December 2011: Scratching, squeezing, hatching and latching...

[LittleMissHumbuggery]

...and those of us left are doing a fair bit of bitching:o

I wonder if we could get a [pompoms] going on? Do we have the energy for a campaign?

Right, come on! We're a third of the way through the month and Nickelbabe needs new recruits for her advent thread. Get squeezing:o

Congratulations plu on the birth of baby Helena, and for stealing my record for the fastest labour!

oi it may only have been minor surgery but that doesn't make it any less terrifying. Glad he got through it ok and hope he has a very speedy recovery.

I'm coping much better today, I just suddenly seem to have more time today. I've made paper snowflakes with DS this morning, now about to do the veg for tea then hopefully make Christmas cards with him this afternoon.

Eva has her follow-up appointment at the hospital for her heart murmur tomorrow, I'm trying not to think about it too much though and just hoping its already gone.

Hello hello hello - yes I have been absent because they managed to fit me in for a sweep at the birth centre this morning. I did have cramps overnight but they have massively ramped up since the sweep (which wasn't bad at all - MW said I was the bravest she'd seen in a while! ) She said I was 50% effaced, 2cm dilated, easy to stretch and sweep and that my body was doing lots of good work - she also said if she wanted to break my waters she could so that means I won't have to have any pessaries if I do come in for induction! Only downside is the baby was back to back (odd as when I woke up I could have sworn it was back out) and as I am measuring very large now (46cm) I will have to fight if I go in for induction not to have continuous monitoring or to have a drip straight after breaking membranes.

But since the sweep, I have been having some serious pains - the worst yet, some in my back but mostly period type ones, need to stop and breathe through some of them. Been timing them and they're about 90 secs long, mostly 10 min apart but not regular (every so often they'll be 12 min or as close as 4 min).

Fingers crossed this turns into something real this time and not yet another bloody false alarm like all the rest!!! I have another sweep tomorrow afternoon - if this develops into something before 6.30pm on Thursday...I can try for a homebirth. If not, my plan (as discussed with the senior MW today) is to go into the hospital Thurs night, agree to the initial 40 minute trace, and then tell them instead of going straight to the drip I would like them break my membranes and take me off the monitor so I can move around and stay upright. If nothing happens after 2-3 hours, then move to the drip.

Sympathies to mopsy, darcies and figgy as sounds like you are all in the same place as me - catch up with everyone soon - just had the worst one yet and off to march around the rugby pitches a couple of times, hope this is the real thing!!

Just wanted to send oi and family a big hug, so sorry to hear about the stress and worry and hope you are all at home safe and sound by now. xx

Hope you're all feeling better Oi My friends wee girl had surgery at days old and she said the feeling is indescribable when they wake up. take care and enjoy those snuggles.

Tinsel I'm throwing pompoms at you next. I have just bought a Christmas tree and feel dirty so some energetic pompommery should make me feel better:o

Right. Off on a jolly. Apparently I need baubles too >_

That all sounds really positive tyel hope a good stomp does get things moving for you!

I have a very very overdue friend who has gone into labour today, 17 days over with DC4 and that is the least over she has ever been! Anyway, we had a great time at home ed group, Miri was well admired and the DDs enjoyed showing her to everyone!

Mw has discarged us today as Hope is back up to her birth wieght of 8lb 9oz and a bit!

Plu congrats to you and baby Helena.

oi sorry you had to go thru that and i'm glad Alistair is doing well.

(Does anyone have any ideas on how i can entertain a 3 yo? Something i can start him off with then do one handed?)

Cheep that's good that you & Hope have been discharged. Can Air do some crafting? A puzzle maybe?

Well spoke to MW on labour ward due to the pressure & back ache - and the feeling Snowball is trying to claw his/her way out of my cervix - she thinks early labour and if still in the same pain in and hr then to call and head on down to be checked and then they will decide what to do. Wouldn't mind but have to breathe everytime I want to take a step

Blimey! you go away for a day and it's suddenly all go on here.

Massive congratukations to plu. What a dramatic entrance. Hope you're all settling down after the shock!

Good luck o tinsel and darcies. I hope thungs progress well for you both from here.

Oi sending you massive hugs. It sounds like you've been thrown into parenthood at the deep end, but are coping really well. It just makes your heart burst fot them doesn't it? DD had 3 operations when she was tiny and it's just the most traumatic thing. Like you, I particularly hated when she went under anaesthetic (that's not irrational at all!) and when she was nil by mouth. I'm so pleased to hear Alistair is doing well. He'll be right as rain in no time, it's amazing how resilient they are, and best of all he won't remember a thing about it. It'll take you quite a while longer to get over it, but rest assured you'll soon have hundreds of fantastic memories to overshadow this frightening start xx

Pompoms out for Tinsel & Darcie. Hope the pain subsides (or turns into proper labour) Darcie. x

Glad that you & Hope have been discharged Cheep!

Parcel has just arrived, knickers are staying dry & on!

Woo sounds promising Darcies and tinsel!

Shopping has failed to produce any twinges...hurry up baby Pully I want to meet you!

Sending posative labour vib's to you Darcie

I was thinking stickers and a wooden block puzzle but then i run out of ideas. Also bollons and bubbles. I'm just not got my head on stright and can't think of what we can do that he can do on his own if i have to feed Hope!

