February 2014 - babies flying out all over the joint!

[marzipanned]

We've now welcomed mini sun, dawn, kat, zazou and selfies (please tell me I haven't missed anyone...)....who will be next?!

Those of us waiting impatiently will be showing down on dates, pineapple, RLT and curry while having awkward whale sex.

That's great Jazz that you have help from family - if you want it! Maybe you can send your BIL and DB to get groceries etc for you (I'm sure they'd love buying you breast pads!) then they can be helpful without being in your way. I'm planning to do lots of online grocery shops though! They could also be useful in driving you to places before you can drive again - unless you've got places and friends you can walk to you could feel a little stranded if you can't get out and about.

Good luck for the ECV - I'm sure you won't be one of the unlucky 1% but at least you're being prepared! Turn baby turn!

Glitter - I've recently made DD learn to get in and out the bath by herself using the step she has for the toilet instead of lifting her. However now she refuses to let me hold her hand while she does it as she can do it by herself and doesn't want any help - no slips yet though!
I've been telling her that I'll have a sore tummy for a while once baby comes out but not sure she'll fully understand...

littlepanda yes my little one is exactly the same and wants to do it herself- shd is fine though and knows she has to hold on etc. It's the same with the car, she now gets in and out herself.
What are you doing about the pushchair? My 3 year old hates walking and I'm thinking a buggy board may be too much for me to push in the early days post section.. I think I'll try scooter and reigns and baby in buggy.. Her nursery is quite a walk though

Glitter - I decided not to get a double pushchair as she seems to old for it and didn't think we'd use it much for two. I also thought about the buggy board but agree that it looks like it would be a nightmare to push! We got her a scooter for Christmas which i'm hoping we can use a bit but she's not a 'natural' on it like some kids are so think she could walk further than scoot at the moment - we need to get practising!

I'm quite lucky though as my childminder has offered to pick up and drop off DD on the days she's with her so I don't have to worry about that, then when I can drive again it won't be a problem. I'm just going to try to avoid situations where I need her to walk far with both kids unless DH or someone else is with me! Not sure if it will work but that's my naive strategy for now!

Well done to all the new arrivals! Had my 37wk check yesterday and as am enormous thought they might give me the nod for an earlier birth but no I'm just on the watch and wait pattern now..I have put on 4stone and am feeling a little crazed about having to wait another 3wks+ in this state- anybody the same? Any tricks to keeping sprightly?

Glitter - I'm still waiting on a date but have been told it will be done as close to 39 weeks as possible as they don't like to do them before.

Jazz - good luck with the ecv.

I've ended up getting a second hand double buggy just for the first few months. X

Ooh and I'm 37 weeks today so baby is now full term

panda yes mine is 3 and a half so is too big for a double buggy, she is completely unpredictable on the scooter and sometimes refuses to walk half way there. I'll be looking forward to being able to drive again - it's 6 weeks isn't it. Or there's the bus- but that is expensive for just 4 stops. I guess I'll work something out.

Morning all!

Just had physio this morning for the SPD. Much more helpful and sympathetic than the physio I saw towards the end of my pregnancy with DS1. She gave me a huge bit of tubigrip to support bump and pelvis, which is a lot more comfortable than the other supports I have, though she warned me not to use it after the birth if I can help it as it will discourage my stomach muscles from working on their own. Also gave me some exercises to do every day (before and after the birth). So, despite my initial reluctance, based on my previous experience of the physio only telling me stuff I already knew , it was a useful morning.

Have dyed some old faded cot sheets/ slightly stained babygrows purple and maroon - they look quite funky - a nice change from all the pastels, and I let the boys tie-dye a t-shirt each too, which they loved! Finding dye was a nightmare though - nowhere local to me sells it any more, so had to traipse 30 minute drive across to the other side of the city for some!

Still have a to-do-list as long as my arm but will be happy if I just manage a couple of little tasks each day.

