The PESH deli for those who are realising there are real live baybees at the end of this.

[rots]

BESH BAYBEES
dontrythisathome, Bay Amaryllis born March 25.
Cheggers, twinz girlz, born April
FannyPriceless, boy, born June 8

UPDIFFED
CUNextTuesday, takes no shit from the Daily Mail, due June 28
IggyPiggy, The one who loves BUMSEX, due July 20
CurlyCasper, hospital botherer due July 21 (girl)
Skihorse, cradle snatching web geek, due July 22 (boy)
Carrots, organic hippy hunter, due July 25 (boy)
Cosmosis, the one that likes a good ride, due August 22
backinthebox, she bought a racehorse, due September 6
skatergrrrl, the one that overtook the rest, September ??
VAG, lives in De Nile, due 19 September
silversky, the biggest farter, due 21 October (first baybee)
Honeymoo, no it's not fucking indigestion, due November 2 (boy)
okiecokie, self-confessed control freak, due November 6
SomethingSuitablyWitty, benelux babe, due November 14
ReginaMonologue, big pants, 5* hotels, Bridget Jones due November 20
maswera, jungle hottie - due November (???)
PollyPoo, wants to name her baybee after the dog, The New Messiah is due December 25

cossie You read my mind! I was just about to post the exact same thing. Absolutely agree. Totally useful technique to remember for calming things down and regaining a sense of control when suddenly faced with a decision. And, as rots says, also for situations when they don't even present it to you as a decision but rather something they 'have' to do - which is often not the case as she illustrated.

wisepollymidwifeindisguise sees I never knew none o dat stuff. Why would I ? I feel enlightened and empowered and plz to be a PESH.

rots also very interesting. Fanks for the updates they are brilliant!

I am off to the quacks in a mo for my check up. Need go get me mat form signed and to tell her to do the admin thang soni can change hossies.

Little person is doing loop the loop whilst I am waiting. Again today I have tummyache but pretty sure it's all stretching.

Just driven by my yard and seen my sharer riding my hoss.

So looking forward to my lie in tmw. Am shattered already.

SALE - muvvacare have cash off pushchairs and car seats and cots and shiz. Worth a looksee. Our chosen set of wheels haz fifty of your finest pounds off at the mo.

Will be back laters - the Dr is awaiting!!!

Scary! Just had a phonecall from the health visitor to book in a meet & greet antenatal appointment. 2nd Aug at 11.30. It?s all getting a bit serious.

She sounded very nice, but about 12!

Yey ski!!! Good girl . Know what you mean about the looking in wonder at your creation. We are currently gaping in horror a the decibel level such a small person can achieve, and for no discernible reason.

How are your raspberries curls? Mine are about to drop off I reckon all latching causes me to do that gritty-teeth, sucky-in-breath thing, but it settles down. Can't sem to prise his mouth open enough for a good latch but we'll get there I'm sure....

Good luck rots, hope everything goes your way - one day there will be a PESH that gets it how she wants it

gin hope you are ok. Will be thinking of you girlfriend...

not read through to catch up, but cunty I am doing that face/wince as I type! Latching on was such a big part of her problem that my right nipple was so wrecked it was put off limits (but ok for pump) for several days. Blood blisters made it really look like a raspberry! But you are right, it does calm down. Thank Fuck!

will catch up now. My parents have just left. we are officially alone with a baby [fear]

vag I think it's terribly hard to ask a doctor to discuss treatment as opposed to being told as by doing so one immediately implies that one is questioning their judgement. In fact, especially in this case and often with maternity cases, there are a number of options available, any one of which is valid, and appropriate, and it's great to be able to work out which is best for you as a person as opposed to a statistic.

It has taken me 36 years to have enough confidence to do this, though, and even then the main reason that I was in so much distress when I arrived at the hos was that I am terrified of having to fight for this discussion. I hate it - I'm not confrontational and if a health worker (last time it was the MW) objects to me wanting a say in my care it is really, really tough. Fortunately I was lucky today.

