Fab Feb 2009: No really, THIS thread we'll birth more than 1 baby, we promise.

[onwardandupward]

et voila!

PT how do you know when baby has engaged? Its my first, so ive no idea.

i generally know anyway as i can feel quite easily where the head is both (lodged into my pelvis feeling like it's about to come out between my legs in this case!) but they tell me at ante natal chacks too.

they should be feeling for the head at your checkups and wobbling it in your pelvis to see how tightly locked into position it is... then they'll write some variation of 'engaged/ 3/5 engaged/ over the brim/ fully engaged/ not engaged' in your notes

Thanx MoS dp keeps saying that about CB and CTC too but think he forgets there'll be another person to look after. Although I don't expect it to be quite as expensive as with ds as we already have lots of stuff and clothes wise we'll only need a few bits to get through winter. I imagine you don't tend to spend as much on the 2nds as the 1sts.
Calico I do that sometimes too, sing Postman Pat and he'll stop for a minute or two.
Neerly3 Hope all went ok with your mw. I don't think you can have anything with a water birth either. A woman I used to know had a water birth with her 2nd baby and her husband told me he didn't know who was more exhausted after (!) He said he spent the day in shorts and flip-flops running back and forth keeping the birthing pool at the right temp (this was 10 yrs ago in Scotland).
MS If you're not having your baby right now, can you come round to my house for a bit please? I have a filthy oven that could use you!
Pempe How exciting! I think an internal examination from a mw last time was what triggered ds off. I lost the plug about 6 hours later.
Catstar yes we do have to come home at some point. lol. I have also been thinking that I should really find another way to calm him as with a newborn it might not always be possible to drop everything and pop out iyswim.
I think with ds my waters went during the pushing stage but due to being at a crap hospital no one noticed I'm sure I felt a gush of fluid coming out and I thought I'd pushed too hard and wet myself but according to them, everything around me was bone dry . This time they have said that due to the GBS when waters break if contractions haven't started, they won't leave me and will get it all rolling then.
I do that too CS, spend loads of money and then have to hide everything bringing bits out into the open gradually so he doesn't notice
KT yes we had seperate sleeping places for day and night, we couldn't get ds used to his own room because we only had 1 room but he was in with us at night and napped through the day in the living room, we only used the mosses basket and cot at night too and a recliner seat in the day, we will prob do the same thing this time too to try to teach the difference between night and day. I may be crazy, but I def thin k it's a good idea to try to start these things early and if your baby gets used to spending time in the nursery hopefully when the time comes it should be a smoother move. Ds wasn't in his own room until he was 11 months, I was amazed at how well it went, he didn't bat an eyelid about it and I think settled alot better and seemed happier.
MrsY I'd wear jeans to the christening. Dress it up wwith some sparkly jewelery or something .
Neerly I've also heard 2nd etc don't fully engage until late and when/if they do they bob in and out anyway.

feeling a bit better, still really tired despite nap and have a banging headache, ds still in foul mood but I'm ignoring him and letting dp deal with it (ish). I'm not anywhere near nesting at the moment but have hoovered flat, done a bit of polishing and stripped the bed, just waiting for beding to dry so Ican re-dress it. How exciting.

My last Midwife check was 35 weeks & she wasnt engaged then. Things definatly feel differently from then - Or maybe wishful thinking.
Im having a Scan and seeing the consultant again next week @ 38weeks so im sure they will let me know how its all going in there!

I get alot of sharp pains down there, like shocks, so im thinking she may have started getting herself into launch position - Well I hope anyway

Saw my midwife today who confirmed baby was head down but not engaged. She remembered that DS1 and DS2 never engaged either and concluded I must have a weirdy shaped pelvis [blush. Just as well I'm booked in for an elective .

C'mon babies! My money's on Pempe being next...

MS, next meet-up is at the Fairholme Hotel, Great Yarmouth. Bring your own bunnies.

Evening all. Have also been having weird baby dreams. Dreamt last night that this baby was born with a huge nose...ore like a beak. And I just kept looking at her thinking, 'I'm not sure I can love this ugly creature !!'

Pempe, when I spoke with my midwife yesterday, she said that there is a school of thought at the moment that although cords can be tangled round babies,they may not be dangerous. She said many babies are born with the cords round their necks, but either unravel themselves as they twist out or the cord can be gently lifted around babies head. Her general message was not to panic. When I had to do a long journey near DS3's due date, I made sure I had hospital addresses en route, just in case (and sat nav!). Good luck !

