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

[makecakesnotwar]

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

I am the same as Rolf, would like a home birth but too chicken so I'm taking my doula

Hi pedilla I think we bumped into each other on another thread today. Welcome

if we could afford to go private i'd still go for a hospital birth... they supposedly have private rooms for rent in the UCH but they're never available. so, even though i am a worrier a home birth it is! we have 2 hospitals within 5 mins and 2 more within 10-15 mins so i reckon if anything does go wrong help is very close at hand.

i just can't handle the thought of the 6 bed ward after and all the waiting around for the drs to do their checks so you can go home.

oh and having a bath/shower in my own (CLEAN) tub!!

and no cockroaches.

Hi everyone trying to catch up but there is sooo much to read.

Glad to be home after the weekend with the horrific mil and her snippy comments.

Seeing the birth stories, 1st was 3 and a half hours, no warning just bang contractions every 2 mins I was so scared and tired I couldnt push DS out and his heart was failing from the shock so got the lovely sink punger and bucket loads of sticthes

DD was the same but as I new what was happening I was alot calmer and just breathed 1 hour got me to 4cm and then when waters broke contractions got to 1 min apart hard going but kept on my feet and she was born 2 hours later.

Lets hope I drop another half hour.

Gaviscon is my best friend I live with the bottle next to the bed and nope no spoon for me either.

I have got the 3d scan on Sat so will find out what we are having then hopefully I still havent got anything organised really want to get started.

Have just made Marshmallow crispy cakes and Mars bar crispy cakes should be set now for DS coming in from school.

needahand-thanks

Ernest- I have DS 7,DS 3 and DD 14 months

I'm definitely going for a home birth - I was sure about it as soon as we found out I was pregnant. For me I just couldn't face the thought of a hospital at all. It just seems like the least relaxing, most unfamiliar and unnatural environment you could find yourself in when you need to try and be most relaxed and private. Not to mention the vastly increased risk of interventions etc... Just not me. Having said that, I'm aware that anything can happen on the day, so I'm not going to beat myself up if I end up in there having an 'emergency' c-section! Much as someone else has said, we are lucky in that we have one hospital 5 mins away and at least 2 others within 15/20 mins, so I don't feel I'm taking an enormous risk. However, DH did take quite some convincing... But I have several friends who have had successful home births first time round and the midwives are incredibly supportive in our area...

clapham- DH is not convinced by the home birth option but will support me either way, I think secretly he just likes the hospital run!
The midwifes are very supportive of home births here as well, sometimes to supportive IYSWIM

Dylansmum - I had DS1 at UCH and between contractions I was asking them if they could slap my name on any vacant amenity room!

I have only once had to spent time on a postnatal ward, and that was for 1 night with DD. I got no sleep and hated every minute of it. I was moved to a single room for the following few nights and that was fine.

Like others here, I'd be worried about doing too much afterwards if I had a home birth. I had a PPH last time which I'm sure was caused by the relatively long walk from the ward to SCBU, so I'm especially keen on being able to rest post-delivery.

I was really lucky in my labours with my girls. DD1 was 5 hours from when proper labour started all though it had been going painlessly for a while before hand which I had put down to an upset tummy. I had an epidural which only worked on one side and it took about 40 mins for the dr to put in by which time I was ready to push so he was still in the room writing up the notes when dd1 arrived!
With dd2 I had a few niggles it all stopped by the time we got to the hospital but they let me stay. Next morning contraction started and were very painful and sharp but the whole labout was only 2 1/2 hours. I had a few stitches with dd1 but none with dd2.
I do worry this time that because I miscarried with a stitch in place which tore my cervix the scar tissue may prevent me from dilating properly. The thought of a c-section terrifies me.

I stay in my own side room with both girls, with dd1 because I was staff and there was a free room. With dd2 I had to share a double room for one night and it was awful! DD2 was born around 11 am and after about 1 hour she creamed and didn't stop until about 11 pm (because she was unwell) the woman in the next bed had a social worker visiting her at about midnight who switched on the light when she entered the room! DD woke up and screamed again and after that I couldn't sleep as I was too pissed off. The next day I complained the room was too hot as I was next to the radiator and it was too cold as I was next to the window and requseted to go to the main ward as I knew I would get more peace. DD2 was in SCBU by then and when I got to the ward they let me have a side room and it was lovely and peaceful and when we arrived home a few days later I felt as if I had really rested. I doubt I will be that lucky this time!

