TTC 10+++ Months Grads Thread

[sweetgrouch]

Decided to start the new thread seeing as the old one is filling up.

Free – I had been wondering how you are doing and if little Free has made an appearance. You are so organised. Clearly all the nesting instincts kicking in! Enjoy the last days of calm. How does Chinese doc know the sex I wonder! Mr Free sound like he is better with cramp easing than Mr S!

Euro – I am sorry you feel robbed of the birth experience you really wanted. It must be lovely to have little C home though. You sound like you are doing really well with bfing. It’s natural that it will take her a little time to get into it after being bottle fed. Hooray for weight gain! I have just started reading a book about it and struggling to get my head around it all tbh. I don’t think I will have much support from my family re breastfeeding. My mum is shocked I am even considering it (not culturally popular where I am from) and my husband is okay with it but Europeans I find are not so into it in general. I think the fact that neither myself or MrS were breastfed doesn’t really help. I really want to give it a go but the book is putting me off at the moment!

Buzz – very wise to enjoy BB and all her firsts before thinking about frostie I think. I remember you didn’t have a v nice pregnancy. I really can’t wait to have the babe now… counting the days.. at BB and cat biscuits!

Bunny – v interesting your insight about bfing and pregnancy. I am sorry you are having terrible nights with your mini. I don’t know how you do it and with early pregnancy too. Hope the next few weeks fly by so you reach 12 weeks really soon.

Sweet – How old is mini sweet? I have been reading about weaning. Is she six months already or did you start earlier?

MrsM – sorry to hear about infected joint worries and possible CP. Are you okay?

Cramps, nosebleeds and general nausea continues here. Had a particularly bad couple of days with my wriggly worm who is spasming all over the belly 24 /7 at the moment. It’s quite amazing to watch my belly shake all by itself from side to side. Really worried that this is going to be an extremely hyperactive child. Glad he is moving and it is re-assuring but wouldn’t mind just 20 mins of stillness! All the jumping in my belly is what’s making me want to vomit I think.

free you crack me up, I'm sure Doulas see all sorts including messy kitchens I am impressed with all your busyness, I wanted to come back to clean home didn't want visitors to think I was a slob

buzz they are indeed MAM bottles, and C is a fan!

sweet that does sound like fun... for him I'll check out the medala bottles. We were using Tommi Tippi Closer to Nature bottles, which are supposed to make switching between bottle and breast easy, but they didn't help the wind issue.

I'm relatively laid back about getting to grips with bfing. It would just make life a lot easier if I didn't need to pump as it's so time-consuming and I've had blocked ducts twice already, which I think are probably due to the pump shells digging in (I should probably try other sizes). I've realised I would always need to take bottles out though, as I drip like a leaky tap and we both end up covered every time I try to breastfeed, and that takes some of the appeal away.

sea C has continued her movement patterns outside the womb. She always stretched a lot and continues to do so - she has a big stretch routine that she likes to go through when she wakes up and get very grumpy if interrupted. She also had a couple of active days followed by one where she did move but was distinctly quieter (terrifying us after the placenta issue came to light) in there and continues to in the outside world.

We were both formula babies too (well, I was breast fed for a few weeks but my mum stopped because she said she was "drowning" me - I suspect she had the same leaking issue that I do!) and we are both fine, so I am not anti-formula. I will keep pumping/trying to bf for as long as I can though because as a premmie C's gut is quite delicate and human milk is just easier to digest. If I wanted to put her on formula, I would need to get a prescription one.

free I am sure your doula has seen worse!

