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.

caramel I might be tempted to pop in and see the GP, and get her weighed on the surgery scales. No weight gain at that age is unusual I think, although if she is healthy, wet nappies, happy etc etc then it is v.unlikely that there is a problem.
Good luck on your outing, it is very nerve-wracking and tbh I don't go out with both boys all that often because it is such a palaver!

Lis - give your insurance company a call, mine had no limit on when I could start.

Liv I have DS1 on the reins mostly, as he is a bolter too!

My insurers are happy if the GP is happy. Will make appointment tomorrow :)

Unfortunatley i don't have DS on the reins anymore Ali he's a very tall 3 year old and so looks too old for them, that's if you could get them on him in the first place. I know you can get wrist reins, but I'm always worried that I'd yank it too tightly and dislocate his shoulder or something.

Quick Q ladies. Right boob has stopped producing as much milk. It feels full and hard. Is slightly uncomfortable but not too bad. How do I know if I have a blocked duct? Could it be something else?

lis - after you described how you felt yesterday it sounds like you may have had a brush with mastitis. Keep pumping and feeding and massage the lumps while doing it, this will help clear any blockages.

caramello - ds2 took a month to get back to his birthweight. Weighing is only one indicator of a thriving baby. Wet and poo nappies and obvious awake and asleep times are others. If you are worried about it then speak to someone, however you may be better off initially speaking to a bfc and coming up with a plan on how to get more milk into your dd. I done switch side feeding, (google it.) If after that you are concerned maybe then speak to your GP?

I'm back in my pre-pregnancy clothes but my shape has changed. I've lost weight from my (still considerable) arse but my belly is bigger.

ILike - same here. I'm in my pre-pregnancy clothes, infact some are too big, but my belly is horrid. Hoping it will shrink back!

caramel - sorry I didn't mean to worry you. I'm not a believer in over-weighing a baby, or worrying too much. DS1 was over 5 weeks old before he was back at birthweight and I resented the midwives and HV fussing and flapping, so it's good that your HV isn't getting her knickers in a twist about it.
I would second ILike's recommendation to switch-feed.

Lis it does sound like a blocked duct. Applying heat before you express could help to clear it. I hope it goes soon, they are miserable.

T slept 1am-7am last night, in his hammock! Yay! :)

Thanks for the support over S's weight. Paranoia set in in the early hours this morning and I started worrying that maybe there is something wrong and that's why S isn't gaining weight. Damn those deep dark hours in the middle of the night. Thanks ILTMIMI * Ali for the advice re switch side feeding too, I'll take a look.

I have only been feeding one side at a time as that's what I did with DS and I thought that was best way to get S to fully empty the boob before munching on the other side but maybe I'll try offering both. I'll also try and get to one of the bfing groups in the area soon for advice. Is just hard when I know DS will get bored within 3mins and want to leave!

Weird thing is too that S didn't lose weight after birth so not like she's struggling to get back to birth weight, just not gaining anything. Unless she lost weight after the 1wk weigh and has to been slow to regain it ...Think I am overthinking things a little! Might post on the feed topic too to hear from others who's baby's weight stalled and it was nothing sinister!

Liv I have the wrist strap for DS which I attach to the pram rather than to me and then I hold his hand as well if he is not on the buggy board. So far no major wrist/shoulder injuries . You do occasionally get some looks though and I feel awful that he is effectively on a lead but it's better to feel bad than have something worse happen I figure.

Lis do you have any red blotchy patches on your boob or hard, very tender lumps? I have had blocked ducts and that's what happened. I found the blocked ducts were more localised pain than a general achyness that I had when I had mastitis with DS.

Ali excellent re the big hammock sleep! More of that tonight for you please!

Thank ladies! I turned the shower head to massage this morning on ole righty, I've expressed a bit more from it today than yesterday, still not a huge amount but hey! Feeling much better too.

HV just been, B is now 9lbs, he's put on 12 ozs in a week! And she really is lovely!

So we are all packed up now for our big trip up north! Ive packed too much for B, but he's taken to weeing and pooing every time his nappy is off!

