Due March 2010 - I'm a baby get me out of here!

[annamama]

New ante-natal thread... the post-natal thread is here

And another day of joy and sunshine in the Dogwood household: both big boys off school with vague and non-specific complaints, headache, nausea, admittedly one bout of diarrheoa by DS1 - I just do not trust the little blighters! And the way this morning has gone, if their various ailments don't finish them off, I just might... .

Anyway, just checking in, I'll leave again before I inject somebody with my foul mood. AND I have to go to work today, gah!!!

Not having a good day today, just a bit fed up of it all and have pretty much given up on any plans I had for a homebirth (am 40+6 today) because every day now is one day closer to being induced

Feeling quite low generally (various issues with parents have resurfaced now I'm so close to being a parent myself), having a really crappy night's sleep and generally being hormonal hasn't helped! Anyway, have got myself dressed and have made a cake and had a bit of a cry and feel quite a lot better now, so am going to aim for a productive afternoon finishing my OU assignment - if I get enough done I might treat myself to a trip to the library this afternoon Sorry, didn't mean to come on here and be such a miseryguts!

And who knows, tonight COULD be THE night...

I'm on FB too but can't see who the latest mommy is...Arcadie don't make us to beg!

Congrats scooby and drskid, wonderful news!!!

and annamama, great news on baby turning, mine is in a weird position with its back on my right side and limbs on the left. Should I be crawling on all 4?!

Loved reading all the cat stories. BusyMissIzzy I'm a bit of a cat lady myself, I've had 4 at one point, now down to two. I am a bit worried how they will cope with the new baby. One is really crazy obsessed with me. She wants to cuddle from morning to night. I really hope she doesn't freak out when she won't be getting so much loving. Obviously baby comes first!

Went for a long walk to the park yesterday. Got so winded I thought I'd have to take a taxi back.

Been eating lots of biscuits as well and made a lemon poppyseed cake as backup. Will attempt another walk today, maybe a shorter one...

Hope everyone is having a relaxing day...

blonde36er, sorry to hear that you're feeling miserable...a trip to the library sounds like a good distraction.

Have you tried natural methods of inducing labour? I don't have experience as this will be my first but I've been reading up on it in case I do need it. I'm sure there's lots of info on mumsnet. Apparently accupuncture can also help.

Hope your day gets better...

Wow, spend a morning catchingup on sleep and come on here only to find that we have another secret birth AND, and, no doubt, all the biccies have been eaten.

Still, lots to make me laugh. Midwifery 101 and "Is it chicken pox or pizza?" in particular.

Blonde, obviously your post didn't make me laugh. Sorry you are feeling rubbish. Going overdue is horrid. Can't remember if it's your first or not but I do remember when I was climbing the Walls with being overdue with my ds, my midwife told me that more firsttimers delivered at 41+1 than at any other date. And you're not there yet.

Measuring time in terms of episodes of OBEM is a great idea, BusyMissIzzy. I'm doing that too!

Right then sulkers...... who remembers Retromum? She had a little boy yesterday evening.

And it won't astound you to hear that Smac has news but I'll give her a while before I spill her beans for her.

Well done both of you...

Hello ladies

So another birth but who is it? I'd stroke my chin in a knowing way but I've no idea! A thorough check of facebook revealed nada to me...so hats off to arcadie and her detective skills!

Mummyelk I was literally snorting with laughter at your midwifery 101 . Your DH sounds like a trooper, bless him (anna do let us know if your DH raises the midwifery 101 bar )

Blonde so sorry to hear you're feeling down, a good cry and some diversionary reading sounds like the perfect response...I'm also planning a homebirth and already (at 40+1) am worried I'll have to give it up in order to be induced. But you're only 40+6, ie you have 8 days in which to have baby naturally and that's loads of time (i know it doesn't really feel like that right now...). Take heart from Sariska's words (I know I am!) about 41+1 being a common delivery date (and of course DrSkid just had her beautiful boy at 40+10). And can you talk to your midwife about a sweep?

Iwonka I also thought I'd need a taxi back from the park yesterday! But it was nice to be out and about in the sunshine, especially seeing lots of mums and dads with babies (eyes on the prize!).

Am waiting for the midwife to appear so don't have long (also need to do a quick tidy up of the living room) but I did read all the posts. Am loving all the cat talk - am a dog person myself but my DH is a cat person and our plan is to get pets once we settle somewhere.

