November 2012 - babies are here at last

[StuntNun]

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

Sorry to hear you're struggling GT. Whatever you choose to do make the best decision for you and baby's happiness and don't feel guilty. There is too much pressure on new mums from all sides, both for breastfeeding and for formula feeding. I was breastfed for six weeks then put on cow's milk; modern formula milk is a million times better than that. And there's nothing wrong with combining breastfeeding and topping up with formula either. That way your baby gets the initial benefits of your antibodies but you don't have to worry about him being hungry. The problem is your milk may dry up with combined feeding but as long as you're prepared for it, it's a good option as it means you don't need to express if you're leaving the baby with someone for a while.

Cheer up, you're trying to do what's best for your baby and that's the most important thing. As long as he's fed, he won't mind what type of milk it is.

GT, I always struggled to get much milk from expressing, baby might be much better at getting it out, so wouldn't necessarily judge on that.

I had exactly the same problem with DS1 GT and eventually settled on breast feeding and topping up with formula. For a long while I would also express after each feed to increase my supply. Eventually I got to the point where DS had breast milk all the time save for the last 2 feeds of the day where my supply seemed to have dried up.

Having said that, it was not easy and I found that between breastfeeding, topping up and expressing I was literally tied to the sofa and very tired and unhappy. I've already decided that I'm not going to go down that route with DS2 so I'll breast feed and top up if necessary but not express.

GT I'm completely the opposite, I'm struggling with ff, lol. LO was ff from birth as he was 6 weeks early and that's what the hospital said and I've been expressing 7 times a day to try and match the amount he needs and I give that to him with formula. He's 19 days old and has just started to latch properly. I want him to be exclusively bf as I really can't be bothered with all the steralising and measuring and him not liking different teets and burping and what happens if we go out and heating the milk, it's really not for me.

Hi all and congrats to YW. Really pleased today as have used my moby wrap for the school run. A friend gave it to me and someone from my local sling library was really kind and came out to help me get to grips with it. He settles far better in that than in his pram.

Fingers crossed everyone has a good day feeding wise today. l am planning to spend as much time as possible feeding in front of the TV as both older DCs are off for a week from tonight so there won?t be much rest to be had.

I can't believe my little girl is a week old today !!!!!

The health visitor came yesterday, and my son is now 7,1, after all the feed he has been having I'm not surprised. He is on the 9th percentile, but I'm not worried as he has grown in length.

The HV went followed a check list, which is stuff I've been told before.
Yes, feeding from the breast is best,
yes I know my milk supply could dry up cause I'm expressing,

yes I've tryed him on the breast and it hasn't worked, we both have had problems from day one. We both got very stressed about it.
yes I'm topping up with formula, but it's not all the time, and no I'm not mixing the two into one bottle. What's with that anyway?
Yes I am using a dummy, and no it's not all the time.

It seems they want me to go to the groups that are held, but being three weeks old and both of us are up all night, I don't think it bring any benefit yet.

Any ideas on when it would be the best time to go? When we both are awake during the day?

Evil

The latest ante-natal thread is here Slightly ahead of time but the new ante-natal thread is here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1597357-November-2012-but-that-starts-on-Thursday if you want to mark your place.

Sorry evil don't have any ideas on when you be the best time to go, my HV hasn't told us what percentile or anything BabyN is on and deffo hasn't told us of any groups, even though eventually I want to go to some when I can drive my beloved car again

I'm wondering of ill have to wait the full 6 weeks to drive again of if my doctor will let me sooner, if its not safe too then of course I wouldn't but I'm feeling quite good after my c-section and 6 weeks seems excessive now

Wow another new thread!! Think I only managed to mark my place on the last one [hblush]

I was told by my doctor Nervous to drive when I felt I could do an emergency stop. I had my elcs last Friday too and don't feel ready yet but I think another 10 days to two weeks is reasonable (for me).

I'm still taking paracetamol to get through the day, but only two grams - I think when there is no need anymore for painkillers I will try driving DH's car (automatic) and then leave my own until I miss it too much :)

Well done Evil for getting your son up to a super weight Im still bfeeding and dd is putting weight on slowly she is now 6lb4oz so still not back up to birth weight but midwife says she ll get there ...I am very tempted to top up with formula but midwife says not to as it will interfere with my milk supply so Im hanging on.

