Irritable and emotional - is labour near? Not enjoying pregnancy

[Babyrowlandsmummy]

I am 38 weeks and Although I am greatful for the little life growing inside me, have not enjoyed being pregnant one bit. 4 months of constant morning sickness (nausea and vometing) followed by what I can only describe as my fanny bone being snapped in half, sleepless nights (having to wake up when i need to roll over thanks to my pelvic pain), constant heart burn and water retention has left me feeling very down

For the past two weeks I’ve had pains in my lower back and stomach. Me and DH think it’s time and then they go away...for days!! The midwife said i was in early labour a week ago. Now i feel incredibly irritated. The irritation wakes me up in the night it feels like it’s radiating out of me. I’ve been incredibly emotional today and been in tears all day. I’m incredibly tired all the time but not sleeping. Did anyone have this before they went into labour? I’m still waiting for the nesting- my bump is so heavy and hips are sore I can’t do much.

I know everyone is different but I just need someone to tell me that I feel this rotton because he’s on his way out!!!

Could you take any holiday to take you a but further rather than using your leave. I had yo leave very early and I am so bored lol. I was signed off for 4 weeks due to back issues and then used 4 weeks of holiday.... feeling you in the struggle of sleep!! xxx

The midwife has been today and given me suppositories to use to soften my stool. I can feel the poo ready to come but I cannot mentally bring myself to actually go! I've also had my stitches checked and they're infected so I'm off to the doctor later - the extra pain is adding to the poo stress! I'm hoping a course of antibiotics will start to decrease the pain which will make the thought of pooing more bearable. My baby also has his own GP appointment because he's got an infected cord!

On top of this, my baby has stopped latching completely and I've been told to give him just expressed milk for now and to revisit breast feeding later on. I'm gutted but he's lost 11% of his body weight and is at risk of being ill. He just can't do it, poor little thing. I've spent most of the last two days in tears, spending hour after hour trying to latch the baby, and then having to express anyway because he can't attach. Two out of three nights we've been up for 4 hours on the trot trying to do skin to skin, then latch (unsuccessfully), then feeding with a cup, then having to express to stop my milk supply from running low, followed by washing and sterilising all the bits ready for the next feed. It's been an ordeal.

Awe @carringtonm bless you that sounds so upsetting. They prescribed me antibiotics straight away after getting stitched up I'm surprised you didn't get any. I feel so bunged up too, the trapped wind is just as painful as I can't physically push it out ☹️

I managed to go to sleep last night at 8pm but mine had me up from 10pm till 6am non stop feeding and although he is latching fine most of the time it's still upsetting and frustrating when they scream out in frustration. Also I was told breastfed babies don't need burping but that's the problem sometimes, I was crying just from exhaustion and it makes you feel like you're doing it wrong. I tried lying down with him in bed and found that easier to latch when we were both tired, might be worth a try xx

@grumpysquirrel I think you'll be ready to finish at 37 weeks. Yes it is boring but you do find plenty to get on with and tbh you need the rest. I hadn't worked since December as my employer stopped giving me work after I told them I was pregnant 😡

grumpysquirrel I finished at 37 weeks and it was the best thing ever! I had bad sciatica since 20 wks and the commute and sitting at desk was a killer.
I went to 42 wks and never got bored! Its nice in the summer as I was going for walks, swims, yoga, meeting people for lunch during their work breaks, resting, sleeping. And even a little bit of boredom has got to be better than trying to work. Maybe it's harder during winter if you're stuck literally sitting on couch all day.

Ahh such a tough decision. My boss is on holiday though at the end so it would be better if I was at least working from home to cover him. I'll see how I feel at 35w then decide.

Originally I planned to finish at 37w on the basis that time off in August beats time off in jan/Feb but then I changed my mind as wanted to maximise number of weeks with baby once he arrives (I'm only taking 26wks off work). And worries about being bored. Can't use holiday as I'm saving it up so I can go back to work 4 days a week for a few months on FT pay.

Aw @carrington I’m so sorry to hear all that. It’s been 15 years since I had my one and only dd (we have secondary infertility...but am 5 days late now!) and I remember having the same issue. She just could not breast feed, I tried and beat myself up for days trying to get her to latch on and in the end it worked but it was so very hard persevering. She was a healthy 8lb at birth (which was a good weight considering I’m 5ft and was 15 at the time) and she went right down to 6lb 4oz which was terrifying. I had to syringe feed her but kept doing the skin to skin as you are. It was bloody hard and I felt awful through out but we got there in the end. I ended up actually giving her bits of formula here and there. You’re doing so, so well xx

@corringtonm I feel your pain. Baby refuses to feed for me (bottle) but fed for nurses. They didn’t wanna let me out today but I was getting no sleep on the ward because other babies crying.
My stitches are so sore and hot. I’ve lost the sensation to wee or poo and can’t bring myself to try to poo. I have to go the loo and judge that I will wee cuz I cant feel it. Been very tearful and sore today x

Ladies you are all superstars I wish I had the words of wisdom for you but unfortunately I am John Snow and I know nothing.

Carrington if say Do what ever works for you. If you need to combi feed then combi feed o heard someone say once night feeding is best for getting milk to come so make DH do formula feed in am so if your up all night trying to latch you can lie in. If you don't want to then don't 😊 persevere if needs be you know your little one better than anyone else so you know what to do. I'm sorry your infected I can't imagine that is helping the situation but at least now it's under control.

heard peppermint is good for trapped wind and lactulose for pooping other than that no help I'm afraid.

grumpy I think it will be best to give it a bit longer and make a decision. You may get bored but you may not.

Keep enjoying those cuddles ladies!!

Are you going to test well

Congratulations on more babies! Sorry to hear feeding is proving difficult. @carringtonm I don't know if you've tried, and I don't know how good they are as I'm still a way off, but a friend of mine recommended nipple shields to help with latching - she said she wouldn't have been able to breastfeed in the early days without them.

Hope things get easier for you and the OP xx

You’re all doing so well ladies x

I have a bfp!

Omfg!

@wellfuckmeinbothears congratulations!!!!! Absolutely fantastic news!!! 🍾💐💐💐💐

I hardly dare believe it!

@wellfuckmeinbothears congratulations so happy for you x

That's amazing congratulations xxx

@Wellfuckmeinbothears CONGRATULATIONS-that's amazing news x

Yaaaaay! Congratulations well !! Awesome news!

Other ladies who are struggling....look after yourselves. Sending love ❤️

Congratulations ❤️

Thank you all so much. I’m being very cautious as the last time I got a bfp (6 years ago now) I had a miscarriage a couple of days later. So trying hard not to get my hopes up but...yay!

How are you all doing ladies? Sorry if I have hijacked your thread, reading it cheered me up so much hearing about all your lovely babies x

Rember everything happens for a reason.
Don't over think it, just go with it 🙂 and enjoy it. They say when you take the pressure off yourself everything goes smoothly xx

Ahhh @Wellfuckmeinbothears, what lovely news. Thanks to everyone who have left me supportive messages re: feeding. We are trying all sorts so that I don't have to give up on breast feeding but we are topping up his milk with formula for now. Need to fatten the little boy up!