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.

Morning all and a very happy birthday to Sarah! Fabulous cake, thanks .

Expectant, hope you are NOT reading this but lying down with a large glass of water and soon feeling better - I've been headachey as well, had to pop a paracetamol in the middle of the night but that seemed to do the trick...

Question, would I definitely know if I was getting BHs? They've been described to me as 'everything going hard' and I can sometimes feel that from the outside but not the inside IYSIM! Am I just 'out of touch' with myself?! Or do some people just not have them yet/at all? (I'm 36w5d)

pertelote all hard on outside not inside - as if the outside of your tummy is having a really strong cramp up and you can't move it by touch - not sore just really tight sensation if that makes sense?

(yawnnnnnn) Good morning ladies and a very happy birthday to sarahnh. TS Happy Wedding Anniversary for last MOnday (sorry I forgot to say that earlier).

poppy and s&m am with you on the 'VBAC or cs?' dilemma. I woke up in the middle of the night with the most awesome bh's and Jerry was in a most odd position - I think I actually felt a tinge of disappointment that he may have moved out of his breech position - however, this morning he is back where he was. I think ds1 did this too, and the reason he couldn't turn was due to his cord being round his neck - so in effect he would strangle himself every time he tried to turn! Part of me is hoping for another cs as d-day will come sooner without the unknown of 'when will it all kick off'. Hmmm, will wait and see what cons says tomorrow!

Have fat fingers and feet today - plus have woken up with headaches for past 2 nights. I might give the mw a quick ring - what do you think?

CC def phone, even if only for a bp and pee test

Have phoned and left a message for them (there is a team of about 8 mws) so someone should call me back by lunchtime. Isn't it weird - I always feel like an attention seeking child if I have to ring them!

its what they're there for

Thanks Dizzy - yes, I think that is happening from time to time! It just seems odd that I don't necessarily notice unless my hand is on my tummy at the time...

Captain, sounds worth phoning to me. Maybe I've just been lucky but it seems to me that the midwives get nicer as I get further on - reactions to my fainting after blood tests, for instance, which I do quite routinely, have escalated from 'don't make such a fuss' at 16wks to full-on BP checks/offering food and a lie-down/writing in notes this week... I'm telling myself this bodes well for labour!

Anyway, hopefully this is true of all midwives, and they will therefore be lovely to you when you phone...

CC - How are you feeling now? Also have consultants tomorrow and am really looking fwd to having a date - m/w has told me to talk to them about iron transfusions as well so hopefully tomorrow will be start of countdown.

Happy Birthday SN!! Did i miss the cake then?

Wave to everyone else [big wave]

p.s. For anyone who reads my 'wee hour waffles' I actually slept last night and feeling human again.

x

hello everyone

idn;t mean to pop on til i've done my chores, but it's taken me a giood 30 mins to catch up.

went back to bed after dropped dd off, so am now about to do a few bits then i'll be back on later...

Am very interested in all the chat about vbac vs ecs. My cs is booked for 2 weeks tomorrow, and I know i'm going for it, but i keep worryiing i'm doing the wrong thing... so reading all your concerns and reasoning and thoughts, helps me think a bit clearer and see that it's normal for us to worry - when actully all we need to remmeber is we get the same thing at the end of it.

CC hope the midwife's have called you back... i am still getting crazy bh's today.. get the feeling that this lo doesn't want to stay in much longer ( well here's hoping)...

Thanks so much for all the birthday wishes... DH is taking me out for lunch, just need to think of somewhere tasty to go, but with me not liking anything at the mo it will difficult!!

DD will have another look at the names you came up for TS, i just really want something that flows if you know what i mean... happy with Alexandra but just need to make sure there is nothing better!!!!

Hello Albs, glad you've got a date - can't believe you'll have another baby in 2 weeks! Did everything go ok with your appt?

Hi pgcy1 . Hmm - have I had ann appt since I saw you last week? . Not sure I have - but I have one on Tuesday - it'll be my last one which is scary. Oh, I had a blood test on Monday... was ok.. only an hour ish to wait (compared to last one).

Have a lovely lunch Sarah.
ALBS - Admiring your energy esp with a section just 2 weeks away. What will be your date then (e.g. 39+3)? I am 36+3 and had DS2 by elective at 39+4 so am hoping to be looking at 3 weeks tomorrow or even better - 3 weeks have since passed. DS1 is going away with DH and mum's OH so just me, mum and DS2 later so am planning to paint the reachable bits of the bathroom.
Have half packed hossie bag

Sorry if I am repeating myself ALBS, i can't remember if i mentioned before or not but I did plan a VBAC with DS2 but unfortunately my SPD got so bad I chickened out and went for the option that would cause me less stress. 23 hours with DS1 followed by em-cs quashed any hopes i had of a natural birth again and i was more than happy with my elective last year. Think it's great to try VBAC just didn't turn out for me.

