November ladies are having there babies. One by one here they come. But here we'll let the candle burn. Until we've all had our turn

[Ninjacat]

Come on over....

congrats scarlotti im loving all the non tearing stories!!!

Awww congrats and well done to kyte, scarlotti and erika(?!). Lots of lovely boys

Well my bean is still resolutely curled up in the wrong position. I had loads of what could have been realy productive BH last night, but instead they were just really sore because the wrong body bits were pressing into the wrong bits of muscle. Trying to shove a neck into a pelvis just doesn't work. And I think it's arms were flailing as I'm sure I felt a coulpe of punches to the cervix. oocha. I've spent half the morning on the floor with my bum in the air but the head is still way up high (about level with my CS scar) and off to one side. Beginning to think I have one of those men's pelvises and it must be really unwelcoming. It's getting hard not to become down and emotional about it, especially as it potentially means another cs which I really don't want (but thanks to kyte for posting about a nice one!). I hope comma is ok today. I'm beginning to feel her pain!

Just wondering if any of you knew - if the MW wouldn't sweep yesterday for fear of starting things of and the cord/wrong body part presenting first, what do I do if I do go into labour with the baby in this position? I haven't been told that it's not good so I'm assuming I do the usual and stay at home for as long as possible and hope it sorts itself out? Seems a bit contradictory though. However, I'm happy to avoid hospital for as long as possible so long as its safe.

Off to catch the bus. Busy day today - lunch in town, shopping for winter boots for DD with MIL (sale on in Jones!), coming back and visiting potential new childminder for LO next August, tea, yoga, Spooks. Not sure I'll make it to the end of Spooks

Also need some more RLT bags. Not sure if I can bring myself to buy more....

I am sorry I haven?t got time to read all the post. There is like 8 pages since yesterday I can?t really keep up with you lot!

Also I am NOT on FB [tearful emoticon] and feel very left out! I have been resisting for years but think that you lovely ladies might break me!

Congratulations to scarlotti wow well done you, great size and name!
Belated congratulations to kyte welcome Alexander!
I can?t wait to hear from Erika

I also realised that I do not have a bump anymore so should really stop asking dh to pick things off the floor! I can bend now but I just got comfortable using that excuse

Tamlin I microwave my tea now!

Congratulations to kyte and scarlotti! Good to hear that you had both positive birth experiences! Paula is sleeping on her dad's chest so hopefully I can read a bit more of how you are all doing even if I will probably not be able to comment on it! Just good luck to those who seem to be in labour (and won't read my post )

Welcome baby Ioan!!! What a lovely name, and a big hungry boy! I am pleased you didn't tear, Scarlotti! Erika can't wait to hear your news

BBL my DH is the same with phone numbers. He's in a meeting all morning, but said about 98 times to phone him anyway if there's news!

So.... Was up for 3 hours in the night, with contractions every 8 - 12 minutes, felt really awful, they were making me feel like I was going to either puke or pass out, and I really felt a massive pressure/downward force (?) if that makes sense to anyone? Was sure it was happening. Anyway, EVERYTHING has stopped. Literally. I did phone the labour ward as a similar, but not as bad, thing happened the other day and she said it sounded like early labour, which can take a while, but all the contractions are actually doing some cervix-ripening (I hope, I hope) and that I could come in to get checked if I wanted to. What do you think, is it near?? Am clutching at straws, but I was so convinced it was happening in the night!! And now I feel all ready, and Baby has decided he wants a bit longer!!! Grrrr.

Sorry for very indulgent post, btw.

scarlotti well done you! congratulations and welcome to baby Ioan. love the name! Hope your milk comes in soon x

So, erika will be giving us some news soon as well then .

I hope comma is ok too, she was having her CS today wasn't she? I know she was very nervous so i really hope it is as smooth and relaxing and painfree as it can be.

I had the swine flu vaccine yesterday and today i do not feel so great. I did not even remember it in the night, but my arm became incredibly sore, like I had pulled a muscle really badly, I spent hours not being able to lift it without agony wondering what the hell I had done. Then, when I woke this morning, i felt hot and bothered, bit achey and headachey and thought 'oh probably swine flu vaccine' then it dawned on me why my arm was hurting It hurts to lift it too much, and I did not consider this when having it in my right arm!

