Due in September 2009 - waiting for an August baby!

[StealthPolarBear]

Hi everyone Can't believe we could have our first baby in 4ish weeks

wow, the midwife care seems all very random depending where you are and who you get. i've felt like the care is very sparse this time round because it's my second child, but then i guess there isn't really anything i need. i am looking forward to a scan and midwife appointment next week though, just so i can feel like things are moving along, and find out if the placenta has moved enough for my homebirth.

dh has taken ds out today, so bliss, i'm doing some cooking and clearing out our bedroom to make room for the little one. getting tired though, so go to factor in a nap sometime!

Thanks for all your messages about induction. Yes, I think I will get a chance to discuss it - apparently I get to see a doctor at my 36 weeks hospital appointment. They say it is because the placenta is more likely to cease functioning well in 'older' women. I would really like to avoid induction unless for a really good reason so will insist on close monitoring if necessary.

blinder, it does sound like they're short-changing you a little. My GP is the one who always measures my belly and I always seem to be a week ahead, but nothing to worry about. Have a look at the NICE guidelines, it definitely states measuring the abdomen at appointments - you might want to print it!

LizLemon, I think a cleaner is well worth investing in, luckily I've just had my mother here for 10 days which is even better - she cleans and tidies! She just really loves to be useful and is a great help. Now both she and my father and his wife have offered to buy a pram! (The hand-me-down one didn't work out after all)

Oh, and yes, I would be up for a central London meet up!
I don't know anybody in real life who is pregnant so I'd really like to meet you all!

Blinder I'm positive that I was never measured when pregnant with DD. I see the consultant on friday and they apparently will have my old notes so I was going to ask about the measurements.

I think because it can be quite a vague measurement that not everyone does it

I had a lovely afternoon out in Tamworth today. Was a bit tiring on the crutches but great to be out and about iyswim. Weather has been lovely!

My measurements so far are fundal height, I am having a growth scan on Monday to check the size and presentation of madame!

I called work today to get clarification as to whether I need to take this week off sick or if I have enough holiday to take me through to 36 weeks and yipee I am officially on Holiday till 36 weeks and then start mat leave! I now just have to arrange benefit to cover last 2 weeks which were taken as sick because work have decided that I haven't earned enough to be entitled to ssp!

Hey mummyhill! I'm near Tamworth too!! Are you going to George Eliot or Good hope? Are the crutches for SPD?

Am shattered today, the nesting instinct kicked in yesterday and I was clearing cupboards, moving furniture and today have really paid for it!! So have washed and ironed everything for my hospital bag instead!! Getting very excited and will be pleased to not be pregnant any more!! Only 6 weeks!!

Ladies I'm in Stafford but work in Lichfield so not far away.

Hey Lj29! Good to meet some more Midlands ladies!!

I have balanced my laptop on my bump and the baby is wobbling it

I have a bit of a cold. Nothing serious, just enough to make me feel a bit shitty on top of being pg and sickness etc... so I went to the chemist and asked if I could use Olbas Oil seeing as I can't have any decongestants and I got a lecture on how I could have Swine Flu and I should phone the help line straight away. FFS I have a slight headcold, not farking flu

Hi ladies

have been reading all posts but not had much of interest to say recently but thought I'd add a quick post tonight.

34 weeks today Only 6 weeks to go. I really cant wait now. looking forward to sleeping on my front again and painting my own toes.

Think the nesting started today, although I'm not very good at it I kind of started and half finished about 12 things so house looks worse now than when I started.

Also received delivery of DD's furniture today so dh moved dd's old stuff into babies room and built new stuff and now her room looks lovely. She has some new bedding and wall stickers and its a real little girls room now. Just got babies room to sort properly tomorrow although its looking very cramped as our cot bed is rather large and the room is rather small but never mind

Hi ladies. Thanks for all your well wishes Hope you are all well.

I didn't get time to fill you in on the birth story....so here goes.

