My Forum

Hello!

 He's here! Tycho Alexander was (finally!) born 8 days overdue on Tuesday 12th April at 8pm weighing 10lb 1oz! And I'm sooooooo very glad not to be pregnant any more!

I had a membrane sweep at 3pm, By 5 I was contracting every 10 minutes and by 6 about every 5 so started to think baby might actually be coming. Stayed at home with my TENS machine bouncing on birthball til just after 7pm. when friends came to take Ivan for the night. Got into the hospital ward at 7:40 (took a while as kept stopping for contractions) and told to get on the bed to be examined (demanded gas and air at that point cos lying down was agony) - asked for diamorphine but was told I was already 8cm so couldn't have it.. Midwife left to speak to someone (they wanted rid of me to main delivery suite due to my blood pressure history despite the plan written by the consultants over the last 7 months), came back and my MIL said I was pushing, Midwife took another look and realised baby was almost here. Basically had 15minutes of pushing and he was out!

Am still in shock, can't believe I had a 10lb baby  and only 15minutes of gas and air. midwife panicked when his head was out and she realised how big he was so told me to push really hard  for the shoulders or I probably wouldn't have needed any stitches (only had 3 so not too bad really). Was the most horrifically painful and intense experience but I'm so pleased how it went. I was going to have a homebirth before my bp started messing around, and Tuesday proved I could have done it (infact almost did!). I did however lose a lot of blood so good job it was on their sheets not mine!

Ivan's very affectionate and keeps kissing his little brother, but does get jealous when daddy's holding the baby. I swear Ivan's grown an inch since we brought baby home, he seems like such a big boy now! I'm still running on adrenaline as havent slept more than 30min since Tycho was born , looking forward to his sleepng settling down so we can get into a routine.

Hope you're all well, hugs from a contented mummy of two beautiful boys.

Hello everyone.

Am still pregnant  - due today but no sign of baby at all, little monster is far too comfortable in there. I can only sleep sat up, still get nauseous after every meal or beverage and have well and truly reached that fed up stage. Am so very envious of ladies who have their babies at 38 and 39 weeks! Finished work three weeks ago due to the pelvis issue and being so tired, I'm so glad I worked up to the end with Ivan cos this waiting around is really boring and feels like a total waste of my maternity leave!

On a good note we've totally cracked potty training now, Ivan only has night-time nappies most days. If we're out all day we sometimes put him in pullups but he rarely has a wee in them so we're really pleased (we use the one with the pictures that fade if weed in so we can always tell). I know he may regress a little when baby comes but now we know he can do it hopefully it won't take him long to get back to it. Didn't think we'd be nappy free by the time baby came so we're really chuffed with this progress, losing the nightime nappy is a long way off but there's no rush there. I've had some funny looks when Ivan's been caught short out and about nowhere near a toilet, funny how noone seems to mind dogs peeing in the street but a toddler being held over a gutter is somehow a reason to comment or pull a face!

 Hope you and your little ones are well, thanks for listening, I know I'm just being a mardy mare waiting for this baby!

Hugs xx

Hello everyone!

Had my last day in work today - can't believe I'm off again for a year! Am due three weeks on Monday, walking and even driving is painful due to my stupid pelvis and as of this morning I have ridiculously swollen ankles so it's definitely time I stopped work!

Am feeling a bit hyper this evening as a result of being 'demob happy' - all my colleagues were really lovely and I actually felt a little emotional saying goodbye! Have got lots of lovely vouchers  to go to John Lewis with and have a post natal massage (considered having it now but think I'll appreciate it more when I can lie on my tummy again). I am really enourmous and can't believe baby's only going to get bigger, hopefully baby will stop about 8 1/2 pound or so.

Ivan's learning so much these days, he is really into puzzles and shapes now that he's finally mastered his colours and counting. he recognises numbers 1-4 and can sing the alphabet song, although he often likes to mix it up with the lyrics for twinkle little star!

