April 2011 - we'll shop til we pop!

[GoldFrakkincenseAndMyrrh]

Continuation from our old thread here

So maybe this thread we'll see some babies?! And definitely lots more shopping

Notanother twins are okaaaaaay. One of them has had a hacking viral cough for FIVE weeks so we've been up every night dealing with hour-long coughing spasms, puking (from too much coughing) and general wailing and moaning. All in all, excellent practice for sleep deprivation in around seven weeks. I'm tired though and feeling pretty sick today after a torrid night last night tramping through to their room every five minutes. We're off to the doctor again today so they can be all vague, listen to her chest and then pronounce that we need to just sit it out.

Have been wracking my brain on maternity pad quantities. The first day is difficult as I had big blood loss following my caesarean so they just stuck me on these giant absorbant pads which I duly bled all over. The next day I was 'allowed' into my giant maternity pads and paper disposable pants, which at the time felt like an improvement and shows how low your standards drop! I think that day I was changing my pad pretty frequently and things were quite clotty. I probably went through at least a pack on that day alone. For the first week or two it was like a very heavy period and then it started to tail off, although I then had heavier bouts when I overdid it, which of course I did with premmie twins and about a hundred flights of stairs in my house. So I'd buy four packs of the giant maternity surfboards. Boots are good. I've also got some Always 'Night with Wings' or whatever they're called for when things lighten up a bit as they're less bulky and you feel a bit more normal wearing those than the thick maternity pads.

Bought some more new bras yesteday as I seem to have had another expansion (sigh). I've gone from a 32D to a 34G or GG for God's sake!

Cyclebump sorry to hear about your test - it sounds a crap thing to fail on (I failed first time on something similarly petty which was really annoying). As frustrating as it is, at least you know it's just a question of the planets lining up on test day as you CAN drive. I'd see if you can squish a cancellation in before the baby arrives as you'll probably pass, especially if you mutter "I swear I'll go into labour in the car if I fail..." as you manouvre yourself into the driver's seat.

sounds unlucky stuffedmk must be very frustrating. It took me 3 attempts and I am sure I didn't drive any better on my 3rd attempt than I did on my first I just got a more lenient examiner. Not much help I know, but fingers crossed for next time.

Re maternity pads, they said in our nct class last week that the main reason you are advised to wear maternity pads instead of just heavy duty sanitary pads is because they don't lock all the blood away. The midwide might ask you how much you are bleeding/colour etc (yum) and so it's better if you can see it. Once you're past that initial stage then no reason you can't switch to sanitary towels which look some of it away. That was interesting I thought!

While we are talking about maternity pads and goings on down below post natal.....last time around I found that bathing in water with a rop of lavender oil and a drop of tea tree oil really helped the healing/ swelling etc and made me feel lovely and fresh what with all the gunkiness going on. Also it takes no time at all to run an inch or two of water in the bath between pad changes to freshen up etc. It helped keep my 'tear' extra clean and also was comfortable way to even go to the loo in the very early hours following the birth

LaLaLa not listening to talk of lochia and maternity pads. I've got a load (plus fetching net knickers!) on order. I'm very squicked out by this though - not that great with periods and sanitary towels so the idea of looking at maternity pad is very ewwww!

Back has been magically healed! After my pleading for a massage last night my blessed DH mentioned to one of his colleagues I was in pain (like, crying!) and it turns out colleague's gf is an ex-massage type person and trainee physiotherapist who told me to pop round after work today she'd sort me out. Bliss! I can go every day if I want (for freeeee) until her next placement starts at the beginning of March. I can't believe the difference.

:( on the driving test stuffed. Hopefully you'll get a cancellation before baby arrives!

Poor you, kits. You're supposed to be catching up on sleep and banking it, not dealing with icky-up viral coughs.

LaLaLa not listening to talk of lochia and maternity pads. I've got a load (plus fetching net knickers!) on order. I'm very squicked out by this though - not that great with periods and sanitary towels so the idea of looking at maternity pad is very ewwww!

Back has been magically healed! After my pleading for a massage last night my blessed DH mentioned to one of his colleagues I was in pain (like, crying!) and it turns out colleague's gf is an ex-massage type person and trainee physiotherapist who told me to pop round after work today she'd sort me out. Bliss! I can go every day if I want (for freeeee) until her next placement starts at the beginning of March. I can't believe the difference.

