November 2014 - newborn thread!

[Greenstone]

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

Does he take a dummy? Its been a godsend for us. Otherwise he'd be on the tit constantly, just for the sucking urge.

Try mix feeding before chucking completely. If its the afternoons when he's worst then why not give a full bottle then? Might quieten him and give you and your poor nipples a break. You could try him with one of those pre-made bottles which are handy. Then you may be able to bf at less fraught times of the day.

Fanjo Update: episiotomy is healed up perfectly (yaaaaaay!) - the pain is coming from granulated scar tissue just inside my vagina (booooo!)

I have an appt in 4 weeks with the Gynae doc, and if the pain is still there she'll apply silver nitrate to burn off the rough surface of the scar tissue so its smooth and not irritating me. She does hope the discomfort will just resolve in the meantime by itself. So do I! Massively hugely relieved its not worse.

Also she says I can have sex now. I'm to use Instillagel on the scar as it may be a bit sore, but not to be afraid of doing it as I'm all healed up. I waver between being really scared of it and absolutely DYING for a shag, lol. We've both been so bloody stressed it'd do us both the world of good. Maybe Christmas!

Lots of breastfeeding troubles on the thread today, hope you're all having an OK night. I used nipple shields and sheer pig headedness to make it through the first four months of feeding DD1. My nipples were bleeding and cracked most days, but slowly we weaned off the shields and than had a couple of years of feeding happily! It's so much easier once the pain goes and you can just whip a boob out anywhere. I remember screamin into a pillow and curling my toes for every feed. She has a posterior tongue tie which no-one spotted so it's always worth getting a second opinion if the pain is really bad.

DD2 is 3 days old and slowly learning about day and night, after her first 3 nights of waking loads tonight she is sleeping much better. Might be a coincidence but it's the first night we have properly co-slept. I kicked hubby out the bed so we had more room and it's much easier!

Fennel and Camomile teas are good for boosting supply. The fennel helps reduce wind in baby as well.

After having a bit of a meltdown through worry that MiniWol wasn't feeding enough on Tuesday night, she obviously heard me as she's been waking up regularly since. We were even able to manage a bus trip to town for an NCT meet-up yesterday. Fingers crossed she's gained again at today's weigh in.

We still need to work out the changing lark as well. We keep changing her at the point she's doing something else, so end up using multiple nappies.

Good to hear you managed to wean off nipple shields after 4 months, hedgehogsong. I'm using shields this time around as I gave up on BF at 6 weeks with DS because the pain was unbearable and I'd been scared off using shields by midwife saying it was only a stopgap and would harm my supply. Total BS as it turns out!

This time around I decided I wasn't going to make the perfect the enemy of the good and just do whatever I needed to do to make sure I could EBF - and now at 6weeks nearly I'm using shields and supply is fine! I would like to get rid of the shields eventually though so good to know it's possible.

Oh and by way of introduction, I'm a lurker here! I was on the November antenatal club thread but have name changed since then. Had DD on November 1st (although she was due on Nov 10th) and have DS, who is 3, already.

He doesn't take a dummy, I've put off using one as everyone has warned me off. My right boob doesn't seem to satisfy him but his latch is perfect, no pain whatsoever. My left has gallons of milk but it's agony when he latched on. I can only breastfeed pain free from that breast in one position (lying down) which isn't at all convenient, so my issue is definitely positioning based. Might revisit the breastfeeding clinic again for some more advice. Early evening around 5/6 is when he's at his most frantic so I might start his night time bottles earlier.

Oh yeah, congrats to all the new mummies. Sorry I missed you during my melt down earlier.

Breastfeeding woes here too! DD has been having a bottle of EBM when I leave her with my DM or DP so I can go and do horse stuff. Since she's had the bottles though she has started to nipple latch on the breast again. It could just be coincidence, but even though I take her off and relatch when it's too shallow my poor nips are bruised and sore!

Also have co slept the last 2 nights now as she's so windy, sleeping in with me is the only thing that soothes her enough for her to sleep, poor lamb. Still using the Infacol and bought some gripe water yesterday to try as well. Getting desperate! It's horrible to hear her scream and obviously be in pain and not be able to really help her. It also makes her suddenly scrunch up mid feed, so my poor nipples get yanked around when she throws her head right back. Ouch!

Congratulations, ark and hedgehog! Wow, all the babies are finally here I washed DDs Christmas outfits (she's been given four!!) yesterday and that is the full extent of my Christmas prep so far, other than making the cake which I did while still pregnant! Eek!

