Due May 2008 - the floodgates have opened!!!

[thefortbuilder]

Pleased to be able to start the new thread with our birth announcement!

Samuel arrived at 1923 on thursday 20th March, weighing in at 4lb 10oz! After a fraught day of trying to find a hospital with a NNU with a cot (our hospital NNU was closed just as we were about to go to theatre), we finally ended up at Epsom General!

Sam is still in NNU but should be coming off his last little bit of oxygen this evening, is off CPAP, and having a go at bf'ing whenever he can (he's being fed by a tube).

I'm home and feeling a whole lot better than I did last time around, although very sore - TAKE THE PAINKILLERS THEY OFFER!!!!!

Jacob not sure about the new arrival although is smitten with his new scooter

will catch up with posts later but thanks for all your thoughts, prayers and good wishes over the last few days

xxx

Wow, miss a day and it takes an hour to try to cathc up with everything!
Raspberry leaf tea- I think I've already said this (but it could have been elsewhere, so apologies if i'm droning on)- I've taken it from 32 weeks this time and last time. Last time I got the dose wrong, and was actually taking TRIPLE the dose from 32 weeks however, DD was 2 days overdue with very straightforward labour. Talking to a midwife or two and they said they'd take it, from seeing the ladies who'd taken do ok so that's why I got into it.
I got a new pain today and symphysis pubis- fortunately its gone away again, but with back pain as well I could hardly move when I tried to get up and do stuff after my nap! I'm not worried though- its completely self-inflicted, Ive been laying laminate flooring all day! I'm really happy though, coz funnily enough last time I was this pregnant we had flooring to lay in DD's room , and I couldn't do it without going faint, and I had to teach my DH to lay flooring (very stressful). Its so much better being able to do it myself, and I should get it finished tomorrow- yippee!
Oh, and I have noticed its getting harder not to do the pg waddle, so I'm hoping bump is dropping a bit (but IIRC this time might not drop till labour starts, so not getting too hopeful).
Anyway, anyone else having trouble getting to sleep? I'm not stressed, nice and tired, but its taking me about 2-3 hours to get to sleep, and after quite a few days of this I'm getting fed up. A couple of times I've had bad heartburn, or achey/wriggly bump, but mostly I can't see any reason, grrrr.
Sympathy with fanjo piles, I've read about it but not experienced it- think it goes when you lose the bump , hope so anyway!
Tens machines- I used one for a bit early on last time around which was fabulous, but found the pool much better when things got serious, I hired one from Nature's Gate but I'mhoping to borrow one from Surestart this time.
Someone was asking about waterbirths, which I'd love to do (ended up getting out last time and using a birthing stool, which was brilliant for me) I can recommend Waterbirth Book by Janet Baleniskas (think i've spelt it wrong). We've decided not to get one for at home this time (old flag stone floor over cellar with all electrics on supporting wall) but if we had somewhere safe to put it.....and if I do end up in hospital I'll want to be in the pool!
Sorry for not responding to more stuff on here,but hugs to all!
Oh, otter, cool about where you are, haven't been over that way on yonks!

mumofk - thanks i was the one that was asking about quiet a few things that you replied to, had a few replies already but the more experiences the better.

PLEASE CAN YOU ALL JUST STOP POSTING FOR A FEW HOURS . I really, really can't keep up.

There were loads of things I wanted to reply to but I can't remember any of them now!

Congratulations Macaco and IndieChick - can't believe we've had so many babies already!! I'm so jealous - can't wait to meet my little one now. My best friend has just had a beautiful little girl. We went to see her on Sunday and I just wanted to run away with her!

dh and I did an amazing hypnobirthing course this weekend - it's made SUCH a difference to my state of mind (and his). I just can't wait for the labour now and feel armed with a million tools to make it a positive experience.

Generally am feeling at the moment. Such a complete contrast with this period in my last pregnancy. Feels like a miracle.

