July 2016 Babies (9) - let the babies commence!

[Ellizardo]

Nearly there folks.

FML. We haven't exchanged. Our buyers are now uncontactable until Thursday. I almost lost my shit this morning. Ugh. Mum has a blood clot on the lung but being really well looked after and they're looking to start chemo quicker. But in good news I've booked a spa day with my lovely friend when I'm on mat leave and DD is in nursery. Thanks for the idea beaut

you sounds promising! Got everything crossed for you!

beaut I'm sorry you've been messed around that is not on at all. I hope you get some answers on Friday. Rant away till then. Can you add me to list please? 31 July, Oxfordshire, 31, yellow! X

becks they tried to give me one at 40 weeks with DD. But my cervix was high and closed!!! Boo!!! I would ask for sure.

juflin so pleased all is ok! What a scare. Hair is getting sorted tomorrow thank goodness. Honestly it's awful. My lovely friend watching DD for me so I'm taking her lunch after for a good old gossip!

Braxton hicks are awful. I didn't have them last time but did this time although they've eased off. It's all good for labour I suppose! Not that I need it with an ELCS

34+1 trying to smile through the shit!

HopesAndDreams15 I just started red raspberry leaf tea at 38 weeks. Bought it in the pure loose form and having 2-3 cups a day the last few days. Have to say I was induced last time at 41+6 and drank it everyday since 34 weeks back then. Also 3 day labour so its a bit of a gamble if it will work at all.

beckslovestimmy good luck on the appointment. Not long now!

julfin congrats on the 2/5 engagement.

foobio I tip my hat to you ladies having sex. I just can’t get in the mood being such a beach ball

primarynoodle how many weeks are you, sorry the sweep was a bit unfavourable have they booked you in for another?

BeauticianNotMagician81 good luck on friday

38+2

Bel - we did a little Father's Day ceremony with Ted and the bump getting OH a couple of little gifts for the household which mummy was quite chuffed with too funnily enough! You know those big 5L Kilner jars with a tap that you can fill with lemonade/iced water/margaritas for a party? Well I felt we could do with one of those for the summer!

I'd forgotten this very end stage of preg too. God it's boring! Bought a cup holder for the pram and Hoovered the old carrycot and car seat today (rock n roll!), plus took Ted to his swimming lesson. Which is now getting quite difficult despite built in buoyancy aid. Think grandpa helping me next week.

Anna - glad your Ma is getting speedy chemo. Is that part of the docs' grand plan? Thinking of you esp with incommunicado twatty buyers. If only you could bestow yr house tomorrow on a totally new buyer and tell these guys to shove their attitude and availability. Makes me so mad.

Beaut - good luck for Friday. I totally hear you on the issue of lack of coherence re the 'standard' questions. They either panic and order loads of tests or ignore/underplay it. I'm making sure, for eg, that I'm telling every midwife and clinician I meet, that I lost A LOT of blood last time and for the to be prepared...often just met with blank condescending states of 'alright love I think we can handle it' blah blah blah

I will catch up later but just wanted to let those of you still to buy baby items John Lewis has a clearance sale on. Some good savings on changing bags, pushchairs, car seats, baby carriers etc. Be quick though as they sell out fast.

No I don't work for John Lewis

Julfin - pleased everything is ok, hope things improve at home.
Gnats - hope your parents are ok. That can't be easy having both in hospital.
Speak - how are you feeling? Do you know how long you will be in with Corine for? How is Coring doing? Hope everything is ok.
Fifi - we were due that buddies and right at the back end of July, & ended up you as the first and me joint second. Luca is beautiful & looks to be doing so well. Really reassuring.
Bel - I second that about first & only. It has been a difficult pregnancy with constant scans & monitoring & then placenta failure & EMCS. I think OH wants another one in a bit but I am not sure I can face it!
Hope everyone with BH are ok, I experienced a few in hospital & it is a weird feeling.
Beautician - it does sound like the care you have received is sadly not up to scratch. Hope you get some answers.
So we have finally decided on a name - Emilia Cerys. Cerys to reflect that my OH is Welsh. I think that a couple on the thread suggested the name - thank you. She is doing so well but has premature respiratory problems & can't feed, being IV fed at the moment. I am expressing & can't wait to get her to breast feed, didn't realise how much I wanted to do it until now! She is doing amazingly well & is such a fighter, I will attach a lot of pictures.
Fifi / speak - how are you / did you find it, having a baby but not having it with you. I am finding it quite hard. It is difficulty seeing everyone with their babies on the post natal ward when yours is in a incubator in another place. I spend most of my time by her incubator but it is hard when you are so sore. Family & friends have been so supportive though. Also seem to cry a lot, is that normal.....
For those who want their babies to come quickly, I hope they do, for those who don't, I hope that they stay in! Xx

