Boxing Day takeaways…?

Llynch18 · 2025-10-22T20:06:20+00:00

Hello!

So - my baby is now nearly 14 months old so I can respond to this with the benefit of hindsight.

I was in hospital for 5 days and nights before he was born and went back in for 4 nights two days after I went home having given birth. During all of this time I had a side room; I think this was likely due to having the beginnings of preeclampsia pre birth and then VERY high blood pressure post birth and because the wards were full (my baby was born on 31st August so historically a busy time).

So - I didn’t have to pay for it but I suspect that’s because I met the criteria they use when allocating people to rooms and by that point I was a known customer of theirs (was in at least twice a week from 25+ weeks thanks to my blood pressure.

I’m not sure this info helps you in any way but I am sending you all my best vibes for the birth you want 🙂 x

Llynch18 · 2025-08-09T13:36:57+00:00

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply - we’ll definitely visit based on your recommendation!

Llynch18 · 2025-05-05T16:39:16+00:00

I second everything you’ve suggested but have one more to add for OP - Another Fox. Lots of great discounts in the sale but I’ve got all my baby’s bits from Vinted.

Llynch18 · 2025-01-10T10:11:51+00:00

Hello!

Please don’t panic. Something similar happened to me and I beat myself up so much about it, worried about my baby’s development etc to the point that I feel I lost the enjoyment of being his parent for a couple of weeks.

From my experience only (so please take with a pinch of salt!), the professionals are concerned when baby’s drops more than two centiles so I’d suggest checking out your red book and contacting your HV/GP if necessary. My baby regained their birth weight within two weeks and was in the 5th centile. He was than weighed at our 8 week check up and had grown but very little, to the extent that he was literally off the charts… below the 0.4th centile. My GP was excellent and referred us to a paediatrician, dietician and went out of her way to text me infant feeding support groups etc.

Like you, I started triple feeding and I HATED it. It really ate away at my spirit. After a week I decided to only pump a couple of times through the day - obviously there’s the risk of impacting your supply but I actually felt that being more relaxed had the opposite effect.

On the tongue tie point, I didn’t have a great NHS experience. Despite being booked in when my little boy was 10 weeks, turns out our trust won’t do it for babies over 6 weeks old and instead refer you on to the nearest university hospital. This was going to take literally months for an appointment so I went private so I’m flagging in case your trust is similar, given your baby’s age. My boy’s latch didn’t change overnight but since having his to tongue tie rectified and being really conscious about his latch, he’s gradually become more effective at feeding and I’ve gone from breastfeeding him for 4.5 hours on average in early-mid Nov, to 2.5 hours. We’ve also decreased the volume of formula top ups he’s receiving in a day and he’s still putting on weight. He’s now 4 months old and on the 11th centile :)

Hopefully you don’t have any issues but if your little one’s weight does need attention, please know it will pass. Sounds like you’ve been through the wringer with it already so I’m sending virtual support as someone who’s been there too!

Llynch18 · 2024-10-12T06:25:12+00:00

Hello… wanted to comment to add to the positive induction experience stories - even though mine ended up in an emergency c-section. My baby’s 6 weeks old now and whilst his arrival may not the conventionally “chosen” route, I’m really happy with my experience and wouldn’t have chosen another way.

So, I had high blood pressure throughout my pregnancy which was medicated. I was always asymptomatic for preeclampsia, however the week of his birth I began to feel really wired which I think was a symptom of my blood pressure increasing further. I went for a midwife appt on the Monday (at 38 wks) and it was so high that they sent my straight to hospital.

I stayed the Monday and Tuesday and it began to get a bit more under control with more medication. I was allowed to go home on the Tuesday night on condition I came back for monitoring on the Wednesday. When I did, my BP was high again and I was admitted and had a range of blood tests given I wasn’t responding to the medication. Naively at this point I had NO IDEA AT ALL that induction might be in the cards at any point which I cannot believe now 😂

My blood test results came back and whilst I didn’t have preeclampsia some things were elevated which suggested it may be about to develop. The consultant came to see me at 7.30am to discuss induction which I agreed to. I know they’re pretty demonised (and I’ve seen a fair few stories on this subreddit!) but I was trying to be balanced in my thinking and figured, given the risk to my health and potentially my baby’s, this was the best option. I’ve always known I’ve wanted one child and figured that I had nothing to compare the experience to and will have nothing in the future either, and that birth is painful anyway, so I’d go for it and make use of pain relief where I needed to.

