Jan 2012 - Higgs Boson Gang pt1

[Oeisha]

Link to antenatal thread for convenience

Not a very good title, but it will suffice 'til we fill this one in record time!

Congratulations to all that have popped so far!

Still no luck with latching today, and the nappies are remorseless today.
I can hear her tummy being very grumbly, and it seems to take an age for anything to come out. Poor lamb. Made for an awkward night, along with having to express and a fairly grumpy day for missy.

Beginning to feel low, tearful a lot for no reason (though thinking about the birth is pretty harsh) so must keep an eye on that. Will talk to MW on Thurs. I just think the feeding thing is really stressing me and I just need to make the decision to FF and get over it...just seems such a waste of my milk and I just don't know if making the decision to switch will actually make me feel any happier at all.

Oh gods, time to express again.

Hiya all,

My boy didn't sleep his usual fabulous self last night so a bit tired today,I can't complain because we have had more good nights than bad. His usual rhythym is 8-8 with 2 feeds at around 12-1 and again at about 4 ish.

I'm a bit low too as DH gos back to work tomorrow. I'm gonna miss him :( He took me out shopping today to buy some new jeans and a couple of tops so I feel spoilt. I am having to hold back tears everytime i think about him going back to work though.

oiesha sounds like youre having a tough time with the BF-don't beat yourself up whatever decision you make. I have been expressing milk but I have decided to chuck it all away because it occured to me that i am currenly on antibiotics and i freeze this milk I don't want to re introduce it in a week or two if I decide to use it.

Jago is also shedding skin like a lizard. I bought some cocoa butter baby butter and I have been using that plus olive oil.

I was dicharged by midwife yesterday and HV been today, J passed his hearing test and he plots on the 91st centile for height and the top centile for weight.

I have an OliveOil baby. Feet are the worst for shedding.

oiesha ((hugs)) I was in your position just over a week ago, its a very hard decision to make but you must be sure your happy with what ever decision you make. If the stress of bf is making you down is it really worth it? Dont worry about the milk, Abi has been getting goodness from the milk that you have already given her. Remember a happy mummy makes for a happy baby.
I got to the satge where I dreaded having to try to feed ds as it was such a struggle. We are both happier now that he is exclusively ff now. And I actually want to go out and see people now which is also a bonus. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. x

I had the physio today. And she hurt me bad I was bent into positions that I havent been in for such a long time. And was ordered not to carry anything heavier than DS and not to carry him in his carseat.

Am using hot shower and massage to try and get the milk through, using baby to drain my breast as best he can and I have some cabbage leaves in the fridge!

I use waitrose bottom butter on body, sweet almonds oil or coconut oil on hands and face because they're edible.

Glad to hear I'm not the only one with a lizard baby! We've been using olive oil already which is helping lots, but oats help my eczema loads so I'm a big fan.
fish 8-8 with a couple of feeds? Uou're so lucky! With DD we've probably had 8-10 feeds in that time for the last few nights, but she's put on 6oz in 3 days so it's a definite growth spurt. I'm begging for a quieter night tonight! She's sleeping peacefully now but 9pm-1am is her crazy time usually.

Oeisha, not sure I can help except to echo that a happy mummy equals a happy baby, so I hope you can work out something that you're ok with. Sounds like you're doing great with your dd.

Can i ask a question about everyones blood loss down below? Mine is still really heavy and a dark kidney bean sort of colour-i'm really fed up with it. It had stopped totally by day 6 then it started again and doesn't seem to be improving at all-just staying the same day after day.

Mine is still going fish it hasn't changed much tbh. It's quite pink in colour though.

I wish it would stop soon I find the smell horrible - i don't think it's infected. The smell of a normal period turns my stomach.

DD is 13 days today fish and mine has almost stopped - but I do have light periods normally. I think bleeding usually lasts 2-4 weeks and occasionally longer, but do check with your MW.

I'm still bleeding a little, James is two weeks tomorrow!!

He had his first pot on yesterday (he's got club foot on his right foot we found out at 20 week scan), he's been a bit whingy whilst he's getting used to it but he's not been too bad today. Makes changing the nappy a bit challenging though as is thigh to toe cast. Quite distressing to see the doc pull his foot about

My milk is virtually dried up, was expressing but just not doing it enough so will be exclusively ff-ing by the end of the week! I'm back at work Monday (booo) so this was the plan anyway, so trying not to feel too guilty...

It's lovely to hear everyone's experiences and thoughts and that everyone seems to be doing really well!!

The MW told me the bleeding could go up to 8 weeks but only to worry if the smell changed.

Hey ladies

Re: lochia, I'm 19 days in and it's practically stopped. Just pinkish/red spotting really now. It does stink tho I can only liken the smell to rotten cabbage I'm cleaning down there so much cos the smell is disgusting! Contemplating a visit to the docs to rule out infection but I have no other symptoms like raised temp or anything.

Has anyone else thought about contraception yet? I'm considering the implant as it lasts for 3 years and once removed the hormones are out of your system within 30-60 days.

My bleeding's coming and going too. Some days, just pink, others a fair bit more than a heavy period. My main worry is despite kegels, I'm still not feeling much bladder control. I guess it is slowly getting better, but I'm still caught unawares occasionally.

