September 2020 5

[ChipsAreLife]

Hello 👋👋👋

@MostlyAmbridgeandcoffee I forgot to say yes to braxton hicks! I get them if I'm really still or if I do too much. I genuinely thought I was having contractions on Wednesday! I'm supposed to be sorting the nursery today but been sweating outside with the girls instead! Think I'll wait for weather to cool down!!!

Yes so good he can come as he only came today 12 week one. @ShiningStarz when do schools go back there? Ours aren't back till early September so I think if it did cause more cases it will take a few weeks to be felt. I think it'll be interesting when people start coming back form holidays. I read something that said planes are the worse place for spreading it 😬 when our schools went back here after lockdown we didn't get an increase in cases so let's hope it doesn't happen again. I feel so sad for the kids they've missed out on so much 😢

I had terrible itching last night but think it was the heat. But agree you should be tested if it's constant/bad. Why did your consultant say they thought it wasn't liver related?

I've met some friends for a walk (plus ice cream obviously!) today and hit my 10000 steps for the first time in forever. Was so sweaty and now my back and hips are killing 😂 it's so weird as I've not seen them since I've been pregnant and suddenly they see me with a giant bump!

Thank you everyone for your advice about the itching!

I was a bit annoyed that the consultant didn’t want to do a blood test just to be on the safe side and rule liver problems out! I think because I haven’t got itchiness on my hands and feet he just ruled it out... but I’ve got it every other part of my body . I’m pretty sure it is mainly heat related but I’m going to ring the community midwives and ask about having bloods done just to double check

@annie1994 I had the blood tests done by my gp when I was feeling itchy. The gp wanted to check my liver even though I was only itching on the bump and my back. The results came back all clear but she still prescribed the cream I mentioned above

@ChipsAreLife it seems as though the schools are back open around 24th Aug, a couple weeks earlier than normal !! Back full time too !! Think younger ones go back 2 days a week for a while but then the plan is also they are all back full time.

Is anyone going to use evening primrose oil to prepare their cervix for labour? I read it's supposed to make the second stage of labour shorter by helping the cervix shorten, soften and dilate faster. Anyone used it before?

@Smilymami I read about clary sage in early labour... I'v no clue tho !!

Do we have a new thread yet??

I am hoping to BF, starting the colostrum harvesting from end of next week!!
Has anyone used these bottles? I feel the need to buy just incase but also even if BF is successful I'd like DP to be able to feed from 6 weeks on.. once BF is established. It comes with the steriliser and is on offer at the moment in boots 🤔

I'm aooo sorry for all these questions! You. Can probably sense I'm having a last minute mini meltdown lol !!!

Breast pumps!!!
I haven't yet bought one! I know @ChipsAreLife you recommended the hand pump haaka. Seems good and not expensive. But is it better to wait and see how first week goes and then order a pump?? Maybe if I'm successful an electric pump would be better?? Also wondering if boobs are going to be so so full that expressing within first week is a necessity?
Thanks guys and sorry again

@ShiningStarz we were advised not to buy anything for first week to see how it goes, especially pump as you may never use it!

Morning @ShiningStarz 😁

I'll be breastfeeding too. I sold my last breast pump (because I wasn't having any more children! 🤦🏼‍♀️) but I'll probably buy the same model again. I had an electric medela. Not the crazy expensive one but the one that's about £120.

I'd definitely recommend an electric pump, you'll be there forever with a manual one.

I haven't bought one yet because I don't think I'll need to express for the first few weeks. I think I'm likely to be given some JL vouchers when he arrives so I might put them towards it!

I don't think anyone has started a new thread...

@Smilymami I don't know about evening primrose oil (though I'll now research it!) but I've been given some raspberry leaf tea which is supposed to help the uterus in labour. I think I'll have a few cups of this from the beginning of September - I don't want to risk the possibility of inducing labour any earlier.

