BFP - Anyone else feb 2020? Continued 2

[Dweebette]

Hey everyone, our last thread is full so tagging as many as I can remember to bring us all back together! @lovesT @Ginny1234 @45andfine @Quirkyquichie @LolaLollypop @doublebarrellednurse @hazandduck

How are all the new mummies doing? For those who have decided to BF, how are you getting on?

My LO is almost 4 days old and suffering with a bit of jaundice. He didn't do a week until 36hrs after birth and although he passed his meconium, he only done his first proper poo last night! We've been having regular checks on the jaundice and have just left the hospital after a blood test. He's ok but we need to feed loads to get and bring his levels down.
He was up all night on the boob, so tiring! My nipples have also been so sore I am giving him a little top up of formula to try and flush him through a bit until my milk comes in properly.

Have any more Feb babies arrived?!

@LolaLollypop I'm getting on pretty well with breast feeding my my boobs are soo sore since my milk came in. I'm hoping they'll settle down soon! Also for some reason she has struggled with the left breast a bit with latching in which has made my nipple a bit sore but midwife gave the advice of nose to nipple and making sure she opens her mouth really wide and we went to a breastfeeding drop in today where they gave more advice which will hopefully help. Do you have any near you? Also got some new nursing bras today because my boobs have got so much bigger and it felt like they were being squashed in my other ones! I ordered some milk savers on amazon and have managed to collect about 300ml of milk today from the breast she's not feeding on! I couldn't believe it. So I'm starting to store that in milk bags (amazon prime is the best with a newborn haha).

My LO is also a bit jaundice with slightly yellowy face and whites of eyes but midwife isn't worried and just said to get some sun light on her. We also have the vitamin D drops from our newborn bounty pack so giving her a drop a day of that.

Do you have your 5 day appointment tomorrow then? Hope he keeps improving with the jaundice and breastfeeding 😊 it's demanding work!

Yes the midwife will be back again tomorrow! She has a fancy UV gun thing that she's using on Oliver to check his jaundice. He didn't wee or poo for ages after birth so I think the build up has happened then. Making up for it now though and giving me a LOT of washing!

I've also got one boob that never seems to go as well as the other one. Oliver doesn't latch as well on it and it's really sore. The midwife said I can just feed from the one he prefers and use the other one for expressing until my milk supply is properly regulated.

@lovesT 300ml expressed milk is amazing! I just about squeezed 30ml out earlier. Mainly colostrum though so I know my milk hasn't properly arrived yet

@LolaLollypop oh that's good, apparently it's the most common things for babies to have! I'm sure he'll improve soon 😊 are you doing cloth nappies? We've been amazed by ours - there's a lot of washing but so far no leaks even with very wet yellow poos and lots of wees!

This is what I got today and they're amazing, I got so much milk with no effort! Just popped it on the boob she wasn't feeding on then put it in a milk bag which I'll freeze when full. Xrten 2Pcs Soft and Comfortable... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07JQ4LHBH?ref=ppxpoppmobappshare

My milk came in a couple of days ago so think it's in full flow now .. midwives keep saying she's "putting her order in" and then it will settle down. Looking forward to having more normal feeling boobies 😊

Glad everyone seems to be getting on ok! I’m still breastfeeding and have settled in to it now thank heavens! Realised I was ok when I found myself pottering round the kitchen doing dinner the other night with Cleo just feeding away in the crook of one arm. It is horrible when the milk comes in but so nice when it finally calms down.

Dh is doing a bottle feed a night (he does the 2am feed) so I have a few hours unbroken sleep.

Does anyone have any experience of diastasis recti where the stomach muscles separate? My midwife told me whilst I was pregnant that they’d separated completely and I’d have to work hard to get them back together but I don’t actually know how or when I am supposed to do this? I still have a pot belly like I am pregnant, Cleo will be 3 weeks on Tuesday and I am worrying it will never go down! Has anyone bought a belt for after pregnancy to support the stomach muscles??

