Due Sept '07 - This Autumn we shall mostly be wearing stripes!!

[Hopeitwontbebig]

Just thought I'd get the shiny new thread up and running. Well done Twit on the thread name

I keep getting not very large amounts but significant amounts of clear/yellow snot come out. Do shows sometimes come away in parts? I'm not really sure why I am asking this as I had the same with DS so know they do seem to, and yet I think I am in denial about it all...

blimey - it's all kicking off now isn't it!!!

I have decided to go with an independent midwife, she was really nice and mumsy and very reassuring. DH is unsure, but tough!

She said baby is definitley OP (back to back) but in a good way, whatever that means. She told me that if your belly button doesn't stick right out when you lie down then your baby is prob. OP. I am now no longer allowed to recline on sofa with my feet on DH . She also said baby is starting to engage, and I have definitely felt discomfort down below, so that could be it.

HIWBB - thanks for new thread! And you sound like a pretty ideal candidate for cs to me! Breech plus big equals cs me thinks .

willjo - I am finding perineal massage a bit of a pain too! have only been doing it for a few days but no change yet. I am using vitamin E and doing it very briefly as I find the positioning v. uncomfortable.

I think this weather is giving me pre-natal depression. Will London ever see the sun again????

canadianmum 36+4

i am so in denial. due on 2nd and bag not packed, baby clothes not washed, head firmly in sand! i did buy an evian spray today does that count?!

fiofio that's great your dd knows about the baby. your ds is being very logical - i was just reading in sibling book last night about how logical children are and how adults can easily overlook what seems like obvious reasoning to a child. they keep you on your toes?! lovely that they're both looking forward to new arrival!

hiwbb - i'm with you on weird dreams - i was dreaming about you lot the other night, dropped a pillow, knocked the baby moniter and woke myself up. and this is without a newborn!
and if someone could just go over one more time how 'the hole' stretches big enough to get a baby out for my benefit i'd appreciate it. my first feeling on seeing dd was surprise - still not sure i quite believe it actually works!

i did get my 'active birth' book off the shelf last night. love the 70s 'hair' styles and the way the first person accounts refer to 'my man'. grooooovy.
unlike childbirth (said she churlishly)

LLL read your other thread and glad you're sorting something out. i hope you feel happier!

Flossalump, so glad you said that - it's not just me then! everytime someone says something like 'you'll soon have a new baby to hold' i touch wood or say 'hopefully' or 'if all goes well' or some such. i'm telling myself it's pefectly reasonable to acknowledge risks of childbirth... which makes it even more nuts that i harbour this secret wish to give birth alone, minding my own business. oh, yes, i do like to veer between extremes!

Toadstool - hope you're ok! and good luck with whatever happens.

Kerri - what a situation to be in now! i think i had a sweep with dd. can't quite remember as one thing lead to another... and ended up with a baby!
I guess only you can decide what you want to do but if you're suffering and you're ready - a bit of trepidation is only normal - then why not give it a go? i suppose the unknown is if it'll work or if one 'intervention' will lead to another - and again only you know what sort of birth you would like. if the baby is fine and you're keen on a natural birth then maybe wait.
not much use am i? on one hand go for it on other hand wait. sorry. could you try visualisation? that sometimes helps?!

this is such a massive thread i've had to write as i read and have now made my head spin! time for a quick cup of tea before i pick dd up from the cm i think!

i think i have left it too late to hire tens. curses. got one last time and never took it out of the box...

x enormous 38+3 (eh, is that right?! aaargh, whose idea was that, i've just realised how close i am. no tea, headless chicken dance for me i think! flap flap...)

Thanks for sorting out new thread Hopey - loving the title as well!

Toadstool - what can I say other than AAAAGGGGHHHH on your behalf? Hope the hospital visit goes well.

Trinity - congrats on your show!

I'm feeling rough today - woke up being sick which was really lovely and feel borderline narcoleptic. I can't even lay down in the bath now as it feels really uncomfortable. No sign of show or indeed engagement of lo despite checking every time on very frequent trips to loo. Sorry, feeling a bit fed up and rather tearful

38 weeks and counting....

also my bump's not dropped...

