Due August 2021 - The Final Countdown continues...

[Daffodil21]

Continuing the previous thread!

I'll let @PurplePansy05 post the updated list

It's normal/OK not to get anything out at first, if you keep persevering doing it once a day (or more often if you want to) you'll be more likely to get something at subsequent times.

Also hormones help - look at pictures/videos of tiny newborns! If you have any special kids in your own life e.g. previous children, nieces/nephews then looking at them as newborns helps the most but it can be any old baby to trigger those protective feelings.

If you use a modern pump the problem is that the milk has to go through a little mechanism before it makes it into the bottle and as you're only getting drips they don't have enough momentum/weight to make it through the mechanism, so they just dry up in there and you never get it out. I did this in hospital with DS2 because nobody would show me the hand expression technique and it was just soul destroying! So much effort for no gain!

I ordered some syringes online but be careful - the majority on amazon are "for industry use only" which means they aren't sterile/food safe/medical grade. You may be best off getting some from a pharmacy. You need 1ml or 2ml syringes ideally, anything bigger is too big. And no needles of course.

@PurplePansy05 I'm hoping I've uploaded pictures correctly of the ones I have! They're just the ones that the midwife gave me. I've found that expressing into a sterilised teaspoon and sucking it up has been more efficient than trying to catch drops direct from the nipple as I lose less xx

You're all giving me my first lot of mum guilt over not attempting to harvest colostrum 😂😂

I've never done it with the other two :o

I just think it may be worth it for my peace of mind this time as I was so cross I had nothing to give DS2 when we were separated last time.

I mentioned it to DH and he was like "Why? We can just do bottles again, it worked out fine."

I got my colostrum syringes off eBay but they’re the same as @biscuitcat ones. I collected 2x 1ml syringes but then ended up going in the hospital the next day. Little man is 6 days old now and they’re still in the freezer unused so I wouldn’t worry @Daffodil21. You can always harvest post birth too if you need to.

@Daffodil21 I'm only doing this to help his glucose levels straight after birth, don't worry!

@biscuitcat These look massive! My MW gave me similar looking ones, but they're all 1ml and identical to those I bought from Amazon xx

The ones I found that are medical grade are "B-Braun" but it might be a German brand.

I know when I tried to suck some up using a calpol (5ml) syringe last time the hole was too big and it didn't work. 1ml is probably best, hoping the 2ml ones I've ordered are OK, sounds like they will be if 3ml ones work fine.

If I wasn't so utterly paranoid about the birth I would give it a go, but hoping he stays put until CS!

Hoping it comes after birth... It does look like if I squeezed properly now something would come out but leaving well alone!

Congrats on those who have harvested?

I didn't mean the ? on the end!

Happy Due Month folks!

@lucyrp, yay to you getting to date night! Hope you can relax a little now. I’ve got 3 full on work days this week to finish.

Just made a chocolate courgette cake for the freezer (we have a courgette glut!), figure that’ll help with the breast feeding calories!!

I’ve not tried harvesting yet, but have some 1ml syringes ready. BBraun are German but readily available here, and a very reputable company. Make sure anything you use is described as an oral syringe and has a CE mark and it should be ok.

@Daffodil21 don’t feel guilty.. I’m still in two minds! Was really quite satisfying when I did it today though but I would kick myself if it caused something to happen 🤦🏼‍♀️

@wimbler I wasn’t on the post when you went into hospital so I’ve missed a bit but did you go into labour or just have to go into hospital? It wasn’t caused by the colostrum harvesting was it? Paranoid 🙈

I just have the 1ml syringes off Amazon with the purple lids that come in little sterile packs. I got 10 thinking I’d order more nearer the time. Think I presumed I’d have a constant flow of milk just running out of me or something 😂

@PurplePansy05 I do tend to leak quite a bit by the sounds of it compared to others so I have thought about it. Maybe something I'll ask about tomorrow see if she gives me any syringes xx

@Ava50x it's horrible isn't it, I'm trying to stay more relaxed now in the attempt that baby will think it's absolutely fine to come now which it is! So ready for them. I wouldn't recommend M&S for measuring at all, if you're able to look up the BOB measuring guide online and have a go yourself. I bought a bra from M&S for pregnancy and its totally the wrong size but the one they told me to have! Its a band 38 but I'm a size 10... work that one out 👀

@Daffodil21 I haven't attempted yet either as planning to breastfeed which I thought meant they'd get colostrum for the first week straight from me.

