April 2011 - towards motherhood boucing on yoda balls, eating coc pops and riding frozen surfboards we are

[SnapFrakkleAndPop]

Raspberry leaf and all round.

Continuation from here. No Mofo C bombs yet been dropped in the delivery room although our first 2 babies have arrived. Congrats to gormers and Jo, we hope your little ones are still doing great.

I've been catching up this morning...

Frakk Your description of my imaginary book launch party really cheered me up If you like Sophie Kinsella, then you might just like my novel. Also, where do you live? I?ve been Googling active volcanoes but can?t work it out! Sicily? Hawaii?

Lis So sorry about your Gran - grandmothers are truly special people. Good luck with the funeral x

Arch Your ?gift list? is genius. I am so shocked at your ?care? ? surely they should be sending you for a scan if they are in any doubt that the baby is breach?

MrsWajs LOL at the thought of your hairdresser insisting your birth partner accompanies you to your appointment Hope your cold is shifting a bit? I can?t wander too far from a loo either.

Ali I?m so glad I followed your suggestion and actually washed my hair before I cut it ? it?s fine now, just looks like I have a few split ends! Very excited for you for Monday.

Cycle Ouch, hope you?re okay after your fall? I sometimes wear a mat surfboard to deal with the, er, gushes!

JKS I wrapped up a couple of DVDs and sticker books for DD2 to give DD1. I figured they might help us get some peace in those first few days

Beetle Ouch on your fall too, hope you?re feeling better?

Daisy Yes to washing new baby clothes in non bio detergent. Then at some point, you can drift slowly back to bio and put new clothes on them before you even leave the shop ? IIRC this happens at about 6mo when weaning starts and everything becomes covered in bright orange stains.

Nothing is happening ? despite walking down 28 flights of stairs yesterday and forcing down a very hot curry. Grr?

I don?t know what to do if the Obs suggests an induction tomorrow because of the Polyhydramnios (I?ll be 38 wks). They don?t know what?s causing the excess fluid - which is good as, if they did know, then it would mean they?d diagnosed something was wrong. About 60% of cases are unexplained and the baby is fine, a further 30% are down to diabetes in the mother and again the baby is fine - the rest I don?t want to think about. DD2 is growing well though (estimated to be a whopping 7lb 15oz already) and any problems are usually associated with a lack of growth.

Instinct tells me to leave well alone, the water is not harming her and she?ll come out when she?s good and ready. OTH, I am desperate to have her out safely. I am massive but I don?t think that?s a good enough reason to induce me, I still get a goodish night?s sleep (in between needing the loo and walking off hip cramp) and don?t seem to be too uncomfortable compared to others on here ( Jen your descriptions of living with SPD sometimes bring tears to my eyes).

Liv ? It?s ironic that we are both facing the possibility of early inductions for the opposite reasons, if only I could give you some of my fluid. Have you read this thread?

Right, I'm off to waddle round and round the park to try to get things moving. Isn't this a wonderful time of year to have a baby?

2 thoughts that came to me in the night i wanted to share:

1. the walking up & down stairs in early labour is meant to be sideways, ie tilting your pelvis one way then the other, not straight up and down, hands on the bannister or wall to steady yourself.

2. just something i wish i'd been told pre-ds1. When you breastfeed...your nipple does not just have one hole at the end that the milk comes out
   if you get into expressing, or baby comes off mid-feed, you'll see 'spray' from somewhere between 10 & 20 holes. Think a shower with bad limescale
   (freaked me out when i saw it!!)

as you were, back to my frazzles :)

Ooh, my Labour Companion cd has just arrived - that was flipping quick!

Think I'll be waiting a bit longer for some Labour for it to be a companion to.

JKS Thanks for the breast milk description, someone else told me that too but I thought they were just trying to freak me out!! I geniunely thought it all just came from one little hole in the middle!!
Will also be giving the stair walking a bash nearer the time!

