Due February 07 - New Thread!!

[Tommy]

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

hey guys havent been on for ages just been reading the threads im 27 weeks+2 im in work on overtime today 9am till 8pm must be mad but this lo is going to cost me alot of money

just looking in and saw the exchanges about birth plans. TBH I don't remember anyone looking at mine until I arrived at the hospital in labour. The only thing they seemed to want to know before then was whether I was planning hospital/home birth and whether I intended to bf or not.

I found that the process of trying to write down what I wanted was useful because it made me focus on what I thought was important and also helped me spot the things I didn't know about and so needed to find out more. If you do this in advance of the birth and have the chance to talk it over with the mw (or MNers, other parents, NCT etc etc...) to fill in your understanding then that's prob the most useful thing about the plan at this point.

30 weeks now, by the way, and feeling really fine. Got a spectacular varicose vein on my right leg which itches by the end of the day and that's about it.

The lovely thing about the ante-natal threads is that generally you can discuss anything without fear of judgement, I definitely find them more supportive! I completely understand what you mean about the subject specific topics CB, feel free to voice concerns etc here though, I would be very surprised if the reaction is the same. On the nipples subject, I ran quite a bit through my 1st pg and got joggers nipple which does sound similar to what you describe. Give the running a miss for a few days and see whether there's any improvement, or check that the sports bra you wear is absolutely binding to prevent as much friction. Hth.
Suzi2 you could be me!! I'm tired of being pg too, but we do have a lot going on atm, maybe that's it. I feel like a tortoise in the morning, not truly waking up until 10.30am!!
My bub has being trying to move for the last week, mostly at night, it's now transverse lie . It occurred to me that approaching 30 weeks I should really think about packing a bag, just in case. I did my birth plan at 32 weeks but then let it sink in and tweaked it until I was happy over the last few weeks. This time I won't do one until the baby turns, not much point.

Have just seen my midwife and she seemed a lot more together today - more than usual! She seems a lot more up for the homebirth too. Although I didn't mention the waterbirth thing, I just said that I hadn't finalised all the details of the birth pool. I still need to write to all the powers that be to tell them to get their staff trained as I won't be getting out the pool!

Everything is fine baby wise. Midwife is fairly convinced that baby is head down. She said that, especially when it's not your first, they can flip about for a good while. But if you adopt good postures etc without going overboard on it you can discourage them getting too comfy in bad positions. She said to worry about doing proper postural stuff after 34wks.

Still not sure why I'm feeling so down this week. I guess I'm starting to feel the third trimester... not looking forward to the next few months. Just lifting DS and pinning him down to get his nappy changed seems like such a trial at the moment!

HI all, Just checking in to say that I haven't even thought about a birth plan and don't really know what I need to think about to decide what is important! I think I'm adopting a bit of an ostrich position re everything to do with LO at the moment (ie head in sand) as we've got the move to sort out first. Our first parentcraft class is next Thurs so maybe that will kick me into action. TBH I'm starting to panic a bit about money (hiring a van, needing furniture) and starting to feel uncomfortable with the big bump. On a positive note, I've managed to find a coat in TKMaxx and have bought an exercise ball.

Poor you Suzi. It's all starting to get a little bit close now isn't it...just Christmas (Hurray..I LOVE Christmas) and then we are on a final countdown. Just this last week or so, I have started feeling a bit more uncomfortable and a bit more tired, but the work load stays the same! Not suprising if you feel a little bit below par. Try (and I realise this may be a completely unrealistic suggestion) to get a bit of time off for yourself and don't worry about your other one not thinking mummy loves him. Cuddles work wonders..lots of them.. and in a poll of my friends who have younger brothers and sisters, we all remember them being annoying at times(!!!), but none of us recall feeling rejected . I think we mums put an awful lot of pressure on ourselves. It will all be fine...busy, but fine! xx

Went to mw appointment today and was told to make another for 4weeks. Went to reception, asked for said date and just about fainted when I was informed that would be 21st December! Why does Xmas always sneak up on me every year? This year's gong to be a trial too as due to this bloody spd, I can't go hardcore shopping. DP has suggested renting a mobility scooter/grannymobile, I quickly wellied him, lol

let the games commence.

TLB.xx

Did loads of shopping online and sat back with a smug look on my face. May I suggests Hawkins Bazaar (available online ) as the ideal place to get pressies for those hard to buy for people and great stocking fillers? Got my mother 'granny racers'...like scalelectrix but two old ladies with zimmer frames rather than racing cars..thought it would make a nice change from a vase!

