Wednesday, 30 December 2009
A hint for Dylan
It's 5 days until my due date. Five is my luck number. Fancy being five days early Dylan??? Oh go on... please....?
(lack of) progress report - 30th December (am) / day 3
As I seemed to be having a remarkably drawn out pre-labour, I thought I'd keep a 'progress' report. So where had we got to last time I posted? Oh yes, intermittent contractions from 3am and throughout Monday and a show just before midnight on Monday. Well yesterday, Tuesday, was fairly uneventful with contractions scattered across the day like the snow - the tiniest vague amount throughout the day, to the point that if you blink, you miss it! Had another trip to the Alex, this time planned to meet Mr Bosch the anaesthetist. My early epidural is all agreed and I was dispatched with a lovely information sheet... which I still haven't read, Doh!
Started with 'nice' regular contractions at 6am this morning, 45 seconds a pop every 15 minutes. 'Woo hoo, maybe this is it?' I thought. But no, by 9am they'd completely stopped again. Marvellous. So I'm back to random, intermittent and apparently pointless contractions. God knows how long this could go on for! The general consensus seems to be from a few days to over a week... aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!
Will Dylan ever put in appearance? Currently he's far too bloody comfy sitting tight and causing trouble. Bodes well...
Started with 'nice' regular contractions at 6am this morning, 45 seconds a pop every 15 minutes. 'Woo hoo, maybe this is it?' I thought. But no, by 9am they'd completely stopped again. Marvellous. So I'm back to random, intermittent and apparently pointless contractions. God knows how long this could go on for! The general consensus seems to be from a few days to over a week... aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!
Will Dylan ever put in appearance? Currently he's far too bloody comfy sitting tight and causing trouble. Bodes well...
Alex's Tuppence Worth @ 30th December 2009
Another day, another load of twinges/contractions experienced by 'len (currently fast asleep on the sofa - various pains kept her up all night, bless her) and still no Dylan. This is without a doubt the weirdest waiting game I've ever been involved with, although obviously much less weird than what my darling fiancee is going through.
When we went into the hospital a couple of days ago I was completely expecting to be a father by the end of the day, which probably shows my naivety regarding just how rushed the delivery of a first child tends to be. And yet my nerves weren't half as on edge as I'd expected them to be - more than anything I was (and still am) more concerned about Helen's mental and physical state and whether Dylan was comfortable. A couple of days later and we're all feeling pretty calm, if not exactly relaxed. A sense of chilled inevitability. But what we are doing is attempting to grab as much sleep as possible, a luxury that we may well be denied for the next year or so.
Just read through this post and trying to decide if it makes perfect sense and well-crafted reading, or merely resembles the musings of a thoroughly nervy imminent-father-to-be! Please feel free to post your opinions as comments!
Alex aka Babydaddy
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
One step closer...
...had my show last night and continuing this morning. I won;t go into the grim details, but Wikipedia has a very short article here.
It wasn't spontaneous, kind of encouraged... we decided to try one of the techniques for inducing labour... one that Alex was a big fan of! lol. However, I'm still pregnant, so he might be getting lucky again tonight... tee hee!
It wasn't spontaneous, kind of encouraged... we decided to try one of the techniques for inducing labour... one that Alex was a big fan of! lol. However, I'm still pregnant, so he might be getting lucky again tonight... tee hee!
Monday, 28 December 2009
Not in labour, not not in labour...
Well the last 24 hours have been, er, interesting! 7pm last night I thought my waters had gone. Cue yet another bloody trip to the Alex, more time on the monitor and an internal exam (nice!). Waters hadn't gone, nor had I wee'd myself (hey, I'm naturally paranoid!) and they had no idea what i was, er leaking... helpful!
At three am I awoke with awful period type pains that built then decreased over a minute, every 20 odd minutes. Great, I thought, I'm in sodding labour! I was starving hungry so I made myself some toast and a hot water bottle. A few hours and several 'contractions' later, I fell asleep. I woke up this morning with terrible back pain and intermittent contractions, which have continued most of the day. I got to about 11am and succumbed and put the Tens machine on. Miraculously, it worked and has been a Godsend all day! However, after having mild contractions all day, this evening they seem to have stopped completely. Great. It feels like a lot of pain for nothing!
So I'm not in labour, but not really not in labour either. Apparently this could go on for several days without me properly going into labour, if I'm unlucky. I'd rather take the pain and go into labour now please! At least then they'll be an end in sight!
Happy 39 weeks to me! Apologies for the lack of bump watch pic, will sort tomorrow.
At three am I awoke with awful period type pains that built then decreased over a minute, every 20 odd minutes. Great, I thought, I'm in sodding labour! I was starving hungry so I made myself some toast and a hot water bottle. A few hours and several 'contractions' later, I fell asleep. I woke up this morning with terrible back pain and intermittent contractions, which have continued most of the day. I got to about 11am and succumbed and put the Tens machine on. Miraculously, it worked and has been a Godsend all day! However, after having mild contractions all day, this evening they seem to have stopped completely. Great. It feels like a lot of pain for nothing!
So I'm not in labour, but not really not in labour either. Apparently this could go on for several days without me properly going into labour, if I'm unlucky. I'd rather take the pain and go into labour now please! At least then they'll be an end in sight!
Happy 39 weeks to me! Apologies for the lack of bump watch pic, will sort tomorrow.
Sunday, 27 December 2009
Back in the Alex
Well, I ended up back in the Alex again last night. Dylan is clearly not like his mum and responded to Christmas/Boxing Day by hibernating. After two days of significantly reduced movement, I thought I'd ring delivery for some reassurance, after all babies at this point move less don't they... apparently not! I got a thorough telling off from the midwife before I left for leaving it two days - oops!
Anyway, I was popped on a monitor and I jokingly said "you watch, he'll wake up and now and start performing!" Lo and behold the minute he knew he was being observed he started jiggling so much they couldn't get a resting heart rate. My belly looked like lava and I could hardly keep the monitor on! I think he moved more in half a hour than he had the previous two days! What a little show off - he's so going to be a performer of some kind!
Funnily enough we got the all clear, and the afore mentioned bollocking and headed home. He's been a bit more lively today, so all is well and we're trudging along in our usual hugely fat and sluggish fashion. Hurrah!
Anyway, I was popped on a monitor and I jokingly said "you watch, he'll wake up and now and start performing!" Lo and behold the minute he knew he was being observed he started jiggling so much they couldn't get a resting heart rate. My belly looked like lava and I could hardly keep the monitor on! I think he moved more in half a hour than he had the previous two days! What a little show off - he's so going to be a performer of some kind!
Funnily enough we got the all clear, and the afore mentioned bollocking and headed home. He's been a bit more lively today, so all is well and we're trudging along in our usual hugely fat and sluggish fashion. Hurrah!
Friday, 25 December 2009
There's something about Mary
..however, I'm desperately trying not to emulate the famous Christmassy one that everyone likes to portray dressed in a blue tea towel. So far, so good and we're past the Quenn's speech and Dylan's still safely tucked away.
Fingers crossed he stays there for the rest of the day. There may be something about Mary, but the whole giving birth at Christmas thing she can keep to herself!
Fingers crossed he stays there for the rest of the day. There may be something about Mary, but the whole giving birth at Christmas thing she can keep to herself!
Thursday, 24 December 2009
Early Christmas present
Woke up this morning and Santa's brought me an early Christmas prezzie - a massive bloody bruise on my chin! I have NO IDEA where it's come from, I've not had a trip or fall, nor has Alex taken up fiancé beating! It's just appeared overnight! The only thing I can think of is that I coulod have twatted myself in the face with my Carpal Tunnel brace in my sleep, as it's got a big metal strip down it. If not, no idea! Let's hope I don't go into labour or they'll be calling Social Services!
Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Bump Watch @ BBC 23 December 09
"Movements from your baby tend to slow down around this time – there's simply too little space to move around." Really?!?! Not that I've bloody noticed -he's still a jiggly little monkey! He's punching me as we speak and pushing his legs out to the left hand side of my bump!
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Clothing crisis
OK, things are officially getting desperate on the clothing front!
First it was growing out of my normal clothes, but I'm now so big, I don't actually fit into any of my maternity clothes any more! Seriously, all but one of my maternity tops are too short and bearing bump in sub-zero temperatures is not fun! I have a few long tops and a few long jumpers and that's it! All the short stuff I have to wear with my bump band, just to cover my belly.
However, now my maternity jeans are broken! First the gusset split and I had to stitch it back together. Then Mum had to restitch my shoddy needle work. Then the fly broke a couple of weeks ago. However, I've been struggling along with a mixture of accidentally flashing people and hiding it with my bump band. However, with only a few weeks to go, the fabric on the gusset has now disintegrated, so I can't even stitch it! If I pull my bump band down low enough to cover my holey crotch, I expose the bottom of my bump; if I cover my bump, I flash my crotch to half of Warwickshire.
This Christmas I will be mostly holy, I mean holey!
Merry Christmas!
First it was growing out of my normal clothes, but I'm now so big, I don't actually fit into any of my maternity clothes any more! Seriously, all but one of my maternity tops are too short and bearing bump in sub-zero temperatures is not fun! I have a few long tops and a few long jumpers and that's it! All the short stuff I have to wear with my bump band, just to cover my belly.
