September 2019 #12

[Florencenotflo]

Aaahhhh... thread number 12! Hold on tight ladies... here come the babies!

Oh horehound it can be a long process. I would get as much rest as possible if i were you!

Saw mw before. Yet another new one. We are back to 3/5 engaged. Asked when they will be willing to give me a sweep and she said in the community not until 40 weeks. If i go in hospital for anything earlier they may be willing to do one.

Next appointment is at 39+4. Hopefully wont make it to that!

37+4

Is anyone else still breastfeeding or tandem fed before? My DS is 18 months and still feeding once a day. Had planned to stop a couple of months before my due date but HV really advised me not to as it helps the siblings bond apparently and DS1 will be less likely to be jealous of DS2. Just feeling a bit nervous about it now it's so close...

Just unpacked all the newborn stuff and it's all feeling very real that another baby is imminent 😳!

@SJP3 you have a very unusual health visitor! They can be very unwelcoming to tandem feeding.
There is a brilliant book called something like "adventures in tandem breastfeeding" which is very useful. My milk dries up at the end of the first trimester and I get huge aversion, so I've never got as far as tandem feeding, so if you pm me your address I can post you my copy.
Also, you might find the Facebook group "breastfeeding older babies and beyond" useful if you are not in there already.
Expect you older one to want to feed much more often once the younger one is here (and remember that colostrum is a laxative so don't be shocked at its effects on your toddler!)

@DustyDoorframes That's so kind of you - thank you x

Love the sound of your living room nest @Horehound, great that you got some sleep you - you both sound like you are rocking these early stages of labour!!

@Tefiti2 here is said nest!
Dh up now making me a plate of food.
Contractions seem a bit more rythmical and intense. I don't think I'm going to be able to cope with the pain :(

Well that looks cosy Horehound!
Please don't beat yourself up if you can't cope with it- you don't win any prizes for hurting. What have you tried so far and what are your next steps? Is there anything that does help? Weirdly I saw an article that suggests getting a fine tooth comb, like what men use, and squeezing that in the soft bit of your hand as a contraction ramps up- it's meant to focus your brain on the most pressing, new pain. Worth a try? But if you need to go to hospital, or contact your midwife for the next step of pain relief then do it, and don't feel like you're failing!

Ah @Horehound you've got to do what you've got to do! If you are beginning to struggle get the midwife back with her gas and air, and her head full of ways to move about which help. And if you want to move into hospital for the strong stuff then fair play to you, you've been contracting for DAYS now (although actually in my experience once it gets properly going it feels so purposeful that it's actually fine- so this bit you are in, is kind of the hardest in a weird way)

I've only been using my TENS machine and just right now taken paracetamol.
I'm just a bit scared I guess. I keep saying I can't do it and so I don't think my mind is in a good place. I don't think I can go to the midwife unit or hospital, I really don't think theyll do anything and I guess this can go on and on for days. I just need to put up with it :/

@Horehound you can do it, I know you can. Put some comedy box sets on the tv, anything that makes you literally laugh until you cry. Or stand up - do you have Netflix? Michael McIntyre's new(ish) one is hilarious!! To be fair that might be more of a daytime tactic, for now how about nice soothing music and getting dh to do some light stroking on your back or arms?
A bath?
You're strong and absolutely can do this, it's what your body is made to do, you must tell yourself that over and over though, not that you can't do it. Get dh to tell you you can too.

@horehound from when I’ve been the labour ward recently, for me and others I’ve over heard. They have always put mums mental health first, especially anxiety because an anxious mum makes a more stressed baby and you both get too stressed out. So I wouldn’t have thought they’d turn you away if you wanted to try the gas and air. Also they’re probably not busy (I’ve never seen them busy) so even if you just go for a few hours and leave again
When I tested a tens machine I hated the feeling of it

@kyles101 yes my husband has told me im not to say "i cant do it" and to swear instead. I've got the tv on now we will pick a film but actually I think I do want a bath first.

@Hsunshine oh that's good to know. I think my midwife thinks I'm strong and I'm just not! It is a 40 min journey to the midwife u it though. I'm going to see if bath helps first of all.
I really wish I knew how dilated I was because if shed told me just some kind of cm I think if feel more positive. But it's an unknown right now so I can't help feeling negative about it.

@horehound yes if you get to the point where you need something I would just call them and explain. My midwife unit said too if you’re in the situation you are and want to know about how far you are then you can call and if they’re not full they will check you
It is annoying though the midwife came out and didn’t even check

Congratulations @coffeeandgin26 and @boodles101 it's getting me really excited to meet my girl!

I'm not doing good. How long do people wait about before going to hospital for meds and what did you do in that time before going in?

I'm still losing mucus plug. Every contraction I have is horrendous. It feels like baby is punching my bladder.

horehound if you need some meds then head in, don't wait around for it. It's ok if things don't go the way you planned. I waited too long first labour for pain relief and was then denied it due to being fully dilated but my son didn't arrive for another 4 hours! Get the drugs if u need them.

Hope you have got some pain relief by now @Horehound! If you feel you need something, trust your instinct and your body x

@Horehound trust your body and go with your instinct. It is absolutely fine if your preferred birth plan changes - this is not you failing and doesn't make you weak. If you need stronger pain relief, go get it. How are you getting on now?

@boodles101 - DOUBLE congratulations. Absolutely love the names you have chosen and they are just beautiful. How is the c section recovery going?

I've forgotten what everyone else has said and on the app so will have to come back to this (baby brain is so real right now 😂)

@Horehound hope you're on your way in / are in hosp. You've done so well doing all that without anything, if you've needed to go and get some help now I really don't blame you, it's been a long few days for you.

Oh god I'm still at home and I'm not coping. I've not had anything except tens and paracetamol and frankly neither help with these horrible contractions.
I asked midwife when she was here in the afternoon yesterday what is the latest I can ask for epidural and she said any time. But basically if I am very close to pushing there's not much point as by the time I'd get to hospital baby would likely be here.

I've txt her and she's asking if insane her to come round. So think I'll say yes. Maybe I can get gas and air? I'm just really shocked at just how painful it is. Like for everyone they say go in to the unit at 4 min contractions..wtf do people do until that point?! It's so sore

@horehound I know it doesn't feel like it but you are doing so well. It would be good if you could at least try gas and air at home to see if that gives you enough relief. I'd also hope they wouldn't send you home with a 40 minute drive if you did decide to go into the midwife unit.

@horehound early labour with first babies can be really long and quite frankly, shit. Definitely ask the midwife to come round, explain to her how you’re feeling and ask for a supportive plan, and an internal check if you feel that will help you envision things!

@horehound, that sounds really tough going, but you are SUCH a trooper. Have you managed to get any rest between contractions? Def get midwife round, even if to get some reassurance that you are making progress and fingers crossed she brings the gas and air. I'm watching your home birth closely as this is my plan. Do you have a birthing pool you can lounge in, or a hot water bottle, or is it well beyond that now? Thinking of you and sending positive birthing vibes!

@noodles beautiful little ones, congrats!!

And good morning fellow early morning insomnia sufferers/baby feeders! Hope you're all doing well too!

happydays recovery is going ok so far, have managed to just take paracetamol bit will probably ask for the liquid morphine when it's time to actually get up! Babies haven't wanted to feed overnight, they are too sleepy so trying to get advice on what's best to do. Doctors say they need feeding every 3 hours but they won't wake to feed.
Also this hospital is the hottest place on earth, I'll have sweated off the baby weight before I leave!! How is your recovery going?