Congrats on all the new arrivals. We have another one to add! Freya was born Sunday lunchtime - 7lbs. All well. Fairly quick and very straight forward birth.

Contractions started 2am ish sat, by 8am they were painful enough to get DH out of bed and in laws round. Went in to hospital about 10am. Only 2 cms and thick cervix but expected that after DS. Very calm in hospital - sat discussing baby names and ordering kitchens very coherently inbetween gas and air for increasingly strong and long contractions. Waters broke very painfully about half twelve. Next hour very painful but gas and air and a good bit of yelling got me through! Freya was born with virtually no pushing and once the head crowned she was there. Think 2nd stage is recorded as 4 minutes! A few stitches but not too bad.

Came home monday. Big brother being very loving but likes to try and pick her up. She seems to want to feed all the time so will be glad when milk comes in so it is more effective. Only sleeps for short amounts and generally doesnt like to put down but hopefully that will improve. Luckily DHs paternity leave runs into christmas hols, though he does have a meeting tom so will have to cope for a short period alone.

House is full of builders and mess which is not ideal.

Well done to plu and her dh and mum!! oi that must have been so scary for you - I hope he is recovering well.

Cheep Have you got any blocks or duplo type stuff Air can play with? Ask him to build you something

will catch up properly when i get a chance - probably at daft o'clock in the morning, but wanted to drop in and say big congrats to all the new mummies and good luck to those who sound like they have some promising signs \ dont be too dismissive of mild cramps, thats how my labour started and DS arrived 4 hours ish later :) also he was not engaged and his bum was up in my ribs right till my contractions got stronger, so dont be too disheartened!

First pic on profile now if any one wants a nebby! Shameful proud boast - he is gorgeous me thinks :)

Gas and air is lurverly. Tesco should have it for pregnant shoppers who have bachache:o

seven ideas...

Bath paint - washable paint diluted with washing up liquid.
Shaving foam and food colouring in the bath.
Tissue paper stained glass - tear paper, wet it and it will stick to windows.
Big plastic box, fill with rice/dried pulses/pasta etc and use it as a building site for trucks.
Snowflakes, circles folded, let him cut out tiny pieces and stick them up to decorate.
Toilet roll snowmen, stick cotton balls on, use sticks for arms and stickers for eyes.
Threading beads.
Potions...collect interesting stuff from the kitchen cupboards (vinegar, bicarbonate, food colourings, flour, whatever really!) let him at it with bowls and utensils to pour and mix.

Hope some of those are useful to you!

Congratulations jingle sounds like things are going well.

Congrats kingle
Gorgeous itsy!

oops jingle !!

Just spoke to midwives sweep booked for Friday when will be 40 + 7 then next one on Monday if needed and to top it off I have a urine infection to say am surprised is an under statement as have no symptoms I'm aware of......I assume this means risk of infection is high? Just waiting for dr to call me to see if can get a prescription over the phone as gp appts are about as easy to get at short notice as midwife appts. Humpf!!

Best of luck though tinsel hope this is it for you!!

Congrats jingle!

On way home from hospital, baby very low and MW can feel tightenings my cervix is posterior and lip of about 2cm so sent home to wait things but thinks body is getting ready. cried a bit as pain so intense and not at all how my first labour was :(

Congratulations jingle

Hang in there Darcies the end Snowball is in sight

Yay for Air getting Hope discharged from the MW- well done!

And Darcies, get your Bottom back to the hospital when things ramp up, and good luck!

tinsel hang in there, you're doing great!

DH currently setting up TiVo to record everything under the sun. He's allowed to do this because he brought me sushi for dinner

We had Dominos for dinner. Oops :)

I am a bit disturbed by how much of a pregnancy bulge I still have after nearly a week. I guess that it goes down slower after a CS than a VB? Nothing I can do about it anyway as not allowed to do any exercise (not that I would if I was allowed!) But how long am I going to look pregnant for?!

Sorry too tired to do personals but good luck to all who are awaiting labour. Oh and oi sorry to hear about the surgery but good that they caught it and prevented any damage to the other one. DS had a hernia repaired whren he was a few months old and I was petrified but he seemed to hardly notice it! Had a good feed, sleep then was back to normal again.

Also, is it normal to feel less bladder sensation after having a catheter in for a few days? Don't have any problem with incontinence, more the oPposite, hard to tell when I need to go and find it quite hard to empty my bladder fully. Sorry if TMI!

I have a confession to make... I caved and had a manky burger >_<

I should be eating nice sensible food. Tomorrow I am doing mustardy creamy sausagey nom with mash.

Right now I want a big fat black russian with loads of ice. I hate this stage!

Okies. I need to go feed the washing machine. I have a scan and an appointment with the consultant tomorrow. Clean clothes give a better impression than slighty whiffy stuff:o Wonder ifI'll actually see the consultant, o if she'll be 'out' like last time. Ho hum.

Three of my teeth that have fillings have started to hurt. This makes me sad, as well as have the urge to pull them out so I can sleep! Thing is, I have a headache too, so I'm not sure if it's two separate pains, or one pain causing the other. If it is one causing the other I really hope the headache has triggered the toothache. I hate going to the dentist and have been four times so far this year:(

Sorry. Bit grumpy and desperately tired:(