February 2016 Halfway mark: Flutters into kicks into thwacks!

[haquoi123]

New thread, heeeeeeere we go!!

jelly I've been thinking about the birth non stop! I'm afraid I'm a complete hypnobirthing convert and would shout out from the rooftops that it is awesome! Obv haven't tested it yet but it's helped loads in terms of mental preparation and lessening fear already. I can't believe that I ever considered it might not be important - it seems key.

whoknew they check it every time according to my notes, i kind of like the reassurance to be honest.

haquoi i need to sign up to some hypobirthing thing i think. I'm doing NCT so didn't want to shell out on daisy birthing but everyone rates it.

I don't know anything about Daisy birthing, I'll have a look. What's great with the hypnobirthing is that it's not just the techniques but also looks at language (your usage and that of midwives) and how that can effect your oxytocin vs adrenaline levels, as well as how your partner can help. Also encourages informed decisions based on facts and not just procedure. I feel so much more empowered to be able to make the right decision for me and the baby.

And it's not just for vaginal delivery, it's also really useful for planned c sections and unplanned interventions

Good luck for today whoknew! Your baby moving is a good sign. I find that if I do deep, relaxing breathing bubs will give a wriggle. Apparently they wake up when we're relaxed (our movements rock them to sleep)

Ohh I'm interested in the hydro birthing for planned C sections. I'd kind of avoided it and assumed it wouldn't be much help but maybe I'll have a look.

Those asking about pregnancy yoga, I have the Tara lee DVD which I've done a few times. Seems a good mix of stretches and relaxation with some North prep breathing exercises thrown in. There were loads for sale on eBay when I got it a few weeks ago.

Haquoi I know you asked Till but I used cloth on both dc (and I used to be a nappy advisor back in the day) so maybe I can help? Obviously I'm not as up with the newer brands but I should be able to help with general info.

So, for newborns & small babies I recommend having at least 15-20 nappies. This is because as newborns my babies pooed at every feed and got through at least 10-12 nappies a day.

You will also need something to store the dirty nappies in, either a lidded bucket or a wet bag. If you use a bag I recommend getting two, as you can then put the bag straight into the wash with the nappies and have another ready to receive any dirties. Similarly you can buy a mesh bag or two for a bucket, and then lift the entire thing out and into the machine without touching the nappies.

I mostly dry pailed mine (no soaking), but if dc were ill or teething I would soak with a bit of napisan to kill germs (same if there were any hideous stains).

I really disliked paper liners, but other swear by them. I either used no liner or a bit of fleece (primark blanket cut up).

Which nappies you go for is largely personal preference. Pocket nappies, all in ones, and prefolds are generally a slimmer fit, whereas two part nappies are more bombproof. I've tried a huge variety and have to say my personal favourites are a basic terry shaped nappy with a wrap. I also have a few good quality flat terries (not the thin useless ones you can buy in boots) as a backup, and find the bat fold the best. I bought loads of bamboo nappies as they were so silky and soft but after 3+ years of washes they definitely showed their wear a lot more than the cotton terries and had lost their pile.

I prefer the shaped two parts for absorbency (I don't want using cloth to mean constant leaks or more frequent changes), and also because with those I never once had the newborn poo up the back issue. Although you can bulk out pockets or prefolds etc, I found this led to them gaping around the legs and also drooping when wet.

In terms of fastenings, although Velcro look easier, they are far bulkier around the babies middle, so I prefer nippas, or poppers. Nippas give the closest fit and are easy once you've done it a few times.

My own newborn collection is:
20 shaped size 1 nappies (bimbles, tots bots, little lambs mostly)
A few flat terries for emergencies
4 small airflow wraps
nappy nippas
strips of fleece blanket
nappy bucket
mesh bag x 2
napisan
baby washcloths (packs of 5 from poundland) to use as wipes, plastic container to store them in.

Hope that's some help?

Got to go and pick up dc now but will be back later.

I used Natal Hypnotherapy with DD3 and am pretty evangelical about it tbh! Will type in more detail when I get home.