Hi all,
Hope your all well and enjoying being new mummies. I have noticed a few of your are breastfeeding.
I am 39+1 weeks pregnant atm and hopefully planning on breastfeeding once baby here, but .... I haven't noticed any changes in my boobs yet. No soreness, no swelling, no leaking NOTHING. Is this normal ?? When did you notice any changes ??
I know it is colostrum 1st and then milk comes in but I'm worried what if there is nothing at all there when baby arrives or does your body only produce it once labour starts ?? TIA Xx

@soda123x I'm the same, though have noticed I'm a bit sore the past few days. I had been producing colostrum for a few weeks but as soon as my colostrum kit arrived so I could express and freeze it I've completely dried up, hoping that's not a bad sign.

Any new mummies that can advise?

Hi @Dweebette,
Aww I thought with you being quiet last few days and after your last message of pain down below maybe babba was on the way. I went for a 2hr walk yesterday but honestly still dont feel any different xx

Unfortunately not yet @soda123x I'm not really able to go on big walks like they tell you to as I'm in too much pain with my hip but I did trying having a very hot curry last night while bouncing on my yoga ball. Don't feel any different today though. Back to midwife tomorrow which is a pointless appointment because she doesn't really do or say much but at least it's good to check in with baby.

Aww. Not long now. We are both deffo on the home stretch. I'm at the midwife Wednesday. Not sure if she will do anything though (other than the normal BP, urine and heartbeat checks) as will only be 39+5 and I've heard some midwives are really strict on doing sweeps before 40 weeks xx

@Soda123x @Dweebette my breasts didn't feel any different before I went into labour and milk came in about day 3. I was colostrum collecting and managed probably 0.4ml altogether so not much at all but we still took what we had and didn't end up using it (I left it in the freezer at the birth centre! 🤦‍♀️) but i had no leaky or sore breasts before and then when my milk came in I KNEW because they were really sore, and felt pretty hard and leaked a lot. I've adapted now but was going through a lot of tops 😅 I didn't need my breast pads at the birth centre but as soon as my milk came in I've been wearing them all the time. So I wouldn't worry at all! Thankfully they've calmed down now and aren't as sore or as full but still feeling baby 😊 hope that helps and hope your little ones make an appearance soon! X

Thanks @lovesT I'm really determined to breastfeed so it's reassuring that no signs before birth isn't a bad sign!

@Dweebette that's okay, I wouldn't worry about it and see how it goes 😊 have you been massaging to get colostrum out? Using the C shape with your hand and hand expressing. That might encourage your milk? But hopefully days after you give birth you'll have leaky breasts 😅 it's a pain but I'm just glad they're making milk! Stock up on breast pads! I have reusable bamboo ones which have been good x

@lovesT I was able to express it no problem until last week, now there's nothing, not even a glisten of moisture. I'll keep trying though, although I'm quite tender the past 2 days so it's not so appealing! I'd like to have even a little bit frozen just in case I'm not able to feed for whatever reason. I'm concerned because the support in my area is notoriously bad so I'm just going for a complication free feeding start! I have bought a box of pads and also got gifted stone reusable ones so I'm all set there 😊

@Dweebette it sounds like you're doing what you can 😊 I find massaging in the shower was good for colostrum (and is good for milk flow now) and being as relaxed as you can. That's a shame there isn't much support in your area. Hopefully it will be easier than you expect 😊

My boobs didn't change at all until after i gave birth - well, they were bigger due to pregnancy but no other changes.
I didn't pre-release colostrum just waited until baby was here to stimulate them. Colostrum came in the within the hours after giving birth. Milk came in around day 4. Your boobs will look like watermelons the day before this!
Oh also I'd definitely recommend Lanisoh cream. It's been a life saver for my nipples!

Thanks everyone, I'm not so worried now that I've had no changes yet. And lol my sister has a 3 month old she is breastfeeding and has bought me a tube of the Lansinoh cream as she swears by it too xx

Another random question but can't really find any guidance online and unfortunately I just don't trust any advice my midwife gives as a lot of what she's told me so far is very out of date (I do a lot of research myself, it's a coping mechanism for my anxiety). We've been warned about the dangers of kissing the baby if you suffer from cold sores. Guidance online suggests not letting any visitors kiss your baby for the first 6 weeks (or anyone with visible symptoms ever) and I've heard the mum is OK because baby will have her antibodies but can't find any advice on the dad? DH is worried about it as he does get cold sores sometimes but also doesn't think its realistic that he won't kiss our baby for the first 6 weeks. Anyone know anything about this?