@ShiningStarz I'm also really keen to breastfeed and have been reluctant to buy bottles for this reason. Now that I've started washing the baby clothes and packing my hospital bag this weekend I'm getting a little nervous and thinking of things I could buy last minute too. I'd like my DH to have the experience of feeding our baby once bf is established and I'd like to express milk for this feed. I've bought a haakaa pump as for the price I thought I can't go wrong with it and it has good reviews. If my breastfeeding plan is a success I might invest in a fancier pump. I've been targeted on fb by loads of different companies and there's one called Minbie which has good reviews for breastfed babies. I think I'll get a different pump but I'm planning to buy a few of their bottles if I can express milk.
Gosh, it's all a bit daunting now.

@ShiningStarz I’ve been expressing since Wren was born and have been loaned a Spectra S1 which I actually prefer to the medela I was using in the hospital, it has a slightly more comfortable action IMO. It’s a hospital grade electric one that you can use to double pump So great for increasing supply and for being all done in 20mins. We’re combining BF and bottle feeding breast milk currently as little man finds BF quite tiring so while he’s small we’re using bottle top ups of expressed milk to make sure he’s well fed but hoping to phase it out. It does mean I’ve given up on the night cluster feeding twice now though and sent OH to get a bottle so it depends if you want to make sure you don’t have that escape option as it’s pretty tempting at 4am when you’re on your 4th hour of cluster feeding and no sleep!

In terms of bottles I’ve heard really good things about the mam ones. Self sterilising seems like a winner as well rather than dealing with sterilising kit. On the neonatal they recommend the supermarket own brand (I currently have the Sainsbury’s ones and they’re doing the job) or mam/ nuk bottles. There were triplets on the unit who tried every brand available and would only take the mam ones. I think maybe don’t get loads of one type as baby may have a preference of their own

@ShiningStarz my health visitor recommended the haaka pump but ill wait a few weeks before buying anything. I've never used those bottles but I like the brand mam. I got the dummies from them.
With my two, I used the avent bottles after trying the Tommy tippee ones.
@Smilymami I used evening primrose oil to get pregnant lol I didn't know if was good for labour. With my first, I started raspberry leaf tea at 36 weeks and went into labour at 37. I dont know if that's linked but I'd be careful with all that stuff.

Morning!

Mine would only ever take Mam bottles so that's what I've got. I wouldn't get a huge kit like that @ShiningStarz if you plan to BF. A couple will be enough. If it's just one /two feeds A day.

I wouldn't by a breast pump before to be honest. See how you go and then get one after that. I'm planning to pump so DH can do an evening feed but won't start till 2/3 weeks in when milk is there. I'll prob use a hakkaa then anyway.

My back was so painful last night had constant cramps that would then radiate round the front and my stomach was going tight. Got loads of pressure in my vagina today too 😬 I've thrown some stuff in a bag just in case!!!

I'll start a new thread xx

September 2020 6 - we are (almost) ready babies! www.mumsnet.com/Talk/birth_clubs/3990819-september-2020-6-we-are-almost-ready-babies

New thread. If link doesn't work it's September 2020 6 in birthclubs x

Thanks everyone 😊 great advice.
Sounds like best thing to do is just wait and see how I go.
Easy enough to send DP out to boots to buy the maam bottles and can buy a pump once I know the BF is working. 😊😊

I'm sure someone said they were but can't remember who - is anyone planning on expressing colostrum before birth?

@chipsarelife I've felt really heavy pressure when walking the last couple of days. I feel like the baby has definitely dropped (though I feel like it's too early!) to be fair I've done lots more walking last few days so maybe I'm just not used to it!

@MooseWL I'm hoping to harvest colostrum. I have my 36 week appointment tomorrow and will be getting a kit from the midwife. Someone said it only has 5 syringes in tho so may order some more

Hi @MooseWL yep I am hoping to harvest colostrum too. As I'v GD it's supposed to be really beneficial to help baby blood sugars normalise post delivery.
I got the pack from my midwife, it has about 6 syringes in it with the caps and instructions.

Did you just ask your midwifes for the kits? My next appointment is 34 weeks so may ask her about it then.

Yep @MooseWL I was expecting I'd have to actually buy the syringes but she gave me a kit with all I needed! Hopefully your midwife will do the same 👍 you don't start until your 36 weeks and need the all clear from your midwife. I'm starting at 37 weeks as it can bring on labour and don't want to start until I reach full term. X