Due Sept 08: The one where we pack our bags and write our birth plan.

[mamamufin]

I thought I would be brave

hi everyone! i'm fine. i've been a bit out of it today. i couldn't move out of bed because my back gave out it was the weirdest thing ever. soo much pain. but i ended up going in to the hospital in the end for blood tests to see if my liver/kidney problems were back and bp check. ofcourse i won't find out anything till tomorrow when i have to go in for more bloods. ugh!

you yorkies are soo lucky!!!

do the londoners still want to meet up?

Hi everyone

The banana bread sounds yummy .

An update from us - DS2 is still doing really well and got transferred back to York today. He's now breathing completely on his own and taking colostrum via a tube. I got to have my first cuddle yesterday (huge rush of love hormones ) and change my first pooey nappy this morning! We've got everything crossed that everything will continue to go well but it's still early days.

Brief version of birth story - I still have to write the long version but must do it soon before I start forgetting the painful bits! By Monday lunchtime the contractions I'd been having were getting a bit crampy (but no worse than period pain), but they weren't showing up at all on the CTG trace so I thought they couldn't be "real" contractions. The midwife got the doc to examine me and then told me I was 3-4 cm dilated, baby was head down, visible through the membranes and had lots of dark hair ! Cue rapid transfer to labour ward and me phoning DH and my lovely doula in a panic (both managed to get there really quickly). I got through most of the first stage using Natal hypnotherapy (although I suggest listening to the birth preparation CD for the first time before labour, not during ) but wanted some gas and air (great stuff!) as I reached transition. After that things got a bit crazy and happened very fast. I think the second (pushing) stage was only about 10 minutes, and DS2 was born in the membranes. I got about 10 seconds of skin to skin before he got rushed off by the paediatricians . It took a while to get the placenta out and it was a complete mess, and obviously the reason why DS2 wanted to come out!

It says on my notes the labour was 4 hours long, but the third stage was nearly an hour so that's just three hours between it all kicking off for real and DS2 arriving .

I hope I haven't scared anyone! I'm not going to say it didn't hurt (because it did) but it was worth it . I'd definitely recommend though that if anyone has anything that feels like contractions to go and get it checked out just in case, I was very glad I was already in hospital when it all started.

I hope everyone else's babies are well behaved and stay put until close to their due dates!

oh wow...strong woman! once i give birth i doubt i'll be able to stop crying.

i'm soo happy that you and your little boy are doing well

god kasha that sounds scary! Hope you and ds2 are doing well and will be thinking of you

well no builders yet this morning and it;s going to be a scorcher today by the looks of it already
but don't really feel comfy sitting in the garden while builders are there so want them to come and go early so we can still enjoy the sun

might nip up town this morning and get dd a paddling pool as the cat managed to puncture her other

hi everyone! it's the 4th of july and i have no bbqs or fireworks to watch today since i'll be having more tests done to see if i'm ok. argh! Hopefully they'll be able to tell me the results from yesterdays testing also. i can't wait to get today over with!

Good luck eanz, I'm sure they'll be able to put your mind at rest (finally).

Gosh Kasha, your birth story is alarming, but so glad it all turned out ok! Hope LO continues to improve.

I am having the most boring day (analysing excel tables), and I have 8,000 parents descending on me this weekend - me and dp have an excess of parents/step parents etc and we're having a bbq so they can all meet this weekend.

And I have to squeeze in the time to go to my cousin's party, and his wife will be all skinny and pretty (she is pregnant, a couple of weeks behind me) and I will be a WHALE! She is a (minor) sleb though, so maybe there will be famous people there.

Kasha what a fantastic story! I feel so emotional to hear of your cuddles with your precious new DS!

I am so excited - meeting with Carrieon and Mamamufin in real life this afternoon! Kasha, you will be our honorary virtual guest! Hope to meet you too when you are able.

Carrieon, I was going to send you some suggestions for what to ask the doctor for (lactulose: magic stuff!) but then realised I will see you b4 your appt! How weird. P.S. I am bringing banana cake! I'm about to bake it now, though suddenly feel very nervous about the state of my dirty oven.

hopefully,
i'm sure you'll be fine, and look great. my step parents haven't met each other. i don't anyone has ever seen my step dad (me included)! but i've heard him shout.

my first appointment ins't till 12, so i'll be around for a bit.

good luck today eandz hope everything goes well... Happy Independence Day!

Great to hear your birth story kasha glad everything is going well...

Had my second parentcraft class last night, it's a pretty small group which is great so getting to know everyone. All the partners were shown some different massage techniques, then they got a chance to practise, it was lush! I've told DH he'll have to keep practising though!

I'm quite lucky in that all my parents and step parents get on ok. In fact, my father has had several birthday parties where his three wives (two ex, one current) sit in the corner and compare notes!

DP's parents aren't quite so easy, but they are at least civil to one another. Although the one thing that seems to cause tension is who is the best grandparent (DP's sis has a son), and the grandchild is coming on sunday, so I'm expecting ample grandparent competition to keep me entertained!

