September 2020 5

[ChipsAreLife]

Hello 👋👋👋

@hugeahegap same as what happened to me this week. Can just depend how they're lying or how curled up they are.
I bet the hospital midwifes hate the community midwives 😂

@HugeAgeGap I feel the same as you. I was prescribed them last time for being anaemic and I'm worse this pregnancy but the symptoms are just horrendous. I'd rather deal with feeling tired and attempt to add iron to my diet myself than use those tablets. They want me to take 2 per day, I have taken 1 per day for 3 days and I am so uncomfortable and dealing with the worst heartburn ever already I am just done with it!

Did you ever get a 'fusion' of iron? My consultant offered that as an alternative if nothing improves in the next 6 weeks.

Hi @fin90 I bought these from John Lewis based on reviews www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-gots-organic-cotton-fitted-bedside-crib-sheet-pack-of-2-50-x-83cm/white/p3140556

Got the above when 20% off x

@Bubble29 I'm constantly like that !!

@OrDis that's great!!

@Lilice it prob says on your notes. They measure few parts and calculated the weight

@mamamemmmer no haven't been offered the infusion, I guess see what happens when they check them again in a couple of weeks. I literally never eat red meat so surely doing that a couple of times a week now has to make a difference! And the Spatone although a lower dosage apparently absorbs better so hoping the combo does the trick!

It's awful you've got those symptoms and end up feeling that being tired is better than dealing with the tablet side effects! Hope it improves for you x

@ShiningStarz I have checked and there's nothing on my notes. In fact, my notes consist of a single piece of paper with barely any info on it. I think the rest is in their computer. I've got an appointment on Monday and will ask her

To all the mamas who have breastfed before: did you use a dummy or not?

I didn't want to use one with my first baby which I exclusively breastfed the first few weeks, because the nct said not to... back then, as a ftm, i didn't question what the nct instructor would tell...I tried to introduce it after but it was too late.
I didnt breastfeed my second and he had a dummy from birth, which made things easier and he even weaned himself off it before he hit 3 months.
So this time i would like to breastfeed but I'd also like to use a dummy. Has anybody had any success breastfeeding and using a dummy?

@Lilice do you not have a maternity folder?

@Lilice interesting question re. Dummy. We don't want to introduce dummy and also hoping to BF. I didnt realise there would be a point where it would be too late to introduce dummy after established BF 🤔 flip!! I'll be watching for responses to your query :)

Hm first time around we didn’t use dummy until around 5 months and he was EBF and took to the dummy really well at that stage. Can’t speak for earlier though.

@Lilice we tried to use a dummy alongside exclusive breastfeeeding and he just wasn't having any of it. He always took a bottle no problem but no interest in a dummy. If he wanted comfort he just wanted me instead.

Then when he was about a year old he found one in a drawer and became obsessed with it 🙈 I hid it because it felt like he was far too old at that point to introduce one.

Planning on trying again this time. I know they say officially it's not recommended straight away when breastfeeding, but I think it would have helped in times like the car etc (which my son hated) just to give comfort. As long as youre still watching for cues for feeding Etc and feed on demand I don't see the issue.

@Lilice I hear such negative things from NCT on aspects of preparing women for birth/parenting. There seems to be their one way of doing things and no acceptance that babies/mums/births are all different so one size doesn't fit all. I know they've received a lot of backlash so hopefully they've changed! Anyway ..., I digress!

Re dummies. My first took one in hospital, my second at about two weeks. I breastfed them both for 9 months and then introduced formula for medical reasons.

Some people are really anti dummies and I get that seeing a four year old in the park with one can be a bit strange but for babies I think Dummies are an absolute godsend!!! after cluster feeding for hours and hours on end the last thing I needed was baby suckling got comfort, but a break for my poor nipples. I think they helped me carry on rather than stop, gave DH a way to soothe so I could rest. I think dummies have also been found to prevent SIDS.

My main advice if you want to breastfed is be prepared for it to be hard work, painful at times and knackering for the first 6-8 weeks. Then all of a sudden it becomes easier and worth that initial slog! I don't know anyone in real life who failed because they gave their baby a dummy.

Sorry thats long but hopefully helpful!!!

Had midwife yesterday, I feel bad being negative towards NHS at this time but she's a bit useless in all honestly. I was asking her what current hospital policy is with partners in birth etc but she didn't know, said she needed to look into it!

Anyway she said for electives they're trying to get you home next day all going well. Which I'm fine with but I'm worried about pain relief as they won't give me anything to go home with bar paracetamol (I'm allergic to ibuprofen). So I'm going to go in with an open mind and if I need to stay two nights I will, but I'd rather the one.

