April 2011-kicking back drinking lactulose cocktails and riding the maternity surfboards

[Petalouda]

Post-natal thread for all the antenatal April 2011 Family!

Share the birth stories, the baby blues and everything else.

Hi all starshaped gerge wouldnt latch well for the first few days either resulting in lots of stress for both of us but gradually we just seemed to get the hang of it. If baby is latching well some of the time, and sounds like they are doing really well in terms of weight gain and plenty of nappies then it may be worth perservering as you are? Easy to say when you've had a good day and they're not screaming the place down!

Had another visit from my self-settling obsessed HV today. she asked last week and again today if he was self settling (haha any settling is nice at this point!) she started on again about how I should leave him to cry. She said sometimes they'll even cry and work themselves up so much they can make themselves vomit, but that's ok. Don't think i'll be doing that thanks, especially as he's only 3 weeks old.

I have my first HV visit on Friday, so I am bracing myself after my previous meetings with her. Lucie I think I would have told your HV to foxtrot oscar thanks very much.

Has anyone used arnica to help them heal? A friend has dropped some off for me. She used it after her section, but she wasn't BFing. Is it safe to take?

Wow, sounds like you have some weird HVs out there girls.

Mine just suggested I turn the lights down low and not talk or actively play with H during night feeds to help him learn that night time is sleepy time. She also said that he should just feed when he needs it and to forget routine until he's a bit bigger.

With regard to bottle and nipple stuff Starshaped, because H was mixed fed at first he was on bottles and boob from day two and I still give him bottles of expressed milk as well as straight from the bob and he's never had a problem feeding so if you do end up giving bottles it doesn't necessarily mean she won't want boob. We use the Tommee Tippee closer to nature bottles.

Sounds like much more sensible advice cycle! I can see that my HV is trying to be helpful (she says everything in a sympathetic whisper) she also said 'I always say to first time mum's if it gets too much just shut the door and go and make a cup of tea' which I have heard other places and does make sense if you get to that point of despair, so I think she is just very focussed on being supportive of mum - but it goes too far for me to offer it as routine advice! Your HV sounds great though, there are some fab ones out there (met a few when we were in hospital who were brilliant).

Hello all, I've been lurking but not posting that last couple of days (can't feed S and balance the laptop unfortunately, need a bigger knee!). Took S to be weighed today and he's now 8lb 15.5oz he also managed to do the typical little boy trick and pee'd on the scales, and himself, and his red book, and the HV notes, and the HV herself! Oops!

To add to my boob woes I now have blanched nipples (and here was me thinking blanching was something they did to veg on cookery programs!), so we're back to spending Mondays and Thursdays at the Breastfeeding clinic to find out what the cause is, joys!

Starshaped S was bottle fed expressed milk for the first 2 and a bit weeks and is now a boob obsessive so don't worry about having to introduce a bottle if needed (I was advised to make it seem as much like a real nipple as possible when feeding, so brush the nipple across the lips and wait for a latch response rather than shoving the bottle into the baby's mouth!). Also if you want to cup feed I was advised that the lid of a bottle is usually a good size and shape if you want to avoid buying something.

lucie your HV is rather ...

Thanks to whoever was talking about prolapse (sorry, I can't remember who it was!) I'd been having the same sort of feelings 'down there' but wasn't sure whether it was normal or not so I'll be cracking on with the pelvic floor exercises!

Hi Starshaped :) does sound like things are improving for you with feeding. Another tip is to try and hand express a bit to start with so milk is already flowing before putting him near your breast, he's probably just impatient :)

After talking to friends at bf group yesterday we agreed i did have thrush :( managed to see a doc at a drop-in centre & got prescriptions for fluconazole & nystatin, only when i left did i realise he should have given me a high starting dose but didn't, so may try my doc today (hard to get appts with them). Was impressed that he even knew the right drug to give me as have heard so many bad stories about docs + thrush.

Anyway, although feeding still hurts i feel better knowing i'm doing something about it now and hopefully it will start getting better.
3rd time round you'd think it would be problem-free, but i think all the stitches + ABs + M's poor latch to start with all combine to make thrush almost inevitable.

