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 AlwaysHopeful!

Good Luck Woofie

Congratulations AlwaysHopeful Looking forward to hearing more details.

Good luck Woofie and Sunworshipper and congratulations to AlwaysHopeful and George!

I can't comment on the co-sleeping Goodname but definitely echo LaTs sentiments regarding 'your rod, your back'....on the feeding front I might be able to help a bit: DS fed like yours - very fast, gulping the milk as though he was utterly starving (even though I never made him 'wait') and probably downed a lot of air as a result. Winding him used to take up to an hour, and whilst he would doze on me ok without a proper burp he wouldn't settle flat in his crib properly if he had any wind left...so he would go down, go to sleep (sometimes) then wake screaming about 30 mins later. All very frustrating. We found Infacol helped, gripe water didn't and that the main thing that made a difference was developing different winding techniques to get the burps out. Even so, it was bloody annoying when I could feed him in 10 mins flat at 4am and then had to sit patting his back for nearly an hour before the wind finally came out.....but at least then he would go back down in his crib until 7am, which otherwise wouldn't happen. If it helps, we found that developing neck/head control around 10 weeks was a real turning point for this, and he got a lot better at self-winding after that. DD fed a lot more calmly and didn't really have the same issues, thank goodness! Anyway, hope that helps

Sorry, meant to respond to you a few days ago about the microwave LaT, just to say that ours is brilliant for defrosting stuff, but I have a huge freezer so tend to cook industrial quantities of mince, chili, soup etc, and for sterilising bottles/dummies, and for kick-starting jacket potatoes (10 mins, then 10 mins in a hot oven and hey presto!), and for heating up ebm/formula (yes, I know you're not supposed to, but a damn good shake to ease out the hot spots and its fine) but apart from that, it isn't used for much....does that help?!

woo hoo - congrats alwayshopeful!!!!!!

and good luck Woofie - here's to plenty more babies by tomorrow!

Nowt happening here. Been drinking the RLT and taking the tablets. Just waiting for my Indian takeaway to be delivered. But no - can't face sex still.

Re. sweeps, they attempted to perform a sweep last time at 8 days over, but they didn't succeed as head was too high.

hope all those overdue aren't going too stir-crazy...

Oh yes, I knew there was something else....sweeps!! I hate them, they hurt, and they're intrusive....but....I think they might work if your body is already getting ready for labour. With DS they made no difference at all (and I had one every day for the last week pre-induction), but to be honest, he really wasn't ready to budge. With DD, I had 2 and the second (I think) caused my mucal plug to come out later that day. Still no contractions or labour, but the castor oil the following day did get things started, and it may all have been linked. So I'll probably let them give me one at the end of this week (when I'm 39+5) at my checkup, and another at 40+4 at my 'late booking' appointment, even through I'm still not convinced.

What FIlly says about winding in different positions may well have a lot to it. My frined has a windy baby and the parents can hold him for ages with no burps, trying different things. Quite often, when someone else holds him he burps straight away!

I was reading Sheila Kitzinger's book The New Experience of Childbrith yesterday. I'm broadly in sympathy with it, though found much to dislike (to my surprise). It did make me cackle hysterically at her suggestions for 'overdue baby' sex. She suggests.... wait for it... Sex on your back (can any of you lie on your back?)with your legs round your partner's shoulders (can you get your legs that high? Anyone fancy sex, - ie DP pushing down on already cramped bump - in that position?) and then after it's all over, he twists your nipples (LaT's patience wearing thin) every ten minutes (cue LaT losing her composure and lamping DH) while you fall asleep (erm, no).

Thanks for advice everyone, I know there are probably places to post these questions on MN specifically but feel like I can trust the advice from you all better, so thanks.
Gizmo and filly sounds like the same experience. Sadly tried infacol before one feed today and poor wee DS has been vomited up his entire feed twice since then so it does not seem to agree with him. I am prob guilty of not winding him enough after some feeds especially when it seems to upset him or hejust wants to sleep or eat some more. He often tries to fling his head back down towards my boob when I am trying to burp him, actually works much better when DH does it as he cant smell the milk, cant rely on DH being willing to do this when he goes back to work though. Have tried different positions but he seems to like over the shoulder best. La T, the gulping is pretty much as filly describes it, its like if you felt depserately in need of a drink of water and had to drink it really fast. I also never make him wait for a feed BTW. Oh and HV should be coming this week and she will let me know about bf groups in area.
Anyway DH is currently walking him up and down stairs just now which seems to help, better go and get ready to feed him as he will be hungry again after sicking up all his last feed.
On a lighter note, started on the real nappies today and wee Fergus looks hilarious with his new giant bottom, poor thing looks quite deformed, can still manage fit clothes on him though.
Congrats Always Hopeful, Hope things are going well Woofie and hope everyone else is about to pop.
Thanks again for help and advice everyone, its so nice to have people to rely on.

