Due Aug 08 - And the Signs of Labor ARE....

[TwilightSurfer]

This is it!! Some of us have already started the descent into new BABYDOM. Best to arm ourselves with the facts. Here you will find the Signs of Labor. Just don't panic. Remember women around the world have been giving birth for ages. You are not alone nor will you be alone throughout this entire process. We are all here for each other no matter what. So let us go forward with heads high and bellies low.

This little quiz might also be helpful. Remember we are in this TOGETHER!!

DUE AUGUST 2008 STATS
[TSupdate04JUL08]

GROUP TOTAL: 57

DELIVERIES [BOYS (0) vs. GIRLS (0)]
sample23JUL via VB SOMEBODY delivered Jenny Sue, 8lbs 3oz & 55cm [EDD 08AUG]
sample24JUL via CS SOMEBODYELSE delivered Timmy, 6lbs & 43cm [EDD 31JUL]

WAITING ROOM [BOYS (12) vs. GIRLS (15)]
21JUL IlanaK is 35 and lives in Central London. She has 2DSs, 6y & 3y. Expecting DC#3 via CSec (EDD was 24JUL), a BOY to be named Saul.
23JUL Voodoococonut is 29 and lives in Manchester but moving to West Midlands asap. She has a DD, 19M. Expecting DC#2, a SURPRISE.
24JUL Alittlebitshy is 28 and lives in East London/Essex. She has a DD, 5y. Expecting DC#2 via CSec (EDD was 03AUG), a SURPRISE.
29JUL Miamla is 32 and lives in North London. Expecting DC#1, a BOY to maybe be named Theodore.
29JUL Bigboydiditandranaway is 36 and lives in Midlands. She has a DS, 26m. Expecting DC#2.
30JUL Dizzydixies is 32 and lives in Fife. She has 2DDs, 4y & 2y. Expecting DC#3 via VBac or CSec, guesses it's a girl.
31JUL SassyLou is 33 and lives in Cheshire. She has 2DDs, 7y & 5y. Expecting DC#3.
01AUG PhilB is 31 and lives in SE London. Expecting DC#1, a SURPRISE.
01AUG Pertelote is 30 and lives in East London. Expecting DC#1, a SURPRISE.
02AUG Vintagegardenia is 35 and lives in Ireland. She has a DS, 9y. Expecting DC#2, a SURPRISE.
02AUG Mum2b1 is expecting DC#1.
02AUG Shazza2002 is 27 and lives in West London. She has a DD, 5y. Expecting DC#2, a SURPRISE.
04AUG SKYTVADDICT is 40 and lives in Lincolnshire. She has a DS, 13m, and 2DDs, 8y & 12y. Expecting DC#4 via CSec (EDD was 08AUG), a SURPRISE.
05AUG ChaCha is 32 and lives in Oxford. She has 2DCs, 2y & 10m, Expecting DC#3 via CSEC, guesses it's a boy.
07AUG BraveNewWorld is 31 and lives in London. Expecting DC#1, a GIRL.
08AUG LadyOfWaffle is 22 and lives in Berkshire. She has a DS, 2y. Expecting DC#2, a SURPRISE.
08AUG Mummypud is 28 and lives in Wiltshire. She has a DD, 2y. Expecting DC#2, a GIRL.
08AUG Bealcain is 21 and lives in Kent, She has 2DSs 2y & 1y. Expecting DC#3, a GIRL to be named Delilah.
09AUG BirthdayBaby is expecting DC#1.
10AUG Lcy is 30 and lives in Wales. Expecting DC#1, guesses it's a boy.
11AUG Sarahnh is 32 and lives in West Midlands. She has a DD, 2y. Expecting DC#2, a GIRL to maybe be named Tess Alexandra.
11AUG Foghornleghorn is 23 and lives in Northampton. She has 2DDs, 3y & 1y. Expecting DC#3, guesses it's a girl.
11AUG Sibh has 2DCs, DS 5y & DD 2y. She is expecting DC#3.
12AUG Buckets is 31 and lives in Southampton. She has a DD, 4y, & a DS, 3. Expecting DC#3 via CSec (01-07AUG?), a BOY to maybe be named Kurt.
