The Fathers Thread

Trotter

If I could give real honest advice on a set of DVDs and a book that I would suggest Dads to be should watch & read, these would be the ones..

1) The Band of Brothers box set..
- With a few beers, as many bags of crisps you can consume in 10 hours, and a box of maltesers (a shoebox)

2) The book D-Day by Stephen Ambrose.




.. Because when Junior arrives, you'll have plenty of free time but it won't come in the chunks you need to enjoy the above essestials the way they should be enjoyed.

Now is the time!

soddy1979

My wife gave birth to a lovely boy today!

I'm a daddy!

amiable

soddy1979 wrote: »

My wife gave birth to a lovely boy today!

I'm a daddy!

Congratulations my friend. Enjoy and treasure every minute:)

-Corkie-

soddy1979 wrote: »

My wife gave birth to a lovely boy today!

I'm a daddy!

Well done soddy. Hopefully I will be posting the same message before the weekend.:)

soddy1979

Thanks folks. It was a funny one actually.

This time last night, my wife showed me a bit of brown mucous on the loo roll, and thought it must be the start of the plug. We went to bed about 11pm, and I moved into the back room at 1130 to give her more room in the bed.

At 1am, she woke me up to show me loo roll again, more mucous now, with a bit of blood. She called the nurse at the hospital then, who said it was probably a show and to keep an eye on it, and movements etc. Anyway, we couldn't feel any movements for about an hour (baby was very active yesterday evening), so we packed the car, and headed off to the hospital. They admitted my wife to the ER, did a trace and an ultrasound - all grand. Doctor on call said head was down, but not engaged. He said, it was unlikely she would give birth until week 40, but she could also be back in two hours. Got home at 4am.

Wife started getting what she thought was fake labour at about 445am. I ran a bath for her, and at the end, she had a large bit of bloody mucous. She then went to loo and had LOADS more (I thought it was a hemorrhage - I was SH!TTING it).

Back in the car, raced to hospital. Wife got checked straight away, and was 2CM dilated. Nurse, said the blood was just show (not messing, there was half a cup of blood at least) She was checked an hour later and was 7-8CM.

Baby born two hours later on 36+3

Mimikyu

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amiable

Well my little girl Cara decided to join us today.

She arrived weighing in at 8lbs 3ozs.

She is beautiful and i'm smitten all over again.

My partner was amazing and i could never do what she did.

I'm so very lucky

Orion

Congrats

-Corkie-

Congrats!!!!. My missus is nearly 2 weeks over I am praying something will happen before Tuesday..

badgerhowlin

had 13 week scan yesterday. It was great. IT looked like a baby now. Could see the spine, head and heart beatting away like mad. I was told you could see the hands and feet too but i couldnt.

IT was doing what look it headbutting my wife. it looked very funny.

I need to call it something other than it. Can some one fire some names at me, and "It cant start with THE ..."

Come on 20ish week scan so i can see it again.

-Corkie-

badgerhowlin wrote: »

had 13 week scan yesterday. It was great. IT looked like a baby now. Could see the spine, head and heart beatting away like mad. I was told you could see the hands and feet too but i couldnt.

IT was doing what look it headbutting my wife. it looked very funny.

I need to call it something other than it. Can some one fire some names at me, and "It cant start with THE ..."

Come on 20ish week scan so i can see it again.

We called our baby tiddles before we found out she was a girl..:)

The_Conductor

badgerhowlin wrote: »

I need to call it something other than it. Can some one fire some names at me, and "It cant start with THE ..."

We went into a bookstore and got a book of Sci-Fi names for babies- literally every single name used in Startrek, The X-Files and all manner of other TV series from about 1960 to the modern day....... We'd have sooner shot ourselves than use any of them longterm, but it was fun calling our little one some of the names in the book, until we settled on the final name we wanted to use.

-Corkie-

Just woke up now to be told herself is starting.. Hope she comes now today..:)

SEORG

Hi all, looking for some advice. Did/do you all go to each appointment with your partner?
I'm knew to all this and want to be as involved as possible but don't know what the procedure is for clinic visits etc.

Haven't had any scan or anything else yet. Just the GP visit.

