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.

@onedream when she initially latches on it hurts like hell but after that it's pain free for the rest of the time. I've not tried to re-latch her afterwards because after sitting there feeding for sometimes 1.5 hours in total with her sleeping a bit and changing breast I've generally had enough. It's impossible to find out about plenty of wet nappies at this stage because she screams 24/7 of hunger if I ever try to solely breastfeed her. I tried it when I first got back from hospital though and she neither wee'd nor poo'd and lost a lot more weight, so we were then forced onto formula to quickly regain the lost weight. The health visitor gave me some numbers but it's all lost in a heap of paperwork... Will try to ring La Leche tomorrow I think. Hate feeding my daughter formula 😔

@MiracleBaby2022 did you have any luck with the La leche?

I wonder if she just prefers bottle as it's easier, she has to work for the milk on breast but milk from bottle just flows without effort..
I would personally feed from one side, when he unlatches or goes to sleep I will change his nappy which will wake him up and I would then put him on the other side.
To feed more from breast you will need to reduce formula feeds and offer breast instead, your latch sounds ok, the initial latch can hurt but ease off as milk starts flowing and painless for rest of feed. The pain should settle within few weeks.

Please remember no matter how you feed your baby the most important thing is that you are happy too, if she is not putting on weight on breast it is a no brainier and you are absolutely right to give her formula. You are doing a great job xx

Thanks @onedream xx

I'm not actually sure she prefers bottle. She seems SO happy when she breastfeeds. She's like a different person and always tries to find the breast when she's hungry. But what I'm trying to do at the moment is pump and give her 50% bottled breast milk and the other 50% formula. I've bought an all singing and dancing double hands free breast pump now too so hopefully I'll be able to up the quantity of breast milk to 75% (or more if I'm really lucky). That's the best I can do for now, It has calmed the whole situation right down, we're getting a bit more sleep, she screams less and we're all a bit happier. I didn't get a chance to phone La Leche today, will try again tomorrow. I can just about cope with the current arrangement so if I can start to get some help with the breastfeeding I'll have to introduce it slowly, otherwise we'll just end up in the situation we've just been with 24/7 screaming, non-stop pumping and 0 sleep. I'll update you once I get hold of someone from La Leche xx

I hope you manage to get in contact with someone from LLL tomorrow @MiracleBaby2022. Is there a local [https://www.nct.org.uk/local-activities-meet-ups/feeding-support Baby Café group] around by you at all? They're run by NCT, but you don't have to have done an NCT course to make use of them. There's also an NCT feeding helpline that might be able to signpost you to somewhere local to you.

You're doing so well. I hate to repeat the mantra that "fed is best" but it's true. Whatever way of feeding that results in a content, weight gaining, dirty nappy producing baby and an unstressed happy you is going to be the best.

Stupid failed link....

Baby Café group

Hi everyone, our surprise second baby was born on Saturday at 14.56, a little boy, 7lb 15, he kept us waiting, 41+3 in the end, but managed to avoid an induction which was a relief! We're still in hospital, just waiting for some blood samples to come back then it's home time, I can't wait!

@Miraclebaby2022 sounds like you're having a hard time, but you're trying so hard to make it work, it's really impressive. I got some help with breastfeeding my first, I was given the number from the community midwife and someone came to my house that day. I never had loads of milk, but managed to exclusively breastfeed even though we had a rocky start, so don't give up hope just yet. You need to get the right support and sometimes that can be hard to find. Hopefully la leche are helpful.

Thanks @Dyra ! I had a look but even within a 50 mile radius from where we live there's nothing... So true, fed is definitely best!! Will see if I get a chance to make some phone calls tomorrow. PS luckily her colic seems mostly under control now - still tons of wind coming out both ends but she's not in constant agony anymore.

Thanks @easybreezy586 and a big congratulations on your little baby boy! My daughter was only little too at 3 kgs. I'm trying hard because I really think breast milk is best and I would have liked to start it earlier because we didn't get a chance to bond for several days while she was in intensive care. But that's life, hopefully it will get resolved over time - and in the meantime I just have to accept a bit of (well quite a lot of) formula.

Congratulations @easybreezy586! Sounds like DS2 just wanted to get as close to Easter as he could without being induced. Did labour/afterwards go ok? Has baby got a name yet? Hopefully your bloods came back clear and you're home and a family of 4 at long last!

