October 2013 - Calling October babies: come out, come out wherever you are!

[MrsHoratioNelson]

Stats sheet here

New arrivals here

Key:
SC - still cooking (pre EDD)
SFW - still f*ing waiting (post EDD)
OWT - on way to theatre (CS)
IP - induction in progress
SWIL - somewhere in labour
LIT -lost in transition

Oh notsoold what have they said to you? I was so overcome with emotion today my poor husband just had me crying at him all day! Feel so fed up! Are you booked for section? X

tarlia I think it depends on your consultant & where you are but I have been told repeatedly that they will not induce. That made me very happy as it did nothing positive for me with my first labour. How is your BP now? I'm sorry if I missed a post from you about how you are feeling now. It all sounds a bit terrifying. I do hope you're ok.xx

I had my sweep today, my god it was vicious! OH was shocked at how brutal it all looked as the obgyn held nothinf back! ouch!

anyway, doesn't look like it will work as apparently at 38 weeks I'm only 1.5cm delated and baby's head it still quite high up

Had contractions on and off all evening, but nothing worth timinf, feeling very tender and deflated. Doc has said he'll try again next week, fun!

Congrats to all babies born in the last 48 hours, hope all you mummies and babies are keeping well

delated = dilated, oops!

I'm really struggling to keep up because I'm not allowed to have my phone on in intensive care unit. I read everyone's posts each night but by the time I get to the end I can't remember who said what.

Still no word on when Eliana will have het operation. She is stable just now so they are in no rush. They gaveher a dummy today so that she won't lose her suck reflex. Dp and me went to a support group today and I met some of the cardiac mums I'd spoken to on FB. I think it was a big help for Dp to see children with similar conditions running around playing and looking healthy.
When we got back to the hospital I we t to the pump room to express some milk and when I came back out Elianah's incubator had a screen round it and I panicked turned out she'd pulled out the drip containing the very drug that's keeping her alive and they were struggling to put it back in. I'm just glad Dp wasn't there when it happened (he'd taken Linah to play outside) He would have really panicked.
He told me today that he's struggling to cope and has even considered going back to his old drug using ways. He assures me he woukdnt actually do it, just that the thought has crossed his mind. I told him in no uncertain terms that if he did he could kiss goodbye to me and the dc.
I think I might go back home tomorrow. It's too stressful being away from the other dc and I think my recovery might actually be quicker if I have some of my nor al routine to focus on. I miss snuggling up to Dp at the end of a hard day and find it hard kissing him goodbye at the hospital at night.

mon hugs for you. You are going through a very stressful time and trying to recover from CS too. It must be hard to be away from your other kids and dp. You are being so strong for Eliana and that's why she's such a fighter too. Hopefully they let you know soon when they want to schedule surgery.
Glad meeting the support group helped your dp too. He must be very scared right now. I guess at least he has been honest with you about how he feels. Hopefully it doesn't go any further.

Thinking of you all xx

mon sorry you're finding it so tough, although thats obviously understandable. don't worry about your dp, addicts will always have that natural reaction to turn back to what they know, but he sounds like a good strong man and I'm sure he knows the importance of what's at stake here. yeah some time with your other dc would be good I'm sure. when you have a baby, and I'm sure especially a poorly one, you don't think about yourself at all, but you'd never be expected to get on with things after something so physical as a cs in any other circumstance so do try and look after yourself xx

MoN sounds like it might be a good idea to go home. It must be so difficult for you and DP to cope, it sounds like your doing really well keeping it together. Hope everything goes well for you and Eliana.

Chickie - my parents are Irish, are you? Think I'll be in til Thursday, but guess it depends how Cormac's feeding... Just going to wake him up and try to give him another feed.

MoN it's great that your DP was open and honest in telling you that he is finding all of this that hard that he thought about going back to the drugs. The very fact that he told you about his feelings is a good thing. I can't say what I would do if I were you, but being at home and being able to support one another 24/7 (personally I think things always seem more stressful at night and that's the time you need one another most) sounds like a good idea. Eliana will still in the best hands she could be and hopefully be able to join you at home soon.

I don't know if any of the other new mums have bathed their LO's yet, but we have done the past few nights and Ailla absolutely hates it! Basically she doesn't like not being dressed, and also hates nappy/clothes changes.

I had a nap yesterday in which I slept on my tummy again for the first time in months. Ah, it felt so good. Tonight my milk appears to be really making an appearance and instead of a bump preventing me from sleeping on my front I have 2 bowling balls for boobs! Not complaining though, it's good to think that Ailla is actually getting some filling food.

Thank you to whoever advised waking Ailla up to feed her during the day. I woke her 3 times today for feeding, and as a result she is sleeping more tonight and asking for/spending less time on the boob. It's lovely that she's sleeping at night, but she still won't lie down in the bedside cot though. She lasts all of 5 minutes before kicking up stink, so is sleeping on my tummy right now (meaning I can't sleep). I am lost for what to do to help her, but hope it's just a short term thing.

Oh, and I forgot to say congratulations moon, pseudo and rachel! I am more than a little bit jealous about the lack of stitches rachel!

rox Hunter hates not being dressed too, screams through every nappy change till his vest is back on. but weirdly loves being in the water. hates the parts before and after but he's happy while actually submerged!

A tip I've picked up. My sister gave me her travel neck pillow to use While bfing. So much more comfortable.

