September 2019 #13

[Stroan]

Oops, we filled up the last thread. Hope everyone finds this one.

@Lavellan oh love the name! Are you a roxy music fan or was it just a name you picked? Lovely all the same.
Sorry to hear about the feeding. If you are interested in pumping though I recommend the medala dual breast pump. I started with expressing and formula and have now moved soley to bf although it has been hard. I know it's disappointing though but this is not a failure or anything. I don't want you to think it is. Xx

@Dyra midwife told me today night time feeding is due to dh deferent hormones at night, and it's easier for them to get up to build up supply. That sounds good to me anyway so I'll accept it as DS is a bit of a night owl too - at least that makes me feel productive about it!!

Many congratulations @iano - and a pool birth - jealous!

@DustyDoorframes hang in there - how many weeks are you? Mine got worse but then the last week or so I could've pretty lax again. And don't stress too much about creeping up so long as you're on the right side of those (incredibly strict) targets.

@Lavellan Whatever works is what's right for you and baby. Every situation is different. No guilt for doing the best thing - making sure your baby is fed.

Oh, can highly recommend getting some instant cooling maternity pads, they weren't cheap from amazon but dear lord they were soothing on swollen bits!! And spritz for bits by expert midwife was good but expensive, the mw told me in hosp could have made my own alternative so may be worth looking into.

Thankyou for the kind words everyone. I am considering buying a pump to see if I can even add in a breast milk bottle to her feeds. But I was only getting 5ml out on the hospital pump so I don't know if it's worth the money and dissapointing myself again.

Her paternal grandparents gave their kids Arthurian middle names so we thought we'd continue. Her dad's middle name is Arthur.

@moraxella
Yes I did use it every day. The stretching didn't take long to get to 10cm, I think the really helpful thing is trying to 'push it out' by breathing down.

Congrats @Lavellan!

Thank you @kyles101 and @Stroan ! I'm 37+2, but I've woken up this morning feeling grim as with a stinking cold, which is probably what's affecting my levels (which are annoyingly mostly over my strict 7 but under the more normal 7.8...). It's meant to be my last "proper" work days today and tomorrow and I've so much to do before I leave. I just want to crawl back into bed but will probably just lie there feeling stressed out. Urgh. Grumble moan...
@kyles101 I keep meaning to ask- what happened with your ear infection??

@Lavellan I understand how you will be feeling, I would feel the same if it happens this time. It is something I have thought about, the 'what if I can't' this time. I think I could make peace though, I was FF afterall. How are you feeling about it today?

40 weeks today and still no baby here

Yours are really strict then - I was under 8.3 1 hour post meals. In labour they want you between 4-7. I managed it with jelly babies 😂 not the usual method but they just let me get in with it.

The dr just prescribed me antibiotics in the end, but the hosp forgot to give me any on labour day, then lost them the day after so by the time they found them and got them back is been 2 days without so didn't want to restart for the last few tablets. It's more or less gone though to be fair, so fingers crossed it stays that way!!

Must be having a growth spurt - the boy has been feeding alllll night. Oh and it looks like we're having the boob pecking routine so he wants to go again 🙄

Happy due date challenge! Come on baby!

Hope you have some news soon @challengeyourreality

Due date tomorrow here, have to ring at 8 to see if there's a bed. Literally terrified.

Happy due date @challengeyourreality and congratulations to all the new babies!

40+3 here....thought it was kicking off last night, lots of contraction type pains and then nothing overnight. This keeps happening 😩 please someone tell me this means it's coming soon!!!! Driving me mad!

Oh @Megan2018 so excited for you!! Don't be scared, it'll be the best thing that's ever happened to you. I think you're a bit of a control freak too like me? If so, you will absolutely love the pushing stage, that and when he came out honestly, I have never felt more powerful. Such a high afterwards.

@itakephotos you must be starting off, although it might not seem like a lot is happening I bet all these little bursts are moving your cervix into the right position and getting it ready.

39+1, so ready for it all to be over now. Although today looks like a busy day, just seen on the Facebook group that one baby has arrived already this morning and another 2 underway- so everyone get bouncing on those balls! (Need to take my own advice there!)

Lavellan, please don't beat yourself up over bf Vs ff- it's really not worth it. Avalon is getting just what she needs, she's growing well, and there are perks to FF too- our society at the minute is just on a bf push. I promise you that in a couple of months time, you couldn't pick a bf or FF baby out of a line up!

