July 2007 - yet starting in June!

[Jamantha]

Well, I can't see a post natal July 2007 thread, so will start this, even though Charlotte, my DD was born 4.5 weeks early in June. I'm sure the other July ladies will be along soon enough.

Have had 2 nights at home now. Yesterday afternoon was fairly distressing as Charlotte wouldn't latch on, and if she did she wouldn't suck. But have got loan of electric pump from hospital, and support from midwives and now managing with comination of breast, expressed and formula milk, sometimes all three in the same feed. Finding it quite emotional, with all the issues associated with feeding one's baby, but trying to stay calm as found out yesterday that getting self into a state doesn't help anyone.

Dh has just gone out to get some things we're still missing, and I'm putting my feet up for a bit. Phil & Ted has just arrived so we might try a stroll down to the ante natal class tonight!

Any how, hope there are lots of lovely birth stories to come from July ladies, and that we can swap advice, give each other moral support etc over the coming weeks and months.

Pula pula - no you're not alone.

I haven't had a period since april 05 when I got pregnant with dd. TMI alert - I have had quite a bit of that blood flecked discharge a bit like a show though. The same stuff I used to get mid cycle for years before I had children. The same stuff that Drs said don't worry everything will sort itself out when you have children.. - male Drs I might add. They think having children will solve everything.

pula only done it once!! I cant give up any precious sleep time!!

Hmm and just been discussing what is normal with my sis who is a Dr and think I shoud go and see one. A female one.

Sorry can't remember who asked about bf babies sleeping through. I give DD a big feed (both boobs) then put her down at 7pm, we wake her and change her at 11pm, and she usually sleeps through until 7am, although sometimes it's 5:30am but she goes back to sleep after that.

We have talked about more babies but we've both agreed not for a while, preferably until DD is at school. She took up so much of my attention in those first few weeks that I'd either feel guilty for spending that much time with another DC when DD was at home... or not being able to commit that much time to the 2nd DC.

pulapula - nope, us neither, even with the luxury weekend break. I 'm worried they might have stitched me up

The Scottish retreat was fantastic we didn't realise until we got there quite how posh it was. Our lodge was about 10 foot away from Loch Lomond, overlooking a marina, we had a sauna, spa bath and multiple en-suite rooms.
We went for a boat trip on the first day and the guide pointed out our hotel explaining that previous guests had included Cher, Michael Jackson, and Sean Connery!
We're kicking ourselves for only staying 3 nights when we were offered it for a full week... silly us.

Pula pula I spoke to the cons Paed at DD2 cf clinic appointment about greeen poo, he said it's not diet etc but just how fast the food has gone through the bowel i.e. yellow poos = fully digested food, the greener the poo the quicker it's gone through the bowel therefore more bile is present in the end product POO, It may be that LO has been feeding more frequently for whatever reason but it should clear up without any intervention

should note this applies to all babies not just ones with cf!!

Also 24 hours in a nappy bucket can make a yellow nappy a green nappy......Yuk

Im losing it I thought things were supposed to get better/easier. Feeling quite low nothing some sleep wouldnt sort out no doubt. Keyoard ot working roperly which doet help stress levels

JAM it does thanks. My partner is very understanding. But like you say he is exhausted too.

Hi emmyb, sorry you feel like this. I went through a stage where I felt the same as you do and I found that talking to someone really helped. I spoke to my mum, my husband and my health visitor who all were really good.
Def do what JAM said and try and leave LO with someone while you have a bath and a sleep. You will be amazed how everything seems better when YOU feel human.

PLEASE tell me there is such thing as a 12 week growth spurt?! LO has been frrding non stop and just will not go to sleep. I can see it being a long night sitting up on the sofa!

By the way, thanks to everyone who replied to my Q about BF babies and Sleep. Reassuring to know waking 2x a night seems normal.

James is having his first jabs today. i hate this bit. Allowing your little baby to be stabbed with a needle. I know it is for his own good but it still upsets me.

typhoonsmum - hope that you and james didn't get too upset when he had his jabs today. I am sure it is worse for us than them - Evelyn did seem to forget about it quite quickly. She has her second set tomorrow which I am dreading - I've already put it off once (but she did have a cold).

I'd been wondering how much ebm lo's were taking at night too. We are going out on Sunday night to a gig and I will probably have to get mil to give 6pm feed and have enough for the 10.30pm feed in the fridge, just incase we're not back in time (or evelyn wakes early). Which reminds me - dh said for me to get some ebm from the freezer so he can do the feed tonight if he is home in time. Right off to do that now.

Emmyb - I am still struggling some days and definitely have good and bad onces. Still seeing HV every week because of PND which helps.

Whoever asked about 12 wk growth spurt - there definitely is one. Evelyn has just gone through it (21oz in 2wks) and yes I was feeding almost constantly - I think it was every 1 1/2 to 2 hrs during the day, although she still slept fairly well at night - just waking for 1 or 2 extra feeds (instead of the usual 1 or 2).

