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.

Hello all!
Well the last 11 days have been a whirl of feeding and sleeping!

DP and I started following Gina Ford last Sunday, after a week of it taking hours to get Felix asleep (he'd cluster feed for hours and refuse to sleep in his cot) and then having him in the bed with us; he'd then sleep but I'd lie rigid, worrying about him being too hot or getting the duvet over his face.

The first few days of BFing were AGONY - I agree that we should be warned about the pain at antenatal classes! I was crying in pain, DP was stressed not knowing how he could help me, etc. Luckily it is better now, only hurting on let down.

Anyway although the Gina routine is very rigid it is working for us; helped hugely by the fact that to date he is a placid baby.

He's now napping so here is my birth story!

I woke up at 3.30am with contractions every 5 mins, having initially thought they were very painful diarrhoea type cramps. DP rang hospital and they said to come in, we were in hospital by 5 am at which point they were every 3 mins and I was 3cm, and bizarrely they said my waters had broken - I hadn't noticed so can only assume they'd gone some days prior when I was having a bath? Anyway this prompted concern about the baby as he'd had no protection against infection for days.

I then got in a hot bath (stayed for 2hrs!) with gas and air, it got too painful so I got out and asked for Pethidine (now 6cm), which didn't even take the edge off but meant I couldn't keep my eyes open or even talk. They then attached a trace to his head to keep an eye on his heart rate. The pain got worse and worse and I managed to ask for Epidural which dealt with the pain but caused my blood pressure to crash and Felix's heart rate to plummet, I had no idea what was going on but luckily DP did, I vaguely remember the anaethsetist talking about general anaesthetic and immediate surgery, but then his HR began to recover. I then didn't progress beyond 8cm for 2hrs despite syntocin and Doc said he was the wrong way up (back to back), so they offered me a c section which I took. I had a topup to the Epidural which didn't block enough, so had a Spinal as well. A lot of drugs!
Felix was born exactly 12hrs after the contractions started.

Lucky I did have the section as the surgeon later said his head was jammed against the pelvic bone and that it would have been "an extremely challenging instrumental delivery" He also said it explained the acutely painful contractions.

Both the Midwife and the Doctor were phenomenal, I wasn't alone for a minute once I got out of the bath - I really can't fault the treatment I got. I know the NHS is hit or miss but this was a hit.

That sounds tough Octane but at least it was a good outcome.

We had the health visitor this morning and Bailey has gone from 7lb 13oz to 8lb 9oz in the space of a week! He still doesn't look that big to me but my brother said yesterday that he looked like he'd grown and got longer.

I think I've had some poor attachment the last couple if days as my nipples are quite sore when he latches on although it doesn't last through the feed.

Asked the HV about poo as Bailey's changes colour every couple of days. She said it was most likely to be something I've eaten. When it goes back to the green colour, he's finding something a little harder to digest.

Allchik, I left Bailey crying the other day as I needed a time out. It's ok to do it and just let's you get a bit of head space so that you can relax and go back in calm. As someone else said... calm mummy, calm baby.

Its the right thing to do allchick giving yourself ten mins away it keeps you sane.

Id love to think that these wind smiles are real ones they are so cute... Suppose its just a glimpse into the smile that'll let him get away with murder in the future :-D

Hi all seem to have fallen off this thread been busy with the dcs.

Ivy is now an official person! Got her registered this morning. She has also gained another 1lb4 in a week, now 8lb4. Hoping she will slow down a bit now as she needs feeding a lot!

Bit worried as at 4 weeks she is still a bit yellow. Hv told me it can take linger to clear in bf babies but 4 weeks seens a long time?! Sun came out today so took her for hour long walk in the sun - even pulled pram backwards to catch the sun.. Must have looked mad!

Hope all doing well with their lo going to catch up on thread now x

Baby knocked my hand to submit before finished earlier...

