Membrane Sweep

[M24L]

Currently 40 +2 and had my membrane sweep today. Looking at being induced this weekend if I haven't gone before then which I don't want I really want to be able to go myself 😓

Whats everyone's sweep stories? When did you get your sweep, was it successful and if so how soon after did you feel anything/when did labour start etc?

@M24L are we gonna get a pic of this beaut little baba???! I wanna see her and get all EMOSH 😭
To be honest though, if you end up on formula and she takes to it well bet she'll sleep like a trooper! The chunky monkeys always do 😂

Your DD is gonna be elated, bet you'll all be so emotional. Hope you have a short stay in hospital.

Well in other rather less exciting news, had to cancel the pram trip cause DP woke up with a cough and snotty nose (done an LFT that was negative) but he's thoroughly pissed me off as I asked him early on if he still felt up for it to which he said yes I'll be fine, then two hours later he was still in bed so had to cancel right at the last minute. I'm fucking fuming and not a nice person to be around at the minute and he knows it. Was supposed to be seeing my mum today too so that's gone out the window as well. I dont get out the house at the best of times atm so I've been looking forward to this for ages.

URGH MEN 🙈 xxx

@M24L did you get home? How are you settling in? How ecvited was DD to meet baby? Sorry a zillion questions....

@MyGrassIsBrowner well that's just rude of DP isn't it. I'd equally be sulking. If it's any consolation my DP just went and had his first vaccine yest at a walk in. Which is fine we need to have to done but said we would wait until baby was a bit bigger in case of feeling poorly. No conversation beforehand either just a call to say oh I just had my first vaccine then he came home and was lounging around complaining about his arm and am I hot do I feel hot ooh I think I have a headache was very 🙄🙄 suggestions of taking paracetamol fell on very deaf ears. They enjoy the drama sometimes I guess. But his been working since baby was born had two days wfh with us, I'd been inundated with visitors since Friday so could have done with him coming in from work and helping with bits or taking the dog out instead of being 'ill'. He left for work at 5 this morn and just me and baby all day only day this week I have this luxury so intend on having cuddles for most of it. How awful is this weather?! I mean I'm glad I don't have to content with the what do they wear in this heat but I would like for it to be dry at least so I could get out the prison that is the house! Anyway more importantly did you manage to reschedule your pram shop appointment??

@M24L Yes lady I hope you are well, home and settled 😍

@Vie8126 Oh dont even get me started, what is their problem honestly! How are you doing by the way? Hows little baba? Hope you're getting some sort of routine going, or at least some sleep! Those newborn days are rotten and I am scared moreso that I'll have DD to share my attention with.
Honestly tho, men just dont think! It's a good job us women are on it. I have been forcing DP to take paracetemol/ibuprofen and to keep drinking water, otherwise he wouldnt do it off his own back he's just suffer. I'm like.. I'm trying to fricking help you absolute walloper!

Haven't rescheduled the appointment yet and now gonna have to wait on these PCR results so cant go effin anywhere. I'm due to see the midwife on Thurs too so if we're positive that's gonna have to be cancelled... argh!

@MyGrassIsBrowner baby is doing okay he wakes twice in the right around 1ish and 4ish so can cope with that. He is doing this awful snack feeding tho so he had bottle at 4 and only had 2.5oz then at 7 he was hungry again and again had about 2oz then at 10 had 1oz and fell asleep no amount of nappy changing or winding is waking him up he will go 2 to 3 hrs and have the smallest amount. Its all fine I mean I'm getting sleep of a night and time during the day to get on with stuff but do feel like constantly feeding, winding and cleaning bottles 😂 I cannot believe he is a week old it's all going so fast I could cry (I understand this is very dramatic of me lol) we have a busy week with visitors tomorrow, midwife and newborn photographer Wednesday and GCSE day for my 2nd DS Thursday and my stepdaughter hopefully Friday so routine is just trying to be up and me and him dressed by a reasonable time hahaha.

They don't think at all!! If they did they'd be dangerous lol. Oh mine was the same I must have said have you taken the paracetamol about a million times so in the end was like I have no sympathy for you now knobhead.

