The posifrikentivity graduates thread - we did it!!

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Finally enough graduates (with more very imminently expected) to have our very own little thread. Yay. :)

Choc you thought to weigh yourself in the labour room?! I think I was brain dead at that point

Ha ha no - the student midwife made me get on the scales (she was lovely though - glad she was helping with my second not first though)

I was giving DS1 a bottle of expressed milk by 2 weeks - I wanted to be sure he'd take it, also meant I could get DH to do the 10.30pm feed and get my head down from 9pm ish. I used Gina Ford btw - not at all religiously but as a rough guide for timings. I never bothered with darkened rooms and naps at home - Ds slept in the car seat or pram wherever I was. But the evening bath/bed and 10.30pm dream feed were useful.

DS had a growth spurt at 6-7weeks and I stopped expressing then and did a formula bottle at night instead. Expressing really took it out of me and wore me down.

Milk has started to come in and my boobs are now mahoosive!! Have ordered some new underwired nursing bras in 32I and j FFS!!

Thanks for all your advice girls, sorry I just had such a meltdown day yesterday. I managed to do the 30ish min per boob feeds which seems to be working kind of. Meant a f

Oops...

Meant a feed during the night but he went in for 25minutes then fell asleep again so wasn't all bad.

Hope I'm doing the right thing. Might express a bit this avo as didn't get round to it this morning.

In sad news, my lovely sister in law started to miscarry last night :( it was her birthday as well, and she was due to go for her 12 wk scan on Monday. She's so devastated but I'm glad I'm able to talk to her about it as we all know what it's like getting sympathy from people who haven't experienced it. Poor pet, they've just sent her home and said they'd scan her again in a week so she has to spend the whole of Xmas bleeding and waiting :( I said to her to ask for an ERPC if possible before Xmas but I can't remember what the protocol is in that?

Janie that is really sad news - reminds me of how lucky we all are

Aah, that makes sense Choc. On the subject of student midwives...after being induced and only feeling niggles (def not contractions) the student midwife did an internal and said "yep, you're 7cm dilated". I looked at the 'real' midwife's face and she was a bit perplexed! Told her she could have a rummage too if she wanted and in fact I was 2-3cm, the 'real' midwife reckoned she hadn't even got close to my cervix! I found it quite funny as didn't believe her either, but imagine others wouldn't be too happy to go from 7 to 2!!!!

Oh Janie that's shitty, especially at this time of year. Poor thing. And sorry to the rest of the family too, really puts a downer on things :(
When I asked if I could have the erpc any sooner, (no reason other than I wanted it over and done with) they said no because as a hospital they couldn't rely on my dates. They had to be sure themselves. Annoyed me, as I was sure on dates, but I guess just what they have to do. Maybe they will have a little sympathy as it Christmas and that rule can be bypassed. I do hope so.

hi ladies, sorry I disappeared again! Stomach bug, family visiting and pre-Christmas rush have kept me pretty busy. We are with DH's family for the holidays - we travelled on Wednesday - so packing and travelling was another thing that stressed me this week! But can relax now (still need to wrap Xmas presents though)

Welcome choc and congratulations, lovely to see you here! It sounds like you had a nice, quick labour! Let's hope booty finds us as well

ibip sorry to hear about the thrush - it sounds awful! Poor Imogen and you! I hope you're both feeling better

janie have things with DH improved? I hope he's being more supportive. You know you are Leo's most favourite person in the whole world! The reason you don't get many cuddles is because he can smell the milk (as someone has already mentioned, garden I think) and wants to be on the boob instead. From my experience, half the time they're not hungry...they want some comfort or help to nod off to sleep. Your mum's advice sounds good and I agree with what everyone else has said: express some milk, leave Leo with your mum or DH and do something by yourself (shopping, cinema etc). You'll feel so much better and will miss him loads (and then appreciate being back with him). With DD1 I expressed milk when she was 4 weeks old and with DD2 when she was 2 weeks old. They say not to do it too early but if you leave it for too long they may refuse to take the bottle (as some people have attested). Also going out with the baby will cheer you up immensely! M&S and most coffee shops have baby changing facilities (most public toilets too) - as for breastfeeding: I bought this extra large muslin cloth from TK Maxx recently but you can find it on amazon too:

www.amazon.co.uk/Cuski-Doodle-Multi-Use-Beautiful-Serendipity/dp/B0084405P4/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1387568472&sr=8-16&keywords=cuski (that's the design I bought - it was £7 at TK maxx - but they have a few more nice ones)

