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Connect with mums-to-be with similar due dates to share experiences and support.

Due April 2009 - Chapter 32: Shake your pom poms, Shake your pom poms, Shake your pom poms!!!

966 replies

BabyBolat · 27/04/2009 18:22

Hope no one minds I gave Nutty the vote after her epic birth!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Bleuravin · 06/05/2009 12:05

mw and hv run them yes

Bleuravin · 06/05/2009 12:08

with my meg we had back to back contractions...
i found arching backwards over pillows in the small of my back helped some...

Juwesm · 06/05/2009 12:08

Okay - get the phone (no, get DH to get the phone) and call

Breastfeeding Line - 0300 330 0771 (NCT)

or

Call 0845 120 2918 (LLL)

Now!!

Ask if there are any counsellors in your area, and if they can possibly come out to you at home.

You've got nothing to lose by calling them. Explain how much contradictory info you've had so far.

Bleuravin · 06/05/2009 12:11

f-also kneeling over a mound of pillows so my back could stretch as far out as possible also helped

BoffinMum · 06/05/2009 12:16

Frekkles, in our area you have at least until 5am Thursday to deliver, and they even let you go 36 hours if you're sensible and well-informed, and careful with your health. So don't feel you have to go charging in there if you don't want to. I went 40 hours from waters breaking until Felix was born, but I was fanatical about hygiene and refused to have a bath or anything apart from using the birthing pool. You will be OK though, and remember the epidural is an option if it all feels out of control and scary. That having been said, I can see you are dfinitely made of stern stuff having soldiered on for this long so well, so you may surprise yourself.

Bleu, do you want to talk on Skype at some point while we are both feeding, and you can tell me what's been said about your technique, and we can observe each other and have a mutual chat about it all? Would that help? (I would ask you over but last time I did the Cardiff to Cambridge trip it was a bit of a marathon!)

Also Bleu, a thought, although the Back to Sleep campaign has been very successful in reducing cot deaths, it does mean many babies who probably would have never been at risk of this are forced to sleep on their backs and cry for hours about it, whereas on their fronts they might have settled better. A compromise is putting them on your chest to sleep, or having someone keep an eye on them while they sleep. Or even a special monitor. Why not see if she settles better on her front and then discuss options with the professionals?

frekkles · 06/05/2009 12:16

i managed to get some weird kinda sleepy rest when i got back this morning over some pillows. Now I'm leaning over my birthing ball. Gosh this is all a bit intense isn't it? Thanks for reassurance. Need to try not to panic

BoffinMum · 06/05/2009 12:18

I meant 72 hours, not 36, in the last post, and also a bath at home is supposed to be OK, I was just being hyper fussy.

WhatFreshHellIsThis · 06/05/2009 12:19

frekkles you WILL be ok, of course you will. If the worst comes to the worst you have an epidural, it may not have been part of the game plan but birth is not something you can plan for beyond a certain point. You do what you need to in order to stay positive and get through what sounds like a very gruelling labour.

You are strong, you can do this, every contraction is one less to get through until you meet your baby xxxxxxxx

Bleu call one of those bf helplines, please do, they are real experts and are the best people to talk to. xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bleuravin · 06/05/2009 12:20

f-there's no need to panic love, all the pain is getting you somewhere even if you cannot really tell at this moment

SpringySponge · 06/05/2009 12:20

Boff, that you're not well. Hopefully it's not swine flu

& yes - DH is very lucky we're not penguins! Although I do look stylish in black & white.

The nanny salaries are outrageous. Perhaps I could start charging DH, seeing as that's what I appear to be in this household

conker, I wish you could remember the poem too 'Ride the wave of pain' would've really wound me up! But it's really nice that he's looking after you all so well (& I won't throw anything at you, I promise )

Auld, glad MIL is still being useful - maybe she should move in full time? LOL at her imagined crisis.

Nutty, it's very good of you to consider DH's hypothetical future children - whilst logically I know that I'd want DH to be happy if I died, I'm not sure I could facilitate it! You're a better woman than I am!

Big LOL at FanjoLive

Hahahaha, brett - George is forever being unceremoniously dumped into his chair. It's the only place other than our arms that he'll even consider settling for a couple of minutes. Before I just gave in & accepted that we co-sleep, he spent a couple of nights in his chair. & it didn't even occur to me that it might be bad

BB He insulted your lasagne? Bloody cheek!

TMI conker, I had really bad piles (which I left to get worse for about a week, because my stitches were so sore that the piles were totally a secondary issue!) - try not to sit, if you can help it. Spend as much time lolling around as possible instead of putting pressure on your bum. I used Anusol externally at first, to shrink them a bit, then when I was able to I used it internally. & finally, when they were small enough, I started covering them with the cream & pushing them back in. It's all a bit unpleasant, but it worked. & the cream makes them a bit less sore, too.

Hahahahaha, oh gosh, I laughed far too much to see that I'm referred to as the expert on piles (thanks Nutty )

WFH, I never mind you being a bit blunt & FWIW, I think you're right anyway - blunt or not.

George is wearing the mis-matched, low-maintenance chic of a size 2 Pampers nappy underneath a blue vest, yellow scratchmitts &, the piece de resistance, cow print socks. He's also accessorising with lots of spit bubbles & is styled with mad 'dragged through a hedge backwards' hair.

