Due July 2024 - part 4

[Oatmilktea]

The other thread was filling up so thought I would set up a new one!

@Sophie3003
@ceruleansky
@Amberellaella
@wannabe123
@glasshalffull0
@Morningcoffeeaddict
@missmoosh
@Jess725
@AnonymousXXIX
@Busyhedgehog
@Nocoffeenotalkie
@justanotherlaura
@Honeymint
@Savvy21
@hopingfor23
@chilliflakesmum
@ExpectantEs
@AimeeLou84
@Welshgal85
@TooHappyToday
@Bali200

I’ve tagged people from the last few pages of the previous thread, hopefully everyone makes there way over here when the other one fills up!

@Morningcoffeeaddict Huge Congrats to you!! Glad to hear that you are both doing well!

Thank you so much for letting me know what the registrar said to you - I can't explain how much calmer that has made me feel. It's made me feel a lot less anxious & nervous.

@Roxystar23 - no problem at all. No idea why your consultant wasn’t more reassuring themselves but I thought it was a good way of putting it from the registrar. If it helps at all that was my second section today and they’ve both been lovely calm experiences. Baby is usually out in about 5 mins and once they hand them to you then you forget about everything else going on

Congratulations @Bali200 and @Morningcoffeeaddict - welcome new babies!

Baby girl arrived yesterday by elective section weighing a whopping 9lbs. Surgeon said the section was a good choice as.there was already meconium in my waters and I wasn't even in labour.
Sore but section was night and day different to the emergency one with my first! She is cluster feeding like there is no tomorrow and I'm hoping for a bit more sleep tonight 🤞

@ceruleansky it does get better! Honestly DS I thought he would kill me with lack of sleep and nursing very very often. He would take his sweet time and latch for 45mins and then 1 - 1.5hrs later be back at it again. I cried a lot to. Even with family support it can feel very lonely. You can question yourself am I doing what is best for baby. Am I a good mother. I nearly spiralled into Post Natal Depression. Throw away all this sleep consultant stuff. I found peace and acceptance once I read IBCLC Emma Picketts blog and watched many videos from this other IBCLC https://thebreastfeedingcompanion.com/

If you can afford one an IBCLC is good. Most hospitals will offer nursing support postpartum via an IBCLC on the NHS I think the first 6 weeks. That was the case with Telfords hospital.

Don't compare your baby and your journey to anyone else. Do what you feel is best. Listen to your gut.

Sleep is very tricky some babies love to sleep and fall into a routine with nuraing and sleeping early on amd easily and some like DS1 needed to be nursed on demand very very often the first few months.
My midwives were against trying to set a routine with nursing until baby was 6 months. They stress the newborn phase for night feeds is massively Important to establish long term milk supply.

Annoyingly Prolactin is highest in the wee hours of the night. Typical. Baby next to mama can smell this and will be wanting to nurse more at night time. They are clever little blobs!

I do know once established some Mamas pump (extra) and let DP help with 1 or 2 night feeds. But in the early days it will / may be hard to express and have "extra" and be more stressful.

Be kind to yourself. Everything you are experiencing is normal and your not doing anything wrong at all. It is a learning curve for you and baby. A routine will happen and that will vary from baby to baby. Newborns won't have a good sleep pattern it will be hectic for a while. So other then nursing see if DP can help with the night changes and rocking and being on hand to help. It didn't work for us we did try it I would nurse and hand over to DH to change and rock to sleep and in just couldn't sleep hearing DS cry so instead I literally slept and napped and reated when DS napped in the day. Amy chance I took. I was like this foe the first 4/5 months until I noticed longer stretches of sleep at night.

I got a lot of 'advice' very unhelpful from friends and family which did not help at all with how I was feeling. You grow thicker skin with time and learn to phase out unwanted advice from people. I heard it all. My milk is not good enough. My supply is not enough. I need to give formula to fill them up. Let them cry it out - even at newborn stage I was told this. I am spoiling baby by holding them. I need to relax and stop being anxious. Etc etc. All wonderful things to make a New Mother feel fantastic.

Honestly this is your baby your doing a great job and your baby is thriving. Reach out for help from proper resources and give it some time. Things will get better.

@Nocoffeenotalkie well done Mama. And that is good to hear it worked out for the best especially in terms of the meconium. And fantastic to hear baby is keen to nurse so soon! Take care with recovery and enjoy newborn snuggles.

@Bali200 Congrats Mama! Wow that sounded worrying but glad baby is well and they made the right call for you both.

@Roxystar23 I told you Drs are insensitive D&;ks sometimes.... Well a lot of the time. Sorry to hear that was your experince. They really have no bedside manners at all.
I hope things willl go well on Monday and they will be kinder to you.

All the babies are coming now. July is winding down.

I had my midwife apt today. Baby is engaged and facing my back. Waiting game now. They gave me clary sage mix to use in bath and to inhale/diffuse. They told me to carry on coloatrum harveating even just for the nipple stimulation as that can reslly help. Childcare will be available from saturday. Parents are staying for 3 weeks so hoping I will relax and that will get things going once they arrive.
My Midwife didn't mention anything about induction they are very holistic so no mention of Bishops scores etc. They are very hands off.

@Nocoffeenotalkie @Bali200 Congratulations to you both :-).
@Roxystar23 I also had the same fears as you but my section went really well. I think some consultants have a bit of a dry manner but they do this day in and day out - you will be fine.
@ceruleansky my DH feeding formula at 10 to allow me to get a chunk of sleep has been a game changer. We are moving to formula anyway as breastfeeding just isn't really for me. I wouldn't overthink it too much - no one ever asks how your baby was fed when they're older. Your mental health as a new mum is important too.

