The March-ers 2019 - Baby Talk #1

[Angelmiracle]

Congratulations to all the mamas with their new babies 🌸

Now the fun really starts 😄

@toastfiend - baby boy - 28/01/2019
@TheWanderlust - Baby girl - Althea - 7lb6oz - 16/02/2019
@PurpleFlower1983 - Baby girl - Matilda - 17/02/2019
@Wineandchoccy - Baby girl - Lois - 6lb12oz - 19/02/2019
@Harley8888 - Baby boy- Logan - 7lb4oz - 01/03/2019

Thanks @jenfur @wineandchoccy My DH has just taken her to A&E as I didn’t really want the baby to be surrounded by loads of germs and I’ll have to pick the 5yo up from school soon. Thankfully she isn’t in too much pain when the weights off it and seems to think it’s all a bit of an adventure...

@Hermagsjesty yes I imagine apart from the pain she thinks it’s an adventure. Last year my 4 year old broke her elbow and after the initial visit and cast she was ok and thought it was good fun probably due to the presents that grandparents bought her

@Hermagsjesty hope your daughter got on well at the hospital and her foot isn't broken!

To those of you who had a c-section/ epidural, have you been suffering with a weird back since? I wouldn't exactly describe it as painful but it feels just really weird. Some times worse than others. Best way I can describe it is it's like when you dry swallow a tablet and it gets stuck in your throat or you drink something really hot and it kind of burns as it goes down. It starts where I would imagine the epidural needle went in and ends a couple of inches above my butt crack.

Hopefully I haven't made myself sound like a lunatic and it resonates with someone!!

@HidCat Thanks - I've noticed a white area on my nipple sometimes & I get clamping / spluttering when my breasts are very full - I'd be interested to what your GP says.

LO was 7w yesterday & I think he is going through Leap 2 as well as a growth spurt - he's been cluster feeding most of the day and is Very grizzly this evening!

Thankfully I still have an Easter egg left to get me through the night!!

@shiny888 fellow Vasospasm sufferer - just Read your post and I'm going to try some of those suggestions. I also get paid in between feeds. In fact, the pain is relieved by feeding which is interesting.

@Gronk27 are you still in hospital? Hope you're okay💐

Thanks for all the messages. We left hospital at about 1.30 picked A up from DM and went to McDonald’s then got a couple of hours sleep before A realised it was time for her next feed. Went back today to pick up some antibiotics. Waiting to hear if I have an infection and for a scan appointment.

@gronk27 I hope you get some answers and start feeling better soon

Thankfully my 7yo’s ankle is just sprained! They’ve given her a little walking frame and hopefully she’ll be properly back on her feet after a few day’s rest.

@AssumeItWasSomethingClever no help from me, sorry. Had an epidural but not had any pain or anything around there.

@Gronk27 glad you got some sleep at least. Infection and antibiotics sounds like it hopefully isn't too serious and will get better soon, fingers crossed.

We survived our day here with minimal issues actually. Watched so much Peppa Pig that they started to repeat the same episodes as earlier in the day, as if it wasn't annoying enough. DS1 seems well in himself and bug has got much better than this morning, luckily DH is off work Tomorrow as I'm wiped out from today.

M has fed way more than usual today and hasn't had as much awake time, he's just gone from sleeping to feeding to sleeping again but much more regularly. When is the first leap or growth spurt? He's 4.5 weeks now.

@Hermagsjesty that's good news, hope she's back to normal soon.

@Jenfur leap 1 is 5 Weeks from your due date so you could well be entering it now. You can download the wonder weeks app for free with all the dates on it.

Morning.
So after all the heartache with breastfeeding and being told that my baby did not have a tongue tie by 2 professionals in the hospital breastfeeding clinic. Guess what? Frank does have a tongue tie which is why BF was so painful and we struggled with his latch. I was absolutely spitting feathers yesterday because I was made to feel that I was trying to find an excuse for why BF wasn’t working and told that the latch onto the nipple shields was “fine”. Constantly fobbed off because I am a first time mum. I feel robbed of our BF experience. Picked up by a lactation consultant yesterday at a baby massage class as Frank clicks when he feeds (also what i told the hospital). Now to decide if we get it divided or not.

