Feb 2015 - Creeping closer towards the third trimester!

[hanflan]

STATS

I'm definitely going to give BF a go but I hear it's all consuming for the first week till the milk comes in properly. I've read that the more you cluster feed, the easier it gets. There's stuff you're supposed to rub on your nipples the month before you give birth so prepare them. Must find out the name.
What freaks me out is the perennial massage. Thought of me or DH giving it a bash, weirds me out totally!! My yoga teacher swears by it for not tearing. Anyone done it before??

Morning all,

Lanisohl (sp?) is the cream that you guys are looking for, it's apparently really good as hand cream if breastfeeding doesnt work out!

I didnt poo or throw up during my last labour, although I had a highly medicalised labour so it might have been different if things had been more natural, but hopefully that might reassure?

I was a total failure at breastfeeding last time, DS just screamed each time I tried to get him to latch on, so he was mix fed for six weeks, I pumped several times each day, then he went onto formula after that. I think my failure did contribute to my pnd, trying really hard to not obsess about breastfeeding this time, but I really hope it works...

I have just eleven days of actual working left, my motivation went out the window months ago though.....

Bf didn't work out for me last time - I expressed for about 3 months and topped up with formula as baby couldn't get the hang of bf. this time I'll give it a try again but will be going straight onto bottles if it doesn't work.

Morning all.
Memphis is entirely right, Frenetic- high fives for weird phobias- it just makes us more interesting, right?!

Blank- yes to perineal massage. I've heard good things about the results so well up for giving it a go. Will most definitely not be involving the oh in that though- i feel like my sex life has already taken enough of a battering without me sidling over with that non-romantic request!

Blank yes to massage there is an oil specifically for it in baby section of boots. My friend was badly scarred from her ds and requested a section but went into labout day before the mw massaged her there as baby crowned and she didn't tear at all eventhough it was scar tissue so will be doing it after her recommending it?

I also hate being sick it's one of the reasons I don't get drunk. I'm quite proud that I've never been sick due to alcohol.

I really struggled bf last time. Not helped by being only 20 and the mw presuming I'd be ff. I was in hospital for 5 days with DS and just couldn't get the hang of it. The mw would come and force him on my boob then walk away. He'd then just unlatch. I hated it and spent most of it crying. Come day 4 I had a lovely mw who came and properly helped me. Turns out I have inverted nipples so he was never going to latch. She gave me some nipple shields usually used for when you have mastitis. Within mins he was feeding and I loved it. Unfortunately I couldn't get expressing right either so stopped feeding when ds was 4 months.
This time I'm prepared I've got shields that I need to start wearing at 32weeks that will bring my nipples out ready for birth so I shouldn't have latch problems. I can also take baby with me to work so will still be able to feed.
I'm realistic though and have bought bottles and milk just in case.

Spoke to my MW this morning, she was incredibly apologetic when I explained my story, but she didn't seem in the least bit surprised. I wonder if it's a common complaint with my local hospital. When I said we'd decided on a different hospital she agreed she feels we'd be happier there.

Full of cold today, just going to camp out on the sofa and watch films.

I also have three coldsores. I might be a bit run down!

Just reading all of your messages....and up until now the birth didn't panic me but sick and poo I am not looking forward to! at least you are all laughing about it.

I have a strange worry about bf. I have had both of my nappies pierced (healed up years ago) and one of them was done in each direction. now I cannot believe I did this as I am panicked it could stop me from bf. it'll teach me for loving having piercings!

trukevoli I had my nipple pierced and it's the boob that leaks loads, so it shouldn't be a problem for breastfeeding :D Midwife said it won't affect it either, there are so many holes in the nipples the scar tissue would have only affected a small proportion of them.

truk - I used to have a nipple piercing that I took out about 10 years ago, but it still has 'holes' if that makes sense? TMI alert - also because the holes never fully 'healed' I often get old skin that comes out of them. Lovely.

My MW doesn't seem to think it will affect BF, but she said to ask a midwife that knows more about BF to be sure, which I will be doing in the new year!

My yoga teacher suggested any type of oil for perineal massage, even olive oil!

Peppermint - I was told olive oil last time too.

thanks guys! I was going to go to a workshop in January and ask then. hoping to go down to a three day in the office and two at home in the new year so will hopefully fit these things in! just wish work wasn't so manic.

My gp has signed me off work for another week and has answered quite a few of my OC questions
Also advised me what to nag the hospital docs about so feeling a bit more positive.
I am trying to keep a laidback attitude about breastfeeding too memphis I want to try, but am not going to beat myself up if it doesn't work. We had a breastfeeding session as part of our nct classes, but the lady was actually really good, and not 'this is the only way'. She obv advocated that breastfeeding is best, but that it is hard work to begin with and u may need lots of support. She was also of the attitude that only u know when it is time to stop, be that after 1 week, 6 weeks or 6 months etc. Made me feel a bit better about it

Woohoo, new hospital will take me! I posted about it on Facebook and a load of friends came forward with horror stories about the local hospital; definitely making the right call!

whoop whoop! Excellent stuff frenetic

Frenetic I am so so happy to read this, hope you get an appointment asap to see if they will give you a section.

I also had my nips pierced but mine healed over fine, not sure if they would getm ilk out the holes as I didn't even leak once last time!

I am all packed, eyebrows de fuzzed, hair cut and nails done, I am good to go, great thing about packing while pregnant is you don't have many clothes that fit so you don't have worry about what to pack

Really pleased for you frenetic hope things get easier for you from now on in

jen glad gp has given you some good info and reassurance.

frenetic I'm glad new hospital have taken you, sounds like it will be better all round. Fingers crossed you see the consultant really soon and get your CS agreed.

Ok, need tips on encouraging bump to move; he's usually really active during the evenings so I'm not panicking yet, but I haven't felt anything definite in quite a while... hoping it's just because I feel so rough with this cold....

I've tried clapping, see if that wakes him up!

drink something really cold and eat something high sugar then lie on left side. this is what hospital advises and monitor kicks for an hour

Frenetic - really cold drink or gently rubbing bump, usually work for me.

I breastfed my first for 7 months and the second for a year. The first month with my first I had incredibly sore nipples. The creams can help a bit but don't believe the stuff about preparing them beforehand, I don't think that is possible. The reason I stuck it out and continued with both for as long as possible was pure LAZINESS. The sterilising, washing, mixing, pumping... it's just easier to whack out a boob and I'm so grateful I was able to do so, and glad I stuck it out for that first month. Forget the kids, they'd have done just fine on formula...

Ooh- last message! New thread time!
Frenetic- I find if I lay on my back, he's infinitely more active than if im in any other position

Honey- loving the laziness reasoning for breast feeding- i've never looked at it that way :D