May 2013 thread our new and not so new arrivals

[BeauticianNotMagician]

Hi ladies

Just thought we could all really do with this. Rather selfish a its mostly for the thousand odd questions I have and things I'd like to share/ vent that no one else would understand.

We've all been together so long I even talk about you all to DP

No honey before 12 months-unless that changed.

Buttery-my supply fluctuates a lot on any given day. Don't panic yet. I think you still have to express on the infected side and then throw it away. I've never had it, but it was advice to a woman when in the hospital.

A needs another scan on her sacral dimple. She has a really deep on at the top of her buttocks. In the unit, I was told by the consultant he could just about see the base but today another consultant wasn't so sure. .
A's weight is also still a concern. In fact I've got to go back in a bit for an appt with the dietician. I'm a bit worried they're goin to say change to formula. I know it's not something I should be worrying about as such, I just wanted to do the same with her that I did DD1. Feeling a bit down about it all. She feeds really well and takes 60-90ml every feed. How much are the bottle feeders having? She's only 4lbs 14.

Oh. And constipation. The consultant says that cooled boiled water and a drop of OJ are not really going to help. They won't hurt either.

Te thing that works for us is oiling a cottonbud and placing it near her anus. Slowly inserting just the tip slightly (at this point she normally farts the most disgusting stench). It's a lot less invasive than the old thermometer that used to put inserted. Usually, later that day she goes. But I only do it once a week when she's getting upset and uncomfortable.

seven of your location!

You poor thing 10story. That's horrible. The people closest to us know just how best to hurt us. You're all probably sleep deprived and on the edge of your nerves (that wardrobe situation would send me off my rocker ) but no one should be spoken to like that. A lot of crawling required .

No fork, Kate is 7lb 11 and she takes 3/4 ounces every 3 hours in the day and sometimes longer at night. I hope A is ok, it's horrible when they have tests done and all the uncertainty. My family has it alot with my niece she is in and out of hospital.

10, hope your ok. What a nightmare just for a wardrobe. When your tired it does make you argue more. But being nasty isn't nice, serious grovelling needed. Let him get the baby and make sure you relax.

Constipation we sleds used to put brown sugar in cool boiled water or Vaseline on their bottom.

Its only been 19 days but I had my 1st daytime nap today. Was needed tho coz I've not been sleeping at night due to night feeds taking so long. We have been weighed today 4 1/2 ounces in a week. 7lb 11 now. I'm gonna have to change formula again nothing is agreeing with Kate tummy poor baby has such bad trapped wind. Hopefully this time it works.

How long is it taking to feed your babies?? It took an hour earlier to take 3 ounces. By the time you finish one feed it's nearly time to start again.

10 that sounds awful. But we're the same atm. The dreadful things DH has said to me over the past few months I would never tell anyone in RL. But you're right-they now exactly what to say to hurt us. The past couple of days we've actually got on much better. I'm hoping I can blame
the stress of the situation of being on the NNU etc.
Have some . And that excess is enough to make anyone stressed! So glad you got that back. Is it worth asking a proper handyman type person to come and sort the wardrobes. I know it'll cost but at least it'll be sorted and take the stress away.

A sacral dimple (I have t checked spelling!) can be an indicator of spina bifida. When it was noticed on discharge day I nearly had a mini breakdown (inwardly) as I knew what it could be. The consultant came to look (3 long hours later) and said he could see the end-which means its not attached to the spine so it ok. I actually have one myself in the same spot and mine is fine.
Bu I had a niggle still. It's really deep. When I asked today the consultant (different one) was unsure if she could see the end so has referred her for a scan. Now she did say that because it's low down it shouldn't be a problem even if it is atched to her spine. And I also had read this before.

So why aren't I reassured .

Appt with dietician this afternoon shows A's weight to be slipping further from the 0.4th centile. A real blow. So she wants to change her forumula to a higher calorie one. She wants me to continue bf which is positive. She also said she's actually drinking a lot for her size. She's having more than 250mls per kg. considering on the unit they were tube feeding most babies on 180mls per kg (and she was an exception on 200mls/kg) she is having a lot! So why isn't she gaining well? I didn't ask this. Now I'm kicking myself. Next appt in 4 weeks.

All in all, not a great day. I know things could be so much worse.

Thank you all with the support yesterday. T actually slept fine in the end and his temp was ok. Thanks for the snuffle babe tip Bood especially on the bottle its really helped. I bought a nasal aspirator and spray today so hopefully T will be well soon.

Re: periods I haven't stopped bleeding from birth yet so 17 days so far but its very light.

InNeed which formula are you using. T was on cow and gate 1 but now on cow and gate comfort and getting on well with it. It takes him about half hour to take a bottle he has between 3 and 4 oz. Last weigh in he was 7lb 9oz but pretty sure when he's weighed on Friday that will have gone up.

NoFork not sure if its the same thing but T has a dimple up above his bottom.

10 Sorry about you DH I'm sure its just the stress of everything you've been through. We always take things out on those closest to us. He still shouldn't be speaking to you like that though.

DP is going to a do on Saturday and I know for a fact there is a woman going who he used to and maybe does still fancy. I'm so upset about it. Not sure if hormones. We have had problems in the past with him having sent messages to other women telling them how pretty they are. I trust he hasn't cheated and I'm pretty sure its just an ego boost. It still gets to me though

Hi everyone, I can finally join you all over here now. It's great to hear how you are all doing.

