Due July 2008 - The thread where we either all have our babies or talk our way through another one LOL

[Kaz1967]

Starting again ladies? God we don't half talk LOL

Hi all, haven't posted for ages but have been lurking with a vengeance. Congratulations to all with babies, I have to admit to getting quite tearful whenever a new one is announced.

I should have time to be a little more chatty now as am on maternity leave at last - worked until 37+ weeks as last 2 babies were more than 2 weeks late (and induced) so am assuming this one will be too. Can't quite believe that my actual due date is only 10 days away - I am so not ready! Dh is working away until Sunday so I don't want anything to happen before then, but after that I will be very pleased for baby to make an appearance and we'll just deal with things like decorating the nursery later.

Advice to all trying to induce labour - nothing works in my experience! In previous pregnancies, tried everything that anyone suggested and just made myself feel uncomfortable (e.g. by trying the 'hot bath, hot curry, hot sex' recommendation of one of my work colleagues!) Ate loads of pineapple, which I enjoyed but had no effect, took raspberry leaf capsules from 34 weeks, used clary sage oil, went for long walks. Am resigned to another induction I think, but will wait until at least 42 weeks to give things a chance to happen naturally and try to enjoy the last couple of weeks of what I am planning to be my absolutely final pregnancy!

Morning everyone!

Twinkle I hope your little boys are getting stronger and stronger each day. I can not imagine what you and peanut are going/went through having to say goodbye every evening. Big hugs to you!

Libralady despite all the best logical advice in the world, the best is just keep trying for as long as you can. My neighbour who was unable to feel her DD came over yesterday with her newborn (14 days) DS to tell me how excited and overwhelmed she is that she has finally been able to bf. She has inverted nipples and read everything but in the end she said I just kept trying and following her instincts... Good luck and I hope you do not suffer too much soreness etc.

SK or was it pigleychez ? Thanks for figleaf link. Have just ordered two bras...on sale and in my size!!! What a bargain! Made my day and it is not even 6am!

My DH bought me the most beautiful bouquet of flowers yesterday....I think I may have mentioned that someone on MSN had been treated to some (thanks for the idea Gilly or should I say Gilly's DH)!

Am I the only one who gets severe indigestion from raspberry lea tea and pineapple. Not even the zantac can knock it on the head!

Looks like a wonderful sunny day today which is enough to life my spirits.

Two weeks and four days and counting....

God CilC you sound perky!! I feel like death! Had to get up at 5 due to chronic pelvic pain in bed. Sooooo tired, it's been weeks since I slept for more than 90 mins at a time, I'm exhausted and really want to have this baby early!
Glad you have some flowers to enjoy too, mine are in the bedroom where the cats can't eat them. Nice one on the bras too! Someone on MN was supposed to be sending me some weeks ago but I'm not sure what happened.
Twinkle Wishing the boys health and strength.
Libralady hope you and baba get the BF sorted soon.

May sound perky Gilly...but feel like I have been run over by a bus! Desperate to cling on and find anything (such as sun) to lift spirits and numb pain! Sad I know....

I went to bed quite early and have woken up every couple of hours...if it is not pelvis, then ribs. Have not been able to sleep how I prefer for sooooo long. Hate sleeping on my back!

DH is getting me a zimmer frame today! Woohooaaa! I am find the crutches are making me bend over too much and with added forward push from boobs that have developed a life of their own neck also starting to play up. He seems to think it should help me stay upright. May have to post pictures of this....I know, not as sexy as SK pics!

Morning all looks like theres a few early birds on here now, I was up at 6am courtesy of DD2, I agree if it's not pelvis, it's needing to pee, or ribs or heartburn.

CliC - wasn't me with the sexy pics that was butterfly mcqueen, glad you ordered some bras as well

Gilly - I was lol when you said about your cats eating the flowers, if I ever get flowers they end up in the donwstairs toilet or the cats massacre them, DP doesn't buy me flowers now as it's such a waste of money.

ponto - hi and welcome back, I completely agree with you nothing works to shift a baby that just won't shift.

Feeling a little better today, even started a thread about induction as I was so down, seeing MW tomorrow. I am totally against induction unless you can't help it (someone even suggested elective section ) with 3 Dc under 5 and no help! Just spent most of last night fighting back tear silly hormonal woman!

Sorry SK about sexy pics! It is so hard to keep up on thread and remember everything...I almost need to take notes as I read!

I have always wondered, do all babies eventually come? I know many people who have been induced, but what used to happen before we could do that?

thanks pigley - just ordered 2 nursing bras in figleaves sale.

promo code EVE15PC gives you 15% off and free delivery, if anyone else wants anything.

Morning all,

A bit of a rough night, but with DS1 mainly.

Gave Luke the expressed BM before settling down at 12.30 then set my alarm to go off at 2.30. DS1 decided to wake up and come downstairs and DH slept through him crying so had to go back upstairs and settle him.

I'm sleeping on the sofa so as not to disturb DH who has had a few rough weeks with work and his cold etc so he is more with it during the day to deal with DS1 and be on hand to help me with Luke.

