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

Oh - and I'm glad that I'm not the only one who found Kitzinger's position suggestion utter madness. I read it out to hubby and he looked almost hopeful for a moment for something other than doggy style until he remembered that I haven't been able to be on my back since about March. Still - am getting some cramps when I do let hm get near me.

ps: goodname, just wanted to comment on co-sleeping. I started with DS when he was 6 weeks old and am certain we would have had a much happier first 6 weeks if I'd done it from start (they were grim times!). In the booklet that I got this time from the hospital about coming home with your baby, I was amazed to see them recommending that if you're BF, then co-sleeping can make life much easier as long as you follow the various guidelines. I've got a bedside cot, but even moving Alice into that wakes her unless she is really fast asleep, so I am co-sleeping a lot of the time. We had no problems getting DS out of our bed, around 18 months I remember - and co-sleeping was really what made it possible for me get enough sleep to function when I went back to work from mat leave.

Hello all - will just post a brief birth story while I have time. Very different experience 3rd time around - first twinge 8pm on Friday night, and they were just that, twinges really, roughly every hour right through until 4am when they started coming every 20mins. At 8am they were 10 mins apart ,but quite irregular (i.e sometimes 15min), however the midwife practice I am with over here said that as it was my 3rd and they are an hour away from the hospital - they wanted to know as soon as anything happened. So I called them and they were wonderful - they didn't delay in saying they would come in and wait around the hospital until I was ready to come in. I was worried about wasting their time with a false alarm as it didn't feel like my first 2 which were quite fast to progress.

All morning I was like a watched kettle with my DH and MIL monitoring every movement, so I needed to get out and took my DSs to the playground. There they became more intense, although not uncomfortable and went to every 5 mins, so I decided to just go into the hospital as the midwife had said the birthing centre was quiet anyway (miracle!). They slowed down on the way there (typical) and once there I had to wait 20mins for one, but again the MW wasn't at all pushy - I was really lucky.
She examined me and I was relieved to hear I was 5cm and this was it, so admitted at 1pm. Spent 3hrs walking around and managing the contractions easily - nothing like as painful as first 2 labours. I also didn't have a calm period or transition like the previous 2. Instead, it got really bad around 4pm and MW examined me to say I was 8.5cm. I needed serious back massage and was struggling to manage, but they were not one right after the other, so I had time to recover. Waters broke and felt strangely warm and soothing - then I spent 40 mins pushing before she appeared in a rush. I was more worn out than I remember from the first 2, and didn't trust myself to hold her for a few mins, but recovery has been great this time.

Congratulations to all the other new Mums and I hope the rest of you will not be waiting long. They are of course worth the wait and the hard work. We are so besotted with Zoe... having worries about BF but will post more on that later....

Hello - still early days with BF here, but just like my previous 2 she likes to suck for long time and I find it painful, but feed her whenever she wants and wake her after 3hrs to feed as I've always had trouble keeping the babies weight up and assume it is low supply.

I've decided it will always be paiful at the beginning so this time I am not stressing about that. But last night I found great website with videos of latching etc. www.nbci.ca
Here I learned stripping her down to her nappy kept her alert enough to feed efficiently, and also I compress the boob a little and watch for swallowing rather than just sucking. This has made such a diff to us both. She seems happier and settles immediately after a feed. I hope it can be of help to some of you too...
I know it is early days and today being day 3 with milk perhaps coming in will be tough, but for now I am felling more positive than previous.

My DSs were initially v.excited and so delighted to meet Zoe at the hospital, but are being just a little more demanding now that we are home. I knew it would be tough and I hope it will work out soon, fingers crossed.

dimb that sounds like excellent breastfeeding advice, glad its helping you and Zoe. I've also had to strip Alice off to her nappy a few times to help her stay alert to feed, and watching and listening for swallowing can be really reassuring if you're not too sure.

In case anyone's waiting on tenterhooks for news of Alice's bowel movements, we saw HV this pm (who hadn't been told we'd been discharged from MW so that's why we hadn't heard from her) who got the GP to have a look as her tummy was distended and she was straining and looking uncomfortable. GP said bowel sounds ok etc and HV suggested using a lubricated cotton bud to stimulate just inside Alice's anus to try and get things moving. Proud to report that we've followed this advice to excellent effect this afternoon, Alice has had a massive clearout and is looking much more comfortable

greensnail

Skin to skin is great for stimulating sleepy babies. So is the 'recline position' - basically you recline on a sofa, legs slightly apart. The baby straddles the leg on the side you want it to feed, leaning up your tummy from and latches on that way. First time I did it I couldn't believe it - my sleepy little girl raised her head groped around, literally climed up me and latched herself on! Brill.

