**AUGUST 2010** happy days as 3rd trimester comes our way

[CherryPie3]

New thread

We really are getting through a thread a month lol!!

mrsZaC 1.5miles each way?? [eyes popping out emoticon] I'm a hiker but there's no way I could do that at the mo. I did about a mile on Sunday and the BH were so bad! It's very frustrating having to walk 500 yards at a time (doesn't help that every time I stand up I need to pee!)

DD is running round the house causing trouble but I just don't have the energy to take her anywhere. A good walk would sort her out but not up for that at the mo. Roll on Thursday when I'll be 37 weeks then LO can pop out

Hi All,

We went for a nosey at the maternity unit last night, it's all brand new and single rooms it looks lovely. It should have reassured me that all is going to be fine but it just hit me that I have to get this young man out! In a real panic every time I think about labour. What is wrong with me? I keep trying to tell myself that women have been pushing out babies forever and making quite a success of populating the planet but I'm still going all tight chested and panicky before having a word with myself to calm bloody down! DP is being lovely and trying to make me feel better, he just assured me on the 'phone that he has had "some bloody big poos" in his time and we'll be fine. He made me laugh so at least that's something.

Is this just a panic that all first timers have for a few days as reality hits or am I developing a phobia - I defo do not want a CS so I'm not exploring that option until there is a doctor forcing me into it!

lizzieA it's perfectly normal and not just for first timers! Your body knows what it needs to do and you'll be far better off if you relax

Hi everyone, I'm finding it impossible to keep up with this thread at the moment so I'm really sorry if I ignore a load of interesting conversations! I am reading it every day though, promise

You've all made me feel a bit better about the fact I have to work up til the end and then straight back as soon as I can afterwards. I can't help but feel I am being cheated out of precious one on one time with my little baby boy but at the same time, I will have him with me all the time and he will be my priority. I guess really I am lucky. But it would be nice to be able to take some proper time off, but just not a choice I have.

mrsZac I am also doing hypnobirthing, 3rd session tomorrow. So I am like you practising a lot with the Rainbow Relaxation and birth affirmations. Really enjoying the course but have to admit that the videos are freaking me out and I might have to ask her not to show me anymore. I don't like the way the women are so 'zoned out' - I don't know how to explain it really - apart from that I am finding it really beneficial and DH is too.

Re sleep and pains etc. - I haven't had more than 4 hours sleep since about 24 weeks thanks to terrible back and leg pain that kicks in every morning at around 3am. Once that starts I toss and turn and can't get any comfort. Have been seeing a chiropractor for past few weeks - seems to help the back pain but not the legs. The lack of sleep is hard but I guess something that I had better get used to! I am also suffering with swollen feet and ankles and yes it gets worse as the day goes on.In this heat I don't think there's much we can do about it but plunging your feet in a bowl of ice cool water is the closest thing to bliss I've experienced since being pregnant!

My post looks really whingey when I re-read it LOL didn't mean it to

mrsZaC - I've been listening to Tania Cotterell Hypnobirthing and the Natal Hypnotherapy CDs. I'm not sure how 'pleasurable' pushing a baby down the birth canal is really going to be but I do find the CDs very relaxing so far and a great way to get to sleep! Would be v interested to know if anyone has used them before/during giving birth before and how effective they've found them...??

Also having leg cramps sometimes and quite a lot of twinges/ligament pains round the bump. Sometimes not sure if these are just twinges or BHs, because they can take your breath away if they catch you unaware going round the shops!! Worst prob I have tho is upper back pain, which is a strange one!! Maybe from boobs having got a lot bigger? Trying to make sure my posture is good to try and relieve it but no luck so far.

Chulita - I'm also needing to pee every time I stand up! Very annoying! Trying to force myself to walk about a mile a day though (all on flat surfaces I hasten to add!) to get some form of exercise since I'm finding any stretching sort of things like yoga, which I usually like, increasingly uncomfortable.

lizzieA - I'm nervous too!! As I mentioned above, finding the natal hypnotherapy CDs very good for keeping the panic at bay since it tends to suddenly hit when I'm lying in bed trying to get to sleep! Either that or watching something really stupid on tv like Big Bro lol

MrsZaC yes that would be great, thanks - my midwife was distinctly unhelpful about my birth plan and just said it should be what I want. Can you send me a message on facebook?

I have the effective birth preparation hypnotherapy cd - it is good for relaxing and have been using the breathing etc to fall asleep.

