Due in June - you toucha my bump, I smasha your face!

[bumperlicious]

Just thought I'd better kick a new one off...
Another day, another tearful outburst at work! It's getting very embarrassing Is it just me who feels like crying at the drop of a hat? Maybe it's lack of sleep, just not dealing very well with things that would not normally bother me, then something really small sets me off. cried in the toilets for 20 minutes today! Can't even explain why. Is this normal still at this stage?

psst, bumper, noone mentioned the sieve for the waterbirth ...

I took high sugar drinks - ribena and cola.
Breakfast cereal and milk. (you can get those tubs with milk attached which are easy).
Hospital gave me Chilli after having DS1!
We had pizza and a bottle of wine for DS2. (at home, bit of a party going on with DH and bestfriend whilst I'm mooing and licking the walls). DD was early in the morning, so lots of hot sweet tea and toast.

Have you thought about who will be there?

I use Miriam Stoppards Conception, Pregnancy and Birth book as my point of reference. Bit old now, but still as useful.

Ewwww!! I remember the sieve!! Yuk! I tried not to look at what the mw was sieving out! Dp thought the sieve was hilarious (oh and the torch the mw used to look under the water!!)

Have you had a water birth at home foxy?

Bumper are you close to your mum? I had my mum with me as well as my dp for labour as my dp is a wimp and cannot stand blood! I needed someone strong there in case anything went wrong and my mum was perfect! She is a no nonsense sort of person, like me, and she really helped.

No, did consider it for DS2 but the floorboards wouldn't have coped. Friend of mine did, cocked her leg over the side to get in and the head popped out!

LOL!!!

I definately agree that its good to have another person there. If for nothing else but to relieve the bordom and get the teas in. Means DP can go and do the update phone calls etc, and you aren't on your own.
I've had a succession of friends with me. First time I had a crack team of birthpartners (both had been each others so were experienced). DP was only there for DD, and it was special, but he doesn't want to be there again. I've never minded him not being there. Rather have my friends who know what they are doing and won't bloody annoy me!!

And no, i didn't get off my butt and get started on the garden. Still on here, cbeebies still on, gotta go and do school run now!!

Sorry for lack of response - been working on my lists! Thanks for the advice. Do I have to take my own sieve

I have a 'crack' team of birthing partners (funny, that's how I described mine before I even read your post Foxy!) as I'm not usually one of those people who has a problem with people being around (I like the attention), DH, my mum, but she lives 2.5 hours away and my BF who lives 5 hours away. I figure that between the 3 of them they will be able to cope with me, do shifts etc. And I wanted people to be there for DH case he needs it, not sure how he will react. He gets on brill with my mum (in fact I suspect she likes him better than me) so if anything goes wrong, or even if it doesn't I know she will be able to give him lots of support and encouragement too. I know that my mum and BF will also be 'proactive' if I need it and be able to talk on my behalf, but a bit worried that DH might fall apart.

I've steered clear of Miriam Stoppard, mainly because I can't cope with turning the page to see some woman with a baby half way out of her!

Btw, is it wrong to take chamapagne to the hospital? A friend of a friend recently gave birth and apparently her only worry was find glasses to go in the bag for the champagne! That will be me!

Phew....been away for three days and lots to catch up on.....for those of you with LOs close together...one of the mum's at the nursery at DS school has a four year old, a two year old and has just given birth to .....triplets!!!!!!!!talk about life being over.
Spent the weekend alternately painting the bedroom and digging in the garden and can hardly move today. but seeing physio soon so will get a nice relaxing shoulder massage.

Last year we grew potatoes, runner beans (DS calls then runaway beans!) corn on the cob (not v succcessful...more like babycorn but still delicious) carrots and courgettes. Slugs got about 50% of our plants, but we planted out too early. Planning more of everything this year and also some salad crops and maybe french beans. It was so satisfying picking and cooking things and DS actually ate courgettes for the first time as a result. Great fun. The potatoes were the best bit!

I had DH (not D and not even P at the time...long story) and my big sis with me at the birth of DS, which was great...but this time it'll be me and DH only and am worried how I'll cope with only one birthing partner. No doubt I'll be too busy to worry when going through it.

