Fed-Up February Fatties Facing the Final Furlong

[Gill79]

Hi everyone

There's still some space in the old thread - Waddling Zombies and Dancing Babies so no need to start posting yet. Just thought I would get it set up before I go home tonight ready for all you insommiacs!

yay - congrats to the beansprouts!

all these babies coming - how, oh how, much longer will I have to wait???!!!!

Congrats to beansprout!

oooh, ooooh, it's getting real now!

Congrats to beansprout!

oooh, ooooh, it's getting real now!

Hooray, great news Beansprout family and not sure if I've congratulated Leesmum as well since birth story - thanks for sharing, well done on a perfectly timed birth!
Blue, sorry to hear infusion hasn't made you feel any better.
I have friend coming for lunch which will be lovely but need to do a bit of tidying first so better get off. Take care all x

I have been feeling awful today, finding it hard to breathe when I lie down and getting lots of lower back and hip pain and my heart burn has returned - oh the joys of late pregnancy. Plus my dd who doesn't sleep a lot anyway has decided any rest at any point during the day is for the weak and that since its looking spring like outside, she must be running round like a nutter all day and fairly late into the night.

LOVEMYMUM-I know a few have the ban on people visiting other than partner and your other child/ren i.e. no extended family and friends, Bedford definitely has as my friend delivered there last week.

My hospital also only lets the mums other children in. I don't agree that it's a good idea to ban all children as it can be quite distressing to mother and child to be separated. Especially at what is an emotional time for mum and can be an unsettling time for other children. I remember getting upset that I could only see ds1 for an hour a day whilst in hospital after having ds2. That's why I'm hoping for the 6 hour discharge this time as I want to get home to the boys.

Lailasmum - it's really hard when you have other little ones who don't sleep during the day isn't it. My two haven't had daytime naps for a long time and have far too much energy for me at the moment!

rozzy-its frustrating, she hasn't slept during the day for a long time but will normally sit down for a story or to draw for a bit, but its seems like the lengthening and brightening of the days has charged her up and now even sitting still to eat or drink is a challenge. Taking her swimming this afternoon to tire her out hopefully.

HI guys and congrats Leesmum and Beansprout! Great news and glad both of your births went well.
Had a consultant appointment yesterday and he tells me that the baby is now breech (having been told 2 weeks ago it was head down but I think in retrospect the registrar got that wrong). Am now 36+3 and he thinks there is only a very small chance of the baby moving on its own. I'm not keen on the idea of ECV and he didn't seem convinced by it either so unless baby moves itself it seems like I will having a c section in 2 and a half weeks time. A bit different from my proposed waterbirth! I know the most important thing is for baby to get out ok but I can't help feeling terrified. I really wanted to avoid much intervention (mainly because I've got a bit of a phobia about needles/blood etc) but I know a planned section is better than an emergency one. Anyone, all in a bit of a spin at the moment and didn't sleep last night for worrying about it. Baby also not helping sleep by making the same spot on my tummy really sore as it moves around, I now know its baby's head that is pushing so much against me!
Lovemymum - royal free policy on children is only siblings of the new baby allowed and only between normal visiting times(afternoon).

At my local hopsiptal- The Alexandra- Redditch worcestershire- DH/DP and your own children can be there from 10 am to 10 pm, but no other children are permitted on the wards.

i think its a good idea as siblings want to be included and its important to mum to be with her children as much as poss, i am hoping it will also prevent any rejection of new baby!!!

DS will come to meet his new sister but probably only for an hour or two-!!! I also would like 6hour discharge but, will see what happens!!!!

Caramelchewchew - does your consultant have crystal balls?? There's every chance of the baby turning back. Can't remember is this your first baby? If so your stomach muscles will be tighter so it's slightly less likely, but by no means impossible. And why oh why are they still recommending routine c/s for breech presentation when the Term Breech Trial has been thoroughly discredited...grrr makes me mad. Oh well, fingers crossed it does turn back for you and if you do plan a c/s make sure they scan you just before to be sure it is still breech!

Congrats to Beansprout and Leesmum can't remember if I congratulated you! Can't remember much at the moment really, my brain has gone into meltdown. At least DH is working from home today so we'll hopefully get the birthpool set up and maybe that will help me relax, but I am so not ready to have this baby.

Bluedomino - shame the iron infusion hasn't made you feel any better, have you had your iron levels tested since? Just take it easy as much as you can...

Lucy - glad it was a false alarm, some midwives dont know their arse from their elbow let alone which way round a baby is!

Sarah, my due date buddy, is your homebirth now off or are you back to normal? Glad your panic's over now!

Wow. Miss a couple of days and there's a lot to catch up on! HUGE congratuations to leesmum and beansprout.

?Things here have been quite quite - thankfully. DH is now away til the 7th (gulp!) so fingers crossed things stay quiet!

Had final ante natal class yesterday - are you meant to know what you're doing after having had the classs? I think I am more confused now than ever!!

