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

Afternoon all!

(for Mumofk DD xx

GCG OTTER1980 MUMOFK
Thank so so much for your support its really is lovely to know that you are all out there and able to listen xxxxxx THANK YOU!! xx

KangaAndRoo
Yes this was my 1st Anti D and it wasn't to bad just a bit stingy. Hope you are feeling better today and have a chance to chill out and relax xxx

ZamMummy
So glad your feeling better i was on Prozac for 4 years so i know what its like and im really happy for you that you have managed to come of it well done!!Thanks also for the advise on vitamins im going to look up Partick Holford as i haven't heard of him before. xx

I am actually feeling a lot better today DH home which always helps!!!
I feel a bit telling you all how low i feel mainly because i have lived with it for years and usually have it under control im just finding it really hard to keep everything in perspective at the moment. I also worry that people will think that its really irresponsible to have children when you feel this way. (even though i NEVER think that about other people with depression)I just feel very vulnerable at the moment which is usually a feeling i mange to suppress pretty well! Anyway just wanted to say again thank you all for being there

lots more grins for mumofk DD xxx

hi all,
i am sooo happy today, checked my bank account and got paid, first maternity pay (normally due monday)no errors nothing,
and i had the idea of borrowing my friends Makro card and go for a spending trip, i am sooo excited DH is gonna pick me up soon and i know i am going to shop till i drop
i should have thought about makro long time ago as it will save us £££££
well goodby tesco's hello makro from now on

for mumofk DD toooooo xxx

Wow! two babies already!! congratulations flick and indiechick.

I'm back at work and have been given less stressful, more fulfilling stuff to do It is more interesting and uses my brain more but the pace is more relaxed and I'm not solely responsible...As a result my former colleagues are working crazy hours which makes me feel a bit guilty but I guess that is for them to sort out with our manager.

We now have our new laptop so I can keep in touch better - I was really missing my MN fix!

Had my first heartburn acid reflux last night probably due to too much pizza! Also scared my DH silly by putting my foot through a floorboard and squealing in agony like the stuck pig I was. I sunk past my knee and now I have some lovely bruises. So now we know there's a bit of woodworm in that part of the hallway but I guess it took my pregnancy weight to find it! I'm now close to 2 stone heavier than at the start and only 31+2 so hope I don't get much bigger.

Baiyu I'm in Edinburgh too - well done on the flat - I'm looking forward to taking the pushchair round the Meadows (I'm in Liberton)

Finally DH and I are close to agreement on an acceptable boy's name. TBH I'm starting to hope it is a girl simply because we both love our girl's name more!

pina - the ranatidine I had was the same doseage as Zantac, sorry (feel like I've given you false hope now) ... but you're right, they might have something else behind the counter you could have.

Tired today. Cleaned the bathroom for an hour and a half this morning then slept for 2.5 hours this afternoon! STILL coldy but definitely less so, so here's hoping it's on it's way out.

Hugs to all who are low or sore tonight

Hi all,

really sore legs today after an awful bout of cramp yesterday morning. Can barely walk and stairs take forever.

Pina - no, my legs don't swell I'm afraid - sorry! Just my enormous belly...

Hope everyone is ok and those who are uncomfy (most of us!) and those who are low are feeling ok.

Evening all. Had a weird reaction today, I would like to know if anyone else has experienced something similar. It felt as if the baby was sitting really high and there was too much pressure on my stomach. My stomach began to really hurt and after an hour or so of this I was sick. I didn't feel nauseous at any stage, just that the baby was forcing my tummy and that was where the pain was coming from. Loads of sick and then I felt a bit better. I slept sitting up for a while and have felt better since. Baby has definitely gone south, thank goodness. Any insight? Why would the baby be suddenly so high?

Hello all,

Congratulations to indiechick and flick hope all goes well for you both.

Mocat I have had what you describe with every pregnancy so far apart from this time I'm still waiting for it to make me sick. I didn't get it until the end of the pregnancies both times and both times the DDs were fully engaged at 32 weeks - this happened later than that though. Not sure how to explain it but I know my MW said they can become partially engaged and then 'pop out' again preeatedly for quite some time.

sweetbean - I know exactly where you are coming from with the depression, I am feeling exactly as you describe. I am suffering pretty badly with it right now and like you, it is nothing new for me either - fun, isn't it??? . I'm very used to talking about it all and dealing with it but when it gets too close to home and my stupid depressed brain starts to bring my wonderful children into the equation it hits very hard.

