Waters have broken at 28 weeks - we're in America!

[Southsearocks]

I've come over to the US for a two week holiday to my partner's family. No problems at all in this pregnancy (my first). Then yesterday morning the waters broke! I've been admitted to a local hospital and although me and baby are fine we'll be here for the duration. It's likely to be three months! Baby could come any time between now and full term so we're keeping everything crossed (including my legs of course) it stays in as long as possible. Either way we're not able to fly home for a looong time...

Our baby will be coming back to the UK an American citizen - how about that?

Pray the insurance works out for us!!

Hello, have read your thread (your posts only, baby and job prevented me from reading it all!) over the last couple of days and just wanted to join everyone in wishing you well. You are doing fantastically, and aren't Mners a bloody marvellous bunch? It is clear that the support you have had on here has really helped you. I will be keeping an eye out for more updates and cheering you on!

Well done on getting to 31 weeks! How fantastic!

You have an amazing attitude.

Wow! You are being very brave! Good luck!

Congratulations on 31 weeks! I check this thread every day to see that baby Southsea is still staying put, and to wish you and your dh and baby the best of care and the best of health.

How does it feel to have so many people in the UK, US, Ireland, New Zealand and God knows where else, looking forward to your baby's birth announcement (but hoping it doesn't come for a few weeks yet!)? And every one of them sending prayers and / or good thoughts for a safe, healthy delivery for you both.

In the spirit of the day:

"The ultimate measure of a [wo]man is not where [s]he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where [s]he stands in times of challenge"

-- Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

You are doing great!

31 weeks sounds so much better than 28! Well done.
I amdorry tat you are feeling low and homesick. Be kind to yourself. 3 weeks in hospital is a very long time even without the stress and distance from family and friends.

Woot!! Found Wi-Fi here in our holiday abode (either that or I'm pirating someone's but I don't care), first thing I did when it let me connect was check for news of you!
I'm so happy you're at 31 weeks, that's so wonderful!
Let me just say, you're totally entitled to have the blues a little. You ARE missing out on things, you've had a frightening thing happen, and you're in a different country. Who WOULDN'T have the blues? (I don't mean to shout, bolding or italicizing is a PITA on the iPhone.)
Here's a virtual hanky and a huge (((((((HUG)))))).
Will try to check in tomorrow. xxJM

Horrah for 31 weeks.

I also wanted to just say don't not post because you are feeling miserable. You are going to have low days And when you do, the virtual hugs from a load of strangers in cyber space who are rooting for you and mini southsea may just help a little.

Hope mad men is going well. We are waiting to hear from the in-laws who gave it to us for Christmas if they can find the receipt so we can swap it for a version that works!!!

ANother lurker who is 'coming out' to say how well you are doing, and givin you a virtual earl grey with brown toast and marmelade/marmite (tried to think of most English things possile)

Hope things stay boring for a while longer yet

b* xx

Hi Southsea, congrats on 31 weeks!!!!
That is really brilliant news, the further away from 30 weeks you get the less likely your little one will need any ventilation so more cuddles for you and your Dp straight away.
You are doing so well keep it up, hope you are enjoying your ipad too.
Does your hospital have any hotel services,like hairdressers ect that you could use for a bit of pampering? Just a thought
Cormac is doing well, breastfeeding is going well he takes ages to latch sometimes but usually manages it in the end.
Take care x

I've also just finished reading this thread and wanted to echo all those here in saying how brilliantly you are doing under the circumstances, it's really admirable and something your little one can be very proud of in years to come.

I'll be keeping a close eye on your progress and keeping everything crossed that the Southseapebble (geddit) stays in his/her little bubble for as long as possible. As my yoga keeps telling me, 'mother the mother'... look after yourself and your body will do the rest, I am sure of it. Well, that and the iPad

It's really heartwarming to see how supportive MN can be when its needed, what a lovely bunch of people!

x

Well done on getting to 31 weeks ! Am so in awe at you, how strong you are being......even though there are days when you have a wee 'wobble' you still manage to see the positive.......that quality will make you a FANTASTIC mummy !

