Due June 08: less of the hens hatching, more of the cows milking?

[bitofadramaqueen]

Lets hope it's not too long before everyone is hatched and milking season is in full swing!

Ah Essie, I'm starting to wonder if we have the same baby... Jamie fed loads last night and then promptly threw it all back up in my face. So he wasn't hungry either then! I think he likes to suck and thinks it will put him to sleep, I must confess I am wondering if a dummy would help, although have never given one to other two and feel strangely reluctant.

Congratulations to upside. The list is getting much shorter now, which must be so demoralising for those left on it, don't worry ladies we are all thinking of you. To be honest, I am now looking back at those nights when all I woke up for were bathroom trips and wondering why I maoned so much about then. (As opposed to the vomit breaks I currently have)

Hi all - and congratuations PP!

I'm still in the overdue club - much to my annoyance. Had a show on Friday eve and then again this morning, and I've also had lots of BH and some cramps, but nothing else. The good thing is I'm sleeping really well, but every morning seems like such a disappointment that nothing has happened. Induction booked for Friday but really hope I don't have to wait that long.

Did we ever find out how poppy was doing?

No sign of poppy on mumsnet since her 'am i in labour thread' thread on Thursday - I guess the answer must have been yes!

whinegums and ktpie I hope we all get our turn soon. I really have had no symptoms so keep hoping that I just unexpectedly pop. Still no show, just occasional painless BH's. I did get wierd back pain again this morning (like a throbbing, pulsating pain) for about 30 secs. This happened twice on Friday too. Certainly nothing contraction like (not that I know what one feels like, but I'm sure I'll know when it happens ).

Dammit, just lost my post.

Sybil - just seen your photo of Jamie and he seems to be wearing the same babygro as Iestyn...I'm happy to share if you're willing to clear up the vomit!!
We've also been considering a dummy - Iestyn was sucking his hand furiously last night which made me think that he was hungry, but he clearly wasn't.

He's been sleeping beautifully since 4ish now. Grr - needs to do that 8-midnight!

DQ you know, I didn't realise that my early contractions were contractions... but then I don't know the difference between oz, ml etc either.

whinegums - have they talked about when they would want to induce you? For me they have said friday or earlier if my blood pressure is still high tomorrow. I'm really hoping baby comes of it's own accord before then.
Hoping the high blood pressure was just the stress of waiting all morning for the sweep. At least I know what to expect tomorrow so fingers crossed it has gone down again and they don't bring the induction forward.

Glad I am not the only one who has a LO who doesn't like sleeping at night.

Isaac is very whiny/screamy between 11 and 1 and it breaks my heart too - Think that might also be the baby blues kicking in as I changed him with tears last night.

DH is incredible he took him downstairs and rocked him for two hours last night just so I could get some sleep, woke me at 3pm to feed him and then he sleeps for 4 hours (?)

Have had everyone here today - My dad and 2 sisters plus a variety of friends dropping in.

Thought it would be quite stressful but doting aunties changed nappies, winded etc and he was definitely all cuddled out - almost looked like pass the parcel.

All those who are expressing can I ask a couple of quick questions

1. How soon did you start expressing?
2. How soon did you start feeding it to your LO

Breasts are quite painful now so thinking that this might ease the pain, but also know that shouldn't really be giving a bottle this early as it can mess up the sucking reflex - Any advice?

I'm still here whinegums never fear you have not been gazumped of your place in line - just had nothing to report! I have a hospital appointment tomorrow so might get a sweep I suppose?

have spent today baking and ironing - somewhat delayed nesting I think. have more flapjacks than even DP can eat in one sitting!

congratulations UDC am I right in thinknig it's Dorothy rather than Dorothea? she looks gorgeous and glad all went smoothly as you were feeling anxious last we heard from you. Thanks for the update MrUpsidedown!

wonder when we'll hear from Poppy?

BDQ I'm with you on the no symptoms and only painless BHs. my Mum tells me that she went from this to 9cm dilated with no symptoms... then again she also told me she was 2 weeks early and that hasn't followed through for me!

essie Iestyn might have been hungry - some babies do just throw up a lot unfortunately - esp if they take in a lot of air early in the feed.

And I wouldn't feel bad about changing him at night. I just change Storm during her night feed to keep her awake. I figure it must be less distressing to be woken once than to have nappy rash 24/7. (Although maybe not for mum and dad!)

