Due May 2010: Where we get a 'bloom' just in time for the christmas mayhem???

[AnAngelWithin]

Morning ladies. Hope you don't mind me starting a new thread! The other one was too big for my computer to manage! lol

01 May - Brightredballoon, 32. #3
02 May - kaystar, 33, #1
03 May - lizzie9442, 23, #4
04 May - ForcesSweetheart, 36, #2
04 May - memorylapse, #5
05 May - Lotus Palm, 31, #1
05 May - Bettymamma #3
06 May - DorotheaPlenticlew, #2
06 May - LuckyC, 35, #1
07 May - Woody31 #1
07 May - hobnobfanatic, 37. #2
08 May - sweetkitty, 34, #4
08 May - Sassles, 30, #1
08 May - TheShopaholic, 33, #2
09 May - Alexw, 37, #2
10 May - Sophie2008, 28, #2 & #3 (Non id twins!)
10 May - Gils, 28, #2
11 May - Itshappenedagain, 25, #2
11 May - sheepgomeep, 32,#4
12 May - pamelat, 31, #2
12 May - Tamuna, 28, #1
12 May - slipperthief, 33, #2
12 May - napa, 31, #2
12 May - Katnkittens 29, #4
12 May - Haribolicious, 36, #2
13 May - Cith, 30, #1
13 May - Wibblela, 36, #1
14 May - Charmbutterfly, 28, #1
14 May - Carikube, 36, #2
14 May - JamesAndTheGiantBanana, 28, #2
14 May - CornishSAMum, 32, #1
14 May - Tinylion #2
15 May - TwentiethCenturyHeffa, 25, #2
16 May - MoggMum, 38, #1
16 May - MinnieMummy, 36, #3
16 May - schipo, 40, #1, [boy]
17 May - newmomma, 31 #2
17 May - LittleOneMum, 36, #2
17 May - First1, 21, #1
17 May - Morph2, 36 #1
18 May - TomlinTowers, 31, #2
18 May - 30ish, 31, #2
19 May - cupcakefairy, 25, #1
19 May - Pigleychez, 28, #2
20 May - LolaAnn, 22, #1
20 May - mmmmmchocolate, 27, #2
20 May - BuongiornoPrincipessa, 29, #1
21 May - Suey2, 39, #2
21 May - Sweetpeasmum, 38, #2
23 May - Swangirl,36 #3
23 May - Mollybob, 37 #3
23 May - RacquelWelsh, 38 #1
24 May - Yorky (started on here as HeadInAWhirl), 31 #3
24 May - Cafuffle 36 #2
24 May - AnAngelWithin #5
25 May - Den26, 26 #1
26 May - Booboomonster 35 #2
26 May - Washersaurus, 33, #3
28 May - Glastochick #1
30 May - tiggsy98 29, #2
31 May - April80 29,#2
31 May - Hollyoaks, 27, #2

Angel - I am with you re the perineal massage, 3 DC already, with DD1 it wouldn't have done any good it was her presentation that tore me, her hand was by her ear. DD2 didn't have a graze, DD3 tore again but that was the speed of her delivery.

I pack a just in case hospital bag, as you say it's good to have everything to hand incase you need to dash but also when the MW is asking for a hat/babygro/nappy/shawl etc your DH doesn't have to ask where they are, also things for you psot birth, comfy jammies, big pants, sanitary pad, nursing bra, boob pads

Thank you Mollybob will try asking for one of those. I'm sure that everyone on here would agree with me when I say that you wouldn't bring us down. I have found everyone so supportive, I don't really talk to anyone in RL about my pregnancy and how I'm feeling etc.. and this has been a lifeline for me. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm thinking about you. I am sure that everything will change as you get closer or when your LO is here. Take care

Tomlin - Hope your bump is less achey!

Hi all
FinaLy had 22 week scan today and all well- huzzah! And we're having another girl - second for me, third for DH. He's a bit sad that it's not a boy but obv main thing is she's healthy and we'll love her!

