Due in September 2006..... into the third trimester.....on the home run

[compo]

Hope no-one minds [smile

[clairemow]

Congratulations LexyB - it sounds as though your DD is a great weight for being early, so hope she doesn't have to stay on SCBU too long.

Goodness, steering wheel on fire - I'd have been petrified, Calvemjoe!!

compo, just bought a Phil and Ted's - DS is 2 and 3 months. Have already used it loads, and he really likes it ("my new red buggy") - I saw a 2 year old one on ebay the other day that sold for about £350, so you can almost sell them for what you buy them for new!

got scan tomorrow, so need to make a decision about how to have this baby.... Not sure whether I hope it's in perfect position, or something odd so there's no decision, if you see what i mean.

[pol26]

Hey everyone!

Well done Lexy! I'm sure you're v.happy and what a good weight for saying she was an early bird!

Compo- I got a second hand kiddy board (similar to buggy board but fits our pram) as DD will be two on bubba's due date. I thought about the buggy pod but have read some negative feedback and also felt that really for the amount we would use it- its over £100 for a short period of time. I haven't yet put kiddy board on the pram as DD insists it's her new 'bug-bug' and so have tried it on her buggy and she has stood on but she is a good walker already- I think girls tend to be more independant on that front...! And my sister's twins will be three in September too and she has said we can have one of her three doubles if I need too although personally in the first, say three months we won't be going out for any length of time unless it's me and DP and in which case bubba can have the pram and DD buggy- We also have a sling so i'm not too bothered we have lots of options. But getting to my point.... (can't you tell my brain is addled by pregnancy) ... doubles are expensive (for a decent one) and really the use we will have having our children practically walking 'full-time' seems pointless to me too.

Cooler here and we are actually having some rain!!! I even used the quilt last night although am not sleeping due to my what not hurting and feeling like the baby is bearing down so much i'm going to shoot him out like a rugby ball.

Meant to say too... When I went to see mw last Wednesday she measyred me- for the first time and said she was concerned about the baby's size as he was a little big. She asked if I had the glucose blood test and I said yes at 28weeks... but as I hadn't had the results back I assumed no news was good news. She said no more... Should I be worried??? She seems alittle hard to get info out of and because its my second I think i'm less needy of her too but it has got me thinking. I don't see her til next Wednesday either. Mind you, shouldn't be surprised as she still hasn't given me my mat b1 form yet.

[mandaz]

I don't know about nesting instincts, I've gone into spending mode at the moment! I just bought an MP3 player off BidTV! Not to mention the CD, book and DVD I bought online the other day. I really have too much time on my hands at the moment and it has to stop!

Saying that, I'm going on a baby spending spree on Thursday to get the last few bits I need. It's all so exciting!

Congratulations to LexyB, I can't believe how many early LO's we're having! I have a feeling that my LO is going to hang on till the last minute

So, has everyone picked their LO's going home outfits? I've gone for a very cute winnie the pooh outfit which will be fine for a boy or a girl. I can't wait to start buying proper outfits once I know what LO is though (there I go again, I think I'm going to buy a padlock for my purse!)

[pol26]

Nesting- cleaned all downstaris from top to toe yesterday and washed all towels, bedding etc... And spending too. Got DD some new shoes, now the weather is wetter and cooler... buying cleaning stuff like its going out of fashion, got all nieces and nephew's birthday stuff and wrapped (as sisters twins are 4th Sept and her DD is the 19th of Sept)... And been beavering away at getting those little jobs that seem to hang around... like recycling all glass thats hanging about, shredding letter etc...

Have sorted out bubba's 'going home' outfit, although have heard our hospital kicks you out after six hours... so not sure if he'll get into it or will be still in a sleep suit! It's alittle pair of blue soft cotton trousers, with long sleeved white top and a little pale blue small knitted tank top thing from next which I brought literally straight after we found out it's a boy! I am so excited

Also been sorting out photos of DD and cannot remember her being so tiny! She was 6lbs 11ozs and little! Her tights used to look like Nora Batty's! Not sure how easy i'm going to find having DD at 2yrs and a new baby!

[mandaz]

Pol - my hospital apparantly will ask me after 6 hours if I want to go home. It won't be any sooner than that and my mw said if I'm not happy about going home - if I haven't got the hang of bf or have any worries then just to say no and they'll keep me in. I've never really stayed in hospital before so I don't think I'll want to stay in too long. All that is of course, if the labour goes ok and there are no complications, otherwise they keep you in longer.

