February 2016 - our babies are here!

[IslaMann]

New group for those graduating the ante-natal thread

Glad you did get out chinchilla i sometimes wonder what these people are thinking! We've been trying to get out every day, although i haven't braved the park single handed yet!

Good work on the weight gain haq

Wish me luck, i'm doing bedtime on my own...

northern that's ridiculous! Glad you ignored the 'advice' and you and DS enjoyed your treat.

cud good luck!

Ezra had his tongue tie snipped this afternoon. Since then he failed to latch on either side, when before he could manage on the left but not the right! My left nipple is incredibly sore because he'd been refusing the right nipple every feed. I'm wondering whether to do tonight purely on cup feeding to give him a chance to get to know his new tongue and my nipple a chance to heal a bit- does anyone have experience of having a tongue tie divided when the baby was still very young, and whether I'd be causing him any learning problems by doing this?

Oh gone sorry to hear this. How old is he? I don't have any experience of this, but when my nipples were in agony I found laid-back feeding a life saver.

breastfeedingusa.org/content/article/some-ins-and-outs-laid-back-breastfeeding

DH is starting to really piss me off. I know we are both very tired but he sleeps through all DS sleep noises and I don't! He is selective parenting, so only does things when it suits him. I've done all DS's washing, our washing, cleaned and sterilised bottles and dummies twice. Made up most of the feeds, done most of the feeds and changed most of the nappies. I say I'm going to bed early. We watch a film together this evening and then he gets up and walks off. DS starts screaming, I go look for DH and find him in his study with his headphones on, 'working'. We have a fight as apparently I'm bad for leaving our DS screaming in the kitchen, where as I can't believe that he is putting his leisure time before my desparetly needed sleep!
We also had a massive fight about hygiene today. Despite DS being due his last dose of antibiotics tonight, he still has some pustules on his face. I'm 100% blaming DH! Yesterday he sneezed straight onto DS's face. Today I've watched him pick his nose and within 10 secs go to touch DS. Tonight he cuddles the cat which has conjunctivitis (cat started today, DS last week!) then picks up DS without washing his hands! He has managed to infect the poor cat and is obviously reinfecting DS. This man has a Mensa level IQ and is a surgeon but has the hygiene of a sodding pig! No wonder they have superbugs at DH's work place!!! I'm banging my head against a brick wall and being told what an absolute bitch I am and a nutcase that I keep on telling him to wash his hands. DS is 3 weeks old tomorrow, WTF is wrong with DH, why won't he just grow up!

gone DS had his TT snipped at 6 days. I had a terrible time getting him to latch on both before and afterwards, although his latch (when finally on) was much improved afterwards.

I had times where it was taking him 20 mins to latch on, he would be screaming with hunger the entire time, it's so hard. Or the other thing he was doing after the TT snip was latching on briefly and then bobbing off again. I had to work hard to stay calm a couple of times.

I found one thing that worked sometimes was getting up and walking around while getting him to latch. Holding in cradle hold.

Hello! Finally here - never thought we'd get here! Baby Handbag (aka the Purse) was born on Sunday evening by EMCS at 42+1 after what I'm going to describe as a series of unfortunate incidents. We're both fine and hoping to be discharged from hospital today.

As is usual with sectioned babied, he's bringing up lots of mucous which is making feeding a bit hit and miss - either he's really keen and gets straight to it or he pulls a face and refuses to lock on. This is usually followed by phlegmy vomit within the hour. It means he's not always eating when he should but last night he was on for 2hrs solid, then slept for an hour and needed more. Hoping once he's cleared his pipes he'll be ok.

So glad to be finally joining the graduate thread and hope everyone's ok!

Hurrah handbag it's good to have you with us!

My DD had the mucus thing too because she was born so fast (not a section), it didn't get squeezed out as it would normally. (Gross). She barely fed for first two days but seems to have hang of it now, so hopefully it will clear in the next day for you too. I feel so sorry for them spluttering away!

Welcome handbag, so glad to have you join us!

Welcome handbag
Both of mine had the mucus vomit for the first couple of days, a bit grim but soon passed. Hopefully he'll get the hang of feeding soon...

