Jue in June -Waters breaking everywhere and not a drop of Gaviscon to drink...

[NurseSunshine]

Here's another :)

Jasmine - congrats on the safe arrival of Willilam, lovelyt to hear that you can have an induction and still remain in control - well done for being so firm in having your birth your way and coping so well!

I am sooo tired and failing dismally at trying to nap during the day - dd never seems to nap at times when I could nap!

Thanks for your story Jasmine.

Sasa dd has turned from lovely calm baby to windy screaming fussing baby too. I think it might be reflux rather than colic though. She also didn't gain much weight last week either but I think some of that might be due to the stress I was under with worrying about her heart. Am worried what it has done to my supply though - she only feeds well when she's tired now.

Good luck to all those still waiting!

Please help me - sorry for me post will properly catch up later.

I have been BFing Isobel and I thought it was going fine - two midwives have seen her latch on and said it was fine and that it didn't matter it was pinching a bit. By the end of yesterday both nipples were cracked so I realised the pinching wasn't right, but still thought I was almost there with the latch and that I'd go to a BFing clinic today (11 o'clock).

Then in the night I couldn't get Isobel to feed and she was giving off these bloodcurdling screams. Eventually I did and just took the pain. She now has blood in her spit, which I think is from my breast as when I just tried to hand express a bit to feed her milk came out of two ducts and blood of out of another.

I am not sure what to do - whether to try to feed her on the other side (though I'm sure that's the same), to just give her formula until I can get to the clinic, to try to express breast milk and give it to her in a bottle? I don't want to give her formula at this early stage. I just want to feed her. But all of a sudden I just can't. What can I do?

Btw, she has a really strong suck and her mouth looks exzctly as it does in the text books - lots of areola, outward-turning lips, gap between nose and breast ... don't know what I'm doing wrong :(

Hi ttl I sure someone with more experience will be along soon have u posted on the breast feeding thread?

I think despite what some people pain and cracked nipples is normal in the first week. I had it and so has every breastfeeding mum I know. 3 weeks in and it certainly doesn't feel pleasant when Xav first latches on!

The blood sounds quite extreme so hope the clinic helps. I think try to keep feeding or expressing as much as you can manage. Hope that things improve and you get some quality advice soon!

Thank you misshooha, sorry for the panic. It's not loads of blood but it is on both sides (like as if I had a small cut). Freaked out a bit when I saw it and Isobel was crying, but she's dropped off to sleep on my lap, sucking her fingers, so I've had a bit of a chance to gain some perspective. DH is sterilising the electric pump as we speak, I've taken some paracetamol and applied copious amounts of Lansinoh cream, and I'll give it another go when she wakes. Will calll the NCT line at 8 o'clock, when it opens. Really really desperate to keep going and not fall at the first hurdle. :( :)

TTL - you poor thing! You are doing the right thing, applying the Lansinoh as that well help with the moist wound healing.
BTW the blood won't affect your dd at all, so don't worry about that. I think it is most likely a problem with latch, try different position, if you are finding it too much then try hand expressing and feeding her using a cup or syringe rather than a bottle, until you can get expert advice. I would try to avoid a pump as this might make you more sore, though you might be okay with a manual one. Your best bet is to go to the bfing clinic and get your latch checked, it may be you need to experiment with different feeding positions to help her with her latch.

Thanks kara. I thought we were never going to make it to 11am because it was 5.30 when she woke, but somehow she's nodded off to sleep without a feed. I can't move for fear of waking her but I'll try to let her sleep as long as possible and see if I can't manage one feed before the clinic. Might try the rugby hold and see what happens - one of the books I read said this is good for babies not latching well. She certainly can suck though, which is good!

Poor DH - I've been so calm and chilled and all of a sudden freaked out when I woke up. Not sure if the baby blues are hitting all at the same time! I just love her so so much. I can't believe how much I love her ... am being so silly, crying as I type this! Definitely hormonal! Thanks again ladies.

Rugby hold is good, you can try dancer position, where she is vertical in front of you ad you support her head and neck. She may be too big though for this position.
Has she been checked for tongue tie?

Thanks kara - yes, there's no tongue tie and she has a very vigorous suck :)

I actually went to the GP . She was straining and screaming and I started to think she might have constipation or digestion problems. When we got there she did a massive meconium-type stool and that and the ride in the car calmed her down a lot. The doctor said that no matter what anybody tells you bfing is always a bit sore in the first few days and that the baby is definitely getting food and is healthy - no signs of dehydration or anything. I'm still going to go to the clinic later (or maybe tomorrow - only just got home from GP and it'll be a tight squeeze to get there in time now) but when I got home and things were calmer I got her to latch on and it was the most comfortable feed I've ever given her. She is in the moses basket dozing like an angel now :)

Really sorry for the panic ladies - I really freaked out when I heard those bloodcurdling screams for the first time. The GP was lovely and said it was always right to go by your instincts and get checked but that sometimes babies just scream like that and that we'll eventually find out what soothes her. Just glad Isobel is okay (and that it's just that her mummy is a nutter )

Right, I'm going to go and catch up with the thread and stop dominating it with my silly neuroses . I really hope all those ladies still on the waiting list are pushing hard by now, or well on their way. A week ago I had no sign that anything was about to happen and now I have a beautiful three-day-old baby who has already frightened me half to death! You'll get there :)

Awww glad things are getting better for you, TTL! And you did the right thing, glad the GP reassured you!
Keep going, you doing a fantastic job. DS had some formula when he was first born and I was still able to bf him until he was 2.7yo! As I said before, babies do thrive happily on formula!

:) kara :) :)

Don't think you'd be a normal first time mum if you didn't freak out once in a while TTL! Glad you had a nicer feed

Hoping Supersunny is absent today because she's having babysunny.

We're going to have to start a new thread you know...

hey ladies, have not caught up yet but wanted to let you know baby emma was born 00.58 on 5/7. Am afraid it was a fairly traumatic experience and at some point I may write it up but right now we are both safe and well and that is allI am focusing on! best wishes to all others who have had their babies x

congratulations curiouselle, glad you are both safe and well

Well done curioselle, congratulations and welcome to baby Emma :)

Hi gals. Happily, Christopher arrived FINALLY today at 11:09 am via emerg c-section after 30 hours of strong contractions and drugs FAILED to convince him life would be better in the light!

Not the labour I had hoped for, but the one I got and I'm just happy to have him finally! Will post full story once home and not using expensive 3G connection!

Woohoo congats to Couriselle and TinyK on the safe arrival of your babies!

Is it just Supersunnyday we are waiting for now? Hoping she is in labour or even better snuggling her baby so hasn't time to post!

Only 7 more posts before we fill this thread, so hurry up baby Supersunnyday

Yeah curiouselle and tinyk! Glad you emerged from difficult labours safe and sound with gorgeous little bundles also safe and sound :) Hope you enjoy the first few days as much as I have (panic notwithstanding :)). Congratulations all round :) And go baby supersunny!!!

link to new thread whilst we wait for lisascat and supersunny*
last thread in antenatal