Hi Ladies,
Would like to re-join this thread. Joined sometime ago, but wasn't active in posting, so I guess I'm forgotten! =p
I'm also TTC#2. My #1 just turned 12 months old early Nov. And yah, agree with you all that TTC#2 seems more difficult than TTC#1. For me, my AF only resumed in Oct, 2 mths after I stopped BF. So far, I've only had 2 cycles. The CDs are very long - 42 days! Last time before preggie wil #1, my cycles were of varying number of days. Sometimes, 32, 35, 36 or 38..so average about 35. Only once in a while got long cycle of 40 days or more.
Sigh, if my CD continue to be so long, it will be even more difficult to conceive #1...last chances in a year! =( I even TTC#2 during BF, but no luck at all! Envy those mummies who can preggie with #2 even while BF #1!
Anyway, saw many mummies shared their #1 birth story, so I shall share mine too:
6 Nov - Gynae found that I was 1.5cm dilated during routine checkup. Already had quite alot of contractions, but not very painful.
8 Nov, 11pm - Admitted myself to hospital to be induced cos I developed gestational diabetes at wk 36. Gynae din want to wait till BB pops on his own, cos will be too big for natural birth.
9 Nov, 1am - Nurse inserted pill to soften cervix. From then on, had even more contractions..could not sleep the whole night cos painful.
9 Nov, 8am - Gynae came to check on me, said my dilation was 2.5cm (so only additional 1cm after 1 whole night of pain!). Had my breakfast and walked with DH to labour room.
9 Nov, 9am - Nurse cleaned me up, gave enema pill then asked me go to birth room. Dunno why so early go birth room, cos not even ready to push.
9 Nov, 9.30am - Nurse asked me whether I wanted epidural and I said "Yes", cos I guess the whole process will take super long and I dun think I can tahan the pain. So epidural was given - from then on, it was just a waiting game, waiting for cervix to be dilated enough for me to push. In between, got bad side effect from the epidural, vomitting and shivering throughout..drifted in and out of sleep.
9 Nov, 9pm - Nurse said I could start pushing. Pushed for 1 hour and finally BB was out at 10pm!
So overall, my whole labour starting from the point they induced me, was about 21 hours!
As for BF, my BF journey was not smooth either. Not blessed with flowing supply in the early days after birth. For first 3 weeks, BF and supplement with FM. After 3 weeks and lots of hard work in latching, pumping and massaging boobs to stimulate supply, finally can feel let down and can pump enough to measure in a bottle (before that, whatever milk I pumped out could not even reach the lowest measuring line on the bottle!). Thereafter, TBF for 9 months, with 2 episodes of mastitis in between, and 1 month long episode of nipple infection which caused nipples to crack and bleed very easily!
Looking forward to sharing more with the ladies on this thread! Keep the posts coming in! =)