Sorry for the naval gazing.

Great news toadstool! I hope you manage to avoid the cs threat.

I've no idea about shows really other than when my sister showed me hers when she was in labour with her dd1... Hmmm that was a sight I didn't need to see just then! Hers was just one big blob like a snot with a bit of blood. It all came out with her first few contractions. I'm sure everyone's different though, isn't that what they always say?

Well I've just had my 36 week check up at mw and she seemed to think the baby is head down. I'm not convinced, her examination was a little bit cursory, and she said "Oh I'm pretty sure" nothing more definite than that, which left me a bit She did say that even if I was still breech she couldn't refer me to the hospital until 37 weeks.

Bizarrely, esp as she didn't sound that convincing about the baby's position, she wanted me to have my 38 week check up at the GPs!! Definitely not sure about that esp as my GP 'fessed up at being not terribly good at working out babies positions. So I'm a bit of a wimp, but I insisted on seeing the mw again at 38 weeks, otherwise I wouldn't be seeing them until 40 weeks and then it would be definitely too late to do anything if he turns back/was breech all along.

Oh I'm such a cynic aren't I? I didn't believe them when they told me he was head down at 32 weeks, and then at 34 weeks they said he was breech, and now I don't believe them again. Perhaps the breech assessment was wrong all along! Oh I do wish they'd just scan us and do away with all this doubt!!

Must go and console myself with a cuppa and a biccie

Hi everyone - way too many messages for me to absorb. Have spent the morning shopping and am shattered - these bubs really start weighing you down!
Am I the only one who is shopping lots, getting one list finished and then managing to fill a whole new one?? Hmmm....oh well, needs must!

Enormous - LOL at having no bag packed! Get it packed! The last thing you want to be doing is rushing round chucking everything in a bag, you will forget something, ask your other half to bring something from home and he will get it wrong! Mine is halfway packed and am weeks behind you!

34+5

ECATLM, you can hire a tens from boots or i think also tesco. Online ones will do next day delivery IIRC - at a price!! I've brought one, and hoping it gets here sooner than the next wednesday they state. If not, a new tens machine to put on ebay!!!!

oooh canadianmum, thanks for the belly button tip! Mine is still firmly in, must get on all fours... I'm not doing an op delivery if I can help it, my mum still shudders 40 years after delivering my sister who was op!

Does anyone know how late you can turn them from OP to LO? Is it like the breech/ceph thing? do you have to turn them before they come too big or can they spin at any time so they end up LO? I won't be seeing the mw until 38 weeks so I hope it won't be too late for me to get on all fours then!

Mrs M - think you need to wait and see til the scan. Does bub feel any different? are movements any different? I know mine is still head up - hiccups still near cervix and big bony head is under my right rib!

Stoopid question - how do you know when the bub drops? Is it less evident/ less likely with breech babies? And how do you know if bub is engaged when going to the Loo? Is there a check you do? Sorry - have no idea aside from the fact that i read you can breath more easier and heartburn is not as bad.

Sorry Dal I prob confused you - I meant I check for a show whenever I go to the loo not baby being engaged! I think you can only tell if lo is engaged by the bump shifting downwards - also the pressure under ribs should lighten up a bit.

By the way, is it normal for the Health Visitor to call you at this point? I've just had one contact me and ask to see me next week before the baby is even born. I don't object, I just wish the midwifery services were this proactive.

Am I being paranoid?

Ah PP - sorry, now i get you! I am easily confused these days! Doesnt take much!

Dal its not just you!!

Pennypops, i felt like that yesterday. headache, puking, flashing lights, exhausted but felt too awful to lie down, generally out of it. horrible. i tried everything from a bath to fresh air to paracetamol. nothing worked until about 7:45 when it was like someone switched a switch and i felt much better. you have my sympathy - i hope you get same speedy recovery (am fine today).

Ta for tens info floss, i'll look into that! soon!

