Due in June and entering the home stretch - keep the creme eggs rolling!

[makecakesnotwar]

And the Revels, the Greek Yogurt and the curly fries....

Greengfairy perhaps you are right about kitchen. It is big and light and airy and I love it, so will think about practicalities. although my preference would probably be bedroom for night and kitchen for day.

Completely agree with you saying that more women consider HB not out of bravenss buth out of necessity becaus eof understaffing/poor hygene etc..it is definitely a defining factor for me.

Neen that is such good news, one of each and a reasonably hands off consultant! Couldn't hope for better really

All this talk of homebirths is making me think , maybe...? but no. I think I would be a bit more likely if I had ever met my community midwife but she has been away every single appointment so far and I haven't seen the same person from the team twice, in fact last time I saw a hospital midwife who had been drafted in to cover. This does not fill me with confidence that a homebirth would go well. I would like a domino delivery where the community midwife goes to the house and then on to the hospital with you to deliver the baby there, that way you get a dedicated midwife all the way though, but as I haven't seen my midwife to discuss this with her I don't even now if it is a service she offers.

I am a bit narked that I have managed to get to 26 weeks without being able to discuss it with her, as it stops me comiong up with another plan if/when she says no...

Neenz - fantastic news, you must be thrilled.

quick question for those with spd... what does it actually feel like? i sort of feel like i have a groin pull for the past few days. it's not like the usual growing/cramping and i had nothing like it with ds.

not to be graphic but what it really feels like is having a couple hour long missionary sex session (if memory serves) and the soreness after. and that's def not the cause!! sorry i know that's TMI!

Neenz, one of each! A ready-made made family!

Nettie - I'm at Kingston in the MW led unit too ... When's your EDD?? Mine is 22 June but I'm expecting to be a week or so late.

Went to the doctor today for my 24-week checkup. Blood pressure is fine but I have very puffy ankles and have been having headaches, so am not having to me monitored for pre-eclampsia every week, which is very tiresome I had puffy ankles last time, but they didn't worry about it as it was the summer. It's very good of them to be watchful. I know it's just because the baby is resting on my veins, but it's a pain all the same.

Sophie, your induction sounds like mine - except they wouldn't let me have a C section, and we carried on for three days. It's nice to hear a story like yours. DS was quite distressed, (as was I) so this time we are probably getting a doula to help manage it all.

Re pre-eclampsia, that should read that am having to be monitored every week ...

Neenz - congrats! Also, your consultant sounds good, I like that he's offering the option of just wiring you up for the epidural without the drugs if you want. It's not ideal, but sounds better than being knocked out for an emergency section!

Upsidedowncake - good luck! I hope it is just swelling - I had that with DS but not until later on. I'm hoping that I wont swell up this time until it's warm enough to wear sandals - last time none of my shoes fit and we had to rush out and buy me Tevas!

neenz here's a really interesting story of natural birth of twins with one breech.

Upsidedowncake - I'm due on 6/7th June, so I have my 28 week widwife appt next week. I've also been given my dates for Antenatal classes, thankfully - I signed up in December! Good luck with the pre-eclampsia - luckily I've got low blood pressure naturally however, it has made standing up quickly an issue! DP is now used to me struggling out of bed slowly, instead of bounding out (apart from when I am desperate for the loo!)

Dylansmum - I have similar pains to yours I think, round the back of the top of my legs and in between. I just put it down to the extra weight I was carrying so would be pleased to hear the thoughts of SPD sufferers.

My hands have been feeling a bit numb as well these last few days. Could be carpal tunnel?

Fantastic news, Neenz . So pleased for you. Theo and Esther are lovely names, and they go together well too.

I have spoken to today to one of the hypnobirthing people and we have booked her in to do private lessons at our house, for me and DH. DH is such an uptight and unreconstructed soul, that I think he'll be better if it's just the two of us. I'll e-mail you with all the information I had, though as it'll save you some legwork.

I was at a friend's house today and there were 2 of us at the same stage of pregnancy, and one with a newborn baby whose mother was utterly loved up and delighted with her gorgeous son. It was so nice to see and of course that will be all of us in just a few months won't it?

Neenz - congrats on the one of each - how utterly wonderful

Sybil - domino delivery is something I would consider as a second option to HB, but I agree, the track record of your mw so far doesn't bode well. I'm not sure it's offered in Bristol, but if a HB has to transfer this is pretty much what happens anyway.

HBs in Bristol are staffed at night by a group of 40 mws on call, so you can get anyone. In the day time you should get a community mw, but I don't really mind. What's important to me is that I feel safe and comfortable and in control of my environment. Unfortunately, my old job as a reporter in Briz means I know far too much first hand about our maternity hospital - it's antenatal services are superb, but its delivery services leave a lot to be desired - mainly because they just don't have enough people. They won't even do tours for expectant mums because they are too busy. The fact they don't prioritise putting pg women at ease before the birth doesn't fill me with confidence. There was a video tour of the delivery suite on the website but it's been taken down and all the hospital can say is that it's going to be put up "soon". Utter crap imo. I know it's probably not seen as a necessity in the context of everything else they have to do - they are a regional special care centre and a teaching hospital - but it's not great.
They also go through spates of having to literally turn labouring women away because they are full to bursting...
It's such a shame the NHS service differs so much from area to area.

