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

Pregnabrain - Ds was an emergency section and DD was a VBAC, but even though dd was a totally normal and intervention free delivery, I'm still classed as a high risk pg. I am so normal (apart from the SPD) that the m/w at my last hospital appt said I was boring

I've asked the consultant and the m/ws about intermittent monitoring and they've said it's "not hospital policy" - but this seems to be unique in the whole of the UK. Dh and I have decided to be stroppy and insist on intermittent monitoring unless there are concerns like meconium/distress etc.

I got the perineal gel from mumstuff.co.uk - lots of lovely lotions and potions - got a bit carried away!

Sparklyshoos - hi thanks for the recommendation. I just hope I don't go up too big a size for the pretty nursing bras and have to be stuck in the granny ones again. I'm normally a J cup when feeding, but there seems to be loads more choice in nursing underwear this time round - phew!

bobsmum J cup ! Is that J for Jordan?! Blimey, I thought I suffered with E cups, good luck with the bra shopping.

Went out for chinese last night, didn't really overeat (honestly!) and felt fine straightaway, then woke up at 3pm feeling VERY sick and had to sit in the bathroom with head over sink 'just in case' for 40 mins . Couldn't help thinking 'what if I went into labour tonight, feeling this rough?'. So from now on it's very small portions for GCG.

Still feel full this morning.

Off out for the day (again). It's all very nice being busy etc and seeing friends, but I am so tired, can't wait to just chill at home!!!

Have a good day all.

GCG xxx

3am, not 3pm . How I wish I could be asleep at 3pm today .

Hi all...

Hope you are all well

Goodcatholic girl. I could have joined you at 3.00am and comisorated. I get breahtless at night sometimes. It's as though someone is forcing air out of my lungs? Anyone else?

Pregnbrain Thanks for answering my question re induction. It's so much more useful to talk to someone who has been through it rather than read the leaflet provided by the hospital. I'm sure you answered this before but how many weeks were you when they decided to do it.

Keep well

NS XXXXX

Newbishad: I was also induced with my first baby, my blood pressure was slightly raised when I was 40+5 days overdue. So I had the gel and then the drip, 12 hour labour from start to finish. I got to 10cm dilated and started pushing, but DD wouldn't come down. Landed up needing a CS. But it was because of DD mobility problems mean't that she would never have been delivered naturally. Being induced isn't a bad experience at all.

Bobsmum: I like the bras will need to go shopping. Good idea to change the Ed Psych coming to do an assessment, there will be plenty of time after Baby arrives.

GCG: Sorry you were up in the night not feeling great.
Need big pants to go over CS scar.

Pina: How was lunch with your mom, are things sorted after your email?

I am sorry if I missed anyones message.

Had midwife check up and baby measuring 34 weeks exactly, bp fine and everything perfectly normal. (very boring). We get another appointment at 38 weeks, so that won't be my last check up after all.

Have my final scan on monday, so get to see baby again. Looking forward to that and then got to go back on wed to Children's hospital for DD's check up which means xrays, so I will have to stand outside which isn't great.
Busy week next week.

Hi all, welcome back to asics (wondered where you'd got to actually,I think you're my neck of the woods!)
Well done on all the painting- 5 coats, now that just sounds demoralising! Sooo glad the year we got married we did new kitchen, new bathroom and re-did dining room- now way we could do one bit of that now (and I reckon it won't need doing again for a looooong time!).
We're fine at this end, getting violent kicks, and then paranoid when I have a 'can't move, need to lie down/sleep day' that bump is also resting (normally I'm too busy to notice during the day, it gets me enough morning and night!).
I'm being really sad and cooking LOADS of recipes from Sainsbury's magazine- I've never done this! Mind you, Jamie's stuff has been really tasty (prawn curry that DD loved) and I'm doing the lamb recipes today.
Arrggh, they're back and I haven't done tea.
must go,
mumofk

Sorry about that, now DH is on duty as DD won't do bedtime with me (without major strops, etc, that are jsut too tiring at this end of the day) unless DH is out!
GCG- sympathies for 3 am ickyness. I guess we can all expect disrupted sleep from digestive/bump/uncomfortable/hormones from now on, but that doesn't make it any easier to deal with. I learned today I can sleep on in-laws very short 2 seater sofa while DD played with beans in a tin ( as in rattling, not saucy!), though it was easier when she went out to play! But I'm just not worth knowing unless I've had an afternoon kip, so needs must,but sitting in the car is sooo uncomfortable these days, glad I'm not travelling far to visit family so sympathies to those of you who are stuck in the car/wrestling with public transport!
bobsmum- hospital policy isn't YOUR birth plan. Good luck in telling them where to stick it- is your partner on side for all of this? I've been mulling over Vit K and don't want injection for 3rd stage, but DH is fully supportive of all this and knows he has to be prepared to speak for me if my head is somewhere else.
Arrggh, for once now I'm wanted for story time.I'm never going to get caught up on 2 days here!

