Anyone due in April 2004?!

[dot1]

Hello!

I found out last week I was pregnant, and although I've not been to my GP yet, various websites and Miriam Stoppard have told me I'm due on March 31st/April 1st! (poor little april fools baby - let's hope it's late...).

I know it's early days, but wanted to start this thread as I've already got lots of questions - like, is anyone else having quite bad pains? I've been getting bad period-type pains, which have been worrying me, but I understand people do get (this is my first pregnancy by the way!).

Right, that's it - hope I get some company soon..!

yes c sections aren't a brilliant answer to everything are they. that's the problem there's no clear best way to do this! I have liked being up and about feeling Ok even the day after giving birth.

I know people who have gone swimming etc 4 weeks after a c section which is earlier than most "normal" birth women manage. and some people can't sit down for a month after a natural delivery.

I was strongly considering an elective c-section after a nightmare first labour, and my obstetrician was perfectly happy to do this...but in the end I decided against it. I was swung by a thread under childbirth started off by Pupuce where she asked the women to compare their 2nd birth experience to their first vaginal birth. Circa 90% reported that 2nd vaginal birth was so much easier...sorry that's maybe not that helpful to those of you on your first baby (although I have friends who had very easy first labours)!

HMC - from memory only 2 (maybe 3) said it was as bad or worse 2nd time around and loads replied. It was whether if you had ventouse or forceps the 1st time... did you have it again?
The testimonies are quite reassuring/telling - glad it helpd you HMC.

Good news from my 28wk appt today. Apparently the baby is sitting in an ideal position (I hope that this does not change.) The head is right down in my pelvis and what we thought was the head was actually the bottom just below my tummy button.
The doctor said they move around a lot but I think that it is almost always in that position, even though I feel movements the positioning doesn't seem to change. Is this wierd?
Must say I struggled with the lucozade at 9.20 this morning.

Udar - that's good. My son was head down at 28 weeks and lying on the left hand side of my tunny. This baby is on the left again but until my 28 week check next week I couldn't tell you which way up it is!

I had a very painful birth first time as ds was back to back with me and I wasn't prepared for how excruitiating it was. But I still wouldn't go for a c section this time (unless medically I have to) because it's a major op and you'll be out of action for quite a few weeks.

And while I think of it, any ideas what I can do for dh for Valentines? He's a bit hard to beat surprise wise as last Valentines he took me to Amsterdam for romantic (he called it dirty!) weekend and presented me with an eternity ring and some classy underwear!! Then I had a surprise party on my 40th in November. I'd love to do something nice for him but being preggars anything too strenuous is out of the question...

I know I'll be rubbish at trying to do a link (cos I don't quite understand the instructions on how to do it!) but if you're stuck for names for your baby, have a look at this...!

www.ajc.com/print/content/epaper/editions/thursday/buyers_edge_f33f34d3e08a705600f0.html

Dp had a c-section and walked (and I'm not kidding) the 1/4 mile corridor to the canteen the next day with her parents for a cup of tea, and we were shopping at Brent Cross on day 5. I think she was still out of it on drugs/hormones to be honest..! But the scar never bothered her and she really was active from the day after (she's such a star!). Mind you, she then went on to have PND so it wasn't all rosey... but if I have to have a caesarean I won't get much sympathy if I'm demanding to stay in bed for a month!!

No bright ideas for Valentines I'm afraid - we're going to a concert on the 12th - it's my birthday on the 13th so we usually combine a nice thing to do for me/us - before ds was around we sometimes went away for the weekend - can highly recommend Whitstable!

Don't know what the budget is but what about one of those spa days where you can get a bit of pampering facial etc, play in the nice indoor pools and dh can have a massage and a bit of spoiling too. They are scattered all over the place so it could be something that doesn't involve too much travel but could be fun. We'll be doing something similar.

Dot1 - your dp is a heroine! I can't believe she did that. Ye gods!

Udar - yes I like the pampering idea. I'll look into that (this is unless dh's already booked something for me!).

My dad's birthday is Valentine's day, lucky boy. The postie must think he's the most popular guy in Eastbourne!

Talking of cravings, I've been wanting cheescake too. I had a few days of Dime bar addiction too...

HMC/Dot - I work in the public sector too. My employers have been very good about letting me have all my old accrued leave and also (I know it's the law anyway!) allowing me to do what I think is called constricted hours or something - I do 18.5 hours over 2 days so I'm getting half a week's money for two days' work.

I've had a few days where all I wanted was herb mash potato with anything - the most important thing was that there was potato. That has passed but people are always asking 'have you had any cravings?' I say no but have been going through food phases.
As a vege am really glad I haven't had any meat cravings I was a bit worried about it.

Valentines day...when's that again???? (I suppose I had better work on rekindling the romance with dh).