@sictransitgloria Snap. Adela got hers cut on Sat. Now have to decide whether to ramp up the trying to BF, topping up with formula, expressing milk 8 times a day whilst trying to keep us both fed, clothed and rested never mind anything else or just go with formula. Especially as we’ve both been ill and they think I have an infection. Such a stupid system. Why leave us for weeks until it’s practically too late unless you make a mammoth effort to get it back. Saying that I don’t know how your supply is getting on. Hope you come to a decision you’re happy with and can move forward x

Oh @gronk27 I’m sorry to hear you have both been poorly. Yep totally agree with all you have said. It is ridiculous. Unfortunately my supply is dwindling and not able to express frequently cos when is there the time?! I put him on the boob with shields for the first time in about 10 days and he was straight on but again so painful. I don’t want to retraumatise my nipples as they were so cracked, dry and bruised before and if I decide to have his TT divided he will hopefully have a different more comfortable latch. But do I try and BF again? I rang a lactation consultant this morning and left a massive long rambling voicemail so will see what she advises. Wish I’d just gone straight to her on day 3.

@sictransitgloria A’s mouth is so different now. In theory it would make the latch less painful. Like you say time is the issue. At our TT appointment they were very thorough in checking her tongue and give you scores on a scale for movement, etc and then you decide whether to go ahead. Getting it cut is supposed to help with formula feeding, sickness, noisy sleeping, speech later and all sorts so might be worth going to the appointment and then making a decision if they think it’s severe enough to offer you the procedure.

This is really quite shallow but is anyone else struggling with WTF to wear? I’m 7wks post partum - my maternity clothes make me look/ feel like I’m still pregnant but my normal clothes mostly don’t fit yet (I reckon I’ve got 2 stone to shift before I’m back to pre pregnancy weight). I don’t want to spend loads on clothes that I - hopefully - won’t be in for long but I don’t feel good in anything I own! There’s also the fact I need to be able to easily breastfeed in whatever I wear... anyone else feeling this?!

@hermagsjesty yep! I cried in Sainsbury’s because they have an Oasis and I can neither afford nor fit into anything nice. I can wear a few maternity items and about 3 things from my previous wardrobe. Check out the FB group Can I breastfeed in it for tips x

@Hermagsjesty yep I'm the same. I'm 5wks PP. I only put a stone and half through my pregnancy. I got weighted 2 weeks ago and only had 3lb to lose then back to pre pregnancy weight. Got weighted again today and I've actually put 6lb on! I honestly could cry! All my clothes are tight and my stomach is awful. I had a c-section and the overhang is really bad this time round. Hoping it goes SOON!

Hi all, just catching up. Back in hospital as had another seizure a few days ago, moved onto maternity ward today as they didn't know where to put me at first 🙄 they said DS can stay with me overnight but DP can't, I explained I can't look after DS alone due to horrific head/spine pain and unpredictable seizures (had one changing his nappy a couple of weeks ago) so they said they would ask manager if DP could stay too but I decided to send them both home. Hospital is so hot and I want DS at home where he is comfy and happy. Feel like midwives looking at me like I'm a bad mum for not wanting him on the ward with me but I know he's better being at home not stuck in hospital. Poor boy has spent half his life in and out of hospital so far. Anyway, they are finally referring me for an MRI of spine and head and possible blood patch due to post dural puncture headache possibility. It's only been 29 days of fighting with every department and GP to get taken seriously

Sorry for the long post! Hope everyone is doing okay. Can't believe it's nearly May and we are the 'Marchers' - LOs have grown so much yet still feels so new!