Hope it'sa good day for everyone - away to order a TENS machine. Has anyone used them before? Are they any good?

Have fun xx

mornin' all. hope everyone's well

couldnt sleep last night, but strangely feel ok on it. had a v big cleaning session yesterday (v unusual for me) and it's v nice (and again, v. unusual) to wake up to a decent flat.

unfortunatley, woke up to a missed call from my MW. i'd missed an appointment i didnt know about. thought i'd had one yesterday, but checked book and nothing written down. doh, brain of fudge. she v nice and has booked me a growth scan this afternoon 'cause of my bump being small. am relieved as have been v worried. but terrified too.

amy - you sound like my DH, he really is very concerned about not having clue what to do with the baby. so has asked for books! saying that, have not been to any antenatal classes at all, so maybe that has something to do with it

did go to a breastfeeding workshop run by the hospital on tues. am going to give it a go, on a "every extra feed is a good feed" basis. so if i BF feed for three days or six months, not worries. its the only way of rationalising something that still seems really strange to me.

before i was pg, i couldnt ever imagine BF'ing, but it does seem more of a natural thing now than before. i still get annoyed by how much it is pushed tho'. at our class, we were divided into three groups and each had to write a list of ways BF was good. group one had to do "good for baby", group two had to do "good for mum", but it was group three's remit that made me smile -- they were tasked with "how is BF'ing good for society" ! the "good for mum" group included in their list "alievates guilt" . i guess what still goes unanswered for me is shifting thinking about my norks in a sexy way to thinking about them in a whole new way, i wouldnt be getting nearly so hung up on it if it was elbow or ankle feeding, i swear!

yesterday, my yoga class was taken by the guy who runs the yogabirth organisation that my group is part of. he fantastic, but was just about the poshest man i have ever met. v strange to hear indian mystycism and the joy of birth talked about by a bloke with an Eton accent. He v convincing, by the end of it, i really did believe that labour was going to be the most beautitul experience ever, and was relishing the prospesct of those eurphoric contractions

caramelchew (and slacker)... it is interesting how many CS there are, isnt it? the national figure is 1 in 3, i think (27% at my hospital), but it seems that in both RL and here on MN, the figures are higher. I was talking to my MW about this in relations to breach births and she was saying she's never delivered a breach baby, and doesnt think she ever will. she says there's a generational experience gap now, and most MW under a certain age have no experience of breach VBs.

ramble ramble ramble....

and gill - what news from yesterday? hope all ok.

BEAN - CONGRATULATIONS

Bugger, the cat has just knocked the cheese plant off the window sill and theres soil EVERYWHERE

I'll pop back later once I've cleared it up

Hi slacker- Due date buddy!!!

Yeah the homebirth is off- get to fed up of nagative medical people having a moan about the risk and me being selfish etc!!!

So i made the decision as my BP has been rising and falling, also after i had DS it went really high so i think it is best to go in and aim for 6hour discharge, i am dissapointed but feel like a whole load of pressure has been shifted and i made the decision nobody told me to!!!(am very stubbourn and donot like being told what to do)

However DS was really quick so may still get an unplanned homebirth anyway!!!lol

How are you feeling?

I am really fed up now, had DS at 37+2 so feelin like i have been preg forever and i am so ready for my baby to arrive!!!

Hi

It is interesting about the rate of CS. Here in Aberdeen at one time it apparenty had the highest rate in either Scotland or Britain (Pregnancy brain moment!!) and over 50% of births were by CS. However, they have now apparently improved and are now at approximately 40%. Seems they are quite eager off the mark to whip you in for a CS here.

I also agree with the push for breastfeeding. Yes it might be beneficial for mum and baby but I have made up my mind that if it doesn't work then hey, formula didn't do me any harm!! I'm certainly not going to beat myself up over it. A freind of mine has been made to feel so guilty by her MW and HV because she decided to give up breastfeeding as it was just too stressful - and she's a bloody doctor!! If they can guilt trip a doctor what hope is there for the rest of us!!

c/s rates are still only around 25%, but it certainly doesn't seem that way, it seems so common these days. And the rate will continue to increase as people opt for repeat c/s. I think people prefer the perceived 'safe predictable' option rather than the uncertainties of vaginal birth, especially when medicalised birth reduces the chances of a normal birth. Although even planned homebirths seem to end in c/s more and more often these days, or it seems that way at least. I don't think most women believe that birth can be a lovely experience, and the rise in c/s reflects that. I can't talk, I know that my births have mostly been wonderful empowering experiences, and even I've half convinced myself that this time it's all going to go wrong!!! Hence employing an IM. Sigh.

