Babes in Scotland this year - shall we have our own thread?

[whinegums]

Hi, I can't see any up to date antenatal threads for mums to be in Scotland, anyone want to join in this one? I think there are a few Scottish mums on the due in June thread, so I wondered if we should have our very own for all of this year's Scottish crop?

Mcchesers, let's hope Mr Happy lives up to his name when you need him most

I don't mean this the way it sounds, but I'm glad I have no in-laws! DP a bit older than me, so none left, apart from his siblings, most of which aren't around. I only have my mum now, so bit of a shame our little monster will only have one grandparent, but a good one at that.

I checked the waterbirth thing with mw yesterday, and double checked that the pool can be used for birth and she said yes. There is only one though, so if someone else is in it, hard lines. I think you can hire your own and take it in though. Have you been for a look around the unit at the SGH yet, they have tours on Wednesday mornings, you have to book though. I'm going to go soon, and I'll ask again about the pool then.

Cool! I really really want a water birth. I'm due July 12th, but who really knows. I'll speak to the midwife o' the month the next time I go through. I'd even have it in the tub, I just know that I spend most of my life in the tub due to nightmare cramps, so the water birth thing seemed calming and idea. The idea of labouring in the water and then hopping out into the cold to give birth sounds stupid to me. If I'm in the pool, I ain't getting out till the baby makes an appearance.

I'm supposed to get a tour of the SGH at the end of the my antenatal course. Let me know how it goes. I get a bit frustrated that no two midwives have the same story as to what you can and cannot do. So we can back each other up ;)

I'm so glad you are going first

Yes, I want to give it a go too. I love my baths, and I know it helps when I have aches and pains, so it makes sense to me. I did wonder how they would make you get out of the pool once you were in if you didn't want to if you weren't 'allowed' to give birth in it.

Doesn't fill you with confidence when the mws have different stories. I haven't decided whether to go to antenatal classes yet - have you started yours yet? If you have, do you think they're any good?

Ah, who knows if I'll go first.... If you're early, you might beat me to it!

Massive congrats Paraniod - well done!! You're a mummy - FAB!!!!

Enjoy bf and don't let other people tell you what to do - even though they mean well!

Good luck! xx

SGH doesn't do water births unfortunately - you've got to get out when you're going to give birth.

sorry to hear that you're getting stick about bf paranoid - you should direct them to some of the breast feeding threads on here, that'd teach them . Hope they dont get you down too much. For what its worth, I think they're the ones being pretty selfish putting their desire to feed the baby before what you think is best for him!!

Congrats paranoid well done..... at you being told not to bf as its selfish...tell them you think they are being selfish for not supporting you in trying to give you baby the best start...if you cant manage fine but while you can manage shut up and back off(use your hormones babe)

congrats paranoid!

And please don't be disappointed with yourself that the birth wasn't the perfect 'natural' birth they tell us all to aim for. I felt the same way after giving birth to my DS as I had wanted a completely natural birth and yet we shouldn't, childbirth is really hard and all the interventions were there to minimize risk for you and your lovely baby. And we'd be fools not to celebrate how much safer it is to give birth these days...

Also, don't let people give you a hard time about breastfeeding - they'll all disappear in a few weeks and leave you to cope on your own and then I was glad I wasn't fussing with bottles! If breastfeeding is working for you, don't let anyone talk you out of it! (Everyone wants to help at first, but 4 months down the line, it's always the mum who's up in the middle of the night isn't it!)

Anyways, congrats again! We were the same, afraid to sleep when our newborn was sleeping but eventually we realized that he's made of tough stuff...

kwt - seems we are getting conflicting info, as my mw, based at SGH, said you can definitely give birth in the pool. Have you given birth at SGH, or are you booked in, like me and Mcchesers? It's not that I don't believe you btw, just trying to get a definite answer on this one!!

Some good points in your message to paranoid for first-timers like me aberdeen.

At my NCT ante-natal class the other night we got a birth story about someone who was really proud of their pain-relief free home birth and all about her empowering and magical experience. TBH, I dont want to set myself up for a fall, so I just hope that the birth goes without any serious complications for me or the LO, be it completely natural or medicalised to the hilt!

