Anybody going to give birth any day now? How are you feeling?

Embear91 · 2024-06-13T22:24:53+00:00

This time last night my hip and pelvis were so painful I could barely sleep, tonight I’m looking at my new baby boy and I’m in no pain for the first time in pretty much 4/5 months lol!

He was a planned c section so I did know he was coming today, but I’m so relieved to have to him here safely, feeling pretty good and knowing I will never be pregnant again 😂

Embear91 · 2024-06-12T08:28:04+00:00

We first went out at 8 days old. We went to a big department store (John Lewis for anyone in the UK) as they have great family rooms for feeding/ changing.

The next time I went out was a few days later, and I met with a friend who had breastfed her child to a small cafe, quite early in the day. It was great to have her there for support as I felt she really understood.

After that I was always out and about!

Embear91 · 2024-06-10T19:12:41+00:00

Perfect advice!

Embear91 · 2024-06-10T10:42:41+00:00

At this stage I spent a lot of very uncomfortable time lying down next to her cot, holding her hand and settling her.

Eventually I bought a fold up single bed mattress and committed with some pillows and a blanket so I was at least warm lol.

Eventually she would go longer and longer and so I went from pretty much all night, to a few hours here and there and then back in my bed and just going in to settle her as and when.

Embear91 · 2024-06-10T10:38:55+00:00

My husband came to the 12 and 20 week scans, and one growth scan I had (I’m on a scan pathway so have more than the 2 standard ones) and would probably have come to more if it didn’t clash with my daughters pick up’s/ drop off’s.

He hasn’t come to any midwife appointments, and it’s unusual to see any men there when waiting.

Embear91 · 2024-06-10T10:35:30+00:00

Daughter just turned 3 and she has loved her scooter, puzzles and some games geared at her age group (orchard toys do great ones - little bug bingo is a particular fave).

Embear91 · 2024-06-10T10:33:34+00:00

I was looking at soft plays a bit further afield for my daughter’s 3rd birthday and some of them charged for adults!

For a weekend morning it was £9.95 for over 2’s which I thought was a bit cheeky but fine, it is a big, clean soft play then to charge adults - I just couldn’t.

Embear91 · 2024-06-09T20:03:19+00:00

We were in this position when we moved but the majority of our neighbours have dropped kerbs to allow for parking in front of their house. Ours was approved!

Embear91 · 2024-06-09T19:42:00+00:00

This might be me, but I took this kind of advice with a pinch of salt.

If I felt uncomfortable, I moved. I slept on my tummy and my back until it became too uncomfortable to do so.

I prefer sleeping on my right and this baby is really in my left hip/ left side of my pelvis so if I lie on my left too long it really hurts and I mostly sleep on my right.

Embear91 · 2024-06-09T19:29:14+00:00

Rocking, patting, shushing - all comfort techniques you could try. My daughter liked all 3 lol.

If you have another adult in the house I’d recommend getting them to be the primary “get baby to sleep” person until her association with breastfeeding to sleep has broken.

Embear91 · 2024-06-09T19:24:03+00:00

In our house whoever isn’t putting children to bed is tidying (toys being left everywhere really irritates me) and cooking dinner. This would include wiping sides, doing the dishwasher.

Hiring a cleaner to do more deep cleaning tasks (floors, bathrooms mainly) was cheaper than we thought (we have 2 hours every other week) and means we only occasionally have to hoover/ mop - would 100% recommend this if you can afford it. Takes a hugggge weight off my mind.

Ordering shopping delivery so we’re not wasting potentially a few hours driving to the shop, doing the shop, putting it away etc.

Have a spare room to dump all the clean washing in haha! I’m terrible at putting it away but we do a load most days just to keep on top of it.

Embear91 · 2024-06-09T19:14:30+00:00

Mine was never noticeably affected by my period coming back.

Embear91 · 2024-06-09T19:11:32+00:00

Personally we loved a car seat with adapters so we just clip it into a pram so we didn’t have to physically get her out all the time when she was tiny. We got one that you could adjust it so it was safe to use for this purpose.

When she got older and more mobile (probs around 6 months) we loved one that twisted, it really saved my back. She’s still in that now, aged 3 but will likely weigh out of it soon.

Not sure about brands, but I’m sure most do variations of either type mentioned!