Hi I've not popped in for a few days but have ben lurking. Hope everyone is well. Very interesting chat about breast feeding. I would like to BF but am feeling slightly apprehensive about it all. I would like to express and there was some good advice posted Thanks. I've had a good look at the tommee tippee bottles and they do look good.
My mum didn't breast feed. She lost a baby at about 30 - 32 weeks and My brother was also born this early (He has severe SEN)I was induced they mmanaged to keep me in there til 37 weeks but she clains she never made any breast milk. I wonder if with the first two pregnancies her hormones didn't kick in - her problems lay with her placenta not growing an supprting the babies porperly.
My brother was also breech and he was terned about three tme but always went back.
As you can imagine all of this has had an impact ofn my thinkning about the prenancy - she also gave birth to all of us in aoround 3 hours
My baby is also transverse I think, as she was lying across with her head near my upper tummy we went for the gender scan 2 weeks ag oand then last week was in exactly the same position when we went back for the photos. (she wasn't having any of it again, hand and even a foot over her face)
Actually the baby has been very quiet for the last two days just a couple of little rumbles.
Anyone getting pins and needles in their fingers? I'm getting this especially in the mornings (I did a google and it seems to be carpel tunnel)I'm seeing the midwife next week so will ask her about it.
Anyway an awful day at work for me lots going on.I only had 15 mins away from the children due to poorlyness / naughtyness going on!

sorry probably a long post

Sally, saw those granny racers already, lmao. They're quality.

I basically know all things I'm getting, but will have to dispatch DP to shops, eek. Now that will be entertaining.

tlb.x

Hi peachygirl. Golly, sounds like your mum had a tough time. If the baby is a bit quiet you need to have some icey water and lie down for 20 - 30 mins and you'll probably find it becomes a bit more vigorous! They move different amounts according to position and how busy you are (that is, you may not have had time to think about movements) but you should be getting at least 10 good movements a day, so if it carries on being quiet, contact your midwife so she can listen in and reassure you. xx

Peachygirl - it's really quite normal to be aprehensive about breastfeeding. It was the one thing that terrified me last time. And oddly, even after confidently feeding DS until a few months ago, I'm apprehensive about it again! At least I know this time that a newborn feeding every hour, sometimes with very little break in between can be quite normal for a few weeks! I was so unconfident last time and felt I was getting everything wrong and couldn't trust any instinct that I had. Sounds like your mum had a tough time. It is likely that with enough stimulation she would have made the milk. But it's very hard to do this with expressing only. And stress hormones can also affect the let down of milk. All you have to remember is... baby suckles, you make milk. More baby suckles, more milk you make.

As for the quiet baby thing, try a can of coke . Or something cold and sweet and lie down on your left and relax. It's likely that will get things going. But don't be afraid to call your midwife or the hospital to go and get checked out. if you have any doubts.

Pins and needles in the morning is common - I have had it for a while now. Your mw can probably give you wrist splints that will help. I have them although seem to whip them off during the night most nights!

LittlestBoho - I would suggest that you tell your DP to do all the hardcore shopping that should shut him up!

Going to check out the granny racers. I think that would really tickle my mum...

Boho I also have a mw appt on 21st Dec - it is in the afternoon and I am not going back to work afterwards - can start my xmas hols early!!

I didn;t do a birth plan last time and don't intend to do so this time either - don't see the point! It is hard to know what you want when you have not been there before, and then it all goes out of the window when the pain kicks in!! Each to their own!!

I plan to pack my bag over xmas while I am off - will need to go and buy some of those mad things you need (like sanitary towels etc) - it is all a bit awkward as I don;t know what sizse clothes to take for buba as he will probably be big - need to look at nappies as well - thank god for 24 hour supermarkets! Can always send my mum out shopping!

babydriver - get some support tights for your veins - trust me they make it feel alot better! They are a fiver in Mothercare for 1 pair (wot a rip off) - I just bought extra large ones from a local old ladies shop at £2 a pair - seem to go through them at a pair a week at the moment - need to cut toenails!

I've also gone back onto on-line shopping at supermarket to save me the bother - need to be organised though!

andyrobo237, I'm the same with regards to baby size, I tend to make them big too. Have bought a few 11lb things and just keep thinking, they look small!! Watch this, she come out a 7lb tiddler, lol. Can you throw them back??

tlb.x

Hey everyone, been reading but not writing for a while - it seems like everything is gearing up for the big event for everyone...breastfeeding, foetal positioning, labour bags - Argh!!!! Exciting yet SO SCARY!!!!!!!!!!

I have been signed off until early January - may go into work for three weeks before starting maternity leave on Feb 2nd but will see how I feel.

Loving online shopping! Ebay is my favourite - check out schuhstore on ebay and new maternity clothes!

