Due October 08 - The Final Countdown!

[CantSleepWontSleep]

Here we go again then ladies....

29th Sept perkypopsy first baby Surprise North Herts (Ware)
29th Sept WombFor1More 2 ds's 1 dd Boy
30th Sept Aubergenie first baby Surprise
30th Sept sambrads 1 ds Girl
1st CantSleepWontSleep 1 dd Boy North Herts
1st accessorizequeen 2 ds's Twins - one of each
1st loulou33 1 ds Surprise Southern Scotland
2nd snowymum first baby Boy Near Oxford
2nd 1sttimer80 first baby Surprise. Hydronephrosis discovered. Extra scan at 28 weeks (7th July) planned. Edgware (Royal Free, Hampstead)
2nd FranMum2B first baby Surprise Kingston
2nd my3honeypies 2 dd's Boy
4th minervaitalica first baby Surprise (unintentionally!)
4th hedgepig 1 ds Surprise
4th pistachio 1 dc Secret
4th annwoo 2 dc Surprise
5th myjobismum 1 ds Surprise Poole, Dorset
5th rosebury 3 ds's 2 dd's Boy Bristol
6th Bethoo 1 ds Girl Salisbury
6th iuseantiageingstuff 2 ds's 1 dd Boy
6th ronshar 2 dd's Surprise (with dangly bits ) West Sussex
6th hoff first baby Boy Spain
7th belgo 2 dd's
8th kookiegoddess first baby Surprise
8th Alexa808 first baby
8th Ksal first baby Surprise Hitchin
10th Lozza70 first baby Surprise NE London (Woodford)
10th emkay 1 dd Surprise West London (Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea)
10th pepperrabbit 2 ds's Surprise
11th staceylouisex first baby Girl
12th milfakamonkeymonkeymoomoo 1 dd Boy Salisbury
12th star6 first baby Boy Surbiton
14th tedmundo 1 ds Surprise Bristol (Southmead)
14th twinklytoes 2 dd's Boy
15th mum2jakeyroo 2 ds's Surprise Near Lancaster
16th moodywren 1 dd 2 ds's Boy Lincolnshire (nr Spalding)
16th bigmouthstrikesagain 1 ds 1 dd Girl Mid-Beds
16th WheresTheAuPair 1 ds Boy
19th MrsTittleMouse 1 dd Girl
19th rach010 1 ds Surprise (but dp knows!) Lincolnshire
20th 07mumstheword 1 dd Surprise Bristol
20th AandMsmum 2 dd's Surprise Bristol
20th KnickersOnMaHead 1 dd Boy
20th jenwa 1 dd Girl Worcestershire
20th firsttimer08 first baby Boy. Dilated renal pelvis - rescan at 34 weeks. Greenwich
21st hansnava 1 dd Surprise Luton
21st rowanmac 1 ds Surprise North Scotland
21st caramelbunny 1 dd Surprise Manchester
21st jess1996 first baby Surprise
21st GirlWithTheMouseyHair first baby Surprise (but written down in case of moment of weakness!) SW London (St Thomas)
21st lilbitmum 1 dc
22nd SmudgeyDoodle 1 ds Surprise Newcastle (Gateshead)
22nd wombleprincess 1 dd
23rd Sallypuss first baby Probably girl Herts/Essex border
23rd Emmsy1 3 ds's 1 dd Girl The Wirral
24th sparklesandnowinefor9months 3 ds's 1 dd Surprise
24th Personanna 1 ds Boy Peru
25th Flum 2 dd's 5th June Wiltshire
26th oliviaelanasmum/4andnotout 3 dd's Girl
26th mariekg 3 dc Girl
27th Rhian82 Boy
29th Ekka 1 dd Surprise
30th Jambers99 1 ds Girl NW London (Hillingdon)
?? mybabysinthegarden 1 dd

Hi all, wow it;s been ages since I'm posted.

As this is my first, sorry I don't have much advice .. just lots of questions lol...

here's one for you girlies... in hospital bag (haven;t really thoguht about it til now.. and 31 weeks...!!!).... after birth pjamas or nightdress?

