Due March 2010 - "Hello Baby... Goodbye Pelvic Floor"

[Arcadie]

Welcome to the March Preggos. Here's hoping we see nearly 1000 posts before anyone pops!

P&P - hope all is going well for you, breathe, breathe.... and PUSH!

manda - how exciting - will you post the pics when you get them?

siamese - I watched that leaving home at 8 programme and blubbed all the way through it too - couldn't understand why that mum was doing it as it was obviously killing her... BPM - that must have been really hard going away to board so young, has your mum ever explained to you why she did it?

caitni - hoping you've spurred everyone into divulging how they met their DH/DP now! (I met mine because we were housemates during our PhDs - not very scandalous or exciting!)

Had my MW appt today at the MLU where I'm hoping to give birth. There are 3 rooms, one with a pool, one just nice and airy with a lovely view, and one that looks like, I kid you not, a LAP DANCING CLUB!!! It has a disco ball, glittery lights and an illuminated pole - why that would be useful during labour I do not know... Just have to keep my iron levels up because they won't accept you if your iron levels are less than 10 and mine are 10.4 - had spinach for dinner tonight...

Hey Skid don't forget to post the poledancer/labouring woman photos as soon as you have him hey!? Seriously.... a glitter ball? Why on earth.....

Er, lap dancing theme birth room? I have now officially heard it all, thanks DrSkid . Really hope that's not the one free when you're in labour!

Hey Donttry welcome back . Are you finished work now? I'm on maternity leave and it's just great. The last weeks at work were mental...though thankfully a distant memory already!

Anna wow, what a cool what you two met! Rock on . I met my DH at 16 (he was 17) though thankfully we didn't get together then (there's no way it would have worked, due to a combo of my stroppy teenager-ness and the fact that we were moving back to separate continents). But he was the one that got away though, iykwim...and he claims I was always his first love . We lost touch entirely for 8 years, during which I wondered about him and only ever heard vague rumours of how he was getting on, before getting back in touch via email in 2003...he then came to visit London and that was that...within 6 months he'd moved over from LA and that was that .

Aaaanyway, enough rambling from me

Pixie I command thee to unleash the power of pregnancy hormones at your disposal to force the school to sort out their admin issues tomorrow

MrsJammin head down - clever baby .

Big waves to everyone else. I've had a lovely day - pregnancy yoga (for the first time since before Christmas!), a pregnancy massage (totally divine!) and batch cooking a whole load of spag bol (well, half will be turned into lasagne) for the freezer. And found out that another NCT friend had her baby today - 3 down, 5 to go.

And, major excitement, we're picking up the birth pool tomorrow - yay! We booked it so long ago, and it felt like this day would never come...and now it's tomororw morning! So best get some shut eye.

Night ladies

I've been woken up by two things. 1) My cat climbing over me to wake me up to let her outside at 7am, 2) crampy contraction pains.

So I'm downstairs now, leaning over the sofa - knees on the floor, elbows on the sofa typing this, still feeling crampy.

I'm not due until 4 March, although it says 5 March on the thread list I'm afraid to change it in case I balls it up! So that still gives me just under 3 weeks to go.

Is it normal for a first pregnancy to feel this way for the last 3 weeks or so? Crampy, frequently feeling wet to the point I'm scared my waters have broken without my knowledge?

Feel like I need to go and search for more information online.

By the way, I'm 3/5th engaged, and baby is full of movement, nice and active.

I feel like a silly newbie for not knowing more about the processes for early labour, but from what I've read there are so many variables between people.

Urgh! Advice needed please.

TLC

TLC - keep us posted. This is definitely one way labour can start. 3 weeks early is fine - you're full term. But it may just be one of the mean tricks your body plays on you to get you all excited that it's kicking off and then by mid afetrnoon you'll be back doing the ASDA shop as though nothing had happened.

And the wet thing? Perfectly normal. In fact I believe I may have posted on facebook that my waters had broken a full 3 weeks before DD born because I was so convinced that nothing else could have caused that much damp....