anna - I am so angry on your behalf about the exchange. I want to shout at your buyers for you. Who is uncontactable in the modern era. Even abroad you can pick up emails. You really don't need this on top of everything else. when it rains, it pours. Hope that your mum is ok & no one deserves a spa day more than you. I am going to have to rearrange the one I booked for my mat leave at the cowshed on 5th July.

Thom - love the name Emilia Cerys, beautiful and love the Welsh connection. I wanted to reply about not having your baby with you on postnatal when they are in SCBU/NICU. It is such a hard thing to come to terms with, especially if it is baby number one. Post natal is usually a busy and noisy environment and in my experience, you just want somewhere quiet to hide away and recover. I found it very hard to be sociable with the other mums, particularly at meal times when they were all wheeling their babies into the dining room. It makes it very clear that your baby is not there. Are you in a side room at all? I've fortunately been in a side room after the first night, and I've been eating in the room rather than in the communal area. It also means you don't have to see the other mums interacting with their babies as much, which I found hard to deal with. I've been chatting to the other mums with babies in SCBU though, which is easier as they are dealing with the same issues as me.

I do find it hard to juggle being in SCBU and being on the ward - I keep missing drug rounds and meal times as I'm not there, and then it's a faff to chase up painkillers etc when they're not doing drug rounds. Plus fitting time in to express is tricky too!

Hopefully today or tomorrow we might be moved to the transitional care ward, where baby can be with me in a cot. He's in an ordinary cot now in SCBU, but is being a bit too sicky with his milk feeds so they're reluctant to let him be transferred until he can keep his feeds down.

anna really feel for you and I want to punch them in the face for you on your behalf. You don't need this right now and some people can be such arses.

beaut so excited about the John Lewis sale i'm off there later (was already planned, so great timing) best of luck for Friday. It doesn't seem like you've had the care you should, I hope you get some clarity/answers on Friday. Were you allowed antibiotics, are you at least in more comfort now?

am patiently waiting for an update from you.

thom that is a lovely name! If you don't mind sharing these lovely pics then that would be lovely :) great expressing efforts, I can't imagine how hard it must be to not be able to feed etc. Sounds like she is a little fighter and will be on the road to recovery before you know it. Even with babies born at term it's completely normal to feel teary! So I can imagine you are feeling even more emotions! Totally normal. Glad you have friends and family around you for support- remember you can share all your feeling here and that those in real life will also be happy for you to share. You've been through a lot, they will understand!

Whoever mentioned sex we've been having lots and it's done bugger all so far. If anything I've been having less BH etc. Wasted bloody efforts. And people keep telling me 'how high' I am still. I don't feel like baby is coming anytime soon :( luckily DD is dealing with her Pox very well, and there is no harm to baby as long as I exclusively breast feed (doc said to expect dd2 will catch them before long) but I need to let them know post delivery so they can keep an eye on him

Haven't heard from bluebell in a few days I'm suspicious that she's in labour

Firstly, congratulations to Speak and Thom - beautiful babies both! Wishing you all the very best and looking forward to updates :)

pulpi I've been occasionally batch cooking and freezing for the last three or four weeks - mostly by cooking six portions of dinner and then freezing four of them. I've got bean chilli, lentil bolognese (about 12 portions of it - whoops!), thai green curry, south Indian veg curry, and some tarka dal frozen so far. (dats I think we are definitely cut from the same cloth; my list is basically identical to yours!!!) I'm also stocking up on 'easy' meals such as shop-bought tortellini which I am shoving straight in the freezer.

I also bought a microwave a few weeks ago. I've never owned one before but I figured now was the time!

becks I'm sure losing your plug must be a sure sign things are moving. Fingers crossed it won't be long for you now!

dats hope you get the magic pills today at the doc's.

Anna I'm so sorry about your mum; I am thinking of you all. Really sorry as well to hear about the house struggles - AND THE HAIR! That is just the last straw, isn't it?! I'm going to the hairdresser's on Thursday with the aim of making myself feel better about looking like an effing heifer, but now I'm scared! Really glad you are going on a spa day!