It's been amazing, I can cover the baby and myself with ease and breastfeed anywhere I like. I've also used it as a baby blanket (folded)

Sorry to hear about your SIL, janie It's awful nevertheless but on her birthday, just before her 12-week scan and Christmas...life is so unfair sometimes...

Aaaah, I also miss being pregnant (not the first 12 weeks though). Luckily, both DH and I would like a 3rd child. Hopefully we will lucky - and blessed - enough to have a third one...

hi to everyone else, I hope you're all doing well

Yes poor sil's sad news definitely makes me appreciate how lucky we are to have got our little babies in the end. I explained to her about all the emotions I had felt at the time (incl the resentment of other mums / preggos and jealousy etc) and said I understood if she wasn't feeling up to seeing Leo etc but bless her she said she couldn't wait to see him because she just loves him so so much. I know it will be tough for her and I'm sure we'll have a good few tears.

And thanks pentagon, garden and pink for your public feeding advise. I know I'll do it someday but just not yet! I already don't know what to do on Xmas day with my dad and brother I the same room! Might make my excuses and go to the other room! Or maybe they will! Awkwaaaaard!

And Shia much better thanks. Although his constant moaning about being tired still goes on (he's still in the spare room and goes to bed at midnight until the next morning without interruption! I think he must be wearing earplugs! But he gave me a Xmas card earlier from Leo saying'happy Christmas mummy' on it and I burst into tears!!! Happy tears though obv! But also sad ones as kwas thinking about sil.

I tried to express earlier. I only manages 35mls, but not he upside,Leo wolfed it into him so at least I know he should be ok to take a bottle.

Still don't have an Xmas present for dh uh oh

Shia?!?! I meant dh is much better!

I would have cried at a happy Christmas mummy card too! That is very very lovely of your DH Janie :)
I have got DH a present from me and one from Imogen, I doubt he has even thought to get me a present from her, never mind a card. Ah well.
It was dh's Christmas do tonight (it's morning now isn't it....). I made him stay in a hotel! I didn't want him coming back drunk and trying to pick the baby up, which I knew he would. So he can just come back when he is nice and Sober tomorrow :)
But- he is officially on Christmas break now! Which means I get help with bebby so I have time to express without running around like a crazy person. So much relief!! Not sure how long I will manage doing this after the Christmas break. It really takes it's toll!

Some twat broke into my car last night, the week before a van drove into our garden wall and didn't stop to share the love and the week before that someone hit DP's car and drove off. Enough now please. Good job we have a beautiful DD and DS to put everything in perspective! Pissed off though - why are there so many moral less arseholes out there? Rant, rant, rant!

Hi people just discovered this thread. Didn't realise there was a graduate thread. Sorry to have fallen of the face of the earth but might try and keep up with this one a bit now x

Pink I had vaginal thus hand possibly nipple thrush too. Just took he tablet a few times and helped clear. James seem ok though so maybe I didn't have in my nipples

Still breastfeeding. Janie I am rubbish in public. Not rubbish in public as in shy just crap at being discreet!!! Think I is maybe cos I have big boobs. It ends up beig such a kerfuffal. Scarves everywhere wriggly baby, the occasional accidental full frontal flash. Husban is embarrassed by me!! Wish I was one of those discreet seren mums.

Garden sorry to hear about your car. What did they take?
I have a spotty rashy baby too. The first few weeks he had a scabby nose too!! Think he is gonna have excema like his mum and dad :-(

Also working up to a tmi question. Did anyone have tearing down below?