I'm so glad it's not just me on a spending spree

[mimpim]

Hi all
First day of my maternity leave today and I feel like a skiver! Not sure what to do with myself!!
Don't seem to have been hit by the nesting instinct yet, as there is loads of cleaning and tidying to be done and I can't bring myself to get on with it at all!!

Puppy, yeah you are right we are due on the same day, the 17th.
I know of another two mums in my area who are due then, think we all must have had a lovely christmas

Must go and do something with my day, even if I only hoover the living room, it will be something! DH will dispair!!

[Marls001]

1baby1bump - congratulations; I know exactly how you feel - haven't been in the "real" working world for 3 years now and have never missed it.

Puppy & Pol - you've been busy!!! Congrats on getting so much done. I am definitely energized by a looming deadline.

Have heard from numerous people, and seen much anecdotal evidence, that 2nd baby is bigger, arrives earlier with respect to due date, and labor is faster. Dr. says definitely "yes" to faster labor with 2nd, but "you never know" when I asked if this one would come even earlier than DS1 (5 days early). Not dilated at all right now; feeling great as long as I'm indoors; also "nesting" - doing my hated filing - how does all that paper pile up?! - and due Sept. 7th; Mom is coming 1 week early to cover us just in case.

With regard to sickness, didn't have epidural and just couldn't keep anything down, even water, even "Goo" (what marathoners use in the middle of races, highly digestible). That went on for 48 hours, so this time should be easier, to say the least. It was explained to me that my body was so busy handling giving birth that the entire digestive system was "shut down" during labor, to channel all excess energy to the one important task at hand. Made since to me, but was frustrating not to be able to "fuel up" or even hydrate for the pushing; was concerned that I wouldn't have enough stamina to continue. But I did, and it ended well.

Mandaz - you will LOVE your mp3 player. I'm loading mine with Pink Floyd and bringing it & the charger to hospital for labor.

We'll not stay more than 1 night in hospital, if even that, as that's where most of the 1000-pound charge for having DS1 came from - stayed 3 nights. Not again.

Can't believe we're getting so close!! Doesn't seem quite real yet even now ... am excited to have DS1 meet DS2.

[mimpim]

1000 pound charge??

[clairemow]

mimpim, don't worry - Marls is in the US!

[pol26]

My mw told me last time when preg with DD NOT to hoover unless you have one of those old fashioned carpet sweepers!!! So I have managed most of the time not hoovering and getting DP to do it.

Anyhow... We have our nephew staying tonight, they are making the most of it before the baby arrives!

Haven't been doing much today- except did get up early and was awake from 1:30am until 5:05am so no wonder i've had no energy. Feel asleep this afternoon too for half an hour while DP took DD in the bath.

Also on a little bit of a smiler as got child tax and working tax form today and we are being paid twivce this week! Yeah!!! Well, so they say although a few months down the line they might want it back... (we all know what they are like) but in any case I have some spare cash to spend this week!!! Have my eye on lots of baby stuff and of course DD would love something new, even tho she has had new shoes today and another plastic animal for her set.

As for staying in hospital It has it's good and bad points. After DD was born I wanted to go home straight away but they wouldn't let me. I had her Sat morning and didn't go home until Monday. I wanted to go home to get settled and obviously be able to 'eat' as their food was so sparse and yucky. But it was useful- as other mums on the ward, mw's on tap and just nothing to do except look at your baby! My reason for wanting to go home early this time is DD but part of me knows there will be no let up when I get home so maybe a little part of me wants to stay in hospital for one night and just have some rest! And a little care and comfort... (NO MIL hanging around...! or any other in-laws popping in and disrupting) I know i'm going to be the mum from hell this time and really will tell ppl that we need our time to settle.

GRRRRR, don't get me started, why is it that in laws always come round at DD's bedtime when they know she goes to bed then!!! They have had all day to visit and instead come right when they are bloddy not welcome! Sorry to be so mean but just feeling narked by it all... and know with new bubba everything is going to seem 1000 times worse.

[Marls001]

LOL mimpim, so sorry!! I should've explained that! (The worst was, that was only our 20% co-pay after insurance covered the rest!)

Pol - Sorry about your MIL. That's the biggest pain. I'm so glad not to have one like that; would drive me crazy.

Having the worst acid reflux right now. Sometimes I don't have it day or night; sometimes like now strikes me hard even during the day.

