Pregnancy 12 weeks + post IVF/infertility - General chat and support Thread 2

[Janefx40]

We've run out of room so let's start again.

New people welcome. The group aims to support those who are pregnant post difficulty.

All are welcome - we are aimed at 12 week plus as those early weeks are a different kind of roller coaster and another group exists for support then. However you are welcome here too if you want to join.

Some of us have been here a while and nearly ready to pop. Others already had their babies.

Welcome one and all xxx

@Janefx40 congrats. So, so happy for you. Enjoy your first moments together and I hope you’re home soon ❤️

Ladies with babies, do you use slings/carriers at all? I keep trying each day but she hates it 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

@janefx40 I’ve been waiting to hear this wonderful news. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself regarding the breastfeeding if it doesn’t work it doesn’t work. I spent three horrible days trying desperately and it totally ruined my first few days with my little man.

I’ve tried using a sling but he doesn’t seem to like it although I did try when he was being a bit grouchy so will try again. I need him to like it so I can get stuff done as at the moment he doesn’t like being put down or in a seat for longer than ten minutes x

@Janefx40 congratulations!!!! I’ve been on this thread like every few min checking and one time I didn’t- finally the Big news!!!! Im so so happy for you three! It really is love like no other, right? 🥰
I agree with @Barcelo18 if baby wants to be breast fed then it will happy. Mine didn’t want to know. And I decided quite quickly that it’s just not meant to be. Your baby daughter will decide what she wants 😁😁

I only use baby carrier if we have appointments where there are stairs or a lot of public transport, as it makes the journey possible. I used sling twice. Once- because my DH took the car with pram, carrier and car seat inside. And as she had baby clinic appointment I just had to use it. She slept all the way through. Second time- she was fussing beyond acceptable, so I was hoping she will sleep... no, she didn’t....

Congratulations jane so happy for you!!

No I don’t use a sling I’ve never really fancied using them to be honest. If I need to do anything he goes in his chair/sleepy head or Moses basket and I can do it. If he cry’s when going in them I let him cry it out. He stops crying then starts growling 😂 x

@Liverpool19 🤣 Growling is a thing. Like a proper roar when she is pissed off with me.
I have Been trying to put her in a carrier every day, but she becomes hysterical before I even clip it in properly 🤦🏻‍♀️ I don’t drive and taking pram on the tube is not an option really. Wish there was a trick to make her like it 🤷🏻‍♀️

aliona glad it’s just not mine who growls 🤣 no the tubes are a nightmare aren’t they. I’m not sure what you could do apart from keeping trying 🤦🏼‍♀️Or get some rollaskates on and her skating round with the pram 😂 x

@aliona - what sling have you been trying?
I used a whole
Mixture with my daughter and some were better than others. The main thing I found was that even if she grumbled going in she would then settle when we got going. So therefore I ignored the grumping! Does that happen? Can you stick her in and go for a walk and see if she settled?

@Liverpool19 😅 To be honest rollerskates sound just about right, shame it’s way to cold to walk a lot.
@beanhunter Maybe you right, maybe I should try sling library and see if she prefers something else 🤷🏻‍♀️ Atm it’s babybjorn and she is not having it. I took her once outside but she was very little and asleep. And now I put her in and she is hysterical. But it’s not possible to take pram on the tube and sometimes I feel helpless when need to go but further than my house. Even around the house, 6 kg of weight constantly wants to be in my arms. My back is Not happy 😑

To be honest baby Bjorn aren’t that great in terms of support for you or her.
I used an ssc - called a connecta - which is same pricuple but more supportive for both of you. Also only for facing in and when she got nosy switched her to being on my back.
Also used a ring sling and a proper wrap. If you’ve got a sling library it’s definitely worth a visit.

@beanhunter it’s a miracle one, it feels good on my back.. well it’s clearly sucks for her 🤣 even a sling library, the closest are still quite a distance 😅 need a carrier to get there

@Liverpool19 I agree, if you have to get something done, and they are not happy to be in their cot/basket then let them cry abit. My mum always say that their lungs need to develop and they need to cry for that! Mine doesn’t really cry tbh.
Oh and yes, tv... very very bad mummy. She loves tv- Peppa Pig, Football and Real Crime -anything goes 😂😂😂
I bought my carrier on Amazon and can’t remember the brand - Ectousi ir something along those lines (it’s in the cupboard behind her Chicco and she is asleep for the night) and she actually quite likes it.
@Aliona19 I actually walk every day about 1.5-2.5h ... those lb’s won’t drop so easy unfortunately- cold or not...
Today I did IKEA run. I think I bought all the storage/organising boxes they had- plastic, fabric, cardboard- any finish any size. I’m on home cleaning/organising/decluttering mission. I blame Netflix and Marie Condo method in decluttering.

@Fox23 😅 I think I lost all my baby weight.. apart from my chin. This staying for good by the look of things 🤣🤣 walking or not.
I have same problem 🤣🤣 Condo and mrs Emily Norris and her organising 🤣 I got all boxes from Poundland, all my bathroom rubbish is organised now. Only problem I have no time for bigger things, don’t know how u managing to find time

@Aliona19 bedroom is easy- I put her on our bed, put on Peppa Pig and crack on! If it’s other rooms, then I put her in vibrating chair- usually she falls asleep in half hour. If not- I’m her cot, where she happily plays with her Ferris wheel 🎡

@Fox23 😍 magical baby

Sorry not to respond to all your posts but we're having a bit of a nightmare and could do with your thoughts.

