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

[Ellizardo]

Nearly there folks.

Every time i look at her she change! Still cant quite believe its all done! My story is one of those you couldnt quite make up so would love to share it..

Basically manageable contractions at home went from around 3-4 mins lasting about 1 minute to every 2 minutes at 9.30am lasting about 1 minute 15 (and became incredibly painful) - labour suite said i could come in but expect to be sent home. They did an internal exam on arrival at 11am at my demand, were suprised to find i was 4cm but wouldnt let me have gas and air or get in the pool so ran me a bath. 45 minutes later i told them i could feel the babys head and needed to push, i got the look from them which quickly turned into an oh shit look! Waters were then born intact but contained meconium and she followed about 20 minutes of pushing later. Not even time for gas and air! Midwives looked very sheepish after but were absolutely brilliant cheerleaders at the end. (Fyi beaut that pressure/bulgey feeling I reckon is your intact bag of waters - the relief when it goes is incredible!)

So a far cry from my relaxing planned water birth but a million miles away from the forceps/ventouse/emcs/panic that i had stressed about for weeks and months!

So we had 6(?) babies pre july and now we are on our july babies! Cant wait for them to come thick and fast now!!!! (Also any advice from those who have been through the newborn stage - throw it at me, havent got an effing clue what to do now)

Congratulations Primary glad they didn't send you home for coming in too early :)

Primary, oh my goodness, she is too cute. The chubby cheeks!

Primary Massive Congratulations on your lovely new baby girl she's gorgeous. Wow I hope I have a labour that quick it would be great. I love a good birth story so thanks for sharing yours. Still nothing happening here though other than feeling thoroughly uncomfortable.
If you want any advice please ask. I'm no expert but I can hopefully answer any newborn questions. To be honest at the beginning its a case of going with the flow. I'm a routine type person as it fits better for me but you wouldn't start trying to introduce a routine until about 6 weeks if that's the style of parenting you are going for.

Dats yay for the plastering being done I hope it dries out quick. It generally does so it should be painted today. DH is a building site manager.
I hope your cramps amount to nothing for you. You are still a while of due date so hopefully that baby stays put for now.

So we dtd last night had two massive contractions afterwards and then nothing. So all I got from dtd was pain haha. I hope all these pains mean when it starts for real it will be less painful . I had terrible backache all night and couldn't sleep. I'm so so tired.

39+4

Congrats Primary! Such a gorgeous little baby and a beautiful name Enjoy getting to know her. I love the blanket too. Can I ask a random question? Does the Newborn size stuff fit her? Given that I'm almost at due date with no signs, I'm now worried that the clothes I've packed baby for the hospital will be too tight, and I should put more 'up to 1 month'... I know this is a fairly minor issue but I'm totally distracted by it!

Anna lovely to hear from you. Thanks for finding the time and energy to check in and update is. It all sounds so poignant and sad, but so full of love. You must be rammed full to the brink of emotion! Sending lots of coping vibes to add to your already vast reserves. Xxx

Beautician, great news. At least you know now that something is happening and your discomfort hasn't been in vain. Come on Baby Beaut! I took your advice yesterday and ate chocolate

Dats like you I seem to have a lot of trapped wind at the moment, and have intermittent panic that it's labour starting. Since nothing ever happens I conclude it must be wind... My stomach has been a bit upset the last few days though, I'm wondering if my system is getting ready... Very sore pelvis yesterday on one side. Getting quite a waddly walk!

Mrs Rolly, glad to hear you so chirpy again. Long may it last.

Bluebell I am impressed with your assertiveness to your dad. Hope he gets the message now! I failed to do same with my sister, who has just booked to visit in 3 weeks - for six days. Admittedly she won't be staying with us, but it's when my parents will be here too, so I did suggest she come for 3/4 days instead. Problem is, she is quite depressive and sensitive, so she then decided we didn't want her at all, and announced she didn't want to impose, upset anyone, etc. She delayed booking anything all weekend. Then I had to ring her back to reassure that we did. And now she's gone and booked for 6 days anyway!! Oh well....

Thanks for the SiL sympathy. She is now definitely coming today. Apparently they are staying the night somewhere but haven't booked anything yet....she is 38 with kids, so old enough to act better, but she is at times (many times!) a selfish cow who can never see things from other people's point of view.

We did get to have our dinner out (yummy Thai food, hooray!!) which was nice, but then had to ring out respective sisters after getting home about their unconfirmed visits, which took the shine off it somehow.
Am v tired this morning - the energy I had yesterday seems like a distant dream. Can I be arsed to tidy up and clean the bathroom? Really not sure....

39+6 - eeek!!

