Any first-timers due December and want to come on and chat?

[mopsytop]

I just found out, am due December. First baby. No clue about anything! But pretty excited!

Felicific Thanks :) Where are you based now and where are you moving too? sorry for being nosy.

Good for you on first choice Darciesmum. There is no birthing centre where I am based - boooo. I am living away as I said until end August so I don't even know if I can book in the hospital near home, even though the first few months of my midwife care will be here. Midwife appointment in 2 weeks so will ask then.

Felicific a friend and I were planning on going for a pedicure - you know the ones where the little fishies nibble your feet? I guess that's off for a few months then!

Mopsy If when you give birth you will back at home, I don't see no reason as to why you can't book in there now. Is there not a MW led unit in your main hospital?

Apparently they have a labour ward, three postnatal wards and one antenatal ward, an admission Triage area and a High Dependency Unit. There is a birthing pool but it doesn't say anything about a MW led unit. Oh hang on, there is a midwifery-led care unit. Good-o. Thinking I will prob want birthing pool as well!

Midwifery care unit is what i'm on about, its lovely and soo relaxed (well was when DD was born 6yrs ago). It'll be the case if the birthing pool is free on the day/night you go into labour.

I am just looking up a forum about the local maternity hospital - loads of horror stories - going to stop now! anyway I think people mainly post the bad things rather than the good ones, if you see what I mean. I know that they are often understaffed as one of my friends used to be a midwife there. But I think they have a fairly okay reputation generally, and we only live a mile away.

Well after tummy twinges for last 4 days they've stopped almost miss theM
Today. Was absolutely exhausted last night for first time and still no sickness woop woop. Are others having symptomless days?

8 weeks Mark tomorrow. Still 3 weeks until 1st appt want it to go by quickly.

I have to confess to buying mother and baby mag today as theres a babies r us book in it. Must resist buying Stuff and telling almost told someone today but going to wait until scan ..........well try to anyway.

yep - no sickness since this morning's breakfast. Fine at lunch. Woohoo!
Still having cramps though.

Still finding it hard to concentrate at work as keep looking up baby stuff but doing a lot better today than other days at least. I think once I get back from my Easter hols and am more used to the idea it will get easier to concentrate. Not really a good comparison but after I just got engaged, the first week I was looking up the web constantly for wedding ideas, then I calmed down and got stuck back into work. So let's hope this is the case with this!!

It is very hard Figgygal not to go with excitment - quite rubbish that we all have this "well I'll try not to get my hopes up" feeling I keep wavering between being excited and giving myself a sensible talking too!

Darciesmum I'm in London at the mo very near St Georges in Tooting so close to good facilities here but would like to be living in Devon near family by the summer. I've even contacted a indepenent midwife but don't know if should spend savings!!! They have lovely maternity units there which used to provide amazing after care but apprently no night coverage now. Unassisted birth rate is bad at main hospital so will have to put home as first choice then if need medical assistance will end up in hosp anyway.

mysoptop I was/am the same! Got engaged in the summer and was meant to be working form home in Aug but it was very hard...did manage to achieve something today at least :)

I'm finding it hard to concentrate at work too, however, I think once i've seen the mw next week i'll be able to focus more.

I guess i'm lucky that i've got my booking in with the mw next week which will make me 5+3wks so that's early and try and persuade her to give me and early scan.

Felicific how do you go about researching things like unassisted birth rate at hospitals? I'm struggling to find info on my options - I'm booked into my nearest consultant-led unit, which my GP said was best for first-timers, but I'd like to do my own research too as there is a midwife-led unit at the same hospital.

Oh and I feel bloated, grey and tearful today - anyone else in same boat?

I bought some Becks Blue as entertaining this evening, hopefully it'll be nice and perk me up.

Oooh alcohol free beer - why didn't I think of that? On hols next week, might just have to try it. If nothing else to compare it to, it might even be okay! You can get alcohol free Erdinger wheatbeer too, I know, just don't know if it would be easy to find.

Hope your tearfullness goes away soon goodegg - it's all those hormones!

GoodEgg Hope you feel better soon.

I gave birth the first time in a MW led unit and it was truly a wonderful and positive experience. So relaxing

Really Darciesmum? That's nice to hear, as you hear so many horror stories! I hope it's like that for me! I am not looking forward to the pain though - uuggggh. I really really hope I take after my Mum, we all came along fairly speedily.

Mopsy If you tell yourself 'its going to hurt and the kid is only going to come out one way' you kinda get a focus iykwim. Just learn your breathing techniques and try and stay mobile and it'll be fine. I had a lovely pain relief free natural birth with DD and hope to do the same again.

Will try all those things when the time comes!
right, off home finally. And on hols tomorrow evening for a week and a day - yippee!!!!

mopsytop sainsbo sells the alcohol free beer I got Erdinger Wheat beer yesterday and quite liked it and it contained folic acid!!! I have a bottle of a f cobra to try next. Had to find something to go with BBQs in this weather. Also if you are entertaining no one knows you are drinking a f beer.

Still not looking at anything baby wise until I get the scan and tests done cannot get my hopes up but secretly watching mums to see what car seats and pushchairs they have!! Must stop it note to self.

Alcohol free cobra oh wow that might just get me through summer if it tastes like the real stuff!!!

Reporting back: Becks Blue is fab! With a bit of imagination I'm as tipsy as our guests

Becks blue has been my drink during 2 week waits for AF, tastes like the real thing now.

goodegg the NHS choices website has some general stats if you put in your postcode

www.nhs.uk/planners/pregnancycareplanner/pages/Previewservice.aspx

When you look at each unit in detail it tells you what facilities they have ie birthing pool :)

Hi All...congratulations!
Well hope I am not too late to join the chat. I just found out 2 days ago - and am due on the 24th of December!!! I am quite excited - but also nervous. We haven't even told anyone yet - coz I am still trying to digest the info myself! I am a bit clueless- have no idea what I should be doing!

this is an example page

www.nhs.uk/ServiceDirectories/pages/MaternityDetails.aspx?id=MT1900&v=7

lalababy well done you - big congratulations :o