April 2013 Part 8: Welcoming our Easter Chicks & as Alex & Evan hopefully go home!

[toobreathless]

Over here Ladies!

I hope you don't mind me starting this thread too.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1689714-April-2013-Part-7-As-our-miracle-Alex-continues-to-grow-the-one-that-sees-us-reach-TERM

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1560543-April-2013-stats-thread

Wonderful news for today as we welcome babycandy and little Charlotte and hoping that this thread sees little Alex and Evan home very soon.

How many more babies will this thread see?

Sneezy, really hope things do start moving for you!!

Birdbrain, are you tall? I've been measuring small throughout which the midwife is completely not concerned about as I'm 5'10" and apparently it's normal to measure small when you've got lots of space for it to spread out in. (and when I had a scan at 28 weeks he was spot on for size).

Congrats on all the arrivals, and hang on in there those of you who are emotional.

I've just had my first proper day of mat leave and it was bl**dy wonderful!!

37+0

Oooooh- good luck sneezy!

40+1

X

good luck sneezy hopefully something will happen for you soon

bext I'm 5'3" so not really what you would call tall I guess I'm just a bit nervous that because I've seen so many people things could easily get missed, but I guess the baby will be here soon anyway so no point worrying!

40+1

Good evening ladies!

Just feeding C so thought I'd pop in. Good luck sneezy hope things are getting moving for you & the next time you post you have a Baby in your arms.

Trish how is Hunter doing? Is he off the drip? Have been thinking of you today & hoping you get to take him home soon. How is feeding going?

Kellestar hope you are more comfy?

Due date buddy empress hope you are snuggling your baby soon!

C is now 2 days old and has barely been put down she is adorable & we are smitten. I am finding things so much easier second time, partly because we know what we're doing (I think) & partly because I had psyched myself up for another very traumatic birth and the reality has been much better than expected.

Breastfeeding is going well if sore. I have nipple grazes, ouchey! Same happened with DD1 & it was just a case of letting them 'toughen up.' I have had latch checked & C checked for tongue tie. It is amazing isn't it how sore it can be at first. C is very sucky & is being swaddled and has a dummy. Which suits us really well.

Community MW came out today and corrected me that C was born 90 seconds after arrival on labour ward, not 9 minutes like I'd been saying. I will not be planning another hospital birth, if there are any more it will be planned home birth, much safer for both of us!

Exciting sneezy definitely all looks good!

Well we are definitely breastfeeding

Blake was amazing at sucking at what I thought were empty breasts and this evening my milk has come in on day 3 (48 hours in). My boobs look pretty amazing-look out Dolly Parton and he fed for an hour, slept for 2-as did I- now he's doing the same. Seriously smug-but wholly realistic that this will probably not continue but for now he is feeding and sleeping, I love him even more if possible now!!

Toobreathless - wow, 90 seconds - some kind of record perhaps!!

DS is now three weeks old and although I thought we had bf'ing all sorted it has become massively sore again in the last few days. My nipples are crying out in agony and feeds have gone from being a lovely snuggly time with DS to a test in endurance.

Am assuming the latch has somehow gone wrong tho am starting to wonder about things like oral thrush. Have a lactation consultant coming to the house tomorrow to have a look at us. Fingers crossed she can help.

Any other tips?

I definitely sympathise Bona and am very jealous Essex!

Mine are like boulders now the milk's come in but I can't get DS to feed for more than 15 mins in one go - he keeps falling asleep at the breast. But when I put him on his back he cries for food again. Argh!

Not sure if the latch is right either (I guess not as nipples excruciating) but should have a breastfeeding consultant coming tomorrow. Hope we can get it sorted.

Thank God DP is doing the changes for now -am too weak after the blood loss.

He just went another 2 hours and back feeding, so proud of my 3 day old! Already had 4hrs sleep which was my night aim!!

lutri it could be that he is just good at feeding and you have lots of milk, doing it in 15mins is he settled for long after? If he is falling asleep, we try winding him/changing him/stripping him off to wake him up then put him back on after advice from MW, so try that?

