Due in June thread 6

[charleypops]

All I can say right now is AAAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!

Lippy yeah...works wonders for me, he he he!!

She started to have little fits 5 days after coming home. We ended up back in UCH neo natal unit where they wanted to do every test under the sun on her. They were right to as it could have been really serious but watching your 5 day old have a lumbar punture etc is just awful. She was in an incubator for 10 days while they did everything (MRI,ECGs etc etc) and then the prof there (lovely man) said it was 'benign myoclonic jerks of the newborn' - so rare he's never seen it before. He said it would fade at 3 months and dd would be absolutely fine.
It did have a big effect on our relationship though - I only realised how much later on. Took me about 6 months to stop watching her with fearful anxiety and start loving her for her own little self again. Needless to say now I'm besotted with my precious girl.
Don't we go through it them ay?

Deeply dippy...now that takes me back... was niece #2's favorite song of the time...but she was only 6 so I guess that's ok

Welshie how distressing, esp at such a young age...but there's no reason to suspect it would happen again...and at least you would know what would most likely be this time if dd/s does the same thing...but I'm sure everything will be fine

On a different note did you get anything tantalising for DH at you AS party this weekend??...I'm a nosey old parker me, he he he

Thanks TB - I'm trying not to think about it - don't want to spoil things by worrying about stuff that hasn't happened.
AS party was a hoot - have you seen the 'Big Ben'? I couldn't believe my eyes - looked more like a large pig's leg.
I did buy some underwear - it may not fit under the bump but I'll save it for later if not.

Lippy I hadn't posted since Friday lunchtime - so not long at all - it's just we're all champion gassers - we must win the prize for most used ante natal thread surely?

Morning ladies!

Hi uwila - I was a bit concerned about Charley being on the bed after a couple of people in RL were horrified that he was sleeping on the bed - that it would never work and suggested I start implementing a strict routine with him including getting him sleeping downstairs so a few weeks ago I actually posted a thread about it. Anyway, the result of that was there's no real reason why he can't be in the same room as long as he's not left on his own with the baby. I suspect he will flounce off elsewhere anyway if baby's noisy. We can't bear to banish him downstairs, but I am beginning to get physically uncomfortable so we've decided to get a small bed for him that'll go next to dp, on the other side from baby. He's a quick learner so should adapt, and as he's not a dominant dog shouldn't be jealous. It's going to be one of those things where we just see what happens.

Lua - no drugs - wow! not even gas and air!?? Was that through choice? Ouch. I dreamt about octupusses (octopii?) last night - I was eating one while it was still alive because I didn't want to kill it and knew they gre their legs back... think I'm missing sushi

I'm glad a few of you have said Fybogel doesn't work - I can stop flogging that particular dead horse! I'm making a appt today to see my doc to get lactulose. Sadly Tea, the curry thing doesn't work for me, and I've forgotten what an orgasm is!

Weshie - how horrible for you and dd - 10 days is such a long time. Thank god she was ok x

So did you get a Big Ben??

Charley I'm so sorry to have missed the constipation debate for what it's worth I eat alot of grapes which seems to help things along.
I think that Big Ben will be featuring in my nightmares in the future - I'll be running down the road naked while being chased by an enormous pale pink penis.

CHarley, perhaps I'm being a tad paranoid, but I wonder if it might be a good idea to talk to your vet and ask him/her if the dog could get jealous on you. And, if he could I wonder if baby might be safer in a cot than a moses basket (in your room, if that's your plan). Also, in a moses basket, a clumsy dog could tip it over, even if not intentional. And that will definitely disrupt everyone's sleep.

Perhaps I'm worrying for nothing. My sister has a chow chow, and it is a visco=ious little beast. So, children and big dogs scare me. Especially if the dog was around first.

Always better to be safe than sorry. And if I'm just a pranoid weirdo, then just ignore me.

morning all

on the dog front our dog was sleeping in our room before we had DD, we had a small house when we got her and it just kind of happened!! when i was about 6 months PG with DD we moved the dog onto the landing and put a babygate at our door, she snuffle for precisely one night and then from then on is content to sleep on the landing in her comfy bed. in fact now, because her bed is next to DD's room she goes to bed when DD does and guards her!

