Mad March in the PESH deli; in like a lion, out like a lamb?

[Medee]

BESH BAYBEES

dontrythisathome, girl born March 25.
Cheggers, twinz girlz, born April.
FannyPriceless, boy, born June 8.
CurlyCasper, girl, born June 24.
CUNextTuesday, boy, born June 29.
AlpinePony, boy, born 1 July.
Carrots, boy, born July.
IggyPiggy, girl, born July.
Cosmosis, boy, born Sept 5.
Backinthebox, boy, born Sept 7.
Skatergrrrl, girl, born Sept 10.
VAG, boy, born Oct 2.
Silversky, boy, born Nov 1
SomethingSuitablyWitty, girl born Nov 2
okiecokie, girl, born Nov 12
Honeymoo, boy, born Nov 11
ReginaMonologue, boy, born Nov 13
Maswera, boy, born Dec 24
PollyPoo, girl, born Jan 5
MrsFC, boy, born Jan 7
ChoChoSan, girl, born 6 Feb
Ginhag, boy born 11 Feb
Muser, girl, born 15 Feb
CluckyKate, boy, born 18 Feb
Perfect Dromedary, boy, born 23rd February

UPDIFFED

Medee, Gah! Top of the list! Was due March 12
Casserole, cracking open the sunroof on March 31
Scorpette, thinking of displaying her enorma-bump at freak shows, due 18th May.
Laurielou, the unmarried hussy with the "surprise" diff, due 31 May (ish)
Rocketleaf, sprouting out all over the place, due 1st June.
TwinkleToes, supergluing her fanjo shut, due 20 June.
Orchid, hoping for a zen like child, due 1st July
Ginfox, loving the new mega-boobs, due 12th July.
LadyGoneGaga, Has lost her waist, due 24 July
Ivegotmrbitey, appears to have eaten posh spice, due 27th July.
Milanomum, eating for 7, due Aug 6th
Owlbooty, suddenly weeble-shaped, due 7th August
Ocarina, there's a what in there?! due late August
Mountie, too shy to shine, due Autumn
Truffkin, growing a padawan, due 17th November

Medee I must admit to having a little happy cry when I read your update, soppy cah that I am (can't even pretend to be a DHB). I'm so pleased to hear about the feeding, pooing and crying. Little EA sounds as strong and determined as her mummy. I hope tonight goes as well as last night, thank gawd you live so close to the hospital.

Forgive me as I am about to be soft... but I love the power and support of the ESH, it really is something special. I think you are all fecking marvellous and I luff you and I don't care if that is soppy and un-ESHlike so ner.

Stumbles in choking on whiff released from Madame

Med hope you had a good night with the feeding last night. Will look forward to an update soon.

In our news, we had a fab holiday. Mini O was a dream child on the plane etc and our villa was perfect for a toddler. Did lots of playing on the beach, eating ice creams etc. Only downside was that the wee man got gastroenteritis on the last evening. He is never normally ill so it took us by surprise. I slept in his room with him and he threw up another few times in the night resulting in the changing of several beds and sets of PJ's. He woke in the morning and was like a little rag doll, completely lifeless with a raging temperature. We whisked him off to a doctor who was brilliant and sorted out some anti-emetics for him and she only just about gave us the all clear to come home that evening. I had a big wobble as not only was my baby ill, but the doctor told me that it was highly contagious and that if I got it before we flew I would have to be admitted to hospital and put on a drip as there would be no drugs they could give me. Anyhoo, needless to say we spent the day worrying for nothing and we had a nice uneventful journey home . Back at work today, hence why I'm on here!

I saw my parents over the weekend too and managed to wangle a morning with just my mum to be spend in town shopping for squidge! We've now ordered a new matress for the pram (as this will double as squidge's moses basket for a while too), bought some new pram sheets and decided on a bed, matress and wardrobe for mini O too. My mum took all the nappies home with her to napisan and have looking pristine again which is fab! So, when we get the new wardrobe, we can start bringing things down from the loft and I can properly start cooing over all mini O's newborn clothes again - hooray! I think that's pretty much everything from the last week for us so will sign off and attempt to do some work

Morning ladeez.

Meds thanks for the update yesterday. Who cares that its for slightly selfish reasons . I'm so, so glad that you managed to BF EA & had a loud, lungful of screaming. What a fab sound that must've been. Sorry you weren't able to stay at the hospital again last night, but a blessing that you live so close. I really hope that you managed another feed with EA. As always, lots of positive thoughts on their way from sunny Wales, x

Poo you soft, daft sod . You're only saying what undoubtedly all of us are thinking. We're a pretty fine bunch, really.

Orchid Glad you had a nice hol, sorry to hear Mini O was poorly though. Hope he's on the mend.

Sounds like everyone had a lovely Mother's Day. I too was given a card to "Mum To Be" (didn't even know they made them) signed from The Bump. But my mum bought it. Poor Mr Loz, think he felt a bit bad as he didn't know such cards existed. My mum just saw it & thought it was funny, so no harm done. It did make me feel a bit funny though.....

