Due in February 2017....thread 5!

[SkyLucy]

Thread five for the chattiest bunch of preggers ladies you've ever had the pleasure of encountering. We're greeting the second trimester with excitement and apprehension, and lots of questions, humour, reassurance, empathy and advice.

Fourth thread here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/2684139-february-2017-thread-4-are-we-the-chattiest-bunch-or-what

Friendly "she considers it her milk"
I dont like sharing food either

For me the choice was which suited us at the time, they've each got their good points and their drawbacks. Personally I don't have strong feelings about either. I enjoyed the convenience of breastfeeding and not having to sterilise anything but I missed being able to hand the baby off to DH for a feed, especially night feeds, because DS2 absolutely refused to take a bottle. So there were times I felt like the default parent because either had no choice but to do all the feeds.

I'm doing it again though this time around because of the convenience, no sterilising so saves time when I've three others running around, and it's an excuse to sit on the sofa for half an hour!

With DS1 I formula fed because it was overwhelming enough having a baby without worrying about getting to grips with breastfeeding too.

With DD I wanted to breastfeed but she had other ideas. From day one she was going 2-4 hours between feeds and wasn't waking during the night to feed so my supply quickly dwindled and I had to supplement. Then when she was 7-8 weeks old she was in hospital for a week and wasn't allowed to feed for the first few days, she was given one ounce every hour by oral syringe instead. That was it for supply and she went on formula after that.

With DS2 I tried it again. He literally shredded my left nipple by day two and it cracked in a circle so whenever he fed he pulled the crack back open. It was horrible. Tried supplementing with formula to give me a break from it and he wouldn't take a bottle from anyone except DH and even then only the once. So I had to breastfeed. It got easier though and after the first couple of weeks we were grand. Week six was a real turning point, he was going longer between feeds and having more regular feeds, everything was healed and I was confident enough with it by then that I could literally stick him up my jumper and let him get on with it.

Hi everyone
I posted a while back but since then I've been a watcher, finally had my scan yesterday, all well but unfortunately baby didn't feel like joining in no matter how much I jumped and star jumped so couldn't get the measurements for the Down's syndrome risk so I need to wait for for the blood test at 16 weeks. Has this happened to anyone else?
Oh and I can officially join the thread as I'm due 25th February :).

Evergreen
I chose breastfeeding because for me it's easier and it's free. Dd was a winter baby and I didn't want to have to go downstairs in the cold during the night to sterilise and make up bottles. It's so much easier just shoving a boob in a gob! There are health benefits of breastfeeding. The mother passes on a lot of antibodies which protects the baby in the early days and I think these have also been shown to protect babies and lessen the effects of illnesses for as long as they're breastfed. Breastmilk is also very easily absorbed so babies are less likely to become dehydrated if they get ill. Dd had a sick bug at 5 months old and brought up all her feeds for a few days but never once became dehydrated. Saying that, it's a very personal choice and there's absolutely nothing wrong if breastfeeding isn't for you. I was lucky and dd fed well but many people struggle and it's sometimes just not worth it. It's sad there isn't more support.

kiki yes to the discharge, all the time.although I feel I had pre warning on that as I watched a YouTube video on pregnancy must haves and she said about panty liners. She said it's a symptom that people just don't talk about but the discharge is crazy, she was right

uber I had a cracked nipple too. My god, the pain! I struggled on for a while, totally miserable, but then my mum got me a nipple shield and it allowed me to heal while continuing feeding. I don't think I would've been able to carry on much longer if it wasn't for that. After it healed it was plain sailing. I was thinking this time I might try and express so my hubby can try give baby a bottle occasionally just to share the load a bit. My DD refused bottles though. Bf is great for not having to sterilise I agree. It stressed me out enough sterilising my nipple shield and manual pump (< I used the pump to take the edge off engorgement sometimes as DD couldn't always cope with a fast flow of milk).

ever I think there's lots of reasons why people might formula feed rather than breastfeed, eg. just personal preference, medical issues at birth which can sometimes affect mum being able to establish a supply, poor advice that interferes with establishing supply, being uncomfortable feeding in public or yes just being in pain with problems like cracked nipples (ouch).

Hello all! But behind on the thread. Thanks for bday wishes! went to see consultant today (we have extra appointments because of being ivf pregnancy) and heard baby's heartbeat on the Doppler for the first time!!! Was lovely!
So are we all talking nappies now? I was going to get those reusable ones - so that's not environmentally beneficial? It worries me that the used ones all sit on a rubbish heap somewhere x

Kiki I've worn panty liners every day since becoming pregnant!! So yes!

Same here with the cm, loads of it!

