December 2013 - let's get these babies out before Santa arrives :)

[Stom91]

Merry Christmas :)

Merry Christmas everyone, hope Santa is good to you all :)

Feeling pains really low down for the last 2 days but no pattern.. Not sure what contractions should feel like but these hurt!!

Happy Christmas and thank you for all the congratulations!

For those still waiting, I had a few days of painful BH and small bits of show, then bang - woke in the middle of the night and the pains were just a bit too strong to breathe through and go back to sleep. So it sounds like some of you are really close. Hope you're having a good time today and aren't too fed up. But I was REALLY fed up for the last two days at least - another sign of imminent labour, perhaps...

My little one is ever so sweet, but feeding every hour at night - argh! I'm pretty tired. Also, my nipples hurt something rotten - problem with my latch perhaps? It 's day 4 of bread feeding for us...

Hope everyone is having some nice Xmas treats and being looked after well xx

yoga that sounds just like me so I hope if happens for me like that soon. Last night was BH contractions most of evening (uncomfortable enough not to be able to sit comfortably) then till 1am and then started again at 4am. But settled down again today...(thankfully) anyone else finding baby's movements quite painful? There's just not Enough room for all the moving he/she seems to want to do!

Oh well had my small wine with lunch so I guess it's not so bad being pregnant on Xmas day!

Yoga maybe it is the latch but I think nips do take a while to toughen up to the relenless feeding so as long as they're not cracked/bleeding it may just take a while before it doesn't hurt.

Yup - mumoftwo, the last couple of days the baby's movements felt almost indistinguishable from the painful BH - all uncomfortable, full and cranky. Fingers crossed it happens soon. Also, I remember you saying you are worried about waters going and not having long to get to hospital. I worried too as DD was 5hours with dramatic waters going, but this time I was in labour for a while, settled in hospital birthing centre before waters went. It was an enormous release of pressure and DD2 was born 1 hour 40 mind later. Hopefully you'll have time, but also swift easy delivery.

Thanks for reassurance about nipples, I thought some pa

Sorry - i thought i had heard some nipple pain is normal, often peaking day 4 & 5 but am still worried I might be doing it wrong. Seeing midwife tomorrow so will ask and report back.

Happy Christmas again all xx

Happy Christmas all!

yogafan I think you may be right that sore nipples could be a sign of latch not being quite right so it is worth speaking to your midwife. I think I have read that successful breastfeeding shouldn't hurt, but that may be after a week or so of settling into it all. I hope your midwife can reassure you as I am certainly no expert in this!

We got discharged from hospital yesterday after our re-visit, and Hannah's blood test was fine, so we're now on a regular feeding marathon with formula which is already making a huge difference to Hannah's temperament as she's far more settled, presumably because she is no longer starving hungry! I also think her colour is looking better already so hopefully the jaundice is shifting.

I was planning to do a 'gradual retreat' from breast to formula (the difficulties I had with DD last time, combined with the deja vu of it all with Hannah over the last few days, just makes me think that my boobs and my children are clearly not compatible, so I am happy and reconciled to do abandon bf-ing after giving it out best shot). However, Hannah is clearly over the moon with the bottles and not at all fussed any more with trying to wrestle with my breasts so I am a bit concerned on how I should manage what I am left with!

Does anyone know how I should handle this so I don't end up with boob problems? Do I just go cold turkey and let it dry up naturally (currently they are pouring milk at any opportunity, but not actually as rock solid as they have been, and sore but not horrifically painful), or should I be trying to manage it by expressing a few 'feeds' a day to replace Hannah feeding?

Just wondered if anyone here had any advice - think I will post in the breastfeeding section too (just hope I don't get lambasted for switching to formula).

Merry Christmas all!

So on day 3 of 'back to bf' and yesterday ds fed almost non stop all afternoon and a lot in the night. Today he has barely fed, every 3-4 hours but only for about 20 mins then back to sleep. Is this normal? I figured yesterday was a growth spurt but is that followed by a huge drop off? I keep telling myself he would cry if hungry but it's stressing me out!

yoga that sounds promising for me then- fingers crossed. I've got another 11 days anyway before they induce me so baby had better shift before then. Yeah I'm thinking waters may not go first this time but it's just judging the pain/real/BH thing I'll have to just trust my instincts.

lisb I only managed 1-2 weeks bf with my DC's and mw recommended just going cold turkey as any expressing will just encourage more milk production but you may find you can gradually reduce bf and replace with formula if you want if to be more comfortable. (I couldn't due to cracked bleeding nipples) it was uncomfortable for a day or so when my boobs became engorged but then the body realises the milk isn't needed and it slowly reduced. Cold compresses or Savoy cabbage leaves (that have been in the fridge) help to relieve the discomfort!

hotcross hope someone can answer your question- I'm afraid I'm not much help having not done very well with bf.

I've had BH all on and off all day but they aren't painful had some clear jelly sticky stuff yesterday come out but that's it. Apart from that nothing at all :/
Think this baby wants to stay in til next year!! lol

Yoga I had sore nipples at day 3/4 but this settled by using Lansinoh ointment after every feed, have you tried it?

Hot my LO sometimes only feeds 6-8 minutes a go and sometimes wants feeding every hour and sometimes every 3 hours (if I'm lucky). He often cluster feeds between roughly 10pm and 1am too. What I'm finding is no 2 days are ever the same. I'm not worried at all about his short feeds though as he has put lots of weight on! His birthweight was 7lb 13oz, at day 5 he had lost only 2oz and on day 10 he weighed in at 8lb 4oz. I think if your baby is settled then it seems likely it's getting what it needs. Worth just checking with your MW to be sure though.