I've decided there should be some sort of nappy change olympics If there were a friend of mine would do brillantly on the speed change event and I think yesterday I would have had a high score on a difficulty level 10 nappy - poonami arrived but was changed without needing an outfit change!

Chilli can I add the nappy relay to the Nappy Change Olympics? Just met up with a group of mums and mums to be and of the four babies three (including S) decided the time was right for a poo'splosion. While one was being changed the next would be filling their nappy which makes me think they planned it!

S is starting to loose his 'rarely' sick badge, every feed recently something (even if its just a little) has come back up. But this afternoon (thankfully when we got home, not while at the same cafe as the poo'splosion relay, that would be a bit much!) S projectile vomited across the sofa, down my back and down his front. Suffice to say the sofa covers are now in the washer.

Lis fingers crossed you've packed enough! Keep and eye on your blocked boob, the shivery flu like symptoms are what I started with when I had mastitis.

Ali I am so jealous of T's 1-7am sleep stint. Here's hoping S follows T's lead, the 1am wake up I can cope with, but that 4am is just horrid.

Have had a really screamy day, have been sorely tempted to throw H in the bin several times. But now he's got the hiccups and being all cute, oh wait, no, screaming again... Sigh.

Am a bit fed up but at least at my parents my meals are cooked for me and the hoovering is someone else's problem

Lis, you can never pack too much! Have fun.

Beetle - I am not getting too excited, he has never managed two good nights in a row!!

Cycle - it is nice not to have to deal with the domestic stuff :)

Liv - DS1 is on the borderline of being too big for his reins.

I've been packing too - we're only going away for a night but I think I've just packed 8 tops. I think i might need to reduce this tomorrow morning. Not sure how many changes of clothes I've packed for M - many, and spare blankets, pram sheets, etc!

Can I also suggest extreme nappy changing for the olympics...R did a 5 nappy change yesterday, poo, change, poo, change, pee, change and a final poo before I got a clean one on and did it up!! Wow!

She then had a poo explosion today while we were in Sainsburys, once again up the front, back and out the sides, thankfully only needed to change her vest - think I'm getting better! Still needing a full change overnight cus I keep missing the "ooh it's cold pee" as it's too dark to see!

Went shopping today as I'm sick of wearing leggings and mat jeans, but just made myself depressed as despite only having 7lbs to shift I'm still very much a size bigger than I was :( my top half seems to have shrunk making me look pretty odd with a huge bum, thighs and jelly belly! Gah!

Also bleeding has resumed today bright red and I'm having period type twinges, is it possible to be my period (R is 4 weeks on Monday) or is it normal for lochia to do that??

Same here MrsW light bright red bleeding and period pains! L is 5 weeks 3 days, was hoping for a few more weeks period free but definitely feels like it's back!

I am v jealous of those already back in their pre-pregnancy trousers I have this huge flabby belly that is just wobbling and am still in my maternity trousers, now 5 weeks postnatal. It's a myth with me that weight just falls off when breastfeeding. i seem to remember with dd the pregnancy weight didn't really shift until I stopped feeding. My body seems to hold onto the fat when feeding! Its time to get out the Davina Dvd, and look at it sitting on the coffee table and wish myself slim and toned by osmosis!

George is a prolific pooer. He probably does at least 10 shits/day. Is that normal? I think one of biggest household expenditures is currently nappies. calculated today that each pampers costs about 16pence (now in size 2's) we go through about 15+ daily. i also think he may be having a growth spurt as only sleeping for 2-3 hour stints at night.

Cycle how was your night? I know the feeling sometimes of wanting to put the little monster out with the rubbish!

Lis enjoy your trip

Those using reins, they were a necessity for us with dd when she was younger. Fortunately now she is 3 and a half we don't need them, but she used to be a bolter!

Mrs Wajs and Sassy periods back already boo! [frown]

Some of you are in pre pregnancy stuff?!

Sigh, am two-three sizes up on what I was but one of the sizes is all boob.

