Dec 2008 - Hello 2011 the Year of the Toddler!

[DeidreBarlow]

Totally unispired but hope you all find it...

Oh Rubes how frustrating!!!! And damn the post office lady... I think? I remember dragging a 2month(ish) old DS1 up to my work in Belize park to get nursey friend to sign the Aussie app. Then all the way back down to Australia house to put the app in, sat waiting for 40 mins before discovering my friend hadn't signed one bit of it. I spent 10minutes trying to work out if I could get away with forging her signature then gave up and left it all for another day.

How exciting JJ.

Oh dear Vag - nightmare. I had another similar experience last time doing ds's Aus passport and Snappy Snaps. They were adament after ages at SS Wimbledon, that they would make it per Aust guidlines for photo size. Spent AGES there with ds, then finally got to my appt at Aust House for the passport, waited ages, then finally my turn and they said "oh no these photo's are about .25 of a mm to small or something. You need to go to SS here around the corner (seemed like 10km's away as I was furious, ds was screaming for a feed (he was still BFed ) and they wanted me back within a certain time to get it done that same day

Lady, so kind, and I'm sure dp will be thrilled well dh immediately had left a message for his friend to see if he has a passport yet (didn't when we asked him to do ds's 2 yrs ago however we went into London to see him and then found out (I just stupidly -again- assume everyone has a passport!) and he said he sent a message to another colleague where he works now. If any of those options aren't straight forward, I may just pop it in the post to you over night but I will try the others before bothering dp. the brit one is easier and I don't mind driving them all Mon Morn (I will mon morn!) but at least then it'll be done, so, standby if you can, and I'll let you know. I really appreciate the offer, but I feel really annoyed at myself.

JJ come back with a naaaaame!!

Don't be daft, DP doesn't mind a jot If you put them in the post tomorrow morn they will be with me by Mon (hopefully)

Am home alone so taking the opportunity to watch One Born Every Minute as there seems to be nothing on the box.

Friday nights ain't what they used to be!

It's going to be 13 degrees here on Sunday. Better get my flip flops out.

I know that SS Rubes have been sent there also. Grrrr.

blinking heck! i leave you all for a day and what happens? a baby and a long, informed debate. hells bells!

well done, JJ - i think her due date was valentine's day, wasn't it? blinking blonking (can you tell i'm trying to watern down my swear words?), i am now terrified about being early, too. have spent all eve online, spending my dh's well-earned money on new baby stuff. we are going away for our luscious weekend and when we get back, we should have a shortlist of names and will start PACKING A BAG, getting BABY CLOTHES DOWN FROM THE LOFT etc.

as for ff v bf... hmmmm... it never occurred to me to do anything other than bf as it was such a part of my childhood (lots time in germany). and apart from the first 5 days, some mammoth screamathons, and the weird nursing strike when she was 7 months old, i didn't have any probs, so was v lucky, and fed until she was 16 months. i never connected the not sleeping through the night problem with food (unlike everyone from an earlier generation, it seems). we got to the end of our tethers when madam was 9 months old, had been on solids for 3 months, was taking loads in and she STILL was waking multiple times at night. it was about comfort and habit. i have to say, that if i find out i can't bf number 2, i think i would find it terribly hard, nay desperately upsetting. but we will cross that bridge, should we come to it. i do think it has a class slant, though. dad's ladyfriend is from committed working class stock (hate that word, but you know what i mean), and says that no one up there (where she lives) or in her family bfs - much more convenient to ff. she keeps telling me how impressed she is that i managed to do it, but i suspect she thinks i'm insane having bothered, and is slightly disgusted that i did it for so long. ah well...

