How exciting!

[Luvmyfam]

Hi everyone,

I had an appointment with my midwife today and I had to share my excitment. Its nothing major except that bub is still head down and the head is REALLY low. She didn't specify as to what stage of engagment (if any) but just said that at least sometime in the next fortnight I will feel and notice a significant drop. It just makes the whole event so exciting! I can't wait to meet my bub. I have dropped a little but it has been gradual, not suddenly. I guess what I am really excited about is the fact that everything so far is going as nature intended. Its good news considering I am planning an active birth (notice I said planning). We just have to wait and see how the whole event unfolds I guess, anyway it goes I just know I will meet my bub soon.

Anyway, How is everyone else's check ups goings? Good I hope!! :)

[noniandlilysmum]

It is getting exciting now as we are nearing August... My baby no longer kicks just tries to spread out, which is a really weird feeling, not painful, more of a tickle... I am getting really uncomfortable now, and nothing bearly fits me, which makes me think If I go another 2 weeks and had him I would be happy, highly unlikely though as I had both my other children after their due dates...Does anybody else rub their bumps constantly? I can't stop touching him, I wonder if it is doing anything to him, like bruising him or something??? Really looking forward to meeting him, but sure will miss being pregnant for the kicks, movement etc etc... Will not miss sleeping on my side, Can't wait to sleep on my belly again... Oh and what I would give for leftovers, ham, salami etc etc... Well anyway, can't wait for August to arrive and here some birth stories, Ciao for now, Haana :)

[Marilyn S]

Hi ladies...

Only a few weeks to go now...and I have to agree I am looking forward to sleeping on my tummy again!!!!
My tummy gets really really hard at night time (while I sleep) so getting up at 3 ish to go to the loo is being quite an event!!!!
But baby is head down and bum up, so any time now would be great!!!

I am however looking forward to have my body back after baby.... :p

Hope all is well for everyone else!!!

Marilyn

[Grubincubator]

My hypertension finally got the best of me and I've just arrived home from 2 nights in hospital. It was really scarey. The last time I was in hospital was when I was born! I had to spend the first night in the labour ward as the maternity ward was chockers. I had a very lonely tearful night. Last night in the maternity ward was much better - noisier, but I actually slept much better - even with 4-hourly BP checks.
I'm now on labetalol (200mg twice a day) but I'm still not really able to do anything. I'm so lucky that I've got a willing husband and no other kids to worry about.
I'm really rather ready for my grub to be on the outside.... but I guess a few days out of hospital first will be a good idea.

[jes]

Hi everyone :)

We had another scan on thursday and were told that bubs is starting to get worse so they booked another scan for this thursday coming. My OB said if things are still getting worse he will look at taking baby :eek: so that means we will prob see our little girl either late next week or early the week after. Which is very exciting!! Im still hoping for a natural birth not a c-section, i dont mind having an induction just would like to avoid the big cut!

I have been getting really bad BH at night and have a really unsettled tummy. Bubs is still head down but her spine is more towards my back so im not too sure if she is engaged? Allthough, i have been having alot of pressure down low and get like scratching sensations which make me think she is starting to engage.

Has anyone been to the baby expo in brisbane yet, i went yesterday and it was gr8 :D Lots of free samples and good info!

Hope everyone is feeling good, not too much longer now :p

[The Elf]

I have abt 4 weeks left but becos baby is growing faster than his age, maybe they will take baby out a bit earlier. Not so sure but will know over the next couple of weeks. Sugar level being controlled by diet but no idea how to manage swollen feet & hands - any ideas??

My belly is mostly very hard these days... Is this normal? I see someone else mentioned at night their belly gets hard, but mine is mostly hard in the mornings and towards the evenings and through the night. It softens a bit during the day? ANyone know why?

I hope I get to see baby once more in my belly before he comes out - its been more than 10 weeks since the last scan and I am dying to see what he looks like. He already has his dad's forehead and my nose, I wonder if we can recognize more features from the scans...

Whilst waiting for baby to arrive, I'm designing the baby announcement.

The most exciting thing is I managed to close a big deal at work and now pretty much am done with work until baby is here...

4 weeks and counting...

[Grubincubator]

You might want to try dandelion leaf tea but the best remedy for swollen feet is staying off them and keeping them up. It's really annoying but it works... Between my hypertension and oedema I haven't been allowed to do anything much for weeks now. Makes me wish baby woudl decide to come earlier rather than later. But being my first... who knows.
Good luck

[Luvmyfam]

Grubincubator- sorry to hear about your unexpected hospital visit. Glad to hear your taking it easy though and all is ok now. ;)

My BH are mainly at night. But can also happen when I am walking up hills :confused: . I have also been getting a little cervical pain. Asked my midwife about it and apparantely its pretty common.

