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

[mamamufin]

I thought I would be brave

London meet up thread here

Morning!
Yesterday I was given a tour of the maternity labour at the hospital with another 3 ladies. It was good because I had the chance to ask lots of questions about what happens after the C-Section.

With my first one, the emergency one, it was done at midnight, my dh was asked to leave, I couldn't manage to hold the baby during the night and I was so fed up that by 8:00 am I was up having a shower and bathing the baby.
In this hospital they are going to keep me in observation for 2 hrs and then in bed for 12 hours. After that they will take me to the shower in a special wheelchair.
I was very lucky the first time, I should not have moved so soon, but nobody was there to help me during the night.
This time I am really going to use their services. they would have more midwifes since it will happen during the morning.
I AM SO EXCITED..........

Happy Monday to everyone! Just updating the list...

Arrivals!
28-May - Johnworf ? Katherine, 1lb 8oz
30-June ? KashaSarrasin ? DS2, 1.39kg

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 - Hospital
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
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
09 Sep - Starlight - age 32 - Herts - DS 19m - GIRL (Planning homebirth)
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 - Surprise- Royal Glamorgan South Wales
15-Sep - ellideb - age 24 - North Wales - 1st baby - BOY
15-Sep - Bogie - age 20 - DS2 - GIRL
15-Sep - Goldiewithabump - age 26 - London - 1st baby - BOY
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 5 - East Mids - BOY - Homebirth/QMC (Notts)
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 - eandz - age 24 - NW London - 1st baby - BOY; Chelsea & Westminster,(sw london)
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
22-Sep - kgirl - age 25 - 1st baby - Herts
23-Sep - digitalgirl - age 30 - North London - first baby - SURPRISE - hospital birth
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
26-Sep - MissusH - age 35 - S.Derbys - dd, 5.8
26-Sep - Pitufina - age 29 - 2nd baby - ds, 3.5 - surprise! - South wales
27-Sep - Inquisitive - age 31 - Berks - 1st baby - BOY
27-Sep - pidge - age 37 - London - 2 dds age 6 and 3 - Surprise! Homebirth.
27-Sep - Jennylindinha - age 36 - London - first baby - Surprise! Planned homebirth (otherwise Kings)
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

Happy Monday to everyone! Just updating the list...

Arrivals!
28-May - Johnworf ? Katherine, 1lb 8oz
30-June ? KashaSarrasin ? DS2, 1.39kg

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 - Hospital
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
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
09 Sep - Starlight - age 32 - Herts - DS 19m - GIRL (Planning homebirth)
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 - Surprise- Royal Glamorgan South Wales
15-Sep - ellideb - age 24 - North Wales - 1st baby - BOY
15-Sep - Bogie - age 20 - DS2 - GIRL - Nottingham City Hospital
15-Sep - Goldiewithabump - age 26 - London - 1st baby - BOY
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 5 - East Mids - BOY - Homebirth/QMC (Notts)
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 - eandz - age 24 - NW London - 1st baby - BOY; Chelsea & Westminster,(sw london)
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
22-Sep - kgirl - age 25 - 1st baby - Herts
23-Sep - digitalgirl - age 30 - North London - first baby - SURPRISE - hospital birth
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
26-Sep - MissusH - age 35 - S.Derbys - dd, 5.8
26-Sep - Pitufina - age 29 - 2nd baby - ds, 3.5 - surprise! - South wales
27-Sep - Inquisitive - age 31 - Berks - 1st baby - BOY
27-Sep - pidge - age 37 - London - 2 dds age 6 and 3 - Surprise! Homebirth.
27-Sep - Jennylindinha - age 36 - London - first baby - Surprise! Planned homebirth (otherwise Kings)
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

Just adding my hospital

StarlightMcKenzie have a look at the Kari-me sling, it is like the Moby, but you can use it till they are older. I love it. I think I will use it more than the Close baby carrier, I will leave that one for my husband.

My final details

Arrivals!
28-May - Johnworf ? Katherine, 1lb 8oz
30-June ? KashaSarrasin ? DS2, 1.39kg

Counting down the days:
25-Aug - Excitable - age 31 - North Lancashire - first baby
27-Aug - Potxola - age 41 - ELECTIVE C-SECTION - Devon - DS 3.10 - GIRL
30-Aug - Gracie14 - age 26 - Berkshire - BOY
31-Aug - Sassafrass - age 31 - east midlands - DD 3 - GIRL - Hospital
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 - 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
09 Sep - Starlight - age 32 - Herts - DS 19m - GIRL (Planning homebirth)
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 - Surprise- Royal Glamorgan South Wales
15-Sep - ellideb - age 24 - North Wales - 1st baby - BOY
15-Sep - Bogie - age 20 - DS2 - GIRL - Nottingham City Hospital
15-Sep - Goldiewithabump - age 26 - London - 1st baby - BOY
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 5 - East Mids - BOY - Homebirth/QMC (Notts)
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 - eandz - age 24 - NW London - 1st baby - BOY; Chelsea & Westminster,(sw london)
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
22-Sep - kgirl - age 25 - 1st baby - Herts
23-Sep - digitalgirl - age 30 - North London - first baby - SURPRISE - hospital birth
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
26-Sep - MissusH - age 35 - S.Derbys - dd, 5.8
26-Sep - Pitufina - age 29 - 2nd baby - ds, 3.5 - surprise! - South wales
27-Sep - Inquisitive - age 31 - Berks - 1st baby - BOY
27-Sep - pidge - age 37 - London - 2 dds age 6 and 3 - Surprise! Homebirth.
27-Sep - Jennylindinha - age 36 - London - first baby - Surprise! Planned homebirth (otherwise Kings)
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

ah, yes, thorstein the doting daddy. He is an inspiration to young blokes. I [heart] the way he dotes on his little aurora.

