Jue in June 2011....... labour here we come!!!!!

[Jer79]

New thread. Should last us a week.

Millie I'm sure you'll think of a name you both like when the baby is born. In the meantime you can just call it 'Baby _ (insert surname e.g. Baby Jones).

Pretty sure we've got ours. DH wanted his late mums name as a middle name but unfortunatley it didn't seem to 'go' with many other names we liked- and I didn't want to choose a first name just so goes with the middle name. Had to be sensitive but suggested an alternative first and middle name combo recently and luckily DH loved it (well when I say 'loved it' obviously he's a bloke so he said 'yeah _ hmm I could work with that')

I don't mind if my friends say wow your bump has grown or you don't look pregnant from behind (a strange but apparently complimentary comment). But strangers should NOT comment on bump size especially not if they are going to say wow you are huge!

Been up since 5am couldn't get back to sleep- considered making a chillie for tea- would that be wierd?

My fabulous work mates made me a 'box' -something we do at work if someone retires, gets married or has a baby. Everybody wraps a pressie and puts it in the box (its anonymous so you can spend as much or as little as you want).

Click on my name I've put some pics on my profile

jasmine was yesterday seriously your first ever glimpse of the wonder that is Jeremy Kyle and "I'm pregant with my brother's baby but I've been sleeping with his gay lover and now my mother wants custody" and other such genius titles???? It truly is s sight to behold, isn't it? Possibly the best way to make yourself feel better when you've done a bad thing - no matter how evil you think you've been, you've never been low enough to expose your husband's lack of paternity on national TV. Truly it warms the cockles of your heart!

And if you do tell your mum to come to the hospital for the 2nd stage, tell her to go for a coffee first, and await a phone call, rather than loiter right outside the delivery door. You're JR-ing, aren't you? There's no where for relatives to hang around in the delivery suite anyway, she'll have to sit out in the lobby entrance to the women's centre, which will be cold every time the automatic doors open, so she's better off finding a nice coffee shop in Headington if it's daytime, and waiting there, rather than running up a huge parking bill in the JR. (See? You can put it across as you thinking only of her welfare!)

Sassamax - Cadbury's milk chocolate is way nicer than Nestlé chocolate. Except I love Milkybars,yum!

Nurse - yey well done on your assignment! BTW I have an MNer friend who is 4 weeks ahead of me and has a really neat bump but she is taller and slimmer than me!!

Daisy please tell me they at least stop to exchange details, is this much damage to your car? How are you feeling today? If you are feeling at all sore get yourself to the GP pronto to get checked over.

CMH - never ceases to amaze me how rude some people are about pregnant women. Do they think we don't care that we are feeling like beached whales, we don't need to be told we look like one too

Jasmine - I can't imagine having my mum there either. However she hasn't offered as she is 4 hours away by car, doesn't drive and works full time. She is planning to come up and stay for a week once the baby is here and DH has gone back to work.

Clarkiee - wow how kind of your colleagues, that is lovely! I got something similar when I went on ML before I had DS. Not as big though

Millie - still plenty of time to think of names. I think we are now settled on a name. Which I am now going to reveal, so keep it schtum people. DH went and told his ex-boss so now don't mind telling you lot. Don't want to tell people in real life because I think a few friends will laugh at the name choice.

The name we have chose is.......

Cara Anastasia

Damn my over sensitive mouse button I hadn't finished!!

Got my physio appoint. For 12:45pm on the 21st April. Which happens to be my birthday
Tried to ring yesterday to rearrange the appointment as DH and I have made plans to go for lunch. But just kept getting their flipping voice mail!

Kara love it...absolutely love it, gorgeous names. Is the Cara pronounced with a K or an S?

Clarkiee Youve just given me an idea...since I work for myself so technically I am my own boss and all my colleagues as well...I should buy myself a big box of goodies when my ML officially starts! oooo, I can feel a spending splurge on expensive frivolous baby stuff coming on...and lots of chockies as well of course.

