June 2016 #10 - the one where it's a pre and post natal thread

[iamdivergent]

Since we only have about 15 posts remaining I thought I'd make up the new one.

Lots of babies have arrived already but still plenty of us pregnant too. Here's to our June 2016 babies

Iamdivergent the hot cold packs were good for me. Warm them before u try to feed, also expressed for a minute each side before feeding. Really feel for you xxx

Jelly- oh no poor you! How many weeks postpartum are you now?

With Dd I was told flutter sucks were when she was comfort sucking and to stop. I've just been told to let them feed when they are flutter sucking as it's the best and fattiest milk. So what's the truth?

What's flutter sucking?

Rather than a strong suck which breast fed babies start off with they can change to flutter sucks which are gentle like a flutter. The HV told me that's how I knew baby was getting the best and fattiest milk but I wasn't told that last time I was told they were just sucking for comfort not milk. Don't always get to flutter sucks at a feed but I'm not sure if it matters but they seem to be two conflicting bits of information!

Hello ladies! I hope everyone is well. Ahh, the conflicting information is mental! We were told at hospital to really wrap DS up (in 5 layers) so then the poor mite came out in an awful red and pussy heat rash. Thankfully that's gone now but we keep him in a nappy most of the time at home so much less than the books/ HB and other MW have said. He clearly takes after DH who wears shorts all year round and at least it's just about gone now, arghh!!

Thank you for the congrats ladies

Loulou how you feeling? It's so frustrating being so overdue but before you know it it will be all forgotten
Nevaeh is a week old today it's been a crazy week, you forget how exhausting it is but amazing at the same time. My partner went back to work Monday I was worried about being on my own but I'm actually enjoying it, bonding and getting to know her

Lovely name Harvey, how has it been with your partner back at work? For me how I cope often depends on how much sleep I've been able to get the night before...

I'm 4 weeks postpartum today. Went to MAC regarding 'retained products' - they weren't too fussed as the retained products are small amounts so likely to expel in their own time, and I've not got any ongoing symptoms. So hopefully it shouldn't be an issue and will go away shortly by itself.

That's good jelly hope it sorts itself for you soon.

Blimey eastend that's a crazy amount of layers - I didn't even have my October baby in that many layers! B is just wearing a baby grow and is fine.

Evening! Anyone else read this very interesting article....
fusion.net/story/316057/france-cooch-coach-vagina-lessons-childbirth/

I want one of tbese cooch coaches!!!

Dolly I don't know about the flutter sucking but I found dr jack Newman (renowned BF expert based in Canada) to be really helpful on how to know if your baby is feeding or not
www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=doc-IMB

There is also a video but I can't find the link right now. Basically you are waiting for a little pause - if they have that then they are drinking milk.

Extract below:
1. Baby's breastfeeding is characteristic. A baby who is obtaining good amounts of milk at the breast sucks in a very characteristic way. When a baby is getting milk (he is not getting milk just because he has the breast in his mouth and is making sucking movements), you will see a pause at the point of his chin after he opens to the maximum and before he closes his mouth, so that one suck is (open mouth wide > pause > close mouth type of sucking). If you wish to demonstrate this to yourself, put your index or other finger in your mouth and suck as if you were sucking on a straw. As you draw in, your chin drops and stays down as long as you are drawing in. When you stop drawing in, your chin comes back up. This same pause that is visible at the baby's chin represents a mouthful of milk when the baby does it at the breast. The longer the pause, the more the baby got. Once you can recognize this pause you will realize that so much of what women are told about timing the baby on the breast is meaningless. For example, it is meaningless to suggest to mothers to feed the baby twenty minutes on each side. Twenty minutes of what? Sucking without drinking? Sucking and drinking (some pausing in the movement of the chin)? All long pause-types of sucks? A baby who does this type of sucking (with the pauses) for twenty minutes straight might not even take the second side. A baby who nibbles (doesn't drink) for 20 hours will come off the breast hungry. Our website nbci.ca shows video clips of drinking at the breast. If the baby comes off the breast while doing this kind of drinking with long pauses, then baby is probably saying, I have had enough. If baby is continually just sucking without drinking (therefore little or no pausing) baby will still be hungry. Play detective, what is baby’s chin doing as he seems to “finish”? If the milk is flowing well the baby can either choose to drink it or take a little break (in fact the baby does not need to suck continuously and most babies do not). If the milk is not flowing well, then baby will be ‘forced’ to just suck without drinking. If this is the case, use compression to help more milk to flow (see information sheet Breast Compression).

