we did it, we did it, the babies are here, now come and join us and we will give you a cheer!!!!

[Dozymare]

Hope this works

thought i would start a thread for those of us already in the heady World of motherhood, so we can share the trials and tribulations of the early days....

I shall start with my birth story and hope other's follow and I haven't started a dud thread

As you know I was dreading a 3rd CS, almost to the point where I was having panic attacks - we went in on the Thursday and after waiting for an EMC we were taken to theatre where I was DELIGHTED to recognise the aneathatist (sp!!) who helped deliver DS2. Now, one of my major fears about a 3rd CS was the fact that having had a "perfect" excperience with DS2, it6 wouldn't be possible to experience the same thing again...I was wroing, it was better The whole thing was started at 1315 and Tallulah was born at 1344 weighing 7lbs 2oz. She has a shock of dark hair but seems so small compared to the boys who were 9 and 10lbs respectively. The care I recieved was absolutely 2nd to none - no complaints or gripes.........So far so good.........

HOWEVER.........my god, do you forget the pain of breastfeeding before the milk comes in - I am in absolute agony and have had to top up with aptamil as the poor wee thing is so, so hungry...I am literally BF for up to 2 hours (the point of pain in both udders ) and then topping up with Aptamil. She guzzles 30ml and then settles.......As for sleep - sleep is for wimps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It seems a bit odd that you should be told 'get him to feed for 30 mins' choco but what if he doesn't want to?
Also as daisy said you can't put time scales on how long a baby feeds = how much they are taking.

Thanks Daisy, Merry and missy - your reassurance is nice as I have felt a bit worried today. Since we got back from the hospital appointment I fed Mack at 12.30 and tried for 30 mins but he fell asleep after 20 then he didn't wake for a feed so I woke him after 3 hours and stuck him on and he fed for 5 mins and no more, he just woke up for a feed at 4.30 but again was only on my breast for 10 mins. He seems fine having slept all afternoon, I mean surely if he weren't getting enough food he would cry??

Saying all this he'll probs be up all night now feeding!!

I never get on very well with waking babies to feed them. Unless they are asking for less than six feeds in 24 hrs of their own volition I'm loathed to wake them.

Hi Missy! good to see you on the other side!!

Oh yes, I would never wake a sleeping baby!
Why upset things?
especially with this baby, he would never take! I thought he would be hungry this morning having slept solidly for 2.5hrs and cos he was grumbling, but nope, not a hope. It was another hour and a half before he finally took.
I have never understood or attempted sleepfeeding What is that all about??

evening

well we have day/night confusion issues here. but thats to be expected really. Sophie likes to be held ALL the time, fortunatly i have a handy big sister in the shape of dd1 who is more than happy to sit for an hour holding a sleeping baby lol. i have also been using a sling which was lovely.

Sophie has a touch of jaundice and looks very dark atm. should hopefully clear soon.

and her poos stink! we've passed the black tar stage already, which i'm sure went on longer with the others.

she is a hungry little hamster as well. was feeding her most of the night and today. she is qute happy atm on dd1 lap sucking her own fingers, but think i have about 5mins before she cries for more b/milk. my milk has started to come in already so am feeling a bit sore. they will be like melons tomorrow wont they?

Misdee my boobs are like bazookas today! How long will this last???

couple os days iirc. you can paracetamol to ease the pain. also a soak in the bath can release some milk making things easier. they do settle down, i promise.

evening all!! MISSY VERY, very good to see you over here, and happy for you that J is doing so well....must have been a very scary time for you when he was in the baby unit. I know when DS1 was in there I was absolutely terrified.

We have settled into a routine of sorts - all 3 DC's were fed, bathed and in bed by 6:45pm so hopefully we can have a nice dinner - DH is currently in kitchen cooking me up some soba noodles with duck in somesort of teriyake marinade. DD is asleep in her crib next to me and looks so angelic - I could gobble her up sometimes she is that gorgeous

thankfully she was discharge from the hospital today - as you know she hadn't regained her birth weight, was still jaundiced and losing weight when I was BF. the good news is that she has gained 9oz in 2 days so we were discharged today. I feel so much happier about my decision to stop BF as she is now thriving and the difference in her is amazing. I am still very though that nobody indicated that due to my thyroide I could have issues breastfeeding.

Dh is off now for another week and then I am on my own - however, secretly looking forward to it as NEED my routine back and DH despite being a superstar wings things rather than plans things!

