Due in June 09 - They think it's all over...

[lauraloo09]

here we go def last thread in ante-natal

quite surprise i can still type in between contractions

Ahhhhhh silk! That just sounds horrendous! And you are hoping still to feed on that side? You are a strong woman! I'd probably be turning to the bottle - in more ways than one... I hope you are okay though, I am very impressed indeed.

June - No entertainment here either, just talking and cuddling really! I used a dummy with dd, it was great I must admit. I think she used to use breast as a dummy at times and so it let me off the hook a little. I'm not using one for Alex at the moment but I have to say the constant nightfeeding does make me want to give it a try, I'm going to hold off for the moment though, he is very calm really. I don't think there is anything wrong with it though, for me I know it is just worry over other peoples' attitudes! (Which is ridiculous). Also a worry they become too reliant on them. However I always said with dd w'd chuck them before she was one year and we did, one day I just threw them all out and she was totally unbothered!

Bigcar - What is your sleeping secret!?

Naat - Your midwives sound wonderful, how fabulous they were, I hope that night has helped the feeding.

Laura - CONGRATS!!!! Sarah is a GREAT name! Sorry the birth was so hard, you poor lamb, I hope you're happily now recovering and enjoying your little girl.

I know it is early days but any tips for getting babies to sleep a little longer at night appreciated!

Right, must go and get house habitable before dh's return!

Good luck ermin and amy!

Ahhhh doris now I am jealous of you too!

Does the dummy help space out feeds?

Thanks for the advice Doris.

Have just read up on mastitis and it can be caused by the boob not being drained enough. I am a bit annoyed by the fecking useless Mw substitute that turned up yesterday to do the heel prick test. I told her I was worried about the bfeeding as dd didn't ever seem to really empty a breast and was constantly feeding. I also told her that I'd had to start using nipple shields as I was in agony. She gave me no advice, didn't observe (even though I was feeding whilst she here) and seemed to want to leave asap. I've read my notes (she's a SMCA whatever that is) and she's written that she'd observed bfeeding and ticked that it was painless - stupid bloody woman. Think she could have helped me yetserday if she'd have taken the time to.

LittleS - definitely not brave - can't face her touching that shredded nipple at the moment - will be mixed feeding til it's healed.

Think I need to experiment with positioning/latch - think it must be wrong.

Hi All

laura congratulations and sorry you had such a horrid time. I hope all is well now!

For all of you struggling with breastfeeding...its easy for me to say, since I've never had enough milk and Adam went on a bottle from day one, but try to relax. It is suppose to be the most natural thing in the world, but in reality, its hard! The hardest thing you'll probably ever do! Somewhere over the last 50 - 60 years we've lost the 'art' of it, thanks to Doctors who thought they knew best. And remember, the important thing is healthy mummy and healthy baby, so if you need to stop breastfeeding? Its not the end of the world. Adam is thriving on Cow and Gate!!

laura, huge congratulations and welcome to baby Sarah Sorry to hear you had a rough time! By the sounds of it I had something similar, except I got to 5cm before I really needed to push, it's a horrible and very painful feeling isn't it?! Same happened with dd3 last time too, and I was still daft enough to do it all over again

silk, sorry to hear about the shredded nips. If it's any help, NCT helpline 0870 444 8708, and La Leche League 020 7242 1278. They may be able to put you in touch with local support or try getting hold of your hv and find out if there is a bf cafe nearby.

june, yep, mainly just cuddles and talking here too for entertainment, I haven't yet inflicted my singing on him but may do soon We have one of those baby gyms we use when he's in his chair, but I don't think he's that interested yet. He also has a couple of toys on the handles of his basket (during the day only) but I think he touches them more out of accident than intent.

littles, if I had the answer, I'd be a very rich lady I think he's just one chilled little man at night he also feeds a fair bit during the day and has quite a lot in the evening, he must stock up well!

We've got the most lovely sunny evening at the moment, hope everyone else has too! Waves to all

Laura, congratulations on the birth of Sarah!!! Sorry to hear about the hard time you had but the important thing is now you and her are thriving!! Hope to hear from you soon!!