Had a lovely tea and cake sesh with a friend earlier and she reminded me that next time she saw me I would probably have had my baby. Scary.

Damn you MS and Littlemissnorty - I thought I'd covered everything regarding nesting and then you go and tell me about sparkling ovens and cleaning shower cabinets. Oven wasn't on my list (only got it fixed yesterday) and now the mouldy corners of the shower cabinet keep haunting me like a scene from Psycho. So, that's tomorrow sorted!

Anyway - very good news - my baby has decided to turn, s/he is no longer transverse!!!! Had a MW appt today and much to my surprise as I think things still feel the same, she said she was sure babe is now head down but I'm going for a scan to confirm this on Friday morning. Doubly exciting as I'm really looking forward to seeing the baby again and it might just spur us on to making some proper decisions about names. Still going to avoid finding out the sex though.

Come on Pempe - let us know if you have anything exciting to tell us

pluto That is good news

Have done the best I can to catch up on everything.

Congrats to Ooogs on the birth of Luke, love that name.

Congrats in advance to Pempe, hope all goes well.

Thanks for the SPD advice TBMF2. I must admit, the pain of it today was so bad that I ended up having a bit of a bawl on the sofa. My DH was great, just came and gave me a cuddle and rubbed my back and then took me out for a 'comforting' McDonalds! I'm so determined that I'm not going to spend the next few weeks stuck on the sofa, but the pain really is bad. My MW gave me some tips for dealing with it (keeping legs parallel, as little walking as possible, pillow between the legs etc) but said it's too late to do anything about it. Boo.

MS - I've been feeling and seeing the practice breathing quite a lot - I was a bit unnerved at first (being a paranoid first timer I remember a thought along the lines of 'Oh my god, is he having a fit or something?' but then I saw him doing it at my 34 week scan and put it together. It's a bit weird, but reassuring too I think.

I braved the bikini wax yesterday - when I walked in I swear the beautician actually looked scared. I opted for the quick and easy 'just tidy it up a bit and make me respectful option'. I couldn't tell you if that's what she's done or not, I haven't been able to see it. I'll just take her word for it. It blimmin hurt so the MW's who deliver this baby better appreciate it!

I had yet another PE scare yesterday - my BP was 160/100 at my MW appt at the doctor's surgery. I was sent straight up to the hospital and surprise surprise, once there it was back to my 'normal but still high' booking in level (130/80). I was checked over completely, including blood tests, and have been told today I don't have PE but my care is now entirely under the hospital as it seems that there's something about the doctor's surgery that sends my BP sky high. Weird!

QK, I am exactly the same. They call it 'white coat syndrome'! I'm glad DH does mine at home as if they relied on the Dr's/Hospital readings I would have been hospitalised at my booking in!

Weirdly though DH and I have discovered that my top reading can vary as much as 10 in either arm, so for example my right arm might read 140 and my left arm 130. We asked the consultant and he said it's because your left arm is closer to your heart (of course- duh) so when you have your bp done always offer your left arm as it's bound to be better!

Oh, and after my mental cleaning I had a couple of hrs of BH and twinges but they've gone now so I'd put your money on Pempe!

I have just been on the nappy lady website and she has recommended either bimbles or tots bots. I am tempted to order a trial kit with some of each in. Any advice/experience with either of these nappies.

I have also been offered some kissaluvs from a friend. Any one tried these?

lbb wow so i got my home birth then, shocked about the boy though, will have to be dressed in lots of pink and flowery items!

Still feeling very in love with all things bump but have had congestion for weeks now and although very very trivial in the grand scheme of things its making me not sleep (dont even mind getting up to pee in the night as i keep thinking its babs pressing on my bladder so just one of those things) BUT WHAT THE FUCK HAS A BLOCKED NOSE GOT TO DO WITH ANYTHING I AM SO FED UP OF IT NOW, I CANT FUCKING BREATHE

oh so sorry for the swearing ladies but i cant swear on facebook as all my kids from work are on there!

I can put up with the hip pain, fanjo weird shooting pain, 24 7 heartburn ect ect, because it seems logical but for some reason the congestion is making me miserable BOO HOO to me

Yeah another baby!!! so pleased congrats ooogs and baby luke xxxx

Finally packed my "just in case" hospital bag
at 36 weeks + 3

cant beleive there is another new thread hardly been on past few days been out loads meeting friends etc making most of it!

