Ruby - fab news on baby positioning, should be too late for it to switch back now !
smallone - I had an emcs first time round too, after failure to progress despite non-stop and excruciating contractions. They're not entirely sure of the reason, possibilities mentioned were a) baby too big (unlikely, I've got good wide hips and size 7 feet!) b) ineffective contractions (can apparently be caused by stress and I was VERY stressed) c) painful contractions could have been caused by partial seperation of the placenta, which in itself would cause inefficient contractions as well as pain...
So, my consultant has said that she'd like to see me go early rather than later, hence my appt tomorrow - provided the scan shows baby the right way round, I think she said she would do an internal to see how my cervix was 'presenting' then we'd embark on stretch and sweeps to try and trigger labour prior to the due date. She said that they would allow me a 'trial of labour' but that if it looked unfavourable, like a repeat of the first time round, then we'd move to a c-section quicker than we did before (laboured for about 10 hours last time) to make sure baby comes to no harm.
I'm surprised that your consultant hasn't mentioned stretch and sweeps / natural induction etc. Maybe you could ask about it? Having been quite traumatised by how things went last time, I understand more now how important it is to have as wide an understanding of the possible eventualities beforehand as I was quite bewildered (not helped by the pethidine) last time. Took me a while to get my head round it all.
Thoroughly agree with HT that reading lots of positive birth stories for different types of births is good mental preparation.
Sorry - that was a bit long winded,
Still looking / hoping for baby boob news here too
Hope the colds are getting better and your managing OK, HC and LMB IDOB I'll be bouncing in harmony with you! Have been sitting on the very edge of my sofa for the past couple of weeks, rather than lounging back, and have got my laptop on a stool, all helps with the positioning. When this gets uncomfortable, then I lean forward onto the birth ball, or lie on my side on my beanbag.
I've been getting loads of rest today, but really ought to go and at least unload and reload the dishwasher and I've only just realised how late it is - I haven't had lunch yet! Oops!