Haven't seent hat site, but absolutely LOVE the clips on here and Jack Newman in general. Spent hours on there when I was in dire straits with DD. Really helped.

Hello, and congrats to anyone I haven't congratulated yet on their new arrival!

Gabriel was weighed yesterday and had put on 90g since Thurs so nearly 4oz- yay! I was most impressed, mw less so In the literature from the hospital there is an NHS breastfeeding booklet which says, amongst other things, that one way to tell they are getting enough milk is if they start to put weight on AFTER THE FIRST 2 WEEKS. Also some info re jaundice which says bf babies may have jaundice for up to 10 weeks. Am going to show these leaflets to the next "concerned" mw to raise the issues. Have got faffy-sounding HV coming tomorrow- joy! Then either hv/mw thurs to reweigh Gabes. I am 99% certain he is fine, he is eating and pooihng loads, awake more and v alert. I am struggling to get much milk out when expressing- 4oz sun, 3oz yesterday and so far 1.5oz today. Had horrendous night only bec dd woke up at 3.30, waking Gabriel up when had only gone down at 1.30am. I had to feed him then get in with her for a bit. Spent this am in bed as my mum came round. Oh and I started bleeding again yesterday, so back out with the giant maternity pads and considering whether it was bad enough to go to hospital. It's stopped again today, so it may have been because I hoovered up on Sunday and was generally more mobile than I had been.

Good work ont he weight gain Saucepanman. Sound liek he's doing fab. Best indicator of getting enough milk is wet and dirty nappies, as you say.

It always amazes me how little HV read of the leaflets they hand out. I remember going to see mine about cow's milk when DD was weaning to check something I had read in the leaflet she had given me in the previous session. She had a go at me, as if it was my idea - and I was only checking the idea becasue I wasn't sure. I showed her her own leaflet and she was but not as much as me.

Congrats Woofie - love the name

I really thought somethng was starting off last night, really bad back ache. Had a bath & then was fine - think I was lounging on the sofa in a strange position that did it! Had a mw appointment today, she had offered me a sweep & I was in 2 minds as last time with dd it was really painful. Anyway decided to go for it & have one & was gutted as she couldn't do one, she examined me but i wasn't ready for one & the baby didn't seem to like it with her hand up there so she stopped. Have been booked in for an induction next tues if nothing has happened by then. Really hope it has as dd's 1st sports day is on the wed & really don't want to miss it, especially as don't want her feeling all left out even before the baby has arrived home.

HUGE congratulations to all of the new arrivals!!

STILL waiting Had a sweep on thurs and have been having tightenings since then which have progressed to nothing

Had another sweep today - nothing.

Will have ANOTHER on Thurs.

Am desperate to avoid an induction which will be on monday. I want my homebirth!!!

Congrats to Woofie on arrival of baby laurence!!!!
And love your birth story Dimb.
Sounds like all the new babies are doing really well. greensnail glad you got Alice moving again in the bowel department!

RnB try not to stress - I avoided induction by a day last time - you still have time!

Had my 37 week check today and shifted my induction out to the latest possible date which is Weds 16th June (38 weeks). These babies seem happy where they are and I want to give them the best chance of appearing naturally.

DH is concerned he might miss the England game if I go into labour this weekend .

laT PMSL at the very idea of lying on one's back with legs wrapped around DH's neck. Ho ho ho....

ooh and very pleased I cooked a mammoth quantity of ragu sauce so the freezer is jam packed.

Just a quick one which may give heart to those in the overdue club - I had a sweep this morning and I think I'm now in labour

myhand - I could definitely do with a crystal ball, as it's looking like dh isn't going to start work next week, but the week after, which means that he'll be in Greece for the week just before my due date - eek! And the in-laws are away that week too, so I'm a bit screwed if this baby does decide to put in an early appearance. He should find out for definite tomorrow what the timescales are, but he knows that I'm not impressed.

wwisa - do be careful young lady! Would it not be worth at least a call to check whether you need to get your stitches looked at?

Thanks for sharing your lovely birth story DIMB, and I'm very pleased that you've found some bf advice which has helped you.
Good to hear you sounding more positive on the bf front too saucepanman .

