Due June 09: The final Countdown: RLT, BH, SPD, HB, EC, VBAC & no plans to TTC again!

[Ineedmorechocolatenow]

Here it is!

It?s been a tiring one in the old Mc household! Upstairs neighbours decided to have a party when they got home last night and danced and sang until 6am. I was awake from 3-6am furious, I listened to my hypno-birthing CD 4 times to try and calm me down but it didn?t work. This morning I was in the local market buying veg for this evening?s BBQ before 10, then DH dropped me at Ikea whilst he and DS went to airport to collect DSIL who is here for the weekend. Then I did a big shop at the supermarket, got home, got ready for the BBQ. It started at 5pm and I called last orders at 10.30pm, sadly there were already casualties, my Dad was pretty wasted and my MIL, well, hysterical crying interspersed with swearing and lashing out had forgotten what the demon drink does to her? sent DH and DSIL to take her home to bed and now they are at the pub. I have now cleared up and having a well earned cocoa before bed.. Please little one, don?t arrive tonight! how are all of you??

Mrsmc how are you still up and about? I'd be exhausted and flat out in bed by now after the day you've had.

ermin - pretty amazing birth story. Feeling a bit crampy to delivering the head yourself in no time at all. I think I'd be in shock.

Naat - my bump seems to be contracting more than not at the moment too. LO seems to be throwing some strange shapes around in there - have had 24 hours of weird protusions across different bits of my tummy. decidely odd and pretty uncomfortable,

Off to bed now - night all

Bunnymother ? sorry about the insomnia, hope tonight is a better night. Maybe your bump will drop and you?ll be able to paint your own toes very soon DH missed the football (DSIL?s flight was delayed) and had a face like fizz all afternoon, he wouldn?t do a single thing I requested so he might as well not have been here Glad you are feeling happy and calm about the imminent arrival! Milo ? yum! Definitely some alien movement moments going on here too they do respond to light, sound and temperature now

Tee ? sorry about the dreams hope you have better ones tonight hope you are having a lovely meal with the in-laws

Effielou ? big decision on the sterilisation, probably really good to chat it over on here just to make sure. I know I want more kids, DH is now saying he?s not sure (admitted last night he doesn?t want to have to help any more than he does around the house) we?ll see what I am saying when I have my hands full with 2 If I go 9 days over like I did with DS, I have 28 days to go, my Mum was mortified when I said that!!

Choccie DH will watch all and any sport!

Bigcar ? thanks for the support

Naat ? great packing progress

Lauraloo ? glad you have been having fun sorry you have pains though, I hope they subside.

Hey Daisy

Ermintrude ? wow, I want a birth like your SIL!! I have read up on emergency home deliveries secretly hoping?.!

Littlesarah ? glad the workshop went well, also a sufferer of weeping cervix here too

Silkcushion ? yup off to bed now

Night, night ladies

morning all

After a lovely lie in yesterday (mainly because I just couldn't keep my eyes open!) insomnia is definitely back with a vengence. I'm hoping it means I won't have a problem getting up with my lo doing night feeds! This morning I woke up totally over heated and really sweaty [yuk] from a dream about tumble drying cotton wool wonder what that was all about The swelling on my hands and legs has stopped going down now overnight - nice! Mustn't moan too much, 38 weeks tomorrow so not long now [hopeful smile]

MrsMcJnr, hope you manage to put your feet up today, that's one heavy day you've had! Isn't it your dhs turn to take your ds to the beach today?!

littlesarah, glad I'm not the only one who watched eurovision! It's not quite the same anymore without all those really odd entries that get voted out during qualifying these days. I thought Graham Norton did a good job of replacing Terry, wasn't quite the same without him but I particularly liked the comments about some of the dresses

tee, hope all's well with the inlaws

naat, good to hear the packing is almost done, must be a real relief

Just seen the weather forecast, apparently rain this morning Dh wanted to take the dcs to the boot sale round the corner, they love all that sort of thing

waves to all

Hey bigcar Glad I'm not the only one who's already been up for ages.

37 weeks today, yay!

I have tried to catch up with the post over the past couple of weeks not very succesfully.
mrsmc Sorry you had a bit of a rough time with dh & glad you had a cuddle.

mnet ate my last post about bikini wax (not going to have it done again this pg as I "bruise" too easily.)
I'd also mentionned that I will strangle the next person who tells me to "enjoy sleeping at night while I still can...".
(Do we all forget about nasty pg symptoms and painful labour once the baby is here, really? Is it something the mw injects us with after birth I wonder...)

naat, laura yup, same symptoms here with the cramps etc.
Yesterday the mw said the period-like cramps are "normal", it's the baby making its way down, stretching the ligaments (which would explain what looks like mini stretchmarks on the lower part of my belly, I thought I'd got away!)

