Due June 08: S**t, it IS June, and I still haven't packed my hospital bag...

[LauraT]

well it will be June on Sunday anyway! thought I should go ahead and start this as there were several votes for this name...

definately not just odeons, a lot of small local cinemas do too. certainly the one near me does (the Grosvenor does whinegums if you didn't know already!)! I'm sure you'll find one near you!

Ha Laura, was just thinking about the Grosvenor! Maybe we should get together there (and thenew ice cream parlour!) when we have popped!

Hi ladies

Poppy, I don't think you're being OTT at all; it sounds like a really good idea to write the circumstances in your notes.

Most baby showings are called The Big Scream so it can help to Google that, but which cinema you go to, depends where you are. The Electric Cinema in Portobello, Notting Hill actually has subtitles - which is such a good idea as it's tough to hear much with all the screaming! Last time, I saw Brokeback Mountain (sans subtitles) to the soundtrack of wailing babies. Beautiful scenery, but not sure about the dialogue.

Aberdeen / Josey - I'm really sorry that you weren't allowed a sweep. Can you not ask for an earlier appointment than 40 + 5? Mine is booked already for 40 + 3 (25 JUNE!!!!!)

Allipalli. very jellybags that you have seen SATC already. I am going next week and can't wait!

Peartart, is your DD ill as well?

whinegums I would definitely be up for that... there's loads of good films coming out this summer! went to the ice cream parlour again last night to celebrate finishing work... mmmmm ice cream.... yum

Hi I went to Big Scream events at a local cinema- Arts Picture House Cinema. It's best to do when your babe is really little and just feeding and sleeping (and crying). By the time mine was 6 months she wanted to try to crawl instead.

Thanks for asking, UDC- DD had a temp of 39.5 today, so I stripped her off and gave calpol. She was fine when I put her to bed. She's been a bit up and down, and I'm conscious of being a bit of a crap/ boring/ sodding tired mum.

Poppy- your history is important; putting it in your birthplan notes is a good idea.

Lorettah- v glad your tiling will be sorted

Needahand- great news re GBS and HB.

AH- feeling for you with pelvic pain; did you manage to avoid getting a cold?

Nothing much happening bump-wise, just a bit of aching. Not hurting yet- but that's famous last words... Still feel a bit sick, but I'll know when things really start up I'll be barfing for England! (sorry TMI)

The Big Scream I go to is at a Picturehouse cinema. I saw SATC there today - lovely lazy day

Poppy - not precious at all. Do you haev a SANDS sticker on your notes? I have them everywhere and I think it really makes a difference - people are very sensitive with me and I really appreciate it.

Needahand - very pleased about your GBS test. Nice to know the garlic can work.

Evening all. Question for those that have done this baby malarky before...

With regards to first aid, medicine etc, what do you think is generally essential to have in the house when you have a baby? e.g. calpol etc?

RE: baby cinema - its maybe also worth checking with local cinemas if they dont show up on google. The odeon website has a list of their cinemas who do the baby cinema (they call it 'newbies') which doesn't include the cinema I would go to, despite the fact that it def does have 'newbies' screenings!

Excellent Laura, we'll probably get round to it before Christmas! I have just had a big bowl of Ben & Jerry's Fossil Fuel. For the calcium y'know....

For everyone stocking up on baby meds, Sainsbury have half price offers at the moment - I got some teething gel, infacol, etc etc etc.

Poppy - I echo what others have said about birth plan/your notes - I have gone past worrying about what medical staff might think - it's my birth, not theirs (after posting on here about birth plans a couple of weeks ago).

DQ - the only thing I thought of as essential to have in for a newborn was Infacol, in case of colic. Don't know if it actually works but good to have something to try! Calpol is for 2 months up on the bottle and Nurofen for children 3 months up, so no mad rush to get them in beforehand (though I think (??) dr.s can prescribe or recommend paracetamol for younger babies so maybe worth having Calpol (or cheap own-brand alternative) in the cupboard just in case). I would always have both Calpol and Nurofen available once the baby is a few months old, they can be given at the same time if necessary and it's good to have both available in the event of a sudden high temperature.

I sometimes use Medised instead of Calpol - it's paracetamol plus a slightly sedating antihistamine - good if they have a snotty cold which is stopping them sleep, but that's from older again I think and I am a bit wary of using anything sedating.

I also always have Piriton or again cheap own-brand alternative available - antihistamine - because ds has some minor food allergies and eczema, but that's again more for older ones unless recommended by a dr. (says 1 year up on bottle but ds was prescribed it from 6 months).

