Graduated Elderberries (thread 2)

[Cavort]

Oops, seems we ran out of room without noticing!

hey ladies, alex im so glad you said that, I am 8 weeks today and tbh almost forget Im pregnant at times, I am worryingly symptom free. Was tired at the start but thats passed, then I was a bit nauseous but thats all but passed too, the only thing I have is huge boobs, now a 34E (was a 34D to start with) they are quite sore too. Gald you're in the same boat janey makes me feel better.

45 hours in labour and still no progress sounds like something to look forward to indeed.

I was ignoring the 45 hour labour as that sound truly horific. I really feel for her, no wonder new mums are knackered.

Argh your poor sister cavort I think I'm totally deluded about childbirth despite my OBEM addiction - when I think of mine, all I can imagine is DH taking a lovely black and white pic of me and the baby right after. Then I remind myself to pack a bit of make up in my hospital bag. Something tells me I'm not taking the horrors of it all seriously enough! I think I'm probably just SO excited by the thought of making it that far - I reckon the fear will kick in nearer the time?!

Mother glad it's not just me, I did read somewhere on here that symptoms are just hormone related and not a sign of things going badly or well, hope that's true. Am exactly 5 weeks tomorrow, am going to do a clear blue to see if it says 3+ weeks

God damn Ryanair wankers aargh! Why do they have to be so much cheaper than everybody else?!!! DH and I are booking a cheeky weekend away for a few weeks time when I will be 29 weeks and bloody Ryanair (who have the best flight times and are cheapest for when we want to go) wankers insist on a Fit to Fly certificate for all pregnancies over 28 weeks, which I've got to piss about obtaining and will probably have to pay for. Grrr.

There is a lot of talk about the agony of labour but nobody really mentions you can be in lots of pain for days before even going into labour. I'm a total mard arse with pain and a bitch when I've not had enough sleep. This scenario does not bode well for me...

Alex I am LOVING your picture of labour. Can it be like that for all of us, with gorgeous, glamorous black and white pictures straight after (and perfect hair and make up)?! So def no pale and exhausted pics, with a sweaty face and hair stuck across your forehead, and general blood and gore all over mother/baby

Oh and I HATE ryanair too. My flight back on Sun night was delayed by 2hr 50 mins, so just short of the 3 hours after which you can claim compensation under EU law. Meant I didn't get to bed until 2am and I was KNACKERED on Monday when I wanted to look radiant at work to show off my ring!

...bodes even worse for your OH Cavort

This shopping for baby stuff is, frankly, shit. I thought this would be the exciting part but either I'm the fussiest woman in earth (OH would definitely say it's this) or its all crap, I can't find ANYTHING I like enough to buy. I've spent the whole morning on the Internet and I still haven't bought a single thing!

I think Ryanair are universally hated but are unfortunately a necessary evil for those of us for whom money doesn't grow on trees. They seem to evoke a Tourette's-style response whenever they are mentioned to most people.

A friend of mine's waters broke at a wedding reception and the baby was born an hour or so later, so she was still glammed up to the nines with a lovely coiffured hair do, perfect make-up and massive earrings on her first photos with her baby. An ideal situation if you ask me!

Cavort I think FTF certs have to be within 5 days of flight out - can you not just get one at your 28 week appointment?

I would have been flying at 30 weeks so knew from the outset that I'd need one as I think 28 weeks onwards is fairly standard. Least you've got no issues that are likely to stop you going so should be straight forward... fx it doesn't cost.

Alex happy POAS in the morning - remember not to panic if it doesn't say 3+ - the jump from 2-3 to 3+ is quite significant and can take more than a week.

Sending strong images to Cavort's poor DSIS. Sounds less than fun.

In other news I have been struck down with my first cold of pregnancy . I've had worse, but I don't feel so good. Having to eat a lot to stop myself from getting all shaky every cloud and all that luckily, it's mainly in the sinuses, so at least I'm not a snotty mess.

This has cheered me right up! Hilarious! Ryanwho?

Really making me laugh cavort! Happy on and nature's way/black and yellow stripes are my fave parts so far.

Cavort that is find of the week

I think we should formally adopt 'happy on' as a new euphemism. And black and yellow stripes

I am crying with laughter at that link!!! Love the ugly baby bit!

I've been amazingly calm and relaxed so far since my BFP so I'm sure I won't panic if it doesn't say 3+ (sarcasm - I will totally panic!) but thanks bear, I think because I got my 1-2 to 2-3 jump at exactly the right time, I'm hopeful it might be 3+! Will try not to get upset if it isn't. Told DH I'd stopped my obsessive testing every five mins and then accidentally left my pee stick out in the bathroom before I went out for drinks last night!

You didn't tell me you'd been peeing! That's why you were late Naughty Alex!

Sound advice from bear though. Promise no panicking!

