August 2021 Babies - Final evictions and the fourth trimester

[BertieBotts]

Time for a new thread! :)

29 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 💙
@MrsB2019x - Welcome to the world, baby Ella💖
@Biscuitcat - Welcome to the world, baby Rowan 💙
@Whatshouldbemyusername - Welcome to the world, baby Arya-Nyah 💖
@notinthestarsigns - Welcome to the world, baby Erin 💖
@Aaaaa1519 - Welcome to the world, baby Anum 💖
@Angelesque - Welcome to the world, baby Isaac 💙
@Millymay13 - Welcome to the world, baby Ethan Benjamin 💙
@WolfMother326 - Welcome to the world, baby Alasdair William 💙
@BertieBotts - Welcome to the world, baby Alexander 💙
@RandomCatGenerator - Welcome to the world, baby Solomon 💙
@lucyrp - Welcome to the world, baby Evelyn Rose 💖
@HopefulB - Welcome to the world, baby Chloé 💖
@Mmr224 - Welcome to the world, baby Alasdair 💙
@Smallbean27 - Welcome to the world, baby boy 💙
@Fran919 - Welcome to the world, baby girl 💖
@Caz1226 - Welcome to the world, baby Dougie 💙
@Ava50x - Welcome to the world, baby boy 💙
@dirtyfries - Welcome to the world, baby Frankie! 💖

Counting down until till they welcome their munchkins:

@Dia12 - EDD 8 August, Girl 💖
@livingwithbees - EDD 16 August, surprise 💛
@Sheisfee - EDD 19 August, Girl 💖
@Alittlexmasmagic - EDD 22 August, surprise 💛
@LottSE20 - EDD 22 August, surprise 💛
@ame88 - EDD 28 August, Girl 💖

@sarah13xx wow that's bad! It's not like that for me (I think you're also Scotland?). I haven't had a midwife visit every day (thankfully!) but had one 3 times in the first week and now health visitor once a week. The midwife took my dressing off and my wound has been checked (although not for a while actually, but it feels ok and I could have asked the HV to check im sure). I've got my 6 week app booked as normal at the GP in a couple of weeks time. It was like that throughout my pregnancy though - Covid never affected my appointment apart from the obvious masks etc. My husband was allowed at everything and all my MW appointments were f2f. Seems to be such a postcode lottery which isn't fair at all

A new thread! I am so behind, hope everyone is good? Can’t believe how much time is flying right now!

@PurplePansy05 scar feels okay but my lower tummy still feels a little sore and numb at the same time, does that sound familiar to you? How’s your infection recovery going?

Outfit changes- we change at least every night before bed and every morning. Again If there are any spit ups/leaks- we don’t have many leaks these days touch wood. He is quite a sweaty baby so sometimes I change his outfit because of that. But I’m a bit funny with that stuff so I probably over change him- he has a new sleeping bag every night and we have 3 spares if there’s any spit up in the night, he has a new cot sheet every night, new pram sheet every walk. Don’t know why, I think I like the thought of him being comfy in clean stuff?! We got through alot when his reflux wasn’t being managed that well!

We’ve got into an accidental routine now, he has his last feed before bed at 11:30 which my husband does and he sleeps through til 6, which I do. So I sleep from 10-6 ish, husband from 12-7:30. After his 6am feed I can put him down for another 1.5 hours and I use that time to shower and tidy etc. I’m making the most of it for now as I’m sure itll change soon!

I understand what people are saying about having another, I was saying the same but I think we’re lucky he’s a laid back baby that likes sleep (for now!) I can’t imagine a newborn and a toddler!

My husband is definitely the fun parent too and I swear baby is sick of me by the end of the day, he always seems so much more animated with his dad. In terms of stimulation, because he sleeps a lot at night he is awake alot in the Morning. So we’ll play on the playmat, listen to songs, watch baby tv, we’ll have A dance together and I’ll chat at him. I worry I over stimulate him at times because we have 3 playmats and we do alot each morning I guess- but he sleeps okay after lunch and at night so im assuming it’s okay! We get out for a walk every day and he’s having daily baths now because he likes them so much. We’re getting sort of smiles now that he’s 5 weeks but his eyes seem to smile?

