Due June 2020: Thread 5

[umabb]

New thread ready! x

[mrssunshinexxx]

@newbyxx that's great news what does he weigh now out of interest x

[newbyxx]

@LillianFullStop @AmyMaria2 where did you get your starter packs?

I've packed my hospital bag just needing to add snacks drinks and going home outfit.
Had another growth scan today due to reduced movements last weekend and he's at top end of growth chart estimated 5lb 2oz 💙

32+5

[Millettmum]

Thank you everyone for your comments, I will pop across to the new thread with you.

[LillianFullStop]

Thanks @AndddddHerewegoagain! Hopping over there to placemark now

[AndddddHerewegoagain]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/birth_clubs/3882288-Due-June-2020-thread-6

Hope noone minds I set up a new thread before this one runs out

[AmyMaria2]

I'm also hoping to breast feed but have a cow n gate starter pack to take to the hospital and a tin of formula at home just incase.

Has everyone started or already packed their hospital bags? I feel like I really need to start, someone on another group I'm in had their baby at 34 weeks, and I'm nearly there so that gave me a push!!

Also, anyone else dreading going to bed or is that just me, thought I'd never say that but the hip pain, back pain, weeing 6 times a night, trying to keep the pregnancy pillow in the bed.. it's so painful to go to bed at the moment 🙈

33+1

[mrssunshinexxx]

I'm not taking any formula to hospital hoping midwifes will help me feed her the short time I'm there ? X

[LillianFullStop]

I have a starter pack to bring to hospital (6x 90ml ready made bottles with sterilised teats) and a 6x200ml to leave at home. I'm hoping to pump exclusively but not sure how long before my supply will be enough so have some formula (Hipp Organic) available for top ups. Haven't decided on whether to get a powdered tin as well.

[Gigitree]

@UKtoSK yes it’s used on and off but not as often as this group

[Gigitree]

Thank you @Pegase and @SerBrienneOfHouseTarth it’s easy for me to say now, but I’m sure once the little one is here I will feel the ‘breast is best’ 🙄 pressures! But at the moment I’m just trying to remain relaxed about it and go with the flow. I think seeing first hand how my sister got on with breastfeeding last year I can see that after the initial weeks there is light at the end of the tunnel and actually being flexible about formula is more helpful to keep up the breastfeeding in the long run!

[newbyxx]

I have formula at home already and three small Aptamil individual bottles but wanted to get the aptamil starter pack as already has small plastic sterile bottles, has anyone bought this and if so where? I can't find it in any super market x

[UKtoSK]

Is the Facebook group for this thread still being used? I never joined at the time.

[AndddddHerewegoagain]

Eeeek we need a new thread soon!!

[Magpiefeather]

Oh also whoever mentioned freaky dreams - yes! Last few weeks I’ve been having increasingly vivid and often stressful dreams. Last night’s was that dh wasn’t allowed to pick me up from hospital with the new baby (a bit of anxiety creeping in there it seems) and so I was carrying the baby in the car seat up a hill trying to find the car, and an old lady was asking me for help with her bags, and trying to take the baby off me. I ended up having to run away because she was really just trying to snatch the baby. It was an awful feeling,
Woke up with heart pounding!

[Magpiefeather]

I would agree with all above who have said having formula in the house or at least having a formula back up plan is not a bad idea at all. I can only speak from my experience when I had DD 3 years ago but I was so absolutely determined to breastfeed that I didn’t even think about formula, had no clue at all as I was so sure I would breastfeed. To be honest the amount of pressure I felt (either real or imagined!!) from every source including the NHS made it feel like the decision to breastfeed WAS this difficult bit, and that as long as I was determined enough I would be able to crack it. For me that was just not the case. I did manage to combi feed for the first 3 months and worked incredibly hard at it, but i do wish in hindsight that I had 1) got formula in just in case to save dh the mad dash to Tesco and 2) not given myself such a hard time about it.

That said I really really hope breastfeeding works out with this baby, and I do feel a bit more prepared for what to expect, but f it doesn’t work out I’m determined to be kinder to myself about it this time.

In summary: I honestly don’t think having formula in the house would have made me more likely to cave in and use it (I “caved” anyway for want of a better word, no matter how much I didn’t want to. Only difference being it was just more stressful having to get milk last minute).

