Please or to access all these features

Infertility

Our Infertility Support forum is a space to connect with others in the same position, discuss causes, treatment and IVF, and share infertility stories of hope and success.

Keith's BPG II

993 replies

KittyKatSmile · 02/08/2019 08:19

@AliciaWhiskers @CornishMaid1 @Ginandtonic31 @Cauliflower82 @Welshpugmomma @Mrbay @Zest11 @RRoonilWazlib @Weenumpty

Hope this works xx

OP posts:
Thread gallery
34
Ginandtonic31 · 22/05/2020 16:17

@KittyKatSmile ooo you've just reminded me, I've ordered Joe Wicks' Wean in 15 book. It's coming Wednesday. Are you going to give it a go?

You know what, the breast feeding thing, the other day I thought I'm beating myself up so much that I didn't continue. I say I 'only' managed 3 weeks. Why aren't I saying I managed 3 bloody weeks of giving her my milk and antibodies, that's amazing?! She still got something. Just now she's bigger and a pleasure to be with I wish I could have that closeness with her.

I've wondered whether to try and get her down at 7.30 and do a dreamfeed. I'm just not sure whether she would take it. But for now I'm not going to mess with it as I must admit I don't want to be tied to going to bed any earlier and I enjoy the lay ins with her.

I wish lockdown had been better here. I feel like we are in a mess.

KittyKatSmile · 22/05/2020 16:45

@Ginandtonic31 oh my wean in 15 arrived this week!! It's gorgeous and I've been feeding my mum recipes from it from his Instagram for weeks anyway!

Yes you definitely need to reframe the language. 3 weeks is brilliant at a time when you were physically and mentally wrecked. Well done you. I also have to say although the closeness is wonderful, you do end up tethered to the sofa and my undercarriage still isn't right (apparently I really do have a designer vagina: they stitched me up too tightly...!)

I know what you mean about the lie ins. I usually feed Nancy at 7:30am and then we have a little snooze together before it's time for me to pump (oh yeah, that's the other thing. I'm still pumping 3 times a day, including once at 4am so my udders don't explode so it's not all that!!)

OP posts:
Ginandtonic31 · 22/05/2020 21:30

@KittyKatSmile ooo I'm glad you like it. I can't wait for mine to come. Are you getting any others? I'm probably going to get a couple of books for ideas. Has the wean in 15 got good advice? Do you feel you could completely wean from it?

Oh yes I have to say I like the fact I can let my other half feed her and things.
How do you know it's tight? Does it feel it? I'm still sore sometimes especially when unsupported like on the loo. I got piles too 🙄

I do bring Georgie into bed with me sometimes. Am I making a rod for my own back?

Zest11 · 22/05/2020 22:36

Thank you all for your kind words. I'm really hoping that one of the measurements is wrong (that's what's keeping me sane!). I do feel him move lots still and know his pattern but I sure will be glad when these next 2 weeks are over and we can see what's actually going on!

@Mrbay eek Wednesday - that's so exciting for you. Are you starting with buserelin or do you take steroids for a while first?

@KittyKatSmile September doesn't seem far away at all. How can time go by so quickly?!! Ahh I hope you are able to extend it a bit but it's a very tricky time with work and jobs. Although it does appear Guernsey have managed this virus well.

@Ginandtonic31 When were you planning on returning to work? Again, it seems so soon! Regarding co-sleeping, I wouldn't worry. You will be bonding with Georgie so much with that and when the time is right, she will go in her own bed but the time isn't right now :) I'm sure my SiL had her baby in with her until she was 2/3 and it was all fine.

Ginandtonic31 · 23/05/2020 00:58

@Zest11 I was due to go back end of January but may decide to extend it now and go back end of March/mid-April.

