January 2011

[MacMomo]

Thought we should have a post-natal thread so we can stay together from our ante-natal one. Technically, DD was a December baby after coming early on new years eve; hope you don't mind if I stay with the January group after all this time. How is everyone doing?

[blanchedevereaux]

Hi - can I join?

Hello to Mamasunshine who pointed me in the direction of this thread.

DD2, Abigail Poppy, was born at 5.28am on 22nd Jan weighing 7lb 2oz. DD1 (26 months) delighted as are Mum and Dad.

She is settling in nicely but I do think I had forgotten the feeding on demand fun from first time round! No sooner do I get her full up and out the door I end up having to stop the car somewhere 30 mins later to feed her again. She is not a fan of the car seat!

She is sleeping relatively well at night with 3 to 4 wakings and is a bit of a non-sleeper during the day. I think that is because I am dealing with DD1 and miss her tired cues. However, as we are out and about so much she does manage to get her head down and seems happy. Had her weighed yesterday and she has put on 7 1/2 oz in 2 weeks.

I have been a bit worried this week that she is showing signs of colic but fingers crossed it won't come to much. She does seem uncomfortable after some feeds but I rarely get a burp up or a trump. Spoke to HV and will give it a week to see if her gut matures a bit for her to bring wind up on her own. My first DD was a feed and sleep kind of girl so she was usually just plonked down in moses baskets and she went to sleep.

Nice to be here and read all your stories!

[MsScarlett]

Congrats Blanche!

Glad to hear you have avoided the colic so far. I am as we speak trying to settle what I assume is a very collicky dd. She has been screaming but yet demanding feeds all evening. She just screams and screams unless she is on the breast. Is it the right thing to do to keep feeding her? I have tried rocking and winding for hours, but she will only stop crying if I feed her and she is constantly rooting. She will fall asleep on the breast, stay asleep for 5 miuntes and then start screaming again. Help!

[Jobi1]

I think unsettled evenings are common at this stage, especially if they're having a growth spurt or colicky. If she is happy to feed then that's the short term answer I guess. If BF is established then what about a dummy maybe, see if its just comfort she needs and give you a rest?

Bleeding is common for 6 weeks regardless of delivery method, and bright red blood could well be sign of doing a bit too much. I had the same after it had stopped and doc wasn't concerned. I've just got my period and its horrendous, so heavy, I hope it eases off soon

Does anyone use the contraceptive injections and are they ok? I need to decide on a method soon. Going to discuss with gp at 6 week check on thursday. Hopefully DH will have the snip in due course and I can stop worrying about it! I am very keen not to have any more children, 2 c sections has me done for, plus I don't want to go through another pregnancy, so need to be safe!

[MsScarlett]

The implant could be a slightly more convenient alternative? It's also progesterone but it stays in indefinitely whereas you need to get the injections every 3 months. x

[Jobi1]

I had a quick read up on the injections and it said that they can make your periods irregular and unpredictable, sometimes lighter sometimes heavier, and it can take 4 injections, in other words a year, to settle down. Hmm, I'm not sold on that at all! Will just go back on the pill I think and hopefully DH will have the snip in a year.

[sarrita]

I bled when I went out for walks, even when it seemed like it had all stopped.

Jobi I did the injection as I get migraines and can't take the pill. First time it was for a couple of years. I had no periods at all and it was brilliant; no other side effects. It took 18 months for my periods to come back after I stopped it. With this is mind I expected this to happen when I came off to have my DS. Admittedly I hadn't been on as long; and got pregnant in 6 months.

Colic - I have always had to wind my babies right from the get go. I have found if I don't wind then both my DS and DD will wake or would wake, up scream and/or vomit. But once that burp comes they fall immediately back to sleep. The wind is definitely painful but if they burp they become content again.

DD slept twice for 3 hrs last night! Amazing. She is asleep right now - listening to Radio 4 - I think I will go and join her.

[sarrita]

Ohh and welcome blanche and baby Poppy!

[sarrita]

MsScarlett my DD has been the same some nights. But at the moment it seems to have settled. I was ready to give up the will to live and had to call my my DH on a work night to come and lie with DD as I couldn't take it anymore. But last night and yesterday she was feeding well and burping without too much effort.

I think the pain of trapped wind makes them want to suck, as that is a comfort. But added milk makes them even more uncomfortable... So a painful viscous cycle.

Sorry for the disjointed response. Must go back to bed while I have the chance.

