Due May 2009 - Bring on the Creme Eggs, mooing and choo chooing

[Jennster]

Thought I'd better start this soon.

morning everyone. Had a quick scan through and saw someone mention my name re perineal massage. TBH Although I'm a mw, I don't know all that much about it. I've heard it works for some women and it doesn't do any harm. So I suppose I'd say yes have a try. Cote Can't you just refuse to have an epis? I know it's more difficult in France. It's a bit like Belgium the system over there and obs are all knowing like god! None of my family or friends would ever think to question their obs' judgement even though they still do things like internals during routine antenatal check ups. Why I do not know, but all my cousins and friends allow it to happen, depsite my rants on them being totally unnecessary!

I feel tired and sore today. I had a rubbish late shift and ended up leaving at 10pm. It was really busy, I was being pulled into all directions by women, their partners, doctors,... On shifts like that I wish I could just clone myself! On top of it all LW was very busy and so when one of our antes went into labour I ended up going with her and delivering her baby, meaning that I left late because if the paperwork left to do. It also meant my colleague was alone on the A/N P/N ward that was as good as full and had a lot of complications on board. I didn't get a minute to sit, catch my breath, have some dinner or have a drink. Not good Roll on 23 feb!

I'm also having this funny feeling in my legs when I'm in bed. It's almost like they're heavy and numb, but they're not. It's like just after getting pins and needles and then it felt like I was going to get leg cramps but it didn't happen. It kept waking me up, so that with my nightmare shift makes me totally knackered today.

Re pain relief after a c/s. I've found it all depends a bit on what the habits of your hospital are. We only have morphine available for the first 4-8 hours after a c/s. That's because women get a suppository of paracetamol and voltarol (diclofenac) in theatre, which means there are no other options left for oral pain relief. Nothing stronger anyway. The suppositories are very very effective, but depending on women's pain threshold some people find they need some more pain relief before the time is up and morphine is all there's left. You also don't have to stay in bed for 24h. If you want to get up e.g. the morning after your c/s then let staff know. They'll help you to get out. Just make sure you've had enough pain relief before you get up or you'll be in agony.

re nappies. It really is all confusing. I dry pailed as well. I kept my bucket (one I was luckily enough to find in poundland, because the mothercare ones are very expensive, for what they are really). Anyway my lovely DH used my nappy bucket to mix cement or plaster or something and now it's ruined, so I'll have to get a new one.

belgian and you others with physical jobs, I really admire you. It must be so tough to find the energy as pregnancy advances. Hope the last weeks go quickly.

biggest challenge in my job is keeping my mind from wandering, all I do is sit on my bum in front of this computer .

also reading CS posts and birth experiences, it does show everyone has a different experience. I also realised that after the birth, a lot of it is forgotten, goes in the past, no matter how difficult. otherwise, many of us having no 2/3 wouldn't be here . so new mummies, don't worry too much what you read (grain of salt), it will be different for you as well.

a bit of ice and light snow here in York and thankfully nursery open so I can enjoy a quiet house again.

Hope all are well. xx

belgian your shift sounds exhausting I'll keep my fingers crossed you don't get too many of those before the 23rd.. and the ruined nappy bucket sounds like my dh thank for info on morphine / hospital policy etc. definitely going to ask their policy when i go back at 36wks.

momino you're so right about no matter what happened last time.. we still want to do it again. even with me i was broody for another as soon as i saw ds! dh took longer to persuade hence it being 2yrs on..

a light dusting of snow here too.. all that was left of tuesdays lot was our snowman. now everything is white again

Morning ladies

We had quite a bit of snow last night.

My boss came and picked me up this morning in his 4x4. Prob didn't want me to miss a day at work.

Belgianchocs, I don't know how you manage to do such a physically (and mentally) demanding job- i get out of breath just going up a flight of stairs or carrying DS.

I had a suppository with my cs and i felt no pain at all during the first 24 hours- it was amazing. I had my op at noon and was surprised that they came for me at 6.30am the next day to walk me to my own room and have a shower/remove the dressing but guess it was probably good for me to move/wash!

By the way if anyone watches the krypton factor (i don't usually as i watch eastenders) an ex-colleague/friend of mine is on tonight! He's called Ian if you see it. Let's hope he does well (he's not allowed to say).

runningmonkey - where do you get bamboo disposables? Never heard of them. They may be handy for time in hospital.

