Due Dec 08 - Braxton hicks, baby kicks and leaking nips!

[Veggiemummy]

that was Disenchanted's idea for a great title not mine

There was an article in the DM yesterday about homebirth rate rising. Though interestingly, although its at its highest peak now, we're still only at the lowest point it was 30 years ago!

I had my homebirth support group last night for the first time, wasn't sure what to expect. Ended up just being a bit of a natter about our previous births & what other mums had done to get ready.

Hmm, just read over my post, not sure if that first sentence really makes sense!

Effie, meant to say that pattern is gorgeous, I'm tempted to start knitting again!

i find it very amusing that HB rates are lower up norff and is attributed to dumb northerners not not to services being suspended!!!! Interestingly Derby city Trust has been forced to restart it's homebirth service to 2nd time mothers so if we had stuck with them we may have grudgingly been 'allowed' to have a homebirth but i am happy we have opted for the independant midwife option, she is really lovely and i know i will have the birth i want. As far as that insensitive Tommy's women goes she should be made to appologise!!! how rude, it is hardly an 'option' taken lightly!!! in a lot of cases it is a matter of life and death!!! I think if more people just trusted the mother instinct for what she thinks she & her baby need and chucked the stats we would all be happier!!!

Now after that rant there is a homeopathic remedy called New Era C for indigestion, i take it 3 times a day and inbetween if i need it but tends to keep me settled I ran out of it a few weeks ago and thats when my indigestion flared up BIG time!!! it costs about £4 a pot (450) tabs and you take 4 each go. they are small and tasteless, i can't do gaviscon as i hate peppermint & aniseed flavours. but ths stuff does the trick, also i sit myself up a bit overnight.

Effie yes I can still make tomorrow but am also happy to reschedule, especially if you're feeling tired & grumpy! It would be great if Umlellala joined us as well as I'm quite interested in the slings she's got (and she's also got a real live baby) but not sure how to get in touch. If you prefer I could do next Sunday (but not Saturday), and I think the following weekend is out, but even then we still have plenty of time (I hope) so no pressure. Alternatively if we can't get hold of Umlellala perhaps you'd prefer to bring the slings to the next meet-up (whenever that is) and I could borrow one or two to try out on DS at home. Let me know how you feel.

Hope you had a good birthday kmp1.

Morning all - love the new title! Bump has been wriggling in a rather sinister way this morning (you can see it from the outside ) so very fitting!

hiccy sorry about your grandad [hug] I know what you mean about the waddling, I can't get out of a chair without huffing and puffing

Gaviscon - I have to have a big swig of water afterwards otherwise it really dries out my mouth [yuk] which may well be diluting it and making it less effective but better some effect than none...

Those home birth articles are very silly - I love the way the DM makes it all about unclean hospitals DAMN YOU LABOUR GOVERNMENT as opposed to maybe feeling that birth can be a natural thing without interventions (if I'm lucky) as it's what our bodies were made for so it doesn't #have# to be a medicalised experience. Grrr.

God, Indith, that sounds a painful experience with the blood! I'm nearly 30 weeks and haven't had any bloods taken since my checking in appointment in May! Maybe at my next midwife appointment when I'll be nearly 32 weeks (holy cr*p, that scares me somewhat!). But have been seeing GP regularly for blood pressure, so guess he'd tell me if I needed something doing!

Enchanted - loving your name - I'm just reading the 3rd of the Stephenie Meyer books, Eclipse, and I do love those books. If only every man was as understanding as Edward Cullen! Although Jacob would do too - love a tall man! Sorry for those of you who haven't read them, but they're really good escapism and although I think they're meant for teenagers, they're great fun - would recommend - Twightlight, New Moon and Eclipse. In that order! I'm stacking up books now for maternity leave - and am a member of Easy Cinema, so I can goggle happily from 7th November onwards. Brilliant!

Ooh, forgot to say, last week I was watching Strictly Come Dancing (love it) and Gary Rhodes came on (find him irritating) and when "Hippy Hippy Shake" started, the little beast started dancing, I swear it!

That Metro article is odd - I find Metro really irritating as they just brush the surface of everything and nothing gets explored or explained beyond the superficial.

We went and got our single bed for the spare room last night - it's shaping up into a nursery - hurray! I'm actually getting excited now!

Oh and my DH was telling me about a colleague of his who heard him saying we're having a maternity nurse. Apparently she now won't stop going on about how posh he is (???) and how lazy I am! How dare she, ignorant cow! Honestly, it's up to us to choose whatever makes us happiest and most relaxed with new baby. I'm so angry, I can't tell you. I've saved up to get a maternity nurse, because I think it'll help me to be a better Mum long term and I cannot BEAR that she is saying that I'm lazy. I'm not, am I? I mean, I could cope without her, but I just want to do the best I can and knowing she's coming has really helped me to relax a bit. GOD - now I'm doubting myself!!!

Beans - just ignore her, sounds like an extreme case of jealousy. Lordy, if we could have someone come and help out in the early days I would jump at the chance. Does she also think people are lazy who have their mum/MIL come to help out with new babies? That's exactly the same thing really except that families are more spread out now so not as easy.