Trotter

smccarrick wrote: »

We went into a bookstore and got a book of Sci-Fi names for babies- literally every single name used in Startrek, The X-Files and all manner of other TV series from about 1960 to the modern day....... We'd have sooner shot ourselves than use any of them longterm, but it was fun calling our little one some of the names in the book, until we settled on the final name we wanted to use.

I used to call ours 1 of 9 before she was born. Didnt impress the missis at all.

badgerhowlin wrote: »

I need to call it something other than it. Can some one fire some names at me, and "It cant start with THE ..."

Come on 20ish week scan so i can see it again.

Offspring!!

Sniipe

SEORG wrote: »

Hi all, looking for some advice. Did/do you all go to each appointment with your partner?
I'm new to all this and want to be as involved as possible but don't know what the procedure is for clinic visits etc.

Haven't had any scan or anything else yet. Just the GP visit.

I went to most of our anti-natal classes. I should have gone to them all. It is a great show of support and you will probably be able to help on the day and on the lead up to it. Its good for both of you to have all the information.

We didn't get a scan until 20 weeks. We have 5 days to go and that was it; no other scans.

I'm Just curious about this; generally on the first born; do they tend to come before/after/on the due date?

Corki, best of luck, 2 week wait had to be difficult! Hope everything goes well.

Ash.J.Williams

thrilled to be having my first in dec...but i'm being litterly killed by my beautiful o.h.....i mean killed.....is this normal? I can't do or say anything right at all...and saying nothing makes it worse!! help

January

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

thrilled to be having my first in dec...but i'm being litterly killed by my beautiful o.h.....i mean killed.....is this normal? I can't do or say anything right at all...and saying nothing makes it worse!! help

It's normal for women to have a few "hormonal episodes" (I feel I can say that because I am a woman :eek: ), but at the same time there is such a thing as going overboard. Some do just take the piss and go too far, and to be honest I wouldn't allow it... There were a few times when my partner told me to cop on when I was pregnant on the girls and in hindsight I was over reacting when I we were having arguments etc...

badgerhowlin

Trotter wrote: »

I used to call ours 1 of 9 before she was born. Didnt impress the missis at all.



I like that, since i keep telling her we are going to have 8 childern. One for each day of the week and one as spare, just in case we leave one somewhere and cant find it!

So 1 of 8.

Might get hit with one of the "hormonal episodes" January is talking about

Mimikyu

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RedXIV

i'm sure this is not the norm but my OH's first was 2 months early, second was bang on the due date and the third now due on 2nd of Oct but I'm not expecting him till xmas now

Sniipe

Captain Morgan wrote: »

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In University Hospital Galway my wife only got 1 ultrasound scan. There was no other scans. All is fine tho, the baby is very active. It would have been nice to get another look to see that everything was still in place.

4% of babies come on their due date... that few? I had heard that they generally come 2 days plus or minus the due date.

Our hospital will let her go 10 days over and no more... are there different policies for different hospitals in Ireland?

Mimikyu

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-Corkie-

Saoirse came tonight at a healthy weight of 8 pounds 10. Poor mammy was in labour for over 24 hours.:mad: Women are absolutley amazing creatures. The staff in CUMH are lovely people too doing a fantastic job.:)

Mimikyu

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January

-Corkie- wrote: »

Saoirse came tonight at a healthy weight of 8 pounds 10. Poor mammy was in labour for over 24 hours.:mad: Women are absolutley amazing creatures. The staff in CUMH are lovely people too doing a fantastic job.:)

Congratulations! Lovely name too

deeduck48

aww, congrats Corkie, im delighted for yee both.:D

I have a question for fathers both new and old and expecting. Im 33 wks on our first, i get so worried and nervous sometimes that i cant stop crying. Yet OH seems absolutely fine and calm about it all. im starting to feel that there's something wrong with me as he's just business as usual.

Do/ did/ will yee be comfortable telling OH if yee were nervous/ worried/ anxious about becoming fathers? I say "seems" because ive seen him get nervous about job interviews and that before, so his calmness now is really starting to freak me out!!:eek:
Dont get me wrong, he comes to classes and scans, and talks to bump but still......

amiable

Sniipe wrote: »

In University Hospital Galway my wife only got 1 ultrasound scan. There was no other scans. All is fine tho, the baby is very active. It would have been nice to get another look to see that everything was still in place.

4% of babies come on their due date... that few? I had heard that they generally come 2 days plus or minus the due date.