Others may have other ideas I'm sure...

Must get to bed! All symptoms now disappeared again so think it was just a runny tummy. Ah well ... every day she stays in there is another few ounces I don't have to worry about!

ps put bump picture on profile, finally - taken at 40 weeks - not very flattering though!

Thanks SA. I figure various things might not be suitable until baby is a few months old, but I thought it might be handy to get some essentials in just now in case I forget all about it until a few months down the line when I need something in the middle of the night... Will check out sainsbury's whinegums.

Poppy I dont blame you...no matter how hard you would try to block out what has happend in the past it will affect how you feel about things.

AH sorry you didnt have any luck either.....head is only 1/5th in here so at least you are fully engaged....I dont understand why it would be bad news when with 1st you can be fully engaged for weeks...I think your MW is a bit of a stupid wotsit!!

Decided to up the RLT again today after having a few days break and going to focus for next Monday as I was also given the 9th as a date...at least if I deliver then it will p my SIL off as she will be on hol hahaha!!!!

Checking out now - been absolutely knackered all day! Did get stuff done, though - well, very small stuff! Went to Lidl with my Mum and grandmother (Mum was thrilled to be the fittest by a long shot) and my grandmother - who is usually confused and strange (not a new thing; she's always been a bit woolly) and who also was crap with children (didn't have any of her own - is a stepmother to my Mum) was convinced that I was about to have my baby there and then. Hm, Lidl, I think not although they would probably have a birthing pool and tens machine (if not gas&air) on special offer.

Saw a midwife too, who said the baby is ready to go and it could be any day - or not! I'm just not getting numbers from them on head being engaged etc, but she said it was down and ready to go. I joked with her (deep down not joking...and I think she knew that!) about giving me a sweep and she said no. But, the good (ish) news is that the baby is measuring 37cm, and I'm nearly 39 weeks, so he's not a whopper. It's good because I'm 5'3 and a size 8 normally!!

Having minor panics about giving birth/things not being ready/baby not being ok now. And shouting randomly at DH about really strange things, so I'm in the same club as several others there...

HI BDQ,
Infacol and Gripe Water can be given to a NB in case of colic but not much else.

For colds early on, we used to go and sit with DD in the kitchen with a kettle over-boiling as the steam was all we could do to help.

If someone wants to buy a snazzy present for you a room humidifier may help to ease colds. And add a digital ear thermometer to the list- they're about £40 but are easier and less fiddly than other thermometers and are v acurate. And can be used on adults too.
Another good idea may be a book on how to deal with baby illnesses.

From a few months you will prob use Calpol/ Neurofen when needed as SA says. Calpol Night is like Medised- it has antihiistamine which aids sleep. Calpol also used to bring down temperatures as it contains paracetamol.

Karvol and chest rubs (Vics) can help with colds. And when your DC starts teething: Bonjella or Dentinox (or own-brand) will help. These work best if you dap the gel on with a muslin, otherwise DC tends to suck it off your finger and swallow it. We've also used homeopathic teething granules (Chamomilla) to varying sucess.

Other essentials may be bottom creams/ nappy rash ointments depending on how sensitive your baby's skin is. We only ever use coconut oil (Neal's Yard), but friends swear by Bepanthen. You do get a tiny pot of Sudocrem in the Bounty bag and we've used that on rare occasions when DD had nappy rash.

Early on, you should be well looked after by community MW/ Health workers and there's always someone to ask re: illnesses. (We almost know the GP out-of -hours service by heart now.) New-parents groups are a really good source of info too.

Essie- I snapped at DH tonight- he asked me why I was being so irritable...
Something to do with your baby's head in my pelvis and bum up under my diaphragm. Grrr!!
I told him all pregnant women are like this.

Evening ladies

Well, no surprises here, but DH and I are now brand new parents

Storm Josephine Frances was born at 10.58pm on Sunday (June 1), weighing 6lb7oz.

She is weeny! And we are soooo in love with her . She has my nose and DH's lips and eyes and oooo, she's gorgeous!