Have thrown up, course I have. ANd would prefer baby does not arrive today as I don't feel on top of the world. Which means he is bound to right , no real signs that he is planning on coming today, 39th week exactly. DD was here by now!

Katster that makes total sense. The pressure and downward force is normal. And also the feeling of going to puke or pass out. Both times for me the first sign of things is an upset tummy (downwards rather than upwards in my case). I've had a bit of an upset tummy for two days now... and when I go to do a poo it feels like the baby could pop out any minute! It does sound like your labour is stopping and starting - it can take a while to get going. I think you are near. It is totally normal.

ooh katster, maybe its the "calm before the storm",

I was up wincing last night every time she head-butted me in the cervix, as it really hurt. knew it wasnt labour tho cos my tum wasnt hurting, but concerning enough for dh to keep asking me if i was sure it wasnt.

Congrats to Kyte and scarlotti! (and Erika, when you make it back!)

Hope everything is going well for comma and that you get admitted soon, Southern. Katster sounds like you're really close!

My MW was supposed to be by again today, but apparently she can't make it, because I was woken up at 9am by another MW calling to ask if she could either come by right then or if I could get to her office on completely the other side of town? (Um, come to me, please? I can barely make it across the house right now with my sciatica.)

So I was about halfway dressed when she called back to say she couldn't make it after all and she'd try again later. Oh, and she kept calling me the wrong name. I think she misunderstood - she was supposed to measure my blood pressure today, not raise it .

longwayaway she kept calling you the wrong name?!?! Great!

BBL yes, have also had, shall we say, the opposite of constipation, which is welcome in many ways! Had never felt that downward force thing before, it felt really strange. Grrrrrrr. Sounds like you are close as well.

I am meant to be going to meet the first arrival from our NCT group this afternoon. I really want to, but it's a 2 mile walk there and back, which in some ways is probably the best thing to do, but in other ways, I'm scared my waters will go and I'll be away from home!

Trikken that all sounds good! Not the wincing, but the progress. The cervix head-butting is awful, isn't it?

Back to mild period pain and BHs here. Hmm, I want a film-style labour - waters go out of the blue, pushing half an hour later, immaculate make-up and cute gorgeous baby in arms within the hour. Could you sort that for me, please?

Katster I love your film-style labour! You never know. But it might happen on the way to your friend's so make sure you put your makeup on before you go. Two miles there and back is ambitious! I bearly made it to school and back this morninmg with the DSs and that's about 1/2 mile each way.

OK, MW was just by and was actually quite pleasant. My BP was back to normal so I guess I just wanted to whinge

katster A woman in my yoga class just had her baby, two weeks early. She went to the hospital feeling a bit "peaky", with regular cramping. They told her she probably wasn't in labor but before they sent her home, they did an internal and found she was 9cm dilated! She had the baby later that night.

I'll take one of those, please!!

just had a phone call from mw saying there has been a mix-up, nobody had booked me in for a sweep today, in fact there is no blue team available to do it today, they can book me in for tomorro for a home visit.

she then phoned me back five mins later tho and said I can go down to the maternity unit when dh gets home at seven and someone will see me then. great, another chance to play 'find a car-parking space', and then when we eventually do and are now twenty mins later for appointment pay an extortionate rate.

Even so, I chose to go in later, if they can do the sweep it may mean the baby being here sooner and im definately up for that.

Congrats Scarlotti! What a beautiful name for your baby boy!

Hobnob I think it's only worrying if your waters break in the early stages of labour and cord comes down before the baby does . I would phone labour ward as soon as anything happens and tell them what your mw said just to reassure you.

I too am resigned to the fact that this baby will not be coming until I am induced on Monday. Had some regular, strong BH last night but no pain as such and no pressure down below so think head's still not engaged.

MIL (most annoying woman ever) and FIL (means well, but...) arrive today so now I'm torn between really wanting to go into labour and having to go into labour with her by my side! Horrible thing to say I know, but just the thought of her winds me up! Ah well, see what happens.

Longwayaway I want that one! (the yoga lady birth) That sounds nice.

I'm not going to see the baby. I can't face leaving the house, and definitely not walking quite a long way. I feel really sick at the min, so am going to watch a crap film and vacuum.

TOK are you parents in law staying with you? Oh god, poor you. I couldn't cope with that. I have just had to tell my own mother that she really doesn't need to leap on the next train to London - she is bordering on hysterical at the minute!

