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Connect with mums-to-be with similar due dates to share experiences and support.

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

916 replies

TwilightSurfer · 04/07/2008 15:47

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.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
SazzlesA · 05/07/2008 20:15

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gigglegirl · 05/07/2008 20:33

don't know if any of you ladies use Liz earle - seem to recall posts about it a while ago but there is a kit on offer today on QVC that contains all the essentials (face and body) in a bag - I have bought it to start off my hospital bag packing!buy online here

Buckets · 05/07/2008 20:56

Oh my baby has been going crazy all day, non-stop movement and, I guess, hiccups, BHs I swear at least every 15mins (no pain thank God,) It's made me so irritable with the kids who have been nothing but angels all day bless them. He just won't stop twitching! DH is on the train back from 'Lucha Libre' Mexican wrestling event in London (yeah I know) so I can't even moan at him.
Looking on the bright side I acquired a very nice boxed and unused cot mobile off Freecycle this morning. DD was a bit perturbed as she had apparently been planning to make one herself but I promised she could make one to hang from the ceiling (so DS and the baby can't break it.)

gigglegirl · 05/07/2008 20:57

has anyone here got one of thos long maternity pillows? Have been thinking of getting one to help with SPD - anyone knows which ones are good?

Buckets · 05/07/2008 20:59

Nope, I have a dolly's pillow under my bump and a square cushion between my knees, trying to keep the sizes to a minimum.

CaptainCaveman · 05/07/2008 21:17

giggle I bought one from Dunelm Mills, cost me around £11 I think. I've used it every night since I bought it around 5 months ago!

Seems weird to think that soon we'll all have newborns to contend with! I know we've spent the last 7 or 8 months talking about it but it's nearly here . If ds2 stays breech I'm hoping to convince cons to deliver me at 38 weeks - esp seeing as I had the steroid injections?

It seems that every morning and evening I get achey sensations like I'm just about to start a period - which get me a bit excited thinking "ooh, is this it?", then they disappear again!

gigglegirl · 05/07/2008 21:29

i am getting those period pains too - think they are just muscular though.

CaptainCaveman · 05/07/2008 21:29

I'm going to text dizzy, it's way too quiet on here without her. ((((((dizzy))))) we are missing you

gigglegirl · 05/07/2008 21:31

I know this date has been coming for tha last 8 months but I am still totally disorganised and in denial about the reality of no 4!!

one of my RL friends had a great idea the other day. You give birth at about 35 - 36 weeks and then they get incubated for 4 or 5 weeks elsewhere whilst you get your energy back, have your hair and nails etc.. done for all the photos and get totally organised whilst you can actually move and then they are 'born' and you collect them!

CaptainCaveman · 05/07/2008 21:41

Your friend is wise giggle!

Seeing as you have 3 already, can I ask what you've done previously to prepare the older siblings for the arrival of a newborn?
We've kept ds as involved as we can, shown him scan pics etc and let him help choose things for the baby - whilst making sure he gets something at the same time so he doesn't feel like the baby is getting everything and he's getting nowt! Now that we've got the crib out, he keeps trying to get in it and 'pretend' he's the new baby. Am sure this is totally normal, but any advice greatly appreciated!

gigglegirl · 05/07/2008 22:03

Captain how old is your DS? I will have had 4 kids in 5 years so mine are really close in age. DD1 was 19mths when DS1 was born and we just talked about the baby all the time. I had him at home (she went out for lunch with granny) and then she came home and went into our bedroom on her own and 'found' him sleeping which was really cute. With DS2 did the same talked bout babies a lot and when I got home from hospital let them hold him. This time DD1 thinks she will be looking after the baby, DS1 wants to play and know if the baby will be able to talk (he's the one who asks how it got in mummy, how did we decide to have another one, how does it get out, how do we know when it is big enough, how big will it be etc.....) DS2 knows I have a baby in my tummy and we have encouraged him to stroke, kiss and be gentle with the baby (not necessarily his first instinct with anything!) we know quite a few people with babies and so he is around them a bit but thinks they are all called the same thing! I have also always let them choose something from them to the baby - no matter how bizarre - currently DS2 is thinking potatoes! I have found a great book for siblings to fill in for siblings - will find the link and post it - am going to get one for DD1 as she is just getting into reading and writing. Other than that I think you have to just be pretty chilled yourself - most of the sibling rivalry I have seen seems to stem from parents stressing about it. Other think I did was not to use the baby as a reason not to do anything - you have to balance things so if they need a wee and still need help I would stop feeding the baby and help them but if they wanted a snack instead of saying when I have finished feeding the bby I would say bring me a story and we'll read it first

