Due August 2021 - The Final Countdown continues...

[Daffodil21]

Continuing the previous thread!

I'll let @PurplePansy05 post the updated list

@Whatshouldbemyusername good luck hope the pushing stage is much faster for you, you’re amazing for getting through that long without meds x

@Whatshouldbemyusername you are doing fantastically, and hopefully it won’t be too much longer before you get to hold your little one in your arms.

Yes I didn’t really get why the doctor was wanting to delay booking the c section, and he was so different to the doctor I saw last night who seemed ready to book it in if only she hadn’t been called away to an emergency. Anyway, it’s all sorted now so it’s time to relax and get the last bits sorted before next Tuesday.

@PurplePansy05 your posts are overflowing with love, it’s so lovely to read them 🥰

@Smurf123 that is a good idea in ref to ringing in and just asking to speak to dr, wish I’d logged in earlier to see that. Baby did start moving and has been fairly active since this afternoon.

Have a 40week mw appt tomorrow morning I don’t know if she can check cervix or not but it’ll be nice to know if I’m getting somewhere.
Haven’t lost plug as far as I know and baby seems pretty high up to me

Smurf look up tiger in the tree. But we always found sitting on the knee the most effective - you can be a bit more forceful than you think!

@PurplePansy05 thank you lovely! Your doing fantastically and getting him EBF so quickly as well! A massive well done to you! I respect every woman’s wishes when it comes to breastfeeding but my god am I glad I can do it this time. I just look down at his tiny face when he’s feeding and it’s a wonderful feeling. ❤️

@Smurf123 well done on the weight gain! That’s really impressive! I don’t have any burping tips I’m afraid, Isaac doesn’t seem to burp much but tbh, DH tends to burp as I think he’s a little more heavy handed than me. Maybe that’s the trick?

@Inmypjsagain sending all the good vibes your way, hopefully you’ve already had little one and it’s all gone swimmingly. looking forward to hearing your update!

What a lot of messages! I'm finally back, and with a gorgeous baby to show for my efforts 🥰 @Ready2020 excellent taste in names - we now have a lovely little boy Rowan!

The birth was not much fun at all! I went into early labour on Saturday morning and Rowan was born by emergency section on Tuesday evening - right on his due date! It took until the small hours of Tuesday to be in active labour, and baby was back to back and it stung a bit having days of contractions all in my back, so I asked for an epidural as soon as I was in active labour. All seemed to be progressing but at 8cm everything stalled, even with the oxytocin drip turned up high enough that I needed gas and air on top of the epidural! Then they found protein in my urine and diagnosed pre-eclampsia, which combined with failure to progress meant we were off to theatre. When he was born he had some breathing difficulties so had to briefly go to SCBU to be monitored, which was really tough, but luckily all is fine now, and he's been feeding well. He has a clear preference for my right boob!

The hospital have been really wonderful - hoping I can be discharged tomorrow though as it's roasting!

Hope everyone is feeling well 🥰 xxx

@Whatshouldbemyusername ah, my original due date twin!! Lots of luck for the final part - hopefully your little one is here now 💕

@biscuitcat sounds a lot like my first labour… well done on getting through it, and enjoy the newborn cuddles with baby Rowan 👶🏻

Oh @biscuitcat this sounds tough, bless you. I'm glad you and Rowan were monitored well and they weren't taking any risks. Pre-eclampsia is no fun. Are you getting any extra checks or treatment now as a result? How did EMCS go? Are you well in yourself?

Big congratulations and take care of yourself now xxx

I've hit the crisis night tonight. Started feeding DS between 6/7pm and he's STILL at it with hardly any breaks. I managed to eat dinner and get changed into pjs and that's about it. He only stays calm and sleeps in between feeds in my arms. Cot, carrycot nothing is working. DH tried a million things to settle him and givd me a break and nothing worked for more than 10 mins.

I am just super exhausted at this point. I can't have cluster feeds lasting 8.5 hrs or more. FFS. Any advice, anyone??? Do I have to go down the expressing route to get any sleep at all? I'd never express enough at this rate though xx

@PurplePansy05 I feel you! Isaac is still at it since around 10ish. And he is WIDE awake with his massive eyes lol. Really would like to go to sleep right about now! No advice I’m afraid other than yes I think expressing might be the only option just to free up any time!

@biscuitcat tray sounds like a tough labour, your a trooper! Glad little Rowan is okay! How are you doing? How’s your recovery? Hope your getting a bit of sleep being on a ward!

Ladies just wanted to let you all know that after 30 hours of labour - with 5 ER doctors as baby was stuck - had a ventouse delivery but my little baby girl is here weighing 6 pound 12 ounces and she's perfect. My heart is soooo soooo full. I am so in love with her and it was all worth it. Her name is Arya-Nyah Johnson ❤️

I lost 1.5 litres of blood so they gonna keep us in maybe 2 days for observation. I also had episiotomy so they will keep me for that too plus have to observe baby's vitals too.

Thank you to all you ladies vouching for us. She's such a little trooper and am so proud. Am going to be off this page for about a week or so whilst I try and get back to better health and look after my princess.

