November 2014 - newborn thread!

[Greenstone]

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

[utopian99]

Grr just typed up a massive post and my phone ate it.
ds2 has a name - Auden Joshua. Dh, dm and ds1 came to visit this afternoon and ds1 seems quite taken with him!

[Kantha]

Cool name utopian.

Re Iron supplements. The other thing to be careful with is to avoid combining dairy or caffeine foods with the iron supplement. Ideally a couple of hours either side of taking the tablet. It can inhibit absorption in the same/opposite way vit c encourages it.

HV came to visit today. DD hasn't really gained any weight since the last weigh in on Monday when she had gained a little bit. Cue HV getting on the phone to the MWs at hospital and saying that they would probably want to readmit DD . MWs didn't want to readmit her. So HV then made me call up the GP for an appointment this afternoon. We saw a newish registrar who didn't look that comfortable on new born feeding habits and went out to consult with one of the practice partners. He sent me away with a prescription for anti-biotic cream for a slightly sticky looking umbilical cord and that was it. Then he called me back at home at 5pm because the HV had been on he phone to him and had clearly worried him that he had missed something. Nothing came of that except that he has covered his back I suppose.

So now I am back to wondering whether there is anything more I can do to encourage DD to feed more. She feeds loads but not round the clock and I think that the HV weighed her at the point in a 24 hour cycle where she had had a v sleepy morning and not fed much. Since being weighed she has been feeding/pooing/weeing just about constantly. I'm tired, zzz

[Lisad1975]

Will watch my dairy intake for sure!
Grace has had really uncomfortable wind this evening bless her . Infacol works on burps but not on bums i think .
She pops away like anything! Really thinking about using aptimil comfort milk at the mo .

[TwigletFiend]

Hello ladies, I'm joining you at last! Jasmine arrived in the early hours of yesterday morning after a frantic dive to get to the hospital on time

Hope everyone is getting on ok, we had some feeding issues to start with but managed to latch her myself on the last few goes so fingers crossed it stays that way!

[weeonion]

Congrats twig and baby jasmine. Looking forward to hearing birth story.

kantha - i had taken a break from breastfeeding directly due to soreness and her weight loss. For 2 days i pumped every 3 hrs and bottle fed. We had a slight weight gain which satisfied mw.
yesterday was 1st night trying boob again - not the best night as i have to wake her to feed sleepy baby.
do you have a sling and maybe have her in it for skin to skin??
yr hv seems a bit zealous???

[Kantha]

Thanks Weeonion. Glad the pumping helped and hopefully the nipples feel happier?

Last night I set an alarm to make sure she wasn't going more than 3 hours. She did manage to feed when I woke her, but not for very long. She is more interested in feeding this morning than she was yesterday, but doesn't have long feeds, just lots of consecutive small ones. I am trying to keep her on one side for a number of mini feeds in order to give her the hind milk (in theory).

I did have a sling but it's gone missing since I had DS2. Not sure if I leant it to someone or it's in the loft. I have the promise of a stretchy wrap sling from a friend down the road but didn't manage to meet up with her this week.

We have a MW appointment back at the hospital tomorrow to get discharged (or not realistically). So another weigh in then. I agree that the HV was being a bit heavy handed. What is frustrating me with the HCPs who have seen us since we got home is that we never see the same person twice. So far 3 community MWs, 1 HV, and 1 wet behind the ears GP. They all have their own set of scales, I have to re-explain the history with the stay in special care baby unit etc etc. Despite all the visits no-one really takes ownership for us so we get passed from one place to another.

Sorry to grumble. I think I am a bit tired.

[FTMK]

Moving over to here - birth story on antenatal thread. Kantha - I am in a really similar position to you - we had the suspected bowel obstruction and 24 hours NBM on SCBU leading to long hospital stay combined with traumatic birth for me and PPH of 2 litres and a transfusion of 2 litres means feeding has been rubbish. I am expressing 3 hourly to increase supply and feeding between 3 and 4 hourly which means he slightly more awake. Saw a fab lactation consultant in the hospital - after every midwife who came in shift had a different plan and I got stroppy about it paeds doc wrote a plan although feeding specialist said it was more luck than judgement he's got it right. We are topping up with 30ml of formula / expressed milk after every feed - I didn't want to but it was the only way to get out of hospital.

Lactation consultant has advocated switch feeding 2x on each breast. Chin nudging to remind sleepy baby to feed well and then with breast compression to increase flow when he starts flutter sucking and not drinking. My boobs are killing, as are my hands because I can't just latch and feed but he seems to be feeding more effectively rather than just comfort sucking. I am going to see her again at baby cafe next week. I felt so much better once I had proper advice - everyone had said latch was good, position good, no problems etc but no-one had looked at how effectively he was actually sucking. She says they can take some training into good feeding habits and it will get better ( although last night when he was giving feeding cues but wouldn't latch I was in tears!)