Bona have you tried nipple shields or lanisoh cream if sore?

It's early days with Hunter but they took him off the glucose at 4am (he had only been having 1ml per hour thru the drip anyways) and now they have added in 1ml of my EBM. Last blood sugars were good xx just want him to keep it up!! We are still putting him to breast for practice, I'm not giving up with it!

Because its such a slow process it's hard to say when he will be home tho, so I'm still not fixating on a certain date. Tho his due date of 16th would be nice! Xx

Really p**d off here! Had extremely painful contractions all night. Had another show and ended up having to stay in the bath most of the night to ease the pains. Eventually dropped off at five and woke at 6.30 to...nothing!

I could cry. We even put the bags in the car last night as I was so sure things were happening. Contractions got to seven minutes apart at old point!

Sneezy do hang on in there. It sounds like things are happening - is there anything nice you like doing at home that will take your mind off it for a while? I won't suggest bath as you've been in there most of the night!

I feel brighter as actually managed a reasonable night's sleep and have reached term today 37+0 at last!

Can I say that I really admire all of you who are persevering with breast feeding - for some it sounds so sore so think you are doing amazingly. I fear may not have the same willpower but won't know until the time comes.

Aw sneezy that sounds pretty disheartening, but I'm sure things will kick off again soon, just hang in there. I was logging on to moan about having mild but regular contractions for a couple of hours last night that disappeared once I got to sleep, and I feel fed up enough at that. Good that you have had your show too though, it's all definitely moving in the right direction!

Today is my second wedding anniversary. Last year we spent the day sanding floors in our new house with a killer hangover (who says romance is dead!) so I've been joking that the only way to top that this year would be to be in labour. I'm hopeful that irony will see things kick back off later, so off for a walk to see if that might help.

Massive congrats to all of you holding your babies, and thanks for keeping us updated on the highs and lows. I am checking daily and it's so nice to know a little bit about what might lie ahead. Really loving all the pics on FB.

39+5

Hi all, jst checking in! Today is the first day of mat leave tht I get to completely relax! Dd's were home on school hols last wk n both back in nursery/school today so pj's and crap tv are my aim today! Prob b bored in an hour and will need to do sumthin tho!

It's so nice reading thru all of ur posts, pre and post arrivals! Pls keep us updated, nice to know I'm not alone and have somewhere to rant/chat now and again!

No advice on the breast feeding other than what's already been said, can only sympathise as I know how hard it is at first. It will get easier tho Xx

38+4

Sneezy keep your chin up, things are moving on, it all sounds very hopeful if not very, very frustrating. Let us know how you get on during the day and try to get as much sleep as you possibly can.

edin I had exactly the same as you last night, regular, mild contractions. I drifted off to sleep at about 1am with DH rubbing my back, slept through to 6ish and have had nothing since. I suspect this will be the way it is for me until it all kicks off properly.

Trish so glad Hunter is off his drip, he will soon be feeding like mad and I'm sure you will be home by the 16th.

38+5

jacq it's frustrating, isn't it. Not at all sore, just psychologically tricky to get your head round. Did you have this with your other 3? As its my first I was super excited last night - definitely expected to be woken up by full on contractions. Ah well, hopefully it's all a sign that things are moving in vaguely the right direction.

Good luck Sneezy, I'm sure it'll happen soon!

Thanks Essex. Maybe you are right there are lots of dirty nappies! Just need to be patient I guess

Congratulations lutrinae!

Good luck sneezy, it sounds like things are moving in the right direction. I'm sure you'll be holding baby very soon.

I'm 38+6 today and just had a regular MW appointment. Baby isn't engaged which I'm pretty disappointmented about. I know I'm a week and a day off my due date but had hoped baby would come a bit early. Two weeks ago she was on the brim now she's moved up.