Cloth nappies - I've never used them but I am obsessed at the moment. Will check my stash when I get home and tell you what I have so far

I uses natal hypnotherapy with ds1 and even though I ended up in theatre with a vent ouse I still found it really helpful. Got to 9 cm at home with just tens machine and just used water at hospital until I went to theatre and had to have a spinal block. I found it really helpful for keeping calm and despite needing intervention I still think I had a good experience (actually enjoyed it in a weird way). Am quite sad I may have no choice but to have a c section this time xx

Just back from midwife appnt and everything fine. Baby laying transverse, heart beat bang on, wee clear, blood pressure fine. I don't feel particularly pregnant at the moment and my bump is hardly showing. I was the same with DS but I thought hardly showing and no symptoms were a good thing, now for some reason I've decided it's a scary thing!!

I had a doula with my first pregnancy and I can recommend. She did some ante natal classes with me and explained things really nicely and in a way that no one else did. She was an advocate of hypno birthing, I tried to get on board with CDs etc but once I started labouring everything went a bit bonkers. We left the carefully edited birthing CDs at home, when we hit to the birthing unit we went straight into a small room, the promised water birth was never discussed and the labour itself ended up with me attached to the drip of agony and knawing on my gas and air mouthpiece like an animal.

On the plus side I had no tearing, no stitches and DS was perfect and I could go straight home after. My ethos now is just take me to the hospital and do what you have to do to get my baby out safely. I don't think I'll even bother with a birth plan.

oo i'd love to know what position baby is laying. Sometimes i feel thuds in my chest other times down by pubic area so i'm sure she's not in a final position yet. When do they tend to move into their birthing position?

The only thing on my birth plan is that they aren't to come near me with ventouse or forceps - straight into theatre for c section at the first sign of trouble. It was the same with DDs after the horror of DSs birth. Consultant always asks if I want a planned c sec and I always say no, then we argue a bit and compromise on the above

Nappy haul...

10 Bambino Mio Miosoft newborn wraps - this size is now discontinued but I managed to get some brand new off eBay v.cheap.

10 Little Bloom pocket nappies in newborn size.

20 microfibre liners.
20 bamboo liners.

10 white flannels from Wilkos - 30p each - to use as wipes. Cutting them in half and running under the trusty old Singer to make 20.

Next on list:

12 Cloth Eez Newborn prefolds
12 Cloth Eez Small prefolds
12 Cloth Eez Medium prefolds
12 Cloth Eez Large prefolds

(Hopefully will see us through till 9-12 months, the smaller ones can also be used to pad out bigger ones for night time etc.)

20 more Wilkos flannels to cut in half again so I'll have 50 wipes in total.

Baby Bits Wipes Cubes (coconut oil and other naice things in cubes, dissolve in warm water, spray onto wipes)

Now... The wraps are proving tough to choose from for when baby is bigger, but I plan to buy those as we need (buying the prefolds in advance due to them being shipped from USA by BIL) but my favourites are Milovia and Little Lamb wraps.

As for wet bags/pails/detergent etc, DGM has said she'd like to buy these for us in January, just before baby arrives. Planning to look into that this weekend.

Sorry Till I didn't answer about pushing. Both dc were in a good position, dd's head got a bit stuck but no real issues. I felt the urge to push but struggled to push effectively, my pushes didn't feel like they were doing anything, like I couldn't get a grip on the baby? I was pushing for an hour or so with dd and 20 mins with ds I think. I had very irregular contractions also which led to the midwives not believing I was in proper labour until I was in transition. Both labours I had no break between contractions but would have a couple of strong long ones, some short ones, a long one etc. I don't think that helped. Argh. Why am I doing this again?!

Maybe I'll try not pushing at all but breathing this one out.

Haquoi how are things since the bleed? We also dtd the other night but had to give up as couldn't find a position that was comfortable, too much pressure on cervix, even in positions that are normally ok. Also the last time we did I passed a big blob of jelly the following day which freaked us both out!

