A Giraffe and a Gruffalo went to the Cosmos to see the Starshine, but which WagonBaby will be first?

[Astarte]

It's like an 'in joke'

Births:
Kay - 12th December - 6:49pm - Dylan George - 10lbs 5ozs
Teuch- - - boy
Pop - 23rd December - twin boys, Hugo & Henry
Nat - 27th December - 8:36pm - Mikey Bradley - 6lb 10.5oz
Gin - 16th Jan- Girl - 7.25am- details tbc
Tink- 19th Jan - Girl - 1.51pm - Bracken Hope Willow - 8lbs 7oz
Astarte - 16th Feb - Girl - 8lb 12oz
Glask - 20th Feb - Girl - 7.47pm - Ruby Marie 4lb (8wks prem)
LardyBump - 21st Feb- Boy - 8lb 12oz
HappyNappies- 27th Feb- Boy - 12.01am 9lb13

Scan list:
Kooky - fetal heart echo + detailed scan @ 16 weeks - 18th March
LBOT - 22 week scan - 23 March
idreamofbeanie - 12 week scan - 23 March
STT - 12 week scan - 31st March
LaTour - 12 week scan - 31st March!

Weeks list:
Playing - ?????
GYo - 39 weeks, 1wk left. Surprise (17 Mar)
Star - 38 weeks, 2 weeks left. Surprise (22 Mar)
Cosmo - 38 weeks, 2 weeks left. Girl.(31st Mar)
Gruff - 35 weeks, 5 weeks left. Girl. (16th Apr)
Ses -32 weeks, 8 left. Surprise (10 May)
MINM- 30 weeks, 10 to go Surprise(19th May)
Diege - 26 weeks, 14 left to go. Boy!!!!(21st June)
LBOT - 20 weeks, 20 left to go (24th July)
KookyKid - 15 weeks, 25 weeks to go (2nd Sept) BOY!
Idreamofbeanie - 11 weeks (due 1st Oct)
LaTourEiffel - 10 weeks (due 8th Oct)
Sparklytwinkletoes - 10 weeks 12th Oct
BB - 5-6 weeks (due 31st oct)

Girls = 2
Boys= 4
Surprise = 4
Unknowns (yet) = 4

MW apps list:
LBOT - 21+6 weeks - Thu 19 March
Gruff - 36 weeks - Friday 20th March
GYo @ 40+4 weeks- Fri 20th March- S&S
Ses - @33wks - Tues 24th March
Cosmo - @ 40 wks - around 28th March
MINM- - 33 weeks- 31st March
DIEGE = 28 wk midwife/consultant/anti-d - 2nd April.
Mat leave countdown:
Playing - on Mat leave!!!!
GYo - on Mat leave!!!!!
Star - on Mat Leave!!!!
Cosmo - on Mat Leave!!!!
Gruff - on Mat Leave!!!!
Ses - last day 3rd April (35 weeks) 21 days, but only 15 days actually at work
STT - Somewhere around 120 working days
Diege - last day 29th April.

Just back from work

GYo - great to hear from you. Looking forward to some inspiration from your birth story (no pressure!)

Kay - that's great news for your DH. Hope he gets the job!

Cosmo - I have to confess to feeling a bit that GYo has her baby in her arms too and I still have 7 weeks to go! I must pull myself together!

IDOB - great news about your scan!

LBOT - hope to get an update from you when you're back from yours!

Diege - hope the sickness passed and you're doing ok.

Glaskham - hope Ruby's doing ok and will be home soon.

I had a good pilates session this morning. I think I've mentioned that there's normally only 3 of us. Well one didn't come as her waters broke this morning and the other couldn't make it so I had a one to one session with the trainer!!

Question for all you experienced ones...

Am hoping to bf but want to have the option to express. I belive it's ideal not to feed EBM for a couple of weeks so as not to affect the latch. Want to use the Tommy Tippee closer to nature range so as to help with this.