Beaut we were on aptimal and then changed to SMA. HV said it will make her more constipated so change to Aptimal colic and constipation. DH has gone to get it for me now. The only way I can get her to settle is on my chest so I have had to dig out the carrier. Hormones are crazy arnt they. DH is going on a stag on saturday, bless him he has said he will go for the daytime and come home for the night. Feel bad asking him to leave early. I'm just worried about being on my own for so long. I better get used to it really he is away for a week in July with work. (navy wife) so got to expect lots of time away

inneed it can take an hour for a feed. It can also take less than 20mins!

beaut that'd upset me a bit too. With the extra hormones it'll only exasperate the issue.

Hi tiger. There can't be many if any left on the post natal thread can there?

We are using cow & gate 1 formula but A has really bad trapped wind so I've just been to get her some cow & gate comfort to see if that helps. Friends have found the Hipp organic to be really good for their refluxy babies.

10 we have had some huge arguments since getting out of nnu, think all the normal stresses of having a new baby combined with the fact that S was so early and everything that went with that is bound to put the 2 of you under a lot of pressure, and often people do take it out on those closest - I hope that he will be super dooper nice to you to make up for being so nasty.

Nofork I hope the scan reassures you xx

Oh and A will take 90 - 120 ml roughly every 4 hrs, although I do give her closer to 150ml at night in a bid to get her to sleep longer! Feeds generally take between 30-60 min because I break off to wind her or to wake her part way through.

Sorry everyone who's having a tricky time, hoping everything settles soon x

Thanks everyone and sorry to all those having a hard time, I've also had a row with DP

Boiled water sounds like a good idea. How much should I give baby and when?

Buttery-are you bf? Giving boiled water isn't necessary or recommended if you are. If you do give boiled water I'd make sure it want close to a feed and not give much. It's a bit easier when they're a bit older. When theyre this young it's hard to give anything really.
How constipated is your LO? When was the last time they went? The consultant today wasn't too worried about A only going once every 7 days and I've heard of longer.

Not pooing really isn't a big issue if it doesn't seem to be bothering them. If you give water I'd only start on around an oz and see how you get on with it.

B will take 4-5oz of formula, sometimes up to 4 hours apart, then sometimes she'll only go 2 hours. She's a piglet though, she'd gained almost a whole pound in a week when she was last weighed a week ago.

10 what a horrible stressful situation, much grovelling required. Being sleep deprived definitely makes everything harder though, it makes DH grumpy and it makes me take things the wrong way and be upset by things that wouldn't normally bother me.

buttery blame sleep deprivation, we had a row a couple of days ago at 4.30am when DH got woken up by me feeding B.

nofork hope you get some reassurance from the scan :)

BTW For FF babies water absolutely works to encourage them to poo and certain thicker feeds even suggest you do so regularly between feeds to keep babies regular.

I think there's still one or two left fork, dd was only born on Monday and there were still some left waiting. Has anyone any tips on keeping her awake during feeds? I'm bottle feeding but she falls asleep halfway through a feed every time, or will fall asleep when I stop to burp her and won't finish the bottle off.

Can I join the 'had a fight with DH' club? Quite a bit of bickering here, mostly about him wanting to be fed upsets me as he is a grown man who is quite capable of making his own sandwich and he is supposed to be helping me! Makes me sad too as we're wasting energy and time on stupid things instead of enjoying our time together as a family... Not quite sure if I know how to be a good wife and a good mother at the same time. At the moment all A's needs trump everything and I feel that mine trump his too. AIBU or is he? Also it's not that he is distrinterested in A, but he leaves virtually all of the taking care of her to me. I had so hoped he would take her from me after a feed without me having to ask, or forhim to change her nappy without being asked. Anyway rant over today is a new day so let's see what it will bring.

Marking my spot to write about my lovely new daughter and our birth story, too tired right now! X

Just coming over to say hi, now that I can finally join x

I am still ante natal :-( 41 weeks today, can 't wait to join you here soon. Had a sweep on tues and another tomorrow so fingers crossed. Lovely to hear all your birth stories and good or not so good they have all helped me get a better understanding of what's in store. Hope you all have a good day.

Been off painkillers for 24 hours now - which is a big achievement for me, after 2 weeks of 1g paracetamol every six hours. Anyone else took paracetamol post birth for that long?

A question regarding expressing milk: If I express more regularly, will that increase milk supply?

Welcome to the new post natal ladies and good luck to Sisi for what may be our last arrival.

Also nice to hear from you Ellypoo.

I cannot believe how crappy some of the DPs and DHs on this thread are behaving. In my book a woman with a newborn should not be expected to do ANYTHING to look after other grown adults and anyone who does expect her to is well put of order. As for rude comments and flouncing out I'd be fuming. I know the men are going through transitions too but they haven't just gone through a massive physical trauma, a huge hormone surge and they are rarely the ones that are sleep deprived. Moreover their lives carry on with some continuity with work etc while the mothers have very little continuity. I am extremely blessed that my DH recognises all of this but I really feel for those going through rough relationship times.

Re constipation, if your baby is EBF then it is fine for them to go several days between poos. Often their bodies just absorb most of the BM so there is v little to poo out. They don't need water or anything. DS has three poo days and some no poo days, my DD1 was also EBF and often went eight days between poos but the Drs were relaxed.