I cannot believe that C is 4 weeks old already. I put some "then and now" photos up on t'other place last night. She really has changed so much and come so far already in her short life. She's just grown out of her first babygrow too. And at her weigh in yesterday, she had put on a full pound since her birth. :)

euro Lovely pics on the other place you can take use other teats if you think the MAM ones are too flat and causing confusing between breast and bottle, BB too liked them but I thought I'd try the Dr Browns and they are a hit too but only with the MAM teats , I tried others and she couldn't/wouldn't manage them

Yes the time does fly by :) So get that camera out

euro thanks for the feeding updates. I am so glad to read you being on the other side even though you've had such a hard time of it and didn't get the birth you wanted. It gives me hope that in the end, my baby will arrive and it will be ok.

mrsmellow babyM infected joint sounds awful. thank goodness he is on the mend. amazing that a 10++er is thinking about number 2. That is great.

sea how are you getting on? what week are you on this week? how are your leg cramps?

bunny all ok? those first weeks drag by as you have already experienced - I am keeping everything crossed for you - except my legs as I am now too massive to do that.

buzz I've given up a bit on the clean house - MrFree has gotten bored of waiting and decided now is the time to start on some long overdue house DIY and is making clouds of dust and leaving little piles of tools and equipment everywhere. At least I can finally use my deep breathing techniques - if only to remain calm about sodding mess.

No minifree yet. I'll be checked every other day this week, with the recommendation of an induction next weekend at 41+3 according to doctors and 40+6 according to me. Baby is presently estimated to be about 8.1 lbs and doing fine, all checks show everything is in order but I am glad they are keeping a close eye on me. Midwife reckons I'm at 1cm dilation. Dr has been unable to verify this. So I continue to wait.

Hope you all have a lovely week.

free typical of a man to start DIY at a time like this, perhaps he is getting a little nervous do they offer you sweeps or is that classed as out of date where you are, I remember thinking oooh that will help, until the MW couldn't reach my cervix

Induction wasn't that bad in the end, just a bit boring waiting for things to get moving, 15 hours to get to 1cm but then it all happened at a pace after that but hopefully things will happen soon, I hope you can say no to the induction if you don't want it next weekend

free - Mr Grouch also suddenly got busy doing random stupid things around the house right around my induction date, I ignored it and assumed his sudden flurry of busywork had something to do with nerves. 8.1 lbs is a nice sized baby. Hopefully baby will get the eviction notice and get things moving without help. Have they discussed the possible induction methods with you? We have a few that involve having a prostglandin gel/cream being spread on your cervix or a sweep and then going home and letting things progress more "naturally". Others that involve simply breaking the water, or even pitocin. Regardless of the method, or if baby starts things naturally it won't be long before you have your first face to face meeting.

bunny - I hope all is well with you and that your toddlers teeth have come through so you can get some much needed sleep

Euro - I'm glad you aren't too worried about the bfding. I think I was so tired after mini was born and overwhelmed I got too focused on how that part of my experience was going. I actually had 2 shell sized, one for when I got engorged and one for when I wasn't. The plugged ducts are really hard to deal with. Have they been unplugging on their own? How are you feeling? Centime is really cute and she looks like she has put on weight

buzz - I hope you're going well. I am in teething sharting hell. I went to grab what I thought was a smashed blueberry off of minis leg yesterday only to discover it was escaped shart insert barf emoticon.

sea - How are you holding up? Are the nosebleeds easing? I found that the slimfit tampons did a wonderful job absorbing the blood so I could be handsfree while my postpartum nosebleeds were happening . Are you getting faint with them after?

We hosted a huge baptism this weekend. Everything went well enough and mini behaved. I slept 4 fragmented hours last night because the poor boy was howling with sore gums and Mr was getting sick in the bathroom - an all around tough night. He is napping right now so I am going to get back to the washing up.

sweet Sympathy for the sharting and sore gums its so miserable for them, I did at the blueberry, so who is napping mini or Mr G :)

BB is having wind ishoos that are waking her up, good old weaning I suppose

thanks for the encouragement buzz and your induction experience. sorry about the tough night sweet I hope mini's gums improve and Mr gets well soon. congratulations on the successfully hosted baptism

induction methods discussed with my midwife are

• cytotec (Misoprostol). given orally as in the vagina it can cause uterine hyperstimulation - midwife said number 1 choice of attending doctor but my actual doctor (partner in practice of attending doctor) refused to comment on it today as it is not actually approved for labour induction despite being widely used for this purpose and she has no personal experience of it. I am in two minds having read cochrane review and RHL summary in WHO reproductive library on its use. must stop googling
• Prostaglandin gel - in the vagina
• Prostaglandin tablet - in the cervix -(my actual doctor favours this as most effective)
• if already at 3-4cm - oxytocin is given on a drip
• my waters will be broken only if they don't go naturally during labour or I am not progressing - they like to avoid it if possible

