February 2016 - our babies are here!

[IslaMann]

New group for those graduating the ante-natal thread

Congratulations cud! I hope the antibiotics sort you out quickly And you let DS feels better soon too.

Congratulations cud

Baby zebras is sticking to her 48 hour fussing schedule so I didn't get any sleep last night as she refused to sleep anywhere except on me. My sanity was saved by three hours of 'Say yes to the dress' from 3 - 6 this am. How our parents nab aged before the says if 24 hour telly I really don't know! It's a real struggle to stay awake without it.

Hi all - happy to be here.

Still buzzing - though only made it home late last night so we will see how reality feels.

Bubs cluster feeds - can be on for 2 hours at night, then will go down for half and hour and start again.hopefully this will pass once milk comes in.

I think the demands on your body and mind plus the hormone changes mean that it's not surprising it felt tough. I cried at a video of kermit singing the rainbow connection yesterday and I really don't cry at anything.

No one is failing, we are all trying to find the best thing that works for our families. II so excited to be here in the grads thread

Ah yes, the crying. I cried today because I miss DS1 even though he was in the room at the time.

So far DS2 has to be coaxed to feed during the day but then turns into turbo-gannet at night. I'm having to top up breastfeeds with expressed milk or formula because of the tongue tie, and I also have to pump to encourage my supply as the TT makes the feeding inefficient and doesn't allow DS to empty the breast. So I'm in a cycle of BF for an hour, then give the top up, pump, then 5 mins later (or so it seems) BF again... it's fine though, this phase is so short I hope!

Looking forward to getting the tongue tie assessed tomorrow!

DH just took dd to a walk in clinic she had conjunctivitis, chicken pox and tonsillitis! We live in a 2 bed flat and despite being so ill is full of energy so doesn't wamt to stay in bed or lie on the couch so not sure how to keep her away from the baby! Been trying so hard to let her do whatever she wants with the baby to not feel left out but now need to try keep them apart not going to be easy amd dH is back in work on Thursday hopefully she's not infectious any more by then!

Is anyone else feeling jealous towards visitors when they hold your baby? MIL had DS for 2 hrs this afternoon lying on her large bosom. I can't hold him that way as my boobs are still excruciating. I tried not to glare at her but was very glad when she left. When the next lot of visitors arrived 1hr later I refused to hand him over and finished his feed myself. I let her then cuddle and burp him but must have been glaring as she soon handed him back. Even with DH I sit watching him do the feed and wish I was doing it. I just can't seem to put DS down but DH was the same when we were in the hosp and I was too ill to do anything. DH doesn't seem anywhere near as interested in DS now as he was initially.

Is there an etiquette that you are supposed to let visitors do a bottle feed if it due when they are there?

rufus don't feel pressured to let visitors give a feed. There's no etiquette about that at all. A little hold should be enough.

Feeding is a time for you or your DH to bond with your baby.

I remember when DS1 was born, DHs aunt came over and held him for the entire duration of her 90 minute visit. I developed a piercing headache which went away the second she eventually handed him back to me.

This time around we've had hardly any visitors- it's been bliss

We had DS2's tongue tie seen to yesterday and it's made a big difference already.

mawsy do you want me to give you the details of where we got it done etc or have you definitely decided not to intervene?

That's great news maisie!

Think I am putting my foot down and saying no visitors at all today, DS has really bad trapped wind and was feeding non stop from 5pm to 3am so I want to sleep after the school run (if he will let me).

I ventured out on my own with Órla this afternoon to a local mums and babies group. Almost chickened out as I was worried no one would chat but actually it was lovely. Looking forward to going again next week. Managed to dry and straighten my hair this morning too as well as put some make up on. Feels like a major achievement! Think I overdid it though with the 20min walk to the baby group, and then carrying Órla and the car seat out of the car afterwards (DH picked us up) as my tummy muscles are very sore now. Note to self to remember that is only 2.5 weeks since my section, and there's a reason you're told to give yourself 6 weeks to recover!

isla make sure you don't overdo it a section is major surgery and your body needs time to recover!

I've basically banned visitors this time anyone who I think will want to come round I've just ignored their calls as I can't be bothered my family can be really stressful and I'm determined to keep life as calm as possible for everyones sake without any unnecessary stress.

I've only had immediate family to visit so far although Dsis hasn't bothered her arse

But I'm ready to be a bit more sociable now and looking forward to showing DS2 off!

Can I join in to - I'm on the Jan 2016 group as well as I was due on the 25th Jan but DD was actually born at 41 weeks on the 1st Feb!! So far things are ok, very tired - baby won't sleep at night anywhere except on me or right next to me (co sleeping) - feeding ALL the time (it seems like) and very very sore right nipple with 2 deep fissures in it!

