When to go to hosp? WWYD?

[ThinkPinkStink]

I'm 41 weeks and it's my first.

I've been having contractions for around four hours (not v long).

They started at 45 seconds long and six minutes apart.

For the past two hours they are, on average, 58 seconds long and 3 minutes apart.

I know this is when I should go to the hosp, but I don't feel like it's time...

The contractions are not regular (sometimes every eight minutes, sometimes every minute and a half).

They are irregular strength (sometimes just a bit uncomfortable, other times genuinely painful).

They are irregular length (30-60 seconds).

They are very low down in my pelvis, which feels more like early labour (cervix opening) than later labour (squeezing baby down and out).

As an aside - my waters have not yet broken.

I've spoken to the midwife, she is happy to go with my lead.

I'm about 15 mins in a cab from the hosp.

WWYD?

Oh wow congratulations . You poor thing you must be exhausted, I was and my labour was "only" 40 or so hours.
Hope you're able to get some rest this evening. Bet she's gorgeous.

Well done thinkpink! I had ds at 5am! Sounds like you had a much tougher time though

Welcome to the world little maybe Rosie.

Congratulations to mum for your marathon delivery. So glad she got
Here safely.

And congratulations to dad too

Congratulations to afreshstartplease too

That's wonderful news Think!! Congratulations

Congratulations! Welcome to the world baby girl!!!

Huge congratulations to you all :)

And what a star making it back on here to keep us all updated.

Fantastic news - at last!!!! You have been amazing!
Huge congratulations to you

Congratulations! Well done girl!

Congrats to you both! Enjoy the lovely newborn cuddles- you've bloody earned them!!

Congratulations! And well done on getting through that labour - it sounds like you went through a hell of a time. xx

Congrats thinkpink! Bloody hell sounds like you've been through the whole gamut

Glad baby is with you safely now and really hoping you have a very smooth, quick and complication free recovery - goodness knows you deserve it after all of that!!!

Congratulations, enjoy your little girl.

Thanks all! We've just got home (got the seal
of approval from the med team, though to be honest if I wasn't so keen to get back my own house I probably should have taken an extra day in hosp) now to the important task of keeping little baby alive...

Oh and Afresh CONGRATULATIONS!!

I have a couple of burnt questions if there's anyone who can help:

She is not very interested in feeding (either breast or formula). Does anyone have experience of the same in brand new borns?

Due to her lack of interest in BF I need to get some formula to ensure there is always something available to her in the house - which brand/product would you recommend?

Thank you, thank you!

Both my boys have been/are on Cow & Gate. When you are trying the formula, how much is she taking?

Think, I use aptamil and have done for all my babies with no issues. People say it's the exact same as one of the slightly cheaper brands but I can't remember which one. It's always been good for me so I just stuck with it

I am waking ds for feeds at times as he's not always waking himself

aptimal is cow and gate. Congrats both xxx

Since you had a long labour and also pethidine etc, she probably will take a bit longer to establish breastfeeding. I would just keep offering, do lots of skin to skin, get hold of a breastfeeding support counsellor (eg la Leche league) to check if you have any concerns. You can also hand express or pump so your milk comes in. If she's not gaining weight and the midwives are worried then reassess.

It's also completely possible to mixed feed for a week or two and then go back to exclusively breastfeeding if you want to do that. Brand of formula doesn't matter for newborns - it's very heavily regulated and is almost identical brand by brand.

Had a similar birth to u with DC1 who is now 3. He didn't eat a thing for approx 24 hours. He just slept. I think he was completely exhausted from the birth. He took his first breastfeed approx 24 hours after birth (we had to wake him in the night and offer it and took him a while to latch as he was so drowsy. we had a fab midwife help him with the latch as I was also drowsy and not sure what I was doing). We then had to wake him every 4 hours for the next 24 hours to offer a feed (he did not cry for food for the first few days) and after that he started crying for feeds but we had to tickle his feet while he fed or he would fall asleep after about 2 gulps. He's still not a big eater even now. If u do want to breastfeed I would recommend asking for extra support from your midwife. She should be able to
Point u in the right direction. if u get stuck call a local doula as they will know where the breastfeeding support is and often the doulas themselves can offer support. I can't help with formula as stuck with breastfeeding after that. Congratulations on your lovely baby!!

I had two lots of pethidine in labour, and a DD who was uninterested in feeding at first.

I got so much different advice from different people who should have known better, some of which was downright wrong. If you want to BF, make the effort to find an actual expert (La leche league would be my first stop) and take what anyone else says with a pinch of salt.

My DD ended up mixed fed, which was a right faff. I'm glad I suck at BF (weaned at 18mo), but regretful that the crap advice I got starting right at the beginning resulted in a cascade of events that ended up with EBF not happening.

Think, this article from Kellymom might also help if you do need to give a bottle.

I also had pethidine and my dd2 didn't really want feeding for the first 24 hours. She fed like mad after that!

I have not forgotten about you all!! Just rolling with the sleeplessness - DD is doing well, DH and I are fine but super tired.

More later today when I am in front of my laptop (making responding to individual posts easier).

X

think might I suggest www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/2760515-October-2016-1