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

[makecakesnotwar]

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

Thanks Debs! Have entered that (because obviously what my diet is lacking is creme eggs!).
Hello Pedilia! Hope you like creme eggs!

Hi guys,
Found you all! Can't believe how many threads we're getting through! And we're only just over half way...
May have to enter Debs' choc egg thingy...
x

Ahh Heartburn.... mine has been constant for about 6 weeks now - to the point where I need an extra dose of Gaviscon at about 3am most nights and I carry around tablets with me AT ALL TIMES! Honestly, I seem to have gotten used to it, but it is still annoying!
I also had some pretty good Braxton Hicks (I think) last night - my belly was really tight and uncomfortable for about 2 hours... I think I've been having them for a couple of weeks, but only just realised (after yesterdays conversation) that they were BH. I thought they were just the baby in a funny position!
I've also discovered today that my mother has sent photos of my bump to most of Australia! I sent some last week to her and select friends who had asked for an update and now I find that long lost cousins and aunts have received them too! She's obviously very proud!

systemaddict Yes I hope the labour will be shorter, although a quater of the time as opposed to half would be my preference!!

Wishing well to all those suffering from heartburns!

eek! needahand and systemsaddict, both of those birth stories sound pretty miserable.

My labour story isn't quite so unsuitable for first timers - but I also was devastated when they checked me for dilation after 10 hours of contractions and I was only 2cms. I was only another 10 hours after that, 20 hours in total with an epidural and episiotomy. Honestly I am feeling like I will cope better the second time around because I'll be more prepared for it to take forever at the beginning.

Oh and to everyone packing hospital bags already - DS was early (38w1d) and we didn't have ours packed. Turned out there was lots of time for DH to get that ready during early labour - we spent the first 10 hours at home. The whole thing was so not the rush or panic that I'd envisioned.

Anyone else think the rennies heartburn tablets taste horrible? I've tried the Sainsburys ones and they're nicer but I'm sure there's even better ones out there...

Phew, found you all!

I sympathise with all the heartburn sufferers - I've been lucky so far and only seem to get it once or two evenings a week (possibly pizza related ) but the giant Gaviscon bottle is definitely looking on the empty side!

Re preparing for birth - my current plan is: baby is in there and has to come out somehow, and I have no idea what it'll be like until it happens, so will have to just cope at that point. This is very unlike my normal worrying self, so I'm sure it will change between now and June .

To counteract my scary tale, my SIL had the opposite experience to me with her first. She was on the phone to delivery suite to say she thought she was in labour when with a couple of pushes the baby popped out!! Phone in one hand, baby in the other! All were fine but the ambulance got to them quick smart as you can imagine. They had a house full of builders at the time who didn't even realise what was going on, it all happened so fast. She thinks looking back she had been having contractions for a few hours beforehand but she was about 38 weeks and thought it was a tummy bug. I think the only lesson to draw from this is - anything can happen!!

I completely agree with aberdeenhiker about the rennies - they taste like peppermint chalk. I have graduated to the chewable ones, which aren't that much better and I have a mahoosive bottle of Gaviscon on the kitchen counter at home.

wow Sa that was quick - 1st timers you can read this - with my 1st I can't remember exactly how long I was in labour, (can't find the notes)but definitely less than 12 hours from my waters breaking, had gas and air, tens and meptid injection, and a couple of stitches.
With ds2 I have the notes - 1st stage 4 hours, 2nd stage 6 minutes, 3rd stage 6 minutes. From my waters breaking Tristan was born 8 minutes later!! Only gas and air and no stitches.

Thanks Debs!

Nice to hear all the good birth stories.

Welcome Pedilia!

I never went into labour even with induction so ended up having section

So Deb are you under instructions to get to the hospital very quickly this time, or are you planning a home birth? sorry you've probably mentioned already but I've lost track

have the scary birth stories stopped yet .

I've got gaviscon tablets for my handbag - they're supposed to be chewable but they're just chalky, and crumble when you bite into them.