NANN My hairdresser is genuinely worried - she's never had kids herself and doesn't know very much about pregnancy/labour etc. Luckily I just go to her house to get my hair done, can't imagine waters breaking in a salon full of people would be much fun!! Her mum is lovely too and is knitting me blankets and little matinee jackets for babyWajs arrival! I have 3 weddings in June so was booking appointments for then too and was trying to figure out the logistics of 6 week old baby and hair appointments when her mum chips in with 'just bring the baby and I'll watch her while you get your hair done' couldn't ask for more really!! And to top it all she is really cheap and only charges me for products - a winner all round!

Ali I can't believe Monday is your big day!! Good luck wth it all :)

Last nights appointment went well, bump has grown another 1.5cms since last week, still small for gestation but they are happy enough with that so I'm not going to worry about it anymore!!

Sun is out and my cold is finally beginning to subside so I'm happy happy happy today!! Think a bit of nesting may be in order after the weekend! Baby shower on Sunday first though and my cousin is coming, she's due at the beginning of June and I haven't seen her at all since she fell pregnant so looking forward to catching up wth her!

Cycle What kind of snacks are you packing for labour bag, ive seen lots of suggestions for dried fruit but im more of a chocolate kind of girl. Maybe both ? is it weird to wanna pack a sandwich ?

Arch Hope the independent MW gives you good news

Chilli Post Choc Chip Cookie receipe !! yum, yum, yum. I want to make some to freeze for post birth with a few tested asap !

Kits OK, 7cm, here I come !! Let me know when you get to 8cm !! How long do you use for, I try around 15-20 mins with increased pumps about every 5 mins

Birth assesment went all fine yesterday, so Im A-ok for birthing ward labour. Had the coolest midwife, really friendly, nice and explained loads of stuff, hope she's there when I give birth !

Got my changing mat yesterday and last purchase of re-usable nappies, totals 47 nappies now, I think thats enough, plus got some organic muslin cloths for early day nappies which are all pre-folded and flat terry nappies aswell along with numerous wraps.

Love washing them and seeing them hung up to dry, they are so cute and even DP, goes a bit gaga when he see's them or babys clothes hanging up.

Watched OBEM, the bad teeth girl OMG !! but burst into tears when her DP started crying when he saw his baby, had the proper heaving sobs I was so touched.

Cant wait to start hearing about everyones arrivals, cant believe its all gonna probably start happening from next week !! Go Ali

Afternoon ladies! The sunshine is improving my mood so much, it is lovely :)

JKS - that made me chuckle - I was completely non-plussed the first time I sprayed everywhere!!

NotAnother - very pleased your hair is ok!! I don't know what I would do in your situation if offered induction either. I suppose you just have to ask about the risks of waiting vs. not - hopefully it won't come to that and baby will make an appearance of it's own accord!

Frakk I hope you got through your morning.

Petal - I'm impressed that you made it into town, I waddled round the corner to Sainsbury's this morning, but my Mum was with me to deal with DS and carry everything! I am getting the same looks you are, I am very short (only 5'2") so my bump is massive and looks bigger than it is in proportion to the rest of me - I look like a ball on legs.
Due date for you tomorrow - maybe you will be in the 5%?

Cycle - you are a kinder person than me to worry about how well your DP is sleeping. I've been rolling over and crashing into DH for weeks now, and the other night I elbowed him in the nose

Aussie - 47 nappies is definitely enough I put all the new ones I've bought away last night, so lovely and soft and fluffy!

Went to have my last appointment with my midwife today - everything fine, she had a lovely long listen to the heartbeat, lots of nice accelerations :) Next time I see her will be first home visit once I'm back from hospital - eeek!

Liv I have visions of you still assembling the bed! How is it going?

Aussie I seem to manage around 15 minutes with a couple of booster inflates along the way. I'm a bit crap at it though to be honest. Sometimes I'll sit there congratulating myself at how easy it is and how there's no discomfort (perineum smugness - I must be losing my mind!) only to find that it has slipped out WITHOUT MY NOTICING. How?!

