Due March 2010 - just because I'm pregnant at Christmas doesn't mean I'm a taxi driver

[annamama]

... new thread for oldies and newbies due in March! ...

Swings - try Spatone, you can buy it in Boots, it's a big box with sachets of natural iron rich water. Does not make you constipated! I've taken them for a while now and think they help my lowish iron levels. Mix with orange juice. At least one more person here takes it, can't remember who.

EmLou - great that you're ok and baby too! Yes everything will be fine from now on... (phew)

IWCAS - I'm someone who always tries to see the best in people... so fingers crossed your ex will be more supportive from now on!

There was a thread a while ago about to have or not have DH/P in delivery room and it really depends on each individual couple! In my case I won't say that I couldn't have done it without him, but I definitely wanted him to be there. He found it hard to see me suffer but was very happy he was there the whole time to support me and to see the happy ending! As DD was back to back, she came out looking right at her daddy... aww.

And the price for the longest post goes to Manda! Had a feeling you would be defying your sex ban, sure it's fine... That much snow in London, wow! Of course there will be chaos and standstill. Feel sorry for any women about to go into labour right now! Yep I think I felt a tingle in my boobs when hearing any child cry. A friend of my sister's once breastfed my sister's boy, because he was crying of hunger and my sister wasn't around. Don't think I would feed someone elses baby though?!

Ah, as I was taking so long typing my essay post, I x-posted with a few of you...

I have to say, ex-Dh was only with my for the final two minutes of labour with DD (the hospital's fault, but as it turned out, probably for the best - he came in, DD flew out, he flew out (I'm told, almost throwing up in the corridor whilst his mum was pushing him to 'get back in there, she's having the baby!)), and not at all with DS (was induced with gel about 10am. Nothing doing until 4.15pm when my water broke (was walking to encourage something to happen). A pretty intense pain hit straight away so I got a shot of pethidine, told ex-Dh I was gonna go to sleep (and did) and that he should pop out to get something to eat as we'd been at the hospital since 9am - he hadn't even had breakfast. Well, the midwife woke me up at about 5.40pm, looking at the trace (they'd hooked me up to the monitor after havin the pethidine) asking if I was still having pains... I sleepily replied I didn't hink so, so she took a look and it was panic stations as the baby was THERE! He was born as 5.54pm and ex-DH walked back in at 6.15pm.

To be alone suits me, and my nature. Whenever I'm ill or in pain, I like to retreat and be alone rather than have people around me. In this sense, I've told DP that as much as he wants to be there, if I find him distracting/annoying I may ask him to leave.

swings I'm an advocate of Spatone which is a water very rich in iron. You buy it as a supplement from boots, or somesuch. Whilst it's a little on the pricey side, it's often in their 3 for 2 promo and most women report very little in the way of side effects (if any). It raised my iron levels by two points in two weeks (although since then, I've kinda slacked off on taking it and certainly feel the exhaustion/breathlessness creeping back so I MUST start again!). But you could always give the tabs a go, increase your water/fibre intake, and see whether you'll be one of the lucky ones who tolerates the ferrous sulphate well!

ok i am really having a hard time trying to keep up with reading and everytime I think I need to post, there is yet more reading to be done lol... i think i'm just a little useless at keeping up.

glad everyone had a good xmas and new years.

christmas in the Singer household was full of in-laws and a not-so-happy-to-be-here dm (another thread all together)

The IL's were fine and very helpful and in all it was a good day.

NYE wasn't to exciting. After a tiring xmas day I told hubby I wanted a quite NYE but he decided to invite friends over so I was up and about cooking and entertaining. I decided not to complain as we had a ?argument-- discussion about him feeling that he needs to go out as this is the last chance he has at freedom before baby comes. So after the countdown , DH decided to go to a house party leaving me home alone because there was no way I was going to a house full of drunk happy people ( I'm just sad that way) so spent the early hours of new years morning alone in my bed struggling to sleep!

IWCAS my deepest condolences on the loss of your loved one. May his soul rest in peace and may you find the reassurance and acceptance that you need to be strong .

