Pregnancies due April 2018

[DaisyLand]

New thread after www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/3002846-Pregnancies-due-April-2018-Edited-by-MNHQ nearly full

@emvy providing the cramps don't develop into a regular pattern and get stronger/closer together I would say these are Braxton Hicks...your body preparing itself. Nothing to worry about. Just rest up as much as possible until they pass

Happy Anniversary @Bez9087. Have a lovely evening together!!
It must be very difficult being pregnant while having other DC to look after, hats off to all of you that do it.

Can't wait @emvy, I was counting down the days till little man was born, but now I am counting down the days till I can eat my McFlurry ;) Ha ha!!
I honestly never realised how hard a sugar free diet is!! Sugar is in everything!! That has probably been the hardest part of my pregnancy so far in all honestly.

@emvy I agree most likely Braxton Hicks long as no pattern to them and don’t become more painful. I’m always getting cramps here and there but never a proper pattern to them except the tightnings sometimes I get the regular pattern to them and have to go in for monitoring but still all Braxton Hicks. Everything loosens in pregnancy so by now our bodies are getting more looser and heavier with baby that things start to ache more etc. I found rubbing bump cream on my bump painful last night

Thank you Anna and Bez it’s eased a lot today - went for a long walk (was either going to do the world of good or do me in), and I feel much better. I’ve been getting braxton Hicks since about week 24 and they just felt different to those kind of tightenings. They usually feel like my muscles are all tight for a bit and it’s uncomfortable and then they relax again. Whereas this was like period pain. You’re right though, it’s likely everything just loosening and aching. Could have been digestion related as well 🙈😂 thank you! I think I got a bit panicky because I’ve been reading about signs of labour and with being away from home it made me worry.

Claire, I can’t imagine giving up sugar, I really feel for you. I’ve had no motivation in pregnancy to limit my sugar intake and have eaten so much that I feel guilty that my baby will probably end up with a sweet tooth and I hope I’ve not overdone it. I’ve done refined sugar free before pregnancy though and even that was tough! Not long now!

@emvy I get a few cramps if I need the loo sometimes and like the pressure down below etc I’m struggling with these horrid iron tablets.
I can see what you mean about worrying though it’s hard not too I have woken a few times in the night with cramps convinced I am starting in preterm labour then next thing I wake up and it’s 7am haha and Iv obviously dosed back off. Think our minds are sensitive to it so anything now is a possible sign. I was in the bath last night googling how would I know if my waters had gone in the bath as I was convinced they was. Lol!

Yes that was exactly it, Bez! Cramps, backache and pressure down below. The joys of third trimester pregnancy and digestion! Thank goodness it wasn’t preterm labour! 😅 hopefully I won’t freak out as much now, haha.

Pahaha, that’s exactly the sort of thing I’d do as well. I’ve been googling all sorts! I’m getting restless and can’t wait to meet baby now but with it being my first, I’m completely oblivious as to what to expect over the next 8 weeks and feel I need to prepare myself as much as possible.

Haha emvy honestly when it first happened I was convinced I was in labour now I recognise the signs and take some lactulose or something and it helps pregnancy hey removing the dignity from us all lol!
I must google everything and this is pregnancy number 4 for me I’m still finding stuff out I didn’t know. All I would say is 1) this is gonna be the longestttttt time of your life waiting for it to happen the last few week feel like years it’s ridiculous so if you can keep busy. And 2) if you feel your in labour or something isn’t right demand to be seen. With my daughter (my 1st pregnancy) I had on and off tightenings for ages was told slow labour can go on for a while first baby etc. On the Thursday they stepped up a bit not uncomfortable or anything but annoying and phoned them to be told basically wait it out unless closer together. The Friday morn (remember it so clear) had half a pack of cookies for breakfast with a cup of tea then kept getting a few tightnings but pain that would come and go in my back in waves but not a regular pattern, by lunch time I had enough and phoned delivery suite asking to be seen as they was getting uncomfortable when they was coming and felt like I couldn’t sit still or get comfy she basically told me I could go up but I’ll be more than likely sent home so I dragged dh up on his lunch hour left my bag in the car stropped my way into delivery suite how I had enough no one had assessed me etc and these pains was uncomfy she told me “I was too happy to be in labour” did an examination (I was refusing to leave unless they did one as no one had checked) and she found I was 6cm! Left me too it then came in an hour later I was reading my magazine as my pains had stopped. She said that she didn’t think I had been in labour until she examined me and was a good job I had been pushy to be seen. So definatley if you feel something starting go with your gut as they don’t always follow the typical “3 in ten mins or five minutes apart” rule they go on about. Mine was every 7 mins for about 40 mins then stopped to like 1 an hour. But things was still progressing so please trust your instinct can never say it enough. After that with my first I have become more vocal and bossy since and made sure if I felt something wasn’t right I go up. Only us know our bodies.
I can’t believe a week today I get my date for my section I’m so excited and nervous at same time again googling elective sections as never had one before and that’s terrifying me.

