Due Jan 2010...the month our bumps become babes!!!

[mistletoekisses]

Getting us started with our new thread!

Will cut and paste the most up to date list so we know where we are.

Oh Fibi - so sorry. But you never know, have read that some labours progress very quickly after stop / start labours like this. Am hoping today is the day for you. Keep us updated!

Fibi don't loose heart, this is exactly what happened to me last week - I was really upset on Thursday afternoon when contractions seemed to stop but they kicked off again in the evening and Erin was here on Friday morning, my MW advised me to use the 'lulls' to rest and try to get energy back.... really hope that things kick off again soon. xxxx

fibilou Thats what mine was like. I was up at 4am with a show that continued all day and on and off contractions. Dd2 was born at 3am the next morning!

Try to sleep if you can, I bet you have your lo soon

Good luck fibilou

maygirl I would freak if I were told I had CS tomorrow ! well done for getting the date sorted though, at least now you know you will definitely have your LO by then if not before, you will not be pregnant forever.. I repeat you will not be pregnant forever..

Thanks everyone and good luck fibi, I don't mind, you can go first! I think it sounds positive, your body is doing its thing. Try to rest and eat well in the lull. I also had an oxytocin/prostaglandin session last night, but only resulted in a few braxton hicks. Keep teasing DH his stuff doesn't work!

Off to soft play again with DS1, though starting to lose mobility I am so huge.

Had some more contractions now so hopefully I might get some action today. If now poor DH will be getting more action tonight

Fingers toes legs and arms crossed for you fibilou

Good Luck - Fiblou - hope you get your hearts desire and have LO real soon.
Maygirl - hope your well also!
the last 2 as we approach the finish line of us all having our LO!
i dont believe isaiah is 2 weeks today wow - time has flown passed.

Contractions are back..

Contractions are getting quite strong, 7 minutes apart/30-40 seconds now for the past hour or so and MLU have suggested I go into the hospital to be assessed if it's labour or not

Great stuff fibi, sounds really really promising. Fingers, toes, arms, legs...everything crossed for you.
xx

Ohhh, I do believe that this could be it for fibi! Exciting!

Come on Fibilou - Push!

I wonder what is happening - No update for a while. Fingers crossed she is having snuggles with her lo

maygirl How are you?

Glad you're starting to feel better yangymac

Nothing happening here, trying to hold it together. Was upset this morning when midwife cancelled my sweep, got to go tomorrow now. Been out with DS1 for nice afternoon, so feeling better now.
I spent 2hrs crawling through tunnels with him yesterday at a playcentre, 41 weeks pregnant, huge, going down slides, nearly getting stuck in tunnels, you'd think that would have kicked things off last night, talk about optimal fetal positioning!
Giving up hope a bit now really

Hope fibi has her bundle now

Yangymac - nice to hear from you, but sorry you have been ill. I notice your post about DD1 having reflux. How did you know she had reflux and what did you do about it? I'm wondering whether Olivia has suddenly developed it at 5 weeks old? Not sure whether that's possible. She is only taking little bits of milk and then screams blue murder as though in chronic pain, doesn't like being on her back, only chest, over shoulder or on side.....

Baby Katharine Beatrice arrived yesterday after a rathing, erm, interesting evening.

Went to the MLU at 11 to assess the lie of the land; very uncomfy journey that took for hours. MW said I was not yet in labour, cervix was only probably 1cm dilated and to get ready for another 24-48 hours. Waters had not yet gone so we went back home again. She said to get some sleep as otherwise I would not have enough energy to cope when I got into established labour. Felt a bit down but at least things progressing

The journey in the car was really bad this time, got home about 1pm and tried to sleep. Put on tens as contractions were getting quite hard, tried to have a bath but didn't help. By 4am I really couldn't cope with the contractions and was struggling to breathe through them. By this point they were about 2.5 minutes apart. DH kept trying to keep me breathing but I couldn't and kept "fighting" them.

