January 09 - 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4......and we're off

[fourlittlestockingedfeet]

Here's a brand new thread for the early party poppers!

sorry welcome barrelofmonkeys and yay to second page of posts.
stanley realised finger not nipple....

Just popped in for labour motivation....vauge flash backs of 8 weeks of 2 hourly feeding occuring so may pop off and stay pregnant for another year or so.

2 hourly feeding. Oh Lordy yes. Think we got to 3 hourly at 6 weeks or so. Had really blanked all that, I just remember 4-6 hourly at 6 months with huge baby with huge gaping mouth.

So you're telling me I have to niggle for weeks, then labour and then look after it too!!?? That's it I'm off none of this was my idea anyway I just want to go disco dancing and have hangovers....

qumps - maybe Stanley is growth spurting?

more breastfeeding bumness here, crack has reopened again and now the other boob is really painful too. I've given in and started to use nipple shields, which are bloody fantastic, makes SUCH A MASSIVE DIFFERENCE to actually relax during a feed and -OMG- enjoy it!! seems to be working fine so far, so I think I'll rest the nips for a bit, watch my supply and see how it goes.
Odd how I still feel slightly guilty about it, like it is not proper bf-ing. Bloody hormones.

Anyone else tearful at the drop of a hat? I'm not feeling sad, but really emotional. ds is having a bit of a hard time adjusting to Rosie being here so far, and being really tantrumy and clingy. whenever I see his little face crumple up my heart breaks. even tho I know he is and will be ok.. I've gone into overdrive with the empathy..

How you doing Spink?

Hi,

Thought I'd better check in here now I am no longer ante-natal so-to-speak.

Just one thing on my mind at this precise moment - afterpains! Aaagh! They are absolute killers this time round! Am taking paracetamol but they're not touching it. How to make hourly breastfeeding fun!

Madam is feeding well with no problems but is really windy and refuses all our wonderful tried and tested methods for winding except Daddy's special bounce, which I've never mastered successfully - hope she's past this stage when he goes back to work.

sorry, two hourly feeding - one hourly - god forbid!

hello mm - so good to see you here! afterpains sound harsh, I managed to get away without them. very grateful for that!! we have a wind problem here too, haven't worked out any way that is a definite winner so there is lots of possetting (and laundry) going on

tree- you are a sweetheart to ask. thank you. I'm ok, finding it a bit of a struggle because ds now has a cold and his sleep and eating are shot, and he really does want his mummy all the time. Rosie has upped her feeds from 3 to 2 hourly at the same time, so I'm just feeling worn out and really sore. Saw a mw today who reckoned there IS a problem with the latch so I've been trying without the shields but not getting it quite right, Rosie is being lovely and taking the latching on and off and on and off pretty well though, the peach! I'm trying to adopt her calmness about it...
blimey. forgotten how hard the first few weeks can be
What about you? actually I'm going over to the other thread now to find out...

how is everyone else doing?

Hey Spink - we are all in varying degrees of being pregnant. sometimes grumpy, sometimes chilled, sometimes maybe labour, sometimes bugger labour on couch with chocolate....just waiting.

Great Rosie has the disposition to go on and off without melting down on you. Is she not opening her mouth wide enough? Persevere and zero tolerance of lazy latches.....like anyone has the energy for that.

If need any help do ask [am fairly ok on breastfeeding, done unicef course and stuff but it's more a case of remembering stuff!!!!]

tree - you are being fabulous to keep your sense of humour, especially with all those pre-labour niggles teasing you. the waiting is harsh. I guess one thing that is guaranteed is that it will be over. You will not be 9 months pregnant forever.

with the feeding,yep, it is a wide (not) mouth issue. Any tips for getting her to open up??

I wanted to ask you something else too - my bleeding had really tailed off, just using a panty liner, brown blood. and then today it is bright red again, more of it (not loads but too much for a liner pad) and a few little clots. Is that ok?

Hi Spink

I had been told afterpains can be bad from no 3 onwards, but I had no idea how bad. On the labour ward I was getting them when everyone else's babies cried - and believe me there was a lot of crying!