I resent the school of thought that we should all be aspiring towards some magical natural birth and that if we dont have that them we're failures in some way. I respect the choices that anyone makes (obviously) for their birth plan, but I think that bringing a child into the world is an amazing accomplishment - whatever the type of birth!

Oh, our NCT teacher has promised a good story about an elective cs next week!

. Hope you're doing ok paranoid

just back from mw appt - mw seemed to think it was absolutely fine to gasp 'oh, you are really expanding aren't you'. Even when I was clearly underwhelmed by her comments it didn't stop her. Well until she started wittering on about her DH, DS and how lucky she was with childcare. Grrrrr. 20 minutes later we managed to fit in some chat about my pregnancy.

I recently gave birth at the Southern General and I asked in advance about using the pool (didn't get the chance in the end, had a caesarean) and was told that until very recently you had to get out of the water for the actual birth but now there is always a midwife on duty who is trained in water births, so it is possible to stay in for the actual delivery if you wish.

HTH

Thanks for the congrats... Hope everyone is getting on ok.

I didn't bother with the birthing pool as I totally didnt expect it to be available when I went into labour and I didn't like the idea of getting my kit off anyways... I was hooked up to all kinds of monitors and drips anyway so I think it might have been a bit cumbersome for me - I didn't think to ask if you could actually give birth in the pool at the Princess Royal... Good luck to everyone who wants to give birth in the pool - how the hell are you meant to get out of the warm, comforting water when the time to push comes?!?!? Kinda reminds me of Billy Connolly "Wild horses wouldnt drag my ar$e in that direction" routine as in once you get to a certain stage, your body just takes over and you can't do anything about it!!!

I am seriously struggling with the "baby blues" and LO has decided he doesnt like to latch on when feeding. OH has been giving him a bottle at night so I can get some sleep then I take over for the night feeds but I am really struggling. Maybe it was too early to start expressing but MW and HV thought it would be fine since my milk is well established and LO had no probs with feeding...

Anyway, everything is going well - it is just me that is falling apart...

mm.. i work at SGH.. one of the nurses there just told me that you have to get out before birth.. but then things and policies do change pretty frequently! would be good if you can actually give birth there though. will check this thursday when i go up for clinic appt.

Sorry your feeling down paranoid, Its really hard to prepare yourself for how completely overwhelmed you can feel.
You are doing a fantastic job im sure but please dont keep things bottled up if your not coping inside, I made that mistake.
Sometimes it helps just to speak to someone in same situation or even your health visitor.
Why is it we all think we have to be some sort of wonder woman or else we are failures
Anyway hugs to you xx

Hi Paranoid - sorry to hear your feeling so low. Been there - done that - worn the t-shirt - and will probably do it all again when July comes!! I know how hard it is but you need to give yourself time to get used to everything...these LO don't come with an instruction manual.

When it comes to BF - even though this next one will be the 4th baby I have fed I know I will struggle initially - I always do! What I do is try to do some of the feeds away from any distraction ie people and noise....just me and LO and plenty of time. And strangely the opposite sometimes helps too...feeding while you have visitors or are watching a really good tv show...being busy chatting or watching can mean that you relax a bit more...

Also pester the hell out of mw - they will help with positioning etc.... If you can express and give LO a few bottles this can help you although sometimes just getting on with it and working through this tough time will amke it pass quicker.

It will get better - I promise - you are a wonderful mummy - look what you created!! Give yourself a break

Good luck xxxx

Hi everyone. Paranoid, sorry you're not feeling so great, I really hope you start feeling a bit better - I'm sure having a newborn is totally overwhelming, especially with your first - I have no idea what it's going to be like, but just wanted to send you a virtual hug.

Thanks for all the comments on waterbirth - I meant to call the hospital today to book in for a look around, but placenta brain has taken hold again, and I forgot to get the phone number. Dur!

OldiebutGoldie, congratulations, you posted some stuff for me ages ago when I first joined mn. How are you doing?

