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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2 questions please ladies....

1. Can I have a bath after c section? (I should know this!)

1. When can babies sit in a little bouncer chair - I have only a basic one with no vibrations or anything but does the baby need to be a few weeks old for this?

thanks

Roca, baths are fine after cs I'm sure.

Not sure about the bouncy chair. We put DS and DD in it from birth but it is quite a padded one that has a lie flat option. Was hoping to use it for DS2 as well, but daren't put him in such a vulnerable position with DD on the rampage!!

Am also struck by the lack of mail as well. Neither of my sisters have sent us as much as a card, the miserable beggars!!!!

Try not to overdo things too much Roca, or it could cause your scar to take much longer to heal. Easier said than done with another two to look after I know.

We have spent the last few nights with DS2 asleep on my chest for the better portion of the night. Not sure this constitutes co-sleeping though . And I'm sure that side sleeping is OK as well; it's being on their tummies that is bad. DS2 often sleeps on his tummy over DH or I's lap if he is very windy, but as we are awake when he is doing this I think it's OK.

ChocO try resizing your photo so it's a smaller file size as MN can struggle with files that are too large.

Hope the undercarriages are feeling better today. Mine isn't too bad but we are having a lazy day so I've not been moving around. It was agony last night after we got home from our friends.

Roca Jay is in his on and off and i'm sure DS1 was in right from the start too. Hope that helps, it has one of those head hugger things so he doesn't flop about!
I would also like to know about the bath i'm dying for a long soak, The CMW said it wasn't a good idea with a new wound but I don't know how long it is classed as being 'new' for
Hi to everyone else its nice to see people are settling in with their babies and getting some sleep too!

Hello, taken me a while to get over here oh am glad am joining in the Pn symptoms club and I thought with dd2 I would remember everything - wrong !
Lacks - my stitches are still there and pulling a fair bit - every day they seem better but then I get a pain- I just keep washing with cool water and splashing on antiseptic ! To think that last time I had 4 times as many how did I cope ????
Also last night at 3 am - of all things pain in rear as in OWWWW - Piles back thought they had vanished few days after birth .
DD2 has night day problem and LOl at wanting to be held - she has been in dh arms for last three two hours - excuses are hiccups, colic , but at night its me that is up with her !! She has had terrible colic worst went from 11pm - 5am and we have given her eqv of infacol ( doc prescribed) as natural remedies did not work.) No regular feeding as yet yesterday every 2.5 hrs today 4 hrs then 3 hrs another 3 but she fed 10 mins and then 30 mins later demanded the rest !
I have not had milk ' letdown' and had to resort to mixed feeding with dd1 so have being trying to be 'relaxed ' with bf this time round . She has not yet regained birthweight and need to take her to be weighed on Tues so am keeping all crossed.
Roca I have a lie flat Chicco bouncy chair. bith dds have been in there - generally at meal times when am in the shower etc but when dd2 mega active I prefer to leave dd2 in her basket !!

Just bookmarking.
Will catch up tomorrow.

ChocO, dt's sleep on their side too. They get quite windy, so it's more comfy for them as I don't have a lot of time when feeding both for winding them properly, as it can take 15-20 mins or so to get it all out. It's quite hard - feed j, wind j, feed m, wind m, wind j again, wind m again, feed m again, feed j again etc. etc. and usually several times over in the night...!

Roca, I've had baths from 3weeks or so after, but tbh my scar has started feeling sore the past few days. Not sure why. Not overdone it in the sense that I have not been out or anything, but doing a lot of acrobatics around feeding one, picking up other at same time etc.

ds1 has gone to hosp with dh. he smacked his head against the wall, mucking about with dh, and has cut his eye open underneth like a boxer. it's v swollen and bruised. and it's his 3rd bday on tue...gonna look a right state in he pics!!

Oh, MerryM all that winding and feeding sounds like hard work.....and here was I about to have a moan about DS2's colicky/windiness

I've been feeling really hormonal and glum this afternoon . I remember getting really blue when DD was about 3 weeks old as well so hopefully it'll pass soon.

and so starts the night.........! Oh how I love it when morning arrives!

