October 2011 - Let the poo obsession begin

[PenguinArmy]

Come chat, moan, boast (by stealth of course), vent, rage, relax, worry and be reassured. Welcome to all the new babies. Stats thread here

Marking thread - thanks for setting it up, PA!

Hello all, this thread is a bit easier to catch up on than the other one! Congrats to all on the new babies! And well done on going natural despite your previous experience Penguin - I know you were thinking of CS at one point, but I'm glad you had a positive experience.

bb3 - have you spoken to the midwife about your headache? You can get an epidural headache (if you had one?) which a friend of mine got - quite rare but really painful and can sometimes need treating with another injection in the spine. Hers kicked in a day or so after delivery and lasted ages.

We are getting on ok - dd is 3 weeks old today. She is sleeping better at night now that I have the knack of swaddling her, (well, still feeding every 3 hours, but settling in her basket in between) but my breasts are very sore. Tmi, but I have cracked nipples which keep nearly healing and then she has one bad latch again and opens them up, sigh. My let down is also painful, and I've been really surprised by how much the feeding thing has hurt, even though her latch is fine. My hv and midwife said it should ease up soon as my skin toughens - I can't wait. I bf my ds for 9 months without any pain at all, but he was prem and so his tiny mouth probably didn't have any real power for a few months whereas this little one has a ferocious chew!

I can't remember who was asking about CS - I also had one under general, and managed to establish bf quickly, even though I didn't come round properly for about 4 hours. Lots of skin to skin and feeding her as often as I could get someone to pass her to me in the first day or two and my milk came in really quickly. I think positive thoughts about it really helped - I expected it to work and it did. They definitely can sense when you are stressed.

Anyway, will stop waffling. Hope everyone is ok and getting some sleep!

3 weeks already, that's madness

My milk is starting to come in already, breasts getting alarmingly larger by the hour. If DD wakes from her nap in time, I'm going to head to the BF cafe for some help with the latch, he is not quite getting enough in.

Hello! My boy is 8 days old today and I can't imagine a world without him. Goopy but true.

dino I have one sore nipple too, and when I bf an easy side and a hard side. I hope it evens out soon.

oooops, sorry about abrupt posting - got vomited on just as I was feeling proud about being able to type with one hand while breast feeding!

I was wondering how others split the night feeds with your DH/DP? I do them all and he doesn't help out at all which is fine by me as that way he's able to do more chores in the day and allow me to nap. I was talking to someone about it though who claims their DP always got up with them and burped the baby etc as it was mean for him to sleep when she had to get up so was wondering what the norm was? I guess it's just whatever works for you, but still ...

Morning!

I am doing all the night stuff on my own and dh is sleeping on his own in the spare room. Whilst he was on paternity leave and I was still recovering from the cs he was helping at night by doing nappies and passing baby to me but now I'd rather he was with it during the day - he's doing all the chores and cooking and burps E after her evening milk then looks after her for a few hours until the next evening one when I get a quick snooze before the night begins. He is appreciating the break at night! Last time with my ds I was horrifically ill with pnd and couldn't function at all, and ds had reflux which meant he would only sleep upright with someone holding him for weeks, so we were both doing nights and suffering.

We don't have a set system. Currently he helps sets up the pillows and does nappy changes if required. We rather stupidly never got round to setting up a lamp within my reach so he turns on/off the light.

Last time once he was back at work I would do all the night stuff once nappies didn't need doing. She was then his if she woke after 5am until he went to work, he would go to bed at 9 (this was of course after she had 'woken' up and starting to have a more distinct day and night). If I was really tired at night then I would pass her over for burping or putting back down (it can take a while) or if I had been trying for an hour already and hit my wall.

I think getting into set things will cause you more trouble in the long run if you're struggling, better to fall into a routine of general tasks and flex it as required. Am always shocked at peoples DHs who retort thats your area. Also don't let up too much because of work, I was the working parent from 4 months but still did a good whack of the night (then again you might have one who sleeps through at that age).

Milk is really in now, if weren't for the blood stained cracks it might look sexy

Hello all

Thanks penguin for setting it up!

cheeky I hadn't thought about that - I had spinal but they did say it could be a side effect, I'll book an appointment for one day next week to get it checked out.

Re cracked nips, I went through a phase where my left boob would ALMOST heal and then one of the girls would get the latch wrong even for a small second and it would rip open - BUT it did get there, I found changing the position help and I did the rugby ball hold for a while so they were latching on a slightly different way.