which brings me round to vbacs... i got very riled this morning at our consultant's appt. everything is fine with the wriggly one. hurrah! but i was feeling on edge for lots of reasons, and to be told that i HAD to be on continuous monitoring for the whole of my labour once i got to hospital made me feel dreadful. i'm such a goody two shoes, and i always do what i'm told (within reason), so i agreed to it, but fuck me - i can't bear the thought that i'm going to be stuck to a machine all the time. and whatever they say about being able to move around, that is bollocks as the machine loses trace. do you think i can just rip it off now and again? someone suggested that i could do a deal and get monitored every 20 mins or so. someone else told me (smug hippy person) that no one could force me to have the monitoring - but if someone is shoving the words "uterine rupture" in your face, you don't really want to chance that, do you? oh, i don't know. seeing our doula (a very old school friend) on tuesday, so will ask.

can i also ask anyone who might know... am nearly 35 weeks - baby's head is free still. madam's head wasn't engaged the first time round at birth - should i be worried??? and how will i know if this one is back to back as well? sorry, feel i am scatter gunning my questions, but my brain is frazzled....

had a bit of a shitty day this morning what with the threat of uterine rupture, constant monitoring etc, but a friend popped round unexpectedly this afternoon, madam was delightful and am feeling better. i sobbed on the phone to a friend this morning and she told me how proud my mum would be of me - made me sob more.

oh, and i also feel criticized by mil, and a little by ladyfriend for not going for an elective c/s. i spoke to both of them today, and felt it palpably. it may possibly be me feeling vulnerable, but still... i mean, i'm not averse to another c/s, but i just want to give it a go the other way. i'd much rather be able to pick madam up and get out and about quicker without a c/s, but if needs must, needs must. i feel like some people are willing me to fail before i've even tried.

sorry. must go to bed. splurge over.

and thanks to you lovely people who were thinking of me today. xx

@ flip flops (thongs) Vagola- however I'm glad I didn't see "thong" and Vag in the same post!
Lady - still nothing back from our doc friend tonight - typical - flaky bunch they are. Will see what his other mate at RSH says in response to text and if he's not in on Mon, I will sp delivery the UK app (filled out but not signed in the wrong place ) to you again tomorrow arvo.
Oh dear God will this ever end?

WG - listen - I love my ELCSes, even with my troubles with my epidural and my dodgy recovery this time (well, I am super now, it just took quite a long time). I am sure some people raised their eyebrows at my choices. But that's ok. That's their perogative. Assuming you are not stupidly endangering you or your child, you have to do what you feel in your heart. I mean it. You should do that with everything, but especially THIS! A raised eyebrow or a set of pursed lips don't mean jack shit, do they?. And another thing - if it doesn't work out, how on earth have you 'failed'? That's what my DP calls stinking thinking After all, a) how can a cs be a failure and b) particularly when you have given it your best shot to avoid one.

Hey Rubes, look at it this way, it is a passport application you will never forget I stress again - no bother here if you need to send it again. Promise.

Are flip flops 'thongs', then, in Australia? Strewth. Who knew? My knowledge of Australia is largely gleaned from avidly watching Neighbours when I was a teenager and, latterly, from lovely Australians in my cricket team. I know that:

1. Australian girls have to wear those checked dresses for school
2. They do an 'HSC' when they are 16, which is like our GCSEs. Or is it like A levels? Hmm.
3. They think long distances are no distance at all cos Australia is really big
4. All the boys can throw really really far - mind you, this is true of any boy schooled in the Southern Hemisphere

That's it. Can't you tell I am here on my own? I am enjoying myself, actually.

HOORAY JJ! Massive congratulations lovely

Would write more but I have a shocking hangover, DH at work and I need to get dressed and get DD to a party at hell a soft play place......

