Celebrating Christmas with the arrival of BabyBloom and XmasPud - we're testing our pelvic floors through the festive season, mince pie tasting and turkey stuffing (nudge nudge), it's the JS Grads 43!

[ThursdayLastWeek]

Welcome, welcome, welcome to the 43rd grads thread... celebrating the success of Just Shagging in getting us viroids upduffed!

For those that don't know, a 'viroid' is from the original JSing thread 1, where someone was trying to type ladies (in reference to all the JSing ladies), but their phone decided to call us all viroids instead!

The name stuck and we've been the JSing viroids ever since.

The 42nd grads thread is HERE

The thread we have graduated from is HERE in its 56th outing. WARNING: they're all a bit kerazy not to mention randy!

There is also a Just Mumming thread HERE
for once your babies come along, or to keep up with the graduated graduates!

There is also a private facebook group (so it doesn't give the game away in your news feed!)... if you want to join to see photos of new babies etc, just ask in-thread!

HERE is the stats list, please update your own spot with any updates. (Except it's not because I don't know how to link to the stats sheet!)

Ahhh pud! Cliff hanger much!

Ooh that's lovely pretzel, well done! I have just realised I will need a sling from birth because our laundry facilities are down in the basement so I have to leave the apartment to do washing. There are so many options and trying to research them makes my head hurt!
We are looking at the mountain buggy. Even though we practically live in the mountains, hardly anywhere around here stocks them. The 4th shop we tried had an urban jungle so we got to give it a good test run and compare it to a similar German brand.
Hanging around for Pud's birth story part 2... I never realised mlu wasn't attached to the hospital. Hope it wasn't too scary going in the ambulance.

Also got delicious Florentines at the service station on the way home so the epic day out was worth it after all!

fruit I think that's only the case for some hospitals. Our hospitals MLU is up the corridor from the delivery suite

fruit that's similar to my reasoning, we live on the third floor, no lift and I'm a weakling so sling would be good for getting her safely up and down the stairs if nothing else! Ooh cool are you living in the countryside? Sounds nice.

I'll try not to pretz! It's going so so slowly. Christmas couple of weeks have definitely been the quickest by far.

Some advice for some newbie idiots please viroids. DH and I haven't shagged since we conceived. To be fair I've felt terrible and he's had some tiring weeks at work but we're both starting to feel better now and still nothing. We've just both admitted that we're a little bit worried about shagging and it making something bad happen to the baby. I know this is stupid but could do with a few other people confirming the stupidity to reassure me please! A little bit chuffed he cares so much though.

Slings are a godsend for all kinds of reasons. We quickly realised that none of the dog walks we go on are pushchair friendly - so we soon turned to the carrier!
I love that Connecta pretz and they seem good value.

I also bloody love Florentines fruit, chuck one this way would you?

I know this isn't really the thread for it - but our big development is that we're going up to visit the local primary school to start the process to get DS in pre-school . I can't believe it's come around so quick!

Deffo can't hurt the baby Keep. Absolutely a normal worry, but certainly not one you should give head space to.

Soz! Was feeding on the wrong side for typing then had visitors.

Okay, so baby pud wasn't moving down the birth canal fast enough to avoid a transfer to hospital. DH bless him tried to dress me in a vest top. I was wearing a bikini top but no bottoms so thought the top was a bit pointless. Everyone says you won't care about being naked and it was true!!

So, hospital is 30 minutes away from the stand alone MLU. Bit faster with lights and sirens. Very bumpy ride. NOT FUN. G & A nozzle did not leave my mouth for a second; I got totally mashed off my tits.

Got to hospital and on to the bed. Midwives were having a chin wag about what to do next while I mooed on all fours. I put my hand down and had to announce 'I can feel the head!' (Very OBEM!)

Baby pud was born after a few pushes and was passed between my legs so we could discover the sex (this was amazing, so glad I had put this on the birth plan.)

I lost about 500ml of blood so had the injection to deliver the placenta which came quickly. The biology nerd in me is quite disappointed that I didn't get to look at it/poke it but I was quite distracted by the baby!

Okay. So I'm now laid on my back, legs in stirrups to assess the damage, literally covered in blood from shoulders to feet in the 'Big Bad Hospital'. And I literally could not have given a shit. I felt like a fucking warrior woman for pushing a baby out of my body, and I had a beautiful little girl who was merrily screaming her head off.

(Posting so it doesn't get lost....)

Aaah Pud this is great!

Come on, part III!

