Due Dec 08 - Braxton hicks, baby kicks and leaking nips!

[Veggiemummy]

that was Disenchanted's idea for a great title not mine

Beans you are obsessed with your linea nigra!!!! I don't even have the faintest sign of one. Also I am less hairy everywhere, and it grows slower. Funny.

hee hee! I am SL!!!

I'm less hairy in some places, but seem to be hairier on my tummy - quite odd. I'm also struggling a bit to shave my legs now - tummy just gets in the way.

Also, I know it's a bit of a TMI thing, but does anyone have any ideas re erm "positions", which aren't doggy or spoons? I'm getting a bit bored of them and I'm usually too tired to use my imagination! Sorry chaps, but any tips would be appreciated as am feeling about as sexy as a dog poo at the moment and am keen to try and spice things up for DH a bit!

you on top? or would you squash him

him on top but supporting himself a bit more upright possibly with your legs up?

blow job??

Or my personal favourite...."no dear, not tonight..."

HAHAHA! I did on top last night, but was aware of squishing his tummy a little bit - I was ok, but he wasn't great.

"not tonight" is a fairly regular option - or just fall asleep before he comes to bed (or pretend anyway!)

Hi girls,

Arti any news? Thinking of you and hope you are okay?

Thank you all so much for your kind words and advice, I really appreciate it. Had a lovely day yesterday with a friend and her DD, she gave me lots of tea and chocolate, fed my DD's lunch and tea and was just an angel.

Spoke to head of obs and gynae at my hospital this morning. He apologised for the registrar not flagging up the position of the placenta and the risks and for giving me the wrong stats and advice leaflet .

He said the placenta unlikely to move only a small chance and they will see on the 31st. In the meantime, hospital admission is unnecessary unless I start to bleed. The main risk seems to be bleeding, said not to go anywhere by myself other than for a short stroll down the lane - to always have a mobile phone on me - always have an adult who can drive me to hospital nearby - to get hospital bag packed and to have solid emergency childcare sorted out and ready to move into action.

They will probably deliver me by section at between 36-37 weeks - eek! That's November! Will probably be by GA, but after seeing poor DH in tears (he never cries!) last night saying he was so scared and so worried about something happening to me or his daughter - I guess the main thing is that everyone is okay and not that I get some fantastic birth experience!

I'm going to persaude my mum to come up when she gets back to the UK at the end of the month. That way I can rest and have someone with me all the time.

And am supposed to be working this afternoon! Gah!

Feeling a bit freaked out and wobbly but trying to be calm and focus on little things like sorting out hospital bags and writing a list for anyone looking after the girls - just little things like what cuddly toys they can't sleep without and what song I sing to them at bedtime (sorry am getting all tearful again, I am such a mess!)

Sorry to offload all this on you. At least I have some kind of plan and official answer now!

hatty - you sound amazing. at last you've got some concrete news and are able to plan for it - well done on getting all those things organised and not sounding like you are losing the plot completely. that head of obs & gyn sounds like he explained things well, clearly and apologetically.

your poor DH - it must be hard to watch everything from an external viewpoint while also being so utterly emotionally involved.

you sound like you are doing great. well done!

Oh Hatty - it does sound a bit less frantic and like the consultant has given you a clearer view of what to expect and how to deal with things. And given you some clear objectives on how things will be going forward. In some ways, it sounds a lot more positive. I mean, I know you'll have to have the c/s, probably under GA, but as you say, far more important that your health is put first.

It is so disappointing to have to go through it again, but by the same token, best for both you and your little girl to come out of it well and healthy. It'll all be fine, and good to know that in a month and a half, you'll have a lovely little baby - however she's delivered. Big hug to you. And don't forget, you'd have to write the list and do the hospital bag anyway soon, this way, you're just more organised and will have it ready sooner!

xxxx

Hi hatty good to hear you've seen the doc and you've been given some much better info today - and that you're not in hospital already! Emotionally, it must be really hard - but you do sound to have a good, practical, grip on the situation now, which is a great start. Wishing you all the best

beans my DH has gone from being revolted to hear my tummy button might pop out to obsesesed with it - to the point of checking every day!! I fear it might be a big a moment as the birth itself ...

Have a good weekend everyone and I hope you all keep well

x

Oh hatty, it must be such a worry for you. I'm glad you have a plan of action sorted though, somehow getting things organised always makes me feel a bit calmer. It is a great idea to get your mum to come up as she can give you some extra help with the girls as well as being on hand for the birth. By the way, I popped into check on our TTC symptom spotting buddies earlier and MTW has had a little girl!

beans I've got a hairer tummy although like summer the rest of my body hair has become much thinner and hasn't grown half as much as normal. A great pregnancy side effect!

No belly button action here either!

