Due Feb 2009- Posting Queens, See The Bump, On The Facebook Screen, oh yeahhh...

[MarkStretch]

TinkerbellesMum DC3 (3rd baby. Lily-Hope born 20 weeks 28-29/9/05, Tink born 31 weeks 17/7/06, age 27, Birmingham) Official due date 01/02/09 but expected from early December
florrieandme DC2 26/01/2009
laidback DC4 27/01/2009 (age 34, North Devon)
nkweto DC2 30/01/2009 (age 34, West London)
oooggs DC4 30/01/2009 (age 34, Cornwall)
MamaGoose DC3 30/01/2009 (age 32, Spain)
MissMitford 31/01/2009
Plethora 31/01/2009 (age 37, East London but moving soon)
Ethelredtheunready (age 40, 2nd Baby, Tilly born 19/2/06, DC2 01/02/2009- Currently Chichester, soon to be Epping)
AngelDoll DC1 01/02/2009 (age 31, Sheffield)
Supersteph DC2 01/02/2009 (age 24, Torbay)
jenandbean DC2 02/02/2009
ruthmollymummy 02/02/2009
Tummytrouble 03/02/2009
jamescagney 03/02/2009 (aged 33,Clare, Rep of Ireland)
Pregnantpopcornprincess DC3 04/02/2009 (pregnant with twins)(age 31, West Sussex)
MsLucy Boy 04/02/2009 (age 38, North London)
PinkTulips DC3 04/02/2009 (age 24, Roscommon, Ireland)
Davidsmom DC2 04/02/2009 (age 39, Cheshire)
MissDelighted DC1 05/02/2009
m2alyssa DC2 05/02/2009 (age 30, Isle of Man)
idontbelieveit DC2 06/02/2009 (age 31, Leeds)
Jelliebelly DC2 06/02/2009 (age 37)
Swampster (HasAWarmFuzzy) 06/02/08 (age 40, south London)
Guitargirl DC2 07/02/2009
Aila DC2 07/02/2009
Littlemissnorty DC2 08/02/09 (age 39, Kent)
Biscuitytrousers 08/02/2009 (age 31, Thames Ditton)
MarkStretch DC2 07/02/2009 (age 29, Norfolk)
KT1983 09/02/2009
Tinasan DC2 09/02/2009
Herbgarden 09-11/02/09 (age 38 Berkshire)
Ewemoo 07/02/2009
Singingintherain DC3 10/02/2009
KazzaL DC2 10/02/2009 approx (age 34, Ciren, Gloucs)
littleboyblue DC2 due early-mid Feb (age 27, Surrey)
Jenniferturkington DC2 11/02/2009
thehouseofmirth DC2 11/02/09 (age 38, Wimbledon)
Clarabumps DC2 12/02/2009 (age 27, Glasgow)
BumpVLump 12/02/09 (age 29, Surrey)
Louisebunny 13-15/02/09
Mapleleaf 13/02/2009 (age 38, Cambridge)
Nadssss 13/2/9 (age 29, living w. london)
Jelliebaby DC2 14/02/2009 (AGE 29, Cheshire)
Loopylula DC2 14/02/2009 (age 28, Sussex)
Francesrivis 15/02/2009 (age 38, Devon)
onwardandupward DC2 second week of Feb (age 35, south west)
Americas 16/02/2009 (age 32, London)
MrsThreads DC1 16/02/2009 (age 36, Cheshire)
shubiedoo DC3 17/02/2009 (age 37, Canada)
NervousMouse DC2 17/02/2009 (age 36, Berks)
Pluto DC2 18/02/09 (age 38, Kent)
Fruitstick DC2 19/02/2009 (age 32, London)
Imaginewittynamehere DC2 19/02/2009 (age 32, Cambs)
McDreamy DC3 19/02/2009 (age 37, Cyprus but will give birth in Bucks)
Dinkystinky 19/2/09 (age 31, London)
Rachrox DC3 20/02/2009 (age 28, Glos also!)
Calico1 DC2 21/02/2009 (age 40, West Herts)
Mentalpup DC2 21/02/09 (age 30, Glos)
Rosieposey DC4 21/02/09 (age 36, Wilts)
Winemakesmummyclever 23/0/09 (age 34, Lancs)
Neeerly3 DC3 23/02/09 (age 31, Mansfield)
LardyBump 24/02/09
Spottyshoes DC2 24/02/09 (aged 28)
Chilledmama DC2 25/02/2009 (age 31, Hampshire
Nellstar TBC
zikel DC2 TBC (23, Coventry)
Cocodrillo DC3 26/02/2009 (age 34, south london)
MrsBick DC2 26/02/2009 (Age 25, living in Surrey)
charlie7 DC2 28/02/2009 (Age 33, living in the Inner Hebrides)
dd1ofcolandgerry DC2 25/02/2009
theSuburbanDryad DC2 (age 26, living in South Bucks)
Babyignoramus DC1 27/02/2009 (age 27, Brighton)
Blinamouse
Elkiedee
Questionkid DC1 3/2/09 (age 33, living in Wallington, Surrey)

