Due May 2020 (7)

[sao81]

Continued from thread 6!

38+4, still nothing!

Just tried hand expressing for the first time and to my surprise, I did actually manage to see a few drops! I actually had no hope! But, it's just a few tiny drops and takes a lot of effort. I used my 1ml syringe to collect and didn't even get to the 0.1ml mark 😒 tired now so will stop for now. Does it come a bit faster on subsequent tries? I don't think baby will have much patience if it's so slow...

That meant to say 39+4!!!!

Hey Ladies

I've followed this thread from the beginning but absolutely rubbish at keeping up with regular messages so haven't actively posted, it's been great hearing all the birth stories so far!
I'm now overdue by 6 and seriously frustrated, trying everything I can think of to avoid being induced but I've only a week left before they tell me I have to! Trying to hand express colostrum too which I'm finding just isnt happening for me, perhaps I'm being too impatient!

@woollycat great you got something! And don't worry, baby will be much more efficient at removing milk than you

That’s a good start @woollycat took me a good 10min to start getting anything. I’ve done it 4 times now and it has increased for me with time. You can do it up to three times a day and use the same syringe to collect it and refrigerate it between use, then freeze it at the end of the day.

@AlmostAlwyn thanks for the encouragement 😊

@Bumpingalong84 great, I'll try again tomorrow morning. Do you collect into a sterile cup first, them draw from there into a syringe? I drew directly into a syringe but I think if the volume increases a bit, it might be easier to collect into a cup first then just do one big draw from it.

@Kgreen87 welcome back to the thread! How long did you attempt with the colostrum? I didn't quite time my attempt but I think I did some massaging for like 3 minutes max, then started expressing and I think maybe within 10 mins got the first drop. Although I think it could have come earlier - at the start my fingers were too far from the nipple, then when I moved them closer it started flowing so I figure that's the correct location? (Right mext to the areola)

I just collected straight into syringe. Remember it’s colostrum so you won’t be expecting to get heaps, at most I’ve got 1ml from both sides so I wouldn’t bother with a sterile cup just straight into a syringe and minimise loss x

@woollycat Thanks! Oh it felt like ages, I've basically tried the massage techniques whilst in the bath and then expressing when I get out the last 3 nights. The first night i was about to give up and got a little bead after what felt like an hour but i did watch a different video that showed the push back technique. However my syringes hadnt arrived, I was made up though! Unfortunately the last two times after that I've got basically nothing just one side looking a bit shiny and bugger all from other side lol! Maybe I'm not being patient enough? One page I read said you had to try this 8 times a day! 8! I was hoping this might also start labour off but dont think I can spend 8 times a day squeezing my boobs lol!

@Kgreen87

I'm also 6 days overdue 👋🏻👋🏻

Have you had a sweep or anything? I had one last Thursday at exactly 40weeks. Still here waiting though.

Like a few of you other ladies I did some nipple stimulation last night for a bit and got some colostrum out but didn't bring on labour.

I'm booked in for induction tomorrow though as I'm polyhydramnios and have a large baby so they didn't want me going over 41weeks. Doesn't feel real yet though and I keep telling myself I might go into labour today but I don't think it's looking likely. 🙈

@woollycat reading back my comment, I hope you didn't take it as some kind of backhanded compliment implying you're crap at expressing! Was not intended like that!

Just had my midwife appointment I'm 40+2 now and I wasn't offered a sweep she just booked me straight in for induction on Saturday if nothing happens between now and then! Really want the baby to come on her own I was induced with my first baby and the pessary hyperstimulated my contractions so I really don't want to go through that again!
Anyone had a bad experience with induction and then had a good one?

@woollycat it will get more everytime you do it. I was doing it up to 8 times a day but was maybe different cause he was here I was trying to start my supply, not my labour, I believe baby will draw more out quicker than the hand expressing.

I managed the first 3 days with just the syringe. When it started to change to milky I started expressing 8 times a day.

Also hormones for milk production are highest between midnight and 5am. I always got up to express, either by hand or by pump then too.