I don't fully understand how BP works, it's been consistently 120/75 appart from a couple of 110/68. Then last week they had me monitored for ages because it was 130/85 (which they called "raised") (well that and the swollen ankles).
Yesterday, which was an appointment specifically to check BP, it was 130/75 and she said that was perfectly normal and she was very happy with it.
Is is just the second number that matters then?

effie and Naat, how did you get on the mumnet fb?

louise I was strongly recommended the injection a few minutes ater birth because they found a small fibroid in my uterus at the 20w scan. Something to do with getting the placenta out quicker to avoid bleeding too much.
(argh, really too early for this type of thought).

I still didn't get my £190, will call them tomorrow as I want to buy a baba sling...

I'm going to try and get more sleep, we're having 8 ppl round for late lunch today (probably for the last time in a while too.) We did most of the preparations yesterday so it should be nice and easy, fingers crossed!
Hopefully bbqing if the sun comes out...(We'll settle for "no rain")

Take care Juners!

Morning all.

Insomnia here too. Been up and down most of the night and now my SPD is raging (as it always is after a night of tossing and turning). My parents are supposed to be coming up today but, to be honest, I'd rather crawl back into bed. My mum stresses me out at the best of times but after 4 shit night's sleep, I can't imagine how I'll bite my tongue until they go home. DS ADORES my dad though so it'll be nice to see them together. Apparently my dad (who most people believe, though undiagnosed, is on 'the spectrum' in terms of his lack of emotion) broke down while talking about DS the other day. They have this incredible relationship really, and it's lovely to see my dad like that. None of us had that as kids when we were younger. I hope this DS has the same kind of relationship with him.

I'm also getting the cramps too. I went into labour with DS today and he was born this evening. People keep asking me if I've noticed any of the 'signs' but, to be honest, I was so taken by surprise with DS I wasn't paying any attention to what was going on until my waters broke!

Ermintrude that birth story sounds amazing. My friend had a similar experience. 55 minutes start to finish. She'd had a 24 hour back-to-back labour with her DS and then this incredible speedy one with her DD. There's hope girls!

How lovely to have Tee and Effie as Facebook friends now. It's lovely to see all your photos (though very strange to know you under different names!). Anyone else out there on FB and want to get in touch?

We managed to sell some tat on Ebay this week and got £135 for it! I think we're buying a new chest freezer for the garage (I'm going to bloody need it with all this extra cooking for emergency meals I'm doing!)

Oh and I also hate those comments about 'make the most of your sleep'... WTF? What sleep??? People say the most stupid things some times, especially to hormonal women. Are they mad?

MrsMcJnr - Sorry to hear about DH. I hope he comes round to realising he's being a bit of an arse soon.

Anyway, hope you all had better sleep than me. I'm off to get DS out of bed and sort his breakfast.

Happy Sunday girls x

Morning all

I too had crap sleep. With PILs here, DH and I actually had to sleep in the same bed for the first time in what feels like months! I was so paranoid about keeping him up with my tossing and turning and pee breaks, I got very little sleep myself.

I swear, if one more person tells me to enjoy my sleep now, or 'just wait until the baby comes'...we aren't stupid, we're pregnant, FFS! We know the baby will keep us awake!!!

MrsmcJ I honestly think I would brain my DH if he acted like yours. I have no idea how you've managed to not beat the crap out of him.

littles those sound like lovely big sister presents. When my niece was becoming a big sister, we also made sure that she got to spend time with the grown ups in her life one on one. I took her out shopping and she got a new lovey from Build a Bear, her and her dad went to lunch a few times, just the two of them, stuff like that. This was now nearly 6 years ago and she and her little sister are very very close.

Now I am just waiting for PILs to awaken and then I'm making pancakes!

Have a great day, all!!

Hi girls,
The new thread is so busy already, it is wonderful to hear how everyone is doing!

Giggling at talk of lady gardens unfortunately because of the clexane injections, I bruise really easily and my last wax 5 months ago resulted in some scary scary bruises! Just going to leave things for now as I don't trust DH with the razor!
No good night's sleep here either and getting lots of B-H and irregular contractions.

