Due February 2024 Thread 7!!🤰🩷💙

[AllAboardTootToot]

Cannot believe we are on the 7th iteration and the babies are starting to arrive 😭❤️

@msp2023 congratulations! Newborn cuddles are so special enjoy every moment with your little one ❤️

Ladies I'm gutted, I celebrated going home from hospital too soon. We only made it out for less than 24h and we've been readmitted because little one has jaundice :( DH can't stay so I feel so terribly alone, not even allowed to take my little boy out of the cot for a hug. I can't stop crying. I know you ladies might have some words of wisdom for me

@LavenderSweetPea Ive been there - not for jaundice but my eldest was NICU at term for breathing related difficulties and it was terrifying. It was so hard not to be able to hold her and felt very surreal as a parenting experience (I remember walking into the ward and not recognizing which baby she was and feeling horrendous). (I expressed to feed and then did manage to bf with support from a fab midwife. So do stand up for what you want if you need to).

It’s a horrid experience but it’s the best place for them. It’s harder for you, than them. And it does pass. It hasn’t impacted my bond with her long term at all.

What do you need for you to survive scbu? Are you on a plastic chair? Or can you get comfortable/get any rest? Remember you’ve been through something big too and as odd as it may seem, my tip is to remind you to look after you too! You don’t need to be leaving with him healthy and you wreaked!
It’s ok to leave to see your partner, to eat, to look after yourself. He’s in good hands.

Hopefully you get back home asap 🤞

@LavenderSweetPea I'm sorry you're readmitted- EXACTLY this happened to my dd. Is your baby getting the light therapy in the box?
I know it's awful but it's the care he needs right now and soon he'll be thriving and you can go back home again.
Just try to take it an hour at a time and soon you'll start to see him get better, which is motivation in itself.
Sending a hug

@Hankthehonk yes he's in the light box. He's only been there a few hours, but I'm so stressed. He'll just cry if he's not held but he won't get better if I don't keep him in the box. Do you think I should insist on taking him out and comforting him or should I let him cry it out? I really don't know what's best for him.

@Callmemummynotmaaa fortunately I am being taken care of, I have a proper bed next to him and I was bought some food. Sorry to hear about your previous NICU experience :(

@LavenderSweetPea ask the midwives if you can take him out for a wee cuddle. Are you getting to feed him? (However you're feeding) Have you got a private room?
My daughter was so worn out by the jaundice she just slept the whole time in the box on day one, didn't have the energy to cry, which was sad in its own way. She's 3.5 now and I still remember it so vividly.
I feel for you so much!

@LavenderSweetPea awhhh, sending lots of hugs love and strength to you!! I don't know what to advise but I hope your little one takes a break from the UV for some cuddles soon. 🥹🥹🥹

Ladies, the last hour I've had 2 min - apart very strong Brackston Hicks ( or, I think they are because they are not painful painful). They last for 1 min.

I called the midwives and said that it could be early labour. To wait another 2-3h and see if they go on in the same way.

I just wished I knew if they were the real deal or not :((( mamas that have gone through labour: can you tell for sure if it's a contraction or just BH? I find it very nerve wracking, especially as I'm still at work and need to drive myself home.

I managed to get home, but the BH keep going at the same pace...

I’ve been physically fine up until 37 weeks, the haemorrhoid pain is now real. I have one that prolapsed last week and the pain is unreal today. My private GP (phone only) won’t prescribe anything without a physical exam as I’m pregnant. Couldn’t get into the NHS GP today so they said to phone tomorrow. I’ve been using Anusol for three days, so worried it’s going to get a lot worse. Will see GP tomrrow and if they can’t fit me in make a nuisance of myself, and if they still won’t see me I’ll go to the maternity unit.
Anyone else suffering and been able to reduce them?

This happened to us also, our first spent several days in the light box. I'm so sorry, it's horrible feeling so helpless. We were allowed to feed him every three hours, and put our hands into the box to stroke or soothe him if he cried. I definitely echo what @Callmemummynotmaaa said, please look after yourself. I didn't, and then was admitted to hospital the week after very unwell with an infection. So make sure you can get home for proper food and a proper sleep, and a shower, and change of sanitary protection etc xx

I've had these twice of the last week. Never with my first so really thought I was in labour!

They died off after an hour.

I would sit and relax, cup of tea and see how they go.

@novamama I thought was having BH, when when I timed them I wasn't sure if they were regular because they weren't strong enough to say for sure when they started or ended. By the time I figured out they were regular they were closer together and I went straight to the hospital - 5cm dilated and very much in labor. Mine weren't painful painful until maybe an hour before it was time to start pushing...

@Hankthehonk I've been breastfeeding up until now, but they've got me on a pumping schedule so they can see how much milk his getting as not enough won't help with the jaundice, and they can syringe pumped milk without taking him out of his horror plastic box. Reassuringly I'm getting a lot with the pump so looks like they won't insist on formula. I know formula isn't the end of the world but I'd really set my heart on feeding him myself.

Thank goodness he's now sleeping. Sadly can't say the same for the other babies in the ward so doubt I'll get any sleep at all.

@novamama take some paracetamol, have a big drink and lay on your left side. They’ll either stop, or they’re the real deal.

