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!!

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turnip 12:30 sounds great. I've never eaten at the cafe in the hospital. Is it good? or should we plan on going somewhere on high street?

Good Luck today mibbes! cat have fun at the zoo!

Mibbes fingers crossed for you,I'm so excited about impending arrival of miblet! I remember when we were just ttcing and now your little one is nearly here .

LadyT what an amazing birth story and how brave of you to be honest about the bonding. There's so much pressure on mothers to put up this front of everything being perfect and competing to be the most loved up mother, and I think its so much more helpful for women to be honest about those things, so others don't think they're the only one.

I think it must be a section/hormonal thing, it certainly took me a few days to feel a whoosh of love for my DD's and I worried obsessively that I would not bond with them. I was so relieved when I started having strong feelings about them.

Verso so sorry to hear about the jaundice, hope DD is okay soon. You must be longing for home and to be getting on with your new family rather than stuck in hospital.

Trace your DH sounds lovely. Reassuring to hear there is another VBACer. I can't believe they won't let you go over your EDD at all? Did they give a reason? My consultant said ages ago not more than 10 days (although that takes me up to New Years Eve where I doubt they'd be wanting planned sections in with all the local fights/emergencies to patch up!)

Yorkshire ladies we have snow too and although its beautiful I could really do without it! DD's were desperate to go out in the snow this morning so I took them out but panicked about falling over as its really slippy and there's very few cars about today. Going into labour in the snow with two small people shivering next to me sounds like a bad episode of casualty! Relieved to be back home again!

We are about 40 mins North of York but booked into Northallerton if anyone knows that bit. DH is working over an hour away today so I'm wishing it wasn't snowing to be honest as I panic about him not getting to the hospital in time.

Or me going into labour in the middle of the night and the snow being so thick that it takes us hours to get to hospital (panic, panic, panic!)

Better go and do something other than ceebeebies with DD's!

Arrrgghh forgot to say congratulations jumpjockey!!!! What wonderful news and what a fast delivery - good thing you were a home birther!! Hope you are getting some rest

Congrats to JJ and all who have had more babies! Good luck mibbles for today! Beans your posts make me chuckle - not to belittle them in any way - it's just they are all EXACTLY the same fears and thoughts I have!!
LadyT Thank you SO much for that great update about your CS - I didn't know they would do both spinal and epidural - i'm just having the spinal as i'm a bit terrified of the even bigger epidural needle. Could you feel the action of them sewing you up then? I'm glad they eventually sorted out the problem with your epi - wow...
So glad you have bonded with her now - i'm a little worried about that to be honest...
Congratulations anyway, and thanks again (as well for staying on the thread till the end cause I'm starting to get scared!!! )

just bookmarking myself in, very excited about waking up to snow.

Very jealous of all you Northern Ladies and the snow. I LOVE snow and we rarely get any. Our last big fall was Easter Monday .

Veggie do you have any homeopathic recommendations to take alongside my big dose of antibiotics at the birth (due to the Group B)? I would like to do something to offset the effects. I will be taking acidophilus but not sure what else to do. Maybe your DH can advise

PS; I have a 15% off plus free P&P voucher code for www.nutricentre.com - a natural health shop that sells all the supplements, oils etc etc. It is zzlnh015.

Oh Kimberley - that sounds great. Coffee shop in J&L is OK, very much soup and sandwiches. I think we should maybe go there just because it's quick and I don't want to make you late for your appointment (factoring in the amount of time it would take both of us to get from the High Street to the hospital ).

I think BabyKayz has moved back up again. His bum feels like it is stuck in my ribs again and I can't get comfy on the sofa where as yesterday I could.

Wow, this thread has been moving so fast in every way!

Congratulations to lal, TYV ChutneyMary and jj! Great to have news of all the babies.

LadyT - lovely to hear your full birth story. for you re the epidural, that must have been frightening as well as painful. On bonding, I think its different for everyone. Not sure I can say I had that huge rush of love for DD at the time, or point to a moment when it happened, but I couldn't adore her more now.

hatty - I'm also hoping to VBAC. Its a tricky balance between the docs understandable caution (scar rupture is rare but nasty) and wanting to make your chances of actually managing the VBAC as good as possible. Different hospitals are more or less relaxed about this. Where I am, they have a "no inductions" policy for VBAC, whereas they openly told me that the hospital down the road is braver about this. They will let me go overdue, but only by a week or so (and then booking dates gets awkward, as they only do planned c-sections on 3 days of the week...) - so have my "backstop" section date of 8 January. In terms of if you make it to labour, it sounds like although a midwife looks after you, the docs are more likely to look in on you more often and more likely to jump in with interventions if they have any concerns about what is happening. Then there is the old bugbear of continual fetal monitoring (i.e. being wired up so they can hear what the baby is up to) - if the leads are long enough etc its not necessarily too big a deal (had it with DD), but I know that it can make some people feel like they are strapped to the bed. What I take away from that is that so long as I'm feeling OK, better not to rush to hospital too fast!

oooh nice. Went for a lie down and actually fell back to sleep - that never happens for me! Dreamt that I got confused about my meds and ended up taking two types at once and got told off by the doctor! Woken up dripping in sweat as usual - this pregnancy thing is so glamorous!
Also the sun is out so the snow is starting to melt
Sorry to ask but is anyone else rather 'trumpy' at the moment?!
2 hours left till I have to get dd from pre-school to take her to 'big' school for her oh-so-worth-it- 1 hour session! Long shower here I come!

