Becoming bulgy! June-oh what I mean? (June part 2)

[madamefreckle]

Hello everyone! Welcome to the second thread! Hope you are happy enough that I've gone ahead with this title! If not, I won't be mortally offended if you ditch it and start again!

Here is the list - hope it is more or less up-to-date. Apologies if you're missing, please add yourself on. Pogue - we don't have you on here. Scared - are you still around? Perhaps you've moved to the May thread. Let us know how you're doing.

27th-3rd - ScaredofEverything, 33, #2
30/05 GoodName, 31, #1
1st - Washersaurus , 33, #3
1st - ELM, 29, #2
1st - bambino02, 23, #2
1st - mampam, 29 #3
1st - whenwillisleepagain, 42 #2
2nd - scrappydappydoo, #3
2nd - MrsGravy, 33, #3
3rd - nickytwotimes, 35, #2
3rd - RnB, 31, #3
3rd - Tafftaff, 36, #2
4th - minimoonumbertwo, 33, #2
4th - madamefreckle, 33, #2
4th - sunshiney, 34, #2
5th - greensnail, 27, #2
5th - Dizzymac, 35 No.3
6th - AlwaysHopefull, 35, #2
6th - zumm, 37, #1
7th - LittleRobbo, 34, #3
7th - MrsC09, #1
7th - mumandlovingit, 28 #4
8th - Tobermory, #2
8th- Saucepanman, 31, #4
9th - Woofie, 33, #2
10th - charlottew 32, #1
10th - fillybuster 35, #3
10th - upsydaisysexstylist #3
11th - PorridgeBrain, 34, no. 2
12th - UnrequitedSkink, 33, no. 2
12th - Rangemaster 29, #3
11th - Fabi76, #1
13th - ChairmumMiaow, 29, #2
13th - sobloodystupid, 34, #3
14th - Cadmum, 38, #5
14th ? MrsAlwaysRight, 31 #2
15th - MummyWantsANewBag, #2
15th - Ponymum, 41, # 2
17th - Bluesnowfalcon 28 #1
17th - theperfectbaguette 34 #1
17th - muchchocolate #2
18th - Horton 40 #2
19th - Ladyemmalou83, 26 #1
19th - Georgee 37 No 1
21st - Gizmo, 39, #3
22nd - GinaFB, #1
23rd - Sunshineday 39 #5
23rd - GibberingGinger 33 #2
23rd? - Spudthescarecrow #3
24th - imkeepingmum, #1
25th - Ilovemyterrier, 38 no1
25th - readysetgo, #1
26th - Celery, 34 #4
28th - CantSleepWontSleep (HappyAccident),
36, no3
29th - MrsDmamee #3
30th - Monthlymayhem, 34, no. 2

Dinosaur By the time DS was 2 weeks old he was being breast and bottle fed and that was on the Midwife's recommendation because he was such a hungry little fella!!! I only lasted a couple of weeks after that with the breast feeding because my nipples were so bloody sore I would wince before he'd even latched on it was so painful.

When DS was still waking up 3 times a night for milk he was having 3 x 8oz bottles!! HV suggested giving him water instead but he would drink the water and then the milk too!! In the end when I was at the end of my tether the HV told me to get some ear plugs and let him scream!!

(Ex)H and I moved into the living room and DD (who shared a room with DS) moved into our room. Four nights later we all went back to our own beds and haven't looked back since!!!

I've got 2 girls and I'm already getting the comments about "trying for a boy". I actually think another girl would be easier to cope with and we're more geared up for it but I think DH would like a boy to even up the numbers.

We're hoping to find out the gender this time - we didn't for the first two - I think I just need to be prepared but don't really know why. Not sure where we'll go though as our hospital has a policy not to tell you at the 20 week scan so will need to track down a private company - any recommendations in the bedfordshire area?

Ah, are you at the L&D Nizzy? If so, Pine Hill in Hitchin might be a good bet for you.

Evening all,

I was wondering about hypnobirthing too. I think I have some CD's hanging about somewhere that I got when pg with DD and never got around to listening to. I was hoping it might help me to feel more in control of things, as I'm probably heading for an early induction again. Overall I think I had a good experience of labour last time but still really hated feeling so out of control (very fast induction, with only gas and air as I was in too much pain to ask for an epidural until i was in transition).

