The final *JULY 2014* The one where we ALL move to post-natal

[justhayley]

Hiya so this will probably be our last ante natal thread Really hope that our postnatal thread is as busy.
You ladies have been a great support, and it's been fab going through pregnancy with you all. I honestly don't know how I would have got through the last 6 weeks of 4am wakings without you.

I'm not due till 24th and have no signs baby is still coming early so will probably be the last one one here - don't forget me!

Anyway will love you and leave you - actually will now pop back onto our regular thread for a chat

Happy birthing

Thanks for the comments ladies, just that after her feed earlier when I was winding her she looked a bit like I do when I had heartburn if that makes sense, like she was in pain/v uncomfortable and trying to swallow back something v unpleasant, so silent reflux I guess, though she has been a bit sick too. Will just keep persisting with the winding and see if it keeps happening, I probably panicked a little bit too since I was also mid row with DH! We've managed a more rational chat and now I've got dd settled he's going to keep an eye on her while I try and sleep until she wants yet more milk!!

Will be brave in the morning and give that a go zing

blue theo is same when screaming in pain in the eve normally, think its wind/adjusting to change in milk?

blue

winding is essential. good job on observing her and panicking a bit less.
might be worth carry on taking notes so you can compare different days, feeds, reaction etc and see if there's a pattern or change, whether she's improving or not.

what do you think about taking her for a cranial osteopathy session? they can help with a range of problems.
all of ours were seen at 3 weeks old - amazing what can be done with just one or two sessions!

I live in Surrey, so if you are anywhere near I can highly recommend my hero of an osteopath and happy to give you his details.
If too far, find someone near you, try and get recommendations from friends, word of mouth is really the best way to find a good practitioner.

ickle

have a big glass of warm water when you wake up. it might help loosen you up.

you must keep in mind that the stitches will not come out.
trust me, I had a massive episiotomy with DS1 because he was forceps delivery and I remember the worry. but it's gotta be done and the longer you leave it the more you will worry.
just do it, try it tonight and each time it will be easier. good luck.

zing the silly thing is gave done 2 poos (sorry tmi) and were ok if bit painful but still scared!
How long was it until you were up and out as normal after the stitches? Think being stuck at home is taking me back to chronic fatigue symptoms...

Also zing I realise this is a way off but did everything recover? I'm also going to be terrified of sex and having another baby and already know it!

zing thanks for advice- we used infacol with DS as he struggled bringing wind up so may try DD with some tomorrow. DH winded after late feed and said she seemed ok and has held the fort downstairs while I got couple of hours sleep-though think she may have cried most of that time :( her latch is ok but slight clicking sound so I wonder if some air getting in?! So glad life is looking a little less crazy at your end!

ickle I didn't have such bad stitches/bruising etc with DS as you have now but were 2nd (almost 3rd) degree going right the way back; It sounds cliché but just take your time-emotionally it was v hard with poo situation and first few times having sex were scary tbh as felt as bit like I was going to fall apart- I thought it would never get better but it does! I stripped off and asked MW to check they were healing ok at a couple of the home visits to help me know how they were doing. In childbirth this time I didn't even think about the previous tear when pushing-the urge to push is too great! Plus this time no tear as better delivery so important to chat to MWs about this during next pregnancy. Re getting out and about can DH help so you could at least pop for a coffee and cake in local cafe or pop to a local friends house just for couple of hours to get out-would really help I'm sure! Sending you a big hug!

Thanks blue so so reassuring to read! I have had midwife check stitches both times and will on Mon too. .. The getting out bit is what's hard- can't walk, the car journey home from hospital was horrific...have booked to register birth on Mon so hoping I can go with dh for that if on sat not looking likely may post pone. Really want to go together!

ickle sounds silly but after her hysterectomy DM used to do 'housewalking' ie gently walking one lap around downstairs then slowly going upstairs and doing a lap into each room and then back downstairs to rest. She could stop and rest whenever she needed but also measure progress as she started to find it a bit easier and then doing two laps etc. Was a good way to rebuild her confidence before heading out. So sorry you're suffering with it all!

Well, aside from fact I've co-slept with the little lady to keep her settled (she woke upset with each bit of wind) we've had a relatively good night. I can feel my milk has come in so going to keep an eye out for engorgement today and keep taking my ibuprofen (will help with breasts but mainly for afterpains/sore back) and drink stacks of water. London/SE has a health weather warning today/tomorrow due to heat so this could be fun!

Still thinking of all those waiting to pop-hope you're doing ok and not suffering too much in the heat! Loving the productivity plate jam sounds yummy and Nancy impressed at your creativity! Hayley glad things better with DP. Come on babies it's fun on the outside!!

Sorry for being so rude and not replying to anyone else's post but just had a huge moment of absolute terror about my induction that's booked for Saturday.

I've (foolishly) been reading up on induction and I've come across all sorts of horror stories about back to back contractions at the start of labour and the need for epidurals and c-section risks being hugely increased and all sorts.

A far cry from my plans for a chilled out water birth. Midwife says I'll most likely need drip as cervix is very unfavourable; very posterior and very high. My hospital does three lots of pessaries then offers c-section or start you on a drip.

Does anyone have any positive induction stories? I've gone from being completely fine to being in a state of crippling fear and I don't know what to do.

collie there're was a thread on here the other day( I think it was in AIBU?) on positive in induction stories, there were lots!

I feel your fear though - I keep thinking I'm going to end up with a failed drip induction, c-section, then need another c-section style op on my endometriosis after I've recovered from the section.

