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Birth clubs

Connect with mums-to-be with similar due dates to share experiences and support.

Original poster

First-timers this year . . .

723 replies

TJuice · 26/01/2008 10:04

I was just wondering how many are there of us . . .

I am due end of June and love my antenatal thread as there is so much good advice there but thought it may be nice to share a little with others who are new to this whole thing too.

Anyone interested?

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TJuice · 10/05/2008 16:09

aaaaaaaaaaaw! so sweet. weren't we all the same mc thread originally . . . its so cool!

i am starting to feel swollen and puffy! my face is getting chubbier too . . .

anyway, fingers crossed for a brilliant birth for you - i am so excited!

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ruthosaurus · 11/05/2008 11:16

Hey cakes, good luck for the 15th (unelss I got date wrong, have no brain today)! You're gonna be a MUM!

7monthsplus has had her little girl as well, btw (she posted on birth announcements).

All the best, chick

Excitable · 13/05/2008 17:02

OMG - I have elephants feet. Only my walking sandals fit me and I've had to put them on to go to work at the Management School. Do not look professional, just lumpy - everywhere... oh dear...

I've been told to lie on my bed when I get home with my feet up the wall, so I'm going to try that one. Anyone else go any ideas for puffy feet.

Original poster
TJuice · 13/05/2008 19:35

i think acupuncture is generally pretty good for fluid retention. also - they always say drink plenty of water (which seems pretty obnoxious to me).

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Kaz1967 · 13/05/2008 21:53

Excitable my feet are really swollen too my ankles have also vanished it's fairly common in pregnancy swollen hands are too. It can be related to fluid retention (mine usually go down over night) sugar and salt intake can make it worse the other thing is low albumin this is a protein in the blood it's common during pregnancy because baby us using extra protein to grow so it may be worth increasing the amount of protein you eat. Keep an eye on it and mention it next time you see your GP or midwife as it can be a sign of other problems and if it gets worse talk to you midwife asap

makecakesnotwar · 14/05/2008 09:35

Morning all- have Hobbit feet too...nothing seems to help except trying to keep my feet up. Just killing time now until admission tonight...bags packed, husband prepped, note left for the milkman, mother en route. Had a lovely meal out with DH last night and we took ages to get to sleep...a little excited!

ANyway, checking out now until I have a baby.....agggghhhhh!

Excitable · 14/05/2008 15:12

Oooooooo, makecakes, I'm so excited for you! I'm having a wobbly couple of days at the moment when I wonder if I'm up to all this. I guess that's normal, but it doesn't half feel weird.

So I need to eat protein, drink water and try and avoid salty or sugary things. If that doesn't work, I might look into acupuncture - I quite fancy trying some alternative therapies anyway. I'm going to see the GP on Friday to talk about getting a suddenly gigantic mole taken off my neck, so I can get checked out at the same time.

Kaz1967 · 14/05/2008 15:36

Excitable growing mole is probably pregnancy related too but best to get it looked at.

ruthosaurus · 14/05/2008 15:52

Hey cakes - good luck for tomorrow and stop looking at the clock: it's only 5 mins since you last looked!

All extremities crossed for you

Excitable · 19/05/2008 13:40

Doctor said mole was pregnancy related, but was right to check. He says definitely not a cancerous mole and not doing any harm so better to leave it until after the baby is born in case it gets infected and I have to take antibiotics, especially as they tend to knock me out when I take them.

I also asked him about my puffy ankles and he said prop them up on some pillows while you're asleep. It's good to put them up during the day too - but propping them up under your desk (if you work at a desk) won't help at all because your ankles have to be higher than your heart. And you have to prop them up for hours. It worked for me. I had nice normal ankles within 48 hours - it felt like getting a lovely present!

makecakesnotwar · 20/05/2008 11:19

Hey guys- just wanted to et you know that Cecily Jean Olivia (CJ) was born on Sunday lunch time weighing 7lbs 1oz. Home and tired, but very very happy. Gory details to follow!

nomoremagnolia · 20/05/2008 20:30

Congrats makecakes (thought you might find my message on here rather than on the May thread!)
She's adorable, has a wonderful name and you don't look knackered you look amazing! I hope I look half that good after giving birth.

Original poster
TJuice · 20/05/2008 21:57

CONGRAAAAAAAAAAATULATIONS!!!!

You did it, you amazing woman!
What a lovely name too. . .

Can't wait to hear the gory details and see the pics. Its weird how anxious I have been waiting to hear . . . best wishes to you and your dp.

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Excitable · 21/05/2008 14:31

Makecakes looks like a happy woman! You look like you think it was worth it!

Look after yourself and watch out for those baby blues...

ruthosaurus · 21/05/2008 14:58

Oh, well done, Cakes! Congratulations!
Look at you - you made a person!

She's absolutely gorgeous, and what a lovely name she's got. Isn't it amazing looking at the scan photo and then at her?