However, now my maternity jeans are broken! First the gusset split and I had to stitch it back together. Then Mum had to restitch my shoddy needle work. Then the fly broke a couple of weeks ago. However, I've been struggling along with a mixture of accidentally flashing people and hiding it with my bump band. However, with only a few weeks to go, the fabric on the gusset has now disintegrated, so I can't even stitch it! If I pull my bump band down low enough to cover my holey crotch, I expose the bottom of my bump; if I cover my bump, I flash my crotch to half of Warwickshire.
This Christmas I will be mostly holy, I mean holey!
Merry Christmas!
Monday, 21 December 2009
38 midwife appointment
Well, the next time I see Ros, I'll either have Dylan or it'll be my due date - eeeeek! All's well, BP and wee fine and my little man's dropped down considerably (I could have told her that by the fact my bump is round me knees, I can breathe once more and my bladder can hold a teaspoon's worth of wee!) and is now 4/5ths engaged, which is -1 on this pic:
Crazy!
Crazy!
'len is going to murder Alex!
Aaaaaargh just seen the picture below - noooooooooooooooooooo!!!
Will post a proper bump watch pic tomorrow to celebrate 38 weeks... after I've killed Alex for posting that pic!
Will post a proper bump watch pic tomorrow to celebrate 38 weeks... after I've killed Alex for posting that pic!
Helen looking very 'Elfy...
Yes, I'm probably going to get a telling-off for posting this pic, but it IS Monday (traditionally the day of bump pics, despite this image being taken Friday afternoon).
Enjoy!
Sunday, 20 December 2009
Bump Watch @ BBC 19-20 December 09
19 Dec 2009
"Your weight normally remains stable in the last two to three weeks of pregnancy – and your bump is now as big as it's going to get." THANK GOD! It just seems to be descending to my knees now! Though the upside to that is that I can breathe now!
22 Dec 2009
"Your baby is looking chubbier each day – much of the extra weight he's putting on is fat." Chubby monkey! Excellent!
"Your weight normally remains stable in the last two to three weeks of pregnancy – and your bump is now as big as it's going to get." THANK GOD! It just seems to be descending to my knees now! Though the upside to that is that I can breathe now!
22 Dec 2009
"Your baby is looking chubbier each day – much of the extra weight he's putting on is fat." Chubby monkey! Excellent!
When babies arrive
Found this rather interesting graph of when babies arrive. As Christmas day falls on 38 1/2 weeks for me, looks like I stand a 50/50 chance of doing or not doing 'a Mary' i.e, giving birth on Christmas day! I hit 38 weeks tomorrow, so 20% of women due when I am would have had their babies by then - scary!
Remember it's not too late to have a guess when Dylan will arrive! You can access the spreadsheet here or check out the post with instructions here
Friday, 18 December 2009
Random musings
Feeling a bit musing-y today... maybe it's a hormonal thing? Or maybe it's because Alex is going to be away tonight? He's off to the annual 'festive poker' session with boys, which is being held just down the road in Solihull this year. The premise of the event is the boys get together and go out on a pub crawl dressed as Santa and/or other season characters, get drunk then go home and play poker. Here's what Al looked like last year:
Note dad-to-be Martin in the background. It's good to see such sensible daddies to be!!! tee hee! He's only going to be down the road, but it's going to be very weird being this heavily pregnant with him not here - especially as with him working from home, I'm very used to having him around!
Maybe I'm feeling so philospohical because I'm so symptomatic these days? The past week I've been having so many Braxton Hicks, I feel like my body's practised for ten births rather than one! Combined with the period-type pain, I feel constantly like I'm on the verge of something. It's a very odd feeling, plus I could do without being so uncomfortable and twingy! I feel like my bump is round my knees it's so low these days.
Maybe it's the threat of snow? The North and the East maybe basted with the stuff, but we've had a grand total of 8 minutes worth here. Even so, it sets off something in my head. Paranoia's yes, what if it snows so much that I can't get to the hospital? Or Al can;t get to me? Plus there's something about snow... maybe I'm developing a Mary complex and imagine I'll end up delivering in a stable of Christmas day!!!
OK, now I'm getting weird, I think i need a nap - though I'm horribly twingy so I doubt I'll be able to. Might have some cuddles with the cat instead - she's become very affectionate and content since the move, chatty too!
Briiiiiiiink! Meaow!
Note dad-to-be Martin in the background. It's good to see such sensible daddies to be!!! tee hee! He's only going to be down the road, but it's going to be very weird being this heavily pregnant with him not here - especially as with him working from home, I'm very used to having him around!Maybe I'm feeling so philospohical because I'm so symptomatic these days? The past week I've been having so many Braxton Hicks, I feel like my body's practised for ten births rather than one! Combined with the period-type pain, I feel constantly like I'm on the verge of something. It's a very odd feeling, plus I could do without being so uncomfortable and twingy! I feel like my bump is round my knees it's so low these days.
Maybe it's the threat of snow? The North and the East maybe basted with the stuff, but we've had a grand total of 8 minutes worth here. Even so, it sets off something in my head. Paranoia's yes, what if it snows so much that I can't get to the hospital? Or Al can;t get to me? Plus there's something about snow... maybe I'm developing a Mary complex and imagine I'll end up delivering in a stable of Christmas day!!!
OK, now I'm getting weird, I think i need a nap - though I'm horribly twingy so I doubt I'll be able to. Might have some cuddles with the cat instead - she's become very affectionate and content since the move, chatty too!
Briiiiiiiink! Meaow!
Bump Watch @ BBC 17-18 December 09
17 Dec 2009
"Average age of women having their first baby in the UK is 29 - and that's three years older than the average age in 1972." God, that's probably the first and last time I'll be average!
18 Dec 2009
"By now you should have packed your labour and birth bag." Er, it's been packed for a couple of months and living in the car for the past fortnight!!!
"Average age of women having their first baby in the UK is 29 - and that's three years older than the average age in 1972." God, that's probably the first and last time I'll be average!
18 Dec 2009
"By now you should have packed your labour and birth bag." Er, it's been packed for a couple of months and living in the car for the past fortnight!!!
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Back from delivery suite!
Seriously...and no, I'm not in labour! It all started with a swollen foot. My right foot suddenly swelled up quite dramatically at about 3pm. By 4pm I was seeing flashing lights, so I thought I should ring labour ward and ask if that was normal. They said it wasn't and called me in.
To cut a long story short, after some foetal monitoring, blood and urine tests and blood pressure checks, it turns out that I don't have the pre-eclampsia they first thought. I have all the symptoms bar high blood pressure - so a brief moment or normality (in my B.P.) saved me from a whole world of stress! Me? Normal!? lol It was crazy seeing the foetal monitoring - it showed all my Braxton Hicks - no wonder I'm so tired, my uterus is going crazy all the time!
Am home now and have had lots of cake, so I'm happy. Plus I've seen delivery suite and it's quite nice - phew!
Just have a consultant's appointment tomorrow to sort out my early epidural.
To cut a long story short, after some foetal monitoring, blood and urine tests and blood pressure checks, it turns out that I don't have the pre-eclampsia they first thought. I have all the symptoms bar high blood pressure - so a brief moment or normality (in my B.P.) saved me from a whole world of stress! Me? Normal!? lol It was crazy seeing the foetal monitoring - it showed all my Braxton Hicks - no wonder I'm so tired, my uterus is going crazy all the time!
Am home now and have had lots of cake, so I'm happy. Plus I've seen delivery suite and it's quite nice - phew!
Just have a consultant's appointment tomorrow to sort out my early epidural.
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Bump Watch @ BBC 15 December 09
"Your baby's fingernails will be fully formed by now." Good job I've bought some scratch mitts then!
Monday, 14 December 2009
Bump Casting
Last Friday, Al and I took a cast of my bump (I'll update this post with a pic in a bit when Alex isn't under deadline and I can get him to bluetooth it)
Anyway, we photographically documented the hilarious, messy, stressful and uncomfortable process. However, due to the nature of the exercise, there's quite a lot of gratuitous nudity (sadly just Alex topless and a heavily pregnant woman getting her big fat bump out) and obviously my baps and bump cast in plaster, so rather than put the pics in the post, you can view them in a step-by-step guide to bump casting here ... if you dare! Click on pictures to enlarge and read captions.
Anyway, we photographically documented the hilarious, messy, stressful and uncomfortable process. However, due to the nature of the exercise, there's quite a lot of gratuitous nudity (sadly just Alex topless and a heavily pregnant woman getting her big fat bump out) and obviously my baps and bump cast in plaster, so rather than put the pics in the post, you can view them in a step-by-step guide to bump casting here ... if you dare! Click on pictures to enlarge and read captions.
Crawling round on all fours
Yes, I've got to start crawling round on all fours. Went to see Ros the midwife and everything is fine except that Dyl's turned slightly back to back, so I have to start crawling round on all fours to try and encourage him back into the right position... fun with my knee, but hey, needs must!
Dylan had a good go at entertaining the midwife. She had a little feel then got out the doppler. As she put it on my belly, we thought he'd kicked it straight off. Then she tried again, and the same thing happened. By the fourth or fifth time we twigged he actually had the hiccups and his hiccupy spasms were throwing the doppler off my belly! He's not even born and he's trouble!!!