Quite enjoyed OBEM last night - I'm glad Joy got her lovely baby in the end. I really liked them, in that I found them so honest - I'd be narky like her if induction attempts kept failing and I was traipsing around the hospital for days! And their little arguments (like when he couldn't find the vest) just seemed very real and normal...anyway, I know it's all editing. Also really liked the midwife who had been at the MLU. Finally, a midwife who attempted to get a woman off her back during labour! I was also at the constant g&a. I like to think if I was like that in front of my own mum she'd yank it off me and tell me to cop myself on . Still, she had a lovely baby girl and her family seemed lovely. So lots of happy hormonal tears from me last night

Had third acupuncture this morning and she used this really cool machine (like a tens machine) to stimulate the needles - felt great and baby and tummy was moving a lot. Still only mild BHs though, but am hoping it helps baby find the exit. Am also hoping the midwife says baby is lower this week, as am finding walking much harder. Not quite bowling ball between the legs but definitely waddling not walking these days...

Any else find that people just stare and/or comment on your bump when you're out and about? It's been positive in the main - little smiles and things like "oh, I hope you have a good birth!" - but I walked back from the Whittington this morning and by the time I got home I felt like telling people to naff off. Makes me feel v self conscious in a "yes, I am waddling around to try and bring on labour and please stop staring as it's annoying the life out of me!" kind of way

Think we need a bigger sofa...can I join you...stamps feet WHO IS IT then...

BusyMissIzzy I didn't actually BF the cat!!!!!!!!!!! would love for him to curl up on my lap but i think he thinks he cant as when he was new he'd just settle & Id have to get up to sort one of the kids out, so now he has a special basket in cosy corner where he (still) lies and suck & paws my old jumper.

mummyelk lol at desc of cervix...

wave to everyone else - my knee popped out of socket last night - I nearly woke the whole house with my yowl...I was only trying to put my EPO in!! hows that for when people ask well what were you doing when you knee went out DH wasn't very sympathetic but he is really tired a tthat time of night.

sweeps had one last time wasn't painful - a little uncomfortable maybe, but i think it depends how far gone you are - I was 3cm dilated & effaced...

trying to skim over posts about OBEM as didn't get chance to watch last night.

Congrats to Retromum - thanks Arcadie! I was actually wondering about her the other day...glad to hear she's had her baby

oops must have cross posted

What's an EPO?

evening primrose oil - you're supposed to eat one put one up to soften cervix - thought it was worth a try ...

Don't worry Henrietta I didn't think you BF'd cat! Just meant that even the cat trying to BF would freak me out Reminds me of The League of Gentlemen.

Congrats to Retromum and eagerly awaiting news from Smac, hope it all went well.

now thinking of the other thinkgs EPO might have stood for

Cheers ladies, your wise words have bucked me up quite a bit I know you're all right about having plenty of time yet but it just feels so much like the clock is ticking!

Having a sweep tomorrow...wonder if that's why so many first timers have their babies at 41+1...MUST BE POSITIVE!

And Iwonka - yes, have tried various methods of natural induction but nothing's worked...might see if DH wants to try the preferred method again tonight Acupuncture not an option as I have a real issue with needles (anyone else baulk at the sight of Joy's epidural needle on OBEM last night?!)

Think it's time for another piece of cake, don't want it going stale!

Cheers again

Regarding that lady who was on the G+A continuously - I also thought that they should have taken her off it for a bit. They should have a 'low dose' button that they can sneakily hit if a mother sucks on it too much, or an OFF button. In medicine, psychology etc, there is such a thing as informed consent, and I don't think that she was in any situation to give her informed consent to anything the MW/doc asked. She was too high.

Haha, I was a first timer giving birth on 41+1, spooky.

I remember Retromum but she hasn't posted on here for ages? Congrats if you're still reading!

Henrietta - your knee popped out? OUCH! Love your bump pic on FB btw, looks like you stuck a ball under your top... Are you PG for real or are you some weirdo just pretending your are?

BF the cat... OUCH!

Arcadie - didn't Smac say she wanted you to spill the beans if she had posted on FB? Someone did for sure so back and check your notes!

Caitni - aw bless have some patience with people, they are just fascinated by your lovely big bump. No one ever looks at mine out here in the middle of nowhere, maybe cuz there's nothing better to do than being pg so everyone is...

Pacific & Blonde36er - hope your moods improve! Cheer up love! (oh I hate it when people say that)

Pixie i hope you are alright! How many faints have you had this pg?