Rebecca panic panic panic ? gave birth at 32weeks? I'm rushing waddling to get all the things I need for my hospital bag?Anyone else considering a water birth?

I will try and keep on top of this whole complicated business of reading and posting , I don't know how you supermums do this!

OK lemme get back to work now

Sex - what's that again - I have told DH in no uncertain terms that it is firmly off the menu! Funny because I wanted to have sex right until the end with DS and DH thought it was weird - now he is all amorous and I keep having to tell him to bugger off! Even if we did want to I agree with SOG - DS comes into our bed every morning at about 6.30 and we I am always in bed hours before DH in the evenings as I am so tired.

SOG - I have been on iron tablets since the beginning - they do bung you up a bit but should be fine if you don't take them on an empty stomach and you have lots of fruit!

First full day back at work today after the Xmas holidays and I am knackered - my back is killing me and it has been a real struggle to stand at the board for long - I feel like I'm 310 not 31!

Michel Odent, I think, had said that women produce more of the stress hormone and have longer labours with a man present. Sounds like the women picks up the 'smell of men' in the room. I could google him, but from the BBC breakfast interview he gave, he didn't put his case very well. He talked about a lifetime of anecdotal evidence, not proper research. Perhaps he has done proper research somewhere. Makes you wonder if it's a smell thing. Maybe the man could be kitted out in a sealed white suit in the birthing room.

MandaHugNKiss - interesting about the effect of other children. I'm a first timer, and never heard that. Something to look forward to

Just wanted to ask... my iron levels were ok when they checked them at 28 weeks, am 31 weeks now. For the past few days I have been feeling exhausted and occasionally breathless when doing the smallest of things for eg: lifting 2yo ds on to my knee and dressing him etc. Do you ladies think it could be my iron levels? I had to have 2 naps yesterday, granted i'm not sleeping that well at night some nights but still very tired.

I had a nap today for over 2 hours and feel tired again now...

Think EmLouT was asking, yes I had ds in oct 2007

Hello,

we still have lots of snow in Edinburgh, in fact we've been having snow for the past 2/3 weeks.. so it's getting a little bit too much. Good luck for those of you in the south, maybe you'll have a good excuse for not going work tomorrow

Yesterday we received the pram (phil and teds), the cot bed and the moses basket. I was very excited about getting everything, but now that things are all in place, it seems so unreal.... I don't know... I kind of feel bad for not being over the moon. Even DH seems more excited than I . I'll start I'm my nct course this weekend, so maybe after that I'll excited and more aware that in a few weeks time I'll have the little one sleeping in the moses basket.

I saw my consultant today. More blood tests and more iron tablets! I need to go back in 4 weeks.

xxx

Hi all- summer,ouch! Hope u get well soon. Sarah,good luck for op.hope all goes to plan. Db,hope you get the answers u desire from the consultant. Siamese,two in 18mths-v v brave! Emlou,really glad all going ok.hang in there. Singer,id love a waterbirth.got a consultant appointment next week to see how group b strep will impact on that idea.i hear any excuse to stop use of the pool is common at my hospital. Hope all well to you all,thinking of packing my bag in light of weather and mucous plug malarky. I know lots say not to b worried and im not but with tons of strong braxton hicks and a strange emptyin of tummy overnite im starting to think this one might be early.hopefully not,but far rather be ready. Got midwife appointment tomorrow,not that shes much use! X

Hi all- summer,ouch! Hope u get well soon. Sarah,good luck for op.hope all goes to plan. Db,hope you get the answers u desire from the consultant. Siamese,two in 18mths-v v brave! Emlou,really glad all going ok.hang in there. Singer,id love a waterbirth.got a consultant appointment next week to see how group b strep will impact on that idea.i hear any excuse to stop use of the pool is common at my hospital. Hope all well to you all,thinking of packing my bag in light of weather and mucous plug malarky. I know lots say not to b worried and im not but with tons of strong braxton hicks and a strange emptyin of tummy overnite im starting to think this one might be early.hopefully not,but far rather be ready. Got midwife appointment tomorrow,not that shes much use! X

scooby fingers crossed your LO stays put for a while longer. I feel guilty that even though it was my friend who had her baby at 32 weeks I haven't even started to pack hospital bag - which I know I need to do even though I'm planning a home birth. I think that's a weekend project.

