"hey Mummy! Ready or not, here I come! ;-)" - July 2014 thread

[ZingWhale]

Some of us has weeks to go, some just days and of course another massive Congratulations to all who have already given birth!

pack your pads, tiaras, nappies & Vaseline -HERE WE GO!!!

Congratulations coco!

Ickle - try not to over do it too much. I had a really busy Sunday morning and lunch before my labour started in the afternoon, and found myself exhausted quite quickly. So try to rest lots now whilst you can.

ickle I did that with DS- first target was to get to 3 days, then a week, 2 weeks, a month, 3 months and 6 months etc. Never did I think I'd still be feeding him at 25 months!! I had mastitis 3 times and caught it just in time another couple of times so not plain sailing at all. It's a v personal decision re how much and how long everyone chooses to feed and I've yet to see how it will go this time around-could be a totally different experience!

DH is determined I not overheat tonight so I'm sitting here shivering instead!

Breastfeeding (\o/) and remembered this Pixar short..
Partly Cloudy

Congratulations Coco - that was definitely the post of a besotted mum!

Ismarah and Becky Sounds like you're doing great on the BF!

Ismarah Are you calling your little one by her bump name still? We have two names picked out but I can't imagine calling my little one by anything other than its rather silly but cute bump name. I got very upset with the other half a few weeks ago because I thought he was telling me I'd have to call it by its "proper" name as soon as it was born. The bump name has been a big hit with friends and family too!

I've had a good day today!

• Final consultant appointment, all down to the midwives from now on. Consultant said she saw no reason I couldn't use the birth centre and sent an email to say so
• Baby is head down, apparently 3/5 engaged (doesn't feel particularly different from when it was floating free apart from some shooting pains in the pelvis)
• We celebrated with lunch in a caff after the appointment where due to use of identical containers I managed to pour milk on my chips but avoided putting vinegar in my tea (small victories!)
• Walked about 2 miles altogether, made me feel a little virtuous, I know it's not a lot but I am soooo tired!

• Have emptied and shelved the last 12 unpacked boxes of books that had been sitting around since our house move last April. Only a year and a quarter to empty all the boxes! It's a record!

Love Pixar and that short is great ismarah :)

mupperoon glad all well with the consultant but lol at milk all over your chips! Oops!

So, DH has a funny tummy and is on and off the loo (sorry tmi) and I may have some more realistic contractions rather than just BHs!! Also had weird leg issue with right leg practically collapsing under me as if bean had squished a nerve or something by my hip! And bump feels as though someone has attached lead weights to it and that it might actually fall out between my legs :) so, am just gently bouncing away on the ball and waiting to see what happens next! Of course tomorrow is also the only day our lovely childminder can't have DS and although we have other backup plans they're not as good! Typical if baby decides now to appear although I will still be thrilled despite the inconveniences!

Just running in as resting after a busy morning of July 4th celebrations. After a local event in a park we went for lunch with friends. And then for some reason I decided to clean the bathroom and rearrange all the shelves chucking out old toiletries etc. Bit worn out now! Thanks zing for the 4th July wishes [waves flag].

Will catch up and reply to everyone properly later!

bump is making gurgle/popping/burpy noises while im sitting on sofa. could this be the start of something? (wishful thinking)

Mupperoon We do refer to her as bean between ourselves and on social media. We're trying to get into the habit of using her name too in RL conversations but it's difficult - it's a bit like retraining (verbal) muscle memory...as we have a male dog, I can't start the praise 'good...'anything and not have it end in 'boy'... Bit embarrassing when you're talking about your daughter

Nancy we've had loads of fireworks around here tonight, which always makes DH break out into his old man / get off my lawn / you pesky kids impression.

Annoyingly, more nausea here tonight. Starting to think the fragmin injections are also to blame, not just the ibuprofen..

Our DD is nearly 2 1/2 and we still call her Bean.

Is the question of whether your milk has come in like the question of labour? If you're wondering it probably isn't/hasn't just yet?

Just started setting up to feed bean, realised I needed the bathroom and had to skedaddle before I covered the bed with my new TMI! trick of yellowy greeny diarrhea. Oh. The glamour. It never stops. On the plus side the nausea wore off without me actually vomiting or tearing any stitches.

Practical question now: bean has cold feet and hands sometimes although the rest of her is warm to the touch. What can I do to deal with this? None of her blankets seem very cosy (one is that open waffle weave and the other is knitted) so should I find a little fleece blanket or something?

She's so small the newborn clothes from most places have been too large for her, so despite having on two layers they're floppy. The only brand I've found in the UK that suits her in this size is H&M...

When I had DD1 her dr could tell my milk was in as she could hear her swallowing. Not sure if that's the scientific method!

It's normal for baby hands and feet to feel cold. I judged if DD was warm enough by feeling the back of her neck or tummy.

Oh and yes, the glamour! Glad the nausea has gone though!

Congratulations mupperoon on getting everything unpacked, sounds like a very productive day!

blue sounds promising...but similar to me in that the one weekend I don't fancy giving birth (my birthday on sun, dh unwell...) is probably going to be the one! We will just have to wait and see...

nancy happy belated 4th july hope you had a fab day! Sounds like you need to make sure your not over doing it (says she who is a total hypocrite!)

ismarsh most people I've spoken to say you know that your milk is in because boobs get very hard/full/painful and bf becomes very messy!
Guess isn't true 100% of the time. Had really honest conversation with dh tonight about how I really wanted to try breastfeeding but couldn't go through months of pain and he was in total agreement- phew! Arhh picturing your tiny newborn is so exciting. I'm expecting a big one but friends gave me some tiny baby stuff just in case!

