Due March/April 2022 Thread 3. Third trimester and babies!!

[Dyra]

Didn't quite realise we were so close to the end of the second one. So let's have another one! I'll post the due date list in a moment.

We've had some similar issues with feeding as well.

Max was also jaundiced, and very sleepy for the first couple of days. Amazing for me to catch up on a bit of sleep and recover. Not so great for Max. Initially fed with syringes, but then also had to pump bottles for a day or two to wash out the jaundice. There was some nice weather, so he did some sunbathing by the window as well. Jaundice cleared up quickly after that, and he lost 7.7% birth weight.

I've been fortunate in that my milk came in just fine. We're fully BFing, but Max's latch is pretty bad. I have to effectively shove the entire nipple into his mouth for him to latch onto, or I just wind up with a licked nipple.

He's also a baby that sleeps all day and parties all night. So tired.... Dreading the day DH goes back to work, and I have to deal with DD as well in the morning.

Hope it is a turning point for you and Elwen. Xx

Little Ellie has a touch of jaundice too. Thankfully not enough for us to go to hospital. She initially lost 3% weight then 2 days later back up 1%.

Feeding is hard. Tried exclusive breastfeeding and she fed constantly for the first night. After 2 days of contractions then early birth and complications after then feeding all night I had been awake about 4 days straight. We eventually decided to breastfeed and top up with formula which has really helped. She's happy taking both and we get to share night feeds.

Well midwife has now said that baby is back to back and hence why things aren’t progressing quite as quickly as I’d like 😢

The second sweep was semi successful but I’ve been booked for a third sweep on the 6th and then induction will be on the 10th if needed.

Anyone had a back to back labour? I’m stressing as I’ve heard that they can be particularly difficult.

Probably not helping, but Max was back to back. However, I suspect that my DD was also back to back and turned during labour.

I've been reading about it, and it seems like back to back presentation is quite common with ~1 in 3 babies being back to back at the start of labour. But only 5-8% are delivered still OP. Max and I were just unlucky. Plus I had a few of the risk factors for OP birth (anterior placenta, age >35, obese). Give spinning babies a go. Try the whole "scrubbing the floor on hands and knees position" as well. Neither worked for me, but it can never hurt to try. Hopefully baby will turn before labour for you @bubblybrit.

Good choices @Caass45. Happy baby + happy you is the best possible result.

Thanks @Dyra. The midwife did suggest that she would likely turn in labour. It’s just seems getting to that point is pretty slow given she’s back to back. I’m in so much pain doing normal day tasks (plus looking after a toddler) that I’m feeling anxious that I might need to wait until around the 10th to get this baby out!

I’ll look into spinning babies as I’ve not heard of that. Doing something is hopefully better than doing nothing at all!

Hope you and Max are well x

How's everyone getting on?

@Derbee I looked back and saw today was the latest your consultant would let you go before induction. Hope everything is going well for you, and hopefully it won't be too much longer before you're holding your baby.

@Catconfusion How's Elwen doing? Hoping the jaundice is long gone and she's piling the pounds back on.

@onedream Hoping your recovery has gotten much better, and you're no longer in any pain.

@bubblybrit FX baby has turned to a better position by now.

Thanks @Dyra.

My beautiful little girl, Sophie, was born on the 3rd April 💗!

Another fast delivery for me so it’s all been a bit of a whirlwind 😀

How’s everyone else? X

@bubblybrit She's in an infinitely better position then! 🤣

Massive congratulations! Sophie is the name we had chosen if Max had turned out to be a girl, so love, love, love the name. What does your DS think of her?

Congratulations @bubblybrit ❤️

@Dyra. I’m so pleased that I’m not pregnant any more lol 😂 Sophie is a really good baby so far so long may it continue! Her big sister is brilliant with her for now. Trying to include her as much as possible. Think DD looks forward to the dirty nappies as she trots about to collect a new nappy and wipes each time!

We had a few potential names but Sophie felt right when she was born….great minds think alike eh? X

Thank you @MiracleBaby2022 ❤️

This is our little bundle of joy at a few hours old! 💗 x

Awwwwwwww. 🥰 What a cute squish! How lovely DD1 is helping out like that. Long may that remain too!

How're you getting on @MiracleBaby2022?

Ah gorgeous congratulations, I've had some twinges today, so 🤞 things will start happening soon

I'm still waiting 😩 my due date is this Friday

@Dyra phew, it's been tough going over here. Baby's not latching properly and so I'm not able to breastfeed her which means pumping day and night. 😩 She was fed by tubes straight into her stomach whilst in intensive care so I guess it will just take her time to learn... Plus she's got colic... BUT we're coping! Luckily I'm an expert insomniac, so severe sleep deprivation is just the norm anyway. Baby is absolutely adorable though, I'm totally in love with her! 🥰

How about you??