I was admitted to hospital 6 days before she was born because I had some bleeding. I was monitored and all was fine so was about to go home when I found out one of my swabs was positive for Group B Strep. Ordinarily this would be ok because I would get IV anti-biotics during labour to prevent transmission of the bacteria to the baby (risk of infection). However, because my waters had broken some weeks earlier they decided it would be best to treat me with IV anti-biotics for 5 days. So I had to stay in. Very hard for my ds, but he coped really well. 4 days after starting the IV anti-biotics I started to feel unwell. I got a high temperature and started getting contractions. They were a minute apart (straight away) and very painful. That went on for about 4 hours. I couldn't have an epidural or spinal block because I'd been given an anti-coagulant drug earlier that day so I had to have a C-Section under General Anaesthetic. I was so upset about that because I was scared that I would never see her alive I was told I'd be unconscious for 6 hours but was awake after 2. I couldn't see her that night (she was born 19.20) as I was bedbound but dh saw her and took some videos of her on his phone to show me. I saw her first thing the next morning. It was hard seeing how tiny she was and all the beeping machines around her but comforting to hear that she was doing well. She was promoted from NICU to SCBU after a few days and she continues to do well. My post operative recovery is pretty good though it's a pain not being able to drive as we have to go to the hospital every day.
Ds is thrilled to have a sister but sadly has not been able to see her yet as they have a no children policy due to swine flu etc.

Hi Ladylush great to hear from you! What a scary time for you and your family x x So glad that your dd is doing well, love to you all from S.Wales

Ladyem, I am going to Good Hope and yes the crutches are for SPD.
Bexaa - I am in Birmingham too.
LJ29- it is indeed good to find more "local" mums. Are any of you interested in coming to this meet up?

Ladylush - Sorry you had such a dramatic birth story but am so glad to hear that all is going well.

Hi girls - havent had chance to post for ages but been popping in and out trying to catch up!!

Wow Ladylush - what a scary birth story - so glad all is well now and your little dd is doing nicely

blue - your scan pics are awesome - so jealous!!
A lot of you seem to be getting much more going on than me - I had my last scan at 20 weeks and thats it except a few routine MW app's but I guess I shouldn't moan - I'm just having a boring straight forward "uncomplicated pregnancy" as they say! (mind you - now i've said that; something complicated is bound to happen!!!)

neddie - good luck with your app's next week - booking into a travel lodge sound like a good idea owing to the amount of pain in the arse travelling you have to do!!

Ladyem - my MW guidelines are to allow 2cm either way when measuring - 1cm does sound awfully strict!!
Blinder - don't worry that you haven't had your belly measured - only some health authorities still do it as it is so easy to get wrong apparently - my MW says there is absolutely no point doing it unless you have the same person measuring you throughout your pg as different people will measure slightly different and there is such a small margin for error - thats why some counties don't offer it.

LizLemon - so glad you mentioned the cleaner; I've been building up the courage to phone one but feel like a cop out somehow - now I know a few of you have one I don't mind; I cleaned my house from top to bottom yesterday cos I had more viewings and my back was unbearable - I just can't do anything below waist anymore - esp hoovering and mopping!! (I think it's cos MIL raised her eyebrows when I said I was thinking about getting one - her house is constantly like a show home!! - why am I so bothered what my MIL thinks FFS!!)

mummyhill - bless you and your crutches - hope they are helping you tho??

....seeing as everyone seems to be organising meet up's - how about us South Wales few give it a go???

Hmmm,what is it about Hypnobirthing that makes people look at you like you've just announced your going to fry the placenta and have it for your tea?! Not getting the most positive reaction from people it has to be said! Big thanks to Blinder for recommending her though, she is fab! Took away my panicky feelings straight away, wish she could be my MW!

Do you find the crutches help at all Mummyhill? Have been in lots of pain this week and was debating whether to see if I can get a pair to help me in my shuffling/waddling! Also do any of you ladies with SPD feel like you have a really bad UTI? as well as the aches and movement pains etc? I know I haven't as I keep getting tests done - any thoughts?

Saw something very funny yesterday as I was stuck in traffic lights outside our local Tesco Metro, chap came to the doors, they opened, then he stopped to talk to his mate so doors shut, unfortunately for him he didn't look round before trying to go through the doors again and walked straight into the glass!! Bless him! So funny though!

Ladylush - Sorry to hear you had such a traumatic birth but happy to hear that both you and baby are doing well Hopefully she'll be home with you soon ((hug))

Fairysparkles - Where in south wales are you?

We've finally got all the babys stuff and are nearly ready now, all thats left to do is pack my bag and wait, we still dont know whats happening or how its going to happen which is annoying

The consultant hasnt given us any more to go on other than that she dont think i'll get as far as 36wks which is only 4wks away but its not a definate and i could go full term but due to previous c-secs they book me in for an elective c-sec at 39wks so going by what she has said baby could be here anywhere between now and the next 7wks

At the moment bp is staying roughly the same each time its done (twice a week) so they are not to worried about that although baby is still small and not growing much and the blood flow through the cord is still slow i have to have another scan in 2wks to check them again and i guess i'll be told more than hopefully.

