Due November 2023 - chapter 6

[Spareincoming]

Definitely missed people but hopefully they find the post…
Please tag anyone else!

@spareincoming@Pinkplantcase@leeanneD11 @LilmissCa@FlyingHighFlyingLow@Psqueak87@spanglesj@BabyBabyBaby123@Houseonthehills@GreenAventurine@reememberly@Cegbee@DollyGx@38andtrying@JD90@travellingislife@mldn@sb86@TMI2000

Well we managed some good news today thank god!
Baby has picked up a little bit and is now back just barely hitting 10th centile measurements. Though that does make me wonder if the scan last week with the different consultant was actually off due to positioning or something. Going back again just after 38 weeks on 13th November and will arrange delivery at that point. Been given super strict instructions on keeping and eye on movement or as the consultant said 'if anything at all worries you or just doesn't feel right come in straight away'. So fingers crossed madam stays put until then. It also puts me past DD1s birthday the week before which she is relieved about and means I actually get a couple of weeks to chill out before baby arrives rather than a couple of days! Such a relief!

@JD90 great to hear your good news and that you'll get a few weeks to relax.

I wonder if I am in early onset of labour? Pain has increased, feeling constipated and bloated too and feeling extremely uncomfortable during the day too. Or is this just normal at 38 weeks? Pain has definitely gone up a notch or two ...

@JoyAppleI apologise for any too much info now… I started taking one capsule a day three days before my section before this one (I’d done no prep for this one due to it being a rush through job!) just so it was in my system rather than a new addition; I then took the 3 a day standard dose and it kept things moving; it was maybe day 3 before I needed to go last time, but it was not difficult to go at all.
My midwife then did tell me that not only does a c-section move everything about which can cause a delay but much like a vaginal delivery, some women do “evacuate their bowels on the table” so you’re erm, clearer than you’d think post c-section.
I’m on dihydrocodine this time round and that’s got things quite sluggish and I only registered today on day 4, whilst in agony on the loo, fearing my incision would burst, that I should be proactively taking something!
Absolute error on my part. I do know better than this. Anyhow, I’ve started now!

I hope you can get the medication that stops milk production, it’s not prescribed in my trust at all. Very frustrating.
As usual for me, my milk came in 48 hours post section and it was quite painful. I’m actively ignoring it; wearing the tightest sports bra I can tolerate, no prodding and trying to avoid baby lying on my chest; I’m using proper breastfeeding ice packs every few hours and not letting any warm water near them when I’ve had a shower. I do hose down with freezing cold water in the shower but that’s my own stupidity, I can’t guarantee it helps!
I reckon I’m through the worst of the engorgement now and another 48 hours and I’ll be done.
I think the c-section pain killers are also helping with the engorgement pains; this is the first time I’ve come home with anything other than paracetamol and ibuprofen.

@Spareincoming Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and insights 🙂I hope you have a speedy recovery and your breasts go back to normal asap.

I think I am going to start taking 1 a day, and then as soon as I've given birth switch to 3 a day like you did. Will need to get GP/consultant to prescribe be some more tablets though.

@JD90 I could have written your post almost word for word about me! Had my scan on Monday and baby has also jumped back up from >3rd to his/her original tracking of what would be 7th. Consultant also thought 2weeks ago was probably an anomaly and as baby squirms about a lot during scans, probably caused a miss measurement!
Dopplers also were vastly improved which is good as last two weeks have been up and down all over the place. I was due to have a cesarean on Friday when I'll be 37weeks, but after Mondays results the Consultant said he'd like to push forward more and book me for 39 weeks instead as will be better for baby. I'm back Monday for another Doppler as he wants to keep an eye on that just in case, then another growth scan on 6th when I'll be 38+3. Also been told, any concerns about baby whatsoever to head straight in day or night as he's given me a "free pass" in my notes so I don't even need to ring ahead first.... think I've seen just about every doc/midwife and probably cleaner in maternity now that they have started joking that they may as well reserve me a bed I've been in so much 😂.

Once baby has arrived im going to be making the maternity unit staff a hamper of decent coffee, tea and snacks for their staff kitchen, and a job lot of tea spoons as a gift.... I've heard them complaining on several occasions that the teaspoons have disappeared!

