Thread 11. TTC #1 Grads, Babies Arriving Or 'Look At What I Made With My Genitals!'

[AudreyBradshaw]

Behold, the wonder of birth! Members from 6 weeks bfp to post-partum wonder Mamas! No question to grotty or minging.

We've come full circle from obsessing about cervical mucus to now obsessing if it's our vagina baby plug going! What larks!

Lots of talk about poo, ours and now babies too! Baby brain is REAL! This heat can kiss my arse. And who KNEW being so neurotic about which changing mat to buy could be so satisfying and addictive!

Roll up literally, in my case, cause I'm practically rotund! for TTC #1 Grads!

Miley, basically, they have you lie on your back, feet together and then knees apart (like in a smear test), and the midwife then puts her finger(s) up your lady bits and into your cervix, if she can get that far. That depends on whether your cervix is effaced or not and have favourable it is. She then runs her fingers around the entrance to the cervix a few times, which is the 'sweep' part. The only bit that felt uncomfortable was when she got her finger into the cervix, as it felt like a bit too much pressure.

I've had a bit of bleeding since this morning, but only a very small amount, which is apparently normal.

Soda, for the induction, they try pessaries here first. You can have a maximum of three pessaries, each six hours apart. As far as I am aware, you stay in hospital for that whole period if needs be. If the pessaries don't work, they then give you the drip. The reason I don't want to be induced is they class you as high risk here if you have an induction, which means no water birth. Also, if you are induced during the day and are not in active labour by the end of visiting time, they send partner's home, so you would be in hospital during the night by yourself. They call partners back in if things start to progress.

Glad the health visitor went well Potato.

Thanks everyone, it's great to talk it out with you, and to hear other thoughts and experiences.

(Side note: weirdly, the 'mummy' and 'daddy' bit doesn't actually phase me as we already use those names with the cats - e.g. 'No, I'm off to work now, but Daddy will feed you when he wakes up' )

Thanks for explaining the sweep and pessaries, Pink.

Salt and vinegar crisps dipped in Philadelphia sounds amazing....

Lisa you need robust thick crinkled ones ..... or a wedge of pringles.

a favourite snack from student days....

Back from midwife and I'm 4/5ths engaged which is probably the reason for my new aches and pains! Everything else spotty dog and have been referred for group physio. Also got an Emma's diary pack that is actually worth having - full size bepanthen, fairy non bio pods, 2 nappies and a pack of dettol antibacterial wipes. Very minimal amount of leaflet's etc too.

Thanks pink, it doesn't sound too traumatic! I'll let anyone finger my cervix if it means baby will come on timea!

Thanks for sweep details pink and interesting to hear about different induction processes. Here they use a gel and then usually let you home for 12 hours (more if you go into early labour and things are progressing ok) and then if that didn't work you'd go back and be put on drip. I just think I'll feel much more relaxed being at home as long as I can be and I know with my BP problems they'd put in the gel at hospital and I'd have to stay there. But at least partners are allowed to stay with you at all times here so that's a positive. I'm possibly getting ahead of myself - but I just have a feeling I'll go over. I'm 38 weeks, baby wasn't engaged at all last week, bump is still high now and my mum went 10 days over with me.

Oops sorry for causing s&v crisp cravings everyone! I like the posh kettle crisps ones the best. Or any really vinegary ones. Squares are good. Love the vinegar 'dust' you get at the bottom of the packet! Never heard of dipping them in Philadelphia though Hep! Intriguing...

I've still not actually had any...

Ooh, Miley! Which way round is that - does that mean 4/5 is in the pelvis, or 1/5?

I've decided I'm buying Squares and Philadelphia on my way home from work.

Lisa here 5/5 is not engaged at all, so just 1/5 in pelvis. It's all very bloody confusing because they use different methods all over the country! Apparently babies can 'disengage' though and it doesn't mean anything will happen any time soon.

Mmmmm philidelphia!!!

Oh my now I want crisps too - might pass by M&S to get some tortilla chips to have with some Borsin cheese!

Thanks for the info pink - that sounds uncomfortable I hope spontaneously go into labour before then!

lisa I'm feeling anxious about that too now that I'm at a stage where I've managed to look beyond the birth. I don't have family around except a younger sister so I don't have my mum or older sister to show me the ropes as they live abroad. DH and I have started to call each other mum and dad now so that transition has begun!

I'm so happy with all our thread babies!

Need to catch up had an absolutely bonkers couple of days. But mostly sorry Elle for being such a terrible online friend. Here is finally the lists!!

Do you want carbs with every meal but low carb snacks between to avoid peaks between meals.

Eeeeeeek congrats nev and shelb!! Cant believe so many babies are here now and am loving my Instagram at the moment, its making me so excited to meet my little man.

I had a repeat 4d at the weekend, look at his little face! How cute is he?

