Due November, this thread to be our last! (please?!!)

[Flossam]

Hi all I hope no-one minds but I thought I would start a new one... we are having broadband put in (DP has convinced me that I will be able to spend more time on the phone that way ) but still on dial up now so things were getting rather slow on the other thread!

Things OK here. Thought I would do another list to start off the thread in the right way.... looking towards the end!! I've decided that next tuesday would fit in really rather nicely with all my plans, just need baby to agree!! I'm going to try and not expect him to come before due date really, then I may be pleasantly surprised, and if not, I will be fully entitled to moan and whinge. My ankles really can't take much more. They are about the size of my upper calf and that isn't an exageration!

Just enjoyed my first cup of raspberry leaf tea... not all that bad, but then I have drunk all sorts of strange concoctions from places like neal's yard in my time! So now I've drunk that, labour should be iminent, right?!

Hopefully am going to get my hair done this week with the deposit money (if we get it!) from our old flat... I haven't had my haircut since May . Been trying to let it grow as much as possible, but its been a really slow process. Might have some highlights done too. I've figured I might as well have something about me looking nice, as I don't think anything else will post birth! I have stretchmarks now on my bum, hips, thighs, calves, and really badly on my boobs. Stomach thus far has escaped, but it's these last four weeks which I've heard can really do the damage. Oh well.

Anyway I'll stop my waffling and leave you all in peace! I don't think I've missed anyone on the list, but definately have a pregnancy brain... got stuck half way upside down off the sofa earlier looking for the used lid of my yoghurt pot. I eventually found it in the empty yoghurt pot besides me. Oh dear! Don't think it was a particularly pretty site for DP to be looking at!
webmum - 1 Nov
Nannyjo - 3 Nov
Riebee - 3 Nov
eidsvold - 5 Nov
Mum2Ela - 5 Nov
Arwenevenstar 6 Nov
vivie - 11 Nov ?
chicaguapa - 11 Nov
PandaBear - 12 Nov
twinkie - 14 Nov
Discomonkfish - 16th Nov
Piper - 17 Nov
collision - 23 Nov
Flossam - 23 Nov
Bronze - 25 Nov
Bunny2 - 25 Nov
Gingernut 26 Nov
squigglesmum - 27 Nov
potpourri - 29 Nov

Gosh it is getting busy on here!

I take it we are all fed now huh? I rekon I am in for the long haul with this baby. Would be sods law to have DD 4 weeks early and this one 2 weeks late!

Tried to persuade DH to have a quick shag last night but he knows I am only doing it to bring on labour and so he said he'd rather watch the tv! I wasn't all that fussed anyway. By the evening by back is in half and it feels like baby weighs baout 4 stone!!

Collision - sorry you are having a nightmareish time. And whats with all the internals?! Couldn't be doing with that!

x

hello everyone

I'm still here, managed to celebrate my birthday last night, builders still in the house and no sign of baby yet...

Collision I really feel for you, th dr was definitely unsympathetic (to say the least), but pregnancy is managed in a very different way in Italy, and just as you don't understand them they won't understand your attitude. I always get comments back home that I'm left pretty much on my own and they're taking risks with my baby here because they don't do enough checks. My family were quite shocked to hear that theyd on't do monitoring after your due date and still they let you go 2 weeks oevrdue (in Italy they monitor you every other day at least!).
To an English the Italian system is very interfering, but to an Italian the English one borders on negligence. Its a question of points of view and what you're used to.

I'm not trying to say you shouldn't be angry, the way tthe dr spoke to you was out of order completely, but when it comes to intenals and checks, try to see it as a way of making sure baby and you are fine, at least you don't have to insist to be seen as sometines you have to in the UK!! Best of luck, I hope everything will be fine in the end!! Huge hugs

(and yes candida is thrush)

Hi there everyone again! Midwife app this am, a different one to usual, lovely too! She prescribed lots of rest and fliuds and for DP to make me breakfast in bed!! She even wrote it in my notes for him to see... I've told him but he didn't seem all that keen! My blood pressure is down a bit, my ankles are up a bit and she reckons that he is 3/5 engaged! I really am not all that sure what that means, but can't be a bad thing as at least he is still facing the right way!

What are you all planning to do about xmas? Can't help worrying about it, I've got some cards and a few presents, not going to make too big a thing of it, money is tight let alone time! But I'm hoping to get the rest of the stuff I need from the internet.

