March 2016 babies - 2 here already, many more yet to come!!!

[Missikat]

Hi ladies, thanks Indom for the suggestion of me starting a new thread. Seeing as Zach and myself have been knocking about on antenatal since November it will be lovely to have you all joining us shortly in the baby, rather than pregnancy conversations! Bring on the March babies!!!!

Hayley my MW said** the head sometimes only engages once contractions start and move baby down. It would be unusual for your waters to go while the head is still free though (and dangerous as there is room for the cord to prolapse)

Suz Yes that makes sense. Phew that's a load off!!

Doc Ah that's handy to know! So waters breaking probably won't happen until I'm actually in labour then. One less thing to query about while I'm out and about! Was worrying about having to waddle and drive home in wet clothes lol

Definitely get on the ball, hayley! It will help if baby is bhbgfsdgfgdhghggddroukgjvjhkjlbmnmklop9ojkjkblhjmlkppoom9pmnklklķkkmbnlmm (whoa, thanks DD2!) back to back!

Lol Beaut I thought you'd lost the plot for a minute there!!! Yes I'm trying to go on it every day and night on all fours for a while and then for a bounce and wiggle for a while. Hopefully that will shift him!

Aha so this is where everybody went! 37+6 here and finally on maternity leave! Squeezing in long weekend 'babymoon' on the coast before house cleaning/declutter starts in ernest. Not needed for baby but sis and niece visiting in a week and spare room is chock full of junk.

Baby engaging ( 3/5 as of 36wk appointment) but may bust ball out just to keep mobile. Had backache for first time in pregnancy today - think I am just not used to vegging out.

Beautiful baby scared , nice for Zach to finally have company.

Might be actual labour kicking off tonight for me. Stronger feeling and longer contractions, fairly regular now but not at the point of phoning triage. DH has piled the bags by the front door just in case. I'll update in an hour or two - if it's a false alarm surely it will have fizzled out by then.

Oh my goodness - good luck mship!!! How exciting!

Oohh good luck Mship! I want to go into labour naturally, it's so exciting!

Good luck TheM! Bounce bounce on that ball!

Good luck mship baby by morning please

Good luck mship
I'm super jealous I've been having mild contractions Braxton hicks all day and nothing has happened. I'm getting frustrated now!

Good luck, Mship xxx

Good luck Mship how exciting for you!
On a different slightly more gross note- has anyone attempted perineal massage? My midwife recommended it as a way to minimise tearing, but am sat here with the handout she gave me thinking WTF ? I don't know whether to attempt or not, and how much pressure I should use- if I can even reach the area!

Charley I've never done it, and never torn! furiously touches wood

Good luck mship!!

I've felt rubbish all day, had a moment of panic it was bp related but appears to be snot related again... Have however been bouncing on a ball with raspberry leaf tea in hand so I can evict her and have some proper cold drugs!

I did tear last time which is why she's recommended it, but I just can't quite bring myself to do it

Ah good luck mship, yay fingers crossed it's the real thing!

I have no choice but to work up until the end - I would have to take unpaid leave which would mean having to pay my own health insurance costs ($600 a month as opposed to $30!) I'm already taking a couple of months unpaid after baby as it is.

I genuinely feel fine at work at the moment though, I only get sad when I read about others having a lovely time at home! The worst is I get exhausted at weekends trying to do baby prep alongside all the usual household chores and social engagements etc. But anyway we're almost ready for baby, and have totally cleared the rest of my weekends after this one so I can rest as much as possible

Thanks for all the blanket advice! Interesting thoughts on the changing pad suz!

My baby is also back to back so I'll def be getting on the ball as much as possible!

Well we're on our way in to hospital. I'm still a bit skeptical that it's the real deal, but we'll find out soon enough. Contractions every 2 minutes, but only lasting 30 seconds and not that strong. DH is cautious so the on call nanny has arrived and we're in the car.

Ooooh exciting mship! Good luck! Hope it's not a false alarm, but every 2mins sounds real...

Good luck if it is the real thing mship
I'm dosed up on paracetamol at the min, baby has been dancing about all evening and has settled in a place which is the most agonising constant sharp pain hurts very low on the left - like it would be ovulation pains. Nothing else though so know it's just an awkward positioning!

Ahhhh good luck Mship!! Hope it is the real thing for you. Will be checking back in the morning and keeping everything crossed for you!

How exciting Mship! Good luck!

Those of you still working are amazing - I don't know how you do it.

Charley my mw suggested I do it too because I'm worried about tearing again. I'm still feeling a bit...sensitive about that area since tearing last time and I'm very squeamish about fiddling around down there . I didn't get given a hand out with instructions though!

I had an actual contraction earlier! Only 35 weeks but it was just the one and quite mild so I'm not worried. Fx its a sign that the baby will turn up a week or 2 or 3 early though .

Wow that is exciting, TheM! Fingers crossed it is the real deal and this one is a walk in the park for you!

feel free to livepost throughout!

I'm not doing perineal massage. I asked the consultant about it and she said there was no evidence. Even my crunchy midwives haven't mentioned it. So going for positioning, controlled pushing and perineal support instead. and banking on being well 'stretched' from DS1

Does anyone want to mark this coursework? I'm so bored of it.

I'm also squeamish about fiddling around down there and won't be attempting perineal massage. I'm not really doing much to prepare at all! Hoping that my almost 2 years of regular Pilates will have improved my pelvic floor and core strength and that will see me through!

Exciting Mship! I can't remember when you were due?

ffaux I finished work yesterday at 38 weeks exactly but honestly I could quite happily work next week. Mentally I was ready to stop and I am looking forward to a bit of time off but physically I could carry on. You'll be fine!

Ooh TheM I am rooting for you and keeping all fingers and toes crossed if is the real deal!

How many weeks are you again?

Charley, I tried perineal massage when pregnant with DS1, it was really awkward trying to get in position, I seem to remember I gave myself cramp and couldn't get the hang if it at all. I gave up after a couple of attempts and he came out the sunroof anyway so it didn't matter!