Ruth_Baldock

I'm full term in about 9 weeks, I feel like she's making a break for it now though. Seb was sleeping pretty well from Thursday- about 4 hours ago, not sure what is up. GO TO SLEEP SEB. Husband taking him to Lisbon without me in a few weeks, don't know how they'll both cope in 30-34 degree weather. Won't be much I will be able to do about it, I'm staying Home Alone (Bliss! LIE INS!)

Belle; didn't know Mr Belle was Jewish! So me and Apenn are NOT the only jews in the village!!! My husband hated all the names I liked when I was preggers with Cheeky S (Sebastian). I liked Atticus, Jude, Jesse and Kiefer. He hated them all except Kiefer. This time round, he decided he DEFINITELY didn't like Kiefer, but it's a girl and our last so we'll never have to worry about it. I like India, personally. Fuschia; must say, I LOVE all the names you're LOs have :)

Can we have a moan about the hot weather and the affect it has on the sprogs? 9pm, we've had multiple hot, restless wake=ups from Cheeky S whose room is 25 degrees. Baby in nappy, not much else, with window cracked open. Total nap refusal due to being too hot/excited for the past few days, constipation (although he's had LOTS of fluids- enough wet nappies to make your head spin), and helpful comments from strangers about lashing the suncream on aforementioned child (we have done, thanks...) Could we ALSO have a moan about being pregnant in this heat? It's crap. End of. I like colder weather personally, bring back the trusty gro-bag nights! Moan, groan, grumble.

QM: You may be interested in this http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/2008/05/with-child.html I'm still cycling fixed speed (mainly just single speed although I do flip the wheel around for my fixed speed 'fix' about once a week) at almost 30wks pregnant. The looks I get are hilarious- I like to think my multiple tattoos and 'love/hate' cycle gloves add to the overall effect...

I have to say, I feel like I've been pregnant for about fifteen minutes! Cannot believe I'll be term in 9 weeks. However, with my first, it felt like I was pregnant for several decades and by week 20 was in tears because it never felt like pregnancy would end! Maybe having an older babby toddling around, eating pot pourri and shouting "bugger!" at passers by makes it all fly by! Happy to lend my Cheeky Seb out to anyone interested! Any takers? Xx

No worries, Moos, husband procured them ;) Another guilt present. The past 7 months of evil looks and 'This is ALL YOUR FAULT!' has worked.

Also, to those of you with two children- when my sister was born, I was 6. By the time she was 6mo, she'd wake at 8am, and I'd take her into my bed and play with her/entertain her . Mum had no idea (deep sleeper) and thought she naturally slept till 9:45am (on weekends) and THEN I'd take her out of her cot. I cannot wait for my children (both cheeky and in utero) to LET ME SLEEO.

All who suggested the BP would be the main area of concern were CORRECT. I spoke to my MW this morning, and threw a spanner in the works when she suggested moseying on down to Kings the SECOND my waters broke/the moment I got my first contraction. I kindly pointed out to her that if this all hapenned when my husband was at work, it would be at least two hours from me thinking 'owh, what's occurin'?' to being able to go to Kings anyway (husband would have to come home, MIL would have to come and collect Cheeky S etc...). She was a bit stumped. So it turns out my toddler is actually my most useful tool in NOT spending my entire labour at hospital, whoda thunk it? She suggested, very helpfully, hypnobirthing. Now, I've never given it a thought before, but I gather it's sort of like meditating, which you do before the Main Event for practise and then during the Main Event? Books and CDs have been ordered and hopefully it'll help me get into a calmer place. She also said 'we can recommend monitoring/venflows, but you don't have to do it at all.'. I think I'll be okay putting my foot down, but my husband is convinced I'll die in childbirth and I can see a few muttered obscentities going on there. Thankyou everyone for your replies and messages in any case!

Me, and my Manfolk (one is 16mo, the other...360months) could both do the 8th :) Will hopefully make it this time...

I am intrigued by the whole mobile monitoring thing. With my first, the monitors fell off whenever i moved, and th trace of my son's HR kept getting lost. In the end, the only way to make sure the blooming monitor stayed strapped on the right place was to stay still (ish). I did try to move around, found standing and swaying/ sitting on birth ball the most helpful, but again- lost all fhr. In the post natal ward, I had bruises from how tight it had been strapped to me, which was nothing compared to everything else going on. I found my venflow incredibly distracting and unless I need an iv of actual fluids of whatever this time, will be decling one for sure.

Echoing what everyone else said; although I have been known to sit on one of the comfier sofas and feed. Ahem.

Us too. S woke up at 6ish, playing and giggling in his cot. JACKPOT! I thought and went back to sleep. 15 minutes later, shrill screaming came from his room; he'd got his fat little leg stuck. Came into our room, cuddles, didn't want to sleep, ran all over the room pulling things out of drawers, shouting, demanding juice and 'daddy!'. Daddy is asleep next to me as I write this, I'm thinking of getting me and S dressed and then breakfast. MIGHT make my husband a cuppa if I feel nice enough (chances slim to none).