Right everyone, I need help!!!

I'm on "Operation Protect and Extract" and I want any suggestions, comments, old wives' tales, anything at all that you can think of.

1. Protect (apologies if TMI but this is clearly very personal and that's the way it is)

I am trying to ensure that I remove every possible way that bateria can track back up my foof. So far I have thought of:

• Bleaching the shower head
• Obviously changing my pad frequently but now it's (early admittedly) evening I've changed into a nightie and have removed all down there, and am just sitting on a towel for max airflow
• Using a freshly washed towel for that area after a shower, separate to my body-drying towel
• Avoiding any examinations unless I agree it's essential (meaning that the risk of not doing is greater than the risk of infection, or, we have made the decision to induce or section so it doesn't matter).
• Gently showering twice a day, outside the area

2. Extract

• I'm brewing raspberry leaf tea and intend to drink copious amounts
• I have bought clary sage oil and some sweet almond oil. I have seen suggestions to have it massaged into the lower back and also to put some on a hot, wet towel and lie it on my bump. Anything else?
• I've bought 2 fresh pineapples!
• We've invested in a 2-boob expresser and I'll be using that when I have finished this
• Preggo ball bouncing
• Long walk today, about 1 1/2 hours. Will do this every day.
• cos's suggestion. Nuff said. Thank you.
• Caulophyllum 200c, Pulsatilla 30c. Not sure of frequency so am taking randomly.

If anyone could add to the list I'd appreciate it.

I am reading all your posts. Please excuse me for being self-absorbed in my posts but hopefully you will all understand I'm a bit focused at the moment. I am, though, reading and thinking of you all with all your different concerns and highlights

Oh and fanny flippant is fab my lovely - I need to laugh at the moment! And letting doggie jump into birthing pool would be a laff as it's a blow up one!!

cunty just checking you're getting BF support from your MW, NCT, little angels or whatever?

It can be painful to start with while both of you get the hang of it but it doesn't mean it's ok to not get it sorted out, if that makes sense (ie it's unlikely to fix itself).

I'm sure you will be asking for help (can't see YOU sitting quietly ) but just had to say, if that's ok.

Loads to catch up on - this will be long!

Free to good home: Marie Mongan Hypnobirthing book and CD. I should have started work on it earlier, but did benefit from the breathing techniques (up until a certain point. Must Try Harder), and the simple relaxation exercises when trying to get some rest before labour got intense.

reg I never did get that doppler to you. I am shit. Is it too late? If so, that's up for rehoming again too.

THanks all for the support re RA flare. que sera, sera carrots - exactly what we were thinking. I am producing a ridiculous amount of milk, so I am going to pump and store as much as I can for her benefit. Might need a new freezer - the hospital staff said I could have started my own range of dairy products .

I would nekkid dance for the arrival of hairy Julian but fear you might all get soaked. Hope ski gets out of hossie over the weekend as planned, to share stories and pics. we have such an impatient bunch. I'm not very good with metric for baybees, but I checked Julian's birth weight against BabyCas's when my notes came out at her weigh-in today, and it looks like he's only a weeny bit bigger therefore a tiny mite, bless. (and she has put on loads again now - hurray! Just 100g short of her birth weight - muchos relief all round. we are back on track )

Hope all is progressing satisfactorily for rots. all this lavender visualisation I'm doing is making me sneeze

Can I just say how wonderful it is to have the entire ESH community coming together to support each other at this time. I know it's not exactly easy for palace dwellers to come here and be bombarded with all the ups downs, ins and outs of being diffed. But we all heart each other at the end of the day, and I have felt, and been incredibly grateful for, that love in recent days.

re intervention etc: This might be a little bit controversial, but from my POV internal exams were not That Bad. In fact, I was volunteering for them because I wanted to know where we stood in terms of progression - mind you that was when my cxs were all over the place and I wasn't really visibly bothered by them. Only the first hand-internal was uncomfortable - once my cervix had started to dilate it was fine. BUt that';s just one person's experience.
I guess, as a control freak, I wanted to know the numbers!

cos your HV is well organised! I have no idea when they will start showing up. Still just taking community MW appointments as they come. Lovely lady visited today - got snogs from the dog.

is it wrong to be missing mum already

rots self absorb my love self absorb. Totally understandable.

