February 2015 Thread # 8 - The babies are arriving!

[GeekyHybrid]

Hopefully people will find this. Hello lovely ladies, and babies!! Exciting times

Thank you for that positivity Purple. Exactly what I needed tonight!

Frenetic it is hard and your DS being a big boy will mean he's more demanding on you to try and build your supply faster.

Expressing is an extremely hard way to have to resort to, to feed them - it adds so much work. Have you got a bf support worker locally who can help you try and get DS latching? You'd probably feel a lot lot better if he would. If not remember there's no shame in swapping to ff - dont be like I was with my first and struggle on because of guilt (with DS when I did finally swap I wished I'd done it sooner).

Hope things improve for you.

Thank you WhyO. Is it not too late to persevere with breastfeeding? I've not attempted in over 24 hours.

Hey Frenetic
I thought BF started well but then baby was feeding every 45-50mins through the night and I was exhausted.... Day 3 my nipples were so sore and cracked to the point of forming bloody blisters, and then feeding got excruciatingly painful! Have been in tears from it since then.
It turns out the baby has slight tongue-tie so she can't latch on comfortably and only gets small amounts each time. We have a specialist coming this week to try to sort it.
Having now read up on this condition, it apparently often gets missed by midwives and health visitors (though mine spotted it) so it is definitely worth bringing up.

Bangles also got the baby blues today Day 5 - my insides feel so battered and bruised, and we also overdid it with the visitors... going to have a chilled week this week. As the saying goes, just "Be Three" as much as poss

Frenetic, it's def not too late to keep trying with bf if you want to, you're still lactating so it's sounds like it might be a latch issue?

Three weeks on and I can still get milk leaking out, so you might well be the same.

Have you had him checked for tongue tie?

Morning all :-).
Just went toilet and wiped some bright pink blood. I am assuming this has to do with bloody show but still called birth centre ( 40 +6 today) she said to monitor it with pad and come in if it bleeds like a period. This is my third but never had this before. Like I said earlier today everyone is busy so if it starts before 4pm means me alone in hospital partner will be with children. Would be so typical!!! So let's see what happens....

Frenetic I've had several nights like this. My bf counsellor said they go through growth spurts at 5, 10, 15 and 21 days where all they want to do is feed. My god it's the hardest thing ever we're on day 16 now and had the worst night fri and Saturday where I couldn't put him down. I seriously considered giving up but oh knows I set myself a goal to try to get to 6 months so is trying to encourage me.
On the bad days where I was really engorged and lo couldn't latch I was using an electric express to get some off and give it to him through a syringe. This seemed to calm him enough to then latch. My nipples were agony so I've started using shields. They are a godsend and have helped loads.
Definitely find a consultant/group in your area if you can.

Oh back to work today!

Kat- thats exactly what happened to me- a bit of pink followed by a little gush. I went to triage, had the baby that day and am still none the wiser as to whether it was a normal occurence or not!

Thanks bangles
I so want him to come and I know it's a sign. Found out that one of my girls will be free from 1pm so that's something. It's just hard even though it's third time I feel completely clueless as this has been stopping and starting the last two weeks. Every time I think "this is it" I realise that's it's only gas so thank god for the signs that are showing me that he's on his way. Just feel that I can't trust my judgement anymore and as my partner and friend will have to leave work to come and assist I want to make sure I don't mess them around.

Frenetic if you want to bf then with the right support its not too late. You need someone who specialises in bf, rather than just a midwife or HV (who have some training but often very limited).

Equally though there really is no shame in moving to ff. I really did wish I'd done it sooner with DS - we were all happier for it.

Also remember its not your fault bf hasn't gone well. Some babies just struggle more than others. In fact for me its been a real surprise how much easier it has been with DD than it ever was with DS - she naturally latches better, is much more active and efficient at feeding and seems to have built my supply so much better for it. I've not done anything different, she's just seems to be naturally better at it. (Touching wood - I don't want to jinx it).

Frenetic as Donkir said try pumping some off if your boob is really firm the baby will struggle to latch so you need to release some milk to soften it up, my friend has had no end of trouble getting a good latch but then was shown how to feed lying down on the bed and had great results withing a week or so was feeding fantastic.

