SouthSea's All American Baby thread

[duchesse]

New thread for well-wishers to leave messages! And for Southsea to leave links to photos of the Pebble (hint hint) [you don't have to Southsea)

[Dysgu]

What a gorgeous little boy you have, Southsea. DP and I have been lurking since the beginning but have never posted.

We had a 4lb-er born after my waters went early - admittedly at home on the IoW rather than in USA - but now, 4.5years down the road, you would never know she had been so little and early.

It is hard to leave them in hospital whilst you 'go home' but they really are in the best place with people who really know about getting them to the point where you can bring them home.

I second the earlier suggestion of printing off these threads - and also of asking for all the bits and pieces they use for him in the hospital. Our DD loves looking through her memory bag of stuff from her earliest days - and you have a fabulous story to tell your little boy when he is bigger.

I hope Thomas (Samuel?) continues to do so well and that you manage to bring him home soon.

Congratulations to you and Mr Southsea.

[jenga079]

So good to hear you're doing so well. CONGRATULATIONS again!

How about mumsnet as a middle name?

[brambleschooks]

Lovely news. Have a cuppa! xx

[mathanxiety]

What a fine pink little baby, and you look radiant .

Here's a preemie site you might like to take a look at.

Make sure you have something really warm to wrap up in when you leave the hospital. It's a lot colder in Philly now than it was when you went in.

I took home everything I could pay my hands on from my DCs when they left hospital. They wore the hospital clothes until I dressed them to go home and they love looking at the little white items, hats, wristbands, etc.

[Sparklies]

Awwwww.. he's lovely!! You're looking great too! :) Congratulations again!!

I bet you're going to feel absolutely knackered when you walk out of the place. You do anyway after pregnancy and birth, but after 48 days lying in bed - bye bye muscle tone! I spent 4 months on bedrest (to be fair, the last 6-8 weeks I would hobble a few hundred yards every now and again) and I felt so shattered. BUT - without baby in my belly I actually managed better than expected so hopefully this will be the case for you too.

It'll come back pretty quickly though, and you'll be hiking along the seafront back home in blustery gales watching the hovercraft and taking Thomas to the SeaLife museum in no time :)

[Louii]

Congratulations!

He is absolutely lovely, not a wee skinny thing either.

[DancingThroughLife]

He is an absolute smasher. Well done all of you!

I like someone's suggestion on the second thread of Lincoln as a middle name, in honour of being born on Lincoln's Day (or whatever it's really called )

Thomas Lincoln has a ring to it.

Enjoy your gorgeous little boy. Can't wait to hear how the rest of this journey goes. Tears and all round I think

[Keziahhopes]

Massive congratulations to you all.. I followed you since the first thread, but only delurking now!! Off to look at photos! Enjoy being more active and hope your American new family spoil you too x

[EveryonesJealousOfGingers]

Huge congratulations and well done to all of you and your fab team - what a lovely ending to this story, and an amazing beginning to your life as a family!

[Southsearocks]

Hi,

Thanks and congrats to all you new mummies too! What a special time. Thomas's cousins are so excited, they can't wait to have him home either. Think I'm going to get plenty of help .

The kangaroo care is really lovely. I'm going back in a few hours for another hold. Only 20 mins or so as he has to be under the UV light most of the time but every minute is a joy.

I'm a bit puffy and my legs look like seal pups, and feeling quite washed out and lightheaded but apparently I lost a bit of blood yesterday so that's why. I remembered that at one point the doctor was kneading my stomach to try to move the placenta and a big jet of projectile blood shot out and covered him with a loud squeltch He had to go and change. I laughed and apologised, thinking this was quite normal.....

I'm going to try and pump through the night tonight although what I'd really like to do is kid myself that I don't have to and sleep through. But I do want to get the milk going so needs must! I hope I can get used to it. It does feel strange and I am a bit sore already. Using the Lansinoh each time. I'm getting too little to hoover up in a syringe just yet but there are blobs of the good stuff coming through so I'm sure it will happen.

I've discovered there is absolutely no glamour in child birth. I've had umpteen people rooting around in my foo, examining my backside and checking my lady bits. The dinner lady came in today while I had a pump on each breast and was typing away on the laptop (she said she's used to it and I believe her), and now I'm stripping when I go to visit the baby. It feels like the world and his wife have had access to the most intimate parts of my body these last seven weeks. Poor DP has seen the lot, and watched me go through labour. I will aim to re-glamourise for his sake once things are more settled .