OK so I actually have a day working from home tomorrow, so I should finally get around to (1) reading the thread (2) sorting Caz's stuff out.....
xx

Emster your scan sounds lovely! Glad everything went well.

Elusive, how old is your toddler? I have two 2.2yos [scary]! I am just prepared for it to be very very hard at least for 2-3mths. Not much sleep (lucky for me my DTs still go for 2hr nap at lunch so I can take the baby to bed, latch him on and sleep too), expect toddlers playing up due to new baby as well etc etc! Does your LO have a nap during the day? Will they sit and listen to a story - my mum (4 kids in 6yrs) said when she was BFing she always let the older DCs sit by the side of her and have a story. She said they would get bored very easily and just go off and play. There's always CBeebies too! Did you try a sling with your other baby? That might be a life-saver for you. The Close sling is apparently very good for a colicky/crying/won't-be-put-down baby. You can get them for about £30 on ebay. Agree with Alice that the baby will be fine if left to cry for 10-20mins while you sort out the toddler (the twins had to wait like that when I was feeding one and the other was hungry too). I figured it must be OK as I had no other choice! And I think it has led them to be much more patient and less demanding. That's probably why 2nd children are much easier than first!

Dogwalker, sorry you are feeling low. I had to have a little word with my DH as well before the DTs were born about what I expected from him re tidying up. It wasn't much (clear up after himself and clear the draining board of the washing up every morning) but sometimes they just need to be told. No matter how much time you spend sat on your bum you should not have to clean up after your DH!

Wow MrsZac, 1.5 miles! If you can manage it it will certainly keep you in good shape for the birth. Is there a bus/taxi service in case it gets too much?

I did hypnobirthing-lite with the DTs. I used the visualisation and the breathing techniques but didn't really get into the zone with the hypnosis. I had my waters broken so labour came on very quickly and painfully with the DTs. I think if you have a more gentle start to labour you could maybe use the relaxation techniques more. The visualisation and breathing stuff was invaluable. Have you read Ina May Gaskin's Guide To Childbirth? It is wonderful - so inspiring.

nat, I saw my MW at 31wks and she wants to see me again at 34. Perhaps they have a lot of PG ladies in your area atm? If baby is breech I would have thought she would want to see you sooner to see if its turned, but it's different in each area.

Lizzie, it's absolutely normal to be worried first time! But you're right women have been pushing babies out for ever - your body knows what to do! My top tips are taking really deep breaths on the gas and air during contractions - my contractions lasted a minute so it was 6 deep breaths. By the third breath the worst of the contraction was over - 3 breaths is not a lot, just focus on that! During labour try to imagine your baby moving down and your pelvis opening really wide. Try not to lie on your back if you can help it - kneel or squat so gravity can play its part. If the pain gets too much you can have an epidural - they are quite good now at getting the dose right so you can have a few hours rest and then get the feeling back to push. You will be fine, it will be amazing!

lizzie I just about pooped my pants when we did the hospital visit a couple of weeks ago. Like you, the unit was v impressive, shiny and new (great architecture, fab internal garden, twinkly ceiling lights in the rooms with birthing pools..) but the reality of impending labour did hit home. But that moment passes..if anything it's given me a kick up the bum to move on from decorating & buying babygros to seriously preparing for the actual birth. The other lasting effect of the visit is that it's made me start counting down the days to 37 weeks so I can hopefully turn left (to the MLU) rather than right to the medical labour suites.. (I had no idea that they were physically different areas, I assumed that there was a suite of rooms and the only difference was the staff attending - duh) as I could feel myself tensing up in the medical unit...what a difference a few machines can make...not that I'm a huge fan of hospitals in general (though doctors in scrubs are a completely different matter - hope I don't need drugs and come over all coquettish with some poor anaethestist )

chulita great link & discount - many thanks!

Thank you everyone. I think I've been watching too many programmes on Discovery Home and Health!

Our area is 31 weeks and then 34 weeks for the midwife too.

My hospital still isn't doing tours because of swine flu (plus they had a bad norovirus outbreak in the winter). It doesn't sound like they will ever start them up again!

I saw my midwife at 28 weeks, then GP at 34 weeks and midwife again at 36 weeks. My remaining appointments are all with the midwife , at 38, 40 and 41 weeks.

emster meant to say earlier when you mentioned your 36 week scan..gulp, Thirty-six weeks. Amazing to think that some of our babies start becoming officially full term in in next few days. Woohoo!