• Does that make sense?
• Is it easiest to store EBM in freezer bags?
• Should I get the Tommy Tippee closer to nature breast pump so that it all fits together ITKWIM?
• Is there a general preference for a manual or electric breast pump?
• Any other things I should be considering or words of wisdom??!

hi

well done gyo
good luck 2 dh - kay

i have been spring cleaning today.
went to tesco and sainsburys bought dd1 a drs set in a case and picked up her clothes from next all lovely have put in wardrobe all ready and hung up brackens dresses 2

Huge Congratulations GYo!
So glad you got your home water birth and especially impressive at such a weight! Don't stress about the name - took us 24 hours to decide (eventually going for the name we had had in our minds during pregnancy! - we were being asked by each new nurse/consultant, etc. what her name was, so we felt really under pressure. It will come to you in good time!)
You sound like you're doing really well.
DD is being weaned off paralysis and sedation and I had a cuddle this afternoon. She's breathing really well and they're just waiting for her to wake up some more before they take out her tube!
She's being thoroughly checked out though - today she had a brain scan and she's supposed to be having a heart scan too. She has opened her eyes a little this afternoon and really hoping that by tomorrow morning she's more awake, but we'll wait and see.

STT - yay on finding heartbeat.
Cosmo - hope you don't have long to go.
IDOB - glad scan went well (think it was you - can't remember all I've read).
Kayz - good luck to DH re. job.
Ses - sorry can't advise re. expressing, but I did use the Tommy Tippee bottles last time and they were good. Went home last night to see DS and used my manual expresser, which is Tommee Tippee and it worked really well (had thought it might not after electric ones at hospital). Am sure someone with more advice will come along soon to advise you.

Right, off back up to ward now. Thanks for all your kind thoughts.

Hey Star! Good to hear from you and great signs from Charlotte. It must be so difficult for you but you sound like you're coping really well. Fingers crossed her scans all go well and you get more cuddles soon

Hi tink! Spring cleaning!!??? Do you fancy popping round here?!

I'd say that was perfectly normal towards the end of pregnancy COSMO - just the extra weight of the LO pressing on your bladder!
Good luck for dh and thr job KAYZ; will have everything crossed for you!
Have just heard that friend of mine has had a baby girl - she was taken in for c-section a few weeks ago as baby was breech, and had extra scan just before the spinal to check position of placenta, and baby had turned head down at the last minute (had been bottom down night before). Anyway, two weeks later she's finally had her baby!
Right, better go, speak later!

Sorry, cross-posted there!
STAR, that's very positive news about Charlotte. Hoping that you'll have her home very soon
TINKS, new clothes sound nice - have also started weeding out the dds' winter ones, but of course now freezing again
SES, it's a strange one with introducing a bottle as if you leave it too late they struggle with the teat (cue dd1 being spoon fed her milk by nursery), but as you say can detract from latch too. I think if I were you I'd probably try sooner rather than later, as it won't effect your milk supply if you're expressing. I loved the manual avent pump, and avent bottle. Tended to pump, refridgerate and use the same day, but also succesfully froze in the plastic bags.
Right, off for night now (bed); have a stinking cold, a 5.30am start tomorrow and a solid 6 hours of teaching which I am NOT looking forward to!

Ses I too have used the Avent bottles and avent manual express pump, very easily.
I didn't express anything for the first month, not for latch being affected, but to get through the first growth spurt with a good supply of milk.
It can take some women up to six weeks for a good supply to be built up I was told by m/w.

Dd2 is 5 weeks today and I haven't expressed any milk at all yet. Will likely start at the weekend and freeze.
Boots do handy little freezer bags which I use and can recommend.

I found the best way to start is to express about an ounce before each morning feed when your supply will be good and freeze it.
I do this each morning over a week and get one good bottle.
I get Dh to defrost all the weeks milk and warm together, to give the 10-11pm feed, whilst I express from both sides. This is then frozen for the next night and so on.

Alternatively, if I feed her at 10pm then I can keep the milk for babysitter to feed her

Cosmo, wee'ing is usually a sign the baby is fully engaged.

Star that's fab news, hopefully you'll have her home soon
Diege we have runny noses here too, hope we're not all coming down with something.

