May 2017 #14 'A baby each day in the month of May?...'

[RasperryInAMelon]

Thread 14... I'll post the other page links below too!

@teainbed - great link, thank you!

@Badgerbird - That was suggested to me by the lactation consultant at the hospital, but she was a bit more despondent about it, after putting me on the double pump and noticed that my boobs were doing nowt. Might be different now they’re fully engorged - guess I’m going to have to try it and see.

@lullaby23 - Thank you. And yes, I think I will make an appointment. Even if I can’t breast feed directly but can express, that would be good enough for me.

@savagehk - Yes, another MW appointment for the heel prick test and weighing. I’ll have a chat with her when she gets here and hopefully she might have some toys in her car to play with. As for Mr Sanity? That would be a step too far for him!!!

@EsmesBees - Worth a go!

@Rustler74 - When Giraffe finally stops grizzling and Mr Sanity awakes, I might get a chance to have a look at Youtube. Hopefully there’s something on there that doesn’t hurt as much as the ‘technique’ which was used on me in the hospital…

@SouthPole - Thanks for the recommendation. Will take a look. Nipple shields sound viable too. Will have to give that a go.

@crazyzooo - Thanks for the links and the advice. I think later on today I’ll take 5 minutes to sit quietly on the bed and fiddle with myself! See if I can get anything happening

Google biological nurturing sainty, this might be a goer if you can get your nips to play ball with a pump or a former thingy.

FWIW I expressed for my first for 6 weeks as I couldn't get him to latch, it was pretty miserable in all honesty, if I had my time again with him I would have a)spent more time trying to get him on the boob pain free or b) switched to FF straight away.

@SouthPole congratulations, still amazed you did this twice. Hope you heal quickly and that LO is settling in well with his family. It's lovely that you will stay involved in his life.

@SanitysSake sounds like you've had a really rough time of it. I have no advice to offer but you're obviously doing well, you sound so positive which is very impressive. I'm sure giraffe cuddles are helping. ((Hugs))

I've spent the last two days doing mostly nothing, the weather has been amazing so been making the most of it! I made the stupid mistake of not checking how much of each medicine I had before we moved and I've run out of my magic heartburn pills, back to downing Gaviscon again And I thought I was so organised!!

@1004Rise you can buy a packet of 7 of them branded Nexium from the supermarket or chemist. Send your DP so you don't get quizzed but they're the same as you'll have been prescribed. Bit pricey but should see you over until you get more on prescription.

I'm struggling a bit with BabyTea. Despite sleeping a couple of 3 hour stretches in recent nights (which I am hugely grateful for) we're still having mammoth cluster feeding sessions every night and also quite unsettled during the last couple of days unless he's on the boob. So another growth spurt or just grumpy, I'm not sure. Despite the evidence from his wet and dirty nappies the doubts start to kick in in the wee small hours. I know this phase will pass and in a few weeks I'll have forgotten about it but it does feel rather grim whilst you're in the middle of it.

Congratulations SouthPole, that's such a wonderful thing you have done. Hope you can get plenty of rest now!

Sanitys it sounds like you are really going through the mill at the minute. A cs recovery can be tricky enough without an infection, so I hope the drugs do the trick without you having to be re-stitched. When my milk came in babyNorthern was struggling to latch as he's so small and the nipple went completely flat. I expressed a bit off, either manually or with a little manual pump and it softened them a bit and gave him a bit more to latch onto. That stage only really lasted 36-48 hours and we are flying now. I feel like peas to be honest- I found expressing long-term soul-destroying (did it for 4/5 months with DD1), so if bf didn't work after a concerted effort I would probably have gone straight to formula this time. I also second Kellymom for great bf advice. Good luck!

Gorgeous pictures too lampski and vicki - I love seeing the newborn photos!

Weekend in Leeds was lovely and baby Raspberry has managed to stay put for now thankfully! We've had a lot of bouncing around in the car Friday and Saturday, but she's gone quite quiet today - I'm actually wondering whether she's flipped over with her back on the right now as how my tummy feels has changed.

@MrsJW15 where did you get a TENS machine from on next day?

@SanitysSake 😍😍😍 gorgeous little baby!!

