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

Sunshineday glad all is ok with you and your baby girl

Official first birth! Congratulations sunshineday. I had a friend round yesterday whose twins were born at 30 weeks, so I know that it can be a rough ride, so I hope you're doing ok. The twins are marvellous - took apart my front room, climbed everythings and gabbled as they went - . They haven't had any of the complications mum was told they might have - not even chest infections. Hope you're the same.

sunshineday no wonder you've been quiet, lovely to hear your news, that sounds like a very long time in hospital, so being home must be good. I hope you continue to do well - does she have a name?

interesting to read about all the big babies, as ours is too. I would have been scanned again at 38 weeks except that's when I'm due to have the cs. Still dithering about planned cs vs VBAC - off to do some reading about VBAC. I had emcs last time because DS looked to be in an ok position but there turned out to be a complication, so I was really thinking that I should give VBAC a try, then I read about other people's nervousness on the big baby front, which I totally share (DS was 9.10) and it's got me heading back to cs again...

oh and meant to say thank you for new thread CSWS. Name is perfect!

Sunshineday Congratulations!!!!!!!
Glad all is ok with your baby girl, what's her name?

Congratulations sunshineday! Glad to hear she's doing ok, hope you are too. How exciting to have our first birth on the thread

mampam your list sounds good. I personally would take more knickers, but maybe that's just me. I ran out when in hospital after DD and the extra ones DH brought in for me weren't the most appropriate. I've packed less breastpads than that, but to be honest I can't remember how many I went through in the early days last time. I needed nipple cream before I left hospital after having DD (was in for 2 days after) so have packed some again this time - I think its good to be able to use it before too much damage occurs and doesn't use up too much room in your bag if you find you don't need it.
How about some snacks for when you're on the ward - I found I got really hungry in the middle of the night so was good to have something handy to nibble on!

ladyemmalou good to see you back again. Hope the scan goes well and you're not feeling too unwell.

notgrownupenough I think if you can manage at work until 18th then go for it. When I had DD I worked until a few days before she was born and it was really hard going at the end, but I was really grateful for the extra time when it came to going back to work. This time i've finished much earlier and that was the right decision for me, but i definitely wouldn't have changed the decision I made in my first pregnancy. Don't worry about what other people say, go with what you think is right for you (but don't feel bad about changing your mind if you feel you need to!)

I started my batch cooking today, and have come to the conclusion that I can't make pastry when I'm pregnant! Still, I got there in the end and now have 4 chicken pies ready for the freezer.

Sunshineday - congratulations, so pleased all is well.

Mampam - I did my hospital bag yesterday, am sure it will be packed & repacked over the next few weeks though. Pretty much what you had. Forgot slippers & cottonwool though! I put about 20 breastpads in my bag. I found my lansinoh cream but it's about 4 yrs old, no date on the tube - is it ok do you reckon? I was in hospital for a week after dd born & know I needed it while I was in there feeding her. I've also put some clothes in for coming home for me & a cardigan for the baby to wear over babygro.

roundabout - I think the cream is probably fine. I'm using mine from last time, but DD's only 16 months. Have you tried a bit to see what its like? If its the same sort of consistency as normal, then I would have thought it was ok.

greensnail I was going to ask about snacks but felt too incase you thought I was a piggy!!
I'll pack a few more pairs of knickers too just in case!!
Chicken pies sound yummy, haven't had any dinner yet.

roundabout I had completely forgotton about a cardigan, thanks for reminding me. Gonna halve my breastpad quota too. DH can always bring me some if I get low.
Nipple cream should be ok. Give it a sniff, if it smells ok I would have thought it will be fine.

Thanks to both of you for the advice

OOOH just had a thought......what about nappy sacks???

Thanks everyone her name is Faye she looks so tiny at the moment but ever so sweet (very biased mummy )She was born by emergency c/s at 1am

mampam I would second the plenty of knickers and maybe extra pj's ready at home so dh can just pick them up if needed. I also used flip flops for in the shower, I would also bring in a extra flannel.
I found shower gel with the hook on very useful as I had a c/s.

Suberb new title csws - and love the gift for your DCs from the new baby!

wow - our first baby has arrived! congrats sunshineday. 11 weeks in hospital sounds traumatic - must be lovely to be home . What is DD's name?

notgrownup 12 days before due date sounds about right for a first baby, as you will most likely be overdue. I also finished 12 days before my due date with DD, and was then another 12 days over. Was so glad I hadn't finished early as was twiddling thumbs by that stage.

re. the earlier BF conversation, I did find it relatively straightforward in the sense that DD latched on well etc and supply was always plentiful. But I did have to persist with asking the MW's to show me in that initial 24 hour period. That really got me sorted. If you don't ask, you will just be left to it! So my advice to first-timers is don't be afraid to keep asking for help.