@Soda123x I'm another one with no milk before birth. When baby's born it's a weird wondering if they're actually getting anything but like magic they do, then around day 3 it's v obvious as the milk comes in! ⚽️⚽️
@Dweebette sorry I'm not sure about protocol about people who get cold sores - know it can be dangerous but thought that would only be if they're contagious at the time...hope your midwives or GP can give you some guidance.
We're coming up to 3 weeks here and although totally sleep deprived everything's settling down in terms of feeding and the "new normal"! Oh and older kids are back at school after half term now which will make it a bit easier 😃
Hope everyone else is doing well and the overdue babies don't stay in for too much longer!

Hi so I was due 26th but they induced me due to fluctuating blood pressure. My little girl is now here and now I have one of each.

Anyone else who has lots of baby experience have this problem - ?

Feeding has been going really well but the last couple of nights/ days she has "choked" on my milk or when she's sick. I know they spit up and cough up and they're getting used to swallowing but last night she really scared me when she really sounded like she was choking after a feed. She was sick and it was quite a bit and then she just wouldn't settle, I think she scared herself and got worked up. Has made me feel quite nervous each feed! She's been much better today but seems to be more at night. Anyone else experiencing this? She doesn't seem to burp very well either. Just tried to take her registration forms to the doctors but they're closed for lunch 🙄 so will go back in a bit.

Feel like I'm starting to get a bit anxious about what's normal and what's not 🙁 any advice or reassurance would be lovely 😊 I hope you're all doing well, which ever safe you are in at the moment!

@tinatsarina congratulations on your little girl! X

Congratulations @tinatsarina!

@lovesT you're breastfeeding right? Your flow may be a bit too powerful for her at the moment and shooting out, making her gag. Try changing positions, maybe one where she's on top of the nipple and has to suck it out rather than underneath and gravity is making it pour out on her, if that makes any sense?!

I remember a similar thing with my DD, this phase of BF can often mean an over supply of milk and their mouths/tummies are still really tiny.

See how it goes but mention to your health visitor if you're still concerned. She may also have reflux too - you can try sitting her up for a bit after feeds.

Congratulations @lovesT

I'm 39+3 today and feeling so deflated after my midwife appointment. Baby's head isn't engaged (despite being told 2 weeks ago that it was, she clearly made a mistake) and all she talked about was getting an induction date and the doctor doing an exam and sweep at the appointment this Friday. When I told her I was declining the exam and sweep she rolled her eyes at me as I explained I'm hypnobirthing and refusing any unnecessary intervention. She made me feel so rubbish and I've come away feeling really hopeless and guilty (though I'm not sure what about!). Also feel like I'm going to be going into battle with the health care professionals at the next appointment and like I me to get myself geared up to fight my corner - not exactly the calm and relaxed mentality I'm trying to maintain with hypnobirthing. Just really need a moan and a cuddle

@Dweebette think that congratulations was for @tinatsarina 😀

That rubbish that you've come away feeling like that after midwife appointment 🙁 and so horrible that she rolled her eyes!! Surely you still have time being 39+3? I don't understand why they have to rush things so much if there are no problems .. I was told I wouldn't be offered the sweep until 41 weeks. When is your next appointment? Keep with your hypnobirthing mindset as much as you can, this is your pregnancy and birth - not theirs. We kept being told that up to 42 weeks is a normal time to go over 'due date' so surely you're okay there?

@LolaLollypop thank you. Yeah I'm breastfeeding and will definitely try that, my milk came in fast and strong so that could be part of it! We think that she fits all of the symptoms of reflux. I rang the health visitor but it was voicemail and they won't get back to us today now. GP registration was a fail too but that's another story 🙄. We are seeing the midwives tomorrow to check her weight again so we will ask them about it but pretty sure it's reflux ☹️ poor little thing, it's horrible and sounds like it's irritated her throat. We're trying to keep her upright as much as possible now. Think tonight is going to be a long one! But as long as we can help her as much as possible. X