Due May 05 part 5

[logic]

I think it's time for a new thread! The old one was getting huge...

OOhh Logic. Fingers crossed for you, as it's your second I suppose you know what the real contractions feel like. Could end up being our first birth announcement!

I keep panicking about everything as it just seems once we've got one thing sorted out we start thinking about something else that needs doing. Now worrying about silly things like what do I do with baby when I'm in on my own and need a shower!!

Thanks for the info on the hospital bag, my list is huge but I always feel the need to be prepared.

Our NCT teacher did a little demo of what the contractions are like at the end of the 1st stage of labour and me and DP were really freaked by it.

OOhh Logic. Fingers crossed for you, as it's your second I suppose you know what the real contractions feel like. Could end up being our first birth announcement!

I keep panicking about everything as it just seems once we've got one thing sorted out we start thinking about something else that needs doing. Now worrying about silly things like what do I do with baby when I'm in on my own and need a shower!!

Thanks for the info on the hospital bag, my list is huge but I always feel the need to be prepared.

Our NCT teacher did a little demo of what the contractions are like at the end of the 1st stage of labour and me and DP were really freaked by it.

Message withdrawn

I actually read a website today about premature babies, and they had a section on how soon is too soon. 35 weeks isn't too bad it seems. In fact, it said that if you are more than 35 weeks you might not get that steroid jab for the lungs (can't remember the name of the drug, but they gove to to mums to help the baby's lungs prepare for breathing air)

GOOD LUCK, Logic. Keep us posted (if you can).

When I had ds, I had contractions just like these for 12 hours but they were regular - so they do feel quite pre-laboury to me. Seemed to have calmed down since the bath but I'm packing the bags just in case.
Looking it up in the book, they mention the following as pre-labour:
pmt type feelings - i was crying earlier and I still feel weepy.
need to use the loo constantly - yes!
baby kicking less - yes!
It's definately false labour though, not the real thing but it indicates that real labour is fairly imminent! I hope not.

Well, panic over. Contractions stopped last night BUT the last time I had contractions like those, I gave birth the next day so I think I will consult a midwife anyway. At least it gave me an incentive to get the bags packed

How is everyone else?

Glad to hear panic over Logic, how scary! Changing the subject slightly, everyone keeps talking about rubbing oil on their perrinium?? What sort of oil must you get and when can you start doing this??

Glad things have calmed down (for now!) Logic. I think your practice run has got us all thinking that these babies are all not far off from arriving now.

Weezle - I have two friends that had breech babies at 37 weeks + and both turned in time. There are excercise, like getting on all fours, then down to your elbows and staying like that for a bit. I'm sure someone who has been through this would be able to advise you better.

My baby is now head down and people are commenting that I appear to have dropped... I'm 34 weeks on Sunday, but would be happy if I came, say in about 4/5 weeks...

I do get a lot of BH's, but I did last time too.

Hi SamCattie...

Found this online... www.aromalife.co.uk/Perineum-Oil-3307

Like I said, I didn't get round to doing this last time, but I wish I had. Don't mean to be basic, but going to the loo for the first time after birth was v.painful with stitches

Logic, I wouldn't be too terribly worried. I've been reading up on the web about preterm. And it seems that if you get to 33 weeks, any complications are likely to be mild and short term (like breathing problems if the lungs aren't ready). But, after 35 weeks, it looks like the chances are very low that there will be any complications at all. I have a friend who just had her second baby last week. Both of her kids were born at 35 weeks. The older one is perfectly fine (and in my opinion stand out as the brightest one in our antenatal group). The second one is obviously too young to judge. But, as far as I know, there nothing wrong with her and even her lungs are good and strong.

Thanks Uwila. I phoned labour ward this morning and they said that if they get to every 5 minutes then I should go straight to Wexham Park in Slough because they'll want to put the baby in special care. I can't really see there being too much of a problem though, the baby must be over 5lbs by now - probably just a precaution. Obviously that would scupper my birth plans though! I'm pretty sure that it was walking around town that started it off. If I keep still, then they stop. Good excuse to put my feet up I say!