Trace is your DD starting big school in Jan? Is that why they are doing the little sessions?
They don't do split intakes in our borough but always seemed like a good idea to me.

hey morning all DS is loads better but could not be enticed outside into snow, which is fair enough it blummin cold.

so exciting Mibbes, i was hoping it would all start up for you last night.

Hey Lady T, thanks for the birth story and you are one brave lady that pain must have been horrendous, labour pain would be a doddle compared to that. I hope they wrote an incident report on that. It is nice that you didnt blame anyone but as a matter of course they should have been checking your site regularly.

About the loved up feelings, in VB when the baby pushed through that last bit and out the body does get a big rush of oxytocin which makes us feel all loved up, kicks off the contractions for the placenta expulsion and also helps get the milk moving. However, adrenalin can reduce the effect or completely cancel it out. I was very lucky to have in not interfered with in that even though i was very anxious the MW for DS birth were big on keeping me very calm for the last bit so was able to have that oxytocin release, so had very fast attachment, good milk flow in the days following and the placenta practically fell out. But so many things can interfere with it, CS obviously, panic or intervention at the point of birth or taking the baby away at the point of birth. However, getting some good skin to skin (can't recommend skin to skin enough) time at some stage in those 3 days (or even later) after the birth and just generally some good cuddles seems to pretty much cancel this all out.

sorry that was a ramble does it make sense?

Well done JJ and chutney too! I knew I'd miss all the exciting stuff when I went to bed...

veggie it's funny how they still do the sprayed snowy Christmas window thing here in Australia even though it's summer! And I remember one year helping my sister create 'santa footprints' for her DCs with the aid of a flip flop on the floor & sprinkling some flour around it with a sieve. So funny.

About your cough - it could definitely be related to reflux. That's one of the symptoms in fact, and can mean that your oesophagus is getting burnt/irritated by the acid. Have you thought about going back to your doctor to get some treatment for it? From memory, I think there is actually a PPI available over the counter without prescription, it's omeprazole, which I think is a low risk category medication in pregnancy. Better to get a professional opinion of course though, but just for interest here is a good link about reflux/heartburn and the symptoms, consequences of non-treatment, and treatment options: here I'm just worried about you (and at your neglectful doctor)

Turnip sorry about the + GBS result, but at least you know now. I was somewhat relieved just to know either way myself, so that I could plan accordingly. I really hope it works out ok for your plans at the Birth Unit.

Verso hope your gorgeous DD is doing better and that you both get to go home & chill out soon. You may not have read the messages PD & I wrote about getting her checked for tongue tie if you're still having probs BF? I think they're on page 1 if you haven't seen them. xx

LadyT you are such a star for everything you've been through and still managing to write such a detailed and interesting post for us all. Sorry that they messed up with the epi, I hope you're recovering well now, and enjoying your time getting to know your DD I love her name by the way (speaking as someone who has an uncommon name herself, I think it's just beautiful).

GO mibbes, GO! Sooo exciting, hope it's all going fabulously well for you! Can't wait to hear all about it!

Oh and are you still with us IceCube? Last time you posted you thought you might be in labour (that was on the 29th). Let us know if you're still here waiting!

sorry just reread that and realised i have mad it all sound very technical and not at all romantic, in reality i actually think it amazing what womens bodies are programmed to do, i just made it sound more like we are programmed like robots. i meant to reassure those who had said they hadn't had this feeling that is wasn't something lacking in their love for their baby but just a little interference that gets sorted later anyway. I also meant to say the induction oxytocin they use can also effect the loved up oxytocin.

Trace you must have needed that sleep. is the headache gone now?

Oh Bisou you are so sweet. I did check yesterday and they do ranitidine over the counter here but of course no chemist wants to sell it to me. Might have to send DH to get it. It was quite bad last night and was feeling very fragile this morning when poor little DS vomitted his breakfast. i managed to clean him up whilst dry retching myself then ran off to be sick myself. Such a waste of good promite toast.

I havent got the fake snow but i remember it from when i was a kid. you don't want to be a confined space when you spray that stuff. Our snowflakes are actually little lights within a snowflake shape that i hang in our window.

Turnip. homeopathic remedies for infections are more for boosting your immune system i'm not sure what would be good for the AB's however the acidophillus is great and if you are planning to breastfeed your breastmilk is already chock full of flora so that it won't hurt turnip baby. DH is only up on the birthing stuff after a big session with our homeopath on it.

