October 14. Thread 12. Still no babies? Let the raspberry leaf tea drinking commence

[YellowWellies]

New Fred

vickys sad news has really given me perspective. I'm no longer moaning about the house, and the mess we have just come back to. All I want is a healthy baby - all the other stuff does not matter - even that I feel totally unprepared.

So sorry Vicky for your tragic loss of little Edith, and really thankful that you thought of us to post here, I hope you have all the support you need to get through this, it's unimaginable.

So sorry to hear your news Vicky.My thoughts are with you xx

Well today is my first day of maternity leave, yikes! Pelvis is aching and I'm uber-tired after a long day out yesterday followed by a sore and restless night, but trying to keep moving as resting just gives me backache! Hard to decide what is the worse of the two evils! The house was pretty neglected over the weekend so attempting to remedy that now. Hope the rest of you are good and not feeling too fed up with aches and pains!

Am so so sorry Vicky. RIP little Edith. Will be calling in at the merest hint of any problems.

First Monday of ML; feels a bit odd. Chores, cleaning out drawers to make space for the oodles of baby vests I've bought since a friend related she went through 14 in a day... & going blackberry picking with the dog later.

I'm so sorry to hear your news Vicky. Same as fedup says, it puts things a little into perspective regards what's important... and it isn't perfect tiling in my bathroom. I hope you've got good support around you at this frankly shitty time.

Nothing more to say Vicky than what others have said before me but thinking of you at this difficult time. Edith was my first choice for a girl's name - so beautiful as I'm sure was she.

Same here, Vicky. Thinking of you at this awful time & in awe of the fact that you found the strength to come on here and be thinking about all of us.
When we lost our last DD, SANDS were a great help. I hope you can find a way to get through this xx

Clops I don't know if you've a kindle or a tablet but I found reading books on my tablet (much less likely to bash baby on the head with a tablet than a real book, and you don't need to turn the light on and wake up DH) really helped keep me awake and night feeds became something I looked forward to. I must have read 2-3 books a week when BF Jonas. I really miss it now as I get no reading done. I'm already amassing books to read at night on my tablet with number two.

I am so sorry to hear that baby Edith was born sleeping vicky.

That sounds like a great idea yellow. I don't have a kindle and have always been opposed to giving up the paperbacks, but I had some money for my birthday recently and maybe this is the item its been waiting for....any recommendations on which kindle/ replica to buy? Love the idea of looking forward to night feeds!

Clops I have a kindle paper white. I was really reluctant to give up real books but I absolutely love it. It has the backlight so you can read in the dark but it is great as it doesn't feel like you're reading off a screen which was a huge plus for me as I am usually in front of a computer screen all day. Like yellow I am currently trying to fill it with things to read once baby arrives.

That's a great idea yellow! I used to read every day on my commute to work and would love an excuse to take it up again. Will be having a peruse of the kindle later to see if DH has downloaded anything decent

Bit of a weird one, is anyone considering getting their placenta encapsulated? I am seriously considering it this time as I have heard it can make your milk come in quicker & more of it and also helps with baby blues/pnd. A lot of ladies I have spoken to on different facebook groups have said its like rocket fuel & can really help boost your energy! It costs about £200 to get someone else to do it but only about £30 to do it yourself.

I am thinking of doing it JellyBeans although the £150 I have been quoted on top of the money I am paying for a Doula means everything is adding up a bit. Not sure I'd be able to do it myself though - do you have any info about it?

Now have a Close Caboo and a ring sling on the way. Looking at another stretchy too.....ooops

DS back to preschool this morning and my Mum is staying for a few days so trying to get lots of jobs done (including packing the hospital bag) but have just spent the last 30 minutes on MN and looking at Ewan! I used something similar last time but my son wasn't that fussed so not sure if I should get it now or just wait. Must admit I got pretty fed up trying to sleep while listening to wombs and whales last time so I'd rather the baby could sleep without needing constant noise

First antenatal session with our Doula tomorrow afternoon - yay!

@Jellybeans Yes I am getting someone to encapsulate my placenta..I've heard it's really worth doing as really helps with post partum period.It is expensive though.

