July 2016 (4)

[Scase1firsttimemum]

Hello ladies, made a new thread seeing as we have almost run out of room on the last one!

I'm going to try I think I really struggled with dd but we were stuck in hospital for the first week and it was just to stressful so I'm hoping its a bit easier this time

Hi ladies,

Nhs scan went fine yesterday. Was worried at first as baby seemed much less mobile than at the private scan a couple of weeks ago. But then I was told that my bladder was too full and I needed to go and have a wee! (Not my fault it was so full - the appointments were running almost an hour late.) Once I came back with emptier bladder baby did all sorts of backflips and waves. Although it did lie with its back to us right as sonographer was trying to take the pictures - she spent ages trying to prod it and get me to jiggle my tummy around to make it move! I was very impressed as I had expected it to be more of a rushed appointment. Baby's spine clearly visible - looked like a little dinosaur at one point!

Sorry it took me so long to post - went straight to work after scan and then had a work dinner yesterday evening. Absolutely shattered by the time I got home.

Have been moved ahead by 1 day so DD 6th July now. For whatever that's worth!

14 weeks today

Scase I am definitely planning to breastfeed unless something major happens to prevent it.

Gosh, so many other comments to reply to! Am trying to catch up now.

Scrowy I am so sorry to hear your sad news. Big hugs.

I've breastfed all of my three. My youngest is still breastfeeding at 18mo. I don't need to feed her in public anymore but I used to and gave up trying to be discreet. I've only ever had positive comments. I think breastfeeding is very widely accepted now really and places like Costa do a great job of making BF mums feel welcome and supported.

Scase, I breastfed last time and will do so again (assuming no insurmountable issues). Had a fair few issues at the beginning due to DS being poorly and in SCBU for the first few days, but got it all sorted in the end.

I have never had a single negative comment or even look from anyone when I was breastfeeding out and about. No family member or friend ever asked me to feed somewhere else or anything like that. I think negative experiences are much rarer than the reports we see in the media make it seem. In fact, the reason they make the press is because they're so unusual.

If it helps, in the early weeks, I found going to very friendly places to be helpful to get used to the whole thing. So baby cafe type things, NCT meet ups, baby groups and so on. As I got more confident I would then feed in cafes, parks, etc. There's also loads of advice on MN about how to handle the whole practicality of it e.g. wear a stretchy vest under your top to minimise exposure, use a muslin tucked under your bra strap on the feeding side etc.

Mel, it was really nice to hear from you. Please do pop back in for hellos when you feel like it.

As to Facebook, I don't really use it, so am definitely happier here for now! If there was a mass exodus I would be tempted to follow, but it looks like I've got company so far

Kaytee, how are you? Am thinking you haven't posted for a while. Perhaps I missed a post, or you are just busy. Hope all well.

Just had a phone call from midwife, my blood results are back. I'm high risk, 1:41. I'm at work and in shock and have no idea what to do

Oh Pinsey, I'm so sorry to hear that. What options did the midwife suggest? I think some NHS places offer the Harmony as an interim test for high risk results, and some would offer amnio / cvs as a next step to confirm either way for definite.

If it helps at all, it's worth remembering that, although it's high risk and obviously worrying, it is still not that high percentage-wise - 2.4% chance of a child with Down's Syndrome, and 97.6% chance of a healthy child. I did see someone on another thread who got a 1 in 5 risk back - that was still an 80% chance of a healthy baby, and after she had the cvs test it was indeed confirmed that her baby was healthy.

Have you had a chance to speak to your partner? I'd be tempted to tell work you're not feeling very well, and go and find someone to be with who can look after you. xx

Oh pinsey, I'm sorry. What did the midwife say would happen next? You will be in shock... Be kind to yourself today.

Re breastfeeding, I breastfed DS til he was 17months. I've not seen anything recently about people having problems breastfeeding in public but I know it does happen. I don't care, I'll feed my baby when it needs feeding.

Hope all is well insufficiently will be thinking of you. There could be an explanation so don't panic.

Sorry to hear that pinsey, take time to process and talk it over with DH/P with regards to cvs etc. Did they give you much information? Maybe go home and sit with a cuppa? Like others said, it initially sounds quite shocking but when you work out the actual % it seems a lot less likely. It's such a personal decision but take time to think what's right for you.

I think the herbal tea this is rubbish. I have cut all processed sugar and coffee/caffeine for the next few weeks following a very unhealthy December but I will still be drinking lots of fruit tea. I've had 4 different fruity ones already today. I shall be ignoring that recommendation personally.
Good luck for your scan tomorrow wanting let us know how it goes.
beautican that's a very low result!

Does it hurt the first time you do it? Ive been thinking about it so much I had a dream that I tried to BF and I was in agony! I really do want to do it though as I know it is the best thing for the baby, and I love the fact that you get to bond so much with your baby

When I was of with DS, I was told I was at high risk of him having something (I don't remember what but it wasn't good). The odd were 1/17. It was a horrible appointment and towards the end, the obstetrician suddenly said 'oh no, wait, I read it wrong. You're fine'

Thanks for all your kind words. Doctor said it doesn't seem to be anything serious. She did an internal examination and cervix is still closed. Bleeding seems to be coming from a slight tear at the entrance caused by either sex or strenuous activity (I did both yesterday )

Have a referral to the EPU for a scan but not until next Tuesday which is a long wait but I do feel slightly reassured

Banging head from the stress though and still cramping, might just spend the rest of the day lounging around feeling sorry for myself until DP gets home and takes over the feeling sorry for me.

