Nov 2011 - Mat B forms are in and time is flying not long now

[PamSco]

Sorry just went for a new thread as I couldn't see another.

Hope you are all well this morning

For those on budgets - I saw a cheap button all the way down night shirt in ASDA this weekend (evil Wal-Mart I know, but only shop close to the campsite we were on). Online here

I'm going to buy nightie. Have got nightshirt from m&s from 1st pregnancy. Did have 2 but lost couple of buttons in very important place (and can't sew!).

Had a lovely trip to dunelm mill where I got cot bed sheets and these brilliant hanging storage. Found them v useful as didn't have enough room for dresser for DD.

Welcome to nells and mrsduff

Hmm, I'd not really thought about what to wear during the actual birth. I am planning on getting a couple of nursing nighties from M&S for afterwards, but before...? Mind you, cos I will be attached to loads of monitors and drips etc I will probably end up in a sexy tie-up-the-back hospital goony - joy . Although part of me assumed that I'd end up in the buff. I think I'll see if I have an ancient, massive t-shirt to wear for the first bit at least - start off decent .

UGH! Just sitting in bed and Modom has started moving about, just watching my belly undulate - a very strange sensation!

I think I'll probably wash the new stuff too. Maybe a bit OTT but it might help me keep it real.

i honestly can't remember what i wore last time, as i was in the water nothing i think.

i washed everything that the baby was going to wear i wanted to ensure that they would be clean.

Hi all,

Thanks for all the bfing best wishes. I do have an electric double pump at home, its an ancient Ameda lactaline but seems to do the job and the hospital can also sort me out a free rental if its not enough, tbh I prefer hand pumping at this stage as its quieter, I have more control, there's less sterilising, and I look a little less like a Friesan. That said DH bought me a lovely item of lingerie tonight www.expressyourselfmums.co.uk/Expressing-Bra/easy-expression-bustier.htm
I can add that to a list of things I never thought I'd ever want to own, however if I can read and pump that'll keep me sane.
Willow had another good day. The sort of poo that would have made her toddler brother proud, then she pulled her gastric tube out and she needed a full clean up which left her looking pretty tired. Still those dark eyes were open and peering at me, and I got to see her full mop of dark hair for the first time when they took off her c-pap turban.
Chip I can't beleive your hospital are being so stingy with the pumping stuff. Mine has the same policy as alicat mentioned, swing by the fridge room and just stock up on whatever you need. It also has a wee pump set up in there with a chair and a TV with Friends DVDs. I'm yet to feel the need to pump to light hearted US comedies mind.
And more generally my lovely I'm so sorry that I haven't responded to your full birth announcement earlier in the thread. I've only just had time to scan back. You poor thing, ten units then a hysterectomy and g/a section. Christ you've been through a nightmare. I hope you have a hell of a lot of support around you for now and the foreseeable and I hope you consider counselling later down the road to process all that's happened to you. I send my very best to you and your little darling Sylvie. Lets get our girls home safe soon.
For me, the only positive is how little physical impact Willow's arrival has had on me. If this labour was typical for a normal one and not the malpositioned babe nightmare I had with DS then I'd say Pamsco and others that hypnobirthing will be very useful - there's so much time with no pain at all between contractions for you to regroup - something I never had with DS but had bags off this time round that I could definitely see it working just fine. Even without it I was totally calm and not in much pain at all. I never swore or groaned even this time - and I swore like a docker and mooed constantly last time. Also My PPH was only a minor one this time, so no breathlessness and fatigue, and possibly because I got the handiwork of the head consultant my section has been far more easy to deal with this time. I literally don't remember I've had major abdominal surgery most of the day. Infact my pregnancy is starting to feel like a distant memory. Only it hurts to see lovely, round third trimester tums. Which is kind of hard to avoid when you spend large chunks of your day hanging round a maternity hospital.

did a bit better today with the containers. The lovely nurse looking after Sylvie-Rose gave me some labels to stick on the containers. So I joked that I was going to see who I had to sleep with in SCBU to get the containers. She went and got loads for me ( to preserve my morals, you see!)

