Sept 2024 - Thread 10!

[SpicyMoth]

Saw we hit page 40, so figured I'd get a head start on the next thread just in case!!

Oh gosh, I just thought, there may not be very many more of these threads - I wonder if this one may even be the last?!

HUGE congrats to @MudandMoet on their gorgeous wee one!!
Best of luck on your way home this afternoon/this evening, I'm desperate to ask all about what it was like but I'll avoid that as I don't want anyone to get nervous/anxious about what's to come!!

Super glad you're feeling mostly okay and so so SO happy for you! <3

@kc92 im feeling fine at the moment, I’ve been emotional at times the last few days though. My boobs are just aching, so it’s a good job she’s feeding all the time haha.

Had my 5 day midwife appointment earlier and baby girl had her heel prick. She’s lost 190g since birth so approx 5% which isn’t too concerning. I was worried with it being the start of breastfeeding but all looking good!

Just back from Midwife appointment and had a sweep done!
Jesus fucking CHRIST was that far more uncomfortable that I anticipated >.<
I didn't expect it to be quite so... Rough?

I am 1cm dilated and cervix is soft so seemingly some kind of progress is happening at the very least?

If not progress after 48 hours then I anticipate another sweep at my next MW appointment a week from now, and also another scan as bubba is measuring the same as he was last time so they just want to be safe rather than sorry.

I've also been booked in for an induction now in case nothing happens following this sweep/next sweep - Induction date of Friday the 13th, obviously I don't want to be induced if it can be helped, but at least Friday the 13th would be a cool date to have ahah!

It'll be the balloon, not my fave of the options, but it's what they do first here up in Scotland apparently >.<

RE: Colostrum & Pumping

I asked MW about harvesting colostrum with a pump and mentioned the mastitis warnings people here had spoken about and she seemed very confused and said if anything she'd recommend pumping to get the breast/nipples used to the sucking motions and to generally encourage labour - So I guess there's mixed information out there about pumping colostrum overall??

For now I'm just gonna keep at it with the pump as that's what she's recommended and if I have any bad effects from it I'll let you guys (Oand my midwife) know lol!

She also said re; storage, colostrum specifically doesn't keep very well in a fridge (max 24 hours apparently!) and would suggest to just freeze it straight away instead - so for anyone who's colostrum harvesting that might be the best storage option!
Though again, speak to your own midwife about it first too just to be safe, as it's entirely possible that each region has their own recommendations with this stuff!

Thanks @SpicyMoth . Good to hear you’re doing well. Yeah sweeps can be uncomfortable, next time you could try a pillow under hips and tilting up?

I’m just reading this mumsnet article that was linked in the 40 week Start for Life email https://www.mumsnet.com/articles/getting-labour-started

@SpicyMoth hopefully it was a good sweep then and will get things going!! How many weeks are you?

Baby girls kicks are getting painnnnfuuulllll! I'm 37+4 and questioning that surely they cant get any stronger 😅 she sprags her legs out and her feet stick out at the very side of my bump, whilst her butt/back sticks out the other side just past my belly button. I never recall them being so strong and painful with my 1st...I was just eating dinner and she was literally taking my breath the way she was going off in there 😂

@SpicyMoth how much have you been getting from pumping? I have midwife and my sweep on Friday at 39 weeks so I am going to ask her because I feel like having a go at the pump to get used to it tbh!! Also how many weeks are you? Your induction date is my due date!

They've told me they'll book my induction for the 20th a week later so we will see.

I probably sound ungrateful with this moan....... But I do feel like nesting/want to make sure the house is really clean and tidy! We started the living room at about 4pm...... And my other half is just OCD/such a perfectionist. Vacuumed the same spots 5 times. Mopped over and over again, it's 2 and a half hours later and we aren't even done with ONE ROOM.... Only half the room /the lounge end not the dining end is done!! I get fed up and am just sat here....... Still have bathroom and bedroom to go yet!

I'm exhausted and just want everything done! She could be here any day

@BeautyAndTheBump1 Hopefully!
Getting the odd crampy twinge, but nothing really major or anything happening just yet! I'm 40+1 today and feeling every second of it! 😅

@TripleESept24 I can usually get around 1ml, can be a bit under or a bit over depending on how much I've eaten that day or how long I've been pumping for though!
I try and do about 10 mins or so per boob then swap sides and massage the freshly pumped side whilst the other boob gets going pumping - after a certain amount of time it tends to stop coming as easily so I take that as my queue to stop.
Can be anywhere from 30 mins to an hour before the colostrum slows down or full on stops for me.
Then I'll just have a break and either try again a few hours later (to try and emulate regular feeding) or leave it for the rest of the day depending on if my nipples are feeling a bit tender or not - Trying to avoid both under and over doing it!
One day past my due date here, so 40+1 - Super nervous as a first timer, but good lord do I just want to plough on and have the worst be over and done with now!
Absolutely dreading the actual birthing process >.<

I totally feel you with nesting, you don't sound ungrateful at all!!
The exhaustion makes it so difficult to get house stuff done honestly- Just take it one step at a time and try not to overexert yourself too much, I totally get wanting stuff done, but pacing yourself is definitely key I've learnt!
Every time I overdo it I end up in bed almost all day the following day and then I feel like I've wasted a day 😩

My partner hurt his knee quite badly around Easter (blew his ACL and MCL to pieces), has been waiting for a surgery date... Last night he tried and fell down some steps and has hurt it again 😫 so he's back on crutches and in lots of pain... Baby due in 3 weeks... I'm hoping he'll be mobile by that point because it's going to be an interesting challenge for all of us if not!

@Emmaev that's a brilliant result! My midwife told me most babies lose 10% in the time after birth until they get the hang of things.

