Due Dec 2023 - part 6

[Nclktnntt]

Follow-on from part 5 heading into delivery and motherhood.

@Avie29 same here, 5 days over for us. Are you dual aged at all? Have you lost your plug thingy do you know? Are you getting any contractions at all just now? We'll be booked in for an induction Saturday if baby doesn't arrive before then.

frustrating isn’t it, dual aged?? I assume dilated? Lol yes im 2-3cm dilated but only half way thinned you?, i lost my plug 2 weeks ago and getting some irregular not particularly painful tightenings but thats been going on for weeks lol you?, i really dont want to be induced but getting to the point of resignation now haha x

Yes dilated is what I meant 😂 I'm 2-3cm on Friday but paper thin. I've been getting tightenings but not painful. They seem to be around 1minute long and 7 mins apart. Occasionally speed up then die off again. I don't wanna be induced either

Anyone else finding that their cluster feeding? I'd welcome any tips/tricks on how to cope! Baby has been feeding pretty much non-stop for the past 5-6 hours with no sleep in between 😔

Yea i keep getting tightenings that seem to be regular for a few and then die off for hour or so then start again, driving me mad lol x

Mine was doing that but actually making himself sick with the volume. He just got distressed on me so I ended up giving him to my DH. He would walk him around a bit and he'd be asleep in under 5 minutes.

Anyone having night sweats? Not something that is usual for me but I'm waking up most nights absolutely soaking ! Baby is over three weeks old now.

@TulipVictory yes! I’m not normally a sweaty person but I’ve been waking up soaking too. Apparently it’s just down to hormones but I’ve noticed now that my bleeding has slowed down, its not happening as much!

@TulipVictory mine isn't sweat, it's my milk leaking 😅

@Beans1982 the cluster feeding can be intense. I find my DH taking him in the sling for a bit can give me a bit of a break. Side lying feeding can also be really handy if you can master it and comfortable co sleeping obviously with appropriate safety measures.

@TulipVictory yes me too! My top is always soaked through within a few hours!

How’s everyone’s c section wounds recovering? Mine is infected 🤢 waiting for the GP to open to get an antibiotic but I’m so deflated over this. I’d finally felt normal after the section and this just feels like a big set back.

DD is 4 days old and has started cluster feeding now my milk has started to come in but I am struggling so much with it. I don't think she is latching properly because it is so painful. I have spoken to 3 midwives and they just keep showing me the same thing which is not helping at all. I think she's pinching the nipple, but they have all said the latch looks ok. I also think this means she isn't getting my h and then won't stop crying. Along with the lack of sleep we have had a difficult and teary day today. I have resorted to expressing for now

@GL1987 Bliss is what our lactation consultants follow, the CHIN acronym on this is really useful in ensuring effective attachment.

Hope this helps :)

www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/04/Unicef-UK-Baby-Friendly-Initiative-education-refresher-sheet-3.pdf

@GL1987 cluster feeding is tough but normal. Pain isn’t. I’ve found that midwives can be pretty variable in how helpful they are for breastfeeding. I think NCT have a helpline for breastfeeding manned 24/7 if you’re needing some advice. Also an IBCLC appointment may not be cheap but can be soo helpful for assessment and help if you’re wanting to help to continue pain free.

@TulipVictory @Noname112 thank you both so much. I really want to keep trying and am happy to pay for the consultants if needed. Fingers crossed we can get through it.

Heya @Avie29 hope your sweep works today for you. We headed into MLU today for another sweep (2nd for me) will have another Thursday and induced Saturday if nothing happens between now and then. Hopefully the induction is not needed.

Today I was 2cm dilated with 1cm thinning left to go (apparently not paper thin like we were told last Friday). They almost moved us to high risk too as babies measurement Friday shot up 3cm but it was a different midwife so they're happy to leave us low risk and remain under the MLU for now.

This sweep I definitely felt this time and was uncomfortable and felt very different to the first one I had, I've also been getting very mild cramping with the tightening since going - so fingers crossed it's done something to help us progress.

For those breast feeding our antinatal classes shared this - she also said baby needs to be mouth wide open too

Anyone else still struggling with settling at night? Our little one is 11 days old. He sleeps in the baby hug/4 in 1 napper downstairs in the daytime but will mot settle in the next2me overnight. The minute we turn the light off he gets unsettled. I came downstairs at 2am as DH returned to work today, and again baby wouldn't settle downstairs with the light off. Reluctant to start leaving the lights on!

I had similiar problems but have finally cracked our girl sleeping in her cot (we are using a tutti bambini)

The things which I believe have contributed to the success are...

• Tommee tippee dream maker light which pulses red and we keep on all night. Also handy for through the night feeds as it's not too bright and relaxes us.
• A worn tshirt of mine is on her mattress (on top of the mattress sheet) so is secure and won't be loose to smother her etc.
• I play a sleepy nursery rhyme/white noise Spotify playlist all night which was mentioned by another lady on this forum.
• our daughter is wearing a long sleeve bodysuit only (her legs and feet are bare) and her 2.5tog tutti bambini sleep bag thing. I get her into this suit for her 'last' feed before putting her down so that she's ready to slip into her cot after settling in my arms.
• I have rolled a towel up and place it around her legs in a 'U' shape to try and replicate the feeling of her daytime snoozy pod (as she loves that!). Our health visitor suggested this too.

It's taken us 2 weeks to get to this stage and I'm scared to take away any of the measures incase it affects her night time sleep lol! It's tough but you'll get there!

Hey @Nclktnntt i cancelled my sweep today, i think 5 sweeps is enough, if 5 doesn’t work i doubt one more will do the job lol, not far left to go then, hopefully all the cramps you are getting is that last cm thinning, ive repacked my hospital bag with extra clothes incase induction tomorrow takes a few days but fingers crossed im home in bed tomorrow night with baby 🤞 xx

@Avie29 id have prob done the same. I hope all goes well tomorrow and you are home with baby. I have an 'extras' bag ready in case as our antinatal class suggested it, so if we have to stop in for whatever reason, your birth partner only needs grab that rather than look for everything. (She added it as a suggestion when her friends husbands couldn't find her big knickers so took his boxers for her to wear instead 😂)

Im currently on the ward for induction been here since 3pm and on my second gel, lots of tightening but still 2 cm, i will say take lots of snacks and download some things to watch its a long process, good luck everyone waiting for there babys, congratulations to all those who have had theres ❤️ hopefully mine will arrive at some point tomorrow 🙏

Good luck @Crabbit1212 - fingers crossed this ones worked and your holding little one or will be very soon 🤞

@GingerJanee sorry to hear about your wound.
how many days post op are you?
mine seems ok, 3 weeks post op but my stomach is still a little sore to touch. To be expected I guess. I feel ready to up my exercise but know I need to take it easy still for quite a while