Ahhh nooooo didn't realise you had a PCR what a painnnnnn results should be back pretty quick so should be good for Thursday!! Sucks being stuck in man 😒😒

@Vie8126 well considering you're only a week in you sound like you're doing pretty well! No need to apologise for being dramatic, it's hard frigging work and relentless. Like you say, all you seem to do is feed, burp, change, clean, sleep, repeat!
Must say I'm actually just looking forward to feeding baby, they only need milk, lol my 16 month old on the other hand.. awkward as all hell. I go to the effort of making her nice snacks/meals and half of it goes to the dog or ends up on his head... give me strength!

Oh god yeah if men had to think for us.. jesus we'd all be fucked 😅

Yeah we had to go this morning, DP cough is actually quite bad now I do feel for him, and I personally dont feel great now so I'm starting to panic a bit. There's always bloody something! DP supposed to be starting his new job on Weds so that will throw all that in the shit heap if we test positive! 😩
Sounds like you've got a busy few days ahead of you lady! Rather you than me right now 😆

It is relentless isn't it! Inbetween that have the I'm hungrys and I'm bored of older DC my Dd decided to stay at their dad's for a couple of days so only have 16 year old home although he also needs feeding every 2 hours haha.

Oh Mrs I'm so sorry to hear you are feeling poorly and the timing is just actually shit. His new employer can't do anything it's just one of them things should it be c19 so they should be understanding but it doesn't help the stress.

Aww bless DD, mine at 12 is still fussy like that at times then texts from her dad's like hi mum we are in a Greek restaurant and me and DP were like wtaf if that was us she would have had such a strop!!

I hope the results come in quick and are negative lovely sending lots of love to get you through and strength to cope with DP 😜 xxx

@MyGrassIsBrowner

@Vie8126 @MyGrassIsBrowner hello ladies got home yesterday at lunch time so just been trying to get into a routine of some sort. Having to give the wee soul a mix of both breast and formula milk atm as the colostrum just wasn't fulling her up and the constant cluster feeding and using me as a soother has my poor nipples in tatters haha!

She slept like an absolute angel last night with only getting up at half 2 for a feed then sleeping through till half 7.

Still no name yet lol I feel like her names on the tip of my tounge just can't get it out.

Still can't believe shes finally here and how big she was lol. Over the moon 💖.

I will upload a wee photo soon for you all to see 💞

Hope you ladies are keeping well and hope the baby is settling in good for you @Vie8126

@Vie8126 It's certainly hard work. But it definitely gets better after the first few weeks when you find yourself in some kind of routine.

I can't imagine what it's like having teenagers around though, hope you're cracking the whip with them to help around the house! 😉
Thanks for you lovely words, DP is still coughing and spluttering which is slowly driving me A BIT FKING CRAZY. But I do feel for the bastard haha 😅 take care of yourself lovely. Xx

@M24L hey lovely!! I'm not suprised your colostrum isn't sufficing the little chunky monkey! She's probably like mum.. are you having a laugh?! 😆 i told you, all the chunks do sleep soooo much better lol. Ughhh I bet she looks gorg 😍 i'm so glad you're okay hunnie. Super envious your babas are here. I'm OVER being pregnant now 😭 xxx

@M24L daft question I know, but do you physically feel lighter after having bubs? I cant remember how I felt after my DD but I know I'm struggling atm with the weight of my bump already and I'm only 31+3. My DD was 8lb 6oz and frankly I've got a feeling this one will be bigger xx

@MyGrassIsBrowner the community midwife came today and was like we don't advise doing both blah blah I said well tbh fed is best at this moment in time and the MW at the hospital told me to try it until my milk supply comes in. I'm like im not starving the baby if she needs fed she's going to get fed either way.

Tbh not at the moment, my tummy is still quite swollen and my body aches the way it did at the end of my pregnancy but after a check over today the community midwife said everythings going back to normal so I'm hoping a few more days and I'll be back to some normality lol xxx

@M24L oh my god what! Urgh they really piss me off sometimes. So full of shit. You do what you need to do for your baba! I've learnt from last time that they're never satisfied unless you're doing stuff by the book in their eyes. Just humour them and dont feel pressured mama! Oh I bet you're loving this newborn bubble right now, bet you cant stop looking at her can you? I remember just gawking at my DD for hours 😆

Bless you, I remember feeling totally battered after having my DD. How did the birth itself go? Did you end up with any stitches? Just hope you're getting enough time to recoop yourself lovely. Xxx

@MyGrassIsBrowner honestly I was shocked she said it tbh but there's no way babys getting enough just from colostrum so we're doing us 😁💖.