Storm fed on and off for THREE HOURS this afternoon and just wouldn't settle. I think expressing yesterday buggered my milk supply up or something - she kept falling asleep on the breast but waking when taken off it and crying, which apparently is a sign of milk petering out during a feed. Anyhoo, it's DH's turn next as there are 7oz (not 70 ) ready to be delivered while I have some sleep. If she feeds like earlier I suspect I'll be needed for top ups but that's better than having to do the whole thing. Woo!

sybil We've given Storm a dummy a few times. It doesn't work if she's hungry, but sometimes it helps her to go to sleep for a bit.

debs re cords - Storm's came off within four or five days and left a slightly bloody patch. It just rubbed off as grainy bits of dried blood over the following week, so as long as it doesn't appear infected I wouldn't worry about it.

Sympathies to those with LOs with cords still after two weeks. Yuck yuck yuck!

hedgehog sorry, just saw your expressing question.
Although the books say to wait till six weeks my (lovely) HV told me the latest advice is only to wait until breast feeding is 'established'. Of course, this is a bit of a grey area, but I guess if you feel confident feeding LO that's the key.

Storm started having expressed milk yesterday and is four weeks old. I didn't find time to express in advance as was always too busy or feeding too often to find time.

Also, re the night time crying, worth considering whether LO is getting 'over-stimulated' by all the visitors/ contact of the v early days. Apparently babies can seem fine at the time, but struggle to settle later. Storm had a bad night earlier this week after DH teased her a lot in the afternoon - lots of big kisses etc. Since he's toned down the smothering a bit she settles much better - most of the time anyway

Ooh, I think I started the 'dorothea' for baby upsidedowncake - I could have sworn that's what it said on their blog earlier today, but you're right laura it is in fact 'dorothy'. Which is also a lovely name

at your supply of flapjacks Laura - I made muffins today, with strawberries so they should really be eaten in next day or so, but not going anywhere and not expecting any visitors. My first attempt at muffins and they were rather tasty. However, they do look more like cakes than muffins though so not sure where I went wrong. Have decided that after a lifetime of staying clear of the kitchen I am going to become an expert baker. DH does the cooking but not so good at baking/deserts.

Been out for a long walk tonight - decided gravity might be better than lying on the sofa eating chocolate... No impact so far, but did enjoy nice walk.

Essie I'm still not too sure of the difference between oz and ml so dont worry (doesn't bode well for my new career as expert baker does it )

bdq the answer was yes (so much for all the classes,mumsnet browsing etc as when push came to shove I was a little confused...)

Edie was born at 8.14 on Thursday 26th weighing 7 1b 6oz. She is absolutely gorgeous and currently asleep next to her dad unimpressed by the football (we rejected her spanish uncles' suggestion of fabregas as a name as she was born on thursday night [grink]).

Quick labour story - waters broke at around 8am on thursday (no real signs except for period pain -couldn't really call it contractions- and feeling a bit off with mild tummy upset). This was of course just as dh on train into work. we've got all time in the world I thought..

hour later contractions definitely starting to kick in and get quicker(hence post!!) and some blood staining in the waters (plus whoever told me they were clear needs shooting )..cue panicked call to hospital who suggested I came in. DH called out of meeting and makes way home.

. Cue do I wait for dh or try to get into hospital another way (its 40 minutes away). DH did make it back and we head straight out .. with only remaining towel in car - very long journey indeed.. why do you hit traffic when you don't need it!!

Got to hospital and was examined by about 1am having been put on a monitor -good news is 4cm dilated, bad news is waters now meconium stained so consultant doesnt particularly want a long labour.

Moved up to labour suite to see how I am in 4 hours as may need interventon.. of course in all this all my careful plans re hypno etc are out the window (well I did try and think of other things which was helpful and tens machine helped but it was none of the nice lentil weavy hypno screipt). Pain wasnt as bad as fact temp/blood pressure going up quite dramatically and being sick until stopped drinking water. Also couldnt go anywhere but on the bed as heart monitor for baby wouldnt work elsewhere (given my past history the only thing I was focussing on was that babys heartbeat ok).

At this point mw/consultant suggested and I decided to go for epidural as thought would help blood pressure (plus for some reason the words to billy don't be a hero came into my mind and any natural birth ideas I had went away).

This actually turned out to be a good idea - not sure if it was my circs or anaethestist but didnt seem to slow contrations (mind you it was 4.30 by time I got it) and blood presure etc came right down. By time finally examined at 6 was fully dilated so was told to wait an hour (slightly surreal) before pushing.

Pushing was a bit odd but not impossible with epidural -you can feel something and with monitor plus lovely midwife did push. This was poss like worst and dullest aerobics class ever as its very knackering doing only one exercise. Did manage to progress until pushed out (in dh's words) projectile emission of meconium stained fluid (narrowly missing consultant).

