March 2009: Beware of TMI . . . we're getting ready to give birth and there's nothing we won't share.

[MKG]

Ok so I'll start it off.

Has anyone else had a huge increase in discharge? It's gone from clear and not too much to thick and white, and copious amounts.

They're plastic on one side and then an absorbent matt on the other. It says on the packet to put them under your sheets in late pregnancy, and then if you are in labour but your waters haven't gone move them on top of the sheets so you can change them without stripping the bed.

I saw the HV - She was really nice actually. Which made me feel a bit bad for being so annoyed! Oh well. (Although I expect baby girl is probably now on some kind of 'extra supervision' list because I had to explain why my mother wouldn't be helping me with her. Doh. Never mind. It might be useful.)

Just going to echo JJ's sentiment that I hope all the tests go well and everybodies levels are going in the right direction today.

Slickbird

you could try some porridge before bed.

And yes i definatly feel very sore/swollen down below.

Laws Despite being third time round, that never even occurred to me re: mattress protectors. I think it's because my waters haven't broken til I'm wayyyyy into labour, like 6cm + and even at that, I had to get them broken first time round. But I guess you're right, they might go first!

Glad your HV was nice, in my experience the nice ones are fewer and further between than the MW's. The one we have at the moment is lovely tho, a bit scatty but only because she has such a big work load. I find myself worrying about her more than the other way around!

Lizzie Is the porridge for me or DD?! I think we could both benefit from some as I often wake up starving in the night too! I had tried her before on Ready Brek as it was a bit gentler than porridge and seemed to work, so will prob try that again tonight.

I really feel like labour is going to start any day, lots of BH, lots of pain down below (am 4/5ths engaged) and lots of backache which is where all my contractions have historically hung out. But maybe it's all just wishful thinking.

Did manage to get back to bed there for a couple of hours and managed some sleep - it was all mad, weird spooky dreams, but at least I slept!

Still not heard from the MW re: Platlets which is a good thing, but I bet I still call her before the day is out. I've been grumpy twice when my DH has called; "Stop calling me! I don't want the phone to go!!"

fearless - that's next on my to do list too ! I am in the middle of a big internet shop for store cupboard stuff - particularly for dd in case I am in for a few days (not that she'll be fending for herself !!) and also about to think of things to freeze. So far I have got as far as:

Spag bol
chilli
curry
sausage casserole

erm that's it so far. Still thinking.

lasagne, moussaka, tuna pasta bake, mince onion and pea pies?

I think I will get started on the baking next week. Unfortunately our freezer is quite small so I can't mass make too much stuff.

Hi everyone, well if you don't log on for a few days there is so much to catch up with!

Captain: I am not planning a home birth but my last three labours total less than 5 hours all together, so MW advises me to be prepared...like how exactly??? DH won't even get home in time from work, and then I have to farm off all the kids somewhere. Luckily I seem to go so overdue, waters leak slowly, and end up at hospital in plenty of time anyway. THIS time it Will Be Different. The HB kit MW wants me to organise seems to be to get plenty of warm towels ready for baby.

Boobz: I hope you are ok after falling...usually you end up straining your own muscles as they are much looser.

Laumiere: I am wanting new clothes too...get so tired of same old mat clothes and hey presto after birth am STILL wearing them!

I am not joining race for next baby as I bet I'm one of the last March babies to appear. Will be increasingly jealous to be reading of lots of new arrivals soon.

Law: my nephew was born emergency CS 5 weeks early on Feb 29, and my sister was like can't we wait 1 day! No luck but they too celebrate 1 March for him. Ever heard of famous Gilbert and Sullivan opera with twist because of a Feb 29 birthday?

Goldmother: hope your tests were ok today.

Fearless: I don't have a lot of room for frozen meals but if I did I would do curries, casseroles, mince...otherwise I'll settle for DH lovely cooking, or takeaways.

About me: saw MW last week, all OK. Was measuring small at 29 weeks but now equal for dates. I could tell as my belly has dramatically stretched in last few weeks. I feel like I have the proper pregnancy waddle now...

hi all
thanks for all your well wishes yesterday evening.

I went back into the hospital today for more of the same tests / monitoring as yesterday and came out with the same results. Everything ok except my blood which has a high level of Urate, which is a marker for preeclampsia. Because of this they have to keep a closer eye on me, meaning that I have to go for more of the same tests and monitoring again on Thursday. I don't really mind, would rather too much monitoring then too little!

