Due Aug 08 - This Way To The Tent Shop

[TwilightSurfer]

DUE AUGUST 2008 NEW THREAD!!

I've been researching maternity allowance and have decided I might as well go on ML the first week of June as I have some childcare issues that month anyway. Have just drafted an email to my company, letting them know that and giving them time to do me a form to confirm I'm not eligible for SMP. Too chicken to send it yet, still feel a bit guilty for getting pg a fortnight after starting work - although they probably won't notice I'm gone as I won't be costing them anything.
But it will mean I only have 6 days of work left yippee!!! (remember I only work Sundays anyway)

Well, after two weeks of lathargy and feeling down and doing nothing, I have finally managed to pull myself up by my bootstrings and get a life! Took the children to the zoo today, baked cakes with them, did laundry and will cook dinner soon. May not sound like much, but its much more than I have forced myself to do in ages!

About c-sections: this will be my third. First was an emergency which was a bit of a bummer after a planned home water birth! Second seemed just the easiest option. And this time round I barely considered it - definately a third for me.

As for bf after a c-section, there are a few things to think about: firstly, milk is often delayed coming in so don't panick if it takes 5 days or so. During that time, your baby will not starve. You will be producing colostrum (tiny tiny amounts of it but that is all they need). By keeping your baby close by your side and feeding as often as needed (can be round the clock), your milk will come in faster. In the meantime, your baby WILL be getting enough colostrum. Also, the drugs given during a csection will be likely to make your baby sleepy after birth. It is important that you wake your baby for feeds where possible if your baby is sleeping for long stretches. Lots of skin to skin contact in the early hours/days will also help milk come in. And obviously, get help with positioning if you are uncomfortable after the op. Feeding laying down or under arm are often the most comfortable with a section.

OMG you were 6m pg in those pics!??? I would honestly never have guessed (in fact I'm not entirely sure I haven't missed something in the thread and it's a joke[blush})

poppysocks I thik it's understandable to have a slump. I think most of us have had some unexplainable low periods.

Also there are a lot of us (more than i thought) having elective c-sections. I'm another one. I think I forgot to report back to you all on this cos I saw the dr just before I went awol over Easter. We saw registrar (i think) and were prepared to have to argue our case for section. But he took one look at my notes, saw 9lb9oz dd and a 5ft2 me and asked what i wanted to do. I said section please. he said okey dokey and I have to see him again at 36 weeks to book a date. result!!!! He did say that if i had really wanted to try a VBAC i could have a growth scan at 36 weeks to see if baby is another big one, then decide and then put a limit on labour if i wanted to try, but I decided that I'd rather not have the fear of going through labour again, bieng exhausted and then having to have section.

TS No, didn't know the episodes were available on-line..hmm guess what i'm doing when i get home tonight!! If you find vests you like in the UK, I'll be happy to send them onto you

Ilanak the feelings you're getting sound similar to the ones I'm feeling. I actually felt them during a scan and it looked like baby was pushing his head and far down as he could

dizzy..you giving away my name of theodore to libbysister? or are you just confused?!

and now its me news! well baby news really! we had a 4D scan today and oh my goodness, it was truly magical! I really will try and get a photo on my profile

hangs head in shame that i still haven't uploaded any!

re other news...i had two nights out last week!! both with DP and both unexpected. one was just drinks/dinner with DP's friends. but the other was because i won tickets to see Goldfrapp at the Royal Festival Hall! was such a good night! Baby kicked away during one of the songs!
I had a bizarre dream the other night that i'd given birth and my baby had been given a bottle against my will and becuase of that he wouldn't b/f. I woke up and the first thing i did was to check that baby was still in my tummy! DP thought it was hilarious!

hmm that was surprisingly easy! 4D scan pics are now on my profile

it was so lovely seeing our little man! in the second picture he's got his hands tucked up under his chin which is exactly how his father sleeps!

so there you go Dizzy you've got a face to fit the name to now! I'm not convinced he looks like a Theodore!

poor little thing looks like he's inherited my nose though!

as for feeling down... i'm still having moments like that. You just have to try and focus on the positive things. its easier said than done sometimes though. My back was really hurting on Sunday and it was hard finding a position where bump and back were comfy so i just lay in a slump crying! it seems slumping on my bed was a good position and i managed to feel better...especially with someone kicking me to remind me to cheer up! So looking on the positive side, having broken my back a couple of years ago, i'm amazed i've got this far with so little pain. And actually, touch wood, it seems alot better today

my my, i've babbled enough!

Wow, those photos are great miamla!

