Due June 08 - Creme egg season is over, summer is now here, so time to tidy the ladygarden before the big day

[bitofadramaqueen]

I wonder how quickly we'll get through this thread?!?!?!?!

Pregnant penguin, syntocinon is the drug they give you to make your uterus contract if it doesn't do it itself ... it's common in inductions, if other interventions don't work, but increases the chances of an instrumental delivery - especially if you are on it for a long time.

But of course, I know I'll have a lovely natural labour, and will squeeze the baby out in between taking sips from a nice cup of tea.

omg, I forgot to say, my doula recommended this as an alternative to perineal massage. It makes me put my head back in the sand, but what do you all think?

udc, looks like a good idea but how much do you need to stretch yourself to make if effective?

I can't keep up with reading, never mind posting! Maybe once I go on mat leave (in, er, 4 weeks' time). You'll probably all have popped by then...
Anyway, just a quickie to congratulate Neenz and her twin beans-no-more, and to wish MakeCakes all the best tonight. Exciting stuff.

eeek.Urk. It's a German contraption btw.

From 37 weeks, you insert it for 15 minutes a day. You put it in and pump it up until you are uncomfortable. The point is to stretch until it (and you! ...) have a diameter of 10 cm.

Cost 85 pounds.

i can see the point but it's making me cross my legs.

10cms!!!!!!!! How will it ever go back to normal!

They don't call them vaginal flaps for nothing ...

(sorry, was that too, too gross?)

Neennz, come back and tell us nice birth stories again and I'll stop frightening everyone.

Ooohh - lots to say

Systemsaddict - don't worry, it didn't come across as though you were having a pop, and I appreciate the all the sane advice on this thread. When I was first pregnant I posted on a rival site , the responses I got back were so sanctimonious I never went back. Laura thanks for the pethidine advice. My DH had a serious kidney op as a child and was put on morphine afterwards - as a result he is a big proponent of (legally administered) opiates!

Laura your maternity pay situation sucks. Others on the thread are more knowledgable about this area than me, so I'll just send hugs and sympathy. If my employer had told me that at this late stage I would be so wound up about it.

Makecakes lots and lots of luck with the induction.

Needahand meant to say yesterday that I was sorry to hear that the holiday was so difficult and the SIL situation hasn't improved. So difficult at a time when you should be focusing on you.

Greenfairy (I think)tried out your lamb kofta recipe last night - DH was very happy with the results. I think for him it was ALMOST as good as going to the kebab shop down the road. Thank-you

UDC - hells bells, those gourds look frightening although very nicely decorated . I think that I have left perineal massage and the alternatives a bit late (37+4) to have much effect though.

Finally - just got back from the shops. Very happy with myself because I found the perfect lightweight, black, jersey dressing gown in TK Maxx, and it fits . Primark sorted me out with £2 XXL mens t-shirts, and I managed to amuse myself for sometime weighing up the various merits of their vile night dresses. I also seem to have got over my pregnancy aversion to coffee. Had a decaf coffee and a large piece of carrot cake in Tschibo, and it was lovely. The first coffee since later October I think. [smiley feeling podged emoticon]

urrgh- just tuned in

UDC- that's a definite Epi-NO NO in my book

just let the baby do it!

Thanks for the house advise everyone, like motley fool website Loretta. But bl00min' neighbours have just kicked off again So I think the reality is that we will mention the survey points and try and negotiate. But the reality is that if the vendor doesn't want to be flexible we'll go through with the sale anyway just to get away from these f'wits!!! Drop £10,000 and we'll move in on Monday would be ideal Where is that fairy godmother when you need her?

Feeling bizarrely jealous of those of you experiencing contractions.

Upsidedown - Thanks for the explanation! I've seen that 'thing' before, it looks good but seem to remember it was quite pricey - and not something I'd want to get cheap off of ebay!

Upsidedowncake - someone was telling me about those things the other day. She'd read it in a book by some hotshot Indian obstetrician, and apparently in cultures where it's used they have much lower incidents of tearing etc than we do. Personally I'd rather eat my own vomit but there you go .

Laura how crap about your employers. I'm not surprised you're so pissed off about it.

makecakes - Good luck! How exciting - hope it goes well and can't wait to hear about it.

Paro - reflexology is supposed to be good for turning breach babies and is very relaxing too. There's also a Chinese remedy called moxibustion which I believe is often recommended by mainstream practitioners as it has such a high success rate. And there's a homeopathic remedy called pulsatilla.

I saw my doula today and we went to the homeopath to get a birth kit. It was very interesting. The doula has taken copious notes so she can just stuff remedies down my throat without me having to think about it. I found homeopathic remedies very useful last time round so keen to try it again.

