Due April 2006 - new thread for the April Shower!

[colditz]

Ok, I did it!

Now shall we get our stats down again? I think we have had some joiners since we last did it.
Copy/paste the list and add yourself to it.

Colditz - due 06/04/06, aged 25, DP aged 32, 1 DS aged 2.9, having a baby boy! Very scared of needles....

Boney bums, pointy elbows and knees - I'm getting it from all sides here!!

Welcome secreteater, I think allyco did pretty much sum up the hopsital bag thing, although I brought a stereo and cds that I will definately do again. I also brought lollipops, I know you're not really allowed anything to eat or drink but I got away with those and the little sugar rush got me through when I was really starving! Don't make the mistake I did either of bringing smaller size clothes for yourself to go home in. I still looked at least 6 months pregnant and had to send dh home to get clothes that fitted me before I could leave.

I used incontinence pants last time round colditz and you are right they were very effective! The hospital provided them actually and they lasted a lot longer than my own did when I got home and used them. I've always been a bit gutted about having my babies here in the US (no gas and air for a start!) - but by the sounds of it maybe I shouldn't complain - I can't imagine having to clean dirty loos amid the whole process - eeewwww. I had my own sparklingly clean ensuite. The hosi also provided nappies, pads for me and clothes for dd for her stay, so I only had to bring a going home outfit for her with me - so perhaps I have actually been completely spoiled . (Also none of this canteen business - I could order food/drink for me or dh at any time of the day or night and have it delivered to my room within 45 minutes!)

One great thing that the hospital where I was also provided was Tucks. I'm not sure if you can get them in the UK, I'm sure you can although the brand name is probably different. They are basically sort of witch hazel pads that are actually designed for hemmeroids (I know I've spelt that wrong!), but work brilliantly for stitches/sore bits after birth. I put them in my undies with a local anaesthetic cream (also meant for 'roids) on top of them and they brought tremendous relief!!

My last tip for the hospital bag is a water bottle with a pull up top. That first wee afterwards stings like a mother but if you fill up a water bottle and squirt it down there at the same time it dilutes the wee and makes it far less harsh. Sorry, these things are all really graphic , but I thanked God for these things so I thought they might work for others too.

On a happier note dh bought me a huge bunch of roses and very fancy choccies (which barely lasted the day ) for Valentines Day bless him.

MrsEvs - wow - am off to have this baby in the US

Except, of course, you have to PAY....

Aye there's the rub..... although dh's company actually pay 90% of ours which is good. You pay in a way though too with tax except you don't get a say in how the medical bit is spent, more's the pity or you could insist on clean bathrooms

Colditz sounds like you had a helluva time. So DH wasn't there for the birth after 2 days of labour? how unfortunate is THAT?
Debithescot, meant to ask where you are from.(I am in Fife)
And MrsEvs, how come no gas'n'air in the US???

They've just never had it spots - they think the whole idea is hilarious. When I told my OB/GYN about it he laughed and said the only time anyone uses nitrous oxide here is at drunken college parties!!

You can't even get diamorphine (which my sister swears by for labour )or any of that good stuff either. All you can have is this crappy pain killer called Stadol which apparently is less effective than 1 paracetemol and just makes you feel a bit drunk - or the epidural, and that's it. I went for the epidural last time and I'm certain I will again as it was blissful!! There are so many things that they can't give you because their insurance companies won't let them, it's a bit of a mad system really.

Welcome, Secreteater. I took 3 bags to hospital with me when I had DS . One for the birth. One for staying and one for DS! The birth one had a hand held fan, water and snacks, nightie, dressing gown, slippers, games, TENS machine, personal stereo etc. in it. The staying one, clothes, nighties, magazines, baby names book, ribena, maternity pads, lots of big pants,! a few breast pads (I ended up being in for nearly a week and god did I need those), a list of telephone numbers of friends to call, towels, washing stuff, another nightie etc. The baby one had nappies, vests, grows, toiletries. I don't think the porters at the hospital were impressed and there was a lot of stuff I ended up not using!

Had another scan on Wednesday. It's so true about not being able to recognise any baby shapes any more. All I saw was circles and lines. I've got another one Mid - March to be absolutely sure which way round baby is at the last minute. They told me the measurements were within the parameters of normality but that I had a very large baby. They didn't tell me how big though. Hmmmmmm, a second C - section is starting to look a tiny bit more appealing than it was before!

Yes, I'm feeling very emotional at the moment, too. A James Blunt song on the radio made me cry buckets yesterday (I'm not even a big fan at all) and reading Allyco's posts about her childminder's neighbour set me off big time this morning. I've got big red puffy eyes at work now! Speaking of work, better be off.