It's unreal how quick the hours just pass by and all I've done is just sit and stare at her haha. I also can't believe how well she's just fitted right in to our little family she's such a good girl like her big sister 💞.

The birth was great tbh they started my drip about 12 and by 2 my contracts were 5 every 10 mins I wasn't getting a break at all so by 3 o'clock I was in agony and decided to take gas and air it got to about half 5 and I was like I need to push and the MW said they would examine me in a few mins I was like no I need to push her heads coming out they kept trying to fob me off then she looked and shes like oh god your right one more push and babys head was out 🤣🤣. No stitches at all surprisingly no tears or anything 🙈.

Me and baby spent most of today napping so I'm slowly getting there. No one tells you about the after birth pains after your second child nor do they tell you about the contraction pains while breast feeding 🤣 my body's knackered with the pains lol but shes worth every single ache and pain xxx

@M24L you do what you need to do mama!
Sounds like you had a really easy birth bloody hell! 🙈 just make sure you're looking after yourself!

I literally do not understand why midwives seem to think we're lying when we say we need to push?! I was the same with my DD, said I needed to push and she was like 'nooooo you dont not yet' I said, no seriously MY BODY IS PUSHING! she checked quickly and said ooooooh yes we're ready to go now! ..
....no shit sherlock 😒😆

To be honest I'd read that the afterpains after no.2 are supposed to be horrific! It never ends for us really does it 😅 xxx

@MyGrassIsBrowner we have the lactation nurse coming today to sit with me for a while and check that babys feeding OK etc. I think my nipples may be too big for her wee mouth and this is maybe what's causing the pains as well as just not supplying enough grub 🤣 so hopefully we can establish something a bit more concrete today.

It was very quick lol then DH got me a Chinese and I had a lovely hot bath 🤣 it was magical lol.

I know I was literally telling her the babys head was coming out and they just kept saying we will check in a moment I'm like no you need to check now. The poor MWs weren't even ready in their aprons on anything and she was born 🤣🤣.

The after pains are especially when the adrenaline starts wearing off. I was like what the hell is happening haha they are worth it though 💞 xxx

@M24L Aww that's brilliant hun, but you poor thing, if breast feeding isn't stressful enough. Hopefully you get some clarity today. I had big boobs with my DD and honestly felt like I was smothering her most of the time, this time my boobs are even bigger so god knows how I'll get on. 😅

Were you in the delivery suite or on the ward when she arrived? They just do not listen do they, totally their own fault for not whipping their aprons on 😆
Sounds absolutely blissful.. chinese and a nice bath! 😏
Can't say I'm looking forward to the dreaded after pains but hopefully they subside for you soon!! I still wanna see a pic of this beaut baba!!! 😍❤ xxxx

@M24L also, have we decided on a name yet?! 😁 xxx

I wanted to share my experience in case it helps anyone. I had my first sweep at 40 weeks and 7 days. It was unsuccessful, she said she couldn't reach, I was a bundle of emotions because I really wasn't expecting to have to go through this and she really pressured me into setting an induction date. I started crying and she threw tissues at me and tried to get me out of the room as quickly as possible. I nearly didn't go back for a second try at the sweep 3 days later BUT I'M SO GLAD I DID.

The second midwife that tried was an absolute star, was so much more gentle, and it was successful! It completely made that first experience go out of my mind. I left the room feeling on top of the world and really feeling super hopeful about going into labour. I would just really encourage anyone that has had a failed sweep to try again - it is worth it! I left feeling so disappointed and disheartened first time around, but having a second go can turn things around. Maybe just ask for a different midwife if you can the second time.

Finally, even if I do have to be induced in a few days time if the sweep doesn't get things going, I have accepted that now. The thing that was scaring me is that in the NHS guidance, it says induction can be more painful. WHY DO THEY SAY THIS?? It's not what anyone wants to hear.
Instead, I realised it's because the contractions start more suddenly and more intensely, so you have less time to get used to them. The potential bonus is that it's all over more quickly. Try to focus on the upsides!

I have been trying to induce myself naturally since 39 weeks: loads of pineapples, gallons of raspberry leaf tea, dates, clary sage, nipple stimulation, sex, acupressure, the works... I have now come to the realisation that I have tried everything in my power to go into labour, maybe my body just needs a slight nudge in the right direction to get it going. Once I realised this, it felt like a huge weight off my shoulders. An induction can get the ball rolling and tip you into the labour that you are ready for. It's not really any different from any of the things that we are trying at home, it's just under medical supervision and in the hospital. I'd say that thinking of these things as either 'natural' or 'artificial' really puts a lot of unnecessary pressure on us.

