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

emoly I wouldn't worry too much - dp has been making hints about sex for the past week or so

I noticed a red mark on ds's arm earlier and I've just realised it's where he sucks/chews it sometimes when he's going to sleep!

I have no intention of looking at my war wounds. There weren't any issues sex wise after DD1 was born and I got a 2nd degree tear then too so hopefully things will be fine again this time. Although frankly at this point I don't care if it never happens again, it's so uncomfortable down there.

Had our Day 5 MW visit today. Baby Kiwi screamed through the whole heel prick test - louder every time more blood was squeezed out - and hated being weighed. She's a grouchy child. But she's only dropped 80g (of the "permitted" 340g) so she's obviously getting plenty of fatty milk from me.

I've been feeling sore in my abdomen so was imagining all sorts of dire things like an infection but MW says my uterus has almost completely disappeared so it's no wonder I'm sore, it's gone so quickly. I'd like my body to be in a little less of a rush to get things done.

My breasts had gone down nicely but have filled up again over the afternoon and are now sore. I hate the days of engorgement. (Sounds like a particularly dire film.)

We've made it to post-teatime and I must confess to a few episodes of Postman Pat to keep DS entertained until bathtime whilst I bounce DD to sleep for a nap in her bouncer chair to try and stop her moaning screaming which is upsetting DS and giving me a headache . DH said he was hoping to be home for bathtime which would be great.

Hope everyone else doing well.

Kiwi who would you get to play you in "Days of Engorgement"?

Second sweep today, some progress (a bit more effaced but still closed), but baby is slightly lower. Please please please get a move on, you need to pop out before Sunday!

Very grumpy today - MIL sent well-meaning text trying to guess whether baby's birth day will slot nicely into a numerical sequence with other grandchildren, relatives etc (e.g. grandchild 1 on 7th, grandchild 2 on 8th) - I know it's irrational but this harmless bit of numerology put my back right up! Our unexpected, unique little baby is not there to "slot in" or make up the numbers! Grrrrr.

I didn't look at my 3rd degree tear last time although DH did to check stitches as was so sore. DTD after about 6 weeks I think last time.
TMI but pooing is much easier with a 2nd degree this time around!!

DD1 is out with grandparents and DH is looking after DD2 while I have a bath. Although can hear her yelling as he changes her diaper so I may be getting a visitor in a minute .

mupperoon in all seriousness our MW told DH to get me to drink a large glass of wine when I was in early labour to try and relax me a bit as she thought I was getting stressed and slowing things down :) sooo given that baby is pretty close to making an appearance you could probably go for it (on medicinal relaxation grounds only of course ;) )

DH got home half way through bathtime so I have been relieved of duties! Do wish DD would stop doing a mini bit of poo in every clean nappy I put on her but screaming if I don't change her (in my bid for her to do a bit more before changing her!). Swear we've gone through one of those carry packs of nappies in the last 24 hours!!

mupperoon would have to be Tara Reid. She played a blinder in Sharknado.

I think blue has the right idea re wine.

zong one of us now has to look as I'm sore and nurse says to apply vaseline to inflamed area not sure if it's better I do it or dh- he does not want to but then again neither do I! 6 weeks until dtd.. no chance!

auntie ds did exactly the same to his arm but with such a strong suck it blistered, scabbed and now fine- this was on day 1! I can now regularly be heard saying no we do not eat our arms!

blue know the feeling re going through thousands of nappies. Also wish I could change ds without waking. Goes mid feed wait until finished as normally more to come then hes fast asleep!

Nancy tell dh to man up and learn to calm the screaming I forget how much I just know that dh doesn't eg. Just fed ds, hes screaming perhaps he needs winding. Dh looked at me in amazement that I might know why he was crying. ..tell me they (dh/dp) get better without prompting!

ickle oh he can deal with screaming but she was definitely hungry as was trying to feed from his nipple . He managed to get her to sleep last night too where I was failing.

DD just had her best night yet- only woke at 1.30am and 4.30am :) not sure if it's because she stocked up yesterday afternoon- 2 hourly feeds all afternoon/evening or whether the Infacol has helped with wind/sore tum - guess I'll just have to wait and see but the extra sleep was v welcome as I was shattered after yesterday.

ickle think I would prefer to do it myself (just) as would want to be 'in control' or feel as though I had some control.

Nancy lol at DD trying to feed from DH nipple!

I only looked because it was preferable to touching it to check it incase it was really raw!

I don't think I'll be brave enough to check the damage but the prospect is getting very real. Lost my plug last night and my all day period like cramps have just started turning into fairly painful contractions. They don't last very long at the moment but hope something will come if it soon. Really don't want to go to my 41 week appointment on Friday!

