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!

Welcome and congrats teacher and tori!

Just doing the early morning feed, so just a quick catch up...

Do you have any lansinoh tori? I found it to be magic stuff for sore nipples when I was bf.

teacher I started topping up with formula at 2 weeks. I never found it interfered with latch (didn't experience that nipple confusion I've read a lot about). I think the main worry is that it might affect your supply. I was always told to only top up during the day because your milk producing hormones are at full throttle at night and you want baby to stimulate as much supply as possible during the first few weeks.

How did it go last night bazza?

Last night was torture mini. Screamed til 1:30. We are trying him on the infacol now. Any extra tips about routine/feeding times or anything? I'm trying all the different burping and farting positions with him. I was told by a midwife to vary the positions, and to imagine it's like getting bubbles to the top of something so you need to move them around a bit. I think we probably all do that out of desperation anyway.

Oh no, that sounds awful, you poor things. The only tips I have are for bottle fed babies so not that useful for you unfortunately (Dr brown bottles and colief being the main ones).
When I was researching it, most places just said that babies will likely grow out of it by 3 months old - not that useful!

It's worth keeping in mind that the infacol takes a few days to work because it needs to build up in their system. Once it's taken effect, just keep giving it every feed. My health visitor told me you can use it solidly, for every feed, for months if need be. Give him 2 droppers full every time. The health visitor also told me to burp Emmie multiple times during feeding - I literally take her off the bottle and burp her about 3 - 4 times each feed. She screams, but if I don't then she gets a painful build up of gas.

You probably know / do all of that anyway, I just don't know how else I can help. It's just awful when they're screaming and there's nothing you can do for them

Sorry you had such a bad night Bazza. it's horrible seeing them suffer, and the screaming seems so much worse late at night. I know what you mean about trying everything out of desperation - DH discovered that DS likes it when he sits on the birthing ball to wind him !

I was going to say everything mini said, Bazza -it is tough Hope tonight is better for you-I have found every day to be slightly different (((hugs)))

How early can you get proper smiles? I swear I'm getting the odd one not related to wind at 3 weeks and 4 days but not quite sure!!!!

Could well be kitty. I think Emmie started at about that time. She's now 4 weeks and 1 day and we're getting definite smiles a few times a day now

Fingers are crossed for tonight. Hoping the penultimate episode of Revenge was all the excitement he needs for one night.

Good luck! Just fed DS and am waiting patiently for him to fall far enough asleep that I can transfer him to his Moses basket...

Urgh. Quarter to flipping five and still no sleep for me.

Hi Ladies, for those not on fb, Emelia Alexandra arrived yesterday morning weighing 7lbs 10oz.

Not much of a birth story, waters started going at 1.30am, contractions started within 30 mins and were 2-3 mins apart. We headed to hospital and the labour ward was really busy so I had to wait in reception for an hour to be seen.

Ended up on all fours in reception breathinf through them noisily and hit "I can't do this phase", particularly as I felt really embarrassed being in a room full of people waiting for birth news from relatives or waiting to be monitored.

Finally was then taken up to the birthing unit where a lovely midwife examined me and the rest of my waters went around 4am and told me I was 5cm, relief does not describe it.

I got in the birthing pool and attempted gas and air, but kept throwing it away when a contraction started, so didn't really use it. Got an urge to push, and with every push I was sick... so once again gas and air remained untouched.

Got out of the bath in the end as I was too hot and after a while of pushing in a few different positions she arrived at 7.17am :)

Can't believe how quickly it went! I am absolutely besotted :)

Hi all, can I join? Was in the June antenatal all group but in the end baby Maeby arrived at 5.40pm on 31st - so little Mae is a May!

Ftm - was induced at 39+2 because of GD and supposedly big baby (not because of GD - just because DP and I were both 10lb plus and are both super tall) expected to be 9lb5oz - she came out as 7lb7oz!

Given first induction gels at 1.30am - no contractions but waters broke at 3.30am and had some meconium so was taken to delivery at 10am and put on oxytocin drip at 11.00am. Proper contractions started at about noon and from then on it was a wild, fast ride! Was on gas and air from about 2.00pm and a shot of diamorphine at 4.00pm, at which point EV they were expecting to be 3-4cm was fully dilated (I had been saying "I know this can't be right but I do genuinely feel like pushing!!" for some time!) and not long after she was out!