14AUG Hardygirl is 36 and lives in SW London. Expecting DC#1, a SURPRISE.
14AUG HazieDazieandBaby is 26 and lives in Aberdeen. Expecting DC#1, a GIRL to be named Gabriella.
14AUG Gigglegirl is 32 and lives in Stockport. She has a DD, 4y, and 2DSs, 2y & 1y. Expecting DC#4, a GIRL to be named Imogen.
16AUG Longwayfromhome is 29 and lives in Argentina. Expecting DC#1, a BOY to named Tomas.
16AUG Pregnancy1 is 31 and lives in London. Expecting DC#1, a GIRL.
17AUG CaptainCaveman is 35 and lives in Nottingham. She has a DS, 3.11y. Expecting DC#2 via VBac, a BOY.
17AUG Iliketosleep is 24 and lives in Wolverhampton. She has 2DDs, 7y & 6y and a DS, 4y. Expecting DC#4.
17AUG Poppysocks is 30 and lives in St Andrews. She has a DD, 2.4y. Expecting DC#2 via CSec or maybe VBAC, a GIRL.
17AUG Warthog has a DD, 2y. Expecting DC#2, a GIRL.
17AUG Jennylee is 30 and lives in West Lothian. She has a DS, 9y. Expecting DC#2, a GIRL.
18AUG Kezza7779 is expecting DC#1, guesses it's a boy.
18AUG Expectant is 32 and lives in Singapore. Expecting DC#1, a SURPRISE.
18AUG Cheerfulvicky is 24 and lives in Cornwall. Expecting DC#1, a BOY.
19AUG SazzlesA is 35 and lives in Cheltenham. She has a DD, 18m. Expecting DC#2 via VBAC or CSec, a GIRL to maybe be named Emma.
19AUG Karney is 39 and lives in Glasgow.
19AUG TwilightSurfer is 37 and lives in Tennessee, USA. She has a DD, 4y. Expecting DC#2 via VB, a GIRL to maybe be named Maggie Ethelyn.
19AUG Daisy26 is expecting DC#1, a GIRL.
20AUG Ejesmum is 38 and lives in Exeter. She has a DS, 4y. Expecting DC#2.
20AUG Stillhere is 36 and lives in Yorkshire. She has a DS, 2.5y. Expecting DC#2, a SURPRISE.
21AUG Pinchypants is 34 and lives in Guildford. She has a DD, 20m. Expecting DC#2.
21AUG Musm2go is 35 and lives in B'ham Solihull. She has a DD, 6y. Expecting DC#2, a BOY.
23AUG Stickybean is 27 and lives in North London. Expecting DC#1, guesses it's a girl.
24AUG Libbyssister is 34 and lives in Oxfordshire. She has a DS, 2.11y. Expecting DC#2, a BOY.
24AUG Cyteen is 32 and lives in Leicester. Expecting DC#1, a BOY.
24AUG SausageAndMash is 37 and lives in London. She has a DD, 3y. Expecting DC#2.
25AUG Petitfilou is 36 and lives in S Oxfordshire. She has a DS, 4.4y, & a DD, 2.10y. Expecting DC#3, a BOY.
25AUG Oopsacoconut is 32 and lives in Wiltshire. Expecting DC#1, a GIRL to be named Poppaea Anna.
26AUG Ellasmum1 is 30 and lives in North Staffs-Newcastle under Lyme. She has a DD, 5y. Expecting DC#2, a BOY.
26AUG Dancerandprancer is 31 and lives in Devon. She has a DD, 28m. Expecting DC#2, a BOY.
26AUG No1putsbabyinthecorner is 30 and lives in South Yorkshire. She as a DD, 1y. Expecting DC#2.
28AUG Ataraxis formerly Readyforbed has 2 DSs, 5y & 3y, and is expecting DC#3, a GIRL.
29AUG Waytoomuchchocolate is expecting DC#1, guesses it's a girl.
30AUG AnnVan lives in Kent and is expecting DC#1, guesses it's a boy.

hey Sazzle, hope you are feeling better today and manage to talk to the midwife... n insist that she helps you see a consultant to put your mind at rest!!!
Belated anniversary TS and i do like you new name...