Baby is driving me mad, now kicking or punching just below right boob. Bump stretched very high - have no concept of which way he/she is facing! Just is very naughty and fidgety. Peachy, a cup of tea sets my bump off and someone else told me that sunlight makes a baby "reach out", so go flash your bump down the garden!

Excuse my ignorance - but are there special postnatal sanitary towels I need to get, or do you just get the most absorbent ordinary ones?!

You do get special maternity pads alocin. Most supermarkets, boots etc stock them. They're like massive nastly sanitary pads TBH. However, I wouldn't be tempted to use normal sanitary towels as they aren't designed to deal with any really thick gunk (sorry TMI!) and I've also heard that the one way top sheet on them can stick to stitches.

I discovered that Sainsburys did fab maternity pads last time around - the only ones I have seen with wings. You do get disposable pants too... but personally I thought they were awful and instead I bought really cheap giant knickers out of ASDA (£1 for 3 pairs) and threw them out if they got too damaged.

Alocin, I have a nasty feeling they are supposed to be the special 'maternity' ones. Looked in Boots recently and nearly fainted: they are about the size and shape of the average house brick! No wonder women struggle to walk after birth - nothing to do with the baby, they just can't get their legs close enough together with the massive pad stuck in between them!

Sorky, thanks for that thought. I don't think it is jogger's nipple though - nipples are not sore at all and it's the areolas that are dry and flaky. I've been wearing two crop-top sports bras, one on top of the other, and trust me - nothing moves! I also haven't done much running in the last couple of weeks (had groin pain and decided resting it might be a good idea as was worried I had SPD: don't think it is that after all, fortunately) and still really dry. Think I'll try baby oil after a shower and see whether that helps.

Peachygirl, it's not surprising you're feeling a bit stressed given your mum's experiences. History doesn't always repeat itself though, and chances are you'll have a perfectly normal pregnancy and delivery. Does your midwife know your mum's history? If so I'm sure they'll keep a close eye on you.

Am going to visit the birth centre tomorrow and hopefully get provisionally booked in. Quite excited! I know I have another 3 months to go but was working out the other day that's only about 3.5 weeks at work this side of Christmas, then about 5 once I go back ... which isn't long to tie up all the loose ends and get myself ready for the new arrival! Time is just flying by at the moment!

Forget the morning sickness and the aches and pains, I just had to do the hardest thing since getting pg - I made some chocolae cakes and washed the bowl without licking it!

Alocin - I made do with normal super plus plus pads last time as the mat ones cost way more, they have ones in hospital (which I used as much as I could get away with) then after a few days it calms down and normal biggy ones do ok.

Moosma..you are a stronger woman than I! Made a Christmas cake the other day (domestic goddess, eh?) and fought my 7 yr old over the leftover cake mix!!!! (quite a tussle ) Yes, I know that raw eggs (albeit free range organic) and alcohol soaked fruit are way off the lists (prob for 7 yr olds too!), but normally I am an absolute paragon, and frankly I felt great .I used to be a midwife too, so frankly it's inexcusable!!!!!

Hmmm... the pads discussion. Big as you can (don't have to be maternity, just extremely large) and giant, cheap, comfy pants.Don't wish to sound scarey but for a few days at least..boy, is it messy, so it's all about damage limitation and minimum leakage! Not painful, just lots!Everyone too busy cooing over the baby and telling you how clever you are to notice you are also wearing a nappy!!

Isn't childbirth and the physical aftermath wonderful?? LMAO.

K.x

Thanks andyrobo for mentioning the support tights. I bought a couple of pairs at the start of the week but frankly they don't feel remotely different to the others and are making my tummy itch like crazy. Will have to try the old lady version...

cb, my nips sound like they're in a similar state to yours. Rubbing cream in seems to stop them itching but doesn't deal with the dryness. Think I will try some calendula oil and let you know if it works.

OK, who has done the least preparation? Things we haven't bought yet:

a double pushchair
a cot
cot mattress
a baby sling

I did mention this to my dh the other night, and his attitude was we should wait till after Christmas to minimise the damage to our credit cards. I see his point, but part of me would really like to have everything sorted out now. Must be my nesting instinct kicking in...

Thus far I have bought

All the clothing/shoes/bibs I need,
Mutsy pram with just carrycot at moment
Bouncy chair
Baby sling
Cot,(but this is for later as getting an Amby)

We sat down other night and wrote the remainder of our list, priority is the car seat, as it's a Mutsy traveller, I'm starting to panic that I'll need to pre-order now, just in case, but everything else can wait til after Xmas. PiL's are paying for our nappy service and have offered to re-imburse for the pram which is great and as MiL has a Beauty salon, she'll be supplying all baby organic toiletries.Yay! I love shopping but my spd is trying to prevent me from indulge to my usual levels, GODDAMN it!!

Tlb.x