I have also been catching up on the thread, all the very best and you are doing brill!!

Aaaaaarrgghgh!! Bloody thing! I just wrote a really long post and it's bloody disappeared! How infuriating

Anyhoo, thank you all, it's so nice to know there are so many people from all over the place rooting for us. And Jacksmama is even on holiday! And TastesLikePanda's cats are even at it!

There's no news today other than I've been sent a calendar from a friend back home so I can now cross off the days and have a visual measure of how far we've come and how far we have to go until 34 weeks are up. I think that by then I'll be ready to have the baby and get out of here, but what will probably happen is I'll ask to go another week if they'll let me. It is going to be so exciting now to be able to announce the birth of our little pebble! I'm making huge assumptions about getting that far of course but, well, it's looking good. I don't want to jinx myself!

It's also DP's birthday today and I've not been able to get him anything, poor lamb. Most American websites won't accept UK based addresses or debit cards so we'll just have to go shopping when we can leave the hospital. It's definately something I'm looking forward to!

I have been looking at prams. The Maclaren Diesel Turbo Techno XT looks popular but I don't know the first thing about choosing a pram so any suggestions? I'm going to have to order it without trying it out.

I had started a big old blarb about the scary side of pregnancy and giving up your independance and being responsible for a little person etc but will spare you that, but what I will say is hats off to those of you who already have children and are pregnant again because I'm a right wuss and was moaning about being tired... and I'm flat out on a bed all day!!
- I've made myself laugh! But seriously, I do seem to be exhausted a lot doing diddly, so goodness knows how you must all be feeling.

We've been fighting over the iPad because we are both now addicted to Angry Birds! I swear I go to sleep with that music in my head.... Talking of sleep I may try for a snooze (got put on the monitor at 1am last night then woken up again at 4am by someone popping their head in and asking if I was ok - which was nice of them but unnecessary considering I was asleep!).

Hope you are all having a good day X

Try hitting preview button first then post button it seems to stop my post disappearing.

Glad you seem a bit more upbeat today. Serously I'd go bonkers lying flat on my back. Just doing 6 days on sofa/bed with flu at new years did my head in watching daytime TV and that was the first time lying down like that for 4yrs :o ...since DD was born..

For prams / pushchairs I have been doing some more research lately for our hopefully second. It depends on your lifestyle, we had a sturdy 3 wheeler Jane for DD1 which was great but took up lots of room in the car, and bit of a nightmare going shopping. We also bought a Maclaran Volo lightweight folder down one handed thing which is fab and love it, but normally they have to be 3-6mths old before you can use that type. If town / shopping / public transport is your lifestyle go for an umbrella fold which is as light as you can afford one. If its countryside, beach long walks go for one with adjustable handle bars, 3 wheels is good. Ones that take a carseat are good too if you want convience. Happy shopping.

We got a City Jogger Mini- check out the video on their website. It' light, really easy to fold and steer. And reasonably priced.

But definitely get one your car seat can clip onto. You may have to choose a compatible car seat. It means you have one less item to juggle in the airport when you travel home. We've done a lot of flights with DD and the car seat always falls off the trolley about 5 times per trip.

Wow, only just seen these. You are doing amazingly well and are so positive in your post. Good luck!

Another addictive game for the iPad - Bubble Shooter.

