Wow you are very brave All - this is my second shocker of a pregnancy and I will NOT be doing it again! Do you have any idea why one of your pregnancies was better than the others? Can you see a different GP? With your history it is crazy not to give you drugs now - not to mention a false economy!
Fraggle - that sounds dreadful, and late on too. Had you done more than usual? Or any chance you might have a UTI or something? I hear they can cause vomiting and often you don't have as many early symptoms when you are pregnant.
Basgetti - how are you doing? I'm assuming you are in hospital.
I am doing quite well, even managed a short walk today, definitely finally feel that I am making progress. Struggling with the nausea and general weakness/exhaustion after months entirely in bed, but the vomiting is much reduced and I am eating pretty well (albeit a rather restricted diet).
Really interesting about different feeding advice mrsnec - sorry, I've forgotten where you are? Do you have a sense why it is different? Is it just pragmatism or do they feel that the health advantages are not that significant where there is good hygiene etc?
Weird thing about colostrum - my breasts started leaking it very early in this pregnancy, at 6 or 7 weeks. I told the docs and they were briefly v interested in that way that senior doctors are when they think you might have something awful but v rare! Asked me various odd questions about headaches and vision then lost interest and said my hormones were obviously just generally weird. Still don't know what they were ruling out but my Dad said probably some v rare kind of brain/pituitary tumour! Anyway, last preg they just started leaking towards the end; I still had a bit of milk in there for AGES after I stopped breastfeeding though, quite weird. Maybe that's why this time they went 'wahey, pregnant!' and kicked into action immediately.
I didn't find expressing particularly difficult, I just found it degrading and horrible! All the worst bits of breastfeeding with none of the nice parts, though I do know people who've made it work over long periods and obviously it is useful to know how to do it so that you can skip the odd feed in those early days without agony. I was briefly in hospital when DS was about six weeks old and the pump they gave me in hospital was at least quick so perhaps it is worth shelling out for a really fancy electric one if you really want to do it.
DS never had 'nipple confusion' although he had the odd bottle (and a dummy a lot) from the beginning. He did make his preference for the breast v clear though! In fact, we got married when he was three months old (exactly) and we had to go without a cocktail after the ceremony because he totally refused to take the bottle we'd brought with us for him (my dress was not compatible with feeding). Personally next time I will mix feed a small amount from the start and accept the possibility that it might been breastfeeding doesn't work out, because the advantages outweigh that risk for me. Obviously everyone has to weigh it up for themselves though.