Can't believe we have so little time to go.
I have not organised anything yet but have been suffering with shooting pains in my upper left thigh - very painful - anybody got any ideas as to what it could be.

hi ladies.
1sttimer80 id go with nightie. its so hot on the wards, when i had dd 3 years ago we all had a fan next to our beds to cool us down i had a csection so nighties were a great help as i didnt have the band of pjs pushing on stitches.
hope this helps

firsttimer i would say nightie for reasons already said and you will need big knickers and sanitary pads sorry tmi but leakage is possible. I have bought comfy massive t shirt nighties from matalan £4 each with useful button front for feeding I am afraid that they are not sexy but then not much is at this stage.

i heard that to prevent tearing during labour nad just before if you massage a part of your ladys bits it gently stretches it! sure it begins with a p like perenium! (is that a plant???)

Hi ladies.

As always it's been weeks and weeks since posting, it sound as if everyone is plodding along nicely. I can't believe we're at a stage of talking about nighties and knickers! It's all come round so quickly!

I'm 28+4 today and baby is measuring 30 weeks, midwife seems to think I have a long baby... I think that roughly translates to big baby! Maggie was 8lb 13oz so I assume the next is going to be bigger again, good luck to me... aahhh!

lol bethoo that made me chuckle. yes ive heard if u massage ur perineum (the skin between ur vagina and anus) it can prevent tearing as it losens it up. u can buy some cream to massage into it but im sure thats just shops trying to make money.
just use baby oil.

im doing quite well in my buying for baby. ive had to start from scratch as i gave sil everything i had from last time. i still have cot though. my mamas and papas pramette got delivered last week my car seat yesterday, ive been buying baby grows and vests,nappies,wipes etc since about 4 months. ive got a list thats is slowly getting shorter and shorter. i forced myself to buy some big disposible knickers today lol not flattering at all.

hansnava so when do you actually massage it? wont it look awkward on the labour bed, i know my dp will think i am fiddling with myself!
i better get the maternity grant as priced up the new phil and teds vibe pushchair!

bethoo got this off a website

There are several methods of doing perineal massage. Two are given here.
First of all, wash your hands. Then find a private place and sit or lean back in a comfortable position. Put a lubricant such as KY jelly, cocoa butter, olive oil, vitamin E oil or pure vegetable oil on your thumbs and around the perineum.

Place your thumbs about 1 to 11/2 inches (three to four centimetres) inside your vagina. Press downward and to the sides at the same time. Gently and firmly keep stretching until you feel a slight burning, tingling or stinging sensation. With your thumbs, hold the pressure steady for about two minutes or until the area becomes a little numb and you don't feel the tingling as much.

As you keep pressing with your thumbs, slowly and gently massage back and forth over the lower half of your vagina, working the lubricant into the tissues. Keep this up for three to four minutes. Remember to avoid the urinary opening.

As you massage, pull gently outwards (and forwards) on the lower part of the vagina with your thumbs hooked inside. This helps stretch the skin much in the same way that the baby's head will stretch it during birth.

Do this massage once or twice a day, starting around the 34th week of pregnancy. After about a week, you should notice an increase in flexibility and stretchiness.

Several research studies have shown that this technique is helpful in preventing lacerations and an episiotomy. In 1999, there was an article in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology by Labrecque that evaluated the effectiveness of perineal massage during pregnancy for the prevention of perineal trauma at birth. Women in the experimental groups were requested to perform a 10-minute perineal massage daily from the 34th or 35th week of pregnancy until delivery. The massage consisted of introducing one or two fingers three to four centimeters into the vagina and applying and maintaining pressure - first downward for two minutes and then for two minutes to each side of the vaginal entrance. Women were given a bottle of sweet almond oil to use for lubrication.

LOZZA i to think the belts are crap as they are more a hassle than anything !!

my ds was 8lb 4oz and mw says that i am looking at a 9lb baby which i dont really mind as a big baby is not as scary to handle
cant believe we are all going to be handed these wee bundles i wonder wil we still treat them like there made of glass and will break if we hold them or squeeze them too tight ??

i found it really shocking the way the mw handled my ds when she was washing and dressing him after he came out it was really rough . i rememeber my ds vest was always wet for the first few days i just didnt know what i was doing wrong and the mw said i was not putting the nappy on tight enough i was afraid of hurting him

Hi everyone!
My baby is moving like crazy lately... he only stops for a hour or so and then is squirming around again. DH and I think it feels and looks like a big snake moving around in there
Anyway, we were at this comedy club last night and this comedian was going on and on about how "no man really wants a baby" and "isn't it annoying when people talk about their babies?" ... etc. It was funny, just uncomfortable, being only pg person there... There were a lot of students in the audience, so he was catering to the crowd, but I kept my coat over my belly because my baby kept wriggling around and poking things out and dh can't help but put his hand on it when it happens. I was really about being pregnant in there and now I'm that I even felt that way!

