The relaxed grads.

[lostindubai]

Joining from the relaxed TTC-ers. Hoping to see everyone here soon

My stats:
Age 36
DS 29 months old, still bf once a day at bedtime.
Currently 7 weeks pregnant.
History: had a mc at 9 weeks prior to DS - also had bleeding while pg with him but all was well.

Been feeling constantly ill for a week now! Last time I ate to feel better but it doesn't make any difference this time. Only actually been sick twice though. Had to fess up to the parents/PILs already as so off colour. Started taking spatone sachets today to try and increase my energy levels. Looking forward to speaking with a midwife to see what else I can do, if anything.

Good luck Infrance fingers crossed it's that start of something for you and you are meeting your gorgeous new baby very soon! sorry to year you were feeling stressed with work beforehand though...

This one started with period type pains and 4 hours later our DS arrived! Enjoying new born bubble at home and hope all other new mums and babies the same.

Thinking of you too reebok and will wait for further birth announcements as it seems like this thread is on a roll now...

Meant to post this link with info about getting breast feeding off to a good start.

www.lalecheleague.org/nb/nbjulaug05p142.html

Thanks Apple... as it turned out, no sweep, apparently they won;t do it as placenta is low. But monitoring showed baby fine, still lots of fluid left, so no worries right now. We have another 6 days left until they will want to evict I think

Wow lots of babies on the thread! Congrats to all new mamas! Enjoy newborn cuddles.

Thanks apple. Not much news from me...same as usual really. Daily contractions 5 minutes apart but not leading to anything. 39 weeks today and it's my birthday tomorrow so I'm feeling pretty low.

Infrance fingers crossed for you!

Think I will be last on this thread to deliver.

Hi all, quick update from me. I had a feeling things would have moved on a bit since my last post!

Sally, many congratulations on the arrival of your little girl! I hope you're both doing well, how are you feeling now, a few days in? I love the 'newborn bubble' it's a very special place to be.

Apple, congratulations on your baby boy! Hope you're both doing well too? Did you have a water birth at home in the end, I can't remember if that was the plan. How does dd like the role of big sister?

Are all of you mummies getting enough sleep? My dd lets me get between 2 and 4 hour chunks most nights which I'm truly grateful for (the first two nights we got hardly any but that's fair enough!) These nighttime feeds are so important, keeps supply up and special 1:1 bonding time. Is everyone else on here breastfeeding too? I've been lucky, dd took to it straight away, although she never opens her mouth very wide so I'm not completely sure she's taking on enough. I suppose I'd have a grouchy baby if she wasn't, so maybe OK after all. Next weight check will be interesting.

Ds has been so lovely to his little sister. He loves to sit with her placed across his lap, and has plenty of cuddles and kisses for her. After the first couple of days of worrying about noisy crying, he'll now come to offer her comfort when she's having a nappy change. It's really sweet. He has been playing us up a bit lately but we've learned that we have to cut him some slack as he's going through such a massive transition. We've upset him a couple of times without thinking, for example we went into nursery with him to introduce baby to them, then all three of us had to leave him there which he wasn't very impressed with, understandably. The guilt has been almost overwhelming actually and I've been quite upset about it all. Now I'm in the mindset of "how does this look from ds' pov" before doing things, which I think is helping.

The days are ticking by, surely not long now till news from Reebok and InFrance! Reebok, I hope you have adequate pain relief for the contractions it sounds exhausting. How is the sickness at the moment? InFrance sorry to hear of your work stresses, how is that all going now? Hope you're now more able to focus on you and baby.

About to post a pic of dd if it'll let me...!

Here she is at 6 days old, having a morning snooze, with ds watching quietly

Dubai so nice to hear how it's going, and see that beautiful photo!! She looks very peaceful. And that your DS is being such a brilliant big brother. I'm very nervous about that transition for my DD, very good to hear your experience so far.
Re: the feeding, have you tried adjusting position to feeding lying back, with her on your chest, she should be able to manage a breastcrawl and will likely get a bigger mouthful (boob/aureola, not just nipple) that way.
Check out the video here for general tips:
Also try the LLL helpline and see if you can find someone to come out and take a look at the latch if you're not sure, always better to get it checked by someone qualified.

