Waddling Zombies and Dancing Babies - Due Feb 2008

[Pk616]

Hiya ladies,
Thought I'd start the new thread, hope you like the title! Best I could come up with I'm afraid!

Thanks for the tips Egg - I was wondering what the really important things I would need to take were. And now I know. There are lots of guides about what you should put in your hospital bag but I knew the nest place to get advice woud be mumsnet!

I wouldn't worry about the nesting thing - I have to really really motivate myself to actually DO any cleaning and tidying and buying baby things and packing - even though the urge to do it is very strong - my energy levels prevent me from just getting on with things. I think about doing these things a lot, they frustrate me and niggle in the back of mind but when it comes to actually getting things done - pah! I'm always full of good intentions but......I'm sure it will all get done in the end.

My cot is being delivered today! Yay! Wont be putting it up for long time and nursery still full of power tools, a new toilet, dog beds and computer stuff... tut. Have had moses basket set up next to our bed since about 16 weeks .

so on the subject of what to take to hospital, can I have some advice please?
As in what should you wear when you're giving birth (presumably some sort of big t shirt or short nighty, or do you just get a hospital gown?) Because if you're then supposed to have skin to skin contact straight away (within 45 seconds apparently!!!) do you just whip off the t shirt as all dignity gone anyway and? I got myself a wrap around nighty /dressing gown thing in M&S for only £12 which I thought would be good for after the birth but I don't really want to wear it for the main event, even if it is in black!! I know it is a little insignificant question but this is the sort of thing I will spend a long time thinking about!

I got a nursing nightdress and pyjamas from Blooming Marvellous last time, but did not change into them until after the birth. I think I gave birth in a hospital gown, but don't remember when I actually put it on (was only there less than an hour before giving birth). DS was born at just after 1am and I was taken to the ward about 4am. I wore the hospital gown that night (not that there was much left and I didn't sleep), but changed into my own stuff once it was daytime as gown was a bit bloody because I didn't take the darned winged sanitary towels!

Can I recommend Always super heavy weight ultra thick ones or whatever they are called, with WINGS. Maternity towels that i have seen do not seem to have wings, even though they are super thick.

DS is refusing his lunchtime nap again. He is coughing a bit and I know he is tired. He keeps crying. I am pretending not to hear...

good question gill. exactly the kind of not-v-important stuff i think about
i was in the big oxford st topshop the other day and they had some lovely short kimono type dressing gowns for £20. wonder if that would be ok? everytime i hear the word "nightie" i want to run screaming to the nearest hills....

yup, the only such garments that open at the front in M&S are definitely granny nighties! Think it is important to try and have something nice to change into.... Thanks for the tip about nursing nighties Egg - shall check it out!

Hi everyone-

Re-what to wear at the hospital!!! with DS1 i wore the jumper i went to hospital in as i gave birth within 20 mins of being there- did not have time to change!!!! Just managed to get trousers off!!!lol

Been to MW today and she has given me the go ahead for planned home birth!!!
I am so exited- wanted this from day 1 as ds1 was so fast and had no pain relief etc i really enjoyed my labour!!! all 2 hours of it!!! seems a great idea-

However consultant said i was too high risk- due to low birh weight-DS1 early delivery 37+2- ds1, high bp in 1st preg, im over weight and my family have diabetes running through- but all tests came back perfectly normal-

Been signed back to midwifery led care- they do not see a problem. MW will come out at 36 weeks to discuss plans and leave stuff i will need apparently!!!! woo hoo

sorry for rambling!!!!!

Not even to DH yet as he will only panic!!!!

Fab news sarah! Bet you are pleased. I kind of wanted a homebirth this time but obviously changed my mind once i knew there were two.

Think Blooming M still do the same night set. It is pink though, which is great if you like pink, not so good if you dont. It has drop down bits like a nursing bra so you don't have to expose yourself too much.

Here is the link nightgown. Sorry it is pjs and nightgown set, but they also have a nightdress separately that i got. Did actually prefer the pjs at the time though, despite thinking I would want nightdress more.

It is SALE at the mo, I am about to buy again as ended up throwing out the nightdress and pjs as they got so worn and discoloured! I still wear the nightgown though.

Just seen the other nice stuff they have. I like the blue one with pink trim...

Sarah glad your midwife was positive, although [broken record emoticon!] you don't need anyone's permission to have a homebirth, so if they suddenly find some spurious reason to put you off (often happens around 36 weeks when they think women aren't going to argue) don't let them!

Egg - did I not post a link to a twin homebirth?! That was actually one of the things that set me on the homebirth path when I was pregnant with my first, seeing in one of the pg magazines a wonderful twin homebirth story of a woman local to me (unfortunately I couldn't have a homebirth with my first as I was still living with my entire family, but I've made up for it since!)