All fine with my and baby, everything as it should be. Measuring bang on 34 cm at 34 weeks. Don't see her again till 38 but we have 36 week scans in my trust so I've got that soon.

Hope everyone is doing well? The heat yesterday was hard work!!

I'm with with everyone struggling. End of pregnancy is tough, let alone in a pandemic and in 35 degree heat. I've got two weeks left of work and can't wait to finish now.

Not too early to wash baby stuff! I did two loads as weather so good for it! Hoping to sort nursery next week but girls bunk bed hasn't arrived yet (ongoing saga) so will see! X

Sorry that was so long 😬

Morning ladies! You sound so organised @ChipsAreLife! I haven't started washing anything yet but that's because I need to decorate the newly plastered rooms! 🙈 Talk about cutting things fine!

I've found the iron tablets okay @mamamemmmer I'm meant to take 3 a day but they made me quite constipated which was really uncomfortable so I upped my red meat (DP cooks a good steak!) and I'm only taking one or two sporadically now. As it happens I saw a different midwife last week and she said my levels didn't even require action! So annoying grr!

Today is the first day of DP working all the hours God sends until the 16th, the culmination of a years work so I'm not sure how much we're going to achieve in the house in the next two weeks. He's adamant he doesn't want me to get someone in so we'll just have to see how it goes.
In the meantime I get to go and buy carpets and cushions etc

I breastfed both of my boys and we used a dummy for both, they're recommend as a sleep aid to avoid SIDS and they give your nipples a break when baby just wants to comfort suck. My youngest wanted to be on the boob constantly from the minute he was born and he damaged my nipples very quickly. This time I'll be packing a dummy in my hospital bag in case it happens again!

@LatteLover12 absolutely the same on dummies. My youngest was a Velcro baby and that dummy saved me!!

Oh I'm really not organised! Everything is in a pile in spare room I've just washed some baby grows and muslins just to have some in case I go into labour as I'm having so many braxton hicks! Still need to wash the pram, car seat etc.

Bless you, you'll get there. I moved last time at 36 weeks with an 18 month old and whilst my DM was sadly coming to the end of her life. Were your other two early or on time?

@ChipsAreLife I'm also feeling more anxious about the stay after section. My trust has changed since my last one and now releases after 24hrs. Last time I still couldn't feel my legs 30hrs after so I'm unsure if I'll make the one night this time!

Our trust are being reallly bad with easing visiting. Currently, and they've said this won't be changing in the near future. Partners are allowed in with you for the build up to and then the section itself and then recovery room for a further 1-2hrs. But when u r moved from recovery to the post natal ward they leave as no partners or visitors allowed on post natal ward whatsoever.

So I'm looking at possibly 3 days and 2 nights (that's what I needed last time) completely alone on ward. I know that's what all the women there will be doing but I'm very anxious as last time I was in the midwifes etc were useless at helping when partners left for the night and I really felt very vulnerable. I should have lodged a complaint at the time as it really was that bad but I was so traumatised by it all I couldn't relive it without getting really upset.

I'm feeling so anxious part of me is now considering VBAC even though with other issues this isn't recommended by Consultant x

Morning all.
Good news is Doppler readings all came back normal at scan yesterday! So they are happy with baby apart from it being tiny.

My blood pressure was 145/90. Which is borderline which means they kept me in till atleast Sunday for monitoring. +1 protein in urine however that also went down to a trace so borderline. It’s all borderline lol.

Hopefully they can tweak my bp tablets however the 2nd number is largely ok so they have the issue now of lowering first and somehow not lowering second.

The visiting here is one person per bed per day for one hour so atleast that’s not too bad. Not too sure about after birth though.

Hope everyone enjoys the sunny weekend haha

Glad everything is ok with the baby @Lorna198, hopefully they can sort your medication and you can go home soon.

My trust is still only allowing birth partners in for active labor and then a few hours recovery after. Still no visitors on the wards. I can’t see it changing. Having never had a baby before i’ve nothing to compare it too so i’m not feeling overly worried about it at this point but I agree it will depend on how long I end up having to stay though.
The midwife said something quite sensible yesterday, that if i’m going to breastfeed then not to leave the hospital until i’m feeling confident with that, and if that means staying an extra night to get the support then so be it. I sort of agree with her there, it’ll be hard for DH not to come visit, but if I need to support i’m sure it’ll be easier to get it in the hospital than potentially in the community at the moment.
I want to try breastfeeding, but i’m still not overly set on it. I’m just going to see how it goes I think. I totally understand the mechanics of it and everything, and how the baby needs to feed so much in the early days to establish milk supply, but it sounds pretty relentless. I think it will depend a lot on my mental state after birth. I am going to try not to put extra pressure on myself.

