Fabulous 40+ and Proud: Mum and Mums to be Part 2

[Kaz1967]

Ok we have talked to the end of the topic so here is a new one

Hi All. I havent dropped off the face of the earth, but we have been super busy over the last few days so I lost my favourite threads...I'm just going to read through and catch up..I'll post properly when I'm up to date... probably see you tomorrow then

hedgepig nice to hear that the cot is a project underway but HELLO, polystyrene ceiling tiles? Are you stuck in a 1970's time warp? Did you know that your house would burn down within 10 seconds with those things stuck to the ceiling? Glad to hear that they're gone....you didn't find woodchip wallpaper to go with them did you? That stuff is a nightmare to peel off.

FloriaTosca shame on you for losing the thread We're all still here...and we have additions too!

Looks like K might be moved tomorrow or Tuesday so I'm told but we'll wait and see. Gosh, tonight we had cuddles and she really does look like a miniature 'real' baby. Glad she's not looking like an old lady now.....and, I'm told, she can start to wear clothes!!! I'm lining up some pink bodysuits as we speak. So exciting. I've only ever seen her in a nappy and a hat which is not a look that shall catch on

mrsjupiter stop beating your self up over it of course you are scared who wouldn't be. I would be and I worked in neonatal intensive care for 12 years having a premature baby is scary added to which you are not in your native country (I am assuming) so do not have a support network around you and are in a hotel fine for a holiday not so fine at a time of stress when you need home comforts around. Being scared is natural and normal don't bottle it up talk about how you feel and let it out.

Re the milk it can take time, Have you got some pics of your LO? these can help but one of the best things is a sheet or blanket she has been lying on or has been over her, or her had when they change her CPAP you find it will smell of her and that can help the hormones flow and so to the milk. The other think that can help greatly is something called kangaroo care or skin to skin. As well as being really good to help milk supply it is amazingly good for baby helping them with sleep (pre termers are very poor sleepers they have a sleep cycle of aprox 30 mins [adults sleep cycle is 90 mins] have no REM sleep and get disturbed a lot by things being done to them), help support breathing and heart rate (you need to do it for at least 45 mins pref longer for them to really to get the benefits), help them control temperature (your skin temp raises by up to 2 degrees to keep them warm), and because of all this it helps them gain weight because they waste less.

Some things on line about kangaroo care
Kangaroo Mother Care a practical guide from World health organisation
www.prematurity.org/baby/kangaroo.html
www.kangaroomothercare.com
www.geocities.com/roopage
research
www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2431/8/13/abstract
www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/329/7475/1179

Also check out the BLISS (special care baby charity) website www.bliss.org.uk

babycakes it's good to hear from you hope you are all well sounds like you are coping despite everything that happened.

ok...think I'm up to speed...

JW; I know dreadful of me to lose my threads..we have had birthdays and weddings and ILs coming back of holiday demanding visual proof of DSs progress so have not had any time at all to get online...I now have my fave threads "watched" so I cant lose you all again. Its wonderful that Special K is doing so well but shame on Fairfield for saying that they won't have room for her. Will you be coming up M66 Rossendale way or trecking over to Bolton?

MrsJupiter congratulations on you little girl..poor you having such a traumatic time ( I wouldn't wish what you and JW have endured/are enduring on my worst enemy, but it's good that you had some "preparation" for what happened), Welcome to the world Miss Jupiter, I hope the name comes soonand that she will soon be out of scbu and home with you...I'm sure that HK is brilliant, shame about the olympics inconveniently getting in your way, but wonderful that your Dhs company is being so helpful when you are so far from home. I'm sure JW and Kaz will be able to give you all the detailed support you need now you have access to us again....and the rest of us will be waiting to hear your progress reports.

Hedgepig..SNAP! we were desperately trying to rip down polystyrene tiles yesterday too...my Dad passed away last year and Mum is finally ready lose the last links to the things they did together (Dad put up the tiles in the 70s)so my Dh and brother and I were hacking away yesterday...it is going to be a big job, Dad never did anything by halves and those tiles have no intention of coming down without a fight...good luck with yours!