Tee, yep, it's one of the hardest things to do!!! People keep on saying "it's just natural", "it just happens" Obviously they haven't breastfed. Maybe you have milk, but that doesn't mean you can't have other problems (latch, cracked nipples, mastitis, etc) I have loads of milk and look at me, struggling still. And yes, the important thing is that mum and baby are ok, well said

Silk, !! I'm so so sorry for you!! (((hug, on the other side of course))) I hope it heals soon... at the bloody MW that came to see you!! Cheeky of her to put something on your notes that NEVER took place!

LittleS, I also looked at the dummy with special love these last days but the "literature" is sooooooooooo confusing, everyone says a different thing and as a new mum, it all adds to the uncertainty!

Doris, HI! Glad Annabelle let you sleep a bit more this morning!

I'll try and upload some pics now for you to see.

(((waves)))

Oh, forgot!

June, LOL at the silver screw Calypso likes to look at I was at a loss re. baby entertainment, I mainly just talked to her or sang to her Let's see what experienced Juners say!

Oh God I keep xposting!

Bigcar, lucky lady!! Enjoy those hours of rest!!! for all of us!!!

silk Those are very kind words, but it's easy to be chilled when I'm just waiting for a baby that I know will be here soon - takes a bit more character to be dealing with shredded nips and crap MWs - I think you deserve the fan club . Hope you get some better advice - and some healing - very soon.

June they won't bother with all those lovely toys for ages, and even when a few months old will still be just as happy with a wooden spoon and old yoghurt pots. What she wants to see is familiar faces - and possibly chrome screws - as she learns to focus on them and, in a little while, to smile at them

I've never used a dummy for my DCs, nor felt the need; it seems to be one of those things some mums swear by and others never consider. If it's the only way of stopping the babe using you as a comforter, or helps with colic, then it makes sense, but I wouldn't use one just as a matter of course, like our mothers probably did.

And to add to Tee's post, it's true of course that formula feeding isn't the end of the world, but b/feeding isn't difficult for everyone, and anyone who wants to do it deserves to get all the help and support she needs, so keep questioning those MWs and make sure you're satisfied with the answers, or get NCT/LLL or other counsellors to help you if the MWs are rubbish like silk's.

I suppose I should have curry tonight, but DH has gone out for chinese instead.

hi all
left handed typing while feeding so will be short!

laura - huge congrats on the birth of Sarah. sorry you had an awful experiece, hope you can enjoy the time with sarah now

silk - ouch re your poor nipple!!! thats awful, i sometimes wonder if dd has teeth, they suck soooo hard sometimes! hope you heal quickly

littlesarah - i wish i could get isobel to sleep more at night too! on average she goes for 3 lots of 2 hour stretches from 11pm- 8am with 3 feeds and lots of grizzling in between!!

i have been trying a dummy a little but she wont really take to it, just to try to stop the constant feeding a little!

doris - very jealous of your sleep!

june - we have a baby gym mat which we lie isobel on, she just likes to lay and kick her legs though rather than play!

hi to everyone else!

Silk one more word of warning, if it's too sore to feed at all on the nobbled breast I recommend expressing on that side to try to prevent mastitis. I would also second whoever suggested hands on RL support from one of the bf support groups. You are exactly the reason they are there, to help with the difficult stuff, don't leave it too late before calling! (ps your mw was a care assistant not a fully trained MW so go to the professionals (LLL /NCT) pleeeeeeese [smile)

Right will try a full Catch up

Congratulations to Zozo, Louuise and Laura!!!

They're seem to be a few of us who have had difficult labours or deliveries that didn't go to plan, I have to say (echoing others) it's not really how they enter the world that counts, but what we do from here that matters.... although I remember the births of dd1 and 2 it's not something that I really think about and it has next to no bearing on their lives....

littleS we are trying (it's not the same as boobie obv) to use the dummy to space out feeds more so when Anabelle feeds she does so with some interest rather than as a soother (I still cuddle alot) It does seem to help with the colic atm. DD1 had a dummy till she was nearly three but it was restricted to night and naps (also worried about other peoples attitudes) then the dummy fairy came with a gift one night and took all the dummies (we let her decide when I needed to phone for a visit )

Naat saw your phots on FB of Mila's first trip to the big smoke, you all look so chilled, and a bf not sitting down, (i'm still in the pillows and back support galore stage)

I dug all the baby toys out of the loft yesterday but more to help the older dd's lose interest in them before I wash them for dd3 she not really into much at the mo but I may give her some gym time tomorrow.

