The Bumper Edition of the First Time Frolicker Graduates

[Hermya321]

Right then , what's everyone having? I have all sorts behind here both alcoholic and non alcoholic and an array of snacks as well.

Here is a link to the Future Grads Thread

Stats:

ARRIVALS:

Fulhamgirl - EDD 30th May - DOB 9th Apr - Girl - Lily Ann - 4lb
Trying4Baby1 - EDD 25th Apr - DOB 6th May - Girl - Emily - 10lb 2.5oz
Pepperonipizza -EDD 24th May - DOB 28th May -Boy
CurlyCasper - EDD 21st July - DOB 24th June - Girl
Spirael - EDD 25th Jul - DOB 7th July - Girl - Miranda Jane - 8lb 3oz
DesperateHousewife21 - EDD 18th July - DOB 9th July - Boy - Dylan James
Sazziej - EDD 1st Sep- DOB 24th Aug - Girl - Evie - 7lb 8oz
Ozziegirly - EDD 24th Aug -DOB 25th Aug - Boy-Thomas - 7lb 1oz

CURRENT GRADUATES:

NovemberAli - BFP 24th Dec - EDD 2nd Sep - Surprise
WhiteRoses - BFP 11th Jan - EDD 15th Sep - Boy
Hobnob - BFP 17th Jan - EDD 26th Sep - Girl
Pixiestix - BFP 18th Jan - EDD 24th Sep - Surprise
Addie81 - BFP 28th Jan - EDD 7th Oct - Girl
Chancewouldbeafinething - BFP 1st Feb - EDD 10/10/10 - Boy
WorrisomeHeart - BFP 29th Jan - EDD 12th Oct - Boy - Lochlann
Hermya321 - BFP 12th Feb - EDD 24th Oct - Boy
Fudgecat - BFP 19th Feb ? EDD 28th Oct
Pidgin - BFP 27th Feb - EDD?
YorkshireTeaDrinker - BFP 1st Mar - EDD 6th Nov
Bunnygirl80 - BFP 12th Mar - EDD 19th Nov-Boy
Mumnerves - BFP 1st Apr - EDD 8th Dec
Luckyseven - BFP 8th Apr - EDD 17th Dec
Capricorn76 - BFP 12th Apr - EDD 1st Jan 2011
Homebound - BFP 30th Apr - EDD 8th Jan
Seablue - BFP? - EDD 10th Jan
Oneof8 - BFP 18th May - EDD 17th Jan
Aly323 - BFP? - EDD 31st Jan - Boy
Muser - BFP 22nd June - EDD 27 Feb
Superpenguin - BFP 1st July - EDD 4th March
Haloflo - BFP 22 July - EDD 20 March
SaorAlba - BFP 7 Aug - EDD 4th April
MrsWajs - BFP 13 Aug? - EDD 10th April

cherry glad all was well at your scan. I've added your EDD to the list

Bump bands aren't just useful in the early stages - I'm still wearing some of my normal trousers undone with a bump band over the top

kurly I felt movements really early - around 12 weeks for flutters, 16 for kicks. I think around 20 weeks is average for a first baby though

I'm soooo tired today. had a rubbish night's sleep so was looking forward to going back to bed after DH left for work. As soon as the front door shut behind him, a big lorry from the council turned up and proceeded to start digging up the road right outside our house. So now they're making way too much noise for me to sleep

ARRIVALS:

Fudgecat - In loving memory of Baby Elliot - Born asleep on Friday 17th September 2010

