June 2013 - thread 9 - not many babies left to arrive now :-)

[MrsBri]

New thread as we appear to be talking a fair bit!

Lets hope we've all given birth by the end of this one :-)

Sarah have you tried infacol - it's helped loads here. I don't use it every feed but certainly by the evening we find it helpful in releasing the wind, especially as she gets more tired and just wants to sleep.

Sometimes Sarah I do not so much last night hehe but that was expressed I'm sat expressing now 2.5oz in 10 mins woohoo! That's just one boob too so will have enough for two feeds after this sitting happy mummy

In other news she had a newborn photo shoot last night awwww the photos are amazing there are some on Facebook but she's bringing me a cd later woohoo if you want to see (I never could get on the secret page) go to red rabbit photography she's the 4 days old newborn :-)

Oh and aloha that is the plan to go back to breasts once they've healed

Right, here we go for a mammoth post after FINALLY catching up with the thread so far. This will be probably all out of order in terms of the conversation but I will try and plough through all of the bits and pieces as I remember them...

Lets do the rank bits first... Plugs. I had a tiny bit on Wednesday morn, then a quite a bit at about 2.30 in the morning on wed night/thurs morning. Lost the rest completely in the bath when I was labouring in the bath in the hospital. It was MASSIVE and rank, got my mum to fish it out of the bath as I was high on g+a and couldn't handle it floating about. It was sitting in a jug on the edge of the bath when DH arrived, and the look on his face was pretty priceless tbh!

Poo. Baby Baxter was born late thurs/early fri morning. I did my first poo yesterday morning. Another fan of apricots and prunes and generally lots of fruit and nuts. Pressed a pad against my stitches and it was fine. I think the fear of it was worse than the actually doing of it, although trying to wipe around my enormous piles proved a little challenging. Like my friend said, I feel a little bit like a baboon at the moment. Sort of linked to this, I think it helped that I was completely empty- someone was asking about being violently sick during labour (Which I was), and could barely eat anything during my hosp stay.

How are everyone's stitches doing? Mine are pretty stingy, and I think they may be getting a little more painful. They have been checked three times since fri, and they have said they are fine but I am so worried about infection. It will make things so much easier once I can sit and stand without wincing so much, particularly as I am doing the lions share of everything a s DH has to work.

Think we have sorted how to settle Bax in a carry cot, whoever it was who mentioned the hot water bottle, it so works. Mum was hanging out with me tomorrow and I had said when she arrived that I was determined to try and get him settling in a cot so I could actually start to get on with things. We managed to get a bit of a routine going- change him, strip him down to his nappy. Fill mini hot water bottle half with cool water, had with boiling so it is moderately warm, put that in cot under blanket/ in sleep sack. Feed little man. This takes fucking ages as he gets so contented that he dozes off all the time! Check nappy, put a little top on him and give him a cuddle/wind. Pop him in cot and bingo. 2 hoursish of feeling human again...

Right, gonna have some breakfast, will return for more later (and hopefully to some new arrivals! Eeeeeeep!)

Funny you should ask about the house .MrsBri. I was all set to go to bed at 8, but we seem to be involved in a bidding war! Open house went great, we had 6 offers and now two are trying to outbid, but I think it's all settled now so I can finally go to sleep till I have to wake up in an hour to feed dd

On other good news, the ridiculous rock hard boobs have finally settled down a bit. The relief!

That's good news, Aloha. :-) What date do you move here?

And it didn't do much for me to be honest, Sarah! But desperate times. I'm envious of you ELCS bunch who didn't have to get to being this pregnant! :-)

Hubby and I DTD last night and soon after I was getting severe crampings. I realised I wasn't sure what was happening and how do I know what a conraction feels like? I did the old google thing and it seems like it really varies and my 'symptoms' seemed to tie in with some of the descriptions. Lasted a good couple of hours off and on and have woken up this morning but nothing. So am not sure?

Felt like really painful period cramps/needing a poo with lower back pain, also felt really sick and almost was a few times. They seemed to last varying lengths of time from 10-30seconds and were probably varying between 5-10mins apart - hubby said too frequent for start of labour? So I really don't know, haven't had Braxton hicks before but these were painful. I sat on my ball a bit, had a walk round and then lay down in bed. Also bump didn't seem up go tight really. I see midwife Thursday so will ask her but just wondered what your contractions felt like?

I did have an elective CS but I was also 39+4 so pretty damn close to EDD abd getting lots of the uncomfortable things you're all describing!! The trace they put on prior to section actually showed mild contractions so they said I was only having him a day or do earlier than he'd have come anyway.

I was just thinking actually that although I really didn't enjoy being pregnant I do kind if miss my big belly, a d J being all safe inside it. I'll never admit that to anyone in real life obv!!

Here's good wishes and speediness to all you on the verge of or waiting for labour....

Goodness, Oli, I didn't realise they'd let you go that close.

I surprised they don't book them earlier than that. I think they do here.

It must be a strange feeling once they're no longer within!

Maw baby theiah was born Thursday to and my stitches are starting to hurt more they were ok but are now like you say they are starting to hurt

Had my first poo yesterday and I agree again with the fear of it more than doing it

Obviously I meant yesterday, not tomorrow!

Gina, that sounds like what mine was like. Started as lower back pain, then moved round the front, turning into period type twinges. These got progressively more painful as the eve progressed. Hopefully things are getting started for you.

Pink, I wonder if pooing has aggravated them a little? I didn't strain but obviously movement may have had an impact? Also, I was a little more mobile yesterday so that may have pulled them about a bit.

Right, so feeding. Starting to be a little more painful during latch but like someone says, they have gone through a bit of a bruising since thurs. got me lansinoh with me at all times and I do have a manual pump if things get desperate!

