November 2010: Welcome to life on the other side

[bunnygirl80]

Pull up a chair and help yourself to a LARGE glass of wine

Welcome to the dark side the wonderful world of motherhood

Thanks for the good wishes, ladies.

Looopy I've been on the iron tablets for two weeks but DD's poo is yellow / brown. It could well be different for different people though

helloooo, happy monday all.
Me and Finn are home alone - DP has gone back to work for the week - was a bit teary first thing, but all been fine so far.
Finn has a stuffy nose and think it's affecting his feeding as he keeps taking himself off the boob after a couple of minutes at most and is really struggling with his latch. he sounds so snuffly when feeding bless him - but has been fine when on the bottle.
i really hope it's just the blocked nose and not the start of him rejecting the boob, as the pain is getting a bit better and woud like to continue if only for a couple more weeks.

DP and I have agreed though, if things don't improve after the TT snip we will gradually wean over to EFF. Not what I wanted to do, but we both hate the struggle that feeding has become and think DP finally realises how upsetting it is for me not being able to get DS to feed. anyway, we await the outcome of tomorrow to see how we progress. Either way I now refuse to feel guilty as have tried, but there is definitely more to being a mum than breastfeeding.

looopy have been on iron tablets for 2 weeks (well when I remember to take them) and not noticed any effects on DS's poo - it's always yellow. Mine on the other hand .... lol.

could have sworn Finn smiled at me this morning. Now I know theoretically he is 'too young' and am aware that baby's often smile when they have wind (and he does this in his sleep), but it was in response to me making faces and funny noises at him. Probably wasn't an intentional smile, but either way made my heart melt.

feeling more human today - bruising a little better, stitches have dissolved i think so laughing/coughing is not such a trauma.

also back to pre-pregnancy weight, though still have loose stomach at the bottom - am hoping it tightens up in the next month or so. I would be pleased with this achievement had I not needed to lose around 3 stone before I got preggers

When HV came round tother day they plotted Finn's centiles - he is just under 50th centile for weight, but his head is on the 91st centile!! it's no wonder it got stuck
sorry to hear about those babies with weight gain issues - can't believe the need to weigh nappies etc, all seems a little OTT IMO.

anyway off to make some lunch while finn snoozes, be back on later.
hope all is well
must learn to write less (sorry)

Hello again,
Fenouille you are right about constant weighing being crazy. We've done it befoe and after several feeds and she seems to be drinking plenty. There is certainly a decent amount coming out the other end.

lainey fingers crossed that the tt snip sorts out your problems. If not, there is no point beating youself up. There are so many ways in which we pressurise ourselves to be the "perfect" mother and I don't think that anyone can manage to tick all of the boxes. I'm jealous of your weight loss, I still have 8kg to go although I'm trying to concentrate on Aino and not worry excessively about my figure, difficult though it may be.

How are everyone's Christmas plans? We're flying back to the uk. Should be fun taking a baby on the plane. As for the rest of our preparations, thank goodness fir internet shopping, especially as I have been able to do a lot of it whilst breastfeeding.

Hi ladies!

Here I am "on the other side". It's taken me nearly two weeks, but hey ho!

Will have to take some time to catch up on the thread but hope everyone is happy snuggling up with their little ones.

I've struggled a bit with recovery this time, so I've only really just been getting up and out of the house in the last couple days. I was struck down with a UTI on Friday which didn't help. With all my pain meds I didn't realise what it was, I just knew I felt like crap. Thankfully, doula was here and let me rest in bed most of the day. Have anti-bs now and they seem to be doing the job. Iron tablets are finally kicking in, too, so I'm less lethargic.

Good news is DS2 is feeding well and has gained 18oz (nearly 500g) since birth. Not sure how much I'll be trotting off to the weighing clinic so good to know he's put on weight so far.

Off to catch up on thread! Are we all done and dusted now??

So this is where you're all hanging out!