Talking about breastfeeding read this

urgh.

I have two lovely siameses who follow me around like Im the Pied Piper - Dh calls me a cat shepherd - and Im very concerned they might go mental when I have my kitten There certainly wont be enough arm and lap space for all of them!

Ive been quiet for a few days - mostly cleaning and baking, had some serious contractions which died away to nothing, so started all the recommended natural induction techniques as I really dont want to be induced or have on and off labour like some of our ladies.

I see we have more babies! Yey! Congrats to DrSkid, Smac (i assume) and everyone else.. Did any of the new mums do perineal massage/ drink raspberry tea/ do hypnobirthing and have an opinion on whether it was useful??

off to buy EPO henrietta - youve inspried me.

pixie you ok...get someone round there to look after you now...[bossy emoticon]
annamamma yep more like a beach ball, and if Id had £1 for every time someone had commented on it this pregnancy Id be a rich woman.
very bored today as you can see ny my MN time...
blonde36er think you have a right to be down at that far on - im grumpy now at 36.5wks!!but all the best for your sweep tomorrow.

Pixie, are you taking care of yourself? I.e. Lying down and resting right now.

Can't believe you popped out your knee joint when inserting EPO capsules, Henrietta. What a mental image that conjured up. Still, it inspired me to go out and buy some although I think I'll take them orally. Do they, um, sort of dissolve if you put them up your fanjo? How high do you need to put them?

Caitni, I'm another dog person, although growing up we had both dogs and cats. DH - who has never had a dog and thus arguably has no real concept of the amount of work they involve - would love one now. I have vetoed the idea until dc2 is past the baby stage.

Was interested to see how many of you felt your pets fell in your affections after having a baby. That happened to me, too, in relation to one of my mother's dogs, who really started off as mine (long story). It still makes me feel guilty.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I know I keep going AWOL, and not for all the right reasons either ie I'm still pregnant.

Have lurked every coupla days so am up to speed and feeling guilty I've not commented/congratulated. Obviously I'm so happy and proud of all our new Mums and, truly, heartfelt congrats to you all.

Why am I in SUCH a funk?! I've got quite a bit of crap going on with ex-DH (well, technically we're still married... we should have been divorced by now but he basically screwed up by not paying the court fees (which I then AVE TO HIM to pay) and now it's apparently on my shoulders to pay it direct if I want it to go ahead - only now there's no chance of a nisi before the birth and I'm all freaked out that, in the eyes of the law, any baby born to into a marriage is automatically considered the husbands. Yes, we've been apart over 3 1/2 years but never got a formal seperation order and as I said the divorce process has been dragging on and on... since I was 12 weeks pregnant. Add in DS seems to be having some 'issues'. His attitude stinks, getting into trouble at school, being rude/ungrateful to me... I barely recognise him. I love him as much as ever but find it difficult to like him lately (isn't this supposed to happen with DD's? Mine is 15 on sunday - we are still amazingly close and she's a star as far as behaviour and effort at school/home) In his more 'normal' moments, he's clingy, apologetic and says he thinks it's because he's starting puberty (ever known a 12 year old to be so self aware? No, me either!) and is far too easily influenced by the people he's hanging out with at school. I just don't have the mental capacity to help him right now which makes me feel such a failure.

And sooooooo tired. I barely sleep at night. DP has to be up for work at 5.15am and however much I try once I awake with him I can NOT go back to sleep.

I'm so pathetically whiney!

This is why I haven't posted; I knew it would come tumbling out (I'm actually holding back quite a bit too believe it or not!)

Missed OBEM - I'll watch it on catch up now...

I would like add myself to the list of people who are feeling grumpy/sad today. Just came back from the market - took a bus there, which was full and not a single person offered me a seat . And I felt too or something to ask for one. Came back feeling quite sorry for myself, spoke with my mom, and had a good cry. Sometimes being pregnant, and feeling huge, and hormonal gets to me. I think it's time to climb into bed and read a book...

Oh, we seem to have x posted Iwonka. So sorry you're feeling poopy too.

Another thing... my swelling is getting quite bad in my feet/ankles to the point that even when I get up in the morning if I press my ankle it leaves a dent. By the evening it looks like my feet might just explode. Should I be worried (I kinda am)/contacting the midwife(I don't want to and seem over anxious)? She seemed so blase last week, making me an appointment for two weeks time (when the doc had been concerned) that I feel... silly? Ugh. I dunno.