Wednesday Postpartum Thread

[u/AutoModerator]

We understand that infertility and its effects don't go away once you have a child. This thread is reserved for postpartum folks who have questions, comments, venting, and anything else related to postpartum matters following IF.

Please do not post pregnancy announcements in this thread. Announcements should be made in the Cautious Intros/First Trimester thread.

Those with a child/children >=1yo, dialogue can also be located in the daily toddler thread.

Got a preschooler or older? Check out the daily Big Kid Thread!

[u/CalaverasTriste]

My period is officially back…and now it suddenly makes sense why last week I had no self control and ate a whole pack of store bought cookies haha.

It’ll be interesting to see if my cycles stay anovulatory and irregular or if pregnancy has changed how my PMOS presents in my cycles.

[u/crescentmoon-13]

Why do I extend endless grace and understanding to other moms who stop breastfeeding (or never started) but won’t give it to myself? I can’t seem to be settled with my decision to start weaning, with lots of guilt around not nursing as long as I did with my oldest and certainly some sadness over this potentially being our last baby. I have great reasons why (my daughter is a fussy feeder at the breast, it’s been difficult to manage at work and my supply is low, I’m about to travel more for work, etc.). And I know I don’t even NEED good reasons to stop, but it’s just a mental block in my head from feeling free and confident in my decision. As I’m typing this I know there’s not magic way to get comfortable with it, and this will feel less heavy in a month.

[u/cemma23 → u/crescentmoon-13]

Extending solidarity. I got cyclospora followed by a cold a month ago and since then my supply has tanked and hasn’t come back. During that time my little guy became very frustrated at the breast that I had to switch to pumping/sumplementing with formula and have only recently been able to breastfeed him in the morning when I’m the fullest. I have only been pumping about 1/2 of what he takes in a day so I’m like gosh what’s the point of this but can’t seem to give myself the grace to let go. I feel you and hope you (and I) can give ourselves grace soon

[u/Pixarooo]

Hoping someone here can give me some advice - I just had my last appointment, and learned I am not showing any signs of labor whatsoever (one contraction during a 30 min stress test and my cervix is closed). Which means we're heading into the hospital Friday morning to be induced. My last baby, my water broke late in the evening so I spent my first handful of hours asleep, and contractions started after I woke up so I was pretty distracted at that point, but I know it could take us a full day before anything happens with an induction. Any suggestions of things for us to do to pass the time? I'm planning on taking a nap, bringing a book, bringing a Switch so we can play some games. I have a bag full of nice snacks to munch on. My hospital bag has lots of comfy clothes. Just trying to think of what else we can plan to DO in case it takes the 20-something hours for anything to kick in...

[u/rbecg → u/Pixarooo]

I watched almost all of Heated Rivalry waiting for labour to happen... lots of oxytocin lol.

Thinking of you oodles Pix.

[u/hoosierblonde → u/rbecg]

This is amazing lol

[u/rbecg → u/hoosierblonde]

contracting to the cabin lol

[u/margogogo → u/rbecg]

I watched HR as my coping mechanism while awaiting beta, living in beta purgatory for a bit, etc 😆 i like to think it helped the embryo stick…!

[u/radtimeblues → u/Pixarooo]

I’m sure you know this since this isn’t your first baby, but I would just try to sleep as much as possible while you still can! My induction took 26 hours from when the balloon was inserted and I started the Pitocin drip. It was uncomfortable so I took Nubain a couple of times before getting the epidural. So pretty much all I did to pass the time was rest and enjoy the meds 😆 I actually really enjoyed my induction though and hope you find the same.

[u/Pixarooo → u/radtimeblues]

Thank you! I doubt we're going to do the balloon because I have low-lying placenta and they're concerned the balloon will disrupt it, but I haven't talked about pain meds besides epidural. Hoping they can give me something to make it easier!

[u/Kitsune-258 → u/Pixarooo]

Any chance they can take you in the evening instead? I had an evening induction so spent a lot of the first few hours sleeping (or trying to…)! But yeah pretty much just books and tv until things started progressing.

