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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?
usernamegoeshere · 12/05/2013 20:27

My lochia is starting to tail off now and so been thinking we won't be long till, but then my section scar is a bit iffy so might delay longer. Planning to use condoms until I can go on pill at 6 weeks. Bit scared, been ages since about 34 weeks!

Plans to start routein failed! Too tired, we will start tomorrow instead...

Giddypants · 12/05/2013 20:31

Been so hectic here only just managed to catch up.
My poor DFIL died in the early hours of this morning, he was battling cancer for nearly 2years Sad and DS 1 has been ill with a temp which neither calpol or calprofen will bring down, and to stress me out even more, he vomit had streaks of blood in it last night, cue panic call to mum at 1am (retiredA&E and nhs direct nurse) he hasn't vomited since, so hoping its a one off, DS 2 slept through the whole commotion. I'm so tired think I've had about 2 hour sleep in the last 48! And it's not down to ds2 who sleeps like a dream! I've said it now!

JoRich77 · 12/05/2013 21:43

Hi all

Not posted in a while but been lurking. I would be keen to Dtd - haven't done it since about 36 weeks but things not right down there yet. I got an infection in my episiotomy stitches and has not healed properly yet. I have appointment with the consultant in a few weeks to get checked out. Am hoping it has healed better by then otherwise they may consider restitching...obviously not keen on that but want to get it sorted and not have it affect sex life.am feeling a bit down about that, otherwise things going well here with Bella who is now 3 weeks, not really got a routine yet but managing to get though the night with about 2 feeds.

BEXT I know how you are feeling as I was planning a home birth, in fact I think we were due date buddies for 30th April. I ended uo having to be induced as waters broke but no contractions. Not the birth I envisaged - I didn't want to be tied to bed, monitored and wanted to avoid drugs and birth was opposite to what I wanted. I was a little upset that I didn't get the birth experience I wanted but honestly it was all worth it to get my beautiful baby girl at the end of it. All I can say is when you go into delivery focus on the end result and think about the next few weeks with your new baby - try not to focus on the birth experience its self as it is only a temporary thing and will be over soon and you will have yiur new baby to enjoy.

Oh and who asked about propass, I had this and very mild contractjons for say 6 hours then stopped. Later found out that the pessary have falled out so not sure if that had anything to do with it. Was told sometimes a couple of pessaries over several days are required to get things going. I ended up being induced with the drip..

bunnygirl80 · 12/05/2013 21:45

Sorry to hear about your FIL giddy

We've not dtd yet as until a week ago dd would only sleep on my chest and she would have got in the way Grin. As for contraception, I used the mini pill last time I was bfing but it didn't agree with me. My obstetrician suggested I give the coil a try, so I'm going to book an appointment to go and get that done soon.

Those of you with windy babies-dd is very windy, and some suggested to me taking probiotic capsules. I've been taking them for a couple of weeks and she is much more settled. I forgot for a few days recently and she went back to waking up screaming in the night and only settling once I'd massaged her tummy to get the farts out, so I think they definitely do have an effect. My hv also showed me a reflexology point on the foot that relaxes the digestive system. If I firmly rub that spot it also seems to help her pass all her wind. (You can find a diagram if you google baby reflexology rather than me trying to describe it!)

leluella · 13/05/2013 10:46

Can anyone recommend a good baby sling to put baby in while I do things around the house? She's not going down well for naps as she likes to sleep in my arms and wakes as soon as I put her down so I thought this might help both of us.

usernamegoeshere · 13/05/2013 11:01

giddy sorry to hear about your fil and hope your ds feels better soon.

So I got woken up by crying baby at 6 for usual early feed, but popped to bathroom first and when I came back she had fallen back to sleep... And is still sleeping! It's weird, I'm going to wake her in a minute no doubt she will start wailing like a banshee and I will instantly regret it but its been far too long for such a little baby. I can't believe she is 3 weeks today. It's gone fast yet feels like forever.

Giddypants · 13/05/2013 13:44

slings I have manyGrin I love the baba sling for hip sitting and great for an older baby say around 6 months onwards. for babies with little head control I like the mei tai or the carry me slings.
carry me is just one long bit of stretchy material which you tie around yourself then position baby in. great for winter babies with all the material but not for summer ones.
mei tai slings are very easy to put on and baby in and loads of companies do them now so dont hace to be massively expensive. I think palm and pond do them at around £20

ds still poorly dont know where the infection is just has a temp and whining calprofen brought it down last night but calpol doesnt touch it stillConfused

SneezySnatcher · 13/05/2013 15:17

I have the Mamas and Papas Flex sling and I adore it. Really easy to put on, comfy and snug for H. He falls asleep as soon as he is in it!

m.mamasandpapas.com/search.php?q=Flex#product-214720700

Trishstar · 13/05/2013 15:46

Those of you who got infections in your c section scar, did it actually hurt? Mine looked to be more or less healed and today one little part is open on the surface again and a little watery blood is coming out again xx

It doesn't hurt tho?