Our hospital will let her go 10 days over and no more... are there different policies for different hospitals in Ireland?

My partner got 2 scans in UCHG and baby was delivered last Friday:)

No idea how or why. As did our other 2 children.

Trotter

Congrats to all the new Daddies! Can't believe its over 6 months now since we did the maternity ward trip!

amiable

Captain Morgan wrote: »

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+1 on that.

I played sport to a pretty decent level and had to give up because of a couple of very serious injuries.
But i couldn't go through what my OH went through with our kids.
She's amazing and i do make sure i let her know regularly

Mimikyu

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Cianos

wow, best of luck tonight!!

-Corkie-

Captain Morgan wrote: »

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Best of luck Captain.I was only thinking of you let us know what happens..:)

You will know what love is when you hold that baby..:)

-Corkie-

deeduck48 wrote: »

aww, congrats Corkie, im delighted for yee both.:D

I have a question for fathers both new and old and expecting. Im 33 wks on our first, i get so worried and nervous sometimes that i cant stop crying. Yet OH seems absolutely fine and calm about it all. im starting to feel that there's something wrong with me as he's just business as usual.

Do/ did/ will yee be comfortable telling OH if yee were nervous/ worried/ anxious about becoming fathers? I say "seems" because ive seen him get nervous about job interviews and that before, so his calmness now is really starting to freak me out!!:eek:
Dont get me wrong, he comes to classes and scans, and talks to bump but still......

Thanks.:) I was very easy going at 33 weeks because there is a long time left. My missus went 12 days over but I was a nervous wreck around the due date and worse after that. Your O/H will be fine he will be worried when he sees you in that labour ward...:)

-Corkie-

Come on captain the suspence is killing me.. i hope all is well

Mimikyu

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Trotter

Captain Morgan wrote: »

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Congrats!
The first night I spent at home while Mammy and baby were in the hospital was great. I had 2 cans of diet coke, a 6 pack of crisps and I watched Willie Nelson live in concert. I knew everything was ok, and I relaxed a bit and slept all night. Enjoy tonight.. Enjoy the simple things and have a good sleep.

admiralofthefleet

reading all this is making me wish our son would come sooner! he is due in october and we cant wait to meet him

kippy

Congrats to all the recent parents in here.
Haven't been on this thread but my wife is due on the 20th of this month in UCHG.
No sign of anything happening yet. Feeling excited, happy, and slightly aprehensive(nothing major)

-Corkie-

kippy wrote: »

Congrats to all the recent parents in here.
Haven't been on this thread but my wife is due on the 20th of this month in UCHG.
No sign of anything happening yet. Feeling excited, happy, and slightly aprehensive(nothing major)

Hope all goes well Kippy. Dont worry about it at all, as I said to Captain no words can describe the love you will feel for that baby when he/she comes along.

@Captain I am delighted for you both. What you calling him???:)

amiable

kippy wrote: »

Congrats to all the recent parents in here.
Haven't been on this thread but my wife is due on the 20th of this month in UCHG.
No sign of anything happening yet. Feeling excited, happy, and slightly aprehensive(nothing major)

The staff are great in UCHG so rest easy there my friend.
My partner has had our 3 children there.
My advice would be don't expect baby to arrive too soon as that way you won't be disappointed.

awnow

Hi
I'm new to this Dad's forum but I have read many of the posts and must say it's interesting! My OH is due in less than 1-week and i'm getting a little nervous, naturally hoping that she and our new baby will be ok after the labour. I have heard one or 2 horror stories in the past week or so which have put me on edge a wee bit.

While I know that mid-wives and doctors will do their best for your OH and baby, from time to time you do hear of labours where the medical team have not been near decisive enough to take an alternative course of action if the labour is (a) progressing very slowly or (b) it is fairly obvious that the baby cannot be delivered in the natural way. Regretably, I have heard one story in the past week (from soneone known to me) where this was the case and it seems to have had significant negative consequences for the child and the mother. From what I understand, they persisted with delivering naturally when this was clearly not possible and when they eventually decided to c-section, it turned out a nightmare beacuse they had gone too far with the natural delivery which made the c-section delivery shocking to say the least. Enough said on that as I don't want to worry people but I do want to get my concerns clear.