in terms of stretch and sweep - I asked my actual doctor today why I hadn't been offered this and she said - ah, yes, well to be honest, if we can get our fingers in to check your cervix, we just do it but I can't reach your cervix so I haven't. So yeah, thanks for that information. I thought the midwife had had a go but they just say vague things like, this may be a bit uncomfortable. [TMI alert] The young and slenderfingered midwife reckons I am at 1cm and said quite cheerfully she almost got 2 fingers in so things are looking good. Anyway, I have been seeing what I think looks like bits of mucus plug in the loo so fingers crossed it'll kick off soon.

Free - hope it is the mucus plug. Induction doesn't sound like much fun. You are so close. I will be checking back for progress. If no update I will assume mini free is making an appearance. I'm 34+2 today so still a few more weeks to go.

Sweet - sorry to hear you had such a tough night. I have started to read a couple of books about how to deal with baby in the first year and beginning to realise how unprepared I really am. I think I still don't truly understand how different life will be. I did laugh at your comment re tampons and nosebleeds. They seem to have stopped but leg cramps are back with a vengeance - I'm still limping around 3 days after a particularly bad one in the middle of the night.

Euro - how's little C? I hope she is feeding well and gaining lots of weight. And you? How are you feeling? Do you feel fully recovered from the section yet?

Buzz - how's little b? I hope the explosive nappies have passed.

Still plodding along at work here. Only 3 more weeks to go. Constantly fetal movement and churning is beginning to get quite sore and painful but also grateful he is active. Just can't eat much anymore as the constant spinning makes me want to throw up.

free - yay to the plug going! Hopefully your labour will start soon! I really hope you get the birth you want.

sea - I think everyone wings it at first and that no two babies are alike. You'll be fine

buzz - ugh to wind ishoos. Do warm baths help her? mini likes to have them, it helps move the wind and he finds the bubbles amusing teehee. Both Mr and mini were napping.

euro - hope all is well with you guys.

Mini is standing on his own now - pulling himself up - and then promptly falling because he still has poor balance. I really hope we don't end up with stitches!

free am hoping for some lovely news very soon. :)

sweet that's amazing. They develop so fast.

sea I know nothing about parenting. I had been so focussed on the pregnancy and birth, I sort of neglected the dealing with a baby part! It's fine though - the first few weeks it's all about sleep, food and poo and you don't need a PhD to figure that stuff out. We actually bought our first parenting book yesterday (any recommendations? We got the Baby Whisperer without much research - we just grabbed the first one that looked half decent as C was with us and about to start yelling for milk!) and C will be 5 weeks old tomorrow. We noticed in the last few days that she is having more alert periods and thought she might need something more to stimulate her. We got a baby playmat yesterday too, but were thinking she would be too little to show interest yet, but she seems to love it.

We have the mw coming later, so will see how the weight gain is coming along. She can breastfeed now, but the milk doesn't come quickly enough for her, so she has a little go and then yells for a bottle. I'm feeling a bit half hearted about breast feeding at this point, but expressing is such a pain. It is quite restricting to not be able to be away from the pump for more than a few hours.

Evening all

Free I hope things are going now. You sound so well prepared. Looking forward to hearing your good news.

Euro I'm sorry that expressing is continuing to be a ball ache. I think the baby whisperer gets some mixed reviews. I've read it and I loved the EASY routine thing she sets out. The breastfeeding advice is total crap though - out of date and wrong. I read it when mini bunny was tiny and it really stressed me out. Loads of mnetters on the breastfeeding board ( including a bf councillor) were massively anti the baby whisperer advice. I've read a lot of parenting books and I can't say I've taken a huge amount if anything from any of them. I do like Wonder Weeks, which talks about development stages and gives you ideas if what activities to do / toys to buy and also tells you that they might be uber grouchy due to brain developments. I found the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding handy and I must confess to seeking solace in anything by Dr Sears, but I know the attachment parenting approach isn't for everyone. C is looking gorgeous, so so cute and chunking up nicely too and love that she's playing on her mat already. Awww!

