10/10 Babies - Come out, come out wherever you are!!!

[Hermya321]

, come on little babies, you know you want to come out and play!!!

Look we even have toys all ready and set up for you all!!

Stats

Haven't fully caught up with posts yet, but Henry (Harry) Richard was born at 4:11 am on Thursday. I'm definitely going to win the fastest birth olympics, but will fill you in on the details later. Harry is gorgeous, but I've had a really hard time of it because I am determined to bf and he is an "aggressive non-feeder", which basically means he won't feed without a struggle. As a result, I've only just got out of hospital this pm and have been really down. Tbh I feel as though I am a bit of a failure because I can't get him to feed. I haven't been able to enjoy the first few days as I would have liked, because all I've been doing is desperately trying to get him to latch on. He's v. windy too so what with one thing and another I've had virtually no sleep.
Congratulations to all the births I've missed. Vikks sorry to use the same name! Evidently we are both ladies of taste
Sorry to winge, hopefully will be more upbeat tomorrow.

Hi! Ladies

It's me again (I was with you but we lost our little boy at 18 weeks).

I just wanted to say before you all leave ante-natal and move over to post-natal, I have been keeping up to date with all your birth announcements over the past 6 weeks and just wanted to say a MAHOOSIVE CONGRATULATIONS to you all. I did cry at the first announcement, but it has helped me in some small way to read about all of your POSITIVE deliveries.

I am now 13+2 (successful dating scan today) and hoping for a happier outcome this time. Keep your fingers crossed for me ladies.

xxx

Congrats Shield dont focus on the feeding. Dd2 was v difficult to feed and I gave up on day3 & went to bottles ( after feeding dd1 for 13m) I fretted for years but I know now it wasn't my fault.

Congrats mummywilliams

MummyWilliams I'm so pleased for you and congratulations!!

Shield Congratulations, I hope you and Harry settle soon. ((hugs))

Congratulations Mummywilliams:) so good to hear your news! Best of luck!!

Shieldbug- congratulations! I hope the bfing gets established for you.

My Ds is now suffering from a stonking temp, and dd is still snorting and snotting througheach bf. The first few weeks are meant to be tough but this is taking the piss!!

Congratulations to Shield, Vikks, Bionic and Third - loving the birth stories

Sending positive thoughts to those still waiting

Nymph think it is definitely worth talking to them - you never know :)

MummyWilliams congratulations on your news and thank you for letting us know - fingers crossed for you

Well this weekend was a bit of a struggle, Lucas continued to feed every 1 or 2 hours but we coped. Luckily he seems to have settled back into a 3 or 4 hour pattern again so I am getting a bit of sleep. He has almost regained all of his birth weight. Even though DH is on paternity leave he is still working from home so I am having to keep DD amused in the afternoons after nursery - I suppose it is good practice for when he is back at work properly but not much fun when all you want is a nap!

Congratulations mummywilliams fingers are firmly crossed for you x

Also congratulations shield and don't stress about the feeding. Easier said than done I know. I am having to express all feeds for dd but on the bright side she is getting the benefits of breast milk and I can get the occasional nights sleep when dh does the night feeds. It's not what I expected but the bf councillor has given me lots of advice and is sure dd will be happy to bf eventually given time. I'm not even thinking about it at the moment they suggested we wait a few weeks till we are settled into a routine and I've done the 'exercises' that they've suggested.

Anyway whinge alert! My lovely placid baby has turned into a grouch bag and I'm ill. Dh let me go to bed for a couple of hours this evening but still felt shocking when I woke up and i ungratefully just complained about the state he'd let the house got into.

Leaving dd with mil for first time tomorrow. Unfortunately it's for a funeral. Not someone I was close to but they are never nice. And they always bring back sad memories.

On a lighter note dd is doing the loudest trumps ever, she sounds like a grown man, whilst I am typing this

Been to baby clinic this am ,dd3 is now 8lb 11. Find it all v in your face. 2 HV( neither mine) & bf supporter all wanting to talk to me. I only escaped as I had Physio appt. My right side is still weak & stomach massively separated but got exercises so will see what happens!

Hv are shite-another hv appt where the only useful thing she did was weight dd.

I don't think she is aware that antibodies are passed on in breast milk. Apparently she'll only have protection from Ds cold for her first month. So till Friday oh, and suck horror, despite being 3weeks old it's surprising she sleeps a max of 3hours...

Sorry they swamped you nymph, hopefully next time won't be so full on!

My old clinic was nice & both HV & Nn were friendly but not quizzing IYSWIM these take a register of who comes which I don't like either. They also kept telling each other breastfeeding like it was unusual which it can't be as the woman after me got it too!

