drip drip drop little april baby shower

[nicnacinoonoo]

hope i got the title right.

does anyone else think maybe rtuff has gone into labour?? her last message said that the baby was 3/5 engaged which isnt supposed to happen in 2nd or more pregnancies until right before labour! hope she's ok.

Congratulations AdelaideJo that is lovely and I think the name Erin is so pretty, it was on our list too!
Congrats too to Toady, glad the feeding is goinmg well.
Hope you get some sound advice Zeeky you really should be seeing someone at 41 weeks.
Dwayne ditto on the mastitis, am crippled today.

Hey guys, my lil' Valentin is now 11 days old and sleping against my legs so I thought I'd share my birth story...

Maybe it was the Clary sage that kicked it off, bought some and used it on the Friday 1.30 Saturday morning had my first contraction and show. Had another one about 30 mins later and thought 'ooh ok I'll keep my eye on the clock'... only after that they never stopped!! Rang hospital, they advised a bath, hopped in and out of bath, still constantly contracting, had to ask DP to help me put on the sanitary towel, most undignified moment of my life!
Went to hospital - 5 cm dilated!
No slow build up or anything... Just BANG and I was in labour!
I was a bit hysterical and panicky but the midwives and breathing and gas and air sorted me out a bit. On examination baby was back to back.
The urge to push was so intense and overwhelming and like nothing I've ever felt before. And so scary because I knew it was too early to push but almost couldn't stop it. So I opted for the epidural to at least take that feeling away.
When it came time to push I was very calm and chilled out with my epidural and let it wear off a lil' so I could feel the contractions.. all was going well.. pushing for an hour and half.. but the baby wasn't coming out!
A horrid doctor turned up and shoved a hand inside me and announced we were going to theatre - I freaked out and panicked and got all hysterical again and then when I actually had to have the c section I couldn't bloody breathe 'cos I'd cried and swollen my face up so much!!
DP has never seen the birth of a baby and was very calm and lovely throughout and he held the baby first, next to me and it was a really lovely moment knowing the baby was out there and alive and well and cuddling his daddy! Then I had to stop looking at the baby because I was crying again and really couldn't breathe!
So all's well that ends well, got out of hospital after 3 days, now I am a mummy and I'm very very very tired!!!

Congratulations on the birth of baby George Toady rumpleteaser - Your birth story sounds very similar to mine and we were also back to back. I got freaked out by the intensity of the pain and asked for a c-section straight away. Midwife suggested an epidural which I had always been against but I was so glad I changed my mind as I know that there is no way I could have handled the labour without it.

Zeeky I admire you sticking to your guns. The community midwives or the hospital should be able to ensure you see someone.

I had a crappy appointment with the obs. Baby is 9lb 4 according to scan which we expected so ok so far..Obs said I could go til next Thurs and then they would schedule me in for a section that day and do a trail of labour first - so if they can, they will break my waters and move things along with the drip if nessesary - no induction pessarey cause of the previous section scar (thank god)- so thats positive..

BUT the obs was like 'happy to do this for you but you do know they the most likely cause for your failure to progress and EMC last time was a big baby and you have to prepare for the same outcome. In one fell swoop all the positivity I had being building up came crashing down. I have 8 days to go into labour and since I never did the last time I can't see I will this time and even if I do he made it sound like I will end up with a section anyway. I have being totally miserable since we got back. On the plus side the scan showed the cutest little (ahem) thing, knawing away at his hand. Rant over..thank you to anyone who is still listening .

Boodstress - so sorry the Obs was so negative. Try and keep positive - there have been a few successful VBACs on here so far. A friend of mine who was induced with her first went into labour naturally last week a week late and had a successful VBAC. Baby wasn't quite as big as yours but almost 9lbs, so there is definitely hope!

Still nothing happening with me. Sick to death of curry and the smell of clary sage! Will try and get hold of my midwife again tomorrow, otherwise will be onto the community midwives again to see someone else.

And the waiting continues....

