Due May 2008 - the floodgates have opened!!!

[thefortbuilder]

Pleased to be able to start the new thread with our birth announcement!

Samuel arrived at 1923 on thursday 20th March, weighing in at 4lb 10oz! After a fraught day of trying to find a hospital with a NNU with a cot (our hospital NNU was closed just as we were about to go to theatre), we finally ended up at Epsom General!

Sam is still in NNU but should be coming off his last little bit of oxygen this evening, is off CPAP, and having a go at bf'ing whenever he can (he's being fed by a tube).

I'm home and feeling a whole lot better than I did last time around, although very sore - TAKE THE PAINKILLERS THEY OFFER!!!!!

Jacob not sure about the new arrival although is smitten with his new scooter

will catch up with posts later but thanks for all your thoughts, prayers and good wishes over the last few days

xxx

[TheDuchyEggOfNorksBride]

Huge congratulations! I'm really pleased Samuel is doing so well, 4lb 10oz is a good weight for a preemie and he'll be home with you in no time. Glad you're feeling OK too - enjoy the sleep while you can! And do hang around here until a few of us can finally join you on a post-natal thread!

I have discovered that my sciatica is school run related - I have 2 separate drops in the morning and then pre-school pick-up at 12pm, Reception part-timer at 1pm and normal school end at 3.15pm. Having had 4 days off from it, I'm feeling SO much better. DS1 will go full-time after the delayed Easter holidays so hopefully that will make life a bit easier as I enter the home stretch.

Hope you've all enjoyed the long weekend.

[IndigoBlue]

Congratulations flick! Glad Sam is doing well, and you're feeling not too bad after the c-section. Have you got any pics you can post of him?

[Mocat]

Wonderful to hear from you Flick and congratulations on the birth of Samuel. Great to hear all went well. Hope you continue to recover and that Samuel goes from strength to strength.

I can't wait until this baby arrives. I am with the others who say 'How are we going to get through the next 8 weeks or so?'. I have it in my head that this one is going to arrive before its due date, DD came one week early so why shouldn't this one?

Little snow here in N. Ireland, just flipping cold in the wind. Lovely big bump acts as wind break though. I'm still going for a walk most days but my routes are getting shorter and shorter and I had to take tiny steps up a gentle slope today - I could really feel a head in my pelvis. Lots of non-pregnant people on a narrow path behind me who were forced to walk VERY slowly. I'm telling myself that they wouldn't have been able to tell from behind that I am pregnant and I probably frustrated them ... didn't care! Need a 'Wide Load' sign for back of jacket.

I can't find any nice pyjamas or nighties online for hospital and beyond. They need to let me breastfeed but the only ones I can see are really horrible. Has anybody found any nice ones?

[pregnabrain]

Awww congratulations Flick! So glad to hear that all has gone well and so that you're already getting to know your little bundle.

Hope you don't have to trek out to Epsom for too long! I'm sure he'll be home with you very soon.

[KangaAndRoo]

Congrats on the birth of Samuel, Flick!!! hope he grows big n strong!!!!

[macaco]

Congratulations Flick!

Lovely name, Samuel. Look after yourself and enjoy your little one!

I'm finally on maternity leave...only 4 weeks to go now. Feeling large and lumbering but otherwise well. Off to pick up the moses basket tomorrow and then really need to get the nursery tidied up and sorted and think about my hospital bag. Have started my hypnobirthing CD, hopefully not too late. Getting a bit nervous now!

M

[baiyu]

Flick Congratulations! This whole pregnancy lark has just got a lot more real!

Mocat I have pyjamas a bit like these which are pretty comfy but I haven't quite worked out what's going on with the straps yet! Mine are spotty and a bit cheaper but couldn't find them online. I also have these which are amazing now, they come up over my bump, but might look a bit silly minus bump. Hope that helps a little. I do really like both pairs and pyjamas are important to me!

pinacolada82 I've had arnica for every bump and bruise since I was a child, my mum's a big believer in it and so am I. I really think it helps and definately not just for caesareans! Some chemists are so snotty about anything herbally so just ignore them, it definitely won't do any harm. Thanks for cheering my count down, I'm ridiculously excited about seeing him again (and also that'll mean it's very nearly baby time too!)

Has anyone ever tried a Close baby sling? I really want one but they're very dear, following a few on ebay but they keep going for too much. They're here if anyone wants a look, I think they look fab. Great for festivals with baby this Summer (only semi-joking!)

Night all and congrats again Flick!

[Coolmama]

congratulations flick!!! - Have started my 6 week countdown today and have begun my humungous countdown lists - headed "Nursery", "baby 0-3mnths", "hospital bag - me" and "hospital bag- baby" - I had forgotten how much stuff is involved!!!
Mocat - just bought men's button PJ's From M and S - they were perfect!

