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...

pmsl asicsgirl - I was reading that thread last night. Tried number one but couldn't reach any of the other bits!

Hi all
Congratulations to all those with new arrivals and hurry up to those babies taking their time coming out.
Sorry I haven?t posted for a while ? I?ve been reading, but just couldn?t seem to keep up with the pace!
Our little one was born last week on 1 May, a few days earlier than his 4 May due date. He?s called Joseph and is tiny ? just 5lb 3 and very very cuddly, which is gorgeous, but also means he wont sleep unless he is held, so we now sleep in shifts! The longest he?s stayed in his moses basket without crying is 15 minutes so far. The community midwife says it?s not uncommon and to just hold him for now. Really hope this passes before dp?s paternity leave ends? !
As a fist timer I was pretty worried about the birth, so just wanted to say to the other first timers out there that it?s not as bad as you?re imagining. Mine didn?t exactly go to plan ? I was in labour for 41 hours - but it is manageable and because the contractions come in waves you can try and rest in between. To be honest the worst bit for me is that my MIL turned up at the birth! She?s really excited about the baby and because it went on for so long she decided to come up to the hospital, and just sort of stayed. I do get on really well with her, but I?m a bit disappointed it wasn?t just dp and me?

Yellowflower: Congratulations on the arrival of Baby Joseph

Congratulations Yellowflower, and I just wanted to add that perhaps little Joseph would prefer a hammock to sleep in - they are particularly recommended for premmie and small babies, as they give them that feeling of being held. I got one for DS2 as DS1 had been premmie and I intend to use it for DD1 when she finally arrives. This is the one I have Amby There are a few threads on MN about them. HTH. Sim (still hanging in there and the size of an elephant!)

Yellowflower - congrats on baby Joseph and glad you didn't find the labour too bad.

Well my due date has finally arrived, and I feel strangely uplifted even though it could be another 10 days or so I think it's because I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and also know that it really could happen at any time now!

Thought I had the start of a little bit of a show yesterday evening too, although it was nothing much of note really.

HI all,

I've said it before and I'll say it again, with both my DD's I had absolutely NO indication that anything was gonna happen until I went into labour in the night (ok, apart from my show 2 days before with DD2). Mine both were quite quick from onset of labour, just keep telling yourselves, "it's not out of the question that I could have my baby this time tomorrow!!". I was so distraught after seeing MW and her booking me in for 11 days later for a sweep, it felt like a lifetime away, then I went into labour that night!!

MM DD1 was VERY active the evening before I went into labour with her.

Baiyu at your hospital experience!! Not exactly reassuring is it??

Well I'm feeling a bit about the beanbags thing. It's always worked fine for us, but I was discussing with a friend (who is, granted, THE BIGGEST NEUROTIC WORRIER in the world.....she hasn't even painted her nails whilst pg in case fumes of varnish harm the baby !). Anyway, she kept going on about SIDS and saying how she wasn't sure it was such a good idea to be recommending beanbags when the anti-cot death stuff is all about not having them on anything with padding etc. So I would just like to re-iterate that I only put DD's on the beanbag when and where I can SEE them, obviously I would not leave them unattended.

Just wanted to clear that up .

Right, DH and both DDs are asleep, think I might join them as I felt knackered last night.

Sending lots of eviction notices to all those babies due around now....get out!!!
(we asked DD1 to tell the baby to come out and lo and behold, DD2 born that night!!!)

GCG xxx

yellowflower at your MIL turning up at the hospital. That would be my worst nightmare! Congrats on little Joseph. Hope he starts to sleep better soon. My DD1 never settled in anything 'flat' but loved the beanbag (please see previous posts of mine on this thread), or the hammock sounds like a good idea to. DD1 was 6lbs 6oz, so not as tiny as Joseph but smallish.

Good luck

congratulations yellowflower!! Im with GCG on the worst nightmare front - im trying to not tell anyone when we go into hospital to avoid that situation...

monkeysmamma - hope baby shifts round for you!

asics - thats where the man stuck needles in me for the accupunture.. as I still havent had the baby Im guessing that my little bean has braced herself and isnt going anywhere... although i did geel really relaxed after and slept really well last night (hurray!!)

GCG - I've heard that beanbags are great before and doesnt mothercare sell one for babies?

well DP has said that he might put out in the next couple of days. his reasoning is that if she comes out at the weekend he'll take his 2 weeks Pat leave/holiday and then its the bank holiday so he gets ages off work... living in a dream world that one...

Yellowflower congratulations! I'm also at your MIL - I think I would have told mine in no uncertain terms that she was not welcome, so I'm in awe of your fortitude!

