Due May 2022 thread 5

[Kittycaz]

@midnight90 @MrsMay19 @JMill13 @YfenniChristie @EastMidsGem @morphe @Sarah239 @fejkalove @Mummyingetc @Orangesunshin @aNewYorkerInLondon @Bubbasmama2017 @GinnyBee @Lavendersblue42 @Honeymint @YummyMummyXoX @K834baby3

Hey all if I missed anyone please add. Noticed last board is almost full.

Hi everyone good luck to
all those who are still waiting patiently my little girl was born yesterday afternoon at 38+1 weighing 6lb 4oz she’s only a little bit with lots and lots of hair so inlove can’t stop looking at her. ❤️

Hi all! Baby boy was born at 11.02am on Tuesday via elective c-section. He’s quite a bit smaller than expected, 3390g or 7lbs 7oz, and according to the growth chart we were expecting him to be around 4kg or 8lbs 8oz so we have next to no clothes that fit him well, most things are so big on him 😅

We came home Wednesday afternoon and have been settling in. He’s amazing 🥰 we’re knackered though, he sleeps really well during the day but overnight refuses to settle unless he’s being held so we’re taking turns staying up so he can sleep on our chests.

I’m recovering really well. Pain is minimal and every day moving around gets easier. Walking around is fine if not a bit slow, it’s twisting movements and getting out of bed that are still a little tricky. Overall it was a really good experience!

I will catch up in a bit with what has been going on, it’s been such an intense bubble I’ve really fallen off the grid mostly.

@Kittycaz that is incredibly tough, you’re doing an absolutely amazing thing truly. I remember having around 2hrs of sleep in three days with my first, I panicked at one point thinking I’d suffocated him but I was so tired I was trying to breastfeed the duvet. You’re at the toughest point breastfeeding wise after birth, I haven’t tried them myself but might be worth looking at nipple shields to give them a chance at healing a bit. Combo feeding or expressing then feeding are options but go with your gut in any case.
I’ll keep everything crossed for later on today, please let us know how you get on we’re all rooting for you both xx

@YfenniChristie thinking of you guys as well, the first three weeks are something else truly. It’s completely understandable to take it personally, you’ve literally made eyes, nails, everything of this little person it’s incredible. How are you getting on now?

Its my due date today, well it used to be. Based on twelve week scan they moved my DD from 17th May back to 13th May. Now the hospital I’ve been referred to ignore anything barring the last menstrual date so I’m back to 17th May. Not going to lie I feel robbed somewhat! Felt like there is finally light at the end of the tunnel, I’ve had SPD and last few days my hands/feet are painful with swelling. So so done

@Jowd92 @GinnyBee congratulations ladies!!!! Such wonderful news 🤗 so glad to hear things have gone so well for both of you.

@GinnyBee @Jowd92 Congratulations! Hope you and babies are doing well.

@Kittycaz @Crumpetloveliness It is so so hard. He was weighed again a few days ago and has now lost just under 12% of his birth weight. They put us on a 2 hour feeding schedule and sent a breastfeeding support team yesterday. I was completely overwhelmed (it was taking me nearly an hour and a half just to do 30mins on each boob, and then express on top of that) and sobbed at her, so they've put as back to every 3 hours and two sessions of formula. They're pretty sure the problem is with my milk supply (or lack thereof).

I feel physically drained today, like all the adrenaline from the last week has gone, but feel far better mentally. That said, DS gets weighed later today, so who knows how I'll take that.

Went in today for a sweep. The midwife today was much nicer and comforting than the previous. She and the student both swept the outside of my cervix.

Turns out cervix is firmly shut and hasn't even dropped down yet. I'm 41+3 (40+2 since last period).

Induction is scheduled for Sunday. Not the route we had hoped to go down, but here we are.

Congrats @GinnyBee and @Jowd92 hope yous are enjoying the newborn bubble and recovering well 🥰

@BabyOnBoard90 I was in a similar position to you first time round. No signs as of 41+4 last time so was induced, wasn’t what I wanted but actually it was a really positive experience in the end. I wouldn’t recommend reading the induction stories on mumsnet as is always the way people don’t tend to note the positives! Do you know what method they’ll be using as yet? You still have a lot of choice in how it goes xx Any questions please don’t hesitate to post or message direct

Congrats @JMill13 and @Jowd92 !

I’ll join the Breastfeeding is bloody tough gang 🙈 little man is feeding well and has only lost 7% of his weight so at least I don’t worry about him, but I’m really not very comfortable. My right nipple cracked very early on when we were still figuring things out, and was super painful and bleeding on day two to the point that I just couldn’t bear feeding from it at all. Took a break yesterday and only fed from the left and tried expressing from the right but not with much luck. Then baby was on feeding for 3 hours last night and still wanting more, I think the left just ran out of milk! Plucked up the courage to try the right then at midnight, as I’d let it heal for around 18 hours and thank god it was better!

Then today my boobs have been SO FULL and and leaking and uncomfortable I don’t know what to do 😭 I don’t want to pump to increase production but feel like I need to relieve the pressure somehow. Earlier I had the Haakaa on during feeds as an attempt to drain some of the excess and then my husband could feed what I collected, but that then meant next time I did a feed baby needed less milk.

Please tell me it will get better and my boobs will go down!

I've hit the day 3 emotional mess wall today. My milk came in over night so my boobs are super full and sore, I'm not breastfeeding so I have super guilt now that I'm not. I keep crying over absolutely nothing and everything. Baby girl was doing 4 hourly feeds but today has decided she's hungry nearly every 2 hours and I'm praying that she doesn't do it over night because I am completely exhausted. Other half is exhausted from running about doing all the house stuff and all the toddler stuff and I just feel useless today.