Good news whoknew

Have my consultant appointment tomorrow, I know it's to do with the low papp-a and that I'll probably have extra scans to check growth and placenta but other than that I don't know what to expect from the appointment tomorrow. Feeling a bit scared, especially as everyone keeps banging on about how small my bump is. DP measured and I've put on 9/10 inches around my tummy from pre pregnancy, I think maybe people don't realise how small I was before? Hopefully baby is growing ok anyway.

Cross post till, I had some mio wraps before, they were really soft and worked well. Didn't rate the actual prefolds other than as boosters but liked the wraps a lot.

Trokia Pushing is the stage I use hypnobirthing for as that's when I panic, as that's when the 4 hours of hell with DC1s birth started. I'd recommend staying as upright as you possibly can throughout. Personally if I sit or lie down during labour the pain is horrific, on top of the contractions I also feel like my spine is being ripped apart - however if I'm on my feet/knees, I don't have the back pain to deal with too. Although my knees ached like fuck for days after with DDs!

I'm a bit about the whole thing and I'm quite convinced I may well not make it to hospital in time, but MW and Cons both mentioned putting a note on my notes instructing Labour Ward to call me an ambulance when I tell them I'm in labour and to do so immediately.

Also having extra scans here - I tend to have small babies - range from 5-7lbs and one of the meds I am on can make then small but the if I don't take the meds then the consequences would be dire so its a necessary evil. Another scan at 28 weeks then again at 34 weeks, and weekly-fortnightly MW visits depending on the results of the next scan.

DSis almost got herself punched when she said I'd probably end up having a 20 hour labour with a 12lb baby

I laboured on my hands and knees for about 10 hours until the drip. I was actually having quite a nice time although they seemed worried about my knees lol (I couldn't give a stuff about my knees). I found out later the baby was back to back which is why I had all my contractions in my back. A Pethodene shot about 6 hours in was total bliss. I would recommend to anyone having thought I didn't want anything like that. I had a lovely sleep and then came back round and got back on my hands and knees

I've spent this evening comparing formulas based on nutritional value and I've chosen SMA comfort but wanted people's opinion who had used formula? What is your preferred brand? I had terrible colic and reflux (was BF) and still have IBS so expect baby to have it to.

Rufus Heres my 3 experiences with formula.

DC1 - choice of SMA or Cow & Gate. I went for SMA because that's what everyone in my family used. The smell of it reminds me of my Mum making up endless bottles for DTwins, makes me feel all fuzzy especially now they're gobshite teenagers I did have to switch to the Hungry Baby SMA at 4 months to try and delay weaning a while cos he was guzzling 10 x 9oz bottles a day! But dropped to 6 when I gave him the hungry baby stuff.

DC2 - mixed fed from the start due to her weight. Wasn't happy about being forced into this by MWs but I was a meek 21 year old and didn't argue. Used Aptamil as that was recommended by them as the best one for early babies. Swapped to HiPP Organic Follow On at 12 months as for some reason she refused to drink the Aptamil one and the SMA one DD stayed on the First Milk till 12 months, never had the Hungry Baby stuff.

DC3 - Breastfed for a week. Got severe blocked ducts and hired a Medela Symphony - best money I ever spent - wouldn't bother with the wanky available in stores ones. They get measley amounts out at best. Anyway. I was hit by mastitis at 10 weeks in and so I quit the boob completely. DD had breastmilk from the freezer for a further 2 weeks, then at 12 weeks I started alternating between breast milk and formula - she refused Aptamil but had Hipp Organic. However - at 14 weeks when we went full formula, she turned into a screamer no sleeper, legs up on the chest and all sorts. A further week later I was at my wits end and the HV suggested swapping her to Hungry Baby - as its made with different things and HV thought DD may have an intolerance to the standard first formula. She was right - 72 hours after swapping she was back to her happy self.

DNeph - colic and reflux. Think DSis went through 8 different types of formula plus all the usual GP prescribed stuff, and at 17 weeks the GP advised her to just start weaning early.