Whoever asked (sorry forgotten [BLUSH])...yes there is such a thing as AnteNatal depression (generally known as Pre-natal depression). It is generally very much under-diagnosed but can have quite severe implications post birth if not diagnosed prenatally. That isn't really what I have, it's just for me, this time round, pregnancy has not lifted my depression (I still get the new label to play with though )

On that happy note I shall sign off . Have not had chance to take in all the other messages so 1000 apologies for ignoring most of you...will slunk off now and return in a better mood

GCG Yes the b strep thing is the same thing. I only had a swab taken because they were checking out why i had a bleed, turned out to be an erosion on the cervix whatever that is.
BUT my letter says i am to be re tested at 36 weeks and if thats clear then i dont have to have IV antibiotics.

Pinacolada still non the wiser about an erosion but figue its nothing to do with the baby and probably more to do with my over zealous sex life I tried to google cervix for images as i am now intruiged to see how it all looks up there but no joy.
I thought i had been left high and dry by the MW when 4pm came and went, but she rang early evening from the hospital to check on me.
I told her how rude the receptionist was to me, im normally not one for telling tales but Gee if she speaks like that to pregnant women and works in practice she needs to think on a career change lol. MW was really good oooo'd ahhh'd and had lots of sympathy in just the right places. I felt loads better for speaking to her even though it was just on the phone. It was just the reasurrance i needed.

sweetbean you really are not alone at all. Im not coping at all well and things have been made worse by having issues with my dp, not a good time to be having issues is it. I stopped my cipralex at about 16 weeks thinking i could cope.
I have been told they wont do harm to the baby but one dr i spoke to said if i were to take them to the end of preg i might have a baby with slight depression to begin with as it will have suddenly stopped cipralex. I'm really confused about it now. My dp is not at all supportive, he hasnt a clue about depression, thinks im just lazy. and when i mention taking the cipralex i get emmotional blackmail about what right have i to do that to the baby. I'm now thinking of just taking them and not telling him!
I'm not working now, spend way too much time on my own and can easily spend two thirds of the day in bed doing nothing just because i feel crap.

podglet Soon we shall all be congratulating you , bet your excited now. I wonder if there will be any of us left come May ? lol.

azaduhi I know what you mean about the birth plan. mine is very sparse but based on previous experience i knew what i wanted to ask/beg/plead for. Interesting yours is what you don't want..... a negative.
I have asked to be allowed to be mobile for as long as poss. I have asked unless within emergency situation i do not at all want an epidural even if i ask for one, haha.
i'm more worried about what help my dp will be. He is much younger than me and this is his first dc. He's excited too but when i try to talk about the birth he doesnt seem much interested.

Jackblackroady what a rotten time to get a cold. hope your feeling better soon. I have been v lucky with this pregnancy so far no ailments non preg related.
indiechick your an inspiration to us all. Glad your doing ok and Sophie bless her.
mumofok i think you too can go in for the mamounth typing session as longest poster lol.
gingerwench hoping for a girl too for exactly the same reason! scary.

dont know why your baby would do that mocat but i do get sensations of a lot of pressure in between my ribs now and then that is very uncomfortable. Maybe your baby just went for a wander .

bigbadmouse Well i think we can all agree that many more of us than we all would have thought, have lived with depression in one way or another.
For me too from the point of view of the pregnancy its comforting to know we are not all like the magazines portray with those men smiling holding onto pushchairs. I love my Dp to bits but at times i think i wish he would move out while i deal with my pregnancy lol. And as for bed well, how many times do you need to say im rolling over to get comfy not to ignore you ?

Now for mumofoks dd

NEW ARRIVAL

Nicolás was born Wednesday 26 at 11am weighing 2160 kilos (4lb 7oz) He made his appearance 4 weeks early and in a great hurry.....four hours from waters breaking to birth! Needed help of a ventouse to come out so I have some stitches but feeling great and now home and loving being a mummy.

Thanks babylove21 and BigBadMouse for having a think about why I had that weird reaction yesterday. I laughed at the way you are just waiting for it to happen again BigBadMouse.