Happy birhday for yesterday Webmum! Were you hoping for an extra birthday present?!

thanks Flossam,

actually, not, I did not want to share my birthday with baby, I like to keep things separate , but as I sat down at the restaurant I had a contraction (due to me being late and running around all day I suppose) so I told dh, we'0d better order quickly, just in case, but that was it.

I really want to meet the baby, but next week the builders will knock through the first floor ceiling to create the new staircase to acces the loft conversion, and it would so much better for baby to arrive after that....all the dust and me hormonal and trying to breastfeed with builders in and out of my kitchen all day??? Just doesn't sound a very good idea..but it's not my decision I'm afraid......at least my mum's here now, to look after dd1 and the builders

Flossam - The engaged thing means that if she writes or tells you you are 3/5 engaged it means she can still feel 3/5 and there is 2/5 of babe's head engaged. I know it is topsy turvey, but I checked it out last night on the internet as I wanted to know what it means. So, if you are 4/5 then she can feel 4/5 and 1/5 is engaged in the pelvis, so unfortuanately the lower your number, the more engaged you are, does that make sense. I will see if I can find the web link.

I feel like the bearer of bad tidings - sorry guys!! ,
that being said, I was told 2 days ago I was 1 cm dilated, then read on the internet that with subsequent babies it is not unusual to be like that for days if not weeks before anything happens...........GREAT!!

I am desperate for a sign.

For me I am totally in the dark, my elder was bang on his date and then everyone said my second would therefore be early.........ha ha, 10 days overdue to be exact!!! So god only knows when this one will put in an appearance. The only saving grace is: IT WON'T BE DECEMBER

You could try long walks, that might encourage the baby's head down further........actually, I ought to do that rather than sit on the computer!!!!!

Byeeeee!

have a look atthis

Hope this works, it explains what I was trying to say.......I think I understood it right, god, that'll be embarassing!!

Thanx Arwen, that makes sense.

What IS with all these internal examinations?
Im 38+5 & had a routine checkup with the GP today & was counting my lucky stars that in almost 9 months, i haven't had any internals!
Thought my luck might be over today, but no, it never happened...thankfully! I've had the same GP since i was a kid & would have felt VERY embarrassed having him grovel about down there!
Instead he totally panicked about my high blood pressure (148/87) & sent me home under strict instructions not to leave the house!!
So i promptly went shopping!
My feet & hands are very swollen & my BP has been on the high side for a while, but MW never seems concerned. Im gonna take it easier from now on.

Thought things were moving last night....
Approx 8pm last night, i began having waves of cramping pain really low down. I then had low back pain & went very cold & shivery. The adrenalin kicked in & i was sure id be the proud owner of one daughter by today!
I went for a bath as it was the only thing that felf comfortable...then nothing. Not a sausage.
Ironic...after days of wishing it, i was a bit scared & though 'Am i really ready for this'?!!

Chin up everyone, not long to go now

Thanks for the link Arwenevenstar! All I hope for really is that he keeps his head down facing that way! I've still got 3 and a half weeks till my actual due date so not too upset yet!

I've only had the one internal thank god, they make me really uncomfortable.

You must be due around the same day as me Phoebe? 6th??

Sounds like things might have been going for you then. Still could happen tonight, who knows.

I have had a pregnancy rant via letter to a company tonight, so feel better for that.
Time to head off upstairs now, read a book, have a bath maybe.
Night all

Thanks for your messages everyone......you are all so sweet.

I know what you are saying Webmum about the Italians thinking the English are negligent and vice versa but it was her that was being negligent as she couldnt be bothered to look through my folder and see the results she needed. We have done all the tests and the getting up at ridiculous hours to go for swabs etc and there is nothing more we could have done. Ireally hope she isnt around for the birth of my baby as I dont get a good vibe from her at all.

Anyway I bawled my eyes out last night and got it out of my system and I feel so much better today.

I cant believe none of us are early! How strange is that!

Flossam......did I look beautiful in the dream with a small bump and long flowing blonde locks and clear skin? In a beautiful gown? Just pushing lightly without sweating?