How often are the cramps? It can all start about 1 every 20 minutes or even less regularly but as you say it's properly variable. One every 5 and you're almost certainly in labour...

morning ladies
TLC I didn't have crampy feelings til the night before DD was born in my first pregnancy but I've been having crampy feelings for days now so it could be something or nothing.
As for the wetness I phoned my MW thinking my waters must be leaking (with DD) but it was just the increased discharge which is entirely normal. I'm getting it again now. When my waters did break with DD I knew all about it - I was a real gushers - I may have mentioned that before - I was quite taken aback by the volume and continuosness (is that even a word?)
of it.
What I'm trying to say is that things are looking promising but it may still be a while. When I was concerned about my waters leaking MW told me to put on a pad and if it wet through then to call her back. Also urine has a distinctive smell, waters have an almost sweet smell.
You have reached 37 weeks so your baby is considered full term so really it could be anytime now - how exciting.
I keep thinking my baby is coming but then nothing - you'd think second time around I'd have more of a clue but not really.
I just wish it always happenend the same way expect x, y then z to happen rather than your waters might break, contractions start, baby comes, but others have contractions first then waters then baby and some babies are born with waters intact. Sorry waffling now.
Manda great news about the Dove thing. I'd be embarrassed to be photographed in bra and jeans right now as I feel the size of a beached whale and have hideous stretch marks on my belly. I can't believe you still fit in your size 8 jeans plus hairband - where are you hiding this boy of yours????
pixie hope you get the confirmation you want today before you send yourself over the edge.
mrsJamin glad baby is head down and arcadie too.
caitni jealous of your pampering and rinders too. Must be exciting getting the pool today (not my thing at all but know that SIL had 2 really good experiences)
DrSkid wow at the lapdancing room for at the MLU - wonder who came up with that idea? Maybe if you have it in your birth plan you want an active birth they give you the pole to writhe around with !!!! Were you able to keep a straight face when you saw it?
donttry nice to see you back. How are you doing?
scooby enjoy the start of mat leave.
IWCAS did you get your MLU thing sorted or will you be going to the hospital?
I've just scrolled back through and realised that at least half of the posts mention thinking that labour is imminent and talk of waters breaking - sorry apart from you henrietta! I suppose at this late stage of pregnancy it is just going to be a daily feature - is this the day the baby is going to come?
Homebirthers we are expecting prompt and frequent updates of progress! I will be in hospital and detached from my laptop so if I go quiet for a few days you know where I'll be !!!!
Still wondering how EmlouT is and whether P&P has her babe in arms or whether induction is taking a while, can take days for induction apparently.
enjoy half term weekend away pacific

Hey TLC, how are you doing now? My due date is now the 7th and I've been feeling pretty much as you describe - crampy and wet - for over a week now. The same thing happened to me last time: on-off period style cramps for 5 - yes, 5 - weeks before baby was born. Of course, that doesn't mean it'll be the same for you. I think some people's labour begins as period pain. Mine didn't: the diff between those period cramps and my first (mild) contraction left me in no doubt as to what it was. But, as I say, it's different for everyone. Do you want this to be labour?

I am so not ready for this baby to arrive although I did finally finish work yesterday!!! And had a lovely meal out with DH. DS has spent the night at PILs so I should still be asleep but it seems that I have lost the knack of lie-ins.

disco ball?? Now I've heard it all!

Morning

Ooh TakeLovingChances!!! It could be the wetness is your waters slowly leaking but equally might not. Have you tried putting a pad on and erm 'collecting' some of the wetness? If you do that and then smell it you might be able to tell, waters are sweet smelling apparently and wee smells like, well, wee!

I had period typr crampyness in the last week or so before I went in to labour lst time iirc but I don't think it was to the point of having to lean on anything, everyone is different though.

If you're in doubt then don't hesitate to call the midwife and ask for advice. Are you giving birth at hosp/birthcentre or home?

Hi!

Thanks for the comments, they helped a lot. I think I'm going to have a nice bath now and use some of the lovely Avon products I got last night DH is out at a men's church breakfast atm, so I have the house to myself.

