OVER HERE!!! Due April 2015

[cinnamongreyhound]

Whoops we ran out of thread! Tried to post and couldn't, hope someone else hasn't already started one :)

Fetal not feral! Autocorrect haha

Why all so quiet, or is there another thread I've missed?
Today is ten weeks for me - still another 10 days to go til my booking appt, and scan is planned for 1 Oct, so feels like ages since I've had any medical appts etc and got the usual worry about a silent mc or something being wrong.
Had vague nausea and feel pretty tired, but no bump yet.. Just so hoping all is OK.

Don't think my budget will stretch to that unfortunately, I'd love to have it done for peace of mind. I know that if my results come back high risk in the NHS screening I can take part in a study doing further non-invasive screening (got a leaflet with my scan letter), but if I'm low-risk I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed nothing is missed.

at feral

Linda I find pregnancy a lot weirder than BFing - when pg last time I was pretty icked out by the idea of something growing and moving inside me but it became normal. After pregnancy and birth, I had got used to the idea that my body was built for this, so BFing didn't phase me. (Also DD was prem and NICU explained about how breastmilk was so much easier on their tummies and digestion, so I would've felt guilty not to try). When I did give her a bottle after a few weeks it actually felt weird - like I was feeding a doll or something - BF felt a lot more natural, to me.

Breast pumps are just comical (and expressing is SO boring). I felt like a cow. This whole process does underline the fact that we are just animals!

God I'm tired today, first day back at work after 2 weeks off and thank goodness I am working from home. Just had my lunch because I felt a bit lightheaded but now I could just close my eyes and have a snooze but I have 2 weeks of work to catch up on and loads of phone calls to make.

Those that have had early scans have you had them at the epu or have you paid for a private scan?

My 12 week scan is in 3 weeks but Im wondering whether to arrange something to put my mind at rest that this time everything is ok.

Haha minipie I am just as freaked out by that whole 'alien' thing growing in side me as well. I expect this is all just normal total freaking out though as its my first baby. Its interesting how it challenges my concept of 'self' ..?

Pretty sure any baby I have will be 'feral' :)

wineandchocy I went private (£100 for the scan) you can get one done at the EPU but you have to have bleeding or a cause for concern. Some EPU's you need to be referred to, some you can self refer. I haven't had any bleeding but I just feel 12 weeks is a long time away and I would feel reassured to know either way a little sooner, granted they don't confirm that the following weeks will go well after but a heartbeat and measuring on date drops your MC % down.

I'm an idiot - thought all were quiet, turned out I'd been stuck looking at the first page for about three days..

at peppercorn

Wineandchoccy I've had early scans due to persistent bleeding. I also know people who have had them for cramping or because of complications in previous pregnancies.

Pumping sucks LindaLove!!! I did it with ds1 for 6 months when I went back to work, at tea break and just before I went home every day! With ds2 I was childminding but I pumped to keep a bottles worth in the freezer so I could go out but he drank a lot less so was easier. Bfing is totally personal, I was determined because dh has a lot of allergies and it was tough for the first 8 weeks with ds1 but I was so glad I persevered, it's so convenient as well as lovely (but I think that cuddly feeding time is lovely with a bottle too) and with ds2 I was better and he didn't feed as much so it was much easier much quicker. Just meant I didn't want to wean as it's very inconvenient when out

Haha cinnamon this is why I think I'll have to do a mix of boob and bottle, as the idea of getting some machine our and milking myself like a Friesan is just perhaps too much!

Dh was glad not to feed very long story from his first ds but my mum was not impressed at all at my bfing but you can't please everyone all of the time! Having a baby leads everyone to give you loads of advice, all of which they expect you to take ime!

Afternoon all.

I had my booking in appointment this morning. All went fine, and I was classed as low risk/midwife-led, which I wasn't expecting due to my BMI. She arranged my scan whilst I was there - 20th October, (will be 11+6 then). Feels like ages to wait.

I have to admit it, it still doesn't feel very real. I half wanted to ask the midwife to check I was pregnant, just in case I was making the whole thing up. Although given how awful I felt over the weekend, that should be proof enough.

Our area too SquattingNeville, most people don't even try. I felt quite isolated but I have a tougher skin now. I was lucky too that none of my minding parents were upset by their kids going home bfing their teddies and dolls!

This time I'm going to try to avoid expressing altogether since it will be hard to find the time with a toddler as well.