Managed to go to bed with M before 9 last night, so got some decent chunks of sleep between feeds, she's still in bed with DH while the boys watch some pre-breakfast tv

Hey all

Thomas Edward arrived on Sunday 8th at 16.21 weighing in at a whopping 9lbs 2. contractions started on Saturday at 7am - it was a v long two days and we didn't have much fun getting him out, forceps and I'm stitched to high heaven but he was worth it, absolutely beautiful.

Hope you're all doing well, loads to catch up on and will post full story when I get a chance.

x

Hi all,

Just lost the most mammoth post which was meant to be my my 1st post on the post-natal thread since my beautiful daughter was born on the 21st April so heres the quick version, waters broke at 3am, went to hospital and had opposite to my planned natural waterbirth, after the worst contraction pains i could have possibly imagined, I requested an epidural which made the 3 hours of excruiating pain, grunting like a warthog seem like a distant memory this was at 10am which then turned into a scary labour experience that ended in a rush to theatre after they couldnt find babies heartbeat for 7 minutes and due to baby being trapped against placenta and being to low in pelvis for a c-section had to have a Episiotomy and Forceps delivery, after about 5 pushes over 10-15 minutes my daughter Dylan-Indianna arrived onto my chest at 1654hrs.

Had to be kept overnight for monitoring for possible blood transfusion due to extreme blood loss but morning checks came back fine and left hospital by 11am with a 2nd degree cut sewn in layers apparently that has now all healed without problems.

Dylan-Indianna is an angel, she has been in cloth nappies since her 1st diaper, BF's like a textbook, sleeps from around 12 to 4.30am, feeds for an hour and then can usually sleeps till about 10-11am and has been in this routine since about day 3. She's been out to dinner & breakfast a few times, been shopping in Ikea for a few hours and accompanies me to Sainsburys and the park via stroller or my wonderful Kari Me Sling.

My ma says ive been rewarded with the most well behaved, easy baby for having a scary labour experience, after my epidural i said to my DP i wont have another as never want to experience that pain ever again but by following day i was ready for the next baby !

The only time she gets really upset is changing time but baby tv on sky channel 623 is a life saver, she watches it mesmorized and smiles and gurgles like crazy, its so cute and amazing how much it calms her ! Check it out !! Dreamy time at nights is her favourite !

Have been so lucky, being a mum has been the most natural and wonderful change in my life, didnt get any baby blues but have cried telling Dylan-Indianna how much i love her from pure overwhelming happiness and to top it off, as didnt put on any weight during pregnancy am now 17pounds lighter and a dress size smaller then when i concieved ! (Still a curvy girl mind you)

Huge congrats too everyone who's had their baby since i last posted and will hopefully be doing a little more posting, ma & pa over from Oz at the moment and i feel on top of the world having them meet their gorgeous grandaughter and getting to have time with so much family.

A quick question, does anyone give their baby tummy time yet ? and how often do you give your little one a bath ?

Chat Soon All, hope everyone is well and enjoying their little miracles

Firstly congrats to you all on your little bundles

AussieMum2Be my daughter was born on the 21st too. Congratulations

I have read all the posts with great interest - but have generally been lurking. Heres for my birth story.

I had a traumatic delivery with DC1 15 months ago (but still desperate for her to have a sibling close in age).

My waters broke at 11pm, at 38 weeks. Not what I was expecting having gone to EDD with DC1. I believe my comment at the time was, "Great, thats all I need " (Lol!)

I broke out the maternity pads and bed mats and took myself back to bed, this is how my last labour had started so was quite happy with it. Last labour was 37 hours so didnt expect anything would happen quickly. Rested in bed and found the contractions manageable. I even managed a brief nap at some point. At 5 am things were getting uncomfortable, so got in the bath with cx 4 mins apart. DH phoned the hosp but they had no beds so I decided to wait at home for now....... Whilst in the bath I realised that I couldnt get comfy unless on hands and knees - and realised the cx were getting a lot closer. It then gets a little vague. Got out of the bath, onto the bathroom floor. DH phoned hosp back (bit vague here too) and to cut a long story short they sent out a paramedic and midwife, the paramedic got here at 7.10 am and delivered the baby at 7.22am. Midwife arrived a bit later. I did go into hosp for the day but discharged myself to get back to DC1. I think they thought I had been traumatised by my unplanned homebirth but the truth couldnt be further apart. The most fantastic experience, and in no way comparable to my first labour (thank god).