It's been a chaotic few weeks with Anna. First we had to contend with thrush (ouch!) - feeding's still a bit painful, but nothing like as bad as it was a couple of weeks ago. Then last Monday, following a couple of days of Anna having what seemed to be a bit of a cold, she gradually turned a terrifying blue/grey colour and wouldn't feed. I rang the HV, who told me to ring my GP, who immediately rang an ambulance for us. The paramedic came and gave Anna some oxygen, which restored her to a normal pinkish colour, and then we went to hospital.

We were there for five nights; Anna had bronchiolitis, which I'd never heard of, but which is apparently very common. She had to have EBM through a naso-gastric tube for part of the time she was there, because she couldn't breathe through her nose, but she made a good recovery, and we're home now. Poor DS thought we might be leaving Anna at the hospital; he was quite disappointed when we brought her home!

Hi JFly, glad to hear that you're starting to feel a bit better after what sounds like a rough start.

Lottie has now lost all her hair at the front and looks like a fat little old man, photo . Think she's a bit off colour at the moment being extra grumbly, the whole family's been ill with one thing or another so she was bound to catch something. Hoping she feels better soon as it's making her really fuss when feeding.

comtessa, 8 weeks on and I still haven't managed to get Lottie sleeping in anything other than my arms or moving pushchair or carseat, . Think I'm going to have to get a bit tougher with her soon, it's doing my back in sitting up with her all night!

foureyes - how scary! glad anna is better now

hmm - lottie is beautiful :)

Hamish also has a cold and is very congested. The other kids are taking it in turns to be ill off school

But so far I'm loving having four...!

Privet I wasn't signed off from the MW's with DS til day 16 mainly due to him being jaundiced and I think due to the fact that I was diagnosed with GBS during labour. DS was a 'lazy' feeder and slow to gain at first then suddenly shot up in weight. With Abbie I was discharged on my second visit!

Foureyes sorry to hear about Anna. I hope she's better not. She's the 3rd baby I've heard of with bronchiolitus this week. I guess it's the time of year?

Hmmsleep my DS was a nightmare sleeper and would only sleep on me during the day. I eventually did controlled crying at 6mths! He would go down at night in his cot but only if he was in a very deep sleep. Abbie seems to be more chilled and I can, on occassions, put her down awake and she'll nod off.

We had our six week check today and Abbie is now just shy of 11lbs and is on the 98th centile for length. She was not best pleased with proceedings and wee'd and poo'd everywhere!

She's feeding well although has been very conjested with a cold so hasn't been feeding as long. She tends to be quite cranky in the evenings but I think my milk is low then. Generally she only wakes once in the night between 11pm and 7 but can be awake for over an hour in that time. DS has a nasty cough at the moment so he's been waking up in the night usually when Abbie is sleeping so I'm not getting the benefit of these 4/5hr stretches!

Lainey I hope the ttsnip sorts out the breast feeding but don't feel guilty about switching to formula if you decide too. A happy Mummy is key to a happy baby. I think we put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect parents that we end up so stressed. It's not worth it! I find it really hard sometimes as I'm a nanny by proffession and feel I should have the perfect child in the perfect routine. I'm lucky if I get out the door in the morning before 11! I am slowly learning to go with the flow a bit more!

Well I best get off MN and write some christmas cards or do some ironing or do something useful! Hope everyone else is well and these coughs and colds go by Christmas!

Afternoon ladies
I finally got round to going to the baby clinic today to see what Isaac's weight is, hes now 8lbs and is 5 weeks today but still lenght wise his stuff is to big, like a lovely snowsuit a friend bought him from john lewis in newborn size, his feet just come to to the knees

Took the kids to see Santa Friday, little sod was asleep the whole time and woke up after the photo was taken

Had my 2nd and thankfully last visit from health visitor today (8 weeks today). She was actually really lovely, Lottie now 10lb 10. I was told I need to get strict, get a bedtime routine going and stop holding Lottie at night as it's too dangerous. She said this in a very kind but assertive tone. Apparently I'm only to pick her up long enough to settle her, then straight back down. I do see the need to get it cracked, but not looking forward to a few nights of no sleep at all whilst I pick her up every 5 minutes. Fingers crossed little Lottie gets the message sooner rather than later!

