February '15 babies - appearing thick and fast!

[GeekyHybrid]

Our first thread on the 'other side'. And may all our soon to be mummies join us in this adventure through the early days of parenthood as we continue to share exciting times.

I had J weighed on Wednesday; 4 weeks and weighs 13lbs. He has now outgrown most 0-3 clothes. His sister was the same weight at 3 months!

Memphis i really hope your DS is better soon.

I'm on high dose tramadol and also paracetmol and ibuprofen on a constant cycle. Those painkillers mean I can just about walk a little bit but not a lot else. I'm bf so cant have anything more.

I keep being told contradictory information about it - MW said it should have gone or at least dramatically reduced by now but then osteopath said it can be a couple of months. Some professionals are telling me bf makes no difference to if and when it goes right, others are saying bf makes it last longer and stay a lot worse because of hormones.

If bf wasn't going well then I'd give it up in the hope that it would make the PGP better than it is now. But I don't think I can give it up when its going well with no way of knowing if it will make a difference to my PGP.

I spent last night crying because I'm terrified that its never going to get better and I can't be a proper mom with it. Even with the painkillers the pain is a serious struggle.

Just catching up...
Bang/honey we are struggling with bedtime too. Have decided best to keep DS with me while I sort DD out. I have been giving him a top & tail while she has a bath then he does have to cry a bit while I whizz her into pjs but then can feed him while she has milk/stories. She won't just go to sleep alone though so have to sit there feeding or holding DS which she finds a bit too interesting & keeps getting out the bed to look at him so whole thing takes bloody ages!
Why that sounds really tough. Is it worth seeing a physio as well as the osteopath? Is that possible for you?

Just popping in to say hello.

Sorry to hear that things are tough for some, I'm finding it hard managing two, especially bedtimes, little miss wants to be held all the time so there are points where both if them are crying, her because I've put her down and ds because he doesn't want to go to bed yet, bloody miserable, but at least I'm not alone

Just had six week check with hv, little miss is now 10lbs 3ozs, so must be doing something right

wow! so many things have happened since my last post.
catching up from me too;
why the consultant I saw for my elcs told me that SPD can continue till about 8 weeks after birth, so definitely be positive for now. Nobody ever mentioned anything about the connection between bf and SPD. Makes sense, but I don't really think they're 100% relevant.
memphis I really hope your LO is doing better today.
frenetic on DD I found that it helped a lot when I started expressing and giving her my milk measured in the evenings to make sure she was fed a lot before bed time. Also, (still with DD) I was letting her sleep anywhere else but her cot throughout the day (bouncer, pram, rocking chair, my arms), trying to make a point about night time and the difference between sleeping in the cot. I have to say though that she had to sleep after every feed for a bit as she would be quite agitated at nighttime.
bangles exactly the same is happening with my LO (he has a lad's bottom - so no bottom really, as opposed to DD that she had a nice, 'juicy' and easier to clean girl's bottom ). I've been using the fast wash on the washing machine every day now as all his nappies leak, we're out of babygros in no time and it's waking him up...Even though ASDA is a bit far away from us, I might give it a go too. Didn't realise that his bottom would be a problem! :) I do have size 2 nappies in the house, so I might try this first.
grinning while still at the hospital, I was pumping blood at the beginning and stopped in horror, but bf specialist and mw assured me that it was going to turn pink as I pumped (which happened) and even though we've got a blood incompatibility (ABO something), it was still fine to give it to him. Honestly try frozen cabbage leaves. Even though they didn't do the trick on DD, this time they worked wonders.

Have been expressing every 3 hours for the past week now (hard work, but I cannot go through the excruciating pain I have been the first week...). Not sure how long I'll last, but I've got loads of milk supply and I'll start expressing every 4 hours to get some sleep at night.

Thanks for the reminder about saline spray. LO has had a cold for a week now but I kept forgetting to get the spray and the last 2 nights sleep has been pretty non-existent. Fingers crossed for tonight.