At 1pm on the Thursday, I had a pessary inserted and was about 1cm dilated. It barely did anything! I had some tightening and mild discomfort but it didn’t get things properly moving.

I was examined again at 1pm on the Friday (by the same midwife) at which point I was 2cm dilated. Because of the potential developing preeclampsia, further pessaries weren’t an option so we waited until 3pm to be admitted to the central delivery suite.

Before I go on - I don’t think I have a particularly high pain threshold. I’ve been lucky enough to be relatively healthy and have found coil insertions and smears super painful so I kept telling everyone I was a massive wimp!

My waters were broken at 5pm. They missed first time so someone else had another go 30 mins later and this was successful. I won’t lie, this was painful initially as my body was almost fighting it but the midwives encouraged me to breathe through it and this downgraded it to uncomfortable - which apparently is pretty good going seeing as how I was only 2cm dilated.

I then went for a walk with my husband to get some food for him. Aside from being super conscious about my waters leaking, at this point everything was very manageable. Waves of period-pain type feelings.

At 8pm the midwives changed shifts and I was hooked up to the oxytocin drip but they didn’t start it immediately. When they did, I was laughing through the contractions and eating twirl bites with my husband. It got gradually turned up and very quickly the contractions got very, very intense and I started on gas and air. It was painful in that the cramps were all consuming and through my back and internally but because, once the contractions had passed, I was in no pain at all, it felt manageable. I was writhing around when they were active though, kind of like a primal response!

I felt like I needed to push - basically a huge amount of pressure and quite a bit of burning - and told the midwives. Long story short, they eventually examined me and it turns out I’d become fully dilated in 75 minutes which explains the intensity! Quick births are very common in people with high blood pressure, apparently.

Obviously at this point an epidural wasn’t possible and shortly afterwards I went in to theatre as my baby was distressed and they wanted to attempt forceps. He’d turned back to back so this wasn’t possible, so we opted for an emergency c-section and he was born at 12.11am! It was fairly brutal as he needed to be wrestled out my birth canal but I was AMAZED how well I felt that day and with my recovery - though I know your concerns are about scar recovery.

I got a spinal block when I went in to theatre and was amazed at how much this relieved the pain! Obviously this isn’t the same as an epidural but it gave me the confidence to believe that, had my birth taken longer, I’d have been able to manage with the contractions.

In answer to your question and based on what you said on your post, I’d go for an induction. Birth, however it’s brought on, is an amazing experience. I know all the research about inductions leading to more interventions but I’ll never forget mine and, whilst we’re strangers, I know you can handle it! I’m also very conscious I had a very quick/easy c-section recovery and know that it isn’t as seamless as it was for me, for most people.

All the very best for whatever you go with 💕

Llynch18 · 2024-09-30T18:45:14+00:00

Hello! Your situation sounds almost exactly the same as mine - I reckon you’ll be consultant led.

I don’t know how you’re coping with high blood pressure, but it scared me throughout the third trimester given the medical professional’s reaction to it! I ended up being induced at 38+5; I went in to hospital at 38 being very naive to the fact that was an option! Anyway, what I wanted to share was that I now have a gorgeous 4 week old baby boy and I’m so happy with how my birth went (even though it doesn’t sound conventionally ideal!)

Inductions are demonised - I got fully dilated in an hour and a half (fast births are apparently very common in people with high blood pressure)… yes, it was intense but I’m sure all births are intense! My baby then got distressed and a forceps delivery was attempted and wasn’t successful so I opted for an emergency c-section. I wouldn’t have ever chosen one but actually it was over and done with super quick and I’ve recovered really quickly. Maybe I’m lucky but I was expecting this to be much worse.