Cookies argh, chicken pox – rubbish! Did you find out from the midwife whether your immunity gets passed onto your newborn? Hopefully she’ll be past infectious stage by the time you give birth. I am also getting too big to fit behind the car steering wheel – I’m 5’4 – although my DH reckons I can change the position of the wheel to sort that out, so I need to investigate that. That said, he’s not very keen on me driving anywhere on my own at the moment, as we only have one car, so if I did go into labour it would be up to me to get the car back to him so that he can drive me to hospital!

Beautician amazing doc, thank you! Way better than our unwieldy stats thread. I can’t believe the midwives are being so useless about your care – hopefully they will sort it out soon.

YouandMe, sorry you are having such a crappy week. I would suggest organising some nice treats for yourself to alleviate the suckiness, but it sounds like your baby has other plans! Good luck!

MrsRolly we have actually bought a TV licence for the first time in ten years, specifically so that DH can watch the football live rather than going to the pub – because if he goes to the pub he will drink pints and then won’t be able to drive!

gnat hope you got the flat tidy in time for your mum… Fortunately we’ve had so many people coming to see us recently that we have been reasonably good at keeping on top of housework – it’s not had time to get messy again between visitors!

photographer I’ve had even worse growth than you – will explain below – so can sympathise. Really hope that the scan went well. I can totally understand you feeling tearful – it’s all just a bit much now, isn’t it?!

Bel you are so sweet to do Fathers’ Day stuff from bump. I chose cards for both my dad and DH’s dad, because I know DH never bothers. I wrote and sent my card to my dad – did DH write and send his? No, no he did not! I have realised that this means I will never, ever get anything for Mothers’ Day, so I am pre-prepared on this one and will be organising my own MD treats every year :)

Elliz I love those Kilner jar things! Summer parties ahoy! I’ve been getting carried away imagining doing a little welcoming party for the baby in August… Gives me something fun to think about during this crappy bit of pregnancy. I agree – this bit is very boring.

Thom what a beautiful name! Cerys was on our list if we were having a girl. It sounds like she is doing wonderfully. I’m sure it’s very normal to be tearful – even after an ‘easy’ birth – so don’t beat yourself up over it, please. You are awash with hormones, you’re knackered, you’ve been through major surgery, you’ve become a mum, and you’re have to deal with the fact that it’s all happened not quite in the way you would have liked. Frankly I think you’re doing bloody amazingly!

So, I saw the midwife yesterday at 38+6. My bump is still at 35cm, which is where it was at 36+1 – so, apparently I’ve had no growth in 19 days, and I’m nearly 4cm under where I ‘should’ be. I’ve been booked in for an ‘urgent’ growth scan on Thursday (can’t be that blinking urgent if I have to wait three days for it, I thought).

I’m not really worried because a) baby is moving loads, b) a different midwife has measured me every single time, c) I know I’ve grown – I can see the difference in the mirror (and feel it in my bloody back). So, I am being very calm and just waiting for the scan – not going to worry until I have to. Obviously I will keep a close eye on movement.

In other news, my body is officially knackered! I woke up this morning feeling like I’d been in a rugby game. Hips were killing, groin was killing, upper back really sore, fingers numb from carpal tunnel… Ugggghhhhh! I thought I would be all right to dtd a few times this week to get labour started, but actually I don’t think I can face it!

39 + 0

PS Will post blanket pics later today - promise! The weather has been so crappy that the light's not been good enough for photos!

Hahaha, cross-posted, Cookies! I wish I was in labour!!!! I've just had shockingly bad internet connection all weekend!

Speak Corin is looking gorgeous! I'm really glad you've got a side room - sounds as thought it helps a bit. I really feel for you; you must just want to squish him and cuddle him all the time. Fingers crossed for a move to transitional. xx

Well due date is here!!! A baby is not! I've been for a walk up hill this morning and am now bouncing on my ball. Meeting SIL for lunch. She's my designated driver and care for DD if I go in to labour as DH is back at work. He's found out there is the option to keep him 'local' whilst waiting for me to pop so he's trying to sort that out. At the mo he can be up to 3hrs away at any time!!

Thom that's a lovely name! DH is half Welsh but we've not chosen any Welsh names (although if baby is a boy, it will have his name as a middle name, and that's a Welsh name). We figured that as we are in Scotland and I am Scottish we could have more Scottish forenames to balance out the Welsh surname! Cerys is a beautiful name though, as is Emilia.

