Due in March/April/May 2013 Roll call!

[Shellbelle]

Thanks for the support ladies, I am really hoping I am wrong in thinking I will hear blue today. Will update later in the afternoon.

Hugs! At least it's only a few more hours!

[mummypink]

Did you feed as long as the baby required, even if it was for an hour? My son seriously would feed an hour sometimes... and I just let him. I suppose I lucked out because (my midwives were surprised), he didn't lose any weight at all... he only ever gained. He did have a syringe of my hand expressed milk once (oh, those early latching learning times!) but that was it.

Yep, with ds1 it was really hard as he was a very sleepy baby and not interested so I was having to put him to the boob every hour and strip him down to just his nappy to try and get him more alert to feed. I used the electric pump inbetween too to try and stimulate my supply more. My milk never came in properly. With ds2 he would feed for an hour or more, have half an hour break and feed for an hour again. I went with it for 6 weeks but he was never swallowing or making any noises that suggested he was actually getting any milk and when I tried to express there was hardly anything. Again I never got an increase in boob size, or a feeling of fullness as some women describe it when their milk came in. As both of them were quite small losing 10% of their body weight was quite a big deal and I didn't really want them to lose anymore. I don't think the bottle is given to babies so readily over here because they just expect you to be able to bf, but I was literally buzzing for a midwife every feed to ask if I was doing it right, if the position was ok etc and everyone said there shouldn't be a problem but there clearly was.

I'm thinking about taking a supplement this time to see if it helps but I'm not sure if there is anything safe to take during pregnancy, or if any of it actually works? Have you heard of anything you can recommend? x

[Butterfly Spirit]

Good morning, ladies! I've been more a lurker than a poster since I've been on this site, but it's still been a great help for me. So I'm gonna jump in today...need some emotional support from some gals that understand! Struggling with whether or not to find out the gender these days; I had no intention of doing so, until I made the mistake of trying the Intelligender test yesterday...it said a very clear "boy" result, which has bummed me out far more than it should have.
Now, I'm tempted to take a "brief peek" at our 12 week NT scan in two weeks of the nub, just to get a general idea, without anyone saying anything to me. That way, if there's a clear nub, I can absorb the news without being directly "told". My DH thinks I'm crazy. Sigh. I will be blessed with a healthy baby of either gender.

Welcome to GD hon, please don't go off that silly intelligender test.. It's mostly been wrong as in giving women the opposite of what they are carrying more often than not. It's just not accurate..don't let it ruin your pregnancy. Even Pink Or Blue has been very wrong lately for women and that test is supposed to be high 90s accuracy rate. If you get your 12 week scan shot we would be happy to determine what we think, but don't feel absolutely obligated to get it.

Relax. Just enjoy your pregnancy!

[homebirthing princess]

Thinking of u Rosie xx

Mummy I'm sure raspberry leaf tablets can be used to help with milk supply, I always start taking them from 35wks to help me whilst in Labour and I also take them after the birth for milk supply and to help everything return to normal in there I've never had a problem with milk supply other then having far to much, I look like dolly parton the 1st few days lol I have to express to get baby on to feed...I'm thinking this time about donating some of my milk as I just have so much! Ds1 I fed for 6mths but constantly had mastitis so stopped wiv ds2 I fed him for over a yr! I think its a personal Choice to bf and I think no one should feel pressured or made to feel bad if feeding doesn't work out

[mummypink]

I took raspberry leaf tablets from 36 weeks with both my last pregnancies but I didn't realise it helped with milk supply, maybe I should keep taking it this time see if it helps! I also took pregnacare vitamins with the added stuff for breastfeeding.

I totally agree that there shouldn't be any pressure put on anyone to bf but it is really hard if you want to and have problems. Especially over here where it is just assumed you will bf, I felt embarrassed taking a bottle out of my bag to feed them if we were out anywhere.

This time my boobs do seem to have got bigger, not massively and one has grown more than the other but I'm hoping that is a good sign that I'll have more success this time. xx

[suregena]

Yep, with ds1 it was really hard as he was a very sleepy baby and not interested so I was having to put him to the boob every hour and strip him down to just his nappy to try and get him more alert to feed. I used the electric pump inbetween too to try and stimulate my supply more. My milk never came in properly. With ds2 he would feed for an hour or more, have half an hour break and feed for an hour again. I went with it for 6 weeks but he was never swallowing or making any noises that suggested he was actually getting any milk and when I tried to express there was hardly anything. Again I never got an increase in boob size, or a feeling of fullness as some women describe it when their milk came in. As both of them were quite small losing 10% of their body weight was quite a big deal and I didn't really want them to lose anymore. I don't think the bottle is given to babies so readily over here because they just expect you to be able to bf, but I was literally buzzing for a midwife every feed to ask if I was doing it right, if the position was ok etc and everyone said there shouldn't be a problem but there clearly was.

I'm thinking about taking a supplement this time to see if it helps but I'm not sure if there is anything safe to take during pregnancy, or if any of it actually works? Have you heard of anything you can recommend? x

Good recommendations here: http://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastf..._galactagogue/

http://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/supp...es/low-supply/

[mummypink]

Thanks Suregena xx

[suregena]

Well, all you can do is try. But it's good to read about all the issues and how to go about resolving them beforehand, to have them in your mind, when the babe is born.

[ThreeMenAndALAdy]

Rosie, think pink!!!

[spinningmadly]

I took alfalfa while pregnant to help with supply since I was still nursing it is safe.
Fenugreek is NOT safe while pregnant but can help a lot with supply after you give birth as long as you are still frequently putting baby to the breast. Did you try any skin to skin? That helps a lot with supply as well.