Baby Days – 8 Week Update – I’ll probably start off by saying this every time, but seriously where has the time gone! Freddie is now eight weeks old and has fitted in like he was always here.
Growth
Boy this boy is growing! We’re packing away too small clothes at a ridiculous rate. He was weighed on Wednesday and now weighs 12lb 8oz and is quite long. He feels more sturdy in my arms now but still needs support for his head which he flings about.
Development
He’s smiling a lot now which is awesome. His little crooked smile makes the night feeds and tiredness all worthwhile.
He’s cooing a lot as he takes in his surroundings and I don’t think it will be long before they turn into little chuckles.
Obviously the TV is an attraction with the colours and sounds but he gets very excited when he hears voices but can’t quite see the person and is looking around to find them.
This morning he was getting very excited, kicking his legs and feet and waving his arms at Daddy’s dressing gown which was hanging on the bedroom door. I think he was waiting for daddy to turn around.
Play
We can now play with toys for around 10 – 15 minutes before he’s had enough.
We have a playmat with dangly toys, lights and sounds but I think his favourite things are bells. We have quite a collection of children’s instruments and shakers from when Isabelle was tiny which all the little ones that visit seem to love including Freddie.
He doesn’t mind tummy time which we do on our bed with his as he can hold his head up but again this is limited to around 10 minutes.
Feeding
Freddie is a hungry boy and likes his milk. He was breastfed and then infection struck so went onto formula, but this little boy never gave up on breastfeeding and so we’re currently restarting (did you know you could do that?) with a combination of expressing milk, formula and breastfeeding. It’s not going to be easy but I really didn’t want to stop breastfeeding and clearly Freddie didn’t either!
I think we’re lucky that we are receiving support to achieve this both from health professionals and local groups. Having watched the Channel 4 documentary on breastfeeding which has raised lots of opinions and highlighted the lack of support across the country was quite sad, but maybe something good will come off the back of it.
We seem to have just fallen into a sort of pattern particularly at night which is a feed at around 8.30-9pm and then he goes down until around 1 – 1.30am and up again around 4am.
The Bshirt Breastfeeding Top Review + Giveaway – My Breastfeeding Journey when Isabelle wasn’t what I’d expected so this time round I did a lot of reading in preparation for our third baby and felt that it would be different. Apart from the pain that I experienced I didn’t feel particular comfortable feeding in front of people and felt that I was in a constant state of undress which left me feeling all hot and sweaty most of the time.
Did you know that stress can hinder your milk production so taking the time to find a comfortable place to feed your baby is advisable. Finding suitable clothes to wear is a big factor when breastfeeding, and I still think that maternity and nursing wear has a long way to go in terms of being both wearable and looking nice.
I also felt that I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on clothes that I wouldn’t get much use out of which looking back seems silly since a lot of people breastfeed for 6 – 12 months or longer so you would get quite a lot of wear out of them.
The Bshirt
The Bshirt has definitely been a key piece since Freddie was born as it’s a simple black top that will go with anything from jeans, leggings, shorts and skirts.
Unlike other nursing clothes the Bshirt looks like a normal top with no hooks or clasps to fiddle about with. It has a built in layer which you just pull up for access to your bra. As you don’t have to lift the entire top up your tummy remains covered which can be an area that many of us are self-conscious about.
The Bshirt is made from 95% Organic cotton 5% lycra to make it stretchy. Its lightweight which is great for layering and also drying once washed.
You will be pleased to know that the Bshirt is available in several different colours in sizes from 6 – 20.
About the Bshirt
The Bshirt Breastfeeding Vest was developed by two fellow Devon mums, Lisa and Philippa who understand the difficulties that mothers face when breastfeeding in public. Essentially the Bshirt was designed to allow women to wear their pre-pregnancy clothes whilst having easy access to breastfeed. They are keen to encourage breastfeeding within the UK where current rates are pretty poor by supporting charities that promote and support women through this journey.
You can also find out about the Breastfeed with Confidence campaign and find out which local retailers, cafes, restaurants and attractions local to you are in support of this.
Our thoughts
I’m not a fan of a lot of maternity or nursing clothes because as a size 8 most of them drown me or are generally quite frumpy but the Bshirt ticks all the boxes in terms of look and fit. Most maternity vest tops that I’ve tried have been baggy rather than fitted which I don’t like.
This exceptionally hot weather we’ve had recently has made breastfeeding that little bit harder in terms of feeling hot and sweaty so it’s great that it’s lightweight and can be easily dried.
I’ve worn the Bshirt underneath clothing and also on it’s own as a vest top as it looks like a normal black top. It gave Chris and I had a bit of a giggle as when you lift the flap it is a bit ‘peek-a-boo’ but that might just be our childish sense of humour.
I would definitely recommend the Bshirt to other Mums and feel that I’m going to get a lot of use out of mine.
Competition
You can get your own Bshirt Breastfeeding Top by popping over to the website or try your luck at winning a Bshirt by filling in the rafflecopter form below.
