Due Jan 2010 - the final countdown and singing Auld Lang Syne to our bumps

[CantThinkofFunnyName]

Last thread nearly full - so here goes - our last hurdle....

Nothing to report yet but will be going down to be induced later or tomorow feeling lots of pressure in my bum i could do with contraction vibes please x

alibobins sending you contraction vibes all the way but keeping some for myself
all i have in my bag is breast pads, maternity pads adn those horrid disposable knickers! haven ot put anything else in it!
my tummy itches at night so slather it in baby oil.
Fraochsmum i am terrible at things like this but i hope that your FIL is as comfortable as can be. it is a waiting game i am afraid but the best thing to do is remain positive at this moment for everyone.
xdp putting pressure on me ot get back making me feel guilty as he is being very apologetic for his behaviour but since he has not seen a councellor i doubt he can change overnight. he may be sorry but it does not mean he will not interogate me once i see him again as i just know that the minute i say we will start again he will corner me and demand ot know who i slept wiht and what men i have been talking to/inviting round since we split up three weeks ago! and i seriousl ydo not have the energy anymore.

Ali - contract contract contract contract, hurt like hell, send pain Ali's way, make her huff puff and blow that baby out!!! Good luck honey - we're all thinking of you and sending LOADS of contraction vibes! x

Ali don't exactly know what labour/contractions feel like, but sending visualisation of opening cervix looking flowers and big hands squeezing your insides like a tube of toothpaste maybe I should just wish you all the best?

Biccy could you get you DD to help with basic stuff, use cleaning time as part of fun time...spot the non parent.

alibobins - way TMI these suggestions and probably next to impossible in a hospital ! but other bringing on contraction ideas include nipple stimulation, clitoral stimulation to orgasm etc etc in order to bring on contractions again as something to do with stimulating natural oxytocin hormones
Good luck if you end up being induced

Ali, I'm sending contraction vibes your way. Hope it gets going for you soon.

Thanks everyone for your support after my little rant last night. I just have to accept I suppose that I simply am not one of those people that seem to be really organised, and have the house beautiful at all times - having written out my timetable I did at least see that I'm not being idle, and I am spending time with my daughter which afterall is more important than being the perfect housewife (to me). Had a chat with my mum today to warn her that next weekend when my side of the family descend (my fault, I invited them!) things may be a little chaotic and on the hoof and not as per my christmas card picture of what I wanted it to be like. She of course is fine about that, just wants to see us, and doesn't care if the house isn't spotless or the cooking is a bit wonky, or even if there isn't a christmas tree!

froach, so sorry to hear what your FIL is going through. Keeping my fingers crossed for you all.

lottie, your MIL is like something from a sitcom.... I thought mine was a nuisance, but, wow... not very helpful, and no idea what to suggest. I think facebook should be renamed 'friendsnotfamilybook'...

Right, off to tescos rather later than planned to get some food - and some maternity pads!

Wow Ali! I reiterate sazlocks comments and am sending you loads of hypnobirthing thoughts for your 'surges' [clearlyobviousihaveneverbeeninlabouremoticon] but all the best and hope you are both well xxx
Thank you so much for all your caring words and support, it really does mean a lot. We are just waiting for him to have an mri scan now to determine his prognosis. He is well known in the town and many people are asking how he is getting on in hospital (has been in Glasgow for a couple of weeks). Which is really nice of them, but until he decides to tell people I will just have to lie - to my family too
Got my first work night out tonight so getting a cut and blowdry this afternoon, can't wait! Will miss next weeks tho as it is in Inverness and I don't fancy sitting in a car for 5 hours each way with 2 weeks to go! Still, I've been invited for lunch with my office prior to main job (2 years ago) - yipee!
Mrsmarjorie - fantastic news on Thomas! He sounds as if he is coming on leaps and bounds and he will be home in no time at all.
ctofn - how was the nativity play?
mistletoekisses - will send an email today.
Bethoo - I'm sorry but he just sounds like a dick. Everytime you meet up he seems to upset you, and you sure as hell don't need that crap. He actually sounds like a spoilt child who doesn't really know what he wants, but you are being remarkably strong and I'm sure you will know the best way to deal with the situation. Have you got your halti yet? Hope the wee mischief is behaving better
I still have no bag packed - although I now have washed the baby's clothes!!! I know I should be prepared for any eventuality, but if I have baby in town I will be back home within the same day. And if I get shipped up the road I will have access to lots of normal shops like Boots and supermarkets open past 9pm. On the other hand there are only 3 1/2 weeks left hopefully...
Sixmincepies - I have been getting a pain like you describe for a couple of weeks, particularly when I am lying in bed and move to the other side. It's not very sore, but am aware of it aching.
Good luck again Ali

ali away to get hypnobirthing folder......

