Due February 2024 Thread 6!!🤰🩷💙

[AllAboardTootToot]

Last thread just got full so starting a new one for us to keep chatting :)

@CheeseAndCrackersx I'm the same! Head has been engaged for a week or so but since last night, the downwards pressure and pelvic pain is insane!
Started getting irregular cramps too; keep thinking this could be the start 😩

Yes to the cramps @msp2023
I'm sat here right now with them happening and I'm like is it the same as 3 weeks ago or is this actually the start 🙈

I've been on all fours scrubbing the floors and skirtings this morning 😆 Turn baby turn!

A consultant midwife called me this morning. She was brilliant and feeling much calmer. I’m moving hospitals and booked in for 7th of Feb. She’s going to meet me this week at the hospital to give me a tour, and try get me an appointment with the consultant who will do the procedure so I can at least meet them before the day and feel reassured about it all.

Is anyone having much luck with their colostrum?
I know I shouldn't be concerned and that it will likely kick in after birth but it's really frustrating that I can't even get a drop!!

That's great news @redxlondon - pleased they've sorted this for you

Fantastic news @redxlondon ! So glad you’ve finally got it all sorted 😃 your the day before me too! Not long now

I had my last growth scan 36-week this morning, all normal sizes, bubba is about 6lbs 💖 the excitement builds 🤩

I still have lots to buy, feel like I’m behind a bit though 🤦‍♀️

That was me a couple of nights ago and woke up the following morning with baby no longer engaged 😩 She still head down but wriggled herself out of position and movements feel a lot more pronounced.

I don’t know if I’m just focussing in on everything at this stage but feel like the contractions I was getting and pressure below and back pain, through uncomfortable were reassuring that labour could be near, now I’ve just got rib back, Braxton hicks and pelvic pain on and off and have no idea what that means.

38 weeks tomorrow and final growth scan booked for Thursday so we’ll see how it goes 🤷🏽‍♀️

Me!
Been trying for days!!!! It's really encouraged with Gd.

I naively thought it would be easy because I have had a lot of random leaking but I have gotten a drop - not exactly filling for baby!

so frustrating.

@Mangotango39 & @msp2023 same - keep trying, some wee damp looking beeds but not enough to collect. /sigh hopefully it will work out. Suspecting I may have problems as I have flat nipples too 🙃

I feel like my boobs are almost too big? It's hard to get a good bloody grip . I'm an E and they are admitedly quite sagged (because gravity lol!) so it's hard to hold them right . Sigh.
Feel like I'm going to give up breastfeeding quite quickly which no shame at all , I just don't think I have the will power!!
I was adamant I'd never even bother trying but felt pressure to.

@Mangotango39 @msp2023 @KayakingBex
What are you doing when attempting to express?
I've found looking at baby videos of my first or cute baby videos online seems to help. I have tried doing when just relaxed watching TV after a shower, etc. and doesn't seem to have the oxytocin boost needed.
Not as good but if you have any favourite TV couples then watching their relationship story videos on Youtube seems to help a bit, maybe oxytocin related?!
Lots of massage first too.

Saying that I overdid it a bit and made my boobs a bit tender so going back to once a day and being more gentle and trying not to stress about volume.
Some women can't express at all but the stimulation will hopefully help anyway 🙏
I've got 13ml so far but my sister got 60ml+ and she usually did it in the bath so will give that a go again.

@Ebonythoughts could baby be back to back? I have had hours of tightenings with pelvic pain every 10-15 minutes on and off for last 5 days. SPD pains also a factor.
Had my 38 week MW appointment today and confirmed back to back so going to do some Spinning Babies stuff to try get him into a better position to engage with cervix better and bring on labour.
My first was born back to back and as I've been doing so much laid back positioning due to the SPD I'm not too surprised this one is too.

@redxlondon so glad to hear they’ve been a lot better to you now and you’re feeling more relaxed about the situation 🫶🏻🫶🏻

@msp2023 I’ve had no sign of anything coming from my boobs what so ever I’m quite perplexed about the whole thing ngl 😅

35 weeks tomorrow having a few period type cramps and some mucus maybe I’ll be having another premmie after all x

That may be it. Tightening are getting more intense but back pain is becoming unbearable now. Just taken some pain killers and going to try and lie down.

Ahhhh sorry ladies who are struggling too!
I'm following all the advice online but not getting even any wetness or drops!
I'll keep trying and see what happens.

I'm not going to get too worked up over it - just hope this doesn't affect BF when baby is here.

@Mangotango39 - the thought that maybe my boobs are too big has crossed my mind once or twice too. I was big to start with and just seem to have ballooned. I’d love to breast feed so giving it a shot but at worst so long as baby gets fed I’ll be happy.

@Ihatewinding - well it can’t hurt for me to give that a try - cheers for the tip.

I have a G cup but I know that people with even bigger have breastfed successfully, I heard side lying and the football hold are great when baby is fresh. The couple of times I tried to see if I could get any colostrum to appear I supported the boob with one hand and stimulated with the other, make sure boob is warmed up and stroke from base of boob to tip all around a few times. The tubes that the milk has to flow through are small and not in a straight line so they need a lot of coaxing. Please don't be deterred if you want to do it. x

Also if nothing comes out in a session you could still be stimulating future production so in the next go you might get some out!

Can you use a pump to try and express colostrum? I'd like to try practice with it before baby arrives to see if I can get the hang of it

That's good to know @Cheetocat - I'm also a larger cup size and have been worrying a bit.

@CheeseAndCrackersx - I went to a breastfeeding class and we were discouraged from using pumps pre-birth. We were told colostrum was produced in such small amounts and was usually quite thick so that it would likely just get stuck in the pump and wasted. Better to wait until your milk comes in and stick with hand expressing colostrum apparently

Good luck!

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this. Was at my mums with my toddler and she was starting to bounce all over me and i just felt super uncomfortable so got up and stood then put her in the car to go home and on and off on the 15min car journey i yelped a few times with the most uncomfortable pain super low down that came and went, like cramping but in the vagina area. Still getting it on and off now and shes moving like mad. Shes been breech for ages, wondering if shes going lower? Its literally taking my breath away

Sounds like lightening crotch @PeeBeee - I get it sometimes when baby chooses to be in position