August '07 - One down, one on the way and still waiting for the expected mass POP !

[tokentotty]

How's this for our new thread ladies....??

Welcome Nell and Albie - lovely names.

Thanks for the BF advice - I found the first few days fine until milk came in and had huge boobs - Dolly eat your heart out! Been to see a BF already and got some tips from her including to try feeding in the bath (will be very wrinkly if this one feeds as often as DS did!). Aim to get to 10 days with this one (lasted 4 with DD and 7 with DS). Will be having a moan to the more experienced feeders on the post natal thread - didn't someone mention setting up an August BF support thread?

Had a bit of a fright this morning - fell down the stairs (hit dd on the way down). Really hurt bum, back, wrists and toes - lucky just bruised and not hit tummy. Phone hospital they said to have a nice warm bath (not possible without 2 extras in with me!) and to phone back if there were any contractions or LO stopped moving. Has been moving loads all day and don't seem to have gone into labour yet! Need the next 2 weeks to get through the 'mine name is earl' list of jobs!

God, busy round here isn't it? Congrats to all the new arrivals announced since yesterday!

Lovelybird, I'm also due today ... hope all is OK with you. I had an appt with the midwife this morning and everything seems ok, but she did say the head wasn't quite engaged yet.

It's starting to seem a bit unreal, this whole thing of the baby actually being due to arrive any moment. Physically I'm more than ready, and emotionally I think DP and I are as 'ready' to be parents as it is realistically possible to be (ha); but it's just that it's kind of hard to believe we will have a wee baby in the house any day. I want so much to be able to hold it and see for myself that it's OK - don't think I will really believe it until it's here. Last night DP caught me cuddling a pillow baby-style

Anyway, have made another midwife appt for a week today - really hope I won't have to keep it!

By the way ... does anyone else find it really a lot less comfortable to sleep on your left side than your right? I'm getting to the point where I lie awake at night, dutifully staying on my left side, but actually fantasising about turning over onto my right where I seem to be immeasurably comfier, dammit.

And, re snoring: I am not snoring so much as snorting. Keep waking myself up with loud pig-like snorts, to find that I have dribbled all over the pillow. Hope this will cease after the birth.

Congratulations Annie, and |MrsS, What a lovely names Nell and Albie
I was thinking of you Annie,too
I went for scan and luckily baby is not breech, apparently head well down, but nothing happened yet. Have had some pain when we went beach at Barmouth, thought it started but it stopped.
Im glad babies arriving rapidly here,

hi everyone, been very busy since my brief message yesterday morning, baby Jacob was born at 3.51pm yesterday weighing a hefty 9lb 5oz! Delivered naturally at home with no pain relief except Gas and Air and not even that for the pushing stage as apparently it wasn't helping! Was the most difficult thing in the world and having delivered one son in hospital with all available pain relief and one at home with none I know which option I'll choose next time! I've proved I CAN do it the hard way and see no reason why I should do it again when the wonderful epidural was invented for a reason!
May change my mind when I've recovered a bit as it was lovely to be at home in my own bed etc except we ran out of hot water so my post birth bath wasn't very nice!
DP was fantastic and is offering his services as birth partner to my bf but so far she's declined!

wow, rhiannionbig congratulations, what a lovely news. well done. im so excited with all htese new baby news
x

Wow - congratulations on the speedy home birth and on Jacob (another lovely name!). Absolutely agree on the proving you can do it without the pain relief - my biggest worry is that they won't get the epidural in before the contractions start to hurt!

The getting into your own bed bit sounds lovely though (would have to kick lots of cars/books/blankets out of mine first!)

Congratulations rhiannon, well done!

Congratuations Rhiannon - nice homebirth story....

... us stragglers had better get a move on hey Stretchmarks?!!

... No news from TrinaJ yet then? She was fairly sure last night she was going into labour....

Now 41+8 and rapidly less amused...

All you 1st timers - itIS terrifying - and SOOOOO wonderful, and don't be afraid to shout that you are terrified -none of us will judge you, or tell you you're being silly - we've been there.

If your baby cries and you are n't expecting it to - feed it!! Snuggle, love, and adore it and marvel at how amazing you are to have produced this little (and sometimes not so little) human being..

...oops - there I go getting all soppy..... just WANt A BABY!!

morning all,

Congratulations to Annie and Rhiannon. Well the zoo didn't work still pregnant and 10 days late now not that I'm counting

Any signs for you today Bagpuss?

Hi stretchmarks and bagpuss, am feeling some sympathy for you both cos I was 10 days over with ds and who knows maybe with this one too. You know you'll meet your LOs in the next few days.

