drip drip drop little april baby shower

[nicnacinoonoo]

hope i got the title right.

does anyone else think maybe rtuff has gone into labour?? her last message said that the baby was 3/5 engaged which isnt supposed to happen in 2nd or more pregnancies until right before labour! hope she's ok.

Congratulations on the new babies.

I'm also getting to the stage where I'd be quiet happy to have my baby. It seems strange to want to be in pain . I'm not counting my chickens though because I was late with my other two and so presume this will be the same. I still have 10 days to my due date.

The family have all made there presictions on date, sex and weight so it will be interesting to see if anyone gets it right.

10 days to go and would be really pleased if baby decided to make an early appearance. Was 9 days late with DS so Dr said I am likely to go over this time too. But feeling so much bigger and more uncomfortable than last time - probably because I have a toddler to look after.

MIL announced to DH last night that all his family are planning to come down to see the baby as soon as it is born (they are in the midlands and we are down south). There are only 5 of them, but they did it last time and it was awful. They descended on us the afternoon I came out of hospital, sat there all evening being fed and waited on by an exhausted DH, before he finally had to kick them out at about 10pm. Then they arrived back from their hotel the following morning at 10am and stayed most of the day, with no offers of help, other than to want to cuddle the baby the whole time (when actually DH and I would have liked a little bonding time with our new son). DH and I were so overwhelmed with having a baby, and exhausted from no sleep for a few days, that we didn't say anything to them at the time, but vowed it would never happen again! So DH had to lay down the law with his mother last night, and tell her they are only welcome to visit baby when we invite them and it may not be for a week or two after the birth. I think she was a little put out by it [hmmm]. Families eh, who'd have 'em!

StinkyPinky! Wizbit! Howsit going? (we are all due the same day).

Congrats to Tostaky, and everyone who has their tiny ones already (am very jealous).

dolls - if you feel like you're not being kept an eye on enough care-wise, you could just make a GP appt. and say you aren't happy about being signed off when there is all this ambiguity about section dates/induction etc. Also the GP will do your BP.

I have one MAMMOTH swollen right foot and ankle, this matches the road-map varicosity i have on that side of my body right up to the buttock, so i'm hoping baby comes soon. My hands, face and BP are normal so its just the weight of the baby.

Back home now with baby Isabella, born on Easter Day at 3.15am, weighing 3.98 kg (I think that's 8lbs 8 0z?)
It was a pretty smooth labour - contractions started at 1am on the 3rd and I stayed at home all day as they got stronger. We went to hospital at half past midnight by which time they were every 4/5 min, I was 3cm on arrival and they immediately gave me the epidural (although I could probaly have managed a bit longer without it, but I wasn't going to turn it down at this point!). It was wonderful I must say...no pain at all. Then at 3am they checked me and I was at 10cm and the midwife said "this baby's coming out any minute now" - after 15 minutes of pushing, there she was! Will try posting a picture on my profile.

I'm so relieved that it was quite straightforward - except for the episiotomy; I thought the stitches would be done under local anaesthetic and perhaps they were but it still hurt like hell. Here in Italy episiotomy seems to be pretty standard practice or at least it is at that hospital - they didn't ask me if I wanted it or not, just went ahead and did it probably as she's a big baby; but I don't think that would happen in the UK? No such thing as a birth plan here....

Anyway, enough rambling. Congratulations to all the other new mums and I hope you're getting more sleep than I am - averaging 3 hours a night if I'm lucky.

Congratulations spaghettina and baby Isabella . Another beautiful name. Hope you start to get a bit more sleep soon.

Hello ladies - I hope you don't mind me butting in I'm on the Aug thread and was just being a bit nosy in April and May threads to see if babies had started arriving yet (congrats to those on this thread who have)! Anyway I saw some comments by some of you guys about being "signed off" by your midwives and wondered what that was all about. I thought that once you reached 40 weeks they saw you nearly every day if the baby had not made an appearance not waived you goodbye which sounds a bit lonely and scary. Can anyone clarify please? (sorry for the naivety - first timer here).

