May 2010: Final call for May babies - please exit the waiting lounge & head for the arrivals desk!

[cupcakefairy]

New thread to welcome some more new babies! Let's have a flurry this weekend please!

Good luck with the sweep hbmummy

I'm so tired this am - Molly has been a feeding monster the past 12 hours. Since she was born my boobs have been v engorged in the mornings but not today as she's already drank it all overnight. Feel like a wrung up dish cloth.

CONGRATULATIONS Mummymunchkins!!!! Myfirst, Mummymunchkins, Mollycuddles and Sassles thank you for sharing your birth stories! I just love reading about how it all happened for you. OMG Mummymunchkins, wow, in the car! - well done! Sassles, so sorry you've been through the wringer, but you sound like you're recovering well!

Hollyoaks very glad to hear that you and Grace are home and things seem to be going well!!

Itshappened I hope that Florence's reflux gets better that sounds just awful!!! Poor thing!

Mollycuddles I am also drained this morning, having been sucked dry by the milk vampire during the night!

HBMummy I hope that the sweep gets things started for you, I'm sending good labour vibes your way!!

Carikube, SK, Ali, Hobnob Thank you for your support, glad I'm not crazy in feeling broody already and sad about it being my last baby. I know I probably could have another, but the financial strain would be too much and also I'm not getting any younger and suffered enough in this second pregnancy to know I should quit while I'm ahead! (also what if a third baby was BIGGER!!!?) Ali, LOL about your son's questions! I'm sure my DS1 will be coming up with some gems as he gets more sophisticated, too!

Alle I hope the BF gets easier for you in the coming weeks, sounds like you're doing all the right things so hang in there! If it doesn't work out in the end, don't feel too badly, you're really trying!!

Pamelat what a cheeky boy staying awake all day when you were on your own! Glad you survived!

Booboo I'm sure going overdue isn't the result of something you are or aren't doing - I went 2 weeks overdue with DS1 and I was doing all of the things they said to do, walking, curries, pineapple, raspberry leaf tea, sex, avoided all the wrong foods took supplements, etc. and I was only 32. This time I'm 35 (nearly 36) and didn't do much of anything, and DS2 was 5 days over the dating scan due date but bang on my LMP due date. I think each pregnancy can just be very different, predicting the due date is so random.

Cupcake don't worry too much about what the MW said about your labour, sorry the sweep didn't work. I don't know why some MWs are so insensitive, I doubt she can really tell what sort of labour you're going to have at this point, as things can change so rapidly in the course of labour beginning. Don't let the comments get to you - if you are confident and can stay as relaxed as possible you are going to have a fine time. Scaring you before it even begins is just wrong and it makes me !!!!

Arrrgghhh! Train cake stuck to the pan so trying again today!!!! It's been a while since I've made this one and I'm out of practice! Just hope this one turns out otherwise I will have a very disappointed nearly three-year-old on my hands!

I hope that the weather is as nice for all of you as it is for us here. Sending good sleep schedule vibes to all the mummies and hoping labour triggers to those waiting!! It's almost as exciting to see who will go next as it was to see who went first!!

Hello ladies, yep, still pregnant! 40+14.
Hospital yesterday was fine, everything normal and consultant happy that baby not at risk at all so induction put back to Friday. I am still absolutely desperate for baby to come before then though- COME ON!! But so far still no signs which I am massively gutted about
By Friday I think I will just be happy to give in and be able to meet my baby but I'm SO terrified about a huge long ordeal with intervention sk I hope I have an induction like yours but unlikely I guess seeing as this was no4 for you!

Mw thinks baby is back to back & that's why labour not starting as head isn't fully on cervix...but consultant said baby wasn't back to back anyway, have been told to do lots of swivelling on my birth ball to get head to move! And once again, some very unsexy sex that had no effect last night, hmph so desperate and tearful and feeling very hard done by now.

mogg hope everything's going ok for you.

mummymunchkins to your story that's crazy!

mollycuddles to stupid mw! Lol, would have been amazing if you could have projectile vomited all over her so lovely to read about how besotted you are with Molls.

ali here's hoping for today...but NOT tomorrow!!

homebirthmummy hope sweep works for you!

Did racquel not get on yesterday? Hope that means things are happening for her!

sassles goodness, sounds like a horrible ordeal glad things are improving now and massive kudos for staying upbeat through that! Btw I cracked up at your 'was that funny folks?'