What is dry pailing - and what other method is available for dealing with nappies? What powder/wash stuff do you need for nappies - or do you just bung them in the washing machine (aftert scraping off the poo)??

flippineck - the nappy bundle I bought comes with wraps too, and everything is velcro fastening.

Polony - have a browse on The Used Nappy Company - it's an auction site similar to ebay but dedicated solely to 'used reusables' - you will get a good selection (probably too many to choose from) and at a good price to be able to try a few types you're interested in!

Thank you for all your advice regarding reusalbe nappies! I tried the quiz but the nappies I bought weren't on the list generated for me!! But maybe that's because a lot of the choices were left as neutral.

Regarding belly button shapes. Mine has not popped out, but it definately has stretched. And it is very sensitive. I hate anything touching it!

HAving read your discussions on morphine and cs - I was enduced with ds and sucked gas & air for hours. The Dr came in to set up my epidural and was called away for an esc, so I didn't get it at that stage. I requested Pethidine on the priviso that it wouldn't stop me from getting the epidural, and I took the IM jab, and I regret that I did! I got my epidural about an hour later, and ds was born about 2 hours after that, and my memory of the actual birth is fuzzy. Pethidine is a form of Morphine. I will be trying to avoid it this time at all costs!

Momino - I am no expert on SMP or Maternity Benefit. Whilst I am a director of our company I am not getting paid so am not employed - I also get a pension as I have been retired on medical grounds. Therefore I am not entitled to SMP, but have to apply for Maternity Benefit instead! I think you would need to ask DandyLioness as she seems to be the expert in this field and has given advice before.

FiKelly & Matthew&BumpsMummy - my ds (6yrs) was excited about becoming a big brother before the event happened. Once I told him about the pregnancy he became fretful and told me he was scared because he didn't know 'how to be a big brother' and for a while he didn't want me to mention it to him.. I bought him some books that I can give you the titles of tonight when at home - browse Amazon.co.uk - and they have helped him by explaining what is going on with me and what he needs to know - eg about keeping his toys tidy etc. Also, he regressed into baby behaviour also especially at bed time. I have had to get the sticker reward chart out again! He needs reassurance that his position and my love for him will not change.

I think this is going to be another long post.... sorry again...

Told you all it would be long...!

Divedaisy I saw some on www.naturalcollection.com which is a website I use a lot anyway. They do good bulk deals on organic toiletries and cleaning stuff - ironically I bought hundreds of organic tampons from them just before I found out I was pg!! I think Waitrose and Sainsburys sell them too. will do some finding out for you

Just did a quick search on the site above and the range of nappies they have is here www.naturalcollection.com/natcolnew/searchresults.aspx?search=nappies

By the way, cake emergency now solved, found enought ingredients to make flapjacks. At least I can pretend they're a bit healthy as I threw in a few chopped prunes... Now just have to wait for them to cool.

Phew - thanks for the websites - will definitely have a butchers on there. Sorry about my outburst last night - getting very pi**ed off with the snow around us that has turned into ice which makes my journey into work go from 1/2 hour into 2 hours. Boooo.

Belgian - know how you feel - am a childrens nurse and am up and down like a yo yo. I have a very busy clinic tomorrow morning, with a list of girls to see to give injections to (to stop their early puberties) and I can't give half of them as my risk assessment thingy stops me dealing with potentially violent patients. Believe me, 7 year old girls can be STRONG and they bite, kick, pull hair, punch... you name it! Siiigh. Tomorrow should be fun....

divedaisy i was wondering about some books... toddler ones i'll browse amazon and see what i can find... DS's (2.5yrs) outfit of choice so far this morning is his retro babybanz sunglasses & his fireman wellies. I've managed to get a long sleeved t-shirt on him but he's not keen on putting his trousers on yet. Trying to get a photo as it looks v cute and dh will just lol!

The dry pailing method is when you just place your nappy in the bucket instead of having a solution in the bucket to pre-soak everything before washing like our parents would have done.... this blurb is from the nappy company i purchased from with a few additions in brackets from me...

