Due February 07 - New Thread!!

[Tommy]

there we go...... that wasn't painful at all

We've got our first NHS one tonight - I'll let you know how it goes. To be honest though my head is full of van hire, packing and insurance quotes ready for moving this weekend so I may not take much in. DH and I are feeling quite peeed off after going to sort out paperwork for new house. Had been told that we couldn't pay by credit card which was fine but not had it spelled out that we had to pay by cash or bankers draft. Have just had a mad dash into the city to get money out over the counter(limited to how much you can get out from cash machines!!) - doesn't bode well for the rest of the weekend.
Hope you all have nice restful weekends with lots of chocolate cake (followed by Gaviscon etc)

Hi all I have NHS course in a couple of weeks 'preparation for birth' and one in Jan 'active birth' I have signed up for NCT which are also not until January I'll be 33 weeks but they are more about meeting people and for Dh's benefit. My NN who is due in jan went on the NHS one and said it really freaked her DH out. (full blown birth video etc) whereas the NCT made him feel a lot more confident about it all.
I've changed lots of nappies in my time in different schools but am a bit worried about bathing a slippery baby. I also worry about getting the right stuff, buggy car seat, bouncy chair etc

I did NCT classes the last time and was lucky enough to meet some very lovely people and learn an awful lot about what it was really going to be like. I was in Caroline Flint's group - and she is so funny and down to earth. Mad as a badger, mind.

This time I have done a set of Hypnobirthing classes so part of me can't wait to see whether I actually can use these self calming exercises in my own home birth. The videos that you see as part of the course are unbelievable - the women just seem to be so deeply calm and relaxed. The cynical side of me wonders whether there's a load of footage where the mothers were jumping around demanding drugs and alcohol and screaming abuse at their partners (no, of course not).

I had 2 NHS ones last time and was very disappointed. All I can remember is being divided in to 2 groups - women and men - and writing lists of what we were/weren't looking forward to. There was a small bit about how it should face forwards, but nothing about what to do if it isn't, and that was about it. I was expecting lots of stuff about breathing and how to cope with what's going on, but there was none of that. When I was in hospital they said "remember your breathing exercises" to which I replied "what exercises, I don't know any, no one's told me anything!" and got in a bit of a flap. Rant over.

My NHS classes last time around were quite frankly rubbish! DH even fell asleep at one. We had hoped for a bit of the "what the hell do you do with a newborn" advice but got none. We did get breastfeeding advice and I went to a specific breastfeeding class but retrospectively I was told a lot of nonsense and myths! And this is from a unicef baby friendly accredited hopsital! We did see a fantastic video called "follow me mum" which at the time I thought was a load of nonsense. And besides at 34 wks it was all forgotten fast... but I have since seen it since bf DS and reckon it's great. Well worth a look if you can loan it from your hospital or something.

All I can say is that the learning curve is fast with a newborn lol. Bathing terrified us for weeks... until I went in the bath with DS and it was much better. But I found that I could ask the most 'stupid' questions online and noone laughed.

Speaking of which... how do you clean a girls bits? Obviously, you want to get any poo etc off them but what if bits are going too intimate? Don't want to give the wee one thrush by over cleaning. Also, how common is thrush in wee girls? And I've heard that they can bleed (like menstrual) due to post birth hormones?

The NHS class I did find useful was a physio one that covered birthing positions, easing labour, relaxation etc so I'm going to it again this time around. Also looking into hypnobirthing...

my nhs class is not untill 3rd feb at which point i'll be 38 and half weeks pregnant and it is for one full day!!

let's hope yours doesn't come early then titchy!

IIRC, the nappies, bathing and dressing babies lessons all came when I was in hospital after DS1 was born

you could be the practical demonstration during your AN classes if things kick off titchy . I guess it's not ideal, but at least everything should be fresh in your mind.

