Due Aug 08 - Glasses High, Bellies Low, Motherhood Here We Go!!

[TwilightSurfer]

Our first Due August 2008 thread started on Monday the 26th of November 2007.
We have had 11 threads so far with a total of 10,452 posts (at 904).
Shazza2002, VintageGardenia, and Bigboydiditandranaway are three original members.
Believe it or not, DizzyDixies did not join until the 3rd of January 2008.

For each of us, this pregnancy has been well documented among electronic pages that can be found here, links to all our Due August 2008 threads:
Thread 1 26NOV07-21JAN08
Thread 2 09JAN08-05FEB08
Thread 3 05FEB08-04MAR08
Thread 4 04MAR08-28MAR08
Thread 5 27MAR08-12APR08
Thread 6 12APR08-30APR08
Thread 7 30APR08-31MAY08
Thread 8 31MAY08-14JUN08
Thread 9 13JUN08-24JUN08
Thread 10 24JUN08-04JUL08
Thread 20 04JUL08-

Today we begin thread #12. It may or may not take us to our first birth. Either way, it takes us into the home stretch, the moment we've all been waiting for....

DUE AUGUST 2008 STATS
[TSupdate12JUL08]

GROUP TOTAL: 59

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 (13) vs. GIRLS (15)] [(6) Scheduled C-Sections]
21JUL IlanaK is 35 and lives in Central London. She has 2DSs, 7y & 4y. Expecting DC#3 via CS [EDD 28JUL], 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 CS [EDD 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, 5y & 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 CS [EDD 08AUG], a SURPRISE.
04AUG ChaCha is 32 and lives in Oxford. She has 2DCs, 2y & 10m, Expecting DC#3 via CS [EDD 10AUG], guesses it's a boy.
06AUG CaptainCaveman is 35 and lives in Nottingham. She has a DS, 4.2y. Expecting DC#2 via CS [EDD 17AUG], 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.
08AUG Babieseverywhere is 34 and lives in Lancashire. She has a DD, 2y. Expecting DC#2, a SURPRISE.
09AUG BirthdayBaby is expecting DC#1.
10AUG Lcy is 30 and lives in Wales. Expecting DC#1, guesses it's a boy.
11AUG Poppysocks is 30 and lives in St Andrews. She has a DD, 2.4y. Expecting DC#2 via CS [EDD 17AUG], a GIRL.
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.
13AUG Mal00 is 33 and lives in South London. She is expecting DC#1, a BOY to be name Leonardo or Lorenzo.
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[London-4h]. Expecting DC#1, a BOY to named Tomas.
16AUG Pregnancy1 is 31 and lives in London. Expecting DC#1, a GIRL.
17AUG Iliketosleep is 24 and lives in Wolverhampton. She has 2DDs, 7y & 6y and a DS, 4y. Expecting DC#4.
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[London+7h]. 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 Chattanooga[London-5h]. She has a DD, 4y. Expecting DC#2 via VB, a GIRL to be named Reese Eleanor.
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.

VG they have these awesome long sleeve snap front t-shirts that I LOVE. They are very basic, of course, but I ended up with four when we left with DD. I spent the whole first half of this pregnancy shopping for ones exactly like them but in different colors. If you bring your own baby clothes and the baby goes back the nursery for some reason, she'll end up back in the hospital grade t-shirt. So for what it's worth baby clothes aren't necessary. Even for the ride home. Unless you're the type person who wants the baby in a special outfit for the ceremonious trip. For ours I've got the hosptial grade T in a floral print.

Wow. I'd say here if you didn't bring clothes they would probably look out a vest and babygro but it's definitely expected that you bring clothes.

Out of curiosity interest, can I ask if that is in private healthcare & what is the public system like?

At the hospital I'll be using: Private or Public's the same in regards to the maternity ward. Coverage differs only where procedures are involved. So a homeless person without any insurance having a baby in the same hospital at the same time as me would be given the same treatment (goodies, room selection, baby clothes). At a "private" non-state funded hospital, a pateint without proper insurance coverage would be referred elsewhere. It just happens that the TOP RATED facility in my area is also a state facility and a teaching hospital.

And by procedures, we're talking things like elective CSecs. Someone without private insurance would probably not be allowed one of those but would be allowed a "medically necessary" CSec.

There's was talk about Group B Strep Testing on the last thread. Standard in the US but not in the UK....

I copied this from BabyCenter.com

"Sometime between now and 37 weeks, [the doctor/midwife] will do a vaginal and rectal culture to check for bacteria called Group B streptococci (GBS). (Don't worry ? the swab is the size of a regular cotton swab, and it won't hurt at all.) GBS is usually harmless in adults, but if you have it and pass it on to your baby during birth, it can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia, meningitis, or a blood infection. Because 10 to 30 percent of pregnant women have the bacteria and don't know it, it's vital to be screened. (The bacteria come and go on their own ? that's why you weren't screened earlier in pregnancy.) If you're a GBS carrier, you'll get IV antibiotics during labor, which will greatly reduce your baby's risk of infection."