We're off to ante-natal on Sat, the all day NHS version. Both a bit apprehensive, but we'll see. We've booked into a lovely restaurant for the evening though, if we still have an appetite that is

Right, I'm off to do some work. 14 days until mat leave. Ready for it now...........

Are we going down the random violence or pastries & gin route today?

I think a combination of the two, Lozza . Do they make gin pastries? They bloody ought to. I have about 60 days until mat leave. I cannot wait.

Meds hope your little trooper had a good night and a good feed or two - she sounds like an absolute star & will hopefully be home for huge amounts of snuffling v.v.soon :)

I'm so happy to see such a positive update. Have been thinking of you loads Meds, and am absolutely in awe of how you are coping.

Can I be nosy and ask how long before their due date people are taking mat leave? I am planning to go off at 38 weeks but now thinking about 37 weeks instead. I just have no idea how I am going to feel.

Hols sound lovely orchid, sorry to hear little O was poorly. Sounds like you are getting very organised!

Thanks for the update medee, your mother's day card sounds beautiful! Hope the trips back to the hospital in the wee small hours went well, you are being amazingly strong and such a wonderful mummy.

I was going to go at 38 weeks bitey, but shifted it forward to 37. And as KateBob was born at 38+2 I'm very glad I did.

I'm going to work til 37 weeks, Bitey. Not sure how that will go. Last time was meant to leave at 36 weeks but as my Dad died I was actually pretty much on compassianate leave from 32 weeks bar a couple of days going in to tie up some loose ends. It was lovely to have some time off to prepare, especially as had just moved house, but did feel very impatient by the end. I wouldn't want to work up until 38 weeks to be honest - I felt very tired, achy and cumbersome at that point and your mind will not be on the job at all. Is nice to have some transition time between work you and Mummy you as well. Also in July it will be baking hot and all we will want to do is loll around in a paddling pool due to the extreme swelling. And I want to spend some quality time with miniG beforehand too.

I have 47 working days left to go (have two weeks holiday booked one month today to break it up!)

Thanks both! I haven't used any AL leave yet so can stick it on the beginning, you have sold the 37 week cut off instead. Think I will book this now, and then count how many working days I have left too

Bitey - I am queen of organisation, I don't like not having things sorted, I am a total control freak! (plus I like to squee over the clothes etc for as long as possible by going to sit in the nursery and daydream!!!)

I finished work with mini O at 38 weeks (was early Sept). I spent the first week working on my PhD and teaching qualification though so didn't have any 'me time'. I started in labour on a Sunday evening, one week into ML and he was born on the Monday, a couple of days ahead of my due date (he was due on the Thursday by scan dates, but not for another week according to my dates!). I felt fine working up to this point, but it was quiet at work and at that point was all desk bound work so I could take it easy and not be running round etc. If it was during term time I might have thought otherwise.

This time I'm finishing at 37 weeks (although again I've been brought forward by a week according to scan dates, so I think I'll actually be 36 weeks). I really want to have some 'me' time this round so am determined not to do any work whilst off.

If you have tons of leave I would really recommend cutting down to 4 days a week for a few weeks before you go. It helps make work bearable if you are feeling a bit rough in the last trimester.

I already work 4 days a week (crafty eh)

I am putting down my due date as the official start of mat leave then taking annual leave for however long before that I feel I need to. Hopefully 37/38 weeks? No idea. Am still waiting for the fecking blooming to start.

I need that form thingy. My next appt is with the GP at 25 weeks. That will be too bloody late for the form. Stupid local NHS.

meds Thinking about you and the family xx

orchid sounds like you had a lurvly time (apart from the puking at the end of course). Hope mini-o is on the mend.

All I'm saying about mat leave is that I gave birth at 36+4. That's all. Oh and that here the Italian system gives you 5 months compulsory leave and I'll be leaving at 32 weeks this time! That's around the first week of June. WAY-feckin-HEY

In other news I bought some squee-ful little teeny body suits this morning. All green and turquoise and stuff .

I'm finishing work at just under 35 weeks. TBH I feel fine & could probably work on for longer. But thanks to a heap of Bank Hols & annual leave, I shall be taking all that first & not technically starting mat leave until the day before due date. I'm looking forward to some me time, plus organising time, so shall feel a bit jipped if Bug decides on an early appearance .

Although saying all that, today I feel tired, achy & a bit sicky, & am looking forward to not getting up at 6am. Maybe its because I know I'm on the downward to mat leave, or maybe I am ready for it.

Just heard that the guy who was meant to be covering my leave has decided against it. So, I shall mostly be handing over to my useless Line Manager for him to sort things. I'm just a fuss arse & would like to have handed things over properly. Ah well.

Mac those body suits sound gorgeous. I also bought some bright ones from M&S - all bright primary colours. Then over the weekend I found some matching stripy socks in H&M. To my shame I squeeeeeeeeeeed quite loudly in the shop. Am already planning grand "coming home from hospital" outfit, with matching socks & bodysuits. The fact that I haven't bought any bedding, nappies, toiletries, steriliser stuff etc etc. doesn't seem to have sunk in yet. Meh!

