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

Congratulations again to all the new babies.
It's quite scary hearing about all the feeding problems etc - you forget about that bit!! But there's always good advice here on MN.

Well, Im 7 days over now, I thought I'd be early, but it wasn't meant to be. Getting fed up of not going far (although I suppose that won't change for a while once the baby is born!). Lots of movement, braxton hicks and low down heaviness, buts thats about it.

Any bets on who will be next??

Morning Ladies, well I was up again at stupid o'clock (4.30am) I find it odd that in the lead up to having a baby when I am not going to have any sleep my body decides it is going to not sleep anyway!

We've got a scan this morning at 9 to check babys growth (as measuring small - 2nd scan in 3 weeks), but baby is very active so feeling OK about it.

Anyway just rambling as bored with nothing to do!

Alwayshopefull good luck following sweep, it sounds like your mind is playing nasty tricks on you at night time! Glad tests showed all OK.

Morning ladies,i had a false alarm yesterday,i thought that my waters had gone,awful backache,and really strong braxton hicks,didn't ring hospital until 7 p.m,went in only to be told no,the leaky feeling is an increase in discharge,and no sign of baby yet,they were really good though and checked us both,everything is fine and baby is happy enough,i just feel like a bit of an idiot really,and quite sad and fed up today. Due date tomorrow and i've never gone over before (first time for everything!) we'll see. Anyway,hope evryone else is feeling slightly more chipper than me I better try and cheer up,its DH's birthday today,i'm sure he doesn't wannto be round a miserable wife all day!

little robbo - Hope you have cheered up a bit, at least you have been checked over & know that everything is ok. I have been wondering if I'm having a very slow leakage of my waters but am sure it is discharge. Pretty gross really isn't it, that leaky feeling!

Congrats to all the new mums! I'm now three days overdue - not that much really but it seems like an eternity! Am trying not to think too much about the birth now as I was beginning to feel quite scared about it (as a first timer). Am determined to think positive thoughts now! Any tips on how to focus on the positives in these last few days??

Yes congrats to all new mums and very expectant ones too! Hey MonkeyMargot, I'm on the raspberry leaf tea, had a curry on Saturday, having one again tonight, ate pineapple yesterday... Poor dh is too knackered from the long list of jobs to oblige in the marital department, methinks . So so looking forward to meeting my little one, I keep running waddling to the loo excitedly .

Congrats DIMB, what a lovely name - can't wait to see pics of Zoe Leila (love love love the names!)

And big congrats to GibberingGinger too...hopefully the feeding will get easier for both boys and they'll be out of SCBU and home soon

And loving Hester Rose, Gizmo - and relieved she finally has a name!! Well done on the impressive weight gain too Not sure about the poos, but I do remember DDs being quite green and watery for the first few days...she had swallowed some muconium on her way out and it definitely had an impact on her bowels, although not on her weight gain or health. What does your HV say? Must admit, I fully expect DC3 to also fall into 'ignored child' category when it arrives...but I suspect this may be quite healthy all round

As long as you're happy with the advice you've been given Mampam, then stick with it - although you certainly shouldn't let yourself be pushed into anything you don't want to do, if it works for you and Tilly then great

I'm with LittleRobbo and Summerhols in the 'braxton hicksing all night with nothing to show for it except a sore head and achey back in the morning' camp....Sat night was particularly impressive, as I was up from 2-6 in proper pain (and DH had the cheek to ask me to be a bit quieter so he could sleep !! - to be fair, he was deeply shamefaced about it in the morning )...but no action here. Still, only 39 weeks today and my other 2 were late so...Even so, its always ridiculous that at this point I start thinking 'I wish the baby were out so I could get some sleep' !

Anyway, it would be nice to get through dh's birthday on Thurs, and his surprise tea party on Sat before going into labour, I suppose!!

gibbering congrats on the arrival of the twins, gorgeous names if I do say so myself we must have the same taste!

