Due July 08- The "Oh my goodness we're really actually properly pregnant" thread

[Minkus]

Thread title reflects the fact that every day that passes it dawns on me a bit more

Sorry I don't know what happened there!

Cass - I do pregnancy yoga, have been going a while now and did so last time round, i really enjoy it as it's a couple of hours to myself, bit of relaxation etc. we do 1/2 hour of chat (active birth, etc - whatever people want to talk about) and then 1 1/2 hrs yoga. Do a bit of visualisation with baby sounds bizarre but nice as felt nice to give a bit of time to this one!! Hope you enjoy it. (p.s. ours is a real mix of 1st timers, through to 4th timers) Also found that it has helped by SPD alot -think because of being more aware of my posture.

Tjuice, we got married whilst pregnant last time, like libra we just had parents and siblings and it was really nice day. didn't do a huge party thing, but drinks and a really nice meal. Then spent the extra money on going to Le Manoir!! - VERY nice. Your outfits sounds lovely, I ended up getting something from USA as couldn't find anything i liked over here and didn't want full on wedding dress, somehow seemed a bit wrong with a huge bump!

Is anyone else carrying REALLY low, I feel like i'm actually sat on the baby and my pelvis is really achy and sore when i've been sat down. I don't think i carried DD this low. Really uncomfy and not sure if it's something I should bother MW about (see her in couple of wks) or whether it's normal to feel this (feel like i want to go to the loo all the time - and not to pee - TMI!!)

Hi SK I've had fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome for years and all the associated migraine and sinusitis. I've had 2 sinus operations and tried ALL the medication known to man. I finally bought a neti-pot last year which enables you to wash out the sinuses with a bit of warm salty water, it's not pleasant at first but you get used to it very quickly. This, together with a little warm olive oil in the ears has totally cured my long standing problems. If I eat products with cows milk in, I get a bit sinusey but a quick wash out sorts it in a flash. Hope you get some relief soon, it's such an oppresive pain, made worse by rainy days like today!

Hi all,

Sorry your feeling rough Tjuice and Sweetkitty, hope you both feel OK soon.

Libra1975 - If you join the baby club at Boots you get a really nice bag for free too, it's the one I'm using at the moment!

Kaz, hope your feeling less knacjered after your lovely long sleep yesterday

I've got a flatish/very shallow belly button at the moment, and also, did someone ask about the way that they cut the cord? Yes it does, DS has a half inny half outy (depends on how full of food/drink he is) as they had to cut the cord in a hurry coz he took ages taking his first breath, the lazy so and so!

I had a lovely day in the sun yesterday, my mum and I went shopping and I got all emotional buying Ds his 'big boy' bed! It's coming next week, but last night he slept with a duvet and pillow and looked so grown up! (he was a bit unsettled all night, but I guess that gets better, he can't be in sleeping bags forever can he!) So now I've got nearly everything, spent a bloody fortune!!!!

Then we played in the garden, as we have only just had it turfed it was so nice to be out there wityh all his toys, I bought him a bubble making machine from Mothercare which went down a storm, esp. with the dog!!! Then we had a picnic on the lawn for dinner! Hopefully there will be many more days like that to come!

Oh yeah Congrats Tjuice, whens the big day?

Hi everyone, Congratutlations!! My due date is July 14. I'm new to this thread-recommended by 'shortshafe'. It's good to know I can come on here and see how other mums to be are doing as I live in France so don't have any contact with others let alone speak the lingo well!! Anyway, had an apt at the hosp yest with the doctor as I no longer see the midwife due to a low lying placenta. He did the usual checks (do they still give internals in the UK? yuk!) then asked if I'd had contractions but certainly don't think so! But he prescribed me 'Salbutamol suppositories' because my uterus is too hard!! I haven't used them yet, too scared and can't get much info off internet about them, but I am rather confused (due to language barrier also!) and wondered if any1 was familiar with this? Thanks!!

Trespass, my sister was given salbutamol pessaries when she was pg and living in germany. Salbutamol relaxes smooth muscle (the important smooth muscle here being your uterine muscles, though the most common use for salbutamol is in asthma medications, as it also relaxes the smooth muscle of the lung). It sounds like your doctor thinks you are having some premature contractions (which was the case with my sis) and is giving the treatment to keep the muscle relaxed and prevent premature labour.
I should say I'm not medically qualified, I'm a scientist so know a little about this but am no obstetrician! My sis was also told to rest a lot and definitely no lifting heavy items etc. She went on to have a beautiful dd, BTW, at full term.
Congratulations on your pg.

sorry back to bags!
If you join the boots parent club you get a free change bag there when you buy any pack of pampers. looks quite nice and thats what i am getting this weekend.

