Due Jan 06 - Looks like we've eaten loads of Christmas puddings!

[sweetkitty]

Right here's our new thread.

So who's going to be first for an early Christmas present then?

Hi everyone

Cant beleive all the posting!

COngratulations to Chuffed - fab news!

Ive got a real reality check as I also have a due date of 16 Jan and Im not ready for this baby at all! Hospital bag part packed but need to finish next couple of days.

Just been out for lovely walk in sun with DS and Dh -what a lovely day. Bless them theye both asleep now! Just going to do a few chores and get the tea

DS hasnt opened lots of his pressies - I know its hard to beleive but he got so excited with the ones he got and just wanted to play with them - and said no to opening any more. Hes just entranced with his ride in police car, his DVDs , his keyboard and his new train set stuff. SO well just open 2 or 3 a day for a few more days.

I wont probably be online for a few days so wishing all a very Happy New year in advance. Heres to lots of lovely babies. Hope you all get a bit of a rest and a chill in advance.

Hey there ladies.

Just a quickie to say adieu until we get the laptop.

Am going to miss speaking to you every day. Please don't anyone drop until I get back on line. . Or if you do, please drop me a text on 07967 646953.

Happy New year to one and all.

All love

G xx

My goodness, it looks like everyone is making up for being kept away from thier computers over Christmas. Very chatty!

Today was a lovely day with some snow but not enough to go and play in. Poor DS developed a sudden fever today so we were not able to play outside anyway. The poor thing is now lying on daddy's lap reading some books.

I have not had any BHs, really. Last time I did but it seems I'm the only one here not having them. Not that it really matters but it almost makes me feel as if I should be with the March or April crowd rather than January

I'd better be off and give them some cuddles.

Eshay

I'm not getting the BH either. Bump just occasionally goes v. tight when it gets caught in a cold breeze sorry to hear about your ds, hopefully just a passing bug that'll be all gone by morning.

Ok I'm bored of Christmas now!

Sorry that sounds really grumpy! Starting to focus on baby and the coming year. No snow here (too far west) but who knows for tomorrow - be great to get the kids and Billy out in it. Lyra - I don't know how you managed the sales, I went round Next and it nearly killed me! Supposed to have been looking at washing machines but got diverted by absolutely gorgeous little baby clothes be quite funny if it turned out to be a girl after all! . Had to have recuperative hot chocolate and cake in the cafe at the wildfowl and wetlands centre, very peaceful amongst the ducks

Lyra - how lovely to have the mw visit you at home, mine just said - see you next week! I'LL BE DUE THEN!!! I haven't had my 28 week bloods back,never mind the 36 week ones so hopefully not anaemic. Also not taking RLT because my BH are so strong - do hope they are doing something!

Sweetkitty - I'm fairly terrified... caught between best and worst case senarios! I was up for 3-4 hrs last night and can't imagine how I will be in labour, I feel such a wuss! Starting to get p*ssed off with all the childbirth 'jokes' now Think I need to pull myself together! I'm not sure about having a sweep (ouchie...) although maybe when a week over to try and avoid 'official' induction. I'm not sure I can hold off official induction, I will be tearing my hair out by then. A friend of mine refused to be induced at 11 days over and then at 14 days over began to back down and the hospital staff were very ' oh now you do want to be induced do you?'. Really wish my big sis ( a mw in NZ) was here for moral support!

Georgie - how lovely to have dd back - don't you go delivering now!

Not grumpy at all Rachey !

I'm bored with being so huge & whale like and I would really really like to go into labour now !!
And I've been so tired today. I left the sales for DD to brave & she came back loaded & full of smiles at her bargains (am of her ability to move at more than a snails pace). Whilst she was out I slept. My bump is going to split open if it gets any bigger and I'm officially miserable. There's naff all on the TV and I haven't even got a good book to read.
Now that is grumpy

Eshay - hope DS' fever clears as quickly as it arrived & that he is better tomorrow.

