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

sailors are very superstitious about babies born in the caul and used to carry phials of amniotic fluid around as a good luck talisman. Apparently if you are born in the caul, you will never drown!

Hi MerryM......glad things are going well with the breastfeeding. Giving the odd formula feed is understandable when you have two of them. I can't imagine what it'll be like when they have their forst growth spurt!

Dozy, I hope you get the thyroid thing sorted. there isn't any reason why you shouldn't BF successfully, although I'm thinking back to my June 07 thread and I'm sure bumperlicious had similar issues with the baby never seeming to be satisfied in the early days till she got her meds sorted out.

yay lacks nice boob baby! He looks a real cutie!

Oh Dozy this is nothing new- my parents have been like this my whole life. I just can't believe I felt pressured into making a birth decision I didn't want because of the way they were behaving.. it's a bit of a final straw situation for me. If they hadn't been complaining so much, I could've had a week to get my head around another cs, as my consultant was prepared to give me until 39 weeks if I wanted, with regular monitoring.

I can't say anything to them they just turn nasty, and I can't tell her not to come, the children love seeing her so much.

ANyway that's that.

I do hope your feeding situation gets resolved.

HELLO

I made it

I am copying my birth adventure from the other thread, I did leav out the bit where I begged them to knock me out with a brick

I will try to catch up with where we are all at over the next day or so but we are going up to bed shortly to chill before the next feed.

[copy and pasted:]

Woke at 4 am with what felt like BH's. DH got up at 5.50 for work and told him that had tummy ache and that I could not wait until monday . DH goes to work 45 min drive I go back to bed but get up not long after. Suddenly occurs to me that pain is coming and going in regular fits and spurts. Phoned DH who had been at work for 15 mins that think I am in labour. He was on the fire engine at the time luckily not on a job! Called our local MW to ask for advice, they say sounds promising but as I am booked in at hospital half hour away call them to let them know. Told DH to def come home.

Get DD breakfast and ready for school, try to hide the contractions from her. Pain relief as walking around and tilting back and forth! Me and DH take DD to school, DH insists on my car! Stop to get petrol and he buys several papers!

Arrive at hospital 9.45, go to booking in room where they assess you, monitor me etc. Def in labour pains worse. Examined MW says a good 4cm dialated but that she was tight and almost 5!

Taken to del suite, can't have water birth as buzzer broke! DH gets bags from the car, pain getting worse but keep walking around stopping to hold bed through gritted teeth.

Decalre can't do it as in so much pain say need epidural, small wait for Anaesthetist, ask for internal to see how progressed - 8cm try to position me for epidural, start on gas and air, I go ape as can't sit they want me to sit! DH keeps repeating don't forget about her legs, don't forget about her legs

Need to push, pushed, pushed a bit more Rebecca Mae born 7lb 4oz at 12.26!

Placenta came out, sadly tore inside, wasn't good patient for that bit Concern as very swollen and temp high, decide to keep me in as I hoped to transfer to local MW unit. Put on anti B's through drip, monitored over night and allowed to transfer the following day with lots of pills!

Sorry for the long ramble, feel really well still bit tender downstairs but would not rule out doing it all again!!

DH disappointed as he did not get time to read the papers!!

coolkat, we had visions of you being taken to the hospital in the fire engine. how cool would that have been

sounds like a good birth, even though it was very quick.
hope the placenta issues are healing nicely now.

Just had a thought, we haven't heard from suiledonn have we, or did I miss it when I was offline?

pinky, can only empathise on the family thing, but i hope it helps to know you aren't alone

thanks lacks .

arriving at the maternity hosp in the engine- that would be cool!

NoI haven't heard from Suiledonn either- was sheon the text buddy thing?

Morning.
Welcome Coolkat. Yes, I too had visions of the fire engine. So exciting. I think I will continue to have those visions, even though they didn't happen. Because each time i think of you, and the fire engine, it really makes me chuckle.

Well, I have been up all night. O.K. not officially, not exactly ALL NIGHT, but it FEELS like it. Max was bf and then bottle top up of bf, but not taking that much. Not bf very well. Not taking alot from bottle. But crying as soon as I put him down. Or giving me a burp. put down. got into bed. cry. "god give me strength", I said to dh. This really did go on most of the night with little sleep.
Do you think we need to ask the MW about him, asked dh. No, I think that if I asked my MN ladies, they would say it was the norm, was my reply.
Please confirm that this is the case
He is very sleepy. I do need to ask MW about that. Ds1 was the same. Max sleeps most of the day and alot of the night. He is actually awake very little. How much should/ how many hours should a 12 day old be awake for ?

