Hi All,
Congrats Jill. I was secretly hoping for a girl last time too, I didn't find out but convinced myself I was having a boy, just so I was prepared. When DD arrived I was in complete shock and so pleased. I just kept saying "I've got a girl!" and couldn't stop grinning for hours.
This time round I'd still like a girl. To save us the expense of having to buy anything new. And DD would definitely love a girl.
Leo I breastfed DD for 9 months. I was really worried about it. I was BF, but it wasn't the norm then, people thought my Mum was odd. I'd never really seen anyone BF, so it all felt a bit odd. But when it came to it I loved it.
As others said the first few weeks can be tough, and when they're having growth spurts, but it's all so much easier if you're informed and know roughly what to expect. I read a lot of the BFing threads on here so knew in advance what might happen and ways to solve problems. I was very lucky though. DD latched on no problems within 20 minutes of being born. We did skin-to-skin and she just shuffled herself round, she knew what to do so the MW told me to leave her to it.... I'd seen a really good youtube clip about a baby doing just this, I was amazed when it worked. I'll see if I can find it again.
The first couple of days were fine, but when my milk came in on day 3 it hurt, but ibroprofen eases it, and the best thing to do it feed lots and massage your boobs. After that my nipples got sore so when DD first latched on it was toe curlingly painful. But I counted to 10 and by then it stopped, as the days went on I'd get to 9, 8, etc.
Mastitus can come on really quickly, so know the signs and get to the GP asap.
But on the positive side it's a lovely way to bond with LO, it means you always have an excuse for a cuddle and a sit down. It's free (except for breast pads and lansinoh which I religiously put on after every feed, but 1 tube lasted 9 months.) It's also so much easier than preparing bottles and there's no forward planning involved. I used to really pity friends who had to deal with a hungry screaming baby whilst also make up a bottle or wait for it to cool down/warm up. It must have been terrible in the middle of the night. Also BFing releases hormones to make you tired so I never had problems getting to sleep again in the middle of the night.
I also used to love looking at DD in the first 6 months and knowing that this gorgeous thriving girl had been entirely nourished by me, for 15 months. I cried when we had to start giving her bottles.
Oh and in the middle of the night when you're knackered and feeling lonely, think of all the other Mum's all over the world doing the same as you.
Sorry Huge BFing ramble, I just wish everyone could have it as easy as we did. I'm thinking of training as a BFing counsellor.
In other news. I had my 16 week appointment on Tuesday. We took DD and we got to hear the heartbeat, all is well and we could hear that LO was having a good fidget too. DD loved it :) I've started feeling the occasional movement now too. Yay! :o
I'm having a lot of back pain though. I have a history of back problems, and my weekend job involves a lot of moving and handing. After my shift 2 weeks ago I was really sore. had to phone in sick for my shift last weekend and I've been in pain and stiff on and off for 2 weeks now. The physios I work with have said I shouldn't be doing any moving & handling at all, so I'm meeting with my Network Manager tomorrow to discuss what I can do, and whether I need to move to a different house... again!