Where's that bloomin' Carol Vorderman when you need her as the August '07 Countdown begins....

[tokentotty]

Whaddyathink ???

Hey everyone, was away Friday-Sunday (not sorted my home internet yet) so taken me ages to catch up as always!

I was at a wedding on Saturday, only one more to go before the baby comes. Got good use out of my maternity dresses anyway! I feel massive now but some people didn't notice I was pregnant, which was weird but reassuring that I'm not the size of a house!

Spotted my first stretch marks under my bump a few days ago, boo. I have a tattoo of a panda (don't ask!) on my belly and DP helpfully pointed out that it now looks like the panda is spitting blood. Lovely.

Hope all those nearing the due date kick things off soon, surprised we've not had any early births (or maybe one).

Hi Katybird, glad to hear you're doing ok

Well, just got back from scan, got a really nice sonographer who took her time and told us that baby is exactly on 50th percentile growth wise so he's absolutely spot on normal and average sized, again! (So much for him being massive, as the midwife predicted!) And he's head down and on the left, so everything is hunkydory.

Oh my god, the sonographer was very enthusiastic with the KY, it was hilarious, I ended up with two full handfuls of the stuff, trying to stop it from sliding down into my drawers! Need a good wash now, I'm one very sticky lady! lol

Haha, Katybird - that image of your tattoo 'spitting blood' just made me laugh so hard I wet myself (easily done these days)...

Banana - aw, you have a very well-behaved baby already. See, right size, right side and right way up! Glad it's all going well for you.

Waddled into town and bought a nice rug for the nursery (which will no doubt be ready when the baby starts school) for half price. Loads of sales around. Have you found that you've suddenly noticed how many other pregnant women there are around or women with small babies? I sometimes feel as though I'm on some weird tv show where everything is baby-related...

And talking of tv There's a Dispatch on Channel 4 tonight at 8pm about a mum's experience of childbirth (or something like that). No doubt we'll be filled with horror again, so maybe not one for the faint-hearted...

as promised, for a limited time only MrsB toasts the impending babies with a sadly ginless tonic

heh, nice pic mrsbadger! Was that taken at a wedding?

Yes baby is behaving (apart from relentless bladder punching) and I'm very grateful for it, Annie. The last thing I need would be for him to be in a crap position as there's no way they'd be able to manually turn him through my stomach so a sunroof it would be!

Just had a nice hot curry, since I've been having twinges all day thought it might just shove things along a bit. Might even try some sex if I'm not feeling too mountainous later.

Oh Annie, meant to say I saw the advert for that dispatches program and it sounded grim and scary, so if anyone's feeling a bit nervous I wouldn't watch it.

Dispatches: Undercover Mother

Monday 23 July
8:00pm - 9:00pm
Channel 4

Reporter Tazeen Ahmad goes undercover to investigate Britain's overstretched maternity services, as she receives post-natal treatment following the birth of her second child. Despite government pledges to improve support for prospective mums, Tazeen reveals a critical shortage of midwives and conditions that are far from perfect, resulting in a greater likelihood of difficult and even life-threatening births.

that was the wedding on Saturday, Bananabump - huge hat chosen specifically to detract attention from bump

glad to hear so many other people are doing well, sympathies to the uncomfortable ones!

Oh dear, I'm watching the dispatches program despite my own advice. Bet I'll regret it!

Had a much better day with dd today. She was an angel when we went to do the weekly shop - that never happens. I had to waddle round very slowly trying to manoevre the trolley with her and all the shopping in. She was really good until about 4pm when she started getting tired. She then did a poo in her knickers, did a wee on the living room carpet and broke my lipsyl in half. After a bit of crying she fell asleep on me on the sofa. We only managed to wake her up properly just before 8 so she'll be going to bed late. Unfortunately that doesn't mean she'll be getting up late and letting me sleep in

I've been having some period type pain, only very mild, but it was enough to make me think this lo will be coming early. I'm really uncomfortable and my hips ache when I'm in bed. Luckily I'm still able to sleep though. I'm praying it doesn't come in the next two weeks because my sister is getting married on 4th August and I don't fancy travelling up for the wedding with 2 kids whilst still learning to bf and not getting any sleep. Not much I can do though if he does want to make an early appearance. He's welcome to arrive any time after we get back though as I'll only have 2 weeks left to go.

