October 2014 // thread 2 // keeping each other company through the night feeds!

[sazzlehopes]

Hi all, welcome to thread 2!

Captain my motto for the first 4 months is 'everyone fed, nobody dead'.

Just to add, up until about 6 weeks ago we very rarely watched tv in the day. I feel bad that I'm relying on it so much now!!

Hi ladies. Thought it was about time to join you in the post natal thread. Dd born 20/10 weighing 9lb3. Totally in love, she has an adorable squeek

Have to thank you all for the sleep and feeding chat. Helped with some issues we had between 3-5 days. Now resolved as milk has come in.
Had some really bad nights sleep -1-2 hours max combined with DH having an allergic reaction with tongue swelling and not breathing in middle of night. Despite this would not change for the world and live watching dd sleep.

I have to shower each day and so far hair washed and dried each day and make up on. It does longer- time shower for when she's just fed then have to usually fed straight after as she won't last/ wait. My hair is curly so is easier to cry unless I want it blow dried. Make up us the hardest if baby wants to be in my arms- I fid buy some easy to apply products but they are not up to camouflaging lack of sleep, but do find its worth the application as geek so much better.

Binky I felt just the same for the last few weeks. I have same as you re stitches & piles, couldn't believe how hard it was to get up as stomach muscles vanished and couldn't lift or put E down without pain. As I struggled to bf (E has tongue tie) and express to try get my supply up dp seemed to be feeding her bottle top ups so well and I was getting jealous. He was enjoying this time and my physical struggles were making it hard for me to do the same.

Since going ff only i felt better. I also got sciatica but now not bf-ing i could have the good drugs! Not being in pain, today is the first time i have felt like a normal person. I know that doesn't fix anything for you but I hope it helps that you're not alone in it and that once some time has passed and your body has healed more it will get better. As others have said you mustn't be at your self up.

My stitches are such a mess now I've been referred to hospital to have them redone. Dread to think what a state it is down there. My notes used the word "gaping"

I think I may buy a sleepy head - wise purchase or am I just throwing money around as I'm so bloody tired?

Fed up for the day or night? We're using the ergo insert propped up on the couch so she's upright - its a godsend for daytime naps (I only use it when I'm in the room). Our nighttime sleep will likely be pants until she's on the best reflux meds (omeprazole), lying down for extended periods is painful for her until then. I know from last time I could buy all the sleep aids going but it was only once we got the reflux under control that we got good sleep. I then had a shitload of pointless and expensive sleep props .

Turns out the hair dryer nappy change trick entertains the toddler too!

In terms of TV we are watching more too! I try to read with him during BF but wouldn't get tea cooked without TV ATM. During the day I have a music channel on the TV so we dance and sing. He still thinks cbeebies is only on from 5.30-7pm. He has a short memory.

fedup - I am a massive Sleepyhead fan. DS still sleeps in his Grande version, now (for 8-36mnths)
As yet, this one is not converted, but she is a total velcro-baby at present, so putting her down is proving to be challenging (thank god for slings). We've managed increasing times she's in it, daily (up to about 20mins of nap, now) and she will sleep for 90mins or so at night in it, between feeds.

All I know fedup is that she only sleeps for any length of time in the sleepyhead or on us. Over 2 hours sleeping this morning with sleepyhead sitting on the beanbag compared to a max of 30 minutes so far in a moses basket. The poddlepod looks like a good option though, and cheaper. I'm thinking about getting one for daytime napping downstairs so I don't have tokeep carrying everything up and down.

fedup we've found it to be great. He sleeps in it until 4-5am and then comes in bed with me and cluster feeds until DD wakes up. It's a lot to spend (especially buying an extra cover which you kind of need to if you're going to wash it). However they sell on eBay for £50ish so if it doesn't work all is not lost. Also check out covers on eBay as well - although we splashed out as the first one was covered in vomit and we needed one ASAP. Let us know how you get on with gaviscon. I'm doing it when I can but it is a bit of a nightmare and I end up with most of it spat out in my face! We definitely get one dose down him in the nighttime bottle - the rest are hit and miss.

I'm feeling like super mum - managed to transfer him from boob to beanbag successfully (this never happens), carve a pumpkin with DD, tidy up, put dinner in oven (premade whilst pregnant) and sit down with a cuppa. Yes, Peppa Pig is on of course. I say rely on TV etc. as much as you need to right now, it won't be forever and you need to do whatever you can do get by.

I'm just using normal crib sheets stretched around - not the proper sheets. Far too expensive.

Smooshie me too! Hope you feel better soon. I'm gutted as I've only just finished antibiotics for the last lot of mastitis and ds has just about recovered from the upset stomach they caused, and now I'm back on them again.