The secret meaning of your pregnancy cravings – Many women experience cravings during pregnancy, which can range from normal, everyday combinations to weird concoctions that would normally sound disgusting! The pregnancy vitamin experts at Vitabiotics Pregnacare have researched some of the most common pregnancy cravings to discover what they really mean for you and your body. Check out what they found below!
Sweet treats
Sweet treats, such as cake, fruit and ice cream are common cravings during pregnancy. Hormonal and physical changes during pregnancy can lead to blood sugar drops, leaving you feeling tired and groggy. Your cravings for sweet and sugary foods will give you a sugar boost, which help to perk you up, although only temporarily! Choose foods that will release energy slowly, such as a banana on whole grain toast, so you don’t suffer from a mid-afternoon slump!
Pickles
While pregnant, you may find yourself reaching for pickles and other salty foods more than you would normally. Although this is fine in moderation, be careful not to overindulge as this may lead to high blood pressure and other health problems.
During the first two trimesters of pregnancy, many women suffer from low blood pressure which can leave them feeling tired and dizzy, so craving salty foods is our body’s way of helping to get our blood pressure back to normal.
Chilli
Lots of women find that during pregnancy, they reach for spicier foods more often than usual. Pregnancy helps us to tolerate spice better, and luckily doesn’t induce labour (no matter what the old wives’ tales say!). Spicy foods may worsen symptoms of heartburn or nausea, so only indulge in moderation if you experience these symptoms.
Ice
It’s unclear why so many women find the crunch of ice so tempting during pregnancy. Many experts think that it is simply an effective way to stay hydrated, whereas others believe it may be a symptom of nutritional deficiency. Although the definitive meaning of this craving hasn’t been found, many women find that it disappears after they begin taking an iron supplement, so it’s worth checking in with your GP if you think an iron deficiency may be the issue.
Non-edible foods
If you find yourself craving weird, non-edible foods such as sponges or washing liquid, you may be suffering from a condition called pica. Although this is generally harmless, and just a side effect of your changing hormones, it’s suggested that you let your GP know about your cravings so they can advise you if they are a sign of anything which requires action.
Have you experienced any weird or wonderful cravings? Let me know!
Being treated for Sepsis Postpartum – I thought that the struggles that I was having with the breastfeeding was as bad as it would get. I had cracked nipples, feeling permanently sweaty from the elongated time spent feeding and two slit like wounds on either nipple which were from his top lip.
I needed help and was receiving this from the midwife team and was due to be seen by a Lactation Consultant.
I spent two whole days doing nothing but pumping, feeding and crying alongside poor Freddie who essentially just wanted to feed.
Every time he cried my boobs reacted like beacons which gave me further pain.
The expressing was going well but was totally impractical unless that was all I had to do in life.
It wasn’t an ideal situation but I just needed to rest my poor nipples from Freddie’s Dyson like suction.
AND THEN……..
The expressing took a nosedive. After an hour sat like Daisy the cow hooked up to the pump I only managed to express the smallest amount of milk.
This also happened at about 10.30 at night so no help available. It wasn’t a hard decision to make to send Chris to Tesco’s for some formula. Freddie needed to be fed and if it had to be formula for a temporary period of time then so be it.
I carried on with the pumping but only managed to express a minimal amount each time so we had lots of crying both Freddie and I.
The following day I woke up with hot mega swollen engorged breasts which were only producing blood and pus. I was at my wits end and poor Freddie was getting angrier by the second at the lack of milk.
I was shaking uncontrollably and so cold and really had no idea what I was supposed to do. This was my second episode of this which I’d just put down to being tired and not having eaten properly. When the midwife phoned I was in a bit of a state and she suggested ringing the triage ward at the hospital.
The advice was to go up to the hospital to be assessed for mastitis. I just thought it would be a case of being seen and coming home with some antibiotics and feeding advice.
But no I was pretty quickly hooked up to IV fluids, swabbed from various bits of my body, blood pressure taken, temperature, heart rate etc. I was then given two lots of antibiotics through the IV and seen by various people.
I wasn’t going home – I was being treated for Sepsis as a precaution.
Freddie was to stay with me and was checked over by one of the neo-natal doctors in case he started to show any signs of infection.
My bloods came back showing raised inflammatory markers but the chest x-ray came back clear. I had a raised heart rate and my obs weren’t quite within the normal range.
I was moved to the post-natal ward and put in a side room where Freddie could stay with me. There was a possibility that Freddie could develop the infection so they put him under observation as well as me.
I don’t think I realised how serious things were until they mentioned Freddie being cannulated and hooked up to IV tubes. I hadn’t cried or done anything but was running on autopilot until that point, but the thought of my little boy having to have tubes and needles poked into him really upset me.
Being attached to an IV line wasn’t much fun. You have to remember to pull the trolly thing along with you or you risk pulling it out of your hand – a painful reminder when you forget each time.
At this point it was still a possibility that I could return to feeding but I just couldn’t see it at all. When all you see when you look at your nipples is open wounds oozing green pus and blood how can you put a baby on to feed? How would you feed without it being excruciatingly painful?
