March 06 - Into the 3rd Trimester

[RosiePosie]

Here we are girls. I think we are all a bit shell-shocked at the moment, aren't we?

Thinking of you DHW and wishing life wasn't so cruel sometimes.

Your hospital sounds much nicer than the one I was in - they didn't have ANY private rooms. Wait and see how you feel, you don't have to make up your mind now. Lol, because I bled for so long the first time around I overstocked on pads the second time around and was really surprised when I stopped bleeding after two weeks. You can always get more if you need them.

lol, that's v true, I just have visions of me running to tescos with half a loo roll stuffed in me knickers waddaling to buy more maternity pads! lol.

when do u think about the birthing plans?

Hi girls,
On a positive note I quite enjoyed being in hospital and was in no rush to come home to our building site - we only had the last carpets fitted when I was in labour so plaster dust everywhere! The food was fab (go for veg asian) and hot pudding with custard every meal!! I was in a 4 bed ward and my next door neighbour was from my town and had an enormous boy by CS. She nearly split her stitches as we giggled so much. She was also bfing which was good.
Also I hardly bled at all despite having some retained membrane so probabaly only used one pack of pads. I had throwaway knickers at first but reverted to my normal HUGE black M and S ones after a day.
Nipple cream a good idea as Tilly and I ended up velcroed together with her dried up skin and my nips with all those little feeds! I used Kamillosan (sp?) which did the trick.
I am so impressed that you are all so organised. I hadn't even thought about a hospital bag as having a home birth but guess I should have one ready just in case!

I'm starting to gather bits and pieces for my homebirth, Laundrylover - plastic sheeting, old duvet, towels, TENS, baby clothes etc. I keep it all together in a box, so everyone knows where it all is and we don't have to go searching when the time comes. I didn't pack a hospital bag as such last time, but threw a few bits that I might need into the box - a little wash bag etc, just in case. Wow at your lack of bleeding - you lucky thing! And reading about other people's good hospital experiences makes me realise even more how bad mine was!

Packed my bag last week (well most of it) packed loads of maternity pants and pads as last time i bled loads. Also made dh go in the loft today to get the car seat, changing mat and breast pump. So worried the baby might be early and i wont be ready!

Went to the midwife today to have my bloods done, was told baby is slightly smaller than avrage ( sounds like i wont be having a 10lb'er). Baby is very active, keeps me awake all night and only seems to sleep for an hour a day (going to have my hands full).

Finished work this week so plenty of time on my hands to get things ready and to get dd potty trained before march.

Lucky you finshing work already, i am working up until the end of feb so will only have a couple of weeks to relax before baby comes.

only just told my colleagues today! they are all as shocked to find out as i was when i first discovered i was pg! LOL! it has been quite funny seeing some of their reactions.

i seem to be really disorganised, compared to all of you. i have brought a few sleepsuits, vests, a coat and a couple of unisex outfits oh and some cotton wool! and that is it. i have been offered the use of a moses basket and a cot, but can not make up my mind which buggy to go for. i thought i was decided and then when i went o order it i had those last minute doubts and left the shop.

my list seems to be growing longer by the day too. fwiw, waitrose do nature sanitary towels now, so they don't have any chemicals or anything in them, as we always advise not to use always because of the plastic and the chemicals, they can make some women really uncomfortable and even cause infection, and itchiness. i will get some of the nature one and alos stock up with own brand maternity towels, especially for the beginning as you only wear them for an hour or so at a time anyway.

Hi all, I recommend the always ultra plus ones for the mess afterwards! they usually manage to get me thru the night, but the bed pads, might be a good idea for my leaky boobs once they get going, so thanks for the reminder RP!

Munz, if I make the hospital, I'm aiming for being out in 12hrs again (just my luck it'll all go wrong and I'll be in for weeks) but if your feeling ok and bubba is ok, you can go home after 12 hrs, suited me, but not everyone....

