First timers due in Octoberish

[Kittiwake]

Hi this thread is for any first timers or anyone really who wants to chat about their imminent arrival and general lack of idea of what to expect!

I realise that there is already an October thread but there seems to be quite a few people who have come a bit late to join in the discussion on there. Hope this doesn't offend anyone

Guess whose bags I just packed! My poor DH feels really bad about it. He knows it is the right thing but also that his uncle will not understand. It's done through - thank god for that.

I am so uncomfortable today - everything hurts. I hope I go soon as I can't do many more days like this.

Primi so sorry you are sick - I hope you feel better soon. Being ill is the last thing you need.

Hi,

LackingNameInspiration - good luck for the sweep! What does it actually involve? It sounds quite scary but I've heard they tend to get things moving so fingers crossed it'll work for you.

Primi - Thanks. It's still quite hard but I think a lot of it's just me being really pregnant and hormonal and needing a lot more support than usual.

Stefka - I've been feeling really uncomfortable too but it comes and goes. Yesterday was awful (I really thought it might be the beginning of labour) but today I feel fine. Actually this evening I had some crampy (like period pain) kind of feelings but still no contractions or show or anything like that. Great news about the uncle in law. You must be so pleased. Couldn't he pack his own bags?!

I'm quite proud of myself because I've just been out to a party. Admittedly it was a 60th birthday party so it wasn't exactly a crazy night out but still, I haven't been out on a Saturday night for ages (and I probably won't be going out again for quite a while!). I do find it difficult being out at things like that. Partly because everyone's drinking and I'm sober but also because they tend to be crowded and bustly and I always feel a bit protective of my bump. Anyway, I ate loads including 2 servings of pudding (the most amazing chocolate cake and some cheesecake) so I'm feeling tired, full and happy

Hope you all get some sleep tonight.

Morning All,

My usual 5am wake-up (why???) so thought I'd check out how everyone's doing.

Primi - your DH sounds lovely. Hope the R&R is going well. Probably as well to shake off the bug first, not really something you want alongside labour! I started to come down with a cold yesterday that DH has thoughtfully passed on which was a bit of a worry as he was really ill with it (he's quite unblokey about illness and doesn't succomb often) but fortunately I think i've got a milder dose as definitely better.
Encouraging words re the sweep too - thanks very much.

Miss bumpy - don't even want to think about exactly what it involves, but basically it's the midwife attempting to separate the membranes (i.e. waters) from your cervix using a finger. Lovely. Think the discomfort factor varies according to how 'ripe' the cervix is, but a book I was reading (first hand account) said that the word "rummage" might be more appropriate. So there's something to look forward to! But if it gets things moving....and I suppose it gets me used to no dignity at a very early stage. Impressed that you made a party this weekend!

Stefka - just been looking through the thread at your guest woes - poor you, that must be such a relief?? Hope at least it helps with the aches and pains.

Right, off to feed the cats who have decided it's breakfast time - hope everyone else is well and have a good day!

Morning all.

Well I am officially 39 weeks today!

The guest wasn't in our house and my DH was going to take his bags to him. I am kind of glad that it worked out that way as I know I am getting the blame for this so I would have felt awkward seeing him. The weird thing is that this is actually better for him too - he will get on better if he gets himself out there and meets people and gets work than he will sitting on our sofa.

How you feeling today primi?

I was wondering about the sweep too - I will be offered one on the 16th. I am really hoping that I won't still be pregnant by then but I guess I better find out about this sweep business just in case. Does anyone know if it counts as an intervention? My antenatal teacher said if you have any intervention then you shouldn't try for a natural third stage - not sure if a sweep counts in that.

Just read some info on membrane sweep here and possible disadvantages. Sort of puts me off the idea, having said that someone where I used to work had one and went into labour the next day.

www.homebirth.org.uk/overdue.htm#ms

I've started a thread on membrane sweeps in the childbirth forum so we shall see what people have to say

Hmm, thanks for that, Stefka - food for thought. Will go and check out other thread - think will see what midwife says tomorrow too about risks etc. My other slight hesitation is that I felt from the beginning that I was actually due on 6 October rather than 29 Sep as I have a 35 day cycle not 28. Have discussed this umpteen times with midwives but scan date was 30 Sep so they've gone with 29th and my bump measurements have been reasonably consistent with that. Just getting a bit concerned that if my due date is actually 6 Oct, having a sweep tomorrow will have no effect whatsoever - although at least on the plus side, if they're doing an exam, they'll be able to give me an idea of whether or not things are looking ready. Am also quite keen to get on with things now, although not to the extent of going for the full induction.

