Due in Feb 07 - when the bumps turn into babies (soon hopefully) !

[suis]

Hello everyone and welcome to the shiny new thread. Hopefully this will be our last in ante-natal !

For reference, I've put in the due list. I think I got all the corrections / newbies since the last time it was posted, but apologies if I've missed anyone.

BABIES!

PLUMPBUMP Jacob 2nd Jan, 5lb 1oz -32 weeks!
MUMMYTOJAKE Boy 24 Jan, 7lbs 1.5oz

BABIES IN WAITING!!

SHHHH 31 Jan
SALLYALLYALLY 1 Feb
SOUNDBITES 1 Feb
BABYCAT 1 Feb
SMUDGEMUM 2 Feb
BABYDRIVER 3 Feb
SALLYN 3 Feb
CADBURY 6 Feb
SORKYCAKE 6 Feb
QSACK 6 Feb
MUMMYTOJAKE 7 Feb
LEAHSMUM 7 Feb
BUBBLEBELL1 8 Feb
LUCYB9384 9 Feb
BOUNCYMINKY 9 Feb
SUIS 11 Feb
PENGUINETTE 11 Feb
BUNNY3 12 Feb
DRJO 13 Feb
BABE 7 14 Feb
MARMITEMAD 14 Feb
DONTCALLMEYUMMY 14 Feb
LEAHSMUM 14 Feb
BECS21 14 Feb
SUZI2 15 Feb
TITCHY77 15 Feb
THELITTLESTBOHO 15 Feb
TUTTIFRUTTI 16 Feb
HAIRYCATTERPILLAR 16 Feb
KATPOO 16 Feb
RUBYANDBEANSMUMMY 16 Feb
TOMMY 16 Feb
MOOSMA 17 Feb
SNUGGLEBUNNY 17 Feb
ALOCIN 18 Feb
PEACHYGIRL 19 Feb
JULEZBOO 19 Feb
TIME4TEA 19 Feb
12YEARGAP 20 Feb
MRSJOHNCUSACK 23 Feb
FLOWERTOT 23 Feb
BIENCHEN 24 Feb
CHACHA 25 Feb
ANDYROBO237 26 Feb
CURRANTBUN 26 Feb
FORGOTTENFREETIME 27 Feb

what wonderful news Plumpbump!! Hope you all get settled in soon.

I have a question for you ladies about baths.
We have not bought a baby bath, mainly due to lots of people on here saying they are a waste of money. I have a bath floaty thing
support and had always intended to put baby in the bath with one of us
But after the visit from my friend who also had a c section I am now aware that I may not be able to manage all sorts of things including bending over the bath. I know DH can do it but wonder if we should invest in one of these.
inflatable bath
or should we just go for the sink, or a washing up bowl or we do have a couple of these (smaller)
tub bucket and could we use this like one of those tummy tubs

Can you tell I'm a first timer with too much time on her hands!! What would you do????

Congrats to all those with new babies and hope all of you overdue go into labour very soon! I had check today with midwife - will be 39 weeks on friday; head is 4/5 which she explained is 1/5 in pelvis & 4/5 out of pelvis! All good as last time it was free, so at least things are heading in right direction. Taking lots of herbal / homeopathic remedies, sitting on ball and walking to / from school with DS1 in the hope this helps. Think I will be feeling edgy tomorrow as that will be the day labour started with Zak! Midwife said she thought the baby was a good size - long and solid were her words. . . . . I am beginning to worry I have king kong inside me not a baby - thank goodness I have a sweep at 40 weeks. . . This is due to previous 3rd degree tear / the fact they (the hospital) don't want me to go to far past due date! Well happy labouring / birthing!!!!!

Plumpbump, must be great to all be home together, hope you are coping well with the NGT.

Moosma, did email you back, let me know if you haven't got it!

Peachy, I wouldn't bother with a bath, I used the sink for DD until I felt comfortable getting in and our of the bath after my cs, then she came in the bath with me and DH passed her in and out for me. The Tummy Tubs do say not to use anything instead of one of them as they are specifically designed for their use, not sure how true it is but think it's prob better to be safe.

Peachy I bought a M&P change table with bath built in off ebay for £12!!!!!! Will make changing / bathing more comfortable.
Look in ad mag / car boot for 2nd hand baby bath - you will probably get one for a couple of pounds. Failing that they are pretty cheap of ebay again - you can search your local area. Saying that they are pretty cheap from m/care or babies r us.
Itv is easier to handle a small slippery newborn in a small plastic bath over a big bath - you can just place it on a table and away you go!

Thanks both of you, someone offered me a bath but I have no idea when I am going to see here again. the blow up one could be good as we could take it to my parents.

Peachygirl, I was given several baby baths and did use one inside the normal bath just to save water. For the first week or so I bathed DD in the bathroom basin (it's pretty big) but had to wrap a towel around the taps. I didn't have a cs though...

