussion with them about either. Saying that, I did go to the 4 parentcraft classes and have just heard from Hexham NCT so DH and I are going to the second half of the NCT course this Sat. I think unless you say specifically that you want to discuss something, the MW will just leave it. I don't think my situation is helped by the fact that I have seen about 7 different MW in 3 different authorities and the MW I'm now under is a different authority to where I'm giving birth. The doctor did ask me if I was on the run from anyone

Suis, I like the thought of your cats trying to wake you up from your long naps on the sofa. You know how people recommend that when you already have children, the baby brings them a present. Do you think that would work with cats too?

Current bun my midwife hasn't mentioned anything about a birth plan either.
I found out yesterday that our community midwives are stretched to the limit. At my surgery I get a 15 minute appointment and goodness how she copes with the variety of women she sees, many of whom will have english as a second language.
Still I shall be glad not to have to see her if my care is taken over buy the bith centre at the hospital.
One more day at work.. I am so ready for a rest now and due to the delay we will now have with the house... I will be ordering my pram next week

Peachygirl, same with our community midwives - we are allotted a 15-minute appointment time. I never take the whole 15 minutes which I'm sure they're grateful for, but at each appointment I've been kept waiting anywhere between 20 and 40 minutes before being seen. It's a pain as I always have to go straight into work after my appointments and am getting there later and later! I know I'm entitled to the time off but it's annoying when the appointment is invariably in the middle of the day and therefore disrupts the entire morning and afternoon. Perhaps I'll mention the birth plan myself at the next appointment.

I'm envious of those finishing work in the next few days or who have already started their maternity leave. I still have another 3 weeks at work after this week (am finishing at 37+4) unless the baby makes an early appearance!

Babe - it's a fairly common 'tactic' amongst the mw's to suggest that they might be too busy. Fact is that you are entitled to a homebirth if you want one and they are required to give you mw assistance. But I know what you mean about fighting or not. In the first instance, I would use the letter someone suggested (can't remember who sorry!) and write to them. Tell them it is your intention to have a homebirth and you are concerned that your mw is worried about staffing issues. That puts the onus on them at least. If you were to have a really fast labour, they'd have to get someone out, planned homebirth or not. So I really don't see that they can't manage to get someone there. Fair enough, most like 2 midwives... but I think that this is policy more than necessity.

I recently wrote to the head of midwifery about my waterbirth at home - being told by my mw that I couldn't have a waterbirth. As I suspected, they have responded with a "not all mw's are experienced, but they are all trained, and we'll take that into account when working out rotas and staffing for those weeks". Which is fine by me. They have at least acknowledged my plans and haven't told me it's not allowed.

Cats... mine is driving me batty the last few days. Wanting a lot of attention and to sit on my chest and bump. Which is quite unlike him. Last time he was like this was when I was having days of BHs/false labour just before I had DS. So it's sort of freaking me out that he knows something I don't lol. He was very put out when DS arrived so I'm not grudging the extra cuddles too much.

Well been to see consultant today following Monday's growth scan - he is seeing me in another two weeks and will book me in then for my section - between week 38 and 39 - falls when our half term is - so dd will need to go to Grandmas - she is quite happy with that, thankfully!

Getting quite close now - crippled with wind and a stroppy baby who really hurts when he wiggles! I have had some really uncomfortable pains, but they pass thankfully!

Finish work next friday - only 3.5 days next week to do - can't wait - was off today and it was lovely!

Hi all. It's all getting a bit close now isn't it! Feeling a bit low and anxious about stuff.

I think the baby is still cephalic but I have to go for a scan tomorrow just to make sure (and for them to turn the baby if I am breach again). I'm getting some horrible braxton hicks and finding walking for any distance pretty exhausting - my body is doing some serious slowing down, which is a bit of a problem as I still have and mile and a half at least of school runs to do each day. Anything else on top of that and I'm pole-axed.

I feel really lucky with my midwife - she's a friend too and there is no time limit on our appts - she's usually with me for over and hour. She is actively encouraging a home birth. I got a gym ball for £3.50 the other day from the Coop! Very pleased with it and it's mighty confortable to sit on - what use it will be in the labour I don't know.