Anyway, love to you all and I really will try to keep up a bit better from now on!

xx

Nice to hear so many people feeling positive at the moment, myself included!! Tonight I went out for dinner with my sister (for my birthday which is Thursday ), and managed 3 courses....!!! Not even got heartburn!! I'm sure I couldn't eat this much at nearly 36 weeks last time. Also got DH to take a photo of the bump, and I held DD and she put her hand lovingly on my tummy so DH quickly snapped, so now I have a gorgeous photo of me and my beautiful little girl, with her 'rubbing' her new brother or sister....will be lovely to show her in years to come.

Tomorrow I have DH's entire family coming over for 'birthday tea'. It is the most stressful thing ever for me, mainly due to noisy, naughty and fussy kids...... I am doing veg curry for adults (3 veggies anyway, so easier than doing 2 meals) and hot dogs and chips for kids. DD will eat the veg curry, hopefully she will show her cousins up for how fussy they all are .

Ah well, it's late so I best be off.

Keep up the happy vibes ladies!!!!!!

GCG xxx

Morning all,

Scan next Wednesday, was hoping for today as I'm at home today but they couldn't do it till next Weds, bah. I'm still hopeful for head down and engaged though as I'm feeling a lot more pelvic pressure, definitely harder to shut my legs and/or walk without looking like a bandit (!!) and my bump seems lower (and a couple of people commented on that yesterday without me telling them). Heartburn is also better and I can eat more and turn over in bed easier - in fact I feel less pregnant in a way if that makes sense as the bump feels more manageable lower (at least until I stand up!!)

So yeah, still hoping for head down down down but looks like I won't know for a while.

My pool arrived this morning, I am meant to be working from home all day but SOOOOO tempated to inflate it and float around all day pretending I'm at a spa, LOL!

Annoying annoying article in the news today about homebirths supposedly not being safer - and then when you read the actual damn thing that's not what it says at all, but it just makes me cross that the press go for these headlines just to grab attention and cause controversy. We have hardly told anyone IRL that we're hoping for a homebirth, not because we don't think it's safe (have done so much research) but just because I can't be bothered to deal with everyone's issues who haven't read up in it - and these sorts of stories don't help. Just makes me mad and sad.

Fanjo piles ?!?! I'm off to google, I'd never heard of them! What causes them at this stage? I could understand getting them through pushing in labour etc but it's a new one on me!! Hope they're not too sore for those suffering

GCG - happy birthday for Thursday

Pina - Didn't find any cake, so had a big bar of chocolate instead . Haven't heard from the hospital about the scan yet - apparently they have a big backlog to get through - well, they'd better hurry up as I'm 34.5 weeks and I'm not planning on carrying this baby for too much longer! Don't feel guilty in the slightest about having a cleaner - what a very sensible idea!

Sweetbean - went into the kitchen last night to find DH bending down looking in the back of the kitchen cupboard, so I did manage to give him a kick up the bum! He looked quite surprised, but hopefully it'll do the trick!

Casserole - when we tell people we're opting for a home birth, you nearly have to pick them up off the floor. I understand exactly what you mean about having to deal with people's misconceptions.

Mumofk - I slept for about 3 hours last night and it's soooo frustrating. I'm shattered and baby moving isn't even to blame - I just seem to have insomnia.

Pregnabrain - I've been given a hypnobirthing CD which I'm going to listen to tonight - glad you had a great time at the weekend.

I had a nice evening at friends last night - we ate pancakes and did Singstar on their PS3! Have realised that I can't hold notes for as long as I used to due to lack of lungs, but it was fun evening anyway. They've got an 8 week old kitten who is just adorable - kept asking DH why we're having another baby when we could have just got another cat? Little too late to be pondering those sort of questions now I guess!

