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.

Albs I'm just going to let them do the bikini shave at the hospital. They did it last time (dry razor!) and it was fine - don't forget the current scar will be cut out and any razor rash or irritation from regrowth would happen while you're still heavily medicated, plus you'll assume any grief is from the new wound itself. It's one of those things that doesn't even cross your mind after it's done.

Sibh I'd call 11-5 sleeping through, gives you a milestone to celebrate sooner! My kids both did that from 8wks but formula feeding may have been the magic factor there, this one will be BF so it's all insh'Allah.

Well, it rained again didn't it?! Grrr..

Buckets - Had to look at my screen like 10 times as thought I was seeing things when i saw 'insh'Allah' Very impressed.

GG - Sorry to hear how you're feeling too - it's just so hard right now. I keep thinking won't be long, won't be long, but the reality is another 3 weeks seems a lifetime away. Have you finished work now? I do a lot of DH's paperwork and deal with a good few customers but have told him today that he needs to organise himself over the next few months - I just can't be bothered, hard when it's a family business though you always feel attached somehow.
I can't remember GG, is it the SPD that's making you this way?
I can't do anything either, am really looking fwd to being able to do REAL stuff with my kids again and simple things like sitting on the floor building things up and having a roll around and big hugs.
The thought of cooking makes me ill. House is a mess, v.frustrating as i like 'tidy' - moan, groan, moan, groan.

Am avoiding phone calls and replying to texts - have nothing to say am such a miserable friend and daughter today. I wonder if the lack of iron plays a part in all of thsi as well.

ALBS - I think it involves some sort of drip that you get hooked up onto and you sit there for an hour or two reading until its done. Cannot wait!

Hi again,

I know someone asked me about expressing yesterday but I can't remember who it was!

Basically, expressing is not recommended for the first 6 weeks approximately. This is for a number of reasons, but mainly as you need that time to get breastfeeding established and to develop a good supply and demand relationship. For more practical reasons, it will feel like enormous drudgery to try to fit in pumping sessions as well as very frequent feeding.

If you are worried about your baby accepting a bottle, I would wait until it is about 6-8 weeks old and then try to introduce one. However, keep in mind that a baby may well accept a bottle at one age and reject it later. This is not at all unusual. What I mean is, you may find that by introducing a bottle really early on, your baby accepts it. Then, a couple of months later, they reject it unless it has been given quite regularly.

HTH

ChaCha sounds like we're in the same boat! I feel exactly ike you - can't even pick bloody toys up off the floor! Don't finish work til next week but even then it won't be done.

SPD is sooooo painful it's untrue but on top of that I have this liver disorder which means I am itching all over.

I hate feeling like this I am one of those people who annoy me - i can now find something miserable in anything!

Just hoping that as soon as I have delivered I take a massive step forward although as they have now mentioned c-section looks like it could be 9 weeks instead of 3 before I can do stuff!

Have been planning september - far more pleasurable than thinking about today! Have booked baby swimming lessons, got my boys registered at a sports class for under 5s, DD1 going to join Rainbows with me as a helper and I'm going back to Weight Watchers - plus my usual mania of running the church family group, toddlers and pick up and drop off at three diff times everyday! But as I am having time off work still seems luxorious as I usually do all that and work too! Can't wait to get back to myself!

GG - Is good to have something to focus on other than current state isn't it? Well done. Weight loss also a focus of mine post-baby, every year for past 3 year have gotten PG just as i get my act together!

If a section is on the cards will it be your first? FWIW I was pushing double pram and out and about shopping on day 6, struggled picking up DS1 who was 14mths old at the time but really that was it - compared to the pain i'm in now and total feeling of helplessness having a baby via section seems a welcome doddle!!!! Do remind me of this though on post-natal thread next month!

Thanks PF - I think I mighttake you up on that . It's like my brain just runs on by itself tick tick tick and won't let me sleep.
Yesterday got told that you're not allowed an ambulance to get to the hospital. Now I've never thought that I'd just call one and go, but it was nice to think that the backup was there if we ended up the creek with no transport. Now nope - they say 'you've had 9 months to plan this'. well I only found out yesterday, and 9 months doesn't change the fact that we don't drive, own a car or have friends who drive. Only person we know who drives is DP's future stepdad, and he works in London, so if bubs decides to arrive on a weekday, we're in trouble! Am starting to wander if I should just have a home birth, as then won't have to worry about getting to the hospital. My brain has been conjuring images of giving birth at home with no midwife because of lack of transport (stupid I know)Sorry, rant over

AnnVan if you phone round local taxi companies you will find one who will take you and some are really great and keep a record so that they know you are a priority when you call even if it is a Friday night
My DH doesn't drive so something we have to think about. If you are in labour and it is quick or you are worried then an ambulance will come and get you and if necessary blue light you to hospital they just won't come and be transport if you're in the early satges.

