September 2024 - Thread 8!

[SpicyMoth]

Continuation from thread 7 over here; https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/pregnancy/5070517-september-2024-thread-7?page=40

Can't believe we filled the last thread up already feels like it wasn't even made that long ago, gosh time is absolutely flying by!!

@WinsandSam - I'll have to ask about CBT for sure, thanks so much for the recommendation - maybe I'll actually get some help seeing as I'm pregnant!

I've been trying to get mental health support for... Well to be honest since teen-hood and realising my daily crying was not in fact "just my period/puberty" as every doctor told me it was (all males ofc, typical 🙄) so I don't hold out much hope if I'm being honest.
I originally wanted to wait until my MH was sorted before ttc, but after over a decade I was running out of fertile time frankly, so here I am still with crazy anxiety and emotional dysregulation, but what can ya do?! 😅

@Lillers good for you! Weather looks nice here too so plan on relaxing in the sunshine (and fighting any guilt.)

@Cinai I'm most comfy on my back but proof up with a v pillow and normal pillow. So not at all flat and have felt fine from the start. I do start off sleeping on my left but always wake on my back

Oh same! Mine is the right side too 🥲🥲🥲 hope your appointment goes ok today, let me know if you’re given any tips or tricks on the pelvic front 🤣 x

Thanks @Lillers and @WinsandSam. I’ll give these positions a go…maybe propping up to be not fully flat on my back is the way to go…my aim to be entirely on my side just doesn’t work and I need to sleep 😴

@Cinai I get that, there's no way I could be fully on my side every night! I'd never get any sleep.. hope you sleep a bit better tonight

@WinsandSam we have a vtech one and have no complaints. Similarly wanted one that wasn’t just on a phone app. The parent unit runs out of charge quite fast but it’s not really an issue given we are using it in the house.

I was having a lot of cramps yesterday and today they are starting to come back and feeling quite a bit of pressure down below. I’m not sure if he’s just moved into a different position and is pressing on something but don’t know if I should ring someone to get checked.

When I was pregnant with my son he always used to 'play' with my hip bone...always rubbing his hand against it etc. Well this morning I felt baby girl do exactly the same for the first time!!

On another note, I asked my midwife at my appt last week if I could be referred to physio for my now non-existent pelvic floor. It's never been great after my first birth/pregnancy but I think the pressure of me being sick so much every day for months has just completely destroyed it. I have to wear a pantyliner constantly as when I vomit / cough / sneeze I pee my pants. Oh the joys!

@Cat2022 are they like braxton hicks? If concerned I'd give them a call and get seen. X

Is anyone on iron tablets? The hospital called this morning to tell me my iron was low and to grab some from the pharmacy. She didn’t tell me how low, or what strength to take 🤷🏻‍♀️ just wondered if anyone had recommendations.. I could hang on until midwife appointment on Weds it just means being super tired and sluggish for abit longer lol

@HRP1990 I am but find that spartone liquid is much kinder to my stomach and doesn't give the constipation like the tablets do. Plus the apple one actually tastes nice!

Gosh hope everyone is feeling better soon. I have just been for my follow up at the hospital and they have done a heart scan and a 24 hour ecg so they are being thorough which is good

That’s good to know, I think I might go straight for a liquid to be safe - don’t want to add constipation to the list lol.

I had an ECG yesterday and all was fine, I think I ended up overworking and under feeding myself trying to prioritise my partner for Father’s Day! Lesson learnt.

Hope your results come back fine, too! 🤞🏻

Anyone who already has children and breastfed:

What do you actually need to buy if you’re planning to breastfeed? There are pumps, storage bottles/bags, nipple covers… It all seems like a lot to invest in when I have no idea if I’ll be successful at breastfeeding anyway. I don’t want to spend out loads if I have to give up after a week and then spend more on buying stuff to formula feed. Do you still need sterilisers etc?

It all just seems like a lot of stuff for what should be the simplest thing in the world. Cows don’t have to make these decisions 🐄

@Lillers I've been wondering the same thing and kind of landed on not buying too much initially, maybe lanolin cream bc everybody says that's essential for breastfeeding and minimal minimal formula stuff so that if breastfeeding proves tricky we'll be able to feed baby something without panicking, but then seeing how things go and buying accordingly at that point. It's not hard to order stuff online, is my thought

@Lillers I didn't breastfeed so my knowledge is just from what I've read in passing...but I think you're meant to exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 weeks - and not pump either - so personally I would hold off on any pumps etc until baby is born and you know what you're doing - it's not like you need them immediately, and from what I've seen they can be very pricey!

