October 2017 #5!

[GimbleInTheWabe]

Hope no one minds me setting up a new thread- we were getting full up on the other one!

Here is the link to the deets sheet, feel free to add or edit your details as you please:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pa8LZMKMLvREYH4kFiNqn1dD7aTb053cT_KHvghwvSM/edit?usp=sharing

Bring on the third trimester aches, midwife appointments and birth plan chat!

I don't think hiccups indicate a problem, DD got them loads before and after being born! That is really interesting where you are all feeling them. I previously assumed you would feel them where the head is, but seems it might be more bum located! I've been getting them at the bottom of my bump but today they were near the top, so I take that as a good sign.

Hiccups aren't a problem at all! I spoke to my MW about them ages ago as bump gets them at least 3 times a day and it isn't an issue! They are so bloody strong now they hurt!

Bobbie I'm anaemic too and my GP said that at the levels I was at it would take about 4 months to get back to normal levels (I'm supposed to take 3 a day) so I'd be taking them for a couple of months after the birth. You can lose a bit of blood giving birth too, so helps to get you back level again.

Thanks for the hiccup reassurance

Been getting quite a few cramps tonight.. I’m sure it’s nothing but so hard to not obsess.
has anyone else been practising hypnobirthing btw? I’ve been quite lax at listening to the cd in the last few weeks (I.e I have listened to it about 3 times ) but I’ve still felt the benefit. Fingers crossed it’ll help when things kick off.

DS was very hiccuppy inside and out (his newborn hiccups were the cutest things as they sounded like baby duck quacks and he'd look around like he was trying to see who did that to him). It didn't seem to be a problem for him at all when he was inside/small.

I read a hypnobirthing book (quite sweet and old fashioned Katherine Graves one) and found reading it enough to adjust my mindset related to labour in a very positive way. I didn't do any exercises though but just kept a picture of how things worked in mind as I did some breathing we were taught in yoga during my last labour and managed 24 hours of natural strength contractions after my waters broke plus about ten of drip augmentation with that, a TENS machine and used gas and air after they put the drip in but more to take my mind off the cannula than to help with the pain! I remember asking myself during the pushing stage if I could do this again and thinking "labour is a yes but there is a big maybe hanging over the pregnancy part!"

Bobbie, maybe they just come in big packs. I think most people they are prescribed for have to take the a day initially and then one when they are no longer anaemic, just so they don't drop again.

Oh forgot to add. DS2 did not want to share a birthday with his big brother, so we had a nice day with two visits here, cake, cards, singing and one of his presents. After two lots of Propess pessaries (24hrs each), I now have 6 hours of a Prostin tablet, which is the same but stronger although a lot less scratchy feeling. So nice to have the Propess out. It felt like a Biro lid was up there and I was scared it would drop out in the loo! Fingers crossed it will have opened the cervix by tomorrow morning.

Glad you had some fun birthday celebrations to take your mind off things in the hospital @Cineraria . Hope things get moving for you soon. I was told they are gel suppositories so I assumed they would be soft, maybe not from your description! Baby duck quack hiccups sounds so cute too!

I used the Maggie Howell hypnobirthing CD and book last time and am doing the same this time. I found it helped with getting in the right frame of mind for labour as well as with breathing and visualisation techniques for coping with contractions. I coped with just gas and air plus tens machine last time. Hoping to have a water birth this time (high blood pressure stopped me before) but I don't know many people that have actually managed to have one for various reasons.

Argh, I was having on / off contractions yesterday evening and night, feeling like proper strong ones, but they have totally gone this morning. All I've got from it is a sleepless night! Packed DH off to work after bringing him home early yesterday with all his home working stuff and now feeling a bit silly, but I never had this stop starting nonsense with my other 2! Thankfully MIL has taken DS2 for a walk so I can catch up on a bit of sleep.

Morning all!

Just thought I would pop on quickly while I have a quiet 5 mins to let you know that our DD arrived safely yesterday at 1.55pm weighing 6lb 13oz. She is perfectly perfect in every way! We have completely smitten with her and the 2 days of false labour was totally worth it!!!

Hope everyone is feeling ok 😘

@pingusmistress I think it depends what your hospital uses. Ours uses Propess, which is like a piece of flat plastic inside a flat mesh bootlace, so you have the lace hanging out. They say it's like a tampon but at least they are soft and round with a thin string and much more comfortable! Now I have a powdery tablet which is stronger, faster and less sore.

Potatoes, mine are always stronger at night too and tail off in the day even in my last labour. I think the hypnobirthing books talk about that, maybe that darkness is favourable for Oxytocin or something. Could be things will ramp up again when you pull the curtains for your nap or tonight.

Cross post while being put on the monitor! Congratulations Waps! Such great news. Hope the labour was ok, though long, and that you are both feeling well.

Awww congratulations Waps!!! 😊 Very exciting and hope you're home resting now!

Aww congratulations wapsmahoney how lovely. I hope the birth went well, do you have a name yet?
I've been getting a few braxton hicks I'm 38+3 so baby could come anytime now. I'm over analysing any signs/twinges in case it the start of labour. Also my husband gas told his boss he needs to be working nearby, he was 2 hours away on Monday so I was panicking a little.
So exciting that babies are arriving!! xx

I get like 5 seconds of lower back pain and get excited that it might be start of things! 🙈 My dog whined at 2am this morning and I woke up thinking "he knows labour is about to start and is trying to tell me" ... turns out he just really needed a poo. 😂 I swing between telling myself that I can't get too hung up on wanting baby to come right now as statistically they're unlikely to, whilst also weeping internally at the thought of another 3.5 weeks of this!!

