October 2007 - the golden piglets have landed

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

oh inzi ... big hugs to you ...

and tLES - sounds like a case of grandaparentitis to me with your ds1!
Have you read "siblings without rivalry"? If you don't want to buy it, you can borrow my copy - just email me your address ...

DD screamed all the way though mass this morning and ... then fell asleep the minute it was all over!

Now screaming again ...

Ejt....thanks, err whats your email addy??????

Anyone on this thread that needs an electric pump I have a brand new one for sale I bought it but it got delivered after Zach decided the bottle filled him up more lol

inzi - don't remember having particularly low energy levels after my section but then mine was an elective one and I didn't have to go through labour. I'm knackered all the time but thats called being a new mum! Your levels of tiredness sound a bit more than that though - have you had your blood count checked again since you came home?

Inzi sorry just read your post properly and saw your blood count is going up. What is it though? might still be low enough to be tired. Normal would be over about 12.5 but you wouldn't tend to give someone a transfusion unless it was below 8. Iron is given for levels below 10. So you could still be well below normal.

Also lack of energy is one of the signs of PND - if you think this is even a remote possibility see someone sooner rather than later honey x

Feeling pretty frazzled tonight. Been for dinner at pizza express with the boys, dh, mum, dad and sis. Adam screamed for most of it (so know how you feel ejt!) finally wearing himself out into a sleep and Sam although objectively very good was running around a lot (the main course took over 45 mons to arrive and so it was a lot easier to let him wander than tie him to the chair and its the sort of place where thats not a problem at that time) so that takes a fair bit of maintenance. And although we had lots of people to help and they were great I found it all pretty stressful as did dh. I know you win some you lose some but all I want now is a BIG glass of wine! And because I'm full of cold I don't really want to make that worse.... One plus was there was a lovely family in there - 3 boys, 1 about 10 months and 2 about 5 and 7. The 5 year old was lovely with Sam and played with him a lot. The mum was pacing with her lo as I was with Adam and she was lovely! Cheered me up a bit in a way only other mums can - one reason MN keeps me sane!

On the plus side I get a full night of sleep tonight as sis is on Sam duty and Mum and Dad are on Adam duty. So that is the one thing keeping me sane! I know I won't sleep - I'm bound to wake anyway when the boys do and I'm bound to not be able to sleep properlyh as thats sods law but I guess anything is going to be better than the amount of sleep I would get looking after Adam!

Anyway, off now ladies to sit and chill for 5. Good luck to you all.

hi all, just scanned through, sorry for those having a hard time, inzi, LES and others.
am not feeling too good myself, bad hang over yesterday and my milk is drying up, think its a mixture of stress of being upset over my 'friend' getting another woman possibly pg and introducing a bottle of ff, Shannon doesn't seem to be satisfied from me bf, she gets frantic and really upset. i'm really worried i'm getting PD, hope it passes.

HI all,

Sorry not had time to read all the posts since I was last on. I hope everyone is well.

Over the last couple of nights I have mamaed to express 200ml of milk for Sjula. I am hoping the she will take a bottle from her daddy as I am (hopefully) going on a MN meet up on Friday night. He tried to give it to her earlier, but she would not take it, whewn I offered her the real thing she latched on straight away. We will try again later. I hope she takes it or I will not be able to go out on Friday At least we have another few weeks brfore DP's work party on 15th December to persevere as my parents will be looking after the girls then.

Last night was a nightmare - we had our lovely bottle of champagne, and I was just expressing ready for an early night, when the doorbell rang - it was one of our neighbours telling us that some scrote had put a brick through our visitor's windscreen ... so we called the police, then noticed that the old lady next door was scrabbling around the window - when we went to reassure her that all was well, she said she thought something had happened to her window, as there had been a big bang behind her - when we looked we saw that one of her window was broken - and when I went in, there was half a brick on the floor, and smashed glass everywhere - and she sits in the window - I was furious! The police came and said that it was the 5th criminal damage call they'd had that night and - apparently, there's a gang of kids roaming around basically getting away with it at the moment, as they do a runner before anybody can catch them!
Nora (the neighbour) was very shaky, so we called her daughter, who came and got her and took her home (eventually) - between us we managed to board up her window - and to cover Simon's car window ...