Gils - sorry to hear about your ma. Hope she's on the mend. And hope it's not too stressful for you!

wow great to hear birth stories - I think it's great research to read them as being prepared for anything is key I reckon! As it turned out, mine went pretty well. Went into labour 8pm, it progressed slowly, we timed the contractions and I used tens machine - like someone else said - it was more of a distraction than anything else - gave me something to focus on during contractions. I was also sick, a few times. Then around 7am contractions were 3mins apart so we went to the hospital. I found gas and air terrific and practically threw my tens in the bin there and then! Bounced on a birthing ball, vomitted a bit more. Found pushing the hardest part - took about 2 hours. Baby born at 3pm. Very relieved it was all over. But the midwife was great - she read my birthplan and avoided epidural as I had hoped - even though she said afterwards she thought I was crazy not to have it!!? So definately good to do a birthplan and make sure they read it. Keep it flexible though as you don't know how things will go - there are so many variables! And she was born on the due date, so it does happen!

Hope everyones doing well - pigley, I have sympathies with tactless mum issues - mine just told me she didn't like the name we have chosen. Arrgh!

Take care everyone x

Mollybob - please don't worry about bringing us down, we're here to be supportive. It must be quite difficult to feel that way. I felt quite down after the last scan and it was horrible.

Booboomonster - congratulations on the scan

Birth story - At 39 weeks I was worried I hadn't felt any movement so we went into the delivery suite for monitoring. DD was fine but my BP was very high and they found protein in my urine so the consultant told them to induce. One tablet at midnight and then one at 6am the next morning. Contractions started around 10am and got worse quite quickly. I moved in to the labour ward at about midday and they broke my waters at 4pm. There was meconium in the waters so I was strapped up to monitors. The pain got really intense so I got an epidural. I had a lovely MW who stayed with me and DH through the night. The epidural made me nauseous so I threw up every time it was topped up. Pain started breaking through the epidural (despite top-ups) around 6am. I was fully dilated at 9am and felt like I needed to push so started pushing. DD was out 10 minutes later and straight onto my chest. I had the injection to get the placenta out but didn't even notice that bit. I was wheeled into surgery about an hour later to get stitched up (3rd degree tear) and then they cleaned me up and wheeled me through to post-natal.

mollybob I'm so glad you said that you know... everyone expects me to be sooooo excited all the time but mostly I am just terrified and apprehensive and anxious about everything. Just in the last week I have started to feel the teeniest excitement about it all but still far outweighed by fear. It's weird, this baby was planned & I used to be very excited by it and now feel very shocked by these feelings too. Also feel terrible cos I miscarried before this lo and wanted a baby sooo much, now I feel like I'm betraying my new lo by almost feeling I don't want it Sure it's v natural though...just wanted you to know you're not alone and it's part of the reason I've barely posted here too.

katey I'm using Mama Mio Tummy Rub which is a little pricey but brilliant! Smells gorgeous, v luxuriant and moisturising but absorbed quickly (so you don't feel all oily) and claims to relieve itching too... I put it on my boobs too to stop them itching and works a treat
I had pethidine during the medical management of my mmc - it does totally space you out doesn't it? I threw up immediately (despite an anti-sickness jab) then slurred for the next hour It did take aw the pain but not planning to have it for labour because it left me with a badly aching thigh for around 2 months afterwards (not sure if it was injected wrong or what) and a friend wh had it during labour said it made her baby v drowsy for first couple of days of his life which I think I'd find a bit worrying.

also- I'm only skimming birth stories as don't want to scare myself too much but I am SOOO looking forward to this post-birth toast everyone keeps mentioning what's the bet my hospital doesn't do it now

Hope ur feeling a bit better today pigley. Mums can be really insensitive. My mum came to DDs 20 week scan with me as DH was in northern ireland, and she dressed from head to toe to handbag in baby pink! And she's a redhead so you can imagine how she looked. If DD had been a boy I think she woulda disowned me. Try not to let her get to you.