No. I’d made my decision not to attempt feeding again and I felt happy in my decision even though I desperately wanted to feed him.
Chris stayed with us as much as he could and Isabelle came to see us on the second day. She found the chair on wheels that you use to sit on in the shower which she thought was quite amusing so spent most of the time wheeling herself around on that.
On day three I was really keen to go home. The swabs had grown Strep B and Staph so they knew what they were dealing with and I was changed to Flucloxacillin orally. Freddie was still at risk of having this and would need IV antibiotics if he showed any signs. It’s quite hard to swallow knowing that you might have passed on something to your baby which could be potentially very serious for him.
It’s hot in the hospital and quite hard to sleep when they have to change drips and take obs on either me or Freddie throughout the day and night.
Poor Freddie was also constipated as a result of changing him from breast to formula milk.
We were quite relieved when we were finally given the all clear to go home on the Friday.
This comes at the same time that Sepsis is being highlighted greatly through the media. Coronation Street are currently running a storyline in which Jack is diagnosed with Sepsis following a graze on his leg. Sepsis can of course be life threatening so early diagnosis is crucial.
In my case, the staff at my local hospital weren’t taking any chances with Freddie and I, and we were given the works in terms of tests and treatment which we were so thankful for.
What is Sepsis?
Sepsis is a rare but serious complication of an infection which can lead to multiple organ failure and death.
How to spot the signs of Sepsis in under 5’s – Ring 999 or go straight to A&E if:
looks mottled, bluish or pale
is very lethargic or difficult to wake
feels abnormally cold to touch
is breathing very fast
has a rash that does not fade when you press it
has a fit or convulsion
Other symptoms to look out for are:
Temperature
temperature over 38C in babies under three months
temperature over 39C in babies aged three to six months
any high temperature in a child who cannot be encouraged to show interest in anything
low temperature (below 36C – check three times in a 10-minute period)
Breathing
finding it much harder to breathe than normal – looks like hard work
making “grunting” noises with every breath
can’t say more than a few words at once (for older children who normally talk)
breathing that obviously “pauses”
Toilet/nappies
not had a wee or wet nappy for 12 hours
Eating and drinking
new baby under one month old with no interest in feeding
not drinking for more than eight hours (when awake)
bile-stained (green), bloody or black vomit/sick
Activity and body
soft spot on a baby’s head is bulging
eyes look “sunken”
child cannot be encouraged to show interest in anything
baby is floppy
weak, “whining” or continuous crying in a younger child
older child who’s confused
not responding or very irritable
stiff neck, especially when trying to look up and down
If your child has any of these symptoms, is getting worse or is sicker than you’d expect (even if their temperature falls), trust your instincts and seek medical advice urgently from NHS 111.
For older children and adults:
a high temperature (fever) or low body temperature
chills and shivering
a fast heartbeat
fast breathing
In some cases, symptoms of more severe sepsis or septic shock (when your blood pressure drops to a dangerously low level) develop soon after.
These can include:
feeling dizzy or faint
a change in mental state – such as confusion or disorientation
diarrhoea
nausea and vomiting
slurred speech
severe muscle pain
severe breathlessness
less urine production than normal – for example, not urinating for a day
cold, clammy and pale or mottled skin
loss of consciousness
This information about the signs and symptoms of Sepsis was taken from the NHS website and many of the symptoms are quite non-specific but it’s always best to get things checked out. You know your baby, child or yourself so don’t ignore your instincts or early warning signs.
Sepsis is treatable if identified and treated as early as possible.
The Sepsis Trust have campaigns running to raise awareness and urge people to ask the question – ‘Could it be Sepsis?’. Head on over to the Sepsis Trust to find out about events local to you or make a direct donation.
Pregnancy Diary 39 Weeks – The whole of Sunday Isabelle and I were cooped up in my bedroom whilst the downstairs was out of bounds.
We should have gone somewhere but I wanted to be at home even though it was a long and uncomfortable day.
The pains started to come early afternoon but as this has been an ongoing thing for the past couple of weeks it’s become the norm so didn’t really think much of it.
However, by around 2am the pain was coming in definite regular waves so I got up and put a bit of TOWIE on whilst I timed them.
They were a bit irregular with variations of 4 – 6 minutes and lasting around 30 – 45 seconds. They were painful but not too bad.
After a couple of hours of this I tried without success to ring the labour ward which was worried me that it was going to be really busy.
Chris at this point was still in bed and I didn’t want to call in the Calvary if I was then told to sit tight at home.
At 5.20am the contractions were every 5 minutes lasting between 40 – 60 seconds and I was advised to take Paracetamol and have a bath. At this point there was a birthing pool available but obviously this could change at any point.
we’re now at 7.20 and I’ve just got out of the bath which has helped. The contractions have slowed down between episodes but are longer when they come.
Think it might be time to think about sorting Isabelle out.
we got back down to 5 mins apart and by some miracle I fell asleep, and they’ve stopped! How’s that for trickery of the highest level.