Hi liberty! Fellow "overdue club" ex-member here

Of course you can join, welcome!

That sounds really tough for you My nipples are also in a terrible state from DS2's tongue tie. They're improving now though thankfully.

DS likes to sleep on me too although he has done some stints in his snuzpod as well. Just not predictably! Something to work on anyway.

I haven't had more than 3 hours sleep in any 24 hour period since he was born last week. I feel fine physically, in fact I have a lot more energy than in the last month of pregnancy. I am so, so sleepy though. I couldn't possibly drive right now for example.

Hey maisiedotes doesn't it feel like ages since we were in the overdue club!!! Nipple feels a bit better feeding this evening! Got day 9 midwife appointment tomorrow so will ask her to check it out! Also really hoping DD has gained weight - she was down 11% at day 5! Xx

Hi liberty!

bird I wish I could ban visitors completely that would be awesome!

Hi clumsypots

Hello liberty
All good here and really enjoying being a family of 4. Just need to sort out a name and figure out how to put baby down so we can sleep then we'll be sorted! Any tips gratefully received...

We haven't had too many visitors yet, although pil were at the hospital a bit longer than i would have liked while dh was at home with the poxy toddler. They are perfectly nice and did spend the whole weekend here doimg childcare which was brilliant, i just struggle for conversation and was missing dh. So i shouldn't complain! My mum is coming Saturday for most of next week and probably will drive me mad though!

Had my stitches out yesterday. Wound is feeling very tender today, think I've done too much! Wounds underneath look a festering mess! Should be air dried but how do you do that when you have to wear disgusting maternity pads all the time? I'm really cross with my surgeon, I specifically asked in theatre had she removed all the lumps and she said yes and confirmed with a nurse they were all gone. Not like I could look, so had to take her word. I've seen at least 2 right next to the wounds already! If I can see them with my very limited movement how did a bloody surgeon miss them! Have to hope that they aren't something nasty and that when I get pregnant again they don't start growing again!

DH nearly got a kick in the face from me this evening!!! Josh had just fed, winded and been changed. Was asleep on my lap, I'm knackered and want to go to bed, DH wants to take pictures of his feet with my hands round them. He wanted me to make a heart, I'm too tired and don't care! He asked if I was a fucking moron and was I doing it on purpose that I could make a symmetrical heart. Temper flared and then I remembered I had a 7 day old baby in my lap!

Just realised that between 3 adults all with iPhones none of us took a pic of Josh leaving the hospital or his 1st car journey! Quite upset, I've got an excuse as I was completely out of it so was relying on DH and mum to step up. Can't believe there is no record of the day!

Weight has gone up, she's 7% down on birth weight now rather than 11% so progress! Midwife was super unhelpful about cracked nipple - didn't suggest anything to help - am waiting for nipple shields to arrive from mil who is out shopping and hoping they help - anyone used them? Xxx

Nipple shield is working really well ATM - massively reduced pain!!! hoping to avoid getting any sort of infection in the weepy sore wounds - any tips??

Hello :)

Mind if I join??

My beautiful DD1 arrived Sunday morning... Was actually pleased with the birth experience as was imagining the worst and was soooo ill with preeclampsia for the last two months of pregnancy.

Home since Monday morning and after a week of blurred memories, tears, emotions and pain - things are calm. Belle (DD) is sleeping well as of last night just one wake up so got a delicious 8 hr sleep (after total of 14 hrs since Thursday!)...

Loving the vibe between me and my mum st my house, am a lone parent so really could NOT have got through this alone!

Visitors were way too much today with cousins almost fighting over who should hold her next and sticking phones in her face for pics grrrr!

Have blocked any visitors tomorrow!

Struggling to get her wind up, just feel like I'm no good at it whereas Mum can do it... Also paranoid/guilty that mum got up in the night with her to allow me to sleep and recover.. Mums friend mentioned her daughter didn't want ANYONE holding her newborn at first - I don't mind - and I'm now worrying if I should mind and does it mean I'm not bonding properly!

Anyone else using a SwaddleMe Pod? Feels like DD wakes herself up by arms flailing and might settle her?

Hi Newmama, congratulations!

DH went back to work this week, and I'm finding it really hard, being in sole charge of this little human! I'd forgotten just how hard it is coping with a crying baby when there's no one else around. Thankfully it's half term next week so DH will be around.

liberty that's great news about the weight gain. I've never used nipple shields- they were on my list of things to get but the tongue tie being rectified has made a massive difference to my nipples so I think I'm ok without them for now. Apparently rubbing a bit of breast milk around your nipples and leaving them to air-dry helps them heal.

Welcome newmama and congrats! Sooooo jealous of your 8 hour sleep! I haven't had more than 1.5 consecutive hours sleep since the night before the night DS was born