Due October 08 - The Only Way Is Out!

[CantSleepWontSleep]

Thought we'd go with twinklytoes suggestion since she's gone and got herself admitted to hospital in a desperate bid for attention .

Have left everyone on the stats for now, but will do another cull of deserters soon....
(and apols if I've missed off any of the recent joiners)

29th Sept perkypopsy first baby Surprise North Herts (Ware)
29th Sept WombFor1More 2 ds's 1 dd Boy
30th Sept Aubergenie first baby Surprise
30th Sept sambrads 1 ds Girl
1st CantSleepWontSleep 1 dd Boy North Herts
1st accessorizequeen 2 ds's Twins - one of each
1st loulou33 1 ds Surprise Southern Scotland C-Section 12th Sept
2nd snowymum first baby Boy Near Oxford
2nd 1sttimer80 first baby Surprise. Hydronephrosis discovered. Extra scan at 28 weeks (7th July) planned. Edgware (Royal Free, Hampstead)
2nd FranMum2B first baby Surprise Kingston
2nd my3honeypies 2 dd's Boy
4th minervaitalica first baby Surprise (unintentionally!)
4th hedgepig 1 ds Surprise
4th pistachio 1 dc Secret
4th annwoo 2 dc Surprise
5th myjobismum 1 ds Surprise Poole, Dorset
5th rosebury 3 ds's 2 dd's Boy Bristol
5th BabyNubie
6th Bethoo 1 ds Girl Salisbury
6th iuseantiageingstuff 2 ds's 1 dd Boy
6th ronshar 2 dd's Surprise (with dangly bits ) West Sussex
6th hoff first baby Boy Spain
7th belgo 2 dd's
8th kookiegoddess first baby Surprise
8th Alexa808 first baby
8th Ksal first baby Surprise Hitchin
10th Lozza70 first baby Surprise NE London (Woodford)
10th emkay 1 dd Surprise West London (Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea)
10th pepperrabbit 2 ds's Surprise
11th staceylouisex first baby Girl
11th dooleymum
12th milfakamonkeymonkeymoomoo 1 dd Boy Salisbury
12th star6 first baby Boy Surbiton
13th YumMum22 1 ds Boy
14th tedmundo 1 ds Surprise Bristol (Southmead)
14th twinklytoes 2 dd's Boy
15th mum2jakeyroo 2 ds's Surprise Near Lancaster
16th moodywren 1 dd 2 ds's Boy Lincolnshire (nr Spalding)
16th bigmouthstrikesagain 1 ds 1 dd Girl Mid-Beds
16th WheresTheAuPair 1 ds Boy
19th MrsTittleMouse 1 dd Girl
19th rach010 1 ds Surprise (but dp knows!) Lincolnshire
20th 07mumstheword 1 dd Surprise Bristol
20th AandMsmum 2 dd's Surprise Bristol
20th KnickersOnMaHead 1 dd Boy
20th jenwa 1 dd Girl Worcestershire
20th firsttimer08 first baby Boy. Dilated renal pelvis - rescan at 34 weeks. Greenwich
21st hansnava 1 dd Surprise Luton
21st rowanmac 1 ds Surprise North Scotland
21st caramelbunny 1 dd Surprise Manchester
21st jess1996 first baby Surprise
21st GirlWithTheMouseyHair first baby Surprise (but written down in case of moment of weakness!) SW London (St Thomas)
21st lilbitmum 1 dc
22nd SmudgeyDoodle 1 ds Surprise Newcastle (Gateshead)
22nd wombleprincess 1 dd
23rd Sallypuss first baby Probably girl Herts/Essex border
23rd Emmsy1 3 ds's 1 dd Girl The Wirral
23rd ajm200 1 ds Girl Camberley, Surrey
24th sparklesandnowineforxxweeks 3 ds's 1 dd Surprise
24th Personanna 1 ds Boy Peru
25th Flum 2 dd's 5th June Wiltshire
26th 4andnotout 3 dd's Girl
26th mariekg 3 dc Girl
27th Rhian82 Boy
27th mybabysinthegarden 1 dd Boy Scottish Borders
27th beaufies first baby Boy c-section 17th Oct
29th Ekka 1 dd Surprise
30th Jambers99 1 ds Girl NW London (Hillingdon)

[star6]

I thought I was all packed then realized I have nothing to wear in my suitcase! Do you just wear like sweat pants and a t shirt home or do most people try to wear something nice? I don't even have a nice going home outfit for the baby... I thought it would be easier to put him in a sleepsuit... who is going to see him (besides the taxi driver)?

