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.

Hope you got some sleep, ladybird! I had a good couple of hours but then had to get up to wee 3 times between 2 and 4 am, so that was that. Then I got up at 5 (as I was awake anyway) with DH, who's off to London for the day for work so had to get up early. He's just left, and I'm sitting sobbing into my cup of tea - flipping hormones He'll be back late this evening (he would have stayed overnight but we thought it might not be wise).

First day of ML yesterday - it was great! Whilst not up to Shrops's levels, I cleaned the coffee machine (long overdue), scrubbed the grout on the shower tiles (ditto), tried to go for a swim but it turned out that there was an open day and it was heaving so I went to the supermarket instead, made 2 different soups to freeze in portions, went to the paint shop with DH to choose paint for the living room so it can be painted today..and then had a lovely long nap late afternoon (and all this whilst avoiding the workmen at home. Actually my cooking was cut short because when I got back from the paint shop they'd covered everything I was in the middle of with dust sheets, which I took as a sign that it was nap time).

Have to go and pick up my TENS machine today - it's all getting quite real now!

Morning fellow preggo insomniacs, another 4 am wake up for me. Joy.

I found the NCT breastfeeding class better than the normal classes, and the NHS never got back to me about their classes I'm off to bumps and babies this morning with my nct group, I'm not sure what to expect but happy to report back. Luckily for lazy me it's only at the bottom of my road

What fun plans do people have for the day? Mine involves redoing the marmalade as it didn't set

Cool, have seen Emma Jane on line - will give that a go.

Re breastfeeding and NCT, I found the classes a bit rubbish too, especially as the teacher seemed to be a saint with no mention of whoops one night I drunk a bottle of wine so had to pump and dump and use formula : )
I fully intend to replace some feeds this time, so I can get a good nights sleep once in a while!

I bought up the alcohol thing, because I can't wait to have a glass of wine of an evening. I'm not a big drinker so it was more of a 'when's best' and 'how much' question.

Our breastfeeding counsellor was being assessed on the day so that might be why I felt it was less wishy washy than others'.

Baby is having another period of reduced movement it was a bit quiet yesterday, no party like it normally has in the evenings (even after a very spicy thai curry and very sweet Brownie), hardly moved in the night (to the extent even DH was worried) and hasn't moved at all for hours now. I'm going off to nct bumps shortly, and if it hasn't moved by lunchtime I'm calling the midwives again.

The thing is, I had a scan on Friday and everything was fine. So it should still be fine now, I'd have thought.

I honestly think that they don't mention it because they don't really know what is ok and what isn't. I've looked this up and there are a lot of conflicting points of view. The only thing I can gather is that a glass of wine won't hurt but obviously getting tipsy will affect the milk so its best to be sensible. I really wanted a bit more information than that though since I've been tee total for 10 months now and can't imagine another year or so turning down a glass of wine while I'm breastfeeding. I don't think I drank at all when BF ds2 for 18 months but I didn't like alcohol then so it's a bit different.

I'm sure everything is ok eeyore, it has been happening to me too which scares us for hours. They are just running out of room (as you know but probably isn't a lot of comfort right now) but definitely get it checked out if it carries on. Hope he gives you a good reassuring kick soon. x

Thanks thingy. I just need it to have a little party in there so I can relax again!

sorry- *he or she, I can't remember the teams.

How is everyone today? Hope you all have relaxing days planned. I was up all night with hip pain I can barely walk today it's agony sofa day for me.

Eeyore my bumps movements seem to slow down sometimes then after a while he will go mad and there's bits sticking out everywhere. I think it's because he's bigger now and can't jump about like he used to.

I'm sorry so many of you haven't been happy with your NCT classes. It's ironic, as here in Belgium the concept of ante-natal classes doesn't really exist, certainly the locals don't do them (DH is Belgian and everyone in his circle finds it a very odd idea, as did DH until recently). I insisted that we go to classes run by a British expat organisation which is based on (if not linked to?) the NCT...and they were brilliant. Even DH said so The subject of alcohol and b-feeding was most definitely covered; our teacher said the absolute best time is while you're actually feeding, but at other times to bear in mind that a glass of wine might do more good to you than it will do harm to the baby. (She was no saint, our teacher, and I really appreciated that).

Eeyore I am a massive movement worrier but one thing that has reassured me slightly has been meeting the newborns from my NCT group as they sleep for hours and are so still when they do, which makes me think my baby is probably doing exactly the same in utero. My movements are often similar to Champs' - not much going on, then the bum gets stuck out. It is all so stressful though!

ch HUGE congratulations! I actually like hearing the tough birth stories because it allows me to prepare mentally for all manner of scenarios (and know that other women have got through them just fine) but appreciate that others may not feel the same way! Anyway, hope you and little Louis are doing well now.

Seeing the MW for my 38 week appointment today - would love to hear that the baby is engaged. Thingy since my MW mistook bum for head and vice versa I'm not sure she's quite as adept at figuring out where various body bits are as yours is! But I really like her and it's always nice hearing the heartbeat.

Eeyore if your worried you can just pop down to the hospital for a trace it only take an hour or two and will put your mind at rest, I did this a few weeks ago.