Congrats spaghettina
Baby Hazel has just had her first health visitor check and is now 7lb 3oz! she was only 6lbs 4oz at birth so I am ridiculously chuffed Feeding is going well so touch wood it all continues. I ended up back in bloddy hospital for 3 days this week due to my crazy blood pressure, I am getting mightily fed up of the place despite how nice they all are. feeling a lot better now though and have even been for a stroll around the village with my pram.
i honestly can't believe what this little bundle has done to me - I am just so proud and happy. Ah made myself cry again!!
Hope we get some more bubs soon - good luck to all of you patiently waiting - has to happen soon!

Congratulations Spaghettina on the birth of baby Isabella. I hope the sleeping situation improves soon, 3 hours a night is pretty tough!

Well done Lineky on Hazel's weight gain that is fantatstic! Ds1 didn't even regain his birth weight until he was 3 weeks old so it sounds like you are really well with the feeding. Hope the blood pressure improves, take it easy.

April bunnies

Pumagirl - 18th March - Girl - 6lb 9oz
PrincessTweetz - 25th March - Jude - 7lbs
Lineky - 28th March - Hazel
Neeko - 29th March - Hannah - 8lb 15oz
dani87 - 29th March - Girl - 6lb 11oz
ReneRusso - 30th March - Matilda - 8lb
nicnacinoonoo - 1st April - Kacie 6lb 4oz
Hoopsandbaby - 2nd April - Benjamin 7lb 4oz
Snowtiger - 3 April - Wilf
Spaghettina - 4 April - Isabella
Eastendmummy - 7 April - Issac
Chegirl - 7 April - Rudy
tostaky - 7 April - Aurel - 9lbs
-----

Rtuff 25 29th March #2 - BOY (brother for DS)
walkingbookworm 30 31st march 2010, #1 - BOY
Cindy 40, 2 April 2010 @10.30am #2 GIRL
thighsofcheddar 35 04 April 2010 #2 GIRL (sister for DD)
thehuntress 36 4th April 2010 #2
DwayneDibbley 30's 4th April 2010 #2 BOY.
Helenwombat, 28, 5th April #1 BOY
mcchesers 34 06 April 2010 #2
weetiger 33 06 April 2010 #2 - BOY (brother for DS)
Charlieandlily 06 April 2010 - GIRL
MissMackenzie 31 06 April 2010 #2
Bettymum 38 07 April 2010 #2 BOY (brother for DD)
Wellieboot 33 08 April 2010 #2 GIRL (sister for DD)
katgod 37 08 April 2010 #3
BelfastBloke, 39 (DW,+me), 9th April 2010 #2 BOY (brother for DD)
Bungo101 35, 10 April 2010 #2 GIRL (sister for DS)
Jennysbean, 31, 10 April 2010 #2
(sister for DS)
thedollshouse 37 11th April 2010 #2 BOY (brother for DS)
Slineky 36 12th April 2010 #1
Bexybear 39 14th April #2
chowmein 32 14th April 2010 #1 GIRL
CinnabarRed 34 14th April 2010 #2 BOY (brother for DS)
Chynah 40, 14 April 2010 @2 GIRL (sister for DS)
Toady 37 17th April 2010 # 4 BOY
Rumpleteaser, 24, 18th April 2010 #1
ThePhantomPlopper 29 18th April 2010 #3 GIRL (sister for DS and DD)
Zeeky, 33 20th April 2010 #2
Mistymoo, 32, 20th April 2010 #3
pillia78 31 21st April #3 BOY (Brother for DS 1 and DS 2)
shelinka, 36, 21st April 2010 #3 GIRL (DSIS for ds and dd)
JPL81 28, 21st April #1
Miceju, 27, 21st April #1 BOY
stinkypinky 40 23rd April 2010 #2
wizbitwaffle 28, 23rd April #1 BOY
flybynight 38 24th April 2010 #4
RLP 37 24th April 2010 #2 BOY
Trying4Baby1 30 25th April 2010 #1
slightlycrumpled 36 25th April 2010 #3
ilovesprout 30th April 2010
Babymonster 29 2nd may 2010 #2 (c section at 39 weeks)
Boodstress,35, 27th April 2010 #2

Hi Aussieng, I'm now 40+2 . I saw my GP at 40 weeks, I'm due to see the midwife at 41 weeks to have a sweep, and also at 41 weeks we'll book an induction date for 10-12 days past my due date. So I haven't been signed off...I guess if all is looking well at 40 weeks, they leave you till 41 weeks, and then it's induction time or closer monitoring if you don't want to be induced. I know a couple of people who've been 14 or 15 days overdue before having their babies, who haven't been induced.
Hope that helps - but sounds like different midwives do things differently.