My biggest decision today...whether to drag my sorry bones all the way to the DAU to get my bp and wee checked out to make sure my general unwellness isnt serious, or stick my head around the local MW unit and smile sweetly/blub my eyes out until they take pity on me and agree to doing some quick checks. Its the difference between 5 hours out of my life and about 10 minutes...no contest really is there.

Hi ladies - it is really hard to keep up with you regulars on here!

All going well - counting down to the 2 day journey back to the UK....it is going to be tough! In the meantime I am getting massive care overload - here it is standard to have checks every 2 weeks in the 3rd trimester and my doctor is very good at knowing nothing and scaring me stupid.

One thing she did say is that I should get a support belt as it can help prevent stretch marks - is this true? I am not really feeling particularly heavy but I do have marks :(

Still having all sorts of chaos with my eyes, seeing floaters and movement all the time - no one can tell me what that is about.

jasmine I think you should go for a check out - even though I am sure it is nothing, you will feel soooo much better for it.

nurse am very jealous of your assignments - I still have 2 to do before my due date and haven't started either of them :)

Happy Friday! :)

Oh jimpers I get those floaters too! Been told not to worry about it- annoying though.

I know kara I was really happy and went a bit red opening it all- still not sank in that I'm having a baby but at least they will have something to wear (and the box could double up as a cot ) babybox

jasmine what a good idea- wrap all your pressies up in different paper then you can't remember what is what

My appointment this morning was moved from 9am till 10.30am, thought shall I go into work before I go?- nah! Just had a lush lie in

OMG at Clarkiee's 'box' . Fantastic gifts!
Gorgeous name Kara - won't forget that in a hurry, being the same as yours and all. My RL friend who is actually called Kara's sister had a baby girl this morning...did that make sense? I don't know about anyone else but I just love hearing about people having babies just now.
32 weeks today (even though I thought it was 32 weeks last Friday)

Wow Clarkiee I want a box like that! What amazing work people you must have!

sasa it must be really annoying to lose a week from your total - I have only known about the baby for 6 weeks and I'm already very ready for it to come out! :o

My boss has just announced that we made our figures this month so he is taking us all to the pub for a drink at lunch time - and then I'm off for my scan this afternoon so only really a half day for me! Hee hee hee. Hope you all have a good day with not too many dead limbs, floaters, rush wees, colds, coughs or random pains. Being pg is soooo much fun isn't it!

Hi all, I am a serious lurker!

I was around in the very early days Jue in June days, possibly even with some of you on conception threads, and some may remember me. Then I found the whole baby thing bizarre/scary and needed a small adjustment period. Then returned avidly reading posts but selfishly not contributing .

I do feel I know you all know and have gained lots of advice, I find myself quoting this thread to people in real everyday life and thought now I am starting to wind down the work side of life I had no reason to not post.

I am sure I can't mention everyones recent stuff so I won't try, however clarkiee your work box looks lovely what a fab idea!

I am meant to be at work today (in a school) and am not but am giving myself a break, been tired recently and had back ache, today was meant to be training - sitting in the same likely uncomfortable seat, for 7 hours, I don't think so!
Instead am pottering around the house actually taking the time to be amazed and about pregnancy. Better than being at work (though I have to return on Monday) where I am not allowed to lift a sandwich but they are happy to let me deal with highly emotional stressful situations!

Anyway in summary am 29+3 and 70% sure we are having a DD and in the process of acquiring the stupid amount of stuff we appear to need.

Hope I am welcome back!!! I'll do the round!

Clarkiee that box is fantastic! What a wonderful idea!

coaaf we are no longer friends. Orange Aeros are amazing. Only topped by Mint Aeros, which are the work of the chocolate angel :)

And sasamaxx, are you mental? Haven't you had a Milky Bar recently? Though I am in agreement with kara and, in general, Cadbury's wins. Though nobody should ever look at Galaxy Caramel in the face and not devour it immediately ...

