June #9, The ABSOLUTELY FINAL stretch! The one where the little ones start arriving. Here's to sleepless nights and lots of cuddles.

[nehagarg]

Will we make it to the end of this one with all the babies here?

Here is the latest one people.

And a link to the stats.

docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oTx71GeTR-ilVPTpIhNhutAwZPqNyYNEyIDwO80PmKQ/edit#gid=0

Enjoy!

Congratulations chilli, I also love the names.

Sorry to hear it's been traumatic and hope the time flies until you see them again. Do not feel you've failed them at all.

chilli I totally missed you were having twins! congrats and gorgeous names! Hope you are with them really soon for gorgeous cuddles! X

Congratulations chilli on your little girls, hopefully you will get to hold them and take them home soon

Congratulations chilli on your baby girls, such beautiful names.
Hope you get to see and cuddle them very soon.

Congratulations chilli. Hope you get to cuddle them soon. Glad to hear they are doing well though. Hopefully all of you will be on the way home, in no time. Love their names.

Doing well with the new baby. DH keeps getting little bursts of overwhelming feelings about having a newborn. Dont think it had quite hit him until we brought the baby home. Lol

Will there be a thread about post natal stuff when everyone has given birth? I could do with the same amazing support about the baby as I had with being pregnant. Wouldnt want to say bye to you lot. Its been brilliant so far.

neha I think as chief thread starter- you should begin the postnatal thread! There is a section for them next door- although not sure if calling it June babies might sound a bit mad on the 20th may, tee hee!
Glad all is going well!
I'm 37 weeks today, eep!
Going to finally pack the birth bag this evening after DS is in bed, and finished work yesterday. It's all getting a bit real...

Nehagarg glad you are doing well. Me and my DH were both completely overwhelmed for the first few days and regularly welling up with joy (I have never seen him cry before or since!) I think it's hard sometimes for men as we have all the appointments all the wriggles and it's hard for them to connect or prepare in the same way. I will def join the post natal thread but will prob be one of the last to join you!

nehagarg - so lovely to hear that you are home now. I really hope you don't mind me asking this question but, I was just wondering how they dressed your c-section wound? Did they use tape to stick the dressing down? I got horrible blisters last time due to the stupid tape and the MW was suprised that they used it. Just wondered if it is still used these days!
I think the May ladies are having a mixed thread on the antenatal board until all of the babies arrive which sounds like a nice idea. That way people don't need to check two threads or miss out on news. Or perhaps we could stay mixed until June?

Congratulations chilli sorry that it didn't all go as planned, the unexpected can really throw you. The girls have lovely names. Hope you get some cuddles soon x

Congratulations Chilli on your little girls! Hope you have them with you very very soon x

Had growth scan yesterday as midwife said growth was static for one week. When I got to the hospital the midwife wasn't sure why I had been referred after only one week. But the main thing is bubs is healthy and on track to be 6lb 9.

My home birth kit arrived today and the community midwives are on call for me as of today! very exciting!

Is anyone drinking raspberry leaf tea? I had my first one today and I actually liked the taste, I was worried as everything I had read online people had said its horrible, made me doubt I'd bought the right stuff, but it says twinnings raspberry leaf infusion on the box, so think its right? x

As long as it says raspberry leaf then I think it's fine. Just raspberry won't do anything it needs to have the actual leaf.

Wooooo more babies!! Huge congratulations madrigal and chilli!! This thread is getting so exciting now. I never know how many more babies will be here when I check in :) Who is next in line, for elc or induction?

Violet thanks for the reminder about the raspberry leaf! I'm 36wks tomorrow so shall start taking them. I bought the tablets though.

Emma was it you that had the bloody show? Reminded me of this that I read in the what to expect book. Whilst it said losing the mucous plug can happen weeks in advance, the bloody show is supposedly a sign that things are nearly there. Mine happened 12hrs before dd1 was born.

Congrats chilli and wishing you lots of skin to skin asap.
Do ask the medical team why they are not encouraging you to express. You might also like to ask to see the infant feeding co-ordinator. Otherwise, if you have the cash, you could get an ibclc to advise you (internationally board certified lactation consultant). They have far more breast milk training than any NHS professional I have ever met. And they have to re-apply for their certification every few years, which means they are bang up to date.