With regard to the erosion on your cervix, babylove21, I had that diagnosed at my last smear test. It can be pretty common and only is a worry if it causes you pain (lower back pain generally). If it still bothers you after the baby is born you can get it lazered! It means that that skin at the mouth of the cervix has eroded slightly and is a bit red and raw. Can make sex very painful. My doc gave me a cream to be applied internally, which was a laugh to put in. It cleared up when I got pregnant but apparently it runs in the women in my family. A friend of my sis has it and she had a very short labour, says the baby just fell out (exaggeration) but described as easy and she put it all down to the eroded cervix!

Earlier in this pregnancy I had to decide whether or not to go on ADs to sort out my mood and anxiety attacks. The main reason I decided not to take anything was that they told me I would have to come off them again at 34 weeks as they may interfere with the baby's breathing and they didn't want the baby to get withdrawal symptoms. This wouldn't have given me long enough on them and I had got to a stage where I was managing day to day life (though finding my anxiety levels awful at times). I couldn't bear the thought of feeling better and then having to feel bad again if I had to come off them. My GP has been great and has done lots of research into which are the best ones to be taking after the baby is born and I can BF with. It will be such a relief to be dealing with my head without having to take the well-being of a baby into the equation. Big hugs to all who are feeling down. What an achievement this will be - to have had healthy pregnancies and coped with depression!

macaco CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Blimey, I can't believe this, 3 babies already, and it's not even April, and we are the 'due May' thread!!! Scary. Really really must do hospital bag properly!! Anyway, welcome to the world little Nicolas (sorry, don't know how to do the accent on the 'a'). Glad to hear you are loving being a mummy Macaco.

podglet Not long for you now!!! Very exciting!!

ZamMummy I totally sympathise with you re SPD, mine not too bad at the mo, but had it awful with DD. It's just the most awful pain. Hope it starts to feel better soon. Hanky panky def made mine worse when I was pg with DD, we had to stop all that business at 30 wks. I feel for you.

mocat Haven't had exactly what you describe but had an awful on Friday night, baby seemed to be sitting sooo high, was right under ribs, and it REALLY hurt, and was just sooo uncomfortable. It brought me to tears. I also felt very sick, but wasn't. I almost wanted to be cos it felt like it would make it feel better. Thankfully I woke up with baby in better position, but it was so awful at the time. Hope yours hasn't come back.

babylove21 I had a swab when I was in labour with DD (2 yrs ago!!) , which is when my GBS was diagnosed. I then had another swab when we started TTC last summer, but haven't had a swab since. Was thinking of asking MW next week if it's worth me being re-swasbbed in case I don't have it anymore??? It's weird, I know it's just one of those things, but I find it embarassing to tell people, cos it's like an infection 'down below'!! On my swab result, it said, and I quote, "heavy growth of strep B..." and when I told DH he thought it was v funny to keep telling me that I was 'infected'!! Then they stuck a big yellow sticker on my mat notes to alert people to it, and when I went for my scan, DH joked that the sonographer would come out in a full nuclear suit and gas mask cos I am 'infected'!!! So, it's nice to know that someone else has the same diagnosis. I'm not sure how common it is actually???

otter1980 and anyone else who is sooo tired....OMG, I am so with you!!! I have been feeling totally exhausted, beyond belief!! My MN chum Denny185 was telling me how she has been going on 2 hr hill walks (she is 38 wks) and I just feel sooo pathetic. I can barely manage a bit of washing and ironing and I am washed out. I hate feeling like this. Denny185 suggested I get checked for anaemia (have been anaemic in the past). Might ask MW next week. I was so tired yesterday i didn't even get on MN all day!!!!! !

Had my school friends to stay last night (2 of them). It was actually lovely, we had chinese take out and DH did a sainsburys dash for Haagen Dazs (still on offer ladies!!!).

Spent yesterday washing all baby clothes and blankets, sheets etc. Getting a bit concerned now about all these early babies!!

RoboNan still hanging on in there BTW !!

GCG xxx

Macaco - congratulations! That must have taken you by surprise! I really must get my hospital bag finished soon!

Mocat - I've had that pressure on my stomach thing but wasn't actually sick, seemed to be worse in the evening and happened over a few days but seems better now.

