October 2007 - the golden piglets have landed

[Mumpbump]

I couldn't find a postnatal thread - not sure if I am just missing it with post-childbirth brain! Anyone else around??

Alice - I had a mirena fitted when ds was 12 weeks old - as my cervix had recently been open , it wasn't too uncomfortable - think crampy period pains for a couple of days - nothing paracetemol couldn't fix ...

I had it in until October of 2005 as that's when I started trying for this lo - it didn't adversely affect my fertility (although it looks that way) - as I was pg within 2 months of it coming out (I had 2 mc in 2006).

I loved the mirena - my periods stopped completely after 6 months, and it was great ... I know that others have hated it, but it was ideal for me ... I'll be having a new one fitted asap - that says it all really ... dh will have the snip eventually, but the mirena will do us in the meantime.

Off to bed now - dd fed until 9pm, and has just woken again - dh is up there trying to settle her - the osteopath warned us she could be unsettled for 24 - 48 hours - she wasn't kidding!

Think of us tomorrow - dh doesn't want to take ds ... so I'll have to bite my tongue at MiL's hand-wringing!

Hey everyone - missbumpy, we have a ziko pushchair from mamas and papas, can be used from birth,comes with foot muff and rain cover, very lightweight and easy to steer, was only about 130 quid, folds up well too, only downside is it doesn't have much storage underneath and it faces forwards but if you have the hood back can still see lo, anyway it meets our needs but don't know much about other ones? Just thought i'd recommend it as we really like ours and it might be worth a look

Thanks Dalrymps. I was looking at a Maclaren one and a bebecar one. i was worried about LO facing outwards but might be worth it to have lightweight pram.

HI
Good to hear about Mirena EJT, thanks for the info...we have been using the 100% method of abstainance...mainly because I have been too sore/tired/still bleeding to even think about it...but have been discussing what we are going to do..DH has offered to have the snip as we dont intend having any more children;( Alex is going to be a spoiled one and only as we dont want to spend another 3 years having miscarriages and not being able to go through with testing or termination and very possibly landing Alex with a Downs Syndrome sibling to care for for the rest of his life)The mirena might be just the solution we need in the meantime (particularly if it stops your periods...this lupus anticoagulant problem of mine has been immitating the symptoms of endometriosis for years and such heavy periods are not fun)
Well I had another horrendously busy weekend but this time either tiredness or pnd got the upper hand and I couldnt stop crying.. for no real reason. My 6 week check isnt going to be happening until next week (when I'll be nearly 8 weeks postnatal!)and I have to admit I really could do with it being sooner because I dont want to spend another 48 hours behaving like that again
good grief look at the time
got to go or I'll get no sleep at all before his lorships next feed
hugs to all of you who need them

Hi all,

Sorry, I have not been on for a while. I now don't turn on my computer until DD1 is in bed (usually 7.30pm).

DD2 woke at 3.30am. I fed and changed her, but could not get back to sleep, so decided to see how you are all doing.

Not read all the posted.

Sorry to hear you are feeling down FT. I hope everyone else is well.

Shula is doing really well. I got her weighed yesterday, she is now 8lbs 8.5oz. She put on 10.5oz this week. Not taking her next week as she has her 6 week check the week after. My 6 week check is a week on Friday.

Take care everyone.

morning everyone - how are you all? I had a pretty rubbish night again - I just can't seem to settle Madeleine back to sleep after her feeds at night, so we go through this ridiculous performance of her falling asleep feeding, me cuddling her a bit to make sure she's properly asleep, putting her in her basket, she wakes up, wants to feed more, gets bad wind, groans in discomfort, throws up, feeds, falls asleep, wakes up etc etc This went on for over 2 hours last night - and she is only managing 2 hrs between feeds. anyone any good tips?? just can't remember how I did it with DS!! I thin i@m also reacting too quicly so she doesn't wake DS up - can't cope with both of them up on my own!!
muppet - hope things settle down with your 2. It is a minefield isn't it? But it sounds like you're doing all the right things. hope it gets a bit easier for you.

and I'm eating loads of crap too - have taken to eating my body weight in chocolate at each of the night feeds, as it's the only thing that can wake me up enough (she is so tiny I'm scared I'll drop her! so don't want to be dozing with her feeding)

ho hum. 3 weeks in. this will all settle down soon won't it and thanks for the dummy and mirena tips - very interesting - I've been thinking about that too - someone reccomended contraceptive patches to me. anyone used those before??

have a good day everyone.

needing some advice on nopple shields. As a consequence of breast and nipple thrush, cracked nipples and a blocked duct on the nipple I am pretty close to stopping bf, which is the last thing I want to do. I've bf my other two and really want to feed this bub, but it's getting too sore. I've got mothercare nipple shields which I'm going to try today, but wondered if anyone can recommend any brand as being superior? I just can't see how the shape of the mothercare ones relates in any way at all to the shape of my nips! Sorry to thsoe having bad nights. No advice - I'm right there with you!

