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 guys

Fresk out over. Storm finally asleep.

Thanks for the suggestions re explaining the stage she's at. He is totally besotted with her. Just doesn't get that she doesn't really understand what he's doing...

Anyhoo, time for bed in a minute. Hope you all have a good day tomorrow. Got the parents coming, which could be good or bad. Haha!

Josey - that's all great news. I bet you can't wait to get her home!

DQ - I will most definitely be joining you in chucking the toys out of the pram. Am trying to get used to the idea that I might end up being induced, think I have another week before they will do that but probably best to be prepared.

bun2 - latent labour sounds rubbish. I am eagerly awaiting any sign labour might be on the way but really should be enjoying all the good nights sleep I seem to be getting!

GF - he sounds like a kid with a new toy! Sounds really tough for you. Hope he works out appropriate ways to play with her!

Allnew - have you and your DH made up? I'm sure if you went into labour while you weren't speaking you would make up fairly fast!

Am I the first person posting this morning? That can't be right!

Morning all! Still here. Had a good feeling about last night, but I was of course wrong

Sorry to all of those that are having tough times. greenfairy now that things have calmed down , maybe it would be the best time to have chat with DH about everything? There's usually nothing worse then trying to sort it out when tempers are frayed (as I have found to my cost on many an occasion ). Good luck with the p's - hope they dont overstimulate Storm either.

bun2 sorry about your latent labour. Fingers crossed your next sweep will hurry things along.

DH and I were chatting about names last night. We had decided on names quite a while ago, but I'm starting to go off them now and have introduced some new suggestions. DH likes one, not too sure about the other so who knows what'll happen. God only knows what this LO will be called now!

Off for tea and cakes this morning so will catch up with you all later.

Oh ktpie - I keep trying to tell myself that at least the LO will definitely be here by the end of next week (it doesn't sound as far away as it did for some strange reason!).

Morning all latent labour urg that doesn't sound like fun at all....my worst fear is a long drawn out labour as i am not good with pain at all. I was thinking back to when i used to get really bad period pain and i used to lie down in the fetal position to try and stretch it out. But of course with period pain a couple of paracetomols used to do the trick...
Midwife yesterday said everything is ok just watch for waters breaking and possible prolapsed cord but next week i see the OBS and they always make me feel panicky you always feel like anything is a potential emergency whereas the Community Midwife is so much more chilled out...
have a good day i am just babbling on about nothing!!

Morning everyone and happy due date to me!

Yes, latent labour is no fun. Was up with pains from 2.30 to 5.30 last night and am still having them now. MW been and gone and done sweep - at least she says my cervix is now soft and effaced. Still only 2cms dilated though! Aaagh!

Enjoy your tea and cakes BDQ and ktpie and sarahpo I am sure that you won't experience anything quite like mine - it normally only lasts a couple of days at least.

Have a great day all and I will be on later. xx

Sarahpo I PH and the dr terried me by telling me about prolapsed cords and placental abruption. When I spoke to the midwife at my next appointment ( I had panicked myself further by googling - very bad idea!!!) she was really relxed about it and said dr's always worry people. When I went into labour I asked the midwife delivering if it was going to be a problem and she said no. As soon as my waters broke she checked for a proplapsed cord, apart from that everything was normal. Do you know what your fluid levels are?

Hello all! Finally back - we got back from hospital last night. But be prepared - rant coming up.
Sybil read this - it may be relevant!

Bascially, there's absolutely nothing wrong with Iestyn, and due to a total lack of communication at the hospital, they had a healthy baby kept for 2 days, stressed out mummy, and medicating pointlessly.
Sybil - Iestyn's sick ups sound just like yours (well, not yours personally!! ).

The problem I have is that I have too much milk . Sorry to all those struggling with bf. He was engorging, and then sicking it all up in a dramatic way, nose and mouth, but no distress and quite happy to feed immediately after. The gaviscon was making him worse - the 'wafer thin mint' effect.
The consultant didn't bother talking to me, just jumped to the worst conclusion. The hospital forgot to feed me (again!), and I took myself up to the postnatal ward to discuss my zeppelin boobs, but nobody communicated with each other and so I was kept in for two days! Very annoyed. Eventually, my community mw phoned and had a right go at them, and I got to see a great bf counsellor...who I'd marry tomorrow.
Home now, and last night we had 3 hourly feeds with only one big sick. I'm feeling human for the first time in ages, but anxious about losing the little routine!!

Sybil don't let them jump to extremes - and keep communication between bf and baby experts. For me, it helps if I express a bit off before he starts feeding because that stops him engorging, and stops me having jordanesque tits.

I think my breasts are ruined now though.

Sorry, I am right that it's Sybil? And I'm assuming bf - although apparently formula can have the same problems.

So anxious about sleeping etc though. This bf is not funny. I'm giving it another week. I keep being told that with my milk supply it would be 'criminal' not to bf, but honestly, I'm struggling with it, and can't wait to be able to express and bottle feed.