So far I am managing to BF, although lo is making slow weight gain - but hey I guess we are going in the right direction.

My nips are killing too - so am about to try the first feed with the medela nipple shields so many of you have suggested.

Better go, little one squarking :)

Congratulations to the new arrivals - I'm jealous of your sleeping baby Aussie!

We had another horrendous night last night. P woke at 1am and didn't go to sleep again til 6.30am, which means I've had 2 hours sleep. I feel like a zombie. Absolutely nothing would settle her. She'd have some really long feeds, look like she was falling asleep and then wake up the minute we tried to put her down to sleep. She'd then cry inconsolably...it makes me feel so useless. Nothing would settle her at all - we tried feeding on demand, cuddles, rocking the crib, walking her up and down, changing her...argh. Somebody tell me this gets easier!!

Just looked back at some of the earlier posts and see that some of the mums who had their babies earlier in April had similar experiences. Any tips on how to get through it?

Congratulations to all the new arrivals, think that must be it for the April crowd?

Things still busy here, DS1 coping very well with his broken leg, DS2 coping well with increasing hours at his pre-sch & DD is still beautiful :)

Though she takes a while to settle at nighttime too, doesn't matter what time i go to bed with her, it's about another hour before she'll drop off, normally in my arms. the middle of the night feeds (normally 2) she'll go off straight away which is much better. She definitely wants to be held most of the time though so we've given up on the crib, or even the pram during the day tbh.

Luckily have my Mum here for a few days, she's good at sitting holding a sleeping baby, lol :)

Hello to all the new babies :)

Well done on the cloth nappies Aussie we started off with disposables as the cloth we got were way too big initially. We're now using cloth part of the day and disposables at night. I do worry about how bulky the reusables look when compared to the disposables though - I keep thinking she must be uncomfortable but it doesn't really seem so.

I feared we were going to have a bad night last night - feeding and crying from about 5pm onwards and like Starshaped dropping off to sleep in arms then waking and crying as soon as put in crib or pram. We eventually went for a walk in the pram about 9, which kept her quiet for a while and gave my nipples a break. We tried loads of other things to settle properly but in the end the hot water bottle in the crib trick worked again! I didn't think it was that cold last night but clearly M did. She settled about midnight, woke to feed at 3.30, then back to sleep til just before the alarm at 7.25. I'd be happy with that every night but usually we have a two feed night.

Well went to the BF clinic yesterday. I came away no better off than when I arrived. They advised to do more skin to skin and hope that B remembers what the boob is for. Like I haven't been doing that. They didn't get me to try and latch him, so I dont know if I'm doing it right. Granted he was sleeping, but thats only because we had been waiting 2 hours to see someone. I was nearly sleeping. They seemed to think because I am expressing then there is no probs, he is still getting the BM goodness, but DH goes back to work on monday. I cant look after B and pump every 2 hours by myself. I have been in tears most of the morning, pumping is so time consuming I just cant carry on like this and waiting until next week to go back to the clinic seems forever away. I want to give up but my inner stubborness is winning on that front.
All i want is someone to help me understand if it's my issue or Bs. I think my boobs are too big and floppy. My nipples point down which means I need to wrangle B and the boob to meet to attempt any kind of a latch. B just refuses now wont even open his mouth. I was so looking forward to BF my baby when I was pregnant, but its turned into a nightmare.

