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Original poster

Martians 2014 (and the February early arrivals)

547 replies

LyraSilvertongue · 22/02/2014 14:45

I expect it will be quiet in here for a while with only four Martians born so far and it not even being March yet Smile

Those who have popped so far:
Coolhand
Dabarai
LyraSilvertongue
Wuxiapian

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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EmFlat · 12/03/2014 08:02

Oh blimey, Wux, that's awful! Well, in that you've been in pain but nothing they've checked seems to indicate any reason for it Hmm Hope the antibios settle things, even if we don't know what 'things' they're settling!

Hi Saucy, and congratulations! Gorgeous name for your little girl Smile

Flumpinblues · 12/03/2014 20:02

Hi all. Isabella - known as Ella arrived today by Plaaned section at 39 weeks. Calm controlled and ail lion miles from my first EMCS. 7lbz 10oz and perfect :)

Just about to try feeding again in hospital :)

CalltheMadwife · 14/03/2014 11:25

Hi all, yep was 40+4, was released Tuesday night in the end, (benefits of working there!) so far life at home has been surreal and tiresome! but starting to feel 'real' now.

EmFlat · 14/03/2014 19:26

Glad you got home on Tues, Call Smile must make such a difference.

How's everyone doing today?

Apologies for being needy in starting a 'support' conversation, but it's day 11 here and the blues are still truly lodged Hmm Realised it could be this bad because I had the full dose of oxytocin as well as what was naturally in my body (nasty comedown, therefore), as well as also being a c-sec and then not bf-ing. Felt better yesterday, but bad again today. Fed up now.

Wuxiapian · 14/03/2014 21:14

Well, the swabs they did in hospital Monday have come back clear. So, I must've been imagining the pain. Or, it's just been a very long, crappy recovery!

MW (finally) discharged me today.

Sorry to hear you're feeling down, Em. I think it's natural to feel down about a traumatic birth - I have moments when I ponder what could have happened in theatre and how they basically saved my life and have to snap myself out of it...

Of course, the old hormones are all over the place, too. That and tiredness can make getting through the day more difficult.

If it continues too much longer, maybe mention how you feel to the MW or Dr?

I have DP's family descending upon us this weekend. I am not up for it, at all. Hey ho.

EmFlat · 14/03/2014 21:43

Really?? You can't possibly have imagined that pain - how can they say the whole thing's a mystery? Harrumph Confused God, that must be annoying.

I shouldn't whinge, tbh - mine's not the worst birth story, am probably indulging in self-pity... but will def call the HV if Monday comes and I haven't managed even one day on my own. Silly hormones, and I'm not the most patient of people. Sitting tight and waiting for 'this too (to) pass' is tiresome!

Sorry you've got the in-laws over the weekend: are they the challenging sort to cope with? Not exactly what you need if they are Hmm

TwentiethCenturyGirl · 14/03/2014 22:48

Hello. Can I join? I wasn't on the antenatal thread but am fed up after spending the whole evening with my nipple shoved in 5 day old DD's mouth and could do with some moral support. There's no sign of any sleep here anytime soon...

It's my second DC and I seem to have talked myself into believing it would be easier this time round. It's not so far!

Wuxiapian · 15/03/2014 06:29

It's not self-pitying, Em, and regardless of other people's birth story, yours was traumatic. My MW told me it's possible to develop PTSD after such an event, so definitely wise to speak to MW about how you're feeling.

And yes, really, there's apparently nothing wrong with me Confused I am a medical mystery.

My in-laws. Well, they're fine, as far as in-laws go. It's just that they're going to be here all day and, (maybe I'm a grumpy mare, but) I like having my space and feel put upon when visitors are here. Especially as I still don't feel 100% and need to give the place a blitz!

Hi, Twentieth. Congratulations and welcome!

I can't offer any advice re BF, but there will be others here who can.

Hope you all had a decent night and have a good Saturday :)

mrsmugoo · 16/03/2014 03:00

Hi ladies, announcing my arrival along with DS Edward who is currently refusing both his Moses basket and my breasts so is testing our resolve somewhat!

DH is on sleep shift at the moment. I have fractious baby tentatively sleeping in my arms at the moment who isn't going to like being stripped off and force fed breast milk from a cup in a minute!

How is everyone?

EmFlat · 16/03/2014 08:49

Hi Mrs!

Sorry to hear your LO is testing your patience... ours is a reluctant Moses basket-er too, much prefers to sleep on us. Trying to get him down now for an hour or two as he played DH up most the night.

I'd probably trade back to being pregnant if I could... Wink not really, obvs, but sometimes really!

Congratulations again Smile

mrsmugoo · 17/03/2014 08:19

Well today is his due date and he started the day by taking a monster breast feed after 2 days of refusing to latch on at all. I'm so relieved. If he takes his next one from the boob I'll be jumping for joy. Cup feeding him is a nightmare - he kicks off and then it gives him wind :(

TotalShock · 18/03/2014 04:58

Cup feeding is a nightmare. I totally agree. We had to give up in the end and give him expressed in a bottle when the hospital doubled the amount he had to have ever 3 hours. It was taking 1.5 hours to get it down and was on 3 hourly feeds!

This is my first baby and reading everyone's posts has helped me think maybe everything is normal and it's not just that I'm totally crap at this. Maybe...

