April 2012 - The FINAL Countdown - Chat and Stats

[JambalayaCodfishPie]

1st April aprilfoolsbaby 1 DD,3.4
2nd April LaTristesse (36) Kent, DS - 22 mo, brewing a girl
4th April Flisspaps (29) DD,2
4th April vintagenancy (32) USA, surprise in making
5th April BeyondLimits (25), DS 10m, Newport
7th April ladyfoucault
8th April spannermary (34) S Yorkshire
11th April HollyPockett
15th April Tinwe DD - 10 mo
16th April digitalgirl DS,3
16th April bushymcbush DD,3
17th April balkanscot
17th April Bunsoutheoven (36) dd- 5yrs, ds - 3yrs, boy cooking
19th April CubTrouble
22nd April JambalayaCodfishPie (27) DD,7
24th April notso DD 11, DS 7, DS 13mo &surprise
27th April Thaleia Boy in making
30th April Nordicmom (36) London, DS - 6,5 yrs

I'll finish that post!

...with a fresh pad when you try to poo? The counter-pressure helps you stop feeling like the world might fall out of your backside so you can actually 'push' a bit more if you need to. Failing that, give it time. I think it's pretty normal for things to slow down post birth, your insides have been re-rearranged and have been worked bloody hard!

boomer have you tried Lansinoh cream for you nips? It can be really helpful & healing too. Also get dd's latch checked (&checked again) if pain continues. Some mw's are dreadful at knowing if latch is ok or not. With my dd they kept saying latch was ok but it most def wasn't. There was a clue in my scabby nips Did get sorted though.

The first bit can be very very tough. I also remember people chatting away & me thinking 'I have no idea what you are on about'. Think it's probably a combination of a lack of sleep, hormones & just having such focus on the new baby. Everything else just seemed distant & frankly a bit pointless for a while. It's a bubble, go with it, it won't last forever

I second Lansinoh for raw nipples as well - fab stuff, also great on chapped lips and noses!.

Pressure on your perineum can really help when going to the loo; keep going on the lactulose. Prune juice can also help. Try not to force the issue though - as a last resort try running a small bath and go in there - obviously not the most pleasant solution in the world though.

Boomer , post birth constipation is a well known fact . I remember it 7 y later. Didn't go for days and when I did I thought I was going to rip the csection stitches so had to press on my belly rather than the rear;) . What a relief though in the end... Hope all is well with your baby.
Part of me feels like I can't wait to meet mine but the other half feels like not ready remotely . Still have stuff to do . Still washing baby things and ordering last bits . And have to go to Finland too next week... My nesting's been very halfhearted compared to last time. Just been too unwell to manage anything but basic things so no cupboard cleaning for me this time. Been fiting a horrible cold for the last week and my chronic illness has been worse while I've been sick ...
Hoping to get better before the baby arrives!

Oh - a tip I got last time was to start taking lactulose regularly prior to the birth (which I know is entirely unpredictable as to timing) to keep things ahem regular and soft, iyswim. I think I started from 39ish weeks (having used it on and off anyway).

No help to anyone suffering now but might help those of us yet to pop.

Well..... I shall be requesting an enema again- offered last time post c section so hoping the same gift will be proffered this time...very very helpful indeed it was to not face that trial with a c section wound.

Just to re balance the poo talk (in case some newbies are getting worried as I was) I had no probs pooing after either previous births. First time, after episiotomy I remember being really scared to go but it was fine.
I know it isn't for everyone but just thought I'd mention that pooing can be lovely after birth.

Keep hydrated ladies

I never had any issues either Bunsout! :)

No probs pooing post-birth last time either. They did stick a couple of suppositories up there after stitching, so maybe that helped.

Really really gassy here. Not helping this general feeling of hugeness. Got loads of bh while watching obem - but nothing overnight. Sigh.

Morning all! Heading in to town for a few last minute purchases - nursing bra, muslins etc.

Also been thinking about moses basket bedding - what's everyone using? It's a cellular blanket/swaddle pod/sleeping bag mine field!

Been liking the look of sleeping bags, but just how young can babies go in them?

Who knew it was so complex?

(Sorry - all I ever do is come on here and ask for advice!!)

