Due March 2010 - One Born Every Five Posts

[Arcadie]

Welcome to the thread, before the thread, before the final thread where I give birth.

And in case you're needing it here is the Post-natal thread

I'm coming out of hiding to congratulate the new mothers and to support my fellow traveller Caitni!

Sorry this post is going to be all me me me, but I've got things to get off my chest.

First, CONGRATULATIONS new mothers - can't wait to join you. I really appreciate all the borth stories and found them ALL inspiring.

Caitni I am now 12 days "overdue" (though I contest this term).

I had one sweep on day 10 and was told I had lost my mucus plug and was 2 cm dilated.

No contractions here yet either.

Emotions have been all over the place, due mainly to the pressure of expectations from myself and everyone around me, from midwives downwards.

Booked in for induction Mon night but am not going to actually be induced unless there are problems.

Suffered performance anxiety.

So snap snap and snap!!

(Danger: RANT ALERT)

Am angry that women in our position are made to feel by everyone that there's something wrong and baby is " too comfy".

Horseshite! Normal pregnancy is 42 weeks so how can you be overdue before then?!

I was offered a sweep at 7 days past my due date and asked to come in for induction at 10 days over. Why? No reason particular to my set of circumstances. - just policy! FFS...I politely refused.

And as for bouncing balls, curries, sex etc etc - yeah all well and good, especially bouncing ball, but to be honest I feel they prevent me from relaxing, resting and releasing the lurvvve hormones, which would REALLY get things going. And why are we made we should be doing everything we can to bring on labour?? Sex to schedule is not sexy...

The prevailing view seems to be that a shorter pregnancy is preferable to a longer pregnancy. I have found no convincing reason for this if baby and mother are healthy.

Why can't I be left alone to enjoy the end of my pregnancy and leave my little girl cook away to her heart's content. She's moving away happily. I am being vigilant in getting her checked out.

Even though they do not really pressure you here in Brighton, just make suggestions, I have had to be assertive and strong-willed at a time when I am very vulnerable, suggestible and anxious. I would have preferred to spend my energies otherwise.

Anyway I've gone from NO posting to a marathon session.

Will be lurking but maybe not posting often as relaxxxxing....

OOh and to support hecklephone* - in my rush I missed your post. I'm with ya sistah!!

Morning everyone, hope you're all well. Love the new thread title. I lost track of time and missed OBEM this week actually (What's that you say? Time can be divided into discrete days of the week, and not just "sleep/feed/change nappy/repeat as necessary"?).

donttry I agree completely (and hope not to sounds hypocritical since I gave birth at 40+2). You should read some American pregnancy message boards; so many of the women start talking about "natural labor-inducing methods" as soon as they hit 36/37 weeks, and they're all hung up on how dilated and effaced they are. Makes me very .

Good luck ILGB and LouBudd!!

And Arcadie, taking the numbers out of the list: genius! Good thing we have you around to think of things like that

Quick quick, put on T4 on Channel 4: MC Hammer is doing his thang!!!

'Can't touch this...'

ROFL!!

Great posts Don't Try and Heckle. I think it should be up to each woman if she wants to be induced or not. As long as the baby is healthy what's the big deal if it's a longer pregnancy than the average. Not everyone can be on the average or under?! But some people don't get that. (I was good at maths when I was in school ) I will not be induced if I get to that point although I might of course change my mind.

Talking about labour inducing methods though, I've been jogging around the house for a couple of days now like a mad woman, DD stares at me thinking what the heck is mummy doing. My theory is that you need a bit of impact, therefore walking/waddling isn't actually that good. You need jogging or trampolining. Because the baby's head needs to hit that cervix... Anyone think there's something to my theory?

When I do my jogging, it feels like something is happening but when I stop I feel nothing. Just have more BH now and ever so slight crampy feelings. Sorry all overdues, I'm not even due yet but there's no harm in trying.

Positive vibes to everyone...

Jogging annamama?? I'm with your DD, you are clearly mental

Well I wouldn't say it's really bouncy jogging like in fitness videos or anything, it's a cross between jogging and shuffling...

Great new thread ladies

Donttry a very good post (I read it out to my DH as it made me cry, in a good way I hasten to add!) - sorry to hear you're still here too and that you've had the same rubbish "but it's policy" for feeling pressured into an earlier induction. Glad you're sticking by your guns and here's to enjoying our last days of being pregnant! We'll be announcing our births on here before too long [end in sight emoticon]

BusyMissyIzzy hope you're enjoying your gorgeous girl! Fully agree about those scary US forums - I did look into using castor oil (and then copped myself on, as a day of the runs/vomiting is just about the last way I want to spend the last days of my pregnancy!), and some of the US sites have women of 36/37 weeks moaning that it's not worked for them (despite repeated doses in some instances ) and that they're still pregnant. Every now and then a midwife/doula would pop up on the comments and try and to get them to see sense but be roundly ignored - scary!

