Due December 2019- continued

[badfurday]

Looks like our last thread got to 1k!
How we all doing? 😊

[Dec19baby]

That's exactly the same situation we were in! Blood cultures were negative and LP was clear. So they decided to keep him on antibiotics from 5 until 7 days, as Apparently 7 days would cover most infections. Fingers crossed you'll be home soon with your wee fighter!!

[bobble53]

@Dec19baby hey, LP came back negative as did his blood cultures. So so happy but still here and on antibiotics. We are still unclear as to what infection he has. Poor little thing has had so many injections and people prodding him in the past few days. Our babies are definitely made of strong stuff x

[Dec19baby]

Yay I'm so pleased! I hope the results give the dr's the answers they are looking for, or at least reassure them that nothing more serious is at play and he can go home soon! but they're wee fighters when they can go through so much so young!

[bobble53]

Thank you - you’ve helped. He managed to have the LP, we are just waiting for the results now so fingers crossed.

[Dec19baby]

Yes, you can't use CRP alone as it's not specific for infection, just one of many makers up indicate possible infection (I work in the laboratories so understand this all more than the average person!). Our son was literally the picture of health, the only thing they caught was a high temperature, and that's the only thing that indicated to them that he was ill. They started him on antibiotics at once, and only kept him on it for 7 days when they couldn't get any answer as to what infection it was 🤷. I hated the thought of an LP on someone so tiny. I process these samples every day in my job and it was awful to be on the other end of it as a patient so to speak. I think it took them a few attempts to get the CSF from our wee one, but it was all at one go. Fingers crossed they are successful with your wee one! It will definitely help them decide on treatment and for how long.

[bobble53]

@Dec19baby Poor babies - they are going to attempt a third and final LP today. Blood cultures still haven’t come back and the consultant told us that anything serious is usually flagged quicker than this so that’s reassuring but it’s so difficult not knowing what is the matter with your tiny baby. He also told us not to focus on the crp numbers and go solely on how baby is looking and acting. I am so glad your little one is better now. Hope he is well x

[Dec19baby]

They only said potential sepsis. All of his lab tests came back negative, so although his infection markers are now normal (CRP), they still don't know where the infection was coming from. If your baby was only started on antibiotics, his infection markers could still be increased before they go down due to treatment.

[bobble53]

@Dec19baby I hope your little one is better now. What infection did he have? My boys bloods have come back showing raised infection which I don’t get as he’s on iv antiobiotics. Having to wait to speak to doctor soon. So upset.

[Dec19baby]

@bobble53 I know exactly what you're going through. We were in hospital for 10 days after birth as he had an infection. He was on antibiotics for 7 days. He was like a pin cushion the whole time he was in as he was extremely tricky to get blood from. He had an LP as well. It's so hard to watch.

[bobble53]

@December2019 aww no I hope your little boy is better now and settling back home.

It really is such an awful time. I didn’t stop crying the whole of yesterday and everyone kept asking if he was my first baby. He is, but I think they thought I was being overprotective too but it’s hard not to when your tiny baby is all wired up isn’t it?!

[December2019]

@bobble53 I got home from hospital with my little guy yesterday he had bronchitis and we were in for a couple of days... it's horrible isn't it!
Hope your little one is on the mend soon and I'm thinking of you... it's so SOO tough watching them being poked & prodded especially when your exhausted too, just take each day as it comes and coffee is your friend and remember to eat xxx 💐

[bobble53]

@Dec19baby I bf for 5 days and give up. Wasn’t worth it in my case.

I am really struggling right now. Baby is 5 weeks and ended up in hospital via ambulance this week with ?infection. Unsure of cause yet and two failed lumbar punctures. Been here 3 days so far and probably here until end of week as they are pumping as many antiobiotics into him as possible to be on the safe side. Absolutely petrified.

[December2019]

Yeah I'm finding it hard too I have a just turned 1 year old who is refusing to sleep at night too lol if I don't laugh I'll cry!
I keep telling myself it's only for a little while and it'll pass... but it feels like forever

[Dec19baby]

Definitely struggling a bit it'll be 2 weeks tomorrow since giving birth but only 4 days since being home. Finding BF incredibly difficult tbh.

[bobble53]

How is everyone doing?

