June #9, The ABSOLUTELY FINAL stretch! The one where the little ones start arriving. Here's to sleepless nights and lots of cuddles.

[nehagarg]

Will we make it to the end of this one with all the babies here?

Here is the latest one people.

And a link to the stats.

docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oTx71GeTR-ilVPTpIhNhutAwZPqNyYNEyIDwO80PmKQ/edit#gid=0

Enjoy!

Thanks ILove. I will try and keep pain relief away for as long as I can. I seethe consultant's point that my heart rate might raise dangerously if I cant handle the pain but I'd certainly like to try.

I'm sleeping badly too Torfhinn. It's exhausting isn't it?

I noticed my ankles were a bit swollen when I went to bed last night Eastend. Like you, I'm assuming it's the heat rather than anything more sinister. Either way, I've only got just over a week until my c section so I doubt they'd do much about it now! Good luck with your growth scan.

It'll be good to have some rest time on your own Mrsmugoo. Hope your sore throat doesn't turn into a cold.

When do you go in for your induction nehagarg?

I have been loving this weather although I got very hot when we popped into town yesterday. All my maternity clothes are too wintry, but with only just over a week to go until the birth, I'm not going to buy any more! I've managed to find one stretchy non maternity skirt which I can wear under the bump so I'll be living in that until either the weather breaks or I have my c section!

The most useful thing we learnt at NCT was to use BRIAN when talking to doctors about their recommendations- What are the Benefits, Risks, what is your Instinct, what are the Alternatives, what happens if you do Nothing. She said you should always have a few minutes to discuss what the proposal is then at least you feel more in control, even if it isn't the birth you wanted x

Hi ladies sorry I've been quite... Been a busy spring clean down stairs n then Harry's baby shower... One spoilt baby

I think baby has dropped cos i need a pee every couple of hours or every half an hour, and the spd has ramped up to unbearable levels! 36 weeks today but it could be 6 weeks before baby is born

That's a good tip eastend, I'll be writing that down

Good luck nehagarg! How exciting! You are in control though just remember that.

I'm just exhausted all the time now! I only have to climb the stairs and I'm tired! Ridiculous! The heat isn't helping and running around after an excitable toddler.

Dd is just waking up from her nap... Urgh! Wanted another 5 min to myself but never mind! Better go sort her out... her daddy is home in about 45 min then she's all his! 😉

Eastend we had nearly the same acronym at NCT except ours was just BRAN- I'll definitely be adding the I in.

nehagarg I suppose you can just see how you are on the day with regards pain relief- you have lots of options if you need them. Is it Tuesday you're being induced?

Samba no name here either and I'm nearly 37 weeks, aargh!

Torfhinn sorry you're struggling with spd, I hope you don't end up having another 6 weeks to go!

I'm also hot in my too wintry maternity clothes but there's really no point in getting new ones now! However as I've just started mat leave I reckon I can just slob around at home in stretchy pj bottoms for the next couple of weeks Annoyingly the horrible pain I had at the top of my bump which sends stabby pains through my bump reappeared yesterday. It's so sore today, every braxton hicks is really sore, and every time anything touches that bit of my bump it's not pleasant. I wish this baby would shift off whatever he's lying on/poking into!

Hi guys just place marking thread, not spoke much but I've been lurking
I'm 36w on Tuesday and feeling it now lol.
Still another 2 weeks left in work with my Mat cover starting tomorrow. I've been having a few night cramps which feel like period pains but go after a few hours.
Negagarg how exciting you will have your baby in a few days, good luck and I hope everything goes smoothly.
I've measured in the middle line on my Fundal Height measurements which it says is an estimated weight of 4kg which is 8lb 12 which is pretty hefty! I've heard they can be wildly inaccurate anyway. I've also heard of growth scans being out too Mollie & Biking so try not to worry. Easier said than done though I know.
I'm due 7th June and hoping I don't go over I am too looking forward to getting my body back!
Had SPD since 14wk so any walk over 30 minutes means a lie down and an achy pelvis for the rest of the day. I feel so bloody lazy lol.

*Nehagarg sorry

Thanks jullie! I've calmed down about it now, I think the thing that I was most worried about was that the umbilical chord was working properly. Now I know that's ok, it's easier not to worry.

My DD is also the 7th! Although in expecting to be over as the other two were. Although everything about this pregnancy is different so watch me not back my bag in time!)

Hope everyone else is not suffering too much in the heat. I couldn't be in our living room today as it was too hot, and then at 5 o'clock discovered DD had put the radiator on yesterday so her skirt could dry! No wonder I was melting in there

Those of you talking about eating dates and using evening primrose oil to help labour...... What do I need to do?!! How many dates?! And what do you do with the EPO?

That is good biking so we have the same DD! I wonder how different they'll be lol.
I've not heard about the dates or EPO mindful, anything which helps labour I'm willing to try.
What's everyone's plan with pain relief? My thoughts are the less I have the quicker I might recover but I'm a wuss so fully accepting an Epidural might be necessary.
I want to bf and have skin on skin straight after birth and heard pain relief can make baby less alert. I'm just going to see how it goes as I'm a FTM and I've no clue how I'll cope!

Mindful the research about dates had women eating 6 dates every day from 36 weeks- that's quite a lot of sugar though, so you probably want to avoid eating much other sweet stuff if you do that...
Julie with my DS I decided to just see how I went, and in the event I didn't need any pain relief, except for movement, which really helped. I hadn't expected that at all! So my advice would be to take it as you find it and see- you might need an epidural, etc, you might not. I had a spinal block for stitches after, which was ace...

