October 2013: The Fourth Trimester - the bit no one warns you about!

[roxvox]

Stats sheet here

New arrivals here

Key:
SC - still cooking (pre EDD)
SFW - still f*ing waiting (post EDD)
OWT - on way to theatre (CS)
IP - induction in progress
SWIL - somewhere in labour
LIT - lost in transition

Actually emmo as well could it be a growth spurt? They have lots when they are teeny tiny. I blamed them for everything with ds1!

dontworry you are completely normal! Once I went overdue, I became a little more crazy every day. I despaired for what I was doing to our family, used to cry every evening as I was putting DS (aged 3) to bed as I was so upset about messing up his perfect life, and was so anxious about labour/induction I was a mess/insomniac. The day of my induction I could not stop crying, DH thought he had a mental patient with him...... And in the end I was only in labour for 62 minutes and now our new DD has fit in perfectly xxx just keep getting through the days xxx

Well after the smoking incident we won't be staying here at Christmas as planned!

Thanks for all the advice re formula. He was born at 8lb 1oz but is around the 11 pound mark now. I'm only offering 3oz because I tried to increase it but he just kept falling asleep and always leaving an oz. I looked into hungry baby but it advises not to start till 3months. Possibly I should be offering more and trying to get him to take it? We are on cow and gate so maybe the formulas not satisfying him? I'll try offer more for a few days, if that doesn't work I'll try changing formula. More time between feeds would be amazing!!

Re partners, we got into a routine where dp keeps baby up longer so I can sleep and then I take over for the night shift so he can sleep before work. He's on half term this week so has been helping with the night shift and last did it alone so I could sleep through for the long drive today. He has just said he'd rather work than do what I do every night!!! When he has previously threatened to be a sahd. At least he might appreciate it a bit more when I'm super tired ha. Sorry some of you are struggling with then. They are useless sometimes!!

roxvox I used to have this problem with ds when boobs were very full - he got a continuous jetstream which choked him. 2 things worked for us - if boobs were really full I would let him latch, then as soon as milk let down I would take him off and hand express about 30ml off, then put him back on. If boobs aren't mega full let him latch, and when milk let's down take him off, and just press your nipple firmly to stop the flow. Hope this helps.

emmo H was born 8lb 1oz too. we were stuck on 3oz feeds for ages. but at 4 weeks he now takes 5oz every 3-4 hours. we just kept offering more. you do waste milk but better that than him draining the bottle and being hungry.

my dp is very helpful, for example did the late night feed last night so I could sleep but my god he then goes on about it!! its not worth it. and it makes me feel quite under appreciated as I always have to go on thanking him for it!! men!!

also to add, that 5oz takes time, he will feed on and off for an hour. also, infacol has been great for us. we increased to 2 droppers full before feeds and now always get a good burp from him and much less trapped wind!!

Thanks for all lf your advice and hand holding yesterday

Had a good sleep last night so praying we have a good day today.

rox I have also tried just letting off some milk into a muslin, just enough to take the pressure off. It helps of its been a while between feeds and my boob is too full for him to latch.

for dontworry. I had the same feelings even though had elcs! Once baby here we could all get on with the next phase and getting used to our new family. Feels like she was always here. Good luck with labour xx

Hope you have a good day untitled

on your behalf mrshn ans mnippy they really are clueless

I'm reading but not really posting atm. All a bit hectic here. Ds has been diagnosed with reflux. Thought I would share the symptoms as there discussion a little but back which is what prompted me to see dr.

I couldn't get gp appointment so receptionist sent me to walk in centre at hospital. Gp there was rubbish but I managed to make enough fuss I got to see a paed. She saw him fuss after a feed and vomit and said it was definitely bad reflux. He starts meds today.

He arches back away from the great when feeding, is very uncomfortable and unsettled burping lots but still not happy and then vomits (often projectile) a mixture of clear liquid with white bits in. He seemed to be in pain alot, but better when upright than lying down.

Sorry to all of you with unhelpful partners. Mine hasn't been too bad though he kissed me off majorly on wednesday when he got drunk meaning that I couldn't chance taking Eliana into bed with me. When I did go upstairs I discovered he'd taken Linah into bed with him. I spent the night on the sofa but woke him up at 6am to tell him he was taking kids to school. He was too scared to argue.

I woke up to some sad news this morning. The son of one of the friends I made in hospital died this morning. He had the same condition as Eliana and seemed to be doing so well. It's really scared me.

• Pissed me off. So annoying when your phone tries to censor your language.

So sorry to hear that MoN, what a shock and must make you think it could happen to me too but there is no reason that should be the case. Eliana seems to be doing brilliantly.

DH took Thomas downstairs for a couple of hours this morning while I slept as I was up most of the night. Feel a bit better for it but sore boobs from missing a feed (he had expressed milk from the fridge) Expressed out 150ml very quickly but still they are tingling. Pump pump pump. I know that won't be able to happen once he is back to work on Monday

My friends baby is doing fine in special care, thanks. They don't know why she went into labour at 32 weeks. It does make me very grateful to have been able to grow Thomas to full term.

aww mon sorry to hear about your friends baby. I can't even imagine how they must be feeling and I totally understand it upsetting you xx

Little ducks, my DS has also been diagnosed with reflux. Doc was useless though so spent a night in hospital having tests. Got meds now which seem to be working so far.

How are you today flyer?

Hugs MoN and all those with difficult other halves.

Thanks for all the bf/ff comments and advice, but Orange's post kind of sums it all up (no offense meant, Orange) but you can pump 150ml in minutes and after 3 weeks of pumping, I'm still only getting 10ml in half an hour
I have never leaked or spurted milk, either. Just produced droplets.

I've been worrying about Flyer too. Hope she's ok.

Oh no, sorry shire wasn't meaning to show off or make you feel bad, and that is unusual for me, I think because I didn't feed him and got engorged there was loads of it. Usually I massage and work at it for half an hour or so for half that.

Has anyone got a bf pillow that they'd recommend? Ove been using an ordinary pillow but it slips away from me. Are the widgey/ donut shaped ones any good?

MoN so good to hear from you but sorry you had such awful news. Earlier this year three "healthy" kids with DD's condition sadly passed away and it hit me really hard especially as we were told if we make to toddler age she will be fine. But be strong and take each day as it comes and cherish every moment with all your kids.

shire some women just can't express, my friend have successfully bf all their kids but never been able to express a drop. I, on the other hand, could express very easily but have children who are rubbish at sucking.

Hope the rest of the bus is doing great and had a super Halloween x

MrsHN I like my summer pillow, it's an s shape and means you can totally wrap it round you this supporting your back too. I'd recommend. Also comfy for watching tv etc think they are about £35.

Eliana had her first outpatients appointment on Wednesday and it went really well. She's not due back for another 6 weeks but this mornings news has taught me that we can never become complacent. That little boys mum posted a pic of him yesterday in his Halloween costume with a massive smile on his face yet this morning he is gone.

Hi all sorry im a long time lurker but never really post can I ask some opinions please? May be TMI

Im 41+1 today and have been slowly losing my plug since Saturday this morning I had some with small pink streaks and have lost a little bit of blood since about 8am and been contacting about every 10 minutes but they are stopping and starting/ some lasting 40 seconds and others only lasting 15/20 im booked in for induction on sunday.

Is it worth getting my hopes up for going into labour naturally? Or could this go on for days and days without picking up? I cant have a sweep as baby's head isn't properly engaged

[Thanks] for everyone having a bad day and congrats to everyone with new babies to cuddle!

I ment ?

Hope this is it for you dolly bird