It’s lunch time and they’ve restarted albeit around 7 and a half minutes apart. I’m getting a lot of baby movement and pressure as if my waters are going to break at any moment.
FALSE ALARM!!
So annoyed. The contractions have totally tailed off and been replaced by a stitch like pain in my left side which is almost constant.
I’ve not eaten, mostly because I haven’t been hungry so we had something to eat and back to waiting. I phoned the labour ward to make sure that I didn’t need to go in to be checked or something and their advice was to get some rest and wait for it all to kick off again.
The baby is moving around just fine so no worries there.
TUESDAY
we’ve got through the night and although I’m aching from head to toe, that’s it. Isabelle is with Nanny and Papa so we’re going to try and have a normal day. I’ve stuck some washing on and now sat having a cuppa.
nothing else significant happened and Isabelle came home and rolled her eyes at me that the promised baby had not arrived.
WEDNESDAY
As nothing has happened so far we went out to get some housey bits and bobs and had a mooch around Matalan who have some really nice homeware stuff.
I overheard a woman comment to her husband about me being a ‘poor maid’ and of course I get lots of sympathetic looks and tilts of the head and ‘ahhh’s’ as if in solidarity.
I have no patience for this now and struggle to find my sense of humour. The last thing I want to hear now is that I haven’t got long to go. I know that and it DOESN’T HELP!
One thing to note is my ability to literally stop traffic! I am the person to follow across a ridiculously busy car park.
We went for lunch in McDonalds where we joked about whether or not it’s true that you get freebies if your waters break in certain places.
I would be pretty mortified if that did happen though.
THURSDAY
Poor Isabelle I think is getting a bit fed up of being cooped up but she did make herself a you tube movie theatre where you stick you head in the bottom and through a specially cut hole at the top you can watch.
Daddy went to work which makes me a bit nervous but we have to try and carry on as normal so that he can take the time off when the bubba arrives.
Isabelle made me my lunch today which was really sweet of her.
The house is still in total chaos but there’s not a lot I can do since I’ve ditched the pregnancy waddle in place of a lumbering walk (think wounded bear).
FRIDAY
I’ve got my midwife appointment this afternoon which I didn’t take a note of the time since I assumed that I would be cancelling it. Thankfully our surgery texts a confirmation.
At the appointment the baby is definitely engaged and facing the right way but I’m measuring big again. Far more than I should be so I’ve been booked in for another scan on Monday. They will be looking at the amount of amniotic fluid there is around the baby. This was at the upper point of normal at the last one and if this shows too much it could be that the baby’s kidneys aren’t working as they should and a consultant will need to make the decision about getting the baby out rather than waiting.
My urine also had ketones in it which means that I’m dehydrated even though I’ve been drinking loads.
This sucks and I want the baby out more than ever now.
SATURDAY
I’ve had a rubbish nights sleep and this morning I wish I’d asked the Midwife a few more questions.
The one that’s bugging me the most is if on the day of the scan if they do decide they need to get the baby out ASAP. I’m worried that I will be admitted there and then and might mean a caesarean or being induced.
I’ve started drinking raspberry tea which apparently strengthens the uterus and also speeds up the labour. I’m also drinking loads more water which means I’m definitely visiting the loo loads.
Chris is at work today so it’s just Belle and I. We’ve had a board game marathon and watched a bit of TV. I think we owe Belle a few fun days after this week being cooped up.
Development
The baby is about the size of a small pumpkin weighing around 7.25lb and measuring about 50cm.
They will be shedding the last of the Vernix Caseosa and will continue to build up a layer of fat that will help regulate their temperature once born.
The baby is more than ready to come now but it’s obviously nice and cosy in their.
It seems that social media has decided for me that I’m having a boy, but as we chose not to find out we’ll see.
Lisa x
To read the rest of my Pregnancy Diary click the link or head to the top of the page.
Pregnancy Diary 38 Weeks – I’m officially on Maternity Leave. Woo hoo! I really didn’t think I would be writing an entry for this week. I thought I’d have my baby in my arms by now.
Braxton Hicks
I hadn’t really or at all experienced these previously, but this time round they’re coming thick and fast. It makes it quite confusing to know if I’m actually in labour or not. I know you’re probably wondering as a third time mum how I wouldn’t know if I’m in true labour or not, but my previous birth experiences have been far from text book.
My first labour was extremely quick with no contractions in the lead up. My waters broke and then nothing happened until I was in established labour and ready to push.
My second labour I was induced due to gestational diabetes. I don’t remember having Braxton Hicks at all and the labour was long and painful.
This time round I know I’m older but I feel like my body is screaming for this Pregnancy journey to be over and done with. My back gave up quite early on and this time I have a definite pregnancy waddle and am finding walking around makes me out of breath and aches all over.
It’s hard to know how this labour is going to strike. I’ve pretty much thought I was going into labour every day this past week and as I sit writing I’m breathing through either Braxton Hicks or contractions.