She doesn't spend all night with us. She's fantastic in her next2me and often sleeps through 10 hours or more in it. But sometimes if she is storing at 7 I bring her in for an extra couple of hours Smile

Ginandtonic31 · 23/05/2020 00:59

I meant stiring at 7

KittyKatSmile · 23/05/2020 10:39

@Ginandtonic31 I think that's fine. Nancy and I co-slept for a while as she wouldn't sleep in her cot but she's now fine in it all night although after her morning feed she tends to fall asleep on me and we have a cuddle and a snooze for an hour or so and I just love it. I'm fairly relaxed about that though; I don't share my bed with anyone else so I don't mind hugely the thought of having a 4 year old sharing it with me!!

OP posts:
Ginandtonic31 · 23/05/2020 12:29

@KittyKatSmile I can never understand how they sleep all night, wake up, eat and sleep again! I rarely feed her in bed these days as some days she doesn't have her first feed until 10 so we go downstairs and she has it then sleeps again! I'm like you've just slept 12 hours! How can you need another nap! The life of a baby eh. She's always been really good in her cot and I think she just knows if it's dark that's it. I sit in bed on my iPad or reading my Kobo with a backlight in and she just gargles around until she drops off 😂

mouse1234567 · 24/05/2020 09:07

Hi all,
Sorry it has been soooo long! I’m so pleased to see so many of you are getting on well with your babies. It must be a challenging time with the virus.
@Mrbay I’m so pleased the clinics have opened up and wish you so much luck for your next round.

@Zest11 you are at a similar stage to me but a few weeks behind I think -but potentially is you get induced early we may have very similar birthdays of our children! Hope all is going ok with your movements.

I’m 37 weeks today-really can’t quite believe it. Physically I’m feeling pretty good -I’m tall so I think it really helps how I carry -still feeling pretty active and ok. Bit of heartburn and sleep is hard! Especially in heat! What I’m finding harder is managing anxiety now we are so close. It’s been quite an interesting few months. I started having growth scans at 28 weeks due to low Papp a which could indicate slow growth and small baby-well the sonographer got a shock when he measured the abdomen and it was above the 95th percentile. Then I was sent for a diabetes test as there was a concern this is what was causing it -luckily that came back ok and don’t have it. Scan at 32 weeks showing abdomen in 97th percentile. I’ve found it all quite stressful and put myself under a lot of pressure to eat well -although I haven’t always stuck to it and find it very hard! Had my 36 week growth scan a few weeks ago and the abdomen had gone down to the 91st percentile (which I know is still very big but made me happy!!its all relative! ) anyway the sonographers seemed quite happy with babies size and I think overall he is a big lad but taking all his other measurements into consideration maybe in the 80s for percentiles. I’m 6ft 1 and hubby a bit taller so I guess to be expected. The problem is though that he is still breech. I was given the option of an ECV to try to turn him or planned section. I’ve been stressing the last few days trying to decide what to do. Wondering if any of you have any experience or thoughts? From what I gather the ECV is low risk but when it does go wrong it can go really wrong. The success rate of turning is only about 50 percent and it can be quite uncomfortable and long-you can’t eat for 6 hours before and during in case something goes wrong and you need an emergency CS. My hospital now makes you wear masks and they make me feel sick and if I’m nil by mouth and you get an injection which apparently makes you hot and heart beat faster! I’m just not sure I want to put myself through this for a 50 percent success rate (which is also lower for first time mums) -you know what it is like for IVF -I’m much more paranoid than the average mum and would never forgive myself if I was the 1/200 that it went wrong with.

The alternative is going straight to a c section -I sort of like the idea that I wouldn’t have to wait so long for birth and would know when it’s going to happen but of course I know like anything it also has risks. So hard to know what to do! I have to decide by Tuesday as am booked in on Wed for this ECV. At the moment I think I’m leaning towards a planned section.

Anyway sorry for the ramble and hope You are all Having a wonderful bank hol! In other news I’m totally disorganised and really need to buy baby stuff!!

KittyKatSmile · 24/05/2020 10:14

@mouse1234567 hi!!! Welcome back. So great to have you with us and so exciting you're so close to meeting your little man (not sure I knew you were having a boy).