That?s great Donna and it must be reassuring if MW is happy. Nervous l think l read something about checking your insurrance policy before driving as some insurers want you to wait 6 weeks. l am 5 weeks in from my c section and feel pretty back to normal tho my scar (if that?s the right dezcription) still feels a bit sore if l over do it. l was wondering if swimming is a good idea or would hurt?

Evil if you are up to it and it isn?t a huge trek it might be worth trying a group.lf it is a bfeeding support one it might be good to hear how other mums are doing. l am thinking of starting a baby music group next week. Having said that, with my 1st it was about 4 months til l went to anything.

daisy I had two sets of abdominal surgery last year including emcs and was told not to swim for 6 weeks post op but that after that it was an ideal exercise. Take it slowly and stop any stroke which hurts. Walking is also good exercise.

Thanks daisy I will check my insurance policy if I do feel I'm able to drive before 6 weeks but I deffo won't if I feel that I'm not 100% capable
petite i was told the same by one MW and another thing by a different one, all the conflicting advice gets very confusing

BabyN has been feeding almost every hour all day today including in the cat in tesco car park I'm hoping for a better night but not counting on it

That's interesting that you were advised swimming would be ok after a C-section. Last time I was told to wait 12 weeks before doing any exercise so I was going to do the same this time though would like to swim earlier than that if possible.

Can I ask when your babies were first weighed? DS is 5 days old and has not been weighed since he was born so I don't know how much, if anything, he lost / put on since then.

rowing my DD was weighed at birth then at 2 days old when we left the hospital and then again at 5 days old by the health
Visitor at home and now im not ment to see them until next Friday of next week but think im going to phone and see if there's a drop in I can go to this week toget DD weighed

Thanks nervous, think I'll give midwives a call tomorrow (today) to check then. I remember them doing it regularly with DS1 and then telling me I had to wake him to feed every 2 hours as he had lost nearly 10% his body weight. They've not mentioned it at all with DS2 and he'll be 8 days when I see them next.

I've had a miracle on the sleep front tonight, DS slept from about 8 to 11 then DH gave him 50ml I expressed yesterday morning, brought him upstairs at 12 when I fed him and then he went down until now! Compared to the other night when I couldn't get him to settle in his Moses basket until 5am it has been wonderful!

Ladies, please bear in mind that babies are supposed to lose weight in the first few days after they're born then gain weight steadily after that. So long as they're having plenty of dirty nappies and they are gaining weight that's good. Also the growth chart that they use is based on formula-fed babies so if you are bfing or combined feeding then the chart is inaccurate. With my DS2 I had the new chart for breastfed babies and he followed his line perfectly on that one whereas on the regular chart his growth didn't appear to be as good. I ended up stopping taking him to be weighted because it was too stressful for no good reason when he was obviously in good health and meeting all his developmental milestones.

Rowing, I don't mean strenuous swims, nothing that would pull too much on your abs for example. But using a float to help, for example, and taking it really slowly should be fine.

My DD lost her 10% weight in the first 72 hours. The hospital discharged us on condition we kept an eye on her, and supplemented. I'm going to get her checked this week, even though the jaundice seems to have gone and we're getting through plenty of nappies. Would be useful to have hv or mw come to the home I must admit.

petite don't you get a visit at home by a HV?

No I'm in France. Here babies are seen every few weeks and progressively less by paediatricians. Hv's don't exist and midwives only come out privately or on prescription in case of recommendation from paed (ie a problem which needs a close eye kept on it)

Ooh sorry I didn't realise, is there any clinics or things where you can get LO weighed? Sorry if that's a nosey Q just tell me to mind my own business

Any nice plans for the day?

I'll take her to the GP - he'll be happy as he doesn't see many babies (everyone here just sees paediatricians) and he'll weigh her and do a basic check up.

Today we have friends coming this afternoon for champagne and cake. You?

It's good you have somewhere you can go too

Today my mum is coming over and doing a roast [hsmile] yum and hopfully ill get some sleep

I tend to see the GP for basic stuff and then the paediatrician for the regular check ups and jabs plus anything more complicated than a cold. Over here each child has a paediatrician and it's quite rare for people to take their children to a GP.

Ooh a roast cooked by mum, that sounds good (I hope my dds say that one day). My mum is coming over in about 10 days to help out for a week and bond with her grandchildren.