Off out for a lavish pre-baby dinner tonight. I'm going to eat steak tartare and generally stuff my face.

Notanother It's a tricky one but I think there's a lot to be said for maternal instinct. Maybe a compromise of holding off on the induction but going in for daily monitoring or similar?

God, I'm tired...

The sunshine makes a huge difference doesn't it? It actually makes me feel enthusiastic to go outside and even walk a distance that is further from my front door to the car door!!

I've been painting the woodwork in our new bedroom today. Two coats so far and anther tonight. It's not very comfortable painting on your hands and knees with a chuffing great bump. I think I'll be soaking in a warm bath after the last coat is done!

Hurrah for a growing baby MrsW

Everytime you ladies talk about your epi-no's I wince and cross my legs

I have my best sleep when dh isn't in the bed. Neither of us have said anything which means if he's anything like me he is a seething pot of resentment about lack of bed space and duvet hogging

Snack-wise Aussies I'm packing cereal bars. I may also go for dried fruit and energy drinks. I'm going on the basis of what I crave when I do long-distance cycling (I'm aware it's different ), I always crave carb and sugar fixes when I'm low on energy.

I've just washed all the inserts for my reusables and am now on the outers. I have 12 so far and have 10 more coming. I was told I'd need about 18 as I'm phasing in rather than attempting it all from the get go!

I never wash my clothes before wearing them! I'm only doing the baby's stuff because of the anti mould chemicals, babies have such delicate skin. Plus, some of the cotton stuff is a bit stiff prewashing. The nappies is to ensure absorbency when they're used for the first time. Am weirdly excited by washing it all. DP is giggling at my excitement.

ILTMI painting woodwork?! Flipping heck, that exhausts me^ just thinking about it.

notanother if baby's okay I'd be inclined to hold out with additional monitoring. I live in Reunion. Don't worry, noone has ever heard of it!

kits enjoy your dinner! Hope you don't fall asleep halfway through dessert.

Ali yay for the positive MW appointment. Have you decided where your preference lies yet or have you just given up hope of VBACing and resigned yourself to a CS? What would they do if you go into labour 5 mins before you're due in theatre? or what would you do?!

Aussie glad your birth assessment went well. Chocolate is included in my labour bag! 47 nappies?! I have a paltry dozen and sone more on the way!

MrsW yay for growth and for baby shower :) hopefully you'll have lots of nice baby stuff to nest with (at the risk of sounding mercenary!)

arch your midwife team seems dreadful! I can't believe they've been putting you through so much stress which is just what you don't need. Hope IM appt goes well and make them do a presentation scan rather than booking a CS if you want to!

JKS I remember teaching a new mother to hand express to soften the boob a bit so baby could attach. I don't, however, remember whether she or I was more surprised when it sprayed everywhere at once. Despite theoretically mowing that milk comes through multiple holes I hadn't realised how multidirectional it was in RL!

On the washing babyclothes I've done that for everything with special gimmicky baby washing liquid. I can be PFB about some things!

I made it through. Never appreciated how much energy 3 hours with one class took before... Thankfully tomorrow is relatively easy 3 x 1.5s and I can make them shorter and go to the loo make photocopies between classes. DHs birthday tomorrow too so need to remember to buy cake and get a card. His presents are bought (but not wrapped) but I can't find a card I like. Why are all the bloody ones crap?

Frak! I've heard of Reunion - but really only cos lots of entomologist/zoologist friends have been there.

Aussie glad you asked about snacks - we haven't got much in the way of snacks, they all get eaten and I don't go into labour when they're here! Although Cycle, DH is going with your bike logic and bought himself me some electrolyte/carb drink and some yummy glucose sweets which are actually in my hospital bag away from hungry fingers.

Our MW actually recommended toast & honey, which is one of my favourite things! So I've got half a loaf of bread in the freezer which I'm planning on digging out at the last minute. And then anything else that might be hanging around the kitchen at the time (leftover pasta, cakes, etc.!)