Penelope When DH was off work he helped in the night (and then proceeded to sleep until 10!!!) but back at work we kind of play it by ear. if the girls wake individually I will feed, wind and put them back down until the next one does it, but if they wake together and I need help with burping / changing etc then he will be up with me. At the moment we have had colds and now Ayse is really poorly so neither of us are getting much sleep. It's hard and DH finds it hard and has pulled the 'work' card quite a lot which just infuriates me (I figure I haven't had a good nights sleep in about 6 months and I still held down a full time job up until 5 weeks ago so he can bloody well cope with 3 weeks of adhoc bad sleeping!)

Things are a bit tough at the moment and am feeling a bit teary today, just through lack of sleep and frustration. Ayse-Rose has a hideous infection, she has only slept for about 5 hours in the past 2 days and only on me so I just feel rancid and a bit lonely and awful that DS is being neglected because of the demands of the girls. This too shall pass and all that but I wish it would bloody well hurry up!!.

that sounds really tough and no wonder your weepy. At point I used to do all the night stuff because I knew by working I had it easier (and this was research in academia so proper brain work).

I did my first poo today

we're starting to have pain free feeds but as you say one bad one reopens damage.

also re headaches (i) isn't it a bit late for epidural headaches and (ii) could it be a paracetamol headache? either way hope check-up figures it out for you

DH actually said to me whilst off that he was going back to work for a rest!! so he is well aware of the fact that it is harder look after the kids BUT seems to have conveniently forgotten that whilst back at work!

I have stopped taking paracetamol as they weren't touching it - it's still there, am trying to drink more fluids and get some fresh air which seems to be helping a little bit...

Oooh first poo post labour - ouch! Although have to say the wee for me was worse with DS - I was SOOOO scared because of the internal stitching hurting so i stupidly didn't drink so I wouldn't have to go but when I did, it was so strong that it hurt like hell! [stupid new mother emoticon!]

I think DS is turning a bit yellow but that gives me a valid reason to carry on holding him and co-sleeping and fitting in more feeds. I'll get DH to take him outside for some short walks tomorrow as well. Next MW visit is on Sunday.

A new trapped nerve seems to have sprung up and I'm struggling to walk around tonight. Was completely fine going round the shops earlier but maybe I overdid it and this is the result?

bb3 I hope you're feeling a bit better. My mum left today after being here since the day DS was born (which was a great coincidence as she was able to be there for the labour) 9 days ago and I had a cry when she left. I find I am feeling fine most of the time, but every evening at bedtime seem to get glum like clockwork. It's still early days yet/

cheeky your routine with DH sounds like mine - it's working quite well so far, although once he goes back to work, who knows.

I woke up the other morning having slept on my stomach with two round milk circles on the sheets.

We had a lovely day today, DM and DSis came and gave DD loads of attention and did our housework.

Just need to bear in mind not all days will be good.

penelope I'm still using the mattress protector things to catch DS urine, his sick and my milk (plus possible other leakage). Not going to be a kinky bed for a while.

Another one with one bad side and one good side here - I can latch on easily and feed one-handed on the left but have to arrange cushions carefully and psych myself up for the right. Am also trying rugby hold but I only started this morning so we'll see how it goes.

Midwife suggested we did that as I was quite upset that it was still toe-curlingl y painful despite her helping with the latch last Monday. Anyway, fingers crossed it will improve.

bb I feel I'm neglecting DD1 and DS and feel awful about it and I only have one baby so you have my sympathies! DD's school is moving next week so she is off Wed-Fri as well as the following week for half-term. I have mixed feelings as I'll welcome the chance to have her around a bit more and spend time together but it's a long time to have her not at school as well and I can't drive yet so we'll be stuck at home or close by.

Hope Ayse-Rose sleeps better tonight.

We have been sharing the nights here as I haven't been that mobile. DH gets her up and passes her to me, changes her half way through the feed then goes back to bed while I finish her off and put her down. Am getting more able now so I think he'll just sleep probably!

DS still only feeds for 4/5mins but on day 5 he's already up to 6lbs 13oz from birth weight of 6lbs 10.75ozs so clearly he taking good amounts in. Still a bit jaundiced but getting better.

How is Ayse-Rose doing?

Fleecy is the pain just at the start of all the way through? I can feed fine in chairs etc. but in bed still have a convoluted pillow set-up.

penguin Ayse-Rose will feed for 5 minutes and is piling on the weight, edith-may takes about 10-15 to finish and is gaining but not as rapidly (she's a fusser though and goes on and off throughout her feed whereas a guzzles like she's never been fed before ).

She's much better - still very clingy and refusing to be put down as for the past 4 days she's been cuddled constantly while she feels unwell so we need to break that buy at least she looks like she's getting back to normal!

