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

They are beeeooooooouuuuuutiful Merry You must be so proud of yourself.

I'm aghast at your 37 week bump pics though!!!!

Oh, and a friend of mine who had twins was getting her tummy tuck done on the NHS I think the grounds for it were emotional distress.....so get crying at your GP ladies

feeding horrible here; now feels like I'm passing razor blades . I can't believe I didn't realise/think of thrush before this. Some peer supporter I am; I can't even diagnose my own problems

Oh Lacks. I remember having a blocked duct with thrush and it was the worst thing ever. The razorblades reminded me. I was crying and crying and had my mum and dh really distressed with the state I was in. I very nearly chucked in breastfeeding and it was only one night and one day. It was so painful but hardly any milk was coming out, and yet I had to put him on there to suck it out. I really feel for you and pray and hope I do not have to go through it (selfish me!).

Hmmm...not good at crying on GP's but if I can get to see my really nice lady doctor...don't think it's gonna happen round here though, she will probably just laugh!

I will be feeding with a towel clamped between my teeth later I think!!!

hopefully tomorrow will be better. Unfortunately we don't have any formula in the house.

ouchy ouch lacks is it right inside your boob? poor you.

merry your babies are just gorgeous!! Very awake and perky looking, too.

Yay the feeding is improving for Dozy and ladybuzz!

this too shall pass; this too shall pass; this too shall pass.....

right.....

down in the carrycot something stirs......

be brave lacks hope the pills work soon.xx

Ow ow ow, I think I have a UTI I'm up killing time until the emergency doctors opens - I don't think they would class a UTI as reason for a home visit Why do these things always happen in the niddle of the bloody night AND at the weekend?
I can't sleep and if I was in bed I would only disturb DH for the third night running.
BTW Merry your babies are gorgeous!

lakcs hope you are feeling better, nowt worse than milking razors out your ( . )( . )

Oh, if only mine did look that perky, more like ( ) ( )

. .

Get thr drift

Ladybuzz hope you are feeling better very soon, was it you who was saying that you thought you had one as th catheter hurt when it came out? Or am I totally getting confused??!

Merry can't belive the twins - they look about 3 months old! All that hair and very alert - they are absolutely beautiful, you must be so proud of yourself.....

As for tummy tuck on NHS, I am going to try and lose a couple of stone (eek, pass me the tissues emotion) and get back into the gym and see where that takes me. Although obviously this won't be until at least February as the thought of working out now fills me with dread, too much like hard work! Now where did I put that wispa?????

morning

sorry about the UTI LB. I hope you have seen the docs and are safely tucked up back in bed riding it out.

A better feed for me and finbo in the wee small hours off my not so sore side. He was awake with DH from midnight till 2 with bad wind, slept till 4.30, fed then went down straight away and slept from 5 till nearly 9. I feel quite rested today, but poor DH is knackered.

Fed off the bad side this morning, and I only jumped a foot off the sofa rather than having to be peeled off the ceiling like last night (in fact last night I was in real danger of abandoning him as I couldn't bring myself to latch him on . Poor wee mite was lying there, gob open and every time I got my nip within a hairs breadth of his mouth I pulled back again). his medicine hurts him too as he claws at his mouth and face after he's had it

lol at your boobs Dozy....mine are like bricks this morning (what was I gloating saying about them not being engorged earlier in the week?)

Dozy, am looking forward to meting up with you and comparing overhangs
Am truley astonished by mine. As you well know, I am no Kate Moss, and alwys had a bit of a 'pot belly'. But 1st cs not really bothered by. This one. Jesus christ. Overhang bIG TIME. early days. hope weight loss will help.

I have lost alot. Dh keeps saying how slim I look. My size 14 maternity jeans are too big. Apart from across the thunder thighs, that is. Shocked as to how slim I look.

Overflowing with milk at the mo. Ds's 'munching' must be good for supply. Fed regulalry at 10pm, 12pm, 2am, 6am, 9am.
So we are doing good.

My mum took lots of lovely pohotos of me. Bf. I was horrigied as to how big my boobs were. will put the photos on mn and facebook once dh has downloaded. my huge 'g' boobs are so saggy. gone are the days of my lucy pinder days. actually, I was quite a way off lucy poinder, but I did have the fabest boobs.

sorry to daisy, for sore boobs. Mine have not been sore at all. so far, apart formt heat original hospital filling/engorgemment. not sore from bf. atleast that is one relief.

sympathy to those with sore boobs. BIG TIME.

Merry. LadyBuzz, Bella, Pinky - how you all doing ?

ds2 looks much slimmer than that 1st birth photo. where he looked quite blaoeted. is that normal ?

Obs, finbo lools like half the baby he was compared to the first pics. All normal as they are a bit swollen from being swquashed about in labour and from being in the amniotic fluid.

