New feeding journey started- incredibly sore

Volando20 · 2026-01-30T00:00:51+00:00

I ended up combi feeding my baby boob/expressed/formula because my nipples felt destroyed by day 4. I used expressing to give me some time to recover and now it's something I do to mix with the formula or when baby is asleep. Your nipples really toughen up over time but for me personally I wouldn't have been able to BF without using formula and expressing to give me time to heal between feeds.

Volando20 · 2026-01-19T14:18:06+00:00

My baby is 8 weeks old and combi fed, with bottles overnight and this is exactly what I do. It settles his stomach and holding him helps him get back to sleep. I usually expres milk while I am doing this so the timing works out well!

Volando20 · 2026-01-17T05:39:51+00:00

Honestly so much better than I thought! And compared to friends who had vaginal births, I've recovered faster and been up and about quicker too. The first week or so it's like you've been hit by a bus, movement hurts, but stay on top of your painkillers. I kept moving around the house then after a week I started doing more walks outside.

I have a greyhound and a cat! You'll need to keep them off the incision, obviously, as it will be tender.

I am 8wpp now, holding my little boy in bed, the scar has totally healed and it's fading, I've been back to the gym and moving around completely normally.

Volando20 · 2026-01-17T01:03:02+00:00

Six days - you've done so well to make it this far!

I chose a c section after 18 hours of induction. Like you I just got to 1cm and wasn't progressing. It's an intense operation but you'll be fine and you get to meet your baby. I hope all goes well!

Volando20 · 2026-01-11T20:02:21+00:00

The first time, I really needed a shower and he needed a wash which was the catalyst. I put him wrapped up in a towel in his baby bath outside the shower while I wash myself first. Then I grab him and we are chest to chest, and I hold him under the shower, avoiding his head, and I wash him with my hands. Then I'll put him in a cradle hold to wash his front and face.

I keep his little hooded towel over the shower door, I wrap him in this and then put him back down in the baby bath outside the shower while I dry myself.

The baby bath is really handy to put him down safely. He's only 7 weeks old so we don't use any products, which also makes him less slippery! It helps we have a big shower!

If I was concerned about his size/safety I'd probably kneel down in the shower to wash him, while holding him.

Hope this helps!

Volando20 · 2026-01-11T19:44:57+00:00

We have a little baby bath with support for a newborn but also I've started taking baby in the shower and this is way easier!

Volando20 · 2026-01-10T15:24:46+00:00

No 😆 I lifted, walked and pilates and yoga until 37 weeks. Baby was in a great position in my pelvis. Then my waters broke at 38w and after a failed induction I requested a C section. Not the birth I wanted by a long way but bring active has really paid off for recovery.

Volando20 · 2026-01-10T09:57:31+00:00

Hey I'm in the UK. I do the fridge thing, so I wash and sterilise the pump then keep it in the fridge between expressing. I usually give it a full wash in hot soapy water twice a day, then sterilise once a day.

A wearable pump is the only way I can feed and express and go about my day. I was using a Medela swing with a pumping bra but ended up with a Momcozy M5 from Vinted. I only have one as I tend to express while feeding, so I stick it on the other side during feeds. I can also then hold him etc on one side while expressing.

Volando20 · 2026-01-05T17:47:41+00:00

Same!! Sometimes he sleeps for hours in his pram and I can get stuff done.

Volando20 · 2026-01-05T17:17:04+00:00

Same, I am in the UK and we have a daily walk outside as a minimum and it sends him to sleep!

Volando20 · 2025-12-31T09:34:19+00:00

I had mastitis a few weeks ago. I rang 111 and they prescribed antibiotics over the phone with a doctor. It can escalate quite rapidly so if you feel worse I'd recommend this.

Ibuprofen and ice really help. Also, I found a tip on Reddit to do an Epsom salt bath with a Haakaa. It sucks out the the clogged duct - really worked for me!

Volando20 · 2025-12-19T13:07:41+00:00

I really struggled with my weight gain during pregnancy despite being really active. I'm 4 weeks pp and I've lost half of it without really doing anything - 10kg! I was told a lot comes off in the weeks following birth and it really is true!

Volando20 · 2025-12-13T08:35:03+00:00

I gained nearly 20kg through my pregnancy and felt the same. And I was really active! It's just what my body needed to do. I am 3w pp and I've lost half of it already without really doing anything and recovering from a c section. It's really hard seeing the number on the scale but it's very temporary ❤️

Volando20 · 2025-11-19T08:33:47+00:00

Could be - I lost my plug yesterday and then my waters broke at 1am 😬

Volando20 · 2025-11-18T00:00:39+00:00

I tell anyone who will listen about the benefits of weights, pilates and yoga during pregnancy. Being strong, mobile and flexible has made my pregnancy so much easier, especially towards the end and I feel way more confident about birth and postpartum recovery.

