July 2016

[primarynoodle]

Hopefully this works...

So we can keep in touch and pass on words of wisdom!

Perhaps someone clever could link to the stats?

3 weeks old sock

Massive NO to dad from me. I'm still bleeding and still rather sore - (actually more sore in the urethra area Is that normal?!)

What contraception are people planning on? Anyone got experience of the coil?

Dtd*

Primary I'm hoping to have the depo injection. I had it for years and it was great, also no periods so a bonus!! I wouldn't recommend it for anyone wanting more children as it can affect your fertility for up to 2 years! Between children I had the mirena coil. I found it made me very low in mood. I didn't have periods with it and insertion was fine.

Cerazette for me. No periods suit me well.

Dh has joked about going for the snip! Keeps making noises about no more kids whereas I am nowhere near the point where I can make that sort of decision yet!

They offered (& I accepted) to fit the mirena coil after the csection. I don't want any more children and this prevents any mistakes during this odd transitional bf-no contraception-newborn stage. Having got preg again when Ted was only 7 months..quite wary of it happening again.

Bluebell - bicycle blind up in Teddy's room! Will take pic soon!

Unsurprisingly I have always worried about the cancer risk with hormonal contraception - we've always used condoms so we'll be going back to them for contraception. I will miss dtd without condoms though! I'm going to wait for the 6 week check before dtd I think - although not lumping around a ruddy great baby inside my middle has made me a lot more interested in the idea of having sex again...

Primary, my heart goes out to you. Sending hugs.

Elliz, can't stinking wait to see the blind! Am also aware I have been lax regarding photos of crochet + Ruben... I am ashamed to say that this is mostly because I've not actually used the blanket with him yet! It's been too bloody hot!

Rubes and I did our first day without Daddy today, as he had to go to work. I didn't cry once! I even did a load of laundry, emptied the dishwasher, and had a shower. Dead proud. Ok, so I failed to reload the dishwasher, and I got straight back in my pyjamas after the shower... But good effort, I felt.

Slightly overly optimistically bought some size 8 dungaree shorts on eBay this week - I can do them up, but only just, and I think the idea of them is probably that the waistband hangs attractively loose rather than being packed out to bursting point with post-baby pooch! Oh well. I wanted them specifically for summer breastfeeding so may well buy a size 10 as well as I think by the time I fit in these it will be well past shorts weather! My first properly measured nursing bras have arrived by post too though, and goodness they are comfortable. Nipples are so much less sore now they're not being compressed in a bra that's a band size and a cup size too small. The relief!!

Ladies I've just read through quickly so I'm not going to answer everyone individually. Sorry no time.

For those that aren't on Fb. DH had an emergency op for an umbilical hernia on Wednesday evening. Unfortunately it was too big for keyhole surgery. He was sent home way too soon on Thursday afternoon as the hospital had an emergency come in. He will be off work between 4-6 weeks. He's in a lot of pain and on total bed rest for the first two weeks. So struggling a little with pretty much no sleep and 5 people to look after.

For those talking about exes the older two boys haven't seen their dad for 5 years. They call DH dad. My ex was violent and I had restraining orders etc against him. Suddenly out of nowhere he has been calling. He must have got my number from my work page on fb. I'm just ignoring hoping that he will lose interest.

Weight wise I am one and a half stone over my pre pregnancy weight but was also one and a half stone over weight when I got pregnant. So I've probably got the most to lose at a huge 3 stone.

Contraception. DH has booked in for the snip. We will use condoms until he gets the all clear.

Hope everyone is well. Those breast feeding how's it going? My nipples are so sore. I'm putting on loads of Lansinoh after every feed. They just feel really raw. Hoping they ease soon.

So I probably won't be posting on here much for a while. But I will when I can.

A few pics of Monty-Beau who was 3 weeks yesterday and Teddy.

I'm struggling with the logistics of being on maternity leave. How do you get anything done? Can any 2nd+ time mothers shed any light? Even with someone else around (and only one baby), I find it impossible to get anything done. It takes all day just to shower and have some breakfast. And with feeds taking up the best part of an hour every 2-3 hours, with nappy changes either side, and often an impromptu nap, I feel as if I've only just finished one cycle before I'm starting the next. And going out is a nightmare - it seems impossible to find places to change and feed him when I need to. Easier just to not go out. Am hoping everything gets easier 😳

Jasper also cries pretty much constantly at the moment, often inconsolably. I dread him waking up. The noise is exhausting.

