Thanks for the comments on the green poo ladies.

I wasn't too concerned but wanted to run it past you all. It is varying between green and yellow but there is no mucus present so all is ok.

Tee - Adam seems to be very like Elina. I feed her the same amounts and regularity as you do and she is very content.

ineed - sorry to hear Emily has Colic. That must be very hard to deal with. My DS1 had it a bit but as he got older it petered out. I hope it doesn't go on too long for you both.

June - same here re: pads. I am now using Always Ultra just in case and on some days there is a little something so can never be too sure. I feel pretty good though, if a little tired at times.Sounds like you are doing just fine with the bottle feeding. Elina has 5/6 feeds a day. I feed on demand but it is normally every 3-4 hours. She also has anything between 2 and a half ozs and 5ozs!

Weather has cooled down a little here so back in little trousers and top

Congratulations Worried Well done. Hope you are feeling ok

I went ahead and started us a post natal thread here!!

hello all checking in - not had much time to myself as dh myself and the girls have been making the most of the sunshine and his last few dyas paternity leave to getr out and about.

Worried congratulations on the birth of Caelan

Love the thread title suiggestions - esp the one about typing as I'm sure we're all one finger wonders now

june I feed on demand and Adam is having between 70 - 120 ml about 6 times a day. He is offered 120, but he doesn't always finish it!! He just finished 80, for example and has dozed off against my chest after a huge burp!! He might wake up for the rest in a minute or two, he might not!!

One handed typing is fun!!!

Congratulations worried - what fantastic news!

Went to bed at 8.30 and have had one hour's sleep since then. Colic really bloody sucks! Emily will only sleep absolutely upright (but not over my shoulder or chest) so I'm literally holding her under her armpits to get her to sleep. I've just put her on her side on a huge pillow propped up and she seems to be okay, but not holding my breath just yet.

We're supposed to be going to the farm with DS today.... I'll be like a zombie. DH's family are lovely, but really fussy and will firing questions all day about Emily with 'helpful' suggestions as to what might help her. Lovely, and well-intentioned, but not what I'll want on zero sleep..... ho hum.

Hope all you other mummies are getting some shut-eye.... I'm going to leave it 5 mins before I take Emily back upstairs to see if I can get her to sleep there. No doubt she'll be waking for a feed in an hour anyway.....

Congrats worried :D

choccie I'e pretty much stopped bleeding as well but I'm not throwing the maternity towels away yet, apparently the bleeding can come back, especially if you do too much one day.

Calypso's been sleeping in her nappy with a muslin square on top as it's close to 27C in the bedroom (80.6F)

She's also got nappy rash today and wind (infacol seems to be giving her a little relief but not enough, it looks really painful

I went to the doctors today as well for a rash, some more iron tablets and a quick check over my wound as it was bleeding yesterday, all normal says the GP.

hey, does anyone have clear guidelines about bottle feeding?
The mw said we could up the amount to 4 ounces (120 ml) but she didnt say if that means we need to drop to 5 feeds instead of 6. (the formla box says 5, we've been doing 6 for 3 ounces/90 ml).

I'm really impressed with everyone breastfeeding, I'll definitely try again next time, there were too many things against it/me this time round.

Someone asked how many children I was hoping for, well, I realise that we should have started earlier (I'm 32 now) but I would love 4 or 5 children. My gran had 13 and I just love my big family :D

I've started writing my birth story, now everyone's had their baby it won't put anyone off ;)

Hiya worried congratulations on the safe arrival of Caelan Jak i hope mum and baby are well...is that all of us juner's delivered??

yay worried!!!! Congratulations!!! Hope to hear from you soon!!

(Feeding Mila ATM so tipying w one hand!!) Will try and come back soon!

YAYAYA *worriedamy!! Welcome Caelan Jak!!

hi everyone, just a quick note to say that Caelan Jak was born today at 1.31pm weighing 8lb 6oz... will catch up more asap!

help, she's a little cutie. Alien indeed! Although, I think newborns always look a little non-human at first, you can see why people talked about changelings being left. Arthur's various expressions make him look like a puppy, the baby from Ice Age and my friend's 55 yr old husband who is as wide as he is tall. All in extra adorable versions of course .

And June, I loved Calypso's pool pic. She looks scarily grown-up already, good neck control!

choccie Arthur has just been dressed in a short-sleeved bodysuit. Anything else would be too much - and i've just put a muslin over him for naps because he kicks about even if covered by a cotton sheet. I've asked my sisters to get him all-in-one romper type things because if the weather stays this warm he's never going to need a babygro al summer. I'm v glad I didn't buy anything for him - both for that reason and because newborn sizes are already too small for the little bruiser.

i've added some photos of me and Polly Diana to my profile page if anyone wants to have a look at the little alien!

Hi Juners!

Flash post, I promise I'll catch up later but I just saw a thread/post by Roseabilily and thought she would really appreciate some advice from Juners that already have more than one baby. She's had a bad day today.

Here's the link if you want to post:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/parenting/784216-I-pushed-my-DS?ts=1246641243834

I hope I've added the link properly

See you later!!! (((waves)))

Oh, thanks for reminding me erm. There was also mucus in it when I called the GP and he said to not worry about that either unless it persisted over the weekend. It was gone at his next nappy change!

choccie my DS1, like my DH, has stork marks on his neck that will prob never go. Just about hidden by hairline but I still like finding them there

As Tee says, baby poo comes in lots of flavours. Breastmilk stuff is often green or yellow. Changes in texture are more important eg if there's mucus in it. No such thing as TMI where babies are concerned.

Hope to hear from worriedamy soon.

lauraloo Can Sarah send some notes on How To Sleep At Night to Arthur please?

hi everyone else /waves

choccie Adam had that for a few days as well so I called the GP. Its nothing. Their pooh changes colour. So long as it isn't white or black? Not a worry!! He also throws up regularly. It usually means a bubble that didn't burp out and a baby that ate too fast! Also nothing to worry about!

Oh I also had to go to the DR yesterday about my BP. I have high BP again (since labour) so am on medication. It's no bother. Used to it really. I had the dr check Elina as she has some marks on the back of her neck. He told me they are "Stork" marks (birth marks that fade)!!!Quite cute really.

Still have 18lbs to lose in weight to get to pre-pregnancy. Would like to lose more.
I have stopped bleeding already which has surprised me as was 9 weeks with DSs. How is everyone else?

Hi everyone.
Any news from Worried??

Elina has green poo. Has anyone else experienced this? She is formula fed and I have read lots of diffeent things. Some say she could be dehydrated, othes say it is nothing. Not sure what to think. She poos every day, it is mainly green and then finishes off yellow. Sorry for yukky chat .

She has also been sick a few times shortly after feeds. She projectild the night before last and then this morning her entire feed seemed to end up all over herself. I am trying not to lay her down so soon after feeding and she has managed to keep her last feed down

It is so warm here and the sun has come out today.Don't know how you are surviving the heat in the UK as I have heard it is scorching. I have been unsure how many layers (if any) to put on Elina after having had 2 winter babies before. She is currently in a short sleeved vest with a small top over it, no socks.

morning everyone - hope everyone is well x

Wonder how worried got on yesterday

Just wondering has anyone set up the post-natal thread yet??

Sarah was great yet again last night, giving me and DH around 6 hours between feeds actually had to wake her for a feed as she gets greedy if she leaves it too long between her feeds. Going into town (yet again) today need to buy more bedding for her moses basket will catch up soon xx

I'm going lalala with fingers in ears about sleepy babies - Arthur's 4 hrs shortly after birth is the most he's managed, mostly it's an hour or two at most with lots of feeding in between. Still, he's 3 days old, I'll give him a day or two to improve

Naat and Tee so glad for each of you that your mums's visit was a success and I bet she'll be forever pleased and proud to have been there.

Lynnn hurray for getting rid of the catheter, I've been feeling for you in this weather. Hope everything is back to normal soon.

Well done all on weight gain and Doris try not to get too hung up on charts - they may be f/fed baby averages, your LO will have her own growth line which isn't exactly regular, and as long as she's feeding well and lively in between, the chances are she's doing grand. .

antenatal thread titles - love 'em. Especially love not having to make any sort of decision about them as can only think about milk for next few days...

Hi all

June love the ideas for thread titles

Hope worried has her little one now but these June babies have been a sticky bunch so double

Well done naat ineed laura and silk with your fab weight gains, not gone quite so well here this week, she only gain one and a half oz (now 8lb 9 (and a half!)) feel like I have failed another little test..... Have spent all afternoon (over) analysing bf, think latch may have slipped a little this week as boobs have been more tender, have not been as rigourous with my intake and have tried to do tooo much (yesterday at zoo vvv good example, short feds on the go, in not comfortable postions, have also been trying to eek out time between feeds to help with colic (it does) but wonder if it has also reduced stimulation and supply {sad] still I will get through this have fed (lots) this pm (dh is now dealing with a colicky baby) and am taking lots of time to improve latch. Also had a chat with my V sensible mum who 'sorted' my head a little!

llynn hope you remain cathter free!!!

Got to go and rescue dh from back patting and winding duties

xxx

Post natal thread title, something along the lines of: "June09: Pregnancy? Been there, done that ;)"
or "June09: the one where we learn to type with one finger"

how exciting to be moving to the other side :D

worried hope everything is going well for you.

Calypso got colic today so were on infacol as well. I'm not feeling too great either, finding it hard to fit everything in a day: keeping the c-section wound dry, getting some sleep, doing some work and remembering to eat/shower/brush teeth and hair!
I've skipped dressing up today and still in my cotton nightie...and blaming the scar for it .

naat 'm sure you meant a proper adult pool but we got a fun swimming pool for a tenner, pic of Calypso enjoying it here (she didn't actually like it very much but Im sure she'll get used to it).

Hi Juners!!!

Worried, thinking of you!!!

Mila was weighed yesterday as well and she has passed her birth weight! She's 3.360kg and she was 3.255kg when she was born so, as Ineed said, BF is working!!

Veeeeeeeeeeeeery about Adam, Calypso, Elina and Sarah sleeping so well, though Lucky you, ladies!!! Mila is not bad, she wakes up twice but looooves to stay up for long

Ineed, congrats on venturing to town with both DC!! Well done you! Ohhhh DS will definitely be in cow heaven this wkend!!!

Silk, I absolutely love this heat (I know, don't hate me ) but would love a pool near

Choccie, your DSs are so sweet! I can imagine you want to keep an eye on them when they get too excited about bringing teddies, though

Ermin, Mila is great opening her mouth to yawn and cry but not too great when feeding , which is why it takes me some good 5 mins to get her to latch correctly... I guess she'll eventually learn and do it automatically? (hopeful emoticon)

Mrsmc, the DC have caught another cold!! Hope it clears soon. I can only imagine how hot it's there if here we're getting twenty-odd degrees! How come you can get into the supermarket but not out?? Did they not think about making double doors on both exits??

Llynn, soooo glad you're a catheter free woman!!! How did the appt with the consultant go today? Thinking of you

Loouise, I understand how you feel, it must be something you cannot help thinking about, but try not to overworry, I know, easier said than done, but try to focus on Ishbel and how happy you are with her. I agree with Ermin, don't let her family invade you either, you need peace these days, with all the adaptation we're all going through. I also feel my life has changed quite a lot!

Doris, brave woman! Glad you had an amazing time at the zoo with the DC

Bigcar, hi!!! How's Edward these days?

Hi Bunny, June, Tee, Effie, Laura, and all the rest of the Juners!!!

We just came back from the park and I really really really want a pool

Mum is leaving tomorrow, I can't believe it's been over 5 weeks and we've both survived them She behaved very well most of the time so no complaints... and she helped SO much with Mila I have no words...

Right, Mila is awake now, see you!!!

(((waves)))

Forgot to say that I got Emily weighed at clinic yesterday and she's now 9lb 6 1/2 oz... she's put on 1lb 3oz in two weeks.... BF is obviously working as it should!

hiya!

Sarah got weighed today and is now 7lb 13oz and she was 7lb 9oz when born, midwife said this is good. Poor thing tho cannot stand the heat, but is fast asleep...for now.

tee Sarah is the same with regards to sleeping at night time. Last night she slept from 10ish until 2.30 then from 3.30 to 7.30 which is great and third night in a row where me and DH are getting a reasonable sleep long may it continue as DH goes back to work on monday dont

Wonder how worried is getting on

Eleri has regained her birth weight!

It's absolutely roasting here. dh and dd1 went swimming this morning whilst dd2 and I went to a bf support group. Off into town later to register her birth - how to keep us all cool?

Tee - Your little man sounds just like my little lady .
Elina sleeps most of the time, we rarely see her eyes open. On some days she can be a little more awake but the the next she is out of it again. She is still asleep now after her feed at 4am! Have to go see if I can wake her for a feed soon.

Mrsmc - Hi there. Sounds like you are getting on really well with 2dcs.
DS1 is much better with Elina then when DS2 came along. He was only 16 months old then and it was a whole different ball game. Now he is 5 and a half and he loves having a baby around. I do however have to keep my eye on them all of the time (not leaving Elina alone with them in room etc) as there have been a few little incidents. On day 4 DS1 tried to push Elina in the pram out of the front door !

The boys are also fond of giving Elina teddies and I am paranoid about them being loaded up on top of her face!

Other than that they are really good with her. I am finding it much easier than I imagined but I think its because my boys are past 4 years of age, go to school and are potty trained etc. They also have each other to play with which is a huge bonus

Thinking of you Worried. Hope all goes well.

Rushing in to catch up while Arthur sleeps off an all-nighter binge cos my milk came in! So in haste:

worried sorry to miss you before you go, hope it all goes well and as others have said, induction can lead to normal straightforward birth so fingers crossed.

silk well done on the feeding front, sounds like a good plan. B/f feels odd at first but it really shouldn't hurt if the babe is feeding from the whole breast because it's being pumped not sucked or nibbled. Looouise I pull down Arthur's chin and lower lip and make sure his upper lip is curled outwards too and that makes him open wider and get the right action - they mustn't purse their lips or 'sip', lots of the nipple has to be right in their mouths.

And it's great that babyfather loves Ishbel - don't let the hordes of his family swarm over her if you're not comfy with it though. A neighbour brought her 3 daughters round yesterday and they were prodding and stroking Arthur and crowding out my DC and it made me really that she didn't tell them to be gentle. I stuck him back on the breast so they couldn't get to him

MrsMc well done for going out with both DC. We're fetching big bro from school today and even walking that far is going to be weird for me - my jelly belly feels most odd!

must catch up on sleep now babe is sleeping. hope all you mums and LOs are keeping cool in this heat xx

june he slept from 11:30 to 3 and then 4 to 830 last night. So he sleeps 4 - 5 hours at a time, all day long.

Tee when you say adam sleeps through, how many hours does he sleep in one go?
People always ask me if Calypso "is doing her nights" and I have no idea what they mean exactly (I don't think they know either though, it's just one of those small talk things.;)
She sleeps through her feed from around 5am (after her 4am feed/change) to almost 9am.

Good luck worried - I was induced and only needed my waters breaking in the end. My contractions started 15 mins later. It was fine in the end. It was nice as it all happened in the delivery suite (I laboured on the ante-natal ward, mooing like a cow, with DS for four hours scaring the bejeezus out of all the women in for severe morning sickness!). All very calm and relaxed with DD.

Emily has horrible heat rash all over her face and neck due to heat and BF as it's where she's against my skin. Poor little love. She seems more settled after the first cranial osteopath appointment. It's worth it if your little one is impossible to wind, like Emily. She did a few monster burps yesterday so it all seems a little easier to come out.

Going to brave a trip into town on my own with the double buggy today. Going to wait until after a big feed with Emily, then scoop them both up into the car and hope I get round all the shops before she needs feeding again. That's the only worry I have, that I'll have to entertain DS for 20 mins if she needs a feed when I'm in town..... watch this space.

Got a trip to the farm planned on Sat for DH's niece's birthday on Sat so DS will be in cow-heaven......

Love to you all. Glad to hear that BF is going better and that the explosive poos aren't just happening here....

Thoughts with you today worried!! Can't wait to hear about your LO!

mrsmcJ accidental co-sleeping (and co-sleeping in general) terrifies me. DH doesn't even really wake up when Adam cries for him in the night, I have to nudge him when he's on duty, so I can't imagine he'd wake up if he rolled over on Adam! We do not do any sort of co-sleeping and have an agreement that if one of is on nights and feels like they are too tired they wake the other one ASAP to take over. I've done it once and he's done it once. Of course, I'm not breastfeeding and Adam is sleeping almost straight through already (sorry everyone! He sleeps great!!) so it isn't that much of an issue.

Worried, thinking of you today!! It's great to know today you'll be holding your baby!!! xxx

hi everyone again, not had chance to sit down tonight really, doing last min preparations! Thank you all so much for your kind words of reassurance...hopefully the next time I update it will be with news of my new arrival!! Thank you all once again...off now to unrealistically try and get some sleep!

So much talk of co-sleeping, if only I had read on before posting before

Hey Silk

Naat – both DC have a new cold thanks to Monday’s playdate Mila seems to have day mixed up with night like Aaliyah, I wonder if it is too quiet at night or if they find the dark scary?

June – hope the scar feels a lot better soon. Aaliyah has very dark eyes, I am thinking they may go brown but we’ll see. A friend of mine had blue eyes until she was 2 and then they went brown!!

Tee – Ambys are great

Littlesarah – I keep telling myself that I will get a proper sleep again once Aaliyah gets to 8 weeks

Aaliyah is having a night of feeding and crying which is pretty exhausting. I think she has some wind she can’t get out as her tummy sounds bubbly

Ineedmore – glad to hear that the oesteo made a difference.

Lovely to hear from you Choccie and so glad to hear how much you are enjoying Elina I am finding 2 DCs needing me hard enough, can’t imagine what 3 must be like! Do you find DS1 better or worse than when you had DS2?

Help – your bedtime regime sounds very like ours

Ermintrude – what good looking kiddies you have

Got to go

hiya all - i will try to catch up with everyone eventually!!

worried will be thinking of you tomorrow i'm sure everything will be fine x

Sarah been keeping me busy today with projectile sick and poo (again!) everywhere it's a sin, not that she noticed as soon after being sick and pooing she fell straight asleep. Quick question tho, the poo seems very water and there is some clear liquid thro it, is this normal??

Those who had a section just wondering about how you are feeling now? Today I could hardly move off the sofa without feeling like the inside of me was about to rip open. My staples were taken out on sunday and i have been fine up until this morning, should i contact midwifes about this feeling or is it normal?

sorry mrsmcjnr - crossed posts, well done on getting out with both dc, i will have to brave it next wekk when my parents are back at work!!

hi all

Finally got my catheter out today and feel like i have a new lease of life!! i have to go back tomorrow to see the consultant but i feel confident that everything is back to normal now (fingers crossed!)