Will keep you posted, but will try not to include TMI about my wetness etc.

Arcadie the cramps can last around 25-30 seconds, but come at varying times - sometimes a mad cramp every half and hour, or slightly more frequent. I don't think they are anywhere near established labour, but just my body getting ready to rock and roll.

Sorry for the me me me posts this morning; I just needed to get it off my chest and I knew there'd be a wealth of experience from you lot.

TLC - I thought I was in labou 4 wks early with DS - infact was admitted into hosptital (on christmas day

All wnet quiet again though and DS1 arrived on time.

I have started to get frequent runs of painful contractions and I convinced that 'this is it'. They seem to die away again thgough.

If you walk around when you waters have broken then I'm pretty sure you will be 'dribbling'. You can also talk to your hospital - the widwifes will be bale to alk you through and understand if you are really on the off! Good luck either way.

DSkid - my Dad got a job in Nigeria so I guess it wasn't just my Mum's decision (my dad died when I was 17) and she's quick topoint out. However my feeling is that it s all about the choices you make. DH would never accept a job away from home regardless of how much money. To be far my Dad came from an air force background where t was normal to send your children to boarding school. many of the mothers of such young children stayed in the UK with them until they were at least teenagers and old enough to go.

Mum says that (a) I wanted to go (I was 9 -boarding school to me was minight feasts and Malory Towers); (2) I had a scholarship to one of the top schools in the country and the oppounity to have a superb education. Indeed I did and I do appreciate that - however I could have that in many places.

This was before the age of mobile phones and proper telephon lines to Africa. I would speak to parents only when I saw them in the schoold holidays. Half term and my one 'exeat' (weekend away) per term were spent with my neighbours (a miserable experience as they woldn't let me visit my family home, next door).

Mum also says that I never told them I was unhappy (our letters were censored /read before we sent them when I wa at the prpe school) and that if I had she would have come home. I recall telling. the only time I remember been given a choice was when when my dad died shortly after starting my sixth form. I chose to stay as I had changed schools (something I had really fought for) and was happy in my new school.

There - wave of self-pity over!

Time to go pack my hospital bag, sort the baby clothes, put the Moses basket back together (I took it apart stupidly to clean it and cant quite remember how to put it back together again), tidy the house for another viewing and stop the boys from trashing it.

We all seem to have cross-posted!

Morning all.

Have had a race through the thread and so delighted about Meita! She sounds like such a lovely person (and a great writer).

Really interesting to hear about the signs of labour.

Everyone seems to be doing well. I'm sure Emlou is fine, just too busy to post.

Sorry I can't comment on everything individually but i'd have to spend my whole day on the computer!!

I'm one of the homebirthers and got my pool (La Bassine) last week as well as lots of old towels and sheets from freecycle (in great condition actually)).

Started my maternity leave yesterday so hopefully will have a little more time now to post...until babs comes (due 1 March).

Off for brekkie, then pregnancy yoga.

Oh yeah, I meet my DH on the Guardian soulmates...not quite as romantic as the other stories, but soooo delighted I bit the bullet and have it a go. He is an absolute dote (Corkonian for darling!).

So excited about the baby...

My hospital has a glitterball too. It's in the, wait for it, Snoozelum. Click here to see the glitterball. There seems to be an illuminated pillar in the corner with mirrors around it. Too big to swing around I fear.

TLC I've read about false labour - which is where cramps come at varying times. Once they get regular, then you should ring your midwife. I suppose they are strong Braxton Hicks.

Right, off to Ikea to look for a nursing chair type thing.

drskid don't want to rain on your Spinach parade but I've heard it's not exactly true about the iron levels in it - i think the decimal point got put in the wrong place and then everyone took it as writ...it IS yummy though....x
popeye sorry
I assume you are spatoneing it anyway?

