40week update from me :-)

[natalie_1982]

Morning ladies, how are you all feeling today? I just got back from my 40week appt (Happy Due Date to me!). I am obviously providing too good a home to mini-nat because s/he still showing no signs of appearing just yet :-(

Everything is fine but s/he is still "not quite" engaged! I'm booked in for a stretch / sweep one week today and then induction on 17th if baby hasn't arrived by then. Can't believe I could have another two weeks of this.
Has anyone else had a stretch and sweep and was it successful?

I had a good 10-15minute walk there and back though so I am hoping that will get things moving a bit.

Has there been any word from Lorrymac yet? I hope everything is ok, am getting a bit worried now. I hope she is just being kepy busy with dirty nappies and feeds x

[natalie_1982]

Hi Andrea, yep you're right, the thought of another 6weeks would be enough to push me over the edge!

The in-laws won't change, I feel for my hubby but my concern is my and the baby now so they will have to lump it! Things can be done on my terms now, seeing as I'll be pushing it out!

I've got three bags LOL! I didn't (still don't) know what happens when I get to the hospital and I read that I should have a baby bag, a labour bag and a ward bag. My ward bag only has towels, shower gel, shampoo, spare massive pants, etc. Labour bag has labour things funnily enough plus a blanket for baby and a couple of nappies and things for the first few hours when I'm in delivery suite, and the baby bag....well I am sure you can work that one out, but that's just spare sleepsuits, nappies, bibs, blankets, kitchen sink.... Our hospital doesn't do a tour or tell you what you need to bring, although they said they'd be releasing a tour DVD by the summer.... hmmm that'll be useful then..... so I don't know what happens when I arrive at the hospital or what I will need when so I packed everything LOL

I started packing at about 36weeks I think but was adding things as I went along really. I['m sure I won't need half the stuff but you see so many different lists in books and online it's difficult to know what you need!

[Psychick]

Hi ladies, just thought Id let you both know what I took with me into hospital so you have a better idea.

I had a bag for me with a bath towel and a hand towel ( I never used either because my hospital provided both and you can get theirs all messy instead of ruining your own when you bath after the birth!) I had 2 nightshirts and a dressing gown, slippers, clothes to go home in, maternity pads (but again my hospital provided these as well), breast pads, face cloth, lip balm, toiletries, camera, phone, money. As I went in in a hurry after giving up on the homebirth, I didnt bother taking anything in entertainment wise such as books and mp3 player.

For babys bag I had 2 sleepsuits (although I didnt use it, the hospital provided a nightie to put her in at first) 3 or 4 vests, 6 nappies and cotton wool, I didnt pack any baby wipes as I used warm water for the first few days, for bringing her home I packed a cardigan, mittens, hat and a blanket. Again, the hospital provided blankets to use in hospital.

Just remember that once baby is born and you go onto the maternity ward, you have very little storage space and anything that gets put on the floor gets moved about when the staff clean. What you dont need for the first 48 hours, get hubby to bring in later. I had to store my bag under the little cot and had babys bag hanging from one end of it as none of it would fit in the tiny space they provide, plus I didnt bother unpacking as I had no intention of staying long lol

This is pretty much what I had for both my deliveries and was always enough.

[redcrx]

Hi ladies!

Ive got 3 bags too, one for me in labour (though still havnt found TENS)one for baby things and one for maternity ward if i stay in.

How are you feeling now Nat? any sign of movemt yet? I had BHs every 5 mins from 8pm - 1am then fell asleep but they were still there when i woke at 4 -5am and still exactly every 5 mins now!

Im now starting to wonder if i will feel proper contractions or have the painless ones like my mum. And if they are painless how will i know to go to hospital?? With 4get, mum didnt know at all (3rd child) and it was only that midwife called to see her that thye found she was ready to give birth. 4get was born an hour after midwife poppe by.

Because my waters were broken last time I only felt contractions when dry, if you know what i mean, so thats worrying me too. Mind you, if i only feel them after waters break i really shouldnt be worried should i lol

[Psychick]

lol if you get the urge to push, its time red! How is mr red and his midwife skills? lol

[redcrx]

OMG he'd freak lol

got a paramedic 2 doors down but Im not sure id like a neighbour getting involved pmsl.