Right, off for more swivelling and more jigsaw puzzles...

THE NEW ARRIVALS

11 April LuckyC, GIRL MATILDA, 14.47
15 April ForcesSweetheart, GIRL, MOLLY, 10.27, 7lbs 6ozs
16 April Littleowls, BOY JOEL, 14.40, 4lb 8oz
16 April Memorylapse, GIRL, OLIVIA GRACE, 6.17pm, 6lbs 11.5ozs
23 April Sophie2008, BOY, COREY DREW 7lbs 2.5oz and GIRL, MIRIAM ELIZABETH 7lbs 4oz
27 April Brightredballoon, GIRL, 10am, 7lb 12oz
27 April Pagen, BOY, JACK JOHN, 7.30am, 9lbs 2ozs
29 April littleonemum, GIRL, LUX EMILIE, 9.40pm, 7lbs 7 ozs
29 April mummymunchkins, BOY, ZAKARIYA IDRIS, 7lbs 4oz
04 May fiveisanawfullybignumber, GIRL, FLORENCE MARGARET GRACE, 6.14pm,
04 May hormonalmum, GIRL
05 May sweetkitty, BOY, JACOB DAVID JOHN, 4.52am, 8lbs 5ozs
05 May Mustbemadno3 GIRL, LILLIA VICTORIA SOFIA, 05.05am 6lbs 8ozs
06 May Alle, BOY, OSCAR, 12.20pm 6lbs 8ozs
06 May alexw, GIRL, JULIA MAUD, 7lbs2oz
07 May TwentiethCenturyHeffa, BOY, CORIN, 7lbs1oz
07 May sheepgomeep, GIRL, JESSICA, 9lbs 12.5oz
08 May Lizzie9442, GIRL, LOUISE, 9.01pm, 10lbs
10 May Hobnobfanatic, GIRL
11 May 30ish, BOY, OLIVER JAMES, 10:05am, 9lbs 7oz.
12 May kateyjane, BOY, THOMAS EDWARD, 11.29am, 7lbs 12ozs
13 May MarquiseDeMerteuil, BOY, FELIX BENJAMIN, 5lbs 15oz
14 May itshappenedagain, GIRL, FLORENCE ELEANOR, 5.22am, 8lb 6oz
14 May TomlinTowers, GIRL, SOPHIE MAE, 8.43am, 9lbs 7oz
15 May pigleychez, GIRL, LUCY OLIVIA, 9.30am 7lbs 12oz
15 May slipperthief, BOY, DANIEL HENRY, 7.28pm, 8lbs 4oz
16 May Wibblela, GIRL, REFAELLA, 12.22am, 8lbs 4oz
17 May pamelat, BOY, ALEXANDER, 12.14pm, 7lbs 8oz
17 May Morph2, BOY, JACOB ANTHONY, 7.50pm, 6lbs 11ozs
18 May squirtsmum, GIRL, REBECCA LOUISE, 1.37am, 9lbs 14.5oz
18 May MinnieMummy, GIRL, 8.31am, 10lbs 11oz
18 May KatnKankles, GIRL, AVA ROSE, 8lbs 14oz
19 May Sweetpeasmum, GIRL, SOPHIE ELIZABETH, 6.38am
20 May Sassles, BOY, SAMUEL, 9lbs 4oz
20 May KaffaCakes, BOY, ALBERT STANLEY, 1.09am, 7lbs 8.5oz
20 May Den26, BOY, RIAN ALEXANDER, 7lbs 13oz
21 May Carikube, GIRL, ALICE JANE, 2.17am, 8lbs 5oz
21 May peakyispreggers, BOY, FINN, 2.47am, 7lbs 12oz
21 May Gils, GIRL, MELISSA ANNE, 3.38am, 8lbs 10oz
21 May Rachelfruitloop, BOY, ERIC DAVID, 3.48am, 11lbs 2oz
23 May newmomma, GIRL, 6.34am, 8lbs 12.5oz
24 May Mollycuddles, GIRL, MOLLY LETITIA ROSE, 2.24am, 8lbs 3oz
24 May LuckyMiller, BOY, IRA JACOB, 8lbs 2oz
25 May Hollyoaks, GIRL, GRACE ANNABEL
25 May JamesandtheGiantBanana, GIRL, 7lbs
25 May Nimk, GIRL, 6lbs 8oz
26 May myfirstbump, GIRL, DARCEY ELIZABETH, 2.18am 8lbs 15oz
27 May first1, GIRL, CHLOE GRACE, 8lbs 3oz
28 May AnAngelWithin, GIRL, WILLOW, 00.34, 8lbs 15oz
29 May schipo, BOY, HUXLEY, 4.40am, 7lbs 13oz

