June is approaching, the end is in sight, time to sort our lady gardens so the midwives don't get a fright - Due June 2010

[ConservativesShouldWinSurely]

30/05 GoodName, 31, #1 BOY
31/05 RnB, 31, #3
31/05 dinosaurinmybelly (DIMB), 37, #3 GIRL
31/05 - mampam, 30 #3
31/05 - minimoonumbertwo, 33, #2, BOY
1st - Appu, #1 Girl
1st - ELM, 29, #2
1st - whenwillisleepagain, 42 #2
1st - PogueMahone, 36, #3 SURPRISE
1st - madamefreckle, 34,#2 GIRL
2nd - meggymegmegs, 31, #1 SURPRISE
2nd - Justbeme , 41 #3
2nd - AlwaysHopeful, 35, #2 SURPRISE
2nd - roundabout1, no 2,
3rd - nickytwotimes, 35, #2
3rd - Jenba, ?, #3
3rd - Flossysmum, #4
3rd - marmiteaddict, 31, #1 SURPRISE
7th - MrsC09, 29 #1 SURPRISE
7th - perkster, no 1, SURPRISE
7th - Zeel, #1
8th - LittleRobbo, 35, #3 GIRL
8th - Saucepanman, 31, #4
8th - MrsAlwaysRight 31, #2
9th - greensnail, 28, #2 SURPRISE
9th - Boobz, 30, #2 SURPRISE
9th - Petitfilou, ?, 1
11th - shipsladyg GIRL
11th - woofie, 33, # 2 BOY
12th - Georgee, 38, #1 GIRL
12th - Elena67, 43 #1
13th - sobloodystupid, 34, #3
13th - WaiteH, no 1
14th - Fillybuster, 36, #3 - NOT TELLING!
15th - Ponymum, 41, # 2
15th - Millymollymoo, ?, #4 BOY
16th - NizzyNoodles, 35, #3 BOY
16th - Flossie69, 40,#2
17th - Bluesnowfalcon 28 #1 BOY
17th - Summerhols, 31, #1
17th - Barbeasty, 31, #1 GIRL
17th - chestnut100,30 #1 GIRL
17th - LateforWork,#1, SURPRISE
17th - Plum100, #3, SURPRISE
18th - Virgo1979, SURPRISE
18th - theperfectbaguette 34 #1
21st - Gizmo, 40, #3 GIRL
21st - Bubs1,?,SURPRISE
21st - Sunworshipper, 36, #1
22nd - gaelicsheep, 33, #2 - NOT TELLING
23rd - Bobolana, 29 #1 GIRL
24th - GibberingGinger 34 #2+3 BOYS
24th - lifeinthesun #2 BOY
25th - Ilovemyterrier, 38 #1 BOY
26th - herewegrow 31 #2 GIRL
26th - imkeepingmum, #1, SURPRISE
27th - muchchocolate, #2
28th - Wheredidmyfeetgo 32 #3
29th - CantSleepWontSleep, 36, #3, SURPRISE
29th - MrsDmamee #3
29th - playftseforme, 36, #2+3 BOYS
30th - MonkeyMargot, 36, #2+3 SURPRISE
30th - LaTrucha, 36, #2 BOY
30th - NotGrownUpEnough, 29, # 1, SURPRISE
30th - EssieM, 37, #1, SURPRISE
30th - Monthlymayhem, No.2, BOY

Great news meggy!! Good for Jimmy taking to the bosom rather than formula. Hoorah!!

csws I think the scan today is to look in more detail at baby's stomach/lungs to check all is normal. I am guessing there are other possibilities other than GD for this build up of fluid, so they want to look at the baby first to check all is well. I will then be booked in for another Lucozade test (had one at 28 weeks - was normal). I am marginally concerned, especially with the swiftness they made an appt for me...but fingers crossed all will be normal.

Congrats meggy, that is such good news and glad you are feeling happier now. Hope you get to go home really soon.
Thanks Gibbering for letting me know about the class in Cupar, I do get very nervous about meeting people though. My proper maternity leave does not start until next Thursday but next week I am just working a little to train up my replacement so will have some time off hopefuly. Not sure what hours I will be working but we could maybe meet up sometime.
j087Bump I have had quite similar symptoms to you for the last week but nothing has happened yet, I do know there is a stomach bug going around here though.