[Yankunian]

Hey all - I tried to join this ages ago but see I am not on the list - do I need to add it myself? Sorry I am a bit rubbish/new to MN and still trying to get my head around these strange customs. Anyway, my EDD is May 10 - first baby, a girl.

Have started with perineal massage (ouch!) and raspberry leaf tea this week. There seems to be some confusion over when to start RL tea but I am in week 34 so hope its not too soon.

[Mocat]

Thanks baiyu, Coolmama and pinacolada82 for the great pj advice. It was good to be able to take a look too, thanks. I'm going to order some stuff today.

Had the oddest night's sleep. I make a point of not eating before I go to bed as it just gives me heartburn and a wick night's sleep. But now I'm waking at about 5am and I'm starving. My tummy is rumbling so loudly that it wakens me up! I had my first breakfast at 5am, a second breakfast after 7am and then more at 9! What is happening to me? Am I turning into a hobbit or is the baby piling on the pounds and I'm just responding to that? I have not been eating at this pace so far. Is this happening to anyone else?

Enjoy your maternity leave macaco!

[goodcatholicgirl]

Hi all,

baiyu - lots of sympathy for the mum stress thing....it's just crap isn't it?? You really look forward to seeing them, then they just ruin it all be being, well, you know, just a MUM!!!! (Obviously we will NEVER be like this when we are older ).

fleurie Yes I get rib/numb/tingling at top of my bump, only ever on the right. I'm assuming it's baby pressing on nerves (anything nervey presents as tingling or numbness). I find lying on left side helps, and since reading all the posts on here, raising my arm too!!

mocat or anyone interested in pyjamas, I got some really fab ones from M&S that were only £10, great for summer, strappy sleeves, and 3/4 length bottoms. The straps are elasticated lace, so you can just pull the top down under your boob to feed, I found them really comfy, and excellent for feeding, and I even wore them in that super hot summer in 2006. I think they still sell them, they come in pink, mint green, black and red I think. Will try and add a link though never done it before....
My DD was a week early too, so I am assuming this one will be early too, well, hoping. Just a week or two.

flick welcome to the world little Samuel. I'm glad all is well, and hope he continues t thrive how you say he is. Look after yourself. XXX

Well girls, tonight I am going on a 'DATE' with DH!!! We are going to see the new musical production of 'The Wedding Singer' film. Have to travel about an hour to Reading Theatre, but MIL is having DD OVERNIGHT(!!!!) so we will have a lovely lie in tomorrow (DH on 4 days off). Shame hanky panky is a bit tricky these days, although I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to just try......

Just bought my neworn size nappies in Tesco, so I will start getting my bag together now. If on time, only about 5 weeks to go....!!!
Now I have finished work I just keep thinking about my new baby and getting v excited.

kangaandroo Yes, Denny is my 'regular MN user'. She is one of my very BF's from uni, and we often crash each others threads to see what we are up to!! Anyway, I have emailed you now so you can email back what you think the name is!!! Hee hee!!

Well, I 'd better go and have my power nap so that I can stay awake during the show tonight.....oh yeah, and we are going out for dinner too!!!! better take some Gaviscon with me .

Have a good day all,

GCG xxx

[KangaAndRoo]

Oooh enjoy the show GCG!!! very envious!! lol shall go an email you now lol

Chemists have to cover their backs with herbal stuff...hth

Baiyu.....the pjs from BM...are they a two pack??? think theyre the cheapest ive seen so far if so. Can you believe that nowhere around here does button front pjs...normal or in maternity!!!!!

[JackBlackRoady]

Congratulations flick - I love the name Samuel and I am so pleased he is doing well. Take care of yourself and can we see pictures?!?!

Hi Yankunian - people just copy and paste the list, putting whatever details they like, and I expect you were added at some point and then you were missed off the next time it was posted - I've done that and I think it made someone on here want to throttle me, but it wasn't on purpose! sorry! I am starting Raspberry leaf tea this week too, and I am due two days before you, so pretty mush the same. Are you biulding up the wmount you take slowly? I have been googling to find out all about it...

pinacolada - so pleased you are not a stresshead any more!!! so, do you only take the Arnica after the birth? As does it bring labour on? i have some too and was told by the woman in Holland and Barrett to only take it after birth.

I am reading a pg book at the moment which is going on about the cervix being ripe, and making me wish I could be my own midwife and see what the cervix looks like when it is unripe, ripe, and dilated - i am getting fascinated! (Shame DH isn't {hmm})

Lots of love to mums and bumps, and flick and baby!
JBR
xxx