September 2020 7 - babies are arriving!

[sianyflewog]

Just making this ready xx

Aww ladies sending love to those of you who have been in the wars last few days m

Anyone had engorged boobs which has made it hard for baby to latch? We are 12 days in and feeding been going really well until yesterday when this has made it really hard - any tips ?

I've been having engorged boobs on and off. The main thing that helped was expressing a little milk before breastfeeding so that they weren't so rock hard and baby could get a latch. I know it can make the supply problem a little worse, but it's the only thing that's worked so far for me.

Thanks - yes a bit of expressing is next on my list to try if can’t sort it with regular feeding - was going to try to avoid it until feeding properly established but may be the only way!

How is the bleeding for anyone who’s had sections after a week or two? Any sign of it stopping or changing to lochia? I’m almost 2 weeks and seems pretty consistent

@ChipsAreLife so sorry to hear that, really glad you are ok now.
Thanks for the tip re. The expressing. I'm going to have to do it more frequently. I don't know where the day goes these days!!!

@Chanel05 I hope you feel better soon xx

Yep @MostlyAmbridgeandcoffee the big boobs, the water retention from c section for me all have caused flat nipples. I have been expressing using electric pump, sometimes after few minutes on pump it pushes the nipples up so baby can latch but not always :(
Re. Bleeding, I am filling 1 pad daily. I'm
10 days post c section today x

@MostlyAmbridgeandcoffee I've bought heat/cool pads from lansinoh called thera pearl breast therapy pads. They've helped me with the engorgement and finding some relief. I've only heated them up at the moment but that has really helped me.

@MooseWL I'm nervous about visitors too. Both sets of parents have visited and they've had to wash their hands. They've also showered beforehand and put on fresh clothes. Kisses are banned. We've got three friends visiting but apart from that we're not really having visitors at the moment. It's so hard as I've always loved cuddling babies and wanted to be the kind of mum that happily let others hold mine when they arrived but that just won't happen whilst this virus is here - especially with the warning that infections are rising again.

Sorry to hear about those who’ve had a tough time but glad to see everyone’s on the mend.
So many lovely babies being born, congratulations to all x

Hope everyone who are still carrying their precious cargo are doing well 💕

I’ve had to ring my GP and the post natal ward regarding postpartum bleeding. Everything was as I would have expected up until day 5 when I started ‘gushing’ blood, yesterday there were about 10 instances of it and I went though 5 maternity pads - not full but quite a significant amount of blood. I felt so weak.
The send this can be normal, especially when breastfeeding but I can’t help but think it’s a lot of blood for someone who had already lost 2 litres 🙈
It’s still doing it this morning! They had to leave the cerclage in place post section, so I’m worried about that too! Due to be removed in early December 😶

My LO is cluster feeding a lot which has really helped the engorgement, so would imagine expressing here and there would give the same relief. It’s Andy excruciating when it occurs.
I’ve heard applying a cold compress helps rather than heat? So maybe try some cold cabbage leaves?

I joined a safe sleeping group on Facebook and was surprised to see the amount of mums advocating for the use of a dummy/pacifier (after 3/4 weeks for breastfed babies) - has anyone here given their baby one?

My there were a lot of typos in the post 😅

@ShiningStarz have u tried the breast shells with the holes in the top that create a constant suction on the nipple? I'm also flat normally, but wear the shells, and literally slip them off before a feed and nipple is erect with the constant suction placed by the shells. I've got the Medela ones, Amazon Prime. Could be worth a try as gives the same result as the pump does xx

@MostlyAmbridgeandcoffee also have engorgement issues, have found expressing the only thing that actually makes them more soft for a feed. It's frustrating as happens mostly after I've slept at night or first feed in the morning when baby already sleepy and struggling to latch. I don't find the expressing before the feed works well in reality as a solution as this just isn't always practical if I haven't got my pump and bottle sterilised etc. Would be good to find a better solution!! xx

Thanks for the well wishes. Feeling heaps better now! Just a bit tired. Trying to rest as don't want to end up back in, it's horrible on the post nat all ward. Some of the midwives don't seem to like people let alone vulnerable women and newborn babies!

