April 2014 Thread 4 - We're almost in Trimester 3!

[LeeHandy]

Here's to fantastic 20 week scans, feeling baby move and other exciting milestones and best of all, the end of sickness!

Lee - my baby does the same thing when he breastfeeds. Please could you. let me know what advice you get? I would be grateful.

Since so many of us have been having difficult moments recently - I was in tears yesterday at every feed because my nipples were so cracked and bruised and my milk had just come in. Ended up using breast shields for a few feeds last night (bad mother - I know they're not recommended this young). It made so much difference and we're managing so much better today. I think you just have to do what you can to get through the day. Looking after a newborn is really exhausting and we're all doing so well.

So excited for all the April mums-to-be. I can't wait for the next birth announcement.

Vikki, badfur, please don't feel like bad mums just because your baby cries all night and you are trying whatever you can... I think all babies all like this and there's nothing we can do about it except wait for them to grow out of it. babylee fed for 15-20 mins out of every hour between 10 pm and 7 am last night and then went 3 hrs between feeds all day today...
trinpy, I got some really positive advice today. which also included the fact that we need to do whatever we can to reduce our pain because that helps us breastfeed longer - even if that includes shields and taking baby off and on the boob till they learn to latch properly.

there are 2 reasons why babylee is pulling off and on - first my milk flow is faster than he can handle so he pulls back to sort of slow it down and catch his breath a bit. I have been feeding while he lies horizontally so that made him feel like he was choking. she suggested I hold him vertically nipple to nose so there's a clear path for milk to flow without him having to do all the work of swallowing. see the laidback position (biological nurturing) position in this link - www.babycentre.co.uk/a8784/good-positions-for-breastfeeding.

the second issue is that he is slightly tongue tied - hence the shallow latch and frequent feedings because it's more tiring for baby to feed at one go. but because it's only slight, she suggested I try the new position and see if that helped and if it doesn't, she will refer me on to have the tongue tie addressed.

im giving that position a go lee he seems to like it. Also if I didn't use a shield I wouldn't be breastfeeding im trying every so often without and there's been a few latches but not for long. I would rather him get benefits of breastfeeding than worry about using a shield.

I'm a quiet follower of this thread. I had my baby girl on April 1st. Today she is ten days old and I think having a growth spurt. I am breastfeeding and she has wanted to feed all day. She has finally fallen asleep. All I have done today us sit on the sofa feeding her and I feel absolutely exhausted. I've been fortunate enough to be getting some decent sleep at night. Is breastfeeding tiring? I just feel shattered and extremely teary (dumb hormones) today. We were supposed to have family over tonight and I had to cancel. I have stitches from delivery and they are bothering me today. I just feel like a mess...

Kelly James was an early baby born 24th March he's opposite to yours and feeds all night. am completely exhausted. saw family nurse today who I love she said babies will feed constantly at certain points usually during big growth spurts. rest and sleep when baby does. its really hard you have my complete sympathy

Kelly don't be too hard on yourself.
Day 10 is a growth spurt day for most babies and breastfeeding produces relaxing hormones which will make you tired.
Its great that you're getting some rest at night already, im jealous lol. Most babies have their body clocks back to front at this stage.
If you've been sat down all day then its no wonder your stitches are sore.
Take some pain killers, have an early night and don't worry bout cancelling your visitors I'm sure they understand.
All will seem better in the morning im sure.

Thanks Vikki. I am grateful that her feeding frenzy has been during the day. It's reassuring to know I'm not the only one who feels shattered.

Kelly, I think all the new mums are in the same boat. it's great you are getting some sleep at night and that's definitely something to give thanks for!
Vikki, I am not sure if the new bf position is working for me now. well, I am more comfortable, but babylee seems distressed by it - he sometimes breaks off the boob and whines/cries.
I don't know what to do now. the counsellor wanted me to try it for a week but I can't figure out if babylee just needs to learn the new position or if something is genuinely wrong. how long should I give it a go, does anyone have any suggestions please?

Lee - thank you so much for reporting back. I think it's the fast let-down for us too that's causing problems. A usually pulls off suddenly or is sick whilst still latched on and we both end up soaked in milk at every feed. I hope it will improve once my supply settles down a bit, though I'm definitely going to try feeding him vertically and see if it makes a difference. We've tried the biological nurturing thing and A wasn't able to latch on so we both got frustrated in the end. My boobs are so engorged at the minute anyway, the poor thing looked like he was mountaineering.

Sorry to hear that the different feeding position isn't working for you. How long have you been trying it for? If it was me, I would try it for a few days on the feeds where me and the baby were most relaxed. I think a new position probably takes some practice but if you're both getting frustrated by it then I don't think it's worth it. Sorry if that's not very helpful! Are you seeing the bf counsellor again?

Welcome Kelly!

Marking my place

This is now the most pregnant I've been as DS1 was born at 37+5! Funny to think at this time last year he was only 11 days old! I don't see DS2 putting in an appearance any time soon!!

37+6

trinpy, at the thought of babytrinpy mountaineering up your boobs...
I tried my usual position again this evening and babylee was really comfortable and fed without getting agitated. I tried the other position for a day and a bit - roughly 20 feeds. I agree with you that I should try it a bit longer, and it makes sense to do it when he is relaxed. I will try again tomorrow...
I think he is also going through a growth spurt as he wants to feed continually and is crying a lot more than usual.

