August 2010: August is here, our babes are near!

[vitapulchra]

LIST
In Sweet Memory Of Belle, Daughter Of CazEM. Our First August Angel Was Born Asleep 21.6.10 at 00:08, 4lbs 5oz

ARRIVED
2 July (due 29 July) CherryPie - #3 BOY, Corey Owen, born 08:11, 8lbs 4oz.
18 July (due 25 July) Emster - #1 BOY, James, born 18:37, 9lbs 4oz
23 July (due 20 July) Aussie - #1 BOY, James (Jamie), born 02:50 and weight?
23 July (due 22 July) Chulita - #2 BOY, Samson William, born 01:15, 8lbs 3oz.
25 July (due 29 July) BouncingBlueberries - #2 BOY, Glenn, born 02:02, 7lbs 3oz.
25 July (due 4 August) Girlsyearapart - #3 GIRL, Matilda Queenie (Tilly), born 11:05, 8lb 10oz.
28 July (due 4 August) Kcoffin - #3 GIRL, Ruby Mae, born 14:49, 6lb 11oz.

WAITING ROOM
26 July - Anifersgirl, #1, age 33 South Bucks, 33week scan extended breech GIRL
28 July - CazzyBabs #4, Cambridge , SURPRISE
31 July - Missus84, #1, Bristol . Age 26 BOY
01 Aug - Nikalah, #1, Dorset . Age 35, GIRL
01 Aug - Bumblingaround #4, SURPRISE
02 Aug - Dibbydab, #1, Devon . Age 34 SURPRISE
02 Aug - summerymummy, #2, age 29, Berkshire , SURPRISE
02 Aug - JamieJay, #1, Cardiff . Age 29 - GIRL
03 Aug - fuzzybunny, #2, age27, Somerset SURPRISE
03 Aug - carolondon #1 North London age 37, BOY
05 Aug - RachelParker #1, age 26, Wandsworth ( London ), GIRL
06 Aug - YummymummyKJulie, #1, NW London , GIRL
07 Aug - NichyNoo, #1. Brussels . Age 30 - BOY
07 Aug - Weehector #1, Largs. Age 36.. BOY
08 Aug ? ElusiveMoose #2 Kent 33 BOY
08 Aug - DriedApricots #2, Surrey, SURPRISE
09 Aug - possiblenewmum #1, Guildford , age 31, GIRL
09 Aug ? Alice #2 Suffolk age 25, BOY
09 Aug - thecoffeelady #2, Fleet, Hants, age 32, SURPRISE
11 Aug ? CellyD #1, Walthamstow, SURPRISE
10 Aug ? SayAnything #1, Brussels , age 33, BOY
12 Aug - tunise, #4, Suffolk , age 31. GIRL
13 Aug ? Neenz #3 Liverpool (32) - SURPRISE
14 Aug - LCRLCR #1, Brighton , age 34, SURPRISE
14 Aug - Burkoid, #2 SURPRISE
14 Aug ? babyducky #2, Brighton , age 24, SURPRISE
15 Aug ? LizzieA #1 Wirral, 33, scan ok BOY
15 Aug - thedogwalker #1, age 37, Germany (originally from Halifax), BOY
16 Aug - parkgirl #1, 20wk scan fine - GIRL
16 Aug - Tah2 #3, South Wales . SURPRISE
16 Aug - Vix206 #1, Leicester , 32, BOY
16 Aug ? cakeywakey, #2, age 32, GIRL
17 Aug - Doodleydoo #2 Kent still just 34, SURPRISE
18 Aug ? Isheisnthe #3 Camberley, FPH, Age 33, BOY
18 Aug - biddysmama #2, Lancashire , BOY
19 Aug - marzipananimal #1, York , age 24 SURPRISE
19 Aug ? Bubbabear #1, Reading/Berks age 30, BOY
20 Aug - JessieEssex #1, age 33, SURPRISE
20 Aug - USMum27 #1, age 26, Wandsworth. GIRL
21 Aug - CrunchieNutterII #2, age 34, Devon , SURPRISE
22 Aug - Poncherello #2, North London , SURPRISE
23 Aug - chickieno1 #1, SURPRISE
23 Aug ? loobyt #2, age 34, Devon, SURPRISE
24 Aug ? JaysFourth #4, age 38, GIRL
24 Aug - growingbump2, #2, age 25, Isle of Man , SURPRISE
25 Aug - Sal321, #1, age 31, Essex SURPRISE
25 Aug - Sam86 #2 Liverpool , GIRL
25 Aug ? aendr #2, Huntingdonshire, 33, GIRL
25 Aug - Joey30, #1, Halifax - West Yorkshire , age 30., BOY
25 Aug - Soontobefatnat #1 SE London Age 30, BOY
26 Aug - pamplem0usse, age 26, #1, Herts SURPRISE
27 Aug - Jamiki #3, SURPRISE
28 Aug - LittleMissSnowShine, #1, age 26, Belfast, SURPRISE
29 Aug - Hildainstant #1, Sunderland , age 30, SURPRISE
29 Aug - Foxyjbro #3, age 30, Shropshire, SURPRISE
29 Aug - LilyPad72 #1, age 37, Berkshire , BOY
29 Aug - starshaker #2 & 3 Ayrshire Age 29 VIOLET TWINS
30 Aug - Sparkle #1, age 31, Kent SURPRISE
31 Aug ? vitapulchra, #4, Guernsey , 32, BOY
02 Sept - MrsZaC, #1, Glasgow , age 26 SURPRISE
08 Sept - ronx, #2, London , age 37, SURPRISE