Lyra - pleased you managed to get a copy of my family (that was some serious searching!! )

Apologies for being a misery guts. I'm now going to haul my vastness into a bubbly bath (on the positive side, navel gazing is so much easier these days )

Rach

i didn't quite struggle through the sales, we just went to a big tesco and matalan (although that was enough to knacker me out!). Luckily Josie's favourite tops were plain long sleeve tee shirts that cost £2 each!! she got 5, white, cream, lilac, wine and mint, very fetching, mind you most things are when you're a size 8.

it is good to be getting home visits from the mw now, she's coming to me at home next week too, maybe because it'll be a home birth. I'll be 40+3 then!!

I've had a lot of fresh pineapple tonite and have given dh strict instructions for natural induction, so watch this space!

is anyone else still VERY hot? i'm boiling most of the time, even in this frost. i get ESPECIALLY hot under the norks, yucky feeling, must be cos they're sooooo big.

anyone saved up any distractions for labouring at home (like videos, radio programmes etc.)? I've held off listening to the archers (my favourite soap) so i'll be listening to archive episodes online if i go into labour in the nite. it seemed to work well to distract me last time.

heading up the wooden hill to bedfordshire now, so see y'all tomorrow. xxxxx

sleep well.

Lyra, love that you've got the children and DH on cooking duty - sounds fab! Did DD do a rota?

Haven't bought new clothes for immediately after the birth but do have some vouchers I got for Xmas that I will be adding to my wardrobe with once I don't look like a balloon any more! Have got new wardrobes and I've been clearing out the junk that passed for clothing - I honestly only wanted to keep about three things, but have made myself keep more of the comfy stretchy things for after the baby's born (plus some old size 8 trousers that I taunt myself with - haven't got into those since before DS was born!).

Hospital bag list has come in very handy - thanks ladies. Mars, didn't know your sister was due in January! Looking forward to hearing your AuntieMars news

Kitty, I'm getting anxious about the birth - not really so much the birth as the aftermath (I had a second degree tear last time and am convinced it'll be worse this time - I know, I know, positive thinking and all, but still worrying!). Also it all seems more complicated this time with DS - last time we just went to the hospital, this time we have to work out where DS is going to go (have family nearby, so straightforward in lots of respects, but I'd like to be able to plan better!).

Really glad you have your DD back with you, Georgie - "see" you back online soon. Dell have been very good the three times we and family have used them, so fingers crossed! Mesh are one to steer clear of, for future reference for anyone!

Mumfun, ikwym about it being a reality check seeing a baby due on 16th January born - I'm due on 14th and have a half-packed hospital bag and a half-written birth plan (anyone else writing one?). Doing both tonight - that's the plan anyway! DS (20mo) kept saying "More?!" when he had more presents this Christmas - so sweet! Your DS sounds lovely!

I'm getting powerful BHs very often, but did with DS and he was 10 days late, so am not seeing it as anything like a clue as to this baby being born soon!

Eshay, hope your DS is better soon.

Rachey, you don't sound grumpy, I totally understand! I'm worrying about being induced now too - the consultant said they'd want to seriously consider it if the baby's abdomen measurement's not back on track at the growth scan on Friday. So am worried that I'll be induced when I'm not at all ready to have the baby and I'll end up with a chain of events that will mean I have a section after a poor labour experience

Iris, can you do an online shop at Amazon or play.com to get yourself a couple of good books and a DVD or two to watch?

Night, Lyra...hope the pineapple and natural induction method are successful!

Chuffed - can't wait to hear more details of DD's little brother or sister! Hope everything's OK.

OK, this has to be one of the longest posts I've ever written. I always feel I've missed people out on here and I'm sure I have again - really looking forward to these January babies being born thick and fast now!

Hello ladies, may I butt in?

please have a look!

I am on the April thread, and am seriously thinking about buying some of these for that awful postpartum bleeding. However, someone has pointed out to me that they are designed for urine, not lochia, and might not be as absorbant as they should be.

So, I come here in hope that some of you lovely wonderful ladies will be daring enough to buy some of these, and trial them after your lovely babies are born! They are about £8 a pack, but you do get 10, and they look very convenient.

Thank you!

Wow lots of posts!! Snowing here still, but windy, so not really settling, but predicted to be heavier the next couple of days and not go above freezing

Everyone sounds like they are getting a bit tired of being whale like... ditto me. Can't quite get my head round the fact that we will be meeting lo soon - and that this is the last time I will look/feel like this (I think 4 is def. enough!!)

