October 2013 - insert witty, worn out, nearing the end thread name here

[PseudoBadger]

New thread :)

Morning all. I also hope Tarlia is fine and slept well.

Clapham - well done with the heels! Hope you slept ok! I know this was a while back, but on the work front, I really would just let it go. Try to relish the fact that your replacement is vaguely competent and willing to take stuff on his shoulders now... I would have loved that and felt much better about finishing this week. As it was, I was still checking the work of those I handed clients to on my last day... And finding problems.... I would take full advantage and step back now as much as you can! He was obviously v insensitive (and a bit weird) to not have run the Europe response by you while you are still there, but the moment you go, he will presumably have to go it alone... Seriously, start planning your next, more exciting, career!

GT - poor you with the extra monitoring. Is the OC (liver issue, yes?) a problem for just you or the baby too? Does it mean you'll likely be early?

had another scan / appointment yesterday at 33+6 (I'm 34 weeks today... 3 weeks 2 days until planned D day!). All ok, although twin 2's looks v small to me. They aren't overly concerned and will rescan in 2 weeks, but obviously cue worry for me! Turns out that, even though 37+3 is term, I'll still be having a course of steroids in the 48 hours pre c section to give their lungs a boost... I didn't know that before yesterday! Apparently its routine at my hospital where its a non vaginal birth pre 39 weeks (because the babies miss out on the squeezing and stress which matures the lungs in a normal labour)...

Hope the rest of you are all well.

tarlia hope you are ok...
claphammama well done! My feet would have been like balloons after a few hours let alone 8! I'm glad you enjoyed the day :)

I'm the same with hospital bag, have it ready but I haven't forked out much for it all as like other ladies have said the chances are it won't keep if there is any leakage etc!

To clarify, twin 2's head looks small.... Might call my consultant's secretary on Monday and try and get a call from him...

Oh yes, and Nat - last time I ended up binning mist tings in my hospital bag as a result of staining from leaking or just because it had been in the hospital and ended up on the floor etc and I was paranoid about infection. It was all Primark stuff anyway. In the nicest possible way, I really wouldn't fork out if money is tight... Except maybe on dettol spray and some nice shower gel for that blissful post labour shower!

comtesse, I was also awake at stupid o clock last night. And unlike most nights, I couldn't get back to sleep.

Question: how on earth do you fit everything into one bag!? I happily packed the post-labour stuff (towels, toiletries, pads, breast pads, massive elcs Knicks), just about squeezed in a few vests and babygros, and then there was no room for accessories like mobile phone charger and food/drink for labour! How I'm going to get a massive breast feeding cushion into hospital is beyond me.

Hotsoup last time I had two bags, one for labour and one for after, we left the second in the car and DP brought it up after the birth, this way we had more room etc...

I am here pseudo although having a really bad day today. Its DH birthday today I bought him a pile of pc games for his birthday (he is still a big man child at 29) so last night at about 9 he started playing them and i went through to bedroom to watch a movie but fell asleep not once did he come through to check on me at all (really struggling to move atm and having sickness) i woke up at 3am all the lights and tv was on and the dogs had not even been let in the garden for a wee I went through to the lounge and he was like "hi" no use of his brain at all!

Then i said did you put electric on (we have a crappy key meter) we had bought it earlier in the day, he had not and as a result of waiting so long it had went under emergency and the money we had put on the key was not enough to top it up and keep the electric on. So if he is not back from my parents with cash to add more by 9am I will be cut off and the freezer will start to defrost

Why cant he just use his brain according to his uni results he has one its devoid of any common sense!!!!

Sorry for the rant, I am going to have to find a way to be nice to him later too

Good morning ladies, thank you for all the love. Sorry I vanished, i ended up getting some hospital bag bits sorted into the cot - just incase. The contractions continued for a good while but didn't get closer together, nor painful. When I said I had to breath through, it wasn't painful but very uncomfortable, which I've experienced before. They stopped around 11.30 and I went to sleep only to wake at 3am to more, so I'm going to keep an eye this morning, nothing much yet.

Legally so sorry to hear your worry. Did they give you a gestimated weight for each? Can't wait to find out the sex combo you have.

chick wow must have really hit home as I'm guessing your friend was due with a few days/week of you!?