Champagne yep exactly the same as my class. I did have way too much one party and really couldn't feed the baby the next day (oh how guilty I felt) - basically your boobs feel like they are going to explode so you have to pump the feeds and just throw them away and in the meantime give the baby a bottle. You really need to just make sure the odd bottle is established first, but you can do this at 5 weeks (if memory serves me correctly) in the first 5 weeks. Thats exactly right morien best to have a glass of wine when your feeding or when just finished - if you know your baby will want a feed in half an hour, best to just wait a bit. Hope that helps somewhat.

Wow more thread babies, so exciting! Congratulations ladies! I wonder how many more will sneak in to January?

Just want to send hugs to littleen.

What is it with 4am? Seems like a general time for lots of us having sleep issues.

I'm with you marzi, I had been told baby was head down for weeks! then saw a new mw who said baby was breech but scan 2days later said head down and has stayed that way since so always a bit dubious now. At 36 weeks mw said baby was still not engaged and had plenty of room to move around still despite saying I had neat bump and haven't gained too much weight. It certainly feels like he has room in there from all the movements but just don't see how when I'm not overly big.

Starting to wish I had done NCT now for the mum friends side of things. Hoping I will make friends through joining baby groups but not sure how early you tend to join these.

Hope everyone has nice relaxing days ahead and can catch up on a bit of sleep.

there is a great post on fb by dr jack newman - a Canadian dr who has done a LOT of research into bfing. he did a post just before nye about alcohol and breast milk and explained how and why so little transferred. you dont need to pump and unless you are drunk and your boobs feel like they are going to explode pumping will not remove the alcohol any quicker. dr jack is currently podting about drugs in bm at the moment - also v informative.

Thanks for the welcome

Cool Julietee nice to know someone with a similar date! Funny how a short month seems incredibly long when you're expecting towards the end of that month!

That's interesting Pretty one to check out. I had originally thought I'd buy some alcohol test strips for breastmilk knowing I would worry I'd had a tad too much (I mean by eg drinking one glass of red) but they are really expensive on amazon so I will just try to be sensible with it.

Hope you've felt some movement Eeyore mines always been quiet, I've taken it to be just the way he is, when he does move it tends to be quite pushy.

Off to discover the small world of nursing tops/vests this afternoon. Apparently H&M do reasonable ones!

Well, baby is engaged but only 1/5. Better than nothing maybe?! The walk home from the surgery got very painful towards the end - stabbing cervix - which I am also taking as good sign! Really hoping I don't need the 41 week appointment which I had to book.

Eeyore how's baby doing, any more movement? Or have you gone in for a trace? I had a chat about it with the MW and still feel as though I'm getting very mixed messages, so am sticking with the 10 movements in a day advice. I think stress over movements is really the main factor in my wanting the baby to born sooner rather than later (even though I know there'll be other things to stress about once she's here!)

Thanks for all the messages. I went off to bumps and babies with my nct group, where baby woke up. I'm now reassured as baby has not just moved but had really strong movements. phew!

I wonder if baby is now spending longer asleep, it feels like I can go for far longer than before with no movements.

Your baby was having a lie-in and you woke them up. I'm sure they will have revenge in a few weeks

so true Emma!

Welcome Bella and thank you :) I think the worst part is that she won't get to meet her first grandchild, to me anyway.

Julietee Have you found out what the click sound is yet? Sounds very odd, but I suppose baby could be making one of your joints click?

Lastnight Pless your husband! I am curious to how my other half will react to it all.

Thingy I'm the same height as you and my bump has suddenly| gone lower too, though no idea where baby is at, and I keep having a bum (I think) in my ribs! Where did he fit before sinking down!

Jazz glad to hear your misunderstanding is solved :)

Wah, regained 1 of the 2 lbs I lost since November - in just 2 weeks! Slightly freaked out, though common sense says I shouldn't be. Hrmf. Though my boobs appear to have grown, so that might be where its gone.

Eeyeore Good to hear baby is playing again!

Marzi I've had the stabbing cervix pain since about week 31 - don't get too excited :P

I was most pleased baby had a quiet night and morning, I slept for an astonishing 14 hours (obv with waking up for a wee etc lots of times, and being awake for two hours in the evening. Went to bed at 8, haha.) - Had only 5 hours sleep over the last 2 days, whilst not eating and doing loads of funeral planning and stuff, so I really needed it. Not often I sleep that much, was very surprised!

bella I found this a while ago, it looks really interesting, and has reassured me totally that a glass (or two!) of wine/beer/cider is not going to affect my pfb via breastmilk. Given my tolerance is approx 2% what it used to be, it may send me off to sleep, but no negatives for the little one!

biologybrain-simonsays.blogspot.co.uk/2008/12/alcohol-content-of-breast-milk.html

Bella Yeah, my LO is pretty quiet too. Which has definitely freaked me out on occasion, especially with everyone else talking about how active theirs are.

Littleen Apparently it's their joint possibly, not mine?! Haha, apparently it just happens with some babies!

Thanks for the info about alcohol and BF. I am definitely planning a few drinks once I can, and refuse to be guilted out of it if the science says it's ok!

Very tired today and no walk because of old lady hips.