Due in December 07 - that's next month!!

[buzzybee]

Thought I'd start a new thread

Thanks shells, I reckon worry about tearing and gore it?s all in my head anyway. Must use new mantra ?It?s all for gorgeous new baby, it?s all for gorgeous new baby? I know I?ll not be caring too much by then anyway.

Melly, I?m already wearing my nursing bras, so much comfier than everything else, I guess because their a cup size bigger so are pretty roomy, although should have really gotten measured like you but couldn?t bear M&S any longer, flouncing middle aged women barging into me at every opportunity.

Suey, I hope everything goes ok for you and that the consultant is just being cautious.

Oh choc, bloody chippies, I envy anyone having work done on their home at the best of time ? but at the end of pg, so brave. Use all your pg hormones on them, which should frighten them into action!!

Buzzy, my parents have gone abroad this weekend too we were tempted to text them the minute they arrived and let em know I was in labour ? that?ll teach em to not be ready and concentrated on me at all times!! But a little too cruel and ?boy who cries wolf? and all that. Mum did send a text message though accidentally to our home number, it?s not pleasant having a robot telling me not to give birth until they get back!!!!

My only effort to the RL tea/pineapple cause is picking up some pineapple juice from the shop yesterday, mmm fancy some now.. Dundee; niblet ? that?s so cute.

MM - sounds like we had the same experience of pethidine/diamorpine - i too (beyond G&A) will have an epidural or nothing this time

Am sort of hoping to avoid epidural as well by going to birthing unit, but not ruling anything out. I have a few friends who have had secodn babies this year and eveyrthing has been a lot quicker, not 5 mins fast but not 12 hours or whatever, so hoping that will help.

I had planned to stay at home as long as possible but since BIL will be living in the same house, dont really feel comfy having contractions around the house... guess it depends on time of day and sstuff really.

yes me too (hoping to avoid an epidural) and also hoping the birth will be quicker, esp the pushing bit

Surely you BIL will leave the falt for a while if you are in labour - he's not that unreasonable, is he??

BTW has everyone got a firm plan of what to do with older siblings when they go in to labour? We have a week when the people who will take DD are away which means either DD going off with people she doesn't know very well or me giving birth by myself - don't know which is worse really as I really don't want DD to associate the arrival of her little brother with being abandonned - she is still quite clingy and doesn't like being left with other people - what's everyone else doing?

yes me too (hoping to avoid an epidural) and also hoping the birth will be quicker, esp the pushing bit

Surely you BIL will leave the flat for a while if you are in labour - he's not that unreasonable, is he??

BTW has everyone got a firm plan of what to do with older siblings when they go in to labour? We have a week when the people who will take DD are away which means either DD going off with people she doesn't know very well or me giving birth by myself - don't know which is worse really as I really don't want DD to associate the arrival of her little brother with being abandonned - she is still quite clingy and doesn't like being left with other people - what's everyone else doing?

what was your pethidine experience skid?

ambi- the pineapple has to be fruit, not the juice.

I have put on 8lb in the last 2 weeks kind of goes with everything else i am being told mind you.

Had long chat with DH last night- at least if LO comes early, the month he has booked off will be with baby not just heavily PG me. And the most improtant thing is to have a healthy baby and mummy at the end of all this, so I feel i have everything in a little more perspective today. Still quite down, though.

Bloody people at jobcentre plus have lost my mat allowance form- all 19 pages- so will ahve to do another one and get another MatB1.

Skid - he is a twat, not sure he would notice. If it is NYE and on time perhaps he will be out altho i suspect that his friends will come round to ours first tho and altho they stay in his room they make so much noise. I am not transferring hospital as UCH is too near to DH family and my hospital has a strict only two visitors policy and is close to my mum and dad so will be dropping DS there on the way and it is a good 30 min drive so i suppose I dont really need to stay at home. thankfully my mum and dad will definitely be around, altho strangely DH dad has just booked a trip back home for 3 months

Suey - i forgot to send my MATB1 with the forms and thought i would wait for them to write to tell me since i dont want to send it and it never finds its way to the forms.

suey - I had the pethidine really late (think I was about 7cm) and it just made me feel completely out of it, and in a way i suppose not care so much about the pain, but the reasons I really don't want it this time are:

it didn't make the pain go away at all
it means I can barely remember dd's birth
it made me completely uncapable of making a rational decision (told them I wanted a ventouse delivery because I was so tired of pushing)
I was too exhausted to even hold dd much when she was born (alhough this was probably more due to haemorrage and low hb)

