Martians 2014, thread 11. KEGELS!

[LyraSilvertongue]

Shiny new thread, ladies :)

The delayed cord clpung article doesn't say how long the delay is I read somewhere recently that women are opting not to cut at all, and leaving the cord to fall away itself, yes this does mean the placenta has to be washed thouroughly after birth and stored and carried around until the cord falls away. The woman who the article was on had made a wee velvet pouch, and packed the placenta with salt to dry it out and added lavender for the smell so it was at least attractive whilst being carried about with her and baby. I can most definitely say this is not for me, and they can snip away!!! The thought actually makes me a bit sick in my mouth boak, but again, each to their own

I want delayed cord cutting. I'm undecided about whether to have the injection to deliver the placenta. What are the benefits or just waiting for it to be delivered naturally?

Where is everybody tonight?? Pram I blame you for this. You jinxed the thread by saying that it was going to quieten down

I demand that all the lurkers who don't normally post get typing something!

Oooooh, I read about that April!! Lotus birth it's called I think. That's a step too far even for my hippy tendencies

I knew there was a name for it hottie just couldn't remember it!!! Yeah, don't think I'd want to carry my placenta about for 7 days after giving birth!!

lotus births and flicking my bean as Puffin enters the world are two things that won't be on my birth plan!

I'm sure I saw some programme about women having placenta smoothies post birthm Each to their own.

I am going to NOT think about birth plans or any of the above and instead I wait impatiently for Dp to bring my BIG MAC MEAL !

and If he hasnt larged it I'll have a massive tanty (he already offered to cook and he was so terrified of my response he raced straight to McDonalds )

I had the injection last time and am glad I did - can't even remember my placenta coming out as I was too busy having newborn snuggles! I think delayed clamping is about 5 mins or so, just until the cord stops pulsating.

apprentice I have major food envy!!! I'm going to asda to put petrol in the car. It's beside a mcdonalds drive through....so going to happen!

5mins is acceptable, 7 days is not

Sorry for multiple posts. Tired and failing to remember all I want to say. In addition to the cord clamping chat, I was pretty keen on cord donation last time. I'm a fan of blood donation, organ register and all that. Cord donation is for stem cell research primarily. Antony Nolan do it. But they hasn't really got established at my hospital last time so it didn't work out. Just wanted to put the idea out there to y'all.

Hot - I apologise profusely for being a lurker the last few days and feel suitably chastised .

Am off on my hols to Devon tomorrow and can not wait. Am hoping all the fresh air and walks on the beach will help me sleep. Had a meltdown on Sunday night which culminated in me calling my DH a fucking c**t for daring to breath on me. Poor lamb.

I will definitely not be following any if that advice through labour pram! Although my perv of a husband would be quite happy with a couple of them I am sure

I have already signed up to NCT classes. I don't know anyone round here and am doing it to meet people more than anything.

Have been having big discussions with my DH about whether we need a separate baby bath. My understanding is they are a waste of money but he had one for his other 3 kids and is convinced they are essential. Although am not sure how many time he actually used it!! He prob left it to his ex... Any views ladies?

April and now I have food envy! it's always over so fast! How was it for u?

cassie I admit to being a serial lurker, curtain twitching mn er! Sometimes I can't articulate anything interesting or witty or just brain dead etc.

We started with bathing ds in the sink then baby bath was indispensable. For me he was so tiny being in such a big expanse like a normal sized bath could be daunting. When theyre so little womb like/cosy spaces are more soothing imhom Same reason why I love my Moses basket

ps we don't have a bath anyway (night mare!) but even if we did I would still buy one.

Ds is 2.5 and still liKes to bathe in it!

Just catching up. I still have my CDs from last time and regularly fall asleep to it (which is not really the point but it helps switch me off from work). Pram not convinced that even the British one won't get on your nerves.

Ante natal classes - not sure my husband learned much tbh. Think it was best for options in terms of pain relief - the classes are focused on non intervention but they explained the options, possible side effects. My friend recommended them for that reason - she didn't go, she felt she panicked in labour and got a drug she wouldn't have taken if she'd been clear about all her options. I'm sure you can find it out online just as easily but do ask up at hospital as drugs can vary from hospital to hospital.

and enjoy your holiday.

dh and I are going away for two nights to Dublin. It's the longest we've ever left ds although we've had a few cheeky one night away. it's also furthest away from him we've been...v nervous but extremely excited!