[MsScarlett]

Sarrita - I am the same, I can't take combined pill cos of migraines, but the thing is I tried the progesterone only pill and had crappy side effects so I am loathe to try the implant or injections as it's the same hormone. I have thought about getting a coil but I am really funny about having ny cervix messed with - smear tests make me feel queasy and as I didn't have a vaginal birth I worry about getting it put in. Plus, the mirena coil has progesterone in it and some people report side effects, and the copper coil can make your periods more painful and mine are painful already! So goodness knows what I will do...

Me and DP had an "encounter" the other night and we used a condom, but condoms are how I ended up with dd! Something must have gone wrong but we were too drunk to didn't notice at the time...

Sarrita, I am glad things are improving. My dp went back to work last week, and being solely responsible for night stuff is exhausting and I too have been at the end of my tether a few times. Things always seem so much worse in tHE dead of the night when you are exhausted and desperate for some sleep! It was so nice at the weekend to have dp at hand in the nights. Yes, I still had to feed her but at least dp could do the transfers/settling, burping and nappy changes. My dd too was very good last night. She only woke for 1 feed at about 2.30am, although she didn't settle again til 4am!

[deedee321]

Great to hear sleeps are finally going better for some of us - me too, the last 2 nights he has slept 3 hours, short wake-up, 3 hours, longer wake-up, 3 hours - compared to what it was like, that's bliss! However he is not too well, has nasty chesty cough and awful sneezes, am worried he is sleeping more as is under the weather. I am great at finding things to worry about!

[ursulabear]

Thought i'd leave a wee update. Finally had my little one. Codey David Malcolm arrived 6days late on 03/02/11 after an unplanned induction and vacuum. Had an extra day stay in hospital as the little man was jaundiced slightly and needed repeated bloods etc.

Now home and settled he is thriving and is the absolute love of my life. As horrible as labour was, very much worth it the second I saw him!

Hope everyone is well..all babies are doing well and those still waiting, its awesome and remember at every stage of labour what your doing it for :)

[sarrita]

ursulabear woohoo. Congratulations on the arrival of baby Codey!

[MsScarlett]

Yes Congrats!

[mamasunshine]

Congratulations to ursula, splodge and msscarlett Hope you're all doing well.
wintersniffle - ds1 is 2.11 and I still have him in the dbl buggy, but I walk up to 6 miles a day normally and he just cannot keep up. Maybe buy a more comfortable sling that may distribute the weight of baby better? I'm using a mei tai with dd and it's VERY comfortable, you can move them on to your back when they're 6 months old.
deedee def the same re night feeds here, I LOVE my newborn cuddles and they grow so quickly, they really aren't tiny for long that I'm going to enjoy all the cuddles I can find time to have, esp as this is our last!
sarrita I'm just wearing a M&S nursing bra 36E and not great but does the job, will treat myself to some nicer underwired nursing bras once boob size has settled!
msscarlett - I think the bleeding is normal, from my experience, but prob best to ask a professional just in case. Also I would keep bf lo as much as dd wants. Are you using colic drops, I've found them particularly useful in the past.
Hope everyone's bf in public 1st's have gone well I found it hard at 1st but forced myself to do it and have fed anywhere and everywhere quite comfortably now. lose top over a vest top works very well here
jobi - I knew quite a few women who put a lot of weight on with the injection so that has put me off. Dh is going to be getting a vesectomy too, but we're just going be very strict with condoms when the time comes! And get him booked in ASAP!!


Hello blanche glad you found us, how's Abigail doing?

[mamasunshine]

Thought I'd try and catch up a bit first! Well Arabella is 10 days old and I must say has been an absolute dream so far My blood pressure is still high though so I've been on bed rest really trying to get it down. Have 1 wk with dh at home before I'm left with 3 under 3 She fed like a trooper for the 1st wk, but the last 3 nights she's slept for 4 hrs, feed and nappy, then slept another 3.5hrs My ds's were extremely demanding so this is a whole new experience, which I hope will continue so I can function with the other 2 in the days! Although waiting for the 2 week growth spurt! She was weighed today and has put on 14oz in 5 days What a piggy!

The boys are dealing with her arrival very well, they're both quite 'in love' with her lots of kisses and cuddles. Feeling relieved that I have no desire to ever be pregnant, or have another baby ever again so dh has decided to have the snip (so no going back!) Feel very lucky to have my 3 gorgeous dc's and just going to enjoy them as much as I can now whilst they're little, Ds1 is 3 soon and cannot believe how quickly the time had flown by. Off the wake dd now and give her a bit of milk before I crawl into bed

[mamasunshine]

Shall we do another thingie (can't think of word) so we can see babies born in the group?

mamasunshine - dc3 Arabella 28/01/11

[deedee321]

mamasunshine - dc3 Arabella 28/01/11
deedee321 - dc2 Louie 07/01/11

[pacita]

deedee321 - dc2 Louie 07/01/11
Pacita - dc2 Inés 22/01/11
mamasunshine - dc3 Arabella 28/01/11

[deedee321]

Both children have chest infections and on antibiotics - no sleeping, lots of coughing, vomiting and tears. Feel so so sad seeing tiny baby ill!