We've been trying out different names on my bump. The only name we responded to was one that we are not very sure about - maybe her kick meant that she wasn't sure either! My favourite names don't sound good with our surname, which is a shame. I still love htem when I say them in isolation but not when I say then with our surname. We both like Antonia but not Toni, and as we live in the land of needlessly shortened names (ie Liverpool) that's a bit of a deal-breaker. It's nice that DH is getting excited about names now.

How is everyone this afternoon?

Down side - I got onto internet banking thi smonring to find that someone had used an old but still slightly used bank account to buy some DVD stuff for £575 - lloyds have been really good though and will reimburse money in 5-7 working days, wasn't a stolen pin so I think that helped.

Upside - we are getting a new car, yay.

And jujst checked my diary and we have 3 days off betwen now and end of May and then about 4 in June before baby comes. Help!

Ucake - there have been a couple of threads about Epi-no - have a search on the pregnancy board. I think it sounds a good idea in theory, but in reality, I can't be arsed, and trying to get it - ahem - in position - is now probably a physical impossibility! At least with the nicely decorated gourds one could put them on one's mantelpiece afterwards

Rolf, what's in your homeopathy list? I have arnica - have seen other stuff, but not quite sure how it works. Neal's Yard have a birth kit with about 18 different things in it, how on earth would you manage to take all of them?! Antonia is lovely, but agree not in shortened form.

Sophie - eek at your bank account!

Hi all

I haven't been able to post much today as DH was hoggling the computer. Feel a bit better though as I had loads of sleep. I slept about 7.5hours last night. Woke up to see DD before she went to nursery, had breakfast and felt so shattered I had to go back to bed and slept until 12!! Don't know if I will ever manage to sleep tonight.

Had even more bad news today (I hope this period of bad news will stop). My SIL (on my side, my brother's wife) has just been fired after her probationary and she is the sole bread winner. I am not to worried though as she is extremely bright and I am sure she will find something in no time.

Laura so shocked to read about your pay issues. It is so outrageous that you should be the one suffering from a pay cutting exercise. I hope you'll manage to get that sorted with minimum hassle!

Makescake you are probably in hosp right now, but good luck and lots of good vibes.

Ucake that device seems diabolical. Urggh

Sophie bad luck with bank account. I would ask the bank to open another one and close this one when the matter is resolved.

rolf I too went to see a homeopath this week. She has given me something to pick me up a bit and has ordered a labour kit. DH will come with me to see how it work but apparently my IMW is used to the kits. The homeopath is lovely and lives 10 minutes from me and said if we didn't have the right remedy when I am in labour she would pop over an bring it!. I am hoping that perhaps homeopathy will help me with the vomitting where traditional medicine can't. It is worth a shot. I am also considering reflexology. I am so knackered and aware I need to do something to prop my energy levels before the DDay.

Hello all,
Despite initial annoyance at having to start mat leave three weeks early, I am actually really enjoying just pottering around, I have even managed to put hospital bag stuff in a pile (not actually in bag yet). Baby is still breech, so i am hoping that my BP goes down, and obstetrician will attempt ECV, as I really don't fancy a c-section. NCT lady was very into me trying a vaginal breech delivery (DH very against)but after looking at breech deliveries on you tube; I'm not so sure....
Laura I had also had mat pay problems with my trust, but a few words from a nice chap at the BMA legal dept, and they changed their minds. Worth a go to avoid yourself any unnecesary hassle.

Whinegums - my homeopathy kit has:

ipecac 30c projectile vomiting, PPH
nat mur 30c - resentment

pulsatilla 30c - weepy, self-pitying, wanting to give up and go home

aconite 200c - fear

kali phos 6x - exhaustion

caulophyllum 200c - when cervix is slow to dilate (need to check circs in which I take each strength)

caulophyllum 30c

arnica 30c - pain, bruising, shock. Take 30c twice a day before labour (about a week before)

arnica 200c - take as required during labour and after

I've also got a tincture called hypercal to put on a flannel on the perineum after the baby has arrived - apparently it's good for cuts etc. Also good diluted for bathing umbilical cord.

My doula came with me and has taken notes so the plan is that she will just throw teh right remedy into my mouth at the right time. The lovely woman at the homeopath said that if the baby comes early, when the doula is still on holiday (ie at 37 weeks) she can some and throw them in my mouth if I want.

I'm generally quite sceptical about this sort of thing but after my last pregnancy where I handed myself over to the medics for the entire pregnancy and labour, I'm finding it very helpful emotionally to feel more in the driving seat. If nothing else, all the hippy-dippy stuff I've been doing has definitely helped me really enjoy the pregnancy and has been worth it for that reason alone .

Sophie - how annoying about your bank account and how scary about the number of free days you have! I am wildly jealous of your new car. What are you getting? I need a new car

PP sorry about your neighbours. So stressful for you...

Upsidedowncake - stop it . You have stolen Neenz's filthy hoo-er crown!

Rolf, I could probably do with taking most of those right now!!!

Needahand - sorry you're having such a rough time at the moment. You really didn't need your holiday to be so unrestful, did you?

