May 2017 #13 the lucky thread

[Rustler74]

Just thought I'd get the next thread ready. Let them babies arrive!

crazy Ok, then good luck :) It's hard to say what labour is like when you've not been there, but it's definitely easier if you're calm, which will be difficult for you. If you do end up with a vaginal delivery (although I suspect the CS risks aren't higher than they would be anyway as you're only a little early), keep breathing (deep breathing), keep calm (every contraction means you're one step closer to meeting your baby) and try and remind whoever's with you to remind you to keep breathing / calm.

I've got two types of breathing I'm going to try this time - one for just relaxing and one for contractions. For relaxing, it's a deep breath in through your nose, picture all the air going into your head (so not abdominal breathing, all 'upwards') and then a slow exhale (again through nose, this is to stop you hyperventilating) while counting backwards from 5 (if upright you can visualise the air going out down your body and try relax each part as you get to that number, so 1 is face, 2 shoulders, etc).

For contractions, again in through nose, but expanding your bump when you breathe in like a balloon. The out breath again 5-4-3-2-1 but you're trying to deflate the balloon slowly.

@savagehk I'm going to steal those breathing techniques. Much better than the "golden thread" we were shown in ante natal class. She was all about the mouth breathing and I hate mouth breathing.

@savagehk thanks for the breathing techniques tip - very handy!

The first one is really good but I found I needed to practise to get it to work lying down - my head was happy with me doing it standing / sitting and visualising the breath out going down through by body, but lying down it got a bit confused where down was :D I've got it now though!

Oh, and for those looking into waterproof mattress covers, DS wet the bed for the first time in ages last night (probably at least a year!) - very very glad for the waterproof mattress protector on his bed!

Morning all, finally catching up as although this will be my last week of work, I have today off as it’s my birthday and I have had many bad experiences being at work in past years. I wonder if I’ll be sharing it with any new arrivals? Seems increasingly likely! One of my gifts was a sun lounger, which I managed to get some use out of a bit yesterday – told DH all I need now is to put a moses basket next to it and breastfeed whilst reclining outside (although I know the reality will be different!).

Rasperry that looks like an amazing baby shower, how lovely of your loved ones to throw you one! Hope you feel more comfortable now.

crazyzooo that must’ve been a big surprise. I hope you can get the ELCS or decide on whatever suits you best. Yes it is a good reminder to get a waterproof mattress cover – I sleep with my heated underblanket on and I’m worried I might electrocute myself when my waters go!

Yikes night-wakers, there are a lot of you. I seem to be ok at night so far, managed 9 hours sleep minus the toilet trip at 4am which is longer than I’ve managed in weeks but my time for most discomfort is the evenings – yesterday evening was full of constant movement and it gets a little much sometimes.

newbieho what a miserable night you’ve had. I’ve heard of diarrhoea before labour but not with vomiting, those two symptoms together sounds like it could be viral? I’m guessing that’s why they are advising waiting 48 hours – it isn’t easy not knowing what is going on.

dream I think my heartburn is improving, I’m guessing as baby makes their descent slightly it eases off the stomach a little. I’ll take any improvement in symptoms going! Sorry to hear of the duckling that didn’t make it but excellent job keeping the others safe.

This bean has moved slightly I can tell, as being jabbed with a head in my lower left and kicked in my upper right - did briefly look at spinning babies but when they recommended walking every day I can't possibly do any more than I'm already doing and my pregnancy ball keeps deflating every day :(

peach sounds like a puncture or an incorrectly fitting plug? They shouldn't deflate that fast!

@savagehk good breathing, sounds similar to the techniques I got from hypnobirthing tracks. I know what you mean about not knowing where down is when you're lying down 🤔

@crazyzooo sounds like you're being well cared for and you actually sound calm given the situation so you're doing really well 👏

Thanks for all the driving tips I was starting to wonder if I was just being stubborn, DH will be driving the same route in the van so I'll only be alone in the car not on the journey. I might not tell my DM about @beanturnipandspud driving or @crazyzooo driving to hospital last night but at least I don't feel that I'm being crazy 😜

Good luck all of those feeling twinges and some movement! Blueberry I'd say a baby every day this week is a strong likelihood! Baby feels like it's jabbing me in the hips today, not comfortable.

Dream my heartburn has definitely got better in the last couple of weeks. But still burping a lot.

