August 2021 - Scans and booking in!

[BertieBotts]

Continuation of August 2021 thread :)

You can defo go with the flow - it's just worth knowing that the frontline support isn't always the best you can get. I think a lot of people just assume that it will be, because it's NHS, but in reality it's underfunded because it's NHS and women's mental health and although they do go on about health outcomes from formula, it is probably more cost effective to pretend to worry about why women aren't choosing to breastfeed, rather than worrying about how they can enable women to breastfeed effectively

So just suss out where your local BF support is and you can wing it :)

@BertieBotts I hope local breastfeeding support groups are back on properly when we have our babies 🤞 I imagine they’re doing virtual sessions but it’s not the same!

@BertieBotts thank you so much for that post, it's so informative! I've always liked the idea of breastfeeding so I really hope it works out for me. I know my husband has wondered about expressing so he can help too, so it's interesting to hear that that might be more trouble than it's worth!

After the scan I signed up for NCT as they seem to fill up really quickly, I'm hoping that and breastfeeding support sessions will be able to go ahead in person when the time comes - but not holding my breath at this stage!

@BertieBotts Your post is spot on, success in breastfeeding really depends so much on expectations and how much support you get post-birth! Do you follow Professor Amy Brown? I find her books/posts interesting as she looks into the research around breastfeeding, formula and common misconceptions.

I had a bit of a rough start to my breastfeeding journey with my first as he was born growth restricted and needed to put on weight very quickly -- to start with he was given top ups of donor milk in the hospital but then when my supply came in I would pump the top ups myself. It's a lot of extra work in the early weeks as they feed so frequently that if you're pumping after every feed it feels like your breasts never get a break! Not to mention sterilising the bottles etc, which luckily my husband did for the most part until he went back to work. From 5-6 weeks I phased out the top ups and he was solely breastfed until he started solids.

The first week or so I found difficult as it took a while for him to learn to latch properly -- this is where having support goes a long way! And I did find it painful to start with just because my nipples weren't used to it. Once everything settled though it became 100% easier and less faff than messing around with bottles. And he stopped accepting bottles after that anyway so didn't have much choice!

Some information I wish I knew beforehand is that the first 5-6 weeks are important for establishing milk supply. After that point it's a lot more stable and I've heard of people who mix fed up to the point where their babies started taking in enough solids to replace the formula, and then were able to drop the formula. I've also heard of people who went back to work so their baby was formula fed during the day and only breastfed at night. I feel like often we're told if we have any difficulties to just give up and switch to formula when actually it doesn't have to be either/or if you're not ready to stop.

Sorry for the long post! 😬

It's interesting to read that people expect breast feeding support ? I didn't even think about that with DS I just thought I was really lucky they'd even helped me for one evening when I had to stay over night

I received quite a lot of support, firstly in hospital trying to establish feeding post C-Section with DS in SCBU. Took a good few days for my milk to come in. Then at home trying to halt non-stop feeding and identify the underlying tongue tie. It's the red-raw nipples and bracing yourself for the next cobra strike phase I think where women really need the help to continue. Be it latching positions or tongue-tie recognition x

@lucyrp

It's interesting to read that people expect breast feeding support ? I didn't even think about that with DS I just thought I was really lucky they'd even helped me for one evening when I had to stay over night

Same! I didn't even know this was a thing...one of 1000's of things I need to look up and research more 😑

@ame88 I'm steering clear of research. It just stresses me out knowing more. I think I'd rather just be naive until the time comes that I may need to research 🙈🤣

I don't think anyone said they "expect" bf support, we're just discussing what is available now and previous experiences of those of us who already have children, that's all.

How is everyone keeping today? xx

Most people don't really think about BF support until they have a problem and don't know what to do about it. The problem then is if you get the wrong advice, sometimes it can make things worse instead of better.