DD gave me about that much sleep as a newborn, and I'm expecting the same this time (gawd help me!), but will hopefully find it all much less stressful second time around, probably won;t bother with cups of tea in the middle of the night!!

Hope to have updates from other mummies soon, and hear that Reebok has in fact beaten me to it!
Monitoring today went ok, I'm actually on 41+1 today, they got it wrong on Friday. Dilated 2cm now but still long and posterior, but contractions were showing up very clear and quote regular on the seismic thingy (DH looks at it for me!), so things certainly hotting up since Friday. Also, managed to express colostrum this morning, cheered me up a lot!!
Hoping things will kick off in next 2 days, going to rotate like a demon on the ball while I work (made good progress actually so less stressed), have more sex, and any other old wives tale I can be bothered with!!

Hey everyone coming out of the newborn bubble while she sleeps in her bouncer chair quickly to update and read everyone else's update's

First of all a massive congratulations to all the mummies on this thread enjoy your little ones we did it!! its so lovely hearing all your updates and exciting waiting for all our babies to arrive! So what's the boy to girl ratio at the moment?

InFrance sounds like things are heading in the right direction how exciting will watch the thread like a hawk waiting for birth announcement.

Reebok hope things have progressed and you will be on here any time now to announce the birth of your beautiful baby not long left now.

dubai She is gorgeous! Looks so beautiful and peaceful X
R.E sleep I haven't slept properly at all I have only managed to sleep because mum and dad have taken her for a hour or so so me and my OH can have a rest. She hates her Moses basket! She screams when we lay her in it but co sleeping isn't an option as both me and my partner have night terrors and sleep problems.its a bit of a nightmare but I'm sure I will work something out. If any of you have any tips please feel free to help I welcome all advice.

I am breastfeeding and Baby girl is a week tomorrow. We got off to a bad start I didn't get any help at the hospital and so tried to work it all out myself and she was just latching on to the top of the nipple with a really shallow latch and so my boobs are all bleeding and cracked and sore but I persevered got a midwife to check and help me out at my checks and even though they still aren't healed she has a proper latch now and things are getting more comfortable

I still can't quite believe she is here it's crazy that I'm finally a mummy I love it so much and she is my world even with the sore nipples and tiredness lol

Well I'm off again look forward to reading all your updates take care of yourselves and your beautiful babies X

Here is a picture of my beautiful baby girl in her favourite thing her bouncer chair

Hi InFrance thanks for the link. Our latch doesn't look quite like those but then my boobs are smaller than all the ones in the video I had a midwife visit today and she was happy with the latch. We're getting plenty of poopy nappies so reckon we're doing OK. Health Visitor is coming tomorrow so dd might get weighed then.

The position you mentioned is a biological nurturing one isn't it? Tried that in hospital and also several times at home. So cute when dd makes it work!

Sally we struggled to get dd into the Moses basket too. Almost gave up but then tried making it cosier as it was just a sheet over a plastic mattress. Not sure what yours is like but I popped a small soft blanket between the mattress and sheet, and she was a lot more at home in there. I also tuck her little feet in so she's less likely to wake herself by kicking around. I think she's more secure so feels able to rest properly. Another thing to try is to put a muslin cloth in with her which you've had on your person all day. The smell of you should settle her. We didn't have to but may be worth a try?

Love the pic of your gorgeous girl. She looks very cosy, not surprised it's her favourite place!! I need to get our bouncy chair out again soon.

Good for you persevering with the breastfeeding! Shame you didn't get the help you needed in hospital, but glad you're happier with things now. Remember, lansinoh cream for those poor sore nipples

Good luck for those still due to deliver! X

Hi ladies, wonderful to see the pics of these yummy newborns...they are beautiful and it's a great reminder of why I'm doing this.

Infrance how are you feeling? Any change?