So, longish birth story....
Well, they say first labours are slow. Not mine!
Waters broke about 11.30am. Arrived at hospital and at 4pm was 1cm dilated having quite regular contractions if not v painful.
My lovely midwife listened to me properly about what I wanted and agreed we'd keep examinations to a minimum and to keep the docs out for as long as poss. Had the CTG on for 20 mins and after that she stuck to a handheld monitor - against hosp policy.
Went for a walk but contractions pretty strong so back inside by 5.30pm. MW told me was unlikely they'd stay strong due to it being a first birth, but by 8pm I was in the bath and begging DH for massage every time contraction came. By now just 3 mins apart...
9pm I had TENS on, rocking, and on much needed gas and air. Contractions about a minute apart and at least 90 secs long if not longer. MW had to examine me to give me the G&A and discovered I was 7cms dilated!!!
However, she also discovered our LO had decided to stick one foot out. Eeek.
MW went a bit white as she was telling me, and I knew what was coming.
Doc came in 9.30pm to recommend CS as due to coming out feet first he was worried I wouldn't dilate further, and LO still had one foot across her tum from what they could tell - one in one out does not a safe birth make.
Already starting to feel pressure...
Agreed to CS and was in theatre within about 45 mins. Took them a while to get the spinal in as was having such strong, long contractions and could feel she was starting to move down the canal. More eeek.

Storm was out within about 15 mins. Nice and pink and wriggly immediately and they dropped the screen as I asked when she came out.
Surgeon squeezed the blood down the cord before clamping later than usual so she got the extra goodness before we were separated. After the longest two mins of my life she was put on my chest skin to skin for the rest of the op where she nuzzled into my neck and sucked her thumb.
My BF came in for the op, as DH is so squeamish, but DH came in for a few mins for skin to skin near the end and is now besotted.
Fed her three times in recovery and, after a day of us both struggling to learn to feed she is really going for it, and is on for about 25 mins at least each time.

So, while I didn't have a natural v birth, LO got the benefits of the contractions and, as far as I can tell, was already on her way out when she was finally born.

CS obviously a shock to the system but was the right move as she was in genuine danger of getting stuck.

Storm is v easy to settle and content (maybe due to CS, although DH was the same apparently), and oh, I am SO CHUFFED!

We are already home - left hosp within 36 houts of her being born, with some encouragement (they are v busy ) but actually I'm just happy to be out of there and in our little nest.

Haven't managed to catch up on the thread at all, but will pop on and follow up tomorrow when have had some sleep!

Sleep tight and good luck everyone!

GFxxx
PS. Pix on profile soonish

yay greenfairy!! i love that her name is Storm after her grand entrance into the world. very fitting. sounds like the whole thing was a whirlwind and although not exactly what you envisaged it seems to have worked out just as it should have. she is truly beautiful - well done!!!

i popped on just before bed, saying to dh, just want to see if anyone else has given birth... must have known you'd posted.

hope you get lots of rest. your happiness is contagious i am going to sleep in a wonderful mood now. xxx

Awww, thanks DMPO! The name was chosen a long time ago, but does seem highly appropriate!

Although it wasn't text book am really pleased with the birth as she got the best start in life I could possibly give her and that's what was important to me all along. Sleep really well.

xxxxx

Green Fairy Many Congatulations
I have tears in my eyes reading your story. You are so brave and she's absolutely gorgeous in your pictures. Well done you!
It sounds like you had a good team who listened to you and guided you well, and great to let Storm start the labour off naturally. I don't even know you but I feel so proud of you. X

Well done Green Fairy. What a lovely birth story - you did so well and Storm is beautiful.

I was not happy to wake up BING at 5am but so pleased I did now as it means I got to read your birth story GF, how wonderful, I'm so glad things worked out so well (with the odd moment of drama!) and she got all the benefits of labour, and that the foot in / foot out thing was picked up at what sounds like just the right moment. Seems the staff were great in listening to what you wanted too. The photos are gorgeous!! .

Am I going to sob like this with every birth story from this group??!

Well done Green Fairy, not the birth you wanted but sounds like a positive expereince for you and baby, and welcome storm.

