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 everyone!

One of my biggest bugbears in the last few weeks has been the male colleagues 'helpful' comments. Have started to get little aches and niggles and all i get 'it'll get much worse yet! That and - you wait til you get to 8 months, then you'll know huge. I am normally so chilled out but comments like that seriously make me consider whether pregnancy hormones will let me get away with maiming them. I mean seriously! what are people thinking! No women have made them - just the men. Idiots!

rant over

Ohh, Mrs Mars - to respond to your question. Think it really depends on your midwife during birth - they should respect your request, but have heard of some fairly militant ones! Another factor to consider is how busy they are/ when the person adminstering the epidural changes shift/ and the time of day you are birthing. If it is during the day - there are likely to be a few people who can administer the epi, at nighttime, you may need to give more notice. If they are rushed my advice would be to ask before you have reached your absolute threshold. Plus it can take a while to kick in.

Sophus, I'm so glad your Mum's surgery went well yesterday, let's keep our fingers crossed that she hasn't got pneumonia.

MrsMar, sorry to hear about your phobia. I'd agree that it would be a very good idea to have some sort of hypnotherapy or counselling before the 'big day'. I think you're probably right about asking for pain relief before it gets too bad. In my experience it did always take a bit longer to receive pain relief than I would have liked. BUT, and this is NOT a mistake I will make this time, I did have a tendency to be a bit too polite and try not to make a fuss, so would wait until it got pretty unbearable, then I would be left desperately needing pain relief. Am a bit older now, so hopefully a bit more assertive You definitely need to make sure the midwife on duty is aware of your history of hyperventilation, also make sure that DH tells them NOT to give you any oxygen if you do start to hyperventilate!

amyclaramum, I know, I must be mad planning to have all this work done just weeks before the baby is due!! It seems to be a bit of a pattern with me, we fitted a kitchen when I was having DS2. It was very funny, I could barely reach the walls past the kitchen worktops to tile them, my bump was so big! DH's operation is now on Tuesday not Wednesday. Only found out today!

emj23, yep I with you... I also feel like I couldn't possibly expand anymore!

Kinki, haven't heard from you for a few days. Hope you're ok, I know you said your asthma had got bad again.

Sophus, easier said than done, I know, but please try not to worry about sections. I am the world's biggest wimp and the thought of having an operation practically makes me sick - even being in a hospital is bad enough. But when I had my section 4 years ago, it honestly didn't feel like an operation, it was just the birth of my child, IYSWIM. It was so amazingly exciting to know that I'd have my baby in half an hour, it just didn't feel like I was having an operation at all, it was too exciting to be worrying. I'm booked for another section this time and it genuinely doesn't bother me at all, but the thought of something like having a wisdom tooth out is complete anathema.

Had my routine MW check today and she found that the baby had an irregular heartbeat . They sent me straight up to the hospital for an hour or so of fetal heart monitoring, where they confirmed the irregular rhythm. They're now sending me up to Guys in London to get it checked out more thoroughly. They've said it might not be a problem and could just resolve itself naturally, or it could indicate something more serious. I'm really stressed out about it, and feel a bit in shock - I think because I've had such an easy pregnancy so far. Also, because they haven't actually said what the problem might be if there IS a problem. Does anyone have any experience of this??

Sorry, I have no experience of this, but my everything is crossed for you that it all turns out ok x

MrsBumblebee - sorry to hear you had such a stressful appointment with your MW. I equally don't have any experience in this area but I am thinking of you!

Oh mrsbumblebee, I can only send positive vibes your way as well I'm afraid.

mrsmar let your midwives know your worries about the pain, and write it in your green book. Keep telling everyone you meet [maternity and labour ward wise]
I have an allergy to latex and the goo they put on your belly to listen to the heartbeat, which although is written down I have to keep telling people.
Is kinki's asthma bad again, poor her, mine's playing up but I'm no-where near as bad as she is.

Yes, you can and will get bigger.

MrsBumbleBee - sorry to hear about your stressful wait. I'm keeping EVERYTHING firmly crossed for you. Sounds like you are in very good hands.

If it's any help, a very good friend of mine had a baby who had heart problems and he is now 10 years old and is the tallest boy in the entire school year, even taller than my son, and that's saying something!

Wishing you the very very best of luck.

PS I'm not suggesting your baby has heart problems , I'm just giving a success story because there are lots of them.

I'm bored! I have been told that I have got to stay at home and relax for a few days because of my blood pressure but 1)staying at home is not relaxing because I keep looking around at all the work which needs doing and 2) it's really boring sitting at home with no one to talk to.

I know I shouldn't moan - I'd moan even more if I had to go to work - I just feel like the next nine weeks is going to take forever to pass. Anyone else feel like, although we are on the homeward stretch, this pregnancy is going to last forever?

Thanks for the support everyone. I'll keep you posted as to what happens.

Oh Mrs Bumblebee - got everything crossed that all is well.

As for concerns about size etc. I can really relate. I just think - where on EARTH can another 8 weeks of growth go??? Scary.

Found out last night that my local hospital (Royal Berkshire in Reading) is now regularly turning away labouring women as just too busy. Getting a bit worried now. On one hand i think that driving for an hour to another hospital really wouldn't be the end of the world. On the other I think "what if something happens and there is an emergency?" I'm quite calm generally but I can't quite shift this niggling little worry that if something is wrong with my baby nobody will pick up on it . I've already had issues with communication between hospital depts/community midwife and GP and I just have so little faith in the system that it scares me.

