September 2011 - some popped, some still on the bus - bring your pom poms and wolf cries

[Conkertree]

sorry - not the best at thread naming, but thought we needed one as 100years said.

Hope you found out what was wrong 100years, and are getting treatment.

Had ongoing aches and pains all day but nothing in a contractiony way. Parents coming tonight instead of Saturday though which is good as can then relax about something getting going properly in the middle of the night, as they live about 4 hours away. And have a sweep on Monday, so if they plan to stay till Tuesday, I will at least know on Monday whether anything is dilating etc.

Popping in to say hi I'm still waiting to pop. Good luck with pushchair jimi. I'm off for sweep tomorrow. DH has day off so coming with me. Good luck everyone.

Same here jojo we were missing screws 4 moses basket stand, took them nearly a month 2 sort, then we recieved a whole new stand followed a few days later by the 'out of stock' screws 4 the original!!
Now the pushchair. Quite glad i shouldnt b needing 2 shop there again 4 anything new! (&the car seat the lady fitted doesnt fit!) wot probs have u had?
millie not long 2 go!!!
jojo im sure u'l pop by then! :-)

Sorry - have been meaning to come on all day to cheer on those still waiting - feel very guilty about abandoning things after others being very supportive, so will make sure I get on properly tomorrow.

Hope you are still doing ok though to those waiting, and coping with the frustrations.

Just a quick one, re mothercare. It was them that didn't tell me the cot was a out of stock and therefore b not being delivered until I rang them at 3:30 on the afternoon of the due delivery as OH checked the 'delivery status' and it hadn't been dispatched. I have no faith in them and will only go into the shop now if I can only get stuff from them and no one else. Shame really. Heard numerous bad reports about their customer service before now. Hope people get the things they need sorted.

Right thats it, officially made it past due date, I feel justified in telling everyone it would be the last week in September. Already been told about other people changing plans because I haven't managed to produce a child yet . Definately want to hang on until next week now :)

Can't sleep and OH snoring soooo loudly. I'm now on the couch! Time to start watching It's me or the dog USA. Or shall I go for Don't tell the bride on catch up. Hmmmm decisions decisions. Baby is sure to arrive soon!

it's about time i added my birth announcement. We have a baby daughter, as yet unnamed, born sun 18th 7.28am 8lb 4oz. My waters broke fri 11pm, so 32 and a half hours! I went in at 10.30am sat and was sent home to progress til 5.30pm. Then after 6 hours in the pool i was 9cm but going no further, it was an ambulence to hospital where i was put on a drip told i was instead 8cm and back to back (which explained a lot). Then hours of getting her to drop and turn, and an hour of pushing. Then then decided my uterus had given up and despite my best efforts i was hitten a little cut and my baby girl was born with the help of the ventose. X she is strong and well and a very determined feeder. All she offer now is a name! X

Milk is just coming in so Fergus has been feeding a lot. Makes me laugh at how indignant newborns get, waiting for the milk to hit - may have just stopped feeding a few mins ago, but suddenly they are STARVING again.

Hope the sofa is comfy Alice. Very inconsiderate of your OH to be snoring. I watched a lot of supernanny usa in the early mornings pre-birth.

2blackcats - sure your lo is just establishing early that they wont be told when to arrive by others - definitely agree that telling people a vague date is the best way to go.

Milliebow - hope the sweep works today. Did for me. Go for a nice walk afterwards to help it along too.

Jojo - sounds like things are going in the right direction for you too. Hopefully wont be long.

Jimmijam - hope you get the buggy swapped. Does seem ridiculous after a week.

Cosmiccloud - Sounds like you are quite laid back - hope you can enjoy ( or tolerate?) a few more days of preparing/ waiting. Have you got some activities planned over the weekend?

100years - hope you managed a quiet day yesterday. Definitely think sleep is the key, or at least working out how to manage with less for a bit. I'd forgotten how nice a day time nap can be.

