Due May 2008 - ummm, there are are some of us still here sir???!! [hmm].

[goodcatholicgirl]

Not sure if anyone else has started a new thread as our other one ran out of room, but here we go...

YCBS I cannot believe you are still working!!! You poor love. How much longer? Blimey, work seems a lifetime ago.

BBM I just want to say a huge thank-you for your words of support on the BF issues. Luckily it's my second baby so I have more confidence in what I am doing this time. I agree with you totally, why disturb a peaceful sleeping baby who is obviously not hungry?? I appreciate I need to do at least 1 or 2 night feeds at least until my supply is established, but DD1 slept thru the night at 8 weeks old, and she was BF exclusively for 6 months, so obviously not having night feeds didn't affect my supply then .
Anyway, the point is, DD1 was exactly the same so I am happy that this is fine, what I am doing.
tbh, I think there might just be a touch of the green eyed monster cos my DD2 is feeding well, gaining weight, and I am getting plenty of sleep.

Hope all you ladies still waiting for babies are OK today, and don't get too hot and uncomfortable in this lovely weather we are having.

Congratulation Pazza your girls are gorgeous and I'm glad the CS went well

YCBS your fourlegged baby looks lovely too, I love chocolate labs! I think your tales of 6-7 mile walks have rubbed off, managed about 3 yesterday, the dog was v pleased! Hope your week isn't too hectic with parents with you and all...

Have just packed the baby's bag for hospital and started on mine - have to have them ready in case things kick off tomorrow when I go in for the baby to be turned! Yikes!

However just enjoying the lovely weather and going out now to be a lady who lunches

Flerrie: Good luck for tomorrow, Hope Baby turns.

GCG: I am every jealous of you getting a decent nights sleep already, hope the rest of us get the same.

Pina: Hope the midwife came and the stiches weren't too bad, were they stiches and not staples? How was getting out the house like?

YCBS: Hope you are feeling better.

Duchessofnorksbride: Can't believe how quick your last labour was.

BBM: glad piles are getting a bit better

Pazza: They are so cute cuddled up together

Re: Swollen feet I think at the end stages are pretty normal and to be expected. Just keep an eye on other swelling.
Luckily not having that problem, still wearing sandals though as can't reach.

GCG - I'm afraid I have the rest of this week and next week (C section planned for 23rd May)... I'm hoping that I can 'work from home' from this Friday - would take the pressure off commuting!!

fleurie - glad you and the dog enjoyed the walk! I love walking my dog. I am super-lucky to live in an extremely dog friendly place with a gorgeous wood right on my doorstep....

Hope you are all enjoying this sunshine!!!! No doubt there will be a few more babes before the next weekend!!!

My bump is making a definite move southwards. He's been quieter today - only a few kicks after his acrobatic sessions over the weekend!

Ah, well, back to work for me!!!

pina - meant to ask... Do you really think labour is easier if you are quite fit?

I haven't done any of the 'recommended' stuff - haven't massaged my bits or anything, because I'm pretty much sure I'll have a C section.... but maybe I should reconsider?

Hello there

Thanks to everyone (esp Pazza) for the swollen foot advice. "Slept" last night with a pillow under my ankles. It wasn't the easiest position to sleep in, but the swelling had gone down this morning. Am now wearing a rather fetching pair of flight socks - Pazza, is this what you mean or are support tights something else? I was given a pair of bright white thigh high numbers to wear in hospital after dd was born (oh, the glamour). Please tell me I don't have to wear those for the next three weeks. Have left message for midwives just in case it could indicate something serious, but am guessing this is just something to put up with.

duchess - your births sound fabulous. i don't think i'm ever likely to be considered a reasonable home birth candidate. In fact, the uro-gynae people have advised me against any more pregnancies if i want to protect my bladder from further woe. I suppose I'll have to weigh it up when I get the inevitable broody urge in a year or so. I'll have to see how I take to parenting more than one first!

I think the water birth thing is about me feeling like i can have at least some element of control over how the labour happens. Who knows if, in reality, i'll feel like being in water? It'll be interesting to see.

GCG - I haven't read your feeding thread but it sounds like you're doing the right things if your little one is happy and gaining weight.

hope everyone is is not too uncomfortable and enjoying the amazing weather.

ps best of luck for tomorrow Fleurie.

Hi all.

Pina- great birth story and beautiful kids (though I feel so sorry for you that the hospital were fairly crap afterwards).

Pazza- Congrats, and gorgeous babies.

YCBS- I am the most unhealthy I've ever been right now, I can barely move because of the stupid SPD and I want to eat constantly (probably a comfort thing) so I'm even out of breath walking upstairs!! Duno how I'll cope in labour. I'm all set on a water birth though so will hopefully be able to move around. Doubt I'll heal quick, but I'm on the Arnica already.