Well very restless nights sleep here so thinking a day of doing not a lot is required!

Morning,
I posted a big old catch up post at 5am yesterday and it vanished

Congratulations coco.

Liquid hope your doing ok xxx

Ismarah totally normal for baby to have cold hands and feet. Don't judge their temperature and need for extra clothes etc by that. I was told to check under the chin or around the sides of the neck.
Was it you talking about a BF plan? Just a warning it's best not to replace all night feeds with formula as it's frustratingly the night feeds that get your supply going - apparently! If you swap keep BF between 1-5am. Highly recommend joining the Kent boobies Facebook group - it's private so won't show on your timeline & the women on their will help with feeding to no end!
It's so tuff at the beginning but after your all established it becomes second nature to both of you and so much easier than faffing with bottles.

Nothing's happening with me. Had 2 what I thought were contractions on Thursday but then nothing. Not ready yet needing 1 more week then will start operation get baby out.
It's 6.20am now been awake for an hour and am getting up at 8.15am as I'm doing the last session of a photography course this morning.
The course tutor is interested in birth photography (shes usually a newborn/child/family photographer). I'm considering letting her be at my home birth but can't make a decision. What do you think?
I don't want intimate shots but have seen some amazing black & white images from homebirths that are quite special. Both my birthing partners are rubbish at taking photos, would be nice to get some immediately after bubba is born.
However with DS DP attempted to take a snap of me in early stages as apparently I was glowing & looking lovely he's a good liar I didn't let him and got super irritated by the idea, although he did keep asking me to smile and look at him etc , with a professional she would just stay in the background and do her thing hopefully without me noticing. Can't decide HELP!

Any update from Blue?

Hayley the photography sounds interesting...although I would not be brave enough!

Yes. Blue and Liquid? How are you?

A big congratulations to coco and thank you for the lovely inspiring post

hayley - that reminds me that dusting off my SLR is on my to-do list - I did a photography course a couple of years ago but have fallen out of the habit of using the camera.

I think with the photographer i would say have a chat with her about how you would manage her presence -if she hasn't got much experience of photographing births there might be things she hasn't thought of either so might be useful for her even just discussing the practicalities.

I do think it would be lovely to have some decent photos from the birth - first snuggles etc. DH is a lousy photographer though.

I have some lovely photos from the birth of DD1 that my doula took on our own compact camera (some very graphic ones too though that she took to show me baby's head crowing in lieu of a mirror!). I think if you're comfortable with her hayley and you set the rules in advance and what shots you'd like you'll have some beautiful photos to treasure.

It's 11.30pm here and the fireworks are still going. Luckily neither the dog nor DD are bothered at all. I guess I should try to sleep instead of MNing.

Gruueeeaaaagh what a terrible night's non-sleep.

mummy My bump is popping, fizzing, clicking away, but I am simply too tired to have a baby today so I hope it isn't a sign (sorry!). Any news?

hayley You'd be a braver woman than me to let a photographer be there for the birth! I'd hope she has a good telephoto lens and a quiet shutter... On the other hand, I have struggled to get my other half to take a decent photo of me/bump during the pregnancy. I am a bit of a focus/sharpness nut, I know that, but no matter how often I instruct him how to focus on the EYES, not the BUMP, my head is always a vague blur and my hairy, veiny bump is pin-sharp. I dread to think what the post-birth photo will look like or which body parts will be singled out for attention!

Hoping that silence from Blue and liquid is a sign of things happening!

There is no way I would want photos done now, during labour or immediately afterwards!!! You are all far braver than me!

muperoon you've reminded me of depth of field obsession

Alas nothing, again really thought things were kicking off last night but by 2am all died down! Soooo frustrating! Another useless night of non-sleep too and weather today grey and rainy so getting DS out and about to wear him out this morning more tricky plus although DH seems better he's exhausted as well so probably going to be grumpy Will do a proper catch up later on

Congratulations coco ! Lovely to hear your news . I ended up with a trip to delivery suite last night as I managed to fall down the stairs at home . Felt a bit stupid really but thought better to be safe than sorry and all was fine thankfully . Need to be more careful from now on .... Back and hand aching today though .
Going to try to take it easy. Just a trip to the cinema planned .

dolly glad you got checked out and all ok - enjoy the cinema!

Hayley good to hear from you- I was wondering yesterday if there was any movement as your 5am post was missing :)

ismarah glad all your stitches are intact but your poor stomach is taking a battering right now! Re milk coming in my breasts were suddenly massive and rock hard v engorged! MW actually advised I express a bit to ease the pressure and make it easier for DS to latch on as they were a bit like over inflated balloons :) also I've just remembered how bizarre the 'let Down' sensation is when you first get it-you actually feel the milk rushing through the ducts as they feed! Amazing really.

liquid just wanted to say - thinking of you and hope all's going well!

Well here in Casa blue DH is actually much more chirpy than I gave him credit for and has taken DS out for a couple of hours to give me some quiet. He's planning more culinary exploits today though cooking a yummy curry (part of his heritage so he's v good at it) and his baking challenge for the weekend is a pear and almond lattice tart! Think the ladies he works with are enjoying giving him recipes to try!

Re bean, I was almost at the point of starting to time things last night when tiredness overtook and I lay down and it all pretty much stopped so must've been more BHs. Needed to wee approx every 15 minutes which was v irritating and was v constipated though this morning have now had 3 bouts of diarrhoea (sorry tmi)! Bump still feels v v low and v heavy with a definite ache about it and still getting BHs. In all honesty though it would be good to get through today without any drama due to childcare issues but then we can crack on!