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Childbirth

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Original poster

Things no-one tells you when you're pregnant!

255 replies

Emsie00 · 12/10/2006 14:11

Hi All,

When I was expecting I read all the usual books but still found myself thinking afterwards - why did no-one tell me that? I was talking to some friends who could all name a couple of things that they wish they had been told about, some were funny and some were really useful.

Here's a few of them;

  1. If you want to breastfeed but cant for some reason the hospital gives you 3 options to choose from which are all free of charge whilst you are in. A) SMA formula B) Cow & Gate Formula C)Donated Breast Milk from another mother. You get to choose which you would like. I had naturally assumed that I would be able to feed my daughter so was completely unprepared to have to make this decision, especially after 19 hours of labour! So do your research beforehand and take your own if you dont like their options.
  1. If you have to have an episiotomy don't be surprised if dr/midwife uses a pair of scissors. It took my husband weeks to get over what he had seen!!
  1. I thought the suggestion of packing an Eye Mask in my labour bag was ridiculous, so never bought one. My daughter had to have phototherapy for 48 hours and I would have done anything to have had one to block out the blue light at night! There are also always lights on in the ward so it really does help to get you a better nights sleep.

Please add to this thread - With any luck it might help first time mum's to be

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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mysticpeaks · 13/10/2006 11:04

As beautiful and precious as your newborn is - they stink!!

sleepfinder · 13/10/2006 11:36

You will have a dry, sore throat afterwards, if you've been "vocal" during labour...

MrsSpoon · 13/10/2006 13:57

If your baby has plenty of hair then there will be little crispy bits of blood and stuff hanging around in it for days, no matter how often you attempt to wash it.

Also your baby may have hairy ears.

pesha · 13/10/2006 14:41

I wasn't prepared for mw coming up and literally grabbing hold of my breast and thrusting it into baby's mouth and then regularly poking around to check she was latched on properly! And still I had cracked, bleeding and incredibly painful nipples for weeks. They did get better though and it really is worth it

None of its that bad though. Wait till they start walking and talking, that's when the trouble really starts!!

whiffy · 13/10/2006 14:56

You will forget your breast pads at least once and go out, and then wonder why everyone in Tescos is giggling at you.....

beegee · 13/10/2006 15:03

Wish i'd known how painful nipples are for first week or two when bf - and it had nothing to do with the 'positioning' of baby - that was all fine. Sore nipples happenend with both my new borns and now i realise it can be very common.

That 1st poo helped my sore stitches - was dreading my 1st poo and avoided doing it due to stiches - phoned my mw in tears with pain from stitches. She advised me to drink some prune juice and poo away as it will help...OOOoooh - what a relief! Wish i'd known that 24 hrs earlier. I pooed as early as i could after my 2nd birth.

Wish i'd known how quickly the babes grow out of clothes. Sometimes mine were in something only once or not at all as they grew faster than i could keep up!

beegee · 13/10/2006 15:06

Oh yes, whiffy - i remember i had to make a quick escape to nearest toilet with handblower dryer and stick my t-shirt under it to dry up my milk leakage!

fortyplus · 13/10/2006 16:05

Hi you guys who are pregnant for the first time. Yes it's dead scary but I remember when I was in early labour and feeling really miserable and got kept in overnight. Had to go to breakfast and there were all these bright eyed and bushy tailed women who still looked pregnant to me but said they'd had their babies during the night. There they were looking perfectly normal and not at all traumatised! It cheered me up no end - and sure enough I felt fine and phoned my mum about 15 mins after giving birth. The only ones who were grotty were the ones who'd had emergency cs with general anaesthetic.

evilanniedividedin2byalargeaxe · 13/10/2006 16:08

First timers, don't be scared, I'm a massive coward and currently expecting no.4 so it can't be that bad! The first poo IS worse than the birth though!!!!

JonahB · 13/10/2006 16:12

Ignore the noises from other delivery suites around you. I had a screamer on one side. DH and I looked at each other, i nervously laughed, She stopped. Then screamer no 2 started on the other side. At that point, full blown panic set in.