Nothing here -well, nothing more than the usual on-off-on-off... trouble is its more off than on..... DH asked me (again) this morning what the chances of her arriving today were.... "the same as yesterday and the same as tomorrow" was the repsonse - the odds go up on thurs with sweep no2 (have to try and get rid of DS somehow - not sure he will be a welcome addition to the process!!)... then by the time we get to monday (42wks) I presume the odds are nearly 100% as I'm guessing thats when they'll induce (BLUERGHHHHHHHH)

Congrats Rhiannion - another lovely birth story. Hope all you overdue ladies get some signs V soon.
I had a tearful attack of the collywobbles last nite (too late for that now!), as I had a rough time having DS and am scared about it being bad 2nd time around. Feel better today - pesky hormones!

Blimey, am feeling 100% more human after having a reasonable night's sleep. Was v sleep deprived over last week - much more to do with my anxieties than the baby.

Congrats to everyone on their babies so far - they are all gorgeous TT - at least you've more time to get sorted before your baby arrives. I wish I'd done more housework and done that whole cooking up things for the freezer before I went into labour. Thought I'd have a good 4-5 days minimum before she was born to do all that.

Itchy, no probs re info for c-section. In all, I'd say mine was a good experience. The spinal honestly didn't hurt a bit and from then it's all a case of lying back and waiting. Took about ten mins for them to deliver her to me - and wow, that moment is really, really amazing

I'd say prepare yourself for how many people will be in theatre - it was about 12 in my case! I'd make sure you request music in the background etc to try and make it a more chilled out business. It's the aftercare I wish I'd been more prepared for. Some things of note:

• Buy yourself those horrible, big maternity pads for afterwards as you will bleed for up to six weeks.
• make sure you bring in plenty of big knickers - boy shorts are def the best as they don't rub on your scar.
• you'll feel terrified about going to the loo for a poo (I was). I left it for three days and then went. It really doesn't hurt - hold your stitches while you go as it makes you feel more comfortable!
• you'll need really comfy bottoms - joggers with a big waist are ideal as you won't want anything rubbing. You'll prob have a bit of a muffin top down by the scar (bulging above and below scar) but mine is going down already.
• make sure your DH can bring you food in. Hospital food is grey and terrible and doesn't aid recovery. I had mine bringing in fish and chips!
• I felt more human by day 4 and pretty crap for the first 2 days. Recommend getting dressed on day three and walking up and down the ward with your baby to keep your legs going or you'll feel v weak when you leave.
• they make you wear these dreadful white support tights for 5 days afterwards. They made me feel really hot and sticky, so worth making sure you've got light clothes/pjs on the rest of you.
• you'll get an injection every day for 5 days to stop your blood clotting. Ideally it'll be given in your tummy - actually doesn't hurt at all and more painful when they give it in your arm. You'll also get daily painkillers but to be honest, I only needed mine for the first few days. Now it's just a little sore but not painful.
• the most annoying thing is not being able to get out of bed quickly for your baby as you worry about straining the stitches. I ended up tucking Nell in with me as it meant I could see her without straining.
• babies born by c-section are more prone to coughing and sneezing as they haven't had the mucus expelled from their lungs via the birth canal. Don't freak about this!

That's all I can remember for now. But you'll be fine - just remember to look after yourself too.

Morning all. I'm very tired. Apparently my snoring was really bad last night and dh slept on the sofa. I kept waking up for the loo as usual but I didn't have so much aching in my hips as I normally do, which is good. My boobs have been tender for the last few days - anyone know if that's a sign?

Paperdoll - I know what you mean about sleeping on the left. I find the right side soooo much more comfortable. I wonder if that's why baby has been in the same position on the right for the last few months.

Congratulations rhinannon. Jacob is a lovely name. I only had gas and air for dd and they took it away for the pushing as well. I screamed the place down and scared the woman labouring in the next room.

Hi Annie - good to hear your cs experience was good and that you're now getting more sleep.

hi - just popped over from the aug post natal thread to say congratulaions to all the new arrivals. there are some lovely birth stories here.

i've got no chance of catching up with all the posts but there are lots of new names - look forward to seeing you on the post natal thread!

catch up on your sleep while you can!

hello fellow sufferers! Inspired by another thread I've added new photo of my out of control 'bump'

annie- thanks so much for all the info, I'm starting to panic a little now it's a countdown. but I'm so glad it'll all be over soon. as long as she doesn't turn! at my appt last friday consultant said they'll scan first and if she's turned I'll be sent home to wait, that put it all into perspective.
To be honest I was a bit cross with Dr's attitude, she was really exaggerating the dangers of c-section and quite negative. Which seems bizarre as if I had tried ECV and it failed I'm sure she would be recommending a c-section and reassuring me it was safest option! It seems like these Drs just don't want women to feel like they can choose a section.

So I have the big knickers and arnica, windeeze is on my list and Tea tree oil.. How was your painrelief post op? I've been reading up on suppositries and morphine on demand!! Are you bf? How's it going?

and where's tokentotty??

Babymad - just got round to reading your birth story!! Excellent - thank you for sharing.. i hope to do the same one day SOOOOOON!