Not soaking??Dry Pailing?
It?s usually easier not to soak to save the effort of tipping the soaking water away.
If you do not wish to soak, in order to maximise the longevity of your nappies it is
recommended that you rinse the nappies to dilute the urine present (you can hold in the loo and flush but i've only ever done this with poo explosions that missed the liner!). This should
ideally be done at least daily if not washing each day (i washed every day to start and when things settled down every 2 or so). To minimise smells in your
bucket, add a couple of drops of lavender or tea tree oil to your bucket or to a
cloth to lay on top of your nappies in the bucket (does make everything smell nice). If not soaking or rinsing you may
choose to put your nappies through a rinse or prewash cycle before washing (yes.. a cold one too to minimise staining).
Using a nappy mesh bag to line your bucket will minimise the handling of nappies
required (a def bonus.. no need to get hands dirty at all!).

Washing
Try to get into a routine of regularly washing to minimise risk of running out. A
machine load is usually 15-18 nappies, so this will probably mean every second
or third night. Most manufacturers suggest to wash at 60° or 40°. Flat nappies
without fastenings or elastic may be washed at higher temperatures if desired,
but its not really necessary as 60° will be fine. Shaped and fitted nappies with
elastic will deteriorate with regular washing at higher temperatures (each nappy has it's own guidelines so just check the labels).

Nappy wraps
can usually be washed with the nappies at 60, check manufacturer?s instructions
but as they dry very quickly you may find it advantageous to hand rinse them on
a daily basis.

Detergent
Always use a non-biological powder to minimise risk of irritation to your baby.
Use sparingly as not much is required, often 1/3 to 1/2 normal dose is fine (i agree found it enough... surprisingly). If you
check your final rinse cycle for suds and you see suds at this stage cut down a
little more on your powder. Do not use fabric conditioner as this will coat the
fibres of the nappy making it less absorbent. (a small amount of nappy sanitiser powder in the wash too... but apparently not every nappy type likes that.. can affect longevity of some fastenings)

I had to go back to page 19 to find the last list!!

OK updated for today based on my dates of 27 wks today! Hope I get them right again.