I wasn't nesting with my furniture moving, bloody DH hadn't moved enough things out of the way before the guys turned up to fit our new fireplace (looks fab btw, can't wait to get it lit!) But I should have just left it, as soon as I moved a big toybox thing I felt something go twang in my pelvis - ouch! Oh god no, I'm not nesting...just living in a tip!

What to wear for birth - for my first 2 I wore big T shirts and for the 2nd 2 I was starkers, which made the skin to skin easier! Wouldn't wear a hospital gown if I could help it, can never get over thinking someone might have died in it And for breastfeeding, it's more trouble to undo buttons than to just lift up a T shirt IME so I'll be sticking to pyjama separates, in dark colours! Would be infuriating to have spent £30 on fancy ones from Blooming Marvellous or somewhere and then bleed all over them

Lucy- I had GTT last week and result was high - had gestational diabetes last time and my dad is diabetic so was not surprised to get call from diabetes centre yesterday. I had to go and see them straight away 'cos they want me to monitor my blood sugar for a week before I see specialist nurse again and dietician at nest wednesday's clinic. Have to do finger prick test twice a day. Doesn't hurt and TBH it's about the least worrying thing i'v had this time. If you do have gest diabetes they wont let you go over due date because of risk of enormous baby. If you can't control sugar levels you might need tablets. try not to worry - stress makes irt worse apparently.

Have fits and spurts of nesting, there's so much I would like to get done but am just too knackered to do it and fibroid causes so much pain when i bend that lots of things are impossible anyway. Did get up at 7am on Sunday (having been awake since 4) and clean out both my freezers though! Feel quite pleased about that as there was some really yuk stuff in there!

Hospital stuff - With dd1 i wore a gown but with dd2 took night shirt (have same this time), something cheap to bin if necessary, however, i got so hot and agitated with dd2 that i took shirt off and gave birth in the nude - all dignity goes and you get to the point when you don't care about anything anyway! Have a nursing top from H & M and some jama bottoms and a dressing gown for afterwards. i bought some cheap pants in primark - 5 pairs for £2 i think. I can't stand paper knickers and these were cheaper anyway!

Just back from a scan.
I'm 28 + 2 and the twinnies are 3lb3oz and 2lb12oz. single baby sized and still wriggly. With respect to what to wear, I am having a c-sect. Does that mean I will have to be in a gown? Got jim jams for after.
Glad to hear the twin mummies are doing well (sorry forgot to make mental note of names before posting). I am not nesting at all. Only thing I have done so far is pump they tyres up on the buggy. Might order cot matress/s this w/e. Do they have to be sooper-dooper or will mid range do ?

I second, third and fourth the wings! The ones without are not worth it at all.
I wore pyjamas that unbuttoned so when DD came out I could easily undo the buttons and tuck her in. I'll probably wear the same ones this time!
Comfy knickers and slippers are a must as there will be lots of pacing the wards. I don't know why I bothered with breastpads (took loads of them) as my milk didn't come in for days.
Warm socks are good too! and change for the phone - I forgot that and I drove me mad as I left my mobile at home.
For baby I wouldn't bother with scratch mitts as they fall off within 3 seconds, teeny tiny baby socks are much better.

Thankyou for telling me all that gingermumi, I was starting to wonder what on earth it would mean if I was diabetic this time. I think it's more likely with your second for some reason but I was fine last time so fingers crossed.

"Wouldn't wear a hospital gown if I could help it, can never get over thinking someone might have died in it" - thanks for that lovely thought slacker!!!

quite fancy the blue and pink pyjama set but don't want to pay that much to get a dressing gown as well as got a really big fluffy one the other day. Think I will just go for starkers in the hospital and put my wrap-around on afterwards. After all there seems little point in hiding your boobs and tummy if everything is else is on such public display! Seems really important to plan the little things since the big things seem so uncontrollable and unkown!

Lucyand2 - if your milk didn't come in for days did you bottle feed in the meantime? Is that a common thing to happen?

I had loads of little nesting instincts all the way through and then they just disappeared! Now I can't be arsed to do a single bloody thing. I don't even really want to get up in the morning! I wish I had a nursery to decorate but the bairn's got to slum it with us. I was promised a moses basket but it looks like thats fallen through so the bairn's going to have to sleep in a drawer! I'm actually quite down in the dumps. I'm resentful that a cup of tea produces a dirty spoon and cup, I've started to really dislike my cats, they just seem to be pestering me all the time. I hate my house, I wish I could afford some fitted carpet, I don't want to go in the kitchen let alone do anything in there, I'm refusing to vac the rugs as the tumble weed hasn't really started to roll across it yet. I started to compile my birth plan but can't face finishing it. I can't pack a hospital bag as DP's sister decided that she was going to sort that out for me as a christmas pressie - god I wish his damned family would leave me the hell alone, I might be having their first in this generation but it's my god damned child. I was an only child and I've never been so smothered in all my life.
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Oh god, I'm sorry guys!

