March '13 - The One With The Babax

[Plonkysaurus]

New thread , and I can assure you all, it'll be a corker.

WTF, autocorrect? The Pope and the People are not the same thing!

Way to go Stormy

Plonky pethidine and diamorphine are similar in that they're both opiates but very different forms. Diamorphine is much better pain relief and seems to have less of an effect on the baby. I suppose the simplest way of saying it would be that diamorphine is a much purer opiate (it's the clean version of heroin) but is more likely to have side effects like dropping blood pressure and decreased respiratory rate although this is usually not a problem in pregnancy as you get a relatively low dose to weight ratio and have a relatively stable BP and increased respiration. Pethidine is better at making you sleep and relaxing smooth muscle but a relatively poor pain killer and although both make you drowsy, it is longer lasting and often worse with pethidine. Pethidine was the painkiller of choice in labour for a long time but units are catching up quickly and more are offering diamorphine these days as there's more evidence of usage around the UK.

Thanks for taking the time to post that betty. I did only have G&A last time but it was not a good experience. Like you I would have liked was desperate for an epidural but felt I was fobbed off, my midwife was clearly inexperienced as she didn't realise DS was in distress (picked up on the monitor) etc etc. Overall not a good experience and I would like a more positive and less excruciating one this time.! Not a big ask ....! Anyway. Time for me to move on!!
plonk you absolutely can't have set yourself up for PND. At least you know what you're looking for this time so if it happens again you can take early action? Hope DH has improved on last nights behaviour

It's interesting and wonderful how we're all so different with birth preferences, and how past experience helps up decide for future. When I had DS, I just did as I was told - got induced, went to hospital, yada yada, and I felt so reassured by the doctors and midwives and surgeons that it's a no brainer for me to go back to hospital next time. A home birth sounds idyllic but not for me. Partly because of my previous positive experience but partly because SIL makes me feel so inferior that I went into a hospital that I actually want to go into a hospital again. I know she doesn't mean to but she often mentions how relaxed her births were compared to mine because she wasn't in a hospital and could give birth under some fancy shmancy artwork, like not being in hospital was the reason it was better. Unfortunately, having an EMCS in my living room wouldn't have been pleasant so thankfully I did go to hospital. I know it's nothing personal and completely unintentional but she has this way of making me feel guilty for not giving birth at home.

I think I had diamorphine after the c-section but completely didn't remember until DP told me a few weeks ago. I had no idea! Post-birth daze.

I have nothing else to say! I can't remember anything before the birth talk.

Oh! DS has found a harmonica...

An EMCS on your living room: now that's a scary cleanup to contemplate.

It is amazing how everyone is different and experiences labour differently. Ultimately it's about picking the environment that makes you feel safest and most in control to facilitate that lovely oxytocin.

We are on day three with no accidents - does that mean it's a habit? I hope so - leaving the house without nappies is liberating (ignoring the multiple changes of clothing we need instead in the rucksack just in case!)

You're so right rainbow. I feel safe in hospital. Medics saved my life when I was a teenager, and pinned my wrist together when I smashed it up. Having only had good experiences makes me trust them.

The zen feeling you mentioned Rainbow, I had that with dd. It was the point where I tuned the midwife out and just went with the flow. The contractions felt like waves, and I felt as if I was surfing! Totally weird, and pain free!

Yep I concur, you do what you can to get the oxytocin going. If that means creating a cave in your home then do it. If it means going to hospital then do it! It's not for us to judge others on where they feel safest. I have no doubt that my labour was slowed by going to hospital (to me a place where bad things happen) so lesson learned.

Something ignore dsil! it's easy to compare your different labours and assumption that she must have known something you didn't because she had a sneeze birth and you had emcs. But just because that assumption can be made it doesn't mean that's what happened! Your ds was a big lad and you were knackered. Induction is hard on anyone, and you made the decision to trust the doctors and midwives. You know that's not wrong. I'd she uses your choices to make herself feel superior then it says more about her than it does about you.

Betty I wish my midwife had explained the differences between pethidine and diamorphine as well as you have when I was in labour. Thanks. It explains why I felt the way I did.

I've been cooking a lot lately. Very therapeutic. My freezer is bursting with yummy things And today I added lamb ragu, Turkey and bean burgers and a chocolate courgette cake. Is this a kind of nesting?!

Ten fruitless minutes on the potty, then as soon as her pants are back on she wees. Sigh.

We've been drawing this morning. Fartypants keeps telling me to draw "other daddy". I am perplexed.

Stormy I'd just wait a few more weeks and try again. I got ds some pants and the 90 mins he was wearing them yesterday perfectly illustrated just how not ready he is. The advantage is now that he knows they exist. He just hadn't made the potty connection yet.

When she says other daddy does she man the man, or her grandad? Only ask decays ds calls my mum mamma. I am mumma. Subtle differences.

