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

Awww hopefully, is he producing wet nappies? Those should be coming before you see the poo ones. Starlight is right about your supply taking 24 - 48 hrs to respond. And because he is on alot, your breasts won't be feeling full so don't worry, you are producing milk. And you can produce all he needs. We all have our bad days early on. I can still clearly remember sobbing on the steps at 4am because dd wanted to feed again. But the crying got the emotions out and then i could do it.

And yes, getting dressed does seem like hard work some days and there were many a days when I didn't dress or even get a wash. [gross]

hopefully
i'm not sure if this will help, but i've been naked for a few days now with a towel sheet wrapped around my lady bits for some comfort/so things don't get messy. my boobs are just out in the open for Noah to drink as he pleases. i do a massive wash up after every feed though, i can't stand feeling all milky/smelling like dairy. ugh.

hopefully - sending you lots of support. I'm not an expert like star and foxy, but it definitely sounds like a growth spurt. Our NCT tutor told us not to get disheartened if we experience the mismatch as demand and supply try to catch up with each other. The demand makes the supply happen, iyswim. Drink lots and make sure you are getting enough food, esp if you are stuck in bed!

debiscot - I can so sympathise. DH and I have lived in 3 different countries and I have not lived in my home country for 7 years! We are here because of his work, which is very specialised. We constantly debate a 'plan' to get ourselves back 'home' sometime in the future (wherever that is now ). It would mean him giving up working on the things that are really important to him, and earning a lot less too. I would say don't worry about the income if the other things are right. I am convinced that you can have a happy and fulfilling life on quite a different income, as long as you are both happy and convinced you are doing the right thing.

Well we're home again.
It was all a bit quick and overwhelming. My waters broke at 00:05 on Wednesday, when i posted that i was having pain half an hour later, the contractions were over a minute long, and no more than a minute apart. Almost straight after there seemed to be no gap in the agony, just a slight easing occasionally, I felt like pushing and partner still hadn't got back! Luckily he got in, realised things were truly underway and called the ambulance. Never did make it to Kings - whizzed to local hospital, where doula was waiting - I was fully dilated, and my body was pushing and at 02:05 I had a baby girl, 7lbs12oz, no stitches, just a graze. So, 2 hours from beginning to end - I was all shivery and shaky after, probably shock!

She fed for about 2 hours straight away, then pretty much slept for about 12 hours. Then once I was hoping to get a bit of sleep at last she perked up.

Dd is in love at the moment, wants to hold her all the time, kisses her, tells other people how to stroke and kiss her - she says she'll change her nappy, change her sheet if she's sick, and put her back into bed if she clambers out! Hope it lasts!

I was kept in so they could check my heart was OK, and came home this afternoon. House is a state and I don't really have anywhere to sit and feed her, goodness knows what mw will think when she visits.

Thanks for the support starlight, foxy, eandz and ponymum. I am trying to be as positive as possible, it just feels like every time something begins to get on track, something else gets derailed (today's disaster has been the nappy rash thing, which is just unbelievably painful). Everyone's stories of surviving it are so inspiring, and help so much, makes me feel a lot less alone. DP is trying to be as supportive as possible, but it's impossible not to feel a bit lonely, as he physically can't go through the pain for me, or breastfeed for me (although he would if he could - he has been reduced to tears by his inability to help more than once). I think reading everyone's stories on MN is the only thing keeping me sane(ish)!

I just keep thinking 'one more hour', or 'one more day', and it's getting me through at the moment.

Thanks for the support starlight, foxy, eandz and ponymum. I am trying to be as positive as possible, it just feels like every time something begins to get on track, something else gets derailed (today's disaster has been the nappy rash thing, which is just unbelievably painful). Everyone's stories of surviving it are so inspiring, and help so much, makes me feel a lot less alone. DP is trying to be as supportive as possible, but it's impossible not to feel a bit lonely, as he physically can't go through the pain for me, or breastfeed for me (although he would if he could - he has been reduced to tears by his inability to help more than once). I think reading everyone's stories on MN is the only thing keeping me sane(ish)!

