Due in October part 8- still plodding along, this time with copious amounts of raspberry leaf tea

[Londonmrss]

Surely this'll be the last one before moving to the postnatal section?

Due Dates:

Sept. 24: Lisbethsopposite DS2 by planned induction
Sept. 25: Squidkid DC1
Sept. 26: Elpis DC2 by ELCS
Sept. 27: Planktonette DC1
Oct. 1: FjordMor DD1 by planned induction, Gigglewhizz DC1(?)
Oct. 2: Firstbubba DC1, Milk DC2
Oct. 5: Yomping DC1
Oct. 7: Crazypaving DC2
Oct. 10: WantAnOrange DC2, MrsConfusion DC1, MidgetM if induced
Oct. 11: Smileyhappymummy DC2 by ELCS
Oct. 14: Hufflepuffle DC1.
Oct. 17: Smorgs, DC1
Oct. 18: Bella2012 DC2, Beccus DC1
Oct. 19: Shellwedance DC1
Oct. 20: Beeblebear DC1, MidgetM if ELCS DC2
Oct. 21: Dosomethingmutley DC1
Oct. 26: Londonmrss, DC1, Zara1984 DS1, Liege07 DS1
Oct. 28: Kyyria DC1, Loopyla, DC1
Oct. 30: Cherrychopsticks, DC1
Nov. 1: Londonlivvy DC1
Nov. 8: Mickey DC1

Actual babies:

Sept. 20: Velo - Max 2.35kg
Sept. 25: Angelico - Mini Angelico, CWest30 - Naomi Louise, 4lb 10oz

Hope you don't mind me posting but I've followed you all from the start. Congrats to all the lovely new arrivals!

I'm 37 weeks today with girl/boy twins and I'm off for my section today ( both are breech)! Feeling really nervous (had emcs with my dd so they aren't completely new to me). Will update you when I can .

H and Octoberoctober, that sounds just how my labour with dd started! Fingers crossed for you x

Celestia so far for me elective section a million times better than emergency - calmer happier and much leas painful. Congratulations and good luck! Xx

Good luck october and celestia !

Thank you thank you thank you lovely ladies for your continued support, I'm so grateful.

My parents came over with DH and DS yesterday afternoon. Apparently DS was in trouble at school for hitting and pushing someone. (VERY out of character, believe me, but yet again I feel hidiously guilty as if I'm letting him down by not being there). :(

My dad went ballistic at staff, saying they were seperating a mother and baby needlessly, why couldn't baby come to my room in between feeds if they worried about the tube, or me get taken to her in a wheelchair if I'm meant to be resting?

The answer we got was apparently my ward nurse NEVER said I couldn't go and see her, its all been a misunderstanding, she had no idea I'd been stuck in my room alone (just shows how much they check on their patients eh?)

As she left my room, I even heard her mutter "All that over nothing, Jesus Christ!" So I think a letter of complaint about my "care" is heading this way. This is the same ward that made me wait 2 HRS for pain relief the day after my section despite me and family asking 3 times!

Anyway yesterday ended with me back with my beautiful baby girl :) she has begun to wake up at feed time, and 3 times in a row took 30 ml of a 47 ml feed through the bottle :D NOT going to get my hopes up though, could be back to square one today....

Good Cwest that is some progress at least. We are all thinking of you. Glad to hear Naomi Louise taking her feed in well, wee tody wee mite. She will be with you properly soon. Letter of complaint without doubt, feckin disgrace. But for now try and let it go anUd let yourself recover. Everyone will get there and sounds like a great family. Xx xx

celestia and october good luck!!

Cherry hope u manage to finish work sooner rather than later. I really and truly hav had no choice other than to go this far and hope I am getting a few days at least to slow down. Any kind of self employment is hard to walk away from and everyone's situation is unique. Hope you get the right balance. X

Feeling ones own cervix...... Sweet lord!!!!! Guess you've had no trouble doing perineal massage Katla????

Glad to hear another few low BPs, thought I was weird!!

Londonlivvy no idea about too much movement being a problem, find it highly unlikely???? Think I remember some of 2nd timers saying they had it before labour started?? Are u tall like me? My bubba still moving loads. Assume still has fair bit of room in my long torso. Some nights my tummy looks like a movie scene!!!!! And I must be black and blue inside!!!! Then it just turns to little pushy ones again as if to say 'Oof, I'm exhausted now'
As ever, if in doubt call the midwife!

Sorry not to check and support everyone, def some important stresses I missed there.....