Okay Ladies, I've just returned from having a scan and they are admitting me today!! I'm 33.5 weeks but my placenta is completely covering the neck of the cervix so they have to keep me in just in case I start to bleed. I haven't had any bleeding at all yet so I'm confident that I won't bleed at all. However, the prospect of spending the next six weeks in hospital is a bit of a shocker. A natural delivery isn't possible with the placenta where it is so this wee fella is going to be born by section. All new territory for me but it will be fine!! I've been ironing since getting back from the hospital and filling up my bag. If all goes to plan they'll do a section at about 38 weeks which will be the beginning of May so I won't be in hospital for the full six weeks until my due date, more like four.

They did two conventional scans and then a vaginal one (not a problem at all if any of you ever have to have one) and it confirmed that the placenta is totally covering the opening. I can't believe that I'm going to only see DD and DH once a day - it will all be fine though. God is in charge and that's fine by me!!

I'll have to tell DH what my password is so that he can keep me posted about the happenings on MN. I hope you will all be well and that your babies all arrive safe and sound. I'll miss you all.

Take care,
Mocat xxx

blobsmummy I have been suffering with a bit of insomnia too. It's weird cos baby not making me feel uncomfortable, not got heartburn, just can't sleep. My mind is very active thinking about everything, so that's probably it. Maybe I am sleeping too much in the day and then not tired enough at night, bit of a viscious circle....don't sleep at night so then feel tired in day and have to sleep midday when DD sleeps!

mocat lots of luck....can't believe you have to be admitted for 4 weeks! My Mum had to do that with my brother for 6 weeks cos her BP was so high. I hope you have some good books to read.

Well, DD is making us laugh, she is supposed to be sleeping before all her cousins arrive for the party, but she is blowing raspberries and making herself (and us) laugh.

Oh well, better go and get ready for the onslaught of DH's family arriving soon......wish me luck!!
I have a MW appt at 5pm, so at least I can escape for a bit!!!

GCG XXX

mocat - I'm so sorry to hear you've got to go in but glad you're feeling ok about it. Keep us posted if you can...

ycbs - posted my email addy about a million miles down re meeting up - let me know if you fancy it And I think you're probably right about the pool counting as ante natal am v excited about trying it out, esp as I barely fit the bath anymore!

I did feel I was getting bigger by the day a few weeks ago, now I actually feel smaller thanks to "the drop down effect" which I'm still stubbornly believing is head down rather than head up. I actually feel like I did about 3 months ago now, big-ness wise. SO much more comfortable

Blobsmummy at least you're being honest - I'm just lying my arse off about it all! Partly as well I think if it doesn't happen for any reason it's easier not to have told everyone it's what we were trying for... I dunno. And yes, I have wanted to convert this baby to another kitten many times over the past 36 weeks! We have 2 cats who are 7 and 8 and I definitely have kitten broodiness more!

hello again

Mocat - big hugs and best of luck with the birth (and your stay in hospital). You should get to meet lots of nice mums you can stay in touch with after baby arrives over the time you're in there! Please keep us posted with your news...

Casserole - I saw the feature on the BBC News this morning re homebirth and it's got me worried (have only just started considering it as a serious possibility for this birth). Is there anything in it?

ps whoever put their email address on here, i noticed you typed it as you would normally. It's best not to do that as spammers crawl the internet for email addresses they can send their Viagra messages to so you're inviting a lot of unwanted mail. If you want to make your email addy public it's best to write it out like this pregnabrain at mumsnet dot com - that way it won't get picked up by the evil spammers. That's my mumsnet tip for the day!!

xx

Hello ladies,
thanks all of you for all your advice about when to go to the hospital. GCG Not quite Outer Mongolia, just the Highlands! It's totally ridiculous really, our local hospital is just to underfunded to have any birthing equipment, a real shame as the local midwives are lovely and they hardly ever get to do their full jobs. You're all right, I will go when I feel ready, it's just too far to do that journey in a panic! There are B&B's Mocat, I might take my tent too... Thanks for the advice about contractions IndigoBlue and all your tips girls. Glad I'm not being unreasonable in thinking I should go a bit earlier.