Hatty - so glad you saw someone who could be clear about what was happening/what you need to do. Great that you may at least be able to avoid a hospital admission. Sounds like you are being very brave. All the best - we'll be thinking of you.

Arti - I hope all works out OK for you. Sounds like it may be an excess of caution on their part. That seems to have been my experience this pg - for some reason (not really sure why) am under consultancy care this time and keep having extra tests, scans etc all of which are absolutely fine, but don't do too much for your stress levels and are a nuisance to get to. Shouldn't complain too much as scan this morning gave us full view of LO's face, which was very clear and spookily baby like.

Sorry to all of those not sleeping well - if its any consolation, I actually found it easier after DD's birth, despite her nighttime waking, as at least when I was asleep, I was properly asleep IFYKWM.

Turnip - enjoy the yoga, but do be cautious! I don't have SPD, but my hips have been a bit ropey this time and I really suffered after the last yoga class. But if you tell the teacher she will make sure that she will adapt the postures for you so that you don't trigger anything.

Oh and meant to say, while NCT classes are great for making friends (still in touch with all from last time round), they are not the be all and end all. See if they organise NCT mother and baby teas in your area - there are some round me, they happen every week, are totally free (you don't even have to be an NCT member) and also v good for meeting people. You just need to be brave the first time or two you go along...

Arti - hope things are ok - if you get a moment, please do pop on and let us all know. But don't worry at all if it's not possible.

I'm off now for the weekend - spending it with a friend down in Winchester - her baby is just under 2 months old and very sweet! Emily. Can't wait to see her!

Invisable hand - Bless you for saying it is easier to sleep with a baby than in late pregnancy, just what I needed to hear, can't bare to think I will be in this sleepy zombie mode till some time late next year!

Art hope you are ok please let us all know how things are.

Hatty offload on us anytime.

Cant do it now but I will post it later for hatty especially as she has to pack her bag soon but for all of you to have an absoloute giggle at my bag for hospital list and I took everything on it. A little taster was hair staighteners! Have to go sort out tea so will do it this eve.

Oh saw the midwife all ok except the little bugger is favouring back to back

arti big hugs. Really hope the situation resolves and it isn't preeclampsia.

kmp turniphead was my nickname from my Dad when I was little. I do have a big head - as do my babies (ouch!!)

rosemerta hope you are feeling a bit better. Sorry you have been through the wringer. Know what you mean about stiff upper lip. My DH has been working like a demon because of the financial crisis and is facing redundancy. He is getting home about 9/10 pm (starts at 7) everyday and has been very silent etc due to stress. The other night thoughj I did open up about how worried I was about him having had no holiday at all this yeatr/his work/our situation (and had a littel sob) and actually it opened things up between us a bit more. Stiff upper lip ain't always best is what am trying to say.
Hope you got as good a m'g deal as you could.

I think I could make next Friday. Would love to meet up and have been rubbish so far!

Zoe - yoga was actually great this am! Really glad I went. Yoga teacher (who I know from previous ante and postnatal yoga) is lovely - and she does it in her lovely calm living room. She adapted loads of stuff for me and , so there were no squats etc while the others were doing that. Felt much calmer and more positive afterwards, and less stiff.

I really hope you enjoy your goddaughters birthday party tonight. You are right - that first year does zoom by (although it's hard to remember that at 4am in the morning when you are doing the 3rd feed of the night!)

Summer - hilarious about your perineal massage dream. Maybe one for Dragon's Den (mobile perineal massage booth) - can you imagine Duncan Ballantyne's face??!! Jump could be a franchisee at the Strawberry Fair...

Good weekend all. We have DD's 5th birthday treat tomorrow - me and DH taking 4 girls and DS to the Chickenshed theatre in Southgate and then on to Pizza Express. Will be knackered! Then have DS's 3rd birthday next saturday....

turnip I'm sorry to hear about the redundancy, is it definite?

Ikwym about stiff upper lip but I'll leave it until next week now & then speak to dh, hopefully he'll not be as stressed.

hatty am glad you've finally got some answers & the correct information. As others have said, the most important thing is yours and dc's health.

Just remembered, I'm off to a conference tomorrow. Ina May Gaskin (she of the sphincter law!) is going to be there as well. Am really looking forward to it!

Ooops - started writing post below before school pick up and posted it an hour or so later, so missed Hatty's update. So glad you have some answers, even if it seems that the placenta is unlikely to move. Sometimes, it worse not knowing. Hope that you can get plans in place without too much stress and that you can get some rest this weekend. Thinking of you. xxxx

hi girls

just back from the hospital. we were there 3.5 hours, they tested my urine, did a series of BP tests, put the baby on a monitor and took some blood. The good news is that my BP was perfect every time they took it. My urine still showed protein so I have been sent homw with a huge jug and have to do a 24 hour urine collection. I have to call at 6pm for my blood results (fingers crossed they are OK otherwise I have to go back).