@sarah13xx that’s ridiculous, honestly maternity care is really so much worse than I thought. My 6 week check is at 8 weeks which is a phone call. GP diagnosed reflux with a phone call (infant gaviscon did sod all!)

I’ve started the diet now because I am 3 sizes bigger than pre pregnancy and seeing my old clothes in the wardrobe is making me sad!

Really hope everyone is okay and getting a chance to enjoy the sun 🌞

@lucyrp yes!! I was actually coming on to ask the same thing 😂 it makes sense I suppose, I've been really thirsty in the heat so he probably is too!

@Inmypjsagain I'm so jealous, that sleep routine sounds like an utter dream! Do you think anything you've done has helped get him to sleep for so long? Desperate for tips - I'm up every couple of hours at the moment and it's exhausting

@sarah13xx that sounds really bad - I've been quite lucky with mine, but I would never have had that many visits even pre-covid. I've decided not to call my insurance company and just assume I can drive from 6 weeks as I know my postnatal check will be combined with baby's 8 week jabs and I don't want to wait for 2 more weeks

@Daffodil21 yes I’m Scotland too! Seems so bizarre that things can be so different. I was kind of taking the rest of the care as being acceptable and presumed I was able to have the 6 week appointment with the doctor. I need to go back on the pill too so really need to see them for that 🤷🏼‍♀️ It was the tone of the woman on the phone like I’d just phoned up and asked for something ridiculous. She just kept repeating that they weren’t doing postnatal checks just now 🤔 My friend was able to get one and another local doctors just a few weeks ago as well

@Inmypjsagain it’s crazy the things they think they can do over the phone 🙈 Dont even know if it’s the actual doctors at my surgery to blame, it could just be the receptionist that thinks she runs the place but I was literally asking for a quick check of my wound given no one else has looked at it. It’s still very red and raw feeling, which I thought would have died down before now.

@biscuitcat I think I’ll just drive when it gets to 6 weeks too. If my insurance company have any issue with it they can take it up with the gatekeeper that stops everyone in my town from getting appointments 😂

@Inmypjsagain same - I'm joining slimming world again on Thursday! I'm so fed up of looking like this and I feel like I'm ready for it now. I did it a few years ago to get into my wedding dress and actually it's fairly easy to follow and it does work for me. That sleep routine sounds amazing! We're not far off, except there's one in the middle at 2/3am.

@sarah13xx I think you may be more in the central belt? Which may make a different - I'm up in the north east where cases generally haven't been too bad, although there have been a few spikes. Maybe that's why? Not acceptable though!

@Inmypjsagain I’m so jealous 😩 of the play and the sleep.

@sarah13xx at no stage has my wound been red and raw beyond the first few days. I’d suggest really amping up on the phone how bad it is - exaggerate if you have to - to get into the doctor, as that sounds like something may not be quite right. Or it may just be healing slowly.

@sarah13xx That's absolutely fucking awful - sorry for language! I'm really raging for you. The postnatal check up is already minimal so not to do it at all? I'd actually go on the general health board or Scotsnet (or AIBU if you feel brave!) and ask if there's anywhere you can go to ask for support/report it somehow as I think that's totally wrong.

I hate the way GPs have just dropped the ball like this My cousin had a UTI last year and because her GP surgery wasn't doing appointments she got a prescription for antibiotics over the phone. An hour after she took the first one she was being blue lighted to hospital with suspected sepsis. She didn't make it. We will never know of course, and it might have been missed either way but we think if her GP had seen her that something might have been flagged up earlier before it was too late :( She lived in Scotland too but I think it is just a postcode lottery as said.

@dirtyfries You get used to it but there is a certain amount of putting them down and doing whatever you need to ASAP and just trying to reassure them verbally while they cry!

@Caz1226 Haha! I was wondering yesterday how many babies I'd have to have until I got sick of the newborn phase :o I am pretty sure I am done though. But I am sooo sad this is my last newborn! I know I'm crazy for saying that!