Have a nurse appt for my BP tomorrow but I doubt she will be able to look at it! Xx

usernamegoeshere · 13/05/2013 16:50

trish mine hurt quite a lot for a few days then improved once it started oozing, I think there was a build up of fluid behind it and within 24 hrs of oozing the pain stopped.

Baby username is on verge of another hysterical rage fit, she makes the cutest dinosaur noises when angry and flails limbs everywhere, goes bright red and gets into such a state. Yesterday we filed her nails and she actually attacked oh.

I am considering a Mei tai sling, they look pretty nice but am scared of dropping her...

Trishstar · 13/05/2013 16:55

Thanks user, it feels like one step forward two back with this bloody section scar!! Just want to get back to exercise etc without worrying about it! !!

BonaDea · 13/05/2013 18:58

I have a moby wrap and love it. Ds will happily sleep in it while I potter around.

HadALittleFaithBaby · 13/05/2013 19:40

user Faithlet gets nails like daggers. Top top from my sister - always trim them when they're asleep!

Wrap wise I bought from this lady who is local to me, I bought a stretch wrap for £15. I may well buy something more robust when she's bigger but for now she's very comfy and generally settles quickly most of the time in it.

I took Faithlet to get weighed today. DH has been worried she's not being filled by my breast feeding (which makes me a bit Hmm) so I thought the proof would be in the weight - she is now 6lb 13.5oz (was 5lb 4oz at birth!) so a great gain in 4 weeks. HV reassured me that the BF is clearly going well and we don't need to introduce formula yet. She seemed surprised I was able to express so much (average about 100ml a day with a hand pump) and that she took a bottle so easily! I'm going to buying electric pump to make the expressing easier though. Overall though I'm so relieved/pleased because I'd got really stressed about her feeding. I've also had a lovely tonight while he gave her a bottle. Changes my perspective!

KelleStar · 13/05/2013 21:15

I love my moby wrap sling, though it can be a little sweaty. I have a soft fleecy coat that stretches over the top so I can go for walks or shops and keep the wind away from us. I can recommend going to a sling meet, it was really handy to get a good idea of what fits. I was given a babasling but my huge boobs took over and couldn't find room for a baby to snuggle in. I love the look of the ergo, a friend is bringing her's to toddler group on wednesday for me to look at... excited to try something different.

defo cut nails when they are asleep, usually just after a good boobing is a good time for us. I trim with clippers and then file off the rough bits. DD loves having her nails done now at 2, she snuggles on my lap and I trim and file, I have a nice tea tree cream to rub in afterwards and sometimes she's allowed a bit of nail polish.

I popped into Bath with Wilf while MiL had DD at Gymnastics. Was meant to be buying nursing bras, it was an unsuccessful trip, but bought some lovely stuff in H&M for Wilf and Bea. I'm hoping he'll not grow too much in the next few weeks, need to make what little we have got last until the next NCT sale comes up.

faith it wasn't until Wilf puked the other day that I realised how much milk he got in a feeding session. He's done in under 10 minutes. My milk flows so fast, if he pops off the boob it streams out like a hole in a water balloon and it only stops if I slightly pinch the nipple. It's why his latch has been so sore, it's because he sucks so fiercely, sets off my forceful let down and then the milk just flows out of the nip without too much actual sucking. I am happy he doesn't want to spend hours at the boob, he comes off quite content.

On another note, my stitches for my tear are starting to dissolve and it seems to be unravelling, it's okay on most of my perineum but where it travels up the wall of vagina, the surface stitches have dissolved and left it a little ragged looking. I know it will heal in the end, I had a ragged episiotomy after my stitches dissolved in a few days. But was hopeful that a tear would hold together a bit longer. My lochia disappeared for a couple of days, but it's now back. The more active I am the more I bleed, I've been doing my Pelvic Floor exercises and my pilates core moves too. My cervix still feels really low and open and after a quick feel around the other night I felt a couple of minor tears/grazes internally. We DTD last time at about 8 weeks, though my friend had a 3rd degree tear and DTD at 5 weeks to make sure it was all operational when going to the 6 week check up.

Before DD I was on the Depo injection. After DD we knew we wanted another one so didn't bother being careful and I BF'd DD to 15 months, fell pg when she was 18 months. Don't know what to choose, hormones usually make me gain weight and become emotionally unstable. Just don't know what's best, so I think condoms will need to be purchased... just not right now.

usernamegoeshere · 13/05/2013 21:44

Gave baby username a deep bath tonight, as HV recommended it to relax potentially colicky baby, she really enjoyed it, cried a bit when came out, but as soon as was wrapped up in a blanket afterwards conked out completely!

Her skin is quite dry in places, not put anything on it yet, but have grape seed oil coming tomorrow with shopping for baby massage class Wednesday so I will dab a bit of that on. Personally I would just stick some e45 on it, but the health visitor terrifies me.