Here's to a peaceful and painfree one ladies

peaceful....HA!

my little charmer was up all night again and is now sleeping peacefully and will no doubt continue to do so all day.

We had stopped swaddling him, but he wouldn't settle this morning, swaddled him and off he went to sleep. Will try it tonight and see if it helps.

He seems to have real trouble pooing, lots of groaning and grumbling and seemingly in pain before he manages. Seeing HV on Wednesday so I'll mention it to her.

Off to the shops.....later ladies

morning.

well i feel like my body from the waist down has ages 30years overnight. just feeling achey and sorry for myself.

iots my first day on my own completely with dd3 and sophie. DH is at harefield hospital today for a check up post transplant, and will be gonwe all day. so i have to try and make sure i'm organised enough to get dd3 to nursery, and then be in time to collect the whole brood from school. eeek!!!

morning all - hope you are all doing well - have DH at home all this week so the last week of help before I go it alone - funnily enough, am looking forward to it!

Good luck today missdee and enjoy your shopping lacks

It's actually quite nice to have the house back, now DH is back at work (I do like having him around, but you know what I mean). He's still helping out with the laundry and taking DS to school in the morning.
DS and DD1 are still coming in every morning to declare their love for dinkyminky- it os soo sweet!

bad news- all the power went off in our house last night- we discovered the culprit was our rather ancient dishwasher- there goes the christmas savings money!

Good luck today Misdee and enjoy your shopping trip Lacks.

Pinky, sorry to hear about the dishwasher, what bad timing. I hope you can sort something out quickly and not too expensively.

I am going to be on my own with the 3 boys shortly as dh decided that he couldn't afford to be off on maternity leave, so last week he was off on holiday and he is back at work today. I am kind of looking forward to it, getting back into the swing of things, but also dreading it if the boys (who are both still sleeping ) decide to play up.

Not much planned for today. I am expecting a visit from my named midwife today, it will be nice to see her as she was off for the last 2 weeks on hols. I know that she is coming to discharge us today. It is amazing that the more children you have, the less visits you get (and yes, noticed a distinct lack of post/cards here too). Today will be the 3rd visit from the midwives and I would be surprised if I had more than 1 visit from the HV when care is transfered.

Sorry for me, me post coming up.

I can't stop sobbing.
I have phoned mr patels secreaty . waiting for call back. Max's tongue hasn't really changed shape and bf no better. Surely after 2nd snipping it would be o.k. ?

Birth reflections counsellor phoned me a few minutes ago. She ois based at st peretes and thus can't help me, becasue she doesn't have my notes form kings, and doesn't know their policies and protocol. My hv had phoned her re me. I ended up telling her my life history and sobbing and sobbing.

is this really helping me. I tell you guys everything. now her. My mum and my bfriend. But is this actually helping me ?

dh and me fine. I was up all night. He is so windy. poohs green. hv said becasue latch bad. and egetting lots of wind form bottles . I fed him and then winded him and gave him a bit from botlles angain and again, 7 times between 2am 4am. He is so windy that everyhtime I put him down, he screams/.

So Merry M I do understand. My winding of him goes on for hours and hours literally.

I lost my rag with him and shouted. " fo fucks sake, stop giving me the run around". dh was horrified. when I told my mum and bf what I had said they were too. said it was inappropriate.

So I think we must assume that I am in a bad way.

Yet I feel so cheery and o,k, dh and I took the boys to church on sun. 1st time for everything, seeing as we got ds1 into the best catholic school around. I felt great.

PND ? I don't think so. But clearly not in a good place.

what to do though ?

maybe have another cry and talk it through for 3 hours and see if that helps. NOT !!!!

wishing all of you the best. hope you are doing bette tthan me.

Oblomov - it's no surprise you are feeling like this. You must be exhausted. Everything seems so much worse when you're tired. Have you tried giving him Infacol or similar? How about sleeping with him on your chest. I tried this at first when DS was unsettled and at least I got a couple of hours sleep. Could your DH help with feeds at night so you can grab a couple of hours. It's so sad you feel like this. Being a mum to a newborn can be a very lonely job especially at night when you feel like you're the only one in the whole world who is awake. Don't worry about your mum's and bf's reactions. We have all shouted at our lo's. Keep posting, We're here to help in whatever way we can.

