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

Hi again everyone, my this thread's moving fast! Welcome all newbies, I love that we're gaining so many bumps over here!

It's good (although a little scary) reading everyone's birth stories. I still haven't thought much about a plan, apart from "get it out and don't hurt me too much pretty please" I should be so lucky!

Has anyone heard from Yorky recently? Or have I missed her in the mass posting that's been going on?

Will try and keep up a bit better now

Hi all - i'm feeling a bit less down - January has been dreadful work wise but I knew it would be and probably the thought of all I had to do was stressing me out. Big meeting tomorrow and then all gets a bit more normal - just usual levels of chaos rather than all the extra stuff there has been this month.

Our bed collapsed last night - the combined weight of me, DH, DD, DS and 2 dogs on occasions lately was probably just too much - not a great quality bed in the first place. More money spent that we didn't have! Ended up sleeping on the sofa and my neck aches tonight.

Thanks again for all your support

Oh I am in pain, self inflicted as we went to Pizza Hut for dinner and I ate way too much, finished the DDs ice cream and had chocolate birthday cake when I got home

Went to GP today who was most uninterested man but came out with cocodamol (SPD pain), omaperazole (acid reflux) and some lotion stuff for my verrucas (non preg related but thought as I was there)

Acid reflux feels well, like you know if you are sick and your throat and mouth are burning that all the time. It's minor but all the time makes you miserable. I am way past Gaviscon, the Zantac wasn't controlling it all the time so hopefully the omaperazole will work.

LuckyC - don't worry your DD will have a cute little button nose, tiny kissable feet and be the most gorgeous thing you have ever seen never seen a newborn with a big nose yet

DP has now decided that this one will have his brown eyes and hair as it is male, the girls all have my identical shade of blue eyes and DD1 has light brown hair and DDs 2 and 3 blonde. DD1 and 3 are like twins separated by 4 years, you would swear in pictures they were the same child. DD2 well looks more unique and more like DP from the nose down. I think this one will also have my blue eyes and light hair strong genes. One of the most interesting things is seeing who they look like.

pigley - your DDs furniture is lovely, this LO doesn't even have a bed yet and will be lucky to have a drawer in one of the DDs chest of drawers, we are so cramped for space here. Am hoping by the time he is a year and moves out of our bed and room he will have a room of his own. Notice the use of bed I am under no illusions this one is cosleeping as well.

Den - Ikea have some great baby stuff and primary colours are fab for babies, one word of warning is for people who buy the expensive nursery set like we did you know the matching cot and chest of drawers and wardrobe, looks lovely when they are little babies, fast forward a few years and the tops are all bashed from the little darlings hammering toys in it or ramming the furniture, or like me you sit on the cot bed and it breaks etc and it looks well less than prefect. I have come to the conclusion Ikea all the way then if they wreck it it's cheap to replace.

DD2 had a great day, she loved her presents which included dinosaurs, a giant spider, a giant snake, a Wall.e laptop, a dinosaur egg, Buzz Lightyear dressing up outfit and a Hulk game and who says I don't have a boy already she's one in a million.

Hi everyone, hope the bumps are all behaving themselves! DP felt the baby kick for the first time last night, not sure he really knew what to make of it - exciting/gross/weird were a few words used!
Placentas can move as your uterus grows, but posterior to anterior? not sure! maybe.
20thcenturyheffa - glad im not the only one living a wildly erotic dream life! although they always seem to involve v strange leading men, last night it was one of JLS - dont even know their names! DP not thrilled about my double life.
To all the ladies struggling with trying to feel what is expected of you - dont bother. Everyone is different, and you will still be a fantastic mum. I have just had to write a reflective essay (its supposed to make us better doctors) and i wrote it all about how horrific i found the first 20 weeks of my pregnancy.
Lucky C - maybe she will be an olympic swimmer? I can definately see my DPs neanderthal forehead on the scan - oh well. Apparently making babies look like their dads is natures way of stopping men running off and abandoning them!
off to bed now for more crazy dreams x

Bookmarking, off to bed but will try and catch up properly tomorrow

I'm drowning in the choice of cot mattresses! Sprung, foam, coir, coolmax... it's doing my head in. Those who have cot mattresses already, please tell me what you have and, like an unthinking sheep, I shall follow!

hello all!

hobnobfantastic- im in the same situation, as i am getting a new cot matress as this one has been used by my cousin, so want new.

im still not sleeping...well i say not sleeping, i cant get to sleep then wake up, not helped by noisy neibours who were playing bagra at 1 am...cue irrate pregnat lady bashing at the door in her PJs. also not helped as i get into bed and up tinking of what ifs, or making lists, or worrying that i am letting this ababy down already by not making her dad be involved...etc.
Ds has been a star latey, settling in bed again and giving me lots of hugs and getting excited about his sisters arrival! there is another thing to panic about will i be abale to get over the PFB syndrome when this one arrives!

anyone else seem to have started nesting, keep cleaning and sorting and chucking stuff out.

another question for all you lovely ladies...what essentials do i have to buy and what do i have to put i my hospital bag...was hoping for a home birth but its not looking possible at the min?
i have so many questions and see to have so much to get and little time or unds to do so! sorry rant/panic over!

luckyC and all others suffering from SPD/ PGP hear are my 'words of widsom' on the subject.