Basically - babies can be arseholes and its impossible to predict what they will and won't like

Rufus I have multiple GI issues and so far DS has none so it's not a given. I EBF for the first few months and when I introduced formula Aptamil 1 was recommended as the lightest and therefore closest to breastmilk (not sure how true that is). However I was surprised that there was no change in his nappies so he seemed to find it equally easy to digest, which made me happy. He stayed on that til 1 and then I changed him to cows milk. Formula is hideously expensive especially when they're drinking a lot just before you wean them. I'm hoping to BF for a bit longer this time as this will be my last baby but I have osteoporosis so I know my consultant will be telling me to stop and start on meds after 6 weeks (I cheated and fed for longer last time and it did my bones no favours )

mawsy I'll be doing similar. I've been told it's 100% safe to breastfeed on my meds, but I can't co sleep if I take the anti depressants - however I only use them as a sedative and I can't see me needing them with a newborn so I'll be stopping those ones as soon as baby arrives (dropping them down from this weekend, hopefully go from 75mg - 10mg by January) but I can guarantee my psych will flip his lid when I tell him. Breastfeeding is important to me and I do believe it helps stave off PND for me, and so I will do it for as long as possible. Obviously if I deteriorate I will go back on them, but I want to try without first, and let the mother nature bonding hormones do their jobs without meds over riding them?! If that makes any sense at all.

Good luck tomo troika let us know how you get on.

I'm sort of blocking labour in a way - enjoyed reading the hypnobirthing book - did all make sense to me about trying to remain calm & relaxed. Good approach to try to have abs maintain.

I applaud you ladies for your organisation - I need to get a move on with stuff.

We now may move back to DH parents just before birth to sell our house - does anyone know how it works with moving hospitals? Do you need to register or just call up & turn up with your notes from before?

Not a clue re hospitals. My DFriend lives in the next City over but came back to this one for the birth, stayed with her MIL. IIRC she just rocked up with her notes but it could vary between PCTs.

Just had a text from DGM, Uncles girlfriend has been booked in for a c section next Wednesday as the baby is breech and they couldn't turn him today. Its her first and she's in quite a tizz about it. Told DGM to reassure her that planned c sec is by far the best option and to give me a shout if she needs anything (DGM is always a nervous wreck when new babies arrive, especially boys, with complicated births, due to what happened to her DS2)

DHs son was breech, and they didn't know till she started pushing - end result was a crash c section under GA, a baby who was born blue and in NICU despite being 10 days over due and had oxygen deprivation due to it taking a few minutes to resus him. Utterly horrendous.

I had epidurals with both of mine so the pushing stage was just me pushing into thin air- I had no feeling at all. With DD I was pushing for about an hour, a bit less with DS. However it was all good in the end and both babies eventually appeared and I had no stiches with either one.

I'm gearing myself up mentally for another back to back labour where the same thing happens again, i.e. getting stuck at 6cm and needing the drip and getting an epidural. Although as problems go it is a mild one and not something to be overly worried about.

I'm in the same frame of mind as you, whoknew - I'll just take it as it comes on the day.

rufus I used Aptamil and SMA original for DS once he stopped BF.

The Comfort formulas are different in consistency, much gloopier. I tried one for DS because he had chronic constipation from 3mo up to when I weaned him at about 6mo and I was at my wits end with it, the poor little scrap.

I abandoned it fairly quickly as I recall- the texture was such that it kept clogging the tests and suck as he might DS couldn't get anything out!

Thanks for the formula info, very useful. Maisie good to know about the comfort, won't waste my money, thanks.

I can't go to sleep because I can't lie down. Really bad acid reflux even standing up, it is like I've vomited it burns so much. Had tums and sipping water each time it comes up. I only had boiled eggs (not runny ) and soldiers for dinner, shouldn't have caused this! Oh and some chocolate, please don't let chocolate be the the cause, I can't survive without chocolate!!!