Jue in June 2011....... labour here we come!!!!!

[Jer79]

New thread. Should last us a week.

Just bookmarking for later. Thanks a mill, Jer.

:)

So much space i feel like having a dance wiggle, i can't dance anymore - it's kind of a rythmical shuffle, I hope the ability comes back - I love dancing! Maybe I'll have a insted!

I'm mainly lumbering nowadays Joanne so you're doing better than me. Have a with that

Hellllllooooooooooooooo

Mummynumber2 - glad everything went well and you had a fabby wedding! Look forward to seeing the photos, hint, hint!!

Managed 3rd stage v natural 3rd stage.
Managed 3rd stage is injection given in the leg (small needle, hardly felt a thing!), placenta is expelled faster. Disadvantages is that you may bleed more and the cord is cut straight away (though not a problem if that is what you want anyway).
Natural 3rd stage, less bleed, bringing baby to the breast straightaway will stimulate the placenta to be expelled. Think you have to push though. You can leave the cord attached to the baby until it stops pulsing to ensure it gets all the iron rich blood.

Bfing
Can be hard to begin with, it is a skill both you and baby will need to learn. But if you are getting any discomfort/soreness get advice from a BFC or a Support group to get your latch checked as a priority as sore nipples are a killer! If you can perservere for a few weeks it does get easier.

Off to a "Meet the Doula" Soiree tonight!

Jasmine - I think the 2 hours drive for you mum is a good reason for you to not want her there for the birth. Just say X is closer. Have you thought about a Doula to support you if your DH can't make it back in time?

Ah MN has finally stopped being an arse and let the page load in less than half an hour and what do I find, after finally managing to post something, I have to waddle on over to a nice crisp clean new thread (well apart from some fresh biscuit crumbs ).

I bags this comfy chair to park my bum in Ahh, bliss

Glad you enjoyed your wedding mummy!

Saw the midwife today who wasn't quite as pissed off with me as I thought she would be, and I've declined another appointment for the GTT. She was alright about it though.

I'm probably going to be the odd one out here (no change there then) and say to anyone worried about breast feeding...Try it. If you don't like it, then don't do it.
I had a horrible time with my eldest. I wasn't sure about BFing, so said I'd give it a try. Hated it. Hated everything about it. Hated the baby waking up because I knew I'd have to do it again. TBH I think it affected me quite badly. Once I started, the midwives wouldn't let me stop. (DD1 was early so I was in hospital for 10 days) She was losing weight, and I was thoroughly miserable. It was only when a different midwife turned up, about 6 days in, and gave me a bottle, did everything start to come together.

I didn't even consider BFing the other 2, and nor will I do this one. Obviously, I do agree that it is the best choice for the baby, but if it doesn't suit the mother, then it's not going to work.
I don't think it's worth beating yourself up over. It's not a failure, and you're not going to damage your baby because of it.

bit of a book mark and mini moan
Got a cold and I'm bloody knackered .

Will pop back on when I am feeling a bit perkier !

xx

Oooh Almightycitrus thanks for that, I was actually coming on to ask if I was the only one more than likely not going to breastfeed (again for reasons similiar(ish) to yours). Just bookmarking (again) as have to get dc off to bed but will be back for proper chat later...

Hello! Lovely new thread Jer, thanks.

Am having a soak in the bath and a quick catchup, knackered thank you again for your pm, I need to be on my laptop to reply but will do ASAP - you're lovely for all the exam advice.

Am completely pooped, out Fri, sat and sun nights at birthday parties and drove each time (why I was on here at 3am after dropping off tipsy friends around Leicestershire) and laughed so much on Sunday that my pelvic floor failed me - that's right, get clenching!

Can't sleep on my back else I wake myself up wheezing and with dead arms and discovered last night that laying on my side squidges my boob and makes it leak . So I am now a hairy-bellied, leaky-boobed, damp-panted planet - what a joy!

Glad you're feeling better nurse.

jasmine I had the same with first pregnancy, as DP and I weren't together at that time, and my mum hinted that she'd be available for birth buddy duties. I actually couldn't think of anything more horrific and likely to stress me out. In the end DP said he'd like to be there, and she looked really peeved when I told her. If he hadn't I think I would have just told her straight..."you will stress me out, so for the sake of us maintaining a peaceful relationship, I suggest we drop that idea right now!"

