Due in June 15 - The competition for first baby is on!!

[katzguk]

Crisp and clean new thread....can't you just smell that new baby aroma!!

Yes it has felt hot! I think it is hotter up your end though as we do get a good breeze here. It is fab for children your dd's age out here. So much safer etc and a real chance to enjoy some freedom.
Maternity care.....hmmm... I think the midwives have been great and done their absolute best considering the circumstances. However I don't think they have been able to push hard enough for what we/they want because it is a military structure and I think the managment at the hospital has been very over cautious and I have been very frustrated by it all and upset at times. I want some gas and air!! and I too have heard good and bad stories. Some of the things have really shocked me. Hopefully I will have a straight forward time and just get home asap. We shall see. I am sure they would have something sorted out though by the time you might have your third .
We have no idea where we will be going back to. We prob won't know until Nov. Have to dash now to get ready. Great to chat. Take care.

Morning all, it's really gorgeous down here, so nice not to be at work when the weather is like this. Still feels hot already, and am feeling quite tired already and it's not even 10am.
Thougth I'd log on before I start the massive pile of ironing to do. Midwife this afternoon, am hoping that this one is still not OP.

Morning!

Bubbs - I've only ever managed to grow my nails twice in my life, but I'm always thinking about it. I did a lovely set of acrylic tips for my jaunt to Venice - they looked so nice and I didn't feel embarassed about my hands at all. I'm really disappointed with myself that I can't do it!

Hi Franniban, nice to see you after all this time - so you're still at that same place? Are you going back after your mat leave?

Coop - Did you read that (I think it was The Times) article about waterbirth somewhere on MN a week or so ago? It was this guy, a doctor saying that actually giving birth in water could be detrimental to the baby in the long run. It was quite a cynical, and I thought misogynistic, piece of writing, It's probably a load of shite, but nevertheless has made me now want to get out of the pool to actually deliver. I'll see if I can find it.... I'm very jealous of you being able to pop down the beach at the drop of a hat! I wear beach/sea shoes too, I'm such a wuss

Has anyone been taught breathing excercises for labour? I haven't so I'm wondering whether I should investigate.

Quiet on here this morning I think? Hope everyone's well. I've woken up with a proper glandy sore throat - haven't had one in YEARS

Charley, sorry you?ve been feeling a bit under the weather, but glad your baby worries have now been alleviated. 6?4 sounds a perfectly healthy sized baby to me.
We were taught some panting excercises in our ante-natal classes, but all they succeeded in doing was giving me a head rush and made me feel faint . I?m sure that isn?t the intention of them?.

Coop, wish I was spending the day on the beach instead of in overcast Manchester. Have fun!!!

I've got my dad coming round this pm, then i'm off to see a mate who is 5 weeks behind me. Should be a nice, relaxing day. Do you know, I could easily enjoy this "lady who lunches" lifestyle . Guess its not going to last long...

Hi Franni - Forgot to say good to see you earlier. Hope all goes well with the m/w and don't get swollen ankles doing all that ironing (been there)
Charley - I did read that article and thought it was an absolute load of patronising tosh. I was quite insulted actually that he really thought that Mothers would choose their perfect birth experience over the safety of their baby. Being in the water will certainly help anyway and I can understand you wanting to get out for delivery as you have to be comfortable with what you choose. I knew that for me I wanted to deliver in the water because of my health and preg history and having done SO much homework on it I was confident about it and this was the key. Hope your sore throat is better now you are up and about. I was taught breathing exercises in my Yoga class. Breath deeply in through the nose and blow out through the mouth, slowly though (practice counting to ten for the in breath and twenty for the out or something). It REALLY helped me. I had to do it every time I went for a pee after too as boy did that sting. Oh dear it is all coming back to me and I am getting scared again.... I will feel better after the hospital tour I am sure.
My gorgeous Cypriot cleaner has told me that I am to call her any time day or night to go to the hospital if I have any problems at all and she will translate for me and sort anything out. I am sure it won't be necessary but I was really touched by her very genuine offer. I just want to get on with things now, as I am sure most of us do. We didn't go to the beach after all as it is actually cloudy today. DD asked to go and see the donkeys instead so we went to the Donkey Sanctuary and fed them some carrots. Great fun.
Bye for now.