Anyway fed Luke again between 2.30 and 3 with more EBM. I really can't latch him on even with the nipple shields. He was getting distressed and so was I as I was soo tired. So have made the conscious decision to bottle feed Luke with EBM as I got so upset when giving him the EBM on a syringe and he was dribbling it out and it was such a waste after I'd managed to get it out.

Anyway settled him down and expressed another 25ml for the early morning feed. Then DS1 got up again and again DH slept through his cries.

He came down again at 5.30 and luckily DH heard him and took him back to his room and then Luke woke up at 6am. Had sterilised a couple of small bottles at 3am and managed to find a newborn slow flow teat (brand new left over from DS1) so DH fed Luke with 25ml of EBM at 6.30 whilst I sat and expressed some more for later.

It was amazing to watch the milk coming out of my boob with the electric pump. It honestly looked like someone handmilking a cow into a pail when they've got 2 teats. I couldn't believe it. I never had this with DS1 even when trying with the hand pump as my milk never got stimulated enough. I was so excited I called DH & DS1 through to have a look!

Luke took the 25ml the most he's ever had in one go and was duly satisfied and is now back sleeping in his Moses basket.

How often should I express in your opinion ladies? Obviously I am getting milk ready in advance so once I've fed him I can then lie him on my chest whilst I express ready for the next feed. I've been doing it every 3 hours, but I'm wondering whether or not to go to 2 hours to try and increase the amount I am getting (only about 1oz at a time at the moment - I am assuming that the more I express the more I produce?)

TIA

LLxx

Oh and I've now got DH's cold as well!

hi ladies!

i have been lurking while doing my morning pumping but its hard to type with one hand . . . and where does the rest of the time go I should wash my hair during this nap but still . . . .

so this is my 3rd day on my own with Elodie and its getting better. I must admit that I have had a few moments of "what the hell am i doing" and "that was nice but can i have my life back now" which is probably horrible to admit but its my reality.
but then yesterday, as i was bf her, i really did get this overwhelming feeling of love for here

whoops. lost whole lot of message got lost and i posted a link of my pics of elodie

anyway, hope you are all doing well in these last weeks. i was due today!

libra - congrats on the lovely luke! and i had written about my experience with the shields but it got eaten. i think they are fab (i have flat but not inverted nips) but my midwives told me to express lots to stimulate supply too.

anyway, glad he's eaten - its so worrying at the beginning. i had to cup feed elodie for a while. not sure about how often to express but its seems the more i do, the more i have. and the more water i drink, the more i have too (been drinking up to 16 glasses a day!)

Hi Tjuice glad everythiing is working out for you.

The pictures of Elodie are lovely. Happy due date to you, but you got your bundle early, just like me. My due date isn;t until next Tuesday.

I'd tried a cup as well, but Luke still dribbles it out.

I will try and latch him on again later when the MW is here but I feel like I need to be an octopus with 8 hands of my own to hold him, move his hands etc etc and he was screaming and fussing it was distressing to watch and hear.

Morning ladies! Just catching up on all your chatter yesterday. Beautiful pics! And I'm heading for the figleaves sale now too.
Can I pick you brains? I am 38Wk + 1 now. How often should I be drinking the Raspberry leaf tea? And do you think it really makes a difference?
DS1 3rd birthday tomorrow, so I'll have a dosen pre-schoolers paddling in the back garden, followed by family invasion for BBQ on Sunday. Am I mad??

4 cups of raspberry leaf is max recommended amount - you can have that much.

I swear by it!

libralady - don't beat yourself up for giving a bottle, first priority is to get milk into him and kickstart your supply, I had to do the same with DD1 and I BF her for a year. I expressed every 2 hours to start with, was knackering though because you have this cycle of try and BF first, then top up with EBM, then express that takes about an hour then you have an hours rest before you start all over again. I was doing it like this to help her jaundice too. I would always offer her a boob first when she was hungriest, then the bottle. You are right it's mad watching the milk get pumped out too.

Tjuice - beautiful pictures don't worry I still get the "what the hell am I doing moments?"

Jacobsprincess - I'm 38 weeks today and am on 6 RL tablets a day the maximum dose, I think this is equivalent to 6 cups of tea. Don't know about it working, don't think it brings on labour rather makes the second stage faster. Worth a try though. Yes you are mad having a party and BBQ I have cancelled DD1's traditional family BBQ this year, it's on the 20th so I will either just have had a baby or be overdue. The thing is my family are useless when it comes to helping so DP would be manning the BBQ from the DC and I would have to do all the carrying and fetching, food prep etc oh and look after the DDs as well. My family would just sit there and watch me do it (whilst asking for another drink etc) yes even if I'm 10 months pregnant!

JacobsPrincess - you are mad! Still DS1 will love it - good mummy!

TJuice - lovely pics. Being by yourself with the baby is wierd at first isn't it?

Libralady - sorry you're having trouble bf, but glad milk has come in. When I had DD I was still up in the night 3 times with DS, who didn't sleep through until he was 3!! It's exhausting isn't it when you are up with both several times a night - but you do get through it!