Snugglebum I haven't had an email back and I don't think my spam catcher stole it. Did I give you the right address? It should be dcurtis @ f2s.com

Thanks I'm just thinking it over now as after the C section I won't be able to drive and neither DH or my parents drive so nipping out to get stuff like this isn't so easy.

Peachy, I managed fine after a cs last time by bathing ds in the bathroom basin for the first few weeks. After that we used the type of bath support you have got, which was really useful.

Hello chaps.

Still here I'm afraid. all gone quiet on the contraction front. Have definitely had a show but nothing else all day. My bump is permenantly tight and very tender - especially as baby is wriggling so much still. There is apparantely nothing I can do but wait and frankly, I'm exhausted. At this rate, when my body actually decided to do what it's meant to, I'll be too knackered to deliver. I'm so afraid I'll end up in hospital in 2 weeks getting induced.

sorry to hear that Cadbury - hang in there with the rest of us...

peachy, if it's any help, I don't think DS2 got many baths when he was tiny. They don't really need a bath because you clean them so well when you top and tail them anyway and it's not like they're going to be crawling round in the mud or anything. We have a support thing (towelling hammock type thing on a wire base) which was very useful but, as I said, poor DS2 didn't get many baths in the early days as it was just too much of an effort (DS1 was 19 months!)

Hi Moosma, sent it again, it was the right address the first time, this time it will come from my personal email addy so it might not stand out to you if you get loads of email through. Sorry to use the list for this everyone xxx

Hope things kick off for you cadbury.

Peachy - we had that floaty support thing. Fab in the sink and baby bath but moved around a bit much in the big bath. Don't believe that it can't go mouldy (as per description) as ours did. So make sure and rinse, wring it out and hang it after use. I used to roughly hang it up and never wrung it out properly!

I agree that newborns don't need much in the way of bathing. We HATED bathing DS as it was a terrifying experience for all of us lol. We used to put it off as much as possible! I reckon he was bathed every 5-7 days in the early weeks unless he got really mucky with sick/poo. We topped and tailed him a lot though which was sometimes more effective at getting into all the weird newborn skin folds . If you're around an IKEA they do a plastic baby bath for about £4. If you're registered on your local freecycle group you could always put a wanted ad on there - there is often a lot of baby baths being offered on my local group.

Thanks suzi £4 is much more up my skinflint bargain hunter street. I live near a massive IKEA too.
Thanks for the advice about the support we have a bath head cushion thing (for adults) and due to not wringing it out it has also gone mouldy shame on me!!

Hi all, Congrats to BD and to plumpbump - almost like a second birth, bringing baby home! Not been abe to post since laptop power lead exploded a couple of nights ago. Do you think I'm on mn too much?!!! Have now borrowed one from dh work so should be ok until I can get a new one. DH and I are really looking forward to the snow tomorrow. Did all my going out jobs today so we can play with ds and pull him on sledge tomorrow morning! Its the first time he'll have been able to play out - last year too young to walk when we had snow.

Got my pool today and now have a question for you all - Is anyone planning a physiological third stage? If so, what are the benefits? When would you cut the cord? And would this stop me from getting out of the pool after the baby is born but before the placenta has delivered? Surely the cord being attached would make it difficult and very bloody? Sorry if TMI.

Peachy we used the basin for ages - far easier than baby bath for a little one. Also gave lots of top and tails and hardly any baths anyway.

I'm planning a natural 3rd stage - more because I don't think that drugs (in general!) agree with me. I believe that waiting until the cord has stopped pusling ensures that all the goodness from the placenta is delivered to baby. Not sure too much about it though - hoping my mw knows what to do lol. I think I would get out the pool for the 3rd stage as that's the messy bit. And apparently the pool water is still sometimes clean enough for a quick dunk to wash in afterwards if you don't do 3rd stage in the water. Mind you, my mw's are still keen I get out for the actual birth so might be on dry land anyway.

Sorry - meant to say earlier... Congrats Plumpbump - hope you're all very settled at home

well back from DAU after 4 hours, usual monitoring and blood tests, bp still high but urine and blood ok so allowed home tonight - just in time to get to chinese takeaway. have to be checked at gp surgery again tomorrow (depending on the snow) and friday. very annoyed to find that my gym ball now has a puncture after being loaded into the car, have had to order another one off ebay so now can't sit comfortably/start labour until it's delivered on Monday.
ffreetime, I am planning a physiological third stage (and maybe a water birth depending on pool availability at hospital), I found the following website quite helpful,
\link{http://www.homebirth.org.uk} (not done this before so hopefully got it right?)

I am planning a physiological 3rd stage but probably won't be in a pool
midwife says if all OK we'll just leave the placenta attached until it's delievered, and then the cord won't be cut until it's stopped pulsing I think. the baby will be on my chest. Not sure how all this works in water....not very helpful am I

TuttiFrutti - am afraid to say that my baby has been 2/5 engaged for at least 3 weeks now (am 38 weeks) and it's my second - I think your doc was being a bit optimistic. Have had a show too and no signs of anything happening here. Just need to wee ALL THE TIME

Can't keep up with this thread at all. but congrats BabyDriverToo and also Plumpbump for bringing Jacob home. oh and becs too.