Potty trainng isnt' exactly progressing further, he's still very good at using the potty at home, wears pants all day in  nursery but usually has one accident towards the end of the day before we pick him up. When we're out and about we keep him in pullups as he just gets too distracted, don't think he's ready for the final push yet but with next baby due soon I'm more than happy to leave im to his own devices, he'll tell us when he wants to. At least his accidents are wet not dirty, he's quite proud of himself when he puts on his own pants or pull ups, although trousers usually go no the wrong way round!

We have a time out step too, don't have to use it too often but so far it definitely works. He just sits and wails when he's on it, but always apologises afterwards and seems to understand the concept. For such strongwilled little people I'm amazed they actually stay on the step when told!

Had my first proper upset mummy moment last week - the nursery rang as I arrived in work to say Ivan had an accident and had knocked his tooth so we needed to make an emergency dental appointment. As I had just arrived and struggle driving I had to wait an hour to be in a fit state to drive home again, but was fortunately able to make an appointment for that afternoon. Ivan wouldn't let the dentist examine him much at all, but from what he could see he's referred us to the children's hospital. The tooth is broken and will need to come out, and Ivan may need a space retainer until his adult tooth comes through when he's 6 or 7. I spent the whold evening sobbing for my little guy, but a week later I'm feeling a bit better. The tooth still hasn't come out and Ivan just avoid eating on that side of his mouth, the dentist suggested we try to pull it out but while it's wobbly it's not that loose so we dont' really want to do that to him. Will have to see what the hospital says - just wish I'd taken more pics of his cheeky toothy grin before it happened!

These thing happen, just a little reminder that our rough and tumble little monster isn't  totally invulnerable!

Hope youre all well, hugs from a very round mummy!

Hello,

Have you considered the Mirena IUS? It's the plastic tshape with hormones commonly used now instead of the oldfashioned copper coil. The hormone levels are very low and remain localised to your cervix and uterous so don't travel through the rest of your system (hence do not cause weight gain or mood swings), reliability rates are about the same as condoms (1 in 1000), you can leave it in for 5 years and your fertility returns to normal almost immediately once removed. I had it in for two years before deciding to start a family as I was working shifts and struggling to remember my pill every day - the only side effect is your period becomes lighter (or if you're really lucky stops altogether). It's also not affected by taking other medications, doesn't impact on sex at all and once it's in you can forget about it! I'm due my second baby in three weeks (used condoms between baby 1 and this one as we knew we'd want to get pregnant again soon) and I'm planning to have another mirena put in at my 6week post natal checkup.

Good luck with the birth (are you more scared this time round? I know I am!) and enjoy your new baby!

Hello!

Lisa, how are you doing? Can't wait to hear your news!

I've only got another 8 weeks to go now (if baby's on time that is), am severaly anaemic but otherwise well, just getting very excited about meeting this little wriggler! Ivan is constantly reminding me that he's two - never though such a sweet affectionate little boy could be so defiant! Potty training is still hit and miss - he's fine with a bare bottom but has a tendency to forget if wearing pants and trousers, especially if he's concentrating on something. We're definitely using fewer nappies though which is good, and most of the time he's good at using the potty even in nursery, so I've not had much extra washing to contend with and there's not been any accidents in the carseat so far.

I've been stocking up on wipes and nappies as there's loads of good deals and vouchers about at the moment. Also got out all the stuff from when Ivan was tiny and really enjoyed looking through the little blankets, hats and sleeping bags - and it's meant I've been less tempted to buy too much new stuff! I can't believe how organised I was in the early months - everything's in labelled bags (newborn, 0-3month etc) so it's been easy to get it all washed and ready. I must admit I did get a couple of items in the ASDA baby event - the Very Hungry Caterpillar vests are just too cute and with the unisex colours I couldn't resist!

Just need to get to one of the larger Boots stores to stock up on plain vests and babygros - I've got £23 to spend on my advantage card and it's burning a hole in my pocket!

Really looking forward to my maternity leave now - not decided when I''ll go but am working 4day weeks between now and April (have annual leave to use up) so work's not too taxing. I keep thinking this might be the last time I'm pregnant and in spite of all the sickness an SPD it's such a magical time so I'm trying to enjoying the last remaining weeks of my dancing tum!

Hope all mums babes and tums are well xx