Thread 12 TTC#1 Grads. "You are my favourite thing that ever shit all over my hands"

[AudreyBradshaw]

Behold, the wonder of birth! Members from 6 weeks bfp to post-partum wonder Mamas! No question to grotty or minging.

We've come full circle from obsessing about cervical mucus to now obsessing if it's our vagina baby plug going! What larks!

Lots of talk about poo, ours and now babies too! Baby brain is REAL! This heat can kiss my arse. And who KNEW being so neurotic about which changing mat to buy could be so satisfying and addictive!

Sooo many gorgeous babies now! And equally lovely Mummy's! We are amazing! What a year! Can you believe it's been a year since our first tentative TTC thread!? Look how far we've come!

Roll up, literally, in my case, cause I'm practically rotund! for TTC #1 Grads!

nev goodness me, imagine falling pregnant immediately? I think I'd need sectioned. My mum had 3 of us within 2.5years and I really admire her for that! I can barely get my hair brushed with just 1.

Go nev and miley with DTD!! How many weeks post birth are you both again? Can I ask if you both instigated it or was it OH? I think OH is probably waiting for the green light from me I'm going to go back on the pill when I go for my six week check, but it'll be condoms for us assuming we DTD before then. I'd love another baby but we've agreed to aim for a 2/3 year gap between them.

Evelyn slept for 6.5 hours last night! I think she had tired herself out with all of the crying before bed.

pink it was OH initially and then I started to really want it too! Go Evelyn! That's tremendous. I'm a tiny bit jealous!

My little chunk is getting a lota chunk now!

Oops sorry, forgot to add I'm 4 weeks post birth today

Pink 6 weeks tomorrow. I brought the idea up a couple of weeks ago as it had been so long since- was kind of a joint initiation last night!

Bodhi was lit up like he has been on red bull not milk all day yesterday and is crashed out as a result today which I should be loving but he is only wanting a couple ounces per feed then sleeping again which is making me paranoid after his illness a few weeks ago.

Miley his hair is brilliant! I think my little monkey has a receding hairline already look! His forehead is now about half his head!!

Cute baby pics girls! Well done on DTD... I'm almost 6weeks pp, but I was waiting for the check up before (don't know why?) but maybe it's time to just get on the saddle lol. We nearly did it the last couple nights, so things are getting intense.

I'm inspired nev/miley

Morning everyone. Alexa was a total nightmare last night and up almost every hour. Most of the time she didn't really need a feed - just a couple of mouthfuls and a cuddle. She was so hard to settle too, I'm knackered. Last few nights she's slept for 4 hours in a row so this was a nasty shock!

Congratulations on DTD! Impressive work nev and miley! I'm waiting for my 6 week check. I'm also having a little bit of bleeding still now and then so definitely want to make sure that's stopped. I don't want to go back on pill - as I'm exclusively breastfeeding that usually delays periods. If I did get pregnant again quickly then we wouldn't be upset - we plan to have a small age group (not less than a year mind you!!)
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Nev* I can't believe they brought the bridesmaid dress for you to try 6 weeks after giving birth! I think I would have gone mad!

Indi hope you're feeling better after your tears. Hormones are a bitch.

Potato that sounds really trying, well done on having patience!

Audrey I hope your DH has a good birthday and first day at work.

A friend was supposed to come over and visit today and she's just cancelled. I'm really annoyed. I try and plan something for us every day as I hate having nothing on and she knows that! Bit tricky to plan something now so will just try and go for a walk / sit in a coffee shop or something.

I'm going to take inspiration from you nev and miley and go for it. I'll be 5 weeks pp in a few days and my bleeding has stopped so we may as well go for it! Knowing our luck baby will start crying when we are in the middle of DTD

soda, that's frustrating that your friend cancelled so last minute. Maybe find a walking route where you can stop part way for a coffee/tea and some cake! Sorry to hear Alexa was a handful during the night.

Beautiful wedding dress nev, though am astounded you were expected to try on a bridesmaid dress at 6 weeks post partum!

Fab effort on DTD ladies, I hope we are able to get back on the horse as quickly.

indi sorry you're having a rough time of it emotionally, the hormonal changes really do screw you over. Everything is changing and it will take a little time for things to settle back to normal. Impressed you were out of the house four days post section though! What are you doing clothing wise? I've got a couple of large baggy light knits plus bf vests plus mat leggings I accidentally bought in a size too big...hoping this will see me through the first week or so and will then reassess based on how tender the scar is. Does this sound sensible?

I had a funny night last night, was awake half the night and became vaguely convinced I was going into labour as kept getting really painful tummy cramps, plus passed a bit of mucous plug. Turned out I just needed a huge poo and I eventually fell back asleep and am fine now, thank god I didn't call labour ward!

Sorry about your friend soda. I definitely think a walk with cake en route is called for!