Fulhamgirl - EDD 30th May - DOB 9th Apr - Girl - Lily Ann - 4lb
Trying4Baby1 - EDD 25th Apr - DOB 6th May - Girl - Emily - 10lb 2.5oz
Pepperonipizza -EDD 24th May - DOB 28th May -Boy
CurlyCasper - EDD 21st July - DOB 24th June - Girl
Spirael - EDD 25th Jul - DOB 7th July - Girl - Miranda Jane - 8lb 3oz
DesperateHousewife21 - EDD 18th July - DOB 9th July - Boy - Dylan James
Sazziej - EDD 1st Sep- DOB 24th Aug - Girl - Evie - 7lb 8oz
Ozziegirly - EDD 24th Aug -DOB 25th Aug - Boy-Thomas - 7lb 1oz
NovemberAli - EDD 2nd Sep - DOB 8th Sept - Girl - Matilda - 8lb 6oz
WhiteRoses - EDD 15th September - DOB 19 September- Boy - Name TBC
Hobnob - EDD 26th Sep - DOB 21 September - Girl - Matilda 6lbs 6oz
Pixiestix - EDD 24th Sep - DOB 26 September - Girl - Tegan - 7lbs 7oz
Addie81 -EDD 7th Oct - DOB 19th October -Girl
Hermya321 - EDD 24th Oct - DOB 24th October-Boy - Asher - 8lb 3oz

CURRENT GRADUATES:

Chancewouldbeafinething - BFP 1st Feb - EDD 10/10/10 - Boy
WorrisomeHeart - BFP 29th Jan - EDD 12th Oct - Boy - Lochlan
Pidgin - BFP 27th Feb - EDD?
YorkshireTeaDrinker - BFP 1st Mar - EDD 6th Nov
Bunnygirl80 - BFP 12th Mar - EDD 19th Nov-Boy
Mumnerves - BFP 1st Apr - EDD 8th Dec
Luckyseven - BFP 8th Apr - EDD 17th Dec
Capricorn76 - BFP 12th Apr - EDD 1st Jan 2011
Homebound - BFP 30th Apr - EDD 8th Jan
Seablue - BFP? - EDD 10th Jan
Oneof8 - BFP 18th May - EDD 17th Jan
Aly323 - BFP? - EDD 31st Jan - Boy
Muser - BFP 22nd June - EDD 27 Feb
Superpenguin - BFP 1st July - EDD 4th March - Boy
Haloflo - BFP 22 July - EDD 20 March
SaorAlba - BFP 7 Aug - EDD 15th April
Kurlyvoice - BFP 1st September - EDD 16th April
MrsWajs - BFP 13 Aug - EDD 24th April
stegasaurus - BFP 27 Aug - EDD 3rd May
Cherrycobbler - BFP 3rd September - EDD 11 May
crazybutterflylady - BFP 1st Sep - EDD 14 May
Crazydays - BFP 4th September - EDD ?
Bellaby -BFP 11th September - EDD 22nd May

hermya just missed your post. It sounds like you managed to have a good birth experience even though it wasn't exactly what you had planned for.

Hope you're settling in ok at home.

Tried to look at your pic but can't access your profile - you might need to check your privacy settings

Super So pleased to hear that everything is ok with your LO. And what a good job you had that extra scan before you started decorating in pink!

MrsW I'm sorry about your DH's job. I hope everything works out.

cherry glad all was well at your scan. I wouldn't worry about teh EDD. They brought mine forward at the scan to a date when I thought it was highly improbably that conception could have occured (I'd got everything recorded on fertility friend ), but EDDs are only a rough guide anyway.

kurly I didn't feel anything that I could be sure wasn't wind or grumbly tummy until 21 weeks. Oddly enough the day after my 20(ish) week scan. I think the sonographer must have woken LO up and s/he sprang into action thereafter.

oneof8 - urgh, the bloodletting sounds pretty traumatic. And from the sounds of his reaction, I think you might need to keep your DH away from the business end when it comes to the birth, otherwise the midwives might have a fainter on their hands...

hermya - it might not have been what you planned, but it sounds like you managed to have a pretty positive birth afterall. It makes the prospect of interventions seem a whole lot less scary. I guess most of us can manage with whatever birth we end up with, as long as the midwives etc are nice.

bunny have you stressed to your DH that the midwife thinks you are likely to be early. Might be worth giving him a new date to focus on as being the due date. I was a bit and to hear that you can still wear normal trousers with a bump band. I find the bump bands great at keeping my under bump trousers up and also filling teh gap between teh top of said trousers and the bottoms of some of the midsize maternity tops I have, that don't quite make it to the bottom of the bump. But I can't get any of my non maternity clothes on, there's just too much bump in the way.