Right that's me done, can't remember anything else, runny nose is befuddling me. Sorries to anyone I've missed.... great news about scan IDOB

Hello all

Had a busy day I am pooped!

Dh's birthday tomorrow so looking forward to giving him his pressies!

Ses - I have electric breast pump from Avent, as it was recommended by a friend! Hopefully I made the right choice. They are about £80 but I got mine of ebay for £25. It is electric but can be used as a hand pump too.

Diege - 5.30am start does not sound nice, nor do 6 hours of teaching! Wishing you lots of energy and patience for tomorrow!

Star - sounds like Charlotte is doing well! Really pleased to hear it. Glad you got a cuddle. Thinking of you!Hope you get lots more cuddles this week!

Gyo - Hope everything is going well today and you and DH are enjoying your little girl. Cant wait for birth story/name. Remember if you need anything I am only 5 mins away!

Cosmo - I have the same thing with bladder and gym ball. the same goes for walking ANYWHERE. Been like this for about 2 weeks and getting worse!To my knowledge baby isn't fully engaged yet, but you never know!

...and my memory capacity is full! Hope I have missed too much. Hello to everyone Ive missed and hope all is well!

Evening!

Aw, shucks, GYO, you've made me go all funny! I'm really glad my story helped in some small way. I'm so loooking forward to hearing YOUR story when you're ready.

Great news about the scan, IDOB. Has LBOT been back yet?? Wonder what she's having! FWIW I think it's a girl.

Star - good news about Charlotte - must be so hard for you though. Fingers crossed she continues to make good progress.

Ses - I used the Avent stuff too (mostly because it's what my sister gave me!). Found using the hand pump really easy once I'd got the hang of it. First gave DD a bottle of EBM when she was about 8 weeks and she took to it really easily and never had any breast/bottle confusion. I expressed in the morning as it was then that I seemed to have the best supply and I would then take that bottle with us if going out and about. Otherwise I tended to freeze it in the bags; it keeps for about 3 months in the freezer I think.

Kay - I have my fingers crossed that your DH gets the job.

Diege we went to the Nottingham Centre Parcs. I really thought it was great! Would definitely consider it again, especialyl with friends.

Any of you watching the Fertility thing on C4? Hilarious! People dressed as sperm - youc an't beat it! They even talked about EWCM. kind of.

Off for a bath. Sure I felt the baby move in the last few days. Lovely!

Congratulations Gyo! Lovely to hear that you got your home birth, and what a fantastic weight (I thought I'd done well... but... that is going some!)

hi

stt - glad all going wellye for hb
kk - just saw a glimpse of that looked funny!
glas - hope all ok with you
idob - ye for scan

bracken is 9 weeks old today she is such a star so placid and a real smiler. gorgoeus 2!!
she is now having 3ozs 3 hourly instead of 2 ozs 2 hourly
she only wakes @ 4am in night

i have a cold and sore throat

Wow, so much to catch up on here. Babies sure to day take a lot of MNing time! Have written my birth story, its soo long.. will post a link to it in the birth announcement page. Still no name but we are nearly there!

Star- so glad Charlotes is doing well, hope you are ok, must be tough to deal with that straight after the birth, especially with another DD. Thinking of you.

Cosmo- Not sure if it helps but my weeing issue like yours got really bad in the week before labour (used to dread going to bed knowing I was going to be up and down all night). In that week I was 4/5ths engaged and had the snotty stuff which gradually increased. Hope your "snot" (!) is still coming along strong. Really wont be long for you I dont think. Sending you lots of my spare uterus contracting hormones (who said first timers didnt get afterpains??!!!)

Hi Ses- Im interested to see the replies about the pump etc. We bought a Avent elec one but took it back after NCT classes on BFing as I thought we might wait and see what we needed before buying... She talked a lot about collecting extra milk in sterilised breast shells in the early days (assumning that you leak from one boob whilst feeding from the other IYSWIM). I really want to get a pump soon though.

Kayz- hurray for Dhs job, hope period shows up soon...

Tink hurray for bracken being 9wks. Gone really fast!