Don't doubt yourself! You want the best for your baby and that's all there is to it.

Beans: anyone who disagrees with you for no good reason can sod off. And you can tell then I said so .

Poisondwarf: I'll prob be in the park tomorrow anyway (as long as it isn't raining) so happy to meet if you're around . When would be good for you?

oh beans you have things to doubt yourself about in the years to come instead you should be confident that you have decided to spend the money on your baby because thats what it is. I have gotten heaps of hassle from NHS colleagus for having my babies privately and how we must have loads of money but some people spend that money on a holiday every couple of months we just decided to spend it on our babies instead so actually you are being very thrifty and unselfish. And that lady obviously has issues.

Indith - poor you and your botched bloods. You are a nicer girlk than I - I banned student doctors from the delivery room with DD (and willd o the same again). I have lots of friends who are medical students and I know they are all praying for a "complicated" delivery so they can tick their bokes for ventouse etc.

Enchanted - I am loving "The holly and the I.V... A Christmas Induction". Its inspired! SOrry to hear about the heartburn. I have mild ms symptoms again (sensitive to smells, can't stand meat).

Majormoo - Sorry you have been so unwell. Two bugs sucks. I have had a bad cold for a week and just that has wiped me out.

Hiccymapops - So sorry to hear about your grandad and your sickness. What a week. Hope things improve.

Verso - congrats on your GTT.

Beans - Ignore your friend. Everyone does whatever they need to survive those first few weeks and nobody has a right to judge anyone else. I am going to have a post-natal doula and I don't give a sh*t what people say. (I would have a maternity nurse but I don't like the idea of someone in my house 24/7 and anyway I will have to get up in the night anyway for breastfeeding).

Sorry to those I have missed. I bought the baby its first outfit yesterday. Its from Petit Bateau and was unjustifiably extravagent but I love it and as this one will mainly be in hand-me-downs I think she deserves a few special things .

beans ignore it! your DH should have had more sense than to tell you she said stuff like that as well, he should've told her to sod off!

There is a guy at my work, he has no kids, and he has an opinion on how everyone brings up their kids. He says that my friends wife is lazy because she has no time to tidy the house/do anything except look after their 3 yr old and 3 month yr old, errr hello!!

He was asking me yesterday if I would be a lazy mum, and i said probably!! He was also saying that he thought I would be good at it, and that my DH would make a good dad. I just told him I was sure he would have an opinion, even though he doesn't have children himself! To which he laughed and admitted that it was true..

That makes him sound like a complete arse, and to be honest he is in this respect but he is one of my best mates here and I know to take it with a pinch of salt!

So basically it seems to me there will always be someone with an opinion that you are doing it wrong, and the best thing all round is to ignore them (well within reason I guess, as listening to peoples opinions can help too)

hello jumpjockey (we met in Real Life on Weds, how exciting ). You have made me wonder about having a homebirth, but to be honest I am still erring on the side of just using the Midwife unit.

beans I would jump at the chance to have a maternity nurse if we could! Ignore her, she sounds like a very silly, jealous woman.

hiccy I'm sorry to hear about your granddad, hope you're ok

also beans I fail to see how anyone could percieve having a maternity nurse as lazy?? V strange, how is having someone there to help you and get you started and showing you the best way of doing things lazy?? More like a good idea I would say!

Effie I can make any time and will combine it with a trip to the pool with DS either before or after (you're welcome to join us). Does 1 o'clock sound okay? I have no other plans tomorrow so earlier or later is fine by me. Not really familiar with Clissold Park so you'll have to say where - maybe the playground if there is only 1 (unless we just say a cafe and grab a quick coffee first, then it won't matter so much if it's raining).

hiccymapops sorry to hear about your grandad.

Went for my anti-D yesterday and for the zillionth time asked for my notes for DS but they were still not forthcoming. I want to look them over and compare stuff like BP, iron levels etc to this pregnancy just out of interest, and also there are a couple of things I meant to take a copy of at the time but didn't get round to (like scan results), not realising I wouldn't see my notes again once I was admitted into labour. I want to look over my labour notes as well - for instance, I was put on a drip during labour but have no idea why, and I was made to give birth on my back but am wondering if I could have actually done it in another position as I would like to do this time round.

I'm coming up to 30 weeks now and have asked at reception and asked the midwife where my notes are at every single visit. Each time they tell me they have made a note of my request and my notes should be there for my next visit, but they never are. Anyway I made a bit more of a fuss about it yesterday and have ended up with a consultant's appointment next week to go over my notes with me (should they finally turn up). This seems like a waste of a consultant's time to me as I would be quite happy just to look at them myself, but that was the only option I was given. The thing that really annoys me is that I had to justify why exactly I wanted to see my notes both to the midwife and the receptionist, and was made to feel a bit of a nuisance - I thought it was my right to see them, and as far as I know they should have them as a matter of course (as they seem to with everyone else), for example to assess my level of risk - on my current notes I am low risk (and therefore a possible candidate for home birth) but that's only because they've taken my word for it.

Those of you who have had babies previously - is this normal? Not sure if I'm making a fuss over nothing but it's starting to bug me now.