Well done for carrying on with the breastfeeding in spite of the latch problem. Elizabeth seems to have a tiny little mouth and is completely dwarfed by my boobs so we found it difficult at first, mainly in hospital as just couldn't get into a comfy position. Have tried out a few positions and found she favours rugby ball (under the arm facing backwards) haven't looked back since - oh and am using my lovely kamillosan. Can't believe how much the smell of it brings back memories of feeding the other two.

I know what you mean about feeling for your DS with all the change in his life. It was exactly the same for me with DS1 when DS2 came along, he was obviously unhappy about things, jealous, clingy and occasionally physically nasty to DS2 (pinching back of neck when he thought noone was watching - got a great photo of that) but it does get better and my two are inseparable best friends now so it will all be worth it in the end.

Right, am finally allowed out of quarantine as the boys have gone to bed. Looking forward to escaping the bedroom and having some company this eveing, was starting to feel a bit 'baby bluesish' from being on my own all day.

Trying to think of something I want to eat for tea, whilst considering the consequences (ie first post birth poo!). Am dreading it and have been eating like a sparrow as an avoidance tactic if I'm completely honest - but - can't put it off forever I suppose.

mm how unfair to be getting afterpains when other people's babies cried! so wrong.
lol at the poo avoidance eating. I was the same after ds, when I had godawful piles. This is TMI for sure, but my first poo had a waterbirth, iykwim and lactulose was my friend.

Feeding - Some positioning tips would be the rugby ball hold as Moose suggests if you haven't tried it, and simply waiting for the biggest gape you can get from her. Also being sure she can tip her head back as she latches [imagine downing a pint] as your nipple needs to point to the roof of her mouth.
This gets so much better as they grow out of teeny newborn stage.
RE the loss, it might be because of an increase in feeding or hormone levels if your in milky heaven contracting your uterus down the last bit of the way, also if you have been more active. You can akso get slight gushes if you have been less active and it's been 'stored up' and then comes away when you move.
So long as no pain or flu like symptoms its ok to have variations. But if the clots are a decent size [say 50p piece] save them for the mw to look at. Yum!

Glad your out of isolation Moose, hope the blues pass on quickly. Shnuggle up with boys and listen to wind and rain for comfort [got dd here in my bed listening to howling wind as she drifts off as a treat. Lovely]

Hi all,

Glad you seem to be getting to the bottom of the problems with feeding Spink. It is a long slog, I seem to be having same issues with not getting enough bottom breast in DS's mouth, but he is still tiny so am hoping as he grows that will improve. The pain on latching on has eased now and it is definitely let down pain now rather than nipple pain but one of my nipples is still cracked from the mistakes in the early days, although finally healing.

Did my first public b/f today yay!! Feel very proud of myself for braving it, but wasn't nearly as bad as I'd imagined and DS was a star - got himself on perfectly without me having to get everything out and fed really quickly without coming off once, then slept for about 3 hours afterwards so I could enjoy a nice meal and see to DD without having to juggle them both. I know I've used up all my luck in one outing now though, that will never go that well ever again, but at least it's given me a bit of much needed confidence.

MM- Congratulations again! Those afterpains are a bugger aren't they! I was having what felt like labour contractions when feeding for the first 3 days or so. Was literally in tears with the pain. My lovely midwife was very sympathetic though and told me to take full dose of ibuprofen as well as paracetomol as she said paracetomol wouldn't touch it by themselves. Might be worth asking about.

On the post birth poo front I've only managed 2 in 10 days horrible feeling when your pelvic floor is so weak but I've tried not to worry about it this time and just let nature take its course iyswim!

Spink - same here on the loss, mine has been up and down since about day 4, tailed off completely most of the time and then I'll have a big gush occasionally. Like you say not loads, but enough to soak through a light pad. Am still using the thick wedge like ones for a bit of cushioning anyway as my tailbone is sore (broke it before I had DD - OMG the pain!) so hurts to sit down a bit.