THE WAITING LOUNGE

06 May - DorotheaPlenticlew, 35, #2, GIRL, Edinburgh
08 May - Asparagusaddict, #1
12 May - Haribolicious 36, #2, BOY
12 May - LivsHannah 27, #2, BOY
13 May - Cith, 30, #1
13 May - TinyVeins, 29, #1
14 May - CornishSAMum, 33, #1, Cornwall
16 May - MoggMum, 38, #1
16 May - Vicky204, 34, #1
19 May - cupcakefairy, 25, #1
20 May - LolaAnn, 22, #1, BOY
20 May - Aim, #2, BOY
20 May - homebirthmummy4, #4
21 May - Suey2, 39, no2, GIRL
21 May - Mumofeag, 34, #3 BOY
23 May - RacquelWelsh, 38, #1 BOY
24 May - Yorky, 31, #3
26 May - booboomonster, 35, #2 GIRL, SW London
26 May - AliMouse, 40, #3 BOY
26 May - Glastocchick, 34, #1
31 May - ande, #4
31 May - thegauntlet, #1

rachelfruitloop I hope your cake turns out ok and happy birthday to your little boy for tomorrow - mine is so hyped at being 4. We got him his first watch, how grown up! Weirdly, now I really really don't want to go into labour because it's DS2's birthday, I'm alot happier now the pressure is off. Maybe I just needed to get that date out of the way first. Who knows!

It's my sister's birthday on monday and she would probably even more jealous than my DS2 if my DS3 is born on her day. And she is 38!

It's sunny here too - just had a couple of hours in the park and we're off to the cinema this avo. Happy days!

Hope all are well and those overdueys spontaneously go into labour today!

Morning all

I am absolutely shattered but surviving, my goal each day is to get a shower and all three of us dressed, anything more after that is a bonus. Trying to stay on top of all the washing, bf babies seem to make so much more mess than dd1 did on formula .

Sassles - you've been through the mill, hope your feeling better.

SK - I also have a little girl who will not sleep in the moses basket past bedtime

Is this normal for bf babies to feed much more often at night? Grace fed on and off from 9pm till 1am last night and was then up again at 2am! How can you tell when they are feeding and when they are using you like a dummy? I'm finding it hard to know the difference but sure I'm just a comforter for most of the night.

Hi everyone,

I just had an email from a colleague at work which cheered me up - thought I'd share...

My boss is currently in the midst of a really horrible funding panel that I would normally chair and she is doing it all by herself. Ha ha!

So, just remember, whether you are knackered from breast feeding, knackered from being hugely pregnant or just knackered, it sure as hell beats being at work!!! And I've got a whole year off - yipee!

cupcake You must be really fed up waiting this long. Sending you lots of labour vibes before Friday!

Memorylapse Yeah, I was just really unlucky with the epidural and again with the blood patch not working. For the record, when the epidural was in it was absolutely bliss for those of you still waiting. My thing was pretty uncommon, so don't let that put anyone off having one.

rachel Well done you on your 11 pound delivery. I'm in awe. Hope that your cake works out this time.

homebirthmummy4 Good luck with the sweep!

itshappenedagain so sorry to hear about the reflux. That's great that she has put on 5 oz. My sister's baby has allergies to dairy, nuts etc. I know that she did not eat any dairy while breastfeeding as this cause reflux in him. It seemed to help. There is also a dairy free formula, but her baby didn't like it. I'll ask her for tips when she back her hols. She is trixymalixy on this site if you can locate her I'm sure she would share her experiences.

mummymunckins That is an amazing birth story. That will be one to tell baby boy when he's older. I wonder if he will grow up with a touch of the dramatics after that entrance to the world and rightly so!

mollysuddles What a prat of a midwife. I would have been raging with her too. i was lucky that the midwifes were amazing almost the whole time in hosp. Up till the last night and day when shift changed and they were not pleasant. Think it was part of the driving factor of signing myself out. They seem to forget that you are not a little girl, but an adult who knows what is best for them and they should listen to what you are telling them. Congrats on Molly. I bet you are smitten.

myfirst ouch. Hope the stiches feel better soon. Congrats on your lovely new bundle of joy.

hollyoakes That must have been truly scary. So glad that Grace has had some dirty nappies! Never thought I would write that dirty nappies was a good thing! You sound like you have done so well to cope through this and sending speedy recovery vibes to Grace.

brightred not sure about the AB's due to section. My waters were broken and there were traces of meconium in waters, so not sure if that makes a difference? They did find traces of the Strep B on Sam, so maybe due to that too. His bloods came back a 4 after the 2 days and 3 or less is usually normal, but they retested him and came back a 3, so thankfully didn't need another 2 days of AB's.