Is it safe to approach?

Bet you feel better now though! They all sound like reasonable gripes in my opinion. Cats never grow up so just like having permanent toddlers (although I guess you can chuck em outside for the night without getting social services involved). And I would like to do my bag myself for sure.

Hope tomorrow is better

Lucyand2 - I had a glucose tolerance test today although as part of a baby growth study that I said I'd participate in rather than because there might be a problem. It wasn't too bad. No food or drink from 10pm last night then bloods at 9.30am followed by a glucose drink then more bloods at 10.30am and 11.30am. It wasn't nearly as bad as I expected going without food for that length of time although I did pig out majorly at 9pm last night and am still feeling a bit peckish now...

Crossed fingers for ladlemonke and miniandme.

Got asked if I'd participate in another study while I was there (they know a sucker when they see one...) I am torn between saying yes because I feel that they should have plenty of data on normal health pregnancies and no because this one involves spending the night in hospital and then wearing a plastic bag on your head for half an hour (I am not joking!)

Gill - I've actually shut them out now! I keep hearing the odd tap at the door meaning they're trying to get in but they're staying out until the oldest man gets home in twenty minutes. I normally wouldn't, but there's only so many times a person can get up to shut the door, agitate the food in their bowls on the floor, sit down, stand up and open the door for them again! I hope I'm a better mother than I am a cat owner! I guess the overall big problem that I'm having right now is that I feel like I have no control over anything so it all just annoys or upsets me! I hope tomorrow is better too, maybe a good nights sleep will make it all look a bit better!

No probs Lucy, glad scan good merlypuss - i have another one on 12th Dec, can't wait to see LO again.

PK

93 I wouldn't agree to anything where you have to wear a plastic bag on your head! LOL!

Hello everyone,

It's been a long time since I last posted - but I have been lurking all the time keeping up with everything going on.

Well done Ladlemonke and Miniandme for hanging on in there. I too keep my DP up to date with all the news from you lady's, and he went white at the thought of the twinnies arriving sooo soon!! But from what everyone says - if they do arrive early, modern technology is brill and I'm sure everyone is in good hands!!

I have had my 28 week midwife appt today. She took my blood pressure (90 over 50 )She took some more blood (hate needles ) then gave me an anti D jab (really hate needles!)

boo hoo.

But other than that all is going pretty well for me [superstitious touch wood emoticon].

I measured the distance round my bump at the widest part, which is round my bellybutton, and I measure 42 inches!!. But DP is kind enough to say that I don't look PG from the back............ Me thinks he must be lying as even I have noticed I am growing a second Arse!!

But never mind, If my body has decided to store enough celulite / energy to see me and bump through a second Ice age - who am I to argue!!

Gill, normally you only have colostrum for first couple of days which does not require breastpads (I am delighted to say I can get some out now, but it takes a good squeeze!), you will only need the breastpads once the milk comes in on day 3/4 (I woke up on day 4 looking like Jordan in the boob dept, they were so huuuuuuuuuuge, sadly they are now gone ). Only worth taking breastpads if there is a chance you are in hospital more than a day or two. If you bottle feed your milk still comes in and you will need breastpads even more for a while (I think) while it calms down and realises you don't want it).

PK, your rant was quite funny, sorry... I feel the same. I am resentful that the dishwasher has to be emptied of clean stuff before I can put more dirty stuff in. I am resentful that every time I come in the door the pushchair brings mud and leaves in with it, I am resentful that everything is covered in dust, perhaps because I have only dusted once since we moved in three months ago . And I never hoover upstairs anymore, because I can't get the hoover up there it's too heavy and kills me.

My mum says their cat is like a baby. He wakes her up several times in the night every night... Strangely, when she came to stay here for a couple of nights at the weekend, he never woke my dad up, so he just likes to get on my mum's nerves.

93 - I took part in a voluntary study for pre eclampsia last time (it was my first pregnancy), it was painless, but did involve numerous trips to the hospital. When I agreed to it I thought it would be great as it meant a couple of extra scans, plus time off work, but it soon became a real pain. No way I would do one this time, and not with a plastic bag on my head .

Have just read through and caught up - great news that all babies are still on the inside and doing well. Tis a wise moose that resteth, dh/p's take note!!

I love the mancold sketch. Dh has been trying to "out-ill" me for weeks now and I will not let him win!!

Have had a pants day. Had to go to Birmingham (I live in London) to speak at a meeting. Took 3 hours to get there and 4 to get back. Am bloody shattered. Dsd is still in crisis at university so we are all going down at the weekend, so no rest to be had then either.

Haven't even thought about packing a bag or nesting.

Egg - Hey hey, so I'm not the only lazy resentful one! woohoo!! Sounds like your mom just a soft touch and a light sleeper! my boys would wake me up in the night too, if they could, but waking me is like trying to wake the dead!