Also, my nipples are itchy!!!!!! :eek: Not dry itchy, just itchy!!!!!

It looks as though some bubs will be arriving early? How exciting :D

[The Elf]

I am so excited... I can hardly wait. I made a CD for Sam (our baby) yesterday and I have been playing it over and over since. Plan to use it as comfort factor for settling (altho my partner keeps saying, the music is so upbeat, he is going to stay wide awake instead of sleeping... :D ) and play time etc. And I am able to listen to it over and over cos it has all my favourite tunes - hehehehehe - trying to influence poor bub's music taste even before he gets here...

Also wrote him a letter today of all the things that has taken place to us as a family and the world at large since he was conceived.

What else can I do to occupy myself from forcing him to come out... any ideas anyone?? Just can't wait to meet him...

Have a great day all!!

[Marilyn S]

Ok, with only 3 weeks to go, I am now board...I am currently being monitored for high blood pressure, twice a week checks..... so I have been told that i have to rest and just take it easy....but what do you do with yourself....I am so very board....the babys room is done and all her cloths are washed and all i can do now is wait......

I don't think I am helping my BP situation, as I can't sleep and my mind is just so very active.....I have no idea how to calm down....and I can't even work out what it is that I am so stressed about....well apart from the fact that i am going to have to give birth to our wonderful child....
DOn't get me wrong I am very excited, but I have such an active mind that it is starting to drive me a little crazy!!!!

my tummy is starting to remain hard all the time now and as for walking....well it is 100 steps (or so) and then I have to stop to allow the stich to pass...very funny!!!

anyway, I just had to vent there a little.....

Hope all is going well for everyone else!!


marilyn

[Grubincubator]

Well, now that my labetalol has been increased to 300mg twice daily my BP may finally be under control. Enough to buy me another week anyway.
I've also been taking Epsom Salt baths (2 cups per full bath and soak for 30 min) and a couple homoeopathic remedies. Peddling like anything to avoid an induction.

I've been allowed to cut back BP checks to every 2 days. But still doing all in our power to encourage the grub to move out... short of castor oil - I'm not going there that just sounds awful.

Back to the OB next Thurs and he's going to do an internal to see what my cervix is doing. At that stage I'll be 38+3 and he doesn't want to let me go past 39 weeks... We'll see. He may be in for a bit of civil disobedience unles he can come up with a compelling medical reason otherwise.

Fingers crossed for all - we are on the home stretch now.

Marilyn I've been doing lots of journalling to pass the time. It's really a great idea that my doula got me onto. You just write and write - getting everything down on paper is really an interesting exercise. You just keep on rambling and it's very interesting what thoughts and emotions come to the fore. You find out things about yourself that you never knew. I've also pulled out my knitting and cross stitch projects.
I'd also recommend birth art. It doesn't matter whether you think you're artistic or not - you just paint, draw, fingerpaint, whatever - then sit back and take a look at what you've done. It helps further prepare your mind for birth by helping you see what fears (or lack thereof) are festering away in there.

Anyway I better stop rambling...

Cheers.

[The Elf]

Good luck Grubincubator and Marilyn with your BP situations. Hope all settle down and things work out fantastic at the end.

Grubincubator - what's a doula?

I think the journalling is a great idea. I started a letter to my son-to be which I will pass onto him when he is 16 or 18 I think along with his baby book and other letters I will write him over the years.

I still have 4 weeks to go but I got into a cleaning spree yesterday which is quite scary cos I really have no house-wifely skills at all... :D but I actually enjoyed the scrubing of floors and tiles in the kitchen & bathroom until of course i tried to stand and nearly fell over since my back felt like it was going to break :D

Feel like my belly has lowered considerably over the last couple of days - so excited - the end is in sight...

good luck ladies!

[Grubincubator]

Hi Elf,

See the links below for more information on doulas. Mine has been a godsend. I've learnt so mcuh throughout my pregnancy. They can help you get through the minefield of modern medicine and work towards the birth you really want. I didn't bother doing the antenatal classes through the hospital either as I saw that they would only be telling me what was in their best interest. The almighty dollar and their insurance is all that matters. But then I'm a cynic.

http://www.bubhub.com.au/servicesdoula.shtml
http://www.bubhub.com.au/newsletter/may2003.htm

Unfortunately I haven't managed to find a health fund that will cover the cost of hiring a doula. Everything went to hell after the HIC thing. It's still worth it though.

Cheers.