Breastfeeding was going ok yesterday but she has now started to get bad pains after feeding and screaming non stop and now she won't latch. Plus I'm not producing that much milk - some but possibly not enough.

So we are going to buy some infacol and some formula. I know a few of you formula fed from birth so can you let me know what you used and what bottles etc we should buy? We don't have much sterilising equipment but not sure I want to buy the ready made up bottle.

I've not slept really and am now starting to get ill which doesn't help.

@Janefx40 the joys of having a baby without instructions or troubleshooting manual, right? 😂😂😂
So I was told to stick to one brand if baby likes it. For us it’s Aptamil.
I used to use premixed bottles during night feed and powder during day. About 3-4weeks later we switched to powder only, unless we are going out. Then it’s readymade.
Alice chokes a lot when she eats, so I have about 100different bottles. Firstly she only liked the readymade bottle teat. So kept them and the bottles and reused them over and over. She used to love Nuk. Now unless it’s Tommee Tippee she won’t eat. My midwife suggested MAM as the best, but I didn’t get any as Alice was happy with hers.
Regarding sterilising equipment- get it anyway as you will use it with breast milk bottles and breastfeeding equipment anyway later on.
Infacol is actually quite good but I find it works for few days and then it stops working. Now I use it only for night feeds. Didn’t think you get trapped air when breastfeeding tho.

Congrats @Janefx40 - popped in on your thread to see how you were doing, sorry you are having a tough time.

I struggled with breastfeeding initially and the SCBU nurses encouraged us to cupfeed him with formula for the first few days until my milk really came in. It would also be worth asking if there is a specialist breastfeeding midwife attached to your maternity unit who you can see. Ours was a huge help with improving latch, checking for tongue tie etc.

Hey @Janefx40 looks like whole word here waiting on news from you 😍 totally agree with @Darkstar4855. I was panicking as it looked like I didn’t have enough milk, so midwife convinced us to give her bottle at night to settle her. Then milk came in and things got better, although it was not easy first 2 weeks. Then at about 7-8 weeks all of a sudden she started to fuss around the evening and I realised by 7pm I had no milk left. Panicked again. Went to local Breastfeeding group, been referred to hospital for tongue tie devision. Then pumped every hour for a week, even at night after every feed. Absolutely exhausting but it worked! Now it’s plenty of milk. Although they say it can happen again after 3 month 🙄 for bottle feeding we used tommee T bottles and steriliser for microwave, same brand.
Also midwife told me not to burp her as there is no need with breastfed babies. Which is b.llshit. She was unsettled until I started to burp her.
How r you doing? R u out of hospital yet??

Also midwife told me not to burp her as there is no need with breastfed babies. Which is b.llshit.

Yes, this is total bullshit! Mine has been on breastmilk only since 5 days old, now 8 weeks and still gets really windy whether fed from breast or expressed milk in bottle!

A good latch helps as it reduces the amount of air they swallow with the milk. We also use infacol and try to wind him really well during and after feeds. It has definitely improved a lot over time.

@Janefx40 Star sends you loads of love! Also @Liverpool19 she says Hi to u too 🤣

Hi jane I used cow and gate first of all and changed as he wouldn’t bring wind up and had really bad pains so changed to Aptamil and he’s been great. I don’t recommend infocil it never worked for him. I got colif drops and they worked. £15/20 a go but worth it. I started on the grip water when he was old enough.
I use tommee tippee bottles (colic ones) and steriliser, and the perfect prep machine (actual godsend) how people used to cope in the olden days without one I’ll never know 🤣.
If we are going out I measure the powder into little tubs and take a flask of boiling water.
Hope you are feeling better soon and get some rest.

aliona tell star I said hello. Hope she is ok

Xx

Congratulations @janefx40! 🥳🥳🥳 So glad to hear your little girl arrived, safe & sound. 😊 re breastfeeding, I’ve had all kind of challenges - and still have a few. 😬
I hand expressed my colostrum & fed it to my LO with a syringe until my milk came in. Midwife at hospital guilted is into giving formula, which I’m convinced messed with my LO’s system. 😠
Breast milk only now - breast or expressed. We use Dr. Brown bottles which have a natural flow and different teets depending on age. We sterilises by just boiling as don’t use too many bottles. Breastfeeding has been the toughest part for me, but I’m getting a lot of support which helps. And it has to get better! 🙏 Good luck! 🍀

Thank you all for your congrats and your advice which I read avidly even if I was too manic to reply.

We ended up buying aptimil because that was what we could get locally. She actually went on the boob finally when DP was out buying it so we haven't used yet but it is such a relief knowing we have it and she won't starve.

We also bought infacol to settle her tummy tho I feel slightly bad about that because it is full of chemicals and is orange flavour!!! Surely she's only meant to know what milk tastes like at this stage. But she was in pain so it is worth it

Xxx

@Janefx40 regarding all those colic relief drops... my mum said that when I was little they used dill oil to help colic... omg- they all still are made of dill oil and taste like dill unless flavour is added- I.e orange. Trust me, babies know that orange taste bettthan dill 😂😂😂 so not any more chemicals than informula if not even less. I wouldn’t worry ☺️