I found expressing a chore, and only managed to give EBM for 2 weeks once a day. I soon realised it wasn't making life easier, as she would wolf down the bottle of EBM and then want boob anyhow, so I just BF til DD was 12 months old. She was born on the 51st, and by 12 weeks was on 99th percentile and remained there ever since. So I don't believe that hungry/big babies can't be satisfied by BF alone.
am planning to EBF the twins, all being well.

Wow - some big babies due here then! filly ouch - an OP 9lb+ baby does not sound comfortable. DD was also OP - 48 hour labour......groan. Here's hoping that was a one-off.

Oh big congratulations sunshineday . Was it you who mentioned Faye as your choice earlier in the thread (I remember a convo about it because I mentioned the one from Grange Hill years ago)? Fabulous that she is home with you already (unless I've misunderstood) - I thought that generally prem babies didn't get to come home until at least their original due date, so she must be doing super well .

I don't think that I would use nipple cream that old. I had a tube of kamillosan from when I had dd (well actually from when a friend had her dd 6 months prior to that), and the expiry date was actually the year after it was bought, so I threw it away last week (I only used it for the first couple of weeks with dd and not at all with ds).

Camera and arnica for your list mampam, and change for hospital car park if necessary.
And yes to nappy sacks.

Welcome back ladyemmalou and welcome to other newcomers.

Ooh welcome to the world baby faye!!

And yes, flip-flops are a good shout. The shower in hospital was pretty grim as I recall, and I ended up throwing away my nice slippers as a consequence.

Also, some sweets/drinks with straws useful to have in bag.

Thanks for the replies peeps...i think i'll try to stick to the original plan of the
18th then. I'll just have to keep on trying not to cry at my desk because my computer is slow, the numbers don't balance or the water cooler bottle needs changing

NotGrownUpEnough, 12 days beforehand sounds fine. However if you have any holidays left it might be worth taking a days annual leave a week (wednesdays maybe) to give yourself a bit of a break. I've currently dropped to a 3 day week and its making a huge improvement - not nearly so tired and hence not to weepy.

Congratulations Sunshineday. Same original due date at me! Glad Faye is doing well.

Mampam, maybe switch some of your PJs for a nightie, especially as you are lined up for a section. You will be catheterised for about a day afterwards and catheters and PJs didn't work well for me!

Very envious of all those with due dates/section dates in sight Am fed up with pregnancy now. Am huge, cumbersome and uncomfortable most of the time. Have horrendous stretch marks all over my stomach. And noone ever told me they hurt! My whole bump is so itchy and sensitive - have resorted to calomine lotion its so sore. Feels a lot like bad sunburn. Rest of my body is itchy too, but nothing as much as the bump.

But only a maximum of 7 weeks to go People keep on saying that its less work when they are inside but I'm really looking forward to them being here and the next stage

Congratulations Sunshineday!! How is Faye doing now? (weight wise etc?)

Im back from my mini holiday in Bognor - was abit chilly, but at least no rain. But I felt so huge and I couldn't be bothered to even look around properly. Have come home with a stinking cold and every time I cough my tummy really hurts.

Re the itchy tummy - I bought some E45 Itch relief cream and it seemed to work.

Im finding even some of my maternity tops have stopped covering my bump now as I feel so huge!!

csws she is still in hospital, her due date is about the time she will be home.
(secretly hopping it will be sooner)
Justbeme she weighed 3lb 4 oz yesterday but that is up as she went down to about 3lb so doing well.

sorry meant she went down to 2lb 11 not 3lb

Hello sparkly new thread . Welcome to newcomers and welcome back LadyEm - glad you're feeling better and fingers crossed for your scan.

Woofie - Love the stomp rocket idea (I just love those things!) and I think I might copy you.

I have convinced myself that what I really really need is an icandy cherry. Has anyone got one? If so, what do you think. I'd really only 'need' it for the first 6 months (with carrycot) as after that I'd probably just use my off-roader. I'll also probably use a sling quite a lot at first so wondering whether it is way too extravagent...but hoping resale value would be quite high. Any thoughts?

Oh and congratulations sunshineday! Welcome baby Faye - lovely name

Congratulations sunshineday!

I can't believe the first baby has arrived - I wonder who will be next???

Congrats sunshineday glad to hear Faye is doing well and that you are to !!

Congratulations Sunshineday and welcome to baby Faye. Glad to hear you're doing so well.

I am another itchy monster - top tip with e45 cream justbeme. I'm also finding a lot of moles are stretching, and becoming rather itchy and bleeding, along with a multitude of new skin tags appearing...I'm sure I'm being paranoid but I suppose I'd better get myself along to the doctor once my maternity leave starts.

Notgrownupenough I think I did what you describe with my first...it's fine if you think everything else is under control and you can spend a couple of weeks getting used to the rather wierd activity void that marks the first weeks of the first maternity leave. If you're really knackered though I think GG's suggestion is a real good 'un.

Right, 4pm. I must fish a cake out of the oven, round up some children and go to a friend's for tea. DH is in the states again so sharing the pain with another mother is always good for morale!

just saying hello and bookmarking! and can someone update the list for me, 30 years old, and my first sprog!! off to itch my feet and belly