Expecting in Oxford in 2011 anyone?

[Jer79]

Wondering if anyone else is having a baby in Oxford this year (2011)? I am due in the summer and would love to meet other mothers-to-be who live around.

NEXT MEET-UP

The next one is at 12pm on Friday 8th April in Summertown Wine Cafe.

(Please note, not at 2.30pm as previously posted)

Really hope to see familiar faces and new ones.

See you soon!

I've got plans for the morning... if I'm done in time I'll pop in but otherwise you might actually enjoy a quiet, baby-free session! That said, I don't want to miss any other little ones, so do let me know if you're coming bubba (and friends) or Eva.

Toomuchteaching You know how our meet-ups go - I'm sure there'll still be plenty of nattering and coffee and hot chocolate for a good few hours. I think the average meet-up so far has been three hours! I imagine it'll have a bit of life if you do pop in later.

And I second your call for babies.

Congrats Itmar, what a whopper. Please take it slowly and do not do things you shouldnt do. My wound reopened after I was discharged with DD1 and it took 5 months to close. This time I am not doing anything because I really dont want to go through that again.

Sorry been a bit awol here. I really wanted to make it on Friday but then had a health visitor who dropped in at 9am and stayed until almost 10. By then it was too late cos I still needed to get done myself. DH and I then went into Oxford to get a few things I needed whilst DD1 was in nursery.

I havent ventured out on my own yet and am still in a little pain when I least expect it. I have my last midwife app later today in order for them to discharge me and also had a call from my doctor who wishes to see me today. Probably about my low iron levels.

DD2 is getting bigger everyday and feeding non-stop. Really tempted to get a dummy today.

About the meetups, I dont drive. By car I am 20 mins away by bus its about 35mins which I dont mind but 12pm on Fridays would be too late for me because that would mean I wont make it back in time for DD1 at 3pm.

If any other meetup can be early on a Friday or anytime on Tuesdays then I will definitely make it. On Tuesdays DH can drop me off because it is his day off. Would prefer anything from either 11am/1pm onwards on Tuesdays.

Eva Brilliant to hear from you. We can definitely do a meet-up on a Tuesday or Friday am to suit you, maybe the one after next. I know Owlbooty definitely can only do Fridays, and Pipcarrier also prefers mornings, so we can do one on a Friday morning most easily I think. Would that suit others too?

I'm really happy to hear you are taking it easy, though that can't be too easy with a little kid and a newborn. If there's anything we can do to help, just ask. You are in Witney aren't you? Is any of us living around there and might be able to offer a lift?

Really looking forward to meeting you and Zara.

Hi Jer,

I've had 2 c-sections now so I cant give you any comparisons between natural vs c-section - I can only tell you what I've experienced. This is a bit of an waffly general essay though.

First C-section. I had a 3 day induction ending up with my DD's heart rate crashing and having to have an emergency. By that time, I was very tired and it took me a long time to get my energy up again. As I already had a spinal in place they were able to top it up and I didn't need a general - which made recovery much easier. You have about 1 hour in recovery while they assess you and the baby - e.g. monitor blood pressure etc and how well the baby feeds. Then they put you down in the ward. I had a catheter in for 24 hours. I was up within 24 hours and the catheter removed and had a much welcomed bath. From then on, I was encouraged to move around to encourage feeding. Once home, I took things easy and had lots of help so it didn't take me long to recover.

Second c-section, was elective so it was much more relaxed and things were explained to me and I knew what was happening each step of the way. The hospital were great and let me ask any question I had. They do tend to frighten you pre-op with a list of everything that can go wrong but they have to let you have all the information so you can make an informed choice. Post op - The second c-section is a bigger operation as they have to cut out your old c-section scar - which gives you a mini-tummy-tuck at the same time. I found it physically much harder to recover this time around - partly because I had carried such a bruiser which had put a strain on my body. The major disadvantage to the c-section was that I had to ring the nurses everytime I wanted to put Edward in his cot as my muscles were't strong enough to get out of bed, carry him and bend over at the same time and I was envious of the other mothers who were up and about within a couple of hours. But this only lasts for a couple of days and its an irritant rather than a major problem. Now I'm back at home, I'm off the pain killers and although everything is still a bit tender I'm lucky to be recovering well.

