August 2016 - early arrivals to the newborn cuddles & graveyard feeding shifts

[rumisyum]

So many August bus babies have arrived already! Anyone else fancy a chat during night feeds or wondering what to make of the contents of tiny nappies? Might as well get comfortable...

Congratulations Lots and welcome to the world Baby Dots
Sorry to hear about the mastitis hg
Alfie One of the midwives told me earlier this week that the stitches will become more sore as they start to heal. I'm on Day 10 here and although the pain isn't completely gone it's definitely a lot better than it was.

So..an eventful day here today. Midwife was worried that DS2 was looking slightly jaundiced and hasn't gained any weight yet (8.4% loss on day 5 and no change since), so sent us on a 2 hour round trip to the hospital to get him checked. Thankfully we got the all clear but I'm not sure if I'm still a bit worried. He's been cluster feeding since about 10.30 tonight though, so fingers crossed he'll have gained by his next weigh in on Sunday.
Meanwhile, after my bleeding had slowed to almost nothing earlier this week, tonight I suddenly passed a clot about 10 x 4cm! I phoned the hospital and they've reassured me it's quite normal but to call back if the bleeding is still heavy or if there are any more clots. It does seem to have finally slowed, but I only have two pads left so I'm currently sat on a towel in bed with my legs crossed

Just checking in

Congrats lotsofd

Baby is on day 4 , I seem to have got off Scot free after my traumatic very quick labour

I had a internal 2nd degree tear but I've felt zero pain from it at all and was the same with my first son. Today was first day out house though due to having a nasty chest infection they diagnosed when I was in hospital after birth, managed to go a half decent walk which felt good after months of doing nothing due to SPD

My bleeding has almost stopped too.

Baby is crazily feeding all day long , my milk is in. I get issues with too much milk and looks like it's the same this time, when baby is feeding the other boob literally pours milk from it as so much. My boobs are massive and rock hard, think Jordon style in her hey day. Not expressing to relieve the at all as it just creates more milk long term so has a negative effect so just having to put up with the soreness hoping it settles in a few days.

Least baby is feeding lots and lots.

Congratulations lots!

We're on our due date today, feels funny....

Did lots and lots of feeding last night, every hour, I'm thrilled. Hopefully she will put on some more weight now. She still only wants one boobs worth in a feed though. I thought that's ok as long as I start with the other one the next time, but that horrible pissy midwife told me she must have both every time and it's knocked me off my game...

fizzy I think it's fine if she doesn't want both breasts every feed, as long as you offer them. You can't force her to have what she doesn't want!

DS1 never took both boobs until he was much older, and not always even then. I always thought you were supposed to offer both boobs, but I wouldn't worry too much if she's not taking the second one, especially if she's been feeding hourly.

We were feeding about hourly too last night. Which is probably a good thing as, due to a misunderstanding, the midwife turned up a day earlier than expected. I thought she'd be pushing for me to start doing top ups if DS2 still hadn't gained any weight but, bless her, she agreed that you couldn't expect much in less than 24 hours and even offered to drive back out to us tomorrow if I'd rather wait. All worked out in the end though as he's actually gained 90g overnight - so we've been discharged

She never wants the second boob... I alternate which one I start on now (thanks to the nipple shields) but she's satiated with one... She goes for 15-35mins on the one... I've got pretty big boobs (G cup) don't know if that bears any relevance?

Oops, sorry hg cross posted

We are also constantly feeding, though DS switches over to both breasts twice, if we change his nappy after the first shot! He's nearly twice the size of some of your dainty daughters though and my milk isn't in yet, he's just placing his order in advance I think! He's been feeding constantly since 1630 at the moment... I'm very grateful for the Olympics! I am now watching hockey, but hoping for another forced sit down when they gymnastics starts later on!

Our gorgeous little man joined the family quickly in the early hours of Tuesday morning, we only just made it through the doors of the delivery room having dilated 2cm to full in less than an hour.

