December 2008 Once you pop you can't stop

[Veggiemummy]

surely most of us will go on this one

morning!
kayz I really feel for you. You've put so much blood, sweat and tears into BF you really need your DH to be behind you on this. Is LO getting weighed today? It is quite demoralising to do top-ups...I did it with dd1 when she came out of special care, so she'd have BF, then top up with expressed breast milk, then if still hungry would have top-up of formula! I reached a point where i thought - why am I doing this, and I stopped BF after a few weeks at home. It has to be your choice and decision though, not based on your DH's views. What does your instinct say?

veggie - the undercarriage is on the mend slowly i think. stings less when I pee and am moving better. MW@said to sit with no pants on and let the air to it, and to have daily salt splashes and dry it with a hairdryer (!), so i've been doing all that and think it's helping. mw said the graze is starting to granulate a bit...fingers crossed!

dd2 was a monkey last night- slept and fed as usual till 2, then just would not settle. had no idea if she was hungry or what. finally she fell asleep at about 5, then woke at 7.30 for a feed. today she seems content if i'm holding her but cries if i put her down. hmmmmm. oh well will have to carry on cuddling - dh has taken dd to the pictures to see Desperaut (sp?) so i have some time to rest, but think i need to clean the bathroom before i'll be able to rest!

trace I'm having the same thing with ds2 today, just wants to be constantly held & I've got to finish cleaning the house before my parents arrive! But on the plus side, I've managed to get my carrier adjusted properly and he seems happy in that.

kayz I agree with what trace said. It has to be your decision & I think you've been doing fantastically. Dh probably thinks he is being helpful & supportive, though not in the way you need him to be!

Kayz I hear what you say....I struggled so hard through the first few weeks of BF. I would have given up for two pins but I think my stubborn nature came out!! Fortunately DH just quietly supported me. I think if he had said 'thats it get the formula out' I'd have caved. It is soooo damn hard but you have done so well to get so far. Do whatever you want and stuff everyone else!

Ros sounds like you have had a textbook night you lucky girl!

Trace I used the salt baths and hairdryer trick first time round (but didn't know aobut the hairdryer thing for a week or so) and think it really really sped up the healing to keep everything dry if you know what I mean!!! It was a hint from my mum who was told to do it to her CS wound.

Poor DS has got a real squitty tummy. He is currently living in his beloved fleecy spiderman all in one sleep suit and just burst into tears...I went to him and detected that unmistakable odour. He'd done a massive semi soft explosive poo that had shot down the left leg into the foot!!! Well that was great fun to clean up I can tell you! And it means it had to go in the wash of course which led to more tears! I usually manage it when he isn't noticing but he had to see it go in the machine! Seems bit better now though and is eating some sandwich and apple. I'm sure apple isn't the best idea but ANYTHING in his tummy is better than nothing. I gave in though and said he coudl watch mooooooore bleeding telly!

hallo lovely ladies

CatDean wow what a great HB story! How long were you in labour for in the end? Pity you didn't get time to use your pool - perhaps you'll be up for 'fastest labour' in the sweepstake?

trace that sounds like something I'd do with the arnica tablets... hopefully you had at least a bit of a placebo effect with the other ones if nothing else.

Verso sounds like you had a lovely time singing. And mulled wine?? Can't really get it here unless I make it, but then again it is summer of course!

Disenchanted and Reban I must be nutty, but I'd quite like a Christmas baby! Very fun & memorable date for a birthday I reckon. I had another sweep today at my MW appt, and my cervix is much better than last week supposedly. She managed to get two fingers in and said she could feel the baby's head! Twas a bit uncomfortable but have been having some pre labour twinges, so hopefully things are on their way. I also had the acupuncture this afternoon so fingers crossed it's not too long for baby bisou. Otherwise induction is booked for the 26th...

and jump I'm so sorry you had a pooey bath, but THANK YOU so much for sharing it with us! That really had me in stitches and cheered me immensely. Motherhood sounds like so much fun

Thanks, He is being weighed today, hoping he has continued to put weight on. It is tempting to FF but I think I would hate it. I still find it very hard to give him formula, even though it helps him to sleep longer so he gets more rest and so do we.

