Due December 2024 - thread 3

[CatCaretaker]

Thread 3 - for those of us still waiting on our babies, and those whose babies have arrived safe and sound.

Previous thread:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/pregnancy/5202240-due-december-2024-thread-2?page=40

How are you doing @Lunamoon23 ?

I can’t keep up with the infacol. Baby girl HATES it too 🤣 will try again. She also has the grunting thing..
constipation / lack of poop has entered the situation now too - 1 poop in 24 hours is what the HV said is fine but honestly, she’s really struggling and so gassy.

the C curl for sleeping has been a life changer!! Thank you everyone that suggested it

now I have to sort out how I can get my back into shape (so much pain - upper back) and when I can start exercises and what to do 😬😅

Totally off topic to everything else, but is anyone pumping at all? I am to try to improve supply along with breastfeeding.

I have the Spectra 2 pump, and a friend gave me some Medela pumping bras ... which don't fit the Spectra at all. There is no way the tiny holes in the Medela bra would fit around the flange of the Spectra, or am I missing something? There doesn't appear to be a Spectra bra. Are the Medela pump flanges much smaller than the Spectra ones, does anyone know?

I am unfortunately

I'm only using a hakker at the moment but I have an old Bella baby I'm going to try to use tomorrow

I usually get about 30ml with the hakker

I'm struggling with bottle feeding my daughter though, she really doesn't like it but we need to do it to get her weight up

@Twinkletwinklelil I'm holding on in there! Haha - I'm tired and feel a little broken. My backs in bits too, I think I've got some knots in my upper back from poor posture when feeding etc, come the end of the day they burn! I use a feeding pillow but he's such a wriggler I always end up having to hold him in some awkward way putting strain on my upper back.
I'm feeling a lot better recovery wise. I've been out a few times for some nice long walks, which has been nice! But I definitely notice a difference, I tire a lot easier than I did pre pregnancy. But egar to keep going with it, one it helps mentally, two it gives me a break as baby sleeps the whole time and three it burns abit if this weight I've gained lol. He's a month old tomorrow! Which feels crazy - it feels like he's both been here alot longer but also can't believe it's been a month already.
We're still going with the infacol and it does seem to be helping him get his burps up easier.
DH is back at work Friday.. which is daunting.

I might look into this C sleeping. Little one goes off to sleep quite well in the next to me. But there's been a couple nights now where he'll wake for a feed and then you just can't get him back down. Might look into it and see if it helps at all. As I'm knackered 😂 and now DH is going back to work I'll be doing all the night feeds.

Did you have a caesarean? I can't recall sorry. I think exercise wise they advise after your 6-8 week post op check. Otherwise I think it's whenever you feel well enough to do so. Xxx

I've been trying to pump using a manual pump / hand express to get my supply up but only manage a measly 2-3ml after each feed which is frustrating. Have just had a hospital pump delivered though so I'll see how that goes. The flanges they gave me are huge so I've had to order smaller ones off amazon, turns out I have tiny nipples - who knew. The things we learn about ourselves 😆

Hey everyone... I will try and get thro all your messages and updates. Had a quick read and it's lovely to see all the babies arriving safe and well, even if some births have been dramatic! I hope you are all recovering well.

❤️

@HelterSkelter224

Have you tried using a haakaa?

I stick it on one boob whilst I'm feeding DD on the other and I get anything between 10-30ml

Having her feed on the other side helps, if she wasn't I don't think anything would even come out

Worth a try, I'll order one tonight x

Hospital pump got nothing 🙄

So frustrating!!!

Is there anybody else EBF? I’m a first time mum and honestly didn’t know how hard it would be! It felt like he didn’t come off the boob all day yesterday. I’m currently debating whether to introduce one formula bottle a day just so I can have a small break and have DH manage one feed (although aware I’ll need to express a little bit to maintain supply). Baby is 4 weeks tomorrow. Any advice/reassurance from anyone whose breast fed before would be amazing.

@Lunamoon23 glad you’re ok! And the back pain- me too!! I am desperate for some sort of relief - poor posture when feeding is definitely the culprit. Baby girl also just wants to be held and rocked to sleep which is hard too - I was so used to feeding to sleep lol.

amazing what fresh air can do for you, you’ll definitely get your steps in - although the weather may be a bit restrictive now. I read a lot about walking baby out to see the trees and birds and sky.. sounds peaceful 🤣

hope your Friday goes ok, dh has been back at work this week and it’s been OK but I’ve leant on my mom a lot! Tomorrow I’m alone with the two and I’m so stressed about it but I think I’ll be ok..

