Due June 08: A few eggs have hatched, we wish the rest would GET CRACKING!!!

[systemsaddict]

Let's hope the rest of the eggs get cracking very soon!

Sorry for those of you needing more sleep or having problems with feeding your gorgeous little ones. You are genuinely being really useful in preparing me for what is to come (eventually!).

DQ & Allnew: I agree re: phonecalls, texts, emails! Feeling a bit rude, but am not replying to some, they'll hopefully get the announcement text / email from Dh soon enough. And bizarrely I haven't heard from some of these people for up to three years (how they know I'm pregnant I don't know!).

Call with my nephew yesterday:
"Had your baby yet?" I said no and he said "Why not!!??".... I explained that I was overdue and he said "whatever" and proceeded to talk at me about himself for 5 mins. Although he is 19, I think he is genuinely put out that he will no longer be the baby of the family and won't get the 'big' xmas presents and stuff from me anymore. And he's right! {grin]

Tesco choc cookie has left me feeling less grumpy now. There's a full moon thread on which someone points to a scientific study which states it's a myth, what a killjoy!

I've given up on the pineapple - awful indigestion - but for those of you still giving it a try, they're £1 in Morrisons now.

DQ, allnew and PP, I've had a rubbish day as well, been feeling very lethargic, achey and miserable. This afternoon had a bath and then a sleep. Not done anything productive at all which doesn't help my mood!

Also fed up of all the calls, texts etc. Got very narky with my mum last night when she rang me 4 times in succession on my landline and mobile, with me running up and down the stairs trying to find the ringing phones and panicking that there must be some sort of an emergency going on. When I finally spoke to her she was all giggly thinking I must have gone into labour. Felt bad because I was cross with her and she is just overexcited about the first grandchild. Why she can't just ring once and leave a message I don't know!

ktpie - that is such a good point, my phones (mobile and landline) keep ringing and I am too large and elephant like to get there in time!

PP - I try to carry them round all the time but have always abandoned them somewhere when they do ring and can't find where.
Admittedly last night the first time my mum rang I sat on the sofa and decided I wouldn't get up the stairs quickly enough so I would leave it. Glad someone else is the same as me!

Hello June people

I am gatecrashing to let you know that Wigeon had a baby girl at 2:15 this afternoon and that I am now an aunt .

Mother and baby Eva are both fine. She weighed 7lb 9oz and will be leaving hospital this evening.

Thanks for the update Idris. ktpie I am so with you on the ringing phones about the place. Rushed downstairs to answer the phone earlier but just missed it. Then instead of leaving a message the same person rang my mobile, which was of course, upstairs!!!! Grrrrrr. Just leave a message for feck's sake! If I dont answer the phone I'm either busy, out and about, or in labour. And whichever of those reasons it is, I'll get back to you at a more convenient time. Gosh, sorry, I thought I was a bit less grumpy now... Off to look up insurance quotes on the internet instead.

PP your 19 year old nephew story did make me laugh though!!!

Idris thank you for the update and congratulations on being an Aunt. Please pass on our love to Wigeon.

29/05/08 - neenz, esther and theo
18/05/08 - makecakes, Cecily jean Olivia
20/05/08 - Goingfor3 Harvey
24/05/08 - Katyjo Mia Joanne
29/05/08 - pyjamrama William James Frederick
30/05/08 - Paromapu, Fleur
01/06/08 - greenfairy - Storm Josephine Frances
04/06/08 - Josey - Oilivia Margaret
05/06/08 - ernest - Adele
05/05/08 - tassisssss - Rebecca Grace
07/06/08 - Aberdeen Hiker - Fraser
08/06/08 - Lorrettah - Harry
11/06/08 - Sybilvimes - James Dominic
11/06/08 - Kif - boy
11/06/08 - Lazylou - boy
11/06/08 - systemaddict - Cailin Rose
11/06/08 - Needahand - SJ
11/06/08 - Emotionalwreck - Sophie Louie
12/06/08 - Basilbrush - Rose Madeline
14/06/08 - Dymansluckymum - Anwyn Crystal Anne
15/06/08 - Rolf - Girl
15/06/08 - spongebrainbigpants - Alexander
16/06/08 - Essie - boy
17/06/08 - Debinaustria - Ethan
17/06/08 - Alipalli - Peter
18/06/08 - wigeon - Eva

Still waiting:
06/06/08 - nettiehay -(first baby)
07/06/08 - mellymel -(DS 14 months)
11/06/08 - Amberc
12/06/08 - Pregnant Penguin -(1st baby) BOY
14/06/08 - PearTart - (DD1 is 19 months) GIRL
15/06/08 - Jules43 -(1st baby)
16/06/08 - xxgemmalou22xx (first Baby
17/06/08 - fungle - (2nd baby)girl(got DD4)
18/06/08 - Josie57 -(ds1 13 months, mc sep 07)
18/06/08 - hedgehog1979 -(first baby)
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)
22/06/08 - Upsidedowncake -(1DS 27 m, ep Aug 07) GIRL
22/06/08 - bitofadramaqueen -(first baby)
22/06/08 - ktpie -(first baby)
23/06/08 - looneytune -(DS 5 yrs) BOY
24/06/08 - puddock -(first baby)
24/06/08 - allnew - (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

Right, my bags are packed, just about to take DD and the dog to my parents for the night. I have my maternity notes, going out for supper, organised a list of phone numbers for DH to phone tomorrow, tried to explain how to post on here (gave up), organised a baby sitter for DH for tomorrow night so he can go out to wet babies head, organised my sister to tell people about the pub tomorrow night. So fingers crossed for a safe delivery tomorrow, good luck anyone else who is iminent, will try to post from hospital but if not see you all when I get home.

