Jan 2010 babies and mothers....come here to hibernate!

[mistletoekisses]

New thread for us Jan 2010 mums. Will hopefully get busier as more of our little ones arrive!

Arrivals List
1st Dec - Missmarjoribanks - boy Thomas William Francis (33+4)
10th Dec - ClaireDB - girl Mira - 5lb 11.5oz (36+5)
11th Dec - Alibobins - boy Jacob, 6lbs 1oz (37weeks)
14th Dec - londonlottie - twin girls Juliet 6lb 1 and Eve 5lb 6 (35+5)
15 Dec - Whensmydayoff - girl Olivia - 6lb (36+6)
22 Dec - Liskey - girl Ellie - 5.5lbs
24 Dec - timmette/shinybaubles - boy Oliver - 7lb
25 Dec - Fakeplastictrees - boy Luke Edward
29 Dec - CantThinkofFunnyName - girl Olivia Iris - 6lbs 2 1/2oz
30 Dec - Liny - Nottinghamsire - girl Elise
1 Jan - TheMinnieBauble - boy Freddie - Weight TBC
2 Jan - nomorebboze - girl Megan - 5lbs 12oz
5 Jan - Fraochsmum - girl, name TBC - 6LBS 2oz
5 Jan - FlightofFancy - boy Edward - 6lb 14oz (37+3)
6 Jan - salvadory - girl Imogen
7 Jan - MistletoeKisses - boy Nicolas - 6lb 8oz
10 Jan- crumpette- boy 'babycrumpette'- 8lb 15 oz

Whilst waiting for all the arrivals thought I'd post my birth story here goes it might be a long one

Well as you all know my waters went at home on 10th Dec rang hospital who told me to go in for check up.

Got checked definatly waters got monitored for a while but nothing really happening so at about 10 I got taken to the ward. Nothing happened overnight not even a niggle.

At about ten they put me on a monitor and this is when the problems started as baby was too sleepy and they had no variations in heartbeat so I got carted off to labour suite.

Was put back on monitor and consultant was called got examined and still only 2cm so she gave me a sweep to see if it would start things off.

Nope nothing and baby was still not happy at 3 I got put on a syntocin drip at 6 still not had one contraction consultant had been popping in and out and now decided to take a blood sample from baby and the room filled with about ten people.

Blood was repeated several more times I constantly felt that a doctor had their hand inside me

At 6.40 I had my first contraction and my god it was strong then they just rolled one on top of the other and this is exactly what I didn't want to happen my midwife was amazing and was talking me through the contractions

An hour later bump decided he was really unhappy my temperature shot up and my heart rate shot up too so they started me on IV antibiotics.

It all becomes a bit of a blur from this point onwards my blood pressure dropped so low I passed out doctors were rushing around and talk of emcs but Ds had other ideas midwife noticed I was very uncomfortable and I told her I needed to push doctor said there wasn't time but the midwife stood her ground and examined me and I was 10cm.

Doctors were all shouting at me to just push as hard as I could but again my amazing midwife took over she told me to focus on her and talked me through pushing so I didn't tear.

After 3 pushes ds was born at 8.04pm he needed a bit of help to get going but soon perked up and I got a cuddle

WOW told you it would be a long one

It turned out that ds had infact contracted and infection and he then spent a week in NICU.

Wowser Ali, did they say what infection?

Was it Strep B?

Thanks for posting your story and glad to see from the antenatal thread that Jacob is doing so much better!

They never got to the bottom of the infection but from my own reading I'm pretty sure it was strep B but i'll never know and I'm definatly not having any more 3 is enough lol

Ali - I think it is the most likely infection for bubs to get. I am always amazed that more testing isnt done for it.

Also I saw your comment on the antenatal thread about feeling a little deflated by it all. When I was pregnant with DS, from 32 weeks the pregnancy became very stressful. With suspected IUGR and lots of reduced fetal movement/ additional scans - I was in a constant state of fear. Then DS arrived and I was told in no uncertain terms that he had to be fed every 2 hours. A log kept of urine/ bowel movements. Even though he was roomed in with me, there was a lot of outside activity constantly around us for 5 days! In all honesty, there was no feeling of everwhelming love the moment I set eyes on him and it all made the first 6 weeks very tough. In hindsight, I realise that all the interventions (although needed and essential) caused a huge amount of fear and interfered with my bonding with him. I couldnt even think about having another baby for a long time.