Dylan had a good go at entertaining the midwife. She had a little feel then got out the doppler. As she put it on my belly, we thought he'd kicked it straight off. Then she tried again, and the same thing happened. By the fourth or fifth time we twigged he actually had the hiccups and his hiccupy spasms were throwing the doppler off my belly! He's not even born and he's trouble!!!
Dylan is full term!
Well, we've made it! My little boy is full term today!!! I'm 37 weeks pregnant today, which means if I go into labour now, they'll happily deliver him and he should be absolutely fine. Full term of pregnancy is usually defined as 37-42 weeks, so maximum 5 weeks to go! To celebrate, a spot of bump pic:
I've had a strange old weekend. The 13 hours of intensive NCT antenatal was exhausting but brilliant (I will post a review soon, I'm so knackered today, I'm struggling to get this post top make sense, let alone something more complex!) It didn't help that I'd had very little sleep thanks to some crazy period type pain and loads of Braxton Hicks most of the days and nights, to the point I've made an additional appointment to see Ros the midwife today.
Anyway, I'm too sleepy for this. I'm off for a snooooooooze................
Anyway, I'm too sleepy for this. I'm off for a snooooooooze................
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Alex's Tuppence Worth @ 13th December 2009
You know you use the internet WAY too much when you receive a text message saying,
Is Helen in labour? Neither of you seem to have been on Facebook today!?
Many thanks to Martin for this long-overdue wake-up-call regarding our excessive cyberspace habits!
Alex, aka Babydaddy
Saturday, 12 December 2009
Tweet birth
I've added a feed to my Twitter page in the right hand column -> Why? Well, I figure if all goes to plan and I have a straight forward labour (touch wood), I can tweet the progress of labour and the birth from hospital! Until then, it'll be mainly full of links to this blog, but I thought it would be wise to add the feed now ready.
Hopefully whilst in the early stages of labour I'll be at home and maybe able to blog... who knows. Either way, the Twitter feed is there if I can send updates, so I don't have to send out lots of text updates when I'm going to be, er busy! Tee hee
Hopefully whilst in the early stages of labour I'll be at home and maybe able to blog... who knows. Either way, the Twitter feed is there if I can send updates, so I don't have to send out lots of text updates when I'm going to be, er busy! Tee hee
Antenatal... finally
Finally made it to NCT antenatal classes! Whoop! One down, one and a breastfeeding session to go and they can't come too soon. Back pain is getting worse and my Braxton Hicks have been non-stop today - am worried that labour is imminent - not good as I'm due in Wolverhampton tonight! I'm hoping I'm just having a painful time of it, rather than being in early labour. I suppose only time can tell... at least I can go into it with a little more knowledge if i have to!
Will post a review of the NCT classes tomorrow, after the second session - if I make it! lol
Will post a review of the NCT classes tomorrow, after the second session - if I make it! lol
Bump Watch @ BBC 12 December 09
"Oops – left it a bit late for antenatal classes. NCT do 'labour weekends' in some areas to cram it all in – check your local phone book for contacts or call their information line on 0870 444 8709." Well, we start this morning and will be at antenatal 10-4.30 for the next few days - will post a report when I get a chance!
Friday, 11 December 2009
You can now post comments on this blog!
After 8 months I've finally worked out how to enable comments to anyone - whoop! So feel free to add comments! There's instructions in the right hand column.
Hurrah!
Hurrah!
My baby boy...
In lieu of a scanner, I've photographed the scan pic. So, meet Dylan!
He's looking slightly to the left and is pouting! The wishbone shape is his nasal cavity. I have no idea what's going on bottom right, he looks like he's wearing a toga!
He's looking slightly to the left and is pouting! The wishbone shape is his nasal cavity. I have no idea what's going on bottom right, he looks like he's wearing a toga!
Carpal tunnel misery
OK, I'm officially sick of the Carpal Tunnel in my right wrist. It's bad enough that the numbness and finger pain wakes me up in the night, but now I'm getting numbness in the day too. Meh. I hope this goes after delivery, as this article seems to suggest
Wah!
Hopefully the culinary delight Alex is whipping up in the kitchen should cheer me up - roast veg and purple sprouting broccoli gratin!!!
Wah!
Hopefully the culinary delight Alex is whipping up in the kitchen should cheer me up - roast veg and purple sprouting broccoli gratin!!!
Bump Watch @ BBC December 09
Time for some more catch up...
7 Dec 2009
"Research shows your baby can be affected by stress hormones. Make time to relax and rest." Poor Dylan's doomed then!
8 Dec 2009
Your baby's head may engage in the pelvis any time now – especially if it's your first baby (second and subsequent babies engage later as the pelvic bones are slightly different)." He's 3/5ths engaged i.e. 3/5th of his head is in my pelvis
10 Dec 2009
"Your baby's growing fast! These last four weeks could mean an extra two pounds in weight (one kilo)" Bang on - he's 6lbs 10 with three and a half weeks to go!
11 Dec 2009
"Your baby's lungs are almost fully mature now, and breathing difficulties at birth would be most unlikely." Hurrah
7 Dec 2009
"Research shows your baby can be affected by stress hormones. Make time to relax and rest." Poor Dylan's doomed then!
8 Dec 2009
Your baby's head may engage in the pelvis any time now – especially if it's your first baby (second and subsequent babies engage later as the pelvic bones are slightly different)." He's 3/5ths engaged i.e. 3/5th of his head is in my pelvis
10 Dec 2009
"Your baby's growing fast! These last four weeks could mean an extra two pounds in weight (one kilo)" Bang on - he's 6lbs 10 with three and a half weeks to go!
11 Dec 2009
"Your baby's lungs are almost fully mature now, and breathing difficulties at birth would be most unlikely." Hurrah
Thursday, 10 December 2009
When will Dylan arrive?
OK, I thought I'd get people to guess when our boy's going to put in an appearance!
I've set up an online spreadsheet which hopefully anyone can access and add their name to... hopefully!
You can access the spreadsheet here
You just need to add your name next to you guessed date, check the spreadsheet says autosaved in the top right-hand corner, then quit. You don't need to sign in, or do File > Save. To check your entry has been saved, just close then reopen the spreadsheet. Any problems, just email me at helen.crook@gmail.com and I'll add you if you let me know what date.
Fingers crossed it works!!!
I've set up an online spreadsheet which hopefully anyone can access and add their name to... hopefully!
You can access the spreadsheet here
You just need to add your name next to you guessed date, check the spreadsheet says autosaved in the top right-hand corner, then quit. You don't need to sign in, or do File > Save. To check your entry has been saved, just close then reopen the spreadsheet. Any problems, just email me at helen.crook@gmail.com and I'll add you if you let me know what date.
Fingers crossed it works!!!
A morning at the Alex with Alex
Spend a very interesting morning at the Alex (aka the Alexandra Hospital, Redditch) seeing the consultant about our Dyl. It didn't start well. The midwife was flabbergasted that no-one at Lewisham had been bothering to track my size, and plotted me a nice graph... which was bloody scary as I was WELL above the top line for size. She immediately decided that I needed to be tested for gestational diabetes tomorrow...and I nearly sh@t myself!
Fortunately, the consultant decided to try and do a growth scan first, as the glucose test would involve a 12 hour fast, then a blood test and sugary drink, then a two hour wait in the hospital, then another blood test - starving a pregnant woman? Surely that's torture? Call Amnesty immediately!
Doing a growth scan at 36 1/2 weeks is pretty tricky, as the baby is too big to scan properly. However, they managed to get a look and he's big, but not too big! He's currently 3/5ths engaged (3/5ths of his head is in my pelvis), 6lbs 10oz and has a big belly (like Daddy lol). I don't have abnormally large waters either, so why I'm big, I'm not sure! Maybe I just have a stretchy uterus or something!? Got to see his lovely face, even though the picture wasn't great. Also got another eyeful of his huge todger! We got a very blurry pic of his face (thanks lovely sonographer), so I'll try and get it scanned in somewhere.
Thankfully the scan has ruled out gestational diabetes, so no starvation for me! They're also not concerned about my heartbeat as, like I said to Lewisham, it's always been there, it's just hormonal and asymptomatic. The consultant's only concern was the LLETZ I had done in January and whether my cervix will be compromised due to scarring, as I dilate in labour. I won't go into details as to what that is, as it's a bit grim and 'female' - it's a treatment to prevent cervical cancer and involves removing precancerous cells... anyway, the curious can just hit Wikipedia and it's delightful Americanised entry here
Other than that, they are expecting me to deliver a healthy, 8 1/2lbs baby boy in the next month or so. Let's just hope they are right!
Fortunately, the consultant decided to try and do a growth scan first, as the glucose test would involve a 12 hour fast, then a blood test and sugary drink, then a two hour wait in the hospital, then another blood test - starving a pregnant woman? Surely that's torture? Call Amnesty immediately!
Doing a growth scan at 36 1/2 weeks is pretty tricky, as the baby is too big to scan properly. However, they managed to get a look and he's big, but not too big! He's currently 3/5ths engaged (3/5ths of his head is in my pelvis), 6lbs 10oz and has a big belly (like Daddy lol). I don't have abnormally large waters either, so why I'm big, I'm not sure! Maybe I just have a stretchy uterus or something!? Got to see his lovely face, even though the picture wasn't great. Also got another eyeful of his huge todger! We got a very blurry pic of his face (thanks lovely sonographer), so I'll try and get it scanned in somewhere.