Sending labour vibes to ILGB and LouBudd and big waves to everyone else!

Bloody americans eh Caitni...

Wow donttry good rant! We are definitely reading from the same hymnsheet. I wonder who first thought up the idea of a specific 'due date' anyway? It's such an arbritrary label for something that really can't be pinned down so exactly, and only makes you feel like a failure for not producing a newborn within a specific 24 hour period - what's that about?? And as soon as it's passed everyone offers sympathy and expects you to be thoroughly fed up, but the only thing that's making me fed up is everyone's sympathy! Agh!

Anyway, enough of that, you're spot on-it's time to relaaaaaxx and chill and most of all do our best to ENJOY the last few days of pregnancy!

Unless you're anna in which case you jog away, girl-whatever floats your boat!

Go ilgb and loubudd!!! beautiful day to whelp, even though that sentence takes any romance out of Birth there and then (and must be said with Barbour Jacket on, hands on hips, clipped English vowels, and two chocolate labs running around ones feet)
annamamma i'm also sneaking DH out of nooky corner ALTHOUGH....frankly, our efforts were a near disaster.... Decided to Do It. DH suggested, since she was stirring, to stick a Mr Tumble on for DD. This is a genius idea, I think, will buy us a good 15 minutes. DD has other ideas and decides to use the phrase, For The FIRST TIME EVER...."No Mummy, Turn the TV OFF" ??!!!!!???!!! . As you know there is no negotiating with a 2yo, so we ended up with her running in and out of the bedroom whilst watching a peppa pig whilst we sort of surreptitiously Did It Quietly under the covers . I'm pretty sure this isn't a completely abnormal thing to do for parents with toddlers, is it?!!!!!! please don't flame me if it is. (Or start a thread elsewhere called "AIBU to think there's a Weirdo in my Antenatal Thread Who's Psychologically Messing with her Toddler") . She really had no idea. I'm sure of it.

donttry LOVE the rant and completely agree. I just hope it's early labour hormones that are spurring on your rantings!! And of course that you have a sudden rush of love hormones this weekend and Things Happen For You.

right. I do hope you don't think I'm odd(er) now than you did. Can't exactly talk about it in RL can i?!!!!

hope all well...Go Ilgb-and-lou, go ilgb-and-lou....

Oh MummyElk - you have traumatised her for life I'm sure.

Where is everyone today, are you in labour or do you just have lives...? I'm bored of jogging around the house now.

Hello all,

Would dearly love a bath, but I really struggle to get out of the bath, so haven't had one for 2 weeks.

Just read a horrible article in today's Guardian (family section) about a woman's birth experiences. One started with a sweep which didn't go well. I'm afraid that it's put me off having a sweep on Tues at 40+1 - I will go another week and see if I can pop without a sweep.

Saw MIL today and she said 'No, you're not ready yet because your bump's not low enough.' Really, she should have gone into midwifery.

donttrythisathome had you realised that you'd lost your mucous plug? or did it pop out without you realising it?

Caitni I dont understand why they'd put pressure on you to have an induction until after 2 weeks. Anyway, induction at T+14 sounds fine. Isn't it weird how we can contract and not know?!

Loubudd At T-3 you've had an early sweep!

Chilli tonight, made with some dried Scotch Bonnetts grown in the greenhouse last year. I'll keep the mint snot to hand.

I have finally had my baby! more info on post-natal thread. In essence Toby 8lb 5oz born 12/03/10 at 9.28 am by emergency c section.
Am still in shock I think!

Good luck Caitni - my fellow 2nd marcher
!

well done ang! lovely news and great names - again!! Gosh aren't we clever with our names, I haven't heard a dodgy one yet!!!
shroomer - BATH - have you tried sort of rolling onto all fours and then up to kneeling to get out of the bath?!! it's clearly not dignified (what is at this point ) but it's the only way I could get out of the bath last time round. This time round I seem to be a bit more mobile, lord knows why.
Also I read that article in the guardian, actually yes, it was horrible, and that poor woman is clearly pretty traumatised by all of it. It's a pretty graphic article if anyone else decides to look it up. Her experience of the sweep is massively unusual though, I've never heard of that - sounds like an undiagnosed placenta praevia or something? Still at least it all turned out ok. Her point about being open to ALL birthing options is a good one though, have seen way too many people get so caught up in their perfect birth not happening...good lesson for us all, I think i'm possibly MORE intent on a good second birth this time round than I was last time...