otter- sounds like your not a definate for GD if only one lot of tests were out, but I know bugger all about it- but i think i'd go for the lucozade if I wanted! I don't drink anything usually other than water (though have had fruit juice in this last week, and keep trying hot choc/ warm milk in the middle of the night!) so not sure about drinking it myself- and i worry about sugar crashes, i feel rubbish after the (relatvely short for me)sugar rush. ho hum, I'm sure I'll get some in anyway in the next 3 weeks!
Thanks all for mentioning hospital bag again! I've chucked a load of things into a laundry box ( we use those collapsable crates, so have a few lying around) and I should actually have a second look in it, and put things in a bit more tidyly. Not planning on going to hospital, but should be handy to send DH to one place for it all when needed! He did the shopping today so had to buy things like 'labour snacks' and 'midwife biscuits'- I think I'll have to label them and put them in the box/ homebirth kit so we don't go for them accidentally!!!
pregnabrain- don't think my bump is breech but it has a viscious (sorry can't spell) bladder/cervix punch that makes me swear/cry,and sometimes does it repeatedly- don't know if thats any help for you though!
I've got clary sage essential oil from last time (probably too old but I@m sure I'll try it at some point)- I bathed in it, splashed it around for 2 weeks (one week before official due date, but that was 2 weeks ahead of 'my' due date) hated the smell of it after a while but didn't actually seem to make any difference.Supermaket also had pineapples on 2 for 1 the weekend after official due date but before my date, so ate 5 over 3 days- hardly touched it since, also didn't seem to make any difference. Curry, sex, tried it all. On 'my' due date went for 1hr plus drive in husbands rickety old landy, deliberately up and down cobbled streets round our patch of West Yorks, nice and hilly- 24 hrs later started mild contractions all night,nothing all day then the real thing kicked in the following night. When I get fed up I'm going to get a babysitter so DH can take me for a drive FIRST this time, not last!
Casserole- congratulations on finishing work- bet that feels better! And good on you knowing your LO wasn't breech
Right, that must be another huge essay, keeps the pages flying!

lol at J for Jordan

ONce I've finished b/f-ing this baby I'm soooo tempted to get a reduction (money permitting - so unlikely!). I'm only 5ft and having massive norks of 32GG is a bit of a strain. Being properly fitted helps, but I can't help but wonder if I might lose a couple of stone if I wasn't carting the boulders around all the time!!

Definitely going to Bravissimo tomorrow. Dh is going to drop me at the door so I can go straight in without traipsing around town. then he'll pick me up when I've finished!

MIL here now. She made the dc's dinner and gave them loads of homemade chocolate cake, so they've gone to bed happy. And now my dinner's being made for me too. I don't think this weeks going to be that bad after all

After my sobbing session on Thurs night, dh brought me home a massive box of Millie's cookies to cheer me up on Friday!!! This is why I keep having his babies - he's too nice to me!

We're still arming ourselves for a bit of a fight on the whole birth plan thing - dh was wanting details on delivery positions!! HE's taking this all very seriously now - more so than with the other 2, I think he's on a mission

mumofk - what on earth are "midwife biscuits' - ???? Are you buttering up the staff? Sounds like a good plan if so

bobsmum You could probably get a reduction on the NHS, you would have to be on a waiting list, but I did a bit of work on the (NHS) plastic surgery ward at work years ago and they did lots of NHS breast reductions, for people like yourself. Oh, and top marks to your DH for the Millie's cookies, they are YUMBO!!!

Well, we are plodding on with this F'ing (sorry ) decorating. Me and my bloomin nesting instinct! Got the man coming to lay floor tiles in bathroom and downstairs loo on Monday, so I really NEED to gloss the skirting boards tonight, while there is no carpet down, so that it dries in time for Monday. We are also trying to get the kitchen back together. I am v tired and would muc rather sit and watch desp housewives on sky plus, but I know I need to do it now.

Better just get on with it....GRRRR! It will all be lovely this time next week and I can chill.....

GCG xxx

bobsmum - 32GG???? i'm sure you'd be able to get a reduction!good luck with the fight re birth plan, fingers crossed for you

mumofk - owch re your bladder/cervix punching!! thanks for the tips re getting things started, willput into practice if we get that far...

Newbishad - i've been lurking a bit on your induction question, ive been told that they will not let me go beyong 40 weeks becuase of GD and may start me at 38 so i've been trying to find out a bit about it... anti-natal class didnt give me a very positive view to be honest but feeling a bit less worried now...