I read up about BF, looked at various websites, talked to people on here and in RL. I stupidly thought it would be easy as I had done so much research, but it is so hard.

Oli: apples good doe stomach upsets, you could try grating it to make it easier to eat . Hope DS feels better soon.

Kayz: fingers crossed that the weight gain is OK, you're doing so well

trace: glad the stitches are healing

Well, I've done the Xmas food shopping (whew!) so I don't think there's anything left to do... good job really . Planning on a last lazy afternoon - DS is at the CMs for his last day before the New Year.

Hello!!

I was going to just go to my appointment and not mention a sweep but I just cried cause I feel so crap and the midwife said she thinks this baby is DS1-size ... 9lbs at 2 weeks late, but this baby is only just due so don't want her to cook anymore!!

Anyways I was 2-3 cm already when she examined me and she certainly gave a good sweep lol, she said 'if this doesn't get you going nothing will' and 'i think i just dialated you another 2cm' shock

She seemed to think if it does kick off it will be very fast!

Am having alot of pains, but cervix and back pain rather than contractions... so will just see what happens.

Has some 'show' too.

lol

kayz I hope the weight gain is fine today. It's so so hard breastfeeding and you've done really well to get this far. I echo what other people have said - it's fine to top up or to switch to formula, but it has to be your decision. Obviously it helps if your DH agrees with you too - but having him "I told you so-ing" is really annoying. (FWIW my Mum and DH were like that to me with DD1, but I still carried on BF as I'm a bit like that . We ended up doing occasional formula feeds with her and it was fine - so it doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing proposition, by the way.

DD2 had a great night (yes! they happen! hurrah! maybe it was the mulled wine? ) but has got herself in a bit of a pickle today with lots of poo-ey nappies that have woken her during her usual big nap time. I'm going out with DD1 and my Mum to the park in a bit so I hope DD2 will catch up on her rest in the pram...

rosmerta I keep forgetting to try the carrier because DD1 hated it so much. I must give it a go when DD2 is unsettled - it would let me get stuff done!!

oli sorry to hear about your DS's tummy. I hope he gets better soon.

trace it's really good to hear your stitches are healing so well. Sounds like you'll be back to normal in no time - which is fantastic!

Hello all,

Typing when holding a baby is really rather difficult, oh well here we go...

kayz Good luck for the weigh in. Hope things get easier soon.

trace I love the idea of calling your FIL the pensioner. "Pass the sprouts please pensioner", I think you should

Thanks turnip, ladyT and orange, DD is feeding SO much better now. She clearly prefers the Dr Brown bottles, she took a whole 3 ounces on her last feed! She gets weighed again by the midwife tomorrow which I'm dreading. icecube What your independent midwife said makes such good sense. It seems some babies take a while to get used to having been born and get into the swing of feeding.

I hope all the ladies waiting to pop don't have to wait too much longer.

icecube Paul Merton, me too .

Alan Rickman is lovely. My weird crush is John Nettles, in his Bergerac days mainly although he is a rather dashing older man in Midsomer Murders!

Hi. I am still here- no sign of the little one yet.I am very jelous of those who have now had their babies and loved reading the birth stories. I have loved being pregnant but now am ready to see her.
I go into a mild stage of panic every evening that I am going to go into labour in the middle of the night. With my Mum a 2 hour drive away and my childminder on standby to look after DS I am dreading the thought of having the baby in the night and having to wake people. I am due on Sat but for some reson think she will arrive on Christmas eve or Chritsmas Day.
Woiuld like a December baby though- not sure why

Tried a curry and fresh pineapple. Off for a long walk this afternoon when DS gets up from his sleep.- Any other suggesions??
He knows something is about to happen and gets very sulky and sad. But when you ask him what is wrong he just shrugs his shoulders and says dont know.

For thos BF I know I struggled for 5 weeks before my SIL suggested topping up with formula. It was the best thing I did and helped him sleep longer in the night. He had no problem from swithcing from bottle to breast.
I hope all those with babies due to have a weigh in, that they have managed to put some on.