Thankfully the scan has ruled out gestational diabetes, so no starvation for me! They're also not concerned about my heartbeat as, like I said to Lewisham, it's always been there, it's just hormonal and asymptomatic. The consultant's only concern was the LLETZ I had done in January and whether my cervix will be compromised due to scarring, as I dilate in labour. I won't go into details as to what that is, as it's a bit grim and 'female' - it's a treatment to prevent cervical cancer and involves removing precancerous cells... anyway, the curious can just hit Wikipedia and it's delightful Americanised entry here
Other than that, they are expecting me to deliver a healthy, 8 1/2lbs baby boy in the next month or so. Let's just hope they are right!
Bump Watch - week 36 (and a half...oops!)
Finally found a moment to do this week's pic... only 3 days late!
Yes I'm big but there's already a 6lb 10oz baby in there! How do I know that, we'll I'll post a seperate entry in a moment....
Yes I'm big but there's already a 6lb 10oz baby in there! How do I know that, we'll I'll post a seperate entry in a moment....
Monday, 7 December 2009
36 weeks and all that...
Well, it's been a hectic week. We're pretty much moved now and just have a small mountain of boxes to unpack and sort - though God knows when as today I've had the physio and the midwife and antenatal tonight; then I'm off at the crack of dawn to London tomorrow for fracture clinic and hopefully the decision as to whether they are going to start cutting into my leg again in the new year. Sadly, I think they will... boo!
The move's gone well, but I've done far too much as I've been getting a bucket load of twinges and backpain as a reward. So I'm under orders from the midwife to do less... ha ha haaa haaaa haaaaa! Tell that to box mountain! Other than that, everything went fine with the midwife. She seems to think I have nothing to worry about baby size wise, but I remain unconvinced. I'm still 3.5cm over my number of weeks, 1.5cm more that recommended. I think I'm going to ask the consultant at the hospital on Thursday, as I'm sick of everyone saying "not long now, when are you due?", then when I tell them, they always disbelievingly say "really? Christmas day then".
Aaaaargh! SOD OFF!
Sorry...
Right, better get myself fed as I have a breastfeeding session at the Alcester Children's Centre tonight - busy, busy! Bump watch pic to follow on Weds when Al's back btw.
The move's gone well, but I've done far too much as I've been getting a bucket load of twinges and backpain as a reward. So I'm under orders from the midwife to do less... ha ha haaa haaaa haaaaa! Tell that to box mountain! Other than that, everything went fine with the midwife. She seems to think I have nothing to worry about baby size wise, but I remain unconvinced. I'm still 3.5cm over my number of weeks, 1.5cm more that recommended. I think I'm going to ask the consultant at the hospital on Thursday, as I'm sick of everyone saying "not long now, when are you due?", then when I tell them, they always disbelievingly say "really? Christmas day then".
Aaaaargh! SOD OFF!
Sorry...
Right, better get myself fed as I have a breastfeeding session at the Alcester Children's Centre tonight - busy, busy! Bump watch pic to follow on Weds when Al's back btw.
Friday, 4 December 2009
One month to go...
Well, officially at least, I have one month to go now! One month until parenthood!
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!
Oh my God, where has the last 8 months (and my waist) gone?! Dylan's due date - January 4th seemed so far away, and now, it's almost here - just one calender month! Ok, I'll lay off the exclamation marks now...
It's not even ten days now until I'm full term (37 weeks), so basically any time in the next six weeks he should be here. I'll be a mum. God, that felt weird to type. People call me mum and I assume they are talking about someone else! (Sorry, back to soem gratuitous over use of the exclaimation mark again it seems.)
Anyway, it's also Granny Davis' birthday today, so happy birthday Corrine! xxx
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!
Oh my God, where has the last 8 months (and my waist) gone?! Dylan's due date - January 4th seemed so far away, and now, it's almost here - just one calender month! Ok, I'll lay off the exclamation marks now...
It's not even ten days now until I'm full term (37 weeks), so basically any time in the next six weeks he should be here. I'll be a mum. God, that felt weird to type. People call me mum and I assume they are talking about someone else! (Sorry, back to soem gratuitous over use of the exclaimation mark again it seems.)
Anyway, it's also Granny Davis' birthday today, so happy birthday Corrine! xxx
Thursday, 3 December 2009
Bump Watch @ BBC - 3rd December 09
With the move I've got a bit behind again, but it's all interesting, so I thought I'd get caught up!
30 Nov 2009
'It's worth reading up about caesareans, so you're prepared should one be necessary.' Not trying to worry me then there Mr BBC! What is there to read up on? It's major surgery that could save my life in event of an emergency... been there, done that this year!
1 Dec 2009
'Babies born at this stage are small, but generally healthy, though they may need some special care at first. Most will be able to co-ordinate sucking and swallowing directly at the breast.' There is NO WAY this one'll ever be small!!
2 Dec 2009
'You may have noticed Braxton-Hicks contractions by now – 'practice' contractions that differ from labour because they are not usually painful and don't get longer and more intense over time.' Oh yes, but oddly, I'm getting less of them. Maybe my body has had enough practice? lol
3 Dec 2009
'It's not just your baby who's grown these past eight months – your uterus has, too. Before pregnancy it weighed 40 grams, (about one and a quarter ounces) and now it's a whopping 800 grams or about two pounds.' Er, intereseting but TMI - too much information!
30 Nov 2009
'It's worth reading up about caesareans, so you're prepared should one be necessary.' Not trying to worry me then there Mr BBC! What is there to read up on? It's major surgery that could save my life in event of an emergency... been there, done that this year!
1 Dec 2009
'Babies born at this stage are small, but generally healthy, though they may need some special care at first. Most will be able to co-ordinate sucking and swallowing directly at the breast.' There is NO WAY this one'll ever be small!!
2 Dec 2009
'You may have noticed Braxton-Hicks contractions by now – 'practice' contractions that differ from labour because they are not usually painful and don't get longer and more intense over time.' Oh yes, but oddly, I'm getting less of them. Maybe my body has had enough practice? lol
3 Dec 2009
'It's not just your baby who's grown these past eight months – your uterus has, too. Before pregnancy it weighed 40 grams, (about one and a quarter ounces) and now it's a whopping 800 grams or about two pounds.' Er, intereseting but TMI - too much information!
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
We have moved!
Whoooooooooooop!
We are official residents of Alcester, Warwickshire! We've still got some stuff to move and a lot of sorting, but tonight we'll sleep in our own house The Shires.... hobbit-tastic!
We are official residents of Alcester, Warwickshire! We've still got some stuff to move and a lot of sorting, but tonight we'll sleep in our own house The Shires.... hobbit-tastic!
Monday, 30 November 2009
Bump gazing
Al doing a spot of bump gazing... tee hee! Dylan was responding to his voice - it'll probably not last after his born!
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Paranoia and a lot of Bump Watch @ BBC catch up!
Well, I hit the big scary 8 month mark tomorrow, I feel like a beached whale and look like I've eaten one; so I thought it was time to get on the blog, as I've been crap the past few days.
News in brief, still in Bromsgrove but moving Wednesday; went to a rather jolly gig last night in Birmingham (causing much confused looks at the sight of a very heavily pregnant woman standing at the front of the crowd at a Rase/Black Fangs/Them Is Me gig!); and feeling a bit better after a massive I'm-sick-of-feeling-so-crap-and-fat-and-tired wobble that had been building throughout the week, and finally 'burst it's banks' in the early hours of Friday morning. I still feel like crap - I'm exhausted, huge and have a million and one ailments, but after some crying and asking Al if I could give up, I'm at least a but more positive about feeling like crap!
My current 'obsession du jour' is my size. Everyone is back to the old record of 'are you sure there's only one in there?' and 'not long now... your due January 4th...really?...blimey!' It's not helped by the fact my fundal height measured 36cm last Saturday, and 38 on the Monday. 36 was just on the upper acceptable limit at that point, 38 put me waaaay over. I can't stop fretting about it, but I don't want to start contacting my midwife and looking like a panicker (which, of course, I am!) I was hoping my hospital referral would come through, so I could ask them, but no joy. Looks like I'll have to wait a week and ask Ros, my midwife.
I'm just terrified at what's going to happen if he's huge - will he come early? Will they induce him early? Will it increase my chances of a c-section? Aaaaaaaargh! Panic, panic, stress, stress, worry worry.....!
Right, time to distract myself from my unending worrying with a touch of Bump Watch catch up!
24 Nov 2009
"You may have been told you could be in line for a cesarean section, because of the way the baby is lying, or because of the shape or size of your pelvis. If you feel uncomfortable at this suggestion, then ask for another opinion." No mention so far, thank god....
25 Nov 2009
"By now you'll almost certainly have noticed some slight (at least) colostrum leakage – it dries as a yellow patch on your nipples. Just wash it off with plain water. " No sign so far, thank god...!
28 Nov 2009
"The layer of hair that covered your baby's body up until now has been shed completely. The fat the baby stores and the greasy coating covering the skin –called vernix– provide better insulation." He's eaten his beard then! Lovely, that hair will all be eaten and will be sitting in his bowels now, waiting for that lovely first meconi-yummy nappy change!