@Badgerbird I don't know if I feel anything other than weightless at Aquanatal, but it's nice to get out of the house and relax and that's the most important thing right now ☺️

Thanks for the tip re pump bottles @WishIWasSleeping - hadn't really thought about that!

@savagehk I've not had a chat with my MW re the whole net and mirror thing, when we're you told?

@newbieho how are things progressing for you? That's exactly how I've been feeling...

@Brightsmoke hope you had a nice anniversary and @CoxsOrangePippin hope you had a good last day!

@jennymac31 we've gone for an AngelCare monitor - camera, audio and sensor mat, I wanted wifi so I could look in while out of the house, but also saw horror stories of them being hacked and couldn't do it.

Congrats @SouthPole a super lovely thing of you to do!

@SanitysSake no advice but it sounds painful - I hope you get sorted soon!

Good work @RasperryInAMelon glad baby stayed put! Hope you had fun. We ordered from Boots, although a few places offered next day delivery if you paid. Actually they don't deliver weekends so we are still waiting!

Congratulations @SouthPole, it is an amazing thing!

@SanitysSake I hope things get easier soon. Hugs also to @teainbed

Still getting lots of contractions/BH at points during the day but then they calm down. Just been for a good walk which meant lots of contractions but they seem to have stopped now I'm home. Still a few days away from DD so I know this could keep going.

@teainbed you are a genius! They're even on Amazon prime so no questions asked! I'm sure you're doing really well with baby tea, he must be on another growth spurt. With your 2 am doubts would it help to listen to some hypnobirthing tracks, I know there are some Katherine Graves breastfeeding confidence ones on iTunes. Maybe some encouraging statements might help you through the wee hours when the doubts set in.

So after about 5 hours of what felt like back and abdo contractions every 5 mins yesterday, they stopped for about 4 hours and then started again for another 2 hours at night. Ive not really had many more today although had one really severe bout of back pain lasting 30 seconds and then a smaller one 5 mins later this afternoon. I'm guessing it's all just false labour stuff, although baby's movements do seem to be lower down the bump with no more kicking me in the ribs so I don't know if it means he's engaged early? I just hope this doesn't continue for 3 more weeks until his EDD! I'm not sure I can handle that sort of pain on and off for 3 weeks... Anyone else having this sort of pains / contractions?

@Barnes79 SNAP! Last night I was almost timing the tightenings then they stopped. Had horrid period type pain all day and don't get me started on leaking boobs. So bloody uncomfortable now. I'm not due till the 25th and they plan to induce on the 23rd. I want to encourage this so I don't have to be induced. I'm allowed a sweep on Thursday at 38 weeks so hopefully that'll get things moving too

@BouncingBlueberry I'll be 37W tomorrow so we are similar stages too. Perhaps if they try the sweep they'll be able to tell if you're dilated at all or they'll be able to give some idea of what the heck is going on. I found being more active sets them off (but as I have a tiny bump I'm a bit worried my LO would be under 6lb if he came early so I've spent my day not doing much).

I really wish I'd told my family that my due date is two weeks after it is like recommended in hypnobirthing! Having people check in on me and having my mum worry is stressing me out! I was feeling so relaxed. I couldn't lie though.

rasperry I don't think the midwives will have the chat if you're planning to use their MLU / labour ward at all, I think they just provide the equipment as needed (unless you're in esme's trust!). As we're planning on home birth, you need to provide your own pool if you want it, so you also need to provide the other equipment. Having said that I've not got a mirror, I'm not keen to see the baby emerge with one and assume the midwives will bring one if they feel the need.

Fox, I know exactly what you mean! Being now 40+4, I get about 5 people messaging me daily asking if baby is here yet, and that's after me saying I won't tell anyone until we're back home, other than my dad if the dog needs letting out or feeding, so I will tell them when I want to 🙄 it's such a pain!

Agree with both of you bright and fox. Already tired of answering questions, esp the 'still with us?' and 'when are you due?'. I've replied 'babies come when they are ready' so many times already....

Just spoke to my mum and she said "you would call me if you went into hospital for an emergency sections, wouldn't you?" which has obviously put the thought into my head when I was feeling really positive. Oh and "I'm just checking - I know you, you wouldn't call us until the baby was here". Well, err, what do you want me to do mother?! I'm only 38 weeks FFS. I know it's because she cares but it's not helpful.