@MiracleBaby2022 Oh that's rubbish. Hopefully you managed to get on to LLL and you've got some advice. Great to hear baby's colic is under control. It'll be a thing of the past before you know it. But certainly not missed!

Hi all, I was induced on 5th April. Horrifically fast labour etc, baby turned back to back at 8cm, progress stopped. Decided eventually on a c-section on advice of consultant.

Gorgeous 8lb 4oz boy born at 20:43 on 6th April. We’ve called him Morris 🥰

@MiracleBaby2022 we’ve had a rough time with BFing. Having a private lactation consultant come to our house tomorrow to watch feed/help us out.

If you look on
lcgb.org/find-an-ibclc/
There should be someone in your area. We had such a good conversation with her on the phone. It really helped. Good luck. I expected BFing to be hard, but not this hard….

Congratulations @Derbee! I've been wondering how you got on. Sorry labour went far from plan. I hope Morris (cool name!) is ok, and recovery hasn't been too onerous for you. Hopefully the lactation consultant will be able to help you with your BFing issues.

Congratulations @Derbee and welcome to the world Morris! 🤎

Thank you for the info, how much is the private consultant? I tried breastfeeding again today and have consequently dealt with a non stop screaming baby ever since - I'm losing the will to live 😭. Have spoken to La Leche today but honestly just feel like giving up and feeding her nothing but formula. I've not even had a chance to pump all day because she's been screaming non stop!

@Dyra yes we have got a name now, George Frederick, we're back home, feels so good to be out of hospital and back in my own bed.

Labour was going fine right until the end when they realised babys head was facing sideways and I just wasn't getting any pushing contractions at all. Ended up with assisted delivery with ventouse, which was actually completely fine. Recovery has been much easier than from the section I had with DS1, I can do so much more.

Congratulations @Derbee. Hope you've recovered from that dramatic birth. Xx

My little girl, my Nina, was born yesterday 12/4/22. Had a water birth and it went really well only laboured 5 hours and I was told for a first timer that's really good!

@PinkCheetah wow congratulations. Sounds idyllic to me. Well done! Xx

@easybreezy586 what a lovely name, so pleased you didn’t need a section and had an easy recovery. Xx

@MiracleBaby2022 I’m so sorry the feeding has been so difficult for you. I hope you find solutions soon. I know it’s not ideal to go onto formula but if that’s the only option It’ll be fine. Xx

@Derbee love the name! Congratulations. I hope the consultation goes well! Xx

So little Elwen is doing well. It turns out she did have a tongue tie which explains why she was feeding for Britain yet lost weight and caused so much bleeding and damage to my chest. The latch has improved a bit but I’ve been told it’ll take a bit of time. She’s gained another 70g so now 10lbs 11. We will see the midwife next week and hopefully get signed off if she’s up to her birth weight.

@MiracleBaby2022 what does the midwife say about your bfeeding issues? Have they checked for tongue tie? I honestly didn’t think it was that in my case but alas it is. I hope you’re getting enough NHS support. Xx

@dyra did you say you had an infection in your incision? I’ve just found out I have strep b in mine. It was looking a bit red and smelt funny so they swabbed it. Now on my second lot of antibiotics. How long did it take yours to clear up? Xx

@Catconfusion I did. And funny you say that, but I think mine's also become reinfected (or never cleared up in the first place). Getting sore, and there's a smell again. Will be trying to get an emergency appointment with the doctors for a second round of antibiotics later. Wonder if they'll swab mine too now. Glad Elwen has had her tongue tie sorted. She'll be back to birth weight in no time.

Congratulations @PinkCheetah. That sounds a perfect first birth. Fast, but not too fast. And a water birth too. Sounds heavenly. Nina is a very lovely name. Hopefully you're home already, and getting in those newborn snuggles. 🥰

@easybreezy586 Nothing beats a nice, quick recovery. Enjoy your George! 💙

@dyra it’s best to get a swob. The antibiotic I was first given wasn’t the best one. Once they know what type of infection it is they can prescribe appropriately.

Did they remove your dressing the day after surgery? I’m convinced that’s how I got an infection in it. There was a bit of loose stitching on one side so with it being exposed so early, the infection could get in easier. I wish I’d asked them to leave it on for longer now. Xx