I had a good weekend with my mum, and think that I've finally decided on a Quinny Buzz for wheeling the monster around. Felt completely overwhelmed by all of the stuff in the shops - think I'm going to stick to online purchasing from now on.

Hope everyone is well today.

Hope you're feeling better paranoid. It's very early days yet and you're also recovering from a hard labour so take it easy on yourself, and be sure to take all the help that's offered (and ask where it's not!) Have you tried contacting a bf counsellor? I saw one when I was having trouble bf in the early days with dd and she was great, very reassuring.

Well I had my booking in this morning and discovered I'm so fat that I may need to take anti-clotting drugs . Still seems a bit unreal (apart from the big fat folder filled with the usual Bounty/Emma's diary rubbish cluttering up my kitchen counter) but I'll have my 12 week scan in the next couple of weeks so looking forward to that. Oh I also got a due date, so I'll try to update the list:

Paranoid1stTimer - DILLON 8lb6 on 22nd March!!
Monthlymayhem - LEWIS GABRIEL BORN 19th MARCH!!
Bearmama - Edinburgh March 23
Jaq39 - 12 April edinburgh, DD1 - 15yrs, DS1 - 19mths
northeastmummy - 19 April, Aberdeen, 2nd DD, DD1 19 months
Soph28 19 April, Bathgate, 3rd dc, ds 3 nxt wk, dd 20mths
bobsmum - 25th April, Stirlingshire, 3rd DC (surprise) DS 5, DD 2.
potpourri - 29 April, Lanark, 3rd baby (surprise!), DD1 age 3, DD2 age 21 Months
baiyu - 7th May, Fort William, first baby - surprise!
aberdeenhiker - 5th June, Aberdeen, DS1 20 months
Josey - 5th June, Aberdeenshire,DS1(8)DD1(2)(GIRL)
whinegums - 20 June, Glasgow, 1st DC (BOY)
bitofadramaqueen - EDD 22nd June, first baby
OatcakeCravings - due 1st July, my 1st DS
sweetkitty - 10th July, Lanarkshire, 3rd DC (GIRL), DD1 3.8, DD2 2.2
mcchesers - 12 July, Glasgow,1st baby (Boy)
minipinkscottish - due 18th July (girl) (ds 15,ds 13, ds 10, dd 5, ds 2)
dizzydixies - 30 July, NE Fife, 3rd DC, dd1 4.5yrs & dd2, 22months
TheApprentice - 10 August, West Lothian, ds 14 months
hazieandbaby - 14 August, Aberdeen, 1st DC
Jennylee - 17th August, Broxburn 2nd DC, Ds1 is 8years old
poppysocks - DC2 (DD is 2) on 17 August and in St Andrews
carolcupcake - DC2 due end of August, waiting on section date, Glasgow. DS1 is 7 months
mumofdjandp - mid sept, central scotland, dc3, ds1 4yrs and ds2 14 months
mybabysinthegarden - 27 Oct, Borders, dc2, dd1 15 months
expatinscotland - 31 October, Argyll, 3rd DC, dd1 4yrs & dd2 2yrs

Just saw we're a couple of weeks past bearmama's due date -- any news!!??

Hi everyone. Still thinking of you paranoid

I found a nice lady doula walking distance from our flat. That way if I can't cope after DH leaves for work, I have a number to call. She is an expert in bf'ing.

God I really hope we are out of here by then. Had a really nice relaxing time in the gorbals leisure centre at the aquanatal class, just to come home and have to scrub the walls of our close because some idiot kids had written their names all over. Took an hour, but DH and I got it done. Shame you can't send them off to moon.

I'm not happy about trying to take care of a baby in this flat, and hope like mad that once we get it on the market it flies.

Mcchesers, do u live in Gorbals, My sister had her first flat there and absolutely hated it, she was in the highrise flats though.
Hope you have lots a luck when selling

I live in shawlands jac, but it's really a lovely flat..just don't fancy being on the main road anymore. This flat would be great for buy to let or for two people just trying to get on the market. 2 bedroom, 2 bath.

We've just recently had a small pack of neds led by some lassie who is really fond of her name and likes to break in and write it in LARGE print in our close. clever, eh? Good thing ours is water based paint so it comes right off. Just irritating. I want a quiet place for the baby..no bars..no clubs.

