Jan 09 labour thread... or is it?

[fourlittlefeet]

right, new thread, crap title but it was about to go!

Just to let you know:

Fourlittlefeet gave birth by VBAC at 4pm today to baby Hugo.

Mother and baby doing well.

Full story from Mum when she gets home (hopefully tomorrow) and is settled.

congrats to all those with the recently emerged babies.Well done to you.And thanks for all the congratulations i received.Very kind of you all.Much feeding and exhaustion,like moosemama here.Jack had me hostage feeding for 3 solid hours before he was satisfied today.Just a total prisoner in bedroom.Still waiting on scar drying up.Been in bedroom since i came home.Still very hapy though and can't believe he is here either.Postnatal land is much,much better than pregnancy so hang in you lot...your'e heading for heaven!.
A quote that got me through...if your'e going through hell....just keep going!-very true.The good thing about tough births is that you come out the other side much stronger,feeling like you can take on the world...nothing will ever seem as hard ever again!!....oh and that love affair with the baby...sweet love....even though the baby farts diarrohea in your face and screams till you are deaf....nothings too much trouble for mummy.
Take care everyone.Mostly keep your humour,listen to your INSTINCTS,the key to doing what your body wants you to do in labour(not always what the pros are saying...i argued a lot with them eg.me "i've got to get up NOW,on my feet"
professional "we just have to examine you"
me "got to get up now"{cue happy yanks herself up and walks off}.
you get so much conflicting advice because of all the staff,so you gotta listen to you and you will be right!.
Keep asking for help.Keep reminding staff about your needs.Things get forgotton.
Have a flannel and go to toilet and make flannel cold and wet...my best pal in the 25 degree heat in the ward!.
And REST when you come home and more rest when you come home and enjoy every minute with the baby because 2 weeks of PG might seem like eternity,but 2 postnatal weeks seem like 2 days believe me.And take loads of camcorder cause you can't re-enact it...best thing i ever did...especially of first feed after birth(for private viewing of course.Took my DD's face as she came to visit for first time e.t.c....absolutely magical!!!.
CHIN UP GIRLS!!.
Other things i've learnt this time...
you can feed off a breast with mastitis in it and survive the bloody infection if you really determined to breastfeed.the milk will be saltier out of it,so baby drinks more,so it clears blockage better.
nipple trouble...shove baby's head towards you quick when gob opens and latch will be better.more aerola taken in.relax the shoulders and bring babyto you,not other way around.keep rubbing in milk,let nips dry and hang round in fresh air a lot and use lansinoh before and after feeds and if baby chews you and won't sleep in own cot,use a dummy to put them in bedside cot...dummy drops out...baby asleep..mummy happy.no nipple confusion with dummy as my Jack a good latcher.Instinct tells you dummy good or not good and when best time to express.Think my Jack can take it at 2 and a half weeks so trying tommorow before nips drop off.Trying to get his weight up.Lost 13 oz.even if nipples get lumps taken out of them as you learn and toughen up.(mine had big blood blister on end,bruises on aerola and alsorts,cracked,but still survived and healed very quickly)...all about determination in the head.if you really want to do it,you will!when you see the various benefits you are inspired to keep going and if you have only one or two successful feeds,know that it will work,because i had lots of unsuccessful feeds at first but some good ones which kept me going...now 9/10 feeds are smooth.Keep experimenting but ask for help!!.One big benefit was, i went from 12st at birth to 9 st 13lbs now...never been that pre pregnancy....must be burning calories fast!.also put breastmilk on Jack's face.iT'S CLEARED HIS RASH UP LOADS.used nipple shields...feeds painless with them...liquid gold...but beware reduces supply by 30%so i just use the m now if frantic feed for a couple of minutes then take them off and then feed not as painful as breasts/baby/milk settles.
keep on top of the painkillers.they make a world of difference.
if a c-section scar bursts,it is not the whole scar and is only pooled blood coming away,not a bleed to death emergency like i thought.
hope my insight helps someone.
bye for now.i'm too knackered to keep up with posts and baby tasks take all day just now,but i will have quick peep to see how your'e doing.
happy and Jack x