Apart from that B is doing really well, its me thats a right mess.

starshaped does she sound like shes in pain? or wriggling a lot and bringing her legs up if so it could be wind? If George cries after a feed this is usually why and he's ok once hes done a nappy - though that can be a couple of hours later. When he gets like this hes usually producing green nappies as well (from googling this is due to too much foremilk, not enough hindmilk) which causes tummy pain. Been using infacol for the last few days and also I keep feeding from the same side for several hours rather than alternating every time and this does seem a little better. Even without the green nappies etc, if she's crying after a feed especially when put down could well be it. George has quite a distressed sounding cry when he's got a sore tum - does P's cry sound different?

Don't know if that helps at all?

Hope you're ok Lis Not sure if you have to be a member but the NCT breastfeeding support lady in my area will do home visits so it may be the same where you are. If you didn't get any joy at the clinic is it worth looking it up to see if someone can come out to you?

Hey all

I'm trying to catch up but in the meantime I have a question - if anyone has the time to answer it would be v much appreciated - Thomas is four days old and has twice had what looks like blood in the front of his nappy - Midwife said over phone it is normal and is crystals of some sort. It happened again today quite a bit of it, not bright red more pinky but like bloody patches. I have a visit tomorow and am going to save one to show if it happens again/

In the meantime, i wondered if any April newborn boys having this and if so does it sound like the urate thing to you?

sarah It sounds very much like it could be. DS had them at 2 days old and I've seen them frequently in other little boys I've worked with. If it doesn't pass in a couple of days then ask again but IME totally normal and

Lis :( for you. Try to get someone out to see you at home before the next clinic. Re: the big boob issue have you tried different positions?

lucie we had wondered if it might be wind. She does look like she's really uncomfortable, she's wriggling around and all red in the face and her cry is really distressing. She's not produced any green nappies but I think I will try and keep feeding from the same side and try some infacol to see if it helps.

It's just so exhausting. She seems to have just settled (after another feed!) and we've put her in her crib. Need her to stay asleep though - she's only had two and a half hours in the last twelve...she must be so tired :(

Lis I was having a similar problem BF - CMW told me it's all about the 'angle of the dangle' of the nipple and this has really helped with the latch. She told me to press in at the side of the nipple so that it's angled right towards P's nose. Difficult to explain in text but her advice has really made a difference for me. There will definitely be somebody who can help you! I rang the BF Support Network and spoke to a really lovely lady. They also have volunteer support workers who can come out and help (none in my area though), so it might be worth giving them a call?

Congrats to SarahJinx, sillysow and AussieMum2Be on your little bubbas!

SarahJinx DS had the peachy/pinky coloured blood spots first few days too. I spoke to NHS direct in a panic the first time and they assured me it was normal.

Aussie you sound like things are going brilliantly. Long may it continue! Thanks for the baby tv tip, never too early to start using tv to pacify baby S . Oh, and bathing about once a week here, although had one extra due to poonami incident yesterday.

Lis sorry the clinic were useless yesterday. Can't believe it really, it's the first bad report I've heard about one of these support type places. You'd think they'd be climbing over each other to help a new mother. I hope, as suggested, you can find an NCT counsellor to come and help you out. You sound frazzled and upset and could do with someone coming round, making you a cup of tea and spending a decent amount of time helping you with the latch and just watching how the feeding is going. I admire your perseverance, you're doing an amazing job to keep trying. Have you tried using a big breastfeeding or big pillow to help get B in the right spot? Feel free to slap me if you're sick of advice btw!

starshaped hope tonight is a better night. I find I rarely get too evil nights in a row, which helps with the mental health. Hope she's still sleeping soundly for you.

Anyone know if eating a lot of chocolate and drinking a lot of tea can be painful for baby? I've been mainlining both yesterday and today and this afternoon S is really grouchy and doing the whole legs up to ears thing. Could it have been too much going through the breastmilk or am I just overanalysing...really don't want to have to cut down on my favourite crutches!

starshaped, I'm having similar nights - I feel your pain. Like caramelo says, though, rarely two of them on the trot so I'm clinging on to sanity. Hoping "this too shall pass" (Joanna's just over two weeks old)

Oooh Aussie, Indiana is my middle name too!

Sorry the clinic was rubbish Lis, I too have big boob, low nipple issues. I have to point the nipple up using two fingers on the opposite hand when putting H to the boob.