Amy - try not to worry about the induction. I had one with isobel and it was ok. I went in in the morning and had the pessary (which did nothing for me but wasnt painful at all) 6 hours later i had my waters broken and within an hour my contractions had started. 6 hours later Isobel was born, it really was ok. i'll be thinking of you tomorrow and waiting for news of your little arrival

June - I had a vbac this time as dd1 was breech. i had to have more monitoring as they do worry about scar rupture, but as bigcar says the chances are really low she was really unlucky i am pleased i went for it as (apart from the stupid bladder issues! ) i havent had any problems and have found getting back on my feet much easier and less painful than after the csection

Doris - glad you had a good day at the zoo and a massive well done for managing all 3 dc! you are amazing! i havent had a day alone with both dd's yet!

loouise - pleased babyfather has taken to Ishbel so well, good luck with the entire family visit at the weekend. try not to worry what the future will hold, i'm still just taking one day at a time! its all my hormones can take!

silk - so pleased that you are finding breastfeeding so much easier and less painful now

hi to everyone else, sorry its a rubbish catch up, i've been trying to post it for about an hour!!

LOL Bunnymother I have no accent from anywhere and no one can ever place me I was born in Hong Kong and then moved to Spain aged 10. I sound like most ex-pats from Hong Kong I guess I tell people I am “colonial” not that that means anything these days. I worked for an Australian banking group for a few years and many thought I was Australian. In Scotland, people just assumed I’d been to a private school and therefore didn’t sound Scottish! DH and I often wonder what our DC will sound like, he has a very strong Edinburgh accent and I’ve known kids out here over the years who sound totally Irish or Scottish and yet can’t write or read a word in English. I guess we’ll have to wait and see. The apron is a great idea; I feel like I never get Aaliyah’s botty clean, there are so many explosions! Sorry to hear about your stitches being infected.

I braved going out alone with the kids yesterday, it took me ages to get out but once I did I managed to get quite a lot done – mainly at the health centre but at least I have made all the appointments I need to for me and both kids. Did I say before that we don’t have MW or HV here that come to the house? So Aaliyah hasn’t seen anyone since she left hospital that would have really freaked me out with DS I also found out that I can get into the supermarket but not out again with the double buggy

Anyone feeling a bit worried about the whole accidental co-sleeping thing after the discussions on MN recently? I can’t help falling asleep at some of the night feeds with Aaliyah in my arms, I do put her back in her Amby as soon as I wake up but it scares me that it happens all the same. Any thoughts?

Will try and catch up now (I typed this last night) hope everyone is doing well.

Hi

Just checking in quickly, will try and post properly tomorrow, Have been V hot at the Zoo all day with all three dd's!!!! (Fortunately went with pre school and my friends (with dc's the same age obviously!) who helped out loads so I could feed etc. Feel really chuffed with myself as I knew it was coming up and had been really worried about it!

Good luck for tommorrow Worried will be waiting for your news

Maybe we need a name for the postnatal thread now???? (I had tyoo much sun today and NO ideas

xx

Hey Worried, I was induced this time last week and honestly, it was FINE. I only needed a single pessary dose, which was given at 3pm. I started contracting at 5pm, and it only became seriously painful at midnight. Ishbel was born at 6.45am. I think the induction all helped it go that bit more quickly - and I'm grateful for that. In the end, it was quite exciting knowing that I'd only leave hospital with a baby, and the staff were lovely.
I hope it all goes splendidly for you xx

Ermintrude - many many congratulations on the (eventual!) safe arrival of baby Arthur. He looks scrumptious. It was worth the awful wait wasn't it? I still can't believe I went a whole ten days over, but miraculously, I've forgotten it all.

Does anybody else find it hard to actually remember anything at all about their old lives? Probably not second/third timers, but I just feel things have changed so irrevocably (and for the good!) since having Ishbel. I can't imagine her not being in my life. I'm not interested in London, my work, socialising...just gazing at Ishbel.

Oh - other catch up - babyfather met Ishbel on her birth day and is utterly besotted. He stayed around for 3 days then went back, but keeps texting saying he misses her terribly. He's back up with his entire family this weekend. I'm delighted he's so in love with her...but it is kinda weird, I also find it a little threatening. I can't bear the thought of ever being apart from her, and it's very hard knowing that somebody who isn't your partner has a claim on your precious child. I try not to think about how we're going to parent her together in the long term, as I'm too hormonal to even contemplate overnight stays etc [shudder]

On a completely different note, June I totally hear you on the weight thing. I am 30lb over my pre-pregnancy weight, which is just a staggering amount to me. I have never been overweight, always fit and toned, it's a real shock seeing my body in the state it's in right now. Obviously she's worth a few rolls of fat, obviously, but it is pretty crushing for one's self esteem!!

Oh - baby calls, sending cute gurgles and snuffles to you all

june, yes, I was hoping for a vbac! I think they recommend you don't have more than 3 cs, but there are people who have had more. Obviously it depends on the reasons you had a cs the first time round, but for most women planning a vbac is certainly possible. There is a vbacers support thread on the childbirth topic which may well be worth a read. The risk of scar rupture for vba1c (which is what happened to me and the reason I had another cs!) is something like 0.74% so I was just bloody unlucky not to get my vbac! There are plenty of women on here who have had successful vbacs

Looooise - tbh they didn't give any advice re mouth opening she just eventually did it. Sorry not helpful I know. I think it was maybe a case of her needing to be a little older (ok the grand old age of 10 days)

Worried - shall be thinking of you in the morning. Friends who've been induced said it was fine

June - another friend had dd1 with a birth that sounds like yrs then 2 successful vbacs. How many dcs were you planning?

2 very hot sweaty girls here (3 if you count mummy) dd2 snoring dd1 chattering in her cot!

worried thinking about you, inductions sound worse than they are. They'll probablyt start wiht some gel to get things going and you can still have a natural birth after that.
Here they usually wait 6 hours after thatand ry the gel/pessary again and if there is still no sign then they try one last time the next morning before starting on the drip.
Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly for you, I hope you don't get too stressed about it, easier said than done I know.

bigcar were you trying for a vbac this time round? I got very upset thinking that I could no longer have the big family i always dreamed about as ceasarian restrict the number of children you can have don't they?

Good Luck Worried.

good luck worried will be thinking of you tomorrow!

llynn, hope today went well and you are catheter free!

don't know if this will be of use to any ladies, caesarean section support network 01624 661269

waves to all

Good luck worried! I'm sure it will all be fine!

hi everyone, just a quick update off my phone again! Went to hospital today for a check up and they were concerned there isnt much fluid around the baby, so have been booked in for an induction tomorrow at 7.30am. Rather scared and bit upset... Will catch up a bit more later on x

Hi Juners!!

Thank you all for sharing your experience wrt co-sleeping

Erm, lovely pictures!!!

Worried, oh sending ALL the birthing vibes to you!!! I'm not going to say "hang in there" as I know how frustrating it is... just hope baby wants to come soon! (((hug))) at your gran's comment...

Silk, soooooooooo glad to hear your nipples are on the mend and that you received good advice at the baby café. I went to mine on Monday and it was very useful, although Mila has already picked a favourite breast and really plays with the other one, hence hurting me a bit But well, I just try to make her open her mouth really wide and take her away and latch her on as many times as it takes

Loouise, they tell you to make your nipple touch their nose so that they want to reach it and therefore open their mouths really wide. Hope Ishbel is not giving your nipples too much of a hard time.

LittleS, hi! How are you???

Lyyn, yay on having the catheter removed tomorrow!! Thinking of you for everything to go fine and walk out of there a free woman

Help, hi! I tried distracting Mila with some toys when changing her nappy so as to stop the screaming but so far it's not working too much Hope she grows out of it (hopeful emoticon)

Hi to the rest of the Juners!

another sunny day here, it's going to be quite warm! I'm waiting for the MW to come for the last time today (yay!) so as to go for a walk to the park with Mila after that.

Last night bath time was not as full of screams as usual which is progress!!! Hoping it sticks!

Today I managed to hoover, do some laundry, and organise the loads of paperwork and bills that have arrived in the past two weeks, while Mila took a nap. I'm still struggling to do things when she's awake, though

Have a lovely day, Juners!!!

(((waves)))

Silk - v pleased for you - what did they suggest to make eleri open her mouth more? i'm having similar issues with ishbel....

Worried for you - I can understand how fed up you must be. Can't be long now and it doesn't matter how it happens once you're holding yr lo

Erm - lovely pics and dcs

Bf update - nipples on the mend. went to bf support group yesterday and Eleri opened her mouth really wide and latched on and fed with NO pain at all. I'm CLearly what looked like a good latch last week was her sucking on my nipple. As I had no idea how painful it could/should be I let it go on. Think the key to it for me and her is how wide she opens her mouth (wasn't doing that last week)

So now I'm mixed feeding. She isn't get enough from my breasts yet as she is still hungry after feeding from both and takes 2-3oz of formula afterwards. Need to keep feedign regularly and expressing to get my supply back up and hopefully she'll eb nearly fully$ bf in a few weeks

Love to everyone else - being called for a feed x

ermin - Gorgeous pics! Fab head of hair! I love a bit of hair on babies, dd was like that, wee Alex is a baldy tho!

Oh Amy - you will have a baby any day now, that I promise you, and that is what counts! (Although I can totally understand your frustration!)

i just want to know what normal labour feels like, for some reason!

great... Half of my self pitying post didnt post for some reason... Probably a good thing

I'm never gonna have this baby on my own am i just had a fantastic conversation with my optimistic as ever nan who declared I'm obviously going to have a caesarean as I'm way too high. Aparently. Just not in the mood.

I'm never gonna have this baby on my own am i just had a fantastic conversation with my optimistic as ever nan who declared I'm obviously going to have a caesarean as I'm way too high. Aparently. Just not in the mood.

Sorry i havent been around for a few days, been hectic with visitors!

Ermintrude - huge congratulations on the birth of Arthur! the photos are gorgeous, he is adorable

Isobel also doesnt really like her moses basket but will sleep in it at night now if i swaddle her and rock it for about 10mins to get her off to sleep! in the day she usually sleeps on me or in her bouncy chair tho! i'm too scared to co sleep as me and dh both sleep heavily once we are off!

Amy - you are the last one now, really hope it happens for you soon, i know how frustrating the waiting is and really feel for you especially in this heat

Well i'm finally back at the hospital tomorrow to have this stupid catheter out! i cant wait for it to be gone but am very worried in case the problem is still there. scared they will keep me in or do lots of painful scans/tests or send me home again with it back in! i really just want to be back to normal and able to walk more than 10 steps again!

Hi to everyone else and your little bundles

What a cutie ermintrude! Your three children are beautiful x

...rushing in between feeds and cuddles to say I've put a pic of Arthur and one of all 3 DC on my profile page.

....and that none of my DC has taken to a crib/moses basket and have always slept with us when they're newborn. Interesting to hear so many of you are doing the same, even the nice MWs had to have a dutiful tut when I said that's what I'd be doing. When they're this teeny they want to be in close contact - and so do I . So saying, DD did get stuck in bed with us til she was too big - 8 months - and had to be sleep trained, so moved DS out into a cot when he was around 4 months and will try to do the same with Arthur.

...and rushing out again waving at you all xx

So nice to see similar foibles on here...

June - Polly also screams the house down when her nappy is being changed. She is now 3 weeks and 1 day. She is beginning to get better and if she's been fed she is quiet. I also now put a small toy on the side of the changing mat - it seems to interest her which takes her mind off the changing. I've also noticed she is beginning to get nappy rash around her bum hole - so perhaps it is just really uncomfortable for her. Anyway, here's hoping she gets used to it soon...

I also have a sneeky co-sleep from about 5 am onwards. She has no routine so far - we can sometimes have a stint of 4 hours kip, then a night of her waking every 1.5 hrs. With her sleeping on me, it means i get a bit of shut eye and so does she. I use the excuse that we're 'bonding' still.

I co-sleep with Emily. She's in a gro-bag (0.5 tog) and a vest (tho' tonight I think it'll just be the gro-bag) and I make sure there are no pillows or duvet or anything that'll smother her. I think, until the night feeds regulate a bit, we will keep doing it. DH wants to come back to the bed (he's on the sofa at the moment) when he breaks up for Summer hols so I guess she'll go back in the moses basket when he returns as he's like a bloody radiator and will be way too hot for her. He is also a little apprehensive about squashing her!

<takes off tin hat>

Thanks lovely Juners for not throwing stones!!

As everywhere I read it said it was wrong wrong wrong to co-sleep I thought I was in for a slap on the hand Soooooooo relieved to hear I'm not the only one!!! and that eventually you can make them sleep in their own cot without any particular trauma!! Phew!!!

It's quite hot today... I went out with rain and cool wind and just got back soaking but in sweat

hi choccie!! how were the days with your parents? hope you enjoyed them. at such a mellow baby!!!

june, I heard the same as tee, that it depends o the baby and for some it takes about a year.

Hi daisy!!! nice to read you! hope you finish your assignment soon!!!

ineed, soooooo glad it all went well at the ost.!!

oh well, Mila is hungry!! back later

(((waves)))

tee right, I thought it didn't sound right.
Just wondering as we have to do a passport for baby soon and the eye colour will be on there for the next 5 years.

Today, for the first time in months, my ankles and legs are a normal size, ie no swelling Very happy about that, I can wear shoes/sandals/flip flops again!!

ineed Hope the appointments work out for you, is this in london?

littleS I just kinda got through that thread and I find the various researches quite confusing. It makes me feel bad for bed-sharing and not breastfeeding though. (but that could just be my own existing hang-ups).

better get on with some work while I can!
speak soon!

june no it is not true, I was born with hazel eyes and I still have them. Some baby's eyes change colour, some do not. And I think they can change up to a year after birth.

tee I wish I wan't so self conscious, it would be nice to not look pregnant anymore by the time we go to france in september and actually have clothes that fit. my weight has always been up and down but ive been doing well loosing it and really toning up the last couple of years so it always comes up in the conversation.

since we talked about co-sleeping, there was a chat today on mnet (which i missed) but the thread about it is here

Erm, big congrats! :D the baby is out finally :d:d

worried, I know nothing we say will make the wait any easier, thinking of you!

hey choccie, nice to hear from you, dont worry only a few of us can still manage to catch up properly (not me

question of the day, when do baby's eyes get their permanent colour? Calypso has grey eyes r ight now, ive been told all ba bies are born ith blue eyes, is this true?

co-sleeping - Oh dear I am so behind! Just saw the George Hayward chat on dangers of co-sleeping! Although it certainly seems controversial, I haven't read it all but would be interested on exactly what the risk is numbers wise... hmmmm, I probably should try and cut it out I guess, I shall read more!

Sorry ladies I haven't been on for a while. My parents were over from the UK for a few days which was lovely but I have totally lost touch with whats going on.

Huge Congratulations Ermin. So pleased for you. It's all over at last Nice big baby for you to cuddle. Hope yuo are feeling ok.

Elina is 2 weeks + 2 days now and she is thriving. I am noticing her growth- her tiny fingers and toes etc are filling out. She is a very good baby. Is awake a bit more during the day now and can get a bit unsettled. She seems to have already got the knack of how to get picked up!!! Cry!!! I cannot resist her.

She feeds really well and settles brilliantly most nights so we are blessed.The boys have been very good although it is draining when all 3 need you for something at the same time.

I still feel knackered. I think I will until the night feeds stop tbh. Thats just the way I am.

Hope you are all well. Sorry for not catching up properly. There are simply not enough hours in the day right now.

Cranial osteopath was fab. Emily was due a feed by the time we got in though so screamed through the whole appointment until I got her back in the waiting room and latched her on.... . She's zonked on the sofa now, so I guess it worked in the short term! The osteopath said as she had taken her first breath when she was still inside me (she was crying between the head and the rest of her coming out, she was a bit scrunched up. Her neck was also a bit cricked and she straightened that out a bit. She needs at least another two sessions, once a week, but hopes that there'll be some improvement after today.

Emily has a period of about an hour and a half around three where she's really awake, but other than that she sleeps at night from about 10 (on good nights) until the morning. She wakes for feeds about midnight, and three and then at 6ish. If DH gives her an expressed bottle about 10 I get a bit of sleep.

Talking of which, I'm off to pump....

Although I didn't want to do it, dd would not sleep anywhere but beside me in bed. She became calmer and it was easier all round than trying to make her sleep where she didn't want to. DH moved into the other room as she woke a lot. Day naps started in the chair and moved into the cot, firstly raised and then lowered. By 2 months a mix of cot and with me and by 3 months she was just sleeping in the cot.

I think she loved the contact and closeness of those cuddles and the move to the cot wasn't such a big deal.

Fraser is doing a mix of sleeping in the cot and with me. If I cant get the wind up, then he sleeps with me for the next 3 hours, slightly raised, with his head on my shoulder, tucked between my arm and body. He hates swaddling and is happily in a grobag which is good.

Personally, the last thing I am worrying about is loosing the weight. I haven't even really been on the scale.

Gosh I must be the worst with the weight, I've still got about 30 pounds to loose to be pre-pg (and I've already lost 22 pounds, I can't beleive I actually put that much on ). It seems to be dropping off fairly quick so far though, I guess everybody's different. Can't wait to hit the treadmill but the c-scar has other plans.
I wonder if I'll eve be able to catch up properly with everyone!

ermin! Yay! Glad arthur has finally appeared! Well done!

Naat and June - We've been co-sleeping with Alex mostly as it has just been simpler with feeding and getting him back to sleep. As he starts sleeping for longer then I will be stricter about getting him back in the basket. He usually sleeps firstly in the basket and then when he wakes for first nightfeed ends up in with us. I don't think it is a problem in the early days (or at all but obviously if you want your bed to yourself it is!) as everything is so all over the place. As sleeping patterns start to settle down (hopefully by 7/8 weeks) then I will put Alex in basket more and more and use calming techniques if he won't settle. Like bunny I used a bit of baby whisperer (when dd was a couple of months), I wanted to get dd into a bedtime, however unlike bunny I did not find the pat shh technique helpful! (Bunny you obviously have a very calm relaxed baba ). However I just adapted it and happily picked her up when cried and put her back... repeat... and it eventually worked.

RE weight gain/loss. I am about 4Ib over pre-pregnancy weight which I can't complain about! However I am eating like a horse, seriously, (I blame the breastfeeding) so I wouldn't be surprised if I gained weight! Still, now is not the time to worry about girls! Knackered and recovering from birth... this is time to rest and relax.

Alex is now a bit more wakeful at night, which is not great. Last night only woke up twice but was awake for longer and quite whingey. Sigh. However I have reminded myself that with dd everything got better after 6 weeks and so hopefully in less than 3 I'll begin to wake up! Soooo tired.

Adam also does the asleep anywhere but his cot thing. Although once he went down into his Amby last night? He was out until 4:30! He slept like 6 hours. Feel free to hate me.