Look up local Sure Start, they normally have breast feeding support workers

I'm actually dreading breast feeding, I didn't enjoy it with DD and it really got me down. I'll give it a good go, and am more prepared this time, have got shields and Lansinoh ready!
Hope babies on way Kats!

I'm back in hospital with an infection, on a drip for 24 hours.

Head, meet brick wall...

Oh lovely, get better soon!

Oh Frenetic. Hope you get better soon.

Oh frenetic you are having all the luck . Get better soon.

Having a day on the sofa with a bit of pottering around. Was so uncomfy last evening and night I didn't sleep until 3.30am, but lay in with the cat until 9.30am so I don't feel too cheated.

Sorry to hear frenetic. Hope it clears up soon.

Well attempt number 2 at a sweep failed again today. (Tmi alert!) Cervix is soft but only open a smidgen. Not even enough for my mw to get a fingertip in. Such a lovely experience, getting roughly fisted by a midwife in the morning for nothing. Joys.

So back at hospital for 3rd go on Wednesday before my induction on Saturday. Have some tres sexy exercises to do in the mean time.

Still having minor moments of panicking about becoming a mum. Every so often I wonder, then feel horrendously guilty, if we made the right choice to have a baby. I know it's nerves though.

But the most dramatic thing of today (other than I actually did the washing up) was that I saw one of my former Form members (current year 11) sitting in the scan area of the antenatal clinic with her mum... and her ma is no spring chicken. She looked very embarrassed to see me.

And Frenetic get well soon sweet. Crappy things come in 3s and you've deffo had at least 3 now. (Crazy mw, rotten pregnancy and now this!)

Flipping eck frenetic, hope you get better soon. And I'll back what everyone else says re bf specialists, godsends, they sorted my latch issues in 2 visits. As long as you have milk then bf can be reestablished as your body will readjust. We had several days of very painful (then impossible) bf, combi of expressing and topping up with formula but now we seem to be on fairly regular 3 hourly feeds, fingers crossed! Best of luck but try not beat yourself up about it, I did, cried buckets, stressed etc but it really didn't help. Big comforting hugs to keep you going, xx

Oh frenetic that's rubbish hope you get sorted soon.

Well I had my 39 week appointment today at diabetic clinic.

Midwife was lovely but little one is not playing. Still wandering free from pelvis. But the midwife did a sweep anyway. Cervix is soft but still posterior not dilated in any way!

She has also booked me for induction next Monday due to diabetes but need to ring at 7 am to make sure there is a bed.

So pretty much peeved off and plan to spend this week marching up and down hills and bouncing and eating spicy food.

On a plus note it's my ds birthday today and he has been ever so sweet. Gone to his childcare so I am going to take advantage and have a post lunch nap!
I will get re examined next Monday and if she is still in this position they are talking about a c secto !!!

Frenetic hope you're out soon and feel happier bf! So tough

Lancashire when was you due? I am 40 +3 I haven't got my first sweep until 41 weeks hope it does something I've been tempted to DIY but some people have said it may be dangerous. What kind of exercises have you been given?

Yes, I'm also intrigued about these exercises!! I'm due a sweep on Wednesday so all suggestions very welcome!

I'm only 38+2 weeks but have metformin managed GD so my MW wants to induce early. They won't let me go past 40 weeks at all. (Even though my levels only get to 7 after white, refined carbs. Even choc doesn't send it high if I'm not tired/ dehydrated)

Have been doing my exercises - OH is saying that I'm twerking the baby out! LittleMiss MW suggested sitting forwards on a chair, rather than leaning back. She also says that once an hour stand with feet shoulder width apart, lean slightly forwards and wiggle and sway hips for a minute at least (think doing a Shakira Shakira); when going for a wee sit there a while longer to stretch pelvis.

Oh Lancashire I will be copying those exercises. I am diet controlled gestational diabetes so had been told that wouldn't be allowed to go to 40 weeks but now provisionally booked for induction on 40 weeks dependent on bed situation

I just have a feeling that there will be no beds on a Monday! I was annoyed as I had geared myself up for thenm to say Friday or Saturday for induction. As all the midwives kept telling me that I wasn't allowed to go to term! But obviously that's not true now!

Will try and tweak her out!