Wow- OMG- congratulations macaco! How amazing, 3 babies (and I'm sure chuffed has had her triplets by now, but we won't get to hear- just a gut feeling).
I don't know much about group b strep(remembering what I've read here and elsewhere) but I somehow have the feeling that once you've tested +ve that's it, they expect you to have antibiotics in labour every time, even if you have a spell of being -ve ( coz you can get it again even just a few days after testing -ve), and you'll be being assertive and explaining yourself if you don't want the antibiotics. I have a friend who tested +ve in labour last time, and she was petrified she'd lose her DD (I don't actually think she was sick, they just kept them in to keep an eye on things), she'd had a long journey to actually get pg, so had been worried all through pg, then thought they'd gone through all that to lose her . She didn't even tell any of us until DD was 2- she got so upset thinking about it (we all met through NCT classes, and met up weekly for ages after the baby's landed).
Gingerwench- at thought of you stuck in hallway, but hope you're ok!! What a time to find woodworm.
Casserole- completely with you for less than 2 hour housework = more than 2 hour nap!
Mocat- not quite the same but I do remember last time feeling 'odd' but still hungry, set DH for Burger King, ate half then suddenly- not time to do anything- just puked. Felt back to normal straight way but waited a bit before eating rest of BK. Very odd, but never had anything like it since.
Babylove- hugs about lack of support from DH- I can't imagine how you cope with your him- I hope you have someone close in RL who can give you support, but there are quite a few of us here a lot of the time when you need someone to 'talk' to!!
Mocat- your GP sounds fab- can you bottle them and sell'm on to us?!!
GCG- thanks for the info on Haagen Daz- might go back tomorrow as did shopping today but too tire to wander and look at interesting things!!
Thanks all of you sooo much for all the smileys! I feel really guilty now that DD hasn't been here when I've been on since I wrote that (nap time yippee, oh, better go for mine quick!) but she will definately enjoy seeing them all.
No news here at all, just getting the 'huge so can't stay comfotable' for long in bed so restless nights (even without heartburn). Oh well, only another 4-6 weeks to go!
Hugs all, hope you're getting a bit of sunshine where you are.

babylove21- my birthplan is not a negative one , sorry i know my post sounded as if , but put down all the important bits for me which i would like and which not : e.g. students very welcome but not during final stages of labour, it's okay if students are their for support etc. but serious bits e.g. stitches, injection etc. only by fully qualified staff
you probably laugh but i heard some scary birth stories were student were told to do those. not on me please.

manaco- congrats on our 3rd arrival things getting busy around here. lovely name, i hope he will be with you soon.

macaco - congratulations on the birth of Nicolas; wow, that must have been an exciting few hours!! I hope you continue to feel well and that he just thrives.

All this talk of sudden arrivals is making me nervous. I've been visiting my parents a lot over Easter and they live about an hour away from the hospital I'm due to give birth in. I live only 8 mins from the hosp (we've timed it!!). So, I think this will be my last visit to my folks' house until after the baby arrives. When I was expecting DD I just didn't believe that a baby would come early so I don't think I worried about it. This time around I've read that mums with anxiety sometimes gives birth prematurely and I think I've got it in my head that this baby is going to make an early appearance. I'm not worried about it though as the babies born early on MN are all a success story and that gives great reassurance, doesn't it?

GCG - definitely get your iron levels checked. They do them here routinely at 34 weeks as the baby will apparently get as much iron as he/she can from about 32 weeks on and it's common for mums to get anaemic. Hope you're not though and it's just the effect of you slowing down after finishing work and having the time to notice how you're feeling. It's the call of that duvet in your bedroom that wasn't there at work!!

Mumofk - you made me laugh at the thought of you being sick half way through a Burger King meal, waiting a bit and then eating the rest of it . Very good endorsement of BK and the tastiness of their food!!

Have all the mice been eradicated? They've been very quiet lately or have we got to the stage of pregnancy where we simply don't care if we're sitting next to a row of squeakers on the sofa as we watch 'Homes Under the Hammer'?

Macaco - congratulations on the birth of Nicolas, what is it with our May babies, they don't want to wait!
Hope you and he are doing well.

Congratulations macaco !!!

Oh my goodness though this is making me nervous now! I am so exhausted the whle time, I do actually feel quite scared at the thought of having to go through labour and then having a new baby whilst being so shattered. I know that pregnancy is causing a lot of the things that are making me knackered, but it still just feels a bit daunting to hear of new arrivals right now...

Congratulations Macaco - you were due the day after me - now I'm definitely getting packed!!

Welcome to the world Nicolas

Just bought some bits for hospital bag....wine gums, food doctor seed mix (for energy!!) and lucozade tablets, aswell as a bit of indulgnet travel size toiletries buying!

