Due August 2021 - The Final Countdown continues...

[Daffodil21]

Continuing the previous thread!

I'll let @PurplePansy05 post the updated list

Just any standard maternity pads IME. Some people use Always night or similar but I found the bulk of the maternity pads really reassuring and they are much flatter on top without any texture which is better if you have any stitches.

I used standard maternity pads to start but then switch to either reusable ones or the really cheap pads which are just like small maternity ones. No texture, fragrance, wings or plastic edges that irritate & chafe x

And definitely nothing with a scent

Does anyone have the link to the expressing colostrum video that was shared in one of the last couple of threads? I didn't remember to save it before but would like to watch it now :)

@Aaaaa1519 I have the natracare ones ready for post partum, think someone else on here earlier said they had the same

@BertieBotts this is the one! globalhealthmedia.org/portfolio-items/how-to-express-your-first-milk/

Bit of a weird question - I've just noticed one nipple is really hard and tough, and the other is really soft... is this ok..?!

I’ve not heard of natracre, will have to google them
The initial pads I had used were so painful against my stitches then i switched to some cheap ones that were amazing, wish I could remember the brand

@BertieBotts are you doing it? I’m 38 weeks and want to do it before my section, think it takes a good few days to get going so was going to start this weekend but the midwife put me off a bit when I asked about the chances of it putting me into labour. She basically said I might be better not 🙄 I tried today in the shower (without a syringe) just to see if anything was coming out and there never is but (tmi) I have dried colostrum on my nipples when I take my bra off so I obviously am producing it! Really want to give it a go even for a few syringes

Oddly enough they've both evened out now 😂

@sarah13xx I was planning to as well but now I've decided against it in case it does help bring on labour

@sarah13xx I’m in the same position as you but two weeks behind. I don’t want to risk it until max a few days before c section just in case it stimulates labour - not a risk I am willing to take.

Thanks for giving us your post c section tips @wimbler - really very very much appreciated.

As is your clothes guidance, @BertieBotts, the voice of wisdom :)

Natracare pads packed up here too 😀 Amazon tends to have good deals on them.

Re colostrum, I started expressing at 36 weeks and it probably took around 10 mins to start going which I thought was very quick. I was really relaxed which helped. Stick some music/TV on and chill out would be my advice, and warm up your breasts with a gentle massage first. That video linked up by @biscuitcat is very helpful, I used this method.

By now I have several syringes, but I had to stop as I genuinely thought I'd go into labour, BH started quite intensely. But I'm starting again tonight at 38 weeks, it's so close to my section that I don't mind and I need to express more to help him out with glucose levels 😊 xx

@Inmypjsagain How are you today? Any updates?

Also @Magik01 I saw your post, do you think your section might be brought forward by a bit? How are you feeling now? xx

And good luck for tomorrow @Jessicapebbles 💐 Hope you're having a nice, relaxing evening now! xx

I've definitely found that harvesting colostrum causes Braxton Hicks - I'm hoping if I do it enough that it'll kick start labour! It's weirdly fascinating watching it come out. My habit has been doing it during Love Island each evening 😂

Incredibly stupid question about BH: do contractions always hurt?

At night I can sometimes feel a clenching in my abdomen, but it doesn’t hurt

@biscuitcat You've just described my evening 😂😂😂 xx

@Jessicapebbles wow that's come around quickly! I thought it was the day after tomorrow! Wishing you all the best! X

@RandomCatGenerator To me it's not necessarily pain as such, but it feels very tense, like strong tightenings if that makes sense. They do sometimes happen overnight, yes xx

@Daffodil21 @RandomCatGenerator it’s so annoying that it does seem to cause braxton hicks. I don’t think I’ve ever had them yet! One night last week I felt what I thought was potentially one but that was it. I would have loved to have the syringes ready for the hospital but it does seem like a big risk when you could end up with an emergency section because of it 🙄 it’s probably not worth that

@PurplePansy05 yes we are home thanks. Baby boy is doing quite well and my milk is is now too. I’m very sore and my stitches are quite painful as I had a second degree tear.

I like the natracare pads - they’re really soft. I’ve also got the lilets ones but I don’t really like them, they feel very nappy like and I can hear it rustling when I walk around. The boots ones were good last time round too.

Spritz for bits is also good and I’ve been sitting on a ice pack too for short period as I’m very swollen.

@wimbler so glad to hear you're home and your milk is in. Sorry to hear you're still sore. I hope you get better soon

Oh wow that video is super helpful! I have hand expressed before but definitely done it wrong according to that, which is perhaps why it didn't work :o

I think I will give it a go. Got some syringes ready to order. It took me ages to find some that actually seemed to be food/medical grade. Most on amazon seem to be "industry use only" which seems to mean they're for crafts. But the brand I found in the end was also listed on a load of pharmacy websites so I think it's legit. They will arrive by 2nd Aug so I have a bit of time before I can start. I think it will just make me feel better in case I can't feed immediately.

Sorry to say, BH start off completely painless but the closer you get to giving birth they do start to ache a bit like mild period pains and can then become quite painful. I used to get loads with DS1 and I had to lie down with a hot water bottle which wouldn't be comfortable at the moment. I'm starting to get some now which are more achy, but I wouldn't say painful yet. It's all good signs though as means your body is getting prepared.

Talking of getting ready for birth, I think I felt the baby drop into my pelvis when I was doing bedtime tonight. He's definitely "shrunk" a bit so I think he must have gone down at least partially. The only problem is all the contractions are now in my back and I can feel movement on both sides of my tummy so I think he is back to back. Oh well. Better than breech I suppose.

One hard nipple and one soft is probably dried colostrum on the hard one - it's a bit like when you were at school and used to find dried out PVA glue on your fingertips? It can be quite satisfying to pick it off! But be careful you don't make your nipples irritated. It doesn't do any harm to leave it there and that's probably the best thing to do.

Thanks @BertieBotts. I was planning on leaving them be! Definitely don't want to risk early labour before CS