Officially blooming part 2

[blue76]

Thought I'd start a new thread as there were only 3 posts left!

Morning all - haven't been around a lot this week, so hello to all the new faces and hope everyone else is ok.

To weigh in on the home birth front, I think I've said before how keen my midwife team are on it. At the very least they encourage labouring at home as long as possible. Have to agree that it seems easier to plan for a home birth with the idea that you can transfer if you want to, rather than the other way around. I have no idea how I'll be but I don't have to decide until it's happening. I've been thinking about starting to write a birthplan too, so I'll cover everything, just in case.

Starting to feel 'properly' pregnant now (25 weeks). Can't bend over, socks are becoming difficult to put on, and I have to slide to the edge of our squishy sofa to get out of it.

My MW isn't really supportive of anything to be honest! She is really blase about the whole pregnancy thing and has a permanantly 'blank' face! Just cannot imagine her in my house supporting me at all! Would feel happier with my 17 year old sister tbh! So,off to hospital for this one and see how I feel for the next .

Having to slide off the sofa as well LizLemon! and out of bed! Bump really did appear overnight,had an uncomfy night with lots of movement last saturday,and when I woke up on sunday,I felt pregnant (!) and bump had suddenly appeared! went to a family bbq and everyone was amazed at the change in size.It is alot more twingy though and is difficult getting into a comfy position,especially when bubs starts his little dance routine!

Hope its not raining as bad for everyone else as it is here,like a monsoon at the moment.Apparently there was an earthquake in Port Talbot,about 12 ish miles from us last night at 8.30 which was quite big - have to say felt nothing here at all! !

26 weeks tomorrow how quick is the time going now?!

daffodilli, that's kind of why i got a doula to be with me through the labour - the midwives at a bit of pot luck really!

daffodilli I am in S. Wales too (Aberdare) and my hypnobirthing teacher is in Neath! Message me if you want her details.

Didnt feel the quake myself but the rain has become thunderous. The poor dog is unwalked so far.

My bump has also suddenly grown. I cant see my toes anymore and I dread to think how uncomfortable it will be in August - gulp.

Never mind putting socks on...tidying the lady garden has become a major chore...

blue am with you on the whole ladygarden thing. I cut myself yesterday cos I was having trouble seeing what I was doing - oops

Re epidurals - I had one with ds. I'd rather have managed without but I was induced (via drip) and the contractions were excruciating. I had no waters because they'd gone prior to the induction and I have heard since that the waters act as a cushion somewhat so contractions are more painful when they've gone. Also I found that I wanted to use the toilet constantly when the contractions started (to wee) - which is very impractical when you're in labour, so although the epidural means you can't wee - it was actually a relief in that respect. That said, the epidural only worked on one side . I'd like to see if I can do a normal labour without but if I get that feeling that I need to wee constantly I might go for it again because otherwise I will have to sit on the toilet for hours or wet myself - not an option.

Gosh I can barely see the lady garden anymore. I got one of those wilkinson sword lady hedge trimmers recently so we'll see just how much DH loves me when I ask him if he's up for a bit of topiary

Think a doula would be tempting in your position Daffodilli. If you get one who is newly trained they are only allowed to charge £150 for their first few births.

A Doula sounds like a good idea,will have to look into that option I think.

Would love your hypnobirthing teachers details blinder, but not sure how to message you?! , am I being a bit dim?!

LOL at the ladygarden trimming! I can see mine, but getting at it now is another thing altogether! Not sure DH will be up to a bit of trimming 'down there' , will have to go for the 'au naturel' look!! What do they call it on MN? Lentil weavery or something!!

PMSL at lady garden!!! Part of my Saturday morning routine, so I have had the same trouble today.

DP felt the baby kicking his tummy when we had a cuddle before getting up this morning. He's started talking to her, too, which normally gets some kind of reaction I do hope it's not fear .

It looks lovely here in the north east and has been sunny all afternoon, but there's a bitter wind off the north sea so it feels like early spring. Hope that it warms up a bit soon.

Hope you are all having a good weekend, in spite of the weather.

LOL! DH was actually growling at bubs this morning, , as he had found his lion that he had when he was 4!! poor thing was probably terrified!

Evening ladies, can I put my hand up for possibly having a home-birth too. As this is no2 I feel much more confident about it plus midwife v supportive of transfer as/when I feel like it. I also have fantasies about birth pool/low lighting/chilled music... and champagne chilling in fridge (what a top idea!!), I remember my first meal when home from hospital last time - champagne and bloody steak...hmmm it was THE BEST.

