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.

meep

I was awake from 5am today. I decided to get up so i didn't toss and turn and groan and keep dh awake.

I'm going to try and have a nap when dd2 goes for her sleep after lunch.

twocute major shits is a good sign though isnt it? it could still be your day - good luck xx

bib good news about your iron, I am pleased for you!

bib I have bought the bra extender things from la senza to make my nursing bras stretch round the ever expanding ribs, I think mine have grown a good 3 may be 4 inches. But I am presuming it will go back down once the babies bottom and feet are no longer up under the ribs. Also glad your iron levels are something nearer to normal.

And having boasted about 10 hours sleep yesterday I slept for about 4 hours last night ended up sat up watching tv most of the night as I couldn't get comfy, and felt to full from all the pancakes I had eaten (my own fault).

twocute wonder if this could be the next baby making a move? It is all getting very exciting on here now!

Slept terribly - DP went out drinking, when he came back fell asleep then started sleep walking and talking! Had to follow him round the house because some of the steps etc are dangerous enough to navigate without also being drunk and asleep!! I'm also sure he's done something odd with the laundry but I can't quite work out what it was...

I cleaned the bathroom yesterday and now I know I should really get on and deep clean the kitchen... but I don't want to!! Need to get myself in the mood.

Anyone got any tips for sleeping through hip / arse-cheek pain? Am getting it on both sides when I sleep and it's waking me up every hour, pretty much. Which then makes me need to get up for the loo.

Have tried going to bed later so am really tired, as well as massaging arse cheeks before I go to bed and when I get up, but to no avail. Also tried the pillow between my legs and under my bump, but that just makes me hot and sweaty and not particularly comfortable either. I hate the thought of not sleeping properly for the next 3 - 5 weeks! Help!

xxx

Good morning! Well it wasn't my day yesterday. I think I may just have a little bug that's been going around. I have a midwife appointment, so I'm hoping she'll tell me something is starting to happen.

Fifi- I love the name Lola.

Laumiere- What a sweet little baby. Gabriel looks a lot like my boys when they were born with that full head of hair.

Happy (sort of) due date Twocutes. Here's hoping things move for you soon.

Boobz - the only thing I find helps with that sort of hip pain which I've been having most of the way through is sleeping on duvets (I currently sleep on 4 layers worth !) and a pillow between my knees. It does make you hot but I sleep without a duvet on me most of hte night to compensate.

Have just been for reflexology. Dono't know if it'll do anything to get hte baby out but made my head feel a bit better as I've had headaches and feeling a big blurgh all week.
The pressure points for my uterus, head and sstress were really painful !!

Try not to worry Hedge you've got plenty of time. Start your Evening primrose oil, and raspberry leaf tea now, and get to having sex. Figure it can't hurt to help things along.

Hope you're having a good day twocute. Wheely glad to hear reflexology went well. Even if it doesn't get the baby out at least you feel better.

Boobz I've got no advice with regards to sleep. Just make yourself as exhausted as possible. I did find that sleeping on the couch helped a lot while I was pregnant with ds2. It was something about the small space I think. I just made myself perfectly comfortable.

Hedge

Try not to worry. With both dd's i was told they would be no more the 7lb 7 1/2lbs both were over 9lb and quick births with just a couple of grazes.

For all you having a bad day you can have a laugh on me.

I spent 20mins looking for a cup of tea i made earlier couldn't find it anywhere.

I went back into the kitchen for the umptenth time only to think 'why is the milk on the side i thought i put it in the fridge'. Can anyone guess where my tea was .

lizzimim PML at your tea loss - although I once put my hair brush in the fridge......

A bit of an update for you - went to hospital to see my consultant today - she happily and vigorously gave me the sweep that the MW wouldn't give me yesterday - and ouch it hurt (and took ages)

I have a Bishops score of 5, and she managed to get a finger into my cervix, so a small poss of labour before monday's induction - fingers crossed. Was also given the option of a water filled balloon method for induction, which I have never heard of so have posted on the childbirth thread asking for advice!

boobz have been suffering like you for about 2 months now - find that a hot beany bag thing against the back of my pelvis eases things a little, and also that some nights are better than others...

Hope you don't mind posts from the postnatal!

Boobz we got a £60 memory foam mattress topper from Robert Dyas, absolutely heavenly for sleeping.

Everyone - thanks for the lovely comments! Michael (DS1) has a little baby hair but not as much as Gabriel, and it's like silk too, rather than baby hair. I've no idea if he'll keep it though!

Gabriel is four days old now and doing well, had a windy day today when my milk came in (went out a D cup, came back an F two hours later!) but is loving his wrap sling and the boob. Both of which are fantastic when you have an older one to look after too! In other news DS1 adores his little brother and even managed to walk a good 15m at nursery today (he's nearly 3 and has cerebral palsy).

I'm making an appointment to talk to the head of midwifery about the CMWs though!

Laumiere. It is lovely to here how your getting. Keep posting!

Lizziemun. Also PML at losing your tea. I lost the car today cos I was looking for my green one. 10minutes later I realised that I sold it yesterday so was driving DP blue car!