The aquanatal class is fab though, would recommend it to anyone in Glasgow. I get so much energy from it and sleep better than I would otherwise.

I had big plans this time round to do aquanatal, yoga, swimming and ive done nowt
Mind you I do have a 19month terror of a DS to keep me fit!
God knows what it will be like when this LO comes along!
(due date Sat.)
I moved right out of Glasgow 4 years ago, not because I dont like it but my now DH already had a house in Edinburgh and I really like it here now

hi there folks! i am normally over on teh bumps and bairns north of the border thread but wanted to pop in and say hi - alogn with an offer. i have been going through dd's clothes (weep!) i have a couple of black bin bags of stuff to give away for free. the usual mix of vests, baygros , dresses, tops etc. all have been worn but most in goo dnick. i woudl love them to go to a good home.

do any of you want them or know of a pal that might? they would really be moer suitable for a gal but of course - a boy if you are happy to have him in varying shades of pink.

i live in glasgow - east end,
my email = L dot thompson773 at ntlworld dot com

paranoid1st timer - i just skimmed down the thread. how u feeling now? i also gave birth at princess royall - so you must be close to me. please let me know if there anything i can do to help out. things will get better. i never thought i would be able to bf past a week and here we are coming up on 12 months.

Thanks to everyone for the virtual hugs and everything. You made me tear up a bit when I read your posts... I am feeling a bit better. Have been out with LO in his pram and thought I would just walk to end of street and back but once I got to end of street I felt ok to go round the block... twice!! Felt much better cos I actually had to put on proper clothes and a bit of lippie in case I bumped into the neighbours and the sunshine cheered me up a bit too.

Little Dillon has terrible TERRIBLE nappy rash - at least I think it is nappy rash. We bought Simple wipes which don't make him scream his head off because his bum actually has a wee cut on it now from the nappy rash. We were using pampers wipes (which we have recently been told are still full of baby lotion even though they are meant to be suitable for sensitive skin) and sudocreme. We were recommended simple wipes or just water and cotton wool but he poos constantly so it is hard to get it off with just cotton wool and water. We got metanium as well but havent tried it just yet. Any views on this?

I think my moods are dependent on how much sleep I manage to get. LO is going through constant feeding phase again but HV advised these only really last 24-48hrs if it is a growth spurt. Since OH has gone back to work, I am exclusively BF so he seems to be getting latched on properly again.

weeonion lovely to hear from you - I remember when I first found mumsnet, you kindly invited me to get on the bumps n bairns thread. Thanks for your words too - it is hard to believe that I will ever get used to being a mum. I also feel really guilty just now cos my low mood sometimes makes me think I can't cope with all this and what have I done having a baby??? I miss OH so much cos we never spend any time together. He works long hours and I dont get a sleep during the day yet since LO is up for feeds every couple of hours. He is a big boy!!! So when OH comes home, we sort out something to eat then he takes over so I can get some sleep as I have to do the night feeds since OH has to leave for work at like 5am. I hate myself for feeling like this and sometimes I feel like my heart is breaking when I look at little Dillon and think what a b!tch I am for taking him for granted (although I dont - I really love him to bits but sometimes it feels like I dont deserve him).

He is such a good little baby and only really cries (at the moment) because of his sore bum bum. I suppose it will just take a bit of time to get used to it all. No one really prepares you for this and NO ONE ever admits (from people you know in RL) that they EVER felt like this. They were all the best mums in the world from day one as far as they are concerned. Also, I was trying to back up breast feeding a bit with the usual arguments and OH was saying he heard it also helps you lose weight (which I was avoiding mentioning) when SIL barked out that she never had any post pregnancy weight to lose and never had a belly.... Eh??? What, you go from pregnant to totally skinny with a flat belly straight away - I mean come on.... Only if you are a celeb or if you get a tummy tuck!!!! EVERYONE has some loose skin at least for a while until your uterus contracts. They havent spoken to me for a while - suits me tho!!!

Sorry for the long rant again... Thanks again for the support. I certainly aint gettin it in RL.