Have just had a wonderful weekend away camping, cold enough for a camp fire, just DH and I and it was lovely! Have been out with the family today, a gorgeous autumn Sydney day, warm enough to wear my thongs and not have cold toes !!Won't be for much longer, winter is coming.

Very excited for those that are almost about to meet their bubbas. We are 35 weeks today, working for a further 3 weeks (but only part time)! Think i am a little crazy, however not eligible for maternity leave here in oz nor any when we get back to the UK in August, so it all helps.

We finally have a few baby things, although no hospital bag/names/sufficient clothing. Sure it will all come together soon???

Happy sunday everyone. Suns just going down, getting a little chilly and is time for a hot milo (although would much prefer a g+t!) Was it you bunny that has found milo? I love the original Australian stuff, I used to find the milo in sainsbury's or tescos didn't taste the same!!My sister gets me to send it to her.

Take care of yourselves everyone and don't do too much! Esp you ineed and all those with SPD/temporarily useless DHs/in laws arriving

Whoops, sorry for the me post

june re bp

They don't like to see you going over 140/90 (on either number) but especially the bottom one as its a measure of roughly how hard your heart is working at rest. The top number is affected by stress activity etc and tends to fluctuate more. I have bp "issues" and start the day about 135/70 and have on occasion ended it at 158/91 prompting several quick visits to day assessment unit / antenatal ward to be checked over. If I rest it goes down so currently on a sort of self imposed semi bedrest routine.

Sounds like your midwife is being proactive and is on top of it! Its worth having a read here www.preeclampsia.org/symptoms.asp but don't panic high / higher bp is quite common and doesn't often turn into anything scarier.

I don't post often but try to read as often as possible. I'm just headed into 35 weeks the point at which dd was induced (pre eclampsia) so its all new to me from here on in! Have also been having painful cramps and sleepless nights

Morning Juners!

Hi mspotatochip! Good info on BP. I've always been towards the lowish numbers, but they don't worry about it as it's always been like that Sorry to hear you're one of the many of us with sleepless nights

tee yum, pancakes! Hope you enjoy your day with PIL

snow you brave woman for camping at this stage. I'm such a wimp I wouldn't be able to do it Have a lovely Sunday and hope you have a better sleep than us

Ineed so sorry to hear about your insomnia for the 4th night in a row! I broke the curse last night (by miracle), if not it'd have been my 5th! I woke up at 5am dreading what was coming but I managed to fall back asleep and woke up at 8... And yes, people are idiots! Of course we know we won't be having much sleep when LOs arrive but we AREN'T getting it now EITHER, so the comments are not welcome. Uh, I'm also on FB, you can find me under (Natalia Marmol Andrade) Hope you can get a small nap today at some point...

june in the "search" bar on top of the page, type mumsnet and the group will appear, it has the official logo and around 1400 members. You request to join and in a few days they accept you. Hope you manage to get a nap and then have a lovely time with your guests

bigcar odd dream indeed! so sorry to hear you had a crappy nighg Again, hope you get a nap at some point today

mrsmc oh, your DH... grrrrr... he'd better take DS out today and let you rest! I hope you can put your feet up today, hon, you really deserve it!

silk yep, the protrusions are pretty uncomfortable I hope June's MW is right and it's just the baby heading down Hope you had a good night's sleep.

littleS great pressies!!! And thanks for the info on weeping cervix.

As I said, I managed to get some pretty decent sleep for the first time in 5 days... LO kicking like there's no tomorrow but praying manically to wait 2 more weeks exactly.

Will post more later, have to run now!

(((waves)))

MrsMcJr I'm coming round with Tee to have words with your DH. They will include 'grow up', and 'get over yourself' and then we will present him with a basket of cleaning products and a list of jobs. I've never heard of a man who doesn't completely take over at any cooking outdoors opportunity .

bunnymother hmm, weeping cervix might explain it. Sounds a bit tragic, though...

littleS my DD had a dolly in a sling and loved it - we'd change nappies in synch, me doing her little bro and her changing dolly. She had a little carseat as well

bigcar drying cotton wool?! Sounds like you've been doing too much laundry, take it easy

Naat yup, lots of big stretchy movements and uncomfortable pummelling going on in a bump which is often tight as a drum. The head's not engaged but I definitely walk leaning back with a slight waddle. Very elegant.

Snowwombat hope these 3 weeks of work fly by for you.

