IVF pregnancies - Spring 2024 (thread 2)

[thislittlebird]

New thread! Do tag everyone I've missed, I'm off out to see the new Hunger Games so can add more later but need to dash! @CazzyM1983 @KG1244 @countrypunk @Misty84 @ASGIRC @TheBirdintheCave @Summerishere83

@KG1244 you had your boy, congratulations!!! 🥳
What made you decide to go with c section in the end? I presume all went well, I hope you have a quick recovery 😊

I actually didn’t have to make the decision on C-section/ induction in the end because my little boy arrived early, he was born last Thursday the 18th 😊 It’s been a tough first week as I had a tough labour so was in a lot of pain, he had jaundice and has developed a skin infection and we had slight trouble feeding initially but now everything seems to be settling and getting better which is great.

With the seeing when changing, I had that the first couple of times but my mum told me to use warm water and cotton pads and it has worked, I think the warmth on his willy stops him going

@Doughnut89 congratulations to you! I was recommended an induction or c section by my hospital and decided I would prefer a c section. Sorry to hear you’ve had a tough first week. I’m on second day and already finding it hard. Feeding isn’t straight forward and as my milk is coming in, my boobs are getting huge and his latch isn’t great so need to take some deep breathes and work through a feeding plan. What did you find helped? Thanks for the willy advice ☺️

I’ve been at the hospital with the consultant for hours and missed all the updates!

@KG1244 congratulations! Wasn’t this quite early? What happened that you ended up in so soon?

@Doughnut89 also congratulations! When were you due? I’m shocked everyone is having them early!

I’m so annoyed by the appointment I just had really. It went from a tone of “why are you here?” To suddenly then wanting me to have a 24hr ECG ASAP. So there goes our plans for a couple of nights away on Monday and Tuesday, I have to get taped up for a bloody ECG instead. So pissed off, they should have seen me and done this months ago.

@thislittlebird Don't worry, mine will end up late for sure 😂 Sorry they're ruined your few days away :(

@Doughnut89 Congratulations to you too! 🥳🥳

@TheBirdintheCave maybe I’ll be there with you! crazy how everyone’s early, I’m now upset we won’t get to go away at all, it feels very frustrating, I have appointments a number of days next week and this was the only slot we could find that would work.

I’m also now worried the baby will just come out and scream at me constantly, I didn’t know they did that. I thought they’d be ok once fed and changed and stuff, so they just keep going?

My NCT course shared this link about a day in the life of a newborn

Also, was taught the same baby can have a fussy day with crying lots, a sleepy day, a happy day. Newborns can make a lot of noises & mostly that’s crying. But if your baby is crying for 3hrs or more and it happens 3 or more days a week that’s called Colic (which just means a crying baby) and while there isn’t one cause or solution do speak to your midwife team or GP. Do ask for help.

First 4-6 weeks are probably going to be hard. I’m nervous about them. Thoughts are with those going through it. Complain here all you like (if you have the energy)

@thislittlebird thank you 😊 I was due on the 23rd so he was only five days early but they’d said they wouldn’t let me get past that date and would have been induced or c section.
Sorry you’re missing out on your trip away. In terms of the crying, the first few days my boy wouldn’t let me put him down which was really tough the first couple of nights but in a way understandable as he’d been attached to me for the previous nine months. He ended up co sleeping in my bed but we’re slowly building up the time I’m able to put him down and leave him. I’m currently sat on the sofa and he’s been down a solid 40 minutes which for us is real progress.

@KG1244 I have a similar issue to you, I’m naturally very big busted and I think that actually hindered the latching on, it can be hard to see what’s happening with the nipple/ areola as the fleshy part moulds around his head 🙈 for me, I’ve found it helps to hold the bottom of my boob up to him and bend over so I’m almost above him and then when he latches on I slowly lean back to a comfortable position. He’s got better but it’s still ups and downs each day. The last few days he was latching on really well but earlier today it took half an hour. Sometimes it’s just about perseverance and trying lots of different positions until you find one that works. Sorry that’s not a straight forward or particularly helpful answer

@thislittlebird the crying really depends...
My baby was really upset when she was born. Like really angry at the world!!
And she was hungry, and I wasnt producing any colostrum. She cried less once I started giving her formula.

Honestly, for me, the first couple of weeks were a DREAM! My baby literally just fed and slept. She would wake up, Id give her a bottle, shed fall straight back to sleep, rinse and repeat every 3h! It was GREAT! I was well rested, and had time to do alllllll the things around the house!

Then she started being constipated, having trapped wind and just generally being more awake!!

Now, when shes happy and awake, she is fine to be left for a while, but will then start demanding attention, and its hard to get many things done when shes like that.

Then theres the pain cries, when she has trapped wind. Those are really upsetting, as you can see shes in pain (imagine when you have trapped wind! And then think if you were this tiny!!!), and theres not a lot that i can do for her, so I just try to console her.

