Due June 08: S**t, it IS June, and I still haven't packed my hospital bag...

[LauraT]

well it will be June on Sunday anyway! thought I should go ahead and start this as there were several votes for this name...

Ironing sadly and now sat at kitchen table with feet in a washing up bowl of cold water.

Just been repacking my labour bag - that's how bored I am.

I also have a very sore wrist from playing minesweeper on my computer too much - RSI! I have got some good times though

amberc lol at rsi..have done nothing today apart from read and rest and have b hicks. blaming the heat...

now watching football -something very odd about lineker's teeth

I'm here, not doing anything exciting like giving birth unfortunately. Not done much today, admin work this morning for the business, walk to Kindergarten to get ds2 at lunchtime, made lunch, made a bow tie for ds's for sil's wedding, had a sleep and now it's teatime again and so off to make omelette, jacket pots and salad.

Mil has taken boys out for a walk and come back with magnums so will be enjoying one of those later.

I am getting bored waiting and I know that I'm not far overdue compared to some , it's still frustrating though. Got another antenatal at hospital tomorrow so will have bags with us again so that my fantasy labour #3 could happen!

ktpie bizarrely, a friend of the family has a problem with too much iron. Made him v. ill, and he had to give blood every week, and eat a restricted diet. I'm not entirely sure what would have happened if he hadn't done those things.
I don't think I have an excess, but I don't need to take a supplement, clearly (good news given the side effects)! Hm, maybe I'll google it.

I think all hospitals mess up. Baby is due to have a hip scan in three weeks, I called the scan department as I haven't recived an appoitment , they told me they had got a refeal. I had to call the dr's sec, hopefully it will be sorted soon.

No giving birth here either. I went to see a friend's new baby today - she was gorgeous but I couldn't really believe that I will shortly have one too. This friend has fast labours and for that reason had a homebirth, and it sounded lovely. It made me realise how frazzling I'm finding it, having all these alternative plans for racing to the hospital. I've also become very cross with my stupid body for not getting on with things. Absolutely no sign that anything is happening.

Still, it is so lovely to have time to myself and the in-laws are being so brilliant. They have just taken the boys to their swimming lesson so I could have a nap.

Wonder how EW is getting on?

Hello all
Finally managed to get on, been busy with paperwork so much for such a tiny baby but we are now a family.

Congrats to those of you who have had their LO, and llabour vibes to those of you who have not.

Well Fleur still being very good she did sleep from 11 to 5 am two nights in a row and then other nights only wakes at 2am for a feed. So not feeling too tierd

She is growing really fast though and it feels like ages ago since the birth!! Regarding weight ive lost 12 kilos since the birth and I put on 11 during pregnancy so dead chuffed with that.

I second what AH says bout stitches unfornunatley i have got a lot and internal ones too TMI!!! i find half sitting on toilet with only bum hanging works for that first and subsequent times!!! especially if like me you also end up developing piles!!! Sorry!!

And regarding swaddling its a godsend Fleur wakes or keeps herself awake with her hands and so swaddling is good she sleeps and feels much safer.

Breastfeeding is going well and she doesnt mind an expressed bottle at 11pm when Dh gives it to her. SHe also copes fine with the odd formula if i go out and havent expressed (go out as in to drs or paperwork, not that im off galivanting around!!!!)

Having mum around has been lovely oh and she did make it for the birth just!!! She arrived at 5pm Thurs and Fleur born on Fri at 6.19!!!!

Well going to catch up on post etc an hope to get on more now all paperwork sorted

Thanks for all well wishes and there are more pics on Fleurs blog Heres link for any who want to look fleurvanaalen.blogspot.com/

Fleur is mega cute!

It is boring when you have symptoms of labour and then they go away again - and I'm not even over due - gawd knows what it's like for those who are. Sympathy!

I don't know what to do about this promised induction now on Monday. It's all based on baby size - I know the bigger he is the more likely I am to have an assisted birth/end up with a wizard's sleeve of a vagina (!!) but what are the downsides of an induction? It would be nice to have a date I can prepare for and the baby is now meant to be 10 lbs (although I know that can be wrong) so will be hard enough pushing him out without him growing even bigger. Can anyone volunteer any advice?

Oh, Amber, no advice (not qualified!) but rofl at the thought of a wizard's sleeve of a vagina...

Let's hope it's just a thought!

Amber, I'm no expert but have done a lot of reading. I had an induction last time - sometimes they make you have them because they want you to give birth by 42 weeks (as in my case) and sometimes it's medically indicated. Many people are good candidates for induction, particularly if your cervix is 'ripe' (and Amber, you sound like a fruit bowl in high summer!), but I wasn't last time and the whole thing then take a long time and be quite unpleasant. But it sounds like it would very quick and easy for you!

Essie, where do you and DH live when you're in London? We're in Southfields?

PP, where in Wimbledon are you? I don't think I'll see you in hospital, but possibly at the Wimbledon fair next weekend????

Its been sooooooooooo hot. I hate the heat. I had to take dd to ballet and it was so hot I was nearly sick.