GCG - i was also up at 3am, woke up at 2.30 and that was it...

all this nesting talk got me started - having been banned from actually lifting/doing anything that I wanted to get done OH promised faithfully that it would be done. 5pm today i lost my temper at it not being done, and told him i was going out (his cue to at least sort the mountain of rubbish he keeps leaving in living room I think..) come back at 6.30 to find him in exact same spot as was when i left. toys well and truely out of the cot. I couldnt cope with mess anymore and have shifted everything that was annoying me except the bed (as i'm not that annoyed to put my back out...) and putting up the cot. which if it doesnt get done this weekend i will do because its driving me mad... now sitting being annoyed at him while he sits happy as larry competely ignorant of why i'm annoyed....

hello again

having a bit of a rubbishy day today. My pelvis feels terrible - like i'm going to split in two. Every time I stand up after sitting for a while my whole pelvic area and tops of thighs kills. Anyone else got this joy? Am feeling dizzy and faint as well.

Right. End of moan.

newbishad - i was induced at 38 weeks for cholestasis. i was having strong, regular braxton hicks in the days leading up to the induction, so I suppose my body might have been ready for it. Still took an age though! Try not to worry about it too much - I was filled with terror when they told me I'd have to be induced, but it really wasn't so bad.

bobsmum - thanks for clary sage url. Will check the site out - i have the urge to indulge myself with some retail therapy! Have you checked out the NICE guidelines on monitoring in labour? That should be the best guide for you to follow. My friend def had an emergency c-section with her first baby and didn't have to have constant monitoring for vaginal birth this time. This was in Brighton.

GCG - you're making me feel like a lazy old slug with all this swimming and decorating! I wish I had your energy.

hi every1..
haven't posted for a couple of days as nothing interesting happens in my life at the moment, just been quiet lazy and useless all week.

podglet- oh dear, you should have googled two left feet before ordering from them as they have a very bad reputation and even apperaed on watchdog don't wanna scare u hun but take a look at those reviews www.reviewcentre.com/reviews89234.html

congrats to our new may thread arrival Isla, lovely name, all the best.

i'm 35 weeks now and started on raspberr leaf tea this week and actually like the taste of it, many people said it tastes yuck...just tastes like a fruit tea to me, which makes me quiet lucky as i cannot swallow tablets so tea was the only option for me.

337 reviews on two left feet that is quiet shocking and they most;y experienced the same as you.
good luck with getting things sorted in time.

podget- in a few reviews i found out that if u contact them via [email protected]
they will get in touch with you quicker..one person said that through that way she had her money refunded withing 24hrs rather then the 30 wait they say through the aftersales dept.

thought that might help if u r still struggeling with them.

30 days wait- not 30 wat.. my fault

bobsmum- biscuits for midwife to munch on while we do all the hard work! I'm planning home birth so just need to make sure we've got SOMETHING in (biscuits aren't our usual snack, but not giving them icecream as that would involve washing up ) and if we do end up going in then there's something to give midwife there and then. Last time I ended up making midwife eat muffins when she was checking up on me the day after (still in hosp) as she'd not had chance to eat and it was 3 pm, and took a big bag in the following week (when I was visiting work people anyway). This time my freezer is full so no space for muffins .
Sounds like you've got every chance of NHS boob reduction! I'm F/G normally, and used to think of getting reduction but then my belly would stick out too much, so not even a consideration these days !
SO glad MIL has at least started well, and your DH knows to make the effort- mmmmm milly's cookies, not had them in years!!
GCG- you remind me of when I first got a house- I NEEDED to get things done. I really hope your partner is doing his share- and more! and that you don't over do it (though with all the amazing swimming, you do sound the best of us to cope with all the work!) Hope you're ok.
Otter- sounds a bit odd you've only had one result out of kilter yet they're all for inducing you for GD? Hope you can be ok with whats going on and able to stand up for yourself if you're not ready at 38 weeks for induction, though right now if someone offered me something to get it started I think I'd be tempted.....
I've been on BBC parenting plugging in my LMP and early scan dates, just to see- and I can come up with an even earlier due date ( I deliberately lost my bit of paper with all that stuff on early on, but got to dying to know yesterday- and I think I put the correct details in my notes for LMP/cycle length etc) My father-in-law is having a prostate op the Tuesday before my due date, so I've told him we might end up visiting him rather than the other way around (he's to expect to be in 4 days, but any complications it might be longer- and he's not been straightfoward at all).
pregnabrain- sorry you're having a bad day. I have had days like that, but not today and its just the pits. Hope tomorrow is better for you- hmm is it worse being like that on a weekend or not.....can't decide!
pina- I know what you mean about odd shaped bump- I try to use mine as a book rest but sometimes its just too active at kicking book off and about kicking and bum location, my bump seems really curled around sometimes, so what I think is bum moves from top right to really far over to the left but middle, with kicking going on 'inside'. Occasionally I get a foot shape pushing out to the side- which I find so amazing (DD had placenta in the way and I assume I had some muscle tone, non-existent this time, so never had the foot shape before). DH isn't anywhere near as excited over it- its a 'yes dear, I can feel it' in a long suffering manner. I just mention his Dads prostate trouble and how its hereditary (don't know if it is, but I'm getting my own back!) .
podglet- ohh reading what azaduhi says I really hope you get your money back quick hope it works out ok- last thing you need at this time.
Right, now I've done myshare of filling up the thread, what else shall I do at this time in the morning? Its always vaccing that comes to mind, but they really won't sleep through that but it is tempting......