That is hopeful new insufficiently.

I had a scary time a few nights ago- I woke in the night for my now routine pee and was really bursting. Immediately I emptied my bladder I got a cramping feeling that worsened when I got back into bed. It was that horrible sort of ache that goes all the way down your thighs that you get with bad period pains and I was convinced for ages that I was about to miscarry. Fortunately, after about an hour it eased and I was able to go back to sleep.

It was really the next day that I started seeing a bit of a bump.

Hopefully your cramps are something similar and the bleeding is just a coincidence.

insufficiently take it easy for the day and lounge around eating biscuits. I have heard of stories like this before, and everything went on to be absolutely fine. Get DP to make you dinner and look after you once he gets home.
I know it seems like ages away but I hope we can comfort you in the mean time.
After doing too much exercise yesterday I really felt pulling sensations and had to rest all evening. Luckily it's not amounted to anything.

With regards to breastfeeding, I did with DD2 and not DD1 (difficult times post birth with surgeries etc) and really did value it as an experience. It's not plain sailing and at first there were tears and V v sore nipples but I hope I can do it again. Night feeds are a hell lot easier than making up feeds! Support and a good nipple cream are your life lines!

Insufficiently - that's really positive news. Not surprised you've got a headache, how stressful! Defo put your feet up and rest up for the rest of the day. Maybe watch a movie to relax and take your mind off worrying x

Pinsey that's so stressful for you, but as Bluebell says it's still really a tiny chance. Be good to be able to talk through results in more detail so you know what it actually means. I reckon go home if you can, you won't be able to concentrate on work now anyway. Sending hugs x

Pinsey - was 1:30 chance with DS last year. I know exactly how you feel (shock and worry despite midwife and others' reassurances). Feel free to pm me if you'd like to talk. We chose to do Harmony as its non invasive unlike cvs and amnio which carry 1% chance of miscarriage as you know. In all cases, there will be a shortish wait for results.

As bluebell says, some Nhs places offer harmony ... But try and stay positive, chances are still very very slim and the indicators the Nhs use are pretty blunt to calculate your risk.
Hope you're getting support, thinking of you.

Insufficiently - I say, you've been busy! Great to have some reassurance from the doc until the scan.

And I breastfed DS for first 6 months, almost but not totally exclusively. Had a breast reduction a few years ago which affected flow so he had formula too which made things really nice and flexible in terms of DH being able to do night feeds etc. Never a negative comment about bf in public. Can't say I particularly miss it now though!

Thistledew I had exactly the same pain last week. Right down my thighs as well. Just lay in bed hoping it would go away which it eventually did. Was very painful and quite scary. Its only last week I got a small bump which has gotten bigger this week.
I am hoping to breastfeed baby for as long as is comfortable. Really hoping that I find it easy enough. My friend had said that she found it way to painful and basically told the nurses in the hospital that it wasn't happening. She said she felt an awful lot of pressure to BF and was really upset when she could not.

I dont like hearing that people feel pressured to do it :( if you want too you can, otherwise its fine if you dont! My sister never got the chance to as she needed to go off to have stitches and a nurse had already fed her baby with a bottle which meant she could BF, she said she probably wouldnt have but she wanted to at least have the choice because it was in the back of her mind, its horrible for her now as shes struggling to conceive again as she has PCOS and it was a miracle she even had her first as she was on the pill!! Its only because she was on antibiotics that it actually helped her to conceive! and I couldnt be more proud of my nephew than I am today

I'm hoping to breast feed too. In part because of the advantages to the baby but largely because bottle feeding seems like an awful embuggerance compared to breast feeding- buying powder, storing powder, making up bottles with the correct temperature water that has been boiled and cooled, sterilising bottles; compared to unhooking a bra and latching on.

Maybe I'm just lazy, but I can't see the attraction in the faff. I would rather deal with the odd funny look or comment than put myself out to that extent for the feelings of strangers. Their problem, not mine.

Pinsey - just spoke to my cousin and when she was pregnant with her beautiful (perfect, very clever) daughter, her tests came back 1 in 49 and all was fine. Sure you'll still be worried but doesn't always mean the worst. I think you can get free Harmony test at St Thomas's in London which is where the consultant who invented it is based (probably of no use but can't remember where you're based.

I had 2nd scan today and all is good low risk for everything, hey tell you at the scan here as bloods had been done. Dr also very convinced its another boy :) so my son will have a brother which i think is great.

re breastfeeding, sometimes intially theres a pinching sensation as latch gets sorted but now i never had real pain and i exclusively breastfed until 6 months and until 15 months, I do wish I had tried to get him to take a bottle of breastmilk earlier and perserved more often so i could sleep as i struggled with that side as he was a very hungry baby every 2 hours for 2 months killed me, i dont miss it at all, and he gradually stopped wanting it and then i only fed at night and then just stopped. Regrding comments i never had a negative one in uk or portugal but i was concious of boobs and milk spraying everywhere (i over produced and had a big let down) and ds was a wiggler so I preferred to keep to myself as i didnt want myself exposed nothing to do with feeding in public i just felt very awkward in myself, but after a few months i didnt care and if its keeps them happy and quiet you tend to do anything for 5 mins peace lol

13 +4

Gosh a lot of chat today, Pinsey it's easier said that done to not worry but please take reassurance from what others have said.

Insufficiently how stressful, please chill tonight, it's mentally draining.

Feeling much better after yesterday's random sickness. Hopefully the placenta is taking over and I will start to regain energy. Yesterday I felt like I'd never be normal again!