Oh, I agree with the wrapover vest suggestion. I'm definately getting some this time (didn't with DS) as I remember how awful it was pulling a vest over a newborns head! DS was sick a lot and his vest was changed a lot in the day. I think I saw some in babues r us too?

Got a letter from gp's yesterday saying my bloods showed minor abmnormalities and to make an appointment, which i did, the doctor was pretty useless, didn't know how to look up on computer what the results were and then found my iron one which says i'm anaemic so she prescribed tablets then the glucose one which says was over, meant to be 3.3-6 mine was just over at 6.1, she said that as it wasn't a fasting test it could be wrong and that i should speak to my mw at the next appontment?dont know whether to ring my mw and see if i should book another test or not!

We were shown how to bath/change nappies etc in hospital after having DD, but I was still a bit out of it so forgot it all instantly and had to make it up as I went along. I do remember being shown how to clean girls' bits though.

They say you must always go front to back and use a clean piece of cotton wool with each wipe. Clean in all the creases but don't go in between the labia as that bit's self cleaning! It's really very easy and I got the hang of it after a few goes, although the meconium does take some wiping (and nose holding!).

And good luck with your blood tests and things Titchy

Morning all,

Well the first NHS class yesterday was good. It was with a physio and she had a really good style. We talked about posture and things to do in early labour and to try and get the baby the right way round. The group seemed really nice but a bit hard to strike up friendships - maybe next week?

I too am a bit nervous about the bathing, dressing, feeding thing (although a lot more nervous about the birth obviously!!) and wonder whether there's time at the hospital to show you? They all seem pretty keen on getting you out of there asap. Can you ask to be shown or does that make you look stupid?
Titchy 77 I wouldn't worry too much about the glucose thing. A couple of us had higher sugar at the last test and were told the same thing - you probably had something sweet just before you did the test. They only worry if it's high for a second time. Saying that, if you're worrying then it's always worth giving the MW a ring to put your mind at rest.

I had DD1 at 3.10pm and didn't change a nappy until mid morning the next day when I was shown how to do it. For the first few hours the midwives/HCAs look after the baby for you while you sleep. In my handheld notes there was a tick list that they had to go through before discharging me, they included things like showing me how to bath her. The dressing looks really awkward but you soon get a feel for how their little arms and legs bend. DD1 had a horrendous bruise and raw patch from the (gone wrong) ventouse and I still managed to get clothes over her head without hurting her and I'm the clumsiest person - it just happens when you have to do it!

And no, you won't look stupid if you ask about every little thing, that's what they're there for!

I wouldn't rely on the midwives helping you out while you sleep though... I was sent to the ward at 5am after having DS at 3am, without DH, throwing up loads from morphine, having only slept an hour or two in almost 3 days and with a screaming newborn. And I was given no assistance whatsoever. If I tried to walk with DS to calm him or go to the loo to be sick they told me to get back in bed as I was woosey and might fall! I do think though that it was more because it was the night staff - the day staff were much more helpful when they came on a couple of hours later... I just wish I had been more insistant to take longer doing skin to skin etc etc in the delivery room while I still had DH there for support. They weren't busy so it shouldn't have been a problem but DH and I were fairly rushed to get out of their way!

Hi Titchy, I wouldn't worry about the blood glucose, random glucose tests are useless and shouldn't be used any more, in over 10 years I have never worked in a unit that does them, unfortunatly I have heard of loads of women being subjected to stress from having one. The NICE guidelines state that routine testing for Gestational Diabetes should not be performed anymore (and this is what they are looking at with a random blood glucose) and that testing should only be offered selectivly and this would be done by a fasting blood test, also known as a glucose tolerance test (GTT).