Logic, this is really getting the ball rolling! Fingers crossed for you, but having a baby born in slough isn't necessarily the end of the world LOL! ps for anyone out there about to get offended i lived in slough for 20 years! Wasn't born there though

Logic, I think it's routine to whisk a 35 wk baby off to special care. The reason being that they haven't got as much fat as normal term babies. The fat supply is needed to regulate it's body temperature. So, they put the baby in an incubator and then slowly change the temperature to see if the baby's body can react accordingly. It's a precaution. They also monitor to make sure the lungs are ready to breath. And, they will probably give you a jab which is meant to give baby's lungs a jump start to be ready for that first breath when she comes out.

Really, 35 weeks isn't THAT early. To be honest, I wouldn't disappointed if Alex decided to show up a few weeks early. (except for that logistical problem of getting to the hospital with toddler in tow).

PS It might be a good idea to carry your maternity notes around with you from now on.

Logic, just wanted to let you know I was thinking about you and either way hope everything goes ok. Please keep us updated on a regular basis or we will start to panic.

Just wanted to mention about the 'Life Before Birth' program on Channel 4 at 9pm tonight. Unfortunately clashes with Footballers Wives but guess I'll have to record it!

Still thinking of you Logic

Life before birth... isn't it better just to forget about it since we are all well past the point of no return.

Logic, yes, I'm wondering about you to. Please update us when you can. You have certainly gotten me in gear for bag packing though. Going to do it this weekend because if DH has to pack some thnigs in ahurry after (or during) the big even... well God only knows what I'll have (more importantly, what I won't have).

Hello! Still here. Been having these fake contractions all day on and off but they still don't seem to be settling into a regular pattern as yet. The midwife seemed to think that I could go on for weeks like this. It's starting to get on my nerves a bit now though

Poor you Logic!! I hope it calms down for you. I've been getting really uncomfortable pains under my boobs in my chest, normally worse when I'm lying down at night but now it's happening during the day and in my side. I've got a really bad cold at the mo and this just tops it off.

Uwila - Looks interesting to me, especially for the MN's who were enquiring about 4d scans, just passing on info!

Sorry fashill. Didn't mean to offend. I was just teasing. Hope you are not mad at me.

I didn't watch all of the Life before birth last night but recorded it. I did however catch the last 15 mins and it was similar to the 3/4d scan we had in fact it was probably better! I was amazed at the part I saw because it was it relevant to me now as it showed baby around 35 weeks onwards and the birth. Its amazing how baby is actually born and made me realise that there is actually a real life baby in my tummy.!!! It sounds silly but this fact amazes me everytime I think about it!

Hope you are hanging on in there logic? Don't worry to much as i'm sure baby will be fine. When dh & I went to hospital 2 wk ago at 33 wk we were advised if I was in labour I would need a jab to mature babys lungs but they assured me all should be ok otherwise. You are now further on so baby will have an even better odds iykwim.

I know exactly what you mean. It's difficult to imagine sometimes that there is a real baby in there isn't it?

I am treating this whole thing as a false alarm now and ignoring it. I might ask for a tour of the hospital though and we've got some maps printed out just in case! Might also write a stinking letter to the surgery though for not letting me see a doctor or a midwife until I'd spoken to the hospital!!

I am in Shock.

Just found out, my friend gave birth to twins yesterday. She was 28 weeks. But, babies are considered low risk, and she's doing fine. They are a mere 1 lb 12 oz and 2 lb 6 oz!! Boy and a Girl.

Blimey.

Gosh, makes you wonder why people tell you how important it is for babies to stay in when you are 38-40 weeks pregnant. 28 weeks would scare me. But, so glad they are all okay. My brother in law's second son was morn three months early, and he is perfectly fine today (he's about 6 years old now). But, I think that he was not okay when he was born... in fact I don't think he was expected to live. BIL said that they had to go buy teddy bear clothes because he was so small there were no human baby clothes sold in stores that were small enough.

I am now 32 weeks... I begining to fantasise about possible eviction procedures. Too soon, I know. But I can dream.

BTW. my maternity clothes are getting too tight.

How pathetic is that?

Your not the only one. I don't fit in a shirt I bought, and a pair of jeans...

Just about have enough stuff to tie me over until I pop. I kinda of hope I come a little early now - say 38 weeks. I'm getting impatient!

KWYM about 28 weeks seeming far too early. I am so worried about them. Particularly the 1 lb 12 oz boy. I have everything crossed for them.