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Spring is sprung, the grass is ris, I wonder where my toenails is - Due June 2010

1000 replies

greensnail · 06/03/2010 19:56

Ok, here it is ladies. Nice new thread for us all to enjoy

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mampam · 04/05/2010 13:50

dimb I get BH every evening and they are quite strong, not so much painful as mightily uncomfortable.
I was asking about back pain as this morning just before 10am I had the most horrendous pain in my back wash over me, felt like it was right in my spine coupled with belly tightening. This kept happening every 12-16 minutes or so, I'd taken some paracetamol so with ever pain episode it seemed to be easing off. Still having some tightenings but more like BH now and baby is kicking away happily so not going into labour or anything.........just one of those wierd things I guess.

terrier the cat/cow position sounds interesting. Off to google it now!

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fillybuster · 04/05/2010 14:07

Great input on bfing - I find it so interesting to read so many different experiences and views. In a way, it sort of re-affirms my suspicion that so much of it is down to both the individuals involved (the mother and the baby) as much as anything else...I've got friends who bf brilliantly with one child and totally couldn't with another, and so on...

From my pov, I never had a problem with supply or expressing, and I got my dh to give an expressed 11pm feed from about 2/3 weeks. My only problem was round about the time my dcs stopped night feeding (about 10-11 weeks) when i woke up with rock solid boobs in the morning and it was almost impossible for them to get a latch or cope with the flow for the morning feed. I always expressed right after the morning feed and noticed a huge difference between the quantity I could produce then and the piddly amount I produced if I tried to do it in the evenings.

Also, from a supply pov, whilst I sort of fed on demand, my dcs never fed more than every 2.5 hours even when they were first born, and rapidly moved to 3 hour feed and this didn't affect my supply whenever my dcs hit growth spurts and needed to feed more/longer. I moved to 4 hour feeds around 16 weeks and this didn't noticeably affect my supply either.

I was lucky, as both dcs were very efficient feeders, so never did more than about 30 mins or so at a time, and their weight gain was fine. My confidence was never brilliant though, not sure why. I weaned DS onto a bottle at the same time as he started on solids (around 5 months) - I would have kept one or two bfs a day, but he wasn't interested. DD basically self weaned at around 4.5 months after 2 days on ebm in bottles as a result of an awful tummy bug I picked up. I fought it for a few weeks but in the end feeding times were becoming such a battle we were both getting really upset and I decided to stop. We were both quite relieved...

So I guess I fall in the middle...no problems with supply, don't mind doing it, 2 dcs who latched fine and fed quickly and happily but not a long-term bf-er!

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mampam · 04/05/2010 14:39

filly I keep forgetting that everyone's other DC's are much younger than mine! When my 2 were babies you started weaning at 16 weeks but because mine were large hungry babies DD was weaned at just over 14 weeks and DS was just over 13 weeks!! They were both chomping at the bit for it, they both to this day still love their food and although they were big babies, they are both tall for their ages and skinny now!!!

I got on fine BFing DD and I managed 4 months with the last month expressing but DS was too demanding and I couldn't keep up plus my nipples were cracked and sore and I never seemed to have the same milk flow that I had with DD where it would squirt out all over the place . He was much more content with a bottle. I'm going to see how it goes with this one and not beat myself up if it doesn't work out. Like filly I'm not a long term breast feeder though.

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LaTrucha · 04/05/2010 14:39

Filly - if you get the morning 'fullness' after dropping night feeds with next DC you can express a bit before feeding to release the pressure and stop the spluttering.

Time of day for expressing makes a huge difference, as does state of mind. The only time I couldn't get anything was after a barny with DH. Not a drop came out. The whole, 'look at a picture of your baby' thing never worked for me at all. There were good tips on the Ameda website, as I remember it.

I have backache but not all the time. Just normal third-trimester back ache. I have had some 'coming and going' pains which made me but then they just went.

What I am having is really painful kicks from this baby. I didn't get painful kicks from Sabela, probably because I had too much fluid with her. Since yesterday though, I'm beginning to feel a bit bruised!

Ok, anyone going for any little luxuries with their baby? I'm looking for a second-hand Baby Bjorn bouncer, after seeing one at my friend's house. It looks so much sturdier that other bouncy chairs. DD never looked safe in her Mothercare one and I certainly wouldn't have turned my back on her in it. This one looked absolutely fine and good for when I need to put baby down to play with toddler (i.e. all the time). He can look about him and be comfy as it's quite upright compared to others. I also think I'll get a sheepskin but am torn between a fitted one with ties and holes for a pushchair and a rug style one which wouldn't be so 'practical' (yes, big for that one - it's hardly a necessity) but prettier.