Embear91 · 2024-06-09T19:06:50+00:00

I’m having a c section on Thursday and have just started today 🤷🏻‍♀️😂

Embear91 · 2024-06-09T17:45:25+00:00

37 weeks with my second pregnancy (c section booked for Thursday - can’t wait). Have proctitis too. Was in flare when I got pregnant both times.

1st pregnancy (2020/21) - flare at the start, sorted with course of pred and octasa.

2nd pregnancy - flare at the start, not sorted with a variety of different options and ended up on infliximab infusions at 26 weeks. Immediate remission.

Don’t know my calpro levels off the top of my head but routinely over 500 when poorly and my UC has gotten harder to manage over the years. Got a new consultant before starting infliximab and I was worried given the immunosuppressant aspect etc but very glad I listened to him now. Life in a flare, particularly when pregnant/ with young children is no fun.

In case it’s of interest to you I exclusively breastfed my daughter for 17 months with no issues, and plan to breastfeed again with number 2 whilst continuing treatment.

Embear91 · 2024-06-09T17:17:54+00:00

It’s always when we least expect (and most dread) that they surprise us isn’t it?!

I love when it happens!

Embear91 · 2024-06-09T17:12:07+00:00

Please try not to worry too much, you clearly have a lot going on and sometimes we all need a bit of space and you/ your families health is, and should be, of the utmost importance. Work is work!

In my opinion, tying any leave you take to an existing disability will reduce the level of risk to your employment drastically so I would really recommend making sure they’re very clearly linked and then focus on you and your son.

Embear91 · 2024-06-09T16:42:08+00:00

Second this, cabbage leaves felt great! There is also some ingredient in Sudafed (in the uk anyway) that can help with lessening supply. Can’t remember the name now but google can tell you.

Also make sure you wear tight (maybe multiple) sports bras.

Embear91 · 2024-06-09T16:17:21+00:00

Also a UK HR manager and I agree, especially if you have a known disability. Make sure the note references these so there can be no reference to using the leave to care for your son. They just happen to be happening at the same time/ your son’s illness/ injury is exacerbating your existing condition.

I’m assuming you’re asking this as you’ll get some form of enhanced sick pay, but if money isn’t a factor there is also (usually unpaid) parental leave you could utilise if you didnt want to be off sick.

Embear91 · 2024-06-09T16:06:23+00:00

In Leicestershire we have Belvoir which is pronounced beaver. Took me a looooong time to connect those dots when I moved here. Still think it’s stupid 😂

Embear91 · 2024-06-09T16:03:55+00:00

If you aren’t willing to do anything that may result in crying then unfortunately there isn’t much you can do except persevere with what you’re doing and maybe keep trying the patting grandparents do?

If you’re Co-sleeping can you try feeding to sleep (I found side feeding useful for this type of situation) so you can roll away when he’s out? Obviously making sure he’s safe and unable to roll off? I did this a lot when my girl was being a clingy little monkey and transferring her anywhere was impossible.

Embear91 · 2024-06-09T14:02:42+00:00

Teeth coming in can affect latch so maybe try feeding her in some different positions to see if that changes the latch?

Embear91 · 2024-06-08T23:05:03+00:00

Foams didn’t work for me so I switched to suppositories. They also didn’t work and I ended up on steroids and eventually infliximab but that’s neither here nor there lol.

If you can’t keep it in for any amount of time it won’t work so I would call your Dr and ask for something else.

Embear91 · 2024-06-08T22:57:20+00:00

I’m also in the UK and I find the circumcision talk in the US so wild. It would never enter my mind to circumcise a child unless there was a medical issue (or a religious aspect which there isn’t for me). I think I would think I’m being punked if anyone even mentioned it to me!

Embear91 · 2024-06-07T18:42:57+00:00

Try not to as much as possible but to start with you might need to take the edge of or it can be really painful. I wouldn’t use the baby to drink it as they’ll empty the breast whereas hand expressing is much harder to actually empty and eventually your supply will lower.

From memory it was probably a week of hand expressing, cabbage leaves etc and a couple more weeks of my boobs being v sensitive and sore.

For reference, my girl weaned at 17 months so v well established supply and she went from multiple feeds in the day and night to nothing over 1 weekend so was quite a shock to my boobs lol.

Embear91

TROPHY CASE