He doesn't sneeze a lot...but he hiccups! And he usually also hates having his nappy changed.

naat, same problem here with calypso:
she will fall asleep everywhere and anywhere but wakes up the minute you put her in her basket.
I swore i would never co-sleep but after the early morning feed we're knackered and the only way Calypso will sleep is if she's put next to me in the bed. sometimes with a pacifier. probably setting oursleves up for hard habits to break here...

She also does not like being changed and screams as well, the screaming stops the second the nappy is back on.

Got my ABs and painkillers, it's a bit restrictive to have to keep the scar uncovered, clean and dry...i spent most of yesterday lying down holding my belly so the skin wouldnt touch the sscar. i really hope it clears up soon.

Another one here whose baby sneezes a lot

She is also hard to wake up, someone else mentionned that heir baby barely open their eyes the other day. We have to change her, put water on her face and body, stick her in front of the fan, you name it we've tried it... the other day we actually gave her a bath...
someone mentioned waiting their REM/light sleep when their eyes move a bit and they're stirring. that should help too.

right, time for the next feed

Hello ladies!

(This post has taken me since yesterday, so apologies for the old news )

Mrsmc, glad to hear Aaliyah's cold is much better. Oh, I completely understand what distance feels like sometimes, but well, one always has to think about one's family and wellbeing first, no matter how much one misses everyone. Glad Tia is chasing mice in cat heaven and not suffering here (((hug)))

Bunny, yeah, I felt exactly the same re. everyone's speech about how easy BF should be They should know and say that for some it's not that easy, that it can be hard work and that it needs perseverance and time, instead of making us feel all useless. Lovely pictures!!! at the apron idea! I'll copy it, as the other day a pillow and the duvet went down after a projectile poo

Ermin, yay!! Congratulations on the birth of baby Arthur!!! Oh, lady, 10lbs and no stitches!!! You're amazing Hope to see pics soon!

Worried, birthing vibes! birthing vibes! birthing vibes!!

June, hope the infection goes away soon with the help of those AB. It's been so so hot I can only imagine how hard it's been to keep the scar "fresh".

Daisy, at Fraser being such a calm and mellow baby! Mila screams bloody murder every time you try to change her nappy or her clothes She's a feisty little girl... and impatient! Glad to hear everything's going great

Laura, how's Sarah? The colic any better?

Ineed, yay! Today you have your cranial ost. appt!! Do tell us how it goes

Silk, hi! Mila sneezed the first five days almost all the time. MWs said it was normal, because of all the mucus they had to get rid of now... I had no idea.

Bigcar, Hi!!

Zozokat, hi!!

Hi to all the rest of the Juners!!!!

Right, Mila is being quite naughty... during the day she sleeps in her moses without a problem but at night she lasts about 10 mins only Please someone tell me some tips!!! She only sleeps either on top of DH or next to me and I KNOW that's not right (please don't hit me) I know she's only 16 days old but I'm beginning to worry Any advice, more than welcome.

Off to Leeds to register her in the police Yes, that's another nice little thing we have to do The joys!!

Have a lovely day everyone!!!

(((waves)))

Erm - congratulations and hello to Arthur - very @ no stitches

Worried- I'm sending you baby vibes

Lovely photos Bunny and MrsM.

I'm sensibly going to bed now and will do a catch up tomorrow

Last one!

Worried - thanks for the Bio Oil endorsement - am sitting here w a big glistening stomach and crossed fingers that it sorts me out! Hopefully not long for you now!

June - my stitches from the lady snip are infected and taking anti biotics, but was also encouraged to keep up w the paracetamol as a pain killer. Which is what they were giving me in hospital, along w an anti-inflammatory (can't remember the name). Hope that helps!

Ermin - congratulations on Arthur Joseph - 4.5 hours, you are efficient!! Hope you are both feeling OK - he is a little whopper! Great that you don't need stitches! Looking forward to seeing photos when you are able to post them

Laura - I bought a big red apron in case Delie projectile poos, so that we could change her nappy while protected. Perhaps if little Sarah turns out to be quite the flame thrower that would help? I can't believe how comfortable I have become w poo. Doesn't seem to bother you when its your baby, does it?

MrsMcJnr - love your description of your heritage! I just always "pictured" you as Scottish w the full accent. Am also a mixed bag, but then so are many Australians.

just a wee quick post as Sarah has had me busy today with projectile poo and sick...at least she is finding ways of getting the trapped wind out of her system lol

erm congratulations on the birth of Arthur Joseph, he took is time but sure he was worth the wait! Hope mum and baby are well xxx

Well done and congratulations Ermintrude fabulous!! can't wait to see photos

Bunnymother - I'm neither Scottish nor Spanish, I am a bit of both but am really just a mixed bag!

It's funny, I am really nervous about washing Aaliyah's girlie bits as I am so used to boy bits with DS, DH thinks that is odd as clearly I am a girl but somehow it's different!

june, hope the infection clears soon and that you can still take the painkillers!

Go ermin congratulations and welcome to not so little Arthur Hope to hear more soon!

MrsMcJnr, I don't think it's been far off that temperature here today, it definitely hit 30! Poor Edward was soaked and bright red in his car seat when I took dd3 to nursery at lunch time, had to make sure he got a good feed as soon as we got back, I was a little worried about dehydration. He seems a lot happier now it's cooled down a bit!

worried, we're all still here no reason to feel lonely

thank you for answering my bath questions too tee and ineed !!

x-post - congratulations ermin!! fab name too x

woohoo ermin!!! Congrats!!! woohoo for avoiding your induction, and woohoo for 10lb baby with no stitches !!!

(feeling kinda lonely now!!!)

worried I waited for two weeks to bath DD, but I bathed DS as soon as the cord dropped off (about 3-5 days after birth, I think). DD was nearly term so she was clean as a whistle when she came out, whereas DS was covered in gunk as he was 3 weeks early. I was desperate to wash it all off.

WRT his willy, you just wash it in the bath like the rest of him. Don't pull back the foreskin at all, you should never do this. I find it easier to keep him clean than DD who seems to have so many folds and creases to get poo stuck in!

Just use water to wash them to start with (tho I put a dash of infacare bath stuff in to smell nice - but we have no history of eczema in our family so it isn't a problem) and I bought one of those little soft sponges to wash her with.

DS has a bath everyday and has done since he was a couple of months old as it's part of his night time routine. Before that it was a few times a week. He was bottle fed and was quite sicky so it was nice to wash behind his ears and neck which was quite 'cheesy' from milky sick (yuck!!). DD is much less of a puker so not so much of a problem.

Don't worry about asking questions. I knew absolutely NOTHING before I had DS and had to learn everything. I was constantly ringing my friend with seemingly random questions. Also, another bit of advice, pick a couple of people that you are going to get advice from and just stick to them. If you ask questions to everyone you'll hear so much conflicting advice it'll make your head spin exorcist-style!! xx

Arthur Joseph was born at home at 8.29 this morning after a brutal but effective 4.5 hr labour, weighing in at 10lb precisely and completely gorgous. No stitches!

ABOUT BLOOMIN' TIME!

No time to catch up with you ladies; will try tomorrow - the boy is built like a rugby player with an appetite to match.

Mooooooo xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

worried Adam had his first two baths at 1 week 1 day and 1 week 2 days old while in SCBU. Since then he's being getting a bath every second or third day. If he pukes up a lot on himself (and on me ) then I just wipe him down with a warm cloth.

As for penis washing...just wash over it, between it and his scrotum and under his scrotum. Do not pull his foreskin back when he is a baby. It will detach when he is a toddler and then you can do so.

I use a little bit of Simple Baby Wash in his bath water. Not even enough to foam up, just enough to make me feel like he's getting clean!!!

And ask all the questions you want! That's why we're here!!

bunnymother I think bio-oil is great, I have put it on my belly from day one because of my scar, and I was really worried about it stretching. It has helped to make the scar really elastic so that I don't have any stretch marks around it, which is pretty impressive considering it is scar tissue and I assumed it wouldn't be very elastic! It has also made my scar nearly disappear!! You can only see it now by the way it pulls my belly in slightly, and obviously it is a bit raised too... but colourwise it is the same as the rest of my skin (which is casper-esq white... not the healthiest looking skin!!).

mrsmcjnr- you do very impressive catch-ups, you are obviously far more practised at this than I am!! I just can't remember more than 2-3 posts back and spend the whole time flicking through!! As this page only has about 4-5 posts on it, I am rather limited with how much I can catch up!!

Hoping the lack of ermin today means things have moved along for her!!

I am so bored at the moment... If I have to see one more interview with David Gest or Uri Geller, I think I will scream!! Have rearranged the baby's wardrobe a million times, have washed and ironed all his cute little outfits, and went to Mothercare today to buy some more hangers, as it is rather scary how many clothes this little unborn baby has!! And my sister has had to tell my mum to stop buying clothes for the baby now, as apparently she has bought loads (although I haven't seen any yet as she won't let me!!). I'm still getting quite a few bh, and quite a lot of pressure down below, but that has been the same for about a week now, so I am not getting my hopes up that it actually means anything!!

I do have a couple of little questions for you new mummies though if anyone could help me out...
How long was it before you gave your baby their first bath??
For you ladies with little boys- how do you go about washing their little willy?! Do you just wash over it, or do you need to pull the skin back (I know this may sound like a weird question, but it is something neither me nor DP have any experience of, if you get me!! )
Do you wash them with soap or just warm water to start with??
How often do you bath them??

I was wondering all this in the shower today, and just made me think how much I do not know!! I don't want to be constantly asking people stupid questions!!

BTW, isn't this just London for you? got the pram out, headed down the street, Delie starts yelling for food. Whip out formula in bottle that I packed just in case and feed her. It rains on me, so before I am even out of the street have to turn back . Deep breaths!

OK, Delie is asleep thanks to the Baby Whisperer's shh pat technique. Poor little mite, Mummy wasn't being strict enough on the naps and I think she was getting over tired.

Who asked about getting back into pre-pregnancy clothes and weight? I don't have scales, but the mirror tells me I am nowhere near my pre-pregnancy weight. Prob not surprising as I put on 20kgs . I am still wearing maternity jeans, under the bump, and can't wear my normal tops due to over inflated norks. I am wearing a new dress today and am up a dress size, but the buttons over my bazooms keep opening up. Not the look I was hoping for!! I will have to get some serious exercise in to get back to where I was. Which wasn't even that impressive to begin with!

Still, think we should all be v proud of our bodies - they are more than decorative, they are miraculous machines producing these amazing babies! I have so much respect for my bod now. Am dismayed at the stretch marks, but have Bio Oil in the hope they fade pronto.

MrsMcJnr - are you Spanish or Scottish? You are very brown!! Aaliyah looks adorable!

Ermin - hope the waiting isn't bothering you too much!

June - am also about your church's antiquated ideas on mother's staying away. LOL at the idea of "scarlet woman" sitting at the front breast feeding - priceless!

Right, off to try and do at least 1 non-baby thing today while darling DElie sleeps.

June – feeling like you have been hit by a truck is a very good explanation of how I felt after I had DS and that was a natural birth with only a second degree tear so I can only imagine how much worse you feel that said, I don’t feel like that at all this time round I don’t feel any of the weakness in my joints and muscles that I felt last time. I am back in pre-mat clothes but then again I was still breastfeeding DS when I last wore these clothes last August and I wasn’t exactly my slimmest I do find a breast feeding wardrobe a challenge in this heat I have to admit, all the wrap around breastfeeding tops are just too hot and my hooters are way to big for the spaghetti strapped ones. My tummy is still sticking out quite a bit but I haven’t started any exercise yet funny reaction from the church, you would think it would be up to you whether or not you were ready to go sounds like you and your DH are besotted with your little one loved your “the moment I found out” story I had only stopped bfeeding DS 3 weeks before but I had an inkling so did a test and was over the moon when it was positive, we had been trying a long time for DS and had hoped that a second one would be easier. I broke the news to DH over a G&T (just a T for me) he could hardly believe it as we’d only just started trying and after comments like “are you sure?” “is it mine?” he started boasting about his “magic bullet” sorry to hear about the infection

Anyone recommend the best way to tone your tummy up??

Naat – Aaliyah’s cold is much better thanks she is only snuffling and coughing a bit at night now, it’s a relief. DH went back to work today. We did manage to have a chat, he said he had been thinking about moving back to Scotland a lot, I managed not to show my horror but pointed out all the reasons why he is thinking that with rose tinted specs, it seems to have done the trick for now. I know it can’t be easy for him living away from his family and friends in a foreign country.

Ineedmore – hope tomorrow goes really well and helps Emily I weigh less than I did pre-pg but I am still 2 stone heavier than I should be

Bigcar – I hear you on sweaty babies, poor Aaliyah has soaking wet hair after a feed!

Worried – welcome back to the internet I was given an induction date and the baby came the day after I was given it, I hope the same thing happens for you we are averaging 33c here in Spain at the mo which drops to about 24c by 4am, Aaliyah is wearing cotton dresses during the day and a short sleeved and legged vest at night. LOL at your announcement to DH I tried to make this one more dignified as last time round he got the stick in his face at 4am insomnia seems to be my first pg sign!

Ermintrude – DH thinks I am making it up when I tell him that he’ll need to settle Aaliyah when she is over stimulated as she can smell milk on me but I think there is a lot of truth in it! Hope you don’t have much longer to wait

Zozo – Day 1 without DH hasn’t been that bad but then again I hosted a play date for DS here this morning with 2 Mummies too so I wasn’t alone and my Mum has taken DS back to her house this afternoon for a couple of hours so I can rest DH is playing football tonight so I have to do the bath/bed routine alone, which should be fine if Aaliyah doesn’t choose that time for a feed might have to go and wake her to make sure that that is not the case!

Silk – I read something about sneezing in newborns being down to excess amniotic fluid in their lungs but I don’t know how long that is valid for!

Hey Daisy I know what you mean about the clothes, I moved Aaliyah to her 0-3 (pink clothes) from the newborn (just white ones) last week. Lovely to hear that you and DD are so besotted with your little man. Your DH does sound like a born worrier! Mine is being very anti any more children though why he is even thinking about it when we have such a tiny and new precious bundle I don’t know. I am trying not to mention it but I still feel so strongly that I want more..!

Gorgeous photos Bunnymother I’ve posted a new one of my pink princess! Thank you for your kind words about my cat, she is chasing those mice up there I hope

Hello Tee, hello Laura

Ladies!!

Quick one from me - spent most of the day feeding/holding Delie and now she is asleep. Aout to bundle her in the pram and head out for the day - have cabin fever!!

Have turned into a lurker, instead of a poster ! Put pics up on my profile of DH, Delie and me. Guess who takes after her dad??

Silk - my heart goes out to you and your broken nips - terrible! I wish that there was some honesty re bf. It bloody hurts for many many women, so v at all the tripe we are fed re "shouldn't be more than uncomfortable". Right, well for many of us Juners it plain hurts and if we were told that, along w some coping mechanisms ie nipple shields etc, then we would be less confused about the whole thing. Sorry, but this has really got my goat!! But back to you, you poor possum, hope the nips are healing!

Am on nipple shields then topping up w formula. V refreshing not to wince when your darling child looks hungry

MrsMcJnr - hope your kitty kat is chasing mice in cat heaven by now...

Naat - really glad to hear your birthing centre was so v supportive - wonderful!

Thrilled to see all these delicious Juner babies - aren't we wondeful women for creating such fab bundles? All of our babies are so beautiful!

Delie now crying for more food - she will end up a sumo at this rate!! Will keep reading and posting when I can, but am thinking of you all and sending v unMN hugs!

Just seen the midwife and she reckons my c-section is is infected I'm not surprised considering how hot it is, it gets sweaty down that area!
Gotta go to the doctors to get antibiotics now, I wonder if I still have to take the painkillers then.

Hello ladies,

Just a quick hello. I have popped on quickly to try and catch up but it is too much and have only been able to skim through. Lovely to hear of all the new babies mila cordelia edward evie calypso eleri sarah charlotte elina & ishbel oh and wombatbaby too. Congratulations.

Fraser is two weeks today and so long that some of his 0-3 months clothes are neatly fitting now!!!!

He is a beautiful peaceful little chap with a lovely content look about him. I've completely fallen in love and get the butterflies in my tummy. He has a few little gripes, he is a little windy, has had nappy rash the whole week, poor dear, and does latte poos....but otherwise sleeps well, feeds well and my 3 yr old who was always completely unimpressed with the idea of a brother, adores him too, and races upstairs every time he cries to check what is wrong with little 'fraise' (my strawberry).

I have until Thursday to get my final photography assignment in (got an extension) but after that shall come back and catch up on everyone's news and post my birth story.

june - I do love the name Calypso. I always loved the song and was so impressed with Jacques Cousteau. I even went to see him talk in Paris with his son 24 years ago. What a lovely choice of name.

mrsmcjnr - is hubby becoming a little less detached? Mine is now panicking about his age and when he will get to retire. I think he was born to worry. Maybe he could enjoy the first few weeks before getting into full panic mode!!!!

littlesarah - congrats on first. I hope nights are improving. my dd didn't allow me much sleep and so know how crazy it can feel.

laura sorry to hear birth wasn't so great. I hope all is healing well.

sorry - i will have to catch up properly later this week.

bye.

It's very quiet this morning, ermin and worried haven't checked in........ hope this is it ladies

silk thanks for the suggestion about elevated head, at hospital the mws would raise the end of the crib she was in, but didn;t help any.

WRT pre-pregnancy weight, not sure if it is because i had a section but I only have 5lbs to lose before i am back to my pre=preg weight of 13 1/2stone but i am hoping to lose much more than that over the next couple of months

evening all

can't remember who has got babies with wind problems but a suggestion we had with dd1 was to slightly elevate the head end of her moses basket (we put a thin blanket doubled up under the mattress). It helped her enormously at night to lie in this position (and the mws approved) I can't for the life of me remember the reasoning behind this method though.

Fingers crossed for Worried and Erm

Do you think it possible for my new baby to have hayfever? She and dh have sneezed absolutely loads today.

I have 22lbs left to get back to prepg weight. I'm ashamed to admit that a stone has already gone within a day of giving birth (yes I did really put on that much)

Hi everyone, quick update from me as i have a moment (while Leo sleeps on my lap hope this won't develop any bad habits

Congrats looouise and welcome to baby Ishbel!! hope breastfeeding is improving for you!! And big congrats to Lauraloo, it sounds like you had a marathon labour as well as well as a crap time -- hope early days with Sarah are going well

Thanks littlesarah and worriedamy for breastfeeding advice -- worriedamy, I think your midwife might have been right about short feeds and the latch or position -- I had been told to flick his ear or blow on him to keep him awake while feeding but when i stopped doing this (a little experiment) he actually stayed on 15 or 20 mins instead of 5 or 10! obviously i was just bugging him!!