Must get up, tidy up and get out of house. Cleaner comes this morning.
Huge guilt this one..... I am not posh or rich but I work up to 6 days a week and like a clean house! My family think I'm a lazy cow!!!!!

Ciao! X

Smiley loving your serene quiet short little posts!!!!! Conveys a sense of loveliness and calm!! Hope you are both recovering well, xx

Cwest delighted that you have your bean with you. Hurrah for that!

huffle I am quite tall (5'9) and have a long torso, so I guess there is still quite a lot of space in there. It really was getting worrying so I acted like a paranoid first time mother and called the 24 hour triage line last night. They went through a few questions and said "nah, you're fine". My stomach was lurching from side to side for about 10 hours. OOOF. Not a restful day (nor a restful night, frankly). I had got it into my head that this might be the start of her arriving as I'd also had a (ahem) leakage incident earlier. I've not had any of those previously so wondered whether was pee or fluid. oh the glamour of pregnancy.

Oh and please don't feel any guilt re cleaner. We have one too. DF and I decided that we'd rather spend our weekends doing stuff we wanted to do - like cycling - rather than spending 3 hours cleaning. I think we're keeping her til Xmas as it'll be hard with a new baby and then I guess I'll have to see how I get on with parenting AND housekeeping. ALSO I like to think that we're supporting the British economy in this downturn?!

Morning all

Going to have to do a vague wave and send big hugs to those in need, esp CWest.

First night was eventful with DS2 awake and shouty from 9pm-3am, which seriously disturbed poor little DS1. Not much sleep had. Still, bumpy road ahead but not insurmountable. Right?!

Birth story for anyone interested!

Woke at 1am needing a wee, got back into bed and the 1st contraction hit. Immediately they were coming every 5mins and lasting up to a min, but very manageable. Went downstairs, mumsnetted, faffed, weed A LOT and finally between 4-5 dozed fitfully (in 4 min intervals )

DH woke at 6, had a shower and we called midwife. Because of my last experience they sent someone out straight away, which was such a relief. By this time the contractions were getting stronger but still same regularity.

Yesterday was one of DS1's usual days with his childminder, thank God, so DH took him at 7.15 - usual time. At 9ish the midwives swapped over and I cried a lot because the change freaked me out a bit.

At this point I hit the gas and air and things started to get tougher. I was lying on my left side, just like with DS1, but found it really helpful to tap on the wall with my knuckles during contractions. By the end I was nearly putting my fist through it - neighbours must've thought it was a strange time for renovations. The contractions were pretty much continuous by this point and my whole body shook right before they started.

I can't say enough good things about my midwife. She didn't ring for a 2nd midwife which is technically possibly naughty? -as she was on the ball and was always one step ahead of me - but she's very highly experienced and I think prefers to work alone. She had a student with her who was lovely but quite laid back and ditzy. Entertaining at least

Babypaving decided to arrive in superman pose, with his fist next to his (enormous) head. She managed me very carefully and clearly while I gnashed on the G&A mouthpiece, mooed and shouted "nooooooooo I can't do it" a lot. No idea what she was up to "down there" but it felt weird and whatever it was it worked - not a single tear or even graze. When she told me that I wept with relief because my recovery took months last time. I wanted to marry her and may have said as much.

Although she did initially call DS2 "she" which was a bit confusing. But he HAS NO TONGUE TIE - thank fuck!! Seriously!

He is very gorgeous and latching decently - not brilliantly (ouch, but my left nipple is flat and had same probs with DS1) - and fed a lot last night. He's been asleep for quite a while now so should prob wake up to feed - God I've so forgotten what to do with a floppy snuffly newborn! The SMELL though - it's just AMAZING

DS1 is being a trooper and I just want to cry when I look at him because he's so wonderful and I feel quite divided Want to spend all my time with both of them and I can't, it's hard. God knows what kind of mess I'll be in when my milk comes in

My tummy is all baggy and saggy and I can pretty much sling it over my shoulder.

DH is being amazing. Absolutely amazing. I luffs him.

Ok I'm obviously still a bit high on hormones and adrenaline so I'll stop there! But can I just say, official like: I AM NEVER DOING THAT AGAIN. 2 kids is enough for me!!!!

Ha, I love this thread! On one page we have Katla rummaging about to feel her own cervix , Planktonette delivering sage advice about freezing cauliflower (although what on earth is the "brown top? with its yummy springiness?) and Beccus drilling MrBeccus with a dress rehearsal of labour. Genius. Makes me laugh lots and feel so much better!