Sweet oooh you have my sympathies with those teeth. We've got two molars now. The third is busting under the gum. Her cold is getting better and we're starting to get her more into her cot. She was awake a lot last night but she was more in the cot than our bed which is big progress. I did at the shart-berry. We've had some grim poo moments won't mention the naked playing with poo on the kitchen floor a few months back The baptism party sounded lovely. I hope you had a great time.

Waves to buzz and sea

I'm 8+5 today. I threw up this morning. My MS is nowhere near as bad as last time but I've been floored by exhaustion this afternoon. Mini bunny has been taken out to her grandmas with DH this evening so I can have a rest. I've got my booking in appointment next week and scan 3 weeks tomorrow. I still can't accept there's anyone in there and feel in denial to a certain extent. It's weird because I have lots of symptoms but just keep thinking it's going to be bad news at the scan. I think it's natural to be pessimistic at this stage though. Then on the other hand I'm terrified of looking after 2 under 2 and coping on my own with parents who can't really help and DH having to work. And then there's the rest of the day where I just have to get on with everything and have no time to think.

On that note, I'm settling down with tea for the bake off.

euro I did find the Week by Week book quite helpful for the first few weeks as its just a few pages of what to expect etc,feeding eating baby etc, you just need to read what is coming up in the next week so you don't have to absorb lots of information. I have the Wonder Weeks too but it gets a bit much after awhile, too much to read but tells you when the next developmental leap is coming or the 'cloud' and what to expect, I have the baby whisper but have never read. Yes the pump is like a lead collar, I would set a date say 1-2 weeks and then reassess, I just used to go out and never really pumped as much as they advised, if I had we would never have left house and I think interaction with others is really important.
I think we had a playmat thing and she just lay there looking at it, white noise is something they like, it works a treat on BB if she needs calming down I think anything black/white patterns and different textures too at this age, Lamaze make lots of stuff like that, there are some black/white books too for when she is a bit older

sweet YAY to standing up :) BB is just starting to pull herself onto her knees, she is a bit off walking as her tendons are still tight and she 'walks' on her toes. BB has a few toy things to occupy her in the bath but she is far more interested in the net bag that holds them She is getting interested in the whole BLW but does like it to be soft and smooth, she has a delightful habit of putting something in her mouth then slides it in/out like a lizard tongue then finally spits it out

free hope you are ok, I don't think you get much choice about induction, I had the joyous tape shoved up near my cervix, I have to be honest and say it was quite painful when the put it up and when they removed it to check my cervix but it did the job, they put me on the drip at the end when my contractions slowed down

sea you really have suffered but not long now and you'll hold your baby, and in time you'll forget how ill you were, well not forget but it lessens in your mind :)

bunny yay to symptoms

Free - I am taking your silence that mini free has made an appearance. I can't wait to hear your news.

Euro - I am sorry to hear bf is still challenging. I am reading the Baby Whisper book at the moment. I quite like the way it's written but obviously have no clue if any of the advice is any good. I also have the Week by Week book as 2 good friends who have babes under a year old at the moment both recommended it and... ahem I have the Gina Ford book as a group of friends with slightly older children all love her so I thought I would give it a go. I have read it but tbh I am utterly confused by the timings she suggests. I think it's a matter of wait and see what kind of baby I get. Love that little C is already liking her playmat. She sounds like a cutie.

Buzz - I hope it will lessen in my mind as there is no chance I will have another at this rate. It feels like he wants to come out now - through my belly button - it's like he is trying to crawl has way out. How are the wind issues? Hope BB is not suffering any more.

Bunny - Great to have symptoms! Sorry you are feeling so tired though. 2 under 2s sound exhausting but at least they will be close in age which I think is a good thing for siblings.