Bigbadmouse ROFL at not being able to reach the acupressure points...

otter glad the acupuncture relaxed you at least! and you got some sleep. LOL at your DP's approach to trying to bring on labour - so analytical if only babies listened to reason eh!

I just spoke to a friend who had her baby a week early on 5 April. This is actually her birthday too, and her DH had planned her a lovely relaxing day full of treats. So she went to bed thinking 'Ooh I'm so excited about tomorrow, it's going to be so relaxing' and as she put it 'I ended up running a marathon instead!'

Congratulations Yellow flower!!!

Joseph is such a lovely name!! I think the Amby hammock is a good idea - I've heard really good things about them.......

I've still got another 2 weeks.... Seems SOOO LONG now!

Hope everyone is OK!

The MIL story has worried me! I can seen mine turning up too laden down with "just a little something" (read things we don't want)! That is really nasty isn't it - I should be ashamed.

Bubble hasn't turned yet as far as I am aware although (s)he seemed to be doing an aerobic workout last night all night. You may all think I am crazy but ever since the baby first started moving - and (s)he moves a lot! - the only way of calming it down at night is for dp to put his hands on my bump or for me to lay with the bump in his back.

Grateful for the labour not being so bad story. I've not been that worried aboutit but suddenly a whole host of female friends seem to think it is time to share their horror stories!

Congratulations Yellow Flower and thanks for the first timers reassurance. Monkeysmama I agree that people think that now is a good time to share horror stories !

BBM not sure about having a dog being good preparation for parenthood, I will be seriously embarrased if my child starts eating compost

baiyu I would turn up with a pool of your own, how crap that they seem to have forgotten your due date and requests! As others have said, get on that ball to help turn - I'm sitting on mine now!

MM good luck for DPs interview and hope those contractions get moving soon!

otter glad you had such a good experience this time with the consultant, care shouldn't differ so much from person to person but it does and I'm glad you've been listened this time! Bring on that baby!

Thanks for everyone's wishes for the ECV yesterday, baby has turned and is now head down and en route to the usual exit!
It wasn't the nicest thing in the world to have done as baby had been in position for so long it was quite painful when the consultant moved the head and started moving baby round. Felt like the worst mummy ever that I had moved him/her out of a position they were obviously quite happy in. The heart rate was quite high for a while after the turn which I was warned would happen and it was a bit distressing but the midwives were absolutely lovely which was good reassurance for when the real thing happens.
Now have to get it spine forwards - hence sitting on my birth ball to type!

well done yellowflower! and at your mil - mine would have been there if she could have palmed ds1 off on someone else!

Fleurie so glad to hear the ECV worked! That must be a real weight off your mind.

To add to the general 'reassuring the first timers' theme, I had a really good birth with DS. Very straightforward, just G&A and a little tear which did not need stitching. It was a lovely sunny day, the MWs were fab and I have really good memories of it! So take heart

I'm very familiar with the 'horror stories' aspect - I remember a woman I hardly knew pinning me up against the wall almost physically to tell me all about her awful experiences - and don't know a good way of getting out of hearing them, or forgetting them once you have been told them! I guess, like so much you are told when pg/ have a small baby, it's worth bearing in mind that it's about them, not you - they aren't telling you because they think it will happen to you, or because they think it's going to be helpful (duh!!) but because they need to offload their own experiences, and they just don't get a chance normally! Women are expected to return to 'normal' almost immediately after having a child - in Victorian times you would be confined to bed for a couple of weeks afterwards with everyone doing the work for you!! - and I guess many women just don't have the opportunity to come to terms with bad experiences.

Sorry about all the cod psychology...

Asics - I think you are right - I think there can be a lot of pressure on women to have a good birth experience (or not to feel bad about it as long as the baby is healthy).

My BF had a terrible birth (and suffered PND badly, which she blamed on the birth too) and it has affected me - it's one of the strongest reasons I wanted a CS.

She did, strongly, feel that people just expected her to 'get over it' (it was traumatic) and she struggled to do that.

So, I would also like to thank everyone who has posted their positive stories. I have very much liked reading them (especially the comments from so many who say once the baby is here, it's like it's so right and he's always been there)..

Fleurie, so pleased your ECV worked......

Hello

Here's the list, as there have been a couple more births...

