The brookers post graduate thread

[hawthers]

We've got so good at brooking no argument for no pregnancy complications and sneeze births, we're going for our Phds in big fat babies

Oooh, I love that ring, Biscuits. £11,000 - I am so worth it.

Am impressed by your sausage hiding, Purple. However, am currently more in line with Dream's way of thinking.

Small daughter is in pram making intermittent cross noises. I think she's just gurning in her sleep.

Sausage hiding!?! I can't imagine ever being ready for that...

Another DH who failed on the eternity ring front here as well. He actually mentioned it today, and basically implied he's getting one as a birthday pressie for next month instead. I was not impressed and made this known...

Bit upset tonight, my wound really hurts at one side, and seems to be raised in that section, so I'm working myself up into a state worrying I've pulled out some stitches internally. The inevitable consequence of having one night's sleep and somehow thinking that meant I was back to normal and could wander around like nothing had happened! Will ask my imw to check the wound tomorrow when she comes round again, it wasn't hurting when she was here this afternoon.

Plus my boobs are at full engorgement and my nipples literally feel like they're being shredded every time Autumn latches on! It's gone from painful in the morning, to unbearable now. I'm dreading the hourly feeding tonight... I know what a good latch looks/feels like now, but it hurts so much when she first gets on that even if it's wrong I can't bring myself to chuck her off and let her try again. Stupid stupid stupid I know! Someone please tell me this WILL pass?!

I'm just about to try my nipple shields, but I can't imagine they're going to stop the pain... Just waiting for my boobs to go down a bit so that it's easier for Autumn to do a proper latch (like she was before) rather than just hanging off the end of my nipple...

After all that whinging I'm going to go find a cute picture and put it up on my profile - just to remind myself of why it's all worth it! She is the most amazingly precious creature in the entire world to me, I would never have believed I would persevere with bfing through this much pain!

Photo up of PFB...

I'll be taking it down in a day or so.

A year?! Oh, hmm depends what kind of sleeper a turns out to be

That ring would probably do the job biscuits! scream your dh is several huge steps ahead of mine! The engorgement will go down and it will get easier.

A was fussy during our dinner again. We havent had a peaceful tea for weeks. Oddly wearing.

Your profile isn't clickable Scream :)
Can you try expressing the first bit of milk off so she can latch easier? Do you feel your initial pain could be your let down? I find the fuller my boobs are the more uncomfortable my let down is, this has got much better over time though :)

I wouldn't be impressed by sausage hiding, first time was curiosity mixed with wanting to get it out of the way. But made me uncomfortable for the next day or so, the 2nd time was not so pleasant as the condom was ruddy uncomfortable!

Dream are you bottle feeding the expressed milk? If so has the latching changed? You are doing a great job and will start getting easier.

One of you asked about me? Yes I diagnosed his tongue tie, which is good for me and my training, bad for me as it left me with some decisions. Anyway, I have chosen not to be referred for possible division and hoping it will just stretch out, which I think it is a bit.

Anyway, he is piling on the lbs! He weighed 12lbs on Weds!!! So different to my experience with DD but I have so much more milk this time!

Oh and where is Pet? I hope we didn't scare you off?

Thanks Purple! Is it clickable now?

I don't know exactly what let down would feel like, but it does seem as though all the pain is in my nipple and not the breast itself.

DH is currently holding Autumn because I'm scared if we put her down she'll wake up and want feeding! I'm dreading getting through this night. My nipples need a good 24 hours to heal! Not sure how they're going to heal while in constant use?!

Still impressed by Purple's sausage hiding by the way! Whatever the circumstances!

Autumn is gorgeous by the way scream!

Scream Autumn is just adorable! So so cute .

Sorry to hear about the sore wound though - obviously make sure you're taking it easy but hope your IMW can sort it tomorrow. Now on the bursting internal stitches thing, that happened to a friend of mine who picked up her toddler without thinking about 3 days after her CS. When she told the mw that she thought she might have burst some internal stitches, the mw just said 'quite possibly' and didn't seem worried at all, so it must be something that doesn't necessarily indicate a problem? Anyway, hope your IMW can reassure you tomorrow or sort it out for you.

Nipple pain - ouch ouch ouch . I haven't had it as badly this time but I remember needing to grab DH's hand when DS1 would latch on and actually swearing out loud (I'm not a big swearer) or crying . I never felt much let down last time so it could have been that as it was really for that first minute that it was toe curling and unbearable but I was just so so sore with him. IT DOES GET BETTER EVENTUALLY. This too SHALL pass. As your milk supply settles I'm sure they won't be so hard when A tries to latch on. But it does take a while for them to heal once they've got sore.

You know before you put the lansinoh on, try just hand expressing a few drops of milk and rubbing that round and letting it dry, as that has healing properties too.

I'm going to out myself as a bit of a Harry potter fan here but I always think it sounds like BM is a bit like Phoenix tears with it's magical healing properties!