Am finding taking 4 antibiotics per day hard, they have to be 2 hrs after food and 1 hour before but I keep forgetting.

Emmie10 · 13/05/2013 23:52

Just wondered how often everyone else has been seeing their health visitor? My hv has been seeing me weekly at a one-to-one appointment, which to me seems quite a lot. LO has had good weight gain, has gone from 7lbs 12 to 10lbs at 4 weeks old and no health issues to explain all these hv appointments!

BonaDea · 14/05/2013 00:24

Emmie - I has one visit. All other contact for weigh ins etc, I have to go to them at drop in clinics!!

I could scream because LO had woken early for his first feed for the second night running. I thought last night was a blip but he's done it agAin. He had been reliably going 4-5 hours from going down to first night time feed around 1-2am but is awake 2.5 hours later. Really demoralising especially as I have had only about 1 hour in bed.

DS fed like a monster before going down and I feel chewed and quite dejected right now Hmm

KelleStar · 14/05/2013 03:21

Bona... Is it a growth spurt? Sometimes regular night waking is a way for baby to increase supply.

Grape Oil is good and so kind to the skin. Much better than E45 or anything else at this stage. I am a fan of Sweet Almond Oil for Baby Massage and, if you ever run out, olive oil is perfectly acceptable! But groundnut oil Is not Wink

AB's sound like hell... As always make sure you take a probiotic with some acidophilus in it, will help your friendly bacteria levels in your tummy which AB's kill off. One of them yoghurty drinks is fine, or a chewable tablet from holland and Barrett is good too.

KelleStar · 14/05/2013 03:31

Emmie... I had this with DD who was DC1, this time I'm just on drop in clinics that suit me and key stages for check-ups. I am not keen on my HV team, we have a dithery one who won't commit to any answer or decision and we have the bossy one who quotes lots of statistics to scare you, but when you start doing research yourself find that they might not be the whole picture. I imagine her house as a sterile white box containing just her, DH and child as she is obsessed with any risks/dangers and her health and safety assessment of our house was very over the top. The funniest being our 1920's staircase has steps that aren't deep enough and I could slip down the recommendation was to replace staircase ShockConfusedGrin crazy woman.

If it is interfering with you getting to a group, just mention it. Sometimes I wonder if they think we all sit around at home drinking tea and cake whilst MNetting GrinWink

Trishstar · 14/05/2013 05:37

Hunter went 12.30am til 5.15am so I had a decent sleep!! Hope it continues!
My HV comes once a week still but that's cos she's really keen on helping me Bf, she's lovely tho so I don't mind xx

ElliesWellies · 14/05/2013 05:57

We had one home visit from the HV and then just take her to clinic when we can. Was same with DS, they are very overstretched in our area (London). DD has just slept 10.30 to 5.30. Long may it continue, I feel human!! Think it is much easier having a spring baby, somehow waking up isn't so bad when it is already light or getting light. Fingers crossed that by the time the nights are drawing in again we all have excellent sleepers.

HadALittleFaithBaby · 14/05/2013 08:10

Morning all.

giddy sorry to hear about your father in law. Praying for your family at this difficult time.

We had a fair night - a little irritating that Faithlet slept from 10-3 but DH woke me at midnight because he'd woken up all sweaty! Hmm suspect he's got a virus...

HV wise we saw one at home when the MW signed us off and have an apppointment booked for a couple of weeks' time. I took her to a drop-in yesterday for a weigh in because DH was worried she wasn't getting enough from BF.

Trish how's the bf going?

Bona how old is he? I'd suspect growth spurt too.

Well I hope everyone has a nice day. It's sunny here so hopefully we'll be venturing out and about! :)

Trishstar · 14/05/2013 08:26

Faith he's so lazy on the boob still xx we do it just for practice/comfort

BonaDea · 14/05/2013 08:44

I think you must all be right - growth spurt. Definitely feel quite chewed!

For all those having nice long stretches of sleep... When are you putting them down? Wondering if we might have been a bit ambitious trying to institute an 8pm bedtime. Perhaps if he was up later we might get a decent stretch when I'm actually in bed trying to sleep!!

Thing is, I'd read so much about avoiding them being overtired and had definitely experienced that when he doesn't get enough sleep. Also, the 8pm thing in theory means I can see DH and have some dinner with an hour to myself before going to bed. That was fine when I was getting 3 hours after that but not now it seems to be down to 1.5!

Urgh! Think we might have a lazy day at home today if he is just going to be guzzling!!

HadALittleFaithBaby · 14/05/2013 09:11

Thing is Trish he's getting the nutrition he needs but any breast milk will be helping his immunity so keep going.

bona our settling time varies but has been between 8 and 10 for the last few days. Generally when DH comes home (5-5.30), he gets her changed and baths her between 6 and 7 and then gives her a bottle of expressed milk while I sort dinner. She doesn't get sleepy with the bottle though so it depends how much more boob she wants before she settles. Last night was 10pm!