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Original poster

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

999 replies

toobreathless · 15/04/2013 22:10

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.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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KelleStar · 08/05/2013 15:57

The lopsided boobs will balance out... Honest! DD favoured the right boob and that was much bigger for the first few months, but as she and I got more used to feeding things balanced out. My right boob was a little bigger at the end of BF, not as much as a cup size, only noticeable to me.

DS prefers the left boob and this is much bigger now than my right, it drains easily and is the fastest flowing, least painful to latch on too.

DD has been a pita today, she was up most of the night driving me mad, then wanted to nap, kept having to follow her around and wake her up :/

The baby seems a breeze at the moment compared to the toddler. He goes about 3 hours between feeds, I am letting him demand it, but often my boobs send me the tingle/stab reminder.

LikeCandy · 08/05/2013 16:57

My boobs were crazy different sizes the first few weeks, not so noticeable now but they are still not even. to happen?!)

I try to feed evenly off either side (how are you guys remembering which side comes next??) but tend to start on which ever side feels like it needs draining the most!

Giddypants · 08/05/2013 17:10

I am folding nappies at the mo as ds2 has a sore bum and the disposable ones are making ot worse.
but we have tried asda and pampas which are quick to leak. huggies which are ok and I like the wetness indicator but not ruled by it. boots nappies are remarkably like huggiesWink Grin
we are getting some bum genie? nappies from a friend on Friday in an attempt to help the bum situation. but for thw time being I'll just jave to keep foldingSmile

EmpressMatilda · 08/05/2013 17:37

Sorry for my lack of posts on here. Things have been so up and down in our lives that it's been difficult to put anything coherent here at all. However, you are all so lovely, and as you went to the trouble of sending Sam a gorgeous blanket and as many of you took the time to send me personal messages I reckon you deserve an update!

Sam is still in intensive care although he is almost a month old. He will certainly be there for another two weeks or quite possibly more. The tumours in his heart have started to shrink which is what they were hoping for but his heart rhythms are still pretty crazy and he quite often trips into very bad ones that mean he crashes and has to be shocked back into a normal one. He is also reliant on the ventilator and lots of different medications and getting him to a stage where he is no longer reliant on them is a major challenge, hence why he is likely to be in for a while. It's weird but we are actually getting used to living on this knife edge. There are days when we have stood by and watched him crash every few hours with loads of doctors around looking worried. We are also used to being phoned up in the middle of the night and rushing to the hospital as he is in a crash situation again and may well die. But he hasn't! He is such a fighter. We registered his birth the other day and gave him the middle name Mallin which means 'little brave warrior'. Appropriate I am sure you'll agree.

He has also been diagnosed with Tuberous Sclerosis which has major implications for his life and ours. I have already accepted I can't go back to work as I will need to care for him. If anyone knows people who are full time carers or those who are carers and also manage to freelance/ work from home please do let me know. I am now urgently looking for something I can do from home that will bring in some money (I'm a librarian normally -not conducive to home working while looking after a high maintenance child!)

Interesting to read about all your breastfeeding issues. Funny that it's always presented as something natural and easy that you and baby will somehow just get the hang of whereas in reality it can be really difficult. The few times we have had Sam to ourselves and not in intensive care I did try to breastfeed him but he just couldn't do it. I have been expressing using a powerful pump at the hospital but sadly it has dried up the past couple of days. Sam isn't getting fed much at the moment because he can't digest it. I am trying to keep going as they freeze my milk for when he's better but it is really a struggle at the mo.

Anyway, good luck to you all. I will try to be better at staying in touch.

BonaDea · 08/05/2013 17:51

Empress, thank you for the update. Needless to say we are all rooting for little Sam and of course you and the rest of the family.

Such a shame about the long term condition and the practical worries that come with that. Can't think of anyone relevant for you to speak to off hand but will post back if I think of anything.

Keep hanging on in there and being such a wonderful mum to Sam. Love the middle name - very apt.

angeltattoo · 08/05/2013 17:52

Empress, sending love and thoughts to you, Sam and your family Flowers x

Teapig · 08/05/2013 18:09

empress, thank you so much for the update I've been thinking of you often.

I'm so sorry that you're still living on such a knife edge but Sam is clearly a real fighter. You couldn't have picked a better middle name.

Sending love and strength to you all xx

Trishstar · 08/05/2013 18:12

Empress thinking of you and Sam xxx love his middle name

I'm so sorry he has long term issues. My heart goes out to you, little Sam and your family xx

Trishstar · 08/05/2013 18:14

Empress thinking of you and Sam xxx love his middle name

I'm so sorry he has long term issues. My heart goes out to you, little Sam and your family xx

birdbrain17 · 08/05/2013 18:19

empress thinking of you and your family, thanks for the update. If there's anyway we can help (I know we probably can't do much but send positive thoughts) please let us know!!!! xx

birdbrain17 · 08/05/2013 18:25

thanks for nappy advice, might try some asda ones as they are the cheapest out of any shops I can get to and if I don't like them guess just stick to pampers...bring back huggies Sad!!

at 22 days baby bird now weighs 8lb 4 oz (birth weight was 6lb 8oz) and has been discharged from mw care Grin so proud of her! I've been getting a stinging pain in breasts during and after feeding so mw discharged me but told me to make gp appointment if doesn't get better. She said it might be mastitis but I don't have any lumps. Anyone else had stinging pain in nipples and breast (latch has been checked and is fine) or can think of what it might be?!

num3onway · 08/05/2013 18:30

Lovely to hear an update on little Sam he certainly seems a fighter! Well done for being so strong empress I cannot begin to understand what it is like x

BonaDea · 08/05/2013 18:39

Birdbrain, could it be thrush? Does LO have any symptoms of oral thrush which might then have passed to your nipples. Have a look at the symptoms for both of you online.