I wonder if he has a fan club somewhere else.

StartlightMenzie The kari-me does not shrink when washed and the material is stronger.(The moby does shrink, but recovers the lenth when you use it again)

The main reason I bought the kari-me instead of the Moby or tricot-lein is that really supports your baby's head and you can really use it for heavy and older toddlers so I can use it when Lorea is old. I knew a very thin mum who carried her 3 year old son without problems and she has a bad back!!!

In one of the webs that sell slings it says:
" The Moby Wrap is slightly more lightweight than the Cuddly Wrap and the Kari-me, so gives marginally less support but is a little cooler to wear."
I am new in the sling world and for me support is very important, I don't want to rely on my hands to look after Lorea when I am carrying her.I will need my hands free to look after my ds.
Hope it hepls

LittleConnie - I have a wilkinet and absolutely adore it. Super comfy and adjustable, I've used it for both my dds. Can't imagine you could feed in it though, maybe I'm wrong, but the way my dds have gone in it their mouth wouldn't be anywhere near the boob!

But .... now a question for kiskidee or someone ... I think advice has changed since my last baby arrived on carrying newborns upright in a sling, which is the way the wilkinet is designed. Is it no longer recommended? Or are the only ones to avoid the baby bjorn style ones? And how old does the baby have to be before the upright position is ok? I'm confused. I'd been hoping to avoid investing in anything new, but am quite keen to use a sling from early on again.

I am totally overwhelmed by all these new slings!

starlight - yes, I keep telling MrNC how fab he is and that it's not just the hormones saying that, but he doesn't seem to think he's anything special. Part of it is he's been broody for a good 10 years and we started thinking about conceiving about 7 years ago, then dealing with my medical crap, then ttc, a year getting help and finally about a year of trying to accept that a baby was probably really not going to happen (which is part of why we planned to help SIL2 as much as possible).
And now it is... in about 9 weeks... aaaahhh!!

Re slings - I'm totally cack-handed and wouldn't trust my baby in anything I had to tie a knot in or slide a ring about. We got a Baby Bjorn Active for SIL2ds (has hip strap, unlike ordinary Baby Bjorns which apparently just give you backache) - it said suitable from 8 lbs so he's been in it from 10 days old, for up to a couple hours at a time. His head seems supported and he's happy and his adults like it, so I hope it's OK? Was planning to get one for Squirmy too.

Pidge Like this:
www.littlepossums.co.uk/slings/wrap-slings.htm#karime That is why they say it it good to use a sling that really supports their head when they are lying down, making the material into a sort of hammock. you can do it with ant wrap sling, but some are better than others. AND you can BF very easily.
I also went mad trying to chose one, I ended up buying two. I will sell the one I don't use after a while.

you can use a wrap sling or wilkinet from birth. as long as you allow your baby to have his legs in the natural position rather than sort of outstretched. baby's legs assume a natural frog-like position. Just maintain that posture in the carrier. It is difficult to do that with a babybjorn because they let the baby hang from their crutch which means that their pelvic floor takes their upper body weight and their spines arch in an unnatural position. the curvature of a baby's spine is different from that of a walking child or adult.

if you don't trust your knots, look at connecta carrierswhich has buckles. they can be used from birth to toddlerhood. this type is called a soft structured carrier which means the body is soft while the BB is not so it can only take up to a certain bodysize.

there are lots of other SSCs on the market. I have a good friend who was carrying her son in one from 10 days old. the WAHM who makes them is highly skilled and is very knowledgeable about babywearing so I know that lots of thought and attention to detail have gone into these carriers. In addition to this business, she is a mother of 6!

I've got a Baby Bjorn Active notcitrus - we had the Air version last time with DD. Like the little one you know we will use it here and there. They consistently do very well in the reviews and I was happy with ours, and they are everywhere I look! Different people get along with different things I guess - it's like pushchairs!

Thanks kiskidee and potxola - that's relieved my concerns really. And I do remember now the thing about the BB meaning more weight is on the baby's crotch. Sounds like the wilkinet is fine, as my two were definitely in that 'frog' position early on!!

Not that I wouldn't mind another sling, but I'm not sure my brain could cope with the purchasing decision right now. And I did so LOVE my wilkinet any other purchase would be a bit gratuitous!

Our kitchen saga continues - building works had stalled for 2 weeks whilst an engineer worked out what to do about the structural problems. But the builders start again tomorrow, so hopefully we'll make some progress. The novelty of camping in the living room is definitely beginning to wear off. Or at least the hike up to our third floor bathroom to fill the kettle and to wash up is beginning to be tiresome.

I found that with a sling that tie on, you have it around you and around the baby, so if any knots should start to go, you notice it way before the baby falls out or anything, you'd just feel it being a bit loose. Most knots though will just tighten themselves kind of as pressure is put on them. Myself, I feel more safe with knots than with buckles, as if a buckle would snap it would happen very quickly. I'm sure they're both just as safe though so it's a matter of preference really.

he is wearing a tricot slen. a few uk sellers also do them if you google tricot slen, they will come up.

is anyone going to that sling convention on the 27th? i am. i can't wait!

ooh starlight,
i'll be there too ! but then again, i thought you'd be there since you posted the link. i have to go since i can't decide what sling to get and or how to use any of them realisitically.

i don't know if they'll have the real babies, i figured each vendor would have one of those real weight dummy babies?