Due in April 2007 - follow the light babies, follow the light ............ there's a stealth polar bear at the end!

[EllieKthePA]

in case you're wondering, Katy44 is the Polar Bear

how are the pains now?

Hi Katy - you asked earlier why you should take paracetamol. It is because it can ease the discomfort of the contractions you are having just now. Couple them with a warm bath. If the contractions ease then you are not in establishes labour. Take yourself off to bed after that with a hot waterbottle to lie at your back or the top of your thighs.

You will find that you will get runs of contractions which will get closer together then they may ease off. Pasracetamol and a bath can help you rest through this phase.

Getting an internal just now is not helpful. You will be mega disappointed if you are 1cm dilated.

Your hopes might be raised if you are 2-3 but you could stay like that for 24 hours or more.

The time to go into hospital is when you cannot carry on a conversation through your contractions and you need to hold onto something. Best to stay at home as long as possible. Good luck

Thanks mears
I'll go in the bath I think.
I don't think I could talk throuh them now - have to concentrate on breathing and they take too much

try the bath Katy but wake dh first, just in case you are in too much pain to get yourself out xx

I've just realised if I go in the bath I won;t be able to put my tens pads back on. Might just try sitting up for a while so I can be more active when they come

Great minds
Think I'll wait a while - it'll give me something to do later. At the moment I think it's so bad becasue I'm asleep when they start and so wake up in pain and in a panic and I can't get up in time to walk

you can put tens back on, you'll need to be dry first and it might not work as well, but to be honest i think TENS is better for the early stages, if they're strong now is the time to try the next thing

ok, so try pacing

Yes, that's much better
I just need to not sleep!

Yes, that's much better
I just need to not sleep!

The effect of the TENS will continue for a while, even with the pads off. The water in the bath acts in the same kind of way - the warms of the water eases the pains. You can then put TENS back on when you get out. Have you had the paracetamol yet?

Joe finished feeding so i've expressed what was left in my norks, i have started to use shells instead of pads on the side i'm not expressing as i was leaking lots. on the side with the shell i 'leaked' over half an ounce!

I had some at half 11 so can't have any more for another hour - I assume the usual applies?

Nice one Ellie

isn't it every 4 hours Katy?

hardly nice Katy, tis fab when expressing but imagine how soggy i get when i leak that much while feeding him at night

oh
Actually the box says 4 times in a 24 hour period - so that 6 hours!!

So did you win the wet nightie competition with Pinions?

Yes Ellie - it is 4 hours between paracetamol doses.

I am off to bed now Katy. Make sure you have something to eat while you are up. If the contractions ease off try and get some rest. First babies can be very stop and start. Don't exhaust yourself pacing around unless you find you can't lie or sit.

Good luck. You'll soon be in the company of Ellie and co. - up for night feeds

The 6 hours only refers to 24 hour period. You can take it 4 hourly but no more than 8 tablets (4g) in 24 hours.

dunno Katy, maybe we should start that as the next 'nipple stats' thread

how much do you leak/how much does your baby dribble out of bottle

Thanks mears - I thought 6 hours seemed long. Thanks for everything good night

Wonder how it would relate to the nipple measurement on the older thread?

i'm off for some sleep now Katy but will be awake again in a couple of hours so text me if you need me, i really don't mind