Liam arrived Thursday 17/01/13 weighing 3.6kg (7lbs 9ozs). Labour and birth very traumatic, hence why it's taken so long to post. It was a painful induced labour (began Wednesday night) as my waters had been broken over 24hrs (broke Tuesday night). Lasted overnight on tens as labour ward was full. On finally getting to the labour ward (early Wednesday) I continued on tens until sometime in the afternoon. I then asked for and was given an epidural by an inexperienced anaesthetist. In the following hours it became clear the epidural had failed. Second epidural done by more experienced anaesthetist worked, having been manhandled roughly by a healthcare worker who I will be making a formal complaint about. Once fully dilated I pushed for over an hour but couldn't get him out and could hear forceps and a c section being discussed. He was too far down the birth canal for a c section so the forceps were brought out. I watched my perfect baby boy be dragged into the world, closely followed by having to see the placenta pulled out and then watch the doctors face as she stitched my cut and tear and failed to stop the bleeding leading to a puddle of blood on the floor and soaked rags being pulled out of me. I was then put on the post natal ward in a bay of 4, partner sent home with me unable to lift my baby out of the cot. Despite pressing the call button, no midwife came on numerous occasions so I had to lift him using the towel he was wrapped in. This led to a muscle in my back going into spasm and even after medication to relax it, it will need physiotherapy. I was sent home on Saturday taking 2 paracetamol (which I had to buy as hospital wouldn't prescribe/dispense) as I have allergies to many painkillers. No surprise I was then readmitted in the early hours of Monday morning as pain was out of control and nauseating to the point of gagging and feeling like my stitches were going to split. Not a good experience at all, luckily Liam and I are fine now, but treatment was shocking at times and not impressed with the NHS. Liam is gorgeous and I would do it again only because of him. Going back at 6 weeks to discuss birth.

Hi everyone. Spent the day in hospital after getting a second opinion and being referred. Now at home and the fast breathing just seems to be her. It's pretty constantly fast but she's expected to grow out of it. Worrying times but I feel better about it now.

lora and anyone else finding bf painful. I breastfed DD1 for 6 weeks before moving to formula and I felt guilty too. But the pain was like nothing else - I used to get DH to dig his nails into my leg every time I fed just to distract me from the nipple pain. It was like someone dragging a knife over an open blister. So please if you're finding it painful and want to move to formula just do it and don't feel bad about it. DD1 then put on lots more weight so it was the right choice. To reassure you though about any future babies - this time I have no pain at all. So it doesn't mean it won't be easy next time around.

mulan that's awful, you poor thing

Velcrobaby is strapped to my chest while I cook DS1's dinner and sip cold tea. I managed playgroup for him earlier this morning and Dan slept the whole 2 hours . He's done a poo though, I can smell it wafting up...

Lora it might be thrush you know. Deep breast pain is a symptom of that. I also remember the first 6 weeks or so being horrible last time but it did get better until I could almost not feel anything at all. DS1 still has one feed in the morning aged 2.5.

Birdies glad your DD is ok. Always better to get it checked out. DS is a noisy grunty snuffler. Half the reason I get little sleep is because I'm waiting in the dark for the noises to become cries. I don't remember DS1 being like that at all.

Allchik crappy resentful 'shut up crying now' thoughts at 4am here too. Getting less and less as the hormones settle down though. DH has spent every weekend so far trying to take the pressure off with DS1 but hes almost more knackered than me. Sleep is slowly improving, we had a real pig of a week last week with growth spurt feeding and Dan totally pissed off all the time but hes much happier this last couple of days.

Octane and Mulan your birth stories both sound traumatic. Glad you and your babies are all safe and well.

Thanks everyone, if that pain comes back i'll mention it to the boob woman at the club on friday see what she says. It was a shocker when it happened then i was relieved we had got back up formula becausse with the pain in the left and him refusing my right he would of starved! I wouldnt feel bad for giving up, ive obviously have and still am trying but knowing now the ishoos i dont think it matters how hes fed aslong as we are both happy. Apparently formula poos are worse though :-D i may mix feed to give me a break when it gets horrible.

That birth story was awful and being allergic to painkillers must make it ten times worse so a million sympathies for you!

octane sounds like you had a tough time too.

pascha I also have a Velcro baby! I can't do a lot with her attached though. Wish I could put baby carrier on my back and then I could do more.