Had a long chat with dh last night. Resolved many issues. Mostly me apologising and telling him that I loved him and needed him. Things are alot alot better. We had a cuddle when we got back into our bed - did I mention tht we haven't slept in our bed for 2 nights, becasue I soaked it, a mean a puddle a metre wide , metre across, of stinky breast milk. It has been drying out for 2 days. It seemed like a very long time since we have had a cuddle.

My mum arrives today . And I am going to bf clinic. This is bf being given its last chance. If it doesn't sort itself by the end of the week, I am going to let it go. I know that this is best. Besides my milk is waining again. This morning I only got 20ml out of both breasts. I have been getting 160 ml out of the two, in about 10 mins of pumping.

Anyway, feeling a whole lot betetr.

Thanks to you guys for all support.

Wow, there is a lot going on. First big congrats go out to coolkat and coolkitten. My sis is called Rebecca, it's a lovely name.

obs, my two sleep all day and night. sounds normal to me, though some 'books' may say otherwise. ds was awake about 30 mins in total yesterday! Not sure dd was awake at all! The night thing sounds familiar too, night before last was like that. Last night was ok. Ds wouldn't settle, seemed like he wanted food, but then was sick when he fed. I think he had tummy ache. In the end I put him in with me and he slept well. I am co-sleeping with them now, they sleep a lot better. I was a bit scared, because they are little, but it seems to be going fine and there is no way I am sharing with dh. The snoring from nextdoor is bad enough when I am constantly up feeding, burping, changing, calamining. At least he gets a decent night and is in a good mood during the day and able to look after ds.

He's in between projects at work at the moment so paternity looks like it's 'extended' though he's doing a bit of work from home. He's worried, on the 11th Nov he finds out if made redundant.

Really sorry to hear about your parents and the birth stuff not being what you wanted pinky. Lacks, your nipple looks great, a perfect circle! Mine is much messier! Why was your little ds in the incubator, I missed all that too.

Dozy and obs. Sorry about the milk situation. I have opposite prob, too much. It may sound like a nice problem, but it is also mighty uncomfortable (constant engorgement and leakage) and mighty messy (spraying all over babies/ bed/ pillows and gives the poor babies indigestion (too much foremilk I think). I'm not sure they are getting 'the good stuff'. I need to express off the first bit, but it is a real hassle and I have given away my handpump.

Went docs today, they can't do anything major for the rash because of breastfeeding. They're giving me a blood test, just got more ointments, betnovate this time which is quite strong, so we'll see if it helps or not.

Middle names confirmed so dh going to register births tomorrow or fri. They're quite exotic:

Jude Romelo Emmanuel (name given by dh's parents, it is a derivative of Romulus)
Mirissa Ceryn Emmanuel (name given by my Mum, means love, Welsh name).

Will try and upload some pics soon...

we had one of those nights as well . virgil finally settled at 5ish after feeding and napping on and off since 10:30. all normal and good for ,ilk production. Obs after a restless night, with lots of on and off again feeding it can take your supply a few hours to catch up. You are doing great just keep offering the boob as much as possible.

MerryM....the names are fantastic ; my finlay lawrence is dull in comparison

we did conseder getting a james in there as his hospital no. is DB0077

Hi all, I'm so glad to hve graduated to this thread . This is my story to start off I will catch up with everyone elses soon.
Jay Charles Nicholls born Monday 3rd November 2008 8lb 1 1/2 oz.
I went in at 11AM and was booked for a section at 2:30pm. They were running slightly late and I went into theatre at 3pm. They opened me up through my very neat previous scar to fing horrendous scarring and adhesions from DS1's birth what should have taken 15 minutes took over an hour. Jay came into the world at 3:57pm he cried immediatley and stayed next to me until I was stiched up. He is the DOUBLE of DS 1 other then his hair colour!
I went back to the delivery suite and he fed straight away for about half an hour.
He feeds on and off all day and I am starting t get a bit sore as he favours one boob but he hardly feeds at all during the night, not sure how long that will last.
I'm obviously at home now but I'm struggling a little bit as they did a fair bit of pulling to get into me and it is quite bruised. My scar is a bit weepy but nothing to worry about at the moment.
I'm quite surprised how sore I actually am TBH.
Worth every second though he is a little honey!

I always fancied myself as a bit of a cheerleader....so here goes "3 Cheers for ladybuzz HURRAH. HURRAH, HURRAH! Welcome

obs you could be describing Tiger Lemonade (I am also going to retain her MN bump name) she sounds exactly like your DS2 and both of Merrymari. So presume, we could all say pretty normal??