I am reading every day, but just not getting the chanve to post or have nothing relevaNT TO SAY

Love to all

DM xx

oh yes, the bazooka boobs! Hi misdee lol at your lap baby, and willing surrogate lap- that is lovley!

I came down this morning to find the children had made a very exciting baby nest for dinkyminky- lots of blankets and cushions and a wide variety of toys- she wil not want for stimulating activities!

I think dinky is going to be somewhat spoilt by her siblings, too, they dote upon her.

*missy8 nope never got that sleepfeeding thing either. I have woken them on occaision- usually during a crisis of confidence and it has never gone well. I prefer to alow them to sttle into thier own routine, TBH.

Oh yes, I have a lap baby too.
Did I say already I can't remember, that we are co sleeping at the mo, cos he just won't settle in a crib (moses or otherwise)
He will however sleep like a baby in DDs Birthday pressie of a beanbag, and bless DD, she is taking the loss very well. Shouted when I asked her if I could put him in but accepted it when (an hour or so later) I just put him in anyway. I keep telling her how marvelous a big sister she is for letting him sleep there. It has been a couple of days now and she has just accepted it completely.
I upset myself greatly yesterday though, cos I came through to the living room to find DD pushing her feet into the bean bag and DS being rolled around. I immediately, without thinking hit DDs wee leg a wee tap. I wouldn't have called it a slap. Anyway, I had done it before I realised what I was doing and immediately felt this shock of guilt I think I was just so shocked to see her doing it and my fear of what could have happened.
The worst was her shock and the fact that I don't think she had even been aware of what she was doing, she was staring into the distance (ok at the telly, another bad mum point for me) So she really didn't deserve it as she wasn't being deliberaty nasty or anything, far from it she loves him!
oh I just feel so bad about it

Anyway, merry you made me feel much better saying that you were co sleeping too.
The guilt! Over Everything!!!

He actually sleeps, mainly, on my chest. He is so sukey, but I figure it will pass, right??
I didn't have this bother with DD at all. But then again I prob didn't allow it, she was in the crib from get go.
Having DS up in the SCBU prob means I am so much more needing of thh cuddles, myself, that I am not really helping him?
And now that I have started it, I am loathed to stop.
Oh Lordy, what am I like!

Oh, yup, big boobies will ease after a couple of days, boy were mine solid!!

Thanks so much for all your bf advice ladies, it's much appreciated. It's reassuring to know that I'm not alone with these problems, although I wish
We had a much better day today with actual feeding periods interspersed with sleeping so no constant feeding I've actually bf her all day and she's been settled in her Amby nest for the past half an hour or so. My breasts feel fuller too and the tingly feeling is occurring more frequently so I think I'm producing more milk. Elise has been sick a couple of times today though which she hasn't been until now. Something else for me to worry about!
Lola Hope you have a good night out tonight
Missy Welcome to the dark side! Hope bf settles down for you as well.
Choc Elise was close to the 10% weight drop after 5 days of her birth but the mw came round 3 days later and she'd put on 150g. It is worrying - hopefully tomorrow you'll see a slight weight gain but if not then try not to worry too much as it may take a few days. Like you I think that if a baby isn't crying then he or she is getting enough to eat - my doula said as much when I was worrying about my lack of milk.
at all the doting siblings!

Welcome Missy, glad to see you here!

Having some moments of breastfeeding confidence crisis' here too. First I thought I was hardly making milk from my left boob, then I thought that Zack was getting too much foremilk and not enough hind milk. His latch is not the greatest, he just doesn't seem to open his mouth wide enough and then his hands are in the way or he turns his head in the complete opposite direction. It can be a little frustrating considering he's my 3rd and I should know what I am doing by now. I have only got this far by reminding myself that this is a whole new little person, not my DS1 or DS2, so he has to learn, just as they did. I also think that I obviously expected it to be easy since I breastfed ds2 until he was 3, but you just forget that newborn babies can't latch themselves and have no real control over their limbs or movements. Thankfully I know that he is getting enough milk as he is producing plenty of wet/dirty nappies. Actually, my boy seems to be a heavy duty wetter (he gets through his cloth nappies at a rate of knots!)

Missy, I hear you on the guilt thing, I am also co-sleeping with Zack, something I said I would NEVER EVER do. I had my older boys in the moses basket at my bed side and that was fine. This time around, I just feel that I need to have him close and to be honest, my dh is back at work on Monday (he only had a week off) and I need all the sleep I can get if I am going to be able to cope with being at home with my boys all day as they are homeschooled. I am not sure how much of it is "last baby" syndrome, where I kow I won't be having any more children, so want to enjoy every second and how much is laziness! I love the fact that we go up to bed at 11pm, lay down, pop a boob in his mouth and off we go, only waking to change a nappy if needed or swap sides so he can feed from the other breast. Zack actually slept for 4.5 hours the other night in 1 chunk. That's more than I had for weeks and weeks with either of my others.

