Dec 08 Mums - Breech babies, bedtimes, boozing and Bikram

[KiwiPanda]

Um sorry about rubbish title

Here is my birth story. It really is a complete ramble though. Sorry.

I woke up at about 4am and went to the toilet. I had a show and thought that things might be starting as I had bad backache. I decided to get the front room ready with the tarpaulin down and the pool inflated.

I rang my Mum to get her to take DS1 to school. I filled the pool and put my swimming cossie on just so I could relax in there for a bit to help my back ache.
I was having occasional contractions on and off all day, every time I thought they were ramping up they stopped again.

DS1 came home and the boys had their dinner and went to bed about 7pm. Contractions were still very irregular so I thought it would probably be another sleepless night. I settled down to watch the England game.

At about 9pm I thought that the contractions were getting more regular, maybe 2 every 10 minutes. They were getting more and more painful so I decided to ring the midwife at about 10:15 and also rang my Mum to come round.

Contractions were now about 3-4 in 10 minutes and at 11pm I was 4cm and got lovely G&A. The MW decided to ring the other MW to come and also I had a student MW there so 3 in all. Once they arrived I was able to get into the pool which was about midnight.

The pool was amazing, they still hurt but not as bad. The contractions now seemed to be coming every 30 seconds or so. The MWs left it all up to me when I wanted to push, no attempts to exam me once I was in the pool.

I got the urge to push and it took about 5 pushes for DD to be born. One of the MWs helped me get her to bring her up to the surface. We sat in the pool for about 10 minutes. I had originally wanted to wait for the cord to stop pulsating but I really wanted to get out of the pool, so they cut the cord and I got out and had the injection to get the placenta to come out. She was born at 1:08am. I didn't tear or anything which is nice after tearing with both boys.

While I delivered the placenta DD was weighed and was 9lb 6.5oz so 7lb less than the growth scan predicted. I then got some clothes on and DD breastfed for a while. Mum and the MWs tidied up.

I don't remember this but she apparently passed meconium just as she came out so they had to wait and do checks when she was 2 hours old which were all fine. So the MWs and my Mum went home and we went up to bed.
The boys were most amused the next morning to see their little sister. They went off to school.

Everything seems to be going very very well. BF took a few days to settle down.

Great brithstory Kayz thanks for sharing. And hooray for homebirths, takes a lot of the stress and faff out of birthing. No need for your boys to lose you to a hospital and you get to stay where your comfortable. Homebirthing definitely suits you. Have to say you are one hardcore Lady. You make it all seem so easy, and you were so calm. When it comes to birth I'm a bit of a princess, I want to be waited on and treated like royalty afterwards, very lazy royalty. Poor dh it seems so unfair that he has to wait so long to see his girls. Will he get extra time to make up for the waiting?

Kiwi well done on the run. Awesome on the pb.Wow great birth story Kayz thanks. And

DH should be home Saturday with luck. His relief has tickets booked but is still waiting now to get his passport back from the Angolan embassy. All very complicated.

I've just realised my typo. The scan was 7oz out not 7lb!!

Marking my place after a few days off. Going for a run in half an hour, but will come back and post after lunch. xx

We've just been discharged by MW. Now just to wait for the HV to get in touch. I am tempted to ring them instead and suggest I go to clinic instead of them coming here.

Kiwi - amazing PB - well done. Did you win?

Kayz - I loved your birth story. Made me feel quite sort of longing in a funny kind of way. But I don't want another yet.

Sybs - how did the walk go? I need to sponsor you - have been remiss. Sorry.

Lady - is DD1 any better? My DD1 had that the night we were flying to Greece and were leaving at 1am. She starting yacking as I fell asleep at 11pm. Was not happy. But was fine once we got to the airport. Strange!
I also wanted to ask you how you are doing about your Dad? I think about you often when I am thinking of mine.

On which note, Obes - my thoughts are with you. I hope your birthday weekend was lovely, though.

Travelodge was ok. I was in a filthy temper, though. Mean me. Then Center Parcs was brilliant. Has anyone else been? We hired a bike with a trailer and went everywhere on it. And we swam and swam. The girls loved it. DD1 is a proper little waterbaby now, thanks to DH. She can swim on her own, although needs to grab someone to get air, which is fine. DD2 bobs around happily in her armbands, chatting to total strangers, which is hilarious! We went down various water chutes with them and they were in their element! FIL was very nice and brought loads of wine. It worked really well and I feel exhausted now! But loved it.

Tomorrow night I've got 3 couples coming for dinner so DH can meet a few husbands. Making lamb tagine and then lemon syllabub. Quite looking forward to it, really. Went for a 7k run this morning, which was great. Although it's been so long, my calves actually feel bruised as a result of it! But to lose weight, I think I need to do 2 or 3 of them a week.