There's no doubt that a c-section is a major operation as they have to cut through 5 layers to get to the baby but its suprising how quickly you recover. I would have preferred to have had a natural birth as the recovery tends to be quicker but for me c-section was the only option.

Arrange as much support as you can for the first two weeks and put lots of meals in the freezer as you won't feel like cooking. DH is on paternity leave at the moment so the moment of truth will be next week when I'm on my own. Hope this helps but if you have any specific questions, let me know.

Itmar
xx

The next Meet-up is this Friday, at 12pm (Friday 8th April) in Summertown Wine Cafe.

Itmar This is extremely helpful. It's great that you have a lot of help. I'll find out at the end of the month if I'm needing to think about having a c-section, but like I say, and following on from all you said about it, I do think it's a fairly decent, clearly articulated medical procedure after which the mother feels rotten for a good bit longer, but the baby has a very positive exit.

I know many people feel it is too medicalised, but for me, as for everyone else I guess, childbirth is about getting the safest route out for the baby, and every case is different in determining what that might be. For many it's gas and air and some excellent coping techniques, but I am all for a c-section if that's what the baby needs, be it elective or not. I definitely won't fight it if that's what is deemed the best option. Plan A is an epidural as soon as they will allow it, and probably a great deal of swearing before that.

Really hope to meet you and Edward at one of these meet-ups, and I bet lovely Jemima will enjoy baby company at the meet-ups. We have quite a few new babies now - Jemima, Edward, Bubba's little one, and Zara, plus two slightly older babies too, with their pregnant mamas.

Right, back to work.

See some of you on Friday hopefully.

Yikes, my first, Lily, was 9lbs 15ozs and she was born c-section in the end due to unstable lie and possible complications there might be, including the fact that she was large! I was considering having a natural birth this time but after my 20 week scan and the sonographer referring to lily being an 'abnormally large' baby, me being on the 'petite' side and statistically this baby is going to bigger, I am re-thinking I will be scarred for life and will never be the same again... On reflection from my c-section experience, the recovery was quick, the pain killers made me feel worse than the actual recovery and no one prepped me about the horrendous and painful wind that people get a couple of days following the operation - sorry if too much information! So be warned! But I will never regret having a c-section - it was a very positive and amazing experience plus you get a beautiful baby at the end of it! The staff in the hospital were brilliant - so helpful, supportive, gave me options and all the time i needed to discuss them with my partner and made a very medical situation seem as normal as possible. As I have never had more than a quick trip to the doctor's surgery and a complete phobia of needles, the idea of having a spinal and major abdominal surgery while I was awake seemed very daunting but the staff eased my nerves and made me feel very relaxed. When I look back, I hardly remember this bit, I just remember holding Lily in my arms for the first time and thinking how amazing she was and is!
I have a meeting with my consultant tomorrow to discuss my birth plan options so maybe this will help me make my mind up but your emails have definitely given me food for thought. Thanks ladies!
Starting to search for houses in the Oxford area soon so really hope to be able to join you for a coffee and meet you all with bumps and babes!

Jemma

Hi everyone, just a quick note to say I had baby Samuel at 2.27am Thursday morning, he weighs 7lbs9 (and a 1/4!). We got home last night and are quickly learning which end is which and what goes where so to speak!

Hopefully be able to see you all soon!

Oooh! Very exciting & congratulations Beetle

Hopefully see you and little Samuel soon when you've had a chance to recover!

Jem if you need any help with finding out about different areas of Oxford do shout; I think we're all from different places in Oxford so probably have fairly comprehensive information between us :)

Congratulations Beetlebaby!!! His gender was a surprise for you wasn't it? You must be exhausted and so so happy. Can't wait to meet him. If you need anything, let us know, I'm only down the road from you.