I couldn't believe it ... am - Nora could have been very badly injured as she sits on the sofa right under the window!

Am very tired today - feeling like I'm disappearing ...

tLES - my email address is eirian dot thomas at gmail dot com

love to everybody else!

inzi - dont worry about stopping bf, a happier mummy means a happier baby! your boobs will calm down in no time it only takes a couple of days and they will feel much better. i have just left my boobs to their own devices when stopping Bfing and worn a really supportive bra, guess thats a bit like binding? not sure i would feed at all to relieve your boobs cos surely that just stimulates them to amke more milk again. i was told to just leave boobs alone if possible!

Hi all

Thought if any of you had a spare five minutes, you might enjoy reading this - I laughed like a drain - publicaddress.net/southerly

Love to all,

A x

Inzi you sound so much more upbeat today which is great - I've been a bit worried about you. A level of 9 could well still be making you knakered but that will get better with the iron and looking after yourself with time.

J20 - sorry honey that you are struggling. You have a lot on your plate at the mo - make sure you too accept any help that is offered although if I remember rightly your family aren't the most helpful in the world? Thanks loads for the hypnobirthing cd for my sis too - she was really chuffed and I'm sure will make good use of it!

Ejt - for you and your neighbour! Thats awful! Hope they get the little sh*ts who did it...

Well last day of help today so I'm going to make the best of it. Good rest last night but needless to say I woke whenever adam did (which was quite a lot last night) and didn't sleep great the rest of the time... Still got a better sleep than Mum and Dad so mustn't grumble! Catch you later....

Apricott that link is hilarious! Def recommend the rest of you reading it if you have the chance!!!

Hi ladies

Thanks for the tip about hand expressing - I may give it a go but must be honest, I don't really fancy it as it's just too close to being milked like a cow for my liking LOL! I'm calling the BF contact at the hospital as I think she has pumps for hire which will get me through the next few weeks (could be 3 or 5 depending on DH's work arrangements which are still tbc).

Today's been a good one - my first day on my own as the nanny had to get her visa renewed. I'm proud of myself for coping although Izaak had a melt down during his 4pm nap and I'm letting him sleep a little longer (waking him in 5 mins for feeding).

Hubby away this weekend with work. Its a 'family' weekend but I always decline this annual company love in as us Western women don't exactly blend in - as Thai's love to poke & prod babies I'm glad I'm not expected to attend.

Gotta go - LO decided 5 mins up already!!

Jo
x

Hey everyone, hope you're all doing ok, have decided to express from my sore side to rest it and carry on feeding from the good side for now cause it was just getting too sore, got a manual tommy tippee pump but only seem to be able to get about 1oz each time i express so it took me 3 attempts ot get 3 oz for his last feed which dh gave him, anyone know if this is the right amount? he feeds about every 2 hours and a website i was on sai he would ned between 1 and a half and 2 and a half oz but gave him 3 and he drank it all. Am considering epressing for a bit then switching to ff but feeling a little guilty about this , i could probably carry on bf if i persisted but when it hurts it's just not enjoyable and i don't like having to take ds off before he's quite finished cause i'm in pain, although i always make sure he's had at least 20 mins before taking him off and have only done it a few times but once he cried and i felt so bad! Will have been bf him 3 weeks tomorrow, he took to the bottle of ebm realy well so no probs there but don't know how long i can keep up the expressing for either cause it takes so long to get enough out and once dh is back at work i'll have no one to hold ds whilst i try to express, although i could probably hold him at the same time it's easier if dh holds him. I'm also worried that he'll be more windy if i switch to formula and it'll not be as convienient and not as good for him etc etc... Anyway i'm just rambling but any advice on all this would be gratefully recieved!