Sally well done for persevering with the bf. It's a really difficult thing to do. I struggled with dds latch and remember just crying in the early days until I got help and went to a breast feeding clinic. Re the Moses basket, I had a snuggle nest for dd which we used both for co sleeping to keep her safe but also we could take the mattress out and place it in the Moses so she felt like there was something holding her. There are newer ones now...not too sure what the names are.

Another day of irregular contractions for me. I kind of feel like my bits are falling out down there and like it's open...does that make sense? Got a midwife app on Tuesday where I will be 39+4. Praying they tell me I'm at least dilating!! I know I'm not overdue but these 6 weeks of pain have been so hard on me. And hard on poor dd. Feel like a rubbish mum and she's acting up because I'm not able to do much with her. Those of you with two...would you say life with a newborn and toddler is easier than pregnancy with a toddler? I'm
Hoping that's the case!

Will keep you upDated anyway and let you know when madam finally decides to grace us with her presence. X

Hello everyone, SLOOOOWWW here, now on 3 day countdown to induction, will be admitted Friday morning if nothing before then (even if its just pessaries, once you're in, you have to stay at hospital here). That will be 41+6. Feeling a bit down, trying not to start looking at induction threads on MN in case I get freaked out.
Also worried that baby was moving less overnights and in mornings, but they said all still fine during monitoring today.

Sally welcome to your baby, looking very adorable and cosy! Very sorry you've had a hard time with the BF too, but it sounds like you're doing much better. Try and find if there's a mum's BF group in your area, always helps to share troubles with others (and tips!). Especially as the early growth spurts can't be too far away, and cluster-feeding for HOURS in the evenings can be very hard to deal with, also can make you have fears of low supply (virtually never true however!).
Re: sleep, have you considered a bed-side cot, with one side down? Then you could be within arms reach, she can see, hear and smell you more easily, but you won't hurt her if you move around. Also night time BF much easier as you can just slide them across, no need to pick up and put down again.
You can get them second hand, or rent them even I believe, lots of info on MN I think.

Dubai great you had someone come and look at latch for you. How was the weight check and HV visit?

Reebok hope your appointment went well, you sound marginally more cheerful, final straights and all that! I know what you mean about 'falling out', every time I get up off birth ball having been on a while, rotating away, things feel very much like they're about to fall out!!

Thinking of everyone; I may not be online for a while when in hospital as there's only mobile internet and I don;t have MN on my phone!
x

Lovely pics Sallyand Lost amazing to meet our little babies at last isn't it?

All going well Ds has overtaken his birthweight so bf going OK. Bit worried I have given him a cold but midwife says he will get anti bodies through Bf.

DD very interested in her Bro. Helping with nappy changing and wanting lots of cuddles. Loving the newborn bubble. But yes wondering what the reality will be like once OH goes back to work etc..

Sorry to hear you are feeling the pressure of induction infrance ... Fingers crossed she is a clever baby and will arrive before then, if not have heard inductions for second babies can be very quick.

So it turns out I'm in slowwwwww latent labour however I'm not even dilated 1cm!! Yesterday contractions got so bad that they were a few minutes apart...I had a night of no sleep. Ended up in hospital only to be told yes I'm in labour...no baby was not coming today and it could take days or even weeks. Needless to say I cried. I'm so fed up. So here I am...3 in the morning and still in pain and struggling to sleep.

Infrance wishing you luck and hoping baby appears before the induction. Dd was very clever and I went into labour 10 days overdue the day before I was due to be induced.

Apple what a beautiful pic of baby! Glad bs is going well.

Hi Apple lovely photo, so many delicious snuggly babies are really cheering me up.

Reebok am cheering you on. People can dilate VERY fast, so even if it was not open yet, it might be effaced and then you could be ready to GO very fast. keeping fingers cross.

Today I'm happy as show has been making an appearance; sure it was only a few days before birth last time. Cervix at least must be better than at yesterday's check!
Hoping at the most that only a pessary will be necessary on friday, if anything at all, and if it hasn't started by itself already.
xx

Slow latent labour? You're not kidding Reebok! It's been weeks hasn't it? I really hope this means a quick easy birth for you when it finally does happen. Can't be long now.