Oh my goodness!! I haven't logged on for a few days and suddenly everyone's talking nappies and feeding options?! Is it normal that this slightly freaks me out?! I'm still getting my head around being pregnant

"Shoving a boob in a gob" this goes in my notes

Thank you all for the breastfeeding responses, I intend to breast feed atm but I can see that baby might have other plans/ might change mind if lots of pain

Thank you

I'm with you scotty, it still doesn't feel real!

I think I'm going to have to tell work next week. I'm on holiday at the moment (14+5) and I seem to have really popped. Possibly just overeating but it looks like more to me.

Feeling generally ok, quite tired, still not really feeling up for sex, lots of discharge. Such a beautiful time!

Isn't it glamorous, CeeCee?!

I've had no sickness until this week and now I'm veering between being absolutely starving and feeling incredibly sick after I've eaten. Mini-eggs (thank God for the Olympics special packs!), salt and vinegar crisps and ice-lollies are my friends at the moment.

I don't really have alot of discharge, just every so often. Either that or I'm not noticing it...

Think I am going to breastfeed also... maybe express too incase baby's at my mums or something.

scotty I'm with you also.. petrified to think about it all, still doesn't feel real.

Had to hand in a sample to docs as think may have a wee urine infection 😔

evergreen we are due date buddies aren't we?

Can I join...please?
I'm due 4th Feb. This is my 5th pregnancy. I have a DD who is 5. I then had an ectopic in Feb 2014. I then gave birth to my DS in Jan 2015 at 21 weeks. He had multiple congenital abnormalities, we had test cvs etc after out 12w scan showed increased NT level but all was negative. Still no diagnosis. I then had a mmc in July 2015, now I'm pg with this one. All going well so far so fingers crossed xx

Shell, I'm so glad it's not just me. Maybe I should start thinking about these things to make it seem more real?

Strange phone call from the midwife just now. Need to go back to have some of the bloods from my booking appt retaken. She told me the samples had clotted in the vials (sp.?) due to "something very rare" in my blood reacting with the plastic. She said it was nothing to worry about but has freaked me out slightly! It's happened before with blood samples but nothing was said then. She also said it would need to go on my medical notes for future reference. My mum has a rare blood type (which I can never remember) so it could be to do with that? Dr Google wasn't helpful and has diagnosed me with all manner of things for a thyroid problem to lymphoma. Helpful!

Hello, bugslife! You're due the day after me

Wishing you a stress free, straightforward pregnancy

Thank you scottyal xx

Popping in on the whole breastfeeding debate. I would say don't get too hung up on it just now.

I wanted desperately to breastfeed DD. But after a horrendous birth the art of breast feeding just didn't come to me. Midwives were not very supportive and basically told me to get on the bottle. But I beat myself up every day for not breastfeeding. I cried in the supermarket picking up formula.

DD is nearly 4 now.... No difference at all to her peers who were breastfed. As long as the baby is fed that is truly all that matters. And I wish I had spent more time just enjoying her rather than worrying about feeding her!

I'll not be breastfeeding this time, it's just not for me.

I've had a day off work today and I have done nothing. Nothing. Feel lazy but actually not that bothered!

I've not bought any baby stuff yet, I'm majorly superstitious so won't be buying anything till after 20 week scan. I don't think I was as worried first time round!

Hi to everyone this group is massive, still trying to catch up with everyone!

evergreen um.... Did nobody ask to see any wedding photos of you??? Can we see your dress?? I love weddings!!

Hi bugs, I'm due on the 3rd Feb it's also my 5th pregnancy- 2 miscarriages and two beautiful children.

Just popped into Mothercare to get some trousers, not so necessary yet, but won't have much time when I go back to work. Anyway, have just seem the cost of prams etc....yikes!!

I'm considering cloth nappies, will have to read that report, thanks Londongirl.

I had my scan and booking in on Wednesday and they moved my due date to 24th, so I'm 12 weeks today. Got home today and have appointment letters for scans at 32 and 36 weeks which is very organised! I'm high risk for IUGR, hence the extra scans. Just hope I hear about my 20 week scan and consultant appointment soon.

I told work and I feel now my tummy is a bit obvious
But I have been eating like mad
It hurts when I sneeze
13+4 here

Still not really sure that there is a bubba inside I was convinced at the scan last week but I am back to denial.

Shell 13th of Feb here

Scoty I had to get my bloods done again. Mw just said "samples didnt arrive safely

Summer thanks for asking about pics but I am worried about posting pics and outing myself

ever I'm the 13th too!! Scan twinnies...

I'm the exact same! Keep thinking I'm imagining it all!