Has anyone suffered pain in 'that' region like a pulled muscle.
I moved something today with my foot and it went 'twang' and now bloody hurts- like a dull ache.
35 weeks today😬😬

@Lorna198 I'm so glad they were happy with the readings and are keeping a good eye on you!

@OrDis I think that's a great idea, keep pressure on yourself to an absolute minimum going forward! Fed is best as they say. I was talking to DH the other night about how some people get sent home a few hours after birth and how crazy it'll be to potenrially just be home so soon after labour and trying to wing it 😂

I'm 34 weeks now today, my bum/tailbone is so sore, so sitting on my ball and going to go for a nice bath to try ease the pains.

@Laura1348 I haven't had anything like that but I'm sure there will be someone on here who has!! Hope you're okay

@HugeAgeGap I feel exactly the same. My post natal experience first time round was good but only because I was unwell. Second time I was pretty ok and I just got left. I had to beg for pain relief and help in the night to lift baby. I really relied on visitors helping. I just hope that they've adjusted accordingly and can provide the support we need. I completely understand how you must feel, on one hand VBAC goes great and you're out that day, on the other it doesn't and you could end up in longer than an elective. I guess elective is the safe 'known' ground. X

Also this makes me sound about 7 but I can't stand hospital food. All I want after birth is light salads and meals. All the hospital food is stodge and you have to go down to a room to eat once you and about which I can't imagine doing on my own (in fairness never did it before as always had food bought in). I'm hoping at the very least someone can drop a bag of food off each day to me 🤞

@Lorna198 great news, hope you feel a bit better knowing that?

@OrDis 💯agree on what midwife said. Stay in till you're happy with feeding. I think that's why breastfeeding rates are much lower these days as they kick you out so quickly! Back in the day you were in for a week and got lots of support. And your attitude is the best. Go in hoping it works but if it doesn't it's no drama. Just plan to sit on your sofa with lots of water and snacks and box sets for the first few weeks and make no plans! X

Thanks for the advice and experiences regarding breastfeeding and dummies..it's nice to hear about real experiences instead of stuff I read online. I think I will also pack a dummy with me this time and not wait too long before introducing it. My first one was using me as a human dummy but I was so scared of nipple confusion I didn't want to give her one. In the end I gave up altogether because of the exhaustion of constant feeding. A dummy could have made things different but by that stage she was having none of it.
@ShiningStarz I do have a maternity folder but there's not much in it. I'll ask about it on Monday at my next appointment but I have the feeling they keep all the info on their computer now. I just have a piece of paper with some phone numbers, dates of appointments and measures of my bump.

I dont know what the visiting policy is at my trust. I usually like to stay a few extra days in but last time I really struggled to sleep as the ward was quite noisy so I think I'll be happy to go home when they tell me to.
I did find that I had to beg for more pain relief after my csection, wasn't a nice feeling. But they were generally helpful with handing the baby over to me at the very beginning.

@Lorna198 that's great news!

Hi everyone.

@ShiningStarz that's so exciting you know the date you're going to hospital! I keep wondering when it will happen and if he will be here before or after 40 weeks.

Cant remember who asked but I am also on iron tablets and have been since about 20 weeks. I dont get many side effects and dont deal with feeling tired at all so it's definitely best option for me. Was also getting heart palpitations and breathlessness due to lack of iron.

It has been so hot! Glad it looks like its going to be cooler today. My feet get so swollen!

To the person who asked the midwife about hiccups (sorry I really struggle to do the @ thing replying to lots of different people!) thank you so much! That's so funny your LO got hiccups while on the doppler!

We are going out for the day on mon. We had so many things planned prior to the pandemic but havent been able to do any of it including going away for a few days. Best thing we can do now is go out for the day somewhere nice and have a walk and a picnic, so hopefully that will be nice, although getting more concerned about the walking side of it considering how uncomfortable I am these days!

Can’t believe it’s August already and we can now officially say we will have our babies next month! 🤗

@mamamemmmer I am on iron twice a day - not suffering too badly with side affects, but if you are mention it to the doctor who can give something to help if constipated etc.
Someone else mentioned heartburn - mine has been horrendous, sick every time I lie down etc. so they’ve given me omeprazole now which is a godsend!

Can’t believe we’ll be classed as full time in such a short amount of time now and the babies will start (or rather in the case of little Wren, keep on!) coming! I don’t feel ready!