@Hermagsjesty yes - me too! I tried to put on my stretchiest pre-pregnancy jeans st the weekend & was bitterly disappointed. I have such a limited number of things that fit me & feel a bit daggy. But it promoted me to book onto an exercise class next week so hoping to start toning
up soon!

@hermagsjesty I'm struggling, but mostly because I have such a limited pre-pregnancy wardrobe anyway. Most of my clothes are work clothes and my non-work clothes are really not ideal for breastfeeding. I got one breastfeeding dress from Mothercare and while it fits 85% of my body, it now doesn't fit my breastfeeding boob, so I can't feed in it. it's all a bit annoying.

@Jenfur oh no, the runs are the worst with a small child!!!! Hope you survived!

@CaseofEllen so sorry to hear you are in hospital again. Ignore other people being judgy - I totally understand why you would have sent them home. What is the point in struggling when you are unwell, especially if it might be dangerous for DS? Better to concentrate on getting yourself better. Nobody would bat an eye if your partner had to work away for a couple of nights so why should it be different for you?!

@AssumeItWasSomethingClever no I've not had a sensation like that. I have had a bit of a weird twangy feeling quite low down recently - a bit like when they caught a nerve going in with the spinal - but I think that is because I am hunching in order to breastfeed. I would check with your GP if it is bothering you.

@Sictransitgloria that is what happened to me with DS1 and I was so pissed off! Hopefully it's not too late for you.

@Hermagsjesty UGH yes I am struggling a lot with the post partum body. I am usually a size 8 and a lot of my image confidence hangs on being slim (given my face is nothing to write home about! 😂) I have a sticky out tummy this time, which is new - with DS I was still generally had a flat stomach even though it was obviously thicker than normal. I think my ab muscles are just more shagged this time round! I also have lots of stretch marks radiating from my belly button which I wouldn't mind EXCEPT thaf when I lie down and suck in, I now end up with loads of loose wrinkly skin. I am scared that when I lose the excess weight I will have a crepe paper stomach.

I am extra conscious of the tummy because I will obviously be losing my boobs and I don't want to be fatter round the middle than I am around my chest! But I have nearly a year to sort that out so I am sure I will get there. I had no idea I was so vain about my tummy until the last few weeks. It is a bit depressing!

As an antidote to this body stress, I attach a poem by Matt Haig from his fab book Notes On A Nervous Planet (which you should all read - it's about living in the digital age and it's both easy to read and excellent).

Had a breakthrough today as I got J in the ergobaby sling and discovered I could stand up and knit while he slept in the sling against my chest. Marvellous!

Oh I meant to say re clothes, eBay is your friend. As are dungarees (especially if breastfeeding). And there is no shame in being in your maternity jeans for ages after the birth. The only reason I reluctantly stopped wearing mine 4 months after DS1 was born was that my friend was pregnant and needed them! I'll be in mine for ages yet I'm sure. I did try on my normal jeans today like you @KarBB and was also thwarted. One pair I couldn't even get the fly done up. My stretchy pair of fat face jeans did up all the way, but gave me a muffin top. And I didn't even bother trying to get into my Superdry jeans- they were tight before and now i bet they wouldn't go past my knees!

Also meant to say that feeding has been awful tonight. I've fed J at 7, 8 and 9pm. He has now finally fallen asleep but I can smell that he has done a poo. I can't bring myself to wake him up though!

@KarBB it's painful isn't it! Yes I also have relief from feeding! Iv has blocked ducts previously and Vasospasm hurts so much more! How have yours been today? Has the heat helped a little?

@Hermagsjesty I'm struggling also! Nothing fits and everything just looks horrid on and I haven't many clothes that are breast feeding friendly which is so frustrating and don't want to buy loads of I'm going to go back to pre pregnancy weight!
And to top it off my brother in laws "DELIGHTFUL" girlfriend made the comment of 'oh you're belly's still quite big and swollen isn't it?' I almost cried