I'm not planning on finding out the sex at the 20 week scan. I think i'm having a boy but I thought DD was a boy too so am trying to keep an open mind this time. Don't really mind what I have so long as all is well, but a boy might be easier for us to pick a name for!

Have consultant appointment tomorrow afternoon so looking forward to hearing what they've got to say, and maybe hearing a heartbeat.

I found the hypnobirthing was very good for feeling in control, I was nice and calm, my breathing was steady and if nothing else that meant the gas and air could do it's stuff.
I'm definitely planning to use it again for this birth and the midwife's are practically insisting I have a homebirth so that's exciting.

Sounds good, I'll dig out the CDs and get practicing then!

CantSleep yep it's the L&D for us - thanks, will look them up as that's not too far.

sorry mampam got you mixed up with woofie on the breastfeeding on NCT advice string. I too found bfeeding painful though -strangely only on one breast. I literally had to bite something each time he latched on, and eventually stopped going to that breast altogether, so I ended up a bit lopsided so to speak... it really is a science I think, although I'd welcome advice from anyone who has had good bfeeding experiences. I'd love to have a better experience this time.

MillyMollyMoo how exciting that you may have a homebirth! I would love to have that option, but it looks like no.3 will be born in New York, where it is very very difficult to find support for a homebirth. Not impossible though, but I do worry the midwives who will do it don't have the support of a hospital if you do need to go to one.

With hypno-birthing, I have a suspicion that, if a pain-free labour is the only reason you're trying it, you might be disappointed. Just as some people are more susceptible to hypnotism than others, I think hypnobirthing is probably very effective for some, but not all.

There are other advantages in using it though: I bought the Mangan book and used the CD in the second half of pregnancy and found the meditation exercises and visualisations very good for relaxation and rest. It was also helpful in labour, alongside more traditional painkilling activities like TENS, a pool and swearing very loudly . I probably didn't give it the best chance in labour, though, since I spent the first 2 hours shifting furniture and putting up the pool, which is not helpful for the calm, quiet state of mind you need to establish for a successful hypnobirth.

MillyMollyMoo I had a homebirth with DD2 and hopefully will have another. It was great, so nice to be at home and I was definitely more relaxed than when I had DD1 at hospital. I might look at the hypnobirthing too.

Does anyone have any experience of babybond scans?

oh yes & meant to say hypnobirthing was excellent for us, i had a quick(ish!) labour with gas & air, but more importantly it really helped me to relax for the pregnancy & it's nice to do the cd every day - forces you to chill out. Highly reccommend.

Noddles That's good to hear, DH is slightly nervous and wondering what we'll do with the kids but I guess it depends on the time of day really.
Did you have a birth pool ? Am in 2 minds as I didn't really like it last time, was in and straight out,

Dinosaur You live in NYC that more than makes up for it

MillyMollyMoo I'm lucky as my parents are round the corner so they picked up DD1 at 8ish in the evening, the midwife came round about 9 and DD2 arrived just after midnight. Hopefully will do something similar this time. The gas and air and the 2nd midwife didn't arrive until after I'd had DD2 so I did it all on 2 paracetomol compared to gas and air and pethidine in the hospital with DD1. I think I was much more relaxed and that made it quicker and easier.

No birth pool but might think about it this time as I spent an hour or so in the bath during my labour and only got out to actually push right at the end.

Nizzy - do you mean a 4d scan or just a regular one? I had a 4D scan with dd, but can't remember which company I used.

dimb - always happy to give bf advice when I can . If it only hurt on one side then for some reason the latch won't have been right on that side. Seeing a breast feeding counsellor face to face, who can watch you feed, is always the best way to get your latch checked, and there are lots of organisations who can help with this (I wouldn't choose an NHS org for this, as they have far less training than eg NCT or LLL). However, I would also have suggested seeing a cranial osteopath for a one-sided problem, as there's a good chance it was caused by a tight muscle in your ds, which could have been released with this technique. It's a good plan to arm yourself with the contact details of local bf organisations before the birth, so that when you are busy and in a panic with a problem you don't have to wonder where to turn. I go to a monthly LLL meeting, and pregnant women are welcome there to find out more and build up a support network before the birth. You can take existing children to the meetings with you too, so don't worry about that.

Had my scan today. Put me one day ahead of my estimate at 11+2, which actually moved my date back to 29th June, so am a bit at the MN due date calculator now! At least that explains my confusion at your date muchchocolate! Will update the list a bit later.