Megan, I'm sorry to hear you're panicking. Can you do something for you today, something relaxing? Maybe spend a little time grooming the horses, I imagine that's something that calms you? Either way, you need lots of rest, calm and feeding up today, to get ready for tomorrow- a nice bath, a nap or two, someone else to prepare something lovely to eat. A few people had said they went out for dinner the night before to celebrate the last night before the new addition, is that something you feel up to? It will all be over very soon, and your little girl will be with you!

Your life is about to change forever megan your bound to be nervous!

Itakephotos sounds like your body is starting to get ready!

Congrats lavellan!

I hope so!
@Megan2018 you'll be fine, it's so exciting!

Thanks @KnobJockey yes will be spending some time this afternoon with the horse which always helps.
Am sadly completely off food-11 weeks of the GD diet has done my head in so there’s no pleasure in food or eating out. That is one thing to look forward to for later this week, I want a full fat coke and cake.

At home until DH gets back later as we have to take it in turns with the ill cat (have to monitor his drinking and urine output) so can’t leave him.

I think I’ll be ok once we are in the hospital and things get going, it's the build up to the unknown that’s causing the stress. Can’t picture it at all which makes me anxious. It’s not helped though that the last 4 weeks have been devoted to ill or injured animals and I’ve had no mental downtime.

@challengeyourreality good luck, hope things ramp up for you soon!

@Megan2018 I understand exactly how you’re feeling, everyday I’m waking up with a horrible pit of fear in my stomach and am worrying about everything! You’ll be fine though, once it gets going, your body will know what to do and very soon you’ll be having cuddles with your baby 😊 Try and keep your mind occupied today (looking after all your animals should help!) but also get some rest if you can.

@Lavellan fed is best, and Avalon will get what she needs, there’s absolutely nothing to feel guilty about, you’re doing a great job! I loved that meme someone put on Facebook ‘apparently it doesn’t matter if you breast or formula feed, either way, your kid still turns into a teenager!’

Megan, are you having the balloon or the pessary? I have been started off with the pessary previously, and it's fairly simple- they pop it in, monitor the babies heartbeat for a little while, and then send you off to get moving! Lots of walking around the hospital trying to get those contractions going. They'll ask you to come back to check on the heartbeat and level of contractions every now and again. But unless you're ready to go anyway, then there is a bit of an anti climax where you expect to go pop, but actually, it's just giving things a little push forward.

So, my advice if you are having the pessary, is take yourself something to read- even if it's magazine as a book is too much to focus on- take yourself in lots of snacks that you are allowed to eat, wear comfy trousers and shoes, and prepare to tramp around a lot! You will be having contractions, so prepare yourself, but it's a much more natural process at this point.

@KnobJockey
I’m having the balloon, they no longer use the pessary or gel routinely in my trust and not for GD as they want the induction to be quick.

They said they’ll examine first and if they can break waters straightaway they’ll do that, if not then balloon catheter so waters can be broken.
Drip after that if contractions don’t start relatively quickly. Consultant says they want significant progress within 8-12hrs, as not happy for induction to take days.
If not making progress it’s straight to a section.
But I am prepped for waiting around with books.

@Lavellan just a quick note to say..at hospital i was spending about 2 hours using the hospital pump and got about 10ml from each breast and sometimes not even that. Even though my boobs were massive and rock hard. When I got home on day 6 I tried the "reverse pressure" technique and a hand pump and I got about 100ml expressed. It was crazy the difference between hospital and home and from using the electric pump to the hand pump. Then once I did that I bought the electric pump and was much better. I think I just needed to clear my boobs once before I really started getting the supply up. Hand pump was 20 quid i think if you wanted to try that initially?

I'm so pleased, my babys still breech BUT the growth is back in "safe zone" and sonographer disagreed the fluids were too low of gestation. So I'm back on the "could have a vaginal breech birth" and not heading to surgery just yet. Back up section booked 3rd October- how long away does that seem!
The consultant was brilliant, offered a stretch&sweep today (declined and now regretting) and next week having been told MW wouldn't do anything that could trigger labour. Oh there is going to be some hard getting into labour activities here the next 3 weeks!

That’s great @BBell2! Will you have another scan or are they happy now?

That's brilliant @BBell2 ! Your MW may be able to sweep now that the consultant had ok-ed, did anything go in your notes? They can't sweep early without the ok from a doc...
All getting very real @Megan2018 ! I'm sure you will be fine- fingers crossed you can go straight to having your waters broken!

Can I ask what the Facebook group is so I can request to join?

@challengeyourreality just had the most wonderful midwife visit who basically said (I'm on PND watch) "you're doing great, baby is doing great, you just needed to stop being wakened up every half hour for a bit of manky toast". Spot on.