The PESH are waddling their way to Christmas & trying not to freak out!

[FrankelInFoal]

The ante-natal fred for BESH graduates.

Recent Grads (aka CRESH)

blonderthanred, boy, born 26th October 2012
FriendofDorothy, boy, born 14th December 2012
QueenRollo, boy, born 21st January 2013
LazyMachine (38) boy EDD 9/2/13 - need an actual arrival date!
CamelKnees (34) EDD 22/04/2013 - need actual arrival date!
HaveALittleFaith (31), Faithlet arrived 14th April 2013
fertilityFTW (34) arrival date needed!
pinkr, (33), girl born 25th August 2013
Jethro (36) boy born 23rd September 2013

Waiting to lay:
Noks - EDD 28/12/2013
Frankel - EDD 4/3/2014
Sinky - EDD 18/3/2014
Ginfox - EDD end April 2014
Kat - EDD needed
Drizz - EDD 7/6/2014
Draf - EDD 19/6/2014
Winks - EDD 29/6/2014

Apologies for any misinformation or omissions!

Noks I'm with Faith in that what really helped me was finding some sort of structure to our day. Having that makes me feel more confident about everything & MiniJeff seems much more chilled out. He's sleeping really well & is, in general, a very smiley little boy . The difference in the way I feel is amazing - I think getting my period back really helped, it was like someone had turned a light back on. My own theory (clearly based on absolutely no medical knowledge) is that I have shit hormones to begin with (hence the struggled to win a baybee) so all the post natal hormones really messed with my head. When the droid arrived it was like a huge relief.

I think a routine will only work for people who like routine though. You've just got to do what is best for you.

Dor i can only imagine how difficult you must be finding things at the moment. Could you talk to your dad about how much you have on?

My sister wrote my Dad the most awesome email last night (generally, he responds better like this than face to face!) saying how fabulous we think he is doing and how shit it is that we have to think about the practicalities.

She also pointed out that the reality is that we cannot continue dong this amount of stuff and we have the option of the cleaner doing the ironing.

He sent back the most wonderful email saying that it is tough on us all but he appreciates all we do and he loves us an his families. He said he would be happy with whatever we decide.

I think I am just realising now how much sadder my life is without my Mum. We used to do so much together and even though life is happy I feel like it is a bit more sepia that full colour.

I am sure it will improve but today I have a a broken heart.

Well done your sister, dor. I think that was a good idea, its all too easy to suddenly turn round five years later and you're still stuck in the crisis routine, when it isn't appropriate any more and it's breeding resentment. I've seen enough of that in my own family. As for your sadness, of course you're sad. One day at a time, and if that's too much, one hour at a time. Hugs.

Any news on Nokks watch?

dor like twonks said take it one hour at a time if you need to. It sounds as though you and your sister made progress with the email though. Sometimes, putting things in print really does help others pause a bit and think, reflect and then react having considered things in more detail. Xx

faif my lazy Daisy teacher recommended the Hana sling. Did you use that one ? Faiflet did well calming down at eight weeks if she was really wee when she was born. It really helps knowing that the nipper may go through this period of crying - at least I'll be a bit more prepared for it than being blissfully ignorant !

jeff so lovely to see you're a bit brighter. I really want to get into a routine but am conscious that we may not be able to achieve that in the first weeks. I think so much also hinges on the type of birth you end-up having and how that makes you feel afterwards. If it's all straightforward and boob feeding goes well, then that's half the battle. If not, recovery time is delayed, your milk takes time coming in (and you get stressed by the Nork Nazis) your hormones go a bit batshit crazy, and you end-up being all at sea. That must make getting into a routine almost impossible at first. I thnk I will just go with the flow in the first weeks and then , after about 4-6 weeks, aim for a routine (I am currently reading the Baby Whisperer which I quite like). If I can do it sooner, then brilliant. If not, do you thnk that is sensible ? faif ? Do you think that's achievable ?

Nuffink to see here franks ! Head still isn't engaged but the midwife doesn't think it will be until I go into labour. I will have a sweep next Monday and then will be booked in for an induction a couple of days after. So, unless ths snuggly, wriggly bambino of mine wants to shift itself, it will have to be forcibly evicted from the Noks Womble. I am also harbouring a ginormobaby, apparently. Eight pounds plus, the midwife reckons. Oh my poor foof.....

We didn't do routine until 6 months noks, that's when we did sleep training. I think if I have another I'll do routine sooner but it's soooo variable when they're establishing BF I just did what I could. Faithlet got into the habit of feeding to sleep which has pros and cons but I think it helped her gain weight so rapidly!

Sling wise I bought one from the lady who runs my local sling library, she makes stretchy wraps, like this one -that's her website. She's too heavy for it now and I fancy something more structured. Christmas money spent!

dor that was luffly of your sister.

I still put The Little Mister in the sling. We have a Manduca these days.

Useful advice re slings ladies, thanks.

Nokks, sorry progress is slow - keep bouncing on that gym ball!

It's just hit me that I'm 31 weeks today, single figures I've got so much non-baby related stuff to do, particularly in terms of my college work, and I just can't see me getting it done in time.

MIL is scaring me with her "You won't go full term, you're too big." comments as well

Noks you're absolutely right about the birth affecting everything. I was in a daze until about 9 weeks.

Frank eeeek single figures

Happy New Year hags, hope 2014 brings us sneeze births, sleeping baybees, and lots of new PESH :)

Happy New Year Differs!

Very Happy New Year to all BESH, PESH and CRESH

You need to get cracking if you want to be on local news with the first baybee of 2014 Nokks

Happy new year everyone! 2013 has been so much better than 2012 for me, here's hoping 2014 is also a good one with lots of new PESH :)

Happy New Year PESH.

I Am in bed watching Gary Barlow. How sad!

Love to you all and thanks for all the support this year. Xxx

Happy new year PESH and little ESH peeps!

Currently feeding a very sweet-smelling LazyBoy (who woke up just as the bell tolled midnight, of course) and then I'm off to bed...exciting times, I tell you and wouldn't change it for anything!

Bring on 2014...

Happy new years to all PESH and other lurking ESH!

So are all the CumberHags wetting themselves in anticipation?

Of course Winks I'm very excited!

Indeed, winks

Happy new year all! We saw in the bells with little pink waking due to nutty neighbours fireworks at midnight.

Happy New Year hags! What with a 12 hour flight getting into Gatwick at 6.30am, taking 2 hours to get through baggage reclaim and then a 3.5 hr drive back to Sheffield, coupled with evil cold caught off mil I made it until 10.30!

Rock and roll

Well done on the epic journeying Ginge, how was it and how are you feeling?

Should we have a scan date roll call as I've lost track of everyone! We should probably have the EDD's for the newly diffed too, just to keep track.

Welcome home ginge, how was the trip?

So we told HWCA's family about the diffment today. A brief 'congratulations' then lots of sarky 'ooh now the fun begins' 'your life is over, hahaha' unhelpful comments. In front of their own children, which I thought was poor. Then I got proper cats-bum face from SIL, who was making the most sarky comments, when I pointed out 'you've all managed, I'm sure we will.' Stopped the smart arse comments though.

A roll call would be good.

My current EDD is 18 August.