Juts made a big 'things to do' list inspired by you all! Forgot TENS machine RP but not sure whether to get one this time as having the pool I hope- too many decisions.... Good tips on home birth stuff so will add to list.
Just watch now I'll bleed buckets for days this time!! Good tip re Nature pads, think my local health shop has them. Have never used pads in my life except for last time so am not an expert.
Here's another thought to make you smile - I asked the MW if it was OK to have sex after 3 weeks, I'll tell you that was it for the next 6 months though when the sleep deprivation set in!!
Marne I'm with you on the wriggly baby and think that Tilly just slept for 9 months in my tum. Am bloody knackered and suffering for it. Cried all over the MW this week so she is sending me to the weepy woman specialist doctor for a chat. By the way keep us updated on the potty training and shout for tips/support etc.
Real nappy users add lots of micro fibre cloths to your shopping list (very cheap) as they make brill wipes and also great night time boosters - I am a total convert.

Oh my God I am having visions of blood and milk floods. I seemto have got off lightly on all fronts last time.....

RP - I had an identical post-birth hospital experience to you (you weren't in Mayday as well were you?). As well being awful on every front you care to mention, here was pitifully little help available from the over-busy midwives and by the 3rd night I was so sleep-deprived I was hallucinating (insects running all over the place and over the baby - horrible). Consequently I'm dreading it more than the birth this time round. I'm bound to be forced to stay in for a while as whenever I bleed (post-op, post-baby) my BP drops right down for ages. Fingers crossed that the God of House Buying is looking on me favourably and that I move before the baby comes. In which case, I plan to turn up at Harrogate - much nicer than Leeds General I hear!

Can you pay for a private room, Spiker? I think it would be SO worth it. I literally had NO sleep for a week - a really bizarre experience. When I finally got home, I'd wake suddenly hearing babies crying, when there was none, things like that. Hopefully you'll be in a different hospital, or you won't need to stay in for so long. I'm not so worried about going into hospital this time, as I've moved since then ( but hopefully my second homebirth will go to plan anyway ).

Munz, sorry forgot to say thanks for the photos and yummy!! lol
Ick, some of you girls sound like you had a really horrible time in various hospitals, glad I got the 12 hr bail out, phew, fingers x'd the next one arrives am then I should be out by 6 again!

Hello all. I've not been around for a while, sorry.
I finsihed work yesterday- Hurrah. Christmas was mad busy work wise and then new year spent with family. Back to work for the first week of the year to round up a couple of projects and now OFF untill new job as Mum starts- scary.
Any one got any practical low down they can give on the nuts and bolts of home birth? I'm starting to dislike the idea of hospital more and like the sound of home better. BUT I know very little about what I'd need to get together to make it work and contain the mess. Can any one point me in the direction of some up to date info?
UniSarah &pip 32 wks

Hi there,
havent been lucky enough to have a home birth but I know its good to have some of these things:
Plastic sheeting or old sheets for mess of birth, old towels and so on.
Got to go as daughter is nagging for a bedtime story!Hopefully have time to chat to everyone soon!!

This site tells you everything you need to know

www.homebirth.org.uk/

I buy some plastic sheeting from B&Q for about £3, lay that down with an old duvet on top - I had my last baby on the floor in the living room, leaning over the sofa and plan to do the same again. I've also got some old towels handy and some black bin liners - everything just gets rolled up and binned afterwards. The midwives bring everything else that's needed.

Thanks for the advice RP, I know its mainly for unisarah, but I've been thinking if dh is at work I'm not going to make the hospital anyway, and meant to ask the midwife about it last week and forgot, doh! will ask at next apptmt tho!

No harm in making plans for a HB, Friz - you can always change your mind and go into hospital if you want at any time.

hay all, will check in properly in the morning. just wondering if everyone else is looking lovingly at their little clothes or is that jsut me being a sad first timer! lol.

also mega kicks/braxton hicks again - i'm sure this baby's gonna be a real live wire once he's out! lol. (they're starting to get painful/uncomfortable now - and it's only gonna get worse huh!) lol.

