Due April 2008

[Rainbowdays]

I am a little nervous about starting this thread as I was previously on the March 2008 thread but m/c'd. But I got my bfp this morning and although still faint it is clearly there.

Anyone else coming to nervously join me?

Didn't know about the ice-cream - now worried cos I had one last weekend!
Slowly telling a few people - finding it difficult to hide the fact I'm not drinking and thought people would soon begin to guess.
Getting some m/s - just hope it lasts... (or do I...?)

Evening all. I've just been looking up London hospitals in previous messages and I am now really worried ... several of the posts say that the post-natal wards are filthy. Not that I'd expect the Ritz but I am a bit concerned now!

Go and look yourself, first baby I ahd, one of the mums on the ward had ANTS crawling over her baby..... went abck for my third (not by chopice) and it was fabulously clean. Things change.

An ice cream a few weeks ago won't hurt, I (think) the risk is food poisoning and the effects of.

Sounds like you and your DP do a good job with your DSS scorpio - bonding thing is hard, and tbh I worry about how will be affected when/if I have my own. I don't want to feel differently towards my own but worry I will. I know I will not act differently, poor little thing has had enough to contend with without feeling insecure about that, but it does worry me a little. I do find it hard to respond positively to her sometimes, like when I'm tired or she's playing up - sometimes I get snappy and then I feel soooo guilty. It sometimes seems that parenting is another thing I'll never get quite right, and that there's always something I could be doing better - I'm so far away from being some fab domestic goddess oh-look-have-just-whipped-up-an-educational-activity type person, and I worry about how am going to cope with two! (If this one makes it, still don't quite believe it will stick)
Sorry for moaning, not quite sure where all that oh poor me stuff came from! Just feeling a bit tired and insecure I guess, and rubbish parenty today. Though the cakes did turn out nice.

oh thank heaven for that, it's ok if it's cooked, eh... wonder why no one told me that the last two pregnancies, GRRRRR!

thanks for the info!
Ellie, don't be worried about moaning, first of all, it's totally normal, and second of all, it's totally ok!
I feel pretty awful myself. Had a really rough night with ds1.

smcg - I too live in London, and in a rather ghetto-y part of it.
I am also concerned about the cleanlyness of hospitals. I have however decided to not freak out quite yet... I will go to my first 12 week appointment and take it form there. If what I see scares me I am definitelly going to look into other options.
Perhaps we can keep eachother posted on london hospitals?
Is it an idea to start a new thread about this?

Is anyone else still suffering from cramps? Mine appear to keep happening at the same time everyday which makes me think that it can't be cramps - possibly trapped wind? Dr told me not to worry but here I am, worrying away! Also, when the camps happen - it makes me feel more sick than normal!
Just want to go home to bed. This is the first day that I feel properly tired and quite irritable

Hi Loisstella. I got in a real tizzy about the hospital last night, so much so that I talked to a friend this morning and she put my mind as ease. She told me that you will hear bad stories about every hospital. Her friend had two babies in the hospital I am thinking of (St Thomas') and thought it was excellent. I got worried when I read that there is a shortage of midwives there, apart from the grubby postnatal ward. The home from home rooms sound great but I am a wimp so I'm sure I'll need an epidural!

I was contemplating doulas and independent midwives in the middle of the night!

Where are you based? I am in SE1.

Thanks Peachy, you're right, I just need to check it out for myself.

Can you leave after 6 hours if you have an epidural?

I'm in E9 - slap bang in the middle of hackney. I heard about the home away from home type rooms in Asmterdam but wasn't aware they had them here? That's good. My friend had her little girl in one of those and she was extremely happy with the homely relaxing environment.
Do you know if most hospitals have this option?

Right I have decided that i am going to join you i am 4+3 and due 27th April but have been getting a horrid back ache since Sunday Went to the EPU on Monday and have had a blood test and another today as they are worried about a EP but I have decided to be positive as the pain in my back is in the middle so hoping Bud is in the right place i wont find out until next Friday when they will scan me!

Have been reading the thread to keep up to date but would really like to join you guys if your will have if only for a week!

Hello Kirbo, I've had a few cramps in the last few days bt I have been getting them since I found out! I also get a sharp pain every now and again to the left of my belly button.

I think it is just streching pains as there is a lot happening that your body is not used too!

I know it's hard not to worry but try not too, if you are that worried just go to your doctor - that is what they are there for

And Hello Littlesoldiersmummy, you are more than welcome and good luck with your tests! Fingers are crossed for you.