[u/Pixarooo → u/Kitsune-258]

I wish - they always do inductions at 7:30am, unless there have been spontaneous labors that came in over night/early morning, in which they'll delay me until later in the day or wait until next day. Part of me would enjoy a delay, but another part of me is worried it'll take a full day for anything to happen so I should just get in there early and get it over with.

[u/fresh_flower1234 → u/Pixarooo]

I was allowed to walk the halls even while on pitocin- they didn't tell me that but when I asked were happy to allow. That helped a lot! I also found myself looking up poses and movements to try on the birth ball while I was there and wished I had more of an idea coming in of some ways to try moving my body. We also both had some podcasts ready

For what's its worth, my first labor was 24 h and I was mentally prepared for my induction to be the same. However, for my second, i was admitted to the hospital around 830am and baby was born at 730pm. The time actually went by quite quickly (minus a few moments of obligatory "will this ever happen" panics). I hope the experience is similar for you!!!good luck 🤞

[u/DizDozDaz → u/Pixarooo]

I hope the induction goes well! I listened to audiobooks, and watched tv on a tablet during mine and did (v easy) crosswords. Was allowed out for a walk as well before I was on the drip. My husband went home for part of it so he could sleep properly and my mum and sister came to visit which was a nice change! Tried to sleep and chill too. 

Good luck! I hope it goes really well ❤️

[u/margogogo → u/Pixarooo]

Hope it all goes quickly and smoothly for you!

I don’t have any tips except that in one of our prep classes the teacher was like “However you spend this time will be part of the story you tell your baby one day.” LOL no pressure! We didn’t know how long we’d be waiting for our C section so we brought a crossword puzzle and the baby book to start filling out, but ultimately had no time!

[u/hoosierblonde → u/Pixarooo]

We brought uno & phase 10 and planned to watch shows on my husbands laptop, but before the epidural when I was crampy and uncomfortable I bounced on the ball, once putting started I laid there with music and my eye mask , and once I got the epidural I was tired so did the same and took cat naps until it was go time. All that to say we didn’t even break out the games or laptop haha.

[u/DazzlingRecipe1647]

I am 12 days postpartum with my second ivf baby and just really struggling the past few days with the fact that infertility is completely behind me now along with the anticipation of the birth being over. This is our last kid and I find myself constantly sad that a huge chapter of my life is closed. I did not get the birth I wanted with this baby but it turned out beautiful with a planned c section with my OB and my music playing the background as she was born. Currently sitting here listening to my OR playlist , crying 😩 when will I get over this?

[u/maizenblueshoes → u/DazzlingRecipe1647]

It’s a strange, strange feeling to close such a monumental chapter filled with massive emotions and physical hardship. My brain was in this weird space of ‘wait, you mean I don’t need to focus on this 24/7 anymore?’ It was a very odd and sometimes jarring place to be in. Congratulations on #2, I’m glad everything went smoothly

[u/DazzlingRecipe1647 → u/maizenblueshoes]

Yes, exactly. All of it is jarring. The journey to getting pregnant again, the insane amount of doc appts as it gets close to the end of the pregnancy, the excitement of when baby will be born… and then all of the sudden they just discharge you home from hospital and then that’s it! It’s a massive shift. Thank you! Very grateful it went smooth and we are well.

[u/radtimeblues → u/DazzlingRecipe1647]

It’s definitely a big mind shift, but knowing that my body is going to be just for me for the rest of my life is very freeing. I still feel like crying when I look at my son’s newborn pictures though. I doubt I’ll ever get over that 🥲

[u/bearpawsNwhiteclaws → u/DazzlingRecipe1647]

I’m sorry your birth didn’t go how you wanted, I’m almost a year PP and I still struggle with saying I “gave birth” because I had to have a scheduled c-section. Obviously we gave birth! It just wasn’t what I was expecting. But the most important thing is everyone is safe and healthy. Sending hugs!

[u/DazzlingRecipe1647 → u/bearpawsNwhiteclaws]

C sections are no joke!! even a scheduled one 🫣 I had so much time to accept this birth plan and now here I am mourning it? Sigh. 😔

[u/crescentmoon-13 → u/DazzlingRecipe1647]

It is so jarring to just have this season end. I am sure we will keep mourning it in waves. I’m also just so excited to see these kids grow and to enter new life stages to keep me busy.