I spoke to my Mum reagrding having Alanah as a middle name (after my Dad) and she thought that was a lovely idea. Slight problem now is DP does not think it goes with our first choice name, and I have to agree so would have to put in an extra middle name. He was also saying that it was unusual for both children to have similar middle names. DS has Alan as one of his middle names- but I really am goingto stick with it.
Never really contimplated having a sweep. What is the earliest a MW will do it. I have a MW app next Tuesday when I will be 40 + 3.DS was only 2 dats over so never really thought i would be really late.

Hello,

It was my normal MW today and she said she didn't want to weigh DS2. She said she would rather see what his weight gain is over a longer period of time. She also said that it has to be my decision and not to worry about people like my MIL moaning about him being FF. So what we are going to do now is breastfeed during the day and then just give him formula at night so he sleeps longer.

She did say that the HV will probably moan and say they don't advise people to mix feed but to just ignore her. Which I normally do anyway.

I am exhausted so I am off for a nap now.

Hope you are all ok.

Kayz hope you feel more relaxed about the mixed feeding after seeing your MW. I am doing the same, but have the opposite problem with my DH who thinks I should exclusively BF. However, he is not the one who has her hanging off his nipple all day! I just give her a couple of ozs of formula in the late afternoon/evening, so that a) I know she's had enough to eat and we get to spend a bit of nice awake time together without her constantly rooting and b) she (and I) get a decent sleep. Do whatever feels right for you, and especially so as you now have two little people who need you to be on form.

oooh, it sounds like we might have some more babies soon with all these sweeps. good luck disenchanted and bisou.

well dd decided to demonstrate she can spend long periods awake and hungry which was lovely. less lovely was that she chose to show this skill between 10pm and 1.30am. then she woke for food at 3.30am and 6.30am. as a result i am knackered but happy and my boobs are somewhat diminished which is a relief. today we are practising staying awake in the day time...

i am going to delete this post soon but for a short time here is a link to some photos of my lovely dds

disenchanted i had similar results with midwife today. She said i am easily 3cm, she could feel all the fibres breaking and could easily touch the baby's head. Ive had a few cramps but def nothing labour close to labour yet. I think it maybe another middle of the night rush for us!! I would so much rather have this baby today or tomorrow morning, then over night on xmas eve .. i really dont want to miss kids opening their presents on xmas morning ... Although she did say i probably wont need it, they have booked me in for an induction on 30th dec .. i was quite surprised as i thought they would let me go at least 2 weeks. Anyway i really, really, really hope not to go on for that much longer!

arti glad your dd is getting to be more awake and hungry, hopefully she will soon realise the difference between day and night!

kayz im sorry your dp is not being supportive of your breast feeding, i think sometimes they cannot handle seeing their wives / partners go through so much, and seem to think FF is the easy option. Make a decision as to what feels right to you and explain how much easier it will be for you with his support .. hopefully that will do the trick!

i did have other things to say but my mind has gone completely blank .. for a change!
catch you all later xx

Arti: the photos of your girls are beautiful

oh ive just noticed my name thread is on the discussion of the day threads!! claim to fame

also have been channel hoping and noticed Aled Jones singing with Terry Wogan on TOTP2 on BBC2 .. thats two embarressign crushes for the price of one

Evening!! Arti..those photos are lovely!!!

The poo saga continues!!! Poor DS had what we call in this house a 'holiday poo'...the kind of horrible explosive holiday upset tummy poo!!! But at least this time he made it to the toilet but I think it was quite distressing for him.
He has eaten tonight though and seems a bit perkier...hopefully the bug got blasted out of his system!

I can't believe it is Christmas eve tomorrow. I am sooooo excited but really hope that DC2 can wait til at least boxing day to make an appearance. I really want to enjoy Christmas day with DS and will be gutted to miss it.

Sounds like we might be getting a few babies soon though! Exciting!!!
Effie it's you and me til the bitter end!!!

Why can't this feeding lark be easier?
I really don't know what I want to do. FF will be so much easier except the sterlisling and having to come downstairs for a bottle. But BF is better for DS2 and its also cheaper as we don't have to buy formula.
Half of me wants to FF but then I'll feel like I have failed DS2.