So while the birth hadn't gone as I had seen it in my head the 'interventions' as I saw them were: 3 x VEs, an attempted catheterisation and a transfer to hospital. For me though, the 'interventions' began after birth. In came the 'Big Bad Doctors' etc, the registrar, anesthetist and the anesthetist nurse. They all introduced themselves, congratulated us on becoming parents, asked if we had a boy or a girl and then took the time to explain the risks of surgery to repair the tear. This was the opposite experience of everything I had read. The doctors were all on my side and we're so professional and caring. (I could have hugged the nurse, he was so lovely)

I was in surgery for an hour (sorry, not trying to scare you, very rare!) and was so well looked after. A HCA gave me a wash too which was great. I had an epidural for the surgery. I'm glad I didn't have one in labour so I could feel to push but it was LUSH when everything was quite sore ha ha!

So not the birth I imagined for so long BUT I genuinely don't think I would change it. It was how baby pud came into the world and that is a beautiful thing.

If we are lucky enough to have more children I would use the same birth plan but be much, much happier about having any interventions. I would trust the HCPs to look after me and discuss choices with me. They were all absolutely amazing.

Lastly, I just want to pay homage to the woman's body. Within a week i had carried and sustained an overdue baby, laboured, given birth, lost half a litre of blood, delivered an organ, had surgery, begun entirely sustaining another human being through my own breast milk AND I feel okay! How amazing is that?!

I know that was very long but I hope it helps a little bit. I think to summarise, I would be much happier to accept interventions in future labours (if necessary) as the doctors were not big, bad or evil. They were amazing. God bless the NHS.

pud that was wonderful, thanks so much for sharing and I'm chuffed to bits for you it was overall a positive experience.

thurs of course this is the place for it you dafty! Handy reminder to the rest of us they grow up so fast!

So good to hear your reflections pud and lovely that you are so proud of what wasn't your ideal or plan.

Today I'm feeling very excited about being pg. I just want to buy stuff!!!

Had a really positive day clearing work stuff too.

jelly hope you're feeling less worried. If not get an appt with mw and get them to have a listen.

fruit sounds like an epic day! Sheesh!

merm do kick up. I think it's 14+1 for neuchal fold so still time yet but you at least want a date. How hard is it to flip through a calendar ffs!

keep hi! Glad you're starting to feel better.

Aww Thurs school stuff must be a right mixed bag of emotions!

honey thanks for scan link. I've decided I can't go 20 weeks without seeing lilbean again so planning on doing a private scan later on.

Pud that's amazing. Thank you so much for sharing. I have some of your fears but your story is quite inspiring.

And thank you thurs, that's what I needed to hear

Pud that's lovely! Well done you, and yay for the NHS!

Lil you are most welcome. They are only in Leamington and Hinkley though, so you might have a more convenient one nearby.

I am making a blanket for a friends baby shower. It's dc3 but first DD so we are celebrating pink things. Unfortunately the style I am making is knitted. It's sooooo slow compared to crochet. I must get a giant crochet hook (using 10mm needles) so I can use it instead in future. Might get one anyway and do a part knitted, part crocheted extravaganza! Shower not for a month so plenty of time to knit slowly though. (Its 100 stitches per row. sigh )

I am not going to get a sling I don't think. Not sure my back could handle it.

Baby having a rave. Is it normal for them to get gradually more active as they grow?

Thanks for sharing that pud, so glad it was positive. You trooper you!

Aww thurs they grow up fast don't they!

kate you can't hurt the baby by shagging but don't feel bad. We didn't shag till around week 17 or so. I was just so god damn tired.

lil thanks I'm seeing her next week again. Luckily jelly baby is a very active baby so I am reassured by that!

I feel so lucky I've got to see jelly baby 7 times this pregnancy from a tiny 6 week splodge to a 34 week nose (she was hiding the rest of her!!). I don't know how I'll cope next time lol.

It's official. Jelly baby is fully cooked! 37 weeks today

Honey yes, two reasons iirc: you feel more of their movements as they grow as they have less space, so you feel even the smallest wriggles which you wouldn't have noticed earlier. And I think up to 32 weeks they are moving more and more often too. After 32 weeks there should be a consistent pattern but as you get towards the end and they really run out of space the nature of the movements changes again - you feel more writhing and less kicking/rolling. I think that's the gist, anyway. Microniff moves at the same times of day as she always has at 40 weeks but it's more likely to be bracing her feet, head and bum against the outside of the bump/my cervix, and threatening to burst out, than delivering the rapid-fire Thai-boxing style beatings she was giving me a few weeks ago. Such a cutie

Pud lovely birth story, thanks for posting. I'm 40 weeks tomorrow and head still not engaged so it's looking increasingly like I might need some form of intervention to kickstart things. It's good to be reminded 'natural' birth is not the be-all and end-all. Very glad you felt well looked after by the doctors around you and that you're feeling good about the birth and recovery.