Sympathising with all you ladies having breastfeeding problems -- Leo and i put in LOTS of tiring practice and i hope that one day it will (as a friend of mine said) suddenly 'get easy'

Tee glad you asked about bleeding -- god 6 weeks seems like a long time, must be prepared for that!

MrsMcJnr i'm also worried about dh leaving to get back to work next week -- he has been sooo supportive while i've been like a rag doll and getting back into shape -- but i only have 1 baby to deal with ;)

Oh oh Leo acting up -- big positive labour vibes to worriedamy and ermintrude!! bye for now!

Thanks tee- so I am looking at 7 more days of being pregnant at the most then!!

Fingers crossed your LO arrives before Wed/ Thurs then ermin; it sounds promising!! I can't think of anything more to do to make this baby arrive, just gonna give up now. I must look pretty fed up with being pregnant though- me and dp went in to Holland and Barrett yesterday, and the woman actually approached us and said 'are you looking for raspberry leaf tea?'. Ha!

june- your discovery that you were pregnant sounds a lot more romantic than mine! I didnt even think I was pregnant as I had taken a test a few days before, but I didn't really know whether I was late or not as it was my first month off the pill and I was a bit all over the place. I just did a quick test before I was about to leave for work and when it said 'pregnant' I didn't know what to do/ think!! I sat on the edge of the bed for a bit and tried to think of a nice way to tell dp so it was all special etc etc, but managed to sit on the bed for about 30 seconds before I got up and ran to him waving the stick around . Then we decided we would wait for 12 weeks before telling anyone, but I think we had managed to tell everyone possible within about a week!! -not very good at keeping exciting things quiet... I am a nightmare at Christmas!!

Wow can't beleive it's the end of June already... that month has been THE important month of the year since we found out we were expecting back in September...

How did you guys find out? You probably already discussed it in the first thread, I didn't join until at least the second one.
I took a pregnancy test just before a flight to cyprus where we were going on holiday. Couldn't work out wether it was positive or not so took some tests with me and we found out for sure at the top of a mountain in a hotel with no internet, even though we'd been trying I wasn't sure wether I was so high up in altitude, what I was supposed to eat or not etc etc. I also got "morning sickness" all that week and it was hard to hide it from all our relatives (we were all there for a wedding).

Did any of you apply for the benefits (or whatever they're called) for the baby yet?

oops baby calling, speak to you soon!

Naat I loved my birth centre (in Edgeware). We phoned them 3 days after the birth when all hell with milk madness and baby blues broke loose and basically all we were saying is - Umm, our baby's crying! Because she hadn't really before. They didn't laugh DH off the phone but suggested he take DD away from my smell and I have a hot bath, which worked a treat for both of us, even though I wept and leaked milk for the whole time .

bigcar poor you with the tubigrip in this weather .

Worriedamy if it's really hot weather then just a little cotton bodysuit or vest with nappy is fine - provided baby is indoors or in the shade. And b/f babies only need milk - no bottles of water required which might put them off their feeding stride - because milk adjusts to give them the right amount of liquid.

I can prob hold induction off til Weds or even Thurs if I go in for monitoring like you did today. Still getting cramps and a bit of show so really hoping I won't need to. I'm going for a nice lavender aromatherapy bath now

Hi to everyone else xx

worried around here at least, they will do inductions on the weekend if necessary, so imagine they will do yours on Sunday if necessary.

Hi everyone... woohoo, I have the internet back! Using my phone to update is so so annoying!!

bigcar I was wondering what the baby would wear in this weather with it being so hot... it just doesn't cool down in this house and I am worried that the baby will get too hot (when he decides to show his face!!). Even if the baby gets super sweaty, do you still keep a vest on him? I just don't know what to do with things like this!!

Was at the hospital last night... I was having sharp shooting pains all on the right hand side of my stomach that had got gradually worse throughout the day, so I rang up the ward just to speak to someone and see what they thought they were. The midwife told me to come in to get checked out, so we went in. Turns out its just the muscles tearing around some old scar tissue I have after abdominal surgery from about 15 years ago... was a relief! I have a scar which runs about 5/6 inches along side my belly button, which hasn't caused me any problems up to now apart from the odd bit of tenderness, so I suppose it was only a matter of time before it got over stretched!! We went on the baby monitor thing for 20 mins, and that all seemed to be fine, and they took my blood pressure which was 102/51, which I thought was a bit on the low side, but the midwife said it was fine. Anyways, after getting checked out, was sent away with some painkillers, and the midwife said on our way out 'hope to see you in the next few weeks then...'. Errr, no! Not a few weeks!! Noooooo!! Go to the hospital on Wednesday, when they will give me a date for an induction One half of me will be glad when the whole pregnancy thing is over, but the other half of me doesn't want the induction because I really had my heart set on a water birth.

Anyways, I was wondering... the midwife said that they will probably give me the 5th as my date for induction, as on Wednesday I will be 40+10, and on the 5th I will be 40+14. But that is a Sunday; would this matter? Or would they be more likely to do it on the Monday (the 6th). Either way, I have a week to get this baby out before then!!!!

How you doing ermin?? Glad things are moving for you! How long do you reckon you can hold off the induction??

I have a feeling that it won't be long til I am the only one left waiting for my baby, and I also have a feeling that he wont be a June baby so I will feel a bit guilty keeping all you new mummies with your June babies on this thread!! So someone make sure that you post a link to the new thread in postnatal, and I will just pop in there and be an imposter!!

afternoon all

ermin, oooh, hopefully not long now!!! Hope for baby news soon Tut, tut, you'll never make the front row in church with comments like that

worried, must be a relief to be back on line hopefully not long left for you either!

naat, lovely photos, again I'm very of all Mila's hair, it's lovely

laura, your Sarah is lovely too Be kind to yourself and DON'T overdo it, it will make your recovery longer.

ineed, haven't been near the scales yet! I can confidently say I'm back in pre pregnancy clothes BUT they are my really stretchy jogging bottoms so don't really think that counts! Haven't tried anything else as I'm sticking to loose clothing until my scar's healed a bit more.

The weather here is lovely and sunny! The kids are all out in the garden playing in the paddling pool with dh, guess who's being the biggest kid?! Myself and Edward are staying indoors for now in a bid to keep dry and a little cooler Poor Edward is getting so hot during his feeds, he's only got a vest on but he's getting all sweaty under his eyes and on his top lip. Doesn't help that I still have to wear the tubigrip, really not the right weather for it!

Hope you're all having a good weekend, waves to all

Posting and running... Laura, Emily has colic too, and we DID use Gripe Water as she is 3 and a half weeks and you can use it after a month. We only use it when she's really bad and it really settles her and allows her to sleep. It often gets the burp out too (though not often). We're off to the cranial osteopath on Tues as this really helped DS's colic.

I'm also struggling to find things to wear. I've got 22 pounds to lose before I'm pre-pregnancy weight........

Hi Juners!

Sooooooooooo sorry I'm not catching up properly!!!

Ermin, yay on having such a lovely MW with you and that BP and baby are doing fine! Hope it all happens soon and we have another June baby!!

June at your church... I had never heard about that. We just came back from church today, first time for Mila as well. Awwwww at you and your DH staring at Calypso and crying! You're so sweet!

Loouise, I have no idea if I already said this, but lovely birth story! Hope we see pics of Ishbel soon When's the baby's father coming to see her?

Tee, glad you had a nice time out yesterday with DH and Adam

Mrsmc, yes, we felt incredibly supported by the BC on Thurs after the bad week with the MW. Thanks for your nice words about Mila How's Aaliyah and her cold? Hope it's cleared by now. How's your DH? Did you get to have a little chat? Hope things are well ((((hug))))

Laura, so sorry to hear about Sarah's trapped wind. Mila was the same the first 4 days, then we started with Infacol and she's soooo much better now, she has had virtually no pain since then. HOpe it works for her as well, I know how upsetting it is to hear them cry so badly with pain (((hug)))

Sorry, Mila needs feeding now, I'll post later again!!

(((waves)))

laura
re: breasts going big and bottle feeding: same here though my boobs haven't got that big so its not actually causing a problem.

I had staples as well, they took them out pretty quick though, they were put in on thursday evening and taken out on Tuesday afternoon.
GP said the outside takes 2 weeks to heal properly but inside takes 6 weeks so really be careful and don't so too much, don't lift anything heavier than the baby.

I've got some nice paracetamol with codeine tablets to deal with the pain so they haven't hurt but I really haven't gone too far or done much at all.
The nct host warned us that when you think you're fine and can go out again: wait another week.

I do feel like I've been hit by a truck still. I don't know if it's the night feeds/ new baby that are doing it or the operation/tablets.

We have been out a couple of times for lunch which was really nice but our fave restaurant is at the end of a long road with lots and lots of speed bumps so I'm in two minds about going there.
Well that and I still look about 5 months pregnant and got nothing decent to wear (that would hide my floppy belly), is anyone back in their normal/pre-pregnancy clothes already?

Dh has taken the baby out for a little walk or a car trip to a local shop almost everyday which is nice.

DH is totally engrossed and we keep looking at her and crying, I hope we're not both heading for post natal depression, we're absolutely fine most of the time. It is normal to cry when you look at your new baby and how wonderful they are and how much you love them isn't it?

Re: the church, yeah it'll be something along those lines, I didn't ask in details. They said I could go and stay in the car . I'm staying in though.

Argh, really can't do too much in one go, gotta go lie down I think.

take care evreyone!

Maybe it's to do with the hormones too that traditionally women stayed out of circulation for 6 weeks after a baby was born? I was brought up in Hong Kong and Chinese women don't go out for the first month and I don't think they traditionally washed their hair during that time either but I don't know the reasons behind that. It has been much easier being out than staying in I have found this time round.

All sounding good for you Ermintrude I must have been dilating for a long time before contracting this time given the way my labour went - sending you lots of positive labour vibes

erm good to hear your starting to dilate here's hoping contractions start soon. PMSL at thought of someone breastfeeding in front row of church could just imagine what my priest face would be like if that were to happen in his church lol

Another sweep and monitoring at the hospital this morning and all looking good - cx dilating, bit of a show. Just no bloomin' contractions. Lovely MW gave me aromatherapy oil (lavender) and lots of encouragement about being able to hold off induction, since me and baby have been so thoroughly checked and all is well.

June - is that a christian church? Like Tee suggests, I wonder if it's the old thing about newly-delivered women being unclean and not appropriate for 'churching' until a certain time had passed (to represent the lochia). Strange tradition to keep up... I'd be tempted to turn up in something bright red and b/f on the front row .

Morning all.

Adam's first excursion was fine. Mummy had a major meltdown during making dinner, though. My mum just sent me to lie down for a bit. Hormones are fun!!

laura sorry to hear about the hurting staples. I guess I got lucky as all my sutures are self dissolving!

june I wonder if this not going to church thing is a continuation of the old 'confinement' idea? God forbid you go to church with a baby because GASP that means you had sex?

louise great birth story. And congrats!

erm*...*worried...ANYTHING?!?!?!?

morning everyone sorry not been posting it has been hard since i came home...Sarah sleeps well during the day but the past 2 nights all she has done is cry. She holds in all her wind which just builds up over the day and causes her so much pain at night time i feel so helpless at times and have had a couple of hormonal cries which worries DH. I am trying infacol before feeds now which does seem to be helping, but can anyone recommend anything else i can try...MW says I cannot use gripewater.

A big Hello to all my fellow juners and hope that erm and worriedamy will have your LO's soon...cannot remember who else is left

tee hope you had a good day out with Adam I went for a walk in town yesterday with Sarah for 10 mins and that was just enough as staples began to hurt

june hope while Calypso is at Church you decide to have a rest...do what I do and let DH do the tidying up

mrsmcjnr Hope the feeding eases down a bit and that your masitis doesn't get worse x

louise thanks for sharing your lovely birth story...I'm too scared to fully go into detail about mine as worried it will bring back every memory of pain which will only stress me out and upset me again.

A big hello to everyone else, will try and keep up i promise and not long till we start our post-natal thread....at last

mmm,tried posting from my phone earlier but i see it didn't work. (probably didn't press send or somehting stupid!)

erm, I hope things happen for you before induction. I did wonder what would happen if I just didn't turn up for it ;)

louise, what a lovely birth story and a lovely choice of name! Do you know when you are planning on coming back down south? It'll be nice having family round to help out for the first few weeks. We've had just the right amount of people visit and help out. Even sil has been helpful.

Calypso is going to church tomorrow, for some weird reason the mother is not supposed to go, (supposed ot be "resting" at home). boohoo. I guess I could catch up on some sleep or some work.

sorry cant catch up anymore than that, I swear your brain capacity physically reduced with pregnancy (either that or the lack of sleep...)

All I've done since I last posted is feed the buba, exhausting! Also think I am getting a touch of masitis, damn it

Ermintrude - hope your baby is here soon hon

Worried - LOL when I was overdue with DS, I went beserk everytime I heard that someone famous had had their baby ahead of me hope it won't be long for you either.

oh ermin! It looks like you will be leaving me very soon! And even bloody maria off corrie looks like she is going to have her baby before me... Bitch!! sorry for the lack of catch up with everyone else, I hope to be back on the net tomoz as now have computer back! But thank you all so much for your good wishes, they are very much appreciated! Hope to be able to catch up properly tomorrow xxx

Good to hear from you MrsMc and I think there are no magic answers about dealing with two LOs except grit your teeth and allow yourself a large glass of something at 6 every day. That's how my sis got thru it with her 16-months apart girls, who are now2 and 4, best friends, and much much easier to look after.

Looouise lovely birth story, sounds like they got the epidural level just right for you and that's a nice short second stage for a newbie! I'm also curious about babyfather's response - when will he come to see babe?

silk hand expressing makes more sense because there's no suction on the nipple so less sore. Good luck!

Tee I bled for about 6 weeks all in all though at the end it wasn't much to bother about. Are there differences between CS and vaginal births in terms of bleeding, I wonder?

My MW thought my BP was still too high so DH and I spent 4 hrs in the hospital, having my BP checked over time, bloods taken, baby heart rate monitored etc. All completely clear, but the registrar (who didn't even see me) still wanted to induce me tomorrow purely on the grounds of maternal age. Cheeky moo. Lovely MW got her to compromise so I've just got to go in tomorrow for monitoring of my BP and baby's heart rate, and then she did me a very violent sweep and sent us home with strict instructions to have sex.

So hope something will start soon! How are you worriedamy?

Waves to everyone else xx

Think I’ll only catch up by reading backwards (reminds me of reading Mansfield Park – backwards was the only way I could read that damn book!)

Zozo – congratulations on the birth of Leo lovely name! sorry to hear about your complications though.

Looouise – welcome to the world Ishbel and many congratulations to you so glad that you had a good experience after all the initial pain, hope the stitches have stopped giving you gip no. I can recommend lavender oil on your towels, seems to have helped me both times. What is the Babyfather saying?

Laura – many, many congratulations on the safe arrival of beautiful Sarah I am so sorry you went through the mill though it’s really not fair make sure you do have that very well deserved bubbly lady I take it that Sarah is clear of the Group B Strep? I was very lucky, all Aaliyah’s tests came back negative but I do think that the antibiotics that she had after her birth have knocked her immune system out as she has a cold and cough and a sticky eye but I know those are very minor compared to what could have been.

Doris – great tips for sore nips it’s a pain like n other isn’t it? I’m with you on dummies, hated them pre DS1 but begged him to take one when he was in agony with colic and the dummies are still with us at 17 months! Hey ho, sure he’ll ditch them one day well done with stretching Annabelle’s feeds out, thankfully I am getting a bit more sleep now as Aaliyah seems to go from midnight to 3.30am but then it all goes to pot again after that! It is progress all the same.

Silk – poor, poor you with the nips, I can sympathise and empathise! It certainly doesn’t help when the HPs look horrified though does it? I remember with DS the MW looked at the damage, her eyes filled with tears and she told me I was a “bloody minded fool” to preserve through that pain I still have to hurt myself elsewhere when I latch Aaliyah on so that I don’t hold her too tight due to the pain but it is not as bad as it was with DS Have you bought yourself a Breast Nurse? Well worth it for symptoms of mastitis and for engorgement. So angry with that MW that said, I didn’t get much help from any of the so called experts with DS either. It does help drain the sore areas if you move the baby into different positions to feed although that does feel awkward, we all have a position we prefer to feed in I think, I for one could never take to the rugby hold. Hope your plan works, good to have a plan me thinks My DS is rather over zealous with his rocking of the Moses basket!

Littlesarah – I know what you mean about being used as a dummy, that was how I was with DS. As for tips to get babies to sleep longer at night, I was reading in “What to expect in the First Year” that their periods of REM are much shorter than ours and that is why they wake up a lot and that we need to resist tending to them unless they are actually crying rather than making noises. I have found that both babies have slept better if bathed first and wrapped up tightly.

Tee – so glad to hear Adam is doing so well and sleeping considerately it must be fabulous to have him home with you. How are you feeling? My DS drinks Cow & Gate by the way and won’t give it up for fresh milk I think I bled for 6 weeks on and off after DS’s birth, this time I keep thinking it is coming to an end and take a risk and then it comes back it’s so hot now I really can’t wait to ditch the towels.

Bigcar – I decided to be quicker off the mark this time with entertainment and Aaliyah seems to love being on the baby mat and looking at black and white shapes etc. I got DH to build up the Rainforest swing I had for DS (he hated it) as I think she might like it better than he did. I have sung to her but to a mixed response tried tummy time but it wasn’t a hit, too young! How is your pelvis feeling now? More stable?

Hello Effie – great to hear that things are settling down with Rupert great weight gain too.

June – sorry to hear that you are still reeling from the birth experience talk to us and let’s exorcise it together. LOL at Calpyso and the screw, I guess it is the high contrast that she likes. I was delighted when the cord fell off; I am a bit squeamish about them

Naat – LOVE your photos how adorable is Mila? And how besotted with her is her Daddy? Lovely feeding standing? Wow, hat off to you girl!! That was wonderful support from the BC wasn’t it?

Ermintrude & Amy – thinking of you! I had a friend round yesterday who is due next week, we were sort of in awe of each other, me thinking “was I that big?” and her thinking “has she really done the labour thing?” it was really funny

Llynnnn – what a star you are typing and feeding I just can’t do it but then again, I sit on the birth ball at the PC so maybe I am expecting too much from myself! I have to admit that I have looked in Aaliyah’s mouth for teeth too!

Ineedmore – poor you (and Emily ) my DS was exactly the same, I got through so much infacol. Hope the cranial osteopath makes a huge difference.

Hello Choccie

Ahhhh, duty calls – that’s all for now folks!

oh I'd love a swim dh has been twice last week.