If you suspect it might be thrush, make sure you are both treated ASAP because it can be a bvgger to shift if it takes hold (I had it for about 3 weeks!)

birdbrain17 · 08/05/2013 19:06

bona I thought of thrush originally as I have symptoms of it, but I can't see any signs of it in her mouth, her tongue is white but not patchy so I'm assuming it's just from milk...

Mama1980 · 08/05/2013 20:39

Empress thank you so much for the update. Well done sam, such a brave little fighter! I'm so sorry things are still up and down but hopefully now they have a diagnosis they will be better able to help sam.
Thinking of you xxx

I had a bit of a shock yesterday, social services called me and told me that dd's birth mother is pregnant again, she will not be allowed to keep the baby. They wanted to know if taking the baby in in something I would consider, i thought they were joking, but no....No idea what to say at the moment...it's just one thing after another but I need to focus on Alex, dd and ds right now.
Alex had a great day today he's been super smiley and very gurgley Grin it's been chaotic but fun the last few days but I'm hoping for some much needed sleep tonight. Alex feeds quite quickly so I'm hoping for 1 hour out of every two. Wish me luck....Grin

HadALittleFaithBaby · 08/05/2013 21:06

Blimey Mama, I guess they aren't aware of your circumstances?! I think you've got your hands full enough! Good luck with the sleep.

Empress thanks for taking the time to update. Clearly you have a fighter in Sam :) I love the middle name. I'm so sorry things are so tough for you. Thinking of you and praying for you Thanks

bird I'm the same - last couple of days nipples have stung/been tingling. No signs of thrush in Faithlet's mouth or anywhere else but it's quite uncomfortable! Might go to the doctor and see what they say...

EmpressMatilda · 08/05/2013 22:43

Thanks guys for the wishes and hugs Smile

On the topic of boobs I haven't done any breastfeeding and have only been using pumps but my right breast is definitely more productive than my left and that has always been the case. So perhaps it has nothing to do with which side baby prefers, it simply is that one works better than the other?!

Giddypants · 08/05/2013 22:47

empress I am a carer for DS1 who has cerebral palsy after being starved of oxygen at birth. We lived that knife edge as we saw him crash after suffering seizure after seizure, saying goodbye too many times.
It's a long road but you will find a new 'normal'.
I still work although very part time, and am allowed set shift patterns.
I found the special needs children's section on mn really supportive, even if you just want a moan there are people who understand.
If I can help in any way you can pm me. Take care x

EssexWelsh · 09/05/2013 01:32

Empress just to say thinking of you, again no advice but to say I think you are amazing to still be thinking of us, you just keep in touch when you can and when you need to vent to us, I'm sure Sam will continue to live up to his name which I love!

bunnygirl80 · 09/05/2013 04:31

empress thanks for the update. Sam sounds like such a fighter.

I left dd on her playmat this morning and came back to find she managed to roll three quarters of the way onto her tummy Shock. DS was an early roller, starting at 8 weeks, but it looks like dd might beat him. Impressive considering she hardly ever gets to play on the floor because I don't want her trampled by a toddler!

BonaDea · 09/05/2013 05:14

Bird - doesn't necessarily have to be patchy. DS' tongue just had a uniform white coating which I thought was milk at first but became thicker and thicker. Only after that did he also start to get patches on the roof of his mouth. It never seemed to bother him and he kept feeding well but I ended up in real agony and close to giving up bf'ing. I'd describe the pain less like stinging and more 'deep' than that. The pain equivalent of nails down a blackboard!! Hmm

Get it checked, might be nothing but a latch issue.

usernamegoeshere · 09/05/2013 06:13

empress thanks for the update, you have been in my thoughts and I love the middle name.

Yesterday went much better, maybe it was another growth spurt causing issues, but baby username and myself both got through the day with minimal tears!

Health visitor gave me a book of activities to do with baby, just stuff like tummy time, singing rhymes etc and signed us up for a free baby massage course starting next week which am looking forward too!

HadALittleFaithBaby · 09/05/2013 06:58

That sounds good user! I'm going to ask about baby massage.

We had a great night! Not sure if giving her a bottle with DH is making the difference but she had a bottle about 7, Finally settled at 9.30 (needed boob action to sleep!) and didn't wake til 1! Another feed at 3 and then at 6.30. I woke more than she did! Could cope with this. Nipples are still stinging/burning though, might ring GP.

Teapig · 09/05/2013 10:37

Thanks for the lopsided boob advice ladies. Sorry not to name check, Teapiglet has given up with sleep and I can hear her waking again...

ElliesWellies · 09/05/2013 17:08

Best wishes to you and Sam, Empress. The middle name sounds so apt.

A good night for us last night - settled 11.30, up 3.30-4 then settled, woke up at 7.45. Amazing how much difference it makes when they sleep. Still very patchy though, and bet tonight is awful now I've written about it!

Kelle - I think our older children are the same age - were you on the December 2010 thread? I used to lurk but never really posted and have namechanged since then. DS is acting up too, and I'm finding it really hard to stay calm with him. Agree the babies are away easier!