Due in Sept '07 - new thread (ish) until we can think of a good thread name, because we didn't notice the message counter and oops we've run out of room for messages!!! Am lost, here alone, come and find me.. HELLLLOOOOO

[Hopeitwontbebig]

Oooh this bad Boxer has just farted and it STINKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

not one of the worst stories on the thread, I agree that first timers should enter the area with caution.
lol at bucket.

It's really not that bad, you sort of get used to having some one checking your bits, and if you're high on gas and air (or pethidine) you don't care as much.

Canadianmum - that's exactly what someone wrote in my leaving card when I was going on Maternity leave with DS1 'leave your dignity at the hospital door and pick it up on the way out' SO SO true. I didn't realise how true it was until I'd been through it.

For all you first timers, you really really don't care. Funny, the first half of my labour with DS1, DH would leave the room when I was being examined.... towards the end he was holding one leg up because I'd had an epidural!! He SO isn't the type to do that sort of thing, but it just seemed so natural/normal at the time.

I asked DH what he thought about the whole labour process and he summed it up perfectly from a 'spectators' view "WIERD" was the word he chose! TBH you remember everything, it is such an amazing experience to go through, I remember every single detail of my first delivery and that was over 10 years ago! My Mum says the same.

Talking of Mums, Sophus any news on how your mum's getting on. I hope it's all going well.

hey big wide sea... . Did you have pethidine then? I had right at the end of my labour with DS2. It was sooooooooo strange, it made me feel like the bed had shrunk and I was going to fall off. AND it made me go a bit deaf, so I was shouting at the midwife that I was falling off the bed

canadianmum RALPH FIENNES ooooooooooh

My NCT class is a bit anti pethedine - can't think why it sounds fabulous to me. My friend told me that when she was getting stitched and was still high on pethedine she told the consultant that he looked like the Shoemaker from the Shoemaker and the Elves????

Pennypops, what's your NCT class like? I've got my first one next week and I'm not sure what to expect. Is it quite group-huggy? I'm worried dh will run a mile if he's asked to do too much 'sharing'!

I had pethidine and thought it was rubbish - didn't do anything to the pain just made me a bit irrational but then I think that some people find it helpful (but I don't meet many of them on the labour ward as a midwife and I have given it quite a few times).

Hello Bumblebee,

My NCT is class is ok - I had reservations (prob much the same as you) that it was going to be full of organic earth mummies who wanted to breastfeed their kids till they went to college but actually everyones really nice and normal.

They actually seem to go out of their way NOT to dictate - ie. teacher has encouraged us to cover all birth options and has not regaled us with stories about how dreadful c sections are etc. They tend to just make you think about things rather than tell you the way to think. My dh has actually quite enjoyed the classes and he would be similar;y mortified by anything too "huggy"!

We joined because I wanted to meet people as being isolated after the birth is one of my biggest fears - its worth it for that alone I think.

Go for it and enjoy!

my personal view on the class I went to was, waste of time I know how to breathe ffs. I know alot of people do find them useful though. Give it a go and who knows?
Yes I had pethidine with ds1 and found it to be rubbish. I was high as a kite, felt all the pain, hullucinated that I was swimming in a fishtank and can't clearly remember the birth, just details iyswim. I wouldn't recommend it, but as everyone is different i'd say go with the flow and do what is right at the time.

Thanks Pennypops, that's really reassuring . If your dh managed to enjoy himeself, maybe mine can too! Thanks also for the rather more cynical wisdom TBS . I've been warned! Like PP, though, my main reason for wanting to go is to meet some other mums to be. Finish work in 2 weeks' time and it will be SO weird to be home alone.

My mum warned me off pethadine but her main reason was that they gave it too late. I know a couple of prople who had it a few hrs in to a long labour and it enabled them to sleep for a bit but with my mum she was given it around the time they broke her waters and things went really fast from there and she felt too out of control.

i completely agree with the dignity thing. I had a few sleepless nights about losing my dignity but when the time came i really didn't care!

HIWBB - found your DH labour comment hilarious but so true!

Canadianmum - so glad your anniversary dinner was good, you'll never forget the one where you sat next to Ralph Fiennes!

Thebigsea - Love the new name! I obviously have no experience of this, but the stories of pethadine really put me off, I'd rather have an epidural if I was going down the strong pain killer route (and I'm pretty sure I will - sooooper wimp that I am!)

I have read some of those stories on the pregnancy thread, tbh I've tried to avoid those kinds of threads cos it is scaring me a bit, and as I already have pain issues, there's no point in scaring myself further!

canadianmum - v jealous at your Ralph Fiennes encounter, I never seem to see any famous stars unless I'm with dh, he's such a
star spotter! Must have been a fab restaurant!