Am down in devon with my mum enjoying a non hungover day whilst DGM and DH suffer albeit in silence after a raucous pub quiz last night... love it

TLC hope you are feeling better... FWIW I'm also getting crampyness, but (tmi alert) it's generally when I need a poo... had this last time, have to breathe through the pain. Am considering starting the Movicol early just to keep things regular....

better play with DD. Hope all ok, sorry to post and run

Afternoon all, hope everyone's having a good weekend. I'm currently hiding out in the bedroom while our new bathroom is being installed. It was supposed to take a week; has now been 2 weeks and isn't yet finished TLC et al, I've also been crampy for the past week or so, usually at some point in the evening most days. And perpetually damp (with occasional "leaky" feeling) but am assuming that's just increased (TMI) discharge. Might ask the midwife later in the week.

Looking forward to news from P&P, how exciting to have our first arrival!

I'm watching Scotland v Wales at rugby. I'm hoping the excitement will bring the baby on!!! I'm 100% Scottish but live in Wales now, DD was born in Wales and this one will be born in Wales too - DH is English and just doesn't get excited by sport at all! He's gone out and DD is asleep so I'm going to get on the birthing ball and bounce and cheer.
I have a strong craving for a can of lager right now but might just stick to the RL tea!

I just checked the postnatal board just in case but I can't see any new thread for either March or Feb 2010.

Welcome back to everyone who had gone missing!

Sounds exciting/scary to have cramps like that... I didn't get any cramps until I was close to labour last time but I guess there's no way of knowing for sure if it is the start of something real or not.

I also have a lot of discharge and wetness. No such thing as TMI on here I think anyway!

Does anyone feel their baby move a lot sometimes and it's quite painful? I don't mean kicking, I mean like changing position. I don't mind the pain so much but I'm worried the baby will turn breech or something, it was really moving around A LOT last night and today, it was hurting my belly from the inside.

Manda - hmm yeah maybe you should buy maternity jeans for the shoot! You can always bring them back after the shoot. Exciting! But I would have thought they'd have a makeup artist there, maybe not because the whole point of the Dove advertising campaign is they want normal & natural women...

Glitterballs haha, thanks for photo link Shroomer, it had to be seen to be believed. I have heard about poles though, my MW mentioned something about that in our new birthing centre. I can see myself being high on gas&air and trying to pole dance.

Smac - forgot to say, surely a can of lager is ok at this stage... or at least half. I'm watching the Olympic downhill race tonight.

Anna, I keep checking in for any news too!

My baby really seems to turn around sometimes - the other night was particularly painful and it was like she was doing somersaults in there. How there's room, goodness only knows! When I last saw the mw she couldn't really tell where the head was and said I may have to be sent for a scan if that's still the case next time I see her.

Manda, well done on the shoot. One of my SILs did the same for Dove a few years ago (not when pregnant though). I can't remember details of it though, sorry. Am of your size 8 jeans though, maternity or otherwise!

With my last pregnancy I felt like I was going to give birth 3 days before I actually did. Real panic moment actually - we decided to go out in Starford-upon-Avon on a bank holiday Monday in my sports car, which only I was insured to drive at the time, got stuck in traffic and these horrendous pains started. Poor DH was panicking more than I was I think!! TLC, how are you feeling now? Have the pains subsided?

I got back a while ago from my facial & pedicure, both of which were wonderful.

Ha, Centreparcs has WiFi !!!

Yes, I am terminally sad, but will only wave and leave you to it again as my family have a right to mummy on occasion, I feel .

I am very crampy on and off, also lots of bladder and cervix bouncing is happening which is really quite disconcerting at times.

Hello, TLC, just to add to everybody elses good advice, if your crampy tightening turn into 'real' labour, you will know ALL about it IMO... And the start of labour is so individually different: I know women who had painful contractions for literally days but maybe only 1 an hour. Personally, I woke up at 5am with first painful contraction and by 6am I was unable to get out of the bath myself, DH had to dress me and on arrival in hospital @ 7.30 I was 8cm dilated - so there! Anything is possible...
And yes, 37 weeks is absolutely fine.

Hope PandP is getting to know her babe by now . And still worrying about EmLouT...

Have a nice weekend all .