due may 2009.. half baked to fully cooked we're not all ready yet!

[Grumpyoldcaaaaaaaa]

Using Fi's suggestion......

Well my darlings have returned.

DD1 biffed off with her friends within 20 minutes of returning (only coming back to complain at me about something and bring the friend who's terrified of dogs, meaning I had to manhandle the poor hound into the living room and trap her, would I be unreasonable to refuse to do this in future?) and DD2 has managed to create a whirlwind of mess and noise within the hour. The dog, of course, got all over-exited and has barked and shed hair everywhere.

MW coming to see me Friday and hopefully perform S&S if no baby has appeared.

Poor Jael, she's had such a rough time.

My oasis of zen-calm, cleanliness and peace has gone.

Thanks for letting me know Pula I missed that. Hope she is ok she has had such a tough time.

Have spent 3 hours eating cake and drinking tea with a friend this morning, was v nice. Now I'm knackered so going to loaf about and watch crap telly.

Hiya ladies.

We travelled down on Saturday for my cousins wedding on Sunday, everything was perfect for them. We started our journey home at 6pm Monday night, I had some very bad stomach pains, that just got worse and worse, all I wanted to do was get home. I thought it was wind because of sitting down and resting so much recently, turns out it wasn't. DP had to stop at every single services on the way home, the pain was excrutiating, most of the way he was having to speed to get me to the next services. We almost stopped at a hospital on the way home, but I'd had such enough of hospitals recently, I really just wanted to get home. We finally arrived home and I tried a bath and hot water bottle, they didn't help, so DP called the emergency doctor. In the mean time while we were waiting for the emergency doc to call back, the pain was still so bad, I couldn't sit or lie down, I didn't know what to do with myself the pain was so bad. DP ended up having to phone 999 and I ended up being rushed to hospital again, they did scans and blood tests, turns out I've now got gall stones. They've let me home, I'm still in some pain. I've got to now go back and have my gall bladder removed...I have had enough. My poor daughter is lost, she hates me having to keep going in hospital. The baby is 4 weeks old tomorrow. I've almost completey given up with the breastfeeding, this is impossible to do with having to spend so much time in hospital. I'm 22! Why am I having all these problems, this is making me so depressed. I just want to be at home with my children. I get them sorted into a routine and then a few days later I'm back in again and the routines screwed up, and now I've got to wait to go back in hospital and have this operation, it's one thing after another. I just wanted to keep you updated. I really want to come on here with good news one of these days...Jael X

Jael- what a really terrible time you are having. I really feel for you. Let's hope the op can be done with just a short hospital stay and then you can get on with things with your DD and DS.

Oh jael massive hugs to you. You have really had a tough time of it. X x

Hi Jael, I'm so, so sorry you're having so many problems. it doesn't make sense and all I can say is I hope you get better soon. is there anyone you can talk to for advice on being down (eg HV, GP, or counsellor) as you're going through so much it sounds like you could use the support.

sending you best wishes that all is better for you very soon. xx

Oh Jael you poor thing xx You really have had more than your fair share of health problems, and all at the same time too. Momino is right, could you speak to your HV or similar? You sound like you're keeping things together so well considering what you've been through but some outside support would really help, I'm sure. Take care xx

hi everyone,

just wanted to let you all know me and baby Lewis are home now. he was born on monday (25/5/09) at 10.20pm weighing 6lb 10.5oz(a nice lil one) he is so lovely such a happy baby and really relaxed he sleeps alot! and big brother Matthew is being a very good boy and loves his new little brother (very early days though as we've only been home a couple of hours)

birth story in short is- waters broke 3.15am on 24/5/09(sunday morning) labour didnt start so was induced monday morning at 10.30am(one dose of prostin-cervix still closed) contractions started but very weak and irregular, was put on synto drip at 4.30ish contractions started coming 4 in every 10mins, had epidural as planned at bout 5.30pm, was 3cms dilated at about 6pm, couldnt feel any pain still having contractions every 2-3mins. 6cms dilated by 9pm but very stretchy so the midwife said. was sick twice! 10cms by 10pm started pushing at 10.05pm (couldnt feel a thing still) and Baby Lewis was born at 10.20pm to tears or anything. placenta delivered 10mins later. very lovely experiences and also not in to much after pain which is great. i was shocked at his weight because ds1 weighed 7lb 11oz and was expecting the second one to be bigger, but he is so dinky and cute its lovely. he was born 6 days early. im so relived to no longer be pregnant, ive just giving birth but i feel the best i have 9 in months

Lewis was tonuged tied so have had trouble feeding and am quite sore now so have decided to go with expressing like i did with ds1 (which i had planned too anyway) but he had the snip this morning and is now sucking fine and feeding well on the bottle. sleeping very well to, but i know that probley wont last too long so enjoying it while is does. dp is off work now till june 14th so we have lots of time to settle as a new family of 4, have had lots of visitors already today, but as im feeling ok its not been too bad. seeing midwife 2moro.

have not had time to catch up so congrats on any others new arrivals, gonna post this on post natal thread too.