Anyway, I will wish you all a Merry Christmas incase I don't get on here tomorrow.

X

weeee shall not, we shall not be mooooved...

Kayz: it does get easier, honest! You've done such a great job so far - hope things continue to get better

OK - sorry not to have had a chance for a proper catch up on the thread but thought I would grab my moment and post my birth story.

Basically, I was convinced that there was no way I was going to be delivering on time and so was not remotely ready. Woke up on Friday morning feeling a bit tender down below, thinking that the baby was just sitting really low. Anyway, had lots of errands to run! So found my self with DD getting her first haircut done quietly trying not to be too conspicuous about contractions in the corner while making small talk and trying to keep DD distracted. We then carried on to get her some shoes (also needed doing) and then, because I thought things seemed to starting, a trip to the chemists to get the last few bits for my hospital bag...then home in time to see the window men finally finish our replacement windows. By that point, contractions were fairly regular and sore, but still ok. Managed to slip off into the bath, which took the edge off things. Anyway, by about 11pm, DH and I decided we needed to start sorting out getting to the hospital, so got my sister to come over and hold the fort with DD and got to the ward at around midnight.

Got checked, could see regular contractions and found that I was 3cm dilated. It wasn't a busy night, so got admitted to the labour ward. At that point everything slowed right down and nothing much happened for hours while I went walkabout around the ward in the hope of starting things up again. Midwife checked me again at 6am, found I was still 3cm and decided to break my waters to see if we could move things along that way. So waters broken, and she suggested that I go in the bath for a bit while things ramped up and then maybe get an epidural later when I came out if I wanted one.

Things moved on pretty quickly from there - loved being in the bath and puffing along at the gas and air at the side (never got to try it last time - turned out to be good stuff for me). At one point I was convinced that the cylinder had run out and was indignantly ready to demand more, only to find out this was wishful thinking! So at 8am got out of the bath at the midwife's suggestion. Immediately felt all the pressure at the back IYKWM and having been checked over, was basically 10cm and ready to push. The little guy was out by 9.15am. Ended up with a few tears from an overenthusiastsic last push, but otherwise fine. Ended up getting stitched by a doctor, who was giving a lesson to the lovely midwife who had taken over the morning shift. All was well, so we managed to escape and be home in time for DD's bedtime. I am still amazed it was such a straightforward and positive experience, especially after last time - I do feel absurdly lucky.

Hooray invisible well done good work. Nice to be home so quickly and it was a vbac wasn't it so double well done.

Have been chrisse shopping today with ds2 while ds1 stayed with dh. Also had some friends come up from london just for the night, it is my best friend and her dp so was lovely for them to meet ds2.

Kayz it does get easier I promise you are doing so well dh should be proud of you, I am. At the end of the day though don't worry about guilt or what dh wants do what feels right for you and the gorgeous Dylan.

Hatty did u let ur mw know your dc's have chicken pox.

My poor MWs family have DV bug so she didn't come today she may come tomorrow but I think I would rather she came next week as I really don't want anymore sickness in our house. She was due to weigh him today for first time since birth but he is happy and has good poos not bothered about waiting til next week now.

Right must sleep now.

morning all!

big hugs to you kayz.

well this is just a brief hello to wish everyone a merry Christmas as we're off to spend a couple of days with family so will probably not have internet access. Here's wishing happy settled babies to those who've popped, strong contractions to those wanting Christmas LOs and stay-inside-vibes to those wanting to hang on a little longer...

God Bless...see you in a few days xxx

Morning. No sign of labour here so will now try and keep my legs crossed til Friday.
Kayz: Keep going with both types of feeding it does get easier.
Arti: Your pictures of your girls are lovely.
Invisible: Lovely birth story. Have a lovely Christmas with your LO.
Any news from turnip head or bisou yet. I am sure they are due before me.

Effie and Olli : it looks like I may be with you to the end. Even some on the jan ante natal trhread are popping before us!

Unless I am in labour will be posting again later or even tomorrow to see if there is any news. For those not around Have a lovely Christmas
Simmo x