I know! As of Sunday this baby can officially come any time it likes, thank you very much! Plus I'm still convinced my original date was right which would mean I'm 37+2 already...

But I'[m still also convinced it will be late so will be an August baby after all.

Evening all - so much to keep up with sorry for not replying to all comments.

Am too getting nervous about the birth, would really like a VBAC this time but Mini Poncherello is apparently transverse at 32 weeks. Hoping he/she will move but have no idea of working out which bit is where - whole bump feels hard most of the time!

Chulita am with you on the peeing - desperate to go when I stand up and feel like I only just make it to the loo on time and then nothing but a dribble. Must drink more water ... getting close to 4 pints a day ... have officially lost my inner monologue when I announced 'now where did I leave my pint' at work, been a long time since 'the pint' was of anything other than water.

Neenz you sound like an aura of calm and planning precision ... would never have thought to sorting toddler before baby but makes a lot of sense ... it's going to be another big learning curve I think!

Mamas and Papas also have a sale at the moment with 30% off Avent bottles / pumps / sterilisers etc as well as some baby things and maternity clothes. Bought a couple of feeding nighties and pyjama bottoms plus a new moses basket mattress (at last).

Lovely to hear so many of you are close to the 37 week mark .. I count the days down every morning when I wake up, edging closer and closer to term.

Has anyone thought of what their first post pregnancy food and drink treat is going to be? So far mine is going to be a nice chilled glass of rose champagne and sushi ...

Here's to a good / comfortable / restful nights sleep all round

Neenz my little boy is 2.9, so not that different from your two. Good advice, thanks - like others have said about labour, I know people have been coping with babies and toddlers since the year dot, but somehow I'm still very stressed about it. Plus I've always been seriously pfb about DS, so I think the prospect of making room in my life for another baby (in all sorts of ways) is freaking me out a little bit.

Saw the GP and the MW today. GP gave me some antibiotics for the cough (on the basis that they may or may not do some good, and he could see I was suffering, so probably worth a try). Nothing I can do for the rib pain, though, except paracetamol. MW said all was fine. Apparently the baby's head has already engaged a couple of centimetres, which shocked me a bit, but apparently that's not really any indication of how soon he will arrive.

Whoever it was who mentioned leg cramps - they're a well-known feature of late pregnancy, and they can be excruciating! I had one the other night that lasted at full intensity for about 10 minutes, and I was literally gasping with pain. When I put my hand on my calf I could even feel the muscle sort of rippling and scrunching up under my skin - it was pretty gross, actually! And it still ached for about 24 hours afterwards. So I feel your pain!

Oh, and I've just found out that my scaffolders are arriving tomorrow - yay! (and gulp...).

hey!

had the most amazing aquanatal class tonight, was such a relief to take the weight off my feet and get going, felt a million dollars!

chulita & neez yeah I do walk 1.5miles each way to work, good if I can keep it up but I'm worried I'll crash and burn, just three weeks left of my 'commute' so fingers crossed. No buses i can take but if I get desperate I'm sure I can get a taxi through work, if they take pity on me

neez halfway through ina may's book, put it down after starting my hypnobirthing book and not picked it back up again, i think I'll move it back into the bedroom for night time reading now very inspiring if a bit hippy at some points, not sure about the story with the lady that got into bed with a women in labour not long after giving birth and sitting naked belly to belly sharing contractions sounded a bit scary to me!!

vix yippee a hypnobirthing buddy! I finished my sessions about a month ago, still keeping up my relaxation/affirmations but not always the best at practicing my surge breathing, hopefully when I'm on maternity leave me and DH will get some time together to practice deepening and hypnosis. Really think it's helping quell my first time nerves, when I think about the birth all I can think of is positive things, I'm sure that a few ladies in here will be rolling there eyes but I'm a firm believer in positive thinking and really excited to see if it might just might work!

snowshine I totally find the relaxation helps me sleep now aswell, I can even sleep without it on by using visualisation, and I am NOT good at getting myself off to sleep normally.

