Due August 2021 - Welcome to the World!

[PurplePansy05]

Welcome to the chattiest birth club on MN! Newcomers always welcome 💐

14 gorgeous new babies have joined us already, welcome to the world 💖💙🥳

@Smurf123 - Welcome to the world, baby Sophia 💖
@wimbler - Welcome to the world, baby boy 💙
@Jessicapebbles - Welcome to the world, baby Ebony💖
@Inmypjsagain - Welcome to the world, baby boy💙
@PurplePansy05 - Welcome to the world, baby Leo Alexander 💙
@WinterBabyof89 - Welcome to the world, baby Rosie 💖
@Winecoffeeteamum - Welcome to the world, baby Emily 💖
@Ready2020 - Welcome to the world, baby Rowan 💖
@Magik01 - Welcome to the world, baby Isaac 💙
@Hoares3 - Welcome to the world, baby Ellis 💙
@Daffodil21 - Welcome to the world, baby Elliot James 💙
@sarah13xx - Welcome to the world, baby Freddie 💙
@Biscuitcat - Welcome to the world, baby Rowan 💙
@Whatshouldbemyusername - Welcome to the world, baby Arya-Nyah 💖

Counting down until we welcome 20+ new arrivals:

@MrsB2019x - Induction w/c 9 August, Girl 💖
@Dia12 - EDD 8 August, Girl 💖
@Aaaaa1519 - EDD 13 August, Girl 💖
@Angelesque - C-section 16 August, surprise 💛
@lucyrp - EDD 16 August, surprise 💛
@livingwithbees - EDD 16 August, surprise 💛
@BertieBotts - EDD 16 August, Boy 💙
@WolfMother - EDD 17 August, Boy 💙
@Caz1226 - EDD 17 August, Boy 💙
@Millymay13 - C-section 17 August, surprise 💛
@RandomCatGenerator - C-section 19 August, surprise 💛
@Smallbean27 - EDD 19 August, surprise 💛
@Sheisfee - EDD 19 August, Girl 💖
@Alittlexmasmagic - EDD 22 August, surprise 💛
@LottSE20 - EDD 22 August, surprise 💛 @notinthestarsigns - EDD 23 August (but likely to be brought forward induction/C-section), surprise 💛
@Fran919 - EDD 25 August, surprise💛
@Ava50x - EDD 25 August, Boy 💙
@ame88 - EDD 28 August, Girl 💖
@HopefulB - EDD 29 August, surprise 💛

It's officially THE month! Watch this space! xx

@Aaaaa1519 congratulations!
@WolfMother326 good luck for your induction, you will be fantastic and soon you’ll have your little one in your arms 🥰

Just a word of caution with using your own Paracetamol / any meds in hospital.

If something goes wrong and you need emergency assistance, or you are just not aware what you are later being given - There is a risk of overdose. The healthcare team
will not know what you have had when. There will be an assumption that because you have been in hospital & nil is documented that that is what you have had.

I appreciate it must be really frustrating to not get access to analgesia, but please, please be aware of the risk, and do what you think is needed to mitigate that. Some hospitals will have self administration policies which support patients to self medicate & record what they have taken.

@Aaaaa1519 Did you tell them about taking your own pain relief in hospital? I'm just asking because I wasn't allowed that, they were very strict and only allowed what they gave me and took detailed notes in my postnatal notes of all the pain relief given, what time, how much etc. Otherwise I think there may be a risk of getting overdosed xx

Congratulations @Aaaaa1519!

Best of luck @lucyrp and @WolfMother326!

Oh that doesn't sound good! Probably baby is better out than in then. Always good to be proactive as Magik says :) Keep up a communication with your doctors and remember you're allowed to ask questions, talk about alternatives/options etc as well. I don't know about you but I always find it makes me feel better if I understand the reasoning behind why something is being suggested. Whereas some people don't like hearing about what could possibly go wrong and would prefer just to go with the flow. You'll probably know which feels right to you.

@wimbler Well done, that's such an achievement! Also best wishes to your family member and her LO, that's so, so hard. I hope they get a positive outcome

@Magik01 When is your DH getting back to work? I feel terrified too and I only have one child! Is your older one in nursery or school age and home for the next few weeks?

I'm sure you will manage, but it will take some planning and your DH will have to be involved, you can't possibly look after both DCs with hardly any sleep. Will you be chatting to DH about this? xx

@PurplePansy05 @HopefulB ohthat is a good point I didn’t think of that, they were fine with me having my own esp as I let them know when I was taking it. I only took paracetamol which did nothing for me and they gave me codeine once. The other time I needed it they were too busy and then baby was here within 15mins just about made it into delivery suite.

@Daffodil21 I am getting full feeds luckily - though we're using expressed and a little formula too so DH can feed him too. I'm seeing the midwife this afternoon so will see what she says.

@BertieBotts if you have details of the nipple suction thing that would be amazing! I've also contacted an IBCLC lactation consultant and hopefully between all those things we can get him feeding straight off the breast!

@PurplePansy05 DH has another two weeks at home- he took two weeks paternity and then added a weeks holiday on the end of that. DS1 is under three but he does go nursery twice a week which will be a big help, it’s just the other three days that will be tough!

I’m sure we will soon get into a routine and it will all slot into place, just like I’m sure some days will be a lot tougher than others.

