The posifrikentivity graduates thread - we did it!!

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Finally enough graduates (with more very imminently expected) to have our very own little thread. Yay. :)

Bod I looked twice (2nd degree tears here). The first time was 5 days after birth I think the midwife was surprised I had looked. It looked very nest indeed. Then it was getting sore so I looked again. Fuckinghell it looked like there had been a massacre down there. I'd got a bit of an infection so the scar was very swollen and it looked like the stitches had come away and there was a big open wound, I couldn't really identify what was wound and what was normal fanjo. I will be traumatised forever. But it's all calmed down and I haven't looked since but it does feel lumpy when I wipe so I'm guessing it's just scar tissue and in time it will calm down. The midwife is here again on Monday so I'll try to remember to ask.

Garden what scumbags :( sorry you have that hassle at this time of year, especially as you're away from home :( bastards. Nice neighbour though.

Chocolate you should go into business with the scarf wrap things! Good work and what a simple but effective idea. I also love Pinterest, fab site.

Shell I'm sending you a big hug. You know we're all here for you if you ever need us xxxxx.

I tried to express some milk fir Xmas day but only managed 35mls :( how can I get more?!?!

Please excuse typos. Yoga checkup !! Oh dear.

Janie have you tried baths, hot flannels . I get my most I. The morning, I only eve get two ounces though which doesn't keep him happy for long. Think it's just not as efficient as real thing getting milk out

Shell sending you hugs. Hope you are ok.

Janie - Yy to morning, try with baby on your lap or looking at them at least. You need to squeeze for a while before the " let down" comes which is where looking at bubs is supposed to help
You can mix breast milk with formula if you don't think you have enough though.

Janie- my supply goes up and down, but because it is all
Mini pink is getting I am very aware of it. I get the most at my early morning express (I.e now!). If I put hot flannels on boobs before that helps the flow come in, not sure if I actually get more milk though. Massage does help, while you are pumping. Most importantly- make sure you are eating enough and drinking loads of water. I really notice a drop when I'm dehydrated. And, even if you are only getting little bits, pump regularly. It takes a couple days to build it up, but if you could manage a mission day where you don't go out of the house and literally just pump every 2 hours, you will notice the difference a couple days later. Be careful not I get an oversupply though, if you don't want to do it all the time, you are better off just taking the little bits when you can and storing.

Ooh thanks all for the boob tips! Will try a hot cloth beforehand.

If I manage to get say 35 mls and freeze it, can I mix it later with another batch of 35 mls that I express at a different time?

Also do I massage the boob while pimping or before I start?

Oops pumping not pimping ha!!!! Lolgasm!! Xx

Yeah you could freeze a load of little batches and defrost at same time but you would go through a lot of expensive freezer bags. If I only get a bit I put it at the back of fridge in a bottle and then add my next pump to the same bottle. I think it can last up to 7 days in the back of the fridge so as long as you give it 7 day from first bit you will be ok

Yea what bod said- although I read 5 days for in the fridge. Sure along those lines is fine.

With massage- I do it while pumping because it does get the flow going. And makes me feel more like a cow. Lovely.

Yeah think you are right pink. 5 days not 7

Evening all. I feel this maybe a long night. Charlotte has been doing that flPping thing you spoke about Janie and just not being settled at all tonight. My DH has also been sleeping in the other room since about 34 weeks of pregnancy and tonight went to bed at 8 feeling unwell. Hope we don't all get ill for Christmas! I'm still not sorted for the big day! Going to be a mad panic to the last minute and it just don't have the energy! Didn't even think of getting organized to express for Christmas and now don't have any bottles or anything. Oh well. I best try and get some shit eye before madam is up and flapping again! See you all later!!!

bouncy I hope she's kind to you! I made the mistake of putting Lenin his basket before being in a deep sleep earlier and he woke up again and is still awake and won't come off the boob without screaming. He won't accept the dummy tonight so I guess it could be a long one for me too.

I took him out in my car today for the first time...drove at about 15 mph!

Thanks for the expressing tips :) xx

Who are bouncy and Lenin?!?!? Sleep deprivation + autocorrect = madness!

Also lucky I hope your house isn't getting a bug :( that would be shit. Fingers crossed all is well x

Evening all, James is coming down with a cold. His second one!!! Only just got over first one!! Gutted, long night for me as he can't breathe properly and am on tenterhooks all night. Propped up the cot on books and pillow under mattress but if that doesn't work he is going in the car seat.
Stupidly let my friends baby sneeze in his face so is prob that. Thought he was better and that James had cought his first cold of him but maybe not.

Oh dear! Thus is no good at all! Ladies I hope you are managing some sleep at least.

Lucky - hopefully an early night will have seen off whatever bug it was. Would be horrible to get poorly for Christmas :(

Bod- someone told me that babies get 12 colds on average for the first year of their life. Look at it this way... 2 out of the way?! Sorry, I do hope he isn't suffering too much, poor thing. And that you are managing to rest.

We had a very long day today. Had to go to hospital to get mini pinks hips scanned, turns out her left hip isn't quite forming properly. :( got to go back in 4 weeks and hope it has caught up. Then went for a Christmas meal with lots of friends- which was lovely, but she got passed around all over the place. Usually I'm fine with this, I don't know what it was today, but I just wanted her back! When we left 5 hours later I had a little cry as I was so relieved to get her back?! What's that about, not been bothered about that sort of thing at all before! Now worried about the rest of Christmas in case I get like it again- oh so much to worry about!

