Feb 2011 - The turkeys are getting fat...so are we!!!

[WanderingSheep]

oh and I like both of your name choices too

Feeling a bit blue tonight, ladies. I had my mw appt today and said that I feel strongly that a home birth is the right thing for me. The response was that I'd have to transfer hospitals to Basildon.

I went to look at Basildon when I was first pregnant and it was a fairly unpleasant experience - soul destroying in fact. I made DH promise that I wouldn't have to have this baby there! I really feel that the baby and I will both have a far less stressful experience giving birth at home, but know that 30% of HBs that are first babies get transferred, so there's a fair chance I'll end up in the one place that makes me want to run a mile. Ironic, huh?

Does anyone know how rigid the rules are? I don't understand why I was given a choice of hospitals in the first place if I now have to switch. I'm literally 5 minutes further away from Chelmsford (where I'm booked in) than Basildon. Any thoughts?

For some reason this has completely depressed me. :(

I had that dilemma first time round -- I wanted a HB but the hospital I was registered with (hospital A) didn't cover HBs in my area. The mw was very supportive of my doing it if I wanted, but I'd have had to switch to be registered at a different hospital (hospital B) where I didn't want to end up if it turned out I needed a hospital birth. Hospital A was about half a mile further away than Hospital B, but is quicker to get to.

I went for sticking with the original hospital so that I knew that at least I'd be guaranteed the hospital I wanted, rather than go for the home birth and risk ending up with the hospital I didn't -- and in the end I wound up high risk (DS didn't engage and then my waters went with him still unengaged, which gives you a higher chance of a cord prolapse) and giving birth in hospital (in fact, eventually wound up with a c-section) so for me it was probably the right decision. But it is a tough one and I agonised over it.

Effectively there's a separate rota for mws to cover HBs from the rota for mws to cover hospital births, and staffing constraints mean that typically only one hospital will have staffed up to cover each area for HBs, even though there will be an overlap in their catchment areas for hospital births. Which does sort of make sense, if you assume that all hospitals are equal, but doesn't allow for the not-wanting-to-cross-the-threshold-of-one-particular-hospital issue.

Thanks Santa. I woke up this morning feeling like a selfish child and reminding myself that at least we have pretty good medical care in the UK. Plus my DH is a complete hero and will no doubt make the experience as un-stressful as possible, so I'm fairly lucky really.

It might not be what I think works best for me and LO, but I'll just have to save up for next time and get an independent midwife! (if there is a next time...gulp).

ledkr I like both your names - can you pick which one when she comes out - see which one feels right for her? She might look more like an Ivy than a Delilah IYKWIM. Did you get to the hospital tour?

wiggles my grant not arrived either yet - I sent off the form about 3/4 weeks ago now...

oneofus I was in a similar situation in that I'd quite like a hb but if I did I would be transferred to the nearest hospital, not the one I want to go to, so my choice was to choose a hospital birth at my chosen hospital. Must be a really tricky one for you though as for me hb was just an idea of what I might like, not just what I set my heart on for a long time.

Was it byron who had to try and sign a water birth to the doctor? Just the thought of what actions you'd do to describe that made me

Feeling very sorry for myself (again) today - have got DHs bug and spent all last night awake with terrible sore throat and a temperature. Paracetamol is next to useless and I haven't been able to talk for over a day (DH is probably quite pleased with this development though ). Have been doing inhalations and drinking lemon and honey and orange juice for the vit c but don't think there's much else I can do really other than grin and bear it.

Snow finally melting a bit here - please please let my ocado delivery man be able to get through tomorrow as we are running desperately low on some essentials now and local shop pretty much sold out of everything

Well another night of work done, and no tears either Only 2 more evening shifts to be done and about 9 more day shifts, not that I'm counting . Although I have reached a strange calmness with work, am adopting dd1 (5) new found insolence and slightly patronising "whatever" look!!!!

You're up early oneof4!!! It's really disppointing when you feel let down by hospitals, midwives etc. I've had to change hospitals with this pregnancy and I wasn't happy with the one I originally transferred to, so I couldn't settle until I got into another hospital, which is where I had dds but it is much further away!!