Obviously meant "nipple" shields. The joys of typing whilst bouncing screaming baby!

Hi all,
sympathies for you Katsh and anyone else with nipple problems, it is a nightmare (I remember from last time) and completely understand why its tempting to give up bf. If you can withstand it tho, and use all the recommended creams/shields etc it does get better - just doesn't feel it at the time.
bf is going okish here, but Ronan never seems very content after feeding,frowns a lot and grizzles and seems in lots of discomfort.
Have tried infacol/gripe and now a dummy (to try and have more breaks between feeding) have also booked appt for cranial osteopath at end of month if things don't get better.
Just want him to be a bit more settled/happy.
We are co-sleeping at night - it means he is happier, an I get a bit more sleep.
Hopefully won't last forever (but it is nice isn't it?!)
baby clinic later - hopefully his weight is ok.
better go.. his nibs calls.....

I am in the exact same place as you Katsh - it's just awful isn't it. I am getting close to giving up too which was never my intention. I want to BF for a year at least but at the moment all I do is have painful feeds and then spend a couple of hours dreading the next painful feed. I haven't left the house since I gave birth. The HV won't be pleased when she comes round today as I was meant to go out but I just can't face it and I am getting really down.

Are you on meds for the thrush? I also expressed from the worst side for a couple of days and alternated bottles and breast. Not ideal but gave me a bit of a break.

Nipple shields didn't help me so can't offer advice on that one.

Quick post from me as about to go out - will respond properly later.

Just wanted to say good luck to ejt today - hope all goes well honey - I'll be thinking of you.

Also to Katsch - I have used nipple shields with great success and found the avent ones to be best (only others I tried though were Boots which hurt so can't speak for mothercare. Don't worry about the shape not loking like your nipples - that is the shape your lo sucks into their mouth when bf and it works fine!

Adam was weighed this am - 10lb 10oz so STILL smaller than Inzi's Jane at birth!!! Can't imagine having him inside me now!!!!

Big hugs to the rest of you esp those strugglinbg - will be back on later xxxx

hi everyone,

sorry you're feeling so low floria tosca. I've been feeling the same on andoff and have wondered if it's pnd. could just be normal post-natal exhaustion and hormones though.

nellie, my DD is often really hard to settle after night feeds too. no tips to offer, just sympathy.

katsh, sorry to hear about your probs breast feeding. ik think there are quite a few ofus here in the same boat so you're not alone. i've found nipple shields really useful. i use the Avent ones. they're not the same shape as a real nipple (not mine anyway!) butit doesn't seeem to matter. only problem is that DD and I have got so used to them that I'm scared to feed her without them.

Stefka, don't worry about what the HV will think. it's still really early days and no one expects you to be out and about. can you get your DP or a friend to help you take your LO out after work or at the weekend? even if you only go round the block, it might make you feel a bit less trapped in the house.

i'm hoping to go to a bf support group today but DD has been really unsettled so haven't had shower/got dressed/had breakfast yet and wondering if I'll be able to get to the group on time.

Hi Katsh
I don't suppose there's much difference in nipple shields except personal preference but I preferred the medela ones to avent - a smaller teat and a semicircular surrounding area which helped them stick. I used them for a couple of weeks then stopped with not much hassle. They helped me carry on bf when I'm sure I'd have given up. Good luck with it

BIG HUGS are being sent to all of you that are feeling low, I feel incredibly lucky to feel so well, I just know that is down to ff though, I can remember how depressed and low I felt when bfing Sam, I just knew I couldn't do it again this time round. I know they say breast is best, but not for me its not, and likewise I think Ben is far more settled for it. Don;t get me wrong, he is still uncomfortable after feeds and he does tend to cry alot (he is now and hour and a half after his last bottle) but he is much better than Sam was. So anyone who feels that they can't bf anymore don;t feel guilty if you want to try ff, at the end of the day if you feel better for it, your lo will too.

I have my six week check on friday and am considering the coil, I was on the pill for 10 years and just feel I need to try an alternative method, plus dh is getting seriously horny I'm going to have to give in soon

...so here are the highs and lows of today!

I b/f in public today for the very first time!!!!!!! In a cafe and I coped. Really chuffed with myself.

BUT
Then couldn't work out how to get the car seat off the pram chasis and ended up having to take the adaptors off the frame which were still attatched to the seat so couldn't then put the seat into the base in the car...worked out how to get the adpators off and all was well
THEN
shut the door and realised I had shut the keys in the car....
Panic, panic, panic as I saw my bag with phone, keys on the seat but most of all my baby locked in the car.

