Due April 2009 - Farewell nausea and all things ghastly, our boobs and bumps are growing vastly.

[PuzzleRocks]

Hi all,
Not been on for ages and I've missed loads. College has got busy but its been keeping my mind occupied with stuff other than 'what to eat next'. so thats good. I've gained a stone already and not sure if that is about normal? anyone?

Have fallen in love with milky puddings. I say its good vehicle for the calcium my midwife says I must load into me, but I admit, she didn't insist on the jam topping

Had doppler with midwife yesterday WOO HOOOOOO! I cried....again.... but it makes up for my hips hurting so much when I'm sleeping. Pain started about wk 14 and strikes randomly during the night, does anyone else get this? Midwife said might improve now the baby is rising out of my pelvis. I hope so as i'm sure cartwheeling my legs about in the middle of the night isn't a recipe for a good nights sleep.

I've amended the list and moved myself forward two days according to scan. Reckon there must have been really crap telly on that night

Mar
25 Mar : Summerbaby
25 Mar : Jumbs: DS 15 months
28 Mar : AlexandraPeppernose, DC no 3
29 Mar : Gemzooks: DS 1.9 then 2 m/cs, age 32, live in Holland
29 Mar : LittleMyDancing, DS 2.4 born on Easter Sunday
30 Mar : BabyBolat: First Timer
31 Mar : Cosmo: 1st timer

Apr

01 Apr : Rachelinscotland: DD 2 years 10 months, and DS 18 months
01 Apr : Chickenbalti: DS 4 years DD 17 months
02 Apr : BoffinMum
02 Apr : MathsMummy27: DD 2years 10 months
03 Apr : skiingone: DC1
03 Apr : nzbabies: DS 21 months
03 Apr : purlease: 1 m/c, 1 DD 3 years
03 Apr : Kalikaroo (28), 1st timer, lives in Scandinavia (but too shy to say where!)
04 Apr : mizzannie: first timer
04 Apr : Mumacita: first time and terrified/thrilled/teary
04 Apr : babypringle: 1 DS 2yrs 1 month
06 Apr : ToastnHoney: first timer
06 Apr : Diddle: DS1 2yrs, DS2 10months 2mc's
07 Apr : babwsbach: DC2
07 Apr : Bethdivine: DS 18mo
07 Apr : TT3: 1 DS 2(?) years
08 Apr : LuLuBai: 1 DD born 02 Apr 07
08 Apr : Pinkdolly: (age 27) dd 6, dd 5, dd 2, 1 m/c January 08
09 Apr : Oddeyes: 1 DS 17 months
09 Apr : Nigeltuffnell
09 Apr : Soundbites(30): DD aged 18 months
09 Apr : Barbarella 1st timer, TRIPLETS
10 Apr : hopeful1
10 Apr : BinkyB(30): TWINS 1st timer, lives London
11 Apr : BellaMummy
11 Apr : mrsfossil: 1 DS 6.5
11 Apr : Dungungirl(30): 1 m/c, DS aged 3.5 years
11 Apr : Bubbaluv: 1 DS 1yo
11 Apr : SpringySunshine: 1st timer.
12 Apr : daisycat01: DS 6yrs, DS 3yrs
12 Apr : Salstars (34), 1st timer
12 Apr : Brettgirl, 1st timer
13 Apr : April2009Baby:
14 Apr : girlylala0807:
15 Apr : flyingdaisies(33): West London, 1st due 15th April.
15 Apr : claireykitten: DS 12 months
16 Apr : tristaleejac(25): 1 ds, 3 years
17 Apr : lou031205(28): DD age 2.8, DD age 1 (next week!)
17 Apr : kittydug: first timer 2 m/c's
18 Apr : mumsoon: DC1
18-19 : minouminou(37) due April 18-19 (i think). 1 DS, 22 months
18 Apr : salbysea (28) 1st timer
18 Apr : loobee: DS 22mths
19 Apr : gingersarah 1st baby
19 Apr : Kittycat8 (29) 1st timer
20 Apr : v1kk1m: 1DD 5 months
20 Apr : MegBusset: DS 18mo
21 Apr : B52s: DS will be 2 and a quarter
21 Apr : Staryeyed
22 Apr : Glaskhamhasoneintheoven: DS- 3.5y & DD 2y
23 Apr : chloemegjess
23 Apr : katiepotatie
23 Apr : Reesie : DD 20 months
24 Apr : Surprisenumber3(32): DS1 9 DSS 9 DS2 4
24 Apr : PuzzleRocks: DD 18mths
24 Apr : Flirty: 1st baby
24 Apr : shellbaby
24 Apr : conkertree (26): DS 12 months
24 Apr : Bronze (Gawain) - 4th DC
24 Apr : Frekkles
24 Apr : EsmeWeatherwax (36) DD 17 months
24 Apr : SnoozyVic: first timer and semolina-monster
25 Apr : Swaliswan: DD 17 months
25 Apr : ReallyTired
26 Apr : detoxdiva: dd 2.7yrs
27 Apr : Bicnod
27 Apr : Carameli
27 Apr : longlegted
27 Apr : purplemonkeydishwasher DS 3yo
28 Apr : Laulau27
29 Apr : lauralou1: 1st DC