Babbit - I've been reading childrens' books to dd about mummy having a baby in her tummy and what happens when it's been born. She's been to one of my scans and heard the heartbeat. She always talks about helping change the baby's nappy etc. I'm not sure how she'll react when she doesn't get as much of my attention. She's definitely a mummy's girl and even cries when dh tries to put her to bed.

banana - I wouldn't be surprised if mine was 6lb 5oz. He was measured at 5lb 11oz nearly 2 weeks ago and had put on a lb in 2 weeks. dd was only 6lb 9oz at birth and that hurt enough so I'm dreading anything bigger than that.

GillL

we were told at the anti-natal classes that bigger babies are easier as they don't slip back like smaller babies.

DD was 9lb 4oz (at 39 wks) and i have to say her birth was quite painless (am hoping the same this time).

I heard it was all about head circumference rather than weight - heavy lanky baby with small head vs petite big-headed one...

I was also told that bigger babies are easier to deliver..... hahahahaha....I've yet to be convinced.

Mind you, if some of us don't pop soon, I think we might earn ourselves a record for the most number of late/ on time babies! We could get ourselves in the guinness book of records if we all arrive on our due dates!!

I've got all my homebirth kit now... all my pain relief, and inco pads, and sadly, catheters (hoping to avoid an ambulance trip this time)... so perhaps mentally, I can relax, and she'll arrive.......

just found another "august babe" -see birth announcemnets - but she wasn't on our list of stats. So some are arriving early.... there is hope for us yet!

Hehe, I'm ignoring all this talk of head circumferences for the sake of my sanity!

Bagpuss you sound all prepared. Hope your homebirth goes exactly to plan!

Off to see consultant in a bit to ask again if I can just see midwives since baby isn't big and I'm healthy apart from painful hips. Wonder what excuse he'll come up with this time?

Hope everyone's having a good morning so far!

I have also heard the bigger the baby the easier to deliver. My dd was 5lb 9oz and still took 17 hours and a bad 2nd degree tear. I think there are quite a lot of factors involved, including how experienced your midwife is. No point worrying though, it has got to come out! It is honestly not as bad as you think; the pain stops as soon as the baby is born and a little while later you will forget how much it hurt. My advice: assume it is going to hurt a lot and learn some ways to deal with it (or distract you) like breathing techniques, and organise some of your favourite music to sing along to.

GillL, I have ben reading 'There is a House inside my Mummy" and have been talking a lot about the new baby. DD says she is going to help me. She definitely knows there is a baby coming. I am wondering now how she will take to it after the novelty has worn off. My dd likes / needs constant attention which can be difficult anyway. I am hoping she will learn to play on her own a bit more than she does now.

Bananabump - I posted early on (Dec/Jan may be) but not since. Everytime I checked the thread there were so many posts I thought I would have to try and catch up before posting. Now I have realised I will never get time to do that!

Morning all - feel like crap this morning. So tired I could barely drag myself onto the train into work, and no bugger gave me a seat on the tube. Just had my morning latte made with proper coffee rather than decaf in an attempt to wake myself up a bit.

Glad to hear your scan went well Banana. My last one (hopefully) is next Thursday. They are checking on growth but I'll be more interested to see if she has turned as I don't want an ECV so will go straight for the sunroof option as you so beautifully put it.

looking at my notes from my 32 week scan baby was on average on the 72 centile but her head circumference was almost 90% - do i really want her to turn I ask myself!!

Watched the dispatches programme last night and the post natal care the lady rec'd was abysmal - is anyone on here going to the Whittington?

Forgot to say - lovely photo MrsB. Cracking hat !

Babbit - that is excellent advice - couldn't have put it better myself.