Also starting to have issues keeping "things" neat and tidy down there... I can't work out how I managed it myself last time at 38weeks.... now at 26weeks it's just not happening, must broach this subject with DH for some "help"!!

Right I think I have enabled messages. click on the envelope button at the right of my post daffs - but you will need to enable messaging yourself. alternatively, have a look at the links I posted the other day. I found her on there - name Marian! She has been thinking of getting into doula work too but just doesn't have much time. I would enquire though as she may like to do a one-off. As I said, she has 11 years midwifery experience too.

I feel like my garden needs mowing twice as often lately. And is spreading past the borders too. Is this just me, or is it down to the good weather we have been enjoying?

Thanks blinder,have found her! Have now got to persuade DH to part with £250, maybe the HIP grant towards it may help..!
DH was doing a rain dance this morning as he couldn't cut the grass....!! Cant believe its almost 20 degrees colder today than it was last weekend.

Blinder - according to the gender prediction old wives' tales, leg hair grows more quickly when it's a boy. But, you're having a girl, like me, aren't you? Not noticed anything different in the "garden", but my legs are more manageable than normal.

I did notice that my light and downy tummy hair is getting a bit longer than normal (unless it's just that I spend longer than normal looking at my belly). Anyone else noticed anything like this?

My leg hair is officially growing slower, according to my lovely wax woman, and I'm having a boy. But the hair everywhere else? Sheesh. I actually got her to wax my belly this week.

The little fella has had one of his wriggly days today - feels like he's been on the go constantly. he seems to have a pattern of doing that - a couple of quieter days followed by a day of constant bladder dancing...

There's a fun gender predictor quiz on childbirth.org website if anyone is interested. I got 61% chance of a boy. It asks mad questions such as "does your pillow face north or south" WTF?

57% girl but did not have an answer to all of the questions. Who knows?!!! Everyone thinks I am having a boy except from hubby and g'dad. Baby is having a party right this sec. My whole tummy is moving all over the place.

Hi all
I would advise trying to keep track of the ladygarden a much as you can especially before the big day.

With my elective last year I waited and DD decided she would come early adn I had to be shaved with a dry bic razor (still shuddering at the thought of it)This time, If I have a section I'm contemplating going for a wax beforehand

Peachygirl: Oh my goodness, dry shave!!!!!
I have always wondered... how do you have the down below area? Natural or all off!!!
God I dont want someone looking at it!! So scared.

Nitnat - trust me, you really won't care! I'm having to put a mirror in front of me to do mine. Would keep things 'short' though - in case stitches are needed. Oh and apparently a way of avoiding stitches is to start using vaseline on the old perineum...NOW...every day...my friend's had 2 kids and swears by it. Sorry if TMI but these posts seem to be a bit more daring lately, so what the hell!

Thanks Blue! Just told hubby about the vaseline and his eyes lit up. Think he got the wrong idea. lol. Bless him!

Minshu - I have a hairy belly too.... it happened last pg too, I suddenly I noticed that my normally lovely smooth tum was actually covered in quite long downy hair - I was quite shocked as no-one told me that would happen

And not sure about vaseline, but I used almond oil from around 35 weeks.... Weleda do a very descriptive leaflet on perineal massage with diagrams - you need a mirror , but I haven't maanged to find an equivalent online yet for you, will have a look.... I ended up with a small tear and stitches last time which I guess is better that what could have happened, worth a try me-thinks.

I tend to keep mine trim and shave or wax side(haven't waxed in a long time though - credit crunch cutback)
Pebblebeach can you scan the leaflet??
I didn't do it last tme and it all got too late but if I have a VBAC I will be trying it.
No hairy belly for me but then I didn't have one last time either

I did the quiz and got a 52% chance of having a girl...

Pebblebeach, there seem to be a lot of thing about pregnancy that no one mentioned beforehand Would also be interested in the leaflet if you can scan, but if not where did you get it?

As for topiary, I have a bikini wax and keep the rest trimmed. I suppose we're all beyond tmi really... Anyway, I can see how that would help is I need stitches so will try to keep it in hand.

I would need a whole roll of loo paper to measure me now -so there's no hope of trimmed parts. Not sure what to do really- I'm hoping for a CS so they won't need to go there, but after my quick birth last time they might come out like firing little bullets!!
Hopefully they can tell me in a couple of weeks when I have my next scan.