Due December 07 - The end is in sight, or is it just the beginning!

[Wizzska]

Hello everyone. Will you come and join me?

wizzka - I'm doing the same - hoping for a hb but no too worried if end up in hosp just don't want to get stuck there, would be disappointed not to try hb tho, was considering birth pool last week but with dh away its just one extra thing not to have to deal with (will be forever trying to keep ds out of it as well and bath times are exhausting enough without having to do that for hours before hand!)

considering only about 2% of births happen at home there seems to be a lot of us hoping for hb - fingers crossed we all manage it!

Afternoon all,

Just caught up with everything.

Skid - sorry to hear DD is ill, there certainly seems to be a lurgy going around.

Sleep - did seem to be getting better but DH snoring is starting again. at 1.30 last night I just went and slept on the sofa, was so hot anyway and for some strange reason I feel ridiculously comfy on the little sofa rather than in bed, even on my own.

Macdoodle - I think all the name suggestions are lovely, Rose and Grace are lovely. Might be nice to go with Lily Joe tho as DD suggested it.

Dundee - so pleased to hear that your MW is positive. good luck with the consultant.

Amani - I found the MW at the hospital really unhelpful regarding BF last time despite staying in for 2 nights. I think that it is possible to get a good level of support within the six hours. Plus, the support you can get at home from peer support groups, counsellors and MW etc will be much more useful. I also think that once you are back in your own surroundings it will make you much more comfy. Funnily enough tho when we done our hospital tour at the weekend DH was quite keen on me staying in for at least one night. Am sort of considering it as he will have been with me throughout labour etc and be exhausted also and even just to give him one nights sleep means at least one of us is a little more ready and willing muck in.

nice pics wizz

Melly - think I'm going to discuss the pro and cons with dh and mw next week and then decide (am sure she is still going to be baised against)

Amani (and others) - re bf - I agree that you don't always get much attention from the mw's when you are in hospital (in my case they were very busy as dd was born at the busiest time of the year - eg nine months after Christmas - plus they had a few special care babies and two sets of twins to look after!). However, the mw's who come to your house after the birth should be able to give you better attention. I also phoned the NCT helpline last time but to be honest in the end I think trial and error (plus nipple shields and Lansinoh) is what got me through.

I have not specified how long I want to stay in after the birth and will play it by ear. If everything goes well it would be nice to get home. On the other hand, it might actually help me to rest if I stay in....

Housemum - I've got another consultant appointment for a week Thursday, at which point they will make an appointment for a c/section 10-12 days hence. Hopefully the baby will come in good time before then and I will be able to cancel the section date!! It's such a horrible waiting game isn't it, not knowing what is going to happen one way or another.

Skid - now Housemum mentions it, we had an episode of "non-specific viral rash" at some point in the summer. I guess it's just one of those things!

Wizzska - great bump! That's a really obvious "I'm nearly there bump" - whereas people keep being suprised when I tell them I only have a matter of days to go. Not sure why. Must just be the way I am carrying.

insy - I know it is a bit late in the day but how about a doula? I wonder even if any of the mn doulas live in your area?

My DH might have to look after DD next week just because the people who we have arranged to look after DD when I go into labour are away next week. We do have another option but DD doesn't know those people very well and I'm worried it might freak her out being left with them.

I know what you mean about your DH speaking for you though - I have given my DH a list of strict instructions about questioning inerventions (one good tip I read was to have a code word which you only say when you really really need some pain relief so if you scream 'epidural' or 'pethidine' at the height of a contraction although this shouldn't be ignored, it can be taken to mean 'I really need some support now' rather than 'jab me with a needle immediately'. When you say the code word then your DH/mw knows you really mean it - think that would have stopped me having pethidine last time round)

MM - that's a really good point about giving dh one more nights decent sleep before the chaos sets in.

Claraq, Yes, I hope I'm nearly there! Don't think I can bear to get any bigger!

Blimey lots of posts!
I really liked RLT last time around but this time couldn't find the bags in Holland and Barrett so had to go for the capsules and if they go down at the wrong angle they stick in my throat

Dundee glad you managed to get some reassurance. We also had the prob with the growth charts-I had to point out to the hv that they were for caucasian babies as it simply didnt occur to her. DD was above the 50th % on the African charts but bang on the 25th here when she was born and according to FIL was following her line perfectly but according to the hv here she at first put on too much weight then not enough!

I had a six hour discharge with dd and was bf-they just checked I could latch her on properly by myself and that she was sucking ok. The community midwives were also on hand once I went home to help with any problems.

Went to toddler group this morning and three people said how much I'd grown . I certainly feel like it has-tummy is like a rock where baby clearly has no room AT ALL and you can trace the body through my skin which is quite wierd! Is also quite painful though and seem to have the beginnings of stretchmarks on my tummy so that's not quite so good. Will try to remember to post a new pic once the batteries have charged.

