north of the border - bulging bumps and bonnie bairns!

[weeonion]

folks - thought it was time for a new thread with a new title for all those whose LO are out! i thnk we shoud be aiming for a meet up in May / June?? - what do you reckon?

happy birthday vio - hope you have a special day... xoxoxoxoxoxo

[sob] have just taken DS to have his hair cut!! It's still quite long, but he just doesn't look like him.

When it was so hot at the beginning of the week it was really annoying him and he was getting really sweaty so I thought I'd better get it cut before we go on holiday. Kind of wish I hadn't now .

Midnight - we do have a camper (not the one in the photo unfortunately!) but it's off the road at the moment. We have had some great adventures in it, before I was pregnant we just used to head off in it and see where we ended up. Generlly we come back on the back of an AA van though, but it's part of the fun!

We're taking our VW Karmann Ghia, or at least we are attempting to take it. We broke down 10 miles out of Glasgow last time we tried to take it to Germany for a show. It's not looking good at the moment as my FIL thinks he has just dropped a washer into some air intake.

WO - we're heading off on Sunday to the DIL's so that there's time to fix any problems before we head off on wednesday to gernmany. I don't mind cars breaking down when on holiday, but bit of a pain if it's your main car!

Tallulah - you still here?

Vio - hope you have a happy birthday. Thinking of you and wee baby James.

Hope you have a lovely birthday Vio.

Happy Birthday Vio xxxx

Still here!

WO & co - Glad to hear you visited Vio. Was there anything she said she needed or would like us to do for her? How is little James doing?

Hope she had a happy birthday.

loulee - i see from another old thread that you have a ring sling. i have bought one but cant work out how to use it... caoimhe ends up like a crumpled chicken in it. woud you mind showing me the knack the next time we meet up.

trixy - woudl you mind sharing yr email with me?? L dot thompson773 at ntlworld dot com

WO - I have a ring sling as well. It took a bit of practice and I watched the videos on the website about a million times before I got it right.

www.huggababy.co.uk/Default.aspx?tabid=109

Unfortunately DS didn't really like it, he preferred the Baby Bjorn.

Have e-mailed you.

Hi guys - quick update- I started leaking bit of fluid last night. But no contractions. Been to see m/w this morning & she is sending me up to the hosp now. Said is likely that will keep me in & good chance that will have to bring my induction forward. Will keep you posted.

hey Tallulah , hope everything goes well fingers crossed for you
xx

best of luck tallulah - look forward to hearing your news!

good luck tallulah!!

hiya, just want to say thank you for all your support.

I had a lovely day..received some presents and flowers...i am loved by so many people. like i said to Wo-Anjo and Gmm on Wed..all of you have been extremely nice..i mean it..i wouldn't have survived till now if there wasn't any support from friends and family. I haven't met all of you but Wo told me that many of you really want to help..i told GMM..i didn't think i have many friends but when i am struggling..i realise that i've got loads of friends....i couldn't believe it..you girls are so kind and so loving...i think we all need alot of love to survive so i am giving James alot of love as well..he needs it..its really kind living with the knowledge that your babys life will be cut short but i am making the most of each day...

How can i describe my feeling..i mean..my EB nurse told me Wo phoned and she said all mums i met from mumsnet want to do something for james and for me...i couldn't beleive it..i then phoned Wo that night..i was touched..touched by the love you all have for me and for wee james...

I told my friends and family in HK that mums i met here all wanting to help...they are touched as well...i just want to say thank you...for everythng really...i said to GMM..when James was still in the hospital..i did feel upset when i saw kids in uniform shopping with their mummies...cos i knew i would never see james in his uniform..but then i am not feeling sorry for myself anymore..when i met wo=anjo and gmm with their babies..i felt so happy for them...i know whats like to be a mum...its a blessing to me a mummy ..

Its lovely meeting WO, anjo and GMM ..we all had a great afternoon...would love to meet other mums as well if others want to come along next time..

Wee james is a cheeky boy though his health isn't improving but like WO, Anjo and GMM said ...hes your boy Vio and he will always be.. you know what..i am so glad that i was on mumsnet..its so special to share my feelings with other mums...

LOVE YOU ALL!!xxx

Nice to hear from you Vio. Would love to meet you and James soon. Don't hesitate to ask any of us for help, we would love to be able to help you out in any way we can.

Glad you had a nice birthday. Take care.