Poppet, I know what happened to me ought to have been traumatic but tbh, when I woke up I was just so glad to be alive and that my baby was alive and doing very well for such a tiny thing that it hasn't impacted me as much as you would imagine. I wasn't all that attached to my uterus either, it has served me well but I wasn't going to be making use of it again. Right now, the recovery is no worse than a regular C-section and I had already had four of those. I am grateful to my obs and all the medical staff for saving my life and taking such good care of me and making sure I got home to my boys.

Maybe down the line, it will all hit me for six and I will need counselling but right now, I don't think so.

poppet I nearly fell off my chair laughing so hard at that bra. Who said romance is dead when your husband buys you one of those. Nice one hubby x

That is hilarious, poppet! I love how "executive" she is, with her phone and her shirt but with this weird, kinky stuff strapped to her.

Chip and poppet - you both have really great attitudes - amazing.

I think they gave me a gown to give birth in, but I really can't remember. It all happened so fast - one minute I was on a Copenhagen tour bus with my father-in-law and then I was in a taxi to the hospital. I vomited in various bins just trying to walk to the ward, (definitely no time for hynobirthing practice) then two hours later, there was a baby. It was all rather shocking actually, since it was also a month early. Luckily, I did grab my overly-full hospital bag on the way, which was great since I stayed a week in hospital. A Clarins toiletry set I had been given was really nice, as I could take a shower and feel fresh and a little less "hospital-ish".
Also I had some magazines and snacks packed, which helped while away the hours between visits. Slippers and a dressing gown and some baggy knickers, so I didn't have to wear those horrible net ones they give you.

After the birth, I wore pajama bottoms with strappy vest tops that I just pulled down to breastfeed.

One thing I didn't realise the first time round, was how intense that dip in hormones and emotions can be after the birth. I guess it was worse because I wasn't at home, but in a ward with other post-birth hormonal women. But it was like each of us had a day when everything crashed and we were crying. And its monstrous to say, but I do remember looking at my beautiful, dark-haired gorgeous little girl and thinking "What have I done!!!" in a really gloomy, dark way. It didn't last long but I wasn't prepared for it.

Wow Poppet sorry to be so late with my congratulations. I'm on hols and just having a little catch up on my phone whilst DH has a lie in. It sounds like both of our early November arrivals are doing really well, which is fabulous news! I have to agree with Never that the bra was amusing, it is definitely the closest to a milking machine we could get!!

Hi everyone, sorry i've been quiet for a while. A mixture of being so busy getting ready to go away and then being on holiday!!!

I can't believed what i've missed. Chip and poppet HUGE congratulations on the births of your darling daughters. Chip i am so sorry it was such a traumatic experience but i'm so glad Sylvie-Rose is doing ok.

And poppet im so glad Williow is doing so well too. I've seen you pics on fb and she is just adorable.

I'm not going to try and catch up with everything as that would be impossible as you lot chat sooooo much but will try to keep up a bit better now i am back.

I was only gloating to dh the other week that unlike others i didn't feel the need to have an afternoo nap, and wasn't so tired anymore - Think i shouldn't have spoken to soon as i've had 3 afternoon naps in the last week since!!

3d scan for me today. Sooooo excited to see our baby boy bump again. Anyone else had one? How was it? I'm hoping hes going to be active and wriggly and not fast asleep with his back to us!

Poppet thanks for the hypno angle of your labour. I've been so slack not practicing. I was nagging OH last night saying we have to start tonight before we lose the tools. He was saying, it's fine we have ages. My reply is always the same... Poppet & Chip...

That bra is hilarious. I've sent it to my boss saying I can return to work sooner if I can sit at the desk wearing one of these - just waiting for the Ewwww email back. He is very squeamish.

Thank you all for the - what to labour in - replies. I'm very self conscious nudey, not in front of OH but I don't even use communal changing rooms as an example.

If I was nudey in the hospital with my mam and mw floating about I'd be mortified and that is NOT conducive to a calm relaxed hypno birthing experience. So I want something easily opened for the skin to skin but a light cover up. I have a massive grandad shirt which is v floaty and light.

Mags and snacks - didn't think to have them packed up front, thanks Tjuice.

Still full of cold so working from home - 5 hours of telephone meetings.

The Boy has been uber kicky since last night, I'm now worried he is kicking too much - what's up lad?

