December 2016 babies.... not long to go now!

[KitKat1985]

List of members (it's long!):

Duxb - EDD 26th Nov. Team pink.
MrsJoJo - EDD 28th Nov. Team yellow.
ScottishGirlx - EDD 28th Nov. Team yellow.
Theaks - EDD 28th Nov. Team yellow.
KitKat1985 - EDD 28th Nov. Team pink.
Essybird - EDD 29th Nov. Team yellow.
Lucymoomoo - EDD 30th Nov. Team yellow.
Mrsthedog and husband Puppythedog - EDD 30th Nov. Team yellow.
Orchidnap - EDD 30th Nov - 1st Dec. Team yellow.
Honeymoon84 - EDD late Nov / Early Dec. Team yellow.
Sinead08 - EDD 1st Dec. Team yellow.
Kippersandcurtains - EDD 1st Dec. Team yellow.
SolomonDaisy - EDD 2nd Dec. Team pink.
Babyinthacorner - EDD 2nd Dec. Team yellow.
SouthDownsSunshine - EDD 2nd Dec. Team pink.
Oddsockfairy - EDD 2nd Dec. Team yellow.
Fiddlesticks123 - EDD 3rd Dec. Team blue.
Devgal - EDD 3rd Dec. Team yellow.
Peanutbutter2409 - EDD 3rd Dec. Team blue.
SecretSquirrelsSecretFriend - EDD 3rd Dec. Team yellow.
HereWeGoAgain16 - EDD 3rd Dec. Team yellow.
Zazie7 - EDD 3rd Dec. Team yellow.
Nuttypops - EDD 4th Dec. Team yellow.
Pops1985 - EDD 4th Dec. Team yellow.
Birchygoo - EDD 4th Dec. Team yellow.
Simpsonsaddict - EDD 4th Dec. Team yellow.
Thisisbonkers - EDD 4th Dec. Team yellow.
NurseRosie - EDD 5th Dec. Team yellow.
Azure83 - EDD 5th Dec. Team blue.
ElectraJane84 - EDD 5th Dec. Team blue.
Tisilisa - EDD 5th Dec. Team yellow.
DartmoorDoughnut - EDD 5th Dec. Team blue.
Christmasbaby16 - EDD 5th Dec. Team yellow.
TipBoov - EDD 6th Dec. Team pink.
K2fatcat - EDD 6th Dec. Team yellow.
Babydreaming - EDD 6th Dec. Team blue.
EllenDegenrate - EDD 6th Dec. Team yellow.
LittleBear01 - EDD 6th Dec. Team blue.
NotAClue82 - EDD 7th Dec (but likely having c-section early November). Team pink and pink. HAVING TWINS!!
User1459543334 - EDD 7th Dec. Team yellow.
Excitedmummytob - EDD 7th Dec. Team yellow.
SaintExupery - EDD 7th Dec. Team yellow.
BowSurprise - EDD 7th Dec. Team yellow.
Sunnydays321 - EDD 7th Dec. Team yellow.
Littleblondie - EDD 7th Dec. Team pink.
Kitch82 - EDD 7th Dec. Team yellow.
Shopaholic85 - EDD 8th Dec. Team pink.
Rosa89 - EDD 8th Dec. Team yellow.
Babymaybe562 - EDD 8th Dec. Team yellow.
Hanste123 - EDD 8th Dec. Team yellow.
Eskerina81 - EDD 8th Dec. Team blue.
Livelyredjellybean - EDD 8th Dec. Team yellow.
TheDisillusionedAnarchist - EDD 9th Dec. Team yellow.
Pocketsized - EDD 9th Dec. Team yellow.
Barkingtreefrog - EDD 9th Dec. Team pink.