Yawningmonster 27+6, due 1 May , (36 will be 37 when dc arrives DS age 4)
Sahbear 27+6, due 1 May , (DS age 14 mo)
farrahgillani 27+6, due 1 May , (1st Child)
Brightsideoflife 27+6, due 1 May ,
Reggiee , 27+6 due 1 May , (ahem 30 April but want to stay - DD age 22 months)
Aquababe, 27+6 due 1 May , (DD age 2.9) BOY!!
Evergrounded , 27+6 due 1 May ,
Momino , 27+6 due 1 May , (DD age 2.5 and DD age 1) SURPRISE!!
Loulabela , 27+6 due 1 May ,
AAL , 27+6 due 1 May , (DS age 4)
Olderbutnotwiser , 27+6 due 1 May , (DD age 21, DS age 19, DS age 16 DS age 4, DD age 2)
MissyK , 27+6 due 1 May (DS age 4) elective cs - BOY!!
bantam73 , 27+6 due 1 May (dd , age 3 + dd 16.11) from Leeds
JosieC , 27+6 due 1 May , (27, 1st child, North London) BOY!!
Tummum, 27+6 due 1 May, (DD age 4 and DD age 2), BOY!!
Heverhoney , 27+5, due 2 May ,
SpangleMaker , 27+4, due 3 May , (first child) BOY!!
LoobyLou36 , 27+4 due 3 May , (first child)
EmmalinaC , 27+4, due 3 May , (DD age 2.4) GIRL!!
Inni , 27+3, due 4 May , (DS age 2.9 and DD age 1)
Ceeceeanne , 27+3, due 4 May , (DD age 9)
Chicadee , 27+2, due 5 May , (DD age 6.5)
Overtiredmum , 27+2, due 5 May , (DS age 3)
Hopefullypregnant , 27+2, due 5 May , (DD age 10.5m)
Gibsongirl , 27+1, due 6 May , (DS1 age 5 and DS2 nearly 2)
BrownieBells , 27+1, due 6 May , (DS age 2.9)
lauralou1 , 27+1, due 6 May , (first)
Jael ,27+1, due 6th may , (DD age nearly 3yrs at mo)
belgianchocolates, 27+1, due 6 May, (ds age 7, dd age 5), SURPRISE!!
Divedaisy , 27, due 7 May (DS age 6; 3rd preg) SURPRISE!!!
leakyR,27 due 7 May (DS 21 months) SURPRISE!
Detsy , 26+6, due 8 May , (UK, Cheshire - DD 14 months) SURPRISE!
Flippineck , 26+6, due 8 May , (DD will be 2yr1m then) SURPRISE!!
Febes , 26+6 , due 8 May , (DD age 12 months). SURPRISE!!
Carol7 , 26+5, due 9 May , (DS age 16 DD age 12)
Jennster , 26+5, due 9 May , (DD age 2y7m, DS age 13m) GIRL!!
sebandelliotsmum , 26+5, due May 9th , ds1 5 and ds2 20 months
Missblythe , 26+4, due 10 May , (DD age?)
Superdenki , 26+4 , due 10 May , (DS age 2.5)
Pinkcandyfloss , 26+3 , due 11 May , (DS1 age 5 and DS2 age 1.7)
Mootie , 26+3, due 11 May , (DD age 2.4)
llareggub , 26+2, due 12 May , (DS age 2) BOY!!
Ses , 26+2, due 12 May , (first child)
Minimenace , 26+2, due 12 May , (DS age 13 months)
Millionsaway , 26+1, due 13 May , (DD 20 months)
Mammajamma , 26+1, due 13 May , (DS1 age 4, DS2 age 22m)
lilyjay09 , 26+1, due 13 May , (DC 3)
Daisydoo , 26+1, due 13 May , (DS age 2) SURPRISE!
Wobblypig , 26, due 14 May , (DS 1.11)
Looneywoman , 26, due 14 May ,
Lazzer 26, due 14th May, SURPRISE!!
Zuka , 26, due 14 May , (first child)
1stMrsF , 26, due 14 May , with non-identical twins (first pregnancy, Surrey) TWO GIRLS!!
chocolatefrog , 26, due 14 May , (DD 19mnths)
FiKelly 38yrs, 25+6, due May 15 , (DS age just over 2yrs) GIRL!!
Nauseous, 25+6, due 15 May, first baby, SURPRISE!).
Bekkaboo , 25+5,due 16 May , (DS aged 2) GIRL!!
Frazzledoldbag , 25+5, due 16 May , (DD1 age 7, DD2 age 2) BOY!!
Bluebell82 , 25+5, due 16 May , (dd age 7 months)
umamimama , 25+5, due 16 May , (dd age 16 months)
Bigtree , 25+4, due 17 May , (first child)
HtheH , 25+4, due 17 May (first child) BOY - they think!
cece, 25+3, due 18th May, (dd age 7 and DS aged 5) SURPRISE
Tigergem , 25+2, due 19 May , (DD 18m)
GreenFingeredMummy , 25+1, due 20 May , (DD age 15m)
Grumpyoldcaaaaaaaa , 25+1, due 20 May , (DD age 10, DD age 4) SURPRISE!!
Mags98 , 25, due 21 May , (first child)
2beautifulgals , 24+6, due 22 May , (2 dds?!)
Moonlit , 24+6, due 22 May , (DD age 2.8) SURPRISE!!
halfmumhalfbiscuit , 24+5, due 23 May , (DS age 2)
Agooboo , 24+5, due 23 May , (DS1 age 6 DS2 age 2)
Runningmonkey , 24+5, due 23 May , (first child), probably BOY!!
Swottybetty: , 24+4, Due 24/05/09. DD , 6mths
DandyLioness , 24+3, due 25 May , (DD nearly4) BOY!
Alapala , 24+3, due 25 May , (DS 1.5)
rubysmom, 24+3, due 25 May, (DD1 will be 16 months ) GIRL!!
pulapula , 24+3, due 25 May , (DD 4, DS 1.6, Sheffield, elective cs) BOY!!
rosielady, 24+2, due 26 May (DS age 3)
citybranch , 24+1, due 27 May , (DS age 23m)
Sausagenmash, 24+1, due 27 May (first baby)
Imnotok , 24+1, due 27 May ,
SweetBROODY, 23+6, due 29th May (First Child) MAYBE A GIRL, MAYBE A BOY!!
MsG, 23+6, due 29th May (First child) SURPRISE!!
MrsExton, 23+5, due 30 May
MatthewAndBumpsMummy , 23+4, due 31 May , (DS age 3yrs 6mths), BOY!!
Rek, 23+4, due 31 May (DD 13 months)
milliemoocow 23+4, due 31st may,(DC?, DC?)
CoteDAzur 37, 23+4 due 31 May (DD 3) BOY!!

In 3 days we'll all be over the 24 weeks mark!! Time for a celebration I think!! Bring out the prune juice!!!!

