Due May 2008 - ummm, there are are some of us still here sir???!! [hmm].

[goodcatholicgirl]

Not sure if anyone else has started a new thread as our other one ran out of room, but here we go...

Congratulations to all of you who have had their lovely babies in the past week - what a good looking bunch of babies this May thread is producing!!

Well, the law of sod did work for me, but not quite in the way that I intended. I was hoping that by having no food in the house, sod's law would determine that I went into labour. Unfortunately, sod's law decided that I should have 24 hours in hospital being monitored for high BP every 4 hours. I guess I wasn't too badly affected coz at least I got fed in hospital - DH had nothing to eat though!

My home birth is now back off again due to hospital stay - I'm feeling so frustrated . No signs of anything kicking off imminently, but I have got a real horrible back ache (middle of back though, not lower). I've never been pregnant for this long before (DD was born by this point in last pregnancy) and I'm so fed up up of listening to myself grumbling about it!!

I hope you all have a good bank holiday tomorrow and enjoy the sunshine (if you get any). Will try and cheer up and be more encouraging next time I post. Keep well everyone x

well it seems that she thinks about coming out on a night, starts everything off and then gets bored and gives up. So we are right back where we started. feeling a bit about it as this means we have to go to see consultant tomorrow and get induction date (which could be tomorrow)... i know it'll not be too bad but i really did want to do as much of it as home as possible... DP has now decided that she can come out although she isnt listening.

pregnabrain - I cant quite face putting EPO up my fanjo so have been taking it orally... but you can apparently up your dosage of rasberry leaf tea (not that its working for me) I have yet to try curry and sex is out of the question according to DP...

right going feel sorry for myself...

oh otter, i feel for you. you must be feeling so frustrated now.

when's your due date? seems a bit early to be talking inductions...

maybe try lots of long walks?

blobsmummy - sorry to hear about your raised BP, and about the home birth thing. I'm in the same boat. I'm just going to try to stay at home as long as I can so the hospital bit is short(er).

so i've finally got round to packing my bag. I think I was in denial about it really happening but I do need to get it ready now. Feels a bit weird!

OMG - Have not been able to log on for a week and so many babies have arrived.

Congratulations to everyone.

I had a consultant appointment on Tuesday and explained that my SPD was really painful. Really thought I would have tp put it on as I am not due till 14th but She did a sweep and said I was 2cm dialated and she thought it would work.

Well despite having massives of show lumps between then and now....I am still here. I am booked in for an induction this wednesday.

Off to catch up with the posts now but will be back soon.

Otter I do sympathise!!! It probably doesn't help but I'm having exactly the same problem (you suspected this the other day). We go for walks during the day, things get going, continue bouncing on ball watching Green Wing, go to bed thinking 'Maybe tonight! Maybe tonight!' then wake up - all quiet again. So I totally understand how and you are feeling. It's like preparing for a big exam, feeling like you know all the answers (or as much as you can do), got your pencils all lined up, bring it on - then you get to the exam hall and there's a sign up saying 'Come back tomorrow'.

Why do you need to get the induction booked so early? Sorry if i missed this before, but your due date is on the list as 19th May... is it possible to argue for a bit of leeway?

The other thing is what kind of induction are they talking about? The MW has said they will offer me a membrane sweep on Weds/ Thurs (when I'll be about 1 week overdue) to see if that will get things going. Maybe your consultant would agree to try this before doing anything more invasive. It sounds like for both of us, our bodies are 'doing the work' - just slowly - and I think all these contractions are very probably softening and effacing the cervix, so a membrane sweep would be more likely to work under those conditions. You've had a show too, haven't you, and all the back pain/ periody pain etc - so these are all things to mention I would think if you want to try and stave off induction.

Good luck hon, really thinking of you and sending 'come out baby!' vibes x x x

Ps otter I spent some time googling 'pre-labour' yesterday and what we are experiencing is also called 'prodromal labour' - I found this site quite helpful x

Birth Announcement !

Our little girls Carmen and Anais arrived safely by C-section last Monday - yes they are a week old already!

4lb 13oz and 5lb 4oz (elective cs at 36+5 due to breech presentation)

Operation was much less scary than expected, came home Thursday, have more or less recovered and settled in now!

Hurrah Pazza and congratulations - pictures please! Beautiul names and good weights for their dates.