All I can say is wow that bra seems 'efficient'!!!
Morning, am tucked up on the settee after having a terrible nights sleep! Ended up getting up when my dd had a bad dream at 5am but I'd hardly slept all night anyways! So am shattered. Not long woken up and could honestly just slip back to sleep again! Not good when have to call over to work and have massive amounts to do! Oh well.
I think pam asked who was going to be last.... Judging by my past record, probably me! I was nearly +14 with both dc's. I would like very much to go early this time round and definitely not 2 days after due date as that is my dds birthday! I'll be on the clary sage and reflexology and raspberry leaf ASAP!

I know that because my mother and sister are flying over from Sweden to be there for the birth, I'll be later than late.
But, I'm officially due on 31st Oct, so I don't think I'll be the last Nov baby - I'd be worried if I was!

Hello all - intermittent poster back - I do read and try to keep up but just can't cope with trying to post on sillly phone. Huge congratulations to poppet, what a surprise but so pleased that little Willow is doing well.

Welcome to nells and mrsduff - think one of you is due on the 16th Nov? I am too - and I think MrsArch too - wonder if any of us will actually be on the day?
In response to Pams sweepstake suggestion on who will be last I was wondering if we should guess on who will be next! Our 2 new babies on the thread have definitely made it all a bit more real and immediate for me, and definitely mentally packing the hospital bag!

Have a good day all!

Had another scan today. Went well, my not so little man is doing very well in there. Estimated at a whopping 4lb 4oz today... Anabelle was 4lb 5oz when she was born at 32 weeks, so he is 2 weeks ahead of where he should be really.

because he's measuring big today (which he has been since 15 weeks anyway) and I had glucose +2 in my urine (first time ever!) they've arranged a GTT for next Friday to make sure I haven't developed diabetes. Wonderful. Not looking forward to that, being hungry makes me very sick.

Only thing in consultant appointment which has raised my anxieties is she's decided she now wants to assess me at 37 weeks and do a stretch and sweep then with a view to inducing me at 38. I've been told all along I would be induced at 37 so the possibility of this extra week I'm quite upset about. I know its only an extra week in the great scheme of things, and probably better for Xander but it'll feel like an eternity... I just want him born alive asap.

She says I will probably not be 'favourable' at 37 weeks and it would take days and days for induction like with Belle. Going to discuss it with her again at my next appointment in 2 weeks. I don't know what to push for for the best... but I know I will definitely not cope going past 38 weeks. My mental health has to count for something too. I just can't see us getting past 32 weeks safely atm, I'm in bits every day now, like my whole world stops at 32 weeks pregnant because I can't imagine being anymore than that after Belle. I just need a date to focus on instead of the elusive week. She said it was too soon to give me a date today.

Consultant has now put weekly CTG monitoring in place as well now to try and help me keep it together a bit more. Hoping a weekly point of thorough monitoring will keep me a bit more sane.

So appointments more appointments! CTG Monitoring- Wed 7th Sept, GTT Test - Friday 9th Sept, CTG Monitoring, consultant and growth scan - Wed 14th Sept and then CTG on 24th Sept every Saturday weekly after that.

Hope everyone is doing well and our 2 little born babies are keeping strong.

afternoon ladies,

poppet that bra is hilarious.

collie how did the 3d go?

chip glad you got more containers without having to sleep with anybody.

a pma thing for me, dh and i had a good chat this morning and i'm hoping that we've turned a corner and can actually get on a bit better now, but we'll see.

oh and i'll need my hosp bag packed for the beginning of oct as ds and i are away for a week with friends and my folks so i'll be taking it just to be on the safe side, so was making a list last night as to what i needed, probably take too much again.

Hello all. Very, very occasional poster here. Good vibes to the new babies and lots of PMA vibes to all in general. Theres so much going on!

Advice for anyone who has still to have anti D injection - ask midwife to inject really slowly. Had mine yesterday and did not feel a thing. Shame I have to lose my lovely midwife as I've just moved house and will be registering at a new practice. Ah well. So far so good generally though house is upside down and thick of dust due to rewiring etc. Please god let it all be done by time the baba arrives.