Wow, those are fab Miamla. Is your DP called Richard by any chance? I used to go out with a guy who slept like that, holding the covers up to his chin (from a childhood fear of vampires apparently, bless him.)

my dh is away for 3 nights. Hate it, but it's never as bad in reality........ It would be a lot worse if dd wasn't at school all day me thinks

poppysocks am serious, I have NO issue with coming round and punching him on the nose - will get away with it in court by blaming it on the hormones

agree entirely with angst over parental faffing, mine are terrible for it too

please don't be down, everything will work out for the best. I too am having a dilema re a C/S and change my mind every time I think about it - why not write down everything you're thinking about and whats worrying you and then we can work through it one point at a time

as for the bf, I managed with dd1 - her skills not mine, dd2 was a farking nightmare and it was only maternal guilt that made me do it. this time i will give it another whirl and it if works fine, if not I won't be breaking my heart over it - you shouldn't either.

ilanak am delighted to hear you've got a bit of mojo back am sure the dc are like mine and didn't know what hit them

miamla photos are wonderful and I got mixed up, i knew theodore was your choice but was looking at the list and typed in libbysister - does anyone else do that and type what they're looking at or what they're thinking instead of what they're meant to - trust me, its not good when you deal mainly with court submissible documents

sazzles am not convinced am any further up it but things have calmed at least, after a good old mutual snipping session dh and I have agreed that we are both as tired as each other, had a tea of fishfingers, chips and beans and given up

girls are in bed. dd1 doesn't even remember being sick and dd2 seems to have gone over no problem for now - this may of course be the wee buggers darlings lulling me into a false sense of security but hey, will happily accept it for the moment lol

work tomorrow but only 8.30 - 12.30 till fri so will manage that

turn it over sazz lol

am now wanting pickled onions dh has pickled eggs [blurgh] in fridge but they just won't hit the spot!!

am also looking forward to whole bed tomorrow night when he is on nightshift, bless him, there is a lot of me to sprawl about and he sometimes gets in the way

right back to the name game............

Thank you all. You are so lovely.

Miamla - those pics are amazing! Wasn't considering a 4D scan, but now....

I think I could probably stamp my foot for less intervention (DD was undiagnosed breech, but I ended up with wound problems so it's a scar issue that's making them cautious too), but I sort of feel that if that's what 'they' think is best, there must be a reason. Naive? In the face of that and practical things like, not being exhausted after hours/days of labour to end up with a c-section/being able to plan childcare for hospital and the 6 weeks aftewards etc. makes it seem the sensible choice. DH also traumatised by last time and scared it could go wrong again. Just have a nagging feeling that I'll regret not having tried. Equally suspect I'd regret not having it though! C-section just feels like the safer option.

Sorry - feeling down AGAIN. DD's godmother and one of my closest friends got engaged at the weekend. Great news. Planning an asap wedding though - Aug/Sept 300 miles away, so unlikely to be able to go. So pleased for her, understand why and wouldn't for a second expect her to delay things on my account. Just disappointed.

DH is away and need a hug. .

lets start with poppysocks as girls are a bit easier because I have two

poppy - do you have a set criteria? are you one of these people who wishes dd2's name to go with dd1's i.e. a long name that can be shortened too? am going to give you a great big list with various reasons for suggesting them and you can blitz them/ laugh at them or tell me which ones you like and why

so here goes (deep breath)...............

longer names can be shortened with nice nicknames imo

Cecelia - cece
Beatrice/Beatrix - bea or trixie
Alexandra - Alex, Alexa, Lexie
Isabella - Izzy, Issy, Elle, Ella, Belle, Bella
Isadora - Issy, Isa, dora
Elizabeth - Lissie, Beth
Penelope - Penny, Nell
Olivia - Ollie,Liv, Livvie
Abigail - abbie
Jessica - jess
Evangeline - Evie, Eve, Eva
Evelyn - Evie, Eve
Matilda - Mattie, Tilly, Tilda
Callista - Callie
Camille - millie, Cam
Edith - Edie
Teressa - tess, rae
Katherine/ Kathleen - Kitty, Kate, Katie, Kit
Josephine - josie
Nicole - nico
jemima - jem

classic girls names
Emily
Alice
Anna
Lucy
Lousie/Louisa
Lois
sophie
Chloe
Amy
Emma
Jane
Jean
Mary
Po lly
Sally
sarah
Joanne/Joanna

more 'modern' girls names

Lila
Lola
Esme
Martha
Sadie
Jodie

Celtic names (irish,scots, welsh etc)
Caitlyn/megan/Iona/Islay/Ailish/eilidh/Ailsa/Morven/Ishbel/Maura/Aoife/Seren/Serena/Carys/Niam h/ffion/sky

flowery names
poppy
rose
iris
fleur
daisy
lily

right some pause for thought!

cyteen am I correct in thinking lo is going to have a double barrelled surname with 3 syllables in each?

same goes with list and then tell me if you like it or not so I can narrow it down and make some better suggestions.

so you have alexander? its quite a classic suggestion so am going down that road unless you tell me otherwise

remember to speak up - won't be offended in slightest if you love/hate/not fussed on any of them

christopher - chris or kit
Oliver
daniel
Jonathon
Peter - pete
David
john
jack
james
william - will
tristan
christian
connor
euan
callum
curtis
joseph
jacob
joshua
noah
ethan
caleb
b enjamin
reuben
albert
archie
barnaby
gregor
gregory
evan
brandon

sazzles pmsl - made my cousin promise me she would buy me a designer vag after dd2 was born, am still waiting lol

Hugs and prayers for all those feeling down and lonely/sad/miserable/general-pg-fedupness. I now have heartburn to add to my joy but at least dh cleaned the kitchen!! And I fell asleep was deeply relaxed at yoga this evening!

Felt enormously pg today but after doing some mighty huge trumps this evening, stomach seems a little flatter!! I tell you, a bloke would have been proud of the noises I've produced this evening.....ahem.

too tired to post more, promise to catch up properly tomorrow x