Due in June - Thread 13

[CurryandSnuggle]

Will add tags separately as currently feeding bubba xx

@RoseValleyRambles @Flowerbug1994 thank you for the info! Good tip about painkillers as well as I’m usually not very good at keeping on top of them. Hope you both and babies are doing well x

@Prema112 @annie1994 @Northofthebordermum thanks for your kind messages. I think once I'm healed that it would be good for me to talk to someone about it.

I am slowly feeling better and have seen an improvement in my bladder function. I still feel like I have to think I should go for a wee not that I go because I need a wee of that makes sense. Hopefully that's normal too.

@InvisibleDragon that's such a nice thing to write about your mum. We are so lucky to be able to afford things and also the fact we can decide we want something and have the potential to have it delivered the next day. I do find it hard to imagine what it would have been like for parents and grandparents. My grandma had twins and only found out when she was giving birth 😲

@annie1994 my C section was very calm
too and there was a lovely atmosphere in theatre. I just wish I hadn’t been so nervous and actually enjoyed it, odd as that sounds. And yes to keeping on top of the painkillers religiously after that! Very best of luck and hope it goes as smoothly as mine. So refreshing to have a completely straightforward birth after the issues last time!

@Katiebaby13 I’m so sorry this happened to you! I had a similar experience the first time, although I was lucky and was spared the C section recovery on top. Bladder sensation did gradually return - it’s the last thing you want to think of, I know, but starting pelvic floor exercises ASAP really helps. Even though you can’t even feel yourself doing them at the beginning! I also hired a valley cushion from NCT for sitting on. It’s supposed to be better than “doughnut shape” cushions, as it stops the swelling and lymphatic fluid pooling in the wound area. If budget permits, do try and see a specialist women’s physio after your 6-8 week check up. Mine made such a difference, and the small prolapse I had after birth was corrected. Generally the sooner you start physio after that point, the more effective it is.

And I did feel like I’d been through the wars and very emotional for a long time. I’d also recommend a birth debrief for talking through it. It provided a sort of closure I found very therapeutic, and like someone was taking me and what had happened seriously. Fingers crossed for your recovery over the next few weeks!

@annie1994 ditto what the others have said. My elcs was so calm and a positive experience.
All the staff at the hospital were super friendly/funny which lightened the mood.

I found walking into theatre a really good part for me as last time I went in to a theatre was when I was rushed in for an EMCS with my first son.

Whilst I was having the spinal put in, the staff were helping my OH put some music on the speaker which really helped to distract me!

When baby was born, all the staff started singing happy birthday which I loved.

I hope your elcs goes well and is a positive experience for you 😊

This is SO embarrassing and I've pondered on whether to post asking but I'm genuinely worried. So, I'm 39+2 and I just totally lost control of my bowels and had the worst diarrhoea of my life. Literally no warning. Never experienced anything like it - there was no end to it! 😳

So, my worry is that some, you know, got into my vagina and as I've no idea how much of my mucus plug is left I'm really worried about an infection occurring and getting to the baby. Am I being ridiculous? Way too embarrassed to ask MW and Google isn't much help. I've just had the longest shower worrying about it.

And did any of you get this before labour? Wondering if it's a pre labour thing or a stomach bug?!?

Oh and I've been quite nauseous today.

Please reassure me so I don't have to humiliate myself by phoning a MW. 😢

xx

Not embarrassing at all! At my antenatal class they said that bowel emptying can be a sign of labour @beansprout55 so could mean things are moving along! It's your body clearing the way for baby to come out.

@beansprout55 during labour I was constantly emptying my bowels and had a couple of moments of diarrhoea. I also vomited up everything just as I went into active labour! The body clears itself of the burden of digesting food so it can send all its reserves to the uterus.

@Prema112 that’s so good to hear you got back to EBF. I have no idea if/how I’ll do that because my little one is so small and the latch isn’t great. I think she has got used to the bottle now too which worries me.

@Rolledthedice My midwife advised getting the baby to attempt latching and breastfeeding every time you give a bottle, and to express as much milk as possible to keep the supply up. There's a bit of a trade-off - my baby was very sleepy for a couple of days, so would fall asleep straight after latching, which is not what you want when you need them to eat in order to get more energy. I found giving a small amount of milk (10 swallows?), then trying to latch was more effective.

