The Creme Egg Appreciation Society...memberships expire June 08

[debinaustria]

Good morning all you creme egg lovers ( and those weird ones amongst us who don't appreciate them)

Good luck for all the scans coming up this week, and next.

Wow, taken me about half an hour just to catch up with posts!

I know we are a bit past it but expressing, I hired a pump from NCT was fantastic but not that cheap as I kept it for about 6 months, but it made quick work of it. I always expressed from 2nd breast first thing in the morning. I didn't find it great for night feeds, you wake up anyway and sit wondering if dh needs you etc. A friend of mine used to get her hubby to do last feed before bed (about 11ish) once lo was in a routine, worked really well because she could have an early night or when they went out lo was used to taking a bottle - fantastic!

I can't believe we are on birth plans! Last time I didn't have one but it would have said LOTS OF DRUGS, PLEASE DON'T LET ME TEAR or GIVE ME AN EPI. However I only had gas and air (labour was quick only 4.5 hrs)and although I had a second degree tear I hardly felt it and it healed really quickly, so I wish I hadn't spent so much of my pregnancy freaking out about it.
Calling all newbies, my sister has had 3 babies last one was over 9lb and she has an intact perineum and she never did any massaging etc - lucky her!

Hope everyone is keeping well, have MW tomorrow only a check up but can't wait to hear my lo again!

I can't believe how many messages there's been today

Thanks for all the well wishes re my disastrous day yesterday

Birth plans - waaaaay too early for me to think about all that yet When I was in labour with #2 I thought OMG I remember this now - what on earth am I doing? And here I am again. I'd like a water birth if possible, but it hasn't happened so far. Don't even know if they do birth plans here! Must find out I suppose, but not yet!!

N night everyone

Birth plans can backfire on you - mine last time was for a natural birth with a tens machine but I got talked into trying the birthing pool and as soon as I agreed to that, it all went downhill. (I don't even like baths - I knew I'd not be happy to stay in a pool for long but I was in pain and the midwives were pushy). By the time I got out of the bath I was in hard labour and spent the next 5 hours begging for an epidural (I had a long labour). I finally got one at 8cm dilated (heaven) and I think the delay was due to the fact that I'd convinced my DH we should have a natural birth so when I started begging for the epidural, he didn't know what to think and didn't start demanding it for me.

this time my birthplan is:

• no birth pool, it didn't work last time
• no morphine, it didn't work last time
• please don't let me have a bad tear, I'd prefer an episiotomy, but a little tear is fine.
• skin to skin and breastfeeding right away.
• wait to cut the cord until it stops pulsing if possible
• DH to hold baby skin to skin (he took his shirt off to do this last time) as soon as I've tried to breastfeed.

(sybilvimes - I'm surprised they wouldn't let you hold your baby first - mine stitched me up while I held DS and then we had to ask to give him to DH).

Rolf - are you the Which subscriber? If so, which 1st car seat is recommended? I haven't got Isofix so just need a normal one. Does it test the Chicco XT Plus?
Thanks

So I've started my birth plan, ran it by Dh last night (might as well have been reading Japanese...) and then we both pissed ourselves laughing. As first-time parents we don't have a clue...is there really a point?

Midwives appointment today, first since booking in...must remember to pee in a cup.

Oh, and I won a lovely cot on Ebay last night, with a brand new matress...going to pick it up this week. I'm having a baby!!!!

Hi Deb - no, they didn't test the Chicco XT Plus. The 3 newborn ones that they list in Best Buys are tested with Isofix - bit useless really as so many of us don't have it. They add a caveat to each report that if used without Isofix the safety score is lower, but they don't say which car seats are best in non-Isofix cars. Sorry, not much help, I know.

I posted a while ago about the pushchairs you were interested in - hope you saw it.

katyjo my sis's last one was 10lbs 3 oz (the other 2 were both 8 1/2) and she's never had a stitch. i reckon some people are just baby makers.

my birth plan is going to consist of doing everything possible to not go into cockroach infested hospital, and have a bath in my own tub after. other than that, let it come as it will!

i do believe i've started to waddle. surely it's a bit early for this? i gained 3lbs just this weekend which makes my weight gain 1st now. i need to either eat less haagen dasz or exercise more - and since the ice cream is essential i need to go for very long walks!

bb your bump is lovely i wish mine was that small! i've posted one of ds pointing at my bump. he says there's a baby in there now but i don't think he has a clue really!

oh makecakesnotwar you're so cute! i feel so happy for your happiness!!

