It's all balls, bicycles, and babies for the PESH!

[maamalady]

Antenatal fred for BESH graduates

CRESH

Faith - pinky faithlet arrived 14th April 2013
Pinkr - suitably pinky one arrived 25th August 2013
Jethro - blue one arrived 23rd September 2013
Noks - pink one arrived 12th January 2014
Frankel - large pink one arrived 10th March 2014
Merks - pink one landed safe and sound 21st March 2014
Sinky - Stubborn blue one arrived 26th March 2014
Driz - blue one arrived 12th June 2014
Kat - pink one arrived 21st June 2014

PESH

Draf - Expecting a late pink one EDD 19th June
Winks - EDD 26th June
Ginger - Miniginger due 13th August
Dor - A very special pink one expected 18th August
Euro - eager Centime expected to arrive a lot sooner than 28th August
Buggerlugs - Buglet due 20th October
Fankle - ESHlet expected 4th January
Cunty - Minichops expected 7th February

So the June cluster is halfway through laying, and then we're on to the July/August batch! Are we even going to have time for Wimbledon and Le Tour and the World Cup in all this excitement?!

Still 3 fucking cm but fully effaced. They've ruptured my waters which had meconium in them so no chance of a water birth anyway. Drip in 2 hours if no joy.

That's wonderful draf.

bugs I was told that from about 30 weeks, if someone puts an ear to the belly, they can sometimes hear the foetal heartbeat. The first time KFZK tried it, he got kicked in the head for his troubles. I lolled.

Oh winks that's a shame about the waterbirth. It seems like so few births go the way we would like them too. But 3cm and effaced is good progress. You are on the way.

I had my second steroid injection this morning. Christ they sting. And I had a sleepless night last night for my troubles. I remember from when I tried the prednisolone immune therapy during ttc that steroids make me buzz. The doses I am having at the moment are massive, so rather than conking out at 10.30 like I have been doing recently, despite a very long walk to and from the Arcade Fire gig in Hyde Park yesterday evening, I was wide awake and ready to party. Until 3am. And up again at 6. So much for getting some rest in before centime arrives.

We're off to see private consultant shortly. Just in the office now trying to hammer out some hurried mat leave notes!

Hope things are progressing Winks, whilst you can't have a water birth will they let you labour in the water for a bit?

Euro, hope the consultant is helpful.

E has been a right grumpy pants today, she had her 16wk injections yesterday and my mum thinks she can see teeth emerging in her lower gum, so it's probably understandable

Hooked up to (mobile) epidural and syntocin drip now, so pool totally out of the question. Womble still refusing to give me regular strong contractions and baybee's heart rate has dipped a couple of times so a CS may even be on the cards.

I did want a water birth but DM and DSis were both induced with their first so I was open to the possibility.

euro hope that the meeting goes well. Kick the other bitch in the shins. You and centime are at the very front of my thoughts x

Hope the private consultant is being more helpful, euro, I have everything crossed for you and centime.

It's a long old haul but you'll get there, winks. The drip will help with the contractions so best of luck it flows more smoothly now.

That's so adorable, bugs :) HOTB was just the same when playing with my belly - it only gets more fun as they get bigger.

I'm cheering you on and thinking dilating thoughts, winks.

The private consultant is really lovely. He's arranged for me to have a second opinion scan with one of his colleagues tomorrow. If his decision is Monday, then I will be content that it is the right decision for the baby. It's just hard having two such different opinions 3 days apart. Hopefully the scan tomorrow will help us find our way through that. The only thing is that it leaves us in limbo and I think we will both find it easier once we have a concrete date to work towards. The only fly in the ointment is that private consultant is away for the latter part of next week so if sonographer tomorrow thinks the back end of next week would be optimal, then lovely consultant won't be around. So we will see. He made the point that they don't grow much in a few days, which is true, but each day is a little better for neurological development, lung development and so on. I'd really set my heart on getting to 34 weeks as that is a real milestone, and now it feels like so near and yet so far (I'd be 32+4 on Monday).