In my freezer is:
Loads of chilli con carne
loads of bolognaise sauce
lamb and veg curry
lentil dhal

I have found my slow cooker to be an absolute godsend for cooking up big batches with minimal supervision.

My only problem is that I keep dipping into the stash that I have built up when I can't be bothered to cook...but that generally results in guilt cooking the next day

My undercarriage is fine and dandy (probably the only part of me that is...)

Goldmother it is great that they are looking after you so well, remember you will have baby soon and all these issues will hopefully disappear with not being pregnant.

Goldmother - glad they are looking after you. I can't remember how far you are although I did look at the list last night and think you must be almost 38 weeks IIRC ? So, if they decide the baby has to be delivered everything should be fine. I hope you don't mind me saying but I would mentally get ready for that eventuality as I wasn't (despite, in hindsight, having had half of my pregnancy with warning signs !) and it was quite a shock. Fingers crossed though they'll just keep an eye on you and you'll get to your due date (am I right in thinking you're being induced a bit early anyway ??).

wheely - i'm 38 weeks today, with induction booked for 2nd march (2 weeks yesterday).

I thought I was mentally ready until yesterday when I was told to go to the hospital and make sure I had my bag with me - I had a moment of 'oh my god I might have a baby later today - I'm not ready!' - but everything is ready at home, its just my own poor sleep deprived brain that had a moment of panic!

Heh, tried the protectors, couldn't sleep til we took them off the bed again, were very sweat-indeucing and rustly! I think we'll just hope Danger doesn't follow his brother (whose waters went alllllll over the bed).

BTW Febreze is good at getting amniotic fluid smells out of the mattress.

goldmother-- I'm glad that they're looking after you. PE sneaks up on you so it's good they're being cautious.

Well I spent most of last night coughing up stomach acid. Damn reflux it doesn't matter what I eat or drink. Freakin' water has been giving me reflux.

MKG - I sympathise. I had one mouthful the other night and I was insensed!! So if your getting it that much it must be horrible.

Well, I did cave in and call the MW office about 4.30pm and I was told my platelets had gone up from 127 to 140!! Hurray! So I was really pleased! Even tho it's below the average, it's pretty darn good for me and considering we were all worried it was going the other way, it really is a big relief for me.

Have spent the day cleaning, tidying and sorting AGAIN. It's all I seem to do!

what a relief slickbird. I bet you are glad you called MW. Always better to do that than sit there worrying. Now don't overdo it by so much tidying...that cannot be good for us v.pregnant ladies!

That's my excuse anyhow.

And it all has to be done again the next day.

Morning Ladies!

goldmother I had a high U-Rating (I think it stands for uric acid?) on one of my blood tests when I was pregnant with DD and it was a sign of the PE - it's good they're keeping a close eye on you and you're classed as full term now so if baby does make an early appearance all should be well...

DH was going on about my snoring this morning, apparently it's got really bad - is this normal in late pregnancy? I really feel bad as he's contracting miles away at the moment and doing loads of travelling. I offered to sleep in the other room but he said no, bless him.

Did my first load of baby-washing last night and it's looking lovely and cute hanging on the airer. Can't believe this time in two weeks I'll have DD2 in my arms!!

Morning guys.

laumiere Did you have a summer baby when you tried the mats? It is definately warmer with them on! It's okay though since it's fairly cold it was a pleasant temperature - but I don't think I'll be able to sleep if it gets much hotter! Didn't notice any rustly ness.

Will remember the febreeze though just in case.

Morning all

Well as of last night I have now joined the little club who have had a show. Was a little surprised as I'm only supposed to be 35/36 wks, and last time my waters broke the day after my show

Not too concerned though as know it's not a reliable sign, and baby's big for dates anyway.

Only annoying thing is baby seems to have turned posterior overnight. There are limbs (rather than butt!!) everywhere at the front and i have vicious lower back ache in certain positions. I can't do another back-to-back labour! Grr!!! So it's leaning over all day for me. Have decided to clean the bathroom...

Hello All, I have been hiding and reading since the very early days but have never been a writer. Due 8th of March, first baby, age 35. Hope you will let me off.