Bump has dropped a bit, and mw on Tues said that he is engaged, so waiting with bated breath. Really don't want to hang on - hope he arrives before he's too big

On the BHs I have never really felt them... but can feel the bump going hard. Had some discomfort yesterday, so sympathise with all the girls having painful ones... but at least it should help speed up labour with nice toned muscles

Just had a float in bath in our (tidied) bathroom. DH even put some hooks up for towels that have been slung over the door for (ahem) 2 yrs. Are we nesting perhaps??

Respect Lyra on the cooking plan! Luckily my mum is staying so she is helping with washing and entertaining the children, & dh can get some last minute work done. But we had dh's family round last night (only 16 people to feed, or something like that). Lucky one brother had already left the island! I had made a bucket of spaghetti sauce and frozen it last week, so didn't have much to do, but will now wait to be waited on I think...

Bit stressful on my own family front, as my dad has moved out from (very lovely) gf of 6yrs, and my mum & I totally sympathise with her, which makes those jolly Christmas phone calls with my dad a bit of a sham

Anyone heard anything from NZ? Snuggly newborn baby vibes on their way to Chuffed

morning all

no news to report here. baby quite happy to stay where he is thank you very much.

great to read so many posts.

yes dd has done a rota for cooking. last nite she cooked baked potatoes shaped like boats stuffed with spaghetti hoops and cheese, with salad followed by mince pies and ice cream. tonite it's ds's turn, and he's opted to cook spag carbonara, so we'll see how he gets on. dh seems to have to get fairly well involved with assistance and clearing up, but hey, as long as i can sit back and just say thanks, that's fine by me!

everyone (but me and the dog and cat) is fast asleep in my house. they've all taken to long lie-in's, which is good. i love it when children sleep. i can't seem to spend much time in bed in the am, it's my best time for energy and dgetting things done or planned. Bella and Lyra (not me, the cat!) are having a mad half hour as i type, chasing each other behind the long curtains and hiding behind the birthing ball.

Tickle

sorry to hear about your dad - parents are a worry aren't they?! our lo's will be saying this abt us one day, wierd isn't it?

colditz

when are you due then? not sure about those disp pants from tenna, they seem v pricey. i do know that incont pads are much more comf than ordinary sts tho as i bought some by mistake for my dd and she asked for them again as they were so cushion - like! these were aldi's best tho, so not very expensive.

Eshay

how is thomas this am? hpe he's feeling better and no one else has picked it up, whatever it was.

no news from chuffed yet, i imagine she's just a little busy, hpe she's ok tho and hasn't had any more complications.

well i'm off up back to bed for a bit, to read my book and drink my chamommile tea.

Laters all you lovely ladies. xxxxx

P.S. Tickle

what's the time diff between UK and DK?

morning lovelies!!!

Apologies for the irisofgrumpsville impression last night - just needed to offload I think and I just want to have this baby now as I'm sure he's had another big growth spurt. Will be employing every trick possible to hurry things up come the NY!!I'm back to feeling bright & breezy this morning even though I've been awake since about 4.30. Has anyone else found their body clock has gone haywire? I know you get up early Lyra - is that normal for you anyway? I'm wondering whether it's the LOs way of getting me used to napping during the day. I've never been able to do it before so that's a good thing.

Whilst I remember too Lyra priming the reflex points can help to get things going IME. You hold the reflex points for the pituitary and uterus at the same time to link the energy from the baby to your hormone system. Pituitary is in the middle of the big toe (look for the fingerprint type whirl & find the centre - it may not actually be the centre of the toe itself)and the Uterus point is on the inside of the foot 1/2 way between the heel & the ankle bone. Hold both(gently) for a few mins each side as many times as you can (you may feel a pulsing) Acupuncture/acupressure point Spleen 6 is also on the inside of each leg 5 finger widths up from the ankle bone and is a uterus tonification point (it'll probably feel bruised/sore - just massage it with your thumb/fingers). I don't know whether you've ever done any visualisation exercises but imagining everything softening and opening up(like a flower) is a nice one to do whilst you hold the points. HTH

I spotted the incopad thread yesterday & have to admit my initial thought was yeeuuuuk! but on further consideration they do look like a good idea and probably wouldn't cost any more than cheapo knickers & matress pads - and if they're comfy too then so much the better. D'you know if anyone's tried them (to do an absorbancy test, so to speak)?