FloriaTosca looks like we'll be heading over to Crumpsall way (NMGH) which wasn't on my favourites list as I dismissed it even for my antenatal care...however, my boys are old customers of NMGH from many years ago when they had jaundice so hopefully they won't be too bad

What is it with polystyrene tiles??? Did they make a come back (not that they were ever en vogue IMHO) and I missed it? I do believe that most people who put them up used that stuff they use to put the tiles on the Space Shuttle

Keep hacking away dear!

I would like to make I clear I didn't put the blinking things up, they were in the house when we moved in ([ it was 5 years ago - but we have been too busy to decorate the spare room without an incentive of a new baby ). Oh and the ceilings which don't have polystyrene ceiling tiles have tongue and groove wood varnished brown on them - nice. My lounge used to be like siting in a ship but thankfully it has gone now. floria are tiles seem to be stuck up with the strongest glue ever, so we now need to get the ceiling skimmed. Sorry I think i should post this on a DIY thread .

hedgepig like I said..it's the stuff they use on the space shuttle hehe

Am imagining the ship-like interior of your house hedgepig...with the soft lulling sound of seagulls and sea shanties in the background....glasses sliding from one side of the table to the other...sorry, imagination is running away with me Need to get out more.

Off to Mothercare to buy princess K some bodysuits in 'micro', 'mini', or 'tiny' size. Not sure which one applies to her until I get there!

JW; Oh yes...space shuttle glue it most defiantely was!..and there was me thinking "nonails" was a modern invention!No you didnt miss a resurgence, just my Dad actually "liked" them he thought that as they covered cracked plaster and sound and heat insulated the ceiling, the fire hazzard risk was minimalso refused to do more than repaint them when we redecorated. I have never used NMGH so dont know what it is like, I hope that things there are considereably better than you anticipate..though it is still quite a treck for you isnt it Have fun at Mothercare..Some of the girls stuff there is just meltingly gorgeous.

Hedgepig; Snap again!The other third of the room was clad with wood panelling too! Yes indeed, we need to start a "Save us from the 70's" support group on the DIY thread.

Afternoon all...
mrsjupiter thank goodness you checked in - and already an addition! HUGE congrats and welcome baby 'noname'! Gosh - what a turn of events - it must have been horrendously stressful. Good to see your DHs work are being good as you need all the support you can get - both practically and emotionally. I see johnworf has got it covered on the advice front. My DD1 was around 7 weeks early - no where near the same but I still understand the stress of not being able to go home with a fat, bouncy healthy little one. But sounds like she's going great guns. Let us know what you call her and keep in touch when you can....and feel free to whoop with delight and vent your spleen whenever it takes your fancy! Weird MN being blocked....we mums are clearly subversive and not to be trusted! x

kaz1967 sympathy goes out to you on the feeding front. Verity has been eating non-stop since day one....and I find it very hard, especially with a toddler. I've found a vibrating baby bouncer has suddenly come into its own. I'm also passing her around to more people - get her used to people other than me. But I'm so envious of the mums with the 'feed and sleep' babies! Poor Verity had a fever last night - and we'd been out all day and not realised - feel guilty now still - she seems better today - phew.

jw Excellent news on the poss move - let us know.

What is all this talk of polystyrene tiles? Dontchya know CORK tiles are where it's all at

I've just met up with a real-life MNetter...we had a nice morning and she was lovely....ooooo it's a marvellous thingy this interweb malarky

hello all

Well I did my stint in London and thank goodness am back at home. I haven't had time to read back all your posts but I see that we have moved from cakes to DIY. Have you all turned virtous without my bad influence?

LO behaved impeccably and bounced around all week while I was away but has gone v quiet since Saturday. I have bored you all all with takes of his weekly quiet spells and my midwife's non-committal response to my queries about them. Well, anyhoo, I had another appointment today and she asked about the movements - I told her that he was being very quiet but still moving a bit and she snippliy told me that I should have rung the hospital. I said what? every week? and she went well yes the movements are the only way to monitor the welfare of the baby. Now I feel guilty and worried. The movements are tiny and infrequent at the moment and I am worried now that something is wrong and I should have been phoning the hospital all along.