Flower who has been coming to the group as part of Bubba's NCT gang, had a baby boy on Wednesday. Amazed you didn't meet her in the JR Beetle!

It's going to be so great to meet all these little babies. Isn't it amazing how in two weeks we've gone from having Jemima as our only little baby to being almost more babies than bumps now.

See some of you later.

PS. Jemma, it's going to be so great when you move to Oxford. The c-section stuff you posted is really interesting, and I hope your consultant birth planning session goes exactly as you hope. Join us for a coffee some time when you're house-hunting. Like Owl says, we all live all over and have loads of opinions on the best of Oxford. It is such a great place to be pregnant in/have kids in.

Hi ladies,
Hope you are enjoying your meet up. This is my last week working on Fridays, so I hope to be able to join you for the next one!
:)
k

Hi kittubb - hoorah for not working on Fridays any more! Do come along; we're very easy to spot wherever we meet up. The bumps are a dead giveaway :)

Not sure when the next one will be; Jer is chief organiser :)

Ooooh congratulations beetle, love love love the name - would have been Jemima's middle had she had different bits! And congrats to Flower too, just in case you read! Go easy on yourselves, take the offers of help and just go with the flow I say!

Sorry to have missed you on Friday, hopefully we'll get to meet these babies soon. If we are more babes than bumps, like I said we may have to cross the road to Portabello.

Enjoy a lovely sunny weekend all!

Next Meet-Up

Due to Easter weekend next week, and this royal wedding business the Friday after, the next meet-up will be on Friday May 6th at 10.30am in Summertown Wine Cafe.

Hopefully the three week gap will allow some lovely new babies to come and get shown off! The earlier time on May 6th is to give PipCarrier and Eva a chance to come if they can, as we'd promised.

See you soon!

Hi. I live in Botley and am due mid June with my first child. I am really keen to meet people locally who are due in the next few months. Any info on bumps/babies groups etc in the local area would be much appreciated!

Hi Crumblecat!

Welcome to the group. I'm due in June too, as are Jasmine51, Kittubb and Pipcarrier on this thread, so we may all be hanging out in the JR together either in labour or at their breastfeeding group. What NCT class, if any, are you in? Hope very much to meet you at the Next Meetup on May 4th in Summertown Wine Cafe. Add yourself to the due date/baby list in bold if you like?

Updated List (anyone know about MsBossy or Steph28?)

Toomuchteaching - Jemima born 17th January 2011 - North Oxon
EvaLongoria - Zara born 21st March at 17:39pm (due 18th March) - Witney - 2nd Baby
Ms Bossy - 19th March - Abingdon - 2nd baby
Steph28uk - 21st March 2011 - Abingdon (Girl) 3rd Baby
Bubbablubber - Daughter born 31st March (Due 24th March) - East Oxford 1st Baby
Itmar - Edward born 29th March at 10:39am (Due 29th March) - Moving to Oxford 2nd Baby
BeetleBaby - Samuel born 7 April at 2.27am (Due date 7 April though the 2 April by my dates!) - North Oxford - 1st Baby

CaringForPod - 29th April 2011 - Botley - (Boy) - 1st Baby
MrsGraham - 25th May 2011 - Iffley Village - (Girl) 1st Baby
Kittubb - June 7th 2011 - Kennington (South Oxford) - (Boy) 1st Baby
Pipcarrier - 11th June 2011 - North Oxford (don't know gender) 2nd Baby
Jasmine51 -16th June 2011 (Boy) 1st baby
Jer79 - 22nd June 2011 - Jericho (Girl) 1st baby
MsTilly - 31st July - Jericho - (boy) - 1st baby
Owlbooty - 7th August 2011 - Kennington (probably) (Boy) 1st Baby
Jemski72 - 18th August 2011 - Reading, 2nd Baby, No idea if boy or girl!
AgBag - 20th October 2011 - Banbury 1st Baby

May 6th, May 6th, May 6th! Baby brain. MAY 6th!!