Congratations JJ, lovely news, and what a great weight. Give her a big sloppy kiss from me x

WG you poor thing, this is all a bit hard, and shame on your mil and lady friend being so judgmental. Having said that as Lady says you'd be judged either way, pretty much any birth choice gets judged by someone. At best I'm considered brave but a bit stupid for having a homebirth, at worst irresponsible. It's hard not to ignore but at the end of the day its you that have to live with your choice. Anyone who believes that cs is a failure is just horrid. Surely the passage of a healthy baby into your arms is success. People are so mean. Personally, I'd just stick with what you've agreed with your consultant and have a chat with your Doula. She will support what you want and maybe you can thrash out what you would like to happen. I don't know much about obstetrics but I don't really see how continuous monitoring picks up a rupture before it happens. Anyway, I think you should be commended for going for the VBAC, well done, give it a go. Oh and I'd keep away from hippy happy birth friend, fair play she had a good birth, but I find sometimes those particular ladies tend to use any opportunity to talk about their wonderful birth and how they made it happen. Me, I just paid someone, I wasn't up for a fight .

Oh and yes Rubes I know its thongs but I didn't want to offend these sensitive British ladies with our vulgar language [:)]

Oh Lady 16 would be more like the SC, the HSC is completely in the year we turn 18.

Huge congrats JJ. Can't wait to hear full birth story. I hope the hospital was an ok experience.

Which reming me Spot, we have yet to hear your birth story. Please share, I love a good birth story.

Lady, I loved your description of D looking like a deranged muppet. I can just picture it. She sounds devine. And can I just say you are soooo lucky to have been blessed with two great sleepers.

WG, sorry your consultant was so depressing. My friends who have had VBACs have had ro really fight for their rights. Those who've had most success had managed to secure the promise of labour care with named midwifes they met got to meet before hand and talk through their options with. Our local hospital has a couple of midwifes who take special interest in VBACs and my two friends who insisted on seeing them before the birth. Does your hospital have anything like that?

DD2 has ANOTHER raging fever and says her throat hurts. She only finished her antibiotics for the last tonsillitis 5 days ago. Sigh.

Right, just about recovered from my night out. That means I either drunk way to much or I'm just getting old

jj How are you doing lovely? Do we have a name yet?

avo I do hope DD2 is okay and that she hasn't got another infection. Poor little mite.

vag Great news on the Doula training... some ladies will be very lucky to have you with them.

Rubes sorry to hear about your passport nightmare. It all sounds such a PITA.

Flip flops/thongs?? Your crazy Aussies!! Although I was always very at Summer Bay High's uniform, always looked so cool I thought

Congratulations JJ!!

Such wonderful news. Well done JJ and huge congratulations to the whole JJ family. Look forward ot hearing all about it.

Am very tired today. But have new pyjamas and a sex and the city DVD to look forward to, so am very chipper.

Avo my sympathies on the fever after the antibiotics. It's so tedious. It might be a secondary infection elsewhere in the tubes, or another virus that's hit her while the immune system is so low.

Ok, well you did ask for the birth story so I will try and keep it short and sweet.

Weirdly, I woke up on morning of 29th thinking "he's going to come today". In fact it was the first day I'd not said "please not today!" due to either bad weather or DP tooth infection or some other issue.

Anyway started feeling v light pains from about 7am, like period pains, but didn't know whether that meant labour was starting or miles off. I'd only had bad backache with T so I assumed I'd feel the same again this time.

Decided to make broccoli soup at 8am. I never make broccoli soup. This should have been a red flag.

Fast forward to midday while I was feeding Tom dinner and started to feel the pains more strongly. DP took over and I went upstairs while T had his nap.

I then got in the pool for relaxation at about 1.30. I then suggested that DP might want to call SIL so she could say if I was in labour or not.

Half an hour later we woke T from his nap, SIL had arrived and suggested we call the midwife asap. By this point I was yelling every minute.

T was bundled out of the house to a friend with DP singing over the top of my screams. "Mummy's just singing very badly" I heard at one point.

Midwife arrived, I heard her say "there's no point calling for another now, they won't come in time". Luckily SIL is a 3rd year student midwife so was able to help.

MW starts faffing with gas and air canisters. I then do a big poo in the pool .