Really must get round to reading down this thread.

Just a quick post to say how scan went this morning. Baby's kidneys still measuring on the bigger side of normal. The consultant really couldn't say wether it's something or nothing - could be that just a big baby (measuring around a week bigger than dates) or could be something like duplex kidneys. They want to re-scan us at 34 weeks and will probably scan the baby once it's born too. Was so hoping they would just say one way or another, it's the not knowing that's difficult. On a happier note the pics from today's scan are lovely, the sonographer got really nice shots of the baby's face and the baby looks a lot like dd.

Oh Twiga, will keep fingers crossed for you.

Bumperlicious - yes, take champagne, just don't forget to give the midwife a glass. And yes, your own sieve. You'll probably not use half of the things you've brought with you. And if you're really, really lucky you'll get sent home from the delivery room. Post-labour ward is no joy at all IME.

Oooh Daisy, sounds interesting your birth story - my DP wasn't there, (same, wasn't D or P at the time) and met my parents for the first time in the delivery suite after DS1 was born. We laugh about it now!!

Had a lovely picnic this afternoon - first of the year - and 1 O'clock club. Home for tea and iced buns. Today is a Good Day.

Sorry just to hi-jack but just wanted to say i think the thread title is fab!

Hee hee, everyone is jealous of our thread title!

Just popped to Neals Yard (I really should take shares out in that place) and had the Bowen technique to make me feel better. Anyone tried this before? Don't feel different yet, and it didn't seem like she was doing much, but she said it can take a few days to feel the difference.

What's the Bowen technique then? Whats it meant to do? Sounds interesting.

Oh dear I ate too much, now I can't sit up straight! I had a picnic yesterday foxy, it was lovely! Was going to have another today, but didn't get to the common til 4! oops! Dd had a lovely time and no fat lips , but she got so dirty she burst into tears when she got back in the car! She looked at her tights and shouted, with lip trembling, "mummy I'm sooo dirty!!". She is so girly, I love it! She had her first pigtails today, she was the cutest! Sorry, I'm being a proud mum today!

Okay, someone please explain the sieve thing to me. Why? How? When? What???!!!

The midwife uses it to sieve all the bits out of the water when you have a water birth. It's gross!!

Ah! Water birth! I mean, that's still a bit eeuugghh, but not as bad as some of the things going through my mind initially..!
My sister said to take socks. But then again, she gave birth in the winter. Maybe sunglasses would be a better idea - with everything else exposed we need some way of retaining a little mystique, surely?

Unfortunately mystique is not something you hold onto whilst giving birth!!

Hiya - lol at mystique in labour ward... I was in the postnatal ward for a week with DS and when we finally left, I had to walk past the corridor containing all the delivery rooms, and was literally tucking head into collar so that nobody would recognize that incoherent madwoman who was there last week screaming her head off etc etc!! To me it was like revisiting another planet or previous lifetime IYKWIM.

Been getting cramps in lower bump region and it's sending me into a bit of a panic. I'm 28+1 now which is waaaay too early for all this...and we're flying home (transatlantic) Wed. ay ay ay

btw very of your picnics. here in the US the snow is still melting...!

Socks are handy for the 'transition' phase - in between stages 1 & 2 when all the blood leaves your extremeties and can leave them a bit cold. Also if you are walking around during labour on cold lino floors. But they go in the bin after!

I've been having a few cramps and pains too. I think its perfectly normal, but speak to MV if you are worried.

This explains the Bowen technique a bit. never had it before, but I knew they did some drop in sessions at Neals Yard, and that's what they had today. TBH I am desperate and will try anything. Tonight it's the lavender pillow and my iPod with a talking book on it if I wake up.

Sleep well Bumperlicious!

Hope you are having a lovely time lilkel and your flight home is ok. Maybe you are having braxton hicks, I've never had them so I don't know what they are like, but I think they are crampy, like contractions, but not as strong. I was reading a book last night and it said that you can get bh from about 26 weeks.
I am very of your snow! I haven't seen any this year! It serves me right for living in the sunny south!