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.

Phew! Am back from visit to DP's grandparents. They live near Brighton so it was a bit of an epic trip for us from London.

Managed to feed H just before we left so he slept until we got to the service station. Had a bit of a panic about BFing in public as DP's (lovely and completely unfazed) brother was with us but luckily I'd expressed loads and saved it up just in case so gave him a bit from the bottle to calm him before getting a successful latch

Unfortunately, once we arrived H went through three nappies in an hour and a half! He had pooed every time. Luckily I'm obsessed with worst case scenarios so had packed eight nappies just in case. Am back home with two. Again, because I had expressed milk as well as having the boobs I was able to keep up with his rampant attempts to replace the milk he'd pooed out without having to disappear into a bedroom to BF for the whole visit.

H then slept all the way home and I fell asleep too. Got home with a very hungry baby but he's fed and sleepy now.

Does anyone have a view on giving cooled boiled water to BF babies? I'm a bit worried that the hot weather and extra pooing have left H a bit dehydrated.

Petal - we used to just take DS1 into a restaurant in the carseat and plonk him on a spare chair. People only ever cooed and thought he was lovely, if he woke up and was grumpy I used to just shove him on the boob until he fell asleep again.

Cycle I don't know what your normal feeds are like, but I'm offering both sides each feed in this hot weather incase T is thirsty rather than hungry. He's fed loads today though, we went out to a garden centre earlier and I fed him while we had a quick lunch there, and then since we got home at just before 3pm he's basically been on the boob ever since! I'm dubious about water personally, even just a little will fill them up and mean they drink less milk which sends the wrong message to your boobs, when what you want is an increase in supply to quench their thirst. I would trust that your body knows what it's doing, and make sure that you are drinking plenty yourself.

Noooooo to bedtime routine.

Firstly routine is the wrong way to think of it. Secondly IME, and I've fine this with a lot of babies, fixing a point in the evening stresses you out more because you're trying to juggle everything to get to that point on time.

At this stage if you want to set/discern a pattern then pick a time in the morning to 'reset' the day and by all means introduce a little bath/ bed ritual and start putting down to sleep awake but not alert when you spot signs of tiredness but don't make yourself a slave to a routine unless you want to. It all goes put the window at 6 weeks anyway.

Lis I reckon it was a none too gentle internal, a walk and a clary sage bath.

Lis and MrsW - no advice I'm sorry :( I have one induction at 40+11 and one ELCS to my name, so I have never gone into labour naturally. Lots of sympathy though, this last bit is grim. In just a couple of weeks you will have your babies, and have your bodies back. Hang onto that thought! (hugs)

Hmmm, that's what I thought Ali. H always wants both boobs but today he went nuts for milk. Was so pleased I'd expressed extra. He's sleeping peacefully now after a boob fest when we got home. I managed to string out the time by offering the dummy between feeds so he didn't throw it all up and get even more thirsty.

MrsW, my labour started with period-like pains that were 'uncomfortable' and irritating for a couple of hours before getting painful enough that I had to walk around whenever they happened. If they're regular I'd time them.

Lis I had a big Nando's the day I went into labour and I walked loads but I'm guessing your SPD is preventing that Mine was worst when I sat or lay down for long periods. However, if it comforts you at all, my SPD disappeared within hours of the birth and hasn't returned. Even with the stitches and after pains I felt so much better when Henry was born and, physically, life is much easier. Hang in there x x x

Thanks Frak %26 Ali

We'll keep going with the flow for now. And might even try eating out!

And Yay to getting your body back. I felt so much better immediately. It's almost worth the waiting.

Thanks Frak %26 Ali

We'll keep going with the flow for now. And might even try eating out!

And Yay to getting your body back. I felt so much better immediately. It's almost worth the waiting.

Thanks cycle pains are getting a little bit more frequent and slightly more painful so wondering if this could be me starting but don't want to get hopes up too much incase its a false alarm!!

Hello April mums thought I should pop in here and say hi.