Unfortunately one of my sisters twins has got an infection so waiting to see what happens with that.

5 days to go and I'm desperate to bring this baby!! Those who've got theirs already, did ANYTHING work or are they all old wives tales? I doubt I can cope with curry due to heartburn. There must be something. I'm on caulophyllum homeopathic tablets, living off raspberry leaf tea etc etc.. nowt so far... except another whopping chunk of jelly today and I've also been sick.

Whoeva mentioned my baby's eviction notice- I totally agree- he better be out soon. He can live with us til he's 40 as long as he comes out of my tummy NOW.

I'm MUCH more cheery today and feeling great, hope everyone else is too.

xxx

mumblesmummy - pmsl at living at home till 40, i know exactly how you feel!!

duchess - congrats on reaching 37 weeks, good luck with the HB

YCBS - poor you, however the walks will at least be putting baby in right position?

do we start on the arnica now? I though that was for after?

fleurie - good luck for tomorrow xx

i am a little worried about the boobs - they're plenty big enough already...

in other news - today i went to hospital to see consultant, si8snt see evil nasty one (hurray - please see previous long winded moaning about nasty man) say a lovely lady who a) spoke to me not DP b) listened to me and c) was generally nice. So she is going to leave us alone and let us get to term!! hurray!! and shes even wangled us a few days after that!! so we will be induced on 21st if baby not out (although dr thinks baby will be showing before that anyhow) and she explained things and i feel generally happier. So feel a bit better. although having said all that I still want baby out now as feel baby coming out naturally better idea than induction, and I dont know if i can sit in hospital for that long waiting for something to start...

did ask doctor about what I could do to encourage baby out, she said rasbberry leaf tea is good, shes heard pineapple is also good but she doesnt know of medical evidence to back this up. she didnt recomend hot curry as that would just upset stomachs but the ONLY thing she has seen decent medical evidence for (and heard from mums) is sex. she then turned to DP and told him she perscribed it 3 times a day until baby comes. Poor DP looked terrified . have decided that will not become a sex pest - if the poor love doesnt want to put out i'll let him off... sorry mumbles you're going to have to pounce on your fella...

I have been to shops this afternoon and bought more rasberry leaf tea stuff (i have the lot, tablets/tea etc) as well as a serious amount of pineapple. woman at checkout in supermarket did look at me a bit funny...

About the arnica, who knows when you should start and how many should you be taking?

also as weather is hot have been far too hot (was really stuffy yesterday) so managed to dig out a fan that friend bought for me as a joke, from ann summers, with feathers... so an sitting on birthing ball typing with one hand, feather fan wafting - havig said all this Im totally taking it in to hospital with me - its bloody brilliant! god help our midwife... DP is threatening to bring in his guitar to keep us all entertained as well...

I think it must be OK to take arnica now too... I am bruising so easily right now (not helped by the fact I walked into a tree yesterday! )

Also, has anyone done anything about stem cells / saving placenta blood? My consultant asked me about it and I think I'd like to do it, but I don't really know too much about it?

I got told to take arnica 3 times a day, then every hour in labour, and four times a day after labour, but it was the homeopathic guy who told me that.

I had a contraction and I'm wondering if it may be the start of something... but that was about 15 or 20 mins ago and nothing since. So most probably not.

Oooh!! MM!!!

How exciting!!!

I hope it is the start of something wonderful!!!

Thanks everyone

MM- maybe things are happening

YCBS: walking into a tree , Not doing any of that, but if I was going private,maybe I would consider paying for it aswell. ( You are going private???)

Hi to all, thinking of you in the heat, must make everything that bit harder - hope you can all get your feet up with a tall glass of something icy...

Oh the F*ing wasps that no-one believes I can have this early in the year (remember them?) are driving me mad today, worried they'll get in when I'm not looking and sting Leo

Water retention - I knew I was fairly swollen but didn't realise quite how much - it does go within a week or so of having them. I am quite taken now with my new "skinny" wrists and ankles!!!!! SO sad but when the rest of you looks like a half-deflated bouncy castle you take your kicks where you can!!

Can't wait till we're all on one thread again

Hi all. Had lots of back ache and something aching somewhere inside and another contraction so we all got very excited. Then it stopped again. Nothing now for at least half an hour

Tut, that was me. I KNEW I'd do that. Had a row with DP before and wanted a good old bitch about it so changed my name, then he was all lovely and I decided to forget bitching after all... but forgot to change my name back.

just sayinh hi everyopne still here

YCBS YES I have definitely heard that the fitter you are the better labour you are likely to have, makes sense really. With DD1, before I had kids obviously, I swam almost everyday for the last 7 weeks while I was on mat leave, prior to that I swam about 3-4 times a week. I had bad SPD so it was the only exercise I could do. I definitely feel that being fit has helped me in both labours. I think all the walking you are doing def qualifies you as a fit person!!

arnica I just started taking it after I had given birth, and followed dosage on the packet I got. I have to say, even though the birth was a lot less traumatic, I have 'healed' down below amazingly quickly. I felt back to normal after about 4 days. Last time I had the ice gel pads in my knickers for about a week, and couldn't even wipe, had to pat my bits dry after a wee. So I would definitely recommend the Arnica.