I've got another check up next week and they'll look to book me in for a stretch and sweep the following week if things haven't moved on. MrsS, I'm relieved to hear a stretch and sweep isn't too bad. Hope yours gets things moving for you.

Quick question: do you need to wash mattress covers before using? I've washed all the bedding and wondering whether I need to wash the cot mattress cover before it's used as well.

Well done to everyone BF. I'm really hoping to but realise that I may struggle. Hope it gets less painful for those feeling the discomfort soon.

Well I've been for my 38 week appointment with the MW and my BP is up so I'm off for monitoring at 3pm. She's wriggling away and the heart beat is ok but to be honest I'm glad I'm getting checked over. I've been very anxious the last week or so - not sure if the anxiety had pushed my BP up or if the anxiety is a gut instinct that something's not quite right. Ah well, will keep you posted.

Sorry you're not engaged yet tea. Hope things get moving soon. I haven't washed the mattress cover, I figured its probably clean enough with clean sheets over it.

Lutrinae- good luck with the lactation consultant. I've had a nice lady visit several times and it has helped a lot. As for your LO falling asleep then wanting more, my tip would be to perhaps strip off clothes before you start then do a nappy change as you switch from one breast to the other. It is a pain to do but probably better than thinking you are 'finished' only to have to start again shortly! My ds was very sleepy the first week to 10 days and we did that. I think it ensures they are really getting enough - now he rarely falls asleep or if he does he's truly done!

I have solved the mystery of my agonisingly sore nipples just when I thought the latch was sorted. Ds has oral thrush which has passed to my nipples. V common apparently and easily treated. Am so relieved because I just wasn't sure what else I could do to improve his latch which looks great. Turns out the pain is from the thrush! Symptoms are thick white patches on baby's tongue, gums and inside of cheeks.

Who knew that having a baby was so riddled with dangers?!

Day 3 here and we have had the community MW out and C has lost just over 10% of her weight (now 6 lb 11) so we are back off to hospital to see Paeds when she has finished this feed.

REALLY hoping not to be kept in, sigh!

Just had my sweep and it was awful. She really had a good prod. It didn't hurt as such, it just felt wrong and I came out of there really distressed. Am trying not to be silly about it but I felt I had to apologise to the baby afterwards! It perhaps didn't help that she had given my bump some vigorous prodding and squeezing beforehand as well.

Anyway, the says the head is well down send baby is in the best position. As long as he is healthy I am starting to be of the opinion that it would be best just to wait. I have another sweep booked in for Friday and will have a think about whether I want it or not.

The thing that does worry me though is that until the baby is safely here I will continue to obsess about whether he is moving enough etc.

Oh dear. I am sounding a bit neurotic. I will go and have a cup of tea and a lie down.

40+4

Empress, I know how you feel, sweeps are never nice to experience. Feels like something rude being done to you/baby, or at least that was how I felt the last time. Do go for a nap or some tea or a bath if that's allowed and try to concentrate on the good bit - your baby must be coming any day now!

Thanks MrsB I am a bit calmer now. I think I was also depressed by the fact that my cervix is very posterior and she couldn't really get to it. So all that discomfort for nothing, except to learn that my body is well and truly not ready.

No side effects either, except for feeling sick! No plug, no blood. Is all staying firmly in place! Even the head is marked on my notes as 3/5 even though she said it was 'very low'.

Let's hope for some fast progress!

I hope things start for you soon empress. It doesn't sound nice at all but perhaps it will trigger things. I know what you mean about obsessing about how much movement is being felt. I'm pretty anxious about that too. Try not to worry too much and to enjoy the time before baby arrives, eaier said than done I know with all the discomfort of late pregnancy.

faith, keep us posted on how the monitoring goes. I'm sure it'll be fine but always best to be checked. Thanks for the advice on washing the cot mattress cover, I think I won't wash the cover as I've done the sheets.