Pregnancies April 2018 - #3 the babies are nearly here !

[DaisyLand]

So we’ve nearly finished with thread 2! Just on time for the babies joining us !

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/3070393-Pregnancies-due-April-2018

Hand holding @northernmum hopefully bubs doesn’t keep you waiting too long 🤞🏻

Hi @Northernmum12 ! I share the same due date, expecting a boy. Also wonder if I'm in labour with every ache and pain!!! :)

Got an induction booked for next week!!! Ahhmaagoooodd! Hopefully he will come before then though!!

My 5th grandchild is a boy due in 9 days so will have 4 grandsons as one granddaughter who's 5 going on 15 but she's my princess ☺️

2 days overdue today! Seeing all your lovely posts is making me feel positive! Off to do some lunges!

Morning ladies! I've been away a bit, finally went on mat leave and had best friend over from uk so has been a busy week, we were also rear ended yesterday so that took a bit of sorting!
@Teeeee and @Northernmum12 I've been having exactly the same (northern we all have same DD :). Really sharp pains right on your cervix, I'm presuming it's just the head pushing down more. Doctor told me the other day Little one is fully engaged and couldn't be lower if he tried, it's amazing how much more restrictive movement is now he's there. Didn't think I'd ever want him to be early but he's welcome asap!!!
@Loosemoose28 how are you doing? You said a few days ago you'd been up all night with on/off contractions.
@Bez9087 Hope you're recovering well from the c section? Is it getting any easier to tell the girls apart?
@emvy congratulations! loving the name how are you feeling after everything?
@rosegarden45 did the midwife come and see you yesterday? Well done for persevering and trying out different ways, I can't imagine how hard it must be.
@MadRainbow really hoping you guys made it home yesterday, addenbrookes is good but nothing like being home :)
@Coleco welcome! We're almost there :) any movements this week?
@HarryHarry its the same here, no water birth, immediate cord clamping, they really don't like you giving birth in any other position than on your back and they have a ridiculously high c section rate. I'm prepared to be really persistent but it's not exactly the calm/relaxed birth I was after. We will get through it though and the main thing is that little one will be here at the end of it. Hoping all that snow has buggered off for you though!!

Thank you guys so much for sharing how your first few days/weeks have been with your little ones, whether good or difficult I can't say how just much it helps.

Morning all. Midwife came yesterday and watched as i tried to breastfeed. She said we have a big feeding problem. It was actually quite nice for someone to tell us this and therefore I'm blaming myself less and I know it's not just that I'm doing something wrong. She tried to get him to latch whilst she was here and we tried lots of positions but didn't manage it. He gets so red and angry when it doesn't work for him and she said that at that point it's not going to work because he's too wound up. So she helped us with a plan, she's referred us to a feeding specialist, whenever he is hungry I try the breast or if he is not showing signs of hunger I still need to try the breast every 3 hours. If he doesn't latch then formula feed and express whilst he is feeding and give him the expressed milk after. I'm still only getting about 5-10mls after 20minutes of expressing so this could be why we are struggling so much. Anyway, following the plan we had a much better night last night as I'm beating myself up less about it and he is being fed so is happier. Fingers crossed things will start to get a bit easier.

Hoping all you still due to have babies are feeling well and those with bundles are enjoying parenthood. I'm going to attempt a little walk today so I'm already looking forward to a bit of fresh air.

@wonderfullysunny yes I am learning to tell them apart much easier now. Sometimes just looking at them I can tell you who is who but sometimes I have to look at their ears as Imogen has a small dent in top of her ear and isobelle doesn’t. As a fail safe back up I have painted isobelles big toe nail pink because she has to have a precautionary antibiotic every night for six weeks I wanted a fail safe back up plan to make sure she gets it. I don’t usually have to check her toe though I’m usually on it and know for definite I have isobelle.
Got the appointments for both girls hip scans and isobelles kidney scan too for May. Seems ages away but in reality it’s only three weeks can’t believe my girls are three weeks old today.

@rosegarden Im so glad you are getting the help and support. Enjoy your fresh air today. It’s raining here today booo but may need to walk to pick my older two up from school after as hubby just informed me he’s broken down an hour away from home. Brilliant

rosegarden- I hope the feeding works itself out soon. I remember struggling with my first and it was absolutely soul destroying for awhile but it suddenly clicked into place and the relief was immense. He did have a nasty case of reflux which made it all the worse

Thank you for the hand holding everyone, I have been really steady throughout this pregnancy and it’s like the hormones have caught up with me all at once and I’m a giant weepy mess at the strangest times

Good luck with the bf rosegarden45. Lyra has managed to latch on a few times but usually just falls asleep so I am expressing and topping up with formula. I keep trying with the breast but she's in a pavlik harness (see pic - it's like a tiny lederhosen!) for her broken leg which makes positions limited. On her first night we were successful with the rugby ball hold, but that's pretty much impossible with the harness.

My plan is to keep up with expressed breast milk and formula until the harness comes off (apparently should be in three weeks) and offer the breast at least once a day until then. Midwives and breastfeeding expert at the hospital seem to think that will work.

I too plan on leaving the house for some fresh air - Lyra's first trip out may well be to place a bet on the Grand National tomorrow... Can babies go into a bookies??

I love the nail varnish idea Bez9087. Has the three weeks gone quickly? I always wanted to make the most of every moment rather than wishing the time away, but I'm counting the days down until Lyra is free of her harness!