Hi Dalrymps..
I suggest you get an electric pump (hasn't LES got one for sale?)lot of noise but much quicker.
I use the Medela, and am giving Ronan a bottle at night (3oz) and freezing some too -so am getting a little collection now which will come in useful.
Don't feel bad about expressing - nothing wrong with it and it means other people can feed your babe too - a godsend for us as we have a night out on Wednesday and Granny is looking after babe - wouldn't happen without expressing.

Hope everyone else well... flying visit as nibs calls again!

Hi everyone, sorry I haven't posted since the birth. I hardly have any spare time...and I am trying to stick to breastfeeding (sounds like I am in a minority...?). It's very tough especially because of the night feeds that I can't "delegate" to anyone until I can start expressing - but I would like to continue.

The main problem has not been bf though, but the fact LO just cries and cries. I think it's because I've got a fast flow and he chokes as he feeds, and then gets lots of wind Pretty stressful really. Today he's been crying non stop and I am taking advantage of the fact he's now taking his first nap of the day....

We've also had a death in the family just one week after his birth, so life has been very complicated for us...and I've had to cope on my own with LO a few times already from day 5 after birth as DH has had to deal with the funeral and other family things...

Overall it's going ok though I am not looking forward to dh going back to work this week. I'll keep you posted.

Sorry about those feeling down. I feel very down when I can't stop the baby crying so much, and because I've been very housebound so far - mainly because of feeling weak because of anemia and dh not being around to help me put LO in pram, etc. But I am hoping things will get better and I am ctelling myself I will NOT get PND - just suffering from mild baby blues, which will pass, etc...

I've just re-added myself to the list as I seem to have disappeared...

TheLadyEvenstar - 18-09-07 - 5lb 15oz - speedy birth lol - 2nd rugrat - ds1 Karl 9 yrs (still think i must have lost the plot to do it again) bf for first 6 weeks now ff ahhhhh he sleeps even better now lol

FloriaTosca- 26/09/07- Boy - Alexander -7lb 13oz - induced (due to pre-eclampsia)17.5 hr labour, 3rd degree tear. Exclusively breastfed.

ejt1764 - 1/10/07 - girl - Mairwen - 6lb12oz - water vbac - child number 2, also have ds, who's 5 - still exclusively bf, but may introduce formula soon!

alicet - 02/10/2007 - boy - Adam - 7lb14oz - elective c-section following previous emergency section with ds1 - child number 2, have ds1 Sam - was bf for about a month before I caved and hit the bottle (or Adam did...)

J20 - 5/10/07-girl-Shannon-venthouse, episiotomy and forceps-also have dd1 age 7-bf +1/2 bottle(s) a day

Mrs Fish - 5/10/07 - Boy - Benjamin - 8lb 11oz - emergency c-section due to Ben being breech - child No 2, have ds1 Sam. Bf for first 24 hours then switched to ff, best decision I made

Apricott - boy - Huw - 10-10-07 - 8 lbs - 'normal' vb - 2nd degree tear - exclusive breast-feeding - dd is 12 and in love with her little brother.

Greedy - 10/10/07 - girl - Marcy - 8lb 9 1/2oz - also have ds 4 and dd1 nearly 3 - ff i am afraid!

Missbumpy - 13/10/07 - Baby Rosa 7lb 10oz - 1st child, breastfeeding (with difficulty!)

Nellie - 19-10-07 - girl - Madeleine Rose - 6lb 8oz - elective section following previous emergency section with DS who is 2.5yrs. B/feeding.

Stefka - 21/10/07 - boy - Darheh - 7ilb 5oz - currently bf with great difficulty.

unicorn - 22/10/07 - boy - Ronan Thomas - 8lbs 6oz (also have a dd(8) ds(5)) - very quick labour (3hrs)- breastfeeding ok but very hungry babe, so may intro ff sooner...

Dalrymps - 30/10/07 - boy - Dylan McGregor - 6lb 5oz - natural birth, gas and air, back 2 back, 3rd degree tear - bf with one sore boob!