IlanaK - Where are you? Are you our first section booked? Who else is booked? As far as c-sec's goes, who is first?

Libbyssister - u still out there?

I'll be 38+4. They do between 38 and 39 here but I change weeks (if you see what I mean) on a Sunday - so any later would mean being into the 39+ range. It's a bit odd - cos dd was born at 41+ something (by their dates... by mine it would have been 43+ which frankly scares me now looking back, but I was so naive I didn't query the discrepancy, and thankfully she was fine - but sometimes I wonder if that is why she was so huge??)

right - off to hoover upstairs. then will come back on here with some lunch before I put clean sheets on dd's bed.

Pertelote, loads of people can't feel their BHs but they are still happening. If you were to be hooked up to a monitor like VG was yesterday you'd probably see a contraction on the readout! I feel about 4 an hour now and had to stand up and hold the back of a chair for one this morning so think yourself lucky! But this is totally normal for me through all 3 pregnancies from start of 2nd trimester. Feels like (and sometimes looks like) my bump is suddenly vaccuum-packed. It was totally kidney-bean shaped the other day!

Hi gals, mw phoned around 11.30 - asked lots of questions and reassured me it was ok to phone as that's why they are there. She thinks I'll be ok to wait until tomorrow when I see cons but to call back immediately if I get any frontal headaches or blurred vision. She offered to see me anwyay but I declined as I really do feel ok, just wanted the reassurance that it was ok to wait until tomorrow . If that makes sense? All well.

Next debate is who to leave ds with should I go into labour naturally (assuming cs is booked). My dsis has offered and even though she only lives 1.5 miles away and cares deeply about ds, she is an alcoholic.....and struggles to look after her own daughter. Dneice, aged 5.6, can often be found cycling round her cul-de-sac without pants or trousers on and dsis doesnt' see a problem with this . I love her dearly (dsis) but often struggle to believe we are related!
Mum & Dad live about 1.5 hours away, and due to ds2 being breech I have been told to go to hosp immediately if I suspect I am in labour .
My 2 closest friends (in spirit and in distance) have both got lo's of their own. One aged 4 weeks, the other has a 3yo and a 5mo, so I wouldn't wish to burden them either. What to do? What to do?

Happy Birthday Sarah. I'll be happy to help you celebrate with a piece of VG's cake. LOVE Tess!!! and Alexandra too for that matter. I've had BH for almost the entire pregnancy. After my cervix exam on Monday I think my belly tightened and stayed hard the WHOLE DAY. Things have been better BUT baby is getting lower and lower so I'll trade you at this point.

VG, I didn't consider the R R thing...yet another good reason to HOLD MY GROUND. Reese Eleanor will be just fine.

Oh on the too early / too late to have the baby front...one of my BFFs called last night. She gave birth to her LO at 28 weeks and he was 5lbs plus some. He might have been early but the healthiest kid on the block. So you never know.

Petitfilou, {{{hugs}}} good luck with the party. I wish I had something more to add. I've been skipping "parties" for DD until she is old enough to honestly enjoy them [6 or 7 is my starting line]. This year she just wanted to go to Pizza Hut for dinner.

Dizzy, as long as your mum doesn't look ill, as you've written, I think taking your girls to see her is an excellent idea. It will lift everyone's spirits and give them time to grasp well needed time with her.

Expectant, oddly I have headaches for days now. Keep thinking it's dehydration so back to waterlogging myself today. {{{swish}}}

Pertelote, YES anyone touching your belly can feel how tight and hard it is during a BH.

Captain, thanks. Like I said earlier...headaches here too. {{hugs}}

I was able to get a couple of hours of sleep after I posted BUT that was after trying every known position to get comfortable. This baby is low low low low. Hiccups happen in my bottom now which sounds totally wild but true. She had a knee sticking out of my side for the longest time this morning. I couldn't get her to move it for the world. Just wondering if she'll still turn some. Doesn't she need to be kicking me in the back to properly come out face down?? I'm just never happy am I.

Captain, I'm in the same boat with you. I've no clue what to do with DD when labor starts. She will probably just go along with me and DH. If she's a hassle, DH will just have to leave my side and manage her. I've been taking her to all my visits and talking about what happens. At the visits she's been EXCELLENT and she tells everyone (I mean EVERYONE) how the baby's comes out (visuals and all). The doctor told me he didn't care if she was with us...he has two under 3...and he's gotten to know DD. I guess it will all fall into place at the very moment I go into labor.

