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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Mrs Mars

Hopefully the bathroom fitting should be fairly straightforward! we are using a bunch of people we know well so fingers and toes!

My midwife is fab - she held the parenting classes and her overriding message is that so long as mum and baby are well at the end of a delivery - that is all that matters! she has done really well to set the expectation that delivery via any means - even c section should be a fantastic experience as opposed to feeling a failure. She would rather a mother asked for an epidural if she was reaching threshold of pain as opposed to getting distressed by not having it. The mobile epi's definitely sound better than the traditional ones.

Do you have any idea what level of pain relief you are taking? or will you play it by ear?

It is on her recommendation that I am doing hypnobirthing in a couple of weeks - really looking forward to it actually!

I'm hopingn to be at home for this one so no drugs for me!
plp, glad you're feelig happier now.
hopey, carpet? But what about that projectile vomiting?
Canadianmum, I know saying try to relax is easier said than done, but do, and we're all thinking of you and fingers crossed.
mrsmar, it might be a bottom!
dal21, I have been trying to warn you all that it ONLY GETS WORSE for ages now.

[nods head sagely]

Think Christmas.

hi all

just wanted to pop in and say thanks for all the good thoughts and kind wishes. Mum had her op yesterday and it went well, she's not in so much discomfort anymore. She has suffered a slight setback in that she has developed fluid on her lungs and is being tested to see if it is related to the op (most probable) or possible pneumonia - obviously we all hope not the latter. The nurses had to let her use her mobile on the ward as they said her children wouldn't stop ringing to see how she was - think she's secretly proud of us all being so annoying. When she spoke to me later on in the day she said "i'd better be quiet there are some really ill people here".
I'm off to be with her tomorrow then try and sort out her house and dog on Friday. Hopefully she'll be home over the weekend, but i think it is going to be a long haul.
I had to go see midwife today and baby is doing fine with all the stress - growing in the right position and good strong heartbeat so i feel much better about coping with it all.
Thank you all so much for thinking of me and Ma, it really has meant a lot to me.
Lots of love and i will check back in when i can.

xx

Glad to hear everything seems to be ok

Hi Dal.. I'm going to have a chat with my mw about pain management, I'm not scared of the pain so much, I was with my sister during much of her first labour, so I'm under no illusions. My big worry is that I know from past experience I don't react too well to pain (who does?) Everytime I've had to go through something painful I've gone off the charts, last time I hyperventilated til I passed out and needed a really strong sedative to calm me down. I'm not terribly proud of it, and I can't seem to control it, it's like a part of my brain I have no control over just takes over! So I'm concerned for my baby's welfare really, I know my blood pressure sky rockets when I hyperventilate, and passing out can't be good, I've done it about ten times now, so I'm pretty sure it'll happen again. I'm also concerned about taking up precious resources, if I need extra assistance for something that could be managed. I haven't mentioned any of this to my mw yet, I will do when we come to our next appt when we discuss birth plans. Lots of people in Jersey have mentioned hypnobirthing to me as it's very popular there (dh is from Jersey). I'm a bit worried that if it doesn't work I could go doolally again, and once I start there's no stopping me, so I'd really worry about what I was doing to the baby. I just don't want to take the risk with something I'm not sure will work for me. If it was just me, for example a bit of hypnosis to get through a procedure, I wouldn't mind, even if it didn't work, but I have to think of the baby.

Sorry, that's an awfully long winded explanation. It's hard to know how to put it, cos I'm not really scared of pain, more of my uncontrollable reaction to it. When I dislocated my shoulder I hyperventilated for over four hours, and tbh it wasn't that painful (until the docs reset it - then I totally freaked, but they gave me some nice drugs )

Seamonster... is that you with the crazy long name??? I did wonder if I was feeling a bottom, but it's quite firm. Maybe he's got a very firm bum! I dunno, I'm probably imagining things, but I'm sure it feels kinda lopsided, like one side is head, and the other side are his feet. Oh well, it's a fun game!

sophus - that is such good news! I hope your mum's recovery is swift and complete

Look after yourself xx

MrsMar, I found simple breathing techniques I learned at PG yoga very good for stopping me hyperventilating - very simple stuff, breathe out for longer than you breathe in, eg. count of 3 in, count of 5/6 out. The tutor taught us also to be aware of how our breathing rate was doing - again, nothing complicated.
ALl the best for your mum's recovery, sophus!

Sophus - good luck with your mum. glad your check up went well too - must be a relief to know bub is ok.

seamonster - i know oh wise one you have been warning us; guess i have just been concentrating on taking each week at a time but now am nearly 29 weeks and (feels like) entering home stretch; have started to think how I will feel. Oh well - is all worth it, I cannot wait to meet my baby!

MrsMars - I definitely think you should look at hypnobirthing or as someone else suggests controlled breathing techniques to help with the hyperventilating. I like hypnobirthing as it isnt just for me but for DH too. He will hopefully learn techniques to assist me during the labour. Anything that claims to help mind over matter and help me cope mentally is worth a go. I dont want to approach the birth feeling scared; i want to feel positive and strong. The thought of the extreme pain doesnt make me feel great right now.