...now enjoying pooing a lot, as I'm beginning to get the impression it'll never be so easy again reading this!!

spannermary - good question about bedding, I am v confused about it!

My moses basket (second hand) came with 2 little frilly white 'quilts' and a sleeping bag which is about the same thickness as the quilts.

I'm working on the assumption that these will all be too hot for a spring baby to sleep under at night (and our bedroom is west-facing so gets the full heat of the setting sun & is quite stuffy) so was going to go with the cellular blanket option instead. However I only have 2 cellular blankets so far, and no sheets for the moses basket at all yet...think I may end up washing blankets day in day out!
Is it worth getting mini sheets for the moses basket if it's only going to be used for a few months, or do most people just tuck baby in with a blanket?

I've also been given a beautiful hand-knitted cellular blanket which is far too nice to use every day, I don't want to spoil it by washing it...it was knitted by friends of DH so I was nudging him to ask them discreetly how it ought to be washed (don't know if it's wool or cotton). He very rightly pointed out they would be disappointed if it didn't get used but it's far too pretty to get covered in sick every day...

spannermary When DD was in the moses basket she was generally wrapped in whatever blanket was to hand (and there were bloody hundreds of them, bought as gifts!) but we were quite lucky in that after the first couple of days she'd sleep in the moses basket.

This time if baby goes in the moses basket in the day then it'll be the same sort of thing - whatever's nearby rather than special bedding and then a sleeping bag at night because we'll co-sleep (baby in the sleeping bag on top of the duvet, me and DH under the duvet) with baby in the middle (I don't think that's what's recommended btw, but DH was actually far more aware of DD being in our bed when she did come in with us than I ever was and I tend to sleep on the edge of our bed)

I think they vary in what age you can use them from though, AFAIK there aren't many from birth but I've got hold of one that is for up to 6 months, so we'll see how we go with it...

Thanks for the tips guys. I tried using wadded up toilet paper and pushing up on my perineum when I had to go this morning and it worked a treat, reducing the pain as well as helping me to pass.

I checked out a breastfeeding guide last night and realised I wasn't getting her latched properly. Now that I'm doing it the way the guide tells me to, the pain is much much reduced in one breast, although the other might take some time.

I have nipple cream from boots, but I don't know if I can get lansinoh from Sweden, I'll take a look next time I'm in a pharmacy. Is it safe to leave on when baby suckles or do I have to wipe it off or something?

Boomer It's safe to leave on :)

Boomer glad to hear things are getting easier with the bf. If you can't get Lansinoh in the pharmacy, try Amazon . It might make it a little expensive, but a tube lasts for ages as you only need a tiny bit. I still have half a tube left, having bought a grand total of 2 during the 2.9yrs I fed DS1. It's safe to leave on and is pretty tasteless - try it on your lips if you manage to get hold of it as an alternative lip balm.

spannermary I think it depends a lot on how hot it gets. With DS1 we used various blankets but on the really hot nights DS slept in a vest and nappy with a giant muslin over the top. The giant muslins are great - can use for swaddling, sheets and over the pram

Flisspaps I know what you mean about having hundreds of blankets. Baby hasn't even been born yet and we've been given loads! And I know of at least one shawl being crocheted (not sure of spelling!) as we speak. Just not sure when or how I am going to use them all!

Where do you get giant muslins from? Oh - maybe I should click the link

Bananna1 We were given a beautifully crocheted but enormous shawl when DD was born. It's only ever been used to cover the ugly ottoman in the spare room with. It's lovely, with little red ribbon and fake pearls sewn onto it, but completely impractical and way too big for anything. We couldn't even use it as a mat on the floor because of the size of the holes. A real shame, because it's gorgeous and I like making sure everything's used rather than keeping things 'for best'.

Just looking at the price of those large muslin squares When you think that you can buy 112cm x 100cm muslin from ebay for £2.50 (270895649798) and then stitch round the edge, they're laughing all the way to the bank at £15 for 3!

Fliss Didn't see the price now - I got mine 3 years ago and they were only half that. Certainly won't be buying anymore this time - but as they are so useful I think I might get some muslin off the roll and make a couple more.

Congratulations to all the new mummy's on here.