[crumblequeen]

crumblequeen - dc2 Peter 22/01/11
deedee321 - dc2 Louie 07/01/11
Pacita - dc2 Inés 22/01/11
mamasunshine - dc3 Arabella 28/01/11

[blanchedevereaux]

I think the 2 week growth spurt is here! Feeding pretty much on and off all night and from 9.30-1 this morning. Glad DD1 at nursery.

Abigail having a well earned kip and I am rushing round cleaning toilets and showers - how glam!

crumblequeen - dc2 Peter 22/01/11
deedee321 - dc2 Louie 07/01/11
Pacita - dc2 Inés 22/01/11
blanchedevereaux - dc2 Abigail 22/01/11
mamasunshine - dc3 Arabella 28/01/11

[crumblequeen]

deedee so sorry little one is ill so soon! Did he catch it from toddler? DS1 was coughing all over DS2 for the first week of his life, think its unavoidable they will catch the toddler bugs!

My DH has agreed to have vasectomy too, we are definitely not having any more children! We feel the same mamasunshine that our family is complete now and its great to think about the future without uncertainty of how old future children might be etc!

I am in a 36E Anita underwired nursing bra - have only bought one so far as I think my size might change after another month or so, but I can't stand non-wired bras! Have some M&S basic ones too from last time to sleep in and emergency use.

Peters weight was fairly static for 2 weeks but he put on 8oz in 4 days to yesterday so he has got started now. Did my first day alone yesterday which went much better than expected actually! My mum is here today and tomorrow so its much easier. Had a walk with the pram and DS1 loves the buggy board, although I don't think he will be walking much any more he likes it so much, and he has lazy tendencies when walking anyway!

Had a very unsettled night last night, lots of screaming and short bursts of sleep. Very tired today as sleep has actually been going OK until last night so I hope it was just a blip.

Congratulations to the new arrivals! Hope everyone doing well!

[mamasunshine]

I spoke to soon with the sleep! Think the 2 week growth spurt has started here too, no sleep last night, or today, feel like a zombie. Thankfully dh is here to look after the other 2. Now dd is asleep I have to get dinner started! Erg..hope tonight's easier.
blanche - put the toilet brush DOWN and go and have a rest !!
crumble - yes, it's very nice to know that you're done! I feel I can think/plan the rest of our lives rather than age gaps etc! Where's the Anita underwired bra from? Is it comfortable? I also DETEST non-wired bras but we have a complete lack of choice where I live. Will have to order some on-line.
The babies always catch thing's early with toddlers in the house. But I found that ds2 wasn't as poorly as ds1 when starting nursery, as his immunity was already quite well built up. Hope they get better quickly deedee.

[MsScarlett]

MsScarlett - dc1 Scarlett 04/01/11
crumblequeen - dc2 Peter 22/01/11
deedee321 - dc2 Louie 07/01/11
Pacita - dc2 Inés 22/01/11
blanchedevereaux - dc2 Abigail 22/01/11
mamasunshine - dc3 Arabella 28/01/11

Tired today as dd had a restless night! I was knackered and fell asleep a couple of times whilst feeding her. I was lying down on my back with dd draped over my chest. That was the only sleep either of us got last night. Does anyone know if this is a dangerous position for co-sleeping? I find the classic me on my side with dd lying next to me with my boob in her mouth uncomfortable and she doesn't seem to like it either.

So - I feel your pain mamasunshine, and blanche I have done the whole cluster-feeding/growth spurt thing too! Luckily dd seems to take more at each feed just recently and feeds less often, though now she is getting a bit of colic so just cries all the time instead of feeding all the time!

[beijingaling]

Beijingaling- dc1 seraphina 04/01/11
MsScarlett - dc1 Scarlett 04/01/11
crumblequeen - dc2 Peter 22/01/11
deedee321 - dc2 Louie 07/01/11
Pacita - dc2 Inés 22/01/11
blanchedevereaux - dc2 Abigail 22/01/11
mamasunshine - dc3 Arabella 28/01/11

Agh! She's woken up, must dash.