• basically if you have the pethidine early on it is probably a much more positive experience as it will wear off for the pushing but the way I did it was horrendous and I will def. not have it again

Glad you are feeling more positive about things today - you are absolutely right - the most important thing that you and your baby are fine which you will be

He sounds awful MM - can't believe he would have his friends round while you are in labour. Maybe you could stay at your mum and dad's for a while if they took your ds for a walk or something - it would be nice to spend the first hours somewhere you feel comfortable before going to the hospital

BTW I have been telling my DD about what mummy will look like just before she has the baby (so she's not terrified when it happens) - she finds it totally hilarious and joins in the groaning. And now whenever I genuinely groan (have been getting those shooting pains up the inside of my legs) - she goes, 'Oh! mummy baby!'

Unfortunately my parents sold their house and mhave temporarily moved din with my brother (as he has some problems) and he lives in a studio.... so no go there either, and also dont fancy being in labour in front of my dad and bro.... I am so fussy arent I.

Skid - worse case scenario could you take DD with you, you never know she may help you focus and channel all that energy. Dont know if it is ever done.

Morning all.

MM, you poor thing, he sounds like a right arse.

Last day at work today. I'm so glad, especially as I hardly slept last night.
No more commuting. Crowded bus this morning, nobody gave up their seat so ended up sitting on the minging stairs with all the rubbish.

Skid, thanks for the tips on pethidine. Am feeling better about my decision not to have it.

poor you,mm. Surely your DH can have a word? That is just not not- particularly as he booted you out of the flat. Och well, i would be waving crying child outside his bedroom as much as possible when you do middle of night feeds- but then i am just evil.

poor you,mm. Surely your DH can have a word? That is just not not- particularly as he booted you out of the flat. Och well, i would be waving crying child outside his bedroom as much as possible when you do middle of night feeds- but then i am just evil.

Morning all!
Choc at your builders! Useless sods, fancy going drinking heavily when you know you have work the next day! Hope they get their fingers out and get the work done before your LO arrives. If not then you will cope, trust me. My house had no walls or carpets upstairs and we were sleeping on a mattress on the floor in one of these 'rooms' when I had DS2, was terrified the MW would take one look when she visited and take the baby away but she didn't bat an eyelid.
Mememummy, I would not worry too much about large babies, firstly I don't think they really have much idea about the size of them! Secondly, I am fairly short and slight (although not as tiny as you) and both my boys were over 9lb - birth was not too bad. Your body is unlikely to grow a baby which you can't birth and head size is more important than weight IMHO! DS2 was bigger than DS1 but had a smaller head and so was much easier to get out. Once the head is out, the rest is easy.
Skid, I still have no firm plan about who will have my DSs when I go into labour. If it is out of work hours then I would like my BIL and his GF to come here to look after them but if it is in work hours then I may have to drop them off at SIL's until BIL finishes work. Haven't actually asked them yet though!
Suey and that they have lost your form! Its such a PITA form to fill in too! Have heard nothing back about mine yet although I put it in a few weeks back, I might just chase it up...
On the subject of Pethedine, I had it and it was marvellous stuff. Allowed me to catch up on some much-needed sleep between contractions! I had 2 shots with DS1 and the second shot did confuse me a bit but it managed the pain really well. I had a much smaller shot of it with DS2 and it wore off before the pushing, plus they couldn't find a mask for the gas and air (can't get on with those bitey tube things) so pushed with no pain releif - don't fancy that again this time!
I think this will be my birth plan:-
mask for gas and air
6 hour discharge if possible

I am also growing out of maternity clothes but as my bump is still so high the trousers are fine. Can't get a top to cover it though! Have had quite a large weight gain in the last week or so and have gained about 2 1/4 stone altogether.

MM, I agree with Suey, get DH to have a word with BIL. Is c@£p you are having this stress so close to your DD.

Hi everyone,

Ambi - they are so much comfier eh? I know what you mean about M&S, got measured for the nursing bra at my local breast feeding group and it was so much nicer and they didn't try to sell me loads of stuff I didn't need, they were just practical and advised to get one now and then come and see them a couple of weeks after birth to check size and get more if I need them.

Thanks for all advice on pethidine, sounds like it has effected people in different ways, I hope to not need to resort to it, but I'm glad it will be there if I really feel I need as being at home it's my only stronger option. Epidural scares the hell out of me and I really hope i don't end up having to into hospital and needing one, though I guess I maybe past caring at that point?1?

