December 2011: Scratching, squeezing, hatching and latching...

[LittleMissHumbuggery]

...and those of us left are doing a fair bit of bitching:o

I wonder if we could get a [pompoms] going on? Do we have the energy for a campaign?

Right, come on! We're a third of the way through the month and Nickelbabe needs new recruits for her advent thread. Get squeezing:o

Congratulations benny!

Hooray Benny! so glad your LO is here at last.

Am pleased to report (TMI alert) my bottom is feeling lots better a few days down the line. I didn't go and see anyone but with judicious use of a mirror (!) i'm pretty sure it was a thrombosed pile that led to it hurting so much. Still sore but way better than it was. Thanks girls for your sympathy and advice.

Just off to visit work to deposit some choccy biscuits and satsumas for festive consumption....(and a bit of a gossip of course!!!)

Big congratulations to Bec!!!!!!!! And a warm welcome to Oliver!
At last!!!
Well done! See you soon.
I'm in M5 now to see the anaesthetist. Where are you?! Can I call and say Hi?

Congratulations Benny

It was a busy night here with 6 feeds through the night and very little sleep for me. With all that practice though, things are a little more comfortable in the nipple department and boobs are less engorged. He's moving through the poo chart well too. I had felt like his bottom gum was rubbing my nipple in a particularly sore way, and then when he yawned this morning I saw two teeth under the gum already. Eek!

40+10 today been offline for a few days as I have honestly never been been so down about anything in my life. Am so frustrated feel completely unsupported by midwife team due to their lack of availability, not heard from hospital about my induction being booked so have chased them this morning left a message but was told on Friday could be left until 23rd December (when will be 40+14) before get booked in so Xmas baby seems quite likely which will put the PIL and DHs family plans out of joint no doubt. My parents go home on 23rd so will have spent a week here without grandchild and there is just no sign of anything kicking off naturally. It's such a waste of mat leave when plan on going back to work in June.

Am happy for all you ladies who have your babies obviously But also utterly sick with . It's so hard to be positive and not self indulgent both DH and I are grumpy as sin and completely missing any Xmas cheer in the slightest. Also am terrified the longer he stays there he will either be HUGE or complications will ensue for one or other of us.

Think I will head off for a walk now fresh air might cheer me up a bit or jar him loose.

(((hug))) for figgy. I totally feel for you: it's all very well for politicians to bang on about personal care and patient choice, but when you are told there's no appointments, and no-one seems bothered, it's a big let-down. I had my 36 week check at 37 week and then the midwife said "oh well, you can probably wait til term or 41 weeks, we're sort of busy..." which made me feel as even with baby number 3 that's a bit long to wait really!

Forget any guilt about family Xmas plans, seriously. We've had grief from various of DH's relatives about us not going to visit them (none of the buggers have even mentioned visiting us instead!) for one year it Doesn't Matter At All. Tell em all to sod off (ahem, prob a bit more politely than that!!!) you are completely allowed to be as grumpy as you like by this stage, anyone who insists on cheerfulness I hereby authorise you to give a slap aroynd the face with a wet haddock. (you may wish to nip to your local supermarket to pick up a fresh haddock to keep in the fridge for this purpose).

Lastly, not sure what your finances are like, but when I went over with DD2 a big help was treating myself to a few really posh takeaways as consolation....

benny congratulations!

figgy that is pants, it sounds really frustrating. I would have a wallow today then make plans for tomorrow.

I have serious cabin fever! The weather is bloody awful and nothing is open so I am feeling distinctly un-festive. However, my Mum has just texted to say she is coming round which will cheer me up!

quick question - can a gp do a sweep? there are no MW appts on my due date and if i don't go into labour before then i'd like to 'nudge' things along by any means possible (or at least have the option). so anyway i'm booked in to see the GP as can't see a MW but don't know if they can actually do anything.

poor you figgy althought not officially overdue i feel like it as i'd been expecting the baby to be premature. DH is loving all the calls and texts after last time but i'm just finding it really intrusive and get totally pissed off as it feels like they think i've failed to produce the mini h to order. oh the joys of being very hormonal.