Pazza - oooo congratulations, glad it wasnt as scary as you thought!! lovely names
xxx

pregnabrain - im officially not due till 19th, however because i have GD they will not let me go over term at all. and basically told us at last meeting that they'll have this baby out before.. which is a bit annoying as I have been really good about eating etc so baby doesnt get too big and I can go to term/term+ and it meant sod all...

asics - oh boo thats rubbish... Im doing the walks and bouncing on the sodding ball thing too.. at least its my body getting ready - i has begun to wonder if it was just that she (and I) couldnt actually do this...

on the positive side at least we get to see shes ok with a scan tomorrow...

Well done Pazza! Fantastic news. Glad the op went so well. Love the names too.

otter thanks for the explanation; shame the consultant isn't allowing you to go as long as you'd like. Enjoy the scan tomorrow anyway... hopefully we'll both be getting a look at our babies from the outside soon!

Congratulations to all our new parents/babies.

I have reached the magic 37 weeks, so even if I go into labour tonight, I can still have a homebirth.

And as I've had almost on time, late and early babies I will expect this one to arrive when it's ready (and probably when it's most inconvenient!).

Weird Facts: I haven't gone up a bra size yet.

Sorry if I missed anyone. Today I have enjoyed the sunshine and spending the day in the garden with the kids. Hope everyone had a good bank holiday weekend. It has gone very quiet on here.

Acisgirl and Otter, hope it happens for you soon. With all these false starts.

Pazza: congrats on your little girls, lovely names- very pleased that op went better than expected.

Horseshoe: hope something happens before wed, good luck anyway

Blobsmummy: sorry you can't have a homebirth, hope your BP settles. How do you feel?

YCBS: I am amazed how far you are still walking and that you are still working. Well done

Emmsy: If you see this, Congratulations on being 16 weeks.

Baiyu: hope you are enjoying your time with DP and that DP Mother has gone home

Pina: Thanks for your birth story, Hope you are feeling less sore today

Mumofk: sorry to hear that you have been sick

Pregnabrain: Can't help with being on labour remedies, as haven't done any of them. Booked Elective C/S

Coolmama: hope things happen before next wed

Hi

I'm still here too. Nothing much to report, I've also been having painful braxton hicks in the evenings / night, sometimes along with back and bump ache and it does get annoying thinking it could be it and then nothing happening. I remember the same thing happened with dd though and she was 10 days late so not getting my hopes up too much. Due date is thursday so all i know is I'll have had it or be having it by 2 weeks time whatever.

Pazza - congratulations! I'm sure you have your hands full but hope you can post some pics if you have a mo!

Hope everyone else is surviving the waiting game, not too long to go now!

Hurrah Pazza, good to hear from you with your lovely news. Fabulous names- they're destined to be real glamour queens, I think.

otter - enjoy the scan tomorrow. if it's all looking good, will they let you go to term and let nature take its course?

Best wishes to all those who've had or are waiting for sweeps. Hope things get moving for you...

Duchess - am v jealous of your home birth. Have you had all yours at home?

My feet have swollen up and are painful to walk on. And I can't fit into shoes any more. Should I be worried or is this par for the course?

thx for all the congrats and best wishes!

Indigo there are some pics on my profile

Pregnabrain I had swollen feet for weeeks too, it got quite debilitating. Definitely get support tights (chemist/M&S/doc), sleep with legs raised as high as possible (yeah it's tricky!) and put the tights on before you get out of bed. Keep legs up as much as possible during the day too, massage them, rotate ankles etc. Made a massive difference to me, hope it works for you too.

My swelling has gone down somewhat but I'm still wearing the support knee-highs I got at hospital (CS can cause DVT) a week after the op

good luck and happy births to everyone still waiting!

I've been having little contractions at night too - they start at about 2am and I spend the whole time desparately trying to ignore them . They usually stop by 4am Had a show over a week ago and milk has been in for nearly a week too but I still have 2 weeks until due date - DD1 was bang on time and DD2 was a week early.

Thanks for all the sympathy re piles , I am seeing my MW tomorrow so will discuss with her - thankfully they are getting better, but slowly - don't much fancy labour without pain relief with those to cope with too .

Congrats to pazza - glad to hear it all went well.

Blobsmummy sorry to hear about your hospital stay and your home birth being ruled out. Hope your luck changes soon

ascisgirl that link was very interesting. Doubt I shall remember any of it when the time comes. You'd think I'd know it all what with this being my third pregnancy but because the others were back to back they didn't follow the usual pattern at all and I became very well aquainted with those 'camel contractions' they mention .