Due May 2008 List

Bobsmum - EDD 25th April, DS 5years, DD 2years - Arrived 29th April -Martha Victoria 8lb 13oz
Macaco - EDD, 26 April first baby - BOY, Arrived 26th March - Nicolas 4lbs 12oz
Potpourri - EDD 29 April, DD1 3 yrs 2 months & DD2 20 months - SURPRISE
Flickthelittlefireengine - EDD 29 April, DS 13.5 months - BOY arrived 20th March -Samuel james nathaniel llewellyn , 4lbs 10oz
Mumofk - EDD 26 April, DD 2.3 years-GIRL arrived 25th April,Jasmine Elizabeth, 8lbs 8oz
ShellySara - EDD 1st May, first baby
Seaturtle - EDD 1st May, first baby
Missvicki - EDD 1st May, first baby Arrived 18th April- Olivia Megan 6lbs 12oz
Asicsgirl - EDD 1st May, DS 2 years 4 months.
Snooks - EDD 1st May, DS1 3.2, DS2 18 months - GIRL arrived Monday 28 April - Pearl 6lb 1 1/2oz
Goodcatholicgirl - EDD 2nd May, DD will be 2 in May!!Arrived 30th April -Cerys Mary 7lb 7oz
Podglet - EDD 2nd May, DS 15 months - Girl Arrived 15th April - Elizabeth Jeanette Shelia 7lb 10oz
Yellowflower - EDD 4th May, First Baby - BOY - arrived 1st May - Joseph - 5lb 3
LondonIrish - EDD 4th May, first baby
Coolmama - EDD 5th May, DS 2yrs 9mths
Casserole - EDD 5th May,Arrived 25th April - Leo James 7lbs 8oz
Pinacolada82 - EDD 6th May, DD 3 years 8 months - GIRL arrived 1st May - evelyn (evie) rose 7lb 13oz
Baiyu - EDD 7th May, first baby-SURPRISE
Hotpotmama - EDD 7th May, DS1 4yrs, DS2 3yrs
Walkingwomb - EDD May 7th, first baby
JackBlackRoady - EDD May 8th, DS 12 years - GIRL Arrived 9th April -Isla 5lbs 5oz
MrsVO - EDD May 8th, first baby
Indiechick - EDD 9 May, DD 3 years -arrived 26th March, Sophie, 6lbs 3oz
IndigoBlue - EDD 10th May, DD 1 year - BOY
Iarel - EDD 10th May, DS - arrived 26th April, Isla Willow, 8lbs 3oz
Wolverina - EDD 10 May, DS 5 years
Yankunian - EDD 10 May, first baby (Girl)
Chuffed - EDD May 11 x 3, DD 3.5 years, DS 21 months - GIRLS Arrived 19th March Mischa Grace 1.75kg, Reese Sofia 1.67kg, Tasmin Jade 1.72kg
Mumblesmummy - EDD 11th May first baby - BOY
Blobsmummy EDD 12th May, DD 23 months
Mitchell81 - C/S 12th May, DD 7 years and DS 22 months - BOY
Itsazoohere - EDD 12th May, DD1 12yrs, DD2, 7 yrs, DD3, 8 months
Bramblina - EDD 12th May, DS 2yrs
Truffy18 - EDD 12th May, DS 17 months
Mollymawk - EDD 13th May, DS 2 and 4 years
BabyLove21 - EDD 13th May - SURPRISE
Bobsi - EDD 14th May, dd 2
KangaAndRoo - EDD 14th May, DD 2.6 years SURPRISE
ZamMummy - EDD 14th May CS booked- DS 21months
Horseshoe: EDD 14th May- DD 5years, DD 2years
Azaduhi - EDD 16th May, DD 4yrs
NikNak21 - EDD 16th May, DS 2.5years
Magicfairy - EDD 17th May, DS 20 months SURPRISE
PinkGlitterFairy - EDD 18th May, DS1 4.5yrs DS2 2yrs
BigBadMouse- EDD 18th May, DD1 18 months and DD2 3.5yrs - BOY
Mocat - EDD 18th May, arrived 22nd April, Alex, 5lbs 13.5oz
janemf - EDD 19th May, first baby
Otter1980 - EDD 19th May, first baby, GIRL
PazzaPlusTwo - EDD 22nd May, CS 28th April First babies (Twins) - GIRLS - arrived 28th April - Carmen and Anais
Youcannotbeserious - EDD 23rd May, first baby - Boy
Fleurie76 - EDD 23rd May, first baby
Mum2scrap - EDD 23rd May, first baby
Sweetbean - EDD 24th May DD 3 years
Aussiesim - EDD 25th May DS1 4.5 DS2 2 - GIRL
pregnabrain - EDD 28th May, DD 2.5
TheDuchessOfNorksBride - EDD 26th May, DD1 6yrs, DS1 4yrs, DD2 3yrs
Chatname - EDD 26th May, lost 3 previous babies in first trimester, hopefully will be first baby
Gingerwench- EDD 29th May, first baby
Newbishad - EDD 29th May, first baby
beccablum - EDD 30th May - GIRL
KJacko - EDD 30th May first baby - BOY
Secreteater - EDD End of May

Many congratulations Yellowflower. Am about your MIL turning up. Hopefully her excitement will now extend to plenty of babysitting offers .