You star.

makecakesnotwar · 22/05/2008 16:58

Birth story....with apologies for the length!

Induced on Wednesday night and given 8mg of Prostin in five doses over 48 hours, none of which worked and all of which, because of SPD increasingly painful. Had a big chat with the (Indian Dale Winton-esque) registrar on Saturday morning about next steps: go home, start again or C-section, and given 24 hours to rest. DH bought in Chinese food that evening to cheer me up and whilst eating it, felt I needed the loo. Made it just in time (using Zimmer frame to walk by this point in pregnancy) and felt a gush that I just knew wasn?t wee. I actually laughed at the implausibility and called for mum to tell midwife. Waters continued to gush- gross sensation- but no contractions after two hours so I was dispatched to the delivery ward to get hooked up to Syntocin drip. Sent DH home to sleep and got the first epidural, which four hours later we discovered wasn?t working when they had to peel me from the ceiling (SPD pain- so strong I was vomiting when I wasn?t screaming). The second one did work but after such a stressful two hours it was hard to get back to sleep. I was 4cm at 7am, and S came in, then fully dilated by 11, given an hour to sleep and started pushing at 12. She was born at 12:55. I am very proud of my pushing ability- they were worried because her heart rate kept decelerating, so I had to get her out fast, and was given a Ventouse and episiotomy, which meant I had to use the stirrups. She was delivered onto my tummy then whisked away as she was quite blue and not crying very well. DH held her whilst I was stitched up then I finally got to meet my little girl. Sadly she was then whisked away to SCBU because of her low Apgars and blood gases, so DH went with her and I was transferred to my room. Thankfully she came back pretty soon, though with a catheter, but after 24 hours we got to go home.
It probably sounds odd, given that I had a lot of intervention, but I am really happy with my birth. I genuinely don?t feel I would have chosen a different way of doing things, and quite frankly the end result was the most important thing.

makecakesnotwar · 22/05/2008 16:59

And feel free to ask any questions whilst it's still fresh in my mind!!

Original poster
TJuice · 22/05/2008 18:43

she is sooooo beautiful! glad the birth went relatively smoothly and she's fine.

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Kaz1967 · 26/05/2008 14:38

makecaksod things went well and yes you are right it is the end result that counts

Original poster
TJuice · 28/05/2008 05:42

well, first-timers, i guess we are all busy bees as no-one has been on for ages.

i am now on maternity leave but am getting married on friday and having relatives over so have been on a massive preparation blitz both for the flat/caterers etc but also for me (had to get pedicure and other treatments!)

hope you are all enjoying the last bit of me time we will have for a while and not stressing.

towards the end of work, i was stressing way too much and had a couple of evening melt-downs which is most unlike me. very strange but liberating to have a massive hysterical sob and get it all out there. my poor dp!

anyway, get back on here and tell us how you are doing!

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ruthosaurus · 28/05/2008 10:24

Hi T-juice,

Have a great wedding and don't let the prep get to you! I've just been going through my wedding photos from 2 years ago and remembering how ace it all was! And how thin I was compared to now...

I got to hear Baby Saurus's heartbeat on Friday for the first time, which was brilliant. It's really funny to think there's a little person living in there and I have to keep looking at the 12 week scan photo to make it seem more real.

Plus I'm pretty sure I've been feeling movement, which is about right, I guess, as I'm now 16 weeks.

Enjoy your maternity leave! I've just got back in after the bank holiday and wish I hadn't.

Kaz1967 · 28/05/2008 10:37

God I have got even more emotional nearly burst into tears in the antenatal class yesterday and no idea why

Really hope you have a beautiful day on Friday

Don't normally recommend birth and pregnancy books but last year I bought my sister in law a book because she was fretting about pregnancy things and it looked sensible an down to earth. I got it back last week and I am really impressed it maybe because H and I are similar in the fact we want info so we are in control it also appears to recognise we are all different and all have different wants and needs and that these may change.

It's called blooming birth by Lucy Atkins and Julia Guderian published by hapercollins
www.amazon.co.uk/Blooming-Birth-How-Pregnancy-Want/dp/0007184018

LauraT · 28/05/2008 11:00

Hi TJuice, have a fantastic day on friday and enjoy yourself! I'm sure you'll look beautiful. I start Mat leave on Tuesday, can't wait!

MissChika · 28/05/2008 11:20

Hey everyone,

Haven't posted in an age - everything's going really well, just looking forward to going on maternity leave at the end of this week - woo-hoo!

Anyway, I just wanted to say congrats to makecakes - your baby daughter is beautiful. And also to wish you a wonderful wedding day T-Juice

Hope everyone else is keeping well.

makecakesnotwar · 28/05/2008 15:07

God, T, cry away. Planning a wedding is emotional enough without having to factor in pregnancy hormones....hope you have the most wonderful day. Sending all our (!) love for a long and happy future together, the Cakes family xxxwoof