Now I've forgotten everything from the previous thread.
Well today I made the REALLY depressing realisation that I have miscounted somewhere along the way and rather than being 32+4, I am actually only 31+4

Breastfeeding - I think that sometimes the MWs and HVs can REALLY over-complicate matters. Sometimes all of the nit-picking about nose-to-nipple, tummy-to-mummy, pinpoint accuracy with positioning etc can just cause more confusion and make things extra difficult. I'm a sloppy person by nature, and I'm a sloppy bfer too - I don't hold them properly, pay attention to latch and generally wander around doing things while feeding. I got completely confused at the beginning, and very stressed and then decided to just ignore all the advice, do it all wrong and managed just fine. OK ok ok I know that this is really not good advice, but I just don't want people to build it up into a huge obstacle and struggle as a result (which is honestly what I think happens a lot of the time). I had recurrent thrush with DD - which I completely and utterly blame on the dummy - luckily, though, I knew something was wrong and that this kind of pain was not normal. Everyone has some pain at the start - it stands to reason as it's delicate skin, gets wet all the time and is getting used to a little mouth around it all the time. Always patting dry afterwards and using gallons of lansinoh on soft breast pads will help get through this bit, but it doesn't last long. Also, engorgement can be a total PITA (a few days after birth usually) but feeding and putting those fridge-cooler things on help - with pumping if totally necessary. Again, it is soooo short lived that you'll have forgotten about it a few days later when your supply has sorted itself out.
I just think that more than anything else, relaxing about bfing and going with the flow are the most important things - don't get bogged down in the details.

I just ate 4 kiwi fruits

Sassamax - were you hungry

Almightycitrus - yes, I truly believe everyone(unless they have medical/pysch reasons not to) should give it a go! Even if you only manage a couple of days, you will boost baby's immune system, get rid of the meconium faster and your womb will retract faster.
I am sorry you and Barbie has a shit experience the first time around but it doesn't necessarily need to be the same next time around, certainly it sounds like you had really shitty support, AC
But it is down to you :)

Hi All, i've been lurking for quite a while now, i did check in and said hi a few weeks ago and the thread just grew at such a rate!

I have been back in hospital with a 2nd chest infection and signed off work since. I have been worried about how all the meds may have affected the baby but i had a scan today and he/she is looking good.

I have been reading the bfing advice with interest as this is our first baby and my friends have all had such different outcomes with it. So far i am working on the basis that i would like to try and will see how i get on. I have been asked to think about having a ELCS for medical reasons and wonder if this might hinder my chances of bfing as i thought my milk might be delayed coming in so what would baby feed on?

I was also wondering if anyone else is really breathless yet? I am and really uncomfortable, cant take deep breaths. I am 28+3 and scan doesnt show baby sitting high so not sure if it is my asthma or just being pg?

No Barbie your're not alone!

Kara It's not for me. Tried it, didn't like it. Even with some decent support I don't think I'd of carried on with it. I feel I bonded much better with my other 2 DC's than my first.

I just think it's awful that people feel like they have failed if BFing doesn't work out for them or they give up early. I think there's a lot of pressure, especially on first time mums, and I think it's a real shame when you see people saying that they feel like a bad mother, or they have let the baby down when they either can't BF or stop early.

And DS did not have any trouble getting rid of his meconium....It ended up all over a young midwife a couple hours after he was born...

sasamaxx Eating that many kiwi's a day means you will end up with a green hairy baby.....It's a true! You have been warned!

Thanks for the lovely new thread Jer

Almighty I agree there is way too much pressure as with most things in parenting damned if you do and damned if you don't! I'm certainly going to be a lot easier on myself this time! I do think I'm going to give it a try though but as I said in my other post if it doesn't work I'm not going to feel guilty about it.

Oompa I haven't heard of anyone having a problem with this who has had an ELCS (and I know a fair few as it is very very common here - for non-medical as well as medical reasons).

I too am feeling very tired at the moment and am getting cankles as it's sooo hot!

Well I got the results of my iron test back and my ferritin stores are severely low,

Morning all
Can I pass something by you for opinion? Its about my mohter wanting to be there for the birth - I've mulled over this and I certainly do not want her there, too stressful. I am going to suggest that DH (assuming HE is there of course!) phones her when second stage kicks in ie full dilation. On the basis that this stage is supposed to be max 2 hours and she lives 2 hours away I am thinking that she should get there in time to be the first reli to see the new arrival...but not in time for any birth stuff. Id have to clear this with the hosp of course because they might consider her to be a 'visitor' and therefore restricted to visiting hours...but do you think thats a fair compromise if I sell it to her as 'you'll be the first to say hi to the LO'?

Another question - is it possible for bump to get his foot stuck under my ribs? For several weeks now his foot has been wiggling in one precise place and I'm now getting worried that hes stuck!

Lastly - had a good extra session after yoga last night to learn some moves to help SPD. Am now walking like a geisha and getting some funny looks!

Morning ALL, sorry...who's Ail?