Well done on DTD miley/nev! I can't wait to DTD again tbh, I miss being close and intimate with DH and it's only been a week or so since we last did it.
I don't know if I have to wait until my 6 week check until we can, obviously I do t have any birth related vag issues so I don't see why I can't do it before then..
I'll be getting the marina coil again ASAP, I can't imagine getting pregnant again any time soon if ever.

Feeling better today, I always do feel ok in the daytime, I think in the evenings I start getting really tired and anxious for the night ahead which sets off the tears.

Soda Autumn wasn't the best last night too, she was up every 1.5 but then when she was up it was for 1.5hours as she wanted to keep feeding/couldn't get her wind up/couldn't settle etc..in the end it got to 6am and I gave her to DH and she fell asleep on his chest until 8.30am which meant I got a couple more hours sleep. Thank god! Hopefully our girls sleep better tonight.

Thanks canters, yeah hormones are shit! Tbh I probably could've gone out day 3, we just went for a slow walk but I was fine. Wound is slightly tender but not bad at all. Yesterday I just wore a comfy Victoria secrets track suit that came right up above my scar. I'll probably stick with leggings and tops/jumpers for a while. I've only been in pjs/dressing gown round the house though.
What you've got sounds fine to me, I don't think you'll need much more.I haven't bf outside yet so don't have any maternity tops and don't really know how to do it without getting my whole boob out but I'll do a practise run in front of the mirror before I do it in public.

Oh btw I'm waiting in for the MW, we have the heel prick test today and weigh in today. I'm dreading it! Does baby go mental after the heel prick?

indi Harrison had a few tears but wasn't overly horrific. My advice is just don't watch! You sound like you're doing amazingly well after your c section! Well done you

nev he's amazing! How handsome is he!!!

pink I was very conscious at first that we had an actual baby in the room like right next to us. It did put me off a little but I zipped up his next2me which is ridiculous because he's a baby and has no idea what is going on, but it made me feel better.

Ladies, definitely don't rush into it! I'm so lucky that I only bled for just over 2 weeks and haven't really lost any pelvic floor strength. Plus my stitches healed really well and pretty quickly or there's not a hope in hell the peen would have gotten close at all. I was expecting to be a little tender/bleeding a bit today but I'm not

Just back from breastfeeding club. Bit of a waste of time - the other mums were a bit up themselves and I felt like they were constantly trying to one up each other bf support lady is super chuffed with Harrison so I'm beaming like the proudest momma in the world. He's also into size 2 nappies now and estimating to be around 8lb 9oz on Wednesday going off his chart. We've had to say goodbye to all tiny baby/first size clothing so I think he's going to fill out into a chubby baby very quickly.

I second mileys advice don't rush it. I wanted to have a try about 3 weeks ago but my bleeding only stopped a couple days ago (so mine was almost 6 weeks long compared to mileys 2 weeks) and although my stitches healed so well and fast I was at least confident that even if it felt a bit sore they were 100% healed. Do feel a bit sore today but wont complain as was definitely more sensitive and enjoyable than before

I have a poop machine baby today who has been surprising me with a double wee when nappy off- the first one I was ready for the second one 20 seconds later i was not and we had to do the naked baby run upstairs away from the swimming pool of the downstairs changing station.

OH surprised me with a huge boohoo delivery today where I was upset over the weekend that I have no clothes that fit. I am scared to try any of it on incase they don't fit either!

Bloody hell, some of you are sexing it up already?? You heroes!

But I guess once the bleeding stops it feels less awkward? I'm only 10 days pp, so might have a way to go.

Indi - I know EXACTLY how you feel the the emotions and crying. I've been on and off crying (just comes out of nowhere) for the last week, and the weekend just gone has been pretty bad. Ended up having a good (weepy) chat with DH last night an hoping it will get better now. He's got a history of depression and mental health issues (though not had an episode for a few years now), so actually could really relate. I've never had anything like that and didn't know how to go about processing the emotions.

Re the heel prick - Quinn had a quick cry out at it, but then it was fine.

Canters - the wardrobe you describe is basically exactly what I'm wearing. Leggings every day really as jeans would be uncomfortable against the scar, and dresses would need tights which would be too tight. So leggings, long vest tops, and slobby jumpers, knitwear, etc.

The problem I'm having is that the pregnancy/EMCS has given me a tummy overhang. I'm sure it will go with time (or I'll try to make it go!), but, the scar is essentially in the fold. It makes it a bit hard to keep it clean and dry (gets a bit sweaty!).

Going to try for our first walk in the park today! We've been inundated with visitors, but have this second week of DH's pat leave just to ourselves, which I'm so pleased about.

Not sure whether to go for the pram or the baby carrier. Anyone have any preferences so far?