I have to agree with whoever else mentioned the eye-watering thoughts at all the Epi-No action going on. I can't even bring myself to do perineal massage. I'm hoping that soaking in the pool all the way through will help!

Ali thanks for the statistic, I'm starting to realise this baby is as stubborn as me, so hopefully he won't want to go with the masses.
And when we were in town this morning, I left DH to a meeting at 9am, and I checked my watch in New Look when I was aching and had had enough, hoping that he would've finished his meeting - it was 9:15!

We've done the first painting on the first wall of our first house today! The living room now has one green wall, in a rather fetching shade called Hey Pesto! I only did a bit of crap cutting in earlier, DH's just finishing the second coat now.

On the nappy front - I've got 10 reusables (like cycle, we're going to phase them in & mother-dear has offered to buy us a few more if we get on with them!) and a bunch of disposables. I have no idea how many disposables, but I'm working on the theory that I can send DH out for more at the drop of a hat, these days!

Frak - i make all my cards now as i got fed up with paying over the odds for ones i didn't like.

Saw my nice MW today, all good. And she gave me her mobile number so even if she's off duty she'll ring the hosp for me to decide who they should send out for the home birth, ie she'll pick supportive MWs. So that is a big weight off, and she checked the rotas for the next few weeks and said i shouldn't have a problem with anyone, phew.
Thinking the one i saw last week is very junior and will not be given much say in my care from now on, yey.

Next MW visit is at home in 2 weeks - if i make it that far (36+4 today).

What a beautiful day it has been. Went for a waddle in the sunshine this afternoon, and lovely to see all the daffodils and spring bulbs in people's gardens.

Had midwife appt this morning, all well. Apparently according to student I am 3/5 engaged but the midwife doesn't think baby will be putting in an arrival before next week when I see her again at 39+3.

It seriously feels sometimes like the baby is literally ready to drop out as it feels so far down and pressing on my bladder.

Snap sounds like you had an exhausting morning. Hope you get to rest and put your feet up this evening.

JKS oh you have bought back memories of the multiple spraying boobs, rather like a watering can! I used to marvel at my let down sometimes too. I would literally only have to hear a baby crying even on the tv and my boobs would start leaking. I got through breast pads at a vast rate. Dd ended up being liberally sprayed a few times when she was crying for a feed and I couldn't get her latched on quick enough.

ILTMIMI painting woodwork not easy when heavily pregnant, especially skirting boards.

Notanother I think that your instinct is probably right to try and leave baby put for now, but I don't know anything about polyhydramnios. I don't actually have SPD but a pulled muscle in my side which is mercifully much better due to resting ++ over past few days. Thank god as I really couldn't even move earlier in the week.

Something to make you all chuckle. Dd (who is 3) came home from her grandparents yesterday with some lovely pictures she had drawn of Mummy and Daddy. She proceeded to explain the drawings to us " Thats Daddys hair, mouth etc" When she got to mine she explained the big fat belly she had drawn and also " Mummy, these are your big, huge nipples to feed the baby" all said in front of my in-laws!

I already knew about the shower head boobs. I've been leaking up a storm lately. It soaked all the way through to the mattress the other night

So gross!

Loving your DD's nipple description Jen, I teach three-year-olds and I love their honest declarations. The past couple of weeks I've had some crackers, 'that's a really big baby!', 'Is there a whole baby in there?' (said with a very suspicious expression), 'Your baby is going to have to be very well behaved' (said after the naughty corner had been threatened). I love the littlies!

Hello Ladies! Thank you for all your kind wishes since Monday. Today was the funeral, and it was nice. Although many long lost relatives felt they could come up to me a squeeze my bump . I almost felt like writing a badge that said "I'm LisMca, daughter of LisMum, 3 weeks til due date, it's a boy, yes we have a name, but we're not telling". Oh and one elderly relative went up to my sister and rubbed her tummy saying "Not long now then". We do look alike, but I resemble a beached whale at the moment. Sis is a petite 12/14. She was not amused.

