It's April 2013, the time is now & HERE ARE OUR BABIES!

[toobreathless]

Our first post natal thread!

Cooking & Cleaning can wait till tomorrow
for children grow up we've learnt to our sorrow
So wipe away cobwebs and dust go to sleep
I'm cuddling my baby cause babies don't keep!

A thread to celebrate the highs of life with a gorgeous newborn and the lows of sleepless nights, stitches, feeding traumas & Baby blues.

Another vote for the medela! I am borrowing a friends medela expression (comes in a back pack) and it is great. I get more out by a long way than I did with the pump I hired from the hospital. Ladies that are expressing - when do you do it and how much do you get? Mine has slowed down a bit in the last couple of days but I think we are in the throws of the 6 week growth spurt and he is feeding tons so I am hoping that is why!

Enjay - Harry is also very snuffly. I took him to the gp because I was concerned but they were happy that it was normal neonatal snuffles (caused by soft cartiledge) and recommended tilting his cot to help his sinuses drain. This has helped and he is sleeping better now as before it was driving him mad and keeping him awake.

Emmie we had a couple of seedy poos - I think it's fairly normal and it didn't last long.

Wishful - congrats and good luck for the weigh in.

Hope everyone had a good day - DH is off with me today so am looking forward to having help : )

Just missed your up date empress. I think you are being incredibly brave - I really can't imagine how difficult it is to be in your shoes. I think of you and your little man often - he is so gorgeous.

Trish - glad hunter is now doing so well.

Thanks Ruddy xxx he's still lazy on the boob so I'm persevering with the expressing and using my frozen EBM! xxx

Oh Empress :( praying for your little family and his recovery. Keep us posted when you can.

enjay is there a bf group near you? Or could you ask la leche for a home visit? Doesn't sound like the latch is right.

Welcome to the other side wishful!

We had a much better night! DH slept in the spare bed (so he's more pleasant now!). Faithlet fed on and off from 5-10 finally drifting off at 10.20. Then she woke every couple of hours to feed/for bum changes but I feel like I got good chunks of sleep so we're all brighter today! :)

empress, I am so to hear that Sam is poorly. I can't imagine how diffficult it must be for you and your famiky. Sam is clearly a fighter though. Thinking of you and sending lots of love and strength.

Hello ladies with beautiful little babies, I'm excited to be joining the post-natal side of things. I have a lot to catch up so look forward to reading through all the news soon.

wishful I noticed you said Peter is feeding for 5-7 mins and then dosing off. I'm having the same thing. It's only day two but I'm a little worried that Thea isn't getting enough down her. She manages to feed for around 7 mins with me stimulating her but then the effort of staying awake is just too much and she falls asleep despite me trying a variety of tricks to wake her up. Going to talk to the MW today but a little concerned that her weight may drop quite a bit. I hope Peter hits the right food/sleep balance soon wishful.

Tea and Wishful Faithlet did that to start with. I found if she is sat up and winded then offered the other boob she'll usually take it for a similar amount of time or even more, resulting in her having over 10 minutes which is what they class as a 'good feed'. Course now she's a bit bigger she's feeding for England!

I would urge any of you BF to go and get the right bras! I went to Mothercare on Tuesday and got measured. Service was excellent and with these bras and proper breast pads (Boots washable are great!) and I am so comfy now! :)

Thanks faith, I'll give that a go.

Oh the irony she's done exactly that! 5 mins one side, settled in other side! :)

Oh Empress I am praying for you and Sam.

We have just had our HV visit. Henry is now 10lb 9oz on day 13. He was 9lb 4.5oz at birth and 9lb 9oz on day 5 - so has put on 1lb in a week. He never seems to feed for very long, and often falls asleep after a few minutes, but it hasn't affected weight gain.

any recommendations for baby slings? Much as I love sitting on the couch cuddling my baby I do need to get things done but she'll only sleep by herself for about 20 mins and then she wakes up crying for a cuddle...

Empress, I have pm'd you. You and sam are in my thoughts. Xxx
Bird-I have a great sling babycocoon I had to get it online, its just one long piece of material that you can tie 20 different ways. Alex loves it.
We've been out in the sun today again. I'm having some issue with leaking boobs, Alex is feeding more and more and milk is just everywhere! I put in two breast pads earlier and they plus my bra and top were soaked within a couple of hours, ok while we're round the house but not so good when we are out! Does anyone have any ideas?

Hi empress

Just seen your update, big hugs and you are all in my thoughts.