I just keep thinking 'one more hour', or 'one more day', and it's getting me through at the moment.

Imoscarsmum, I had problems with lack of milk in the beginning as well and was able to express even less than you. I can really recommend fenugreek capsules. Take 6-12 a day to help increase milk supply.

Hopefully - I would second what Starlight said about DP taking Teddy, the MW at the hospital suggested it to me when Elizabeth was having a bit of a moment, DP took her and she instantly fell asleep on him, where as she was just constantly trying to get at my boobs even though she wasn't actually hungry.

I have just realised that I have cried every day since Friday! I hate crying, it's so not 'me'! My DP is so brilliant though, I knew he was going to be good before Elizabeth was born, but since she's here he's surprised me beyond belief, he is my rock. Elizabeth is a gorgeous baby, she sleeps a lot and when she's awake I don't hear a peep out of her. But I still feel the need to bawl my eyes out at least once a day, ruddy hormones!

It's just a shame that he can't breastfeed really, as I feel so bloody responsible when Elizabeth is fussing around at the breast, on off on off, it's exhausting and so sad to see her. Yesterday she started doing this awful back arching thing and her face had pure pain on it, she'd do it every time I put her anywhere near the breast, even though I knew she was hungry because she was headbanging and sucking her hand. I found some things on the web that suggested maybe reflux, so DP suggested feeding her sitting up instead of laid across me. I started on her late feed last night and have continued today and she has been feeding so much better, much less fussing and nibbling, much more glugging, and a much better latch - my boobs aren't sore for the first time since she was born (9 days).

Hopefully do not panic about the poo issue. You are breast feeding which means you are giving your baby exactly what he needs, no more , no less. With DD1 I breasfed for 8 months and after the sticky meconium phase she pooed every 5 to 7 days. Apparently your body is so good at giving baby what he needs that he will digest it all and have no waste (poo) as long as he is weeing then all is fine.

Yes bf is hard but if you are producing milk try expressing so you can have a break once in a while

On the TMI front I managed a poo today, thank god was getting a bit worried.

We have a name finally DP came up with Robyn. Still trying it out and starting to really like it

Lollipop I keep crying too and when someone asks whats wrong I just tell them I'm daft. I feel really stupid bursting into tears over nothing and the headaches won't go away which aren't helping.
Roll on getting some sleep.

lollipopmother the back arching thing sounds like wind to me.
Hopefully I agree with those who have said get DP to take him. We've had to do that some nights - DH has taken him off downstairs and he's cried for about 15 mins then finally gone to sleep. I hate doing it but it was either that or get no sleep - and I figured after he'd fed twice from each boob he couldn't STILL be hungry!!! Don't give up, as others say it will get better!
I find this thread so reassuring as everything that we are going through other people seem to be struggling with too. It makes me realise it's all normal and not to worry.
Ponymum love your pictures! Where is your home country then? I assumed you were English?

DP and I have agreed that rather than me trying to shoulder the burden tonight, I will try to monitor when teddy finishes a feed (rather than waiting for him to nod off at the breast) and when he does DP will take him downstairs for an hour and try to keep him calm, if not asleep.

hopefully i shoudn;t worry about the pooing i don;t knowmuch about bf but ifed ds1 on formula and the exact same thing happened so i wouldn't give in for that reason - have you tried giving him some water? (notsure if you can when bf or if you need to )

congrats kel

took will fr his hearing test today and he got the all clear which is good! and nomore appts for a while now thank god

with regards to the weight issue i am back down to pre birth weight and my jeans fit again but still have a really flabby/saggy belly and it's still stuck out (need to get doing those tummy muscle exercises to make that gap close up butnot getting time)
but to be fair i put on 2 stone with dd 3 years ago and have yet to lose that but iam going to put some effort in this time

has anyone ever tried the bio oil stuff for stretch marks is it anygood? my tummy now looks like a road map - twoprevious kids no stretch marks looks like i pushed my good luck too far

i've yet to have the crying thing am waiting for it to be really bad now 16 days on!!

hopefully I know this is easy for me to say, but try not to get too stressed out with the feeding, because I'm sure your aware it will hinder your production. make sure your drinking plenty, ie about 3 1/2 litres of water a day, and eat 3 meals plus snacks. this was the advice I was given when E was shipped off to LGI, I was expressing about 50mls/3hrs at our local hospital, but in the LGI because I was so stressed about things, it dropped to just 10mls/3hrs.