Ugh I feel your pain ladies. I wish I'd lied too. I know people mean well but surely they must know I'd have told them if I'd had it! It doesn't help that my due date has come and gone.

Raspberry they would have told you if you needed to buy your own mirror. It's written in my notes and the midwife told me about it (and also said that she goes by touch and never uses them). Last time, I was at another hospital 20 mins away and they provided them. I think the Whittington must be particularly cash strapped!

Fox that must be very frustrating. Try not to let it get to you, I'm sure they mean well.

Felt absolutely exhausted today and had to go to bed at 5. This is how it started last time for me, so hoping I'm just knackered rather than about to go in to labour. Still got a week left at work!

Hope you sleep well Esme. x
I feel for those of you who are past/nearing your due dates. I hope your safe and well babies don't keep you waiting too long! I was well and truly fed up of being pregnant and baby wish came at 37+3!

My DH went out to play golf this morning. That put him in quite a good mood until he messaged my MIL who has yet to meet baby wish. MIL gave 2 different excuses as to why they haven't been over. An argument has now been initiated by DH. MIL claims she'll come over next weekend. I'm refusing to let DH take baby wish out to meet people because I'm stubborn and awkward using the guise that we haven't been released from mw care yet and if anyone wants to meet baby they'll come to us... it's wearing thin I think! Suppose it doesn't help that MIL lives about 6 miles away... and my mum flew in from Spain for a week...
The joys hey!

Ugh I've already had a few messages and I'm not due until Friday! Mum seems to have told the whole world the exact date.

@Barnes79 @BouncingBlueberry it's so frustrating. I keep thinking maybe this is it and then they stop again. If nothing's happened by Friday when I see the mw, I'll ask for a sweep.

@teainbed I fully appreciate the grim feeling when stuck in the middle of it all! I have really struggled with breastfeeding so far, and don't feel like I was given enough consistent guidance in hospital or from the maternity support worker whose been since I came home. Thankfully one of my mums best friends was an NCT breastfeeding consultant for 20 years so came with mum today and stayed for just under 3 hours (!!!) until we finally managed to get baby ticky latched correctly. It's not been perfect for the rest of the day but it's definitely been better, and the fear that he's not getting enough from me is improved when I see how sleepy he is after a feed now!

Also my other half made my day earlier when he hugged me and said "oooh skinny mummy!" 😂 far from it but it was nice!

Any recommendations on an inexpensive electric breast pump? The Medela swing seems to have excellent reviews but not sure!
www.motherandbaby.co.uk/reviews-and-shop/feeding/breast-pumps/medela-swing-essentials-pack

Massive hugs to everyone who's struggling a little! I think I was lucky that baby came before I was really sick of pregnancy!
Also exciting to hear about false labours/tightenings etc, lots of bodies getting ready!

wish damn right any visitors should come to you! How strange your MIL hasn't visited yet, I hope it gets sorted out.

Minor victory here as PIL were Skyping DH talking about when they're going to visit (they will fly over but stay in a hotel) and suggested a few days after ELCS date. I said too soon as it would only be 2 days after I get out of hospital (and if they want to "help" with toddler I don't want them coming during paternity leave!). Anyway they are going to come in late June instead which I'm happier with.

Sorry to everyone being harassed by friends and family, as if you're going to secretly give birth and hide the baby for a few weeks-!

Hope the feeding settles down tea.

ticky I used a Medela swing last time and it was fine for occasional pumping, although I subsequently learned about closed systems v open systems. I've decided I want to give a daily bottle if possible this time so invested in a double Spectra which I hope will have reasonable sell on value when I'm finished with it.

Wonder how many babies we'll have this week!

Why am I up at 2am?! 🙈 Felt horrendous yesterday. Attempted to go to IKEA yesterday and left with the worst back pain and headache which lasted all day. Had several naps to try to get rid of the headache (didn't work) and now I can't sleep 38 weeks and 1 day now and really hope this baby comes soon. Not sure I can take another 3 and a half weeks of this.

4.25 am. Awake since 1. Got up to have cereal. Been getting period like cramps here and there since I woke but getting up has seemed to have stopped them. 37+6 so doubt it's going to become labour! Cereal has made baba hyper so possibly no sleep for a while. .wish that's very odd about your MIL. Does she visit usually? claire hope you got back to sleep.