Hi Minder, IM = independent midwives. I never intended to be in hospital for my first baby; he was a planned homebirth, but about 10 days before his due date, my waters broke but labour failed to start, so I had to be induced, which didn't work, and ended in a c-section which I was asleep for (spinal condition prevents me having an epidural). I think the reason for my labour failing to progress was the constant monitoring, and being stationary throughout most of my labour (flat on my back on the bed). I DO NOT want to re-visit that experience, but given I am an VBAC, I feel I have looads of restrictions placed on me, provided I deliver in a hospital environment. Kings were excellent throughout the whole thing, from arriving for my induction, to being wheeled onto the PN ward (predictably hectic and understaffed, no-ones fault, but not great, but everyone helped as much as they could in any case...). However, much as many people will strongly disagree with my views, I could never imagine myself having any of my children in hospital; no matter how first rate the care was. Whenever I go back to Kings, for whatever reason pregnancy related (scans being the main one), I just cannot stand the thought of going back. I'm not wording this very well, I suppose I have a lot of anziety and fear around it all. Since Tuesday, my BP has slowly and surely been coming down. It's not within the normal range yet, but it's not far off and I think it's because I calmed down and started to think about my birthing options more and more (was origionally contemplating a HFH, like ClareC and other's stated).

When did it all get so complicated??? I've said it before, I may just ignore everything and give birth in a cuboard, like a cat, with Mellors' experienced farmyard help. Cows/ humans, all the same- right?!?

I did ask at my booking appointment, but they won't take VBACs apparantly? I am not sure how realistic this is, but I do know during rush hour, it takes over 35 minutes to get there from our house too- not overly keen on getting a cab up to central london with a baby trying to get out :/ Also difficult for my husband if I had to stay overnight etc, as he'd be going from his parents (who will be living in sydenham by then) to tommys and back.

I've also been told 'no way' to water and 'yes way' to continous monitoring; which I fully intend to decline, over and over and over again. I don't mind so much about not being able to use the birth pool, but I am damned if I am being tethered down again. It's actually more risky than I've let on to most for me to opt for a repeat c-section because of the general anaesthesia. I had a reaction last time, and the time I had to gave a GA before that, was quite serious. So, I think my MWs reckon we're all stuck between a rock and a hard place. But the baby has to come out some way!

Righto. I'm 27 or 28 weeks pregnant (dates are iffy) and I am aiming for a VBAC. We had to go to Kings to visit someone today and I practically had a panic-attack. I really don't want to go into hospital for my second baby, but I feel if I bring it up with my community MWs (was going to change to IM after a few issues, then realised that we were stoney broke and...er...couldn't) that they'll refuse to give me homebirth cover. There are some things going against me here: 1) I became pregnant 9 months post- first c-section. 2) I've had high BP in this pregnancy; last week it was bad enough that everyone started mumuring about pre-eclampsia. 3) I may be all talk, no trousers. If my MWs said 'NO! NO HOMEBIRTH FOR YOU! BAD RUTH!' I'd be likely to say 'Oh okay then...' rather than stand up for myself. Idiot. Things going for me: 1) Baby is healthy 2) Other than the BP, I am healthy. 3) My husband makes good tea and sarnies, particuarly for hard-working midwives. 4) Er... 5) Oh yes, I remembered! I have a high pain threshold- lasted 20hours whilst being induced with no pain relief apart from tens towards the end and gas and air. Can't have pethidine or an epidural anyway, so couldn't 'reap' the benefits of being at Kings for them...The pain didn't bother me in the slightest last time...I mean, I was in a lot of pain but it didn't make me overly distressed (the lack of progress did). However, if it all goes pear shaped like last time, I'm worried I'll end up in a similar mental state PP as I was with my son (not good; PND, awful flashbacks for months, etc). So do I: Broach the subject of a homebirth with my MWs or Suck it up and possibly faint from anxiety when I rock up to the labour ward. ?

Wow, that DOES sound amazing!

Admittedly, seb is younger, but he did this. The only thing that worked was cutting his nap short by 30-45mins and putting him to bed earlier- typically between 6:15 and 6:30. He slept till 7:45am yesterday but my thoughts of a Saturday lie in were dashed when he woke at 6:05 shouting for "mams" and "daaadaaaaaaaa!". Ugh.

The impression I got was that she went to a class about how to make up a formula feed? MAybe I misheard, past 9pm I am knackered and often find it hard to concentrate on telly properly...

Pommie; it's pregnancy that makes boobs go southwards, not extended bf. Best friend still bf her almost 4 y/o, has a pair of 32bs!

B+B on Mondays is actually probably going be coming to an end in the next few weeks, sorry to say, due to lack of volunteers (I'm sorry Mums, I did try!) Karen, there is a really good spreadsheet on here, by 'Apenn' if you search by her username, with lists of all good baby activities. Sing and Sign is meant to be brilliant, and second the stay and play at Albrighton centre.

I don't think there was a debate at all, tbh. Just 'look, she's breasteeding- she's an earth mother...' or 'look, she's breastfeeding her 3 and 5 year old- ick' or 'she's a teen mum and isn't breastfeeding, as is the norm'. She should talk to my Mum, BF my brother till he was EIGHT.

Reneet; I feel your pain! However, at least your husband offers help- mine seems OBLIVIOUS to the fact that I am pregnant, looking after a 16mo old, working, trying (and failing) to do all housework etc. He actually said 'I don't know why you're so tired/hungry all the time...' the other day whilst we were with the extended family. You could hear a pin drop...

I agree, Polly. I hope she managed to stop feeling guilty; although I do have strong view re: breastfeeding, I totally agreed with what Mum 'Tijen' said; BF/FF= it doesn't make you a good/bad Mother by any means.