December 2011:Once we pop, we just can't stop

[OiMissus]

Here's the new thread!
Squee-eeze those muscles, or squee-ee-eeeze those babies out!

And just remembered I forgot to buy tonic water at the shops AGAIN- dimwit!!!

I hate to do it again, but "Wolf!"

Tightenings since this afternoon, and now joined by sharp pains downstairs... I reckon a couple of paracetamol and bed might see me through the night, but maybe something will happen tomorrow...
Or maybe not.

Got another sweep booked at 9:15. I really hope things kick off before then.
Déjà vu.

Congratulations, SoTired: that sounds a lovely experience all round, particularly the accepting big brother you have found at home.

seven, a friend of mine had a very hungry baby, whom she couldn't keep up with, and fenugreek seemed to help her get her supply back on track. Also, I was topping up DS for about his first two weeks (as he had neonatal jaundice, the docs/MWs in hospital were pressuring me strongly to keep him under lights and not spend loads of time trying to feed him. Once I "got" it, though, I fed him for a good year)

msbaublestwinkle, hope you enjoyed your blessingway! The henna'ing must have been beautiful!

Hahaha, Falalalababy, you have really hit something with that comment on the "not stopping" name of our thread. yes, who did we think we were kidding?!

Tinselperion, don't worry about the pity party; actually, it sounds as though you might need to get a bit more arsey with people, rather than less. Of course you're not there for their amusement, but do you remember that old showbiz advice, which might make it more bearable:
"Make 'em cry, make 'em laugh, make 'em wait!"

Full moon is Saturday, Hawthers! BTW, your stretchmark pattern sounds lovely. I was reconciled to mine when DH compared them to petals, so you are a step ahead of me!

TheFirstNoelChinchilla and Hohohomouse, you are too right about what silly people say we will be able to do after popping. Yes, we may be able to cook and shop, but why on earth would we want to?
(and mopsy and TheFirstNoelChinchilla again get big points, too, for attacking the coincidence/causality connection)

Oooh, aetghelfleda, you did sound warrior-like in your complaint!

AReindeerCalledHorse, are you feeling all right? Good luck for the birth, and don't forget all the hard work you have put in so far for this baby, which isn;t going to be anulled, no matter what happens with the birth.

Poor BaaBaaHumbug, are you feeling any better now?

glad you're feeling better, figgy. How's the skunk?

Mmmmcheese - what excellent news about the chicken pox! So pleased you will get your Christmas together!

Darcies - haha at castor oil "prescription". Clementines (or melon, if the citrus is too harsh) are a far more civilised option for cleaning the pipes! (and, indeed, less dangerous than castor oil sounds, judging by nickelbabe's post!)

Sleighbellsinthesnow - welcome to your little 9lb2oz sleighbell!

BennyBenBear - any news?

Honey - any news?

We had a false alarm on Monday night: enough contractions to warrant calling FIL to come over to mind DS if we had to run for hospital. It was all quite chaotic, though, especially the intro, which was Agent of Chaos Baby stropping against the contractions and getting them all mixed up! It was like someone having a tantrum opposite a wave machine in a pool - I couldn't tell what would win! Eventually, she was subdued and contractions did go on, on and off, for a few hours, but it all died between about 2 and 4 and then after about 6am Tuesday. Pretty much nothing since then, so I have stood down my alert and have been catching up with things. My mother's now staying, which actually seems to mean more activity, rather than less, although she means well (are we going to get the Christmas tree? shell we go to soft play? What are we having for supper?)

Sorry if I've missed anyone; it's been a slog, catching up so much lost time!

Oh oi I hope it turns into something for you... You shouldnt ever feel like you're crying wolf here, so many of us are in the same boat. Sleep well.

I am a bit better thanks plu, and liver tests were fine. Still left feeling grotty and no baby though as seems to be the general feeling.

I guess there must be a birth 'spike' for us soon as so many seem to be overdue.

Also wondering what the weather may hold for Thurs night, we are up north and there have been some predictions of snow. Would be fun normally but not if trying to get to hospital!

Hoping things progress for all of those waiting around soon. It is the most frustrating experience!

Gutted AWCH that your home birth is now ruled out - hope there's a lovely midwive-led unit near you.

Think I'm still in shock about my change of birth plans but I'll hopefully get head around it soon. Just glad the lo is here - think he will be called Luke but haven't settled on middle name.

Despite our best efforts yesterday - we couldn't get Luke to feed - 4 midwives spent over 30 mins each with me but we couldn't get him on the breast at all and he got more upset and distressed each time. I also failed miserably to express colostrum. In the end, we gave lo a bottle as he was distressed but will be persevering with the b/f and expressing attempts. I notice his bottom lip curls right in under his top lip (is that an overbite?) - one of the midwives says a recessed chin is perfectly normal but I think that is making the latch much harder - He has a great sucking reflex on a finger but even struggles to manage the mechanics of bottom lip and Tongue on a bottle. Any more tips Msbuggy - we'll just keep persevering.