CountessDracula · 13/10/2006 16:13

that you might end up in intensive care

It never crossed my mind

lockets · 13/10/2006 16:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

SpookyMadMummy · 13/10/2006 16:43

After delivering dd2 "au naturel" at 8 in the morning I then went to post natal. MW asked have you had your bowels open yet?? Now, it took me a week to pluck up courage with dd1, and seeing as dd2 was 2 pounds heavier I thought I would be smug as I had!Imagine my horror when she said let me check your stitches and then TOLD me about the massive haemmerhoid !!(sp) That was it I couldn't go for days...

rubles · 13/10/2006 17:28

One that hasn't been put down here is that bruising can be as bad or worse than any tears and stitching. I seemed to suffer much worse than others i knew who had had an episiotomy and I had never heard of bruising down below after childbirth - apparently I was completely black from bruising, although I didn't look.

I also found that a simple bottle is not enough to dilute the sting of urine - what worked for me eventually was getting on all fours in the bath to wee, with the showerhead on and spraying me from behind so that the wee was all pushed away from the bruising.

thefreakyflumpsmum · 13/10/2006 17:32

dont panic if its your first and when you go into hospital you have a male midwife or a student midwife..i had a male student midwife lol,i panicked but he was the best midwife i had the 2 times ive been in labour.

EliBoo · 13/10/2006 18:01

I wish someone had told me how painful the let-down reflex can be, and how long that can last. I was probably unlucky, but I had extremely painful boobs when b'feeding for about 6-8 weeks...to the point where I'd often cry as the milk came down. And it wasn't a positioning issue, either - I even had a b'feeding counsellor come and check.

But that said..I'm set to do it again...

ilovecaboose · 13/10/2006 18:18

2 things that I never knew

HAving contractions every time you feed baby for a while after the birth.

baby ears being all floppy and taking about a day to gain their shape (though everyone I've spoken to can't remember this apparently) - that was really wierd.

And also every midwife/hv/nurse/doctor - referring to you as 'mummy' . I ahve a name don't you know.

hollyhobbie · 13/10/2006 19:30

Having to 'push' out the placenta- all the books I'd read made it sound as though you wouldn't even notice it happening. It wasn't half as bad a giving birth, but I was dismayed/horrified to have to push again so soon after thinking it was all over...

You will be STARVING the next day. I remember standing at the fridge, eating, and planning what to eat next!

Rumpel · 17/10/2006 14:57

The first poo Take lactulose or fybogel into hospital with you. Painkillers can cause you to bung up something chronic. I had to get suppositories prescribed, then had to call the doctor out as was soo painful. Then got anasetic (spelling ability has gone awol)suppositories and ointment prescribed! Owww! Took me 5 days to clear the blockage!TMI sorry!

Also you think breastfeeding will be natural - it soo isn't for some people- you and baby have to learn how to do it!

Even if you escape tearing, episiotomies and stitches your ladybits will be sore and swollen like you wouldn't believe!

rebelmum1 · 17/10/2006 15:32

I strolled in confidently for my induction in my mules and shuffled out in my slippers

sallycinnamon · 17/10/2006 15:40

Just how totally messy the whole thing was. I was expecting some blood obviously but the delivery room looked like Freddie Krueger had been let loose!
Also I remember one night not long after dd was born and everything was leaking- both boobs like a tap and blood dribbling down my legs. I hated that feeling of never being able to get really clean. I could have a bath but then as soon as I'd get out more blood would appear. Yuk!

rebelmum1 · 17/10/2006 15:53

I suffocated my baby with my breast while trying to feed her. She went blue! That wasn't in any of the books.

helenmumof2 · 17/10/2006 15:57

hi all
Sorry i don't understand short hand am new to this can anyone explain.
when i had no.2 midwife decided it was going too slow so broke my waters and put me on a drip to speed things up. DON't DO IT. I felt like i was being ripped in half, it was 20 times worse than number one.
Also when you get stiched be prepared for them to shove a giant tampax thing in and never let go of the gas and air.
Still can't think about the first poo but might have to again soon as trying for no.3 sometimes wonder about my sanity!

helenmumof2 · 17/10/2006 16:00

just found acronym list so now i get it !

rebelmum1 · 17/10/2006 16:02

My dignity was left at the door.