October 2014 (including some september early arrivals) the wonderful and crazy newborn days

[fedupofrainydays]

Thread to share the newborn news and support each other through the 'eeek what do I do?' When the baby gets home and you stare at it in the car seat and think - help!!

me23 we are also working hard on keeping DD asleep when moving her to basket, I think temperature and smell make a huge difference so moving with blanket/swaddle helps.

yellow I got a new sheepskin and the instructions said 'not to be used without a sheet for small babies' which I thought was missing the point. Is yours long or short haired and do you cover it with a sheet or just put baby straight down?

Fullers earth (powder or cream) is best. Wee bums bleed if barrier creams like sudocrem are put onto skin which isn't 100% dry - use a towel or warm setting on the hair dryer to ensure bums are totally dry before applying. I don't use bepanthen, sudocrem or metanium - just fullers earth xx

I use a sheepskin on top of the cot sheet.

My baby busts out of the grobag swaddle within seconds, maybe because it is stretchy. I ordered a miracle blanket from amazon but keep missing the sodding delivery. In the meantime we swaddle using a thin flannel blanket. Anything is suitable I think- I was swaddled in a cellular blanket as a baby.

I am also painful getting out of bed seven days post section, but it is manageable and I take it slowly. Moved the bednest to DH side of the bed so I don't have to sit up/lift him out so much.

There is a local BF support group this afternoon but not sure if I should go. Murdo is feeding well but I would like to know more positions, when I can start to express and how to get rid of lumps in the boob. Are those the kind of reasons to go? I don't want to take away time slots from someone who is really desperate and struggling...

Me we swaddled DD as it was the only way she would sleep at all. I haven't used a Gro swaddle but I'd guess do what it says on packet and put a blanket over her if she seems cold. I've noticed that me and DH are so concerned about over heating but everyone else seems to pile layers on and babies seem fine (and sleep better!)

My Aunt is midwife in Australia and says everyone there swaddles and it is advised. She gave me a very thin cotton cloth to swaddle with and then baby can wear normal clothes underneath. I'd say do whatever you need to do and remember what the advice is in UK is different to elsewhere - it's just one opinion.

Also, try putting hot water bottle in crib whilst you're feeding then take out before you put baby in - perhaps huge change in temp is waking her? I'm sure you've heard all this before but only things I can suggest. Good luck and remember it will pass.

Woops sorry the previous posts only just refreshed so sorry to give duplicate advice to Me

The transfer thing is tough, Matilda is sparko until put down then wakes herself up and asks for milk. Cue this happening for 3 hours. I gave her my little finger to suck because she was obviously tired and would fall asleep at the boob. She fell asleep after about 3 or 4 minutes and slept for a couple of hours

I was sure she must have had enough though.

Thanks for all your sleep tips will be trying all of them.
frau violet is the same last night/today my breast is so engorged and rock hard too hard to hand express from and I don't have a pump yet. I had mastitis last time in worried it will turn into it if she won't drain it properly.

buggerlugs can't offer much advice now but have health visitor and GP appointment today for DS as I'm pretty sure he has reflux so will update afterwards in case I get any words of wisdom. Only thing that's making me question it is that we are having some better days where I start doubting myself. However when it's bad it's really bad. I have read that this can happen with reflux - yellow what's your experience?

Me the advice here (USA) is also fo swaddle but with arms out. We've not bothered as DD2 seems grand without it (we're co sleeping but she will go into the sidecar cot sometimes). I also had mastitis last week so know your fear. Am sure V will drain the engorged side next - I found I had to really preserve with getting her to drain the bad side.

Fatpony I'd go to the group. Getting your questions answered will be helpful and it's a nice outing.

DD2 is pooping on me as I type. Such hilarious sounds! Her stump fell off yesterday, which is great as it was a little stinky!

Fatpony go to the group

As for reflux vs colic Jonas' paed reckons there is no such thing as colic - but that all colic is reflux or dietary intolerances. Colic was a catch all term used in the 20s -90s for 'difficult' babies who were actually in pain.

Where reflux is better some days and worse others - consider what you've been eating? Do bad days coincide with classic intolerance triggers (dairy, soy, eggs, formula top ups)? Has baby been held upright for longer on good days ie in the sling? Have they been having smaller and more frequent feeds (better for reflux)?

Anyone worrying about reflux / CMPI tilt the cot head up now so at least there is a physical barrier to limit the amount of stomach acid coming up. CMPI tends to appear 1-2 weeks after birth / due date. Reflux appears immediately after birth.

And there's me having soya milk on my cereal when actually it's still a trigger! Almond milk then?!

Caught up....finally! I won't be sharing my story as I'm determined to get past it now.
It's reassuring to read people are having similar problems. Dylan thrashes quite a lot which seems to stop him settling so I'm going to try swaddling. My mum swaddled us so I'm going to get her to shoe me when she gets back. I love having her here, she has already done 2 loads of washing and is currently out with dh doing a food shop don't actually want her to go home!
Quick question, tmi alert. When I wiped this morning I there was a large clot on the paper. Is this something I ought to ring the mw about? Also I'm 7 days past Csection now and my overhang bit of skin is still numb...wierd

For what it's worth - there is a difference between the trapped wind and stomach pain (typically referred as colic) rather than the puking up acid stuff which is reflux.
But colic is a catch all term for difficult babies as yellow says. Both mine are/were sicky. All my mates remember ds1 for puking everywhere. Dr said he had mild reflux and also colic! But Didnt advise I went down the medication route - which was the right decision for us. And it passed. Just keeping upright and avoiding trigger foods (didn't realise soy was!) and I also gave him colief and had cranial oestopathy. I don't know if any of it worked but it did get better with time so who is to say what made the difference but I was desperate so tried eveything!