Gosh I wish I had normal family that could all get on! Am very jealous !

'normal' might be pushing it a bit... but at least they get on! There is lots of tension undercurrent between DP's parents, but they are at least civil in public.

How is it not the weekend yet?

Sounds better than our lot. At least DP's DF and DSM are normal and lovely (and coming down to help out when Baloo is born - hooray!) In fact DFIL is coming down when DP goes to US in 3 weeks to keep me company too.

I'm asking myself the same question hopefully - it may be Friday but it's going soooo slooooowly!

DH's parents even managed to have a row at our wedding! (Although we didn't notice)They definitely shouldn't be in the same room as one another!

I'm clearer about my birth plan after last night's parentcraft but a quarter of the way through, er no is the answer! Shopping, well, now you're talking!

Aw, that's nice of him sunshine. Starlight does having the most anally organised spreadsheet ever make me 1/4 ready? Oh, and have already written birth plan. I will go hang my head in shame...

I have written every other post on here this morning. I clearly need to be doing more work.

I'm not writing birth plan until I've seen obstetrican at 34 weeks, but do have last time's spreadsheet to use.

Funny I feel really disorganised this time round as we had all of DS's stuff ready by Xmas last time (he was born mid-March) and everything for Baloo is still in boxes in spare room and we don't have any drawers to put the stuff we've bought for her in. I've told DP that he must gets the bags from the loft down this weekend so I can go through them.

I guess I have pram, cot (x2), some clothes, NCT classes started, nursery place booked, obstertrician organised though.

happy 4th july eandz.hope all goes well today. very at yorks meet - send me some banana cake please!
i too wish i had a mum who gave a shit about me/future family....

feeling crap cos slipped a disc last night doing prenatal yoga - in lower back agony, only have paracetamol and 'this morning' for company and had to cancel really important meeting in leeds! dp gone off to play golf, leaving me tablet pc that has pen not keyboard grrrrr..

but kasha thanks for sharing and honesty. i'd be happy with a labour like yours, after 38 wks of course! hope all continues to go well.

Hello! I wrote on the first or second thread a while ago. Been lurking recently. Realised I'm not on the list, so I'd like to add myself. Hope it works.

