Due March 2008-New thread as we all talk too much [smile]

[turtle23]

Not very original, but the thread WAS becoming ridiculously big.

Raspberry leaf tea.

Even if it strenghtened the uterus, gave pain free labour, ended world hunger and brought about world peace with the arrival of the messiah of your choice, I will not be touching the stuff again with a barge pole.

YUCK.

JFly - I'm pretty sure if you don't think about the labour/delivery thing the baby will slip out easily while you are asleep. The other day I suddenly thought of going into labour and heading off to the hospital and it just all seemed so unlikely. I can imagine the little baby in my arms, but how it got there I can't say.

merryberry, what kind of oil would one use on one's perineum? I'm definitely going to start oiling myself up if it will help avoid episiotomy etc.

derah - yes, I must say I did feel a bit pushed into having the Anti D injections even though I was not keen at all. I still wonder whether it's really necessary to give them unless there is reason to think there might have been a mingling of blood. I was very surprised when they told me about having them. One of my reasons is that I had a previous pregnancy that didn't go to term and I can't be sure whether I have antibodies from that. Otherwise I would have been more likely to refuse.

Hi all

Gosh everyone has been very chatty over last few days.

Preggersagain - as other have said, keep legs crossed!! I sympathise on the steroid injection, I had one last week and it hurt like mad!

I'm still getting yucky discharge after bleeding last week, but at least know that it's to be expected and so am not worrying too much...

On the raspberry leaf tea, my SIL drank it from approx 34weeks and had a 4 hour first labour so I'll be copying everything she did in the run up to March.

Brazilianmum - the scan pictures are fab!

I am finding that being pregnant over Christmas is not good, firstly because of the no alcohol, but secondly because I've got so many work/family/friends dinners and being pg is an excuse to eat absolutely everything!! I have visions of being a beached whale by January

doh! oily perineum question for glamma, not merryberry. sorry.

Glam what kind of oil are you using? I'm getting scared every day to discover things I am not doing but should be. No idea I had to oil down there to prevent tearing, but it's worth a try.

My SIL was asking the other day if I was estimulating milk glands, she is going to send me some info on what to do to estimulate milk flow. Although she did all this and it didn't help as her milk dried up after two weeks, I think in her case it's partly down to being a very stressed out person.

I will try the raspberry leaf tea, but if I can't find one that tastes nice, I read that there are tablets available as well.

Glam - I use one of those electric hair removing devices for triming down under. It's safer than a razor I think.

BrazilianMum, I know how you feel but we must resist the temptation to be intimidated by how much there is to know. We know plenty, most of this stuff happens naturally, and we'll all work it out in our own way.

I've never heard of stimulating milk gland before the birth. [btw, "estimulating" is really cute. I guess portuguese and Spanish are similar in that way. sorry to even mention it, but it made me smile as it reminded me of my Spanish friends.]

There again, I've been having leaking incidents since 21 weeks (not many though) so I'd be a little afeared of stimulating in case I brought on some kind of flood.

I hate tea of all kinds so I'm going to give the raspberry leaf tea a miss. So there.

Many topics to respond to, noticed how our minds have turned to actual labour - I blame Braziliamum for that 11 week coment - jk!

Rasp Leaf Tea - am distressed by comments of yuck as was about to begin. Derah, please send name of less vile version. Janet Balaskas (active birth centre guru) says you can drink at any time in pg (which is contradictory to the only after 34 weeks warning everyone else gives), says it's supposed to help uterus pliability and pelvic floor strength. I will do anything to avoid a episotomy/tear, including drinking gross tea, hanging from the ceiling and barking like a dog.

Oil - apparently olive oil is supposed to be just fine but seems a bit gross - you can buy special oil at active birth centre and mumstheword.com (where i got mine - lovely site by the way, good post natal healing products - again tear fear in full force here).

Had a very painful/real braxton hicks last night. Was rough but actually very interesting to get a sense of what my contractions will feel like. Felt like a big mystery solved which will help me visualize how they will feel in the actual show. Starts with the hardening feeling and then the uterus/baby raises a little bit (away from me), then pain/discomfort seems to roll from there down to groin - pelvic floor - bum and then ends by curling around to lower back and then on to an almost tingly sensation in the upper back. The biggest lesson for me was I need to learn how not to fight it - as my intial reaction was to tense up which of course made it harder. But it's counter intuitive to relax and very soften even though it was in my control - so I need to focus on learning that in the classes! All very helpful, actually.

Oh, and the only thing on me that is not growing out of control is the hair on my legs. I can't remember the last time I shaved. Anyone else?

Off to battle Royal Mail!

Skidoodle - I hate tea of all kinds as well, just a wiff of black tea makes me feel sick. Not sure where the aversion comes from. But I read that you can get raspberry leaf tablets as well, so I think I will go for those.

Apologies for the spelling mistake, when MN did this "great" redevelopment of the site they should have put in a spell checker as well.

I must say I haven't been reading my pregnancy book as much as I should. All those good intentions I had to know all there is to know about pregnancy when I got to this stage have gone out of the window.