Scarlotti - congratulations on the arrival of baby Ioan!

hobnob - good question, not sure but what TOK said about the waters sounds right. I would probably ring too once labour starts so I wasn't worrying about it. Hopefully LO will turn and present more helpfully before or during labour.

pavlov - hope you feel better soon. I had my jab this morning so by the sound of it I'd better plan a quiet day tomorrow. I'm sure your LO will have the decency to give you a couple of days to spring back by which time you'll be raring to go.

katster it must be SO annoying all that stopping and starting. All of your descriptions just make me realise I am nowhere near labour. Quite acceptable really as it's still 2 and half weeks til my due date but I am jealous of all of you meeting your little ones.

I have (TMI) been havig the 'downwards' upset tummy (liking that phrase, will be using it in future BBL ) but I think that's all it is. A downwards upset tummy. Sigh. Oh well.

Oh I agree that a 2 mile walk both ways?! is a bit much katster. Can't you get a bus?! You are in London aren't you?

about your mum's reaction katster!

Did I tell you about my mum's question when we moved to Oxford?

Her: So, is there an airport in Oxford?

Me: No! But there is a road (and a fecking train station).

Her: Well, you don't know how soon you'll want me there...

Me: Yeah, ahem...

Raggie at the airport in Oxford!! Where does your mum live?? Yep am in London, but south hence rubbish transport - it's probably not really two miles to be honest, and it's a nice walk through a couple of parks. I could get a bus, but I hate buses and the thought of my waters going freaks on a bus me out, so I would normally walk! But you're right, that may have been a slight exaggeration! Anyway, am staying in and randomly decided I really want to eat chicken and veg risotto so am making it! Never would eat big meal at lunch, but sod it!

wow things are really moving along now! congrats to everyone

bp was ok today, phew, booked in for sweep fri week if not progress before, sorry if already covered but for those who have had one before what it is like??

Congrats to Kyte and scarlotti Great names, Alexander is my ds' middle name and I love Ioan, so unusual.

Katster sounds like things will happen for you soon, I had the same thing where it was stopping and starting over a few days, then when it kicked off properly I was only in labour for 6 hours so I definately think it's giving your body a head start, good luck!

Can't wait to hear from erika and hope comma is ok.

Amelia is 10 days old but I still look pregnant I was the same when I had ds but was hoping that because I had a natural birth rather than c-section this time that my tummy would go down quicker, no such luck! Yesterday I went shopping on my own and the woman in the shop asked me when I was due, felt really and had to explain that my baby was at home! dd is breastfeeding like no ones business so hopefully it will go down soon, although I'm permanantly hungry and there is so much cake and chocolate in the house which I just have to eat!

Hope everyone else is ok and we get some more ladies popping today!

Congrats Scarlotti! Ioan Scott is a brill name. So glad it all went well.

Any news yet from Erika?

Southern Any news on if they can see you today yet? Must be very frustrating when you're all ready to go. Good luck to Pink and Comma, looking forward to hearing about your new LOs.

Longwayaway I'm joining the film star birthing plan! Glamour, lipgloss, and a baby that pops out after two pushes. Mind you, all the babies they actually hand to the mothers all seem about 3 month old so they might be rather painful pushes...

Anybody else now feel like a superhero who's revealed their secret identity now that we are all on FB together? Feel I should at least change my profile photo to one where I am wearing a mask!

katster It sounds like things are moving in the right direction! If you do go to your friend's make sure you take a taxi fare, just in case you can't face walking back (of course if you go into film-style labour they'll be carting you off with a handsome paramedic in an ambulance). The walk to DD's and back is tiring me now. It is normally a 15 minute round-trip

I think I have been overdoing it. I feel completely shattered. Last night I went to bed before 9 (DH has some new computer game which was only out yesterday and he was very excited about ; I saw that as a sign I should go to bed). Got up this morning and had an interview to do at 10. I just realised I couldn't do it. Ended up having to ring the editor and get someone else to do it, which I felt really bad about, but a huge sense of relief that it wasn't me. Went back to bed for 3 hours until I had to collect DD. Now I am tired again. My body doesn't feel like it's getting in gear for labour - the exact opposite. I feel like if someone left me alone I would just sleep and sleep and sleep.

Weston I had one a couple of days ago. It was mildly uncomfortable, like a smear test tbh, but I understand that some people find it more painful than that. You just lie back, relax and think of something else!