@JoyApple

I'm feeling the same way as you and I'm only 35+3 , I'm hoping this is normal , I'm glad you wrote this as I was about to write the same thing xx

@reememberly @Crazybrowncow 😂 definitely no pp fun for DH!
That being said, I really can't believe that I have birth this week. Super quick 2nd baby has meant minimal bruising and swelling. I'm not going to rush into sex, I know I'd be sore as hell and I've had enough people rummaging around in there this week! 😂

For those on low centiles, ask for a few more days if you want to if safe and healthy. I pushed back and had sweep 37+3 and induced at 37+5. My body was getting ready and cervix was soft which I think helped it take.
I had diamorphine before they broke my waters. I'm not convinced it did much, I used gas and air during labour too. The diamorphine initially slowed the contractions, I was already having them beforehand (around 12mins apart, mild).
Standing up made a huge difference. Once I was up they ramped up quickly.
The pain was more intense then it was on DC1 (who started with spontaneous rupture of membranes), but as second baby it was so fast that I got through.

Day 3 milk coming in is rough! My breasts have been so firm.
Bleeding has dropped off, I'm using normal san pro.
After pains have calmed, they have been intense. MW said they were worse after first - sorry ladies!

@Thack This is my first time experiencing after pains! Good
lord! Gone is my smugness that I don’t get them!

I keep having to remind myself that this isn’t my first time all over again, I’m months off 40, not the young thing I once was and won’t be bouncing back as quickly as I’d like!

My growth scan was all okay!! Baby back up to the 20th percentile, they’re happy with everything they can measure and no concerns so no more scans for me 😁😁

Home birth plans still on, the pool arrives next week!

Hey! It's been quiet here today! Can you give me some thoughts on my current situ. My mum is meant to be coming to help look after DC1 when I have my section. I have some worries that I may not manage on my own in hospital without DH as all the hospital is private rooms so there won't be as many people to ask for help, so he'll likely stay in with me. (Maybe this is a bad plan?)

My mum is late 70s, so I thought I'd ask my sister to come over and stay to help her with bedtimes etc. My sister has tested positive for covid, and my section is a week on Tuesday, so she'll likely be better by then. But...I feel a bit weird about her coming now, I think I'm being a bit dramatic in my head - I am aren't I?! When I had DC1 we ended back in high dependency following a horrendous experience in resus - maybe I'm more nervy because of that, which was also in covid times. Anyone have any thoughts? X

@PinkPlantCase - glad everything went well today and your home birth plans are moving in the right direction

@Crazybrowncow if it’s almost 2 weeks since she’s tested positive I wouldn’t worry too much. But I’ve also only had unremarkable experiences with Covid (both my partner and I have had it twice, my brother had it once, and my 65 year old parents have had it once and we were all fine, and back to normal in less than a week). However I know this isn’t the case for everyone so I don’t think you’re overreacting at all. You don’t want to cause yourself more stress, so whatever makes you feel comfortable is the right answer!!

@PinkPlantCase congrats on the good scan! Very jealous of your home birth plans, hopefully next baby for me, although I’ll be approaching 40 at that point!

@Spareincoming and @Thack
How are you both doing?
I was wondering are you lying down most of the time or are you able to sit up too?
We have awfully uncomfortable sofas which we should have replaced ages ago, and I'm a bit worried now I'm going to have to remain in our bedroom for a good couple of weeks post section?

@Crazybrowncow if it's been 2 weeks and she's well enough, I would ask. You could maybe wait till you get closer to the time though?

We are not allowed to keep partners overnight. With my DH I think he'd be useless during the day if he stayed overnight tbh, so I'd probably play it by ear. I find hospital beds extremely uncomfortable.

@JoyApple I am parked on the sofa, sat upright most of the time, I’ve kind of got a nest of cushions going on so I’m sat in the most comfortable position for me and supporting my arm for feeding; I was the same in bed for the first few nights too, I couldn’t lay flat post section so was well and truly propped up on 5 pillows!
Last night I was comfortable enough to lie flat but baby decided to have a rave in the crib so we didn’t get much sleep!
I’ve taken to wearing cotton cycling shorts during the day (under trousers!) and I’m finding the gentle extra support is really helping.

@JoyApple I had vaginal delivery so no advice sorry! @GemmaJen was the other section. Hope all is well Gemma, is Thorne around two weeks now? Are you finding 'a rhythm'?