If you google "DIY placenta encapsulation" it comes up with lots of step by step guides. www.placentanetwork.com/placenta-encapsulation/ is also a good resource and you can buy kits from them with everything you need.
Essentially though you wash it, steam it, dry it in the oven then grind it down into powder & encapsulate it with a machine which you can buy for around £20. I am a bit dubious about actually having the inclination to do it mere days after giving birth but hoping I can get DH on board to help me

Pinkie - Did no one warn you babywearing is highly addictive?! I must have spent HOURS pouring over pictures of different slings, all way out of my budget of course but still! I am a very conservative babywearer, I only have 1 stretchy, 1 woven wrap & 1 mei tai but I know a lady with at least 5 of each and talk to people with literally hundreds of woven wraps of every colour & design!

After much nagging from DH I finally packed my 'hospital' bag that can be grabbed in case I need to transfer to hospital. I must admit it feels nice knowing its there just in case.

clops2000 my CTS is playing up too; my sister had it in pregnancy and recommended getting someone to massage my hands, fingers and wrists to aid blood flow, she also said running the cold tap over her wrists in the morning helped her quite a bit. I haven't bothered phoning physio as I feel it's a bit late in the day as well. I have wrist splints from my sister (nearly new as she got them just before her name came up in the waiting list for ops on her wrists!) but they seem to make it worse for me if anything and make sleeping more uncomfy so I haven't worn them much!

Well, performance review as expected - didn't have any notes, don't care less about targets, didn't get payrise for the year!! Not that it would made a squat of difference this coming year, so doesn't matter. First time ever that I've not 'made the grade'. Feel a bit bad.. it's all totally down to being pregnant - I just lost all interest in giving a shit. More reasons why this child has to be an only one, our bank statement can't take it.

Thanks for the advice everyone, I did wonder if the splint would make any difference kirsti, will try cold water. I also found an acupressure point on ?babycentre website which seemed to release the pressure a little if you're also looking for things.

Might have to get myself a kindle I think!

I packed my hospital bag at the weekend too and took ages, had hubby helping me by the end! As we're planning homebirth it took a bit of working out to decide what to put in where, as we'll need it at home if not going into hospital - sounds like the same for you jellyb. The things I got most confused were with the baby's clothes...having washed lots of babygrows etc it seems they're all so different in size, even when they say newborn! What have people packed for baby? I think i've got too much, but I think if I do end up going in its likely I might be in a day or two perhaps....

Having read a bit more about my placenta I'm starting to think i don't want to just send it off with the MW as it's been giving my baby life for 9 months. I wondered about planting it in garden under a new tree perhaps, but the encapsulation also sounds tempting...is the research around it reliable? bit worried it could be just a new fad without evidence base!

Speaking of placentas don't read if your squeamish

www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/mum-ate-babies-placentas-raw-4179993

What have people packed for baby?

3 tiny baby vests, 3 tiny baby sleepsuits
3 newborn vests, 3 newborn sleepsuits
Nappies (Pampers size 1), a hat, a swaddle blanket and a cot blanket

Anything else can be changed/fetched by boyfriend if needed. They don't take up that much room. I've put a 'coming home' outfit and the star fleece thing in another bag that will sit in the car seat.

goats I've put in muslin squares, scratch mitts, cotton hat and waterwipes too for the baby, also a hooded towel but not sure if well need it?

We haven't got any tiny baby stuff just new born, I can't see her being that small for some reason!

Oh yeah - I've got muslins and water wipes too. No scratch mitts, have the over the hand sleep suit thing.

I was warned originally that this one would be lucky to be 6lbs, but it's already that, so who knows. Might not make the 7.5lbs needed for newborn sizes though. I've only bought newborn sizes, the tiny baby stuff came from my SIL who had both in the low 6s. I'll take it out if it starts seeming loads bigger!

OMG. Encapsulating your own placenta?!?! Never new there was such a thing never mind actually do it yourself!!!

DH is back and so pleased to see him. All the paranoid thoughts have gone too

I think on the placenta topic i would probably do it if it was a routine thing you did after giving birth, just dont think i could be bothered arranging to have "encapsuled" ? .. Has the health benefits been proven & tested? ... Im not too sure? .., but if it was guarenteed to give me the energy of a four year old after birth, i wouldnt hesitate