Flyer you can pack a bag in 5 min normally, when in labour, maybe not so much. My labour was intense from the start, I could barely get back from the toilet to bed.

Clapham go you wearing those heels for so long! 10 flights!? I can't believe it. Hope the view is worth it and the bed is/was comfy. How was the snoring? Did he manage the stairs?

Morning all..

Legally hope you get some reassurance re: twin 2. Sure all is fine, but a call on Monday will be worth it if it puts your mind at ease.

Comtesse - I spent most of my labour in the en-suite bath to my delivery room (just got out to for transition and pushing stage) I loved it and hope to labour in water again. Obviously can never prove it, but I think it contributed to a quick straightforward birth. Arrived at hospital at 9am and DD was born at 11.43am.

Re: post-birth showers - I brought a gorgeous expensive body wash last time as a post-birth treat but was advised not to use it...was told plain water was best for stitches and so my natural smell wasn't masked for baby/breast-feeding/bonding etc... My NCT teacher has even advised not to wash for as long as possible.....er, no way!

That's just reminded me...did anyone else sweat like mad in the first few days after birth? Don't know if it was the ridiculously hot post-natal ward or a natural post-birth bodily response.

HotSoup - the size of my hospital bag last time around is a family joke...it was so enormous that the hospital porter was really concerned for DP carrying it and offered to give him a ride to the post-natal ward in a wheelchair!

comtesse I didn't take a sieve - it never really crossed my mind actually. I had an upset tummy and was sick in the early stages of labour so it was never required anyway - or so I am told! I am sure the hospital will be equipped with anything like that (unless they've specified otherwise).

I'd say definitely give it a go if you have the option. If you're not a bath person normally you may find that it's not for you. My friend got in and found it too much when she was in labour and got straight out again. You may have the option to use a bath at the hospital in the earlier stages of labour too - this will give you an indication as to whether water is for you.

One thing I'm not sure I've mentioned before is that I was given an ice pole last time I was in labour and it was amazing so I'm definitely going to take some in with me this time.

I'm going to stay at my parents over the bank hol weekend, mainly to spend some time getting looked after by my mum but before I become the responisble mummy. I'm really looking forward to it but starting to feel uneasy about being away from dp for 6days/nights. I keep panicing about having the baby without him there, I won't even be 35 weeks by the time I'm back so I'm being ridiculous! ! haha.

legally, not long at all now. try not to worry about twin 2, especially if no one at the hosp seemed concerned!!

Hello,
I'm new to this thread but just thought I'd read it through & say hi!
I'm due with my first on the 12th Oct & so excited/nervous/unprepared.
I'm so relieved I'm not alone in worrying about when to start packing my hospital bag, I've been told I should pack two, a small one for durning labour & a bigger on for once she's arrived, the problem is I am struggling to decide whether to try and cram everything for afterwards into a small bag or just give in & admit I want to use a big giant suitcase.

quick hospital bag question, ive bought maternity towels, packs of 10 from boots, how many packs should I take with me? maybe I could leave more in my 'just in case' bag I'm leaving in car and can send dp out for?!

No time to catch up ATM but roofio I would say take one pack of 10 the hospitals has their own ones that u can use if necessary xx

roofio, I think the advice is to take way more pads than you think you'll need . I've bought a pack of 10 and the box is about the size of a cereal box! Don't know how I'm going to pack more than 1!

I'm not sure at all re hospital bag size/contents. We don't have a car, so no option to leave back up supplies there. I'm also really worried about things getting stolen if I'm taken to a different room/ward/theatre.

tarlia, glad you're feeling better. legally, good that no-one seems worried but definitely call. My friends wee boy had the steroids when she had an EMCS at 37 weeks, he required no assistance after he was out and is now a cheeky 6 year old.

falcon, I was going to say "me too" when I started reading your post about pc games/man child (but mine is 40 so don't count on him growing out of it)/ forgetting everything else but the electricity/freezer/dog situation is bad. I hope he feels very embarrassed and makes it up to you today.

Can I ask the anterior placenta gang what you're feeling in terms of movement? I think mine has slowed/changed but it's always been so frustratingly inconsistent that it's hard to know when to worry! I'm 31+5 if that's relevant?