To answer your question, Lady - I have resigned. I am not going to rush to get another job as the childcare here is so cheap. We're paying a grand total of £60 per week for both girls to be in nursery/childminder for 1 full day and 3 other mornings a week. It's amazing! So am just going to enjoy having a bit of time to myself. Honestly, so far, I have been so busy I haven't really had time to just do nothing! Always shopping or cleaning or changing beds, or cooking or whatever! But the run was a lovely indulgence this morning!

I am very hungry now, so I might pop and have a quiet biscuit without the girls noticing, I hope. Fould weather here, so have ensconced them in Up. Their current favourite film. I don't think they really know what's going on, but they love the talking doggies!

I have killed the thread. Sorry!

Ha no Beans though DD1 thinks I did bless her. DH had her shouting "run like the wind mummy!" as I went past (course was 2 loops) which was hilarious. She liked my medal too (everyone got one and she got to wear mine)

Am v impressed w your water baby. Feel remiss as have barely taken DD1 swimming since babyhood and as result when we do go, in holiday etc, she clings to me or DH like a limpet. Anyone else thinking of swimming lessons or have all your 08 babies gone aquatic ??

OK, my light relief for the day and a warning on the perils of literacy. DD has got the hang of reading and fancied a go at a "grown up" book. She grabbed one I had lying around. Opened a page at random and picked a sentence in the middle of the page: "Now shut the fuck up...". Took some explaining.

Kayz - lovely birth story and so glad things are going well. Even better that your DH is almost on his way.

Beans - you are the domestic goddess! We have some friends coming round on Saturday and I am seriously contemplating whether I can get away with a takeaway.

Vag - sounds like you will be in the UK exactly when I will be in Belgium. A shame, as I was fantasising a brussels meet up with you and LadyT.

Kiwi - that sounds like seriously impressive running

at the choice of book there!

great running kiwi

beans glad the trip was good in the end :)

I never take dcs swimming. I can't myself at our local pool and can't really afford to go with dh too so tis tough luck really. I wish we could though, knowing how to swim is important. We have an open air pool close by we might get to if we have sunny weekends, I think they'd let me in on my own with all 3 but I wouldn't do that!

Apparently I am weak but not distasterous so go easy on the running and do kegals every hour god sends. Does anyone have opinions on any of the gadgets you can get? Dr didn't think much of them. May try to express and see if ds2 takes it so I can swim maybe once a week and leave running a few more months. Darn it I was enjoying exercise! What else can I do in the back of beyond with a small bf baby? Running was cheap and could be fitted in between feeds.

Full of cold, snot, throbbing head and sinuses. Great fun. Ds2 has outgrown basket so am putting him down in the evening upstairs, tis going well but instead of sleeping 4 hours or so fro being put down he is only doing 2 so I'm missing my 3 hours baby free sleep! He then spends the rest of the night fussing on me. I suspect he actually just needs leaving alone sometimes and have the chance to settle but you know what it is like at 3am with a fussing baby! Need to find some willpower from somewhere to spend a night not shoving a nipple in his mouth every half hour.

Kayz hope your dh gets home as planned.

Indith I read a somewhat controversial blogpost saying that Kegels are actually not the best thing - I will find it for you because it explains in plausible sounding detail what you actually need to strengthen..

Was it the one about squatting? I've read that and do try to squat while on the floor with dcs but I do kegals too, plus the abdominal stuff is pretty good for pelvic floor. I have the Tupler method book and also the Erin whatherface postnatal recovery dvd which is mostly the same techniques but it is useful having someone doing the pregnant posture and pointing saying "this uses these bits, you need to do this (changes posture) to use these bits because..." Quite a lot of that is about tilting the pelvis and going back to a proper non pregnant person posture which does draw in the pelvic floor.

Indith not sure, might have been. Certainly lots in it about squats and strengthening whole area etc. am on the bus on my way to my art class now but promise to find it later

Hey I don't know if you guys remember but months ago I posted about my sisters weird reaction to DD2 and refusing to cuddle her or indeed touch her.. Well that was now 3 months ago and I haven't spoken to her since...

Ps or rather she hasn't spoken to me since would be more accurate as she is the one who went off in huff and ignored me..

Oh Kiwi - she'll come round. Do you think it's worth sending her a newsy hello email about your running etc and just holding out the olive branch? Might be worth a go?

Deids - been meaning to ask, how is DS getting on? I hope all ok.