@MarshmallowsOnToast is it your first baby too? I was soo convinced I'd be early as my siblings were and I'm bloody massive! So when that magic due date comes and goes its disheartening! I had a sweep last week but it didnt go too well as my cervix was still too long so they will try again at my 41 week appointment then book my induction as I'm only allowed 12 days over with this hospital. I do have a friend with positive induction story and also read plenty online but just so wanted to avoid the interference! And then theres also the helpful friends and family constantly messaging 'any baby news' not that they mean to be but its bloody annoying!!!
Anyway, I suppose ultimately theres not a lot we can do to change babys decision if they are not ready to come out lol!

@AlmostAlwyn haha not at all, don't worry 😀

@Kgreen87 it is frustrating that it's not very easy and such small quantities too! Oh well, we just have to keep trying!

@Purple29 ah yeah I had forgotten about the night beong a special time. Not sure I can ve bothered to wake up and do it though - my sleep is very crap as it is already 😀

@Bumpingalong84 I just find it awkward to collect straight into a syringe. I find I draw it up too much, so lots of air gets in, and then have to push out again which pushes any colostrum already in the syringe out again. Not sure how to master a good technique with the syringe...

@woollycat yeah dont blame you. I think it's more important after the baby is here!! Just enjoy your sleep!! Lol

Just thought I'd share this article about fussy evenings in the first few weeks, especially for those first time mums who are breastfeeding. It's really normal and doesn't mean you don't have enough milk! Baby is 3 weeks old now so going through it as we speak!

kellymom.com/parenting/parenting-faq/fussy-evening/

Ohh bless you @woollycat, try tapping the syringe, like you see in films and stuff. I’ve been a nurse for 14 years so use to getting bubbles out of syringes 🙈 I wouldn’t stress out about it all tho. I never did it with my first till I was in hospital and the midwife showed me how to after having her( she also helped milk my boob 🙈) and even then only did it for a day before she went on to the boob properly.

Ohh ladies 6 days over 😬 I can’t even imagine! But I guess they will be here soon enough ❤️

It's pre-op daaaayyyy, which means just tomorrow left as a family of 3 before there's another baby about the house! 😬 I wanna do something lovely with my little boy on Wednesday - maybe we will go for a little picnic nearby. I literally cannot even walk from my lounge to my kitchen at the moment though I feel awful! I cannot wait to evict this little guy!

Good luck to everyone still waiting, I remember going over with my first and every day felt like an extra month - I cried a lot! But so soon you'll have your tiny bundle in your arms and what a feeling that is 🥰

Today is my due date and despite strong braxton hicks (although midwife called them proper contractions on the fetal monitor), I have had nothing yet...

@Bumpingalong84 thank you, that did the trick! Managed to harvest almost half of a syringe this morning, I feel great! 😀 have put it in the fridge and will have another go in the afternoon.

@Clairesoph when is you c section booked? Good luck!

@Raindancer411 I am 39+5 today and don't have anything at all! She will come eventually! My only hope is that she comes before 41+6 as after that I can't be at the birth centre.

@Clairesoph ah just saw you said it's Thursday - not long now! ❤️

If its any help to you all waiting with 0 symptoms still. I had absolutely none of the signs you hear about. No waters, shows, cramps, etc etc in the days leading up to due date.
Friday 1st at midnight I went to hospital as hadn't felt baby move all day, all looked fine on scan and heart monitors. Kept in overnight just incase. By 5/6am a few cramps started as first sign of anything. He was born at 4pm on 2nd (his exact due date). Waters were broken by midwife about 20 mins before he was born.

So no symptoms don't necessarily mean you will be waiting days

@Caspianberg thanks for the reassurance! 😀 did you also not have the bump "drop"? Everyone tells me my bump is really high and that it will still be a while (everyone being family, not medical professionals 😛)

I’ve been in latent labour for 30 hours now, my god it’s miserable and I’m already so exhausted. Anyone else?