BABY COUNT
Boys - 22
Girls - 17
Surprises - 30

TOTAL - 69

Cazzy - I thought I did too but I noticed that J was settling into a sort of routine (at some times of day anyway) quite naturally (ie we always found ourselves sitting on the sofa feeding whilst watching the end of Murder She Wrote and then Zingzillas (and me too disorganised to have put the remote control within reach to turn bloody Zingzillas off!) so I just thought it might be worth trying to capitalise on that particularly before some of the less desirable routines got too established!

The CLB book is (as Neenz notes) a bit extreme for me in many ways - I cannot bring myself to "make" J stay awake when he is tired so he naps earlier in the morning than the CLB book suggests is ideal. But some suggestions have really worked so a quick top and tail in the morning has kept J awake a litle longer which makes it easy for me to make my antenatal group coffee and cake mornings etc while J naps and and has made his morning naps more conistent (if not the CLB gold standard). Similarly we had agreed that DH would bath J in the evening and then have some naked tummy time. This was working fine except for the fact that J was not settling until 9pm and then waking 3/4 times in the night. The CLB book suggested turning this around so naked tummy time is first. So J now settles earlier, feeds better at 11pm and then wakes less durng the night. As I say, a lot of it is too much for us this early (and to a certain extent really strict routines are simply not compatible with our lifestyle (and undeniably we're too selfish to completely sacrifice life for routine) but some of it is really useful. It's probably mainly common sense but DH and I are still v new at this and a bit uncertain so it is quite good having some of these things pointed out to us which others might well have worked out on their own. I'm ignoring the stuff about self settling etc (he does that when he is tired enough and not otherwise) and if J's desire to suckle himself or be cuddled to sleep becomes an issue in the future well we wil deal with that then - probably trying something milder like pick up put down or no cry (or something innovative of our own!!!)

Neenz - we have an ergo and it is wonderful but J seems to catnap in it a lot rather than wake or sleep fully but it made for a fab and easy full day out at Belvoir Castle last weekend!

Going to look up millionaires shortbread.

Congrats to all the new arrivals!! :)

Just checking in to tell you that I am stil here but I'm more of a lurker now.

Everything going fine here. Feeding still going ok with the nipple shields - I have vowed to use them even when my nipples heal as they look so much like bottle teats I'm afraid he'll have forgotten what its like to latch on properly. I did have a crying fit the other night tho . I'd taken Corey to Tesco and had to feed him in the mum and baby room and left my shields there!! I was panicking wondering how on earth I was going to feed him - DH went back for them . I'm sure he thought 9 (or perhaps 8 in my case) months of hormones was enough

Hope you're all well - I'll keep watching for more announcements - I'm a regular of fb as my phone gives me free access so I'll keep a lookout on there too.