Trace - where are you?

xxxx

Hello, hello, hello!

kiwi Wowsers on the PB! I run about half the distance in the time On your sister agree with beans maybe a quick email saying hope you are well?

So I have just returned from my meeting with DS's pre school following their 2 week observations of the devil child that is Deidsboy. They had a lovely list of times he had hit, smacked, said 'no' loudly to other children etc. On the whole I found the bulk of it petty squabbles between 3/4 year old children and DS seems to have got himself the reputation as the aggressor in all situations, no matter who started the incident. So in true Mother lion style I sprung to his defense. Yes DS has a temper, yes he doesn't like his personal space being invaded and yes he hates sharing....I asked if she thought this behaviour was abnormal or normal for a 3 year old boy? She conceded it was pretty normal but DS seemed to do it more often than others. Fine I said then lets work together on getting him to share, respecting other's space as well as his own etc (easier said than done admittedly). So she is going to structure into DS's day some sort of play/workshop which means he has to share/take turns and so on. Sounds okay we'll see how it goes!

I outright asked if she wanted me to move him, at which point her whole attitude about him changed. She said 'no' definitely not he was "a paradox". He was either incredibly loving and kind then in the next moment he could just lash out. Either way she wants to help sort his temper and can't wait to have him back next year . One thing that I have wondered throughout all this is about his hearing. He is dreadfully nasally and has huge tonsils. The GP said all normal and they'll shrink, but they haven't and as a result I do think his speech isn't great for his age and as a result he can't communicate his feelings well. Anyway, a friend said I should get his hearing checked as bad behaviour in boys is often a communication/frustration issue. Given his adenoids/tonsils I believe sometimes hearing can be affected...anyhow, spoke with the HV last week who was absolutely lovely and said that DS sounded pretty normal on the whole and would more than likely grow out of it, but she is referring him for a hearing screening just to rule it out as a problem.

Feel lots happier now, I have spent the last week feeling awfully sick and crying a lot about why my boy is turning into Damien from the Omen. But to be honest this behaviour seems to be reserved for pre-school, at home he is generally fine and quite a loving little boy.

Right have ranted lots about all that and haven't had much of a catch up so I'm off to read up and hopefully more later!

Indith Glad the pelvic floor isn't as bad as you thought. I have no idea about how to help it as I am crap at doing that sort of thing.

kayz Lovely birth story & yay for DH almost being home. Poor guy I bet he can't wait to see his little girl!

Has anyone here read 50 shades of Grey?? I feel I should to see what the fuss is about, but I get the impression its just porn, and not very well written porn at that! Although I have been told I'm missing out. I remember when everyone read The Da Vinci Code, I found it really dull and couldn't for the life of understand why everyone thought it was so great!

Glad they are being helpful DB, hopefully it will all help :)

I've not read 50 shades and I can't be arsed. Did anyone listen to Women's hour on it? Anyway like you DB I thought the Da Vinci book was shite, I can't stand stuff that is badly written, I'm all for a non too involved bit of froth but it has to be well written! Since 50 shades started off as Twilight fanfic and from what I heard it is written like a pretty poor piece of fanfic I'll pass, if I want fanfic smut I can find some very well written stuff online .

I have read all 3 . The truth is, it is TOTAL crap. Do not waste your time or money. I have also read all Twilight books, which I also thought were crap. But for some reason, I find this sort of shit fairly compelling. And easy to read when I can't be arsed to try to be brainy. The porn is very very boring. The story line is kack and there are NO twists or turns. The porn starts off fairly exciting, but after the first 4 scenes in 7 pages, it's a bit dull. The one good thing I would say about it, is I realised that actually, I can have some slightly more raunchy sex with DH (than just missionary with doggy to finish off!) and it doesn't mean I'm a weird perve, just that I like sex. On occasion. Actually, rarely. But it's ok to enjoy it after you've got married/had kids!

I know that sounds fairly obvious, but I'd gone all shy and would only do it with the lights out since having DD2!

Oh and Deids - sounds like DS is a perfectly normal 3 year old. They do seem to be making a fairly large fuss about it. Will be interesting to find out if he does have hearing problems. I think they all cope differently in situations with other children. DD1 is certainly a little victim, but DD2 is like a mini bouncer! Horses for courses! How is DD doing?

That settles it I'm not reading it...besides beans updates and her and her DH's romps are much more exciting.

DD is okay, she is still hugely sensitive but I think a lot of that is her age. I had another little chat with her teacher about her friend obsession. He has stopped it so they can't sit together at certain times of the day (think it depends on what they are doing). Which I thought was a bit but actually DD has of been less obsessive about the girl, and has been playing with other people. Plus I think the girl she was obsessing over has been making more of an effort to seek DD out at play times etc so it has worked! Clever teacher, you can tell he's fresh out of college with new techniques

What a brill teacher. Hurray!