So far all going ok at home. Feeding going well although today he's been incredibly sleepy, I wondered whether it was the heat?! It's been warm today... He will only take one side a feed though but I can still hand express a little at the end so know there's more there if he wanted it.
Feeling teary today and pretty short with my DH which I feel awful for. I know it's hormones and limited sleep and think we have had too many visitors since Tuesday... Hopefully will regroup a bit over the weekend and take it slower (as slow as the older 2 DS will allow!)

Am glad to hear other babies are constantly feeding too - if only to reassure & remind me that this is what little babies do. DD fed for ages last night. Which is fine but tiring. I've taken to having 2 pints of water by my bedside at night just to keep myself hydrated enough through the night! The co sleeper makes a massive difference but ultimately nights are still pretty full-on.

DH was asking me about expressing for bottle feeds today. It would be helpful not to be the only source of food but I can't quite sum up the energy to express as well as everything else right now. Somewhere I have breast shells from last time that collect leaked milk in your bra. I recall them being surprisingly effective - must dig them out.

Congratulations, whattodo! Efficient of your uterus! Glad to hear things are going well so far.

another one doing LOTS of feeding overnight. Normal, expected, still knackering! Ditto re needing pints & pints of water to keep me going. I remember being really hungry with breastfeeding last time, this time I am just constantly parched! Probably to do with the winter vs summer baby?

We hosted friends for lunch today in a totally mad move. Was lovely in the end, but rather exhausting! And I do wish they'd brought some of the food. My toddler enjoyed it though & anything that keeps him entertained is a win. DD also seems worn out this evening, so I better get off to bed before the feeding olympics gets going.

Ahh thanks ladies, as always very reassuring to know! I do always offer both, and again, I'm still able to squeeze some out after she's done, so it's because she's done with it not the other way round!

Congrats whattodo!

Congratulations whattodo somewhere in between your length of labour and mine might be ideal!

rum are you insane?! Why were you hosting lunch? Why did your friends let a hormone crazed woman with a tiny baby agree to host and not insist on at least bringing the food???

Hoping my milk is going to come in tomorrow as this hungry boy is needing some volume of food I think! He wasn't weighed by MW today as he wasn't 48h old her, so they are back to weigh him on Sunday.

Am trying to start our night feedathon slightly earlier so DS had his first bath to wake him up enough for feeding. I can't say that he was terribly pleased about it. My ears were about ready to bleed! On the plus side, will probably see the swimming during the epic feed now...

Hello ladies... Marking my place as my baby girl arrived on 2nd rather then the expected due date 29th! Going off to read the thread...

rumi I'm exactly the same! I also managed to get through my induced labour with just gas and air but now I am clock watching for my next dose of medication. Couldn't live without paracetamol at the moment whilst my bits recover from my 3rd degree tear! Have your breasts calmed down now?

Ha ha rumi I also make my husband deal with the nappy changes but it's not working so well with a toddler like you say 😋

Interesting listening to your experiences RE pushing time. With my dc1 I had a epidural and pushing lasted 2 hours ending with instrumental delivery. This time I was told by a doctor that I was 2cm and 2 minutes later I pushed the baby out in 2 pushes. He must have got it wrong when he examined me. How did he get it wrong? That's a question I want to ask. I'm thinking about emailing the midwife who got me through it. Do you think she would mind me emailing her and asking her? I could say in the email that I understand if she can't respond to my questions. At the end of the day both births resulted in a 3rd degree tear. Makes me think I really should opt for a c-section next time.

Fizzy and Hg have the feeds got any better? Totally understand how you feel since I'm going through a similar patch myself. DD weighed 5.1lbs, then went down to 4.11lb and today she was 4.11lb so not much improvement 😒 Wow it's tough!! I know how worth it it will be though. It took a very long time with DS but back then it was just us 2. I'm going to really have to fight hard for my little lady!

Alfie I'm on day 5 and my stiches are feeling itchy and uncomfortable 😳🙁 A midwife looked at them today and said they were good and clean. Urghhhhhhh I really hate all this poking and staring that's going on. Especially hate the amount of attention my boobs are getting. Stop watching me is what I want to scream...I've done this before, I really do know what I'm doing after feeding DS exclusively for 23 months 😬

Who is gawping at your boobs Pear? Health professionals??