On the plus side H is smiling loads when he's not screaming for boob. He slept ok last night but wanted to stay in mummy's bed after the 3am feed. He doesn't generally do that when DP is there but last night he just wanted mummy cuddles.

Well i have 2 stone to lose to get to my ideal weight but am quite happy with how little that is given DD is only 4wks old (had 3st to lose when DS2 was 6months!). But not enjoying the flabby belly much.
But these boobs will not be fitting into my normal clothes anytime soon! Those who normally have big boobs but slim bodies what do you wear on top?

DD manage 10-3 & then to 5.45 last night which was pretty good.:)

Aiming to try a family trip out for dinner later (Frankie & Bennys burger, yum yum).

MrsW & Sassy I had exactly the same on Wednesday. Some ever so slight but bright red bleeding and mild period aches. Nothing since so fingers crossed it's just a one off for now!

Cycle I'm two sizes up on what I was and it's all boob on my top half as well. DH kindly pointed out that my flabby belly and bigger boobs look "weird, like another persons" compared with my pointy collar bones and hips...way to boost the confidence eh?!

After a horrid evening where S decided to have a long after noon nap which meant that I ended up with oversupply induced mastitis (spent the evening on the sofa in a big blanket thanks to the chills). Had a panic when he refused lefty at 9pm and the milk was green tinged (!) but a quick MN search says this is normal and they can refuse because it can taste salty. Anyway by the 11pm feed he was happy to gorge himself on lefty & righty and then slept from 11.45pm-4am, so a lovely stretch of sleep for me! Still on the full side today but not in pain or 'flu like anymore.

S has also spent the last 24hrs either poo'ing or weeing out of his nappies, doesn't seem to matter whether it's a reusable (with boosters!) or disposable. DH had S laying on his chest yesterday evening and when they moved they both had very soggy fronts! DH had a perfect baby outline, but he wouldn't let me take a photo for the bad baby book

T was asleep by 11pm last night, yay! We have been desperately trying to get him settled earlier in the evening but it has been midnight, 1am or later for the last 2-3 weeks.
He then slept until 3.15, and then went back in his bed until just gone 6am.

He has also started dropping off in his bouncer or basket if he is tired.

JKS - we were contemplating a meal out this weekend and have chickened out We're going to try a family swimming trip tomorrow

I will confess I walked out the maternity unit in pre-pregnancy clothes, although BF friendly tops are a challenge. Tummy is nowhere bear as toned though and pelvic floor still shot to pieces :(

Re: bleeding it may not be periods returning but the placenta site scab coming away and not being fully healed underneath.

DS does an impressive amount of pooing each day. 1 month old, officially 1 kilo over his birthweight so it must be having some effect! He's been a bit unsettled the last week with ILs visiting and catching daddy's cold but getting back to normal with some good sleeps the last couple of days. Our little shower, massage, into PJs and put the aircon on routine is really helping. Tonight's challenge is to see whether he'll take a bottle!

I, OTOH, virtually broke down last night because everything seemed so pointless and relentless. That was possibly more DH being a lazy arse around the house and messing up my carefully cleaned kitchen, painstakingly done with DS in a sling when I could have been MNing.

Those with hammocks, what's the best way to fit them? I don't fancy drilling holes in the ceiling.

Sorry not to namecheck but this thread is too long for my phone now!

Oh God, so much for two sizes bigger. Tried on bridesmaid dress for sister's wedding. It's too small and I look like a hooker as it's a strapless sweetheart neckline and I have 36J boobs. I have spent the last half hour crying at a smiley H.

Oh no cycle, when's the wedding? Can you get it altered at all?

I'm being a bridesmaid in a fortnight and can just about squeeze into the dress (with help from a waist nipper). It's halterneck, and I'm actually quite excited about having the boobs for a halterneck - 34D's instead of my pre-preg 32B's!

Sorry Cycle, don't mean to make you feel worse

F's decided not to sleep today, but has demanded feeding every hour. Feed & nap plan is well out the window and I think we've got a lively night ahead of us.

Frakk - mine is an Amby nest, it has it's own frame. It was a godsend with DS1, and is turning out to be the same for DS2.