With each one, once the pain has gone done through my back my left eye has a massive twitching session. No idea what that’s about!
I’m hoping that when I’m having real contractions that I’ll have a ‘show’ so that I’ll know, as well as them getting closer together and more intense.
Nesting
It’s hard to do the whole nesting thing when your house is totally tipped upside down. We have stuff in boxes waiting to be unpacked, newly built shelves, half decorated rooms and bits of other rooms in every single room in the house.
As with most impending parents it seemed like a good time to get sorted. Of course it’s the perfect time to do it (not) but it did need to be done.
I’ve got a feeling that I’m going to be camping out with my newborn in my bedroom a lot since the work isn’t due to start until the end of this week, and the odds are that this little one will be here.
I’ve just got to remember that it will look good when it’s done and if I have to hide out lying on my bed watching you tube videos then that’s the sacrifice I’ll have to make. Ha ha – it’s not like I was planning to do that anyway.
It’s all the boxes and bags of crap that needs sorting through that’s going to take the time. We’re not hoarders but it is amazing how much stuff as a family we accumulate.
Wednesday – we’ve now got as far as Wednesday and still no baby. I honestly didn’t think I would get past the weekend but here I am still very pregnant watching Fern Mccann – First Time Mum. I love watching these kind of programmes and seeing into the lives of others. Clearly it’s not a normal persons reality as we don’t all live in the limelight and have make-up artists etc to make us look glam BUT when the door is shut and night time comes, the same emotional stuff comes into play.
The mum guilt.
Body image crap – although she looks pretty amazing!
Being a bit clueless.
Just generally winging it.
As a third time mum I may be considered as experienced but a new baby into any household changes your current normal. Isabelle’s arrival was quite possibly the same as having a hurricane rip through our lives so we’ll see what impact this one has on us.
My biggest concern is bedtime when I’m not going to have Chris around to help me out because he’s usually at work.
I’m hoping to get a good routine established but if anything is going to put a spanner in the works it’s more likely to be Isabelle than the baby. Isabelle plays up most nights and is up and down the stairs like a yo-yo. She doesn’t do this when daddy’s home which makes it more frustrating.
My plan is to get the bath ready and for Belle to get in with the baby in the baby bath at the other end. We went for a shnuggle bath which will sit at the end still giving Isabelle enough room.
I’ll then take the baby out and get him/her dried whilst Isabelle plays.
Once the baby is dressed I plan to put them in the crib or bouncy chair so that I can wash Isabelle’s hair and get her sorted.
Hopefully we’ll then be ready for feeding and Isabelle can have a chill before they both go to bed.
I’m going to return to this post in a couple of months to see how this is going down!
Thursday
Friday
Saturday and we’re still here waiting for baby. I’m not allowed to go into labour today as it’s the cup final. It would be hilarious if it did happen. Chris would be amongst fellow dads also feeling robbed of watching the football. On the plus side we now have an awesome new flooring which will be so much easier to keep dog hair free than carpet.
Development
The baby is the size of a marrow – I would say a prize marrow!
The baby will weigh around 6.8lb and measure about 49.8cm.
He or she is fully cooked and ready to be born (please come soon). The average baby weighs around 7lb but of course this varies from baby to baby.
All their organs are fully formed so it literally is just a waiting game now.
My next post I really hope I have the babe in my arms – irritable pregnant lady syndrome has definitely set in now. Oh and it’s now the school holidays which is even better…….
Getting ready for my breastfeeding journey. When I breastfed Isabelle I was naive enough to think that when a baby is born, you put them to the breast, they latch on and off you go.
Learning the hard way
God I wish I’d known what I learnt the hard way!
I knew about mastitis being a possibility and that cracked nipples could be an issue but other than that it was portrayed as the most natural second nature task a woman would complete. You sat lovingly staring into your baby’s eyes whilst they fed, taking in all the goodness as it’s the best and only way to feed your baby. Oh and of the adverts in magazines are to go by, you will look amazing in a white floaty dress.
The reality for me was feeling agitated as I tried to get Isabelle to latch on whilst digging my toes into the carpet as her attempts felt like I was being put through a mincer. Her latch was rubbish so much so that she was on and off so often that not only did I have cracked nipples but they bled!
BUT it was fine, as it was the right thing to do – breastfeeding that is. I was giving her all the goodness that she needed. Except I wasn’t. She was losing weight so we were still having daily midwife visits.
You’re Starving Her!
I was told that I was starving my daughter!
I was told to hand express and cup feed her. If you’ve ever tried to do this then you will know how ridiculous this is. You hand express the smallest amount of milk and then try and feed it to your by this point screaming newborn only for their flaying arms to knock it out of your hands wasting what precious little milk you have to offer.
Have a day of skin to skin contact which will increase your milk supply and calm both you and baby down which should make latching easier.
Feed in a comfortable place where you feel relaxed so that she relaxes enough to feed.
Electric pumping but try not to give via a bottle – again with the cup feeding.
Nipple sheilds!
Cabbage leaves!