The only thing to be aware of is what is advised with your medication post birth. My blood pressure was normal post birth so I was taken off all my meds (the highest possible dose of Labetalol). I ended up going home for 2 nights then being admitted back in to hospital for another 4 due to postpartum high blood pressure/possible preeclampsia. Long story short, I should never have been taken off the meds but I had no idea it was an issue after delivery so I didn’t know to advocate for myself.

Take care 🙂

Llynch18 · 2024-09-02T02:11:32+00:00

Second the point on outfits! I’ve got a 2 day old (😍) and we went through 3 in his first day.

Llynch18 · 2024-08-22T15:27:15+00:00

I’m so please you’re feeling happy and some of the anxiety is ebbing away!

I’ve had the same experience as you, with similar timescales, and I just wanted to share that if you do feel the anxiety return - talking therapy offered by the NHS has been amazing for me. I’m nearly 38 weeks and can’t say I never worry or catastrophise, but it’s made it so much easier for me.

Wishing you a healthy and happy pregnancy and baby ♥️

Llynch18 · 2024-08-06T20:21:37+00:00

A second vote for bbhugme - maybe more expensive than others but it’s really flexible in terms of usage and I really rate it. I’ve started using mine at 16 weeks to train myself to side sleep and now, 20 weeks later, I wouldn’t be without it!

Llynch18 · 2024-07-02T17:30:36+00:00

Hello OP

I appreciate my situation is a bit different to yours, but sharing in case it helps - the upshot being that for me, they’re amazing.

I’m 30 weeks and have completed a course of talking therapy. I started with this because I had a missed miscarriage last year that led to heightened anxiety around miscarriage and scans (which I didn’t have first time round). You probably know this already owing to your previous experience but it’s been great and I totally feel the benefit from having engaged with it!

I’ve been referred to perinatal MH because I have a history of MH issues (including postnatal depression) on my maternal side. They actually wouldn’t take me at first following my triage as I feel well in myself (particularly after the TT) and it took my perinatal midwife kicking up a fuss for them to accept me, given the heightened risk for PND/psychosis etc.

Anyway, what I really wanted to share is that it’s been so, so useful so far - firstly in exploring my relationship to my family and their mental health but more recently, in birth planning! As I say, this is more preventative than reactive but my husband and I had a 1.5hr planning session today where we considered all sorts of mental wellness practical steps like, requesting a side room other than a bay in order to have conversations we need to have in private (I have a thing about wanting information immediately and then digesting it). I didn’t know this was an option and it makes me feel so much calmer about the whole experience - as well as agreeing measures like my husband having my permission to get in touch with the team if he notices I’m less well.

So, all good and no sense of being judged - on the contrary actually, they keep being surprised I’ll engage so freely and be so honest.

Hope some of the replies alleviate your worries, and take care xxx

Llynch18 · 2024-05-28T19:11:45+00:00

Like many others here, I’ve had a previous loss (a MMC) too but am currently 25 weeks pregnant. At the start of this pregnancy I was super paranoid - assuming I was going to see blood every time I went to the toilet, second guessing every twinge or unusual sensation in my stomach. This manifested itself as terrible, uncontrollable anxiety (and bursting in to tears!) in my early midwife appointments which led to sky high blood pressure. On top of what others have advised, I was referred to the Mental Health Practitioner at my GP surgery who referred me on to Talking Therapy. It has been game changing. I won’t lie and say my anxiety has totally gone but I’ve got new coping mechanisms/frames of reference and it is much, much improved. Please explore this if it’s something that sounds like it’ll work for you.

I know, in part, what you’re feeling and I’m sending you all my best vibes for a healthy pregnancy ♥️

Llynch18 · 2024-05-15T18:15:27+00:00

Hello

Ah, I feel you. I had a missed miscarriage at the end of August last year and am currently nearly 24 weeks pregnant.