Hi all, this list has been driving me crazy as I added myself to the end not realising it was in date order (dum de dum now where did I leave my marbles)I have now inserted myself into my rightful position of the 27th and hope it wasn't an omen. Can we use this one when updating new arrivals - thanks. Having lots of pressure and tightenings all the time which I never had with DS1 so hoping its a good sign for a prompt baby.

(Rtuff 25 29th March #2 - BOY (brother for DS)
walkingbookworm 30 31st march 2010, #1 - BOY
Cindy 40, 2 April 2010 @10.30am #2 GIRL
thighsofcheddar 35 04 April 2010 #2 GIRL (sister for DD)
thehuntress 36 4th April 2010 #2
DwayneDibbley 30's 4th April 2010 #2 BOY.
Helenwombat, 28, 5th April #1 BOY
mcchesers 34 06 April 2010 #2
weetiger 33 06 April 2010 #2 - BOY (brother for DS)
Charlieandlily 06 April 2010 - GIRL
MissMackenzie 31 06 April 2010 #2
Bettymum 38 07 April 2010 #2 BOY (brother for DD)
Wellieboot 33 08 April 2010 #2 GIRL (sister for DD)
katgod 37 08 April 2010 #3
BelfastBloke, 39 (DW,+me), 9th April 2010 #2 BOY (brother for DD)
Bungo101 35, 10 April 2010 #2 GIRL (sister for DS)
Jennysbean, 31, 10 April 2010 #2
(sister for DS)
thedollshouse 37 11th April 2010 #2 BOY (brother for DS)
Slineky 36 12th April 2010 #1
Bexybear 39 14th April #2
chowmein 32 14th April 2010 #1 GIRL
CinnabarRed 34 14th April 2010 #2 BOY (brother for DS)
Chynah 40, 14 April 2010 @2 GIRL (sister for DS)
Toady 37 17th April 2010 # 4 BOY
Rumpleteaser, 24, 18th April 2010 #1
ThePhantomPlopper 29 18th April 2010 #3 GIRL (sister for DS and DD)
Zeeky, 33 20th April 2010 #2
Mistymoo, 32, 20th April 2010 #3
pillia78 31 21st April #3 BOY (Brother for DS 1 and DS 2)
shelinka, 36, 21st April 2010 #3 GIRL (DSIS for ds and dd)
JPL81 28, 21st April #1
Miceju, 27, 21st April #1 BOY
stinkypinky 40 23rd April 2010 #2
wizbitwaffle 28, 23rd April #1 BOY
flybynight 38 24th April 2010 #4
RLP 37 24th April 2010 #2 BOY
Boodstress,35, 27th April 2010 #2Trying4Baby1 30 25th April 2010 #1
slightlycrumpled 36 25th April 2010 #3
ilovesprout 30th April 2010
Babymonster 29 2nd may 2010 #2 (c section at 39 weeks)

Congratulations to all new arrivals! It is very encouraging to hear.

AdelaideJo, thank you for asking how I am. Feeling pretty rotten to be honest - BP steadily climbing, plus swelling and visual disturbances, but hospital unconcerned as yet. Had pre-eclampsia last time, which was ignored until the last moment. I have a section booked for 21st, but this seems like a lifetime away at present.

Zeeky - have similar problem with MIL. She was planning to visit for 2 weeks just 10 days after section. DH said it was fine without talking to me first, so I freaked a bit, and now feel like I am the 'bad guy'. I love her to bits (mostly) but feel any house guest for that length of time (at that time) would be a problem.

On a plus note, Midwife has told me to eat more, and if not got an appetite, to eat cake!!!

Aussieng, apologies for ignoring you...

Last time the midwife saw me daily from due date (at home) as I had BP issues. Even with my history, I was signed off this time at 36 weeks and sure enough have been 're-referred' due to rising BP.

I think it depends on the midwife concerned, trust policy, and how the mum is. If you want to be seen at any time though, make loud noises!