It would do no harm to email your midwife to see if she can shed any light on what happened at the end of labour for you. At worst she doesn't have an answer for you, but if she does then it would mean a lot to you.

Am in awe that you're talking about #3 already!!!

As awful as it is pear I'm glad somebody else also has irritated stitches I'm desperate forgot to feel a bit more normal to move around. They gave me an episostomy.

I'm so tired today, nobody can actually prepare you for the sleep exhaustion can they? DH is being great but getting up for 10mins to do a nappy is not the same as feeding every 3 hours for an hour. Those who've done it before - how do you get through it?

I can't remember alfie I'm broken. At the moment I'm feeding for all bar about 10 minutes of each cycle and then DS screams for 10 minutes while DH changes his nappy... This is only overnight though, he has a lovely angelic like sleep during the day to lull me into thinking that it might be better that night! Fingers crossed that it's going to improve once my milk is properly in, I think he's genuinely hungry. I think this sleep deprivation is the first of the 'all things will pass, it's just a phase' phases, if I remember correctly through the fog...

DD was a bit like that for a few nights Lots and has settled a bit. But has also now grown out of her teeny tiniest baby clothes (sob) so I'm putting it down to a growth spurt.

But re sleep deprivation in general - it's awful, but it does get better. Partly because the babies become more efficient feeders with longer gaps between feeds, partly because we become more used to broken sleep. The things I find that make it a little easier is having fewer expectations of myself. So between DH & I, our house stays clean and tidy enough - but there are some jobs that slide because we can't do it all. I find it hard to have a sleep in in the mornings because DS is up early regardless. But I've gone back to bed now that he's gone to nursery. We have a meal dragged out of the freezer that will do for the next two nights - bonus!

Pear yes the feeding has got better since I invested in some nipple shields, she latches straight on both sides now easily. She only really feeds for about 30 mins though so I am feeding every 1-2 hours really. Can't get much else done, including sleep Alfie I'm so exhausted. We still don't feel like we can all sleep at the same time either so still taking it in turns to sleep which is just going to be a hot mess when DH goes back to work and can't help at night anymore! Got the MW visiting today, so really really hope she's put on weight!
I totally get the everyone looking at your boobs thing. I never liked my boobs and always been shy about them, and now seriously about 50 different people have watched me feed and poked at them, I feel they're now public property... I'm guessing the MW will wanna look at my bits later too, not looking forward to that...

Wow, this thread is getting busier! So nice to see more people coming over huge congrats pear and minute! All getting a bit confusing though - with this, the antenatal thread and the fb group I'm never quite sure who I've said congratulations to already, so huge apologies if I manage to miss anyone!
hgl how're the boobs? Hope the mastitis is clearing up, I never quite got it but hovered on the brink a couple of times with DD and that was brutal (and painful!) enough, you poor thing.
Alfie God knows how you cope with the sleep deprivation. You don't! IME you just turn into a half-crazed zombie person. It does get better...eventually other mums of newborns were my lifeline. They felt like the only people who really just got it, it was such a relief. I went to the SureStart baby groups religiously.