I heard almond oil good for the massage down there! Start at about 32-34 weeks I think.

I have anemia again, got call from drs to say need to get iron tabs and go back for more blood tests in 2 weeks, no surprise, had it with DD! Have just eaten marmite on toast to get some iron in me.

Having relaxing morn whilst dd stayed at my mums last night whilst we went to wedding. Will have to ge ready shortly and get her and then do the tesco shop!!! Maybe I will do it on line

Do it online Jenwa!!! SO much easier
I've been taking floridax (got it from holland and barret) and it has made an ENORMOUS difference in my energy levels... will tell you in a few days what blood results are like. They were very, very low before.. 6.8 and some lower and had me on 3 iron tabs 3X per day... did nothing to raise hb level, only constipated.
I encourage anyone to try floridax. No side effects, works really well and tastes GREAT.

hello ladies hope everyone is well, sorry but I simoly could not be bothered with all that massaging what a palava I am sure that plenty of sex would do the job just as well and so much more fun.

have a good weekend.

Hello everyone!

Just found mumsnet and really excited to see this thread..I hope you dont mind me joinin
I am due october the 13th so that makes me 30wks tmrw, I also have a lovely 16month old boy. oh and having another boy.

I really want a home birth but my local hospital is short of midwifes so ive been told i cant. I really dont want to give birth in hospital as my first was a traumatising experience and i really dont want to go through that again.

I am seriously considering deliverying the baby myself as i cant even think about going into hospital. I had a look at delivering at a birth center but the nearest one to me is booked up till next year, the next nearest one is an hours drive away and although they have agreed to book me..i dont know if thats a good idea as i might end up delivering in the car.

Sorry about the rant and this being my first post just really need to get things off my chest as ive been dealling with this since 12wks and ive had so much tears over this. Really dont know what to do

star6 Will have to get some of that then, remember being sick last time I took Iron tablets! Not great!!!!

YumMum22- Welcome and no we wont mind you joining. The more the merrier! Poor you though, what a nightmare. I thought about just staying at home until it was too late but then scared of dangers etc although sometimes I do wonder if you are safer at home rather than being pulled about my medical staff! What was your past experience like? Can you talk about it? We are very open here so dont worry if you feel its embarassing but you also dont have to talk about it. I never had great experience last time, wante home birth but ended up in hosp as DD took too long then had not nice time and ended up being torn and had a 3rd degree tear so had to go to theatre after for repair. Also so many people in my room staring at me and not the choices I wanted . This time I am being very stubborn although still have not decided really about the birth. Need a scan at 34 weeks as at the moment the placenta is blocking the exit (well it was at 20 weeks) so need to check it has moved otherwise have to have c-sect (so there goes my choice!)

Hope all goes well and you get lots of support here

afternoon all and welcome yummum, cant talk as got to bath an ice cream covered 17 month old who is putting fingermarks everywhere, touching dog so covered in sticky hait too!

I'm also debating home birth / birthing centre options.

YumMum - can you get some advice from any home birth / active birth centres or websites? It may help to talk to someone like a Doula or independent midwife who would have more experience of women labouring at home and what you have a right to insist on or not. I'm sure there are experienced home birthers out there who would be happy to give advice even if you aren't booking them to be with you at delivery? You don't want to put yourself at any undue risk by labouring at home without a midwife present... What a difficult position to be in.

If I had to choose between a labour ward and home it would definitely be home but we do have a birth centre locally so I'm undecided... the main question is what happens to DD aged 2yrs8mths while I'm in labour. We live in one floor flat so I'm concerned she'd be disturbed by my strange noises (!) or I'd be put off by her presence in the flat. I can't work out if it's less disruptive to her to stay at home while I go to the birth centre, or to go next door to a neighbour (middle of the night?) while I labour at home.

Any thoughts?

Hello yummum - welcome.

I am sorry to hear you had a bad experience for your first birth. I hated my Hospital experience s well and I did end up having a home birth for dd and am planning on for this baby.

No choice is without its problems but you should not be fobbed off with staffing issues as a reason to stop you requesting a hb this time. It is not your responsibility to resolve the NHS staffing issues it is theirs - can I suggest you join the Homebirth group through Yahoo. I have found it a valuable resource.