He has been asleep since his feed at 9 this morning. Better quickly have a shower now DH is home. I've been waiting as sure as eggs is eggs if I'd gone for a shower and left him sleeping on his own whilst DH was out he would have woken up.

aaargh he is already making stirring noises.

lacks glad things are getting less painful. Jay had good night only woke once and then slept until 7.
UTI symptoms have calmed down again but I am going to ask for standby antibiotics just in case as it always kicks off at night. dozy yes it was me with the cathater prolems, it happened last time too!
obs glad things are on the up for you re the feeding.
Hi Pinky Merry lola

who was it that needed diclofen ? was it daisy ? was merrym offering some ?
I too have plenty, if anyone needs. God that stuff is fabarooney.

hi all. Twas me who has finished the diclofennac, obs.
Had a telling off from the mw today for doing too much. I will stick with the paracetamol, as I think the diclofennac is too good- I have been ovedoing it. If I've been overdoing it this week lord knows what next week will be like when I'm on my own

hope the boobs are a bit better today, lacks

and the UTI cleared up for you, LB

Finbo's mouth is starting to look a lot better with big patches of pink tongue appearing from under neath the white fuzz. Feeding still sore, but am grinning and bearing it. I have a feeling it'll be worse when he ramps up his feeds in the evening.

I'm now worried about mastitis. Feeling really fluey and have the headache from hell and my right boob is really sore. He isn't latching well enough to empty my boobs and I'm really engorged with a couple of big blockages that I can feel but can't shift.

I was so sure it would be easier this time round. This is harder than it was with DD

feeling very sorry for myself I'm afraid.

at ladybuzz and Jay only waking up0 once and sleeping until 7am!!! What is your secret, please share!!!!!!!

My little Tiger seems to sleep all day - I have to wake her for feeds and then she is up all night - she is a wee vampire!!!!

How are we all today?? We have had a lovely day - went to a National Trust park for a walk in the rain and then into the cafe for some lunch......was lovely to get out properly as have only managed the school run and a trip to the Dr's. DH thinks I should be doing bugger all - trouble is, I can't sit still.....

Couple of questions:

1. anyone still bleeding and if so, how much? I thought mine had stopped but started again yestrerday...still not much but I am on day 9 now..normal???

2. where are your LO's sleeping in the day and at night? We are either carrying tiger or she is asleep in her crib/chair downstairs and then in the travel cot next to us at night.....haven't attemptd to put her in her own room yet, and wondered if anyone else has????

3. boobwatch My right seems to be ok, very low milk production as confrmed by expressing...my right however is incredibly hot.sore.painful and cracked....any other option apart from Lanisol??

4. Tummy muscles - did anyone else's split or jsut me? If so, what are oyu doing to remedy???

5. for those of you bottle feeding or supplementing, what milk are you using? we are going with aptamil but is this the best?????

6. painkillers - I have lots of co-drydamol and Dicloflex (got another prescription from dR) if anyone wants me to send??????

Have a lovely evening - We are having steak and chips - cor cqn't wait!!!

Lots of love to all

DM xx

lacks just re-read your post - I feel exactly the same as you - very that BF is not going as well as it did with other DC's. As for Mastitis, didn't think about that, but actually could be waht I have in my right boob as well.....it is flaming hot, very very very very sore - to the point where I can;'t even let Tiger latch on....what should I be doing?????

HAve oyu got painkillers???????

WE CAN DO THIS - WE WILL DO THIS AND IN 3 WEEKS TIME WE WILL BE CONGRATUALTING OURSELVES ON GETTING PAST THIS STAGE.......

dozy, I have a four finger tummy split. Am seeing the physios next week (for that as well as my slight continence issues; I have no feeling at the front end at all )but have some exercises to do already.

I'm going to get all BF evangelical here, but how much you can express is absolutely no indication of how much the baby is removing from your breasts as they are always more efficient than a pump. It's one of the things that can make women give up; thinking that they have no milk/not enough milk. but they do, and of course the best way of increasing your milk supply is to feed feed feed.

The nightime thing is important as well as the hormones involved in milk production are at their highest at night and babies are programmed to feed more at this time as a result. Nature is very clever

and a wee thing re formula.......they're all much of a a muchness in that they are all nutritionally complete and there isn't any one better than the others inspite of what their advertising would have you believe. I would use Hipp but only cos it's organic so has been mucked about with a lot less, but C&G do an organic one as well I think. I think it's a case of what's good for one baby isn't for another. SMA and C&G made DS constipated but he was OK with Hipp and Farleys (but that doesn't exist anymore)

right I'm stopping evangelising now

gotta feed the monster; will get back to you on the mastitis stuff.....i am an expert at clearing blockages as i had lots with DD

thanks lacks happy to listen to any advice re BF as am so pro it and want to do for Tiger waht I did for the boys.