Take Care, everyone. It's getting hard now, isn't it?

Morning all. Can I have a rant?

Littlest DD was so tired last night when I got in, she was nearly falling asleep in my arms. Got her to bed for 7.00pm. She first woke up at 9.57pm and then was up another six times through the nigh. At 4.40am I gave up and took her into bed with me. DH got in from nightshift at 5.30 and so I had to get up .

Then about five minutes befre I left for work I noticed a suspicious stain on her jeans and when I investigated found her nappy had exploded all down her legs and up her back, all over vest, etc. etc. SO needed a complete top-to-toe change.

I came to work with no make-up (frightening)and knacked hair. I drove like a nutter because I was tired and pissed off. I am calming down now though, so that's something. But I am so tired. How the hell will I manage with a newborn??

Rant over.

MrsEvs - that explains why when I watch tv progs about birth in the US everyone seems to have an epidural. There was a woman on one recently having her seventh baby and she had one!

Do you not even have pethidine?

How about a general anaesthetic, that would do me...

Hi all, sorry to hear about your bad night Allyco, sounds jolly miserable and I hope you feel a bit more alive now - have you had lots of coffee?
I feel a bit guilty cos I was just going to recount my lovely day yesterday when I left work! I had a surprise baby shower with balloons, cake (which I couldn't eat ) a quiz and a big "Nappy Cake" - which on closer inspection was a big present in the shape of a cake with a cot sheet as the sides and full of vests, hat, mittens etc and a teddy!!!! If you'd seen the faces of the men I work with - we have a female boss and a female assistant - the other 12 are blokes - it was classic! Then the boss took all of us out for a full on chinese meal (I work in Canary Wharf so imagine the cost!) I think she booked it as a team meeting .
Then, on the way home I sat in first class as it was like a cattle truck with people sitting in all the corridors and between the carriages etc and the inspector let me off paying for an upgrade -hurrah! Not that he could see me through the balloons & Nappy Cake etc and the Bump of course.
Anyway, it was lovely and I was really quite sad to leave. Though I've enjoyed today - went back to bed after dropping DS at nursery .
We're off to Somerset for a week tomorrow, so shan't be around for a while but might log on this evening.
Hope everyone has a good week and keeps healthy.
Pepper

Wow pepper lucky you for finishing work and getting loads of gifts! My colleagues are mainly men or single women so doubt I'll get anything. 6 more weeks in the office (current plan) yuk! But went to Woolley Grange again for 2 nights this week - very last minute half term treat to myself, so can't complain!

Question: what painkillers (if any) are you ladies currently planning on using and why?

During the actual labour, tonton?

wow pepper your workmates sound fab I am very . Enjoy your time away and think of me stuck at work.

I am going to try and do without drugs. I did second DD without them and she was 9lbs 9ozs. Mind you, I screamed the hospital down. The next day my voice was completely gone and I had to ask the midwives for Strepsils hahahaha.

With the first I had everything going , with the third I had diamorphine because I was induced (she had a congenital birth defect and had to be delivered when surgeons were available to operate on her) and the pain from the induction was excruciating. The fourth was an emergency section. I do recall after the spinal wore off I wasn't offered anything at all for the pain and just got on with it. It's only really since I've been on MN and read c-section related threads that I've realised you're supposed to get painkillers afterwards!!!!!!!!!!!!

Poor you allyco, sounds like a rough night/morning - I was up 2 or 3 times last night with dd, so can sympathise a bit but didn't have to do it 6 times/have the nappy explosion or have to go to work - we all have days like that sometimes though and it does seem a lot worse when you are heavily pregnant and generally tired and emotional. Hope you have a better night tonight.

As for pain relief tonton, as per my earlier post it's an epidural all the way for me (apart from anything else there isn't really any other options here - not even pethidine allyco, no), and I have great faith in anaesthetists as my Dad is one . Had one last time and it was great, excpet that it wore off when I was at 8 cm and they wouldn't top me up . So I think I'll try to hang on a bit longer before having it this time!

Pepper, how lovely to get spoiled on your last day at work. I am actually having a proper American baby shower this time!! I didn't really have any American friends when I was pregnant with dd and all my friends here now are horrified that I didn't have a shower for her. So they are throwing me one, which should be very funny - I don't really have any idea of what's in store, but I suppose when in Rome..... I shall let you know all the details after the event. I think it will be mid-march sometime.

Hello you lovely bumpy lot. Poor allyco, you seem to have all the luck. Sounds like DD has the same king of horrible bug that's going around here - hope I didn't transmit it over the ether; DD I think is getting it. She has been totally miserable today. Worst thing is, we are supposed to be hosting (last minute change of plan) a parenting course here tomorrow. It looked like it might be cancelled due to lack of venue and DH and I really wanted to do it in advance of #2. So my poor Dad who is looking aftre DD, and poor DD herself, will be at the rough end of the plan.