Dal, well, i can see where you're coming from but the thing is, i don't have a bag i really like...and can't find one...that is the real reason, honest...otherwise i'd be all packed up and ready to go...no, really...you're not looking are you? well, really....

why is george bush droning on on my telly?...

i don't believe it. i turn bush off and put radio on just in time to hear a man say 'and having a baby is the biggest responsibility of them all'. aaaaaaaaaaargh!

when mine engaged or just dropped down I started needing to wee more, with less coming out each time, and felt as if I needed to walk like John Wayne lol.
Fingers are keeping crossed for all breeches, test results etc for all of you.

No more contractions so far. I don't know whether I'm glad or annoyed tbh lol.

With regards to a show, I have only had them when I've been in late labour/pushing, so I have no idea what they look like, just what other people have said. Same is true with waters breaking, mine have only burst when I've been pushing,when it sounds like a water balloon and everyone gets wet lol.

36+5 I think

thanks for messages guys, i think i might go for it if offered again tomorrow!!

Toadstool, so glad you're "out"! hope remainder of pg is less stresful for you!

Mrs Mar my baby is firmly OP and i've tried everything i've been told to try and move it - will tell you all, but be warned some not comfy at all... kneel/crawl on all fours for at least 30-45 mins every day. when standing lean forward swith arms on surface like worktop etc. keep bum tucked in and stand upright when walking, posture is everything , when sleeping lie on left side with no pillow between legs, and right leg across left leg so you are "resting" on bump, sit with knees lower than bump leaning slightly forward - all of these positions are designed to make yyour tummy like a "hammock" which baby wants to lie in and be rocked to sleep!!! so if the "hammock is forward facing most of the time, then baby will lie in that position, if you are slumped on sofa, "hammock" is backwards against your back so thats where baby will lie...if baby already partly engagd, sitting on birthing ball/exercise ball with legs apart and leaning forward slightly instead of sitting on sofa will allow pelvis to open to allow baby to spin around . hope this all makes sense. it didnt work for me, but then i ws 4/5 engaged when i found out baby was OP and so perhaps too late? well it certainly is now!!

and oh my god, i've been having yellow snot like discharge in smal quantities for about 4 days now . i thought it was infection and was going to mention it to midwife, but if its art of my show, then aaarrrgggh, its all happening at oncce!!

Kerri28 leaves forum to go and panic quietly in corner...

PP-My health visitor visited me a couple of weeks back. It is routine and she will give you some leaflets, the NHS Birth To Five book and a record for baby's health checks through to 18 years.

Can't believe how much is happening on here with shows etc. It's so exciting! I haven't had any more twinges. TENS machine came today but haven't dared to put it on to try it out as DP put one on at the ante natal class and his face didn't look too encouraging so think ill leave it until I think something is happening. I hired mine from Tens.hire.co.uk Willjo but TBH I think they are all about as decent as each other. Mine was 20 quid for 6 weeks and that's about average.

Also our nursery furniture arrived today-not looking forward to DP putting it together-flat pack furniture equals arguments in our house

Glad you are not in hospital Toadstool!

Edie 36+6

Dal - I'm not booked in for a scan.. that's what's worrying me a bit. I know midwives are experienced at this sort of thing, but her lack of conviction made me think she wasn't sure, and surely a scan is the only way of knowing for sure. None of the movements have changed since last time I saw the midwife, 99% movement is below my belly button, but with a slight hard pressure on one side against my ribs (which she explained as his bottom) Oh well, if I don't get a definitive answer next week I'm going to insist on something more being done. This laissez faire attitude is killing me! What I really don't want is to start labour, be pushing for forever and then have them say, oh he's breech, we'd better do a cs then! My absolute worst nightmare!

thanks for top tips kerri! I hope all is ok re: show!

oh, and mothercare hire tens machines and breast pumps out.

ECATLM - I haven't packed my bag yet either! George Bush has that effect on me too.....

Crikey People! It's only just started and we've got over 60 messages already! You lot are too darn quick for me LOL

Today has been pretty uneventful really, made a start on the hospital bag (Yay! ) and we've just put some mix into our bread maker for the first time to test it out, finger's crossed we'll have carrot cake for tea! (We've had the bread maker for a couple of years now but the kneading blade was missing, DH used to work at Homebase so used to come home with all sorts of half products such as this, but insisted that we actually hang on to this one LOL)

So, if I don't get round to making frozen dinners etc for when LO is born we can always resort to cake and bread!!