Suzi, I think your vomiting may have been caused by the syntometrine given for third stage as an antiemetic is usually given with morphine, vomiting is one of the nast side effects of syntometrine that you never get told about and it often kicks in about the time a woman is transfered up to postnatal ward (just after they finally have had a chance to freshen up and feel half decent again after the toils of labour!), IIRC you are planning a physiological third stage this time so hopefully you won't be suffering from that nasty episode again!

snugglebum - could well have been a combination of things. i was very sick with the morphine during labour, but then it was given to me when I was pretty much in transition so it could have been labour itself that made me sick. And I pretty much threw up until I hit the labour ward... I hate being sick anywhere other than a toilet lol!

I'm planning a physiological third stage this time figuring that I can get the injection if necessary. Mind you, last time my plan was for a physiological third stage but the mw said that since I had ended up on an obstetric ward I had to have the jab. Pure nonsense I'm sure but you don't really have the energy to argue in labour!

Oooh - I'm getting all bitter about hospital again lol! It honestly wasn't that bad . I'm just a bit peeved that some things were forced on me and also that I felt so scared AFTER giving birth.

Evening - well been to hosp today for 28 wk growth scan and consultant appt - was supposed to have glucose tolernce test but they didnt tell me I needed an appt - I phoned up yesterday to check times - and found outthen - would have been really mad if I had fasted all night and then found out!

Scan went well - buba is above average but within the range (top end though!!) - average beinga 7lb 13oz baby!!! Hummmmm - it would appear that he has a large head and tum which would suggest a larger baby - possibly due to the sugar - booked in for gtt and then to see consultant again next Friday. Also booked in for 34 week scan, but depending upon results next week of blood test - may have to go to weekly hosp appts - can see work liking that - not! Although I did warn them at the beginning....

Hi, I'm now officially 30 weeks. its starting to feel... i'm not quite sure how to put it, would real be silly?? lol i've been so busy counting down the weeks i havent actually noticed how fast they've passed by!
I had to have a growth scan 2 weeks ago as i was measuring small for my dates, I was still measuring at 23 weeks which is what I measured 3 weeks before, got really scared.
Anyway the scan showed that baby was the right size, a little below average but within range, and had the right amount of fluid just me not measuring right. have to go back this week for another just to check shes grown 2 weeks worth (to cut a long story short) but i've had a few comments on how much bumps grown lately, although still get lost of people who insist on telling me how tiny I am.
Ok well this was just meant to be a hello post but I waffled on! sorry!
Hope everyones ok?

Hi all
Dh paid for me to have an antenatal pampering session yesterday for my Bday and it was soooo lovely. exfoliation, moisturise and a facial. My skin is so soft! We also went to sort the mortgage and I successfully managed to hide my bump!! so it's hopefully all go on the house.
I was looking at books about pregnancy and in particular bith has anyone got one they would recommend?

hello all - I found The Best Friend's Guide to Pregnancy great fun if you can ignore all the annoying Americanisms but it really made me laugh and gives good advice too.

I am feeling a little blue today as DS2 has cracked his head open and is currently at A&E with DH. They said there was a 4 hour wait

Oh dear Tommy, I hope he's ok

Talking of pampering, I've just struggled to cut my toenails and have decided I'm going to get a pedicure (for the 2nd time in my life)

hi everyone! just popped in to ask your advice. my sister is 38 weeks pregnant and has been trying to induce her labour herself. not medically but with natural remidies. i wondered if any of you had tried this or had any knowledge of castor oil in particular. im 31 weeks and its my second pregnancy however i didnt try anything like that to start me off so unfortunatly i am of no use to her. thanks

I haven't been on here for ages! too busy moving to the other side of the world. Am 28 weeks now with a boy (we found out more or less by mistake). no chance of catching up on all this but hope everyone is doing well

just wanted to say - bubblebell1, castor oil is NOT recommended. at the best it'll give her diaorrhea (nice) and may make her vomit which is obviously not ideal for a pregnant woman. Many people will tell you it works, but midwives/experts will tell you not to do it.

oops forgot to finish!
The main reason against it is if you do get sick, then you run the risk of getting dehydrated which is a) not good for you b) not good for the baby and c) a crap way to start labour!