January 2013 - New year arrivals welcomed into the world.

[PricklyPickleInAPearTree]

As a few of us have popped early I thought I'd start us a post-natal thread.

Creepy - I had an ELCS 2 weeks ago today, you sound like your doing everything right! I was out of hospital after a day and I feel good now, bit I have been taking it easy ESP to begin with but I still got up and did stuff so my body would get used to it, I also took arnica tablets to help with the bruising and I took constipation relief tablets so when I finally pood (TMI...5 days later) I didn't have to strain! Take all medication they give you up until they all run out, even if you feel ok, and stock up on paracetamol after - I have been on fairly small walks but if I push myself I can feel it do don't wonder to far and take something when you get in!

When you've had the dressing taken off to dry the wound properly as its still tender use a hair dryer on the cool setting - a tip someone else gave me! But everyone recover differently (my neighbour had one and couldn't believe it when she saw me out and about) ISP just listen to what your body says and not what u think u should be able to do!

Also remind the DP/DH what your limitations are (the midwife spoke to mine) on what you can & can't do because I see
To feel ok he has a tendancy to forget!

Enjoy your little one - full off sleepy snuggles in the first week!

hormona l have same problem with V and her sleeping/feeding patterns. l worry that by letting her sleep for 5 hrs at night l'm starving her...

creepy and bernie I'm the same I'm finding its more uncomfortable as the weeks go by mainly because of the healing but ok in myself

I think the process of getting you moving straight after the birth really does help and as for toilet those catheters are a menace weeing still hurts but pooping just tender tmi

Hi all.

Having a total nightmare here, dd is refusing to sleep at night, she screams from 11-3 we have just started on colief and im going to go and buy the cowgate comfort milk as with dd1 this made a huge difference so im hopeful it will change things, me and dh have been taking it in turns to sleep downstairs since she was born however he is back to work next week so weve got to move upstairs tonight to see how we get on

Am feeling the strain of 2 children, zero sleep and housework.

Its 10 days since my section and I dont feel to bad, I went shopping at the weekend and thinking I will be ok to drive again by this weekend coming, its all the bruising coming on the insides that is making me sore, ive got disolvable stitches so once theyve gone it will feel tons better...

Someone asked for recovery tips...

• stand up straight all the time, never slouch and when sitting try to keep back straight for some reason this has helped loads.

-walk slowly but each day try to do more -going for a poo does help recovery, all the insides getting movement stops things from seizing up

Almost 3 weeks since lo was born and emcs and I am now in so much pain when in bed. Run out of painkillers given by the hospital so even though I don't want to I'm going to see if gp will prescribe me more. Its really affecting my sleep.
creepy my poo only started to get back to normal once I'd finished my iron tablets. Drink lots of water and echo the other tips.
Ds has been a bit grizzly and not sleeping through the day as much. He had his bcg jab yesterday and apart from a brief cry as the fluid went in, he slept.

Had another bad night, baby fussed from 11 until 6 this morning. Bloody health visitor came today and made me feel even worse. Are they trained to make you feel like you're doing a bad job?

Plus side, baby has gained good weight. Down side, he has a lump on his head they think might be a cyst. Now have to figure out how to get him to the gp without breaking our necks on the ice...

Hello! I'm over onto the post-natal thread now!! Had a little girl on Sunday night, at home. Still, ahem, deciding on the name.

That must be so hard going Tinkle, I would be beside myself, I get worried when DS is fidgety and grumbly but I think cos I'm on my own I'm more anxious this time. How do you recognise that it's colic? I would worry it was something serious.

Pip I sort of know what you mean about missing pregnancy, plus I feel cheated out of the last month of my pregnancy when I was going sit on the sofa and eat cake go to antenatal classes and pregnancy yoga and things like that. Then my rational brain kicks in and I realise that I probably escaped lightly as I was just starting to get uncomfortable at 35 weeks, and also I would be terrified of being snowed in and going into labour.

Is anyone else feeling a bit trapped in the house by this weather? I was going for daily walks with dd but I live on a hill which hasn't been gritted and it's like an ice rink, so I am too scared I will fall and drop her.

meringue we also have a hospital appointment to get jaundice levels checked. The hv said dd still looks slightly yellow, but I'm not too worried as she is a much better colour than when she was in hospital.

Creepy dd was very sleepy when she was born, and had to be woken for every feed. She is becoming more alert every day, but even now at four weeks she sleeps for most of the day and is only awake for a few hours in the evening. I am torn between being grateful for the chance to get stuff done, and being worried about whether this is normal.

I also had bowel issues after birth, I recommend drinking lots of water, eating lots of fruit, and if all else fails lactulose. Also putting my feet up on a footstool helped me to go. I refused to take any more iron tablets after the birth and bought some spatone instead.

hormonal I was told not to let dd go more than 4 hours between feeds at night, although that was based on her being premature so I'm not sure if it applies to babies born at term.

Congrats Bealos, well done on home birth as well

Hormonal, I personally wouldn't wake if he is feeding well in the day, if he's drinking full bottles you could add extra oz into a couple and see how he goes.

Wish Lois would sleep even 3 hours, although the constant grunting and groaning stops what little sleep we could be getting.

Creepy I had c-sec with DD1 and found the theraline c-sec belt really good (more so for the protection it gave than the heat/cool packs) also get doc to give you painkillers / anti imflams.

Tinkle I feel your pain, my DD1 was the most horrendous baby for 5 months and I'm still traumatised by it. Turned out to be silent reflux not colic.