@sarah13xx is there a reason you were meant to be seen every day for the first 10 days by a midwife? And once a week from the health visitor?

Here I saw a midwife on day three where she took off the dressing (which I did think was soon but she said the scar was fine!), then day 5 I had to go to a clinic for the heel prick. I then got discharged over the phone a week later I think!

In terms of health visitor I saw her on day 18 (was meant to be 2 weeks but she was a few days late), will see her at 6 weeks and then a year!!! Nothing in between. Seems mental. Not sure if I will get a 6 weeks doctors appointment, I assume so? I should really ring and enquire.

I think in Scotland it's required that midwives see you for the first 10 days to replicate being in hospital. I wasn't seen 10 days straight but was seen about 6 times over the 10 days.

My health visitor says she's happy to visit as often as I want her to. So far it's been once a week then it'll be every few weeks.

It's not easy getting a GP appointment here but it's not impossible. I'll test that tomorrow as I'm not happy with what's happening down below and want checking out before my 6 week app. So I'll phone t free Dr tomorrow.

@Daffodil21 I’m not far from Glasgow! Yeah cases here are really high still. You just wonder how you can see doctors in the hospital though but aren’t able to get into the building even if your arms hanging off at my local surgery 🙈

@BertieBotts that’s what I thought! Usually I’d just take what they said but I actually stayed on the phone and kept questioning it. She just outright said they’re not doing postnatal checks at the moment. I then said not even if you’ve had a c-section to have the wound checked?! She just kept saying not just now due to covid, no. Like you’ve just to fend for yourself because of covid 🤦🏼‍♀️

Omg that’s absolutely terrible, so sorry 😔 I think things like this must be happening all the time and many people will have died as a result. They’ve got the cheek to have all the nhs adverts saying they’re open for business 🙈 No matter what I said or did I was unable to get an appointment. I’m going to phone back on the day hes 6 weeks and say I NEED one and won’t back down til I get one. I’ll say it’s about contraception as well.

@Magik01 I don’t think so, they just said that’s what usually happens, don’t know if it’s a Scotland thing 🤷🏼‍♀️ That’s hardly anything! The saving grace for me has been that my health visitor is really nice. She even said herself how impossible it is to get into the doctors. She said she struggles to gain entry and she works there 😂

@sarah13xx we had our sections at the same time and mine definitely isn't red and raw. Get it checked out - you don't want to leave it for it to get worse.

@PurplePansy05 wow that's awful, I'm so sorry to hear that about your cousin x

@sarah13xx You would know if your wound was infected, there are clear symptoms. I was advised by a MW to remove the first dressing post CS myself too, I don't think that's unusual - they don't come out just for this. If you're concerned you can always ask your HV to check the wound, they are trained nurses. Some are even former midwives. xx

@sarah13xx How awful, definitely get it checked out. I was surprised after my first pregnancy how little interest they seem to take in women's recovery postnatally but I would have thought they'd be a bit more proactive with c-section patients! Red and raw doesn't sound right to me and they shouldn't fob you off.

Thanks everyone for the input on changing outfits. Think I'll stick with every couple of days unless dirty as I'm lazy and we don't have heaps of clothes -- I have millions of newborn outfits because DS1 was tiny but DS2 was already too long for them when he was born. 😭

@BertieBotts can I ask how your body has coped with three pregnancies/births? I've always wanted three children but I'm worried if I go for another I'll completely destroy my pelvic floor. 😂

@Daffodil21 what is yours like now? It’s just a line and isn’t hot or anything but the line is still quite red. I was thinking it would look more like a scar now instead of a wound still

@PurplePansy05 when I said to her about the check she said I was best to book an appointment but I would probably struggle to get one because of how hard it is to get in at my doctors. I’ll say to her next week that I haven’t been ‘allowed’ to book one and see if she can check it

On the postnatal check up note though, I will bash GPs again too - they don't offer them here either which is beyond ridiculous. I was told I'll have one because of GD, but we'll see how this goes- I'll be ringing up my GP later this week, dreading it already.

I am officially discharged now, thank god - no more infection. Would be nice to talk about general wellbeing though.