@strongarms I feel like it’s flew by and I have just blinked but the same time I am loving how more alert they are each day.
Lyra is totally rocking that harness bless her gorgeous girl. That’s the harness my girls may need depending on their hip scans for their clicky hips. How you getting on with it with changing her etc? My friends little girl has one for her clicky hip and managed to get it off sooner as it healed quickly. That’s good you have some amazing support for the breastfeeding.

@Bez9087, we don't take the harness off so changes can be tricky. Today I managed a solo change which I'll have to master for when DP goes back to work.

I'm not sure if you would be able to remove the harness if your girls need them - I seem to remember reading that not all clicky hips babies need up wear the harness 24 hours a day.

@wonderfullysunny I am still here- still pregnant 😁 baby is in a brilliant position and very low now so may explain those nights being up.

@strongarms27 my friends baby is in a pavlick harness shes been using tights and dresses in next size up. Or even though a newborn using 6-9month grows for her.

@strongarms she is adorable and totally rocking that harness!

@Bez9087 it's so mad how quick time is flying! I won't to keep her little for as long as possible but as that's impossible I'm just trying to enjoy every minute with her. I can't believe she is 4 weeks old today!

@strongarms it depends on severity of the hip and what the scan shows. My friends little girl needed it 24/7 for a few weeks then could have an hour free a day then up to 2 hours and now just has it on at night. Will see when they have their hip scans.
@annamadden I can’t believe how quick it’s going. She is so beautiful 😍 Iv just put the girls on their activity gym for the first time at the minute as they are wide awake after their feed. They are staring more at each other than the actual toys haha! It’s my official due date tomorrow can’t believe they are here already and three weeks old.

So I've just been to the hospital because of reduced movements. Everything is fine but the doctor examined me and said I'm 3cm dilated. Sorry if this is a stupid question but does that mean I'm in labour? Or that labour is imminent? I haven't felt anything that matches the descriptions of what a contraction feels like, just the usual aches and pains I've been having for weeks. But I'm desperately hoping to avoid being induced next week.

(I wanted to reply to all your posts individually but it's a bit tricky when I'm typing on my phone).

@HarryHarry glad everything was ok! I understand that if you are dilated that it's the first stage on later. Your cervix thins and effaced. Which I think it what the pessary part of an induction does. Maybe you would just need your waters breaking? And then if contractions don't start, then it's the drip.
This is what I understand, but I'd be massively appreciative if anyone else can clarify, as I'm in a similar situation!!

So. Many. Typos! Hope you understand what I typed!

HarryHarry I was 3cm dilated when I got to hospital after my waters had broken and 12 hours later DS arrived. Hope your beautiful baby is with you soon!

@harryharry hopefully that is your body getting really ready. You can be 2-3cm and not be in labour its just a sign your cervix is really ripe.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I’ve now started experimenting with clary sage oil and raspberry leaf tea - both of which taste and smell like tree bark - in an attempt to avoid induction but they haven’t had any noticeable effect on me so far. Who else apart from me and @ToriRay and @Kirta is overdue?

Now that I’m back home from the hospital I can catch up on the thread a bit…
@MadRainbow - Have they let you go home yet?
@rosegarden45 - Sorry to hear you’ve been having a tough time breastfeeding, glad you’re getting some support from a specialist.
@Fieau and @Northernmum12 - I know what you mean about feeling emotional. I feel like crying several times a day, often for no reason .
@Strongarms27 - So pleased you’ve got Lyra home with you now, she looks absolutely adorable in her harness, though obviously I hope she gets to come out of it soon.
@WonderfullySunny - Hope you weren’t hurt in your accident? Yes, the snow has almost all gone now though they are predicting more over the weekend!
@Bez9087 - I love the idea of Isobelle’s (or is it Imogen's?) little painted pink toenail - it’s too cute.
@AnnaMadden - I can’t believe you’ve already had a month of squishies!
@emvy - Huge congratulations on your new arrival!

Phew! Anyone else I’ve forgotten? Well done to all of you who have already given birth and good luck to those still waiting!

I just expressed 20mls of breast milk!! Yay! It's starting to flow. I've been advised to hire a double pump as this should help get things moving quicker so going to get one today. I woke up in the night with a very wet bra and baby has been very unsettled and wanting to feed most of the night. He's still not latching so I'm really pleased with my 20mls to pop in his bottle. If only I could make it as quick as he guzzles It!

I didn't end up going out yesterday after waiting in for midwife all day i felt very sore by early evening so had dinner and an early night. Fingers crossed for fresh air today instead.

Hoping some of you are having babies this weekend and wishing you well. Tomorrow was my official due date but I now have a 6 day old :-) it feels like I've had him a lot longer than that tho. It's amazing how they completely take over your life :-)

rosegarden45 Great news! I just saw your post on the other April 2018 thread - sorry to hear you had such a tough time giving birth - it must have been utterly terrifying - but at least it sounds like the worst of it is over and you and the baby are doing well now.

That's great news rosegarden45! I would totally recommend hiring a double pump. I used a medela single electric pump for the first few days and it took so long to get anything decent. I've hired the hospital grade double pump (medela symphony) and it's brilliant. I express twice as much in half the time . My only issue is that with Lyra feeding every three hours or so and the changes being so arduous and time consuming with her harness, I hardly have time to eat never mind express enough to keep up with her!