Still not swollen, thankfully - trying to stay off my feet!

[mabel1973]

well I never managed to get out yesterday - it rained nearly all day here - great that it's cooled down, but DS was driving me to distraction!
Also didn't get my hospital bag packed!! I realised the bag I'd intended to take was far too small and I'd need the small wheelie suitcase which is currently full of DS's 3-6 month clothes...Sigh! I WILL do it today!!.
I have ordered an on-line Tesco shop which is coming today, it is the 1st ime in over a year I've done it and it took me blinkin ages DS is now at a point where he cannot abide supermarkets (I am inclined to agree)
Pol - can't belive what your midwife said about hoovering, I lug the Dyson up and down the stairs nearly every other day - we have 3 cats and have been having building work going on for about 3 months - I just can't leave it!
As for staying in hospital, the one I'm going to has a separate Maternity 'Hotel', where you can go and stay if you are thought to be well enough. Much better than where I had DS, I think I could be tempted to stay for a few nights just to get a break!

[compo]

wow, can't beleive it's August!!!
Also confused about no hoovering... I too have been lugging the good old Dyson around (practically the only bit of housework I've been doing though )!!!
I stayed in for 2 nights with ds. I had an epidural so couldn't have left earlier as I was still numb and very shaky! Thi time I'll want to get home to ds. Also the shorter I'm in hospital the less likely it is that the inlaws will visit me in hospital - don't fancy MIL and FIL standing at the end of the bed whilst I try and b/feed, hide blood stained nightie and generally look like I've been run over by a bus!!

[liquidclocks]

when I have DS2 what I'd really want to do in an ideal world is this:

1. Find a nice dark room somewhere (fluorescent lights in hospital always trigger migraines for me) with door, en-suite and window that opens (in the NHS? - ha!)
   
2. close the door
   
3. Spend 5/6 days just me and baby, occaisional visit from DH. Pile of trashy magazines and a TV.
   
   Am I weird? The thing I hated most about having DS was the constant stream of visitors in the first week - 2nd week fine, but 1st week I was knackered, bleeding, sore... last thing I wanted to do was make tea and slice cake. I know they say get your visitors to sort themselves out but by the time you've explained where everything is you might as well do it yourself!
   
   I think maybe I'll explain all this to DH when he gets home and designate the new nursery as 'my' room for the first week - I'm sure he can put a bed in there for me too
   
   Victorian women did it, why can't I!

[compo]

liquidc -not wierd at all, I feel exactly the same. Our mum's often spent 10 days in hospital in 'confinement' with no visitors. I think paternity leave is so short it's for you to bond as a family with the new addition, not have heaps of family and friends traipsing in and out all the time!!

[clairemow]

Liquid, women in all sorts of parts of the world still do that now - I think it's accepted in some places that mothers with a new baby won't even emerge from bed for several weeks after birth. I think your plan sounds spot on!

Went to the hospital today, and had a long chat with the consultant about options after my section last time. The scan showed baby is head down, in perfect position, and as DS was breech and that hasn't been repeated, there's no reason why I shouldn't have a successful normal delivery. What really reassured me was that he said that they won't let it get to the nightmare stage of really long horrible labour and then horrible emergency, basically if I'm not progressing quickly enough in the earlier stages, then we will go for a section at that point - so no 24 hour labour with emergency section at the end. He said that rupture was more likely to occur during dilation stages than pushing. So feel alot better and going to go for it (well, today I am anyway!!).

[clairemow]

oh, he also said that as I went into labour on my own last time 10 days early, it was likely that this one would be similar and I'd go into labour naturally before due date. Also reassuring seeing as August is going to be so bloody hot!

[Marls001]

Liquid, I'd just set my foot down - hard - over no visitors in the first week. It's your house, it's your baby, it's your family, it's your decision.

And they won't close your hospital room door or turn lights off if requested? - especially at the open door part!!! At least they'll close it while you're in labor (I hope)? There were long periods during labor where I was behind a closed door alone with the lights off.

This time I won't have to constantly wear the stomach monitor, a vast improvement. But this time, no jacuzzi tub in hospital room ... that was a wonderful addition ... I'd opt for a water birth this time around if I could have it. Will probably get in our tub at home while in labor before going to hospital.

Not staying long in hospital because last time they kept waking me up every 4 hours anyway to take vital signs; would rather sleep in my own bed. And my Mom will be in to help already, so will be more comfortable for me and DH at home than hospital.

