Due Dec 08 -- Getting Ready for final push (in every sense!)

[Beans33]

Here's a new thread for us all lovely Dec Mums!

I've just had a call from the mw to say that my Vit B12 levels are very low - does anyone know about this? I have to go to the dr next week to get some supplements.

Hi All,

Working at home today so am sneakily MN-ing sorry so many of you are having rough nights. Hmmm I have all this to look forward to.

Just back from my 34 week MW appointment. All well head down measuring spot on but had a little bit of sugar in my wee but nothing to worry about so far.

So exciting that flumpy is having her baby tomorrow and then 3 more next week.

Was spying on all the lovely little babies at the clinic when I went for my MW appointment this morning. Felt all emotional, really happy but teary all at the same time.

Hi Rosmerta - I don't know what happens if you have a B12 deficiency in pregnancy but I think it might be similar to aneamia. I do know that B12 appears in foods like meat, fish, milk, cheese and eggs so vegans and veggies often take supplements.

Oooh! Postie has just been - thanks so much to my secret stork! Some gorgeous "mum and baby bonding" bath smellies, am very tempted to give it a trial run before Footy arrives, just to make sure it's as lovely as it smells

daisy - ouch! That sounds painful, do take it easy.

rosmerta - not heard of vit B12 being a problem before, can you have lots of toast and marmite perhaps?!

re: the secret stork, am a bit concerned that the parcel I sent might have gone astray... if you have had yours could you say?

Effie I got mine yesterday smelly oil pulse point things posted about it further down the thread.

I was wondering about Theyoungvisitor not seen her on here for a bit and am sure she posted she had had a show a couple of wks ago. Are you out there TYV or are you all babied up?

Have just eaten half a box of roses Really should get on have masses of stuff to photo for ebay.

I'm sure it wasn't you Jam - think is I don't want to say who it was as it's meant to be anonymous! Maybe if people can say if they haven't received their Secret Stork (I haven't!)

Effie I haven't got mine yet. I also need to buy mine to send. I know exactly what it is but I have forgotten the last 3 times I've been into town I will have to write it on my shopping list.

thing is, I can get a replacement easily if it has gone astray - I sent 2 parcels at the same time and I know the first has arrived safely.

I bought my secret stork this morning. Sorry to those waiting! I haven't received one yet either though.

jam I had to resist buying some bargain chocolates in Sainsbury's this morning and now I wish I hadn't... mmm... Roses (Homer Simpson voice).

Well the hospital was as crapola as expected. I turned up at the MAU and they said they only have one midwife who has "done the course" for pre-op assessments and so I'd have to go home. I burst into tears!!! Just wibbled on about how I HATE going into the hospital and am scared of the c-section and my daughter's birth was so awful and how can I get ready if I can't get my bloods done etc etc etc

They panicked a bit and went off to "get a leaflet" and the result was I've had my bloods done and got my ranitidine tablets for the day before. They couldn't do the consent forms, but will do them on the day.

Mildly embarassing I suppose but I couldn't help myself. I hate going up there at the best of times, and I just KNEW they were going to mess me about.

I am gutted. I have just been speaking to the Birth Centre Manager at my hospital (they have two delivery wards - the birth centre which is midwife led and the delivery suite which is medically led - they are one floor apart).

I had really hoped I would have this baby in the midwife led unit where there are pools and hammocks and midwives sympathetic to avoiding intervention. My last birth was totally intervention based. Anyway, they have just called to say they will not accept me as they had not realised how badly I bled last time .

I am so upset, I am sure I bled so much due to the induction, forceps and other interventions and if I could avoid that this time I would be OK. Even if I wasn't the doctors are one floor away. I am really scared that if I go to the medical suite I will end up with all the interventions again and won't get to use a pool or the hammocks and other things .

Oh arti . Can you talk to them about it? I'm presuming you can refuse to go to the consultant-led unit if you have to, even if they aren't happy about it. Or could you agree to be transferred in X circs?

Thanks Effie - I have been given one last woman to appeal to but it does not sound hopeful. I can refuse to go to the medical ward but I cannot make them accept me on the midwife led unit. So basically I would have nowhere to go (except home - and I am not that brave).

Oh arti. Have a big hug. If you're sure that it was the interventions that caused bleeding (not sure exactly of the story) then is there any way you could be considered for a home birth? I know you said you'd rather not but if you were able to have a natural labour without forceps etc you could well avoid any problems. And being at home is the best way to avoid interventions - plus if you were able to have a home birth specialist midwife (rather than one of the interventionist types from the medical delivery ward) they would be able to put you as much at ease as possible and help avoid the need for intervention.

