May 2015: Still early but babies already arriving!

[Justyouwaitandsee]

Hi ladies, here is a thread to get us started. The support of other 'Maysters' has been so valuable, would hate to miss out on this once babies arrive. I have a feeling we are still going to have lots of questions and experiences to share!

Morning Ladies!! Just marking my place again with the arrival of Sarah!!!

We Have survived our second night together!!

Will now read back whilst Sarah is having a snooze in my arms

Hello mummies!
Currently sat in bed trying to stay awake with Edward in my arms! First night at home is wonderful although he settles best on me and his dad.
Here is my birth story:
Woke up at 6ish and had a few twinges but nothing out of the ordinary. For the previous 10 days I had been losing my plug but other than that no real signs. Anyway, I decided to do my hypnobirthing tape and went back to sleep until about 8. Woke up with tummy and back ache but nothing too extreme so I made myself some porridge. I was meant to meet DH for lunch but text to say I wasn't feeling well. Pain steadily increased and I kept feeling like I needed a bowel movement and like I needed to push. Had a bath and then at about 10 the pain ramped up and I started feeling sick. Hadn't felt baby so rang MAU and explained the pain and lack of movement.
So unbelievably glad I did this. Was told on the phone I'd have the baby monitored and then be sent home. I was even told I could drive myself in- no one thought was in labour! Anyway the pain become very intense so I rang DH and days get home. 30mins later he arrived just as I threw up and felt some water leak out. On the way to hospital DH was a star guiding me through hypnobirthing techniques. Arrived at MAU and waters broke. However in all the pain/vomming I forgot my notes so they couldn't examine me. DH then had to drive home! While he was gone the urge to push was so strong and MW thought he might miss the birth! Luckily he made it back and we went straight to delivery suite. I stripped off and kneeled on the bed, pushing started. Basically head was struggling to come out so I needed an episiotomy which was fine. They said they may need the suction cup which made me push harder! Luckily I got him out myself! Pain relief was paracetamol and gas and air. Local anaesthetic for the cut. Had delayed cord clamping and skin to skin. The whole experience was so much better and more positive than I could ever have imagined. Labour was about 8am to 13:10 when Edward was born.

Loved reading about the birth of Edward! Can't quite face mine yet-eek!

I seem to have a constantly feeding baby! Sarah won't get off the boob easily. Just going into day 3 so hopefully getting easier. She has full on tongue tie so getting a referral Tues.
I need sleep!!

Hello! Just marking my place. Had a bit of a stressy week but has been good reading about yours trials and tribulations too- reminds me were not alone.
I gave birth early Tuesday morning. Had planned a nice (relatively) relaxed birth on the mlu but because babies heart rate kept dropping every time I had a contraction I ended up on the delivery suite, strapped to a monitor and unable to change positions. Long story short, 14h labour ended with an episiotomy and urgent delivery as baby's heart rate had flatlined, very little pain relief (one codeine tablet) and a near trip to the theatre because the placenta wouldn't separate. We were kept in for 24h observation due to meconium in the waters but allowed home the following day.
On day 2 the midwife visited, said Evie had jaundice and we had to go straight back to hospital, spent the next 2 days shuttling back and forth for blood tests which was v distressing as the nurses had trouble getting blood. Were now having to supplement her feeds with formula as I'm not producing enough milk and unfortunately the formula has made her constipated and grizzly.
Sounds stupid I know but I didn't think it would be this hard. Thank god we've got our gorgeous baby to keep us going!

What a birth story Blondie. Quick but eventful!

Sorry Evie is back in hospital catnip. Your birth story was certainly eventful too! It doesn't sound stupid that you didn't expect it to be so hard. I'm a FTM so trying to prepare myself but I know nothing really can. Had to explain to DP today that he'd probably not be at the gym for a while - he was flabbergasted! He has no idea what's about to happen!

Oh catnip poor love. Is Evie's jaundice clearing up?
You have been through a lot. Hope you get to recover at home nowxxx x

I have one word: engorgement.
Ouch!!!!!

It is clearing kitty slowly but surely. And I'm sure she will feel much better once she has pooped. I can sympathise on the engorgrment situation too, my milk finally came in today.

How is everyone finding breast feeding? Its not as easy as it looks is it?

scottish the gym anecdote made me chuckle and thanks for the sympathy

Oh catnip what a roller coaster for you. Hope things settle down but yes gorgeous baby is a great motivator when it's tough!

I've found breastfeeding hard. Edward is feeding but the position wasn't great so when I had my MW check today she helped and it's been better. My boobs are like rocks though and couldn't believe it when I woke up this morning soaked in milk. Breast pads are amazing! I'm going to try more demand feeding. Keep up the good work mummies!

Found you Maysters with babies! Have been reading through the thread and it's reassuring to see some of the same things we're finding cropping up.

Just I'm in the same boat in that baby Will won't sleep/settle at the moment unless he's cuddling or feeding. Hates going in his cot with a passion! I'm still in hospital and exhausted because DH can't stay overnight to help. Had to get a nice midwife to take Will for a couple of hours last night so I could get some sleep as I was dozing off holding him. Apparently he screamed the whole time.