Caz, it would be shocking if you werent in pieces at the momment. Dont feel bad about that, you are going to feel that way, anyone in your position would. Just accept the anxious feelings, they're so natural. But they are monitoring you hard, and you will be right on the ball if you notice anything untoward, and you have come through something SO much worse than an extra week's anxiety. You're going to come out the other side of this fear.
Glad our new babies are doing well. ANd our new mums. I love the milking machine. I recall it from when I was looking at pumps for DS. Honestly, i am not shy physically but there was something about pumping that made me not want to be seen doing it. That lasted all of about two days. i went from "i dont mind in front of my partner" to my dad, my mother in law, a few friends. I abandoned dignity completley. Probably wasnt the best way to go, but still.
Feeling rough today, my head is still throbbing and my toddler is being funny and whiney and clingy, which alarms me and makes me think something is up. Though he is always clingy and maybe I am just noticing it more cause my head hurts today. Perhaps.

sorry caz didn't realise i'd xposted with you earlier. that's got to be so frustrating for them to change the dates, no wonder you're worried. I'm glad he's doing so well. Is worth having another go talking to them at the next appt.

just sorry you're not feeling well, i hope your lo isn't coming down with something.

Caz I was given an extra scan and was ultimately admitted to hospital last time on the grounds of my mental well-being so they certainly should definitely take it into account. Controversial I know but have you considered an elective CS? I'm sure you would labour successfully as already did with Belle but it may be worth considering as the favourable question goes out of the window and you get meet Xander straight away so potentially less anxiety swapped for longer recovery

caz was going to say exactly the same as alicat. An ECS might well be the way forward, and I think that they do them on grounds of mental health (?!). Have you talked to your consultant about this option? I'm also being induced at 38wks, and feeling pretty nervous about it - though for very different reasons to you. I hope you feel better once the 32wk milestone is past. Best of luck xx

Hi all, sorry I've turned into a lurker again. My carpal tunnel has been a real pain, and I'm having to limit the amount of time I spend on the computer.

I can't believe we have two babies already!

28 week appt today and totally new faces yet again. I have now seen four different MWs and two different consultants. I know it's the summer holiday season but I'm sick of having to start from scratch explaining anything! Biggest grumble is that it took forever - 3 hours, of which 2.5 was spent sitting on our bums in the waiting room :( I've now gone to bed because I genuinely can't sit in a chair any more my bum is so sore...

Results all good though - GTT fine, growth scan bang on normal/average, so happy that at least there's nothing wrong. Consultant's big thing was that I drink too much tea. I neglected to tell her that work is so busy that while I might make 4 cups of tea a day, I never finish a single one of them...

Evening all! sorry been lurking and reading on phone a lot recently but not posted for a while. just thought id mention (dont know if anyone caught it) but there was quite an interesting prog on bbc last night about breastfeeding by cherry healey....its on iplayer at mo now.
chip and poppet so lovely to hear how well sylvie-rose and willow are doing....and you two as well, you both seem so with it and strong.
Not sure who was asking about nighties but primark have loads that are £4, button up/fairly thin.....not exactly attractive but hey ho....i treated myself to some fluffy pjs for a fiver to make up for it. Had to laugh as i pointlessly ummmed and aahhed over what colour nightie to get, and an equally pregnant lady and her mum were doing the same thing. fair play to her though....she actually tried a couple on over her top before telling her mum to just pick one as she was too tired to try anymore! in the end i had to just grab the least offensive colour, chucked one at her and said 'you get that one, i'll get this one, lets leave now, go home and have a bar of chocolate!'

Ladies, at least have the nighties put away in a specific drawer so if the worse comes to the worst you can tell your dp/dh exactly where they are. I told dh where to look but still ended up with a bizarre collection of nighties, pyjama tops ( no bottoms!) and a pair of shorts. Luckily I asked MIL to buy my post-CS knickers ( waist high granny knickers) She did come up trumps apart from buying them in a size 22. I am normally a 14 so obviously I look fatter to her!

Did a pretend breastfeed today with Sylvie-Rose. She actually did a fairly good job of trying to latch on but bless her, her mouth is tiny, too small to get my nipple in properly. The nurse thought it was a good idea for her to try when she was having her tube-feed so she learns to associate the breast with feeling full and that it should help stimulate my milk supply.

Got to go and pump now!