Due July 2008 - the thread where we realise it IS July, and we mustn't be so busy talking we forget to get round to birthing!

[Polyxene]

Well, I hope a lot more of us can manage to have our babies in THIS thread, even if we will probably talk our way through it well before the end of the month!

Poor you Heffa - sounds like you got through the birth only to have the experience ruined by the aftercare. I hope you are able to put the bad bits behind you and focus on your lovely daughter.

Have a big post natal hug xxx

omg Heffa, what an experience, I think it does help to de-brief. Big positive though in that it sounds like you are getting on with things much better now you are home!

I had stretch but no sweep (head and membranes out of reach) this afternoon so I have to go back in Monday for another and to be booked in for induction... hmmm!

Hope you are doing better Disney, remember no-one expects you to be superwoman, and that should include yourself... take it easy over the weekend if you can. Take it one day at a time.

Hope Pigley is ok too!

I'm off for induction at 7 am tomorrow. Am extremely nervous. Don't think I'll be able to sleep at all tonight!

Heffa - you poor thing. I hope you can start to put it all behind you soon.

Good luck for tomorrow EEC - have a big glass of wine - that'll help you sleep!

Keep checking in to see if theres been an announcement from pigley

EEC - will be thinking of you tomorrow, remember at the end of the induction you will have the most wonderful wee person to cuddle, it's so worth it. Hope it's not too bad for you

heffa - horrible story but glad you and Meda are doing well.

min912 - sending you some labour vibes you and bebejones too

disney - thinking of you too hope you feel a wee bit better today

I am shattered tonight, DD2 has a virus thing and was up loads last night, B was up 12am, 2am and 4am too. Had my Mum up visiting too which was strained (long story).

Heffa - hmmm... sorry to hear about your experience with the hospital. Another experience highlighting how the care is not nearly what it should be, especially for vulnerable women giving birth.

SK - sorry to hear you're so knackered. I know your mum's hard work. (If I remember correctly, massive apologies if I've got it wrong).

Disney - I hope you are getting some sleep and feeling a wee bit better. Keep checking in.

EEC - will be thinking of you tomorrow. Keep your eyes on the prize!

Charlie had a great day today with his first really big expedition... Islington to Hampton Court Palace for a 10 hour day out. He is interacting with us so much more now and is really smiley.

Also, for anyone suffering with colic, I have been using 'Denticol' and since starting with it I have noticed a massive improvement! It also coincides with me cutting out dairy so who knows.

Have a good night all. x

Hi All, don't have time to read the thread as have been out of action for over a week. Just to say that Orla Grace was born at 03:34 on 18th July weighing 8lb 11oz (a mere stripling compared to some of the babies on this thread). As we had been warned might happen, she developed haemolytic jaundice within 12 hours of birth and ended up in SCBU, where she spent the next 4 days. She had triple therapy with lights anove and below her, a nasogastric tube inserted and a drip in the back of her hand. We had a few bad days where her bilirubin levels bumped along just under the point where she would require a blood transfusion.It was very difficult as we could not take her out from under the lights to hold her, and I was not able to breastfeed. So I spent a lot of time expressing milk to put down her nasal tube. However, after 4 days she turned the corner and her levels started to decline. We finally got home yesterday, although Orla is still rather yellow and we will need to continue to attend the clinic on a weekly basis to make sure she does develop anaemia as well. She's feeding really well, and we're doing OK.
I'll try and post my birth story at some pint soon, as it was a wonderful experience (despite my misgivings about being induced), and I'll see how long it takes to get back through the rest of the thread and see what's been happening in the last week. Hope everyone is doing well.

Congrats Poledra! Look forward to hearing birth story.

Good luck EEC.

I have been awake the last couple of hours with what I thought was wind pain (LO has been putting heaps of pressure on my bowels today and has been really uncomfortable), but seems to be coming in waves every 10 minutes at the moment so thinking could actually be contractions? Haven't had any BH before so not actually sure what they are meant to feel like.

Still alive guys, still got a migraine, still can't stay on the laptop. All ok, will get back on to it as soon as I can see properly! Hope all's ok in MN land and all are safe and well.

Contractions have been steady all morning, now 5-6 minutes apart and waters have just broken - definitely the real thing. Never thought I'd say this about labour but - woo hoo!

Gilly - that migraine has lasted for ages! Do you suffer from them usually? I hope that it goes v soon.

Couldn't get on yesterday cos my internet was down...I hate technology.

catec - YAAAYYYYY labour!

EEC - thoughts are with you for induction

Midwife is coming today - although I don't know exactly when....to do a sweep. Hopefully lo will be within range...don't fancy the whole induction thing. Heffa that sounds like a nightmare of aftercare hell.