Sorry I don't have any induction advice, I narrowly avoided it with ds although I did end up on the syntocin drip which is not too pleasant and often part of an induction. It does sound as if you are prime for labour though Amber so I wouldn't worry too much. A good friend of mine managed to be induced and give birth within 2 hours, so short inductions are possible.

Yay, Mum was on the phone. They have whacked the heating on in the swimming pool, will phone us lunchtime tomorrow to let us know how warm so hopefully we can go swimming.

Paro - Fleur is just lovely, can I have mine now please???? I love the many expressions!

Evening Ladies!

I've turned into Mrs Potato Head! Just seen a nice photo of me pre-preg and I swear I used to have cheek-bones. I'm feeling like a bowl of dough- albeit one with a sodding aching back. And you can tell which sandals I've been wearing half an hour after I take them off.
Huffy this pm after waiting in all pm for Mr Fuckup the bathroom fitter to arrive. And he never did, and didn't even call to let me know.

Good news- DH is home (this is early) and has resolved to be home "early" until after the baby has arrived. That'll be 4 nights then!

DD is on top form; in fact someone has turned the volume up on her so she's been wonderfully giggly/ inventive/ funny and demanding all at the same time.

AS far as bump is concerned there's nothing to write about. LO seems to keep trying to stand up, but obviously hasn't ran out of space enough to come out yet.

I'm both envious of the "show" action and talk of ready cervices, and feeling sorry for all those with stop-start signs and BH's.

I want a show! In fact I want my baby!!

Thanks for the induction advice ladies - feel much better now - ripe as a fruit bowl eh ?

PearTart you should see my midwife - it's shows galore. God knows what she does up there. Two horrific shows but nothing more to write home about so may as well have not had them. And as a first timer - blimey - I wish she'd told me what to expect!

Sorry Amber, between wizard's sleeves and fruit bowls, you must feel like a walking simile! Apologies! My hoo-ha did not start flapping post birth if that helps!

Peartart, so glad you are enjoying DD. My doula said today that spending lots of time with DS (along with erm, activities with DH) can really get the oxytocin going, which can then kickstart labour.

oooh, sophie, happy swimming!

Paro, Fleur is gorgeous. So glad the BF is going well.

Debs, how are you feeling today?

Amber - I was induced for DC1 and 3. Both times the pessary was enough to get things going. The build-up from the pessary, I found, was quite painful - I think they call it prostin pains - and it doesn't feel like a normal contraction, but much lower down in your pelvis and more difficult to relax into. But once the proper labour gets started it's much easier to deal with. That's just my experience - yours might be completely different. But given your lovely ripe cervix I bet that if you don't go into labour on your own you'd be a great candidate for a v straightforward induction.

Hope you had a good swim, Sophie.

Told DH about the Ingestion Method and his eyes lit up. Not sure exactly what I've started now...

Para - Fleur is gorgeous. Lucky you . You sound as though you are thoroughly enjoying motherhood.

Josey - how is Olivia doing today, and how and you, your DH and your other children? Still thinking of you and praying for you all. x

Hi guys, I see we're still mostly bumps rather than babies here.

Para, gorgeous piccies what a cute little girl you have there .

I'm interested to read the stories of induction as it looks like I'm heading for one and am now feeling quite scared about the whole thing having convinced myself I was going to do it all au naturel.

My MW saw me today and nearly fainted at the size of my feet (they are absolutely huge now). So she has booked me into to see a consultant on Friday and wants me to consider induction next week (I'll be 39 wks this Sunday). Rolf, I was interested in what you were saying about just needing the pessary - were you induced cos you were overdue? I am very aware that, if I'm not overdue and showing no signs of going into labour naturally, an induction could be brutal and lead v quickly to a c-section .

Any advice from experienced mums would be greatly appreciated cos dh and me are both feeling v apprehensive tonight and just need some reassurance (or at least honest information!) about what to expect.

Thank you.

Amber- I'm booked in for a sweep 5 days after EDD. Didn't help last time- I think DD cane when she was ready. Your MW sounds, erm, efficient.

UDC- that's interesting about being close with DD (and DH) as I'm feeling sooo affectionate towards her and we've had a lot of tickling today. That's DD, not DH (yet...)

hello
having a shit day ds ended up in a&e twice yesterday they moved me wards in the middle of they night and ive still not got mri results.

i need to go to a cliftop and scream!!!

my boobs hurt my ass hurts my fanjo nips my hips are aching along with my back andi cant sit hugging my baby to make it better hohum!!!

olivia doing ok feeds up to 12mls which aint alot for a 9lb baby she still isnt sucking but making licking movements...she trying to wake through the drugs she cant open her eyes as they so swollen, but she has started to move and there have been no more recoorded fits

what pisses me off the most is the pregnant tinks smoking at the door and the bitch i saw high on drugs i wanted to smash her face in.

i cant tell you how much i wish i was still preg at times.....anywway enough moaning.

was lovely to see ah and her ds he v cute...amused me the fact we were texting each other form our beds lol!