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sept 2014: babies are here (or coming soon!)

999 replies

allisgood1 · 05/09/2014 14:30

Even though dc3 is end of August, thought I'd start a sept thread :-)

How are you all doing?

dS1 is 9 dats old. Feeding well and surely sleeping well but it's hard to know as I keep falling asleep at night feeding him!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
lilone1234 · 21/09/2014 16:12

Whoops hadn't finished that.

Is it just me or is anyone else stunned by how something supposedly so natural can pose so many issues? I tried to breastfeed in hospital but due to EMCS didn't get skin to skin and was in a lot of pain when trying to position her. Molly had a cannula in her hand for antibiotics and I had one in the crook of my arm. All midwives did was try and force her on while she was screaming. In the end had to give her formula because she hadn't eaten anything and I was too exhausted and out of it to argue.

I'm still offering her the breast but she screams bloody murder in frustration and I can't bear it. Community midwife spent some time trying to.help me do it laying on my side but still no luck. She said baby and I both doing the right things so just keep practicing and recommended trying nipple shields to give her a bit more to try and grab on too, especially as she's been used to bottle. Been expressing the last few days too so have been able to give her very small amounts of breast milk but between offering the breast, feeding formula and expressing its not realistically do-able so going to have to make a change soon!

Has anyone been experiencing after pains? I just had a series of very painful ones (worse than early Labour - brought me to tears) after expressing this morning so that's put me off too!

Honeybear30 · 21/09/2014 16:26

Thanks lilone, I've had tears before but just can't seem to shift these. Must be because DH is going back, I really need to get a grip.

I can't help on the BF but I had really bad after pains, they took my breath away. They continued tbh until I lost some rather large clots and now they seem to have passed. I think it prob took about 8-9 days to completely stop. But now I have tummy ache from the antibiotics! Have you tried paracetamol? I've been taking it four hourly since I had DS due to some rather hefty stitches. Could take the edge off the pains and also the BF pain?

cookielove · 21/09/2014 17:11

kitkat I am in awe, Eli is 5 weeks and I still only manage to pump 20-30mls. I pump after every feed. So he gets offered the boob then bottle then I pump. So very draining.

Yy, completely agree about how frustrating, annoying and difficult this easy natural breastfeeding is meant to be Hmm

lilone I started using nipple shields last week, Eli definitely latches on better with them (although I found the normal sized ones to big and he and I suit the small 16mm ones) he still refuses and cries!

lilone1234 · 21/09/2014 17:28

cookie you're so good to still be keeping up with the boob, bottle, pump routine. I'm only a few days in and finding it far too challenging already. I only get about 20mls a go too.

honey thanks. I haven't had any clots yet so maybe that is why and I have some to pass. I'm on paracetamol and ibuprofen every 4-6 hours because of c section pain so think the painkillers happened to be dealing with that pain at the time lol.

cookielove · 21/09/2014 17:37

lilone I am determined to get to at least his due date, hoping he will perk up and start feeding better. :)

RedToothBrush · 21/09/2014 17:55

Re expressing. I don't know if this will help anyone, but this is my experience of it. At the start it was much harder than I'm now finding it. I couldn't get anything at all until 4 days in and that first week after felt really frustrating, as I didn't feel like I was getting anywhere with it and it was a battle to get enough both psychically and mentally.

In terms of how much; at 9 days DS would have about 30mls per feed of expressed milk. We've gradually increased it so he's now up to 70mls a feed at 20 days old. He was feeding every 3hrs (slightly longer at night), but this has become more frequent too now so its more like 2 and a half hours during the night and day and 1 and half hours in the evenings when he has a bit of a frenzy.

There is a calculator for how much expressed milk you need kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/milkcalc/ here, but at this stage (under a month old), its not terribly useful; the useful bit of information on that page is actually below the calculator where it shows the maximum capacity of a baby's stomach (bare in mind that breast feed babies have a slightly smaller capacity than formula feed ones - so if you are combination feeding or ff they eat more).

At 9 days I wasn't getting much more off than 30mls when I was expressing. Maybe 40mls at a push. But by being incredibly strict about expressing regularly (roughly once before DH goes to work, once during the daytime, once when DH gets back from work, once at bedtime around 10pm and once in the night) I've managed to gradually increase how much I'm getting off. It does feel never ending and like I'm either attached to a machine or feeding him with the bottle constantly though, so its hard, hard work, but it does feel like it is now starting to pay off. I'm still having to be religious about it, but its beginning to feel routine rather than forced. It is a team effort between me and DH though; I couldn't do it, if DH didn't take the strain and look after DS when I need to express.