Hi Essie - so sorry to hear that you ended up in hospital for no good reason! Glad to hear that you're home.

Essie waht a stressful couple of days and for no good reason. I'm sure you are glad to be home.

Essie, yes it was me. Thanks for the information, and I am sorry that you had to spend two days in hospital before being told that everything was perfectly ok. I agree that this sounds very similar to what jamie does. He tends to feed and then want more, but be fussy at the breast and eventually I think he just takes too much and with the fussing it makes him sick.

Some babies are just a bit sicky and I think that Jamie is just a bit like this. He has been sick at 2.00 in the morning hugely for the past three nights after feeding/fussing but not at other times when he feeds for less often. He has also put on 10.5 oz in 8 days (yes bfed) so he is obviously getting plenty of food even with the sickness. I take it this is also true for Iestyn, and yes I agree that the sleeping is a nightmare. He feeds every 2 hours during the night but is up from 1-4 feeding/fussing and puking. God only knows what I will do when dh goes back to work next week and I have all 3 of them on my own!

Anyway - sorry for long post but good to know that we are not alone in this. Hopefully they will both grow out of it before too long. And learn how to sleep!

Josey the photos of Olivia are lovely, and she sounds like a different baby from the initial prognosis you were given!

Essie lack of communication makes me mad for you. glad everything is settling down a bit, good luck getting some sleep.

bun2 happy due date - mine is tomorrow - afer that I think we are officially an overdue bunch left to hatch!

I finished the shawl that I had convinced myself had to be done before LO arrives... so far it appears baby wasn't playing by the same rules.

have made plans to go out for lunch tomorrow in an attempt to distract myself from my due date!

Mellymell was being induced on Saturday wasn't she? hopefully another baby for the thread by now!

Sophie are you using Basil as a nn for Sebastian? v cute!

Allnew and TGF hope you get your OH sorted out!

Bun2 i realised i might not have sounded supportive earlier but anyway let's hope you have some news very soon!!

goingfor3 i think the fluid volume is 10.2 something either cm or litres??? and ten is the norm but they have written rising PH on all my notes...think the AFl has fluctuated between 23 and up to 27 at times i just really don't want one of these all panic stations labours i want it nice and relaxed and of course easy and pain free (hahaha keep dreaming woman!!)

Arrrrfternoon all. Essie, glad to hear you're home safe and sound, but not surprised you're ranting.

After feeling that I was quite happy for monster to stay where he was for so long, I am now thinking it's time he packed his bags and made his way out. Made up the crib this morning for the first time - aww. I won't be saying that when I've changed the sheets for the thousandth time I'm sure! All other baby stuff is washed and ready for action, so just waiting now....

Ok, so those of you who've done this, the stork turns up after flying over the cabbage patch, right? I don't have to do anything like eject another human being out of my nethers, you've all just been winding the rest of us first timers up, haven't you? HAVEN'T YOU???!!!!!

Yes Whinegums LOL you got it, it's all a big joke!!!

Sarahpo don't worry, didn't take your post the wrong way at all. My fault for having a good moan anyway.

I was told my fluid volume is 18 cm - better have the wellies ready for when my water's break! What's the AFI?

Laura good idea to be busy tomorrow. I didn't have anything planned (apart from MW) and wish I had booked a pedicure or something. Might do that for next week now - baby is sure not to let me get pretty toes!

Essie glad you are home now and can finally (try) to relax. Hope the BF settles down soon. I'm sure it takes at least a couple of weeks for the milk supply/demand to sort itself out. Couldn't you express and get your DH to give Iestyn a feed (or even formula?) so you can have a sleep. My DH used to feed DD1 at about 11pm so I could to bed early and get a few hours kip before the next feed.

Sybil my DD1 used to sick her feeds up quite regularly. Some babies are just like that - sometimes they would be projectile but she suffered absolutely no ill effects (I think she was just a tad too greedy and used to stuff herself too full - like the wafer thin mint that Essie described!).

Whinegums - LOL

Josey - your daughter Olivia is gorgeous, hope that everything goes OK for her discharge this weekend.

To everyone waiting, I sympathise but can't recommend anything in particular to speed you up - sorry.

Having a bad day here, had a rough night, then mum and mil have gone home so Ethan is cuddle deprived today, feeding loads and I have the mother of all headaches. Just been to bed with him but it didn't help, plus it's soooo hot here today.

But I have some positive news - I have had my 1st poo since Ethan was born - yes - 8 days. I knew you would all like to share my news!!!

8 days!! Its so scary that first poo though isn't it. I took 2/3 days but I was dreading it so much, I was chuffed to bits when I got to tell the mw that I had successfully opened my bowels without need for pain relief!

awww, that's so sweet, Deb. Have you named it?

tgf - hope things are getting easier with storm and dh being a bit more helpful. no wonder its so hard to settle her if she is overstimulated

essie sorry to hear about your hospital drama - thank god for your mw and am glad you did get some answers even

deb am so glad about your latest arrival..