Last time round I had a show and bleed at 35 weeks and spent a night in hospital. The Consultant on his morning rounds said I could not have a hb as a result. He barely glanced at me and spent a grand total of 30 secs looking at my notes!

I requested a second opinion and was kindly granted permission to have a homebirth as long as I reached 37+ weeks and dd was born at 39 weeks at home.

You are allowed to question the opinions/ options you are given by midwives and docs.
As long as you feel comfortable doing so - I know it is not always easy.

Good luck

Yahoo Homebirth group

Hi

thanks to you all..really appreciate the support.

My first birth i was over due so was induced at 40+12days, was booked to come into hospital at 7am on the day..i arrived at 6.45am and checked in and given a bed in the ante natal ward. i eventually got induced with gel at 4.30pm as they didnt have any beds or midwifes at the labour ward. all along me and my husband were just sitting waiting around. things started pretty fast and by around 8pm i was in alot pain but was coping alright untill they asked my husband to go home as we were in a ward and not the labour ward, and they didnt think i was in enough labour to transfer me to labour ward. my husband didnt want to leave me on my own so we decided to leave the ward and we went outside the hospital and sat on bench with me in labour.. about 9.30 i was quite tired and wanted to lie down so my husband had to go home.

I went back to the ward had a bath and went and lied down on the bed by now i was feeling like pushing so i kept telling the midwifes i want to push but they kept saying i wasnt in proper labour yet as i was coping quite well and not screaming and shouting. I was lieing down when my waters broke and i couldnt cope anymore and started shouting for my husband, there were no midwives around so another lovely lady who was also in labour was holding my hands and telling not to push and to wait for my husband. a midwife eventually came and said to the woman holdin my hands to leave and that i was ok..i screamed at the midwife and said my waters just bloody broke then she was like oh.. then she was asking me to get up so she could change the bed but i couldnt as i was in alot of pain she started getting inpatient and started shouting at me to get up, i eventualy did and went to the bathroom to change my clothes with no help or support and wishing my husband was there. I came back to bed and for the first time i was checked and i was 7cm then i remember the midwife given me an injection in my bom now i know it was petidine but i didnt ask for it.

anyway i had called my husband to come back it was now about 10.30 when he arrived they told him they are waiting for a midwife from another hospital or from somewhere different from the hospital anyway so they can take me to labour ward. by 11pm i was in labour ward high up in the air on the bed with my legs split open. this midwife didnt know where anything was in the room so she had my husband openin draws searching for things and passin them to her. my baby was eventually deliverd at 11.30.

i had my son in my hands for about 1minute when the midwife took him away and said she she neede to stiche me up first as i was cut. she put him under some light i think and i remember crying saying i want to hold my baby and the midwife sayin no i had to wait.

i was then transferd back to the ward and obviously my husband had to go home again. i was left alone on my own with a baby. the midwife then gave me a bottle of milk to feed my baby i was like no i want to breastfeed and she was like well its up to you if you want to stay up all night feeding. i was like yes thank you very much. at no point did anyone offer any help and they didnt even show me how to breastfeed i had to learn myself. there was only one midwife on the ward and she was just sitting at the desk, when a lady called for help with her baby i heard the midwife shouting at her and telling her she should no as this isnt the womans first baby.

as soon as my husband arrived in the morning and we all baby checks where done we left and i thought never again!

as soon as i found out this time i was pregnant at like 10wks i wrote to the supervisor of midwives telling her that i will like a homebirth. she said it was fine and that i should discuss it at my booking with the midwife.

at my booking i was told that homebirth wasnt an option as they were short of midwifes. i was eventually booked for homebirth after i said i had written to the supervisor and she didnt say there was a problem.

Jenwa- the reason i also want a homebirth is so that i can be in control and not be in labour around other people and also i made a birthplan and no cares about that at the hospital. i hope your 34wks scan goes ok.

emkay- i have tried aims and read lots on homebirth.org and i beleive that they have to send someone to me when i call. the problem is when i spoke to the Supervisor of midwives at hoital she kind of made me think they wont send anyone if they dont have anyone. i said to her well then i might have to saty at home and delive the baby myself, her response was like fine and then she started tellin me about it not being ilegal to deliver the baby myself. i didnt even ask her about this. obviously there is no way i will risk deliverin the baby myself which is i was looking at alternatives like birth centres.

regarding your DD, my plan is to send my DS to my sis a few doors down the road.

thanks bigmouthstrikesagain will look at the yahoo link.

thanks everyone