Mil just arrived so will continue later!

Oli I was given a planned section at 39+4 by their dates and was also having signs of imminent labour so I guess its not that unusual?

The 39th week is the best week for babies to come out by elective (as long as there are no other issues) as lungs are most developed and weight should be pretty good. I was given option to wait for natural labour until 41weeks and if no sign to have a planned CS then but we opted out of that because of other concerns.

My (corrected) due date is tomorrow and I've run out of raspberry leaf tablets today . Tesco only had a blend of tea containing 50 percent leaf so I guess I'll have to drink lots of that as nearest holland & Barrett is 10 miles away and I can't be bothered!

My niece was born by ELCS at 37 weeks and was 8lb 14oz! God lnows how big she would have been at 40 weeks. And given that 37 weeks is classed as full term, I'm still surprised that they leave it so long.

But all hospitals are different. Even hospitals within the same Trust round here have different policies for everything, including sweeps, induction, painkillers during birth and how long they leave you after your waters break before induction. So it doesn't surprise me if there are discrepancies around the country about ELCS dates too!

And the 39th week is from 38 weeks, as after that date you're in your 39th week.

I would think it's still psychologically different as at least you have an end date to focus on, rather than the 'when on earth is this baby coming?!' of waiting for natural labour!

ladies 're stitches - my mw did say as you heal more the stitches can get tighter and start to 'pull' a little more. she said if I found it got too bad theyeels could snip a couple to ease the strain a little - luckily mine all seem to have settled and have been much better since about day 8 post birth. but something to keep in mind or bring up with mw if you find it gets too much!

had problems with violet latching onto left boob yesterday - she seemed to hate it! but think we have over come it during the night. thankfully.
hv coming tomorrow so will see how much weight she's gained (its been 8 days since last weigh, so I'd imagine we'll see a nice improvement!)

Had a rather rough night last night which involved me wandering round the village in my pj's at midnight crying. I was so full of hope that the advice the midwife gave me would work and when they didn't I had a bit of a melt down so DH said he'd take her for a walk in the pram. Cue me falling asleep then waking up feeling so guilty that I'd banished my baby and DH so went off wandering round the village in my pj's trying to find them.

So we still can't get her to sleep in the Moses basket. Something that did work though was DH feeding her a bottle of expressed milk - she went straight to sleep after it. When it's me she's suckling at the boob for hours before she drops off which is killing me. Going to pump like crazy today andgive up on the Moses basket. Instead we're going to try the crib. Thank god DH is here with me though - couldn't have coped without him.

I'd have given just about anything (except a healthy baby) to have had this second child naturally, I hated having a CS and ironically it was the mistakes of professionals that meant I had to.

I'm genuinely very upset that CS ladies are seen to have it easier, it seems that attitude still exists and so I bid you adieu because quite honestly having been to hell and back over my first daughters birth and also my second I can do without it.

I think 37 is only classed as term if the baby makes an appearance of its own accord. DS2 spontaneous labour at 38+6 vs DS1 induced labour at 38+1 and there was a world of difference between them. DS1 was very skinny, sleepy, trouble latching, didn't feed for first 24 hours. As if he just wasn't ready to be born yet. DS2 looked more healthy not just skin & bones, latched by himself, very alert from day 1 and has a much stronger cry. Makes me feel sorry for DS1, especially knowing what I know now about being able to decline an induction.

My stitches started to hurt a few days after as well. It's when the skin starts to heal so it gets all tight around the stitches. Day 11 now and I think they're starting to dissolve as it's incredibly itchy now!

Sunny have you considered co-sleeping? Or was it you who mentioned DP smoking? We co-slept with DS1 and this time we didn't even bother buying a crib. Apart from the growth spurt feeding the other night I actually feel I'm getting enough sleep as DS2 is only awake to feed. It makes all the difference to your mental state of mind when you've had adequate sleep.

Red I'm sure no one is suggesting CS mums have it easier, I know it would be my worst possible outcome. Hope your baby girl starts to settle with your DH - have you tried stuffing a muslin in your bra then giving to him so he smells like you?

Sunny sound like an awful night . Does baby wake up if you break the latch with your finger after a decent feeding time? Or break latch and replace with a clean finger for a few minutes to settle?

We'd been trying to avoid co-sleeping as DH works shifts so if he gets in at 3am we'd like to have baby in her crib. However I'm swiftly coming to the conclusion that what we would like can be worlds away from what baby would like. I'm really struggling to sleep with her in the same bed though as she just wants to suckle on me for hours. We tried a dummy last night - worked for about 10 mins then would be spat out with a fury. She sleeps lovely on DH's chest though. We're tending towards me doing the first 3 hours, then DH taking over so I can sleep and then me taking back over.

redwelly- i think cs is a way harder route. u have just had MAJOR abdo surgery on top of carrying a baby for 9 months and then have to deal with trauma of surgery plus the whole nrwborn stuff and general family life. i really hope that u realise that u r a rock star and dont feel disheartenef by comments. take it as easy as u can. very best wishes x

Oh sunny I hope you have a better night tonight!

Which pumps are you ladies using?

I think that both cs and 'natural' birth have their positives and negatives which differ for everyone depending on their personal circumstances, and I'm sure that the only positive being referred to there was having a more specific end date in sight, certainly not that it's the easier option.

With the stitches I found last time that daily baths with either salt or tea tree oil in we're great. I also found witch hazel stored in fridge and then applied to pad to wear in your knickers very effective in healing and helpful in keeping more comfortable. I also used the wet toilet wipes for the first couple of poos. Please though do not flush! Put them in nappy sack and dispose of with nappy. Slightly grim but very helpful and gentler on you than toilet tissue. ( I flushed them for first two days and we had major toilet blockage incident that we could quite frankly have done without at that point!)