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Original poster

Anyone up? I'm here freaking out about my newborn

57 replies

Cathcat41 · 12/04/2021 02:51

She was born on Friday after 38 hours of a traumatic labour ending in an epidural forceps episiotomy and blood transfusion. Since then I've seen 4dirty nappies and only one solely pee which was last night. Today she's been dry as a bone all day. My milk still hasn't come in but I don't think she's latching right, I just gave her a wee bit of formula there, just so she has something in her tummy. I'm praying for a wet nappy. I'll be so happy if I could get a wet nappy out of her. The midwife is coming tomorrow morning anyway but now I'm just sitting here with her in my arms freaking out that there's something wrong with her. She's sleeping quietly, I know I should just put her down and sleep but I can't.

OP posts:
custardbear · 12/04/2021 04:10

Congratulations! You're doing great. She's had some milk now, do try and get a couple of hours sleep when you can, you'll need it.
Good MW is coming tomorrow - tell her everything and she'll give you all the advice you need

ChessIsASport · 12/04/2021 04:14

Have you tried weighing the nappies to see whether they are any heavier than a dry one? Does her fontanelle look ok or is it shrunken?

Nat6999 · 12/04/2021 04:39

Put a cotton wool beauty pad in her nappy, then you will know if she does wee. With her being newborn the wee could soak in the nappy & the nappy still feel dry.

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Original poster
Cathcat41 · 12/04/2021 05:09

Update. I've never been so happy to see a blue line since the day I found out I was having her. She gave me a wet nappy! Thank you all for your advice and listening. Hopefully I'll see more of them in the next few days and we master the latch together. Xxxx

OP posts:
Benvolio · 12/04/2021 05:16

Well done, you're doing a great job. Hope you get some kip soon.

LEMtheoriginal · 12/04/2021 05:33

Oh bless yuo- try and get some sleep

TanteRose · 12/04/2021 06:03

@Cathcat41

Update. I've never been so happy to see a blue line since the day I found out I was having her. She gave me a wet nappy! Thank you all for your advice and listening. Hopefully I'll see more of them in the next few days and we master the latch together. Xxxx
yay! sorry, I didn't mean to sound harsh about the water thing, but there will be others who will maybe search this thread and who might be tempted to follow bad advice.

hope you can get a bit of sleep now - many congratulations on your DD Flowers

Flyingfrogspawn · 12/04/2021 06:07

Congratulations! I know how your feeling. I gave birth on Thursday night. It can be so worrying especially breastfeeding. It's completely normal for them not to wee or poo much in the first few days. They will start doing it more once your milk is in, which hopefully will happen today or tomorrow for you x

Thatwentbadly · 12/04/2021 06:14

@Cathcat41

Update. I've never been so happy to see a blue line since the day I found out I was having her. She gave me a wet nappy! Thank you all for your advice and listening. Hopefully I'll see more of them in the next few days and we master the latch together. Xxxx
@Cathcat41 ring the birthing unit and telling them you are struggling with feeding and need to see the community midwife today. When I had a similar issue with being unable to get DD2 to latch they has a community midwife with me by 9.30 that morning.
pollylocketpickedapocket · 12/04/2021 06:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn as it quotes a deleted post.

provencegal · 12/04/2021 06:50

You are doing a wonderful job caring for her op.

You must not feel guilty for loving and looking after her, and ensuring she is not dehydrated. Great news re wet nappy. I hope you are both catching some zzz now and enjoy your beautiful newborn baby!

Springchickpea · 12/04/2021 07:01

Oh goodness I’ve been where you are, utterly physically broken by a long and difficult labour ending in forceps and a very painful wound. Struggling on little sleep, and waiting for milk to come in. I was in hospital all that time, and my baby had been on an IV so we didn’t have problems with dehydration but my milk came on day 3.