I had another horrible night sleep full of BH and headbutts in the fanjo.. lovely..

Re prenineal(sp) massage, asked dh if he would try and help, he read the instructions and i think it freaked him out a bit.. considering i had to have 16 stitches the last time i am willing to try anything this time!!!! have a good day y'all xxxx

blimey ladies i'm really struggling to keep up!

TS things must be very iddferent in US, agree they seem very interventionist(sp?) as long as my hinds remain intact there is no risk of infection. No strep b test offered.

miamla i think you were enquiring about slings. If you have a bad/weak back then a wrap sling can actually help it as it acts as support for it. They are so versatile. TS has a moby, ALBS is looking into into the close carrier. Depends how long you intend on babywearing, i personally love the calin bleu gauze because it's so light weight, but if you're daunted by long length of material then a close is great as already pre-wrapped but only available in stretchy.

sazzles hugs huni ,hope you;e ok .you should definately ring mw today and request an earlier scan.

Just a note about periniums. I had an episiotomy with ds1, which was horrible healin, remember taking a jug of water to the toilet with me, to dilate my wee too prevent stinging. God i loved that jug!! didn't tear with ds2 and didn't even pant at the end, it all came so quick. i questioned why after and the mw asked if we had a lot of sex....we did at the time so perhaps that did help. although i have to say i can feel it stretching if we're in doggy (Sorry TMI) no such luck this time though

Hope you got on ok sazzle, hopefully it will be sorted out soon.

Seeing midwife tomoz, she'll be checking again if baby is still breech, i'm 37wks so if it still is, will i be scanned or asked to come back again next wk for her to check, what do you think???

Ds was born 3wks early so feel a bit on tenderhooks at the moment. Has anyone else had 2nd early births after 1st being early,dh thinks baby will arrive at 38wks, my mum came over yesterday and was asking if i'd had any twinges/aches!

Going to ask dh if he'll put some fake tan on my legs tonight, feel like they're in need of some attention!

Annvan I have a bullying, rather non-maternal mother too (I do love her and she has her good points but she can be like this)....so I appreciate it is hard to stand up to your parents. But.... if you don't do it now before you have the baby you will find it even harder to do it later. Start as you mean to go on! If they get huffy, they get huffy, they will know it is their loss. Eg of my mothers behaviour is that because my sister is getting married in church she is 'not sure she will be able to go' (she is very anti church) I said to her not to be ridiculous, that weddings are about others feelings not hers and of course she had to go. She was very put out!

TS Eleanor is lovely and Ellie also nice for a little girl as a short version. Hate to say it but I like it better than Maggie!

Sazzles You are getting yourself in a tizz. Stop googling stuff! (I threw a pear at dh once and missed - he then commented on my poor throwing skills which made me even more cross!) If you are worried go and see the consultant but I think you are overthinking things a bit. Get the reality first and THEN deal with it. So endeth the lecture!

Bealcain I have a bad back too and find I can't use the wilkinet after 3 months. Will the others you mention be better? I don't think I could cope with tons of material though with ds1 and dd to deal with too while I was getting ready. They both came out at nearly 9lb so I think ds2 is likely to be heavier. Any advice?