As well as ante-natal on Sat I'm off to a breast feeding workshop on Wed morning. The jury is still out regards to my feeding plans, so am hoping Wed will help me to decide, then I'll know what kit to buy.

In other news I almost inhaled a jam donut someone brought into the office. Lubberly!

32 weeks, Macca? . Body suits sound lovely. I think I might get the newborn stuff down from the attic soon. Maybe clear a drawer in MiniG's room for baby stuff.

Lovely friend donated me a massive pillow at the weekend. Yet to give it a go. But MrG will barely fit in what with roaming toddlers and massive pillows.

Hope EA had a good night. And hope Medee is managing some sleep and to eat well - really important to eat well now to establish milk supply. Although is frigging hard.

Plenty o'protein to boost supply!!

Oooh, I bought those bright M&S ones Lozza , they are v.nice. Squeeing at tiny socks is surely permitted? I have just inhaled a massive slice of chocolate cake and feel ashamed of my utter lack of self-restraint. I wasn't even hungry.

I petted some cots in Ikea at the weekend. Well, actually I shook them vigorously to see if they would withstand a small chunky boy throwing himself at them repeatedly in a bid to escape. They will. This is good news as they are cheap.

Excellent taste, Owly bodysuits & chocolate cake in equal measures.

Oooh that sounds lovely returnofthemac and not too long away either! Bodysuits sound gorgeous too!

orchid I want to be you! My house is upside down - we painted the kitchen at the weekend so all the kitchen contents are in the dining room and lounge, the nursery still looks very much like my study and there is a lot of work to be done in the garden too. I have got a chest of drawers full of baby clothes which get squeee'ed over on a daily basis though

Am vey of jam doughnut loz, I have had sardines on toast again. biteybach is thanking me for such nutritious brain food/ or registering a protest at the overall fishiness of lunch by doing the pointy bit of the saturday night fever dance.

The FDH got his first kick last night, he was awestruck and I have been elevated from queen of everything to Goddess in his esteem.

My house just looks like shite Even the tiny baybee things are stuffed in a cupboard as there is nowhere for them to go. And there's a wall that needs taking out and a kitchen that needs fitting and it's all doing my head in. I am starting to feel a bit overwhelmed by it all and if Mr Boots mentions one more time that I need to eBay some of the random stuff I will take everything out into the garden and burn it in a heap on the lawn. Including an effigy of Mr Boots.

Sardines sound yum; I had peppered mackerel mashed up with lemon juice and yoghurt. I am all about the feesh right now. Preferably the oily feesh.

Excellent work on the dancing, Biteybach

Afternoon all.

Last night wasn't quite what I had hoped, as her blood sugar had plummeted. We had suspected the volume perhaps wasn't quite there, and were right - giving the doctor and nurse a bit of a surprise. So she was tube fed again, and an hour later her blood sugar was back at what it should be (showing it was just low volume, not that she can't process her food). I however, as we were preparing to say goodnight had a complete meltdown - nurses prescribed a night at home for me. MrM returned for the midnight feed, done by tube again, and I stayed in bed and slept and expressed. He reported she was on wonderful form, alert and interactive with him.

I got a call at 6.40 to say she was awake and looking hungry, so hot-footed it to the hospital to feed - a good feed but my instincts were a bit wonky, so topped her up with a half-tube feed. However, she then slept until her next feed, which was very sleepy and definitely needed a top up. I'm starting to worry my supply won't keep up, but given everything that has been pumped into her in the last week, a formula top up may not be the end of the world if it comes to that (no-one has mentioned it yet though)

So hopefully, when we return in the next hour, she'll be awake and ready for feeding again, and her blood sugar has held at a normal level today.

and thanks for the offers - there's not really anything anyone can do. We've even kept the GPs away until she gets her move to SCBU, when we'll use them for some housework too. The longer feeding intervals though do mean we can get a bit more time to do stuff - like collect parcels from the sorting office (not opening any cards and presents till she is back) and doing food shops and laundry.

I have the rage just got patronised to fuck by a whippersnapper at the RAC and have told him to stick his breakdown cover and I will take my £8 a month elsewhere. Now just got to hope I don't break down! This may return to haunt me...

I am also feeling a bit overwhelmed by the house boots, I hurt my back getting carried away with the cleaning this weekend and ended up stuck on my back with my legs bent like a turtle. It was fine within minutes after some stretching and shrieking but just made me feel a bit useless. There is so much I want doing and a lot of it needs the FDH to do it. I might see if orchid has a spare room

medee Big love and hugs to you and your family. In defence of formula (and you knows I loves it ) - you've really got enough on your plate right now to be worrying about without worrying about supply/instinct type stuff. I for one say that it doesn't matter if your instinct is telling you to top-up with tubes or formula. Feeding your baby is what counts. x

I stopped work at 36 weeks. Laid baybee at 36+5. One day of maternity "leave". I felt 100% fine and got my energy boost at around 32 weeks.