Anyway, will check out thread and have a think overnight - what are your thoughts at the moment?

Hope that everyone is well.

Hmm, membrane sweep doesn't sound like a bundle of laughs does it?! Especially when you use the word "rummage"! There were two girls in my yoga class last week who were due the week before and had both had membrane sweeps and it hadn't had any effect on them. But then I've heard other people say that they're really effective and they almost always bring on labour. Personally I think I'd be tempted to hang on in there and let nature take it's course but that's because it sounds a bit uncomfortable!

I think I've had a little bit of a show today. Not really sure as I don't know what to expect but there's definitely something going on down there! I don't think it means anything though. Apparently you can have a show well in advance of labour actually starting. Has anyone else had one yet?

It's starting to feel really scarily imminent isn't it? A friend called today asking if I was free to meet this week and I didn't really know what to say...the answer is hopefully yes but I may well be in labour!

Fingers crossed for you, Missbumpy!

Thanks! I've just had a trawl through old threads on MN and it seems that a show doesn't mean much at all. Could still be a couple of weeks. I'm happy to wait though. I'm a bit scared of the idea of it all starting very soon. I could do with another week or so to get used to the idea! Actually, not sure I'll ever be ready for labour!

Good luck for the sweep tomorrow! Have you decided you're definitely doing it? Fingers crossed it works and isn't too uncomfortable.

That's the one advantage of going overdue, Missbumpy - never thought I'd look forward to going into labour .

Think will probably go for sweep - if nothing else at least they'll be able to tell if there are any changes that make things look more likely....

Keep us posted as to how you do!

Morning everyone

Hope you all had a good weekend.

Good news Stefka that your guest has finally gone just in time

I know exactly what you mean missbumpy part of me feels I need another week and on the other hand I'm thinking if it did happen now at least it would be the end in sight so to speak. I was arranging something for next weekend and thinking the same thing oh my god I may be in labour by then.....

Hope you get on okay with the sweep LNI

Feeling okay today but didn't sleep brilliantly, so think I will take it easy today.

Afternoon everyone, I'm feeling a bit better today after spending the whole weekend in bed.

I know what you guys mean about wondering whether or not to make plans with people. It's annoying being up in the air all the time. If only there was a way of knowing when the baby would arrive. You can probably guess that I'm one of those sort of people who couldn't wait to find out the baby's gender...

LackingNicknameInspiration, hope your sweep has/is going well if you decided to go for it. You could be the first of us to pop!

MissBumpy, I also had a show yesterday. Gross, aren't they? Good to know that they're normal.

Stefka, I'm so glad that your houseguest has gone at last. It must be a load off your mind. You can really get stuck into nesting now (if you've got the energy).

Hope everyone has a nice day, it's pretty grey up here in Manchester.

Hi ladies

Glad you've all had good weekends...

Welcome LNI & KRC - let hope your LO's don't make you wait too much longer!!

MissB - Thai ladies don't really use prams or pushchairs. Most Thais don't even bother with car seats & I've even see someone leave the hospital with their newborn on the back of a motorcycle... Certainly won't be catching me doing that!

We had a good weekend - I think DH understands that I am fed up with him disapearing to the office over the weekend so he stayed home Sat & Sun. He's still going out loads but I've put him on a midnight curfew... We've a 40th B'day party on 20th Oct and we're going if we can (I've helped organise it) - DH is also celebrating the same b'day on 26th Oct so will be out partying just 4 days before I'm due. Thankfully the club is just a 15 min walk from our apartment.

Glad I'm not the only one feeling emotional. Been crying for no reason this weekend, even blubbed at the Thai national anthem in the cinema yesterday (they play the national anthem and accompany it with all sorts of charity type images).