Well ladies best cart myself off to bed, busy day at work tomorrow followed by a visit to my personal trainer if I can drag my ass there so need my beauty sleep (if only!)

sweet dreams all! x

elusive that was me with leg cramps - horrible! sore leg all day, my aquanatal seems to have loosened off the muscle though so fingers crossed for tonight. Hope the antibiotics help! just finished a course for an infection in my toe - yuck! I would have the rennies on standby though, they gave me even worse heartburn than normal! so glad it was only a week!!

x

Poncherello - Parma ham to start, rare steak with blue cheese for main, white chocolate mousse for dessert and all washed down with a few mojitos. And maybe a strawberry and lime kopparberg just cos I keep seeing ads for them on TV and haven't had one!!

I haven't thought about this much at all...oh no...lol

mrsZaC Ouch about the leg cramps and, agreed, Ina May is the hippie queen!! I liked Spiritual Midwifery any way, it's just a positive kind of book and it's not patronising, which is a nice change. But half the thing she suggests might work in an American commune in the 60s but prob not a MW-led birthing unit in 2010 Belfast!!

Poncherello Been giving 'the first supper' a good deal of thought in Weehectorland:

1. Will be buying a bottle of champagne to smuggle in (my dilemma is whether to take in glasses?)
2. a friend stays round the corner from Ian Mellis (a fab cheese shop in Glasgow) and has been instructed to bring brie and baguettes to the hospital.
3. My sister will bring in a picnic of pate & tomato sandwiches

Afterwards (in my dreams..):

1. Whilst my in-laws babysit, my DH will be taking me to Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles for his signature lobster dish. I will drink as much Chablis as I desire & DH will drive.
2. My child will sleep in his basket in the back garden whilst I entertain friends with jugs of Pimms & tasty homemade canapes. They will of course, be admiring my beautiful child, my garden (including my Cabbages & Roses garden fabrics) & commenting on how quickly I've got my figure back. I will send them away with lavender scented drawer bags & bags of homemade chocolate brownies.

I am so full of shit today. Some pate sandwiches would be great but I suspect I'll end up inhaling my toast & tea and and demolishing a bag of cheesy puffs or something.

hector you can get disposable champagne glasses... maybe a good compromise?! My SIL has been advised she can hold the baby.... once she's handed over my Neal's Yard cheese goody bag!

Weehector that did make me laugh

Knackered today. Late night and then DD got me up at 5.10am (very unusual)

Tea has suddenly started making me feel queasy when i drink it. I really need tea today

Morning ladies - was convinced something was happening this morning as woke up at 4am with period pains and backache every 10 mins, lasted for ages, well - 3 hours!!

Not so very much happening now although still getting the odd cramp but not regular anymore.
I forgot to tell you guys that I had a 'show' just over a week ago, I had another one yesterday too . DH is on stand-by next to his managers phone just in case I need to ring him.

As for post-birth picnics - I want a cheese and salad cream sandwich, a huge box of Lindt red chocolates and a bottle of shandy. Not very imaginative I know but thats all I want.

Better go do the school run - will try to keep you posted xxx

Morning all. Mothercare have a sale on as well. Lots of good offers

hector I like your style! I have similar delusions, which is weird considering I already have a child, you'd think they would have been battered out of me long ago...except mine involve me doing school-run while looking immaculate then heading down to the allotment with babe sleeping peacefully in sling, where I potter around being all earth-mother goddess. Babe wakes for feed, feeds in sling and falls asleep again. I float home, do a quick tidy-up and start to lovingly prepare dinner for dh - something wholesome yet imaginative. Collect ds from school, walk home at a leisurely pace, stopping to discuss bugs and plants along the way. At home ds has a wholesome snack then plays in the garden while I feed babe and put final touches to dinner. dh arrives home to a clean, tidy, well-ordered house, a slim, happy me, 2 joyful children and a delicious meal.

I blame Cath Kidston.

Not much sleeping going on chez blueberries at the moment. Chronic insomnia. Hey ho. Thanks goodness for maternity leave and daydreams about Cath Kidston.

elusive hope the antibiotics kick in soon. My cough has made an odd reappearance...hope it's short-lived. Good luck with the scaffolding.

mrsZac I exhausted just reading about your antenatal class - swimming was great yesterday though so I might venture to the pool again if I can wake up enough.

cherry woo hoo! I'm 36 weeks today/tomorrow depending on which chart my midwife uses - so this time next week I'll be ready to rumble! Just need to get some sleep in first...

Have an urge to make lemon drizzle cake...

Oh emster just noticed you're hurtling towards the 37 week mark - yippeeee! These babies are going to start arriving soon!