I was fussed over though by my mum and her 3 sisters. I think they needed a distraction. Everytime I moved one of them was by my side. I actually had to stop Auntie E from following me into the loo! Then I was cornered by my grandad, bless him. He looked so lost. Then I think he sensed my vulnerability and tried to convince me I should name the baby after DH (he had no sons, but if he did I think I would have had an uncle Tom!). DH is called Kevin, lovely name for a child of the 70's but not one to inflict on a baby today. DH backed me up on this too [phew].

We had a day of laughs after the service. Well we were laughing before we got into the service as my brother kicked over the litter bin/ashtray at the enterance of the crematorium. It was empty thankfully, but made such a noise in such a quite place we all burst out laughing. What made it funnier was everyone presumed it was my cousin. He tends to get the balme for most things, correctly most times, but this time it wasn't!

I have read the thread and had been making mental noted on what I wanted to reply to, but brain has given up. I'll go back and check and post tomorrow.

Night

wow, lots of nipple talk! I found out about the multi directional spraying the hard way, I'm pretty leaky (especially when the LO next door decides to cry in the night and can be heard through the wall) and it doesn't take much pressure for there to be a demonstration!

I've got 20 reusables at the mo and will probably be sucked into buying more as I get more adventurous/find more colours and patterns that I decide I just have to have... For the disposables to begin with I've got about 150 after stocking up a couple of packs at a time when they were on offer. Have to use some before I buy more as we've run out of room!

Cereal bars, dried fruit and energy drink things here too, and DH has felt the need to had lots of sweets to his bag! Knowing my luck I'll feel sick at the sight of food and not eat any of it having spent the last few weeks being very good and not raiding the hospital bag stash in the middle of the night!

My mum is visiting and came down with lots of bits she and my sisters had bought for the baby including Very Hungary Caterpillar vests and outfit that are soooo cute! We also now have the car seat to get home from the hospital and have assembled the bouncy chair, just need Little Insect now!

Totally unrelated to baby things DH bought me a Singer sewing machine today, it's beautiful! I kept doing an excited happy dance (sans hip movement to avoid aggravating the SPD!) and can't wait to clean it up and use it

Lis we x posted. I'm glad everything went as well as these things can and that you managed to find some laughter despite the sad occasion.

Notanother thanks for the induction link which i've been and read. I hadn't got around to looking for them myself so you saved me a job

Kits The bed assembly went surprising well, me and my mum got it done in no time. If you're interested this is the bed although I got mine from a local shop with a 25% off special offer.

Aussie My hospital bag will be full of Eat Natural bars, they come in various fruit and nut varieties several of which are also coated in chocolate or yogurt. I'll also going to take a bottle of Robinson's peach barley water, cheesy oatcakes, flapjacks, those little tubs of tinned fruit and some Minstrels which won't melt in the hot ward I ended up in hospital for 10 days last time so this time i'm going in prepared

Lis I'm glad the funeral went well, the laughing reminded me of my gran's funeral as one of my uncles is SN and kept saying shouting "knickers" and other random naughty words during the funeral and showing everyone his new shoes. My dad is 1 of 10 children so the congreation was basically all close family who know my uncle but there were a few others who looked a bit which only made everyone else snigger even more. I like to think that my gran was laughing along too.

Mornin ladies. Its my last friday. I finish at 1 on Wednesday. We're having a hatches and matches party tonight for me and one of the girls who is getting married. Nice weekend planned too. Friend coming for the day tomorrow and dh is going out. Then Sunday we're bringing my nan to see the nursery. Have good weekends all. I'll be checking in to see if any April babies have arrived :-). Good luck to those of you who are due any day :-) x

Well, I genuinely thought it was all going off last night. Painful BH's which didn't go away when I laid down, until about 3am. But no, here I am awake and starving with the usual daytime BH's.