Big hugs to all mums, bumps and babes xxxx

Evening lovely ladies! Have just got back from admiring a friend's 2 week old baby. Blimey, I'd forgotten what a racket they make! But he was sooo snuggly...

Sorry to hear about everyone's aches and pains but at least the end is kind of in sight.

Am very of those of you madly nesting and actually having time to do it all and also those of you with no nesting urges at all. Feeling fraught & frantic here. I would dearly love to clean my oven crevices with a toothbrush, dust the coving and, for some mad reason, tidy up the garden but with a three year old who has a hectic social life, a stupidly long to do list (which admittedly is probably full of stupid things) and still having to do some paid work from home most evenings I'm having trouble keeping up with the day to day stuff and feel like everything's running away from me.

Sorry for the moan...

update - mega fanjo pain, a feeling like the baby's head is actually between the tops of my thighs, the lowest bump in the known world - but no contractions yet.
Am going to have a looong hot shower and go to bed early, just in case things kick off in the morning, i want to feel a tad rested.
Come on baby!!! Save me the trip to Athens!!!

littlesez sorry you're feeling crap. I was really blocked all through the beginning of pregnancy and once |I got into bed I couldn't breath!! I went to chemist and they told me it was perfectly safe to use a vicks nasal inhaler thing which really helped.
I'm sure my dream wasn't a premanition, haven't dreamt anything that's come true for a while so think you're safe! If it is a boy though, you have to call him Oliver!

Good luck Pempe I hope you get a good sleep, does sound like you'll need your energy for tomorrow!

Funnily enough MS, when the MW did my readings yesterday she tried the left arm 2nd and the top reading was about 10 less, just like you. So I'll remember that tip and always go left first.

I'm just glad that the hospital have decided to take charge so I don't have to go through the 2 weekly rigmarole of going to the surgery, being sent to the hospital, all being well at the hospital, back to the surgery, up to the hospital etc.

MY DH is working nights tonight - I'm currently contemplating the slightly agonising trip up the stairs as I need a wee, and was thinking that I may as well have a shower, get into my PJs and get into bed whilst I'm there! No point sitting on the sofa on my own when I could be more comfy in bed is there?!

evening all. How is everyone. I have midwife tomorrow really looking forward to hearing baby......

Wow pempe sounds like things are really starting to kick off now.... My bump hasnt even dropped yet so I am very

Good luck pempe....fingers crossed, legs uncrossed

hey everyone.
been out and about entertaining ds - surprising myself with my own activity levels.
saw consultant this morning and measuring 40/41 weeks at 38.
I always knew there was a whopper in here.
Still booked for 2nd - want plenty of cooking time and as ever have things today.
Feel much less brain dead than yesterday - when I convinced myself I was going into an early labour.
how is everyone else feeling?
am impressed by accounts of manic cleaning - I'm currently paying my friend to paint the hall - does this count?

should read to do - not today
or do I mean to do today?

Evening all. Gosh you've been chatty! Havent been on this afternoon due to lovely power cut at work meaning all computers were down for around 3 hours - makes you realise how reliant you are on computers/the internet!!

Pempe - best of luck with everything; sounds like you may well be the next to pop on our thread!

Pluto - hurrah for non-transverse bubba!

Neerly - dont worry about bubs not being engaged yet; he/she will pop in place when they're ready (which as Pink says may not be until you're in labour anyway).

Pink - sorry you're 2 cats down and no sign of Kung Fu Panda taking the hint and exiting stage left, but good you're starting to feel a little more prepared. I know exactly what you mean about stroking lovely velour sleepsuit things...

Markstretch - and all other ubernesters - am most impressed - I am still nesting by proxy. Sadly not sorting out my bedroom this evening (and hospital bag etc) as the blind fitter man managed to fuck up one of the blinds so we're still one blind down in our bedroom and am refusing to clean the bedroom/start nesting until I have blinds up! Am now sat on sofa with a glass of wine and a steadfast determination not to nest until my bedroom is ready to be sorted.

ooh dinky I might join you with a glass of wine - there's an open bottle in the kitchen and DH is tee total for January. (we had a friend over for dinner last night)

I've just seen a thread titled Don't go to see My Bloody Valentine if you are pregnant because.......it will induce labour.
The OP says she has never jumped so much in her life!
Now I don't like scary films but think a trip to the cinema is in order for tomorrow!