This pregnancy/ first week could not have been more different. And it has made the world of difference to my bonding - I am elated! I was ready for baby DC3 by the time DS2 was 3 days old! It is the total opposite to my feelings with DS.

All I am saying I guess is that considering all that has gone on, the feeling of deflation is perfectly natural. But do keep an eye on it, it should pass as things with Jacob become easier and more 'fun' so to speak. If the feelings dont pass, please do talk to someone.

Hope that doesnt all sound patronising. . But your comment really resonated with me.

Marking my place in readiness for moving over!

Ali - what a time you had but so glad Jacob is now improving.

Popping back to check on ante natal now!

Ladies this is prob more relevant on this board than the prenatal one - Lidl are doing Pampers Baby Dry nappies, Economy boxes for 2 for £10. Just in case it might come in useful to someone (and marking my space on here presuming flyingbaby comes out soon)... x

Thanks mistletoeK I must admit sometimes I wonder if I'm feeling a bit down but other times I just carry on as normal your post isn't at all patronising infact I went a bit teary at the support. x x

Didn't want to crowd this out on the already anxious waiting mothers but tmi alert does anyone have any helpful tips re first post partum BM? A bit gross but I had 2nd degree tearing and stiches and am frightened as hell of going. Am getting to the point where I am going need to sit on a rubber ring...

fly I found pressing a clean pad over that area and applying quite alot of pressure made me feel more confident to go this was with my Dd and it was 9 years ago but can still remember how worried I was and the more you hold it the worse it will be perhaps take a natural laxative type thing to make it easier. x

Hi everyone. It's been a while.... I can't believe ds2 will be 4 weeks tomorrow time is really flying. He has a hearing test tomorrow that has to be done while he is sleeping - had never heard of that before.

flyingma lots of fruit and lots of water - natural laxatives or get some over the counter stuff.

flyingma - my specialist subject. Lactulose, prune juice, orange juice, loads of water, frui, veg etc. Then make sure you have time to yourself when you go off to the loo, it may take a while. Try to relax as much as possible and apply pressure with pad to sore area

Arrivals List
1st Dec - Missmarjoribanks - boy Thomas William Francis (33+4)
10th Dec - ClaireDB - girl Mira - 5lb 11.5oz (36+5)
11th Dec - Alibobins - boy Jacob, 6lbs 1oz (37weeks)
14th Dec - londonlottie - twin girls Juliet 6lb 1 and Eve 5lb 6 (35+5)
15 Dec - Whensmydayoff - girl Olivia - 6lb (36+6)
22 Dec - Liskey - girl Ellie - 5.5lbs
24 Dec - timmette/shinybaubles - boy Oliver - 7lb
25 Dec - Fakeplastictrees - boy Luke Edward
29 Dec - CantThinkofFunnyName - girl Olivia Iris - 6lbs 2 1/2oz
30 Dec - Liny - Nottinghamsire - girl Elise
1 Jan - TheMinnieBauble - boy Freddie - Weight TBC
2 Jan - nomorebboze - girl Megan - 5lbs 12oz
5 Jan - Fraochsmum - girl, name TBC - 6LBS 2oz
5 Jan - FlightofFancy - boy Edward - 6lb 14oz (37+3)
6 Jan - salvadory - girl Imogen
7 Jan - MistletoeKisses - boy Nicolas - 6lb 8oz
10 Jan- crumpette- boy 'babycrumpette'- 8lb 15 oz
18 Jan- Happybump - boy Samuel James - 8lb (38+5)

hello - just thought I would add myself to the list.

Alibobbins - quite the story, I am so glad you had such a wonderful midwife there to support you through the birth. Midwife's really do make all the difference in terms of "de-medicalising" births.

I hope you are enjoying your new addition.

Ooh there's a postnatal thread!! Perhaps I should have posted here about the agonising pain afterwards instead of scaring all the lovely pregnant ladies

congratulations happybump!

I think this is the latest arrivals list...