Gnat glad you had the chocolate . Newborn size should be absolutely fine for your bag. It's looking likely I'll go over but I still plan on taking 2 first size next gros (up to 7lb 8oz) & one up to 1 month next gro (up to 10lbs) which are packed in the bag. DH knows where extra sizes are if needed. The sizing usually comes up generous on newborn clothes.

The struggle is real. I've forgotten to buy babies first soft toy. I just want something small I can pop in the Moses basket with him. What have you all got. I can't find one I like

Beautician, our messages crossed. Sorry you had a bad night. Maybe the benefits of dtd will kick in belatedly today?! Do you have to walk kids to school? Maybe on return lie down with a hot water bottle or something.

I'm currently too afraid to dtd in case it triggers labour, I'm really getting a bit anxious. Started perineal massage last week and am worried I'm doing it wrong and they its only irritating my bits. The more I try, the more it makes me freak out that a baby's head has to fit out of there imminently!

Beaut thanks for the baby clothes reassurance. That's more or less what I've packed. Phew! Do you iron all yours?

We had exactly the same toy realisation this week - hadn't bought any! There is a lovely toy shop in the city centre but I couldn't face afternoon traffic and parking, so we went and had a look in Babies r Us - absolutely nothing we liked in there. Then wandered in to TK Maxx next door and bought 4 things! Have said return at least one (but which one?!). Will try and remember to take a photo in a bit and post.

Morning ladies - not posted for a while as DH had some time off which mostly was spent house sorting but managed to relax a bit yesterday.

For those of you dtd - all it did for me was give me a mild UTI! So now on antibiotics - oh joy.

bluebell - well done on talking to your Dad. My godmother - who is my mum really - is wanting to come stay when the baby artives but has decided that the futon we have is too low for her to get up from. I was frantically researching sofa beds and then I thought - why am I stressing about this now?! She's so lovely but I am worried about having to look after her as well as a newborn.

Gnat - sounds like you are being lovely to your sister but do look after yourself first. I'm imagining that you won't have the energy to for having someone super sensitive when you're busy being a new mum!

Elizardo - hope you're having a lovely day ahead of tomorrow - so exciting that you'll get to meet your little girl soon!

primary - wow! What a birth story - and no pain relief you bloody hero!!

Dats - come on builders! It'll be worth it. We've just finished outing everything back together after super messy, really disorganised builders so hoping yours are more on the ball. Sounds like it!

I thought I might have some labour twinges yesterday but think it was just the UTI, just to add more confusion! Midwife said to hope baby waits a bit so antibiotics have a chance to work. Hate taking them but only option really - apparently they won't affect the baby, but still not my best...

Anyone else feeling sort of low level anxious now most of the time in anticipation...?

Cookies - hope you're doing ok? Was it your induction yesterday? Thinking of you

P.s. gnat I think the perineal massage will sting - you could try microwaving the oil for a few seconds to kill any microbes....but I'm finding it does irritate. Lady on YouTube video (don't worry not actual demo she just talks you through it!) said its good practise for uncomfortable in labour!

gnat we are but one, I could have written your post above about wonky pelvis etc. Exactly how I feel! I'm sitting in Nero before going to have my hair cut and nearly spat my coffee out at your perineal message - I've been advised to start since confessing my tearing anxiety to midwives but I've had a poke about and I can barely bloody reach it let alone start rhythmically waving my thumbs about in a zen fashion!!!!

Beaut thanks for plastering tip! We've got some good trade paint that we've used before on not-quite dry plaster so hopefully can get cracking soon. Also have exactly the same newborn toy issue! Plus need to get something for DD from new sibling in case she wants to poke it's eyes out. Dunno what or when!

Oof, better waddle round to the hairdresser

dats, 38+2

Congrats primary! And with no pain relief, I hope you've at least managed to have a celebratory sip of fizz!

primary I'm such a knob - read your message early this morning and thought I'd replied but I didn't!!! CONGRATS! What a story - made me laugh and feel a bit emosh! She's lovely and I love her name!

Gnat iron, iron . Nothing in my house is ironed other than the boys and DHs shirts. I deliberately buy clothes that don't need ironing. The tumble dryer is my favourite household appliance although the dishwasher comes a close second. Nope never ironed a single baby item. Most outfits are only worn for a
Short space of time before they are sicked on.

Dats how old is your dd I can't remember. For Ted who is 3 we have put a bag together containing playdoh, playdoh cutters, a baby boy doll (£10 ELC), a sticker book and a bag of sweets. The older two have a book, sweets and some trade card game thing that they are into which I forget the name of.