Pretz very jealous of your connecta. I already have a close caboo and a sleepy nico sling which is beautiful and my bff bought for me. But all the chat on the FB page has me wanting a Madame googoo now. And I've had my eye on an oscha wrap for quite some time... My baby basically won't need clothes cos it's too hot, which makes it ok to lash out on multiple wraps and slings right?

And yes, birth here is much like 30 years ago in the UK - I've never watched call the midwife, but everyone medical would be much happier with me if I just booked a c-section, let them get on with delivering the baby for me, and then let the nurses take the baby away for a few days so I could get some rest and recovery in. It's a bit depressing tbh. My doctor does support natural birth but she's a bit of an exception to the rule, and as a consequence there isn't that much support for it - so e.g. for pain relief in labour my options are a) epidural b)epidural or c) epidural. No g&a no pethidine no nothing else. Looks glum.

Doh, I'd not realised the connecta shop was actually IN Godalming pretz! And they do special solar weave ones which are especially breathable and uv-proof and can be used from newborn (ish ). Microniff NEEDS one of these - I bought the close caboo because you can't use the one my friend got me from birth, but tbh I hate it on sight! And the one my friend got me has corduroy straps - it's extremely extremely beautiful and a wonderful gift but I know it's going to be too hot... But I can't buy another one because then she'll think I don't like it. Cringe...

Sounds interesting from a medical perspective out there niff! I think your so brave doing this there, but I bet you will have a fantastic experience.

Pregsomnia has hit me hard. Been awake since 1:30 and still no sleep. I was out shopping from 10 till 4 yesterday, that whole time walking around so my knees and feet and killing me. Gx I can sleep tonight!

Sorry haven't properly caught up ... get out of bed because I couldn't sleep and meant to be being productive and doing some early morning writing but I just wanted to say:

Niff/anyone with a spare ten mins – watch this! Comic Relief combo of Call the Midwife and One Born Every Minute. Made me laugh and the nun mentions enemas!

Aw Pud, your story made me cry a bit (in a good way!) I'm so chuffed for you that even though things took their own course and steered away from what you hoped for you still have what sounds like a really euphoric moment bringing your little pud into the world. Beautiful stuff! How flipping amazing is the human body? You grew an actual human!

Will catch up properly later if I'm not asleep by lunchtime!

Pud that's a brilliant story. Glad it was so positive and that you got over your fear of doctors.
Sounds beautiful Honey, there really is no end to your talents!
Keep it's normal to be worried. If the pg is going well with no added risks then shagging is safe but do whatever you feel comfortable with.
How exciting about school Thurs chucks breakfast florentine your way
I live in Europe Pretz, quite close to the Alps.
Lil have you started shopping? I waited until after the 20 week scan (22 weeks here) but now I feel like the pressure is on to get everything in a hurry! There are some good sales on especially cute baby clothes so probably best to make the most of them.

Well done pud lovely tale, and than you for sharing.

In Cornwall we have 2 MLUs and one hospital and they're all quite spaced out, at least 30 mins away from the hospital. But it's very populated and underfunded here so the services aren't the best.

With DS I was in a four bed ward for a week - it was hit, crowded, noisy. I went home for one night then sent back in for a blood patch and that night there was basically only women in the private rooms - it's astonishing how different it can be!

Thanks for the pre-school well wishes. As I just heard the immortal words
Hey, don't hit Daddy with a broom from downstairs I think we're all ready for a little time away from him

Thanks Niff! HoneyBaby is still in the roll around phase but also does a good line of kicks and pushing. Not rib kicks yet though, hurrah!

Jelly congratulations! Fully cooked!

Peenut that sketch was brilliant! Never seen it before.

Niff - What are your due dates like over there? Are they calculated the same as the British system - i.e. do you know at what point they will insist on inducing should it come down to that?

Maybe I am just a bit anal (BA DOOM CHING!) but I actually quite like the idea of an enema before a water birth! Much more than the idea of sitting in a pond of my own shit anyway.....! Maybe they could give you a leg wax whilst they were at it, and it would be like the world's oddest spa day!

yorkshire Thanks for the birth story! It actually reads as pretty bloody terrifying, but I'm impressed (and glad!!) that you came away considering it a positive experience. I had no idea that MCU's were allowed to be so far from hospitals - like a pp, I thought they had to be attached to one in case of emergency's!!! I can just imagine your poor DP trying to elegantly drape some sort of clothing on you! It seems like you are still on a high, so really glad that everything seems to be going so well

Does anyone have any exciting plans for today?

I have to clean the flat. I absolutely cannot be arsed, but I've been putting it off for the last week and if I leave it any longer it will be a much bigger job. I'm also pretty resentful that it's looking like I'll have to go and have another fucking toxoplasmosis blood test done. There were some raised eyebrows I didn't get one last month, so I think they would be super angry if I put it off any longer.