HM2J - how's the undercarriage? Yours sounded just like mine. I had a bath with lavender oil daily and it seems to have stopped aching now.

Mum went home this weekend so today was the first day I've had to get myself and 3 dcs ready and to school. I was so worried I wouldn't be able to do it but we did, no one was late and I feel proud of myself. My DD said 'I'm pleased to have you back mummy' which made me sob (given my current hormonal state!).

Nathan slept for 6hrs in one go last night. He went down at 9:30 and woke for a feed at 3:30 so I'm feeling a bit more normal. MW discharged us today as he's now regained his birth weight.

Anyone else missing being pregnant already? a lady at school has just announced she's pregnant with her fifth and I must admit there was a pang of jealousy as I probably won't ever be pregnant again.

Hi all,

I've found you!!!! Haven't been on for a while because my computer is in the office and I have been trying to avoid it. Alas, I am in here today and have ended up doing a few bits.

My stitches also feel a little strange. In fact it is my muscle that feels strange down there if you know what I mean.. OWCH....

Esme is still not wanting to breast feed so our feeding routine is twice as long as we have to express and feed (although to be fair I am a bottle a head now). She seems to have her unsettled period between 9pm and 2am, which is most fun (NOT), it would appear to be a private party although she does insist i bring a bottle!

I do love being a mummy it's great!!!!

xx

obs, the other day when ds2 kept wanting to feed and then throwing it all up and then screaming when i put him down or changed his nappy (in the middle of the night), i shouted at him, "i wish you'd stayed in SCBU." dh heard but didn't say anything, he's used to me being in a state...i often say (usually in bad nights), "for goodness sake, why can't you just feed PROPERLY!".

i'm quite easy on myself tho (unlike you)...i think this is hard work and we are entitled to lose it at times, plus they don't understand and won't remember. am more careful around ds1 but still shout at him at times.

in general these babes are good...sleep well, eat well and just a bit windy really. they don't scream all the time or anything.

Obs . No wonder you are finding things tough. And OK, what you said to DS2 wasn't appropriate, but hardly surprising in the circumstances, and believe me, I've been there as well. It's good that you can talk about it though.

the green poo could be due to a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance as well. Try double sided feeding; ie feed two feeds on the same boob. Your other boob mught get engorged a wee bit, but it will settle pretty quickly.

Fin's latch still isn't perfect which might be the cause of our windiness as well.

Tried dentinox as well today.....baby NOT impressed, but the dose was 2.5ml. Must be like us drinking a cup full of the stuff relatively.

There was some other stuff in Boots called Colief that was £10 for a tiny wee bottle. Has anyone tried it? Said it was lactase enzyme for help with colic.

Went looking for some denim dungarees for Fin today....all I could find was trousers. surely denim dungies are an essential part of any baby's wardrobe? I was gobsmacked. Off to do some online shopping see if I can find any online.

Am also buying our new oven today.......woohoo we can have a roast dinner at the weekend

Am feeling very tired right now. to be expected really, first full day doing everything on my own.

i bought some senna tablets earlier as have been struggling to poo (sorry TMI ), but then after my walk to the nursery at lunchtime, things got moving on their own. has releived a little bit of pain at the same time, thank goodness.

am feeling like i've been hit by a truck a bit today. just grumpy. am preparing for the baby blues now, i know they are coming, just when is the big question!

Obs: I am so sorry to hear about how you are feeling, but it is no wonder really, I can't imagine how frustrated you are feeling. I agree that what you said was not appropriate, but I would be lying if I said I had never shouted like that at one of my kids when they were babies. I spent alot of time shouting various horrible things at ds2, he was such a difficult baby and sleep deprivation really makes everything seem so much worse. I distinctly remember being scared that I may have been capable of harming my child or leaving him at the bus stop for someone to find. I honestly almost decided not to have another child as I was so scared of a repeat performance and although I am having an easy time of it with Zack so far, it doesn't mean I have no idea what you are going through. I wish I had some magic words of wisdom or advice, but I don't. I am sending lots of love and hugs your way though and only hope that things improve quickly for you.