Not been finding much time to post recently, these babies do take up an amazing amount of time eh? I never really understood why my friends with babies didn't seem to have any time before, now I'm amazed at how much they got done!

gizmo hester's poo sounds like jimmy's for the first couple of weeks. The mw saw it and said it was fine. It's now mustardy too. Lovely name by the way, really unusualand cute!

dimb congratulations!!! Another gorgeous name, we really do have great taste on this thread.

jimmy is doing really well still and treated me to 5 hours undisturbed sleep last night he's very long but that's no surprise as dh is 6ft 5" and jimmy is a spitting image.

mampam sorry to hear the bfing isn't going as planned and you're feeling down. I completely sympathise on the parent front. I'm finding myself biting my Tongue a lot at the mo. Why is it that those closest to us are best at pushing all the emotional triggers?

Congratulations DIMB! Lovely name. Hope you're doing well.

Yay! Congrats dimb - Think you're going to have to change your name now...but how lovely to have a Zoesaurus!!

Saw the midwife this morning (v. disappointing as really didn't expect to see her again). I have a 'stretch & sweep' booked for Friday and am also on the list for induction on 15th (which will be 14 days after dd). m/w told me that she wouldn't do the sweep as she doesn't work on Fridays, but I should try to get 'Jan' to do it as she has 'lovely long fingers' EEEEEKK [shudder]...SO reassuring!! Can anyone attempt to describe what it's like and has it ever worked for you/anyone you know?

I was quite relieved to hear that they will still be quite happy for me to delay induction even beyond 14 days if I want...and just be monitored (and the baby) every day or two to check all is well. I just hate the idea of being induced.

Suzy1975 - The best way i find to stay positive about it is just to see it as the most exciting event EVER...and even if it hurts like hell, it's not because of injury or illness...and once the baby's out you will not believe how the serious hard work of the last hours just vanishes. Keep the end goal in mind, take it one breath at a time and remember... hundreds of women much less strong and well-equipped than yourself do this everyday! There...easy! Hope you're feeling really relaxed about it now!

madame freckle - I've been offered a sweep tomorrow but not sure whether to go for it or not. I had one last time & still ended up going another week without anything & ended up being induced. I do find internals & sweeps very painful though but know that isn't everyone's experience so please don't let me put you off. I wish I'd known last time how invasive it was, I niavely (sp?)thought they would just poke a couple of fingers in not have a really going sweep round whilst up there. Should have relaised really, given that it's called a stretch & sweep!

madamefreckle I had a sweep in the morning when I was 10 days overdue with DD2. I had a bit of a show within an hour then contractions started in the afternoon. Labour properly kicked off that evening and DD2 arrived at quarter past midnight - less than 24 hours after the sweep. I don't know if it was coincidence - but I think in my mind the sweep and starting labour are linked now. I don't remember it being especially painful though. I'm thinking about asking for another one this time if I get to that point this time.

Hi everyone, sorry I have not been on here much since fergus has been born but he really does take up a surprising amount of time. Admittedly a great deal of that time is because I cant stop cuddling him and looking at him during the day. Am enjoying this time just now while DH is off work but think it will be quite a different story when he goes back to work and I have to do everything for myself. DH is dreading going back to work also as he is so besotted with the baby and also because of sleep deprevation.

Congrats to GibberingGinger and DIMB Funny we were in Ninewells at the same time GG and so sorry to hear the boys are having trouble feeding. Love the names. Hope you get home soon and all goes well then.

Suzy I did not manage to overcome negative feelings about birth, was completely resigned to being induced when I went overdue and having painful labour with lots of drugs. Was very surprised to go early and having a relatively easy labour so just shows you can have a good labour first time. I must say it was still quite awful at the time but all the cliches are true and it is all worth it when you get yr baby. Its so different having a baby from how I imagined it. Its much more amazing, much more terrifying and just much more everything than I thought. Its quite overwhelming but in a good way. Sorry if i am not explaining myself well.

