Due February 2024 Thread 7!!🤰🩷💙

[AllAboardTootToot]

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

@msp2023 Congratulations, so sorry your episiotomy was traumatic. I'm sure having your little baby in your arms is the best feeling ever though!

I've been trying a few of the silly things people say will put you into labour but no luck yet. I'm trying to be pretty active, even joined in painting the apartment with my partner for a while as well as other somewhat physical jobs. My friend said to clean the skirting boards as that's rumoured to start labour but getting down there sounds daunting. 🤣

Soooo I’ve been in hospital all evening…. But not for me! Had to rush in with my Dad, stroke symptoms - turns out a bleed to the brain 😵‍💫
he’s stable now and we’ve left him to rest, just made it home. Everyone was terrified I was gonna end up in labour 🫣 but hypnobirthing techniques actually got me through, I think I’m in shock though - it hasn’t really hit home yet 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

Congratulations @msp2023 💖

Congratulations @msp2023 so sorry it wasn't the easiest birth but I'm sure it was worth it!

Hope your dad is doing okay @Kelb79 x

@amyg1985 I'm somewhat relieved it’s not just me experiencing that.

@redxlondon my midwives have really been pushing harvesting colostrum but I only produce a few drops less than 0.1ml on the syringe. It takes me about 30 mins to collect that and I use a teaspoon to collect each tiny drop before sucking it up with the syringe they gave me.

I’ve done a lot of reading around / watching videos and it seems like not everyone produces anything or that much before labour. Some produce loads, some next to nothing so I wouldn’t stress too much if you can’t and just treat it as practice.

There’s lots of videos on TikTok on techniques to collect and I found one that showed a slightly different method to the midwives method that seems to work better for me. I massage my boob until it’s warmed up. Press down firmly with palm of hands around nipple before doing the c shape thing (shouldn’t hurt, if it hurts stop). Place fingers two finger widths away from edge of aerola for the c shape. Press down first then contract in And hold (again shouldn’t hurt - if it hurts stop).

My midwives have been making me feel a bit like I should be producing more but when she tried to demonstrate hands on it stung like crazy and I ended up tearing up because of the random over reactivness of my body right now. She apologised and has put on my notes not to do hands on so at least I’m spared that now and can try at my own pace.

@msp2023 congratulations! That’s wonderful news - sorry it was a little traumatic I wish you a speedy recovery!

@Cheetocat - I dread going down to the floor - sometimes I get stuck and have to drag myself back up using whatever furniture is close to hand 😆.

@Kelb79 - oh no! I hope he is doing better now and wish him a speedy recovery!

@msp2023 a massive congratulations! Enjoy the new born bubble! I can't bel I've the babies are arriving thick and fast and we aren't even in Feb yet lol x

Hope your dad recovers well @Kelb79

Congratulations @msp2023 - that's great news x

@msp2023 congratulations!!! Hope you get to go home soon and all of you are doing well x

@Kelb79 I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. Hope he's okay and recovers soon. What an awful stressful and worrying night

@redxlondon I think it will build up. But also some people don't get much and breastfeed really well, so you can express after giving birth also. i find watching tv and relaxing helps me. and a weird technique of starting about an inch back and almost pinching forwards to the nipple like milking a cow. after figuring that out (for me - everyone has different boobs) i get about 4 ml + a session.

Congratulations to everyone else on their baby announcements 🥳🥳

@msp2023 i also had an episiotomy which has been quite traumatic also I lost quite a bit of blood (infact the consultant who delivered had to shower afterwards) and felt delirious and light headed after she was born. I’ve found it difficult cause physically things are a lot tougher and I’m fed up of moving weird and weeing myself 😔 it is slightly improving though so I hope we start to feel better soon! How is the pain and physical recovery for you?

my husband is also traumatised by it he saw it and said it doesn’t know how I’m still alive 😅 he said he’s never seen an injury like it

@msp2023 Congratulations!!! Hope you recover both physically and emotionally as quickly as possible. Hopefully baby cuddles speed it all up!

@Kelb79 so sorry to hear about your father - fingers crossed recovery goes well.

@Shrillwaffle Bless you, it sounds so tough!! Do they give you some special care instructions after an episiotomy? It sounds quite terrifying.. wishing you fast recovery as well ❤️‍🩹

@msp2023 congratulations!
Feeling such empathy for you and @Shrillwaffle - I had an episiotomy with my first. If it's any consolation, my recovery was quick and very straightforward, apparently that's usually the case because it's a neat surgical incision rather than a tear. Hopefully will be the same for both of you.

I just got a letter in for 40 week scan on my original due date (I've been getting extra scans since 28w due to low papp-a) and I need to call them and cancel it because my c section is scheduled for 3 days before. It was weird to look at that date and think "he'll be here by then"

I had an episiotomy with my first and the first I'd say 3/4 days are the worst then it gets easier to move around.
Keep topped up on pain killers.

Congrats to all on babies 💗💙

@Shrillwaffle I'm really sorry that sounds so tough. Hopefully it heals quickly and you won't be in too much pain for much longer x

@msp2023 congratulations on baby girl 💕 I hope you heal quickly and are feeling better soon. All the baby cuddles and taking it slow will help 🥰

@Kelb79 oh gosh, I hope your Dad is doing as well as can be and hope he has a speedy recovery!

Congratulations @msp2023 xx

@msp2023 congratulations to you 😊 hope your recovery goes well 💕

Congratulations @msp2023 , you must be over the moon to meet your little one!

Sending love @Kelb79 , he’s in the best place and hopefully he makes a speedy recovery!

I get so hungry in my antenatal class, we've had to stop and get food in the way home a few times, for a lot of my life I couldn't really identify when I was hungry or full but it's the complete opposite now. We have class this evening and I'm seriously considering taking an entire dinner with me to eat in the car afterwards. 😩 I think today's class is going to be on breastfeeding which I'm so excited to learn more about!

Congratulations @msp2023! I hope you have a quick recovery. Enjoy your lovely baby. You’ve done it!

Omg @Cheetocat I have been absolutely starving this week! Like the before your period is due type starving and you just crave carbs and sweet things! I could just constantly eat. I think it must be our bodies wanting the extra calories to prepare for labour.

@RachLeeds I hope that's where my body is sending the calories anyway. 🤣

Definitely feel like I'm nesting now, just hung the blackout blind for our room so we can teach baby not to be nocturnal. It involved lots of measuring, drilling, hammering, screwing but it's all done now and I'm very happy with it. I think I enjoyed using the drill a bit too much, I'm gonna be looking for things that need holes in them. 🤣

@msp2023 huge congrats 🎀🩷 so special. Babies are coming thick and fast now🥰 hope ur healing well x

@Kelb79 hope u and ur dad are doing ok, such a shock ❤️

@RachLeeds @Cheetocat I’m same on the hungriness 🫣 I thought it was with her moving down a lot lower that I’d space to eat again but I cannot be filled the last week or so

Ladies.. it’s nearly time! It’s finally February tomorrow!! Who’s next on our list/due?
I finally finished work today, got a week of annual leave before my Mat leave starts! Pre op tomorrow for my section next week and I can’t help but constantly feel anxious about it

Thank you all so much for your lovely messages! I haven't slept since Monday afternoon so feeling slightly delirious but so in love!!

@Shrillwaffle I'm so sorry to hear that! Mine is painful and sooo slow. Well I'm only one day PP but I can barely walk, do anything for myself etc. I'm hating it! Can't even get out of bed and grab baby myself :( How about you?