Due April 2009: Episode 16 - BB's magical cervix dust prevents birthing. But Barbarellys Babies are here !

[SmuttyNuttyTaff]

here, that was close

I'm very of first timers too. I am keeping up some hours with the CM though as I need some rest and time to prepare for the baby.

Am off for a lovely long shower now. I would have a bath but I've just remembered that there is no-one here to rescue me if I get stuck in the bath

I was really worried that Nutty might have pre-eclampsia with her pain. I feel quite relieved that they are taking notice of her symptoms and monitoring her at last.

conkertree - you and me both on catching up

Always feels like I just push in with a few remarks and then have to go

Like right now....really must go get some tea sorted as DP will be home any min. and get started on my eve chores double and try to get an early night [yawn emoticon]

so best say goodnight to everyone, hope y'all have good days tomorrow, not too many BH, SPD, MS etc etc etc problems for those affected

a few hours with a cm sounds great - and i've only been on mat leave for two days .

Its just something about Tuesday - dh is out from 8.30 am to 9.30pm so its a long day on our own. Even if he could come back for his dinner it would help to break the day up - but sometimes i feel like a rubbish mum for thinking like that. i love being with ds - but its just absolutely non stop.

Thanks Frekkles, now I have D.I.S.C.O. in my head and I suspect it will be there for a while.

Oh dear god. You would never believe I studied Biology at Uni, I couldn't finish looking at those cervix pictures.

BB - We are going to be very strict re visits in the week following the birth. Basically the quality of the champagne they come bearing will determine the length of their stay. [only half joking]

lol puzzle - thats a good rule on champagne. might have to instigate that as well. soooo cant wait to be able to sip a whole glass of wine instead of the odd wee thimbleful now and again.

right need to get on and finish the tidying/packing. dh's granny's funeral is on friday - his brother and girlfriend arrive from hong kong tomorrow so need to tidy some more. and we go on holiday on saturday.

am impressed by how many have performed their own cervical examinations - i dont think i'll bother - i am going to not think about it coming out and hopefully it will just not be too late.

Minush - Before I went into labour with DD, DH was not keen to be present. He has been known to pass out at the sight of blood so I had asked my mother to be my main birth partner and agreed he should be present but could be in and out of the room as he wished.
I thought it would be counterproductive to put pressure on him. When the day finally came he never left my side (although he stayed well away from the business end) and was fantastically supportive.

Oh shit, poor old Nuts. I really hope it isn't pre-eclampsia. Springy, if you speak to her again, please send my love.

Yay, just managed to catch up too and thought I'd quickly get a post in while I am reasonably up to date.

Nutty, all the best for you, fingers crossed it is not PE, you've really had a tough pregnancy anyway.

LOL at Springy's DH fixing the door naked - was it the front door?

Birth plans - I thought I wouldn't bother this time round and let DH do the talking. Last time I am sure nobody ever read what I'd written.

Cervix pics - fascinating if a bit odd, why would anyone want to do this? I am not going anywhere near mine, that's for sure, would be far too scared to do damage. But you lot keep prodding away at yours if you feel like it!

Breast pads - totally agree with Boff, I had sore nipples until I started using fabric washable ones, then they magically cleared up. Might have been a coincidence of course. Maternity towels however - I only used about a pack or two, then moved on to normal heavy duty pads.

Plastic backed mats for the bed - a friend of mine simply put a shower curtain under her sheets. I find the disposable mats don't stay in place anyway, so will buy a washable one from Mothercare which might work better (and then you can reuse it when toilet training the LO).

MIL left a message on my answer phone earlier but I so can't be bothered to call her back...

Oh - drinking when pregnant / bfing - DH spoke to someone recently who knows about this stuff (a doctor I guess) and he said drinking when bfing is actually worse for the baby because there is no placenta to filter the alcohol out. So if you feel like champagne, I'd say have it now.

Springy - I'm so going to get DH to do some naked DIY this weekend. Problem is, the only thing that needs fixing is my car door.

Frekkles - Babies are much easier than fish, I promise.

Mumble - I'm constantly hoiking my trousers up. Must look charming.

Conker - Poor DS. I hope the both of you have a better day tomorrow. And it's not rude, you need a few hours to catch up these days, it's hard work.

Swaliswan - We have a really crap narrow bath and I am at the point of getting wedged in. The other day DD pulled the plug out on me and I thought all the water had drained until I stood up and there was loads behind me. My bottom made a perfect dam.

Schulte - If you to try make sure you drink after a feed, therefore hopefully an hour or two until the next, and stick to one or two units, the alcohol that will be present in your breastmilk is negligible.

Oh - pulling trousers up - I do that all the time too as even the over the bump ones keep falling down. My maternity jeans now have holes where I keep pulling them up!

Frekkles - the goldfish thing made me laugh - that's exactly how it is with a newborn!

Well... not sure Puzzle, as a friend who is a GP told me that the alcohol actually takes a while to get to your breastmilk so she said you'd have to drink just before (during?) a feed.

DD projectile vomited after I had had my first glass of champagne when she was 2 days old so I think I might go easy on the bubbly this time

Well... not sure Puzzle, as a friend who is a GP told me that the alcohol actually takes a while to get to your breastmilk so she said you'd have to drink just before (during?) a feed.

DD projectile vomited after I had had my first glass of champagne when she was 2 days old so I think I might go easy on the bubbly this time

Why a double post again? My computer must be playing tricks on me. Sorry ladies. Am off to bed now anyway, nighty night

I'm back from my shower with fuzz-free legs!

As for drinking during BFing, I think that moderate drinking is supposed to be fine. Apparently alcohol is broken down in breastmilk at the same rate as it is in your body generally ie it doesn't build up in there. That's why you can roughly gauge how much alcohol will be in your breastmilk by how pissed you are. OK, not an exact science but basically, don't drink enough to get tipsy and baby will be fine. This is a good way of taking into account how different women have different tolerance levels and excrete alcohol at different rates.

This is the NHS position...

Anything that you put into your body while you are pregnant or breastfeeding can have an effect on your baby. This includes alcohol.

However, research shows that occasional drinking, such as one or two units once or twice a week, is not harmful to your baby while you are breastfeeding. Drinking any more than this can cause problems, such as affecting the mother's 'let down' reflex (release of milk to the nipple area). One unit is roughly equivalent to half a pint of regular beer, a 25ml (pub) measure of spirit, or a small (125ml) glass of wine.

Alcohol clears from the mother's blood at a rate of about one unit every two hours. If you do decide to have a drink, it's a good idea to wait for a couple of hours before breastfeeding. It can be difficult to predict when your baby may want to feed, so some mothers plan ahead and express milk beforehand for special occasions where they may want to have a drink.

Moderation is key - drinking anymore than a couple of units at a time can affect the baby's development and reduce your milk supply. Small amounts of alcohol pass into breast milk, making it smell different, which may affect your baby's feeding, sleeping or digestion. To be on the safe side, some women choose to avoid alcohol altogether while they are breastfeeding.

Schulte - That's why I loved my pump.

Report from the breastfeeding network

Kellymom is always a great resource and recommended by the qualified breastfeeding counsellors on here

I don't drink a lot - always stick at 1-2 units 1-2 times a week anyway, whether I am pg, bf or whatever, and I've had no problems at all bf, for the record.

As much as I love the NHS (well they pay my wages) I have to say that I will not be scaremongered into not drinking whilst BFing by them. Bring on the champagne! (In moderation, of course)

I just asked BIL who is a surgeon. He reiterated the NHS position. Swali is right about tolerances though. I have a very fast metabolism.