Am working from home today so have feet up with no one disturbing me! Hoorah!

Mrs Mar - like you i've never coped well with pain and i tend to go into shock easily - even if i've just twisted an ankle. I was also very ill as a teenager during my GCSE's with unexplained symptoms that they eventually said was all in my head! Interestingly enough i was fine during childbirth. i did go into shock a little bit afterwards (i was in the bathroom unable to get in the bath because i felt dizzy, one of the midwifes came to find me because i'd been in there an hour! felt like 10 mins to me) otherwise i had no pain relief other than gas and air during the pushing. You may suprise yourself - i just listened to my body and let it get on with it!

You may suprise yourself!

ok repetition on the 'suprise' as i'm trying to do too much at one time - sorry! Hope you get what i'm on about

lol at oh wise one!

mrsmar, yes it's me, and if they're tucked up in the foetal position it will feel firm, I kept making that mistake...

I hope you are all feeling well, my asthma bad today so I'm taking it easy and will naturally be dipping in and out of mn.

Morning all,

Thanks for advice re urine/appts etc. I think that given my bp has been fine all along and that I haven't had puffy ankles and/or fingers I will wait until next appt. My surgery is so grotty that to be honest I don't want to go in anymore than necessary.

Sohpus - I'm so glad your Mums op went well. Crossing fingers for full and speedy recovery xx

Interesting to see the various points of view re pethedine. I am going to try and stick to G&A and water (if the pool is available) but am open to other options if it turns into a 27 hour epic. I bought a book on hypnobirthing yesterday by Marie Mangon? Don't know if anyone else has read it - would be interested to hear views. I am trying really hard to approach it positively and not be sh1t scared which, lets face it, is a fairly natural reaction to the logistics involved. At the moment I am feeling quite calm about the whole thing. The way I see it is that whether I am scared or not scared the baby still has to come out.

I read another book called "Birthing from within" thats central message is that you should basically accept that you aren't in control at all and that your body knows what to do - you just need to let is get on with it. Its about working with the pain rather than trying to escape from it. We'll see!!

The thing I worry about most is a section - I have never had surgery before and am just scared of the concept. Before I went in for observation at 24 weeks when I had that bad bleed I had never even spent a night in a hospital. I've been very lucky I know but the trouble is that I now have an irrational fear of surgery!!

Anyway, enough of my rambling. Have a lovely day everyone xxxxx

Hi everyone, thanks for your support about my silliness I'm open to all suggestions, and I'm not in the slightest bit scared really, quite accepting of the whole thing. What concerns me is that I won't know if the hypnobirthing or breathing techniques will work for me until the time comes to have the baby, and if it doesn't I could go all funny again and put the baby at risk, as really once I start there is no stopping me without recourse to strong drugs.

If only there was a way to test if it works, perhaps someone could take a mallet to my shin and then I could see if it works Then I'd be much more willing to go with it.

I'll have a chat with the midwife at my next appointment, what I don't want is the situation where the midwives are telling me I'm not in enough pain to have some kind of pain relief (as they did with my sister) because at the point where they think I am in enough pain, is usually my tipping point.

Anyway, enough of my silliness! I hope everyone has a lovely day, I'm all demob happy because this is my last shift before my hols! yipeeee!

I am very pleased with my bump band which I am sure I heard about on Mumsnet somewhere so thanks guys. It is holiding up maternity trousers that I had last time round and never wore and some more that I bought this time and thought would go the same way.

MrsMar hypnobirthing sounds well worth looking into - according to a colleage who practices this 50% of her clients have a pain free labour.

I am off to Dorset today so I am hoping for some good weather for some sandcastling with DS. Not sure how lucky we will be - had better get packing.

I have got the last of my off duty and I have three shifts together including a late early (9 1/2 hours off overnight) right at the end of my prgancy week 35 just before maternity leave. I suppose they think I have lots of time to recover but I am sure it would be daft to work that at that stage. will have to chase round looking for a swap now. at least there are no nights that month.

Hellllllooooooo ladiiiieessss.
Sorry I havent posted for ages,been dropping in now and again to try and keep up though but some days its just impossible at the minute ....so much to do so little time to do it.....

Hope everyone is feeling ok ,
Hope all who are off on breaks and hols have good weather and a great time(only just a bit ,,as you can see,no really have a great time and relax.
Welcome on board to all the new ladies that I have not said Hi to before,
Sophus ,hope your mum is better today,
Fio hope you are better too after your fall,
and I hope everyone who is having problems with the other halves in their lives are managing to get things sorted.

Starting to really panic now as I am 31 wks tomorrow and DS was born at 34wks so cant stop worrying about it.This one has been head down for my last 2 visits to the mw so thats also making me worry more .Would rather LO have been tranverse for a while.DS was head down by 33 wks ...PANIC....PANIC!

Totally wore out too,trying to potty/toilet train DS at the moment too but he wont use the potty only the loo,we only have the one in our house ...upstairs!...So its a trip up the stairs every five minutes so he can go but more often than not he dosent want to when he gets there,little devil.He has been quite a little monkey just lately too ,I think its because he cant get out to play in the garden much as THE WEATHER IS SO CRAP!!!!.