[Dec19baby]

I'm so sorry you feel like this. I do think first step is admitting it, which you have. But also don't forget, it's still early days. You need to give yourself time to heal, not just physically And give yourself credit for going through it for your little one!

[Funnybunnyfluff]

It defo affects your mental health, giving birth 9 days ago and what I went through over the 6 days with shite care makes me think I'd never have another baby ever. Going to try go for a walk tomorrow as I feel like I never want to leave the house 🙈.

I'm a confident person but it's definitely knocked me.

[Dec19baby]

There are also groups that can help with this sort of thing. I live in Scotland and there's a group in Edinburgh that deals with women who have had traumatic births in the past, to try and help them work through it. Obviously a healthy baby is so important at the end, but so is our own mental health, and our birth experience impacts on that.

[Xiaohei]

FYI: things take a while to settle and memories to be processed and stored. But if you find you’re still having issues after a while, avoiding things linked to birth/ plans etc. Might be worth speaking to someone as can be a feature of PTSD. I found talking about it ( a lot!! And I mean a lot. Esp. To my partner really helped. Don’t worry about going over it- your brain just needs to make sense of what’s happened)

[Xiaohei]

Hi Foxney, it’s not silly at all- what you’re feeling is a valid reaction to what sounds like at least an unpleasant experience or in fact a traumatic one. Don’t do what I did, first time round, and then beat yourself up over totally normal reactions to things beyond your control. And I firmly believe that as ultimately important as having your baby delivered safely is- there is so much more to a ‘healthy’ birth experience. My second birth ( aimed for a home birth- couldn’t go anywhere near a hospital) was much better and in fact I opted after 20 hrs to transfer in and have forceps - which sounds awful but I was utterly delighted about as it was all MY choice and I felt in control. I hope it doesn’t put you off having any more kids if that’s what you want. And just be kind to yourself- it sounds like a lot and it all just takes a while to process xx

[fonxey]

I built up my "ideal birth" in my head so much even though I said but to and i really believed that is be prepared. But I wasn't. I had a text book pregnancy, nothing went wrong at all.

I so wanted a birth in the birth unit that when we did the tour i hardly looked at the delivery unit!

So by the time i got in i think i was in a state of shock. It was like i want aware of anything around me and my body freely entirely heavy and useless like it wouldn't move. Every movement began to hurt. It was so weird.

Truth is i can't even see things lined to the birth. I bought bikini tops cos i wanted a water bath and was having a hard time finding one in winter...

The tens machine we rented is hiding in a cupboard.

It feels really silly. I have this wonderful daughter and the birth probably no worse than others thst didn't go to plan.

[bobble53]

@fonxey aww no, that sounds very similar to my birth. Baby had had a poo and I was put on a drip. I planned on having a water birth with just gas and air too but ended up on the labour ward with an epidural! Baby’s heart rate kept going down with my contractions but luckily I’d become fully dilated at this point and was rushed to theatre for forceps with Caesarean section on the cards too if that didn’t work. I gave birth after 23 hours labour via forceps delivery. That was two weeks ago and I’m only just feeling better now.

My baby also lost too much weight being breast fed and I absolutely beat myself up about it. He lost over 10%. It took me five days to put him on a bottle but it’s the best decision I made and my midwifes were amazing.

I hope you are feeling better soon and enjoy your first week of being a mummy. I wish I hadn’t stressed so much looking back now xx

[Funnybunnyfluff]

Shame it was my first baby as it's definitely put me off. I suffer with white coat syndrome and scared of hospitals lol. Hasn't helped my experience 🙈.

Least I have a beautiful healthy girl 😁

[fonxey]

@Funnybunnyfluff you have had it so much worse than me. Apart from becoming some kind of exhibit my treatment was really good.

I just hated being there.

[Funnybunnyfluff]

@fonxey

I know how u feel I had a terrible birth hospital for 6 days. And I'm worried the epidural has messed me up as he messed up the first time. I have bladder issues now and piss myself basically I'm trying to find my muscles for stop it. Worst experience of my life and my hospital care was not great. Wrong drugs and information given to me. Midwife said to me on Tuesday. When is your next MRI scan for your placenta.. I said no idea wasn't aware I needed one. So very poor.