So, looks like he's not in the 5% which arrive on their due date.

Back to bed for me!

kitty enjoy your last friday and have a fab party tonight! x

Oooh! Can't believe the due dates are all coming up. I have 10 days til mine and I can't really believe it. Am desperate for it to kick off though, am so uncomfy and I just want to meet him.

DP offered to sleep on the sofa from the get go last night but I stripped so he came to bed with me. I propped myself up to breathe better and success! Only woke him once at 6am

Am off to Brent Cross with my mum today for the last few bits (bath support etc) and DP has said he'll do some kitchen stuff while we're out. Am wondering if the freezer will be moving from the front room...

I shouldn't really say this because I'll no doubt be laughing on the other side of my face tomorrow, but I had a brilliant nights sleep last night. Maybe painting skirting boards is to be recommended?!

I am very jealous of impending EDD's as I am a whole 35 weeks today, and my EDD seems bloody ages away.

I'm glad to hear the funeral went well lis. What is wrong with the name Kevin?

Genius on the Minstrels Liv. DH and I always bought Minstrels when we were in Egypt as they were one of the few snacks we could get hold of that didn't melt in the bottom of our rucksack when we were in the dessert. I'll be adding them to the shopping basket.

I've got those Hungry Caterpillar vests and outfit too Beetle. I have a weakness for the hungry caterpillar, it's a classic! Also, enjoy your sewing machine - you can make your own nappies and wraps now!!

Am on day 5 of double iron dose and I feel so much better, I'm also shocked how awful having low iron made me feel. I'm just going to carry on taking it regardless now.

Morning all... Good news.. DP got offered a job yesterday wooohooo!! Timing is a bit off in that he'll probably start a week monday which is the week I am due having been at home since November but that's the way it goes! Am so pleased, and it's a big weight off my mind and so I am sure it is off his too.. clever DP :) :)

Have a very dodgy tum this morning.. hope it's not a sign as my mum and dad are coming down today and I'm taking my mum shopping tomorrow (wonders at her priorities) there are still lots of things I need to get done before baby arrives... I'd better get my finger out instead of sitting her mumsnetting.

Good luck to those with impending due dates - Petal I am going to bet that you have a baby this weekend :)

Morning ladies!
Well i really thought something was happening last night whilst doing my weekly shopping at tesco's!!
We bumped into DPs brother in law in the cake and bread aisle and i think i was getting a bit excited as he told us that DPs sister was 20weeks pg with number 3! (they'd kept it quiet as they didn't want to take our moment away from us! How sweet is that!). Anyway we were both pretty shocked but really happy for them both. So as the conversation went on i started to get what could only be described as period pains - dragging achey feeling low in my tummy and round towards my back. My first thought was along the lines of 'how annoying that my period is about to start right in the middle of tesco' then i remembered i was bloody pregnant!!! This continued for the duration of the conversation with brother in law, with me at one point needing to lean on a shelf for a bit of support and fidgetting like mad - i'm surprised DP never cottonned on! Mind u maybe he thought i just needed the loo! Anyway long story short, that particular sensation subsided after about 10 minutes and reappeared again very briefly about an hour later and nothing else since. So now i'm not sure if that's what a braxton hicks feels like as if it is then its nothing like the pain i had after sex last time!!
Bit disappointed if i'm honest, i really wanted it to be the start of something (albeit 4 weeks early!!) but i phoned my mum when we got home and she gaily informs me that it probably is the start of something but that it could go on for the next 4 weeks like that!! Fabulous - i'll be a wreck by the time this baby arrives if i'm going to be stopping and starting like that for the next 4 weeks!!

Good news about DP's job Lucie . I also meant to say a few days ago that your tightenings sound like BH to me. Like you I expected them to contract and release at regular intervals, but nearly everyone I know has a rock hard bump for a period of time.

I've come on here again to let you all know that Sainsbury's have another one of their 1/3 off baby nappies and toiletries until the 30 March, so stock up