Think I feel kind of sorted with stuff for the baby - need to pick up a mattress from a lovely friend and get dh to fix our old travel system - the main concern is when we can get our leaking roof fixed - I really wanted it done before the baby comes but the weather has been too bad so far and now the roofer chap has done his back in so it'll be at least another week before he can do anything for us - arrrrrgghghghg.

Is anyone a member of the Boots parenting club? If so, when did you get your 2nd lot of vouchers including the one for the free changing bag? My changing bag is in no fit state to be used again and I thougyt I'd have had the boots/huggies offer by now (with only 2-3 weeks to go) but no!

BTW, thansk fro asking after me Bienchen - it's nice to be missed.

Cadbury I think I had those vouchers a while ago but I know they can take a while to come out. I have managed to lose mine , including the one here you get triple points on the huggies.
I registered with Cow and Cate for the free cuddly cow and when it didn't come rang them and one arrived pretty much the next day. I got home to a package last week containing another one , presumably from the original request, So now we have a mini herd.

anyone going to do one of the new member profile things??? I might think about it in the next couple of weeks

I haven't had the changing bag voucher yet. I don't think I got it with DS until after he was born? But I might chase them up in a few weeks...

I got a fab changing bag in costco again. It's massive, but since it will be to keep in the car that's fine. I now only carry a teeny rucksack for DS and I'm determined not to carry the whole house for DD like I did with DS! I usully have the car when going anywhere for any length of time so will keep it kitted out.

hi all just thought id check in had a crappy day with niggly pains all day then my ds decided to dive off the sofa and crack his head off the wicker toy chest sure hes trying to send me into labour nearly cried my eyes out thankfully hes been fine.
im 37 weeks today and mum thinks ive dropped and im not getting chronic heartburn now so was thinking the same.
still feels like baby is trying to push its self out at every angle cant seem to get comfortable anywhere

about the boots vouchers for free changing bag got mine a while back id give them a ring although if anyone needs one they can have mine as i dont think i will get the use of it as got matching bag with buggy if anyone needs it let me know.

bloody hell i better go i will fill the thread if i talk anymore xx

sorry was meant to say hello to newbies
hello

I saw the doc today for a checkup, and although I'm only 36 +3, I'm measuring for 38 and was put down as only 2/5 still free. I'm also having loads of BHs, some quite nippy ones, and my bump, though still very active, seems to be very firm now.

Question is... am I going to make my baby shower next Tuesday ??? I'm now really nervous that the LO is going to arrive at any moment, although in theory I could have nearly 6 weeks to go if it was to be overdue.

Yikes.. it's all starting to seem a bit real now that it's so close. Getting very nervous about the whole birth/new mum thing.

Hi to all the newbies and god this thread is getting dificult to keep up with!

Dr Jo moxa does work well for turning a breech baby, I know a midwife who quoytes high sucess rates (higher than ECV) and those that fail and then have an ECV appear to have an easier ECV than those who haven't used moxa. It works on an accupuncture theory applying heat to the bladder 67 point wich is part of the bladdre meridian that runs through the uterus promoting a downwards movement of the uterus (like strong braxton hicks) it also causes baby to be quite active which is an important part og getting the baby out of a breech position as frank (legs up by the head) breech babies are often splinted in that position and you find they don't kick as much as a cephalic or a flexed breech.

Snugglebunny, here goes for the link, I can never do them so if it doesn't work if you have a look down the list peachy kindly posted it earlier last week
\link{http://www.snugglebumnappies.co.uk/catalog/}

Babe I would say be militant, you told them about your home birth plans moths ago so they have had time to plan their staffing, make it their problem not yours, write to the HOM and copy to the Cheif Exec, also contact AIMS, Beverly Beech is always happy to get involved with this sort of thing and will help you get the result you want. It's easy to back down at this point but you aren't just fighting for yourself, if they find they can get away with it they will try it on every woman who wants a home birth.

OK so why can't I do links? Please someone tell me, I follow the instructions at the bottom of the page, or so I think!!!