@Inmypjsagain our babies are long lost twins, I swear! Could have written your post word for word, again. Regarding your question, I feel the same. I've had lots of skin pulling/shrinking sensations, MW said that's fine and a good sign. It's because I was numb above my incision for a month, then pins and needles started and now it feels more and more normal and my core muscles are recovering. How are you feeling, any numbness? I really would like to start exercising soon, I've pulled a muscle in my back yesterday because my core is so weakened after the pregnancy, I think.

@Daffodil21 I think your comment was to Bertie 😊 xx

@afictionado I haven’t wanted to make a big thing when it seems to be healing but thought if I at least got that 6 week check I could be reassured that it’s looking okay. It’s just a red line still but the area seemed to be feeling more normal but kind of went back the way and feels a bit tender again. Going to get the health visitor to look at it if I can’t get in there 🤦🏼‍♀️

@sarah13xx I had my CS a week before yours if I remember correctly and when it was infected after a month the incision and the area around part of it looked red. The non-infected part wasn't looking like a scar yet though, it was still red, but just not angry red and skin around it wasn't affected at all. It felt different too. How does it feel for you? Have you checked if there's any discharge after you shower? A good method is to gently tap dry it with toilet tissue and see if there's any discharge/residue on the tissue. I'd also say check the smell of your underwear after few hours (sorry, gross, I know). It's not necessarily unpleasant, but it will likely smell different to your usual body odour.

In the meantime, go pants free overnight, make sure to air it as much as possible - it will help regardless of whether it's infected or not xx

@PurplePansy05 sorry yes it was for @BertieBotts - the colour confused me as I always think of you being blue because you started the last thread!

@sarah13xx the line is red but around it isn't. I just tried to take a pic to post but I can't really take one without exposing myself too much!!

@PurplePansy05 I feel like it’s been a different smell to normal ever since I had him, thought it must be hormones or something though 🙈 I’ve literally just taken my pants off as I’ve read that 😂 I did think earlier maybe that would be a good thing to do to get some air about it every night. I’ve just had a close look at it and it does seem to be healing but the line is still red. I’ve literally had pants on non-stop the entire time though so it’s maybe just not getting a chance to heal. It’s still quite tender but I’m only at 4 weeks so maybe by 6 weeks it will feel more ‘normal’

@Daffodil21 just had a close look and it’s just the line that’s red. It’s just the way it’s been feeling quite tender thats made me worry it wasn’t healing but I think it’s just taking it’s time

@sarah13xx A different smell might be due to a developing infection, I'd get it checked over by a HV when you see her next. I am guessing it's not due to post partum bleeding (are you still bleeding at all)? xx

@Magik01 that's ridiculous and surely not right ?! You're in the uk are you?? You're supposed to see them once a month until 6 months then once every other month until 12 months?

Ugh I'm so sick of not being able to sleep when I get the chance. DD is mostly asleep but I'm convinced I keep her awake with my tossing and turning. I actually can't wait for her to go into her own room. I've heard of babies her age going into their own room but don't think I could do that at 5 weeks.

@Smurf123 thank you for the recommendations, hopefully I can download them onto the fire thing he’s got ready for his birthday. We do have an ipad however it’s generation 2 and doesn’t support much with it being so old! It won’t even download the YouTube app 🤣

@lucyrp yes in the U.K.- West Midlands. HV said it’s due to covid that they have cut it right down in my area. They don’t even have the wall in clinics anymore that they had with DS1, you have to book an appointment if you want to get them weighed at any point past 6 weeks

@PurplePansy05 sorry to hear about your cousin, that’s appalling. It’s mad that you can go to a football stadium, restaurant etc but a doctor just won’t see us face to face. Same for most of the maternity services at the moment really.

@Ready2020 I was the same with my first. He was such a loud sleeper and before I had him I used to sleep with ear plugs in as I was such a light sleeper. I did move him in his room a tad early at 5 months as I just couldn’t do it anymore. I wouldn’t have done it so early though I’m afraid.

@PurplePansy05 it had stopped at 2 weeks but restarted a few days later but has stopped again now I think. I presumed that’s what it was from. Will ask her to have a look at it this week and see