Ds2 just said to me before school mum when this baby does come don't worry or feel bad because your tummy is still going to be fat. You might forget it's not a baby in there anymore just your fat tummy. Erm ds2 is now the least favourite child

Beaut snort!!! Bad DS2!! DD is 2. That sounds like a good plan, will have a think!

dats - £62 for a pair of blinds?! that almost made me burst into spontaneous labour right there. someone has clearly 'seen me coming' as harry enfield/paul whitehouse would say. aw crap. problem is our windows are so wonky that pre-made would let a lot of light in which is fine for a bathroom but less good for bedrooms. i think i am going to conveniently forget about this over the next 48 hours.

primary - annie is absolutely gorgeous and the blanket is wonderful too! i imagine her being born in a scottish croft in that blanket and growing healthy and hearty and full of heather honey etc. i love how they put their arms up when they sleep. i wake up in that position only after i've drunk a lot the night before! as for newborn advice, agree with beaut that you have to go with the flow. you basically just hope you don't kill/drop them as you marvel at them like a loon. sounds like she's made your first hours together very pleasant so i'm sure she's going to be an angel in the next few weeks (!)

as for toys..Ted studiously ignored all his nice gifted White Company/Jojo teddies and Jellycats until someone flung a comparethemarket.com alexander meerkat toy at him and he's been obsessed with it ever since..argh! he does actually love a soft monkey which we call Magnus from my brother in Sweden - a brand called Geggamoja.

also agree with no ironing unless it's something v special like a christening outfit etc. life is too short.

hello cheery! wondered where you'd gone! sorry to hear about the uti. one of my tasks was to tidy up our family and kids first aid boxes and i thought how undignified pregnancy was as i sorted through the mass of anusol, canesten, gaviscon etc.

good news is that my dad is making Nigella's chocolate guinness cake for me today. upside to having an ELCS! v odd to think this time tomorrow i'll be heading off to the hospital like having a hair cut?! slightly more uncomfortable though.

Anna, I'm so glad your mum is being looked after beautifully. It sounds like you are making the most of this very special time with her. I'm also delighted that you've moved - that must feel wonderful after all the stress. Wishing you many happy memories in your new abode .

primary massive congratumalations! Annie is a lovely name, and what a cute little baby! I love your birthing story - gives me hope, haha!

Ellizardo muchos impressed with the productivity. The best I managed yesterday was knitting about forty rows of a shawl whilst chain-watching The 100 (crap sci-fi show) in bed. The shawl was supposed to be my post-baby, mindless, pick-up-put-down craft project, but seeing as he's being so slow at getting here, it may well be finished before he arrives!

dats am hoping for you it is just wind! You're not scary, just straight-talkin' - yeahhhh! Shall sort out some vests for feeding, thanks for the tips. If it's cheap and cheerful I'm after, I usually head to eBay and find something preloved to keep it ethical. I figure nursing vests are going to get stained and misshapen anyway, so no need to be particular about fit!

Beaut I am really feeling for you; you've been hovering on the edge of labour for days now! Hope it all comes to something today. Soft toy-wise, I've been given a couple of teddies as gifts that are too large really to go anywhere near a newborn. My little boy is probably going to be having my ancient teddy as his first cuddly. I will pop a picture up later when my phone has charged - he is toooo cute!

gnat you're getting it from all sides with your family! At least my in-laws are hugely considerate. And actually, now my dad has been told, he is totally behaving himself - and he hasn't fallen out with me about it (that I know of). I've agreed to have him over for one cup of tea this evening, and then he will be driving off to stay with friends a few hours away tomorrow morning. This situation all arose because he lives abroad and he booked to come over too effing early - wouldn't listen to reason! A common theme with families, I am sensing! And OH GOD, I hear you about the bathroom. I've been meaning to clean mine for... five days?

Cheery ahahaha, glad you stopped yourself from panic-buying a sofa bed! Could you maybe tell her that you love her very much, but that if she is coming to stay would she mind helping out around the house, because you're worried that you're not going to be able to hostess? I might even go so far as sticking a list of jobs on the fridge so that she can occupy herself while you are busy with baby... Or maybe earmark a few recipes for her to cook? You could even couch it as 'I LOVE your lasagne... Would you be able to cook that for us while you are here? It would be soooo amazing to have your home-cooked food while we are getting to grips with the baby!'

My brother is going to come and stay for a night within the first week of the baby being here, but he TOTALLY gets that he needs to be useful (without being told, either, bless him), and is already planning to cook and clean.

dats regarding perineal massage, I love the concept on my NCT instructions of getting both thumbs in at once... They are effing kidding, right? I can contort myself enough to get one thumb in, but BOTH? With a bump THIS big? Not physically possible. Can't reach! I don't think I've been doing it right, either. And actually I haven't done it for about a week, mostly because I've thought every day, 'oh, I won't bother today, because the baby will probably come tonight anyway'. Ha. Ha. Ha.