Those of you who are on #2 or mre, what do you plan to do when and if you need to go into the hosp. in the middle of the night, regarding telling older ones? DD is only 21 months but she understands enough that I would feel a lot better about telling her exactly what was happening, even if it meant waking her up in the middle of the night. That might sound unnecessary but I really do think it would be easier for her than waking up to finds me gone and having it explained in retrospect. But would she be able to process the information if it was 3am??

I had a nice short straightforward labour with DD and therefore only gas & air. Definitely would hope to be in the same situation again regarding painkillers!

Wow, hadn't even thought about that spots, it's a good point, my dd will be 20 months by the time I go into hosp all being well and I've no idea what I'll tell her. Would love to hear others thoughts on this also, and words of wisdom from those who have more than 1 already.

I'm planning a home birth so not quite the same situation, but similar in that I don't really want DS around, with the potential of being woken up by any noise! etc - can't imagine it'd be the easiest thing to wake up to. I'm lucky in that my parents live pretty close by and he's extremley used to being there and spending occasional nights. I'm planning that if it is in the middle of the night he will be so asleep that we'll be able to transport him from one house to the other without him really waking up. I find that his memory is fairly short lived and he's pretty accepting if you just tell him something happened over night in a matter of fact enough way - he's 2 and 3/4.

I'm actually dreading more that it all kicks off during the day when he'll be more around and aware of what's going on - I can imagine him wanting to stay / help / etc... just having a general tantrum and not being able to carry on watching Ceebeebs - he also tends to get a bit scared, and therefore agitated and tantrumy if he doesn't understand what's going on or why mummy is upset/in pain.

I guess looking back at the reality of his birth, there was actually loads, days!, of lead up time when although in intermittent pain I was still able to be fairly in control and we will hopefully be able to build up to the explanation of why he's got to go and play at Gran's for a bit.

Finished work on Friday and as expected, I'm now feeling really impatient to get on with the next bit and have this little babster!

Luckily dd is 5.5 so can explain it all quite easily to her.

My question before wan't very clear. I wondered what painkillers (if any) you all plan to use in labour?

I had a cs last time so plan to try for vbac with just tens and gas and air.

my older ones will be fine when it happens as luckily they're of an age to understand. My youngest DD will also be 20 months so very much doubt she will know what is going on - I am hoping and praying little man arrives when she is at childminder's so it's just a normal day for her.

I've tried explaining there's a baby in mummy's tummy but she doesn't get it! When I first told her she hit me with a soup ladle it is I think going to be hard for her not to be the little one anymore...

Hi all, apologies for not having posted recently have had a few worries to deal with, namely high blood pressure and facing up to the possibility of labour without my dh there.

BP was pretty high last week but the midwives were happy to allow me to go 2 weeks without a check-up. I was not, however, and have had it checked this week by a nurse (still high but better) and will have it checked again today. Bit cheesed off with the midwife care tbh, my bloods were messed up as well because the midwife who took the sample didn't request the apppropriate tests.

Dh has had to book paternity leave way in advance of my due date. He will be around from week 39. All well and good, however, should dd2 arrive early chances are he will be somewhere in Europe and unlikely to make it back in time. I am absolutely convinced she will be here around week 36/37, although there is absolutely no medical evidence to suggest it, just my good old 'gut feelings'. I felt like this with dd1, she was born at 37 weeks, my mum is also convinced she will arrive early. I have been stressing out about dh not being here big time, even though I am fully aware women have laboured alone for centuries. When I look back at my first labour it was great, dh there and I had a normal, fairly easy birth, without complications. I suppose I just want the same again and I have to accept that it may not happen. The good news is though, that my best friend, whom I have known over 30 years, has suggested that should dh be away, she would love to come in and help. Am very relieved, and also very grateful.

Is anyone else packing bags/getting baby gear together yet? I have started shopping this week for my overnight bag and have already got 'nesting' feeling.

Sorry for the waffle, thanks for listening if you got this far! All the best,

hi pacinofan - was wondering where you'd got to!

I've never had high BP probs - mine's always been very low.

I hope your DH is there for you - I couldn't imagine giving birth without mine!!

My bags are packed as I too think I will have an early arrival...

Pacinofan - my dh will also be away in USA until 10 days before due date and although I have hired a doula, she isn't free until then either!! So if I'm early I will be on my lonesome.
I really really don't want that to happen as last time was v bad and I think that was partly because I was so scared and tense and ended up with a cs for fetal distress. Really want to feel calm and in control. I have a neighbour who I think would come with me but hate thought of her seeing me in a state/my bodily fluids!