I actually feel like joining some sort of campaign after the baby is born to lobby for improved maternity services. In this day and age in this country to be so under resourced is an utter disgrace.

Sorry to be negative. I'm just starting to worry as time ticks on.

I hope all goes well for you, MrsBumblebee, we're all thinking of you.

Pennypops - I'm feeling that way too, apart from my concerns about my belly not being able to stretch anymore than it has already, it does feel like September will never arrive. People keep saying 'Oh, it's not long to go now', but it bloody feels like it.

I've just been told at my appointment today that the baby is measuring bigger than my dates too, so of course I'm now envisioning a 14 pound monster of a child. I think it was around this stage that I started to have bizarre dreams about the birth last time, so there's something to look forward to...

Talking of bizarre dreams, here is one I had 2 nights ago...

I dreamt that I went into labour during the night, the baby came so suddenly DH was there only just in time to literally catch it, then ds appeared (he is only 2) with a pair of scissors and he cut the cord, I was trying to warn DH what he was about to do but it was too late. Everything then went a bit panicky for a while, ie calling ambulance/hospital etc...

Someone then arrived to take charge and asked DH when baby was born, for some reason it stuck in my mind that it was on the stroke of midnight on New Years Eve (3 months late!!? not sure how I knew in my dream it was 3 months late but it manifested itself in some way) and I am told it is a girl. Now very confused am I, as I know we have had two scans saying it is a boy and I am actually quite disappointed now its a girl.

Nxt day there are loads of visitors, family/friends and for some strange reason Colleen from Home and Away she then says 'where is the other one, there were two babies born last night, the other was a boy.... OMG I thought, where is the boy, it was all so panicky during labour we missed him, where the hell is he... then I woke up all of a panicky sweat

Thinking about it in the cold light of day, its 3 months between being pregnant with this boy and the baby I lost, so the dream is confusing the two which is why the girl in my dream was born 3 months late, I think. Very confusing all the same and I hope I don't have many more of them.

Hope everyone has a good day

Hi all!

Still struggling to catch up on all the messages but just wanted to say to MmooMar before I forget, I used a tent ground sheet last time with a blanket over the top to prevent sweaty/sticky skin at night

xx

Mrs Bumblebee sorry to hear you're going through a worrying time - i hope further appointments go ok. xx

All of a sudden i'm feeling like the lo is taking up all the space but i know i will get bigger!

Sophus glad your mum's surgery went well.

Pennypops - Hopefully you won't get turned away, I was told Frimley Park was full and i had to stay at home longer because there was no where for me but my labour progressed quickly and they found me a room! In an emergency you won't be turned away! And like you say if you do end up at another hospital i'm sure it will be fine xx

My friend's waters went this morning. She's staying with her mum while her Property developing DP and several polish put another floor and a roof on their home! (due 8th Aug with DC2) They were hoping to have it ready for the baby but planning and weather and early arrival have all changed that. She's not in labour yet but they will induce on wed if nothings happened. She's only 36 wks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really need to start getting ready

Hi,

I hope you don't mind me joining you?
I'm not too sure how this group works so I do apologise if it takes me a while to get the hang of it!
I live in South West London (moving in 2 weeks but still in SW) and I'm 30 weeks pregnant and planning a homebirth with an independent midwife. I lost my last baby at 22 weeks (a baby boy - he had 3 major heart defects, poor thing), prior to that I'd had 2 early miscarriages so I can't quite believe I have got this far - hasn't been an easy journey though!
look forward to getting to know you all and sharing the journey!!

Willjo - we are a very friendly bunch, so welcome

MrsFish,

Thank you for welcoming me to the group - you certainly sound like a lovely group
oooh get me, I'm inserting smileys already - you'd be pretty impressed if you understood the limits of my ICT skills!!
Right, I'm going to make some dinner as I think little one in hungry

welcome willjo, I am in SW london too, as are a couple of others on here. I am really envious that you are planning a homebirth . Do you know what you are having? We have a stats page if you want to add your details there.

Canadianmum, its lovely to know there are a few of us from SW London.
I'm having a baby girl, which didn't come as a surprise to me and dh as we both had such a strong feeling it was a girl - the surprise for me will be having a baby at the end of it all! Don't be envious about my homebirth, if you don't mind me asking is there a reason why you can't have a one? The hospital I was booked with (St Thomas')were very pro homebirths and had we not been moving out of their area, I would have been able to have one with them. We only decided to have one when I was 24 weeks pg and I was told you can decide to have a homebirth at whatever stage of your pg - prob better not to decide at 40wks though!

Welcome on board willjo!! We truly must be setting a record for September births????

Chattyhan - let us know how your friend gets on won't you!

Pennypops - OMG re being turned away at the door, I couldn't imagine being in that situation - horror!

MrsFish - the dreams have started again with me. V strange. I haven't had any odd ones for ages, but just this week they've been prolific! I keep waking up on my back, maybe that's what's been giving me these dreams

Oh forgot to add, I've finished painting the nursery YAAAAAAAAAAY. It looks gorgeous. Just need to get a new carpet in there then I can move the enormous volume of baby things in. I forgot how many things a baby needs!!

Hi willjo, I had a c-section at 32.5 weeks with my twin boys due to pre-eclampsia so not really top of the list for homebirths due to various risks. I am hoping to stay at home as long as possible if I don't have to have a c-section again though !