Backaches are terrible things and once it starts it is soooo hard to shift! week 6 I was sleeping in our spare room as the bed was more comfy and found out that I had a really back back ache due to my bad posture at my desk - I'm trying to improve it now as I figured when I get big it is going to really hurt

Keep us posted on how you are feeling and try putting a hot water bottle on it or something?!?!

going dlightly mad... being very impatient!
I can't wait another 7 weeks for a green light! Want to scream it form the rooftops!

Question for the group; was at doctors last week. She said the hopsital would call about 12 week appointment. Not heard anything yet. Should I chase?

Hello all - what is a doula?

Thought I was doing better today - much less grumpy - but then doing some knitting with DSD and she had a paddy cos she dropped a stich and I just shouted at her and now she's gone off in tears going 'Eleanor shouted at meeeeeeeee....'

Hey ho. Off to apologise and smooth some troubled waters. I hate being so tired. I feel like having a little cry meself. Maybe I'll just go join her.

By blood test results are 164 so are average for 4+3 they have now brought the scan forward to Tuesday so will hopefully see my bud in the right place then

A doula is a person who supports you through late preganancy labour and the first few months they are there like an older sister of mother giving advice and help when needed. if you type Doula into the search part on here there is loads of info about them there are even a few on here

All better now phew, lots of cuddles and apologies from both of us.
Very exciting about scan on tues! Will keep all limbs crossed for you and your beanie x

That sounds like a nice idea. I'm not sure we have them over here. Do you get them on the nhs or is it a private thing? I don't see anyone for ages and ages and won't be allocated any particular MW, I think it just depends who's on at the clinic.

you need to pay for one but i dont think they charge that much. I would love to be one when my DCs are older!

There are several doulas on MN -- MarsLady, for one. If you do a search for threads with "doula" in the title you should turn up plenty.

I had my diabetic antenatal appt this afternoon, they went through everything with me and explained everything. I'm having a dating scan in a couple of weeks (appt will come through the post) so will be around 9 weeks then, and will have monthly hospital appts for now and then weekly appts later and regular scans to check on babies growth Pregnancy makes my body more resistant to insulin later so I'll have to inject more and more to get enough in me that's working, and that will make the baby big). I've come away feeling a little more worried than when I went as they told me all these other things that the diabetes make me/baby more at risk from than I was aware of before, but also happy that the specialist midwives and doctors and everyone know what's going on and will take very good care of me.

I'm completely shattered, was in bed at 8:30 last night after dissolving into tears on the sofa cos I was feeling sick and needed to eat to make me feel better, but couldn't face making the rest of the tea. And I was cold and stupidly tired. DH found me wrapped in a blanket crying, and was a star... took over, delivered tea to me then packed me off to bed. I've been on tea duty lately as he's spending every spare minute doing diy to get our house tarted up, so we can sell & move somewhere a bit bigger so all the baby stuff doesn't have to live on the roof!

Loisstella, I only know that St Thomas' have the home from home option, sorry, don't know about any other hospitals.

KnitterInTheNW, you will be in good hands.

I think doulas sound fantastic. I told my friend I was thinking of getting one and he laughed his head off, I don't understand why he found it so funny!

A friend of mine is due any day now and she is having a home birth (very brave if you ask me). She already has the birthing pool at home and 2 midwives will be present. She has also hired a doula as I don't think it is paid for by the NHS. She thinks the doula is really worth investing in. I think if I was having a home birth I'd have one too but not sure it's necessary for me as they seem quite good at the hospital. Anyway, we all have a few months before we decide whether to have a doula or not. Right now, I'm just trying to deal with ms... KnitterInTheNW, I totally empathise with you and your dh sounds really supportive. Have to say mine is a gem too

I would definitely have a doula if I had a hospital birth - I think you'd be more grateful for one there than at home, tbh. They can act as a barrier/link between you and the busy hospital staff. They will know your birth plan by heart and can fight your corner at a time when you definitely won't feel like doing any fighting. They will be able to explain the different procedures better than the hospital staff (especially if they're busy) and a lot of them know how to do massage, etc. They're a great support for DH too. If anyone is interested in what they do exactly, there's more info on this website www.doula.org.uk/ I think the cost is around £500 (depending on experience and the area where you live) but you can also find trainee doulas on that website - they have to do a certain number of births before they can qualify properly and often charge very little or only expenses for those.

Hi all, just got a quick chance to post as my mum who is staying with us is upstairs (she doesn't know yet!). TERRIBLE m/s today, have lost my appetite completely which is very unlike me, and I hoped it wouldn't come to this but the thought of my morning coffee is beginning to make me feel ill.

Advice on alcohol really helped at FIL's birthday meal last night - I took a glass of wine, put it to my lips regularly, but didn't drink and nobody noticed!!!!

Found that Twinings ginger and lemon tea helped with m/s this afternoon.