I also had the guilt for shouting at ds2 earlier, especially as ds2 has always been my "baby". I had changed Zack's nappy on his mat on the floor, and left him there while I washed my hands. I was gone for less than a minute when ds1 shouted to me that ds2 had just jumped over the mat/Zack. My heart was in my throat when I thought of what could have happened if ds2 had landed on Zack

Am I the only one who's undercarriage seems to be getting more sore, rather than feeling better as time passes? I am actually feeling more swollen/bruised than I did 2 days after Zack was born, but it seems to be on 1 side only. I am not sure if it is just the bruising taking a while to come out and that is why, but I haven't been able to stand for long periods today without feeling achey and throbby (is that a word?) down there. suppose that will be something to mention to the midwife on Monday.

i keep thinking i'm peeing myself, when i'm not, just a little extra leakage of blood. i'd forgotton how bad it can be afterwards.

anyone with older kids getting loads of questions?

'why are you bleeding mummy?' 'what are those pads for?' 'whats that on sophies belly?' 'did you have that plastic clip in your tummy?' 'why cant babies eat cake?' 'you got the baby out of your bits didnt you mummy?'

HM2J, dd3 is being a bit of a moo atm. she has been unsettled for a while, and is now just yelling when i ask her to do anything, or ask her to hold on a minute etc. i think she is feeling put out that she is no longer the baby, but says she is v v v happy to be a big sister now. when sophies cries she says 'oh i know sophie, i know' and pats her gently.

heartmum, your description of your undercarriage sounds exactly like mine, even down to feeling it more on one side than the other...I had a wee prod round today and it feels very hard and lumpy where the stitches are. MW said the stitches dissolving around days 10-14 can often be uncomfortable, but I'm not sure about it all. I'm going to make an appointment at the doctors on Monday just to get it checked.

I'm still having weeing issues as well and can't even feel myself doing pelvic floor exercises let alone hold wee in when I need to go .

Hi missygoo, good to see you over here with us

right, I've forgotten everything else I've read now....

ooh, heartmum, ikwym about the last baby thing. I just don't want to put Fin down he is so snuggly and lovely. I do find myself worrying about him more than I did the others though, like something bad will happen or that he is poorly. I know it's irrational and probably a symptom of my depression/anxiety, but I get in a right fankle about it.

off to read again and catch up properly.

misdee, it's definately pee here

DD is coming round to the baby and tries to help me dress him etc. she also climbs into his carrycot and throws cuddly toys in it all the time; thankfully so far he hasn't been in it! she's also over the last two days started copying every noise he makes! Fine when he is gurgling, but not when he is crying!!!

I have tried to keep DS out of the toilet/bathroom when I'm in there. We are usually a pretty relaxed family when it comes to nudity and he'll often sit chatting to me when I'm in and out of the shower and getting dressed, but I'm paranoid that he'll walk into the bathroom as I have one leg up on the bath drying my toes and will see my piles . Same with me bleeding; I've explained about periods and what happens after a baby, but at his age, I don't think he needs to see it!

Hi all, really really really sorry not to have popped in to MN at all this last week, it's been a bit intense.

Mostly it is because I cannot sit down at all...

I have another baby announcement!

Mum2becks:

"Isaac Jacob arrived 3.36pm weighing 9lb 6.5 oz and looks just like his big sister! Long birth story, will update when back home but nearly ended up with emergency cs and lost 2 litres of blood! Isaac is fine just mummy that suffered! Hope everyone else is okay xxx"

What a trooper, loads of love to her and family and hope she is getting really well looked after! She's in the same hospital I was in so I'm sure she is in really good hands.

I am guessing by the couple of posts above that MM has gone into labour. All the best, hon, I'm thinking of you xxx

Love to everyone and I am rooting for you.

PS Couple of photos on my profile now, just got time the other day to upload v briefly. I feel like I have missed a year on these threads, not a week - how are you all?

Yes, I worry about ealing down there too.
I got away woth just grazing, but it feels like thrush when I pee.
I am worrying a little that it might be, cos it is not healing and I am on day 14?

I feel like I've got cystitis when I'm standing, but it isn't sore when I pee, but as I can't feel the pelvic floors I'm not sure I would feel any infection?