Thanks for the breathing tips Savage, we are trying to practice hypnobirthing but we haven't done too much of it. It's good when we do it though.

It's finally my last week of work, and I finish on Thursday. Can't wait. Started well with a half hour delay to my half hour journey. Lucky I'm not too busy really.

Happy birthday @PeachIcedT , hope you will have a lovely day. Spoil yourself rotten and enjoy it 🎉 last birthday before the little one arrives!

Happy birthday peach!

crazy I hope you get your ELCS as planned. Here is a link to a really good hypnobirthing relaxation track from a great book I read. I used it when in hospital for monitoring and it really helped keep me calm. Best used with headphones.

Www.mindful-hypnobirthing.co.uk

Its the relaxation track.

Let us know how you get on!

Happy birthday @PeachIcedT

Think we're going to have a flurry of babies this week too!

I'm day 10 and hoping to get signed off by the midwives today. If I do then I'll just have to see the HV once at home and then I'm free! Thankfully I haven't needed them much and I can visit the drop in baby clinic for weighing and things. But it will be nice to not have to wait in for people visiting.

Sounds like a few babies are on their way!!
I only just got my lazy bum out of bed discovered we have no milk! So off to the shops so I can have a coffee or cup of tea.

Happy Birthday @PeachIcedT hope you're getting spoiled!

@teainbed hard to believe you're on day 10, time flies!

Back from midwife, baby is the right way round - yipee! Not engaged at all yet, so now s/he just has to stay that way!

Oh and fun fact ... it's snowing!! Hope you all have more reasonable weather!

Happy birthday Peach!

Asos are doing 20% of maternity stuff until Wednesday if you use the code Bebe20. Have just spent way too much money and ordered a couple of nursing bras and tops to try on as they count as well.

Happy birthday Peach

I may have to have a little look on Asos. Do they do nursing vests? I'm not sure what size to buy in a bra though, currently wearing a 36E which is very comfortable.

Yes, they had some vests MissMoo. I also wasn't sure about bra sizes, but I ordered a couple to try on and see. Asos are usually pretty good at returns!

What do Braxton Hicks feel like? I'm not sure if I just had my first one or if LO was just doing a massive stretch. It was quite uncomfortable at the bottom/underneath of my bump and felt almost like I needed to pass wind (but didn't). It prob lasted about 30-60 seconds and included a little bit of back ache. I was sat down when it started so wasn't from over doing it...

barnes I couldn't 'feel' mine first time around but if you have your hands on your bump you should feel tightenings. My optimal foetal positioning book commented that BH should be at the top of your bump where 'real' contractions will change the shape of your bump and you would feel them lower down. I also had very uncomfortable somethings on the weekend, not sure if stretches or movements or what.

Happy birthday @PeachIcedT !!

Thanks for the Asos code @MrsJW15 I've had my eye on some nursing basics so this as a good an excuse as any

It's so exciting that the arrivals have started! Hope everyone is settling in well. Crazy to think that in 6 weeks or so they'll all have arrived.

Day one of mat leave has so far consisted of batch baking, hypnobirthing practice, a 2 hour nap and some baby clothes washing. I've completely mentally prepared myself that baby boy won't arrive until 42 weeks (37 weeks tomorrow) so probably need to slow down a tad bit, or come up with a more extensive to do list!

Anyone still keeping up with the date eating? It was all good for the first few days, but I'm in serious need of some recipe suggestions to incorporate them into now. Getting rather sickly eating them on their own!

@Barnes79 to me they feel like period pains. When it first happened I thought it was just stuff moving about then I had to go in for monitoring and saw it on the trace, it all became clear when I saw it!

Sticky toffee pudding sounds good to me klane - unfortunately mine has a massively alcoholic sauce which I probably can't convince myself all cooks off when you make it :D

Barnes our NCT teacher said it was more likely to be BH than a stretch - it's just that baby feels squeezed! Having said that, I'm still trying to work out if the pains I'm having today are BH or baby trying to move without much space. They are at the top, and in my back, but baby tends to quick at the top as well.

@klane I obviously have a sweet tooth because I have no problem eating them

In a smoothie with peanut butter, banana and almond milk is good too. Maybe bung some veg in there to make it less sweet. Or you can put them in overnight oats.

@Klane I make my own muesli so have switched out the sultanas for dates. The smoothie sounds good rocky road . However I don't think anyone of us will best savage's sticky toffee pudding suggestion should be mandatory for all women in our condition right now!