Hope you all have a good day and more babies are on their way!

Aw. Hope Luke gets the hang of it soon. Good for you that you keep persevering!!!

No news here, I'm afraid. The pains and tightenings calmed down when I went to bed. GingerBaby was really active though during the night, and this morning, so that's good. Had a few tightenings this morning, but nothing lasting or significant. Maybe things are starting, ...maybe not. Que sera sera!

keep trying to express, though - it seems to be quite hard to get the hang of.
I did find a fab video shoing you what to do.
one here
and here

the second one helped me most (for practice!)

then at least you're working towards making a supply even if Luke won't take it from you.
and when you get some, you can syringe it to him. ( i don't think it even needs to be huge amounts with the colostrum, as long as you can give him some)

GOOD LUCK TODAY everyone!!!! Here's hoping we see a few babas! I am off to the hospital now to be monitored again for pre-eclampsia. Much as I am longing to meet this baby, fingers crossed all is well and I don't have to be induced. Would rather she came when ready. Even if this time 2 weeks I will be cursing her non-arrival and going mad !!!

Lovely name, sleighbells!

i remember trying for an hour to get c

Colostrum out with DD1 and managing 2 ml, feeling deeply frustrated but did then give it to her with a syringe (followed by a midwife-dictated topup of aptumil), it was deeply deeply frustrating but temporary: best advice I can offer is 1) do keep trying but only while it's not upsetting you. It's normal for babies to "fuss" when they haven't latched on well (my DD1 used to look like she was hyperventilating when I tried to put her on which was v upsetting!) it usualy means they've not got enough nipple far into the mouth to let the sucking reflex take over.
2) get a proper breastfeeding counsellor to get to you as soon as you can(and failing that, the oldest/most experienced midwife you can find, I had shift after shift of midwives "trying to latch me on" and they were no use at all: my turning point came with a lucky break of a night midwife who had previously been a bf counsellor and was far rougher with baby than the others had been, she jammed baby on with surprising force and I felt an immediate deep pulling in my boob as DD1 finally latched and fed "properly" for the first time.

Good luck!

Morning! [groan] I did not sleep well, I have a headache and I feel really sick. Midwife appointment this morning, and apologies if I'm not making a great deal of coherent sense!

sleighbells at this point, the most important thing is to keep trying Luke (great name!) on the breast before feeding him via any other method. Syringe feeding will help as he won't get confused with the two different ways of sucking. Your mws are right, bottom lip not sticking out as much isn't a problem, chances are he is just a bit of a sleepy one who will take a few days to get the hang of it. Google 'biological nuturing' as it is a great way of getting sleepy babies to latch and it is the way we now show all new mothers how to latch their babies, it taps into their instincts and can give them a bit of a kick start. As much skin to skin contact as you can do will also help.

Get moving babies!

mopsy hope your monitoring shows all is clear.

DP's work crapness continues...for the Christmas do on Friday, the Boss is leaving work at lunchtime to go and get changed, his collegue is leaving at 3 to get changed...DP, has to go hold the fort on his own (for the third time this week) and isn't going to get chance to get changed. He has asked me to have the baby on Friday instead!

bells I love the name Luke. No bf advice from this novice but I really hope it is sorted out soon and you get the support you want.

Oi sometimes I read your posts and they are mirrors of mine - all my tightenings calmed down with sleep and a couple of paracetamol, baby moving a lot low down this morning.

Ok here's something to make you all laugh from the annals of Tyel's crazy American family. My parents have booked me a scan and private consultation today with a consultant at the hospital I would be transferred to if the homebirth doesn't work out...for a cost of £350. Let me just emphasise - there is nothing wrong with me, the only thing wrong throughout my pregnancy has been some SPD (not exactly needing consultation with an obstetrician!!) and I'm only 5 days overdue!!

When I asked why they want me to have this session, they just said that in the US you are scanned every day(!) if you go overdue and they wouldn't let NHS budget cuts prevent me from getting the best available care What information could I possibly gain from a scan at this point, I asked? Well, apparently in the States at each scan they just give you the all clear until the next day...when you come back for another scan. When I pointed out that this was a fucking pointless scam to milk as much money out of insurance companies as possible they freaked out, I'm ignoring medical best practice (which they couldn't point to), I don't have an open mind to scientific research (not produced), etc etc.

Anyway I have agreed to go because it was sprung on me during my dad's birthday call and I couldn't bring myself to ruin his birthday by arguing further. It's not like I have anything else to do today, I wouldn't mind seeing the baby on the screen (it may even be in 3D which would be fun I guess) and if their anxieties will be soothed by me going along to a scan, then fine, it's their money and they can spend it how they like

They're going to send me a list of questions to ask the consultant - hasn't come through yet but I will post them if they are funny/ridiculous. My main concern is that we will be laughed out of there after 5 minutes. Now just PRAY that I go into labour before 5.30 so I can ring them up and say I told you so don't have to go and be a laughing stock.

Ah well Oi, let's hope the sweep works this morning.