This may be a stupid question but when you're in labour what do you wear? Just a nightie? No underwear? Socks?

What if you're in a pool? Would you wear a bikini top?

Thanks.

Good morning.

Sorry you're worried legally. I think they worry more about a small head size if it's out of proportion with the body, so if twin 2 is the smaller twin that might be why they are just scanning you again in 2 weeks and not getting too worried about it. Good news about the steroids, my DD was breech and so born by C-section and was definitely a bit grunty after birth, I think because she hadn't had her lungs squeezed on the way out!

hotsoup I think a bag for labour ward and then a bigger one for the postnatal ward is the way to go too. Don't know if anyone's mentioned this before, but my DH was ridiculously grateful for the drinks, breakfast bars, and change of clothes I packed for him (my first labour lasted a looooong time)

Clapham very impressed with your heel wearing. 10 flights at the end of the night sounds like hard work. I had to climb up 8 flights at work yesterday and was breathless at the top!

Welcome TWavre!

Bridget I'd forgotten how hot the post-natal wards are til you said! I definitely did get a bit hot when feeding as well.

You ladies are so much more organised than me. Somehow keep thinking I'll have time to get stuff sorted later, but pinklady's news has certainly focused my mind. Might try and sort out the Moses basket today and work out what I need to buy for the hospital bag. Will have to trawl back through the threads and find that list!

Hope everyone has a good day.

Comtesse yes I have laboured in water 3 times, and given birth in it once.

Ananifiko - my thoughts have turned to this this week! I'm off to tesco today as they have some button through nighties (how glamorous!) pretty cheap and in dark colours. Don't spend a lot though as they could get covered in blood.

In my last labour I had a real urge to strip off, which is really common, and wore pyjamas with a shirt top.

Button through is good if you want baby out straight on your chest after birth. I'm hoping to get breast feeding started ASAP this time.

And a baby already! Congrats and welcome to baby Josie.

posted too soon!

Clapham glad you had a nice time at the wedding

legally sorry you are worried, and hope it turns out to be unneccessary xx

tarlia I know what you mean about those uncomfortable ones - i tend to get them a couple of times a week, can be a bit scary if they stop you in your tracks though xx

I have everything i need for my bag, but am yet to pack it..... though dd1 knows where everything is

ana pretty much anything goes. Whatever you feel comfortable in. Lots of people labour in a vest top and pj bottoms, so they can walk the corridors then take them off later. Others are happier in a nightie as they can just hitch it up and down again. I will say whatever you wear shouldn't be precious - ie do not consider vying one of those gorgeous birthing gowns. As for socks I got very cold feet but they stole them as they wanted to keep an eye on my toes :/

soupqueen I'm not anterior this time but movements have really changed from kicking to rolling and squirming over the last few weeks. I'm 33 weeks today :)

caz yeah, I tend to only get that sort every few days, so surprised to get so many last night.

As for bag size, I took a rucksack sized bag for labour and a hand luggage flight case for after. Put electricals into the case as unlikely that your phone/cam will need charged as try and keep them charged up in the coming weeks (plus men can usually easily recognise these things anyway). Put excess food in case too. Soup Take maternity pads out of the box and into a few freezer bags to keep clean but this way you can squish and delflate excess air.

ana I laboured in the t shirt I turned up at the hospital in! I really could be bothered to get changed as I was contracting with little breaks in between. So, my point being, go to the hospital in something your bit fussed about either incase you don't get chance to get changed.

Haven't even thought about it this time round. Only for one set of pyjama ready for after!

This is all brilliant hospital bag advice!

I think I'll do a rucksack for labour and small suitcase for afterwards, as suggested! We can't park near our London hospital so can't leave stuff in a car. Will get some ziplock bags and decant the massive box of pads into that. DP mentioned this morning that he needed space in the bag for his overnight things (our hospital might allow us to go in a private room where he can stay the night after the elcs) and I was like 'er, no.'. Looking back, this was a tad unreasonable of me

Thanks tarlia and hayle. I am much more of a pj than a nightie person but don't want to show up with the wrong thing. Does everyone have to take their socks off?

All the pad stuff seems easy to me. It's clothes/ footwear I'm confused about!

The danger with pjs is if you need a catheter or something.