Ah more babies and I can add mine to the bunch! Delivered on Tuesday following some worrying results after my waters broke where her heartrate was dipping every time I had a contraction. I couldnt even feel them myself at that point so obviously nowhere near labour. Was v scary as I was bumped straight up the queue with panic buttons etc but the operation itself was so calm and all the staff were wonderful. She is a sweetie...all gangley legs and arms so is already quite long but weighed 6'11 so not heavy.
Not loving this hot weather, as a FTM I am stressing about her being too hot during day/cold at night constantly!

@MyNameIsBatty congratulations on your arrival! Sorry to hear that it wasn’t under less stressful circumstances! Glad she is all well!
I’m so worried about the heat, our house is currently 27 degrees despite fans and windows being open! Don’t even know what to do anymore just hoping it cools off before our little one arrives 🫠🫠🫠

I'm still waiting for the induction to get going properly to get the little one out. Had my second dose today and it's slowly starting.
It's really warm here, too. We've got about 30 degrees but they keep bundling the babies up in lots of clothes and with a blanket. It's very odd. I've brought some "summer" clothes for DD for when she's finally making an appearance but babies usually get clothing provided here until they go home. We'll see what happens when she's here.

Congratulations on the newest arrivals - it's so exciting seeing so many babies being born each time I log on.

Good luck @Busyhedgehog - Hope things get going for you soon!

@Morningcoffeeaddict & @Savvy21 - So glad to hear you had such positive experiences.
I've literally just had a phone call to ask if I would like to fill a cancellation slot tomorrow morning instead. I'm a bit in shock as thought I had a few more days to do little
Bits but now can't believe that I'm having my baby tomorrow morning!!

@MixedCouple2 - Hope things start to happen for you soon! I just had a lovely midwife on the phone - I think it just must be a straight talking consultant thing for some.

@Roxystar23 that's very exciting! Not long until newborn cuddles.

@MyNameIsBatty congrats and glad little one arrived safely. Hope your both doing well.

I have heen having cramps on and off all night but not progressing. So I assume prodomal labour. I had it with DS1 for 5days before active labour started.

I did take flaxseeds last night and evening primrose and my red raspberry leaf tea. Assuming my cervix is doing something 😂
Up as DS1 is beijg Clingy again.

https://thepositivebirthcompany.com/clearance-sale?_kx=UVt8o10XLiIRrv5zBGYaHxH6tVH4YieNrnHZR4xhufU.V5CJNQ

Amazing sales at the Positive birth company! I did it with DS1 and it was amazing.

AVOID

my friend did and said it was dire

I did their course a few years ago and enjoyed it

Hi! Hope you don’t mind me joining last minute, I’m just desperate to talk to people in the same situation 😂 I’m 38+4, baby is very low in my pelvis and has been for a few weeks now. Started getting lightening pains a few days ago in my cervix and since yesterday have had brown discharge (so sorry for the tmi 🫣)
The discomfort and heaviness in my pelvis is unbearable this morning I can hardly walk, PLEASE someone tell me this is the beginning of the end 😂
Also, why does no one prepare you for the last few weeks with a toddler?! 💀

Could be the start of something @MrsM21 I lost mucus plug for a full week prior to my ELCS. Kept thinking might go into labour on my own but these babies keep us on tenterhooks.

Day 3 here and my milk is in. She will not let me put her down at all. As soon as I lay her in her bedside crib or moses basket, she screams. Night times are dreadful!

@Nocoffeenotalkie we had that at first. DH and I had to sleep in shifts 😂 he’s a bit better now thankfully x

I did it and it was fantastic. And I work in healthcare so know a lot about the physiological stuff anyway. I loved this course and purchased it again as the meditations were fantastic for birth and relaxing pre baby and to refresh my memory.
Not sure why your friend thought it wasn't anygood.

@MrsM21 Awww bless. Unfortunately not a definitive sign that things are imminent. Coukd still be weeks or days. But all very good signs.
I am feeling this way today. Fragipe down below and my stomach has been hard on and off all morning. Constant Braxton Hicks. Never had that before.

My toddler is a nightmare at the moment. Clingy only wants me and his sleep is awful.

@Nocoffeenotalkie awww bless. Little milk vampires they are. It will get better. Now baby is awake they want the calories! Feed meeeee!
Still very early days and normal. Try to go with it. Good excuse to rest in bed. Put on some podcasts / read a book. Be waited on hand and foot. Hopefully you are getting outside aupport in some way.

I do reccomend baby wearing when you do want to get up and about in a week or so time. I bought a Woven Wrap ready so baby can sleep and chill on me and I can be hands free with my toddler and to get things done.

My parents arrived and DS has been off the walls!

Sorry don't know what day or time it is any more haha!

Milk came in yesterday which both baby and I struggled with a bit. Baby was spitting up most the night, and I immediately got a blocked duct on my left. Fun times. Today seems a little better through, knock wood. HV suspects a tongue tie as well, but my local NHS lactation consultant is on holiday next 2 weeks, so I might give a private lactation consultant a call on Monday.

My previous baby had a tongue tie and I had blocked ducts all the time, so this is not new, and I feel like I am navigating it a bit better, but still, wish it was easier!

@AnonymousXXIX yay for milk coming in. No fun with the tongue tie. But glad your hospital is supportive and there is someone to help. We suspected the same with DS1 but no one qualified could see us to check. Suffered with silent reflux and explosive nappies for months! Only got better once on solids. HV was Absolutly useless!