Graduated
DD29/05/08 - neenz, esther and theo
18/5/08 - makecakes, Cecily jean Olivia
20/5/08 - Goingfor3 Harvey
24/5/08 - Katyjo Mia Joanne
29/5/08 - pyjamrama William James Frederick
30/5/08 - Paromapu, Fleur
1/6/08 - GreenFairy Storm Josephine Frances

Still waiting:
Early June - Kif -(DC3)!
31/05/08 - systemsaddict -(1 ds 1YO) GIRL
31/05/08 - lazylou -(1 DD 3.9/ MC September 04)
01/06/08 - laughinglil -(3YO twins)
01/06/08 - Trix11 -(DS and DD)
01/06/08 - alipalli -(1st baby)
05/06/08 - Tizzwizz -(MC June)
05/06/08 - emotionalwreck
05/06/08 - aberdeenhiker -(DS, June 06)
05/06/08 - Josey -(1 DS8yo, 1 DD2yo)GIRL
05/06/08 - mistermoo -(DD5, DS3)
06/06/08 - Calebsmum -(DC2)
06/06/08 - supperwoman -(DC2)
06/06/08 - nettiehay -(first baby)
06/06/08 - Lucy0608 -(1st Baby)
07/06/08 - Debinaustria -(2 ds's 8 and 6)BOY
07/06/08 - mellymel -(DS 14 months)
07/06/08 - dylansluckymum -(1DS 23 mos) BOY!
07/06/08 - Rolf -(2 dss 8 and 6, 1dd 2) GIRL
10/06/08 - fungle - (2nd child)
10/06/08 - basilbrush -(1 DS Feb 06, 2 m/cs 2007)
11/06/08 - Amberc
12/06/08 - Pregnant Penguin -(1st baby) BOY
12/06/08 - essie3 - (first baby)
13/06/08 - tassisssss -(ds aged 4, dd 15 mths)
14/06/08 - Deese20 -(1st Baby)
14/06/08 - PearTart - (DD1 is 19 months) GIRL
15/06/08 - Jules43 -(1st baby)BOY!
15/06/08 - sybilvimes -(2 dc)Boy!!
16/06/08 - xxgemmalou22xx (first Baby)
17/06/08 - GardenAngel4 -(DD 7months)
18/06/08 - Josie57 -(ds1 13 months, mc sep 07)
18/06/08 - hedgehog1979 -(first baby)
19/06/08 - Pyjamarama -(BOY)
20/06/08 - babyalfie -(got 3 DC - 16, 14 & 7)
20/06/08 - ernest -(got 3 dc - 8, 7 & 4) will be sectioned on 09/06/08
20/06/08 - poppy34 -(2 m/c, one ds lost at 21 weeks) (GIRL)
20/06/08 - whinegums - (first baby) BOY
21/06/08 - HeyBaby07 -(First Baby)
21/06/08 - Hoggle -(First Baby)
21/06/08 - needahand -(DC2) (boy)
21/06/08 - Wigeon -(First Baby)
22/06/08 - Upsidedowncake -(1DS 27 m, ep Aug 07) GIRL
22/06/08 - bitofadramaqueen -(first baby)
22/06/08 - august26bride -(First Baby)
22/06/08 - spongebrainbigpants -(m/c twins and singleton on 2006, all IVF pgs) Boy!
22/06/08 - ktpie -(first baby)
23/06/08 - looneytune -(DS 4 yrs) BOY
24/06/08 - puddock -(first baby)
25/06/08 - Bun2 (DD 5 yrs) Girl
26/06/08 - LauraT (first baby)
26/06/08 - Claphamkitten -(first baby)
27/06/08 - sophiewd -(DD 22 months) section booked on 19th June
30/06/08 - capricornqueen appt-(DD 2yrs)
30/06/08 - Kittyjimjams -(2 MC)
Gemzooks - EDD???

GF what a cutie! What an amazing name - there won't be any other Storm's in her class!! I can't wait for my turn (TMI but mucus plug gone this morning (not sure if that is significant) and sweep tomorrow so fingers crossed!!). I assume when you said she is feeding well you mean BF - good to know as I've always been worried about C sections and BF and you've reassured me!!

hiya am coming over from the July thread as I'm keeping an eye on you all as I know a few from the ttc boards, good luck everyone although it means we are next eek!

poppy, sending you hugs - and no, I think you're being very reasonable. A detailed birth plan in your case makes a lot of sense!

I second whomever said to have infacol in the house. I used it with DS and I do think it helped. Plus I'm superstitious so I think that if you have it in the house, you're less likely to need it....

As for my midwife, this was actually the most sensitive one I've seen! She was cracking jokes about it, but she did tell me that yes, it sucks to be me, which made me feel better than all the midwives/consultants who brush you off as fine (and I know I could be worse off, but I could be better off too...).

Amberc - am very jealous that you're getting a sweep tomorrow! You're due 6 days later than Josey and I! It's so frustrating how policies are different in different areas...

and congrats greenfairy! It sounds like Storm is doing great and I'm glad you had a good experience at the hospital even with the intervention!