I'm sat in hosp all ready to go home except for 1 thing, a poo
I've had loads of laxatives, fibre drinks, water, fruit & normal food. Last went in labour on Wednesday, I surely can't not go for much longer?!

But.. I know that my anus (sorry tmi) has been stitched back together and j have no idea how to relax enough to get past that. Any ideas??

Imay just beg to go home regardless and try to relax more there.

Also tips for sittingcpmfortably? Anyone got a doughnut cushion thing? Where from? Will have to send dh so need exact instructions lol.

Feeling a bit train wrecked and sorry for myself just now.

Poo problems seem to be the theme for this morning jks i can't decide if i'm in labour or just suffering from lactulose effects!! Which ever it is it's a bit bloody painful!! But i'm going to feel very silly in a few hours if its just been my bowels!!
Do you feel like you need to go or is there just nothing? I'm sure either way you'll manage something soon so you can get home - good luck!!

AwJKS I'm sure you will poo when your body is ready. A warm bath may help a little to relax your anal sphincter muscles. I held a pad over my stitches the first few times and kind of balanced on the edge of the toilet seat and leant forward. I'm not surprised you are feeling train wrecked.

Re cushions. I'm sure you can hire valley cushions from the NCT. If you look on the nct website you will find info there. They are meant to be really good.

Oh JKS, just wanted to send you some sympathy relax and poo vibes - you poor thing. I held onto the door handle and did some yoga breathing while imagining my anus opening (hypnopooing [bublush]). Also, don't push -just wait for it to come!

Congrats to Caramello and Aussie too [busmile]

It's all getting a bit de ja vous here as we prop DD2's cot up at sn angle and struggle to get as much gaviscon into her as poss. Bloody reflux [buangry]

NotAnother we've been really lucky with dd and so far with George no signs of reflux but it must be really hard work and stressful for you and dd.

Loving hypnopooing :)

Am home now, lying on my bed 'airing' my stitches (PIL & boys not allowed upstairs, not sure who'd be more traumatised, lol!).

Have managed to go a couple of times, not easy, waiting for the laxatives to actually have an effect.

sympathies with reflux, not fun.

Hello mummies. Just popped in to say hi and see how you all are. Will check in again soon.

My sympathies JKS. I too held my stitches when it came!

I used flushable moist toilet roll soaked in warm water. I also found that I didn't feel the urge until I was desperate (sorry TMI!) so I tried to go a couple of times before I actually went IYKWIM.

Fingers crossed all goes well!

H and I skipped the rugby today as it's so hot, he was very grumpy this morning when we went out and I'm sure it was the heat.

Gah, DH has friends he hasn't seen for years visiting and understandably wants to show off S. Which means I've spent the day looking like the miserable git who keep having to go change nappies/nag about S getting too hot/express feeds/be paranoid that feeds aren't big enough and S will get dehydrated/deal with grumpy baby. I'm sure DH has flicked a switch in his head and forgotten all practical needs of a newborn for the day [buangry]

Sorry about the rant, I know I'm a misery due to lack of sleep (S decided to sleep 10pm-1am then 2am-5.30am which was fab but I couldn't sleep as my boobs insisted I go express before they soaked the whole bed, typical!). My mood is also not helped by having no clothes that fit my bottom half. Maternity stuff won't stay up while pre-pregnancy doesn't get past my thighs (guess where my pregnancy weight is sitting...). Grump, grump, grump!

Nann hope you're having some success with the gaviscon

JKS I have a vision of you on your bed in some zen like 'hypnopooing' state, maybe with humming to go with the deep breathing?!

May i join you? I wasn't very active on the other thread, I'm afraid.. sorry! I would love to chat here though.

Many congratulations to all of you on the birth of your babies. My DS2 Isaac arrived on Thursday at 8.09pm weighing in at 7lbs 11oz. The birth was fast, unplanned at home, all of a bit of a shock, feeling a bit emotional and fragile about it all.. but he's here and safe.

Ok, off to read all your birth stories.