Re birth stories. I was induced at 38 weeks coz of diabetes and cholestasis. After a couple of days of being poked and prodded every couple of hours I needed gas and air just to be examined. My midwife thought I was a complete wuss and said there was no way she was putting up the Syntocinon drip without me having an epidural in as there was no way I'd cope with the contractions. She was going to break my waters at 7.30am, and she booked the anaesthetist for 7.45am. She was a very scary old irish woman and I wouldn't have dared argue with her. In the end I was quite glad she was so scary as she chased the registrar who was coming towards me with episiotomy scissors out of the room with the words "you're a poor excuse for a man and an even poorer excuse for a doctor!" I'll never know if having the epidural contributed towards me ending up with an emergency c-section, but I suspect things may have ended that way regardless as I was completely immobile, on my back strapped to the table with 3 drips (antibiotics for group b strep, insulin/glucose sliding scale, and Syntocinon) as well as foetal scalp monitor and a contraction monitor. If I had been able to move, change position etc then maybe I could have pushed DD out, but as it was her head got stuck (head circumference was 99th centile despite weight being only 7lb 6oz) and neither ventouse nor forceps could budge her. The problem with the epidural for me was that I couldn't really feel what I was trying to push, just felt totally numb. It saved me from having to have a general anaesthetic though when they decided a crash c-section was needed as just topping up the epidural was enough for them to push her back up and cut me open. This time I'm going for an elective cs as I know things would most likely go the same way as I'd still have to be induced 2 wks early, and would still have to be covered in drips and monitors. If there was any chance of them letting me go til labour just happened on its own, and allowed me to be completely mobile etc then I might have considered a vbac, but as that's not an option this at least guarantees I don't end up with another emergency CS.

LuckyC how did you get on at your NCT thing?

katey wish I could suggest something for the itching but I was just given piriton antihistamines, which helped a little but not much, and had DH rub loads of cool aqueous cream all over me.

mollybob might it be worth speaking to MW or GP about antenatal depression? There may be something they can do to help.

Congrats on ur scan and baby girl booboo

aww mollybob, you aren't dragging anyone down, please don't feel that, we are all here to help and support each other!!

booboo congrats on having a girl

katey hope the itching stops!

i actually slept for 8 hours last night with no nightmares!!! WOOP WOOP!!! think i was too exhausted to do anything else but sleep!! I could still do with some more sleep but I definately feel better!!

Just bought some nice little nappy wraps off ebay, some totsbots ones, £20 for 6 new ones!!! The are normally about £8.50 each i think!!! Just need to send DH up into the loft now to see what actual nappies I've got left from dd2, as I can't remember what I sold and what I kept, but i bought the wraps today cos I know I haven't got any of those!

Kateyjane- Hope you get the itching sorted soon, it must be horrible.

Molly- You dont bring us down at all. All ive done the past week is moan so moan away with me!

In fact ill continue my moaning now
Feeling pants today. My back is killing me and my bump hurts. Woke feeling sick and dizzy and just wanted to stay in bed. DD was up during the night with a temp. Shes not been right all week bless her. Has a temp of 39 today and really not herself. We have been wallowing together today and have been cuddled up together on the sofa watching Cbeebies. Even dozed off together this morning too.

Heffa- Mine too reached over 100 last time too but my midwife said its common to have high BP in your frist pregnancy but more of a concern in subsequent pregnancies.
Did the consultant say anything about having the baby early? Ive read quite a few people saying that they were induced or sectioned early.

Booboo- Glad you got your scan and for your little girl.

Angel- glad you got a good nights sleep! Makes all the difference doesnt it

Right well as DD is having a nap I think I will try and snooze too .

Pigley - sorry you and DD are having a tough day. Hope you have a nice snuggly afternoon

Consultant didn't say anything about having the baby early although I was induced a week early with DD. I think she was waiting to see how the medication worked before making any more plans. I see the consultant again next week to review the situation. Even with the drugs they expect my BP to go back up as the pregnancy progresses but hopefully it won't be back over 100 for a while yet.

Angel - glad you had a good night's sleep! I'm getting pretty tired of all the dreaming now, would love a dreamless sleep!

Cupcake - I never got post-birth toast I didn't feel like eating during labour either so didn't get much to eat. MW kept bringing DH sandwiches, toast and tea though

hello ladies!

Im just home from hospital, feeling significantly better than I did

Tuesday morning I phoned the diabetic nurse and told her my blood sugars were high and I felt very poorly...she requested me being admitted to hospital which I refused, she then contacted my MW who said she would pass me over to the MW in my area. Lovely MW phoned up and said she was coming out to me..I sounded so poorly, she feared it was Pre eclampsia.