If anyone who has more than one child has any tips on how to cope I will welcome them with open arms 🤣

@Magik01I got 2. 30 hours sleep after OH took over then a short bath and shower that made the world of good. My achievement of the day was to make a macaroni cheese for dinner. Can't wait for that!

Had my last midwife appointment today when I'll get passed to the health visitor for end of the week. Baby is now at 2 %below birth weight which is a little lower than they would like but still OK. Had another chat about feeding and she suggested nipple shields to use when my nips really hurt. Seeing as she gets a bottle once a day they might work.

Big excitement today is getting our new sofa. We've been living on ikea chairs since June!

Fingers crossed for a nap later!

Not really in the mood to be chatting but just thought I'd update you all, been in for a PROM swab which was negative so not my waters. Travelled an hour each way for a 2 minute swab. More waiting.

Good luck to anyone who's got stuff happening xx

I made a batch of baked oats yesterday, cinnamon, apple & plum and it's so good to snack on between the bf sessions. It fills me up and feels very homely, I recommend xx

Been trying to bf all day baby doesn’t want to know & she’s not really taking the bottle either. Mw isn’t worried atm apparently it’ll get better after the first 24 hours.

Hoping to get discharged in the next hour or 2, really missing dd1.

Meet baby Anum, nowhere near as chubby as she looks in the pic lol 😆

Oooh @PurplePansy05 they sound delicious! Do you have a recipe? I'm looking for some good BF snacks.

I finally saw the midwife for the first time since coming home on Friday - there were crossed wires as I gave birth in an out of area hospital. They were so lovely and DS has lost 6% of his birthweight (on day 6 as we didn't quite get in on day 5!) which I'm really chuffed with, and my section wound seems to be healing nicely.

Ooh they sound nice @PurplePansy05 any recipe?

@Aaaaa1519 aww she's gorgeous! Anum is a lovely name.

@Aaaaa1519 gorgeous photo! What a cutie and lovely name!
I was fretting the first day as she was so chilled with feeding but apparently it’s normal - 3 feeds is all they expect and then it ramps up the next day.

They do sound delish @PurplePansy05

@lucyrp I’m sorry they haven’t gone yet. This baby will arrive so hang on in there.

@Ready2020 I LOVE Mac and cheese - sounds delightful. Happy sofa day!

@biscuitcat @Ready2020 Sure, here's the recipe:

4 plums
2 apples
80 ml honey or maple syrup
450 ml milk (or a tin of evaporated milk if you'd like a treat)
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

180 g oats
2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
a pinch of salt
a pinch of nutmeg (if you like it)
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoon sugar (brown is best)

chopped walnuts
custard or cream or honey Greek yoghurt (if you like it)

1. Cut apples and plums into small pieces. Blend them separately in a food processor with a bit of water until they turn into sauce.
2. Mix them up in a large bowl with honey/maple syrup, milk and vanilla extract.
3. Mix up all the dry ingredients in a separate bowl and then add everything to the wet mix.
4. Pour the mixture into an oven-safe dish, top up with walnuts, stick in the oven at 180C (fan) for 35 mins.
5. Serve warm with cream or custard or with honey greek yoghurt for a healthier choice.

Enjoy 😊 xx

@Aaaaa1519 she is gorgeous 💕

Oooh @PurplePansy05 that sounds lovely! Definitely going to make that! Am I right that oats are meant to be really good for milk supply too?

@Aaaaa1519 what a stunner 🥰 I think their appetite often picks up after day 1 - must need the time to get over the rude shock of being born!

@biscuitcat I read that too! It ticks a lot of boxes, healthier than many other snacks and really filling. I am hungry these days! xx

@Aaaaa1519 awww so cute 🥺🥰

Aw man I wish these hormones would calm down. Crying tonight to OH that I was sorry if I made him have Rowan and that I felt really guilty every time he looked after her! I have also been having that rising panic of just what my life is going to be like now. Not that she's not wonderful, just that my life is now totally different. Be gone hormones!

Thanks everyone x
@biscuitcat yes they told me she’ll be feeding better after 24hours too, it worked out nicely because I caught up on a lot of sleep & food lol

@Ready2020 hang in there you’re nearly through the worst of it, you’ll notice that you’ve gotten into a routine soon and everything just seems a lot better and you’re back in control.

@lucyrp hopefully soon, keeping fingers crossed for you.

@Magik01 I bought a bouncy castle in Lidl today in an attempt to keep ds busy (and tire him out) 🙈 it was reduced to £24 .. it is tiny mind you but fun for a 3 year old and at £24 I reckon we can get our money's worth even if he only uses it a few times.
I'll be honest tv has been our friend this past week when dh was working especially on days when Sophia fed what felt like constantly all night etc.
Reins and a buggy board have also helped.. I haven't used the reins in about a year but I've found they are going to be needed if I'm walking with dd in pram and ds (he turned 3 in March) ds is just too fast and too busy to not have your full attention atm.
He's due to start preschool in September but due to their settling in period he doesn't start at all until mid sept and that's only an hour a day until the last Monday of September when they have them all in for the full session - which is only 2.5 hours 🙈 bit of a nightmare as ds is used to doing 8-430/5 at crèche the last school year. Luckily my mum will be happy to help us get out a bit before he starts school as I can't honestly see how I can take both to soft play or the likes on my own yet!

@Aaaaa1519 she is gorgeous 💕