ARRIVED
1st Dec - Missmarjoribanks - boy Thomas William Francis (33+4)
10th Dec - ClaireDB - girl Mira - 5lb 11.5oz (36+5)
11th Dec - Alibobins - boy Jacob, 6lbs 1oz (37weeks)
14th Dec - londonlottie - twin girls Juliet 6lb 1 and Eve 5lb 6 (35+5)
15 Dec - Whensmydayoff - girl Olivia - 6lb (36+6)
22 Dec - Liskey - girl Ellie - 5.5lbs
24 Dec - timmette/shinybaubles - boy Oliver - 7lb (38)
25 Dec - Fakeplastictrees - boy Luke Edward
29 Dec - CantThinkofFunnyName - girl Olivia Iris - 6lbs 2 1/2oz (38+5)
30 Dec - Liny - Nottinghamsire - girl Elise
1 Jan - TheMinnieBauble - boy Freddie - Weight TBC
2 Jan - nomorebboze - girl Megan - 5lbs 12oz
2 Jan - Jasmeeen - girl Annalise Marie - 7lbs (38+1)
5 Jan - Fraochsmum - girl Cara Elise - 6lbs 2oz
5 Jan - FlightofFancy - boy Edward - 6lbs 14oz (37+3)
6 Jan - salvadory - girl Imogen - weight TBC
7 Jan - MistletoeKisses - boy Nicolas - 6lbs 8oz
9 Jan - Pepa - girl Marilla - Weight TBC
10 Jan - crumpette- boy James- 8lb 15 oz
10 Jan - Bethoo - girl Kira - 8lb 0.5oz
11 Jan - MissChatterbox - boy Jude - 7lb 6oz
11 Jan - MrsVik - girl, Lucia Rowan - 8lb 1oz
12 Jan - quirkychick - girl "baby quirkchick" - 7lb 13oz
14 Jan - Somewhathorrified - WAITING FOR DETAILS!
15 Jan - Ampster - girl Edith Priscilla Mae - 7lb 3oz
16 Jan - Flyingma - boy Aiden - 7lb 3oz
16 Jan - Showmethemummy/TheGrumpallo - DD3 Ada Joy 8lb2oz
18 Jan - chickbean - girl Martha Grace 8lb 6oz
18 Jan - HappyBump - boy Samuel James 8lb (38+5)

Hello all, I forgot we had this thread too.

Fly I find that weetabix is good for a less solid and painful evacuation (BM), but you need to have it everyday. I forgot for the last 2 days and it's a bit uncomfy again. I was lucky though, because they did an epi (sp?)...cut they've taken the stitches off to the side rather than straight to the bum, but I have to sit on an old pillow to be able to relax. Also my mw said about using witch hazel on gauze to help relieve swelling where stitches are, it does help..also baths with teatree. Sure you know all that anyway. Good luck and know you are not alone.

Hello all - marking my place on this thread - feel a bit 'moved on' from the ante-natal thread now, seeing Thomas is now 7 weeks old and I seem to have forgotten quite how awful being pregnant was.

Flyingma - I had no problems with the post partum BM, despite having an epiostomy (twice) and stitches. It was a couple of days later and I just waited until I was really desperate and it all just came out with minimal pain. (TMI alert) I spent the next 10 days going up to 3 (!!) times a day as I literally pooed the pregnancy weight and fluids off. I lost a stone in that 2 weeks and haven't lost much further weight really since.

Thomas at latest weigh in is 7lb 2oz at 40 + 4 equivalent, a whole oz more than I weighed at birth. Very happy with that, but not entirely surprising given how much grub he puts away.

I went (nervously) to my first mother and baby group today - one recommended by my HV, though it was really a toddler group, as the next youngest child was 15mo. I was made very welcome none the less - to my pleasant surprise the very intimidatingly beautifully made up lady was also wonderfully friendly. Thomas was cooed over by all in sight. What I didn't expect was the children to be fascinated by him... or to be given look by a 3 year old for thinking she was dressed as Aurora and not Belle, obviously. .

Going to another tomorrow, which apparently has more mums with newborns. I'm going to walk the 2.6 miles there and back as well (precise measurement courtesy of Google Maps) to get moving - I hate exercise generally but love walking.