No idea how to cope with two I'm afraid (also struggling here) Can't turn my back for a second if Meggie can reach Eleri then it's a problem - she clonked her on the head with her baby doll this morning - I like to think it was accidental but can't be sure

Hey ladies both kids are sleeping and DH is having a swim so I wonder if I will finally get a chance to catch up?! It has become so hard recently to find the time. DH goes back to work on Monday, how I am going to do it all single handedly? Why do they both seem to need me at exactly the same time? Any tips gratefully received

Hope everyone is doing really well I can’t wait to see whose babies have arrived now

Loooouise yr lovely birth story made me go all soppy over you waking up to her tiny face. We are hormonal mummies/ladies in waiting you know - can't cope with nice images like that Had to have a @ what you said to the sarky mw.

You had to have a girl - they're taking over the June thread

I've got 5 minutes peace and quiet. Dd1 is having a v long nap (after night time shenanigans) dd2 is having a wiggle on the bed in front of me (seems pretty content for a moment at least) Dh has taken dsd into town for a bit of one on one time (she's having a rough time at home at the moment)

mw was fab this morning - not one I've met before. She thinks my plan is fine but suggested hand expressing rather than pumping until nipple heals. given me a number for a specialist bf mw who works on post natal at the hospital (I could go in and see her). She did , however, draw a sharp intake of breath when I showed her the damage. I was hoping/expecting her to say she'd seen it all before but she said it was the worst she'd witnessed also said it may take a long time to get better.

v quiet round here - hope our two stragglers are having babies/or enjoying the sunshine

Hello everybody! I'm glad my lovely friend AitchTwoOh kept you informed on Ishbel's arrival. I swear it was the greatest surprise of my life...I was so, so sure I was having a boy.

Here's my birth story, will catch up on your news later, just wanted to send love to Ermintrude and Worried

I started contracting around 5pm on Wednesday after being administered a single pessary to ripen my cervix at 3pm, as I was 10 days overdue. Contractions came every 90 secs, which was excruciating, so I was gutted to be told at 9pm that I'd barely dilated at all. A sarky midwife told me I probably had a low pain threshold and gave me some pethidine. At 12am I summmoned her back and told her a) under no circumstances was I am wimp and b) I could not cope any more with this level of pain and the pethidine had done fuck all.

She reexamined me and then pronounced me as 3cm dilated, at which point I demanded an epidural. An absolutely drop dead gorgeous anaethetist came in and told me he was going to take all my pain away. He did, and it was glorious. I then dozed in the delivery suite with Mum until 5am, when I was pronounced fully dilated. Now fairly sheepish midwife advised me to rest, during which time epidural wore off ever so slightly, allowing me to identify contractions when they occurred, which was brilliant. I was therefore able to push at demand and delivered darling Ishbel after just 15 mins, with my mum holding one leg and midwife the other and it felt utterly exhilerating. (Didn't get away quite scott free though girls, second degree tear and v v v v v v sore stitches).

Hearing my mum tell me she was a girl was the biggest surprise of my life, as I was utterly convinced she was a boy. She didn't cry and eyeballed me solomnly before slowly taking in the room. She then stayed awake for 24 hours, latching well on the breast. At 6am Friday, having been awake since 6am Wednesday, I put her in bed with me. Waking up to her tiny face two hours later was the happiest moment of my life to date. I am utterly besotted and feel I have known for forever.

Feeding is proving difficult now though....she's gone 8 hours without a drop a few time, which is agonising. MW just showed me another box of tricks to kept her interested - she latches fine, but only when she can be bothered! And my god, now I finally understand what you were all talking about when you were suffering painful nipples and I was still in the departure lounge! Argh.

Anyway, going to catch up now, sending you all babylove from me and Ishbel xxx

TMI ALERT!!

Anyone know how long I'll bleed for? Its been 2.5 weeksish and its getting old really fast!!

Lauraloo, she's a little cutie. And Naat, so is your baby girl - and your DH isn't bad either . Lovely photos!

Silk I really hope you get some relief this weekend and some good advice very soon. Hope DD1 might have a nap in the day too.

Ineed Oh dear, another tired mummy. My DD got colic in the first few weeks and someone had just recommended cranial osteopath when it stopped by itself. Hope it works a treat for little Emily.

Waiting for MW to come and take my BP and test urine. Oh yes, and waiting for baby to come out

Shite shite shite night last night. Too tired to catch up now. Emily has colic so screams for 6 hours every evening (Poor DH bears the brunt of this as it's his 'shift' 'til midnight). She finally exhausted herself at 2.30 when I got a couple of hours and then she was awake again. Gripe water seems to help a bit, but she still hordes the burps. You can hear all the air in her tummy, but despite winding for hours on end (up to three!) you just can't get her to burp. So she has Infacol before the feed and then Gripe Water afterwards which seems to work better than not using anything at all.

Got cranial osteopath appointment on Tues. It worked wonders for DS with the same thing so we're hoping for the same miracle.

Sorry to hear about shredded nips and crappy madwives and the like.

xx

Absolutely love all these pictures of beautiful babies

Feeding update - have temporarily switched to some formula feeds. Two reasons - Eleri hadn't pooed from Thursday morning adn whilst she had a touch of jaundice develop a few days ago by yesterday evening the whites of her eyes had gone yellow and she was really sleepy.

My plan is to formula feed this weekend. Keeping expressing lightly to try and keep milk production up without further damaging my nipples (and hopefully preventing mastitis) also giving them time to heal.

Tuesday morning I will go to the local breastfeeding suport group for some real life help. Chatted to a mum at Megan's nursery who has been going since her 2nd was born 6 weeks ago. She says they are the only people who have really been able to help.

I know the risks with my plan are my milk drying up or Eleri then refusing to take the breast but I'm in so much pain that bfeeding is just not an option at the moment. I have a midwife visiting this morning - if it's the care assistant from the other day I shall tell her to go and ask for a different one tomorrow. I feel better for having made a decision and was remembering back to last time when I didn't have the confidence to decide how to deal with my own baby.

Eleri slept well last night. 12 til 4 and 4.30 til 7. Wish I could say the same for her big sister who was chattering and playing with her teddies from 4 til 5.30 - think I'm going to have a very tired toddler today.

Hope we all have good days.

Love and birthing vibes to Worried and Erm.

ps Naat thanks for the tentative hug on the correct side If only you could see the look of anguish on my face as Megan flings herself at me for a cuddle!

She's beautiful naat.

Mr Adam had a good night, sleeping from 12 - 3 and then 3:30 - 6:30. Daddy even got a decent night's sleep, since he was on baby duty.

We are having our first venture out today to the Belfast Lord Mayor's Parade and Carnival. Unless it pours down rain, which it looks like it might.....

Laura, she's lovely!!!

Doris, LOL! When trying to do embassy paperwork AND show mum at least some of London at the same time there was no choice, it was either feeding while walking or not feeding poor Mila My arms died that night, of course and could only use them again a few days ago.

Right, there are some pics of Mila on my profile for the ones that aren't on FB and haven't seen any yet

(((waves)))

just a quick question...for those not breastfeeding how do you get over the stage when your milk comes in? my boobs are massive and heavy and not sure what to do...

She is just beautiful laura.

Still needing to catch up with everyone...huge congrats to other mummies

Just to let you know I have uploaded a couple of photos of Sarah onto my profile, just if you guys fancied a peek.

I was planning to breastfeed but even after 1 day it didn;t work out so she is being bottle fed so might treat myself to a wee glass of bubbly this weekend once my staples have been removed

Silk one more word of warning, if it's too sore to feed at all on the nobbled breast I recommend expressing on that side to try to prevent mastitis. I would also second whoever suggested hands on RL support from one of the bf support groups. You are exactly the reason they are there, to help with the difficult stuff, don't leave it too late before calling! (ps your mw was a care assistant not a fully trained MW so go to the professionals (LLL /NCT) pleeeeeeese [smile)

Right will try a full Catch up

Congratulations to Zozo, Louuise and Laura!!!

They're seem to be a few of us who have had difficult labours or deliveries that didn't go to plan, I have to say (echoing others) it's not really how they enter the world that counts, but what we do from here that matters.... although I remember the births of dd1 and 2 it's not something that I really think about and it has next to no bearing on their lives....

littleS we are trying (it's not the same as boobie obv) to use the dummy to space out feeds more so when Anabelle feeds she does so with some interest rather than as a soother (I still cuddle alot) It does seem to help with the colic atm. DD1 had a dummy till she was nearly three but it was restricted to night and naps (also worried about other peoples attitudes) then the dummy fairy came with a gift one night and took all the dummies (we let her decide when I needed to phone for a visit )

Naat saw your phots on FB of Mila's first trip to the big smoke, you all look so chilled, and a bf not sitting down, (i'm still in the pillows and back support galore stage)

I dug all the baby toys out of the loft yesterday but more to help the older dd's lose interest in them before I wash them for dd3 she not really into much at the mo but I may give her some gym time tomorrow.

Right waffling so must stop (((((waves to all the Juners who like me have enough time to read but not to post)))))
xx doris

hi all
left handed typing while feeding so will be short!

laura - huge congrats on the birth of Sarah. sorry you had an awful experiece, hope you can enjoy the time with sarah now

silk - ouch re your poor nipple!!! thats awful, i sometimes wonder if dd has teeth, they suck soooo hard sometimes! hope you heal quickly

littlesarah - i wish i could get isobel to sleep more at night too! on average she goes for 3 lots of 2 hour stretches from 11pm- 8am with 3 feeds and lots of grizzling in between!!

i have been trying a dummy a little but she wont really take to it, just to try to stop the constant feeding a little!

doris - very jealous of your sleep!

june - we have a baby gym mat which we lie isobel on, she just likes to lay and kick her legs though rather than play!

hi to everyone else!

silk Those are very kind words, but it's easy to be chilled when I'm just waiting for a baby that I know will be here soon - takes a bit more character to be dealing with shredded nips and crap MWs - I think you deserve the fan club . Hope you get some better advice - and some healing - very soon.

June they won't bother with all those lovely toys for ages, and even when a few months old will still be just as happy with a wooden spoon and old yoghurt pots. What she wants to see is familiar faces - and possibly chrome screws - as she learns to focus on them and, in a little while, to smile at them

I've never used a dummy for my DCs, nor felt the need; it seems to be one of those things some mums swear by and others never consider. If it's the only way of stopping the babe using you as a comforter, or helps with colic, then it makes sense, but I wouldn't use one just as a matter of course, like our mothers probably did.

And to add to Tee's post, it's true of course that formula feeding isn't the end of the world, but b/feeding isn't difficult for everyone, and anyone who wants to do it deserves to get all the help and support she needs, so keep questioning those MWs and make sure you're satisfied with the answers, or get NCT/LLL or other counsellors to help you if the MWs are rubbish like silk's.

I suppose I should have curry tonight, but DH has gone out for chinese instead.

Oh God I keep xposting!

Bigcar, lucky lady!! Enjoy those hours of rest!!! for all of us!!!

Oh, forgot!

June, LOL at the silver screw Calypso likes to look at I was at a loss re. baby entertainment, I mainly just talked to her or sang to her Let's see what experienced Juners say!

Laura, congratulations on the birth of Sarah!!! Sorry to hear about the hard time you had but the important thing is now you and her are thriving!! Hope to hear from you soon!!

Tee, yep, it's one of the hardest things to do!!! People keep on saying "it's just natural", "it just happens" Obviously they haven't breastfed. Maybe you have milk, but that doesn't mean you can't have other problems (latch, cracked nipples, mastitis, etc) I have loads of milk and look at me, struggling still. And yes, the important thing is that mum and baby are ok, well said

Silk, !! I'm so so sorry for you!! (((hug, on the other side of course))) I hope it heals soon... at the bloody MW that came to see you!! Cheeky of her to put something on your notes that NEVER took place!

LittleS, I also looked at the dummy with special love these last days but the "literature" is sooooooooooo confusing, everyone says a different thing and as a new mum, it all adds to the uncertainty!

Doris, HI! Glad Annabelle let you sleep a bit more this morning!

I'll try and upload some pics now for you to see.

(((waves)))

laura, huge congratulations and welcome to baby Sarah Sorry to hear you had a rough time! By the sounds of it I had something similar, except I got to 5cm before I really needed to push, it's a horrible and very painful feeling isn't it?! Same happened with dd3 last time too, and I was still daft enough to do it all over again

silk, sorry to hear about the shredded nips. If it's any help, NCT helpline 0870 444 8708, and La Leche League 020 7242 1278. They may be able to put you in touch with local support or try getting hold of your hv and find out if there is a bf cafe nearby.

june, yep, mainly just cuddles and talking here too for entertainment, I haven't yet inflicted my singing on him but may do soon We have one of those baby gyms we use when he's in his chair, but I don't think he's that interested yet. He also has a couple of toys on the handles of his basket (during the day only) but I think he touches them more out of accident than intent.

littles, if I had the answer, I'd be a very rich lady I think he's just one chilled little man at night he also feeds a fair bit during the day and has quite a lot in the evening, he must stock up well!

We've got the most lovely sunny evening at the moment, hope everyone else has too! Waves to all

Hi All

laura congratulations and sorry you had such a horrid time. I hope all is well now!

For all of you struggling with breastfeeding...its easy for me to say, since I've never had enough milk and Adam went on a bottle from day one, but try to relax. It is suppose to be the most natural thing in the world, but in reality, its hard! The hardest thing you'll probably ever do! Somewhere over the last 50 - 60 years we've lost the 'art' of it, thanks to Doctors who thought they knew best. And remember, the important thing is healthy mummy and healthy baby, so if you need to stop breastfeeding? Its not the end of the world. Adam is thriving on Cow and Gate!!

Thanks for the advice Doris.

Have just read up on mastitis and it can be caused by the boob not being drained enough. I am a bit annoyed by the fecking useless Mw substitute that turned up yesterday to do the heel prick test. I told her I was worried about the bfeeding as dd didn't ever seem to really empty a breast and was constantly feeding. I also told her that I'd had to start using nipple shields as I was in agony. She gave me no advice, didn't observe (even though I was feeding whilst she here) and seemed to want to leave asap. I've read my notes (she's a SMCA whatever that is) and she's written that she'd observed bfeeding and ticked that it was painless - stupid bloody woman. Think she could have helped me yetserday if she'd have taken the time to.

LittleS - definitely not brave - can't face her touching that shredded nipple at the moment - will be mixed feeding til it's healed.

Think I need to experiment with positioning/latch - think it must be wrong.

Ahhhh doris now I am jealous of you too!

Does the dummy help space out feeds?

Ahhhhhh silk! That just sounds horrendous! And you are hoping still to feed on that side? You are a strong woman! I'd probably be turning to the bottle - in more ways than one... I hope you are okay though, I am very impressed indeed.

June - No entertainment here either, just talking and cuddling really! I used a dummy with dd, it was great I must admit. I think she used to use breast as a dummy at times and so it let me off the hook a little. I'm not using one for Alex at the moment but I have to say the constant nightfeeding does make me want to give it a try, I'm going to hold off for the moment though, he is very calm really. I don't think there is anything wrong with it though, for me I know it is just worry over other peoples' attitudes! (Which is ridiculous). Also a worry they become too reliant on them. However I always said with dd w'd chuck them before she was one year and we did, one day I just threw them all out and she was totally unbothered!

Bigcar - What is your sleeping secret!?

Naat - Your midwives sound wonderful, how fabulous they were, I hope that night has helped the feeding.

Laura - CONGRATS!!!! Sarah is a GREAT name! Sorry the birth was so hard, you poor lamb, I hope you're happily now recovering and enjoying your little girl.

I know it is early days but any tips for getting babies to sleep a little longer at night appreciated!

Right, must go and get house habitable before dh's return!

Good luck ermin and amy!

((((waves at June and Effie too))) It's been so long since I've posted whilst anyone else is around

June - we ended up using a dummy (or noo noo as it's known here) with DD1 when she had dreadful colic pain and I was advised to aim for at least 2 and half hours between feeds.
I had been adamantly anti dummy pre baby, but that all changed.

With DD2 we used one when she was nil by mouth and carried it on, ( sucking refex apparently also helps with pain relief (we were encourae to help her suck when she was having 'stuff' done to her.

With Annabelle we have been gently introding the dummy, she was reluctant at the start, but with persistance is becoming more receptive(it does help settle her when she is colicky in the evenings. I am stretching feeds out so she has 'good' feeds, the last 3 3 nigths she has gone from about midnight till 0530 and this morning managed till 0630!!!

Silk- just a very quick post (i'm supposed to be doing other stuff....) With regard to the red patch it may well be a sign of mastitis but then again it may be nothing, keep feeding and massaging to encourage flow. As for the shredded nip, personally I would make sure you are stocked up on painkillers, with the thrush I have been on diclofenac (presription only but you could use ibruprofen instead) with paracetomol for breakthrough relief for the past 2 weeks but I am weaning it down now as things improve ( i figured this was the only way I was going to get through to continue feeding). Plaster the lansinoh on and things wil start to heal quite quickly I have had really nobbled nipples in the past and it's not fun (but alot easier with good pain relief)

June @ Calypso and her shiney screw obsession. They are interested in the funniest things aren't they? Newborns don't really needs toys, just spend time talking to her.

Pacifiers - dd1 used them and they are recommended now I think in terms of reducing cot death. I believe the reason we're told not to use them is they can confuse bf babies and stop them taking the nipple. dd2 won't take a pacifier (I've tried today in an attempt to settle her rather than feed unnecessarily).

I'm sorry you are so upset about your birth experience - it must have been truly terrifying to think Calypso was in danger. Have you been able to discuss it all with your mw - a friend who had a similar situation said it really helped to voice her concerns/fears to someone who could understand and answer any questions.

I'm a firm believer that we must take care of ourselves emotionally and physically as new mummies so we can best look after our los (which is why I may well switch to formula rather than dread every nipple shredding feed).

silk ouch hunni-- I seem to do everything your midwife says not too!!! I'll be stricter in future xxx Its soo easy to feed if grizzly-- so will sing instead-- that wil frighten him to stop. Hope your nipple heals soon xxxx

Thanks ermin I've been using that side alot today- so hopefully that will help xx

june I haven't got anything for Rupert yet- but have a few bits and bobs from the others. I need to get a bouncy chair and a playmat-- but DH says next month

We have a pacifier for Rupert-- never used them with the other 2-again not a real fan of them- but the nurses gave him one, when he was withdrawing from the morphine-I only use it when necessaryp- but it does help him calm down. Some research shows that using them reduces the risk of cot death, I haven't read the article- but the mw told me!!

Its ok to cry- motherhood is a mine field of doo's and don'ts and well meaning advice- you are allowed to cry, what you need to remember-- is no matter what delivery you had, how you feed your baby- still makes you a fab mummy- there are too many people out their, ready to make you feel bad-- but they are wrong ( and probably jealous ) You are a great mummy and have a beautiful baby-- thats wat matters xxxxxxx

big hugs for tearful mummies-- mine have all dried up-- wish my bleeding would-tmi--lol xx

Hi Laura congratulations on the birth of Sarah. Sorry that it was such a horrendous experience getting her out but am glad yr back home and safe together now.

