Sept 08 - newborns, milk, nappies and all the rest ....

[Sassafrass]

Hope noone minds me starting our post natal thread now that the babies are arriving so quickly.

Arrivals!
28-May - Johnworf ? Katherine, 1lb 8oz
30-June ? KashaSarrasin ? Felix, 1.39kg
26-July - Jenbot - DD, 3lb 6oz
11-Aug - Crabby - Lilah 2.34kg
13-Aug - Sassafrass - Katie Rose, 7lb 2oz
20-Aug - Sunshinemummy - Effy Marilyn, 6lb 3oz
22-Aug - Talia1 - Anna, 6lb 2oz
26-Aug - Jenpet - Samuel, 3.166 kilos (about 6lb10oz?)
28-Aug - Potxola - Lorea, 7lb 6oz
31-Aug - Digitalgirl - Alfredo, 7lbs
1-Sept - Debithescot - Andrew, 8lb 10oz

I had a minor success today and did my first (almost) public bf. We were at a wedding and I fed DD on one of the chairs near the lobby in the hotel. No one else was really around though, but it boosted my confidence so hopefully I'll be able to do it properly soon . I almost didn't fit in my smart wrap dress as my boobs are so big at the moment, I had to get the safety pins out!

ponymum I definately think that feeding DD lots in the day helps the night times. She usually only wakes up once, although sometimes it does take a while to settle her back down again, 30 mins average. But one wake up a night isn't too stressful as she feeds fast.

Hi ladies! i am still around, just not sleeping much.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL NEW MUMS
Lollipopmother,Minkersmum, Hopefully, nellyonthetelly and Izzybiz

Lorea did not like the snuggle nest, now does not slep in the crib and I am off now to buy a mosses basket. It is a good thing I can sell the stuff in a second hand second shop in my city!!!!!
I am going to read now all your messages.
Jearund I did let the mamis know about Dougie's birthday

Go meglet! Once you get the first few public bf's out the of the way, you'll start getting them out all over the show! It can be quite liberating - and I'm a bit prudish about my own body.

I've got the dreaded nipple thrush - gggrrrrr. I had it last time so I knew the symptoms. Hopefully it will start to clear over the next few days.

DS is on a feed-a-thon at the mo. I forgot how tiring and relentless it can be, but I keep reminding myself that it doesn't last forever.

I bf in church this morning. Are you allowed to get your boobs out in church??

Still have a bit of pain in nipples after feeding but is better than the other day so think we're getting there. The latch is def better but he still sometimes closes his mouth too much while sucking and refuses to let go!

Hello everyone. I've been reading this thread and I'm still longing to be able to come over and join you for real...7 days til due date and counting...
debi I've often wondered that about church! I saw someone doing it once and she left her boob hanging out far too long - I would think that inappropriate anywhere but somehow church seems worse! I spend half my time in creche with dd anyway but thankfully there are speakers so I can still hear what's going on in the service!

Also on the thrush thing, if it does turn out to be that (for you or anyone) then this leaflet from the breastfeeding network is what you need to show your doctor to get the drugs that actually work, as they're not licensed for lactating women, but are perfectly safe! I really hope it isn't thrush though, and it sounds like you're getting the help you need.

Interesting to read all your feeding experiences. I've found that when DS latches on there is an initial sharp pain as he clamps down on my boob with his gums, but as he starts sucking the pain goes. Think my nipples are beginning to toughen p to this (or I'm just getting used to it).

He's feeding a lot during the day now and managed to combine his 1:30 and 3:30 feeds last night by waking up at 2am instead - although I'd automatically woken up at 1:30. Then woke again just before 6. Think that's a lot more manageable.

Haven't tried the moses basket on the bed trick yet. DS won't sleep for long in the basket - have been co-sleeping. Although last night I woke up to hear him snuffling and found DH's heavy arm lying on his body . DH suitably chastised and told he can only sleep facing him. Am worried though. Am I putting my baby at risk just to so I can get a few hours sleep? Should i be persevering with getting him to sleep in his basket? He's only ever slept in it for a maximum of an hour (at night it's usually 10 minutes), but he'll happily sleep next to me in our bed for up to three hours.

when i first started co-sleeping i always used to sleep with dd on the side of me which wasn't near dh. till he became more attuned to the baby in the bed. they are like little heat seeking missiles so they stick next to you rather than wriggle off the bed.

Well ive failed to bf again my babies just wont latch on right even with lots of help i just cant do it.
Ive had a really stressful 2 weeks trying to feed ds2 he did latch on a couple of times but i dont think i had enough milk he would down a 3oz bottle straight after a hour bf.
At least he had ebm in this 2 weeks ive also stopped exspressing now as it takes up alot of time its hard with 2 other children to look after aswell.
Im really lucky Fraser only crys when he is hungry he is quite happy to just to lie awake for ages he love his moses basket i can put him down awake and he falls asleep without a fuss.

a mate of mine had sex 4 days after giving birth so i don't think it is out the realm of possibility.

ug. so much for worrying about A not getting enough milk - he's now a right little milk monster and wants to feed for 45 min every couple hours. Which im fine with, it;s the squawking that I don't know how to solve that does my head in. and when he'll sleep upright on someone's chest but not lying down. he's on my shoulfer atm.
my left breast is sore from too much slurping and last feed he latched in the wrong place but getting him off again hurts even more. he's got more suck yhan a dyson!

Sorry for briefness of post, but thought I'd check in!

Teddy is sleeping at the moment, in his cot (for once). Have posted on BF board with a couple of problems, if anyone feels able to offer advice!

