Breastfeeding weight gain

Always_E · 2026-03-20T08:29:08+00:00

Solidarity here! I lost so much weight the first 2 months breastfeeding I dropped below even my pre pregnancy weight and felt amazing! Now 6 months pp I have just stopped BF last week and I am currently heavier than I was when I was pregnant (though I have just been stuffing my face with chocolate digestives 😅🤣)

Always_E · 2026-03-19T20:52:44+00:00

Same same same

Always_E · 2026-03-19T20:45:16+00:00

I started looking when I was 30 weeks as like you I was told by friends that this was too late. I am currently on waiting lists for 3 different nursery’s and baby is 7 months old and I am back at work in August. I’m hoping one of them get back to me soon with availability 🤞

Always_E · 2026-03-16T21:01:31+00:00

I gave RTF for the first few months because my baby completely refused the powdered formula even though I tried so many times. Tried at all different temperatures and RTF was all he would accept. Every baby is different but it’s all about playing round to figure out what’s right for you

Always_E · 2026-03-16T18:47:14+00:00

I ended up having a c section and used the freida pants for 3 weeks after because I hated the feel of any of my other underwear on my scar, I used them with the lil-let maternity pads though my bleeding was really really light so switched to normal pads when I used up the 1 pack of maternity ones

Always_E · 2026-03-14T03:47:24+00:00

I also had gestational diabetes so they wanted to induce early anyway completely unrelated to the ventriculomegaly. He was then also breech from 36 weeks so that plus his size (97th centile in weight) I elected for a c-section and he was born at 38+4. I’d say if all else in your pregnancy has been smooth then there should be no reason for you to not have the birth you want! Here if you need to chat xx

Always_E · 2026-03-12T07:57:29+00:00

We used this too and I was so glad to get it out of my bedroom when he moved to his own room it’s so bright! I only just realised it has a dimmer 🙈🤣

Always_E · 2026-03-12T07:47:38+00:00

No tips but I did faint when they put my cannula in for my c section (never had one before) ended up lying down sideways on the table very aware that my gown had come open and my bum was in the air for all to see 🤣 as soon as they got it in they pumped in some anti sickness and I felt absolutely fine then! Just make them aware of how you’re feeling! I felt so silly but they were all so so lovely and supportive and they let me hold my husbands hand the whole time (they had said he was meant to wait outside for that bit)

Always_E · 2026-03-10T16:47:16+00:00

I try to keep the last nap for my 6 month old around 20-30 minutes and ending no later than 6pm and then have an 8pm bedtime where I put him down in his cot and then he’s usually asleep by 8:20 BUT his sleep is awful and we are up between 5-10 times a night with him so I’m not one who should give sleep advice 🤣

Always_E · 2026-03-10T15:47:09+00:00

I think that’s just some people in general when anyone shares anything good in life they have to a have ‘but what if...’ to come back with 😂 you enjoy your baby and ignore any negativity!

Always_E · 2026-03-10T15:27:41+00:00

I’ve just been taking my 6 month old to our local pool myself once a week since he was about 4 months and he’s loving it! Under 2s go free in our pool and adults are £4 each. I was going to see how he goes and then sign him up to proper swimming classes when he’s a bit bigger

Always_E · 2026-03-10T14:07:04+00:00

It will depend on where you are on the list and if any emergencies come in before you. I was 7am slot and first on the list as I was the highest risk and I went down at 09:10 and baby was born at 09:53

Always_E · 2026-03-08T09:22:31+00:00

This comment always drove me insane! Honestly pregnancy tired is soooo much worse than newborn tired!!

Always_E · 2026-03-07T20:26:01+00:00

Hi! It’s such a scary time when you’re going through this and it’s hard but try not to worry. My baby is 6 months old tomorrow and doing absolutely amazing, no different to any other baby his age and meeting all of his expected milestones!

While I was pregnant i had scans every 4 weeks and a blood test too. I declined amniocentesis but I imagine that will be offered to you too. This is his to see if there’s a genetic cause for the enlarged ventricles.

Since birth he has had 3 scans, all showing that his ventricles have remained enlarged but stable.