Quick tip for self-employed ladies - do check out whether you're eligible for maternity allowance which you'll find a link to here. If you've been paying Class 2 NICS and have been registered self-employed for a certain period and won't get SMP you may be able to claim. I'm having a go - really excited about it!

Hello Juners xx

I think we are all beginning to experience some of the same things--
Mine are Lack of Sleep- due to baby bouncing on bladder and Heartburn--and SPD!!! Joys x

I was going to ask you about tightenings and BHs As you know I have to watch out extra carefully for signs of labour as my scar from DD started to split in labour with DS I have been getting loads of BHs- especially this morning they feel like my belly getting tight and feels stretched and on my right side- next to belly button a mound appears- I thought it was the babys bum- but read somewhere that it is a BH-rather than a bum!!! I also get but not always-period cramps or like when you have a runny tummy!! They are uncomfortable but not very painful!!! The baby moves lots.

My worry is I won't be able to tell when the real thing happens I didn't experience BH with the other 2 my waters broke with DD- and had no contractions with DS I didn't know I was in labour- til I went to hospital, with lack of baby moving!! I don't know when to ring, when to worry, when they move from BH- to real ones. I asked on Fri when I saw the Drs- but no-one gave me a real answer apart from "you'll know" or " if in any pain, come in" I'm always in pain so barr me being up there everyday I JUST DON"T KNOW!!!!!!!!!- Its so confusing.

Sorry about that ladies xxxx

naat Still unsure about DDs pressies we are thinking that we will buy her a few bits to open then the following week, when I'm having my hair done DH will take her shopping, so she can choose what she wants my brain has ceased to work at the moI think she'll like the shopping trip start her young. LOL

littleS the weeping cervix- sounds exactly how it was for me last Sunday very interesting Thank-you xx

MrsMc I want to come and kick your DH up the bum!! Sorry for being blunt- but if hes willing to make babies then he should help in all the aspects of child rearing!!! Sorry again, if thats a bit harsh but I know too many men like that- and your too nice to have to put up with it!!! Big hugs and my foot is coming his way!!! Sorry again xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hope you all have a lovely day Its very wet here in swindon I'm still in pjs and not going to get out of them!!!!!!

Its great to have some new FB friends too xxxx
lots of love xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ps I also stayed up til late and watch Eurovision and really enjoyed it-- Finially the political voting has ceased and and we came 5th xxx

I've just requested to join the mumsnet FB group - but how do we find each other once in there? (bit clueless at this sort of thing)

Hi-- Its working again xxx

Silk I'm Steph Timms- Bristol Network-- I'm drinking from a straw in my pic xxxx

Hi guys

Really unpleasant day here, woke up feeling sick, then had, ahem, diarrhea... now that seems to have eased but still feel sick! Also getting a lot of rib pain...argh. Dh has been lovely, tidied dd's room with her, let me get my rest, sorting out cupboards etc.

Ermin - Glad to see the sling and nappies were such a hit with your dd. Can't order for a week or so (another reason to hope wee one is not early) but I think she'll love them. Tee - I think one on one time for dd will help her a lot, certainly we will try and give her some but my mum will be helping out in the early days so should get lots of attention there (and from her dad of course)!

Effie - It all sounds very high alert in your household, it's no wonder you're confused! I was hoping labour would come on with waters breaking like it did with dd but now with the weeping cervix (had a bit again today) I'm not sure I'll know until contractions really get going!

Snow - I know how you feel about waiting for it to all come together, we have most things now but still feel like I have a fair amount to do.

Naat - Glad to hear you got some sleep finally. I always sleep alright and I'm still tired so it must be so dreadful for you ladies who can't sleep in the first place!

MrsMcJnr - Grrr at your dh again. Perhaps you should stop 'requesting' .

Ineed - Sorry to hear about your SPD and insomnia, how hideous for you, I bet you just want baby to come!

Right I think I need to lie down again.

Had a lovely day with parents (feel a bit at things I said about mum this morning). Put it down to sheer lack of sleep!

Naat - I can't find you on Facebook. If I take out your middle name, lots of Natalia Andrade s around. Can't work out which one you are...

Effie - I've had all the symptoms you've had. The BH and the diarrhoea-like cramping. I'm also a bit confused as to what means what as my waters just broke with DS (this exact time last pregnancy I had just had my epidural and was feeling a bit less primal!)

MsPotatochip - hello!

silk - if you find effie then you'll find me. I'm on her wall as a recent friend and my initials are CA.

LittleSarah - I hope you feel better soon.