I have a week to go to due date and the midwife told me at yesterday's appointment that I was likely to go over due. At 37 weeks the head was 1 cm into the pelvis and needed to drop a further 3cm to be fully engaged. Two weeks later and the little blighter is exactly the same. I'm bracing myself for another three weeks of waiting...

Hermya As other have said, glad the experience was positive, although not exactly what you wanted. Sounds like you had a wonderful team of midwifes supporting you!!

Cherry, I felt something going on a few weeks before my 20 week scan but was not overly sure at the time - definite movements after the scan (so 19 weeks for me). Feeling baby is lovely, although feeling baby stick its hand/foot (not sure which) into your ribs and leave you with no comfortable position is not as nice. I end up leaning which then gives me a backache!

Defiantly keeping OH at the "pretty" end! For a his bravado, he would not last very long else!

The leak wasn't a concern for me as I am sure I must have moved (its knowing it might hurt, not the actual procedure) - I felt fine!

Here to the next few hours racing by, as really need to go home and sleep!

Hope everyone else is well!

hermya Asher is absolutely gorgeous! He looks very long in the pic, no wonder you needed the episiotomy...! Well done on getting through it, hope you are managing to enjoy these first few days :)

oneof8 we have always said DH will be well away from the business end but were put straight by friends of ours who told us that he was asked to hold her legs up and when that happens, both ends pretty much become one

rokshire fingers crossed for you, I am sure you're finding it pretty frustrating at the moment. Hopefully they're wrong and LO will come bang on EDD :)

I am 12 weeks today, wooohoo! To celebrate the mini milestone I have been throwing up all morning - I am sure it's to pay me back for thinking 12 weeks would signal the end of the MS :(

Hope you all have a lovely weekend xx

My typing is fabulous today! rokshire was meant to say Yorkshire
(!!)

Crazy - you do make me laugh! The thought that I may be able (with or without assistance!) ever bend again, let alone bend in half... right now seems a long way off!

Baby's fav position is doing something on the right side. Not entirely sure what, as get movements all across the bump at one time or another, but it feels as though LO has erected a totem pole in there - from my lung downwards along the inside of my ribs, but only on the right. Now, this is unlikely, but the pains I get even thinking of bending or leaning/slumping to the right - I am certain it is possible!

Hermya had a chance to peek at your picture, Asher is lovely! Do like the suit he is wearing, I haven't seen anything like that in the shops round here - but this could be as I have stayed in the "neutral" section where everything is varying shades of white!

Hermya Asher is soooo cute, and I love his outfit.

Yorkshire I have told DH that obs thinks I'm likely to be early, but apparantly her 10 years of training and several years of experience as not as reliable as his mates in the office

I've not struggled with getting non-mat tops over my bump for some reason - I think it must be a weird shape as lots of maternity tops just don't look right. However, my boobs are a different story Tried on one of my floaty summer dresses the other day, it covered my bump beautifully but I looked like I was attempting a career as a page 3 girl in the chest department

Oneof8 The MW at our antenatal class said that no matter how squeamish DH's are, they can never resist having a peek at the business end when the time comes.

I think babies are supposed to prefer to have their body on your left and limbs on your right (makes it easier for them to come out I think) so chances are if your LO has erected a totem pole in there then it'll be on the right side where there's more room

I'm pretty convinced that mine has been up to something in there - the level of activity that's been going on the last couple of days can really only mean that there's some sort of construction project going on. Either that or he's invited a friend over, and I hope I would have noticed another baby climbing in

Morning all. Sorry I've not been on for a while, the second trimester energy boost is a bit of a lie. I'm not as tired as first trimester but hardly full of energy either. I didn't take my coat back. I was going to as the buttons are a bit cheap and started to unravel but then I couldn't find the receipt anywhere. Typical! Anyway I sowed the buttons back on and they seem fine now. For info it's this coat.

