June 2013 - Thread 7 - Getting closer!

[Sarah2506]

We got full! Hope everyone manages to find their way back here:-)

I have a similar question about introductions - dogs not humans tho as I don't want our dogs to feel pushed out but equally the baby is coming and any suggestions for peaceful introductions would be greatly appreciated by any second time animal owners

Pinksapples could be that you have a vulvar varicose vein. I have one and its just delightful! Am promised it will disappear after the birth!

Rue and cycle hope your babies gain some weight soon.

Aloha I tried the self lady garden trim the other day but didn't have enough hands to hold mirror, clippers, bump out of way etc! Will have to get DH to have a go!

Happy Sunday everyone. Hope the sun shines all day again.

Pinkapples with our dog we brought home a worn babygro from hospital to let dog have good sniff of baby's scent before coming home. Then when I arrived home I came in the house first and made a fuss if dog and DH brought dog in afterwards taking care not to make too much of a fuss of baby in front of dog. Worked well for us!

Morning

Sounds exhausting, Aloha, but it will be worth the effort. :-) Sounds the the market is strong there too, which is great.

And yay for DH branching out into lady garden maintenance too! Not sure mine is so keen. Boo!

I don't mind TMI info too much. I don't think anybody thinks that labour will be easy / non-traumatic, so providing details isn't a problem.

My midwife friend is visiting this weekend, which is great.

She confirmed that my birth plan of 'see how it goes with regard to pain relief and how we do it, just do whatever is necessary to get baby out safely' is the best approach. She said that the people who are disappointed / feel they've failed are those who have very set ideas about how they want the birth to go, which often isn't the way it's able to go. Being open minded is key to not being disappointed!

She was saying how every labour is different, so even if it's your 6th child, for instance, all 6 labours may be totally different from the other, you just don't know what will happen.

I'm glad I've had the time to ask her loads of questions and get her advice. While advice from people who have given birth is good, their knowledge is only from what they've experienced, and can sometimes be tainted for this, as in the scheme of things it is very limited. Speaking to someone who has delivered 100s of babies is great to get a wider perspective on things.

I just hope I can remember all the useful info when I'm in labour!

Ultimately, complications don't mean failure, they just mean a different exit strategy for baby, which is in their best interests.

After a good palpation I've also been told that Baby B is lying with his body scrunched up and his (very long) legs stretched out in full and still isn't engaged. He also doesn't feel too hefty either which is good :-)

I'll have to get bouncing on my ball!

Cycle and Rue, I hope your babies start to gain weight now too.

Morning all, cycle and rue hope your little ones tip the scales in the right direction soon. If its any reassurance my friend who had her son 5 weeks early similar worries then suddenly he wouldn't stop feeding and soon went the other way! You couldn't tell now he was early or caused so much worry.

Hoping for another reasonably quiet day today as fairly busy tomorrow. Thinking it may be a day for the kindle and me in the garden.

Mrsbri must be fab having a MW friend, reassurance and a fountain of knowledge.

T'other pink haven't a clue how we'll introduce our dog - he's a springer and crazy at the best of times. He's all paws and nuzzles. I'm not even sure he'll be too aware apart from the noise possibly. I know he's slightly miffed at loosing his spot on the sofa already - figured best to start that now, he tends to jump on and off and rearrange cushions to suit his comfort!

Have a good day ladies.

I think feeding is another area where people can feel like they've failed, where it isn't any such thing.

My nephew had the failure to thrive label put on him quite early in life, but you'd never know now as he's a strapping lad of almost 15 (I'm so old, sob!). He does have cerebral palsy, so isn't without issues, but with regard to growth and feeding, he certainly caught up once things resolved.

With the dog thing we've had the car seat parked in the corner of the living room for the last week so it begins to smell right and so dog gets used to it. I'd also heard about bringing back a worn baby for for her to sniff. As our pooch is a collie cross our main concern is whether she will feel the need to 'herd' baby. She really doesn't like it if we are sat if different rooms in the house so may have to teach her it is ok for baby to be asleep upstairs if we are downstairs. Also need to teach her the difference between her cuddly toys and baby's!