Lilydaisyrose - EDD 9th Dec. Team yellow.
Tinajayne1993 - EDD 9th Dec. Team yellow.
Bigfam - EDD 9th Dec. Team pink.
BabyBumpHopeful - EDD 10th Dec. Team yellow.
Kittyscot81 - EDD 10th Dec. Team blue.
Chookchick - EDD 10th Dec. Team yellow.
AlmondCinnamon - EDD 10th Dec. Team yellow.
Pearlman - EDD 10th Dec. Team yellow.
Insetwitticismhere - EDD 11th Dec. Team pink.
Hanna JH - EDD 11th Dec. Team yellow.
Brisgirl - EDD 11th Dec. Team pink (probably)!
Minispringroll - EDD 11th Dec. Team blue.
BelleinLondon - EDD 12th Dec. Team yellow.
Popskipiekin - EDD 12th Dec. Team blue.
Cupcakesam84 - EDD 12th Dec. Team pink.
Romoca - EDD 12th Dec. Team yellow.
Billabye - EDD 12th Dec. Team pink.
Englishgirl - EDD 12th Dec. Yeam yellow.
Nightcap - EDD 12th Dec. Team blue.
Londonmamabychance - EDD 12th Dec. Team blue.
IslandLife - EDD 12th Dec. Team pink.
Lovewatchingrainfall - EDD 13th Dec. Team yellow.
Mistletoe1 - EDD 13th Dec. Team blue (probably)!
Littlejenfer - EDD 13th Dec. Team yellow.
Vb87 - EDD 14th Dec. Team yellow.
Majorlyscared1993 - EDD 14th Dec. Team yellow.
MangeToooot - EDD 15th Dec. Team yellow.
Youngoldmum - EDD 15th Dec. Team yellow.
Kajlo - EDD 15th Dec. Team yellow.
Bumplovin - EDD 15th Dec. Team pink.
BristolLFR - EDD 15th Dec. Team yellow.
Underrugswept - EDD 16th Dec. Team yellow.
ElodieS - EDD 16th Dec. Team yellow.
OrianaBanana - EDD 16th Dec. Team pink.
StubbleTurnips - EDD 16th Dec. Team blue.
Hanch99 - EDD 16th Dec. Team yellow.
Looseyloo411 - EDD 17th December. Team yellow.
Growingbeanno2 - EDD 17th Dec. Team yellow.
FluffyPickleMonster - EDD 17th Dec. Team yellow.
FlyingSpaghettiMOnster - EDD 18th Dec. Team yellow.
Jbailey149 - EDD 18th Dec. Team yellow.
Hannahcarpe27 - EDD 18th Dec. Team yellow.
Firawla - EDD 18th Dec. Team pink.
Stripeyorangesocks71 - EDD 18th Dec. Team blue.
MadeInWolves - EDD 18th Dec. Team yellow.
Sueevone - EDD 18th Dec. Team blue.
PpaaWWss - EDD 19th Dec. Team yellow.
SteffiMuse - EDD 19th Dec. Team blue and pink!! HAVING TWINS!!
Angshore - EDD 19th Dec. Team yellow.
Led2012 - EDD 19th Dec. Team blue.
Jfw82 - EDD 19th Dec. Team blue.
Ermmm - EDD 19th Dec. Team yellow.
JillyCooper2015 - EDD 20th Dec. Team yellow.
Lamington85 - EDD 20th Dec. Team yellow.
ButtonAndBows - EDD 20th Dec. Team yellow.
Flapjacklover - EDD 20th Dec. Team yellow.
Pacificlass - EDD 20th Dec. Team blue.
Goinggrey1978 - EDD 20th Dec. Team yellow.