Thank you everyone for the advice with the sleeping, last night E slept for 4 hours before waking for a top up, then it was back to sleep (for him) for another 3hrs.
will do that until he is happy to be a bit further away from me. poor DH slept on the floor.
To help with the colic I'm trying a dairy free diet hope it works

ive decided to express my milks as ive got VERY sensitive nips as enough to make me wanna be sick....honest ask DP! so ive been mixed feeding my DD2 using formula and breastmilk. i feel soooo much happier and the Avent hand pump is so much easier than breastfeeding as alot gentle on my nips.

the midwife is coming tmrw to check on me and also to re-check DD2's weight she was weighed 9lb 3 and a half oz....but she is no way a 9lb er as my DD1 was a 9lb 1oz baby but DD2 is so dainty and small and very light....(Dp also got a older DD who was a 9lb baby too). Even my midwife said that DD2 is not a 9lb baby. i know that they may ask us to go back to hosp re DD2's weight etc. ive weighed her yesterday and she was roughly about 8lb.

i will pop back to report back on here.

OH and ive still not done my birth announcement as yet as i cant find the time to do it yet! (Dp is at work atm and will be taking his paternity leave in october - 3 days a week till it runs out)

Hope you all well! and my stinging between my legs had stopped too...had a shower two days ago and think the shampoo went down there and it stung like hell!!!....so i had another shower just watering my body and cleaning between my legs which it was a godsent!! ...i cud have that between my legs all day!

Im so happy that ive had a natural birth too!

argh - another bad night last night, but got A registered today and managed to feed him in the quiet room provided at the reg office - not the greatest latch ever but my first feed outside the house. But probably need to go back as I gave them the wrong date for our wedding. And then got a parking ticket as apparently Sainsburys is now pay and display despite no signs at all. bastards.
managed some sleep since returning home at least, and have just ordered some nursing bras from the M&S website. And a skirt, just because.

I swear A has one good night and then one night of hellspawn behavior, so here's hoping tonight will be OK. Last night at 4.30am I ended up just leaving him in the lounge to scream while I made some peppermint tea, seeing as he hadn't shut up for five hours, unless I tried feeding him, but he wouldn't feed for more than a minute or two and the latching on/off was excruciating. And he can burp for hours and get no happier! Finally got some kip at 5am for about an hour.

All afternoon he's been a model baby, cry, feed nicely, burp briefly, sleep for a couple hours, repeat. Complete with expanded range of adorable facial expressions. If only he'd do it at night when I need it!!!

Hmmm, well after the joy of Elizabeth feeding well all day she has still had a 'moment' at exactly the same time as she did last night, very odd. I will definitely try and wind her just in case it's that. Hopefully she'll be like last night and will have calmed down by her late night feed. I love my baby so much, I hate to see her crying when she's so obviously in pain

On the plus side, I haven't cried once today! Mind you though, I had a friend over and I was talking about my labour and felt like crying a lot then, no idea why though, just me being a weirdo I think, ruddy hormones should be banned!

notcitrus i think you may be right about having a good night, then a bad night. I am expecting a bad night tonight.

DD was weighed today and has put on 11oz in the last week. I might actually start to relax about bf now .

notcitrus i think you may be right about having a good night, then a bad night. I am expecting a bad night tonight.

DD was weighed today and has put on 11oz in the last week. I might actually start to relax about bf now .

oops