Congrats Benny! And sympathies figgy and hawthers, it must be so frustrating, especially with Christmas complicating things. I started getting impatient at 37 weeks as had assumed DD would be early (DS born at 30 weeks and got contractions all the way through with DD) so can't imagine what I would feel like at 40+!

aethel glad the piles are better. My little one seems to be gone but no guarantees as still on the ferrous sulphate and resulting constipation - even with lactulose and fbogel.

msbuggy I know what you mean, I know I should go out for a walk as always makes me feel better but its so grey outside and so cosy under the duvet!

Quick question - babybel has woken up with a gungy and sticky eye. Not sure if blocked tear duct or infection. Do I need to take her to GP or can I wait for it to clear up on its own?

Re gunky eyes...you can try expressing bm into it then giving one wipe from duct to other side with cotton wool. If it is something minor that will clear it up, if it doesn't then yes, GP.

mmm, blocked tear ducts very common at this age: gentle wipe with boiled--then-cooled water on a cotton wipe or cotton bud (or breastmilk) should clean it. If its persistant or the white of baby's eye looks at all red then a GPvheck is a good idea.

hawthers: sorry but the vast majority of GPs don't do sweeps. Sadly it's an insurance issue: all GPs have medico legal insurance cover nowadays and it specifically excludes obstetric "procedures" except in an emergency. Obstetric "care" (antenatal checks etc) are OK, but unless a gp has ongoing obstetric duties (in some rural and isolated practices GPs still cover home deliveries etc) then they are not covered for any active procedures. So a GP will not usually sweep, rupture your membranes, or externally "turn" a breech baby. Obviously if you went into sudden active labour in the surgery they would act in your best interests and catch the baby!!!

Here's the next plan: lamb rogan josh for lunch with extra chilli sauce!!!

thanks aethelfleda good to know before i get there. goodness knows when i'll next see a midwife then. i'm going from week to week appointments but they are all always full

figgy and hawthers don't worry about being , you must be so frustrated. I'd have been gutted if DD wasn't here in time for christmas.

I'm pretty annoyed today, my friend came round with her DS earlier and he was coughing the entire time they were here, she didn't even tell him to cover his mouth. I'll be so angry if DD gets ill, and I don't particularly want DS to be ill for Christmas either.

oh figgy that sounds terrible. Can you raise it to the director of Midwives at your local hospital? I thought that above 40+10 and you had to be closely monitored, it seems ridiculous to just leave you in such limbo.

Well, I tried to post this yesterday, but there's only so much you can do one-handed.. took an hour then I gave up and went to bed. Am back one handed as truly, this child does not stop feeding! And then falling asleep on me! I soooo need to get a sling for indoors.

Congrats to benny, hope it wasn't too exhausting.

figgy, I'm so sorry you're having such a crap time, we'd all feel exactly the same way. Self indulge all the way with feeling grumpy, you have every right, though your plan to get out and get some fresh air is the right thing to do.

Fun today- planned first drive out to shops and car battery is dead. DP having to walk out and try to find new one .

Well, we had our first walk out the house today and round the block-woooo! And then settled down to many hours of football.

mmm, I wish mine slept for most of the day! Boob, doze, boob, doze, doze on the boob, ad infinitum (well, 20 hours)... I'm sorry to hear about your DS, that's such bad luck, especially re Xmas. I wish there were something more I could say other than it will be better in a few weeks.
By the way, have you tried clementines for constipation? Really helped me to my surprise.

For sleep and sanity reasons mine gets one bottle of formula at 11ish so he sleeps for about 3 hours, and so do I, otherwise I'd never sleep for more than 40 mins! Going to look at getting a pump asap to use BM instead, but am aware they sometimes just don't work.

msb what you say about BF (ref advice to plu) is really useful, so ta from me as well. It's only latching that hurts for a few seconds, and although nipples have been sore they are healing, and it's good to know they do so quickly. I think part of the problem is that partway through a feed he can de-latch slightly, but I shall be tougher, turf him off and make him do it again!