Mabel - when are you due? Our bag will be packed sometime very very late August (at the earliest) ... we have a list; will probably just run around during early labor and gather the things.

[pol26]

I know a hindu friend of ours stayed in her home for 10 days and only had close family which makes sense to me (if you get on with them ) I dread the fact that now we live near in laws they will be 'popping' in all the time. I don't want it!

DP sees nothing particularly wrong with it but then he doesn't have to deal with the screaming, over tired, over stimulated baby at the end of it (or DD) It's me whose then pacing the floor! Grrr bringing back all those memories of last time...

Not in the best of moods anyhow as I put we had DP's nephew last night who turned up on mass with his mum, dad, brother and sister JUST as DD was having stories for bed- they know she goes at seven on the dot, why do they have to turn up right then!!! Anyhow... bit narked as DP hadn't even checked it was ok... but went on with it. Very hard to say anything when a nine yr old is there. But it has started before then really as on Sunday he spent day at his mums leaving DD and me here, on Monday he went to his mums leaving DD and me here and invited nephew too... Also when he came back from his mums spent the whole day on his nintendo ds (partly my fault as I gave him half towards it)... While DD wanted his attention. So any how... then today off he swans back round to his mums with nephew after his new PSP arrives!!! (GRRR talk about preg women spending!!!) and expects to stay there. I have the boiler man coming- as it has died and we have no hot water at mo, and DD asleep but boiler in here room so know she's not going to be best pleased when I have to wake her. Mean while he's having all the free time he wants on his new toys at his mums beoing waited on hand and foot. Am I jealous?! Yes I bloody well am!!!

Glad to have got that off my chest. Sorry for the ranting.

[Coriander73]

Am really pissed off! Just back from seeing consultant who was as much use as a chocolate fucking fireguard!!! Was so disinterested in me, scar, baby, options etc that I just sat there & thought why the hell am I here? They basically told me nothing knew than they did at 20 weeks except that this one said "oh you sure you want a VBAC?"..??!!! Then said well there's only a 40% / 50% chance of it happening blah blah & then said "I want to see you back at 40 weeks exactly to discuss induction" - at which point I said I think NOT! I went into natural labour with DD at only 2 days past due date so unless I really go two weeks over I'm not prepared to rock up on due date for you to suggest I should be induced there & then with the increase risk that would mean for another bloody section!!! GGRRRRRRRR....sorry for rant but feel totally & utterly pissed off...she didn't even bother to check scar or check position....she said it wasn't necessary...

[mabel1973]

Pol - not at all surprised your fed up. I had a bit of a go at DH last week for thinking he can just 'pop' for a pint whenever one of his mates phones him - I am not the bloody babysitter!!!
Cori - I know how you feel - that is how my midwife is with me - so disinterested. We should be grateful it's not our 1st baby with 'professionals' like this looking after us!
Marls - am due same day as you!

[clairemow]

Cori, at your consultant - I've been told they won't induce me as it increases rupture risk a lot. Why are we all getting such different advice??

Marls, yes, we get to labour in the UK in a room on our own, but then usually get transferred almost immediately to a post natal ward, often with about 4 other women in it. If you want a private room, you usually have to pay and they might be being used anyway. The windows often don't open much, if at all - when I asked why, I was told "security" - on the fifth floor??!!! Harumph.

[Coriander73]

Strange isn't it? You'd think there'd be standard guidelines for this.....I'm going talk to MW next week who thankfully has been a great support & tell her what I think about said consultant! Thank goodness it isn't my first - not that we'd be discussing vbacs etc but can you imagine? Stupid woman...

[Coriander73]

BTW....we're getting quite full again on messages...time to start part four?!!

[liquidclocks]

Cori - yes, taking a while to load now!

Glad no-one thinks I'm weird. Have told DH, we'll see how much went in when the time comes!

Marls - last time I was reassured over and over again that given my medical condition I'd have priority (after c-sections) to get a room by myself. When it came to it I was put on a full 6-bed unit where one of the babies was having phot-therapy for jaundice (and I though fluorescent lights were bad!) and there was a mum next to me who,bviously haveing problems, just ignored her baby when it cried.

hence dark, own room fantasy!

Pol - think putting your foot down before LO arrives might help situation afterwards when your tired, over emotional and liable to snap (just going from own experience with DS and FIL). Very on your behalf!