Sorry you're having a tough time rufus sometimes i don't think men quite get the impact of a new baby. Would it be worth having a proper chat when you're both calm, agree some hygiene rules and maybe allocate some jobs as his??? My dh works silly hours a lot of the time so i deal with the kids. But he will sort our dinner and clear up as well as a fair chunk of housework and that works ok for us most of the time...

I'm about to pop into work as one of my colleagues is leaving. Will be good to see everyone! Although I got fed up of the visitors it's very quiet without them! Can't win...

Hello again handbag! Good to see you and purse

Gone, I take it you've got Lansinoh for your nipples? Brilliant stuff. I'm just staying on top of pain meds and giving DS a half feed of formula each day to help with it all.

I can't believe that your OH has called you a bitch rufus, that's beyond the pale. The conjunctivitis thing is just basic, basic hygiene; when we had D&V when DS was little, DP washed his hands raw, and your OH should certainly know best of all...is there anyone who can give you extra support? Would the MW speak to him, or a family member?

Mind you, I could have throttled DP this morning- he was tired, so needed to go back to bed for a nap, when I really, really could have done with it. And remind me which one of us has been pregnant, given birth, and now is bf'ing a newborn overnight...? And which one simply will not go to bed at an adult time, and thinks he's still a teen who can stay up til midnight...?

rufus my LO has just got conjunctivitis and I think I'm getting it. Did you get drops? My GP is reluctant to give them. Poor scrap is just getting over a nasty cold. She hasn't had a day not ill yet!

I think you need to have a serious chat to your DH, it's not on and is basic hygiene as someone else said.

rufus I third the advice above. Really sorry to hear you're having such a hard time. How is little Joshua doing apart from the conjunctivitis?

fox your poor DD! How old is she now? Really hope you get some respite.

chinchilla hear hear! How is the co-sleeping going? Are you in a different bed from your dp?

I feel I was initiated properly into motherhood yesterday. I was peed on (completely bypassed the nappy and came out the leg) and vomited on. We actually got out of the house and misjudged how long it had been since he'd been fed and curved, so my milk leaked a huge amount down the front of my top (who knows how long I walked around with it before realising). It was a good day though, rather than being shut up in the house panicking! We got out on a long walk around town today as well and I did my first bf in public (feels slightly strange just whapping your tit out doesn't it?), plus a food shop. Things that previously seemed so easy now feel like a massive achievement. I have to say, apart from the anxiety, I am absolutely loving every minute of this, good and bad. It's been a long wait but completely worth it.

Oh, couple of other things (can you guess I'm avoiding having to put baby down? enjoying cuddles too much). We went to the osteopath yesterday just to check bubs out, (for me as well, my pelvis is so twisted after the labour). She said there was a slight compression in the back of his neck which would explain his dislike of lying on his back and always turning his head to the right. Since then he been so much calmer when being changed, it's made a massive difference. Highly recommend it!

Second, what are people doing for nursing clothes? I'm desperately stocking up on bras but stuck when thinking of tops. It's it worth getting a nursing camisole as well? This bra is so comfy btw, so much better than the blooming Marvellous and Emma Jane ones I bought
www.nursingbra-shop.co.uk/bravado-body-silk-seamless-nursing-bra~112

haquoi I hit eBay for second hand feeding dresses which so far I'm finding most practical as my jeans rub my section scar...
I also got piddled o yesterday, and did a supermarket shop, during which I cried because i suddenly realized I'm a mum shopping with my baby! (Totally emotionally under control, honest!)

rufus what a nightmare! I hope Joshua is getting better.

Hi handbag congratulations!

Just been to health visitor DS is now 8lb 6 but he has reflux so we have to see gp on Friday to see what we can do to make him more comfortable.

gone I nearly cried yesterday because I was hungry

I'm wearing the smaller of my maternity trousers (waist hight to avoid scar) and then just vest tops and cardies with nursing bras. Mat trousers and vest tops are just normal, basic M&S stuff in a size up from my non-preg dress size.

It's great to get out isn't it, just to shops/cafe/walk round the block...gentle exercise and good for mental health as well. We're off out for lunch today

DD has been utterly contrary on the feeding- yesterday she literally did not leave the breast between 12-4 and 8-12. Even the MW was taken aback. She then slept til 5, fed on one side, slept til 9, fed on one side, and has just slept on.
I of course am now leaking everywhere and have leapt on her opening her eyes to get another feed down her before I pop!