Sorry meant to say thanks to filly for the advice. I will let you know how I get on but it seems to make sense.

meggy - so pleased to hear you sounding so happy today! Hope Jimmy keeps on making good progress and can come home with you soon. Please stop apologising for rambling in your posts, though. You're not rambling at all and we love to hear from you!

jo87bump - heavens! You did have a very tough time last time and if your nipples are aleady starting to suffer with colostrum coming through, you're bound to be worried. Sod anyone else's opinion and do what's best for you and baby - which I know can be hard when the breast feeding guilt kicks in.

csws - no, it wasn't a show, thank goodness - could have made quite a mess of yesterday's wedding if it had been!!!

As it was, I found a lovely black sundress which a friend had lent to me but I hadn't had out of the wardrobe because the weather's been so bad. I think I looked farly good front-on, but got a fright at the size of myself in profile a couple of times!! I haven't worn a dress since I started showing!! The sun came out all day and it was lovely in the centre of Manchester. Would have been lovlier if I could have had a drink and lasted beyond 7.30, but never mind - I got to see some of the real world (mat leave can leave me feeling like the world's stopped turning outside our house) and saw some exended family, so it was a great day out.

Am completely broken today - have just managed to get dressed and make toast for lunch - after all the walking around yesterday. Will take it easy and perhaps do a bit of cooking later.

csws- your suggestion about drawing a lifesized picture to colour in is inspired! DD is too young yet, but I like that plan a lot and will try to retain it for future use.

Haha, alwayshopeful I wasn't even concious I kept apologising, that's what posting after no sleep does! I notice your wedding was in Manchester, are you from up here? I live in bury.

Roundabout so good to hear you got through a very similar experience with a good outcome, thanks for that.

Jimmy's continuing to make good progress and they had taken him off oxygen this morning and his breathing still looked good. On my way down there again at 2 so hopefully he'll still nice and stable with just air, fingers crossed.

Hope everyone is well, I'm rather self-obsessed at the mo, it's so hard to even remember having him inside me, these last few days have felt like weeks!

Fantastic news meggy!

joely sounds like you've had a really difficult time. I'm sure no one would dream of wanting to make you feel bad (and if they did I don't think they'd be welcome on the thread anymore). Agree you should do whatever's the right thing for you and your baby and not worry about what anyone else thinks.

How did you get on with expressing last time though? I have a good friend who has extremely sensitive skin and really struggled with bf her DS. Her nipples were horrifically cracked and bleeding within a couple of days of his birth so she changed to expressing hoping to let them heal but she now thinks this only made them worse and she gave up altogether at about 6 weeks. Her plan for baby 2 is to get as much support to breast feed as possible, but not to worry about giving formula if she needs to and to stay away from the breast pump! Anyway, I'm sure you've considered the options and have made the best plan you can in your circumstances - that's all any of us can do at the end of the day.

Have just heard that my consultant wants to bring my induction date forward again after my latest blood results. The earliest available date is 23rd May, so that's when I'm currently booked in for, but delivery suite are going to keep them informed of any cancellations so its possible it may be brought forward again. 4 days to go now, am getting scared.

Meggymegs - so glad you're both doing so well. 'Nursing him back to health' is such a lovely description. Hope all goes/ went well at 2.

CSWS - that sounds fab. Actucally, I might save that onefor when the baby is born. Sounds great.

J0 - it sounds like you are being very wise thinking of how to look after yourself as well as your LOs. And it also sounds like you did very well persevering with bf until 6 weeks with DS. I am worried about terrible twos too, but am trying to accept that it's just part of it and be flexible. For example, we have had an issue with DD hitting DH. We tried a couple of things and now I have completely backed off and let DH deal withit. Problem isn't solved but is actually easier ofr all. I think mums sometimes worry they have to 'fix' everything with their children. I worry I am too much liek that anyway. You don't want toddlers who are too compliant anyway. They are supposed to challenge the world and come to terms with it themselves. [hopeful emoticon]

MonkeyM - hope the follow up scan goes well. A woman on my bf course had twins boys a month ago - one 5lb something one 6lb something, born at 35 weeks. They are huge now! She said they came out nudging their mouths with their hands for food and have been piling on pounds ever since, so maybe twins just catch up with their growth faster when they're out and about!

Sandpit is up: rain is coming down.