Golly we can chatter can't we!

stillhere it was me who mentioned the painful umbilicus region - I agree it feels more external than internal. Having googled it (stupid, I know!) it seems like this is the abdominal area with the least amount of muscular support - therefore is most likely the tissues stretching and tearing. How nice. Pain seems to have gone again now but it was v tender to touch.

sazzles you know you shouldn't google stuff - but foolishly we all do it (see above. case in point ). Given the extreme vascularity of the uterus during pg, it makes sense that fibroids would grow very quickly during this time, then shrink after birth. I think you are right to contact your mw. Did you say you are due to see your cons soon? It is helpful to write down everything that is concerning you re. this, that way when you speak to your mw/cons you can be sure you have covered all your bases and hopefully their reassurances will reduce your anxiety.
Re dh. men just like to 'fix' things. Here's an empty coffee mug my dh left lying around - you can chuck it at your dh if you like!

Annvan do you have a garden? You could stick up a cheap little tent and if they try to contradict you about anything just say 'well, you are welcome to sleep in the tent if you don't like it.' I am deadly serious! Tis the season for tents, they can't complain.
And you can always go an hide in it yourself if it all gets too much.

pf - you want anon-stretchy wrap. such as a cotton gauze. Honestly once you get used to all thw maerial (an afternoon) they're great. and the kids love watching me wrap myself up. take a look at calinbleu or gypsy mama, they're the cheapest. you could go for a storchenwiege or a didymos but they're v.v. expensive. the gauze is great for summer and winter months as it's cool, lightweight and can easily fit another layer of clothing underneath if need be.

Morning all,
Miamla - I also had my nose pierced which I took out a week before graduation.... ah the joys of being a student . I got a sling/carrier (not too sure of the difference) in my goodie bag from my friend so you're more than welcome to come round and try it (we can fill it with bags of sugar) to see if will be any good for you.
TS I love Eleanor - it's 3rd on our list at the moment. I think Eleanor Reese is great - we have a few friends who call themselves by their middle names (and you only discover it's their middle name at their wedding!).
I had my midwife appt this morning. She confirmed that I couldn't use the low risk area of the hospital or have a water birth , but the good news is bean seems fine. She said she seemed fine height-wise, but didn't seem to be taking up enough room width wise?! I asked if that meant she was small and she said no, not small, but not big either (v helpful methinks ). I'm working on the assumption that my wide hips have given bean plenty of room to stretch out in and so she doesn't need to widen my bump.....

Bealcain You've got me now - I have to look at the expensive ones!

Ooh, midwife also have me a handy tip - pack 2 hospital bags. One for you, one for baby, so you don't have to scrabble through baby's stuff to get to your own.....
I've interpreted this as so DH doesn't end up tipping bean's stuff all over the floor whilst I'm screaming for something at the bottom of my back

Right I'm going to get a Didymos but will have to hide it from dh - which colour do you think www.bigmamaslings.co.uk/zen-cart/didymos-wraparound-baby-sling-size-6-p-131.html which one is least hippy (glad the cashmere one has sold out )
I love the stretchy ones but realise they are not so good for my back.

They do toy slings as well - may have to get one for dd

sazzles glad you have got yourself sorted out. you sound much happier

hello ladies!

Have read the DH thread with interest!

Mine wavers from being the most fantastic and amazing man to the most miserable git you have ever met! Not sure about my hormones his seem to yo yo!

sazzles hope you hear back re. your consultant's pov today.

I am shattered, went to bed at 9, got up at 8, back to bed at 9 and up at 12, which is a HUGE amount of sleep, so should be refreshed but not.

Slightly concerned re. lack of movement, this baby is usually very active, only one kick (I think) this morning (could have been asleep for some!) and maybe a squirm and a kick yesterday, though several BHs. I was working yesterday & do tend to notice movement less when I'm flying around & concentrating on different things & not sitting still wondering obsessively about the bump.

I am 37 weeks on Thursday.

Any thoughts? DP is concerned. I am less so, I'm not sure why.

TS I can't quite get my head around your post, how do you know you have 2 weeks left?

miamla and other crafty types here is a thing about making your own slings. I was also thinking about making some bunting for the baby's room (I know, I know!!).