Oh gosh well done for pushing to be seen Bez! I’ve read so many stories like yours - I hope I just “know” when it happens and I’m not talked out of it! I definitely will follow my instinct. I think in the back of my mind I knew I was being over cautious which is why I came to you guys instead of calling the advice line.

Ahh that’s so exciting!! There must be positives and negatives with knowing the exact date you’ll get your babies. It must be scary as well - medical procedures always are but you’ll be in great hands. My mum had an emergency c section with me and despite both of us being super poorly, all went well. So I’m sure everything will go smoothly

I used to think how will I just “know” but you do there’s something that doesn’t switch off a feeling like niggling feeling in your mind. Definitely stand your ground though.
I’m excited but so nervous. Me and dh was talking tonight about needing a plan of action for back up Incase my waters or whatever went in the middle of the night who we would phone for our two older children etc and said we really need to sort it so that we have someone can call. I hadn’t thought about it till today when wondering what would happen if it did all start in middle of the night.
Totally full up tonight I ended up cooking a Tesco meal for two and was quite nice chose Tesco as im not a wine drinker or dh isn’t either but they do 6 bottles of Coca Cola on the offer with it the glass ones so we had that little meal and then just watched rubbish tv.
Managed to convince him to paint my toes for me last night aswell haha don’t know how I managed to persuade him but he did bless him.

Know this is a bit of a personal question but are you guys planning to breastfeed or formula feed? I was initially leaning towards breastfeed because it's cheaper and supposedly better for the immune system but the last few days I've been thinking how inconvenient it will be once I go back to university having to express all the time and it also means having to do all the night feeds myself. That's a lot of responsibility and I'm worried it will make me a bit isolated from my partner. My partner has said it's my choice but we were looking at a few typical baby routines in the books where babies were in bed by 7 or 8 or earlier (different based on the family) and he seemed quite sad when realising that's once he's back to work (he does mon-fri with 3 types of shifts on rotation: 8:45-4:45, 8:30-3:30 and 10-6:30) he really won't see baby much on weekdays if I'm doing night feeds, only a few hours at most. He'll get to do baths and maybe a bit of playtime but he won't get a lot of bonding time with baby. Our current circumstances mean that he doesn't get any paid paternity leave (outside the mandatory) which I already know he was gutted about as he's really excited to be a dad. Those who this isn't their first baby, did you find the hype about breastfeeding to be worth it? Or do you think fed is best?

@dkb Im pregnant with my first and hoping to breatsfeed because of the benefits you mentioned. However im not going to push myself. If it doesn't work then i'll go to formula. Few of my friends have had babies in last couple of years...2 of them breastfed for about 8-10 weeks, one breastfed for 2 weeks but then switched to formula because ot was stressing both mum and baby out ans my other friend did it for 2 days as decided it wasn't for her. All babies are thriving. Just think it depends on you and your circumstances and what works for you both

