MSE Pregnancy Club 28

FreddieFrugal

psychopathbabble wrote: »

Still struggling with names.... I want a name before we properly announce her arrival! I am the worst when there is a decision to be made and we can't decide, I hate indecision!

We were a bit like that to start! Midwives kept asking us if he had a name - "not yet..."

Was so much going on we didn't get chance to discuss until several hours after the birth. I said that I wouldn't leave the hospital until we had a name. As didn't want to announce the birth without a name.

In the end we both decided that he was, in fact, the name we'd originally said all those months ago

psychopathbabble

Yep, we went with Isla in the end as we just couldn't agree on another name...

euronorris

Congratulations Pyscho! So happy for you and love the name! My guess of girl was right! Woo! Lol xxx

Freddie, sorry to hear that feeding has been challenging. I'm exclusively pumping at the moment as Mia developed a bottle preference, but I haven't had issues expressing. I have heard that pumping on the other side whilst babybaby is nursing can produce better results though. The KellyMom website has lots of great info, and there is a support group on Facebook called 'Can I breastfeed in it UK? Breastfeeding support'. It's fantastic and the admins are all fully trained breastfeeding peer supporters. I can't recommend them enough.

Here is their advice for pumping:
Pumping

1) Prep your breasts before pumping.

This means putting warm compresses on your breasts before pumping, massaging all around your breast from top to nipple, including right underneath your armpit, in a firm but gentle brushing technique.

2) Get yourself a pumping bra or make yourself one for hands-free pumping.

I made my own by using an 'A' frame nursing bra with a modesty panel, and wedged and clipped the pumps in place. This enabled me to keep my hands free for breast compressions.

3) Do breast compressions when the flow starts to slow down when pumping (hands on pumping).

This will encourage more milk out when pumping.

4) Don't have your pump up too high! This will hurt and will inhibit the milk ejection reflex, therefore stopping milk from coming out.

Pump on the lowest setting initially, then gradually turn the pump power up until it's slightly uncomfortable, then down it down a notch. This will be your ideal pump level.

5) Make sure your flanges fit!!

This means the coned-shape plastic bit that your nipple goes into. Your nipple shouldn't touch the sides. It shouldn't change colour and none of the areola should be drawn into the top end of the cone.
Sometimes, putting lanolin cream or coconut oil around the rim inside the flanges will help too.

6) Either looking at your baby when you're home, or smelling something of hers, looking at pictures or videos etc when you're apart will help the hormones to get the milk flowing. This is because breastfeeding is emotional and hormone induced. I personally watched TV or Facebooked!

7) Feeding baby on one boob and pumping on the other will encourage the letdown and will make good use of extra milk released from a baby stimulated letdown.

Pumping from both boobs at the same time will make the most of a triggered letdown.

8) Power pumping.

This is where you pump until the flow slows or stops (around 20mims), then you turn off the pump for 10 mins and rest, then start again. Pump for 10 mins then rest for 10 mins and then pump again for 10 mins. This makes most use of encouraging multiple letdowns, which means more milk.

9) You need to be pumping as often as your baby feeds.

As a bare minimum (8-12 times in 24 hours) of which one pumping session needs to be a night time one, say around 2am. You may have to schedule in extra pumping sessions around times of growth spurts to mimic cluster feeding.

10) Look up "Paced Bottle Feeding" or "Responsive Bottle Feeding" to make sure that baby isn't overfed too much of your milk (which may cause you to supplement) and also so that none of your precious milk is wasted.

Finally, eating well and staying hydrated will make YOU feel better- but not necessarily make more milk.

Remember that more milk removed = more milk made.

And this website:http://www.nancymohrbacher.com/articles/2012/6/27/to-pump-more-milk-use-hands-on-pumping.html

Hope that helps x

MancMama4

Psycho huge congrats on your new arrival, beautiful name and sounds like you did absolutely brilliantly! Xx

Had my GTT this week and infortunately I've been diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes... I am so upset about it I have been so good with diet and taking care of myself and thought I had avoided it (my Dad is type 2 and I'm overweight so at higher risk). I am seriously beating myself up about the risks involved... does anyone have any experience in this that could give me some thoughts?