boffin, I totally agree with you about 90% of the birth being down to what position the baby is in, and what shape your pelvis is, and what position the baby ends up being born in, e.g. hands up by face = not a good scene. My DS was back to back which probably lengthened the labour, but then again he was born without tearing me at all, which might have had something to do with his head coming out facing the 'wrong' way, who knows? I did perineal massage and swear by it as a result. I also would advise everyone not to sit back slouching after 25 weeks or so or it can encourage the baby to go back to back. It's best to sit up straight or slightly forward...

mizzannie, I also have that slight fear of it 'ruining' the house for me, as I still feel quite ambivalent about the room I stayed in at my in laws when I was in early labour, even now I prefer not to spend time in it! However, might be different if I'd actually delivered there.

SnoozyVic, I've got this hip thing very bad. The only this that has kept me out a wheelchair so far is a chiropractor. It's still touch and go and the reason I am MNetting so much at the moment is because I can't do much else! They have a special clinic up at the hospital for things like this and I'm being referred up there asap, apparently.

Gemzooks, I would be quite scared of having a baby the wrong way around, but it sounds like you coped amazingly.

I am thinking of buying the Varier Balans kneely rocking chair thing bearing in mind the old hip problem etc, but it's very pricey. Has anyone else got one, and how did they find it?

Hello all and hello especially to newish ones.

As usual I haven't been posting much. DD and work seem to take up most of my time, and DH needs a bit of attention in the evenings!

Really interested to hear about home birth, especially your own experience BoffinMum. I'd really like a home birth and was about to start a thread on it. Last time the birthing centre I was meant to go to kept on telling me I had ages to go before I ought to come in; at contractions 3 mins apart they said that since I could still talk through my contractions that I was fine, and then at what I now know was transition when I certainly couldn't talk through them and said 'I'm not coping well' the mw said to call back in an hour and I remember the ghastly thought that if this was only half way there was no way I could do this giving birth lark! Well, pretty much as soon as I put the phone down I had an enormous urge to go to the loo, my waters broke on the loo and I could feel the tope of my baby's head! I dashed up to the shower thinking that if I had to give birth it may as well be somewhere I could clean up! DH then bundled me in the car and called the birthing centre as he drove away. They said drive to the nearest hospital (luckily 10 mins away) and they would call ahead and ask them to take me. I gave birth within 15 mins of getting to the hospital.

So all in all I think that since I so nearly delivered at home first time round that I could do it again. I can't imagine doing labour in hospital! At home I was leaning on my birthing ball, able to get up and get things from the kitchen etc. and the telly was on for between contractions. I spoke to my mw who said I was an ideal candidate. The thing is DH remains unsure that it is our safest option.

Is it really messy though? I wasn't going to worry with a birth pool as I was ok without last time (just had TENS) but I was fretting that the only place without carpets to ruin in our house is the kitchen! Could I cover it with old towels and light candles and make it cosy I wonder??

Soundbites xxx

hi folks - was interesting reading all the views on home birth etc as i hadnt really thought about it before this pg, but have started wondering if it might be a good idea.