I still don.'the know if the fast delivery was a good or a bad thing but I absolutely delighted with the outcome! We stayed in for 24 hours for obs for GD (absolutely no lasting effects for either of us) and I am now home and totally in love with my sleepy, snuffly little friend. :)

Hello and congrats apple and purple! They both sound like fast deliveries. Enjoy the newborn snuggles and hope you both manage to get a bit of rest and recover

Wonderful news apple and well done and welcome purple!

piglet oh no poor you! 5 hours?!?! Was he crying the whole time or just super alert? I hope that doesn't happen again xxxx

Isn't it just, Tori! Have been watching lots of BBC News 24 in the small hours. DS seems not to want to go in his basket at night - just when I think he's in a deep enough sleep, tuck him in and get into bed myself he'll wake up crying. I do miss getting to cuddle up with my husband! Luckily DS doesn't actually cry all night (even if it sometimes feels that way!) but it's a bit draining. The past couple of mornings we've slept from 5/6 for several hours though, so I'm getting by.

Welcome purple and congratulations on your new arrival!

another BBC news 24 watcher here. at least if nothing else we will be up to date on all current affairs

Laydeez - related but not directly a baby question:

BFFs 40th is on Saturday - a party in a private space in a nice bar a mile or so from our house - in the evening but kids welcome (and there will be lots). I'd really like to go - not least to show off gorgeous Mae but am fully prepared not to, and BFF is cool and knows that we will make it if we can but not going to be upset if we can't. However, 4 days post delivery I am currently REALLY struggling with pain and swelling from stitches (can barely walk up the stairs and I look like John Wayne) plus the usual sore nips and a bit mental from lack of sleep. Am I mad to consider going and does anyone have any tips or ideas about how I can make it easier for DP, M and I? I have a lovely vision of me swanning in there looking svelte, relaxed, stylish and happy ready to accept admiring glances and cooing over my baby (ahem, and give my wonderful bestie the birthday she deserves, obvs ;)) but suspect this might be a little bit unrealistic!!!

piglet-a little trick-try lifting his arm up-if it flips back down he is in a deep enough sleep hopefully for basket-if it is still quite stiff, wait a bit

Totally up to you purple - I actually didn't leave the house for a week afterwards for the same reasons and even then it was just a walk around the block. I say, see how you feel on Saturday xxx

Ladies for those who were induced I do take my hospital bag with me in the morning don't I?! I beginning to get a bit stressed!!

Evening!

purple totally up to and depends on your recovery. I'm four and a half weeks post horrendous emcs and I still have hardly left the house (just twice for blood tests at my local clinic). We've been invited to a party in Sat but I still don't feel up to going. If you feel up to it, definitely go but equally don't push yourself too hard. It'll only take you longer to recover if you push yourself too much.

chook yep, take your bags with you in the morning. Are you going to have an epidural? If so, it's best to get it in place before the induction starts if poss ime. I went through lots of different things with my labour but I can honestly say that the day I was having my induction with epidural was the best part by far! You will be fine when are you going in?

No BBC news 24 here, but I have just discovered The Sopranos and am now working my way through each series. It's brilliant (if a little but violent and sweary).

Anyone else have an emcs? I'm four and a half weeks post cs and still really struggling to get about. I know my recovery will take longer because of all the complications, but I'm really getting impatient now. I just want to do normal stuff without feeling like I'm going to bust my wound open. How are other cs survivors coping?

mini thank you I have to be in at 8am in the morning, no not planning on epidural didn't have one with dd but will keep an open mind if I need one then I'll have one..

I hope you start to feel better soon, I can imagine not being mobile with a newborn is a complete pain in the arse../

Thanks Kitty, I read that somewhere too - unfortunately my middle-of-the-night staggering back to the bedroom sometimes wakes him even at that point! (I usually feed him in the spare room at night so as not to disturb DH.)

Good luckChook - hope it all goes well.

Thanks chook. Pain in the arse doesn't even begin to cover it. Am totally fed up with the physical crapness!

All the best for the morning. Will be thinking of you and waiting for new baby announcement!