I've read a few things about how to try to turn your baby naturally. I think there is a certain time to do it but it might be worth a try. Have a look at this if you haven't seen it already:

spinningbabies.com/learn-more/baby-positions/breech/flip-a-breech/

I think you can also try acupuncture although not sure if that's possible right now.

Let us know if you need any advice on what to buy; I'm sure we've all got a fair few essentials we'd recommend!

Take care of yourself x

OP posts:
Ginandtonic31 · 24/05/2020 11:22

@mouse1234567 hello! @KittyKatSmile had beat me to recommending Spinning Babies. I didn't need to use it but it was mentioned by Positive Birth Company in a video.

Try not to worry about the growth scans. I kept getting big measurements for abdomen and I think I posted on here I was worried because we had ivf to rule out a bowel disease. Anyway, she came and her belly isn't big at all. She weighed 8lb 1 and is long. Hubby always used to tell me to stop worrying as she was probably long and bent over more making her tummy fold over a little. She's chunky now but still got a skinny belly!

Zest11 · 24/05/2020 15:42

@mouse1234567 so glad to hear from you and that things are going fine! How exciting, 37 weeks so you are 'term!' It sounds like you have made your mind up already about birth however my friend's baby was in breech and she did pregnancy yoga tailored to breech and her baby shifted. I'm sure there's stuff on YouTube and there's also an app called downward dog prenatal (you might be able to get a free trial!). May I ask, what's your hospital's (Corona) policy surrounding birth and visitors? What things have you bought/need to get? I love hearing recommendations and also what's on people's to buy list!

@ginandtonic31 It sounds like the first few weeks of having a baby are tough but it gets better?? Your routine sounds so lovely and that is very impressive that you and @kittykatsmile have got your babies to sleep throughout the night so soon!

My husband and I did NCT and we came away alarmed after the breastfeeding session. It seems so so intense, I don't know how people do it for 2 days, let alone 3 weeks or months! We were basically told the baby just feeds every 2 hours including throughout the night and there's something called cluster feeding too which is even worse. It just sounds so demanding!

@ginandtonic31 I remember now you saying about the big tummy and you were so worried. I'm so glad the growth scan was wrong. At our 28wks he was around 50-60 for tummy, then at 32, off the scale (like past 97!!) and then at 34 back to around 50. My husband is convinced the 32wks was a measurement error! I'm really hoping it was.

Would anyone like to share their favourite baby products or toys they've bought? And what they never used? I think we are sorted for newborn but no doubt we'll realise we need things when he's here.

Ginandtonic31 · 24/05/2020 16:33

@Zest11 I was completely prepared for cluster feeding but she did it every night for 2 weeks from 11pm to 7am and I just don't think she was getting what she needs. Also she slept all day and wouldn't feed. We had to strip her down and put cold water on her bum to try and wake her. But that doesn't happen did everyone. I just couldn't cope with it. I think regardless the first weeks are tough. You're learning your baby and it's so hard. But I promise it gets better. This is from someone who isn't maternal and regretted having her for the first few weeks. Now she's amazing. Just keep that in mind when it's tough.

Things I took to hospital and never needed:
Slippers (I used flip flops)
Lounge wear and stuff - I wore a nightie at night and leggings and top if I got dressed
I took loads of snacks and water spray, battery tea lights, etc. But we never got chance to get the bags out the car before baby. Obviously most people would get use though.

I'm trying to think of things I've lived/not used
Loved cheeky wipes
The bath seat we got
Georgie LOVES ribbons I got from a sensory place
Love the Next2me dream we've got
Perfect prep and mam bottles if you do bottle feed at any point
Grosnug for bedtime as can be used from newborn

Wasted money on shed loads of newborn vests and things. She quickly outgrew them and it's now so hot I don't put her in vests. She only has 5.

