October 2013: The Fourth Trimester - the bit no one warns you about!

[roxvox]

Stats sheet here

New arrivals here

Key:
SC - still cooking (pre EDD)
SFW - still f*ing waiting (post EDD)
OWT - on way to theatre (CS)
IP - induction in progress
SWIL - somewhere in labour
LIT - lost in transition

Flyer....... Maybe the feeding is better because of the gaviscon? I'm so happy for you both. Having a hungry baby that won't eat is the worst thing ever. How are you feeling in yourself now?

Jelly....... Amelie did that too! The only way I could get her to let go of her hair was to stick a boob in her mouth and feed her. She then relaxed enough for me to prise her hand out of her hair.

Mrsh....... Amelie is 3 weeks old tomorrow and has used a dummy 3 times. She really isn't keen on it at all so it is kept for emergency use if she needs feeding and for any reason I can't do it straightaway (ie walking through a huge shopping centre). I would much rather give her a dummy for a few minutes and find a more private space to feed her rather than whip my boobs out in front of loads of strangers.

Ready...... Don't let anyone tell you not to cuddle your baby as much as you like. This time goes so fast. Enjoy those snuggles because it won't be long until your baby is too big to snuggle right into you in the same way. If Amelie wants to be cuddled all day, then she is. I am happy for her to go into her bed during the day but only if she is settled. Tiny babies shouldn't be left upset, they need to be loved and nurtured.

I forgot to ask........ Who is still lurking at the back if the bus? The spreadsheets aren't very clear as they aren't up to date.

Good luck to those if you sfw and swil.

Morning ladies, quick post from me as feeding with toddler shouting for me every couple of minutes.

just need advice from those of you with baby's on gaviscon, how are you giving it to them?! thankyou notso for the syringe tip worked better than the spoon but still spitting so much out she pushes it out with her tongue.
Glad feeding is so much better flyer
sorry not to have caught up on everyone's news but sending my sympathy to all those who are exhausted/having feeding issues/SFW x

Pink......try to put into into the side of her mouth/cheek. She is less likely to be able to push it out. Or you can buy dummies that you out medicine into that may help.

this one is suitable from birth

pinkbuttons have u tried stringing into her cheek rather than the middle?

flyer so delighted that feeding has improved. Your perseverance is amazing and admirable. I hope you have an easy time for a while, you really deserve it. Good work! Xxx
Thank you all for your advice. I slept much better for not having those worries in my head and I've decided to go easy on the daytime sleeping thing and just do what he and I feel like. He's so good. Only 6 days old, never complains at night about basket and even sucks his own fingers to self settle when hanging out awake or on his changing table etc. and feeds like a pro. I know I have it easy. But thank you so much. I have read no parenting books for fear of confusing advise but turns out I manage to get in a muddle all by myself anyway. So if I don't get round to ensuring he has a sleep alone in his basket during the day today I'll just let it go.I think part of my worry stems from the fact I go back to work in April and both me and oh work nights so I feel I need to be totally on it with him. But on reflection, we're doing fine! Thank you again for advise. So glad I joined in with all of you!
Hope everyone has a good Sunday.
Big hugs to anyone sfw. Xxx

Clapham that's exactly why I have resisted giving him a dummy so far since his latch could still use some work - that and the fact that he doesn't actually seem to be sucking for comfort.

Thank you wicked and nat will give that a try this morning and thank you for the link wicked x

So happy that feeding has improved Flyer I'm less anxious about bf now since I saw my GP. He poi Ted out that no matter how small the amount of milk I am able to produce it is still packed with antibodies. I'm no lo get expressing during the night and am putting Eliana to the breast so feel a bit more rested.

Am I the only one desperate to get back to normal with regards to DTD?. We managed twice in the first week post natal but a combination of tiredness and hatred of condoms have brought a halt to that. I don't get on with hormonal contraception so I think a copper coil may be my only option though last time I had one it made my periods unbearably heavy and 2 weeks long.

I noticed on Thursday night that Eliana's scar had opened slightly at one end. I took her to Go next day and he said it's a little infected but that he was reluctant to give a young baby antibiotics so just to keep an eye on it and take her back to Yorkhill tomorrow if it gets any worse. It doesn't sound quite right to me. I have a visit from the staff nurse tomorrow so will see what she says.

emotionally I would love to get back to dtd but physically am a long way off. seeing consultant at hosp a week on Monday to see how everything has healed after my third degree tear so will see what they say there. im also bleeding still and need to go get my implant back in at the drop in clinic so all in all I think it will be a while. not to mention I've no idea where we would find the time haha

I think I'd be more reluctant if I'd had a vaginal birth. I think it's jist the closeness I miss. With 5 kids in the house it's the only thing we do together.
My c-section wound opened up a little last week and still hasn't healed so that's put me off a bit too.

yes definitely missing that emotional connection. even with just one baby here I feel like me and dp barely have any time for just the two of us! I know we'll get that back in time but I miss it now.

