Jan 2013 Part 5: Once we pop (on time!), we just won't stop!

[BuntyCollocks]

New thread! I've lost my lovely spreadsheet so if someone can add in the stats and update, that would be wonderful; I'm sure someone else had a spreadsheet that was as anally organised as me

allchik from my reading they recommend from 36 weeks on because of potential of kicking things off.

Thank you, birdies!

Colostrum is only finite in that it disappears when your milk comes in, the start of that process is through delivery of the placenta. Therefore, until placenta is out, as much colostrum (in theory) as you want. It's recommended to express some in case of baby having low blood sugar if you don't want them to have formula. DS ended up with a few cup feeds on his first night due to low sugars.

I don't leak, ever, but I can express, so yours is probably like mine and jut shy

Rocker for baby or rocker as in nursing chair?

DS didn't like a rocker, particularly, but loved a friends baby bjorn bouncer, so we have that this time. Nursing chair we have a baby weavers one from when I had DS, comfy enough and does the job, was about £125 from kiddicare I believe. If I won the lottery I'd have a big, fancy upholstered one

My tip for the evening is don't try to move out your flat whilst needing to have it ready for tenants all in the same weekend! Oh, and trying to do all of this 35wks pregnant! I'm up at the in-laws whilst hubby is still at the flat... He was hoping to be back by now. Our friend that is painting the living room for the tenants moving in (he's a decorator) was over an hour late in turning up so hubby was not happy. He did say he wasn't waiting for him to finish up as a result and that he'd need to Hoover and lock up. I'm going to check in the morning though before I drop the keys into the solicitor.

I've been getting stronger braxtons since starting on the raspberry leaf tea. I get really bad cramp if I walk to far or too fast. I think it's round ligament pain...

My ds1 really liked this bouncing cradle rocker so I'll be getting one of these soon....

Hi everyone.

I know I'm joining really late but I've only just found this thread (only just getting to grips with MN tbh).

I'm due 07/01/13, so 35 weeks today and we don't know what we're having.

I see there's one little arrival already! Congratulations tiny - I hope you and Megan are doing well.

My dp is in America atm until next Monday so I am just praying I don't have an early arrival - no where near ready!

Wish I'd found this thread earlier! Good luck to everyone over the last few weeks.

Welcome, bohoec!

Hi bohoec nice to see a new face. I'm 36 weeks now.

I'm having odd dreams about having my birth pool in bizarre places like the top of a church tower or on a boat. Think I'm panicking slightly about getting it filled and temp right in time. Only another week to go and I can get it out ready. Everything's in place, just fear of the unknown I think.

re colostrum and leaking, I'm still producing watery milk as DS still feeds once a day, no sign of it turning to colostrum yet but it has become much more productive over the last month or so.

happy you sound like you're having loads of fun with the house stuff (not). Don't go climbing too many ladders will you? Can't imagine you want waters to break over the painter's head

Off to return some bits to tkmaxx today and search for a present for mum and dad. No clue what to get them at all. My sister and I agreed we would do the same as previous years and not buy a present but have a meal out somewhere in January instead (which neither of us actually remembers to organise). My brothers won't remember things like buying presents so nothing to do there and DH has nearly finished his family's bits. Only thing left to do after today's trip is take DS to see father christmas and get him to choose a bauble for the tree - all fun stuff.

Slightly concerned. The mlu at the hospital im booked at only has one pool... Although they make a big deal of being the best in europe.....its broke.... And they cant see it bein fixed before i need it!!!!!!!! Aaaaaarrrggghh

so do i stay there which is ten mins away or travel 40mins to a place with two pools i realise they may well be busy and i still wont get my water pool but least id have a chance. What do you guys think i should do??!!!

I think you should try to see the other place but bear in mind 40 minutes is a long time when you're in labour if you have somewhere closer to go. My MLU last time only had 2 of the 12 rooms occupied and both pools free - must have been a quiet time of the month. How busy is the further unit?

I wanted a waterbirth with my first but I had meconium in my waters which ruled it out straight away and then I was bleeding so they sent me up to the labour suite instead. I gave birth flat on my back on a bed - just what I never wanted but it was fine in the end.

It is popular there a lot of people go for the after care and help establish boob feeding. I like the idea of being ten minutes from home but not on the lack of pool. I suppose i could sit in my bath for a few hours before i go in.. I just like the idea of a semi washed baby in the pool and the pain relief :-D

with you on that one. I think you should deffo look into it.

London (or close to) ladies - can anyone tell me what hospitals offer wbacs, if any? Feeling more and more than madam will still be in situ when we're attending this wedding, and wanting to explore my options in case I go into labour whilst we're down south.

At the moment, think I'll contact the barkentine and lewisham and see what they say; not sure what their policy would be on it regardless, let alone the fact I'm not actually booked there ...

Don't worry about not being booked in. I'm in the same boat of having s wedding away at 40 + 2 and my midwife just said to rock up with your notes, its no problem. They may tut as there will be sine extra paperwork for them but that is the least of your concerns. Don't forget though that the birth needs to be registered in the local office so rather than have to make another trip back down south, it might be worth sorting that out while you are down. It maybe worth checking what you would need to take when you register the birth, things like your id, so that you take this with you too. Mine is just over an hour away so not so bad if it happened.