I've got the free bag from Boots and it looks pretty good. Tbh any fairly large bag will do for carrying nappies, wipes, change of clothes around. Change bags tend to have compartments for a bottle (no need if breastfeeding) and a plasticy wipeable lining. this looks nice though, and I might treat myself!

I have seen those yummy mummy ones, but tbh for me they just look a little twee (this is just my opinion I know tons of people who love them!) and won't go with the complete mess that is usually me and my life. I suppose it's something I should aspire to!
Thanks for letting me know any bag will do tho, Accessorize here i come.....

Trespass - it might be worth posting your question on the Pregnancy board as you will get more people looking at your question.

Trespass Salbutamol (Ventolin) is an anti spasmodic normally you will here of it in relation to controlling an asthma attack and it is considered safe to use during pregnancy.

Just double checked in the British national formula and it is used to reduce stop contractions and prevent preterm labour

quote
A beta2 agonist (ritodrine, salbutamol or terbutaline) is used for inhibiting uncomplicated premature labour between 24 and 33 weeks of gestation and it may permit a delay in delivery of at least 48 hours. Prolonged therapy should be avoided since risk to the mother increases after 48 hours and there is a lack of evidence of benefit from further treatment; maintenance treatment is therefore not recommended.

Now in the UK we tend to give it orally or into a vein in the content they are far better givng things rectally or in this case I suspect vaginally vaginally would be giving a far more local reaction so would be a better route

Trespass Only thing I can find online is this abstract www.popline.org/docs/722963

Thought I'd start a list of stuff to go in a hospital bag.

For you

Nightie / slippers
Sanitary pads (heavy duty!)
Knickers (disposable, old or tesco value!)
Toileties - shampoo, soap, etc
Hairbrush
breast pads
money for phone etc.
Clothes to go home in (comfy, stretchy ones - do not pack your size 8 skinny jeans unless you are Posh Spice)

For baby

nappies, nappy sacks
cotton wool
vests and babygros (number depending on how long you plan to stay - I would say at least 3 of each)
cute outfit to go home in

Birthing bag

Old nightie / t shirt to give birth in
Disposable / old / cheap knickers and a couple of sanitary pads for afterwards
1 x nappy, vest and babygro
Camera!
List of people DH needs to phone to announce the news

Anyone - feel free to add to the list!

ISAIDNO - You are very good! I would only add one thing..

For you

Nightie / slippers
Sanitary pads (heavy duty!)
Knickers (disposable, old or tesco value!)
Toileties - shampoo, soap, etc
Hairbrush
breast pads
money for phone etc.
Clothes to go home in (comfy, stretchy ones - do not pack your size 8 skinny jeans unless you are Posh Spice)

For baby

nappies, nappy sacks
cotton wool
vests and babygros (number depending on how long you plan to stay - I would say at least 3 of each)
cute outfit to go home in

Birthing bag

Old nightie / t shirt to give birth in
Disposable / old / cheap knickers and a couple of sanitary pads for afterwards
1 x nappy, vest and babygro
Camera!
A couple of flannels for DH to 'mop your brow' (makes him feel useful!)
A towell (sp?)
List of people DH needs to phone to announce the news

Just thought of another!

For you

Nightie / slippers
Sanitary pads (heavy duty!)
Knickers (disposable, old or tesco value!)
Toileties - shampoo, soap, etc
Hairbrush
breast pads
money for phone etc.
Clothes to go home in (comfy, stretchy ones - do not pack your size 8 skinny jeans unless you are Posh Spice)

For baby

nappies, nappy sacks
cotton wool
vests and babygros (number depending on how long you plan to stay - I would say at least 3 of each)
cute outfit to go home in

Birthing bag

Old nightie / t shirt to give birth in
Disposable / old / cheap knickers and a couple of sanitary pads for afterwards
1 x nappy, vest and babygro
Camera!
A couple of flannels for DH to 'mop your brow' (makes him feel useful!)
A towell (sp?)
Some snacks to keep your energy up. I've been told those Lucozade glucose tablets are good.
List of people DH needs to phone to announce the news

Libra - I never had a changing bag. Just whichever big bag I happened to have at the time.
SK/Tjuice - hope you're feeling better. Congrats Tjuice. Very exciting for you.