I will be back but in the meantime wanted to wish everyone all the best with their babies and also best wishes and a good labour to all those with upcoming births ❤️❤️

Oh @Whatshouldbemyusername HUGE congratulations on the birth of your beautiful baby Arya-Nyah, gorgeous names 💖💖💖 And my gosh, haven't you been through a lot, love you! Sounds so, so hard. Take all the time you need to recover and settle down with little Arya, we're all keeping our fingers crossed for your speedy recovery and sending you both lots of love! You're a superstar, mama! 💐💐💐 xxx

@Magik01 I shouldn't feel happy for you (and I don't) but I am selfishly happy for myself that you were awake too and responded this is just what has seen me through this tonight so thank you. 💐 No idea how one can survive this every night bloody hell. I'm awake on tea and first breakfast, I gave up. But I'll never express enough to satisfy hours and hours worth of food, omg. No idea what to do next. xxx

@Whatshouldbemyusername and @biscuitcat congratulations on your lovely babies, hope you are both doing well!!
@PurplePansy05 I think there are lots of growth spurts in the first few weeks where they can go 24/48 hours off what feels like constant feeds.. we had that yesterday and the day before the longest gap between Feeds was maybe an hour if that! Overnight Tonight has been better dd has fed at 2230, 130 and again now from about 4.
I hate expressing with a passion so it's not worth it for me. I had a friend though who expressed last time round who loved it and said it gave her a good break at night.

As I'm also discovering that DS HATES blankets, kicks them off and wakes himself up. So on day 8 of motherhood all the suggestions about a layer extra over yours have gone out of the window. He's just about heavy enough atm for his supposedly newborn-6 months sleeping bags but they don't fit him well around the neck So I may try putting him in another babygrow perhaps, not sure.

He also throws his arms around every now and then like a tree in the wind and again wakes himself up.

I'm personally against swaddling but really debating this now. Maybe this would make him settle for a precious hour between the feeds?

Everything I read says cluster feeding is normal and won't last forever but last night on its own does feel like forever 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️ xx

@Ava50x I had these in Large (was size 12 pre pregnancy and 10/12 in maternity clothing). They had lots of room and stretched nicely, but for me L was just about right in terms of scar comfort so I'd be looking at XL. You need them in size up, easily. xx

www.boots.com/tena-pants-plus-xl-12-pants-10146989

@Whatshouldbemyusername and @biscuitcat congratulations!! You both had a bloody hard time getting them here but so pleased you’re all doing well 💙💗

@PurplePansy05 I mostly swaddle my LO because she’s all arms otherwise and wakes herself up. I’ve wrapped her in a Muslin tonight as I can’t get our room below 20degrees. It’s hard going making sure everything is perfect for bedtime.

@PurplePansy05 quick message to say that was my night 2 nights ago. It was hell. But last night was better. I found if I properly stopped and soothed between each feed and made sure they were sound asleep before putting them down it did help. I still didn't sleep much but it wasn't because I didn't have pockets of time. I think I'm suffering from some kind of insomnia as I just lay there and can't sleep. Such a pain to waste precious calm sleep time.

Yesterday during the day was not great. I think I'm suffering from exhaustion tbh. I was in my chair in the lounge and it was like I was passing out. OH had to carry me up the stairs. I think I keep forgetting that 2/3 days ago I lost over a litre of blood and went through major trauma. I need to sleep more.

I'll be back to look at the other messages. Congrats new babies!

Thank you all 🥰 Apart from exhaustion from now about 4 nights of little/no sleep I'm feeling well - being very well looked after in hospital which is lovely.

The EMCS was good actually - I think for future children I would go for a planned one, as I really couldn't cope with such a long early labour again! The shakes afterwards were something else though, such an odd feeling!

I was awake throughout the night reading all of your messages and was trying to reply but also trying to get myself back to sleep. Kept asking with really bad lower back pain and a dead leg and arm on one side. Really strange feeling and didn't help with sleep much. Kept expecting my waters to go or to have gone but no such luck yet. Really feels like something will happen soon but don't like to get my hopes up.

@biscuitcat congratulations ❤️

@Whatshouldbemyusername also big congratulations to you too 🥰🥰

Oh meant to say. The white noise on Spotify is helping us loads! She really relaxes to it.

Thanks @Ready2020, I've been doing exactly that for the past week but suddenly he's outsmarted me and just will not settle in his cot despite being put away in what looks like his deepest sleep

Plan for tonight, white noise, swaddling and also the Haakaa is out in force as we speak! Hasn't collected as much as I hoped for, but we have to start somewhere...

@WinterBaby89 I will use a large cloth too. Do you use any specific techniques for swaddling? I'm paranoid I'll get it wrong xx

@PurplePansy05 SiL recommended these summerinfant.co.uk/product/swaddleme-original-swaddle-xo-small-3pk/

Not quite a traditional swaddle, but may tolerate better than a blanket?

The only things I can remember from NCT re cluster feeding were to see if they can get comfort another way - e.g in a
Sling next to you (not so good if you want a sleep!) and to ask advice/someone to check latch incase not getting enough (which I think you’ve done?), so maybe it is just short term through a growth spurt??!

Huge Congratulations @biscuitcat and @Whatshouldbemyusername, those both sound like tough labours! Relax and enjoy your babies now

Also how is your iron @Ready2020? I assume you're supplemented after such a major blood loss? I'd be eating all the beef and kale in the 5 mile radius too, you've gone through a lot Glad your OH is looking after you.

@biscuitcat Bless you, you sound very positive after such a tough time ❤ The shakes may have been your bp dipping but make sure you mention this to the midwives in case it's anything to do with an infection (unlikely, but best be safe) xx

These are fab @HopefulB! Thanks a lot, just ordered them on offer from Amazon with today's delivery. Might not have enough time to wash, dry and try out tonight, but will do so asap! I spent hours trawling through Tommee Tippee and other brands last night and there are so many issues with the sizing of these things for newborns! I'm not paying £30-£40 per item that might well not fit and then faffing with returns. These were £17.99 for 3 on offer, excellent! I hope they fit him and his extra long legs!

You're right, it's not the latch, he drinks loads, I can feel and see it, and get lots of wet and dirty nappies. I'll just need to adjust somehow 😴😴😴 xx