Shock horror, not suck!!

mummywilliams so glad to hear you had a successful scan. You have been in my thoughts this month and the others who sadly lost their babies from this thread. Wishing you all the best.

samSorry to hear you aren't feeling well. I'm interested to hear that the bf counsellor thinks your dd will eventually feed from the breast. Are you feeding her from a cup or a teat? I'm under pressure from the mws to go over to a bottle and teat for the expressed milk as this will develop his suck, but I've also heard that this means he is unlikely to ever progress to the breast. Any advice/ information you have (or indeed anybody has) would be enormously appreciated.

nymph you are right; it's so easy to blame ourselves but it's just one of those things. I suppose cos it's my 1st I don't have the confidence t know that it's not me messing things up.

Well, sorry this is going to be a long post, but here's my birth story.
I was due to go into hospital at 8pm for induction, and started to have proper contractions at about 6:30pm. By the time I set off to the hospital they were every 5-10 mins and lasting about 30-50 seconds. I continued to contract at this sort of rate when things got very strange (tmi alert!). I had made sure I emptied my bowels that afternoon to avoid any ahem, unpleasantness, but whenever I got a contraction I had to rush to the loo and push like I needed to poo. It was excruciating too. Eventually they worked out that I had impacted bowels (lovely!) and decided to give me an enema. Every contraction now, I'm pushing like crazy and unable to move from the toilet! About 5 mins later I had the show, then my waters broke two contractions later. The mw didn't seem to really want to believe me at this stage (the waters having vanished down the toilet) and was encouraging me not to push because it would make things more painful later. Because I was insisting things were progressing, she was listening to the heartbeat (having forced me off the loo!), when all of a sudden I felt the head!
Harry is calling, episode 2 to follow!!

Oooh shield need the rest of that story!

Right ladies, I have a dilemma. Sorry, bit long. Consultant (the one I wanted originally but she was full but then my consultant went on holiday for 6 weeks so I have the original one again) agreed that I could have elcs on 8 November - 9 days over - if no signs of spontaneous labour. Her usual policy is to let a pg go a week over. She called me earlier and said I can go in on Thursday if I want - I'd be 5 days over. It's basically a choice of an elcs at around a week overdue but just either side of the weekend. I'm tempted to be honest as I have terrible hip pain, not sleeping well because of it and generally pissed off. I'd rather have a vaginal delivery but still not a peep and there's no guarantees that things would be good anyway - I still hanker after my perfect birth with DS2. Mum and dad here til the end of the month, mil can come out early December . Oh Lordy, what would you do?

ILGH Tough choice. There's arguments either way, but you need to be comfortable with your decision, so go with whichever choice gives you the most peace iyswim. If your gut feeling is for Thursday then just go for it. Good luck.

Ok...continued...

I cried out that I could feel the head and with a disbelieving look, she examined me, and all of a sudden the room was full of people. They wanted to take me to the labour ward because of possible complications with my fibroids, so I was wheeled along the corridor out of my head with shock yelling "the baby's going to be born! It's coming!" Only later did I realise that I had passed the entire post natal ward en route . Eventually I reached the labour ward, got onto the bed and in 2-3 pushes Harry was born. From waters breaking to birth was a matter of minutes (although unfortunately I don't know how many). I needed stitches and couldn't stop shaking with shock, but otherwise was grand. I didn't even have chance to think about pain relief, although I got to sample gas and air while they were giving me the stitches (the anaesthetic didn't take very well). Oooh- it's good stuff.
I reckon I may be hard to beat on the fastest labour front and may even have a contender for the most embarrassing moment- take your pick from that story!

just wanted to say a quick hello to everyone! sorry I haven't been on much, got a very greedy baby and until the last couple of days was doing my feeding lying down as post c-section with a big baby I was finding any other position too uncomortable. Finally mastered feeding sitting up now, so able to at least get out of the bedroom more and on the internet on something other than my phone.

wow Sheildbug that was a speedy arrival!

congratulations mummywilliams, wishing you all the best

am struggling a bit at the minute as have a very hungry baby, and from 11pm -3am ish most nights he just wants non stop feeding/ winding, there is no break when he sleeps. sometimes he then sleeps through for 4-5 hours but last night he woke again 2 hours later, arrggh. been spending time on the breastfeeding forums trying to work out what to do.

I am generally enjoying things with the baby, and love him to bits, but he's very heavy and I feel quite weak still post section (possibly because I tried to do too much to soon oops) and I don't feel totally confident handling him. I wimped out of going to my first ever 'mums group' today because I was worried they would all think I was useless at looking after him. a few hours later I realised I should have been brave and gone, but I'm worried I'm going to get into that state each time its time to go...
don't think it helps that the health visitor made me feel crap when she came round. I said I was managing feeding by doing it lying down, and she just went on and on about how that wouldn't do as I 'couldn't exactly lie down in sainsburys and feed him'. It made me feel like I wasn't doing a good enough job. After I felt pretty angry as when I researched and found out about the 'football hold' I realised I could manage it that way, but she didn't suggest trying that position, or indeed give any advice, she just made me feel useless

Please see my post above re crap hv- you will feed sitting up when you have recovered, idiot woman (not you!!)

Shieldbug you win!! That's quick!!