I'm not even sure you can have an elective section in Ireland, I thought they all had to be medically necessary, but I might be wrong, have never been into it and I don't know anyone who's had an elective section.

The NHS hospital I'll be going to apparently provides little gowns for baby, so the only clothes I'll need to take will be for the ride home. Will need to bring all the other stuff though. I guess with the cost of healthcare in the states, you'd hope they'd give a little more than we get on our 'free' service?

Had a weird dream last night. Dreamed that I had identical quadruplets and named them all John. WTF??

LOL AnnVan and your four little Johns!

Supposed to be leaving NOW to go to cinema at Bluewater and DP is still in the shower. It's supposed to be women that take forever to get ready

Ooh, he's out gotta go!

VG I know a lot of people who have elective CSec. I almost chose one with my first pregnancy. I think in Brazil it's EXTREMELY common and noted as a status symbol. Here it's just a convenience thing. Insurance providers will balk if you try to get one before 36/37 weeks though.

The lunch sounds fab VG-we went to Cafe Paradiso in Cork for lunch last week on a day out (first one together in years) as a last hurrah before the baby and an early anniversary thing for tomorrow. The food there was out of this world and it was just so nice to sit and talk. It's really lovely to have a grown-up treat before the baby arrives. How nice of DP to order the champagne too!

TS--it all sounds exciting for you at the moment. I think the music is a great call. I listened to the same CD for DS's and DD's births and found it made a massive difference. It's a Bach cello thing I wouldn't normally be listening to, but when it went on in the delivery room about an hour before DD emerged and at a point where I was getting a bit stresed, the relief it brought was amazing. My legs actually buckled and I nearly fell over. The midwife was really impressed that the music made such a difference. I think it really helps with the concentrating and the 'staying in your own little birthing zone' side of things.

When I mentioned bringing in music to my midwife here though she nearly fell off her chair in surprise, and after recovering said 'Well you can bring in whatever makes you comfortable. You know, you can bring in water if you'll need a drink too.' Aaaahh...

Like VG I'm having a bit of a wobble about the interventionist way things get done here in Ireland. All the advice I'm getting from people seems to involve them telling me to stand up for myself a lot.

I've had two births where the forewaters broke at 40 and 24 hours before the birth and am worried that if I go in they'll try to hook me up to stuff and hurry things along. If I stand up for myself too, there's a danger of coming across as either of the two types of English person who get people's backs up (ie the 'I'm living here because it's pretty but things are done sooo much better in England' type, or the hippy dippy variety). I'm tempted to stay home if it's just a tiny water break and go in later, but I don't want to do anything risky either.

How did this end up as a rant about me? I might need to kidnap the trainee midwife who walks past my house each day and interrogate her for an hour or so. Or do some seriously deep breathing and just calm down!

Ann Vann - LOL at little Johns - what could that mean? Your DP is just like my DH, when i ask him 'so how long will you be then?' and he says 'oh not long, just need a quick shower' guaranteed we have another half hour JUST for the shower before hair and everything else. My showers are never such a luxury and have usually showered/dressed myself and 2 toddlers, prepared the out bag and done a million things in this time - of course and replied to 'where is my.....?' and 'can you.....?' and there's only 1 of him to get ready

Crap....he's back for shop and not ready, c u later, thanks for jo malone tips VG

Four johns .. I love it. DD has a series of dolls called Flo and introduces them to everyone as 'Flo, and other Flo, and other Flo ...'

LOL at mens' showers ChaCha--had exactly that routine here this morning with me and small children dressed, wash out (now rained on) and another one on before he even started looking for socks.

TS fab new thread.

Sorry didn't come back after post but was having a TS sort of day. Had period/crampy feelings all day and what i thought were Bhs. Made dinner as usual, sat to eat it and started having full blown contractions, forgot how much they fking hurt!!

had a bath as it;s supposed to ease it IT DIDN'T Rang labour ward who told me go in, however i can't drive under insurance if in labour (yes, i finally checked it) and DH still can't drive coz of hernia and eyes so would've meant a taxi and findin someone to come and watch the kids. So they very reluctantly sent someone out to me, who happened to be my own community mw. She said the baby had dropped since she saw me on wednesday, now only 2/5 palpaple, and cervix still at 4/5.

Anyway she left me to it and i was told to ring if my waters broke or i had bleeding. Was up till 2am with these contractions but no baby MW came back out and we decided they were contractions that were getting her head further down. Having a similar day tp yesterday crampy wise so will just have to wait and see.

Sorry mammoth post again.

Sarah glad the chicken pox have gone, thi k oyu passed them to my ds!!

VG over here if you don't have clothes for baby they will give you some and you can even request that they be put in a baby hospital gown, apparently was compulsory about 15years ago!!