5 weeks left at work for me now, I am so so over it.

I have some Philadelphia in the fridge

canters wow! That is an amazing 4d scan! How adorable is he!!!!

Canters such a gorgeous scan.what's your IG name? I haven't got you on my list

Potato glad I'm not alone in it today. Having visitors really helped today I managed an epic 2.5 hour nap. Felt utterly hideous when I woke up though. Atticus had one of his huge poonamis and Dad changed it, another win. Atticus has for the last week having an epic blow out then not pooing for three days. It does only mean 2 shitty nappies a week but it's on an epic scale and results in complete outfit changes.

Miley woohoo to the start of engagement.

Glad the sweep went well Pink, sound slike you were the same as me. Fingers crossed for the next 48 hours.

Yay shelbta congratulations! Sorry to hear it was a difficult birth.

Good luck with the job search stardrey.

Yay for jacob newmrs.

Yay to being signed off bunch!

Congratulations nev let sorry you've had such a difficult time.

Now I want salt and vinegar crisps!!!

Lovely scan canters.

We got our house!!! Hopefully. The first house we offered on the buyer fell through so they've offered it to us. We had to increase our offer slightly but they agreed to be out by 10/10/16 by which time I'll be 31 weeks so should be doable! Was all a bit dramatic tho. Pain in the arse estate agent

Also I don't think we get the bounty woman in Scotland

feef that's amazing news! Congratulations!

bunch glad you managed a nap, and those nappies sound hideous how cam something so cute do so much damage?!

Do you ladies think that walking for an hour on an evening (twice a day at the weekends) is excessive at 35 weeks? I got told by my midwife that I was over doing it yes I have a bad back but that hurts whether I'm walking or sitting on my arse.

We are home ☺

That's amazing news Leonie! Hope your first night at home goes well.

Congrats on the house Feefs!

canters, that scan picture is amazing.

Miley, I don't think that's overdoing it. You were active before pregnancy weren't you? We've been doing an hour or so a day since I started mat leave at 38 weeks.

Leonie that's great news.

Shelb, Nev congrats. Hope you're both enjoying Mummyhood.

Miley you know your own limits. If you feel up to it why stop.

I think I'm going to hang a sign round my neck tomorrow at work...'I'm fine, due in 6 weeks, I finish work on Tuesday, it's a boy, no he doesn't have a name yet, yes I'm having him at this hospital, yes I'll let you know when he arrives, you can try and visit but I'm not sure the midwives will let you all in'. Can you tell I'm getting a little bored of repeating myself? Lovely to have so many interested people bit man it's getting boring.

Gorgeous scan canters!

Fab news leonie!
*
Miley* I'd just listen to your body - if you feel ok doing the walking then carry on. Personally I struggle with 10 minute walks these days but that's because my feet are so sore and swollen. It's so frustrating because otherwise I feel pretty good.

pink yeah I was very active. I think they're definitely over cautious about it - the pairs I have would be there whether I walked or not so I think I'll just carry on.

Thanks soda, yeah the swollen feet are an absolute bugger - I can sympathise! Not long left now for you and hopefully you'll be able to get back to your usual activities pretty quickly!

co5mo yup! I am also sick of being asked if I'm aware I could drop at any time now!!! It is nice but definitely feels like you're not capable of any other decent adult conversation.

Leonie that is so brilliant! Good luck for your first night home! And big kisses for your lovely little boy

Miley yay for being engaged

Soda babies often don't engage until you're actually in labour, or so my midwife told me.

Hep salt and vinegar crisps dipped in Philly is one of my favourite naughty snacks

Canters that's a lovely scan.

Bunch good that you got to have a nice long nap. Arya doesn't really have poonamies but she did have projectile poo a few days ago in the middle of the night... It was like a water pistol, I was undressed and it went all over me
Arya has been so unsettled today, crying and grisly. It's really upsetting when she's like this as I feel like a terrible failure when she seems to be in discomfort and I can't do anything about it I know I'm not its just not nice.

Feef woohoo for house news

Miley I don't know if your walking is over doing it for you but I know I couldn't have done it at your stage

Leonie yay! For being home! Really happy for you

Just been for a nice walk with OH and Arya in her pram. It's so nice to be able to walk again. Today at the Drs I was told my blood pressure is now down to 72 and no more protein in my urine. OH said every time I have my bp taken his goes up because he's worried mine will be bad

I'm really turning into a worrier. I'm finding I'm checking on Arya's breathing etc all the time, today on our walk I was terrified Arya was getting too cold despite the hat, vest, sleep suit and 3 blankets I blame all the midwives and health visitors talking about SIDs all the time. It's making me paranoid.

Thank goodness Arya appears to be back in her normal sleep pattern. 11pm, 2am and 6am. I've actually sleep long enough tonight to have a weird dr who dream