When you were going on about raspberries I thought you meant piles. CLEARLY they would be referred to as grapes. Duh!

Dr is pleased and got a kick on the hand for her efforts!!!! Also heard heartbeat. My "growth" is below average but Dr is not concerned as it's the first measurement and it will be monitored sonas losng as growth is achieved and it doesn't stAy the same. All is hunkydory.

Thank SHIZ for the weekend.

casp pick me pick me! Hypnobirfinv this way plz!!!

rots self absorb my love self absorb. Totally understandable.

When you were going on about raspberries I thought you meant piles. CLEARLY they would be referred to as grapes. Duh!

Dr is pleased and got a kick on the hand for her efforts!!!! Also heard heartbeat. My "growth" is below average but Dr is not concerned as it's the first measurement and it will be monitored sonas losng as growth is achieved and it doesn't stAy the same. All is hunkydory.

Thank SHIZ for the weekend.

casp pick me pick me! Hypnobirfinv this way plz!!!

hee hee silver I actually did a double take, because my dad found a raspberyy bush in my garden yesterday - and those rasps are lovely!

Book and CD are yours - please send address on other place and I shall send asap. PLease don't judge me by my broken promise to reggie. I moved house when I was supopsed to send item to her

Ballz double post-o!

silver great news

cas Totally disagree with you re VE - but only in the sense that you said it may be controversial !! What I mean is, YOU preferred to know what was going on, therefore that was the right CHOICE for you so you made the choice given the knowledge (from experience) that they were uncomfortable because you felt that the information that they gave you was worth it.

Therefore, you freely made your choice and decision which is exactly what poo and I are advocating For me having a VE at this point could be dangerous so I've chosen not to, but I think your point is really important -it's not interventions that are the problem, it's interventions which are done to someone without them understanding the consequences. After all, mortality and morbidity of mum and baby has dramatically reduced over the past 50 years or so, due to medical interventions (and thank goodness!). But I think that reminding doctors that we're each a person, and for each of us this is a change to OUR lives, we're not just a statistic or just another patient who fits into a certain risk box, is really useful.

I'm certainly going to be immensely grateful for medical intervention if I get an infection and need to get him out quickly.

Can everyone urgently update their entry on the not-list? Last version posted gets put up... but suggest we leave newbies off unless confirmed that they want to be on.

BESH BAYBEES
dontrythisathome, Bay Amaryllis born March 25.
Cheggers, twinz girlz, born April
FannyPriceless, boy, born June 8
CurlyCasper, girl, born June 24
CUNextTuesday, born June 29
Skihorse, boy, born 1 July

UPDIFFED
IggyPiggy, The one who loves BUMSEX, due July 20
Carrots, giving birth in a lavender field, damn it, due July 25 (boy)
Cosmosis, the one that likes a good ride, due August 22
backinthebox, she bought a racehorse, due September 6
skatergrrrl, the one that overtook the rest, September ??
VAG, lives in De Nile, due 19 September
silversky, the biggest farter, due 21 October (first baybee)
Honeymoo, no it's not fucking indigestion, due November 2 (boy)
okiecokie, self-confessed control freak, due November 6
SomethingSuitablyWitty, benelux babe, due November 14
ReginaMonologue, knows when all the sales are, due November 20 (boy)
maswera, jungle hottie - due November (???)
PollyPoo, wants to name her baybee after the dog, The New Messiah is due December 25

POSSIBLE NEWBIES TO BE ADDED - please confirm
Muser
Ginhag
saltyair

Here's my minor amendment:

