Feb 2016 Babies: The One Where the Babies Start Arriving!

[clarabellski]

OK, OK, so we already had a couple of babies on the last thread, but we're going to struggle to keep up with the number of new arrivals in this one!!!

Stats:

docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dWmvdD9SkvPQqKn7rpFHazgufmda2FOTMtL093cZFj8/htmlview

Welcome baby gold! Glad the birth went well and is your DC a Valentine's baby (can't quite tell with the time difference, etc).

I've been known to give DD a wee prod too, just to make sure. She's been very active today though, as have I: an hour round the shops and then an hour/hour and a half's walk round the lake at the local park to give DS a run. And now lots of BHs.

Also just made a quadruple portion of meat and potato pie, one for tonight and three for the freezer. We've used up every bit of tupperware and every bit of space in the two freezers with batch cooking!

This is what drove me to co-sleeping last time haq. DS would not be put down, and after dozing off on the sofa thought this is far too dangerous and just had him in bed with me.
Not sure how you feel about mix feeding, but this also helped: DP could give DS a bottle, which allowed them to bond and me to go and get three-four hours' uninterrupted sleep, which feels like 12 hours when you've got a newborn!

That sounds like a foul way to spend the weekend, your EDD and Valentine's troika, how're you getting on now?

Congratulations gold glad all went well!

We have found that swaddling helps with going down at night haq the other thing that worked for us was holding him until he is really deeply asleep, but that took so long i was dropping off first! Of course it could just be a phase that we needed to get through and nothing actually makes a difference... but the last 2 nights have definitely been better (now really hoping i haven't jinxed tonight, am exhausted from excess visitors! Should be in bed not on phone...)

I think we managed to avoid any Valentines babies?

40+3 here and not a sniff of a twinge. Induction booked for Monday which I'd rather avoid as I think it means no home birth...

I'm a little sad by not having this one yesterday. It was my grandad's birthday (and I never expected to be at 38+3). But I can only manage a tiny thought. Mostly i am still very excited about getting to meet my little dc3.

41+2 and still here.

xingxing - where I am, you go in and get the propess pessary and then after monitoring if you're not high risk you can go home for 24hrs. So if that starts things you could still have a home birth. It's only once you have waters broken / go on the drip you're bound to the hospital. Might be different where you live but worth asking. My shimmer of light is being able to go home and wait for the propess to do its thing rather than be stuck there on the ward.

First day of mat leave here and not sure what to do with myself lol am 38+2 so could be a while before he makes an appearance . Any tips or ideas to make the most of this time are welcome lol

oooh good info handbag thank you! Midwife hasn't really explained anything! I have my next appointment on Saturday so will grill her then...

maryellen nesting. nesting, nesting! Also go to the cinema in the day and sort any house stuff now! That's what I have been doing, although I am bored of it now!

I second Xing's suggestions MaryEllen! Sort house stuff, batch cooking, bit of spring cleaning. I got in all the birthday/events cards I'll need for the next month too
Enjoy some naps, crappy TV and cake.

On that note I'm going to go and get the paper, have lunch in front of Homes under the Hammer, then do the accounting paperwork and sort out one of the kitchen cupboards and the new shelving I put together

Get your hair done. So that when self care becomes 5 minutes in the shower, combing and leaving to dry there's at least a chance of looking human

Sleep

Eat out if you can face it

Though I just did wierd stuff like play with the steam cleaner and decide to sort all DH clothes etc

Good suggestions, thanks everyone. Guess I need to make the most of this time!! :)

38 + 6 today and due by section on Thursday- today I cleaned the windows and bathroom, changed the bedsheets and ironed a load of clean washing, and got my hair cut and coloured. Tired now but strangely peaceful. So lovely to see all the news about new arrivals, I can't wait to meet my little boy soon!

For those still waiting, definitely haircut, cinema, meeting friends for tea/ cake, paperwork and sorting through photos, cooking for freezer and meals out! That's what i remember from last time. Didn't have the luxury this time!!!

Hope everything goes smoothly on Thursday gone v exciting to be meeting your little one soon!

How exciting gone! Not long to go now...