We have a selection of baby bedding from growbags through to fleece blankets. I think if this heat continues then Harry will be using the cellular blankets. If it is this hot then mummy might spend the summer in the nude. like that idea less washing and ironing.

Just went into the nursery and packed the hospital bags and Harry seems to have filled one himself. Perhaps I need a re think on what he needs Mummy and Daddy have one bag between them. xx

I have a growbag (type) it can be used from 8lb. Also used cellular ones for day as obviously it tends to be warmer. (not that ds did any daytime sleeping in Moses basket. Actually dd did very little after 2wks old. Hoping for a sleeper this time, third time lucky & all that.

I saw the consultant today, just when I thought the science behind baby weight predictions couldn't get any sketchier...he took one look at me whilst I was sat in a chair & said 'this one will be smaller than the last, less that 9lb.'

Needless to say we were quite cross, no one can tell how much a baby at birth will weigh from looking at someone (not even palpating)

Anyway, the long & short of it is I am booked to have a cs on tues 10th April. Eek, feels very weird to know when my baby will be born. Am nervously relieved.

Any cs advice welcome.

Good luck Bunsouttheoven it mu be stnice to know when baby is going to be with you. Evey niggle starts the am I in labour internal monolouge here.

I love the grow bags we have and hope they will suit baby.

xx

Buns am also having a elcs on the 3rd. Having had one before, I feel quite relaxed about it. Check out this thread for a fab selection of tips if you haven't already. Also childbirth board has lots of positive stories if you flick through.

I'm having an elective as well. Best advice I can give is get Tena disposable pants for afterwards, make sure you have someone to show you the best way of sitting up and lying down without using your stomach muscles (helps if you have an electric hospital bed with buttons for lifting and lowering the back), shuffle about on your feet a little bit asap but DON'T overdo it or you will get more sore, take stool softener if you are prone to constipation (the hospital I was in also gave the painkillers dissolved in peppermint water to help with wind), take as much pain relief as you need - don't be a hero/martyr, remember to get people to do stuff for you for the first two weeks and just lay about looking lovely in lovely pyjamas with your lovely baby.

Buns, in general I'd say that after you get through the first week after the section you will feel much better. Definitely recommend keeping on top of the pain medications ! You'll need to use all you've been given for the first few weeks at least . Also I had to sleep upright leaning on some pillows for the first week minimum to be able to get out of the bed( also did this in the hospital where I needed two people to begin with to get out of bed). One night i made the mistake of lieying down and slept so soundly ( DS slept like a log to start with and had to be woken up to eat not the other way around!) that when I woke up to go to toilet and tried to get up by doing the rolling out of bed knees together that's recommended I couldn't move ! Felt like I was paralysed and had to wake up DH to help me. When he did I felt this awful ripping feeling in my scar area and was convinced I might have ripped some of my internal stitches and called the hospital. They said it was my muscles and common to happen and not to worry . Turned out ok but I didn't lie down after that to sleep for a while... As far as looking after the scar I didn't take any baths , there's no way I could have climbed into the bathtub . I just had normal showers and made sure to pat the scar dry carefully. Also found the big maternity pants after section the most comfortable . Wore them for a while. Went for my first proper walk to the high street coffee shop with my mom one week after and was so grateful for the buggy ! It wasn't heavy to push , it was great to lean on . Don't think I would have made it that far with out it. Ditto for not having to carry shopping :)! I didn't have any visitors except both inlaws in the first few weeks. I banned anyone except parents from the hospital. Wasn't in a shape to entertain. But I had an emcs after a long battle for a VB and all my friends who've had elcs after emcs have found it a much better experience and recovered quicker. Good luck !!!!

As far as my experience with moses basket and blankets etc. I did have a water proof cot sheet folded around the basket mattress and then a small mosesbasket flat sheet on top of it . I also had to drape some Muslims on the side since DS was a very puky baby . He was born in the winter but our home is warm ( although I kept his room temperature down) , he wore a vest and and babygow on top and was swaddled in a cellular blanket . Had about 6 of them ( went a bit over board with suplies the first time around...) and never run out . He slept in his basket until about 4+ m when he got too long for it and moved into his cot . That's when I started using the sleeping bags. I though they seemed too big for the basket. In the summer when hot he just wore his nappy to sleep sometime or a vest.