Is he just doing normal cuddling/soothing/getting his milk supply going do you think? He is so lovely and I'm totally besotted but absolutely exhausted. I suspect daytime naps might be the key?

Don't worry Ginger you're not alone! Edward will go to anyone in the day and sleep in his carrycot but come nighttime and he will want to feed all the time and cries if we put him in his cot. I'm currently in bed with him lying in skin to skin and he's fast asleep and gorgeous! DH is sleeping so I can hand him over and get done sleep. It's known as the fourth trimester as they transition from the womb.

Good to know Blondie, he's been so chilled out and sleepy today I don't think anyone believes me when I tell them how screamy and unsettled he was last night! Fourth trimester, I'll remember that and try to just enjoy the night time cuddles

He had his first bath today, super cute, he loved it!

hi everyone hope all i going well with mums and babies :) ginger pleased Will enjoyed his bath.....George isn't so keen at the moment! :P

Have any non FTM got any tips for relieving wind in babies? George always seems quite windy and he looks very uncomfortable at night time especially - was thinking of walking down to the chemist today and asking advice about anything we can give him. He seems very unsettled from about 11pm flailing his arms about, going red in the face etc till about 3am then will sleep for ages!

Sorry people are struggling. I think it's really hard to convey to FTM just how hard it can be. To a certain extent you just have to discover it for yourself and you do forget it once it's over. I think if we'd tried to tell you the true hideousness you wouldn't believe us! And yes, breastfeeding is really hard work. Painful and awkward even when it's going well. It really does take a huge commitment and sometimes it's really hard to remember why you bother! Even if you don't think the benefits outweigh the hassle try and focus on the fact it will help you lose weight and save you money!

On that point I've had a hellish couple of days. Mastitis has knocked me out. I've been sweating, hallucinating and have felt worse than I ever did even when I had pneumonia. Ended up going back to hospital it was so bad. Antibiotics have kicked in now and am feeling better. Thank god Juno played ball last night and slept really well- 1030-3 and then 4-7. This means I've actually had some rest so I'm doing ok today.

Keep going ladies. This will pass!

Breastfeeding has been tricky for me as Sarah has severe tongue tie. BF counsellor is calling me tomorrow to refer to clinic.
Till then, sheesh!!

Just read -so so sorry you have been re-admitted Bean - how frightening

Oh Bean poor thing, sounds horrific. BF is way harder than I imagined but I really want to persevere.

I hear you all with the feeding. I'm now having to do expressed milk top ups as Sarah's latch is so bad with her tongue tie that even with 24 hour boobage-she is not getting quite enough.
Have a referral to get TT cut though and hopefully means I can persevere with breastfeeding. Sterilisers are a right pain.

Hugs to everyone. We are all doing a fab job xx

Hope the mastitis is still clearing up bean, glad you got some abx for it.

Kitty

Oops knocked my phone before finished!

Kitty let us know how you get on with Sarah's tongue tie. Expressing must be frustrating while you're waiting to get it sorted. So impressed you're hanging in there with the breastfeeding.

Will is pretty good so far with feeding, apart from the odd painful latch which I can't be bothered to correct cos it's taken so long to actually get him on which then ends up with me kicking myself for ending up with a very tender nipple. We had a midwife visit yesterday and he's got back to his birthweight in 4 days so he must be getting a good bit of milk down.

So glad my boobs have gone down a bit, when the milk first came in they were like rock hard melons on my chest!

What is everyone putting their little ones to sleep in? Will is in a babygro and blanket in his cot (all good by safe sleeping guidelines) but is waking up with icy cold little hands although his chest is warm. He's too small for a grobag. Should I be doing hat, vest etc too?

Hi all

Marking my place and will try to keep up and participate! Day 4 here (midwife explained that the day of birth is actually Day 0!) and we've had two nights at home now. Am just so tired.

Ginger, Matthew is in a vest and sleepsuit 24/7 here. He doesn't 'do'

Didn't know day of birth was day 0, handy to know.

Skip the first 2mins and enjoy Miles Jupp talking about life with babies at Live at the Apollo. DH and I have been dying with laughter at it

I don't miss the rock hard melons ginger
Sarah had lost 10% of body weight by day 5 but in last two days of boob plus top ups, she is 7% below. Progress! Hope referral letter comes tomorrow!

For sleeping, Sarah is in a sleep baby gro with vest underneath and then either my arms (!) or Moses basket that has been warned by hot water bottle and blanket not covering arms. She goes about 2 hours max like that (sleep is precious!)
Hey piglet I hear you on the tiredness. We can get through this! Xxxxxxxxxxx

Love the video ginger -Dara O'Brain and Michael McIntyre do great kids skits too

We have a set of snuggly terry towelling sleep suits which we use solely for night time - trying to help distinguish between day and night routine. We put terry towelling socks over the top to keep her feet warm (she hates and refuses to sleep under a blanket) her hands do get cool but can't think of anyway of keeping them warm. When we googled it said that babies will usually have cool of cold extremities and shouldn't be something to worry about. We also warm up the Bednest with a hot water bottle...