Smorgs, oh my god @ the Sunday Brunch outfit, what on earth does she look like? "To me this outfit says everything I wanna say?? Yep, it says ?I am a total nobber!?

Smiley, your birth sounds lovely, congratulations, come and tell us more when you have time!

Bella, yuk, sympathy. Have heard that vaccines can give you the symptoms of the actual illness ? not fun at this stage! Sympathy to huffle too, with Giant Arm

LondonLivvy, my bean?s movements are very varied ? small squirms one day and gigantic heaves the next. Sometimes I wonder if it?s having a fit in there and this morning it actually hurt! I think the variation is pretty normal.

Crazy, loving Superman BabyPaving! And I think the 2 midwives thing depends on where you are in the country ? some places they say you have to have 2 for a homebirth, some they?re not so worried so hopefully she wasn?t naughty in not calling for a second one. You sound very calm about it all and very happy ? so pleased for you!

Heard from over on the Last Few Weeks of Pregnancy thread that MiniMilk arrived yesterday ? congrats Milk!

Updated list, with newbies added:

Due Dates:

Oct. 1: Gigglewhizz DC1(?), Firstbubba DC1 by planned induction,
Oct. 3: Springersmum DC2 (?)
Oct. 4: Katla
Oct. 5: Celestia twins DS1 & DD2 by ELCS
Oct. 7: Violetlights DC1
Oct. 10: MidgetM DC2 if induced
Oct. 11: OnOfMyTurnsComingOn DC3 by VBAC
Oct. 12: Lizzietow DD2, YompingJo DC1, OctoberOctober DC1 (?)
Oct. 14: Hufflepuffle DC1
Oct. 17: Smorgs DC1
Oct. 18: Bella2012 DC2, Beccus DC1
Oct. 19: Shellwedance DC1, Willowtree DC1 by ELCS
Oct. 20: Beeblebear DC1, MidgetM if ELCS DC2
Oct. 21: Dosomethingmutley DC1
Oct. 26: Londonmrss DC1, Zara1984 DS1, Liege07 DS1
Oct. 28: Kyyria DC1, Loopyla DC1
Oct. 30: Cherrychopsticks DC1
Nov. 1: Londonlivvy DC1
Nov. 8: MickeytheShortOne DC1

Real live babies :

Sept. 20: Velo - Max 2.35kg
Sept. 24: Lisbethspposite, Paul 6lb 11oz
Sept. 25: Angelico ? DD Mini Angelico, CWest30 - Naomi Louise, 4lb 10oz
Sept. 26: Elpis ? DS 3.2kg
Sept. 30: Squidkid ? Jess, 6lb 14
Oct. 1: WantAnOrange ? Artemis Lily 7lbs 2oz, MrsConfusion ? DD 7lb 0.75oz
Oct. 2: Planktonette ? DS Planktonini
Oct. 3: FjordMor ? Ida 8lb 3oz
Oct. 4: Crazypaving ? DS 8lb 3oz, Smileyhappymummy DC2, Milk DS2

Yay Crazy!!!! You sound high and happy!!! Well well done!!! Great birth!!
Does DS2 hav a name?? Not expecting you to share if don't want to but given his entrance a la superman, what about Clark???!

Xx

Yomping I too was chuckling at the dress rehearsal. Brilliant. As for feeling the cervix, I suspect I could reach (I have been doing much yoga, after all) but not sure I'd know what to look out for (man that's ignorant of me... oops).

I am LOVING all these birth stories. And whether they're a story of a really tough experience or (sounding) just tough, you all sound so delighted to have your beans there that it's all worthwhile. I feel encouraged!

So delighted, crazy that minipaving turned up, even if in superman pose and that you escaped without personal injury too! Hurrah for that.

Right. 36 week appointment shortly (new midwife centre - it's all changed since we moved house - no idea what's going on) then off to work to try to improve this MAHOOSIVE presentation that I'm due to give on tues to major clients. I'm sure there must be major brain fade in there. SO tired. ugh.

waves to everyone else.

oooh and I'm teaching my first post-natal yoga session tomorrow - thankfully to a friend - quite excited actually as it's so useful and important and just ace for post natal mums (mutters evangelising thoughts to self and wanders off)

crazypaving I'm so impressed with you ladies who give birth at home on G&A. You're so brave. I don't feel guilty or apologetic about either of my c-sections but, truly, respect.

So glad new paving is feeding well. It makes all the difference, doesn't it?

