Due August '07 Part 5 - Whizzing into our third Trimester !

[tokentotty]

Hellooooo !!

Annie - Branston Hicks? Sounds like something us pg people put on sandwiches.....!!

I'm getting lots too - have 5 in 1 1/2 hours the other day which was a bit freaky - but usually fewer.

Have packed hosp bag - have not intention of using it - but this conversation does remind me I need to sort out some decent post birth pain relief to prevent me ending up in hospital!

Can i ask what is everyone doing for pain relief at home - pre going to hospital. Is anyone hiring or buying a tens machine. Suppose I am asking really if they are a good option and whether they actually provided any releif. had a look on tens hire web site and I can hire a machine for 23.95 or buy a reconditioned one for 34.95. What would you do?

Think the kick count is a normal thing just to monitor movement - they've got a chart in the back of one of my preg books to monitor it, but not sure i've got the patience to fill it in!

Glad the pains are lessening. Think you're about a week ahead of me - it's a weird feeling now the baby takes up so much room. I constantly feel as though I've overeaten and not quite convinced that I can continue to grow for nearly two more months . Someone just bought me an ice cream at work (bless 'em) and the baby went beserk wriggling around in appreciation.

Yes, read Misconceptions after you recommended it somewhere a while ago, MrsB - thanks, as it made me think more about the post-birth stuff too as well as making me feel more determined to be vocal about the birth I want. In fact, I realised that I've pretty much been focussing on the pregnancy and labour - was trying to imagine what it'll be like actually having the baby!

Kiteflying

We'll probably have the roof down and I'll be holding onto the ball for dear life whilst struggling through contractions. Then I'll let go of it and it will bounce across the Fulham road and send some stick thin blonde fulham type flying

In that case Jem - go for it !!!

apologies of course to any stick thin blonde fulham types... once I've lost lots of weight and died my hair I hope to join you as I will have the bugaboo so will be half way there (and I do have lots of friends who live in fulham who are very nice!

dyed my hair of course..

once you've got the bugaboo you'll be admitted to the sisterhood no matter what colour your hair - everyone will be cooing over the colour of the pram

(clocked at least 6 in the nursery dept of Peter Jones on Sun, some with truly revolting fleece / body colour combos)

there were loads of shocking pink and orange ones in the PJ cafe when we were there- I like to think I'm going for a tasteful yet understated combo! Just off to PJ actually- the spiritual heartland of bugaboos! (buying door handles but sure will have a little divert to the nursery dept..)

I'll never fit in that set but am a bit worried as our new house is in a 'nicer' village - all my current friends say I'll stop talking to them even though only 2 miles up the road!

I had a tens machine (hired) with dd - don't know if it did anything but a was a good diversion from the pain! Also was useful for dh timing contractions - they have a boost button so he knew when I pressed that I was having one with out me having to talk. Hired one for ds but never used it as was induced and had epidural. If I can get consultant to induce this time I won't bother.

A friend of mine in Oz had her first baby 1 month ago and swears by the TENS machine she used. Thought it was the best money she ever spent and couldn't recommend it highly enough! She used it until near the end when she then had some gas. I think I'll be taking one to keep my options open. I've previously used one for neck pain and while it wasn't astonishing I think it did help relax muscles etc.

Due to start antenatal classes tomorrow night for 6 weeks which I'm looking forward to although makes everything seem scarily close!

I had TENS for the first two labours. Difficult to say what difference it made. I still had entonox too (and epidural for the first, but that's a whole other story).

I think it gives you something to focus on which helps distract you, as well as any painkilling properties it might have itself. I didn't use it 3rd time round and didn;t notice huge difference in the pain without

One tip if you are going to use TENS... Switch it off before you get your DP/H to remove it. DH got a nasty shock during my second labour!

Hmmmm....seems one of those things where it's hard to quantify its usefulness doesn't it ? One of the guys I work with's wife is due in a couple of weeks and he's got one so I think I'll borrow that and perhaps just see how I get on.

Hello PG ladies!
How is everyone?
7 and a half week to go (52 days to go) and getting really feed up now, cant sleep at all, a few bad hours is all I'm managing, going to see my MW today see what she says. finished the nursery, got every thing I need (and want ), names picked out and so ready, so just waiting for the baby now. Going for another scan in 3 weeks to see if this dam placenta has moved so I can have the HB I want and my 2 DS's are coming to the scan too they so cant wait to see the baby on a TV, bless. At the weekend I looked after a 3 week old baby for a few hours he was so sweet and so very tiny (7lb 1oz) DH was all over him like a rash, bless, really REALLY cant wait for this LO!