I have offically decided to take it down a gear. The housework went out of the window ages ago. Now getting dressed before 9 and tidying etc if I don't feel like it has gone the same way. I'm past caring what the postman thinks! I actually feel a lot better for it and DD is very happy having me mainly on the sofa, even when I'm not doing much with her.

All we need now is to get rid of these horrid coughs. We've been a week indoors already!

BTW - Maggy - self-obsessed with looking after your newborn is pretty much what nature requires, so you carry on!

Meggy great news about Jimmy, sounds like he is making great progress

Has anyones else's appetite really increased? The last week or so I am hungry all the time and can't stop eating! Not good stuff either, just want to eat cake, biscuits and chocolate. At this rate I'll put on more weight in the last few weeks than the last couple of months!

Also has anyone else developed Carpel Tunnel? My right arm and hand is almost constantly numb which is really annoying.

MrsAlways Right - My appetite for junk has increased but if sat down with healthy stuff just can't seem to stomach it!

Meggy - Hope Jimmy's breathing was still ok when you went back to see him. When my dd came off the oxygen she had a few times when she went very grey when sleeping or feeding but managed to stay off the oxygen.

I have just repacked my hospital bag & am feeling really nervous now! Can't believe it's nearly time. Have 2 wks til due date now & everyone I see keeps telling me it could be anytime now as 2nd babies are often a bit early. Dd1 was overdue & had to be induced & defintely didn't want to come out, in a way hoping this one is the same as the house is still not ready!

Meggy - I am in Preston - not a million miles away from you.

MrsAlwaysRight my appetite is huge some days for anything that's in front of me. It might not settle once I've eaten it, but that's not putting me off!

j0807 - I don't know why you think that anyone would flame you. I admire the fact that you are prepared to give expressing a go under the circumstances. I always found that a real faff!

meggymegs - lovely to hear some positive news from you and little Jimmy .

Monkeymargot - how did you get on today?

Eek for your date moving again greensnail - it really is imminent now!

Roundabout - both of mine were late, and I have several friends who have experienced the same. I think that some people just have longer pregnancies than others. One friend is currently 10 days over with her 4th, having been late with the other 3 too.

meggy - so glad to hear Jimmy is making good progress and loving the boob! Good lad. Hope you're able to go home with him very soon.

jo87 - don't let anyone make you feel guilty for your decision about how to care for your baby. I had a crap time bf-ing ds too (though not nearly as hard as you, it sounds) and wasted a lot of energy feeling like I was failing as a mum. I'm planning to try again this time, but if I can't make it work, then I'm going to accept it and move on. Only you know what works for your family, and your own mental and physical wellbeing are massively important for your baby.

greensnail - very exciting about your early induction date. Good luck! Wonder if whenwillisleep has had her cs today?

Can't remember who was asking, but I'm another fan of swaddling in the early weeks -the 'miracle blanket' worked a treat with ds.

I've done my final home visit at work today, so just have to catch up with the final data and report-writing, and I'll be all done on Friday. Yippee! Not a moment too soon... Hope this weather keeps up and LO is civil enough to stay put at least for a couple more weeks, so I can take ds to the seaside and enjoy our last bit of time as just us, without baby brother.

I get to be a "great goddess" in pg yoga tonight, as I'm 37 weeks today so baby is officially cooked and ready

great to hear meggy and jimmy are making progress

hi all. nothing happened last night. think was definatly a combo of three times walking in amd out of town yesterday with 'stuff' and a bit of a bug on top.

thanks for all kind words re feeding. i don't think i'll know until she comes out whether i'll try. i guess i thought i'd attract some less than positive reactions because we all know how some are on the subject.

anyway, i've got to do a bit of picking up before the agent has a couple of people in tomorrow. not going to do too much though, i've told them it's the last thing on my mind

Evening all!

Greensnail - you must be getting excited!! Your date is so soon.