Plumpbump thats great news - hope your all enjoying having him home at last.

Well last night I had contractions all night and on and off all day today. Think it might have been down to you know what yesterday (sorry if TMI). Went for a brisk walk tonight and even bought myself a gymball today - though not really sure how I'm supposed to sit on it or even how it helps - any advice please? Dont think the contractions are going to come to anything - not anytime soon though my mum was round today and everytime I moved she went into panic mode - so difficult trying to hide pain from your mother! Trying not to let her see me uncomfortable as she keeps insisting i go to hospital - pointless at this stage as i dont want to be sent home again like last week! Anyway mw is coming to house 2morro 2 eventually do my birth plan (wayhay i'm only 39+1!) and back at daycare on Tuesday - doc intends to examine and if favourable poss induction due to bp.

Peachy I used this \link{http://www.mothercare.com/gp/product/B000IVU056/sr=1-37/qid=1170887074/ref=sr_1_37/203-0144840-3451912?ie=UTF8&m=A2LBKNDJ2KZUGQ&n=42855041&mcb=core} with dd inside a baby bath and occasionally in the big bath and have bought one again for this LO but will only b using in baby bath this time as we have moved house recently and only have a shower at

First attempt at link so hope it worked.

doesnt appear to have worked - its a fabric bath support - you'll find it on mothercare website.

marmitemad - looks like they monitoring you in the same way as me. Are they concerned about poss pre-eclampsia? I had it at the end of my preg with DD and was induced at 39+4 - which wasnt bad as she was full term anyway. BP only been high for since last tuesday and white floaty things in my eyes and +++protein in urine but bloods all fine - since then protein down to trace and bp settled - usually bottom number approx 90 but last week it was over 100.

hi ladies
congrats to all of you at home with your lo's so .
sally so know what your feeling i too have a chest infection dosed up with antibiotics and getting just a little confused is the back ache because of the cough or am i starting off????
guess i'll know soon enough eh!

Goodness me it's been a busy day on here ! Congrats on the new LOs and esp to Plumpbump, must feel good to have him home.

On the baths... I got a tummy tub on my cousin's recommendation. She said it was the only baby gizmo she would recommend to others and it was great, much easier than trying to either reach into the big bath or manouver a flat baby bath full of water... and no taps to deal with in a sink. I'll let you know how we get on when I actually have a baby to try in it !

And we've got snow already ! Not masses but it is lying. DP looked a bit concerned about driving conditions in case we had to do a hospital dash, but the little person is still perfectly cosy where s/he is.

Peachy don't buy anything else and you really don't need to bath a newborn at all. They get wiped over enough in the early days with nappy changes.
Either get Dh to take baby in the bath with him for the first couple of times or once a week get Dh to pass the baby to you in the bath if you feel able. Don't get a baby bath changer thingy at all. You won't be able to empty it, it's another thing to buy/store that you'll try to palm off onto someone else as soon as you realise what a waste of money it is, LOL.

I had a physiological 3rd stage in the pool last time round, fabulous! Waited until cord stopped pulsing, Dh cut it and then had a cuddle of Ds before the m/w did their weighing etc. I'll be honest I couldn't have gotten out of the pool to deliver the placenta even if they'd asked me to as my legs wouldn't hold me up straight after the birth. LOL I was like Bambi!
I felt something coming not 5 minutes after Ds was taken out of the pool (strange sensation) and told m/w, she got hold of the cord and asked me to give a little push, then she caught the placenta and took it off to look at it. Hardly no blood loss at all, thank goodness.
I stayed in the pool for another 10 minutes or so until I felt able to stand to get out, then Dh supported me to the sofa. Happy Days!
So hope someone else delivers today (obv. hope it's me & Cadbury ), the news may well be coming daily now!
FFT I was just thinking about you, wondering where you were.

Good morning all! Just started snowing here..DD and DH are asleep at the moment though so I get the sledge all to myself.
Ruthie...my sympathies for your chest infection...I have been so surprised that all the coughing hasn't started anything off..even had to pop into fetal monitoring unit on Monday as really tender abdominal areas and constant tightness. LO was absolutely fine and seemed enormously comfortable! Midwife concluded that pain was due to constant coughing. She was right but I was a bit p'd off that I had spent so much time awake and in pain already and just had a sore throat to show for it!!! Last time I had antibiotics I was 6!!!
Woken up early this morning as suddenly starving so indulging in mountain of toast
Next plan is to get on with some paperwork so I can free my morning up for....? snowballs ? shopping ? coffee ? labour???!!!! (last one was just a joke of course!) Off to postmaturity clinic at 3 so I can re establish my reputation as awkward customer