DS is doing well on what has been almost exclusively expressing milk without tops ups of formula and has started to gain weight, after initially dropping a bit. I've not pushed breast feeding at all, but the expressing has given my nipples a break, but still toughened them up and changed their shape. DS has in the past week occasionally started to take straight from the boob without too problems which is a revelation as it just wasn't happening before - we've changed nothing. Its been so much less stressful. I tried desperately to get him on at first, but it wasn't happening so just gave up and concentrated on expressing. But I gave it a couple of tries and it just sort of happened naturally; I think haven't the pressure taken off, by knowing that I didn't have to helped a lot. I am doing this more now as obviously its less of a faff. I still get sore, but no where near as much as I was. Fingers crossed I can do it more frequently.

One of the tips I've heard is if you are breast feeding to pump for 5 mins per boob after you have feed the baby as this increases your supply and its easier to get off and pumping in the night helps as middle of the night feeds regulate how much you produce more than daytime feeds. (FWIW, If I pump after feeding him straight from breast, I don't get much more than 30mls off.)

Another thing, I think have found interesting is I'm using two different electric pumps; I'm finding they are very different and are effective differently in getting off milk because they pump in different ways. Which is a bit nuts! So I do think what pump you are using, does make a big difference. One might suit you better than another.

At the moment, I'm getting more off than he is eating and have been able to stockpile a small amount in the freezer. I just smell of cheese constantly now!

Honey, my words of wisdom for your DH going back to work are simply this; don't do anything but stay in bed/on the sofa and feed/change the baby for the day. Just get through it. It will be ok but you just need to survive the first day and get the confidence that you can survive.

ShowMeShowMeTheWine · 21/09/2014 18:15

Well we're back in hospital as dd has jaundice Sad
Feeling very sorry for myself I'm afraid as havnt slept since she was born and the prospect of a night here on my own isn't thrilling me!

TheOnlySeven · 21/09/2014 18:30

showme sorry to hear about the jaundice, hope she responds to treatment well and you're home again soon.

Sorry so many people seem to be struggling with BFing, I never successfully managed it with any of mine. I know the breast is best message tends to be pushed hard, but there's nowt wrong with formula if it makes for a happy mum and happy baby.

KitKat1985 · 21/09/2014 19:32

Hols just to say I tried the nipple shields this evening and it made a big difference, so would definitely recommend just whilst you give your breasts a chance to recover if you want to carry on bf. They were only a few pounds as well from Boots so not mega-expensive. I know they are not recommended for long-term use so I'll hopefully only use mine for 2-3 days, just until my crack on my left boob heals over, but they really did make quite a substantial difference (near enough pain free). xx

Honey my DH goes back to work on Friday and I'm anxious about the whole thing too. I'd say like Red just plan to cover the 'basics' for the day, of feeding and changing until you feel more confident. xx

Showme I'm really sorry to hear that DD has jaundice and that you both need to spend the night in hospital. Fingers crossed it'll just be the one night and then you can get home. xx

KitKat1985 · 21/09/2014 19:38

P.S. I have also spent quite a lot of time over the past few days wondering how the human race has survived this long. This breastfeeding lark certainly isn't easy, and I do wonder how our ancestors managed on their own without any help! x

ShowMeShowMeTheWine · 21/09/2014 20:09

Fingers crossed it'll just be one night but her levels are quite high so we'll see.

She has worked hard the last two nights to bring my milk in and has succeeded today meaning I've not slept since Thursday night and my boobs are ginormous! Rock hard and sore as anything.
Have painful nipples but did with dd1 and got through it so hoping it'll pass quickly.
Feel like I'm running on adrenaline so hoping I don't crash and burn tonight.

Also been having horrendous after pains. Had them with dd1 but these are like contractions and I could have cried last night with them. Keeping on top of paracetamol is taking the edge off.

Beccus · 21/09/2014 20:17

for those feeding, bottling and pumping, is there anyone around that can do the bottle feed for u while u pump? I found that helpful. also, when dp's go back to work, it's great if u can have a friend come around with lunch for u both.

holls2000 · 21/09/2014 21:26

Thanks all. Community midwives came and I burst into tears on them. They spent ages with me and have sorted it. Milk is in so am expressing and then Barney is being bottle fed. It has worked wonders today - I'm getting about 40ml off each time and he seems to be feeding much better. The midwife us coming to see me tomorrow too, they were amazing.

Allisgood1 · 21/09/2014 21:34

Hi ladies. Struggling here. I feel like leaving them all Hmm I have mastitis which has made me feel worse than any other case of it I've ever had: fever, aches, such a sore breast I wanted to cut it off; I felt like dying. Have antibiotics now but exhausted. DS didn't get his normal nap today and has been so unsettled on me, feeding then stopping, waking and crying. All day long. In the end DH took him but that only lasted about 20 minutes Hmm He's now finally down so I am going to try and sleep before he wakes. I just pray the aches and pains don't come back HmmHmm

OP posts:
Honeybear30 · 21/09/2014 23:03

I did manage to calm down eventually this afternoon. Think it just took me by surprise because tears have usually only been for about half hour or so but this was a couple of hours. My DH said the same, we just need to survive the day. It was just really overwhelming me the prospect of having to run the house and look after myself and DS. I need to think in smaller steps I think. No giant leaps just yet.