Right. Off to bath DS and then a night on the sofa with DH watching The West Wing, then an early night.... bliss!

Hi Juners!

Well, as apparently my mum is coming next Monday and LO might be coming soon, DH decided to take me out for lunch today We went to Leeds and had some tapas, yum!! LO didn't stop moving during the whole lunch but well

littleS I definitely think we all you on the sleep front... When I read "diarrhea" in your post I said "oh my, LO is coming!!!" as they say both sickness and the runs can be a sign of things starting to happen soon, but I can see it was all just a false alarm.

silk yes, we have to look up the "real names" for us to find each other. I put mine in the morning post, if you want to add me.

effie a shopping trip sounds like a great idea!!! We're women and no matter how young we are, those are always welcome I'm sure she'll love that! So sorry to hear docs were so vague about when to call them I guess you'll have to do it several times, whenever you feel something is not right. Don't hesitate, just call.

ermin I'm right with you on the waddling I told DH the other day I wouldn't be able to walk on a straight line now and I tried... I couldn't Very elegant and sexy, as you say... I applied for MA, I was entitled to it because of my NI contributions. Very happy with that

Right, I just woke up from a nap, I really hope that doesn't mean my night sleep will be ruined now... (insert hopeful emoticon)

(((waves)))

Hi all,

Have been trying to link up with you all on facebook with limited sucess (really I'm not a technophobe!!) Effie I've sent you a message and for anyone else intersted I'm on the mumsnet pages as Sarah Gray (pic hiding behind with the dd's and lots of scotland). I know it must be a real dissapointment that I'm NOT REALLY DORIS!

After all that effort I can't remember what I was going to say- at all.

Have been to my parents today with 4 pages of care notes for the DD's, daily routines and for dd2 her meds list, really not anxious at all about leaving them...... I know my dad will be fine, but he's always previously had my mum to help him.... (the selfish part of me wants her with me, as shes a V good doula type person, I worked out that this will be birth no.7 for her (not including 3 of her own) which is more births than I witnessed in all my nurse training!).

I too am suffering at night, not so much insomminia more inability to get comfortable. Had 2 naps yesterday then went to bed at night as I was sooooo tired.

I need more sleep before labour!!!!!

littleS sorry to hear your feeling rough hope it's just a 24 hour thing and you start to feel better soon.

Naat I've tried to serch for your facebook but no luck- as for names for this LO we've gone from 2 almost definite to 20+ of each sex the list should be getting shorter not longer, but I just wanted to be sure.... and now I'm even more indecisive

Ermin very re the labour dh is convinced that as this is no 3 it will be like shelling peas- you can only imagine my non too pleasant response

ineed well done with the ebay sales I've got a load of tat to get rid of but not the energy to do it at the moment- bought some dummies (discontinued) for dd2 £35!!!! Guys if you do decide to go with dummies (I vowed never too but gave in about 2 weeks in with dd1) Keep an eye out to make sure they are not discontinued without you realising!!!!

Right dd's bedtime

May pop back later xx

ineed you'll find me now. I changed some privacy options I'm too careful with FB Now with the full name you'll be able to find me. In the pic DH and I are sitting on the grass and I'm wearing a red T.

hiya all

quick question how do you set up a facebook page? I have a bebo page but no fb

Hi laura!
Just go to facebook.com and click on "sign up". It'll take you step by step

am sure baby will come early, cleaned fridge out today... and took ds1 swimming , keep getting pains across tummy or just on one side.
mrsmc, can't answer that or fear will burst into more tears if that could be possible.

saw doc sat and he wanted to do an internal to see if i could give birth naturally as he scanned me and the baby is 3.8kg% give or take 10%/. i refused this bizarre request and he got really angry, saying that if i refused it he would do c section anyway, even if i dd go into labour. have any of you been offered this test? could you do me a favour and ask your mw about it? i would love to know what the take is on it with a uk midwife?

Ooooo Naat Been nosing through your FB page - your photos are fab!

FB update - I've sent you a friends request Effie. Found you Naat but could only send a message. Can't find Doris ( I expect you're not a pink dragon either are you!)

what is going on with this weather????? Constantly fluctuating between torrential rain and glorious sunshine. The plants are enjoying it though - they've gone crazy. It looks like I've got triffids climbing out of my hedgerow - and believe it or not that isn't a euphemism for the state of my ladygarden

I've also been out for tapas this afternoon with dh, dd and my parents - was scrummy. Dd was very well behaved and scoffed pretty much everything.