That's smaller than Lily-Hope was, but a little older, she was a big girl. It makes me feel quite sad in a way to read stories like that because if I hadn't been sent home by A&E they might have been able to keep me going a bit longer.

I joined a group on facebook about lowering the age limit of abortion, Lily-Hope and Amillia are good examples of why it needs to be done.

sorry tink, i shouldn't have posted it it just made feel so amazed that life can be so strong and resiliant

Mirry71 - anti-d is given if you have rhesus negative blood. The vast majority of the population are rhesus positive. They will checked for this when you had your booking bloods so ask/have a look at your results - or you may know your blood type anyway. Where I used to live (in Lambeth) anti-d was given in two injections - one when you are late 20+ weeks, and one when you are 30+ weeks. A rhesus negative mother (like me) will have problems if she has a rhesus positive baby and our bloods mix (say you are knocked, have a bleed, or during a previous labour etc) because I would develop antibodies to my baby's blood with v nasty side-effects for the baby. Often a rhesus negative mother is given the jab after her first baby anyway as a precaution for future pregnancies. However my partner is also rhesus negative so all our children are/will be negative too, and I therefore don't have the anti-d injections.

It's OK, I'm actually surprised it's not one I've seen before as I read a lot of them and like I said I'm on a group for lowering the age limit.

I do wonder what would happen if they tried to save more babies. Lily-Hope tried to live for herself and she was a big girl, it was purely gestation that stopped them doing anything, I understand that, I don't hold anything against them, but you have to wonder in general.

There's an amazing story about a nurse who nursed a little boy who survived termination and years later she was talking about it, not realising she was talking to the mother! The mother had been young and grown to regret it, she was overwhelmed to know that whilst her son had survived he hadn't been alone, dumped on a draining board or been looked after in the other way they do.

the sad thing is, one of the main reasons they won't lower the age limit for intervention is simply that scbu's are so overcrowded and short of resources as it is that they simply don't feel they could cope with even more, even more high risk babies being brought in, especially whe the odds are so stacked against the 21/22 weekers.

what gets me about the 24 week limit for terminations is the fact that if the mother hasn't decided by that point then surely she is so undecided that a termination, especially such an invasive and horrific one as one done at 20 weeks plus, will do far more damage mentally than continuing with the preg ever could what sort of medical professional would go ahead with it at that point?

Afternoon all,

Amazing & moving story about the wee baby. Did my paeds placement years ago on the local SCBU and agree, they are stretched to the limit. Shameful .

Just got back from the ANC - bloods, weight (eeeek!), etc. Crikey, those places are just chaos! More than likely ok for an elective cs and will be able to have the same consultant as last time (if dh remembers to have a word with him at work). He was great and came in to do the emcs with ds at 6am - not many would do that!

Have found out why have been only getting strange kind of muffled sensations. Yup, another anterior placenta here. Might as well X-match me now as was borderline PPH with ds. Ho hum....

Anti-D protocol here - get a shot of Anti-D at 28w, irrespective of any/no bleeds. Would rather be a pin cushion than think was missing something that could put the lo at risk. Also need GBS screening as was +ve in first pg (clear with ds though).