The fore milk thing could be H's problem too although his poo is still mustard yellow.

Oh and Caramello, if mummy's chocolate consumption hurt babies H would be in serious trouble...

Hi all, iv been lurking for some time! Sophie is 4 weeks old today, how time is flying! She was born by c section due to breech an luckily the section was brought forward a week as my placenta had started to fail. She was only 5lb 15 when born an we've had sone feefing probs but she's really starting to put weight on and was 6lb 10 when weighed yesterday.

Sophie has had painful trapped wind since birth an i was using infacol but this didnt really help so HV recommended Colocynthis granules, they are a herbal remedy an i got instant results with these, feeding is so much easier an S is not being sick while bringing up trapped wind.

Congratulations to Aussie, SarahJinx and Sillysow. Welcome to the postnatal side!

Starshaped this really sounds like wind to me. My baby gets a lot even with breastfeeding and although I've been convinced that he's crying because he's still hungry we've been told to try and burp him first as the odds are he's got a burp stuck. We call it the 'pat-pat-rub-rub' so whenever he squawks when we try to settle him after a feed we pick him up and rub and pat his back and he tends to do a burp. We then settle him back in his moses basket. If he squawks again we do the same (and usually get another small burp up). I'm surpised at how much we need to wind given that he is a breastfed baby but I guess some babies are windier than others. Plus, I've probably conveniently forgotten the winding rigmarole I went through with the girls. I'm currently dealing with a grumpy, constipated baby today as he had cranial osteopathy yesterday and he's always really unsettled the day after.

News on my tummy is good and bad. Good in that I've found out what is wrong after a trip to A&E on Monday afternoon (the pain was exhausting) and an ultrasound scan on Tuesday followed by a meeting with my consultant. It turns out there's no infection or tissue trauma beyond the usual swelling you'd expect. I'm a bit inflamed but my consultant has put this down to the fact that my caesarean was quite brutal. However, it turns out I have nerve damage which is what is causing the horrible burning ache/pain on my right hand side. Either the nerves were cut or 'tied' during the operation and unfortunately there is nothing I can do about it. Normal painkillers don't work - even the heavy duty ones they'd given me - which is why they hadn't been touching the sides. The only options are a nerve block or high dose antidepressants (which are the only 'painkillers' that work with nerve pain), neither of which are really a viable option for me at this stage. So I need to sit it out and just wait for it to improve, which will hopefully happen in the next few weeks.

I think I'm actually past caring about it all now. My experience last time was such a shocker and I expected this one to at least be better but really it has been equally crap. I'm now just numb about it all and just think 'so what; bring in on'.

Right, off to deal with a very grumpy constipated baby. Am going to give him some baby fennel tea (not likely to improve his mood...).

Oh yes, anyone else totally over the ginormous breastfeeding boobs? They don't suit me at all and I'm fed up of looking like a (run over) barmaid. There is no glamour to any of it I've decided.

Welcome to the new babies and mums

SJ - the crystal in the nappy thing is often called brick dust (which is exactly what it is like) and is normal, all 3 of mine have had it.

DS and I have got thrush - luckily we got to see the Dr this morning, so we're being treated.

lis - the shape/size of your boobs won't stop you from bf'ing, you just need to find a posiyion that suits you and B - it's trial and error. I always think bf'ing cushions are a great help when trying new positions. Also do some research on biological nurturing - this will allow B to find his own way to the nipple and latch on. I was quite sceptical of this previously, but tried it this time and ds loves it.

We always have an awake period during the night - often about 2am. That is when ds gets passed to dh for settling

Re wind - we're finding it's well worth spending time burping our windy baby no matter how tempting it is to go to sleep otherwise the wind gets stuck and gives him a lot of trouble when hes trying to push it out of his bottom... cue hours of crying. Infacol does seem to help.. have also been recommended colief but its a bit of a faff if you're bfeeding as you need to expressa bit of milk onto a sterile teaspoon and add to that so a palaver if youre not expressing anyway.

Lis i'm big boobed and feeding pillow definitely helps me get position right