Sex - hmmm, haven't been in to it for the whole pregnancy since I had early bleeding. But was reading Ina May Gaskin who seems a firm believer that regular sex and orgasms can lead to better labour, so may get back on the horse (so to speak!).

IWCAS so sorry about your loss- you sound like such a strong person - he must have been very, very proud of you.

EmLou and dalrymps glad that your worrying times are beginning to be behind you. It was amazing to see the pics of my friends 32 week baby. She looked perfect, not like a premature baby at all - so if our LO's were born now they'd no doubt do well.

Can't believe we'll have 25cms of snow in London overnight, but would be amazing. Our office heating is broken so I'll be at home in any case hoping that the midwife gets to me (they've cancelled my 30 week appointment twice and am now 31+2).

Felt first braxton hicks this morning - very odd indeed and was surprised that I've had several today and that they lasted a couple of minutes each.

Good luck to all those in the snow and be glad we aren't having January babies - there's a thread in childbirth about someone who is going to have to call the mountain rescue as she's in labour!!

Just have to express my admiration at Manda's post .
There's is woman who can still string (many, many) sentences together !

Morning all from a very snowy and useless York.

Finally got round to changing my nickname back and reading all the posts. DCs happily ensconced with the Gruffalo from Christmas TV so I thought I'd catch up.

DS's playgroup cancelled today owing to... oh... urm... a posible meteorite shower? Freak sewer badgers eating their way into the toilet block? 2 inches of snow? Who knows. So my long awaited return to normality here is being delayed slightly.

Homeopathy
Mucous plugs and hope it's all ok emoticon.
birth plans Home birth should make it easier, right!? Head still firmly in sand over event which, knowing my gestational length isn't for another 14 weeks or so...

Maternity leave I'd leave it til as late as possible as long as I was feeling ok.

Iwcas about your loss. Bless you 2010 has to be better than 2009 right! And impressed with your understandingness of XP.

Have a nice Wednesday everyone.

Blimmin' snow here too. Have decided not to risk my bump and bones trying to walk to the station on the unswept, ungritted pavements and, anyway, there is only a "skeleton service" running. Don't much fancy standing all the way into London or getting stuck there so am working from home today. Oh, and DS' nursery is closing at lunchtime . Still, he'll be pleased. He was absolutely transfixed by all the white stuff this morning - and not at all happy when DH made him get into the pushchair for the trudge to nursery.

And I'm supposed to have my first NCT antenatal refresher class tomorrow. Not sure if that'll happen. It's driving distance away and apparently the roads are pretty bad; one unhappy clutch of motorists apparently spent the night on the A3. How? How does that happen in Hampshire??

We've had snow now for over 2 weeks and although it's pretty, it's restrictive. I walk everywhere, and as long as it's snow rather than ice, I can walk on that ok. But I still worry I slip. Was supposed to go to Glasgow today but that meeting's been cancelled in favour of a conference call.

Was to be found in back garden at 8am this morning elegantly dressed in dressing gown and wellies, feeding the birds. Poor things are starving.

Manda good grief you have far more typing stamina than is normal in pregnancy...my fingers feel too bulgy to do much at the mo!

My midwife is kind of right about the nervous wreck thing, unfortunatly. I have a hefty dose of antenatal depression which floors me frequently. I wasn't at all offended by her pointing out the blindingly obvious!!

Scooby and IWCAS I hope you're both feeling OK today.

And Arcadie ...sewer badgers are a real and recognised threat, you know! You have to put badger paper down to stop 'em coming up the drains...