WorkFree try the dummy. We've started using one here for when dd is full but won't settle or for car journeys. As long as they're not used to skip feeds or anything they're great. I never used one with my first who was high maintenance but so far no.2 is even worse. I just had a bit of an epiphany about it though - I mean why make life unnecessarily hard when there's no need and a small baby could be comforted? Whichever way you end up feeding try to remember that there's nothing else to do at this stage but feed the baby and get through the day. I would like to say that I can take this advice myself - I'm trying to lower my standards wrt the house work and all that but it's hard to let it all go. Am definitely going to book a weekly cleaner for after Christmas.
Welcome Jackie!

Anyone else's baby cry in their sleep? DD does it a lot and I don't know what to do - so far I'm just leaving her to settle back to sleep, and if she carries on or opens her eyes I get her up, but should I be doing something else? This morning she started crying for a feed at 6.30 so I got her out of her bednest but she wouldn't wake properly and didn't feed in the end until 9am! I could've slept another 2.5 hrs! Has put us all out of whack today so I think we're just going to veg out at home all day.

Sad day - have made decision that our wonderful beloved doggy needs to be rehomed. I don't think I've mentioned it on here but she's been a nightmare since Baby arrived - basically seeing him as Prey, continually going for him. Sooner or later (prob sooner) Baby will get bitten on the face.

Talked to the Rescue we got her from originally - they said she needs to go pronto, such a strong prey drive can't be retrained & its far far far too dangerous for the baby.

My sister said she'd try her, but she has no experience with dogs & the Rescue is dubious it'll work out as Dog is a bit high maintenance at the best of times, being from a troubled background. If not, they'll rehome for us. Someone older, in the countryside.

Feel utterly devastated. This is the Dogs home! And she was our "baby" for years. What if she doesn't get all her cuddles elsewhere? Am racked with guilt for bringing a baby into her lovely warm safe world. Insane, I know.

Oh Anna. What a horrible decision to have to make. I completely sympathise with you. You are absolutely making the right decision for both you and her. She will be less stressed in an environment without children and people who rehome dogs do so for exactly the reason you rehomed her in the first place, to give her lots of love and a happy home. She was very lucky to find you, and she is very lucky that you care enough for her to make the toughest decision yet to make sure her happiness and security continues. My heart goes out to you. None of us knows how our fur babies are going to react when our lives change so much. We all dread having to make that decision, and you are so very brave to do it to ensure the continuing happiness and well being of all your family. Huge hugs coming your way. xx

Anna - that is a sad day. I am sure you have made the right decision but it doesn't make it any easier.

Nipple issues here too. They just hurt so much. All midwives etc have all told me latch is right so I am sure it is just toughening up but it stings so so badly when he first starts. It tends to settle down after the first 30 seconds or so but those 30 seconds feel like they last a lifetime. x

Sorry have not been back here since the baby was born. I've been struggling, with breastfeeding and slow recovery after labour and blood loss. Not dealing with lack of sleep well!

I'm still breastfeeding even though its taking up all my energy. Baby seems to be doing well on it which is why I keep going. I keep telling myself to see how it goes after the sixth week as I'm hoping it will be easier then.

Sadly just as I was coping better the baby caught a cold from my FIL. He lives with us and we've warned him about his hygiene and catching colds. He didnt listen and now the baby is poorly and we're back to having no sleep at night. Really angry with FIL.

About pain and breastfeeding, let down can be painful (first minute or so) but this should ease after a few weeks. If pain is persistent and latch is good, have baby checked for tongue tie.

Anna that is so sad, but I think you're so amazing doing the right thing for your dog and baby.

It was ages ago, but thanks to everyone for the green poo advice. Every hv had a different opinion, one of them just scared me! But after some boob advice I'm block feeding which is calming my supply and we now have some mustardy poo. (Tmi!?) Motherhood really changes people, I rang my husband to celebrate said poo success with him....

Sorry to hear all the nipple issues. I found it excruciating the first 2 weeks but not so bad now. They are checking my LO for tt which they mentioned can cause a lot of pain and cracked nipples. My left one dos crack and kind of heal a bit cracked which I think makes the let down harder for her to manage.

I hope some good sleep was had... Not here and she's now kipping on me .... Maybe I should have a scream to wake her?! X

Well done on your decision Annarose2014 - baby must come first.

Had a first this morning, woke up with a wet patch on the sheets from milk leaking! I'd not been using breast pads or wearing a sleep bra so far but I think it's reached that point!!! Yay! After doubts about my supply (thanks hospital for that ) it feels ace every time there's evidently enough or too much. Hooray for boobies! (name that band....)

