July 2015 - the very beginning, what's going on!!

[MissTwister]

Hi all

I couldn't see a July 2015 thread so thought I'd start one. My daughter was born on the 6th and the last two weeks have been fun and tiring - with not much sleep!

Anyone else around?

X

I had same problem no time given then 1 called just as we were going out. Next visit i said (more than once) can they avoid x time (1hr) as we have a meeting with nursery. But no they turned up in that hr. But then worried about my privacy :)
They then booked (without asking) me to go to next village for last appt, dont have the car and 2dc on the bus.. But were luckily good about me changing it to the antenatal clinic for the following day. Even if i could have driven, so much better to be able to walk there/ and at least 30mins less journey.

I miss them after having been waited on hand and foot in hospital. Though you are right they always turn up at an inconvenient moment - usually 10 minutes after you've got them to sleep and they want to do a heel prick! Our poor LO had to have a second prick because the first one did not produce enough blood. Bless her!

My MWs seemed to want the least amount of visits possible. We had 2 and I had to demand the 3rd as baby had jaundice and I wanted to check it had gone - they were all for leaving it!

Ours insisted on an extra appointment because of jaundice, it's strange how much things vary from area to area.

Just checking in to catch up on everyone's babies and to let you know how things are going with my little girl. She is 3 weeks on Thursday 30th July.

We've had some wobbles with breastfeeding, but everything going ok now thank goodness. LO is sleeping well until about 4pm to 8pm when she tends to scream constantly and not settle. At night she is going 2 hours between feeds which feels manageable.

The biggest issue we've had is wind and lack of poo. Since she was born she has only done 3 poos. She is in a lot of pain and discomfort with it, hence the evening screaming. Does anyone have any advice? Doctor and hospital have been pretty useless just saying it's normal. We are winding her as much as possible except at night cause I don't want to wake her up!

To add to midwifes, I had one turn up unexpected today. Apparently day 10 is weigh and discharge. We hadn't been taken off the list as I was expecting a weigh tomorrow. But since she was here she weighed him and he's put on 40g in 24hours so she was happy to discharge. Wonder if we're still on tomorrow's lists??
Misstwister as soon as I mentioned him looking a little jaundice mw took his blood, she said even if they only have a very slight colour they now have to test. They then retest after 24hours. I'd be really unhappy if they didn't seem to acknowledge it.

luckystar Nice to hear from you Yes we are 'enjoying' the evening unsettled time. It usually starts some time after 6pm and stops by midnight. Thankfully it's not usually 6 hours every day!

We are still trying to get the latch prefect so my nipple don't get so sore. I've spoken to to 2 NCT counsellors and been to a support group today. All very helpful, seemingly, but when it comes to actually getting their advice to work, I just don't seem to be getting it. For the last few days I've been expressing, giving a medium sized bottle to start each feed and then finishing it off with some bresst. No apparent nipple confusion as far as I can tell. It's the only way to give my nipples time to heal.

Another worry is feed intervals. Generally LO will happily do only 7-8 feeds a day including some 4-hour gaps. If she sleeps that long I have to wake her up. The number of nappies is good though and at last weigh-in she had put on weight. But I know things can change so quickly. Am I the only one with a baby they likes long feeds and big feed intervals?

Small that sounds fantastic and what you are aiming for ultimately. I wish I could get mine to do that, she feeds little and often which is a pain with a toddler, especially when we are out and about. If they are putting on weight I really doubt there is anything to worry about.

Thanks purple All the midwives at the
Hospital and the literature says they should be feeding 8-12 times a day and not let them go more than 4 hours between feeds. When we were in I let her sleep overnight and she got jaundice. So I'm really confused about whether it's OK. I still wake her up for a feed if she's still asleep after 4 hours as per the guidelines.

Hello could I possibly join the thread? I recognise a few here from conception / pg boards waves. My baby boy, first baby, was born on Thursday 23rd. He's sleeping lots (actually hard to wake for feeds) and have had a few engorgement issues. Sleep deprived but loving having him here!

Hi all. Thought I'd drop in and join you all. Lovely to see so many of you here on this side

Baby broody was born on Saturday afternoon and she's been sleeping, chewing my nips off feeding and pooing ever since. Already a very noticeable difference in character from our dd at this stage, so very much looking forward to seeing how things pan out over the next few months. please let her be a sleeper!!

Welcome broody so nice to see you on the other side! I'm loving having the LO finally here but am already full of about 1000 questions, being on this thread is reassuring me already. Also - who knew that some newborns basically sleep the whole time?? Not me apparently. We've matches the baby up and down primrose Hill and to tons of cafes already - he doesn't seem to notice. How long does this last??

Our slept for about a week, now at 3 weeks I wish she would sleep some more - especially at night!

If she is asleep though not much wakes her up - waking for feeds was impossible

[waves to little] yeah I'm finding the boards very reassuring too - and I'm a second timer so should really know stuff! It is strange this dd is so different to dd1 though.

How is everyone doing post birth? I have a second degree perineal tear plus a bunch of humongous, very painful piles I also feel quite sore in my tummy area particularly when I stand up after being sat down for a while, does anyone else have that? Dont know if it's just my uterus shrinking back again but it's quite sore tbh. I think this could be because of how fast things turned out - from five cm dilated to delivery within 35 minutes! Might have to check with mw when I next see her.