Oompa I don't really think having a CS interferes with bfing - I do know a few people who have had CSs and none of them have had a problem so am sure you'll be just fine . And YES to the breathlessness. I actually think I've been breathless for most of this pregnancy for some reason.

Almightycitrus - green and hairy you say? That's an improvement - both times in the past I have had babies bald as a coot until about 18 months while other people's babies have lovely long tresses in no time. Thinking about a wig this time around

Crumbletastic you must have been feeling horrendous - thank goodness you can get onto your iron tablets now and start feeling better.

lol @ Jasmine walking like a geisha . Afraid I have no idea about birthing partner options like that as I'm v boring and only ever have DH. I don't even get visitors as they chuck you out as soon as they can too. I wouldn't have thought that a foot could get stuck under the ribs - I know a lot of babies just like it there though. We need a midwife on the board - though if there was one, she probably wouldn't out herself lol

Morning all!!

Happy Wednesday! (Wednesday is the start of my "new" pregnancy week so Im always happy when it comes - exactly 32 weeks today)

Almighty this was so, so true for me too "I feel I bonded much better with my other 2 DC's than my first." (except I only have one "other" dc right now).

I gave myself a terrible hard time over my "failings" with dd and if Im honest, really, really did not enjoy the first couple of months of her life because of that. Depression was definately aggrivated by the whole thing for me personally and Im annoyed with myself as I cant get the time back.

That said, at least I learned a valued lesson and have to admit that the first few months of ds's life were so lovely for us all - happy and relaxed - we really enjoyed them!.

Reading it back and your story sounds so similiar to mine that its scary. I did try relactation after giving up initially as the guilt was all consuming which, if Im honest, just made things worse. All I can remember is me crying, dd crying and dh begging me to just give her a bottle. I think for about a year and half though, if anyone as much as mentioned breastfeeding, I would burst into tears (which was absolutely mortifying!!).

Anyway, Im not saying all this to put anyone off in the slightest, I would just beg anyone else not to be so damn hard on themselves - I agree with everyone who has said try it - if it doesnt work, it doesnt - enjoy your baby and dont go and do what I did, you'll feel guilty about enough in motherhood.

That said, I really dont want to appear anti breast feeding and dont want to scare any first timers - this is not typical and I honestly have seen, first hand, what a fabulous experience breasfeeding can be for many people. The benefits to both mother and baby are huge as we all know and I know so many absolutely adore the whole experience!!. I think sasamaxx gives some really fantastic, helpful and positive advice (from an experience bfeeder too!!!)

Barbie & Almighty, I just wanted to reassure you that I do respect your decisions and thank you so mcuh for sharing your experiences as well, it is helpful to see things from all viewpoints

Jasmine - have you considered hiring a Doula? I went to see a Doula last night, very interesting, she will offer me pre natal support, support during the birth including helping to support my birth plan and running interference with HCPs and a bit of postnatal support.
The only flaw I can see in your plan is what if you hit second stage in the middle of the night?

Morning (just),

I am a first timer, but one of my friends recently had a little boy. She wanted to bf, but he just didn't get on with it. It turned out he was lactose intolerent so has to have soya based formula. Since they made the switch to bottles they are both much happier.

Is it wrong of me to just avoid looking at anything about bf and birth methods? I find once I have the basic facts I know enough not to panic, but if i read too much i tie myself in knots. I think i'd rather just figure it out for myself as i go along and then i won't have the massive guilt complex (hopefully).

On a different note, I really need to do some pelvic floor exercises don't I? I keep forgetting and am already so far behind with them due to not finding out about bubs until so late in the day I almost wonder if there is any point. sigh Also I have been at work for a whole half a week without keeling over - progress ladies! Hopefully I can make it through to friday lunch time and the growth scan without needing to run home and sleep. I have a feeling there might be a delay at the hospital meaning I couldn't make it back to work in the afternoon. :o I'm looking forward to seeing the baby again and getting a bit of a better idea about my due date. I'm also hoping it has decided to turn over and get it's head down...bit concerned it has got wedged in a v shape with it's head on the left and it's feet by it's face. Neither DH or I are very bendy people so it might well run in the family :)

Enjoy the sunshine everyone and if you are already off on mat leave then have a little sunbathe for me!

Thanks Kara .

Joannezipan Someone may come along and very well disagree - what works for one wont work for another and ordinarily in life I think its wise to fully equip yourself with as much information as possible to make an informed decision. That said, in this area, I really think here that you are being really sensible not looking into bf and birth methods too much - I honestly believe that I overthought so many things regarding bfeeding and had much too much information from various resources floating about in my head that it attributed to over complicating things - again I'd go with sasamaxx's approach on this one if I were you.

and Yes!!! you should be doing your pelvic floor exercises (take own advice, barbie)