June 2019 - Part 8

[coastergirl]

I couldn't see a new thread so started one, hope that's OK.

Massive congratulations @swiftfox. So exciting to have our first baby!

I wonder whether there’ll be any babies left to be born by mid-June! (Probably mine, still haven’t been given a section date at 38+3 and they’re all booked up because apparently June is a busy month for babies 😭)

Good luck to everyone having sections today!

@kescilly if it helps at all, I actually felt closer to DS when I switched to bottles. I know I'm in the minority saying it, but because I wasn't stressing about the latch etc and he was in my arms looking at me whilst having his bottle I found that I felt much closer to him and just enjoyed the cuddles. I bonded much better.

@hexagon01 I had a similar problem here! They wanted to book me in on the 14th at 39 weeks and couldn't get space until the 18th. Hope you get a date asap! Have they given you any indication about what they're planning to do?

They were busy here too which is why I had to wait for 39+6.

For those of you who have suggested combination feeding, how do I do it? I’m scared that my supply is going to dry up if I miss a single feed or pumping session.

@WeeBean my hospital is fully booked until July, so I either need to wait until someone booked in goes into labour early, or be done by the emergency team as and when they get time which is obviously not ideal! I should get 48 hours notice. I’m a bit frustrated as they should have booked me in before this, but the doctor didn’t as the baby was transverse at the time and we thought she’d have to come out earlier. I wish she’d just booked it anyway :(

@Kescilly I’m no expert on combi feeding and I’m sure lots of people will have good advice, but I know some start with one bottle a day of formula, or if you’re topping up, breastfeed as usual but use formula as the top up instead of expressing. Good luck with it whatever you choose.

We’ve had a girl! All safe and well. 7lbs 14 and so far so good.

I’m completely in love and adore her already. Daddy is holding up well too! Aiming for home tomorrow so we can just start being a wee family together xxx

@Bimbabo congrats!!

Midwife has booked my induction for next Friday when I'll be 41+4, if I don't go naturally before then. She examined me and said my cervix was soft and forward, and she could get the tip of one finger in. Could still be a while though!

Congratulations @Bimbabo! Glad you're all safe and well. Hope you're home soon.

Hey @Kescilly I can only share my experience but we used the MAM anti colic bottles and stuck to the slow flow teat (using a faster flow teat may make baby a lazy breast feeder as bottle is easier). DH took the bottle feeds so baby didn't get confused with me doing both (plus DH loved it). As I mentioned we had to wean from bottle to breast so we basically replaced bottle feeds with boob but I had to be persistent as the more you feed the more you stimulate your body to increase your milk supply so it was a lot of hind milk feedings then topping up with formula once I was really empty. Eventually we weaned to on formula a day which we did at about 6/7pm DH did everything regarding the bottles I never had to worry about that bit and while he fed I slept of locked myself in the bath. Also meant by 10/11pm feed I had a decent supply of milk for the beginning of the night so she was a good sleeper. For me, I found I was low on milk by the end of the day so having the opportunity to 'fill up' before the night feed meant everyone was happy and I wasn't constantly fighting supply and demand. the one bottle feed also gave her a bit of a vitamin boost too plus we could give her medicine in her bottle when it was needed over first 6 months :) win win.

Huge congratulations @Bimbabo!

Sorry to hear so many are struggling with feeding. Bf isn't an option for me because of my meds, and honestly that's a bit of a relief. I'm not sure my head could handle it. There's also nothing quite like watching your partner or mum giving baby a bottle. So nice.

Congratulations on all the new babies. Can't believe how many there are now both here and on fb! Did we hear anything from @istef? Wasn't she being induced with the twins?

I hit 37 weeks yesterday. Section planned for two weeks time, but going to try and get things going before then. Having lots of period pains so fingers crossed. Seeing the midwife this morning and I think she might give me a sweep, which I'm so scared of! I do want to know if all the pain has been doing anything though.

@kescilly I combo fed my dd pretty much from birth. She was a big baby and (although I didn’t realise at the time) my milk was delayed coming in. She was screaming lots on day 4 and my husband went to 24 hour Tesco at 3am to buy formula. I felt really guilty and was hiding the empty bottles and pretending to midwives that I was exclusively breastfeeding. Crazy really but hormones will do that to you.

I predominantly breastfed and tried to feed as much as possible but we gave her one bottle at night in the early days. She didn’t get confused and was happy to drink from anything. It worked out great as I was quite ill after the birth and it meant I could get a few hours sleep and dh could take over.
Once my supply built up I Managed to express enough for a feed so dh could give her that if I was asleep or out and we didn’t use formula as much. Expressing was definitely not as easy as I expected though so we did still give her a bit of formula if we didn’t have enough.

Hope it all goes well for you whatever you do. The main thing is don’t beat yourself up if you end up giving formula. I tormented myself for ages and made myself miserable about the whole thing. The main thing is that you and the baby are happy.

Shit, I’m having a baby on Tuesday 😱

@hexagon01 haha this is literally me most mornings! I'm due on Saturday...

Good news @Hexagon01
@excitedmama I’m due tomorrow but every time I go to bed I think I’m going to wake up in labour and I’m not ready
Going to try and do some hypnosis thing cramming today. Probably defeats the point.

Hypnobirthing I mean.

Thanks ladies, I’ve still been in tears over it. I actually don’t think much of the heath benefits and difference between the two, I just really liked being able to feed and comfort her. I feel like I don’t know what to do with her if I can’t put her on me.

Congrats @Bimbabo, how are you feeling?

@hexagon01 do you feel ready?

All fine. Just waiting to hopefully get discharged. I’ve packed my bags and gotten dressed to give them a hint We’re ready to go home.

Baby doing well. Managing to get her to latch on. Feel lucky given so many are having a hard time of it with feeding.

Can’t wait to introduce her to her fluffy four legged sister, then our wee family is complete.

Hope there’s some more babies coming this week! xxx

@Kescilly I’m not sure I’ll ever feel ready for another baby, but I feel ready to not be pregnant anymore. I definitely feel anxious because it took me some time to settle into motherhood last time, we had feeding issues plus I was just generally terrified of everything for a long time in a way that I don’t think I’ll be able to be this time. But I’m scared it’ll be suppressed and end up coming out somehow. I don’t know. It’s very difficult. I’m trying to remind myself how short the newborn period really is, and that it gets so much easier, but it’s hard!

I hope your difficult newborn period ends really soon and that you find your way with the feeding, however that is. It passes, somehow.

@Bimbabo so pleased to hear you’re doing well, hope you get home soon!

Hi all, Fablet#2 arrived successfully yesterday afternoon weighing 7lb 11.5oz via a planned sunroof exit. They had a few challenges getting him out as he was hiding behind my bladder so he ended up with a bit of a bruised face but that should go down soon hopefully. His little tongue is a bit bruised too and they don't know why that is but it doesn't seem to have affected him as he's taken really well to BFing thankfully. He's even sleeping successfully in his crib which is a miracle compared to his big brother who refused to do it point blank! Still waiting to see the paeds doc to see whether going home today is a possibility or not. If we have to stay in then I might see if I can get a private room to give myself a better chance of some sleep!

@hexagon01 I feel the same, fed up of being pregnant and waking up thinking 'is this labour?!' I'm done now, but kinda scared about being a mum to a newborn again!

Fab news @Fabuluce congratulations! Xx

@Fabuluce congratulations!

@Fabuluce congratulations! Hope you get home soon. Don't blame you for getting a private room if you can. My hospital has stopped doing them now so hoping I have a smooth labour and early discharge!

So many of us waiting. I'm now overdue and doing everything to bring on this labour. Wish me luck!