Got home and ate the best part of a large bag of Doritos with lime !!!! Silly DH's fault for buying them, I just can't have that sort of stuff in the house...no will power!!! He is on nights tonight, and I am left here all alone with Easter eggs, Haagan Dazs and Doritos...there's no hope!!

What a beautiful day, just sat in garden reading paper for an hour while DD sleeps.

Thanks for info on GBS and iron. I was swabbed in labour but results didn't get back til one week later, so I didn't get anti-biotics til DD was over a week old, I'm guessing that kind of defeated the object?!! Thankfully she is fine, good job I didn't know much about it at the time!!

In defence of student MW's, I had a FANTASTIC student MW deliver DD. She was brilliant, and cos she was a student, she was with me the whole time, not dashing in and out cos she had so many to look after. To be fair, I was no 39 out of the 40 that they have to deliver before they qualify . I did have an awful one try to take my blood at 28 week appt. DH cam with me and wanted to just do it himself (paramedic) we came out with him muttering ...." I knew that tourniquet wasn't tight enough...blah blah blah...". Yes dear.

Right, got to do my mat leave handover for tomorrow.

GCG xxx

OMG - congratulations macaco!!!! :O

3 babies!! wow!!

I have been inspired to pack my hospital bags and wash many baby clothes (although i actually nearly had a meltdown yesterday because the washer/dryer just wouldnt do anything... may have re-entered the world of crazy hormones otter, crying over a washing machine...) and am relieved i did it before catching up on MN...

Casserole - i know how you feel... the fear is begining to kick in.. however thats the only way I ever do anything so at least it forced me to wash baby stuff etc...

Mumofk - I live just outside shipley - other side of Bradford! small world!

Am i the only one without a birthplan written down? My initial plans (1st timer - so all earth nother, no pain, no c-sections, no induction etc etc) have been blown out of the water by being told I have hightened risk of emergency c-section/induction at any point if baby too big/distressed etc .... I'm just going to go in and see what happens... although I really dont want a c-section (the cutting freaks me out way way more than the idea of birth...)

DueMay2008-BirthAnnouncementList!

20th March - flickthelittlefireengine, Samuel, 4lbs 10oz
26th March - Indiechick, Sophie, 6lbs 3oz
26th March - Macaco, Nicolas 4lb 7oz

Hi all fab day today so warm and sunny i can't wait till theses days are the norm!

Macaco Ive added you to the arrivals list CONGRATULATIONS on the safe arrival of Nicolas xxxx

Pinacolada82Thanks for thinking of me babe im actually feeling loads better thanks god ! how are you feeling and hows it all going with your mum at the moment? XXX

BigBadMouse Hope your OK and thank you for the support its lovely to know that other people are there to listen ! xx

BabyLove21 So sorry to hear that you are feeling so low its horrible! and if it wasn't for my DD i would definitely be able to stay in bed for the majority of the day and do nothing at all!! I would advise going back to your GP and telling them how you feel, If the meds are safe to take while pregnant and you feel you can't cope the take then and if that involves not telling your DP then so be it.I DON'T agree with lying but at the same time i feel its very important to try and stay as sane as possible especaily while preggers so if you feel he won't understand and support you then he leaves you no other option !! hope your OK Hun xxx

Well im cooking a big roast chicken for supper so that will keep me out of trouble. I haven't written a birth Palm this time but Am staring to think that jotting a few things down might be a good idea (even if they never even look at my plan last time) I'm starting to get slightly nervous now and am just hoping that i can cope as well as i did last time and that it won't be worse than before !!!!any other second times feeling the same?? xx

Have a lovely Sunday evening everyone xxx

Hi again,

Yes I too am feeling very excited, and hoping things go as well as before (second timer). I am planning on just using the same birth plan as before (still a saved document on my laptop Monica Geller eat your heart out ).

For some reason, it all just feels like it's getting very close now, even though I still have just under 5 (or 7!!!) weeks to go, I dunno just have a feeling this lo will be early like his or her sister was. I think having finished work too I am just more focussed on the new arrival, and of cours ethe few announcements on here!!!!!!
My MN chum is on the due April thread and is having an elective section next Thursday (my Birthday ). I think cos her babba is nearly here that is making me v excited too.

Had a much better day today, not felt tired at all!!! Due to clocks changing, I had to WAKE DD up at 9:30am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bliss!!!!!!