****February 2019 Mamas****

[Donna88]

It's funny the things that really preoccupy our minds when you'd think we'd be concentrating on just the baby arriving now isn't it haha. I hope you manage to build on your house Kholl as it sounds like a lovely place to live and such a fantastic community.

I have heard of spinning babies and looked at the website but I don't know if it's just me being daft; I can't seem to actually find any information on what they suggest you do!

Hopefully what I'm doing with the ball and staying active will help. Failing that it's just fingers crossed that I don't go into labour before a section (I will let the doctor try and turn her if she doesn't move on her own but I'm trying not think about that as it doesn't sound pleasant and might not work anyway; if it does come to that I'll try it without thinking about it too much and not get my hopes up that it will work) I'll look at the miles circuit too.


I really want to just get cracking on with things now. We're waiting for the cot to be delivered and it's actually such a shame that it's not going in the nursery to start with as husband has that all painted up now and it just looks unfinished without the cot; but I know we wouldn't want her in there over night for quite a while so a waste to put it up just to have the room looking a little nicer for a while.

My bag is mainly packed now; I just need to buy some flip flops and a couple of other bits; dig out a towel and waiting on some bits to come out of the washing and it'll be done. Babies bag I haven't started yet as need to get her washing done. But I'll be doing that over the next week or two.

Feeling loads of movement again today (not in the right way but still obviously love to feel her move as I know it means she's okay in there) I've already been thinking about when we'll want to start trying for the next one too haha I know that is crazy with this one not only not being here yet but causing me all that worry and I don't want to try for a couple of years but I've been weighing up pros and cons of different age gaps.

 

[Kholl]

Here i am... 35+2!

 

[Donna88]

You look fantastic kholl; all bump

 

[Gemsy]

Lovely bump pics ladies!

 

[Donna88]

Aghh - just done some reading up on babies being turned by doctors... BIG mistake.

So apparently it can feel as painful as childbirth, isn't very accurate, high risk of baby moving back to its transverse position after and could result in emergency c-section anyway due to distress of baby. Now I don't know whether to take that option if I'm still transverse at 36 weeks or whether to hold off and say if she's still transverse by 39 weeks I'll have a c-section.

Have any of you had experience of a doctor turning either a breach or transverse baby?

 

[Pennypie]

Sleep is becoming a nightmare in our house. I’ve never snored, ever! However, I’m waking myself up as it’s so loud, and I’m disturbing my husband. I keep waking and he’s in the spare room and he can still hear me!! Apparently it’s normal (he googled it when I was at my worst last night) but I’m very much hoping it goes when she’s arrived!! xx

 

[Donna88]

Haha oh bless you penniepie; I wish I was keeping my husband awake - would make a nice change. Mine has offered to sleep downstairs to stop disturbing me but I'd rather he stayed with me; like I said he can't sleep downstairs forever. He did say he could until she was here; then I'd be kept awake by her anyway haha. But I don't think that's fair on him and I'd miss him in bed too

 

[Kholl]

Donna, I myself was turned via ECV when my mom was pregnant with me... I did end up flipping back to breech and was delivered that way, but my mom says the version was not too bad. My best friend had a successful ECV and delivered her baby head-first a couple weeks later. She also said it was uncomfortable, but not too bad. And one of HER good friends had the same procedure, also successful, and also not too painful. I have heard all these women being terrified about the ECV and then they have it and it's really not bad.

 

[Kholl]

I am starting to have a lot of worry and anxiety about having another baby. The kids I already have need so much, and their needs are becoming more involved and complex as they get older. There's that saying, "little kids little problems, big kids big problems" and it's so true. Not to say that the "little" problems are EASY (sleep deprivation, colic, teething, sleep regressions, sick babies, those are NOT. EASY.) but they are, usually, straightforward. My oldest is 7 and she's beginning to have some deep emotional and social challenges that take a TON of thought and emotional energy. I am realizing all the ways in which I haven't been giving the kids I already have everything they need, and I am also becoming hyper aware of how their needs are changing and becoming more complicated and emotional. And now I'm adding a NEW family member in a MONTH. It feels so irresponsible, and I feel so terribly guilty and worried.

Not to mention my anxiety over labor, which is increasing by the day...

My mind is just going nuts today!

 

[Donna88]

That's good to hear; I did find another hospitals information on it so all the NHS stuff and if did mention things like the fact that only 1% of them end in emergency c-sections, but that they're done in surgery as a precaution. I suppose 1 in 100 is a high enough risk to have the procedure done in surgery but not high enough to really worry about. I'll have to talk through it with the hospital if it comes to it and see how they feel I'm better off going forward.

I'm so sorry; I'm trying not to dominate this thread with my worries about her position. Especially as it could all come down to nothing if either she moves or I just end up having a c-section after a fairly uneventful end to my pregnancy.

 

[Donna88]

Kholl I know how you feel; my little man is 10 and his needs are so much more than I ever would have expected them to be at his age.

Mothers guilt never goes away; but the fact that you are worrying about not giving your children everything they need suggests that you are in fact giving them just what they need. I'd worry more if you weren't bothered and just got on with things - however I'm sure you're doing an amazing job.