At least with my CSections my undercarriage remained pristene

Hello all.
Sorry to hear you are so uncomfy, lacks, misdee
I still have a fairly large little friend but it doesn't hurt. I'm going to speak to GP about it if it's still there on my 6 week check.

link for mummynic Your experience sounds more like my first birth, but the advice should still be helpful.

Just wanted to say I went to get a nursing bra today but my size won't come in stock until January!! I need to think my boobs slightly smaller if I hope to get a bra before christmas!!

Hi Ladies,

Have been having a quick catch up. Lacks am reassured by you saying Fin feeds just for 10-15 mins. Greta is the same and I feel sure it's because she is feeding well and getting a lot down that after this time I just can't seem to tempt her with any more.

With DS and DD1 they were on for ages at the beginning but I am sure I have a lot more in my boobs already at this early stage than I had with the others - which I put down to me being more relaxed about things this time. My nipples are tender though and I do shout ouch ouch ouch at the start of feeds - am hoping will get better as I get latching better.

Am frustrated with having to recover from a c-section as want to get on with things that I know I shouldn't. Did anyone else with a section find the whole epidural thing hideous (I cried!) and had really bad trapped wind up around my shoulders afterwards which was hideous. I have found the section most traumatic 3rd time round.

Does anyone else with 3 or more children find that they feel just like 'normal' in terms of getting on with things and think about doing things that they never would have first time round - am on my knees tidying toys & clearing bits etc- am also shocked by the slowness in getting cards etc - by this time with the others we were overflowing with cards and flowers - I have about 5 so far this time!!

Hope you all well. Am in that anxious 'what will tonight hold' time. Just gonna put some savlon on my bum cheek (got sore from sitting after section - nice) then gonna head up to bed.

Well went out out last night for my first night out (It's not that i'm a bad mother going out after Oscar is only two weeks old but rather my best friend is leaving to go travelling on Tues and it was her leaving do so really didn't want to miss it). Anyway, Oscar was a nightmare for dp. He cried for almost all the three hours i was away despite my feeding him until 20 mins before i left and dp bottle feeding him an extra 5oz of expressed milk . Poor dp was a bit distressed i think.

Dp was texting me all night bless him and now i hope he has a little insight into how hard my days are

Oscar was fine as soon as i came in which made dp feel worse but made me feel like he had missed me which was lovely.

Heartmum my swelling and pain seemed to get worse about a week after the birth and i also couldn't stand for long but it's slowly passing now. My mw suggested nice warm baths to help with the healing but a little difficult with three LO's. Hope you are feeling better today

Morning all!

I am reassured that a lot of us seem to be having the same experiences / problems.

Merry, Daisy, missy and H2MJ (hope I haven't missed anyone else?) Mack and I are also co-sleeping, he will go in his moses basket in the day (sometimes) but he won't do so at night and after a couple of nights of trying I have just given up to save my sanity. He now sleeps next to me (sometimes on my chest for an hour). Last night was the best nights sleep I have had so far and I feel so much better for it, he only woke up to feed and when he did we both just fell asleep and then I would wake and move him a bit away from me and he was fine. The only thing is he is much happier sleeping on his side than his back and although I know the SIDS advice I am loathed to change this as its working - am I a terrible mother???

Bazooka boobies are killing me - and they are really lumpy too, but DH says I still pass the pencil test!

Thanks for the reassurance on birth weights cricri, Daisy and Merry - I hope the appointment today will go well.

I was worried about healing downstairs too but I asked the MW to check me over yesterday and she said it looks fine - I think its partly paranoia (for me) as you can't see down there yourself for reassurance.

Misdee I love the older kids questions - I would love to know your responses!

I keep trying to upload a photo of Mack onto MN but it keeps crashing I will keep trying cause he's VERY cute!!

Afternoon ladies!

Strangely enough, undercarriage feeling a little better today, can move around without being really achey or sore. But now my boobs have stabbing pains going through them and feel a little lumpy, especialy the right boob. I just make sure that Zack completely empties it and it seems to help.

Choc Allowing your baby to sleep how he's comfy does not make you a bad mother. Zack also sleeps on his side. Like you, he breastfeeds to sleep and once he's popped off, I move away a little and he sleeps really well this way. He has a pillow at his back, as I made us a little nest to keep us in a set space within the bed, especially as dh has no spacial awareness once he's asleep. I know that we are really lucky as we are getting a fair amount of sleep.

Thanks H2MJ its good to know that others are in similar situations, lack of sleep is so emotionally draining and I feel a million times better today after getting some sleep last night - long may it continue!!