The posifrikentivity graduates thread - we did it!!

[IBelieveInPink]

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

It's bit possible to over feed her Pink- so you are just doing a fab job.
I struggled feeding my elder son and mixed fed him with relative success. With my daughter it was easier when my nipples healed. The first 6 weeks of feeding are tough, but if you get thought that then it gets easier quickly .
My husband worked away when we had our daughter so I had no one to share the feeding with.
Personally if I were you I think breast feeding is so much less hassle and work than expressing, but it does depend if you want anyone else to help feed her.
See how you get on, sounds like you are doing brilliantly though with her weight gain.

Well I didn't get much sleep- he didn't settle until around 3am!! Oh well the baby cuddles, noises is all worth it.

I

Sorry- meant to type 'it's not possible to over feed her '!!

How's everyone getting on? Jmf are they still keeping you in? Hope everyone is good :)
Any recommendations for any books on baby development? Not looking for anything too detailed/scientific! Just more of a 'at 2 weeks your baby can do x. Encourage by playing with x'. I have no idea what babies learn when, so would be interested to know the basics :)

welcome jmf and congratulations! I hope baby Alexander is settling well! How nice that you had your own room, very sweet of your DH - I did too this time (didn't pay for it, the midwife just put me there but I was at the MLU which is quieter) and it was wonderful! I guess you're not back at home yet - is it 3 days that you have to stay in after a c-section?

shell can now officially join us as well!

ibip I can recommend a book I got as a present when I had DD1: Baby's First Skills by Dr Miriam Stoppard
www.amazon.co.uk/Babys-First-Skills-Miriam-Stoppard/dp/1405335157/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385571633&sr=8-1&keywords=miriam+stoppard+baby%27s+first+skills

It's not week by week but month but month; it's great though and very easy to read and follow when exhausted with a new baby

We're OK, we were away for the weekend, visiting family - I was a bit anxious over packing and being away from home but everything went smoothly; and we had lunch out as a family of four which was great...wow, I can't believe I have 2 children now! I am so happy - such a difference from this time last year

Thanks pentagon. I have just ordered it, sounds perfect.
We just had our first bath! It was so cute, she loved it. Looks like she's a water baby, she just looked so calm and content in there. And has just settled off to sleep! Amazing :)

We are home thank God!!
But overwhelming coming home and I feel pretty weak and sore now.
Sounds like you had a lovely weekend Pentagon- so glad you are in a much happier place.

Love the sound of your bath Pink :)

Oh jmf, look after yourself. Stay on top of pain killers. Even when you don't think you need them, take them,

Just checking in We've called him
Noah and he is doing great...I've posted on t'other thread as well if you are interested in the birth!

Will catch up properly when I get chance

Oh shell! I love that name! Just read your birth, sounds wonderful (or as good as can be anyway!). Glad you are doing well, so chuffed for you. And that ds seems to be impressed with his little bro! So pleased :)

Congratulations Shell :)
Still jot had chance to read all the posts! Charlotte is keeping me very busy and her brother is being quite demanding too! Am struggling with the feeding again and feeling somewhat sore now :(

Oh lucky, you poor thing. You have my sympathies, I haven't managed to go back to it. I am getting on quite well expressing at the moment, although don't think I would manage that with another little one around.

Hard isn't it Pink! I wasn't any good with DS but as my DH has allergies I stuck with it. I think in going to contact someone for support as can't seem to get her to latch on right And it's worse now sore and.cracked. Doesn't help that I now look like Pamela Anderskn with big huge hard melons!

I'm in the same club Lucky- my boobs are huge footballs about 3 times the size of the baby's head.
He doesn't like the left as it's really swollen which is flattening the nipple , my nipples are scanned and he gets cross when the milk doesn't come straight in.
Oh the glamour!!
Also still have massive (biscuit induced) tummy still and look 7 months pregnant, my scar is sore and I need to hold my stomach in to laugh!!

But he's so worth it, so cuddly and sweet. Love him and can't believe what a year it has been.

Scabbed not scanned!!

The babies are so worth it :D
It's nice to hear I'm not alone struggling with the feeding. People make it look so easy! I also still have a mahoosive belly! DS keeps asking why it's still big if the baby sister is now out! reaches for another chocolate to comfort ones self!
DH is pissing me off big time. He has had about 7 hours sleep every night whilst I'm up and keeps complaining he's tired! Flipping men!

Been up all night with a screaming baby that won't latch on to my swollen boobs.
Thank god for kellymom, been hand expressing and using cold compresses and got some milk out and done swelling down but he can't/ won't latch on to the left but right is working.
God this is hard!!

