September Babies Thread #5 - we're a chatty bunch

[Stroan]

Yet another thread for our September babies!

The Google Doc with stats is here: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VUDuTLeibUnnaCWCjb-pqUe4Wnq-fTau4HJgmE1XE3c/edit?usp=sharing

This post was edited at OP's request

This post birth talk is sobering. This is not something anyone has discussed previously. I am feeling concerned that I'm going to have to freeze pads to ease the discomfort. Hmmmm.... think I'm going to take myself off for a lie down... 😱🤯

kyles just to add a flip side to that, I had a similar birth forceps plus episiotomy and I didn't have to freeze pads etc. I didn't have much pain post birth, in fact I even asked the midwife in hospital if that was normal, surely I should be feeling pain if I've just been cut in my lady bits! It's was only a few days later that I felt 'bruised.'
So you will hear all sorts of different birth experiences but that doesn't mean it will happen to you.

@kyles101
It’s why I’d prefer a section. An abdominal wound sounds preferable to torn lady bits to my ears.

I’ve spent my day at home watching The Nappy Lady videos on her You Tube channel. It makes much more sense than the descriptions to me. It’s helping me get my head around my options.

Oh, I'd forgotten how soothing witch hazel on pads was! And arnica gel. Far too lazy to freeze them though.

The episiotomy really wasn't bad. Had pretty much forgotten it within a week.

I also had forceps and episiotomy kyles101 and I was rather surprised at how little pain I was in afterwards, only a couple of weeks tops for the stitches to heal too. The issues I had post birth were due to the catheter and epidural but they pretty much cleared up after a month rather than being cut.

Megan2018 oooo gonna watch them tonight!

Thanks ladies... mildly reassured now but still a lingering suspicion the recovery part may be harder than I originally anticipated...

My working assumption is that all of it will be significantly harder than originally anticipated. I figure that way I’ll either be prepared or relieved! Not caught out 😂

I was hoping for a bit of blissful ignorance to carry me through!

I'm just wondering if cloth nappies do save money? I'm seeing packs of disposable x 50 nappies for £2.99 so say that lasts 1 week that's £155 over the year. So let's say I potty train at 3 ill have spent £466 on disposables. I've put 15 reusable nappies into my basket at the nappy lady website and that's come out at £306 but then I'd need some liners and boosters which would take me up over the disposable nappy budget. So really only good thing is environmental factor. I'm sure I read using reusable means you save around £750 per baby but I'm not sure I see how that comes about.

I never got a natural labour first time round as it was induction due to high blood pressure then emergency c section. With the chaos from last time I will confess I’m totally petrified about this baby coming out and have no idea what to choose.

@Whisky2014 you can get cheaper washable nappies though, it's not fair to compare fancy washables with the cheapest disposables!
I reckon we broke even with DC1, so saved a bomb with DC2 (this goes for the carbon impact too- though obviously landfill is a win straight away). I'm really not sure what to do with DC3 though as I'm going to need a load of new nappies I think!

Yeh that's a fair point I didn't look at a comparable standard of disposable nappy, i just saw the first couple on tesco website and used that as a figure.

Is it too early to buy this stuff? Shpuld I wait until nearer the time?

I'd really not buy more than one of any kind of washable nappy- you will find out quickly which work well for you! Eg my bombproof faves leaked like mad on a friend's baby- different shaped baby!

So should I not buy them until baby ushers then and whilst I try the different ones out I use disposable until I get the right reusable one?
Sorry I know these seem basic questions but I'm just confused.

@karigan195 do you mean whether to try for a VBAC or ELCS?

Has anyone gone through your notes from last time with you? It might help to get a fresh perspective on what happened and why.

My consultant talked me through mine but actually told me that it was worse than I remembered! But still useful to be sure I was making the right decision.

motherofdaughters on instagram runs a blog called Gas And Air. It just had a week long feature of VBAC stories if that is any use to you.

Everything really. I think having an epidural contributed to needing a c section for instance.

@Whisky2014 I was googling for grants earlier, couldn't find anything for our arena, but the local authority does have a reusable nappy library type scheme where they give you buckets and other things you need, along with a few different types to try then you can buy whatever you think works out best.

I'm not gonna lie I think I'm going to use disposables for the first couple of months whilst I get into a decent routine... I've had nieces and nephews around and babysat for a few days at a time but that's pretty different to having one full time I'm going to assume. Plus, I can barely keep up with my washing as it is!!

@Karigan195 google the positive birth company digital pack - I've stared listening to the videos and they're so good! Love having everything explained in a scientific way, it's not at all magic "hypno" whatever like I feared it might be...

@Whisky2014
I’m waiting until I get a good idea of what baby is measuring like before buying any nappies. I know that measurements are still approximate but want to see if she is likely to be short/small like me or tall/big like DH as think that’ll influence what suits.
I’m also going to try and buy a few of the nappies the Nappy Lady recommended 2nd hand to try out first before buying new in bigger volume. You don’t have to have all of them ready on the day you bring baby home, you can mix up washable and disposable for a bit and easy enough to order more in the first weeks.
Full kit new is about £400 based on what she recommends but I was going to try and spend less than £300 by mixing up new and used.
I’m looking out for a newborn kit used too.

Just had my gender scan so excited it's a girl heard the heart beat and had a sneak preview of 4D feels real now, she was kicking away very active and I could feel every kick , also had 16 week midwife appointment and heard heartbeat which was nice , dates haven't changed still due 15th September
I had a feeling it was a girl can't wait to buy the first outfit now

Sorry @kyles101 I didn't mean to terrify you with my birth story. My recovery (despite forceps and episiotomy) was totally fine, I just think the frozen pads helped reduce the swelling and bruising a little faster.

@Karigan195 sorry to hear you are feeling terrified. Definitely echo the recommendation to see someone to talk through your experience and options in more detail. I have had several friends who have had successful VBACS and even for those who ended up with a C Section again they have all said how much calmer it was second time round as they felt much more in control!

Also - I should mention, I froze the pads when I was bored senseless waiting for my DD to arrive. My DH thought they were months of prepared meals, no such luck I'm afraid 😂

@Megan2018 FB buy and sell sites are great for nappies. I got a set of 20 plus wraps, liners, 7 packs of disposable liners, bucket and laundry bags for £75 in great condition! The lady I got them from said that she bought a newborn bundle too but baby was in them such a short amount of time that they weren't worth the money. Mine are adjustable by poppers supposed to work from birth to potty but I'm thinking if baby is particularly small it's probably best to use disposables for a few weeks until big enough for the reusables. Just a thought before you splash out on newborns :)

I don’t mind spending a bit on newborns 2nd hand as will be able to sell on for pretty much what I pay. The birth to potty only any good from 10lbs and if my girl takes after me it’ll take ages to get to that weight. I was a tiny 5 and put on very slowly! Happy to use disposables for a very few weeks but not months.
I’m very anti disposable nappies, I’m not in the least fussed about BF but nappies bring out my passion lol

I have had 4 vaginal births and never had more than a 'slight graze' Decent sized babies too between 7lb9 and 8lb9. I usually feel a bit bruised for a few days and then pretty ok. My bleeding has been around 2 weeks each time too.

I posted on a thread the other day about similarities in birth / babies and it made me realise how similar mine have all been and i would be completely shocked if i say went into labour at 36 weeks with waters breaking and home and delivering a 6lb baby! Fully expecting this baby to be bigger than the last!

6 sleeps til we find out the sex