It's funny the things you forget about a newbo9rn - was totally freaked out when Tiger did her holding breath, eyes rolling routine - freaked the life out of me, but totally reminded me of how I thought DS1 was fitting when he first did it.

Tiger had her heel prick today - very dramatic crying on her behalf - am now starting to wonder if calling her a "showgirl" name as my PITA MIL says is setting her up for strop city all the way. My DH says she is taking after me - a big drama queen - cheeky sod

Merry your middle names are absolutely perfect with your names and I really, really love that you have let family choose them = what would you have done though, if they had said "Wayne and Waynetta" or some such otherdreadful name you didn't like???

lacks my DS2 (who is 2) is also a bit put out - even though he is a whole year older than your DD, he is still being a bit funny - not with Tiger mnd you, but with me! He took hjimself off yesterday afternoon and did a poo in Tiger's room!!!!!!!!!!!!! (took his nappy off and literally pooed on the floor) Me thinks he is marking his territory

He has never behaved in this way before and DH and I were laughing about it last night....

Obs how are you doing today? Presume your mum is here and you and DH are fine and dandy now???? I think it takes a lot of adjusting when babies arrive, as the excitement, adrenalin, anticipation wears off you are left tired, sore and emoptinal drained. It's no wonder things are a bit up and down, as don't forget, you have had your fair few battles this pregnancy.

Pinky I have a question for you - do you have the additional service of "personalising|" your blankets????? I would absolutely love to have Tiger's name put onto hers (and of course would pay you for the service) but thought it would be a lovely touch and make it really, really unique. Obviously not now as your hands and boobs and everythng else are tied, but perhapos somewhere down the lie when normality reigns???? I have had lots of people comment on how gorgeous the mussies are as well!! think you havew a great business there my love.

Hope everyone else is doing well and enjoying the early days....

DM xxx

Oh I have loved reading all these stories, I take it that jaundiced babies are more sleepy and don't feed so well? Jay is a little jaundiced so that could explain that one to me.
I had a weepy moment last night in hospital, the night MW forgot to give me pain relief and my scar was really hurting, I went to buzz the other MW and knocked it off the side of the bed, tried to get out to go and ask but I got stuck to the bed (i'm sure it was 1million degrees in there) because the sheets were rubbery and I was sweating, so I got really upset and started sobbing which just made the pain worse - I was a right state when they found me half out of the bed and felt like a right tit .

hana...thanks for that . I'm taking two sachets of spatone a day at the minute and ignoring the ferrous sulphate tablets. I am holding off with them until my bottom issue is resolved. Also eating apricots, steak, green leafy stuff, expensive chocolate.

I've been advised that flourodix is better than spatone though so I'm sending DH out for some tomorrow

Hello all
welcome tothe other side, Ladybuzz Oblomov I am so pleased things are settling down with you and DH. You have both been through so much stress lately. I knnow we all wish we and our partners remained sweetness and light during these times, but in RL none of us are perfect, and we all get frustrated and frightened.

lady your scar sounds a lot like mine- all looked lovely on the outside but really thin in the middle then big lumpy adhesions between my womb and bladder- I am also quite bruised from it.
Sorry you had a painful night.

Dozy personalised blankets could be done- I would have to look into what would be the best method to use.
I'm glad you like the burp cloths and bib, I made some more the same but never got around to making that many more as I had a few dollies ordered. Not got a whole lot of time/energy at the mo but I'll be back on thigns in a few months, if Dinkyminky sleeps!

merry I don't think I would've been so bad with the cs if it hadn't been such a rush and dilemma.
I didn't realise how upset I was until I went in for the spinal and got very upset. I felt quite sick through the whoe thing too. The anethetist was very kind and insightfuland said I seemed to be feeling very low and that I should not consider myself a failure, that I was having major surgery that I did not want but was doing it for the wqellbeing of my child, which was a good and brave thing. I have to keep reminding myself of that.

BUT

They were really lovely in theatre- very nice music, senior consultant and anaethetist performed the op- my consultant even stitched me up, and talked to me and DH. They brought dinky to me right away and I held her on my chest-she kept climbing under the tent and the surgeons found it very amusing. I had none of the BP or bleeding problems I had with my other two and was on the ward very quickly, where I met up with my fellow mummies from the 'waiting' ward upstairs, which was really fab.

My consultant came to talk to me the next day which was really nice, too.

I got a room to myself the next two nights, it was good to have some peace before coming back here.

So there you go, the actual birth bit was fine really, it was all the crap going on around it that has got to me really, I think.