Well I've bought myself a maternity swimming costume... hmm that's something I'm not going out in public in. My legs for some reason are HOOOOOOOOGE! For some reason most of my weight has gone on my legs, either that or I'm retaining fluid like it's going out of fashion! I wouldn't be too jealous of my hols Edie... there are massive forest fires all around the region where we're going! eeek !!!!!!

Hello ladies!

Edie - glad you're feeling more relaxed about things now...

canadianmum - I have to admit that I looked up Ralph Fiennes because I'm not very good with names! Big wow!!!

thebigsea - love the new name!!

MrsMar, where are you going on holiday? Hope you have a lovely restful time. When do you set off then?

sophus, have been thinking of you and your mum today xx

I did ask for pethadine when I was having DD1 but it was too late - glad I didn't get it after reading your experiences! I'm hoping to stick to gas & air this time but its impossible to plan these things! I'll just have to go with the flow...

I've decided not to do the classes this time around for a few reasons. Mainly because its my third and (without sounding smug) I feel quite confident that I remember it all from the last two times (attended them both times). But also because DH won't go near anything like that with a barge pole. He suffers from agoraphobic tendencies and anxiety attacks, hence why my Mum is being my main birthing partner. I've given him instructions to stay at least in the next room when it happens but I'm sure mum will coax him in to be with me in the end (again I'm gonna have to go with the flow!) She was with me when I had DS and has been with people for births because of her job so I'm quite confident in her abilities (I hope!).

Anyway, my heartburn has been a nightmare today! Also, I've been getting a stitch around my bump, even when I'm sitting down!? Along with the 'tightenings' I'm convinced these are different types of bh - anybody had similar experiences? The tightenings don't hurt but the stitch does! I'm seeing my consultant in the morning so I'll ask then...

I just spoke with my exhusband and he has very kindly offered that he can take some holiday just after baby is born and have the kids for us if we need some time alone. I thanked him but told him that I don't want to ship them out of the way or they'll feel left out of things. I can't believe him sometimes! Grrrr I feel its best that we carry on with the normal routine as far as they go to him roughly every weekend or every other weekend and we're very flexible about it all. I don't want to shove them out of the house, I want to share LO with them! Am I being silly? (if so, feel free to give me a slap!).

PLP xxx

lol at you attending them both times. I was there at all three of mine as well. What an amazing coincidence!

Hi all, just a quick note to say that I've finally got around to changing my name in order to stop confusing people. (I was rhubarb90 before) Hope you're all well and everything.

thebigsea - PMSL!! Just re-read my post and realised how it reads!!! Of course, I meant that I attended the classes both times!!!

Still laughing!!!!!

and I thought you were being witty
It did read VERY funny like

Well, as I keep telling poor DH - I'm blonde, pregnant and I've got Irish blood so there's no hope LOL!

I could try and salvage it and look really clever and funny but I wouldn't know how!!!

The other one that the family STILL laughs at is that I was deep in conversation recently telling DH about the roadworks they're doing on one of our local roundabouts and I said that I had heard they're going to be installing fireworks on it!

I actually meant traffic lights

When we drive past it now, this is DS: "and now we are passing the Catherine Wheel...!"

really? I'm a sort of chocolate blonde at the moment

I had gas and air, pethedine and an epidural with ds, all were just to late to really take effect though as my labour went really quick with no space between contractions. I just didn't feel like the pethedine helped one iota which is why I then went for the epidural, mind you that takes 20 mins or so to take effect and I was ready for pushing 10 mins after having it.

I will skip the pethedine this time and go straight for the epidural though

Hey everyone - not had a chance to read all the posts. so hope everyone is doing ok. have check up tmrw - have my GTT test and maybe my anti-d, better check what my notes say. Not looking forward to that one!

Thebigsea - am so glad that name has stuck!

epidural?

Hey everyone - not had a chance to read all the posts. so hope everyone is doing ok. have check up tmrw - have my GTT test and maybe my anti-d, better check what my notes say. Not looking forward to that one!

Thebigsea - am so glad that name has stuck!

thebigSea - I just read to DH what you said about hallucinating about swimming in a fish bowl SO FUNNY!!

PLP- I have the same disease as you so it did give me a giggle that you called traffic lights fireworks I kind of understand the logic though!

Well just a quick one from me again tonight as laptop is out of power again, and I haven't the energy to go into the dining room to unplug the charger and bring it in here into the lounge!

Nighty night all, hugs

x x