Anyway going on now!!

gigglegirl · 05/07/2008 22:37

here's the album

gigglegirl · 05/07/2008 22:41

off for some sleep

night night

alittlebitshy · 06/07/2008 09:50

I think I've caught up!! Phew! Lots of chat and music talk....

We had our bbq yesterday (dh's month early birthday one) and it went well. there was sunshine all afternoon after horrible rain and greyness in the morning. I let dd take 2 friends up to her room... went up and found them in our bed. I yelled at her rather loudly , but I'm just not into kids (mine fine, others noooo)playing in my bedroom, especially as one of them was a kid from the parish and it feels a bit like a child playng in her teacher's room. Mil seemed to behave. She and i didn't exchnage a single word until about an hour before she left... and she didn't appear to notice that dd went off to another party mid way through despite dd yelling bye byes to me and dh when her friend took her . Classic converstaion with mil:
Her: is this bsby kicking a lot?
me: yes but they all do, it's nothing unusual
her: really? it might be poking you with it's fngers.
me:

I cannot believe this woman had 2 sons. She has no memory of how big they were at birth (sil and i assume big as dd was 9lb 9 and dn was 10lb7 so we think their dads have something to do with that!!!), doesn't remember anything about when they were small, appar asked bil and sil why dn was taking so long to be born cos she thought pregnncy ws 8 months, not 9.... After the converstaion a few months ago when she called me lazy for thinking of having a c-section I haven't mentioned it again, and she seems to think i'm on for a natural birth and I'm not disillusioning her. She'll be shocked when baby comes in 2 weeks 4 days [shcok] cos in her mind baby is due aug 1st (cos we've said early august) and prob won't like that my parents knew it was happening, but tough blardy luck!!

Today we have church then bbq/wild west thing at school...........

ChaCha · 06/07/2008 09:52

Morning ladies,

Fortunately for you all the server was down for a while in the wee hours so i was playing Scrabble instead! Was able to sleep from 6-8am, a whole 2 hours before DS2 came in and beat woke me up.

Sorry for TMI but i have had awful piles at the end of each pregnancy but never this bad. Trying to get comfortable and sleep last night was absolutely farcical, if it wasn't the SPD pains when finally getting into position lying on side I had the pain of burning pile when trying to sit up to sleep - twas a real no win situation. The codeine are just making me feel sick and dizzy - don't know what else to do. DH home at 4am so am letting him sleep so i can try to later in the morning. Thank for the rant. Now we will serve grilled waffles, scrambled eggs, grilled mushrooms and tomatoes with a sausage of your choice and a fruit juice Enjoy!

Buckets - Hope you are feeling alright and that DH managed the form filling.

GG - 4 under 5, wow! I thought 3 under 3 was going to be tough. My boys don't seem to take much notice when i talk about the 'new baby', maybe they are too young yet.

Hello to everyone else - am so glad that being not too well has actually given me time i never had to join you all here.

ChaCha · 06/07/2008 09:58

Hi Albs - MIL sounds funny bless her! C-section in my MIL's eyes is one of those words that you whisper with a slight nod and raised eyebrow. I didn't want to tell them my section was last year but DH did and they kept appearing out of visiting time telling m/w's that they were on way back home and wanted to say goodbye - more than once! Now as usual they realise baby is almost here and are panicking because they booked holiday - return date around my due date - everyone is to stay in a hotel this time so i don't really care. Cannot bare everyone around this year.