Also came on to apologise for not posting more on here - I'm finding it difficult to keep up with 2 threads. Never mind, you will all soon have your babies!

Congrats Matthewandbumpsmummy Glad you had a good birth.

jael I'm so sorry to hear about your gall bladder and having to go back into hospital again. You've been through so much it doesn't seem fair to me either will keep everything crossed that this is the last time you have to go back in.

Happy to report we got home yesterday & sorry to not name check everyone but struggling to keep up with both threads atm. Tired atm so off to bed for now and might get back on later depending on dd (name still to be decided ) xoxox

jael sorry to hear your poorly again, hope they sort you out soon and you're back with your lo's and dh

Oh Jael huge hugs to you my love, you're really not having an easy time of it are you?

This thread's gone quite quiet - how are you all doing? x

Congrats Matthewandbumps Saw the news on FB. Lovely pics too, you have a gorgeous family.

Fi glad to hear you are home ok. Looking forward to hearing DD's name... I know I am feeling a lot of responsibility when it comes to naming our lo so think I'm going to be the same.

Well I ended up having a productive afternoon, sorted out some old bank statements and stuff, tomorrow I get to shred them with our new shredder that DH bought... oh the glamorous life I lead

Blotted you'll be pleased to know I have now finished knitting project no 2 - a little yellow beany hat. Will get around to posting a pic of it and the blanket soon!

Anyone else a footie widow tonight? DH doesn't even like football normally, think he is just using it as an excuse to have a beer actually!

Oh Jael you poor, poor love. I hope things improve for you soon.

Am currently in fury with DD1 for being a shitty teenager. And she's only 11. I sent her a text earlier to come home, as I was knackered and DH wasn't home. She replied with 'Leave the door open'. Then she switched her phone off. I have give her a little bit of freedom and she's just taking the piss. We shall be having words tomorrow.

She's always incredibly gobby when she gets back from my mum's and she's also been with a couple of her friends that I'm not so keen on. Oh and she also asked if she could have a friend over for a sleepover. Yeah right!

I'm just very grumpy now, couldn't be arsed to have any tea, just had a slab of the chocolate orange cake (not the jaffa cake, another chocolate cake) with a pool of cream for tea. Very healthy.

Sorry to rant, my problems are miniscule in comparison to everyone, but I needed a moan.

Hello everyone!!!! I shall hope to be more cheery tomorrow.

Just a quick one, before going off to bed.

Jael Sorry to hear about yet more health problems. It must be so difficult to have to miss your dcs at this time, especially with the youngest one being so small. No wonder you couldn't carry on with the bf. Hope you'll feel better soon. Sending you a big non MN {{{hug}}}

frazzled looby I'm not entirely sure that a green baby poo means lactose intolerance, however I do know that green poo can mean infection. It's not the colour it's supposed to be anyway. It might be an idea to mention in to the HV next time you see her if M's poo stays green.

grumpy at your dd. I think I'd be having words with her too. Gosh, they do start to behave like teens a bit early nowadays. Makes me a little scared of what's in store for the future...

Goodnight everyone

morning how's everyone doing? we're nearing the end of the month so not too long for everyone to go even if you run into june..

just weighed myself for the first time since the cs last fri.. I'm 20lbs lighter already! still looking about 5/6 months pregnant though but with even bigger boobs than ever!!!!

Morning folks, still here No more show, just v v v painful pelvis. Am waiting for mw to ring to say what time she is coming over.

grumpy hope you are more cheery today and in your situation I would be having words with my daughter too, not good. Is your dd in secondary school yet? I had a year 7 tutor group last year and really noticed the hormones kicking in for the girls in the summer term, seemed like it all happened at once - quite a bit of attitude from a few of them but they seemed to settle down again after a few weeks.

Fi wow at your 20lbs! cool that's one thing I'm looking forward to as I feel so heavy atm.

Morning everyone, am also still here... Hosp were very positive yesterday about not having to induce me (I expected an argument but the consultant and midwives were brilliant) so I had a full day of monitoring and scans and everything is fine, just need to pop back in every day for another quick listen. Had another sweep as well, that's 3 so far so am looking to beat Frazz's record!

I feel much more cheerful now the pressure's off a bit and I also know I can change my mind and be induced any time.