She came out and checked me over, BP was fine, albeit low but normal for me 86/50, wee was full of sugar.she said she was not happy to leave me and pleaded with me to go to hospital..by this point, my vision was blurred and I felt dreadful so reluctantly agreed.
DH came home from work and took me and I was admitted straight onto the ward. Blood sugar aftter tea was 14.8..not good...
Saw the diabetic nurse who increased my insulin to 3 times daily and my consultant agreed that I needed to stay for a few days..I gave in gracefully!

Was allowed home today after 24 hours of stable blood sugars..tbh though the stay in hospital probably did me the world of good...I was resting and eating regular meals which is more than I was doing at home.

Im back at clinic in just over a week and have my first growth scan appt...Im so big that the mw's kept asking If I was there for induction

turns out Im anaemic too but I declined the vile iron tablets and will get some spatone instead....made me feel really broody seeing all the tiny babies though, wish I could fast forward 12 weeks

hope everyone else is well

hi ladies, I was the worlds most miserable pregnant woman last night, had horrible acid in my throat, couldn't walk as I had overdone it so the SPD was bad and my piles were hurting so toddled off to bed. Still quite sore today good excuse for taking it easy though.

ML - glad you are out of hospital with stable blood sugars now

pigley - sorry you are feeling so rough today, hopefully you will be on the mend soon and DD today

Angel - glad you got some sleep and great bargain on the totsbots

Forces - your Mum sounds so funny sorry with the head to toe pinkness

cupcake - I know what you mean about being sad for your lost LO being happy for your new LO, I came to terms with it and DD3 is my little miracle baby as I call her.

booboomonster - congrats on your little girl

mollybob - sorry you are feeling so down, it's only natural sometimes pregnancy is so fraught with emotions and everything, please feel you can post here for support

Hi guys thanks for congrats.

Mollybob - I second what everyone else has said - we are all here as a support network! Sorry you're feeling down.

Cupcake - I relate to what you're saying, particularly from my first time. Then I was filled with fear - not about the birth so much but more about life changing and me being responsible for a little one. It seemed unbelievable! I was also the most ungrateful, ungracious pregnant person! Anyway, I am doing it again so it can't have been that bad! I think knowing what to expect has helped.

Anyway, we've a weekend away coming up - one night to see mates in Birmingham, one night without DD in a hotel. Excited! Hope everyone has a lovely weekend. Take it easy ladies! X

Thanks for all your support - I'm not depressed though - I had PND with DS and it stopped me enjoying anything and I just didn't feel at all like me - I can still laugh and enjoy stuff just feel nothing about the baby - just numb and guilty because I'm so lucky and this LO was wanted. Hard to explain. I did a fair bit of moaning in all pregnancies really - don't bloom and I am so tired and sick which may well be the root of some of it. It's the way I feel about the LO that bothers me. Will I love it when it gets here? I know the sort of Mum I want to be it to it but just feel disconnected.

Delighted you're home and rested ML, hope the itching gets sorted KJ, take care all x

mollybob - I can kind of understand where you are coming from, with DD3 at first I couldn't get attached to her as we thought we might lose her, then I got the SPD and was resentful that being pregnant meant I couldn't do things with my other DDs, they suffered as they had a moaning, tired Mummy who couldn't take them to the park or play games with them. I just couldn't get excited about the pregnancy at all. Once she was born though it all changed and I utterly adore her now, she is the light of all our lives.

I have never bloomed, I am in constant pain and am starting to get a bit down as moving is so sore and I am so restricted in everything I do and have to ask DP to do a lot for me. I detest being pregnant so much (and this is the fourth time) I had to think long and hard about doing it all again, could I cope with it all again but I decided not to allow the SPD to dictate how many children I had and the days do fly past really fast and the LOs will be here before we know it making this hell seem all worthwhile.

booboo & cupcake I'm definitely more worried about the responsibilities of being a mum than the birth itself! I've never changed a nappy in my life and just hope that I'll make a good mother (still can't imagine myself with a LO)

mollybob hope you start to feel more positive about things soon. You're already a Mum so I'm sure you'll love this LO just as much when he/she arrives. It's taken me a while to come to terms with this pregnancy even though it was planned as I never thought I'd have children (I've never been remotely maternal). Still have moments of doubt but they're getting less frequent and I'm starting to feel much more positive now.