If you don't get the support you need there are also some useful breast milk helplines manned by well trained volunteers who can talk you through everything (there is also a drugs in bm email address where you can confirm that any drugs you are taking are compatible with breastfeeding)

You just need to remember many of these people are parents too so sometimes the line is not answered immediately (kids bedtime or tea time for example!!)

La leche league GB
LLLGB is part of an international charity with a network of volunteer breastfeeding counsellors who support mothers by telephone and e-mail, and also run informal support meetings. The website lets you find your nearest counsellor or group or you can call their breastfeeding helpline or submit an online help form. LLL also publishes books and leaflets for mothers and health professionals.
Helpline number: 0845 120 2918

NCT
NCT is a UK charity helping parents through pregnancy, birth and early days of parenthood. They provide telephone helplines, antenatal and postnatal classes and other resources for parents.
Helpline number: 0300 330 0700 open every day, including bank holidays, from 8am - midnight.

Association of Breastfeeding Mothers
The ABM is a UK charity run by mothers for mothers, committed to giving friendly support and supplying the right information to all women wishing to breastfeed. The charity provides a telephone helpline, e-mail help plus information and useful publications.
Helpline number: 08444 122 949

The Breastfeeding Network
UK charity providing a telephone helpline, drugs helpline, support centres and leaflets and information sheets.
The BFN is a UK charity providing breastfeeding information and support through a helplines, support centres and publications.
Breastfeeding BFn helpline number: 0300 100 0210
Drugs In Breastmilk helpline: 0844 412 46655*.

Hi violet I am drinking cold raspberry leaf and nettle tea every day. I am also surprised that I like it!!! I make a big pot in the evening. Add a spoonful of honey and chop up an orange into it. Then chill it overnight and drink the next day. Surprisingly lovely!!!!

Even DS likes it (but I only let him have half a glass).

I have no idea whether it is helping but as it tastes nice I don't mind the not knowing :)

Interesting read samba, I'm starting to wish I had reread some of my books now!

I wonder if emmas midwife was more sceptical because of people's definition of mucus plug? I never really noticed with DD (first) but DS came out in a huge blob (size of a satsuma), maybe if it's coming out in smaller bits it's less of a reliable indicator? Anyway, wonderful pleasant musings there on a Friday afternoon!

I was told that the plug isn't an indicator that labour was imminent. I don't remember losing mine either time tbh.

Plug comes away as cervix starts to thin but can still take ages to go into labour!

Congratulations Neha, Madrigal and Chilli! Haven't really posted too much in these threads but have really liked lurking and reading how people are getting on!

Sooo....my little one is unlikely to hold off her arrival until June either! Eeekk! Had an obstetrician appointment yesterday as a 38ish week induction was always potentially on the cards and they wanted to put a date in the diary to get things started. Turns out my cervix is already shortening and softening (1-2cm) and her head is fully engaged so technically I'm already in early labour?!?! They said that I'd probably been contracting as well for a few days but just not noticing! I only stopped working on Wednesday!! I guess it's a case of watch this space!!

I think as with everything in pregnancy there bloody show is different for everyone
It's amazing how every woman and every pregnancy can be so different x

I have my dh surprise 30th birthday party today . It's not actually his birthday till they 31 but I couldn't be doing with a party then week befor I'm due. But I feel really bad I just can't be bothered I have been lucky his best mate has done everything for it all I had do was tell people which I forgot to do for about 3 week ooops. But today my back is killing and braxton hicks are on one x x

No more work!!! Boy, it feels good to be free .

Jealous laughing I have 7 more shifts to go!

Glad to see you are home neha hope the little one settles in.

Mw coming tomorrow (provided she doesn't get called out tonight for another home birth) to discuss the home birth. Does anyone know, will she do the usual checks on me while she is here? I assume she will but I have no clue I'm just interested to see if baby has engaged or turned from back to back like I think he has.

Iamdivergent I've seen my homebirth midwives since 28 weeks. On the first introduction visit, all the normal checks were done as my care started with them from that appointment onwards

Congrats Chilli beautiful names.**
It must be a struggle not being close but it'll soon be endless cuddles for you all.
I can't understand the no expressing logic but you do what you think is best. X

Finished work today too! Woo hoo that's mean done until January

So jealous of those of you who have already stopped work. I have another 2 weeks to go
And the reflexologist reckons this one will be early so I may not have the 2 weeks "me time" that I planned (not that I believe her - how would she know?!!)