X

I have been told my local children's centre hire slings so I'm going to go along next week. I think Faithlet would like it because she loves to be held!

She's seen the MW and HV today, been weighed and now weighs 5lb 9oz so has gained 5 1/2oz since Tuesday and is 5oz over her birth weight :) really pleased because I've been persisting with breast feeding even though its been tough!

empress thanks for your update - stay strong xx

sneezy what a big boy! BabyCandy is 9lb5 today (4w5d) from 8lb5 last week (that was her birthweight too, she'd lost 12% by day 3)

bird we have the baby bjorn active and it's great for out and about, haven't used it around the house yet, my only issue with it is that I won't be able to BF her in it so am also considering a sling - interested to see people's recommendations!

mama what pads are you using? I'm still far too milky for reusables but lansinoh ones are doing brilliantly! They are a bit uncomfortable when very wet (they turn to gel I think?) but small price to pay!

Empress - didn't want to read and run. Sending lots of positive vibes and virtual hugs to you and yours. X

sorry forgot to add to my last message empress I wish there was something I could do to help, you are in my thoughts a lot, stay strong, please keep us updated and we're always here for you if you need somewhere to talk xx

Like I know! He doesn't seem big though. I was shocked when the HV said how much he weighed. Makes the leaking boobs and chapped nipples worth it though!

WRT slings, we have a Mamas and Papas Flex. It's the same idea as a moby but in three parts so it's easier for me to put on. I haven't tried feeding in it yet though.

I'm going in to school tomorrow as I promised the children I'd bring the baby in once he had arrived. Really looking forward to seeing them all!

Can't believe an in post natal!

Am lying in bed watching lil no name sleep, since I failed at the Moses basket again, I just can't not pick her up the second she cries.

Feeding is going ok, not perfect but she settles after feeds (if cuddled obv) so I guess not hungry, being weighed tomorrow

empress I can't even imagine what you are going through, I think you are amazing and I hope you get some good news

Hi ladies! It's taken me a while to get onto here as i've ben posting in facebook more. So congrats to everyone on their new arrivals.

Our little Flora is doing really well now after losing 12% birthweight and having a day back in hospital having the bilirubin test for jaundice (it was hard to watch her have blood taken from her 5 day old hand).

She got the all clear form the jaundice danger zone to just making the most of the lovely sunshine to pop her by the window or in the garden. We are mix feeding on mw advice to top her up and flush the jaundice and she's put on great weight already and doesn't seem to have nipple confusion at the moment. We'll gradually decrease the top ups to make BF the main thing, but may keep a night FF...will see how it goes.

We had ou first outing today to the lovely garden terrace at our local Ask restaurant, followed by jaunt around the baby aisle of the supermarket. I'm a bit sore now as it's only days after the CS, but she slept the whole I'm and I feel a great sense of normality for getting out. I didn't need to BF in public, so still have that challenge to come, but feel more confident about it.

I will catch up with all the posts when I get a mo so sorry for not name checking this time - apart from Empress, all my best wishes for baby Sam.

Sending you and your family all the best Empress.

Hi growyourown - am new to this thread as just couldn't keep up with you all in antenatal! Am mainly BF but often do one night FF - it doesn't seem to have affected my supply, think probably ok long-term if it's only one a day over next few weeks. Re: BFing in public - a large scarf that you can liberally drape everywhere is your friend.

Morning all!
Second night feed here! Dd has been fighting the Moses basket a lot, at a loss as what to do!

Snap on feed number 2 num.

Have you tried swaddling or dare I say, a dummy as a comforter to settle them to sleep in basket? Where have they been sleeping tonight?

me three! Settled about 11, fed at 1 and just settling again after a 3.45 feed. Num I've found DD just won't settle if she's still hungry (and sometimes I'm amazed at what it takes to fill her up!).

Anyone else have a baby who wants to break the rules? I swear she'd sleep on her side given the choice, she's always jiffling across to her side when she's fed and settles better on me or the mattress! It's always an effort to settle her on her back in the Moses basket.

She slept 12-1.30ish in her basket. Fell asleep on me until 3 when I managed to rock her off in basket. Awake at 4, fell asleep on me afte only 1 oz which is unusual, went bk in basket no probs this time and has just woken now and is drinking the rest of feed two.
I don't think hunger is the problem she generally takes 4oz every 3 hours and appears stuffed.
May try swaddling her tomorrow night see if it helps. She has a dummy but is not good at keeping it in!