CWest30 Sometimes kicking up a fuss is the only way to make things happen in hospital! Hope you're now seeing a lot more of your daughter and she'll be out of SCBU soon.

smileyhappymummy Brilliant news.

(Smug moment coming up) I took a bus trip to DD's favourite helter-skelter yesterday. With DD AND DS in a sling. You ladies will understand what a big deal the first trip out on public transport after the birth is. Wait, it gets smugger. The bus was full (stupidly chose school kick out time for the return journey) and DD was sitting on my lap like an angel, so the three of us were only taking up one seat. Later on DD had her nightly tantrum when she couldn't remove her dress and wouldn't let us help, which I handled badly by snapping at her and threatening to send her to her room for ten minutes. But at least I made one thing work yesterday. There will be a lot of buses in our lives over the next year, so it was good practice.

Hi everyone, just popping on quickly before my laptop dies.
Congratulations MrsConfusion, Smiley, and Crazypaving, I am so pleased for you. Also loving the birth stories- Wantan Your peeing incident made me laugh so much.

Cwest I hope things are getting on OK. Major cuddles your way.

I am going to Wales for the weekend. With my mum, without DP. Am really hoping LO does not put in early appearance. I finally packed my hospital bag yesterday, and the baby's bag- cue huge meltdown about how unprepared I feel. I was going through the clothes we had been given and discovered that we have no newborn sized clothes- whatsoever. Cue emergency trip to tescos to buy some- and saw at least 3 people I knew who all asked me how excited I was, bla bla bla. If I'm being honest I'm finding hard to be as equally enthusiastic as everyone else is (which is nice though) because I am just so fed up of being a hormonal, fat, whale. I can't have sex properly- I can't remember the last time I orgasmed (sorry, TMI) and its really, really pissing me off. I enjoy DTD but ugh, it does get a bit boring when it all finishes off the same way. Poor DP. He came home last night mid-meltdown and gave me lots of cuddles. And the dog did too- which is most unlike her.

Ok. I will stop being self involved now- I wonder how many babies will come today?!
5 weeks to go, 4 weeks left at work... shitting a brick about going to Wales into the middle of nowhere (an hour and a half to nearest hospital, and i'd have to be picked up by air ambulance!!), this may end up a very unplanned homebirth indeed... lol!!

Lots of love and hugs to everyone- sorry if I missed someone.

Well I just popped on here for the first time in a couple of days to do a little victory bump dance about today being my 37-weeks-and-therefore-officially-full-term day... only to find that millions of you have had your babies!!!
Well done Crazy and smiley! Good luck Celeste, you've done incredibly well to last til 37 weeks with twins- you must be so uncomfortable. Hope all goes well today.
Livvy, I'm pretty sure there is no such thing as too much movement, although days like that can feel bloody uncomfortable. Is it possible yours popped into a slightly different position for the day? Or did you eat something high in sugar? Or maybe little one was just feeling energetic?
I sometimes feel like mine is saying "Well, fuck me! Legs! These are new! I wonder what will happen when I stretch them as far as I can? Hey, who's that who shouted 'Ouch!'? Maybe it's some sort of game. I'd better do it again."
37 weeks today- does feel like a bit of a milestone.

Mickey, cross-posted. I'm having the same feelings about sex, sorry to sound crass but would you be able to get some time alone with a vibrator?
Don't panic about giving birth while you're away- I think it's so unlikely to happen so suddenly. Most people on here seem to have felt twinges and things for days before.
I still don't have any bloody twinges, and have never felt braxton hicks. Is it possible that my uterus just won't bother with BH? I would like to have the preparation though. At this rate, I don't think I'll ever go into labour.

Ooooh, more babies approaching! :o

CWest that makes me mad on your behalf!!! Definte complaint I think - but thankfully you are reunited with baby :)

Smilie glad you are feeling well! And Elpis I don't know how you managed to get a baby and toddler on a bus - but respect! The pain has definitely turned the corner in last few days but I am still pretty sore unless I am very careful.

Latest tip: buy Infacol if you haven't already got some. Thank God my SIL bought us some in a sort of pre-bean goody-bag. Bean was really cross and windy all evening and thought we were in for nightmare overnight. Instead she had Infacol, fed, slept for 5 hours, woke, had Infacol, fed and slept for 4 hours. Which meant we slept! Feel like a new woman today!!!

Sounds like a great birth Crazy

So glad you're finally with your daughter and your son could come in CWest.

