Due Jan 2008 - Jingle Belles and Boys are on their way

[susiemj]

Hello!

hello, just back from hospital and have had my sweep! Was v uncomfortable rather than painful. the consultant says I am 1cm dilated (normal in 2nd preg) and cervix soft but still posterior. He initially thought head still high but when he did internal said it was lower than he thought and managed to sweep around against the babies head which is apparently good. Baby must have been a bit confused though! He has put 3/5 engaged on my notes. Have a bit of bleeding now but no pain other than the usual BH contractions
If no action from the sweep I have to go in on Thursday night (20th) for induction with prostin so will hopefully have the baby sometime on Friday. He seems to think it won't take too long to get labour started so we will see...

Nicky, sorry the trial is dragging on. Don't worry about buying the baby stuff, one big internet shop should do it and as long as you've got a pack of sleepsuits and some nappies the rest can wait!

MrsBiscuit - congrats on your last day!

Sabinar - glad ankle improving. I had a flurry of parcels arriving a couple of weeks ago after a mad online shopping spree but have run out of things to buy. Have everything except the baby now! Might have a browse around ebay later though, nothing like a parcel delivery to brighten up your day!

Beller, glad babybel has perked up today! I was worried mine had gone quiet straight after sweep but now has hiccups so was obviously just having a sleep!

Susie - I'm with you on the' happy to stare at the wall' front. No urge to do anything much really - well except for eating obviously!

Hi Mixedmama - are you settled in the new flat? Thought of you when I was at Whipps today! You never know, we might end up in there at the same time for delivery?!

Awen, must be v frustrating to be still waiting after all the pains. Not long now!

Amani - hello, hope you're ok and a bit less fed up today!

I just did a search on arnica on here and apparently it comes in 6 and 30 (ml i think) and you should get the 30. Apparently you can get 200ml from homeopath.

The cream really does work wonders on bruises. Fabulous for if you've whacked yourself in the eye with a cupboard door and don't want to look like a domestic violence victim. Guess who's done this

Hi Gingeme, x-posted. I used arnica last time and it really helped with recovery and bruising. You have to ask at the counter for the strong stuff, got mine in boots. Have fun at Mothercare World!

Hello Toomanyshoes.

Glad all went well with the sweep. Looks like you will be next with your babe in your arms. How exciting.

I really can't shift myself out of bed today - harldy even to eat today! Have to go to doctors later). It's the doctor's fault as he forgot to give me a repeat prescription and I really don't feel like going. Only the fear of constant vomiting will drive me there. Am supposed to cook fancy dinner tonight but just don't feel up to it. Am trying to wriggle out of it. I did a full roast last night!

Who is fancy dinner for? Can you order takeaway instead? 2 nights of proper dinner cooking is above and beyond the call of duty IMO! I had friends round last weekend and ordered Indian takeaway - was great! Am very, very lazy on the cooking front though. DH does most of it!
Hope you feel better soon x

GingerMe - I've been using Arnica (homeopathic and cream) on my sprained ankle and it's worked a treat. Think I'll definitely use it post-birth.

We're also big fans of Rescue Remedy in this household. I use it for when work gets too stressful and DH uses it when he has to do public speaking (he had about a gallon for our wedding) - I suspect I'll be putting some drops into a water bottle and using it during labour! Anyways - I recommend both.

Osteo visit was excellent as usual. She's so great. There is a new JoJo Mama Bebe (or something like that)in between the Osteo and the bus stop, so of course I had to drop in. Was hoping to find some decent tops for breast feeding... I really don't like those ones with the split in the middle, if you know what I mean... but that was all they had. So I had to buy a gorgeous little outfit for LO instead. So cute... can't wait to see him in it!

I almost bought him a little soft toy while I was there, but then it seemed kind of wrong for me to buy it.. for some reason it strikes me that this is the kind of thing that other people would buy him? Or am I just being a ditz?

They did have the nappy bags in stock that I was thinking of buying (have found them cheaper online, but wanted to see them 'in the real' to check whether I really wanted one.) Found the one that I wanted so think will go order that now too.

TENS machine is ordered. Hooray. Decided to rent. Now to do the not-so-fun Mothercare order I think.

Eh. So many ways to spend money!