 

[Donna88]

Shocking nights sleep last night again, I feel like I'm not going to get any sleep now until baby is here Back at work on Monday, although I don't fancy going back - it's good knowing that I only have 19 working days left, possibly less as I have a midwife appointment and a scan booked in (need to find out when the scan is as it may end up either being on the same day or working out at two half days instead)

 

[Puglover]

Hi all, Im thinking this forum is just lovely for checking in with everyone isn't it? We all have different worries and things going on, but so nice to share and support one another, whatever the anxieties, it's all nature and normal!

I've just downloaded some meditations for birth and plan to listen to those and relax from now on. I enjoy my afternoon rest and YouTube birth videos! What are your ways to relax and have me time girls?

 

[Kholl]

Donna, thank you so much for your kind words. I am glad you understand about the older kid challenges! It helps me a lot to read what you wrote. Thanks again. And don't worry about dominating the thread! Baby position is a HUGE deal at this stage. We are in the home stretch and birth is something that impacts your life and stays with you forever. It's a big, big deal. I completely understand. I have high hopes that your daughter will turn head-down very soon! I am SO sorry about the awful sleep. It really is bad the end of pregnancy. Like you said, often you just have to bear it until baby is born. I always sleep SO much better with a newborn than when I'm pregnant, despite what everyone says!

We are also (very casually) discussing our next baby. We think we want one more (it will depend on how number 4 goes!), and likely will just NTNP after this baby is born, mostly due to my age (I'll be 37 in May). I seem to regain my fertility between 14-18 months postpartum, so if all goes well I'll have my last baby just before I turn 40. I can't imagine being done having babies... I think I'm the kind of woman who will never feel "done". At the same time, the thought of being done with the pregnancy/baby part and watching my family grow up has its own appeal, too

Puglover, please do share the meditations you downloaded! I am starting to have a ton of anxiety about labor, specifically the last 1-2 hours of labor and the pushing part. Not to mention the postpartum bleeding, uterine massage (UGH), potential tearing etc... it's really difficult for me to relax about it right now!

 

[Donna88]

Thank you Kholl, that means a lot to read that.

I'm the same - we think the next one will be our last but I don't know how I will feel about that. I suppose it's just one of those things that a lot of us struggle with, knowing when the right time is to stop as to be honest if I could I would just keep having babies.

I also struggle to relax, I've been sitting on my ball and leaning forward on it a lot more - but I don't think that's really relaxing as such. More just trying to get her to move. I honestly don't think she will move at this point, she is so comfy where she is. I think my main hope will be that I get to 39 weeks without incident so they can give me a C-Section. I'll just have to make sure I take things easy up until that point.

I'm off out tonight with some people from work for a meal, it'll be nice to get dressed up and hopefully take my mind off of things.

 

[Kholl]

Donna, when was your first baby born? Did you go overdue or was he early? Your night out sounds so fun!

 

[Puglover]

The birth meditations are on YouTube, I just listened to some different ones. I tried the premium option so I could download them and maybe use them in labour! That's the ideal anyway.

Peaceful music or guided meditations are great along with some slow deep breathing! I like a bath too with nice scents and again some classical music to escape the chaos of family life! It's important to pamper yourself isn't it?! And to feel good about yourself, especially in pregnancy when we likely feel overweight and tired.

 

[Donna88]

He was 3 weeks early Kholl; however I had a fall and my waters tore and started leaking so I had to be induced. I probably would have gone overdue if I'd been left to my own devices.

I need to find some relaxing music. Until baby turns I'm a bit too paranoid to enjoy a nice bath as my sister's waters went in the bath and she didn't notice. I know it's probably irrational to worry about that happening to me but I don't think I'd relax properly in the bath until she was in the right position anyway.

 

[Pennypie]

I agree it is nice having a little group with lots of different worries. Makes us all feel a bit more normal.

I’ve started with swollen feet as of last night, one was already bad as I fell in August and think I fractured it (nothing I could do so left it but it’s always swollen) but the other caught up last night which was very annoying. I hear you should put your feet up and relax, so I’m still in bed haha.

I have my baby shower today, eek!! Very excited but feels surreal. xxx

 

[Donna88]

Yeah it's nice knowing you're not alone isn't it. I found the same with my antenatal classes; although none of us stayed in touch, I hope we meet up in the baby groups in a few months.

Sorry to hear about your feet. Hopefully the swelling will go down for your shower. Have a fantastic time

I had a lovely time last night and it really helped take my mind off things. Going to see our friends this afternoon/tonight and they're cooking for us so that'll be nice as well.

Having a day off from sorting anything today I think (other than maybe looking through the bits they give us if they're wanting to do that) and I'll get on with a load of baby washing tomorrow. Will probably do a white load as most of her sheets and everything are white. I'm also thinking of cracking on and ordering some stuff to make her a blanket myself. I wanted to knit one but won't have time now (maybe if I start now it'll be ready for the next haha) but I try my hand at quilting. I've wanted to make a quilt for a while. It's just quite daunting as the materials cost quite a bit.