I did however quite enjoy my last labour (well as much as you can enjoy labour) in hospital, and I've never had a problem with hospitals making me nervous etc. I didnt want to be strapped up to machines etc, but I wasnt - had gas and air and that was all I needed - but was quite happy knowing that any other pain relief needed would be close by.

I did however hate being in the ward afterwards, and so that has been a major reason for considering a home birth this time - i was kept in for 4 days and had to fight to get home then.

anyway - snoozyvic - cant believe there is another on 24th - sounds like we are having a similar time - i've put on not far off a stone, and have had the painful hips too - although not every night.

having trouble getting back to sleep just now too when ds wakes up in the middle of the night - could do with some of tristaleejac's dreams instead - that would be nice .

Hello conkertree. Wondering why you had to be on the ward for four days?

Soundbites, LOL about you having the forethought to run up to the shower to prevent mess!!

One of the things I liked about the birthing pool was the way it contained the yukky stuff. But we still laid down one of those waterproof mattress covers you get for double beds and a few bits of plastic DH had in the shed, with towels over, just to be on the safe side, in case I wanted to get out of it for the Big Event.

It does sound as though you might as well actually get ready to have the baby at home as you nearly did that last time anyway. Personally speaking I would be reluctant to give birth in the back seat of the car in a layby with a load of well-meaning blokes looking in curiously, and it sounds as though there might be a bit of a danger of that happening the next time if you have a quick labour.

Boffinmum - ds took a wee while to catch on to bf, and lost about 12% of his birth weight so was told I had to stay in.

I knew before that a lot of babies take a while to get bf and often lose weight, and was quite relaxed about it, but they seemed to go mad about it.

Every midwife had a different way of trying to get him to latch on - most involved them grabbing my breast and shoving it in his mouth. I was told at different times that his tongue was too short, his jaw was misaligned, my nipples were too small, i was anaemic etc etc - it just went on and on, and with four babies in the ward i couldnt sleep, so all I wanted to do was get home to my own house to cuddle up with ds and let him practise in the comfort and privacy of our own home (and get the odd bit of sleep).

I understand that if they lose too much weight, it can cause problems, and if they are at home, they can end up being taken in to hospital, but I really dont think being in that environment was the best place for us. The constant telling me what we were doing wrong or why physically we maybe couldnt bf was making me very upset which is hindsight was totally unnecessary - we got the latch by ourselves in the middle of the night by me standing up and holding him how I felt comfortable. It was an amazing moment - instinctive. The midwives didnt like me standing up though .

He caught on to feeding (after I had been told that I had to give him formula) and so I fought to get out the next day. They advised me not to but I said I wanted to go anyway, and so went. He was fine and stopped bf him last month at 14 months, so his short tongue etc etc didnt cause him too many problems after all .

Sorry long post - its just it still annoys me now when i think about it.

Conker I had a hellish time in hospital with nurses, doctors and bf consultants all telling me i was doing it wrong..in fact the problem turned out to be gastric reflux, but the memory of random people turning up and grabbing my breasts every couple of hours stays with me! Especially when they suqeezed to 'check the flow'..yuck. I actually swore at the bf counsellor despite being fairly mild-mannered usually (blushes at the thought of DH reading this and heartily disagreeing..)

Blimey conkertree, that sounds more like the tit police rather than bf support.

Nobody grabbed my tits and squirted etc when I was learning to do this, they just made sure I sat properly and made the baby face me, etc. Wasn't easy but people were very nice and helpful. Perhaps the people who helped me had actually bf a baby themselves?

Hi again everyone - I've been to aquanatal tonight, lots of fun but shattered now. Only staying up cos I missed Eastenders.

conkertree & mathsmummy - agree about breast feeding problems. I know MW's have probably helped 100's of women with feeding, but does it mean that they have to forget we're new to this? (I'm sure not every MW is like this, please excuse upcoming rant)
One did exactly the same to me when I asked for help latching on. MW said next time you're going to feed baby, press call bell and I'll come and help. I thought, brilliant I'll get this sorted real soon. Next feed, pressed call bell. Different MW came, I asked for help to latch on and without another word she came up to me, grabbed my boob and pretty much shoved it into baby's mouth, then said there you go and walked off. Why couldn't she have just explained to me how to do it myself? Ignorant bitch. Anyway don't everyone run away to stock up on formula, I'm sure I just got the eejit who was having PMT or something! Once I did get the hang of it (through practising in my own time) I found it to be a lovely and rewarding experience.

