Some news...

[thegremlin_1999]

I might not know you personally but I've been following this thread with a smile.

Congratulations Kat!

[Katster]

No gas and air midnight, I managed it pain relief free. She's amazing. We are both still in hospital as she needs her blood sugars checking and I need my blood pressure to come down. They told me the meds i was taking wouldn't affect her but that's why they are checking her blood sugars. Ah well, lesser of two evils i guess. She's just so good. I love it - motherhood.

[bunique]

Don't forget to stop staring at her long enough to get a little sleep!

[Katster]

I cant, she's too addictive. Plus she keeps having startle reflex which is quite amusing (I'm so mean). I should sleep though, been awake since 4.30am Sunday morning. Not that I have any idea what time or day it is right now ha. Ive been so far managing to breast feed too and her blood sugars are fine so that coupled with managing the lack of pain relief despite not being allowed birthing pool makes me a happy Kat. I did make the strangest sounds known to man throughout the last bits though...

[bunique]

Have you ever seen the episode of Gavin and Stacey when Nessa gives birth? She sounds like a highland cow, and I wasn't much different!

[t8yman]

I am so pleased for you all, enjoy motherhood- this is obviously just the beginning.

mega congrats!

[bunique]

Until it wakes them up and you want to duct tape their arms to their sides!

[LondonTom]

Congratulations !!! (Also agree about the name being lovely! Even if reminds of the film willow )

[greenfairy43]

I've already said it on Faceache, but huuuuuge congratulations to you both & welcome to the world Willow.

The start of the rest of your lives xx

[midnight]

No gas and air midnight, I managed it pain relief free. She's amazing.

Excellent! I was only looking for a rational explanation for the use of "may" in your earlier post. Perhaps there isn't one. And of course she is amazing - she is your daughter!

[Ed209]

Congrats Katster! Fantastic news.

We've just gone over the 36 week mark. Antenatal classes done. Moved into our new home last week and mum started maternity leave yesterday. Getting very close now! Can't wait to meet my daughter

[Katster]

The rational use of the word may was that I still can't quite believe it ha. Today is only our second day home out of hospital and last night I got 4 hours almost continual sleep. I know lots of people wait years for that to happen and I am so chuffed with us all for doing so well. I have also mastered breastfeeding - something I never thought I would. I had an emotional moment in the bath after the first day when I thought I couldn't go on doing it but then I came back to her eager feeding face and realised I could. It's hard, and I couldn't have done it without Dan and midwife support but between us we have cracked it (I say this tentitively, of course). Most amazing few days of my life. Thank you Willow.

[Katster]

Greenfairy you asked about the midwife during birth but it got lost somewhere on Facebook - anyway, she was amazing. She was so calming throughout and went with it and allowed me to go with it and after 7 hours of labour (I don't remember her taking a break, going for a wee even?!) she even stayed an extra hour after her shift ended to see what we ended up having. The very last moment hurt like hell cos I needed some assistance getting Willow out (forceps) and I had her on one side of me and Dan on the other and I'm not sure either of their hands will ever be the same again lol. I am going to visit her whenever I am up to it and take Willow in to see her

[Katster]

Barry we are starting whenever we are ready but hopefully soon enough, she loved her first bath in hospital and daddy is giving her first home bath later today. We are then taking her outside into the gardens around our flat so she can get a good look at the trees....London Tom I agree it does make me also think of the film and she will prolly hate me for naming her Willow but our

main reason was obviously cos we liked it but also because its my favourite kind of tree and she will grow up to be strong and graceful I never watched Buffy The Vampire Slayer but bits I caught I always preferred the character Willow, and the actress...can't remember her name though? She's the "one time, at band camp" character from American Pie

[bunique]

Alyson Hannigan glad to hear feeding is going well, we were also one of the lucky ones who had no issues and I loved feeding her. Enjoy enjoy enjoy!!!

[feral chile]

Glad things are going well. Breastfeeding is great for those lucky enough that it goes right for, I was one of the lucky ones, but my daughter wasn't able to continue with her children.

The most important thing is to do what works for you.

Edited October 15, 2014 by feral chile

[Katster]

Yeah, its hard, even when it all goes well its an exhausting feeling but we are doing well.

[the_hedge]

Congrats Kat and what a beautiful name !!

[Katster]

Yeah we went for a walk just round the block yesterday which was nice. Daddy carried her in the sling (she slept the whole time). She loves looking out of our big windows at the trees too, which is apt, considering her name.

I don't find her exhausting Barry I meant the breast feeding specifically, but with roughly 4 hours between most feeds now and by keeping up my appetite (and with Dan helping with doing the majority of nappy changes) its feeling less so now and we are only on day 4.

She is so good to us, life is easy and good.

[Katster]

First day or two was every hour ish. She's a super fast learner and I'm slightly determined lol.

[midnight]

The rational use of the word may was that I still can't quite believe it ha. Today is only our second day home out of hospital and last night I got 4 hours almost continual sleep. I know lots of people wait years for that to happen and I am so chuffed with us all for doing so well. I have also mastered breastfeeding - something I never thought I would. I had an emotional moment in the bath after the first day when I thought I couldn't go on doing it but then I came back to her eager feeding face and realised I could. It's hard, and I couldn't have done it without Dan and midwife support but between us we have cracked it (I say this tentitively, of course). Most amazing few days of my life. Thank you Willow.

Well, you better believe it now!

Looks like everything is going swimmingly.

Btw, if little Willow's poo should turn greenish, she's getting too much foremilk. I sure you're dying to know that, but it's one of the fascinating breastfeeding related morsels of wisdom I remember.

Rrrrright, all eyes on Bunique now!

Edited October 16, 2014 by midnight

[bunique]

Or an intolerance to something, or a cold. I remember cold-related nappies with unpleasant clarity! Yick.

I hope to be keeping you all waiting a while longer!! Had a bit of a flap earlier as thought bump had been v quiet today, but think she's just changed position and is hiding behind placenta. Moving fine now, but my bump has definitely changed shape!

[Katster]

Oh my gosh I don't miss that bloomin bump! (Sorry bunique).

I (we) seem to have created the perfect baby. We are on day 5 tomorrow and she sleeps through the night (wakes for feeds) she's happy to have cuddles or to be left chilling and thinking by herself. She LOVES music, QOTSA and Chilli Peppers in particular (our favourites so no wonder - her dad had her listening to QOTSA and sang along with it and she lulled off into some sort of trance for what seemed like an eternity?!)

She didn't much enjoy her first bath experience at home but we will keep seeing how she goes with that and if we think she would like puddle ducks.

She is an absolute joy and I'm still on a high from since my waters broke lol. And all this from me, who pretty much always said she was never going to have her own baby. I guess I just didn't understand what all the fuss was about back then

[bunique]

Oxytocin, baby, it's a wonder drug

[Katster]

Rrrrright, all eyes on Bunique now!

We got Ed209's bundle coming before Bunique's. Wishing you both well Ed

Weird this morning - she woke up at precisely 4.30am and it suddenly dawned on me that that exact time last week was when my waters broke. So this time last week I was wandering around waiting to get back in touch with the hospital at 8/9am. They'd told me to go back to sleep but I couldn't cos I was too excited lol. I cant get back to sleep now because I made the mistake of having a brew with that 4.30am feed. Ah well, been sleeping loads so will just lie here and think about how happy I am.