Neenz - just sent you a frighteningly long e-mail!

Thanks Rolf! I completely understand about wanting to go it alone. I have ordered a Mongan book and CD from Amazon anyway, so hopefully that will do the trick as I know classes can be expensive (and I'm a bit tight!).

Yes it will be so exciting when our babies come!!

Hello all beeen away for a while

all this talk bout births makes me jealous as i dont get any choice in the matter at all out here i get a bed stirrups, and drs (i suppose!!) but hey ho. Oh and only an epidural if i want one.

But i suppose my antenatal classes make up for it went to first one yesterday and they are on the beach in the evening just as sun is setting!!

On the neighbours front think mine beats them all He chucked cats poo over my wall on Monday obviously thought only my cat lives on this street!!! ive a good mind to chuck it back along with a cat litter tray and litter!!! the cheek of it she hardly leaves the house and anyway what does he think im going to do!

On the mil front dp is in holland, he left on tues as was told better come mil is not eating and drinking now and has perforated stomach so is at home on morphine machine so its only a matter of time i think. ive never been on my own in the 6 years weve been together so finding it very strange and as we both work in same school im used to seeing dp all the time but hey dog and cat are keeping me busy and fleur lets me know she is there
Lets hope its over without any more pain really.

On happier note thanks for advice on nappies have ordered trial packs of motherease and tots bots from twinkle.com so will see how we go when she is born and if we like, we buy. I want to but dp not keen

oh well off to walk dog will check in again at weekend

Congrats on girl neenz

Yippee for neenz...a girl and a boy. What more can you ask for?? Beautiful names too.

Re: SPD...mine started off feeling uncomfortable in the undercarriage when I walked, much like too much sex DMPO ...then gradually got worse. Now it's peretty much constant, graduates around my bottom, hips and thighs. If you are in any doubt see your GP. Mine pressed me a couple of times in the pelvic area and literally had to peel me from the ceiling...but the sooner you get it diagnosed, the sooner you can get help (I see a physio)and -more importantly- put it in your birth plan as there are positions you shouldn't give birth in...Sorry- waffled on a bit there.

Re: Carpal tunnel...could be NH, I mean Neenz, but I don't have it. A friend said it started off like pins and needles and graduated to numbness with intermittent pins and needles. Not much help given that she needed crutches for her SPD!!

Re: birth stories...don't have one obviously. I admire everyone who is considering hypnobirthing, homebirthing, natural birthing etc. I am only considering which drugs to take first! Does that make me a neanderthal?

Makecakes - no, you're not a neanderthal - lol, just a realist!That was one of the things I wanted to check with a friend who had her baby at the same hospital - did they offer you gas and air?

Morning all, I'll catch up in a minute but just have a quick question.
We've just booked a holiday on impulse and got a great bargain to boot however I've now discovered a problem - insurance. Am having problems finding an insurance comapny that will cover up to 32/33 weeks.
Thought we'd be OK as check out all the websites prior to booking and oh yes you can fly until 35 weeks pregnant checked with the tour operator etc etc. I'm beginning to panic. I will be 31+5 on flight out and 32+5 on way back. Can anyone help with any helpful suggestions?

wow libralady i'm impressed that you're brave enough to fly that far on! i have just looked through our terms and conditions (Columbus Direct) and i can't find any conditions about flying during pregnancy. i was under the impression that as long as you have a dr's note stating you can fly it should be fine... but maybe that's if you have an existing annual policy? i'll have to phone them to make sure but we're taking the eurostar at 32 weeks so i think it different than flying. sorry i can't be more help! where are you going, anywhere nice?

i just had a closer look and it says it won't cover anything to do with pregnancy after the last 12 weeks unless you've had a normal pregnancy (this and previous) and it's a complication. i.e. if you go into labour you're stuffed!

if you're in europe you should be able to have coverage for labour through the NHS anyway though right?

We're going to Kefalonia. I love it there and it will be my 5th time. I am desperately googling as we 'speak'!

Morning Ladies,

I'm 30 today!!!!! My DD's woke me up at 7 to bring me my presents which was very sweet of them. It's also DD2's party today, thankfully in a soft play centre but we providing the food which we got ready last night so we can relax a bit this morning.

Libra, I hope you get the insurance sorted, I'm sure there must be something out there!

re SPD (for Neens and Dylansmum) - shooting pains down either side of the pubis could be SPD-related, but could also be the bottom of your round ligaments hurting, or baby lying on a nerve! I get these a fair bit, but my 'main' SPD issue is pain down the outside of my pelvis/hips whenever I lie down. Oh, and my hips have started clicking attractively when I turn over.
Worth asking your GP/midwife about it, I feel like mine is being taken seriously now I'm seeing the physio, though I'm still getting b*gger all sleep!
There's some really good information (factsheets etc.) on SPD here: www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk/3208.html

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GOINGFOR3

Happy birthday G43 - hope you have a lovely day!

libralady - nothing helpful to suggest I'm afraid, we have an annual policy and I know it wouldn't cover me that late on. Good luck with finding something though.

Am so impressed (and slightly scared) about how much thought that you have all put into birth. I keep thinking I've got ages before I have to worry about all of that, but only 15 weeks to go now.

Currently trying to decide on which shade of lemon (about 8 tester shades on the wall) to go for when we paint the baby's room tomorrow. Am so excited about starting to do some decorating!