Sounds like we are all having similar issues, which is reassuring, but you do sound like you've got a lot on your plate jingle, and I hope it improves.

I'm finding it funny that when he cries or nuzzles me I just start leaking- it's so weird the body having a mind of its own IYSWIM!

So glad you're back tinsel, and in lurve, isn't it marvellous ?

Hoping for some more babies in the next day or two!

Figgy My sympathies. Surely you should be monitored anytime over 40+10? It's driving me mad only being 39+4 and totally fed up, so I think your doing brilliantly

Hawthers WRT GP sweep, I think it depends on the GP. I know mine would of I asked him, but we also have a good doctor/patient relationship - helps as we both work for NHS in GP practices

Been on my feet allday. Cleaned the bathroom, cleaned the kitchen, went shopping in this horrible weather whilst battling with this backache, DD has been a star helping me thru the day she's currently out with nanny so I can relax in a bath. Contractions seem to of tailed off but will be getting on my all fours after the bath to try and keep things going.

I'm getting the 'have you had the baby yet' from friends and family, as they along with myself all expected Snowball to be here by now - so no Pressure before Xmas then! Also several friends have been due the same week as me (this week) and all but 1 had their babies already so of them and at myself that snowball is too comfy in there :(

Thanks ladies for the support it's a big help being able to vent here saves me losing it with the people i need on my side.

Well just tried to call the hospital again as haven't had a response to this mornings voicemail and still no answer. I'll have to try again the morning and keep calm am losing patience big style with the seeming lack of urgency am 12 days over on Wednesday and I have nothing confirmed from hospital about inducement. Local midwives left it with me on Friday to contact hospital about it.

On a happier note my mucus plug is going had some mucus yesterday and lots more today but still not enough to seemingly start anything....but it's a tiny silver lining

Sympathies to figgy, and c'mon snowball!
chinchilla I bought the medela swing electric pump and find it really good. I used it the 2nd time this morning and expressed 130ml!!
One breast is really painfully engorged, and the nipple is also cracked and extremely painful. I decided to feed off the other and express - is that the right decision? Of course, the other is now starting to feel tender. (enter the cabbage leaves and Lansinoh.)
DH doesn't like using the syringe. Tough. The aim is to feed the baby. The baby isn't keen either - but he's fed.
Any advice please?

People looking for pumps. My local tesco is selling the Medela swing for £45! Not sure about online but might be worth a check:)

Ah Oi, my friend in cabbage and Lansinoh! I do find that it has worked though- one nipple had a bad crack that scabbed and has healed, and the other got little blisters and now only has one (TMI- on the sort of 'what looks like a skin tag but is actually part of the nipple' bit of my nipple). BF is now not painful apart from first few secs, although I still feel a bit mangled by 10pm.

I've been slathering the stuff on after every feed.

Sounds like you're doing well to me, and the focus on getting the food in him. Syringing is not fun- we've only ever had to do it with chinchillas and that was traumatic enough. Sure you'll get some good advice from our resident experts.

Thanks for the recommendation on the Medela, that's great. 130ml is amazing!

My nan at 79years of age and still doing her part time cleaning job - slipped up at our local town shopping centre where she works and broke her arm in 2 places! the woman who is fitter than me, moaned about taking co-codamol & being signed off work for 6 weeks!

Task is to now think of things she can do one handed for the time being to stop her going stir crazy!

Knickers- still full price on-line... if we can get the car working may try to find it locally tomorrow.
Thanks lmh.

oi, I'm sure msb will be along soon, but in the meantime it is worth trying to feed More from the sore boob, not less (ie put baby to that one first each feed) as when you're engorged the best way to relieve it and prevent mastitis (when you feel all fluey and a section goes red) is to get baby to drain that boob as often as possible. If you avoid feeding on that side the milk will build up and get more sore. I realise with a twitchy nipple that's not fun, but more feeding on that side is the way to get the boob feeling better.

Yep - thanks lmf, I forgot - was half price in the shop. (tesco)

aethel will using the pump to drain the boob work in the same way as the baby? If yes, am I right to express as much as 120ml or so, or should I express less, more often?