Anyway have a couple of questions I would like to get yr opinions on. First Co-sleeping. Fergus is much much happier sleeping between us and we get a fairly decent nights sleep if we let him sleep in the middle but everyone says we are making a rod for our backs etc. etc. and he will still be in with us when he is 7 and we will never get e good sleep again. I just feel like he is a tiny baby who needs the comfort of sleeping next to us and we can try putting him in his own bed later. Will that work or not? DH made us try for last 2 nights to get him to sleep in crib but he just wakes up and screeches and then needs calmed down and fed and put to sleep all over again. We gave up about 3am both nights and he settled in and slept for a good 4 hours between us.
Next BF - I am getting on fine with BF and Fergus is a good feeder, putting on weight etc. However he is very windy and seems in a lot of pain some nights (this is another reason why its hard to get him to sleep in own bed). Could I be doing something wrong with BF to give him this wind? He has a tendancy to gulp down his milk like he hasn't been fed for ages,
Anyway apart from these niggles, all is very very well and much more wonderful than I imagined.

Sorry for such long questions. Really feeling for all those of you overdue or just fed up with waiting. Hope we get some action soon and looking forward to seeing lots more photos soon.

Congratulations to you and yr newly expanded families gibberingginger and dimb. Wonderful news- I hope your boys will crack feeding and be home with you asap gibbering

V sorry for all those who have already passed their due date. I'm sure each extra day feels like an age- hope it won't be too long.

Well I'm having a long drawn-out pre-labour just like last time... So much for second babies coming quickly! Mild contractions started at midnight and were regular as clockwork 4-5 mins apart by 5am, plus I'd had a show, so went into the birthing centre. After a few more hours of regular bit easily manageable contractions, it all tailed off so we decided to come back home. Apparently he's engaged and i'm 3cms or so dilated, but I'm now having stronger but v irregular contractions, so am trying to get in a bit of sleep in anticipation of a long night ahead. Will update when I have a baby- which hopefully won't be far off...

goodname - I think the rod for your back argument against co-sleeping is bollocks... Ds needed it too in the early days, and we all slept much better for it, but he's slept in his own bed v happily since 3-4 months and, whilst he likes a snuggle in our bed in the morning even now, doesn't come in at night unless he's really poorly, and that's my decision. Do what feels right. I'll leave bf advice to others

madamefreckle - I had a sweep this morning (3 days overdue) and it was fine. The MW told me that my cervix is soft and she could 'get one finger in' - ewwww! Sorry if that's TMI! Had slightly pinkish discharge straight after, and now sat here awaiting contractions.... fingers crosses!
When I told her how fed up I am waiting and that I was planning on spending most of the day bounching on a gym ball and drinking raspberry tea, she told me that I was too intent on going into labour and needed to relax! Yeah, cos that's easy to do when you're overdue! Good luck with yours.

v.exciting Woofie. Hope all goesspeedily and well.

Goodname - it's impossible to tell at a distance. If the latch idn't perfect he could be getting more air in his tummy but then some babies are windier than others. Have you got a local bf group? Was intrigued by you saying he is 'gulping' though. Can you say more?

On the co-sleeping front - I tend to say, your rod, your back, your problem and everyone else can butt out. If you are happy and the baby is safe (there are guidelines about which you have doubtless looked at) it's up to you. FWIW, DD co-slept on and off with us from 3 months to around a year. I hated it but her teething was that bad that it was the way to best sleep for all. DD - now 2.5 - now loves sleeping with me if she is poorly, and it can take a few nights to get her back into her bed after, but hates sleeping with me in general. When we decided to stop her sleeping with me regularly, we were kind but firm and all was after three days. I do know children - even young teenagers - who have got 'stuck' in their parents bed, but with these children they haven't really ever been told definitively to get out.

I am not even near due, the baby is terribly uncomfortable at times, I am enormously huge, in pain from bad back / pressure on c-section scar and pubis and pretty much fed up with the whole thing. DH is being marvellous but I wish this baby was out and he didn't have to be! Scan on Wednesday will show if he has kept his head down, so fingers crossed.

Congratulations on the birth of Zoe, DIMB. Good luck Woofie. Just about to book cab to the hospital for tomorrow morning and our meeting with our soon to be long-term house guest! Still feel in denial about everything - just can't believe that this time tomorrow I will be a Mummy. Feeling for everyone in their discomfort

Goodname - All this talk about making a rod for your own back by co-sleeping is hogwash. I cannot think of anything more natural than a mother and father wanting to cuddle and snuggle with their baby at night, but then I do come from a culture where it is the norm.

