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

I do think its marvellous actually that we have designed machines and technology that can replace the placenta. I never really realised just how dependant an extreme premie is on it all. I sort of imagined an incubator keeping it warm and heart monitors and that but some of the stuff you talk about jw sounds so advanced and complicated and very "high maintenance". Its amazing, especially given there is still so relatively little understood about pregnancy generally.

mrsboogie not only monitoring her heart and temperature but regulating her temperature, her breathing, feeding her, keeping all her vital signs stable...all this is now done for Katherine artificially.

Yep, that placenta does a fine old job.

Just got back from visiting her and her hat seems to be getting too small for her...I can actually see her hair! Momentous occasion.

Still trying to wean down on the ventilator but her PDA is still there so hoping that it's getting smaller and she can get off the vent asap.

Tis weighing night tonight so I'm hoping she'll be nearer to the next goal of 1 kilo today (last weight was 907grams). She would have been 29 weeks tomorrow in tummy age and we're moving toward the 5 weeks old on the outside mark on Wednesday.

Finally got an appointment with her consultant for Wednesday afternoon so I have a HUGE list of things I want to talk to him about. DH pointed out that I am very aggressive sometimes in NICU but I am honestly not aware that I am doing it. I shall make a conscious decision to keep myself in check in future.

Had a curry last night with DH so all EBM is being binned today as Katherine is squitting for England without my help. Curried milk not recommended....parp

I was going to do hypnobirthing but because it has taken so long to move I haven't done anything about it. Today I found a free download on-line here just listened to it and must admit I feel amazingly relaxed. Not sure it it will work for the birth but it has got rid of my headache and I feel like I have just woken up.

johnworf you do know when she reaches that 1 Kg point you are obliged to bake a kilo cake and take it in to celebrate

Am I kaz1967? News to me? What does a kilo cake consist of? I assume it weighs 1 kilo? Are you joshing me?

My MW was telling me she did a hypnobirth not long ago. She said twas very nice Nicer than the Scientology one she did where everyone had to be silent (she's a bit of a chatterbox so goodness knows how she managed THAT one!).

Nurse who was looking after Katherine this morning looked as though she should have been in school instead of bunking off and impersonating a health care professional. Catch my drift? When I quizzed her about the PDA and she was really vague and acted like I was her teacher and I'd just caught her passing a note at the back of the class. It's on days like this where I come home with a bit more grey hair

I'm off to visit her again shortly and wreak some more havoc

Pulling your leg sorry one of our NICU girls who had a 25 weeker (she is a beautiful teenager now ) cooked a cake to celebrate Elli getting to 1kg

I get that with some nurses/midwifes too was rather alarmed when I was in over night at 25weeks and the girl handing out my meds did not realise that co codamol contained an opiate she was too busy telling me the other one I was prescribed and was asking for was opiate based , at that point I would have taken anything to get rid of the pain but I knew and I fought to have it (really pissed off still you should not have to fight to get prescribed meds I made an official complaint about the whole night and received an apology for my treatment )

jeanjeannie my pet hate is Storymakers, and anything else with puppets and silly voices, though I agree that Big Cook, Little Cook is pretty dire. DD usually gets very small doses of TV and only the stuff that Mummy likes! I can see that's all going to change.

Those pygmy goats are v. cute (but they look at bit mean to me - how would you stop them headbutting your dc).

Any kind of goat reminds me of something from a Denis Wheatley novel so I'll pass on that one methinks

Right I am off heed to pack up the computer ready to go to Lincs wash it have a bath etc before Sue's husband arrives no idea how all the stuff I have in the hall with fit in the car

wow kaz1968 so you're finally off? (You prolly won't answer this as your computer is now in the hallway ready to go off on it's travels). Good luck with the move and hope that not too many things get broken

Don't know what is up with me today. Went for a pizza last night with DH after hospital visit and suddenly I just feel like I have the troubles of the world on my shoulders. DH doesn't have a clue about what we talked over..just thinks it's histrionics

So many worries in my head right now and absolutely no answers for any of them.

Really not looking forward to this Radiohead thing tonight. Would willingly give away my ticket for free but DH really wants to go. Feel like I should be at the hospital with my LO instead of watching a band.

jw(((big hugs)))I totally understand your worry and feeling that you shouldn't be out enjoying yourself when Katherine is still in scbu,...at least at Lancs cricket club you are close to the hospital if (God forbid)you were needed, and perhaps you could fit an extra visit in? I hope all is well with Katherine today and you can enjoy radiohead (despite the rain) tonight.

johnworf (((hugs))) too. I think it's totally understandable that you feel the weight of the world perched up on your shoulders. I'm sure it seems very odd to go to a concert - as though all were 'normal'. Just remember that a 'rested' mum is best for Katherine...and for expressing! Don't look for too many answers - they'll just pop along when you least expect them. Well, try and enjoy tonight - if you've not already given you're ticket to a random stranger

kaz1967 Good luck old bean....bon voyage and all that. Speak to you when you get to 'the other side'. You are a brave woman...we're all behind you ! Not literally 'behind you' you'll be pleased to know

BTW: the goats were V cute but not as special as the baby Polish chickens....funny little pom poms on their heads...OOoooo I want some

I've given my ticket away to DH's niece so they're off this evening to see Radiohead. TBH I wouldn't have been good company anyway.

Just got back from hospital where I've had to bite my tongue yet again. Today's nurse is on my hit list of one's I do not like and she handled Katherine like she was a piece of meat

She's had her vent tube changed today and an xray and all other sorts of things so I've had tears in my eyes most of the visit...the rest of visit I've been barking at DH.