I'm going under the diabetic clinic now until the end of the preganancy and will be testing my blood sugar 5-7 times a day with a machine (got an appointment to pick it up and go through things on Thursday). I will then need fortnightly checks and growth scans (had one today and was measuring at 49th percentile at 3lb 6oz at 30+4) so baby size is fine... but what had me in tears was the consultant said they don't like to let you go past 38 weeks with GD as there is a risk of the placenta failing etc... (she didn't say stillbirth but I have heard it mentioned as a possible higher risk).

If anyone can shed some light on what I can expect that would be great... after being so well so far I am just so disappointed that the last 7 weeks (!! - if I go early) are going to be filled with anxiety and worry X

Tinks05

Manc... I don't know anything about gestational diabetes but just wanted to say please don't beat yourself up about it. You've done all you can with the healthy eating etc. I had my GTT last week (awaiting results) and was chatting to the midwife about it. It seems to be one of those things that can sometimes just be unavoidable. She told me she's come across lot's of really slim, healthy ladies that have been diagnosed with GTT.

It's great that they will be monitoring you really closely - you are in safe hands. xx

pink_petal

Aw Manc..I have nothing helpful to contribute but just wanted to echo what Tinks said about not beating yourself up too much. You've tried your best with healthy eating etc which is a lot more than some other people do. Also means you'll be monitored really closely and get to see lots more scans!

I had my whooping cough and flu jabs this morning, one in each arm. The nurse said I may be a bit tender and probably won't be able to sleep on my sides tonight...but I also can't sleep on my front or my back so not quite sure how I'm supposed to sleep?!?!

Also got my first NCT class later, feeling a bit nervous and not sure why!

cats2012

Hey Manc. Just delurking to say I obviously don't have personal experience but my best friend had GD. She was a size 8-10 pre pregnancy though and barely put on a pound other than her bump so don't beat yourself up!!

She had to have everything you mentioned, but it seemed to regulate itself really well once she got the hang of it. Growth scans indicated baby slowed down growth accordingly so she did go to just before 40 weeks but was induced as they said they never would let her go beyond due date.

From all her research it's pretty common, so please try to relax - just read what you need to and embrace what you have to do. Those few weeks will be over in no time.

Oh - and she hasn't had any lasting impacts, no diabetes anymore.

Tinks05

pink_petal wrote: »

I had my whooping cough and flu jabs this morning, one in each arm. The nurse said I may be a bit tender and probably won't be able to sleep on my sides tonight...but I also can't sleep on my front or my back so not quite sure how I'm supposed to sleep?!?!!

FWIW I had both injections a few weeks ago and was absolutely fine. Had a slight ache in my arms but that was it, nothing bad enough to stop me from sleeping.

I'm really struggling with a constant ache in my back at the moment. It feels like it's within my rib cage rather than my back itself. There's no relief from it. I've tried stretching, a warm bath, hot water bottle, even bought a birthing ball to sit on when working incase it was my posture that was the problem but it's not helped at all. It's starting to get me down now.

pink_petal

That's good to hear Tinks, wasn't too sure if they expected me to sleep sitting up! My arms feel absolutely fine at the moment so hoping that continues and that's just worst case scenario they have to give you!

Have you spoken to anyone about your back? I suffer from sciatica so when I found out I was pregnant it was one of the first things I asked the midwife as I just knew I'd be in agony. She said there's specialist physios in the maternity unit and also special bump bands you can get to support the bump and take pressure off your back. Very surprisingly, with 9 weeks to go, I've still been fortunate enough not to have any back pain but my bump is getting bigger and bigger and I'm starting to feel the strain. Will probably speak to my midwife about it at my next appointment (Monday) so it might be something you could think about?

MancMama4

Thank you so much for the kind words and insight ladies, I knew this was the first place to go to put my mind at rest!!! I swear I could not get through this without you all. I guess all I can do is keep trying with the diet and exercise route and hope I get the hang of regulating it myself x