Keeping everything crossed for you being able to keep centime in as long as you can, draf.

I have been close to tears all day. I am hot and my hay fever is making me tired and miserable. I know it's just hormones but I could genuinely cry

bugs that's what I would hope for but if the blood flow worsens another stage it's a "get the baby out in 24 hrs" kind of scenario, or there's a big risk of brain damage/stillbirth. That's why it's so stressful - every day in there is better for the baby's development but it also carries a risk, hence all the monitoring.

Join me in a good cry, ginge. That's all I seem to do lately. I'm not a crier but think I have cried more in the past month than in previous decade.

Euro all differs are allowed to cry & especially differs with blood flow ishoos. Glad the consultant was nice to you.

Bugs I've got as far as making a parcel for you. Next step is actually taking it to work to post!

I have laid a pink one :) Lucy is perfect. Alas my labour was a bit of a horror story and I am shredded, but never mind eh.

Winks,you've done brilliantly and Lucy is perfect. Your poor foof though. Hope you're sleeping now. Enjoy the first night!

Oh winks, congratulations and ouch! for both. Glad you're okay enough for updates, though shredded.

Glad to hear lovely consultant has helped make a plan, euro. It's so unfair that you're having to deal with this crap and I'm so impressed with how you're dealing with it. for you too.

Winks! Congrats. Lovely name too. I hope you are not suffering too much. Was it an instrumental delivery?

Massive congratulations Winks, such a beautiful name Hope you are resting and enjoying the snuggles.

Oh congrats winks.

I was fairly shredded after The Little Mister but I survived.

Popping in to offer belated laying congrats to draf and eye watering applause to Winks on the arrival of your small people. Well done hags.

Euro my heart goes out to you and the knife edge of decisions and emotions you are walking just now. I hope luffly consultant and his second opinion can give you some clear advice for centime soon. This lurching from scan to scan sounds like a rollercoaster of horrors, real and imagined, I can't even guess what that's doing to your sanity. You are SO amazing to be dealing so well with this with the usual euro stoicism, humour and humility. I am in awe lady, keep going, we're all willing you on to the magic date.

24 weeks, just wow bugs! frankel OMG teeth?! How are you guys doing? You also seem to have cracked this motherhood thing with amazing aplomb. Fab news on the boob.

Miss you hags but enjoying galumphing about throwing myself headlong into non differ activities, working too hard yomping around and staying out late in the pub after with my mates.

Congratulations winks! Enjoy all your snuffly cuddles and hope you have a quick recovery. If you have stitches that sting when you wee, my top tip is to sit backwards on the loo. And pour jugs of lukewarm water over the area while you wee. Remember to keep on top of your painkillers.

It feels very right TBH bugs. I always thought I would 'know' and we really do. Both ROCH and I are unanimously comfortable with the decision to say yes to this one and are quietly excited.

winks! You have a baybee! She is scrumptious. I'm not getting broody for a newborn at all I luff that name (but one of my friends chose it a year before we had Faithlet!)
Sorry it was a tough labour. I recommend witch Hazel on your maternity pads, badedas in the bath and sitting on a round cushion for the fanjo.

cherry how nice to see you and you sound very positive. :)

euro it's totally understandable you're crying lots. Words can't express how much we luff our unborn baybees and you just want the best for centime. The stress you must be under must be incredible. I hope centime can hold on inside as long as possible til the nice consultant comes back.

cherry I hadn't been near the BESH thread at all, that's great news. Fingers crossed for you.

I am still a bit shell shocked. euro bold baby turned her (massive) head the wrong way so I couldn't push her out, she was getting distressed so ended up in theatre for forceps and episiotomy. The episiotomy didn't do the trick, i've got a 4th degree 'button hole' tear, about as shredded as it gets! Not had to do a stingy wee yet as the catheter hasn't long been out. Baby seems quite snoozy at the minute, presumably from all the drugs. I had to wake her up with a nappy change and wash to make her feed, whereas I'm a bit sore for sleeping hence the posting.

I promise I will read back on everyone's news at some point.