I'm 20 weeks tomorrow and can't believe it! It's gone so slow but fast all at the same time. My scan is on Thursday and I'm quite anxious about it. No one in RL seems to get this and think we are just having the scan to find out the sex. I feel I keep having to tell people that its actually to check the baby is developing ok. I can't wait until this time next week when hopefully I'll be reassured everything is ok.

aly Great to hear from you as always. Could you remind me how many weeks you are in your pic? I remember you telling us all when you put it up. I've defiantly got a small bump now (someone asked me yesterday if I was expecting yesterday for the first time!) but I seem to have got bigger all over too so it's nowhere near as neat as yours!

bellaby Congrats with the early scan. When is your dating scan? I hope you enjoyed telling your family last weekend. I think you need to eat what you can in the first trimester so don't worry too much about your vegetables! Thanks for the info about the flu jab. I'm reluctant to get it but was going to talk to my MW when I see her again on 10 November.

crazy When is your jab? Congrats on the 12 week milestone. I will be thinking of you Monday and your friend next week too. That must be really hard for her. I really hope everything works out, a slim chance is still a chance.

mrsw I'm glad your union rep was supportive. If you are back on days now I hope you managed to speak to your boss and get your point across. I hope your back stays a bit better.

I know exactly what you mean about maternity clothes. The only shop in my town is New Look (which is pretty good), otherwise its online ordering! I might go to the Trafford Centre next weekend but it just seems like too much effort. So far I'm coping on a teeny capsule wardrobe. Oh and I've bought nothing for the baby. I might start planning after my next scan but the whole pram field just seems so daunting that I get worried about how little I know when I start browsing.

Am so sorry about DP's job. That isn't what you need. I work in local government and we were told that we need to cut our budget by 28% in 4 years, 23% in the 3 years. We should know by Christmas how it will affect my department but it makes you feel sick to your stomach the thought of job losses. I really hope DP finds something soon. He did last time so is clearly very employable.

The other thing to do could be to check out Tax Credits for when your LO is here. The website has a calculator you can use to get an estimate. Finally do you rent? If you do consider claiming Housing Benefit (and Council Tax Benefit too which you can get even if you own)as that could help if DP struggles to find work or gets low paid work whilst you are on SMP. Your council probably have a calculator on their website too which you can use to estimate your entitlement. I hope I've not gone on there and spoken out of turn.

lucky Not done the yoga DVD after doing the first half an hour. I just can't do it with DP watching as he puts me off . The other TV is in the bedroom so I might have to close the door and ban him from entering whilst I do it.

kurly I had the insomnia phase! Mostly because I woke up feeling sick/hungry/thirsty/needing a wee. It seems to have passed now though so hopefully yours will. I first felt a tickle about 16 weeks but then nothing for a few days. How far along are you? 15 weeks? Now at 19+6 I'm still not sure what I feel. Occasionally I get a flutter but it's easy to think it's all in my mind. I'm hoping that the kicks will strengthen soon and they I'll be sure. My bump has grown in the last 3 weeks though which was is reassuring even though the movement is a bit inconclusive.

bunny Sounds promising that you won't have to wait forever. I hope your DH starts listening to you that it might be sooner rather than later! Maybe you need to cry wolf to make him come to his senses!

hermya CONGRATS!!!! Asher is gorgeous. I'm glad your MW's were so good. Just out of interest was it the hospital I will be going to that you ended up at? No rush to answer as i'm sure you have your hands full and you can PM me if you would rather not say on here.

cherry So glad your scan went well. You going to put your pic on your profile? My scan went by in a blur too but it's a great feeling. I hope your nuchal results come back quickly and are nice and low risk.

super I'm so pleased everything is ok with your LO, that must have been reassuring. And congrats on the boy too! That must have been a shock!

fudge Thinking of you always.

Fab to hear from the grads too. I hope you and all your LO's are doing well.

Right this is a mammoth post and I need to start my Saturday (and wake up a very hungover DP)

Waves to oneof8 & Yorkshire and anyone else I missed.

Halo I posted a couple new pics with titles. That pic was at 17 weeks, but I've added 4 weeks, 14 weeks and 27 weeks (today!). I have loads more, but I don't see a lot of difference from 22 to now. However, I FEEL the difference. Baby just recently started to explore the area under my ribs. It's really uncomfortable because it sometimes triggers a contraction. Congrats on your visible bump! Isn't it fun!! And, just for the record, I'm a fan of the jacket despite the fact that it wasn't discounted.