Can't believe you have an appointment for your 4 finger - I have been told to go to a paost natal class at 6 weeks but that is it. Also 4 fingers.......do you know why we ended up with that???!!

Dozy
1)still bleeding,. tiny amount. still wearing a pad. day 14.
2)night, in cot in his own room. we have done this since coming home. I know doesn't agree NICE cot death, but it is what we choose. we did this with ds1.
day, down stairs in moses basket.
3)milk supply left boob, much less , say 30ml, right boob massive, say 120ml, at each pump, in a few minutes. no soreness from either.
4)tummy muscles ? what are they ? split ? what does that mean ?
5)have bought aptimil. closest to breast. used one carton.
6)still using diclofenac. no paracetemol. maybe one morning, one before bed, as MW suggested.
DO i get prize for completing questionnaire ?

Evening ladies, have finally made it over to the dark side" Hope you and your LOs are all ok.
I've been looking for advice with BF tonight and although I'm sorry to read that so many of us are having problems, it was heartening to read that I'm not the only one. I've just been BF Elise almost non-stop for the past 6 hours and I'm worn out The first three days went really well and then my milk came in. The first night I gave her a couple of oz of formula because she seemed to be starving and I wasn't convinced that I had enough milk. Then last night she fed for 2 hours non-stop and I gave her another 2oz of formula and she then slept for 5 hours. Reading other threads and from what the mw tells me I know topping up isn't the answer because it's a question of supply and demand, but I'm really worried that she's not getting enough. Like DM I'm also hypothyroid so I'll be asking the mw about that tomorrow. But what should I do tonight? Keep feeding her all night or give her a top-up just so I can get a bit of rest?
Any advice gratefully received.
Sorry for me post - will now go and read thread in detail and see what else is going on...

Hello fellow sleep deprived mummys! Apologies for not having been back since making my rather premature birth announcement last month but our internet connection died and my laptop broke and it has taken this long to get back online with a lovely new laptop.

Unbelievably, ds2 will be 5 weeks old on Friday... hope you don't mind me sticking with the november boards though as apparently his development etc will still be counted from his due date so i guess we will be going through everything at the same time as you...

It has been sooo frustrating not being able to come on and check up on you and the new arrivals... i haven't been able to catch up with everything but a huge congratulations to all the new arrivals and good luck to those still to come

Just wanted to quickly say to dozy and anyone else with sore boobs that when i had bad blockages with ds1(had loads of blocked ducts, mastitis and thrush last time, this time just thrush so far!!!)i took loads of hot baths and would place a flannel with the hottest water possible on my bad boob and start to massage out the lumps. Applying heat really is the key, keep heating the flannel with hot water whilst lying in a hot bath and massaging (bloody agony but has to be done) and keep feeding (even more bloody agony but it will help and will stop it turning into the evil mastitis)

Sorry for the blockage rant but it is so important to look after the hooters when bf.

Little Jonah is doing well & putting on weight now after a fairly hairy start with lots of return trips to hospital. Will come back and write my crazy birth story when i get a chance

oh, btw, almost 5 weeks on and i am still bleeding the tiniest bit.
Jonah sleeps in pram downstairs during day (or mainly on me/in sling/in arms!) and in moses basket by my bed at night (or on my chest if we have any hope of any sleep actually happening) And finally, my tummy muscles are a disaster.

hi Zonedout and cricri!

cricri- if you can stand it, just keep feeding on demand, it's verry normal for babies to feed like this, it in no way meas she isn't getting enough, she just likes being near you, feeding, and is stimulating your milk supply. It will settle down.

With DD1 I got used to feeding lying down with DD next to me that way I could sleep a bit whilst she fed. It's a bit weird but when I cosleep with my babies I don't seem to move position at all. It is worth a try- maybe your doula or bfeeding counsellor can help you with the position? You sort of lie on your side curled around your baby.

cricri what dosage of thyoxine are you on??? Have a search on threads I started as I started one on thyroide issues and breast feeding.........With DS1 and DS2 I was always borderline, but now i take 150mg a day and have spoken to 2 Bf councillers and my consultant who have all advised that taking high levels of thyroxine can interfere with prolactin and oxytocine needed to produce breast milk. I am producing some, but not enough as having to top up with 2/3oz formula after every feed. I am persevering but like you, was afraid that poor Tiger Lemonade wasn't getting enough - which is why I was also breast feeding for up to 2 hours and that is NOT good for anyone.......Therefore, my plan of action is to continue breast feeding using both breasts for 20/25 mins eaqch side and then let Tiger have as much top up as she wants. Since I have been doing this, she is so much more settled and happy. I am still in agony but will give it another week or so. Unfortuantely, I haven't got the time to express with 2 other kids and school runs etc but maybe an option for you??????

Welcome back zonedout can't beolive you have a 5 week old baby!