Tinsel, three hours of pampering and a large glass of carmenere sounds perfect- I've got a two hour sesh booked in for a month after LO arrives...I'll be on the champagne the moment I get home from hospital though, priorities, priorities !

How are you feeling this morning hoho, ARCH? It must be rotten having your plans changed at the last minute, but hope you're able to get some new ones in place.

That must be a bit stressful sleighbells, and the last thing you need following your last minute change of plans too. Luke is a grand name too.

Feel sure we're due some babies today.

I'm off to the hospital later on for my pre-op stuff, so should go fine. Will be spending the day waiting for a delivery, wrapping the last few presents and sorting out the camera for the millions of pictures of sprog when he arrives, not at all PFB, oh nooooo.

Good luck everyone with your appointments! msbaubles I also hope your baby comes on Friday and scullers your DH's boss' plans!
tinsel yes, we often seem to follow the same pattern, but no £350 scan for me (yikes!).
Love the name Luke also, one if my girls in Hong Kong had a baby boy last year which they named Luca, which I also love. (the parents are both French incidentally).
Right, I'm off for stretch n sweep number 3. It feels crazy, but that's what the MW recommends.

(I wrote "scuppers", I'm sure...)

Good luck Oi - hope the sweep goes well! Wish I had your midwife

Hope you feel better mrsbuggy and the MW appointment goes swimmingly this morning.

chinchilla I have yet to buy a single present let alone wrap anything, thanks for giving me a kick in the behind - it may be an expensive morning of internet shopping...

Good luck with the next sweep, oi! And hope things gear up again for you pludolph, preferably when you've got a few things done and feel "ready"...

tinsel, assuming that your parents aren't in the room with you, the best advice I can offer is to greet the consultant with "Hi. I'm here because my mom is deeply concerned about me, I'm 5 days overdue but we both know that's Ok. Please reassure my mom that there's nothing to worry anout and then I'll have an easier time of it! " I often get people in at work who are there because a third party has nagged them into attending and it's much easier if I know that from the word go, then we can work together to address the worries/pacify the relative/friend in question!!

Tinsel your parents are making me laugh with all their hysterics definitely want to hear their top questions.

Well I'm back to normal today no back or tummy twinges and my cold was all in my nose last night did not sleep well at all think today will be a duvet day

Nah, 'scullers' is far better!

That was an impressive catch-up Plu, and hope your Mum doesn't knacker you out too much with her activities help.

Tinsel, that's brilliant. Long-distance neuroticism, just what every mother-to-be needs. And of course, you have to indulge them, as not doing so would only upset them for no good reason, never mind how daft the suggestion is. You choose your battles, and this isn't one of them! £350 though, just think of the red wine baby things you could buy with that.
My mother is quite similar (but on a smaller scale, insisting that I took, and paying for, taxis and not the tube when I was last in London) and is also at a significant distance, although in this country, and it's all compounded by her disabilities. Wonder if we'll be the same when our grandchildren arrive...

Also a wonderful insight into the horrors of the US medical insurance system.

Really glad you're feeling a bit better today figgy, but definitely stay under that duvet.

MW was lovely, as ever. Still fully effaced cervix, probably almost 3cm dilated, central, head now in better position ( so last night's pains were probably manoeuvring), waters ready to go... She made a secret appt (without baby hearing!) for sweep no 4 on Monday, but loudly expressed her wish to come and visit us on Sunday at home (out if the womb!).
She recommended walking - but I can only wear flip flops now and the weather is atrocious! Maybe I'll skip up and downstairs a lot.

msbaubles can you have a 'false alarm' on friday and just call your DH home? He can then say oops false alarm on Monday and carry on.

First day of ML for me, woohoooo am free (does a cartwheel).

I had a midwife's appointment yesterday and baby is 2/5ths engaged (i.e. 3/5 in pelvis) and no longer breech. My ELCS isn't for 3 weeks so I need to decide on what to do if I go into labour before then. Does everyone know if being engaged mean labour is soonish? Nothing better happen between now and Sunday anyway as my brother who is meant to have DD when we are in hospital is out of town .

Hi everyone,
Baby Isabel is here!
Had pains from about 11am Sunday, which got gradually worse after lunch... finally convinced that it was labour at about 2pm, phoned friends to collect my eldest girls at 3, arrived with husband at hospital 4pm, gave birth at 6.07pm after about 15 mins pushing.. no stitches thankfully. They let us go home a few hours later, which surprised me. Hubby had to drive home and back with the car seat because we hadn't bothered to bring it, assuming I'd be in overnight! She weighed 8lb8oz, which is 2 pounds more than her sisters! Isabel Sophia. She's gorgeous.. not much sleep for me since Sunday, and my milk came in this morning- ouch ouch ouch! Have been using my new Medela electric pump, which is fab.
Hope everyone else is OK. I read everyones posts, even when I don't have enough time to post myself.

Congrats lottie on the new arrival

Fusam wouldn't worry too much about being 2/5ths engaged I've been the same for about 3 weeks and no sign of LO making an appearance anytime soon!!