Hermya Congratulations. I also love Asher's sleeper. He's quite a looker! I hope the two of you are getting on well.

Bunny and Yorkshire, it seems you're up next! It's so exciting. Hope to read good news from you soon.

Super, welcome to the boy club! And, I'm very happy to hear that this scan was good.

MrsW, sorry to hear about things with DP's job. Not that it's much solace right now, but we went through a similar situation with my DP awhile back. He ended up taking some classes and changing his career completely. He's now much happier then before. It wasn't easy, but it did end up better for us in the end. I hope things work out for you (and soon).

I ended up getting the flu jab and the pertussis jab. We are having a huge outbreak of whooping cough in Cali, and I work very close with loads of homeless and sick people every day, so I really thought it was important to do both. DP drives an ambulance and deals with sick/injured people, too. I'm making him go get his jabs before the baby arrives. His mom will be staying with us and will try to get hers before she leaves Czech. However, I'm not as worried about her. She's a pediatric nurse and is pretty on top of those sorts of things.

Also, just got my bloods done and I'm slightly anemic. Honestly, I've been tired, but nothing crazy. I'm hoping that increasing my iron might give me a little boost. However, I'm feeling good overall. Just something those of you who are feeling slow might want to look into.

Anyone working on or planning their baby's room? We finally picked out paint for the baby's room. We both loved it until it went up on the wall. It was AWFUL!! We're going to try again today (and not get as creative as last time). I can't wait for that room to get done. I really want to start buying more of the major stuff, but won't until we have the room. My new obsession is now baby carriers. I had no idea how many carriers/ slings/wraps there are. It's insane!

Ok, I'm off to get paint samples! Big wave to those I didn't mention by name.

Hello all,

Well Asher seems to be settling in well, breastfeeding is going very well. I think we're going to be in for a bit of a feeding frenzy in the next few days, this is according to the MW anyway.

I seem to be recovering well, I feel better as each day passes and I'm slowly getting used to waking up in the middle of the night. I suspect working nights the past eighteen months has stood me in very good sted. I would totally recomend the whole napping when they nap thing. I don't know how I would survive otherwise.

For those of you who are coming up to their due dates and are packing their hospital bags. Put a big bag of cotton wool in there, my MW's were very into using them and water. I am as well, although I must admit that I have used the odd wipe at 3am in the morning as at that point the kettle was just way too far to travel. Also disposable changing mats are brilliant, the first few changings can be messy as Spirael said and they were a Godsend for us.

Also I would maybe leave piles of newborn/0 to 3 clothes at home in a visible place for your DH just in case you need them. My LO went through them like there was no tomorrow and I kept having to get DH to bring in new babygros as he kept messing them up.

Thirdly, do whatever you need to do to cope and don't let anyone make you feel guilty about it. It's your baby and you're the one who has to get up in the middle of the night with them.

Fourthly, eat cake and lots of it. In fact make it a rule that visitors have to bring you food. If you do breastfeed you will get really really hungry and want to eat everything in sight. Also drink lots and lots of water.

Urmmm I think thats it, thank you for your compliments about Asher. I think he is lovely and can now totally understand why women do the whole pregnancy thing more than once. It is very very addictive.

Aly I've got a moby wrap as have a few of my friends if you want to look at that particular one.

Fudge I'm thinking of you at this time, I hope you're getting the support you need.

Halo I've PM'd you.

Oneof8 Thanks, I got the outfit from Jojo Mamen Bebe, it's the red muted stripe sleepsuit.

Crazy Oh I hope the MS eases for you soon.