Slickbird you have bought me out of my shell, great to hear your platelets have gone up. I don't know if this will help but they discovered that I had low platelets before I was pegnant and I have been measuring below a 100 normally around the 80's and 90's for most of the time I have been down in the 70's in the past. I have also been seeing a hemo. but to date have not had to have any platelets given to me. I have also got a plan in place should I need to have pain relif or an anasthetic etc, but your current count sounds very good, so I expect you would not need this. Please write if you have any q's etc. Sorry it has taken a while to post to you but came down with chicken pox yes thats another tail. My MW loves the paperwork I cause her

hello to flowersgrow - welcome!

I can't believe tha all teh babies are going to start arriving soon - the pictures of wee flannelkitten made me go awwwww!!!!!

I've still got to finish work and feel like I'm way behond the rest of you - am also not up for the race as I want my 3 weeks off to piut my feet up and get my house (and head) in order before no.2 arrives.

Slightly worryingly dd had a melt down when we went to visit my friend's wee baby at the weekend. She stood beside me with her arms in the air and big fat ploppy tears falling crying "mummeeeee nooooooooooooo" - so I passed the baby to dh and he got "no daddy no". I am hoping that having her own baby home will be a different experience but knowing my little drama queen I think that is wishful thinking!

law I had one of those mats under me when I woke up on the ward after my c-section! You can get maternity ones here. Supposedly great to use if you have a v-birth and are a tad sore down below and need to get some air to yourself! A friend of mine spent a lot of time naked from the waist down sitting on one of those mats on the sofa after her baby was born.

slick glad to hear your platelets are more normal - that must be a huge relief. And goldmother gald you're getting looked after.

MKG am with you on teh reflux. I get it from anything. Have been trying to drink lots of milk which helps and am religious in taking Gaviscon after meals and before bed.

Anyone else feeling the effects of the temperature rise? I am seriously overheating now - and look like a red, sweaty weeble!!! I never though I'd be wishing tha teh cold cold weather would return - I felt a normal temp when it was subzero outside!!!

Right - I am off to clear out dd's cupboard and find the newborn baby clothes!

Welcome to the madhouse Flowersgrow !

My tens machine arrived this morning which was a bit of a shock ! Someone somewhere must think it could happen soon.

Goldmother - if I don't get back on today, then hope all goes ok tomorrow !

Hello all - sounds like we are all nesting away like nobody's business! I did a mini clean today, as was expecting MW to drop off homebirth kit today and have The Birth Talk, but I just got a text from her to say she's at another home birth so has to rearrange! Has kind of left me at a loose end this afternoon, as that was all I really had planned, as well as tidy up and dog walk. I am broke until pay day (Tuesday) and so I can't go out shopping and buy all the last bits and bobs for the nursery / home birth etc, so am stuck wondering what to do. I might go and see a film! Everyone says you can't do that after the baby is born.

36 weeks tomorrow. As long as I can get to 38 weeks I think I would be ready then (not ready now though - DH isn't even in the country so would have a right old panic if I went into labour today!)

Am now worried that baby is posterior after what you have said EllieorOllie... I think I can feel elbows and feet all over the front (sometimes I can even tweak them with my fingers!) so am going to blow up swiss ball and lie over the front of that to watch the TV for the next 4 weeks. And more yoga.

I'm not full on nesting, but I have been slowly going through the house trying to clean it. Oddly I'm finding it more comfortable to be up and down doing things than just resting. If I stay in one position too long baby girl gets a bit huffy and starts attacking my ribs...

Speaking of which, I think she really has done something to them now. She doesn't shove her foot up under them for more than a few moments anymore, but the whole right lower rib area aches constantly, think she has managed to bruise my intercostal muscles there and it's really quite painful, all the time.

meep those are the ones I've got. Good reviews so far.

Hi flowersgrow I like your name.

I havent been nesting as such either just getting bits done that need doing, have brought mostly everything now and anything that I haven't can be brought ater the birth. Have my scan tomorrow to check the placenta and cord, if thats all o.k then I should be induced Monday. It seems surreal, I never thought I would be induced a month early and have lots of questions for my consultant tomorrow, such as will the baby need special care. I have been having lots of bh and on the CTG at the hospital they show up and the midwives keep asking me if I'm having contractions, have also been drinking RLT which is horible and taking evening primrose capsules, who knows if it will make a difference....

Remind me titchy why you are being induced a month early?