Babymadbigbump!

don't hold out too much home, babymad - I had my (hopefully final) high risk appt today and every single health professional I saw (2 midwives, doc, obstetrician, phlebotomist) asked how I was feeling and when I said 'Tired' said 'Oh, no-one sleeps well in late pregnancy'.

hold out too much hope, I meant

Hi all
Just back from 2 weeks in Portugal. Very family friendly - would def recommned a trip their. People couldn't move fast enough to offer me a seat on the tube/bus etc. Bit of a contrast when I arrived back and everyone on the tube in london stared at the floor and ignored me!

Haven't caughtup on all the posts - hope everyone is well and Annie you had a fab wedding.

Wanted to ask everyone's advice...I've been prescribed iron tablets from my 28 wk bloods. Is anyone else taking them? I've heard they have some digestive related side effects (which i don't really need any more of!). I was thinking if i could up my iron intake in my diet (I'm veggie but never been anaemic b4) it might be enough...but am i being unrealistic?

Also dead pleased as managed to get a buggy from freecycle!! Figure it will do for the first while and then i can get a cheaper stroller type thingy.

Apologies for long post after usually being so quiet!!

Iron-rich food advice here but if they think you need a supplement I'd take it.
Iron tablets do have a bit of a reputation for making you constipated though - if you find the prescription ones do this it might be worth trying Spatone (from Boots etc). It's a liquid iron supplement that's mean to be much less bad but make sure it matches the dose you were recommended, and obv you have to pay for it too...

Morning all.

I had a bit of a reality check last night! Went on the hospital tour and even though the m/w had said at the start that we may have a panic attack after the tour as everything would seem very real, I managed to pass out on the way round (well it was very hot yesterday and there were 12 of us crammed into a delivery room round a birthing pool, with windows and door closed...) Fortunately managed to sit down before making a complete tit of myself and keeling over!!

So that brings me on to another thing to add to your hospital bags... Our hospital doesn't provide ice due to risk of infection, so the m/w suggested that we bring our own flasks with ice-chips, if we wish. Good idea I reckon

Had a good weekend. Our travel system and cotbed were delivered on Saturday!! Went for the Quinny Buzz pushchair and carrycot in Capri (bright turquoise) but we've bought the MaxiCosi car seat in black (which also fits the Buzz frame). Mrs B - I know what you mean about lack of basket on the Buzz - that was one of my issues with it at the start but I've bought a couple of Quinny shopping bags, one sort of triangular one which clips on underneath and another clips on at the back of the frame, so hopefully that will hold everything!!

Think I must be the only pregnant person who is sleeping like a log at the moment . I've discovered a really comfy position, where I sleep sort of on my front by moving my left leg right up by my hip, so it create a gap for my bump. I walk every evening, and reckon that helps as I'm knackered by the time I go to bed.

Glad to hear you had a lovely holiday in Portugal, JSer - good to get a decent dose of relaxation in. Congrats on the buggy aquisition - what a bargain! Got mine second-hand, but you can't beat free . Re iron, I'm veggie too and have been taking Spatone (from Boots). They're water sachets but are naturally high in iron and taste fine in juice and don't give me constipation. But agree with the Badger - best to check that the two sachets a day would be equivalent to what you've been prescribed.

Poor Muffins, fainting! Mind you, hospitals make me feel all funny at the best of times. Hope you're feeling okay now...

[looks for something heavy to throw at Annie]

Oooh sorry Mrs B et al, am also still able to sleep.... Well, apart from getting up to wee. Although listening to my hypnobirthing CD knocked me out cold the other night. If anyone's interested in the relaxation stuff I'm sure I could copy it on to a CD and send it to you.

Me too! Apart from the toilet trips (which I managed to avoid last night) I am sleeping pretty well.

Feeling the heat during the day which makes me tired but other than that, no ill effects yet.

Oh well, that's if you don't count the indigestion...

I'm pretty similar to you TT - I'm able to sleep ok apart from my nightly trip to the loo... which now seems to be happening earlier in the night (about 1am) rather than 3am/5am as it had been up until about last week. Which is actually much better as it's still dark outside at 1am so it's easier to drop back off to sleep!

Is worrying already that I get excited and pleased at sleeping for six hours straight without having to get up for a wee...