I also found there were 3 steps for the baby to learn in breastfeeding proper milk rather than colostrum:

• latching
• waiting for the let-down
• swallowing.

So even if you don't get a successful feed, you can still see progress towards it over several attempts.

@beansprout55 Oooo exciting! Keep us updated love, thinking of you!

@Rolledthedice Yes like @InvisibleDragon said I think offering boob at every feed is a great idea, and pumping lots to keep up your supply

Thanks for the tag, sorry I haven't checked in... my little girl was born on 6th June but wasn't breathing properly in the night after, so was in neonatal and now I feel like a huge bomb has gone off in my world!

Congratulations to all the new babies and those who are still waiting, it won't be long before you meet your little ones now!

Congrats @DaimDillyDoo! So sorry to hear she had breathing difficulties, hope all is well now?

Are people using cotton wool to clean baby's bum? If so how long will you do this for before switching to wipes?

@Prema112 i am using square cotton wool pads still at 3 weeks old. I started with water wipes and I know they are just water but I think the actual wipe was irritating his bum so I switched to cotton wool and his bum is a lot clearer. So am sticking to this for now most of the time at home but have wipes in changing bag for when out as this isn’t a lot at the moment as I had a section and am still feeling it abit. Trying to go out every other day at least but it’s only for an hour or so at a time .

@Prema112 I am using wipes and have done since he was born he is now 5 weeks and not had any problems with his bum being red or irritated.

@Prema112 she's much better now thank you :) I'm using water wipes on her and have done since she was a week old.

I'm not on Facebook, is there another support thread on here now our babies are here?

@Prema112 still using cotton pads at 2 weeks and planning to for at least another couple of weeks. Both his sister and I have sensitive skin, so I’m erring on the side of caution. His sister is OK with wipes on her bottom, but not anywhere else - e.g. she gets a rash if you use them to wipe something on her face, even the hypoallergenic ones like Aveeno.

@Flowerbug1994 @Yecats22 @DaimDillyDoo @EarlGreywithLemon thanks everyone sounds like we need to give wipes a go and see if he reacts.

DillyDoo so pleased to hear she's doing much better, must have been so worrying for you ❤️

Hi Ladies! My LO was born on Sunday after induction and a fast labour of less than 2 hours. It was very intense but we all are good. We are home now trying to establish at least some sort of combined feeding. We'll see how it goes ❤️

My little man was born and his morning at 11.30 by ELCS! He weighed 8lb 2oz. Had some breathing problems so had to go to special baby care for a bit but doing ok now on air 😌

Congratulations @annie1994 @Lostintranslatio and @DaimDillyDoo on the birth of your babies!

@annie1994 I'm glad that your little man is doing ok now, how are you feeling after the section?

@Lostintranslatio 2 hours, wow. How are you doing after the intensely quick labour?

@GrowBabyGrow intense is the word, yeah 😂 I got induced at 10am, but 5pm cramping was pretty bad. At 6pm my waters broke and baby was out before 8pm. I could not get any pain relief other that g&a as I got fully dilated so quick there was no time for the epidural to work before was out anyway. My baby girl is pretty tiny, she only weighted 5lbs 10oz but she is so cute that we are totally in love 😍

Sorry for the double post but anyone has battled postpartum edema?? Any tips for it?? Midwives said to give it time to resolve but it feels so odd to look at my legs. It's like I'm having someone else's legs attached to my body 😂😂😂

I worked today, and then waters started breaking at 4.30 but I wasn't sure - had a pedicure at 5 and then a gush of waters at 8pm! Went to maternity to confirm. Being sent home to labour now.
You were right whoever said my bowel explosion was prob the start of labour! Im 4 days early x
Now I need to go home and learn the hypnobirthing breathing I've been putting off! Contractions are coming now eeeek xx

Congratulations on the new babies. All looking very cute!

@beansprout55 good luck. So exciting. Nice deep breaths in and out. Gripping a comb also helps.

@Letsbekindplease thank you!

Anyone else who comes on tonight - tips hugely appreciated on how to deal with pain etc. or anything else.
Trying for a gas and air and perhaps waterbirth?! Not sure. Husband is packing my hospital bag as I frantically comb out my mane to dry -through the contractions!