Lovely beautiful day here, had NO plans and as such it was open to lots of lovely unscheduled things like trips to the park, spontaneous lunch at friends etc etc.

Hope everyone else is well

MummyElk you're right - it could have been an undiagnosed placenta p. Hmm... I will talk throught pros and cons with MW.

I tried the rolling over thing in the bath, but my bath is too narrow. Ba!

Angfirsttimer Well done- LOVE the name Toby. Was top of my list for a very long time. Sorry you ended up with EmCS and really hope it was a lovely birth experience whatever happened.

Caitni Thinking of you and hoping you're feeling more positive after a good night's sleep.

Elk & Anna Good work on using the nooky corner. Would you mind changing the sheets before you go next time though - DH and I have plans.... And quite impressed that Elk you carried on despite interruptions. Have to say that I can imagine nothing worse than DD wandering in in the middle of it. Nothing makes me feel less sexy than being a Mum!

ILGB and LouBudd Hoping to hear good things soon!

Shroomer PRomise that a sweep is not that bad. Uncomfy for sure. Will poss make you quite sore afterwards, but generally no worse than a slightly rough smear test. Haven't seen the Guardian Article though.

And nuruurrthhhhttheeuwehfwe.... forgot to put in the thing that I actually came on to post about. Preg brain....

Had a surprise babyshower today. My prayer group organised a "social" at a local hotel for afternoon tea for this pm. DH mighty grumpy about looking after DCs but hey ho. BF picks me up and drives us there and as weenter extremely posh hotel, the Doorman takes my coat and tells us that the rest of the ladies are in the drawing room. Suspish filled Arcadie walks in to find 5 of closest friends waiting with funny mummy drawing, Bible verses and good wishes beauitfully written on cards for me to scrapbook [dribble] and a HUGE afternoon tea served on tiered cake stands. I've never eaten so much sugar in my life and am buzzing now.

Wonderful afternoon. Wonderful friends. Wonderful me.......

donttry good for you and don't be bullied.
Everything has stopped here apart from being really sore from sweep and having a show which doesnt seem to be stopping. Probably should have been really active today but am soooo tired, i couldn't be arsed. She'll come when she is ready to i suppose. Had my miserable teary day today. So at least thats out of the way.
Anyone else fed up with constant calls from people asking if anything is happening? Think I might lose it with my mil soon.

LouBudd Don't even get me started on people haranguing you for news.

And you might be able to see some of the sneakiness of my babyshower on this page if you're interested.

Am 1 step ahead Arcadie, already seen them. You have such lovely friends to do something like that for you. It looks like you had a wonderful time.
Maybe we should all have answerphone messages that say, 'if you are calling to find out if we have had the baby, please do not leave a message and hang up now'. Call screening is definitely the way to go.

good luck whoever uses them next, i promise to keep DD away (agree, arcadie it's not the most successful romantic enjoyable sexy sex ever!!)

love the photos on fbk of your baby shower arcadie that tiered sandwich thingy looked GERT LUSH am drooling! lovely friends, glad they spoiled you!

loubudd sorry things are slowing down but hopefully things might happen tonight, get some sleep and rest and see how you go. Tears are a good sign!! it's SO hard not reacting to Every Single Twinge isn't it...?!! And i'm not even really that near my due date?!!

LouBudd We did have a lovely time thanks.
Haven't had anyone irritating me this pregnancy but may have to pre-emptively strike with an answerphone message that says "Hi this is Arcadie. If you're ringing to see if I've had the baby then I'm taking you off my list of people to contact when I actually have one". Hopefully it'll deter my mate who plagued me to the point of making me call screen every phone call 1st time round....

I suspect if I AIBUed this I'd be told off for being a grumpy moo.

What's wrong with this picture? It's mothers day, I might be in early labour and so far I've been dressing DD and preparing breakfast while DH does what? He's finalising the birth playlist on iTunes.

Been having irregular pains since teatime last night but so far no show, plug or waters etc so am a bit about whether this is the real thing or not. Will probably do lots of bouncing/walking today to see if we can get things moving along. Don't really know whether it's worth keeping the massage appointment with my friend at this stage...?

On the plus side, I did get a lovely pot of snowdrops and a handmade card from DD his morning-aw! So cute.

Your baby shower sounds great arcadie-what lovely mates you've got.

Hang on in there loubudd, hope things perk up again soon.

And well done ang! Congrats!

heckle my picture looks like yours somewhat too...sounds very familiar!! least you got snowdrops?!! i got a flounce from DD and a card which she wouldn't give to me.....the happiest we've got her is sat in the new buggy watching peppa pig what GREAT parents we are...
good luck with the contractions - if your friend is flexible i'd keep the appointment....can always cancel last minute? can she come to you?