Good luck Sophie !! Hope everything goes well, we'll look forward to hearing from you soon.

Good luck Sophie!!!

All the best Sophie...

Good luck Sophie, will be thinking of you.

Congratulations Widgeon! Due the day before me, does that mean it's my turn tomorrow!

Congratulations to Widgeon and Alipalli. The list of those waiting is getting smaller.

Good luck Sophie will be thinking of you tomorrow.

I have my second sweep tomorrow - not getting too hopeful but will be interesting to see if anything has changed since the first.

I am getting fed up with the phone calls too and general enquiries from people - "still here then?" or "still in one peice then?" obviously! Very, very annoying. Part of me wants to hide away and watch daytime TV and eat choccie biccies and another part (very small part admittedly) thinks I should just carry on and enjoy going out without buggy, car seat, large bag etc, etc.

Bit miffed because it was my birthday yesterday but impending birth of baby seems to have overshadowed it.

Hope all those BF are finding it easier. All I remember from DD1 is that you need to try to get as much food into your LO during the day to try to make them go longer at night. Had a maternity nurse last time who was fab at structuring feeds - she used to advise feeding for 30-40 mins on one side every two to three hours during the day and "cluster feeding" during the evening - if necessary topping up with a formula feed at about 10pm (DH used to enjoy doing this). This did work for us after two or three days of perserveance and managed to get DD1 to go for about 5 hours at night. All babies are different though and it is just what works for you your family.

And I know what you mean about constantly having a messy front - I found melted chocolate inside my bra yesterday (from pigging out on the choccy biccies)!

thegreenfairy I'd ignore the La Leche advice about waking a baby! I found that DS1 was the complete opposite and slept more at night the longer he went between daytime feeds. As bun2 said though, it really does depend on the individual baby and it'll just take a while for you and Storm to figure out what feeding pattern suits her best.

(and yes, my structured, 3-4 hours between feeds is not recommended but Fraser has gained 420 grams since he was discharged from the hospital 8 days ago so I'm ignoring all midwife and HV advice to the contrary. I know him best - just as everyone here knows their babies best!!!)

As for sleeping the moses basket, it is really hard to teach them to fall asleep on their own so I'm sending lots of sympathy! We have been strict about not cuddling Fraser to sleep in the daytime to help him learn to do it on his own at night (but then once he's asleep, I pick him up and cuddle him to bits). But again, all babies are different.

Good luck to sophie!!!!

Sophie, good luck for tomorrow. You're just down the road from me.
From Friday onwards I'll be on ML so if you want to meet up sometime with babba's let me know.
I'll be thinking about you.

LLxx

Good luck Sophie!!!
Along with all you other waiters, I am really fed up already with the text/phone calls. I kind of feel like Ive not done things properly or something, that Ive failed, not getting the LO out on time.
Im having such a bad day, please excuse my mood....DD is being an absolute nightmare. I know that she is really aware that something big is about to rock her world, but Im finding it increasingly hard to cope with. It seems anything I do, (and believe me I am making such an effort to do lovely things with her, hard going when all I want to do is curl up on the sofa)Its just greeted with tantrums or really bad behaviour.
Im really worried that things are going to get worse when the baby arrives, and I will also be sleep deprived. Help/advice from any others with older children greatly appreciated.(DD is 4 1/2 by the way)
To top all this, spoke to a freind today who is really anti-induction, and made me feel terrible for even considering it further down the line(her baby was born on due date! My first was 11 days late and LO is over by one day so far....)
Ok, rant over, only an hour till peace and quiet.
Congrats any new hatchers that Ive missed in my earlier posts, and hope the BF gets easier for those struggling.

Good luck Sophie! Will be thinking of you tomorrow. Two and a half weeks after CS my scar is settling nicely and most of the bruising is gone and managed a 20 min walk yesterday - I do hope your recovery goes well.

Thanks for all the advice re feeding. The HV was v good actually and just said to go with my instincts. Storm has put on 1oz per day in the last week so the HV says she is thriving and I am doing a good job.

Re the hindmilk - Storm is still quite little - 7lb 5oz now at 18 days, and normally feeds for 10 to 20 mins before needing burping. Her pattern is often a 10 min feed, burp for a few mins , another 10 min feed, burp and a rest for 15 to 20 mins, and then another 10 min feed, all from the same breast over the space of about an hour. She sometimes does drain a breast completely so am happy she's getting the hind milk - I think she just doesn't have room to gulp it all down in one go very often. So am going to stick to not waking her unless she goes over four hours between feeds (she normally wakes after about three when not on this bloody spurt) to make sure she gets properly hungry.

