November 2017 #5. You wait ages for a baby, then 3 come along at once. Ante/post-natal chat ...

[Zampa]

No specific post-natal category so I've added it to the normal ante-natal category ...

Oh well done @labellesausage - I had a very quick labour too at 4 hours and felt l could've taken on the world afterwards! Baby Jasper is gorgeous - congratulations!! 😀

@Accrual I've had a day in the house today too and it's been fabulous! DS is now 3 weeks old and we've been out & about for most of those so it's great just to chill - I don't miss work either, although looking after baba is just a whole different type of work! 😃

@AGnu l had a total hormone crash at around day 6, felt broken, miserable and thoroughly hopeless - could this be having an effect on you too? I would second phoning your MW if you can, or is there someone who can care for baby and let you get a bit of sleep?

Do take it easy @Agnu. Don't try and do to you much and let your body heal.

DD is 8 days old now and we've only left the house 3 times! The 40 minute walk we did today has left me exhausted so another restful day for me tomorrow!

I think I've either got a cold or mastitis ... Hoping it's the former!

I've been to my consultant today and he has discharged me! Finally I feel like I can move forwards after the category C fracture and dislocation of my ankle at 17 weeks pregnant. It's been a seriously tough recovery but I have so strict with the rehab and today it paid off.

I realise I didn't say much about my labour as I think I was rather shocked it all happened so quickly. So here goes...

At 38 weeks I was measuring below the 10th centile so they sent me for a growth scan. This showed exactly the same as it did when I was pregnant with my daughter (born at 37 weeks following inducing), I was hardly carrying any liquor therefore required inducing that evening. They used the gel but when putting it in discovered I was 2cm already. By 6am the following morning I was 5cm and they said they could break my waters.

When they broke my waters with my daughter I remembered that my contractions and actual birth came very quickly. As my husband was on the school run I asked them whether they could wait until he got there due to my previous experience. They ran me a lovely bath, so when my husband arrived I was chilling out happily in the bath.

As I stood up to get dry (the delivery room was ready for me) I felt my waters go and then within seconds my contractions started. The longest I had without a contraction was a whole 45 seconds, they came thick and fast. By the time I got up to the delivery room I was 9cm (10 mins after waters going) and they quickly inserted the cannula as I had requested an epidural. The midwife went to meet the anaesthetist outside the door, I told my husband to go and get her because I needed to push. At this point I was still on no pain relief as gas and air makes me very sick, so the midwife came in, helped me remove my trousers and underwear and announced she could see the head and there was no time for an epidural. 40 minutes later Jasper arrived, after a very quick and very strong labour! Because my core and stomach muscles are so strong, my contractions were causing his heart rate to drop each time but because he came so quickly they didn't have much time to worry about it!

I had a 2nd degree tear that was repaired quickly and after having him at 2.02pm I was home by 8pm!

Oh wow @DuRezidal! That sounds so intense, I'm amazed you kept your head with no pain relief.

Also, I need to go through and catch up on the babies as I'd missed that yours was a Jasper. Fantastic name

@Zampa have you had mastitis before? It’s horrible make sure you feel for and drain any lumps and drink loss of water. I’m probably on about 15 pints a day!!

Frickin heck @DuRezidal that sounds, well, intense! Glad you have the sign off now and hope your body continues to strengthen well.

@lydiangel83 I think I was being a drama queen ... DP also has a head cold so think the feverishness and discomfort is more than likely a result of a cold than mastitis.

How often are your DBabies feeding? My lo is nursing for over 5 hours in a 24 hour period and no idea if this is "normal". Probably explains the burning nipples though!

We've had poo dramas here. Felicity hadn't had a soiled nappy since Monday...Prime Minister's Question Time apparently had a laxative effect as the situation was rectified big style I really hope she doesn't make a habit of this. Hopefully this means a less grouchy baby tonight

Plans for the rest of the day involve trying to figure out how to tie the Close Caboo that a friend gave me.

Accrual just as I read your post Freddie did a mega poo! Re the caboo - check out YouTube, that's how I learnt to tie mine.

For some crazy reason I'm taking DD who is 5 and 3 week old Freddie pottery painting this afternoon so we can make Christmas presents for grandparents! Wish me luck

My run of bad luck continues..I was discharged last weekend and now my little one has been readmitted with an infection. Don't know whether I'm coming or going and really struggling with everything.

Oh @stepupandgo you just be beside yourself. It’s little comfort but he is in good care and this is a very short time in the grand scheme of things. I have to keep reminding myself of that as it is only the here and now which matters to us as we go through all this.

Sending you many and plus a good swig of .

Sorry to hear that @stepupandgo it sounds like you’re having a tough time :( hugs x

@butterybollocks you are brave! Good luck! I’m taking Liliana to a ceramics place today to get her paw prints done - excited!

We had a pretty hard 24 hours as he hadn't done a poo, so he was really grouchy and uncomfortable. It's heartbreaking because there's nothing you can do to help them. Finally last night he did one but it was rock hard (sorry if TMI) and huge! I have tried giving him some water off a spoon this morning which he did have but was not overly loving it!

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

@DuRezidal when Bea had constipation the health visitor recommended giving her an ounce of cool boiled water in between feeds. I also cycled her legs, which helped. I hope you can resolve the constipation, it's horrible not being able to help them.

We are off to the hospital for another scan of Bea's hips. Wish us luck!

@stepupandgo

@lydiangel83 have fun! Freddie slept through having his feet painted and prints being done, we've done some really cute Christmas baubles with his footprint and DD's hand print turned into penguins and reindeer.

DD seems to have a tummy bug and suddenly threw up last night. She's got a temperature and is feeling pretty rubbish. I'm quite worried about Freddie catching it as a fever and sickness in a newborn can't be good. We're all having a duvet day on the sofa today.

Good luck with the scan today sock

An anti-clockwise tummy massage can help with constipation. Use a neutral oil like coconut.

I'm feeling really sad, the hospital have said that Bea needs to wear a harness as one of her hip joints is loose. I know it's only going to help but I can't help but feel I failed her somehow :(

Of course you've not failed her @theotherendofthesockportal! I'm guessing that she was just curled up a little wonkily in the womb and the harness will be a very short term arrangement. Getting her the help she needs is what a good mother does.

Oh you haven't failed her @theotherendofthesockportal , and it will only be a short term thing which will create a long term solution. I assume it will just until the ligaments are not as lax so they hold the joint in place?

@DuRezidal, a doctor friend of mine swears by giving them 5ml of cooled peppermint tea to make them poop.

Also, posted on the 'things your mother disapproves of' thread but had to share here too:
My first baby, her first grandchild, was born on Sunday.

When here yesterday she lent over to him and then Gasped in total disapproval.

Then clutched at her imaginary pearls and asked if it was a one off that I hadn't managed to iron his muslin

Are we seriously supposed to do this?!?

Life is way too short for ironing muslins. I don't even iron clothes. At 3 outfit changes a day for poo, wee and sick related incidents I feel vindicated in this approach.

Thank you @Zampa and @DuRezidal, I must be feeling "mothers guilt." I have had a further emotional day as Bea has outgrown her first size baby clothes. She is a lucky girl she has a huge 0-3 wardrobe selection to chose from. I hope the harness will fit underneath them, else we won't be getting much wear out these clothes!

@LaBelleSausage ignore your mum! As if you have time to iron things at the moment! Any spare time you have should be taken up with making yourself a cup of tea, not ironing!

I don't iron my own clothes (another source of contention) so why I would iron clothes for wiping up vomit I don't know!

Glad it's not a 'thing'. Thanks ladies

Meant to say - the wrinkles don't seem to bother Jasper!