So waht flavour is your dog charley?
I have a large size dog. Although she is a sweetie and wouldn't ever hurt DD on purpose, she is extremely clumsy and have stepped on DD when she was a baby and thrown her in the floor many times since she became an independent toddler. She was definetely banned from the room when DD was born because she insisted in sniffing the baby in the crib by my bed and I was sure she would eventually tip it.
The dog has been a bit neglected after baby I must admit, so you shouldn't follow my advice! Perhaps you would like to adopt my dog? she would love a considered person like you!

Welshie - I hope BB doesn't feature in my nightmares now you've painted such a lovely image for me

Uwila, you're not being weird at all, all dogs are unpredictable to a degree. I'm sure we'll be fine with the our Charley, (he's a chocolate lab by the way). We love dogs - I used to work for the RSPCA and was a professional dog walker for a couple of years, but there are dogs I definitely wouldn't have in the bedroom (let alone on the bed!). When we move house, the plan is we get a smallholding so there'll be loads of animals all over the place, so I guess our kids and animals will have to deal with one another to a degree so I've decided not to get too worried about Charley and baby. If it doesn't work out then we'll do something about it then, but for us, we don't think it would be fair to exclude him funless he gives us a reason to - he's such a softy and loves cuddling up on the bed.

I'll be more concerned when the baby starts to crawl and toddle. I think that's another reason I feel I need to get them used to one another beforehand and show him what behaviour around baby is acceptable and what isn't, rather than simply separating them. I couldn't bear to keep them apart for the next 5 years or so - it'd be so stressful and might cause problems for those times they are in the same room together. And by then Charley'd be on his last legs anyway

However, this is all conjecture. Reality might be different and when baby arrives I might feel differently. I might not be able to cope with a baby and dog at all but that would break my heart.

What dog do you have Lua? Of course, you're bound to "neglect" your dog to a degree once you have a baby - they have after all been a surrogate child for a while. There's not enough time in the day to give a dog the same attention as he was used to. I'm sure we'll find the same happens with Charley. Luckily, he's pretty lazy and as long as he gets a good off lead walk everyday, he's happy to just snooze. The responsibility of having to get out of the house with him everyday will be good for me and the baby.

I have a weimaraner. She is a couch potato, but she gets excited vary easily and she was our baby and was used to sit on "dad's" lap. So she didn't took to well to the fact she couldn't jump all over us when baby was around. She listens very well to commands so she never really hurt DD. I can only imagine though how hard it will be for her to control herself once there is two of these small fragile things to keep track off! . You should definetely adopt her!

BTW, you did ask me about gas and air. No, I didn't have that. They are not an option in US. I actually have been wondering why. I need to do some research on it!
I was terrified of an epidural so just went cold turkey. I did a Bradley course while preganant, which convince me that it wasn't going to be that bad. THey told me over and over than when it gets really bad, it is almost over. Also, they kept saying that epidurals tend to slow things down and make the whole thing longer and sometimes more complicated because you can't push as well. If all of this is really true for everybody else I don't know. But it was true for me. When I finally decide I might want some pain killers, DD was coming out. That been said, I might have been really lucky. Short labour, a couple of pushes and she was out.

Lua - I am hugely impressed by your fortitude.
On birthing matters.....Uwila-I keep meaning to ask you if you had an elec c-section with your dd? Just wanted to compare notes.....

Welshie, poor little dd!! A lumbar puncture is such a horrible procedure, I've seen a couple being performed This time round it will be a breeze! And of course now we all have each other as an invaluable resource in times of trouble.

Big Ben eh??? This scares me somewhat, I daren't ask how big he truly is. Although it sounds like we should all take a (tea) leaf out of Tea's book and get orgasm-ing to help with constipation, sod linseed oil and lactulose for a laugh!!! I always wondered what they must feel like to the baby..? Sorry should have put a tmi alert

CHarley, you sound very experienced with dogs and your Charley sounds very calm. I'm sure it will stay that way once Podrick comes along.
I don't really like dogs very much, but do my utmost not to pass on any sign of nerves or anxiety to dd. It seems to have worked, she is happy to play with dogs she knows to be friendly. Sadly our neighbours dog, is not friendly and highly unpredicatable. He bit my neighbour on the nose when she tried to kiss him a couple of weeks ago, with no warning So, of course, dd isn't allowed on ground level with him and I have to tell her she can't touch or stroke him!! Talk about mixed messages!