Sounds like it's just around the corner for you too InFrance? Cheering you both on!

InFrance I meant to say, I also fell victim to stretch marks across my belly button in the last few weeks (it was you who said that right? Baby brain has well and truly kicked in!!) Was gutted, having escaped them altogether in my first pregnancy! Anyway the good news is that they're already less obvious, less than two weeks after birth. Really need to work on toning these tummy muscles up again though. I've been given simple exercises to do, but never seem to get the time... Oh good news BTW, dd is putting on weight again, almost back to her birth weight when midwife checked today

Lovely pic of your ds Apple! Look at his precious little head ahh I wish I could snuggle with all these gorgeous babies!!

Reebok you asked about it being easier with a newborn and toddler, compared with a bump and toddler. My take on it is that it's easier physically, in that you can cuddle them properly again, get down on the floor and play with them etc, but it's definitely not easier emotionally! Particularly in these first days and weeks. However I'm sure things will settle down and we'll reach a new 'normal' soon. I've had reassuring chats with both the midwife and health visitor on this matter. It's really normal to feel guilty. I'm also feeling sad about this being my last baby and scared of how quickly she's changing already. But I need to remember that I'll get lots out of both the kids whatever age they are. I think my hormones are still giving me gyp to be honest...

Awaiting your news with bated breath, Reebok and InFrance x x

Hmm, bit too much in the way of expectation at the end of my last post perhaps?

I shall wait patiently for news of your little ones Reebok and InFrance x x

Haha laughing at your last post Dubai!
Yes it's me with the sudden stretch marks, they're more annoying because of the discomfort, like papercuts, rather than giving much of a toss what I look like
Excellent about your baby's weight too.
I already feel guilty about DD1, was saying to DH I am worrying about having a night labour because it would mean grandparents need to look after her, and I would stress that they wouldn't be as responsive as us (we go in for every wake-up, never leave her crying). But I'm sure when hormone bomb goes off I'll be all over the place too, I remember being knocked for six by it last time. Good to know others going through same!

Reebok sending as always, and hoping you're holding on ok.Won;t be long now until you can have a big

All good news my end, lots more show this morning, and at monitoring the placenta has moved up again beyond the limit for any extra risk, such a relief. Plus cervix is soft if not short and 3cm dilated now, so everything's favourable. Only slight fly in ointment is that if I have to go in for induction tomorrow, it will be straight onto the drip, they don't break waters first here. But as things are clearly in a good state, here's hoping all will go fast and smoothly.

OK off to get final bits of work done, and try all the old wives tricks!

Haha! Your last post made me laugh too dubai. Thanks...haven't been able to really smile in a while.

Thanks for being honest about newborn/toddler life. Helps to know what I will be facing. DD seems really excited at the moment at the prospect of holding the baby and sharing her toys...oh and helping mummy change the baby. She keeps telling nursery that baby hasn't arrived yet because the doctor needs to give mummy medicine to get her out. She was super cute yesterday. Her dad was taking her for a walk so I could rest and when I asked her for a kiss, she also kissed my belly. Then said, don't worry baby. I'm going for a walk and will be back again in a little bit. Don't cry for me. I will come ban to you. Hoping she will really take to being an older sis.

Contractions are ongoing at my end. Super painful ones all night that had me crying and screaming...scared oh quite a bit. Died down around 3am so I could sleep a little but returned at 7am...so I've been trying to walk through them...doing lots of cleaning and have now done my back in.

Infrance, it sounds like things are moving for you. Fx baby makes an appearance before induction but if not, I'm thinking of you. Am sure it will be fine.

Dubai glad to hear baby has put on birth weight.

Right...40 weeks officially tomorrow. Let's see when this one decides to arrive! Induction won't be offered until I have my 41 week check.

Glad my sleep-deprived ramblings brought a smile to your faces ladies, always happy to help xx

Oh the stretch marks are still sore unfortunately InFrance, bit rubbish but hopefully will pass soon enough. Will the grandparents stay awake anyway for news, while you're at the hospital? I know ours didn't sleep (we called them in around 3am), and so would have been ready if ds needed them while we were out.