Twinkle - thinking of you and your boys and hoping they get strong and are ready to come home soon.

Rumple my first labour was very much like yours due to poor positioning. It was truly awful. Like you I am very nervous now that third will be like first. I have been sitting, lying in good position for weeks, but nothing is making a difference. It's giving me terrible backache too.

My cat eats everything it shouldn't but not flowers - maybe it's cos I never get any!

DH away again tonight... sigh.

Thanks isaidno. I'm on it a couple of times a day (i.e when I remember!) but I shall up my intake.

Just bought some nursinf bras of figleaves, thanks for the discount code! Couldn't get anything in th sale (massive GG boobs even pre-pregnancy!), but 15% off and free delivery is not to be sniffed at!

Oh yeah, anyone want to email my hubby and suggest flowers?!

This is way off topic, but I am so confused! I am due to be getting a new car, thanks to my marvellous mum! My tax on current car runs out Monday, so will have to tax it as will not be getting new car til next Thursday ( very long story, was supposed to be 2moro and therefore wouldnt have needed to tax old car) I am having several problems and it is really confusing my poor pregnant brain!

1. I know I can tax old car then claim most of tax back....does anyone know how?
2. My current insurer will not insure me on new car...no idea why at all, the broker is trying to find out! So am having a trauma with trying to get cover so that dealer can tax the new car and so that I can drive it.
3. My insurance is due for renewal on the 6th July anyway, but I have 4 years no claims so dont want to lose any by taking out seperate policy.
4. Dealers have rung and said can I use their Phone & Go insurance so I am covered on from today until next Thursday then get new cover or take out theirs?!? So confused, wouldn't that mean I would lose some no claims?
5. Need cover asap so that they can take car up to Worcester to get stuff sorted on it coz the driver that does it is going on holiday for 2 weeks!!!!!!

DH says that I shouldnt worry and he will sort it, but he is at work and the guy from the dealers wants an answer and Im getting all flustered coz I dont understand!!!!!

Morning ladies.

TJuice - She is so beautiful... Looks like her mummy doesn't she!!!! I love the pics with the flower in her hair.. Will she be a mini me???? Your looking fab too!

LIBRALADY - Glad Luke got a decent feed, I failed BF DS so I can't really be much help I'm afraid, but am watching what advice your getting and it all sounds pretty sensible.

Been to refexlology this morning and he's pressed all the right buttons so fingers crossed! He did comment that my feet were a lovely colour and that my body seemed willing and able this moring and could feel alot of 'good energy'.. I know it all sounds a bit hippy, but I REALLY want to believe him...... (esp after my MW said she'd be surprised if I made it to 38 weeks! ) maybe it would be better if no one said anything as I'm sure I'll go to 42 weeks now!!!

Bebe -

1. I'd tax your car and worry about claiming ot back at a later date - maybe start a thread on here..

2)Don't do anything until your broker has come back to you

3)You don't need to insure your car until Thursday, I bet the salesman is trying to hurry you for his sales figures, if you cancel your insurance before the 12 months you will most probably loose the whole year, seems a shame for the sake of a couple of days....

4. The fact that THEY need insurance isn't realy your problem. Don't let them bully you..... You don't NEED to take out their insurance at all if you don't want to....

The numbers are probably all mixed up sorry.... but NEW CAR how exciting..... What are you getting?

Oh and if THEY need to take the car somewhere then THEY should have insurance NOT YOU.... Sounds to me like he's trying a fast one....

Morning all.

Bebe- Can only answer question 1 afraid!- You need a form from the post office to send the tax disc back and claim a refund.

as id love a new car.

Jacobs- Know how you feel about the family BBQ.. I have that next pleasure next weekend when ill be 39 weeks! Crazy!

Libra- Glad things are getting better for you with the BF.

TJuice- Great to hear from you.... Cant seem to view the pics?? but will get DH to work his magic when he gets in tonight. Computer geek that he is!

Meeting a friend for lunch in town today with her 1yr old which will be nice. Not really been out that much lately as its such an effort but actually looking forward to it.

Then later this afternoon i have the MW. Hoping my BP isnt high again as i dont fancy another trip to the Hospital for monitoring.

Next time i go i want it to be for real!!

Bebe - it is pretty easy to claim back tax, just need the tax disc and a form from the post office (or i'm pretty sure you can download one online - form =V14) and then send it off to swansea. you can only claim full months back though so will lose a month's worth. I don't think there's an issue with having 2 insurance policies running so long as if you have an accident you don't claim from both (obviously!!)so you could get full year on your current one, but as jodie said you don't need to have the car insured for you until thursday when you pick it up, not sure why they want you insured from now till thursday as you won't be driving it, sounds like they are trying to sell you something you don't need. Their insurance will cover them driving it.

Hope this helps

bebe - i agree with jodie, the salesman gets commission from selling you their insurance. Just sort out your own, if it's fully comp on your old car your insured to drive third party on any other car......probably, you could check that with your broker.
To claim back tax, you just send the disk off to the dvla, and they eventually send you a cheque.