@glasha87 I've given my dummies from Raleigh on and never had a problem!

@HugeAgeGap you don't have to sterilise pump or bottles with breast milk. Just hot soapy water. This has been confirmed by a few midwives to me, it's because the milk has so many antic bacterial qualities in it

@HugeAgeGap would you mind sending me a link to those shells? That would be really helpful and worth a try.

@glasha87 no dummies here yet!! Would love to avoid them completely but there will prob be a time down the line where they are needed.

Morning everyone,
Hope those with their bubs are getting on well and those with little ones on the way are keeping well. Not long now before all babies will be here!!!

Our little one slept in her next to me last night however I had to rub her back every 15 mins to settle her stirring.

My partner caught a cold last week and iv had it last few days, I think our little girl has it now and that's why she was a bit unsettled last night.

Wev seen both sets of patents and brothers and sisters and their kids.
Some of the kids didn't come as now they are back to school there's colds, vomiting diarrhoea etc all going on!! It's really up to you all and based upon who is at school / work etc and more risk.
Iv let one friend visit and she sat at other end of sofa and no cuddles. I'm also fine with meeting people outdoors for walks with baby in her pram x

@ChipsAreLife oh that would be a game changer not needing to sterilise!!

@ShiningStarz Medela Nipple Formers for Breastfeeding, Silicone Nipple Forming for Flat & Inverted Nipples, Pack of 2 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000WHL2TE/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_VnZzFbXJ79GPH

These are the ones I bought. They keep the nipple erect with constant pressure and the holes mean they get airflow. My nipples are generally quite sore so it's lovely not having them scraping against bra! The only thing I do find is the milk collected in them can run out the holes when you bend forward! This can happen when I'm a bit engorged. I've found these a game changer for flat and soreness xx

@glasha87 I hope the bleeding settles down, I'm surprised they weren't more interested.
My little one was given a dummy on out second night in hospital. He's a sucker ( was born with blisters on his arms from sucking them in the womb). He doesn't have it very often but I've read it's meant to prevent SIDS which can't be a bad thing. He definitely doesn't have nipple confusion from it

With regards to engorgement, I found that massaging using a bath mitt in a hot shower really helped with the pain.

When expressing prior to a feed, I actually just expressed manually into a cotton pad or a muslin. Not too much to prevent building supply and making it worse, just enough to soften the breast a little.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

@glasha87 that sounds really tiring re the bleeding - poor you ! I haven’t got the gushing issue but do lose some when go to the loo (so far nothing bigger than a 50pence piece). Guess we just keep an eye on it and hope it eases with time !! First pregnancy after c section I recall bleeding for 8 weeks!!

Thanks @HugeAgeGap must try those

I'm pumping as much as I can but I know I know I need to do more! First pump (15 mins per breast) gets me 100ml. Subsequent pumps though and I'm getting way less like half. Anyone else having similar issues? I really do t want the milk to dry up 🙁

Hello, we're on day 4 here and things are looking up. No crazy hormones yet and I've managed to have a shower and wash my hair.

The stockings have had to go in the wash - they were grim - so wish me luck getting them back on later!

My hearing issue is now intermittent so I'm hoping it will resolve itself soon. I lost 950ml of blood in theatre and have tonnes of swelling and DrGoogle tells me that might have something to do with it.

Baby and I managed to co-ordinate sleep last night so I got a chunk of about 5 hours and feel so much better for it.

I took a dummy into hospital with me! I was determined not to let my nipples get chewed to bits like last time that I took dummies, nipple shields and lansinoh! I haven't needed the shields but the dummy and the cream has tided me over until the milk fairies came last night. Phew!

We've used a dummy since the second night in the hospital too. Breastfeeding is going really well so there is no nipple confusion at all. She just has a really strong sucking reflex and needs to suck for comfort. We use the dummy mostly to help settle back to sleep when she stirs in her sleep bit we know she's not ready to wake up yet.

I know some people don't like dummies and we don't use them in her awake times, but it works for us and her.

@LatteLover12 the stockings come out of machine pretty much dry!!!
I had a c section and it's only today Iv noticed swelling pretty much gone (day 11)