October 2004 - Massive Moose - part 4

[beansprout]

Ah - see what I did there? [wink}
Hope it's ok to start a new thread. Computer couldn't cope with the old one.

Ok here, but am on operation not-go-mad today as have been feeling pretty down. Friend over this morning and will waddle into town this afternoon. This will render me exhausted and will then sleep/graze until bedtime.
Have also watched far too many baby progs on Discovery Health. Have become an armchair expert in giving birth ("ooh, you don't want to do that love"). Will get my come uppance soon enough!!!! Eek!!

hi folks thanks for the welcome! its great to hear everyone is having positive experiences, makes me less anxious.
huppa - no im not a first timer, maybe bit like you i suppose, i have a 24 month old girl. isnt it a lot different 2nd time around?
cant believe this is the week of my due date! is anyone due today?

Morning. Nallpolish - I forgot to say welcome to you, sorry - really lovely to have you here.
Don't think any of us are actually due today although we still need to clear this backlog. Not that I'm doing much towards that though!

Off to see the midwife in a mo for the appointment I'd hoped I wouldn't need.... ho hum....

thanks beansprout! hope your appt goes ok. im getting fed up with the questions that have started - "are you still pregnant" etc!

Good luck Beansprout - let us know how you get on. I'm seeing my mw this afternoon but will no doubt be sent home and told that "these things take time" and that db will "come when he/she is ready". I don't even have any twinges today so it'll probably be ages yet.

I hope everyone else is ok.

Morning ladies, how are we all feeling today? Well, I'm into my last week of pg (on paper at least) and am a wee bit scared now. The last 2 midwife appointments I've had, they have both cheerfully informed me I have a large baby. Now I'm not all that big, should I be worried? Tales of friends or fellow meece who've not found big babies a problem would be much appreciated!
I just want out now!

Also, have had many tales lately (from MWs and other mummies) of local labour ward being v v busy - what happens if I am in labour and I don't have a bed?

Bibiboo - i'm afraid that I am living proof that big babies come out of not very big bumps! MW last week reconned that this one was about 8.5 lb then, so its well on the way to keeping up with its siblings!

Bibi don't worry you will be able to deliver your baby, you must keep saying that to yourself, keep positive girl!!

I think they will send you to another hospital if all the beds are taken, not ideal but that's also a reason why they like you to ring before you go in.

Piglit/Bean when will you be induced? what is the policy with your midwives? I have a friend who was induced last night and she was only over by 5 days. She is 39, not that that is old by any means but they said it was because of her age.

any news from Distracted or Sooz??? hope they are both doing well.

Hi everyone,
beansprout and piglit - good luck with your appointments. Let us know how you get on.

Bibiboo - have same worries re: bed. Our local hospital usually deliver 3-4 babies a week, but in the last couple of weeks it´s been 3-4 a day. Doctor assures me they´ll find room somewhere - hopefully not a store cupboard.

Hopefully we´ll hear something from sooz and distracted soon.

Turtle - apparently my m/w will book me in for induction at 11 - 14 days. I'm going to ask for day 11 because my SPD is really painful. When it's at its worst I can't even walk. I might ask for a sweep this afternoon to see if that gets things going.

Bibi - a few people have told me that pushing out a bigger baby is much easier than a little baby. Something to do with gravity or something...?

Piglit you should definitely ask for a sweep today and if you are up for it insist on inducing you at 11 days. I feel very similar with the pain I have with my back and hips, I just don't sleep any more and feel exhausted because of it. Good luck with dr/mw and please let us know how you get on.

Just back from the m/w. If there is still no Bean I will be seen on Friday to discuss induction and then be induced next Wednesday (20th).... so we have a deadline, eek!!

Am naturally hoping that it doesn't come to that, not least as I will then have to be in hospital rather than at the birth centre as planned. I did ask if they could continue to monitor rather than press on with induction but it seems that would be one hell of a fight. They "induce on Wednesdays" and that's the end of it although she did chuck in a couple of comments about me not wanting placenta failure on my conscience!!