BIG TIP beanbags!! Just thought I would share with you all my big tip for babies....beanbags!! We bought 2 when DD1 was born, one up and one downstairs. I put a nice fleecey blanket on it (in case they are sick and to be more cosy) and both DD1 and DD2 have spent most of their days on one. I think they feel cosy as you can kind of 'engulf' them in it so they feel as though they are being cuddled! They are also safe. It's my big tip. I have suggested to a few friends in RL, some found it fab too, some no help, but they tended to have very unsettled babies.
All I can say is that I have had 2 very settled babies so it might be worth a try.

We went to Tesco to day to do weeks shop. Soon discovered that we couldn't put DD1 in trolley and DD2 in her carseat in same trolley, so DH carried DD2 around in the car seat and I pushed the trolley with DD1 in it. Managed a whole big trolley full, and couldn't help thinking 'blimey, not bad for a bird who gave birth less than a week ago!'. I will probably be in agony later!!

Also feeling v chuffed as managed to get in my 'fat clothes' that I wore for months after DD1 was born. This means today I wore....denim cut offs!!!! Felt so nice to be in normal clothes. DD1 kept saying 'mummy's got jeans on!!' and then I would go 'I know...hooray!!!' and she would say 'hooray mummy!!!' It was v funny!!

GCG xxx

GCG Thanks for the top tip - and congratulations on being out of maternity clothes .

Otter - sounds like you're going for a very bohemian birth

Saw MW again today - had my bloods taken and the one that measures something to do with your liver was really high - anyone any idea what that actually means? I have to see MW again tomorrow, go to the Day Assessment Unit on Thursday to be monitored, see MW on Saturday and see the consultant next week - what a palava.

However, on the plus side - I've been having quite strong tightenings (not using the word contractions in case I jinx myself) every 10-15 minutes for the last couple of hours, so maybe he's going to put me out of my misery and just appear soon?! Am trying really hard not to get excited, but am drinking RLT with gusto.

It finally seems as if summer has appeared - yippee! The only down side to this hot weather is trying to slather a very blonde 1 year old with sun cream - her clothes were well protected by the time I'd finished!

GCG no thanks required for the support. Sometimes you ask a simple question on here and get lynched. At least some people agreed you were doing the right thing. Just as well you are on your second - it is so much nicer to have that reassurance from experience isn't it? - someone on their first who had had the same response would probably deep into PND by all the conflicting advice by now I guess . btw - I found beanbags were fab with my two too - good tip!

To all of you with dogs I am very of you all! I miss my two (great dane and great dane ridgeback cross) so much even after no having them for 6 years now. You never fill the gap if you can;t have another one . Looking forward to the day we can have another - my two taught me so much and I was veyr pleased when DD1 was born and the MW saw my photos of my dogs on the mantlepiece and said 'if you can train a dog, you're going to have the right mindset for children' . I think she was right tbh.

MM hope your sister's baby is OK. Thinking of you all. PMSL at your 'namechage accident' just the sort of thing I would do. I once did a namechange and left my profile on show - I guess secret agent / international spy not the ideal job for me .

otter glad you've had better news (and treatment!) this time . Sounds like you are going to have fun during your labour with your fan and DP playing the guitar!

Nowt much happening here. Nugget has been very quiet and low all day but has just woken up now his sisters have gone to bed. I'm starting to worry he'll be late - if he is we will have no childcare for the DDs for sure! Had another pineapple today - sooooo nice but I'm not expecting it to start things off.

bigbadmouse DH and I had several miserable dog-less years when we were in London so I totally sympathise. We got our Great Dane when we moved here, had DD1 the year after and DS1 the year after that and so on! Dog has been an absolute star. He's on my profile if you can bear to look, though as a youngster. He's quite grey around the chops these days.

No advice on arnica or bringing on labour - my first was 2 days early so I was very disappointed when DC2 was 10 days late, I did everything to get that boy out but there was no shifting him! Patience girls, all our babies will be here before the end of June...

duchess - We've discussed him before - I never forget a great dane (or most other dogs for that matter). It's embarrassing that I never remember people but I remember their dogs .

I like your chooks! We have a large chook house all ready to go but no occupants as yet.