Due November 2009 - who is going to go 'pop' first?

[BeckyBendyLegs]

Here it is!

Had an amazing day today. I went in at 9 ready for Isaac's feed armed with breastfeeding cushion and prepared to try for our first feed. He latched on really well straight away. It's incredible as he only tried sucking for the first time on a bottle yesterday after being fed by tube since birth! I need to work on positioning him correctly but the sucking reflex is definitely there. The doctors and midwives are so pleased that he's demand feeding now and not on an hourly schedule. I've been able to express after each feed as well so there's a bit of breastmilk through the night. He just needs to spend more time under the lamp until his Jaundice is gone and then hopefully he'll be home. Fingers, toes and all other bits crossed.

lemontop that is amazing! I am so pleased for you, and for Isaac, it must feel so great to be able to feed him yourself now! Fingers crossed for a speedy homeward journey with you mummy

Thanks everyone for all your comments - I am sure you're all right, I just think it's partly the unknown factor, and the fact that there seem to be so many 'versions' of childbirth, some horrific, some actually relatively pleasant - I sort of don't know where to position my expectations. I wish it was December!

Tamlin I have just started reading the Ina May Gaskin book - really like it, and it has made me think I really would like to try and avoid an epidural if at all possible! Have also got Childbirth without Fear, so hopefully they will help....

Raggie - I am not sure about Tamlin but I have the CD which I think is called 'EFfective Preparation for Childbirth' - it comes in a pink box with a booklet. I got it from one of the sellers on amazon (barefootmummy) who I would actually recommend as she follows up your order with personal emails as she is a trained hypnobirthing-therapist. Would love to do an actual weekend course, but they are just too expensive. I would try it, Raggie, purely for the sleeping benefits, if nothing else. You're in S LOndon, I think? I am wondering if I could lend it to you so you could put it on your ipod or something if you have one? I would offer to copy it but our laptop doesn't actually have a CD drive (it's a Mac) and so I am not sure how I would do it... But would happily lend it to you if you like?

Trikken - eeeek, re scary psychic man!!! I will be checking in regularly tomorrow to see if you have vanished If not, you have to post every hour to make sure we know you are still here!!! (BTW, a man came up to me in M&S the other day and said 'Boy, 7lb6oz, easy labour, born in 1 week. I used to be a gynaecologist.' I wouldn't mind, but he reeked of booze and looked ever so slightly mad.... NOt that your DH's colleague is in that category!!)

I'm doing the natal hypnotherapy one for hospital birth. I think you're supposed to listen to it three times a week from thirty-four weeks or so, and every day from thirty-eight weeks, but apparently some women get good results when they've only heard it a few times. My doula recommended them when I explained how worried I was about the delivery this time around. I have no clue if it's going to work, but it certainly seems to be helping me zizz for forty minutes (and for £11.99, am willing to give it a shot although I suspect I'd happily wear an amulet of cow dung if somebody told me it would give me a nicer birth...)

www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk/11.html

What a lot of weirdos you lot have come across recently! Trikken keep us posted...

Lemontop what fab news from you today . Well done wee Isaac - he obviously knows what's good for him! Literally - a mum who hasn't had to endure the aches, pains and sleeplessness of the last few weeks of pregnancy and lots of yummy breastmilk. Seventh heaven for a wee one!

Well DD and I did manage to venture out to the park and for a walk, but it wasn't long before the freezing wind got on her goat and the whingeing started (I forgot her hat - this cold business is quite a shock after such a balmy September!) so we headed home and had the usual pantomime over eating up lunch and getting down for a nap.

Once she was asleep, my inner cleaning demon did manage to surface a bit, although not in an albeit useful way. I dealt with my 4 loads of washing, and took my cloth and bottle if Cif to the front of the washing machine, the scuffed walls up the stairs, the walls and sink in the downstairs loo, the skirting boards in DD's old room, the sinks upstairs and the walls of the ensuite. No, nowhere near the hob at all! Brood I need you here! Basically, it's got to annoy me to get cleaned and the hob is hidden by that magic chopping board . Not to mention the oven.

DH and I have just finished unpacking most of the boxes of books I packed in August onto our new shelves. They all fit, but I'm still at the amount of crap we still have and haven't managed to pluck up the courage to get rid of. That said, I have successfully freecycled 2 things today and packed the car full of cardboard and an old stereo for DH to take to the dump. Big things in small steps... We just need to get better at chucking out.

katster you'll be fine whatever happens during labour. Your body and mind go into a peculiar place and you just deal with whatever is going on. So long as you have a supportive voice to listen to, it'll all be ok. I'm a bit that I haven't listened to erika's CDs yet, and even more that I think I did actually chuck out an old mp3 player during my August clear-out which would have been perfect for listening to them on . I'll see if I can borrow one!