Understandably concerned either by the power of my fanjo or more likely fact this may indicate baby distress, consultant opted for ventouse delivery with a cut (he was very calm about this and given all I wanted to know was baby was ok I didnt mind). This meant pushing stage was quick (an hour) and edie appeared (albeit with a lovely spock like cone on her head). It was all worth it as she was perfectly healthy and gorgeous.

3rd stage not so good as placenta was ragged and ended up with trip to theatre to dig it out (so probably would have ended up having epi anyway) . This also meant ended up staying in til yesterday lunch.

Very tired and very happy -have had some dramas with feedign (milk didnt come in til today -prob not helped as hospital not exactly conducive to being relaxed -didnt realy sleep til I came home) but home visit midwife has really helped this.

Now off to trawl through other news...

Congratulations poppy. Another great name too.

thanks bdq -what news on signs from you? any date for sweep etc...sorry if missed this in my half trawl of news (congrats PP) -can't help thinking there must be more as seems gap in the hatching schedule.

bdq just seen your post re mw visit -does that mean unless somehting happens this week , we are waiting on news from your hospital visits on next week?

also if you can have you tried walking/bouncing on ball ... am sure that is what engaged edie (she wasnt at all really like then a weekend of that and I had a nice waddle on).

cannot believe we've moved on with some of the more experienced milking cows to sex discussions

Can't believe that this time last week I was still pregnant willing it to happen in the near future, and then bang at 2am on Monday morning my waters broke and by 10 past 8 Luke was born.

Pregnancy really does seem a distant memory now. The best thing (obviously apart from holding Luke in my arms) is being able to have a proper pee i.e. not feeling like I am busting only to discover I manage to pass just an eggcupful. Oh and I can now bend at the waist to pick things up off the floor.

Sleep deprivation is a bugger though. Luke wouldn't settle until 2.30am after I mistakenly woke him at 11 to give him a feed hoping he would go longer through the night. Then he woke at 3.40 for another feed and I fell asleep winding him.

Woke up sat on the sofa with him in my arms soundly asleep at 7.15. DS1 was down on the sofa next to me watching Nick Jr, having helped himself to a yoghurt out of the fridge for his breakfast. Have absolutley no idea what time he came down, but I didn't hear him . But he is an absolute star.

Luke now on 4oz feeds every 3-4 hours. Am still having to top him up with FF though.

Had a couple of hours sleep at lunchtime (again on the sofa) and never heard the phone calls.

Went to a BBQ this afternoon for my Niece's 16th birthday. It was noce to see all the family, but felt a bit guilty as everyone seemed to be more interested in holding Luke, and it was her birthday after all.

Oh well, now need to decide whether or not to wake Luke for his next feed, or wait until he wakes naturally. Don't really want another session of trying to settle him that take over 2 1/2 hours tonight. I can catch up on some sleep myself.

Sending positive labour vibes to those that have had enough. Think the fresh pineapple and clary sage did the trick for me.

Congratulations PregnantPenguin, Upsidedowncake and Poppy . All lovely names and glad you're all ok.

Sorry but I have a (baby) poo question:
I know breastfed babies aren't supposed to get constipated but Thea hasn't pooed for 2 days (which wouldn't bother me in itself) but that has conincided with her being less happy than she was for the first 12 days. She also makes straining noises and goes purple in the face, and has been throwing up more than previously. So I'm convinced that she will feel better if she does a poo. Is there a clever way of rubbing her tummy, or something, that will help her?

I'm still enjoying my little moment of fame. A friend who is a health visitor heard in a meeting about Thea's birth. And another friend was telling a pregnant colleague about it when she was interrupted with "oh, I've heard about that lady, they were telling us at ante-natal class about her". Life in the suburbs you see - we don't get out much so take our excitement where we can get it .

Good to hear from you Poppy, and congratulations on Edie's arrival.

ktpie - I was freaked out by a(nother) weird mw telling me that I would be induced 10 days after my due date (I hate being told what will happen to me with no discussion!) - but I am pretty sure my real due date was the 25th not the 20th - I didn't get my first scan til around 19 weeks, and they're less accurate the later they are. Also, I am pretty certain of the date I conceived too, and the 25th corresponds with my LMP too. I don't want to go down the route of induction unless I'm pretty much ready to go anyway, or there are any problems. Seems like induction when baby isn't ready to come out leads to more interventions/c-section/etc. Of course, if there were any problems, like placenta deteriorating, I wouldn't hesitate.

Anyway, I had a good chat with v nice doc last week, who understood my concerns. I am back at the antenatal clinic on Tues, so will have a sweep then. Fingers crossed I won't even have to think about induction anyway. In the meantime, ball bouncing, pineapple, clary sage, evening primrose oil are all getting a go! DP has gone to bed early pleading tiredness after kitchen construction all weekend, so he won't be doing anything to help tonight! Might go for another reflexology session tomorrow.