Shes now 5 1/2 weeks old, shes basically sleeping through the night, but is a bit more challenging during the day, with her wake windows being longer, and also with the gas, sometimes shes really uncomfortable.

But still, shes still a pretty easy baby. It also helps that Im not breastfeeding, so shes not asking for boob all the time, as she probably doesnt even remember the time she had access to boobs.

I’m booked for an induction Saturday (4th May). That’s my due date when I’m exactly 40 weeks. I had a membrane sweep Monday (39weeks 2days)& the doctor couldn’t really do it and said to wait to 40 weeks for an induction. The hospital is busy next week & I had the choice of Sat 4th, Sun 5th or Fri 10th May. Hopefully I made the right choice. Eeek.

@CollsR exciting! Not long to wait now, you might go into labour naturally before too!
@ASGIRC did you have the achy hips/pelvis pain whilst walking? Did it go away after the birth? Imm suffering wit it now and wondering if it might miraculously dissappear when baby is out!

@PollywithaP all my aches and pains went away with birth! Like literally overnight! I obviously had other pains, from the c section, but once those got better I COULD MOVE!

I then seem to have acquired carpal tunnel post partum, but at least I can move ok! The only pain I have now it my regular back pain, that needs to be dealt with by my osteopath!!

@CollsR Good luck for tomorrow!

@PollywithaP and @thislittlebird How are you both getting on? :)

@TheBirdintheCave c section booked for Tues 7th. Feeling quite large and achy now, not sleeping well and just want to eat chocolate and junk food 😬 Everything is ready and i’ve finished work now so madly cleaning the house! How are you doing?

@PollywithaP Oh gosh that's so soon! It will just be me and @thislittlebird left I think after Tuesday!

I'm totally with you re large and achy and I've still got 11 days to go til my due date! Still pushing myself to go to Zumba every week. Managed it last night but I'm definitely paying for it today and shuffling around the house like an old lady 😂 We've promised ourselves a takeaway on the due date which I am excited for.

Yeah, I think you’re right, it’s just us after the 7th@TheBirdintheCave. Anyone due later has probably dropped off over the last few months.

what’s your due date? Mine is 26/5 but my c section is booked for 24/5 so it’ll be that at the latest. Good luck for Tuesday @PollywithaP, I bet it’s uncomfortable, I’m already quite uncomfortable and just want to lay about. I have up Pilates weeks ago, just didn’t feel very comfortable bending and stuff like that.

I feel very disheartened today. Been in my job 5 years, finished for mat leave today, and only half of the team bothered to say bye, they didn’t get me a good luck card or anything. Just feels very anticlimactic and a bit shit.

Managed to go to Brighton for two (very sunny) days because they couldn’t fit my 24hr ecg until Wednesday, so that worked out well.

@thislittlebird Oh cool Brighton is only 30 mins from me :) I'm glad you got to go somewhere!

My due date is May 14th.

I'm sorry your team were rubbish re your maternity leave starting :( A card seems the very least they could have organised.

@TheBirdintheCave oh nice, did you get good weather too? We chose a good spot. I couldn't face a long journey so an hour from London by the sea was fine!

I keep thinking maybe they'll send me something when the baby is here but I can't say I'm optimistic. They're not good at organising this stuff and now I'm out of sight I'm probably out of mind too.

@CollsR Hope all goes well today 🤞

@thislittlebird oh that is so dissappointing about your team. I work in a team of 4 but because of the work we do we rarely see each other, so I wasn’t expecting anything.
My manager, however, got me a Greggs hot choc and a sausage roll on my last day (he’s quite a practical bloke)! DH’s team got us lots of lovely things for the baby and a card too with lovely messages in and are desperate to see the baby when born as they are all very excited!

@PollywithaP Good luck today with your C-section!

My baby was born (6th) by C-section. I was induced on the 4th but the drugs didn’t work for me. After 48hrs I was not dilated at all and cervix still hard. I could wait a day & try the drugs again or have the recommended c-section.

I’m happy I got to try be induced but didn’t have any real pain before switching paths.

My partner and I still can’t believe he’s here. It’s lovely. Baby James was born weighing 3.57kg with a full head of brown hair… he almost has a mullet. So far James is calm, sleepy & good at eating (latching & sucking).

Not sure he’s getting any milk from me. If he pees we will know. We are trying.

@CollsR Hoorah! Congratulations on the birth of little James :D I'm glad everything was smooth and calm.

@PollywithaP Good luck today!

@CollsR congratulations!!!

sorry for going quiet. Past couple of weeks have been a lot. I am so tired and sleep deprived but so in love with my gorgeous little boy. How do people do this and how do people do this with more than one child?! When does the sleep get better?!