I didn’t have a c-section, my last birth was extremely traumatic but this time I had the most amazing water birth. honestly, anyone who has a c-section is incredible. I was offered one because of my past experience but I said no because of the recovery worries

@Synergy94 i EBFd my now 2year old until 22m. I was 7/8 months pregnant with my 2nd when I stopped. It was a great experience but SO hard.. with my baby now, we are mostly BF with one bottle of formula at bedtime - it gives me a chance to get a couple of hours sleep. We tried to give the other one a bottle but he refused it- at every age!! So if you can/want to introduce a bottle it’s been a huge relief and help for us.
the cluster feeding sessions are hard - not sure how it works for formula fed babies. I assume they just want more milk? But try to remember it’s a growth spurt and they’re also trying to increase your supply to keep up with demand. Doesn’t last forever I promise!!

Yes, this is my second

It is really hard

A lot of mums say it calms down around week 6

I think it fluctuates, from my experience you have peaks and troughs of cluster feeding for around 3m.
and when the immunisations are done, get help! I had baby on me and feeding for so much of that 24 hr period.. had my mom stay and make sure we were fed and cared for.

Just wanted to drop in and say I don't know if some of you are or aren't on the December baby Facebook page that was created from this thread, but via the Facebook page someone has now set up a 3am club WhatsApp group, which I thought some of you might like to join given the discussions around breastfeeding and the wake ful nights. Already it's been great support and moral. If you'd like I'll share the link to the Facebook group and the link for the WhatsApp is on there. ❤️ Hope you're all doing okay!!

Today was my first day solo as husband was back at work. I was so worried but am really pleased with myself, we had a good night (trying to establish abit more of a routine now with husband back at work) I tried to get baby down at 10-10.30 and didn't manage to get him off until 11.40pm but then he slept till 5am, woke, fed and changed and he went back down around 5.30-9am. I've managed to shower and change, feed, sterilise, clean the kitchen, mop the floors and hoover, get dinner ready, put washing away and even catch up on some of my housewives 😂 I still look like hagrid but the house is somewhat clean!
I'm super anxious about the first time I venture out of the house alone in the car and into busy public places. I haven't done the car seat or the pram (bar push it) since he's been here due to a csection, husband has done it all. Going to get out this weekend with husband and do the car seat and pram myself and then Next week I've got my mum and sister coming out with us so going to ease myself into it. Build up to being confident enough to be out alone.

@Lunamoon23 yes please, would you send the WhatsApp link?

Regarding going out, we haven't made it as far as the door at all yet (baby 11 days now) together, let alone me alone!

@CatCaretaker hopefully it works - I've attached it below. It wasn't me that set it up so I've had to copy it from the Facebook page.

chat.whatsapp.com/GYdgeLdBOQqARGwIaOBI81

And I'm a month in 😂 xxx

@Lunamoon23 thank you!

@Lunamoon23 you're doing an amazing job!! The first outings solo are always daunting but you're right to try and get out and about as much as possible. How are you feeling about everything? Are you still feeling quite down or are things feeling more positive now?

@HelterSkelter224 they're definitely more positive now!! Thinking it must have been a delayed huge hormone crash. Now I'm just willing my body to hurry up and fully recover, I want to be back to feeling fit and fully able again. How are you doing?

@CatCaretaker your welcome, did it work? Xxxxx

@Lunamoon23 yes it worked :-)

Glad to hear it @Lunamoon23 🥰

@Lunamoon23 Well done on a surviving your first day, sounds like you smashed it! DH goes back to work Monday and I can only hope to be half as productive as you. Very jealous your little one is sleeping so well, baby boy currently wakes every 2 hours in the night for a feed 😫

Is anyone suffering back pain? My back is aching so bad 😣

@OnNaturesCourse i was having back pain for the first few days, it would catch me off guard when I stood up. But it’s ok now

Just a little update on my BFing journey, we introduced our first bottle of formula today after 4 weeks on EBF. Baby boy latched instantly and was SO content after his feed, he slept for almost 3 hours which he hasn’t done since he was a week old. He was back BF tonight and wanted to feed every hour/not wanting to sleep. The plan was always to BF with one bottle of formula so I could have small break but am now thinking whether he’d be better with formula full stop!

@OnNaturesCourse I've had upper back pain, I've always suffered from a knotty upper back (due to job) and it's been massively playing up since baby boys been here. I think from feeding/nappy changes on the floor/bed and being hunched. X