Grapefruit8 - EDD 20th Dec. Team yellow.
Bumbleclat - EDD 21st Dec. Team pink.
Stargirl84 - EDD 21st Dec. Team pink.
Doubletrouble41 - EDD 21st Dec (but likely arriving in November). Team pink and pink!! HAVING TWINS!!
Mejse - EDD 22nd Dec. Team blue.
Roxy2307 - EDD 22nd Dec. Team yellow.
Helgathehairy - EDD 22nd Dec. Team pink.
SeashellHoarder - EDD 22nd Dec. Team pink.
PlumpAndPlain - EDD 23rd Dec. Team yellow.
Cnchapmanxx - EDD 23rd Dec. Team pink.
Hiccup223 - EDD 23rd Dec. Team yellow.
Mozfan1 - Edd 23rd Dec. Team yellow.
Frostysnowflake - EDD 24th Dec. Team yellow.
Yorkiedodah - EDD 24th Dec. Team yellow.
Appletree4 - EDD 24th Dec. Team yellow.
Daisychain07 - EDD 24th Dec. Team blue.
Weechops - EDD 25th Dec. Team pink.
Anewleaf - EDD 25th Dec. Team yellow.
AppleMagic - EDD 25th Dec. Team yellow.
Lucya87 - EDD 25th Dec. Team yellow.
Ruby12345 - EDD 25th Dec. Team yellow.
Oxlady - EDD 25th Dec. Team pink.
TinyTickler - EDD 25th Dec. Team yellow.
Nojo82 - EDD 25th Dec. Team blue.
Veryfriendlylion - EDD 26th Dec. Team yellow.
SpaceDinosaur - EDD 26th Dec. Team yellow.
MrsG32 - EDD 28th Dec. Team yellow.
Flyawayblue - EDD 28th Dec. Team pink.
Sthldn1sttimer - EDD 28th Dec. Team yellow.
SylvanusWindrunner - EDD 29th Dec. Team yellow.
Shemozzle - EDD 29th Dec. Team yellow.
Newhairdontcare - EDD 29th Dec. Team yellow.
Tilleuls - EDD 29th Dec. Team yellow.
Firsttimer16 - EDD 29th Dec. Team blue.
MrsGardening - EDD 30th Dec. Team yellow.
Admarks - EDD 30th Dec. Team yellow.
Bella1985 - EDD 30th Dec. Team yellow.
PenguinePenguins - EDD 31st Dec. Team yellow.
Whatafrickennightmare - EDD 31st Dec. Team yellow.
Wilfrhodes - EDD 31st Dec. Team yellow.
Peanut2904 - EDD late December. Team yellow.
Tinklypoo - EDD 2nd Jan. Team pink.
ZylaB - EDD 3rd Jan (but Dec delivery planned). Team yellow.
Swancourt - EDD 3rd Jan. Team yellow.
LucySB123 - EDD early Jan (but Dec delivery expected). Team yellow.
Feefeefs - EDD tbc. Team yellow.
SaraAndThePea - EDD tbc. Team yellow.
Lemonade30 - EDD tbc. Team yellow.
Pockets123 - EDD tbc. Team yellow.
SquelchyFelch - EDD tbc. Team yellow.
PiccolaPixxie - EDD tbc. Team yellow.
OurGrowingFamily - EDD tbc. Team yellow.
Jayner182 - EDD tbc. Team yellow.
Rubixx - EDD tbc. Team yellow.
MrsG32 - EDD tbc. Team yellow.
Livvy79 - EDD tbc. Team yellow.
Newbie199 - EDD tbc. Team yellow.
Dueindecember2016 - EDD tbc. Team yellow.
ImYourMama - EDD tbc. EDD tbc. Team pink.