Hope everyone had a good Xmas xx

Mw just rang she coming to day a sweep anytime now (was supposed to be tomorrow, so was caught off guard)
Now I'm really worrying. Can't imagine anything going up there that far up. I'm convinced it's going to hurt cos it hurts to just put a finger in (hanky panky etc soz tmi)
I'm really scared

stom I totally sympathise- I have a sweep booked for tomorrow and not looking fwd to it. You could always take some paracetamol before hand? I also have tenderness on and off down there and won't let DH go near me so not looking fwd to a speculum and some strangers fingers! But just think it'll be a few moments of discomfort/pain then she'll leave you alone!

Not sure if I've just had a clear out or have a bad tum, but major yuck- is it supposed to be proper loose if it's a clear out?? Sorry for tmi but didn't have this with other DC's!

Hi all,

Merry christmas and wishing you all speedy labours which start soon!

Just wanted to let you know baby Scottie was born on 23rd and is a boy. He is doing well though swallowed some meconium during birth so was very mucousy for first 24h meaning he wouldn't feed. We are getting up to speed now though.
He won't sleep in his Moses basket however, only on me or DH which means we are taking it in turns to hold him during the night. Anyone any advice on something that might help ? I'm not keen in idea of co sleeping as our bed just isn't big enough and I'd spend whole night worrying. I was wondering on getting one of those sheepskins mentioned above, heard good things...

Mum. I had it. There was no speculum she just used her fingers and tbh it was that bad at all a little disc

A Little discomfort and the odd sharp pain but it was fine. I just squeezed dp hand and she talked the whole way through about what she could feel and asked questions like are u having a boy or girl etc to take my mind off it.
I think it helped that it was done at hole as could relax more.
I was honestly bricking it so you'll be fine.

Dp has just gone to his mates to watch footy. I Duno why I'm so annoyed by it. I never get annoyed if he goes put never bothered me but today I feel angry that he's gone. I've seen him all yesterday and all today and he's home the next 3 days. But I just feel really clingy urgh I hate this. Must be hormones or something.
He did tell me I should sit on a towel all the time incase my water break. I told him to fuck off. He so paranoid. The covers come off the sofa so we can wash them.

Congratulations Weescottie enjoy the snuggles

Hey weescottie, we are using a poco baby hammock and it works fairly well as long as he's pretty drowsy when we put him in. Might be a bit of an expensive option though - we got it in the kiddicare sale and with extra money off (quidco cashback) so was quite cheap. You also have to be careful to follow the instructions to the letter as apparently the SIDS risk is slightly higher compared with a Moses basket / cot. But love being able to bounce / rock him to sleep!

Congrats weescottie!

And thanks mum and dasie on sore nipple support! I have been using lashings of lansinoh and they are still painful... Midwife suggested pulling DD's bottom lip out slightly which helps loads, much less pain. Prob is, I can 't do it by myself and can,mt ask DP to do it very feed / every latch - especially at night... Fingers crossed DD will gradually get the hang of if it though

Pleased your sweep wasn't to bad stom, hope it gets baby moving!

Weescottie have you tried warming his bed with a lukewarm water bottle or wheat pack for five mins before you put him down? Just enough so the sheets aren't cold to touch, he might not notice the transfer from warm daddy/mummy to bed so much then.

Hope that sweep got things going for you Stom.

I'm struggling a bit with my mood at the moment, feeling quite low and useless. Had a good cry at DH about it all and he has sent me to bed with a big hug and instructions to get lots of sleep so I can look at things with fresher eyes in the morning. If it continues for a few days I will be giving my HV a ring to see what help I can get. I was noted as high risk for PND by the MW due to previous MH problems, just hoping this is a momentary blip and not something that's going to be a problem.

weescottie try swaddling him, ds3 won't go down unless he's all snuggled up first but even then sometimes we have to get him to sleep in our arms before we put him down, he's getting better with it all now though. Congrats on your little boy xx

stom hope the sweep gets things moving for you Hun and glad it wasn't too uncomfy for you.

mogz I hope you feel better soon. I'm still finding myself crying at things that wouldn't have bothered me at all before I had ds3. Definately talk to your hv Hun xx

mum any news? Sorry you must be so sick of people asking that xx

Good luck mumof won't be long now if you have had your sweep.

Well it's been 11 hours since it was don't and absolutely nothing has happen so don't think baby want to make an appearance yet :/ got another booked on Monday.

What happens if you get to 42 weeks and don't want to be induced can u ask for a section instead? I only ask because being induced with being hypermobile will make labour awful more painful contractions more like to need forceps etc which I really really really don't want xx

No news here- sweep tomorrow, just had yet another curry! Not feeling that hopeful...

stom I'm not sure re induction and c section- ask your midwife and tell her your fears/concerns. I'm not hyper mobile but also very against an induction for similar reasons- more pain and more chance of intervention etc. Hope things get moving for you soon- think it can take up to 48 hours to see if a sweep has worked so don't lose hope yet!

Ok half a dozen painful contractions over the last hour and a half but not that regular and now stopped. Argh!...

Fairly painful contractions since 3.30am, not regular and kept falling back asleep. Have woken to a bit more of a clear out, crampy period like ache and blood streaked plug so it could be my day today!

Still worried as to when to leave for hospital- doesn't seem too iminent right now so am going to try some Swiss ball bouncing and some brekkie...