to not be scared of giving birth but be freaked out...

[OnlyWantsOne]

...by the 6 weeks that follow?

I remember sitting on the loo when DD was about 5 weeks old, she was screaming to be fed, i hurt all over, feeling disgusting and hating my ruined body oozing everywhere with sore bits and being pretty fed up TBH.

So, im 39 weeks, and I have started to dread the next bit... people keep phoning me (WHY do they think that it's ok to do this??) and asking if Ive had the baby yet... and Im dreading going for a wee and it making me cry.

Or that first poo.

Oh... heck

I don't know if I feel glad I've read this and will therefore be prepared for first poo/wee etc or if its just made me feel worse - currently 29 weeks. So 11 weeks of stocking up on dried apricots/prune juice/gin left

Now I'm here I feel I may as well ask - How long does laculose take to kick in? Have taken it for the first time today. Never taken it or anything similar before in my life. Am a bit worried I will be needing a toilet desperatly at work tomorrow and the won't be one in sight... erm, thanks in advance?!

HELL YEAH only gone and made discussion of the day.... that never happens.

lactolose doesnt agree with me, makes me feel very odd, what else could I take?

Oh and i spoke to a pharmasist and asked what could I take after birth but during breast feeding que the "uuurrrrr nuffink other than paracetamol and maybe nurofen"

Jfly you and I are due same time :)

Aw, that's great OWO, best of luck. Think of me when you're having your first poo.

Oh, me too, me too! So worried! Hated the first... 3 months really. But keep telling myself that surely it's can't be THAT bad again...

ILovePonyo - don't expect a laxative effect - it's a softener so just makes it more manageable - no sudden rushes or anything (at least, not in my experience). It definitely took a few days to have a proper effect, as I remember.

Thank you thereisalight!

Feel reassured now

It tastes vile though, doesn't it?

Oh, I like the taste

I thought it would taste chalky for some reason, and was pleasantly surprised when I drank it (straight out of the bottle). So I had some more

Ooh - no, for me it was like sweetened cooking oil (well, how I'd imagine it :)). Made me gag a bit.

Haha at sweetened cooking oil! Yuk. I might have some more in a bit..

I'm going to have nightmares now...

Mmmm, sweet cooking oil! Yum yum

you're just being mean, now .

Agree re co-codamol - I 'borrowed' some off my 83 year old gran and it took the edge of the sheer achiness I felt for about 10 days post-birth. I'd pushed for 2 1/2 hours, teeth gritted, and I ached from my head to my toes - wasn't expecting that.

First poo - hung on and hung on until it practically did it itself (sorry if TMI)

V jealous though - my DD is now 10 months, we won't be having another for a good couple of years and I long to hear those little snuffley newborn noises again. Good luck.

Hmm - I might see if I can get some co-codamol then - I had hideous after pains after DS (DC3) (much worse then the first 2)and so a bit worried about DC4.

Can I just add a 'hell yes' about the afterpains second time around. They were awful. Everything else was easier though by a long way.

My top tip for second time is to keep wearing pyjamas and don't get dressed for at least 3 or 4 days. I was in day clothes by the end of day 2 and back to 'normal' ie running round and doing stuff like washing and cooking as everyone just seemed to think I was fine. Next time I am wearing PJs and dressing gown for a week. Possibly two.

And moist toilet tissue is your friend. A whiff of Sainsburys aloe vera takes me right back to that hospital room... :o

And - if you have DCs already - they need to keep well away from the bathroom (no door-knocking or anything) when you go for your first poo. You need peace and quite - and moist toilet tissue as RockinRobinBird says!

God the first 6 weeks are hell aren't they?

As for the first poo, well if you struggle think yourself lucky. My first poo was no problem, just slid out, happy surprise. Till I discover childbirth has left me with no control over my bowel :(. So just grin & bear it

Oh yes, and the after pains are horrific have loads of painkillers, but cocodamol can give you constipation so avoid it when you are v sore.

Use glycerine suppositories for the first week post partum. Seriously. I was amazed at how easy it was after that

Haven't read whole thread, so apologies if repeating, but I found second time round a WHOLE lot easier. I'm thinking back now, and with dd1 I do reme,ber that whole going-to-the-toilet thing, but with dd2 I was so much better, and I was home (where you can sit in the toilet in peace, with someone else to look after the baby!) by the evening having had her in the morning.

You will be fine- honest!

OP do not despair, if birthing was so bad we wouldn't all choose to do it time and time again

I have 6 DC and the first had to be the worst but ~I was lucky with a labour from first pain to delivery of 3 hrs 40mins

second labour 1 hr 45

third labour 56 mins

fourth labour 20 mins - born in ambulance

fifth labour 1hr 50 mins

sixth labour 39mins

I am unlucky/ lucky enough to have precipitous labours, they are very quick but intensely painful with no let up between pains and rather shocked babies to deal with.

I would rather have a slower less traumatic labour anyday

Good luck whatever happens love ;)