We're doing great in second day of no headache. Relief! DH still has rest of this week and another week, so he will hopefully get some chill out time now.

Breastfeeding going well. Sam has some fussy moments where he cries, but doesn't really want milk, but makes head shakkng movements when DH comforting him, but then refuses nipple again. No dirty nappy, no burps needed. Took good few hours to settle him. Think he was maybe overtired? Because of the spinal headache, I've had to drink a lot of caffeine as it helps, so think it was maybe making him restless too.

Had great night last night tho. Fed till 12am then Sam slept till 5am! Amazing!

SK - Corin won't sleep in his basket at all. He likes his bouncy chair but not for long

Homebirthmummy - good luck for the sweep.

Congratulations to all new mummies

Alle01 - I used Silverettes on my nipples which helped them. Pricey though

Glad everyone's surviving their first days alone

had sweep. was ok, uncomfortable but not painful. hopefully will work v soon.

Afternoon all.. cupcake am still here but after second sweep yesterday, woke this morning just after 5am with what feels like bad period pain and backache which has been off and on at least every 45 minutes all morning. Pain is not enough to stop me in my tracks and passes within 30 seconds but have not had anything like this at all before. We'll see. LO has until 6am Friday morning to arrive otherwise it's off to hospital for induction. Here's hoping for both of us it's not necessary.. and for everyone else still waiting, it can't be long now

Sorry can't keep up now either with all the feeding and staring at baby to be done.

I second what everyone has said about it being lovely to meet your baby whether or not the birth turned out to be exactly as planned. To be honest I'm quite pleased not to have had my home birth because I made a lot more noise than I was expecting . Nice not to have put the neighbours through that.

MDM - thanks for reassurance re lack of nipple leakage before birth. Things started to flow as soon as labour was done and I'm thrilled and surprised that that my poor old body is up to it.

Re going it alone - i guess i'll have to cross that bridge when i get to it but I don't know how I'll do it. Things were bad enough the other day when dh went out for a couple of hours. Itshappenedagain - I'm in awe!

Our baby won't sleep in basket either but seems he quite likes the hammock we've just taken delivery of. He's never slept so long out of anyone's arms during the day.

Sassles - wow! what a hell of an induction - I think you deserve a medal for getting through it so cheerfully.

Fingers crossed for moggmum and everyone else on the brink..x

Re moses baskets, we've figured out that DD2 will only sleep in hers if it's light and there's noise going on around. DH wants to get tough so is putting her in it during the day so she gets used to it with the hope she'll eventually sleep in it at night as well. I've got all emotional about this as I have decided I like having her in bed with us but that's not something he's willing to put up with longterm.

I won't be on my own until next week but today DD1 has decided that her favourite game is climbing the stairs (having never gone up more than one before today) so between her trying to make a dash out in to the hall to go climbing (we haven't yet put a gate at the bottom) and trying to poke/slap DD2 without us noticing, I'm going to need eyes in the back of my head next week

another one here with a moses basket hater! Olivia snoozs quite happily in my arms or in her chair but never sleeps for more than ten minutes in her basket.

caricube..I remember vividly having to watch ds1 like a hawk when he was born as dd1 who was 2 when he was born kept pinching him..depositing toy boxes full of toys on him etc..he got his own back though..hes nearly a foot taller than her now

Hollyoaks i try and wake DD2 for feeds during the day if she goes longer than 3hrs as otherwise she definitely feeds more often at night.

Yay racquel! I so hope that is the beginning of labour and it progresses quickly...w're against the clock here!

having had a sweep today i now have backache and am pretty uncomfortable whenever i move. hope this is the start of something! i dont do horoscopes AT ALL. but my dd3 tells me today that it says 'something life changing is about to happen' (she then went on to tell me a pile of conspiracy theories re. moon landings and 9/11 and elvis and michael jackson etc, so obviously her magazine is full of the proverbial but hey!)

homebirthmummy4, RacquelWelsh and moggmum all best of luck!! Will be thinking of you all tonight.