Hope your blood pressure is OK pacinofan, and that your dh will be there for the birth at least you do have a back up person - not the same I know but a best friend would be a very good substitute. Hope yours is there as well tonton.

How stressful for you both, I can't imagine dh not being there. I'm stressed enough about my Mum not being here to look after dd! I was late with dd so at the mo my Mum is planning to fly out on or just after my due date, but if the little one comes before that I just don't know what I'll do. I've never really left dd for more than a few hours with anyone and never overnight (mostly due to lack of opportunity being out here without family etc), so I'm starting to really worry about how she'll cope when I just disappear for a day or so!

Am definately getting that nesting feeling. Have bought a few little things for the new baby and have got them out quite a few times and refolded them and put them away, cleared drawer space for them etc. Have not packed a bag yet, but have been looking at stuff to take in. I took nighties last time, but I'm thinking PJs this time - do you think it matters in terms of ease of access for doctors/nurses etc? Seems like a silly question , but just wondered.

Back at work today, boo. Only 3 weeks to go though, yeah

Spots: I know it was about a week ago you asked but only just caught up. I'm from Dundee (but lived in Edinburgh for 4 years too when at uni), now turning into a southern softie in englandshire!

Hello all
Thanks for useful tips on hospital bags - My list has gone past allyco's essentials...but not yet up to 3 separate bags!

I too have been wondering about the nighties/PJs question. I don't actually own any nighties and am reluctant to buy something that, considering its being worn over disposable pants, is not going to have a long and attractive life!!!

I've had a poorly weekend at home, a rotten cold struck me on Friday and I got a phone call from my doctor saying I am anaemic - At least I now have an excuse for looking pale and feeling knackered. I have a presciption for magic pills and a recommendation I eat more red meat (I am 90% vegetarian due to only eating expensive organic free range meat....maybe I'll go to the market)

The weekend was spent waiting for furniture to be delivered so that I can finish unpacking (we moved in the new year) I am desperate to get the boxes of books out of the baby's room, and also to have drawer space to put those few tiny items i have purchased/been given safely into. Unfortunately the delivery man spent all day in the pub and we didn't get our furnitre!!!! can you believe it??? Needless to say we are not buyng from John Lewis!

As for pain releif, as this is my first I am keeping my options open, but aiming for labouring in water to assist, then Gas and Air, then pethadine, then anything else they will give me pregressing up the options as required!!! While laying in bed surrounded by tissues I read all about these options in a scary book known as "what to expect when you're expecting". It did not make me feel happier.

Off to the MW tomorrow for a check, i am hoping little one has turned around... last time she was thrilled to tell me babe is breech. We shall see.

Better get back to work....

Hope baby turns for you, Secreteater. There's still plenty of time and hope your babies wait until later to join you, tonton and pacinofan so that your DHs are there.

I'm going to see how it goes with pain killers but potentially am happy to have an epidural should it all get too much (or anything else they'll offer me). Anyone know if you're not supposed to have an epidural after a c - section? I've not heard that it's not O.K. My hospital doesn't recommend Pethadine anymore so probably won't be having that.

I'm getting twitchy about being ready, too. We had a stressful trip to IKEA on Saturday to buy furniture this weekend so we can move DS to his new room shortly. Poor DH had to cope with loading 2 cars, a very pregnant hormonal wife and an impatient DS but we now have everything we need and will probably finish up with a bit of painting and furniture building this week.

I've not even started packing my hospital bag but it's starting to weigh heavily on my mind. I think I'm going for a nightie. Certainly for the birth. Got some from Mothercare last time. It's my last day at work on the 1st so I'll concentrate on things like that a lot more after. I was surprised, last time, how quickly people changed from a nightie/pyjamas to wearing normal clothes around the ward and I found that when I followed suit, i felt a lot better/on my way to recovery so I want to take some clothes, too.

Been thinking about telling DS, too (21 months). I don't know what to say. He has limited understanding of the whole impending baby thing, really. I have been toying with the idea of taking him to my next scan so that he can see a hospital while I am with him and we can look around together. I think that, when things happen, we'll try and take him to my parent's quite early on so that things are still nice and slow and calm and I'll possibly tell him simply that Mummy is going to the hospital and he is going to spend some time with Grandma and Grandad now and wave bye - bye in the usual way I would when going to work. I don't think I want to tell him that the baby is on it's way at that time because if he gets upset and confussed, it's not really the time to explain in between contractions. I'm not sure though. We have been trying to vary his routine a bit lately regarding seeing them so that out of the ordinary seems less so.