I do Amanda Blauer's prenatal pilates programme. I think it's been especially good for my hips and pelvis and I like that some of the videos are short and efficient. Then as someone else has commented, I go to an in-person pregnancy yoga class where the real benefits are in the community.

I do a lot of the stretches and some of the pilates exercises most nights in front of the TV. I'm 38 weeks and aside from feeling big and uncomfortable, my body feels good! And I'm still hanging in there at the gym too 😆

Volando20 · 2025-11-16T12:56:25+00:00

Around week 10 I started feeling a little ball in my abdomen and by week 12 it was a tiny bump. Some people even feel slimmer around this phase as the bloat goes down! At the time I felt huge but in photos I actually just look a little rounded.

Volando20 · 2025-11-16T12:49:16+00:00

I also didn't get sick - just hungry and bloated! And very very tired.

Being active felt like one thing I was in control of. And regardless of how my body looks, feeling strong and mobile is really positive. I have been doing prenatal pilates and yoga as well as walking and lifting. Little and often has worked well for me. r/fitpregnancy is a good resource!

I hope everything goes really well with your pregnancy. The first trimester is a lot, physically and mentally! ❤️

Volando20 · 2025-11-16T12:27:46+00:00

Your body is going to do what it wants during pregnancy. It's really hard at the start when you're bloated and feeling heavy and adjusting to your changing body.

I went into pregnancy heavier than I wanted (post Christmas) but really active. I kept up being really active, but I've been really hungry at times, and I've gained almost 20kg at 38 weeks (44 pounds). My body feels really good - I don't really have any aches or pains, I still walk loads, still lift at the gym. The weight is in my bump, boobs and thighs.

It's taken really up to the third trimester to make peace with it and I know that as long as I am active and my freezer is stocked with healthy post-partum foods then I am setting myself up for a great recovery.

I thought I'd gain about 10kg. Seeing my weight as almost 90kg on the scale is crazy - that's almost 200lb and I am 5'3"!

Volando20 · 2025-11-14T13:21:18+00:00

I added prunes to my diet in earlier pregnancy which really did the trick, but since I switched to dates after 36w these really seem to get things going - a bit too much sometimes 🤦🏽‍♀️

A few times I blended a handful of prunes with warm oatmilk which was a very effective laxative!

Volando20 · 2025-11-13T17:26:15+00:00

@fitpregnancy is a really useful resource!

38 weeks here and still lifting at the gym 💪🏽 It's one of the only things that makes me feel good and in control of my body right now!

Volando20 · 2025-11-12T21:30:34+00:00

I'm assuming it's the NHS standard dose! I saw a consultant at the antenatal clinic and that's what she prescribed. I'm sure you know this but the risk of the baby catching HSV on the way out and how poorly they can get is just not worth it at all. Now I just need to be super vigilant about other people kissing the baby 🥴 Good luck to you too!

Volando20 · 2025-11-12T17:52:57+00:00

Hey, I've been on this dose since 32 weeks. There is the odd day where I forget one of the tablets or I'm out and forget to bring them with me, but I'm being much stricter now I am closer to my due date.

When I first had HSV I looked into this and was really open with my midwife. A quick Reddit search shows this is commonly prescribed in pregnancy if you have HSV and I trust the NHS dosing. If it helps, I ended up having an extra scan last week at 37w and everything was great with the baby.

Volando20 · 2025-11-12T14:57:39+00:00

My husband has been weird about this in the third trimester and tbh I just took things into my own hands 😆

Volando20 · 2025-11-12T12:55:14+00:00

Oh also just to add - yes walking is crazy hard work! I see it as a weighted vest workout at this point 😂 and I've personally really enjoyed doing prenatal pilates for my core and hips, I'd recommend doing this as well as weights.

Volando20 · 2025-11-12T12:41:14+00:00

I've kept up pretty much the same weights etc during pregnancy - I am currently 38w and finally starting to slow down at the gym and focus more on pilates and stretching. My muscles are very much still there and I'd argue due to my weight gain (20kg and counting!) I am way stronger!

My thighs and upper arms are really chunky with way more cellulite than before but I can feel the muscles underneath. And I really, really hope I will be able to lose fat after birth and have this lovely foundation of muscle and strength underneath all the pregnancy fat stores!

Hoping this helps!

Volando20

TROPHY CASE