Dec Mums - Christmas is coming...the Dec ladies have got all fat...time to have our babies...the novelty's worn flat

[Beans33]

Here's a new link for us all - think it needed doing asap as running out of space!!

Morning everyone, and congratulations to Katie, lovely names (nearly same as my DD but in different order) and what a healthy weight - that's probably not much less than my 2 (she writes hopefully).

I chickened out of a sweep yesterday, just wasn't quite ready though am not sure how much longer I'll be able to last with walking being so hard. I can't believe some of you are still walking so much every day, very impressive.

Hope all is getting better with BF'ing for everyone, I'm getting nervous about how I'll cope with two. Thank goodness I'll have support from my doula.

Off to arrange another lunch date - feeling a bit guilty about being such a lady of leisure, how silly is that?

Chutney - what a lovely email!

Hope everyone's having a lovely day and not too many emotions running high.

I had such a great rest yesterday and am now feeling much happier as a result.

TMI Alert - still got lots of really watery discharge - really unpleasant and I don't really know what to do about it, apart from wearing a pad. Is anyone else having the same thing? They did tell me it's not my waters breaking at the hospital on Weds, so I know it's not that, but it just makes me feel a bit grubby all the time!

Hee hee - CAT - love the eating the chocolates from the advent calendar comment! Brilliant!

Oh and top tip so far from the list for me has to be Cat packing a selection box in her hospital bag . Question is, what size?

beans i, too, am having the ickiness. combined with a fearsome cold, i am weeing myself all the sodding time (at least not coughing or sneezing the baby out, i suppose). so much for my pelvic floor.

also TMI warning - i tried perineal massage the other day - OUCH! sorry, but i just can't do it - there's too much stuff in there, and it's all so low, i just don't think i can do it. if anyone wants the mothercare perineal massage oil i've got (don't worry, it didn't touch anything icky - it is practically untouched), then let me know. probably a bit late, i know.

have ordered mattresses online, so fingers crossed for prompt delivery. thanks for the links.

beginning to get a bit angsty in case i go significantly overdue. i'm due 21st - apparently the whittington's policy is to offer induction at 41 +5, which would make it 2nd jan (or thereabouts), but that is a friday - didn't someone say hospitals try to start inductions during the week, not at weekends? in which case, they will could offer me one around 41 weeks (which i think is too early - would rather let nature take its course) or at 42 weeks (where it might be pushing it - don't want to risk placental failure). i know, i know, am probably being paranoia panties in worrying about this all a bit too soon. we'll see...

WG: if you do go over 41 weeks they'll prob be monitoring you v carefully and would keep an eye out for any issues with the placenta.

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Oh I would have to go for a large cadbury's selection box.

WG if you are worried about it speak to your midwife I am not going to be induced even if it means having an argy bargy with a consultant. I did alot of research about it last time round. When it comes down to the time for induction your midwife will do something called a bishops score it basicaly is a little review on how progressed oyu r cervix etc is. There is a good bishops score marking of I think 5 (am a bit rusty on this so dont take as gospel) which means you are are a ok to go so in theory an induction at that point would be favourable and quick if your score is lower it means your not quite there so an induction would prob make it a longer process therefore a longer labour etc. You can request not to be induced and go in for daily monitoring so they can keep an eye on the placenta, which is unlikely to break down before oyur baby decides the time is right. Also remember that in most other European countries 41wks is seen as term and very few babies will hang around beyond 42wks anyway. Hope that ramble helps. But disclaimer here I am not a medical prof and it is just my humble rusty opinion.

So after my chinese MSG feast last night and the worry that I would go into labour today (b-day) I was awake hourly last night then DS woke from 2.30 til 4.30 not upset just awake could hear him chatting to his teddies.

Chutney lovely to hear from you.

Katie what a whopper congratulations.

Hello everyone,

Congrats katie and DonnyLass - wow Katie, what a whopper!

Still no time to do a catch-up as I suddenly have lots to do, not least packing a hospital bag. Contractions started at 7.18 this morning, waters broke at 8.20, so I will be having this baby in the next couple of days for definite. Contractions are v mild and not regular though - they are anything from 2 to 4 an hour.

DP's parents have arrived to take DS and the thought of it being the last time I see him as an only child is making me a bit tearful.

Effie didn't get your number the other day - maybe you could text it?

