November 2014 - newborn thread!

[Greenstone]

Welcome to all the November 2014 babies! Let all the post partum rejoicing and angst begin...

Congrats Toni!! Great to see you here. The first night at home is not easy but you'll make it through and everything seems better in daylight!

congrats toniwol I found 1st night at home easier than hospital because there's no one elae to worry about and the support from dp made all the differencem Hope it goes ok.

anna immense respect!! I didn't even make it into the shower until 3.30 this afternoon!!

moggle you could be writing about me!! Now my milk is in at least there are fewer (but longer) feeds. I did 2 hand expressions and did 2 feeds from a cup for dd to give nips a break. Mw said it wasn't a long term solution but actually the break really helped (and she didn't give me any other suggestions). I've done another just in case of emergency that's in the fridge and I got a syringe for any future need. I can't offer any other advice but I can definitely sympathise

Can I ask how much you expressed, lady? Did it seem to be enough for a feed? Am thinking of expressing for feeding at awkward times in a couple of weeks once BF is fully established, but don't know where to start on quantity, storage, delivery method etc!!

Thanks ladydolly I have been wondering about trying that as I do seem to have a good amount of milk. It has been bearable just as she was only feeding off one side each time, but today she's wanted both so the cracks have been opened up twice as often :-(
I was hoping to wait until 4 wks to start expressing and introducing an occasional bottle but not sure my nipples can wait that long! Interested to hear thoughts though like twig. The counsellor at the bf cafe suggested expressing about an hour after a feed, from the other breast, so it has a chance to replenish before doing the next feed as normal. The thing I need clarity on is how you work the expressed feed in - ideally DH would do it as a night feed so i could get a stretch of sleep, but then do I have to express at the usual missing feed time in which case what's the point?! Or can my boobs deal with the odd night like this?

I fed her from both and then expressed from both about 10 minutes later and got about 20mls which didn't empty by boobs but, I have ALOT of milk and have done from the start. Should be enough for a whole feed. The previous times I did it only once did I solely give that, the other 2 were top ups. She's a big and hungry baby and the early colostrum cluster feeds were killing me.
I gave them in the night to keep her fuller, longer and I gave them. The plan with the emergency one now is for dp to give it by syringe if we're having a tough night. I want to avoid a bottle for a few more weeks but then I'll def be expressing so dp can help out!!

I've kind of done this based on my instinct on what's right and what I did in hospital, nor sure all midwives would agree?

Congratulations toni!

When I was trying to get ds1 to take a bottle of ebm I used to express from one side at the same time as feeding from the other, as it made let down really easy. He never did take to it though, so gave up in the end. Will try again with A just because it would be helpful, and nice for dh.

I have a question about c section recovery - when can you start with bio oil and/or other scar reduction treatment? I've used the silicone scar pads in the past for something else but the scar from this is right down in my bikini area so hair growth might impede a silicone pad sticking. Don't want to jump the gun though.

Took only half the normal painkillers this afternoon, to see how it goes. Am already thinking I may regret that in the morning.

Utopian I stupidly missed a dose of parapet yesterday's was feeling fine n thought ahh it's only paracetamol doesn't do alot - mistake I still need it. I am 5 days post OP.

Sleeping no better tonight thinking poss wind/mild reflux so may buy some infacol tommorow as wakes 10mins after being laid flat in crib n seems windy n in discomfort

Just going to get it out there... DP driving me round the bend at the moment.

ARGH!

That feels better.

Maybe we need infacol too - DD also wakes minutes after being laid down and looks uncomfortable/ in pain. I don't remember that from DD1. I'm sure the antibiotics arn't helping either. She hates them. She has to have it 4 times a day. If we give it just before a feed she refuses milk, if we give it just after a feed she is sick, she is asleep most of the rest of the time. She even seems uncomfortable when we hold her upright now. We did wonder if she had mild reflux before she started antibiotics.
My baby is a whole month old today!

moggle sounds like you need nipple snields. Apologies if you're still using them.

WRT expressing. You just have to be an opportunist about when is best to do it, and the first time is the trickiest especially if they're cluster feeding & yr boobs are always in use.

Basically, to start off do it in the morning off the boob they didn't have. Your supply is much bigger in the morning. Pop it in the fridge & it keeps for about 4 days.

Then of course when you feed them the EBM your boobs feel like they're going to explode & you express then. After my "do" yesterday baby was full but I had to express for my own comfort. I got 120ml I was so full!

Thanks guys. We did have a better nights sleep last night because DH was able to entertain her for a while and she didn't stay awake for a five hour stint like yesterday. Have had the midwife round as well as the boiler engineer (our thermostat isn't connected, the timer doesn't work and we don't have any way of knowing what temperature we're asking it to produce, so he's going to fit us a portable, digital thermostat/timer). Appointment to register her this afternoon and we need to pop to get a few things as well.