Ive had a rollercoaster few days -
Went to see the Consultant yesterday after scan on monday re fibroid.
He didn't bother to wait for me as I was the last patient on the list and left me with the Registrar (obv. private patients or posh lunch much more important!)
She took one look at me and said "Fibroid = CS and definately no HB. But you could try for normal delivery first".
So to cut the story down - today a Home Birth Midwife has said she can't believe what they have told me and not to worry and that I can still have a HB.
However, my HB midwife has had her phone switched off, because apparently she's on holiday until monday. So Im keeping my legs crossed until then, otherwise I can see any other Midwifes not wanting to touch me with a barge pole!!
Everything I touch at the moment seems to go wrong

Quickie update from me.
Csws and LaT scan was fine. What I didn't realise yesterday was that they were checking the baby was still taking in fluids and passing it through the kidneys/stomach etc. Which he/she is. So next step is another GTT on Friday (joy) to see if that's the reason for the extra fluid. If that's normal, they just keep monitoring me to check the fluid levels don't increase further.

Wow greensnail not long now!!

j0807bump my pre-op was pretty straight forward. I had blood taken, blood pressure done, my calves were measured for my support stockings, baby's heartbeat was listened to and bump felt just to see what it was up to, I had swabs taken from nose, throat and groin to check for MRSA and was given the antacid tablets to be taken before the op and talked through what was going to happen, what myself and DH need to do/expect. Our questions were answered.

Please don't beat yourself up about breast feeding or not. I managed 2 weeks last time (with DS) which was pure agony I have to say. DS was 10lb 15oz when born so as you can imagine was a pretty hungry chap. My boobs just couldn't keep up with his demands and neither could my poor nipples, they never seemed to have a break and were cracked and so sore. I can remember wincing every time I had to feed DS as it was just so bloody painful. In the end it was a MW who told me to give him a bottle in the night and he seemed much more contented. It was easier and less painful. I did try to express but couldn't get out nearly enough cos he was just one seriously greedy baby
I am planning on giving BFing a try this time but I'm not going to put myself through that again, it's just not worth it. If it works out...great, if not I'm not going to beat myself up about it.

Glad everyone's scans and appointments are going well.

I've given in and have taken lots of paracetamol today. It doesn't do much but slightly takes the edge off the pain, now I just need to sort out the peeing frenzy that I have every night. I only went for a wee 5 times last night which is better than the 7 times I normally go!!!! I just keep focusing on the fact that in 5 days this will all be over and my body can start to get back to normal

Sorry DS was 10lb 14oz, not that 1oz makes any difference in baby so big!!

mampam - do seek advice on the bf boards on here if you have trouble this time and want to carry on. The 'big baby' theory really is just a myth I'm afraid, but it sounds like you didn't have good bf support to help you last time.

thanks mampam all sounds good apart from the blood taking. i don't like to give it away too freely

as for the expressing, it is not something that i could do exclusively, but even if i can manage a couple ounces a day for a week or too it'll be worth it

even though we never managed to latch i was able to get 1or2 ounces from the first time with the pump. very hard to keep up though.

Wow mampam only 5 days to go - that is very exciting!

Morning ladies,

Sorry I've not been around very much over the past couple of weeks - work/life balance is a bit frantic! Which should have been a clue, I guess...woke up 30 minutes ago to the lovely sensation of my waters breaking. 35+4.

So, groan for the loss of a homebirth, but quite excited not to have to do the next 4.5 weeks feeling like a dilapidated and rusty old ocean liner. I am belatedly looking at lists of what to pack in a hospital bag and will post updates from the hospital if I get a chance.

Bye for now.

Oh gizmo I'm so excited your waters have gone. Sorry it's not going to be the hb you dreamed of, but you're going to see your new baby so soon - bliss!

Another great day and night of feeding little jimmy. My only problem at the moment is recognising when he's actually full and when he's just dozed off. Think I'm getting there with that, do not concerned at all. He now has nothing going into him except my milk and his anti-bs which is a great feeling. My milk has come in well now and I can see the consistency's changing too, all very interesting to a newbie like me!

Just sat here scoffing fruit waiting to be called for his breakfast feed, popped down at 6.30 but he was sound asleep, looking extremely cute!

I have no tips for the ladies struggling to decide re bfing this time as obviously I'm completely new to it all and it seems like such a personal journey. For me I just love the feeling when I can feel his suck right down to my toes iyswim and the lovely knowledge that I'm giving him something that no one else can. Having said that, my nipples aren't cracked or ridiculously sore yet so maybe I'll be singing a different tune in a couple of weeks??

Good luck anyway, and ladies, you've been such a wonderful support this week, wish I could send you all a bunch of flowers!

Eeek gizmo - good luck!