Is anyone feeling very tired lately. I had no energy last night and just sat in front of the telly all evening feeling grumpy and sorry for myself. Then had a little cry and got DP all worried. Why are you crying? is it me? You can't cry for no reason. I'M BLOODY PREGNANT AND I CAN!!!!!! Was my calm reply.

Gosh, one goes for a wee nap and there's War and Peace on here!

oil I used sweet almond oil, although as Marchmum said, olive is fine. Any oil I think is ok as long as it's not scooped out the chip pan! I also used essential oils last time. But you have to use great care with these as some are strong enough in the right amounts to act as emmenagogues (stimulates blood flow). In a secure pregnancy, with no bleeding, and after the sixth month I have used lavender and rose oil diluted to 1 or 1.5%. Basically this means 1 or 1 and a half drops of essential oil to 100 drops of carrier oil eg almond or wheatgerm oil. I used this blend on my perineal area and it's lovely.
I would check the advice though before going ahead. I did a course many moons ago so I have all the stuff floating about. I have a great book called Aromatherapy an A to Z and I made up a blend for newborn DD last time and it was so gorgeous. Great for getting the vernix (white stuff) off as well.

There's an article by a DH in the NCT magazine this month about perineal massage - basically saying he was glad to do something for his wife and how all men should do it even if it grosses them out or they're not fit to call themselves fathers... (Okay, I paraphrase somewhat!). DH was not impressed when I showed him but I'm going to keep mentioning it until he succumbs!

Article did say that you should probably start 6 weeks before due date, but I imagine the earlier you start the better. And it mentioned olive oil - I think olive and almond are good cos they are 'carrier' oils and fairly inert whereas as glam says you have to be a bit more careful with essential oils.

If anyone wants the article I can scan it in and email it.

Brazilianmum - I haven't been sleeping these past few days so on top of general tiredness I'm now really exhausted. What makes it worse is DH has been out late the last two nights for some work stuff, so I've been sat in front of the tv weeping from tiredness alone! So now feeling v v v sorry for myself. I really need a good night's sleep tonight as it's DH's work's big black tie Christmas bash tomorrow and I have a lovely dress, and high heels, and want a lovely dinner, some champagne and a boogie. I really don't want to collapse in a heap and need to be brought home at 8pm (esp as he's only been in the job 2 months so I need to make a good wifely impression!) but I fear that is what may happen...

i have to have the anti d as well, i didnt have it during my 1st or 2nd preg, not nesessary for 1st one and as dd1 was also neg not necessary for 2nd preg. had it after having dd2 though as she was positive. this time im having it at 28 weeks as i may have been sensitised with dd2, the reason they offer it at 28 weeks is in case you have had a hidden bleed and the blood tests they do at the same time are the standard 28 week blood tests which every one has.

on th enails front, mine have grown like mad with every pregnancy and get nice and strong to. my skin was awful with dd1 and 2 but theres nothing you can do about it and im finally enjoying a relativly spot free pregnancy.

i uses raspberry leaf tea with dd2 and think it definitly helped, started taking it at 32 weeks (people differ over when to start some say 35 others 38 and the box said 32) i did have a lot of braxton hicks but the pushing stage was over in two minutes. its not the nicest drink though you can get pills.

oiling - ive never done it, had a 2nd degree tear with dd1 (ouch) and not so much as a graze with dd2. the way to avoid tearing i reckon is to keep upright and let the head come out slowly no matter how big the desire to push as hard as possible and get it over and done with (a la dd1). pant and breathe ladies thats the way

i have wrapped some pressies but cant put them under the tree as dd2 is shredding everything in sight tree looks all bare with nothing underneath though.

cant belive some people are nearly 29 weeks, im only 25 feel like ive still got so long to go. glad its christmas as it keeps me busy and decoraring definitly helps.

not sure what an enail is

Oh gosh, I have been enticed onto my first MN fisticuffs thread!!!! It's kicked off elsewhere ladies, although I think it's dying down now. But who knows???

GM - what have you been up to!?

Have been away from thread for a few days, just trying to catch up... Thanks whoever posted BM 50% off note - have just had some retail therapy

Had 26 week checkup with MW on Mon - all fine. MW guessing it's a boy from heart rate (130 bpm) - says girls are higher, but then my SIL says that's a myth - she had 2 girls with low heart rates!

Managed to get Xmas cards written on Monday and did most of Xmas shopping yesterday - just a few bits left.

Now off to nag DP into doing some more work on the nursery - it's currently a junk store-room and needs cupboard building, paper stripping, plastering, painting, carpet etc etc.! He's busy faffing about in the garage...ho hum!

Oh - final note - am happy that am getting ante-natal education now - even more than i expected! Hospital have fit me into a labour day course, also 2 other courses on baby stuff and BF. Health visitor runs a 4 week life after birth course too, so Jan is going to be very busy!!

Anybody fancy a weekend meetup?

I wish the hair on my legs would stop growing .