Thanks Zeeky. I know I need to think about all the success stories - I just wonder how many of them had sections because of failure to progress and then went on to have a big baby by VBAC. I think I want a survey of 5,000 women in my exact situation . I am sure overnight mother nature will remind me how bloody lucky I am and I will wake up feeling much more positive .
I refuse to have anymore curry either. Nookie I will try now as I am desperate. I have reflexology booked for tomorrow night so maybe that will kick start things.
Ray81 was yesterday afternoon really things starting? Hope so for you. I am having a lovely big uncomfortable BH radiating around to my back as I type that in any normal person would be the start of something...Bah!
Keep the faith Zeeky and all the other overduers!

Boodstress BH radiating around to my back was the start of my labour, hoping it is for you too!

Been meaning to say congrats to Toady - if bump is a boy he is going to be a George too

Hi Ladies, am still here too, the contractions came to nothing whish was just typical, i didnt get a chance to come on yesterday as went for a lLONG walk, walked about 5 miles in the end and guess what NOTHING. I was awake between 2-4 last night just couldnt sleep so am shattered today and my belly feels iffy, hope i am not getting a bug or something.
Can you tell i am fed up?

Boodstress So sorry the Obs was very negative, please try and stay positive there is every chance you will have a VBAC, what do they know anyway!!! not alot from my point of view.

Well off to do housework and then chill for the rest of the day me thinks. I give up trying to get this baby out she will come when she is ready.

That is VERY impressive Ray I can't walk for 5 mins without shouting in pain or needing a pee. I wake at that time too and I go to the loo about 5 times, listen to DH snore cause of his chest infection (poor lamb ) and play bob the body part with the baby in my tummy. DS is waking an hour earlier too just to mix it up a bit more. Waiting til next Thurs is going to be like an endurance test! I am going to try and stay positive though, my evening cramps/BH are getting stronger so maybe Dollshouse is right and they will be the start of something.

Is anyone else getting insane itching on the bump? I don't have it anywhere else but in the morning and in the evening it is so horrible.

Hi there - still here. 40+5 now and having a couple of hours of contractions a night, but they don't go anywhere. I have a sweep this afternoon but I fully expect to be told I'm not favourable.

Boodstress sorry about your obs appointment. I don't understand how "a big baby" is a reason for failure to progress. Bad position maybe, but not big baby. (Although I dare say your obstetrician knows a bit more about it than me).

Now for a slow walk down to Morrisons. How exciting!

Boodstress - with you on the insane itching but am smothering bump in oil several times a day in an effort to reduce this feeling. In addition I have developed a sudden urge to eat hunks of cheddar cheese (all the time) but only in the last 3 or 4 days. Odd because I never had any cravings in either of my 2 pregnancies so far.
Can't believe Ray walked 5 miles yesterday! That must be the equivalent of a marathon in a non-preg person. Hope it triggers things off for you today.
Today my plan is to toddle off to the supermarket (to get more cheese) and it'll be sod's law my waters break whilst I'm in there (my biggest fear). The other day someone asked me when I was due and when I said "yesterday" they looked at me aghast and said " What are you doing out?? Is there somebody else with you!????"
Anyone else getting looks of horror from the general public?

I get looks of horror when I tell people how overdue i am. It's like their worried I will spontaneously give birth in front of them - chance would be a fine thing!

Curry again last night & lots of clary sage massaged into bump & lower back before bed but still nothing. Thinking I'll have to jump DH tonight even though it is the last thing I feel like doing!!

DH has had to go into work today (he's been working from home for last week) so hoping this will tempt fate and labour will start when I'm home alone with DS...

Boodstress I'm at your obs. I didn't have a section with DD, but I did have a four day on-and off-labour, ending in pethidine and syntocin as after four days I was still only 6cm dilated! When we got to hospital with Alexander (after...yes, failute to progress), the obs started going on about sections becuase I shouldn't have been failing to progress in a second labour. Anyway Alexander was born an hour later . But, finally getting round to my point, the MW was saying on the way to hospital that actually smaller babies are more often a reason for failure to progress, becuase if their little heads aren't in exactly the right place, the cervix doesn't dilate evenly/properly. With bigger babies it's easier. So fingers crossed for you!
Also on the itching - if you can make it to a Boots, get a tub of their Shea Butter Boddy Butter, it stopped my itchy bump instantly. I'm still smothering myself in it to try and persuade my skin to shrink back again.