Have definitely started to waddle and no longer walking like a lady...

sorry to report that there is nothing to report other than I'm rather tired now but still no mini, and no labour. just backache, which I'm keeping an eye on with dr in case it turns out that miniFree is back to back. 41+1 tomorrow on dr. dates. dr said today as the heartbeat is steady she doesn't see a need to recommend induction just yet. next check up is on Friday morning where we'll look at size, placenta function, amniotic fluid again. MrFree is coming with me. sorry to post so selfishly but I'm feeling a bit stressed now and remaining calm is a bit of a challenge.

buzz what is joyous tape?

free backache could be the start of it my induction was a little bullet with a tape like tail thingy and it was most joyous when she put it up there

sea I'm sure you waddle like a lady I'm sure mini sea will be a calm happy baby, he is just getting excited about meeting you, one of NCT group did Gina and it worked a treat

free - I was thinking the same thing as buzz - for some people a backache is the start . Don't worry about the post, you are stressed and I think it's very normal to be getting nervous.

buzz - the bullet sounds like it was quite grim. He went from knees to standing within 1.5 weeks - BB might have some surprises in store for you! He also decided that climbing would be a good thing to start this week and gave himself a black eye . I love seeing the photos of bb on the other place - she is so cute with her chunky monkey cheeks and thighs. She looks like such a happy one.

sea - I'm sure your waddling is quite ladylike. I don't have any useful advice about parenting books or methods. I only downloaded an app that tells me the developmental milestones and it provides reference material if you have specific issues. I also have the baby manual provided by the government, which seems to be quite good.

bunny - yay for symptoms! I'm sorry for your worries, I understand the coping without help from your own parents and the nervousness about 2 under 2. You sound like a terrific mother to your first and I am sure you will carry on and manage to be as great with the second.

euro - I'm sorry the pumping is so tough. I understand the feeling of it being very restrictive. I think buzz's advice is spot on and you should reassess at set intervals to make sure you are happy and what you are doing still makes sense for all of you. I hope the MW visit went well and that everything is progressing nicely with C - she is so cute with her little button nose.

MrsM - I hope all is well with you and that TTC #2 isn't too traumatic.

free - I hope your appointment went well and really hope miniFree has made an appearance

not yet sweet but thanks for thinking of me. mini is still completely fine on ultrasound and heart monitor but dr does recommend induction if nothing happens over the weekend. my back pain is less severe now I know mini is ok and I have spoken openly about how frightened I am of something going wrong. I think it was totally stress related. Dr has recommend oxytocin drip though. will talk it through with midwife again. heart beat of child will be measured on saturday and sunday at hospital.

bunny sorry if I missed it but when is the scan? keeping all crossed for you

buzz thanks for explanation. at what point where you induced again?

euro I've got that babywhisperer book too but in foreign so it is taken me a bit longer to read. I would be interested to know your thoughts and if it is actually a usable method. sorry to hear of you BF troubles, how is C's weight gain and how was MW visit? great that she loves the mat. we've not bought any toys as yet.

sea I think waddling is ok i am sure you look very womanly - I've been waddling, holding my back and was humming tunelessly to myself like a crazy person around town today whilst buying up pineapple at the market and more raspberry leaf tea. wish I'd started earlier as I got a lot of kind smiles and comments and people letting me jump the queue in the chemist.

off to circle on my ball to the sounds of some reggae

Ah free. You poor love. I know you must be willing mini free to come now. I hope she/he makes an appearance soon.
Yay to queue jumping and nice strangers.

Euro you are doing so well re bf. How did the weight in for C go?

Posted too quickly.
Sweet - yay to standing already. Wow that's fast. You must be v proud

Buzz - It would be amazing to have a gina baby but I know that's highly unlikely. I think baby whisper baby sounds more realistic. (She says hopefully).

Vomiting has returned. Threw up on street yesterday. Builders across the road came over to see if I was okay. I think they thought I was going into labour. Very embarrassed.

Hello. Just a short update. Our daughter minifree was born last night after a slightly over 3 hour labour friend from first painful contraction to birth. We're both ok. She's just over 4.2kg. Thanks all so much for your encouragement in the last days. Will post a Photo on my profile for the next 24 hours if you are interested.

Huge congratulations free! That's wonderful news And wow to a 3 hour labour! Hope you are enjoying lovely new born snuggles and getting some rest yourself xxx

Yay free that is great news so.pleased.for.you, glad all.is ok and quick, so.much for your mws view [smile