Morning all! Just had a marathon catch up of everyone's news. Those birth stories have really brought it all back! Was thinking of trying without epidural this time but now not sure... Heartburn/reflux still bad but other than that am fine. Can't believe the end is nearly in sight. Got GTT on Wed - not sure why think it must be age related - didn't have it last time. Hope everyone has a good weekend. Looking forward to some better weather soon.

just a heads up to anyone that gets anaemic during pregnancy...Ive been told Im anaemic but me and iron tablets dont get on..the hospital have recommended spatone..its a sachet of iron rich water which comes from a spa not far from where I live and its safe to take in pregnancy...I mixed some with orange juice this morning and its much nicer than iron tablets..and doesnt cause constipation apprently

Hi ladies

Wow, what a lot to read and catch up on.

Booboo -congrats on a little girl.

ML - glad to hear your out of hospital and feeling better, hope your blood sugar steadies out and the rest of your pg is uneventful

MB - I didn't feel attached to dd all the way through this pg and it took 2 days before I fell in love with her and I think this time it may be the same. I can't imagine loving this lo as much as dd and I'm worried about coping with 2, I think what your feeling is normal.

As for me, feeling fine, lots of kicks and a night out with friends for a meal and dd is staying over at her grandparents for the night . Feeling much better.

Hello all, glad to see everyone is getting on ok. ML hope things are ok with you now? Hope the hospital are looking after you well.

Sorry for the sporadic access, we finally get our internet sorted on 6th Feb so will be back online properly soon.

We have had DH's nana's funeral. My grandads on Monday. Then burying my grandads and grandmas ashes on Tuesday.

Oh ... also DH is being made redundant for the 3rd time in 2 years (financial services). All feels a bit much but strangely feel am coping.

not sleeping a lot, have had 2 nights in separate beds now as DH's snoring is not helping me. Feels a bit odd but sleep is the mmost important thing to me at the moment!!

Hello all

Good to see you back MemoryLapse, hope everything stays stable for you for rest of the pregnancy.

Hollyoaks, glad to hear things are looking up for you - hope you have a good night out

Mollybob, sorry you're not feeling great. Couldn't find your thread so don't really understand details.

Pigley, sorry to hear about your tactless mum (i'm sure they all have theiir moments) but nice to hear that your DH seems to be v supportive.

Pamelat - sorry to read of redundancy - last thing you need when dealing with pregnancy and funerals. Hope things look up soon.

Gils, hoping things keep improving for your mum.

BooBoo - congrats on your happy scan

I had some good and bad news this week:

Bad: spoke to a structural engineer who advised us to walk away from the property we're about to buy because of its complicated history of work done with no building control documentation. It's giving me something apart from pregancy to worry about though i spose.

Good: been offered fantastic terms for at least first six months of maternity leave - yay! - What happens after then we'll be discussing nearer the time ! (company is so small and male dominated we didn't have a policy until now)

btw. Does anyone here know about the changes to SMP that are supposed to start april 2010 ? I read its being extended from 9 to 12 months and that we will just qualify..

Anyway, I'm left in awe reading all your birth stories! It's great to read them. Can't really ask RL friends about details of theirs.

I like your advice to focus on looking after baby rather the birth Sweetkitty. Seems like a lot of it is down to luck and there's not much we can do to control how it goes.

Don't have anything approaching a birth plan yet but I'm enough of an idealist to at least start off wanting to keep drugs and intervention to a minimum. I've spent the last ten years doing yoga practically every day too, so want to see if all the breathing exercises turn out to be of practical use.
Obviously, preparing myself to discover that's very naive too!

I will be having a go at the perineal massage thing though (without involving dh i hope). Prepared to try anything that might help!

Oh, and another milestone in my pregnancy: for first time yesterday someone offered me and bump a set on a bus!

Oops, didn't intend for this post to be so long!