By 5.30 DH was on the phone to the maternity again and said I was struggling to cope. They said to come in but be aware it would draw out the labour longer. 6am he was ready to go in but the contractions were so strong there was no way I could face the 30 mile journey as I was writhing around on the floor. I said "I can't go there, we have to go t the DGH" - the one place I didn't want to go !! By this point I was convinced I was going to need an epidural as I was in such a state - I felt like the woman on the Amanda Holden midwife programme who had that meltdown.

So we went there at 6.31, I had 5 contractions in the space of about 8 minutes and when we got in the midwife said "You sound as if you're ready to push to me". Got in and tried to lie back for v/e - couldn't. She had me lie forward, said "next time you get a contraction feel free to push, I can see the baby's head"

4 pushes later at 6:47 baby Kitty came out; didn't even have time for gas and air, managed the whole labour on tens and 6 paracetamol ! Delivered placenta naturally and she latched on straight away. Had a small 2nd degree tear stitched

Was home by 11:30 and enjoying mummyhood

Wow fibilou congrats and lovely birth story and lovely name

Hope you don't mind me posting I've been lurking for your news after we spoke on another thread a few weeks ago.

fibilou Woo hoo!! I am actually in tears reading your story. What a fab labour I am so pleased she is finally here for you

maygirl Any news yet? Have they given you an induction date or another sweep date?

yangymac I hope all is ok now. I know what you mean - Babymoo is dd2 and we seem to leave her in her pram for hours when she is not feeding - Dd1 was held at all times!!

Babymoo still has no name! I had 3 hours sleep last night because she just wanted to feed and then did an almighty poo Off to mums today for our first trip out and I cant wait

Fibilou - Hurrah!!!! Well done you!!!

Congratulations Fibilou! Your story sounds very similar to mine - once it all kicked off properly, I was ready to push very soon after getting into hospital.

What a beautiful name!

I'm a bit late in making my announcement - baby Alexandra arrived at home, in water on 24th January! It was the birth i had hoped and dreamed about since dd1's traumatic birth in hospital 4 years ago. The braxton hicks i had been having for weeks changed after a long walk on Sunday morning. By about 1pm i was sure i was in labour (had a show and leakage of waters) and phoned my lovely doula, who started the 2 hour drive over to our house, bless her.

Phoned the midwife at about 4 and was told everyone in Norfolk was in labour that afternoon and could we please go to the hospital! The on call midwife phoned back at 5 and I said 'look, i'm having a contraction, can you speak to my doula?' After she'd been on the phone about 5 minutes, she must have said something very persuasive because we were told the only midwives available in Norfolk would be with us by 8, after a long drive from Norwich. By 7, the urge to push was growing with each contraction and I insisted on the paramedics being called in case the baby arrived before the midwives made it. However the mws did arrive with plenty of time to spare, and i succumbed to the wonders of gas and air (about 6 canisters in total!)

At this point i lost all sense of time, but 10 pm meant a shift change, and my own midwife volunteered herself to come out to me, even though she hadn't been on call that night. Seeing a familiar face was fantastic, although it also meant i felt comfortable enough to swear at her (and all the other faces peering into the pool) during contractions. Poor woman, talk about a thankless task...

Alexandra arrived about 11.15, and it was just amazing, not having to worry about hospital protocols or any of that nonsense... it was jsut perfect being able to hold her in the water, and then on the sofa, all cuddled up, for a good hour before having a natural 3rd stage. I'd say to anyone reading this and thinking about a homebirth next time, just go for it. I didn't think i could do it (she weighed nearly 9lbs and i'm only 5ft tall) and i had all kinds of doubts about whether the hb would actually happen but it just all worked out so well in the end, i'd definitely do it again (although i wasn't saying that during the birth, as my mw will testify).

congratulations fibilou and other recent arrivals - i kept meaning to keep up with this thread but failing!