Charters Anonymous Graduates Volume 2! – No more temping!

[Iwish]

A nice cosy place to accommodate our growing bumps and little wrigglers.

so where have you all gone then?!

These people with lives...

Hey spilt, I'm still lurking around. Haven't been able to think of anything to write apart from "aaaaargh" though!!!

DD is being very difficult last night/today, wanting to feed almost constantly which is quite frustrating. However, when I look at her my heart melts as she is so beautiful! And her farting ability never fails to make me laugh!

Your dream made me laugh. And has also reminded me to do my pelvic floor exercises.....

Hi I am still around too, but mostly too shattered to type! Slightly better day today since I went to bed at 8:30pm last night What was that you were saying about people having lives spilt? Not me!

DS has started having screaming fits during feeding Makes feeding quite traumatic for both him and me. Going to breastfeeding clinic tomorrow to ask their opinion.

Also am still bleeding red blood 7 weeks post delivery. Am not particularly concerned, but it doesn't seem quite normal to me Can't remember how long I bled after DD.

I'm still here too but not had much time to post. DS is being a nightmare and just cries most of the day. Doctor says its colic, great!

getdown DS screams during feeding too!! He takes himself off and screams. Tries to get back on but because he's crying he can't get back on quick enough erc and screams some more. It's heartbreaking.

split lol at your dream! You would have a shock if that happened!! how are you getting on with your dd?

mrsp haha at the farts! It's so funny isn't it, sometimes they are louder than ours!

I went to physio yesterday for my 3rd degree tear - different I'll say!
The physio talked me through what and where the pelvic floor muscle is. What excercises to do and what my poos are like. I also have to do a wee and drink diary for 2 days so they know how much in ml I have drank and wee'd. Lovely. And the best bit is that I go back again in 2 weeks and they shove their fingers up my fanjo while I do pelvic floor excercises so they can see how good the muscle Is

I always lurk but not much to say really. Can't even remember the days last year when I was taking my temps every day and obsessing over charts. How things change.

I am 38 weeks today, homebirth pack has arrived (incl drugs in fridge for PPH!!) and birth pool partially blown up.
Having terrible nights of mild period pain and restlessness but nothing more and goes away by morning.

IM is fab and I discovered she did her training under Sheila Kitzinger, so I am very lucky!
I reckon I'll have a baby in my arms in 2 or 3 weeks!

Yey for being 38 weeks mrsa! Hope bubba comes soon for you. My little man came at 37+6.

How is everyone else?

Just ordered a baby carrier, nothing special, just one off eBay. Joshua has colic so spends most of the day crying at the moment and I can't get anything done because I'm holding him. Sooo a carrier might just let me get stuff done.

Also just put a pic of him on in his Halloween outfit and a pic of me and him.

Sorry ladies just need a rant...

Had such a positive experience a few days ago when my little man took the breast without the nipple shield. I was so proud. Today I'm fed up, upset and frustrated. Joshua wakes up from his nap and is hungry so I put him to the breast with the shield on (I try to take it off when he's settled down to try and wean him off them) but recently he tries once to get it in his mouth and moves his head around madly so doesn't latch on then screams for about 10 minutes and i just have to try and calm him and eventually he latches on. It makes me so upset and I just want to cry. I don't know why he does it but it just makes me want to give in and buy bottles so I can just shove it in his mouth to stop him being upset.

He cries so hard that he almost goes purple. I feel so sorry for him and just want to sit here crying myself. I don't know why he does it either :(

Oh iwish . I'm afraid I have no advice to give and in fact I am having a similar problem. She is clearly hungry but either won't latch on or will briefly before spitting it out in disgust. It is so upsetting.

It's awful isn't it mrsp. I just want to sit there and cry. How old is your dd now? Joshua is 6 1/2 weeks. He has colic too so if he's not feeding or asleep he is just screaming. Sometimes I can't even make myself a sandwich because I'm constantly trying to calm him :(

She is only just over 2 weeks so very early days. Poor you and Joshua with colic. I was about to ask if you'd considered a sling but then remembered that you said you've ordered one! That will probably help a lot as he will get to be close to you all the time.