Better go, I am now being told off for being on MN. DP is such a stresshead!

Katie - I forgot to congratulate you on your bambino! Congratulations! So exciting!

Where's Bisou with her list??!

Oh PD - sorry, cross-posted! Well done on getting started! AND VERY GOOD LUCK!

xxxx

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good luck pd!

waiting for m/w now for my 10-day appointment and discharge. The GP was a bit rubbish re the thrush- has given me a cream that I need to rub off before every feed - i thought she'd give me oral stuff to take... not sure how it's going to get inside my boobs to work! Also didn't see the need to treat dd2 as she has no white spots in her mouth. but if if gets worse to go back

Maybe the m;w will be more use?

Excuse typos- dd2 on knee after v textbook feed

P.S,. wish id spotted the selection box tip. I just took some ceral bars and a chocolate orage
P.P.S. I too will be under the care of a HV from tomorrow so watch out for those top clangers, ladies!!

Good luck PD

bishops score am a little out on my measurement s but I think this explains it

Good luck PD

will text you my number

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

14/11/08 - MrsMattie - Baby Girl "Bella", 7lb, C/S (due 28/11)
18/11/08 - DonnyLass - Baby Boy, (due 03/12)
19/11/08 - Flumpybumpy - Baby Girl "Niamh Lily", 6lb 13oz, C/S (due 02/12)
20/11/08 - pixsix - Baby Boy, (due 01/12)
24/11/08 - daisydora - Baby Boy "Harry", 8lb 8oz, (due 03/12)
24/11/08 - Amy123 Baby Boy "Robbie Lewis", 7lb 13.5oz (due 3/12)
25/11/08 - Verso - Baby Girl "Frieda Harriet", 8lbs 13oz, C/S (due 04/12)
25/11/08 - LadyThompson - Baby Girl "Octavia Poppy Alice", 6lb 9oz, C/S (due 03/12)
28/11/08 - theyoungvisiter - Baby Boy, HB (due 09/12)
29/11/08 - lal07 - Baby Girl, 6lb 11oz, (due 08/12)
01/12/08 - ChutneyMary - Baby Boy "Matthew", 8lb 6oz, C/S (due 10/12)
01/12/08 - jumpjockey - Baby Girl "Sarah Kirstin", HB (due 08/12)
03/12/08 - mibbes - Baby Boy "Evan", 6lb 5oz, EmC/S (due 06/12)
03/12/08 - katie3677 - Baby Girl "Liliana (Lily) Alice Grace", 11lb 2oz, C/S (due 14/12)

ta da!

Hurray for the heroine, Bisou!!! Well done!

Meh, sleepless nights are back in the Indith household. Just marking my spot and saying a big thank you to the stork who delivered a lovely little baby art set today

Have attempted to put ds down for a nap so shall go see if he will let me have a snooze too.

Hello,

No doctor here. They think it is the way the baby is lying when I am asleep combined with being anemic. I am a bit annoyed as if it is an ear infection then it won't get sorted. But if I still feel bad over the weekend I will call out the GP.

MIL has been round this morning. She has taken DS and he is going to stay there tonight. I'll probably be bored once DH goes to work but I really could do with the rest.

MW is coming this afternoon to do the home check for the homebirth. Tonight would be good because DS isn't here so I wouldn't worry about waking him up.

Sorry I haven't really read through as I'm also feeling a bit sick. Might just curl up on the sofa and watch Jerry Springer.

I hope everyone is feeling ok.

I really, really can't keep up! So sorry, I do try and have a read, but its all moving so fast. Still at work for another week, so trying to finish things. Unfortunately all sorts of things I look after are choosing to kick off at the moment. Aaargh. Also everyone has been ill in the Invisible household in the last week or so, which hasn't helped.

Anyway, enough whinging, when there are so many lovely babies to celebrate! Huge congratulations to jj, chutney, mibbes and katie!

Also thanks for all the wonderful birth stories - I am really appreciating all the details, so no need for apologies for epic tales - they are great! Its fabulous to hear how different but still special everyone's experiences are.

For all those with new little ones, hope its all going well with the ups and downs of early parenthood. There is no getting around it, it is a bit of a rollercoaster IME...and whatever you make of it now, it only gets better!