@dkb I agree fed is best whatever works for you.
With my 1st I wanted to breastfeed and she did successfully for three feeds whilst in hospital but by the following morning she wasn’t latching etc so I gave her a bottle and that was it.
My 2nd I was again adamant about doing first feed at least and he did he was a ”natural breast feeder” literally matched himself on etc was a dream to feed, came home still feeding then on day two at home I had a huge rush of hormones and the worst headache I could ever describe the midwife came and re admitted me back to hospital and they told me if I continued to breastfeed I could only take paracetamol which I had been taking and doing nothing (my son was a traumatic birth) so the fact the one pain I could control was my head I decided to formula feed him and he was fine never looked back after that.
With these two beauties I’m planning on again breastfeeding the initial feeds in hospital but at the same time I understand it’s going to be harder with them being probably smaller and maybe prem (this makes me want to do it more) but also the fact that there’s two of them I know it won’t be easy. So I have got ready made bottles of milk with me in my bag Incase it doesn’t work out.
I think as long as you don’t put too much pressure on yourself feed how you want too. I found it so much easier formula feeding my other two where as my sister in law who had a baby when I had my first found it easier to breast feed. It’s what works best for you and baby. Plus some babies just get it and some don’t I think. But honestly fed is best and whatever works for you all as a family.
In the routine thing my daughter and son didn’t start going up at 8pm till they was about 5 months old and I was a bugger for routine. They used to have a bottle about 6ish and a play downstairs then fall asleep about 8 till 10 then woke up when we then did the bottle in our room and bed then. With your first I find you work round baby and follow their lead more where as with second etc I find the baby follows you as you already have routine etc with your first so baby has to sort of slot in to that (sounds awful that lol!)

I think it's important to do whatever is best for you and don't feel pressure either way. There are lots of other ways your partner can bond with baby...feeding is just one element. Tbh night feeds dont involve much interaction anyway as you are trying not to wake them fully and get them back to sleep asap. Expressing is easier than you think especially with an electric pump. Milk can be frozen too and will last a while. I exclusively bottle fed my first 2, breast fed my third for 6 months and plan to breast feed this one for as long as I can...but it's just a plan and if doesn't work out I'm not going to beat myself up. Like everyone has said...as long as your baby is fed that's all that matters!

I know this is weird but I have a fear of breastfeeding. I just really, really hate the idea of it. (My friends and family think this might be part of undiagnosed autism but who knows). I have promised myself that I am going to try it while in hospital but if it's too uncomfortable I have a double electric pump. Pumping is actually very common where I live anyway.

I might need to do both, I've got high prolactine which is the hormone that induces the milk when giving birth, mw told me that this might mean that i'll have so much milk that i'll need to pump it, so fi that's the case then i'll do mixed of both, HOwever, if bf doesnt work then I'm not worried, as others have said "Fed is best" and whatever little one wants or i feel comfy with. I feel really insecure about my own body specially my boob area so I'm planning on getting like a cover for when I'm in front of people, have found a few nice ones but sitll havent bought it

@HarryHarry which electic pump do you have? i've heard good things about the medela swing but i've ready it cant be second hand not even reused if having another child. That's what puts off of it, tho to be honest i've got each day more clear that this will be my last natural baby and if i ever want another one I might seek for adoption for a toddler/child so i might not even need another one in the future

I just got the Philips one as it was cheaper than the Medela. Also Philips pumps are closed system, meaning that no milk can get into the tubes, so they are much easier to keep clean, while most Medela pumps are open system. For this reason I think the Phillips ones can be re-used for later children but you'd probably need to replace the motor as they're only designed to last about a year.

The only thing that worries me about the Philips is that the parts/accessories for it can be quite tricky to find whereas the ones for the Medela are readily available in the shops, at least where I am.

I’m with everyone on fed is best but plan to breastfeed if I can. I’ve heard it can be incredibly difficult, incredibly painful. I’ve heard from most of my friends that have breastfed that they all almost gave up but persevered and fought through the pain and eventually things settled and they never looked back. I’ve got in my head it’s what I want to do, for building immunity for baby, ease of going out with baby in the early days and for bonding, and I’m pretty stubborn so I don’t plan to give up easily 🙈 I might be in for the shock of my life, though!