Rue - can you see a breast feeding expert? IME midwives have very little training with breastfeeding support. (All the ones I saw when DS wouldn't feed from me to start with were useless) Is there a La Leache league in your area you could contact and see if you can see someone who's used to seeing problems?

Some good ideas dog wise fingers crossed they'll be alright I'm sure they will

I don't think it's a vein as it says to have vulva varicose veins you would always have variscosities on your legs to and its not something I've ever had plus hubby and I can't see anything everything looks normal if a little puffy and larger than it did 9 months ago hehe

No varicose veins in my legs but gp diagnosed the vulvar one! Nothing you can do for it unfortunately .

we've got a jack Russel terrier, we've had the pram out and about and the car seat in the living rooms he's not allowed upstairs so hasn't seen any of that and we're hoping to give him q grow with his blankets in bed, the stinkier the better!
hopefully he won't be bothered, he didn't notice my sisters 8 week old baby here a few weeks ago even with him being held until he squakedbut even then he just cocked his head and off he went again, he's quite chilled so im not worried

Hopefully steff that's what ours will do fingers crossed

Hate to ask but can you see yours? Can't see anything everything looks normal to me but then I guess I don't know whatim looking for but surely I'd see it if it were that?

MrsBri i would like to join the Facebook page but can't see how to message you maybe i am a bit daft lol!
We came home yesterday and its lovely to be home Elliott is doing quite well feeding but has taken a liking to the left boob and will only latch on that one! Keep trying him on right but at this rate i will have to express off the right so it can keep up lol!
Our cockerspaniel has done really well D.H brought a baby grow home both days that baby had wore for her to smell when we got home he held baby so she could see but not reach and i gave her a big fuss,she just sits next to the moses basket when we're in the lounge obviously wouldn't leave her but we are pleased with how she has coped :-)
Any advice on getting him on the other boob would be gratefully received lol

pink whatever you do do NOT google varicose veins! im guessing if you could see it when you look down there you'll see a raised vein maybe?

Arlandria, try the rugby ball hold on your right boob if he's being one-sided... You tuck him under your arm rather than across your belly. I found it v useful for DS when he was faffing.

Thank you hawkmoth will give that a go before i get too lobsided lol

arlandria thats exactly what I had with DD, always had a massive preference for the left. When it was 'rights' turn I'd get her started on the left, then switch to right. Most of the time she was a one boob at a time baby. Right up until when she weaned at 27months

Rugby hold helped though, I think supply was just better on my left hence her preference.

Pinkapples I look far from normal down below!! But yes, v swollen with a raised vein or two. Delightful!

Such a nice day out there! Despite my general belief that I shouldn't stray too far from home at the moment we drove to Southend and then walked out to the end of the pier. I did have a sense of dread. The last thing you want is your waters going at the end of the longest pier in the world, over a mile from the shore, in Essex:-) But we made it back in one piece. DH carries my notes the whole day! Didn't even realise he had them in his bag!

Awful moment on the way home when he referred to us as having the baby next week and I realised that is now technically true... It is only twelve days to my section date, assuming that I get to keep it!

No can't see any veins at all down there maybe its just a pain due to baby pressure

Just walked the dogs round a country park with the in laws so going home now for some dinner as havent felt baby much today so may have to concentrate tonight see how many I can feel

knackered is a word I'd use to describe me right now. if I didn't think I'd be awake at stupid o'clock I'd happily consider going to bed!

with regards to lady bits feeling a bit odd - sometimes one side of mine seems to swell - almost like it's been pinched - and feels uncomfy and then seems to settle down again after a few days. can't say it looks any different apart from being a bit bigger. don't know if that sounds similar?

My sister came round this afternoon to teach me how to use the papoose she's given us. Just got a lovely photo of DH wearing the papoose with a teddy bear in it for practice. Awwww.

It is a bit pinkbear I think all is ok like I say I can't see anything like a vein so should be ok maybe it's just the baby pressure becoming a bit much

have come for tea at mums and baby has decided it's perfect timing to make me really nauseous and throw up some, think I may avoid dinner

has everyone got to enjoy tge sunshine today?