Due September 2022 (Thread 7!)

[HaresHoping]

Hiya everyone,

Just starting a new thread for when we need it as thread 6 is almost full! ☺️

@handbagsandholidays Good to know the c section recovery is going so well! At 1.5 days out, I’m beginning to freak out, but it will be what it will be. I remember expressing last time being slow, and frankly a little sore at the start. Pumping every 3 hours even at night (sorry), with a good quality (hospital grade) pump worked wonders. Also making sure the room is warm before starting, if your baby isn’t with you, having something that smells like them, and sometimes a warm shower and boob massaging first helps too. I’ve heard there’s recipes for lactation biscuits you can make etc. i really did find consistently keeping going with the pump worked for me, but that might just be me. There’s also no shame In formula, fed is best and all that. You’ve been through so much mama!

Ahhhhh I'm currently pumping with a medela symphony as I type this! I wasn't kidding when I said I am a novice and so I didn't realise that you had to physically sit with the pump to your chest unless you have a wearable pump 🙈 I naively thought the suction would have kept the pump in place lol. I have now ordered a pump holding bra which should arrive tomorrow. I will aim for 3 hourly sessions, thank you for that too! Do you pump for a certain period of time or just keep going until you get no more? I'm definitely open to the idea of formula but whilst I'm in hospital and have the time and space to be able to attempt breastfeeding I'd like to give it a go.

Sending you lots of love and luck for your section. Aside from the usual things, I've found bedside snacks, peppermint tea and arnica really helpful if the last 2 days. I genuinely can't stress how much staying on top of my pain relief has made a difference to the way I feel. I didn't have any swelling during my pregnancy but my feet have since ballooned following my section and so compression socks have been great and reminding myself to put my feet up every so often even whilst sitting. Also remembering to bring my knees up before turning or going from sitting to standing has helped too. If I think of any other useful advice, I will be sure to mention it. Xxx

@handbagsandholidays you sound like me 3 years ago. I was rapidly on Amazon buying a hands free bra pump holder. It was so very helpful. I think I maxed out pumping 20 mins every 3 hours. Some people did longer, but honestly I got so fed up/bored and at the start it kind of hurts a bit while your body deals with the oxytocin pumping creates.

thank you so much for your tips, I’ll definitely add compression socks to my bag and will get some arnica tomorrow. Any tips are hugely appreciated!

@handbagsandholidays fenugreek tea is meant to be good for supply, there is a great website called Kellymom with some great tips. Warm flannels on the boobs also helps, I just used to pump until nothing more came out.

Wow @handbagsandholidays you've been through so much! You're a total hero. Congratulations again on the arrival of your little one, I'm so pleased to hear you're both doing so well. What a special little boy ❤️ hope you both continue to recover nice and quickly and you can get home safely soon for lots of snuggles x

@handbagsandholidays that sounds harrowing - well done for getting through that so well. I'm glad baby is doing okay.

Iv read that pumping too early isn't great, supposed to wait until few weeks but obviously everyone's circumstances are different with babies born and in NICU etc and needing expressed milk.
I have been looking at the medela pumping bra too but sold out on Amazon!
I have the double pump and last time it was so awkward I barely used it !!

Is anyone feels rather depressed atm... I am so grateful to be pregnant after 2 ectopics last year but the last couple of weeks I have struggled I am not sure if it's because I am huge, not sleeping I wake like 6 time a night for a wee, my feet are so swollen and I have serve mum guilt with my older 2 as I cannot go out much the walking is so painful.. it's coming to the end now and I feel like the things I want finished aren't being done and I am so frustrated that I can't just do it myself like I usually would. I am actually praying my sweep works to get my little lady out so I can at least begin to function again xx

@Butterflytulip I was going to say the same usually it's 37 weeks but so hard when baby comes early.. I remember when I had my first my body went into complete shock as he was earlier than expected and I didn't get any milk only a tiny amount he had to go onto special milk anyway due to low birth weight he was only 4lb 7oz and my second had reflux so was on special milk for that I doubt I will try it this time I think she has reflux too she is doing my second did in the womb xx

@handbagsandholidays that sounds like a really difficult experience. I'm glad you and your little boy are doing ok and it sounds like you've got good support.

@Sweetbabydust1989 sorry to hear your are feeling depressed. I've burst into tears several times over the past few days because I'm so tired. Because of my bladder issues, I only sleep for 30mins at a time.

Today my MIL came over and sat in my spot on the sofa. I nearly cried over that. So I sat and plotted to murder her instead. Honestly, I'm not like that normally but I feel so fed up.

@Sweetbabydust1989 sorry you're feeling low, these last few weeks aren't easy at all, is there anyone that can have your little one for a few hours so you can have a bit of a break? I know you have Mum guilt, but a bit of time to yourself may help, even if it's just to have a good nap.

@madeleine85 thinking of you today, hope all goes well with the c section and he comes out a better weight

@Butterflytulip yes the midwife said the same to me, but I did express in those first few weeks, I was so engorged that I had to, to be able to get her to latch. They say not to express, so that your baby is the one who is dictating the amount of milk you need to produce. At least I think that was it, but depends on the situation

Obviously different for preemies and other feeding issues when it comes to expressing

Morning everyone!!

@madeleine85 good luck today!!! I'm sure you barely slept a wink!!!

. @TurquoiseDreamCatcher I hope you are ok. It's so tough in the final stages and you are having it worse than others. Hang in there, once the prize arrives you'll be back to your old self with a beautiful baba.

I'm not too bad, manage at least 4-5hrs sleep before I need the loo, always around 4am!! Then I toss and turn, on the sofa now cause my ligaments on both sides are sore and I just couldn't get comfortable in bed. Hoping for 30 minutes before it's time to get up!!!

I have a growth scan this week (36 weeks), hope baba is putting on weight nicely 🤞🤞 anyone else got growth scans this week? GD is getting harder as I'm getting hungrier!! Trying hard not to eat too much but evenings are so hard and my sugars tend to always jump up! Must do better now in the final stretch!!

@Butterflytulip hope the scan goes well, my next one is on Friday, 37+3, will get my date for induction then too 🙌

Good luck today @madeleine85 ❤️

I have a growth scan today, and I'm expecting to get a date for delivery either today or later this week (given they said they wanted baby out at 36 weeks and I'm now 35+5!) Though I guess if baby's grown lots they might change their minds on the 36 weeks thing.

Hope all goes well today @madeleine85 .

Good luck today @madeleine85

Good luck @madeleine85 keep us posted xx

Good luck @madeleine85 ... thinking of you ♥️

Thank you everybody for your kind wishes. Yesterday was a day filled with hormones. Every little thing was setting me off lol but today is a better day. Little man is still on high flow but taking it better than he was in that he is more settled and not working as hard so his heart rate is lower xx

Glad to hear @handbagsandholidays

How are you getting on? X

Good luck today @madeleine85

Good luck @110APiccadilly

Such a difficult time @handbagsandholidays thinking about you and your little one :)

Good luck @110APiccadilly let us know how you get on!

That's good news @handbagsandholidays about your little boy. Hope you're doing as well as you can do today xxx

OMG

www.theguardian.com/society/2022/aug/07/difficult-discussions-as-nhs-faces-shortage-of-childbirth-pain-relief