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greensnail · 04/05/2010 14:41

Hi all,

I'm just back from my clinic appointment and my bloods are much improved, seems to be as a result of the new medication I started a couple of weeks ago. I was hoping they'd make a plan for induction today, but now they're saying that they won't want to induce until after 38 weeks. I know this should be good news really, but I can't help feeling disapointed and that time is moving backwards!

I'm feeling really uncomfortable now and exhausted and getting loads of braxton hicks (known as branston pickles in this house!) so generally feeling sorry for myself.

Sorry for very me obsessed post. Will go and give myself a shake now and hopefully come back feeling a bit more positive.

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fillybuster · 04/05/2010 14:56

Yes, lots of back pain here, including some definite BHs....I had a 'lovely' hour of BHs across my lower back at 6am yesterday morning which was bloody uncomfortable and left me grumpy all day...!

LaT - spraying problems were never that bad, as both dcs were pretty good at gulping down a fast flow I did use to manage to hit dd on the nose on a regular basis if she broke off for a moment, but nothing major I know what you mean about being in the right frame of mind for expressing: I found that I couldn't read (I get too engrossed) and looking at baby/pictures didn't work at all, but relaxing and watching (oddly) the BBC breakfast news was just enough distraction to get things flowing without being so interesting my flow stopped!

Really awful kicks here, immensely painful and much worse than my previous 2 dcs. Not sure why, but will be interested to see how big flump is on the scan on Friday morning as I feel as though there's even more baby stuffed into this bump than normal at this stage. Will be quite if it turns out to be a more average size than the last 2!

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LittleRobbo · 04/05/2010 15:07

Good afternoon ladies,sorry for my erratic posting,my attention span is still non improved,DH thinks he'd get more response from the wall apparently! I am going to try and log back on later and 'properly' read about the BF,i have splashed out on a medela swing breast pump this time,as with DS2,i expressed all the time but only with a mid range pump,quite painful.

I am 35 wks today and must admit i am totally knackered ALL the time,DH is really getting on my tits for no specific reason,i have constant pains going on in one region or another and i am more scared about this birth than any of my others,don't know why exactly. On a more positive note,i just got my new (second hand) car,a Vauxhall Zafira,DH has one too but he works so far away i dont benefit from driving his,but i love mine, its so roomy,compared to my old KA especially! Many apologies for 'exclusive Robbo' post,i am still here and still logging on most days

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mampam · 04/05/2010 15:13

I'm feeling the kicks quite painfully at times or when the baby punches me right in the bladder!!

BH are a bit uncomfy and I feel all muzzy headed so the only thing I can think to do is get in the bath. DH will kill me when he gets home as I've been banned from the bath when he's not around cos of my SPD but I'll take the phone with me just in case I get stuck

greensnail glad your bloods are better. Shame you didn't get to make a date, how disappointing. When will they let you know? Hopefully should find out my date tomorrow for CS. (fingers crossed).

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Barbeasty · 04/05/2010 18:46

Greensnail- I got to the bottom of my SILs homebirth etc saga (always helps to get the calm, not-via-MIL version!) Apparently in Oxford you have to be consultant lead after number 5, and the midwife said that the consultant is very unlikely to "allow" a homebirth, and will want her in the hospital. So, she is feeling worried about the midwife appointment because they may well be uncomfortable as she continues to insist on a homebirth....

Glad your medication is working.

It was lovely to see the nieces/ nephew on Saturday, and DH is really annoyed that his mum has been telling everyone how well he was "bonding" with his nephew (who is about 18 months)

Great to read everyone's tips on feeding and nappies. I need to decide what nappies we're getting. I've got as far as knowing we're going reusable....

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CantSleepWontSleep · 04/05/2010 20:03

dimb - I like your book tip re having one for the older child to read whilst you are feeding the younger one. We used the TV to much the same effect . Slightly less nutritional than a book, but doesn't seem to have done any lasting damage, and we have managed to cut back to hardly any tv again now. Another suggestion I've seen on here is to have a basket of 'special' toys that only come out when the baby is feeding.

