*~*~* The Decemberists! *~*~*

[Pusscat]

Oh good. Itching and the rash sound awful but by the sounds of things it's nothing too serious. I've not heard of many of the things you've been tested for but glad they've been thorough. I never expected the end of pregnancy to be like this. Feels like so many things can go wrong at the last minute. I'm sure everything will be fine though!

I've had a nice day of bits and bobs today. Spent a long time gardening, with lots of squating, bending over and going on all fours! Gave me some strong bh. Now I've come to bed for a little lie down and I've been getting some regular back cramps. Baby is flipping about all over the place so not sure if I'm getting any tightenings.

 

[gaiagirl]

Hey ladies!

Smawfl sorry to hear you're so itchy! Sounds awful, does anything topical soothe it? Hemp oil often works well on rashes and I use coconut oil on my belly...tried anything?

Pusscat so crazy how close you are!

I cannot believe I am 30 weeks either though, this seems like its sailing by. I'm sure once work issues are settled and I'm on leave it'll slow down a LOT though!

Just trying to take it easy this week, only work a couple days at my part time job...next week when school is back in session I'll be crazy busy again for at least September! So enjoying the down time now

 

[FeelSoBlessed]

Bored tonight and just done some BnB investigations... looks like we have had two more Decemberists births!! More girls!!

Decemberists Births!
BERDC99 - Olivia - Born 5th July 2012
Bambi1985 - Ellie - Born 11th August 2012
Spiceeb - Layla - Born 14th August 2012


FeelSoBlessed - you're next!!

Arrrrhhhh... The ball is rolling!! Thanks for letting us know Smawfl - a massive congrats to those ladies and their little princesses!

AFM, 2 days left but it really doesn't feel like it. My uncle is at peace now, passed away on Wednesday so there's just no focus on symptom spotting, bump dropping or anything like that. 2 days until due date - can you believe that? I remember when it was 2 months - felt like just the other day!

Hope everyone is keeping well. UK ladies, have a lovely bank holiday

Sorry to hear about your uncle

Can't believe you only have two days to go until DD!! I keep looking at your top ticker and miss the second one!! Do you think you will go over?

Thanks to all. My uncle was an amazing man - one of a kind! He'll be an amazing guardian angel I'm sure.

And yes Smawfl... Going over according to scan EDD!! I always thought Sept 2nd myself... But time will tell (literally)?

How are you doing this morning Pusscat?

My itching is still bad,not sure if you guys saw my other thread. Went into hospital on Friday for bloods and monitoring. Baby is fine and wriggling lots.

Liver enzymes are slightly elevated though & waiting for bile acid results to come back.

Have to go in today for more monitoring.

Really hope its not cholastasis!

Hope everything has gone well with your tests and that you and baba are doing just fine!

I'm just... Waiting!
Hope you're all doing well x

 

[smawfl]

Hi Ladies

Had 36 week midwife appointment earlier, baby measuring on track. Also head down, and "at brim" which I think means getting ready to engage!

Also got my bile results back - they were 7 (danger level is 15) so they aren't worried but still have to go in on Friday to have bloods taken again and for more monitoring.

Pusscat - I know what you mean about the last stage, feels like it should be the final stretch nice and easy but not always the case. How's baby been today? Any tightenings or cramps?

Gaiagirl - There's very little I can take while pregnant, I've been using calomine cream which it probably the only think which soothes the itch.
Happy 30 weeks!!

FeelSoBlessed - do you have any twinges yet??

Getting so excited with many of us so close

 

[seaweed eater]

Hi everyone...ok, I think it's time to give up on the enormous individual reply/update I had planned! Anyway, I'm sorry to have been absent.

FSB, I'm sorry about your uncle.

Gaiagirl, the job situation sounds really annoying. It sounds like you are doing a great job of sticking up for yourself, but how demoralizing. Please keep us posted!

Shh, I'm sorry it has been a struggle with the GD. Have been thinking of you. Hope things are ok.

Smawfl, I'm glad your itching turned out to be nothing! I hope it calms down soon! That sounds very annoying.

Sounds like everyone is doing well otherwise? I hope so!

I don't have very much to update on myself, really...just in a holding pattern now! I'm actually enjoying this part of the pregnancy a lot and wouldn't be in any hurry except for the threat of induction looming at 41 weeks. The annoying symptoms have increased a little but they're still quite minor, and it's really comforting to have reached full term. Having some signs of prelabor (baby has continued dropping, and I've been having more frequent and noticeable contractions) but nothing to get too excited about. It seems the false starts can contribute a lot to anxiety and mood swings around this time, so I'm hoping to stay as calm as possible and not read into things until I'm really in established labor! We'll see how that goes.