OR (AS IN REAL LIFE) DID I LOOK LIKE A HIPPO, WITH AWFUL SKIN, SWEATING LIKE A PIG AND SWEARING LIKE A SAILOR!!!!!!!!??

well been to see the GP - all is in order - up to the baby now.... babe is in position - lots of crampy, backachy pains, and a fed up grumpy pregnant woman who almost lost it in the supermarket last night - picture - tired shuffling woman in a bit of pain attempting to grocery shop - middle aged suited woman comes around the corner, almost smacking into my trolley - I apologise ( WHY i have no idea) to which she replies - SO I SHOULD!! - picture deep breaths - counts to ten and pregnant woman shuffles away thinking homocidal thoughts and wondering whether pregnancy hormones is arguable in terms of justifiable homicide!!! Dh was most surprised I did not do anything - think it just hurt to much and I figured it wasn't worth the hassle

HOpe one of us has news soon!!!!

Yes Arwen, im also due on the 6th!!
Can i ask a really personal question to all you ladies?
I dont think i've had a show yet, but having lots of discharge which looks quite frankly like something i blew out my nose (YUK)
Sorry, hideous question but if we cant talk about it here, where can we?!!

Phoebe - I have been having the snotty discharge for a while now, and a lot of it! (Yuk!). Its your cervix opening and apparently a show usually isn't too far off!!

arwenevenstar - after first babies the cerivix often stays at 1 to 2 cm dilated all the time and never completly closes - sorry!

Webmum - belated birthday greetings for wednesday!

Well, out of desperation I rang the mw this morning and asked if she fancied giving me a sweep before my ante natel appt next wed and she said no.

I am only concerned about going over with this baby as my brother is making a special trip back from New York (where he now lives) and he is due here on the 12th. Last night I realised I may not have a baby to show to him by then!

You will M2E be positive, that's a whole week after your due date.......chin up!!

Yup I will join in the snotty discharge club, god I love pregnancy it's just so........graceful and alluring (not!!)

The only god news for me to report today is that the spd seems to be less painful at the moment, now that is either I am so used to it, OR, my pelvis is softening so it is not hurting so much, who knows??

eidsvold, that woman was a cheeky cow, I think you were very restrained!

More bleeding for me so another boring day spent at the ante-natal unit, another internal and swab (yuk), more blood tests and more anti-D. I was told by the midwife the head is 3/5 engaged with 2/5 to go. I was pleased with that until the doctor came along and told me the head wasnt engaged yet. Who do I believe????

M2E, get nipple-tweaking just in case!

wow, things have been busy on here! I can't believe none of us has a baby yet - it can't be long now!
Maybe I'm alone in wanting to keep my baby in for a bit yet. I'm due on 11/11 and while I've got all the pregnancy complaints like backache, needing to pee every 10 seconds, snotty discharge, weeping fits, etc I find as time goes on I get more nervous about giving birth and coping with a newborn and a toddler. I didn't bond with ds until he was 3 months old (I couldn't love him more now) and I dread feeling as lost and frightened as I did when he was born. And as tired....
Dh is being really supportive and tells me that 2nd labours are often easier, and that he has arranged to take 4 weeks off work when baby gets here (he had less than a week after ds) and that things get better with time, but I'm still not looking forward to the early weeks and I don't want to wish my baby's newborn-ness away.
God I sound really miserable. Sorry. Is this homones?

Hey Bunny, my DD2 was engaged one day and not the next - v frustrating! One day she was 3/5's and the next not at all! They bob in and out when you have had a bab before. Next door was convinced it wouldn;t be her day to give birth as m/w had told her baby not engaged at all but that day she went into labour! Good luck all!

Not much to report here really either. I've been having some interesting discharge, more so a couple of days ago, with a few lumps in! Decided not to worry about it. My friend is down with her nne month old, it's the first time I've met him, or had much to do with a baby in a long time, he's lovely but so so busy! It's frightening me! Don't know that I'll have the patience, god that sounds awful! And I know he's been as good as gold!

Collision, you like me were a slightly wimpering goddes in the labour room with tentative DH/DP mopping our brows and attending to our every whim! Ahem. Or something like that!