No news here - more acupuncture, am apparently very engaged adn blood pressure going up (really? given I'm pumped up like a watermelon you don't say ) - just got to sit here and wait til tuesday next week as will do a sweep and discuss inductions then. Although no sign of labour yet with acupuncture does seem to have chilled me out a bit... even went to watch some of one day cricket (although came home early which is just as well as very puffy feet as a result.

Back again!
With expressing, I'm quite keen to do it but I keep getting so much conflicting opinions... If I express, will I produce even more milk? I'm currently expecting to be smacked on the rump at the Anglesey Show and give me a rosette with the Limousins and Jerseys. Perhaps I should start making yoghurt.
Sybil, yes, I think we're united in the vomit. Annoyingly it tends to happen at 1am, not 3pm!!

Poo - I got a tip on this one. (Mine not his!). Not sure if it's safe for folks with piles - and if you're squeamish stop reading now. You can, er, help things along with a finger if things are a bit slow moving, apparently. I was a bit constipated, and was told a finger, with care (short nails etc!!) and a bit of vaseline is ok. I don't have stitches all around, though, so I reckon don't do this unless you're absolutely sure...Is this a little enema?

But I really think having a baby was easier than that first poo!

Oh, forgot to reply to all the posts. In brief:

Josey, Olivia looks so well! She really looks a healthy baby. Glad things are better.

Sponge, read your birth story with interest. Now, on the wimpyness competition, I reckon I could compete with you - I faint at the sight of blood, needles etc. So basically I went into this saying that I wanted an epidural, and that's what I had. Now, I'm probably totally kidding myself, but to me, I had a fairly 'natural' birth. My reasoning is that if I was having my appendix out, nobody would be impressed if I did it with no pain relief! And childbirth really hurts. DH was dead supportive when I was a bit ashamed for taking the 'easy option' - he saw the needle(s) going in for the epidural [and has also done a botched epidural legal case] and said an epidural is not the easy option. No way.

So I don't feel guilty about it - it was the best possible option for me and I would have been seriously traumatised if I hadn't had my epidural. My baby was back to back, btw. So I feel no shame. And one friend joked that I was too posh to push. Nope - I pushed him out by myself, and g&a doesn't work for everyone. To me, unnatural childbirth would involve a general anaesthetic. (Tempting!). So maybe you should see it as 'natural with pain relief'? I do.

Whinegums obviously we're all talking bollocks because babies just slide out. Like a piece of soap...

Gemma has been missing - but she was a single parent and things must be quite tough.

Oh god, my boobs are off again. Can anyone tell me when this is going to stop?

sorry I haven't time to read all posts but see that no-one else has popped so don't need to update.

Basil is great but feeding every 2ish hours which is knackering. DH is currently feeding him while I do supper, not looking forward to tonight as very tired already. I am very worried about next week, I just need him not to want a feed between 7.15 and 8.15 as that is when DH gets DD up dressed and to nursery and back and I have to do breakfasts. But hey ho we will get through it. Now where can I find that sleep is for the weak thread.

on the other hand our flat has been relet very quickly and the couple are even happy for it to be repainted around them so that is a huge relief and something we don't have to worry about.

Oh dear God - what do you do when your baby WILL NOT settle at all and screams his little head off non stop for about 2 hours? I tried taking him for a walk in the pram but he just cried the whole way. He is quiet now as he's cried himself into oblivion. His cord stump has not come off yet after 10 days and it's all manky and smelly with goo. I wondered if it might be infected? I called the MW ansd she said it was normal to be like that (my crappy book say call MW the same day if it's got goo). My DP has gone to play cricket and left me alone - f8cking typical. I have been up since 4.30am and feel rotten with a painful c section scar, constipation and leaking tits. Oh f7ck he's woken up again. bollox

Hi guys, sorry haven't been on for a few days but had a tough time with the whole bf vs ff debate - after spending 24 hrs in tears (Monday to Tuesday) we made the difficult decision yesterday to switch Alex wholly to ff. I feel very bad about it, but having said that he only woke once last night for feeding (fed at midnight, 3am, 7.30am) and we both feel human this morning.

Had a v quick look at posts but Alex is stirring for a feed so don't have much time to respond, sorry . Sending more positive labour vibes to those still (im)patiently waiting!

josey, sounds like Olivia is doing really well and she is totally gorgeous. You must be so excited about having her home this weekend and getting some sense of normality back in your life.

Essie, thank you for your comment on my birth story - you're right about the epi not being an easy option, it was absolute bloody agony! However, it was short term pain to alleviate the pain of hours of labour. Your thinking does make sense - I think I'd just convinced myself (for some strange reason!) that I could cope.

greenfairy, sorry to hear dh is being a bit of a pain, hope you can get him to see that he is overstimulating Storm and she's not really going to 'get' his behaviour at such a young age.