Not ideal situ but my DH used to keep her until about 12 and I used to go to bed early then we would swap so he could get enough sleep for work. Have you tried raising one end of bed so more tilted instead of flat, but only way DD1 would sleep was on her front we had to buy the baby sense monitor as we were so paranoid.

Lost ivy does that! I am woken up at least an hour before she wants feeding by grunting and stretching noises and shr is fast asleep!

Hormonal i have always just left my dcs to let me know when they are hungry. Although all mine have been greedy little monkeys :)

Mrs bugsy i felt a little bit cheated out of the peace and quiet i was expecting when dcs went back to school but having gone overdue 3 times i am grateful i didn't have to wait so long for ivy (my due date was actually today)

Dh is going back to work tonight. Am feeling pretty stressed! Hes already in bed so had to do bedtime for dcs. Trying to be organiser so have uniforms all ready but am frankly pooping self about dealing with everyone and getting to.school tomorrow eeek

How old are your others Apple? Mine are almost 13 and 10 so big enough to dress themselves although I still have to get DS up and make his brekkie.

Hormonal they are 4,7 and 9. Ds1 already does breakfast for him and dd1 and all are able to get ready but fights have a tendancy to break out :(

Am sure it will all b fine have only added 1 small baby always managed to get everyone to school before. Think it is just the fact i won't have dh there to help

Had a better day today,

Went to kiddicare and purchased a sleep positioner which has a little raise to it, she seems to like sleeping on her side and as if she is being cuddled so the blocks keep her safe on her side and she feels cuddled

Also changed her milk to comfort with the colief drops in has had her pooping all day

All of this has had her sleeping tonight, usually we spend 11pm till 3am screaming and unsettled tonight shes been asleep since 11!
Tomorrow night im going to try taking her upstairs so me and dh can go to bed at the same time and see how we go.

Apple your DS is a little star, making his little sis breakfast

Tinkle, glad u are having some peace n quiet. Some babies are more fretful than others aren't they?

My LO on the other hand loves his sleep, had a bottle at 12 and slept til 6 he then woke ravenous and wolfed down 3oz and now has hiccups

Glad I'm getting sleep but still feel guilty. Maybe he knows it's just me doing the night feeds

Yay I did it! I got 3 dcs and 1 baby to school on time through a ton of snow. Sadly our first night without dh did not go so well :(. Up til now she has slept really well between feeds but last night she had too much at bedtime and puked milk all over me and the bed then she woke up at 1.30 and refused to settle until 4. Am not impressed!

Well done getting kids out to school Apple. I'm still in my jim jams going to get Charlie registered today so need to motivate myself and him!!

We seem to be cluster feeding at the moment... Not getting anything done this morning...

We are going to go get dexter made an official person too today hormonal. Got him dressed in proper clothes instead of a babygro and everything :-D il look like a tramp though because we have to leave in half hour and im not dressed and hes busy hanging off my boob

Yey!found u all!
Hello ladies! Wrote huge birth story on other thread will copy n paste later.
Bloody hell motherhoods a shock to the system! Eleni is a little angel though,worth walking around looking like a zombie n smelling of puke!:)
Have been quite weepy recentley,found thdm birth n postnatal stuff quite traumatic n have been getting a bit anxious..
X x x

i have bought some soft toys new, and a mamas and papas conforter - do you think i should was these? (sorry if stupid question - sometimes i really know nothing!!)

Read your birth story allchick fookin ell you went through the mill. I thought mine was bad. Welcome back.

Well we were ten mins late to register, the place was dead but they said we would have to rebook. Just got home and a msg on the fone says theres a cancellation do we want to go back?! Pffft no. Im sorting it out so we can go to one nearer instead of leaving it to the 'dp' who stupidly didnt ask for that one origionaly

allchik that's just awful, you poor thing. Elements of your story actually remind me of when I had DD1, it was the severe sleep deprivation on top of everything else that was hideous. But you're doing great focussing on the end result of having your gorgeous daughter. And the memories of your horrible experience will fade over time. Be kind to yourself in the meantime, it's normal to feel weepy and anxious and all sorts, even without remembering what you went through.

Hello all,

Congrats Knucking and Bealos and any others I've missed...

Been trying to keep up with thread but find it hard to post on phone.

Leah has gained loads of weight - back to birth weight in 5 days (as was DD1, my milk must be powerful stuff! )

Nights vary a bit: we've had two nights this week of feeding every two hours, but last night she went 3 hours, but was harder to settle....Poor DH is tired and ill (chest infection); I am tired and have a cold.

DD1 is being good but potty training is just not 'clicking': daily accidents despite this being the middle of week 3. Sigh.

Lora how annoying about the registry place! Have to say we were impressed with our council offices, could register DD any time between 9 and 4 and it was a lovely experience with lots of congratulations, handshakes from staff, etc!

Off to read birth stories on the other thread...

congrats allchicks!

2blessed have you spoken with your GP re. being still in so much pain at 3 weeks? I had this with DD1, and turned out my scar was infected. A course of antibiotics sorted it out...

LO still struggling with lying flat - not sure if it is colic or reflux. She frets a lot, screams after feeds, her tummy sounds full of bubbles... we have tried infacol, not sure whether it really help or not. Does it need to be given at every feeds? she hates the stuff.

Otherwise not achieving much here. Struggling to spend sufficient time with DD1, who is very good with her sister, but also very tiring... Managed to have a cuddle in bed with her this morning, which had not happened since DD2 was born. Poor DD1 :( she was so glad to have a mummy cuddle and did not want to go get dressed for nursery.