Hope everyone and their lo's are ok.

JAM- hope you feel better soon and that the doc can prescribe some antibiotics if necessary.

Melissa- how did the jabs go. Ben was fine with the first set (a quick cry) but was inconsolable with the second set, and treated strangers with suspicion for a few days afterwards! The third will be even worse I'm sure as they have to have 3 jabs. I will just have to do a comfort feed after like last time.

I am not sure I've noticed any growth spurts really, although there have been spells when Ben has been crying when I put him down to sleep and I have given him a quick feed to help him settle. I have heard the 3 and 4 month growth spurts are quite major so am preparing myself for the 4 month one which will be happening soon. Ben is now on a 4 hourly feed cycle (5 feeds a day) so guess it will be more obvious if and when he gets a growth spurt. I've heard that this is why many mums start weaning at 4 months as they think their milk isn't satisfying baby's hunger, but I hope to ride it out and wait until 6 months as I did with my DD.

Doris- thanks for the information about green poos. That's really interesting, and it means I don't need to stop eating chocolate, as I was worrying that my mass consumption of my DH's birthday choccies was making LO suffer. We had our first mustard yellow poo for a week or so today, and Ben slept much better at night too.

JAM Ive had that feeling twice now and after a day or two the pain has gone on its own. i just had the pain and fever etc but no lumps or redness, I think it was a blocked duct. if it carries on i think you will need antibiotics.
Hope you feel better soon.
We all have colds so lo was very restless last night as he has a very snotty nose and dd hasnt gone to nursery this morning.

Pulapula, Evelyn's jabs are at lunchtime and I am already stressing about them. I think I will use the sling today instead of the pram, so if can feed her as and when she needs it. We're already off to a bad start today as she only woke for a feed at 5:20 (after 11pm) but then didn't want her 7am feed until 9! Who know when she'll want feeding next, but you can guarantee she will be sleeping when they stick needles into her (again). Hopefully though a quick comfort feed will sort her out and she'll go back to sleep so I can do some shopping.

JAM and EmmyB sorry you're not feeling well.

Hope everyone has a good day.

Evelyn had her jabs today and was very good. She did cry a little but not for long. However she screamed and screamed this evening. After half hour of trying to settle her I gave her calpol as she was obviously in pain but it still took lots of soothing and another 10-15 mins before she calmed down enough to try feeding. I think managed to get her into the bath with me and had 10 mins of happy child before she started screaming again. Took ages to calm her again so that she could finish her night feed (usually shoving my boob in her mouth calms her but not tonight!!!) and she finally settled to sleep a little earlier than usual at 6:45pm. Hopefully she sleeps well until her 10.30 feed and then through to morning and wake up a happier bunny. DH won't be home until late either and wasn't contactable so had to deal with this on my own. Plenty of tears from both of us The hardest part was when she was looking at me with really pleading eyes just wanting mummy to make everything better

just need to vent

Had a call from dd2's cons today she is still growing nasty bugs in her lungs (after 2 courses of antibiotics) and as they are not responding to the treatment as they should, we now have to go in to hospital for 2/52 of iv ab's, after a GA to have a special canula placed. It just brings it all home again, she looks and behaves just like any other baby and then we get a reminder like this..... of how special she is.

Just want her to get better but know she never will....

dh was on his way home from work to be with us and the car overheated and broke down

to top it all dd2 is really unsettled and colicky tonight

sorry feel better now well in tears but better xx

Doris, I haven't been online for absolutely ages, and something just made me... and I saw your message and it brought tears to my eyes and I so know how you feel. Part of the reason why I haven't been online is that things have been very hectic since DD was diagnosed with CF, and like you we are still very much coming to terms with it. Some days I feel strong and cope fine, other days I could weep I just wish I could make it all go away.

I really, really hope your DD responds well to the IV ABs, I am sure the 'reality check' is not what you want or need but try to stay positive sweetheart. Am thinking of you lots. Do you think in future they will arrange for IV ABs to be done at home? Our CF clinic has said they'll try to do this when possible to ease the burden especially when you have other LOs at home.

We are very fortunate in that Mairi seems to be doing well, though we went away to visit family in S. England (we live in NI) and of course she got her first cold then... But luckily a change of ABs and increase in physio did the trick and it didn't turn into a nasty chest infection, so feel like we've crossed our first hurdle. We were at the CF clinic yesterday and no have fingers crossed on the results of the swabs. Mairi is also breastfed but the creon has helped enormously and she's grown from below 20th centile to 50th centile. She feeds a lot though (not much sleep yet!).

If you ever want to talk do get in touch... To be honest I find it hard to think too much about the longer term prospects, and have stopped reading so much about CF as it was scaring me too much. Feel at times like I've really annoyed someone above as surely what are the chances of have pre-eclampsia twice, one baby born at 30 weeks and the other to have CF??!! But also know deep down I am very, very lucky to have my 2 beautiful children...and I'm trying to hang on to that thought.

Much love to you all xxxxx