I would be ok with my waters breaking in the supermarket - seriously, at least it would mean things were starting. I really need to go out to the shops and actually I want to go to proper shops and I am wondering is that a silly thing to do, I really don't feel like anything will happen but then I would probably need to change DS which would mean lifting him in the loos etc and I might get stuck. I am just so bored and we have nothing in and if I go local I get the exact reaction you are all talking about 'still in there' 'shouldn't you have your feet up'? 'what alot of baby' AHHHHHHHHHH! I couldn't face carnel relations last night as I was really upset still but I will try this weekend.
Flybynight I think the Obs was suggesting there could be a discrepancy between my pelvis and my babies as I only went to 4cm in a couple of days of induction with DS1. But I agree, he doesn't know for sure. I actually really really dislike him today - well I did yesterday too..g*t.

I love your post Bettymum thank you. I remember someone saying to me that big babies are more positive about the journey down. I think cause this guy is the top guy in the hospital I am now thinking he knows more than the lovely registrar (female!!) who said ..why wouldn't you be able to deliver (as long as you go into labour naturally ). Thanks also for advise on cream for itching, I will get one of the very well meaning (but driving me mad) friends on the case.

Bettymum your post resonates with me "smaller babies are more often a reason for failure to progress, because if their little heads aren't in exactly the right place, the cervix doesn't dilate evenly/properly. With bigger babies it's easier"
My 1st baby was big and was born several weeks early (v. easily and naturally) however all the midwives say that this 2nd baby is small and thus far her head has been popping in & out of the cervix like it's doing the hokey cokey. Would certainly explain why this baby is late (either that or she's decided to stay inside for a few extra weeks to fatten up).
Boodstress - FWIW my sister had successful VBAC with a large baby (not quite the survey of 5000 you're after but might reassure you that it can be done)

...maybe that should read 'popping in and out of the pelvis' rather than cervix...but you get my gist

baby2 - ouch at anything doing the hokey cokey in and out of my cervix .

hello ladies ....my ds was born in december and was a whopping 10lb 110zs...... he wouldnt engage fully cos he was soooooo large but when he did (after having my waters broken) he came very quickly and i had no time for epidural. it was fine and dandy!!!!!!

Am missing being pregnant!!!

Thank you for all the positive vibes everyone, this is why I love having a support network like this. I've just got to get myself into labour now so I can prove him wrong. I walked around the supermarket pushing a trolley with my son in it and took alot of pleasure when someone stopped me to ask was I interested in a card saying you know what, I am 2 days over and I'm not sure I am going to make it around the shop so do you mind if I don't. She looked horrified and said 'ohoh carry on carry on'
I just had a message from a 'friend' replying to my update from yesterday saying 'what 9lb 4 thats not a baby, thats a small child - you're too small to have a baby that size' - she is a few weeks pregnant with her first child so I won't kill her but boy did I want to.

havent read all this but Boodstres my baby was 10lb 110zs and i am not huge and i had him naturally with only gas and air and loved every minute of it!!!!!! he still looked small but at least people we meet remember him when i say how much he weighed at birth!!!! The midwife threatened me with all sorts when i was in labour to give me the adrenaline i needed to push and push i bloomin well did!!!!! Goood luck and hang in there!!! ANyway my gorgeous baby boy is ace and has never suffered with wind and has been the first to roll over in baby group!!!!

My mum loves telling me her birth story of when I was born (2nd baby)- she was at 40+4, doing a bit of ironing to take her mind off things when her waters went and her neighbour sped her to the hospital in a sports car (she particularly likes that bit of the story as I don't think she'd been in a 2-seater before). Within an hour I was born weighing in at 10lb. So there's definitely no need to fear a complicated labour with a 'big' baby - it might be surprisingly easy.
PS. made it back from supermarket without waters breaking - now have adequate stocks of cheddar cheese mmmm but still no sign of labour whatsoever

i ended up having my waters broken but literally ran up and down the ward to avoid having the drip or anything and it worked!!!! 1 almighty contraction and i was already 6 cms!!!!!! total labour was 3hr and 40 mins!!!! (can i do it again tomorrow please!!!!)LOL