Due SEPTEMBER thread 12 - the big countdown ...

[franch]

Here we go

Hi to all the news names. Skulking back...no baby! Waters had gone but it was the hind waters and as nothing has happened today the mw thinks that they have sealed back up. I may well go full term now bit dissapointed as I thought that the baby was on its way and had mentally got my head round this but now I have to go back to uncomfortable sleepless nights. Have been told to look out for a high temperature incase I get an infection or meconium stained waters, if any more happens to leak, otherwise there is nothing more I can do but wait. So back to uncomfortable sleepless nights (sounds like most of you are having these), saying that I had a great nights sleep last night. Probably due to sheer exhaustion of about 40 non painful contractions and the 5.30am arrival back home from St Thomas's on Monday morning.
A few braxton hicks and slight crampy pains this morning but all gone quiet again now.
DD is being taken of my hands again tomorrow by by some great friends of mine so that I can spend another day sleeping - loving them so much right now.
Baby room all finished and builders / painters also gone. Bag packed, feeling quite prepared now which obviously means that the baby will be two weeks over due!
Beatie - sounds like you need to slow down a bit. I have stopped doing any shopping / days out as I find that I suffer too much the next day. Re your UTI, the nurse should be able to give you a sample pot, no need to see a doctor. I had a UTI with DD1 and was given antibiotics. Its quite common at this stage of PG. Am also swollen in nether regions, this too is quite normal. I have a varicose vein there too , quite shocked when found it but mw said its not unheard of. If you are carrying quite low or have a large ish baby it can make you more swollen down there. Think someone else said that it did'nt feel like it belonged to them, know where you are coming from!! Thank goodness it all goes back to normal afterwards. DH cooking chicken salad at moment and have become scarily addicted to watching rubbish Living TV on SKY with all the birth and baby programs - anyone else or is this just me??
Going to have another early night tonight in the hope that I can fall asleep before I get too uncomfortable.

Hi all, mostly lurking these days as am trying to get so much done. KiwiKate, thanks for your concern Big welcome to the newcomers - don't forget to post your details on the stats thread !

diane77, will be thinking about you on Mon. Good luck - I do so wish I knew what my D-Day was going to be but I guess it must be nerve-wracking when you do.

beatie - I'm in a similar situation with my EDD being inconvenient! DH has a big job interview shortly after it so we've decided he should go and stay elsewhere the night before his big day - agh. Was hoping my mum could come and stay that night but it's looking unlikely. And what if the baby's late and ends up arriving that day? Doesn't bear thinking about. Bank Holiday Mon would be good for me too - it's our wedding anniv the day before so DD is going to stay with my mum on the Sunday night, and DH will be off work - perfect.

I've been wondering about pethidine too ..... Don't like the idea of it but wondering if I should ask to at least have it available for my homebirth......

DH is off collecting the birthing pool as I write!!!! A friend looked after DD this afternoon so I got my homebirth box totally sorted: tons of candles, MIL's old sheets, that sort of thing.

Oh - and I have a new niece! DD and baby-to-be's 26th cousin. There are twice as many boys as girls in the family so SIL and I are doing something towards evening things up a bit. This baby wasn't due till about 6 weeks after mine so is 2 months early - the gap between this baby and ours will be the smallest ever in the family. DD has certainly enjoyed the benefits of being the youngest of the clan over the past 19 months, so I'm secretly pleased that DD2 is now destined to be the youngest - probably the very last grandchild (#28) for MIL. Apparently the baby's fine (in the SCBU) but SIL had to have an epidural and blood transfusion AFTER the birth, which doesn't sound good. DH is hoping to see them this evening.

LadyL, can you confirm on the meet-up thread that you're still coming? Then I'll email out a list of names and no's.

28 grandchildren .
Christmas must be manic!

Less that 2 weeks to go for me now - but still no sign of anything happening despite gallons of raspberry leaf tea / long walks with an unwilling dd etc.
Still feeling quite full of energy (have been loads better since stopping work) - which is lucky, as have pulled a muscle in my back, which makes too much lying in bed / lounging on the sofa really uncomfortable.
Seem to have got a defective nesting instinct, as I am spending far too much time tidying up the garden (mowing lawn / cutting hedges) ... but I has the same when pregnant with dd.
Zoezebra - glad it's not just me who has developed a sly addiction to those birth & baby programs - though not sure they are doing anything other than terrifying me...

sarahhal - I used gas and air and did not feel out of control, just a little light headed till they added pethedine to the equation which made me really out of control. Will not be using it in a fortnights time.

Redhelen - I've never met a virgo I didn't like either but being one myself I may be biased.

Zoezebra - Glad you are ok.

Dianne77 - Will be thinking about you Monday.

Tallbird - Welcome back.