Misdee, you have my full admiration, being up and about with the 4 girls, it's no wonder you are feeling tired. I hope the baby blues leave as quickly as they come and that you are feeling less achey/grumpy tomorrow.

Zack & I got discharged from the midwife today as he has regained his birthweight and then some. He actually went from 8lb 8oz at 5 days old to a staggering 9lb 1oz today, at 10 days old . Admittedly, different scales were used, the midwife didn't have any digital scales with her today, so had to use the sling type thing, but it is a great gain and makes me feel better about the breatfeeding, that he is managing even with a slightly dodgy latch. Tomorrow zack has an appt at the GP, not sure what for realy, they just called me last week to say that they like to see the new babies between 1 & 2 weeks old.

Obs - You poor thing I hope that things get better for you with everything - X dd will not burp after feeding which results in colic but we have been given drops which help ..well most of the time .
Misdee agree with poo here they do not discharge you from hosp unless you confess to having a poo !!!! Thankfully Dh brought me dark chocolate which helps !
Lacks I got dd2 dungarees from Next I think Ok they were pink denim but I know I have them 3-6 mths as have seen them in the box for dd2 - Was sure they had bluedenim as well - ok that was 2 yrs ago !

lacks, ds1 had some dungarees, fleece lined so lovely and warm and made him so cuddlym fron pujmpkin patch. vertbaudet usuaaly do dungers too, got some funky orange ones couple years ago...

obs poor you,l are you feeling better now? Did you speak to Mr patel? do you think you are suffering from baby blues? You must remember, you are a fantastic mum but under a lot of pressure. What you said was wrong, but let's face it, we have all said things we don't mean to our DH's or kids. Keep talking, that is the most important thing.

lacks I am sure that gap have some dungarees in.....my DD is still in babygros until she gets to about 10lbs.....then she will be in a different dress every day I promise!!

Have got DH off this week as well and enjoying it - have jsut had a lovely dinner and we are fighting over who is going to hold Tiger.....we both just love her snoozing on our chests! Poor DS1 is not well - v.hig temp so no school for him tomorrow....hope he doesn't give it to the other 2 DC's.

Tiger doing really, really well - She is in a routine of sorts but I think that is more to do with being formula fed than anything else, as I don't start GF until 6 weeks or so....she seems to have found it herself so I am not going to complain . Worried about her on the bottle though as she seems to hold her breath for a while - am going to baby clinic tomorrow and will mention it then. DH thinks it is because she is a guzzler and sucks air in. Tis worrying though.

She also seems to be more awake and alert now which is lovely. So far, transision from 2 to 3 seems to be going well.........

thanks for the tips on shops for dungarees.......I'll have a look in Vertbaudet. Tried Next, but they all have silly characters on them and I want some plain ones....no cute characters ir anything

news from sparkletoes on the AN thread

well, after his dentinox, we haven't heard a peep out of finbo since his last feed at about 5pm. He is usually well into the colic routine of grunting and groaning and curling into a little ball by this time and DH and I have RSI from all the patting and rubbing.

Dare we think it might actually be working?

Obs, your DS2 is three weeks now as well. I found with DS1 and DD that after the intital baby blues had passed with my milk coming in, I felt like I had hit a brick wall around the three week mark and was emotionally very very low. It'll pass as well lovely, but please talk to your GP/HV if you think things aren't getting better, and remember that PND affects us all differently. I know it has affected me differently with each baby. This time although I'm a lot more upbeat and at one with the world, I feel so much more anxious about something happening to Fin or him being poorly.

I thought I'd post this link for everyone. It's a book about baby's fussy phases and when things can be expected to be difficult. Forewarned being forearmed and all that . We printed off the chart with DD and it was amazingly accurate. I didn't buy the book, but a friend did and said it is really good!

I might get it this time with my MN Amazon vouchers!