Also, does anyone have any tips on settling him in his cot? It's next to the bed, but he really isn't' happy settling in it. Despite being a lighter sleeper since having him, I still sleep quite heravily when I do eventually geta few minutes sleep, so I'm terrified of co sleeping. Currently DP and I are sleeping in shifts while the other one holds him...

You could try putting a dirty nighty/pj top in with him so that it smells of you

hopefully lots of good advice from Tiktok on your thread. yes, when he starts to fall asleep on one side, swap him over. The faster milk flow will help him perk up, get more in (esp. helpful during the day) so hopefully ask for less at night.

look lower down the page here: Sat 20-Sep-08 11:55:30 at my post. If you can spend today skin to skin like this as much as possible, it may make tonight easier.

also try doing breast compressions when the milk flows less from one side. Once it no longer works, swap over.

good luck.

NC can i recommend a wrap sling to keep him close and upright during the day? they are so tiny right now and your body is the only environment that they know at the moment. he's being so normal for wanting to always be on someone. it is a shame we have to get up and do stuff these days instead of having a gaggle of family looking after us.

starlight - I think they advise you to abstain until the bleeding stops as there is a risk of infection. The point where the placenta attaches to the uterus has to heal - or something like that! Does your question mean we are going to have to give you the contraception talk

Oh, and pmsl at your quavers and capri-sun comment.

Hopefully - it's totally normal for them not to settle on their own. It often comes with time, but keep trying. Often it starts off at 10 minutes, then eventually it will be a whole nap.

Or, put your dp in a spare bed and you two share your bed. That's what we're doing and it seems to work. I couldn't co-sleep with dp as he sleeps so deeply that I worry he will squash the baby - hence I don't sleep well. So, with just me and Mac in the bed there is enough room for me not to worry about him being squashed or rolling out of bed.

starlight,
i had an emergency c section, but we've resumed bedroom activities only to be interrupted by the product of such activities.

when will we be able to finally have sex without having to stop in the middle to feed/nappy change/burp? are we ever going to get our sex lives back? will my breasts ever stop smelling like curdling dairy products?!

hopefully - We are struggling with exactly the same thing at night, as far as getting dd to settle in her basket. I posted a couple of days ago about the improvement we found by simply putting the moses basket on the bed instead of next to it. It has made a big difference being that little bit closer, but tbh is still a world away from when she is sleeping on me: on me she is immediately at peace, her breathing totally relaxes, and she is asleep and content straight away. In the basket she is upset, grizzly, has short upset breathing, and constantly wakes up and starts crying.

She seems to want about three feeds per night, in addition to the hungry monster feeds during the day (in evenings it is almost non-stop demand from one breast to the other which is exhausting). We get some improvement at night by feeding on one breast until done, changing nappy, then putting her on the other breast whether she has asked for it or not, then letting her fall asleep on me drunk before transferring her to the basket. She seems to sleep longer in between if we do this.

Good luck!

morning everyone

well afternoon i suppose

just thouht i would check in so i didn't lose the thread

ds is still being brill as a colicky time between feeds and once that's over with is really good

am off to postnatal drop in this afternoon to get bay weighed and me checked over and discharged

Potxola like you I am not sleeping much either so not getting much time for Mumsnet! Thanks for letting the mamis know, I do want to go on and tell them properly but just haven't had time. We have just ordered a Closer wrap as I remember you recommended it. Dougie loves being held and yesterday when we took them to Sainsbury in the double buggy he cried all the way round until I picked him up. All he wanted was a cuddle. So I think the wrap could be the way to go.

Debithescot Dougie has oral thrush, probably due to the antibiotics I received in labour. Look in Andrew's mouth - the telltale sign is white patches on the roof of his mouth. We went to the out of hours doctor and were given Daktarin gel to put on his mouth twice a day. I don't appear to have it (yet?) though and they haven't given me anything to take or put on my nipples, just told me to keep them clean and air them when I can (great fun with the PIL staying!!!)

We're still up most of the night. We tend to get about 3 hours towards the end (about 4 o'clock onwards) but he still wants to feed a lot before that. We think the jaundice is finally clearing as his stools are at last turning yellow so hopefully he won't need blood tests and phototherapy. The midwife will be back on Wednesday so we'll find out then.

We took him to get him registered today. He is now official!!!!

Finally congrats to the new mothers - I saw from Potxola's post that Hopefully you've finally had your baby but I haven't had the chance to read the thread yet.

thanks for the ideas everyone. I think I am being particularly hypersensitive about BF, as I am using it as a consolation prize for ending up with spinal and a morphine injection after going to all the effort of giving birth on G&A alone.

settling in the cot is improving, and you're right iltmimi, we're working up from a minute or so in the cot a couple f days ago to sometimes sleeping in there for 20 mins. As you say ponymum, it's still not as settled as when he's on me or dp though.

thanks for the ideas everyone. I think I am being particularly hypersensitive about BF, as I am using it as a consolation prize for ending up with spinal and a morphine injection after going to all the effort of giving birth on G&A alone.

settling in the cot is improving, and you're right iltmimi, we're working up from a minute or so in the cot a couple f days ago to sometimes sleeping in there for 20 mins. As you say ponymum, it's still not as settled as when he's on me or dp though.

thanks for the ideas everyone. I think I am being particularly hypersensitive about BF, as I am using it as a consolation prize for ending up with spinal and a morphine injection after going to all the effort of giving birth on G&A alone.

settling in the cot is improving, and you're right iltmimi, we're working up from a minute or so in the cot a couple f days ago to sometimes sleeping in there for 20 mins. As you say ponymum, it's still not as settled as when he's on me or dp though.