IF LABOUR STALLS OR SLOW

a) Remove stress and relax - your not going anywhere.
b)Relax possibly nap - mum relaxed, baby relaxed, cervix will open
c)Nipple/clit stimulation -
e)walking in fresh air
f)relax in bath (not sure if you can do that after waters break can you??)
g)light touch massage

It also say's stuff about not letting them induce you. 50% of labours start 24 hours after waters released and antibiotics can be given if necessary.

Obviously this is up to you, just typing straight from notes.

Walking sideways upstairs is another one
along with the visualising opening blossom and balloon breathing.

Sending hypnobirthing easy birth vibes your way!!!

Doing my cheerleading dance with baby bump getting hard Go " A-L-I-B-O-B-I-N-S" Go!
Waving my hands in the air!!!!!go,go,go!

If baby comes today then it will be born on my baby girls bday whose 9 today!

so im of to shops for snacks and light bits to make sandwiches and then to blow up some balloons and put bday banner up! for when she comes home from school!

Bye for now will keep checking in on he progress!

Nativity play was of course lovely and more than a little cute and funny! Off for the first of my celvapan swine flu jabs v shortly. 2nd to be given 8 Jan which is after baby will be born .

Really really really tired this morning though - wondering how I will keep eyes open on the relatively short journey to next London borough for jab!

On another note, I'm feeling v proud and more than a little bit smug ... had a letter sent to me this morning from the Schools dept of our London Borough inviting DD to attend some Advance Learning Centre for Maths with other "high achievers in the area" as she has been recommended by her teacher as "exceptionally gifted and talented in the subject"! I know she's a little bright spark and she just loves schoolwork but didn't think she was anything particularly special. It's a lovely feeling though . Sorry for being so smug - won't tell anyone else really as don't want to be overtly smug but you guys will understand when you have your own LOs to be proud of....

Ah well, off for swine flu jab I guess.

Come on Ali - we're all waiting on you!!!

Oh shit. sorry for the profanity

Am I allowed to eat tuna, I've just woke up very hungry and made a tuna mayo butty, am I allowed mayo. omg I think I'm cracking up??

Sending birthing/contaction vibes to ali

My baby has been decidedly quiet today only moved once up to now, and not the usual big movement, just slight, I am probably worrying for nothing, might have my coffee and a glass of cold coke to see if it wakes up, if not I might have a trip to ante natal, anybody else think I'm over reacting??

SixMincePies - mayo from jar is fine (homemmade mayo with raw eggs etc is a no-no). Tuna out of a tin I wouldn't worry about either. I've had loads of it with both previous pgs. Only not eating it now as I've developed an allergy to all things seafood related! They do say not to have copious amounts of it though ie tin every day!

have coffee and coke and see what happens with bub. As you get further on, remember the movements do slow down and you will have quiet days. you only need to experience 10 movements in a whole day to know that everything is ok. x

That is the advice I'm trying to keep in my mind whensmydayoff, makes perfect sense but is a case of remembering...I made an apple and bramble crumble last night, but forgot to put the brambles in it!!!

sixmincepies relax, put your feet up, deep breathes. I'm sure everything is fine. Give bub some space and oxygen. If the coke/coffee doesn't give bub a prod, while relaxed try tapping your tummy with a finger (to get a little drum beat) just four or five times in quick succession, wait for a sec and repeat. This is guaranteed to wake my bump up, if only to get him to wiggle his ass at me.

Thanks cant and somewhat I'm just going to have 5 mins lay down and see if it wakes up. I'll report back

alibobins - one more note on induction to add to whensmydayoff - when I had DS my waters broke and nothing happened. I stayed at home for 4 days checking my waters on a pad, taking my temp regularly (in case of infection), bouncing on a birthing ball and trying the hypnobirthing methods described . I went into the hosp twice a day ( for CTG monitoring) I think the NICE guidelines say that you can go for up to 72 hours after a waters break before being induced as long as there are no signs on infection. You might, however, just want them to get on with it but just so you know that there are other options if you want to wait and see if everything starts off again naturally.
After 4 days I was induced and then things went from there.................

