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!!

verso anyone planning breastfeeding - one of the best things anyone told me on your latch (and whether it is as good as it can be) is...your nipple should look like a jelly tot after baby comes off. If it looks like a lipstick - ie slanted at the side, it means the nipple isn't as far into the baby's mouth as it should be and will end up causing you pain etc. Really helped me to know that.

Just had a lovely message from ChutneyMary;

"just sent you a picture of my boy. Happy for it to be emailed round. Have read thread but can't post on it from my bed. Please can u pass my congratulations to jump on her daughterand wish mibbes luck for her birth. Can you also pass on my thanks for all the kind words before he was born and all the congratulations afterwards. Am really touched that people were thinking of me. Am so looking forward to catching up properly . Take care and love to everyone. Chutney xx"

Alas, the picture she sent hasn't downloaded onto my phone. So am hoping PD will get it and email it to the list.

Rhinestone glad your doula meeting went well! Good to hear from you.

Veggie thanks for the stuff about the homeopathy.

Kayz - That's really funny about your friend forgetting her baby couldn't stand up! Re birthing ball - the physio at antenatal said they are more useful for leaning your upper body on and swaying your pelvis in labour, rather than sitting on because it takes a lot of balance to stay upright on it and therefore uses vital energy which you need to be conserving!

Bisou - I'm still here, sticks hand up at the back of room. Just skimming posts as there seems to be so much for everyone to say now that ML and first babies of the tread have kicked in.

Still having bump tightenings very regularly but since resting and having baths etc slow them down I assume they are either BHs or a very long pre labour stage. Anyway I'm in no rush since DH had to go to London yesterday but will be back late tonight so if things pick up then that would be perfect

KayZ - I wedge myself up against the back of the sofa with my laptop balanced on the sofa back to stop the ball rolling away with me, still feels a bit precarious though!

Lady T - loved reading your birth story, most of the ones I have read concentrate on the good bits but reasuring to know not everyone feels the same afterwards so if something similar happens to one of us we will know that is normal too.

Morning all no sorry afternoon.

Verso I know you didnt want to go to hospital but am really glad you have been given some help.

LadyT lovely to read your story are you all home now?

No snow here although it is bloody cold.

Mibbles how exciting hope all goes ok.

Kayz my mini munch is all over the place too please try not to get yourself all worked up as the say a watched kettle never boils or something like that.

Hatty invisible all an you other VBAC ladies I thought that it was something like only a 25% chance of the scar rupturing and that it really is v rare.

Blimey I know there is loads more to comment on but I have to dash off and get on with the housework then am taking DS to a soft play this arvo - think jumping around might get things going.

I have been told that walking up and down the stairs sideways like a crab is good for getting the head engaged. But I'll probably fall down the stairs if I tried it.

lol at your friend Kayz, obviously it is not funny watching a 3 month fall over but, actually it is really funny. that is def something i would do.

2nd the leaning over birth ball thing. our birth massage lady said to put a small very soft cushion over it too to lean your head on, i have one of those microbead ones that i use everywhere now under me in bed, on the couch and over the birthball, also i have found it more comfirtable if the ball is not too hard, so kind of not fully inflated, a bit soft, does that make sense.

Morning all, well, lunchtime (hooray, time for more food).

Can't remember much of what's been posted but on sitting a birthing ball, if you have a sticky/yoga mat to put it on, it's much more stable. Plant your feet nice and wide, and maybe lean forwards and rest your elbows on your thighs? Works for me...

My doula (Marslady - she's on MN and fab) recommends this website and there's a link to this one which has very helpful clips for you to look at, including on a technique called breast compression which is apparently very effective though I've no experience myself.

oh and Kayz, another one they do in my yoga/active birth class, is sitting on the ball but hold onto the back of a chair, so you can roll your hips and butt around but hold onto the chair back. And also you want your knees lower than your hips, i think, does anyone else know that one.

Sorry - very unclear, the links are to breastfeeding advice. They are pretty militant about it - sorry about that! - but the handouts and clips are really helpful if you're a visual person.

Thanks I'll try all of those. I do try to roll my hips but usually end up in a heap on the floor.

Hi All,

Agree it's freezing today. Was lovely and sunny this morning but now all sleety and yuk.

Congratulation JJ

Sorry to hear you had to go back in verso but main thing is getting rid of the jaundice.

Good luck today mibbles

Blimey LadyT great birth story ouch re the pain though.

Just been for my 36 week appointment (gosh that sounds so weird esp as so many already have babies) all is well and baby is 3/5ths engaged. Nice to know things are going in the right direction. Just hoping baby comes a little early . . . .

Just a quick one - haven't caught up with the thread yet but will do as soon as I can. Have sent out a photo of chutney's beautiful boy to those of you on the email list - his name is Matthew.

She is following the thread from hossie but can't post yet & said thanks for all your wishes and congrats to jj.

She said other stuff as well I think but I received her text 3 times, deleted one of them and somehow it's deleted them all & taken nearly every text off my phone with it. Flippin phone - now is NOT the time for my mobile to pack up on me.

PD Please can you add me? abbymeg(at)hotmail.com. (There's no 'e', I often don't get mail because people put an e in!) Thanks .

GBB thanks for the clips, they are really helpful.