Recommended links from her are

//Www.breastfeedinginc.ca with video links to show what really good drinking, nibbling and cup feeding (for topups) should look like. There's also a breast compression explanation on there. Hope that epic post helps.

[Annarose2014]

Hello all, finally am here! Day 3 here.

He was born late at night & we were discharged by the next afternoon as the hospital has an early discharge scheme where you get MW visits for 4 days in a row at home instead and I preferred that. Yesterday was her first visit and we did latching. Today she taught us how to give baby a bath!

Birth was ventouse with episiotomy and so far my biggest problem has been my poor perineum which is very bruised and swollen. I'm sitting down a bit better today but its still a killer.

Anyway baby is feeding like a champ, I'm really suprised. Every 2.5/3 hrs is what I'm aiming for, we're managing about half an hour on average which I'm happy with. Lots of wet nappies.

Afterpains are shocking! Not just during feeding but even when baby cries! And they're in my cervix/inner thighs too. Did any of you have that?

[Kantha]

Welcome to the other side Anna and FTMK!

Thanks for your post FTMK. That's really helpful information and has cheered me up as it confirmed that I am doing a reasonable job given the circumstances.

I got called this afternoon by a community MW who had been called by the zealous HV. The MW was great. Asked lots of detailed questions and seemed very level headed rather than alarmist. The good news is that she is holding tomorrow's discharge clinic so I will see her tomorrow for a weigh in. She has said she will observe a feed. Fingers crossed for a good outcome.

[moggle]

Hey there, another one joining you over here. Our little girl Eliza was born on Wednesday morning. Generally a great labour as the latent part completely passed me by and was only aware I was in labour for about 9 hrs. By the time we got to hosp I was 8cm dilated. Another one here with ventouse and episiotomy as she turned back to back at the end - annarose my undercarriage is very tender too. Felt so much better this morning but during the day gravity really takes it's toll!
She seems to know what she is doing with latching on although the first mega feed after birth she wasn't on right which has caused a lot of soreness , but now she seems to have the knack. Boobs are ginormous tonight so assume milk is on its way.

Just come up to bed for a sleep while DH holds her- she doesn't like the Moses basket or bednest yet (can't blame her!) so last night was a bit tricky. Managed to get some sleep eventually by kicking DH out and bed sharing with her. She even had a crack at feedingwith me laying down, what a star. Then DH came and took her in the morning so got a couple of 2 hr stints between feeds. Just need to double check the safety rules re bedsharing so off to Google now.
Anyway night night all!!

[TwigletFiend]

Evening ladies, nice to see more of us here! First night at home is proving a bit fraught - having not pooed since meconium during delivery, Jazzy has finally pooed this evening and now she can't seem to stop! 4 poos during a single bum change! finally got her clean and now having a feed before bed. Nips rather sore, hoping its normal and not indicating a problem with latch. After pains also pretty killer here, only on my belly though. My 5 stitches and grazes are swollen and sore, so sympathy for those whose lady parts suffered even greater indignities!

Jazzy finally looks like she's settling down. Fingers crossed for a poo free reasonable night!

[FTMK]

Well despite all that advice kantha we are back to same weight loss having lost the 60 g we'd put on over the last 2 days. MW wants us on up to 60ml topup and can only expres 15ml at most. So more formula. She's coming back to weigh again tomorrow. Feeling v rubbish and like I can't do it at the mo and that I'm letting him down. Have tried really hard to express 3 hourly and wake him to feed 3 hourly, as well as eat more and drink plenty today. He also hasn't opened bowels again for over 48 hrs - went 48 + in hospital after X-rays were cleared, he's not vomiting and his stomach is soft and not sore. Despite this and the parades consultant being happy enough and saying some bf babies can go up to 10 days, I am worrying again, esp as MW raised her eyebrows. She's going to ring the leads team tmro if he doesn't start going in he right direction. Not sure if we're keeping him warm enough as we have to strip him to feed and I worry he's using too many calories compared to what he's taking in.

Good luck.

[Kantha]

FTMK, sorry to hear that the weight didn't stay on . And sorry too that you are feeling rubbish in yourself. I have been feeling similar on and off today as well. Rationally I know I am doing all that I can. Irrationally I feel like a faulty milking machine. Let's hope things are better for both babies in the morning.

[Kantha]

Waves hello to Moggle too.

[TwigletFiend]

So, still not settled here. Every time I put her down she screams. Boobs hurt from nearly 2 hours on/off feeding, near to tears because I'm so sore and tired. I really hope this doesn't set the tone for my parenting career.