I really hope it helps mrsp I've been say here sobbing and dp came in so I just cried to him. It's the feeding that's getting me down most. The fact that when I try to feed him he screams to loud and goes purple, he sounds like I'm hurting him and it breaks my heart. I used to enjoy feeding him, I loved watching him feed as he stared at me but now I dread it.

I hope your little one latches on and feeds properly soon. Hugs to you too, it's v upsetting xx

Oh hugs to you both iwish and mrsp DD was a very clingy baby with colic so I remember it well. Have you posted for help in the bf section on mn? They are very good. Or what about finding a local bf cafe and dropping by (easier said I know). It sounds like you could do with some support.

iwish DD was very colicky too and a moby wrap has saved my sanity - within a few minutes she's usually calm, if not asleep. Honestly, I couldn't have managed without it. Now I just have to figure out how to get her to sleep on her back in her basket - oops...! Hope the feeding gets better for your soon, and mrsp too. You're doing brilliantly - you've carried on through it being so difficult and worked really hard at it. Keep telling yourself that. And try and remember what I keep telling myself too - even when baby is screaming blue murder, purple in the face and will not be consoled, they are too young and instinctive in their actions to be doing it deliberately! I have often felt I must be hurting DD or she must hate me for some reason. But it's not true - thank God - and she'll have plenty of time to hate me when she's a teenager and I won't let her stay out all night! Keep going.

Also, and forgive me for getting a bit mushy, but I was thinking the other day that I don't have time to check Mumsnet very much anymore, and when I do I'm often looking for answers to specific questions rather than coming on this thread, but I'm so grateful to have had it - and all of you. TTC and being pregnant and now being a mum has been a rollercoaster and I feel really privileged to have done it with you all. There. I'm going to blush in a corner now. x

aaw bless you pippa I know just what you mean. I think it's quite special to have had the same bunch to do the conception, pregnancy and antenatal bit with. And actually the fact that we are all at slightly different stages has been really nice and made things much more interesting. You've all been fab, thank you to each and every one xx

Here's to ttc the next batch at some stage!

iwish and mrsp sorry you are both having a rough time of it. We had a few week phase of DD screaming and pulling off during feeds - she'd be hungry but seem to scream in pain and panic and arch her neck back and flail her arms. For us the problem was me having a fast letdown that she couldn't cope with. It choked her. The BF counsellor recommended a few things to try to help her:
-Change the angle and feed leaning back/lying down so that she was having to draw the milk upwards, rather than me leaning forwards and gravity making the problem worse.
-put a bit of pressure on your breast just above the aerola (sp?) at the beginning of the feed as that should reduce the flow from that part. But only do this briefly, you don't want to cause blocked ducts and then possibly mastitis!
-Let her suck just long enough to get the milk started and then pull her off and let the first bit just flow onto a muslin, as the flow will slow down a bit after the first whooosh. Then put her back on.
And remember that it will get better - as she gets bigger she copes much better with the flow.

Obviously you may be having different issues, but just thought I'd share those things incase they help at all.

iwish have you spoken to a BF counsellor at all? They really are brilliant and should be able to help you and J with latching/feeding. If you don't know where to look I can PM the details of the lady in our area. I'm sure she'd be happy to talk over the phone. But the thing that struck me from your posts is that you need to be able to enjoy your baby, and BF is not the be all and end all, and if it's making you so distressed then you could always consider FF or mixed feeding. Big hugs to you. You've done so well, and he's had nearly 7 weeks of breastmilk which is fantastic, so give yourself a big pat on the back and be proud of your achievement xx

I have to agree with you, it's been lovely to share all the ups and downs of each stage with the same group of people. So thank you. x

Thanks for your comments on feeding woes. We have had a much better day today and I have also posted on the bf section for some reassurance, as I think my main problem at the moment, apart from the odd blip like yesterday, is lack of confidence. Especially around this time of day which I think comes from it getting dark early! Strange but true.

I went to a sling meet today to learn how to use my Moby wrap properly and to meet some other mums and babies. Really enjoyed it and feel happier using the wrap now, or at least will do with a little more practice.

Hope you're ok iwish. What spilt says is very true, if bf is distressing you both that much then it may be time to change strategy. You've done so well to make it to 7 weeks, especially with all the problems you had in the beginning.