I may leave this thread. I just have nothing in common with you people

Congratulations nurse :) Is that your last assignment before the baby is due, or your last assignment ever? Either way, you deserve a Mint Aero :)

I can't see clarkiee's box :( (childish )

Is anyone going for non-disposable nappies? Working out the costs it looks like they're much cheaper, but I have no idea where to start. DH says he'll do the washing (anything to save money and I will hold him to it, so it seems like it's win win for me :)

I have a four hour meeting from 12-4 to assess PhD applications. I haven't finished reading all the apps so I've got to do it and then I'm going out for dinner with two of my old bosses. Trouble is, I'm giving a 20 minute paper at a conference tomorrow and I have approximately 0 words. So it's going to be an all-nighter for me [sigh]

OOoh ps welcome back curiouselle, I remember your name ...

FINALLY caught up with everyone (that'll teach me to go on Amazon and buy a new novel to read :) ) Generally good to hear everyone is doing well, or where not that you're getting the right advice and treatment.

Hope everyone's enjoying the weather! I've just let the cat out after 4 weeks in after she made a bid for freedom when we got home last night. We figure if she's that determined we don't want to have her scratching her way out with a spoon 'great escape' style . She's sunbathing on the window sil, half in, half out, just in case.

This might make some of you laugh. Last week my friend texted me 'concerned' that my health was bad and I should take mat leave early (!!!) because I had the following list of 'problems'

1. swollen ankles (I have termed them 'Thankles' as they are beyond 'Cankles')
2. Back pain/Sciatica
3. Tiredness
4. A piano-playing prodigy in my tummy
5. Snotty nose
6. Itching all over
7. Nose bleeds (Ok, they were bad, but now under control thanks to Charing Cross hospital staff!!)

I think she was rather shocked when I explained that all the above, even the nose bleeds, are relatively common when you've added two stone to your original weight, are basically carrying a sack of cement off your hips, have a parasite inside you and are incubating it! She cracks me up, but it's nice she's concerned for my health.

Having read Moomin's and Storm's experiences my DH and I have run out and bought a pram and car seat, just in case, and I've ordered some baby nightgowns! I'm only 28 weeks, but we're head down in there already. I had my 28wk apt yesterday and the MW said "now you're petite, so don't worry if we keep saying you're measuring small, babies grow to fit their mums... oh, right... he's big...never mind". EEK! I have size 4 feet, I don't think I'll manage big I think I'm being optimistic, but I'm thinking 36 weeks, 6lb, easy labour??? We get to go home right away, but he's not huge yet... can I join that imaginary ward that was floating about a few weeks ago?!?

It was really refreshing to read everyone's comments on bread feeding. A close friend of mine had her first child and was just unable to breast feed - she just didn't produce any milk. She found it so upsetting as the MWs/Health Workers kept saying 'keep trying' and her baby was getting hungrier and hungrier and losing weight, but she never had enough to feed her! Finally she PAID someone to come and walk her through it, and the woman took one look at her and said 'you have no milk, get some formula'. What a relief! Happy baby, happy mummy and no problems from there on. So, moral of the story, if it doesn't work for you just go with the formula! She had triplets next and amazingly, because she wasn't stressing she was able to bf them all a little bit (although still not nearly enough).

I've worked my a** off all week to give myself a light friday so that I can chill out this morning and do some errands this afternoon, hence this massive missive today . Who wants and !

Hi curiouselle Your day off sounds nice, I did the same last week - sometimes you just need a rest don't you.