Congrats @bubblybrit and what a beautiful name. She’s gorgeous. Xx

@MiracleBaby2022 I’m so sorry the feeding is so hard. I can imagine around the top pumping is tough. I hope it improves soon xx

@Dyra things are looking up thankfully. After losing 10% and not gaining at all in two weeks we have an 130g gain in 48 hours. She’s now up to 10lbs 9oz which is bonkers for a two week old baby. Her jaundice has cleared so I think that’s led to her gaining weight. It’s such a relief as we had to do 100ml tops ups after each breastfeed so I was either pumping or feeding. We have a tongue tie appointment tomorrow. I think she has a slight restriction there so not sure what they’ll do if anything. How are you getting on? Xx

Everything crossed for you your babies don't make you wait much longer @easybreezy586 and @PinkCheetah.

Around the clock pumping sounds so incredibly hard @MiracleBaby2022. Hopefully wee one will master her latch before too long. And colic as well?! I would be on the floor already with all that. Major kudos to you, and that things only get better from here on out.

Crazy. Two weeks old, and already as big as an 8 week old, never mind the weight loss/stall. And now putting on 1/4lb in 2days?! Wow! Glad the jaundice has cleared. Having to pump 100ml to go alongside each feed must've been so tough. Hope your appointment tomorrow goes well.

We're fine here ty. Feeding feels like it's going well. He's still a bit a lazy at establishing an initial latch, but once he gets going he's fine. Looking forward to his next weighing in a few weeks. He feels a bit of chunk. Can't believe it's nearly been 4 weeks already....

Those who've had C-sections before, how long does it take for the scar not to feel sore? The infection has cleared, and I don't need to take painkillers, but I'm always aware of it.

Congrats on all the beautiful babies.

@MiracleBaby2022 sorry to hear about the latching issues pumping so much must be hard!

@Catconfusion we seem to have had the opposite here. Elizabeth only dropped 100g and when she was weighed 2 days ago she was 7lb 13oz so 13oz gain in just under 2 weeks. Probably because she eats constantly 🤣

I gave to admit I've found the last 2 weeks way harder than I ever imagined. Can't wait for my hormones to level out and I stop crying at every random thing 🤣

Thanks @Catconfusion @Dyra and @Caass45 ! It's been seriously tough, I've got to get some help on Monday to figure out what to do. Either I get help with the latching or I have to stop trying to breastfeed her completely because trying to pump and train her to breastfeed at the same time is like trying to reach both the North and the South Pole simultaneously. I was overwhelmed with all the info I got after her birth and so the irony of that is that I actually don't know who to contact... My partner actually cried today, it's that bad. I'm sure I was given loads of numbers for various things but where I wrote them down I don't know 🤷🏻‍♀️

Congratulations to everyone who had babies and those of you who are waiting hopefully you will not wait for too long!

@Dyra recovery is going well I guess, it will be 3 weeks on Tuesday my stitches look ok I have been checking every day but I am nowhere near back to normal, best is when I just sit on sofa with my feet up, only then I feel like I never had a c-section lol
How are you feeling?

@MiracleBaby2022 I'm sorry you are struggling with bf, have you had anyone looking at the latch or watch you feeding?
La leche league is great for support there is also lots of videos, pictures and overall info which might help you, ideally it would be great if someone in real life can have a look at your little one feeding..bf is so tough and expressing as a main feeding way is even tougher imo,

Sorry posted before finishing,
@MiracleBaby2022 I breasted my younger son and now breastfeeding this little one so if I can help in any way or you want to ask me something please do or pm me I'm not an expert, I had a very tough time starting up last time around and needed so much support, this time it's been relatively easy..so will gladly help if I can xx

Oh thank you very much @onedream ! I've not had anyone watch her feed yet, but basically she does mostly latch on fine and seems to thoroughly enjoy herself for a good 30-40 minutes on one side, less on the other side. There's milk coming out of her mouth sometimes so she must be getting something, but she's generally hungry 5 minutes afterwards and will then scream until I give her a full bottle of either pumped milk or formula. I tried nipple shields earlier today, but seems fabulous, but don't think she managed to get any more milk. A friend of mine told me about La Leche, I'll take a look. How do I get anyone to come and watch her feed though? I was wondering if she's got a tongue tie perhaps...

@MiracleBaby2022 how does it feel for you when she is on, is it pain free? Would she latch back on breast after those 5 mins instead of bottle? Is she gaining weight ok and she has plenty of wet nappies?
When I struggled last time around I had a breastfeeding support worker coming from hospital to look at my feeding and latch, this time I had a midwife having a look at the latch when she came to visit after we came home from hospital..is there anyone who you still seeing at the moment (midwife/health visitor) who you can ask for support?