Oh JMf :( pretty similar here. she gets cross sticks her hands in the way and then I get bothered and frustraited. Can't seem to hold her at the right level or angel. I will have a look at that Kelly Mom. Hoping that the milk will settle down a bit. I was putting warm flannel on in the bath yest! Oops! Doesn't help that I'm stiched from fanjo to Anya and can't sit down very well. Remind me JMF is this tour first baby? I'm feeling a failure, I've even fine this before all be it not very well then! Sleep who needs sleep! Sleep is for wimps tells self anyway!

Sorry for the mistakes! Auto correct!

Ooh ladies, you have my sympathies. I managed to get a grand total of 2 hours sleep last night. I still prefer expressing to the sheer agony of that first week!
From what I have read if you can get through the first week it gets better quickly after that. I didnt, and to be honest I am now too scared to go back. Lost all faith in the belief that I had before that my body would naturally cope. Which I am a bit disappointed about, but not enough to go through the stress and pain of going back to it!

And yy to mahoosive belly! After 2 weeks I'm struggling to convince myself that there is any swelling left I think what I am left with is biscuit based! Boo.

This is my 3rd baby Lucky!!
With the first he didn't latch on at all unless I used nipple shields. The second was easier but she shredded my nipples so I used to bite myself to stop screaming when she latched on, but that got better quickly.
Kellymom is fab, it's cold you need to relieve the swelling as the heat can make it worse. I have just had 30 mins of screaming and not latching solved by frozen peas direct to breast to reduce the swelling so my nipple could stick out enough for him to latch.
It's only the real desire to breast feed that keeps me going.

Hope you feel more comfortable soon Lucky - stitches sound sore :(
Pink- don't feel bad, do what best suits you. If you want to feed then help from a breast feeding specialist can really help if you are happy expressing and it works for you that's great too. There's so much to worry about with them and forever feeling guilty!!
Boo to biscuit tummys!! I think operation get rid of the biscuit baby tummy can wait till 2014!!

Right - off to spend more money on Black Friday- internet shopping on the phone is dangerous!!

Sorry for all the sore nips :( the only advice I have is bf for 21 months (DD1 refused to stop) by that point your nipples are like old leather and bf the second one is a breeze! sorry, not very helpful.

I echo everyone else, do whatever you need to do to survive, that was very good advice from my first health visitor.

The mw asked if i had started my stomach exercises, I laughed before i realised she meant it! I'm currently sat adding to my biscuit belly :) weight loss can deffo wait till 2014

Bump - exactly my sentiments reaches for another chocolate truffle I had always planned that I would wait until after Christmas to get back on the diet wagon. No point when there is Stilton and yummy mince pies around!
I do think I have been underestimating how much weight I've actually put on.... DH looked at me skeptically when I tried to put my normal jeans on the other day! To be fair - I got them on....and done up.... But they rubbed my c section scar so I can't wear them yet that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it

hi ladies, I haven't been online for a couple of days, just posted on the other thread. Shell thanks for sharing your birth story, I'm so glad you had a better and more positive experience this time! And I love the name!

ibip you haven't told us your full story, have you? Please do, if you feel like it of course

I think we're doing OK with the breastfeeding, it hurt a lot for the first 10 days but it's bearable now. bump you breastfed DD1 for 21 months? Respect! I only managed 9...I hope I can do the same this time. Anyway, DD2 settles at around 23:30 lately but between 9 and 11pm she wants to be on the breast constantly...she's not massively hungry, she's using me mainly as a dummy to go to sleep (we haven't given her a dummy, we didn't give DD1 one either). I know it's not a major problem but it is quite tiring and I fear we're setting a bad precedent...any advice?

I agree, no point going on a diet before Christmas!! I've been baking every second day lately (my creative outlet now that I'm stuck at home) I love cakes! And chocolate...God knows how I will lose the weight at this rate! DH is bugging me to go on the rowing machine but again I'm thinking "after Christmas"...

Can I ask you all a sensitive question that you can ignore if you want.
Have you done something, bought something to remember the baby(s) you lost.
I am feeling sad that I did nothing and am wondering about a Christmas tree decoration - or should I let it go?
I had wanted to get a snowflake for my links of London bracelet as it was snowing on January when the baby died and I have always thought of him/he as my little snowflake who just melted away.
Not sure what to do, how to feel.
If he wasn't for the loss I wouldn't have my beautiful boy now especially as our lost baby was a surprise conception that then led to my husband agreeing to number 3 which he had previously resisted.
All confused. Stupid hormones!! Xx