@HopefulB I feel like I've really accomplished something by finishing! Good luck x

Congratulations @Jessicapebbles - she is so beautiful. Hope you're feeling well and no sign of any flares?

Thanks to everyone who commented on my two complaints - I'm feeling much calmer about everything now and will hopefully be able to get some more info on the GBS antibiotics this week.

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend xx

@Daffodil21 I've never expressed colostrum before birth and don't have any intentions of doing it this time either. Maybe i'm just old-fashioned but I have no intentions of doing it. Don't worry, your baby will be fine either way.

@lucyrp will steer clear of M&S. Don't like the bras in the best of times! Sizing really does seem wonky! Just want to get that last thing done and zip up my hospital bag!! Hope you are managing to relax now you're off work and hopefully get that oxytocin flowing!

I've had very good experiences with both M&S and Bravissimo, it depends on the staff in a particular store in the lingerie department xx

@sarah13xx no no not caused by harvesting!! Went in on Sunday last week with reduced movement and because I was 39+ weeks they strongly advised to induce. I accepted the balloon catheter (only option as I was going for vbac) and after 24 hours my waters went on their own and he was born 2hr40 later!

@wimbler oh wow that was quick! They do say harvesting helps your cervix lengthen or shorten or something so maybe that helped with the speed once you got going 🙈 I’m sure there will be plenty of people who are the complete opposite though! I think I’m going to try it a few times this week, I’ll try and get 1 syringe at least 😂

Ugh the pregnancy hormones are getting to me 😭 was feeding the dog earlier, opened the fridge (he eats right next to the fridge), and a jar of passata fell out and smashed all over the floor, so I had to clear up all the glass and tomato, and get the dog out so he didn't hurt himself. It was so sore bending down to clear up and it stressed me out so much that I just had a huge cry down the phone to DH - so looking forward to baby being out!!

I found some feeding bras in Primark of all places the other day. They have fairly wide sizes (S / M / L etc) so I felt that would be fine as I don't expect I'll be wearing them for that long after the birth, just for the initial leaking bit.

That's also a good bet as you don't spend too much since you won't know your exact size post birth. Then once baby is about 6 weeks old if BF going well you can get measured for some really nice ones if you want to keep wearing nursing bras - I used to really love Hot Milk with DS1. I am just small enough of nork I don't bother to wear a bra at all most of the time!

@PurplePansy05 you may think you're wearing the correct size but if you do BOB you will be surprised. Thought I was fine in a 36 band pre pregnancy but since I'm a size 10 I should only really be 32/34 and a bigger cup size. They will always measure you at the sister size as they don't sell big cup sizes in store so they want you to buy from them. Xx

Had another ER scare this weekend - again with the back and abdomen agony. It would appear my gastric system is not dealing well with pregnancy, and the pain is set off by eating anything more than a very small amount. So I have to sort of nibble throughout the day. Which is just shit frankly. And the pain can be so severe even if I am careful :(

Going to speak to doctor tomorrow about maybe bringing my c section earlier. She originally recommended 13th/14th so thinking I might go for that. But it seems early - would be 37+5/6. That isn’t unusual in the country I’m in as they are very very reluctant to allow people to beyond due date and often schedule induction for earlier (overdue pregnancies are the biggest cause of stillbirth here, I don’t know much more).

But is it selfish of me to try to get the baby out earlier ‘just’ because I’m in discomfort?

No I don't think so, that does sound quite extreme! I'm sure the doctors wouldn't suggest it if they thought it unreasonably risky for the baby.

@RandomCatGenerator I don’t think it’s selfish, and if they have already suggested those dates once I don’t see why they wouldn’t be open to reviewing it now.
I’m having a section at 37+4 (UK) and have had my first injection of steroids today to help baby’s lungs along just incase - standard for sections pre-39 weeks in the UK - would it be where you are?

No, no steroids mentioned - that worries me more 😩 I’m in India. Private healthcare is excellent but a different system to the UK is always a worry just in case.

Planned date is 5/6 days later. So not long really.