[bethoo]

star6 - i think i am being a bit optimistic about fitting back int omy size 8 Jane Norman jeans when leavingthe hospiotal but refuse to don maternity wear if i am not preggers! may wear low waisted combats and a nice yet not too tight top with my new ankle boots! and naturally have more slap on that Jordan ata photo shoot!

[sambrads]

hi ya ladies i to could not get my raspberry leaf tablets from holland and barret so i went to a small independant one in town and they had them .

try the internet there is loads of sites that sell them

star i jst brought a pair of comfy combats and a hoody with me last time . i swear you feel so ugly and its awful the first time you actually put clothes on after the birth

i would love just to go home in my pjs

as for baby a sleepsuit is fine and buy a snowsuit i love them makes baby look like star fish although everyone is different but have something to wrap the little one up nice and warm as the hospital is so warm and it will probably be freezing outside knowing this country

does any of you remember the feeling of leaving the hospital with your new born in the wee carseat seat??
it was so scary but i remember looking at dh and feeling so proud of him carrying this carseat containing or wee baby

i also remember it being such a bad day rain and very windy and dh shouted at me to run and open the car and i remember shouting at him run i can hardly F ing walk hahaha

also to first timers when someone brings you a present to the hospital send it home with your fella as i remember my h had to do 3 trips up and down to the car before he could get us its seriously annoying !!!

[sambrads]

independant health shop i ment

[sambrads]

aso read my post again and i would like to say i felt really ugly putting on clothes but maybe some people were fine dont want to scare you star but bring something that will defo fit !!

my mum said she left the hospital with all us in her size 10 jeans well i can promise that was not the case for me

[ajm200]

I remember that feeling too.. putting on my maternity trousers over a big, deflated and slightly numb jellybelly that seemed to squelch out either side of the waistband.

I wasn't so proud of DS though as he'd been exercising his lungs at full volume for about 6 hours despite everyones best efforts. I honestly believe that the other mums on the ward would have willing helped us pack if we'd taken much longer.. I felt like such a useless mum and couldn't get out of there fast enough. He didn't stop yelling unti we got home and has been a really quiet placid boy ever since.

[loulou33]

Hello,

No more back ache today but still getting some pains and raging BHs.

Sorry to hear about the stresses you've been having Aubergenie - its really hard when you have an idea of the birth you want and then it doesn't happen. I will have to be continuously monitored as previous c-section (if i get to be induced) but i was told you can stand and move a little (as long as the leads on the machines allow you to). i can't imagine trying to labour whilst lying still!! I feel like you that if i have to lie still, there's no way labour will get going on its own, so it leaves me only one option. I feel a bit rail-roaded into c-section and all my family keep saying is 'you've got to do what's best for the baby' - like i wouldn't do that - i'd just like to keep my options open for now.

Hope the liver scan gives you the all clear next week and then maybe they'll let you have the birth you want (loulou crossing fingers in vain hope that she does). Good luck and big hugs xxx

ronshar i am praying that they'll let me have a go at induction next week (not a sentence i ever thought i'd right but hey ho). I know more after MOnday's appointment.

1sttimer i hope you're appointment went well and things have settled a little.

I have some comfy joggers and t-shirt for coming home in - jelly belly allowing!!

[ajm200]

Did you know that the NHS offer reflexology to pregnant mums in some areas?

I've just been given two free appts, one at the start of next month and another a week before my due date as I've been suffering from health problems that might respond to alternative therapies. I love reflexology and can't normally afford it so I really pleased.

[star6]

excellent! Packing jogging bottoms and hooded sweater for the journey home. Do you need changes of clothes for the hospital? Or do you just live in a hospital robe?

[heather1980]

when i had DD you had to supply your own night clothes no robes in our hospital!

can i add my self to the list am due 11th oct with no 2, i'm having a home birth, the midwife came yesterday to do a home birth risk assessment and to drop off my vit k and syntosine (sp?) injections. baby not engaged at all but head down and ready to go.
i'm tired now and with a 22 month old to run around after just want it to be over!

[CantSleepWontSleep]

I really must buy a blanket for in the pram/car, and prob one for in bed too, as dd won't want to give up hers, which only leaves us with one. I want a bright orange one though to go with the pram (dh lost dd's one), and can't find any that don't cost a fortune.

I haven't packed any coming home clothes yet either, as I imagine that I will want something which I'm still wearing (am in stretchy normal clothes rather than maternity stuff). Maybe I will dig out something that I don't wear often, just to be on the safe side.

star/bethoo - you can also get oilatum as a bath additive, which is far less hassle than having to smear stuff on separately.