Had no signs of labour today so all boding well for no birth on DS2's birthday tomorrow. Shouted at DS1 today as he was being lazy and ordering me around - feel bad now, I'm so tired and grumpy in the afternoons, sort of took it out on him.

Made some killer flapjack this afternoon - it was a well timed flapjack shoved into my mouth that got me through my last labour. I recommend it highly!

I'm so looking forward to not having a huge belly in this lovely sunshine very soon - so of all you ladies slipping back into your pre preg clothes!

cupcakefairy I missed you - good luck too!

Hello all, 2nd day alone with DS. Made the decision to give up breast feeding this afternoon but an hours nap has persuaded me to continue.

Have had 2 terrible days of feeding, feeding hourly or hour and halfly and Alex fretting all day and constantly rooting for food.

Last night he woke at 130am and didnt really resettle until 6am, then my DD wakes at 7am. It was all too much for me

however have decided to give it another week or so as apparently days 14-16 are growth days (??) never really sure whether I believe that but it helps

He has put lots of weight on, 11oz in a week so he is getting milk. Its just coping with the frequency (for me).

A friend has told me to always offer 30 minutes from each side. Alex was feeding from one side for 20/30 mins and that was it really so maybe I was not offering enough.

He was awake from 8am until 330pm today, fretting and feeding. I gave him 40ml of formula but he carried on fretting. I think if it had immediately settled him I would have become a convert.

I took him in to work for a visit this morning (I only live 10 mins away) and felt a failure as he just cried . I had to go and sit in a girly office downstairs and feed him and he was still hungry half an hour later. Its just felt all a bit too much.

Anyway, sorry for me post.

Will read everything else now, feels quite therapeutic to have written that down.

re moses basket, Alex will only sleep in his at night! Strange isnt't it.

Argghhh.. June already! Wheres this year going!?!
Been lurking but every time I go to post someone wants my attention!

Heffa- at your MIL letting herself in like that!

Racquel- How funny bumping into your MW like that. Shame it didnt there and then

Pamlet- Glad your first day went ok. Im sure the feeding will settle more soon.

Hobnob- Glad to hear your doing well.

Happenedagain- Poor Florence Great that shes responding well though and putting on weight.

Mummymunchkins- Congratulations Fab names. What a story though!- I too almost didnt make it to the hospital but would totally freak out giving birth in the car!

Moggmum- Inductions are necessarily all bad. At least you will get to hold your lovely newborn soon

Hollyoaks- Glad your first day alone went well

Alle- Hope your boobs improve soon

Sassles- How scary! but glad your both ok now

firstbump- glad it all went well.

Rachel- Good luck with the cake. I need to come up with some ideas for DD's birthday cake in July.

Cupcake- Glad everything went well with your scan. Hope something happens before Fri.

Alimouse- Satisfying isnt it hearing about all the stress your missing out on at work

homebirthmummy and Racquel- Fingers crossed this is the start for you both!

Took the girls (seems funny saying that!) to the local sensory room yesterday which they both enjoyed. Lucy seemed to enjoy watching the bubble tubes.

Took Lucy to be weighed this morning and feel happier now shes 7lb 11ozs and almost back up to her birth weight (7lb 12ozs). She has got into a bit of a routine of being awake in the mmornings from around 7 ish and today stayed awake till midday.... longest yet!

Today we have had friends visiting with thier 2 girls. They are 6 and 8 but have the same age gap between them as DD1 and lucy so picked up some tips from them The girls loved playing together and DD1's new bouncy castle has been a HUGE hit today

Fingers crossed for all you overdue mummies

Hello all just a quickie to update, my DD doesn?t seem to be sleeping tonight and has just come downstairs, having climbed out of the cot for the second time this evening. She is currently looking very pleased with herself sitting on the rug having a tea party. I can't face dragging her upstairs again just yet.

Anyway, had a sweep today which went ok - didn?t hurt at the time, though like homebirthmummy, I too have been feeling a bit back achy since, but so far nothing more significant has happened. Have another sweep booked for Friday morning? TMI alert - had a clearish show yesterday too so I'm hoping this all means something.