I think I'll BF exclusively for the first few weeks to get supply established and then will add in an 11pm formula feed so I can get more sleep DH can get involved with feeding and also to help ensure the switch to bottles later goes ok. Unless of course there are any signs of dairy allergy in which case I'll stick with EBF.

Breastfeeding was a bit of a nightmare with DD as she was so sleepy at the start (prem) and then turned out to be tongue tied (but only diagnosed v late ) but this time I will be getting DC2 checked for tongue tie practically as soon as they hit fresh air so hope to avoid those problems.

Anyone else have tongue tie last time?

I would of liked to expressed with DD but she just wouldn't get on with the nipple on the bottle and didn't even like a dummy. It was boob or nothing I liked it that way although DH did have a touch of depression for being left out. I did try her with expressed milk so he could feed her but she just wouldn't take it and I didn't want to force her if she was fine with mummy milk straight from mummy.
Your right about formula being expensive and if you add that to the cost of nappies well it adds about £20+ a week to the shopping bill. Can't afford that.

I will be formula feeding my bean. The meds i was on before ttc are not compatible with bf. And i will have to go back on them as soon as bubba is out.

I have ff all of mine tho, do isn't a huge decision for us. Also the children all like to have a turn at feeding the baby. Dd2 has already picked out the bottles she wants for the baby in tesco!

My scan is also on oct 1st. I have another midwife app before then

I really hope I can breastfeed! It's great that some of you have been successful in the past, means us newbies have someone to turn to when it gets tough :)

I will be exclusively breastfeeding for six months (i.e. no formula) due to a family history of allergies. My DS3 has cows milk protein intolerance so he can't have regular formula. I'm hoping I won't have to give up dairy while I'm breastfeeding but I'm kind of expecting to have to at this point. I'd better eat all da cheese while I still can!

Oh that's a bummer Stuntman. I went dairy free for a couple of months as there was a concern DD had dairy allergy - it was hard (I am a dairy lover). Enjoy your cheese now!

Lady I know a lot of people who have struggled to BF... but also lots who have succeeded in the end. From what I've seen, getting help from a breastfeeding counsellor early on if you are struggling makes a big difference (to check position, check for tongue tie etc) and can avoid a lot of stress/pain. Might be worth looking into your local BFing groups as they often have drop in counsellors. (Tho it's early days yet of course!)

wineanschoccy I paid £50 for my early scan. There's lots of places that offer them nearby, uncluding one about 5 mins round the corner from my house, but they were all around the £100 mark which I struggled to justify. Found Take A Peek over in St Helens which isnt too far, only charged £50 and they were lovely. Would recommend them to any fellow NW-ers.

Im really hoping that I'll be able to breastfeed. I think (possibly naively) that even though id have to do all feeds which will take its toll, it will be so much easier than faffing with bottles. Not to mention cheap! Im also liking the cloth nappies idea, but need to do a lot more research into it.

Hi minipie, DD was tongue tied too, just one of my many BF woes! She wasn't snipped til day 5, but it wasn't done properly so she had to have it done again at 6 weeks, so like you I want it checked straight away.

My milk didn't come in properly until 2 weeks as I was so anaemic from my PPH, then from about 9 weeks until I eventually stopped at 5 months my supply seemed ever decreasing. It was only then that I found out I had an underactive thyroid which can cause low milk supply. I was such an emotional wreck about the whole thing, am a stubborn cow and didn't want to give up. Fingers crossed now that I know what went wrong last time I might have a better chance this time. But, I'm not going to beat myself up like last time if it doesn't work out!

In my part of north London you can barely make it down the road without seeing a lady BF - this is clearly very cool and I'm glad anyone can and no-one bats an eyelid.

I just had a friend who used to do it and got her boobs out all the time, anywhere, and they were massive veiny zepplin things, which were pretty terrifying, I think it has traumatised me. :)

I'm with you minipie on the whole 11pm formula feed thing, as means you can get some snooze time between say 7pm pm feed and the next I guess 3am one...? Assuming they stick to timings... I'm sure if you just replace one feed a day you're not going to damage your own supply that much if you're careful not to overfeed, assuming you've managed to get it going in the first place/aren't in agony.

What is 'tongue tied?' though?

I do like dances how in theory (having never done any of this stuff) bottle feeding yes does mean you can share feeding around with others more easily, and not have to pump.

Tongue tied is when the tongue is attached all the way along so baby can't stick it out and therefore stops them latching properly and can lead to painful nipples and not feeding well enough to establish supply.