My DS is 2.6, and v excited. his best friend had a baby brother at xmas, so he is under no illusions about crying etc..... well, that's the impression he gives. He is very much looking forward to meeting his sister, and we talk lots about the fact that she'll be small, and need lots of milk (and worryingly he knows where it comes from) - which he thinks she will then drink from a cup... , and that she will cry lots, at various times.

Hey Hersetta, glad to hear you're ok even though your day sounds a bit poo so far! Do you think baby is still breech? Where are you feeling the kicks?

Don't worry about the 72nd percentile head circumference thing, I'm convinced they grow in stages as at times mine has measured big, small, and once he had a little pinhead, a massive fat belly and stunted little legs, if you believe the sonographers measurements! (Maybe she thought he'd take after me) lol

Well I just got back from the consultant who has once again declared me fit as a butchers dog but has finally acknowledged I have spd after watching me struggle to get on the couch for over a minute (this is good though, at least now it's on my notes!) and she's scheduled me a physio appointment, but warned I may not get it before baby is here.

I'm also booked in to have a sweep on the 6th, two days after my due date. She said they can do it a couple of times and then if there's no joy 10-12 days afterwards I'll be induced. I didn't argue, I'm going to wait and see how I feel at the time- another month of this and I'll be trying to get him out myself with a crowbar! lol

Banana - ooh exciting that you already have a date for a sweep. Everything becoming much more real now!

Kicks are all around my waist in the middle or just under my right boob - nothing on my left side. Thankfully the kicks aimed straight into my bladder seemed to have died away and I am just getting the high ones now.

Morning all. Sorry to hear about your day so far Hersetta. I don't know how you're still doing the commute. I struggle to get myself out of bed at the moment.

Good to hear the bigger babies aren't always more difficult to deliver. On my scan charts the tummy is on the 90th centile and the rest of the body on the line below it.

Booked myself in for a manicure and pedicure next week. It's mainly in preparation for my sister's wedding but it will be nice to be pampered before the baby arrives.

dd finally let dh put her to bed last night without any fuss. It's getting more and more difficult to sit on her bedroom floor reading her stories. I know I could put a chair in her room but I worry about her climbing on it when I've gone downstairs. She has to get used to dh doing more for her now anyway. I still want to put her to bed when the baby's here but it won't always be convenient and, for the first few weeks, I'll probably be in bed before she is.

Hi from sunny edinburgh!
I saw a midwife yesterday, will have scan and see consultant on Friday. Midwife agreed baby still breech, lo showed off her best move - feels as though she's stretching her legs straight inwards bump all hard head,back n bum, ouch. The polyhdramnios (too much fluid) is keeping bump huge and another reason midwife thinks consultant will want c-section by 38wks. So I'll wait and see Friday I'm 36wks and to be honest I love the idea of not going overdue or stretching any further, I think my poor skin has already surpassed it's limit. Everytime I look at bump I remember that photo someone posted of the woman carrying triplets.
Yesterday waiting at a crossing an old lady laughed when I told her I have another 4 weeks and told me the baby will be out in 1 and she's never wrong about these things!
A look of horror on ds1's face as dp doesn't arrive until week on friday! He had only just recovered from midwife assuming he was my partner!!! He's only 15, but I guess hospital staff see all sorts

hersetta - so sorry thinking of you commuting, I would't be able to cope, I'd ask people to let me sit I think. I've been doing that in shops recently.

Lol at your DS itchy - he must be crapping himself! Love the fact that the widwife thought he was your toyboy - you obviously look young enough! I wonder if the old lady you met will be right and you'll be the first of the regulars to pop.

Feel much better now - my proper coffee perked me right up (and baby as well as she had a party for about 30 minutes afterwards) so feel fit to join the human race again.

Was funny yesterday actually Itchy. travelling on central line to work and standing up when lady standing next to me tapped man sitting in priority seat on the shoulder and asked him to stand up as this lady (me obviously) was pregnant. He agreed straight away - how sweet of her. Why can't I be more forceful like her??