Whinge over.

Beaut - you are superwoman, dealing with all of that. I wish we could help.

Elliz - looking forward to seeing those bicycles! And your crochet, Bluebell.

Primary - sorry about your mil.

Sophie - at 16 days Jasper is only just approaching his birth weight again. He's been gaining rapidly, after losing a lot in the first few days (heatwave and not feeding properly).

2 weeks 2 days

Julfin I feel exactly the same. Add to that that I am going to bed at 8pm and staying there for around 12 hrs , which gives me about 5 - 6 hrs' sleep, and therefore I end up with a very short day anyhow.

I cannot ubderstand how people ever manage more than one child! C section doesn't help either because I'm not supposed to lift anything...

Hm, just woke Ruben because it's been three hours since he started his last feed, and he did the world's most half hearted attempt to latch on before v determinedly turning his head away and going back to sleep. What should I do? He was feeding almost hourly during the day!!!

Also Beaut, your boys are super cute. Gutted that you've got a patient to look after as well now though...

Bluebell - if jasper's asleep, I don't wake him. He'll wake up soon enough if he's hungry. Unless there are ongoing weight/feeding issues, best to feed on demand...?

Julf, his weight is absolutely fine but because he had blood sugar crashes in hospital he ended up with a nasal feeding tube and because of that experience I am a bit worried about him not getting enough if I don't wake him! I ended up stripping him just then and it woke him up enough to feed. It was a painful feed for me though, I think because my breast was so full that his latch was crappy. Should probably have pumped some off but it would have been such a palaver to put the kit together... Too lazy. Sore nipple is my punishment!

I think I will ask the midwife / health visitor though whether I can stop setting alarms for three hourly feeds. It would be lush to sleep longer!

bluebell - different hospitals recommend different things it seems! The one I was at said 4 hrs from start of last feed...worked fine for Maurice. Only time his blood sugar dipped was when we accidentally went over that. Bit more sleep for you....

beaut so sorry to hear about your DP - last thing you needed. You are a superwoman dealing with all that's been thrown at you. Hope he starts to feel better soon and that you get some rest! I hear you on the sore nips - so looking forward to not being in pain every feed, whenever that may be...!

P.s. Monty-beau is so cute!

Beautician sorry to hear about your OH. Have you tried multi mam compresses for your nipples they are good, expensive but good. I cut one compress in half to make them go further they do a better repair job than lasinoh which is more of a barrier cream. Or you could try a shield temporarily x

Just to confirm it gets easier every day ladies you will soon be in a rhythm and routine very big adjustment to go from 0 to 1 children but from 1 to 2 isn't too bad but that depends on their ages I guess our age gap is 3.5 years and it's not been too bad.

Blue bell you could hand express enough off to get a better latch its surprising how little you need to express off to reduce boob size and get a better latch, save you getting the pump out xx

Discuss it with your HV but I'd say just to feed when he wants to.

Sorry to hear about your dp beaut. It's hard enough looking after a child! Do you have support from anyone?

We had a puke explosion all over the Moses basket last night. DH yelled for help as he'd been spewed on too and of course he wanted to clean himself up before cleaning the baby. So at 3am, he went to his bed again and I stayed with the wee guy. He'd bloody better start pulling his weight soon with the overnights. He's great during the day. Maybe some of its my fault too as I don't always trust him to be calm when things go wrong. I don't doubt his ability, just his attitude, especially when he's tired. I end up upset with him and that makes him worse.

Julfin that's how I feel- when does anything get done!?
Sophie was 7lb 1 at birth,only dropped to 7lb @ five day check and at 18 days was only at 7lb 1still. Hv said try not to worry yet but obviously I am.

If I express will I just end up more exhausted though? Am debating going to formula just to take the pressure off me and enables dh to help with something he might be better at rather than the housework. I've done three weeks bf and am exhausted -is it selfish to want to stop?