Hey southsea, just checking in to say hi and well done! Great that you have made it so far.
Ps angry birds may well appear as my unreasonable behaviour on any divorce petition, tee hee x

i didn't get a pram until after dd was born. i had a big old fashioned thing my sister had used, then discovered that the springs were sagging at one end & dd would gradually end up in a puddle of blankets & baby by the handles.

so i went to tesco & got a v basic thing for 35 pounds!

before i got round to that, i used the car seat whilst driving, then either carried her in it, or just carried her. but then, i had a c-section so didn't go anywhere much to start with.

i always do a select all, control +c to make sure its copied before i post a message!!!

just wanted to add that am thnking of you as well, you are doing brilliantly and are a reminder for me not to keep whinging about things because i am massive etc now.. you are very brave and i really admire your strength of spirit!!

fingers massively crossed that little one stays put for as long as is needed and continues to thrive, and that you can maintain your cool

xxx

Southsea, I've been lurking since you originally posted but didn't want to show myself as I wasn't really in a position to be too positive. Thanks for posting on my NT/CVS thread. The good news is still sinking in as I've had it hanging over my head for so long...

I just wanted to say I am in awe of you for how well you are getting on. 3wks in hospital is a lifetime in real terms - don't worry about what kind of mum you think you will be as you are already being the best kind of mum there is - you are doing the very best for pebble. Things will be much easier when he/she is out as you and DP can get on with it without medical intervention. Fancy waking you up to see how you are!!??!! I'm not great with hospitals so had my other two at home, which I find ironic now considering how much I've been in hospital with this one 14 wks in. Still booked in for another home birth though!!

Keep up the good work - you are doing brilliantly.

Does anyone else think that Pebble is a really cute name? Lol

Congratulations on the 31 weeks.. You're doing amazingly!!

In terms of prams (and baby bags and everything else) you should just read loads of review sites on your iPad... The mumsnet ones are great! When I was choosing my pram I put Bugaboo in the search bar, selected mumsnet talk and read everything anybody had ever said about it! (same with bags, cribs, grobags, steriliser everything!)

This will certainly pass the time for you and is really fun - by the time you have your beautiful bundle you will have a list of everything you need and be totally sure about it all!

Xxxx

Southsearocks, id strongly recommend waiting to buy your pram until you can go somewhere and test drive several models. As a pram fanatic, I've had seven, and they all feel totally different to steer and push. You might order one and hate it.

I would make sure someone can meet you in the uk with a carseat to borrow and the go and try out prams when you get back to the uk as not all carseat go in all cars and choosing a pram or pushchair can be a very personal thing and is not something to rush. Draw up a short list
You could get a sling to use while you choose.
You may find there is a gap between getting let out of hospital and getting a flight to go home, so you may be able to choose a pushchair in us. Not sure if that will be cheaper may be worth looking at.
Car seat bought in the us are not legal to use in the uk so one is going to have to be bought thier if family can't borrow one one idea might be this this one not sure on exchange rate ect but it does last until about 12 so you would be able to use it on all trips in the future and as it fold would be easy for them to store.

Wow just found you. how incredible you all are, you should be soooooo proud of yourself. I spent 9 days in hospital (nothing compared to you) but it drove me insane, the food was the only thing that kept me going and the other mums to be. Needles to say the reason i spent 8 days in hospital is being dragged along the lino by her big bro , no doubt leaving a trail of pee as we are potty training at moment. But any how, you should right a book, get on your iPad ( I have one as well any idea how to use it, and yes I am stuck on the angry birds)- and start typing, it is an amazing tail, ( who would play you in the film)
just keep going stay positive, and remember everyone is here, I move to Philly in April wish it was earlier, could have come and visited.

Much love xxx

Ps the Harry potter Lego game on iPad is brilliant keeps me occupied for hours. Xx

Wow, what an incredible situation to be in ... its certainly going to make a great story to tell your little pebble when he/she is older!

Re prams & carseats, like one of the other posters I can also HIGHLY recommend the Babyjogger City Mini. It is my 6th pushchair & the best & most versatile by miles!!

In my opinion the Maxi Cosi is the best carseat, compatible with most pushchairs and fits into most cars (either on its own or via isofix).

I def won't be scared about purchasing items such as a pushchair in the States, especially if it is cheaper. (I bought my Phil & Teds there & saved myself a small fortune.)

Best of luck & take care