Tickle - now LO has dropped you may be next!!!! Hope the roads stay clear for you just in case.
Mumfun - it's lovely when you can eke out the Christmas experience with LOs isn't it. Saves onthe overexcited vomming!!!lol

Hunkermunker - good luck for your appointment (are you still avoiding insulin like me btw?)

Birth Plan - haven't really done a proper one but did spout a load of hopes to DH (that he scribbled on a scrap of paper)a few weeks ago. The trouble is that there are so many variables that I think I'd rather just go with the flow than set myself up for disappointment by being too prescriptive. The only absolute is that I don't want pethidine (felt sooo on it bad last time) or an epidural (irrational fear of being paralysed).

Going out to a lovely second hand bookshop later to get something to read. Have a restful day all

I have clearly been verbally constipated of late by the size of that post

Ooh Iris - thanks for those reflex points! I shall have a go at that later

Tickle, we're nesting too - DH currently wallpapering the bathroom, I'm just about to go and tidy and dust things to within in inch of their lives Have got bags of stuff for the charity shop - am amazed how much better I feel now I don't have to wade through piles of stuff to get to anything! Minimalist living is my aim...still a long way from that, but getting better! Found a fab toy storage bargain in Homebase earlier: here - John Lewis do a similar one, but it's £130! This one is £24.99 in Homebase...and is practically identical.

Lyra, your DD and DS sound like stars - hope dinner's nice!

Iris, yes, still off the insulin - have been told I only need to measure my sugars two or three times a week as she was so pleased with me. But I fear that's meant I've over-indulged at Christmas, so not sure what the scan will show tomorrow.

oh loads of posts took me ages to read.

Am 38 weeks today cannot believe it as I never got this far along with DD, I reckon this one is far more chilled and happy in there, DD bless her is great but laid back she is not! (gets it from me) MW says baby is a good size and quite happy. They are arranging a visit for next week to check the gas cyclinders and the equipment. I also have to get a prescription for morphine and co-codamol from my GP not that I'm intending to take the morphine don't want to be spaced out and to have sleepy baby. They bring the vit K and syntometrin (which I'm not having either)!!

Hunker - I also had 2nd degree tear with DD and the patching up was worse than the delivery in some ways. It was part my fault as I didn't pant or ease the head out but pushed like hell and she also had her hands at her head which did the damage. Afterwards had 4 MWs peering and having a feel whilst they decided how to stitch me before getting a doc to do it. Between that and the nearly retained placenta it wasn't a pleasant time afterwards for a few hours. This time hopefully just want to hold my baby in peace. Also know what you mean about having to make provisions for no 1 my sis-in-law is on stand by now

Iris - don't apologise for being grumpy I'm a right old misery just now and this is the place to do it. I'm so huge and fed up of the SPD aches and pains just want this baby out now!
thanks for the reflexology tips will try then later

Yuck on the incontinence pads TBH after the first day I didn't find it too bad hopefully be on the Always Ultra fairly quickly.

Hope everyone else is doing OK too and not too uncomfortable.

WOW! Wish I'd had more time to go online over the past week, feel like I've missed out on so much - Big congratulations to Chuffed and family... so exciting to have a xmas baby! Hope you're safely back home now and all going well, can't wait to hear the details.

Very scary reading that though - brings it home about imminent birth possibilities for the rest of us. Think it only sunk in for DH when we had home visit with midwife last week, and she said that we can expect things to happen any day now. Babs is 1/5th engaged, and now that I'm past the magic 37 week date I can definitely have the homebirth that we are hoping for.

Inflatable pool delivered this morning too, am SO excited, it looks fab, and plenty big enough for DH to get in too if necessary.

Iris, I'm so pleased for you that you finally got the go ahead for your homebirth - how positive and what a relief for you!

Sweetkitty - what is in your homebirth kit? I've just sent DH off to B&Q for all the waterproof sheets, torch etc. but midwife has only given me canisters of gas and air, nothing else...