And I got through a heap of lansinoh too in that first week or so. I was putting it on both sides whenever DS2 fed, even of he'd only fed on one side iyswim?

Oh and this time I do feel let down some of the time and it feels tingly (on both boobs) for probably 20 seconds or so just a little while in to the feed. But tingly this time because my nipples aren't sore. I'm not saying what I felt last time with DS1 was 'tingly' - it was frigging painful!

Pomme hope A is letting you get more rest overnight.

Dream - in a way I think it's good that they've swapped roles as to having the top ups - at least it shows it's just a phase for each of them and they can both do a little growth spurt? At least if it's just a phase there will hopefully be a time soon when they're both finished that phase and you might get a rest? I'm not sure with twins whether it'd be better for them to stagger their growth spurts (but then you're dealing with a growth spurt all the time!) or to synchronise them (so it would be mental for a bit but then you'd actually catch a break after it!). I suspect as with so many twin things there isn't an easy answer!

Also hoping Pet is well

Purple - if it was uncomfortable hiding sausages that is all the encouragement I need to definitely not rethink my reluctance . Especially with having the tear etc to heal again this time. Maybe next year.....

Well after a grumpy evening ds2 did a big old sleep again and fed at 9:45 then 3:30 and it actually coincided with us being asleep

Ds1 on the other hand might well have chicken pox . Lots of little spots popped up yesterday pm so waiting to see what he looks like in the morning. If he has does anyone know what that means for DS2? What if he got it at 8 weeks old?

Still waiting for Scarlet shaped news

Have you had chicken pox biscuits? Think he'd be protected by that?

Otherwise it's something to monitor that no other complications occur and just a very grumpy baby iirc. There was a cp outbreak round here when I was pg so I did lots of research!

I did have it when i was younger Pomme do hopefully he's still protected. I presume they lose the protection as they get older?

Cheers

I guess so biscuits.

Abbie was better last night but I've been writing down her feed times and she is still feeding 12-14 times a day. She's 9 weeks tomorrow. Is this normal?? I don't mind during the day but id love her to drop a night feed!!

Thanks for all the advice ladies, will be taking it on board! I'm really hoping by tonight my boobs will have settled down, which will of course be the first step towards pain free bfing!

Soooooo tired. Zero sleep last night. Autumn is still lovely and rarely cries, but she's up all night, constantly wanting to feed and at the moment she's being sick after every feed. She's dirtied everything she owns! Poor DH experienced his first full night of no sleep, as he had to change her, and the bedding, numerous times. He's not impressed with her habit of waiting until the clean nappy has just been put under her bum before peeing all over the change table, lol. His record was getting through 4 nappies in one changing session at 3 am. It entertained me at least!

The nipple agony is less entertaining but actually I feel the nipple shields helped in two ways. One, altho they do nothing for pain, they at least prevent further damage. So despite a night of constant feeding I think my nipples have healed a little, because they've been protected. Second, Autumn hates the shields, so she only feeds when she's genuinely hungry. All comfort sucking has been eliminated!

Sorry to be so me me me. Plus now I have to go get ready so I can't join in the conv properly, apologies for being self-obsessed! I'll be back properly later. I have the dreaded evil BIL visit to get through today (despite bleeding nipples, crazy hormones and zero sleep).

Last point though, Biscuits I'm pretty sure I also read that if you're immune to chicken pox and you bf then the baby is protected for the first 12 months. Just wanted to second Pomme. Fingers crossed for a healthy Biscuit household!

just on for a wee gripe. :(

it was all going so well, but now it looks like DS2 has thrush in his mouth, i guess i probably have it too but maybe don't feel sore because of painkillers for fanjo area.

have heard it's a pain to treat and get rid of, and i just can't be bothered Tbh.

sorry for such a tiny whine but it's just made me grumpy!

brooking for all the babies being good to their mummy today. :)

Oh no jaggy that's annoying. I'm sure if the doctor gives you something for you and him asap then it'll clear up super speedily. You are brokers after all!

I would suggest cake and chocolate as medication in the meantime...

DH is having a nap on the sofa currently. Anyone else's dh treat naps like their god given right?!

Mine does Pomme! Particularly after "only" a few hours sleep the other night.

It's pretty entertaining at the moment actually, because DH didn't get any sleep last night either, but now he's having to run around sorting out some clean clothes and bedding for Autumn whilst also tidying the house and popping out to buy snacks etc, because his brother plus girlf are going to be here soon. This is EXACTLY why I didn't want them to come, they're guests you have to "entertain". However DH didn't understand my objection, until now...

I'm just resting on the sofa and letting him get on with it

Sorry! I meant to say - how annoying Jaggy! Just irritating timing really. I fully agree with Pomme though, the thrush is no match for our combined No Brooking. I'm sure it'll clear up in no time!

well opinion is now divided on my thread on the bf board. all the first replies were people saying that it really sounded like thrush, but apparently it might just be milky bits stuck in his mouth. will maybe try to get him looked at tomorrow anyway.