Breastfeeding Support Co-ordinator advice.
Feed on demand even if it is for 3 minutes every 29 minutes day and night.
I had all the advice under the sun about what I should be doing.
Don’t give up was the consensus.
Perseverance was the buzz word.
Every single time Isabelle cried I dreaded that she might want to be fed. I held my breath as I attempted the latch.
Left her crying too long before I tried to feed her as I built up the courage.
I pretended it didn’t hurt when it was excruciating.
We went along to a Breastfeeding Cafe where I watched other mums breastfeed and chat at the same time. There was even a mum sat cross legged on the floor tandem feeding twins. Needless to say that was my first and last visit.
I drank special breastfeeding teas to up my supply along with lots of water.
I bought all the creams and shields, hot cloths and cabbage leaves.
A total Failure
Enough was enough and Chris intervened by buying some formula milk so that Isabelle could feed and I could have a break and a bit of sleep.
I fought it as I wanted to do what was best for our baby. Feeding Isabelle was the priority but I felt like I’d failed her.
She guzzled the bottle down and fell into a milk induced sleep. It’s what she needed and it was what I needed both to allow myself to heal and also get some sleep, but it wasn’t what I wanted.
From then on we did combination feeding which wasn’t such a huge pressure for me and Isabelle gained weight and was a much more content baby.
We carried on this way until she was five months old when she began to reject the breast.
I was gutted and felt like I’d failed.
It took me a long while to not feel like this.
And now as I wait for baby number three I’m already feeling quite anxious about my impending breastfeeding journey.
Pregnancy Diary 37 Weeks – My last week at work and so glad since each day has been a struggle. I’ve also had lots of Braxton Hicks with lots of ‘am I, am I Not’ moments.
I’m really tired this week and each day when I’ve finished work I’m literally hanging so I’ve just eaten and then sat comatose on the sofa watching TV.
The dog has undergone a good summer cut to reduce the amount of fur around the house. We know that dog fur is going to be an ongoing battle since we haven’t had a dog and a baby at the same time before.
I am really looking forward to being able to walk normally post-baby and top of the list is taking my fur baby walking again. I wonder how he’s going to get on walking next to the pram. I’m sure we’ll have a fair few instances where I wheel over him as he is a bit daft.
Midwife appointment
I had my midwife appointment on Tuesday and the head is way down ready which is good. I wasn’t measured this time as it was less than two weeks since I was measured last.
Everything else was fine and although we booked in for my 40 week appointment I would be very surprised if I get to this point.
A further blood test was booked for me due to the slapped cheek incident but this is considered to be low risk as I was well past the twenty week mark.
Thursday was my last day at work and I was treated to lots of cake and donuts and lots of lovely presents. It’s funny when you go on maternity leave as you feel sad but not. I’ve literally been counting down the days because I’m tired and also counting down to meeting the scrummy babes, but I will miss my work family.
I’m wondering how many days of maternity leave I’ll have before the baby comes. Considering how many Braxton Hicks I’m having pretty much all the time I’m guessing I won’t last that long. In fact I’m not sure I’m going to get past the weekend so we’ll see.
Funny Questions
Isabelle is still full of questions and I’m quite honest in answering things with her in a factual way. We’ve never spun her the stork story etc so she knows that the baby is going to come out of my front bottom and is suitably grossed out by this.
Her latest query was the other night was when she wanted to know if the baby could see out of my front bottom like looking out of a window! You’ve got to love how a kids mind works!
She also has lots of breastfeeding queries which I’m sure is going to be an ongoing thing. Hopefully she’ll get bored at some point.
Braxton Hicks
I’m not really sure if I experienced Braxton Hicks that much in my last two pregnancies, but this time I seem to be getting them all the time.
Every day this week I’ve convinced myself that today is the day that the baby will be here. My stomach is tight and pain radiates around my pelvis and into my back in a rhythmic and regular way BUT still no baby.
Winding Down
You may have noticed that I haven’t been as active this last couple of weeks since I just don’t have the energy to do anything. Sitting with my laptop is becoming ridiculous as my laptop is precariously balancing on my lap.
I’ve also been going to bed earlier so that I can listen to my hypnobirthing tracks which I hope will help even in some way to make labour easier.
I want to be as relaxed as I can when this baby comes which in turn will hopefully give the breastfeeding process a better chance of working. My breastfeeding journey with Isabelle wasn’t a smooth or particularly enjoyable experience, one that I hope doesn’t get repeated.
I’m reading like a crazy woman at the moment on Breastfeeding. Everything from latching tips to increasing my milk supply in the hope that third time lucky really is a ‘thing’.
Development
My baby is the size of a Honeydew Melon now weighing around 6.5lbs and measuring about 48.6cm. The baby will gain around half an ounce a day up until they are born.
He or she’s lungs are capable of life outside of the womb and it’s tummy will be full of icky sticky meconium which will be it’s first poo.
The head should be engaged at this point ready for birth.
Until next week………If I make it!
Lisa x
To read the rest of my Pregnancy Diary click the link or head to the top of the page.