[cloudydays]

Aw Southsea I just had a look at your pics and now I'm all teary. You did so well to keep Thomas safe and sound for all those weeks until he was ready for the world, and now there he is in your photos, a good-sized, gorgeous little boy.

Just wanted to wish you well (again) after seeing Thomas' lovely little face.

Hope you get some sleep between pumping sessions.

[Sparklies]

Yep, no glamour in childbirth :) You do tend to lose some inhibitions though - I am incredibly shy and private normally but when it comes to medical stuff I don't bat an eyelid now - like you I am just too used to having a medical team peering up where the sun don't shine with a torch for hours on end..!

Oh dear at your doctor getting covered in blood! I managed to (whilst unconscious) squirt a registrar in the eye with my last operation. We both had to have blood tests. Glad I am not a doctor!!

So glad you are able to do kangaroo care. Not every hospital does it, so it sounds like yours is very progressive. It must be lovely cuddling your special man :)

Sympathy on the having to get up and pump.. it's bad enough having to get up and feed the baby but at least you get to be with the baby! It's really hard to adjust to having only a few hours sleep but keep on remembering it's not forever - it's a cliche but this too will pass! I never knew I could fall asleep whilst walking until I had my first child!

Any news on a likely return date to the UK? Guess you're going to be in paperwork hell for a while longer yet.. so much sympathy!!

[girlsyearapart]

Glad to hear from you southsea will be off to look at your photos in a minute

I remember from when my nephew was in the nicu it's so hard to leave and even after 7 weeks of him being in there he still came home to sleep in a drawer cos the cot hadnt arrived !

So happy shopping- he ll be the best dressed baby at baby groups you go to back home

[Bicnod]

Oh congratulations Southsea - have only just seen this - he is beautiful and you look so happy and knackered and new mummy-ish

I'm expecting DC2 in July and reading about little Thomas made me weep over my muesli - can I blame the hormones?

Sounds like you're doing brilliantly with the pumping. Keep at it - your dolly parton moment will come - I think my milk kicked in around day 3.

He's so lovely. Well done you :)

[DebiTheScot]

Congratulations on your gorgeous baby boy I had to check this thread on my weekend away just to find out if he'd been born yet!

[propercrimbo]

Massive congratulations again Southsea's

[jomummyof3]

im in! great seeing the thread continuing! i am new to mumsnet and this has been a fantastic introduction.
Samuel would be a fab middle name. maybe im a bit biased as my littlest is Sam (Samuel on his bc)

right where are those piccies....

[Woodlands]

Many many congratulations - he's gorgeous!

[Flisspaps]

What a gorgeous boy and you look really well!

[crapbarry]

aww, he's gorgeous southsea - brought a tear to my eye! and he looks much bigger than 4 lbs (sorry to echo all previous posters :o)

many congratulations!

[mohara]

WOW !

What a gorgeous little boy-congratulations! You look brilliant in the pics, considering what you have been through-well done!

[BonzoDooDah]

Hey Southsea I found pumping incredibly difficult but a hint someone gave me was to look at a photograph of baby whilst pumping. It reminds your brain why you are doing it. Maybe that would help you or having a blanket or babygrow near you with his smell on. Also it's not harder and faster is better but a more rhythmic stop start sucky motion that helped me. I'm sure it will get easier ... good on you for persevering.

[SindyW]

I've follow this thread from the beginning and am over the moon that you and the baby are doing great. Congratulations and all the best for the future.
Many years ago (1992) we were living in Newcastle and about to move to Essex. I was 28 weeks pregnant with 1st child and my waters broke whilst visiting Essex. I understand a little of how it has been for you.
Good luck for the future.

[StayingDavidTennantsGirl]

What absolutely lovely pictures, Southsea - he is a lovely little boy (and gets his looks from his mum, clearly).

And Samuel sounds like a lovely middle name - it goes well with Thomas, and as you say, it is a nice reminder of the circumstances of his birth.

[CrispyTheCrisp]

Fantastic pics Southsea, you look amazing for not having slept and gone through childbirth and a knockout op. Thomas is gorgeous and i hope he escapes SCBU very soon.

I got pretty good at pumping in the end and remember playing cards with a group of friends and thinking nothing of it . I hope they felt the same way