Lisa if he is awake we go for car seat as he can look around and is a right nosey sod if he is asleep or we will be out for a long time I go pram.

Heel prick was done by a student midwife who cocked it right up and got blood all over our fawn couch and cream carpet Bodhi cried no more than he does when I change him and pretends i am murdering him

Thanks everyone for heel prick prep! I won't look and I'll just hope she doesn't go too mental. Still waiting for the midwife! Keep going to get a shower and thinking I can hear a car so I've been waiting around for ages.

I also have a baby that sounds like she is being murdered when getting changed nev! I've become an expert at super quick nappy changes.

Lisa the hormones are so so shit. Last night I couldn't stop crying and then started thinking things like why did I even get pregnant and then was crying more because I felt guilty for thinking that! My mum kept telling me it's completely normal to feel like that and everyone has these thoughts at some point. I guess our hormones will level out soon and we'll feel much better soon. Great that your DH is supportive too, I think it's so important to talk about how your feeling with someone.

Yes to the murderous cry when they're being changed! It's like I'm torturing her.

Do they ever get more accustomed to it or tolerate it? Or is it always a screaming fit?

Nev, miley well done DTD not strange to congratulate someone on that at all!

Miley glad I'm not the only one being driven nuts by attention seeking behaviour.

Ditto on the barely managing to brush hair. I changed the bedding today which I consider a major win.

Little man is adorable!!

Nev lovely picture of LO

Soda drives me mad when people cancel at the last minute. Hope you have a nice walk instead.

Arya is being quite fussy today. I think she has an upset tummy again. Her poop has gone very wet again. I never thought I'd be this obsessed with poop!

I put her new lullago crib up today and I love it. Any ladies who were planning to get a Moses basket I can highly recommend the lullago instead, it's nice and sturdy and roomy. Arya couldn't have a nice stretch in her Moses basket without waking herself up but the lullago lets her stretch any way she likes, she was doing starfishes earlier
It also has a nice thick mattress, where as after less than two months Arya's Moses basket mattress is going a bit flat and lumpy.

Miley - I noticed you mentioned expressing (and that you had to ditch it - such a shame!).

Can I ask - when did you start? And how are you finding it? Are you manual or using a pump?

No DTD here yet. I'm 6.5 weeks postpartum. We just haven't got contraception sorted and I'm exhausted all the time. I'm taking T for his baby check later this week and making an appointment for the copper coil to be fitted so we will see after that. Truthfully, I'm still really upset about my numb tummy and have zero body confidence as well. DH is faultless and wonderful but I'm just a bit emotional as I'm so knackered. We had a great night last night - T slept 10.15 to 1.45 and 2.15 to 5.15. We went back to sleep then until about 8.30. He's sleeping in his Moses basket now. I'm cuddling with one of our cats - the other one is in my bad books for bringing me too mousey friends this morning. 😂 I'm so useless when they bring in presents but I've stepped up my game for Theo - and because the HV was on her way. He's now 8lbs 11oz!

He's waking up... Got to go! xxx

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Super cute baby pics ladies

Indi Alexa cried quite a bit for the heel prick. They didn't get enough blood so had to do it twice! I hated it! Dreading the jabs!

Lisa and indi I hope you feel better soon. I had a couple of really down days early on but I'd say it's passed now.

Lisa - I express too. I started to express because I was on antibiotics and needed to time feeds but DH really enjoyed giving her a bottle in the evening and he got up at the weekend with a bottle so I'm continuing now that I'm off the drugs. I find it quite straightforward but I've not had any issues with feeding or producing milk. I got the Tommy tippee electric pump just because I had the whole starter set. She's pretty happy with bottles or boob now so think we're quite lucky with that.

Right, we're finally fed, dressed and ( hopefully) poo-ed out so going to make a move outside.

I take the pram if we're going out. I actually often use the sling indoors! She doesn't take very kindly to being put down so with the sling I can actually get jobs done and carry her round too!

lisa I just have the Philips manual pump but I think I have a quick flow. Little man often unlatches because it's spraying him I started after day 5 after the stupid HV weighed him on broken scales I think I'll keep up with a bottle of expressed a day, even if OH gives it to him while I have a bath or go to bed early.

I have another one over here who screams the place down when being changed! Unless he's wide awake then he doesn't mind so much

Thanks Soda and Miley, that's really useful.

I'm definitely keen to express at some point, to give us more flexibility in feeding, and DH is desperate to do it as well. I feel a bit nervous about it though.

Think I will wait a bit longer to get the feeding established. I definitely don't have squirty milk, and sometimes when I squeeze I can't really get anything out (though Q seems to be able to, so I think we're ok).

Going to head to a breastfeeding drop-in session tomorrow at the local children's centre. Hope to get some advice there about if we're doing ok.

Just back from our first outing - walk in the park. Lovely autumn day here in SE London.