Is everything ok with this pregnancy? Is the hospital a long way from your house in case you did need to transfer? If you explained to your MW about your fear of the hospital and what happened last time she may be able to look at your notes and see if hb would be possible? It's really not on that they should blame you for bleeding if the interventions were what caused that.

arti about the birth centre, it might be worth contacting the Head of Midwifery as well if they haven't already suggested them. Plus if you can get an advocate for you, either a doula or independent mw, that might help. My birth centre say that although previous history is taken into account, decisions are more based on your current pregnancy. I guess it just depends on how much fight you want to put into it at this stage.

Thanks for the info on B12, I'm just worried its going to affect the chances of me having a homebirth. I'm on double iron tablets anyway atm so don't think this will help.

arti sorry to hear that they are now saying they will not accept you. I am going to see a birth centre on Thurs (suddenly considering driving an hour to get to one to avoid the rubbish post natal care at the local hospital) but am worried they may say no as DS's shoulders got a bit stuck on the way out. Hope this last woman you speak to is helpful and you manage to convince them

verso - sorry you had such a predictably bad appointment, but at least a few things have been done...don't worry aboutb the public tears - you probably needed them xxx

arti - gutted for you too with your birth plans - hope they really listen to you and let you follow your instincts. keep us posted.

Am in my hour-long gap while dd is at her school taster session - just enough time for a quick MN catch up then back out to pick her up! Thankfully the sun is shining in York today so I think a trip to the park is in order while we still have the chance!

Thank you to my secret stork! I can't wait to try them out! Plus I've posted mine today.

Oooh ooh, I've got a secret stork! I got some GORGEOUS L'Occitane Mum and Baby Balm and a really sweet little fishy photoframe for first baby pic! Thanks whoever it was - are we allowed to come clean and say who sent it?! So exciting! Mine is going in the post this afternoon!

How is everyone fixed for tomorrow meet up at Clapham Junction? I've updated the list today: is this right?

How is everyone doing today? DH whisked me away for a last blast bit of time together yesterday... We went to Whipsnade Safari Park and walked round it. It was brilliant - suffice to say, was knackered yesterday, but it was such a laugh. Then we stayed in a B&B last night and had a delicious meal. Feeling really chuffed now!

Can't wait to meet people tomorrow - I actually dreamt about it last night!!

Arti poor you. Even if in worst case senario you have to have the baby in the medically led unit stand your ground and request as least intervention as possible. Really hope the lady who is your last hope is sympathetic! Hugs!

Verso at the hospital messing you around and letting you get upset on them. You would really think they should know better esp when dealing with very pregnant ladies.

Hugs all round (passes round Jam's half eaten box of roses).

I must apologise to my secret stork person as the parcel seems to have gonbe missing from the place I ordered it from. Have ordered more from somewhere else as if the original turns up I can use it myself and I don't want to have to wait for the minimum time before being able to claim from post office but it may delay it a bit.

Still crazy, no idea what you lot are chatting about but now have a child tugging my sleeves so go!

mibbes the mw advised a couple of drops of oil in the bath in early labour to help relax me ? but she suggested mixing it with a spoonful of milk before pouring it into the running water. This helps it mix right through the water rather than sitting on the surface.

kayz sorry ? I laughed out loud on your theory of not being in proper labour cause your bag isn?t packed yet! Mine isn?t either, so I must get on with that, I?ve written a list though. And well done on the sex, we?re another couple on a drought right now (apparently last time we did it I bent DH at a painful angle cause of my size and now he?s scared of me )

jj just laughed even louder at your friend?s ferret dream, still laughing now, that?s a classic!

arti you poor thing, being forced onto the medically led ward, so sad to be refused your wishes

beans your day out sounds so much fun. DH and I love animal themed places, with aquariums being a current favourite (and we don?t have any DC?s yet, so hopefully will be getting lots of trips out to this sort of place in the future)

zj - with you on the animal places! DH and I spent most of our honeymoon looking round little farms and zoos - and that was pre-children! Most of our honeymoon pics are of Trotters + Co Animal Farm!!!! You're in Scarborough aren't you? Have recently tried out the SeaLife Centre with DD and she loved it. It's great having an excuse to go to all the kiddy animal farms, and now with number 2 on her way we'll have to do them all over again!

ZJ thanks for that, I think that was what the lavendar oil may have been for !

My secret stork came at the weekend (I did mention it then), it is lovely, a wee hooded towel for baby and some Elizabeth Arden body cream for me - thank you so much stork ! Are we guessing who gave us our gifts..? The person I sent mine to should have been able to guess from post stamp thingy as I think I'm the only one in Scotland

The pressure/pain I am getting down below is getting worse and walking is becoming very painful and uncomfortable - any ideas what it could be ? Am hoping it is baby getting engaged and ready to come make an arrival !

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