Right waffling so must stop (((((waves to all the Juners who like me have enough time to read but not to post)))))
xx doris

Still needing to catch up with everyone...huge congrats to other mummies

Just to let you know I have uploaded a couple of photos of Sarah onto my profile, just if you guys fancied a peek.

I was planning to breastfeed but even after 1 day it didn;t work out so she is being bottle fed so might treat myself to a wee glass of bubbly this weekend once my staples have been removed

She is just beautiful laura.

just a quick question...for those not breastfeeding how do you get over the stage when your milk comes in? my boobs are massive and heavy and not sure what to do...

Laura, she's lovely!!!

Doris, LOL! When trying to do embassy paperwork AND show mum at least some of London at the same time there was no choice, it was either feeding while walking or not feeding poor Mila My arms died that night, of course and could only use them again a few days ago.

Right, there are some pics of Mila on my profile for the ones that aren't on FB and haven't seen any yet

(((waves)))

She's beautiful naat.

Mr Adam had a good night, sleeping from 12 - 3 and then 3:30 - 6:30. Daddy even got a decent night's sleep, since he was on baby duty.

We are having our first venture out today to the Belfast Lord Mayor's Parade and Carnival. Unless it pours down rain, which it looks like it might.....

Absolutely love all these pictures of beautiful babies

Feeding update - have temporarily switched to some formula feeds. Two reasons - Eleri hadn't pooed from Thursday morning adn whilst she had a touch of jaundice develop a few days ago by yesterday evening the whites of her eyes had gone yellow and she was really sleepy.

My plan is to formula feed this weekend. Keeping expressing lightly to try and keep milk production up without further damaging my nipples (and hopefully preventing mastitis) also giving them time to heal.

Tuesday morning I will go to the local breastfeeding suport group for some real life help. Chatted to a mum at Megan's nursery who has been going since her 2nd was born 6 weeks ago. She says they are the only people who have really been able to help.

I know the risks with my plan are my milk drying up or Eleri then refusing to take the breast but I'm in so much pain that bfeeding is just not an option at the moment. I have a midwife visiting this morning - if it's the care assistant from the other day I shall tell her to go and ask for a different one tomorrow. I feel better for having made a decision and was remembering back to last time when I didn't have the confidence to decide how to deal with my own baby.

Eleri slept well last night. 12 til 4 and 4.30 til 7. Wish I could say the same for her big sister who was chattering and playing with her teddies from 4 til 5.30 - think I'm going to have a very tired toddler today.

Hope we all have good days.

Love and birthing vibes to Worried and Erm.

ps Naat thanks for the tentative hug on the correct side If only you could see the look of anguish on my face as Megan flings herself at me for a cuddle!

Shite shite shite night last night. Too tired to catch up now. Emily has colic so screams for 6 hours every evening (Poor DH bears the brunt of this as it's his 'shift' 'til midnight). She finally exhausted herself at 2.30 when I got a couple of hours and then she was awake again. Gripe water seems to help a bit, but she still hordes the burps. You can hear all the air in her tummy, but despite winding for hours on end (up to three!) you just can't get her to burp. So she has Infacol before the feed and then Gripe Water afterwards which seems to work better than not using anything at all.

Got cranial osteopath appointment on Tues. It worked wonders for DS with the same thing so we're hoping for the same miracle.

Sorry to hear about shredded nips and crappy madwives and the like.

xx

Lauraloo, she's a little cutie. And Naat, so is your baby girl - and your DH isn't bad either . Lovely photos!

Silk I really hope you get some relief this weekend and some good advice very soon. Hope DD1 might have a nap in the day too.

Ineed Oh dear, another tired mummy. My DD got colic in the first few weeks and someone had just recommended cranial osteopath when it stopped by itself. Hope it works a treat for little Emily.

Waiting for MW to come and take my BP and test urine. Oh yes, and waiting for baby to come out

TMI ALERT!!