I was told by a mate that in the Netherlands they let you go as far as 46 weeks before they start interfering...can you imagine being 46 weeks pregnant...

Someone else told me that the hormone responsible for starting labour is soluble in fat....I guess I'm b*&^%"red then cos my backside is soaking it all up before labour can get going! I reckon this body has tried a couple of times but just not got it moving!

So I'm going to clean up the bedroom now so mw can come and do her thing without judging my house......and I'm going to try not to be an old bag to any person who gets near me and ignore the fact that it's hot - my fingers are still numb and I feel like a giant whale......have a good day everyone....hope no-one swells up too much and the heat isn't too horrible! And those of us left have our babies!!!

Congratulations Poledra

I had a fab night - Abbie fed most of last evening and went down around 10pm. She didn't get up till 3.30am and then slept again till 7.30am Hope it lasts xx

Disney - hope all went well at docs - thinking of you xxx

catec - whoohoo your going to have or have had a baby today

EEC - beat of luck thinking of you

poledra - congratulations Orla Grace beautiful names too, so sorry to hear you and she have had a bad week but so glad she has yurned the corner now

Another tiring night here, B up 3 times, DD2 up about 4 and DD1 about twice.

good luck catec!! this is it!
congrats poledra; sorry to hear Orla had a rough start

Wow Catec... Labour YEAHHHHHHHHHHH!

Hi All,

EEC and CATEC - good luck sending pushing vibes

POLEDRA -Orla is a beautiful name - well done you!

Must go feed calvin popping vibes to all you ladies needing them.xxx

catec- wonder who will ahve the baby first? u or meeeeeeeeeeeeeee?

hehe

Yes gilly do migraines normally last this long? I know mine last for 3-4 days if I don't catch them but if this is not normal for you best get it checked out.

Congratulations Poledra- glad to hear that Orla is doing well! And good luck to Catec and EEC

Thanks for the hugs! The post-natal care was really depressing. Luckily the community midwives have been so fantastic that I haven't been too bitter over it. I just find it really sad how so many people have had similar experiences with post-natal care. The midwives have advised me to write (if and when I get a chance!).

Looking forward to hearing more birth announcements!

pigley thinking of you
Poledra lovely name Orla well done
Gilly i too have migraine and am feeling fairly rough despite A being angelic- he feeds a lot and by day 10 was 3 oz over birth weight
i am drained!
wish migraine would go....

disneystar hope things went well at the doctors.

We cannot always be strong sometimes we all need a little extra support and help if you cannot pull yourself together don't beat your self up about it, just accept all the help you can get and try and remember these feelings will go away in time and you will be back to being you. Sometimes you cannot fight them you just have to ride with them for a while. Try to eat a little something, try to get out in the sun (sun really helps lift the mood), if you are up to it try and go for a walk exercise also can help lift the mood. What does have me slightly worried and makes me hope you have been to your GP is your suicidal thoughts, it is good you have expressed them keeping them bottled up is not good at all but there is a very rare condition called Postnatal psychosis or Puerperal Psychosis it is more acute than postnatal depression and does need treatment.

I expected PND to hit having suffered from it before and am stunned I feel fine still so if you need to chat email me at cyclebabe_uk at hotmail dot com believe me I won't be shocked by anything you say. If I have not felt like it myself probably had a patient who has said something similar and talking is one of the most important ways of getting back control.

a few links you may find some use in
Puerperal Psychosis
(please note this line from above link:
Will they take my baby away?

They will not take your baby away. In fact, they try and do the opposite and keep you with the baby, even if it means going to a mother and baby unit. If you have any concerns, speak to your doctor: they will tell you the truth.)

Royal College of Psychiatrists
MIND
NHS direct
NetDoctor
ANd as well as here there are
The Association for Postnatal Illness
Meet A Mum Association
Perinatal Illness - UK

It's taken me over an hour to post this cos munchkin wanted some food

Just a quicky ladies.... will attempt to catch up later at some point and fill you in on the gorey birth details!

Well...

Eventually at 12 days overdue. Abigail Rose was born on 24th July at 3.17am.
In true "being fashionably late" style i was in labour with her for 27 hours!! All of which were hell and ended up with a emergency von touse (spelling?) and forceps delivery.
Or as DH put it -- Carnage!

But still we now have a beautiful little girl who we love every inch of!

Congrats pigley, lovely name, look forward to see some pics. Sounds like your delivery was a bit like my first, but however it pans out you have your little baby, and the bad bits are soon forgotten

Just wanted to pass on my congrats pigley, have been watching the thread waiting for the up date, well done on the birth of your daughter, hope everything is going ok?

Congrats to all the July ladies it is getting more and more difficult to get on the computer!!! wishing you all the best for the future xxx