I'm off to hospital as I think my waters have gone, but no contractions. Midwife said they may or may not keep me in. So I may end up being induced after all!

Good luck YouAndMe! Hope everything goes smoothly for you.

Good luck you. I'm not jealous at all!!!!

Good luck youandme!

Bluebell - glad the growth issue isn't playing on your mind too much and that instinct backs you up. As you say 'urgent for thurs' can be Added to yet to the ever growing list of WTF-age in this whole process!

Totally agree with you on the whole body been through rugby match/riding steeplechase etc. Boobs now the size and weight of Benny Hill melons so that just adds to the general burden!

Thom - Emilia Cerys is absolutely gorgeous. Great hit rate name wise so far ladies...though to be fair even blunt me is unlikely to say 'that's a crap name' to a proud new mum!

Cookies I think I'm going to just send ds3 one day a week. I'm worried he won't want to go though and I can't afford to waste money.

Mrsrolly I was searching everywhere for an isofix base the other day. Then dozy me realised our car doesn't have isofix so we will just use the strap around the seat. Boy babies tend to be more just bump. I'm bigger this time but my first three I felt all bump and felt every movement. Movements are quite painful and low at the minute.

Gnat I had severe anaemia with my first 3. Luckily I've escaped it this time. None of mine were anaemic or had any problems at birth.
Sorry to hear about your parents but pleased to hear they are both recovering now.

Julfin if I were you childcare wise I would either book nursery for the 3 days or I would book a pre school if you want baby to be around a few children and then a childminder to collect from pre school which a lot do. Which pushchair are you going for?

Bel we went for food and a family get together at FILS for Father's Day. I got quite emotional giving DH his presents. I got him some of his fave chocolates and also some daddy beads that the baby can chew on when teething. He loved them as he's hoping the baby will go for them rather than his nipple haha.

Jem pleased you are home. I was going to ask if you had the baby yet. Usually lots of BH up until labour mean your body is well prepared and can make for an easier labour. Definitely true for me. Hardly any BH with ds1 and ds2 and very long labours. Loads of BH with ds3 constantly thought labour was starting and a nice easy 5 hour labour.

Anna pleased you have a spa day booked. Just concentrate on pampering. Have you got everything ready to go for baby? As long as that's done everything else will fall into place I'm sure. I bet your mum can't wait for the baby to arrive.

Eliz I wish I was bored instead I'm giving myself a thousand jobs to do each day Next on my list is finding a present from baby for each of the boys. I'll probably put together a little gift bag.

Sorry posted too soon I hadn't finished.

Thom love the babies name. Perfectly normal to cry a lot after any birth but especially after yours. I'm sure she will be with you before you know it. In the meantime try to get what sleep you can.

Speak he is so gorgeous. Must be lovely to have a side room.

Bluebell I hope the growth scan goes well. I'm sure you are just having a small baby nothing else. I can't believe you are 39 weeks. Eek.

You good luck. I hope this is it for you now. Sending positive vibes for a nice easy speedy labour for you.

Thanks for all the messages re Friday. I've had no tablets given and i haven't even had a recurrence of infection confirmed. To be honest it's easing now. I'm very swollen but I think a lot of it is the pressure from the baby and I always carry lots of water. I think i just burnt my foof with the hair removal cream. If I can't see any active sores on Thursday I'm going to cancel the Friday appt. I just feel that they haven't dealt with it well I'll just trust my own judgement. If I have no active symptoms then I'm fine to give birth vaginally anyway.

I will post the updated stats again.

37+4

July ladies and babies Stats list

docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mTiHCKrseXegaNEfEQc25Hy9HShGZGzCZWb-RSAWkiU

speak - that is exactly how I feel. I have got a side room, which does make it easier but as you say you see all the other mothers and their babies, along with proud fathers pushing them in cots. It makes it so hard, especially during the night when I am up trying to express for a baby who isn't able to suck. We have a empty cot in the room with a balloon tied to it saying 'welcome baby', all very Freudian! I hadn't appreciated how hard it is, until going through it. The support in instensive care is amazing, & you can visit 24 hrs a day but it isn't the same. I don't know what I am going to do when I am discharged without her: there have already been loads of tears over it! fifi - it has given me an insight into what you have been through, all advice is welcome. and speak - I wish that neither of us were going through this but it is nice having someone who understands & is going through a similar experience at the same time. It is not easy for the OH as well, they have to look after us and the baby. The advice I was given, was to take all painkillers on offer. The most important thing is that we are strong to help them get strong.
Corine & Luca - I hope that you are on the mend, and Emilia is wishing you well too.
I am pleased that I am not abnormal with all the crying! Everything sets me off.
Currently sitting with her now. X

Eeekk come on baby youandme !!

