Due August 2021 - The Final Countdown continues...

[Daffodil21]

Continuing the previous thread!

I'll let @PurplePansy05 post the updated list

Just wanted to share a tip my midwife gave me today if you're using formula in the early days while trying to get breast feeding going - she suggested using nipple shields because he's now used to a bottle teat, and he doesn't have to work as hard as he would on a nipple, the shield kind of simulates the bottle if that makes sense. Then I can try and get him used to just the nipple once we've got a bit further with the bf. I didn't even think of this - I only bought the shields in case my nipples got sore!

In a way it doesn't really make sense to try and simulate the bottle teat instead of the actual nipple, but we've got so much further today by doing it!

I'm having these feelings tonight of I guess resentment. I knew I'd feel like this so it's not unexpected. My pregnancy was about me and I was rested and treated like the queen and now its all about her and her needs (sometimes mine too though I know). I guess having kids later in life is good but also your used to it being just you and your own choices. Getting used to a wee thing calling the shots is hard. Maybe I need to bond a bit more. I instantly love her but that bond might not quite have appeared yet.

@Ready2020 I hope you’re ok. A very normal feeling to have in the early days in my experience. Don’t be afraid to seek support if you need it 💖

Congratulations to everyone on their new arrivals and I hope all of those still waiting for their cuddles are doing ok. Just wanted to post a little Ebony update, she gained weight at her first weigh in so I was super pleased about that! We are suffering with a bit of reflux now at 12 days old so we’re making sure to pace her feeding and get lots of wind up which seems to be helping! She is a total cuddle monster which I love but my hubby is having to physically put her down at night as she just cries if I put her down 😂
I’ll attach a little photo just because I can’t get enough of sharing her haha!

Take care ladies xxx

@Jessicapebbles what a cutie, I'm so happy for you 💖💖 Glad to hear you're doing well!

DS is suffering from regular hiccups and I think reflux too. He's in a reclined next to me now and DH makes sure he gets lots of cuddles upright to burp him. However, my MW advised there isn't much we can do re hiccups, just need to ride it out because he was born with more amniotic fluid in his lungs as a c-section baby and it's very common. I didn't know about this.

Swaddles have arrived, currently in the washing machine - will report tomorrow.

White noise app is ready.

DS so far in a good mood and more chilled, no cluster feeds.

🤞🤞🤞

@PurplePansy05 That is good to know re the c section babies having more fluid, Ebony did too! I’m not overly concerned as she’s still peeing and pooping like there is no tomorrow!

I’m going to get hubbs to investigate our next to me tomorrow to see if it reclines! That would really help. Glad little Leo is doing ok bless him! We got a Dylan Dinosaur from Aldi for our white noise and it has a heartbeat sound and a red belly light which she loves! I do think she would settle really well if we swaddled her however our bedroom gets so so hot because of the position on our house so I’ve just left her with a vest and sleep suit for the time being! I have a little blanket on hand just incase she seems cold. Xx

@Ready2020 those feelings are entirely normal and will go away once you start feeling better in yourself. Don’t worry about the bond too much I feel like there’s so much expectation that you’ll immediately bond that it guilts you when you don’t and that’s the last thing you need.
I loved dd but I didn’t bond with her for 4 months she was colicky, would cry non stop and only settle in my arms. I had a traumatic birth with lots of blood loss so it naturally took a while.

@Jessicapebbles your baby just makes me want to have mine out and in my arms even more, she’s just so cute. Look at those cheeks!

@Ready2020 it’s certainly life changing and a big adjustment. It’s early days so give yourself time to adjust and keep checking in with yourself.

@Jessicapebbles aw lovely photos!

@Aaaaa1519 Awww thank you! I’m of course totally biased but she is pretty awesome! Although a complete mirror image of her Dad!! — Thank goodness my eldest looks like me otherwise I’d be questioning if they were even mine haha! Look forward to seeing your baby has arrived! Xx

Aww @Jessicapebbles she is gorgeous!!
We have hiccups here too .. after pretty much every feed and just randomly through the day. She also gets incredibly snuffily in the evenings after feeding.
I have mastitis though I don't know how as dd has been feeding so regularly. Started antibiotics just before bedtime so hoping they kick in quickly!

Oh girls I managed a 5 hr sleep tonight! It was probably a random one off but I grabbed it with both hands and I feel like a new woman now!!!

Hang in there fellow cluster feeders, miracles happen 💙🙏 xx

And big praise for the Haakaa! I use it whilst BF, put it on the other breast. It doesn't hurt at all, very gentle. I thought it was doing nothing. You just suck it on to your breast and leave it there. It doesn't pump as such, just relies on a mixture of suction pressure and gravity. During my first two goes it didn't collect a huge amount, but I kept trying and suddenly it just clicked and I collected a total of 65ml yesterday doing nothing and no pain pr discomfort whatsoever. I am really impressed with it.

If anyone is thinking about buying one invest extra £5 or so and get the newest version with a silicone lid and suction at the bottom - both great to avoid milk spillages. xx

Aw that's great. I've had about 3 hours this morning and shrs just had a big feed and 2 nappy changes so hopefully she'll nod off for a while. Midwife said to not leave 4 hours between feeds so we've been putting a clock on so she doesn't over sleep. She's only lost 4% of her birth weight though so I'm sure she'll be fine a bit over that.

Where did you get your haakaa @PurplePansy05

Amazon @Ready2020 😊

I didn't expect him to sleep that long so no alarms here 🤣 It feels glorious to regain the ability to think straight today though. Sleep deprivation can affect me really bad emotionally and physically. xx

Also a 4% loss is hell of a result @Ready2020, well done! Lots of hard work must be going into this xx

Not a lot of sleep going on here either 😂 DH was snoring so brought baby downstairs to sort him out (mum is leaving in the morning so spare room was already taken) and persevere with bf. I did top up with formula after but it was the best breast feed he's had so far. DH definitely owes me a few hours undisturbed when he gets up!!!

@Ready2020 4% sounds really good! Midwife said they aim for no more than 10% so you're well within!

That’s more sleep than I’ve managed @PurplePansy05!
Previous night my tracker didn’t record, which means less than 4 hours, and last night 4.5hrs. Little miss seems determined to prepare me, but I’m awful on little sleep. Will defo be trying to get an afternoon nap today.

Also 50% increase in restring heartrate since Pre-pregnancy. It’s no wonder everything feels like an effort!

@Ready2020 unless you have a weight issue there's really no need to wake to feed with breast feeding. I never woke to feed with DS only fed on demand and when speaking to the midwife the other day she said unless weight issues don't wake to feed x

@HopefulB interesting you say that this is my rhr chart which I've found interesting!

@lucyrp it’s amazing what the body does isn’t it? I think yours is closer to a 20% increase? My RHR used to be about 56, third trimester it’s been about 75, then in the last week it’s rising to 83 last night. My OH was telling me he’d read that labour starts when the metabolic strain on your body from you & baby gets too much, so he thinks it would make sense for it to go up at the very end of pregnancy…..

@HopefulB yes definitely! I was watching and tracking my rhr when ttc the last couple of months and it was one of the reasons I tested as I detected an ovulation dip and then had an implantation dip and a continuous rise until 13dpo and couldn't wait any longer. Yeah my normal rhr sits about 70 but it's at 88ish atm! All very interesting

@lucyrp @HopefulB it's so weird what HR can tell you - there was a clear peak in mine on ovulation days. I took my Fitbit off during pregnancy because I knew I would start obsessing over any HR changes and worrying if it meant something was wrong. I can dig it out and put it back on now!

The weight needs updating though....😂