My First Home Birth (Jan 2019)

My water broke on Wednesday (9th) at 7:15pm but no contractions. My parents came down the following morning (Thursday 10th). Mom and I went walking to help get contractions going but nothing changed. I was having contractions but they were barely noticeable and not consistent at all. That evening Mom and Dad decided to get a hotel (they live 1.5 hours away) and it's a good thing they did. Thursday (10th) night I went to bed and around 12:30am (Friday 11th) I had a contraction strong enough that it woke me up. 9 minutes later I had another one so I got up and waited. 7 minutes later another super strong one, I told Jeremy that something is different and that this may be it. 6 minutes later another one. I texted Kris (my midwife) and gave her the update and she said, "call me when they are 5 min apart"! The very next contraction was 1 min later, and they continued to be 1-3 min apart. I called her after about 3-4 contractions and she answered with, "that was fast!" (Haha) I told her they were 1-3 min apart and not slowing down. I think she could hear a little tension or nervousness in my voice. She ever so calmly said, "That's okay, I'm on my way."

Jeremy (husband) proceeded to get the tub ready while I breathed through contractions. I called my parents between contractions and let them know that contractions were 1-3 min apart and that Kris was on her way.

Once Kris got there (about the time the tub was ready) she said I could get in. So I did. (I'm guessing it was around 1:00am or so) I don't remember much after that. I know I clung to Jeremy through every contraction, Mom poured warm water over my back during contractions, and Dad was boiling/heating water to pour into the tub (our hot water tank ran out before the tub was full). Kris was sitting by the tub reassuring me and hubby that we were doing good and giving me gentle instructions when needed. Jeremy was so great, he kept his face close to mine and ever so gently kept reminding me to relax, to breathe, and that I could do this.

I was struggling with the contractions because they came on so strong and fast that I really didn't have time to figure out what did and did not work in helping me deal with them. Then next thing I know my body started pushing. I tried to not push and just relax but my body took over. (My plan was to not yell during my labor at all...but pretty sure ALL the neighbors heard me go through that transition stage. 🤣)

At 1:58am our baby crowned and Kris said I could touch baby's head. I did and it gave me a slight little boost of motivation - I knew baby was close. I felt the "ring of fire" that I have heard some women talk about. Then at 2:02am our baby was born was born! I reached down into the water, grabbed my baby, and brought baby to my chest! Honestly at this point I think I was in shock. It was like I wasn't quite sure what just happened. Someone (I can't remember who) even asked if it was a boy or girl and I thought to myself "oh yea!! I forgot about that!!" IT'S A GIRL!!

We did delayed cord clamping, then she was wrapped in a towel and handed to daddy, I rinsed off in the shower and laid in bed and watched as my oldest got to weigh her! 8lbs 8oz 20in! I nursed her while the midwife and her assistant (there was supposed to be more of her team there but she came too fast lol) cleaned up. Then midwife checked me out and she said there were no tears and that I don't even look like I just gave birth. Then they left and my parents went back to their hotel. Everyone got some sleep and everyone came back so we could complete the birth certificate and what not. It was an amazing experience!! One I couldn't wait to do again!

Even though during the last part of the labor I was yelling that I didn't want to do this, because let's be honest, contractions aren't fun, it was EXACTLY what I wanted!! 💖

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21 month sleep regression

Oh my god is a 21 month sleep regression a thing!? Waking every hour crying.
I feel like I could cry 😂 I’m completely exhausted 😩

I feel like my nipples are too big

Baby was doing ok the first couple days until i realized he wasn’t getting enough to eat. Cue pumping and supplementing with formula. He’s doing really well but everytime i try to get him to latch he gets so frustrated and like can’t even latch anymore. Did I make a mistake starting to bottle feed? Do I still try to get him to latch so he doesn’t forget my nipples 🥹

MIL not listening

Just looking for a bit of advice. I'm really lucky to have a "village" and once a week my MIL watches the baby (10 wk), so I can shop/nip to the gym etc. The only problem is she doesnt feed her. Ill have expressed ready to go or formula as back up but she never feeds her.
My LO tends to cluster feed a little on a morning as shes a decent night sleeper, but only really cries at desperation - she puts her hand in her mouth or grunts as early warnings. Ive told MIL this, and asked her to feed when she sees it. Ive tried saying "she was fed 30 mins ago, she'll want another in half hour", but she never does.
Yesterday I explained shed been really hungry and hadnt expressed much as shed fed so much I hadnt had chance, said to give her a little formula as she'll want it in about 45 mins. I got home 3 hours later and asked how much shed eaten.
"Oh, nothing, she had a little cry but we distracted and she went to sleep. She'll probably be starving when she wakes up".
She was starving. And then had both sides (which she doesnt normally do) and ended up more refluxy and messed up her timings all night, so she woke up more through the night (not ideal as we have an event today).
I dont wanna fall out as I'm grateful for the help but I'm running out of things to try. My husband is on my side and wants to tell her not to come if she just wants her "to sleep" and not actually look after her. Any advice??

Breastfeeding Mums - what are you doing at night?

As our babies are starting to sleep longer stretches, I wanted to ask for those breastfeeding how they deal with their milk. I find even if I am still feeding 2 or even 3 times in the night, the time in between is still longer than in the day so I often find I wake up having leaked through my breast pad, bra and top.

The most obvious thing to me would be to pump, but the nice thing about baby sleeping longer is I thought I would be able to sleep longer too! And I know if I get up to pump (having to sit upright, noise of the pump, sorting the milk after etc) that I would have trouble getting back to sleep. Not to mention it would probably wake my husband up too. Curious how others have dealt with this. Are we just accepting being leaky everywhere? 😂

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