24pages in less than a week

got mw in a few minutes, groeth scan at 4, and ds1 has chicken pox!!!

poppy pmsl at a previous post where s&m was in bold.....sorry just made me smile!!

too much to catch up on just now...will try again later. hope you all have a good afternoon.

Wow, just spent half hour trying to catch up on thread, and once again forgotten the posts I was going to reply to.

Sarah Happy birthday. Will pass on the cake though, not a big fan of chocolate

I haven't been having any Bhs as far as I know, maybe I'm just not feeling them?

Dizzy thinking of you and your family - what is wrong with your mum if you don't mind me asking? If you do mind, just give me a slap for being nosy

Right, must do some chores now, I can't spend the whole day on MN I should actually do something useful like unpack some boxes. We moved in a month ago, and still haven't finished unpacking

Hiya girls,

Been away for 4 days, it's taken me 2 HOURS to catch up with you all. Relieved to see that by and large everyone is ok and all the LOs are seemingly staying put for now

Been a funny few days...had a lovely, lovely weekend as had two old friends down to stay and went to a party on the Saturday night which was full of more friends we hadn't seen for ages. I impressed myself by staying out till 1.30am despite having the most intense Braxton Hicks all night - between those and the nonstop catch-up chatter I was left quite breathless. Was knackered all Sunday and Monday.

So then I went down to see my dad on Monday and stayed the night. It was brilliant to see him and we talked a lot. He's like a different person - more relaxed than I've seen him since my mum died almost 20 years ago. Think he is finding the process of clearing out the old man's stuff very cathartic.

However, I found out some really disturbing stuff about the old man - can't really go into details but suffice it to say that it provides conclusive proof that the world is a better place without him. My dad has had to deal with finding this disturbing information, which obviously wasn't very nice for him either. Anyway, I was alright yesterday but I think it has actually freaked me out much more than I realised - I feel so vulnerable today, had a horrible night's sleep last night and just feel awful, awful, awful Can't concentrate on anything, which is bad news for the dissertation I'm supposed to be writing right now, and also miss my brother more than ever. I am finding it hard to be without him today

Anyway, onto pregnancy-related news: my belly button area has been a source of those sharp pains VG mentioned earlier in the thread. I just assumed it was my navel piercing stretching out a bit (took the barbell out a few months ago when my navel began approaching flatness). Also my boobs have started leaking clear fluid - not much most of the time, but I have the odd gush, ho ho.

El Squid seems still to be breech, the awkward sod, and is also wriggling much more than kicking these days. When I saw the mw last week she said I was measuring 34 weeks (was 32 at the time) so perhaps he's a whopper and has run out of space already?

We visited the mw-led birth centre yesterday and are now both more confused than ever about what decision to make. It's a lovely place but is 30 mins drive out of town, and the mw we spoke to there pointed out that in terms of transferring to hospital if necessary their protocols are exactly the same as with a homebirth. Part of me now thinks booking for a homebirth might make more sense as we're nearer the hospital we'd be transferred to, iyswim...but then I like the idea of being somewhere 'official' however stupid that sounds, and love the post-natal breastfeeding support that is on offer at the birth centre...and then there's the whole issue of whether this baby is ever going to turn head down anyway, and whether I will end up needing to make a decision on trail of labour/section vs straight pre-booked section....AAARGH it's all too much, my brain is not ready.

trial of labour, obviously...stupid slow fingers.

Cyteen - try and keep your chin up am thinking of you and sending hugs. It must be so hard. Whatever this old man did must be really bad to upset you this much. Not much I can say to try and make that feel better, but I'll be sending prayers your way.

Happy Birthday Sarah!

Good to see you back cyteen. Sounds like an intense few days. I hope you can give yourself the time to digest it all.

Well, back from marathon waiting session at the hospital, but did eventually see a Dr, who was lovely. CS booked for 11th August!!!! Still not sure it's the right thing, but it's def. the most sensible....

DH now really annoying me though as he is particularly keen on the planning aspect of things, but has thrown his toys out of the pram about my family coming to visit around the time of the birth. Brother is here the weekend before anyway and has offered to stay around to help with DD while we're at the hospital and has even offered to stay elsewhere. Then my Mum is planning to come up when he returns to work to help me, post section. Then my sis and bil and they too are staying elsewhere. He says it's an intensely personal time and he doesn't want anyone else around. I'm just aware that a. it's great that my family are interested (note no reference to his, although I'm sure they will come at some stage) and b. the help will be great to have. Not speaking at present. Grrrr.