Surely if there was something wriong it would stay wrong and he wouldn't keep perking up again after a day or two of being quiet? Also, I don't really understand what is meant by ten movements in 12 hours. Do you count every little twitch and wriggle? if LO moves two or three times in say ten or fifteen mins is that one movemnent or three?

Hi mrsboogie glad you're back safely from the big, bad city.

To answer your question I'd said that's two or three movements. I may be wrong - but that's how I kind of kept a check. Have to say both DC went through periods of three or four days of really low activity. And considering with DD1 i had dangerously low water level then I should have been able to feel the movements even more as there was no cushioning....but no, all very slight.

What's the plan? are you going to phone the hospital and see what they say?

I know some people, especially on MN talk about really frequent movements...used to terrify me that there was something wrong with me...but i think I was just different. You pootle on down to the hospital and get it checked out if it'll put your mind at rest x

mrsboogie don't worry about pestering hospital staff about your worries, I've almost made a career out of it!

As one of an army of neurotic mothers - if you can't beat 'em, join 'em

evening. Hi Mrs B lovely to hear you are back. Each movement is a movement s 3 twitches in 15 mins are 3 movements. I spent all of last week working myself up into a state about movements and self referred to the hosp on Friday morning. They wire you you to a heart rate monitor for about 45 mins and also give you a little button to press when you feel a movement. The heart of my LO was fine but I got very little movement then she gacve me a cold drink and that got a couple of more twitches. The mw was lovely and not cross with me for being silly or anything and said if I was at all worried, even if it is this week go back in. From speaking with her a lot of the movements you feel depends upon where the baby is and where the placenta is, if it is kicking the placenta then you wont feel much. Please ring the hosp 1st thing tomorrow and go in if only for your peace of mind.

evening all

Thanks for your replies, I will see how we go tonight and ring in the morning if its still the same. He's been bobbing about a bit since I got in this evening. I wonder whether he might be facing a different way.

I'm on the caramel shortcake today

Hello Everyone,
Nice to have you back mrsboogie. Hope the big city wasn't too horrid.

I haven't reported in much for the last day or two because I have no news and nothing of interest to tell you. We did Ikea and B&Q on the weekend where I bought DH, as predicted, a breakfast for 95p. I am flash with my cash and told him he should be grateful that his pregnant wife queued up to get it for him . DS did a predictable full tantrum in Ikea at not wanting to go in his pushchair. It would have been terribly embarrassing but for the fact that every toddler seemed to be doing the same thing. I think it's just Ikea on a Sunday morning. I did housechores today. I also wanted to tell you that I've eaten Cadbury's Heroes and now I feel a little sick I'm a silly billy.

mrsboogie this little one had quiet days and active days too. ended up in having trace done more than once often in the early hours. if ever you are worried give the hospital a ring and have a chat it is honestly worth it they are lovely as others have said and do not make you feel at all daft for worrying

pwcbird my DH would love you and your £0.95p breakfasts Anything that costs very little is right up his street.

I can't wait for K to be having tantrums (I can really but I'm getting into the spirit of toddlers and all). Ikea in itself on a Sunday morning is enough to make me want to lie on the floor and cry TBH. It's bad enough in the week when the little uns are still in school....weekend is most def a no no.

Katherine is now officially sporting her summer wardrobe as we speak. She's wearing vest bodysuits now. I'm told, but yet to see her in one but I did go out to Mothercare y'day and buy her a few (she's currently in the hospital ones). She's now weighing in at 3lb 5oz, managing time off CPAP up to 6 hours and taken to her 3 hourly feeds like the proverbial duck to it's water. I'm tentatively congratulating her but we all know how this can all fall down so I'm being a little bit cautious....but WAY TO GO K

Schwing

johnworf....a summer wardrobe...how marvellous! *claps hands and phones Gok Wan to tell of the FABULOUS news !!

pwcbird oh, I shouldn't worry about having 'nothing of interest to say'...just mentioning a random cake will spark interest!!!