Had an amazing day here yesterday - was nothing short of a miracle. All beds changed, entire house hoovered, bathroom cleaned, 5 loads of washing done, everything tidied, food shop done, dinner cooked... However I will admit that the only way I managed it was by DH taking DD out for a good few hours. And by going to bed at 7pm on Friday and still spending most of Saturday asleep on the sofa (again, DH got DD duty for the entire day). Suspect that was the last time the house'll be cleaned for a while!
Am finding DS reasonably easy (mostly) but struggling a bit with DD - she is a joy generally but she can have such a bad attitude at times and I just don't have the energy to deal with it. I'm so sick of having to fight her over every tiny little decision, and of her kicking off every time something isn't done/fetched/provided within 3 milliseconds of her asking for it. I know it's just an age and a stage and we'll ride it out, but it's pants timing! She absolutely adores the baby though, which is a plus, and is so lovely and sweet with him (although a bit heavy handed!) that it's so nice to watch them together - he recognises her voice and just stares at her transfixed while she chats away to him ❤️ It's her birthday tomorrow (can't believe my big baby will be 4!) so we'll have a nice day and hopefully reconnect a bit.
Midwife this afternoon to check DS's jaundice, so so hoping they'll decide it's gone and we can be discharged! Have fed and sunned him as much as poss this weekend so at least I know I've done my best. Also think he might be a bit refluxy - he's very sicky, absolutely hates being on his back (will start choking & coughing if I put him on his back too soon after a feed), and seems to have lots of tummy pain, can be a bit of a nightmare to settle. Will see how we get on with it and maybe mention it to the GP at the 6 week check.
Phew, epic post/brain splurge, sorry everyone! Hope Monday brings lots of good things and happy, chilled babies all round! Now with a bit of luck I might actually manage to put DS down and get some breakfast

Re lack of sleep Honestly you learn to cope with it

My son was awful , screamed day and night for 3 months with colic , woke hourly everyone said once he was weened at 6 months he would sleep more

He was 10.5 months old when he first slept for 3 hours

He is now 22 months and still wakes me between 3 time on a good night and up to 10 times on a bad night

Some kids just don't sleep I think

I've not had more than 3-4 hours sleep in a row in nearly 2 years but now it doesn't effect me , the human body is amazing and must just learn to adjust.

I must admit those early days when prior to having baby you were used to 8 hours sleep were bloody hell
At one point I thought I was going to die from lack of sleep lol but I didn't

This new baby is polar opposite from my first ok he only 6 days old but so far I'm having to wake him up to feed him at night it's amazing

Still not getting a lot of sleep because toddler wakes me up but at least baby appears to sleep well.

Early days are really hard, do be kind to yourselves and try not to expect too much. If you've fed yourself and a baby every day then you're doing pretty well... Your body does learn how to accommodate with broken sleep, I know that's not much help though. We head to bed as soon as possible after getting him to sleep 9pm is regular, even if he's not 100% settled then we keep him in a dark room. In already limiting nappy changes over night, as long as not dirty and leaking then they stay on until the next feed. We are using a sleepyhead at night and I've managed to feed him in it so don't have to transfer him. Cosleeping if really difficult to settle helps.
We are basically shift parenting the older children and taking it in turns for daytime sleeps where possible. All feeling much better after a weekend without visitors too...
It will get better...

Sorry reread that and it looks like everything going swimmingly here and I'm gloating... Not at all the case have had some tricky nights with very little sleep here as well, still feeding every 2 hours but luckily he's feeding quite quickly which helps a lot.
Hideous pelvic pain developed today-anybody experiencing? Might just have walked too far, we've been out for the day.

Lots they were friends of my husband, whom we rarely see. Were they my friends, I'd have had no qualms about suggesting they bring something for the meal! Anyway, it was surprisingly fine, if knackering.

Alfie, your body adjusts to the new sleep regime. Takes a while though - I remember feeling almost delirious by about 6 weeks in last time. Which is when I think it slowly started to get better? I can't remember much, it was all a sleep-deprived haze! This time, I think I'm going back to co-sleeping. Had DD in bed with me last night & fed her while lying down, & while I'm pretty sure she fed every 2-3 hours as usual, cause she was on the opposite side of me when I woke up fully in the morning, I felt like I'd had a decent stretch, cause I must have been so dozy that I didn't wake fully for her feed. It would be nice to try to keep her in her crib, cause she actually settles there sometimes (unlike DS!), but I prioritise sleep above all else at this stage. Also, I try to get my head down for naps where possible. This morning I had breakfast with the family, then went back to bed with DD while DH took DS to the childminder. I got another couple hours, which I needed! And we hired a cleaner. But otherwise, I had to lower my expectations of myself hugely - some (most) days, just keeping the little one & myself fed & watered is more than enough! Hope you manage a bit of rest tonight.