I am very nervous as having the dinner party for 8 tonight. EEK! Last minute prawn and bacon salad thrown together for starter. Domestic goddess, moi? Anyway, they are coming at 8 and I'm well ready and children in bed. Feeling quite relaxed. Pheweeeeee! Although nervous in case it turns out to be dreadful! And they all know eachother pretty well, so we might be a bit left out!!!

xx

Hello everyone,

OOh beans you domestic goddess you!

I've not read 50 shades either. I tried reading the Da Vinci code and only got two pages in!! I couldn't see what all the fuss was about. I like froth in a Marian Keyes sort of way but badly written, cliche filled crap is just crap. Very eloquent there .

Kiwi Wow, well done you. Amazing running. Love DD1's comment! Sorry to hear your sister isn't speaking to you. Do you want to hold out the olive branch?

indith Is there a pilates class near you? I used to go and have been meaning to go back to sort out my wobbly belly. It uses the whole core and does pelvic floor stuff. The one I went too was full of middle ages women who sometimes did big farts! I used to get the giggles.

deids They noted when he said 'no!'. Wowsers that is a bit harsh! Pre-school is full of low level fallings out and occassional pushing etc, shouting is just part of the fun. I think you were right to stand up for your DS. They sound overly harsh if they are blaming him for every petty fall out.

A belated well done on the weight loss by the way. Marvelous.

invisible That is very funny. I remember the first time I saw a swear in print. Watership Down. I think it said 'shit'. Most of the primary school copies were censored but one had slipped by .

McKayz Lovely birth story. Well done you on the feeding too. Have the HV round and ignore most/all of what she says! Actually mine is lovely, very laid back and forward thinking. Apparently there are two for my area and one is all BLW, co-sleeping etc (mine) and the other is very old school routines etc. Quite odd they work in the same team.

vag Well done you on dropping a dress size. The hill running you described sounded awful!

obes I hope you had a good camping birthday weekend with not too much rain!

ladyT Do you still see a consultant about DD1's eating? I was reading a general thread (maybe AIBU) about people forcing their DCs to try things on their plate. It was quite the debate with some people saying 'my parents presented me with the same meal day after day till it was gone and I'll eat anything now' - like that was a good thing. I was quite shocked that people would force it. I like DD to try things but I wouldn't punish her if she didn't.

DH is in a bit of a mood, maybe because the house was messy, but he is having an angry clean. Ferocious floor mopping is taking place which can only be A Good Thing .

Now, is anyone else experiencing first time tantrums at 3 and a half?! DD1 has never been one for tantrums (I know I've been very fortunate up to now) but has had about three in the last few weeks. Screaming and shouting, lying on the floor refusing to move etc, about really very insignificant things, e.g. I filled her cup not quite to the top . I'm not really sure how to deal with them. I walked almost all the way to town with her screaming and shouting about wanting to go home and get a hair slide. I just was very calm and we didn't go home for the hair slide! Any hints, tips or reassurance from those with older ones would be much appreciated!

Deids - your DS sounds perfectly normal to me. Do keep in mind that things change pretty quickly. I remember my brother was a complete horror till he was about 6/7, really spectacular blow out temper in his case. He's now so incredibly mild mannered you just wouldn't believe it of him. If it makes you feel better, we had the talk of shame about DS today. Apparently he's been pushing people in nursery and when they try to talk to him about it, he ignores them. I know that well - when I try and tell him off, his line is "go away, stop talking mummy"

Thank you also posting about your DD - I meant to say ages ago. We have some of the same kind of issues. DD's long term best friend is in her reception class but has been much less loyal at school than DD has, so she is regularly upset when this other girl wont play with her, sit next to her or whatever. Its obvious that DD is well liked, but for much of the year she's only had eyes for this one child. Anyway, its getting better but you can't help project every horrible time you had at school onto those situations. Anyway, you'll appreciate this LadyT apparently she has taken to umpiring the boys' cricket matches .

I'll also pass on 50 shades.. I'll pretty much read anything including the cereal packet, but also learned my lesson with the da vinci code - incredibly creaky and even the plot wasn't too original.

JB - DS is definitely more tantrummy than he used to be. And these days when he gets cross, he wets himself. Twice today. Very boring. It does pass and definitely more noticable when he is tired - usually end of the day and as we're coming to the end of term.

Beans - meant to add, am seriously impressed with the entertaining! We have one couple coming on Saturday for the first time in ages and i am seriously contemplating resorting to a take away. I used to be an OK cook, but have lost all patience...