Horseshoe good luck for Wednesday - let us know how it goes.

I have to admit to sneaking a pineapple into my basket while shopping today. I shared it with DDs (just about) but saved the core bit for myself. DDs were very put out about that -esp DD2 (2 last week) who insists there is a baby in her tummy too. She flashes her tummy at anyone she thinks might be interested to hear about her baby and I had reports last week that she started a chain of tummy flashing which lasted about 15 minutes in the gym at nursery

pazza - they are lovely! Really nice photos too. They defintely look like a cross between you and your DH to me

Pazza - what lovely names for your girls - many congratulations

Pregnabrain - bummer about home birth, isn't it? It'll all work out for the best...[trying to be positive emoticon]. I don't fit in my shoes any more either, and my flip flops are getting a bit tight. I think it's pretty normal to have fluid retention and swelling at this stage, especially in this heat. MW wasn't too bothered by it.

Mitchell - Hi! How are you doing? I'm feeling OK, just a bit knackered - but then I guess we all are!

DD has been very cute today and we've had a lovely day just enjoying her - strange to think she'll have to share us in a few days time.

Hiya all,

I am still reading the post to keep up to date with you all. It feels weird being half of us on an antenatal threa dand half on a post natal....a bit like when they split the camps on I'm a celebrity.....at least we will all be on the same thread soon.

otter yes, expect MUCH bigger boobs .

BBM I got piles from giving birth, I have treated them with germaloids suppositries and cream and they have almost gone now...worth a try??

pazza your girls look so cute.

Got to go....DD2 needs fooooood!!!!

GCG
xxx

BigBadMouse - PMSL at the chain tummy flashing!! I've been trying to work out why DD (who is nearly 2) has been flashing her tummy of late - and I think you've solved it for me!

GCG I'm way ahead of you on the germaloids - took at 40 mile round trip (DH and DDs in tow) esp for some on sunday morning - such was my need . Just stumbled across a thread of yours about how often to feed - I'm sure you are doing the right thing and it is good news and defintely a positive sign if your baby is putting on weight in the first week IMO. Not sure about all that advice to up the night feeds more than every four hours, IME with DD2 that made me so tired in the end that my milk supply waned as a result. I think you're doing the right thing.

Blobsmummy - The tummy flashing is very funny. DD2 is still tiny for her age. There is a girl who works at the nursery who is about 32 weeks pg and as soon as DD2 gets to nursery she runs up to her and lifts up her (DDs) jumper as a sort of 'greeting' DD1, who has just turned four was the same when I was pg with DD2 but now takes a very mature interest in my bump. I'm rather grateful she hasn't yet asked how her brother will come out but I am becoming less and less convinced that I will have anyone to look after the DDs when the time comes so I guess she may find out - hope she isn't too traumatised by it all .

pazza those girls are adorable! Love the way they snuggle up.

pregnabrain I had DCs 1 & 2 in a midwife-led unit (both in water, no drugs) and then had DC3 at home (in the bath, no drugs). Hope DC4 is as straightforward (and fast, DC3 was under an hour)!

Sorry you've had homebirth ruled out, but fingers crossed you get the birthing pool. Although I have a couple of friends that were gagging for waterbirths but when they finally went into labour, changed their minds!! (Pity the poor DH that specially fitted a corner bath for the occasion)! If this birth causes no pelvic floor problems, would you have the next at home do you think?

Pazza love the pictures, awww!

pregnabrain I was one of those who wanted a water birth last time, but ended up changing my mind; don't know, just didn't feel like it. Dry land ended up working fine for both DS and me

GCG do keep popping in! Know what you mean about the boobs - last time round I found myself thinking 'Crikey! I quite like these! Maybe I should have a boob job!' (having never had much 'up top').

Re. swollen feet - my feet actually went up a size last time I was pregnant. Permanently! (if only the boob size thing worked the same way )

Lovely weather forecast for today. I can see a beautiful misty sunrise out of the window... two herons just flew by... Have a good day everyone x

It looks like it's going to be a lovely week............ But I have to go to work

And DH is leaving to go back to work too

And my parents are coming to visit

(can anyone guess I'm not feeling great this morning???)

Pazza you must be so proud - your little girls are gorgeous!

Hope everyone has a lovely day!