Also, experienced midwife could confirm that Bean is definitely ROA, so am about that!! Finally my belly is 5cm bigger than average for dates - no wonder I keep bashing into things....

Anyway, fingers crossed that Bean just comes out of his own accord....
Hope everyone else is well.

its good when you have a deadline, beansprout. with my first i had a deadline but came of my own accord. whats ROA?

Thanks nailpolish. It does seem that a lot of meece deliver in time once the deadline is set!
ROA means that Bean is on the right hand side of my belly, with his (her) back at the front. ie anterior position. This is good, as when babies are posterior i.e. their spine is at the back, alongside yours, this can lead to a more painful and difficult labour with an increased chance of a c-section. Some of us have spent a lot of time on all fours in recent weeks trying to encourage our dbs round to anterior positions!! The whole things is known as "optimal foetal positioning" ie getting baby into the best position for birth. My GP has not been able to tell me so I've been a bit unsure/anxious about this for a few weeks now.

Hi Bean

thats good news, I know what you mean about him/her coming on own accord though, at least you can spend time at home in the first stage of labour but then again some beans are stubborn and to happy in there so is it the right side of belly they are meant to be on? I was thinking it was the other side? I certainly agree with them facing down is better. Now that yu have a date he/she will definitely come

hmmm 5 cm that's quite a lot!! Did the midwife give you an estimate on size?

oh never knew that! (and im a nurse!) knew about posterior position being painful tho, lets hope your baby decides where s/he is is comfy and stays there. my 1st never engaged at all until i was well into 2nd stage of labour so she swam around all over the place til then. little blighter. someone i know from toddlers who was due same day as me (sat) had her baby last night. not fair

Hi Nailpolish - hang in there it won't be long. Imagine your db swimming around until delivery - there is something adorable about that however I gather it somewhat lengthened the labour

hi turtle! shes still a bit of a water baby now. labour was a bit long yes until mw broke her waters then i imagine she got a bit miffed cos couldnt swim so decided just to come out. didnt mind labour being long cos it meant i could have all the gas and air i wanted - best stuff ever invented! how are you today??

Turtle, I think absolute ideal is left hand side but it is the posterior thing that I really wanted to avoid.

Hope your appt is going ok Piglit.

Off to the cinema now with dp (who has bunked off). Enjoy the freedom while I still can! Am going to see Bride and Prejudice - here's hoping some Bollywood gets Bean moving!

Hi Nailpolish, I'll take the advice on the gas and air, I have heard good things about that stuff.

I am having a plumbing disaster in the toilet where our spare bedroom is in the loft for all the various family members coming to stay when the baby is born. My family are coming from Canada and DH are coming from Ireland so as you can see I am feeling very stressed now. Have had two plumbers around who are indicating they have to pull up the floor and change pipes etc - please tell me this isn't happening.

by the way, can I have some gas and air now please.......

turtle - i have a great way of cheering you up - go to the robbie williams thread thats active just now (but dont let the plumbers see it)

Well, db is now back to back having been LOA for the last 10 weeks. I'm booked in for a sweep on Thursday and if that doesn't work then it's induction at the weekend or on Monday. Ho hum. I'd better go and get on all fours to get db back to where he should be.

I hope y'all have a good evening.

Oh Piglit that is really annoying, sorry to hear db has moved, could you tell by looking at your bump it had changed?

Good luck with the sweep on Thursday.

I should hopefully be offered a sweep in the morning, i'm trying to jinx myself into going into labour - booked someone to fit new bathroom floor on Thursday, that should bring it on!

Had scan today - baby's head appears to be in the pelvis, and bum to the right - so hopefully that's OK. Not engaged but this apparently is not uncommon in second births.

Bean, hang in there, next Wednesday is a long way off. Good birth vibes to all!

Bibiboo, have about 3 episodes of 24 series 3 to go - we are watching one a night. Did you ever get series 1?