Yorkshire My MW said that often first time babies don't fully engage until labour starts. I hope yours comes soon though.

hermya i just realised i never said congrats to you on Asher, it was part of the post i wrote and lost!You sound like you are so on top of the first days of being a mum and thanks for all the tips! He is super cute and I remember you posting ages ago when you decided on the name!

aly we are decorating this weekend (so should not really be on mn)! Room has been painted white and looks great and we will get bedding sorted once we know if we have a Jude or a Beth. Went to Ikea on Friday to get a tardis of a wardrobe to fit everything that dp and I own inside and the tills went into meltdown and they wouldn't take card payments. After a lot of drama we finally got out of there but don't think I will ever convince dp to get back. Your pictures look fab and don't forget to take some doing up the baby's room pics as that was hilarious yesterday!

bunny dp says he is going to cut out the booze from three weeks before due date. Easier said than done when due the week before Christmas but hey if we can do it, they can too!

mrsw so disappointed that you and dp are facing hard times twice in one year. You just never know the minute and I hope all works out for you. My work has announced redundancies of between 10 and 20% over the next 6 - 18 months but they hope it will all be done voluntarily. Will believe it when i see it but without any further info it is hard to know how concerned we should be.

crazy hope your scan goes well this week and i reckon after week 14 you will feel a difference.

halo all the best on Thursday, I was more nervous about the 20 week than the 10/12 too. I managed to get quite a few maternity clothes in the next and dorothy perkins sales back in July August time and the next stuff online is way nicer than the stuff they had instore. I ordered it all on their account and sent back whatever i didn't like. I got dresses for work for £10 and jeggings and jeans for £5-£10 so maybe worth looking into over the Christmas sales and you can do it from home too!

super brilliant news that everything is ok with the little one's feet. After what happened to you I now understand why my hospital won't tell you the sex if if you want to know. I have heard that they were sued so that is why they refuse.

oneof8 i have a right sided baby too and it seems to have smuggled in a crow bar which it uses on my ribs every evening. Thankfully though it is head down and my gp reckons it will stay that way!

yorkshire hope everything is falling into place and you don't have to mauch waiting around for the little one.

cherry i think you were asking about movement and i didn't get anything til about wk22 but i have an anterior placenta which muffles a lot of the movement which has been worrying at times but I am content with the amount of movement now.

In other news we have our first (of two) parent craft classes on Tuesday night and I am concerned that dp will not take it seriously enough as he was bent double laughing at a dvd demo of labour positions using the ball! I also seem to be swelling up a bit, wedding and engagement rings don't fit and i invested in some fake bling as it was so wierd not having anything on my left hand. I am also well on my way to developing 'cankles' - nice!

So sorry if i have missed anyone, right off to my niece's hallowe'en party, catch up again during the week!

Have we heard from worrisome?

halo if I risk crying wolf the chances are DH just won't belive me when I'm really in labour.

I got really worried before my 20 week scan too - I don't think it helps that most people just saw it as an opportunity to find out the sex of the baby so nobody acknowledged that there was any reason for me to worry about it

aly we've got a whooping cough outbreak here too. We're currently being advised not to take newborns out to crowded places like supermarkets and shopping centres....so it looks like I'll have an excuse for just staying at home and snuggling with my baby instead of doing the grocery shopping

hermya it's lovely to hear how well your settling into motherhood. Reading everyone's stories of first poos makes me soooo glad that the MWs at my hospital will do those for us as a demo I think that policy might have something to do with the fact that the hospital provide all the baby clothes, so it's going to cut down their laundry bill if they let competent people put the first few nappies on

lucky my sympathies on the swelling. It can get so uncomfortable. I'm past cankles and into a phase where my feet and ankles are fatter than my calves!! Luckily it's warm enough for me to wear flip flops as I doubt many of my shoes fit comfortably any more

Well, I thought my hospital bag was all packed and ready to go until yesterday. I had packed DH some special snacks for if I'm in labour over night and he gets peckish. Turns out he's been getting into the bag and eating them when I'm not looking Not sure whether to replace them or let him starve when I'm in labour to teach him a lesson!! Am thinking I'll probably replace them as I doubt I'll be able to cope with the moaning if the poor boy's tummy is grumbling

Morning All

Just lying in bed drinking orange juice and eating biscuits . Already late for work but for some reason just don't want to move from here.

Hope everyone had a good weekend.

Cherry - glad everything went well with the scan. When I watched the consultant do our scan and do the measuring part it didn't look like a 100% exact science to me!