The c shaped ones

moon my dh is irish and I lived in Dublin for a long time. Cormac is a great name.

rox milk coming in too. Also have baby who's refusing cot boo. Only sleeping on my chest. Must sort nap tomorrow.

roofio I might try putting a bit more water in her bath once her umbilical cord has dropped off. I reckon a shallow bath must be quite horrible really if I imagine being sat in one! Can't wait for the cord to drop off, it gets in the way at nappy changing time when she is giving it blue murder and flailing her legs around in protest it can be quite difficult to work around (especially as the nappies are a tad big for her anyway).

chickieno as annoying it is that you're also going through the whole 'not sleeping in cot' thing, I am so glad it's not just me! DH and I have taken turns tonight in holding her whilst the other one sleeps, so I have managed about 1.5 hours sleep (and I also had a late evening nap of a couple of hours). Was just handing over to DH then and she woke up for a feed so after this he will take her and I will again have an hour or 2 so not as bad as last night (I had 30 minutes last night).

gtbaby I am using my Dreamgenii pregnancy pillow for breast feeding and it is perfect. The longer part of it wraps around my waist and I can rest the arm holding Ailla on it, and the other part sits behind my lumbar giving me good back support.

Not sure how I am coping with such little sleep. Is there a hormone released in breastfeeding or is it all just going to hit me one day and I'll feel like I've been run over by a bus?

Re breastfeeding - nipples are still sore (particularly on one side), but they feel much less painful now there is actually milk coming through them and Ailla isn't just sucking on them fruitlessly. I thought future breastfeeders may want to know that for when you have a rather painful feed and consider giving up. Of course I am no expert and it could all change again tomorrow.

Sorry, another hugely long post. Does breastfeeding also release a hormone that makes me want to type everything I am thinking out?!

Morning all.

40+5, SFW, absolutely bugger all to report apart from another appalling night's sleep and the resultant head and neck ache. All positive signs completely disappeared along with what remained of my sense of humour.

rox yes I think there is definitely an in built mummy happiness hormone that makes the lack of sleep manageable. dp has been so grumpy and finding it really hard. he's doing as much of the baby things and round the house things as me but just seems to be struggling, I don't think he has the same in built thing I do as a mum.

mrsh sorry you're feeling rubbish. it can't be that much longer now no matter what and your baby will be here!!

Morning! Congratulations on the new arrivals. Excellent name choices (I'm Irish so slightly biased).
Thinking of you mon during this really tough time but as everyone else has said you are doing amazingly and it sounds like Eliana is too.
No more leaking here but hospital made me go in. Baby very low and measuring only 34 (37+5) but they didn't seem too panicked as movements are good. Last nights midwifes programmed sort of worried me though. I have been told to be very strict re movement monitoring and go straight in if less than 10 episodes in a day. Made me think that advise you had been given nat was totally crazy. Good you have a sensible midwife.
For anyone with annoying swollen feet/ankles, I have found putting a tube of aloe gel in the fridge and slapping it on every so often really nice, even if it doesn't do much.
Good luck to all those getting ready to meet their babies today and to all those getting increasingly impatient/uncomfy......I hear you! Xx

yeah definitley need to trust your instincts re movements. I went in because baby's movements had changed. I was still feeling him move, well more than 10 times a day, but they were smaller and just not like his usual strong movements (have learnt since having him he is exceptionally strong haha) and they said I totally did the right thing. it isn't about counting a number, its about knowing whats not right for your baby

Morning all. I'm getting paranoid about movements now. Was up in the night with my non sleeping ds and then once he'd gone back to sleep realised I hadn't felt this one move so had to stay awake another hour until I felt movement. Pregnancy doesn't get easier does it!!
Sc here and no more encouraging symptoms

Glad your dp is helping out roofio even though he's struggling with tiredness. I'm just getting the latter. The moaning! He slept on sofa last night as he's on a 14 hr shift and when you work in a prison you gotta keep your eye on the ball. Good job as Isaac was a nightmare.

Dh back in work today so school run is all up to me. Since Isaac would not settle last night dd is ready and we haven't gotta leave until 8:30! Supermum, well until I collapse on the sofa when I get in.

Congrats to all the new mummies. I have been reading just not finding time to post.

Sorry to those feeling rubbish but seriously the end is in sight.

Realised the other day that both my dc were born at 37 weeks, both on Monday and both weighing 7lb 6! Freaky!

I have to admit I find it pretty tricky to know as its all so tight and often quite a bit of time goes by and then I realise I've not been paying any attention so have no idea re movements. That may sound irresponsible but its been pretty busy. So I think now I'll try hard to take it easier and pay more attn especially as it is a little on the small side. Did they act on you going in re movements? Apologies but I'm not sure of everyone's story. Thanks. Xx

Congratulations moon, pseudo and rachel - lots of fantastic baby news!

No change on this front - went to bed with a headache and have also woken up with one so not a happy bunny today!

Midwife appointment this afternoon so hopefully I'll have something to update you with later...

I was also cross watching The Midwives last night, as was DH - I really wanted to slap that woman! Particularly at her insistence on checking out and taking herself off the monitor. What an idiot.

I know it's an awful thing to say (but I'll blame hormones) but it just felt so unfair that she ended up having a perfectly healthy baby when she seemed so hellbent on doing the opposite of everything she'd been advised but others who play by the rules and do everything by the book can have issues and complications.

Morning everyone, Mon I hope you are Ok this morning.

It's great to hear lots of tips from new mums. I'm now 39 weeks and nothing is happening!

Does anyone else share dd 15/10?

Morning all, tough old night pain wise but I'm up out of bed now with my catheter removed so onwards and upwards! I still haven't eaten since yesterday 5.30 except for a few biscuits but apparently breakfast is imminent.... DP can stay every night which is such a help except when he is asleep and I can't wake him up
My parents are bringing DS this afternoon which will be fantastic. BP still messing about so not sure what the docs have planned.
DD is lovely and so tiny! Heart causing no issues so far but they will be doing a scan at some stage. I've had to watch DP make a meal of 2 meconium nappies so far, he is dreadful at them :o