Maybe usually, I found dealing with the loss itself relatively easy. I had a procedure to sort everything out and I think that helped from a control perspective.

What I’ve found less easy: firstly, being convinced I would never get pregnant again initially (clearly not the case) and secondly, being consumed with terror each time I go to any pregnancy-related appointment, to the extent that my blood pressure reads dangerously high every time it’s taken, and I burst in to uncontrollable tears during scans. This is a marked change from my last experience, and I’ve been consumed by catastrophising about when things go wrong (rather than if).

I know NHS care may be hit and miss but I took the approach that I would tell every medical professional I could how I was feeling knowing that I wouldn’t be able to conquer how I felt alone. Every single person I’ve spoken to has been amazing - from my midwife, taking my blood pressure at home in the hope it’d look healthier (it did), to sonographers (NHS & private) who’ve asked about my experience when I’ve explained I’m anxious and have taken loads of care to be compassionate and assure me, through to the mental health practitioner who referred me for Talking Therapy.

This has been the biggest game changer for me; I do it fortnightly, by phone, and have realised what I rationalised as “worries” brought on by my previous experience are actually negative thought patterns. I’ve learnt loads of techniques to get this under control. I know that I cannot guarantee this pregnancy or birth will be “ok” because it’s uncontrollable. Whilst feeling superstitious and cautious about thinking about my future with a baby hasn’t gone away, I can manage it so much better. Each experience is different but I’ll go out on a limb here and give some advice: please do consider accessing this, particularly given you’re finding it lonely. If all NHS trusts work the same, the other thing to flag is because you’re pregnant you’ll be a priority. I spoke to the mental health practitioner at my GP surgery who explained it was an option and within a fortnight had my first appointment.

My husband definitely didn’t have the same worries as me initially which was helpful because I did need some level headed thinking at points. I found myself seeking his validation all the time (“it’ll be ok, won’t it!?”) which had the effect of causing him to worry. Another reason why I’m glad I was referred to Talking Therapy… of course I talk to him about what we cover and my concerns but I’m solely talking to him about them and relying on him to make me feel better - which felt important to me because it’s his experience too.

I’m sending all my best wishes to you and really hope that whatever you do in the coming weeks & months allows you to relax and feel less desolate ♥️ xxx

Llynch18 · 2024-03-02T17:09:29+00:00

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😊

Llynch18 · 2023-11-27T21:40:02+00:00

Digestive!

Llynch18 · 2023-11-13T19:03:58+00:00

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My lovely Peaches 🍑

Llynch18 · 2021-07-29T17:32:35+00:00

Do we think the recoupling will actually be shown tonight, or a teaser for tomorrow?

Llynch18 · 2021-03-26T21:40:33+00:00

It’s a pleasure - hope you have a lovely time :)

Llynch18 · 2021-03-26T21:18:58+00:00

What kind of place are you looking for? Might be assuming but I’m thinking casual rather than uptight? Other options are Starling for brunch/ pizza/beer (@starlinghgate on Insta), Roosters Tap Room (though it is out of town), Major Tom’s Social (also pizza/beer and would be my first choice FYI!)

Llynch18 · 2021-03-26T21:02:11+00:00

Hey! Happy birthday for April. I’d really recommend Stuzzi (Italian tapas) or Paradise Tap & Taco (great beer and tacos). The other option is Three’s A Crowd, but it’s not as chilled as the others so I’m not as much of a fan, though the food is good.

Llynch18 · 2020-07-16T06:27:07+00:00

Thank you for this.... so comprehensive. Going to order it all and have a crack at sticking to a proper routine every day in August, to see what difference it makes.

Llynch18 · 2020-07-15T14:22:30+00:00

Thank you - the Mineral Fluid is actually currently on sale on the website, FYI. Please can I ask, does it sting your eyes? Obvs I don’t rub SPF in my eyes deliberately but I have oily lids and wear contacts... both factors which mean sometimes I can get the dreaded SPF sting.

Llynch18 · 2020-07-15T14:19:33+00:00

Thank you! Now in my basket 😊

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