Thanks, pmgkt

Have spoken to a rather lovely lady at Ashford and St Peter's who are happy to have me, and have agreed that I can have my wbac as it's in my notes.

My face is currently

I really expected more of a fight!

My DS was not born in the same place as we went to register him; we just needed to do it at our local registry rather than traipse back up there, and then the certificate got sent up to us when it was ready; handy to know for you as well, I'd imagine! He was born in Birkenhead, and we registered him at Chester - so his birth certificate wasn't ready to take away on the day, but did have the right details, i.e. birkenhead as his place of birth.

Afternoon ladies,

bunty glad you've got the hospital sorted. You have 6 weeks to register births don't you? At this rate DP and I will need that long to settle on a name, we are being particularly rubbish at it so far.

My tens machine arrived from eBay and I gave it a test run. I only tried the lowest settings, but then I put it on Mr Pickle and tried the higher modes. I would recommend this for anyone who wants a laugh I got a mama tens, hopefully it will help when the time comes.

Lora aren't there baths at the mlu that you could wallow in instead of the pool as a last resort? I personally would travel the 40 mins, its really not that far, my hospital is 30 mins away anyway and it could take me a lot longer to get there in rush hour.

Oh thanks bunty, I must have got confused somewhere along the line, or did I dream it!

I don't what it's like in England, but in Scotland you have 21 days to register a birth

Lora I'd go see the one that's further away. Where I used to live, the nearest hospital was an hour away.

Parentcraft on Saturday was really good, nothing like I was expecting. Think DH felt a bit uncomfortable as he was the only man there.

SIL had her baby today. She was due the day before me so it's going to be quite surreal when we go to see her knowing that my baby is quite similar.

Did 2 hours of work today, 15 left to go this week until I start my annual leave before mat. leave. Have a course on Wednesday though so should break it up slightly. Definitely on a go-slow now though!

Hope everyone's had a good Monday!

Welcome Bohoec. Will add you to list next time I update it. I am 35 weeks today too.

I spent the afternoon visiting a really good friend and her gorgeous 4 week old son. First time I have seen either of them since the birth. It was really good to see the reality of life with a tiny baby and chat about her experience of labour and first few weeks of motherhood, good and bad. Had a lovely cuddle with tiny baby too and now can't wait to meet my own. It has now brought home to me more than ever than I really must use the next few weeks to get organised and catch up on sleep whenever I can. My friend advised me to read the instruction manuals to everything we've bought for baby beforehand as afterwards your brain is in no fit state to comprehend anything. They didn't and struggled initially.

Well I couldn't not join in the festive name changing!

prickly I've got a mama tens too and used it last time and it was brilliant.

Welcome bohoec!

lora if I'd travelled 40 mins when I was in labour with DD I would have had baby in the car! I know what you mean about the birth pool though and I would prefer to go to a different hospital to the one nearest to me but on balance I'd rather be nearer and maybe not get the pool. If it helps, I did find a bath at home helpful and I was pretty far on by then.

creepy I'm glad your parentcraft class was good.

My friend advised me to get bottles and a steriliser beforehand as even though she was planning on breastfeeding, she found it harder than she thought she would and is now doing half and half which is working for both of them. I plan to breastfeed too, but now think I ought to get some bottles and a steriliser too. Any tips on best ones to go for? Just looked on Amazon and there is so much choice and haven't got a clue what's important in a bottle! Think I will go for microwave steriliser as they take up less space.

Im breastfeeding and I just have a milton cold water steriliser for the odd bottle and pump bits (no microwave). The dishwasher does a good job at 70° as well.

Last time my hospital journey was approx 10 mins but we still had the Mini with runflat tyres and sports suspension and OH MY GOD THE HORRIFICNESS of going over country road bumps at frantic panicky husband speed with no springy comfy car cushioning.

The car stank of tyres and brakes by the time we got to the hospital ...

complicated I've been using the Philips avent 24 hour steam steriliser for months now and it's great, very easy to use. Philips Avent bottles are good too. Avoid Dr browns bottles, mine disintegrated as the rubber vents dont cope with much heat and am in the process of complaining.

hello everyone

How is everyone doing ? anyone else feeling a bit overwhelmed ? pump not to pump ? milk no milk ? no birth plan written
anyone not really wanting to drive or travel very far at the moment

allchik you can do it nearly there fingers crossed it will fly by

happyhow don't do things by halves do you, how are you feeling ? is everything sorted now then ?

helloBohoec waves

complicated that sounds like a lovely way to spend the day

pascha love the name DH raced to the hospital when we had our scare and worked out it only took 18 minutes but oh my backside, felt so sick

we went for another scan for measurements etc basically i'm going to have a giant with a small head and long legs according to the pecentiles ! the sonographer kept saying things and she was horrible but the consultant actually felt the baby and scoffed at the huge baby prediction said it didnt feel overly big so not to worry but they still havent decided how i'm going to deliver i've got to go for an internal scan which could set me off so next time we go have to have the hospital bags and baby bay in the car ready!

Sighh im just going to have some more chocolate and think about it some more

oh and in other news DH has offered to paint my toe nails for me

Wonderful news about William and Kate but do feel sorry for them. The first trimester is difficult (and we all supported each other through it) without being in public eye. I know that's their job but pregnancy it's still tough and an emotional roller coaster. Wonder what baby will be called and whether any of us will use name first.