[TwigletFiend]

Still awake. Now past the point of tears and in a resigned kind of fog. No idea what I'm doing wrong, but my stitches are swollen and in agony from sitting up to feed for so long. Think she must not be latched on properly because she's been feeding on and off since 10 without more than a 20 minute break. Ladies, I have officially hit Rock bottom.

[Annarose2014]

Don't worry, I'm the same. Fed from 9.30 - 1am, then stuck a dummy in his mouth & got an hour. Now feeding again. Its going to be a looooong night.

I'm hoping this is the famous grim night people talk about & its a transition to full milk thing. Am approaching it like a night shift. Going through Lanisoh like mad!

[TwigletFiend]

My nipples are so sore, though they look normal when she unlatches. Hard to know how much pain is normal and how much indicates a latch issue. Fingers crossed your DS settles soon, Anna. Nice to know I'm not alone!

[moggle]

So tough! No settling here either unless it's on one of us. Tried lying safely with her but even right next to me, she wouldn't lie still so I couldn't sleep anyway. Resorted to lying on my back with her on my tummy, following all the other rules for bedsharing, managed to sleep for half an hour that way before she started rooting. I keep trying to tell myself that it's such a big thing to expect them to suddenly be happy sleeping flat on their backs after being scrunched up for 9 m. DD has such impressive froggy legs.
Milk is def coming in though, gave a squeeze just now and the drops are white now, plus my norks are soo tender. I'm going through so much water yet still my last few wees have been so small, my boobs must be using tons.

Twig any local support groups for bf for you? I'm hoping to get to our baby cafe on Monday to get some ideas and feedback on her latch. Mine are so sore at the start of a feed but after that it's bearable but still sensitive. It is a good sign your nipples are coming out normal shape after a feed. I had awful lipstick nipple after her first one and it's taken 2 days of better feeds to get it looking vaguely normal again. Another one worshipping at the altar of lansinoh

[Annarose2014]

moggle have you tried her lying next to you in her side with a rolled up blanket behind her back? And you on side too so tummy to tummy?

Thats how the midwves in the hospital put us.

Now I've got him in a Clevamama Sleep Positioner between our pillows & he's tolerating that thank goodness. It was a gift i was a bit bemused by - eating my words!

[TwigletFiend]

Well, I'm alive and so is DD, so that's a start. She's been asleep about 2 hours now, I've managed probably one hour through the whole of the night. Desperate for DP to wake up and take her now!

Glad your milk is in moggle. How are you feeling now Anna, hope DS is still happy in your sleep thingy? Am making a note to google search it later as am so effing tired I'll forget otherwise.

Nips feeling a bit battered this morning after mammoth feed a thon overnight. No signs of milk here yet either.

[Greenstone]

Twiglet is this her 2nd night? They're famously hideous on night 2. Get latch checked and double checked as much as possible but remember that your body hasn't done this before so there will be some pain at first. It's easier when milk comes in as there's more of a flow around your nips. Hang in there, this is hard hard hard.

Really sorry about continued weight issues kantha and FTMK. Bf babies can go a long time between poos but in the newborn days you do want to be seeing several poos a day. We had similar issue with dd on day 4 and ended up giving formula to flush some poos through as my milk still wasn't in.

Happy to say that she's gaining brilliantly at last on boob alone. Not quite back at her birth weight at 2 weeks but not far off. I'm so relieved because by day she has been on the boob almost every hour or 1.5 hours so she was really working up my supply which now appears to be huge. My personal experience (from 2 babies now with weight loss issues!).is that MWs and doctors will say feed every 3 hours but the reality is that at least every 2 hours is more like the minimum needed to get weight up. It's crap. I know!

Moggle we have a side car cot but so far dd has mostly just been in our bed. not really where I want her but she settles the easiest there and everyone gets more sleep. I see they are talking about a 'sleepyhead' cot insert in the October thread, I might need to investigate...

[moggle]

Annarose that position works for her but it takes me a long time to drift off with her snuffling and occasional grabbing my boobs :-) it'll be a race to see whether I get used to her noises or she gets used to her bednest first!
Just woken with her on my tummy again, might've got 45 mins sleep this time. time for a feed and then will go wake DH in spare room. Yesterday he got up with her about 6ish and had her til 11 while I got two lots of proper deep sleep around a feed. Really hoping it works today again!

[Greenstone]

X post, Anna ' s thing sounds good too!

[Annarose2014]

I got 2.5 hrs sleep Twiglet & now we seem to be needing to feed a lot again. Pretty happy with that!

I know he needs to poo too as he hasn't gone since the meconium the night before last. He's farting constantly but no poo! I feel sure that would help as he's arching his back a lot.