ARRIVED
1st Dec - Missmarjoribanks - boy Thomas William Francis (33+4)
10th Dec - ClaireDB - girl Mira - 5lb 11.5oz (36+5)
11th Dec - Alibobins - boy Jacob, 6lbs 1oz (37weeks)
14th Dec - londonlottie - twin girls Juliet 6lb 1 and Eve 5lb 6 (35+5)
15 Dec - Whensmydayoff - girl Olivia - 6lb (36+6)
22 Dec - Liskey - girl Ellie - 5.5lbs
24 Dec - timmette/shinybaubles - boy Oliver - 7lb (38)
25 Dec - Fakeplastictrees - boy Luke Edward
29 Dec - CantThinkofFunnyName - girl Olivia Iris - 6lbs 2 1/2oz (38+5)
30 Dec - Liny - Nottinghamsire - girl Elise
1 Jan - TheMinnieBauble - boy Freddie - Weight TBC
2 Jan - nomorebboze - girl Megan - 5lbs 12oz
2 Jan - Jasmeeen - girl Annalise Marie - 7lbs (38+1)
5 Jan - Fraochsmum - girl Cara Elise - 6lbs 2oz
5 Jan - FlightofFancy - boy Edward - 6lbs 14oz (37+3)
6 Jan - salvadory - girl Imogen - weight TBC
7 Jan - MistletoeKisses - boy Nicolas - 6lbs 8oz
9 Jan - Pepa - girl Marilla - Weight TBC
10 Jan - crumpette- boy James- 8lb 15 oz
10 Jan - Bethoo - girl Kira - 8lb 0.5oz
11 Jan - MissChatterbox - boy Jude - 7lb 6oz
11 Jan - MrsVik - girl, Lucia Rowan - 8lb 1oz
12 Jan - quirkychick - girl "baby quirkchick" - 7lb 13oz
14 Jan - Somewhathorrified - WAITING FOR DETAILS!
15 Jan - Ampster - girl Edith Priscilla Mae - 7lb 3oz
16 Jan - Flyingma - boy Aiden - 7lb 3oz
16 Jan - Showmethemummy/TheGrumpallo - DD3 Ada Joy 8lb2oz
18 Jan - chickbean - girl Martha Grace 8lb 6oz
18 Jan - HappyBump - boy Samuel James 8lb (38+5)
21 Jan - Mama2b5 - Boy! Isaiah - 7lbs 2 oz - week early!!

Im here quickly - visitors all evening and hardly any sleep, so good nite

hello everyone,

we're six days in finally joining should probably be sleeping because bubba is snoring away.

have to say this is no.3. worst labour, but not thankfully worst postpartum physical state, since had 2nd deg tearing with first ('only' 4 stitches in arse area ).

this labour lasted anywhere from 6-22hrs; depending on how you look at it .
I woke up at 2:30am last fri night/sat morning, to go to loo, only to find that I had been bleeding (fairly heavily). since this hadn't happened to me before I was horribly shocked and freaked out thinking i was losing babe. Cue start of a fairly miserable 22hrs.

Start-stop labour, threatened inducement, all the while in horrid RLH antenatal ward with poss of DH sent home leaving me to cope on own; looked after by overworked run-off-their-feet-therefore-can't-do-'care' MWs.

Eventually I did go into proper labour spontaneously only for things to slow down because I basically insisted on pethidine too soon . i was also really too tired by then; should've tried to manage on gas and air for longer. Got transferred to labour ward after 5cms ; again through harrassing staff to get going.[ my dd2 was born in 3.5hrs start to fin]

as it turned out baby was born within 90mins of us getting to labour ward, with me pushing for 50mins, and prior to that NOT PUSHING (ie in transition) for what felt like hours, but probably another 10mins or so. AWFUL, AWFUL.

unfortunately also all the anxiety and stress of previous hours just carried on in my head so all the way through the last hour or so I was completely convinced that something had gone horribly wrong and that either me or the baby or both of us were not going to make it through .

So - much of trauma in my head - but I think I am recovering already. Much needed sleep wasn't really happening in hospital so by the time I was discharged finally on Monday afternoon, head completely screwed up.

But slowly improving because we are catching some zzz's. tho tonight may be interesting. I know she's due a feed but she's sleeping - well like a baby .

sorry posted long post but i know no-one will feel have to read .

can SO symphathise with whole BM issue.

Today I tried my mother's favourite remedy, which is eating a banana with milk / or as i interpreted it - a banana milkshake (no ice cream!!) and ... it worked! for now anyway.

so how long does the water retention thing go on for? didn't have any of this after last labour...