I'm trying to remember back to my last sections. I'd say accept as much help as you can, especially in those early days. I'm lucky in that although my mum lives a 2-2.5 hour drive away, she is coming up to look after the boys for a couple of days whilst I'm in hospital (DH has booked annual leave for my section and the following day), then will come back for her half term week (she's a teacher) which means DH can save his paternity leave until after half term so I will have 3 weeks of having someone around to help. Love my mum, what a star. I'd say it's important to try to get moving asap after the section, and try to stand as straight as possible, rather than following the urge to hunch and protect your scar, as it will heal better and you'll be more mobile quicker. Definitely ignore the housework, it'll still be there later , and get your OH to make you a packed lunch of some description before he goes to work, that way you have one less task to fit in during the day. A stash of ready-prepared snacks in the cupboard and fridge helps too.

36+4 today, 2 weeks and 2 days til delivery day!

glitter it all depends on your recovery time. Last time I saw the GP after 2 weeks and he said that as I was juggling a toddler and a newborn on my lap, that was far more strenuous than doing an emergency stop and I would be fine to drive (thank goodness). Hoping for the same this time, as the boys' school is about 6.5 miles away, and no public transport links

So apparently despite the fact that I was told I was definitely having a c section at my 34 wks appt following a scan which showed placenta was too low and was assured it wouldn't change at this stage, I have now been told at 37 wks appt after growth scan that placenta is now clear enough for natural delivery. I am really pissed of as have spent three weeks getting my head round a c section whereas now that's not going to happen. I have no faith in the sonographer who did this scan today as she was trainee and the senior who was with her was tidying the room and even left at times without checking the measurements that were been taken. I have been told three different things by three different consultants in last five weeks so just don't know who is right. What would anyone do in this situation? I'm now scared that today's measurements are wrong and placenta isn't clear enough.

Thanks Champagne. I tried my mw only to get an Answerphone message saying she's not working so got a number for another one on her team and left them a message but waiting for response. In meantime I've booked a docs appt as a back up!!!

Thanks. Only numbers on my notes are my mw's mobile and main office number which is where I got the other mw's phone number. I'll see if she gets back to me and if not I'll see GP tomorrow and see if anything they can do. X

sassy just to add, if you can manage it, my NCT leader reckons that a full on cry in front of midwives/doctors tends to help get desired results....

Jazz - I've spent a lot of the afternoon blubbing about it to dh so I think it'll come pretty naturally!

sassy I got pretty annoyed with my care yesterday - it's too long to go into, but I looked on the hospital website and got tge consultant midwifed email and emailed her asking for an appointment to talk through my options. The consultants were pretty bad and like you I've been told lots if different things. I just thought a midwife who works in the thick of it daily would be best.

Thanks Glitter I'll have a look on the website. Hope you got things sorted out. X

My post today is almost a repeat of Jazz's yesterday but with only a 2 hour wait as nobody dramatically going into labour. 36+4 today and baby still breech, ECV booked for Thursday and then take it from there. Her growth seems to have settled a bit too which is good , currently an estimated 7lb 1oz

Wow sassy hugs! That's both great news if you can.go ahead with a natural birth but awful the quality of service and that noone senior is properly verifying and signing off. I would defo request second opinion and be clear you're not happy.

Off to our nct bf class later and interested to see how it goes. Hope there is practical info in it not just preaching to the converted!

Sassy hope you are feeling better now. For what it's worth, when I saw a consultant after the scan where my pp condition was deemed to have gone away at 37 weeks (now 5cm from os), the consultant checked it with a portable scanner himself. Might be worth insisting on this at a 38 week appt. In my case the result was verified and I was happy, but I can totally see how you are on a roller coaster and you need to be able to 100% trust what they are saying to you.

Day 2 of mat leave complete and I have spent 60% of the time on the phone to work and the rest cooking for the family. Off shopping for the day tomorrow, need to fit in cinema trips and hair cuts etc., please could this baby not arrive for at least another week????

Thanks Ruey and Winter. I'm going to speak to the antenatal day unit tomorrow and see what they day. X

sugarmice its more what the insurance companies say - you won't be insured before 6 weeks. I must say I am tempted to do all the small trips anyway, very much doubt anything would happen (touch wood).