SPD is caused by several factors: an increase of flexibility in pg secondary to the placental hormone relaxin and and increase of oestrogen: asymmetrical movement patterns and a lack of muscle stability when performing functional tasks.

Imagine your pelvic ring: a cross section of your body where the waistband of a thong would sit. There are 2 joints at the back (the sacroiliac joints or SIJs) and the pubic symphysis at the front (PS). Now, the SIJs should barely move normally, only a few mm either way (althogh this movement is vital) and the PS not at all. However, if you have particularly lax ligaments the range is greater, and if you move asymmetrically or with a lot of hip wiggling the range increases. Now imagine one of the SIJs becaomes stiff as a result. The PS will then start to shear as the axis of rotation changes from between the SIJs to between the mobile SIJ and the PS. Then the sharp pains start at the front when heel striking in walking and one side of the PS shears upwards on the other.

The feeling of clicking/ pain / instability at the back to one side is an indicator that this process is starting. In order to stop it in it's tracks you want to be evaluating the things that you do habitually that exacerbate the instability or cause asymmetry.

Stand up and look at yourself in a mirror. Do you weightbear more through one foot? You can see this from the angles of your waist. Put more weight on one foot or the other to see if you can get the curves equal. Now put your hands on your hips and walk. do they move up and down in relation to each other? They should move forrwards and back, (rotating) but not up and down. Can you stop the shifting by tightening your tummy or bum? That's how you should walk.

Asymmetrical activities that will inevitably result in SIJ stiffness are sitting cross legged, sitting at a pc with it to one side or any activity at work which causes repeated turning to one side. Think about how you sit watching the telly. Etc.

There are exercises you can do that make a massive difference and i can describe these to you, but it will all be for nothing if you don't sort out what you are doing wrong. That is where i would start.
HTH

Wow - thanks, Suey. I started back at my PIlates classes last week and the tutor is all clued up on SPD and pg, thankfully. And the obstetric physio is in a couple of weeks...

THis is great info in the meantime. I'm dreadful for sitting with one heel tucked under my bum - not good! I will make more effort to be aware of posture and symmetry.

Is the actual act of labour bad for post-pregnancy SPD? Is a cs better in such cases?

SK- Glad DD had a good birthday

Hobnob- I think its down to personal choice on foam or springs. All of the mattress I saw that came with the cots were all foam. We had/have the Deluxe quilted Foam one from the link I posted the other day.

Suey- Im sure that will help lots of people

DD has been waking early lately so means im really flagging by the end of the day.

Got our new car last night but so far cant use it! The post doesnt seem to have come for the past few days and we are waiting for the insurance docs to come so that I can get the tax- Most annoying! Im meant to be going to my parents tomorrow on the M25 for the day so was hoping to get some practice driving it before that. If the docs dont come today (not looking likely) then I cant go anyway..GGRR!! Was meant to be getting my hair done too by my hairdresser sister.

Hope everyones well.

Peaky, am loving your crazy dreams, they are hilarious!

Finding it really hard to keep up with all the posts on here - is it my imagination or has it stepped up a gear in the last week or so?

I hope everyone with aches and pains (emotional and physical) is having a better day today. I feel a bit helpless not being able to give any useful advice, but am thinking of all of you.

Hobnobfanatic - I'm with you on the cot mattresses. I always find myself skipping that page on catalogues and websites - too daunting (and not as fun as choosing other bits and pieces)! Maybe I'll put DH in charge of deciding that bit - it will give him something to do and make him feel important. I tried the same thing when overwhelmed with the decision as to whether to get an isofix base for the car-seat, and he read the relevant bit in the book and made a decision within about 5 minutes. I was amazed - this is the man who sits pondering for 5 minutes when you ask him if he wants a cup of tea!

Suey - thanks for the advice on SPD! I find mine is worse in the mornings after sleeping, does that make sense?

Peaky - so glad it's not just me! Mine feature really random men as well, so far this week David Mitchell and David Tennant (not together) which is odd since I don't fancy either.

Hobnob - we have a Mothercare Coolmax cot mattress. It seems pretty good but obviously I don't sleep on it so can't be sure!

