April 2015 - thread 17. The babies are still coming thick and fast, waving Pom poms a plenty in support!

[PenguinPoser]

Felt we might need a new thread to get through the night feeds and labours!

Thanks LittleGreyCat that's reassuring. Can't believe how little (ie nothing!) I remember from last time round.

Cowbiscuits good luck!

Cavetroll, sounds like you had a very tough time in labour - hope you're ok now. I felt quite traumatised for the first couple of days and it disrupted my bonding with ds, but I feel better about it all now and it's just been replaced by the paranoia of caring for a newborn.

Cinnamon, glad your ds is doing so well.

Hope things get moving for you cowbiscuits.

Waves pompoms for cow

Great news on tests cinnamon

Obviously as bump is still in situ I can't add to the stitches story but it's interesting if not rather scary reading. As if labour isn't painful enough there's then afterwards to deal with! You don't see animals going through this they make it look so simple!

Pelvis at all time aching high. Took dog out for walk yesterday and it's getting more uncomfortable. Cmon bump!

39+3

Thanks for the new thread! I had DD2 on 17th, she was a planned section.

The recovery has been awful, so painful and feel I am neglecting DD1 because I can hardly do anything with her. Plus I have this horrible overhang above my scar, stomach looks a mess. Anyone else have a section and experience this?

Apart from that everything is amazing, baby took to the breast far easier than DD1. Only thing is she enjoys it so much that she is never off it! Haha.

How is everyone else getting on with their bumps and babies?

Cowbiscuits fingers crossed for a due date baby for you!

Smogs I think it's normal for the cord to come off anywhere up to 2 weeks and as long as it's clean and dry it's generally ok.

Had a nice 3h block of sleep. I woke before dd for the feed didn't help right boob super engirged and leaking all over. Suspect it's because we gave bottle of ebm about 11.30pm so my boobs have essentially missed a feed. DD making up for it now. DH gave the bottle and it was mixed emotions from me - pleased she took it happily and settled to sleep in a milk coma. Sad in a way that she didn't need me to settle (although that was the whole point!!). Anyway it means we can happily go for tea on Sunday leaving one feed of ebm with my mum. Might have to express to make up for it though as forgot how sore engorgement is!

Congratulations docpeppa:) sorry you're suffering after your cs! Pleased the feeding is going well though.

After a random brain fart last night I decided to start tracking feeds. I've slept much better tonight despite being up every hour and half. That last one was 2 hours so got an extra half hour woohoo

She has only fed for 5 mins and brought a bit of it back but happily snuggled on my chest for now. Just have to make sure she isn't going to want any more before I put her down again.

DD1 had snuck in our bed again, DH went to put her back but think he's climbed in with her as no sign of him coming back to our bed. Mmm bed to myself, come on little one are you asleep again? Mummy needs to make the most of it.

Great news on the sleep Lauren. We generally get 3-4 hours between night feeds now which is lovely except when Mr Clingy won't then go back in his basket. I will win this mum vs baby fight!!

Hope you ladies still waiting aren't getting too uncomfortable. DS was due today - scary to think he is almost 2 weeks old!

Great news on the bottle Penguin. I really have got to be brave and try expressing. It just fills me with fear at the moment

Not read back yet sorry... But why is the baby that I have fed, attempted to wind, swaddled, put down once, cuddled, changed his nappy and fed again still wide awake???

Oh, huge burp... And sick... Maybe now he will settle... Or, evidently, he could just start rooting again

Congrats on the test results cinnamon, a couple of weeks of no appointments, woohoo!

fi I hope things are easier today

making sending some sleepy vibes your way!

Stitches, 2nd degree tear at back near bum were fine until last couple of days when getting needle pains, think that's to do with themthem trying to dissolve now? Need to do pelvic floor exercises, feel like everything is falling out and trapping lots of air up there

He didn't sleep. He fed again. Came off as he choked when half asleep still slurping.

Now he is still not asleep
Seriously.

I.am so tired. I just want him to go to sleeeeeep...

Making... Meant maki!!!

Hope you hot some sleep daholster.

Why does this parenting thing make me completely paranoid. Last night (after a night and day of cluster feeding and a week of refusing to sleep outside our bed) DD has slept through in her basket. Actually had to wake her after 4 hours for a feed and she's gone straight back down in her basket. Thought I'd be pleased but now I think there must be something wrong!! I'm fairly sure there isn't and her temperature is perfect so I think I need to chill out, but it's so hard! someone tell me it gets easier?!

Cinnamon that's great news on test results, v pleased for you.

Thanks Penguin.