Cassie You are forgiven, I expect to see you on here at least once a day from now on

What do you have planned in Devon? Is it there that they eat all the scones and clotted cream?

I think I'll get a babybath. Our bath is v deep and our bathroom is a funny shape. It will be easier to be able to bring a wee baby bath through to the living room. God that's a scary thought. We are all going to be bathing babies in 5 months time

Thanks for the bath advice!

Yep. Lots of scones for me. Diabetes? Pah!

Going to have a bath and an early night. Packing can wait till the morning!

Lolling at the placenta in a velvet bag!!

Interested in the stem cell donation, must find out mitre about that.

Other than the skin to skin which is encouraged in our hospital (lots of twee little posters up everywhere!) the rest is inconsequential to me next to the prospect of a healthy live baby to cuddle. That's all I'm focused on to be honest.

I think it's good people are thinking about what they want in an ideal world, but I'd hate people to feel disappointed or like they've somehow failed if it doesn't all go according to plan. Your health and the baby's health is the most important consideration. We have a world class health service - use it if you need to.

Baby bath, it does save you from filling up a massive bath loads for a tiny baby and also is a lot less back breaking then hanging over the side of the bath, holding onto the slippery little thing. A sink would probably also do. Think I had same dilemma and in the end got friend to buy me one who was insistent she wanted to buy me something useful and not an outfit for baby.

We didn't bother with NCT but I did get this DVD www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B004EQNJ7C for me and DH. It was more for DH tbh - I research everything but he was completely oblivious and I felt he needed to be prepared for the reality of it all. I have to say knowing people with babies a similar age would be very useful just even to give you more options in terms of getting out and about.

I think I'll elaborate on why I won't be having a birth plan and why I probably appear to be cavalier about the whole thing: I have always, always put my complete trust in the medical profession, whether it be through my darkest mental health episodes or during detox or throughout rehab. I have never believed I know better than those treating me and have never doubted that any one of them was not doing their utmost to get me well. Fast forward to IVF abroad: I have never known such genius, care and compassion from start to finish and it was the expertise of consultants and embryologists who brought me this gift of a baby.

I really am in awe of the medical profession and everyone who has studied hard to be where they are in theatres or in maternity units and wards. I wouldn't dream of telling them how to do their job or suggesting that they don't have my best interests at heart. That may seem foolhardy to some of you who have had births which you would have liked to have avoided, but I do believe that the perfect birth doesn't exist and that some things are just meant to be and not anyone's fault in particular, especially in today's NHS with its dearth of midwives.

for DH and me, not the other way round . Also the 'slippery little thing' referred to is baby. Lordie, I am tired tonight

DS outgrew his baby bath very quickly - he was 98th centile (ie big) and we felt the baby bath too small by about 6 weeks. It would have been a waste of money if we'd bought it (it was a hand me down).

After that we used this: bath support link which we will probably use from the start this time.

Wading in on the bath debate!

We brought a washing up bowl to bath the dc in, as much lighter and easier to carry/move than a big baby bath full of water. Have also used one of those bucket style bin, which is cheaper than those baby bucket baths they try to flog you. Ours were perfectly happy using those.

Oh forgot to add as got bigger, you only need a little bit of water in bath for baby to sort of lie down in the water, enough to wash/splash in, but not enough to dunk right under - does that make sense?! That was a tip i got off a friend 2nd time round.

And another eye opener which I only discovered 2nd time round - baby vests with poppers when they poo/wee, don't lift upwards, you can roll down and thus avoid covering baby with wee/poo. So obvious but easy not to fig out in baby-haze! Will remind again once we've all had sprogs.

Won't be doing leaving cord to drop off thing - the dc would just drive me mad asking about it and pointing it out to all and sundry!

Would love to do the cord donation thingy but don't think they do where I live.

Nor will I be making shakes or arty farty creations out of the placenta! Was a bit urrgh just seeing it, never mind eating/drinking it!

BionicEar it was a happy day when I realised what the envelope bits on the shoulder of baby gros/vests were for - pulling down! It is my top tip to new parents!