Hospital at least half hour drive so i hope i get mre warning than just pushing lol.

[bigmamma]

Ah there you are redcrx , just thinking I hadn't seen you :-)
You still here natalie honey :-)
xxxxxx

[natalie_1982]

Thanks Psy and Red - that's helpful to know re bags (thought I was a bit loopy having 3 bags but you put my mind at rest now LOL)

Yep, BM, still hanging in here :-(

I overdid it a bit yesterday, got a bit nest happy and also went for a fair walk in an attempt to get things moving but, aside from a sparkly house, all that has resulted in is puffy feet and ankles so I can't get my boots on to go and play in the snow today :-(

I am still in my jamas and mini-nat seems to be showing no sign of appearing just yet, although every night s/he gives me grief wriggling around from 7pm-ish until I go to bed and during the night for the past 3 nights I have been getting painless contractions, I may be getting them during the day too, but it tends to only be at night that I notice them because it's quiet and still - is that common for everyone or should I be noticing them during the day too?

Either way, they have been irregular and not painful so I haven't been timing them.

There is so little room now that when baby moves it's head it sometimes sends a shooting pain down there which isn't nice. Still, at least it's still jiggly and letting me know that s/he's ok. Even if I'm not! Hope you're all having a lovely Sunday xx

[andrea81]

Thanks for the tips on packing, got a few bits to get so will get them today!

I'll catch up with you ladies later as I'm back in work :o( never mind counting down the days for my maternity!

Hoping for some news though ladies!!!!

[natalie_1982]

Hiya andrea, poor you, those last few weeks at work are a killer aren't they?

No news from me (again!), but this morning I am going to pop into work as there are a few little bits I need to sort out and it means I get out of the house for a bit! You know things are bad when you go to work in a desperate attempt to have something to do that might get things moving! (there are 4 flights of stairs up to the office lol!).

I wonder how red is doing today? Seems mighty unfair that she's getting more action than me at the moment LOL. I am sure 4get would update us if there had been an arrival though!

Have a good day everyone xx

[redcrx]

Im here! my 'action' doesnt lead to anything so i dont see how its unfair lol.

I had the BHs until early hours of this morning, had heartburn and acid all night too so didnt sleep very well at all.

Have just cleared out office / playroom and crawled around on all fours for 45 mins and now just have a tummy ache but that must just be cos im not used to it lol.

I hope something starts for you soon Nat, its an awful feeling when your ticking off the days after your due date. Have people stopped calling you now asking for news?

[bigmamma]

Sounds like you had a rough night redcrx , the heartburn is rotten xxxx

[B00]

Hiya Nat- bit late joining in here aren't i? LOL

But yes, in answer to your question I had a stretch and sweep with Mini Boo as I was 10 days overdue, and it was VERY successful, I had the sweep in the afternoon and by 2am that night I'd had her.

The procedure itself is uncomfortable and embarrassing, but it's not painful.

Good luck hon xxxx

[natalie_1982]

Thanks B00, glad to hear that it worked for you. It seems 50/50 at the mo, in that some people I've spoken to said it worked with hours and others waited a few days.... whereas others (not naming any names Red) decided to go about 4months past their due date before they had their littluns!

Yes, red, I am indeed ticking the days off. Wish it would come in the next few days as my dad was only able to get this week off work in April and is coming down from Norwich tomorrow and it would be lovely for him to be able to see his first grandchild before he has to go back.

Thankfully *touch wood* I have only had heartburn once throughout the entire pregnancy so far, and that was back in November. On my BIrthday :-(

Do you think yours has engaged now then Red?

I'm just off in to town in a min, hopefully the walk / bus journey / stairs will help. I shall be back later this afternoon. Or not (I hope!).

XX

[daffidazey]

My birthday is on the 13th, anybody fancy giving birth on that date?? Make my birthday extra special! Lol! x

[andrea81]

Afternoon all!