Ah bluebell sorry, I had hoped no news was good news and there was a baby bluebell on the thread. I hate when they worry you about measurements. Glad you aren't worried and stressed about it. The anticipation for this blanket is all too much!

becks I'm sending baby stern words to come out ASAP! I'm anxious about DH too as he's currently working over an hour away.. With no signal.. I'm less than impressed with his company I can tell you. I'm really pleased for you there's a helpful option for you, hope you get it sorted.

beaut. I was worried that dd2 would feel left out and wouldn't want to go. I would love the relief if I'm honest as she's the 'challenging' one at the moment. Although on the 1st Aug when I don't have a nursery bill I will be very happy I spose. Did they swab for the infection? Glad to hear it's feeling better down there. Hard when it's impossible to even see the area at this stage! Had my own lady garden issues last night trying to keep up the maintenance!

38

Just popping in quickly to wish you good luck today! And sending big hugs to Thom and Speak - your support of each other is so lovely and is bringing a tear to my (rather hormonal) eye.

My due date still feels like ages away (21 July) so I'm trying to keep busy (in between naps, that is) with repacking (for the third time now) the hospital bags, going through all the baby clothes, and maybe spending some more time on the Mothercare website... Cannot wait for Thursday morning for my next midwife appointment, if only to hear his heartbeat again.

35+5

thom I love the name! It's beautiful. It must be so hard for you and speak but it sounds like you're doing brilliantly!

bluebell hope the scan goes ok on Thurs but glad that you seem fairly relaxed about it. You know your body.

Good luck youandme. Hope this is it for you.

Becks and Cookies I admire you having sex, as much as I want the baby here I just don't think I've got it in me! Think it's going to be ball bouncing, pineapple, and RLT for me! Happy due date Becks!

Beaut glad you clarified you weren't eating pineapple whilst DTD, that would be taking multitasking a step too far! Sorry you're not getting the quality of care and advice you'd expect, as you said, you know your body better than anyone! Good luck for Friday.

Youandme How exciting! Hope things are progressing well!

Vikki sounds like baby may not be far off, good luck!

Photographer good work on being 2/5 engaged and glad she's turning. How drinkable is the RLT?...I'm not a fan of herbal teas!

Julfin yes you're right about how engaged baby is, 4/5 means 4/5 of the head can still be felt. 1/5 is best case scenario as only 1/5 of the head can still be felt, the other 4/5 has descended down into the pelvis and can no longer be felt. Glad the growth scan was OK yesterday.

Bel that's lovely that your DH got emotional about the Father's Day card. I did get an extra card for mine too!

Jem hope the BH are doing some of the groundwork for you and good luck with the RLT, I'm sure it won't be too much longer for you.

Foobio, good effort from you in evicting baby Foobio, hope baby takes the hint!

Primary hope the sweep does its job and gets things moving for you. Hopefully the second one will if this one doesn't!

Becks I'm pretty sure I had my first sweep with DD when I reached due date, I may have turned on the water works... It's didn't work though, nothing was shifting DD!

Anna sorry you didn't get to exchange, I really admire you, I really don't think I could cope with a move at the moment but you sound like you're taking it in your stride as much as you possibly can. Enjoy the spa day, you deserve it!

Ellizardo I'm with you on being bored. It's a catch 22 because I have zero energy to do anything constructive but I'm bored doing nothing. Come on babies!!

Thom love the name, hope Emilia is doing well and is with you soon, it must be hard. Thinking of you too Speak.

Bluebell Good luck with the growth scan on Thursday, I'm sure you're right and it's nothing to worry about. I know what you mean about different midwives measuring differently, I've had some odd ones recorded!

Sorry for the mammoth post and apologies to anyone I've missed!

Come on babies!!!

Thanks all. Fairly horrid so far tbh! Turns out I have a "weird cervix" because of the multiple lletz treatments. What was meant to be a quick vaginal exam to determine if I was at all dilated turned into a big of a hideous marathon - two midwives and an obstetrician had multiple lengthy goes at feeling, with and without a speculum. Eventually they decided I'm not dilated, so the pessary has now gone in.

Bit grim - I'm quite sore downstairs already and nothing has even happened!