Had DS2 3 weeks ago today and having a meltdown ?? was up all night bf Constantly between 1-3am and again 5-6 after going to bed at 12 cos he was feeding 10-12 and all evening. The night before I didn't sleep at all because DS1 had high temp and cough so was in bed with me awake all night. I've had hardly any bleeding this week and so been on slim pads but did walking and carrying 2 year old DS1 yesterday and today have woken in loads of pain and think my stitches have reopened with bright red blood coming out (sorry tmi). Phoned doctors who said go to A&E, phoned health visitor who said go back to delivery suite. I have no family nearby and friends are working or not answering their phone to look after DS1. I can't stop crying and am really worried about wound down there

Aw music that sounds really tough. Is there any way you can have a look with a mirror and see if external stitches are intact? Are you worried about internal stitches? If so maybe call a taxi to hospital and bundle all 3 of you in? DH an option? Whereabouts are you? You have options, just try to think through them and make a decision - it'll be easier when you have a plan.

Ah music you poor old thing. Good advice from amy - you can do this. If dh is within an hour's journey from you he basically needs to come home now or meet you at hospital. If not, get in a cab as suggested and in the hospital could you buy ds1 a shiny new magazine and some buttons to keep him quiet. And don't be afraid to buy a dummy for ds2 if you haven't already got one, desperate times etc. How are you now? Have you had yet?

And take some paracetamol.

Amy, Bloodhound Gang! Not that I had a misspent youth...

Plum, that made me laugh! I have to admit that I feel that temptation sometimes too...

Music, how crappy Hope you've found a resolution - definitely make sure you get checked out, if stitches have popped you might need to have straggly thread trimmed etc to make sure you don't get an irritating knot or something in the wrong place - I speak from experience on that front!

Anna, it's a horrible situation to be in but you're absolutely right. You'd feel awful if anything were to happen even in it was only a minor incident and the stress on you and the pupster in the current situation isn't fair to either of you. But knowing all that doesn't make it easier

Poor DD is on day 4 of terrible discomfort from trapped wind. She was up and down all night, when she did sleep it was on me again and has fallen asleep on me again now after a miserable morning. Have tried gripe water and Infacol, feeding upright, half an hour winding after each feed, tiger in the tree hold, jiggling, bicycle legs... At my wits end!

Wtf is tiger in the tree hold????

for twiglet for winning the name that band competition.

tiger in the tree - magic!! ( well, most of the time...)

Thank you all for your kind words.

Last night I brought the baby out to the travel cot in the kitchen to change the baby as there's a changing table on it - and the dog coiled her whole body up, made an enormous jump, and was within a hairs breadth of getting up there.

We've had a few near misses, she's even jumped into the pram on top of the baby - we were standing right there so we snatched her out immediately but it just shows how quick she is.

Another time I was walking through the kitchen and the dog jumped up & snapped the woolly cap off the babys head.

I know she HAS to go. She is out with the dog walker at present & it is literally the only time I feel safe to walk freely around my own house with the baby.

And yet then she looks up at me wagging her tail, all goofy and adorable and full of trust and wanting to play and give me lots of sloppy doggy kisses and I feel like an utter shit.

My sisters husband has said no way can they take her - he doesn't trust her & he makes the valid point that I would never be able to bring the kid around their house for years. So she'll be going back to the Rescue Monday/Tuesday.

Oh that's so sad Anna poor old dog, its tough on her when she's just being a dog but the situation is pretty clear. Maybe it's better in a way that the dog is making her position known as opposed to it seeming okay and there being a sudden attack. Not sure what to say, it must be scary and heartrending in equal measures. The rescue people are great though and will find her somebody nice to go to.

Thank you for ur msgs x
Managed to get DH put of work meeting and got DS1 down for a sleep and made soup so I could catch up sleep. I had a lavender infused bath and we checked the stitches, the outside ones are definitely fine but there maybe a small hole inside, the blood is definitely coming from the inside and still stinging. Midwives aren't answering the phone so will try again to get hold of them to get them checked. Thanks for your suggestions.
It didn't help this morning that DS1 pulled DS2 out of his bouncer whilst I nipped to the loo and I found him on the wooden floor when I got back, he seems fine but can't even leave them in a room together for a minute and the HV just said get sleep in the day to make up for feeding frenzy at night but impossible with a 2 year old DS1 and no family nearby!

goodness anna sounds like you had no choice :(

music my heart goes out to you, sounds like you need a break and some good old fashioned tlc. Hope the logistics came together.

Yesterday dd cried/screamed from 3pm til 1am, the odd 5 minute nap or 5 minute feed but I was in tears on several ocassions. Dp gave up about 9pm, couldn't take it anymore.
Fastforward to today, she slept until 10 with 2 feeds in bed. We've been to town (our first trip out just the 2 of us) and she's now napping in her basket no less which she's refused the last few days. I feel such a sense of achievement!! (ha, I used to take hundreds of people overseas for conferences I organised and it was nbd, now I get myself and a baby to town and back and think I deserve a medal)