Hello Pedilia!

has anyone here had a homebirth? I am considering one this time but am really not sure........

yes I love cream eggs

No home birth for me (twins) but would next time if this one goes OK...

Any recommendations for hypnobirthing CD?

No homebirth for me, I don't fancy it to be honest and it's not the norm here at all. I like to be there at the hospital just in case!!We're about 35 minutes from the hospital so at the earliest signs of labour we'll be in the car!!

No homebirth for me either, I'm too much of a worrier that something could go wrong. I am hoping for a Domino delivery with the community midwife coming into the delivery suite for the final push and then going home straight afterwards. I was in hospital for 6 hours total with dd and it was really nice not to have to go onto the ward.

No home birth here either, although I have a friend in Devon who is going for one - but I must admit - she is very earth mothery and I am all for hospitals and drugs!

mind you deb, you won't thanks me to say it, but 1st labour ? 12 hours to 7 cm then c-section, 2nd labour a couple of hours, scary fast, 3rd labour, 2 bloody days.

I love the idea of a home birth, but I'd never dare. Anyway, this time c-section. Quite excited/scared about it. I think an elelctive section, all controlled and no labour will be such a different experience to any other. Plus a week in a luxury swiss (or German?) hospital will be bliss. Knowing my lot, if I gave birth at home I'd have about 20 minutes to recover .

I'm going to go crazy and get a private room this time. As it WILL be the last.

With ds1 hospital was horrific and discharged myself after 2 nights folowing emergency section. ds2 was ok, only 3 other women, but nevertheless a bit hectic. With ds3, only 1 other woman in my room, but she spent the entire week shrieking and groaning loadly (oh the pain, the pain!) etc etc Like she was the 1st and only woman ever to have a baby . And when she wasn't moaning and groaning about her pain, she had 300 inconsiderate loud visitors, who usually arrived as I was attempting to bf. Or she was nipping out for a fag with her dh, dumping her dd on me!

So sod it. private room this time. Do not want some spoiled inconsiderate loon stressing me out or spoiling my 1st week with new baby. I want my dh and boys to be able to come and see me without having to make them whisper. I want it to be relaxed and enjoyable. (And try to put the £££ out of my mind).

I'm dithering about a home birth but I strongly suspect I will decide to go to hospital. My deliveries have been pretty straightforward and where they haven't been it was largely due to being in hospital. The community midwives here are v good too. But but but...I'm generally very risk-averse and I think I will bottle out.

As a compromise I am thinking of bringing a doula into hospital with me so I can ensure that I get 1-to-1 care from someone I've got to know, and who will put the brakes on unnecessary intervention.

Ernest - you will love that sort of sectin, although classed as an emergency, mine wasn't as no contractions, they made decision at 9AM had DD at 430pm. Wheeled in, asked what music I wanted to listen to, introduced to the team, very relaxing in a strange sort of way, very much looking forward to the next one.

I've signed the form to pay for a private room too ernest - although I liked my roommates last time, it was loud and I just couldn't sleep with all the babies crying. However if all goes well they've said I can go home 6 hours after the birth which is my first choice - still I have to avoid the epidural to get that and I'm not sure I'll be tough enough!

rolf- that is exactly how I feel. I like the idea beacsuse it means I don't have to organise someone to have dc's while I go to hospital,also the fact that I can just go and have a bath and then relax at home BUT it does seem easier to go in, have baby and come home...oh I don't know!

what is a domino birth??

pedilia, what other dc's have you got? It's def less urgent, but you'll still need to get someone in to look after them, won't you? Unless you convieniently did it after bed time and didn't wake them up.

Would your dh be good about letting you rest? Mine wouldn't be here and he'd be crapanyway, plus, I'd be crap. I need to be imprisoned in a hospital room in order to laze in bed and not get on with everything.

Thanks Ernest - just what I didn't want to read!!
I'll be in a room with just one other Mum so I hope that she's OK and not as inconsiderate as your last room-mate. I'd love the private room but too much ££. I'm staying in hospital for the rest too , and the chance to spend time gazing at the baby without having to shower my attention on the boys!