Yes tuna is fine sixmincepies, one can a week I think we are allowed so don't worry. Its just the mercury in it, we are supposed to watch we don't consume too much.

Ice cold water and a square of chocolate is what midwife told me. Im sure coffee and coke will do the same though.

I have to rant now....

Im a total horrible evil bitch today I don't know what the hell is wrong with me.

I don't feel like im in a particularly bad mood but OMG, the way I have treated my DS today is beyond belief.

Baring in mind - He is 2.7 yrs old and has been ill all week. He has also started to act strange about the baby as the furniture in the nursery is gradually being built.

Another big change is, I always have him out every morning, swimming lessons, rhyme time, meet friends etc but have kept him in all week with his bad cough.

ANYWAY... this week he has drawn on the white marble fireplace (not ours, we are renting ).
He is bright for his age and knows he can only draw on paper on his playtable.

This was the first weird incident and what made it extra weird is that when I went mad, he looked pleased ???
He isn't used to me shouting much and goes to pieces when I do normally.

When I was giving him a row for something else yesterday he starting hitting my stomach screaming baby baby baby !

My DH didn't recognise him when he got home from work either. He is honestly very placid, never hits, a gentle wee soul.
We were totally head scratching.

Today he found my hypnobirthing folder and proceeded to rip every page out and throw it all over the living room. Again, when I gave him a row he looked pleased.

Sooooo, thats the bit where I lost my mind and said things I can't believe like
"you are a horrible nasty bad boy (big evil angry face on). Go away I don't want to see you. Santa won't be coming to this house.
I ranted on and on and on (this is so unlike me with DS too). It's like I couldn't handle the fact he had NO reaction and was so pleased with himself, I was trying to get him to react???

After he said sorry, 10 minutes later he rammed his digger into my shin bone. I just about died. Off I went like a mad childish looney again. On and on and on.

I had tried to entertain him by making a chocolate cake earlier but he carried on being naughty through lunch so I said he couldnt have any.

He didn't looked bothered, just happy he was riling me !

Upstairs, getting him ready for his nap I asked (as if I hadn't gone on enough) "are you going to get up after your nap and be a good boy"
His reply
"No, Im going to hit mummy with a train" .

Oh yes, lost it again. Threw him in bed and threw duvet into cot and slammed door on way out.

I was so bloody childish and doing EVERYTHING wrong. I should have known he wasn't himself and something is up and kept it low key. He is obviously trying to get attention or is upset about the baby and I should have played it all down instead of, not only rising to it but acting like another 2 yrs old. grrrrr, silly cow.

Why the hell was I so upset by this???

I was stressing about the weird behaviour and unable to cope with it. As if me acting like an evil bitch is going to help.

What am I going to be like when the baby comes and im really exhausted.

He is understandably going to be acting up and im going to end up with a crap relationship with him.

In tears now. Please someone talk some sense into me and tell me what I can do to repair damage when he wakes up.

Sorry for going on.

Oh god, I've just answered the front door in the middle of expressing and found afterwards that my right boob had continued to drip whilst talking to the nice gentleman who wanted me to buy fish. So glad I was wearing a dark, patterned top.

Ali - contraction vibes coming your way.

Oh, WMDO I don't really know what to suggest as I've no experience. Maybe just start again with a different attitude when he wakes up and explain that you're going to do this and why.

un-MN hugs coming your way.

Whensmydayoff, poor you, being home for a week with a ill child, and then trying to deal with out of character behaviour is really hard, and when you're at our stage of pregnancy life in general seems to sap all your energy, so try not to dwell on what has happened and what you have said. I've had days like this too, and you don't recognise yourself either, but I am assured by the soppyiest of parenting books that it happens to everybody, and if anybody tells you otherwise, they are lying about how perfect they are... can't write much now, but will try and come back later and see how you are. I think all you can do it swallow, breathe and move on in terms of how you feel about your own reactions. Take care - hope you can get some respite over the weekend.

Just wanted to say that I may have implied that I think that people who keep perfect houses don't spend time with their children, and I didn't mean that at all, just that I am obviously not the sort to manage everything, so if I have to choose what to manage to do I'd choose the things I need to do as a mum rather than the housekeeping. Does that makes sense?