What's everyone else doing with childcare, outlaws, family etc..?

alittlebitshy · 06/07/2008 10:04

Assuming nothing happens before my section date, my parents are coming to look after dd and be around for her and dh while i'm in hosptial then will go home as soonas i gte home, to gove us space, but will be on call if we need them. Not telling mil/anyone else really the actual date (well, as I said not telling MIL i've got section booked lol) and dh will announce birth as you normally wuld. I'm standing my ground this time and not having MIl visit in hospital - she can wait til we get home. last timeI got invaded within 12 hours of dd being born(after 2 days labour and c-section) and am not being left open to that kind of stress and pressure again.

I realised last night that we need to have some plan in place in case I go into labour before then... ie some options for dd until my parents get here (they are c.2 hours away)... Am going to ask a couple of people at church today if they'd be on standby in case we need them....

oopsacoconut · 06/07/2008 10:35

Albs - i have the opposite - my MIL thinks I should have my section booked and give her a date so shecan plan her summer!!!! She has no understanding of wanting to try it naturally - why stretch your bits? you don't want to be baggy aferwards for DH!

Well this baby had dropped again this morning - if she carries on I will be delivering her from my knees!! HAd a bit of pinky jelly stuff this morning - assuming it's just due to a bit of over active s*x lastnight. M/wife is so unhelpful and i just don't trust her so will wait to see if anymore happens before i ring them.

Going into town shopping now to buy new running shoes for DH and for some Sunday lunch.

gigglegirl · 06/07/2008 10:49

oops that sounds a bit like a show to me!

I'm struggling today - just doing sainsburys online shop then off to church.

Hope all well.

miamla · 06/07/2008 12:13

oops it sounds like a show to me too!

albs assuming i don't go into labour before you do, I'm happy to be an emergency childcare option if you're stuck. obviously i'd have to meet her so your DD was happy with me but its something to think about...

just popping on quickly, DP out doing manly things at the dump so i'm doing the girlie job of going to the supermarket. think i'd rather go to the dump!
i'll be back later for all your witty tales of events from today!
oh and my trainee midwife friend is visiting this afternoon so today would actually be a good day to go into labour!

TwilightSurfer · 06/07/2008 12:14

Oops I think you and I are in the running now. Baby dropped here too. Any more and she'll be crawling around on her own. I can't get comfortable and I feel crampy (although very very mild). I'm so tired from little sleep. It's a good possibility I'll be heading to the hospital today for a formal assessment. I almost paniced last night...long story short, at 2am I bent down to pick up my cat and felt like I was wearing a tampon SIDEWAYS. I immediately got on all fours to take the pressure off. It must have been her arm over her head. No contractions. Nothing leaking. No show. JUST EXHAUSTION AND ANXIETY. 34+1 today... Will write more later.

OP posts:
gigglegirl · 06/07/2008 12:48

So what are we all thinking? Do we want these little ones to arrive early (for me it is 34 + 3 today) to ease the pain and suffering that we have or do we want them to hang in there for a while and put up with it? I can't get my head round which one I think is the best option??

SazzlesA · 06/07/2008 13:20

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Buckets · 06/07/2008 13:30

I am already fantasising about it all kicking off (34+5 here)! However, no doubt they would just do what they've done with Bealcain to keep it in as long as possible which sounds like even less fun than we're having already. Then again I had a false start with DS at 35wks and they were happy to whip him out by section for me if I'd started dilating (even had steroids just in case), due to my mental state about labour at the time. This time I'm so much more chilled about labour it would be hard to fake that kind of anxiety LOL.
Got woken up for surprise sex in the middle of the night (surprisingly it wasn't met with an expletive and a smack) and had a couple of nasty contractions afterwards. This little boy of mine really doesn't approve!

TwilightSurfer · 06/07/2008 14:30

Well I'm still at home. I'm with the group on the "not" this early vote. I've calmed myself down some which has helped but I still may go in later not because I want the little one now but to have them do what they can to stop the little from coming if that's what's happening. Still no contractions though. Just low low pains. Anyway, bags are by the door and I'm all showered. I think I'll just lay on the sofa and have DH wait on me today. I'm scheduled to see the doc at 10 tomorrow...maybe I can hold out until then.

OP posts: