Due March 2020 - FIRST BABY in late 20's

[lonelyonee]

Hello!
Just wanted to start a new thread specifically for women who are in their late twenties & are having their first baby in March 2020! 🙂
Not trying to exclude anyone just think it will be nice to speak to women who are in the same sort of circumstances as myself. Plus the other March threads are pretty full!

Bit about me:

• due 28th March 2020
• 27 years old (DP is 24)
• was on the combination pill for 12 years
• been with DP a year and a half
• SO excited as this is both our first baby (DP's ex had a miscarriage @ 10 weeks a few years ago)
• feeling nauseous, boobs are killing, weeing loads & having cramps/pains.

Look forward to hearing your stories & sharing this experience with you! 🙂 xx

Oh my goodness @lonelyonee, congratulations!!! Hope you’re doing well lovely and are settled at home now 💕 sounds like you’ve had a pretty rough time of it bless you, hope you heal up quickly. Just take it as easy as you can for the next few days and let your other half take the lead a bit whilst you heal up, recovery will be my much faster! This is the approach I’ve taken and meant we were able to go for our first ‘socially distanced’ walk today 3 days post section! Haha the sleep deprivation is REAL isn’t it 😂 the best part is everybody tells you to sleep when baby sleeps, but when they’re asleep you’re so besotted that you can’t stop looking at them to actually sleep yourself, plus the fact that (I don’t know if you ladies are the same) but I constantly wake up and check she’s still breathing 🤦‍♀️. How’re you @HighOnStilts @eskimod?

Ahhhh congratulations! Aw must be so lovely to finally have your babies in your arms!
Had sweep yesterday but I had an unfavourable cervix so she said she could only give it a 'tickle' ☹️
I'm booked in for another one on Friday. Then she wants to send me for induction but I'm thinking of asking for another sweep on the Tuesday before I go for induction. Really don't want to be induced! X

Heya ladies, been in a bit of a baby bubble as he's very demanding!
Thank you @eskimod @jl2345 I also hope I heal up quick! I'm letting my OH sleep during the hours of 4am onwards so I can get my sleep in when he wakes else we'll both be deprived! Plus I am breastfeeding so makes more sense for me to be awake all night with baby!
I am struggling to sleep though as I'm on high alert also watching to make sure he's breathing etc... I'm hoping we will all feel more confident as the days go by with this! 🤞🏻
How's your section recovery going @jl2345 ? Sounds like it's going well, we need to make a short visit to my dads to collect our pushchair (probably breaking social distancing but I will be going only for that and baby and OH can stay in the car). I too hope to take him for a little stroll in the fresh air as won't be able to go shops with him.
Awww @eskimod any updates? I'm hoping your sweep actually took effect and you now have your baby! Things can happen so fast!

Here's my full sorta story of labour/birth:

I had baby Freddie @ 8.04am on Friday 27th March weighing 6lbs 13oz by vaginal delivery assisted with kiwi vacuum & epidural. I also had an episiotomy - 2nd degree, so had stitches.
I had a pretty shit time of it tbh, was contracting all day at home, then made our way to hospital around 7pm. I was admitted at 6cm, around 9pm & struggling through the pain, had gas & air and diamorphine (didn't do much) was refused epidural to begin with due to white blood cells being present in my urine, was pushing for a while due to being found to be fully effaced & having urge to push just to have to stop after being checked again & found to be 8cm.
Had to wait to dilate so was popped on a drip to strengthen contractions - this intensified the pain so I had another diamorphine while waiting to see what would happen with my latest urine test & possible remifentanil or epidrlural.
I suffered for quite a while whilst waiting on the response and was surprised when they said I could have the epidural. I'm glad though I was struggling & baby was also by this point.
Pushed for 34 minutes (around 4 contractions) & baby Freddie was in the world 💙
Had the injection for the placenta to be birthed and vitamin k for little man also!

Currently on day 4 with him and I'm completely besotted 🥰 we are breastfeeding and I'm pretty sure my milk has come in now as breasts are super heavy atm. We're working our way through the sleep deprivation & I'm trying to keep on top of going to the loo & keeping everything down there nice and clean!
Taking every day as it comes! Little mans got an appointment at the hospital on Wednesday to follow up and do the heel prick test etc... looking forward to it as it will be a great opportunity to make sure he okay and I'm doing everything right!
Hope everyone is well! xxx

Aw sounds like you had a rough time but at least he's here now!
Nup, sweep didn't work so going for another on Friday ☹️ feeling tired and uncomfortable now. Non of the old wives tales seem to be working.
Suppose I know I'll only have about a week left before she's here, just don't want to be induced! 😫
X

@lonelyonee sounds like you’ve had a pretty rough time, hope you’re healing well. Oh the sleep deprivation is like a new level isn’t it, we’re in the stage of cluster feeding at the minute and I am EXHAUSTED. How’s feeding going? I had a rough time with it for the first few days and was in a world of pain from feeding alongside section recovery. We’re finally getting there now though despite very almost giving up, so glad I persevered now though as I love the bond it creates, no matter how exhausting 🤦‍♀️

@eskimod @jl2345

Yeah but there's not much to do about it now except for concentrate on little man and healing. Just a bit deflated over the isolation & knowing we can't get help even if we want it ☹️ feeling super emotional spent a lot of yesterday crying, although I'm trying to be positive.
Sorry the sweep didn't work for you eskimod but I'm sure a second one will do the trick! Nope if the drip they gave me is anything to go by you don't because those contractions were something else!
Fingers crossed for you 🤞🏻
Jl2345 it's horrible, I'm scared I'm gonna fall asleep holding him. I'm trying to give my oh a chance to get his sleep in now before it ramps up to your level as he absolutely cannot function if he hasn't slept and it just won't help either of us.
He's so eager for the boob honestly it's nice he wants it, opens his mouth nice and wide for me! We're only struggling a little because I'm so engorged but I'm just swapping sides each feed to ease it as much as possible & I have a suction pump handy fo drain off any excess to help him latch if need be.
I think we're over the majority of pain from feeding now 🤞🏻

We have our hospital appointment today for little mans heel prick test etc...
I'm assuming you've had yours? What should I expect? I'm anxious about taking him there, driving the car with him for the first time, the fact my oh can't come in with us ☹️
What's your cluster feeding consisting of? Hope you're healing well too lovely xx

@lonelyonee tell me about it, I’m not going to lie, we top her up a little with formula at night. I feed her until I physically can’t stay awake any longer then oh takes over with a bottle, she’s so hungry and with her being so small and losing a chunk of her birth weight (dropped to 6lb1oz) I’m just happier knowing she has a full tummy. Yeah I went through the really engorged phase but it seems to have settled now so hopefully yours will too soon. Cluster feeding is basically her feeding constantly, she drops off, unlatches then 5 minutes later she’s rooting again. Get her latched back on, 5 minutes later she drops off and the whole process happens all over again, definitely what made me so sore initially, I came so so close to giving up. Healing up well thanks, managed a couple of little walks outside now which has been nice!

@jl2345 ahh okay I'm pretty sure we're already doing that then! He loves the boob my little man!
We went to the hospital he had his weight taken and heel prick test done. He's actually PUT WEIGHT ON. He's gone from 6lbs13oz go 6lbs15oz!! 2 whole lbs!!!! 😮😮😮
Hey you gotta do what you gotta do. The midwife said to me don't forget this is your baby you should do whatever you feel is best, and tbf she's not wrong! ☺️☺️☺️
Gotta go back next Saturday for a follow up & waiting on another appointment for hearing retest as he had fluid in the way at the hospital after his birth.
Oh wow you superstar!! I'd probably be bed bound if that was me 😂

These bloody hormones though, wow I've spent half the day crying my eyes out again! Effed my makeup up for the hospital (was planning on taking a couple of photos with little man but clearly that didn't happen then) 🙄
Any news yet @eskimod ??

@lonelyonee @jl2345 @eskimod
Firstly, huge congrats @jl2345 and @lonelyonee super stokked to hear about the safe arrival of your babes!!!! 😍 and sorry I've taken so long to reply.
So..... welcomed my little girl Scarlett Mary Joyce on the 29th at 12:14am weighing a healthy 8lb 6oz!! 🤪
Will make this a short story (if that's possible hehe)
I was in latent labour on the 28th most of the day, contractions started to get intense around 6pm so arrived at the MLU by about 7:45pm, given an internal and told I was only 3cm but as they had just finished getting one of the birthing suites ready they admitted me. I ended up being in labour for 4.5 hours all in all and gave birth to her in the pool on a mere two puffs of gas and air (couldn't concentrate on it as my contractions were so intense so I screamed it out instead) I suffered 2nd degree tear and graze on my labia so was stitched up and I have been struggling with the intense pain from that, as well as a LOT of bloodloss, that have made me pretty immobile. My partner has been utterly amazing and has blown me away with how hands on he has been with us both and I cannot thank him enough.
I started breast feeding and then I felt like I physically and mentally couldn't keep up with her with how I was feeling so we had a couple of days of formula but it was giving her really bad reflux and making her sicky so now I'm back to breadt feeding and loving it even though it is incredibly tiring, I've had a fair few wobbles and cried most days but each day is getting a little better already and I am completely in love with her. We had the 5 day health check today and the poor little mite screamed the house down after her heel prick test (we had a home visit as I've got sciatica now too to top things off) by some MIRACLE the midwives are based just down the road so one was able to come out to us which I was truly grateful for. Baby is now weighing 7lb 7oz so she's lost weight but that was due to the lack of feeding after I first had her. She absolutely loves the boob and is on me ALOT but after a good feed she's literally comatosed for hours which is bliss. We're just struggling to get a routine going in the night and she doesn't take too kindly to her crib so I've been resorting to co sleeping with her and my partner sleeping in the spare room. Having a newborn is so so so exhausting but my god it is rewarding and the feeling is euphoric. I'd do it all again in a heartbeat.... well not just yet. 😆
Hope you ladies are loving this newborn bubble yourselves and looking after yourselves. Sending love! ❤

@HighOnStilts you posting your reply at 02.33am says it all! #Teamnosleep now!! 😂😂😂
Waiting on news from @eskimod !!!

These hormones are a bitch. Downstairs is healing nicely even if it is uncomfortable ☹️
Suffering from a migraine atm since last night which is fun, so spending my morning trying to make sure I'm hydrated and eating! Read a thing about post partum pre eclampsia so I'm a bit worried now but waiting to see whether it clears up shortly! 🤞🏻

Congratulations @HighOnStilts! Your feeding experience sounds a lot like mine so don’t worry, you’re not on your own, I literally thought I was going to have a mental breakdown because of the pain and demand on night two, it’s feels so good to persevere and come out the other side though doesn’t it! @lonelyonee definitely #teamnosleep it’s amazing how your body adapts though isn’t it, I’m usually horrid without sleep but can’t believe it’s been two weeks now and by some miracle I’m still sane!
How’re you all feeling now? We had health visitor today, it was the weirdest experience. My other half had to go upstairs. The HV got the scales and put them in the middle of the living room, then she stood at the other side of the room whilst I put Pippa on the scales, then I took her off whilst the HV wrote in her book then that was literally it! Said she’s phoning this afternoon to do all of the paperwork stuff, was literally here for 5 minutes. I completely understand with the circumstances etc but I just feel like this bloody virus is robbing us of the usual support and experiences new mums should get, especially with first babies :(

@jl2345 yeah I mean I'm managing to get a lot more sleep now as he's settling into a sort of routine of two long sleeps in the night between feeds/changes. Still bloody tired though!
Hmm there seems to be such a difference with how people do things across the country! I had my health visitor come a couple of days ago... covered in ppe and standing the other side of the room.
Lots of questions & a quick peek at baby but she didn't wanna weigh him or anything. The most invasive it was was her asking to see where he sleeps which I was happy to do as I know I'm following all the guidelines.
Have another hospital appointment with him on Saturday to see the midwives so I assume they'll weigh him again then.
Oh definitely! I think they're working really hard to do whatever they can but it's not really enough of what we need during this time. The support is minimal and it's even worse that we don't have family around either ☹️
Migraine did clear up but Jesus it was horrific, trying to look after myself as well as Freddie is proving quite difficult, I really need to eat more!
Hope all is well with everyone!

So sorry I haven't replied!

So last Wednesday I woke up at about 4am with period type pains, they continued all the way through the day until they became more regular on Wednesday night. On Thursday they continued more regularly but they weren't consistent enough... I used breathing techniques to get through the day but by 9pm I felt really tired, impatient and just wasn't coping as well. So we rang the Hospital and they said to go in and get checked... when I got there I was 3cm dilated but because it was many busy the midwife didn't send me home, she told me to get in the bath and relax and hopefully things would get moving (when she examined me she obviously gave me a big sweep) and then the contractions did get moving! I was 5cm dilated a couple of hours later so I had gas and air for a while and then I had some pethidine. I got back in the pool at 4am and could soon feel the urge to push. I got out so she could examine me again and baby's head was in the wrong position... she asked me to breath through the next contraction and not push so I did and that somehow turned the baby's head... she was born soon after at 6.30am on Friday 3rd April. She weighed 6lb9oz. We've named her Bonnie 💕
I had to have stitches. Luckily, Tom could stay with me in the unit because they didn't need the room and I was then allowed to leave on the evening so I didn't have to stay in.
Baby had heel prick and was weighed- she's put in 3oz!! The midwife was really impressed because I'm breastfeeding.
She's taken to breastfeeding really well. Nipples are still sore but getting there. I just can't believe how demanding breast feeding is, totally underestimated that! She feeds so often! Feel like I barely put her down! Toms been amazing around the house, haven't had to do a thing thanks to him. He's been feeding me too lol.
Hope you're all okay xx

@eskimod oh my god yay congratulations!!!!
Aww baby Bonnie 🥰 sounds like you did really well I'm so glad it wasn't too rough for you!
Welcome to the stitches crew 👏🏻😂
Well done on the breastfeeding as well, it can be tough going when you're so on demand, I've had a few moments where I've literally almost broken down while taking him off my OH to feed him because I've had no rest, but you've just gotta push through it. With everything going on though I'd much rather bf him, at least I know he's getting everything from me then. I've also been ordering all sorts of breastfeeding/expressing bits from Amazon, I bet they're sick of me 😂😂😂
It's fantastic she's put weight on! 👏🏻

I've been back to the hospital with Freddie for his follow up, he's now 7lbs 14oz so he's put on a total of 1lb 1oz in 2 weeks from his birth weight 😃😃 so proud of him & myself for sticking through all the tough feeds, it's so worth it to know he's doing really well.
Midwives are really happy with him and she checked me also... happy with how I'm healing and all looks good so now we've been discharged from midwife care.
Next step is to register Freddie at the GP & we'll speak to the health visitor around 6 weeks too.

Has anyone applied for child benefit yet? We can't register babies because of the virus but we can still claim apparently! I have had a look on the GOV site but it seems the only way to do it is by printing the forms and posting them? Surely there's an easier way?! My printer doesn't have ink and it's proving difficult to buy at the moment 🙄

Hope everyone and babies are well!!!! Looking forward to more updates from everyone 🥰🥰

@jl2345 @HighOnStilts @DaniX91

Congratulations to you all!💗 well done for getting through your labour at this crazy time. Even though I spent over 2 weeks in hospital I feel like I've been the lucky one as things were still normal when I was in.
We're having such a hard time as a family atm, we lost my Granda to pneumonia on 23rd March then my Aunty (his daughter) passed away 9 days later. She'd been in hospital for a couple of weeks but none of us never expected to not be seeing her again 💔 the death certificate says Covid 19 so she must have caught it while she's been in. It's just so sad, we've had my Granda's funeral but my Aunty's is still to get through on Thursday and I'm really dreading it. So glad we all have Daisy keeping us going! I'm still breastfeeding but we give her 150ml of formula on a night so I can get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. Stay safe girls and enjoy your babas cos time really does fly. Daisy is 8 weeks on Saturday! X @lonelyonee @eskimod @jl2345 @HighOnStilts

Congratulations @eskimod, love the name Bonnie 💕 @lonelyonee we’ve applied, just got to send it off but no stamps at the minute! They’ve said it’ll be fine without birth certificate, Doctors have said they’ll do the 8 week jabs as well even if we don’t have a birth certificate by then.
Oh @DaniX91 I’m so sorry, sounds like you’re all having a hell of a rough time of it on top of everything else. It’s lovely that little Daisy is keeping everybody going, we’ve found that with family and friends they’re always asking for pictures etc of Pippa and I think it’s just the bit of a lift that everybody needs with the situation, never mind being in your position where you’ve lost family members too 😢 and tell me about it with the time flying, Pippa’s 3 weeks old today and I can’t believe how fast it’s gone, she’s just about into newborn clothes now, think she’ll be out of tiny baby size by the end of the week!
Any of your babies struggling with their tummies ladies? Pippa has really bad trapped wind/possibly a bit of colic bless her, she literally curls her legs up, goes beetroot red and screams because she’s so uncomfortable and it’s horrid. Started using infacol every other feed yesterday which seems to have helped so far 🤞🏼
Also, what are you guys doing in terms of isolating? We’ve been getting family to deliver shopping for the past few weeks but it’s tricky as they live 40 mins away so thinking we’re going to have to start shopping for ourselves. We’ve been going out for a daily walk too, just trying to time it so it’s quiet whilst we’re out.
Hope you’re all doing ok xx

@DaniX91 aww I'm so sorry for your losses ☹️♥️ sending love your way today ♥️
I can't believe daisy is almost 8 weeks already! Time is flying! Ahh I'm tempted to do that in just exhausted of a night now because Freddie's cluster feeding, and comfort feeding I'm getting no rest until about 1am ☹️
@jl2345 bugger I don't know where my stamps are either! I have like 4 somewhere for emergencies, don't really fancy going to the bloody post office when I'm gonna have to get ink and that from somewhere else. Wanna limit the amount of places I'm going!
Oh yes! Freddie really struggles with him wind, and we struggle to get it up, he's projectile vomited over just about everything at this point and I'm so scared of putting him down now in case he's sick again 😭 ahh is Inca ok okay to use from birth then? We have gripe water in the house but that says from 1 month and he's 3 weeks old tomorrow.
In terms of isolating we've pretty much just stayed in the house. I've been out once since he's been born (plus 2 hospital visits) to get his pushchair from my dads, give my dad some photos of him, and do a food shop (all in one trip, and I'm the only one who drives so made sense for me to go on my own). Been trying to work myself up to take him for a walk but haven't managed it yet.

Hope everyone else is good!
@eskimod @HighOnStilts

@lonelyonee yeah you can use infacol from birth, it worked for a couple of days for us but now we’re back to the screaming, arching back, projectile vomit, struggling to go to the toilet etc.. she was so bad yesterday I rang the HV for some advice.. she recommended we try dentinox which we’re giving a go, let her have some nappy free time with just a clean one placed underneath her when we think she’s trying to poo so she can kick her legs about (also move her legs in a cycle motion), keep her upright for half an hour after feeds and stop feeding to wind her every five minutes or so. Trying all of these things combined at the minute but only on day two so hard to honestly say whether they’re making a real difference or not yet. We’ve also inclined the bedside crib at the head end slightly (it has little legs on so you can do this) and it’s really helped to not have her lying flat :)
Talk about time going quickly, cannot believe she’s a month old next week!!

@jl2345 ah right might be worth me grabbing some then just in case. Freddie hasn't been as bad as Pippa by any means but can't hurt to have it if we need it.
Aww I really hope it works for you and she gets some relief 🤞🏻
It's madness isn't it Freddie is 3 weeks old today where is the time going?!

What's everyone doing about the 6 weeks checks? I think I'm gonna phone my doctors today to see if we can get him registered and ask about making the appointment. Unsure what they're going to be doing as most appointments are over the phone. When I went there for my midwife appointment on my due date I was the only person in there apart from the staff!
The health visitor said she'll be calling around then instead of visiting so 🤷🏼‍♀️

Bit pissed off that we don't really have the support we need tbh, I know it can't be helped atm and we're incredibly lucky to not necessarily need it but even so!

Tell me about it @lonelyonee, we’ve had a rough couple of days where I’ve really felt let down with the lack of aftercare at the minute. My section wound looks like it’s getting infected but with docs not wanting to see patients they’ve basically said I can have antibiotics if I want if I think it’s infected or getting worse but it’s up to me which isn’t very useful as I’m not medically trained! Then on top of that Pippa has strained so much she’s opened her belly button wound back up so that was oozing gross green and bloody fluid yesterday. Called docs and they wanted to see her to be fair, they think it’s just on the surface and hasn’t led to an infection internally as she has no temp or redness around it so fingers crossed. Just want all of this to be over now and to get some normality back.
OH has to go back to work next week and I’m dreading how I’ll fill my days when I can’t go anywhere/have anybody round.
I think lots of docs are still doing 6 week checks but tying it in with 8 week jabs so you only have to go once. Our HV said their 6 week visit would be a phone conversation too.
Packed away Pippa’s tiny baby clothes this morning as she finally fits into newborn, felt a little emotional I’m not going to lie!

@jl2345 oh no ☹️ yeah sounds like you really could do with some extra support there lovely. Hopefully you can both be seen 🤞🏻you really can't be too careful after giving birth with infections! Just concentrate on looking after yourself ♥️
Awww no what does your OH do? Thankfully mine is on furlough at the moment so he's home for the foreseeable... & will go back when it's over, whenever that may be 🤷🏼‍♀️
Ahh that makes sense so that you don't have to go more than once, I'll be calling them Monday (ended up having the worst day today just been an absolute mess so got nothing done).
Awww no! I think I'm very very close to having to do the same tbh! Freddie's growing way too fast! He's gonna be a little chubster in no time 😭😭😭 they all are! 💔

How is everyone?

@jl2345 @DaniX91 @eskimod @HighOnStilts

Plus oldies we haven't seen for a while...

@Alislia17 @Anxietymuch @Beckied @Brain06626 @Dinosauraddict @Donnamarie2019 @Eventrider1 @firsttimemum032020 @georgia19ox @Hope2020 @jlo6308 @Kam610 @Keyboard91 @MockingJay27 @MummaJaney @Murdoe49 @Paigeo @PocaNinja @sgmp @SLT90 @starlightmagic @terrimack21 @uor24

Would be lovely to hear how you ladies are
☺️

I haven't really been on here in a while and just saw this so thought I'd say hi and see how you all are? 😁 (not sure if I ever saw this thread or just the other March ones)

Hi @lonelyonee, we’re good here thanks, getting into the swing of things, especially as oh has been back at work for 3 weeks now. Absolutely dying for some company in the day though, FaceTime is my only lifeline at the minute! How’re you?
Is anybody managing any sort of routine yet? We’re just sort of winging it and every day is different. Not sure if we should be trying to get into some sort of pattern yet?

@Abi58 aha there were quite a few floating around tbh, that's why I made my own thread I just couldn't keep up with all the posts 😂 hope you're well!

@jl2345 good good! Ahh my oh went back on Tuesday it's been weird being in the house on my own and I'm struggling to have naps in the day but I'm gonna keep trying. Yeah I know what you mean, it's very lonely isn't it! Normally we'd be able to have people over but we're in the middle of a bloody pandemic 🙄🙄🙄
Routine? What's one of them? 😂😂😂
I'm breastfeeding on demand so it varies day to day.
Although I do usually get up around 7-8am each morning to feed the cats so we usually come downstairs then so I'm hoping to get it to where he'll have a morning feed either just before or after that but I won't hold my breath!
I wouldn't worry too much about routine atm though they're still very little! Although my little man was 6 weeks old yesterday! I can't believe it 😮 I sorted out his tiny baby clothes this morning and I'm devastated 😭

How's Pippas cord/belly button now? & your infection? Have you had anymore support?
I'm having to wait for the doctors to give me an appointment for the 6 week check at another place as they aren't seeing anyone there 🤷🏼‍♀️