Right off to get ready for another work day, Mr Wiggles is on night shifts at the minute and he's not back yet, I think we won't be back from work/my mums before he goes in again tonight so we're like ships that pass in the night at the minute (truthfully it's quite peaceful!!!)

morning all.Apologies for my over emotional post last night,i was so tired and i have a horrible cold/sore throat.Wiggles will understand that the police hardly ever finish on time but sometimes i would like him to just say"we have an important app so i need to go," i am sure he'd do it if arsenal were playing.We got to the hospital in last half an hour we drove in silence.It really is beautifull and very comfy.Spoke to mw and she said dd can come in straight away and that i can probably have one of the 18 side wards due to the risk of me and dh seeing clients and my "children"being men and can only visit in evening not very nice for the other mums etc.I have had a restless night tho,thinking about the section and the pain!!Only have 24-48 hrs in after,i am inclined to go for the 48 due to the 10 hr bumpy journey home.
oneof4no advice here im afraid never had ahb but you will get some good advice here.The hospital i saw yesterday had a "birthing suite" it was just like from home have you looked at one of those?

morning.
ledkr glad the hospital is nice!
oneof4 don't be so hard on yourself, it's such an important thing, and you deserve to be selfish at this point.
I don't know what I'd do, perhaps visit the hospital of your choice and see their brithing suites, perhaps it is just great, as ledkr said, and you think you'd be happy there. I'd find it too stressful to have a HB knowing that I would not want to transfer, and stress is our enemy.

I am ill too! really anoying cold like most of you, the only possitive thing is that I've been having to get out of bed quite early in the morning due to congestion headaches, and have already finished another knitted had for the LO.

wriggles, great news being so close to finishing work, count away!

Sorry to hear that people are ill! Hopefully you're all being properly looked after by those lovely (?) OHs...

Thanks for the support everyone. Although I'm fairly senior at work I find it difficult to ask for support on personal matters and I think that my strong desire for a HB is simply because if we're at home, this would be a lot easier. It turns out (to my immense surprise!) that I have quite a lot of trust in my body to indicate what I should / shouldn't be doing.

So, over to DH to fight my corner - he reckons he's up for the challenge!

Evening everyone!

Had a fab Baby Shower today :) Ate waaaay too much though and have awful heartburn now The chocolates probably didn't help!

ledkr hospital sounds fab - I should probably know this but why 10hr drive home?

Have just put our Christmas Tree up as DS is so excited about Christmas and most of our neighbours have got theirs up already

Wow, cant believe im up this late! I am going to my friends babyshower 2mrw (my first). I have not managed to get her a pressie beacause i have been snowed in, do you think a nice box of chocs will be ok? We will get a present for the baby when he/she is born.

PDR glas you had a great day but about the heartburn!

Oooh, a baby shower, very exciting Sounds as if you had fun PDR but, as always, nature didn't intend for us pg women to have too much fun hence the heartburn

janedoe I'm sure choccies will be gratefully received and if not then you could always send them my way

Just had my mum round for the evening and she had a lovely curry and I just got to watch her eat it as my appetite is diminishing and can't seem to manage much even when hungry . Sent OH out so I could watch x factor in peace, Rebecca was fab! He's been seriously annoying me the last couple of days, not pulling his weight and we had words this morning. He went to see his parents and they told him off, brilliant!! He came back very sheepish and apologetic so all is forgiven.

Really going to try and get a full night's sleep tonight, fed up with walking around the flat at all hours drinking camomile tea. Good practice though I suppose.

janedoe chocs will be fine! I actually told people not to bother with gifts although some did but I know some people prefer to get something after the baby is actually born!

Am continuing with the Christmas theme today - cannot find the tree decorations so at the moment it's just an empty tree in the play room looks somewhat odd. DH's answer to finding the decs is that I should "go out and buy some more" but I'm not sure he realises how much nice decorations actually cost so more fool him !