Lots of love to all. Though I've been quiet, it's always very exciting to check back and see who has news.

 

[Pusscat]

Gaia - congratulations on reaching 30 weeks and Seaweed - happy full-term!

Smawfl - glad your results look positive

Seaweed - I am trying to join you in remaining calm and not reading too much into twinges and tightenings. But it's a fine line to tread, I want to be prepared and know when labour is starting, but I agree that this 'symptom spotting' can lead to a lot of anxiety.

FSB - you sound very calm and patient in your wait for your baby

I had my consultant appointment the morning and got midwife appointment this afternoon. The consultant just went through what they would try to avoid during labour. So no suction cap, epidural or the monitoring clip they sometimes put on baby's head. They want to avoid causing any injuries to baby that makes her bleed in case she has low platelets too - good news for baby! Fewer interventions are just fine by me! The only bad point was he said I probably can't give birth in water or on the midwife lead unit. But then again, if it means I get special treatment and more people to call on then that's a good thing. Let's hold on to the positives!

So off to midwife in a minute. Looking forward to her giving the baby a quick check over after the possible water breaking incident at the weekend. Movements are all still fine so not worried. Will be good to talk to her about it though. And hoping to hear baby's fully engaged -she only had 1/5 left to go 2 weeks ago so fingers crossed!

 

[smawfl]

Glad you're keeping positive Pusscat, sounds like they will make sure everything runs smoothly and as long as baby comes out safely that's all that matters.

Let us know how you got on at the midwife - fingers crossed she's engaged!

I'm at work and these last few days seem to be dragging... come on maternity leave, hurry up!!

 

[ds0910]

Hello ladies! Hope everyone is doing well!

pusscat-Absolutely....hang onto those positives! As you said, the more people you have there to help and call on the better. Sorry about the no water birth though. Is that what you were planning on?

smawfl- Sorry you are so itchy! That would drive me crazy! At least it doesn't seem to be anything serious though. You can take Benadryl can't you?

FSB- So sorry about your uncle. Now your little one will have an awesome guardian angel to watch over them

AFM- It looks like I might have to be induced next week When I went for my Dr app. Monday they noticed that my BP was up in the concerning range, and as they have been consistant the whole time, he wasn't pleased AT ALL with the number. They ran some blood work, which was fine and showed no signs of pre e, and told me to take it easy and keep an eye on my BP and if it got too high and/or started having symptoms headache/visual disturbances ect. to go to the hospital. Otherwise just make sure and keep my next app on Tuesday and depending on how things look then we will talk about induction. He seemed to be pretty sure that that's what he was most comfortable with which makes me sad because with this being my first I want the whole experience with the "Oh my water broke!!" or calling my husband at work saying, " Babe you need to come home, I'm in labor!" I mean, if I need to be induced for safety reasons then obviously I won't fight it, or if I go past my due date then ok, but I just really want it to just happen Guess we will see what they say Tuesday.

 

[seaweed eater]

DS, I'm sorry you may have to be induced earlier than you would like. I can relate somewhat to your disappointment. I can't go past 41 weeks because of my BP issues even though everything has been perfect so far. I totally accept that that's what's best and least risky for me and baby, but it's still disappointing that I may not be able to have the labor I want.

I hope things go well on Tues, or that they get started earlier and there is no need to talk any more about this!
Personally I've been thinking that LABOR ON LABOR DAY would be pretty good timing for me will be hoping things get started for both of us this weekend!

Hope everyone else is feeling well just had my weekly NST, which looked good...I'm kicking myself though because I had wanted to ask the doctor about baby's position, and I forgot! Oh well. I refused the cervical exam. It would have been nice to hear things are progressing but really disappointing to hear otherwise. I still feel like I'm going to be pregnant forever.

 

[smawfl]

Hi Ladies

Hopw everyone is doing well!

I've just been for more bloods to check liver enzymes again, and baby was monitored. All seems fine. They are pretty sure it's not Cholastasis but I've got an appointment with the Consultant to discuss my results and apparently reassure me all is ok.

DS0910 - I can't take normal antihistamines no, I've been given piriton which seems to have helped a little. Just a little reluctant to take too many things as I read they can make baby drowsy!

Good luck for your induction!! Hope all goes well xx

Seaweed - you sound like you're in that fed up stage Can't believe we're almost at the finish line. I'll be full term tomorrow!

I finish work next Wednesday, cannot wait to be a lady of leisure for a few weeks!!

 

[gaiagirl]

Ugh, some stupid American celebrity Tori Spelling named her new son Finn

We were just beginning to really lean to Finnley but I hate it when names get popular!