DH 'let' me have a lie in. First time in a month that I've been asleep later than 6.30. Instead of feeling rested my head feels thick and gloopy. Eurgh.

I'm inclined to agree. She's been saying she needs a poo but won't do it on the potty, asked for the toilet then screamed when I tried to sit her on it. Now screeching because she's back in a nappy. But if she's not ready she's not ready and that's that.

She's pretty good on names, my dad is "gwandan", the man is "daddy", she can say my brother's name perfectly. Hence my confusion!

plonky on our first day in pants which was monday, DD basically treated her pants like nappies and we had loads of accidents. Apparently it's totally normal that the first day or two can feel pointless bbut if they are ready on day 2-3 they will noticeably improve because they realise nappy doesn't hold anything. This is also subject to them having the physical ability to hold their bladder a bit which does vary in age between children. We also spent a lot of time before pants taking about pants, reading books about potty use and naked time so it set DD up in terms of understanding what was happening. Crucially I think, we waited until she actually asked for pants after seeing a friend wear them - DD is incredibly independent and I think thrives on that type of control.

Quick duck in to say all your potty chat was getting me worried.....we'd been sitting ecotod on potty every night before bath and she'd never wee in it but do so shortly after getting up (on floor or in bath). Today I asked her if she wanted to wee on the toilet three times and she did every time. I wonder whether some toddles respond better to the toilet they see us using. Just an idea. I think we'll ditch the potty at home and stick to our ikea spec toilet seat converter. She looks so gosh darn cute sat on it with her chubby legs hanging down

We have the same eco. Constant asking of potty, always met with a curt 'no'. Ask if he'd prefer the toilet and he starts climbing the stairs. Toilet covery thing seems more portable too.

Rainbow ds isn't the most independent. He is in some ways but is usually very serene, I don't think independence even occurs to him as an option. We will try your tactic sometime in the future.

Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODDLESAURUS! Ds keeps asking about your party.

Is not ToddleSaurus today, is it? Happy birthday ToddleSome, I thought. Also happy mummy day all. Not that it's a very happy day here so far. The snot gremlin has taken up residence again. And I miss my mum, even though she's sort of still here. Hugs to eco (I think?) and anyone else missing their mother today.

My bloody phone bloody Autocorrected. It's definitely toddlesomething's birthday, and definitely not Toddlesaurus'.

If DD preferred the toilet we would definitely be using that but although she loves sitting on toilet seat she won't do anything on it except swing her legs. Would be so much easier to skip the potty stage and easier when out and about! Still we appear to be pretty much potty trained in the day now so will worry about toilet seats once we have had a few weeks of this under our belt.

Happy toddlesome!

Happy mother's day to all you gorgeous mummys. Extra hugs for those who aren't able to spend the day with their mothers and for those mothers who don't have their dc with them.

Hey hey! A shit week but nice weekend. Mother's Day flowers and card for me, and lunch with dm/grandma for wottatod's official birthday (it's tomorrow but that's a nursery day so he'll be too tired for anything).

Ive just finished the raa raa cake and am having a quick shower before lunch!

Happy Mother's Day to you all, bonus hugs for those who can hug their dm, and happy actual birthday Toddlesome!

Can't hug...

Happy Mother's Day ladies I came on to post about what a rubbish day I was having. Then I read plonk's sister's post on FB, which also made me think of rainbow, and my friend who had a stillbirth late last year. So I realised that in comparison I'm having an excellent day. Adding to the hugs. eco hope you're ok too.
I'm sitting on the sofa drinking hot chocolate and eating left over fondant icing (I know, I know, classy). Not much else to report except I bought that pram (thanks for the advice) and I love it already . Sad but true!!

Yep Shattered, pregnancy can be hard but I'm not complaining. We're very very lucky indeed.

And so are our dc for having such cracking mummies! Happy Mother's Day everybody. Remembering all the mums who are no longer with us as well of course.

I had a mild wobble this morning about various things that have me a bit stressed at the moment. but in the midst of a not very dignified adult mini tantrum/snotfest I caught myself. Bloody hormones! But the stress is still kind of there. Hmph. I'm properly exhausted now and wishing it was bedtime already.

Oh Plonky you poor thing. Sounds like you are having exactly the pregnancy I've just had. I had more wobbles and snotfests in those 9 months than I'd normally have over several years. Hang in there. The good news is there is an end point, and one that comes with new born snuggles

Having a rotten day here though, which is completely un-Mother's Day related. For some inexplicable reason my entire body has flared up with incredibly itchy hives . Not fun.

Happy Birthday Toddlesomething!

And Happy Mother's Day too - mine's been a success as I got flowers and chocolate! to those who have had a tough day, or have absent mothers or children.

Thanks all. The 2 year old had a FABULOUS day, and after protesting for a while, is thankfully fast on in bed

Happy mother's day to you all. I hope you've had lovely days, and enjoyed celebrating yourselves and others, either with them or in thought.