Not read all but i see you're doing birth stories [
1st 6hr 1st stage 2 hr 2nd stage - hand was on head
2nd turned feet first in labour c sec
3rd 21hrs which felt like bloody ages 12 hrs of that at 7cm then about 3 pushes

My birth plan is to have ds1's 1st stage and ds3's 2nd stage so all over nice and quick and I can have a cup of tea because it will taste nice again

But it does show you never know.

Oh and hospital for me too.

Hi all feeling better now and have more energy suddenly. All this seems more real now we are talking bags, births and only 14 weeks left!

No choice for me here at all! regarding hospitals that is.

Have to go state, no private, have to be in ward, no private rooms, have to give birth au naturel, no elective cesereans, no gas or anything else just epidural and have to be in hospital three nights obligatory, no home births not even heard of them over here,

uhmm think thats all but hey at least ill be in the right place!

where are you paro?

Gran Canaria but sometimes feels like the outback of nowhere!!!

More birth stories ... [Upsidedowncake places head firmly back in sand]

I would happily pay for a private room, but as far as I can find out St Georges (London) doesn't have them! Seriously considering changing hospitals if I can to Kingston, because I only hear good things about K and bad things about St G's. Is it possible to swap?

How long should I expect to stay in afterwards if everything is straightforward with or without an epidural?

Went to lovely physio today, but what was scary was he guessed I was 25 weeks just by looking at me (2 days out). Last week someone guessed 24 weeks spot on. Perhaps my bump isn't as big as I thought....people have started touching it without asking now too.

Forgot to say, has anyone else got their MATB1 yet? I'm due 12 June, but my MATB1 says 21 June... is this normal?

Damewashalot - I'm off tea too, can't wait for that post labour cup!!

New bump photo uploaded, taken tonight after a lovely meal out for Dh's birthday today - feel a bit full now - 5 course meal, then coffee and mints back home.

Still on the birth chat {dramaqueen rushes off to keep upsidedowncake company in the sand].

PP - I've got my matb1 form and it has my correct due date. Speak to your midwive PP, it could just be an error. Your employer will use the date on your matb1 to calculate what 8 week period your SMP is based on.

Re: homebirth vs hospital birth... obviously that would involve thinking about birth etc. but I did drop the idea of a homebirth into conversation with DH. He pointed out that there was a perfectly good, reasonably new, very large hospital nearby and that I'd be fine there . Tbh, I reckon being in hospital will keep the grandparents away for a couple of hours...

PP - I'm not sure if it is possible to change to Kingston as I only just got in at 10 weeks. (In fact, they sent me a note saying they were full, and then decided they could find room.) I would ask your GP. Also, can't remember if I asked you before. I get train from Earlsfield to Waterloo at about 8.30 - do you come in on that line? Have we been fighting over the only seats o the train together?

MAT B1- haven't asked for that, so thanks for the reminder. Have to start filling in the HUGE form for Maternity Allowance...the joys!

Am joining the others in the sandpit....don't need to hear birth stories, want to live in blissful ignorance. The first line of my birth plan says:

I am not a martyr to pain, and expect to need drugs.

You might have guessed I plan on a hospital birth.

Great bump Debs!

Your bump is coming along nicely deb! I quite liked mine today (which is VERY unusual for me...).

Its just occured to me that I reach the magic viable 24 week mark this Saturday, maybe I do need to start thinking about the birth after all.. I cant believe some of you are already in the 3rd trimester - the 2nd one seems to have gone soooooooo quickly!

Morning all. Off to London at lunchtime for the awards dinner I'm covering for a website and freelance for. Is at the Hilton on Park Lane so am looking forward to the grub.
Then head down at a friend's house before shopping tomorrow with mum. Am RIDICULOUSLY excited.
I thought I'd spend part of the trip doing a buggy reccy on the Quinny Speedi and Britax Vigour to help me decide which to get (will buy online to save £££) but none of the big departments stores have them so I guess I'll just have to spend more time shopping for myself .
Will report back on Friday with all the details.

In not so good news, it looks like our move has been delayed again, and may not even happen. Which means I now have to decide whether a HB in our flat is really an option. Not sure the floors can take the weight of a pool for a start. There's enough space in our spare room, but I don't know what criteria the MWs use to decide - anyone know?

Morning
Lovely Bump Debs - you look all out front is that not a pink sign?

26weeks today I cant believe where the time is going. I have also reached 2 stone gain (gulp)

I am also off to London this evening for a committee meeting for a charity ball we volunteer for every year, and am strangely excited about having a night out! It's a meeting FGS! We might get a drink or two out of it (last time there was choccy biscuits on the table - woohoo!) Why am I looking forward to this so much?

Hold on to that thought Nettie, it willhappen alot when baby comes along