How big was the clot mrs? Clots very normal. Sometimes they want you to keep them and show them to them!! I passed an enormous one quite soon after delivery. I was so freaked out I started shaking - midwife fished it out my knickers for me!! Poor woman!!

bump re the pain thing.. It could be related to your pelvic floor. Try doing your exercises and see if it helps. I explained my weird pains / clot feelings to MW and HV and both said it was to do with my Pelivic floor. It is weak after the first time (third degree and episiotomy) so taken a bit of a hammering again. It has started to get better and I notice it less so see if doing the exercises helps. Fx.

MrsB re clots I was told anything bigger than a kiwi was worth telling midwife about. Sounds like your mum is a good 'un!

Mrs clots smaller than a 50p piece are fine, clots are pretty normal for the first 7 days or so. My tum is still numb in places 21 days later - nerves are slow to heal.

Fed up half of CMPI babies react to soy as well as dairy - we use koko or oatley and pure sunflower spread, Tesco value wholemeal is the only dairy and soy free bread. I'm a label checking pro these days! Milk is hidden in so much stuff.

Oh and reflux babies aren't always sick - babies with silent reflux swallow it back down - burning their throats with tummy acid on the way up and down! So don't be fobbed off by HCP who insist only exorcist pukers have reflux. Silent reflux can actually be worse.

Yep mrsb clots are normal. Wish someone had told me! Anything bigger than a golf ball is worth getting looked at. Mine came for 2 weeks - worse if you overdo it too in my experience. Oh the glamour. Still numb too in a horrible 'can still feel it ' way.

claire i still get twinges getting out of bed now. It's loads better and I don't need 500 pillows anymore but if I go too fast it pulls.

I'm taking my parents to the pool today - anyone know if it's too early to take the baby to dip her feet in? She's had tetanus diptheria whooping cough jab and the pool's non chlorinated thermal water. I was just going to throw her in but a friend looked at me like I said I was taking her drinking.

Violet is a week old today. We are going to give her first bath tonight. I hope she doesn't hate it!
Here's my birth story for anyone interested.
Week before the birth I had protein in my urine so i had to do a 24 hr urine collection this also came back abnormal and can indicate preeclampsia so I had to see the consultant the same day my bp was still normal at this point. I saw the cons who recommended induction on my due date but then took my Bp which had gone up to 155/96 so said forgot that I want you induced upstairs and dot want you to leave the hospital! Although disappointed as I had wanted a water birth in birth centre I agreed with her I know how quickly things can change with pet.
Upstairs I had the first gel had some Minor tightenings though on monitor they looked quite convincing and regular so 6 hours later I was re examined was 1cm still not able to have waters broken and couldn't have another gel as too many tightenings so off to mobilise, nothing was happening. 4 hours later re examined and 2cm and able to have waters broken now so moved to labour ward. Having waters broken while only 2cm was very uncomfortable so I used entonox to help me through it, I was sent to mobilise for 2 hours to see if contractions started.
Nothing but a few minor tightenings so dr came in and consented for syntocinon drip.

2 hours later I was contracting regularly and had started to need entonox to cope was also feeling some rectal pressure so midwife examined I was 3cm baby in op position.

2 hours later contractions becoming unbearable I started to freak out and ask for epidural (was going through transition) there was a shift change of mws I was sad to see my mw go as she had come in especially to look after me but had been with me since 2pm the previous day. Luckily I knew the next mw too and knew I was in good hands.

Baby's heartbeat started to dip so mw wanted to put a fetal scalp electrode on to baby to pick up heartbeat Better. I agreed as I wanted to know how dilated I was now as if I wasn't close I had decided on epidural. I was 5cm so told mw I wanted epidural however 2 minutes later I felt overwhelming pressure and needed to push. Mw said slow down I can see the head and guided me so slowly though the pushing I didn't have any tears or even a graze ad only lost less than 100ml of blood. Baby was placed on me I was so shocked it took me a while to process it all (was also very high from the gas and air)

All in all although it wasn't the birth experience I had planned it was a good experience, I managed to have one if my babies without an epidural which is something I really wanted to experience as this is my last child.

Sorry ive not been keeping up with the thread I had a DVT scare last week and ended up in hospital lots of tests and later got the all clear but its given me awful anxiety that im hoping will go away on its own.

Hows everyones nipples? I remember someone had else had cracks have they healed? My left nipples been cracked for three weeks now and shows no sign of healing the doc said it just looks like a crack no sign of infection or thrush and offered anti bs just incase but im not sure if I should take them?

And congrats to all the new Mummys and Daddys that ive missed announcing :)

Thanks that's reassuring. It was probably the size of a ping pong ball but it was a bit frightening!
The numbness is really weird as it's it's where I need to hold it up to let the wound get some air but it feels so so strange.
Dylan is quite a sick baby but I think it's more to do with the fact he's a guzzler! He has been cluster feeding like crazy since we got home yesterday and we're pretty shattered after a night of it last night! Today my mum suggested swaddling him and since then we haven't heard a peep out him, it's been over an hour and there is no sign of him stirring yet. I'm hoping this means a really good feed when he wakes up and not the 15minutes here and there he's been having since yesterday. My poor boobs don't know is they're coming or going lol.

Mrs, my overhang bit is still puffy and numb. MW said it could be ages before the nerves come back in that bit of skin.

omg post csection constipation sufferer here today. Ouch!