@SpicyMoth hopefully that will get things moving for you. 🤞 Though I'll be incredibly jealous if it does - trying everything to encourage this baby out.

@SpicyMoth I hope things get moving for you.

And regarding the stuff round the house yeh it's great other half is doing majority... more than me or I can face! but I would have had it all done within a couple hours and everything he does takes more than double the amount of time! 😭 the lounge is now just half done and he says he'll do the rest tomorrow where as if I start something I have to finish it!!

If baby shows up early I don't want rooms that are half done or not been done at all 😭😭😭

@RosiePH Does your hospital have an infant feeding team that can help you with hand expressing colostrum? It’s worth asking because I didn’t know that mine does a drop in on Saturday mornings where you can go and get help - my consultant told me that I can go and they’ll show me how to do it if I struggle with it (she did warn me they’re likely to be a bit more forceful than I would be with myself 🥴). I haven’t had a go yet but it’s nice to know that option is there if I need it.

I feel like we are due a baby announcement soon

@SpicyMoth @TripleESept24 my lactation consultant advised hand expressing colostrum as 1) colostrum will get lost in the pump parts so you will get a lot less if you pump and 2) hand expressing is a useful skill in the first few days when your nipples need a rest (a pump still sucks on your nipples which is horrible when they're sore).

I can definitely confirm point no.2. On day 3 of breastfeeding my nipples were so sore and I hand expressed into a cup a few times which gave my nipples a break without affecting supply or having to introduce a bottle. My milk only fully came in on day 5 after my c section so baby was furiously feeding until then.

I took 8 syringes of colostrum to hospital and it was v useful as I was separated from baby for 4 hours so they would have had to give him formula otherwise. Not the end of the world if your baby does get a bottle and it would be unusual to be separated for so long anyway.

Tysm for the advice @HuggingAnIcePack887 !! I'll be sure to try and do both to give the girls a break!

How did you go about collecting it with hand expressing? Just leaning over a cup then syringing afterward?
Maybe I'm just insanely clumsy but I'm finding it really difficult to not make a mess and I end up losing a lot of it or get it all over myself lol, it tends to like to dribble down my breast or over my hands more than "droplet-ing" off in any type of convenient way 😅

@SpicyMoth yes, boob over a cup and then gave baby to slowly drink from cup, just sort of drizzled into his mouth. We did this a few times, as every time I latched baby, it felt like razor blades to my nipples.

For the syringes, I held the syringe with one hand and collected straight from the breast when the droplets came out . Took a few tries, DH helped me in the beginning (he held the syringe, while I expressed). But you could express into a sterilised cup and then syringe out, it would be easier (I just didn't have enough cups and patience to keep sterilizing). Remember cup needs to be sterilised. Syringes came already sterilised.

I slept really well last night, I actually read my birth technique book and did some of the practices. I still woke up 3 or 4 times to go to the toilet but fell asleep quickly afterwards. If anyone wants the book details PM me, it was one my midwife recommended the first time around as I was so anxious and tense. It explains how physically and emotionally you might feel each stage of labour and techniques to use, as well as a partner section to spot signs of stress in your body language and how to address (what to say, where to massage). I do feel quite different today. Better late than never right! I’d kind of been avoiding actually thinking about birth.

It’s so nice now it’s a bit cooler too.

@TripleESept24 you’ve reminded me that DH packed the baby’s bag while I packed my bag for hospital. I’ll check it’s not half done!

I think someone upthread asked about my Homebirth prep. I was planning for one first time and ended up in hospital overdue for induction, so doing the same and prepared to go in. I’ve got the Attends Incontinence Bed Covers, a CUB inflatable stool stands for Comfortable Upright Birth, some delivery suites and birth centres have that so worth looking up positions, a pregnancy ball pumped up and a yoga spiky ball which acts like a birth comb to hold on to or use on thighs. I’ve got loads of biscuits in for the midwives and a range of tea as well as my fav food and toiletries. Lots of spare old towels put aside too. Don’t think this one plans to come out on its own though!

Well today is due date, and no signs of baby making an appearance any time soon (I know not many show up on their due date but I'm getting so tired, uncomfortable and grumpy). Kids are back at school this week and I'm really struggling with getting up earlier, I just want to sleep 😴

Fingers crossed for you @SantasRubiksCube that the school run gets things moving . Happy due date!

I’d also recommend to get nipple shields for any BF mamas. Pack them in your hospital bag and you may never need them but at least they’re there. They saved my bacon on day 3/4 when milk had come in and I was red raw from the first cluster feeds. And silverette cups! x

Thanks @WinsandSam i needed to read that!

@Lillers ooh good idea! There is an infant feeding team but I don’t know if they offer that. If I don’t get on well over the weekend, I’ll contact them. I could also ring my NCT breastfeeding counsellor.

Now on 4 insulin injections a day. Not sure I’ll be allowed to get to 39 weeks now.

I can concur on the nipple ache, days 2/3 where the worst for me. Every time baby girl latched I wanted to cry. She was furiously getting the colostrum and must be quite hard work for tiny new born babes. So my nipples were bleeding and cracked. The nipple cream though is an absolute god send. Healed mine up in a day and they seem to be getting a bit more resilient, plus my milk came in day 4 and it’s just pouring out of me now. Woke up this morning with them dripping everywhere haha.

I hand expressed colostrum into a syringe I always found this the most effective way personally.

Every time I come on here now I’m looking out for another baby announcement 😍

@Emmaev what cream did you use girl? I used weleda on #1 and have the laninosh (sp?!) one this time x

@PinkWatermelon88 this is the one I have. It’s quite a thick cream so you only need a tiny amount so think the bottle will last a long time.

That’s the one I got for this time ! Brilliant!! Thanks for the rec xx

Hi guys, any tips for turning a transverse baby?