No news yet, today is my original due date (based on my dates rather than the scan), so I did have in mind that today was a significant date. Lots has been happening, lots of things that could be signs but no contractions. Over the past week the things that have been happening are:

• a show
• back pains
• period pains
• increased bowel movements
• lots of movement right down on my pelvis - lots of scrabbling
• pain in my tailbone
• weird sensations in my cervix
• increased difficulty moving
• abdomen has got much harder
• more hip and bottom pains

I am feeling very dopey which I think is a good sign for the labour hormones, but nothing has happened re contractions.

Saw the midwife this morning, she had a good feel of my belly and said that the back was to the left hand side, which surprised me as wa-was back has been to the right for so long, and even last night was at that side (with toes sticking out to the left), but then I got home and do believe she may be right, which is also a good sign as that would be "optimal foetal position".

Wa wa has also gone up in size, up to now the fundal height has been running slightly behind the curve eg 31cm at 32 weeks, but now at 39 weeks it is 40cm. I have a sore throat at the moment with a cough, the midwife did say that it might delay labour as the body often waits for these type of things to clear up before getting going. This is news to me, I hope she isn't right but I do need to do what I can to shift it.

38 week (+ 1 day) pictures.

Feeling pretty chilled at the moment, enjoying being off work particularly the days I can put my feet up and do nothing. I have needed to put my feet up as they are getting very swollen.


The swollen feet is one of a number of factors that has stopped me from walking too far now (I wouldn't even dare a walk to the high street), 1 is the sheer size of my feet mean that flip flops are the only appropriate footwear, 2 is that the act of walking really gets all this excess blood pumping to the point I can feel and see my arms and wrists swelling up too, 3 is the fact that I keep getting a trapped nerve in my arse as well as hip pain, so find myself hopping around wincing and grabbing my backside. But no matter as I have interesting projects to do at home, such as sort out photos, decorate Fidget's bookcase, reading and then plenty of DVDs and daytime TV to watch.



I am also worried that I shouldn't really drive, as I do feel more dopey and have slower reactions, so home it is.


The days with Fidget are good too, I have tried to make sure we have projects to do at home, as even a walk across to the park could be risky if Fidget decides she is going to have a moment and needs to be chased after or carried home. We have been doing lots of painting and gluing; glitter, sequins, pom poms, whatever she gets her hands on. I have to sit down most of the time, but Fidget is happy to play or bring books for us to read, or sit next to me and draw. My favourite thing is when she sits on my knee facing me and we sing songs together, I love watching her face when she sings or when she is studying my face to get the words right, she does the actions for the songs with her hands and we both smile and laugh and have cuddles. She often now also sings songs to her baby sister or tickles her or gives her kisses. So far from being stressful, my days looking after Fidget can be so lovely, really getting the endorphins going, she is such a joy.


Last week wasn't so happy, as I got an ear infection that really affected my sleeping and eating. I couldn't lie down on my right hand side. At the moment I can only sleep on one side or the other, but must swap regularly due to pain in my hips, so at night I lay down and would go to sleep on my left side but woke up with hip pain, and some ear pain just from lying down and a sore throat. I would take paracetamol and wander around the house on my own until the various pains had died down and I could go back to sleep on my left again. I couldn't eat anything that needed chewing, thing is I was keen not to go and get antibiotics, worrying about the risk to wa-wa, but in the end I felt it was madness to let it drag on, so went to the doctor who prescribed an antibiotic that is applied locally.


But that is now sorted and I am feeling grateful for being able to get comfortable at night again and eat more foods. I know it is foolish but I do feel that things may happen soon, last night I lay down, wee-wa-wa was writhing about something mental and I am sure I was getting some contractions and back pain pulsing in and out, but I went off to sleep and it had all died down when I woke again. Her movements have been quite vigorous, yesterday I felt that she was really trying to get out, she almost seemed to be bracing herself with her feet pushed against my ribs and scrabbling on my pelvis. I really shouldn't make any predictions or she will end up coming late or have to be induced, but it is hard not to hope and draw conclusions from differences this time to last.