News in brief, still in Bromsgrove but moving Wednesday; went to a rather jolly gig last night in Birmingham (causing much confused looks at the sight of a very heavily pregnant woman standing at the front of the crowd at a Rase/Black Fangs/Them Is Me gig!); and feeling a bit better after a massive I'm-sick-of-feeling-so-crap-and-fat-and-tired wobble that had been building throughout the week, and finally 'burst it's banks' in the early hours of Friday morning. I still feel like crap - I'm exhausted, huge and have a million and one ailments, but after some crying and asking Al if I could give up, I'm at least a but more positive about feeling like crap!
My current 'obsession du jour' is my size. Everyone is back to the old record of 'are you sure there's only one in there?' and 'not long now... your due January 4th...really?...blimey!' It's not helped by the fact my fundal height measured 36cm last Saturday, and 38 on the Monday. 36 was just on the upper acceptable limit at that point, 38 put me waaaay over. I can't stop fretting about it, but I don't want to start contacting my midwife and looking like a panicker (which, of course, I am!) I was hoping my hospital referral would come through, so I could ask them, but no joy. Looks like I'll have to wait a week and ask Ros, my midwife.
I'm just terrified at what's going to happen if he's huge - will he come early? Will they induce him early? Will it increase my chances of a c-section? Aaaaaaaargh! Panic, panic, stress, stress, worry worry.....!
Right, time to distract myself from my unending worrying with a touch of Bump Watch catch up!
24 Nov 2009
"You may have been told you could be in line for a cesarean section, because of the way the baby is lying, or because of the shape or size of your pelvis. If you feel uncomfortable at this suggestion, then ask for another opinion." No mention so far, thank god....
25 Nov 2009
"By now you'll almost certainly have noticed some slight (at least) colostrum leakage – it dries as a yellow patch on your nipples. Just wash it off with plain water. " No sign so far, thank god...!
28 Nov 2009
"The layer of hair that covered your baby's body up until now has been shed completely. The fat the baby stores and the greasy coating covering the skin –called vernix– provide better insulation." He's eaten his beard then! Lovely, that hair will all be eaten and will be sitting in his bowels now, waiting for that lovely first meconi-yummy nappy change!
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Should dads be in the delivery room?
...asks an article on the BBC website today. You can check it out here.
I'm totally bemused by this article.
Really? I find that Alex is the one person in the world who can tell me shut up and calm down and (very) occasionally, I listen. When I was in agony in hospital in June after the accident, whether it was the torture of being lifted onto the CT scanner with multiple fractures, or the agony and terror of the compartment syndrome, waiting for surgery and fearing I'd lose my leg, the one person in the world who made it bareable was Alex. His support and love (OK get ready to feel sick now folks) made me feel like I could get through the pain, no matter how bad it was. I cannot think how I would even begin to cope with labour without him being at my side. Plus, how could I ever deny him witnessing the birth of his first-born son? Not that I'd get a choice mind, I don't think wild horses would keep him out of the delivery room!
This quote sums it up
So there
I'm totally bemused by this article.
"The presence of an anxious male partner in the labour room makes the woman
tense and slows her production of the hormone oxytocin, which aids the process
of labour, so the French doctor contends. "
Really? I find that Alex is the one person in the world who can tell me shut up and calm down and (very) occasionally, I listen. When I was in agony in hospital in June after the accident, whether it was the torture of being lifted onto the CT scanner with multiple fractures, or the agony and terror of the compartment syndrome, waiting for surgery and fearing I'd lose my leg, the one person in the world who made it bareable was Alex. His support and love (OK get ready to feel sick now folks) made me feel like I could get through the pain, no matter how bad it was. I cannot think how I would even begin to cope with labour without him being at my side. Plus, how could I ever deny him witnessing the birth of his first-born son? Not that I'd get a choice mind, I don't think wild horses would keep him out of the delivery room!
Oh yes, Alex has always been as bigger a girl as me - only kidding Alex! No, he's always been bloody brilliant - maybe that came from his ambulance-driving grandfather, and one of Dylan's namesakes? I always content he'd make a brilliant nurse if it were not for the fact he'd care too much and probably end up depressed. He's been so brilliant throughout my pregnancy and accident recuperation... I promise you he hasn't paid me to write this glowing report - I'm just a very lucky girl!"Some of them are very attuned to the emotional and psychological needs of their partner...."
I have no fear of this after a fortnight of blood and bedpans in UCLH... though I may keep him at the head end anyway! Tee hee!"...but if they are shocked by bodily fluids and very agitated by the pain
they see her in, this could play on her mind and stop her psychologically
entering the place she needs to be to deliver the baby - the birthing 'zone', if
you like."
This quote sums it up
"Having a baby together is an intense, life-changing experience that mostPlus why should he miss out on the good and bad parts of birth? If I have to go through it, he can sure as hell come along for the ride!
couples want to experience together. The father can be an immensely reassuring
presence for the mother."
So there
Where Dylan will be born (hopefully!)
Just been having a mooch around on 'the Alex's' website, and found a virtual tour of the maternity unit where, hopefully, Dylan will be born in the not-too-distant future! It looks a lot nicer than Lewisham's! You can have a look here.
Hopefully when I get my appointment to go to see the consultant, I can ask if they do real tours!
Hopefully when I get my appointment to go to see the consultant, I can ask if they do real tours!
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Let the 'Optimal Fetal Positioning' begin...
... or put simply, this girl has a fully inflated gym ball and isn't afraid to (look like a tit) using it! Thanks to Al's dad, I now have a fully inflated ball to wobble about like a tw*t on, as per the midwife's advice. She suggested it to try an encourage Dyl to engage better i.e. for his head to drop down further into my pelvis so I can have some of my lungs back, though probably at the expense of my bladder no doubt!
So there we go. The gym ball is just another method which I blatantly am favouring over the 'on all fours' version as a) my leg injuries won't like it and b) I'll look like a complete pillock! It is not my idea of fun to look like a grazing dairy cow, even if I have the udders for it! So the ball it is! In fact, I'm sat on it as I type, leaning over they keyboard and rocking like a loony. What a mental image eh...?
"There's nothing new about trying to get your baby into a good position. Reports of 'maternal posturing' go back to at least the 19th century (Andrews 2004). It's known today as optimal fetal positioning (OFP) because of a midwife called Jean Sutton who publicised the technique in the 1990s. She advised pregnant women to get into upright and forward-leaning postures as often as possible in later pregnancy (Sutton 1994, 1996)...So far, studies into OFP show that adopting a hands and knees position for 10 minutes, twice a day, towards the end of pregnancy can help move your baby into an anterior position in late pregnancy." BabyCentre
So there we go. The gym ball is just another method which I blatantly am favouring over the 'on all fours' version as a) my leg injuries won't like it and b) I'll look like a complete pillock! It is not my idea of fun to look like a grazing dairy cow, even if I have the udders for it! So the ball it is! In fact, I'm sat on it as I type, leaning over they keyboard and rocking like a loony. What a mental image eh...?
Monday, 23 November 2009
What a few days...
Well, it's been a crazy few days and I feel like I've been on an emotional rollercoaster! It all started...
Friday
Drove down to London to join Alex who'd been stuck down there on his own since Wednesday morning, supervising works to get the flat finished. We met for a lovely lunch at Café Rouge (not very original I know!) for a lovely three year anniversary lunch. We then chilled out in the flat for a few ours, in a scene reminiscent of Trainspotting - deserted flat with nothing but a blow up mattress on the floor - we lovingly referred to it as the Birch House crack den! After a spot of lovely dinner at the Hamer-Knight's (thanks ladies!) we headed to the Wickham for night of karaoke and goodbyes at the Wickham Arms. Everyone had a great time except me, who felt like death warmed up and was in agony most of the night with a very tight bump - oh the joys of being heavily pregnant!
Saturday
We headed off to what we thought would be our last London antenatal, but never quite made it there. I'd been feeling sick and dizzy and had horrible stomach cramps since about 4am, so we decided to head to the doctors instead. It was closed and the Walk-in Centre was a Walk-Out Centre...as they won't see pregnant women. So instead we were told to go to the Anderson Suite at Lewisham Hospital. The Anderson Suite turns out to be labour ward, a terrifying place to be when you're feeling ill and not in labour! This was compounded by being ushered into an actual delivery room, complete with scary bed-with-stirrups and what Alex referred to as 'the baby cooker'. The room was a dump - the wall was covered in mouldy plaster where the ceiling had leaked - less than two feet away from where women give birth on a daily basis! Put it this way, I'm bloody relieved that I'm not having my baby in Lewisham Hospital!
To cut a long story short, they utterly failed to investigate what was wrong, instead getting side tracked with my 'interesting' heartbeat, which was investigated and deemed OK a long time ago, by Lewisham Hosiptal! We finally managed to escape after 6 hours, none the wiser but happy that Dylan at least was OK. We then tried to race across London to get Al's scooter out of the shop before it closed. We failed. We drove back to Bromsgrove in the rain, very tired and in very bad moods.
Sunday
...was spent doing very little other than panicking about funding the electrical work on Birch House Towers and the move on Wednesday. I slept a lot. Al did some admin. We cuddled. I then had to put my very sad looking monkey on a train back to an empty London flat, with the prospect of not getting home until the early hours, and having to get up a few hours later to pick up the scooter before work. I've never seen my Alex look so sad! He says he got an OK night's sleep though, considering he's now on a mattress pad inside a sleeping bag, compared to the inflatable double mattress, duvet and pillows of last week.