Pregnancy Diary 36 Weeks – It’s Bank Holiday weekend and we’re knee deep in sorting the house out as much as we can before the baby arrives.
It’s hard not to get sentimental about every piece of clothing or toys that were once Ryan or Isabelle’s. First Christmas outfits, favourites and of course the ones they first wore in hospital. I even found my pregnancy test from when I found out we were having Isabelle which obviously has seven year old wee on it! I’m undecided on whether to keep this or not.
Bank Holiday Monday we had a more chilled out day. Still sorting and double checking my hospital bags. I know I’ve got everything but I’ve got this weird thing where I NEED to check, just to make sure.
Chris and Isabelle are full of cough and colds so I’m keeping them at arms length. We did get a BBQ in on the Monday just for us which was a nice way to end the day.
I’m plodding on through my hypnobirthing book which I’m not finding as boring. It’s quite interesting!
Induction Update
Tuesday – back to work today after the worse nights sleep. I don’t know if it was the thought of going back to work or the worry of getting any updates on the whole raised glucose issue.
My Midwife phoned me to update me that I will be contacted by the foetal assessment unit who are going to give me a little pin prick machine so that I can monitor my blood sugars, but no word from the consultant as yet.
Thursday came and I still hadn’t heard whether or not I was going to be induced so I rang my midwife. My case had been discussed at a meeting and it was decided that they didn’t need to induce me with a recommendation of reducing my sugar intake, but to keep the scan appointment for Friday. Obviously I was really pleased but a bit nervous that I’d have the scan and it would change things again.
Friday we had the scan. It’s not very exciting as everything is so close up that you can’t really make out arms or legs or anything. They were looking for the amount of amniotic fluid around the baby, and I’m pleased to say that this was totally normal.
Before the scan we popped along to the Baby Room which is local to us and holds classes, groups and also the place to go for washable Nappy and sling advice.
I’ve still got my nappy stash from Isabelle which is still in really good condition, but I needed to buy a new bucket, liners and a wet bag. It’s so easy to buy loads of stuff since the nappies are incredibly cute with all kinds of patterns and colours. I restrained from buying any more nappies, but we did buy some washable wetwipes which I’m going to persevere with this time. I did give them a little go but found them quite an effort so gave up.
As I’m writing this I have a load of nappies washing with a second load waiting. They load so cute on the washing line!
Ready for Baby Now
As I’m so far along now I’ve switched from saying how many weeks I have left to how many days which today is 22. It seems so close when you say it in days!
My in-laws are on holiday as of today for two weeks and a firm request for baby to stay put has been lodged. I will do my best to comply but quite honestly I’m more than ready for this little one to make an appearance now. Having said that, I still have one more week of work to get through.
I had a really funny dream that i gave birth in our meeting room with the assistance of one of my senior colleagues so I’ve been avoiding him this week (just in case).
Still no pram or car seat as yet but we have had assurances that it will be delivered at the beginning of next week, so once that’s here I’m happy for the baby to arrive at any point.
Vitamin K
I forgot to mention this last week, but when I saw my midwife last Friday she mentioned Vitamin K for the baby once born. She asked for my preference to it being given by injection or orally. The most common apparently is an injection but I really don’t remember an injection being offered when I had Isabelle as she had it orally. This was supposed to be added to my birth plan notes but I felt really put on the spot to give an answer so it was put down as decision on the day. I’m not sure how I feel about an injection just hours post birth.
Development
My baby is the shape of a bunch of bananas and weighs around 5.7lbs and measures about 47.4cm.
The average baby birth weight is currently 7.5lb so the concentration is currently on putting on weight and moving further down into your pelvis.
The downy hair that has been coating the baby is now shedding away as is the vernix caseosa.
You may be getting Braxton Hicks at this stage which are practice contractions (yippee).
Your baby will still be moving around but the movements may be lower down once the baby moves further down ready for labour. This will also ease any heartburn that you may be experiencing.
It feels like so much is happening now and each day I wake up and wonder if today is the day.
Who knows if this will the last Pregnancy Diary update…….
Lisa x
To read my other Pregnancy Diary entries either click here or head to Pregnancy Diary at the top of the page.
Pregnancy Diary 35 Weeks – I’m tired, aching all over and the feeling that I’m going to go into early labour won’t go away.
The week has started off with Ryan’s 19th Birthday so we went out for a meal which was lovely.
We’re also knee deep in decorating so there is stuff everywhere but it’s moving along nicely so I can’t complain too much.
Sorting through the kids stuff is ridiculous. It’s so hard to get rid of things so I need to get myself some balls and stop being so sentimental.
Sleep
Sleep is getting harder and harder. I’m knackered but I can’t seem to get comfortable at all. If it’s not my tummy getting in the way it’s my legs getting twitchy or cramps or my back making me uncomfortable. I’m still drinking tonic water which doesn’t make me shudder so much now.