I've been busy today - physio this morning (it really is helping. I bumped into my antenatal teacher who is still waiting for a tens machine to be returned before I get it - hope I don't have to wait too much longer for it. This afternoon I decided to cross something off my To Do list - take my wedding dress to be cleaned. Had to cross Bangkok to get it back to the ladies who made it but had a good natter in Tinglish - they are still convinced I'm having a girl; most other people are saying I'm having a boy now - we're hedging our bets and saying it must be a ladyboy LOL!

Tomorrow I'm meeting someone about stem cell collection & storage. Not sure if we're going to do it but its so much cheaper than the UK.

Anyway, better get my dinner now as its nearly 7pm!! Have a good afternoon everyone.

Jo
x

Hi everyone,

Another really bad night's sleep but at least I don't have anything planned for today. In fact, I don't really have anything planned for this week. I feel like I've really ground to a halt all of a sudden. I was trying to acheive little things each day like meeting a friend for lunch or going to the shops but, all of a sudden, I feel like I could quite happily spend the next couple of days/weeks lying around watching telly and eating cake!

MrsJoJo - Nice to know I'm not the only one with a DP who doesn't seem to want to stop going out in the evenings. LOL at ladyboy baby!

Primi - Glad you're feeling better. Show wasn't very nice. I thought show and mucous plug were same thing but I've been looking in one of my pregnancy books and it looks like maybe they're different things. All very confusing.

Kittiwake - hope you have a nice relaxing day.

LNI - Good luck today. Let us know how it goes.

Hi All

My problem is that we do so many jobs at the weekend, I'm shattered by Monday! But I too am trying to achieve something each day...today is a treat though - leg wax in preparation! I know I know - why?! My outlook is that I'd like to scrape some element of dignity from the undignified process of childbirth, and having nice hair-free legs is it! Then on to Sainsbury's, so that's quite enough for one day!

JoJo - I don't know if you saw my post in response to your chord blood thread, so I have copied and pasted:

My advice is to go for a 'natural' third stage. This means that the chord isn't clamped until is has stopped pulsating - i.e. all the blood and stem cells have been transferred to the baby. Why spend the money to collect them, when you could just let them flow naturally into the baby right at the start of its life.

Once it has stopped pulsating, they clamp and cut. You could then either wait to birth the placenta naturally - 15-60 minutes - or demand the injection afterall. If you decide you'll ask for the injection after the chord has stopped pulsating, DON'T tell them this is what you're intending - over here, they don't like mixing the 2 systems.

I hope that helps!

Hi all,

may i join in??!! I too am due in Oct.. in fact on the 18th, so not too long to go now. Nice to hear i'm not alone on the frustrating waiting game. Although i still have 10 days before i'm due, i feel sooo fed up of waiting and the whole ordeal of every twinge igniting the fear of god in me that this time its the real thing!!

What seems more annoying (and i can only say it here as nobody knows me!!) is the constant phone calls on a daily basis by friends, family and work colleagues to see if i have "popped yet". Believe me, if i had they'd bloomin know about it!

Last point to moan about.... SLEEP! whoever said that you could 'rest' during maternity leave before baby comes is very much mistaken. Without sleep, there is no rest. Cat naps will have to do for now... can;t wait to sleep on my front again!!!!

I'm off to buy a baby bath now..... i'd appreciate any thoughts on the foam bathing moulds that seem to be a favourite in my circle....

love
Mine

Welcome - I have added you to the list.

I don't know much about the foam ones, someone gave me a plastic bath seat thing which they loved using.

Just a quick hello today because my back is sore and sitting at the computer is not doing it any good plus it's my birthday today Just been on a long walk to try and see if it would help get things going- it hasn't. Ah well.

Hope the sweep went well LNI - let us know how you got on. Hope everyone else is alright too.

LNI 29th Sept
krc 30th Sept
Pinkdelight 12th Oct
WMWG 13th Oct
Stefka 14th Oct
Miss Bumpy & Kittiwake 15th Oct
Mandler & Mine 18th Oct
Primigravida 20th Oct
Mrs JoJo 30th Oct

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Stefka!