Worried - if I had to be (electronically) stuck in the waiting room with someone I'd choose Erm. She is so relaxed/laid back and patient. And seems always to put things in perspective - in fact I'm starting the Erm fan club

Bfeeding update (turn away if yr squeamish). Had a great night with Eleri sleeping from 10.30 til 3, feeding til 5am and then sleeping til 9am. This was after an evening of cluster feeding. Actually woke feeling human and then disaster struck. Feeding E whilst in bed with dh and Megan when she managed to take the top of my nipple off. She unlatched and her mouth was full of blood and half my nipple had been sucked through the nipple shield!!! (hanging on by a thread)

Cue me in tears of shock/horror/disbelief - rang the community midwives and the lady who answered the phone was lovely. We discussed latch (they've all said it's ok when observing) and then she decided damage was already probably done by the time I introduced nipple shields and the nipples are struggling to heal. She asked me loads of questions about timing and frequency of feeding. Conclusion - Eleri is using me as a dummy. She's told me to get a bit stricter ie if she's had 20 mins at one breast and fallen asleep then don't switch to the other breast just cos she's grizzling. Whenever I hold her she roots around and I assumed that meant I should feed her (demand feeding?) but this mw says not. She says I can't settle her cos I smell of milk dh will have to do it.

They've said I should continue with the shields now but use the shredded breast if I can. Due to use it at next feed but I don't think I can face it have sterilised a bottle ready for forumla feeding just in case. And now I've noticed a red patch on my other breast - is that a sign of mastitis and if so what do I do?

Sorry for the long and self pitying thread but am feeling at a bit of a loss.

Hey Laura, your birth story sounds a lot like mine, I have only just started writing it down, will post it eventually.
Congratulations on your little Sarah, are you breastfeeding after your section?

What do you guys do for baby entertainment? We got a few toys and stuff but Calypso's only 7 days old now and is not particularly interested in anything else than a shiny silver screw on her black recliner chair, she stares at it for ages
She lost her cord today, I kinda wanna keep it as a souvenir, is that gross?

She's feeding every four hours, sleeping for about 20 minutes after each feed and then either just staring at that screw or screaming (because of wind I think).
She fed well last night and slept for 5 hours which was great to catch up on Zzzzs.

I have had the odd bout of crying, thinking back about the labour, there were a few times there during that day where I thought that she wasn't going to make it, that feeling was awful. When she is waiting for her food she'll automatically turn to my boob and do the rooting thing which breaks my heart. At least I've managed to tell my friend bits of the birth and breastfeeding without crying yesterday, I must be getting better.
Overall though I feel quite good, like I could go to the shopping centre, but I remember the NCT host saying that when you think you're well enough, wait for another week.
We have been out a couple of times for a coffee and lunch (Calypso slept through both...)

Do you guys use a pacifier? We got one for free with the tommee tipee steriliser stuff and have been using it when nothing else will calm baby down but I know there are quite controversial (I don't particularly like them but when she's been crying for ages surely it's better for her?).

ha, I'm glad I have my uses!

lauraloo we were thinking of you, congratulations on the birth of little Sarah, sorry you had such a rough time but glad she and you are home.

Effielou that's good weight gain for the babe. The symptoms you mention could be early signs of mastitis. Try feeding plenty on that side, and massaging the sore bit towards the nipple as he feeds. It hurts, but is the best way to unblock in the early stages. Otherwise yes, cabbage leaves and massage in hot bath are also good methods. Hope it doesn't develop into anything worse.

worriedamy I'm so pleased you joined this thread otherwise I really would be the only johnny come lately!

congrat lauraloo sorry to here you had a rough time, but you must be so happy to have your little baby girl! There are a lot of little girls being born at the moment... hope they havent got it wrong about my little boy, otherwise she will be wearing a lot of blue babygros and dungarees! And the goin home from the hospital outfit i have has 'darling boy' written all over it!

Congratulations laura Glad all is well with you and Sarah- sorry to hear things were a bit horrid.
Lots of love xxxxxxxx

afternoon all sorry for not being on.....labour was horrid and thats me just out the hospital after being in since monday night!!

Was admitted at 9pm monday night and then sent home at 11 only to go back to midwife unit at 3 tuesday morning...to cut a very long and painful story short i was transferred to consultant hospital tuesday 7am and after 36 hours labour and only being 1cm dlated but contractions showing i was ready to push and the feeling like pelvis was going to snap i was eventually emergency sectioned at 8.20pm tuesday night and baby Sarah Margaret Emily was in my arms at 8.39pm on 23rd June 2009. Blood tests also showed i had group b strep.

Mum and baby are home and well and i get my staples out on Sunday Going to feed Sarah then will be on to catch up with everyone elses news

Hi Congrats to Loouise and ZoZo-- love the names- Ishbel is so pretty.

We are all fine here!! Had first visit from HV- it went quite well ( I hated her when Imogen was a baby) Ruperts gaining weight well-- now 7lb 7oz ( birth weight was 7lb 1oz) so quite pleased with myself and the bottle of aptamil he has a t night- can't take all the credit!!lol

I seem to have a very painful left boob-- it feels bruised and sore to touch-- is that engorgement- or is it some thing else?? and do I need to get the cabbage leaves ready???

Rupert ( who looks like piglet when searchng for food-) has woken- so must pop boob out-- again!!

We have our school fete tomorrow-- a nice wet one!!

Hi to all the Juners and hope you are all well?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

afternoon all

huge congratulations to loooouise and zozo, wonderful news

laura, hope all's well with you

naat, that's great they took the time, makes a huge difference, that on it's own gives more confidence! Hope the improvement continues.

june, love that photo, such a cutie, and all that lovely hair All my dcs have been real baldeagles, not that I'm or anything

ermin and worried, hate to say it, but I think it's just you two left now, no pressure or anything ladies

I thought I was doing really well, the spd felt an awful lot better, thought the physio might tell me I was wasting her time going back [probably way too hopeful emoticon] Apparently though I now have an unstable pelvis and separated abdominals so am on a strict exercise regime to try to improve things, otherwise I'll be in a lot of trouble, having read other threads on here, she wasn't joking!

Edward is still sleeping well at night, we got to hear Michael Jackson had died at 3 this morning when Edward woke for a feed, wasn't what we were expecting to see! Didn't someone on here have tickets for one of the concerts? Edwards snufffles are an awful lot better now, he can at least feed properly again without having to stop to get his breath back. Thankfully it only seems to have lasted a couple of days.

Hope all those with snuffly babes are also seeing an improvement

waves to all

Ah Naat there's nothing so lovely as a lovely MW is there? So glad the staff at the BC were understanding and helpful; they really know how important it is to give you time and relaxation rather than a list of rules. Hope Mila is more settled now

I've just come back from having tea and scones with a friend - she baked them specially for me. There are upsides to so many people taking pity on my huge girth .

Hi Juners!!!

Ermin, oh my, you made me laugh with the elephant comment I'm thinking of you and worried especially, so that labour starts soon and you have your LOs in your arms.

Worried, yes, bump rock hard is a good sign I had that the last days, it was almost constant, though clearly BHs as they were painless.

Hi June, Tee, Choccie, Silk, LittleS and all Juners!!!

Well, different night at the Argies' house. Yesterday Mila kept struggling to latch on having fits of crying that would make her purple red! I didn't stop crying for hours so DH called me and suggested going to the Birth Centre after he came home. We did and they were just touchingly supportive and nice. I told them the whole cracked nipples-shields-Madwife-guilt issue and they suggested us staying overnight and going back to the beginning with the BF. They said they'd be there for us all night to help us BF Mila and help her re-learn to latch on.

You have no idea how touched I was, I couldn't believe how supportive they were. Anyway, Mila challenged them all, as she would throw fits of anger and wouldn't latch on but after 35 mins the first time, she finally fed... Then it took her 15 mins and then 5 mins until she started latching on more easily.

We came home early this morning as DH had to go to work. I feel much better, still a bit scared of nipples cracking again but I'll persevere!!! MWs told me I could go on using Lansinoh (Madwife had told me not to use it anymore) so I'll take extra care after each feed.

Sorry it got so long! Hope you're all having a good day. Birthing vibes for Ermin and Worried and hope we hear from Laura soon!!

(((waves)))

june- thanks for your reassurance! Cant wait til the little baby is out in the real world, so I can look at him and see he is okay, instead of analysing every belly movement!

I'v been feeling a bit crampy these last two days too ermin, but put it down to doing a bit too much round the house!! Just wish I knew what I was feeling for!! Hope lauraloo is okay?

Congratulations Zozocat and Loooouise Well done! Can't wait to hear the details. Hope you are feeling ok.

Where's lauraloo?!

Well that sounds promising because this last week my abdomen has been rock hard loads of the time. Even slightly crampy recently - but then it stops again. Trying to keep active.

Here's what I think is the list so far. Apologies for any incorrect facts; blame it on the effects of overlong gestating :

BABIES HERE!!
Bigcar - Edward, born 28th May 2009, 3:30pm, 9lb 8 oz!! (37, dd 18, dd 9, ds 8,dd3 2, due 1st June) csection
Effie - Rupert Edward, born 1st June 2009, 2:23am, 7lb 1oz (3rd child, due 28 June)
Ineed - Emily Rose, born 3rd June 2009, 7.34pm, 8lb, 30z (31, DS 2.5, due 5 June)
Blueberrysorbet - daughter born 4th June (ds, due 3rd June) csection
Borriebear Jasper born 4th June 8 pounds 3 oz
LittleSarah - Alexander, born 6th June 2009, 2.46am, 7Ib 5oz (26, dd 4, due 6th June) homebirth -2 hours!
DorisIsAPinkDragon - Annabelle Rose, born 6th June, 2.24pm, 8lb 1.5 oz (32, dd1 3yrs, DD2 1yr, due 2nd June)
helpivegottogivebirth - Polly Diana, born 8th June, 8.50pm, 6lbs 9oz (30, 1st one, due 6th June)
MrsMcJnr - Aaliyah Rosemary born 10th June, 11.12am 8lbs 9oz (35, ds 1yr, due 4th June) unplanned home birth
Tee2072 - Adam Jacob Fraser, born 11th June, 10.30am, 8lbs 10oz (40, 1st baby, due 26 June)
Snowwombat - Baby boy born 3:01am saturday 13th, 7lb 11oz, 54cm long
Nemoandthefishes - Charlotte Isabel Saturday 13th 7.50pm 7lb14ozs
llynnnn - Isobel arrived 13.06.09 AM
Bunnymother - Cordelia 12:03pm on 14 June, 7lb 11oz
chocciedooby - Elina 13.18pm on 14th June 8lbs 4ozs
Naat - Mila Maunier weighing 3.255kg and measuring 51cm 14th june 2.53 pm
Daisy- Fraser Alistair was born Monday 15th June 2009 at 10:08pm. A handsome chap, he weighs in at a tidy 7lbs 13.5oz (3.56kg) and is 56cm long.
insywinsyspider - Boy Edward (Bear) 16th June 2009 7am
dreamydowler - Evie Rose born 17th June 4.50pm 8lb 2oz
June2009 - calypso lilly raphaelle 18th June, 7lbs!!
silkcushion - Eleri Isabella born 20th June at 1.52pm 7lb 13.5 oz
Zozokat - Leo Cooper born 21 June, 3.5kg
Loooouise - - Ishbel Verity born 25 June, 6lb 11oz

LADIES IN WAITING
SweetBroody - 29th May (27, 1st one)
Leaky - 4th June (39, ds1 5, ds2 2.5)
DreamyDorrie - 7th June (30, dd 2)
Ebeson-8th June (DC No.6!)
Roseability - 11th June (DS 3yr)
tibsy - 13th June
ermintrude13 - 17th June (42, dd10 ds6)
lauraloo09 - due 20th June (1st child) 18th
worriedamy - due 21st June first-timer - boy
StrawberrySam - 23rd June (27, first-timer)

worried: i remember my stomach being hard more than not towards the end, I think naat had said the same thing as well.

I'm sure you are right ermin, just getting bored of all this pregnancy malarky now, wish I had your patience!! Before I went for my datin scan, they worked out I was due around the 9th-16th june, so I was well hoping to have popped by now!! Fingers crossed there bh will lead to summit! Is it normal for my stomach to feel permenantly hard though? It feels like my stomach has been hard non-stop since dinner time today, so much so my muscles are really starting to ache is it normal?

Congratulations to zozo and looouise!

Anyone seen the list lately...are erm and worriedamy really the only ones left?

worriedamy I've reminded myself that by my LMP I'm only 5 days over - they changed it from 20th to 17th June at the 12 wk scan, and really, how accurate can that be? It makes me feel slightly better... and anyway, my DS came 10 days late and was an easy labour. Ours are just cooking a bit longer .

congratulations to zozo and looouise

ermin... i cant actually imagine ever having this baby, and I'm only 4 days over... You must be goin mad!

oh yes, ladies, a baby gap sale. those of you yet to give birth, take comfort in the fact that next year, for their first birthday, your babies will be the lucky recipients of twice the amount of cute denim garms.

good luck all!

Firstly, congratulations zozokat on the birth of baby Leo, hope to see pics soon.

And thanks to Aitchtwooh for letting us know the lovely news about Looouise and her new little girl.

Naat my sis and her bf just got back from a fortnight in Brazil on Sunday - first time their DD has met her paternal grandparents and she's 8 months old - and yesterday went off to Glastonbury. You Brazilians are clearly good travellers .

Good to hear from you llynn

Well worriedamy, where indeed is that lauraloo?! I have a sneaking suspicion that I'm going to be the last and will give birth to an elephant in early July . I swear, if I'm the last one left I'll tell you guys to start your postnatal thread and I'll post my good news on there - if it ever happens!

Congrats to zozokat and looouise (thanks Aitch!

Zozo - I wouldn't worry too much about feeding schedule yet, I am beginning to wonder about mine but pretty sure at only three weeks I need to leave it to settle down still. My dd was a quick feeder, usually fifteen minutes a feed but she got what she needed. (Ds needd longer but they are al different). Sorry you had such a difficult time, glad you sound so strong and happy despite it!

looouise - Glad your wee girl has made an appearance, lovely name! Hope it all went well.

woohoo for louise :D

(and a babygap sale??? double woohoo)

yey for loooouise! Wonder how lauraloo is? Is it just me and you now ermin?!

YAY!

Thanks, Aitchtwooh for the message!!! Send Loouise loads of hugs and cuddles for the baby!!!

Oh, forgot!

Choccie, hope DS's goodbye was not too tearful for you (((hug)))

Silk, hope your nipples get some rest and heal really soon

Ermin, yes, we had to go to register her birth at the Brazilian embassy so as to then get her passport and THEN renew our visas 9th July (yes, the joys!! ) As much as I love London, travelling 3 times in 2 weeks is not my idea of fun with a newborn, breastfeeding, nipple issues, etc

Hello all you pregnant and not-so-pregnant anymore ladies...

my friend loooouise asked me to tell you that she is thrilled to announce the birth of her baby daughter this morning (lord knows when, she phoned me at sodding 7.26am when Both My Children were asleep).

ishbel verity weighs 6lbs 11oz and i can confirm thanks to the magic of mobile phone technology that she is a great beauty.



AND I'M GOING TO SEE HER ON MONDAY!! <excitedly> i've already done some damage to the baby gap sale...

Zozokat, congratulations!!! We hope to read more from you soon and to see some pics of little Leo I had sort of unannounced visitors (1 wk notice) right before birth and it did my head in (poor Juners had to hear me moan a lot ) so I totally sympathise. It sounds you did great, though Enjoy the baby high!!

Llynn, well, the super nice MW or Madwife, as one of the Juners called her, "gave" me two days to take off the shields. Enough to say that put a bit of pressure and brought tears of guilt and bla... but well, today I started feeding without them and Mila has been a bit picky and fiddly about it (after only 4 days, go figure) but has latched on eventually. I'll have to persevere <sigh>

Worried, LOL at your phone My sympathies! But we enjoy reading you anyway, so don't worry Birthing vibes your way

Ermin, work that ball, lady! More birthing vibes your way as well.

LittleS, enjoy your lazy day!!! I'm actually having loads of help with my mum here... she's been really good now I feel guilty for moaning about her visit so much She's leaving next Friday and I'm terrified at managing to do it all with Mila alone!

Hi to all!!

Low day today here... I've been really teary and had a major crying session this afternoon because of the shields, the guilt, the fear of Mila not latching on ever again... oh the hormones! Plus Mila has been quite upset today and I seem to not be able to calm her down or soothe her and that triggered another crying session Oh well...

(((waves)))

congrats zozokat! Wot a cute name! Regarding your feeding... The midwife told me if the baby seems to feed very often for short periods of time, the latch might not be quite right, and a little change of position could make a big difference... dont hold me to it tho, I'm totally underqualified to be advising on breastfeeding!! I'd maybe mention it to the midwife and see what she says? Sorry if I'm giving out totally wrong advice!!

congratulations zozokat on the birth of Leo, sorry you had a hard time of it. hope you are recovering well, keep taking it easy!

ermintrude - glad your mw app went well and your bp is down. really hope things start happening for you soon

Amy - hope you get to meet your little one soon

littlesarah - thats about the same here during the night, it feels like i just manage to get her to sleep then shes awake again for ANOTHER feed!

june- your photo is just gorgeous! please dont feel bad about the birth and the breastfeeding. with dd1 i had a cesction and stopped feeding after a week and felt terrible about it. she is now a very lively, loving, energetic, gorgeous toddler and it has done her NO harm whatsoever. ou are doing everything Calypso needs cuddling, loving and being there for her

naat - hows it going without the shields? i have been using them every third or fourth feed just for a little respite!

Tee - hope your little man continues to sleep well (very jeaous!)

Bunny - hope you are having a better day today and Delie is more settled and allowing you at least a little rest! hope you are ok too, ive just finished my antibiotics and now living in fear and getting an infection!

mrsmc - pleased you managed to get dd registered (we have done Isobel today too!) hope you are feeling better today

hi to everyone else, another feed due!

Hi all

Finally back to MN! I'm slowly getting back into 'real life' after my weekend odyssey First I'd like to announce that our son Leo Cooper (that's first and middle names) was born on Sunday morning, June 21, weighing in at 3.5 kg.

I thought I'd get a straigtforward induction but real labour started all by itself last Friday, around midnight, so I cancelled the Saturday morning induction, but my contractions continued all day with no progress (varying from 4 to 10 minute intervals all day!!) so at around 4pm we went to the hospital to get some help -- ended up with an induction at around midnight Saturday (that's after 24 hours of contractions!) But progress was quick after that and my second stage lasted only an hour thank goodness!