I'd forgotten we were c-section twins gone, brilliant! Similar day here, cleaned downstairs loo, sorted kitchen cupboard (you can now see what's there and get it easily, the bliss) done accounts/bills paperwork and filing, put drying away and got another load of washing on.

Got to go to the hospital tomorrow to have my bloods done; will treat myself to cake in town. Weds DP is off so will garden and do a big shop. Getting very excited now

I rudely announced on the FB and neglected this thread!

BabyKarou, aka Edward John, arrived today after a long stop-start early labour, then a subset speedy active labour. Waters didn't break until I was being rushed down the hallway from antenatal to delivery. Two internal tears, one requiring sutures, one not. Used tens and then moved to gas and air for the pushing stage. Was 3-4cm dilated at 16:45 and he was born at 19:16 - will look at my notes in the morning to see how quick the active stage actually was. It felt like no time at all, but that's probably the pain and the drugs talking! Weight 7lb 3.5oz. Skin to skin immediately and he fed fairly quickly. There was meconium in his waters, so some extra obs being done for that. Haven't managed a decent feed since getting to the ward, don't think a sleepy 3 minute attempt counts, but have changed a gooey nappy!

Now to try to sleep through the euphoria, the snoring coming from one bay and the baby crying in the other bay.

Congratulations Blue. Lovely to hear of another arrival Reminds me there is light at the end of the tunnel.

(feel free not to read)
I am an absolute mess here. I have burning pain under my ribs where baby is still right up under there despite being engaged. I have constant acid and heartburn. I still have a headache and am still being sick. I have had lots of period pain and tightening over the past few days but it just tapers off and doesn't come to anything. I haven't slept in I don't know how long, I doze off but don't actually sleep for longer than an hour. I'm really struggling, keep crying from the sheer exhaustion and constant pain. Thank god my sister is here as she is keeping us all fed and is entertaining the dc but I don't know what I'm going to do if baby isn't here by the time she leaves on Thursday, I am barely functioning! Also not sure how my body is going to get through labour at this rate, I must be on my last reserves.

Sorry for the negativity, easier to vent on here than on all the people asking for news in real life. Keep those babies coming, reminds me what it's all in aid of.

Congrats blue! So exciting!!

troika is it worth thinking about an induction? I think you new to speak to your midwife about what help they can offer, you must be exhausted!

Lots of period cramps last night which kept be awake but they have completely died off leaving me exhausted to look after DD today. Great timing! 40+4 today.

Congratulations blue!

troika - sounds really distressing. Glad you have help on hand but agree with xing - speak to your midwife about options!

41+3 today... Still here... Midwife tomorrow morning then induction on Thursday. Beyond done now...

Congratulations blue. I think it's got to the point where it's near impossible to keep up- so apologies to anyone I haven't managed to congratulate

Morning everyone, congratulations Blue that sounded like a pretty quick labour once it got going! I hope you get home soon.

41 + 1 here. Pretty poor sleep last night as baby was going bonkers and using my bladder as a punch bag. Think today is going to be a netflix day and I won't even feel guilty about it!

Congratulations blue

Sorry you're having such a tough time troika really hope little one makes a straightforward appearance soon...

Congratulations blue!! Babies are seriously starting to make appearances now

Had an upset stomach the last couple of days, and I know it wasn't anything I've eaten.. So fingers are all crossed!

Today was the day she couldn't arrive as DH was away with work. He's home now so baby can arrive any time!

Am being kept in hospital over night, blood pressure has spiked and they want to keep an eye on it. Had bloods taken and baby was monitored, all ok with him. Tried to argue with the doctor to let me home but he was having none of it

Here's hoping blood pressure comes down enough by morning for them to let me go home... Said if it stays high for a certain amount of time they will induce me...

Oh dear maryellen, hope you manage to get some rest in if they do keep you in

Congratulations blue, sounds like a pretty good birth, and welcome babyKarou! Hope you're snuggled up and he's feeding now.

Is there anyone else who you can call on troika, even if it's just for a few hours to manage DC to allow you to rest (if not sleep)? Hope you'll at least have more support at the weekend if your OH is around. Any joy with the MW following others' suggestions?

Hope you have a calm night maryellen, good that they're keeping a close eye on you and the baby.