Schipo, don't take this as gospel but i'm pretty sure the extension to 12 months paid SMP is from 2011. You can take 12 months at the minute but you don't get paid for the last 3 (unless company pays you)

Hi girls. I have to say I feel a little relief at this talk of feeling disconnected, fearful etc. This thread has been full of so much joy and excitement about babies and prams and all sorts and I felt I couldn't really join in because I didn't feel that way... again, not trying to bring anyone down at all sorry just saying I'm relieved I'm not alone. I think I am starting to get a bit more excited now but still v fearful; thanks for the reassurance everyone

mollybob thinking of you lots- I thik I feel the same as you because symptoms of depression aren't me - my sleep pattern/appetite hasn't changed and I can still enjoy things and be social..just a numbness/denial/fear towards pregnancy. I think mine is more anxiety than depression.

Anyway, enough about that, sorry.
Went to JojoMamanBebe outlet today and got a dreamgenii pillow for £20 (they retail at £45)- dh and I were stupidly excited at the bargain and both looking forward to a better night's sleep!
Also does everyone know Asda have a big baby event on atm with massive dscounts, and the vertbaudet website have a sale too.

I've not heard anything about the extension of SMP to 12 months so doubt it will apply to our May babies. There was also talk of partners being able to take extended paternity leave but think that got shelved!?

I've just decided to extend my leave to 8 months (was originally going to take only 4 or possibly 6) as the package they've agreed to is better than I'd hoped. We can also take a Mortgage payment break for 8 months so we can afford to live on the reduced income.

Can't believe it's only 10 weeks until I finish work at Easter (using all my holiday first) until Jan 2011. Have never had more than 3 weeks off before so it will feel really strange. Going to do some work from home though and use all my 'keeping in touch days' to ease myself back to work later in the year.

They've also agreed to a 3 1/2 day week when I go back which I hope will be manageable (both financially and emotionally!). It's difficult to plan for something which hasn't even happened yet! Still got to decide on suitable child care but might get some help from family which is preferable.

Would be interested to hear what everyone else is planning to do re maternity leave and return to work etc.

It's becoming a full-time job keeping up with this thread!

DH has disappeared to the gym (leaving the TV on, and tuned to sky sports - did he think I was watching it??!!). So I'm taking the opportunity to catch up on everyone's news with a cup of tea, whilst trying to ignore the siren call from the packet of dark chocolate leibnitz biscuits lurking in the kitchen cupboard.

After initially feeling a bit apprehensive about reading everyone's birth stories, I have to say that I have found it really helpful and interesting to hear about all your experiences, so thank you to everyone for taking the time to post about them. I had my first 'giving birth' dream the other night, and it was quite calm and serene. For some reason though, I ended up with twins in the dream, which, unless both scans have missed something, is definitely not the case!

I haven't really thought about birth-plans yet. I feel instinctively that my birth-plan will be quite vague. At the moment I don't have strong feelings about things like types of pain relief, epidurals etc, but I suppose that might change after I have done the ante-natal classes and learned a bit more about it. I think I want skin-to-skin and to BF straight away, but apart from that, feel quite open-minded. I'll just see how things develop, and my main concern is for the baby and me to be safe.

Sorry to go off on a massive ramble - haven't really thought about all that before, so I was sorting my thoughts aloud! Have quite taken myself by surprise - I usually like to plan things in great detail, would have thought I"d be the kind of person who would end up with a birth plan flow-chart detailing all eventualities, but I guess the sub-conscious me knows that birth and labour is one of those things that you can't really control!

mollybob, pigley, sweetkitty, ML - I hope you are all feeling a bit better now.

Pamelat, sorry about DH's redundancy, fingers crossed he finds something new soon.

Kateyjane - the itching sounds so frustrating, I hope you find something to help. I went through a very itchy phase between about 14 and 18 weeks, but I switched to a non-bio washing powder, and it cleared up. No idea if it was coincidence or if it was a factor, but might be worth a try?

schipo - sorry about the news on the new house, but hurrah for the seat on the bus and the maternity leave!

This has got way too long now, sorry for anyone I have missed out.

Who has fun weekend plans apart from hollyoaks and booboomonster ? We're doing our first bit of baby-related shopping tomorrow, and meeting up with my sister lunch (she's pregnant too, due 3 days before me!!!)