Morning all - I had a bad night last night. It was the 3rd night in a row that i've woken at 5am, which was bad enough, but this time I was also in a panic convinced something was very wrong with the baby. He's been quite lethargic the past couple of days - definitely moving, and at his usual times, but only really moving around and barely doing any proper kicking and punching. I'm going to drs today for a regular check up anyway so was just going to mention it then - a little worried but at least I know he's still alive in there. But I woke at 5am to find myself lying on my tummy, which is normally guaranteed to have the baby kicking in fury but there was not a murmur. I spent about 30 mins in a panic trying everything I could to get him to move - all the stuff that normally makes him kick - lying on my tummy, lying on my back, drinking cold water, hunching my legs up, squashing my tummy etc. and there was absolutely no response which is particularly unusual as he is usually awake when I wake up in the middle of the night. So then I burst into tears at which point DH of course woke up.

He was very sweet considering he is completely knackered from his new job and has been working long hours this week - he gave me lots of cuddles, and was very calm. And he then went to fetch me a cup of tea (lovely DH! - when in a crisis, put the kettle on...) Finally at about 6am the baby kicked, once! We were so relieved... He went very quiet again but by about 6.30 he woke up properly and kicked me hard for a solid hour... He's probably very annoyed with his mum for waking him up when he was having a deep sleep.

So both DH and I are knackered this morning and have his big black tie do tonight. Sigh! I feel ever so slightly foolish, but it was that classic thing of it being dark and the middle of the night and your mind just racing away with you. Fortunately I'm WFH today so I'm planning a big snooze at lunchtime...

HolidaysQueen, that sounds exactly how I would feel/act! I'm sorry you had a bad night, and very glad that LO started to kick! Mine doesn't do hard kicks and punches a lot, I think it wiggles around more... but it's so hard when you don't know what's par for the course, eh?

Turtle, I'm up for meeting up again, but haven't got anything free until mid-January. Shall we get Marchmum on the case??

minspugs love the xmas name. Baby still not put in appearance here. Everything seems to start and then it all stops. He is obviously indesicive lol. HOw are you doing? Reassuring what you said about rasp leaf. Am drinking it regularly now. Hoping for a easy 2nd stage (never got there with ds1). 25 weeks already Time has flown. I have found this pregnancy has flown. I think having other kids to think about makes it go faster. Sending hugs ((())) xx

Oh HQ you poor thing. I can totally understand. I wake up every morning at 5am needing the loo. I am usually on my back and then I get really worried that the baby might be starved of oxygen.

Luckily I can get back to sleep easily and the morning I never seem to be so worried, but there's something about the middle of the night that just magnifies everything and makes disaster seem imminent.

That's so nice though that you know what your baby will react to and are used to his little ways. I have not noticed any discernible pattern, except that DH seems to calm our LO down if it is getting particularly punchy.

I've also noticed a slight diminution in activity recently - fewer of the low-down bladder kicks and punches. I'm wondering if maybe we're getting to the stage where they don't have quite the same amount of room to be going crazy.

You mustn't feel silly, especially when you've just heard such bad news about your friends. That may have made you a bit more anxious that usual.

BTW has anyone else found themselves getting more anxious in general? e.g. the other day at work we were doing something on people going missing and I found myself getting terribly worried that DH would go missing. It's not like me at all to worry like that. I was able to put it out of my mind once I realised how silly I was being, but it's weird and definitely new to me.

ps morning all

ooooh, is minspugs a christmas name? I thought it was a new poster and was wondering where regular spugs had gone.

duh

I had to say it out loud to get it

I had problems with minspugs until i said it out loud too. We are dopey! Once I got it, I then thought it was actually a genius name and wish I could think of one as good

Thanks for your lovely words skidoodle and e14mum. I think skidoodle that you're right and that I have been brooding on the couple who had the stillbirth. I don't know them properly at all - met him a few times only - but it has still got to me, so I think I'm just a bit more paranoid than normal.

Oh and yes, I'm terribly irrationally anxious at the moment. I keep thinking DH will leave the house and never come back so end up giving him about 3 hugs goodbye, and then told him 4 times this morning to be careful because the path might be a bit slippery given the frost... Anybody would think he was a 3 year old, not a 30 year old! I'm normally a very very sane, switched on, non-stressy, strong sort of person and I've become a bit clingy recently. It's really weird - as if I've had a personality transplant or something!

i am crap at thinking of new seasonal names so another mner came up with it for me. its definitly me though

i think slightly less movements is fairly normal around this time, i read somewhere else that they begin to settle a bit!

i am definitly more anxious when pregnant, normally its woorying about something bbad happening to dh (hes a fire fighter) though normally i wouldnt give it a second thought. i think its because you feel more vunrable.

i normally have to get up once a night to go to the loo and if i dont then im really uncomfortable by 6am ish.

dd1 is wearing an bedwetting alarm at the min so were being woke up by that once or twice a night, but dd2 has been sleeping through thank god. i let her get into bad habits a couple of months ago so she was up every few hours have had to 'retrain' her which has been hard poor thing.