Hi
Packed my hospital bag at last!!!
PD could you also add me to the email list. My address is simpsonkn at hotmail dot com

Thanks
Going to catch up withthe thread as have not been on since yesterday.

turnip the jelly tot/lipstick analogy is a good one! The frustrating thing is that I know all this (I hadn't heard it described quite like that but I know the principle) but Frieda doesn't! I BF really successfully with DD1 and this is much trickier in comparison. I guess that was the one thing that was easy last time round. I can't complain if that's my only hurdle this time though, can I? Just need to persevere!

Did a fab feed at 12 though - no pain and loads of gulping noises so I hope we may be turning a corner...

Hope you didn't think I was being patronising/daft Verso because of course I know how sucessfully you BF DD1 . It is a useful tip but as you say the theory is all fine....its getting the baby to do it . Sounds like you've turned a corner though!

PD don't worry I posted Chutney's text message below - and you emailed the picture which is great because it came through as corrupted to me.

emma well done on being 3/5 engaged! Maybe you won't have too long to wait.

Simmo my hospital bag is kind of packed...needed to follow your lead.

Ice hope baby holds fire til your DH returns

I am off for a kip as have been busily unpacking boxes and sorting through children's clothing, and now knackered!

Good news in that the M/W phoned and said they wouldn't insist on me having antibiotics despite being Group B strep positive (unless I run a temp or have long period after waters go) and that it certainly won't interfere with me having a waterbirth or anything like that. Will have the antiBs though. Now I know I am positive couldn't forgive myself if babyTurnip got sick. Thanks for your good wishes Bisou on that front.

Hello everyone,

Wow this thread is moving so fast these days!

We've had lots of snow and it is still here , no sign of it melting yet. All the local schools are closed and there are lots of excited children out and about!

I went on a lovely walk this morning with DH trudging through the snow, but on the way back we encountered a narrow gate that I couldn't fit through! I tried going in forwards, sideways, standing on tip toes but eventually had to admit defeat and take a detour. I'm glad that no one else was there, how humiliating .

JJ Congratulations!

verso sorry to hear your DD has had to go back to the hospital. Hope it is all sorted now.

ladyT Thanks for posting your birth story. I found it really helpful as I'm having a section. I'm glad they realised what happened and got you some pain medication in the end.

mibbes I'm so excited for you. Hope it is all going well . I can't wait to hear the details.

Re the email list. I know it has been posted lots of times so sorry to be a pain but could someone post the address we can email to get on the list again please? My address is my name so don't really want to post it on here if possible. Thanks!

I have just had a little nap and dreamt I was in labour. It was so real and I didn't even realise I was dreaming. I woke up just as I was about to ring my mum to take us to the hospital. I am so annoyed as it was just so real.

feeding a newborn is definitely a "relearning" experience! Although I have to say I am using the "gob and shove" technique (what a great title ) and it's working ok for the moment (touch wood).

Ow ow ow ow ow though, my milk is coming in and my boobs are like footballs - DH was laughing at them last night in bed. I look like a comedy bad boob job.

Hi All

My massage was lovely. Feeling so relaxed now (and just had my daily dose of Diagnosis Murder!).

Kayz - I'm worried that you're focussing so much on this birth that youre not giving yourself a bit of time for you in the last few days before the arrival. I know you have a DC already, but perhaps try to enjoy the time pre-arrival of this new lovely baby with your DC and your DH and don't focus too much on when it's going to arrive. I know it's hard, as we're all gagging to get on and get the babies out, but if you focus on the birth too much, it will spoil your last few days of freedom before the baby stuff becomes full focus. The nipper will come, we just need to be patient. I know it's hard - I'm terribly uncomfortable, but am trying to just chill before the madness that is a new baby takes over! Look after yourself now and try to take each day as it comes, rather than looking constantly to the birth.

I hope I'm not being out of order, but I worry that you're sounding rather low and sad and cross and you need to try to be positive for your own peace of mind. xxxx

have just given dd1 dried dates for the first time and she thinks they're just like chocolate!!! She keeps asking for more! She's a massive fruit fiend anyway but that just made me laugh!

I don't see a point in thinking about anything except having the baby. Its all anybody will talk to me about now so I think I might as well think about it too.

Best friend texts "Have you had the baby yet?" my reply "nope not yet. How are you?" No reply
Same sort of thing from all my friends.
Mum texts me "Don't have the baby today, the snow is bad"
Dad rings "No sign of my grandson yet"
Old biddy woman1 in shop "Haven't you had it yet"
Old biddy woman 2 "You need to put you hands on top of your bump and push the baby down"

Only DH and DS talk to me about anything other than this baby. So once DH goes to work the conversation is either texting someone about the fact I still haven't had the baby or about Roary the racing car.

Kayz my friend text the other day and said "have you had her yet?" so I replied "yes, had her last night, 10 minute pain-free labour, now home and back in my size 8s, breast-feeding is a breeze, baby sleeping through".
Think she got the point...I really will tell people when she comes - do they not believe me?!!!

Oh Kayz so frustraighting!! I am sure the old biddies women mean well. Bit naughty of your friend though. Hope you get some action soon and chin up

Yes, it is frustrating - constant badgering to see how it's going and boring questions about it and when it's due. I think people are just genuinely interested and concerned. It's quite dull, though.