Hi all,
Sorry to hear of all the bf issues. I had a nightmare with ds as he was tongue tied and his latch was crap, and I had very fast letdown. Nothing really improved until 11wks when his tiny mouth grew enough to stop hurting me.

So I'm still pregnant :( difficult to not feel like all we're doing is waiting now... And my SPD and sciatica/trapped nerve have worsened so I can barely walk or stand. Joy. No sign of anything happening and my whole family arrive later so no pressure!

40+3

misty, sorry to hear you are still in so much pain with no sign of baby arriving. are you going to be booked in for an induction?

trinpy I lol literally at mountaineering lol its very true image. I tried the vertical feed it did work but baby seemed uncomfy but will use it from time to time. He had sleep last night he went down at 3am up at 5 and then down at 5.30 up at 8am. It was like a different child but today he's spit up at 5pm all over me and him he then ate a bit more ate a bit at 8pm but been sleeping all in between so I'm guessing a very long night in store hes stirring now he'll be very hungry will try and keep him busy and awake to try and do same as last night

No mention of induction yet lee I've got my 41wk appt next Tuesday so I guess we'll discuss it then. That said...I've got a funny feeling it might all happen today. I woke up in the night with pains (following a dream about having contractions) and feel quite crampy and back ache this morning.

Have a family lunch to go to first please baby! Probably bollocks anyway... But today is my due date worked out by lmp (not yesterday as I thought) so who knows! PMA and all that.

Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine.

40+4

misty, good luck! hope it is the start of something for you..
I have modified the vertical hold to a sort of sitting up sideways hold and babylee seems more comfortable. last night was much better, both of us got some sleep after 3 sleepless nights and I am hoping that he will stay good for a few days..

Good luck misty hope something kicks off soon (after family lunch!)

Welcome Kelly, I agree, don't be too hard on yourself. Breastfeeding is draining at the beginning and you need to drink lots of water and eat well. I had lots of stitches with my first too so sympathise, are you taking arnica? Do you have a cushion to sit on?

Sorry to hear of breastfeeding issues, it is all a bit of an experiment at first to see what works, isn't it?

I'm a little stressed about the fact that after all my problems created by a back-to-back baby last time this one has decided to turn that way too . I think it must be me!! Spending a lot of time on hands and knees at the moment. Had a last meeting with my doula last night though which did help me feel more positive. And the sunshine is nice too! Hope you are all enjoying it!

37+2

Good luck misty. I hope your baby is on its way!

Glad to hear things are getting better with the bf Lee.

And Churros I really hope your baby starts behaving and turns round.

I saw a bf support worker at the hospital yesterday. She said if the nipple shields are working for us then its fine to carry on using them while I'm healing. She also suggested expressing for some feeds which we did a bit of yesterday. Anyway, it worked because I've got normal looking boobs today and have happily cluster fed A myself (with shields) all day. I still have quite a forceful let down but it's nowhere near as bad as it was. Support worker is coming over tomorrow to watch a feed so hopefully we can feed pain free next week .

Trinpy that is great you are getting support. I wish I had used nipple shields when I was cracked and bleeding last time!

Just realised I knocked a week off my due date earlier.. I'm actually 38+2!

Still bloody pregnant. Feel like my body is failing to do what it's supposed to :( and I won't trust any stupid instincts again. At this rate my mum will fly home before she's born :(

40+5

Sorry to hear that misty. I know how crap the last few days are. Don't give up hope just yet; it sounds like all the signs are there that labour is on its way. How long is your mum staying for?

misty your body isn't failing to do what it should, your baby just isn't quite ready to come yet. It sounds like things are happening though so don't despair, and don't put too much pressure on it - the baby will come out! When is your Mum leaving? Are you doing anything to help things along (clary sage? sex? curry?)?

Hmmm, gone a little quiet on here, is everyone off having babies?

Had 2 episodes of RFM in the last 2 weeks so I've had 3 lots of monitoring and yesterday had an extra consultant appt and today have another scan just to check everything again!!! Hurry up little man, fed up of stress!

38+3

Hello! I was just being slow to reset my password :-)

No news here. Haven't really managed to stop work, which is a bit rubbish of me, but we have a deadline for my big project on Thursday and seeing as I'm fine and there's no sign of baby coming yet I would feel bad if I left them to it. Anyway, no doing crazy hours and managing some lunches and dinners with friends, so all good really.

Saw MW yesterday (cover midwife, she is so organised compared with my normal one!). Baby not engaged, but in a good position and head low, so she seems quite happy. BP was borderline high on the top number (132/66), but she didn't seem too worried as everything else was good. She just wants me to go in next week and get the GP to check it, and go in if I have any other pre-eclampsia symptoms. So I am trying not to get paranoid about it!

Still have boring home chores that I should do before baby arrives, but struggling with motivation. Might go into work a bit late this morning and cross a couple off before I go I think!

LT

38+6

Morning all. Nice to know I'm not the only one still pregnant :)

Feeling a bit less sorry for myself this morning after relatively good night's sleep. No sign of anything happening still and not sure about whether to go for a sweep or not. My husband would prefer me not to as he sees it as inducing things. But he's not heavily pregnant!
Feeling quite energetic but need to pace myself or pelvic pain will be crippling by bedtime again. Lovely weather helps :)

Hope everyone has good day