All BHs have subsided today. It must be a positional thing or related to what's going on in the gut/hydration/who knows really? I've been busy and on my feet but nothing has been as uncomfortable as yesterday.

Goodness ladies, I?m impressed by how much you?ve managed to talk today

Kyte thanks for that tip, will definitely consider it Your food list from yesterday sounds amazing!! And how sweet of your brother and sister.

Fruitpastles am with you on the getting my body back feeling!! Even to hug DP now is rather awkward, and I would SO like just even an hours comfortable sleep?

Katster I use my CD to send me to sleep!! I?m struggling so much right now, it relaxes me enough to help me chill, along with an old breathing technique that I was actually taught for calming down when I was having a panic attack! But despite that? Yes, I?m terrified too. I think its of the unknown kind of thing? I really am so scared.

Broodzilla I dunno, but it would scare the crap out of this company if they got it in the post wouldn?t it?!?

Raggie I can do you a copy of mine if you?d like? Will give you my email address if you would. Have done copies for a few peeps on here

Trikken ohhh you better keep us updated

Lemontop that?s absolutely fantastic news, am so happy for you! Have everything crossed!!

Hobnob I?m ashamed of you, after all that effort copying the CD for you..!!!

I haven?t had any BHs since Monday, and am most certainly not complaining about it?

Had such a lovely weekend. Very snugly with DP, watching rubbish on TV, and being incredibly giggly. We were going through his phone looking for a ring tone that would wake him up in the middle of the night if he needed to, and there were some videos of me and his friend talking utter rubbish in the first few weeks we were together, before we found out I was pregnant ? I was so drunk, and have no recollections of these times at all

OHHH and DPs Mum called earlier, and said to pick out any cot we want, as she?d like to buy it dances That means I can get the one I?ve been drooling over!! Am so happy about it!!! I?ve compromised on everything else really, purely on a financial front, but this will make me feel so much better

Ooh, forgot to post...I got a support belt off ebay and it is brilliant! It feels like when I hold my bump up with my hands, and really helps with aches and pains. Only problem is, after a long day of walking I got pain on the outside of my thighs, which is a new one, but better than bump pain as I know the baby is ok. I had been reluctant to get one as I am so utterly skint (benefit application has been in for nearly four months and they keep sending us stupid letters, I have put in an official complaint and everything) but I feel like I have got some of my life back!

...ooh, having a BH now...

...back again! I'm getting fed up of being pregnant now, I feel daft as this time is so much better than last time, but I just want to be able to do my own shoelaces and lie on my back and stuff. A good sleep wouldn't go amiss either, I know the new baby will need feeding a lot (I've forgotten, I know it was 2 hourly for DD in hospital, but was that just because she was ill?) but to be able to get myself comfy without piles of cushions and gaviscon will be heaven!

Just had to say, that of course, because I'd typed that I hadn't had an BHs, I just had one. Am a faithful follower of Sods Law. Shame it doesn't work when I say "There is no cake in the cupboard, ever!!"

Morning ladies,

Lemontop wonderful news that Issac is breast feeding I'm sure he will be home with you both very soon.

I've managed to catch DS's cold Like most of us, I don't need an excuse for a bad nights sleep, but having a blocked nose really doesn't help matters. It's also becoming painful to lay down, so I'm propped up on 5 pillows, DH is away this week so i have our bed to myself. The babies head seems to be under my ribcage (breech)which is rather painful. Once the scan is done then I'll feel much better about what needs to be done to deliver the baby safely. I'm guessing if it's a c-section then I'm looking at an October baby!

DS just woke up for a wee, he still thinks it's night time as it's so dark outside. He has gone back to bed without a complaint, might get another hour of GMTV on my own!

Hobnob I agree on the BH's possibly being related to hydration. I had them on Saturday and they were coming strong and fast. I made myself drink a large glass of water and the BH's eased off.

Lemontop - glad all is going in the direction and hope Isaac is home soon (but enjoy your sleep whilst yu can!)

Katster - I personally think the best thing is to have no have no real expectations of the birth, but go with the flow. With my first I remember imagining the worst that could happen - to me that was epidural and emergency c-section, and tried to think that anything better than that is a bonus! As it turned out it was no where near as bad as I had imagined, I never thought I had a high pain threshold, but the pain is strange and with a TENS machine I found it bearable, so much so that I stayed at home leaning on a birthing ball during contactions and left it so late getting to hospital that we were fully dilated when we got there and DD was born about 30 mins afterwards with a few puffs of gas and air!! Wouldn't necessarily recommend that mind as bit of a shock, I just assumed it was going to get a lot worse as I had been told so many nightmare stories. DS' birth was similar, again through transition before I got into the pool and had some gas and air, am hoping this one goes the same!! Have found birth to be a positive experience - it doesn't have to be horrible and scary, I also think a big thing is trusting your instincts and the people around you to do what's best for you and your baby. Even if you do end up with your worst case scenario you have your baby and afterwards you'll be so taken with him/her that you probably won't care how they got here anyway!!