Mocat Good luck! Take lots of books and food, hope you don't get too bored.

pinacolada82 no word about the flat yet, checking my e-mails every few hours and getting very impatient!

GCG and blosmummy I'm having hellish insomnia too. I usually get to sleep fairly quickly then wake up a few hours later and lie there for hours and hours...

All of my worries and niggles have been totally outshadowed the past few days. My friend is having really horrible child custody issues with her ex refusing to give her children back. It's all police, lawyers, court cases and tears, really heartbreaking. She's a wonderful mum and it's her LO's birthday on Saturday and it's just destroying her. She's staying with us which is good as she doesn't have to be on her own at all in this horrible time. That's why I've been neglecting MN a bit in the last few days, finally caught up with the posts, now back to making constant cups of tea...

Hope everyone's doing well, big hugs to all

mocat- so sorry that you have to go into hospital, but if it is necessary and for the safety of you and your bump then it's the best thing to do.
hopefully we will hear from you soon.
all the best take care.

Pregnabrain- so glad the hypnobirthing course has helped- I felt so funny that I am SO positive after being on the course, and how its helped me and DH (literally, he's just said shall we do some practice- yippee I get to reeelllaaaaaax now!) and I am still actually looking forward to 'birthing' as they put it. It sounds so miraculous, I can't believe it isn't on the NHS (should make midwives jobs easier)!
Homebirth really is just as safe, but get back on the homebirth.org website for reassurance, that's where I've got 'real' facts and figures from, not some hyped up news article (sorry, not even read whatever the BBC are saying, but I'm refusing to as I don't need added stress, I'm happy with my choices as they stand!). I've just recieved leaflets from AIMS today about the vit K injection and 3rd stage of labour- they were recommended to me, and have made interesting reading if anyone feels they want more info, they seem really good, not pushing you one way or another, like so many articles you read do.
Arrggh, want to read and reply to more but hypnobirthing practice is too tempting. I'll try again later!

Mocat - best wishes to you and little bub whilst you're in hospital - standing with you that God has it in control .

GCG - I think I may be in that viscious circle - slept like a log whilst DD had her nap - both of us were very groggy all afternoon as a result! Good luck with the family onslaught!

Hope all of you with insomnia troubles get a lovely rest tonight - be assured that I'll be thinking of you all at 4am .

mocat- spect you won't see this but hope being admitted isn't too boring and looking forward to hearing about your LO, hope everything goes ok!
pina- glad you're able to take it easy and start to enjoy your help around the house, and congratulations on your anniversary. Good luck to your pal! Glad the midwife was helpful and listened to you, and sooo glad you've got some ranitidine, I really hope it works for you.
Casserole- i'm SO jealous of your pool! I'm going to have to take my search of ebay as its getting depressing seeing them pop up but we've decided for peace of mind not to do it , almost makes me WANT to go to hospital ( not that much though!). Fingers crossed that by the time you get your scan (if your LO isn't there already) your little one will be the right way around for you!
youcannotbeserious- I am with you on bump expanding daily- I'm getting bruises from bumping by bump from thinking I fit through smaller gaps than I do!
blobmummy- glad you had a good time even if a bit short of breath- my problem would be singing in the first place (well, anything other than nursery rhymes for DD). I kind of like the thought of swapping bump for kitten though , but our cat does get us up about 5 most mornings, so not entirely convinced!
GCG- hope today went ok with all the family....
Baiyu- sorry about your friend, but it sounds like she's lucky to have you- glad you're able to be so supportive at such a horrible time for her. Hugs for you and her.
Sorry to hear there are others with sleeping problems, but I am glad its not just me!
Just re-read what I said about homebirth, being just as safe- and I know that's contentious so better to say -for some people, and those who want to, homebirth can be just as safe....but its everyone's choice where they feel comfortable and what is right for them, and that homebirth website says it all better than me!