I'm slightly worried you guys, I just tried to do my pelvic floor exercise and i couldn't make anything move! :( Maybe I don't have a pelvic floor . I guess I need to sit down somewhere quiet and have a go properly rather than at my desk, so that's a job for the weekend then. Does it matter if you pull your tummy in while you do it? How often do you all do yours? I'm getting a bit stressed out by it - I seem to have decided in my head if I don't get it sorted then I will compleatly fall appart during and after the birth...maybe I should just ask for an ELCS so it doesn't matter :o

joannezipan maybe you just mislaid your pelvic floor? Maybe it's wherever all the socks and biros go ... (squeeze like you're trying not to go to the loo ... I promise you you'll feel it :))

at your friend tinyk. The woman I'm out for dinner with tonight emailed me yesterday to confirm, and said 'I remember very very clearly what it was like to be pregnant so at your stage I want you to know that really I think you shouldn't come out'. I thought she was trying to put me off, but it turns out no, she is insistent she wants to go out for dinner with me and the other person, but she is genuinely concerned that I shouldn't be having such things as dinners in my condition

Joanne if you havent seriously wet yourself by now you defo have a pelvic flooor!

Curious

TTL Motherofsnortpigs does a very good nondisposable nappy lesson..perhaps she could put it on youtube!

Just got back from emotionally blackmailing begging asking the MW unit to do a check up. All fine but bp is low hence the likely reason I keep falling over and my last bloods showed a high white cell count...prob a cold brewing. So most importantly bump is ok, I'm not dying and the advice was to take it easy today and top up my vit D in the garden...shucks, oh alright if you insist. Im a happier Jasmine now.

That is great news jasmine :)

Jasmine Glad you are feeling happier with the world today - vit D is veryy important a will help with absorbtion too - honest it's true :o

takethatlady Maybe it's down the back of the sofa?

Seriously though I haven't had any major knicker wetting incidents yet so I know it's there...I just can't bend it to my will. Which is the cause of all my problems at least in my head anyway!

nice to be remembered takethatlady!

that your friend thinks you can't manage dinner, people are sooo funny!

Some think you shouldn't move for fear of doing something to the baby, others are like "it's not an illness you know!"

at bending a pelvic floor to your will joannezipan. Sounds like The Matrix

jasmine that definitely sounds like doctor's orders to me. A day of sunbathing for you it is then!

Welcome back curiouselle, hope you are enjoying your day off!

Tinyk the story about your friend made me laugh. My Mum got nearly hysterical by this stage when I was pg with ds, and seriously almost called my boss behind my back and told him that I would be starting my maternity leave a month early! I made the mistake of calling her and telling her when I went into the assessment unit at about 34 weeks as ds was not moving as much, and she rushed down to the hospital and threatened that she was going to ask the doctors to keep me in and just induce me there and then (ds was fine). I called her the other night and just mentioned I was feeling tired, so had my bloods done for iron that day, and I could hear the panic rising in her voice again..... , so I told her off and said that this time around we would be doing this my way!

On the plus side though, she is going to start having ds overnight once a week from next week until the baby arrives, so I can have a lie-in and me and dp can spend some time together decorating and clearing out the attic room going out for romantic meals . I am working on the basis that babysitters will be a bit thinner on the ground once we have two in tow!

Anyway, hope you're all doing well, and everyone has some sunshine to enjoy!

For those of you having name wobbles, we are too... I am still in love with the name Ruby, but both of us are concerned about how popular it is and how many children are going to come running up to us in the park when we yell it. I'm kind of thinking I don't care, it just seems to fit my bump already, but dp has gone all panicky about it, and has also vetoed our previous 2nd choice , which was Leila. We are now actively looking at other names, and we both like Niamh, dp likes Lola but I'm not so keen. Its a lovely name, but she does not feel Lola-ish (am I coming across as mad?) I'm sure once we see her we'll know....

Hello ladies, I hope we?re all well and enjoying sunny weather (it?s absolutely gorgeous here). I don?t have much to report, other than reaching 30 weeks today ? three quarters of the way there!

Loving the BF chat, especially the insight from those who have experience with it! I?m hoping to BF exclusively for the first six months and then continue whilst slowly weaning for as long as I can manage.