Good luck KitKat, sounds promising!

Nancy

Over the years my children have tried to latch on to various body parts including knees, elbows, cheeks, knuckles etc. lf it's vaguely rounded it will do!

Wow! I'm shell shocked, going into day 4 of newborn baby and I'm all over the shop, physically, mentally and emotionally! The day 3 blues are interesting been trying to relax all day but I'm literally worrying about every little thing and constantly googling everything from choking to reflux to what poo should look like ... It's exhausting! I was floating around on adrenaline until today and now I feel like in crashing! I have constant anxiety about DD and then myself!! Hopefully this will pass and I can relax and stop thinking my baby is going to become unwell!!

Birth went really well, 24 hours of early labour which was manageable, things kicked up a notch so went to hosp only to be told I was 1cm dilated - could have cried and punched the stern midwife who sent me home! Dosed up on paracetamol and worked through the next 4 hours trying to sleep then rang hosp who again told me to stay home cue another crying fit! Laboured for another 2 hours before I had had enough of the pain so went into hosp, examined and I was fully dilated (6 hours to dilate!) so birthing pool was filled, I got in, went with my body and have birth 1 hour and 25 minutes later! Had gas and air for about an hour but chose not to use it to push her out! Had 2nd degree tear and pleased to say stitches didn't hurt going in at all!! Also had pessary up the bum which was great!! All in all good experience although won't be repeating in a hurry!!

Breast feeding going well milk came in today so we've had some nappy drama as her bowels kick off (I think it's a bit runny and she filled 3 nappies within 45 minutes - is this normal?) but other than that she's quite content!

My stitches are ok but I've passed a clot tonight which was quite big so freaked me out! I've pooed too and it was ok so all is good, just need to chill the f* out a bit I think!!

Hope your all doing well and babies are happy and healthy! Ladies still to go hang on there it's worth the wait and even though people always say it 'enjoy these last few days being just you' cos it's about to chsnge big time!

• I apologise for spelling and grammatical errors in this post I can't be bothered to read through and check my work so you will just have to read between the lines!! Also typing with fat fingers on phone!!

muperoon

I agree with others, have a bit of wine if it chills you out.

"Days of Engorgement" - now that made me laugh!
my breasts used to be massive when bf DS2 (he was an amaxing feeder) and DH used to call me Pammy (as in Pamela Anderson) .

more like Pancake Polly nowadays...

BabyZing was weighed on Monday and had put on a little bit of weight.
still below birthweight and just below the "protocol percentage" for being discharged so MW will come back on Monday for next weighing session.
but I'm not worried about him, nor were MWs.
he misses feeds because he can not be woken - so we know why he's not gaining weight faster.

howly
good birth story. try and put up with the baby blues, ride the waves instead of trying to fight your feelings. you will feel better in a few days.
again congratulations!

Ooh good luck kitkat ... Nothing happening here for me still :( I'm 41 weeks tomorrow and my next app is Saturday where they will offer me a sweep. Mum is coming up tomorrow eve so that should be nice.

howley sorry to hear how emotional and exhausted you are feeling, as everyone says this is part of it so just tell yourself it's normal to be feeling this way and try to focus on getting through it and knowing it won't lash forever :)

mupperoon how are you getting on?

howly congratulations. Thank you for the birth story. Just wanted to try and reassure you if I can. Emotional rollercoster is normal. Lots and lots of breast milk poos very normal and an excellent sign. Passing clots - some really quite large ones in my experience normal too, especially when you get up and about after resting. But obviously I'm not qualified so always contact midwife if you are worried and they can reassure you.

I'm in a labour room at the hospital. Meconium in the waters which went at about 4am after a few hours of labour, so I'm here now until the baby comes. Gas and air is great. Baby seems happy enough at the moment.

Good luck Mupperoon! Not long now until you get to meet your little one

40+11 here and still nothing!!

Ooh good luck mupperoon!

Yay good luck mupperoon

fox I'm with you!! Hoping for things to get started for us!! :)

All the best, mupperoon!

How are you getting on, KitKat?

Hope things get started for you soon, Emily and Fox. Waiting is so frustrating.

The days of engorgement are slowly coming to an end, thankfully. I'm looking forward to starting a routine, based on what Baby Kiwi does. It will be good to have some structure to my day.

Good luck mupperoon and KitKat.

Zing how about "ZingWentPop", so imaginative! Glad weigh in was ok.

Yesterday I decided to leave the 4 older boys with DH and take DS5 to the breastfeeding group. It was nice to chat to the other mums and I came home feeling recharged.

Good news kiwi if you have any tips would love to hear them as would love some kind of routine!

ellie glad it was helpful- I intended on going to one today but never made it