Having been induced, had a homebirth and had a normal deliver in hospital and now facing a section I would say that so far homebirth has been the most amazing experience so don't see it as a bad choice - best thing I did with my second and was great for DD1

This time I don't really care how I give birth anymore as long as I do sooner rather than later but I would like a week in a five star hotel afterwards

Well have managed to speak to mw who said to be engaged at 33 weeks is ok but early for 2nd or 3rd child but not to worry. However she said if I felt sick or not right, which I do, she said I needed to be checked. Seeing as it is almost the weekend, I think I will just wait for Tuesday's appointment.... not very helpful as I was expecting.

Right Annvan what you are doing is 'castrophizing' ie imagining the worst, not based on anything concrete. Btw I'm not trained in this but I've had the therapy and found it really useful. It might help you to read up on CBT. it is basically about changing the way you think about things and reducing your anxiety levels.

Thought records are really useful though you can't really use them for things like labour - you'll see what I mean when you've read how you do them:
Write down what you think is going to happen.
Write down % likelihood that it happens.
Write down how anxious you are feeling and give that a %
Write down whether it is a fact or a belief (usually you will find it is a belief!)
Then after the event write down what happened and how anxious, in % terms, you feel now.
Then - write down a better way of thinking about the thing you were originally worried about - this helps to change your mindset for next time.

I agree with gigglegirl re the hospital transport. In an emergency they would take you but what they are basically saying is you can't use an ambulance like a taxi. You will probably find though, that you have plenty of warning and you can get a taxi in plenty of time. My first birth was 71/2 hours and that is quick for a first time labour. It may well be worth you thinking about a homebirth though if it is causing you this much angst - they would transfer you to hospital in an ambulance anyway if there were any problems.

Hope you're feeling okay PF.

AnnVann - Everything will work out alright, first time anxieties IMO are completely normal, PF's thought records v.good idea and shd help you. Also good idea about local taxi service keeping record of you.

Still not in mood to cook so DC have just been given waffles and beans[halo on head emoticon] DS2 is happy with anything but DS1 is not impressed with the beans and has now insisted on hummus, cucumber and olives and proceeded to place beans on brother's tray....kids!!
DH will have to make do with a plate of chips or something. I can't even bothered to do an online shop.

Mum has offered to take the boys to her place for a few days until transfusions are over. I have never let them go anywhere without me so don't know what to do. Mum is great with them and they love her to bits so i know they'll be fine but am feeling torn as to what to do. What do you think? She's just over an hour away and DH is pretty good at getting around should there be any probs.

chacha take your mum up on her offer. They can always come back if they, you or your mum aren't coping. Seriously - it'll be lovely for them to spend time with her, she'll enjoy it and you can concentrate on feeling rubbish without wondering how it is affecting them. Just over an hour away is fine!!!

Hi all, sorry about the earlier rant. I guess this particular worry was only sparked by very negative midwife doing the antenatal class yesterday. i've always known I'd probably have to get a taxi to the hospital, but she approached the whole thing in such a negative way that it just stuck this worry into my head (I've not been worried about it before). So will try to ignore midwifely negativity
PF - I hope you are feeling a bit better, thanks for the advice, I think I will try that.

That does sound a good idea about calling taxi firms......... suss out which ones balk at the idea of a woman in labour lol, and which ones will be accomodating

Cha cha
'Mum is great with them and they love her to bits' ......and you feel torn?! Don't be daft, take her up on the offer. You are clearly in a bad way and the best thing you can do is get yourself better so you can be there for them again. It is a few days that they will probably not even remember at a later stage. Your mum gets 100 points from me - my mother would just say 'can you get xxx to help' but wouldn't offer herself.

I'm ok, not brilliant but ok and dh has redeemed himself by coming back early today and really helping.

chacha don't even think about it - you need the rest!

My Mum and Dad are great but they childmind whilst I am at work so we don't really get that much time on our own to go out or have evenings together, when I go on maternity leave they will need to cover my work so it won't change hugely. I have negotiated a night away next friday for our wedding anniversary. Going to a hotel with a spa and pool, at this moment in time I can't imagine wanting to go but I am going to make the effort and swimming is about the only thing I can do without being in agony so maybe it will be a good thing.

TBH I would be happy staying at home but DH is desperate to get out - he's suggested films, theatre etc... but I have said no to all of them so can at lease try something!

gigglegirl I hope your weekend away is nice next week. The water element will be good, and at least you can be in bed (albeit in discomfort (I know, too mild a word, trying to be upbeat though) without being called to do something for someone else!!!!!

sazzles - wow you're lucky!!! You have really good friends My parents are fab but 2 hours away.

For our wedding anniv - we'll have a 3 day old and I'll poss still be is hospital after section! [hmm} - no treats there then, except the no longer being pregnant one, oh and having a lovely new baby.

ah - so you may be on the table having baby hauled out at the very moment you took your vows x years ago

We got married at the end of August last year, so we should have a new baby in time for the first anniversary. No big celebrations planned here either!

(PS hello to all, and lots of thoughts for those having a tough time)

tee hee our anniversary is 19th july DD1 born 24th and DS2 13th this one is now going to be a potential july too, so i've had anniversarys when heavily pregnant and just given birth already!