DS just keeps saying "wooooow! tree! look mummy tree wow!" so cute!

pdr i am sat here laughing at the 10hr journey home from hosp,i of course meant 10 miles!!
I get very bad heartburn for which gaviscon does nothing.I take ranitadine 75mg.My friend was prescribed this in her pg (baby now 6 wks) so i presumed it was safe.Why not check with your gp's it goes completely!
oneof4Just read your post re hospitals.You must be nr where my dh is from Southend.When we reluctantly vist them next yr i will escape and maybe we can meet for a coffee!!
I have not heard great things about Basildon hospital(google it)so wouldnt go there,dh was born in Rochford many moons ago.Chelmsford sounds good tho.
Very breathless today.Does anyone elses dh tell them to "sit down" and then sit next to them doing sod all?Grrr

oneof4 i was admitted to basildon for lung problems a few years ago and it wasn't a great experience. The maternity bit may be diff tho. I was born in orsett hospital as were my cousins, but my mom said she would have never gone for basildon.

I went to the doctors n complained about heartburn n got given omeprazole 20mg which is safe during pregnancy and can now eat what i like which is great cuz i'm really craving spicy food and currys. Have not had a glimmer of heartburn. Has everyones baby turned into head down? I know i'm only 28wks but she is still breech.

I've gone a bit ott on christmas this year. My 2yr old ds has been spoilt rotten, didn't mean to just kind of happened . Mostly to make up for last christmas, i lost my dad last november and fell ill christmas day with swine flu, so it was a bit of a disaster. Atleast being able to avoid the gestational diabetes (3 tests down) so far means i may be able to enjoy the treats that father christmas may bring

I hope you all are well and starting to bloom

Well, I'd just like to say thank you to Tesco and their club card voucher exchange thing! All be it having to q for almost an hour to do it, did mean I could change a few of my vouchers which means that the microwave steriliser, bottles and dummies I got today technically were FREE!!!!

I have done most of our Christmas shopping online already, just waiting for it to turn up! I am however stuck on what to get for nephew who is 6 months old. Any suggestions? Have been looking at sensory toys and stuff like that, but not sure what is really suitable!

Clothes are quite good at 6 months jack as they'll be outgrowing the presents from when he was born. Or one of those balls with tags all over it? My DS loved those!

Balls with tags all over it? Problem with clothes is he has an older brother, so they have loads of clothes already. Obviously he has quite a few toys already too! Far easier when you get a list!

Hope everyone has had a good weekend?!

Ah yes clothes not ideal then!

Something like this ?

Nice when they are thinking about crawling as they can go after it and also nice to suck on

Ahh, yeah! Cool, think that is the sort of thing I will be going for! Must check that he hasn't already got one! Thanks!

Hello! Been absent for a few days, so busy Christmas shopping etc and have been full of a cold and generally feeling yuck!

Hope everyone else is well and has enjoyed their weekend!

I generally find that books are good for babies as they grow with them but it's never too early to start with a bedtime story because they enjoy looking at the pictures when they're small! As long as you keep them out of reach when you're not reading them as they tend to chew them!

I got our niece (who will be three months at Xmas) a set that has the Hungry Caterpillar board book and a Hungry Caterpillar toy that has tags hanging from it and teething things on it!

Forgot to add, last Christmas we got my nephew (7 months at the time) an Amazing Animals toy from Fisher Price. It was the parade and he really liked it. My mum got DD the train one when she was 6 months old (her first Xmas) and it got loads of use. She still plays with it now occasionally! The only downside is that it's quite noisy.

Ooohh baby books, I love them. My dds love the Hungry Caterpillar, but can I also recommend the "Guess how much I love you" books by Sam McBratney, although don't read them yourselves if you're feeling emotional, you'll be in tears for days (not in a sad way!!). Tesco have a Hungry Caterpillar book and toy set in at the minute, it's really cute.

Soft photo album (Galt or Whoozit) with photographs of family in?

I got the Hungry Caterpillar set from Boots. It was £15 but it was in the 3 for 2 gift offer!