Aubergenie - sounds like you are having a really tough time of it at the moment too. Have you thought about hiring a doula to support you during the birth and try to help you to exercise your rights under difficult circumstances? If it's too expensive for you, then trainee doulas are much cheaper (I'm having a trainee - it will be her first birth, but Mars knows her and recommended her!).

ajm - yelling baby on the ward sounds very familiar. Another poster popped onto MN once, and it turned out that she'd been in another bay on the same ward as me on the same night. She was kept awake lots by dd crying . Unfortunately she didn't stop for several months afterwards. Am hoping for a more placid (and not milk intolerant!) one this time.

[CantSleepWontSleep]

lol at the idea of hospitals actually bothering to supply you with robes. You need to take something in star - pjs or a nightie (with buttons down the front if you are planning to breastfeed).

Welcome heather - will add you to stats.

[star6]

ok, don't think poorly of me when I say this...
i want to breastfeed... for so many reasons. I will pump and breastfeed when I return to work as well. BUT I am of the mindset for some reason that I just won't like the sensation...I just won't like doing it! I've never had a baby before, so maybe something comes over you and you do like it? DH says this is a very negative mindset (I KNOW it is! I just can't help it). I am a very nurturing person and love children and babies... I have no idea why I think I just won't like it at all. Did anyone else feel this way and then have a baby and all was fine and you actually did like it?

[star6]

sorry.... there's the silly american in me showing through .

[star6]

The was about the hospital robes...

[CantSleepWontSleep]

I don't really think that I thought about the sensation at all beforehand star - just knew that I wanted to bf because it's best for baby, and never even considered that I wouldn't. The first few days/weeks are tough - there's no denying that, but give it a fair chance and then see how you feel. I am a strong believer in positive mental attitudes making a difference to things in life though, so try to at least think positively beforehand. A good piece of advice that someone gave is to plan each day to breastfeed for that day, rather than planning how many weeks/months you want to do, and then feeling pressure to continue.

[ajm200]

Star I thought BF felt a bit odd for the first few days, but I was lucky that DS was a natural and latched on really well so I didn't suffer any of the problems that some do.

The special time snuggled up with your baby is wonderful, even at 2am, and I really missed it when I stopped.

After the first couple of weeks, my main problem was dealing with others negativity to it. Both sides of the family has FF babies after issues BF and thought i should give up after a few weeks. Also hated being banished to the spare room for most of Xmas day by the MIL who thought BF mothers should only do so in private and as we were at her house and DH didn't have the guts to stand up to her, I had to follow her wishes.

I have every intention of BF this one for at least a year and will train to be a BF consellor afterwards.

[bethoo]

star please dont be negative about bf, i find that if you have a negative/defeatest attitude then you will be unsuccessful. i always knew i wanted to bf adn managed to do it for 14 months adn will again this time if no problems. i never got sore nipples or anything as it is really all in the latch, if you get cracked nipples it will be becasue the baby is not latched on properly and the sooner it si corrected the better it will be. bf is great and it kind of makes you feel special cos no one else can do what you do and that is giving your baby the best start in life. nothing against those who ff by the way, must confesss another reason i bf was becasue i am a lazy cow and could not be doing with getting up in the early hours to make milk! so think positive ok?

[Aubergenie]

AJM200 at your MIL's attitude to BF. How awful to get banished to another room.

Star6 - your post has made me realise that I've not packed anything to wear either! Thanks for reminding me.

CSWS - It just occurred to me today that a doula could be a good idea, so I sat down and fired off loads of Emails today. A couple have already come back and said they're already booked but have recommended other people so hopefully I'll be able to get someone at this late stage!

BTW - Has anyone else got really itchy nipples? I'm assuming it's probably normal at this stage as I imagine there's a lot going on "behind the scenes" but I thought I should check...

[pepperrabbit]

Evening all, once again taken me ages to catch up after only a few days!
I've sort of packed a bag - I have a large carrier bag with baby "stuff" and a larger carrier bag with me "stuff". I also sorted out all the stuff from the newborn box in the attic. Why oh why, do I seem to have 21 vests and only 6 sleepysuits????? and this is just the neutral colours .
I cannot imagine what sort of washing crisis would warrant 21 vests????? and also that only having 6 sleepysuits will create a washing crisis on it's own .
V puzzled.
DS1 had first day at school today and DS2 was alone at nursery without DS1 so I've been a weepy muppet all day.....

[CantSleepWontSleep]

What a crappy attitude from your MIL ajm. Hope you will be strong enough to stand up to her this time. My MIL started trying to get me to give up about 5 or 6 months, so is not at all impressed that I'm still doing it now that dd is 2.7 years, but I think she realises by now that her opinion is not swaying me .