You are so funny Munz - but it is exciting though isn't it? As you know I'm on my third but we haven't anything left from first two (the last one was born 6 yrs ago) so when we received a package from some family last week I was so happy to know at least the kid would have clothes for the first couple of days anyway. With about 11 wks to go I still have some shopping time available.

I know what you mean about 'mega kicks/Braxton Hicks' - mine was moving around so much last wk I actually was beginning to feel nauseus (sp?) Between the wriggley one, the SPD and feeling a little large (9.5 TP squares going into the 29th wk) I feel like I have a long wait till I start maternity leave in about 8 wks. It might not feel so bad if people would stop asking if I am having twins or asking 'when are you due?' like baby is coming sometime soon. I know they all mean well but he is extremely unlikely to come sooner than due date - his sisters were full term.

Sorry , pg hormones must be getting to me today... might have to go look at the baby clothes...

Munz, your not a sad first timer, i keep looking at all the little clothes ive bought, just been upstairs looking at them again (there sooooo cute), and this is my 2nd. Swore i wouldnt buy anymore but i cant stop myself.

Just catching up again and feeling about how organised you all seem to be. I haven't bought anything yet - either for the baby or for me. This thread has been a good reminder though of all the things I should be doing.

I'm still measuring about 4 weeks ahead of where I should be but I'm just about used to it by now. The baby is still in a breech position but the MW has said there's still plenty of time left yet. I just hope there's also plenty of ROOM too!

IG - LOL about you being literally barefoot and pregnant! It's brilliant news about your dd's language. It's strange how they seem to stay at the same level for so long and then suddenly the new language explodes from nowhere. At his last SALT appointment before Christmas ds2 was putting together little sentences. He's now evolved into a mini-geek with long monologues about sci-fi TV programmes. It sounds really weird coming out of a 2yr-old's mouth.

feel a bit more organised now. i brought my carseta today a maxi cosi cabrio and am hopefully buying a pram of a fellow mumsnetter at the end of the month. finally managed to drag dh into town and we have ordered the cot and matress , the only thing is i had my mind set on one from john lewis and he insisited that we had to have a cotbed one from m&p as it was cheaper and included a free matress. i ordered some nighties and a bed cardigan from next in the sale and they have finally arrived. also ordered nappies, wipes, etc to come in my ocado shop next week.

so just need to buy a changing bag, toiletries for me, baby bath or bath support, bouncy chair and big knickers. as my mum brought round loads of sleepsuits and vests that she had been buying. will have to be really disciplined not to buy too much else as i know it won't get used, but luckily i am back at work on monday, so that will keep me out of the shps until the end of feb!

Hi all, nothing much to report here, just popping in to check your all ok, which you seem to be

Nothing wrong with looking at newborn clothes tho, they're so sweet

OMG 33 weeks today, how did that happen?!

Have been to park with dd this afternoon, bloomin cat decided to follow us, I had to leave him 3 streets away from our house, by physically placing him in a friend of our's garden (this is my rather thick cat some of you may remember) told him to stay, and luckily he did, picked him up from same place 1.5 hrs later.....last time he followed me anywhere, I had to go back at 9pm and shout down the street for him, and again found him waiting where I'd last seen him that morning, DOH! Spent the walk back to house explaining to lots of enquiring strangers, that my cat had come for a walk, as he happily trotted alongside dd's buggy...

Friz,
i used to have a cat like that.She used to follow me to school and sit on the window ledge of my classroom waiting for me!!Very embarrassing!!
Have just heard our builder might be able to start our loft conversion in 2 weeks.Cutting it fine though!!
Very boring day today.DH at work and i have a streaming cold.Have no energy to do anything, poor DD is bored too.Glad Dh is home tomorrow.

Hi all, im 30 weeks tomorow, so many of you measuring further on than you are, my bumps measuring below average and led horasontal(sp). Braxton hicks are getting worse but they do say they are worse with your 2nd.

Bought a double pushchair yestaday( a chicco for £89 reduced from £160) , should be here on wed (cant wait). Hav'nt realy got anything else to buy, got evrything from dd1.

Only ten weeks to go