Congrats @wapsmahoney!! Enjoy this special time. Did you manage to have the waterbirth you were hoping for? I’m jealous that my due date buddy has got her baby!

Glad everyone else said that just reading about hypnobirthing helped them as that’s what I found too. I enjoy the relaxing CD but I don’t find info in to a different state ad it were. However the breathing and mental shift are all really useful tools. My friend gave me a CD and booklet so saved me paying for it, I’d seen courses going for £300+ so I’m really glad I didn’t end up paying that much for it!

Glad you’re more comfy now @Cineraria, hopefully things get moving soon!

Huge congrats wapsmahoney! I was wondering how you were doing. So exciting. Hope everything went well x

I'm exactly the same mummabubs! I'm only 37 weeks still so I think I'll be completely insane by my due date.

Good luck cineraria. Hope things kick off soon for you.

We can go insane together Tippety! 🙈 By my original EDD I'd be 39+1 today so Ive decided to just revert to that in my head so I don't feel quite as far away from potential d day as otherwise! That and I don't know about others but the messages have started for me from my family, in-laws... I even found out the other day that our neighbours have set up a whatsapp group to see if anyone can spot me leaving for hospital... which I find utterly bizarre as we're friendly but not close if that makes sense and I hate the idea of being road gossip! I've just emphasised to everyone that I doubt they'll be getting updates any time soon 🙈

Wapsmahoney Congratulations!!!! Lovely news!

Exciting potatos! Annoying to miss out on a nights sleep, you'll have to try to take it easy if you can, encourage things to get going!

Hope stuff gets moving soon for you Cineraria!

Pingu I had a water birth with DS! It was fab, so hoping for the same again. How many pools are there at your hospital? I did a bit of research at our hospital before hand, and they only have three pools, but less than one baby a day born in the pools, which surprised me as the idea of water birth seemed very popular with my peers. Turns out a lot of the time they're out of action because a) someone who doesn't actually want a water birth is using the room, or b) it's been used and not cleaned yet!
The key is to let the mat unit know asap when you're in labour, even if you're not ready to go in yet, and let them know you want a water birth. That way they know you're coming in, probably in the next 12hrs or so, and can try to make sure there's a clean one available. Just keep reminding everyone that it's what you want every time you speak to them, when you arrive, when you get on to the ward etc!
The other issue with water birth is that you'll need to get to 5cm dilated before they like you to get in to the pool, as it can slow labour down if you get in too soon. Getting there with just gas and air can be a challenge, esp if you're back to back or there's any other issues, and if you've had anything stronger it does rule it out, so bear that in mind. I managed with hypnobirthing so hopefully you'll find it works for you again - I hope you get one!!
Lol, sorry, that was a right essay

Im also on constant labour watch - it really does feel imminent, but it could be three weeks yet!!

Had my 25w app today. BP, urine and heart beat all good. MW didn't measure the bump as apparently the start doing that at the next appointment. This was the 4th different midwife I have seen so far!

Congrats waps! Enjoy this time x

Congrats on the new arrivals.

I had my last scan and consultant appointment yesterday. I'm 36+4 today, they estimated yesterday that she is 6lb 13 oz at the moment. Blood pressure low as always and everything else ok. Then saw a midwife before the consultant and she checked the babies position, and she said at best she could feel 2/5 above the pelvis, said it's between 1-2 above and the other 3/5 is very firmly engaged. Which I suspected as have been very uncomfortable over the last week or so. Braxton hicks are happening more frequently and she thinks baby will arrive earlier than the CS which is booked for 9/10 when I would be 38+2. Did the MRSA swabs yesterday too as she wanted to make sure they had the results through in case I go into labour earlier rather than doing them when they would normally do them as part of the pre op assessment and told me to make sure my bags are all packed. Just hoping she stays put until next Tuesday as I'm only eligible for maternity allowance if she arrives on or after the 3rd!

@wapsmahoney congrats!!

Huge congrats waps!! So glad your lovely wee DD has come along.

Hope things get moving soon, Cineraria, I'm following your progress with interest as I'm being induced tomorrow. The Prostin definitely sounds better than the Propess! Hope you're comfy.

Had a nice walk to Home Bargains with my mum today but was so knackered and bursting for the loo as I got home that I can't help but think this wee fella was never planning to stay inside until 40 weeks!

Ah congratulations @wapsmahoney , lovely news! How early were you compared to your due date?

Good luck for tomorrow @AgentCooper .

@Nessalina there are two pools at my hospital but, like yours, they are not often both in use. I will make sure I tell them in plenty of time and many times over that I want a water birth as you suggest! I tried to have a home water birth with DD and was just going to get in the pool when my blood pressure sky rocketed. I ended up getting whizzed to hospital in an ambulance and then strapped up to a monitor so no water for me. Fingers crossed for second time lucky.

Congratulations wapsmahoney!

I have had another night of contractions that disappeared with the sunrise Every 20 mins increasing to every 10 from 2am, strong enough to wake me from my doze every time. I was sure this would be it but now nothing, so tired and frustrated with this!