Hi Jonah, I hope Charley doesn't have a 6' baby lol . Enjoy your lunch.

Morning everybody!
Yup, another grey day in Manchester... Do something about it, Jonah!!! Why can't it be nice as Cyprus? or at least as York??? Had a lovely day there (YOrk) yesterday with sis! Walk as much as I could and was really naughtie - had a scone for tea at Betty's, HUmmm , so yummy!

Charley - Very glad to hear bubs looks fine and not too big for you! Hope you are overall feeling better today! I was taught many diferent techniques last time to handle pain. I guess it was good to feel like I had some idea of what to do. But to be honest, I didn't use any of them.... I think it will come quite naturally to you what helps you keep calm. I think I remember Katz mentioning something like flexing toes. Something as simple as that would do the trick of keeping you concentrated but relaxed away from pain, if this makes any sense... I really enjoyed a bath with Dh reading a story, or pacing around. You'll find what works for you, I am sure!!

Franni - good to hear that you were not made redundant! Enjoy your time off now!

Lynny - You too! You need to take it easy, so don't feel guilty about it!!!

Lummox - hope you have the little bundle on your hands! Send news when you can!

I'll be seeing consultant this afternoon, and if thing look favourable have a sweep ! Hope it won't hurt too much! Talk to you later!

Hi Lua - xposted so missed you.
Bettys scones are fabulous. glad you enjoyed yourself. I loved living near York. Did you have to queue at Betty's?
Good Luck this afternoon. I hope you get your sweep if that is what you want. Try and relax and I am sure it will not be too uncomfortable. Will be thinking of you.

Awww...Thanks everyone for asking about me!
I think the hospital phoned me to come in because they actually forgot to tell me when I was last there! - I was still having really frequent (every 2 mins) but not very painful contractions which registered on the monitor. - They now think I have an irritable uterus rather than being in early labour! -GRRRRRRR. I have definetly had a show though - so it can't be too long surely? - Can't have several more weeks of contractions either - but all they can do is tell me to take paracetamol! - The upside of the condition is that the contractions are making my uterus very toned so it will probably work very efficiently in real labour and return to pre-pregnancy size quite quickly!
I reckon this engaged thing does depend on how much the Dr / midwife can feel or not feel - I am going to ask if it is 2/5s down or 3/5s down - but I am sure in my case I am only 2/5s down and she can feel 3/5s. It doesn't really matter for 2nd timers though!

Charley - SNAP - I've woken up with a sore throat! - Great timing as I am doing a load of housewoek cos all the teachers from school are coming to give me the presents the children have sent in for me - (loads apparantly!!) - because today should have been my last day if I had not given up at the beginning of the week!

Bero - I am pleased that things are looking up for you on the feeding front. -

Welshie - Congratulations

Hope everyones ok. I've only got time to skim but will catch up properly later - just wanted to let you know am ok.

Oops . Pregnancy brain strikes again....

Lua, good luck for this afternoon. Keep us posted. I wish I could do something about our awful weather here. I've just looked out of the window and there is actually no blue sky visible at all!

Jonah - lol at my 6ft 4 baby! oo, imagine. No don't. Hope you're having a lovely day!

Coop - I'm even more jealous now you've been feeding donkeys. I LOVE donkeys! As for the pool labour - I haven't a clue how I would get out at the critical moment - hope they have a hoist! That article was awful wasn't it. Anyway, who knows what will happen - I'm not banking on anything. Do you just do those breathing excercises whilst you're contracting? Did you do any panting too?

Lua - hi! I hope everything goes/has gone well at your appointment - I'll be looking out for your next post

Lynny - how are you today?

Lummox - news??

Megi - isn't it strange how you can catch things over the internet? Quite a few of us got a cold back in the early days! Hope your sore throat isn't as horrid as mine though - it's right up my ear canal too and it's very difficult to swallow. No fever or anything though, touch wood. I love the way you're being so philosophical about your irritable uterus toning you up! Glad you seem to be in better spirits.