Not everyone needs support, so you might be absolutely fine, but it's a good idea to know where the targeted support is, just in case you need it :) Hopefully, you won't! But it can be very tricky, not to mention emotional, if you do come up against problems and don't know where to turn and everything on google is contradicting itself.

My fantastic news is - DS2 stayed in his own room ALL NIGHT!! And he only woke up once. Keep everything crossed for me that this trend continues.

Feeling nauseous again today, nowhere near as bad as midweek but still not pleasant. How are you doing @PurplePansy05?

Wooooo go DS2 @BertieBotts! 😁

Weird embarrassing question alert... is anyone else having shooting pains that go from the sort of public bone area all the way up to just under the belly button? Right in the middle? I keep getting them today but haven’t had them before! Hoping it’s just everything stretching 😬🤭

@PurplePansy05 I just meant how people were looking for it ? I didn't even know it was a thing !

@BertieBotts I guess so. Personally if I couldn't breastfeed for whatever reason problems etc I would just go to formula as pumping etc isn't for me.

I think it makes sense to look in advance and chat about it in advance. Very grateful for everyone sharing your experiences 😊

@MrsB2019x I'm doing alright, thanks. On a countdown till my scan now. Back still hurting, but much better thanks to the cooling pads 😊 It's snowing here today which is making me happy! xx

I think personally for me looking up stuff makes me worse anxiety wise. I researched exclusively pumping a while back and immediately questioned my own breast feeding journey even though it was 5 years ago!

I've just eaten a cheeseboard seemingly forgetting I was pregnant... blue cheese, Brie, and unpasturised hard cheese 😬 I don't know what on earth came over me! I just didn't think at all... really hope I'm not going to get sick!

@BananaHammock23 jealous you can eat cheese! Normally love it but have gone off it since being pregnant 🙈 I'm sure you'll be fine!

@PurplePansy05 Jealous! We never had snow the first time round, it’s just grey and drizzly here 😣 counting down the days til the scan too, we really don’t have long to go!

@BananaHammock23 I’m sure you’ll be fine ☺️ The risk is small but because there is still a risk they have to advise against. Just think of it as your final cheesy blow out!

Thanks @lucyrp @MrsB2019x - there'll be no more cheese for me! It's funny this bit of pregnancy... I don't look pregnant or feel pregnant but I just have to accept that there's something alive in my tummy?!?

@BananaHammock23 I totally feel the same! Well I do have a belly given three in there but atm just looks like I’m fat and very hard to believe still that there is anything actually growing in there. Scan is 9 Feb for me - really nervous about it. 😬

@BananaHammock23 Don't worry 😊 How many times have you had cheese in your life before and how many times did you end up with listeria? There's your answer 😊

Beside, you are safe to eat most cheeses anyway (including Stilton for example) and the likes of Brie or Camembert if they're served hot. I still eat baked Camembert which I adore! Nice sourdough to dip, dark grapes and rocket on the side. Heaven. It's a fair compromise 😊

My belly has popped a little bit now, it's still not obvious but my clothes fit differently, they sort of sit on my belly a bit. I can't fully breathe in to make it flat and it feels hard in the front so I'm guessing this might be a beginning of a baby bump.

Mmmmm baked Camembert 🤤

I started wearing my new maternity jeans yesterday - GAME CHANGER. They even make me look like I have a proper little bump ☺️

I felt sooo sick today and the craved something I never usually eat...fizzy sweets! So random but they did the trick! Still feeling bad that I can't stomach anything that nutritious but my partner has made a chicken pie and I'm going to try with all my night to eat with some veggies today!

I made some baked camembert at Xmas, but stopped eating it half way through as thought it was undercooked, it scared me so have decided its probably safer to stay away from it for the next 6 months.

All this talk has made me add a Camembert to my online shop for this week 😂 it's a shame, I prefer Brie and Camembert cold but I'll make do until summer - can't wait for baby to arrive so I can have a lovely baguette with Brie and some kind of amazing chutney...