Oh and I think we have names!!!

lovely pic wizz!

Sounds like the best plan Amani.

It's great knowing loads of us hoping for hb, i've had so many shocked faces when I've said that's what I'm hoping for!

Claraq - I remember last time that he was quite refreshed when we got home so could give me some nap time in between feeds as he had had some rest, so on this basis am thinking about staying. He is also a worrier and thinks baby should stay for one night incase of any problems. I really dont want to stay unless I can have a private room... DS was really quiet last time and I spent most of the time being kept awake by other peoples babies and i hated leaving him to go to the loo and stuff... and I dont know if any of you had the same experience but nobody talked to anybody else. When i went on the tour the other day without exception every single bed had the curtains drawn round them.

I'm loving the bump pics! Do you all find yourselves comparing bumps or is that just me? At the clinic this morning, I had my ears flapping whenever the woman at the desk asked how many weeks each person was so she knew whether to fill in the blood test forms!

Clairey - are you going to share the names????

ooh go on clairey - tell us your names - it's a tall order to match your dd's name!

and glad your bump's growing - no more annoying comments!

wizzska - that is a great bump

yes MM that is a good point about Dh getting a good night's sleep if you stay a night in hospital - my poor DH has been up about 8 times a night for the last few nights with DD - he is such a trouper - just asks if I slept OK and when I say yes he says oh good then it's all worth it, bless him

clara - do you have to have a cs if you get to 10 days over? Can you wait a while longer? Or would you rather just do it? Seems like such a shame after deciding to have a VBAC

Do we know Clairey's daughters name??? Please share.

MM that doesn't sound nice at all - where I am everyone gets a private room for the first night after which you are either sent home or to the postnatal ward where there are four beds. Everyone was quite chatty when I spent three nights there last time

oh yes clairey - could you do a link to that nursing bra you recommended - think it as called emma jane or something like that?

housemum - lol at your ears flapping - yes I am always comparing bumps!

Caiela (hope you don't mind clairey but it is on m for all to see and it is gorgeous!)

clairey - what names have you got?? I can't wait to hear what everyone has, weights and names

skid - I did think of a doula but assumed it would be too late in the day, also would only want her on stand by for one maybe two weeks and then not at all, not sure they would do that but I might post a message tonight and find out...
I didn't discuss my birth plan with mw last time I think dh did it, will have to make sure I'm a lot more organised! decided not to get prescription of peth either to try and avoid it if I can - if pain gets too much will go to hosp
Its legs crossed for both of us then till dh's are available we've had loads of kind offers to look after ds but I know what you mean about it being someone they know, we just need someone till my mum and dad can arrive, ds has stayed a few nights with them now so he's used to the idea if he needs to be there, took him a bag over on Sun of spare clothes so they have everything, on a completely seperate note what size nappies does a 18 mo have?? we use reusable but want to leave a pack of disposable at mum and dads and no idea what to buy!

wizzska - great bump photo, only jyust got comp to load it up - how long have you got left?

MM - I stayed two nights last time and hardly slept a wink. Like you, my dd was fairly quiet at night - but the baby across the way screamed all night, and then on the 2nd night I had someone come in quite late and all the fuss and noise that went with that. However, luckily for me, people did actually talk to each other and the woman opposite me (with the screamy baby) was really good and supportive as she was on her 4th child (the previous had unfortunately been a stillbirth) and I was on my first.

Skidd - I will try and push for a bit longer but not too sure whether they will let me. I will probably also be ready to get the baby out once I am 12 days over! I think I will wait and see what they say. If it's still happy and healthy in there I guess there is no reason not to leave it? I'm just not very good at challenging the medical professionals....

Skid - your hospital sounds like a hotel in comparison to mine!

We have to pay for a private rooms otherwise it's the ward (which are mixed with women who have had thier babies and women who are in due to preganancy complications). When I was in with DD last time, a woman was transfered into the bed next to me a few hrs later and as soon as she and her baby were settle she asked if I would keep an eye on her little one while went out for a fag!

Thx Skid - hope thats ok Clairey....how is it pronounced. I have an idea.

insy - think it is a great idea to post and see if there is a doula in your area. Even if you go into labour when your DH is here, she might have given you some really good techiniques for managing the pain. I sort of half wish I'd gone for the doula option after reading lots of threads with lulumama giving advice - she is always so calming and reassuring and knowledgable!

My hospital has amenity type rooms, but you are lucky to get one I reckon and you dont have a bathroom.

We do have to pay for a private en suite but I really think it would be worth it.

If i get a 6 hour discharge tho I may be able to stay in the room i give birth in and they have en suites, so I could have a shower etc whilst DH with baby.

at the lady going out for a fag!! What did you say?

I would definitely pay for a private ensuite if we had a choice. Unfortunately the only private rooms are kept for women in special circs - eg with special care babies, twins, etc.