Flipping painful post birth here too and piles ditto. Not pleasant. Had cut due to forceps delivery rather than tear and a few stitches - I know could been worse but still very tender! Might look into those valley cushions? Whole thing just really took it out of me - 31 hours of labour, an induction I really didn't want, baby in distress and rushed to theatre for assisted delivery / section - I think the tiredness and need for mental recovery were probably the toughest part!

Hi little and broody, good to see you here! I highly recommend a valley cushion for post-birth painful bits- I was lent one by a friend and have got some very good use from it! I got some pretty nasty piles thanks to a prolonged 2nd stage of labour but thank heavens (and liberal use of relief cream) they're nearly gone now, 3 weeks on. Still got discomfort from my 'open' episiotomy (stitches came undone) which I've now been advised to let heal naturally. I really hope it actually does, it's not great to look at.
Little Sebastian is doing just great though, he feeds well and is now 10oz up on birthweight. Sleep's still hit-and-miss but all the advice I've had so far has been not to try and impose a strict routine just yet.

Congratulations broody and welcome little We have been on an amazing journey together! I'm quite emotional

I had a long labour at home, then - long story - got stuck and had a c-section. DH and I cried together when we heard LO crying for the first time. Apgar of 9 and 10 Surprisingly I have found the whole thing has left me with a positive feeling, even though everyone keeps asking if I'm ok.

So I've got a c-section scar, though it's healing well. The worst thing is not being able to walk very far at all. I can't wait to stride into town with LO strapped to my front Actually the most problematic issue is my darn back. Nothing to do there until I'm healed from the c-section and hormones normalised

Anyone else regretting the decision to breastfeed? I'm happy with it 98% of the time but every now and then I think bottles would be so much easier. Not for that bit freedom from Franky but for the freedom from feeding, if that makes sense? My sil took us up town today and I had to feed for half an hour even though I'd fed just before going out, less than half an hour before. Regret soon passes but it's there every now and then.

We're going in to day 13 now, did anyone else still get "after pains" so far after? They're not strong but every few feeds there's one or 2. And my stitches (3rd degree tear) are quite uncomfortable still tho not painful.

I sound very negative but overall were fantastic, Franky feeds well, sleeps 2-3 hours at a time and is having some lovely awake time sometimes 2+ hours and rarely cries. Very blessed with him.

Small I works still wake for feeds every 4 hours for the moment.

Hi everyone. DS born on 12th July, an unexpectedly large one at 9lb 6oz.

Breast feeding is painful but slowly getting better, we have both been diagnosed with thrush too.

It's baby number 2 and I had forgotten how much time they take up!

charlie, I know where you're coming from re bfing issues. The other night, when Sienna wasn't sleeping and just fussing over my very sore and not quite milk filled boobs rather than feeding, I did think I'd need to cave into formula because I was knackered and sore. However, what's the alternative? Having to faff with sterilising bottles, physically getting out of bed to prepare milk in the middle of the night while baby screams, taking a load of equipment with you everywhere you go....oh it's just too much of a palaver for lazy me! Soon, your baby will be a bit more predictable so it will mean you can schedule your trips etc knowing you probably won't need to feed between this time and that time.

Thanks scrivette I asked the health visitor and she confirmed should be waking for feeds within 4 hours until at least a month old. But LO has already regained her birth weight at 12 days old so she also said don't worry and carry on doing what we have been doing.

Last night we tried the routine of my doing the whole night like it will be when DH is back at work. I discovered quite how disturbing are all the noises she makes. I've asked lots of people about this and they were all reassuring but the high pitched moan is definitely accompanied by a grimace as if she is on pain. She doesn't wake. Do you think it could be silent reflux? I'm thinking of taking a video and going to the baby clinic or GP.

Breastfeeding and going out: have no idea how is possible to be modest yet... I just hang my boobs out around the house!.

charlie No more after pains but my belly button now goes in again!!

Small I'm so jealous can't wait for belly button to go in again! With you all on bf, sometimes in the night it feels quite tough and wish could share with DH. We've been thinking of slowly introducing bottles but just using my expressed milk - when out, or if I'm sore / tired. I'm nervous of doing so though in case he prefers bottles have any of you tried this?

Hi All,did post once on the July club but then real life took over,I've just spent the night reading through the thread though,lovely to read all the birth stories,congratulations to all!

Baby Robert was born last Saturday evening,weighing in at 9lb5oz.

Getting to grips slowly with Breastfeeding,day 2&3 was really tough as he wouldn't feed at all from one side. I ended up with wonky boobs & had to express in the end,just to relieve the pressure. Support workers from the hospital have been fab and called to see how we are getting on.
Think we may have turned a corner with it,as he will now feed from both sides. Although still painful with the cracked nipples,determined to keep going with it.

Little the mw that visited me yesterday actually recommended doing just that ,when I said he'll feed all night & husband is feeling guilty he can't help out,she said if baby will take bottle let Dad feed & you get more sleep...haven't actually tried it yet though!

littlelady Yes we've been doing expressing and giving by bottle since day 6 to let my nipples heal and give me a bit more sleep. Also by pumping in the middle of the night it increases your supply. Despite the warnings we've not had any nipple confusion. In fact I often give a bottle and then finish her off by giving a short breastfeed. The only issues we've had are that it's harder to get her to settle after a bottle only feed. It's a bit more hassle to warm milk and spend time expressing. Large feeds seem to give her reflux possibly - not sure about this one. But worth it if it means you can heal up, go out, get more sleep etc. Completely saved our sanity during the hardest times and avoids giving formula.

Plenty of folk in my NCT class are doing this.