Thanks for your message. That would be great to come to the next meet up, if possible. I have been doing an NCT class in Botley (due to finish this week) which has been very useful, although I have missed a few sessions due to continuing morning sickness! I am due June 15th and don't know the gender yet. Hopefully see you on the 6th!

Hi CrumbleCat - I'm in Botley too (have just sent you a message). Not managed to get along to any of these meet-ups yet - have been supremely useless . Baby is due in the next couple of weeks, so if I'm not overdue I should be able to make it along to the next one on the 6th WITH BABY!

Just to say I went into the new Jojo Maman Bebe in Summertown yesterday... oh if only I'd been able to wear their maternity gear when pregnant, Oxford is so useless for maternity shopping, actually useless isn't the word, I don't think one shop stocks their maternity range.

Perhaps I can use it as an excuse instead to buy some of their gorgeous baby clothes... will may pop in on May 6th!

I met the beautiful Samuel last week, he is just gorgeous! Hope you're doing ok Beetle.

Enjoy the sun all.

Oooh. Crumble is that with the woman who isn't Virgil? Nicky something? Is she any good? My classes are due to start the first week in May.

TMT You are quite right; there are no bloody maternity ranges available in Oxford. I shall be visiting Summertown shortly as I have one pair of trousers that fit and it's getting desperate (and rather unsightly)

Am just correcting myself on the list:

Toomuchteaching - Jemima born 17th January 2011 - North Oxon
EvaLongoria - Zara born 21st March at 17:39pm (due 18th March) - Witney - 2nd Baby
Ms Bossy - 19th March - Abingdon - 2nd baby
Steph28uk - 21st March 2011 - Abingdon (Girl) 3rd Baby
Bubbablubber - Daughter born 31st March (Due 24th March) - East Oxford 1st Baby
Itmar - Edward born 29th March at 10:39am (Due 29th March) - Moving to Oxford 2nd Baby
BeetleBaby - Samuel born 7 April at 2.27am (Due date 7 April though the 2 April by my dates!) - North Oxford - 1st Baby

CaringForPod - 29th April 2011 - Botley - (Boy) - 1st Baby
MrsGraham - 25th May 2011 - Iffley Village - (Girl) 1st Baby
Kittubb - June 7th 2011 - Kennington (South Oxford) - (Boy) 1st Baby
Pipcarrier - 11th June 2011 - North Oxford (don't know gender) 2nd Baby
Jasmine51 -16th June 2011 (Boy) 1st baby
Jer79 - 22nd June 2011 - Jericho (Girl) 1st baby
MsTilly - 31st July - Jericho - (boy) - 1st baby
Owlbooty - 7th August 2011 - Kennington (boy) 1st Baby
Jemski72 - 18th August 2011 - Reading, 2nd Baby, No idea if boy or girl!
AgBag - 20th October 2011 - Banbury 1st Baby

Debenhams have a few bits of maternity wear in their Red Herring range, but as far as I know, that's the only place in the city centre that does maternity. The Next clearance in the Westgate used to, but when I asked where they'd moved it, I was told that they no longer stocked it.

Primark is pretty good for oversize vests - now almost 39 weeks and I've got a couple of size 12s that still cover the bump.

Also, New Look have some elasticated linen trousers that I'm wearing as maternity trousers, should still be alright post birth too.

But yes, I agree, Oxford is shocking for its lack of maternity clothes. Not even M&S can be arsed to stock it.

Hi owlbooty. Yes - the class was with Nicky. She's really good, very approachable and we both found it very useful. In one session, the men get sent off to the pub together to 'bond' which is quite funny!

I ended up getting all my maternity stuff online in the end, as Oxford is not very good as mentioned above, and saves battling with the crowds :)