"Raspberry leaf tea is thought to tone the muscles of your uterus (womb), to help it to work better during labour. ... One small study found that women who drank the tea regularly towards the end of pregnancy had a shorter second, pushing stage of labour. They were also less likely to have a birth assisted with forceps."

My first and second labours were around 6 hours each & my third labour was 2hours and 10mins, didn't drink it during any of those. I drank it and took the capsules in my 4th and that labour lasted 4 hours but was really painful, but that's probably because it's still fresh in my memory and I was exhausted from moving house two days before, rather than the raspberry leaf tea & capsules.

Oh stubble baileys is the perfect tipple for christmas!

I took raspberry leaf tea last time and had a fifteen minute second stage. With a 95th centile boy with his hand on his head! The raspberry leaf might not have helped, but I'm not risking not taking it! I've got the capsules as my foul tea drinking capacity is taken up with nettle tea in a futile attempt to reduce swelling.

Hi Nojo, I've had 2 straightforward home births - with my eldest I had a 6.5 hour established labour and with my second, a 2.5 hour established labour. I've no idea on times for second stage for either delivery within that though but neither seemed long. I obviously don't know how I would've got on without drinking the tea, but it hasn't done me any harm so far so figured it was worth a shot again!! As far as I understand it, the most important thing is that you build it up gradually.

I'd not heard that about raspberry leaf tea and I'm really surprised as I drank it after each miscarriage to speed up/restart the bleeding when it slowed down but the miscarriage still hadn't completed. I was told it makes the uterus contract. It even said on the side of the packet not suitable during pregnancy! I suppose that's just the first 12 weeks though?

Thanks for the heads up on the boots event love

Bump I'm still taking the vitamins but forgot today as we were away from home so I was out of routine!!

Loocy was wondering how you were doing, so glad to hear little one is sticking in there still, fingers crossed for a bit longer!

Hadn't realised we were at the raspberry leaf stage already! I did take it with my others but remember doing it quite far along. I might start it in a couple of weeks though at about 32 weeks, I always found it quite nice! still taking the pregnancy vitamins, although I bought the basic pregnacare now rather than the ones with the fish oil capsule in as well, because the basic was cheap in Tesco 3 packs for a tenner! I'll probably keep it up afterwards too pregnacare do breastfeeding and postnatal ones I think, and Im sure I'll need all the energy I can get with 4 kids to run around after

What stage do you start taking raspberry leaf? Do I need the tea or tablets?

Have another scan next week, hoping baby is a bit bigger, have my second steroid injection tomorrow as well. Hopefully they work.

How is everyone? X

queen I might be wrong here but if your babies typically come early and your little one is already engaged, it might not be the best idea to take raspberry leaf at all? isn't there some advice that it can bring on labour (which is why you're not supposed to start taking too early)? I don't know how much truth there is in that. Hope you see a bigger baby at your next scan! :)

It's advised not to take it if you've had previous fast labours, or if you've had a baby in the past born before 37 weeks.

Been wodnering for a long time - how do you actually count how long a birth lasts? I mean, when people commonly ask how it went and how long it took, do you then just count the time you are in established labour, or would you count all the time since you start having (even quite infrequent) contractions?

With my first baby, I had infrequent contractions for around 12 hours (like every 20 minutes) and then more frequent contractions while I was properly dilating for 6 hours, and then I was in established labour for 5 1/2 hours. So how long would you say that birth took? Around 23 hours or just 5 1/2 hours?

Thanks, I thought it made labour easier not helped you go into labour. Thank god I asked before I took some. Xx

I thought raspberry tea leaf brought on labour early but to take from 32 weeks as it takes that long to work.

Had my consultant appointment today. All looking good, baby is nice size, just below the average but she isnt worried. Nor am I as ive had big babies im so glad. Asked about early induction as ive had big babies, she said they wouldnt unless it was largely off scale..

OK a lot of confusion about RL tea! I'd advise we all do our own research and conclude what work will well for each of us. I don't think I'd be taking it if I was expecting it to bring on labour early or to help my uterus contract from now!

This is the best study I could find on raspberry leaf tea. Basically it only has an effect on the second stage of labour and the likelihood of needing forceps. Shortens second stage by nearly ten minutes.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/11370690/

I couldn't find any evidence that it leads to earlier labour.

Thanks Soloman and good idea lilydaisy that we should do our own research! :) There was just this little niggle in back of my head that you shouldn't take it too early just in case, and I didn't want queen to go off and bulk buy RL tea on MN say-so!