Zest11 · 26/05/2020 17:59

@Ginandtonic31 I'm starting to think that whilst you can have an idea of what things to expect, all babies are different and you just have to adapt to whatever situation you're in. I am so impressed that you have a baby that sleeps so well! But yes, the first few weeks so sound incredibly hard and I guess it's good to know that now! Thank you for your tips on things to get, they are most useful!

May I ask any of you how many layers are you putting your babies in in this heat? (In the day and at night for sleeping) It's absolutely baking and I'm genuinely wondering if a vest will be enough for our boy on days like this?!

Ahh got a letter through the post today and discovered I'm having another scan later this week to check placenta/blood flow. And then another growth scan and doctor appt next week. I really can't fault the care we're getting.

KittyKatSmile · 26/05/2020 19:46

@Zest11 I was putting Nancy in far too many layers and then she got horrible heat rash all over her neck last week. I've found a helpful table through Dr google which says how many layers to put on depending on the temperature in the room (oh! Get a gro egg which shows you the ideal temperature in the room for the baby). Nancy is currently in either a long sleeved vest or a babygro with her sleeping bag. (I had been putting her in short sleeved vest AND her baby gro. But I am an idiot!)

Great news about more scans. Pleased to hear it xx

OP posts:
Ginandtonic31 · 26/05/2020 21:50

@Zest11 Georgie is currently sleeping in a long sleeved vest and a 1 tog sleeping bag or a babygrow and sleeping bag. In the day I can just judge by feeling her chest. Today she has been in a romper. Yesterday a vest and shorts etc. If she feels cold I put leggings on.

Mrbay · 28/05/2020 15:59

Afternoon girls!

@mouse1234567 - how exciting!!

Sorry I can't help with clothing questions.

Hope you are all good?

Cauliflower82 · 01/06/2020 06:40

Oh my goodness, there has been so much activity and so much is happening. It’s been so lovely this morning reading through everyone’s updates. I sometimes feel a bit stuck to my phone with family and friends at the moment so that’s the reason I haven’t been on as much. I’ve realised reading through all the messages though how much I miss you all and miss the support and kind reassuring advice.

@Zest11 I can’t believe your baby is almost here!! I am so excited to hear this, so excited. I hope you’re not too worried re scans and baby size - they often get it wrong. Pip was always measuring 97th percentile for abdomen and it used to worry me so much when everything else measured small and he was completely in proportion when he came out.

@Ginandtonic31 and @KittyKatSmile wow!! You guys are doing so well with the sleep. We are having interesting times with the sleep. Pip goes to bed about nine, wakes up at about 2 and 6 for feeds and gets up properly at about eight and sometimes naps a little in between then and noon. We are still very much around every four hours. Any advice? We aren’t following any books or anything, just kind of doing what he tells us to do 😂. Although we’re obviously still in sync people as I’ve bought Joe Wicks’ book too!!!! I’m liking it a lot but haven’t made anything yet but most of it seems pretty doable.

@Mrbay how are you doing on the meds? I’m also with you re the insensitive comments people have made about fertility clinics upending 😠. Unless people have been through it, they really have no idea, none whatsoever of how long a week can feel, never mind a whole month or even longer.

We’re doing so well here ☺️. I just love being a mummy and everyday gets better. I never had any idea babies were this much fun - I only ever heard stories about sleep poop feed sleep poop feed but Pip loves listening to stories, looking at picture books together and laughing when we make silly faces. He loves the bath too. He doesn’t love his boing ball mind - he screams when it hits the floor so that’s gone for a bit now.

He’s still a noisy sleeper - so noisy that one of us sleeps downstairs with him and the other is in bed just to allow everyone to get a decent stretch. We haven’t mastered the sleeping at all. I’m still expressing his food but thankfully it’s only three times a day now and I’m maintaining supply of about 900ml a day, never anything to freeze but it keeps up with his demand. I don’t know how this exclusively pumping thing happened 😂😂 it was never ever the plan - I didn’t even have a pump. The midday pump is a pain in the neck and I’m thinking of dropping to two pumps in a few weeks and hoping I can still get about 600ml but we’ll see.