Hi ladies, just thought I'd report on my growth scan yesterday. Apparently all the measurements (head, abdomen and femur) suggest that babe is going to be bang on the 50th centile...which is about where ds's head was, so ATM we are on for an attempt at natural delivery (I'm a bit scared about this prospect TBH, just hope it's easier than it was with ds). They want to see me again in 2 weeks time (38 weeks) to monitor growth. Interestingly, they did all the usual a/n things and measured fundal height as 2cm more than my GP had made it on Wednesday!

bunny, hope everything was OK? Agree with Quacks, when it's not your first the head can bob around a lot. Doc reckoned head was very slighly engaged yesterday but today I'm sure it's not as it doesn't feel as low...in fact bum has been jammed in my ribs all day instead!

vivie, I feel a bit like that too...feeling very unsure about how I'm going to cope with 2 when the first few weeks with ds were sooo hard, and I really didn't bond with him for a few weeks either. It may have been partly the horrendous labour and the fact he went to special care so I'm hoping those experiences won't be repeated at least. Most of my friends who've had 2 have said the first 4-6 weeks are a nightmare - great! So although I hate being pg I'm terrified about the huge upheaval we are facing. Very worried about how ds is going to react as well. I'm sure we'll cope (somehow!) but can't help worrying.

M2E, is the brother who lives in NY the one with ulcerative colitis or have you got more than 1 bro? How is he doing (the one with UC) now?

OK, me again. I've had a fair bit of discharge for a few weeks now but this morning loads. It's quite clear, don't think it's a show or anything. But I've still got nearly 4 weeks till due date, and ds was late so had been assuming I had plenty of time. Do I need to be a bit more organised, get hospital bag ready, get parents to be on alert etc?

Just popped in so say hi and good luck to all you Nov mums. I can't believe my dd was born last November, time has really flown. Looking forward to the announcements.

WWW, thankyou . It is getting exciting around here!

gingernut, cant believe your bag isnt packed - get going girl!

Vivie, dont forget this time around you will have loads of support from us all here . I am mainly worried about the lack of sleep - we already get woken up by ds at least once a night because his eczema can get very itchy. I cna see it will be very hard to get a decent sleep with him and a newborn both waking through the night.

Hey Quacks, thanks for that - I suppose everything is so stretched down there, nothing is holding the baby in place . The joys of pregnancy.

Thank WWW - think we need a bit of luck!!

Gingernut - thanks for remembering about my brother. The one with UC is here with us in Wales. He is a lot better now - has more or less put on the weight he lost (he is a skinny little mite anyway!) and the steroids have cleared the problem up for now. He is awaiting an appopintment with a consultant to discuss tablets and how to clam the problem down.

The brother in New York never has time off, its just that atm he is between 'games' - he works for Rockstar games who have just brought out Grand Theft Auto San Andreas (or whatever its called!). His name comes up as you boot up the game (apparently - me a technophobe) so I am really proud of him!

Oh, gingernut, I rekon the fundal height thing is sooooo inaccurate. My m/w will sometimes measure me and I will sound suprised so she will do it again and it will be totally different!!

vivie I am worried about how I will cope with a baby and a todler, esp as DD has already regressed to weeing allover the house this last couple of days, and baby isn't even here yet!! She does go to playgroup 2 mornings a week so I am hoping that will help. Could up this to 3 mornings for a while if I am struggling. Do you have anyone around to help you out? Its good that your DH will be around for 4 weeks after the birth. I rekon my DH will want to be back the next day knowing him (thinks the place will collapse without him) - and last night he told me he was going to the rugby next saturday and he had to go as he was taking clients. Erm, not if I have the baby between now and then he won't be!!

Bunny - you must be soooooo worried. What a nightmare! Do they know what the bleeding was this time? The same as before? And those anti-d injections are really vile - they are really hurty ones, sting like mad!! I don't look forward to them.

Am in a mood atm as DH is out on a stag do today. I know I shouldn't be but I am annoyed with him in advance as he said he won't get v drunk just in case anything happens, but I know what blokes are like, that why I am annoyed with him before I need to be IYSWIM!! Hormones, huh?!

thanks bunny2 and gingernut. Helps to know I'm not the only one worrying about coping. You're advised to 'sleep when your baby sleeps' which is sometimes possible with a newborn, but I can't imagine ds co-operating! The prospect of sleepless nights followed by days chasing a 2yo round is daunting to say the least. I think this is why we have CBeebies!
I'm feeling a bit brighter today. Dh has taken ds out all afternoon so I've had a couple of hours resting (had to promise dh I wouldn't do any more nesting). Baby is really active in the evenings recently, it's like having a bag of eels inside me. I think this might mean his birthday is a bit off yet because I read somewhere that one of the signs they're on the way is a decrease in activity.

Gingernut, if your bag isn't packed your babe is more likely to come early - sod's law!