Fruitpastel - can yur DS have a word with my DD? She's been up for nearly 2 hours now, and subsequently so have I!! Can hear DS banging around in his cot now so suppose I ought to get him down too.

Morning

lemontop that's fantastic news about Isaac, have you posted any pics yet?

I actually had a full nights sleep last (no wee stop) but i feel rubbish this morning

fruitpastels sorry you've caught ds's cold hope you feel better soon.

erika great news on the cot and glad you and dp had a lovely weekend together.

lissyglitter I think every 2 hours to start with is about right, although some people are lucky and get babies that go longer

Right better get sorted for school, will try and catch up again later so please not too much action!!

beepbeep I feel your pain. DS went through a terrible stage(for many months)when he would wake at 5am and I would be shattered by noon and needing my bed. Now he is a bit older, DS normally gets up between 7 & 8am and the dark mornings are a bonus for an extra half hr of peace. No such hope for him nodding off in the afternoons though!

Morning all, you have all been so chatty this weekend, it's taken ages to catch up!

lemontop that is fantastic news,hopefully baby Isaac will be home with you very shortly.

fruitpastels hope you feel better soon. Me, dh and ds all have colds too, it's rubbish isn't it? Although dh and ds seem to be worse but thats probably because there's is proper man flu!

Erika glad you had a nice weekend and congrats on the cot!

Tamlin Happy 2nd birthday for your ds, sounds like he had a lovely time and I agree with the others about not worrying about a party. We did a similar thing for ds on his 2nd birthday, picnic at local farm with a few friends and he loved it. They don't need parties for a few years yet so make the most of it!

beep beep and tigger happy belated birthday to you both!

Can't remember who said about the hypnobirthing cd's but when I used them when pregnant with ds I always used to fall asleep and the woman on the course said that was quite natural, all the info then goes into your subconceince (sorry sp!)

Went shopping yesterday and bought lot's of things for the baby including some gorgeous snuggly snowsuits and treated myself to a cath kidson changing bag! Still got loads to do though and all your talk of cleaning is making me feel very guilty. Haven't done any proper housework and the nesting instinct definately hasn't kicked in for me. Although, think my nesting might actually manifest itself as a shopping instinct

Morning all.

Massive congratulations to Lemontop - so exciting! Although your DD was only a couple before mine so now I feel I must really get my skates on and get organised!

Happy Birthdays to Beepbeep and Tigger and Tamlin's DS! Twas DD's 3rd birthday on Friday and I too felt like a bad mummy for not being up to organising a party, especially as a coupleof her little friends have had them, but am just too tired and TBH with the funeral looming DH's family aren't really in the mood for celebrating, especially as it would have been BIL's birthday at the weekend too.

Still, DD delighted with her scooter, which is a hideously garish flashing pink thing, and is always happy as long as there's cake! so I think she enjoyed herself.

Had a v bad week again last week - FIL has now announvced he has shingles, after being round our house loads last week. And on thursday was so tired that I accidentally shut the front door on my way to do the school run with my car and house keys in the back of it. Had to get DH home from work to pinch his car so I could collect mindees - very late . And because my keys were in the back of the lock, DH couldn;t use his to get in, so had to break one window and then drill a huge hole in our back door to climb through - think I am in big trouble!

Also , had v v weird thing last night - bump clicked!! have checked on MN and apparently it's quite common - but is v strange and am now getting v worried that baby will be kicking it's way out soon!

Anyway, sorry for mammoth post, will go and do some work now. Good day to all,xx

Morning! I have just read two days' worth of chat and forgotten it instantly. I'm sooo tired. Went to bed at 1am after staying up to work, but couldn't switch off and then DD kept coughing/ losing blanket/ falling out of bed about once an hour. Think I went to sleep about 4 and then she came in with us from 6...

lemontop great news about the feeding! Isaac sounds like he's doing really well and will be home soon. It must be so strange for you to read us still all moaning about pregnancies, while you're already on the other side.

katster I was absolutely terrified last time too. Slightly less this time, as I think the fear of the unknown is the worst bit and while this birth is still unknown, I have some idea of what to expect. I know that I really built up the birth in my mind as if that was everything: when DD was born it was actually a bit of a shock as I'd spent so long thinking about labour and far less thinking about looking after a baby. Maybe it would be a good idea to look beyond the birth and read up on baby stuff, think about what kind of a parent you want to be etc. It might all be a bit abstract before the baby's actually here, but would hopefully concentrate your thoughts on life after labour and make you see that, in the grand scheme of things, childbirth is a relatively small event. (Easier said than done, I know ). My 2 favourite books on parenting are What Mothers Do by Naomi Stadlen and How Not to be a Perfect Mother by Libby Purves (probably because neither of them are self-proclaimed childcare gurus and don't try to tell you what to do)

Oh, and I always fall asleep when I listen to my natal hypnotherapy CD, but I do wake up at the end of it, so I think I must still be listening!

ninjacat You keep making me so jealous with all your cooking and baking updates!

hi everyone,

nothing happening here re: psychic prediction, tho am noticing every little twinge now.