Take care of yourselves

And of course, should also have added my congratulations to donnylass also (and anyone else I've been rubbish enough to miss)

Good luck poison and modernlove !!!!

Katie well done on your birth, SO lovely to hear about it!

Chutney your post was so very beautiful and poignant

Thanks for the Bishops score info Jam - induction is my main concern at the moment. The women in my family tend to go quite late, and at 39 + 2 bisoubub is still not engaged at all. Any other first timers in this position too? I wasn't too worried until the MW mentioned that if my waters break before he's engaged & I'm in labour, there's a (small) risk of cord prolapse. As if we didn't have enough to worry about!

kayz and catdean if you're after cheap shower curtains for a HB, I remember seeing some super cheap ones online at Wilkinson (which might be in store too), link here My poor tenants... I am too cheap to get them a decent shower curtain

JB you poor thing slipping over. Hope you're feeling better (despite selfish non-helpers, grr)

ZJ LOL @ the tractor idea!! Dare ya?

DonnyLass a 3hr birth? I'd like one of those please. Congratulations!

WG glad you got the mattresses sorted, I'm sure they'll make it to you on time... and if they don't, well you can always did what my grandmother did with my mother & put bubs to sleep in a suitcase! hehe. Those were the days. Both of my grandmothers had 7 children (EACH), I just don't know how they coped with so many! Could you imagine schooling, clothing and feeding seven children in today's modern society? Crikey.

On a related note, I managed to finish sewing a fitted mattress protector & lovely thick cotton fitted sheet for our cot mattress today... and they are currently being 'broken in' my my gorgeous 7mth old niece who is visiting for 2 days. She's so beautiful it's making me even more excited about meeting our LO.

Anyway must be off to bed, we're going to Manly tomorrow. They have lots of shops & beach etc so I hope I don't struggle too much waddling around in the heat with my swollen elephant feet!

Night all XX

Good luck PDeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. But you aren't looking at this so I will text you. Exciting.

Congrats to DonnyLass and our Katie. Wow, Katie, what a delightfully bonny baby! I can't seem to see the email pic but I bet she is gorgeous. Would love to hear the details if you could bear to share them. I love the birth stories, I find them riveting.

Sweepstake - ooh, I do love a bet. Are we betting? How is this going to work? Do we all submit suggestions?

Chutney - v glad you are home. Hope you are gorging on stinky cheeses and faine waines, as I have been. [Mind wanders to Colston Bassett in the fridge] Mind you, there was one which DP said smelled like DD's nappy and it put us both off it (he was absolutely right, it was quite uncanny).

Verso, hope the thrush improves but sounds like you are really on top of things. Good for you, girl. How is your scar doing? ANd Daisy too. I haven't had 48hrs on the antibiotics yet but it is still so inflamed above it. It's like a hot Greggs sausage roll has been implanted under my skin (nice). Crikey, I hope it bucks its ideas up. If it doesn't I need to go on higher dose biotics.

Hey there Arti, are you feeling better today? You really beat yourself up about stuff, you know, and it's such a mug's game. I know this because I do it myself. Listen, DD1 has two loving parents. There's bound to be a period of adjustment for all concerned but in the end everything will be just dandy, you wait and see. Obviously I am no expert, but for me, the latter stages of pregnancy have been the most gruelling bit - more mentally and physically trying than the birth or recovery, even though I have had some wobbly moments since.

Anyway, the little princess is waking up for a feed so I must go for now. Cheerio all xxx

Sorry not to be more diligent responding to other people's posts - I'm a bit tired at the mo. I feel a lot brighter again but I am terribly mood swingy and it doesn't seem to take much to have me in tears - happy ones as well as sad ones. But I think all that's ok, and it doesn't feel abnormal or anything. Besides, there's not a single day I want to wish away

Taking Little O to see my Mum and sister on Sunday and I am SO looking forward to it. They haven't seen her yet and they are both thrilled beyond measure, it's so lovely. Mum is so tactful and kind when I speak to her on the phone, it's been very soothing. Turnip and all those missing their Mums - my heart breaks for you and I SO wish I could say something comforting. If I could be a fraction as good a Mum to my DD as my Mum has been to me, she will be a lucky lucky girl. I bet it's the same with you. Big hugs.

I have

oh, and came across this interesting site - I'd love to hear all your thoughts on it! It's about checking your own cervix for dialation

website here