Bless your dd Reebok that's so sweet. Sounds like she'll be an ace sister. My ds asks to hold his baby sister on his lap almost daily, and will always have a spare kiss for her even if he doesn't have any for us. I hope it lasts, I don't remember my brother being such a proud big brother, and we had a similar age gap. Can't believe you've made it to 40 weeks at last, what a long hard slog it's been for you

Hope everyone's keeping well x

Massive congrats on all the newborns since I was last around. I've not quite caught up on everything just yet. Loving the photies of your precious little ones. I will get round to sharing one soon. Hope all the new mums and secondtime mums are doing well and hope all the daddies are doing well.

Well our little boy is officially 7 weeks and such a joy. He sleeps great which I never expected. We are both a bit tired but that's to be expected with a little growing human that has a pretty big appetite. I'm still breastfeeding but his recent increase in feeds has lead to some very painful boobs. We have our checkup this week & my stitches come out. It's all healed nicely but I'm still a bit anemic and a little tired. Daddy is doing great and has been so helpful. We're off to stay with his family after my checkup. I have such awful memory. I can't remember if I said or not but he made up with his family and this will be the first time we've stayed with them in 3 years. I'm a bit nervous

Sally We had the same problem with the crib in our room but I was told by the midwife to put a blanket that had been near me in with him and it was all fine after that. We got a beautiful handmade blanket from the hospital when he was in special care and he loves it so we put that in with him. It took a few attempts but eventually it helped.

Ok I need to go do a few things before he wakes up. Good luck Reebok and InFrance
I hope things have finally progressed for you both. I'll check back before we leave.

Hello lovely ladies! Guess who finally arrived??? Yes that's right! Baby reebok on 1.5.16 weighing 8lbs 3oz at 8.11pm. Bit of a mad labour as I was convinced I wasn't going into labour for ages because of all the false labour/preterm labour scares. But she's here and I managed it on no pain relief except the birthing pool. Second degree tear so a bit sore but doing ok. She's currently feeding on me and I'm so smitten I can't sleep. Spitting image of dd! Will pop back on with a pic soon. Thinking of infrance. Hope baby has arrived! X

Yessssss! Oh Reebok honey I'm so incredibly pleased for you! Welcome little baby, I bet your mummy is a much happier lady now you're on the outside (she most definitely sounds it!) How amazing that you got a water birth too. Have they let you home yet? I had a second degree tear too, but the stitches have been no trouble thus far (touch wood) so hope yours settle down quickly and you don't have to think about them.

Thinking of InFrance too, hope to hear from you soon love.

Great to hear from you Rocksie. 7 weeks already, I bet that's flown by. Glad all is going well. I'm not sure if I'm still anaemic, got a few days iron tablets left and then I think the plan is to test at the post natal checkup. I'll have to keep an eye on myself to see if I get any signs prior to then. All sympathies with the sore boobs - my dd is a cluster feeding champion! I sit for hours feeding sometimes and not much else gets done, but at least dd is happy

Thank you so much Dubai. Midwives were amazing this time...had a very traumatic birth with dd1. Staying in tonight...hopefully home tomorrow. These afterbirth contractions are bloody painful! Can't sleep because of them. Oh but guess what?! I can eat again!! The sickness has gone!!!

Sorry to hear you may be anaemic...get checked ASAP and on some pills. Ah the cluster feeding...I remember that all too well!

I'm so pleased you got a much more positive experience this time. It was the same with me after a traumatic first birth, and I really feel it put my world to rights if you know what I mean.

Yes those breastfeeding contractions are awful, worse second time around apparently, but mine only lasted a few days thankfully.

Yay glad you can eat freely again, how amazing. Does the sickness literally stop as soon as baby arrives? That's truly incredible if so x

Congratulations Reebok on the birth of your Dd [Flowers] so pleased you had the birth you wanted. Agree with lost that having a very different birth for second child has-been wonderful. The first very medicalised in hospital and second at home.

You sound much happier and so glad that nightmare pregnancy is now over for you. Enjoy first few magical days with little one and will look forward to cute baby pic x