In fact their pdf booklet (downloadable free) from their site is full of everything you might want to know.... www.twinkleontheweb.co.uk/howtonappy.pdf

phew! divedaisy thanks for updating the list

For disposable nappies I like the Nature Babycare ones. You can find them in Boots, Waitrose, some Sainsbury's. I used to use them with my dd if for some reason I couldn't use the reusable ones e.g. on holiday, night time sometimes and when she was 2 and the nappies had become totally worn out and I thought it was not worth replacing them. They're biodegradable and made from natural materials. The nice thing about them is that they don't become all soggy and hangy like the huggies or pampers do, they stay firm even when when IYKWIM.

sausage I haven't had a risk assessment yet. I wonder if they ever do them, none of my pregnant colleagues have had one, even though we should. Obviously I just stay away from anyone that is infectious or agressive. I also don't push beds, wheelchairs. Unfortunately I recently had an incident where it hadn't been handed over that a mum had had a virus in pregnancy and that no pregnant staff should care for her or her baby. I picked it up when flicking through the notes after I had already looked after her for a whole shift (I was about to discharge them). I was v. angry and have had bloods which have been OK. Obviously I generated an incident report form. Luckily no harm has come to me, but it could easily have been more serious.

fiKelly the books I got from Amazon for ds (age 6) are:
I'm a Big Brother by Joanna Cole (Big Sister also available)
Mummy's Having A Baby by Camille Liscinsky
I'm Going To Be A Big Brother by Brenda Bercus (Big Sister also available)
What's Inside Your Tummy, Mummy? by Abby Cocovini - the one we use most!

All are very good. The Big Brother ones explain things the child will notice when baby arrives. Eg tidy up toys, nappys, crying, hugs, sleeping and reinforces the fact that mum & dad will still love him!

The Mummys Having a Baby - is a book to your child from you and you stick pix in of when he/she was a baby; they draw a pix of you with a baby in your tummy and space for photos of your child with new baby.

What's Indside.. book is lovely. It expalins simple things eg size og baby (at 26 week I am size of a pineapple - so bought a pineapple to show him!!) 27 weeks I think is a loaf of bread (don't know which brand!!). I cringe when I get to the pumpkin size (MArch-April)!! One page has the information and drawings, the opposite is for you to hold against your belly and it illustrates the size of the baby in you! I've learnt a lot from this book too!

There was another book I was looking at - something about mummy having a house inside her!!!??

Oh and I'm definitely going to have a look at the used nappy company as well. I need some wraps and once I've decided on what nappies I like I'll need the bigger size too.

just looked at the list - thanks divedaisy.

OMG - are we nearly 28 weeks?
I'm getting nervous... [said in small voice].

divedaisy thanks for the books info... like the idea of the what's inside one too.

I've used the nature care nappies too... infact i think i've tried everyones over the last 2 years! I have to admit as a 1st time mum my 1st choice was pampers newborn as I thought i'd have enough to learn without the washables to get to grips with too (and i did like the idea that they absorbed the breastfed baby poo to an extent also). As the initial weeks passed and i felt able i then tried out a number of washables... and have never looked back.

btw most of my friends think the washables are not for them... so it's a good job we have so much choice in disposables and washables. Another thing you'll find no matter what nappy you use is your littleones leg/thigh size will affect the effectiveness of poo containment. Different brands fit differently so if one leaks a lot just switch and try another... washables can be a bit more adjustable in this regard and wraps ad an extra layer of protection

Hi ladies

I am off to check out a nursery at lunchtime.

What questions should I be asking?

looby ds not in a nursery so can't help with that one

Hi Looby, I asked the same question on another thread a few weeks ago! In the end I just went on my feel of the place. I was interested in observing how the staff interacted with the children (and my DS) and how bright and cheerful the place seemed. I did ask about qualifications and CRB checks, but I was less interested in the answers and more concerned with enthusiasm.

Thanks for all the nappy info Fi flippineck & others. I'm intending to give re-usables ago but I will definitely get some disposables in for the first few weeks in case I find it's all too much.

Momino I know what you mean... eek!

Yesterday it felt like the 3rd trimester had hit with avengence - belly like a blown up balloon, aches and pains, tired, hormonal, waddling... was getting quite scared about what I'm going to be like at 40 weeks! Feel much better today though. Maybe LO was having a 24h growth spurt, or maybe the fact I had a good night's sleep with my new support pillow thingy, it's ace!

Hope everyone else is ok.