She had her third bath this evening (which she enjoys) and is now asleep. I may start bathing her a bit more often as this may help with the sleeping.

Urgh. Tbh, these past few days have just been one thing after another, which hasn't helped. Yet more admin/ bills issues today. Nothing which can't be handled, but when you wait on the phone for 15 mins to speak to someone who just ends up saying 'computer says no' over and over again it's enough to drive you to tears anyway, even without the lack of sleep.

My parents are coming tomorrow so hopefully will ease the stress a bit.

Re the birth, I am happy I did the best I could and gave Storm the best start I could given the circumstances. But I was looking forward to the homebirth for so long and it was only the two weeks before she was born that we knew it wasn't possible, and I was so wrapped up in trying to sort out turning/ natural labour that I don't think I really had time to properly 'grieve' the loss of HB. Sorry if that sounds melodramatic, but for some reason it's been bothering me the last few days - probably the tiredness and the great water birth stories or something. Although obviously am v happy for those who did get their water birth.

Anyhoo, sorry for the marathon post. You guys are the best. I really feel I can talk on here and am so glad MN exists. I realise that compared to josey's situation this all probably seems v trivial and I feel a bit bad about moaning...

Ok, time to eat for me I think.

TGF- you sound like you're feeling a bit better and sorting out things in your head. Birth is such a momentous occasion and nothing really prepares you for it, I think. You sound like you are doing and have done all the right things.

I had a sweep today...
3cm dilated cervix and soft and favourable. Had a big BH tightening and MW said the membranes were bulging.

Congratulations Widgeon! Good luck Sophie!

Greenfairy sorry didn't mean to suggest you had PND, I don't think you have either, but I know how quickly things can snowball if your not getting any sleep.
I don't know why leche league told you to feed every 2 hours if she is gaining weight well. Aberdeenhiker is right, you know your own child, follow your instinct. I have never woken a baby to feed, I would if the weight gain wasn't good, but otherwise I reckon they wake when they are hungry.
I have found that generally the more often they feed, the more they want to feed, whether that is because they aren't getting hindmilk I don't know, but certainly sounds like storm is getting hindmilk.
I am no expert, but I would say that she's just catching up she was a bit early and I think she's just making the most of the lovely milk you've got, and at an 1oz a day she'll not be small for long!!!

I found the phonecalls were getting on my tits the last week before Mia was born! heavily pregnant runnung after a 2 year old and chasing about the house trying to find the phone, only to be greated by 'you're still here then' was most anniying do these people have nothing better do!!

Dh taken day off today, went back to work on monday, but I had a bad day yesterday. I couldn't get Mia latched on properly and ds was crying as he wanted my attention..so was feeling sorry for myself. Much better today, Mia sleeping well at night, so hopefully will continue.

Sounds promising peartart could you be next!!

Hi All,

Not sure yet but think I have been having contractions for the past hour - every 10 mins. Hurts like hell in the back and lower bump. Am timing them - they will either get worse or stop I suppose (I did this with DD1 for days before being induced!).

Fungle You are entitled to feel like this. It is hard going in late pregnancy and very common to feel down. I've had my moments the past 3 days I can tell you. As for DD1 (mine is 5 1/2) she has been a stroppy little madam at times and I have had to bestow loads of attention on her. Can't do much more than that can we?

Must go - am cooking dinner and feel another one coming on. Must time it.

Good luck tomorrow Sophie Peartart - yjat's v encouraging

GF - I had a hard time coming to terms with DS1's birth not being what I'd hoped for. I think you're being perfectly reasonable (and honest) to feel that way.

GF I too had a hard time coming to terms with DD1's birth after the initial elation passed. Best thing you can do is talk to MW or HV - a "debrief" if you like.

Still twinging every 10 mins for 1 min.

congrats wigeon - good luck sophie and bun2 sounds like you might be next.

PP - your nephew sounds fairly typical but did make me giggle. my dss won't stay in house alone with me due to major fear of spontaneous birthing incident where he might be called upon to

Sympathy to ktpie about calls and feeling down - have been off and on like that myself. Didn't bother to text back the helpful friend this afternoon who told me to make the most of my time waiting as I won't have it again ..

hospital appt went ok - baby in right place and well engaged, had strep b test and all seems in place. her father now trying to talk her into coming out tonight as doesn't fancy work tomorrow..

katyjo - don't worry about the PND thing - I didn't think you were implying anything! Just didn't want you guys thinking I was on the edge. Just bloody knackered is all.

Anyway, Storm has slept for three and a half hours after her bath! Looks like it'll be bath time every night from now on .

Am going to have to feed her soon tho or my boobs are going to explode .

Feeling a bit better. Just having her asleep for a few hours makes me feel calmer tbh. Even managed a bath myself.

Going to try to find time to put my maternity clothes on ebay over the next few days. Have dropped 20lb since Storm was born - 10 more to go till am back to pre-pregnancy weight, so no point hanging on to it. So it's not all bad I guess! I have a waist again!

Anyhoo, night all, and thanks so much for all the support over the last couple of days - it really helps to have someone understand