SK - glad your DD2 had a good birthday, she seems fab

LuckyC - when DD was born I used to think she had huge feet but they seem perfectly normal now. Not sure if babies just have bigger feet (in proportion)?

Had an appointment at the hospital this morning and my BP is behaving itself. Lovely doctor gave me an unexpected extra scan as well (hurrah!). LO was being very wriggly but could see everything very quickly. I've been booked in for 2 extra scans as well so that's nice. I'm even more confused about the Caesarian versus vaginal birth next time though but he seemed to think it was best to wait and see how the pregnancy develops and said I don't have to make a decision until the last minute so that's good.

hobnobfanatic...we have the same cot that we had for DS2 but bought a new mattress for DD2..and will be getting another for this baby..we usually go for one from kiddicare and get a good foam mattress with a breathable washable cover..I think the last one we got had a "Coolmax" cover on it..

itshappenedagain..brand new babies dont really need a lot to start with..we always just get the essentials then buy more after baby is born.

So to start off you probably need

7 stretchsuits
7 vests/body suits
scratch mittens
couple of cardis
coat depending on the weather
hat
nappies
cotton wool/baby wipes
nappy cream
top and tail bowl/baby bath
baby shampoo
baby bath
steriliser even if breastfeeding as you will probably need to sterilise a breast pump
breast pump/bottles (you only need a couple if BF..maybe for night feeds of expressed milk)
6-8 bottles if planning on bottlefeeding
pram/pushchair
car seat
moses basket/cot
bedding
possibly a bouncy chair/playmat

Hobnob they do someintes do an elective cs if the spd was really bad in a previous pg: but it can be six of one. Cs cut through the abs, so can result in reduced function: but tbh vaginal births are generally significantly worse: worse still if forceps or ventouse are used.

Heffa your sleeping position must be to blame. You should be on your side with your knees at the same level and no twisting through the spine: if the bump is pulling you into a twist, you need to prop up your bump: best pillow for this is the blooming marvellous one which is flat in the middle and a lump either side. It is there to support you when you turn over so no rearrangement needed. I love mine and have started o use it this week to get rid of rib pain.

A quick recommendation for the first-timers... I was given a great book for christmas that I have found really helpful. It guides you through what you need to get for the baby, and more importantly what you don't need! It's quite good at tailoring the advice for your own particular circumstances (particularly in the pushchair and carseat sections). It's called What to Buy for Your Baby

Hi can someone put my due date age etc on as I cant copy and paste as I am from an era of discovering computers later on in life!!! Even though I now work in office I am only good at shredding!!
My due date is May 12th I'm horribly 35 and have 2 ds 12 and 8.

Thank you somebody!

01 May - Brightredballoon, 32. #3
03 May - hormonalmum, 33,#3
03 May - Lizzie9442, 23, #4 GIRL
04 May - ForcesSweetheart, 36, #2, GIRL (CS booked 22/4/10)
04 May - Memorylapse,37 #5 GIRL
04 May - Squirtsmum, 27 #1
05 May - Sweetkitty, 34, #4, BOY
06 May - LuckyC, 35, #1, GIRL
07 May - hobnobfanatic, 38, #2 GIRL??
08 May - newmomma, 31, #2 GIRL
09 May - alexw, 37, #2
10 May - Sophie2008, 28 #2 & #3 (TWINS!) BOY & GIRL
10 May - LittleOneMum, 36, #2, GIRL
11 May - Itshappenedagain, 2, #2 GIRL
11 May - MarquiseDeMerteuil, 33, #1
12 May - pamelat, 31, #2 BOY
12 May - Katnkittens 30, #4, GIRL
12 May - Haribolicious 36, #2, BOY
12 May - Mustbemadno3 35, #3
13 May - Cith, 30, #1
13 May - Wibblela, 36, #1, GIRL?
13 May - TinyVeins, 29, #1
13 May - Mummymunchkins, 40, #3, BOY
14 May - MinnieMummy, 37, #3, ??
14 May - Fiveisanawfullybignumber, 37 #5 GIRL
14 May - Carikube, 36 #2 ?
14 May - JamesAndTheGiantBanana, 28, #2 GIRL
14 May - CornishSAMum, 33, #1, ?
15 May - TwentiethCenturyHeffa, 26, #2
15 May - LuckyMiller, 33, #1
16 May - MoggMum, 38, #1
16 May - schipo 40, #1, BOY
16 May - Vicky204, 34, #1
16 May - Rachelfruitloop 35, #2 BOY
17 May - Morph2 36 #1
18 May - TomlinTowers, 31, #2
18 May - 30ish, 31, #2 BOY
19 May - Pigleychez, 28, #2
19 May - cupcakefairy, 25, #1
21 May - Sweetpeasmum, 38, #2
23 May - Mollybob, 37 #3
23 May - Racquel Welsh, 38,#1
23 May - Nimk, 30, #1
23 May - myfirstbump, 26, #1
24 May - AnAngelWithin #5
24 May - Yorky, 31, #3
24 May - peakyispreggers, 27, #1 BOY
25 May - Den26, 26, #1 BOY
26 May - booboomonster, 35, #2
26 May - kateyjane, 32, #4
31 May - Hollyoaks, 28, #2

