November 2012 - babies are here at last

[StuntNun]

This is the post-natal club for graduates of the November 2012 intake.

No fireworks here but dd2 slept through dd1 throwing her lego around half the afternoon. We have wooden floors. It was noisy. Newborns seem to be able to sleep through anything I'm very

My little one breastfed from both boobs today, he hasn't done that once in the 22 days he's been here. Im trying to get him off the bottles and I feel a lot more optimistic now. Had an exhausting day today. It was the first day that dh wasn't here and I thought I would be taking naps and watching tv but no, that didn't happen at all.

That?s great thechick. My little one still very rarekly manages that. He was weighed today and is 4 pound 14, but health visitor is a bit concerned he was on 50th centile when born but now following 2nd (on premmie chart). Even though it looks like the drop was on nicu he needs to keep putting on at least 100g a week or she?ll have to refer him for extra checks ~ no pressure then!

Hope you are not too sore now vq and blonder.

Quick post. I'm ok, then I'm not ok. It's so up and down.

Little man can hardly suck, so he on formula and I'm on the pump. Is having second lot of blood tests later for jaundice. He's gorgeous, I love him, I just want to go home desperately, want to be able to feed him properly and sleep properly. Think we might be up again all night after sleeping today.

Think my Milk might be coming in, breast are growing.

One minute I'm rational the next a sobbing mess. I've had fewer labour flashbacks today though!

I was given a saline drip, so fluid but no goodness. Apparently my back is badly bruised. The anaesthetist was not very kind or gentle.

Overdid it today. Up and down the stairs a few too many times, put washing away, did a couple of lots, tidied a bit. Not much, but I guess still too much. I yanked my wound in the night trying to get up the bed, so that has bled a bit today. Meant to be having my staples out tomorrow. I would rather they stayed in a couple more days as I am still coughing a lot. Boobs very engorged. Will be glad when they settle. DD2 might be coming down with something too, as coughing a lot. No temp though.

I am extremely grateful that all my babies have been term, and not admitted to NICU for any reason. I have such admiration for you ladies who are expressing and trying to get the baby on the breast. You are doing so very well.

horsey it will get easier. I really feel for you x

horseylady feeling up and down is normal, and not something we get warned about particularly. It's an emotional rollercoaster and not always the happy ever after bliss we are led to believe it will be.

I have moments where I am sad and crying for no apparent reason, but they clear up and are becoming rarer already.

Horsey fingers crossed you will both be home soon. Remember to go easy on yourself. You have been througggh a pretty traumatic experience then been thrown into sleepless nights and issues with feeding/jaundice. Not to mention all the hormones that are sloshing round as your milk comes in. Anyone would be up and down in that situation but it will pass and you will be able to look back with rreal pride at the fact you got through it all.

Anyones DH complaining of being tired? DH is tired. I could strangle him.

Leave the bastard

They all say it, but only once. Unless they are really really stupid!

One man dared to say it to his wife who was in labour in my prescence once. The string of expletives that left her mouth following have never been forgotten by me! She ripped him to bits!

Trouble is I do not say anything as I will get a row. Usually he apologises when he has been a twat.

DS is 4 days old and has been feeding constantly since 7 pm. I am having to feed him in bed which is keeping him awake. He keeps glaring at me when DS yowls. I remember asking for a night nanny to help me as I have had a fucking operation too, and he said he would help. Some fucking help he is! Grr!

Horsey I really feel for you. Hosp threatened to keep me & DS in another night in case he wasn't feeding enough, despite it clearly being a darn sight easier to do that at home than in a hospital room alone when I could hardly get up.

VQ I've hit a bit of a wall tonight, DS has been feeding so well today I thought we might get a few hrs sleep but he seems allergic to night times. I am sure he is latching on correctly and I know I'm still producing colostrum, so why does he still want feeding every 30 mins after all these hrs? Suspect it is comfort but oh I am so tired and worried I will fall asleep on him. I know it's an age old problem and we can never really know what they want. But all I get is the little O mouth with the tongue out no matter how many things I try. As for the Moses basket, forget it. He's fine in it during the day but at night just a whiff of it is enough to set him off.

DH has put him in the V pillow on the bed but I'm now lying here awake and paranoid. Oh dear I am a cliche aren't I?

Finally managed to get LO to sleep. He sleeps so well during day! Literally drinks, nappy change sleep for 4 hours and repeat. Intil 12 midnight. Themselves he won't settle :( he is wide awake n wana to drink (formula) every hour.
Think tomorrow might try waking every three hours n keeping him awake a bit. Maybe then he won't be as hungry at night. No ideA really lol. Making this up as I go.

Horsey I'm all over the place. Cry for NO reason at all. I guess it's all apart of it.