Thanks for the advice all... just checking in to let you all know that I have not died from the poo but that I am (barely) alive.

Struggling with milk supply as I bollocked up the feeding at the start and first few days so trying to unblock some milk ducts that have rendered me pretty much firing with 1 cylinder!

Local support have been amazing and pretty much been out to see me everyday. Still this is so difficult. Mum arrives on Monday so we could really do with the extra pair of hands. We started topping up with formulae 2 days ago so am slowly regaining my sanity but not after loads of tears

Anyway going to get some zzzz as have just finished off his last feed with a bottle so that should buy me an hour's sleep if I am lucky. x

SMTM - water retention! Harumph... mine went on for 10 days and then I basically weed a stone overnight! Then I was v happy to see my feet again. I didn't have any of that with my previous 2 labours - my 3rd too!

Anyway - sorry for the flitting post - but now off to the hairdressers for a much needed colour job and leaving DD with DH. Suffice to say I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo tired.

Hi everyone!!!

I can empathise with the tiredness! DS is a guzzling machine! Has just gone down after a little bath and feed so am hoping to get 2 hours sleep in now before the next feed.
It is such a miserable time of year for night feeding. The dark evenings/ mornings and cold weather combined with grey wet weather are not helping my get up and go tbh. DS1 was born in balmy Sept and it made such a difference!

But ho hum, he is already 17 days old so little under 4 weeks left before I introduce a bottle once a day, which will give me at least one decent stretch of sleep a night. That's if he behaves and takes a bottle of course!

Re. the BM's, I find lactulose, tons of water, and indian food (something like lentils/ saag) gets things moving...I have also read that propping feet up on a stool aids the release, so to speak.

Showme - thanks for the birth story. Really not a great experience, , but glad you are doing ok.

Ali - I didnt check back on here after my last post. How are you and little Jacob doing? Are you feeling ok? A little better than you did? to you. Don't underestimate how much pressure it puts on you when your LO is not well so early on. I honestly only realised in hindsight just how tough my early days with DS1 were.

Right, off to bed avec earplugs before DH comes in and tells me off for mnetting instead of sleeping! LOL!

flyingma our LOs born on same day and sounds to me as if you're putting in much more effort to BF than me . I had limited success with both my other two; this time I've been supplementing from start because I really can't face the inevitable stress which seem to accompany my efforts to bf exclusively. So hats off to you. Hope you're next week is better with more hands around.

CTFN - ah but how do i even know that it is water retention? maybe this is me from now on... baby weighed 3.7kg at birth; when I weighed myself two days ago (so 5 days post labour) I was 3.5kg lighter than what I weighed a week or so before birth. eh?? [confused smiley]

Can I also ask: carpel tunnel syndrome, and SPD /PGP - these are lingering too; PGP worse than prelabour is this something i need to be worried about yet??

SMTM - Ok firstly on the water retention - do you have swollen feet, ankles, legs? If you have water retention, it is highly likely to be showing itself in these areas. I had a c/section and I've never known such oedema tbh. Like you, post birth I weighed just 5lb lighter than when I went into hospital and my baby was 6lb 2 - plus of course you have all the other gumf that you lose! On the bright side, when the water retention did go (overnight on 10th day oodles of pee-ing) - I lost a further stone in weight! Tips for the water retention is to make sure when you rest (and do so as much as possible) put your feet HIGHER than your heart. To do this, try propping your feet on around 3 pillows or cushions whenlying down - certainly for sleeping this is useful. Also, drink tonnes of water to flush through the system.

Secondly, can't respond on the carpal tunnel but for the SDP/PGP, it is perfectly possible for it to be aggravated in labour. If so, you really should get it seen to asap otherwise you could have ongoing problems. Indeed, for my second birth I had no problems pre-labour and it only reared its ugly head a couple of days post birth. I had to have physio straight away (paid for it privately) but it really helped. 4 weeks later I was as good as new. Alas, 20 weeks into this, my 3rd pg, it came back with a vengeance. Thankfully, thus far, it seems to have pretty much disappeared .

On a lighter note, in a rather selfish fashion, I'm rather pleased to find one other person that is not b/feeding ! Makes me feel as though I'm not a total slacker .