Hi all

Sorry to hear of your time in hospital foureyes that must've been pretty scary & hope Anna is on the mend now

Had 6 week check yesterday and was pretty Surprised by it really! Doctor didn't even weigh me!! Had read all this literature about getting a 'thorough' examination etc and not exercising or start having sex etc before all been checked over....but she literally didn't check anything! Just asked me how I was feeling, did I have any questions and the method of contraception I was planning on using!! I'd gone all prepared!! :) (easier now I can see around bump but didn't need to even worry! She didn't even look at Evie & said her appointment would be separate at 8 weeks (although it's at 7 weeks due to Xmas!)
I mentioned the concerns I had about urine etc, and was told if it continued it got worse then to go back!! Surely that's what I was there for!
Couldve all been done over the phone really and saved an appointment, and the effort of me getting ready seeing as I've been feeling really rubbish with the dreaded lurgy! Argh!

Completely missed your post foureyes, how scary, really glad you're all back home and well.

hi,

foureyes must have been scary - hope Anna is getting better

babybean at how un thorough the 6 week check was - what was the point?

am feeling very sorry for myself and teary this morning.
So Finn had his tongue tie snipped yesterday, which went really well though was horrible to see his little mouth full of blood. It was amazing how compression using breast feeding stopped it after a minute.

While the consultant was checking his mouth he pointed out that there was thrush on finns cheeks - which suddenly explained the shooting pains in my nipples for the last couple of days. Tihs of course meant the 'magic cure' of having the snip didn't in fact relieve my pain so still crying through every feed and totally fed up with it all.
really don't want to swtich to FF in case I regret it, but can't bare the thought of continuing to breastfeed. I know the thrush will improve in a week or so, but having given myself the deadline of yesterday in my mind, another week at this point seems impossible,
I know I am being selfish, but just fed up of being in pain and not enjoying feeding Finn.
Also Finn has decided that after night feeds he wants to be wide awake for 1-2 hours - not fun at 3.30 in the morning. He won't cry, just lie in his moses basket making funny noises, which of course mean I am listening out for so don't get sleep.

sorry for moaning again, no one to talk to in RL today as DP at work and had 2 lots of visits cancelled today as everyone is bleeding ill!

hope everyone is feeling a tad cheerier than I

x

lainey Sorry to hear about the thrush. I think we've got it too but I've read there's oral medicine which is very efficient. I'm hoping so at least. Can you give your midwife a call to see what she suggests? Hang in there! I remember coming back from our snip appointment in tears after the consultant had refused to snip the tie. Like you I'd put the date in my mind as THE day when things would get back to normal and I cried for a couple of days wondering how long I could continue to pump every couple of hours. I very firmly told myself "one more week and then we'll discuss it again"! Luckily we didn't have to go that far and if you can get something to sort the thrush out then you won't have to either :) Einar and I send you "bon courage" from one tongue tie-ee to another :)

Actually, on the subject of thrush I have a couple of questions as I can't get to the doctor today. From what you've written lainey it sounds like you can just leave it to clear up on its own, but does anyone know if that causes any discomfort or problems for the baby? Am I right in thinking it needs to be treated (and that there is a treatment?) Or should I just wait it out? I reckon I must have had it about three days already.

foureyes hope your DD's on the mend now.

hi

fen thanks for the encouragement. we were prescribed an oral gel - Daktarin- for Finn and I am about to go pick up prescription for a cream for me - forgot to mention that earlier, so that is why am thinking it will improve in a week or so.

AFAIK they often prescribe Nystatin drops, but apparently daktarin is better as tastes nicer??

am going to give it a few days (to see if things improve once thrush is gone) before make final decision, and if do decide to switch will do a gradual switch over a couple of weeks so he will still get BF each day during this time
not sure if it will go on its own if you leave it as you and baby pass it back and forth to each other.
another of the joys of Bfing i guess!

midwife just came again and was here for nearly 2 hours - i have seen a different one each time, and she was v lovely and didn't mind me bursting into tears as soon as she walked in the door.