Bleu, to be perfectly honest, I would just give up on the BF at this point. Of course, whichever decision you make has to be your decision. But Meg will be perfectly fine on formula - & will thrive however you feed her. There are far more important things in looking after a baby than how they're fed. She'd rather have cuddles from a calm, happy mummy than a mummy who's tense & dreading the next feed. You've given it such a good go & things are still so very difficult for you - & seem to be getting worse. Nobody at all could fault you for your efforts, but maybe it is time to let it go? xx

BabyBolat · 06/05/2009 12:25

Morning quick rant from me took mara to see great-auntie who had knitted him loads of cardi's and mitts and her husband looked at my stomach and asked me if I was pregnant again!!! Karahan is 4 weeks old FFS!!

Anyway piles anusol u can't take if ur bfing so dr recommended germoloids ointment - only started it yesterday so will let u know but agree tie the worst side effect!

Outfit dark jeans cream tigger t-shirt cream socks and kind of converse-esq brown and blue ankle boots x

OP posts:
Juwesm · 06/05/2009 12:25

Bleu - Are you on the phone yet??

Hooray for vibro chairs. Actually Bleu, do you have one? These stroppy babies do seem to settle in them, if only for long enough for you to eat a plate of food before scooping them up again!

Bleuravin · 06/05/2009 12:27

I've got it organised so Dad is going to PIL overnight tonight (will give me a break from the bickering) and get the PIL off my back about the fact that Dad hasn't been up to see them yet. Dad goes back on Sat. so just 2/3 more days after to deal with...

Need to sort Dh and the job issues out, but hopefully he'll be able to use the other computer since Dad will be out of the spare room now.

I'm in bed and Meg's finished another feed and is sleeping. So I'm going to close my eyes too for a while. I'll look into those Nct and llc counsellors after I wake up... I wonder how much it'll cost... well I think of it later.
Great Megs stirring... :P I hate it.

SpringySponge · 06/05/2009 12:28

frekkles, it will be fine, I promise. & there's no shame in needing an epidural. George wasn't back to back, but my plans for a waterbirth & G&A didn't come to fruition! As soon as I thought that it'd get to the point where I wouldn't be able to cope, I was asking for the epidural. You have no idea how much it may or may not hurt until it happens - you can't make a fixed plan for things that you can't know about. If you need an epidural, take it! You will be absolutely fine with or without it. You're a force to be reckoned with - you're so close to getting your baby out now & you know you'll do whatever it takes - & you'll cope!

Oh, & my phone is on It's on silent at night, so no matter what time it is don't worry about texting me exciting news

SpringySponge · 06/05/2009 12:32

BB! ! I hope you hit him!

& you can use Anusol when pregnant & BFing

Bleu, have you spoken to tiktok or someone like that on the MN feeding boards? There are some very good people there who will be able to discuss things with you. It's not the same as them being able to see what's going on, but they're excellent for moral support & all that.

Juwesm · 06/05/2009 12:32

The helplines are free (or local rate for 0845???). I'm not sure about charges to see counsellors - I have a feeling it might work along lines of 'make a donation if you feel you have benefited', in which case you could put that off until job sit is better.

BabyBolat · 06/05/2009 12:34

God I missed so much off to catch up!!!

OP posts:
JennyPenny22 · 06/05/2009 12:35

frekkles - it will be ok. sounds like how I was with DD1 and I have to say, although at the time I REALLY didn't want the drip, it was definatly the right thing for me. I was so tired and in pain and baby back to back. But after drip went up, I was actually dilating properly and getting somewhere. I had pethadine, but TBH I didn't like it. But as i got more tired, I could choose to up the dose on the drip. Once drip was in, it was all over with within a few hours, which was so good as I don't think I could have gone on much longer as I was so tired. Hope your ok.Just think, you should have your baby by the end of the day

BoffinMum · 06/05/2009 12:36

Bleu - NCT and LL advisors are free!!!

Felix's outfit du jour - A Moltex size 2 nappy, as they seem to be a bit less awful performance-wise now he's doing more wees than poos, and I have four large bags of them to use up; a white terry babygro and vest (Spring 1987 season); and when he goes out, the cutest imaginable little pale blue cotton cord coat with white jersey lining, with vintage cowboy patterns on it. Only problem is it takes about half an hour to get his arms into it, and then his arms have to stick out at 90 degrees, such is the quantity of the fabric. If I put him in a sling, he could probably act as an aerial for Fanjo FM.

Juwesm · 06/05/2009 12:37

Hmmmm, just reading this morning's posts illustrates how much pressure we put ourselves under to 'do the right thing' - to breastfeed against all the odds, to have a natural, intervention-free birth, to use the right kind of nappies, to continue being the women we were before baby AND become a supermum at the same time etc.

BoffinMum · 06/05/2009 12:40

Juwes, I do have a WonderWoman key ring that the kids gave me. So benign neglect must work as a parenting strategy.

BoffinMum · 06/05/2009 12:41

Could someone help me find Felix's on off switch, btw?? he is being veeeery noisy today.

WhatFreshHellIsThis · 06/05/2009 12:42

Juw don't forget also makimg sure our babies look super fashionable at all times

Juwesm · 06/05/2009 12:43

Hugo, sensing my concern about weight and desire to fill him with milk, is using me as a dummy today, instead of drinking .

Also, probably in my head, but boobs don't feel like they're getting full today. Staying all soft and squishy, but maybe that is the on and off nibbling.

SpringySponge · 06/05/2009 12:43

Juw, don't worry - I'm rallying against these pressures. George is in Pampers, I'm only BFing because he's a natural at it, I had an epidural, ventouse & episiotomy, I'm a 'fucking nightmare' unlike my former self, & I'm currently typing & ignoring the screaming coming from the vibro chair - perhaps not quite a supermum