Today was my first day on my own with ds and I managed to get up, dressed, hair straightened fairly easily but then got nothing done for the rest of the day. He wanted to be fed/held most of the morning and this afternoon was taken up with going to the doctors for my mastitis so that scuppered my plan of going for a walk to try out my new boba 4G.

I've ordered a toddlepod (went for the bigger one as ds is huge) for daytime naps now that ds is outgrowing his Moses basket.

London sorry to hear you've had a bit of a rubbish time too. After my whinge yesterday I felt a lot better. I had a huge cry on dh and told him all the things that were bothering me and he made me feel better about everything. Our afternoon walk was really needed too!

Hope it goes ok with your stitches, I'm hoping mine hold out.

I was looking at the sleepyhead for night sleeps. Hmm I don't know - surely if I just rolled up some towels it would have same effect?

Well te doctor prescribed me fluconazole for the thrush. Everywhere says you shouldnt take whilst bf. Anyone had it and taken it?

Ps London eeeek re 'gaping' stitches, got to admit that made me feel a little nauseous. Hope it's sorted soon and pain free for you

Naldo, doctor didn't give anything to R for the thrush bit I've since read he needs to be treated too even if no symptoms?

Thanks ladies, me too!

Glad to hear it binky. The midwife who swabbed my stitches originally (felt like she used glass not a cotton bud -still wince at the thought) said a good cry in the bath is the best remedy, much better to get it all out. I think she was right (though i would also make the case for bloody good painkillers!!)

I can't complain really, E is giving me a fairly easy time of things, which helps a lot, bless her. We have bednest fedup with the side mostly down so I can see/interpret any fussing. If she's spark out when she goes in it I sometimes put the side half up. Downstairs sleeping in the pram is working brilliantly, has to be in lounge anyway as no other space. I despised downstairs bathroom when I was pregnant and up through the night for numerous loo trips but now its fantastic, just wheel her pram into the bathroom & she sleeps whilst I bathe!

Fed up I had flucozanole for thrush in my breasts with dc1. My gp wouldn't prescribe them so I bought them over the counter (and via the Internet) - a 10 day course (one pill a day I think). V little is licensed for Bfing women but it was the only thing that shifted it. I would say your DS needs treating too as you sort of pass it back and forth (usually daktarin gel - I used to just coat my finger and let DS suck it off). I see that the Breastfeeding Network has now changed their advice to taking flucozanole ever other day for babies under 6 weeks (am vague on details so do Google it). The feeding section on Mumsnet also has great advice on thrush (eg hot wash all nursing bras, sheets etc) so check the archives. Once I started it then one side of cracked nipple cleared up quickly. The other side remained cracked and that was a staph infection and needed antibiotics (common after thrush has already cracked the nipples). Cleared up after that.

Sympathies to the mastitis sufferers. I had it when my milk came in and it was horrible! Remember to take probiotics and Greek yogurt and the like (helps avoid thrush which is common after antibiotics).

Hmm, does R maybe get the antibiotics via your milk fedup? Just guessing sorry don't know more to help. If not would def then baby & mum would both need treatment.

I went to the Drs the other day- he looked in E's mouth and said she had a bit of oral thrush but didn't give her anything. I'm not sure she had thrush, don't think I've got it either? I think she had a milky tongue from earlier feed.
London good luck with the stitches, hope you're not in too much discomfort.

Hefner I feel your pain,u mum warned me of the symptoms of mastitis so hopefully I've nipped it in the bud, fingers crossed it doesn't turn into a abscess ;(
Had a bit of a cry today and oh asked if I wanted to give little one a bottle. I'm gonna tough it out and keep on bf, I'm gonna demand round the clock foot rubs from the oh tho!
Hope you feel better soon Hefner x

Thanks flip do I need a prescription to get the gel for DS or can I buy it over the counter?

Does anyone else's baby look like they are wearing lip liner? R's are red round the outside and light pink / whitey in the middle. Normal?!?!

london I think that was the worry about the drug that it builds up to levels that are too high for baby but the elsewhere it says it's not enough to treat baby so who knows!!

Hi ladies, Moses basket lifting seems to have helped a bit thank you! We are having good sleeping nights and bad sleeping nights but I guess that is par for the course...

Fedup sorry, the gp prescribed me daktarin gel (but not the flucozanole) so I don't know if you can get it otc (and am no longer in the UK to check!). Check an online pharmacy - if you can buy it online then I presume you could buy otc.

Cool. Will do. Just annoying really as don't want to trek us three back to doctors tomorrow!

Just sat down to dinner ... "hello kitty" spagetti from a tin lovely jubbly a proper hearty meal for a sleep deprived person.. My energy levels will be through the roof tomorrow(!)