Hermya - great to hear from you and glad you are settling in well. Very useful tips too - I will have to start keeping a notebook of all the useful things I read. Your picture was lovely too .

Bunny - that is so funny about your DH eating his hospital snacks. Sounds just like something my DH would do although I'd probably not check it again once I'd packed it so he'd end up going hungry!

YTD - not long to go now. How exciting. I hope that you LO gets a move on this week into the correct position.

Crazy - good luck with the scan. Well done on reaching 12 weeks. Sorry to hear you are still feeling the sickness. I think I've been quite lucky in that I haven't been physically sick. Also I think my nausea may be starting to lessen but don't want to speak too soon.

Halo - I think I will feel the same as you for the 20 week scan. I've only told a few people so far that I'm pg (although my DH and mother have been telling the world!) and it's really interesting to hear people's reactions and thoughts. Anyone who has been through it really understands and talks about pregnancy in a much more emotional way. I really hope everything goes well for you on Thurs. Can't believe you are 20 weeks already!

Aly - loved seeing you pictures. Such a good idea to take them. I am definitely starting to feeling rounder although eating biscuits in bed might have something to do with that . I take iron supplements at the moment as my iron levels are very low. Will see if it makes a difference when I have my bloods done.

MrsW - sorry to hear about your DPs job. Keeping everything crossed for you both

Lucky - let me know how the parenting classes go. I've put our names down for one but my DH wasn't keen at all and only agreed if we did the intensive one which is basically a Friday and Saturday. I only really want to do it to be able to meet some Mums to be in the area I live in as currently we don't really know anyone at all.

Big hello to anyone else I've missed

I have my next scan in a week and a half. Think I will then feel slightly more relaxed and happy for the world to know (if my DH & Mother haven't already done the job) as it's been strange telling people before the 12 week mark which is when everyone says you should wait until.

I'm starting pregnancy yoga on Weds. There is a class in a school right next to my flat. I managed to get the last space. Never really done anything like this so will be interesting.

Have a lovely week

Bellaby
xxx

crazy good luck for the scan today! sorry about your sickness - hope it clears soon. I felt better on the weekend but spent this morning throwing up .

hermya loved reading your birth story and so glad things are going well for you and baby A! What a lovely name.

halo will be thinking of you on Thurs. The chances really are that all will be well -but I will be just as nervous as you so understand your worry!

bella biscuits in bed for breakfast - now that is heaven! Really hope your nausea is on its way out :)

Latest glamour story from me is that I have the most horrendous varicose veins - ugh! Have a bruise on one of them and according to google its probably because one of the veins has burst. I am squeamish at the best of times and this has made me feel a bit sick...

Happy mondays all xx

Morning all, just a quickie from me beacuse was in late... scan went well and LO is all ok in there. They gave me the same due date so no real news but just wanted to say scream :)

I feel like I can relax a teeeny bit now...

xx

crazy Just a quickie from me too but I had to say congrats!!!!!!!!!!

Bunny I had to laugh at the report of your DH eating all teh labour bag snacks. It is definately teh sort of thing my DH would do (so I have hidden most of them - just need to remember to gather them up before we go to the hospital!)

luckyseven if your DH is anything like mine, he probably won't take it seriously until you are actually in labour. I don't think that most blokes really get it until the baby is either there, or so imminent that they can't ignore it.

Bellaby we did a one day intensive antenatal class at the hospital, which DH came to and then I went to a Mums only class at my local health centre (both NHS). The mum's only one was much better from a meeting other mums point of view, as we did all swap contact details and I think that group is more likely to try to keep in touch.

Cherry so sorry to hear about your varicose veins. Pregnancy is so bloody glamorous isn't it? You can probably limit the damage by getting yourself some attractive surgical support stockings (nice!)

Crazy great news about the scan. :)

I'm starting to get impatient now. Have had a little bit of a scare last week as my blood pressure has been consistantly high and that, combined with my swollen feet and ankles, put the midwives on pre-eclampsia alert, so I moved to having appointments every two days. However, blood pressure at yesterday's check was back to normal, so I'm back to sitting it out waiting for signs of action. Getting a few more braxton hicks and currently got quite a bit of discomfort in the lower bump / groin area, which I am hoping might be a harbinger of more productive activity still to come. I am also turning into a bit of a slob. Haven't got dressed yet and can't decide whether I should get up and get clean and dressed, or just go back to bed for the afternoon! :)

Crazy - great news about the scan.