So have waited in all day for the midwife to do her 9 day visit and do far nothing. Called the phone number I have for the community midwives before 5, but they appear to have clocked off early. Feeling pretty pee'd off. I actually needed to ask her about the large clots I have suddenly started passing overnight. I rang the labour ward (we can call them 28 days after the birth for any issues or queries) last night and they were concerned, but as my midwife was coming today were okay to leave it in her hands. Now I don't really know whether to be concerned or not. I'm pretty sure I don't have an infection down there, but the. They never actually told me why I lost so much blood at the birth even though I asked, and in any case I'm on antibiotics for the mastitis anyway. On the other hand DS needs to be weighed etc surely and formally handed over to the health visiting team. Is the midwife likely to just be too busy to even call me and will come tomorrow? Tomorrow I will either have visitors or be at my MILs because it's her birthday. DH will be also be at work. Today we were both at home and cleared the day for the Mw appt.

Plus just had a message left for me by a health visitor for Monday's appt. not the health visitor who was supposed to be MY health visitor for which they gave me a stupidly short notice appt for on at 9am on the first day back after Xmas, but a totally different person! I was told the whole point of the pre-birth appt was to meet your hv so you didn't have a stranger walk into your home when you had a newborn. I even liked her. What is the point?

Hope everyone is having a good say, after an exhausting day yesterday where he didn't want to be put down he then didn't settle until 6.30am, I have been up with him all night, I am too paranoid to sleep with him on me, he has been fussy all day for mum today only settle while being fed, walked or in car so she took him on a 2.5 hour walk he is asleep at the mo, we are having chippy tea then I have bought a magazine and having a soak .

I had a complete sobbing meltdown in the night feeling like a complete mess, I feel so awful for LO, I thought he couldnt breath, he was having a poo but was gasping for air as he strained......I am not suprised, it was massive, wonder how something that size can come from such a small boy. His breathing is a bit better today.

Glad DS is breathing better today memphis, enjoy your soak

Sorry grinning, that sounds shit. Did you have a time arranged? In my area it's a day 10 check. The new HV in my area that I met prenataly was lovely and she's just informed she's leaving - none of them ever seem to hang around! I started passing some pretty big clots from around day 6 they were the size of lemons when I rung labour ward they said big clots are normally ok as long as your bleeding remains the same so doesn't get heavier and you don't get any cramps. But still get them checked to be sure!

I'm feeling a bit prolapsy (such a word?!) it's so strange, it doesn't hurt just feels really uncomfortable. It feels like I've got something sat right there, almost like a tampon that isn't in all the way. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm too scared to check!

Also I braved taking both DD's to the regular toddler group this morning. Was quite successful so feeling a bit more confident each day

Bang that is great about the group well done not sure about feeling down below I think you may need to look

Grinning thats shit, in this area they work until 8pm, mine cane for 5 day check at 7pm after saying a morning visit. Call first thing and play hell I would also call mw unit about clots to be sure, I lost a massive one about a week after birth size of a satsuma and was told it was fine

I am feeling pretty rubbish this evening, didn't manage to sleep at all today, and barely got 10mins here and there last night.

I really hope the nights start improving soon, I'm in so much pain and utterly shattered.

Frenetic now my dh is back at work I do lions share of week time feeds but he totally takes over on weekends so I get at least one night of unbroken sleep even if it means him going to sitting room with moses basket would your dh do that? I am like a small child at the end of a week at school im so shattered and know I need a rest

another different midwife is coming tomorrow. Hopefully first thing. Apparently they had a lot of home births today, which I though could be the case. It wasn't that they couldn't come today, but that they didn't communicate with me until after 6pm and I wasn't able to get hold of or leave a message for them.

Thanks for your own experiences of clots. I'm not so worried now, but will still discuss them with the Mw tomorrow.

Has anyone else had an outbreak of acne? I have spot appearing all over my breasts and abdomen. They have only appeared since I started pumping and had a temperature, so I'm thinking a combo of hormones, sweat, and breast milk may be causing them?

I was spotty for first few weeks but its cleared up at last now. Think its all the raging hormones. Glad they go in touch at last.

Memphis I asked DH if he'd take over completely tomorrow night and he was all too happy. I've been doing a big chunk of the week as he's working but he's had to help me out a bit thanks to my slow recovery.

Bit of good news this afternoon actually, my iron levels are nearly back to normal after my latest bloods. Hurrah!

That's great re bloods frenetic!

I'm leaving baby for the first time today...DP is taking me out for lunch and a potter around town for my birthday which isn't until tomorrow but I want to spend the day with the girls then. MIL is coming here for a few hours - I'm relieved she's coming here as her house just isn't suitable for small babies.

