Barman! A pint of your finest Gaviscon with a ferrous sulphate chaser if you please! On the February 2012 Baby Bus.

[BillComptonstrousers]

Right then my lovelies, this thread is going sloooooowly now we have our little secret facebook group

But we need to keep posting here for people who haven't joined our other group, so keep on going!

If anyone wants to join the facebook group, can they ask someone cleverer than me and they will set it up for you!

Old thread is here

Hello ladies, just popping in from November post-natal thread to let you know I'm selling a tens machine (Femme tens) on ebay if anyone is interested in buying one
cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320825171419
Thanks
Good luck with those births & babies :)

I just got some nipple cream from the cash and carry for 80p

It is so pathetic how excited this made me. 80p! 80 bloody p!

That's amazing! Sent Oh for some last time round and it was a tenner!!!! Bloody m/w came round same day too and offered to prescribe, grrrrr

Pam - you're right - you can tell them to take off the FM but there is a certain culture amongst some staff where they give you such grief & they take a real supercilious attitude and turn on the emotional blackmail which is very easy when you're vulnerable. This is not true for all staff, I must add. I was just unlucky.

The EFM basically makes some staff lazy & gives them some paperwork to cover their arses. It's a lot easier to tie you down and "just nip out" than to have to sit there and remember to do observations every fifteen minutes.

likewise the Doppler - actually you get a much better idea about the foetal heart health in its subtleties using the Pinard stethoscope than the Doppler which in reality is only an electronic representation not the actual sound of the heart.

And blood pressure monitors - the manual ones are far more accurate & you'd hear if say, someone is missing a beat.

The electronic devices are great & useful & quick & will generally do - but they should never replace good, basic clinical skills & observations.

As you can see, I'm going to be an arsey nightmare patient this time around. I have read far far far too much. Luckily I have a tame friendly midwife this time around who will be at the birth and who has been really great at explaining risks and options and statistics. Just keep asking questions and don't let them stonewall you or your DH.

I was unlucky in my first labour but the end result was my beautiful healthy DD and this makes what happened in those few hours pale into insignificance. Keep your eye on the prize. When all is done, it's the end that matters, not the means.

I know monitoring can be an issue but for me was lovely in 1st labour to have that reassurance every so often. I did just have for short periods and was great in the end as showed ds to be tacicardic and he wasn't recovering from contractions well. So I appreciated it's place at his birth, an assisted delivery meant I had a relatively happy boy.
With dd had a few times at start as was induced but then it all kicked off and they left me to it.
I think trusting yourself but also them is the key to a none traumatic labour. For lots of folk my 1st labour would have been traumatic but I was really happy with it. I guess tis about expectations. I have never written a birth plan, and don't intend to this time. I will chat with the midwife about the situations that arise as they do have more experience than me and I will listen to their counsel.

oh yes - get Lansinoh prescribed if possible as it's a tenner a tube! Though I only needed 2 tubes in total.

Was feeling very exhausted and in pain ysterday but after resting most of the day I was fine looking after ds today - helped that he has a touch of the stomach bug going round and just wanted to sit on the sofa and ideally watch telly, which was fine by me!

They mostly use Pinnards at my hosp as the electronic steths apparently end up on Tooting market very rapidly!
My birth plan last time worked a treat - basically said "get my explicit consent for all touching, exams or intervention, or if I'm incapable talk to MrNC", and the staff were excellent - even when taking my bp every 15min for 10 hours. I also said 'I'm terrified of an epidural but as I can't take pethidine may have to consider if g+a and pool don't cut it' - the anaesthetist was lovely to us.

Just hoping I can avoid a postnatal ward, at least at night.

I've read that heavier babies weigh on the perineum more and numb it and help everything open - my rellies who had 14 and 15 lb babies (seriously!) had no problems. Dc2 looks like being average like ds, though.

Ships tena lady pants sound like a great idea!
Zhen what sling did you get?

They insisted on monitoring me for the boys because I was induced. 2 problems. 1 my babies are never still so you always play chase the heartbeat anyway... 2 I point blank refused to lie on my back for their convenience. In the end they put a probe on ds2s head which was better as it let me move more.

I am also refusing interventions this time because they keep giving me episios and I don't ever want one again! If I lived closer to the hosp I would have a home birth but its 20 odd mins away -dual carriageway so not like an ambulance would cut it much shorter. I am also going to refuse induction this time unless I get to 42 weeks as I think that causes its own issues.

I'm still on my first tube of lansinoh, which i now use as EXCELLENT lipsyl. And on cuts. Works wonders. My dad (a farmer, often gets chapped hands) was saying last week that he can't get lanolin ANYWHERE!! and that boots told him they didn't sell it. I advised him to visit the breastfeeding section!

On foetal monitoring, my consultant has written in my notes that I'd like the remote one so I can stay active, if it's available. I really hope it will be, because I will fight them tooth and nail about wearing the one which means I have to stay on the bed. SURELY they must see that active labour with no intervention, facilitated by movements, is better than continuous monitoring? I don't understand. After my lovely natural delivery last time, on hands and knees through every contraction and pushing, i'm so worried about this one which is going to be very medical, especially if I'm induced.

Was planning to go in to assessment unit this evening (after DD in bed!) as baby has been very slow and lethargic, but this afternoon it came back with a vengeance and hasn't stopped moving for about 5 hours...so i feel better now! Still not really expecting to go beyond next week, and because i'm mentally prepared for that now, i'll be quite disappointed if I have to wait another week or so! Although, of course, if baby is ok where it is, it will be much better to wait!

