Due May 2020 (7)

[sao81]

Continued from thread 6!

Although this is my second I cannot say what early labour feels like. My son was back to back so all my pains were in my back

@november90 congratulations and LOVE the name so lovely for a lovely wee boy!

Congratulations @november90

My little boy arrived yesterday morning after a pretty traumatic birth! We are both home safe and sound now though xx

@woollycat I would describe early labour as like having waves of period pain, not bad at all but not comfortable obviously. When mine ramped up from that I had really intense back pain even though mine weren't back to back, the low down back/pelvis pain was worse than the stomach pain for me!

Aww thank you everyone for being so kind and sweet to me ❤️ I was allowed to have some skin to soon time today with him and he settled as soon as I held him! I was then woken up by a nurse as we both fell asleep... oops 🙈
Hope everyone is ok! Looking forward to reading all the updates :)

@Helensss

Congratulations!

Sorry to hear it was traumatic but hope you're both ok now? x

Thanks for the info on the pillows ladies. 👍🏻

Might wait & see how I get on first.

Aww @Helensss huge congratulations on the arrival of your little boy. So sorry to hear it was traumatic tho 😢

@november90 I’m so pleased you managed to have some skin to skin. Sounds like you were both where you belonged in each others warmth 🥰

When my waters broke with my daughter I was 36+3 and a little shocked. I’d bent over to put some tights on ( a nurse finishing my last early shift) and had a small gush that I thought was weird. I was at work and ran to the loo had a wee and just kept trickling! So knew something was up. I took an inco pad from work out it in the car and drove myself home! The pad and my dress were soaked it was like a slow running tap the whole way home 🙈 so never had the gush but it was pretty obvious.

It’s weird now at 39+2 I’m wondering if my waters will even go 🤷🏻‍♀️ I know not everyone loses the but in my head I’m expecting that to be the first sign. And I never noticed a mucous plug the first time either and still haven’t seen one now 🤷🏻‍♀️

Thanks everyone! They basically noticed my blood platelets were really low so I had consultant, Dr’s coming in and out and a bit of panic surrounding them about potential blood loss after birth. He ended up coming out by forceps,
They then discovered my
Placenta was stuck to the uterus wall so had to manually get it out, so I was lying there with my baby on chest while he routed around for the placenta pieces for about an hour, it was pretty crazy! All ok now though, we’re home and I feel much better than I thought I would.

Hope everyone is ok xxx

@Helensss congratulations! Sorry to hear the birth didn't go so smoothly, Hope you are settling in at home and you are being looked after X

@Helensss congratulations!! Really glad to hear you are recovering well and feeling better. 😊

@MarshmallowsOnToast I have this pillow - https://www.johnlewis.com/widgey-plus-multi-use-pregnancy-sleep-pillow-silver-star/p1749191

It's both a pregnancy pillow and a breastfeeding support pillow. My baby has not arrived yet so I can't comment how good it is for breastfeeding but I am finding lots of uses for it already for sitting and lying comfortably!

More babies! Congrats @Helensss @november90
@woollycat they sent me to St Mary's. Don't worry, I don't think it happens a lot. You will be fine :)

@november90 CONGRATULATIONS i only just read it. beautiful boy and name.
so sorry about the events and that he's unwell. we are also still in hospital with jaundice and poor latch but i'm expressing and giving her that.
i share your fear about being discharged and my baby staying in so consider what accommodation you can be offered or pay for! relatives room. i asked about having my baby tested before we go home but my trust don't routinely do it unless you have symptoms.
on a plus side it was good to have time for my scar to heal and me just bonding with her without anyone around x hopefully u will too soon

@CharlieB93 not exactly like period pains as contractions come and go - it's actually quite hard to remember exactly what it's like!

First time round, I lost my plug then got cramps that gradually increased in intensity. My waters didn't break until my baby was being born. This time, I had pains for a while which actually might have been quite high up now I think about it! I was 38+4 so just put it down to sitting in an uncomfortable chair! I then got on my ball and was just thinking that they were actually quite regular when my waters went - it was a big gush all over the floor! But the contractions increase really gradually so it's not like WHAM massive contraction OMG baby is coming let's get to the hospital STAT!

TMI but for the past 2 days, following my sweep I've been having some small bits of almost stringy mucus coming out. Not a lot, just a bit each day.

I have absolutely no idea if it's part of the plug or just what was dislodged during the sweep.

Sorry that's really gross I know!

Does the plug usually come in one go or can it be little by little?

@MarshmallowsOnToast I hear the plug can come out in bits rather than all at once.

For the ladies who have had their babies can you give me an idea how many maternity pads I need? I packed ages ago but now thinking I don't have enough and should stock up. I have 4 x packs of 10 in total so far but can add to my shop.

Thanks guys 😄

@helpasisterout as many as you can! I understocked on Lilets then my husband picked up some supermarket own brands and oh my god they were so so uncomfortable! I wish I had had more Lilets

@marshmallows the plug can come away gradually or in one big lump. Mine has been for a few days now then has progressed to bloody yesterday and today. Wish it gave me a time to labour!

I disagree with the contractions increasing gradually! Obviously this was my second so more common to happen quicker but they went from every 20 mins to every 4 mins within half hour and then to every minute within another 15 mins - super quick! We literally did have to get to the hospital straight away 🤣

But with my first my waters broke in the morning, started with period like cramps in the afternoon and then they got stronger and more regular until they really ramped up by the evening. Everyone is so different though!

@helpasisterout seriously, more than 40 just gor the hospital? 😱😱😱 That'll take up my entire bag! I mean how many does one use in 24 hours?!

I've got 3 packs of 10 pads packed.

I know it's probably too many but just incase we have to stay in a big longer than normal, it's the last thing I want to be caught short on.

They are taking up quite a lot of room though!

@woollycat I packed one pack of 10 pads for hospital and used them all before I went home (baby born at 11am and went home next day at 3pm) so 2 packs would of been better for my bag. Now on day 4 post partum I am changing the pad every 4 hours

I only have two packs of 14 each - sounds like I'll need more - just ordered some more, thanks ladies 😊

@woollycat the hospital should have pads to give you- even if they said bring your own it's a lockdown so they know the score!

you need to take as many as you would normally use for your periods- except it will be longer. if you have a C section your bleeding stops quicker. if vaginal birth u bleed longer. i've literally used 2 pads per day - but i normally have light periods. i know my friends used 6 - 8 per day. like you i took extra clothes etc incase i stayed longer- and i am staying longer! so worth doing it.

my baby decided:

1. my boobs are a disgusting monster
2. why bother wake up for feeds when u can just sleep through
3. stop weeing to help reduce pressure on the environment

being the only person responsible for this new baby is tough - i wish they consider treating birth partners as patients and allow them to be there to support the expecting mum.

my hospital experience has been rubbish because i needed more support and they simply don't have the staffing required for this care!

sad times