I know, I know - and got busted by DH

Cavort, any news? Must be, otherwise I'm booking a CS just in case.

Agreed. Even if there's no news yet cavort can you pretend there is, just to put everyone's mind at rest?!

Lol at AuntyCavort cheerleading.

Am off work ill - was up all night with shocking sinus pressure and a head cold. OH also has it, but not as bad, and swanned off to work with his Lemsip Max Strength in hand. I will never ever take cold/flu products for granted ever again.

Least it's sort-of Friday today

Just did a clear blue and it's saying 3+ right on schedule I know it's only measuring hormones not the baby but that's a good sign right? And my boobs are def a bit bigger/more tender (DH was quick to confirm haha!)

Hope you've been cuddling your new nephew cavort and everyone else has good wkend plans.

It's a very, very good sign alex So happy for you.

Cavort, really hope you are indeed enjoying your new nephew, and that your DSis is ok.

My nephew, 5, sent me a text yesterday (!) wishing me a "happy engadget". Bless, he seems really excited about the wedding! He did, however, ask why I was having two weddings. I was about to explain I'm only having one, when I realised he must think I'm already married due to having a 'baby in my tummy' - hence he must think I'm planing a second!! Oops. Changed the subject very quickly!

Ahhh that really made me laugh! Awkward! Cheered me up as after my positivity, I then found myself googling lletz treatment and late stage mc - has anyone else had lletz treatment on their cervix here, or do you know anyone who has and gone on to carry full term? Right I am getting off google and going to make breakfast! Why am I up so early all the time?!?

Yay to 3+ weeks Alex Never heard of lletz treatment so can't help I'm afraid - but the 3+ means its embedded and cooking nicely. Certainly another hurdle cleared along the way.

That's a cute text Janey! Love that he is assuming you're already married, but I guess that's what they learn at school re nativity etc.

I'm seeing my extended family on Monday and really excited to see all my cousins etc - youngest is about 7 now so hopefully there won't be too much awkwardness! (Despite my non-married status in my Catholic family - oops).

As for me, well hen-do tomorrow is in the balance- on the mend but still feeling shocking and need to get shoes from town. It's 5 deg outside, windy, and will need to get the bus there. This is the test. Not feeling brave enough just yet!

Well, what a day yesterday was! 6am-1.30am non-stop and I barely sat down all day. Thank goodness for a long weekend, I am knackered!

So, the good news is I have a beautiful new nephew who finally arrived yesterday afternoon. 7lb 1oz and as yet no name but it is bound to be some hideous traditional Irish name which I won't be able to spell and will have to pretend to like and just hope it grows on me.

The story of his birth is not a good one though and I suggest those of you of a nervous disposition stop reading now.

Total time from first waters breaking to birth was 92 hours , which consisted of 3 full days of latent labour, contracting every 4-6 minutes for the whole time. After 3 days the rest of her waters broke (baby's head had been plugging them so they only partially broke on Monday) so they went back to hospital Wednesday afternoon and were told they would definitely be leaving with a baby. The contractions became closer and closer together until they were continuous so Sis asked for pethidine, which the MW refused to give her and told her to see how she got on with just G&A. Several more requests for pethidine were refused meaning several more hours of agony until the evil MW went on a break and a Doctor finally gave her some. At 2am she requested an epidural and was told an anaesthetist was not available so she had to wait another 4.5 hours for one to become available. As soon as she had the epidural (6.30am) she obviously went straight to sleep after losing the previous 4 nights sleep so they stuck a probe on the baby's head to check for signs of distress. At 11.30am a MW woke her up, said baby was showing signs of distress and they were going to do EMCS, which they whipped her straight down for and baby was born at noon. So 92 hours of misery and agony only for it to end with a CS Apparently this whole scenario is not unusual, especially for first baby. OMG, kill me now.

Personally I find the most disturbing part of all this is the refusal to give requested pain relief. At my NHS antenatal classes they keep going on about making informed choices during labour but this does not seem to have happened. It seems to me she was dictated to on what the MW thought was best for her rather than what she actually wanted.

But anyway, it's over now and they have a beautiful healthy baby boy for me to practice on.

Good news on your 3+ Alex. Seems like it's all going well

Poor you Brave, it must be awful. Hope you feel better soon.

That is outrageous cavort. Unbelievable. I would be reporting that particular midwife - how date she. I'm reading a book now about choosing elcs (think you all know I'm considering pushing for one?) and I've only read about 100 pages, but it did say that often female medical professionals are more reluctant to offer pain relief than male - wtf?! Why?!

Anyway am so glad your nephew arrived safely after a fairly horrendous birth (but as you say - not unusual - pretty much identical to my nephew's birth!). Hope your sister isn't too bad either - a long labour followed by emcs has got to be beyond exhausting