Written the first draft of my birth plan, I got some examples from Vivien at active birth classes and copied and pasted a fair few extracts. Hope to discuss it with the midwife on Thursday, here it is...

Birth Plan

In preparation for this birth, I’ve attended active birth classes. Ideally, I would like as active and natural a birth as possible. However, of course the health of the baby is of paramount importance, and also I appreciate that I might well need to be administered with pain relief and need medical intervention if the birth is difficult. The notes below apply to an ideal birth. If it is necessary to deviate from these points, please can:

*The pros and cons for options be explained clearly to me and my husband;
*The implications of doing nothing to be outlined to us.
*Please can we be given as much time as is practical and possible to make a decision

I want my husband Mark to accompany and support me throughout, even if I have to have an emergency Cesarean section.

Environment:
I have been booked (?) into the Active Birth Suite but if for some reason on the day I have to be in one of the normal delivery rooms, I would like if applicable (ie there is no medical reason for me to lie down) and if possible for the bed to be pushed to one side and for me to be offered some crash mats.

Please can the lights be kept as low as possible throughout, including after the birth. I would like my music to be played during the birth.

I am happy to have students present during the birth.

Managing labour:
I would like to have as active a birth as possible – moving around, kneeling, using my birthing ball etc. – and would like to avoid lying on my back. If I need to lie down, I would like it to be on my side if possible. I would also like to have a birthing stool available to try, particularly in later stages when I am tired but still want to remain in an upright position. I understand these are available on the birthing suite.

If our baby appears to be poorly positioned or if labour is not progressing well for some reason, I would appreciate it if you could suggest changes of position or movements which might help. Any general advice as to comfortable active labour positions will also be extremely welcome.


Medical routines and interventions:
I would like intervention in the birth to be kept as low as safety allows, with foetal monitoring used that allows me to move around.

internal examinations? (not sure about this bit, whether I want to minimised them or not)

I would like to avoid the birth being induced if possible. I would prefer for my waters not to be broken artificially unless it is at the end of the 2nd stage of labour and this would aid the birth.

If I need to be on a drip or have baby monitoring during my labour I would still like to be able to move around, so please use a long lead and attach to my arm instead of hand.

I am very keen to avoid tears so would appreciate advice on this. I would also prefer not to have an episiotomy unless our baby needs to be born quickly for her safety.

If a Cesarean is necessary I would like our baby handed straight to me or Mark, if possible.

Pain relief:
For natural pain relief, I plan to use my breathing techniques. I plan to use a TENS machine, heat pack, massage etc.

If medical pain relief is necessary:
I am happy to try gas and air.
I am not keen on pethidine, but would consider it if it was recommended.
If an epidural becomes necessary I would like it to be as low a dose as possible, so that I can continue to feel my legs and be aware of contractions. I would prefer for it to wear off for the second stage as I would like to be able to push our baby out myself.
Please avoid offering me pain relief, I would prefer to ask for it myself

3rd Stage & after birth:
Ideally, we would like Mark to cut our baby’s cord once it has stopped pulsating.

If I have not needed any previous medical intervention that would increase risks from blood loss, I would prefer a natural 3rd stage. If a managed 3rd stage is necessary, my next preference would be for delayed active management and for the cord to finish pulsating before the drug is administered.

I would like to attempt to breastfeed my baby immediately if possible. I would like as much time as possible to bond with our baby before she is taken for weighing etc - unless there are medical reasons which over rule this. My husband and I would like to find out the sex of our baby ourselves. My husband and I would like to spend some quiet time together with our baby at this time.

I am happy for our baby to have the vitamin K injection.

If I have a tear or episiotomy, I am happy to have stitches immediately after the birth.

If the labour has gone very smoothly and I have been able to breast feed without problems then I would like to be discharged home after six hours.

If she has to go to a special baby unit for any reason, I would like to express milk to give to her.



Finally, although I have written this birth plan, I am happy to be lead by the experience of the midwife team at any point that it is deemed beneficial to me and our baby.