Beaut your supermum. What bad timing for your DH's surgery. Monty is such a cutie.

Sock sorry to hear DH's not being great. My DH is mainly sorting out DD and I do the rest. Ben is 5 weeks old and DH has done 2 nappies and a few bottles but no night feeds. He was the same when DD was born.

Blue I definitely wouldn't be waking Reuben to feed. He'll wake when he's hungry and it sounds like he fed lots in the day.

Julfin things will get easier. With DD I could never get out the house before lunchtime and never seemed to get anything done. This time round I've had to just get on with things as I've had DD to get to school/clubs. Your second does just 'slot' in. I probably have more time as i'm bottle feeding. Ben goes 3 hours between feeds in the day, a feed/burp takes about 20mins. I don't change his nappy every feed and I'm very lucky that he's very content so he'll go down on his play mat and is happy to have a wriggle and watch me and DD play. We go out every day too, to the park, play areas, shops ect and he just comes along for the ride. Give it a few more weeks and you'll have more of a routine and will have more time.

Morning ladies,

I wrote a massive post on Tuesday but HV turned up before I'd finished and when I went back to it it had disappeared, bloody app!

Sophie I'm pretty sure your HV would tell you to top up with formula if they had any concerns but of course you're not selfish for considering it... You must do what's right for you and your family, there is no right or wrong. You may find though that at the next weigh in LO has gained loads, they don't always necessarily just consistently gain an oz a day, there will always be peaks and troughs.

Bluebell Harry had a blood sugar crash in hospital too and jaundice so I was waking him 3 hourly day and night initially but I'm not now as his weight gain is good and he's doing well. He feeds 3 hourly in the day but I don't wake him at night (HV confirmed it was fine not to) and he'll usually go roughly 4 hourly so around 11pm and then between 2-3am and then wakes again between 6-7am so still regular feeds.

Julfin the only way I can settle Harry when he's got one on him (and it always coincides with when I'm cooking the evening meal or my older two need me for something) is by putting him in the sling I've brought. He settles instantly which is amazing and it leaves me hands free to get things done, it might be worth looking into? I got the Funki Flamingo from Amazon, only cheap as I wasn't sure if I'd get on with it (lots of videos on YouTube) but it does the job.

Lovely pics Beaut and hope DH recovers quickly.

Primary sending hugs to you, hope you're feeling better.

No plans for DTD any time soon here, all fine down below but really not feeling the urge!

Tams I was exclusively expressing but I just couldn't sustain it unfortunately, it was just too time consuming with two other children to see to. I hope you can crack it though, get all the help you can.

Harry has decided the Chicco close to me crib just isn't close enough, after his night feed he seems to insist on sleeping on me rather than going back into the crib. With my first two I'd have been freaking out about this as I'd be worried about them being clingy but my mindset is totally different this time round. I've seen my older two grow up so quickly that I'm making the most of every sweaty night cuddle because I know before I turn around these precious newborn weeks will be over. I read something on FB last week that really struck a cord: Parenting - the days are long but the years are short. It's very true!

beaut gorgeous photos! Sorry to hear about your dh. Do you have anyone around who would be able to help and support you?

I'm sorry you're struggling julfin. Luckily dh is still on paternity leave here but no idea how anything will get done when he's back in work!

bluebell we were told to wake dd every three hours for a feed because she lost so much weight. We have been doing that but she has refused one feed. We can't force her to feed and she just clamps her mouth shut. I waited an hour before trying again. That time she wolfed her food down. It sounds like Ruben is feeding well the rest of the time so maybe he just isn't hungry.

Sorry to hear you aren't getting the support you need sock.

sophie expressing is tiring because you're increasing the amount of work a feed takes. We started expressing every three hours and topping up with formula because there wasn't enough breast milk and dd has lost a lot of weight. I spoke to the midwife yesterday because that isn't practical long term. How am I supposed to look after a baby when dh is in work and I'm hooked up to a pump for one hour in three!?! We've decided to try pumping every six hours and feed formula unless there's breast milk in the fridge. Only started that yesterday but so far it's much easier and I now manage to actually spend time with my baby! I thought we'd be moving to formula only and we still might. You just need to play it by ear and find out what's best for you.