Tidying the upstairs of my house tomorrow...mammoth task, including putting stuff in the loft, if i can get to it!! Then I'll be ready...sort of!

36+3

thanks shpslady, its all confidence and knowledge too, when you are in a vulnerable position its easy to just accept things as norm. I am going to insist on moving about unless its absolutley not possible.
I think you are right to stand up for what you want, not arsey at all, you seem to know all the facts about the FM.

I ordered Lansinoh online dfor ?13.55 (from the UK) because I went into my local chemist here and a tube was ?30.20.... it has been recommened so often I thought I'd best get it. Woowa my friend told me it was pure sheep grease!

Ooo yes Zhen - which sling? I'm toying with the idea of a Storchenwiege and/or a Boba 3G so I can carry my toddler too (don't want to fork out for a double buggy for only a matter of months). I have a Moby, a Wilikinet & Patapum Baby already - slings can be addictive... (All are second hand)

I wonder how the wedding went today. Weather was beautiful in my neck of the woods.

Lanisoh is fabulous magic stuff. I bought two tubes today - one for the bag/downstairs and one for upstairs. I lose things very easily so have two of nearly everything inc hairbrushes, make up, deodorant... It's a bit tragic really. I've treated myself to a breastfeeding apron-shelter-hide thing (Bebe au Lait) this time as I could never keep a muslin in place as a modesty screen.

I'm trying hard to remember what to pack in my labour & hospital bags. I'm not bothering with a reading book nor make up this time... If I end up going in and staying in, i intend to spend most of it sleeping.

DH made me put the waterproof sheet on the bed this week in case my waters pop one night. I know first babies tend to be late (for Caucasian women anyway) - but any idea what the perceived wisdom is for No2?

35+5

And is anyone doing Raspberry Leaf?

I'm not doing rasberry leaf didn't seem to make any difference to me.
I have a new Storchenweigue for the new baby (despite having a whole sling library at my disposal lol)
Medela do lanolin too and I seem to recall it was cheaper than Lansinoh (same stuff). Think I got it from toys r us. I haven't needed it since dc1 though.

My waters usually only go just before they are born so never been an issue for me

Hallo request to rejoin the February threads! have not been on since first trimester when had a vanishing twin

Due 4th Feb and SO uncomfortable already.

My babies have all got some kind of internal alarm clock set for 4am, this one seems no different. Joy! Oh to be asleep right now!
Love lansinoh (husband swears by as lip salve) 1st time was the only thing that worked tried many a cream and old wives tale. Love the lansinoh breast pads too.

Raspberry leaf here, like it, will slowly build up to pints off stuff plus every old wives tale to get this baby moving from 36 weeks, my 37 weeks if they only listened!

34wks.

Welcome back Topaz!

Thank you!

Is anyone else only eating one food group? Have realized that ALL the food I eat these days is beige...

Ha ha to beige food, Topaz. The other night a friend and I were babysitting for another friend and we plated up (and this might make you boak) chip-shop chips with curry sauce and a battered sausage with a plate on the side of jam doughnut for pudding! Literally all beige and dripping in saturated fat. Minging.

Need to buy some raspberry leaf. Have the Lanisoh all ready!

35 weeks tomorrow and fed up with pissing myself a little bit all the time!

Did a big food shop in Asda yesterday which ended up taking like 2 and a half hours! Started getting BHs when we were nearly done which came every 5 minutes and lasted the whole night! When i got into bed they started getting quite strong and i was actually starting to worry but then they disappeared! Never had any BHs with DD up til i had her at 38 weeks. This time ive had them daily for months.
Cant believe some of us are having babys very soon, so exciting and scary!
Plan for today is make beef stew, make brown rice salad, tidy up a little bit then get into bed with DD and watch films!

35+5

phlossie gah that sounds lovely

Am say here eating apple sauce (beige, nom) because heartburn won't let anything else in...

dreams of sausages and donuts

Am I the only one not drinking raspberry leaf tea?

Haven't even heard of it

I'm not because I have only had lucozade, coke and shloer since getting pregnant

Hot drinks suck

I'm not drinking it, may get it in tablet form though after I see the midwife next week. I have to be in the mood for fruity tea or it makes me gag

I have never had RLF.

Just done a big butcher shop. Going to make basic mince and onion and then whack it in the freezer so I can just fetch it out an then add either veg for cottage pie or sauces for lasagne or bollocknaise etc. was glad he had a chair in there as I went a bit light headed so had a little sit down! Have come back to bed for a bit now before I go drop eldest off at her friends at 3 then horses and then work 4-7 at the pub as we have two shoot dinners in. Have stuck a beef curry in the slow cooker for tonighgt as hubby is working till 7 as well.

Baby has moved down considerably over the last couple of days which is nice as don't like a bum in my chest. He does like grinding his head on my bladder though!

My bargain 99p snowsuit came yesterday from fleabag. Like new and current years mother are as well!

I'm starting the Raspberry Leaf Tea soon, I asked a herbalist about it at my breast feeding meeting and she said it was fine, since I used to drink it all the time before I was pregnant, it might be a bit soon for others though, I'm 33+1.
My baby seems to 'wake' me up every night at the same time too OddEyes he is a consistent little chap, I just have really bad aches and pains when I wake up then and find it so hard to go back to sleep.
Welcome back Topaz! ...we are all 'nearly' there :)