Little Grey Cat - it won't help but I remember this from first time around. All I can say is when you have a second (!) you won't worry as much! Mainly bc if both children are asleep, so will you be.

daholster and others having probs getting babies to sleep in baskets - we have found the prince lionheart womb machine helpful again this time around. You take the unit out of the hideous soft toy and attach to the basket/ crib/ whatever. Have a look on amazon. Other people swear by white noise on iPhones and so on.

docpeppa - I had a (second) planned section on 16th. Found first four days really painful and was in a panic that I was going to be bedridden forever but I think it's bc the pain relief they give out now is rubbish. Last time I got a nice big bag of codeine and diclofenac to take home, this time just para and ibuprofen. My tummy does look a bit like it's done three rounds with Mike Tyson (haematoma apparently which basically looks like bruises) but that will sort itself out. I found having the stitches out had an immediate effect on the pain as well as my state of mind. Have your legs gone back to normal yet if they swelled up? I've just finished my injections and not wearing flight socks anymore which is nice. Has your hospital given you got the post section exercise sheet?

LittleGreyCat I hold out the same hope as you that it gets easier!

Day 4 today and he is currently asleep next to me in bed with my arm around him. Feel like I made a rod for my own back with the first time I ever picked him up when he cried . He won't settle for more than an hour in his Moses basket and was the same in hospital pretty much.
Midwives said do longer feeds but he still seems to end up wanting more. Aside from winding him and changing him or picking him up, I don't know what else I can do?!
It doesn't hope that my stitches are painful and I'm finding it hard to get up from sitting down especially when holding him.
I'm so exhausted

Daholster just reading back and it sounds like we have similar babies!

Aww brummagem I hope i haven't scared you by talking about stitches. I think mine might be a slightly different case because apparently I tore on the inside but I don't know. They will heal I'm sure of it, but just can't wait for midwife to check them later!

Thankyou Jetpack, I decided that I am going to brave looking at my stitches if I get the chance although if midwife comes out today I'll probably have the outcome from her first before I get chance as my mum is coming round to see us today. Will update about them after she has gone! Thanks for the info on laxatives too, I will more than likely end up getting some.

Hope everyone is ok, sending cups of tea to everyone in need of one! Including myself but a bit difficult with a clingy baby lying under my armpit!

Hi everyone, too soon for pom poms! Due date at last! Still feel the same as last night, nothings really moved on, got a dull ache but I can't say anything is starting. Still think it's just BH but they are strong, much more than before, and I kind of feel them in my groin and my back. I do hope they are doing something useful, and it turns into something. Maybe tomorrow or sunday. I find it hard to believe my body will still be doing this in a week. I hope not anyhow!

Didn't sleep very well as my mind was ticking away, on the what ifs, then DS decided to wake up, and wanted me to stay and hold his hand, and kept waking and calling for me whenever I thought he was asleep and sneaked off.

LittleGreyCat yes I promise it gets easier but it takes at least a month. I've been trying not to remember it, but the first few weeks are sooooo hard. I remember crying while DS screamed and screamed inconsolably and we took turns pacing the house with him. But at the same time so happy to have made this beautiful tiny new human.

Also hope everyone is recovering physically ok- another thing I am trying not to think about! I had an episiotomy with DS (Forceps delivery) and I guess I got off lightly because it was nowhere near as bad as I feared. Am I just not remembering?

But of course, this one is going to be a really chilled out waterbirth with just a bit of gas and air and a few pushes, and no damage of course, right .

Even though DS took to breastfeeding well (on about day 4 midwife recommended one of those widgey pillows and suddenly my posture changed and I was more comfortable) and I never had the problems with sore nipples, I stressed because he used to fall asleep and fall off my boob after 5 mins. I was obsessed with foremilk/hindmilk and convinced he wasn't getting the good stuff because he wasn't feeding long enough.

It just works itself out. This is why threads like this are good because you realise you're not alone.

Maki79! "how long now?" "you must be so fed up" "oh poor you" blah blah. We should make a bingo game, see how many of those comments we can get.

It is great to know you're not alone.

DS was better in the basket last might although at one point I had to put him down as I honestly felt like a couldn't breathe. I did have to give him cuddles for a few hours but brought a blanket into bed with us and hopefully it helped when I eventually tucked him in that it was warmer and smelt a bit of me.

Try and keep positive everyone, our little ones are all still tiny so hopefully it'll all get easier for all of us soon!

Cowbiscuits I'm currently in the foremilk/hindmilk obsession. He falls asleep after about 20 mins on the breast and will not take anymore, no matter how much I try. I have a good supply and fast flow so I know he is probably getting a reasonable volume, but I have no idea if he's getting any/enough hindmilk. Comm mw will weigh him again today, so let's see...