Met with my consultant for the first time ever and told him to improve his sewing skills this time because I wanted a designer fanjo! He giggled, but I am deadly serious - they sewed me up so badly that I resemble a patch work quilt.

My birthplan

• give me an epidural the minute I enter hospital, regardless of my dilation
• allow my husband to dettox the room beforehand to rid the evidence of previous occupants (and don't tell him off for doing this)
• do not look up my fanjo as if its your favourite TV programme waiting to start
• do not let any students insert aforementioned epidural so that it only freezes one half of my body and requires redoing
• sew me up properly and neatly, without uttering expletives becuase you've done it wrong becuase it worries my DH
• Finally, don't let my husband sing the French National Anthem to the new arrival (he didn't know any lullabies) becuase it makes us look very silly when its the only song that calms him down later in life and we have to sing it in public!!

The end.

doc phoned this morning as closed day of appt - so going 3 days ealier which has stupidly cheered me up.

dm, I caught myself mid-waddle at the we too and thought I was being stupid, sort of inadvertantly putting it on, even to I wasn't and there was no one to see anyway, if that makes sense.

been house doctoring - planted some flowers by front door. not had any calls yet (am impatient)

re birth plans - does anyone actually read them? I did one for ds1 - natural birth, pool balh blah. found out he was breech at 7cm and had emergency section, so there was my birth plan right down the toilet. Ds 2 & 3 they don't do them here, least I don't think so. with ds2 it would've been straight down toilet again anyway, waters broke 4, finally got dh off frigging computer, trying to book flights for his parents - they were kindly coming to look after ds1, ds2 arrived 11 days early. anyway, convinced him they could manage to book their own flights, got to hospital, already over 8 cm, too late for epidural, no pain relief, apart from some for the multitude of stitches I had after my lightening delivery.

ds3, told them I wanted a water birth, started off in dark room, just me and dh and a mw wandering in and out. ended up out of the bath, all lights on about 30 worried looking doctors and various medics after baby v. distressed etc etc, again no pain relief but a shit load of stitches.

I seriously can't see at any birth where anyone had time to read a bit of paper and pass it around.

So, in summary, and ime, birth plans are a waste of time. Talking carefully with dh/birth partner what you want and contingency plans - does it ever go to plan???? just being clear in your heads hwat you want and what to do if x, y and z.

cos at end of day, you can write a fab pla, but as others have said, you may feel totally different on the day, especially if it's your 1st. but even with 4th, it really is a journey into the unknown as each birth is different -
1st labour 12 hours, bang on due date, emergency section
2nd labour 11 days early, frighteningly quick
3rd labour 4 days late , laboured for 2 bloody days

you gotta go with the flow!

makecakes - I know what you mean about the birth plan, as a first timer I keep thinking about what I would ideally like but have this sneaky suspicion that when it comes to it it will all go out of the window!

This weekend I finally started getting a few baby things, my delivery of nappies arrived and I even washed some of them and hung them out on the line to dry as it was so nice out(felt very satisfying!).
We went to Mothercare for a bit of a browse but didn't get anything but I did get one of those v-shaped pillow things from Dunelm Mill (if anyone is thinking of getting one try there, it cost me about £11 in total for pillow and pillow case and I went for the fancy feather filled one rather than the cheaper one), it's currently being put to good use on the sofa for TV watching (DH keeps nicking it and made a comment about how he'd like one for himself!).
It's all seeming a lot more real now for me, plus the baby is now definitely kicking!

Thanks rolf, yes I did see your message about the pushchairs, I have narrowed my search down to 2 now which aren't readily available in the UK so they won't be on the report.

Makecakes - how did your appointment go? Did you get to hear the heartbeat? I haven't heard it yet as I get a scan each time so they don't bother but I quite miss it.Your excitement is infectious!