:( on the driving test stuffed. Hopefully you'll get a cancellation before baby arrives!

Poor you, kits. You're supposed to be catching up on sleep and banking it, not dealing with icky-up viral coughs.

I felt like that after physio Snap. I had a massie spasm and although it hurt like hell (what she was doing I don't know), the next day it was wonderful.

Ewwwww on the maternity pads! Eugh. Am seeing my mum tomorrow to do a few baby bits and maybe I'll broach the question with her as we're very physiologically similar so I reckon she's the best source of info for what to expect.

I am KNACKERED today. Baby still active but nature of movements has definitely changed. No big bump-shuddeting kicks but more rolling, wriggling and pressure in the... ahem... bottom area. Makes it really uncomfy in bed.

Have mw appointment on Monday so will have a chat about it.

Anyone else getting irrational giggles?

DP and I had a cuddly snog for the first time in ages last night and I suddenly got the giggles like you wouldn't believe! I couldn't breathe and started the wheezing like Mutley in Wacky Races. DP was NOT impressed. It's happened a couple of times at work too. It seems like I get it more than the weeping

Kits poor you with ill twins. I'm feeling tired enough with one miserable daughter.

On the post labour bleeding saga, all your posts have just reminded me (amazing how you block this stuff out) that the only way I could pee without feeling someone was rubbing salt on my doo dah, was by having a jug of warm water to pour on me as I peed. It also washed away some of the blood and made me feel a bit fresher. Grim I know but this did go on for over a week. I had a small cut that needed 3 stitches. And was totally unbloody necessary but don't get me started on that rant.

sorry to gross you out with the maternity pad talk! I'm not great with that sort of thing either, but I just keep telling myself it's not forever.

I got irrational giggles in my nct class.. we were doing baby massage but those who didn't have dolls to use had to bring their teddy or something and it just made me giggle like a school girl watching these grown women soothingly and lovingly massaging their grotty old teddy bears. Little things eh!

lucie and jaylar you're not grossing us out because we're just happily burying our heads in the sand and forgetting all that baby coming out of front bum business and enjoying the wriggly nice bits.

Have to tell you tho that some of this stuff like pouring warm water on poor old torn lady bits is sure as shit making it all seem veerrry real and close, I'm noting down every single thing you experienced ladies say, seriously I am, I have a spreadsheet titled Mumsnet advice on my work computer!

Cycle the baby is moving in your actual bottom? I'm obsessed with trying to work out exactly where everything is with my little bean, I get big old thumps in the navel area and wriggly niggles right down low in the pelvis and can never work out what is where. Aw to cuddly snogging though, love a snog.

sarahjinx i think your spreadsheet is a great idea. Fancy sharing it?

oops sorry stuffed. hugs it might make you feel better to hear DH said i snored a few nights ago. The next night i thumped him. By accident of course. I flung my arm back and his face was there. I cant stop lauging about it. oops. Maybe you should try it! By accident of course

So far I've only bought one back of maternity pads. Think I'll go get some more just in case. And if I don't use them our patio has a habit of flooding when it rains a lot I can use them as some kind of sand bagging to protect my pots!! :o

On the movement side, what is going on in there!! I think hes renovating the amout of movement going on!. DH got particularly freaked out last night in a mini "Alien" moment. He was lovingly rubbing oil on my belly (apparently to stop stretch marks....pants on fire Sanctury) and his hand was propelled away!! He thought I was just being a woose when I complained about kicks to my fanjo, but I think now he knows just how violent they are!

Quick question, does morning sickness come back?? I ask because I was really ill this morning and thought I'd given myself food poisoning or something, but I feel fine now. Just had a sandwich and all is well!

I don?t remember the bleeding being much worse than a very heavy period after DD1. I think breastfeeding encourages your womb to contract and so helps it stop faster. I was glad I?d packed dark towels in my hospital bag and I went for super cheap granny knickers, which I was going to throw away but ended up keeping as they weren?t too bad. Like Jaylar, my plastic jug was my very best friend in the whole world whevener I needed a pee

While we?re discussing the more gruesome aspects of CB?did anybody use a stool softener to help with the first post partum poo? And/or can anybody recommend one that you can take while breastfeeding? I won?t go into detail? but I didn?t bother taking anything last time and sorely regretted it, IYKWIM?!