Ah sorry, needed a vent before I crack myself up.

Thank you, that's a really helpful post.

My induction is provisionally arranged for tomorrow - though I'd have to call to check for available beds.

I think I'll get a prostaglandin pill - then if that fails the synthetic hormone drip.

Did you end up having an epidural? I've heard pain can be quite harsh and sudden with induction

@BabyOnBoard90 is the prostaglandin pill the oral one?

I’ll tell the whole story as it may help 😄
Went into hospital for 7am, they inserted the prostaglandin pessary/gel at 8am. Would put me on the ctg monitor every four hours to see what was happening. Interestingly you could see I was having contractions but couldn’t feel them at all. Had another pessary six hours later, still having contractions but not feeling them. They checked me again at midnight and I was at 4cm, they broke my waters at this point. They offered me morphine at the same time saying that the contractions will be strong, well they weren’t kidding! I didn’t take it at that point but about thirty minutes later I asked for morphine, seems I’m part of 30% it doesn’t do anything for.

I was moved into the labour room immediately afterwards. Not going to lie the contractions were strong and frequent but I don’t have anything to compare them to natural birth wise if that makes sense. Lots of walking and really strong lower back side to side rubbing from husband helped. It took me a while to get the hang of gas and air, take it as soon as you feel a contraction coming on as it takes about 30seconds for the pain relief to kick in. Be prepared that the pain may cause you to throw up, apparently it’s very common but this hadn’t occurred to me.

I got to 4am and in hindsight hit transition as it felt like I couldn’t keep going. I asked for an epidural, anaesthesiologist turned up and was really lovely. They coached me with the gas and air which really helped so I didn’t have an epidural in the end. My husband helped me focus on my breathing which again really helped get through each contraction. I remember the doctors telling me at 5am they finished their shift at 6am, when the feeling to push comes on the contractions weren’t as painful but obviously the pushing bit was! Baby was born at 5.55am 😅 Annoyingly with an episotomy but baby was born as soon as it was done 🤷🏼‍♀️ Placenta delivery within ten minutes and then back to room after being stitched up for 7am. Just realised pretty much 24 hours all in but only 5-6 hrs of actual painful labour.

I must admit if I had to do it again I would ask to come later on in the day towards the evening so you can sleep whilst the pessary/pill does it’s work. Beforehand I’d read breaking waters didn’t show to bring about labour faster but it seemed to work for me. I’m not against epidurals but I must admit it was nice to be up and about fairly quickly without a catheter, equally I’d be tempted to have one second time around 😂

Congratulations everyone who has had their babies in the past couple of days!

I had a baby girl yesterday morning at 38 weeks. Very much enjoying the newborn bubble.

@Crumpetloveliness thank you so much sharing your experience! Very fortunate that the intense labour was circa 6hours. I hope I'm that lucky tomorrow/ today even I go in lol.

I've done all the final attempts you can imagine to provoke labour, so I can at least I've exhausted all options.

My final question is how soon were you able to go home after you gave birth?

I forgot to mention as that it's actually a pessary gel I'd receive. But it looks like I won't be needing it anymore as MY CONTRACTIONS HAVE STARTED!

Currently 12mins apart.

Well now they're 30mins. So quite sporadic.

Anyway I'll stop flooding this thread. Will see how we get on. Hopefully if they continue it'll mean I won't need induction.

They're quite painful and lasting 1min which I guess is standard

Congratulations @rainbowplease !

And best of luck @BabyOnBoard90 let’s hope this is it now!

Good luck @BabyOnBoard90 ! Get that oxytocin flowing :) I hope things progress for you spontaneously as you want, good timing!

@rainbowplease congratulations! Enjoy your bubble!

@JMill13 hang in there xx everything you are feeling is totally normal and you are certainly not alone in feeling like this. Sending hugs.

@BabyOnBoard90 Wooooohooooooo!!!!! Amazing news!!

Induction had the same discharge time frame as normal delivery so 24 hrs in my case 👍 Thinking of you! Don’t forget to breath 😂

@BabyOnBoard90 good luck!!

Quick update:

So Midwives says I'm probably just experiencing preparatory contractions as opposed to labour connections.

Given so I'm 41w+5d they're pushing me to get induced, which I think I'm going to agree to. Can't be in labour forever I suppose.

Gonna start with pessary gel, be monitored for next 24hrs and go from there.

Good luck @BabyOnBoard90 hopefully all goes well and you get to meet bub soon.

Thanks @Sarah239 definitely feel loads better now, thankfully the worst only lasted that one day.

@BabyOnBoard90 thinking of you. Hopefully the gel gives things a bump to progress in the right direction 🤞

@Kittycaz @YfenniChristie @GinnyBee How are you all getting on?

@JMill13 its incredible how that low can hit you, I hope you’ve managed to get some sleep and things are feeling a bit better x

@Crumpetloveliness getting on ok thanks! These early days feel a lot like mandatory sitting around 😂 little man is needy and demanding so what am I to do but to cuddle him and watch Netflix 🥰 Nights are tough as he refuses to sleep anywhere except being held, but we’re splitting it in two shifts so one of us goes to bed early and then we swap around 2-3am. This morning I managed to put him down in his cot at 7 for just over an hour and had a snooze, so small victories! 😅

@GinnyBee we had an almost identical situation with my first. The only window he would properly sleep for more than 45mins without being held was around 6/7am. Shifts is the way forward! It’s funny isn’t it just how much sitting around there is 😂 I’m going to try a sling this time around to be a bit more mobile but it’s not the end of the world if not.