Dylansmum - gorgeous photos of you, dh and you ds - isn't he lovely? There's nothing wrong with your bump - looks great to me.

Mellymell - lol at the French National anthem

Ernest - we need photos of the doctored house complete with Spring flowers!!
Jealous that your appointment is earlier now - what date is it?
I don't think anyone looked at my birthplan with the boys and I'm sure they won't here!!

ktpie - it is great to feel the baby moving properly isn't it? Mine was kicking me really high above my belly button this morning.

Have a good day everyone, sun is shining here and I've been doing housework - what joy.

I am nesting badly this time round, yestreday sorted out attic space, DH just made to trips to communal skip and now I have a section for baby stuff and a section for all my put you up beds and can find and get to everything. DH put up 60ft of shelving in our utility room and now I can find everything including the floor although it does look a bit like a supermarket. Nearly finished in sorting out kitchen, and our bedroom and study and then my work is done. Beautiful day here today, just of to take dog for a walk and then go and pick up DD from nursery, washing is out on line and all is good with the world.

Birth plan - just want to know who is doing the operation and when. Did have one last time but went completely out of the window when they induced, didn't go into labour and they were worried that DD's heartbeat although strong, not variable enough so they decided on section.

LOL at your birth plan Mellymell!

BB can't believe your bump is still so cute. Compared to mine... oh dear.

Makecakes - we bought both our cots off ebay (plus changing station and carrycot attachment for the pram) and are well pleased with them.

No it is not too early to start waddling! And one stone??? What kind of an effort is that? I have put on 1st 13lbs so far but I think I still look pretty good for someone having twins. The weight is going on at a steady 2lbs a week at the moment. I am told it slows down in the last trimester - if not then I am headed for a 4st weight gain!

Morning all
Just got up - having the day off to try and shake off this godawful cold. Normally I'd just bang Lempsip/echinacea/Vit C and carry on with work but as am banned from all three have prescribed myself sleep and will probably not go in tomorrow either. Feel a bit odd doing it as have only been at this job for two and a half months, but there you go.

Birth plans - most people I know who wrote one found it changed, but I do like the idea of having stated what your ideal situation is. Nothing wrong with changing your mind about that epidural (as long as you don't ask too late!).

Friend of a friend put on her birthplan that if she asked for pain relief to wait till she'd asked three times before administering. I can't decide whether that's a good idea, or whether I'd just end up going "give me the pethidine, give me the pethidine, give me the pethidine" in some kind of manic chant!

Am a bit of an earth mother so really want the whole home birth/ pool/ no drugs experience, but am keeping an open mind. Have got a 10 per cent breech chance so will go into hosp if it's breech - although am going off the idea of an elective C/S, which is what consultant suggested.

Does anyone else's LO favour one side of their tum? Mine always seems to be on one side and am wondering if this is just cos am a funny shape inside due to bicornuate uterus or if it's more common?

Where I go wrong with birth plans is that I treat each delivery as an exam retake. I think about the things I didn't like last time and try to fix them, instead of recognising that each birth is different. I also become very passive and do whatever they tell me, whereas usually I am quite bolshy. So with DD it was like...yes, I'll deliver on my back on a bed, yes, bring in a paediatrician to watch me scream...

Which is why I'm so keen on a doula this time who can get to know what I'm like most of the time and then do the thinking for me.

Tried and failed each time to have a waterbirth. I'm quite keen though, especially as it's meant to further reduce the risk from GSB. I'd need to bring lots of t-shirts with me though as I am REALLY prudish. With DS1 they asked me if I'd like to go and get into my nightie and I said "no thank you, I'll leave my dress and tights on. I'll take my shoes off though"

sorry to butt back in with this but on the subject of knitting i've posted a pic of my latest completed project (i made it for the daughter of my girlfriend who passed away). i'm sending it off today so... her 'theme' is ladybirds so i designed the bugs and freehand needlepointed them (drew on with coloured markers and then filled in with thread). it was easier than i thought once i got the hang of it!

very excited to start a project for my own baby now!!!

that's gorgeous DLM . What a lovely thing to do. How is your friend's daughter, and how is her husband?