Hi Bod good to hear from you! Glad all is well

Not sure what's gone, we are away at mo, neighbour is sorting it. Hoping the thieving slaaaag was good at their job and hasn't damaged the car. (And that they don't finish the job by doing the house..)

I had stitches (2nd degree), am guessing your TMI is either infection or jiggy jiggy related?

Had a third degree tear. Have been told it has healed nicely
But I can feel a cord like bump under the skin. Is this normal? I think it might be a keloid scar. Am too scared to get involved with the jiggy jiggy. Made another appointment with physio - thing is they only looked at it and it looks fine on the surface but it's inder surface I am worried about!

Hmmm I would guess at yes and it probably is scar tissue but reckon your best bet would be to speak to your Dr. Have you had your 6 wk check with Dr yet? (I'm assuming that they do this all over the country?)

Yeah but they just looked at it. Didn't feel it and I hadn't really noticed it till then was just starting to consider getting involved with jiggy. So do you not have that?

Day 3 and my boobs are now comedy size and agony. Thankfully ds2 is playing ball and trying to drain them.

Re public bf-ing:
I have made myself a bf poncho like these in my Pinterest board for when I am out. So much easier to be covered over front and back than wrestle arranging a scarf. You can get a metre of Jersey fabric from eBay for c.£4.50 and you won't need the full width of it
Then it's fold and sew one seam. It is vv simple to make even with a sleepdeprived hormone laden brain.

Need to get up now - too nice sitting in bed with sun coming in. But ds1 is already whiney today so need to ensure he's getting his fair share of mummy.

Sorry -poncho is the first pic - stripey one (not mine but should link on how to make)

Sorry I've not been posting...things are still tough here and I don't really wanna talk abt it so it just feels wrong to post abt it without saying what's up iyswim

We all have coughs and colds including Noah which is heartbreaking to see, poor little thing...other than that he is great though...feeding 3 - 3.5 hourly which is good...could do with dropping a feed at night tho, DS1 was much better at night so it's a shock to the system Got no nipple pain anymore too which is great! Planning on having Xmas night off and having a drink so looking forward to that

Congrats choc sounds like things are going well and you had a good birth, very happy for you

Sorry I can't help bod just would recommend seeing medical professionals and not getting fobbed off until you are happy?

Sorry abt your car garden

Hope everyone else is happy today....4 more sleeps till Xmas

Bod....I've avoided looking! Last time I looked it seemed cave like and ruined. I will look but when I'm feeling brave (and when I'm back in the comfort of my own home)

Shell, share as little or as much as you like, as long as you know we are here for you x I know you said it had long term effects so I hope you adjust to the changes as soon and smoothly as possible and start to feel a little bit more like the old you.

We are onto the so much pooh the nappy leaks stage, I had forgotten what a pleasure it was

Congratulations choc, lovely to have you here

bod i had a third degree tear the first time, i never looked at or touched my stitches or scar but I'd say it would be scar tissue you are feeling. I know you weren't asking about dtd but just to warn you sex was very painful for me for months afterwards. Hopefully it will be better for you as my GP did say they had sewn me up too tight ! But it does all get back to normal eventually.

just a quick post and run as I'm knackered. We had DD1s 3rd birthday party today - enough said!

and pink smiles! oh I can't wait for smiles :) and I'm glad you got a diagnosis - I hope little pink's bum is getting better.

Thanks for re

Thanks for replies. Bump you never looked at scar ( what like ever'?!) have to admit it took me till now to work up courage. But garden I would encourage to do before yoga checkup unlike I dud so you are better prepared than I was. Dreading the sex hurting. Think will give myself a few more weeks before we try .

Decided I am having a c section next time. No way am I risking anymore tearing down there.

Chocolate hey. That's awsome you made
Bf scarf. I should have done that. Spent £18 on mama scarf
To realise it was just a piece of material!!!!

So while we are going in for good purchases my best buy
So far has been the angel care bath support. So worth the extra bit of money compared to others! Plus a lot cheaper on amazon. Can't tell you how much easier bath time is since getting this!