VQ still no name confirmed. We are 80% sure of which name it is, it's DH bday on Sunday n he wants to announce it to family then, so we have a few days to decide if our chosen name suits him.

GT I'm sorry you're finding the same problem but on the other hand I'm glad it's not just me. I guess babies are used to being more active at night when in the womb, or they just don't like the lack of activity going on.

Anyway we all woke up about an hr ago so had a couple of hrs sleep, well baby & DH had 3 hrs while muggins here sat awake worrying. He's had another little feed and dropped off. So it seems co sleeping works but I don't think my nerves can take it.

Oh blonder I so feel your pain. This is my third and establishing feeding is no easier. I thought I would have a better night but he fed more. Constantly from 7 to 3 with explosive poos to wake him the second he slept.

Babies are hard wired to feed most overnight as that is when the hormones for milk production are at their highest. They are not doing it to be difficult. He fed so much I thought he must be at popping point clearly.

We tried the cocoon and moses basket with no luck. I eventually fed him to sleep lying on my side with the moses basket right by the side of the bed and a pillow between him and the side. I felt he was less at risk tonight.

Put him in gro bag which was a resounding success although he fought it initially.

My wound is very sore so I will ask midwife if I can keep clips in another day or two. I hope it is just the coughing, but sitting up in bed all night puts such a strain on it.

Very pissed off today. DD2 slept well but is very croaky. DD1 is grumpy and daddy is still trying to sleep. For fuck sake man!

Oh dear VQ we are all in the same boat!

DH is lying next to me snoring his head off. I would usually elbow him so he turns over but I want him to sleep as much as poss so he is in better shape to make me breakfast later so I am gritting my teeth and trying not to think uncharitable thoughts. DS has had another feed and I've had painkillers so I'm ok at the moment curled up with him watching his beautiful squidgy face. Thank you for the info about milk production, that makes sense and makes it less frustrating.

I know what you mean about the stitches, I am trying hard to make sure I lie flat or stand straight as much as poss but inevitably I'm mostly propped up on a pillow, not ideal. Must be a nightmare to have a proper cough though - I woke up coughing earlier and started growling to try and combat it as it was so painful on the stitches. And you have your two other DCs to care for too.

Horsey it's totally normal for your mood to be up and down like that because of the huge hormonal changes and if you're having difficulties. Hopefully your mood should settle quickly.

Daisy if it's any help my DS1 was born on 50th but dropped to between 2nd and 9th very quickly and stayed there. I don't know whether it's the same with your baby but I was advised that sometimes the maternal nutrition baby receives in utero is different from baby's own natural feeding behaviour. So try not to get to bothered by their concerns; there's a huge difference between a baby that isn't meeting the targets and one that actually isn't thriving.

I have been looking into bfing baby in bed and it might be worth looking at the literature online if you have concerns. There is evidence that a mother feeding her baby at night instinctively curls into a protective position around the baby with one arm above and legs curled round below. There is also evidence that mother and baby's sleeping patterns regulate each other so you will respond to your baby even though you are sleeping, you will be in a lighter sleep. Personally I wouldn't co-sleep with my baby but I wouldn't be too concerned about accidentally falling asleep once in a while when doing all those early night feeds so long as you have taken precautions to ensure your bed is as safe as possible.

Congratulations horsey sounds like you've had a really tough time and i hope you feel better soon. There are so many hormones racing round your body your bound to feel emotional but it will get easier, take care if yourself x

Sorry to hear there's alot you with night owls, ofcourse our babies like to sleep all day and stay awake all night lol

We registered BabyN birth yesturday [hgrin] I was very excited to do it. Just up for feeding and hoping to get a few more hours which I know I won't be able too

Were thinking about getting some casts done of BabyNs hands and feet, any ideas on how I would start looking into this or recommendations or any ideas why we shouldn't do it?

Oh horsey and vq, I wrote you both a massive message at 5 this morning and then lost the internet as i tried to post :(

Will try and find five minutes later to remember what i wrote, but in the meantime,

I could hug you stunt thank you so very much x

Thank you too cat I look forward to hearing your pearls of wisdom.

Feeling a bit better now daytime is here. Kids at school and baby sleeping like a baby. Oh the irony. Like something out of the exorcist last night.

Them nights are awful aren't they valium when I was in hospital BabyN did that and I could have just cried, hoping you have a batter night tonight and catchup on some sleep today

For what it's worth, I ended up with all 3 of mine in bed with me, surely for sanity reasons. They slept on the end though and we slept as Stunt describes above.

*purely

I am tucked up in bed and boy is with daddy. Boy asleep. Bet midwife calls as soon as I drop off. Gonna check his head for bony protrusions and numbers later. Would grin, but phone does not allow. All is wonderful in the daytime.