Jasmine, I?m glad everything is okay?hope you?re feeling better. Regarding your mum, I personally think it?s best to be as honest as possible. Trying to avoid hurt feelings might ultimately hurt her more, such as if she was expecting to be part of the labour but found out later you had phoned a friend instead. She should understand that there are many reasons why someone might not want their mother present for everything, and inviting her to be the first to visit sounds like a good substitute. I?m a bit different; it?s surprised me somewhat but I really want my mother to be there. We?re not super close but have a good relationship. Since she?s given birth to five of us (mostly naturally) I think she?ll be great moral support (and take a bit of pressure off DH)!

Daisy, sorry about your car crash, is everything okay?

Barbie, I can understand your concerns, but try not to worry too much. It?s so easy to get stressed over these things right now, but since there isn?t really anything you can do other than treat yourself well during PG, try to relax. I?m sure everything will be fine.

Mummynumber2, glad your wedding was so lovely! I hope you?re enjoying newlywed life

nomoreheels, glad you got things sorted with your neighbour.

Sasamaxx, I?m still trying to convince DH about the masculinity of the Moby. He seems more interested in the carrier-type slings. Maybe I should start watching the video repeatedly whilst he?s home to encourage him Oh, and I?ve also been eating loads of kiwi fruits the past month or two. Must be the Vitamin C we?re craving!

Also, I think Kara addressed the questions about a managed vs. natural third stage well, but I thought I?d share this from pp. 258-9 of Ina May?s Guide to Childbirth for those who are interested:

Clamping the Umbilical Cord

The time of clamping off the umbilical cord after birth varies a good deal according to where the baby is born. Babies born at home or in birth centers usually have their cords clamped at the time chosen by the parents (usually after the pulsing of the blood vessels in the cord stops). Hospitals, on the other hand, tend to favor cord-clamping at the first opportunity. Those who are critical of the assembly-line approach point out that pre-empting the physiological process is likely to increase problems such as retained placenta, postpartum haemorrhage, and respiratory distress in babies. Studies have shown that delayed cord-clamping allows between twenty and fifty percent of the baby?s blood volume to flow into the baby. Early cord-clamping also results in lower haematocrit or haemoglobin values in the newborn (fewer red blood cells). Midwives agree that premature babies especially benefit from later cord-clamping.

If you plan to give birth in a hospital and want your baby?s cord to be clamped later rather than sooner, make sure that you talk this over with your doctor or midwife. The evidence is on your side.

Delivery of the Placenta

Even though your baby is born, you are not quite finished with the birth process. Your body has another job ahead: to expel the placenta, which is no longer necessary to nourish your baby. If you give birth at home or in a birth center, it is likely that the normal process of expelling the placenta will be respected. Usually, this happens within half an hour or so. At The Farm Midwifery Center, our normal practice is to place the newly born baby directly onto his mother?s chest with a warm blanket on top. This skin-to-skin contact maintains the baby?s body heat and facilitates early communication between mother and baby. We do not vigorously massage the uterus, routinely give oxytoxic drugs, or tug on the placenta in order to hurry its expulsion. We have on hand oxtytocic drugs to stop haemorrhage whenever we are at a birth, but we use them only three or four times in every hundred births. Instead, we respect the natural process. We do not separate mother and baby. We keep both warm ? if possible, in skin-to-skin contact. We have no routines that interfere with the euphoria that is present in the birth room. At some point, we will apply antiseptic to the baby?s cord stump and inspect the baby, but all of this can happen at the convenience of the mother and baby. They are doing something more important just by being together. They are falling in love. We enjoy witnessing this process while being conscious not to interrupt it.

If mother is lying down after birth, has been holding her baby for fifteen or twenty minutes, and the placenta has separated but not yet been expelled, we generally help her into an upright position. Just as upright positions help babies descend, so do they facilitate the expulsion of the placenta in many cases. Breast stimulation also helps.

In many hospitals, there is a greater emphasis on completing this phase of labor within a specific amount of time. Doctors sometimes try to hurry the expulsion of the placenta by pulling on the umbilical cord. But this can tear the cord from the placenta, a situation that may increase blood loss. You may want to negotiate for less intervention while completing this part of labor.