For all the first timers, just leave your dignity on the ANC doorstep - you can collect it on your way out. The world and his dog will have seen your fanjita by the time your lo arrives. The worst thing is that you really, really won't give a damn. The lo hypnotises you into forgetting all you go through to get them into this world .

Got my next scan & appt on 15.10 @ 21w. Am off to find the huge box of Tangfastics I have just bought from Costco .

Found them!!

One of the most awful things about these late terminations is they can lead to an incompetent cervix. Can you imagine, a woman chooses to end one pregnancy thinking it's for the best, takes a lot of getting over it and eventually settles down and gets pregnant with a much wanted baby only to lose it at the sort of age she had a termination before. She sees her healthy baby and thinks this is what my first baby would have looked like and must imagine it's punishment.

I don't agree with it, but my heart goes out to those women. They will have a lot to live with for the rest of their lives.

Anyway, better news. I rang the hospital today and spoke to parent ed. They don't normally take bookings over the phone but I explained my situation and they've arranged classes for November for me! She was going to put me on the one for first time parents, but because I had a section and want to know about VBAC, she has put me on the refresher. I'm so excited about actually having my classes early cause I missed out on them twice before lol.

Ah, classes. Now that was going to be my next question (just living up to my name you understand) - so, what's the general feeling on classes? Pay for NCT? Do the NHS ones? Find something through your GP surgery? All three? Anything else? And when should I be going? Should I be investigating now or leaving it for a while longer?

Blimey, I'm even confusing myself with all these requests.

yes indeed would love to hear anyone's thoughts on classes now have convinced self has missed out on endless integral tests through incompetence....

First time round the NCT classes were just great for me. Met some good friends there. (we've moved twice since then, and are still in touch with one of the families)

Quality of the classes depends very much on the mix of other people there, but nothing ventured nothing gained! Ours was a bit too like circle therapy in style for complete comfort for us uptight English types, but it was still a great bonding experience.

I'm doing an NCT refresher day this time around It's really a dating agency for meeting other mums-to-be, and a pretty useful one too.

I've recently been reading that sheila Kitzinger New Pregnancy and Birth book, just because I saw it in a charity shop for £1 and couldn't leave it there (well, duh), and the thing which really strikes me reading it is that I would have had no clue what she was talking about with a lot of it before the first experience of childbirth. MAybe some people are much better at imagining the physical and psychological processes involved, but I really couldn't in advance. What I wish I'd done last time in preparation was find ways to let my body get on with it while the chattering mind shut up, or that I could disassociate from the chattering mind (which happened for me, wonderfully, in the second stage). This time around, I'm having Alexander Technique lessons focussing on how I use my body in labour (not tensing stuff that needn't be tense, basically), and I'm trying to meditate regularly.

but really, labour isn't something we can plan exactly, it's one of the times in our lives when it is most important to be present and conscious and aware but not judging ourselves and not interfering with what our bodies are doing (they know what to do if we can only listen to them and let them get on with it). Lots of people find hypnobirthing a route to the sort of thing I'm talking about, I think, but it's just a question of what the gateway would be for each individual (for some people, the gas and air helps them to let go of trying to control their bodies. It just made me hallucinate and constantly lose consciousness, so it wasn't a great solution for me, but hundreds of women swear by that)

Evening all...

Mirry - anti-d has been explained and GTT is a set of blood tests to check for gestational diabetes.

Questionkid - I was fired from my last job, so just started a new one today (although it's only temp). It wasn't bad, although I'm gonna be pretty much alone tomorrow as they're all going off for training! but it's working in the HR dept for Medway PCT, so quite handy for any SMP questions i may have...!

As to classes, I think we're doing both as NHS and NCT differ in content and style, but the NCT ones include stuff about home births etc, which is the plan for now. I just had some info in the post today and I'm provisioanlly booked on the course (subject to payment). I think it's wise to be an early bird.

The refreseher course I'm going to is bit of a debrief and looking how what happened last time will affect this time sort of thing. They're also going into siblings.

Oh, that wee baby! I read in one of my books -

"The smallest surviving baby ever born weighed just 283g. Marie Chapman was born 6 weeks premature in England in 1938 (when therre were no high-tech NICUs and very low survival rates). The doctor who delivered her took an approach that would horrify most modern-day paediatricians - he used a fountain pen filler to feed her brandy, glucose and water every hour for the first 30 hours of her life"!!!!