Minky and cbear - with you on the sore nipples. Cbear - hope your ds adjusts quickly - how old is he again? The worst bit of ds2 arriving was feeling guilty about how much we had upset ds1s life, but seeing how well they get on now, it was clearly the best thing for him in the long run. With Ds3 (ooh first time I have used that ) I dont feel that guilt at all.

Tiddleypom - hope things get oing very soon for you. You've kept us all going, so we are all here willing you on (no pressure though ). It cant be much longer however it happens - is there anything you can go and do for a day to distract you? My dad took me to the cinema last Saturday an it was very relaxing to sit in the dark for wo hours with no kids - sure relaxing helps.

I know I have mssed some people, but going to try and return wee Fergus to his nest and get a little more sleep.

Ooh crossed posts yoshimi - congratulations. What are your thoughts on names - are you looking for suggestions?

Birth story - as you know, had been having loads of tightenings etc for a good few weeks, but had done with ds2 as well, so was still expecting to go several days overdue. Also had very similar births with my first two - kicked off about 11pm, into hospital about 6am, both born just after 8pm with three hours of pushing for ds1 and 1.5 hours for ds2.

Had a sweep on Monday at 40+1 - was 2cm dilated. Had lots of show and tightenings that day. Uncomfortable overnight. Was dozing about 4 am when I felt a pop in my tummy as my waters broke. Got up and paced around as contractions started. They were fairly mild but coming every 3 mins, so I thought I should keep an eye on them.

Stuck on some old Friends episodes. Ds2 had come through to our room and got very cross when I was opening a pack of maternity pads - he kept crying "wheres my crisps?". Luckily dh managed to get him back settled in his own bed.

Anyway, by 6.30am th contractions were feeling pretty strong so phoned the hospital and they said to come up. Dh faffed around for a while with a bowl of cornflakes, and getting breakfast for ds1 and ds2, despite my parents being there, but after my dad watching me have two contractions about 2 mins apart, he packed us off in the car pretty quickly.

Drove to the hospital but cars were badly parked so couldnt go where we had planned. Dh drove to the next street, but I had another big contraction and we decided just to park in the staff car park and take the fine. Arrived at the ward, and the mw asked me to go and pee in a tube. There was no way any pee was coming out. She faffed round too trying to set up a trace on the monitor, and then said she'd be back in a minute. It was shift change time as we found out later.

When she hdnt returned after about 10 mins, I was feeling a bit panicky and eventually ended up shouting for help (feel a bit guilty about the other woman in the ward - she must have been a bit put off by my shouting). Anyway a mw eventually showed up and I begged her for some gas and air which I finally got. It was bliss!! She decided to examine me, got he loves on etc etc, started the internal, and all I heard was "we've got a head" before I was whisked upstairs to the labour ward (without the gas and air which I wasnt too happy about).

After that it slowed down a little and was more controlled (as I had my good friend the g&a). Told to push whenever I felt like it, but didnt with every contraction, or at least the urge wasnt that strong, so after a while she told me to push three times on each contraction anyway, and after the first, his head was out, and the second, the ret of him.

All pretty quick, and so different to my other two. Definitely felt the ring of fire this time - think I was spaced out with g&a the other twice so this one I was much more aware of the whole process.

Having read lots of birth stories on here, I know I had a very easy time of it (although didnt feel easy at the time), and I got an early discharge so was home that day. No tears/grazes etc, and the bit I was most pleased with - no bad piles!

Sorry - that came out quite long for a short labour, but as others have said, its good to get it down once on paper.

i've just read back my message and there are so many mistakes. I blame typing on my phone and the fact it was written during a feed! We have got the name down to a few and i'm waiting on my boyfriend to say for sure. He thinks we could make a choice we regret. I think once it's her name it'll be perfect and we could never regret it. the one i like is bethany brown. So it would be bethany india rose brown. The india part is my boyfriend's idea and rose was my great nan. Grace is also in the running for the first name? X

Yoshimi - totally agree that once its her name, its her name and thats it. We had a shortlst but none would suit him now except the one we chose.

I think either choice is really nice, although if you go with Grace, I would suggest swapping the second two names - Grace Rose India Brown. But thats just my tuppence worth - think either is lovely.