I think I'm the odd one out. Am I abnormal? I'm not sick of waiting. Sleep seems ok so far. I get Braxton Hicks but absolutely no pain / twinges...And I'm due on Saturday...

Do you think this means I'll be late?

Have to have a 24hour heart rate monitor this week as my pulse is still 110-120, so really I want LO to 'hang on in there' until I have the results of that!

Thank you WMWG

I think it is better not to be sick of waiting. For me it is more that I don't want to be overdue and start to get pressure to have sweeps and be induced. I really want the baby to come this week!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEFKA !!!

Hope you're having a nice day and that your DH is looking after you. Hope your back isn't bothering you too much. Have you tried a hot bath/hot water bottle and back rub from DH?

Welcome Mine. Not sure about the baths. I haven't got a baby bath yet.

WMWG, you're not alone. I don't feel that desperate for anything to happen yet. Obviously I'm getting excited about it all and nervous and all of that but I feel I could quite happily wait a few more weeks! I was thinking about some (ahem) personal grooming too. God knows why. I'm sure it will be the last thing on my mind during labour. I guess I feel I should make the most of having some free time now because it might be a while before I've got the time to make myself look half way presentable again!

Managed to get to Mothercare today and bought some cot sheets. There were some really gorgeous little booties and tiny socks. Do any of you know if newborns need things like socks? Do they mostly wear all in one babygros that cover their feet? God, I'm so clueless about all of this! How do some people just know all of this stuff?

Stefka, if you're feeling impatient I reckon getting your DH to help move things along (if you know what I mean is the way to go. From what I've read that seems to be the only thing that has any effect at all. I can understand if you don't really fancy it at this stage though... especially with a bad back.

Evening everyone, glad you are all doing as well as can be expected! Same due date as me Mine, but I agree it seems far too far away....
We had a final (I hope) scan today and this baby looks a bit too comfy and chubby for my liking. I came home feeling really down that he won't be making an appearance as quickly as I would like so trying to plan some distractions this week to kep my mind off things. Bought a couple of books, booked a massage and arranged some lunches which I hope will help cheer me up!
Because of the baby's heartrate flutter a few weeks back I know I wont go too far past due date and have a planned sweep next Tuesday. I REALLY want to avoid induction, there are only ever bad news stories about the process on this site.

Socks / Booties - as you say - depends on what else you have dressed them in! Their feet need to be warm of course, so I guess if LO is in a baby-gro with feet, no socks are needed. Beware...My Mum, fount of all knowledge, read that babies' skin is so tender that the elastic round the tops of the socks can actually dent their flesh for years! So, although I have bounght some socks as they're so gorgeous, I'm not putting LO in them every day, and certainly won't fold them over to double thickness, as that'll make them tighter.

Baths are a total mare! We decided that we should get one after thinking we wouldn't bother, since LO was breech until a couple of weeks ago and I thought it would be easier with a bath on a stand, rather than bathing LO in the bath. It took ages to find one! John Lewis don't do stands. Mothercare does, but the bath doesn't fix to the stand and moves around. We asked the staff about this and they said 'oh it'll be fine when there's water and a baby in there'...eventually, Mum to the resuce! Jane (pron Han-aye) do some super baths which have changing tables on top too and a shelf underneath. They're pretty expensive, but we decided that it was worth it, if only for the safety aspect!

Now...are all the DH's / DP's out of the room?! Someone mentioned ahem...you know what...to bring on labour. Well, it's to do with a hormone I think, in the erm...white stuff! Apparently, it is as effective if taken orally...!!! Either method is only effective in bringing on labour if the baby is within a day or so of being ready to be born!

evening all,

thanks for the welcome and the thoughts on the baby bath... i have decided to wait a bit to make up my mind on what type of bath thing to get, although i seem to be very drawn to Mothercare on a regular basis.

My theory is that if i look and don;t buy too much, i'll be ok!

Happy Birthday Stefka - hope it was a good one. Did you get any nice pressies??

I envy those that have said they are happy to wait before they pop, and have no problems sleeping.... i wish it were me !

well - here's to a long night.

I'm looking forward to a restful day tomorrow, and the small pleasures that new carpets will bring (being fitted tomorrow... hurrah!)