HIWBB: Sounds like the MW's in your area are a bit pushy towards the non-c section thing, especially as your LO is still breach, I'd've thought they'd be a bit more understanding towards it, but there you go!

Dal21: I hadn't quite decided whether or not to be having a home birth but wanted to have the option as I had home birth with DD and it was great! Also, I hate hospitals and knowing that I definately have to go in is going to make me nervous at every twinge now Oh well, I'm strong, I'll just have to cope eh?!
Glad you managed a better night's sleep last night, mine was the worst ever! (I know I said that about the night before but I've woken up with a massive spot on my face that is actually making my jaw ache!! )

Hello Chattyhan, glad to see someone's brain is working! Where am I?!

Fiofio: Bless your DC's, I can't decide whether my DD (2yo) has quite grasped the concept yet, she says quite regularly that "there's a baby in there" etc but when asked if the baby's coming out soon she says "NO!!" Baby stays in mummy's tummy" (rather crossly LOL)
Also, every time I say "Mummy's got a poorly tummy" She says "the baby make mummy's tummy poorly?" (this is usually due to the fact that she still wants to climb on me or lean on me or something obstructive LOL)

Flossalump: Sounds like your body's on the war-path too! My bits and pieces are giving me gipp atm, I have a bath, the next morning I'm stinky again I think it's probably due to the fact that my poor lady garden is covered by a rather large sweaty lump of a tummy Oh well, only a few more weeks left now!
I think mum's get their head's on backwards at this point, they're convinced that they are the only people that should be present and start baby-dancing in their back gardens for when they're visiting (I know for a fact my mum was just a couple of weeks ago, but then, she is nuts LOL)
Hope your pram arrives safe
My DD thought she had a baby in her tummy (on the bus) she actually just had hiccups, but decided to let the whole world know, at the top of her voice, that her baby was moving Bless her!!

Loler: Welcome! I had my MW constantly telling me that this LO is on the big side for quite a while. It's really not what you want to hear at all, despite this being the second and she tried to reassure me that it's Ok cos my body's already gone through having one (What is she implying?!!) but it's still the thought of having to give birth to monster baby! And then, to top things off, there's been a baby in the news lately that was 14lb and everyone feels the need to tell ME about it!! yeah cos that's what I'm having right?!!
Ooh isn't CBeebies a god-send?!!

Toadstool: Glad everything went well, had heard from a friend that it's possible to have a small leak and the waters still be intact, maybe that's just what it was

Ok, I know I've missed people out but my brain's frazzled and I wanna check that carrot cake!! (From scones to carrot cake, I will be putting on weight!! LOL) Have a nice evening ladies (wish me luck with tonight, hope hips let up and heartburn disappears, reminds self to take tabs before bed!!)

Must get that bag finished off too
Evenin' all
xxx

Hi guys - all starting to happen now isn't it? My baby was transverse at my appointment today so I am booked in to see the drs next Tuesday under threat of hospital admission - I so hope not

On a more exciting note I have boxes of medical gear for my homebirth - not sure that this is very likely but at least it is ready in case all does go to plan.

TENS machine hire - ask your midwife sometime they have them connected to the GP surgery or the hospital and that is a much cheaper was of doing it.

Hello all my lovelies!

Am finally back from my holidays and rather wonderful it was too, to be away and relaxing. I was convinced the wee one was going to be early and born in France, but he decided to behave and not come out early. 35 weeks tomorrow...

I have been desperately trying to catch up with everyone's news - but am I right in saying that no one has actually had their baby yet?

I really sympathise with all you breech babies ladies. Mine was breech at 30 weeks - I have an appointment tomorrow to see if he is still breech (they seem to have no qualms about not seeing me for 5 weeks) but I think he might be, all my kicks are still very low indeed...

Anyway I hope everyone is well. Are we going to do that thing where we swap mobile numbers with someone at a different stage and then update the board (other boards seem to have done it?)

xx