Congratulations Yoshimigalloway! Bethany India Rose sounds like a lovely name!

Conkertree im now hoping for a labour like yours lol glad it all went well

Jimmi We brought a pushchair and carseat from mothercare and was told by two different people that we didnt need any clips to put them together (which was a lie) after getting it all home we tried in vain to put it together but didnt work so rang them up they said again that we didnt need anything ended up taking the lot back to the shop to be told that we needed clips! Clips were then ordered to arrive a week later!

Had a terrible night been up with big pains in my stomach feels a bit battered and bruised hoping it all starts soon Ive got family coming down this weekend lol.

Morning all! I have spent a very pleasant half an hour or so in bed with a cuppa catching up on the thread - more happy news with the birth of baby yoshi, congratulations and I too love the names you are considering! What a super time of year to be born, it is beautiful out of my window, all colourful and sunny and cool.
Thank you to all the mummies cheering on us stragglers! Conker your birth story was a real tonic - and I did laugh at your son thinking crisps were on the way with the noise of maternity pads being opened! I am very happy for you that it was such a positive experience and hope it's catching!

So, EDD today and I am feeling quite chipper (for now) to have made it to the end. I am v uncomfy at night but no real signs, so another who is not expecting any real action till next week. So be it - till then I shall try and enjoy the time off as suggested.

On phone and yet still have posted an essay! Enjoy your days everyone, and keep waving those pom poms - kettle is on when your arms get tired :o

we had make the decision and she is bethany! X bb!

Lovely. Will you nn Beth? Very sweet, congratulations :)

Lovely name yoshi bethany was my fav too but my DH got final say on this babe as I did on DD1 :-)

Too tired today with sore tum (did too much yest just driving& school run as was on my own) tum tingling &bleeding again not good sign 4wks today post C-sec. Enjoying just reading posts will chat more later when found some energy....

Just a quickie until I can get on laptop later... Baby girl born yesterday 2.30am, had to go into hospital as she pooed meconium whilst still in womb, so no homebirth nor waterbirth either. Still, birth was ok and no stitches or pain relief required so quite straightforward.

Back home now, enjoying the peace. We have named her Kitty although will be Caitlin on records just in case she wants something more serious when she's a high court judge.

Congrats to other recent mums who've popped, and good labour vibes to those who haven't. I'll do a proper post tomorrow when have slept more :0)

Hiya, will catch up later but just a quick note. Just returned our 1 week old pushchair 2 mothercare, v.glad we swapped it 4 completely diff. 1cuz i couldnt stand the 1 we had turns out it had been recalled anyway so
mothercare excursion owners the pushchair has been recalled we thought there was just a prob with carseat cover & that they were sending out a replacement, we didnt realie we cpuld return the whole thing.

Congratulations Loomer!

Jimmi glad you got it all sorted still say mothercare is the bane of any pregnant persons life!

Hooray for loomer! I adore the name Kitty and she's also got a pretty but grown up name when she wants it - High Court Judge you say? Think I'll stay in touch :o Sorry no home birth for you as planned, but glad it was un-traumatic and well done for not needing the pain relief Maybe water birth for DC3??!

Still a few of us hanging on in there though very encouraging to hear each new arrival (good to remind myself that it does happen eventually!). Just been for a walk around the block and eaten a very indulgent toffee/choc ice cream, so back to my ball feeling quite satisfied with my day so far (easily pleased).

Shocked to hear so many horror stories about Mothercare, and also on MN in general about Mamas & Papas - the absolute last thing parents need is to deal with such poor service. I have to say how brilliant John Lewis have been in contrast - I used their nursery service, which entailed a booked appt (2 hours!) with one of their very lovely nursery experts, who then set us up with the list of things we had chosen after hearing advice and have a touch & feel (inc. trying pushchairs in boot of car). We used the list by purchasing in chunks when we could afford to, and they delivered for free and phoned after the delivery to make sure everything was safely received. The delivery blokes even took the boxes upstairs for me. The goods weren't over priced and I used their 'never knowingly undersold' offer to get £15 off a cosy feet thing for the pushchair as I found it cheaper elsewhere. Consider for next time, if there is one!