Anyone know how long I'll bleed for? Its been 2.5 weeksish and its getting old really fast!!

Hello everybody! I'm glad my lovely friend AitchTwoOh kept you informed on Ishbel's arrival. I swear it was the greatest surprise of my life...I was so, so sure I was having a boy.

Here's my birth story, will catch up on your news later, just wanted to send love to Ermintrude and Worried

I started contracting around 5pm on Wednesday after being administered a single pessary to ripen my cervix at 3pm, as I was 10 days overdue. Contractions came every 90 secs, which was excruciating, so I was gutted to be told at 9pm that I'd barely dilated at all. A sarky midwife told me I probably had a low pain threshold and gave me some pethidine. At 12am I summmoned her back and told her a) under no circumstances was I am wimp and b) I could not cope any more with this level of pain and the pethidine had done fuck all.

She reexamined me and then pronounced me as 3cm dilated, at which point I demanded an epidural. An absolutely drop dead gorgeous anaethetist came in and told me he was going to take all my pain away. He did, and it was glorious. I then dozed in the delivery suite with Mum until 5am, when I was pronounced fully dilated. Now fairly sheepish midwife advised me to rest, during which time epidural wore off ever so slightly, allowing me to identify contractions when they occurred, which was brilliant. I was therefore able to push at demand and delivered darling Ishbel after just 15 mins, with my mum holding one leg and midwife the other and it felt utterly exhilerating. (Didn't get away quite scott free though girls, second degree tear and v v v v v v sore stitches).

Hearing my mum tell me she was a girl was the biggest surprise of my life, as I was utterly convinced she was a boy. She didn't cry and eyeballed me solomnly before slowly taking in the room. She then stayed awake for 24 hours, latching well on the breast. At 6am Friday, having been awake since 6am Wednesday, I put her in bed with me. Waking up to her tiny face two hours later was the happiest moment of my life to date. I am utterly besotted and feel I have known for forever.

Feeding is proving difficult now though....she's gone 8 hours without a drop a few time, which is agonising. MW just showed me another box of tricks to kept her interested - she latches fine, but only when she can be bothered! And my god, now I finally understand what you were all talking about when you were suffering painful nipples and I was still in the departure lounge! Argh.

Anyway, going to catch up now, sending you all babylove from me and Ishbel xxx

Loooouise yr lovely birth story made me go all soppy over you waking up to her tiny face. We are hormonal mummies/ladies in waiting you know - can't cope with nice images like that Had to have a @ what you said to the sarky mw.

You had to have a girl - they're taking over the June thread

I've got 5 minutes peace and quiet. Dd1 is having a v long nap (after night time shenanigans) dd2 is having a wiggle on the bed in front of me (seems pretty content for a moment at least) Dh has taken dsd into town for a bit of one on one time (she's having a rough time at home at the moment)

mw was fab this morning - not one I've met before. She thinks my plan is fine but suggested hand expressing rather than pumping until nipple heals. given me a number for a specialist bf mw who works on post natal at the hospital (I could go in and see her). She did , however, draw a sharp intake of breath when I showed her the damage. I was hoping/expecting her to say she'd seen it all before but she said it was the worst she'd witnessed also said it may take a long time to get better.

v quiet round here - hope our two stragglers are having babies/or enjoying the sunshine

Hey ladies both kids are sleeping and DH is having a swim so I wonder if I will finally get a chance to catch up?! It has become so hard recently to find the time. DH goes back to work on Monday, how I am going to do it all single handedly? Why do they both seem to need me at exactly the same time? Any tips gratefully received

Hope everyone is doing really well I can?t wait to see whose babies have arrived now

oh I'd love a swim dh has been twice last week.

No idea how to cope with two I'm afraid (also struggling here) Can't turn my back for a second if Meggie can reach Eleri then it's a problem - she clonked her on the head with her baby doll this morning - I like to think it was accidental but can't be sure

Think I?ll only catch up by reading backwards (reminds me of reading Mansfield Park ? backwards was the only way I could read that damn book!)

Zozo ? congratulations on the birth of Leo lovely name! sorry to hear about your complications though.