Am I the only one desperate to get back to normal with regards to DTD

I got the major horn watching Dexter the other night (a sex scene not someone being murdered!) but I can't see it happening any time soon with my c-section still so tender.

So glad someone asked about dtd, dh keeps asking if I'm still bleeding I'm 18 days post birth normal normal delivery 1st degree tear but no stitches and am keen too try bit scared, I think I'll try and wait another week but I need to sort contraception first too .. Hmpphhh

I suggested to DH that I might be open to a little "fumbling" but I'm not sure I want to extend it further than that at this stage. It doesn't help that he seems transfixed by my boobs, which are sooo sore and I'm struggling to see how he'd keep clear of them - even if he didn't do it deliberately.

12 days post section here and not one little bit of me wants to dtd! I am still 1 stone overweight, scar is red, boobs are horrid and big and milk filled and I generally feel so unattractive, I don't want DH anywhere near me until I am looking a bit more like my normal self! I am quite vain I suppose but I just don't feel I want DH to see me like this, I was the same after ds1 too, he didn't get any action until 6 weeks I think! Poor DH!

I'm desperate to DTD but still bleeding and no contraception sorted yet so will have to wait a bit longer yet...

Does anyone else have a routine yet? We can't seem to settle into one so still up in the air and having good and bad days.

Same here shooting.
Tits look like cows udders with horrid veins running through them, got this dodgy c section scar over hang thing going on. Saw some back fat last night when I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I generally look like a minger

Also nearly 3 weeks on I'm still bleeding how long does this last?

I've not caught up on today's chat. However reading back a few posts I see dtd is on the mind.

USE PROTECTION! Or you will end up with a 11 month gap like me , it is no fun! As much as I love ds2 I am finding it very difficult.

I will most deff not be the first in this group to be getting preg again.

Ps breast feeding is not a form of contraception.

Flyer so glad things are looking up.

Still bleeding and episiotomy STILL sore here, though midwife yesterday said stitches have dissolved and is healing. We have had a couple of cuddles in bed while we drift off to sleep which has been nice to feel close to each other again and in theory I would like to (surprised myself, no 'you're never coming near me again' feelings at any point and was talking about a brother or sister in the delivery room). But dtd is off the cards until I feel properly healed. Poor DH, it was also not happening while I was a huge fat preggo with pgp that meant my legs needed to stay together.

I have to get braver about feeding in front of people. SIL just been to visit and I managed pumping under a wrap but got DH to give an expressed milk bottle. He is disappointed in me I think as we are meant to be offering breast first to wean Thomas off the bottle but I felt really awkward and she was about to leave so I didn't want to take him upstairs to do it in private like I have done with visitors before.

orange I feed Cyrus under a mini duvet thing on the sofa when people are here. A blanket of some sort would work. I just kind of drape it over my shoulders.
We have had the entire in law family here for lunch. Incl 2 toddlers. I have no idea how those with 2+ little ones do it.
We have done some 'heavy petting' which is fine but a bit early for any actual penetration. I think it will be when stitches are a distant memory even though they do not hurt. We were doing it til the day he was born so dont feel like I'm depriving oh yet! Just doing skin to skin with him too is good!

Glad I'm not the only one flyer!
And yes gt I was breastfeeding ds1 when I got pregnant again....... That won't be happenning again!

I've got one boob at least 3 cup sizes than the other back fat, thunder thighs and my c-section overhang is a permanent fixture unless I win the lottery and have a tummy tuck but I don't really care. Dp makes me feel desirable and unless I look in a mirror I believe it for a while.
I've never had a good body, even as a slim size 10 because dramatic weight loss followed by 4 caesareans left me with loose saggy skin and the dreaded apron belly and I'll probably look even worse once I've lost the baby weight this time.

Very jealous of all of you even wanting to DTD. DH has been making awkward jokes and not very subtle hints for the past week... Isla was 3 weeks yesterday and I dont feel anywhere near ready. I had a second degree tear and still in pain when I go to the toilet im honestly scared tobeven try anything. its our 3rd anniversary tomorrow I havent got him anything and I cant see me being much fun in that way. just generally feel like an awful wife and is DHs first day back at work so just preparing myself for a teary day Sorry for rant have been worrying about it today so funny it should come up.