I thoroughly enjoyed the reflexology treatment I had the other day. What's not to like about sitting on a comfy bed in a quiet room, wittering if you want to and having your feet rubbed! It was lovely - I felt very relaxed and calm afterwards

AH thanks for size tips. I'm non the wiser now, as we seem to be similar size, except you're 3" taller, bit otherwise I'm the same by the sounds of it (pre preg size), so still v. unsure. I'll not get a reversible one, so one with a bit of stretch.

PP neighbours sound like a nightmare. TBH, I'd just go through with the sale. even if you do get a bit of a reduction, you'll cause so much ill feeling, and they may even feel strongly enough to call it off. Just think how much it'll be worth it to get away from your hideous sounding neighbours.

Make cakes, good luck - we'll all be routing for you. Keep in touch

rolf - we have a boy's name but can't agree on a girl's. Fingers' crossed we won't need to use it anyway.

Laura, I know nothing about these things, but your pay situation sounds like a. a total rip-off and b. a total nightmare. poor yo

And as for that German contraption. Good God NO! up to 10 cm!!!!! I mean, childbirth is painful enough, but at least there's a reward. Getting up to 10 cm just so you can suffer amny times seems, well.... German? No ha ha only joking. just weird. BTW was reliably informed that perineal massage is very successful for 1st births but no use whatsoever in 2nd or subsequent ones. And my undercarriage can testify to the latter.

rolf nope indeed I needed a restful holiday but I suppose that is life. What did your reflexologist do? Anything in particular. I have had it before and I loved it and I don't suppose it can hurt at the moment. And my poor feet are so sore with all the extra weight.

Re homeopathy I am not usually in happy hippy stuff either but I realised when DD had colics and we went to see a cranial osteopath that just because you don't understand how something works, it doesn't mean that it won't. I want to feel more in control this time too and am willing to give it a shot

Can't remember who has a breech baby but apparently homeopathy and reflexology can help with that too...if all else fails!

Just felt like gentle rubby stuff. She nentioned (before I did) that the right side of my pelvis was very stiff (I think I have mild SPD).

My baby was breach (Para's is too). I don't know what position it was in before the reflexology on Monday but when I went to see the midwife later in the day it was head down!

Rolf - good new for baby being head down. Might help mine. Apparently it is still head down (I think it went transverse last week) but he is in a very very odd postition.

Can I ask anyone who has had GBS for advice. It think I saw someone mentioning it when I flicked throught the thread yesterday. When I went to hosp at 28 weeks they took a swab and apparently I tested positive for GBS. Is there anything I can do to help the private test be negative. I recall someome mentioning garlic. Any truth in this or is it just bull...?

Rolf - out of interest, why the two different strengths of arnica needed? I was going to pick up some tablets while shopping today and had on my list 200c, but they only had 30c in Boots so I thought I'd wait until I could get to health food type shop.

Had a successful day's shopping - got quite a few tops in H&M, but one or two more expensive tops in Gap meant I managed to spend about £100 on mat clothes. Eek. It's nice to have a few brighter things though to wear through these last weeks and one of the more expensive items was a belted cardi type thing that I'll easily be able to wear afterwards.

I completely overdid it though. Despite walking at a snails pace all day by mid afternoon my feet were killing and my pelvic area agony - I dont think I'm fully healed after my fall and had to get DH to come rescue me to drive me home . To be fair, we were planning on meeting up not too long later anyway, I'm not a complete wimp.

Laura - I'm appalled! So when you change Trusts the employer named in your contracs actually changes? That sucks. If its any consolation maternity allowance isn't subject to tax and NI and SMP is for some bizarre reason. Are you in a TU? I can understand that you might not have the energy to argue the toss but it might be worth letting your Union know about it in case they are doing any campaigning/action etc on it.

DQ - I've been told to take the 30C prophylactically before labour and the stronger stuff (200C) during and after labour - it's a much higher dose

NeedaHand - it was me about the garlic. The advice is a garlic pessary for 3 nights before doing the swab. But I lost my first clove and was too freaked out to repeat it . I did the swabs yesterday but I think that I was so tentative and nervous about it that I didn't do it properly - so if I get a negative I think I'll have to repeat the test. I am really squeamish and prudish.

Becuase the NHS test can give false negatives, you might have trouble getting your consultant to be willing to rely on a negative result. The ECM test which is availble privatly (via a link on the GBSS website) is more reliable.

Ah I see. I was planning on taking the 200C for the week before as well as after - I must have read it somewhere (probably on MN!). Do you think it would do any harm? After spending too much money on mat clothes, economising by only buying one strength of arnica tablet will really make a difference .

Rolf (& DQ) - Thanks for the arnica advise..... couldn't find that much on the threads so started a new one here that might be helpful if anyone responds. (Altho I might not need it as you seem to know what you're talking about Rolf!)