Unfortunately, after baby Leo was born, I developed some complications and internal bleeding related to the extended labour, and had to stay strapped up to machines in the labour ward. I've been trying to take it easy ever since to get my energy back. It was a real shock to the system to go through not only the long labour but the post-delivery events as well. My dad paid us a surprise visit on Monday also, flying in from overseas, which made everything a bit more hectic than it should have been this week. (Has anyone else had this happen to them?) Good thing I have also had that natural baby high all week to help me recuperate.

So I'll catch up on this thread next time I get a minute and be more sociable in my post Right now I'm just trying to get my head around breastfeeding and a decent sleep/feed schedule -- Leo seems to want feeds very often and for only 10 minutes at a time -- is this something I should be trying to discourage? Or is it too early and I should just deal with it till he's a week or 2??

Look forward to catching up on how all the new mums are doing. And fingers stilled double crossed for worriedamy, ermintrude and the other ladies in waiting

sounds like a plan ermin...

worriedamy good to hear from you .... so many times lol . I'm off to bounce on my gym ball in an open pelvis-type manner!

k... starting to look silly now!

grr, most of the time my phone wont post once, never mind twice!

grr, most of the time my phone wont post once, never mind twice!

well I'm still not havin any babies (booooored) and still no internet, so very limited with the posting unfortunately! Good luck with the sweep ermin... I'v been havin quite a lot of strong bh these last two days... but I'm not getting my hopes up!

well I'm still not havin any babies (booooored) and still no internet, so very limited with the posting unfortunately! Good luck with the sweep ermin... I'v been havin quite a lot of strong bh these last two days... but I'm not getting my hopes up!

MW visit went fine, bp is down from yesterday, although still a bit higher than normal, but then I am more enormous than normal.. No protein in urine and I feel fine, so hopefully things will progress from here. The MW read my notes and said that if her colleague could get a fingertip in my cervix she'd have 'stirred stuff up'. TMI!

choccie I always got tearful at DC's farewells to nursery schools, just like I do at school plays, and whether or not I had a newborn in tow so they won't be surprised at a weepy mum

Naat Was confused about why you had to go to London for registering but assume it's to do with dual citizenship? Well done for making the journey!

LittleS I think routines do take a while to fix. DS was so clingy at first that I printed out a spreadsheet page with 10-min timeslots saying where he was and apart from a very few 'crib' or 'moses basket' lines it was all 'On Me'. He'd sleep for a few mins and then scream again until I picked him up, not for a feed, just for the comfort. I gave up with the depressing spreadsheet and just carried him about with me for a while - kept the sling on in the house sometimes - until he settled a bit. It was murder on my back!

V excited we're not hearing from certain expectant ladies and hope they're producing new June babies. I'm doing my best here, I swear it.

I really wish I'd kept a detailed diary of dd at this age! I'm totally exhausted, Alexander continuing his routine of waking at about 2am, 4am, 6am and 7.30am. Dd was never one of those dream sleeping through by 6 weeks babies but she had gotten down to one night feed by about 2 months... wish I could remember if she was up this much at 3 weeks. On the other hand what would it prove? Nowt.

I think I might force myself to sit up for feeds tonight, perhaps the lying down means him not taking as much as he could... or perhaps I am dreaming!

Having a lazy TV day today, not feeling too guilty as we have been very busy most of the week, still have done little of worth... It is amazing really, it isn't just the tiredness, there is always a feed or a change or just general crying to deal with, we've yet to have lunch due to these little bitty things.

Naat and choccie - Big Peppa Pig fans here too, no doubt the DVD will be on at some point today..

Okay really must get some food sorted! (Luckily dd has been snacking all morning so is fine).

ok am going to try and do a proper catch up

Choccie - think our little girls' names are very similar - Eleri and Elina - going to keep confusing everyone. Hope you manage to hold it together when you pick ds up.

Erm - you're right about retrospective guilt/anguish it's complete pointless and counterproductive. Feeling loads better today and I know that eventually dd1 will adore having a little sis to boss around play with. Hope yr bp is lower today and that the sweep has done at least some good.

June - sending you big hugs. It's really tough when things don't live up to our expectations. I think I've posted before that Dd1 and I just couldn't get bfeeding going. I found it very difficult to accept that I wasn't able to do this thing that supposed to be natural but as soon as I switched to formula I was able to focus on really enjoying her.

MrsM - you must be relieved at having registered Aaliyah's birth. Hope dh is behaving a little better.

Naat - yr nipple shields idea has saved my sanity. I'm now using them (it was that or formula yesterday as I was in agony) and the slight relief I'm getting is vital. Well done for travelling to London with a newborn.

Tee - @ yr amazing sleeping baby

Bunny - think we seem to have had similar days yesterday hope yours is going better today.

hello to everyone else - go to go as dd2 is screaming

Just another quickie I'm afraid. Feed due.

Hope the sweep does something for you Ermin*.

*Naat - my kids call DH "Daddy Pig" from Peppa Pig .

June - Please please please don't beat yourself up about not breastfeeding. It works for some and not for others. I went through the same thing with dc1 and I flet like a rotten failure for a long time. The feelings of guilt were terrible but in time I realised that it just wasn't for myself and DS and we did just fine with the bottle On a positive note as well, dh got to do lots of cuddly bottle feeds and that really helped with his bonding process.

Still haven't registered the birth of Elina here yet. Keep gping to do it but feel too tired and find other things fill my time. It's DS2's last day at Montessori today so its an early pick up and will be a teary goodbye to his teachers that I have been dealing with for the last 3 years How will I keep my hormones in check??

Have a good day all. xx

Hi Juners!

Wow, I've read so much but now I'm sure I won't remember even half of it

Mrsmc, glad you could finally register Aaliyah. We did that on Monday in London, now we have to go back next Tuesday to start the passport process, bureaucracy, huh? I'm so sorry about Tia, I know you're somewhat relieved that you found another vet who understood the situation but it doesn't make the situation easy anyway (((hug)))

Bunny, I also read while having LO in my arms, but cannot possibly type with one hand. I tried "tidying up" a bit with the baby in my arms, wow that's hard Glad expressing gave a rest to your nipples. Shields did that for me and as of today I'm weaning them off.

Ermin, oh, I'm with you on hating sweeps... The first 2 that I got were just uncomfy, the next 4 were just excruciatingly painful... awful! Hope things start soon for you, sending loads of labour and birthing vibes your way!

June, gorgeous picture!!! She's lovely!!
I'm so sorry about the lack of support you received at the hospital, esp. with BF. I can't understand how health staff can act that way, supposedly they're there to help us as much as possible at such an important and sensitive moment of our lives. But well, now you have gorgeous Calypso with you at home, you're obviously elated and enjoying her fully and that's what matters (((hug)))

Silk, (((hug))) we're all full of hormones and they take the best of us all. It's amazing how easily we can cry! I just put on some music which I used to listen to while pg so that Mila could "enjoy" it and I started crying out of the blue non-stop! Hope you feel better today.

Effie, same pattern here, feed, sleep, poo, sometimes all three at once!

Choccie, well, of course you're going to be the envy of every mother But I know what you mean, I'd feel the same if Mila were sleeping most of the time. I guess what some Juners say is right, it's just a matter of time. I think Mila and Eleri were born on the same day, right? 14? I wish Mila slept a bit less during the day and a bit more during the night

Ineed, DH loves pepa pig He discovered it thanks to his cousin's son and he never looked back Hope Emily's snuffling is better today.

Bigcar, hope you had a good physio appt yesterday, do you feel better?

Lynn, hi! How are you?

Sending worried, loouise and ermin birthing vibes!! Hi to all the rest!!

Hope to hear from laura soon!!

Right, I tried my first feed without shields this morning and it wasn't bad at all thank God. I was terrified You never forget that pain, huh?

This post has taken me ages so I'll have xposted with many of you by the time I finish Oh well...

(((waves)))

Morning all!

erm I do hope that's the only reason it was raised! No signs of progress, eh? Poor you. Lots of hugs!

june she is just beautiful! My mum was looking over my shoulder and thinks she is beautiful as well!

silk I agree with erm don't do that to yourself!

As for us, I was up for no reason at 2am again. Baby and daddy were asleep. He's being a really really easy baby. Knock wood!

Aw, MrsMc you've a lot to cope with at the moment, what with pusscat and beaurocracy and new baby. I'm sure it will all settle soon but send hugs meanwhile.

June That's a gorgous pic! Is that daddy's hand she's clasping? Makes me go all soppy - not that it takes much at the mo. So sorry you weren't given good support by the professionals, but the way you talk about your baby shows that you're getting all the important things right. That staring at them stage goes on for ages

bunny well done for writing a good long post in between mummy things. It is all complete madness at the start, just don't try to do too much and enjoy the little things.

and silk don't do retrospective guilt! You know a lot more about babies now, what to expect and so on, whereas with your first DC the situation was totally different. Maybe you're more relaxed now so feel bonding with Eleri just comes more easily. And yes, you're chock full or hormones which will ease up very soon and allow you to enjoy both your little girls.

Waiting for MW to come and take my BP which went thru the roof before and after my sweep. I'm hoping it's just because I HATE the sweep so much and find it so painful!

<<sneaks in quietly and hopes nobody notices>>

Just wanted to say congratulations to Silk, read your birth story the other day and have just had time to respond. Sounds fantasic, well done you and what a lovely name!
Hope all going well and feeding getting easier, it is hard not to feel guilty when you have an older DC.
Hope you can show her off at a Gloucetser meet-up soon x

P.s Hope everyone else is enjoying their new arrivals too, well done ladies x

MOrning ladies!!

Quick post from me while nipple shields and all other paraphanalia are sterilising and darling Delie is still asleep. When she wakes... no chance to post - haven't mastered one handed anything yet!

Yesterday was by far the toughest day yet - ended up in tears and feeling at my wits end. For 6 hours straight she either ate, had her nappy changed, was burped or cried. Then she followed it up a few hours later with another such 6 hour session. Poor little thing - was no doubt tough on her too. Obv something wasn't right w her and that's why she couldn't settle, but God I found it hard going! Fingers crossed we have a better day today.

Love her dearly, but its so full on I can't really do anything ie post on MN , email, prepare myself a proper meal. Am assuming it gets better. I can't tell you how much I am in awe of you tremendous ladies who are doing this whilst having another DC!

Expressing milk has saved my poor broken nips - thank you so much for your support you fab Juners! Moved to nipple shields last night. Looking to phase them out asap.

Good news - darling Delie reached her birthweight when 8 days old and jaundice all gone! Unfort, my "ladysnip" stitches not doing well, so on antibiotics.

Am trying to catch up based on memory, then will read w LO in my arms...

LittleSarah - congratulations on your first - that is a wonderful achievement and I hope you are bursting with pride. That stellar achievement will always be with you and IME employers love a first!

MrsMcJnr - hope your kitty cat situation is coming to an end soon, so unfair on you. Also hope things are looking up w your DH, and that darling Aaliyah is on the mend .

Laura - hello, hope you have your LO by now

Ineed - thank you for your support re bf and its trials! Am hopeful I can overcome these hurdles!

Tee - delighted little Adam is home and doing well, although sounds like he is a cheeky monkey giving you the run around

Effie - so v happy for you that little Rupert is also home and in your arms!

Insy and Choccie and all you other lovely Juners coping w babies and other DCs - I hear you on the tears front, but ladies, you are magnificent women [awestruck emoticon]. Every day you manage to just keep everyone under your roof fed and healthy is soo impressive, the rest is icing on the cake.

Naat - cannot believe you had to head to London w such a little Mila for visa purposes - madness!!

Better go and fetch the commandant darling Delie before she fully wakes, in a fury to be fed

Hey, got a supercute pic of Calypsohere, can't remember if I posted it here before.

mrsmc, sorry you'e having a hard time, did you manage to have some kind of open conversation with dh?

littlesarah, congrats for your first, I hope you are proud of yourself :D

Tee and effie, glad to hear the little ones are with you :D

Tee, I'm not breastfeeding either, that and my birth story are both things I still can't talk about wihtout crying.
The lack of support from the mw at the hospital was disgusting. People cant beleive how quick i was dishcarged after a c section (less than 48 hours). We did push to have me out of there as quick as possible and I truly beleive i'm better off at home.

Naat, hope you're ok. I used nipple shields for a while but I think they were the wrong size for me.

I love my daughter so much, it's an amazing feeling, isn't it :D
We feed her on the sofa and look at her and look at eachother and cry, it's all so emotional round here at the moment :D

mil came ot visit for about 20 minutes yesterday, it was weird. She said she was sorry she couldn't be there for me before. I think she meant it.

Does anyone know where we're at with the list? I'm lost I don't know who had their babies after I did (18th june).

This is the last list I fished out of the previous thread:

BABIES HERE!!
Bigcar - Edward, born 28th May 2009, 3:30pm, 9lb 8 oz!! (37, dd 18, dd 9, ds 8,dd3 2, due 1st June) csection
Effie - Rupert Edward, born 1st June 2009, 2:23am, 7lb 1oz (3rd child, due 28 June)
Ineed - Emily Rose, born 3rd June 2009, 7.34pm, 8lb, 30z (31, DS 2.5, due 5 June)
Blueberrysorbet - daughter born 4th June (ds, due 3rd June) csection
Borriebear Jasper born 4th June 8 pounds 3 oz
LittleSarah - Alexander, born 6th June 2009, 2.46am, 7Ib 5oz (26, dd 4, due 6th June) homebirth -2 hours!
DorisIsAPinkDragon - Annabelle Rose, born 6th June, 2.24pm, 8lb 1.5 oz (32, dd1 3yrs, DD2 1yr, due 2nd June)
helpivegottogivebirth - Polly Diana, born 8th June, 8.50pm, 6lbs 9oz (30, 1st one, due 6th June)
MrsMcJnr - Aaliyah Rosemary born 10th June, 11.12am 8lbs 9oz (35, ds 1yr, due 4th June) unplanned home birth
Tee2072 - Adam Jacob Fraser, born 11th June, 10.30am, 8lbs 10oz (40, 1st baby, due 26 June)
Snowwombat - Baby boy born 3:01am saturday 13th, 7lb 11oz, 54cm long
Nemoandthefishes - Charlotte Isabel Saturday 13th 7.50pm 7lb14ozs
llynnnn - Isobel arrived 13.06.09 AM
Bunnymother - Cordelia 12:03pm on 14 June, 7lb 11oz
chocciedooby - Elina 13.18pm on 14th June 8lbs 4ozs
Naat - Mila Maunier weighing 3.255kg and measuring 51cm 14th june 2.53 pm
Daisy- Fraser Alistair was born Monday 15th June 2009 at 10:08pm. A handsome chap, he weighs in at a tidy 7lbs 13.5oz (3.56kg) and is 56cm long.
insywinsyspider - Boy Edward (Bear) 16th June 2009 7am
dreamydowler - Evie Rose born 17th June 4.50pm 8lb 2oz
June2009 - calypso lilly raphaelle 18th June, 7lbs!!
silkcushion - Eleri Isabella born 20th June at 1.52pm 7lb 13.5 oz

LADIES IN WAITING
SweetBroody - 29th May (27, 1st one)
Leaky - 4th June (39, ds1 5, ds2 2.5)
DreamyDorrie - 7th June (30, dd 2)
Ebeson-8th June (DC No.6!)
Roseability - 11th June (DS 3yr)
tibsy - 13th June
Loooouise - 14th June (1st baby)
ermintrude13 - 17th June (42, dd10 ds6)
lauraloo09 - due 20th June (1st child) 18th June (DH guess) 10th June (my guess)
worriedamy - due 21st June first-timer - boy
StrawberrySam - 23rd June (27, first-timer)

right, that's it for tonight, feeding time now :D

Hey ladies just bookmarking as sadly no time to catch up been busy, managed to register DD today 3rd time lucky, I tried to get her application before a judge for 3 hours yesterday the cat situation is still ongoing we are taking her to another vet tomorrow and hoping that that will be the end although that in itself will be terribly sad can't wait to chat to you all properly. Hope we have some more babies soon and hope all those with us re doing fabulously well

Evening all.

Eleri has now been feeding almost solidly since this time last night.

I got 2 hrs sleep this afternoon when dh snuggled her but other than that I'm exhausted.

Baby blues hit with a vengeance this afternoon. DH went for a swim and came back to find me in a tearful heap sobbing about everything. Sore nipples, engorged painful breasts, very tired, how difficult Megan is finding it. I also feel really guilty about not bonding as well with Megan when she was newborn as I have with Eleri.

Bloody hormones eh?

Hope you're all bearing up considerably better.

June that's good to know, thanks for sharing. The MW said my cervix was still high and she could just get a fingertip in so couldn't give a good sweep. Makes me nauseous just thinking about it. But who knows, it's still sore so might have got something going...

Congratulations littleS What a fab year 2009 has been for you-- Hope you have some champers chilling xxxxxx

choccie Rupert is the same-- sleep, eats-lots and poo's xx Hes beginning to have a few more wakeful moments tho'

Well-- now he is better- I thought best get on with registering him. It took 2 hours to get to speak to someone-- so Fridays the day that he becomes offical!!

ermin hope your "tickle" works xxxxxxx

Hi to all you other juners and hope you are enjoying the sunshine xxxx

ermin: my second sweep: the cervix was still closed, move forward 11 hours and i was starting labour, fingers crossed for you

choccie: calypso is also a big sleeper, so much that it had us worried but one of my friends has the same problem and mw agred this is just how she is now.
You can feed baby while they are asleep. We did this yesterday as she really needs to put some weight on.

Hey all, just a quickie to say I had the sweep but MW says there's not much effacement. Still, she gave it a thorough 'tickle', as she put it, (didn't tempt me to laughter; quite the opposite) and we've a little while to go yet. I had a fast walk to the shops and back and DH is primed for tonight.

Any more babies arrived?

Thanks for all the congrats! V happy.

Alexander feeds so strangely at night, takes a while to latch on when during the day he goes straight on no problem. Plus he always wakes and crys a little when he has wind, then he gets rid but usually has a wee feed after. But I wonder if I left him if he would calm down... but I don't like too when I know feeding will shut him up! In the nicest possible way...

Also days seem to go quite fast, I want to do cleaning and organising and so on and seem to be just manage the basics as usual!

llynnn - How is Isobel sleeping now? Anymore during the day? Alex sleeps a lot in the daytime, only wish would do so more at night!

MrsMcJnr - Hope you are sorting things out with dh. Definitely out of order to snap at you in front of friend... male pnd perhaps?

Naat - Not sure about how nipple shields could affect supply, but agree you probably can start to wean yourself off. It is difficult to have to hear such things when you're struggling with a newborn I know, especially when feeding can be such a struggle! Keep your chin up. Great weight gain!