Gah not sure how I'll cope tomorrow with sick dcnon own!

shield wow quick birth! And you avoided induction

tired do slightly less than you feel like. In the early days I kept overdoing it & suffering. If it makes you feel any better about only feeding lying down I can only feed sitting up. Just can't remember how to do lying down

Though dd3s latest trick is to feed almost standing and face on to me. And making yom yom noises

Lol I never managed lying down in 12mtha feeding Ds. I'd smoother dd, my boobs are too small I'd have to lie on her

Tired Gosh what a crappy HV, who cares if you're feeding lying down. You're managing to feed following an operation for heavens sake!! I'd ignore her compleatly, eat some chocolate and toast her stupity with a cuppa.

Sheild Wow!!! That is some birth story, I'm sorry that you've complications because of it though. Have you contacted a local breastfeeding type bod at all? I don't know if it will help at all, but it might be worth talking through your situation with a third party who could at least give you a different angle on things. I posted a few questions on the breastfeeding/bottle bit on here and there were some pretty knowledgable people there.

ILGH It's up to you at the end of the day, if you feel that Thursday may be your best option then I'd say go for it. FWIW whenever people talk about ELCS on the childbirth boards, they always sound pretty positive. Also I don't ever think there is a perfect birth, childbirth is such an unknown for all of us and I think you have to make the best of what you get given, and, if you can do something that makes it any easier for yourself then do it.

Sam Sorry you're not feeling well.

Nymph Do we have to go to the Health Visitors?

DH went back to work yesterday but I really really didn't cope all that well. He arrived home to find me quite teary. Consequently he's talked with his boss and managed to get a few more days at home with us. I think because I was in hospital for so long I felt robbed of time together for us as a new family. I feel so much better with him around and I think that the extra time will do me the world of good.

I don't know how those of you with more than one child do it. I'm exhausted with just the one. Muchos respect to all of you!

Thanks ladies. Will take the chocolate advice . Clearly am not the only one with an infuriating health visitor. In the first week dh had to basically latch baby on for me every time (he had watched the midwives in hospital) so it is thanks to him that I $anaged it really.

Nymph I am the same I just keep overdoing it and then regretting it, must be even harder for you with the two older ones to think about as well

Hermya I am so pleased your dh could get the extra time. I am sure a few extra days will help you feel more prepared and like you have enjoyed some time together.

Tried to post before but it didn't work to send positive vibes to those still waiting! At least it can't be too much longer now. Will look forward to hearing your news

Ilgh- I had a cs after they realised baby was in a really strange position, and I found it a really positive experience. We saw baby lifted out, dh cut the cord, and I had cuddles straight away and there was a lovely happy calm atmosphere. The pain reaLly not too bad and I was on mmy feet twelve hours later.
BUT (see above!) The downside is definitely the slower recovery which means even caring for the baby was tough for the first week or so. Hope baby shows up before then so you the decision isn't needed

tired I have had dh around to help though.if he had been at work I wouldn't have coped.

hermya mine came to me once then said go to baby clinic. They asked today how often I going to come to clinic & suggested 2 weekly. I like getting her weighed & seeing other mums/babies but not if they all quiz me. I'm not sure ATM if I suspect PND I wouldapproach any of them but luckily all my GPs are good & v approachable.

Hi all
All going swimmingly here - pretty chilled out, but I think that might be the only option with third... everything just has to go with the flow! After all, it's already chaos. Hope those of you struggling are getting on top of things. In response to what some of you have been saying, I agree, sometimes the HVs and even MWs can be a complete waste of space... but then sometimes you come across an angel. Sometimes a CS seems like the end of the world, sometimes the only option and either way only ever a means to an end... and that's that little bundle in your arms that stops everything else mattering. Sometimes they want to BF, sometimes they don't, sometimes they sleep, more often than not they don't! But let me share the bits I can remember of a poem someone showed me recently...

I hope my children will look back on today,
And remember a mummy who had time to play,
There'll be plenty of years for cleaning and cooking,
And little ones grow when you're not even looking,
So take a moment to gaze at your babe fast asleep,
As time waits for no-one and babies don't keep.

I dunno - maybe it was the hormones... but I kind of liked that one - who cares if its a PJs day... lets just gaze at them a little bit longer eh?!

LOVE that, 3rd. Have seen it before, always good to see it again. I do spend ages just gazing at DS, snuggling him, though I did also vacuum today. :)

thirdtimer that's made me go a bit teary.

Shieldbug have I said congrats? Well done on super quick birth! You are not alone on having feeding struggles. Dd is not gaining fastemough for their liking and i'm on a regime but like a (very tired) idiot i managed to not wakeup/get up for the last feed so gave missed one and now desperately trying to work outwhats best to do to mahe it up. I just need a few duvet days with dd but it's not possible. Have had to give few small bits of formula. Why can't I just have a good milk supply? Is it the prem births and too small/tired babies to extract properly or is it just me? I don't know. She is slowly creeping back to birth weight but I think this new regime might actually stop that. We shall see. Starting to hate the whole thing just want to enjoy dd and not feel like fighting (sometimes her with feeding!) every step of the way.