Astarte, cant believe your DD is 5wks already! Thanks for your expressing tips. I've made note too!

Diege- at early start... lets count days til maternity leave for you..

Sorry for all your colds etc. and hi to everyone else.

Finally, here is the birth story
Not so mini Gyo's arrival story

Its long so recommend you get a cup of tea first!

Wow Gyo - birth story may have been long but made good reading! Well done to you, you are a star!I hope I do aswell as you did. Thanks so much for posting so soon! You are a pro posting so quickly. Damn wish I could have had a HWB. You make it sound so easy and calm and you have already brought me back to thinking positive about the birth again when I was so scared after last weeks antics

Hoping that things continue to go as brilliantly for you!

Take care and get lots of rest and chocolate

Morning!

Really p**d off this morning! Just typed a huge post and lost it!

GYo - thank you for taking the time to share your birth story. I'm really impressed with how fantastically well you did with such a big baby and so little pain relief!

I think I need to go and curl up in a corner today. My body's making noises (aches, pains and discomfort) about me needing to slow down but my head doesn't seem to understand causing a bit of inner conflict.
DH has also admitted this morning that he's jealous of my 9 months off work. I've asked him in that case if he'd like to be pg and give birth and he said he wouldn't have a problem with that!
I think I might go and see if Cosmo's still in the sulking corner and join her...

On a lighter note, after meeting in Eastbourne this morning (great - nearly 3hrs of driving!), I'm seeing MW this afternoon and then going to see my friend that gave birth to a little boy last week. Will be good to meet him.

Morning all,

Ses - I'm still hauled up in the sulking corner - could use some company ...

Terrible night's sleep spending turning from left to right to back (I know I know...not meant to be on back) and dead legs, hips, and tiggling dead fingers. Oh and did I mention the drooling? Yes, that has returned with avengence from the 1st trimester....

I think the head may well have engaged more but I've had no more of the snot stuff so bit disappointed about that. Ah well, guess mother nature wants this pregnancy to go on just that bit longer since she knows how enjoyable I am finding it....

GYo - amazing birth story by the way and impressed you have managed a catch up too! What a star...

Hey Cosmo! Sulk corner buddy!!
What you describe could well have been my night's sleep even down to the tingling fingers! Only thing I don't have (yet?!) is the drooling.

Right, I'm not dressed yet and need to leave for work in 10 mins...

Morning,

That is a wonderful story GYo. Have you got a name yet?

My period has arrived, only 3 days late. It did worry me quite a bit.

Hope everyone is ok.

Morning!Purely a winge from me - I'm saving GYO's birth story up for a treat once I've got through the day...
Have been awake since 3.30am and feel as rough as a bear's ar*e. Have a heavy cold and very feverish - at least I was awake before the 5.30am alarm...
Right, feel a bit better now!

Morning all,

apologies for posting and running yesterday, it finished up being a bit manic driving and ringing around family and friends to let them know our news. It was fantastic though and I still have a daft smile pinned constantly to my face. Despite all the nausea, aching boobs and constant weeing this is the first time it has felt real that we are going to have a baby.

GYo - your birth story was amazing. It has really encouraged my to stick to my plan of a water birth at the local maternity centre despite several cries from F+F yesterday of 'you'll never manage without an epidural'. Congratulations again and I can't wait to see a pic.

Cosmo - I'm sending you some of my dads lovely homemade brownies over to the sulky corner but I hope you aren't there long enough to eat many. Fingers crossed it will be your turn soon.

Morning Kayz - glad AF turned up.

Ses - sorry for crappy nights sleep, take it easy today.

Tink - hope the throat is feeling better today.

STT - yeh for hearing heartbeat.

Hi to anyone I've missed .

Diege - x-posted. Sorry you are feeling so crappy ! What do you have planned for today?

IDOB, I meant to say yesterday YAY about your scan!!!

Diege, I hope you feel better soon.

Thanks guys - off in a few minutes to do a nice 3 hour stint of teaching, then lunch break, then another 3 hours...
If I come back in one piece I promise to do a proper cathc up and not be som self-indulgent!