Luckily my lovely dh is crap at remembering to get the car fixed and as I tried all the doors the passenger front door came open and I remembered that the lock was broken.

Moral of the story...

...thank god for crap husbands!

Muppet - I'm so impressed you b/fed in public. That's my next big hurdle. No idea how to do it without exposing huge amounts of breast to the world .
I've had a few pram crises too. I find it all really hard to get the hang of...especially when you're trying to hold a crying baby and not drop the shopping etc.

Inzi - Big hug. I've just been in tears this morning too. Everyone tells me it's normal to feel this way. Midwife sounds a bit mean to make you keep on feeding on a mangled nip. Can you use a pump to keep supply up without causing any more damage? Have you tried nipple shields? They saved me. Like KRC I think I would have given up b/f without them.

DD has finally calmed down after a big crying session. I haven't managed to get a shower but I have got dressed (leaving her to cry for a few minutes which felt really mean ) and I think I'm ready to go off to this breastfeeding group. Hopefully I'll get a bit of support there and I think I'll feel better for making it out of the house.

Hope everyone else's days get better in spite of the weather (it's grey, rainy and miserable here in London).
x

WEll done MG on the bfing in public. I went into Birmingham on the train last Wednesday with a friend. DD2 was starting to grump for a feed as we got on, I therefopre lifted her out of the pushchair and gave her a feed there and then. Nobody commented, but if they had I would have told them where to go. It just looked like I was giving her a cuddle anyway.

JUst had a phone call from my local Sainsbury's. I needed to your their baby change room the other week and DD2 always like a feed after a nappy change, but there was no seat in there so I had to sit on the toilet. They have now put a seat in there.

Hey everyone, feeling a bit today, seems every time we solve one prob with the lo another pops up, first it was painful bf which i still get occasionally (one nipple healed but he mae it sore again by moving in to the wrong position), then it was trapped wind, got some infacol, now he seems to have a cold and hardly slept last night as was snuffling with a blocked nose, can't use the sucker thing to clear his nose cause it tickles his throat and then he's sick , fellind ovrwhelmed by the responsibility and down, feling scared i won't be able to cope when dh goes back to working his 12 hour shifts, 3 on 3 off on thurs, also wondering if this is just hormones or pnd? feel anxious when lo wakes up as i don't feel i'm good enough to look after him, silly i know as he's doing fine really and gaining weight well, anyone else feeling like this? sorry about the selfish post.

Just had an awful feed - we both cried all the way through it.

I made myself go outside though - just for a ten minute walk but it's a start. I am worried I am getting depressed so I need to try and stay active.

I am so impressed with those of you who are out and about. I just can't imagine going anywhere right now.

poor you stefka, i really feel for you with your bf problems, it only hurts occasionally for me now and thats bad enough, i need to get out more, been out for a walk twice with dh but need to do it myself too. Atleast you've made it out now so you know you cando it, thats a big challenge in itself, i find it hard enough just getting showered and dressed and maaging to feed myself before half the day has gone! As you can see by my last post,i too am worried about becoming depressed. Had a chat with dh just now cause i burst in to tears... again, he said maybe i'm just worrying a lot over him going back to work as i don't know what to expect, this is true, it's the main thing i'm worrying about right now, just scared i won't cope on my own and i'll be sat with a screaming baby who won't settle all day.. dylan never has screamed all day but thats the worst case scenario i've managed to think up and worry about. Anyone else worried about coping on their own?

aw you poor lot, stef, inzi, dal and everyone else-{big hug} i promise you, it does get better, i was in a right state the first few wks, now things are settled down and kind of into a routine, its so much easier! so what if your not ready to leave the house till teatime, or the house is a tip, its not the end of the world

with regards tp bloody car seats and prams, i hate the things, can't wait till Shannons in a forward facing car seat and a buggy, so much easier.

those with cracked nipples, i know its hard but keep at it if you can, and their's no harm in lo having a bottle or 2 of ff to give you a break once in a while, it was the best thing i did the first time, i felt so guilty but nips had a break and i wasn't fighting her to get a good position and she slept longer which gave me chance to have a longer sleep, felt so much better and now she has one nearly every day before bed tim and then goes about 5 hours usually.

love to you all

OMG i've just eaten a full tray of cadbury chocolate fingers and now i'm late to get dd from drama! have a nice evening all

Everyone repeat after me it will get better this shall pass

and breathe.....!!!

Good news is Ronan is 10.3 now so is doing ok with the weight gain, he also had a massive poo earlier and am hoping this will relieve his tummy pain...

uh.. spoke to soon.. he's grizzling again... back when I can!