Fab Feb 2009: holy shit, this is it

[chilledmama]

Cause Swampster has a dirty mouth
Wouldn't hear me speaking that way...much
How do we delete threads????

Sounds pleasant idbi.
Well done to your dd

Good morning! It's my last day in the office today and I've been up since 4.30am worrying about getting everything done and handed over to my colleagues. Still made good use of the time and have managed to clear my email inbox and sent lots of pesky little emails that should have been sent ages ago. I think it's going to be a looooong day. Out for a pizza for lunch with the ladies in the office though, so that's something to look forward to. I'm hoping to sneak out of the office without too much fuss at the end of the day. somehow leaving for the second time (when I've not even been back at work for a year) is not the same! I'm so relieved to be going though, and to be able concentrate on the new baby (and Mumsnet of course!!!).

Sorry to hear about those of you going through rough things at the moment and hope you are getting lots of support. It sounds like the ladies here are giving great advice and support .

Right, I'm off to start the day properly now. So relieved that I will never have to wear my maternity work clothes again. Having a limited black and grey wardrobe for the last few months has become pretty tedious. I'm going to call into Tesco on my way in to do the Krispy Kreme thing for my colleagues (and a good excuse for me to indulge too). Hope you all have a great day!

IDBI- sorry to crash, but noticed your thread re breech baby. Even if you think alternative medicine is silly, have a look at doing moxibustion before you do an ECV? It turns a lot of breech babes. CAT me if you want to chat.
(butting out now)

morning all, just had a quick skim (you talk so much after I've gone to bed) will do a proper post later but had to just do a post to Calico.
CALICO - you MUST see a specialist. For gods/allahs sake you must not listen to obs (can't spell) consultants who know F**K ALL(or for swampy FUCK ALL)about your back condition.
PLEASE, PLEASE see someone about this. I don't want you to have to go through the pain I had which resulted in me having to have major spinal surgery. I was advised after delivery of DS 15 years ago that if my back problem had been properly diagnosed and treated (and not had 19 hour labour) I may not have needed my spinal fusion.

The numbness you refer to in you left leg sounds like sciatic pain. I had this in my right leg for a long time prior to my fusion and even now, I'm getting a lot of weakness/numbness on my right hand side. (ie when lying down I cannot lift my right leg up or roll onto my left side as I simply can't move my right leg myself) My back/spd is now so bad it looks as if I might be on crutches/wheelchair for the next few weeks, going to medical centre tomorrow ref this.

Although I'm not a medical expert, I do have a lot of experience on backs and would urge you/DH to be as forceful as you can and get referred to the right people. Its pretty obvious to me that if you had problems during a 'normal' (is there such thing?) delivery in 2007 then now, AFTER having had back problems (particularly L4/L5 which is as bad as it can be with all the pressure on your lower back) you are potentially at real risk of causing further problems to your back.
Please don't get me wrong, I don't want to scare you but you need to raise the possibility of a CS. This is why I'm having a CS 3 weeks early (as I did with DD 2 years ago) as my orthapaedic surgeon said I had to relieve the pressure on my spine ASAP.

Not sure where you are living but I saw some fantastic consultants at the Royal National Orthapaedic hospital in Queens Square London and had my surgery at Stanmore. I know you will never get an appointment there this soon but you have to get an urgent referal to someone. Collate all paperwork/information you can so you are prepared and don't let them fob you off.
Good luck x

p.s meant to say, the sciatic pain (if that is what you have) indicates that you could have a prolapsed/slipped disc which is pressing on the nerves.
If you can't see a consultant orthapaedic chappie then see a chiropractor if you can.

Catstar, have a good last day

Didn't have too bad a night, but still soooooo tired. Our sure start play group starts again this morning so should really pull my finger out and get us dressed.
Hope everyone has a good day.

Morning ladies

Catstar....have a good day in the office....and a nice lunch.....I was also only back for barely a year but the girls were all really good to me and I had a lovely send-off. Hope you do too.

Calico....MOS is talking a lot of sense there....insist on seeing an orthopod....not some poxy O&G registrar who knows bugger all about backs.

Morning LBB....hope you're feeling a bit more positive....you should be carrying your notes with you anyway....and St Thomas' is a lovely hospital (I trained there for 7 years!!).

hi everyone else....forgotten everything else now....the thread is moving so quickly now most of us are on mat leave.

Had to go out in sandals yesterday without socks as my feet are so swollen and NO chance of getting socks on by myself.....

Thanks Swampy I will definately look into getting some of those, and in the mean time double up on the nappies PT. Some of the wraps I ordered in Nov came yesterday and he actually stayed dry all night. They are 30+lbs and he is only 25lbs so maybe was outgrowing the 20-30lbs ones - although they still look like they have plenty of room??? maybe a one off, we shall see.

IDBI - I was too chicken to try VB last time as the risk very very slightly outweigh the CS so decided not to do it and as the CS was so calm and positive I think I made the right decision. Also our hospital wont do it as the only bloke with any experience had just retired and they dont offer standard training on it!!

Sorry I missed the 2am meet but my bladder only made me get up once all night Congrats on the dry night btw (your DD obviously )

Must go I have people coming for breakfast this morning!

Catstar - enjoy your send off

Morning all. Had a pretty awful night and still don't know what to do.
LBB - maybe getting out of the house will make you feel a bit better.

Catstar - hope you have a fun last day.

LMN - my legs look like the legs of the woman in the tom and jerry cartoons! They were shiny and swollen last night, not so bad this morning. Going to stay off my feet today.

Spotty - people for breakfast i can barely get myself and dd breakfast! Have fun.

IDBI....have you started a thread on MN for experiences?