Raquel - good luck, I really hope this is the start of something. And good luck to Cupcake, Mogg, homebirthmum, and any other expectants! Cupcake - glad you were allowed to go on for longer, it?s good to hear that this is possible. I am willing you labour vibes - it has to happen soon, surely! Loads of luck.

Ali - I smiled at your work email. Very very good point made! Hope baby doesn?t come tomorrow, but the next day!

Hollyoaks, Itshappenedagain and others - good to hear you are surviving with 2. I am in awe! As each day goes by it somehow feels less likely I am ever going to have a newborn. I am struggling just looking after DD!

Good to hear from Shipo and pigley that alls going well!

Pamelat - sorry your breastfeeding is proving so hard. I remember it is so hard to be begin with, but does get easier. Good luck!

Here?s hoping something happens in the night!

Cupcake, booboo, homebirthmummy4, raquel and mogg - fingers crossed that things happen for you all tonight. And Ali - not tonight for you but the next day, given your wish not to have your baby on DS2's birthday tomorrow!

SK thanks for the recommendation for the kellymom website, will check it out! Sorry you've not been feeling well. It's hard enough with a small baby, without feeling rough too. I really hope you feel better soon.

Ali - I loved your post about this being better than being at work! I'm taking a year off too (that's the plan, anyway). I do quite miss all the people I work with, so am planning to take Felix in for a visit next week, as I've had such a lot of lovely e-mails from people asking after him and me.

Hollyoaks - glad you're all home safely and the breastfeeding is going well.

Pigley - glad we're not the only ones who had to wait ages for an appointment to register the birth. We phoned up on 17 May and the first appointment we could get was for 9 June !

Heffa at your MIL letting herself into your house! I think that might be rather too high a price to pay for having them handy!

Rachel - I really sympathise with your feelings of sadness that Eric is changing so quickly, and hobnob with your sadness when DD wouldn't fit into newborn clothes anymore. I had a similar feeling last week when I met up with the rest of my NCT group. Their babies are all about 2-4 weeks older than Felix, and much bigger. He looks so tiny and fragile in comparison. When I thought about Felix getting to be like them, I felt quite tearful. It's really silly of me, I know. I said to DH later that I want him to stay tiny forever! I know that I'm just being ridiculous. I feel quite cross with myself that I left it so late to have my first baby. I never felt particularly broody or very maternal until I got pregnant, but I'm absolutely adoring being a mum, and would quite like to have a big brood!

Sassles - good to hear from you. What a traumatic time you had. I'm so pleased you're back home, feeling better and enjoying life with Sam. Good for your DH too, he sounds like an absolute star.

MFB - sympathies on the stitches. They do get better - I promise! Mine were incredibly painful for about a week, but had improved enough for me to stop taking paracetamol after about 7-10 days (can't remember the exact day). Around the 2 week mark I stopped sitting on extra cushions and now after 3 weeks I feel back to normal.

Schipo - lol at lots of staring at the baby to be done! I know exactly what you mean!

Have got MIL and FIL staying at the moment. They're pretty easy guests fortunately, and seem quite taken with Felix (he's their first grandchild). DH cooked us all a barbecue for dinner and Felix obliged by falling asleep just before we sat down to eat! He should be about to wake up for a feed actually. Better go and get ready for bed before he wants some boob!

Hi everyone,

Well, you may realise from the crazy time of day I'm on here that something is up. I woke up at two with back pain and after about 6 trips to the loo I finally got up at 3 and took some notice. I've been having contractions every ten minutes or so since. Took a couple of paracetomol and tried to go back to sleep but it was more uncomfortable lying down so I'm up again.

I've been trying to rationalise the whole having two children with the same birthday thing. Poor Jake, but it won't really matter for the first couple of years and after that he'll be into the whole having a party at a venue thing with friends. I think bribery might just play an important influencing factor in his coping ability too! He'll just have to deal with it.

We're just going to say that his brother was so excited to meet him that he wanted to come out on his birthday and not miss the party! Yay! I'm going to get MIL and my folkes round this morning and we'll do cake and presents. I just don't want him to feel abandoned on his birthday when I finally have to go in to hospital!

I'm still vaguely hoping this is a false alarm but I've been at it for nearly 3 hours now so that's proving otherwise. Got a hot water bottle shoved up my top on the small of my back which is really helping. I'm so relieved that I've gone into labour without an induction and I'll be finally meeting my new little fella soon that that is my overriding feeling at the moment!

Will keep you all posted - good luck all you others, hope you are in a similar place to me!