Welcome Chips, unplanned home birth? Wow, glad to hear you're both ok xx

Beetle, I too am way grumpy. Stayed home with H rather than go to DP's rugby game as it was too hot for baby and DP has decided to stay out.

Have hideous headache and am so not impressed. I think he got the message though as his best friend has just texted an IOU for 'one babysit' as he wanted DP to stay a bit longer. I was less than gracious and my reply may have insinuated he had moobs and that they were the result of a sex change... Well I'm cross!

Congratulations Chips glad you're both ok apart from the unplanned home birth. Isaac is great name it was our reserve name if Sam hadn't looked like a Sam.

I managed to get S latched on and fed this evening [bugrin] I'm not sure how we did it, but we did it! That's Righty down, now to figure out the challenge the is flat as a pancake Lefty...!

Cycle hehe moobs!

Just dipping in to catch up with everyone and not much time to post but wanted to send a hug to Beetle, it sounds as though you are having a really tough time at the moment - I can't believe you are expressing that much. I've been expressing now for nine weeks so can sympathise with how tough it is. I'm only doing it every three hours and even that is a killer when you are trying to look after your baby at the same time. You are doing brilliantly and deserve a massive pat on the back for making such a huge effort for S. Try not to give yourself too much of a hard time about everything and great news that you are getting there with breatfeeding.

Huge congrats to all the new babies! Chips unplanned home birth sounds terrifying, hope you get over the shock soon. Crikey.

Also struggling with clothes in this weather. Conor in a vest and socks at the moment and seems happy enough. Took him out to the pub for lunch with one of my girlfriends and her five month old. It was so lovely but he was quite hot and didn't have as much milk as usual when we were out. Got home and he had the most enourmous meltdown, screamed and screamed and I couldn't get him to stop. He was hungry but was in such a tizz that he didn't want to feed. DH eventually calmed him down by sitting upstairs with him and playing Radiohead! So, we're having a quieter day today.

Not an egg in the house here, didn't even really clock that it was Easter Sunday till about an hour ago.

Happy Easter [busmile]

Having a pleasantly quiet ish day today. Off to parent-in-laws for tea later. Only problem is George has decided that from about 5-10pm is the time for constant suckling or screaming. So I think we will be eating our roast lamb with either a screaming baby in the moses basket in the corner, or George plugged into my boob and me trying to eat a full roast dinner one handed. FIL I think also feels a little bit uncomfortable with me breast feeding in front of him but I don't want to have to spend my whole afternoon/evening sitting upstairs on my own with George. Its a bit tricky to be discrete at the moment as when George gets worked up he headbuts me and struggles to latch.

Chips congratulations! unplanned home birth, very dramatic. Looking forward to hearing your birth story.

Beetle good news about getting S latched on y/day. Hope you are having continued success today.

JoEW the only Easter Eggs dd has had are those bought for her by other people. She still has about 4, so she' perfectly happy and fortunately still at the age (3) where we can ration the chocolate so she doesn't scoff the lot in one sitting. I have found myself eyeing them up though, so perhaps they will disappear fairly quickly!

Posted this on the ante-natal board where I've been lurkign watching out for new arrivals, meant to post here:

Happy Easter all, hope the Easter bunny has visited and congratulations on new arrivals

I realised yesterday that M wanting hugs and to be carried, but carrying her in arms made it a bit tricky to do little things around the house ( I'm currently one handed typing whilst feeding. We have a carrier which claims to be from birth but felt that M was too small for it when we tested it yesterday, I also wonder if it'll be suitable for me as I'm not all that tall. I thought a sling might be more useful and wondered what you've got or might recommend - I'm tempted by the BabaSling, any thoughts?

Mega quick update:

Home from hospital, milk coming in, stitches still sore, still no post-partum poo, cried all over DH, paranoid I'm going to do irreparable harm to this tiny little scrap and can't quite work out the logistics of clothing for sleep in a co-sleeping bedside crib, air-conditioned room at 22C where he will probably end up in with us anyway...

Longer update soon, including birth story when I'm less baby bluesy