Beaut got to love DS2. Maybe he was just trying to make you feel body comfortable?!?! I howled the other week when I went into school to finish some stuff off, and one of the Year 6 girls asked me if I'd had the baby. I looked at her, looked at my ENORMOUS front, and asked her what she thought. She said 'But sometimes ladies have big tummies for a while after the baby has been born...' Bless her; she was just being diplomatic!!!

Elliz SO EXCITED about your ELCS tomorrow! And good on your dad and his cake-baking. My dad could take a leaf out of his book .

Also I sympathise with all those having trapped wind issues. I had the same at 3am. Tried everything - yoga poses, hands & knees with bum in the air, sitting on the loo... It took nearly an hour to get it to pass, and it was sooooo painful. DH woke up in the middle of it and kept asking me if I was sure it was trapped wind. Unfortunately, I was bloody sure - if it was a contraction it was one effing long contraction!

41 + 0

Primary my advice would be to just enjoy it when they sleep. Go with the flow as things change so quickly. Don't do anything you don't want to, don't have visitors if you don't want either. I did too much with my first and was too eager to please visitors and was so stressed and really didn't enjoy the first few weeks. This time round I'm much more relaxed and have been out and about lots but only because I've wanted too. We haven't had many visitors but have enjoyed lots of family days with DD.

Gnat new born stuff fitted fine, Ben was 7lb 10oz. I took 3 outfits in new born and 3 in up to 1month/0-3months. He's 8lb now and new born is too small but they are primark babygrows so come up small. I would take a selection of stuff. Plus a hat and scratch mits.

Beaut whilst holding Ben DD said, "has the baby come out" I said yes I'm holding him. She said but your still fat, why's it not going down!!! God love her!!!

Eliz I do love the jellycat soft toys. To be honest I have newborn photos booked and I just wanted a shot of him with his first bear.
Yummy to the nigella cake. Are you all ready for tomorrow? In early? Hope you aren't kept waiting too long.

Bluebell I shouldn't complain as its not actually my due date yet. Especially when you are over. I have back pain today. Must just be because I'm older this time I think. The body can't take it as well.
Can't wait to see a pic of your old Ted. The only one I have is a big Winnie The Pooh that I bought myself when I was about 12.

Becks the things children say. Last time ds1 kept asking if my butt was pregnant as "honestly mum it's massive". I'm ok with it. I'll tackle the old bod at a later stage.

Ok so I've looked online and decided to go for Peter Rabbit as the first soft toy. Ds3 has a gorgeous blue dino that was his first toy but I can't find anything as nice. I've also just ordered some gifts for two mum friends that gave birth recently. I've been a bit rubbish.

Productive day. Ds3 is with the childminder until 3pm so I've washed all the boys bedding, mopped the kitchen floor, hoovered upstairs and cleaned the bathrooms. Then I'm going to do an hour of step ups on the stairs.

It's pretty quiet from some that are due around about now. Maybe there will be some more baby announcements soon

BeauticianNotMagician81 feeling back to normal now or still getting a bit of pre-labour?

toys… I could send you a hundred soft toys ladies. My DD was never interested. At nearly 3 she only likes one stuffed toy. Seem everyone keeps buying us soft toys, I keep donating them to charity every few months. Ones we did use in the first 6 months are those lamaze ones with crunchy sounds and black and white stripes.

Elliz good luck with your ELCS tomorrow!

So the world of being overdue turns. Had a bit of a date morning with the DH, coffee, cake, walk around town. I am coming round to the idea more and more that if I am induced that hopefully it won’t be as bad as last time. Have 7-9 more days to go into labour naturally but can’t say I am hopeful.

oh and 40+3 today

Photographer other than a couple of tightenings after dtd last night I've had no more regular tightenings. I just have a constant back ache. I don't feel like anything is going to happen but then I never do it just starts. I was looking back at messages to my sister before I had ds3 and five days before I gave birth I had the same day of tightenings so who knows.

Girlies, I am having some quite sharp pains on and off low down, almost under my bump. Could that be anything? I kind of thought that contractions would be more like a dull ache to begin with. Maybe it's just the baby headbutting my bladder?

Bluebell could be. My contractions usually start low down but like period pain. Have you emptied your bladder? If so bounce on the ball and you will soon know if it is something or not. During a good contraction your tummy goes rock hard. They last between 30 and 60 seconds. At the start there is unlikely to be any pattern but the ball will get them regular if it is.