congratulations to all the new arrivals and lovely names

Goodname - my DS was a terrible feeder and suffered from wind very badly. We didn't find a 'cure', but a couple of things which did at least help:

• try bf'ing with him lying on top of you if you can if you think you might have an overactive letdown (a bit awkward at first) - that way gravity is helping him with the speed of the milk.
• raise the mattress at the head end of his crib/cot - we struggled to get ds to burp properly after a feed, but this at least seemed to settle him a little so he could sleep
• gently bicycle his legs while he's lying on his back

I'm the very last on our list so 36+5 today, but really hoping I'll go early. I went into labour on my due date last time, and going a couple of weeks early this time would suit perfectly Having lots of BHs and low down pain, but I guess that could continue for weeks. Still, spending lots of quality time with DS which is really lovely so guess there is an upside to baby staying put for a bit longer...

Congratulations alwayshopeful on the birth of George,lovely cute name

LaTrucha pmsl,who is this crazy woman author?? Has she had kids?? Hahaha. If DH even thought about coming anywhere near me at the moment i would swing for him i am sure,good god he is winding me up beyond belief Anyway,it is 4.30 a.m and i am wide awake,had some VERY strong pains last night,almost like baby was 'burrowing!' could this be her fully engaging? I am already 2 5ths? Also having some strong BH's this morning,hope it kicks off before my hospital appointment this afternoon,its for a growth scan I already know its bloody big!

Laurie - Laurence Elliot if we're being formal- arrived at 2.15 this morning, weighing 7lb11. Managed to birth him naturally into the water, so am really thrilled with that after a tortuous, medicalised birth first time round. 26 hrs from first contraction to birth, so that's an improvement too. So far he looks like ds1 did when tiny, but is much much more chilled- hardly a cry out of him yet, just lots of looking about and cute little noises. And touch wood he seems to be a natural at bf - am going to stay in MLU til it's properly established.

Hope everyone's doing well. Looking forward to lots more babies this week. Wx

Oh hurrah that it went so well woofie. And wonderful choice of name (Lawrence is still one of our top 2 contenders if this is a boy, and Elliot is already ds' middle name!).

Congratulations woofie. What a beautiful name

yay woofie and welcome to he world Laurence,you sound so relaxed woofie,hope its catching Have a lovely cosy first day with your gorgeous bundle

Congrats woofie on the arrival of Laurie!

Congrats Woofie and a great name. Glad everything is going well.

La T found that book description v v funny. She must be a total mad woman!

Morning ladies,

Congratulations Woofie - I'm glad that went so well Lovely name.

Sheila Kitzinger is someone I actually respect (or perhaps respected, until I read some of the things in that book). She's been a campaigner for less medicalised births and home births and runs an organisation helping women who have had traumatic births. She has had 5 children at home. Basically, she's a good egg. That sex description, though, had me very .

As did her brief mention of a c-section - essentially it's 'best not to have one'. And she says nothing about VBAC (although she may do elsewhere), preparing for or recovering from c-section. It's essentially something for her, it seems, something that shouldn't happen and didn't seem to be classed as childbirth at all. Well, not for me and DD - we would both have been dead without one. So was very under impressed, even angered, by that.

Welcome Laurie and well done Woofie, hope you're having a lovely chilled first day together

And thanks LaT for making me absolutely crack up late last night when I was feeling knackered, braxton-hicksy and miserable

Welcome and congratulations to all the new arrivals and mummies. Some great names on this thread.

Haven't been on for a few days as we have the in-laws staying this week. They've gone out this morning so I'm chilling out with MN for a while.