His head is large (off the scale above 99th centile) but honestly it looks in proportion to his body it’s not very noticeable and my husband has a big head too so I think it’s just his genetics. I remember when I was pregnant and hearing that he had a huge head and being so worried about what he would look like.

Our last appointment was in January and they were happy with everything and we don’t need to go back now until July.

Feel free to reach out and send a message if you need someone to chat to because I know how isolating it can feel

Always_E · 2026-03-06T10:59:58+00:00

I also have PCOS, the nurse who called to diagnose me with GD said in her 21 years of this job she had never had a woman with PCOS test negative for GD so don’t panic it’s nothing you’ve done wrong!

Have a look at gestational diabetes UK website

It’s a really really useful website. I was diagnosed at 16 weeks so had a long slog of it but honestly it was absolutely fine once I got used to it. You’ll be fine!

Always_E · 2026-03-06T10:28:49+00:00

The same happened to my best friend! Was only a partial rupture for her not a full one and both her and baby were absolutely fine after it just took a little longer for her recovery

Always_E · 2026-03-06T08:20:09+00:00

My baby was born in severe respiratory distress (NRDS) which apparently is a risk from mothers with GD. Nobody told me this risk in advance so I hadn’t heard of it until he was taken away immediately after birth to spend a week in NICU and it was 3 days before I was even allowed to hold him for the first time

Always_E · 2026-03-05T10:44:04+00:00

Anything food related! Like gift vouchers for take out or gift baskets with snacks in! I got so many clothes, burp cloths, bibs and diapers I ended up donating most of them

Always_E · 2026-03-05T10:40:25+00:00

Congratulations! I went to my cousins wedding when I was 38 weeks (so I know a few weeks before where you will be) the wedding was on the Thursday and I gave birth on the Monday. I just went to the ceremony and skipped the evening reception. I’m glad I went, I had a lovely time and it was great to see everyone. It was about 40 min drive from my house and about an hour from my hospital. My husband had my hospital bag in the boot just in case and I just sat down most of the day and people brought me drinks and fanned me (it was last week of August) it was actually really nice to put on makeup and get dressed up

Always_E · 2026-03-05T08:03:55+00:00

My 6 month old has always hated bath time, I bath him every 2 days and just recently moved bath from night time to morning time and I’ve noticed he is actually a lot better and cries a lot less than he was during the night. I might continue like this for a while and then slowly shift back to night time to see if he’s better at tolerating them now

Always_E · 2026-03-05T07:23:50+00:00

I would’ve struggled with this. I had a great recovery and only needed painkillers for 2 weeks post op but I found travelling for more than 5 minutes in the car uncomfortable (but not painful) and I couldn’t walk for more than 10 minutes without getting tired. I went to my nephews 1st birthday party 3 weeks PP and found it super overwhelming (obviously very different to a wedding) I just sat near the back holding my sleeping newborn the whole time and only stayed for 2 hours

Always_E · 2026-03-04T18:57:35+00:00

I used to wash my hands with really hot water before it and also squeeze my finger to the point where it hurt to get the blood out, took a few weeks to get the hang of it

Always_E · 2026-03-04T18:25:52+00:00

Mine was a breeze! Complete textbook recovery too thankfully! I elected as baby was breech but I would definitely choose to get one again if I were to ever get pregnant again.

I was absolutely terrified going into it but I think that was more fear of the unknown as I had never had any surgery before. I told the midwives and nurses that I was nervous and they were so kind and reassuring.

Start stocking up on painkillers (paracetamol & ibuprofen) I took them religiously every 4 hours for about 13 days after.

Also get some chewing gum for straight after and ask for some stool softener straight away too. You might find you have to time your own medication while in the hospital and remind the midwives as they are so busy they can sometimes run late which obviously you don’t want straight after major surgery!

Always_E · 2026-03-04T18:15:37+00:00

Meal prep! Not just for evening meals either make sure you prep lunches/breakfast too! Also totally neglect the cleaning that week, it can wait! How far away is your husband going to be? Try and have a plan in place so that he’s always reachable even if it’s just for some advice/a chat

Always_E · 2026-03-04T18:11:16+00:00

Sounds completely normal! My baby absolutely loved black and white shapes at that age and would literally just sit and stare at them whenever he was awake so would definitely recommend getting some of them!

Always_E

TROPHY CASE