DH is going to a funeral in Paris tomorrow so I have DD all alone. It will be a nightmare if I can't leave the house with her so I am going to delay my 24 hour urine collection and do it Sat night to Sun night. THat way I can stick with my plans to take DD to Kew Gardens with friends (not a plan to be unbdertaken with a jug of wee in hand).

Anyway, thanks for all your find words. It meant alot. The BP is a goos sign so hopefully the bloos will be equally good and when tehy look at my mass of urine on Monday that will also be good.

I will come back later to do personals. DH has just got back with a big pack of plain chocolate digestives to cheer me up so I better go .

Thats great news Arti Hopefully your bloods will be normal.

Hatty I'm glad you have been given some info, I'll keep everything crossed for you.

That's good news Arti. Glad you don't have to stagger round Kew with your jug of wee! I'd put your feet up and have a few chocolate biscuits to help keep you BP nice and low.

Hatty, great to hear you sounding a bit cheerier . Don't forget that you can always dial 999 should you start bleeding. When I had excess amniotic fluid with DD1 the consultant said I needed to go in asap if my waters went and I said I could probably try a neighbour etc. She said that I was to carry on as normal and dial 999 for an ambulance if need be. I am sure it won't come to that for you if you have had no bleeding so far but is worth having in the back of your mind. Bless your DH - he is right, having a healthy baby and being OK yourself is the most important thing, but I really feel for you when you so wanted not to have a GA. I get all teary too if I think about leaving notes for caring for my girls when I am away (even if only for a night) so am having a little weep along with you. They will have a lovely new sister to look forward to and you probably will only be away for 2 or 3 nights.

Pixsix - I'm in Dulwich. Are you one of the Tommy's girls? I think we should definitely try to meet before D day. I don't know when I am going to start ML as it revolves around my section date but I am guessing the middle of Nov at the latest. Would love a Clapham lunch - will be a lazy article and drive so happy to give you a lift if you can get to me.

Beans - am deeply impressed that you are still bonking. No action here for months. Poor DH. Am a sexy as a bag of chips and the idea of anything more than snogging is too much just now. Need to get my body back.

Am off to see a friend from Scotland this evening. Meeting in victoria so probably Ask or Pizza Exp. Will think of the meet ups I've missed and make sure that I try to get to the next one .

Love to all.

arti that's good news, fingers crossed on the blood results

kmp sorry I forgot you asked where I was, I'm Brentford/Ealing way

arti glad the BP is OK. Hope other tests are OK.

Hatty can understand why you feel sad about needing the general/c-section, but thank god it is all under control and has been spotted. November doesn't sound very far away at all!

Beans and others, as for people being all doom and gloom about becoming a parent, I think it is sometimes easier to drag up the negative aspects to having a baby than sound twee (or however you want to phrase it) talking about the many many positives.As others have said, re making friends post baby, there are loads of baby/toddler groups/baby massage/music groups etc that you can try to make friends. When your health visitor gives you your red book that will list local groups you can try.

have been off all day as was a zombie this morning then took DS to swimming then DH trearted me to a massage with a massuese friend of our (face neck and shoulders not perineal). Unfortunately i could only handly 30 mins of it as was lying on back for it and got bad indigestion. but loved it while i was having it have very tight neck muscles though.

Arti sorry you have had such stress today, enjoy your 24hrs urine collection. how big is the jug do they give you extras in case you wee lots.

Hatty i know it is hard to think of this now but how nice you'll have all those lovely girls. My brother has 4 girls and they are now all teenagers and while they sometimes fight they are all really close and they are so lucky to have each other.

I can't remember who asked for the best positions i have one but it's really hard to explain without getting too graphic so might leave it. Veggiebaby is really low so we can't do on top anymore.

Arti: glad there were no additional probs and hope you have a lovely day tomorrow

Hatty: good that you have the right info finally but that they didn't get the info to you earlier. Keeping everything crossed for your scan . It's a lot for you and your DH to have to think about, so wishing you a peaceful weekend

New rant alert:

So they told me to call for my blood results at 6pm and to call the Delviery Suit as that is where the duty doc will be. I did that. Duty doc in theatre with an emergency. They tell me to call back at 7pm. Call back at 7pm, get duty doc, duty doc does not have "access to the system" but will find a log-on and call my back within 30 mins. I wait, no call. Call back at 8pm, duty doc apologises, says will call me back. Does not. I call back at 9pm, duty doc apologises and logs-on while on the phone. "Oh here are your results" I hear her say, right before she cuts the line off. Have called back 3 times since and nobody is bloody answering!!!!

I am tired and want to go to bed but want to know my results first so I can relax. Is that too much to ask??????