Update- Spent all day at hosp mostly waiting around. Anyway, they couldn't see any fluid & would have said my waters hadn't broken except I had managed to capture a sample last night which they were sure was amniotic fluid. M/w had feel of tummy - baby only 3/5 & now in OP (back to back}. Cervix not only completely closed but virtually unreachable as somewhere behind baby's head instead of in front. Apparently means very long process to get cervix to move to front before will even start to dilate.

Upshot of all this is I have to go back tomorrow- to labour ward for augmentation - so straight onto drip to start contractions despite unripe cervix. Thought they always ripened cervix before starting contractions - anyone got experience?

Good luck tomorrow, Tallulah.

Good to hear you had a good birthday, Vio and you are being so brave - wee James sounds lovely & he's lucky to have you as a mummy .

BTW that sling link was great - I've been wondering why poor ds looked so squished in my ring sling & it looks like I've been doing it all wrong. Had fun practising today!

vio - nice to see you back on here. we are around when you need us.

tulla - fingers crossed fro you missus. looking forward to hearing your news...

can i sk the glasgow ladies - when you hd your baby - did the physion assess your tummy muscles?? at the princess royal no such thinh happened but at my nct meet up they were all talking / comparing how many fingers worth of muscle stretch they had????????????????????? eh?????????? what does that mean?

caoimhe had her 6 week check today - doign really well. v v plesed with her head movement and upper body strength (soounds liek gladiators!!) accordign to the charts - she is in the 91st percentile for height and head size so we are looking at a tall one!!
i nearly wept tho when the doc weighed me i am now officially a lardo...

tula - sorry - i dont know anyhing about augmentation and cervixes??

Good luck Tallulah!

WO - yes, I had my tummy muscles checked - it's to see if they've separated. The way you check it, according to Sheila Kitzinger, is to lie on your back with a pillow under your head, rest your hands on your tummy and very slowly lift your head and shoulders with chin tucked in. If you feel a soft bulging area the width of a finger or more, your muscle has separated. There are exercises you can do to get it back together.

Sounds like Caoimhe's doing really well

Vio - good to hear from you. You sound very strong. Let us know if there's any help we can ofer, won't you.

Vio...your story has touched the heart of many MNers, even those, like me, who only know you from lurking on the April ante-natal thread. You sound like you're being incredibly brave through all of this and James sounds like a real wee fighter. Thoughts and prayers are with you all

Sorry...should have apologised for the hi-jack. Didn't mean to be rude

dasiy, i know vio really appreciates all of these kind messages, so certainly no need tb apologise!!!

Good luck tallulah!

Martins familys here still so my sister in law is looking after james for me so i can have a bit of time to myself.

EB is a rare condition and horrible and Looking after james certainly not easy. Simple things like changing nappy requires a dose of morphine and it takes ages to change it as you cannot wipe his bottom. ( any kind of friction cause new blisters). He cannot wear anything else except pure cotton babygrow and he has to wear them inside out. I have never hold him or pick him up as that cause friction as well..i can only nurse him with his soft spenco mattress...I can kiss him but have to be really carefull as if he moves his head while i am kissing him...then that cause friction ...I can touch his face ( cos pressure is ok ) but hve to be very carefull and very gentle..again...i dont do that very often cos if he moves that cause friction.

We took him out only once as he had to see the doctor in Yorkhill..we then realised it was a trouble cos putting him in his car seat was v.difficult ( imagine when u cannot pick him up )...we wrapped him in a very soft blanket then gently put him in his car seat...but then we got home and DH had to rush back to work..i was left with James in his car seat...then i realised..god..how could i take him out?? i spent 20 mins trying to figure whats the best way to do it without hurting him.

WO let me hold her baby last time..i felt so happy..i wish i could do that with James..i wish i could kiss him all over..

We have never given James a proper bath as its very difficult becos we cannot lift him up plus he has alot open wounds..( my EB nurse said we can help you as some mummies really want to give their babies a bath..just as a memory..but i dont want to run the risk of hurting him ..what if he gets infection?) so i said..no...just give him a wee wash with tip and tail bowl....

I have bought loads of lovely smart clothes for James before he was born but he can never wear them...

well, i have learnt to let go....I love james ...i just want to make sure he gets the best care ...i am his mum and thats all i can do for him.

PLeased you had a nice birthday Vio;

Oooh we avent heard from Talulah recently.... hopefully she has her little one by now!!!

We were talking about festivals a while back - have you all seen www.retrofest.co.uk/

looks quite good if you into the whole 80's thing - plus you can take kids..

Hello All,

Will be back later but just to say that Eilidh arrived safe & sound on Sat at 10:43am beating her planned induction by a good 4 hours - whew!