Those of you who have commented on the baby being more distracted at feeds around 4/5 months or later - have you tried using a breastfeeding necklace? I didn't have one with dd, but with ds I got one like this and it worked beautifully. He still got distracted when out and about and maybe 7 or 8 months, but the necklace definitely helped to hold his attention before that, and it also encouraged better nursing manners I believe, as he has never been a twiddler like dd was.

dimb - I'd like to pick up on your point that your ds's didn't give you enough time to build up supply between feeds, and also on filly's success at managing to schedule feeding at 3 or 4 hourly intervals. I know many a person, myself included, who would be at that, but I don't want you to take from it that it's the norm, as it certainly isn't. I think that this article is worth a read - just skip any techy bits about the study which are more detail than you need/want .

fwiw, my dd 'fed' for up to an hour at a time, and then wanted to feed again an hour later, but with hindsight I think that she was a sleepy feeder and was doing little comfort sucks rather than actual feeding sucks for some of that time (it was about the only time she did sleep tbh!).
My ds was also a very frequent feeder, rarely leaving more than 1-2 hours between feeds, especially at night (grrr!), but his feeds were quicker and he was more alert during them.
Both gained weight well (despite it taking us 16 weeks to realise that the reason that dd screamed round the clock was because she was milk intolerant, one of the common symptoms of which is failure to thrive!), and were/are ninety-something centile (having been 9lbs and 8lb4oz at birth), so don't feel that a big hungry baby can't be satisfied by breast alone woofie.

I couldn't pump much milk either. Got a bit off in the early days with dd, but she refused a bottle and I had to dump it all when we discovered her milk intolerance, as I had been consuming dairy during the period that the milk had come from, so I never bothered again after that!
It really isn't much indication of supply though. In general a baby will be much more efficient than a pump, though sometimes the pump might be better (eg if baby had tongue tie so couldn't draw off milk well).

dimb - is there a la leche league meeting near you? Pretty sure that they are worldwide, and you should be able to take your boys to the meetings too - children are welcome at all of the ones that I go to over here.

madamefrecke - sorry, you asked a question the other day about arnica which I haven't answered yet. Yes, it's def ok to take whilst still pregnant. Ideally one should start a week before giving birth (how nice if we all actually knew when that was!), but longer won't hurt (I must have done at least 2 weeks last time). I seem to recall it being 2 tablets a day, though you can get them in diff strengths, so let me see if I can find what was recommended last time and get back to you shortly on that. Then take lots in labour (I don't think that you really can o/d on most homeopathic stuff tbh) and continue afterwards as necessary, generally for a week or so I guess.

LaT - we have the baby bjorn bouncer. We got it for dd, and ds used it too. I like that it lasts much longer than some baby bouncers, particularly given that I have such chunky babies, as mine would have been out of a lot of standard ones by 4 months due to their weight! They tended to use it when little, then go through a phase of not using it, and then use it again once bigger. In fact we had to swipe it away from dd and replace it with another chair a couple of months before ds arrived (she was 2.8 when he was born) so that she wouldn't think of it as hers any more!

sorry for long and rambling post, but hopefully there's something useful to someone in there!

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AlwaysHopeful · 04/05/2010 21:12

Hi ladies. I am posting from my new whizzy smart phone from a caravan in the Lakes. Phone is smarter than i am, though...

It is lovely to be on mat leave at last. The last 3 weeks at work were exhausting. I am enjoying spending lots of time with dd and dh before our world turns upside down again with the new baby.

Thanks for all the bf advice. Lasted 13 weeks with dd, but it was mostly awful. She had bad reflux, often screamed while feeding and was very slow to put weight on. Beside the actual birth, bf is worrying me a lot. So i am glad i now know a great source of support and advice.

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CantSleepWontSleep · 04/05/2010 21:53

Glad that you are having a nice break Hopeful. If your next one has the same problems as your last then we can talk about possible milk intolerance too - what you mention in your last post is familiar, and reflux often goes hand in hand with milk problems.

Found the post that I was looking for re arnica. Here is advice given to me previously:

"I got Raspberry leaf tablets from health shop the very helpful man (yes man) said to start taking them at 32 wks. 1 a day for 2 wks, 2 a day for 2 wks then 3 a day for the rest of the time then for a long as breastfeeding (can apparently help with this too).

The perenium oil (this was odd talking to a man about this!!) start massaging in about 3 wks before due date twice a day.

Arnica 30c tablets - 2 a day 10 days before due date and 7-10 after the birth."

So actually even longer before than I had remembered.

Must get myself some raspberry leaf tablets. I gave the rest of my stash away when I thought I wasn't having any more dc!

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LaTrucha · 04/05/2010 22:01

AlwaysHopeful - whereabouts are you in Lancashire? There may be a BF group near you.

CSWS - thanks for that. Very useful. More stuff for the already groaning hospital bag!