Finn is clearly getting enough milk from me as has gained 340g in the last 5 days - so now up to 3.85k or 8lb 7oz!! he loves his food the little chunker lol.

better go - seems like poo-gate has occurred again - the other day he pooed literally up to his shoulders

I do hope the infection clears up quicker than that for you lainey Just take it an hour/day/week at a time! :)

Yeah, I was sure it would need treatment but I had a sudden doubt when I read your post. I didn't twig what it was until yesterday evening and I can only get an appointment tomorrow afternoon. Its not horrendous but it's quite uncomfortable so we'll just have to soldier on.

Poo to his shoulders?

Having bookmarked thread over a week ago, I still haven't managed to post on it so here is first one.

I've only skimmed the last few posts so sorry not to name check lots.

foureyes hope your DD is better now. Sounds horrible. F has had a nasty cough too and stops breathing for a few seconds but seems to be ok now. We had him checked out at hosptial and bronchiolitis and whooping cough ruled out. He seems to have improved in the last 24 hours though.

The boys, apart from F's cough are doing great. Def getting bigger each day and more and more alert. They are adorable and I still have to pinch myself that I have two of them. The only thing I could do without are the 5.30am wake ups. Its tricky changing two, breast feeding two and then getting the other two up and ready, but apart from that, the twins are as good as gold.

I am even going out Friday night to my office party. I could well have my first hangover since September 08 on Saturday.

Just managed to put some pics on profile if anyone interested. The DTs one isn't their most attractive but it is their very first pic so are still covered in the vernix.

very gorgeous :)

Lovely picture smokey.

Wow, where does the time go? I've started feeling human again these last few days and we had our first outing yesterday (Anya 11 days old today). So much respect to anyone on DC2 or more!

LO slept for five hours last night, and that's really helped but think my body's saying that it needs some more of that so taking it easy today.

Hope everyone's LOs with illnesses are getting better now.

PS picture of Anya and I on my profile if anyone's interested.

Gorgeous babies everyone .

Lottie had her 8 wk jabs today, it was very sad, she was not a happy bunny!

Think have finally cracked the sleeping issue (touch wood), after some kindly yet stern words from health visitor Dh and I had a real go at getting her to sleep in her cot or moses basket. It took 5 hours of persisting but eventually I think she was so tired she fell asleep, and has slept in the moses basket for 2 nights now, 8pm to 7am waking only for 4 feeds through the night. Long may it continue!

Afternoon all
lovely pics, scrumptious babies.
I have followed suit and posted a couple of pics of Finn.

comtessa seeing the picture of you and Anya made me realise I don't have any of me and Finn aside from the ones immediately after birth when I am epidural-led up to the hilt and have a slight mad drug addled expression look of delirium about me

hmm bless Lottie - has she had any after effects from the jabs? pleased that she is finally sleeping in her moses basket for you.

think my LO might still have day and night confused - he slept for 5 hours yesterday afternoon from 3.30-830pm needless to say i kept thinking he was going to wake up (as usually only sleeps for 2hrs) so didn't take a nap myself.
Then when he went to bed took ages to feed and spent an hour awake making random noises
ah well!
Think he does quite well as usually put him down round 11 and he'll wake around 2am and 5ish then sleep until 8 or 9 (usually put him in the bed with me when DP gets up to go to work so I can snooze a bit longer )

lainey - lovely photos, I love schrunchy newborns :)

comtessa, what beautiful chubby cheeks, so gorgeous :)

at 4 feeds per night, feeling sorry for you hmmsleep! Skye is 4 weeks and wakes once, twice or sometimes not at all between 10pm and 6am (ebf)... usually wakes once at 4am and again at 7am and goes back to sleep after both feeds. I am so fortunate she is a good eater and a good sleeper. Even three big (poorly) brothers coming in our bedroom requesting water/medicine/cuddles haven't bothered her much the last few nights.

We're getting into the swing of cloth nappies at the mo, was given a whole bunch by a friend who is done with them (oldest child is potty trained now). They are fab! I use them during the day and a disposable at night. Skye has very kindly done her really big poo of the day in the morning just before putting her in cloth, which is handy. Anyone else using/used cloth?