Monday
Spent the morning ill again, feeling very sick and dizzy again, to the point I nearly passed out in the middle of Morrisons. Then Alex rang with the quote from the electricians. I cried. It turns out we will now miss the deadline to get the flat handed over to the council in order to get rent on 1st December, leaving us to find the Alcester rent and deposit, and the money for the electricians to find - around £3k! Funnily enough we don't have that... To top it off, the electricians won't be finished until Friday at the earliest, leaving me without my monkey for a whole week, and him sleeping rough in his own former-home. Not a great day so far.
However, as the day's gone on, we have a light at the end of the tunnel and might be sorted for the money and the estate agents have kindly pushed our move date back a week, so at least our Alcester rent day will always follow getting the rent from Birch House, from January. Saw my new midwife, Ros, too who is a)competent and b)lovely - PHEW!!! She seems to think that my sickness and dizziness is a bug, which makes sense. She's got all my records transferred over and has referred me to 'the Alex', my new hospital AND I'm on fortnightly appointments at last. Dylan is all good, though apparently I have to start using the gym ball to encourage him to start engaging a little more, mainly so I'm more comfortable. He's still head down though, and according to my notes, 2/5 engaged... which is contrary to what the midwife actually said, so I need to get that clarified on the 7th.
To round off the good news, I've managed to transfer our NCT antenatal classes to Bromsgrove, with the possibility of transferring again to Stratford, if a place becomes available - though I'm not hugely worried if I can't, as we can meet Alcester people at the two parentcraft classes we are going to in December.
So there we go, what a few days eh? At least we haven't lost the Alcester house entirely, we'll just be in a week later after some financial jiggery-pokery! And Dylan, as ever, is happy and well and doing grand! I just wish I was with Alex... I miss him already...
Friday
Drove down to London to join Alex who'd been stuck down there on his own since Wednesday morning, supervising works to get the flat finished. We met for a lovely lunch at Café Rouge (not very original I know!) for a lovely three year anniversary lunch. We then chilled out in the flat for a few ours, in a scene reminiscent of Trainspotting - deserted flat with nothing but a blow up mattress on the floor - we lovingly referred to it as the Birch House crack den! After a spot of lovely dinner at the Hamer-Knight's (thanks ladies!) we headed to the Wickham for night of karaoke and goodbyes at the Wickham Arms. Everyone had a great time except me, who felt like death warmed up and was in agony most of the night with a very tight bump - oh the joys of being heavily pregnant!
Saturday
We headed off to what we thought would be our last London antenatal, but never quite made it there. I'd been feeling sick and dizzy and had horrible stomach cramps since about 4am, so we decided to head to the doctors instead. It was closed and the Walk-in Centre was a Walk-Out Centre...as they won't see pregnant women. So instead we were told to go to the Anderson Suite at Lewisham Hospital. The Anderson Suite turns out to be labour ward, a terrifying place to be when you're feeling ill and not in labour! This was compounded by being ushered into an actual delivery room, complete with scary bed-with-stirrups and what Alex referred to as 'the baby cooker'. The room was a dump - the wall was covered in mouldy plaster where the ceiling had leaked - less than two feet away from where women give birth on a daily basis! Put it this way, I'm bloody relieved that I'm not having my baby in Lewisham Hospital!
To cut a long story short, they utterly failed to investigate what was wrong, instead getting side tracked with my 'interesting' heartbeat, which was investigated and deemed OK a long time ago, by Lewisham Hosiptal! We finally managed to escape after 6 hours, none the wiser but happy that Dylan at least was OK. We then tried to race across London to get Al's scooter out of the shop before it closed. We failed. We drove back to Bromsgrove in the rain, very tired and in very bad moods.
Sunday
...was spent doing very little other than panicking about funding the electrical work on Birch House Towers and the move on Wednesday. I slept a lot. Al did some admin. We cuddled. I then had to put my very sad looking monkey on a train back to an empty London flat, with the prospect of not getting home until the early hours, and having to get up a few hours later to pick up the scooter before work. I've never seen my Alex look so sad! He says he got an OK night's sleep though, considering he's now on a mattress pad inside a sleeping bag, compared to the inflatable double mattress, duvet and pillows of last week.
Monday
Spent the morning ill again, feeling very sick and dizzy again, to the point I nearly passed out in the middle of Morrisons. Then Alex rang with the quote from the electricians. I cried. It turns out we will now miss the deadline to get the flat handed over to the council in order to get rent on 1st December, leaving us to find the Alcester rent and deposit, and the money for the electricians to find - around £3k! Funnily enough we don't have that... To top it off, the electricians won't be finished until Friday at the earliest, leaving me without my monkey for a whole week, and him sleeping rough in his own former-home. Not a great day so far.
However, as the day's gone on, we have a light at the end of the tunnel and might be sorted for the money and the estate agents have kindly pushed our move date back a week, so at least our Alcester rent day will always follow getting the rent from Birch House, from January. Saw my new midwife, Ros, too who is a)competent and b)lovely - PHEW!!! She seems to think that my sickness and dizziness is a bug, which makes sense. She's got all my records transferred over and has referred me to 'the Alex', my new hospital AND I'm on fortnightly appointments at last. Dylan is all good, though apparently I have to start using the gym ball to encourage him to start engaging a little more, mainly so I'm more comfortable. He's still head down though, and according to my notes, 2/5 engaged... which is contrary to what the midwife actually said, so I need to get that clarified on the 7th.
To round off the good news, I've managed to transfer our NCT antenatal classes to Bromsgrove, with the possibility of transferring again to Stratford, if a place becomes available - though I'm not hugely worried if I can't, as we can meet Alcester people at the two parentcraft classes we are going to in December.
So there we go, what a few days eh? At least we haven't lost the Alcester house entirely, we'll just be in a week later after some financial jiggery-pokery! And Dylan, as ever, is happy and well and doing grand! I just wish I was with Alex... I miss him already...
Thursday, 19 November 2009
Bump Watch @ BBC 18/19 November 09
18 Nov 2009
"Your baby is 42 centimetres in length and weighs about 2,080 grams (4.5 pounds)" That's huge!
19 Nov 2009
"It's not too soon to start packing your labour and birth bag." Er, it's mostly already packed... and it's more bags than bag... *blushes*. There's a bag for Dylan, a labour bag and an overnight bag in case I have to stay in overnight or a few days if I have to have a cesarean... yes I'm probably over-prepared and no, I don't care... lol
"Your baby is 42 centimetres in length and weighs about 2,080 grams (4.5 pounds)" That's huge!
19 Nov 2009
"It's not too soon to start packing your labour and birth bag." Er, it's mostly already packed... and it's more bags than bag... *blushes*. There's a bag for Dylan, a labour bag and an overnight bag in case I have to stay in overnight or a few days if I have to have a cesarean... yes I'm probably over-prepared and no, I don't care... lol
Bump care
Whoop! I officially have a Midland's midwife! Spoke to her on the phone today and she seems lovely and damn sight more clued up than Lewisham! Am seeing her Monday at 3.15pm and then she's going to get me referred to the Alex, the hospital where I want to have Dylan. She might try and get me referred to the consultant too, what with my various accident and disability related complications - she's the first person to even consider this, which is reassuring!
Also, am trying to get my NCT antenatal classes transferred to the Midlands. There's a definite place on the Bromsgrove course, and we're on the waiting list for the Stratford course, which would be closer for us. So this weekend might be our last London antenatal!
Houston, we have progress - whoop!
Also, am trying to get my NCT antenatal classes transferred to the Midlands. There's a definite place on the Bromsgrove course, and we're on the waiting list for the Stratford course, which would be closer for us. So this weekend might be our last London antenatal!
Houston, we have progress - whoop!
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Bump Watch - week 33
Well I'm super late with this this week, at 33 + 2! I have a good excuse though, what with the big Midland's move and all, hence the unfamiliar background! We're currently staying with Alex's parents and hopefully looking to move to Alcester a week today!
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
50 days to go....ish
Well, according to my calculations (and not my ticker over there), if Dylan is one of the 5% of babies who appear on their due date, I've got 50 days left of being a walking whale! I've got less than a month until I'm full term (37 weeks.) Up until now, I'd have said 'eeek' a lot, where as now I say 'woo hoo'! I just want to be comfortable again and not have bad shoulder/bad back/swollen ankles/heartburn and indigestion/sleep problems... ok, I'll stop with the list now!
I will sort the 33 week bump pic today when I've stopped running around like a headless chicken!
I will sort the 33 week bump pic today when I've stopped running around like a headless chicken!
Monday, 16 November 2009
Bump Watch @ BBC 16 November 09
"You'll probably have a routine antenatal appointment this week. If you've made a birth plan, it might help to look at it again and make sure you're still happy with your ideas and choices."
Ha ha haaa haa haaaaa.... Lewisham give me an antenatal appointment when they should! Ha ha haaa ha haaaa... Despite NHS guidelines saying antenatal appointments should be fortnightly after 32 weeks, I was rather rudely informed I would be seen on 4th December and no sooner, whether I liked it or not! Lets hope the paperwork for Stratford Road comes through soon, then I can register with a GP in Alcester and see a decent midwife!