Laura, good luck with hospital appointment tomorrow.

Libralady, I am missing being able to bend in the middle!

Rolf, maybe you should get a t-shirt printed to declare your new star status. Hope Thea's tummy is better soon.

Well, off to bed for me - night all.

Congratulations poppy, and what a lovely name! I am very but very pleased for you. Apart from the placenta bit, sounds like the birth went well.

Since my show on Friday I've been having irregular contractions in the evenings, but then they go away when I go to sleep and nothing in the mornings . If one more person tells me I should be happy to have a good night's sleep I will scream. I don't want to sleep, I want my baby!

Many congratulations Poppy and love the name but I am biased as that is DD's name.

It is amazing what a decent stretch of sleep makes. Basil slept from 11pm until 2, woke and then stayed awake, not crying just awake until 3.30, wouldn't settle in his cot so he co slept with us and slept through until 7am, fed and now asleep leaving us to get on with breakfast. I am not keen on co sleeping but seriously thinking about getting an Amby Natures Nest.

Hope everyone has a good day.

Oh and I have removed Claphamkitten as she hasn't posted since beginning of April. If you cpme back I apologise.

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 - Olivia 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 - Daniel Simon
11/06/08 - systemaddict - Caitlin 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 - Theodora
15/06/08 - spongebrainbigpants - Alexander
15/06/08 - Amberc - Luke Joseph
16/06/08 - Essie - Iestyn Seiriol
17/06/08 - Debinaustria - Ethan
17/06/08 - Alipalli - Peter
18/06/08 - wigeon - Eva Judith
19/06/08 - Looneytune - Joshua James
19/06/08 - Peartart - Girl
19/06/08 - Sophiewd - Sebastian Wilfrid Joseph
21/06/08 - Pedilia - Layla
07/06/08 - mellymel -Thomas
23/06/08 - Libralady - Luke Thomas Jacob
23/06/08 - PregnantPenguin - Ryder Henry
24/06/08 - Hedgehog1979 - Issac John
26/06/08 - Poppy34 - Edie
28/06/08 - Upsidedowncake - Dorothea

Still waiting:
06/06/08 - nettiehay -(first baby)
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)
20/06/08 - whinegums - (first baby) BOY
21/06/08 - HeyBaby07 -(First Baby)
21/06/08 - Hoggle -(First Baby)
22/06/08 - bitofadramaqueen -(first baby)
22/06/08 - ktpie -(first baby)
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)

Congratulations UDC and Poppy.

I've added a pic to my profile.

Harvey has grown out of the newborn look which is sad as it shows how fast they grow up. The broken nights have started to catch up with me now and the fact that I've been really busy with the girls. Harvey slept for a five hour stretch for the last two nights so I can really complian and he also goes straight back to sleep when feeding.
I use a dummy and it works really well, I didn't really want to as dd1 had hers for 3 1/2 years and I didn't want him to be the smae but it really comforts him.

josey how are you and olivia?

sophie i used our nature's nest with ds (he loved it and only went into cot when he simply wouldn't fit anymore at about 9 months, and he is very tall) and now with anwyn. she loves it too and slept for 5 hours before i woke her up to feed her last night. i wouldn't have woken her but i didn't know what time it was and thought it was almost morning and panicked, turned out it was only 12.30am and she'd fed at 7.30pm! anyway i swear by that bed but i lent it to my sister when she had her boy and he wouldn't sleep in it so i guess it depends on the baby. saying that, he only liked to sleep on his tummy and at 10 months still does. it's fab that it's right by your bed and you can scoop them out without getting up yourself.

huge congrats to poppy and upsidedowncake!!! lovely names. x

g43 harvey is gorgeous, he still looks newborn-y to me!!

whinegums I agree on the induction thing, it freaked me out when they started talking about when to book one when I was still 5 days before my due date. Will have to see what my blood pressure is today (trying to keep calm!) if it is high then I don't think I have much choice but if it has gone back to normal I'm going to ask the midwife about the options. Obviously if there is any other medical reason to have one then I won't hesitate.
Hoping my cervix is better prepared today and the sweep actually starts something.

Poppy Congratulations! I bet you are really pleased to be home.

Rolf if you don't look out the local paper will turn up on your doorstep!

Laura good luck with your sweep.

Looking forward to joining in with all the baby chat!

Thanks for that Dylansmum, he sleeps best in a rocker and coccoened with us in bed which leads me to think that he might like it. I have nothing to lose (they resell very well) and sleep to gain.

Dummies - it is now reccommended that you use a dummy to help prevent SIDS

G43 he is lovely!