Aww. DLM - that is so cute. Indeed, it is a lovely thing to do. How are they getting on now?

Am currently on my fourth cardi and really enjoying making stuff for LO. Most knitting patterns recommend pretty pricey wool and never work quite as well if you use an alternative so my top tip is to buy wool from ebay where you can always find end of lines/ discontinued stock. Got £60 worth of Debbie Bliss wool the other week for £20 including postage. God bless ebay.

CS - my bump's been lopsided for weeks. It looks like my belly button has shifted to the left .

Am very impressed by all your creative knitting skills. (Sorry to hear about your friend DLM). My only creative task will be getting in and out the car park and John Lewis to browse for baby things [grins].

However, I do like the idea of making cards and stuff with LO (or on its behalf when its too small) to try and encourage a creative side in them. I was quite good at arty things when I was younger but fell away from it (probably when I discovered boys and alcohol).

'in and out of the car park at john lewis .

DLM - love the knitting. My MIL sent me a beautiful scarf in the post today, and knits wonderful things for DS.

Birthplans - last time, they read it because I prodded them to, and then said, 'You know that this is very unlikely to happen, don't you?'. But I found it very valuable to think through what the options are and what my preferences are.

It all went out of the window during my three-day induction (pessary/ waters broken three times/ syntocinon for 24 hours) which culminated in ventouse/forceps/epesiotomy, five lines going in and out (catheter anyone?) and DS with an APGAR score of 3/10.

This time I have an appointment with the consultant to talk through options for late induction. But for some reason, the midwife thinks I'd be a suitable candidate for active birth!

Frankly, I just want to get the baby out, and am not sure that I want to attempt to 'own' the experience when there will probably be no point. Is that very defeatist?

Ernest, sorry, I didn't think you were having a go, but you do have more 'boy' experience than me! I think now that DS is mourning the loss of his cot and therefore wants to explore being a baby again. We spent 20 minutes looking at his baby pictures this morning, and he hasn't attempted to feed from me again, so he may be processing it through.

Rolf, thanks for your ideas about reading books and getting him a dolly. I will definitely use them once he's processed his cot trauma!!

God Im angry
I phoned the surgery yesterday for my blood results to be told they were fine, buy the receptionist who got the dipy midwife to check. I have just had a phone call from the doctor to say that I am Anemic and he is sending a prescription to the chemist for me. Why are some midwives to shit at there jobs

All these bump photos im starting to worry im huge compaired to you all even you NH101 I will see if DS can manage to take a photo of me later.

Having said that has anyone seen the pictures of Myleen Klass in the paper today she was massive at her 20week scan so feel a bit better, not that I will ever look as good as her after!

Josey - your midwife sounds rubbish. Is there more than one allocated for your area? You could ask to switch. At the very least I would complain to your doc - that is effing ridiculous.

Have made proper contact with my potential doula and am meeting her at the end of the moth so will let you know how it goes. She seems v nice on email, but whether we click is more important. I emailed three on Sunday night and she's still the only one to respond so am hoping we will like each other as am not impressed by the others failing to act - although I guess they could be mid-labour with someone...

Upsidedownegg, it never occurred to me not to tell ds1 about the baby from early on, but he is FAR too young (17 months) to understand what is going on, so it wasn't a difficult decision to make really. He has been entertaining us the whole time by pointing at my bump and signing 'cat' - I'm fairly sure he would prefer a new kitten, he's desperate to fuss over our lovely but very grumpy cat but it's not safe for him to get close to her! He does sign 'baby' now too, sometimes, and cuddles the bump, but I can't think he possibly understands. So I don't think ours is doing very much processing of the news! He'll have to do the processing when she arrives. Baby will be in co-sleeper minicot with us for months anyway, so ds' routine and room won't change much.

nh101 - I put on at least 4 stone with only one last time - sounds like you're doing OK to me!! My bump feels enormous to me, and I keep getting rude comments from people about 'how big you are already', but I'm waiting to see what midwife says when she measures it. Last time I was bang on 1 cm fundal height per week, despite people saying either how big or how neat I was, in seemingly random distribution.