Today I shall celebrate the fact I've got back into one of my fave skirts by thinking (not consuming) a choccy eclair

How goes it today mrsboogie?

Yes indeed jeanjeannie. K finds that the nappy and hat ensemble is just so last season. And anyway, vests are the new black.

I'm up to my neck in work today We're about to set up our stall on Amazon and I've loads to do in preparation...as a diversionary tactic I can sit here and tell you all about Katherine's move I find that will waste a few more minutes so here it is...

Consultant strode up to us this morning like a woman on a mission and informed me that she's gonna kick some butt today going to speak with Bury's consultant to see where we are on this bed situation. Katherine already has her little suitcase (filled with nappies, cream, a hat - always a hat, and a spare vest) ready for the off.

Have put up pic today of her in new outfit

awww lovely pic jw- in the wee outfit, and how sweet - the image of her wee suitcase packed and ready to go.

Things not too bad here - have had more movement today so didn't ring the hospital. Still not as much as some days but we have gone well over the ten mark. I was just drying my hands at the very loud hand dryer in the ladies loos at work which is located at bump level and when it came roaring on he did a massive leap.

Part of the problem is although I get worried when he goes quiet I still think it is ok becuase he has done it every week since I first felt proper movement but I always feel shit after an appointment with that midwife. I'm not even the sort of woman who wants to engage her in any sort of chat about my pregnancy like some might do with their mws but she has absolutely zero empathy and makes you feel like you are putting her out by being there. She asks no questions and tells me nothing except the same thing every week - ring the hospital if you are worried. I can't wait to be done with her.

Ooooh had a terrible intermittent pain in my side last night - about where it would narrow to my waist (if I had one) Kept coming and getting stronger and stronger then easing off again. If it had been located in my tummy or back I would have thought it was Braxton Hicks which I have never had but I don't think this was.

mrsboogie sounds like LO is lying on a nerve. Wouldn't worry about it unless you think it's getting worse.

It's crap when nursing staff are cold towards you. There are a couple on the neonatal unit and I try and strike up a conversation and sometimes it works but I know what you mean. Is there only the one MW for you to see? Can't you see someone else?

Funny how the LO's can hear even in the tum isn't it? Dunno how Katherine sleeps with all the noise on the unit but she does. Will bode well for when she comes home to the mad house I live in

Glad to hear that LO is moving around a bit more. Ooh, I just remembered a tip for feeling movement; get on all fours and they start moving about then (so I'm told).

MrsB I'm glad you have had some more movement today. You would have laughed last night DS (age 5) is getting very fed up cos he hasn't felt the LO move. So to try and wake the baba up I lay on the bed while he jumped up and down madly, then he sang a song to the bump, then he shouted at the bump and then he put icy cold hands on me and blew raspberries. and still..... no movements he could feel .
Last day of school today hurrrah I have 3 days off and we are going to Legoland on Thurs, which looks like it will be a hot day, am I mad?
Super K looks great in her vest, it must be nice to have some clothes on.

jw just look at baby K go! If you scroll back down to the first pics and then see her now it's just amazing and wonderful. Huzzah!

mrsb and hedgepig I still am worrying at 21 weeks that I can't hardly feel the baby at all. My stomach is as cushiony as a big puffy pillow and I'm agonising over it all. It seems we shall all do this until they pop out (pop being somewhat of a euphemism - rather when we huff and puff and push and strain etc) .

pcwbird this movement stuff drives you crazy. , i think it is because it is the only thing you can monitor yourself. I think we should get fitted with little windows when we get pg so we can take a peek at the developing baby, although not for the squeamish I think . I seem to have got my appetite back at last, just had a choc mini roll yummm

hi all

Yes it is driving me crazy, I swear I will never understand how people can enjoy being pregnant when there is always something to worry about. That's how it seems to me anyway. He hasn't moved much this evening and not at all since I ate this evening which is unusual. Am just sitting here waiting for him to do his night time movings - don't want to tell my OH as I always seem to be worrying him.

I will def try the all fours thing jw!