Got back from work and feel very tired now, could do with a nap! Don't think i'm used to a full days work as I've been off for Easter hols!

Although I have only 10 days of work left, I am thinking I might have booked my leave too early now as I have so much to do, and by the looks of it, they haven't found anyone to take my place.... so we all know what fun and games I'll have when I do go back!

Saying that, the amount I drive, I don't think I'm safe driving much longer!

Well it's off to Parent Craft tonight, we're up to delivery of baby and plasenta tonight... nice! My hubby's face should be a picture.... he he he!

So take care everyone x x x x x

P.S

Nat - I don't want to see you on here tomorrow madam!

Red - Hope your heatburn gets better, I always find eating a bread roll before bed helpes to absorbe any acid!

[natalie_1982]

Morning all - I'm still here! And don't I wish I wasn't... nothing personal of course :-)

Andrea - how did you get on at Parent Craft? Did hubby enjoy the placenta part? Did you have your tea before or after? LOL

I have the same problem with my work - they hadn't (and still haven't) got anyone to replace me yet. I am past caring now for the moment though, although I will only face a six month backlog when I return. Oh well, I wil worry about that when the time comes :-)

I was really hoping something would happen last night as my belly seems to be stretched to full capacity and was so tight all evening and all night, it was so achey but this morning it's not so bad. My belly was doing something weird though, and neither me or my hubby could make out what it was. Near the top where baby's bum would be my belly was moving rythmically for about 20mins at a time on two seperate ocassions; it was too slow to be a heartbeat and was a definite movement but way too rythmic to be baby moving it's foot or something. I thought it could be that practice breathing thing, but it was a bit too fast for breathing - more the pace of someone who had just run for a bus or something. Anyone have any clues as to what it could be?

Other than that I slept really well and my dad and his wife are due down at lunchtime today for a couple of days so I shall be away from compy so don't get excited if I am not around (sounds very presumptious doesn't it? LOL) - I will log in tomorrow morning if nothing has happened or if I cant get on before xx

[bigmamma]

Peeking in to see natalie still here ....

[andrea81]

Morning Nat -I was just logging on for any updates and saw you post!

Parent craft was great, hubby was a bit surprised at how long I might be pushing for! Think he thought it was like in the films (one push and it's out!) Bless!!! We also did positions of labour and the pros/cons of each and best of all what massage techniques to use! Hubby is well trained now!

Next week C-sections and pain relief, think I might have to listen to this one, mean as I have more chance of another c-section! Fingers cross not!

About your funny feeling, could you be feeling the baby's hiccups? You've probably have felt them before, but s/he might be in a different position now so it feels different?

Well I hope you have a good few days with your dad, might take your mind off things! I'm off to physio today and hope that I don't need crutches, If I do I will definatly need a public warning sign strapped to my back! LOL

Take care hun x x x x

Red - hope your ok too, havign a better night with your heartburn!

[redcrx]

heartburn was fine last night but my god, PILES! i was in tears, Mr CRX laughs every time he sees we wince which didnt help at all. I also get a feeling like the skin at top of my leg is splitting at times and that is very very painful.
The last thing i want to do right now is go into labour and push! :(

the birth classes sound great, I remember watching in awe at how clever nature is to turn baby once the head is out. Its all so magical, I overdosed on birthing programs last time lol

Nat, I hope that your baby arrives whilst your dad is there hun, but please try and get online to tell us things are moving wont you? as we are bound to worrying if we dont see you! xx

[natalie_1982]

Hi again, if I don't get on here Red than Mr Nat will post for me or contact someone through facebook!

That sounds really painful red, hope you start feeling better today. I am bored out of my brain now. I have done as much housework as I can and am just sat around waiting now, it's so frustrating. Dad should be by at lunchtime and then I am going to go to my nan's for the afternoon, which will be a nice change of scenery! I know in a few weeks time I will be longing for peace and quiet and time to myself, but it's driving me crazy at the moment. Plus if I go out for a walk then I spend then rest of the day nursing enormous feet and ankles so can't afford to pop out this morning or I won't be able to get my shoes on this afternoon! LOL

Maybe today is the day! X