Good luck poguemahone!

at your lovely afternoon greensnail. I guess it sometimes helps that you are a nurse and thus not freaked by doing stuff like that!

Apols to anyone that I've missed.

Not a lot to report here, except that even dh keeps saying that I am getting bigger by the day. Goodness knows what weight they'll estimate the baby at at my next scan on Monday!

Good luck pogue mahone!!

csws - I'm apparently getting bigger by the day too. Unfotunately as I'm fed up I'm eating crap especially mars bars so if this baby doesn't come out soon I'll be the size of a bus.

Good luck Poguemahone!!
Congrats Woofie!
Saw MW today (40 + 9 ) and she reckoned nothing much happening....
I had the most terrible pains in the night, really full on, but they tailed off after an hour. This bit IS really horrible, all the "Is it isnt it" malarky!

Ooh good luck poguemahone, hope things are well on their way now.

greensnail - sounds like a good tip re the cotton bud. I'm a GP, never heard about this before. Since joining MN most of my preg / baby advice to patients has come from these forums!!!

39 weeks today, feeling well although woke early again today, 4.45am, no reason that I can fathom. Going for a pedicure later (!) then I think I'll try to have a nap - have never actually managed to get as far as the bed during the day so far as keep finding things to do on the way there (dusting/hoovering/etc, all the things I never had time to do when working...)

Good luck everyone, hope to hear some more baby news soon!

I'm booked in for a sweep today and am in two minds about whether to have it done or not. I'm five days overdue now and have been having painful twinges for a few weeks now. I'm keen to let baby make an appearance on his own and have also been put off by stories that say the sweep is painful and doesn't always work. But I'm also keen to get things moving. Does anyone know of a good reason why I shouldn't delay the sweep? It won't harm the baby being in there for a bit longer, will it? Sorry for the stupid questions! I'm really not sure what to do!

Hi all - 38+1 today and had some braxton hicks in the night which seem to be the first that I've noticed!

Bubs has been on the quieter side the last couple of days but has started kicking me now that I'm typing this which I hope is a great thing.

Anyone else at this stage? Am really hoping that bubs will put in an appearance soon cos really want to hold him and see him. I really hope that he'll put in an appearance before the end of next week and my nan reckons that I won't make it to my due date!

I keep getting these pushes on my bladder which I guess is the baby working his way down a bit more - he was 3/5 down last Sunday when I last saw the midwife and really hoping that when I see her on Sunday she'll tell me he's dropped more but I'm not sure!

I'm sorry this is all me me me but it is good to just type out what is going on in my head and it helps to know that other people feel the same!

This is my first baby and I was working on the whole oh my god i've got to get this out of me for the last couple of weeks but now seem to have come to the point where I've realised that it's gotta come out and now just want to see him.

Hope all is going ok for everyone else

Be good to hear how other people are doing and if there is anyone else similar to me out there - particularly if bubs has quietened down lately.

bluesnow yes mine has quieter days now & then but I think this is normal at this stage unless you've had no movements at all for a few hours, when it might be worth phoning your MW for advice. My DH can hear the baby's heartbeat through my abdomen which is always reassuring if it's having a quiet day.

Thanks Jo this one seems to like music so I've just been and put some on very loud and he was wriggling a bit so guess he is ok! See how it goes might ring unit and get advice just to reassure me but I guess as long as he is moving he is ok! When are you due?

Hi Ladies, I am a ex June thread member.

Just wanted to say HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to everyone here! Hope it all goes well for the rest of you who haven't "popped" yet!

Much Love

G x

Congrats to
DIMB & welcome Baby Zoe,
Alwayshopeful & welcome Baby George
Woofie & welcome Baby Laurie

its lovely logging in every day or 2 and seeing all the latest arrivals news.

hope ALL the new june mums and babies and doing well

Congratulations on all the latest arrivals! On maternity leave now so keeping up with the thread but have not managed to post.
37+4 now and ready for baby...plenty of braxton hicks and baby 3/5 engaged but guess I just have to be patient and wait!
bluesnowfalcon my baby is still moving plenty but it's more wriggly now rather than kicks, presumably as its running out of room, so the movements feel different. Also it has turned around from back to back when I could feel lots of legs and arms moving, now that is less pronounced. Had a quiet day last week and we also tried music, that soon woke it up!!!