Had rotten few days lately - dd has been really sick with an acute chest infection and temp of 39 degrees and has now developed an ear infection. She wants to be carried everywhere and constantly - and it just aint fun lugging around a 30lb toddler when 6 months pregnant

HMC - hope dd feels a bit better soon. Can't imagine it would be good for you to do all that lifting.

HMC - I could have written your post about the labour exactly. Like you though I found Pupuce's thread most reassuring though. Having also been to a couple of NCT refresher antenatal classes I feel a bit better informed this time and am seriously considering to try and have a birth with minimum intervention. However, I must confess to being a chicken when it comes to pain so I'll have to see nearer the time ! I really really do admire those who can do it on gas and air alone. Apparently, the size of the baby has nothing to do with whether you have an easier birth of not, its a lot more do with baby's positioning.

I am taking it easy today as I somewhat overdid things the other day and my bump has gone very tight as a result. Plus have also started to havea bit of troouble sleeping too

Metrobaby - I have just returned froma birth... 2nd baby (first was a horrendous experience)... this time mum opted for homebirth with me (doula).... she was expecting gas and air but MW turned up without it (as it was midddle of night and she could hear the mum's contractions while talking to dad on phone that she had better come now if she didn't want me to catch baby!)... mum was "what no ga and air????", MW said "Hey I had no choice either I made it to the birth or I went first to hospital to collect it!".... believe it or not mum got the G&A out of her mind ( as it was no longer an option) and birthed very quickly after that.... she was on a high after that!

If you ahve no gas and air you can ALSO do it.... most of my mums don't use it.

Pupuce, I had an (unplanned) homebirth first time round - the midwife got here with half an hour to spare. After examining me she told me there wasn't time to get to hospital, and she didn't have any gas and air with her. You're right, once you know there's no option you just get on with it. It was scary but I felt great afterwards!
A second midwife arrived in time for the stitches so I did have gas and air during those (more to try it out than I could feel anything!)

Metrobaby - lets not think about the pain, we've still got another 3 months to put our heads in the sand and forget about yet!!

Udar, thanks for the well wishes. DD is much better now - her eardrum perforated and the gunk drained out so the pain has gone and she is almost human again!

I went to an NCT ante natal class last week and they taught us a breathing exercise for during contractions - Sigh Out Slowly - they told us to practise if we stubbed our toe, etc... Sure enough I banged my ankle the other night and had a go.... didn't relieve the pain at all - in fact it kind of made me concentrate on it a bit more! But it was good to have something to do other than go "OWWWWWW" a lot...!

Not sure if Sigh Out Slowly is going to last me more than a couple of contractions!

When I had those false ones in Dec the breathing went something like ow-ow-ow-ow etc etc until it stopped. I found the silent slow breathing that the nurse was trying to do with me was too quiet and calm for what I was feeling - it didn't let out my tension in the right way.
Figure it'll probably be the same for me for the real thing.

Blow the pain out is (IME) the best.... "blow it out".... and "relax your jaw/shoulders" are my 2 favourite sentences when I support a woman in labour.
Also making "oohhhh" sounds not "aaahhh" - helps too.
Pie can confirm

I like the idea of blowing the pain out - like Udar says it's a bit more active than sighing out slowly!! Will trying blowing next time I injure myself (I'm v. clumsy..!).

Thanks - I remember trying to co-ordinate relaxing my jaw and shoulders which was actually quite difficult to do.
Is anyone else getting braxton hicks ALL THE TIME, I probably get a couple an hour most of the day and evening, they don't hurt but I'm conscious of them happening.

not a couple an hour - probably about 3 - 4 a day at the moment. dp didn't feel any when she was pregnant. I get them mostly in the late afternoon/evening and at night.

Has anyone else started being sick again?

Dot - I was physiclly sick for the first time this pregnancy just after Christmas, though I think that may have been because I took my multi vit on an empty stomach.

Tomorrow's my last day at work before 11 weeks of annual leave - hurrah! Now, what do I do with ds now I've got all that time free?!

I'v been eating a lot of mozzarella, tomatoes and basil in olive oil. Really into basil at the mo (!).

The birth of ds was very painful as he was in a posterior position. However, I will still try and start this labour with just gas and air if all is ok. Not that I enjoy pain or anything, but I don't want an epidural to stop me pushing properly and Meptid didn't work for me anyway. If the pool at my hospital is free I would use that again for early labour. They gave me a TENS machine and that turned on full was pretty good, though being a back labour all the pain was round my lower back.

dot1 - I didn't have morning sickness and the only time I have been sick without explanation is when I didn't have enough food before taking my multivitamin. I have heard stories about people who are sick right through all 9 months. Be careful about dehydration if you start being sick again though.