Any things that we do to get the process going is just bringing us one step closer to baby - that's what I'm keeping in my mind!

@M24L it sounds like you're doing amazing! Ignore the midwife you do what works for you my milk didn't come in until day 5 so my little one would have been starving if I was breast feeding as didn't have much going on before then. I had an old school midwife who said to me just do it how you think but if it's against guidence just don't tell them 😂 when I discussed how much guidence had changed re bottle feeding in the 21 years since I first become a mum!

Yes does she have a name? Birth sounds amazing and so calm I'm so glad you had a good experience. How is she going at night?

@MyGrassIsBrowner I had like a stomach strain after he was born like an ache under my bump its finally gone now. Stomach is still fairly large and was until about Sunday then it suddenly shrunk some more. Noone has actually felt my tummy or checked its doing what it should. I'm worried about my tummy muscles a bit but will see how we go. Get signed off from midwife tomorrow hopefully she's only been twice anyway!

Completely forgot how hard it is doing anything with a baby haha. Here we are at 10.45 and I haven't even had breakfast, have showered, done bottles, put washing on, had shopping delivered and dealt with an explosive shoulder to bottom poo explosion so should count that as a semi win I guess!

@Vie8126 well it sounds like you're doing amazingly too mama! 😁 hopefully everything is going as it should be re your tummy. I remember being somewhat swollen after my DD but 10 days PP I got back into my size 10 jeans. Since then though my hips are ridiculously wide and I've put on loads of weight. I'm like a size 18 now! I've already got the wobbly pouch at the bottom of my bump so I'm preparing myself to not snap back this time which I'm slightly upset about. Think it's more that I'm conscious about the fact that I'm getting married in May and still need to go dress shopping. My original style I wanted will deffo be out the window and I'll probs have to go for something thats gonna hold me in lol.

The newborn stage is so hard, its just the repetitiveness of it all, but you both sound like you're smashing it ladies! Making me all the more excited for my baba making an appearance, it just feels like FOREVER away 😆

@MyGrassIsBrowner the lactation nurse said all is well and just to keep doing what I'm doing, my milk coming in now so time to try and focus Purley on breastfeeding now that there's a supply coming in for the wee monster lol.

We were in the labour ward but I think they thought I was going to be labouring for a while longer and there was no examinations during my labour so they weren't ready for her arrival to come along so quickly haha.

Still no name yet 🙈🙈 but here's a wee photo of baba 💞

@Vie8126 you are so right Mrs I was getting myself all worried about trying to do whats "right" when in reality what's "right" for me might not be "right" for someone else. After speaking with the midwife today and the lactation nurse I feel so much more relaxed and know that I'm doing it correctly has a weight lifted off my shoulder. I'm sitting here now patiently waiting for baby to wake up so I can empty my boob 🤣🤣 just needed a bit of reassurance I suppose.

It honestly was a pleasant birth if you can call any birth that haha.

Shes amazing at night tbh, last night she was cluster feeding so she was looking for food every hour but she doesn't cry at all lol. How's your baby settling in at home? I hope your OK

God the fact you've even managed all of that I take my hat off to you haha I feel like I'm winning if I manage to move from the bed to the couch before 1pm 🤣🤣 go you mama your doing an amazing job xxx

Meet my princess virtually lol xx

@M24L Ohhhh my good lord look at her! Sleeping beauty 😍
Aww you sound like you're doing absolutely fantasticly lovely. Do you think she looks like your DD when she was born? I'm sooooo eager to know what this girl is gonna look like compared to my DD when she was born! Xx

This was my DD and daft doggo this morning. Honestly thick as thieves the pair of them. Also my DDs hair is crazy, I literally do not know what to do with it. Amazingly she's blonde hair blue eyed, me and DP are both brown haired brown eyed 😳 we always laugh and say she was swapped at birth haha! Xx

@MyGrassIsBrowner yes she does shes the absolute doubt if my DD although she has her own little characteristics as well lol.

Oh your DD is absolutely adorable, I can imagine her and her side kick getting up to mischief lol they look like they have an amazing bond 💞

Oh really lol, my DD1 was blonde when she was born but as she's gotten older it's went dirty fair. Both me and DH are dark headed also xx