Sorry, I'm just venting. Nowhere else to let off steam it seems I'm going back later today to see LO instead of going out...would much rather be with her anyway

jw - well you can't worry about everything constantly or you'd go daft wouldn't you? It has to sort of come in waves and you have a mini "i can't cope with all of this I want someone to take it all away/ have my life back/run away" moment until you get your head straight again and carry on. Don't think of it of as a period of histrionics - think of it that you being tough and coping very well (we all think you are bloody marvellous) 95% of the time. Blokes can't deal with the weepy shouty panicy 5% because its not how they function and they can't do anything to fix it. That's his problem!

kaz - good luck with the move and hope it all works out smoothly. Are you set up with mw/hospital etc in the new place?

Good for you johnworf If you didn't want to be there...then at least it frees you up to be where you DO want to be.

I agree with mrsboogie you can't be on tip-top form - coping all the time 100%.....you'd probably be a fruit loop if you did. Think of the 'down' periods as a chance to stop and take stock...and yep, blokes don't tend to get that at all. It's amazing how 'head-in-the-sand' or 'stiff-upper-lip' they can be so much of the time. Have a more rested time tonight with Katherine...especially if the nurse who's on your hit list isn't there x

Yep girls, you're both spot on. I've had a 'chat' with DH today and he totally doesn't get it. I think it's a woman thing.

I've rung hospital and now Katherine has stabilised so I'm a bit happier

I think all of this was brought on back on Thursday when the baby next door but one died. Just a few days older than Katherine...and then I totally lost it

I think it's this rollercoaster ride of sick babies/children that just gets to a mum. Not having a go at dads at all but I just don't think it's the same for them somehow.

I'm sure I'll be back to my cheery self soon enough. And I've been v naughty today and had a cigarette Thrown my BM away of course (don't want LO starting on the fags!) I actually think I might have a glass of wine later too - oooh I'm so naughty today I just need a bit of chill out and I'm not doing a v good job of it as it is.

jesus jw - a baby of similar age dying right next to you - what could be more frightening? I'd be going off my head.

Can't blame you for ditching the concert - no point going in that frame of mind.

JohnW sweetheart ((((((((big hugs))))))) of course another baby dying is going to throw you off course, thinking what if etc. As a Mom you just want to make it all better for your LO and with a baby in special care it is so out of your hands.. Have a drink and I will sniff it longingly
I Had a lovely time in Norfolk sitting on the beach digging holes. Back to work tomorrow ugg.

KAZ good luck with the move hope it all fits in the car!

Yeah I must admit it was awful...the realisation that it 'can' happen still. But this poor LO had major problems from the get go and it's parents never came to visit it once I think they knew it wouldn't survive. It broke my heart thinking about it.

Took DSS tonight to see his sister and he thinks she's grown! How lovely watching him put his hands in and having a sneaky hug. It's so cheered me up watching them together

hedgepig sounds like a fab time digging in the sand. It's what I was doing the day before Katherine arrived and it's so lovely doing little things like that with the children. Burying dad up to his neck is also jolly good fun I love Norfolk and have fond memories of holidays there with my big ones when they were LO's. Blakeney Point was our favourite place; crabbing, seals and bird watching and of course, hiding in sand dunes

mrsboogie I'm wafting alcohol fumes your way as we speak. Don't get too drunk on them!

Did first of blood sugars today and they're absolutely fine and back to normal. So no GTT for me and fingers crossed, no bloody insulin either. Huzzah!

Cheers me dears.

I meant to add that I'm finally on facebook if anyone wants to link to me.

JW We have a cottage at Cley so very close to Blakeney but DSs favorite place is Cromer so we can look at the life boats. He is a member of the life boat club nice sand I an you don't have too far to walk to get something to scoff. My DS didn't get buried because he was snoozing too munch while I was scrabbling around on the sand making castles and digging trenches. I think I got something wrong there!! when we got back I just went to bed at 7:30 and slept through to this morning (except for nocturnal loo breaks of course).
JW I have a face book thingy but I haven't been on it for months, it just confuses the hell out of me what the point of it is? Am I showing my age?

Oh Cley is so lovely. In fact my ex husbands parents named their house 'Cley' as they holidayed there every year and loved it! We stayed in a cottage in Holt one year and really enjoyed it. I remember my boys thinking that the hamlet of Stiffkey was highly amusing

LOL@ wee breaks. Don't miss them at all. Just waiting for the next phase of nocturnal wakings when Katherine comes home. I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to them. Bizarre huh?

I'll post my face book name on here anyway in case anyone wishes to join to me. Just put in the message your mumsnet ID and I'll know who you are. To link to me it's Lisa Stell

Meant to add I know Cromer and Wells next the Sea, Burnham Market and the places inbetween It's a beautiful part of the world. I used to be married into a family of avid twitchers so I could probably tell you all the nice hides around the place too (if you're that way inclinded!)

dH is very much a "bird man" IYKWIM. I like a walk and a little look through bins at things but get very bored in hides. The main amusement is the dirty looks you get when you dare to take a young child in a serious hide. I will have a look at face book. I can totally understand you looking forward to being woken in the night it will be such a milestone, get your beauty sleep while you can! I'm hoping this LO will sleep better than ds, it was 7 months before he slept from 12 - 6 I think maybe this is why we waited 4yrs before getting pg again.

In Monty Python voice 'you lucky b'stard! Luxury, pure bloody luxury!' 7 months?! I remember having 3 kids in our bed at once and none of them slept through until 3 years.

I'm hoping Katherine will break the cycle

And I totally remember the horrid looks of serious twitchers when the kids were running around. Ah well....they got over it I'm sure

Hey JW just sent a facebook thingy.

Sorry not been on much - had my sister from states here for 2 weeks plus DH got the lurgy and we've all just been so darn ill. Have been reading up when I can about you all though and will try next week to be more engaging. Hugs ((())) to all.