Choccie - Alex certainly is filling out, he has gained a pound already! He also sleeps a lot during the day but does wake up for half an hour to an hour at a time, he is a bit older (in relative terms!) than Elina though? I'm sure she'll be wakeful soon enough and you'll be wishing for more sleepy time.

Ineed - Sounds like Emily is keeping you up like my lovely wee boy is!

Oh Little sarah so sorry.
Wanted to say a big congratulations for your 1st! You must be so proud of yourself. Well done!

Just popping in to say hello and check on how everyone is.
No new babies yet then although Laura must have lo in her arms now. Looking forward to hearing the news.

Please don't yell at me if this is not the case for you, but does anyone else have a baby that sleeps the whole time???

Elina simply wakes for a feed and goes back to sleepyland again. We barely see her eyes open! She had her feed this morning and off she went and is still asleep now. I have to go and wake her for her feed... My mum did say that when I was a baby I ate and slept the whole time. I am wondering when she will start to wake up more.

For anyone that has had a second or subsequent baby, are you noticing how your lo is growing already??? The little fingers and toes and filling out, the cheeks are rounding up etc. I am taking in every single little bit of it all this time around
as it is my last and I want to remember everything.

x posts worriedamy - enjoy your day with you mum and sister x

Hello!

Congrats on the first LittleSarah - that's wicked!

Naat - my friend swore by her nipple shields and it didn't affect her supply at all. I'd do as ermintrude says and wean off them gradually when your nipples toughen up a bit. Stupid 'mad'wife..

Like you, silk, Emily grazed all night and morning..... grr.... I'm farkin' knackered!

insy - love that charm. I think I might invest with my birthday money...

Emily still has snuffles. I read somewhere that it is very common for babies to get this a week or two after birth. I think there are a few of us with snuffly babies, so it looks like it's true.....

Getting rather addicted to Peppa Pig and Charlie and Lola..... I need to get out more... or get more sleep...

I wonder how zozokat got on with her induction? Or did I miss that in the old thread?! Also, wonder how lauraloo is getting on?! Still no change here Just read my automated babycentre email all about how to adjust to life with my newborn Mums coming up to see me today with my sister, yey!

Hey all, I'm still here, waiting for MW to come and give me a sweep - yuk, but it helped last time so fingers crossed.

insy lovely bracelet, glad your DH is treating you

Naat another impressive catch-up! Re nipple shields - I've heard that relying on them all the time can affect supply but MW doesn't sound v helpful. Weaning yourself off them gradually as your nipples 'toughen up' is surely the best thing in terms of pain control, and sounds like Mila is feeding well anyway, which is the main thing. Yet another MW who lacks the right bedside manner

Bigcar aw, poor little snufflepig Edward, hope he clear up soon. And that your physio goes well

Who else is up and about and has a hand free to type with?

morning all

littles, congratulations, so pleased for you

insy, that's a lovely gift!

effie, lovely news, must be a huge relief to be back to birth weight and fully signed off Dd3 also liked the tt closer to nature bottles, they were the only ones she would take while still bf.

june, how's the feeding going? Hope it's improving.

llynn, sending you ((((hugs)))) As insy said, use the time to make the most of your cuddles, los grow up way too quick!

naat, you seem to have a good routine going there Glad Mila's wind isn't so painful now.

MrsMcJnr, hope you managed to talk to dh. You've got a lot on your plate at the moment between your dh, poor cat and trying to register the birth, sending you ((((hugs))))

laura, hope all's well with you.

I think Edward has joined the snuffle and sneezes club! He was fine when he went to bed last night but is really bunged up this morning, poor little thing He still managed a good sleep last night though so he can't be feeling too bad. I've got an appointment with the physio this afternoon, really hoping to be able to get rid of the last of the spd!

Come on ermin, loooouise and worried, sending you labour vibes

waves to all

quick check in from me as I need to go to sleep now. Eleri has been feeding almost constantly since 9.30 last night and just dropped off to sleep. I should be knackered but am relieved she did it or my boobs would have exploded (milk coming in with a bang)

LittleS - That is fantastic result - you must be feeling very proud of yourself at the moment - a new baby and a first!

Just a quick hello to everyone else - don't currently have the required mental capacity to catch up x

Hi Juners!

I've been reading you all day so let's hope I manage to remember what you've said

llynn, I can only imagine what a pain that catheter is I hope these days fly by so that it's out soon. ((hug))

LittleS, so so proud of you!! Well done you!! I told DH and he said the same "yay!" Mila seems to be doing one feed between 12 and 1 and another one between 4 and 5 so not too bad! Although she keeps us awake for a while as she feeds forever , so DH or mum (they each "work a shift") sleep while I feed her and then they take over to burp her and put her to sleep Let's hope this lasts!!

June, how was DH's training? Hope you managed to get some rest. Yay on leaking! (as odd as that yay may sound ) hope the expressing goes well

Insy, loooooovely gift!! Glad you had a relaxing day today

Ermin, hi! LOL at fan oven (I know I'm late at commenting ) We gave Mila her first bath today and we did what you suggested. She cried a bit but I guess that was to be expected, then she seemed to "enjoy it", esp. the cuddles with daddy After that she fed and has been asleep since then (hope I'm not jinxing myself now ) How are you?

Mrsmc, so sorry to hear about your DH. As Tee said, yelling is not cool, but in front of others it's just not right at all. I don't know exactly how to spot depression but I think the idea of talking openly to him about it and then suggesting getting some help if necessary is not a bad one. Hope you manage to have a candid talk with him. Glad to hear that another vet has been sympathetic as one would expect. (((hug)))

Lauraloo, thinking of you and hoping you're enjoying your baby and his/her cuddles by now

Effie, glad to hear the update on Rupert. Yay!!

bigcar, yes, I keep telling myself that everything will get easier <hopeful emoticon> How's Edward?

Loouise, worried and ermin, sending birthing vibes for you!

Worried, I know how annoying it is to have to post from your phone, it's absolutely endless and then you lose a post and want to kill someone

Choccie, yay on Elina sleeping so much! I was feeling exactly the same re.venturing out and about until Sunday when I HAD to go to London Up to then I had only been to Tesco since the birth, that was all and I only have Mila, you have 3! Super mum! HOpe it all went OK for you.

Tee, LOL at Adam and DH sleeping like angels and leaving you behind. Naughty boys!

Doris, so so sorry to hear about the patio issue. It's not nice to have to think about all that right after giving birth and having 2 DC as well! Hope they understand and don't expect you to run around at the moment.

Ineed, LOL at nappy synch. Hope the sleeping synch comes soon

Bunny, how's the feeding? Are the nipples better? Hope they are. Mine are better but I still fear taking the shields off

Hello to the rest of the Juners, if I've forgotten someone

Mila is doing better with the wind, I don't know if it's the infacol or if it was just a phase but she now passes it without any pain, thank God.

Today the MW came (my original one who had been on holiday last week so I had been seeing another one, who was lovely), she weighed her and told me she had gained 40gr since Sat, which is good. However, she didn't like at all the fact that I had bought nipple shields and told me I should only use them for two more days and then stop as my milk supply could diminish as my breasts won't get enough stimulation with the shields. I have no idea if this is right or not but she made me feel bad about it and I think we feel enough guilt on our own when we have to resort to these things without having to stand this kind of comments Oh well...

(((waves)))

llynn I'm not suprised you are feeling teary, try not to worry about making most of this time with walks and things, the best thing I've done this time which I never did with the other two is just lay him in the middle of the bed between us and watch him, the time passes so quickly I don't think I appreciated it last time, I hope you get catheter out soon

littlesarah congrats on the first!

better day for us here, very relaxed, didn't manage to get food shopping done tho, ended up in jewelers with dh and he bought me this on this braclet from ds3 - definitely very up and down at the moment!

Effie that's great news about Rupert's birth weight, well done both!

And congrats on the first LittleSarah, that's wonderful.

June the hormones are pretty powerful and added to tiredness can really get you down. It does pass, and soon.

lynnn I really feel for you, the catheter must be a pain in more ways than one. Just think of the relief next week when you can take it out.

Hope you've all been enjoying the sunshine.

Sarah - huge congratulations!! really pleased for you!

I have also been feeling a bit down and teary the last few days. think the majority of it is this bloody catheter though. i am so uncomfy with it and cant wait to get rid of it. other week yet though. i then feel guilty about wishing the time away as dh is back to work on monday. i dont want to go far with it in (and cant walk properly anyway) and feel like we are wasting this special time when i should be out walking with the pram and my family etc. isobel has been really unsettled the last couple of days to (properly picking up on my bad mood) and she just wont sleep in the day at all. dh took her for a drive this afternoon and managed to get her to have a couple of hours which helped me a lot, it just seems so hard at the mo! stupid hormones!!

sorry for waffling!

Mrsmcjnr - hope you are feeling better today and your dh has calmed a little, will he talk about how he is feeling? i know some men dont like to tho!

ffie - great news that Rupert has reached his birth weight and you have been signed off. i had visits from the health visitor and the midwife today!! JOY!

Doris - just what you need, extra stress!! hope your family reach some kind of understanding that you have your hands a little full at the moment and ease off about your patio!

Loouise, Ermintrude and others still waiting - hope you are doing welland your little ones will be along VEY soon. the waiting really is awful, i feel for you

louise hope youre ok, I remember the waiting was horrid and worrying.
We went out everyday to try and kill time which helped a bit.

when is the baby blues? day 3 or so?
I feel like i've had the baby blues right from birth up until yesterday (day 5 today).

going to try and get some sleep now,

Well done littlesarah!!

Effie - They are the ones we have so hopefully Alexander will like them too.

It has been confirmed! I have a FIRST! My journalism tutor just told me it is definite! I am very very pleased, there weren't many apparently! Anyway, sorry to show off but there you go!

Hi ALL.

LittleS Rupert was given a few bottles in SCBU- so it not been too bad- we use the tommie tippee, closer to nature ones- and he like those.

I forgot to congratulate silk so congratulations.

Hope laura is nearing meeting LO soon xxx

Any other Juners popping!!!???

Hello to all the others

MrsMc Hope you are ok??? We had the same decision to make about my cat-- its horrid, so sending lots of hugs your way.

We have been signed off by the mw- now Ruperts reached his birth weight, so now its over to the shite-- oops typing error-- fab health Visitors--yippee xxxx

Hope you are all well??

lots of love Me xxx

Hey, just marking the thread as well, hi to evreybody, sorry can't catch up, newborn and all that ;)

laura very impressed you can sort out the new thread between contractions.
fingers crossed for you!

They took my stitches out today, eeeekkk.
I seem to have some kind of boob leakage so gonna try expressing tonight.

Gotta teach how DH clean the baby now.

thank goodness its not just me in tears! (in the nicest possible way of course ) today the boys are in nursery and dh and I are having a very chilled out day, I'm really going to miss him next week

doris you're right about not being the right time to sort out patio, would family understand if you asked them to help with ordering at least? don't take on too much at the moment. As for making it to playgroup, dh has been with me all 3 times and my boys are wild (too much excitement about having daddy at home) so being in our v small house they just cause mayhem, playgroup can be a break. I find if I'm at home all I tell them to do is stop doing that and turn into a very negative mummy

tee hormones are the most evil and wonderful things aren't they

right food shopping and decided to buy blue clothes dye no more white baby grows!

morning all

tee, hope you managed to get some sleep in the end!

littlesarah, that's a lovely gift idea, lasts a lot longer than chocs, must remember that! If I EVER get my brain back

laura, hope you're too busy cuddling your new lo to post

Hope you all have a better day today ladies, just keep telling ourselves IT WILL GET EASIER!

waves to all

Still here Ermin & worried, still here....

Love to all ladies in tears...wish I could offer some advice, but I've only got it all to come! (((hugs)))

finally! My post actually appears on the thread!

ahhhh 7 times I have tried to post- still no baby here!! My phone keeps cutting off and I still have no net, but I am still reading posts and keeping up with things, so keep posting peeps!! And fingers crossed its not much longer for us ladies in waiting!!

have to go wake Elina for a feed in a minute (she is still sleeping for Ireland right now) but wanted to say good morning to everyone.

All you ladies with the blues , I hear you! The slightest things set me off in tears. I can't seem to cope with multi-tasking anymore which is essential with 3 dcs. Yesterday wasn't too bad so I supose we all have to take each day as it comes.

DS1 has a playdate stright from school today so I only have to collect DS2 from MOntessori. it will be my first school pick up since the birth. I also have to take a trip to the supermarket as we are low on so many things. I know these things are simple little chores but I have not ventured far out of the house yet so today will be a big day for me

Will try and catch up with you all later on.

Any news from Lauraloo???

Just signing in in case anyone thought I was off having a baby...

laura, hope that's what's you're up to. And looouise...? worriedamy..?

Hi ladies!!
bookmarking the thread!!!
Go Laura go!!!

Well, Adam the rotten child decided that daddy's walking around wasn't good enough so needed mummy's walking around to fall asleep. And now I'm wide awake while the 2 of them snooze away. Anyone want a DH and an 11 day old baby?

Hope you ladies who haven't popped yet are doing okay. Can't be much longer...can it?

mrsmcJ saw your post on the other thread...I would really encourage you to try to get DH to the doctor. He might just be overwhelmed and feeling a bit neglected, but he also might be depressed. Yelling at you in general is not on, but to do it in front of others?

insy I've been a puddle off and on all day. DH and I were down at city centre getting some things while my mum watched Adam and we had a fight in the middle of the street about whether or not to stop and buy a paper. He stalked off, I burst into tears, right on High Street. Ain't hormones grand?

toe curlingly bfing here whilst i type. think i need mw to check latch tomorrow.

baby blues hit this evening and i've been horrible to dh felt like wonderwoman 2 days ago now evil wife and mummy!

Bookmarking - thanks for starting new thread lauraloo - and will do my best to make it redundant asap!

Oh and insy I haven't managed playgroup yet, that's tomorrows joy (if I feel brave enough) so well done you and Annabelle's 2 weeks old

insy you've just described me for the last 2 weeks today was the first good day and I've still been close to tears 3 times and in tears once . Hang in there love it's got to get better than this (dd1 shouting to have bottom wiped, dd2 falling off furniture, after being shouted at to get off and me in tears as dd3 latches on and not knowing where to start!) ((((((hugs))))))

laura you're a legend new threads between contractions hopefully you're no longer at home now and (nearly) have you're new LO in your arms!!! Good Luck and looking forward to your news....

ineed littles and llynn Dh went back to work here today as well, and things went ok, far more television than normal happened but we muddled through. One good thing dh aked dd1 to help mummy and she has been an absolute star, getting things for me when I am feeding helping to get annabelles clothes out of the drawers etc. Oh complete awwww moment of the day I realised that she hadn't held her dsis, so asked her if she wanted too and the huge beam of pride as she had a picture with Anabelle in her arms was gorgeous (will stop gushing now)

Right off to do some research on the net as MIL and SFIL have let us down, they (very nicely) offered to pay for us to have a patio laid but now the quotes have come in they want me to organise all the deliveries and for dh and his step brother to do it (dh doesn't stop atm as soon as he walks through the door help cooks tea etc) As qoutes were more than they expected (£2000!!! )It's a lovely thought but not 2 weeks post partum..... just really as I got all excited about letting the girls outside this summer (DD2 can go out without very close supervision because of the risk from the mud, and so DD1 isn't allowed out when dd2 is up as she would get upset blah blah) so with all the hormones and sleep depravation was a wee bit glum earlier

Hi to the rest of you juners will check later if I'm allowed (bunny loved "the commandant")

hello all

ineed I completely agree with the increased difficultly of sleep and having more than one baby, so far I'm struglling with dh and I being out numbered, not enough pairs of hands at bed and bath time - Bear is going to have to be a very chilled out baby <<fingers crossed>>

I'm afriad I've completely lost where everyone is at but is anyone struggling with hormones/baby blues? Bear is a week old tomorrow and I've spent another day in tears, firstly I managed to bleed on my freshly washed bedcovers after my shower this am whilst getting dry and dressed, then ds2 spilt water over Bears only clean blue outfit so he's had to wear unisex newborn to playgroup and I had to sit through another round of the 'what did you have' followed by 'ooohh I bet you were hoping for a girl' so cried about that, my boobs are engored and I can't cuddle ds1 and ds2, dh has had to do story time for last 3 nights and I miss that calm chilled out time with them because the rest of the time they seem to run me ragged - please tell me I'm not alone?? <<hopeful emotion>>

Apologies for one-handed shite typing. It's harder with two isn't it llynnnn? All that 'sleep when baby sleeps' stuff doesn't apply. Poor DS gets a very snappy mummy most of the day. They also have synced with poos (but not sleep, unfortunately) so I'm often doing multiple nappy changes!

Go Laura! Can't wait to hear your news xx

Hello ladies

Well Alexander hasn't quite settled into two feeds a night... up at 2am, 4am and 6.30am last night. Still he is feeding well and it doesn't hurt anymore which is fab.

Now need to get used to being my own with two kids - ahhhhh - but it should be an easier transition than for some as my mum is going to be coming around 3 times a week for a few hours to entertain dd so I can rest. Yes my mother is my mother's help, I am lucky to have her.

bigcar - I got dh a cup with pics of him and ds and dd on it from snapfish which I think went down quite well, sounds like your t-shirt did too.

tee - as long as Rupert is feeding and well that is all that matters!

bunny - Cordelia is a gorgeous name, you used your time well! Hope your breasts/nipples are holding up.

MrsMcJnr - How is your cat? Hope you're okay, horrible situation there.

laura - yay for labour getting going! Good luck!

choccie - I know exactly how you feel about your dh going back to work. I also have had to do hardly a thing for two weeks and now I'm on my own with ds and dd! And feeling pathetically sorry for myself. He is still being great though, as I type he is hanging up washing and has already cleaned kitchen!
Glad Eleri has gained weight, Alex will be weighed tomorrow and I think he should be the same, he feeds so much!

effie - glad Rupert is feeding so well, he is happily swapping between breast and bottle? I'm nosy as I want to introduce bottle in a couple of weeks for dh to do some feeds.

loouise - No wonder you are a little down at eight days over, I was getting itchy feet before my due date! You're right though, baby will be here by the weekend at the latest, one of the coming days will be the best of your life!

silk - With ds my nipples definitely needed time to get used to bfeeding, it was really painful at first, but now it is totally fine. (Strangely it was always fine with dd but she obviously had a huge mouth!)

ermin - Hope your wee one come out to play soon, love the fan oven analogy!

Hello to everyone else!

Just marking the new thread...

Go Girl!!!!!!

good luck laura. so excited for you.

laura you are doing so well being on here and having contractions! good luck!! thanks for the new thread

ineed - so you have a night owl too! it was so much easier with the dd1 at least we could have a lie in the morning or nap in the afternoon! now its all systems go at 6.30am regardless of how much sleep i've had in the night!

here we go def last thread in ante-natal

quite surprise i can still type in between contractions