Lyra - great idea about the Archers archive online during labour - I haven't even thought about entertainment to distract me, but I think that's a fab suggestion. Will probably do that plus all the Eddie Izzard DVDs!

Sounds like everyone has had a busy time over christmas, let's hope the New Year is calm and peaceful for all. We're going to friends for tapas on NYE, how about everyone else?

I'm also holding off on encouraging baby out before the weekend, but as of next week will be taking the RLT, and also trying out those pressure points, thanks Iris!

Am feeling slightly lost now that I've stopped work. It was good to have christmas to keep us distracted, but am conscious of becoming rather down as of next week, when I will have run out of things to do. Think I will mainly concentrate on practising the piano (something I've been meaning to do more of for the past year) and cooking lots of stuff to go in the freezer.

Souldn't be too bad as long as I remember to get out of the house at least once a day for a bit of fresh air!

Can't wait to meet this LO now... Who will be the next to pop I wonder?!?!

Hiya

Just got back from seeing Narnia at the cinema, it was FAB!! did bawl my eyes out at the sad bits, but that was part of the enjoyment I'd say. My friend blamed it on my hormones but i'm that sloppy i'd've probably cried without the pg hormones tbh.

it's been a lovely sunny day today, was thinking about you Rach, wondering if you were walking on the beach. Have you always lived by the sea? i never have, but it sounds great. i took bella out to the village for an hour this morning, but it wasn't as good as walking by the sea i think. my bump got awfully cold and i got quite breathless - i ws hoping it might start things off, but no chance.

Well I'm now back home today 6 days after Brook Dean was born weighing in at 6 pounds 12 at 36+6wks.
Bit of a horror birth story but as the doctors keep telling me it is very unlikely to happen again and it is very rare to happen at all.
As some of you know my show appeared in the morning of Christmas Eve and I had a feeling he wasn't going to wait but I was hoping that we would at least have Christmas morning. At 5.25 I woke up with a need to pee which is a bit early for my normal get up but for some reason I got up rather than tried to hold and after a pee felt my waters trickle. I had been having very mild cramps about every 25mins during the night but was able to sleep in between them no problem. I went in to tell dh that my waters had broken and on my way back to the bathroom for a shower there was a pop and yes they certainly had. Luckily I had slipped on one of dd's nappies into my undies so that absorbed the lot. The contractions really kicked in then but thinking that last labour was 24hrs established labour I took my time, washed my hair, had a shave then dh did the same then we threw some stuff in a bag (pretty much unpacked hospital bag just toiletries packed) and left for the hospital as contractions were now quite painful and about 3-4mins apart.
I walked into the hospital and asked for an epidural, I was told I had to wait until my midwife arrived from home and had examined me. I had woken her up at 6am. She examined me, I had got to 5cm by 7.25am, they called the anaesthetist but by the time he arrived I had got to 10cm at about 8am. It was too late.
I couldn't really believe I had got to that point with nothing as I didn't want G&A as last time I'm sure that's what made me sick.
Well after 1hr 45 of pushing I had an episiotomy and ventouse and the doctor managed to shimmy ds's shoulders through my pelvis with an addition of a small tear and I got a baby boy at 10.06am. We had a lovely skin to skin.
Now the fun started...
After I had been stitched up etc I was having horrific pains in my tailbone worst than labour that was making me nauseous they were initially blaming afterpains but after a fair while they realised that I had developed a haematoma in the back of the vagina behind where they had stitched me up they had missed a small tear. I was then off to theatre under General to repair this. OK all was fine, I was recovering when later that afternoon my blood pressure suddenly dropped, my haemaglobin had plumetted and I was then started on 5 units of plasma.
Next day feeling pretty sore, swollen and with a killer headache I then had 2 haemorrhages so it was another 3 units of blood the next afternoon and night. I had a third haemorrhage later that afternoon and they then said that if I had another I would be rushed off to theatre for a General for a 'clean out' as they couldn't work out where the bleeding was coming from and although it didn't appear to be my C-sec scar they might have to look. Luckily overnight I had no further haemorrhages and upon close examination they found some placenta in the 3rd haemorrhage even though it had appeared intact.
All roads were then on to recovery apart from my headache that was still continuing on, and on and on.
Last night I had a cat scan for it and got the all clear so will self refer to a physio for that.
Brook spent last 2 days under lights for jaundice hence getting out today so celebrating Christmas tonight.
Even through this bit of a nightmare the staff at the hospital were brilliant and couldn't do enough so that part was fab had my own room with ensuite etc so no complaints there.
Probably won't be on so regularly for a bit so good luck for who-ever is next!