All being well, I really want a natural, relaxed birth. I would love to go to MLU to have waterbirth and really want to avoid hospital. The thing is I'm classed as high risk this PG so not sure if they'll let me avoid it. I have MW appointment tomorrow so I'll plead my case then.
Anyway it's time for Eastenders now, goodnight guys xxx

Boffinmum - was hoping it might go away on its own but you're 3wks further on than me so I think if it doesn't stop within a week I'm off to the physio. They implied it would be for 'pelvic floor exercises'. What did your chiropractor do/say? i've only had trouble walking once, I'm really feeling for you as its a bloody nasty pain when it strikes.

conkertree - maybe some planets were in line, or a comet went past and we all went crazy on celestial energy. My mum knows another 3 people who are all due within days of me and she has already started worrying that it'll be another babyboom year like 1966 when she had my brother and all the high schools will be full. Bless.

Boffinmum, I have just read that thread and it made me very cross. FGS you don't have to agree the concept of war to show some respect for those who died defending our liberty.

I hope everyone is well this mornng. My frend gave birth to her second child yesterday and the labour was just four hours. Since her frst labour was longer than mine it has given me hope that this next one wll be swift too. Do they always get quicker?

They do say it gets quicker. When I last saw the midwife I was teling her I wanted a water birth and she kept giggling and saying "if they have time to fill it".

My labour was 23 hours from start to finish. It was a pretty good labour but I was sooooooo tired by the end.

aargh learning how to breastfeed was a nightmare ... midwifes contradicting each other, tweaking my nipples, shoving boob into DS's face and never actually explaining what to do. eventually found a helpful BF counsellor, followed what she told me and told the midwifes/health visitors to leave me alone. Managed to BF for 15months so must have got it right in the end. hoping that this time will be an easier experience.

I was very fortunate that DD took to breastfeedng right away and it felt comfortable. This didn't stop the midwife from rearranging her into a different position which felt totally unnatural and didn't work for us at all.
She also grabbed my boob very hard. I almost wanted to say "next time buy me dinner first!"

Lol at 'dinner first' Puzzlerocks!

Nobody came to help me with bf. I just worked it out for myself. Luckily DD took to it very well (greedy little gutso).

PuzzleRocks, you are currently one of my new best MN friends now, because those two harridans posters have completely hijacked what was meant to be a well meant supportive to veterans thread and turned it into I don't know what. It all got very personal, and I think they aren't really posting in the spirit of MN at all.

This thread, on the other hand, has much friendlier people in it and is the psychological equivalent of a basking in a nice warm birthing pool. I hope all the rest of you ladies will agree.

I raise a glass of juice to niceness. Please join me in a toast.

Hi all - hope we're all ok today!

Just wondering if anyone has had any not too painful stabbing pains on either side of their uterus? I had it one side yesterday and the other side today, also a feeling of deep pressure on my cervix last night.

I will be 17 weeks on Friday by dating scan or 18 weeks tomorrow by nuchal scan (don't know which one to go by!).

Have a really bad cold and everytime I sneeze I pull a muscle in my belly!

Had a bizarre dream last night! Dreamt DH and I wanted to see our baby so we cut it out my belly and kept it in a plastic food bag filled with water - like when you buy a goldfish! It was tiny, much smaller than it is now, and kept laughing! It was a girl! Madness!

I meant to cross that unkind word out rather than emphasise it, so MN didn't tell me off, but I appear to have made some sort of typing Freudian slip there. Forgive me.

SnoozyVic, in my humble opinion, pelvic floor exercises, while virtuous in themselves, are about as much use for realigning loose and/or misplaced hip joints effectively during pregnancy as building a Meccano set without the use of a spanner.

But if they don't work, of course the pregnant woman concerned can be 'blamed' for her own failure to recover on the grounds that she can't have done them well enough.

Am raising my mug of decaff coffee into which DD has just dipped some peanut butter and bread.