Tyaca - midwives have to know what to do with a breech birth (sit on their hands mostly) as there will always be undiagnosed breeches. Sadly too many women are rushed in for unnecessary surgery when that does happen, it's crazy. The research that purported to show that vaginal breech birth is much more dangerous than c/s has been discredited, as I said before, and it's such a shame that breech isn't recognised as a variant of normal. Mary Cronk, a very respected midwife who's a breech birth expert says that either a breech birth will proceed without problems, or it won't in which case go for c/s - it's when they start interfering that problems are caused. But so many women aren't even given the chance to try, or are told that c/s is always safer, which is just not the case. Oh well, will try not to rant about it on here again, I know I'm swimming against the tide...

Sarah - must be hard going past 38 weeks for you! My first two were 39+6 and 40+0 so when I went over 41 weeks with number 3 it felt like forever, so I can empathise with you! I am feeling fat and uncomfortable but not ready to have it, really hope that's going to change in the next few days and I feel a bit more ready. IF you do change your mind about a homebirth it's never too late, the areas of the country with the highest homebirth rates tend to be the ones where a decision about place of birth isn't made until the woman is in labour. But if you go into hospital I hope you get home again quickly!

Re breastfeeding - as I've been lactating constantly since 2000 obviously I'm fairly pro but I hear you with the resentment about the way it's pushed - when the govt tells me to do something it makes me want to rebel too! But if you can get off to a good start with bf it really does make your life easier, and as Tyaca said every day you bf is good for your baby, so no reason not to start, you may find it so easy that you don't want to stop. I've bf my children for longer each time, and it's been a totally positive experience for me and them. And it's free!

Hello Again ladies,
i didn't manage to get up all the soil yet but our little cylinder vac has decided it needs a break to cool down!

Sarah - As you dropped the jelly, I'll forgive you!
Good news about your BP and protein levels. Hope it stays that way.

Joosey - I sympathise with you about the parents. I think you must be a saint for making it this far! Hopefully, either they'll go home soon or you'll continue to be strong enough to endure it! Sending you calming and strengthening vibes now! Good luck for Tuesdays stretch and sweep.

Widget - Iron supplements aren't so bad, you just have to make sure you drink plenty of fluids and eat loads of fruit and veg with them (dried fruits especially)But I agree that it is nice to not have to take them!
Lol at the surfacing whale! It's so true!

Lees - Thank You fro sharing your birth story. It's really reassuring for me as a first timer to hear of a birth going so nicely. Glad to hear you and James are doing well and that Lee loves his little brother.

Love - Nightmare with the tax/exemployer situation. May your exemployer get hers seven fold! I hope it all gets sorted swiftly for you.

Lucy - Really glad to hear your MW was wrong about your babies position.

Rozzy - Are you feeling better today?

Morning - Wow sounds like you could be next hun!

Blue - Or will it be you !!
I agree with Love, did you speak to your MW about the blurred vision?
Sorry to heasr that you're not feeling the benefit of your iron infusion. I hope it all gets sorted out soon. In the meantime, take it easy lass.

Lailas - I hope the swimming works so you can have a moments peace. Hope you're feeling better soon.

Caramel - I hope your baby turns by itself so you can stillhave the birth you want.
You could try some of these:-

• Lying on your back/left side with your bum/hips and legs raised inthe air on several pillows.
• Getting on your hands and knees with your chest down and bum in the air.
• Get your partner to talk to the bottom of your bump or play music to the bottom of your bump.

I agree with Slacker that you should get a scan before you have a c-section, if you choose to take that option, incase the baby has turned and you are then able to go with the natural birth you wanted.

Ty - Good luck for this afternoon. I hope your growth scan gives good news.
Did you know that formula has actually been in use for centuries? A tribe in the Amazon made their own derived from Almonds! SO just do what you can do and don't let people make you feel bad about the decisions you make.

cheers for your thoughts lovely pk!!
They're not too bad really and are helping loads.
What's that chinese saying??.....guests, like fish, start to stink after 3 days!!!

Too tired to respond to you all individually - sorry.

Caramel - please don't be too nervous or disappointed about c-section. I know its not what you originally wanted but babies don't always do what we want them to do. At Royal Free, if baby doesn't turn i will be scanned the day before my c-section and if she has turned, i will probably get sent home to await natural labour. Midwife told me v. little chance of baby turning (35 weeks today).

just been to collect DS from nursry and the owner was there, (she is a qualified health visitor amongst other things), and anyway- was chatting about getting labour started !lol- she said there is a part of the ankle that you can massage and it can set off labour- but she got called away before i found out where and how so does any body know!!!!?

i am all out of other ideas- tried it all except oral!!!lol

on the inside of your leg measure four finger widths above you ankle bone and rub that spot, also where your thumb joins your index finger, that space can be massaged.
Will try to find link.

Nipple twiddling is the way to go though, brings on cracking painful tightenings.

Good luck!!!

here you go!

oooh and i read somewhere that vit E has prostaglandins in, don't know whether you take it orally or rub it on your ladybits, will try to find out!!!

Thanks so very much!!!

i can nipple twiddle why DH massages its got to work !!!lol