Thanks Pinky and Bettymum. I think one of the hardest things to accept without worryig is how ante-natal treatment differs across the UK. Makes it quite difficult to compare what is happening with you to someone else without getting worried about why things are different. My MW's have been good so far so I guess I will trust them (for now) to do the right thing when the time comes with loud noises to follow if necesssary! Thanks again & very good luck!!!

Hi Aussieng I guess it all depends on your circumstances and past birth history, I has my last midwife appointment at 38 weeks and she said that she 'hoped' not to have to see me again until a post birth home visit. If i am still pregnat at 40+4 I will be booked in for a sweep at 41+4
As Stinky says though, you can request any time to see your MW or GP. Sorry you feel rotten Stinky and eat as much cake as you can.....
So tired today had to send an SOS to my lovely Mum who came down and has taken DD out for a long walk, so that's me off for a cat nap...
xx

HI guys,

Congrats to all those that have their babies am feeling very of you all.

I have 17 days to go and that feels like forever, have tried Clary sage in the bath as this is meant to help but so far nothing, am bathing in it everyday, its quite relaxing so dont mind it so much.
Have also tried trampoline but it is not easy to jump with this bump so that lasted about, lets say 3 seconds .
I brought some castor oil aswell and then read up on the side effects online and will NOT be trying that as do not want to make myself ill. Said to DH about a nice romantic night in but hes just not in the mood for it says he cant get his head past the baby in my belly and feels it will tramatise her, FFS MEN.
My feet are killing me and am not getting very much sleep at all. Want my LO here now.

Hi Stinkypinky - a 2 week visit from MIL That would put me in the lunatic asylum . DH does not have a very good relationship with his family at the best of times (they're all barmy, lots of issues - posted on here previously about his sister's suicide attempt rcently). Their visits are tolerated for DS's sake, as we don't want to deprive him or them of a relationship with his grandparents, otherwise we would happily not see them, for the sake of DH's sanity. So their visits are stressful to say the least, let alone when it is hours after giving birth & they do nothig to help out. I remember last time DH's niece, who was 5 at the time, kept wanting to hold the baby and his sister just handing our 1 day old son over to her to hold unsupervised . She would also rock hell out of the moses basket whenever I put DS in it, and only DH or I seemed to tell notice or tell her off.

Enough ranting about the in-laws. Hopefully we can manage them a bit better this time

Zeeky - my MIL sounds fab compared to your inlaws - my sympathies x

I was very brave and called MIL this afternoon - had a good chat and she was very kind. Have agreed on a brief overnight visit once baba arrives, followed by a longer one in June to coincide with DDs 4th birthday. Just need evil SIL to agree

Ray81 - my DH is the same about sex - cannot cope with the thought that baby might see/be hurt by his todger (not that I am the slightest bit interested myself!)

hello all, I thought it was about time you heard the gory details of Ben's birth.....well here goes...

I was taken in to hospital on the wednesday night (31st March) and was given an internal to see what was happening, I was only back to 1 cm dilated so was given a prostan pessary and left to get on with it, so went to sleep and woke up feeling great on the Thursday morning, so was given another internal and was told my cervix was sofening but had not dilated anymore so was given another prostan pessary, and the midwife gave me a very uncomfortable sweep which caused me to bleed quite heavily, anyway at about midday on thursday was put on the monitor and it was found that the prostan had overstimulated my uterus and was not able to be given a 3rd pessary cause this might cause the baby distress, so had to sit out some quite bizarre contractions, so went to sleep on thursday night to be woken up at midnight by some god awful pains, was told by a very arrogant midwife that these were prostan pains and gave me paracetamol and codeine and was told to go back to bed, I tried but the pains were so bad, I took to pacing the corridors and finally at 0410 in the moring staggered to the office and nearly in tears told them I couldn't take it anymore....so she said have a bath, it took the edge of the pains so I stayed in there for 1 and half hours!! So at 0630 was given an internal and was told that I was 2cm dilated and my membranes were bulging, so was told I was going down to delivery suite....hooray, so got down there and they popped my waters at 0910 and was contracting almost immediately every 3 minutes, I was pacing like a caged tiger, the pain was getting worse so I asked for gas and air, what fabulous stuff then I was on the bed and asked for pethedine, at 1214 I was examined and told that I was 10 cm dilated and that I could now get on with pushing so I did and 22 minutes later, little Ben came into the world screaming his little head off!! I had a tiny labial tear which didn't require stitches, which I'm quite happy with.......His apgar score was 9 in the first minute then went to 10 after 5 minutes.......within the hour he had had his first feed, which I had to ask the midwife for help, it took him seconds to latch correctly and we haven't looked back since..... so after about 2 hours of cuddling I had a shower in the delivery suite then went up to the post-natal ward, where Ben took to feeding every 2 hours, which has now changed to every 3 hours now my milk has come in properly