Why are you being 'started off' Toomanyshoes? Are you overdue? Surely not.
Thanks for the arnicha advice. Stupid question but what does the rescue remedy do?
Same here on the dinner cooking front. Have to do some sort of dinner because of the lo's which fortunately dh does most of when hes not working. We chip shop last night and take away curry Monday night. Very lazy

rescue remedy basically just helps you chill out/calm down. At least, that's what we use it for. Apparently when the midwives do their exams there are little bottles of rescue remedy on all of the desks

(or at least, that's what my midwife told me!)

hello all

toomanyshoes - good luck with the sweep starting things off.

my dh does most of the cooking here too i have tried since having ds but i don't enjoy it & am pretty rubbish too

i love getting a takeaway when friends come round, so much less stress i feel. have to be good friends tho, some people raise an eyebrow about it!

rescue remedy - i take it whenever life is likely to be stressful (flying, job interviews, ds's op day, etc.) but never thought of during labour, will def get it with the other stuff to have handy.
have arnica tabs left from last time, best check best before date ....

erm - can't remember what else i might have been going to say... fruitful hope all ok with you & theodore, best wishes

so who's next???? toomanyshoes??? anyone else got an induction or c-s date set?
wish i knew when...........

Gingeme - got gestational diabetes so classed as high risk. They think baby likely to be large, consultant said he reckons well over 9lbs if I go to term so inducing me a week early. Am v uncomfortable and knackered now so will just be glad to get it all started! Off for an afternoon nap now, while I still can

Thanks for your vote of kitchen laziness support. I have cried off cooking my super-duper 'made up' curry fresh tonight and am fetching one made earlier out of the freezer. It's all my fault really. Cooking is a bit of a hobby and I offered. Guest id DHs best friend who is visiting from Martinique of all places. I'm afraid he'll have to put up with second best - I'm comatose right now!

I've been looking at our carrycot for the pushchair. It looks quite comfy but it's huge. What do you put inside it? 1. Baby 2. blanket. Anything else? Sorry stupid question really... I'm worried she'll rattle around!

Oh! I'm also putting Tea Tree oil on my list as its supposed to be good to put it in the bath for sore bits afterward.

My friend also swears it is much better than the nappy sanitiser for making reusable not smell. He says the sanitiser smells worse than the nappy!

Right, think this is the most recently posted list of us all - tho i have changed frutiful entry

sorry if anyone's is wrong, speak now and you may get corrected for next time!!

Kerrlou - 27 Dec, first timer?
Beller - 28 Dec, first timer -Suprise
PBirdy - 28 Dec, first timer
Toomanyshoes - 28 Dec, DD 2 Expecting a BOY
Housemum - 29 Dec, 2 DDs 14 & 4
Ozzymoo - 30 Dec, DD/DS?
Macdoodle - 30 Dec, DD 5
Amani - 30 Dec, DD 23 mths - SURPRISE!!
Naetha - 30 Dec, first timer, Expecting a BOY
Awen - 31 Dec (poss earlier), DS 7 Expecting another BOY!
Imawurzel - 31 Dec, First Timer
Bettymamma - 31 Dec, DD 2 Expecting another GIRL!
mixedmama - 31 Dec, DS 22 months BOY
BWMum - 1 Jan, First timer - Surprise
LouiseSJ - 2 Jan, First timer, Surprise
jellyjem - 3 Jan, First timer
Chunkypudding - 3 Jan - First timer - EXPECTING A BOY
lulubump - 4 Jan, First timer, Surprise
KMT - 5 Jan, First timer
lilyloo - 5 Jan, DS 5 & DD 2 (think sonographer let slip, a girl ? )
MoominMum - 6 Jan, First timer
ScotsgirlinOz - 7 Jan, 1 DD
mummybear43 - 7 Jan
firsttimemother 8 Jan, First timer
ledodgy - 9 Jan, DD 4 & DS 18mo
Sabinar - 9 Jan
Sarahjct 10 Jan, 1st timer
Angelcake99 - 11 Jan, DS 2
LuckySalem - 2 Jan, First timer
Pinkelephant -11 Jan (ish), First timer
Susiemj - 11 Jan- expecting girl First timer
BeckyAu - 13 Jan, First timer
Gingeme - 13 Jan, 4DS 13,11,3 & 8mo
weblette - 13 Jan, dd 7, ds1 5, ds2 3
tripletsandtwins - (twins)13 Jan (probably earlier) dd1 3, dd2 3, ds1 3
Letsgo - 14 Jan, First timer
AngeChica - 14 Jan, First timer, surprise
Barristermum - 15 Jan, First timer
GemTubbs - 15 Jan, First timer
MrsMcJnr - 15 Jan, First timer, Surprise
Louisa - 15 Jan, ds1 6, ds2 4. Surpise
Mum2sons - 16th Jan, DS 12 & DS 3
mum2sam - 16 Jan, DS 2.5
PinkPetal - 18 Jan, First timer
Scampynoodle - 18 Jan, First timer
Katyt - 22 Jan DS 1.5
Cazzybaby - 22 Jan, First timer
Fluffymummy - 22 Jan, DS 2.5
PussyCatMomma - 24 Jan, First Timer
Bluebell - 24 Jan, First timer
Mrs Biscuit - 25 Jan, First timer, surprise
VP - 25 Jan, First timer
Iwillbe - 27 Jan(doc says 30 but i disagree), First timer
Horsygirl - 27 Jan
Nicky6 - 28 Jan, First timer
Mummyto2littleprincess - 29 Jan, 2 DDs 4 & 2
Fruitful - 30 Jan, DD 5 & DS 2.3
Spud01 - 30 Jan, DD 15 & DS 3, Surprise
ayrshirelolo - 31 Jan
VictorVictoria - 1 Feb, DS 2
efmc - 2 or 4 feb. First timer (dd was 31st jan)
Madmouse - 30 January, first one, having a boy