As Anna said, there are so many other ways to bond with baby than just breastfeeding. My partner also won’t get much time at home as he’s self employed and is only taking a few days off but seems to accept that I want to breastfeed. I think he just plans to be very hands on in every other way whenever he is at home to maximise bonding. Also, as Anna said again, I’ve read night time feeds should be kept as low-key as possible so as not to overstimulate and teach them the difference between night and day. You have to do what’s right for you, though. You’re right to consider all the options

I’ve also heard the Madala pumps are really good so will get one of those as have a wedding I can’t take baby to when he’ll be 6 weeks old and my parents are babysitting! 😬

Picking up a second hand medela from a friend today.

I am in such a good position that almost all my friends have breastfed for 1yr plus. Two of which live in walking distance. I havent even thought about buying formula in. I guess I also have an expectation of whats to come and feel prepared for things like cluster feeding, sore nipples, and most likely co-sleeping.

There is also several feeding groups close to me ran by Nct and le leche league.

You have to do what is right for you over any formula or breastfeeding decision but if you want to breast feed then start looking at what to expect now. The first few months are hard and you need to find the faith that your body will work. So many mums worry that cluster feeding means not enough milk to satisy when actually its a very natural process to up supply for a baby growth spurt. There are some awesome facebook groups for feeding support.

@daisyland the only thinf you need to replace new on the medela is the tubes (which suck air not milk) and the small white membranes the milk passes through. I am gettint new bottles as well. But re-using the funnel if scratch free.

No milk goes through any tubes on the medela swing

Can you tell I am stuck in the house with this horrid SPD. So quick google search reveals

New parts for Medela:

Tubes £10
Funnel £13
Valve and membrane kit £7
Pack 3 bottles £8.99

Perfect ! Thank you ! I’ve not bought anything yet related with feeding the baby as don’t want to buy something and naughty one don’t liking it. With amazon premium or so everything is so much easier. If he doesn’t want to breastfeed but I need to pump I’ll get next day delivery medela and the rest of things for it.

Loosemoose28 I guess this is just another pregnancy thing, like Sleepyhead pods, that people can't seem to agree on, with half of them telling you never to do it and half of them telling you it's fine. In this case I don't know enough about it to decide whether to accept the official advice which says never to buy second hand pumps or dismiss it as pointless scaremongering since loads of more experienced women have done so for years without any harm. However I did find this, which might be worth reading:

dispellingbreastfeedingmyths.wordpress.com/2011/08/13/why-you-shouldnt-buy-sell-or-borrow-a-second-hand-medela-swing-pump/

Morning ladies. So my half term started with a 4 hour trip down to Wiltshire ans then day sightseeing at Stonehenge and Salisbury yesterday. Feel like I'm going to suffer for it today in my hips. So hard because I know I should be taking it easy but partner and I also want to do things that we won't be doing for a while. Anyone else finding it hard just to relax?

Morning everyone as usual I'm a bit late to the party, would just like to say hi!

I'm 32+1 due on the 14th April, though I'm expecting her some point in the first week. Her sister was nearly 3 weeks early (no problems) and this little miss seems quite strong so just my feeling...

Have SPD again this pregnancy though not nearly as bad ad the first time; saying that the last few days one side of my pelvis has been killing me in particular, think I overdid it walking around town :( all so fun when you have a 4 year old needing your attention.

Still generally a happy bunny so Have a good day everyone :)

@harryharry I looked last night at archived stuff on medela and mould on facebook and asked 3 friends who are still pumping. None had mould and 2 friends said they take theirs apart and wipe every few months anyway (all pumps 1-2years old). And seems a lot of people take theirs apart to check anyway. It really started to play on my mind.
Agree its something to think about and consider but milk is not supposed to go up tubing air only. So either a bit product fault and maybe user fault ie wrong angle/ overflow. And I think the recommendation around 6 month use etc protects the company on a very sensitive purchase. For example my horse clipper maintainence advise against self maintence in the main “engine” part although I don’t know anyone who doesn’t take theirs apart. Its to do with protection against electrical accidents but by not doing you will kill the motor as it will clog. If there was such a known issue with these pumps then SCBU/ Midwives would not be hiring them out or selling them and advise put out.

If buying second hand approach with caution and ask seller to show inside I guess.