Its funny what you say about birthing positions - when I had DS I instinctively knelt on the floor, leaning on the sofa. When the m/w suggested I try on my back for the last pushes I nearly died - but the change of position worked for me. Apparently kneeling helps get the LO the right way round (ie Spine to front of bump).

I'm not keen on the birthing ball thing (not sure why really - me being funny) and have every intention of delivering this LO in as similar way to DS as poss (barring being induced)

Well done, a lovely babe, hurrah!!

TT had better not be off having a baby!!!!!! she's probably cooking!!

Itchy - pain relief is just fine. They give you paracetamol and something else to start after the morphine and to be honest, I haven't taken any pills since day 4, so it's really not that bad - just a bit sore at times.

B/f is going really well - I'm enjoying it massively I was shown how to get her to latch on properly in the hospital and I reckon that really helps - ask someone straight away to show you. It's the most amazing feeling when it works. No soreness and just a few sharp twinges when you get let-down to start, but now my boobs have gone down it's actually nice.

I was gutted she didn't turn during labour, but found out she's got long legs so wonder if that's why! Don't feel bad about having a c-section - it's generally recognised as the safest route for breech, though I wished I could have had that natural labour. Ah well, next time...

Pink - just seen your thread about babe being back to back - mine is too - acctually, I think she's on her side but firmly wedged at the moment.

DS was back to back, and only turned at the last minute (wrapping the cord around himself at the same time -but he was FINE!!) - I laboured on my knees, leaning on the sofa (as I said in my earlier post) -it did hurt more to start, as there was a lot of pressure on the front of my pelvis, but I did it with no pain relief, and a 9lb baby -so don't worry - just listen to the m/w and chill - it certainly isn't defined as a reason for not having a homebirth. you'll be fine.

xx

Hi all

growingbag- I have a feeling it's your day today. fingers crossed for you.

annie - lovely to hear all your news, you make a c/s sound good. i'm alot less scared now if i need one. BTW a natural birth is not much to miss in my opinion, mine was very loooooooooong to say the least.

Rhiannon- after your post, i'm wondering if i should just pre order my epidural now, i resisted one for 9 hours with ds and then had one, which was a good thing even though it didn't fully work. I thought I wanted all natural this time, but now I'm thinking... Why do we have to have birth pain in this day and age IYKWIM

My DD is tomorrow, can't believe it

Thank GBP - i know that i have that one of us had a back to back aswell but couldnt remember who! _ must be something in the water here!

Feel a little peeded of today, originally dh was going to drop d.s. off at sisters on Wednesday as midwife is coming to do sweep, she has no plans that day, my nieces are off doing something so she said she would then have him and drop him off mid afternoon - i think great i get a break for the first time! Then dh informs me he had a meeting that morning so cant drop him off, not a prob, i dont mind getting up dropping him off then STILL having a few hours on my own!
Well on conversation with my sis today she says, " I will drop the girls (my nieces) off at 10, then come to yours with d.s. and wait with him while midwife is here " so basically NO break from d.s., just would thought that she dosnt spend much time alone with ds as her youngest is the same age and she struggles with him and would maybe like to do that but it seems not!
Also ( im on a moaning roll now) why do people always coo over the babies when you clearly have ONE MORE CHILD! - in conversation with same sister she says that she always going to look after this baby and wants to have him WTF!!!! Not fair on ds, baby dosnt have a clue ds DOES, i did get angry and told her that if DS isn't doing it then baby wont be, why do "some" people think this is acceptable!

So sorry for the long post - just having one of them days!!!

Good to hear from everyone (well, nearly everyone - wonder if tokentotty has sneaked off to give birth?)
Glad to hear you sounding so perky, Annie .

Itchy, your bump pic is fantastic - I think mine has actually got smaller since the Cub engaged - in fact the woman in Mothercare yesterday told me admonishingly that they didn't recommend buying nursing bras till after 24 weeks, which made me a bit cross .
But still, you can see her point...

Hang in there, all you end-of-Aug girls and good luck to the overdue and the inductees...

Sorry to hear you're not getting a break from your ds pink. I'm lucky that my mum will have dd whenever I want her to - it's just getting dh to drop her off and pick her up. I told him that I wasn't going anywhere this week but there was no way I could cope with having her 24 x 7 so he would have to take her somewhere at least 2 days. I've also organised to have people round each day she's here so at least it's a distraction for her and I don't have to cope with her on my own. She's only 2 and very demanding, especially when she won't have naps. she was fine yesterday until she did a wee on the carpet and then poured her drink all over the table. I got really angry with her and she cried herself to sleep. I keep wondering why I want more Bit late now though.

That is a small bump for full term MrsBadger. I keep thinking mine is smaller than last time, even though they estimate the baby is going to be bigger. I don't have any photos so I can't compare.