Hi everyone -
WE'RE HOME!!!!!
After a night of very little sleep due to expressing and getting up to go over to the baby ward and feed Samuel (by whicb I could see he was doing better because he was getting hungry more often and had very full nappies), dh and I came for a feed this morning and the doctor said his bilirubin had gone down a lot and he could go home!!! I had really expected they'd keep us in for a few days yet, so suddenly being let out was (is) really scary as well as brilliant. I'm petrified of the levels going up again, but the doctor says it won't happen - now he should be able to manage things by himself, and we just have to watch for signs of jaundice, but a sharp rise is basically out of the question. He'd gained 10g too - we still have to watch his feeding very carefully because he's definitely not allowed to lose any weight, so my feeding plan continues - at the moment I don't seem to have as much milk, so that's another worry, but I suppose the most important thing is to keep trying and keep my cool. my MW, who's brilliant, says that too.
Uwila, hope little Alex is getting over his jaundice. I know were you're coming from with the falling asleep while feeding...
Charley, I was taught breathing exercises in birth prep, and they did help, but the most useful bit was the breathing while pushing - during Samuel's birth it became really important to get him out quickly because of the heartbeat dips, and having been taught how to breathe while pushing speeded that process up, I think, particularly as the contractions were less noticeable due to the epidural.

bero-im really pleased for you.glad samuel is on the mend and home,where he belongs.xx

Megi - Glad it was nothing too dramatic and hope you aren't too uncomfortable. You do sound philosophical I have to agree.
Charley - I only had to breathe like that during the contractions. I seem to recall I breathed in and out quite hard/forcefully. When it got to the crowning point when they asked me to stop pushing I did lots of little blowing breaths out like blowing candles out. Is this making any sense? You will do what feels right at the time and they will get you out of the pool in time too, don't worry.
Lua - Hope all went well this afternoon.

Bero - Hooray!!! So glad you are all home together. Now the sleepless nights really start . I am so glad Samuel is doing so well now. What a relief. I think you are doing brilliantly with the feeding and now he is home things should get easier. Make sure you eat and drink plenty and rest as much as possible to boost your milk. Feeding alot will help too due to the supply and demand system of milk production. I am sure you know all of this but want to make sure you do it (if you want to) so LOOK AFTER YOURSELF as well as Samuel. Good Luck.

hello just p opping in quickly

had my last day at work yesterday - I came in for one day after my sick leave just to tie up some loose ends and now am officially on Maternity Leave! hurray

suddenly realised could have a baby in my arms in 3 weeks - eek!!

will try to catch up soon

xx

Berolina I'm glad you are home and hope all the early babies are healthy.

I have been reading the thread over the last few days I just haven't posted. I am rather deflated now the exams are over. I liked having them to focus on. They didn't go very well to be honest but it could have been worse. I won't fail at least. I guess I didn't work hard enough because I thought if I procrastinated somehow they wouldn't arrive and I wouldn't really be having a baby.

Well the exams did arrive and I will be having a baby I am not very interested in the books I bought to read. Infact I'm not much interested in anything. I had my last antenatal class last night which was another smack in the face. I've just been lying in bed since the exams finished. I would like to stop time really.

I'm glad everyone else seems excited if a little anxious too. I mean it should be like that, you've waited the best part of 9 months for the baby to arrive and everything.

Part of me hopes this is a big fat baby or I'll be devistated at the amount of weight I've put on... gosh I have my priorities right...

Bye - I've got to go to Yoga.

Mr Lummox here

Baby Jonathan Robert arrived this am at 2.

All well and now home again, sure DW will post after some sleep and food

Hope everyone else OK

congratulations to lummox and mr lummox,and welcome to baby jonathan!!!

Oh, congratulations. Are we going to have more May babies than June ones?

Berolina, glad Samuel is back home where he belongs .

Big congratulations to the Lummox family and a big hello to Jonathan!!!!!!

Hello all,

Haven't got time to catch up properly but...