When I had DD DH thought I was in a morphine-induced craziness when I asked him for my arnica in the hospital. He hid them from me. Nothing could persuade him that this might actually be something a midwife might recommend. He is still convinced

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gizmo · 04/05/2010 22:36

Hello all, thought I might add my mite on the breastfeeding discussion, since I've seen it from both angles - DS1 became quite dangerously ill from a failed breastfeeding regime and DS2 boasted a near vertical weight gain chart over the first 8 weeks of life. Filly I'm certain you're right, like so much with babies it crucially depends upon the character and aptitude of the baby concerned. It didn't help that I had little knowledge of BF with DS1 (I missed the signs of acute jaundice and failure to thrive, didn't realise I had mastitis for weeks, and accepted the HV's advice to supplement with formula - it was amazing we kept it up until 4 months) but actually, we would have struggled if he had come second - he was just a bit clueless about how to feed.

My feeling is that establishing successful bf is a bit like establishing a successful sex life with a new partner - it depends upon successful and comfortable alignment of two complex bits of anatomy, you both have your individual preferences which you aren't going to know about to start with, you need to be confident and relaxed with each other, and once it clicks you'll probably forget that it was ever a problem .

However, I'm certain that some things tend to help and some things will act against you. For example, getting an opportunity to spend time properly skin to skin as soon as possible after birth with a suitably alert baby - if that can be achieved I'm sure that's good for confidence and the breastfeeding relationship. Avoiding going to bottles too soon - interesting what you say LaT about the link between bottles and mastitis, it certainly shines a light on my experience with DS1.

Thanks for the link to the LLL info, CSWS, I must have a read of that. I never had a problem feeding on demand with DS2 - he was extremely easy to feed, going quite naturally to 2-3 hours and very efficient about getting what he needed. But if DD is a 'feed every hour for 45 minute' merchant for months and months I think my attitudes are going to be tested to the extreme - good to read some evidence to help me judge how much I might want to try and interfere.

Turned 33 weeks over the weekend. Like everyone else I'm knackered - I lay down on Sunday evening after putting DS2 to bed to 'rest my eyes'. This was at 8pm. At 11pm I woke up and decided it might be a bit late for dinner so went back to bed - woke up at 8 am on Monday . Bump is now beginning to droop in rather depressed fashion - reflecting my state of mind no doubt.

I'm sure that at this point with DS1 and DS2 I was doing more to prepare for birth, but I haven't even got organised yet to get any raspberry leaf tea. Beginning to accept that it might be a bit late to start revising my hypnobirthing tapes

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dinosaurinmybelly · 04/05/2010 22:55

CSWS thank you so much for the fantastic advice. I'm going to go through the links you have posted. I would really love the bfeeding to be a success this time...

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Saucepanman · 04/05/2010 22:55

Hello all, this thread fell off my threads I'm on I got so behind with it! Had my 32nd birthday last week, that's my excuse!

Am 35 weeks and booked in for a section on May 24th. I ache. That's pretty much it!

Hope you're all well, sorry so short and sweet but will update properly soon. Might go to bed and begin the nightly horizontal riverdance that is my restless legs. As a bday present my legs gave me my worst night's sleep ever- 3.30am before I could settle down

Still no girl's name, DH not budging on my choice

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LittleRobbo · 05/05/2010 08:33

saucepanman lol at horizontal riverdance i know exactly what you mean!

Wow,only 19 days to go for you! Happy belated Birthday to you too

I started on the Rasberry Leaf Tea on Friday,it actually tastes quite nice thankfully.

AlwaysHopeful at you being in the Lakes you lucky thing,hope you are having a lovely time.

Right i'm off to get ready for playgroup have a nice day ladies.

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roundabout1 · 05/05/2010 11:56

Hi everyone, as usual not posting much but regularly read up on the posts but by the time I have done that no time for posting!
I am now 36 weeks, had mw appointment yesterday and the head is 4/5 engaged & am suddenly terrified at the thought of labour & birth. I've done it before but with dd had to be induced as was 2 wks overdue so feel like a first timer regards to when to go to hospital etc. Also with birth of dd never felt anything tummywise all I felt was in my back & bottom so not even sure what contractions feel like. Also have a fear of waters breaking when doing the school run/walk. Just so don't want to be known as the mum whose waters broke on the playground, I'm sure that story would just keep going & going.
Have been very lightheaded & breathless for weeks now & mw has suggested iron as my levels are low but not low enough to be classed as anemic but previously were exceptionally high. Off to health food shop later to get some floradix & will get some raspberry leaf tea at the same time. Oh god am panicking now, so not ready to have this baby, no mattress for the cot, can't find my tens machine & have floorboards up in my bedroom & a hole through the wall!!