Bealcain, I feel your pain. Today the front of my upper legs feel like someone's used them as a punching bag. I'm eating tylenol every 4 hours which is helping some. But like you just waiting for blood or waters. Baby's head just keeps moving on down....... Can't imagine I could contract for 30 days, could I???

Sibh the Bach cello stuff sounds great too. I've considered Vivaldi...there's just something about strings for me that help me get into a good mindstate. Classics always use to help me study for big exams. I'm a patterns person so the music's form and structure soothe me and allow me to organize my thoughts. I'm totally weird!!

TS i really really really hope we can't contract for that long....although saying that i remember it being similar with ds2 and it only took 15mins from 5cm to pushing!!!

Chacha I recommend Jo Malone French Lime Blossom - my favourite. Also have Grapefruit which was the only thing I could wear in the early stages of pregnancy - very light and citrussy. French lime blossom is much more floral and heady - the body cream is amazing.

Keep checking in to see how TS, Oops and now Bealcain are doing - very exciting (much to dh's annoyance ) 'You're not on bl**dy mumsnet again are you?'

Sibh - awww at DD's dolls, how sweet! Fortunately no rain here today, i would have cried, took me forever to hang out two loads and DC didn't help going through the towels on their bikes having great fun What happened to my sense of humour and fun!

TS - Meant to post earlier but DH came home and didn't finish. Never knew that the hospitals there provide all of that - quite amazed. I don't think you're at all weird and i think it's great that you know so much about yourself, interested at the 'patterns person' personality. I learn more about myself as i get older - can be quite shocking!

Bealcain - Good to see you post was wondering how you are doing. Glad they were able to send someone out to you. The waiting game huh....

I had contractions with DS1 they were soooo painful, i had them in hospital and so was walking around with DH and Tens machine. I have the same awful backache and tightenings that i got back then and feel baby's limbs everywhere if that makes sense, how can you tell which is a BH and which is a contraction...can BHs be v.painful? From what i had experienced they were just tightenings with little pain but these ones are full on stop what i'm doing, grab something, breathe and wait for waves of pain in back to stop. I am not at all worried about anything just curious.

Well i am cooking today much to DH's delight and hopefully enough for everyone's lunch tomorrow. x

Hey PF - thanks for that. I want to go on a recommendation so that does sound good. I have given DH the name (he typed it in his phone and had a look at the website - am in shock) so need to decide what bits i want now. They had something called fragrance starter kit i think, haven't had time to look properly (only MN time it seems) but will later. DH/P comments really make me laugh from everyone - puts into perspective that DH is actually quite normal and just a man!

Managed to get some nightdresses and pj's courtesy of good old mothercare. Not particularly fancy but can't imagine i'll be caring this time in 3 weeks.

Lovely shiney new thread TS, cheers m'dear

Feeling brighter today (hurrah!). Had 2 hours sleep yesterday afternoon. Got woken up at 7.30 today, dh got up with ds at 7.50 then I got woken up at 9 (although I'd only dozed since being woken). Went to church, came home and slept for another hour. I'm just so tired! Still, not long now, a max of 24 days

at bealcain and ts contracting - anyone would think we are having babies sometime soon!!! (must pack bags, must pack bags!!)

ts around christmas time, my mn christmas name was angelgabrielhidinginacaveman

Sibh lucky you at Cafe Paradiso! Food there is so yum. Re. strangled attitude here, I have been doing yoga, reflexology, to help everything along in the last few months. We got a homeopathic labour kit from Nelson's, with supplies of arnica, aconite, pulsatilla, etc, which DP is supposed to administer during labour, but we were in fits of giggles at the idea of actually mentioning it to our doctor.

We have a couple of problems, but the main one is the hos wanting you to get through within fourteen hours or whatever their time limit is (leading to water rupture, drips, etc) and the other one being that the hospitals (though improving) are just not into yoga balls and dimming the lights and you doing your own thing - they want to be in charge. Everyone keeps saying wisely "Oh your DP will just have to be very strong and make sure your wishes are followed," and I see him smile weakly.

So we bought a buggy today, an Urban Detour altitude in red from Mothercare. Most peculiar it felt, wheeling it out of the shop. Was shocked at prices, 5 and 6 hundred euro for some of the models, surely bonkers. We paid half that and it seems really nice, pneumatic tyres, three wheeler, clip in car seat, etc, and I read loads of positive reviews onine before going. (subtext: please no-one tell me of disasters they've had with this!!!)

dizzy it's in the boot of the car, don't fret.

CC glad you feel well today. Our paths haven't crossed much lately, I've been a bit erratic in my attendance.

pf ooh yes the lime blossom body cream is so luxurious, thick and scenty, and the smells hovers around you for ages. Good call.

bealcain how are you still so sane? I'd have gone berserk by now - oops too, I feel as if you've both been in actual labour for ages. My nails are mere nibbled stumps by this stage, and you are both so calm!