Looouise ? welcome to the world Ishbel and many congratulations to you so glad that you had a good experience after all the initial pain, hope the stitches have stopped giving you gip no. I can recommend lavender oil on your towels, seems to have helped me both times. What is the Babyfather saying?

Laura ? many, many congratulations on the safe arrival of beautiful Sarah I am so sorry you went through the mill though it?s really not fair make sure you do have that very well deserved bubbly lady I take it that Sarah is clear of the Group B Strep? I was very lucky, all Aaliyah?s tests came back negative but I do think that the antibiotics that she had after her birth have knocked her immune system out as she has a cold and cough and a sticky eye but I know those are very minor compared to what could have been.

Doris ? great tips for sore nips it?s a pain like n other isn?t it? I?m with you on dummies, hated them pre DS1 but begged him to take one when he was in agony with colic and the dummies are still with us at 17 months! Hey ho, sure he?ll ditch them one day well done with stretching Annabelle?s feeds out, thankfully I am getting a bit more sleep now as Aaliyah seems to go from midnight to 3.30am but then it all goes to pot again after that! It is progress all the same.

Silk ? poor, poor you with the nips, I can sympathise and empathise! It certainly doesn?t help when the HPs look horrified though does it? I remember with DS the MW looked at the damage, her eyes filled with tears and she told me I was a ?bloody minded fool? to preserve through that pain I still have to hurt myself elsewhere when I latch Aaliyah on so that I don?t hold her too tight due to the pain but it is not as bad as it was with DS Have you bought yourself a Breast Nurse? Well worth it for symptoms of mastitis and for engorgement. So angry with that MW that said, I didn?t get much help from any of the so called experts with DS either. It does help drain the sore areas if you move the baby into different positions to feed although that does feel awkward, we all have a position we prefer to feed in I think, I for one could never take to the rugby hold. Hope your plan works, good to have a plan me thinks My DS is rather over zealous with his rocking of the Moses basket!

Littlesarah ? I know what you mean about being used as a dummy, that was how I was with DS. As for tips to get babies to sleep longer at night, I was reading in ?What to expect in the First Year? that their periods of REM are much shorter than ours and that is why they wake up a lot and that we need to resist tending to them unless they are actually crying rather than making noises. I have found that both babies have slept better if bathed first and wrapped up tightly.

Tee ? so glad to hear Adam is doing so well and sleeping considerately it must be fabulous to have him home with you. How are you feeling? My DS drinks Cow & Gate by the way and won?t give it up for fresh milk I think I bled for 6 weeks on and off after DS?s birth, this time I keep thinking it is coming to an end and take a risk and then it comes back it?s so hot now I really can?t wait to ditch the towels.

Bigcar ? I decided to be quicker off the mark this time with entertainment and Aaliyah seems to love being on the baby mat and looking at black and white shapes etc. I got DH to build up the Rainforest swing I had for DS (he hated it) as I think she might like it better than he did. I have sung to her but to a mixed response tried tummy time but it wasn?t a hit, too young! How is your pelvis feeling now? More stable?

Hello Effie ? great to hear that things are settling down with Rupert great weight gain too.

June ? sorry to hear that you are still reeling from the birth experience talk to us and let?s exorcise it together. LOL at Calpyso and the screw, I guess it is the high contrast that she likes. I was delighted when the cord fell off; I am a bit squeamish about them

Naat ? LOVE your photos how adorable is Mila? And how besotted with her is her Daddy? Lovely feeding standing? Wow, hat off to you girl!! That was wonderful support from the BC wasn?t it?

Ermintrude & Amy ? thinking of you! I had a friend round yesterday who is due next week, we were sort of in awe of each other, me thinking ?was I that big?? and her thinking ?has she really done the labour thing?? it was really funny

Llynnnn ? what a star you are typing and feeding I just can?t do it but then again, I sit on the birth ball at the PC so maybe I am expecting too much from myself! I have to admit that I have looked in Aaliyah?s mouth for teeth too!

Ineedmore ? poor you (and Emily ) my DS was exactly the same, I got through so much infacol. Hope the cranial osteopath makes a huge difference.

Hello Choccie

Ahhhh, duty calls ? that?s all for now folks!