Anyway, I would be grateful if any other Dad's could offer advise or share their experiencs/thoughts on how to recognise if you feel that things are not going according to plan. How to know what to be vigilant for? And what questions to ask? Are you within your rights to demand a change of tactics (without obviously trying to tell the experts how to do there job)?

Any thoughts appreciated!

Very exciting time for this dad-to-be

Thanks!

Trotter

awnow wrote: »

Anyway, I would be grateful if any other Dad's could offer advise or share their experiencs/thoughts on how to recognise if you feel that things are not going according to plan. How to know what to be vigilant for? And what questions to ask? Are you within your rights to demand a change of tactics (without obviously trying to tell the experts how to do there job)?

Any thoughts appreciated!

Very exciting time for this dad-to-be

Thanks!

I felt that I had to submit to the fact that the lowest qualified person in that room knew 100 times more about delivering babies than I did. The job I could do well was wet face cloths, rub hair, hold hands etc. Beyond that I wasn't qualified, and in hindsight, had I questioned the actions of the staff when things got difficult, I would have only caused more problems than solutions, and I wouldve added to my missis' stress. Thats not to say I didnt pipe up every so often and ask 'can you bring me up to speed here in simple language'.. but not at a time when they were making the best decisions they could on the hop. Interfering at that stage wouldve delayed their decision making, and I had to trust them to make the right one.

For what my advice is worth, zilch, don't go in there thinking you have the know how to advise, unless you have the knowhow to advise. We've got brilliant stats in this country for safe childbirth so you have to trust the team. Difficult as that might be for all of us!

awnow

Trotter wrote: »

Thats not to say I didnt pipe up every so often and ask 'can you bring me up to speed here in simple language'.. but not at a time when they were making the best decisions they could on the hop. Interfering at that stage wouldve delayed their decision making, and I had to trust them to make the right one.

For what my advice is worth, zilch, don't go in there thinking you have the know how to advise, unless you have the knowhow to advise. We've got brilliant stats in this country for safe childbirth so you have to trust the team. Difficult as that might be for all of us!

Thanks Trotter, I think you hit the nail on the head with the above, which puts my mind at ease, somewhat. Anyway, we haven't long to go now...five days by right but no doubt this will go over for the first baby!

awnow

I wanted to get my wife a wee gift for after the birth. Obviously, along with doing all the cleaning, ironing (aaaaggghhhhh!!), cooking etc. of course, anyone got any ideas or what did you do??

Trotter

awnow wrote: »

I wanted to get my wife a wee gift for after the birth. Obviously, along with doing all the cleaning, ironing (aaaaggghhhhh!!), cooking etc. of course, anyone got any ideas or what did you do??

Pandora bracelet with a baby related charm. Then you can buy charms every so often on birthdays or occasions. Brilliant little thing that was certainly invented by a man who was tired of wondering what to buy.

amiable

Trotter wrote: »

Pandora bracelet with a baby related charm. Then you can buy charms every so often on birthdays or occasions. Brilliant little thing that was certainly invented by a man who was tired of wondering what to buy.

+1

That's what i got my partner and she loves it still:)

tony1980

Hi everyone,

Im new in here, my oh is due the 29th of december but is scheduled for a c-section on the 23rd because of complications with her hips, so it looks like an xmas baby for us, does anyone know how long they could be kept in, im thinking 4 to 5 days due to the c-section, would be nice if they were out for xmas but as long as they are both healthy afterwards ill be all smiles

Hitchhiker's Guide to...

tony1980 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

Im new in here, my oh is due the 29th of december but is scheduled for a c-section on the 23rd because of complications with her hips, so it looks like an xmas baby for us, does anyone know how long they could be kept in, im thinking 4 to 5 days due to the c-section, would be nice if they were out for xmas but as long as they are both healthy afterwards ill be all smiles

According to a recent report on Irish maternity hospitals, 90% of C-section mothers stay for 3-5 days; am afraid it is less than 5% that stay for only 0-2 days.

Hope that doesn't disappoint you regarding Christmas, but probably best to know it now and not be disappointed at the time.

tony1980

Cheers for the info, i will be delighted with my wife and baby both coming out of hospital healthy, anything else will be a bonus, the doc said that when it comes closer the time, the c-section might be a little earlier than the 23rd, depending on the baby's lungs he said, so we might get lucky and be out for xmas.