Thanks Grubby ** I know what I 'want' to happen but I'm a realist and know things change.
I'm going to see how it goes and take it from there.
I'm worried an epidural will make me push too much as I won't feel it and cause more damage I'd prefer short term pain if it means less after pain if you know what I mean?

I wouldn't worry about that too much Julie - most people have to push about as hard as they possibly can anyway (some lucky people don't!)! In any case, the midwives are there to help with that bit, and knowing when to push and when to hold back. You will be great, whatever ends up happening!
I really second (third?) the BRAIN thing- it really helps make peace with things going differently from how you hoped, and understanding what is going on.

good luck for Tuesday neha! So exciting!

Julie drugs in labour can make baby more sleepy and less alert initially but don't let that affect your decision too much. Do what you need to do. I was induced last time at due date and induction means the pains ramp up quicker and stronger so I had epidural, ended up as emcs as dd was brow presentation and she was classed as a sleepy feeder but is had drip, fluids, epidural then spinal so no wonder!
I'm likely to be induced early this time so hoping baby behaves and comes out the right way this time. I'll accept an epidural again without a shadow of a doubt but will see how I get on.
Growth Scan and clinic this afternoon to set a date for induction! Exciting!
Dd decided 5am was time to get up today but fortunately age a bottle of milk at just before 6 she's gone back to sleep. Dh is also still asleep but I'm wide awake!

julie I'm due 7th June too! DC1 was 8ib 12 and he was still so tiny!
I've always gone into labour thinking I will just see how it goes. I only had gas and air with both (until I needed a spinal block for my emcs with DC1 :()
I have such a low pain threshold but it is amazing how well your body copes when you are in labour and in that much pain. It's the adrenaline I think!

*emcs with DC2 I meant.... it is still too early!!

It's so hard to know how things will be in labour. I'd prefer to use as few drugs as possible- if I can manage on gas and air, movement and water that'd be great. I may have to be induced though, so I'm thinking that's likely to end in needing more pain relief. And also I'm a huge coward so I'm fully expecting to be begging for whatever they can give me once I realise just how painful it is!

My first mat leave day today, it's very strange! DH has left for work and I'm still in bed just pondering getting up

For the previous two I always said I didn't have a birth plan, and hadn't really thought about it too much this time. Until last week when I was having the tests to check the baby's size. Then I realised I was quite set in what I wanted. I'm now trying to back track my brain to 'take it as it comes' approach. Every birth is different and I really think the more relaxed you can be (including in the more medicalised way) the better it is.

Thanks Cheshire I'm a bit of a reader when it comes to things but much prefer personal experience or other people's as a guide. I won't rule out any drugs at all lol but really want to bf
Ilovepies another due date buddy! I bet none of us give birth on the same day! I'm glad you said you managed with gas and air as I'm not great with pain either but I've never had the motivation of meeting my child at the end of it so hope that help
Mollie glad I'm not alone in the wimp stakes lol and everyone seems to find strength in the end which is good.
I have two weeks left in work as I have a desk job but I must admit it's getting harder and I'm looking forward to finishing. My Mat cover hasn't turned up either hopefully there's a straightforward explanation.
Biking I'll be honest I scoffed at a birthing plan thinking it was not my style but the more I've learnt the more I've wanted to state my preferences. I've told DH that we will see how it goes but I've printed off my birth plan complete 360 just in case I'm not awake/able for whatever reason which I know is unlikely but calms me. On the day it'll be whatever happens, happens lol and I'll take my lead from MW's.

I had a birth plan last time and will this time too. Of course it didn't get followed to the letter but it was more an indication of my wishes more than anything else. Ie as little touching and intervention as possible. However having PE and being induced meant my wishes were carefully coralled within NHS protocols!!!
What really helped was having a doula to support me and DH. I am pretty sure this is what prevented me ending up with a CS. I used Hypnobirthing relaxing techniques for over 24 hours but did have an epidural about 7am (the induction drop was started at 1am and DS was eventually born at 1130am) and I did give birth half standing / kneeling without instruments, despite DS having a head off the top of the scale and being back to back and my BP/temp/heart rate going through the roof......
It was quite stressful if I'm honest but having more drugs would not have alleviated that.

The birth plan and doula / DH meant I didn't feel like I was being subject to a medically led activity and that we had some control. The doula advised DH on things to ask the HCPs and how to ask for more time for me. It worked really well.

This time my birth plan will be shorter.... Or at least have an exec summary!!!!!!

Wow mindful you are very organised! To be fair though I don't blame you after previous experience not being straightforward is it ever? I've never looked at a doula tbh just never thought that was an option but I know they are becoming more common nowadays. I've just got the parentcraft day on the 21st of May at the hospital which is the tour and various other info inc bf which is what I want. I feel better if I know where I'm going and where I'll be and a bit of bf support after. Other than that I've joined a FB group for a local la leche league group which meet monthly.
I've got my 36wk apt tomorrow so will show MW birth plan then.

I had gas and air, pethidine and an epidural and DD was amazing at BF. Perhaps I was just lucky? As for knowing when to push after an epidural, I got a pressure but no pain when I had a contraction plus the midwives can check the CTG and identify when the contraction is starting to help you to know when to push x

I'M TOO HOT!

That's reassuring dolly I think the advice out there is so mixed it's hard to know what to believe. Maybe it's just most babies born from medicated births are fine bf but some are less alert so they air on the side of caution. Good to know about the epidural too, I've put on my birth plan I'd like instruction on when to push too to prevent unnecessary pushing. If you felt the pressure though that's really good I just thought I'd be dead from waist down after an epidural! Proper Newbie lol