How are the nipples coming on?! Mine are bloody itchy today it's driving me crazy!!!

I just winced in sympathy with your itchiness then. Nipples are healing incredibly fast, rather pleasantly surprised. Hopefully the last niggle of initial pain will be gone before let down pain starts. Think engorgement has also peaked. DS is not a happy winder at all, so trying all sorts to get it out of him.

I've been having some sharp pains down below, MW mentioned the possibility of hemorrhoids and told me to top up painkillers (haven't really been taking any) and also I'm squirting lavender oil infused water on my bits after the toilet and will add some to my bath.

Otherwise we still seem to doing well. My guess everything will get difficult once all the help goes.

Hi everyone, thanks penguin for setting up the thread.

Eleanor is 2 weeks old today, and everything has been surprisingly great so far, I'm almost expecting it all to go wrong at some point and her turn into a nightmare baby! Breastfeeding is going well, and she's got it down to an art- it only takes her 5 minutes for a feed and she put on a whole pound last week. I'm loving not being pregnant anymore, i'm realising just how knackered I felt for 9 months. I have a million times more energy now than when pregnant, even with much less sleep, so that's probably why I'm finding the 'nightmare newborn stage' that I was warned about much easier than expected. I think it also helps that she's a pretty chilled out baby- she's easy to settle and sleeps happily, apart from 2 hours of unsettledness (is that a word?) each evening.

Yesterday I took great satisfaction in shoving my maternity clothes into the loft and getting my old stuff out. I'm a vintage dresses, skirts and heels kind of girl, so was utterly fed up of jeans and t shirts. It's lovely to feel like me again. I'm struggling with nursing bras though- I have a couple of different ones and they seem to fit fine but then the minute my boobs get slightly engorged they're so uncomfortable. I have been wearing just a vest top under jumpers etc, but then my breast pads wander about! Any ideas?

I'm loving not being pregnant too - esp sleeping on my back! DS has been good at settling so far but in the last day seems to be having more trouble which is frustrating - he was good at sleeping in his moses basket at first, but now needs more cuddles etc. It's not too bad, but he's hard to settle in day time now.

fleecy i find the rugby hold is all that works for my bad side

sounds am impressed you are in pre preg clothes! I tried in my old jeans but can't do them up yet. oh well.

Penelope I can't even get my pre preg jeans past my thighs (and there was everyone telling me whilst pg all weight was on my tummy - PAH!)

sound so glad things are going so well with little E x my mat clothes are in loft too (thought about getting rid of them but drivers to keep hold of them just in case) - along with all my summer clothes (that I never actually got to wear this year!) and have got all my winter wardrobe unpacked ready for the cold spell ( jeans might not fit but jumpers are fine - so technically in pre of clothes already - does that count )

Just marking my place on post natal thread

Ethan is 2 weeks old today!

i can completely relate to the nipple soreness. i keep wondering when this is going to get better, but i guess that i do let him get away with a bad latch sometimes. if he's being really fussy and took ages to latch on in the first place, i just don't want to detach him and make him cranky again!

it is freezing cold today, what is everyone else wearing to feed? i just don't think vest tops are going to work anymore! any suggestions of inexpensive shops for nursing tops?

I am so sick of sore nipples too! I'm hoping this is the week when they toughen up as E will be four weeks on Thursday, and that was how long the midwife said it could take. It doesn't help that she takes 30-40 minutes to feed and sometimes only goes an hour and a half between feeds in the afternoon.

To feed now it's cooler I am wearing long sleeved t shirts (instead of vests) and cardigans - I just lift up the t shirt and drape the cardigan over any visible flesh. I didn't get on very well with nursing tops last time as I found them more revealing - they often need you to reveal the whole nipple in comedy fashion in a hole, whereas lifting a top means it is less visible and can be hidden by baby. Maybe I bought rubbish ones!

And I am nowhere near fitting in my jeans due to the stupid c section scar. I have lost most of the weight except for a stubborn few pounds but my tummy is still too tender and swollen to fit into tight trousers. Will be in my stretchy maternity trousers or leggings for some time.

Know what you mean about the lazy latch, it take a strong will to bring yourself to unlatch. DS half comes off and then clamps down again. Not sure what to do about that. I'm wondering if the latch is slightly off to start with and that's what enables him to do it.

I need some cardi's. Personally I'm a fan of dresses which means I'll be in jeans and my currently non-existent cardigans for a while. Nursing tops are hard to find as online don't generally show the access mechanism. I had ones before that had a lift-up panel (no holes) but they are not around now and old ones were very very used.