Ha ha haaa haa haaaaa.... Lewisham give me an antenatal appointment when they should! Ha ha haaa ha haaaa... Despite NHS guidelines saying antenatal appointments should be fortnightly after 32 weeks, I was rather rudely informed I would be seen on 4th December and no sooner, whether I liked it or not! Lets hope the paperwork for Stratford Road comes through soon, then I can register with a GP in Alcester and see a decent midwife!
Friday, 13 November 2009
Midland's move update
We have a house! Stratford Road is a go-er! Check it on the Map - it's literally spitting distance from the High Street. And we haggled it down to £645 pcm - bargain!
It's the house with the green door
The kitchen... obviously!
The lounge (from a bad angle)
The master bedroom - needs curtains to hide those blinds! What you can't tell from the pic is that the room is huge!
Al's office
They're not great pics off the estate agent's website (they make the rooms look tiny!), but it gives an idea. We just have to drop off our application forms and admin fee on Sunday and the ball is rolling - whoop!
Thursday, 12 November 2009
Review: NHS Antenatal class
Well, due to circumstance, it's safe to say that last night will be our first and last NHS antenatal class - not that we'll be missing much. It was massively oversubscribed and was more of a vague question and answer session than structured antenatal class, though with 50 odd people in the room, it could hardly have been a hands-on class!
I didn't learn that much. The midwife went through what to expect in labour (in short, a lot of pain over many hours...) and briefly covered pain relief options. Rather than learning stuff, it basically inspired me to write a list of questions to ask of my new midwifery service when I move and what sort of things I need to clarify in my birth plan. The big issues are:
1. Pain relief at home - I've never factored in what pain relief I can use at home before I go into hospital, as that's obviously not an immediate thing. I've decided I'm going to try a Tens machine, in addition to the good old hot water bottles and baths (though obviously I won't mix the bath and Tens, I don't fancy an electric shock! I've looked into them, and to hire they are about £25, which as Lloyds Pharmacy has one on sale for £30 which will do the job, I might just buy one! For the sake of £30, it's worth a try (Tens doesn't work for everyone) and I can always eBay it afterwards.
2. Epidural - It seems I can have that as soon as I want in hospital, despite what the woman (I'd say midwife but she never introduced herself, so you can't be sure!) at my last appointment said! Also, apparently Lewisham now has mobile epidurals. I've never heard of these, but apparently it allows some movement and walking around, and is patient controlled - which sounds a lot better as being static and bed-bound does slow the progress of labour. I'm going to look into whether this is an option in the Midlands and if so, it's going in the birth plan!
There are loads of other little questions such as ward visiting hours, how Dylan is going to have vitamin K and whether I want a natural placantal delivery etc etc. Basically my new midwife, once I've moved, is going to be barraged with a billion questions!
All in all, the main thing the antenatal class showed me, other than these questions, is how good it is we are moving. The midwife simply couldn't hide that fact that they are dreadfully understaffed - to the point where women who want home births are often forced into hospitals as they often only have one rather than two midwives available for home delivery. I was so shocked that the NHS promotes choice with one hand, than takes it away with another! As the move is 99% go for Saturday, I need to find out how I get my maternity care transferred, as I'll be staying with Alex's parents in Bromsgrove (thank you!!!) and then moving (hopefully) in a few weeks to Alcester. As they are in different counties, will I have to register twice? Can I just register in Alcester, even though I won't have an address there? Hopefully, if our offer is accepted on Stratford Road, I can just give that address next week, even if I'm not living there... who knows!
So much to do, so little time... better get packing!
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Alex's Tuppence Worth @ 11th November 2009
If there was ever an activity designed to make a man paranoid then it's NHS ante-natal classes, particularly over-subscribed ones in South-East London featuring many young women with noticeably absent partners (plenty of stern-looking mothers in attendance with their blooming daughters it must be said). Mix all that up with the overwhelming theme of this evenings session - "how much will labour hurt" - and it's no wonder that 2 blokes were attempting to hide inside their hoodies. How one guy managed to sleep through most of it is beyond me...
Am attempting to wind down with a glass or 2 of wine, enjoying the calm before the hurricane that will be the next week-and-a-half. This will be our official jump from the London ship, although I'll be spending more time in New Cross than Bromsgrove (temporary residence until we get our new place sorted) over the next week-and-a-half, wrapping up a few spots of work and a ton of admin in-between fitting in Faber duties and getting as much sleep as an inflatable mattress in a deserted flat 127 miles away from my beautiful fiancee will allow. Am I going to miss London? Not really - I'll be in Bloomsbury on a weekly basis anyway. Am I going to miss New Cross? Am I bollocks. Bring on the countryside, the beautiful small Warwickshire town that will shortly be our new home, the absence of nightly police cars and helicopters, no more major flava's bleeding from the windows of every big-bored chav-waggon rolling past, no more dog-fighting wannabe yardies, no more walking up 3 flights of stairs to get to my front door and DEFINITELY no more sodding Lewisham NHS. Yes, I'll miss my London friends terribly, although most of them seem to quite rightly see our move as basically providing a rural holiday home in which they'll always be welcome - the more frequently the better as far as I'm concerned.
Hopefully we'll be getting a definite answer about our intended new residence in Alcester over the next day or so, in which case Helen will undoubtedly be providing a better description of the house and town we want to start raising Dylan in than I could. She's just got out of the bath and looks all wet and lovely, so I'm off to give her a cuddle. Night night!
Alex aka Babydaddy
What a difference an hour makes...
In the past hour we've pretty much decided, from looking at the calendar, that the best time to move to the Midlands is... this Saturday! Oh. My. God! How short notice is that?! If we can round up enough help, the plan is to hire a van and move Saturday afternoon, as we have NCT antenatal in the morning! We must be INSANE! This is all dependant on getting some volunteers to help. We already have the marvellous Mr Kearn lined up, and possibly an assortment of parents but if you fancy helping a fat pregnant woman move this Saturday, let us know" If we get a big enough posse/chaingang together, then we can move! If not, we're going to have to wait until the last week of the month, which is going to be a nightmare!
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!
General news update
Thought I'd update on non-baby news, so I can remind myself what's going on! lol
1. New solicitors regarding bike crash are FAB and will hopefully take the case. Old solicitors are sooooo bad that they want to settle liability without having even seen the police report, which they want ME to pay for! Insane! New chaps are brilliant and realistic - fingers crossed they can extricate me from the old solicitors!
2. No news STILL on the rent offer on the Stratford Road house - the landlords are in Germany, not on Mars - sort it out!!!
3. First NHS antenatal class tonight - woo hoo! Will post a report tonight/tomorrow.
4. New physio this afternoon - I'll get a new set of exercises... marvellous...
5. Dylan is fine and bouncy... hey, I had to get at least one baby bit in!
Bump Watch @ BBC 11 November 09
"From this time onward, it becomes more likely your baby will become 'settled' in a particular position. Most babies are cephalic (head first) at this time, but if yours isn't, there's still time for this to change. Ask your midwife about exercises to encourage your baby to turn." He was this time last wee, and I think he still is... fingers crossed! I think he must be settled as it really feels like he has NO room left to move in!
Poor boy!
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
My belly has a life of its own!
It's really strange how different Dylan's movements have been the last week or so, compared to before. I still get kicked and punched, but I think he's starting to run out of room now, as I'm increasingly getting pushing. He sits and slowly stretches his arm or a leg out and gently pushes my belly out. I assume he's trying to get a good idea of what space he has. It's very cool and alarmingly 'Alien'-like! He's so big now, I can feel him so clearly sometimes. It almost feels like there's only a layer of skin separating us and nothing else. I'm constantly getting little hand prods and elbow prods... my belly has a life of its own!
Monday, 9 November 2009
You know you've got swollen ankles when...
... you've been wearing your fiancés socks (he has size 12 feet) and your legs end up looking like this:
Oops! Looks like I officially have hit that 'swollen ankles' point of pregnancy now, well actually I did a few days ago. Marvellous, I'm a cliché!
Raspberry leaf tea - day one
Woo hoo - it didn't taste too bad considering:
1. I hate raspberries
2. I hate fruit teas; and
3. I left the tea bag in for 15 minutes instead of 5 - doh!
Let's hope it's doing it's stuff with my uterine muscles! Just 58-odd days of the stuff to go....
32 weeks today
Eeek! 8 weeks officially to go, and just 5 until I'm full term! It's been a busy few days and I'm absolutely knackered. Everything is exhausting now, though I don't know how much of that is pregnancy and how much is my M.E. Plus I spent half of Saturday night throwing up, so I think I'm still recovering!
We got back from the Midlands yesterday from my dad's 60th/Alcester house hunting expedition. This morning, I trekked into Lewisham to grab a few more baby bits. I finally got round to picking up my free changing bag from Boots. For the price of a pack of nappies, it's an unexciting but well made bag with travel change mat and bottle warmer. It's quite small to use as a changing bag, but it's going to make a brilliant labour bag, so I don't have to rummage around in my suitcase for stuff during labour:
I also picked up some maternity/nursing nighties from Mothercare - an early Christmas prezzie from Mum, so breastfeeding should be a little less chilly. I'm going to keep one to wear now, and pack the other in my hospital bag, once they are washed and dried.