Hello!

Mucous has almost gone now but we're still in hospital... Suspected infection in the purse so he's on antibiotics through a cannula twice a day. Hopefully he'll be better enough for us to leave Monday morning,1wk 4 days after I first came in for the induction!

We're struggling with feeding so today and yesterday have been pumping and giving him colostrum by syringe then topping up with formula. We've flushed out his original jaundice so hoping we can get him back to latching and then it'll all take half the time it currently is.

Missing my house, my things, my old life and also feeling like I'm missing out on the new one. More limbo and it sucks!

handbag congratulations on the arrival of the purse!

Sounds like you're having a time of it. I hope you get home ASAP.

I brought DS2 to be weighed yesterday and he had put on 500g in a week and a day! So he is now 5kg

So it would seem that my supply isn't as low as he would have me believe and he probably doesn't need as many top-ups as I've been giving him

He's still on the same centile as he was at birth though.

Oh no handbag, how rotten you're still there. I'm sure the infection in little purse will soon clear up, but 11 days in hospital....you've done well to stay sane

I think we managed to horrify two people yesterday at lunch when feeding DD. Two different individuals were shown to the table next to ours, clocked me feeding and one asked to be moved and one just got up and left !
In the whole time I was out feeding DS I didn't have a single negative issue ref bf, and in fact got a couple of compliments, so this was unexpected. Sod'em though their problem!

Sorry to hear you're stuck in hospital handbag we had to do iv antibiotics with ds1 and had the same issues with feeding/ pumpimg/ formula and i remember how hard i found it. Hang in there, encourage visitors if you want company and try anything to get some sleep! Hopefully you'll both be well enough to get home soon...

Can't believe some people chinchilla!

For feeding i have some feeding tops from last time but often it's a normal top with vest underneath, top up and vest down. Really need to get some new bras though, mine are looking pretty worn. Any recommendations? I have a couple of bravado ones that i use at night but don't find them supportive enough for daytime at ff...

Am now entering 8th hour of cluster feeding. DD has bags under her eyes from not sleeping...sigh...

handbag hope you manage to escape soon!

northern that sounds like hard work, make sure you are looking after yourself too.

I am trying to stop DS feeding constantly as he has reflux and overeating doesn't help even though he is only doing it for comfort. It is so horrible, off to Drs tomorrow to see what we can do to make him more comfortable. I have tried feeding in the rugby position but my hands are so weak at the moment it is really hurting, does anyone know of any other positions that are more upright that wouldn't put so much pressure on my hands and fingers?

clumsy you can do the rugby hold with very little effort if you put quite a stiff cushion (or two) in under your arm to support it.

chinchilla that sounds rough!! Does she cluster feed every day? Also sorry to hear about the people in the cafe, that sucks. At least they had the manners not to say anything to you.

clumsy a breast feeding pillow for traditional feeding and alternatively laid-back breast feeding has saved me. I sit on the sofa and put lots of cushions under my arms of the boob I'll be using, with my feet up and making sure I'm very comfy. Then I put baby's feet in my lap and place him onto boob making sure his hands and feet are connected to me or something, so his body is upright leaning against me (he's not lying across my body but tummy to tummy). He head bobs and tries to attach himself, sometimes I have to give him some help to get on (they say don't worry too much about the latch, as long as it doesn't hurt - still working on this myself). I find that this position and others with me in a more lying down position he tends to wind himself so it might help with the reflux.

I go between the laid back feeding and upright 'holds' depending on how my nipples feel. It's been an eye opener and life saver though.

www.nancymohrbacher.com/blog/2015/3/23/introducing-natural-breastfeeding.html

Completely missed my counselling session yesterday, I'm so annoyed and embarrassed! I didn't realise what day we were on.

Better news, ds' tongue tie has finally been snipped - it made a difference the first day and now his latch is all over the place and weird so we're going to have to do some work getting the good latch back. He's also been feeding more often for less long and my left boob keeps leaking everywhere as it's not draining. My poor nipples!!

Also, at 15 days we might finally have a name! I'm not convinced tbh but I named ds1, they both have my surname and DH is pretty convinced of this name whereas I'm a bit more meh about my choice. So we're thinking of naming him Otis.

Thanks for the nursing wear tips btw, that's so helpful! cud my Emma Jane one is pretty good for support