Had to buy a new printer yesterday for DP`s work,fab could really have done with spending the money elsewhere like towards the gas bill or new pushchair( which I still havent got round to ordering,still havent got the moses basket etc out the loft yet either but still...)but DS is enjoying messing with the box and the old printer....and you buy them all these nice toys.

Oh and he can now open all of the baby gates in the house apart from the Autoclose gate so thats fun for all.

As anyone decided on what theme they will be having for LO`s room yet?Had Mamas and papas sunshine safari range for DS and was thinking about having the Mothercare Baby jungle for this one as we can mix and match with some of the stuff DS had like the mobile etc as the colours are similar.

Have started buying stuff though finally like jingly toys and pushchair toys.Got my breastpump too ,ordered my lilypadz off an ebay shop from america cos it worked out cheaper(tight or what?)Only got a couple of things left to get for the hospital bag now like the nappies and mat pads.

Oh by the way no mention of another lot of blood letting for me yet but never had the 28 wk ones last time either,probably just another way to save money round here.

Anyone got any ideas on protecting their beds if their waters go when in bed.I have got a nice thick feather bed that I got off QVC and dont want it wrecked.If I buy a waterproof fitted sheet it will just squash it all flat so would be a waste of time.Did think of buying a fabric shower curtain to go under the top sheet but on top of the feather bed????????????
I know you can get those bed pads and that from boots but that are not very big and reakon they will creep around the bed in the night ...dont suggest taking the feather bed off for the time as I have real crap nights as it is already ,without it they would be dire!

Got to go someone needs the loo again and for a change its not me.

See you later.

plp - so glad you had a positive experience with Consultant and are getting some physio sorted out - hope you'll be feeling much better soon

HIWBB- you have put me to shame over your kitchen extension as I chickened out of getting ours done back in June (I just couldn't face all the disruption!) I think it was the fact that DH was working very long hours and wouldn''t be able to help that put me off too! Kind of regret it now as if we do it next year I will have a small crawling baby to deal with too ! When is your Dh having his next op ?

Sophus - thinking of you and your Mum, glad it went well yesterday

mrs mar - have a fab holiday! I think you should talk through your worries with mw and put it on your birth plan. Its a different kind of pain like Chattyhan says you might surprise yourself and find you can deal with it !

I had Meptid with DD1 which doesn't have the drowsy effect on the baby. The G+A made me sick. With DD2 I was in birthing pool and that was it (she was born in Germany where they don't have G+A or pethidine - just acupuncture , homeopathy or epidurals!)I don't know what I'll do this time !

MMooMar - don't worry about the head being down, I am 29 weeks on sunday and my lo has been head down since at least 27 weeks

Oooh Amyclaramum - Meptid is meant to be really good and side effect free isn't it? But also really expensive hence virtually no NHS hospital uses it - quelle surprise.

MrsMar - reading your message again it does sound like hypnobirthing would be worth exploring. You may be able to quieten down the part of your brain that sends your bp off the scale etc. I don't know if it works like that - I'll let you know when I've finished my book!

Pennypops, Nettee and everyone else for their comments about hypnobirthing. I will look in to it, honest guv (), I can't help worry if I'm in the 50% of cases it doesn't work for... but then I always was a glass is half empty kinda girl!

Hello all,

just got back from an appointment with my midwife - I told her that I have been feeling a bit dizzy and she said my blood pressure is a bit raised. This worried me but she doesn't seem too concerned as she doesn't want to see me for another three weeks - do you think I should worry?

Sophus - I am glad your Mum's op went well. Am thinking of you.

Am in DIY hell too at the moment. Desperately trying to find a plasterer but can't get one for love nor money. Who ever said that buying a house in need of a lot of work was a good idea?

Are any of you feeling that even though there's weeks still left to go, you've reached the point where your stomach cannot get any bigger? I feel like I have reached maximum density, being as I am now the size of a small shed. She can't possibly grow by another six pounds or more, I'll explode. Or am I being odd again?

emj - I am hoping to be like my friend who looked massive at 6 months and then kind of just stayed the same until 41 wks when she had a healthy 8 pounder. Like the babe might just get bigger but not actually make our tummies bigger - that would be good wouldn't it??? That is my hope anyway .

LOL, thanks canadianmum, I have looked quite big for some time now, I will cling to that thought too!

Each day I look at the skin on my belly and think it can't stretch any more! My sister takes great delight in telling me "You won't believe how big you can get!" Er thanks!

'course, my chocolate obssession can't help!

Following on from our chat about pain relief/management... I was just having a chat with someone at work and I wondered you're opinions on this. We were talking about birth etc (she hasn't got kids yet) and I was saying that if I didn't think it was so blooming hard to get an epidural when in labour I'd probably try and last out much longer without. My sister asked both times and was told "You're not in enough pain yet" loads of times until it was too late, so she never got what she wanted. Yes she managed, but my point is, if I knew the second I asked for some pain relief, it would be given without someone trying to put me off, I'd probably try and last as long as I could, rather than thinking "if I start asking now, perhaps in two hours they'll let me have it" What do you think?