 

[smawfl]

Ugh, some stupid American celebrity Tori Spelling named her new son Finn

We were just beginning to really lean to Finnley but I hate it when names get popular!

If you like it, I'd still go for it!

 

[gaiagirl]

Yah, I know I know...it just seems like I have come across or heard of about 15 Finn or Finleys since we got serious about it!

There was even one at a recent baby shower

 

[seaweed eater]

Smawfl, very glad to hear all is ok! Happy almost full term!!!

I'm not really that fed up yet, just don't want to have to be induced. Although I'm slightly more fed up after yesterday...I spent a few hours with DH building furniture, and my back and hips hurt something fierce! I've been feeling fine so I can't believe how hard this apparently was on my body. I was soooo tired afterward, between that and the back pain DH asked if I thought I was in labor. Nope, just an old lady.

Gaia, how annoying about the name...I agree with Smawfl though, I would still go for it if you like it. I think Finnley is a nice variation. Finn is probably the trendier version, because of Glee and things like that. Even if his nickname is Finn he can always go with his full name when he wants to.

 

[gaiagirl]

Lol Seaweed I already feel like an old lady too! I probably should be exercising more so that's probably part of it...

I just laugh when I can't get off the couch, I still have probably 10 weeks!!!!!!

I think the name thing is just hard for me because I have a name that is quite unique and I only knew one other person with it until about age 20! So imagining he may have another Finn in class is tough! I'll get over it probably though, lol.

Another name I've been toying with lately is Archer. What do you ladies think? It's kinda cool, but he may end up Finnley Archer....

 

[seaweed eater]

I definitely should be exercising more. I tweaked my knee while I was out for a walk the other day, too. I definitely have not done enough to help my body get used to the extra weight. Hopefully some of the weight will be gone before I can do any further damage!

Oh, and I haven't been able to get off the couch like a normal person for months.

As someone with a fairly unique name I know what you mean. I guess it's hard for me to imagine what it was like for the Katies and Stephanies. I do like Archer! If he's Finnley Archer he can always choose to go by Archer if there are too many Finns.

 

[Pusscat]

Finnley Archer sounds really good Gaia And as Seaweed said, he can go with whichever name he likes the best.

Smawfl - I found my consultant appointment really useful so just use it to answer all the questions you have. Hope it's reassuring for you.

Seaweed - when is Labour day? Saw your post about Sept babies. I am quite relieved to have nearly made it to September. I think it can make a big difference. Come tomorrow I will be starting eviction process. Even thinking of allowing a bit of BD-ing! We haven't for about a month as last time it just wasn't worth it - I was so uncomfortable. But I know DH is missing it and if it's for a good purpose I'm willing to give it a go!!

DS - sorry to hear about the possible induction. Fingers crossed baby comes before tuesday - it is very possible

My midwife appointment wasn't very enlightening as she had a student with her and I didn't really trust any of her judgements!

I'm feeling a bit in a daze at the moment. Just waiting. I am definitely in the fed up and uncomfortable stage.

 

[smawfl]

Seaweed - I feel like an old lady too! Struggling to get out of DH's car (it's quite low) and I also struggle with our sofas! Hope your knee is ok.

Gaia - I like Archer too, sounds lovely.

Pusscat - Hopefully the consultant will reassure, as long as he doesn't say I have to be induced early then all is good!
Sorry to hear your midwife appointment wasn't great. I've had hit and miss experiences with student midwives. Generally they seem to be quite good, they seem to make quite a lot of effort which I like, and their care skill is always switched on and I feel they really want to look after you

I think we need another bump update as it's been a while! Will take a pic and post mine in a sec!

 

[smawfl]

My 36+6 week bump!

 

[seaweed eater]

Great idea, Smawfl, let's see those bumps! Here's mine from 4 days ago:

https://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q178/tamarkreps/37_4_crop.jpg

Sorry about your useless MW appointment, Pusscat. That's annoying. I don't blame you for being fed up! It's hard to just be waiting for so long for something so big. It reminds me of the TWW, really, except a bit different. But the same sense of -- OMG, could this MEAN something?! -- every time anything happens.

What will you be doing to evict? I have been trying nipple stimulation and acupressure occasionally, and they haven't done much for me yet I think. Nipple stimulation in particular is supposed to produce amazing intense contractions if done right, but I haven't had anything like that. Oh well. Just don't try castor oil, because it can cause fetal distress/meconium!

Labor Day is Monday, the 3rd. I don't know why the school cutoff here is the 2nd, not the 1st, but it would be perfect to give birth on Monday!