I seem to be nesting have worked frantically to tidy up the house over the last few days and now cannot stand any mess in my nice tidy rooms. I am also bleaching everything in site on a daily basis. Not quite sure where I am getting the energy from but hey ho.

I am having a sit in in bed (have been awake since about 7 and had breakfast etc but am relaxing for a little while before going off to the midwife). DS is at nursery, DH is on the way to work and today I am going to sort out the spare bedroom (which will have a small baby in it soon ).

I am starting to have the bowling ball between my legs feeling - don't think I am waddling but not walking in the way I normally do .

Zoezebra - hope you managed to sleep all right last night - it must be frustrating to be back home without a baby. My sleep was very good last night - only one toliet visit and DS didn't wake up at all .

Franch, congratulations on the new arrival in the family. So far, DS is the only cousin; we need DH's brother and wife to start having babies I think.

After DS was born I also had an epidural and a blood transfusion - I had a PPH and they had to give me an epidural in theatre so they could find and stop the bleeding. It was very odd seeing my legs in such a strange position. The blood ransfusion happened later on, when my hb levels were found to be rather low (not surprising having lost 3 pints of blood). I left hopsital after two nights and was fine.

Morning - really didn't like pethedine - was going great guns until I had it then things slowed down - think it may have been because as I had it I layed down and had a sleep - when I woke up the contractions were much less effective, stopped dilating and had the c-section some 10 hours later. Going to try just gas & air this time & going to keep mobile.

zoezebra ~ Sorry you're still waiting to have your baby. I hope your sleep has improved.

You're right I am overdoing things. Every couple of days I can't help but go out and end up walking too much. It seems ironic that when I had DD, I had 5 weeks maternity leave and I was at home bored, but fully able to go out and about as needed. This time, I've got DD to take care off and I could really do with 5 weeks to myself and happily sit at home alone .... but it's just not possible. Hmphf!

I spent most of yesterday PM laid down to take pressure away from 'down below' The swelling seems to have eased today. This baby has been low for a long time AND, a growth scan at 31 weeks indicated it was above average size - so I guess that's why I am feeling so sore.

I was lying in bed last night thinking about natural induction techniques and trying to think of a good day to sepnd three hours massaging my nipples! Nope, I couldn't find a convenient window for that

Franch ~ congratulations on the arrival of your niece.

My mattress protector is nice and comfortable by the way - got it from John Lewis. It is towelling with waterproof underneath.

Of course this means my waters won't break in bed, but I am happy about that as well.

Need to get up some time, midwife appointment at 10:20. Baby is moving round in lots of weird ways - I really would like it NOT to be breech please .

hello again.......

dps' first day back at work and i'm finding it very strange being at home on my own with ds.......

remember my friend had her hen night and didn't tell me?

well i don't quite understand what happened there but the PROPER hen night is this saturday and i have been invited.......i can't really go though because even though dp is happy to look after lemmy, it's meal first (which i can't afford to chip in for, at a place where i don't like the food) and i hate nightclubbing........i don't feel like i can leave my beautiful son yet either....i went to the shop for milk the other day and missed him even though it only took ten minutes!!

but i do feel better that she invited me......as i predicted as soon as i had the baby she came running back.

having a few problems with trapped wind with the little one, so night times are hard work and i'm worn out but it is getting easier.

i skipped through the thread and someone mentioned the managed third stage and the injection they give you........my third stage was 7 minutes and afterwards (when i was on the ward) i had to ask dp if they'd given me the injection in my leg.......they had and i hadn't felt it at all, in fact hadn't even noticed i'd been given it. think it must have been a combination of the gas and air and the fact that all my attention was focused on my new born son.

hope you aren't all feeling too uncomfortable.......i really do know how that feels, and can sympathise.

take care of yourselves and i'll pop in when i can!!

Ended up in maternity unit at Kingston yesterday!! Went to GP feeling very laid back, but she decided my blood pressure was up a bit and that combined with the spotting was enough to make her send me in! Half of me wished I hadn't opened my big mouth, the other half was relieved to get checked out.
They hooked me up to a monitor for an hour or two and I was getting regular contractions!! Not painful, but enough to get me (and them) excited. When I eventually saw the consultant, he was v laid back about the situation, my blood pressure was right down, so he gave me some canestan and sent me home with the implication that I MAY have this baby sooner rather than later!
I'm still sceptical and can imagine still sitting here in a month's time...
Today feel really off colour though - sick and wobbly, so not really sure what's going on.
On the pethidine issue, I had it with ds1 and thought it was great - just felt a bit drunk and didn't care about the pain. I am a total control freak though, so don't fancy the idea at all..trouble is, what are the other options? Epidural last time was pretty disastrous, and gas and air hasn't been enough so far..