Am happy this am, have just dropped off ds at playgroup and also made a mum friend. yay.

Morning all!

Tabbycat poor you with your keys! That's just the sort of thing I do (as well as nearly setting fire to the house). I haven't heard of bump 'clicking' but glad you've had some reassurance that it is normal.

Katster I echo what Laugs advises. With DS1 I focused only on the labour and spent hours watching Discovering Health channel bricking myself up but didn't focus at all on what comes afterwards. In hindsight I wished I had as it would have prepared me better. DH had read all the Mirim Stoppard baby books so he knew more than me! I then discovered the Baby Whisperer which I found to be the best book for me and DS1. I've also read 'How Not to be a Perfect Mother' by Libby Purves: she's very funny and honest about motherhood.

Not much to report here. Everyone at work, school and nursery so I'd better do some work myself... Only 3 1/2 weeks left until I am free, free, free of work!

OMG!!!!!! missed a few days and a baby arrives! CONGRATUALATIONS Lemontop Isaac is a gorgeous name and I am so pleased the feeding is going well...How exciting..! Hope you get home soon

Wow ladies we're so in the zone now..can't wait to hear more news from more of you!

Katster echo Laugs...don't worry too much about labour. Think about you and baby post birth at home..That's the most wonderful and toughest part.Nothing will prepare you for it but that's the beauty of it.

Happy birthday to all you Librans.. I am one too and its the best!!! I was hoping for a libran baby too but think (hope) it will be a scorpio!

xx

Tabbykat, your bump clicked? As in - made a clicking noise?

I locked myself out of the house at 41 weeks pregnant with DS when I nipped to the pharmacy to see what I could take for my sinus infection. Since we'd just moved to a new village, I didn't know anyone. I rang DH sobbing, and he said 'Go to the vicarage!' as the vicar had popped around to introduce himself. I was sobbing 'I can't, I'm wearing my pyjama trousers and your old "SHAG ME STUPIDER" T-shirt under my coat!' It was not one of my finer moments.

I'm either nesting or suffering from some new psychological disorder. I've just scrubbed the kitchen floor, the bathroom floor, everything in the bathroom, the bottom of the fridge, the pipes behind the loo which I never usually bother with, the banisters, and the skirting boards. DS has got bored and wandered off to play with his trainset by himself, and I've only stopped because the cleaning fumes are giving me a headache.

Huh. This NEVER happened with my first pregnancy.

Morning all!
lemontop, glad to hear that Isaac is doing so well and that feeding improved so much already.
Tabby, sorry to hear about your week, hopefully this one will be a better one.

We've got already part of our Ikea furniture (bed and sofa are hopefully following on friday) and assembled the chairs and the table already. Today I have to continue the less fun part and pack some more boxes. I wonder how I will have finished until saturday when the movers come.

and it is Monday:

ursigurke dd 31 Oct; 36+2

Fruitpastels I hope you feel better soon.

Tabby glad your DD had a good birthday regardless of the circumstances. Sorry to hear about your crazy week, though. And? Clicked?!? Hope this week is nicer to you.

Laugs your post to katster made me smile ? simply because it only recently really clicked in my brain that after pregnancy comes a baby! I?ve been counting down the weeks but not thinking about the after?

Tamlin sorry but I did at the idea of you going to see the Vicar in that outfit!!! Fantastic.

I had another crazy dream last night, and this time the starring role was taken by Scarlotti We met up for coffee, and my waters broke. So she drove me to the hospital and held my hand when I gave birth because my mum and DP were too busy to make it to the hospital. So thanks

I am irrationally very annoyed ? I bought some Hula Hoops, grapes, Tuc crackers and Galaxy on Thursday to give me something to eat during the day this week. I also bought some normal crisps, apples and cheese strings for everyone else. I came back from DP?s last night, and everything I bought is gone There is now nothing to eat in the house, so if I want something I?m going to have to go out in the rain, trying not to slip over, and get the bus to the shops. GRRR. Rant over.

Did anyone watch new House last night?? Eeek!!! It was FAB! The way he was acting totally reminded me of someone in my physc hospital!

ursigurke dd 31 Oct; 36+2
ErikaMay dd 16 Nov; 34+0