Morning girls, fancy a giggle...

Last night we went to bed early (no such luck on anything norty, we were shattered ) DP is snoring slightly before he gets into bed - he is extremely loud. I lay and get more and more uncomfortable / angry / tearful so stomp come back downstairs and end up sleeping on the sitting room floor, not great. DP comes downstairs at 6.30 am and announces "DS is pretending to be a duck, please can you come and get him as I haven't slept very well" - at least he could have got DS up and brought him down to me? He is STILL in bed... I've given up trying to keep DS quiet and so we now have all the noisy toys out

Azaduhi - thank you so much for the link. I am going to email the chatroom address tomorrow and demand a refund. I would now rather wait a few weeks and get it from somewhere else.

2 days to go - eeek! Car seat is already in the car, moses basket ready to go, off to collect the crib today just lacking in pram, thank goodness for slings!

Just a quick post - podglet have you looked on Kiddicare website as they do next day delivery (and it's free delivery if you spend over £50). I've bought pushchairs off there no problem - don't know if they've got the one you're after though.

otter at your DH!! Why do men take so long to get aorund to doing anything?!! They can be so clueless sometimes.

pregnabrain I LOL at your comment 'I wish I had your energy'!! OK, I know I am doing all this stuff, but only cos it has to be done this week, I am soooooooooooooo tired and achey, but I just keep going telling myself that once it's done I can totally chill for 2 weeks before my due date. Now kind of don't want lo to be too early as I definitely need some rest first!!!

pinacolada My bump goes some very strange shapes sometimes, bums and feet and God knows what else sticking out, makes me laugh!!
Glad you are starting to sort things out with your Mum.
Oh, and how is 'Petal'??!! LOL! Your DD sounds very cute!!

mumofk Yes my DH is most definitely doing more than his fair share, he won't let me do anything 'heavy', he's just not very neat at the edges when painting, so I'd rather just do it myself.
My DH is exactly the same as yours when I feel a foot or something v clearly, I'm all like "quick quick quick!!! come and feel this!!!!" and it either goes away, or he just politley puts his hand on the bump and looks at me in a very way, then I get annoyed cos he's not as AMAZED as I am!! Not too worried tho cos he was like it with DD, but as soon as she was born, he was smitten . OMG!! Just typing that reminded me of him immed after she was born and has made me start blubbing!!!! Damn you, hormones!!

podglet I LOL at your DS pretending to be a duck!!! And what is it with all these silly DH's??? . Think I am def gonna design a baby bump for men to wear for a bit to see what it's really like. Thing is, we would have to inject them with the hormones too!!!

Having a nice day. Still tired from painting but glad it's nearly all done, having a day off today. My lovely brother is coming to stay today til Thursday. He won't have any kids of his own (he's gay), so he absolutley worships DD, and is incredibly helpful in all aspects (incl nappy changes, bathing etc) for a 36yr old guy with no kids!! He is fab and I can't wait for him to arrive!!!

Right, just continuing on the nesting theme, just sorting out some paperwork now........

I hope you are all having a nice day.

GCG xxx

Eeurgh, Pina, you poor thing, that's my worst nightmare! I would have screamed the place down and run a mile, well after finishing my business of course! No idea about about the cost of pipes I'm afraid, but what a bloody pain for you.

I've had a quite a nice day; DH took DS out to the indoor playground for "boys' club" (what they call their quality time!) as he's been away all week, so I got to rest and also work my way through the laundry mountain! We've just had a load of DSs old baby clothes arrive (they've been in storage in England since we came here) so it was nice to sort them all and get them washed.

Got a question actually, it's probably very stupid but have you all got the cot made up and ready now? I've got all the bedding washed and I'd like to make the cot up but I don't want it to be sitting there getting covered in dust for another month, or 6 weeks if s/he's late? Just wondering when the best time to do it is!

Wolverina I am due in 3 weeks and planning to put the crib up in our room this week. We have to re-arrange the furniture a bit first, and my lovely bro will help DH do that. I will have the crib up but probably keep the mattress in the wardrobe and not actually make it up (to be fair, I only use a fitted bottom sheet on mattress then swaddle baby) until baby here, cos of dust etc. At the end of the day, it's not gonna take long to get the mattress out and put the sheet on. As long as the crib is up, IYSWIM. Does that help?