Right,
IDOB - I had a HWB with my DD (DC1) and so so glad I did - she was very late and the hospital were desperate to induce which I refused. My 2nd stage was very long and they would've tried to get her out, which she didn't need. My feeling about hospitals is that they are very bound by policy and if your birth doesn't happen to fit in with what they have written down as standard then they're likely to intervene, which often leads to complications. IMO the 1:1 care you experience at home is the safest option, as at the slightest hint of trouble they'll blue-light you in so fast your feet won't touch the floor! FWIW my labour was 8.5 hours and I only used a TENS machine in the first stage... wasn't against pain relief at all, just never felt the need for it. I certainly wasn't "screaming for an epidural"!!
RE: maternity cheap maternity clothes I love New Look and Hennes.
Cosmo - glad the birth went well - how're things?
GYO - I remember my lowest point with DD being when she was about 2 weeks old. I can still see DH and I sitting in the kitchen in floods of tears while DD screamed her head off in the sitting-room. I can only second what the others have all said - it gets SO much better, and the BF is well worth while in the end. Thinking of you.
Glask - sorry you're having to do a bolttle of formula. It sounds like it'll be worth though if she gets the extra boost she needs and it doesn't have to be for long.
Claire - I forgot to say congrats on your BFP! The cramps are worrying aren't they?! All good signs that everything is getting ready to grow your bean though! I think mine lasted quite a while and it was a relief when they stopped!
LBOX - take it easy lady! Sorry to hear about the constipation, I think Diege could be right about the piles. If you are taking iron tablets you could take them with orange juice as it makes the iron easier to digest. I took lactulose for a quite while after DD was born and it really helped. Hope you haven't had any more nose-bleeds.
Diege - at your 7 pairs of maternity jeans!!!
FWIW - I mooed a lot during my HB in my middle flat in a block - I went to apologise to the neighbours and they'd never heard a thing!
Oh and there was definietly someone on the wagon quite a while ago who was trying AI with their partner!
Kay - I like the colour! If it's too much you could think about having a "feature wall" and paint the rest white? Hope DS's lump was nothing serious.
Gruff - was it you that had the baby shower? If so the pics were hilarious and you look gorgeous! It must be lovely having DH at home for a few weeks - perfect timing.
Ses - when I 1st checked the other thread I thought you'd had your baby and it was called Lucy! Doh! That'll teach me to read the last page 1st!
STT - sorry to read about your boss - well done for putting the wind up them though! Hope all the illnesses have disappeared now. The books I'd recommend are Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth an Hypnobirthing, The Mongan Method. Did you have a C-section with your DS?
Sorky - Hope your DD2 is sleeping through regularly! Can I ask what pool you had - I am concerned that we won't have enough hot water for my birhtpool-in-a-box.
LB - your poat about your DD's naughtiness could've been written by me! My Jessica has been a little monkey too. I have had my 1st try of potty training today and all I can say is I'm glad it was warm enough to be in the garden! She managed 2 wees on the pot and had about 10 accidents! Still it's only day1, so we'll try again tomorrow.
Glad the osteopath was useful. Sounds like DS is really settling down now.
MITM - I tried all methods of natural induction know to pregnant-womankind! I even did castor oil twice, which was seriously grim but did set off contractions both times. Not sure it's really a good method as it basically gives you the most awful squits, which irritates the uterus into contracting. Not pleasant!
BB - sorry it's been a tough time for you, but hooray for being 11 weeks!
Phew! That was a marathon catch-up!