:):):)

Hi all,

Re GF, I was quite a fan with DS as well. Didn't really start with it until about 2-3 months, and never left DS to cry, but found the basic routine worked well for us (I'm a bit of an organisation freak, so it suited me).

Well, the MW appt was all a bit frustrating. She did a sort of sweep - she could reach to give the cervix a good poke, but not to actually feel inside. I was relieved that it didn't hurt . She said the cervix felt very soft, so at least I'm getting there, but she couldn't really tell whether I'm 'imminent' or not.

Anyway, she wanted to book me for induction on Friday or Saturday (due date + 2 weeks is Saturday) but the hospital is fully booked each day . And I didn't want it as early as Thursday, so I might not be induced until Monday. Which is fine, but the monitoring really steps up a gear now. I've got to see the consultant on Thursday, and then go in every day to have either a scan or a heart trace. Again, fine. But if I go in on Thurs and the consultant's at all worried, then they'll keep me in and induce straight away; and if a slot suddenly becomes free, then they'll book me in for Friday after all. And of course I could still go into labour naturally (though no twinges following the sweep as yet ). Aaarggghh! It's not the waiting that bothers me, actually, it's the not knowing - particularly for DS's sake.

Anyway, I'm off to have dinner. I'll try to check in later. xx

Aussie, totally agree re some of the tips in the GF book - they are very handy and not just for first-timers! I agree with you on feeding to sleep too - I always did that with the twins for the first 6mths and am doing it now with D (my motto is 'if it cries, feed it!') There's plenty of time when they are older (6m+) to learn to self-settle. It never hurts to let them have a bit of a fuss though - I wouldn't rush to pick them up as soon as they murmur.

Doodley, don't feel too down about your DS's id tags. He will know how much you love him by how you are with him not what bits you kept from the hospital. It will be a running joke when they are older that you love DD more cos of the tag but they will know it's not true. My sisters and I have digs at each other like that all the time about who is the favourite when we all know there isn't a fave. DH really wanted to keep DT2's id tag but it was full of poo aso I made him chuck it away. I figured that my mum never kept anything like that from my birth/childhood and I have never felt like I missed out!

Elusive, fingers crossed labour starts naturally soon!

Elusive sending lots of happy easy labour vibes your way :)

Doodley I had a moment like this when I realised Corey's hospital id bracelets were gone too - then I remembered that I don't have dd's or ds's either. It hasn't bothered anyone since. And like Neenz said - I don't feel deprived because my mum never saved my hosp tag - in fact she didn't keep anything from my birth other than me! :)

post-natal thread

xxxx

Thanks for all the yummy baking vix and ducky lol I was doing so well being in domestic goddess mode last week with my Nigella brownies and my organic muffins but now I really can't be arsed!! Might do a banana bread tomorrow tho - will def bring some round to share :)

Re: nursing bras - am I wrong in thinking it might be ok to leave these until I really need them? When I first got preg, my boobs were really, really, really sore! So I bought some cheap maternity ones in H&M, which also double up as nursing bras, so I've chucked one of these in my hospital bag. I normally wear a 36D, these are a 38E and I was under the impression that when your milk comes in that your boobs can go up another cup size or two, so I could end up being a 38G . Is that right? And if that's the case is there any point in getting a nursing bra before this? Just wanted to check I haven't left out doing something vital in advance of LO's arrival!!

Up at 6:45am this morning so big tick for early morning wake up but fell asleep for an hour at 3pm so not exactly brimming with energy today. Going to try and make it to bed by 10ish...but we'll see if that really happens

Hi all

just a quick check in, for updating purposes... takes a while on the phone and i am not very paitient with it!

I am still in hospital, and have been in for a week now, ( unstable lie ) with no sign of her turning into head down position. So today the consultant performed a ECV, which involved me having a presentation scan (showing oblique) they then proceeded to turn baby round and it proved successful, in that her head was down :) I then was monitored for an hour to ensure all was ok and i was given anti D ( i am o- ) just in case there was any blood cross over. I am now back on ward waiting till tomorrow to see if she has stayed down. IF she stays down, i have requested a controlled ARM ( membrane rupture) and so the induction would begin. IF she has moved, i will be staying in hospital till next Tuesday ( due date) where i would have a repeat ECV and ARM at the same time.....failing all this, a Section will be booked for after due date..... phew, hope that made sense.