Counting down the days:
25-Aug - Excitable - age 31 - North Lancashire - first baby
30-Aug - Gracie14 - age 26 - Berkshire - BOY
31-Aug - Sassafrass - age 31 - east midlands - DD 3 - GIRL
31-Aug - Sunshinemummy - age 38 - SW London - DS 2.2m - GIRL
01-Sep - Talia1 - age 29 - Leeds/Buxton - 1st baby - GIRL
02-Sep - expatmom2be - age 28 - London - 1st baby - GIRL(?)
02-Sep - Fandango - age 31 - Cheshire - DD 11m
03-Sep - KashaSarrasin - age 38 - N Yorks - DS 3 - *Surprise!Boy?&
03-Sep - Debithescot - age 27 - North Hampshire - DS 25m - SURPRISE
03-Sep - Jenpet - Brittany, France - DS 6
04-Sep - Lollipopmother - age 26 - Oxford - 1st baby - GIRL
04 -Sep - Meglet - age 34 - North Hampshire - DS born Nov 06 - GIRL, planned c-section
06 Sep - Lilapple - age 37 - North London - first baby - surprise!
06-Sep - Potxola - Age 41 - Exeter - DS 3.6 - GIRL
6-09 Sep - Starlight - age 32 - Herts - DS 13m - GIRL
06-Sep - Kagey - age 30 - Kent - first baby - GIRL
07 - Sep - Leenie - age 36 - south london - 3rd baby
09-Sep - Hopefully - age 25 - West Sussex - first baby - Surprise!
09-Sep - Kirstygem - Norfolk - DD 19m
10-Sep - kiki21 - age 32 - Southeast London - first baby
10-Sep - Lollyheart - age26 - basingstoke - dd3,ds17 months - BOY
10-Sep - MrsElle28 - age 28 - Yorkshire - First baby - BOY
10-Sep - Workstostaysane - London - DD 17m
12-Sep - Mustsleep - age 27 - ds 6.8, dd 2.10 - yorkshire - BOY
12-Sep - Biglips - age 33 - Liverpool - DD3 - SURPRISE - girl???
13-Sep - Lulu15 - 1DC
13-Sep - mama2bee - age 34 - South London - first baby
13-Sep - mumiyumi-age 35- Warwickshire -DS 2.9 - suprise
13 Sep - notcitrus - first baby - South London - BOY
14-Sep - Crabby - first baby - Cambridge - GIRL
14-Sep - kel78 - age 29 - dd1 3, dd2 8
15-Sep - ellideb - age 24 - North Wales - 1st baby - BOY
15-Sep - Bogie - age 20 - DS2 - GIRL
16-Sep - BikeRunSki - age 37 - W Yorks - First baby - BOY
16-Sep - Surelyyoucantbeserious - age 30 - s. London - first baby
17-Sep - LumpyBumpyThingy - age 23 - W.Sussex - 1st Baby - GIRL
18-Sep - MelT76 - age 31 - Staffs - 1st baby - BOY
18-Sep - Becaroo - age 35 - ds aged 4 - derbyshire - BOY
18-Sep - mamamufin - age 28 - Yorks - DS 3 - BOY
19-Sep - barnpot - age 27 - west yorks - 1st baby - BOY
19-Sep - kiskidee - dd 3 - Durham. - - GIRL
19-Sep - LeonieD - age 31 - Sutton Coldfield - DD 4.2
19-Sep - Naturalblonde - age 28 - N. Somerset - DD 1.4
19-Sep - Lilypink - age 31 - Suffold - DD 19m
20-Sep - emandz - age 24 - NW London - 1st baby - BOY
20-Sep - imoscarsmum - age 35 - Cheshire/North Wales Boarder - first baby - Surprise!
20-Sep - izzybiz - age 31 - Winchester - DS 15, DD 3.8 - BOY
20-Sep - Jenbot - age 28 - Herts - 1st baby
20-Sep - Treadmillmom - aged 37 - West Midlands - DS1 5, DS2 2 - GIRL
21-Sep - Charitygirl - age 30 - SW London - first baby
22-Sep - jearund - age 35 - South West - DD 15 months - BOY
22-Sep - Luboo - age 31 - Hants - DD 14m
22-Sep - MummyToOneForNow - dd 14mths
22-Sep - Slinkiemalinki - age 31 - West London - dd 2.1 - BOY
23-Sep - digitalgirl - age 29 - North London - first baby
23-Sep - feelingpositive - age 31 - Edinburgh - DD 21m - GIRL
23-Sep - LouiseAnn - age 40 - Guildford - ds 8yo - BOY
23-Sep - Blimey - age 40 - South London - DS 5, DS 3 - BOY
24-Sep - Ninja - age 37 - Manchester - DD 4.5
25-Sep - kgirl - age 24 - 1st baby
26-Sep - MissusH - age 35 - S.Derbys - dd, 5.8
26-Sep - Pitufina - age 29 - 2nd baby - ds, 3.5 - surprise!
27-Sep - Inquisitive - age 31 - Berks - 1st baby - BOY
27-Sep - pidge - age 37 - London - 2 dds age 5.5 and 2.10 - Surprise!
27-Sep - Jennylindinha - age 36 - London - first baby - Surprise!
28-Sep - Carrieon - age 28 - York - dd 12 months - Surprise!-Boy??
28-Sep - LittleConnie - age 33 - West London - 1st baby - Surprise!
28-Sep - splishsplosh - age 37 - London - dd 2
29-Sep - WombFor1More - age 26 - Kent - DS 6, DS 4, DD 10months - BOY
30-Sep - Ninja - age 37 - Manchester - DD 4.5

Plus, haven't even thought about packing bag or shopping for baby. We're moving house at the beginning of next months so I think I'll leave it until we're in the new house. Everything we had for our ds is in boxes in the attic, so when I'm organinsing in the new house I can sort out bag, etc.

Forgot to add that I live in South Wales, will be near Cardiff once we've moved.

Good luck for today eandz

What a lovely story kasha I know when I held my 27 week premmie nephew for the first time I couldnt stop crying (He is a VERY healthy and happy nearly 5 year old now!)

Not much to report here. Fed up. Look like a hippo on steroids. Baby kicking mostly at night - starts about 9pm and continues all night.....2 hours sleep a night is really not adequate.

Am reading lots of trashy fiction and watching Rafa at Wimbledon. Ooh, what a lovely young man........(dribble, dribble)

starlight I have a confession..I am not doing a birth plan

If I have a home birth will I still a bag for hospital just in case? If so, I'd better get cracking!!!!

Still havent heard from community midwife team and am now 29 weeks....arent they leaving it a bit late????

Bec I didn't do one last time either. Just want to stress this time that I want to see Baloo asap, as they whisked DS straight off (meconium) without me seeing him at all and no-one told me what was happening, so I want to make sure someone shows Baloo to me, if possible gives her to me or DP, but if not someone at least tells us what is happening. I ended up having to shout at DP to go and find out what was going on as it was a little hard to move when my insides were all outside!

well i have got a birth plan (same as last time) "Go with the flow".

Well just got in from Hospital as saw the consultant (my DD heard her own heartbeat for the first time ). Everything is looking normal, its facing down atm but obviously head not engaged and is a average size baby (I hope so!! as dont wanna a 9lb baby again but who knows!), gotta go back to see him @ 36 weeks to see whats the birth plan is gonna be (as at 34 weeks gotta go for a re-scan to see if the placenta had moved so another 4 weeks to go!!).

With my 1st pg, i had a transverse pg till i was 36 weeks pg and was high as well, so i do feel this is low down and not high.