Due date is Monday but not a sniff of feeling like baby will arrive 'on time'. But as my dates were brought forward 3 days and apparently average first baby is 5 days late I'm not really expecting anything to happen til the following week. Unfortunately by that time I'll be 2 days off the date I'd induced.

plate thank you, I'll have a look there!
Fingers crossed for you too, hopefully you'll have a nice easy labour!

Collie please try not to worry about the induction. I was induced last time and was petrified about escalating intervention, but in the event it was fine, just used a TENS machine and gas and air. The contractions did ramp up quickly with the drip, but I tried to take each one at a time. I discussed induction again this time around and apparently it's possible to still use a birthing pool, so perhaps something to look into? If they think the cervix may take a while to become 'favourable' then it's worth getting your head around the prospect of a wait for several days. Would they let you leave hospital after the essay? The policy of my local hospital at the time was to keep you in once the induction process starts. If that's the case, it's worth taking some stuff to do (and an eye mask and ear plugs!) I kept sane by going for walks. Good luck!

Hi collie I had also previously wanted water birth. Ended up with induction- waters broken (cervix very high and 1cm dilated), had a drip and an epidural! Most of labour was fine- dilated steadily. The final part had complications but not to do with interventions. Try not to worry what will be will be and you will get your beautiful baby at the end of it!

plate speaking from people from nct group experience can go from no symptoms to labour quickly! Hope you're not too hot!

Pessary, not essay DOH!

I made a lavender-filled eye mask yesterday for the hospital bag wonders if you can sew earplugs

Today I'm going to try graduating to my first baby outfit, wish me luck!

Congrats to ruth and anyone I may have missed!

zing belated hugs for the crap day. I'm in awe of the logistics it must take for you to get anything done, just hang on and be kind to yourself.

ickle i think I've been feeling v similar to you and this post may be a bit of a rant. Very up and down emotionally, scared about my stitches and healing... (So annoyed that I have an infection despite trying to be really careful with cleaning and changing pads :( )

Although zing and other's tips about poo have really helped. I'm finding having something to read while I 'go' helps distract me enough so that I won't 'push' too hard

On more of a TMI page, the antibiotics I'm taking for my infected stitches seem to have given me and Leo slight diarrhoea which is a bit of a worry in this heat. Keeping an eye on it and making sure I feed as much as possible to keep his fluids up.

Leo is doing well otherwise but he has definitely got the 'arsenic hour' (or arsenic hours!) thing going on where he just goes absolutely bonkers and freaks out in the late afternoon. Is that similar to DD, blue? It's really hard to get him to calm down enough to latch on but we managed it yesterday with a combination of DH carrying him round and round our tiny garden in a sling and some winding. Despite 'knowing' this was a thing with tiny babies I was getting really upset by it the past couple of days. Going to try and keep calm today now I know it's just a thing.

Last worry - last night I found a small lump under the skin on my breast at the edge of the areola. It's not red or anything but does throb a bit when I get the letdown feeling - is this the start of mastitis? And what can I do to stop it considering I'm already on antibiotics for the stitches infection? I put a hot flannel on it during my shower and massaged it - I'm guessing only other thing is to make sure I feed from that breast regularly (thought I was but maybe I need to up my game). Will post that one in the breast feeding thread as well.

Oh and our fridge appears to be broken since we defrosted it yesterday. :( just what you need in a heat wave!

I think that's all my woes off my chest. Sorry for the rant!

Plate I am one of those people who go from no signs of labour to a fast approaching baby so don't despair. DS (1st) was 8 days late according to scans (& 5 days late by my dates ). Waters went 6 hours after second sweep and he arrived 4 hours later. Should have been quicker but he was back to back so 1hr10 pushing. Meanwhile dd arrived on Tuesday morning. No signs on Monday so went poo picking my horse's field (my idea of nesting?!) that evening and she arrived 15 minutes after arriving at hospital so it can be quick with no signs first. Hang in there

Be careful what you wish for! I want this baby to come now, but it turns out today is bad because my friend who was going to take DD has hurt her leg and can't move (the poor soul) and my backup isn't available. Another friend will come to get her, but she's an hour away and I might go very quickly.

So of course I'm now having strong back pain, good tightenings and period cramps. Brilliant. If this is it, and friend can't get here on time then DD won't be able to come with us and DH would have to stay at home with her.

I am a wreck!

small hospital policy is admission from start of induction until birth so very little hope that they'll let me come home. I'll ask about water birth, they can only say no can't they! Thank you

ickle glad to hear that your labour progressed fine in a similar situation, very reassuring! Considered epidural but I'm not sure how I'll feel about having restricted movement

Try and keep calm Kiwi and good luck. (& keep us posted!!)

Ladies I need naming help. I really wasn't expecting a girl. Our surname is Brit. Ton. All one word but don't want it google-able! We really like
Indie but does India with our surname sound somewhat over geographical? Or does it sound ok? Also really like Willa. Any comments from you lovelies would be very helpful.

Ohh and in way to much information that potentially only zing and blue will appreciate but I did it...I had a poo!

its I've not heard of this arsenic hour but think Theo is definitely suffering from this! Guessing not much can do about it!

Photo postcards arrived today- just started writing a few already, will people think I'm mad?!

collie I felt the same about an epidural especially as I had spd but when it came to it I was glad I had it as I could relax, get some sleep (hadn't had much for two nights previous) and when baby came I could enjoy him. I had forceps but that was because of the way baby's head was not the induction but I didn't even feel it and even though people keep saying "poor you" about it I didn't notice being any worse off after for it.