Oh Chuffed - welcome to baby boy Brook! What a nightmare to have all that happen after what sounds like a quick delivery and a good weight (especially after your c-section). I hope you are both feeling so much better and that it hasn't spoiled the first few days too much. I want to ask loads of questions but mainly photo please! What does Dd think of her new brother? Take lots of care of yourselves

Well after some pretty snow yesterday it's raining heavily here - seems like a bit of a novelty but doesn't bode well for cooped up kids (can't wait for them to go back to school I'm afraid!) dp is doing lots of nesting round here which is great (the tree is gone) and took them out to spend xmas money yesterday (under duress!) so I can wallow like a hippo in my hour long bath and then go back to bed - wish I had a birthing pool! I think I'm napping too much in the day and it's stopping me sleeping at night but I can't seem to help it.

Iris - I feel like I'm splitting too, I had a hernia with ds2 and I can feel the gap in my belly now - I'm frightened of picking things up off the floor. Wish I could try that pressure point but it sounds like it is exactly where the trapped nerve in my ankle is! Does it matter which foot - either/both?

Sweetkitty - empathise with the 2nd deg tear - I had one with ds2 and the repair is worse than the birth - the good news is that despite it and a previous episiotomy with ds1 I only had a small tear with dd (even though she was a face presentation).

Lyra - Narnia was fab, wasn't it? Aslan was so realistic - I was crying in the very first evacuation scene! I'm warm too, never wear more than a scarf over a t-shirt. I have a pineapple ripening ready although my sister (mw) says it has the wrong kind of prostaglandin - it's worth a try and I fancy the taste!

I have always lived by the sea pretty much (except for a few years in London) I grew up literally on the beach next to Brighton (pebbles under the house!) and now we're on the edge of the Gower - some of the best beaches/scenery in the world if only we had the weather. I'm finding it hard to walk on the beach now though - the best ones are hard to reach and even the main bay is too uneven and the wind goes right through you! Looking forward to the summer when baby should be able to sit up under an umbrella on the sand

Morning all nothing much happening here.

chuffed - just posted in your announcement thread many congratulations again! I hope the aftermath hasn't blighted the experience for you and you are enjoying getting to know baby Brook.

Loomer - I don't know what is in my homebirth kit TBH I have the gas and air canisters and some oxygen and a suction machine the rest of it is in a giant holdall and is mostly in bags sterilised so I can't have a good old nosy, MW coming next week to check on it so will have a good ask then. I bought a cheap fitted sheet and 3 shower curtains (to act as waterproof sheets) from Asda the other day. Mumsnet tip 2 for the bed and one for the journey from bed to en-suite toilet and shower! Very pleasant thoughts I know.

Lyra - glad you enjoyed Narnia I don't think I could sit through a movie right now and lack of babysitters and a 17 mo puts paid to going to the cinema, maybe DP will "acquire" it though.

At 4am this morning it was like a winter wonderland here but at 5am it started raining and hasn't stopped yet! Had a bad night with DD so hopefully will get a little nap this afternoon when she does.

Hope everyone else has a good Friday.

Chuffed

Thanks for your posting and GULP! at your birth story. Welcome to Brook, hope he's feeding well and proves to be a calm happy baby. I'm glad you're home now and have lots of people on hand to take care of you and make sure you rest. You'll need it for quite a few weeks to come after all that!

Rach

a little tip my nct teacher gave me to make baths deeper, maybe you've tried it already? Block the drain up with blu tack and then you can have the water nearly to the top of the bath. I'm craving a nice deep birth pool too. I'm heading to the local pool with dd and dh today, so that i can get that fab weightless feeling again. Hope its warm!

Rach

Have you done your belly cast yet? You better get on with it before you pop!