Went to the loo after my class and noticed something on my face, I was embarrassed thinking I had dirt on me for the whole class but it didn't wash off, I've actually got melasma which I think is pretty cool, pregnancy and it's side effects still never cease to fascinate me!

@LavenderSweetPea well done on the pumping, I did the same. Focusing on the pumping schedule and trying to get as much as possible really kept me going! Obviously if he does need a bit of formula that's OK too - he's getting the benefits of your breast milk by getting any amount. You are doing so well, it's hard seeing them in there but I'm sure he's getting better hour by hour. My daughter regained all her weight and was thriving by the time we were sent home again, and has been a very healthy wee girl ever since.

Looking back, although like everyone I was desperate to get home (and it was covid times so especially lonely in hospital) I actually wish we'd been kept in a bit longer initially so my daughter's jaundice was picked up and she didn't end up needing the light therapy or losing weight. When I have my son in a couple of weeks time I'll be refusing to leave unless I know for sure he's not jaundiced!

Thank you so much ladies! I took a bath which eased the feeling a bit, but they are still going. I'll try to sleep them off. I imagine I'll wake up if needed.

Sorry I'm just jumping on even though I've not been part of this group. But this thread popped up on my homepage and I'm due Feb 28th! Excited for all you ladies too ❤️

@novamama I just wanted to say that I had this over the weekend! Contractions started on Friday morning just as period cramps then got really painful Friday evening/into the night. I was having 3-4 contractions every 10 minutes so called up our maternity hotline who recommended I go into maternity triage to be checked out. Was on the CTG machine for a bit and then they gave me an internal examination but cervix was completely closed!
Consultant said it's just unfortunately painful BH. Mine were very irregular, even though I was having so many in the space of 10 minutes (switching between 2 minutes to 4 minutes to 6 minutes then back to 2 minutes!). It was so confusing (and painful!). They finally tailed off by Sunday evening.

Consultant advised if they get more painful, regulate, I start bleeding or my waters break then I can call to go back in. They've thankfully not come back since! If you're still feeling them there's no harm calling up to go in, none of the midwives/doctors made me feel like I was wasting their time!

Sorry that was so long! Wishing you all a smooth end to the pregnancy journey!!

@LavenderSweetPea - oh no I am so sorry! I hope things turn around for you and little one soon.

@redxlondon - yes had a haemorrhoid that bled a month or so back - it did eventually heal. You have my sympathies they can be very painful.

My PUPPS rash has now spread to my thighs and hands so I think I might give my midwife / GP a call tomorrow just to double check it’s definitely not anything else going wrong - I feel like I’ve become allergic to my baby :/ . I hope no one else is suffering from this - wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

@msp2023 im 5 days PP now and it’s still difficult and sore and I feel like I have zero pelvic floor but I can move around and stuff now at least! Just when you get up do a little bit and then rest, don’t overdo it. My hubby said he can’t believe I’m still alive as he caught sight of what it looked like 😧 It does get better eventually I didn’t realise how slow recovery would be either tbh! Nice to know I’m not alone! Hope you and baby are well xx

@redxlondon the same thing happened to me at about 36/37 weeks and I was in so much pain that I could barely walk and wasn't sleeping. GP was useless until I went back in tears but the anusol did eventually work.

Hi ladies! I hope you don't mind me sneaking into the February thread. I'm a late January due date, but baby has decided he would prefer a February arrival instead! Two sweeps down and an induction booked for tomorrow.

@CharXo I'm due on the 12th of Feb so not sure if I'm next, when are you due?

Also had MW come see me yesterday for a home visit (38+2) for a S&S and no way was she able to do one as my cervix wasn't ready yet 🙃 will upload a screenshot from yesterday's notes in regards to her findings upon examination.. what does internal os closed mean ladies? But on another note baby has gone from being 1/5ths engaged to now 2/5ths so she is 1/5 lower than what she was last week 😊 just thought I would of had her by now as with my.last 2 sons they were here @37+5! She must be a lazy one 🤣 the waiting around is killing me anyone else feel same? x

Forgot to attach 🤣🤦‍♀️

@MummyTo4BoysXXXX yep! I'm due just before you, and booked in for a 39 week sweep on Monday (if my cervix is favourable - my midwife doesn't seem too keen on sweeps for some reason). I'm having random cramps and backache. I'm so tired and still working full time. Our builders are back in 2-3 weeks and got to pack away the kitchen and three rooms upstairs. Got to seal off the doors, cover carpets, seal air vents. Sort out a million deliveries. Donate our kitchen, bifolds, any other stuff to stop it going in landfill. I don't know whether better to do this so pregnant and knackered now, or with a newborn in tow.

@HopeAndStrength 👋 good luck for tomorrow! I was on the Jan group with you as I was going to be induced in Jan, but now they've said I'm low risk and won't be induced til 40+5

39+5 today.

Haven't had any signs of anything happening, until last night I thought possibly something was, had a few tightenings just before bed and as I was going to sleep. Not painful but could feel my stomach hardening. Didn't get my hopes up as I thought they'd just be BH (haven't had them either until now).

Wasn't in a rush, and always expected to go over, and always wanted to get to February (future financial planning 😂 Christmas and a birthday before another pay day in between? No thanks 😅) but, now we're in February I'm feeling slightly more impatient...