Come on baby, am so ready for you now, and I've had such a lovely EDD, it would make my day (week, year, life) complete!

Tiddley i think you and me are going to be here forever!

Pop the kettle on babe its gonna be a looonnngggggg wait lol

Sigh, thinking you may be right jojo! More tea then - and when this is over I look forward to chinking glasses full of something distinctly more interesting!

Ooooo a strawberry woo woo ive been dreaming about having one (lots/pints of!) of these for weeks!

So here comes my birth story.please apologies typos etc as on the phone with little Tristan asleep on my belly.

As we had induction booked for 1pm on Friday dh and I had decided to have a nice long lie-in in preparation of things to come. Had had quite strong bowel movements and a few trips to loo that morning so when first contraction came at 9.45am I wondered whether it just might be indigestion.was quite clear soon though that it was start of labour starting with contractions every 10mins lasting approx 1.5 mins.

Dh said to wait before calling mw as wanted to make sure it wouldn't ease off again. So we decided to tidy the flat,clean the kitchen and re-pack hospitalbag until finally calling the mw at 11.30 with contractions only 5 mins apart. Were told to go straight to hospital and for there just after 12.

Were put on heart monitor and first examination showed I was 2-3cm. They gave us option of going for a walk or going straight into the pool but as I hadnt had anything to eat yet they first brought us a little snack.

Contractions werent too bad yet so I said I'd go for a walk but was told instead we had to go back on the heart monitor first.then were left alone for almost 45mins during which contractions became so strong that going for a walk was out the window.when mw finally came back and asked to go into pool now and mw disappeared again for what felt like ages.had to ring the bell twice more to always be told,they were getting it ready to be left again for ages. Finally was taken through just to find nothing had been prepared. At that point I was already struggling quite a bit and very disheartened when check revealed I had not progressed from the 2-3cm stage yet.

I asked for pain relieve and they suggested first to try rectal suppository and a bath. Unfortunately they just made me need to go to the toilet so I was out of pool after a few minutes and pain remained.

After that they tried me on a drip which took forever to work but thankfully brought some relieve.

At about 5pm was examined again and told I was infact now already 8-9cm. Drip was wearing off at this point so I asked for an epidural.was told that aneasthesist had been called and would be doing the epidural very soon but that I had to bear in mind that it would take at least 20mins to kick-in.it took the aneasthesist an agonizing hour and a half to finally get there. During which I went from doing quite well to screaming down the place to absolutely exhausted and literally begging for the epidural.

My waters broke just before 7pm and immediately afterwards I felt the urge to push.mw kept shouting at me not to push and that I wouldnt be allowed the epidural if I did but urge was so strong that for a few contractions I couldnt really control my body at all. aneasthesist finally arrived but still was taking his time,talking to his colleague about a friend they both new etc. Which made me furious.

Unfortunatly,the sweet numbness never arrived. The pain was slightly reduced but was soon clear that the aneasthesist wasn't just slow but also not very good and hadnt done it right.

Spent the next few hours wouldby away under every contraction.font remember much of that part as I was absolutely knackered at that point and had the impression I kept passing out.

Started pressing at around 10.30pm but that didnt seem to come to much. So At around 11.30pm they decided both me and the lo obviously were at this brink of exhaustion and got a whole lot of doctors in who explained to me that they would help us along with a ventose as his head was actually almost out every time I pushed but kept slipping back. With the ventose, a doctor pressing down on my ribs and a third one doing an episiotomy he was out after another three contractions at 0.12am and 14hours after the first contraction.

I was a bit panicky that they would take him away over night for monitoring but after first check he was fine and we got our skin on skin while I was being stitched up.

Not really a traumatic experience but wish they would have been a bit better with the pain relieve and making us wait and beg for everything throughout the day.

Oh wow,i am very sorry for the length of this post but feel a lot better for having for it down.

Sending good vibes to all those who are still waiting. And sympathise with all those out there with sore nipples - I also have a baby with hidden fangs.