No advice from me I'm afraid (I'm a big baby who has opted for an elective CS) but have read lots of positive CS stories.....and successful ECV stories.

Get cleaning those skirting boards

When do you have to decide by?

IDBI, just bear in mind that if you are off your feet you need to consider the dvt risk. I've had to resort to the really sexy dvt stockings the last few days as I'm not very mobile. Just make sure when you are reclining you move your ankles around and get a little bit of circulation in your legs. Also drink lots of water.

If you get any pain in your calves, the things to look out for with a possible dvt are red patches and swelling and feeling hot. Don't want to scare you but having had one myself, I'm now so much more aware of the signs and sympthoms. Hope you feel better soon x

Morning all...

OMG - I just had a totally embarrassing experience. A parcel arrived for me from M and S (remember, breastfeeding solutions ). I opened it and tried on a new nursing bra over my clothes (to see how it felt arounf the back more than anything). I sat down at the computer as you do to check my emails and then the doorbell went again. I ran (lumbered) to the door where delivery man 2 was standing with another parcel and then it dawned on me that I still had said nursing bra on over my clothes. I didn't say anything, just gave off a 'confident air' and then shut the door quickly feeling just a little mortified. Note to self....look down before opening door to strangers. At least I have started my day with a little chuckle.

IDBI - have you managed to find out if anyone near you does moxibustion ? I can't remember which area you are in.

LMN get those feet in the air !!

thanks mumoverseas, I was exactly the same as this last time so i'm not too worried. Did lots of walking from the bus stop to the hospital and back yesterday and a long walk up and down the hill to our local shops the day before. There's not much chance for me to be off my feet for long with a toddler around even when i'm trying to rest i'm still up and down.

LMN - i've been searching the mumsnet archives. I guess i can decide against right up until my appointment, i can also ask them to stop at any time. I probably should go for it as at least then i'll feel i tried everything to get a vaginal birth.

...what a picture you've put in my head!!!

laidback - i had a look but i don't think we can really afford it. It's about £50 for one treatment and we just found out dh isn't entitled to any paternity pay as he hasn't been in the job for long enough so things are really tight.

bet the delivery man loved it!

have you seen this website IDBI?

We've also just found out the same thing re paternity pay for DH.....he changed jobs in September.....its not like he's had a break in employment, just changed employers....and the government won't pay him

Very sorry!

IDBI I just wanted to quickly say that ecv only has about a 50% rate and it isn't pleasant for you or baby.
There is about an 80-90% chance of success with Moxibustion, which you will do at home once you've seen the Acupuncturist.

It will be money well spent Good Luck!

Laidback - hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! That made me laugh! I love the 'confident air'

Maybe the same delivery man will visit when you open the door inappropriately dressed, one boob hanging out and small baby attached to boob, breast pad stuffed under your bra strap? That's how I'm planning on opening the door to visitors

I just went and had my eyebrows waxed, she made me lie down flat on my back and I almost passed out when I stood up. I remember her talking to me but I was just thinking 'don't faint, don't faint'. That was a hairy moment!

It is a miserable day here today, raining and dark so I'm going to do freezer cooking.

DH did a cracking job on the ladygarden last night

Rosie- did you start your methyldopa? How are you feeling?

thanks astarte, it's 40% success at my hospital

I think the way I'd look at it is would you pay £50 to avoid a CS?Worth a shot if you would

Spinning babies website also very good

LMN - yes looked at it last pregnancy as dd was OP presentation, not an issue in the end with a non starting labour and failed induction....
Is your dh a teacher? Mine is and he was at the same school from feb last year but on supply until september when he went on a perm contract, they already got out of paying him for the summer, it seems so unfair.

No he works in IT.....and although not the best time in the world to change jobs, with me being pg, he was made a very good offer....and to be fair, has changed to a great job.....but no paternity pay....tight gits! Luckily I work for the NHS and will still be on full pay when baby comes along, so he'll take 2 weeks unpaid leave....but ....its not exactly a lot of money....but every penny counts and all that.

Out of interest, why are you so against an elective CS? I have really struggled to work out if I've made the right decision or not, and don't know if I will regret never giving birth vaginally....

Morning all - huge morning hugs going out to all those who are emotional/tired/drained/stressed (deleted as applicable). I too am in the tired camp though not due to baby/wee trips - having kicked the flu now seem to have come down with a pesky nocturnal cough that keeps me awake for several hours in the night - delightful! Poor DH has been relegated to the sofa to try to get some sleep as between my coughing and snoring when I do get to sleep, he's not getting much when he's in bed with me (and until we find someone somewhere who can put the blinds up in our bedroom we're down a bedroom upstairs too)...

Rosie: good on you for going on strike! Am sure it wont last but hopefully will make your DH and DDs appreciate all you do around the place that little bit more.

Laidback (with your bra on top of clothes episode) - you made me laugh lots this morning when I logged on.

LMN, THOM - I think the Monday meet up should still go on (gives everyone something to aim for!). Swampy - hope your walking ability gets better v soon; it would be a shame if you miss this meet up (remember, people are counting on you to bring your nest of cloth nappies...)

IDBI - sorry to hear your little one is breech. Polar bear position good for moving non-optimum positioned babies out of the pelvis and giving them more of a chance to turn. Also spinning babies website is good (and I think some of the moves - like hanging upside down off the sofa - might even help with reducing swollen ankles). I've heard good things about moxibustion and accupuncture though appreciate they are pricey options.

Catstar - congratulations on your last day of work. Hope you and your colleagues all enjoy those Krispy Kremes...

Pink - yay re the extra cash. And LBB - I buy DS little toys and books too when I feel blue; you're right, their reaction makes it all well worth it and cheers you right up. He's going to love his present from his little brother.