I promise I’m going to keep more up to date. I’ve probably missed people but I can hear Pip squirming about which means milkies are needed ☺️

Zest11 · 04/06/2020 20:26

Hi @Cauliflower82 so so lovely to hear from you and see how little Pip is getting on. That's so lovely how you are really enjoying motherhood. It's so nice to hear. Thank you with your reassurances about scans, I've got so upset and worked up on different occasions but there's nothing I can do!

@Mrbay How are you and how is your cycle going? Are you currently downregging or are you onto the stims? I really hope you are okay. I remember the drugs helped send me a lot loopier than normal! Grin

What's everyone been doing recently? Have you been able to make the most of the new (kind of!) relaxations? Have you been able to see your families again? I have met the ladies in my NCT group which was quite nice and met other friends for walks etc too.

Little update from me. Baby is back to being big again so they think one of the previous measurements was inaccurate. He doesn't need to come next week but apparently he's over 7lb now so I'm prepared for a huge one at 40wks. As I'm tall and my husband was 9lb I'm not surprised just worried very about the pain/damage at birth! I'm going to look into all the natural ways of inducing labor and have got some syringes for colostrum harvesting! Confused

Ginandtonic31 · 04/06/2020 23:30

@Cauliflower82 we too are just doing what baby tells us. Haven't tried to do a routine or anything. Although I will need her in s routine before nursery and work. I'm putting that off for now. Probably try and have a proper bed time when she's in her own room.

RRoonilWazlib · 05/06/2020 09:42

Hi ladies, I thought I had well and truly lost this thread months and months ago but I've just stumbled across it! I've had a quick read through from the very start of the thread. It seems so long ago that we were taking the meds and waiting to take tests!

Its so lovely to read some good news and see pictures of your adorable bundles!

My surrogate baby is now almost 11 weeks old! He was due on 15th March but made his arrival 9 days late on 24th March - the first day of lockdown!!! I felt super lucky because my labours with my own two boys were both about 18 hours long but this little guy was in a hurry after keeping us waiting and came after a quick 2 hour labour! Slight issues with my blood pressure and baby's heart rate and he had already done a poo but delivery was great and all was fine once he was born!

Hope you don't mind me jumping back in to read your updates and fill you in!

Hope lockdown is being kind to you all!

Xx

Mrbay · 05/06/2020 10:14

Hey girls!

Lovely updates!

I'm still on down reg, still waiting for my period - needs to hurry up, otherwise I won't be starting stimms next week.
I've had one low day so far, so much better than normal - still nervous that I won't have any eggs for collection. But I am following @KittyKatSmile's diet plan but after a stressful day yesterday my protein intake was down. My 15-yr dog had to go in for a dental under GA - I was so worried that she wouldn't make it.

@RRoonilWazlib - what a lovely update, how are you feeling about it all?

RRoonilWazlib · 05/06/2020 11:00

@mrbay I'm feeling great thank you! Still on a massive high after making my friends parents. We talk every day and they're always sending me pictures, he is so adorable and super chunky!!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Aunt Flo makes her appearance soon so you can start stims next week!! X

KittyKatSmile · 05/06/2020 13:58

@Mrbay everything crossed for you and glad you're following the eating plan; do you think I should write a book?!

@RRoonilWazlib so good to have you back with us and well done you. Such an amazing thing you have done. One of the Times columnists has just had a baby via surrogate and their story was in the paper last weekend. I of course cried my eyes out.

@Zest11 so excited to hear your news soon. Try not to fixate on the size too much. We are given the babies we're meant to have xx

OP posts:
Mrbay · 05/06/2020 22:10

@RRoonilWazlib - might be the drugs, but just thinking about how your friend must be feeling, I burst into tears of happiness - this world still has amazing people and you are one of them!

@KittyKatSmile - I think so!! Lets hope I get a special egg like you did :)