I've heard great things about hypno-birthing from a few friends who've used it. One girl I know had 2 entirely pain-relief-free labours at a maternity unit and said it was amazing - admittedly her husband is an osteopath so she also got some pretty impressive massages at the same time!

Sadly, I'm 100% resigned to a fully medicalised hospital birth - the only good thing is that I am resigned to it now, already, so won't be disappointed when it comes. Actually, that's not true: the other good thing is that UCH has had a mahoosive multi-million-pound and new-site makeover since dd was was born so the birth and post-natal rooms should be a lot nicer But with 2 back-to-back 28 hour labours & 2 huge epesiotomies/tears under my metaphorical belt, probably better to be a bit realistic this time around.

Still ill with tummy bug and very very bored of dry toast now...

little devil voice

Y'know what you want, Filly? Curry....

Hello everyone, just a quick one... can I eat baked camembert?!

Millymollymoo it has been great to spend some time living in New York, and surprisingly, it is great for young children as they get to see diggers, cranes & yellow taxis on every corner - but I really really miss the UK right now. It is also shocking how different the approach to childbirth is over here. The antenatal care is dominated by obstetricians who don't have the same matronly approach as the midwives back home, and when I delivered DS2, he check-in at the hospital was just like that Little Britain episode where they totally ignore the fact you are in labour and ask for your credit card. Each of the 5 obstetricians that attended my birth (and it was an uncomplicated natural birth that took 7 hours from first contraction) whispered in my ear that I could have an epidural for the pain because I think they thought it was my husband who was pressuring me to do it naturally! As I think I mentioned before, I'm no earth mother, but I have a real fear of needles, so really wanted to avoid anything in my arm or back. Then - they took the baby away - yes! Back to the 50s on that one - DS2 had to go to a nursery to be checked in, in spite of my bursting into tears, and DH trying to get all authoratative. We were simply told it was hospital policy.

fillybuster I think you might get something out of the Mangan book if you have time to read it. As others have said, it was lovely to spend 30mins each day listing to the CD. I don't envy you the back-to-back labours as I've heard they are really painful - but the book would suggest you can visualise and communicate with your baby to encourage them to get into the right position. It sounds whacky, but honestly - I picked DS1 up from his second day of nursery and went to lie down while he had his nap. I said to my MIL that I was ready for the baby to come now (I was 40 +2) and then lay down and visualised it - within minutes the contractions started. It could've been a massive coincidence, but who knows?!

Can'tsleep thank you so much for the bf advice. I completely second what you are saying about preparing before the baby arrives. My husband and I were reading a book about bfeeding while trying to bfeed and I was highlighting madly with a marker the important passages - it wasn't ideal. I also thought that given I only had trouble on one side, was it because my hold was bad on that side as I was right-handed and one side always felt more comfortable. The cranial angle is interesting - I hope to have all the support arranged in advance this time.

Also - just had my swine flu jab and had the boys done a week ago, although they will need a booster in a few weeks time. My arm is hurting a bit - I think I didn't give them enough sympathy when they had it!

ReadySetGo, two potential answers here:

1. voice of sanity: yes, I can't see why not. Some Camembert are pasteurised anyway and baking should deal with any problem bugs

2. voice of greed/laziness: It's not moving? Good. I'll eat it. Fallen on the floor you say? Quick wash under the tap will fix that.

Pasteurisation is actually irrelevant in a mould ripened cheese. I wouldn't risk it peronally, but I'm very much of the view that a few months of abstinence isn't the end of the world.

Thanks - Our Christmas meal has 3 starter options and one is pate and the other is soup. I am so sick of soup at the moment!

lol. I'm having soup for my starter tonight (toddler group meal out). Everywhere struggles to make me things that are dairy free.

Interesting info on hypnobirthing. Thanks everyone. I really think I'm going to give it a go this time round.

LOL @ Hippo-birthing DIMB. Love what you say about embracing it. Am going to get that book.

Filly I've had 2 back-to-back labours too. My first was 41hrs and ds was born face up. Apparently it can be something to do with the shape of your pelvis, so I'm fully expecting the same with this one. This is why hypnobirthing is so attractive to me - especially the feeling in control aspect. DS1's birth was so awful, I was begging to be knocked out

I was lucky with ds2 as I managed to turn him whilst in labour, which then became really straightforward and enjoyable experience. The pain at 8-10cm was nowhere near as bad as 1-3cm with ds1.