While DP dutifully goes back to the kitchen to get a sieve, I then scream several more times (it really hurts at this point and they still don't have any gas and air).

I then manage to push out the head (luckily a v small one) and they hold it under the water while I have to push out the body. Surprisingly quick though.

I then get out of the pool (a mistake in retrospect) and go to the sofa in the lounge to deliver the placenta. This takes an hour and a half and I'm about to beg for the injection as it's actually more painful than giving birth and then it decides to make its way out. Had I stayed in the pool it would have been more comfortable, though obv i would have been surrounded by my own poo.

We then have tea with the midwife, and when T comes back (after only 3 hours away) we have champagne.

This is also perhaps a mistake in retrospect as I went into shock a few hours later and had my teeth chattering for ages, couldn't move etc. But it passed and we got to spend the night at home with the squeaker next to us, unable to sleep but also amazed that it had happened so quickly and easily.

Thank you Spot, that is an amazing birth story :). Sorry you didn't get the G&A but I'm glad you got the benefit of the pool. Did they find the G&A for the third stage? Any stitches? I love the idea of you all snuggling up together in your own bed :). That must be the nicest bit of a homebirth.

oh, spot, how wonderful! thanks for that. i do love a birth story! well done, honey!

There was G&A for the third stage, but I felt like a bit of a fraud for having it after a drug-free delivery.

I had a 2nd degree tear but the MW wasn't mad keen on doing stitches and I was happy for her not to interfere.

It was really great and I realise I am very lucky that everything went as much according to plan as a 90 min labour can!

Btw I can't remember if i said but went to the GP yesterday and they diagnosed laryngo malacia (floppy larynx) and said he won't pipe down til he's one!

He will def be timsharing DP's study, he's like a one man rootin tootin band!

Thanks Spot, you didnt have to be so brief, but then I guess it wasnt a very long labour so the story wouldn't be either. There are loads of great things about homebirth but I agree the best is being able to just go upstairs together to bed, in the room above where the little monkey is born.

I'm in a bad mood, I posted a link on Facebook, from the guardian which is an editorial in support of leaving breastfeeding alone. It basically is a women saying if we put as much effort into helping initiate breastfeeding as we do deciding when women should stop we would be better off. Anyway, I am now looked on as being mean to FFing mums. For goodness sake why can I not be proud of the way I have fed my babies and encouraging of others who do the same. Why does this have to be the polar opposite of fomula feeding, or seen as insensitive. I had so much grief from people in the UK about extended breastfeeding (I mean case feeding beyond 6 months, not really that extended)but no one is saying be nice to her we don't want to upset her!!! grrrrr. Probably shouldnt have looked at the thread about yesterdays weaning research review. It's always a bad idea.

I think I might step away from the internet for a while.

Gosh - leave off here for a little while and it all happens. First of all massive congratulations to Spot and to JJ. Loved the birth story!

WG - lovely, don't fret too much about the VBAC and the docs. Every time I went to an appointment, I saw a different doc who drove me to distraction. In the end, the midwife just popped me in the bath and didn't try to monitor and 2 hours later, Mr J was ready. FWIW of course it makes sense to give it a go. I think the stat is that unless there is some underlying reason from your first section, you have a good chance of a successful VBAC - but even if it were a tiny chance, its your call and people shouldn't be judging you for it.

On the whole BF/FF I think the early baby experience is so intense for everyone, its hard to stand back, which is probably why the debate is so heated (sorry people have taken your posts badly Vag). Its been admirably civilized on here and I don't think I've much else to add.

Vag - you'd make a great doula!

All fine here. Its my birthday tomorrow (grand old age of 38, so firmly on the wrong side...) No great plans, but DS has spent all day running round the house going "Happy birthday mummy" in preparation and DD insisted that we go for a chino (trip to Costa) just the two of us as "my birthday treat". They are both very concerned about whether there will be party bags tomorrow.