BESH BAYBEES
dontrythisathome, Bay Amaryllis born March 25.
Cheggers, twinz girlz, born April
FannyPriceless, boy, born June 8
CurlyCasper, girl, born June 24
CUNextTuesday, born June 29
Skihorse, boy, born 1 July

UPDIFFED
IggyPiggy, The one who loves BUMSEX, due July 20
Carrots, giving birth in a lavender field, damn it, due July 25 (boy)
Cosmosis, the one that likes a good ride, due August 22
backinthebox, she bought a racehorse, due September 6
skatergrrrl, the one that overtook the rest, September ??
VAG, lives in De Nile, due 19 September
silversky, the biggest farter, due 21 October (first baybee)
Honeymoo, 3 wees a night, due October 31 (boy)
okiecokie, self-confessed control freak, due November 6
SomethingSuitablyWitty, benelux babe, due November 14
ReginaMonologue, knows when all the sales are, due November 20 (boy)
maswera, jungle hottie - due November (???)
PollyPoo, wants to name her baybee after the dog, The New Messiah is due December 25

POSSIBLE NEWBIES TO BE ADDED - please confirm
Muser
Ginhag
saltyair

Rots just wanted to give you a big hug for being such a trouper today and telling them exactly what you wanted!

Good luck with the bringing it on list. Have you got nipple tweaking on there? Apparently this is tried and tested. Get your other half dialling those knobs.

In terms of infection, is it worth putting either Tea Tree Oil or Lavender on a sanitary pad in your knickers? Isn't that what ladies do to stop their stitches gettng infected after the event? Just a thought. Either that or neat gin peut etre?

If you tweak nipples (or dare I say clitoris) apparently it releases oxytocin which can bring on labour. Probably not in the mood but it's worth a bloody try!

Umm... I am still mostly away from mn at the moment, but I just wanted to say to rots that I really hope you're doing ok. You sound like you are being v strong and practical, but I know how scary it can be when you are not sure if things are going the way you want or not, iyswim.

I really hope you get the nearest thing to the birth that you wanted as possible.

Btw the only 'extract' recommendations I can think of not already mentioned are curry and driving over cattle grids.

Good luck....

Ps thanks for wishes all, am a wreck please to leave me off the not-list. Too scared.

My EDD by the quacks is three days earlier than I have on the non list but I think that I will get to 21st however if the PESH world is anything to go by honey and I could be racing with the September baybees.

Pic of ski's Julian on fb. He is absolutely divine.

ARGHHHHHH!!! SO exciting!!

Congrats to Cunty and Ski!!! Isn't it fab!! And yeah Cunty (bossy voice) get some bf support - I got tons and it really helped. It can be a steep learning curve.

Rots I've said it before but don't go down the castor oil route like I did. To quote Pretty Woman big mistake...HUGE best of luck to you.

Gin nice to see you on here. Will not say anything congratulatory as it seems you are on tenterhooks...

Hello everyone else - must catch up on te psots.

So I think this is the final version?

THE NOT-LIST

BESH BAYBEES
dontrythisathome, Bay Amaryllis born March 25.
Cheggers, twinz girlz, born April
FannyPriceless, boy, born June 8
CurlyCasper, girl, born June 24
CUNextTuesday, born June 29
Skihorse, boy, born 1 July

UPDIFFED
IggyPiggy, The one who loves BUMSEX, due July 20
Carrots, giving birth in a lavender field, damn it, due July 25 (boy)
Cosmosis, the one that likes a good ride, due August 22
backinthebox, she bought a racehorse, due September 6
skatergrrrl, the one that overtook the rest, September ??
VAG, lives in De Nile, due 19 September
silversky, the biggest farter, due 18 October (first baybee)
Honeymoo, 3 wees a night, due October 31 (boy)
okiecokie, self-confessed control freak, due November 6
SomethingSuitablyWitty, benelux babe, due November 14
ReginaMonologue, knows when all the sales are, due November 20 (boy)
maswera, jungle hottie - due November (???)
PollyPoo, wants to name her baybee after the dog, The New Messiah is due December 25

New thread here