@Crazybrowncow I'd err on the side of your sister helping, that's plenty of time to recover/move past contagious. How would your mum do alone for the whole time? Could sis maybe take DC to the park to give mum a break (+ lower risk to spread)?

@Spareincoming how are your pains now? Mine have dropped off by day 3. Breastfeeding triggered mine and their intensity got them done. Took longer on DC1 but it was only a cramp/period type pain.

Today, I have been weed AND pooed at during changes. I feel loved.

@Crazybrowncow I’d prepare your DH to stay with you all the time, providing he’s actually helpful! You can always send him home if you feel alright/have more mobility than expected. Hopefully it isn’t a long stay, have they told you how long to expect?

@Thack the after pains have subsided but I’m still in a lot of general section pain; I’m resisting asking for more codine based pain killers though as my gut doesn’t approve!

We’re at the hospital today for a check over, as there’s not a community midwife available to come out. Hopefully I’ll get my dressing off and have a look see at the stitching handiwork!

However, I’ve got to get there first and DH driving my car is never a pleasant experience, let alone post section. He usually has a 4x4 or something higher than a car and previously I’ve found it easier to get in his cars post section with them having a bit of height, but his was written off a few weeks ago, so it’s got to be mine.

Ladies can I ask if anyone has started harvesting colostrum? I tried to today and literally got one drop, I don't understand how people are filling syringes. I'm 38+5 so stressing I might have a problem with milk 😭

@Chellooo I'm the same! No luck whatsoever

@Chellooo @foodislife1 keep trying, have you looked at videos on YouTube to make sure your technique is right?
I have been harvesting daily/every other day, but still rarely get over 0.7ml at a time and at first I was only getting 0.2.
Make sure you’re well hydrated and a warm compress on your breast before you start can help, or doing it after a shower or bath, as can a little massage beforehand.
I have read loads of places that quantity of colostrum before birth isn’t an indicator to amount of milk you will produce afterwards.

In other news, I have just had my flexible working request denied and it has really upset me. It is what I was expecting, being a member of a small department, but I am absolutely gutted! It is going to force me to make the most of my maternity leave, but I am really dreading having two babies in full time nursery when I return to work next October.

@JoyApple@JoyApple section recovery has been a breeze this time round compared to my emergency last time. I'm off pain relief now and able to be completely mobile. Obviously not doing anything too strenuous, but we've been out shopping a few times, out to restaurants etc... I was able to lie on my side day after section, but getting up and down was tricky for 5 days. Now can easily get up and down from bed/chair while holding baby. It's been so different to last time. Would recommend an arm chair with arms to push off from for the first few days though, as I couldn't get up from the sofa. Pretty much camped in the armchair while home on days 2 and 3. If you're in for elective, hopefully you'll have an easier recovery 🤞

@Thack Thornes doing better, back out of hospital now, but he's not gaining weight so we're feeding and topping up frequently as I don't want to go back in. They're weighing him again tomorrow, I'm hopeful we'll avoid a readmission 🤞

Other than the stress over his weight, temp etc... Its been a lovely newborn stage so far. I hope you're all enjoying your newborn snuggles soon x

@Chellooo I have and get quite a lot but I only stopped breastfeeding my toddler in July so I’m not convinced I ever really stopped making milk.

I listened to a midwife’s cauldron podcast the other day about the DAME study which was a big study, I think the biggest so far into antenatal hand expression. They asked women to hand express twice a day from 36 weeks. The average amount of colostrum collected in total from 36 weeks until birth was around 5.5ml. So only getting drops really is very normal! They also found that 1/4 of women in the colostrum group couldn’t express anything at all before baby was born but those women were still able to go onto breastfeed once the baby was born.

So far as tips, in my first pregnancy I found it helped to watch videos that would get some oxytocin going so puppy videos or something like that 😂

let me know if you want a link to the podcast.

@Chellooo tried, got nothing apart from boredom. Then gave up. I know I should try again. Just leaving from my last day of work. So maybe I’ll have more time to try now, although baby is due in a week and 2 days so I don’t imagine I’ll have anything for when baby gets here if she needs it!

Thanks ladies I'll just keep trying but it's so easy to go into the rabbit hole of something being wrong🤦🏻‍♀️