SO I'll stop whinging now.

lacks and hana floradix is great. I sorted myself out the other week by taking 2 10ml capfuls a day, eating three avocadoes a day and half a bag of satsumas. STeak casserole also a good idea. It is the first time in as long as I can remember that I have not had a low iron count and did not need supplements on discharge - woohoo!!

sorry, how rude of me

Welcome to the other side Ladybuzz; Jay is a lovely name . I hope your scar settles down nicely. I had much more pain and discomfort after my elCS than the emCS I had with DS. I think being five and a half years older and a lot more unfit didn't help.

Had a bath earlier and had to lie on my side as I couldn't sit due to my not so little friend. When will it go away? It's not painful as such now, just itchy; is that a good thing?

Lacks poor thing. Don't have too hot a bath as it makes the capillaries swell- so making 'your little friend' even bigger.

Not itching or sore is good. The suppositries usually work pretty quickly.

In ye olden days they used to operate on them routinely. If it's really big and does not go away in a week or so I would see GP about it.

That's what MW said. She said GP can prescribe much stronger creams than they are allowed to postnatally due to the anti-coagulants. I think I'll call the docs tomorrow. I can't sit on a hard chair at all

I'm also having bladder control issues that seem to be getting worse not better

evening all - just had our first fireworks "party" as a family of 5 with my parents over and DH on the BBQ. T'was lovely and little Tiger Lemonade just snuggled on the sofa with Grandpa totally oblivious.........

Pinky personalised blankets are DEFINATELY the way forward, and when you feel up to it, even if it is in years to come, I would love for you to personalise our blanket!

I also thuink your consultant is very true pinky in that it wasn't what you wanted, or indeed your ideal scenario, but it was the right thing to do for your baby....that is what is the most important thing and you should keep hanging on to that thought.

So are all our LO's jaundiced?! Is anyone BF without problems?? My poor wee lamb was BF for over an hour on both boobs and still rooting, she then took 40ml of aptamil..... I think I am producing a little bit of milk but obviously not enough.

Am going to keep doing what I am doing until I can get my thyrode levels assessed (which apparatenly can go skew whiff after pregnancy). My poor old ( . ) ( . )though are bloody killing me!

Has anyone heard from Autumn lady today? I did text her and send her a facebook message but not heard back...........

merry I am also very very itchy - on my tummy and legs. DH reckons it is the "withdrawal" from the drugs in hospital a la trainspotting that is making me itch!!!

What do you think on that theory?!!

DM x

lacks, had to at the 'little friend'. i have one too, but luckily it is little and doesn't really hurt unless trying to go toilet. it was weird, i wasn't constipated but i think i just didn't drink enough compared to milk production, so lots of straining. sorry tmi. i an drinking a lot more and seems better. oh baby m is screaming... and baby j is whinging...

and congrats and welcome ladybuzz. we were going to call ds2 james and i liked jay as a nickname...it's really cool.

Thanks ladies, Dozy the anaesthsetist told me to expect some itching for a few days. My whole face itched the whole way through and i kept pulling the ECG leads off trying to scratch!
MIL is doing my head right in over BF, Jay seems to feed every 12 hours for an hour or so and just sleeps if you try him in between. she kept going on that he was starving and when he finally did start she was grabbing his feet and telling me I wasn't pushing him enough .
Its goodto know we are all in the same boat.
lacks your 'friend' fecks off soon .
~I cant believe we have babies!!

i was horribly itchy after the spinal from the diamorphine withdrawal....it settled after a few days and a couple of doses of piriton. If you have been taking co-codamol I think the codeine has the same effect. It was odd though, would start in my feet and then I had to chase it around my body and back to my feet.

DH was just wandering around in the kitchen with virgil tucked into the crook of his arm; made my heart melt.

We have been invited to a fireworks party on Saturday at a friends house. Am in two minds about going really, but DS will be really disappointed to miss it. We had to abandon our wee display this evening . Virgil wanted feeding and DD had a pooey bum and I couldn't do both at once so the boys had to come in from the garden so DH could help and then DD couldn't be unsupervised, even looking out of the patio windows in the office.

ha ha, dozy it may be withdrawal, but mine started in hospital when I was still on a fair few drugs - and it has been nearly 2 weeks now. it is driving me nuts. i did get quite a satisfactory response from the GP tho, she was shocked and called another doctor to take a look! apparently they may give antibiotics intravenously during the cs, and it could be a reaction to that (midwife said), but she also said it would clear in 2 weeks, and there are no signs of it clearing.

I don't think bf is ever easy at the start...gets easier for most people though. My boobs are ok at the moment, dh is still going to give a bottle for next feed so I get a couple of hours sleep if I go to bed now.

ladybuzz, your MIL sounds like my dh. he keeps trying to wake them up when they fall asleep on the boob, so they will feed longer and sleep longer - but they are stubborn!