39 weeks today

Hi all
just a quick note to say the Imogen Elizabeth arrived at 9.28 this morning after and quick and intense 8 hour labour. Gas and air (just about) got me through and we are all home safe and well! She is gorgeous. 6lb 14.
x

Neenz - I'm trying to restrain myself! It's getting the balance right as he goes from cooing to screaming awfully quickly sometimes!

Congrats Jessie - you're doing well being out so early.

Hope you're doing OK Jaysfourth and not going stircrazy - are you at Queens or City?

LittleMiss - I think it would be sensible to wait. My breasts are huge now. I was 34c/d went to 34 g when pg and am now considerably larger than that with bf. I had bought some bras pre giving birth and they are no use at all (quite uncomfortable in fact) and I need to get my arse in gear and go and be re-measured (horribly worried I will leak breastmilk while being measured so putting it off).

Hope you're OK Doodley - as everyone else says I'm sure he wont mind at all. My mum kept all my baby teeth when they fell out. Nasty looking little things - I'm very close to my mum despite this freakish behaviour not because of it!

Elusive - I think the whole labour/lack of control thing is just mental preparation for having a baby around! If you're being monitored and all is fine then presumably you could tell them that Friday is out of the question - ie it is Monday unless there is a medical reason to induce earlier. It's not much but it is a bit more clarity.

I'd just like to say that I love my i-phone. It's actually DH's old one as he was given one by work and I just love it. I would have gone stir crazy without it since J was born - I'm always checking on you guys or on facebook or ebay or emails and I seem to need constant access to "to do" lists these days or I would never remember to do anything!

Queens, Aussie...

i too, do lots of check ups on my phone, i just hate the ickkle keypad sometimes!

Congrats Jessie

Going to go against the grain here and say I hated gina ford - the harder i tried to get ds1 to fit her routines, the more miserable he became. Didn't suit us at all! Also really dislike her theories on a lot of stuff and imo some of her routines can be really damaging to breastfeeding. But she does work for a lot of people, so each to their own I guess.

My iPhone on the other hand, I adore! It has been my lifeline! Dh has the new iPhone 4 and has taken loads of little videos of the boys which the grandparents go daft for!

just a quickie to say, I'm still here! not very good at checking up on my mumsnet whilst I'm at my parents as the computer is sooo uncomfortable to sit at, but I will try to catch up sometime soon, just this minute heard my friend has had her baby girl no2! called Olivia (thankfully not one of my names ;0)) hopefully going to visit tomorrow - can't wait!!

Super dooper congrats to those whom have recently popped, coffeelady weehector jessie rachel and nikala I think that's me up to date! I was thinking when we're all done prouducing our babies we should make a baby wall with pictures of all the august ladies babies - that would be CUTE!

must dash, hopefully to get some shut eye!

nite ladies xxx

now I want an iphone!! DH has been agitating to get one but he also has sky sports and gym membership so i put foot down and said no more monthly expenses or we'll never be able to afford a holiday anywhere next year and after being at home all this year I def need some sunshine to look forward to next summer lol

but now i have serious iphone envy!!

Morning

More Congratulations!!!!!

Elusive hopefully they will hold off until monday, unless it all kicks off naturally for you, fingers crossed.

CS tomorrow. Lots to do today to make sure everyone is ready and knows what is going on. I wouldn't say i am a control freak, but i like to know there is a plan. I just feel like there is this huge responsibility that is all mine iyswim? I am the one having this baby (ok, cheating with the cs) i am the one sorting childcare for DD, organising food for everyone, packing hospital bags, getting all the last minute bits, i am however delegating the horses entirely to DH today, as i just don't physically feel i will be up to it with everything else that needs doing.

Well done Jessie!

Hope your LO stays head down Jaysfourth. It must be frustrating being in hospital.