If anyone else is up for a baby poo conversation I'm getting quite concerned about Alice. She hasn't done a poo since 6am on sunday morning, so over 48 hours now. I have phoned HV and left a message for them to get back to me as I'm not sure if I should be getting her checked out. She seems fine apart from this, plenty of wet nappies, seems contented and getting more alert and looks as though she's putting on weight (not been weighed since last wednesday). All poos since it changed from meconium have been mustardy yellow and she was going several times a day until friday evening, then just one massive poo on sunday morning and nothing since. Any ideas anyone?

Ah congrats to the new arrivals the announcements made me smile.

1 1/2 weeks to go here and I am absolutely starving all the time but I can't eat too much or I get nauseous. There's not enough food in the house for me to eat...

My weight gain has stopped in the last 3 weeks so I'm hoping Connie won't be too much longer. On the other hand as my DH is in Scotland much of the working week and I'm in the East Midlands I hope that she'll decide to arrive when he's home.

Don't you all wish for a crystal ball so appropriate childcare arrangements/ DH's work schedules could be arranged?

Hurray Woofie and AlwaysHopeful and welcome Laurie and George!
AlwaysHopeful, if a sweep can lead to such a speedy delivery I think I might be quite up for it!! - Thanks everyone else for your input on sweeps - quite a mixed bag. I think it will be worth it on Friday as I'll be term + 10 and if I'm lucky it might kick start things so that the baby arrives over the weekend - v. convenient as I'm doubtful that self-employed dp will take much time off during the week!

LaT - That's classic! I've gently broached the sex topic with dp and didn't see him actually cringe at the thought - It's the last thing I want to do but being induced is even laster!!

greensnail - When ds was tiny, he often went 3 days without a poo and sometimes it was 5 or 6 days - by which time I was becoming a bit concerned but all seemed to be fine! The only side effect was that he seemed to become a bit more sleepy if he hadn't been for a few days. I just figured that there was very little waste being created from breast milk. other times it would be 4 times a day so no rhyme nor reason. I would only be concerned if there were few wet nappies or if she seemed out of sorts.

Thanks Madamefreckle and earlyonemorning. I knew it was normal for older bf babies to go a while between poos, but just a bit surprised that Alice is doing it so early on. DD1 literally pooed constantly at this age so it seems they're on the opposite ends of the spectrum as far as their bowels go.

Have to take Alice for her hearing test this afternoon as she failed the one in hospital after she was born, so I think I'll pop into the HV clinic and get her weighed just to check she's putting on ok to set my mind at rest. You'd think i'd be a bit less neurotic with baby no.2 wouldn't you!

Hi All,

Haven't been logged on since my last day in the office before I started maternity leave back at the end of May. My oh my lots of babies since then. Congratulations to:

Mampam on the birth of Tilly
Goodname - Fergus
Bump- Hannah
GG - James and Douglas
DIMB - Zoe
Alwayshopeful - George
Woofie - Laurie

So exciting to hear of all the new arrivals. I'm enjoying maternity leave and spending time with DD even though I am pretty huge and tired now. Will do my best to log on and keep updated with all the goings on.

Congratulations to all the June births so far. I'm hoping to join you shortly... but I don't think baby is being quite as keen to arrive.

I have managed to look at the thread a few times recently but not to post - yup, going from one to two DCs is proving quite time-consuming.

First of all, GG - hope things are going ok with James and Douglas and that they come home this week. Congratulations

And congratulations to DIMB on the arrival of Zoe, Alwayshopeful for George and Woofie for Laurie. I agree with everyone who says what a very splendid group we are for choosing lovely names.

Things fine with me - apart from the ongoing struggle of balancing my DS' needs with Alice's. But I got discharged by MWs on Friday - saucepanmam and I basically got similar pants advice from MWs a few days ago about feeding every 2 hrs, pumping and general unhelpful stuff - as confirmed on the BF section. But my final visit was from a lovely MW, who I remember thinking was great when I had DS, and she said if you think BF is going well, then trust your instincts, it is (although it takes a lot of confidence to do that). Alice was back up to birthweight, so that should be my last encounter with a MW, ever.

Meanwhile I have done something silly - during a tussle with DS about putting his socks on, on Sunday, I popped one of my CS stitches. I am really furious with myself, as I was healing so well. For the time being I'm keeping an eye on it, but guess I will have to see the GP if it gets worse.

anyway, good luck everyone with imminent arrivals - it looks like there's about to be a break in the showers, so think I'll go out while I can.