[AndddddHerewegoagain]

Ive bought a few ready to go bottles as back up. Really hoping to breastfeed this time as ny son was born with a cleft lip and palate so couldn't. I did pump for several weeks but was producing about 4 ounces a day and he was drinking 6 ounces every 3 hours by 4 weeks! For my mental health i decided to stop and just formula feed.

[mrssunshinexxx]

@Pegase @SerBrienneOfHouseTarth just to be clear I don't see formula as failing the main reason I want to mostly EBF is if I can crack it is definitely easier and i want the lazy option I think I will get a tub of powder as in the long run as mentioned hubby wants to give her bedtime bottle of formula and I imagine it better financially than the made up bottles now just to decide what brand ! I'm think I'll get my husband to hide the tub somewhere and we can see how we go! I have a steriliser and a couple of bottles x

[mrssunshinexxx]

@LillianFullStop you can moan away. I will probably join you at some point I just typed in pregnancy yoga for beginners on YouTube and clicked top one thing the lady was called Sarah x

[Pegase]

Agree completely with @SerBrienneOfHouseTarth and @Gigitree - having to top up with formula is not a failing or caving in. The happiness of you and your baby is the most important thing and if you haven't breastfed before I really wouldn't underestimate how challenging it can be, particularly if you have a difficult birth or a difficult baby! Obviously we hope that won't happen to people on this thread but statistically it will to some of us and trust me you don't want to be beating yourself up for 'failure' in the midst of everything else to worry about in the first couple of months.

[UKtoSK]

@APD1981 thank you, that’s very reassuring. I don’t feel like anything is wrong. She is a very active baby in general it seems. And she has always gone through phases of quiet days and active days. I just worry about everything I think being a first timer - worry if she doesn’t move enough, worry if she moves too much. I think she was pretty quiet all last night while I was sleeping instead so maybe that’s why. I actually slept pretty well last night. And she was quiet while I napped earlier.

[SerBrienneOfHouseTarth]

Oops, didn't realise mentioning Gigitree twice would make it look like I quoted her. The text in bold is actually my words. Sorry!

[SerBrienneOfHouseTarth]

For those asking about having formula when planning to breastfeed I would second the good advice from @Gigitree

Giving a top up or a formula feed is not a failure or caving in, you don't have to put yourself through hell to successfully feed your baby. I did that with my first and it didn't end well (hello PPA). Successful feeding is when everybody, including Mum, is happy and have full bellies #bottlesboobsortubes 

As @Gigitree said, supplementing with formula can be a really helpful if you (or baby) are struggling with BF and need a break. Research shows topping up in the early days can actually help prolong breastfeeding.

Having done the midnight dash to the 24hr Tesco with no idea of what to get I would personally recommend having supplies in, or at least having a think about what formula you would like to use if you decide to do so and making a list prior to when the sleep deprivation and feeding struggles kick in.

[APD1981]

@UKtoSK I have a pretty active baby anyway but 2 weeks ago baby just didn't stop all day. I tried everything! I walked to try and lull it to sleep, tried to nap to see if it'd sleep when I did but nope. I didn't get 10 mins where it was quiet throughout the whole day. The midwife said, though, that with increased movement the jury is still out a bit as to whether it does indicate an issue. It's very important with reduced movements but increased ones are usually just a sign of an active baby. Still, it's really good you have a scan tomorrow just in case. I hope you manage to get some sleep tonight and she calms down a bit!

[AndddddHerewegoagain]

@LillianFullStop i downloaded an app called PregNur thats free. Its a gentle workout app. I also bought some yoga and pilates dvds. First pregnancy i went to pregnancy pilates each week but dh is a shift worker so its been harder this time and now they obviously aren't running!!!

[LillianFullStop]

@Millettmum sorry to hear about your loss - it must be such an emotional time for you and you are being so amazingly strong. Hopefully our company and pregnancy chatter on this thread will be of some comfort 

@mrssunshinexxx please don't feel guilty! My first pg I had no nausea or first trimester woes to speak of and I was active and feeling great until baby came. Enjoy it as you are one of the lucky ones! I'm not so lucky this time haha - Please bear with our moaning there might be more to come closer to due date!

Oh no @AndddddHerewegoagain! At least you noticed ahead of time and there's still time to get another one before baby comes.

Which online yoga courses/channels are worth trying? Walking kills my hips and yoga is meant to help any tightness/soreness