Thank you in advance for your kindness and support during this experience. I value your knowledge and expertise and appreciate that you have only our best interests at heart.

Been getting lots of movements, each time I try to take a video or picture though it doesn't really show anything. Took this one couple of evenings ago and it does show a big stretch over on the right hand side.

Little wa-wa is lying on the right side (and has been for a long time), with her head down and her little feet keep kicking me under the ribs. She moves her feet alot, but often does big stretches out to the side also.

Last day staying with Granny and Grandpa today, so I went in the pool with Fidget before we left, which was an opportunity to get some clear belly shots...


After Saturday's drama, mini-C has not been still today, as I type there is such grooving, I feel I am a cement mixer. This is very reasuring now, rather than slightly annoying.


I have tried to get some video of the grooving, but it just doesn't show up.

Blimey - nothing like having a few days away from home towards the end of your pregnancy to bring on the drama!

This morning Granny and Grandpa took Fidget in with them and sorted out her breakfast too, so M and I had a lovely long lie in. As I was having a shower and getting dressed I started to realise I hadn't felt mini-C move yesterday, we had been busy at the beach, but when she gets going she is pretty vigorous so I started to feel a bit worried. M came in and we decided to go to the local surgery that supposedly had a drop in session on Saturday mornings, but arriving there we found it closed. We got back to Granny and Grandpa's and found a number to call instead. The lady on the phone was very nice and made an appointment for me at Poole Hospital for 1:30. This was quite handy as we had been planning to go to Poole Park in the afternoon anyway and Poole Hospital is right opposite. After a quick bit of lunch we all set off.

Granny and Grandpa took Fidget to the park and M and I went into the outpatients. We had to wait for nearly an hour, but it was quite nice to spend time with M in the waiting room. It was as we were sat there that mini-C really started to groove around - brilliant! But of course I felt a little silly when we were finally called, but still felt sure we had done the right thing. The receptionist was funny, he came over trying to hide a urine sample pot and hand it to me really discretely. Pregnant lady and wee - who cares really, but he was clearly trying to be really discreet - bless! Anyway we went in and the doctor was very kind and didn't make me feel bad, he still went through all the tests, so checked my wee, took blood pressure (110/75) then got out the baby listener jobby and the heartbeat was good and strong.

It was all a bit more stressful being away from home, as I didn't have my notes, didn't know any of the numbers of who to call etc. It has been really relaxing to be here and I will miss having the help and being able to put up my feet all day, plus the lie-ins and time with M, but it will be reassuring to be home. Feel like we are really on the final stretch and make sure everything is ready.

Woke up this morning and needed to go to the loo, nothing unusual there...stood up and tottered across the room sideways, I was so dizzy and lightheaded. M thought I was capering about. I got back to bed and the room was spinning. M went back to sleep but I laid there worrying for a while. I felt like I needed to get up and have a drink and something to eat, I didn't want to wake M, but I felt unable to get up on my own. He woke up and helped me down to breakfast, I ate some cereal and had a smoothie but I could hardly hold my head up.

I went back up to bed and slept for a while longer, then M brought more fruit juice and a cereal bar, after a bit more of a sleep I felt able to get up and have a shower. We were supposed to go out to some nearby woods today for a walk round and let Fidget have a clamber round the play things, but I felt like I shouldn't go out and spent most of the day sat in Granny's comfy chair with my feet up. It is lucky we were here really as Granny and Grandpa looked after Fidget and kept her happy and busy and M was able to look after me which was really nice. He even went out to the shops and bought me some magazines. He did really well with limited instruction and brought a hair magazine (as requested), Marie Claire and InStyle (2 for £5 offer!), plus a cake.

Not sure what it was about really, I know my last posting I went on about not wanting to eat, but yesterday I still ate well, though I suppose if I am honest I was a little more cautious about a second helping but not to the point I thought it would have any effect. I guess it was also quite a busy day as Granny and I went shopping for the day, so there was quite a bit of walking despite the stops for cups of tea and lunch.

I hope I feel ok tomorrow, I would really like to take Fidget to the beach, at least there will be little walking with that. We'll see, I guess.