oh no, think I have also joined the SPD club. In the last week I am also waking up with an aching pelvis and sometimes get a shooting pain at the bottom of my back.
I had physio in my last pregnancy who said my hips were rotating forwards indpendent of each other instead of at the same points and what the physio did cured it but of course I cant remember what it was she did/exercises (other than the hold your button into your back). So any exercise suggestions you have are most welcome Suey, I dont want this to get worse.
Suey my consultant reassured me they don't cut through ab muscle they part it, do you think it depends on consultant/hospital? I might write that in my birth plan for the elcs if thats the case

Hope you get the tax in time for your trip piglez SK glad your DD had a great 4th Bday.

Yes brb they split it rather than cut across the fibres. But there is still a little effect for a time.

Suey - thanks for the SPD info, I know for a fact I weight bear on the left side a lot more as the majority of my pain is on the right SI joint, I also climb the stairs on at a time, using the banisters as much as I can and using my left leg first. My pain much worse in the evening and is dependent on how active I have been during the day, days DP is here I notice the difference at night, I also carry DD3 on my left hip as well.

Labour and birth didn't effect me, TBH I usually labour in the foetal position only turning to lie on my back to deliver which was all of about a minute last time, I just do what feels comfortable, TBH the SPD pain is a bit masked by the actual birth pain. The relief is amazing, practically the minute the baby is born.

What I did find last time though was even though I wasn't in pain I was very stiff and immobile and so so unfit after months of hardly walking. I am definitely planning some sort of gradual return to some sort of fitness.

pigley - we were away looking a car today as well, haggling a bit over how much we can get for our old one, yours is very nice.

memorylapse - my what to buy is even more sparse than yours, total essential would be

• somewhere to sleep, cot/moses basket and bedding, get about 4 sheets and 4 blankets as they will be sick on them constantly
• pram or sling
• car seat
• 7-8 vests
• 7-8 babygros
• hat
• shawl
• nappies
• scratchmitts
• cardigans
• snowsuit (depends on weather in May)
• nappies and wipes (never bothered with cotton wool after DD1, it sticks to the meconium and is rubbish at getting it off)
• plastic insert for bath (again never had a baby bath)
• few baby towels come in handy (never had all the special shampoos/creams/lotions etc plain water is best their skin is so new and fragile anything could give them a rash)
• swing or bouncy chair (we have a Fisher Price rocking one with lights and sounds)

Remember anything else you can pick up later or you will get loads of presents (especially if a first born) people will ask you what you need

Hobnob - we bought the most expensive mattress from Ikea we could, think it is sprung, I think it's a case of you get what you pay for, the foam ones that come with the cots are a bit thin and don't last IMHO.

Heffa - glad your BP is behaving itself

Suey thanks very much for advice. I am going to go go upstairs with DH and video camera and try and see if there is anything I can do.

I am going ot have to try to stop this before it degenerates. Unbelievable how fast it has gone downhill - it's never not painful now.

Had massage today (not for SPD) and woman who did it is training to be an osteo and so had full-size (female) (fake) skeleton. She was showing me all the pelvic bits you mentioned, and where ligaments are that are moving etc. V interesting, though I spent a lot of time thinking 'How the hell does a baby fit through there???'

marquise and memorylapse thanks also for advice about lists. I have an unexpected weekend free and so am going to try to sort out some nursery stuff.

all thanks for reassuring words on baby's apparently massive nose/feet! Please never tell her I said any of this in case she gets a complex. Poor little soul.

PS Erm - when I say "I am going to go upstairs with DH and a video camera..." Have trouble getting up the stairs at the mo, let alone anything worth filming.

LuckyC

Suey - thanks for the sleeping advice! I tend to sleep with my spine really twisted so that probably explains a lot Will try and find a better position to sleep in.

memory & sweetkitty thanks for lists - very useful and a bit less daunting than some other ones I've read. I've already bought a couple of items in the sales (electric breast pump & baby bath) and some of the other items (moses basket & cot) we can beg, borrow or steel from my Dsis. My parents have very kindly offered to help us out with the pram/car seat which we need to start shopping for soon .

Visited a friend and her two week old baby boy today - he's gorgeous and soooo small & perfect. I never thought I'd see the day when I felt myself welling up over a baby!!

Incidently, she's 35 and it was her first baby. She had a home birth (birthing pool) & baby was born in about 6 hours with no problems other than a small tear.