First antenatal class last night. I have learnt that all pregnant women in my area have colds and that all babies depicted on birth flashcards apparently look like Chairman Mao.

phew.. just read Mandas (or should that be Brian's???) posts... lol at your beetles theory

AIBU to not be going to work today - another snow day for me? It didnt snow anymore over night and the main roads are clearish, but Ive got ready and gone out to the car and tried to clear it, and dig the road to the main road (its about 6 inches of snow) and Im shattered already, so I called work and told them and asked them to cancel somethings and I discover that there are NO staff higher than me that have made it in anyway, (and Im furthest away) but now I feel guilty as Ive not been in work since before xmas and I leave nx friday and some IT failure means I cant log in remotely.. I know im going to feel awful later too when I have to finish digging myself out as have run out of food and Im desparate to buy some iron tablets or Spatone (thanks Anna) as, like Dalrymps i have a feeling my napping and breathlessness must be iron related.. grr...

Good news EmLou

Im following the mountain rescue birth thread avidly...

So much to catch up on! Am "snowed" in (a joke here in London) with a pukey baby and really hoping my grocery order gets here this afternoon!

And when you all read this, do some pelvic floor exercises!!

siamesecatwoman - I am also tired, napping and breathless, but a recent blood test came back fine for iron. So it may not be. It took my partner 2.5 hours to get home yesterday - the trip usually takes 20 mins. if you can't get out, don't feel guilty about it. You've tried to dig yourself out which is more than your work should expect! Do you have to go out for your groceries and iron? Could you use an online delivery service? (I know they charge, but hopefully it's a one off)

ilovegreenbeans - ta for the reminder about the pelvic floors. I'm doing them right now

hello from a very snowy London. Took DS to nursery this morning and had been at work for five minutes when I got a call to say they were closing and I had to go back for him. Seeing as my school is still open I have deposited him in the nursery class here - poor kid is stuck with 3 - 4 year olds but I have just spoken to the nursery teacher and apparently he is in his element - good to know seeing as he is starting school here in September.

Scooby - fingers crossed your LO doesn't decide to come quite yet. With all the worries about IUGR I am thrilled to have made it to 32 weeks and will be thrilled if I can make it to term - let's hope all the babies realise that this is not the weather to be born into!

Dalrymps - we must have been on the same thread in 07 - DS was born in September and I def. recognise your nickname. Also - sounds like your iron levels might be a bit low - maybe you should have them checked.

Not doing any antenatal classes this time but am still in touch with all the girls from my last group and am very lucky because two of them are also pregnant and due around the same time as me. Can't really be bothered to go to ante natal as last term my birth went nothing like what I had planned so I am not even bothering with a birth plan this time.

have fun in the snow all!

Am at work so must be brief :

Re breathlessness: I am now getting breathless when I am talking too much, never mind when pushing 2 stone DS3 in his buggy up the steep hill at the end of our road! Had my bloods checked today, so we will see re iron etc, and whether those sore Vitamin B12 inj made a difference, jolly well hope they have. Dreaded appointment with haematologist next week...
Sorry, I digress, ladies: remember, we now all have a belly full of baby, not much room for the diaphragm to move, so some breathlessness is quite normal henceforth . And tiredness. And varicose veins in awkward places. And the rest. You know, the joys of "blooming" - I hate that expression...

No snow here overnight, small flurry in the morning, now sunny and cold. DSs went off to school again this morning, so far I have not heard that they have been turned back...

Pacific I'm also getting breathless when talking, I sound like I'm having a panic attack when on conference calls at work

Not much new snow here now, nice and sunny, hoping it melts soon to avoid slippage, must stock up on a big bag of grit for next year!

greenbeans another good tip is that when you are releasing pelvic floor contractions you should do them in stages, like a lift stopping at different floors, that's meant to make each one more effective, thanks for reminder though

Hello - happy new year everyone. I haven't been on here in ages so will try to read back and catch up on everyones news.

We're all well - it was a struggle going back to work yesterday but cheered up with the thought of only 6 weeks to mat leave.

Cheered up even more as snowed in today. Wish I could just be a little more mobile to assist with the snowmen and sledging. DH has just gone to the pub