Jael, you poor thing, you really have been going through it - I feel so sorry for you with this latest problem.

Matthewandbumpsmummy, massive congratulations on Lewis's arrival.

Fi great news on the weight loss; runningmonkey, I completely agree, the worst thing now is I just feel so big (but at 42+1 I'm not going to be slender, am I?!)

am sure I'll be back on later (and the next day and the next day!)

wow Reebee, 42+1 - that is very pregnant!

Am I mad to be quite looking forward to induction tomorrow?? Cervix has slowly started to open so should be quite straightforward, but SO different to UK practice it makes me wonder a bit..

ooh, mw on way over for stretch and sweep...

Reebee out of pure nosiness can I ask why you are not keen on being induced?

ala don't think you are mad at all, its quite nice I think to have an end point in sight.

Matthewandbumpsmummy- great birth story IOL obv not as scary as I imagine it to be, and I bet Lewis is adorable, being such a little thing!
Jael - awful that you are ill again, it sounds like you are having a terrible time- you are definitely due a change in fortunes, fingers crossed for you that better times are just around the corner x

No change here, I was a bit tearful after the failed s+s yesterday and feeling daunted by the grandparents-to-be all gathering togther at the weekend as I am sooooo tired and a bit fed up of repeating "well, I'm sure he'll come out when he's ready etc" but feel a bit better today. BTW thankyou belgian for commenting that thinks could still change by the weekend- I was feeling so fed up and it did make me feel better to think that things can still change fairly quickly

Reebee glad the doctors were understanding about you preferring not to be induced

alapala good luck tomorrow!

runningmonkey hope the s+s gets things going for you

Have decided that baby wants to be a June baby and focusing on that rather than counting the days I am overdue... after all he can't stay in there forever

Well mw just gone - am stretched and swept and apparently 2cm dilated already. Hoping this is a good sign but have been offered another one on Sun if I want it. Wasn't too bad actually, did remember to breathe which helped!

sophie sorry your s+s didn't work out and you are feeling fed up, I can imagine the added pressure of future grandparents on the doorstep isn't helpign your stress levels. Glad you are feeling a bit better today tho. Have you been offered another s+s? I know what you mean about June babies, do reckon we'll be allowed on the May PN thread if it is June

reebee didn't mean to sound judgy in my last post was typing too fast. Am genuinely interested in your choice as my MIL is v aghast that I have agreed to an induction date because apparently 'induction is horrific' but her experience is c30yrs old!

sophietom, I had a failed sweep on weds 20th and then a great one on sat 23rd - my cervix completely changed in just a couple of days so it does happen!

alapala, no, you're not mad! One of the things keeping me going is knowing I could choose induction any day now if I wanted - and it is a tempting thought!!

runningmonkey, a couple of reasons really - 42 weeks is still a normal gestational period and allowing for some individual variation (my mum was v late with me and my brother, I'm 5'10" which makes a difference (the taller you are, the longer you could take as 'normal'), the baby's a boy and statistically that could be a factor) the baby might just not quite be ready, and I don't see the point of interfering with nature for the sake of what I hope will be a few days.

I've had the stretch and sweeps because I see that as a fairly natural process. I've been wavering about the prostaglandin gel as it's not hugely invasive but as it can take 1 - 4 days to 'take' then I figured I could just wait the 1 - 4 days without the gel! Also, once you've had the gel in our area you're in hospital for the duration and I think I would go mad if I was in for 4 days before having the baby.

Personally, I have a concern with ARM or oxytocin inductions as they've been shown to cause longer, more painful labours and increase the chances of the mum having extra (unplanned) pain relief including epidurals plus they substantially increase the chances of having to have an assisted birth. It just seems to me that that's all consequential and linked at root to a baby who isn't ready to come out just yet! However, that's not to say that it would definitely happen - I've read a lot of hugely encouraging induction stories, I just know that I want to give my body and the baby every chance to do it on their own first.

Having said all that, if there was a medical imperative for me to be induced I would be doing it in a flash with no reservations whatsoever!! I'm not discounting induction, I just don't want to be too hasty. And if I end up needing an epidural etc etc then so be it.

PS Having said all this I'm probably going to turn into a big ninny at the first sign of a contraction and start screaming for a c-section under GA - and as long as the baby's ok, who cares if that's what happens??!!

sorry for the massive post, got completely carried away!

running, crossed post - dead excited about your sweep news, fab! You didn't sound judgmental at all. It's not been an easy decision to make to be honest. I think that everyone does what's right for them. I was sorely tempted yesterday just to say, 'oh, get on with it' and unpack my bag in the lovely antenatal room!!