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mampam · 05/05/2010 13:18

Hi all

Saucepanman your little mini-me will be born one day before my little mini-me just got back from the hospital and I'm booked in for my CS on the 25th

roundabout I'm not ready for this baby either tbh. I have managed a trip today to M&S to get myself some nursing bras, pyjamas, dressing gown and some knickers!! All to pack in the hospital bag.
My levels weren't statistically classed as being anaemic, about 11 I think but MW did say that as they started off at 14, 11 might just be too low for me (IYSWIM?). Not sure if the iron tablets are working or not really cos I keep forgetting to take them

CSWS do you think Arnica tablets work if your having a CS?

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madamefreckle · 05/05/2010 13:21

Arse! The baby has turned...but not the right way at all! She has been head down for weeks...now suddenly, 4 weeks before D-Day, she decides to go exploring!

Can'tSleep - Thanks for arnica advice.

Roundabout - Stay calm! If your waters broke on the playground I'm sure you'd get loads of help...and the stories wouldn't be bad ones! (but it's v. unlikely to occur and if it does it would only be a trickle as when you're standing, the baby's head blocks the fluid from gushing out... it's much more likely to be a torrent if you're lying down). You've also just reminded me about tens machine...

Right, off to crawl around with my bum in the air for a while.

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CantSleepWontSleep · 05/05/2010 14:43

Arnica helps with any bruising mampam, so if there's bruising from a CS then yes!

Very exciting people having dates already, esp when they seem so close!

We do need to come up with our next thread title pretty quickly, and I think it should make reference to the fact that the first babies are likely to be born whilst we're still on it. Where are all the creative ideas types?!

Are any of you in/nr St Neots in Cambridge btw? I've just been sent details of a new La Leche League group starting up there, and they have their first meeting on 21st May. I can let you have more details if anyone's interested in popping along (existing children are welcome at the meeting too).

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gizmo · 05/05/2010 17:15

Awww, man this is all getting a bit real isn't it? Some of you will have had your babies before I start my maternity leave

Madamefreckle that's a bummer about minifreckle turning. Hopefully if she can do it once she can just keep circling around?

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MrsAlwaysRight · 05/05/2010 18:48

Hi Ladies,

Can't believe we've almost filled another thread!
How about:
June is approaching, the end is in sight, time to get our lady gardens sorted so the midwives don't get a fright!

Today was my last day at work and its starting to feel a bit more real that I'll have another baby in a few weeks!

Saw the midwife last week and it seems the horrible one has gone - Woo Hoo. She asked if I had packed my hospital bag yet. I replied that it was the least of my worries at the moment bearing in mind DD still in the cot and the spare room is still resembling a junk room. She looked slightly and said I really need to get it sorted in the next week. Tell me something I don't know! Have asked my dad to help get it sorted as have no idea when DH will get round to it.

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greensnail · 05/05/2010 19:48

I like that thread title MrsAlwaysRight, very appropriate . Try not to worry too much about whether you'll get everything sorted before the baby comes though. So long as it has somewhere to sleep, something to wear and nappies, everything else can be sorted out afterwards if needs be.

Great news everyone who has a date set in the not too distant future. madamefreckle hope baby decides to turn back again soon!

roundabout I'm sure it'll be fine if your waters do go in the playground. One of the mums at music group's waters broke during the session a few weeks back. The only reason I knew was I heard her telling her friend and she stayed till the end of the session anyway!

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mampam · 05/05/2010 20:22

Good evening. Forgot to mention earlier that I did something really embarrassing at the hospital today. I was sat looking at the notice board behind me, looking over my right shoulder....I turned to look over my left shoulder and somehow managed to let out a really loud fart in the process Thankfully there was no one else in the waiting room at the time but another couple walked in about 5 seconds later and DH both burst out laughing and I was literally crying tears with laughing so much. I keep doing this (laughing not farting). On Saturday we went to a garden centre and DH tripped over some plants. I had tears streaming down my face I was laughing so much. Anyone else in fits of hysterics at the moment?

Also has anyone got/had any cravings? The last few weeks I have been crunching ice, I can't get enough of it and love the feeling on my teeth as I bite through it . I've also bought myself a sponge today and have spent the last half an hour in the bath sniffing it These are both things I have done in my previous pregnancies too .(yes I know I'm srange).

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