Hello over there cameroonmama. Things here very hectic and tiring but fine. will email soon. Hope all well your end.

Jodie - yes I forgot towel and flannel!

BOLLOCKS (sorry for the swearing), just found out that my hospital doesn't offer mobile epidurals, was really really hoping for one. Bloody NHS. grrr.

hello from uggsville have spent most of the afternoon on the sofa watching Peppa Pig, DDs are loving it. I think the sinusitis will be shortlived and only brought on by the heavy cold I have so hopefully it should be gone in a day or so.

It's very scary starting to do the hospital list, even though I plan to have a homebirth I still need a hospital bag packed just in case. I'll add my additions on in a minute. I've always had a couple of navy blue towels packed too (don't show the blood).

For you

2 or 3 nighties or PJs
Sanitary pads (heavy duty about 2 packs)
Knickers (disposable, old or tesco value!)
Toileties - shampoo, soap, etc
Hairbrush
breast pads
Lasinoh cream (start slapping it on as soon as you are feeding to prevent sore nips)
Pampers bed mats (good for underneath you just after the birth saves you having to ask the MWs to change the sheets)
Disposable wipes for cleaning the toilet
money for phone etc.
Clothes to go home in (comfy, stretchy ones - do not pack your size 8 skinny jeans unless you are Posh Spice)

For baby

nappies, nappy sacks
cotton wool or wipes (cotton wool is useless at getting meconium off)
hat (even in July)
pair of scratch mitts
vests and babygros (number depending on how long you plan to stay - I would say at least 3 of each)
cute outfit to go home in

Birthing bag

Old nightie / t shirt to give birth in
Disposable / old / cheap knickers and a couple of sanitary pads for afterwards
1 x nappy, vest and babygro
Camera!
A couple of flannels for DH to 'mop your brow' (makes him feel useful!)
2 towels (red or navy)
Some snacks to keep your energy up. I've been told those Lucozade glucose tablets are good.
List of people DH needs to phone to announce the news

I think mobile epidurals are quite rare libra - you might not need one though.

Just realised my list is v long I never travel light you should have seen the size of my first hospital bag and I never opened it until DD1 was born

Re hospital bag - don't forget some flip-flops/slippers - you do not want to walk around the hospital in bare feet

Blimey, hadn't even thought of a hospital bag (planning a home birth) but I guess you never know when you might get whisked in. Should I be thinking about this at 29 weeks?

SK, you are right they are very rare apparently mostly done in London teaching hospitals, this might sound defeatist to some but I am going in with the plan of having an epidural but I also know the benefits of keeping active and upright as long as possible.
I have been petrified of the thought of labour for years and I am doing as much as I can to ease this by researching hypnobirthing and doing pregnancy yoga which focuses on breathing and labour positions but I was really hoping this could be combined with a mobile epidural (in fact it was the only thing keeping me sane in regards to labour).
With all this talk of womens choice and having the birth they want it seems odd to me that the UK does not offer mobile epidurals which take away most of the pain but also allow you to be in control of you.
I talked to an o&G doc the other night who had done some work in Aus and said over there they are very common and she was surprised when she first turned up to see women in labour quite happily walking around the ward!

all these hospital bag item suggestions are great, keep them coming

Gilly - I had a bag packed at about 35 weeks, take everything as you would for a hospital birth that way if you need to go to the hospital at any time your bag is ready to lift and go. If you don't have to go to hospital you just open you bag when you go into labour. We only have cover for 39-42 weeks up here so if I go into labour before that it will be a hospital birth

Are you planning a water birth at home? I'm not don't have anywhere to put a pool plus I have never really fancied it.

My additional homebirth items:
cheap shower curtains for the bed and floor
cheap fitted sheet to put over shower curtains
Pampers bed mats (MWs provide inco pads but we ran out last time)
some old towels

My labours have been fast and furious I don't have a latent build up phase so don't want any drinks/food etc

Mws here provide a huge bag of kit usually delivered to your house in advance with the wonderful canisters of gas and air and oxygen if needed. MWs pulled the sheet and everything off the bed and threw it in a huge bag whilst I was in the shower and remade the bed, no mess at all.