Our MW has had to postpone our appointment today as her other lady who is due at the moment has gone into labour. feel sorry for her having to go out in the snow, but it is getting sunnier now so i'm sure she will be ok.

Oh JJ - well done! And Chutney - hurray!

Mibbes - thinking of you and your birth - can't wait to hear the news. I'm off for a massage in 10 mins and a bikini wax! Dreading the wax, but am dreaming of the bliss of lying on my front for a massage. Heaven.

LT - lovely to have you back. And thank you for being so very honest regarding not bonding at the beginning. It is something that I'm a bit nervous about, so it's really refreshing and good to read about someone going through it and hearing the positivity of once you came through the fug and fell in love with her. Well done you. And she's so sweet in her pictures. I'm so proud for you, if you know what I mean!

xx

Thanks, ladies for the tips re tongue tie. I went to the local breastfeeding clinic yesterday and I'm really pleased to say that's one of the first things the lady there checked for. Frieda got the all-clear as far as that is concerned.

I think the pain is just from her having latched on REALLY badly for a few feeds and cracked/scabbed my nipples (sorry TMI ). So now I've just got to urge her to latch on properly (easier said than done as she tends not to open her mouth very wide) and then grin and bear it until things heal up. If it hasn't started to resolve by Thursday there is another clinic on, so I'll get them to double check. I can't be in this much pain every feed. It's just not right!

One thing for you tandem feeders, btw - I was told yesterday that part of the problem is that my memory of feeding is of feeding a one-year-old. Feeding a newborn requires quite a bit more 'technique' - and also the advice re how to latch on has changed since I was taught with DD1 (there's a surprise).

The good news is the bilirubin levels have gone down really well . Frieda is still yellow but off the lights for six hours. They'll do another test after that time and then decide whether she needs to go under again (if the level rebounds).

P.S. Can I just say I'm really of those of you with snow. Grump grump. Jellus.

Oh Verso - it's so lovely to hear from you. I'm glad Frieda is getting better from her jaundice. That's such a relief - must be quite a worry when she's so little and new. Thinking of you.

xx

Verso don't get too caught up in the technique, and this changes from area to area, (Derby is currently doing some bizarre flick and catch technique) a good thing i learnt in my course is hold them with that hand hold where you support their neck but not the head and then hold her body supported nice and straight across your chest and then kind of run her face in across you boob at nipple level as she comes to the boob she should hopefully open up that gob and place herself. This is obviously just one of many things to try but thought it could help. I know what you mean about new techniques, three years ago there was 2 different holds now there seems to be 10!!! and the old get the gob open and then shove on has gone in the bin apparently.

Wow this thread has grown quickly, just can't keep up with you lot. From skimming through I can see more babies arriving, I'm thinking that the 21 Dec seems ages away yet...

Verso - sorry you ended up being readmitted, but good that DD is out from under the lights. Remember seeing DS looking so small and yellow in the incubator . MW mentioned the same thing about bf 2nd time round - need to get my head round the fact that a newborn can't climb up onto my lap, snuggle in and say 'milk please mummy?'

Our doula came round last night to talk about birth stuff. Starting to feel excited, have huge pile of old towels and sheets ready

Hattie - I'd assumed the thing about not letting me go overdue was normal VBAC stuff, but perhaps it's more to do with my pre-eclampsia last time, ie not wanting to risk that again? Don't know - and it's only one of many health professionals that has said that to me so might be wrong anyway! Will ask for more info on Friday - I wish I could think of these questions there and then instead of waiting till I get home then thinking of everything I don't know!

Turnip - yes dd starts in January - just one more thing to turn her little life upside down because there's not enough change for her right now...! Actually she's loved the sessions so I think she'll be fine. I agree that the split start is good - my friend lives in a different village and has only a september intake, so even though her boy was born within days of Lucy, he started full time in Sept and has really stuggled because he had only just turned 4. His mum has actually pulled him out so he's doing some half days instead. Legally they don't have to go until they're 5 I think!

Veggie - yes the headache has subsided a bit - still there in the background but much better thank you. I was torn between 'nesting' and 'resting' because the bathroom could do with a blitz, but am glad I went for the latter! Just had the call from my CPN - the consultant wants me to start back on the Fluoxetine now, then swap to citalopram 2 days post birth as planned, so I don't have a break between meds, but she says that it's more important that I'm right mental health wise.

Any tips for staying upright on a birth ball? I keep falling over and making a fool of myself

We're trying to get DS into a better routine. He has one for bedtime but not during the day. He can nap at anytime really and we thought it would be better if he napped at the same time everyday. I don't think he is liking it.

Something a friend told me is that you have to remember the baby can't do what the older child can. She said she had hold of her 3 month old, the doorbell went and she just put him on his feet and he fell over. She forgot he couldn't stand up like his brother.

Verso: have you got some Lansinoh? I found it so helpful for sore nips. Glad Frieda is on the mend - she must be getting a fair amount of milk down her