Bero - Yeah - glad you're all home now, wonderful news!

Charley - fab news about the signing off...stick with your water birth if that's what you want, men eh, what do they know about birth anyway!

Lummox (Mr & Mrs) many congrats on the birth of Jonathan - hurry back and post when you can

Uwila - hope little Alex's jaundice is starting to clear up...how's Hannah coping with sharing mum and dad?

Have spent the whole day with my friend and her adorable 18 week old dd, and ds has been a right little poppet with her too (great practice!) - and now I'd better get tea on dh is due any minute and I haven't started yet...hmmmm maybe takeaway me thinks! Hope you all have a lovely evening, catch up properly tomorrow x

OMG - another May Junie! WELL DONE LUMMOX! thanks for posting Mr Lummox and congratulation to you all!

Bero - I'm so happy for you all - such great news Hope you can get some sleep - has someone already suggested that you learn to feed lying down? That sounds like a supremely good idea. What sort of breathing did you do during the contractions - panting or long ones like Coops? I guess the midwife will advise when I'm in?

Coops - thanks for the breathing tips - they make complete sense.

Redhead - Hooraay for your mat leave.

I'm 37 weeks today and I still can't believe I'll have a baby in my arms in a few weeks at all!

Pink - well done for finishing your exams. That must've been tough. I can totally understand you not being interested in your books or anything else - I feel a bit like that too. Hope your baby's bigger than mine - I've put on 2 and half stone which is hell of a lot for me (seeing as I was 6st 9 to begin with) and just know i'm going to have massive problems losing it all. It might seem vain, but it really will bother me a lot.

Tea - you're naughty mentioning take aways - I've just decided to have one too

Hello all. Sorry haven't got time to catch up at all but wanted to say thanks for all your good wishes and give a few more details.
Basically he's so gorgeous a real cutie, with wavy brown hair and long legs, big hands and feet and a lovely pink/gold complexion.
The whole process went incredilby smoothly - despite a couple of complications. I was so pleased to have my lovely consultant there as my heart climbed to 160 a min(!) and they found out the baby had his head stuck under my diaphragm - no wonder my ribs have been hurting so much for the last 3 months. Everything went a bit serious as they tried hard to get him out - difficult, then once he was out he was gasping for breath and not happy at all. A very long few minutes later he gave a yell - what a great noise and then I got to hold my lovely boy. T'was a bit worrying though. Consultant turned and said cooly 'We made exactly the right obstetric decision' I think the 2 of us would have been in serious trouble without it - and if she hadn't been there it would have been far more chaotic and messy. As it is my memory of the birth is calm and composed.
Everyone at the hospital was fab and the recovery so far has been pretty amazing. Anyway better go - sure I'lll go on about it a bit more at a future date.
Congrats to the Lummox family too xxx

Congratulations to the Lummox family!! Great news, looking forward to hearing all about it. Hope you are recovering well.

Charleypops, good news about your appointment - hopefully you can relax and enjoy (or should that be endure? ) the rest of your pregnancy.

Berolina, so pleased Samuel is now at home where he belongs. Hope he is settling in!

Big hugs for you Lynny, your message was lovely. This thread has been something of a haven for us all I think (well it definitely has been for me).

Megi, glad you are ok...well as good as things can be with an irritable uterus. Sounds uncomfortable to me, but at least you are off work now and able to rest a bit.

Hello to Franniban, good to see you again.

Have been sniggering for ages about the 6 foot baby

Lua, hope the sweep wasn't too painful and got things moving for you. You and Jonah should get yourselves over to Leeds - it's been gorgeous here this afternoon, the sun was shining and everything!

Pink, it's not surprising you are feeling a bit flat after your exams have finished, you've been working towards them for ages.

Well DS has decided that now is the time to potty train, much to my disgust. DH bought him some spiderman underpants at the weekend and since then he's decided to ditch the nappies. Arrrrggggh. Apart from that, no news here, I'm just tired because DS isn't sleeping well and only wants mummy to sit with him in the middle of the night. Great!

Sorry if I've missed anything vital, I'm a bit dozy today.