General newslessness

[susie_flo]

Good evening , fiends.  Hope all is well with you.  Things are still a little stir crazy here.
 
Last night I felt CERTAIN I was about to go into labour...  the bump felt different and I was so uncomfortable that I only managed one hour's sleep before spending the rest of the night reading, peeing and cat-bothering.   But no sign of anything...
   
So today I went in to see Babs Woodhouse again for a procedure called a 'sweep' that can sometimes help to trigger labour, but it wasn't possible to do it properly so they're going to try again on Wed.  I'm actually quite looking forward to my Wed appointment.   It's an alternative therapy session that includes an aromatherapy foot massage and reflexology on the shoulders, feet and hands to try and stimulate labour. (On the NHS - can you believe it?)  
   
Anyway Rup's head  is STILL not engaged, which has led Babs to warn me that I might be in for a long & arduous labour...  and possible epidural (no complaint on that!)  He's got until next Monday to come out naturally, otherwise I'm booked in to be induced on Tues 21st.
   
In the meantime I'm alternating between restless boredom and being too tired to move.  Brain wants fun and action but body says no.  My hypno CD has become quite a useful way of tricking myself into the occasional daytime cat-nap...  (I've still never made it to the end of the 30-minute track without falling asleep, though I always wake up again shortly afterwards). 
 
All being well, I'm due to meet up with some ladies from my antenatal class at Patisserie Valerie tomorrow.  (Get me - I have become a lady who lunches!)  There are two of us with the same due date and neither of us have popped yet, as far as I know...  perhaps cake will assist.
    

Meanwhile I have been treated again to a manificent spiced plum cake, many thanks to rosamicula.  As instructed, G and I ate some slices of it warmed up with wine syrup and cream after dinner last night (total yum).
 
Also I hear it is wardytron's birthday tomorrow, so happy birthday. Mr Ward.  Get Busy with the Fizzy... and all that!
 
In square-eyed news, G and I are a few eps into The Shadow Line, which seems pretty good - is anyone else watching?   Also we've finally given in and started watching Mad Men (season 1).  I wonder if it will be as fantabulous as its years of fanhood would imply?  We've also got the first two series of Spiral on DVD but haven't started on those yet.   Daytime TV is painful enough to make me weep...  (the only thing I can tolerate when desperate are the relentless re-runs of property porn from mystery years when huge Victorian piles appear to have cost less than my flat...  and you could snap up lust-worthy ruins in France and Italy for around 10p).
 

Well... I am sad to say that this load of fascinating newslessness is the limit of my realm right now.  I am a human interest vacuum, so I shall bimble off and wish you all a fabulous Monday evening, if such a thing is possible...
   
 

Comments

[zoo-music-girl.livejournal.com]

I'm watching the Shadow Line too, it's quite good, isn't it?

LOVED Spiral 1 and 3, but managed to miss season two.

[the-meanest-cat.livejournal.com]

I love how beautifully menacing the Stephen Rea character is - (not to mention Rafe Spall, whose portrayal does a great job of giving me the creeps)

[zoo-music-girl.livejournal.com]

It's the scariest thing I've seen on tv for a long time!

I think Rafe Spall is a bit OTT at times, it's hard to imagine why they wouldn't quietly bump him off, especially when he was just out of prison and causing trouble, but Stephen Rea's character is terrifying!

[the-meanest-cat.livejournal.com]

I agree! (And you're right - they should just bump off Rafe - the last thing organised crims need is a weirdo loose cannon in the gang)

[loveinsuburbia.livejournal.com]

I don't have the references to hand, but I seem to remember when i was researching this that you you need 3 or 4 sweeps for it to make any difference. Although if he's not ready, he's not ready and if that is the case, no sweeps will make any difference. Average gestation for a white first time mum is about 41 and 3 or 4 days, by the way and you're not overdue until 42 weeks (37 to 42 weeks being 'term') so good luck and enjoy your last few days! :)

[the-meanest-cat.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that, it's v. interesting.

I guess if my due date was 8th, then I'm still only 40+5, so I should just chill out and rest on my laurels! (Now I wonder if my induction date is a bit over-eager)

[loveinsuburbia.livejournal.com]

They do like to push for induction at 41 weeks.

My son was born at 42+4, but I wouldn't suggest that for fun.

The stuff about positioning at http://www.spinningbabies.com/ may help you if you're bored and keen to get him moving. It's the pressure on the cervix that starts the contractions and causes a feedback loop to keep them going/get stronger. Positioning is important for a good labour and I'd not be keen for induction unless I knew my baby was in a good position.

[the-meanest-cat.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that's brilliant - thanks. It supports a lot of what my antenatal teacher recommended, about sitting upright, forward and open.

I do tend to lie on my right side all the time in bed now... but really should spend more time sitting upright on my squishy ball and walking around (instead of draped on the sofa like a limp consumptive)

[chiller.livejournal.com]

Just from an outsider's POV, the preceding nine months seem to have flown by in the blink of a proverbial, but this last couple of weeks seem to be taking FOR EVOR AND EVOR.

Come on Rup, pull yerself together lad!

[the-meanest-cat.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean... it feels like I reached the end a month ago. (At least now I have an induction date I *must* appreciate these last days of quiet).

[the-meanest-cat.livejournal.com]

On the downside, I am SURE Rup is continuing to get fatter by the day. The bump is just obscenely huge.

[kissmeforlonger.livejournal.com]

Loving The Shadow Line. The dialogue is quite contrived but it's still convincing.

Hope you can relax and get some sleep in these last few days xx

[the-meanest-cat.livejournal.com]

G and I were commenting on how it is riddled with contrived-but-enjoyable bits, like the Bourntastic chase scene in ep 2, where the driver gets a phone call from Gatehouse just saying "run!"

[green-badger.livejournal.com]

Good luck! xxx

[the-meanest-cat.livejournal.com]

Thanks :-)

[lebeautemps.livejournal.com]

Lordy. Come on, can has baby pix.

[the-meanest-cat.livejournal.com]

Here's hoping he comes out photogenic... (one of my antenatal classes involved being shown a range of newborn pics with weird squished head shapes and skin conditions... in a bid to lower our expectations!)

[ms-siobhan.livejournal.com]

Good daytime tv = Upstairs Downstairs on ITV3 around 11 o'clock-ish :-)

In other news - will let you know when a parcel of knitted-ness is on its way.

In other other news - mention of Sweep makes me wonder what about Sooty ;-)

[the-meanest-cat.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I shall await knittedness with excitement!
(Your archery evening sounds fab, by the way)

[ms-siobhan.livejournal.com]

Archery was the aces!! it was a bit difficult for me at first as I am left handed but right eye dominant so at first I was shooting right-handed but I was much better when I swapped to left handed and used my left eye instead - even if my right eye is slightly better when just looking at things. There was a couple of times when I missed the target altogether but I was so chuffed when I hit the gold and for our final go a jaffa cake was pinned to the target and we had to aim for that and I got the nearest to it.

[steer.livejournal.com]

for a procedure called a 'sweep' that can sometimes help to trigger labour

Horribly I'm imagining this means the doctor puts some kind of grey dog puppet thing on his hand and makes squeaking noises. Followed by the 'sooty' procedure where they tap your bump with a wand and chant "Izzy, wizzy, let's get busy".

[the-meanest-cat.livejournal.com]

To be honest, that's probably still more dignified than the reality

[tvted.livejournal.com]

OH you SOOO don't want to be induced! That Ruprecht is such a bum spank and not 'engaging'