MrsJoJo - 02/11/07 - boy - Izaak Brendan - 8lb 14oz - emergency c-section due to pre-eclampsia - BF well.

inzidoodle - 03/11/07 - girl - Jane Catherine - 10lb 15oz - emergency c-section - bf 2 weeks gave in to bottle as too anaemic and weak

Collywobbles - 04/11/07 - boy - Jacob Noah Patrick - 8lbs 15oz - induced/forceps delivery - episiotomy - breastfeeding (trouble at start due to low iron count following blood loss during birth) seems to be improving now though.

Muppetgirl - 5/11/07 - boy- Henry - 9lb 15 1/2 ozs - forceps - 3rd degree tear - child number 2 - ds1 Oliver - breast fed with formula feed at 10pm to get me some sleep (I go to bed at 8pm!! and he wakes up at around 2am so I get 6 hrs sleep- wahoooo!!!)

Designerbaby - 10/11/07 - girl - Isabella Grace - 9lbs 8oz - forceps delivery, extended 3rd degree tear and cervical laceration - breasfeeding going OK so far - I think...

Choc Hobnob - 13/11/07 - girl - Rebecca Alice - 6 lb 13oz - emergency c-section - trying to bf but not sure it's going to work!

So sorry to hear some of you still having a tough time -Inzi, J20, Les and for your neighbour EJT

Henry is 2 weeks old today and the good bits -he's a big boy who has a big stomach that can be filled for him to get lots of sleep (Inzi -this is the of having big babies!!) He b/f for about 20 mins and can go for 3-4 hrs between feeds adn today I have had to wake him to feed him. He likes to cluster feed in the evening but that's fine as I just sit and watch telly. I go to bed at 8pm and dh gives him a f/f bottle at 10pm and then I b/f the rest of the time. He wakes around 2am ish and again at 5am ish so I am getting plenty of sleep. Dh and I don't see much of each other as he gets in around 7 but at least I feel rested and able to tackle the day.

The bad bits -Oliver still hates me, in fact he completely ignores me when dh is around. Dh absolutely bollocked him yesterday but it doesn't seem to have had much effect. He loves his brother but I'm still not doing enough for him that he wants to spend time with me. Very hard to take sometimes as he can be quite hurtful...

Henry is still a fat knacker and he fits the 0-3 month clothes we had to buy him when he was born and will very soon be in 3-6 months. It's weird, he's not as long as Oliver was but he's sooooooo fat!!!! Also his cord still hasn't come off and it's day 14 and it's now secreting a brownish gunge which doesn't smell but doesn't look right either. Anyone got any advice?

Well, went out today to soft play place for Oliver with friends which was good and went out this morning walking the dogs. My 'bits' are getting back to normal and my tummy seems to be going down quite fast. I am even entertaining the idea of buying some jeans at the weekend!! Mine still don't fit but my maternity ones keep falling down. Am hoping to go swimming at the weekend to as this really helps with my mood. Might not swim, just sit and bob in the spa pool thingy.

Have a good evening
emma
x

muppet - how old is Oliver? If it's any consolation, Rhydian is now 5 and adores me - but from the age of about 2 - 3 1/2, it was almost as though I didn't exist (except at night, when nobody else would do ) - it was really, really demoralising, and I kept questioning my abilities as a mother ... somebody summed it up for me that he was developing his identity as a boy ... he was totally daddy-centric during the day ... when I was home alone with him, and he cried for his daddy, that hurt ... keep repeating - this is a phase and will pass....

Well, I seem to have a baby who's default option is SCREAM ... she goes from happy (not often) to livid and enraged in less than 10 seconds - and God help us all if you miss a sleep cue ....

I swear she has screamed for about 80% of the time she's been awake for the past few days - it's utterly exhausting ... ... anybody got any tips (earplugs seem to be a really good idea at the moment!)

Right - mae bwyd yn barod ... (grub's up) .... going to try and bolt my dinner down before M starts screaming again - she went to sleep in the pram while I was out doing my avon books ...