Interesting article mindful shame we're not offered similar! It did remind me to do some kegals though!

Strawberry amazing isn't it?! What is sad is that in the uk today there is so little focus on women's health that this is not being done. I was told a 1/3rd of women over 5o suffer with some level jncontinence.
Omg
That is a terrible stat. And it is not limited to women who have had kids vaginally. Also includes women who never had kids and who had CS.
This is an issue we all need to keep in mind. The article about the French approach is very interesting. More interesting is that there are some physios who do offer this service in the uk..... I might see if I can pluck up the courage to go find one!

Iam have you had your LO checked for TT?
DS had it and was bloody awful, everyone said latch fine etc but I knew he wasn't getting enough milk and I was so sore.

Seems I make better girl breastfeeders!

Here's some info on TT
www.facebook.com/themilkmeg/posts/1040195916034259

Gosh - kegels may be ineffective. I find them hard enough to get the hang of, never mind doing vagainal zigzag exercises! Sounds fascinating though...

Morning all- any advice on a 3 week old with a cold? He hasn't got a temperature but is quite mucus-y and is feeding loads in short bursts (I think it helps him clear the mucus) and having trouble settling. The GP is closed and I spoke to the 24 HR midwife doesn't seem too worried, just said to go to A&E if anything gets worse.

Eastend I think if they are feeding ok, aren't floppy etc then there is v little you can do. I know you can get aspirations to suck mucus out of their noses, not sure how good they are though. Too little for anything else I think, possibly saline drops for nose but you'd have to check with pharmacy. Good luck horrible when they are poorly :(

Mindful thanks so much that was such helpful info I watched the videos and concluded my DD is a nibbler! Will work on improving latch to see if it helps xx

I have a 4 week old with a cold too Eastend. I feel so sorry for her, she's all blocked and grumpy.

Snuffly four week old here too...
If you are BFing, kiss 'em lots so your immune system can make plenty of the right antibodies, but that's about the only tip I have, beyond what dolly said.

Thanks ladies- he seems a little better this evening. A&E sounds like a massive overkill and even aspirations will probably upset him more than the mucus! I think we'll just have to wait it out

Snotty 4 week old here too! I've got saline drops which helps to clean his nose, and he is feeding loads too (fluids and important to fight colds). I've been cuddling him lots, especially up on my shoulder as I think he finds it easier to breathe that way. Colds in July suck, I've got it too

Sounds weird but breastmilk can be dropped into their nose to help clear the mucus. It's wonderful stuff! (And it works too- I've done it)
Hope snuffly babies all feel better soon

Funny you should say that lillies - we were BF lying down and milk came out his nose!! Did seem to help clear things a bit...

Hah! Breastmilk Magic! I knew about dripping it into eyes for conjunctivitis, but not as a nose clearer...

Wouldn't let me post earlier for some reason

Harley thanks for asking for me got a sweep at 8days over and it worked its magic at 2am the next morning and I had my handsome boy on the 7th July he's absolutely amazing it wasn't without its dramas I was in labour for over 9 hours and was about to be taken to theatre thankfully I managed to deliver before that happened his bowels and opened and cord was wrapped round his neck so peads had to be there for delivery, we were going home on Friday but then they noticed his breathing was a bit strange when crying so he ended up in scbu for 24 hours thankfully all is ok they think maybe a slight vocal cord but ENT aren't concerned and will see him as an outpatient at 3 months we got home yesterday and so smitten with our wee man

Anyways here is our little Ash Patel who weighed 7lb 15

A slight floppy vocal cord*

Congratulations LouLou, he's gorgeous. Love the hat too!