Silly clothing question. My 2 week old is in tiny baby clothes and has been bought lots of tiny sized dresses. Problem is, all the tights that come with them are 0-3 months size and are huge on her. Mothercare don't sell tiny baby tights which kind of means these dresses are going unworn. Any ideas?

Leggings with socks? Don't know much about tiny baby as I have a big lump!

Belly - I would personally charity shop those dresses, tiny babies do not mix with dresses and tights or structured outfits in general imo!but i am a bit mean like that

It is hard to see lovely new clothes go unworn though, I agree.

Can anyone recommend a sling that is actually easy to put on? ! I have the kari me that I had last time, it's brilliant once it's actually on and the baby is in it but.i can't remember how to.do the ties quickly so there I am squinting at instructions on my phone while dd loses her shit and I'm sweating all over! Is there anything I can put on quickly?

Greenstone I have also come on to ask about slings after utopian suggested the other day that they are the answer to my velcro-baby problem (unable to do any housework/ playing with DD1/ anything that requires more than one hand). I had considered getting one when pregnant, as I thought it would be easier to do things with DD1, especially playing in the woods that aren't accessible with a pram, and my friend who is a sling/ babywearing consultant recommended close caboo carrier to meet my requirements of not being difficult to put on and get baby in and would fit both very short me and very tall DH. I am currently browsing them on ebay, as we don't really have the money, and wondering if we could ask people to buy one for DD2 for an early Christmas present as she obviously doesn't need anything for Christmas!
Do you have a sling library near you where you can try them out before spending lots of money?

Just looked them up happy - they do look like a good choice and I'm also short with a tall dh! Asking for an early Christmas present is a great idea.
Dd 2 is finally calmed down enough to go in the kari me where she went out like a light..you definitely need some kind of sling otherwise you'll go mad!
Dd1 is watching too much telly but I'm just going to go with it for a few weeks, it won't be forever.

I have a Moby Wrap which is not the quickest to put on at first but pretty easy once you get the hang of it. I like it because it's soft enough to be very comfortable but still supportive for DD and keeps her snuggled in close. She seems very content in it too. I have a structured carrier waiting in the wings for when she's a bit bigger too but she's not going to be big enough for a good couple of weeks at best guess!

Dammit, it appears that Colic has reared its ugly head. We have random hours of terrible screaming & distress.

I have been Googling like a madwoman for any and all solutions & some of them are working. Baby is sleeping right now on his side, with a dummy.

DH on the other hand, is completely traumitised by the screeching. We've had two weeks of the most placid baby ever, so he's freaking out a bit. It isn't helped by me saying "Oh it should be over in a couple of months" Not what he wants to hear!

bellyrub - maybe just put a sleepsuit underneath the dresses? I totally agree- DD is not in tiny baby but is only low 7lber still- I bought some 0-3m toghts and she will be like Nora batty in them! Also, H&M sell footed leggings which come in all their baby sizes, they might work...

Had a much better night last night- just kept offering her the boob and after an hour long feed at midnight she slept next to me in bed for 6 hours! Had another big feed and another 3 hours asleep. Today has been much better too thanks to managing some sleep- one nipple is almost completely healed and so I'm sure the other will follow in time. Who knows what tomorrow will be like but today was OK...

The screaming is hard. Dd takes in a lot of air when she feeds and is in pain almost straight away she was screeching so much this eve that we just put her in a warm bath to see if that would turn her off! It did but then there were more hysterics and pukes afterwards. Poor thing, just have to keep her as upright as possible.

Sounds like you had a great my improved night moggle. Am feeling the sleep deprivation today I must say.

So I'm marking my place in the sleep deprivation club...Managed to get organised to get out of the house this morning to go along to a breastfeeding support group, which is a good half hour car journey away, only to find it's actually on a Thursday doh! I went last week as well just have no idea what day it is Had to laugh it off with the lady when I got there otherwise think i'd have cried!

Hoping tomorrow will be a better day as off to the clinic to see how much little man has put on weight wise. Still in a lot of pain on my left side (whole boob was rock solid and tender this morning I had to take some paracetamol so hoping I've not got an infection to top things off !) xx

Oh the screaming, sympathy for those with colicky babies.

Difficult night, just 2 hours sleep despite amazing help from dp. Midwife came today and we're going to try a few things, more light during the day and dark at night, longer feeds before switching sides, less fruit for me (been snacking on grapes which could be giving did more wind/straining poops). I also mentioned I thought she might have oral thrush and she agreed, doc confirmed this afternoon. Poor wee thing.

twiglet Hope the irritation has passed ??

mamalloyd Sorry I can't rmember what day you're at but I was taking max dose of both paracetamol and ibuprofen for a good few days while my milk came in as the engorgement was so painful. It did pass though, no infection- I was constantly checking for signs of mastitis though.
Nipple crack has opened up again :-( I don't really see how it can heal- they are right around the base, so they start to heal while in my bra as nips are squashed flat, but as soon as she feeds even with correct latch the nipple lengthens and the cracks reopen. Ah we'll get there!