DS1 didn't ever have a white coating on his tongue, hence my flapping and posting on bf/ff for advice!

DH hasn't had a nap yet, although he did go to sleep in a hospital chair after the birth! i was lying there with DS2 on my chest asleep and DH snoring in the corner!

Oh no - hope it's not thrush Jaggy

Scream glad your DH is doing all the work ahead of the arrival of EBIL (evil BIL). I agree with the others if you can take yourself away to feed Autumn - if you can sneak a nap in too it's a win-win situation.....

Jaggy if you scrape the white bits it will bleed if it is thrush. Daktarin is better at treating Thrush but has recently lost its licensing for under 4 months due to a silly prat putting it to the back of babies mouth and baby choking a bit. Baby was unharmed btw! Anyway, you might be able to get it prescribed still if you ask. Do you have any other symptoms? Don't be down about it if he does as it can be fixed :)

Scream nipple shields have their place but can you get help to improve the latch pretty please? I am sure your IMW will help. And remember 'comfort' sucking does help boost your supply :) Sound like you are doing a great job especially as you weren't sure about the whole thing anyway.
Oh and Autumn is beautiful and great choice of name as her skin looks quite golden to me :) Gorgeous :)

Pomme the frequency of feeding is normal and will improive, but Abby is still very young.

Biscuity it was uncomfortable but I still enjoyed it ;)

Biscuity Yee what? Biscuits lol

Hello ladies, just popping in to check out where I will be spending more time soon! V.naice:) floats delicately back through to other thread

it's hard to get a 11 day old tocooperate with me footering with his tongue, but i think it scrapes off ok..

purple, we're giving the ebm top ups by bottle. Hasn't affected latches at all. However latches are still an issue, with both messing, fussing, crying at the boob without being able to latch on. No white coating on tongues (there's enough crying in this madhouse to see jaggy*!) . Definitely going to have to go and see the LC next week, I'm.sore as when they finally get on I accept anything as it takes up to 10 min of fussing, winding, position fiddling to get them on.

scream, she's very beautiful, well done you!!

Purple of course it would be perfectly okay to say Autumn's skin looks golden! However what you are astutely picking up on there is actually a touch of jaundice Your comment made me chuckle though, I will be sure to tell the mw she's not slightly yellow, she's golden At the moment Autumn's underlying skin tone is as resolutely fair as her red-haired father's skin. I'm sure my genes will kick in over the next few weeks/months though, so in the end she might be golden!

Survived the visit. Luckily it turned out my family wanted to come over at the same time, my brother had a cold earlier in the week so he hadn't met Autumn yet. It was nice to be able to see my family rather than having to make small talk with EBIL (great acronym Biscuits!) one-on-one. I did almost end up crying though because my milk coming in has really peaked - I feel like my boobs could burst at any minute. Plus after not sleeping all night, Autumn slept from 1 to 5.30 without waking for a feed, and I can't tell you how helpful it would have been for me to sleep at the same time! Instead I was with visitors...

Anyways, I berated DH one last time after everyone left. I explained that it's his fault I missed the sleep window this afternoon, and I've sent him out for a walk with Autumn while I catch up on MN have a quick nap ahead of tonight's fun and games.

Purple your bfing advice perfectly mirrors my imw! She has shown me how to get a good latch, and I can do it usually during the day. However while my boobs are rock hard nothing seems to work, and even before the rock hard boobs I found it difficult at night because it's so hard to pull myself into the correct feeding position given the spd/cs wound. My imw is very unhappy with me using the shields, but I have to say at this point I'm practically ready to throw up with pain each time Autumn clamps down, and I can't give up the shields just yet.

I'm hoping my boobs will be less granite-like tomorrow, and I'm also spending the whole of tomorrow in bed (imw's orders, to give my stitches a chance to heal, where I've been pulling on them). So I'm going to relinquish the shields tomorrow and just focus on perfecting my latch with Autumn. We'll get there in the end!

Jaggy I hope it turns out not to be thrush in the end! I'm impressed if you managed to get DS2 to open his mouth enough to let you scrape his tongue!

Dream as always I have no practical advice for you, so sorry, but sending lots of No Brooking your way that you'll determine the best option soon!

Scream take drugs! Don't be in pain! Nowt wrong with Ibuprofen codeine with a paracetamol chaser. If your boobs are rock hard express :) Your plan is great for tomorrow. Resting and feeding your baby is all your supposed to be doing atm. Glad their continuity in what you are hearing :)

Lol about the jaundice :)

Dream have you thought about let down or having fast flowing milk? I really hope you get to see LC.

Jaggy what's going on for you to be worried like this? Are you ok?