Cherry sorry to hear about the sickness and the varicose veins. I'm actually thinking now that my nausea probably hasn't eased but I've just got better at eating (more and more often )

YTD - must be worrying about your high blood pressure but at least they have been monitoring it. I read that section in the Mumsnet Pregnancy book this morning. I definitely think you should go back to bed for the afternoon. I didn't actually make it into work today. decided I needed a day of total rest & relaxation (not to mention hours to hang around on MN)!

just popping in to say brill news on the scan crazy!! I was really really happy after mine (before next wave of paranoia hit) so def enjoy the aaahhhh, relax moment :)

Yorkshire glad your bp has gone down, bit worrying tho so good you are being monitored. I'm with bella, go back to bed if you feel like it! I think I will search out some support tights as its getting v uncomfy too.

Couldn't keep breakfast or lunch down but a packet of smoky bacon crisps and a can of pepsi just hit the spot. Who have I turned into?! Have had more sweets, crips and fizzy drinks the past three months than I have in the past five years .

Just read about Lily Allen - how completely, completely awful. And to do the whole thing in public too. Just can't stop thinking about how she must be feeling

Hi all

Well, it's been a mammoth week, but Lochlan is here at last. He was born at 12.30am on Tues 26 Feb, and weighed just under 8lbs.

I actually wrote a hugely long post with all the gory details last night and then the internet freaked out and I lost it! Can't face reliving it all again, so will just give you the edited highlights.

As planned, we went in for induction on Sunday. The induction took a long time and I ended up having to have a second pessary on Monday as I wasn't dilating fast enough (only 0.5cms after 12 hours of contractions). Basically, the second pessary kicked the labour into hyperstimulation and I started involuntarily pushing, even though I was (at that stage) only 2cms dilated. Long story short, after being admitted to the Labour Ward, and Lochie having a clip on his scalp to monitor h/b as they couldn't get a good enough trace on the ECG, he got into distress and it was quickly decided that an emergency c-section was needed. That all went fine, and his APGARs were great, so all good. However, there were some worrying results in his blood gas levels and they had to repeat the heel prick several times. (Poor wee mite!) Finally, after being transferred from recovery back to the Mat Ward, they did a further heel prick and decided he needed to be taken to NNU to be put on a drip to try and get his lactate levels to stabilise. So, after only having him with me for about 4 hours, he was whisked off again. He stayed in the NNU for three days - although the lactate resolved itself quickly, he had terrible issues with mucus from the birth and consequently had to be fed from a nasal tube for a couple of days. On the day he was born, because of the whole spinal block/catheter thing, I didn't see him again for 12 hours, until I was taken down to NNU in a wheelchair. It all felt really surreal, lying on the ward listening to all these babies crying and thinking, have I just had a baby??

Anyway, after three days in NNU, he was finally released back to me on the ward. However, by this time we were having a really hard time getting the feeding established - the latch just wasn't happening and he had lost just shy of 10% of his birth weight. So, we've had to change tack and are currently feeding via bottles with a combination of as much expressed b/milk as I can manage and Aptamil top-ups. Now that we?re home, I?m determined to try the latching again, but am also not going to beat myself up if it doesn?t happen.

He is divine, and I can?t believe how much he?s changed our lives thus far. I?ve not had a chance to read through, but will hopefully catch up properly soon!

Ooh, Hermya, just seen your news, fantastic!! Congratulations, Asher is a lovely name.

Congratulations Hermya! Glad to hear you are enjoying motherhood and sounds like you coped brilliantly with the tricky birth. Come and join us at the postnatal threadwhen you get a break from feeding and aren't sleeping!

And babybrain hits ! I didn't see your post then Worrisome, congratulations! come join us too! I'm glad to hear Lachlan has recovered from a difficult first few days, it sounds like you are dealing well with what must have been a traumatic time for you.