I think dd has conjunctivitis Anyone's children had this? She's fine in herself, but it's so contagious we can't do groups and stuff. Off to the doctors tomorrow am.

#Bows down to Lua# Labour with no pain relief. Praise indeed. I pray that this time rouns this baby will be in the right position and come out swiftly, I was in agony for about 2 days I did have an epi - you're right they do slow things dowm, which is why you usually have syntocin as well, I did. I was lucky in the end, the epi was wearing off and I could feel to push, but not feel pain. Some women aren't so lucky and have no idea what they are doing. Dd came out in about 15 minutes I recall.

Are you having a caesarian this time round Welshie?

Lipstick - breast milk is great for conjunctavitus! bit early i know!!

Re labour - strange they don't have gas and air in the USA i used a little bit of it but mostly i just used my TENS machine and toe wiggling!

Hi Welshie, yes dd was a c-section. Completely unplanned. In fact the thought of ending up in c-section never even occurred to me. Long sory made short, I was induced at two weeks over due and after about 30 hours when she went into foetal distress, the mentioned casarean, and I didn't hesitate for a second to give consent. Ended up with every drug on offer in me (except pethidine), and I do mean every other one. It was not a fun experience. Although all was obviously well in the end. Without it the c-section and the technology of modern medicine, DD would not be here today. So, it is my personal view that cearsareans get a bad wrap. It is also my view that recovery is not mearly as bad as the anti-caesarean people say it is.

I could type much more... but I'll spare you. If you want to know what went wrong and howI think it could have / should have been done differently, by all means ask and I'll gladly add to this. But, as I thinkI'm the only oneon this thread seeking a caesarean, I'll spare you guys any more detail that you probably aren't interested (at least on this post).

Off to lunch. Be back later...

Lua - Charley hates Weimeraners - he's a bit jealous I think because they're better looking than him so chases them off . You're definitely making a great "sales pitch" for me adopting her I must say (!) - I'm always trying to get Charley adopted myself - they can be such a pain in the arse can't they (not really)

As for your labour, it sounds to me like you must have a very high pain threashold - most people are screaming for pain killers when they first get those serious contractions aren't they? Gosh, fancy not having gas and air in the USA - i'm really looking forward to it (and my nice calm waterbirth, subdued lighting, Pink Floyd...) Can I ask while we're on the subject, are women expected to give birth on their backs in the USA? Everytime I've seen an American birth, the women seem to on their backs and with their feet in stirrups?

Lippy DD had conjectivitis a couple of times...
If you want to get some relief started, I found that cleaning her eyes with chamomile tea really helped. I have used tea together with antibiotic cream for the nursery sake, and once on its own over the weekend. It worked pretty well on its own, but I guess it depends if is just some allergy or a really bad infection.

Gosh Uwila what a nightmare! I'm not suprised you are so pro-c sections!

Is anyone else playing music to their bump? He's currently listening to some Brian Eno via a pair of headphones (the plasterer I have in at the moment must think I'm very odd

No you're not alone Uwila, I'll be asking for another c-section when I see the constultant at my 34 week appointment. It's the same one who looked after me last time and she recommended it then so I hope it won't be a problem to get it again - although I don't have the same problems this time.

we've only resorted to the antibiotic cream once with DD and that was because her eye was red and swollen shut plus gunky, most times when she gets it we just use cooled boiled water and clean it regularly, and like i said when she got it and i was still breast feeding i used my milk just a small amount and cleaned with that it generally only took one go with breast milk and it was gone!!

Agree with whoever else said it all american births being on the back with legs in stirups, and i've watched lots on discovery health

Charley - the most aural stimualtion mine is getting is from dd who likes to kiss bump every morning, hug it and tell it just how much she loves it.