Is she wanting to cluster feed? My baby fed all night long for two straight nights. It was bizarre. I literally couldn’t put him down between 11pm and 5am, and all he wanted to do was suckle. I was so sore, but he was just doing his job bringing my milk in. He stopped doing that as soon as it came in.

You have had a blood transfusion and I think that does sometimes affect things. All you can do is put baby to the breast often, spend time skin to skin/hang out naked with baby. And please do ask to see the feeding team.

Well done! It’s a tough time when they arrive like this but it will get better ❤️

ChooChooThomas · 12/04/2021 08:05

So pleased to see your update. Good luck today with the latch

edwinbear · 12/04/2021 08:47

OP I had a traumatic 36hr labour with DS, he was also a forceps delivery and he found it difficult to latch at first. The midwives said a forceps birth can leave the baby with a headache for a few days which can make them a bit out of sorts. Please just keep trying, you'll both get there in the end, but if you're worried, please seek some proper medical advice. Nobody will mind seeing you with such a new baby - congratulations!

midnightstar66 · 12/04/2021 09:02

It takes quite a lot of wee for a modern nappy to feel wet. The amount a new born does you could easily be missing it. Re the latch try lying down on your side on bed with baby lying on their side facing you. Was a game changer for me both times.

someoneiou · 12/04/2021 09:20

Glad to see your update OP. I wonder if you're worried about your birth experience might delay your milk coming in? Just to reassure you, I had episiotomy and forceps delivery and needed 2 blood transfusions, my milk came in on Day 3 so you should start to feel something today hopefully!

summerisler · 12/04/2021 09:24

Hope you’re both ok - those early days after your first baby are such a shock to the system. xx

SmednotaSmoo · 12/04/2021 09:27

Hooray.

I would not be surprised if the advice today is to persevere with formula top ups, but just want to reassure you that plenty of people have successfully breast fed (If that’s what you want to do) with using some formula.

Hope you get some sleep today.

bluebluezoo · 12/04/2021 09:27

If she’s pooing there is milk going in :)

It’s possible you’re missing the pee as pp said as it’s such tiny amounts and nappies soak it up so quickly. In the early days I never needed to change a nappy unless there was poo because they stayed dry forever!

Subordinateclause · 12/04/2021 09:43

Well done OP, glad to hear everything is okay. Do ask for breastfeeding support if you need it - the ladies I saw were ever so kind and incredibly knowledgeable, I had no idea there was so much to know about breastfeeding!

SmednotaSmoo · 12/04/2021 19:50

Hope today has gone ok @Cathcat41

custardbear · 12/04/2021 20:12

Yippeee for wet nappies 😆 glad you seemed better though, it's very troubling at first when it's all new and so very different.

How did you get on with the midwife?
Hang in there, and PLEASE ignore everyone who unhelpfully tells you it gets worse (I had this and it terrified me!) ... it doesn't, it does get better, newborn days are hard but honestly it changes rapidly and you get more problems but they're different and you'll be up for different challenges as the years go by - never a dull moment 😉

bob1985 · 12/04/2021 20:30

OP so glad you have a wet nappy!

Been were you are , it's a rollercoaster

Also, just to say i successfully combi fed DD so it's possible

Original poster
Cathcat41 · 12/04/2021 21:13

Hi everyone. Thank you again for your lovely words of encouragement. It really means so much when you feel so alone. Midwife came, she was happy enough with my latch and could hear her swallowing, just as she was leaving baba have us another wet nappy! I cried with delight! So just one more today before 5 in the morning and I'll be much more settled. I have the breastfeeding consultants coming again for the next 2 days just to make sure we are both happy. I got a lend of a manual pump and my milk is starting to show at last. So every thing is coming together. Just feels like I'll never stop worrying about her for life now. But I guess this is what being a mam is about.

Thank you all again. I really needed your support last night and you all help me more than you'll know. ❤️❤️

OP posts:
DownWhichOfLate · 12/04/2021 21:17

Well done! Do make sure you are eating and drinking enough (and sleeping!).