Yomping you have to have crusty brown top on cauliflower cheese! Sprinkle the top with breadcrumbs and grated cheese before you bake in the oven. Stick it under the grill for a few minutes before serving if need be, it's the best bit

Mickey it'd make an awesome birth story if you were airlifted to hospital though.

YEY for sleep Angelico, I hope I can find Infacol or something similar here, sounds like magic.

I only just realised today that I have a 4 day weekend. I may not get much pre-baby maternity leave but I have had quite a bit of holiday in the last couple of months. But because I forgot about it, I have no plans for Monday and Tuesday. Any suggestions?!

"Well, fuck me! Legs! These are new! I wonder what will happen when I stretch them as far as I can? Hey, who's that who shouted 'Ouch!'? Maybe it's some sort of game. I'd better do it again."

HAHAHAHA. This is exactly what mine says too!! :o

Londonmrss Its Ok, its not crass- TMI, but yes I have had time alone with my err.. electrical means. Its great.. but you know. Not the same. Oh well. I shall shut up and just be glad that we do at least have some remnants of a sex life!!
I also haven't had any twinges or BH of any kind. At least, I don't think I have. I sometimes get pains in my bump but I think thats just wind/ligaments stretching.

Oh and I think, is it Kyyria suffering with the restless legs? I'm suffering too. It's murder- however I went for a long walk the other day and my legs have never felt better- so maybe try that? If the fanjo of doom doesn't kick in after too much activity- another sufferer here Yomping!
(I don't recommend walking up the hill I did though, I nearly died AND I had to stop for a banana half way- poor dog!)

I also popped on to say- Raspberry leaf tea is MINGING. Where can I get the tablets?!

Londonmrs and Mickey - I didn't think I was experiencing BH at all, until I was in the MW appt one day and she was listening to the heartbeat and feeling my tummy and identified a movement that I previously just thought of as a wriggle to BH. So you may be having them, they may just be underwhelming.

So much for the twinges last night, no further signs all day. Wish I hadn't cancelled lunch plans now, although I suppose better than going into labour on the m25 in Friday rush...

londonmrs & mickey - yeah it's bloody frustrating when you're too big to properly enjoy sex. DH is not turned on by big pregnant body (he thinks my belly is cute & i am beautiful in a new way, but not drop-dead fuckable, which is understandable really) so neither of us have brought our A game when we eventually do it (about a dozen times total since bfp). Sorting my own self out has often just been easier...! So I totally commiserate!

angelico thank u for the ace tip re infacol, will go and pick some up from boots today. Totally would not have thought of that at all!

Half day off, am @ my local diner having a burger before heading off to the city for a few errands and my 37 week appointment at the hospital!

Only 4 work days to go......

I simply do not believe it. I hav had to come in to work. Locum gone to casualty. I am working tmrw too. Plan b needed. This is a fucking nightmare

Oh crap, huffle how many weeks are you now?

This ain't ideal.

Can you find a locum for your locum?

Oh shit Huffle. Is this the same one who was ill before, or is this the cover for that one who is now ill? Do you know what's wrong with them and how long it might last?

Ah shit huffle that sucks. This is the one with pleurisy right? Surely that should have cleared up by now? Think it's time to contact the second choice locum and see if they can step in for a bit, you can't keep dropping everything at this stage. Hugs

londonmrss have considered naming my bump Madge as it quite often feels like it's doing the dance from Vogue... 'Strike a pose'

cherry I highly recommend a pedicure. Haven't been able to reach my feet for so long they were looking a bit minging, but now they're so purdy. And go see a film maybe? I've just discovered my local cinema does special screenings for mums and babies where they turn the sound down, you can BF and no one minds if they start crying a bit.

angelico great tip on the infacol - think I'm right in saying its the only medication they can have in the first few weeks? I stocked up on a baby medicine cabinet last time I was in the uk which includes an ear thermometer, bonjela, calpol, gripe water, infacol, teething granules, colief, dentinox teething gel, nasosal, sudocrem, weleda calendula nappy change cream, derma h2o water wipes and a Mam newborn soother. Think I might also have got those Nelsons teething granules too - can you tell I'm afraid of the teething stage?!

elpis I think you might actually be Superwoman and crazy LOVE that your Ds came out in the superman pose!! Although on reflection that does sound quite ouch.

yomping that was the bit that got me too, along with 'when you're out and about in Notting Hill...' because clearly nowhere else on the planet exists. Still, relief to know sometimes fashion editors get it wrong too