I think we've made the decision. I'm going to try the nipple shields the BF MW suggested (arriving in the post soon) and if she doesn't get the hang of those fairly quickly, then, well, FF it is. She's had all the colostrum (mine was exceedingly yellow) and it's now more runny and white...so, well, that's something. I'll express and change her over a couple of weeks, and freeze and extra, but this is madness!

There simply is no point in feeling this shit about something so simple to change. I am partly paranoid that it's PND talking and not rantional at all, but if it is PND then there's another very good reason to make it all as simple as possible.

Oh - for those that had a less than ideal birth, are you all getting the "oh, you'll have another one" shit off people? I think a large part of how I'm feeling stems from how fucking horendous birthing was. Maybe with an induction&epi or a section...but not natural. She was LOA until about 20mins of contractions then she went back-to-back and then spent the entire labour turning...not fun.

Right, time for another expressing (1h late...oops).

Hugs for you Oeisha, you're having a tough time after a difficult birth and now your struggle with BF, no wonder you're feeling down. Don't be too hard on yourself and just take one day at a time. Don't forget your hormones are still all over the place too.

Fish: I was worried about my lochia as it was heavy, dark red and quite thick at day 15. I googled and the web indicated that whilst lochia can last 6 weeks, the bright red phase should end relatively quickly. I was right to be concerned as yesterday I passed a 10-15cm long, 1-2cm diameter piece of placenta with a gush of blood. I had to show my maternity pads to the doc and the new one I had worn (not the one with the placenta) was bright red still. I said 'that's normal' and the doc replied 'you mean for you? Because that's not normal.' I would get checked if yours is still bright red! Mine is currently still red too. Really hoping this passes. :(

Oeisha: my labour was not at all straightforward (ended with rotational forceps after 24 hrs) and the recovery is the part I'm finding hardest - the after effects of a third degree tear and even just trying to go to the loo are disheartening. I've had the comment, 'oh, your first, so she's going to be a big sister!' I've replied, with a smile, 'we'll see...' but I'm definitely thinking 'not bloody likely!'

moobee I'm feeling a bit wigged out now....Mine is no longer bright red but still quite heavy. Not quite as heavy as a period heavy day (and i have very heavy periods) and i'm on day 14 now. I am also flooding when i first get up in the morning.

It's just that it dioesn;t seem to be lesseneing at all-just going on the same amount day after day. (dying to resume "relations" with DH after LOOONG pregnancy drought)

One of the things i've found/am finding hardest to come to terms with is that ds being c sec had affected my future births too. It's unlikely and unsafe for me to consider home birth or mw unit now and may be that elcs is the safest option. It's breaking my heart.

cakes big hugs for you-home vbacs are possible and have been done. You may not want to take the risk of that option and in time you will let go of the grief you feel about the lack of home birth. I so know where youre coming from. Don't be afraid to cry over it, let it out and let it go. It will take time and hormonally you are raw right now. It took me about 2 years and a lot of support to come to terms with the fact i will never have a beautiful home birth. give yourself time and perhaps just box that thought up for now until things are a little bit calmer and less new xxx

Cakes, I know it's not the same thing, but I feel the same way. Due to the scary blood pressure, I'm likely to be consultant led from now on, which means I'll never get that MW led water birth I wanted, or a home birth. It's a bit glum-making really.

Does anyone else still have carpal tunnel syndrome? My hands are way worse than before the birth - picking up DD and changing her is really painful. My feet aren't swollen at all now but my fingers are still too big for my rings, and the swelling is squishing my nerves. The GP says it should go soon, but no signs yet.

And to round it all off, DH is back at work now .

Sorry Fish, I didn't mean to scare you but it might be worth checking if it doesn't lessen soon. (so impressed you're considering resuming action with your DH already!)

Hugs to all of those in post labor blues. xx

P.S. If your flow isn't dark red then you're probably ok. It can last upto six weeks.

Haven't really grieved for that bit yet. Keep having too much other stuff to deal with.

Re: lochia, I'm at 3+ weeks and still bleeding. Some days are lighter than others.

I'm dreading starting up "relations" with DH again. Told him that too and that I'm waiting for my 6 week checkup to get the all clear.

Oeisha go easy on yourself. You're doing an amazing job. Hormones are all over the shop for the first few weeks and that doesn't help matters either.

I had a meltdown today and I've no rational reason for it. And I'm not feeling much better now so there may be more today.

Things are going well though. Dd2's skin has gotten much better now. I wonder was it because they washed her straight after birth? (she'd pooped everywhere on us). DD1 had great skin but wasn't washed until day 2 or 3 after birth.

it is dark red though :( burgundy coloured and there were some clots today in the shower. ho hum.

DH has just gone into work for his 48 hour on call and they've completely changed his duties without telling him. So instead of weds-fri, he now has to work overnight tonight, then a full day Thurs, then go overseas from Fri-Sun. I'm fuming - my mum is already on her way down to help me out over the next two days so we can't change her plans, it's too late

DH promised he'd start saying no to this kind of crap when DD was born, but it's the same old 'there's no one else to do it' story. I'm and at the same time - actually weeping with anger.

Oh Ghost, that's so rubbish. It's a really vulnerable time for us all and I know how much I rely on my DH at the moment. So sorry to hear that. :( Do you have friends locally?

Fish, it might be worth going to the doctors just as a precaution (although I'm hypersensitive to this at the moment).