Well after that last feed at 4.40 we got a good few hours of sleep and now having a monster feed been on for a good 15mins now! She had been a bit sick in those hours her little shoulder was covered and she gave me a nice wet/poo nappy. It had soaked through her sleep suit

In other news my milk is in! Right boob was leaking like a sieve when she was feeding on the left. So today is going to be a no bra day I think and I'll be doing very little else.

RL I definitely wouldn't say you have made a rod for your own back at all. Baby is so young and tiny he needs cuddles and to be close to you. It doesn't mean you're spoiling him or you'll be holding him forever. He's been inside you for 9 months and you're all he knows. So don't worry. I know it's easier said than done. We have all had nights and days where we can't put baby down. It gets better. And then worse. And then better again! Just
enjoy the cuddles. When your mum comes let her make you a drink, food, do the washing up etc and you just relax.

Happy due date Cowbiscuits!

Cinnamon great news that you don't need to take your ds for more blood tests today :)

Totally know what you mean littlegreycat. If dd is noisy at night I'm shushing and willing her to be quiet and when she goes quiet I get up to make sure she's still breathing!

We went to the charity ball last night was so proud of dd she looked so cute in her dress and was so good even though poor dh was holding her most of the evening! Hoping to go to the park with friends today.

Yay for milk Lauren!
Jetpack- I trawled the infant feeding boards etc as I was worried about the foremilk hind milk etc too. Opinion seemed to be that it's a bit of an outdated concept and as long as baby is having a decent feed then will be fine. There's someone called tictok on there who gives really good advice.

Yes Jetpack I reckon it might be bollocks. Second timer here!

RL - babies are meant to be cuddled. Best feeling ever don't deny yourself. Get a womb machine/ some white noise to help baby be in cot so you don't go mad though

RL Penguin is right, you definitely haven't made a rod for your back. I think it really sad that mums in our society are made to feel bad for holding their babies all the time. It's the natural thing, they need to be next to you. Babies are not capable of forming memories for many months so they can't learn bad habits or whatever else people tell you.

Try googling 4th trimester.

You've got to do what you got to do.

My body sucks! Contractions started again at 6pm at 7 mins apart. They got to 2 mins apart, so phoned and told to come in. They hurt but not too bad. Got hooked up to monitor and definitely having contractions and they are close together and frequent but my stupid cervix hasn't dictated anymore. They let me go home and Im now to go back when I need pain relief rather than relying on timing contractions. So fed up! Why is my body keeping my baby hostage!

Ds1 was 10 days, ds2 a week and Sam 4 days smogsville. Ds1 had lots of problems and infection in his even at months old his belly button would go red and sore periodically but the cord had fallen off normally. I kept Sams to show dh as he wasn't around when it fell of and he just said yuk why would I want to look at that!

We have the largest babies of all mammals though Brummagem, relative to our size I mean obviously a baby elephant is bigger

Can't help on the cs front docpeppa but sure here are lots who can

Good news on bottle PenguinPoser! My ds1&2 took to bottles almost instantly. I haven't got a pump this time but it struck me getting back to running is going to be more related to bf and my boobs not fitting in my sports bra than my pelvic floor/stitches.

Don't knock sleeping LittleGreyCatwithapinkcollar! In the early days baby is so variable as their brains are working so hard to assimilate all the new info and some days there's more than others. Same with growth, they have spurts and then settle so no one day is the same. I was up every hour weds night and last night Sam went 10.30-3 and then 4-7.30 try not to worry!

daholster I think after a while of being swollen, swelling goes down and you start to feel the stitches soreness more. Dh assured me at the time that's a good thing and shows healing, it will improve.

I don't know about ff RL20 so really can't help on amounts of milk but I think being unsettled away from you is not unusual. Personally I don't want to co-sleep have baby with us but I also don't want him to be left crying. I find that sometimes a further feed helps him settle, sometimes a little more time snuggled on my chest helps him to sleep soundly enough to put him down and sometimes he just goes off by himself. Equally there are times he won't settle and I leave him on my chest and doze in my nursing chair until he wakes for another feed and start again. I will keep trying to settle him in his cot but I won't leave him crying either even though getting Naom to sleep by himself is important to me. Everyone will be different on this front and you have to do what suits you, there are lots of books on different sleep training which shows how many different approaches there are but try not to stress too much about 'making a rid of your own back' particularly with a baby sooooooo tiny

That was me with ds1 Lauren82000 soaked through breast pads and wore them until 8months. Ds2 was much more regulated and this time I'm leaking a lot too. Also first time I've had let down randomly if boobs get squashed or Sam cries or if he hasn't fed for a while, funny how it can be so different every time!!!!