Babies here
Fruitful EDD 30 Jan DDs 5 & 2.5
Theodore 23:53pm 11th Dec 4lb 4oz (33wks)

Not sure how much info to put on the babies here bit? but i'm always curious to see how many weeks the babies were, rather than just the arrival date.
maybe just me being nosy?

doh, forgot to take fruitful off the waiting list, sorry !

Hi nicky6 (big frantic wave) you have the same due date as me!(1 DS 8)

Hello all, congratulations to all those that start their maternity leave today, and keep on going for those of you who don't!

All my stuff that I ordered last week has all arrived and I'm very excited, although haven't got round to playing with the pushchair yet. One of the things I'm really impressed with is an Anna Cecilia nursing bra - I paid £25 for it, but I've just found it on Blooming Marvellous for £15 so ordered another one straight away! I tried on the one I ordered and it is so comfy and supportive, and has really funky zips to allow your boobs out for feeding. Obviously I haven't tried feeding in it (duh!) but even as a normal bra seems brilliant Link for the Blooming Marvellous site here.

On the arnica note, I've got arnica pillules (the 30c stuff) and arnica cream in my hospital bag. I used arnica after my gall bladder op and convinced it helped the healing process. I've also got something called Hypercal which is a mix of hypericum and calendula which is great for sore/broken/grazed skin. I was practically brought up on the stuff, and always told it was "magic" cream and to be honest, it pretty much is - brilliant stuff I've used it on all of my tattoos, and they've all healed up perfectly and very quickly . I've then got (sorry my Dad's a homeopath so I was brought up on this stuff!) clary sage oil which I'm going to give a try this weekend to see if I can get things moving, but it's also great as a de-stressing oil when used with a burner or just put into cotton wool balls and sniffed, and is meant to relax the mother while increasing the "efficiency" of contractions, as well as reducing the need for pain relief.

Hope everyone is doing well, I've still got loads to do around the house, so should stop procrastinating and get on with it!

Take care all

Hi all, just back from my few days away with DH and my word have you been at it!

Oh wow,fruitful, it has happened ! Congratulations on Theo's arrival. Sounds like it has been a roller coaster. I hope you are able to update us soon, but far more importantly, that you get to your little one soon if not already. Are you feeling very weak?

For those who posted about castor oil, sorry if someone has already posted this, there was a lot to get through , but castor oil works by completely upsetting your bowels and making you very sick, in the hope of irritating your uterus enough to start labour. Not universally recommended, you could start labour feeling pretty weak and awful.