Moschops, so nice to hear from you. I think hearing about Lemmy will keep us all going!! It certainly seemed a lot more real and exciting when I saw little babies being wheeled around at the hospital yesterday! Totally understand you not wanting to go out without him yet - good luck now you're on your own all day - you will get used to it!

Andif, have you considered waterbirth? Apparently waterbirth (combined with G&A if nec) can really reduce the pain levels.

Good to hear from you Moschops. I know what you mean about not wanting to leave your newborn (I had the same thing when my first was a newborn). It is an instinctive thing. Sounds like you won't enjoy the evenign out anyway (and you've now got a great excuse not to go!) . For wind, we found the ONLY thing that worked with ds was Woodwards Gripewater. Gave him a couple of mls and a few minutes later he gave a HUGE burp or fart, and settled well (most times).

For all you mummys / mums to be that have not considered water birth - its worth a go. I did water and G&A only. I am the biggest wimp out and thought that I would be needing all the drugs on offer but the water was really great and relaxed me and the G&A took the edge off the pain. I did'nt feel out of control on it, just light headed. I even managed to sleep for 2 hours of my labour in the water - poor DH had to support me whilst I had some Zzzz!
I know that it does'nt work for everyone and some have more difficult labours than others but if you can I would definately recommend trying it, you can always ask for drugs later on .

Hiya everyone! keep forgetting this is here! im due 22nd september, but i am having a planned c-section as my other 2 sons were born by c-section, dont know when my date will be yet, but i see my consultant tommorow to get one! which im quite excited about! xx

Back from midwife to discover I might have a head down baby or I might not. Whatever I have one with a boney bottom (wish I could say that about me).

She was convinced the large blob somewhere towards my pelvis was a head until she felt the blob near my ribs.

And as my consultant's clinics are on Mondays and next Monday is bank holiday, I haven't got a hospital appointment until 5th September. I feel a bit worried as I'll be 38+3 then and that's when DS came. What happens if you go into labour with a breech baby?

Oh well, it will come out one way or another.

Have paid DH's car tax for him. Nice wife that I am .

Have also found the solution to the ironing problem. It is called allironedout.co.uk. They came and took it away yesterday evening and will bring it back tomorrow evening. There were 15 of DH's shirts in there .

Hello everyone, hope we're all feeling fine and dandy. Have been up since 5.30am so not a happy camper! My 'funny pain' seems to have disappeared now, thankfully! Just having some very dull period-type pains on and off, but nothing major. Went to the GP this morning, apart from a bit of a dig about my weight gain and my stretch marks all is fine with me + baby.

Nice to hear from you Moschops, hope your first day at home with Lemmy isn't too scary!

And my BP has gone up to 110/80. Normally 100/60.

I think I will eat chocolate and read a trashy magazine .

PC - 110/80 is still pretty good

Afernoon all. First day on maternity leave today - think this no working thing is going to take a bit of getting used to (although I'm sure I'll get the hang of it ). Major panic as tried to get onto the internet and discovered there was something up with our broadband connection - thankfully all sorted, was starting to feel like my right arm had been cut off!

Have already finished my first book (started it yesterday morning on the tube) - thank goodness the library is just up the road!

Andif - sounds like you might be joining the race for September baby number 2... Glad all was OK when you got checked out.

Right, might go and think about having a shower now and go around to the shops to find something for lunch (no food in the house, must do an internet shop today too...)

Hi everyone, I've had one sleepless night. After crampy feelings all day yesterday, I started getting contractions at about midnight. By two o'clock had the tens machine on (very good at blocking, btw) and by three I was talking to the hospital, as they contractions were every five minutes. By 8.00 this morning, the hospital suggested I went in to be monitored and they found that although the contractions are real, they're not achieving much - only 1cm dilated. Choked - and very tired! Still having them now. Midwife said it could go on for another 48 hours or it might stop altogether. Just want to get on with it now. Had visions of a 12-16 hour labour, and have now had over 12 hours with little effect. Bah! Hope everyone else is feeling better than me!

good luck K7!

saw the midwife today and everything seems OK. Got more work this morning which I'm not impressed about, but being self-employed means that I do need to keep working till contractions start!

Have the week to myself which is lovely as dh has taken the boys to see family. The house is quite tidy as had visitors all weekend so did a big sort out last week, and apart from a bit of gardening nothing much needs doing. So in theory I can work long hours and get most of the growing pile cleared.

Sarahhal - hope the builders reappeared! Ours start on the 12th, but I have just changed the drainage plans so I'm waiting for the architect to run them past building regs and the builders to requote for us. We've cleared everything out from the outbuildings that they will knock down first, and moved the garden things that will be in their way so we're ready this end. Am dreading them being here for 12 weeks, all that mess and noise and a newborn. Oh, well, keep thinking about the amazing house we will have at the end of it all !

K7 - Good luck for a quick labour xx

trying to do some jobs today - but really want to sleep!!