Congrats on getting your sweep Goldmother. Hope it helps

Hedgewitch. Can you refuse ind/cs if you go over? I have been told if I go overdue and they can't break my waters I have to have cs. I intend to refuse intevention until 41+6 then hopefully I will have gone naturally by then. Depends if you can cope with the idea of potentially big baby I supose?

Braxtons have got nasty now and are coming every half an hour or so. Don't think it'll be tonight or tomorrow but I have a feeling I may drop on Friday, possibly the weekend.

Hello? anybody else about?! prob not! Havent slept a wink so far havin mild contractions every 10 - 20 mins enough to stop me sleeping! am only 36+4 but DD was born at exactly 37 wks so hope ok

Will keep you all posted might be nothing?!

I am! Can't sleep, contractions have started, insanely erratically... sometimes they're hours apart and last 5 seconds and are barely painful at all, sometimes they're every 5 mins, 6 mins, 9 mins, agonising and lasting over a minute.

Can't sleep, been up all night and debating whether or not to wake my partner. I feel really miserable and on edge, and at the same time daft for feeling so.

Like you livismum might be nothing. I hope you're doing OK!

Oh god it's all go here! Anyone go into proper labour this morning then?

Thanks Wheely, for the recommendation of extra duvets - I folded up 2 last night and slept on those and I only woke up 3 times instead of 10 last night - yay! Think I even got a good 4 hour stretch in. So BIG thank you xxx

Off for my pampering day today - wax (x 2), pedicure, pre natal massage and hair cut / colour. Lovely.

wow - two more babies potentially on their way - goodluck livismum and lilianja - keep us updated!

laumiere can I have your ds1 - i don't think my dd willl adore the new baby - she is playing up BIG time at the moment - gets so upset about anything (this morning she only wanted to put her shoes on the wrong feet and sobbed when I wouldn't let her - poor wee thing). Fab bnews that he walked 15m!

What did your CMW's do - have I missed that story?

Glad to hearthe wrap sling is worthwhile - I have got one for the new baby and am hoping it will be a lifesaver with a toddler running around too.

Had my 36week MW appointment yesterday - no protein in my wee this time and BP normal - hooray! Baby is not engaged but as it's my second it may never engage until I actually go into labour.

I have a half a day left at work before mat leave - I am so ready not to work!

Ooooh livismum and lolianja sounds like we could have more action and babies soon. Although I presume if something was happening we might have to wait a while to find out.

And Goldmother hope the sweep has the desired effect and the baby arrives naturally in the near future.

I can't believe what pregnancy brain seems to do to us all, although I am a little ditzy at the best of times. So may be I haven't changed that much.

Not sure I could face waxing at present - my skin all seems to be super sensitive at present, so I'd probably get a terrible rash. But the massage and hair cut definitely sound good!

Fearless

I never bothered with rasp leaf tea. and have had 2 quick labours.

With dd1 i was already 9cm when i got to the hospital and if they hadn't have given me a pethadine injection which put me to sleep for 4hours i would have had her quicker.

I got to the hospital at 8am was seen by the dr at 8.30am and the midwife gave me the injection at 10am slept for 4hours. Woke up at 2pm and had Lizzie at 2.15pm.

With dd2 I was induced. had my waters broke at 2pm nothing happened. Then was started on the drip at 4pm and had Lexie at 8.05pm.

Just spotted Lolianja on the pregnancy thread, her contractions are still coming but are irregular - so not baby yet but looks good for sometime soon.

wooo hooo... this is getting exciting.... fingers crossed for very good labours!!!

I am just fuming at the mo....Had a my MW appointment yesterday.I've been seeing the same midwife on every appointment as she was brilliant on my first on. She told me the days and times she was in - so every time I had made my appointment I requested to be seen by her.

Anyhow, had a brilliant 38 week app yesterday- all good, baby engaged, good bp, good everything... she started talking to me about which would be the best time to call and come to hospital.- she says when contraccions are 5 min apart. Me feeling all happy and relaxed about it all... Called my mum and told her about my appointment..and she goes... no way .... this will be too late to go to hospital.. you can give birth in the car on your way there... she has made me very anxious and upset and told her that I am going to follow my midwife's instructions.

What do you reckon? I am just a 10 min drive from the hospital. GRRRRRR!

I was in such a happy place in my mind and my mum has filled my her horror birth story and even had nightmares last night. Not sure I want her around this time to help with my dd this time round. She seems to think she knows better that anyone else.

Well hope you have a good day! xxx

My midwife has given the same advice as yours and I am a good 20mins from hospital and more than 45mins in rush hour! But given most stories you hear on here I am presuming the labour is going to be much longer than this anyway.

My mum had a horrible pregnancy and labour with me and I have heard her horror stories many times, sometimes it does worry me - but to be honest everyone is different and you just have to go with what feels right for you.

I have also heard stories (one SIL) who got sent home from hospital 3 times becos she wasn't far enough progressed, and personally (not liking hospitals) I'd rather be at home than travelling back and to to the hospital.

And when the time comes you can always ring the labour ward / your midwife and check again how long to leave it before going into hospital.