Washing
Washing, washing….. so much washing. Yey me I’ve managed to wash all the the baby stuff that we’ve got. I started doing it towards the end of last week and then it poured down which made drying a lot slower. I feel better now this is done so that I can get our bags packed and ready for the hospital.
Baby stuff
We’ve hit a bit of a stumbling block. I ordered the Ickle Bubba Stomp V4 Travel system which comes with the car seat and the delivery time was 3 – 5 days. This then changed to direct delivery from the manufacturer and was left as pending. I left it a few days but having checked again thought I’d better get in touch to find out when it’s likely to come
I could cry! On speaking to the company, it seems that the car seat is currently out of stock and the expected delivery date isn’t until mid May.
I’m not sure what to do now. Do I cancel the order as I really need to get the car seat in the car ready or do we risk it and if the baby does arrive early we could make a mad dash (or Chris can) and buy another one.
Oh I don’t know, this is stressing me out I really want that pram now!
Am I? Am I not?
Today is Monday and I should be at work. Instead I’m at home and have been having all kinds of twinges and pains all day long. I’m not sure if I’ve overdone it or if it’s all starting to kick off.
The pain is coming in waves which is slightly worrying and then it dies down for a while before restarting.
Tuesday I was still getting pains but had a bit of a feeling that I may have a urine infection. I spoke to the midwife who asked me to make an appointment at the practice to have my urine tested.
I tested negative for a urine infection but it showed +2 for glucose do was advised to contact my midwife. It’s too late and a bit pointless to do a further glucose tolerance test but I’m just waiting to hear back to see if I need a further scan.
Getting stuck in the bath
To help ease my back ache I thought it would be good to have a nice relaxing bath which I did, but then I couldn’t get out. I couldn’t get myself upright enough to get out. It was ridiculous. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so helpless in everyday life, and I was home alone so I had to manoeuvre myself in the most un-ladylike manner in order to get myself out.
I’ve promised Chris that I won’t do that again.
No Name
We finally have a couple in the bag but nothing is set in stone as we’re still really undecided. Hopefully the baby will look like a ‘something’ once it’s here and we’ll just know.
Last week I referred to the baby as ‘he’ and set tongues wagging and today I accidentally referred to the baby as she which had my friend wondering.
We’re pretty certain that we’re having a boy which I genuinely cannot confirm either way. It’s just a gut feeling that we’ve pretty much all got and even Isabelle has decided that it’s a boy and quite happy with that. All my labour dreams feature a baby boy so who knows.
Midwife Appointment
Urgh my appointment has thrown me into a bit of a spin! So at the beginning of the week I went to the doctors as I thought I might have a urine infection but it turned out that I had raised glucose instead.
Today I went to see the midwife and it’s still raised and I’m measuring at 37cm which has pushed me further above the 95th centile. The midwife was a bit unsure what needed to be done at this late stage (35wks +4) so phoned the hospital.
They weren’t entirely sure either but suggested a scan and referral to a consultant. My scan isn’t until I reach 36wks + 5 and I just have to wait and see as far as whether I need to see the consultant or if advice will be given.
Of course this then lead onto the possibility of needing to be induced. I was so pleased when this was taken off the table when I tested negative so it’s really pants that this has reared it’s ugly head again. I had a horrible previous experience and really didn’t want it again this time.
As it was my 36 week appointment the intention was to discuss the delivery options. On my want list is (was):
A water birth
To use my hypnobirthing tracks
No Diamorphine
No epidural
Stitches if needed
I know that labour is unpredictable and of course if the baby shows signs of distress you have to consent for forceps or even an emergency caesarean but it just feels a bit shitty that I’ve got this far and all my wants are likely to be thrown out.
Having slept on it, I don’t feel good about this at all. I suppose I just have to wait and see what happens with the referral to the consultant and also the scan that I’m having on Friday.
It’s Saturday and today marks 29 days until my due date and it’s got me thinking that if I were to be induced we could have the baby as early as 15 days from now. When I was induced with Isabelle I was 39 +1 but I think that it would have been sooner had it not been September when all the Christmas conceived babies are arriving.
Hospital Bags
I panic packed both mine and the baby’s hospital bags at the beginning of the week which I have now repacked in a more orderly manner. I just need to get some snacks and drinks for both Chris and I to see us through.
Development
My baby is now the size of a pineapple, measuring around 46.2cm and weighing about 5.2lbs.
They will be practicing the sucking motion in preparation for it’s first post-birth feed. It’s slowly inching it’s way further down into my pelvis to get ready to come out and some (a lot) of the movements are enough to make me gasp they’re that pokey. This can be further helped by bouncing on a birthing ball or being on all fours and wiggling your hips.
The baby is fully formed but is still putting on weight which they will continue to do until they are born.
It’s also recommended that your hospital bags are packed, the freezer is full and all the important numbers are in plain sight for when the time comes. The numbers are all in my phone, and also on the calendar but I don’t think Chris has bothered to put these in his phone yet which is so helpful.
Aww I’ve just realised that these diary entries will soon be coming to an end………I will have a gorgeous baby to snuggle instead though x
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