We had a wonderful few days in a B&B in the Forest of Dean where we have been many times before. We did not get much walking done, as I noticed to my shock that an hour of rough forest paths is the max I can cope with. You can all shake your wise heads and say 'what a surprise', . Funniest moment was when I discovered I could not bend over far enough to put on my walking boots in the car and DH had to do it he had me in stitches when he then pretended to be daddy putting shoes on his little son.

The B&B is on a beef suckler farm and so they do a lot of calving. I was chatting to the farmer about calving (have done it myself, but city boy DH has not a clue) and the farmer offered to help me deliver the baby with his ropes and gel , I pointed out that babies do not come out hooves first, but he thought it would work with ropes around the neck as well .
farmer offering calving assistance

We spent ages reading and chatting by the open fire and had some lovely hot chocolates. Managed fish and chips for supper with half a portion of evil sticky toffee pudding. DH said I was brave to leave the rest, but it took 3x Gaviscon during the night as it is. Oh well, worth it!

Hi to all. Will catch up more personally when there are not four pages to get through!
xx
heart burn from s t pud
open fires and hot chocolates

Oops, made some notes of what I wanted to write about and left some of them in, makes for silly reading, sorry!

Ok - second attempt at msg - hopefully laptop won't crash on me

Toomanyshoes - hope the sweep progresses to something! Keep us informed.

Sabinar - one of the first things when I was pregnant with DD was a Winnie soft toy. I was more cautious about buying clothes as I had a feeling we would be getting lots of them (which we did!)

Congrats to Fruitful and welcome to the Theo.

Naetha - are the clary sage bath bombs from LUSH? Heard so much stuff about how wonderful it is.

Madmouse -good to hear you had a nice break, nice to do something like that before LO arrives.

Madmouse -good to hear you had a nice break, nice to do something like that before LO arrives.

Amani - I just got Clary Sage essential oil from boots - it ain't cheap at about £8 though

I was however going to combine it with a lavender bath bomb which I got from Lush last week I got two lavender ones for before the birth (I'm planning on having a nice lavender bath when contractions have got started) and the honey and butter ones for after the birth when I may be in need of some TLC!

Hi all,
Good luck after your sweep toomanyshoes. Naetha, thanks for the tip about clary sage, I'll have a hunt for some.
I've packed some arnica tablets in my labour bag - how often will I need to take them? do I take them during labour?
On the perineal massage, I just haven't been able to bring myself to do it. DH seems quite willing, but I'm so put off it for some weird reason!
Madmouse, sounds like your break was fantastic. Hope you're feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Hi Amani! You've been quiet for a while, hope your laptop problems are over.
Mixedmama, how's living with BIL going?
Thanks for the updated list Katy1, I was looking for it last night and couldn't track it down.
Have been pottering around at home today, made bread in the breadmaker, and some homemade soup. Decided I haven't been having enough veg, and too many mince pies, so my soup is a bright vivid green with all the spinach that went in it, bit scary looking but v. tasty!
Just had DH on phone, asking about mince pies - we bought 12 of them 3 days ago, and I've now eaten them all...well, except the single one I've left him in the box. I was SO proud of my willpower in leaving that single one, but he seemed really horrified that I ate all the rest. Am I really a pig, or is this pretty reasonable at 37 weeks pg??
He has now refused to stop at the supermarket on his way home and bring me some carrot cake

D*mn, and I really fancied some carrot cake...much more than the three mince pies I had today (breakfast, dessert w lunch and for afternoon tea)

Oh, and Madmouse - sounds like a lovely few days, I'm very envious!

Also quite please with myself for managing a two mile walk the other night - did get loads of BH afterwards though!

Oh apologies for blathering a bit more, preggo porridge brain to blame...

...watched something called Special Deliveries on some random sky channel this morning about labour and birth. What absolutely dumbfounded me was that (this was in america btw) all the women, regardless of their state of labour or what was wrong (or not) with them were laid flat on their backs, with some in stirrups. There was one woman whose child was in danger of suffocating because she'd given birth to the head but not the rest of the body, but she was flat on her back with her legs up in stirrups - no wonder the baby couldn't come out, he was having to go up to actually be delivered. I know traditionally mothers gave birth lying down, but it's also pretty much common practice nowadays to try and keep women as active and upright as possible until it's not physically possible. Just amazed me that they were all lying down flat - not even sat up in bed - must have been so uncomfortable for them.

Anyway, minor rant over!