My lo lost weight in hospital so we had to stay longer. Terrible to cup feed. Struggled with bf and in the end had to admit defeat. Then beat myself up about it. He's not keen in the Moses basket either. Etc etc etc!

I hope everyone is well and getting to grips with this whole baby malarkey! x

mrsmugoo · 18/03/2014 08:17

Yeah the cup feeding was awful - we had to offer the boob after 2.5 hours and give him the cup if he refused - which he was always going to because the cup feed took ages, distressed him and gave him trapped wind so by the time he'd had it and settled it was time to wake him up again after only about an hour's sleep. a sleepy, not hungry baby is never going to be forced onto a slightly engorged breast!

In the end DH and I staged an intervention and let him sleep from midnight and he woke of his own accord at 5am and that was what it took to trigger his breast feeding. He did 9 feeds in the last 24 hours so I'm really happy we stuck with it but I can see why you would give up - it's one of the hardest things I've ever done - the hormones are literally raging!

TotalShock · 18/03/2014 10:29

Well done you, I'm pleased you got there!!
I preserved for just over 2 weeks but initially they thought posterior tongue tie but surgeon at hosp o holiday fie 2-3 weeks. Then went to 2 diff hospitals and concluded he was ok. All the time I kept trying but he would push off me and cry. Getting really quite upset. We then had a but of a breakthrough and he latched but not quite right and if was very painful. I think I was sore already from all the man handling my boobs had received in hosp. Then they said he had what look like a mild case of or beginning of thrush. I was getting upset all the time cos he was upset then the pain was getting worse so DP and I decided to stop. I'm still expressing so he has some but can't supply anywhere near enough for what he's taking now so it's mainly formula. I beat myself up and felt so guilty but have come to terms with it now

Blimey sorry to babble on about it, maybe do me some good to get it off my chest!

mrsmugoo · 18/03/2014 12:25

Don't beat yourself up over it - formula's not the worst thing in the world. Your baby will thrive regardless and you tried.

I insisted he get his tongue tie snipped in hospital even though he was latching ok and he could poke his tongue out past his lips - I knew it was better to get it done then and there as nothing to lose everything to gain.

He had gained 60g over night, the midwife was really pleased and we're off daily visits now.

OwlinaTree · 18/03/2014 12:53

Hi guys, sorry to hear some babies struggling with tongue ties. Must be very upsetting if your baby won't feed. I was worried because my baby wasn't putting on weight and he was feeding OK, so I do sympathise. As mrsm said, babies are fine on formula, and at least your DP can feed a bit too.

A couple of useful tips I've picked up, apologies if preaching to the choir!! avent breast shells are great to help with engorgement, wearround the house. My baby was a moses basket refuser, but I've found heating the basket before putting him in helps, I've got a electric fleece blanket so stick that in when I get up to feed him and it's nice and warm for him to go back into. Obviously I take the blanket out before putting him in!!

Really enjoying having DH around at the mo, got a feeling it will be very different next week when he's back at work!! Anyone going it alone yet? What's the biggest challenge?

EmFlat · 18/03/2014 15:03

Hormones, Owl. The actual 'skills' required to look after a first newborn don't seen to be that hard, but baby blues make everything seem like 13 times more scary. But, I'm predisposed to anxiety attacks anyway, so you might find you get in okay!

Cannot recommend enough that you nap when LO does... balancing that with little chores as needed (only the urgent ones) gets you through a day Wink

EmFlat · 18/03/2014 15:16

Oh, forgot to say, Total... if making the decision to formula feed helps you emotionally/mentally, then it's all for the better. Your LO needs you happy, not stressing and putting pressure on yourself Smile As my sister keeps telling me, 'whatever gets you through a day and keeps you sane' Grin

TwentiethCenturyGirl · 18/03/2014 23:17

I'm dreading going it alone next week. I can cope with the baby (couch, telly, snacks, feed...) but what the heck am I going to do with the rampaging nearly threenager?! Lots of CBeebies I expect!

It's taking a mammoth effort to get the baby to sleep tonight. Fed up and in need of my bed. Yawn. Hope others are fairing better.

OwlinaTree · 18/03/2014 23:54

We are just on final feed before bed. Have become a bigfan of the lying down feed!

mrsmugoo · 19/03/2014 04:55

Haven't managed to attempt that position yet with my c section scar, I'm still sleeping partially sitting up.

DS has now gone from breast refuser to night time cluster feeder! He fed for so long last night he didn't know what to do with himself and couldn't settle for bed. Any pearls of wisdom anyone?

OwlinaTree · 19/03/2014 05:52

Hummm I had a couple of nights of feedathon! I try to wake him after 3 ish hours during the day for a feed if he hasn't woken himself. Feedathon has shifted back toafternoon or evening now. Dunno if that's why particularly but it's what I do different iyswim.

mrsmugoo · 19/03/2014 12:24

Yeah I'm not going to let him sleep longer than 3 hours in the afternoon/evening now - he slept from 5-8ish yesterday and I didn't get him down properly again til 1am.

He's a week old today and I feel we're starting to learn his ways a bit now.

TwentiethCenturyGirl · 19/03/2014 15:22

Yes,

TwentiethCenturyGirl · 19/03/2014 15:25

Yes, I second the not letting them sleep too long in the daytime theory. I make sure that I feed at least every three hours and hope that DD will naturally settle into that routine longer term, as it worked well for DD1.