Sorry to hear of all these cracked nipples and BF issues, wish I could help more :( and showme that's such a shame you are in hospital. Hopefully it won't be for long, does jaundice take long to go? I don't know much about it!

Honeybear30 · 21/09/2014 23:05

allis I didn't see your post before posting myself. I'm hoping you are asleep now and getting some rest... :)

lilone1234 · 21/09/2014 23:21

allisgood That sounds tough! I hope you manage to get some rest and feel better soon.

red Thanks for sharing your experience, gives me a bit of hope! Have to say I was too worried to pump again today after those pains this morning. Could have just been a coincidence though, so will try again tomorrow! After pains still going on though Sad

Marjal12 · 22/09/2014 02:43

I had terrible after pains in hospital for the 2-3 days after birth when my bleeding was very heavy - midwives gave me a tablet which really helped. Can't remember name but it began with a P and was 'something acid'. Fine to take whilst BFing but you couldn't take it and ibruprofen. Maybe GPs could prescribe for those of you having issues?
I ended up at out-of-hours GP earlier with suspected blood clot on leg. He thinks it's phlebitis - a clot on a superficial vein. Have to take a 28 day course of injections to treat, just when I thought I was done with injections after the gestational diabetes! At least I was able to get P's gunky eye looked at too - it's had a crusty yellow discharge on it for a few days so needs drops to clear it.
Anyone else here finding it hard to juggle demands of baby, toddler, and DH? I feel like I'm being torn in 2 or 3 directions all day! DD1 is acting out a bit, DH frustrated at her behaviour and snapping at her, which leads to big dramatic tantrums. Normally while I'm stuck on sofa feeding, crying because my little girl is upset (and I'm so tired due to night feeds)...

Honeybear30 · 22/09/2014 02:56

I only have Baby one to contend with marjal but thought I'd lend an ear as I'm up ... :)

Just fed DS, changed nappy mid feed, he has promptly filled this new nappy. Oh the joys. Up I get again.

Nazly · 22/09/2014 04:11

Showme hopefully you'll be done quickly and will be home tomorrow... Ds had jaundice and I did suffer , but at least it is a common low risk problem easily treated...

Kitkat I laughed out loud to your second post :) we are taking ds to be checked for tongue tie - I wonder what people did hundreds years with tongue tie babies... Just tolerate bf pain?

Nazly · 22/09/2014 04:15

Sorry so many of you are suffering with various things... Bf is still painful for me after nearly 6 weeks but there maybe sth wrong here which I hope to discover soon...

My main problem is having a refluxy and colicky baby (both) - I feel sorry for him and find myself apologising to him for the pain he is in as I can't help in any other way... When crying gets really extreme I feel I am responsible for bringing a little defenceless baby to this painful unfair world :( it is though and don't know how to keep going....

Marjal12 · 22/09/2014 08:33

Awww I think we all need Brew and Cake today, as well as some sleep! Baby blues has definitely kicked in a bit.
It does get easier!
Nazly poor you. It's very hard dealing with a colicky baby as the screaming and discomfort is so hard to listen to and you get so little rest. Have you tried Infacol? Or any of the more traditional remedies? A pharmacy here mixes it's own remedy for windy babies and I found it quite effective for DD1. If you've not done so already, speak to your GP about alternative formulas for reflux babies - my cousin had to stop BFing at 4 months to 'cure' her child's reflux. The alternative formula made a huge difference. Also keep an eye on your own anxiety and speak to your GP about how you're feeling. PND can manifest in many different ways...

TeamEponine · 22/09/2014 09:38

lilone I was having similar problems with feeding for the past couple of days. The midwife came by yesterday and suggested that I massage my breasts when she starts feeding to, effectively, get the milk going quickly and express some into her mouth. She then has to swallow and that triggers the suck reflex. So simple, but it has made a huge difference! She was really trying to feed, but just couldn't get started, so she was getting hungry and upset and I was getting fuller, making it more difficult to feed. A real vicious circle! She spent three hours feeding through the night, so I think she's made up for it now Grin

I'm also quite shocked at how difficult breast feeding is! I've been so lucky with having amazing support at two vital time points where I was really considering giving up. Certainly asking from help from people who really know what they are doing is essential.

Quick question... What is the best way/product to get poo stains out? After her first bath she did a massive pooh into her brand new cream towel! I washed it immediately, but there is a stain there now Sad

Congrats to those of you who are now enjoying baby cuddles, and good luck to those whose babies are due to arrive soon. Especially thinking of those of you who are overdue Flowers

TeamEponine · 22/09/2014 09:44

Opps for the last bit of my post! Thought I was on the ante natal thread for a second. Clearly my baby brain hasn't started to subside yet Blush