Sazzles AMAZING NEWS!! I love it when things (and people) fall into place on big issues. Fingers Xed for you. {{{HUGS}}}

Ladies worried about loads of material associated with a wrap, it only looks scary the first time out. UTube videos helped me gain an understanding of the 'wrap' process before it arrived. When it got here I was ready to rock-n-roll. DH can work it with ease as well. I will probably wrap myself before we head off to preschool and just stay wrapped until after lunch...no rewrapping with each stop because our days will be very busy and mentally that's what I think will be easiest. Having used a carrier and a sling with DD, I can honest say the stress on my back with the wrap is eliminated (as far as I can tell with all my practice babies).

Thanks for the comments about Eleanor Reese. Still raises a fear that the lo would end of being called Eleanor....Ellie is a big no no because we already have an Emma (DB's daughter). I'll just have to put my thinking cap on and figure out how a good middle name so REESE takes it's proper first name slot.

Bealcain, I'm still thinking about you. I will admit I'm worried that they didn't do a strep B test as it's so easy with incredible results if meds are required for a positive result. Is it just with your midwife or is it common across the board in the UK to "not" to the strep B test prior to delivery??

of all that sleep VG. I was in bed at about half 9 last night, slept ok-sh(a few toilet trip wake ups) and woke about 6ish, only dozing after that til the alarm went off at 6.45.

Could do with a nap now. May go and lie on sofa for an hour til I have to go and pick up dd.....

Do go and have a nap albs or at least close your eyes and think relaxing thoughts. I finish work tomorrow and am determined to catch every z.

VG If you are worried sit really quietly in a chair and down the biggest coldest glass of ice water you can (and I mean really big and really cold!) You should feel movement seconds later! Unless you have spent all morning eating magnums and have a cold body anyway!

preg1 i used to have my nose pierced as well!! I only took it out when I got my first proper job! Yeah, I'll def have a try-on of your sling next time i see you
sounds like you had a very informative mw's appt!

well ahead of you on the hospital bag front...i've got 3! one for Pip, one for labour and one for my hospital stay. i suspect my labour one will prob end up being in with my stay stuff though

VG sounds like you're having the morning i had on saturday. DP was all for whipping us all at the hospital because i hadn't felt any movements since the night before (i usually get woken up at least once with a swift kick).i then got a whole load of BHs, closely followed by a few kicks so we went to Ikea instead of the hospital. if you're worried though, give your mw a call (i'm 37 weeks today so actually it happened same day as this is for you ie 36 +5)
thank you for the sling link!!! i'm having a little lookie now

ps am i right in thinking that diarhea (ooh i can never spell that!) can be an early sign of labour? just wondered, dont start getting the towels and hot water out just yet....

VG...I've been told with each doctor's visit, if movement appears to decline GO GET CHECKED. Our number is 10 kicks (movements) in 1 Hour. That can be any hour of the day. To be checked you don't have to have a big ultrasound machine, a little handheld doppler will work. They'll listen for heatbeat and movement. If they suspect something they'll send you for a more indepth scan.

As for the two week time frame. With DD1 my water broke when I reached (or just before) 2cm dilation and 80% effaced. I was checked just 13 days prior to that with similar numbers to what I had yesterday. So if my body progresses at the same speed with dilation and effacement, my water could break again when in the same time frame...thus two week figure. I feel sort of bad talking these numbers, like I'm talking in some foreign language. In the US this is major chatter amongst ladies and medical professionals towards the end of a pregnancy. I'm sorry to be so confusing.

Miamla, loose or runny stools IS as sign your body is prepping for delivery. It's dumping all it's unneccesary baggage, so to speak.

TS It is across the board (in England at least, don't know about rest of the UK) that they don't do strep B test. There is a charity that will test for you though for a small fee.

Re Reese - think you need a long second name to go with it if used as a first name - something as long as Madeleine (I know no-one likes Madeleine at the moment because of the McCanns but just an example) Eleanor is very traditional, is your dh more keen on the trad names do you think??

VG Go on, look at my sling link. For some reason I think you might have similar taste to me 'tho don't know why I think that!

Got to go and answer a parliamentary question - blardy work getting in the way of my MN time!