When Ben was born he weighed 7lb 4oz, he was weighed on the Sunday (2 days old) and he had lost 6% of his body weight, which is within the 10% allowed, anyway he was weighed again the other day (5 days old) and he was back up to 7lb 1oz, so all in all he only lost 3% body weight so feeding is going great and we're both really happy

Sorry for the gigantic post but no doubt you all love a good birth story

Thank you hoops! Great to hear the feeding is going so well - I so loved feeding DD, and am really looking forward to being a milk machine again - fed up of being an incubator!

Keep up the good work!

Hoops - great to hear your story. So glad he arrived safely in the end after keeping you hanging around for so long! Also great to hear of some more successful breastfeeding. SOunds like so far on this thread everyone is doing really well.

Looking forward to hearing of some more arrivals over the weekend.

hoops lovely story, well done to both of you!
stinkypinky PMSL at the thought of your baby seeing your DH's todger approaching!
I woke up at 4am with a really sore pelvic region, I thought the baby's head must be coming down. Went back to sleep and tried to feel for the head this morning, but think it's still where it was. Have quite a sore tum though, and I think I've just had a bit of a show, so Bub may be on the way! Haven't said anything to anyone yet though. In fact he's bound to be on the way as DH has booked a table for lunch out tomorrow for us and my parents . It's all quite weird and new, seeing signs of baby approaching, as DD was never ready to come, I don't think, it was only the multiple sweeps, having my waters broken, and finally the syntocin drip that coaxed her out. So I never had any "natural" signs of impending labour at all. Exciting!
Hope everyone is well today, pg mummies not too uncomfortable and new mummies having lots of cuddles (and sleep!).

Hi All,

Hope everyone is well and there will be some more exciting news this weekend.

I am not much for relating birth stories but just in case it will reassure anyone...

Niggling for a few days and getting really fed up. I was so sure I was going into labour. I was aggitated and madly cleaning stuff

After a couple of days of low pelvic pain that didnt feel like BH the pains finally started coming regularly on Tues evening.

They were painful but very short so I wasnt sure what was happening. Phoned MWs about 11ish (I think) just to let them know. They came round and examined me but no dilating . They left and told me to call them when contractions got longer. Felt a bit despondent becacause they were coming close together and hurt!

Went to bed but when I went to the loo there was quite a bit of blood. Put it down to the examination but it happened again so panicked a bit and called the MWs.

They came back within the hour and told me it was a show (I know! but I havent seen one for 18 years, I dont get shows and waters breaking until I am pretty much giving birth).

They were lovely and so calm. Just sort of sat there and let me get on with it. No fuss. Examined me about 2am and I was 3cm. This was fine cos I knew it would all go quick from then. MW said the baby would be here by 6am but I said sooner!

At this point I asked for G&A and they said yes but you are doing so well without it. I said you dont get a prize for doing without, I wont get an extra baby will I?

My mate turned up and we woke OH up and he came in for Rudy's arrival at 4.22am. The MWs stopped me pushing which was bloody painful but I am glad they did, no tears or stitches! Rudy came out shouting his head off and was born in the caul (which is supposed to be very lucky).

Took a while for 3rd stage but it was fine, I caught a glimpse of afterbirth - ewww. Can you believe I have managed to avoid all that all these times

Rudy fed straight away and hasnt really stopped since!

Considering how emotionaly/mentally difficult I found the whole pregancy and how much I was dreading the birth, it went wonderfully well. I was very lucky. Being at home and having calm, experienced mws who were positive and confident in me made so much difference.

I feel fine. Have the biggest boozookas you have ever seen and Rudy is the most perfect little boy

Good luck all x