Like the new thread title by the way.

Poisondwarf - I haven't seen my notes from DD since I went into labour with her. I do know they have them though as I have seen the MW and consultant had them on their desk. They never bother looking at them though and always take my word for what happened (even though I am high risk due to previous pre-eclampsia and large bleed).

Hello All,

Hiccy sorry to hear about your grandand. Big hugs to you.

Indith Ouch that sounds horrible. I bet I would have burst into tears. I hate having my blood taken in any case....

poison - that's so annoying - poor you - I can't understand why you can't see them, when they're concerning you and your baby - both this one and the last. Surely they want what makes you happiest and if this is it, then you should have them. Hmmm. I must photocopy my stuff - thank you for reminding me - in case of difficulties for me in the future too.

Thanks all for kind supportive words re maternity nurse. I appreciate it loads - I know I'm really lucky to be having her - they aren't cheap, and I started saving when we were getting married last year for exactly this eventuality!!! Just in case! And if we hadn't been able to have babies, I was going to pay for us to go on a fantastic holiday instead to help us feel better. So I feel very lucky in so many ways. I also have an absolute fear of breastfeeding, and yet am really keen to do it as I know how good it is for the nipper, so I thought a maternity nurse would actually help me and show me how to do it - boob-manhandling here we come! Will be quite strange having someone in the house 24/7 for 5 days though! She's really lovely, so hoping it'll be easy!

Hiccy - I'm so sorry about your Granddad - sorry I didn't mention it before - I was being totally self-absorbed and you're having a horrible time. I hope you're ok and bearing up alright. It's so distressing and sad - but I hope you've got lots of lovely memories to think about. xx

I'm so happy it's Friday today - had 9 hours sleep last night, which is amazing - so chuffed. DH came to bed and tried to wake me up at 11.30 (been asleep for an hour by then) and I could vaguely hear him trying to speak to me and all I could do was hum. Physically couldn't open my mouth. Was quite a strange feeling, but lovely!!

poison in any situation where you have hosp notes (maternity, acute whatever) you can only ever look at your notes with a consultant present the idea is that they can go over the notes with you and explain any term you may not understand. You have ever right to them and are not being a nuisance. If they are not available go to the PALS office at your hopsital and they will help you get them fast!!!

Thanks Veggie - do you know if I have a right to take copies? The receptionist told me that the consultant would tell me which bits I was allowed to take copies of, if any. I can see them being awkward about using the photocopier at reception, and you're not allowed to take them off the premises as far as I know.

summer - the homebirth business, well if you're swithering... my reasoning was that I'd get exactly the same care at home as in the MLBU, but with the advantages of home comforts which should make everything go more smoothly. And if anything did happen that meant me or the baby needed more care, we live so close to the hospital anyway that it would quite possibly take about the same length of time to get to the delivery ward from home as it would from the MLBU once you take into account getting together any people who might be needed.

But that's just my own thoughts, a few months ago I'd never have considered it but having been pretty healthy throughout (touch wood!) it seemed worth trying, at least. There's no shame in deciding closer to the time or even on the day that we do want to go in and get some extra help.

Beans you go for your maternity nurse! What a silly woman - I'd say it was sheer and utter jealousy. I'd have loved a maternity nurse and I think it's a great idea.

Poison I can completely see why you'd want to see your notes - I'd love to see mine. It's so annoying that you have to sit with the consultant though, that he can't let you at least go and sit down with them first and have a good read and then come in armed with questions - rather than having to think on the spot as you look through them!

Artichokes the petit bateau outfit sounds gorgeous. I bought DD's some baby stuff from there and it lasted brilliantly. Am tempted to get new babe an expensive snowsuit using the same logic.

Veggie where do you get your heartburn stuff from? Can I get it online?

Am hungry, hungry, hungry today.

Hello all - just dropping in on the discussion about maternity notes, here's what Baby Centre says this. Maybe the consultant will be more helpful/knowledgeable about how to get copies from that hospital?

Gettingbigger was wondering how you were getting on. I do compare aches and pains of this pregnancy to last time, and always feel that I have it easier with just the singleton this time around!

Will they let you have a go at natural delivery or wil it be section?

Yeah jj agree with all you are saying, to be honest I think it's just sort of laziness in decision making that makes me think I'll go for the MLU, as it seems the most "normal" option if you see what I mean. If I could guarantee that I could use the pool in the MLU I'd definitely do that as I really fancy it.

I'm not really worried about the baby re homebirth, as I'm so near hospital, so should be able to get there easily, just think I would be more comfortable in hospital, but I think that's just me. Not totally sure of the idea of making a right racket at home and having the students next door wondering what the hell is going on . Also hassle of getting a pool or whatever to have at home and then end up in hospital anyway and not use it! I would definitely want a pool at home if I did it at home. DH is quite pro homebirth though. May speak to the MW about it at next meeting. Also think I'd like to go on the tour of the hospital before I make a decision either way.

ps is anyone needing to go to the loo 300 times a night again? I have literally been getting up 7 times a night the last few nights. Wondered if it was a UTI but have no other signs - it's just knackering me out!