Like most things I imagine it has very little effect one way or the other - but people don't want pregnant ladies taking the risk e.g. did anyone try aromatherapy first time round? we brought out the clarysage and jasmine when we were trying to avoid having an induction, and we were asked to avoid using them on the antenatal ward (wait until we got to a private room for labour) in case we set off any of the ladies NOT wanting to go into labour...

Haha, that must have been some super powerful clary sage to waft across the room and induce labour!

Has anyone written a birth plan yet? The physio took me through her recommendations for labour today, complete with Retro naked sketches. Apparently she writes to the midwife with them as well. It was quite interesting, she suggested that given my fast second stage last time I might not want to push at all and just breathe to give my pelvis time to move and align. I totally ignored all those birthing position bits of my plan last time though.

I've never really had a birth plan, I just sort of go with the flow although I'll make it known I'd like another water birth if a pool is free, it does wonders for sciatica!

I just had my 32 week appointment with GP (early - I'm 32 weeks tomorrow). She was really quick and I felt like she didn't really explain anything. I asked what my belly measured and she said 29 but said she wasn't too worried?! She then said I had white cells in my urine but didn't say what that meant! She listened to the heartbeat for about 5 secs and then wrote the rate down as 110-160 and in my notes just wrote 'well'. I was worried about the measurement and white cells but she sent me out within 5 minutes!

hi everyone, as some of you know i have another chest infection and i also asked my headmistress today if i can finish work next friday with the children instead of the 18/11/16 and i'd come in for the inset day after half term if that helped with the short notice as well, as the trapped nerve in my back which causes the whole of my right thigh on the outer edge from my hip to my knee to go numb and it used to be pins and needles constantly but over the past week its stepped up a level to constant burning and i'm now having to take paracetamol during the night as well, as its making sleeping even more difficult, currently got frozen peas on it as i've another 40 minutes until the next paracetamol dose!

Don't blame you going, as I've got to use my annual leave prior to mat leave I'm now on 3 day weeks. Which really isn't helping my stress levels and workload

Good news is tomorrow / Wednesday is my last weekly trip to London before baby, hopefully. I'm looking forward to not seeing the 6am train at Wigan again for a while!! Not sure how many more overnights i could do down there with driving to the Midlands every week too - only doing those until the end of the month and then no more work travel for me.

haha Solomon I know!! If it was that powerful, presumably shops wouldn't be able to stock it out front, you'd have to ask for it in hushed tones, prove how many weeks along you were and be ushered through to the back for some black market clary sage purchasing

Ahhhhhhh birth plans. Actually came across my first one the other day - the wonderful naivety! Probably won't bother again and go with the flow like Bigfam.

Sending strength to all those starting to feel pretty weighed down by it all. 5 weeks exactly till I go off on some pre-ML annual leave and there is absolutely no let up (although I'm going to see if I can do one day a week wfh).

hi just checking in, like pp feel like an imposter as good chance will be 30 november but officially in december club. 30 wks with twins; off to a growth scan shortly. 30 weeks feels like the homestraight!! almost there. Good luck everyone. And no birthplan for me, kind of embracing the chaos this time!

I'm not going to write up a birth plan either. With my others the only thing the midwives wanted to know from it was: do you want baby to have the vitamin k injection - and do you want managed 3rd stage with the placenta injection
I don't think they have time to read long and detailed plans anyway so they'll only skim for those 2 bits of info and that's about it!

More twins! Is that the 3rd or 4th set we've got?!

My first birth plan went something like this:
Get the baby out safely, try not to mash me up too much in the process.
PS. no pethidine, yes to Vit K, delayed cord clamping if poss

Will go with the same this time. It almost went to plan - didn't get the delayed cord clamping as dd was whisked off to SCBU and ended up with an episiotomy which I didn't even realise they had done until they were repairing it after the birth.

Best thing is to make sure whoever is with you is clear about what you do/don't want but also to be prepared for the unexpected!