Lucie I was only grossed out as I was eating a piece of jam on toast at the time
Sarah Lol at ?maternity surfboards?
ILike Ta for the tip about Boots mat pads
Kitstwins ? I know that so-tired-I-feel-sick feeling too well! Hope you?ve got some help looking after them?
Stuffed - Bugger about the test, do try to get a cancellation ASAP.

notanother are you doing it on purpose now...stool softener for first poo - jesus god.

Ahhhh i love our April family :) hehe. look we're at 865 messages already. Will we stick with our name or would something more gruesome be appropriate next time?? :)

I've got oranges on my list of things I need for the stool softening bit notanother but wasn't planning on anything medical? Can't do any harm to have something in the house though!

it doesn't last forever it doesn't last forever it doesn't last forever it doesn't last forever it doesn't last forever it doesn't last forever it doesn't last forever

kitty it has to be something about maternity surfboards!! :o

kitty hmmm....accidental beatings lol....sounds like fair revenge.

hehehehehehe

NotAnother - lactulose worked well for me. You can either get it on prescription or buy it over the counter I think.
I had a c-section and still needed it - all the morphine rather slows things down, and trust me the last thing you want to be doing 3 days post-section is straining because you feel like your insides might come out!

Lis - yes get another pack, get several other packs I've got 3 packs in my hospital bag, and then a few more for at home.
I was sick this morning too just out of the blue, but was fine once I'd had breakfast.

stuffed - sorry about your driving test :( sounds like the examiner was pretty harsh on you.

I've been taking Lactulose the whole time, literally since week 8 and will vouch for it making things all nice and easy....I will clearly now keep taking it post birth just in case of hurty poo.

Does make you trump though, I am queen trumper in our house now after years of berating baby father for vile smelling emissions. Ho hum.

oh god now it's getting very real.... pads & laxatives... brilliant. So the glamour continues post-birth.

Just had a rather unhelpful call from the midwife department at hospital informing me that my blood tests had come back showing low iron levels... but then she said she'd talk to my consultant and find out if they wanted to do anything about this and that I didn't have to worry?!!?!? But now I obviously am worrying so what do I do now?!?! Steak & kale it is.....

Sorry about the driving test Stuffed, what an absolute shitter.

I think our next thread should somehow have MoFo C bomb shoe-horned into the title

OJ and apricots are good to get the digestive system going, and just drinking a good amount helps in general.

There is no doubt that a first poo can be traumatic for some, but sometimes you can also build it all up in your head and it is actually ok. If you've got stitches (in fanjo or csection scar) a lot of people recommend placing a sanitary towel against the stitches with a little bit of pressure from your hands when you have to strain, this helps stop the feeling of bursting your stitches.

I always seem to clear my bowels out in early labour , so I don't poo for quite a few days later. The MW's became obsessed about it. I wasn't constipated, I just didn't need to go!

I went to the Osteopath and it feels better already, although she did warn me it might get painful today and tomorrow and then release again . When she was testing my posture and flexibility we were both quite impressed that I could still bend over and touch my toes

Glad you've got some relief Frakk, back pain is bloody evil.

Funnily enough, I've never associated lochia with a period. Probably because I've always used tampons for periods and I'm quite light, so having a brick between my legs and actually seeing the blood seems very different.

I had that 1st time docs gave me a prescription but i have IBS and the tablets made me ill so they gave me medicine, then when i saw the midwife she said i was only slightly below so only needed to take every 3 days! Wait and see what doc says and call your MW if you are concerned.

Well baby is clearly not IN my bottom but you know how sometimes it feels like they're kicking you in the, ahem cervical area? Well sometimes I'm not sure if I need to poo or if he's just kicking me in that general area.

God, pregnancy is like so sexy

Hmmmm new thread names.... Nope, I can't think of a single one, lame!

Mine likes to get the heel of her foot behind my belly button and puuuuush with all her might!

I want to "ride the maternity surfboard" all the way to our new thread

And my motto for today is 'forewarned on m'net is forearmed with a plastic jug and a packet of lactulose'!