We co-slept with GoodBits Boy (name change from Baby GoodBits!) from birth. It made us all sleep better and was easier for bfing too. When he was about six months old we still had him in our room in a cot, so would put him to sleep in that andm when he would wake for a feed I would bring him back to our bed. He eventually went to sleep all night in his bed quite easily and with no problems.

Also it is very early days with your baby - whatever gets you through is just fine. There is no timetable as to when 'things should be done' by.

I am still pregnant, due on 16 June. Have a growth scan on 9 June and just waiting for things to kick off really. Everything is as ready for the new arrival as it can possibly be. Just one thing though - I remember with GoodBits Boy I took at least four bags with me to the hospital!! This time I have only one bag. What am I missing or have I realised I don't need as much stuff as I took last time?

Oh and congratulations to all the new arrivals!

Ohhh, another baby on its way...that's exciting! Good luck, Woofie: here's hoping pre-labour is efficient enough to get you through the real thing quickly.

Goodname I am also of the opinion that the Rod for Back argument is bollocks and put about by people with no understanding of tiny baby's psychology. In fact most studies suggest that constantly being close to a responsive carer when they are tiny tends to make them more secure and, ironically, more independent, later on. So removing them from the family bed is actually not a big task, although I agree with LaT that you need to be firm about it. With DS2 we practised a gradual withdrawal - into a crib by the bed to start with, then putting him to sleep in the crib in our room on his own, and finally removing the crib and him from our room altogether.

There are a lot of good arguments for co-sleeping, if you follow the guidelines closely, not the least of which is that I certainly found it made for much better sleep for me! However, it's not for everyone, and only you can tell if it improves the quality of sleep for your family. Anyone else needs to butt out, frankly.

On the wind front, I think you and I are in the same boat: are you getting lots of squirming and groaning? Unfortunately I have never had any luck with adjusting feeding to deal with this: I've used Infacol, which seems to help a bit, but really the only solution I've found is a decent winding session and, ultimately, age. Although it's a pain, particularly in the middle of the night, I don't think it has any effect on their health/growth - the midwife has just left, having weighed Hester again, and she's put on another 5 oz since Thursday

Good luck woofie - hope you aren't waiting too long for your arrival.

Good luck to you too for tomorrow sunworshipper.

On the sweep front, I had one or possibly two with dd, which did nothing, and so much rummaging about with ds that it's a wonder they didn't just shove their hands up and try to forcibly remove him (!!), but all to no avail. I really think it just depends on whether the baby is ready or not. I remember that the first one with dd didn't hurt at all, and I wondered why people made a fuss about it! I think the first one with ds hurt a little more, but was done by somebody different, so maybe it depends on the person doing it, or maybe it has more to do with the position of the cervix at the time - who knows?!

Great weight gain gizmo - sounds like the sort of rate that mine tend to pile it on at too, little porkers that they are!

Agree with other comments re co-sleeping. Ds was on top of us for 13 weeks, then co-sleeping (on his tummy to make it even more controversial!) for the next couple of months or so, and moved into his own room around 6 months iirc.

Goodname - the chances are that you are doing everything just fine with bf, but here are some things that can contribute to being windy, which you might like to check through:

• latch not quite right means more air swallowed than ought to be
• not winding properly after a night feed because he's already gone back to sleep and you don't want to disturb him, esp when you are sleepy yourself

I'm sure that I've been guilty of a mixture of those two on occasion when mine have been little

• gulping the milk down at the start of the feed might mean that you have an overactive letdown - this could just be because your milk supply is still settling, but there are things that you can do to help if this is the problem - good advice here.
• baby could have milk intolerance - I mention this one really only for completeness, and nothing in your posts really leads me to believe that this is the case, but it's something that I'm bound to mention hundreds of times over the coming months, so I might as well start with a little passing mention now!!

I have a son! We have called him George and he is 7 13 and perfect! Has fed lots since he was born just before lunch time. Labour frighteningly fast, very nearly delivered in the car park, but was wheelchaired to the delivery suite just in time to push him out.

We are both fine and hope to be home tomorrow. Will tell more details and post photos from home.

Madamef - the sweep worked for me!

Hurrah! Congratulations AlwaysHopeful!

Hey, congratulations AlwaysHopeful!! George is on my list of names if i have a boy