Due December 08 - time to start blooming and glowing.

[JamInMyWellies]

New thread lovely ladies

I've been amazed by how little I want alcohol. I had about 3 sips of DH's beer in Greece when it was really hot, but generally have no interest in it. Considering how much I loved vino before the pregnancy, I'm astounded. Wondering if the desire for it will ever come back. Certainly not missing it anyway - this far...

If the urge does overcome me, then I'll have a glass or 2, but haven't even wanted it yet...

oo and now we are talking about labours!

I had an induced labour (gel only) and an episiotomy and managed fine with only tens for the first part and g&a later. I didn't have an epidural, partly because I was managing ok without it and partly because I really don't like the idea of people fiddling about with my spine!

I think (can't really remember!) I did have a local anasthetic for the stiches though - although I do remember them hurting so maybe I didn't ?

G&A is weird because it makes you feel incredibly, incredibly drunk in 10 second bursts, and if you overuse it you get the same side effects as being drunk ie slurred speech, nausea (for some people) and lowered inhibitions!

It doesn't exactly take the pain away - you can still feel it but it feels dull and far away, like when you stub your toe when you are drunk. You can feel it, and you know it hurts, but somehow it feels a bit less sharp and the edge is taken off.

Oh no, those poor other mothers, sounds miserable. I hope I don't have to do it! Do you find out in your 20 week scan? Mine's a week tomorrow.

how weird - my two posts somehow got mixed up the bit about

"I second what someone else said about leaving it as long as possible - some women were having it on the antenatal ward and then you don't have anything "extra" to deal with the really painful contractions at the end."

was nothing to do with breastfeeding - that was about having gas and air! Complete opposite with breastfeeding - do it as soon as possible!

beans isn't it weird? I craved red wine all the way through my first pg - this time I haven't wanted alcohol at all - I have had the odd sip but mainly just at weddings and things to be social.

Hmmm. Maybe I'll give G&A a go for a while. Think I just reacted badly to DH telling me I mustn't have epidural. HATE being told what to do where this is concerned, as feel very much that it's my body and if I want pain relief, I'll damn well have it if it's that bad! But think it was a knee-jerk ROAR rather than actually thinking it through.

glad its done for you now youngvisitor those poor women who threw up, how horrible to have to come back and do it again. fingers crossed for the results.

oo lots of cross-posting - yes was miserable - and there was another woman there with her 2 year old throwing up in front of him going "just a minute sweetie - mummy's not very blurgh"

They just give it to you if they are worried about diabetes at any point - so with me they were a bit worried that the baby looked tubby at the scan (especially compared to my first who was bang on the 50th all the way through). They might also test you if you have sugar in your urine at any point, or are measuring very big, or have a family history of diabetes.

It is weird, YV - but quite nice. No hangovers. BUT first 12 weeks felt like I had a hangover most mornings!

now feeling very perky by contrast!

Actually almost feel like I'm glowing. But sometimes I wonder if people say that in the way they also say someone who isn't pregnant looks "healthy" (ie read a little bit flabby).

I'm crossing madly - will quieten down for a bit and let others get a word in edgewise! I never shut up on here. sorry!

thank you veggie - yes I heaved a couple of times but had just heard the mw telling another woman she would have to come back another day and fast again and I just thought "I can't be sick, I can't get care for DS again and go through this all again" and choked it back down (yuk!)

I think I missed a post beans - did your DH tell you you mustn't have an epidural?! ! Why? how very dare he?

FWIW most of the men I know were worse with the pain than their wives - I was managing fine - wasn't even screaming - but DH still kept saying "are you sure you don't want anything stronger?" in a quavery voice. If your DH sees you in pain I bet he will change his mind pronto!

i think you will know what pain relief you will need better than you DH. while it i also his child he is not the one that has to push it out. If you have an epidural it is for a very good reason. As with most men he will probably be in awe of you by the baby comes out so will probably be fine with your pain relief choices but at the end of the day it is entirely up to you and it is not weak or copping out if you go for any pain relief it is just part of the process of getting your wee one out.

He did indeed - I don't think he gets that I'm the one going through it! Oh well - sure he'll buckle on the day/night/day/night or however long it takes!

I love him so much, but his empathy/sympathy is nil!

Just back from the scan. All good news! Everything looked perfect. Because it was the Fetal Medicine Centre they spent nearly an hour checking for any problems that could explain our original nuchal result but everything looked perfect. The nuchal swelling has resovled and is now well within the normal range. Heart was perfect. Downs risk is now 1 in 10,000 , . Its definitely a little girl and she already looks much like her sister. We have some lovely profile pics and one of the soles of her feet. DH and I are so relieved and happy .

Having read below I think I will skip the GTT. I have been told to have one just on teh basis that DD was very big but I never had sgar in my urine in teat pregnancy and unless there are other signs int hsi one I refuse to have a nasty test when I know huge babies run in the family.

youngvisiter - no, no diabetes checks here, even though DH has type 1 - I'm not sure that's passed on though. There haven't been any sugar problems with wee so I guess they're assuming it's fine - I do get H to check my blood sugar every now and again though just to see

artichokes - great news about your scan! What a weight off your shoulders, and it's so great to see the little heart going and the hands and feet (I might go all soppy here...!)

it's true about the boys not coping with watching you in pain less than you are coping with the actual pain. When i told my MW that i was worried how DH would cope with watching me in pain for DS's birth she said she felt that in 50% of cases women had an epidural for the DH's sake rather than for themselves. DH & I talked about it before i went into labour and i have to say he was very brave. Actually there were some points where i think he was in as much pain as me. I do have a very tight squeeze. Also DH had chest pain the next day where during contractions i was squeezing his hand so tight and pulling his arm that i was pulling him against the edge of the birthing pool.

Oh yay! That's such great news artichokes - lucky you! Brilliant! I'm smiling loads! Yippeeeeeeee!

Hello ladies....been catching up and now it is almost time to go home...can't wait til computer is fixed at home and I can mn properly!!!!!!
Looking forward to meeting some of you tomorrow night.
Hope arti's scan went ok.
Speak soon x

congratulations artichokes!

That's so interesting about the diabetes check jumpjockey - I haven't had any sugar in my urine either, or in my last pg, but they seem to be very proactive at the Whittington, I think they have diabetes centre of excellence there and are dead keen to get as many stats as possible for it! They wouldn't worry about your DH's diabetes because it's only your family that affects your risk.

wow - just seen arti's message - YIPPPEEEE!

oh Arti that is wonderful news, i am so emotional lately, i just had a little tear, such a saddo. So only waiting for one more today LT isn't it. fingers crossed.

oh and congrats on it being a little girl, there is half you name list gone.

Actually I'm now in a really happy mood! Hurray! That's such lovely news.

AAAAND I'm staying in and watching telly tonight. Brilliant! Might have to get a horror film out to celebrate!

What's the norm for maternity leave by the way? I'm thinking a month off.

A month!!! I'm having 14 months! Hehehe!

Arti fantastic news.

i thought i would take 6 months ended up taking a years went back and paid my Mat leave back then resigned. I just work casually now (if at all) It's really up to you ad also depending what your employer gives you. What ever you employer gives you the govt will make up the short fall after you employer entitlement has stopped and will give about £450 a month up to 9months after the baby is born. If you want to go back part time your employer has to let you stay in your current post part time until your baby is 2 years after that you have to negotiate.