Another good night here with D - he is so gorgeous I want him to stay this little forever! I didn't really enjoy this stage with the DTs cos it was so tiring so I am absolutely loving it this time

alice good luck

morning all

very goodluck Alice with your CS today, hope all goes well for you :)

Neenz, they really dont stay little for long, its lovely you are enjoying every moment!!

no joy re my LO. She has returned to her ever so comfy oblique position which is highly frustrating. So next plan of attack means me staying in hospital till next Tuesday, then turning her again and carrying out a controlled ARM....
Its a strange feeling, (like you Alice) i like to be in control and with this i dont feel 100% in charge. I could go with the ECS, but all the while there is something i can try i want to follow that path. Then i have a little niggle as to whether or not i am doing the right thing, not just for me but everyone else concerned... its such a trying time at the moment

Alice good luck! Looking forward to our post-natal catch up if my LO ever decides to arrive.
Jays really sorry she's moved, roll on next Tuesday for you (I'm in next Wednesday).....

Feeling rather crap which is why I haven't been posting. Return of MS and puking every morning boo.

Jays, sorry she has turned back. Will they give you a trial of labour if she is still oblique? I would go with that and just see how it goes. But would they want to monitor you really closely, restricting your movement etc? That would probably stop her from turning head down during labour so defeats the point a bit...? I am sure whatever you decide will be for the best anyway

Hope you're OK at Queens Jaysfourth - it scares the crap out of me it is so huge. I had to go there on Monday for J to have some blood tests (still slghtly jaundiced) and I was nearly in tears by the time I found the ward! I guess once you are actually on the maternity ward though the size of the place as a whole is irrelevant and you must have settled in by now! Hope she turns for you.

Alice I'm sure you were joking but I certainly don't think you are "cheating"!!

Blueberries - I agree horses for courses. They say you get the baby you deserve and DH and I are as non-routine as you can get (so not naturally GF followers) but J seems to like his routines. We are just going to have to get used to each other!! Today I committed the cardinal sin of not being up by 6.45 (we snoozed and cuddled until 8.15 which was lovely but now seems a long time ago) and he has been a little demon all morning, not slept clearly now overtired and I can't succumb to shoving him in the car for an hour and going for a drive as I have a supermarket delivery booked!

MrsZac - As a completely non-creative person I think that photowall idea is a fab one!

Going to look up flight times and costs now for our trip to Aus this Xmas. At least I know we will be getting some summer this year even if it is in December on the other side of the world!

Alice - Good luck for today!! Hope all goes well, sounds like you have everything possible under control so now you have to just relax and get ready to meet the baby :)

Pample - Sorry the sickness has come back Whenever I was throwing up in hospital on Monday it brought it all back for me and it was not the nicest thing to be reminded of!! Hope it dies down again for you...

Def no imminent signs of LO's arrival for me today - I'm hungry and a bit sleepy but def not in about-to-give-birth mode. Damn it, no excuse not to bake a banana bread this afternoon then!!

Ladies...... calm down, my cs is tomorrow not today

I have been to M&S though to stock up on essentials (percy pigs, cheese twists, posh juice etc) for when i come out and realised i only have about 20 or so breast pads, so stocked up on those. Got some cards and birthday presents that will be needed in the next week or two.

This afternoon i am planning on resting, re-packing hospital bag and spending some time with DD.

Reading about breast pads has reminded me of 2 things....

1. Have any of you tried these www.simplylily.com/ - they were recommended at a breastfeeding workshop I went to and I cannot recommend them highly enough. Totally reusable, invisible and you forget you are wearing them. So much better than any of the disposable or cotton ones I have tried. You can get them from Boots and Mothercare, and they are also on eBay, Amazon and several baby websites - just google Lilypadz.

1. Anyone wanting to buy bras from Figleaves use the code FIGBABY at checkout to get 10% off. I bought a couple of nursing bras yesterday, may not fit but they have a free returns service so I can swap for a better size if needs be.

I've made a trifle today, well its not really a trifle it is my version of a trifle that I remember from childhood. So I bung some strawberry swiss roll in the bottom of a bowl, cover with fresh strawberries, cover that with strawberry jelly and allow to set. Then cover with strawberry angel delight. Very sweet and very comforting!

I have also just finished cleaning the fridge from top to bottom. I am so bored and fed up of waiting for the baby now, trying to stay active and upright to encourage him along!