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.

just started expressing for later on. Anybody know how much he might take? i have no idea how many ozs a boob holds!!!!

the hv told dh on the phone this morning to try ang get lo to feed every 2 hrs rather than one as i may have trouble with my milk if it continues for much longer. so i am trying but its hard.

hi emmyb

There is a formula which is something like they should be having 2.5 times their weight per 24 hours.

e.g. my DS weighs about 9.5lbs, so that's 2.5*9.5=24 oz a day. As he has 8 feeds per 24 hrs, its 3 oz per feed on average, although i usually make 4oz bottles which he often drains and still wants more!. I usually only give bottles in the evening, so maybe he's tanking up then.

You might find that if you can get LO to take a decent bottle they may go longer between feeds- you must be shattered. I find it easiest to express when i am feeding on the other side or when i am 'full' so don't stress if you can't get much out, as there may not be much if LO is feeding hourly. good luck.

Jamantha you can take 400mg ibuprofen three times a day on top of co-codamol for pain. Just watch the codeine, it MIGHT constipate you and/or baby, and straining is the last thing you want post delivery. I hope your pharmacist told you this?

Thanks Pula that helps a lot. Ive managed to get 4 0zs throughout the day. and am planning to try him on it before bed instead of through the night just incase he doesnt accept the bottle, it will only stress me in the middle of the night otherwise.

lo has managed to feed at 2 hr intervals ... luxury! Im now going to fit in a bath and have a glass of wine and try not to cry for the rest of the eve!!

thanks for that info jennster. I reckon the Boots pharmacist was pretty rubbish, he didn't tell me any of that. I had to almost plead with him to get him to look in his book snd see what was safe other than paracetamol. I think he only did that because the assistant commented that I really looked like I needed something stronger. Explains why I was a little "bunged up" last night too. I'm going back to dentist on monday, but need to survive until then.

And good luck with house move JAM, hope allgoes smoothly

Jamantha, there really isn't very much info in the regular books about drugs in breastmilk. Pharmacists and doctors tend to air on the side of caution. I however have a little book....

JAM goodluck with the house move and glad to hear you and callum are now out of hospital.

Just crashing from Feb 06 postnatal to say CONGRATULATIONS DEWMEADOW from us all

sorry we are a bit late,

Another crash from Feb 06 WOOHOO DEWMEADOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another crasher from Dewmeadow's other postnatal club (we are so yesterday to her now ) just popping in to say congrats .

Well I might as well crash from Feb '06 too

Congratulations Dewmeadow

Is anyone else having times when they are feeling quite low?

Yesterday felt crap I didnt want to do anything which is not good with lo and 3 yr old. I am worried about PND because I have a history of depression and I so do not want to go there. Please tell me I am having normal behaviour. Most of the time I am fine.

Hi emmyb - yes I have times when i feel quite low too and can't stop myself from crying. I think as long as its not all the time it is normal. How old is your lo now? I was given a leaflet by the hv we signs to look for re pnd. I will try to find it and post the details. To make myself feel better I try to have a shower or bath when dd asleep in the morning and try to wear nice clothes (not so easy if you can only fit into maternity clothes still like me, but if I manage to get a bit of makeup on too, it helps. Also, I wash my hair every third day and straighten it on the second (don't have time to dry it and straighten it!) which really makes a difference to how I feel. Hope you are having a better day today.

Found the leaflet on PND - definition is: "tiredness and feeling of not being able to cope, that don't go away after a few days". definition of baby blues is: "feeling tearful and low, which lasts a few hours or days".

Symptoms of PND include: Sad, tired or exhausted, very tearful, anxious, unable to go out to meet people, unable to cope with your baby crying, physical aches and pains. [sounds like normal feelings for anyone who has had a baby, particularly in the first few weeks when they are waking every few hours for feeding to me!]
The leaflet suggests talking to people as it helps to know that other people have felt the same/had similar experiences. And also to speak to your health visitor about how you feel. S/he will continue to visit you at home until you feel better. And don't try to do everything yourself. Ask for help before things get on top of you e.g. get a friend or relative to look after lo while you have a sleep.
HTH

Thanks Melissa. I feel a lot better today Dh did a feed during the night so I didnt feel like I was constantly up and i managed a nap yest afternoon. lo is 3 weeks old now so I suppose my hormones are still all over the place aswell.

I reckon it sounds normal emmyB - Just be kind to yourself... I also have a 3 yr old and DS2 is just over 2 weeks. Some days I can't think straight either! And can't be bothered doing too much. Its always a good idea to check any worries out but its still early days for all of us isn't it.

Does anyone have thrush? I'm going to look up the symptoms but breastfeeding has suddenly become more painful and LO's tongue has a white film across it. Although that could be just from taking the milk? Anyway, I'll see what I can find but just wondered if anyone has any experience.

hello all,

I am just recovering rom our first night away - took ds to see my parents on the coast, for my sister's and Granddad's (92nd!) birthday. All went pretty well, although he wanted feeding as soon as I sat down to dinner (ds not granddad), but that was my fault for not paying attention to the time.

We have an amby hammock and took it down so ds slept well. It's cool that it doubles as a travel cot, i would recommend them.

Hope people are feeling less tired, the idea of doing all of this with a toddler as well makes me need a lie down.

how is everyone elses baby sleeping? My dd (2 weeks) was feeding and then sleeping for 2.5 - 3 hours, but yesterday and today has started waking all the time and wanting to feed/suck. I cant get her to sleep on her own at all and its starting to get to me. Do you think its early days and I should just chill out? Is it a growth spurt?

I'd say try to chill WW. My DD is awake a lot by day, and feeds and sucks plnty too - loves my little finger to suck on. Thankfully she's generally pretty good at night though. Occasional night with difficulty settling, but mostly asleep by 8ish and then roughly 3 hourly waking for normally 20-30 mins, until morning. I've decided that as long as nights are manageable, to go with the flow by day. Of course, I have the luxury of not having other DC to care for, so I can go with this.

with ds, when he gets whingy, isn't sleeping, I swaddle him, jiggle and shh him and he drops off pretty quickly.

Is anyone else thinking of doing baby signing?

Hi there everyone! Finally made it to the post-natal thread today - ds is now 5 days old! He is an absolute star - feeds and sleeps like a dream. Just had the midwife round, he is gaining weight again now and his jaundice is getting better - apart from dry skin he is the picture of health .

The other dc's are thrilled with him - always wanting cuddles and kisses, and keen to get involved. Even ds1 (who will be two on Wednesday) thinks he's great - whenever I'm feeding ds2 he comes up and wiggles his toes and says "hello toes!" Bless him

Hopefully I will get out tomorrow to register his birth (we don't get as long in Scotland to do it as you do in England!), will be my first trip out since he was born.

Will try and catch up with this thread now

whats baby signing precious?

hi ladies, may i join you? our dd arrived last tuesday, we are ever so happy with her.

so far she's bee wondeful, only crying when hungry or with gas.

i had a c-section, she suffered a cardiac stress during labour and we didnt want to take our chances. today is the first day im feeling really good, like moving around with almost no signs of the big surgery i went through.

expecting to see a breastfeeding person this week, but now im not even sure of what to ask. i think im worried about bottle + breast combination. anyone out there topping up with one/two bottles per day?

Hi jabuti, we're topping up with a bottle some days and (touch wood) not having any problems with the mix 'n' match approach so far. Congratulations on your LO by the way, glad she's OK, despite problems during delivery. Hope the BF goes OK - it is hard to get used to, at least I found it hard at first and think lots of others do too - but when it works it is really good (IMO).