And congratulations to you too Fleurie - glad to hear the ECV worked. Definitely worth the discomfort!

Slept SOOO badly last night. I'm sure it's a subtle sort of preparation for the many sleepless nights to come.

Ooh more congratulations due I see. Isn't it nice having the busiest thread!

I have bought some hideous flat mules - they were the only ones that fit and I couldn't be bothered to try my luck in a different shop. But they are very suitable for the weather.

I'm thoroughly enjoying the fine weather actually, despite the endless "oh poor you in this heat" comments. Which are almost as dull as the "haven't you had that baby yet" and "goodness what a big bump". [I am not amused emoticon]

Thanks so much mumbles, Pregnagrain, BBM, otter, casserole, asicsgirl and fleurie for all your great hints and tips. Lots of very useful websites and casserole, thanks so much for that info sheet, loads of ideas. I've been spending lots of time on all fours (though stupidly fell and skinned my knee so a bit sore!) and am currently rolling around on an exercise ball as I type.

mumbles I took your cream cake idea very seriously and made cappuccino cupcakes and flapjacks yesterday, certainly made me feel a bit better and it was quite nice to have the time to prat around with DP baking and eating cakes. Good distraction if nothing else!

Renting a birth pool is a great idea but unfortunately the consulting room is too small. They'd either have to take the bed outside to make room for the pool or let me run around naked in the corridor! Hopefully I'll be able to stay at home in the bath for a good while even if I can't have a waterbirth. Next time I want a homebirth with a rented pool, I like how I'm already planning and I haven't even given birth yet...

fleurie so glad your ECU worked. Feel a bit pathetic moaning about posterior positioning when you had a lot more to worry about.

yellowflower huge congratulations on the birth of Joseph. I think a hammock sounds like a good idea too.

Feeling a bit less stressed out but just so impatient to meet this little one! Eviction notices please...
Hope you're all enjoying the sunshine, have a great day

Woooo, I went to get my sweep today and am already 2cms dilated and had a show whilst the consultant was sweeping. Havn't stopped bleeding since. If the baby doesn't come right away (which they think he will) I'm getting induced on Thursday at 6pm.

So everyone cross your fingers for ANOTHER baby on his way.

xxx

Oooh how exciting! So all those signs of labour really were doing something...

Am thrilled for you but also

duchess - flat mules might ming but just be thankful you're not sporting a pair of thick black flight socks. I look utterly revolting. Can't believe there's the remotest possibility that dh will want to shag me any time soon so i'd better order a truckload of pineapple, i think.

YCBS, so sorry to hear about your friend's experiences. It's so true that it's all not supposed to matter any more once the baby is here, when of course it does.

duchess LOL at the hideous mules! I've been feeling very pleased with myself as I bought some Camper sandals in the sale earlier this year and they have just had their first outing. I kept bumping into lamp posts admiring my own feet...

mumblesmummy aaaaaand they're off! Good luck chick and looking forward to hearing all about it

pregnabrain sorry you slept so badly. I've been having one good night, one terrible night, so maybe tonight will be better for you!

baiyu good on you for baking! Can we add some of your cappucino cupcakes to the virtual bar, they sound delish.

Have had a lovely day today - wandered round town all afternoon with DP buying presents for the new baby (assuming that his psychology will be similar to his parents', and he will get inordinately excited about the prospect of groovy new clothes and come out ), and for the baby of a friend who rang me this morning to give me her lovely news. Ate ice cream in the park, you know the kind of thing. Fantastic.

I hardly dare to type this but I think something might FINALLY be happening. Had my sweep yesterday and have been bleeding ever since. Contractions all day today (some last night too), much stronger than before, almost at the point where I have to concentrate on them (DP says he knows when I'm having one because I stop conversing properly and start going 'Yup. Yup. Nope.' ). Still a bit worried that it will all stop when I go to bed, but hey, SOMETHING must be happening now, surely???? [hopeful emoticon] Cross everything for me girls... x x

Have any of you heard the advert for the new series of GLadiators???

It reminds me of all of the ladies waiting for their babies!!!

I can just imagine John Anderson shouting 'MMMUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMIIIIIEEEESSSS!!!!!!! RRRRRRRREEEEEEEAAAAAAADDDDDDDDYYYYYY!!!'

I'm blaming a combination of the sun and the hormones....

congrats to all the new arrivals!!

I had my sweep today and I am too 2 cms!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yipeeeeeeeeeee...although i'll end up having the sweep booked for next week LOLOL