I had a 'just *ing go to sleep baby' moment after about the fifth time of putting her in her bednest at about 3 am. And then I felt really bad. But they can't understand words yet so she didn't seem too fussed...and she still didn't sleep for ages!

I was told its ok to leave baby crying for 5-10 minutes. I haven't done it yet but I'm likely to need to soon when getting DD1 to sleep during the day.

I remember reading about an instict mothers have on here. Well yesterday in town i experienced it. We were in the shop and i suddenly had the urge to grab the pram 'incase someoone pinched him'!!!! I also get sniffy when people let him cry when they re holding him and when my dp laughed at him crying that also stirred weird feelings so i snapped. Very not me :-D

Ive not lost it with Dexter yet re the constant feeding or crying, i called him sir sod of soddington and went for a break but he didnt seem offended

Hi ladies, I just about made it into the January thread! Was due on 18th and started induction on Sunday which failed and had my baby girl Ottilie this morning by c-section. She is beautiful, 8lb 3oz and is soooo worth the wait! She's been getting quite cross about feeding so have been trying to hand express some colostrum with mixed success. Hope everyone and their newborns are doing well and I'm so happy to be on the postnatal thread!

Is it an appropriate moment in the thread to link to Samuel L Jackson's excellent rendition of a wonderful bedtime story?

I've got another worry :( does it ever end?

I'm finally managing to feed Nancy with very little pain. But she's sick everytime after going on my left breast. This was the boob that was worse for pain previously. Also, this one leaks quite a bit - when I'm getting her latched on, it just pours out milk. Could it be producing too much for her to deal with? Should I express a bit from that one?

She doesn't seem hungry now so I haven't yet put her on the other one, is that ok?

Creepy ive read people express a bit to get rid off the let down and then offer the boob if it comes out too quick

Congratulations Tugs, welcome to post natal

Creepy you will never stop worrying!

Congratulations Tugs.

Speaking of worrying am driving myself (and everyone else) mad trying to assess ivy colour! Sometimes she looks less yellow and sometimes more! Drs tomorrow as i need some reassurance. Doesn't help that she also has a cold noe and seems so sorry for herself.

Shes currentky sleeping in tge pram in a sunny spot in the window - am obsessed!

Congrats tugs! I loved the name Ottilie too.

My Velcro baby has become a little limpet. Would only sleep early this morning with us lying next to each other, me with my arm around her and my face touching her little face. Needless to say I didn't sleep. Was very sweet though!

Have been carrying her round again all day. Poor DD1 is getting very little of my time. Tried twice to put her in Moses basket and both times she's woken and then back in carrier and instantly asleep. Surely one of you ladies has the answer as to how to fix this?!

Well Done tugs love the name what does it mean ?

How long do we have to endure the HV visits for can I tell them to sod off, she's just left a message can i pop round tomorrow I have guests tonight coming to stay couldn't put anyone off any longer n to be honest she is just going to weigh him I can feel he's put on weight so what's the point ?

Ok so hes not had a poo in 24 hrs is this cos i gave him a couple of bottles?! Hes still farty and i hear the win inside him but no poo. Also got the dentist so today is not good :'(

lora yes probably but don't worry, he will poo eventually. I used to stress about how often DD1 pooed but it can be less often with formula and it doesn't matter. He's prob also just getting used to it.

Well apparently hes done one now, while i was out the good boy, seemingly it was grim and lots of it so panic over. Going to a breastfeeding clubb tomorrow and the area its inmakes me think il be the oldest there by about 12 to 15 years :-D not the nicest area but hopefully therel be some decent ppl i can befriend

Well Bailey did a massive leaky nappy - was all done his leg and everything... He followed it up by vomiting straight down the middle of my boobs whilst one of them was leaking profusely down my side...

Took him into school this morning to show him off! He was very well behaved the whole time until just before we were leaving but he'd gone 4.5hrs without a feed so he was justified in being grumpy! Found out last night that my replacement had an interview for a permanent job yest and she got it so we're screwed as far my classes are concerned. They are the Advanced Higher and Higher too so the parents are going to go mental. Not entirely sure how they'll fix it. Not my problem but I can't help worrying about them.