@Lillers And bottle wise you could always pick up a couple of MAM bottles that are self sterilising to cut any cost of sterilisers out too

@Lillers you don’t need to sterilise with breast milk and for the first few weeks you don’t want to introduce a bottle anyway. I would buy minimal stuff. I would also buy a small pack of formula and a couple bottles just incase it doesn’t work out too though. I tried to breastfeed last time and couldn’t get him to latch and I ended up in tears in the middle of the night because I didn’t even have formula in to use as I was very unprepared. So my advice is be prepared minimally for either scenario and then when you know more you can buy more.

I haven't even thought of any of this tbh...... I breast fed last time but only for 6-8 weeks then went to formula. I assume though in the hospital if you are having issues with baby latching on or feeding that they will have formula? Or am I wrong? Because I did not have formula on my list of things to buy at all!!!!

@Lillers same! I’m not planning to buy anything other than some breast pads, and some silver nipple cover things?! Heard they are a good alternative to all the creams?!

I have 2 MAM bottles which came in freebie/goodie bags. But I’ll buy some of the ready-mixed formula both for the hospital in case I can’t breastfeed and also for middle of the night emergencies if we can’t get feeding going once home.

Then if we need anything else, it’s all available next day delivery or from a local shop. I have researched what I’d want if we had to formula feed though. A prep machine isn’t for me, but I’d get a Nuby rapid cool. And use Milton sterilising tablets and/or self-sterilising bottles. So I know what I’ll need to buy if it comes to it.

And then pumps I will consider down the line when I’m ready for one.

Thank you so much ladies! That advice has made me feel so much better - I was getting really overwhelmed going on various websites and going into the “breastfeeding” tab and finding so many different products! I kind of assumed you just needed breasts 😂

I've fed both mine but have used a ready made little formula bottle in hospital when I was struggling with latch - all. The brands do little packs with single use tests etc included.
Nipple cream, pads and know it you need other stuff can get it.
X

@RosiePH the only thing I’ll say with the nuby rapid cool is that unless you use it by mixing the formula in the flask and sterilising the rapid cool each time it doesnt make the bottle cool enough with the hot shot method. I know some people buy several rapid cools so they dont sterilise between each feed.

Evening ladies,

I have had a very weird day today and am still having one.
Aside from having a very busy day at work today. Covering the office alone and also it being my report day…I also had a midwife appt.
I had my bloods drawn, urine tested, belly measured, baby listened to, had my vaccines and now I feel….really sick.
about 3 hours ago I had a sudden onset of nausea, it was so intense and so sudden. I was at work at the time. It was followed by a sudden urge to go number two. Afterwards it subsided and I felt hungry. I had some fruit and again, I started feeling extremely nauseous. And it comes and goes. At my 4D scan on Saturday it was pointed out my baby is head down. Today at the midwife appointment he was still head down and judging by how it feels…I think he’s kicking my innards. I think he’s kicking my stomach and my intestines. That would describe the sudden onset of needing number 2 and the feeling like my stomach is being held hostage. Standing up and sitting upright intensifies the nausea and lounging eases it.

I remember the previous conversation about blood pressure. My midwife had a trainee today who took my pressure and the first time she put the band too tight and it came back as high. So my midwife asked her to redo it. Second time was with normal result.

@Lillers I breastfed my first, and totally agree with all of the above. Breast pads, nipple cream, a nursing bra.. anything else can be picked up if you need it.

Hospitals do have ready made formula bottles if you need them, like the pre-mixed ones, so don’t stress if you’re in hosp and struggling. The only thing with that is that you don’t really get a formula choice, so if you have feelings about which you’d choose, I’d take some pre-made bottles with you.

Introducing formula top-ups can be a slippery slope though (talking from experience) and they usually don’t need it that exact second if are struggling. You have time to get some help from your midwives, peer support groups or an IBCLC. I’d really recommend giving olivialactationconsultant on insta a follow. This time round, I’ve got my IBCLC already on standby to visit a couple of days after birth - would’ve saved us a world of struggles if I’d done that first time round!

Ladies who have been to triage for babies movements...... Are you going because you haven't felt baby AT ALL? I am still having crazy active days and then very quiet days. I have felt some movements, but not strong kicks. Just her like rolling around in there! I dont know if I'm over thinking it. I know she is there and moving she just isn't absolutely booting me like she normally does in the evenings!!

@Lillers also no clue and hoping to breastfeed, at least in the beginning. I've got a couple of nursing bras (which I wear now as SOOOO comfy,) breast pads and nipple cream. I have purchased a manual pump and 4 self sterilising bottles just in case. Planned on getting a 6 pack of ready made formula too in case I have a meltdown and it doesn't work out