FFS. Carpet fitters have just called- they will be later tha the 7-1 window they gave me. Have SIL and DNs arriving at 1.30 and need to make up the bedroom (after carpets) and clean the bathroom. That and the builders haven't finished so i can't unpack the spare room and nursery. If I ran m business like these bloody people i wouldn't have a business at all

Suey the firm I work for are building contractors, although deal with boilers and carpets and all sorts too. IME most builders are rubbish at getting to places on time - I think a lot of it comes from them underestimating how long it will take them to complete a job/travel etc (either that or, being men, they are just overestimating their own abilities!)

I second beckle saying builders and men in general overestimating things - DH always estimates it will take 20 mins to get to Heathrow no matter where in London we are. they just have no idea... sorry that doesnt make it better.

Am a bit passed caring about BIL ass it goes, just going to go there and make it our family home and any problems even silly things (like puttin his wet clothes on top of ours on the clothes horse) will make sure i bring them to his attention and hopefully he will just pee off. Have a washer dryer now tho..... Thanks for your kind words of support tho.

it's just no good, i NEED to nest. Off to hang up the curtains and make the bed anyway. Hormonal, moi?

oh- has anyone got advice on nappy bins? Worth it/ not worth it?

God me too suey, I am CONSTANTLY cleaning these days

Am pasting my birth plan below (sorry v. long) - hopefully it might be helpful to some of you, or else if I have missed anything out would be grateful for comments - thank you!

BIRTHPLAN

Summary
I would like a natural vaginal birth, using only gas and air for pain relief if possible but will consider an epidural if I feel I need one. I DO NOT want pethidine or diamorphine. I would like my husband to be present at the birth and I would like to be as mobile and active as possible (with minimal foetal monitoring).
My husband will be present throughout the birth.
I don?t mind student midwives/doctors also being present

Labour
If it at all possible I would like to avoid continuous foetal monitoring but would be happy with a hand-held Doppler.
I would like to be as active as possible through the first stage, using breathing and massage for pain relief for as long as possible.
I would like to use gas & air when the pain becomes intense.
If there is a birthing pool available, I would like to use that for labouring and possibly delivery
I hope not to need any other pain relief but may resort to an epidural. If I ask for an epidural, I would like encouragement on managing without one (if I am nearly fully-dilated etc) but if I am insistent then I would like a mobile epidural is available.

Delivery
I would like to deliver my baby in an upright position (not on my back) ? this might be squatting, on all fours or sitting up (please suggest alternatives to me)
If I have an epidural, I might like to deliver on my side.
Last time I felt no urge to push ? if this happens again I may need coaching about when and how to push. If I am pushing myself please do not coach me
My husband would like to cut the baby?s umbilical cord but not for a few minutes after the birth

Induction and Acceleration of Labour
I would like to avoid artificial rupture of the membranes it possible, and prefer not to have an oxytocin drip unless really needed.
I prefer not to be induced at all if I am overdue unless there is something wrong with the baby

Cuts and tears
I don?t want an episiotomy unless necessary and would rather small tears weren?t stitched. If I need to be stitched I would like a local anaesthetic for this.

After the birth
I would like the baby to be delivered straight onto me
I am happy have to have managed third stage for delivery of the placenta (but after a few minutes if possible to allow cord to stop pulsating)
I would like to breastfeed and would like help checking the baby is latched on correctly at the first feed (hopefully soon after delivery). I would also like ongoing support with breastfeeding while I am in hospital.
I would like a 6 hour discharge if possible.

Caesarean section
If I need a CS I would like my husband to be present and for the baby to be passed straight to him following delivery
I would like an epidural rather than a general anaesthetic if possible
I would like to hold and breastfeed the baby as soon as possible

wow skid- very well put together. Thanks for the info re pethidine- i guess sooner rather than later if at all. I went completely loopy after having a GA for a tonsillectomy when i was 13- so maybe opiates aren't for me!

I am delaying refining my birth plan until i see the results of these investigations- don't want to imagine the perfect scenario if it is not to be.
looking forward to packing hospital bag, though. Received some more bits this morning (now in the wash) and when the carpets are down i am going to ransack some boxes and finish a bag. Feels much more positive- and very exciting!! woo-hoo!! we are having babies!!

Gosh skid - You're mega organised, you've given me a lot to think about. Think I might have mentioned but these are my main issues:

• No students present
• All pain relief available to me (had pethadine last time, which didn't make a dot of differnece and made DD slighty drowsy when she was born) *Minimum internal examination
• 6 hr discharge *DH to be birthing partner *Help with breastfeed - as i found it so hard last time.

We've organised my in-laws to look after DD which should be no problem.