First morning on my own with baby as DH has gone back to work. It's only the morning though and he will be back at 1pm. Feeling like it should be a bigger deal that it actually is. Since he left for work at 7.30 I have fed baby who is now asleep in the Moses basket, put a wash on as we are down to our last newborn sleepsuit, and eating breakfast which to be honest is only a banana. I am feeling very proactive, but now need a sit down. Next job is to express, get dressed, and await midwife.

Morning all,

Popping to say hello.

grinning sounds like you have it sorted. We're having pretty chilled start to the weekend too. Woke up at 8, DH did the nappy then had a bit of skin to skin with lo, then I fed her followed by a bit of playing around with her. Amazing how different they react even in 15 days. She's starting to like her bouncer more...hooray! Plus I quite like using the sling. Gives me free hands to potter around the house and tidy up.

whyO hope you're feeling better soon and can enjoy your little ones.

Frenetic did you manage to get a good night sleep?

memphis how's your lo?any improvement?

bang it's my bday tomorrow too! . We're both getting a massage...that was actually my pressie for DH who had his b'day 2 days after lo birth so a bit overshadowed as we were still in the hospital.

Oh forgot to say that I was sprayed by a poo in a spectacular way yesterday, thanks my lovely daughter! Thankfully my friend was visiting so had an extra pair of hands!

Are people introducing tummy time?

Have a good one and apologies for the long post.

I got a few hours sleep, MIL and SIL visiting today, get the feeling they'll insist we get some sleep as well which will be nice.

I think LO is constipated. I've tried tummy massage, cycling legs, Bath, but he's still straining and just passing tiny farts. Any ideas on how I can help?

So much to catch up on and I've only been busy for one day! memphis I hope Donnie's feeling better. frenetic glad your OH is stepping up for the weekend. grinning I also had ante-natal hv arranged 'urgently' (according to the them) last minute during my last week at work as it was 'so important to meet the person who'd be around post-natal' and of course my hv is a totally different person to the one I liked but wasted an entire morning waiting for when I could have been sorting things at work. Grrrr! Bang enjoy your pre birthday shopping.
So yesterday I call GP 1st thing and get 11.15 appointment re nipple bleb. Finally go in at 12 and he gives me antibiotics In the meantime MIL calls and says she's got nothing to do so can she pop on, so she comes for coffee before the appointment - I manage to sort the laundry whilst she has cuddles etc. After docs BIL was already booked in for lunch - poor bloke has now seen so much of my boobs, LO cluster fed all lunchtime plus 3 nappies in between! BIL shortchanged on cuddles. Then it was up to work for a leaving do, afternoon tea party, pub then tapas to be followed by more pubs! I left just after everyone was sitting down to tapas, LO had been passed around and cuddled by all who wanted by then and we were both knackered.
One bit of success, he cluster fed once home, completely drained he then took a bottle of expressed followed by an oz of formula We managed 2x 3 hour stints sleep last night So hoping we've turned a corner.
Sorry for the monster post, have a good weekend everyone, xx

Frenetic have you tried cooled boiled water? Half an oz makes Lo fill a nappy to the brim then he sleeps well after I presume from relief of being empty.

Geeky wow sounds like a bust day no wonder Lo slept better!

Think we have turned a corner with his illness, he was so fussy last night we all went bed at 10 and he slept until 1.30 then 5.30 then 8.15 feel human again and....I got my first smile this morning

Convinced I've been smiled at. It wasn't a big gassy lopsided grin, she was looking right at me, I was smiling til my cheeks ached, and she did two hesitant little smiles lle she was trying it out.

So had my last midwife appt. with a different Mw, her attitude towards the clots was summed up by " better out than in". I guess I can't fault that. She didn't take my temperature, bp, pulse, or feel my abdomen so thank god I feel ok this time. However she did weigh DS who at 10 days old is already back to birth weight.

sandulacek I tried DS with some tummy time yesterday- but I think he was hungry- he was resting on a cushion, I turned around, when I looked back he had launched himself over the cushion & landed on his face & sideways! Might try again when he is chilled & awake rather than desperately seeking milk!
Exciting for those having smiles!
For those with evening cluster feeding when did it start? I Remember I got a nice stint of sleep after cluster feeding with DD so kind of keen for it to kick in!