Right, I'm off to make my maiden cup of raspberry leaf tea - I'll report back on how nice/foul it was later, and also will hopefully get a bump watch pic up!
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Bump Watch @ BBC 8 November 09
"Your baby is 42 centimetres long and weighs about 2.2 kilos (four and a half pounds)."
Wow, that IS and FEELS huge! Oh Dylan, is there any chance you're going to be a small 'un?
Saturday, 7 November 2009
Bump Watch @ 7 November 09
"A baby born now has an excellent chance of survival, but will still need intensive help with breathing and feeding."
Yes, but if you could stay put until we've moved please Dylan, that would be jolly nice!
Thursday, 5 November 2009
Bump Watch @BBC 5 November 09
"Another antenatal appointment. This is a chance to ask the midwife for advice on dealing with all the niggles of later pregnancy – backache, indigestion, sleep problems and emotions."
Er, I think for the sake of my temper I'd better pretend I haven't been to the midwife's today... grrrrrr (see previous post.)
HAAAAPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYY!!!
Lewisham Council made a mistake and are taking our flat after all - WE CAN MOOOOOOVE!
HOOOOOOOOORRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!
Right, I'm going to call some estate agents and see if we can view some houses tomorrow.
Yippeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
Back from the midwife with a boat-load of misery...
OK, I'm going to admit, I'm in a bad mood. By the end of this post, you'll probably see why. Dylan's fine by the way, it's just me being cursed as usual...
Firstly, my trip to the midwife was, as usual, pointless. I had yet another new midwife, two in fact - I assume one was a student, they didn't bother introducing themselves so I don't know - polite eh?. I was rushed in and out in 15 minutes with an 'everything's fine', so I assume everything is! The one bit of good news is that Dylan's still head down. I just hope he stays there, not that I'll know as I don't have another appointment until December! I apparently am not going to fortnightly checks, despite this being the NHS guidelines - why am I not surprised? If they miss anything because of it, it's very simple, I'll just sue them!
I popped into the breastfeeding cafe whilst I was there, and got some more literature and met someone from the Health Visitors who is going to try a put me in touch with a specialist breastfeeding nurse, as I'm likely to struggle with breastfeeding if my ME/CFS is bad after birth. She's based in New Cross which is fine, as we are likely to be here now.
Got a text from Alex. Our flat has been rejected by Lewisham Council so we can't move house unless we can find friends to move in. To recap, we can't afford to rent out the flat through an estate agents, as they'll want £850-1100 in fees which we don't have. We then thought we'd rent the flat back to Lewisham Council for them to use as social housing. At £800 a month, we'd have only lost £50 and the flat would have been managed by the council. However, despite being in a council block, with council tenants living opposite, we've been rejected for the scheme as the flat is on the 3rd floor - HELLO!? THERE ARE COUNCIL TENANTS LVING ON THE THIRD FLOOR THROUGHOUT THIS ESTATE! That's probably nearly 50 flats! Why is ours a problem? I wouldn't mind, but there is a major housing shortage in London at the moment. It was only this week that the news was full of stories about a massive housing summit between councils in London to try and shorten their waiting lists - why not take our nice flat? For the say of 10 steps it's a f*cking palace compared to the standard of Lewisham council flats!
So we are left with three weeks to try and rent the flat privately which, unless we find friends, means renting without agency support, to strangers. Really f*cking risky for us, great for con artists. Plus, the ants seem to be be making a reappearance, so no-one is going to want the place anyway. So it looks like we're staying put and I have to raise Dylan in New Cross. I won't be able to go out with him, as benefits don't stretch far enough in London, plus being on the third floor with more surgery on the cards for the new year, I'm not going to be able to get a baby up and down the stairs. It's going to be horrible, noisy, isolating and miserable.
Right, I'm off for a lie down and a cry...
My latest Freecycling triumphs!
Yes, I've been at it again - though I must add to do give stuff away too. There's a chap loading half our old kitchen in a hand cart as we speak - the mad man is going to haul it all away, in three loads, all the way to Woolwich - that's at least 30 miles he'll walk today!
We've had two lots of stuff, one lot a desperately needed changing table. With my dodgy knee, there's just no way I can do what I planned to do, and that's just sling the changing mat on the floor. Plus it's a place to store all the real nappy stuff. I haven't got a photo at the mo, as it's stored in the scooter shed at the moment, before we ship it up to the Midlands. It's a nice simple wooden frame which I'm going to strip down and paint (I'm thinking purple!) after the move.
The same lady also gave us a changing mat and a Winnie the Pooh baby gym (the latter I haven't photographed as it's still drying!)
Yesterday, I picked up a vibrating rocker chair from another lady. She also gave me a bath support, a top and tail bowl (for quick washes) and a few bits of clothes. Here's some pics:
Vibrating chair
Coat, sleepsuit and Dylan's first skinny jeans!
On a related aside note, Lucy Hamer-Knight's sister kindly gave us some gorgeous clothes too. I think Dylan has enough to last him until he's 1 now - fabulous!
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Terrifying pictures of a heavily pregnant woman in her underwear...
Seriously, I wanted to record just how bloody huge I am, even with 9 weeks to go, so I got Al to take some pics of me in my bra and pants! I won't post them here, as they are not for the faint hearted - I'm hardly modelesque at the best of times. If you want to have a nosey, I've uploaded them here.
Here's what Dylan's done to my belly button!:
Alex's Tuppence Worth @ 3rd November 2009
Finding personalised gifts for Dylan might not actually be as difficult outside of Wales as I suspected. According to the office of national statistics his name was the 17th most popular choice for a boy in England and Wales in 2008, up 2 places from 2007 and up 28 places from 1998 (and, incidentally, only 2 places in front of my own name). It would even appear that one of his middle names ranks fairly well in the popularity stakes - Henry sits at no 38 in the 2008 rankings (-3 from 2007, +18 from 1998), although there's no sign of Ivor in the top 100.
On the flipside it would rather seem that my son and I are the family commoners from a naming point of view. No sign of Helen or either grandfathers, grandmothers, uncles or even pets names in the 2008 top 100 - only aunty Becky manages to join us at no 65 in the girls names list (-18 from 2007, -56 from 1998, and in joint place with Mohammad in the boys list interestingly enough). Mind you it could also be said that we're the fashionable ones as far as our names are concerned!
Alex(ander), aka Babydaddy
Monday, 2 November 2009
Bump Watch @ BBC 31st October - 2nd November 09
31 weeks today and once again, I've been seriously slack on this:
31 Oct 2009
"Your baby is looking a little plumper every day, as more fat gets laid down under the skin." Just like me then! We can be fatties together!
1 Nov 2009
"Your weight gain tends to be faster at this stage – you're probably putting on about a pound every week." Only a pound...?
2 Nov 2009
"Boys' testicles start to descend from the body toward the scrotum." Tee hee hee *snigger*
31 Oct 2009
"Your baby is looking a little plumper every day, as more fat gets laid down under the skin." Just like me then! We can be fatties together!
1 Nov 2009
"Your weight gain tends to be faster at this stage – you're probably putting on about a pound every week." Only a pound...?
2 Nov 2009
"Boys' testicles start to descend from the body toward the scrotum." Tee hee hee *snigger*
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Yesterday's shopping
Washload two of Dylan bedding is just finishing, so I'll finally get all the pics up!
Dylan's cot bedding and 2 x moses basket blankets
I bought 2 acrylic one of eBay, which still had the tags on, so I exchanged them for cotton ones whilst in Mothercare! I am the cheekiest! However, they have created rather a lot of washing - *sigh*
Ah well, at least it's given me time to update my shopping list (which is now considerably shorter!) and to start packing my rather snazzy hospital bag:
It's not as big as it looks - honestly! I've updated my hospital bag lists (one for me, Dyl and Al) and they are probably about half packed. I want to have it ready as soon as possible, but I know some things, like snacks and clothes, can't go in until the last minute. I still might get it as fully packed as possible by about 36 weeks though, I'm so paranoid!
The there's all the fun bits we bought. Al is a MAJORLY bad influence! All the clothes bar the grey hat are a result of "but we HAVE to get this 'len, it's SO cool!" He's right, but... oh sod it, Dylan's worth it! We bought stuff in quite a variety of sizes though, so he has stuff to grow into:
Grey bear hat (for his coming-home-from-hospital outfit; baby flannels; skull hoodie (size 1-1.5 years, but was on sale in Sainsburys;) blue leggings (£3.50/2! and desperately needed;) woolly hat and gloves set (because Alex fell in love with them!;) stripey hoodie (ditto;) and blue sleepsuit (3-6 months and we both fell in love with this one!)
I got a couple of things for me too! Alex bought me this lovely jumper (and it's non-maternity so I can wear it afterwards! Whoop!) I found an old Office gift card in my purse (thanks Chiara!), so I finally got round to getting some more winter-proof shoes... yes they are fabric, but they are more rain friendly than my current slip ons! I'm not sure what prevents me being able to put on shoes more - the leg injury or the bump!
and finally, my pink coat arrived - hurray! It's sooooooooooo pink! And the price label says £25, I paid £15!
Pregnant prat models pink coat
So there we go! Just got the second load out of the machine, and the flat looks like Widow Twankees laundry now!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)