Got so much stuff to do tomorrow to prepare for the big trip away for Christmas. Hoping she has one of her random marathon sleeps!

Aww pink am sure it is just the hormones kicking in. I remember waking up on the couch and the bambino wasn't there . Dh had taken her in the other room to let me sleep, I couldn't stop crying!!!!
Think I am getting this cold too. Have got a tickle in my throat. Looks like we are gona be poorly together over Christmas!!!

Ps lucky I haven't started wrapping either and found two none posted cards at bottom of card box. Got no blomming milk supply in either. Just can't be bother expressing at the mo!

Oh no sorry for all the poorly babies :( Matilda is very snuffly still, I have a snot sucker from boots and it's amazing, for those who haven't done it before you put saline drops or spray up their nose then put a little tube in their nostril and suck out the snot, it's pretty grim but very satisfying! The baby doesn't like it very much but we've got it down to a fine art so it only takes about 15 seconds.

Oh pink I too suffered from jealous mummy syndrome the other day when we met friends fur lunch and then that night at my brothers loads of people wanted a piece of him :(
One friend (no kids) started to tell me how to hold him properly and I felt like punching her face in.

Leo and I have ended up in hospital :( the wee man hasn't put on any weight since last week so midwife made me take him to docs for a check up and the doc made me bring him to hospital :( my wee guy :( hopefully he's ok and maybe he'll just need topped up with formula but have to wait to see what the paediatrician says. Poor little monkey man. I feel like it's all my fault.

And get well soon baby James, and hope mini pinks hips are ok at the next check. 2 girls from the bf group I went to had the sane but were totally fine, but good to know they're checking everything x

Oh Janie!!! Poor Leo! Oh don't feel like it's your fault Hun, you weren't to know. I'm sure it's just precaution, and you will be out as soon as he's had a check over. Hope you okay x

Hello lovelies! Just having a mooch around MN and stumbled across all my old mates from the mc thread that so rudely left me there I used to hang out with. And now look at you all- babies everywhere! Really lovely to see you're all ok although obviously there are plenty of challenges along the way.

I hope you don't mind me popping by to say hello. I bring Lindt chocolates.....

Hi there Thunder. Thanks for the Chocs. I really really want some now! How are you?
Big hug on its way to you Janie. Sorry to here Leo is not gaining weight but it is not your fault. You are doing a great job and I'm sure he will be back on track soon.
Pink I know what you mean about pass the baby! I had PND with my first and didn't have that close bond straight away. This time I don't want to let bubba out my sight and want her with me constantly.
bump that sounds like a fab contraption! Charlotte has been very sniffly today. Took her ages to settle last night.

I'm having a minor panic now as still not sorted for the big day. I need crackers and after 8 mints or it won't be right and I still have a few small presents to get and things to wrap! Panic panic panic!
We meant to be seeing Santa tomorrow. Hope wea are all well and the weather improves!

Hello!! Sorry to just drop in after not being around for a while. I'm back to tandem feeding and that was my MN time so no hands free now.

How are you all?

We've gone through a horrid growth spurt recently and they're mostly back to one night feed. We had two nights where C went until 5 but S was still up at 1 so it was no better really. At least I have DH on school holiday for the next two weeks; it's so lovely to have four hands 24/7. We have Christmas here and then new year in Northumberland in a house we've rented; I'm hoping for lots of long beach walks and fresh air.

Colds are utterly shit. When they're old enough a bit of Calpol or Calprofen occasionally is your friend. Mine aren't snotty; they get bunged up further up and it goes down their throat so they can't feed without choking. Horrid, and as soon as they get over one another one starts, think we're just passing it back and forth between the three of us

Thunder! How bloody marvelous to see you. How are you and bump getting on?

Lucky- good to hear I not the only one. Imogen was having a meltdown earlier, and DH bless him was trying to be helpful and kept asking if I wanted him to take her. I said no 3 times before he came over and just took her off me, almost bit his head off! Oops. Sorry to hear Charlotte is poorly :(

Diet - lovely to see you too. Sorry you've been having a rough time, hope the germs disappear soon!
Stupid question, how do you tell when they having a growth spurt?

Hey ladies, and hi thunder!!! Great to see you :) hope you are waddling along nicely! How far on are you now?

Sorry to hear of all the snuffles :(

Well we finally got out of hospital. They thankfully couldn't find anything wrong with Leo that would mean he wasn't gaining weight, so I'm now totally beating myself up and blaming myself for him not putting weight on. I'm gutted that I can't satisfy his hunger myself, absolutely gutted. They've advised more regular feeds, 15 minutes per boob, then express then top up with formula if required for at least the next week. He fed tonight then I only managed to express a very small amount (not even one ounce) so had to give him formula which he hoovered.

I have to get a urine sample to them, how the hell I can do that I've no idea, they said he should obviously pee all the time and I agreed but advised he wears a nappy all the time. So I have to try to catch a wee sample before lunchtime tmro and get it to the dr surgery.

I can certainly have him nappy free for a short while but how the hell can I guarantee that I'll catch his pee in a tube?!? Any tips on getting him to pee al fresco?!

So hopefully with the top ups he'll start gaining. I just feel miserable about the whole thing, really feeling down. Can't even be arsed with Xmas as I could hear in my mums voice that she was disappointed about the formula and I don't want her to judge me.

Fingers crossed he sleeps soon tonight anyway, the formula seems to have kept him happy anyway so I guess that's the main thing.

I tell you, I don't want to have to rush back to a paediatric ward, poor wee mites, it would break your heart.