Hi ladies, not been checking in for a few days as soooo knackered.

MrsA I am so excited for you that you are so nearly there now!! Watching and waiting for your news. Hope you are feeling ok about it all. Sounds really positive about your IM.

Sorry to hear some of you have been having bfeeding woes. Me too. Although I am discovering things change so quickly! I had the problem with Robin screaming and arching his back throughout feeds - he would suck frantically as if starving, then pull of and go bright red and scream. Like you iwish I was in floods of tears, it was all so distressing.

I went to the bfeeding clinic and they said it could be fast letdown like spilt said. But it seemed a very specific cry to me, like he was in pain>? Anyway, just to encourage you, it's now stopped! So having been desperate a few days ago and ready to jack it all in, he is now happily feeding again! And nipples are no longer sore either which is a bonus.

Just wanted to say to persevere if you can, as things can change so quickly. But also don't beat yourself up whatever decision you make.

I expect my next challenge waits just around the corner, every day seems to have a new challenge. My main one at the moment is DD, who is such hard work. Then when daddy walks in she is all sweetness and light of course And I feel like such a horrible mummy when I shout at her, and DH thinks I am being unreasonable but being with her all the time is so draining, especially as Robin needs me in a much more physical way at the moment. Sigh

Ah well , hope everyone is doing ok.

Just to add my mushy moment too, I do feel like I "know" all of you, it's been so lovely to know you right from TTC to holding the baby in arms. It's not many friends in real life that you chat to about TTC, mucus, and charting etc.!! You are a special bunch, thank you

Hi lovelys

Beautiful baby girl born this morning at 5.30am, 8lb, born at home with only tens machine for pain relief. Part 1 of birth story here which i wrote during early stages, will do rest later.

Loved support from you ladies way back when TTC and so happy to be a graduate!

Congratulations Terrys! What's her name? Hope you're ok and recovering well. Looking forward to Part 2 of your birth story! x

Wow - huge congratulations to you and family, Terrys!

Thanks ladies. You are all so helpful. I agree with you all on the soppyness, we have been on a fab journey together and have talked about things we wouldnt tell people in real life. You know more about my fanjo, mucus and pee than anyone I know lol!

I have carried on with bf (with the shields tho) and Joshua is settling down now, still bad with the colic but I'm so glad I didn't give in.

The chunky little monkey was weighed on Thursday at 6+4 weeks and he was 10lb 14oz!! Mummy's milk is doing good

Congrats terrys!! Can't wait to read part 2 of your BS and hear her name.

getdown I hope your dd stops pushing you soon. Don't feel bad for shouting at her, sometimes it's the only way that they listen and learn.

mrsa I havnt posted on the bf board, I have looked in there a few times but never posted, may be a good idea for me to take a proper look.

pippa I know what you mean when you say you think your dd might hate you, we know it's not true but I've been in tears to dp saying he hates me.

split I did go back to the hospital and sat with a bf lady who was so helpful. She said I could go back any time. There is a bf group on st a sure start centre near me so I might make a trip there.
I giggled when you said about ttc our next batch of babies, dp said we aren't having any more!!

mrsp how are you getting on with your sling after your meet up? I bet it's far easier to get things done now.

Question for you all - have any of you given your LO's a dummy?

Here is Part 2

Terrys that's such a lovely story. Well done you! How are you doing with coming up with names? My favourite girls' names are Eloise (obviously!), Amelie, Matilda and Maggie. Oh, and Pippa and Polly!

Ah many congrats Terrys, after your first labour that sounds like such a chilled birth. I'm hoping mine is similar to yours, albeit in the pool.

First day of maternity leave with no DD. I started last Fri but had DD at home. She then went to nana's house and DP and I stayed in and relaxed (felt a bit strange but soo indulgent) and then went out for lunch on Saturday.
Today she's at nana's again (always does on a Monday) so I confess I have indulged in acupuncture followed by a trip to the cinema at lunchtime to see Justin Timberlake 'In Time'. There were 3 people in the cinema including me!! It was bliss.

So, that's it now - baby can come any time now. I've had my treats :)

Oh and this one is a boy but if I had another girl, I'd call her Lily.

Please comment ladies...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baby_names/1337819-Thoughts-on-these-names-please