Other than that the pregnancy is going ok spd has strangely calmed down a bit in the past few days although the acid and heartburn is getting worse and gaviscon doesnt seem to work but baby seems ok where she is she dont stop moving or kicking esp in the ribs

Dp was led with his head on my belly last night to see if he could hear anything and got the biggest kick in the ear ever

Crutches are helping and yes I have had the uti sensation too.

Hello all,

I'm not a frequent poster but might be up for a central London meet if there is one!

On the measuring front, I've only been measured once by a midwife, but most of my appointments are at the GP, and neither of the ones I've seen have been interested in measuring me, or to be honest in much else I have to say! I really swelled up last week and mentioned it to GP who didn't even reply and in the relevant column in my notes didn't mark anything down...I'm not too worried now as it seems to have gone but the level of care I've received has really been very hands off.

wow - lots of posts to read!

Fairysparkles, daffs and mumgonecrazy - I'd be up for a S.Wales meet too. Cardiff / Swansea or anywhere in between suits me.

Thanks for the reassurance fairysparkles - it's good to know they don't have to measure me!

Daffodilli - I love her too. She did some EFT on me last session for the PTSD (trauma) I had last time round and I have felt totally different since. I wish she was my midwife too. Why on earth doesn't she train up as a doula? I tell people that I will be quacking like a duck during my hypnobirth. It gives them something to raise their eyebrows at!

Ladylush - such scary circumstances for you but thank goodness you had such great care in hospital. It sounds like they were really on the ball and you were very strong. Bravo!

Final bit of news - we are thinking of buying a new house now - gulp - is it too late to move do you think??

Ladylush that sounds stressful and worrying, but it's so good that she's here, safe and sound. Hope you continue to recover quickly and get good news on getting her home soon.

MGC I finally cracked and went to the doc about my chronic heartburn and he prescibed Omeprazole, which has definitely helped now that gaviscon isn't working too well.

Blinder - my friends moved with a five week old, and I think if you assume that you won't be doing much at all, and pay someone to pack your stuff up (best money I've ever spent) then it shouldn't be too bad.

We've got severe nesting going on here today - finally painting the little room downstairs so we should be able to get furniture and move my sewing stuff into it by the end of this week, which leaves the spare room free for nursery. Not too worried about getting it sorted quickly since he's going to be in with us for a while, but it'll be good to have myself settled and have a dedicated space to work in so I don't have to worry about it

A meet up! Grand. Is everyone on maternity leave/available during the week yet?

Blinder she is lovely isn't she? really kind, and said that if I had any worries at all to ring her! Agree that she should train as a doula, she would be great. DH is better than me at the breathing etc so far, he is naturally a very chilled person though so I reackon he has a head start!
Re the house - go for it! Have you seen something that you like or have you just started looking? (stay away from Gower Coast Properties if possible, you'll end up spending loads! Add to basket, add to basket etc!)

Thanks Mummyhill, think I'll speak to my MW, she always seems to have a few pairs in the corner of her room.

Hi all, looks like you have all had a busy weekend with posting.

Ladylush - sorry to hear your LO's arrival was so stressful and I hope she continues to do well.

Blinder, your MW does not sounds good. I have had fundal measurements every time I have had an appointment and I had heard there was a 2cm variant.

Baby is very defnitely engaged with increasing pressure on my pelvic floor and bladder and millions of what I think must be bh contractions.

Last week of work for me next week and then I will pack the hospital bag. Still haen't decided what to give birth in. Someone recommended going to get a cheap night shirt that I can throw out. Also need to get feeding bras organised. All baby stuff now done, but need to get myself sorted now!!

Hope everyone else is ok..on the serious countdown now ladies!

Ladylush, thank you for posting your bs, sorry the birth wasn't what you hoped for but so pleased you are both doing so well!

I'm not sure how is best to organise this meet up? Prob better not to post all the details on here for anyone to read. How about if you are interested in coming to a London meet up, then email me on my 'junk' email address and I will send out a mass email to all and we can organise dates and things? Is there a better way of doing it I don't know about?

Email is aimtree5736 @ googlemail .com (without spaces of course), if you do email include your posting name so I know who you are!