It may be a bit out of date, but it did strike a cord!

Hi there QK and Mirry...on classes. I did NCT - main reason being that I was new to the area I lived in and wanted to at least know one or two other people with small babies. The "class" bit I quite enjoyed but I think DH found it even more beneficial - I'd done quite a lot of reading around (as us women I suspect do in this situation) If your dh/dp's are anything like mine, they don't focus on anything until they have to. I found taking him along to NCT with me meant that he got to hear from a "pro" how it all worked during labour. He also got to chat with the other guys about the baby thing and I really thought he benefitted from that. Funnily enough I also had to do the c-section role play with dh and I was the only one who ended up having one....

I didn't find our "teacher" at all judgemental or dictatorial - she was a lovely lady with 3 kids of her own. She offered up the facts and that was that. I found the other women there really down to earth and easy going and 2 years later we still meet up when possible on a Friday afternoon and are all on to our second babies. I suppose I was lucky to find like minded women - I have friends who haven't been so lucky with NCT.

You can do both courses - pay for NCT and also do the free ante -natal? You might get different things from each? It is quite nice chatting over the things you're worried about with women at the same stage as you as well (as we all no doubt find here)..

There are obviously loads of other support things you can do post baby if you do do ante natal but really don't get on with the women you meet.....but it's a good starting point to find out more about what to expect from birth, breastfeeding and those first few months

o&u - I just got that...the first chapter had me wondering what the hell I was reading but I've really got into it. As a first timer I know I can only imagine things, but my idea is to use my pregnancy (and the time we were ttc - i feel like I've been pregnant for three years already!) as the research phase and then see what elements I want to use when I go into labour. Plus, john's mum will be helping with reflexology and cranio-sacral therepy, and fingers crossed I should have the midwife I already know, so I'll have great support. Not sure what role John will take - probably a leaning post!

Agree on the NCT herbgarden - I had read a lot but I'm sure DH thought I was making it all up until the classes!

I was in a small group for the weekend 'crash course' - only six couples and two of them dropped out after the first session .

Stayed friends with the others for a while until we lost touch with two. But the last couple has been key to my survival over the last four years.

I'm afraid I was so tired for my NHS class that all I can remember is falling asleep when we were supposed to be meditating .

Hello you chatty bunch- that always happens on the days I decide to do some work instead of MN!

Classes- DH were talking about this, who of the 2nd, 3rd or 4th timers are doing classes? I checked out my local NCT but they state that the classes are for 'first time parents'. Not us then.

Am going to ask my midwife when and if we get to look round the delivery suite.

Had a headache again all day but I have DH home for 4 nights now so I can relax in bed and he can give me a footrub.

Had a cooking frenzy this afternoon and worn out now.

Snore....

Come FEED me, MarkStretch!

hello everybody...TV is rubbish...nothing good on at all!!!
should be doing ironing, but can't be arsed.
Should be cooking my dinner, but can't be arsed.
Should be tidying up my bedroom but can't be arsed.
Do you see a theme here...
Oh and is it bad of me to already be counting down the days until I start maternity leave...fecking hundreds still to go but that isn't stopping me.

I'm wondering if it is worth going back into the office at all after Christmas...

nice smiley thougths in my head about not going back after Christmas...

Sadly will go back...at least for a couple of weeks...DC2 not due until 25 Feb so don't want to finish too early otherwise I miss mat time with DS and DC2...iykwim

I'm taking a full year off so it will be brill once I get there!

Swampy- tonight from the kitchen of MarkStretch you could have feasted on:

Butternut Squash and red lentil soup

Chicken and veg hotpot with mashed potato

Banana, nut and raisin bread

We're moving in to MS's!

I am working VERY part time, chilledmama. I think after six months I will be happy for a little time out.

onwardandupward, I keep wanting to post 'ooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm' to your FB discussion but you'll just go around telling everyone how mean I am.

ohhh part-time...v jealous

Part-time working not an option for my employer (at this time)but it may happen in the future (12-18 months time probably) so fingers crossed I might get a shout then!!!