....sorry that was a bit of a mammoth post...

yay lenniEd well done on public feed. It is a milestone isn't it?

You're getting more company soon!!

Just thought I'd have a nose to see how you're all doing, likely to be weeks before I join you.

wow reading through your messgaes its amazing the difference a few weeks make. brings it all back reading about clots and poo! i had a clot way bigger than the size of a 50p but my midwife said unless the size of an egg not to worry. an egg!! and i saved it for her too also fist poo on a par with giving birth. now been quite constipated and its epic everytime i go. feel like i have lost half a stone after though.
stanley seems to be doing well. can't remember if said but all clear at jaundice clinic. scans now the 4th feb so not too long to wait. however his bro is being a bugger with sleep. up last night for 2 hours having an epic tantrum and now refusing lunchtime nap. i need it for my sanity still so he is in his cot moaning. he is tired and mummy knows whats best!
doing ok with mixed feeding at the moment so will stick with it for a while. sorry to hear all the problems still happening. you lot clearly have higher pain and tolerance levels than me!

hi can i join you all please? i had my 2nd child last tues (13th Jan). had a section and just got home from hospital last night. the first night back is always the hardest!

i am so knackered! please tell me it gets better!

It gets better heron and you adjust to get used to it. DS is 11 days old now and I'm already feeling a lot more confident. The hormones don't help in the early days either, make you a bit teary over things and I felt really vunerable this time. Am much more like my normal self now. And now I'm out and about that helps too.

Qumps - much sympathy on the nap dropping. DD stopped the minute I got pregnant (at 15mo ) and I miss that hour or two so much still.

HI heron22. Congratulations on your new arrival, what did you have? First night is really hard, especially if you've had to stay in at the hospial and there's usually no chance of getting any sleep there.

I came home on Friday evening and have felt a little bit more human each day so far - I think having your own bed, bathroom and helps the process along.

Guess what guys? I've poo'd!! Was really poorly in the night with bad bowel pain, actually I think bowel and uterus were in competition to see who could be the most painful! Spent an age on the toilet this morning et voila - not as bad as I thought considering all the stitches (took an hour and 2 midwives!).

Milk came in today in abundance and Elizabeth has been in baby milk heaven. She's completely stuffed herself to the point of bursting this evening (emptied both sides in just 10 mins per side in one feed) and is now extremely sleepy with a very sore tummy!

yay to poo moose. i too felt the afterpains having not done so the first time. at one point i told dh they were as bad as labour but think i was exagerating. v painful though. had a few painkillers as was in hospital 3 days as agree paracetamol doesn't touch the sides.
have stretched stanley between feeds today to 3 hours and he seems much happier funnily enough and so do i! will be interesting to see what he does at night. have also put him in his cot since 7 so dh and i have had our first few hours alone since his arrival. not that we have done anything exciting. he keeps telling me he is horny and i just glare at him and say if you even breath on my breasts i will kill you! dh back to work tomorrow and i am bricking it.
oh and ds1 a complete nightmare due to no sleep. threw his dinner at us. i was covered in gravy. needless to say whether he likes it or not he is sleeping tomorrow....
breast killing from dropping feeds. tree is it true what i read that i will be able to keep doing a few feeds a day and breasts will naturally adapt? currenlty doing 7ish and from 5pm onwards (other than 10pmish) on the boob and 3 formula feeds. really enjoying this at the mo as have best of both worlds but worried incase milk supply drops and i don't realise?

He's a month isn't he? Sooooo let me think. You might get away with it as a month may have established your feeding, I'd say it's boarderline iyswim. Its good you are giving the evening feeds as they tend to result in more milk [prolactin levels are very responsive in the evening] so that is working for you. Also sounds like you have good overall 'yield' if you have sore boobs from not feeding so tha is encouraging too.
You'll notice the drop if there is one as Stanley will want to feed more and for longer and may come off and shout at you. This could be managed if it occurs [if thats what you wanted].

Tik Tok is the woman to put a call out for if you want an absolute expert opinion. She seems to know all things boobie!
Horny DH - feed him till he's lazy and he can't really move?

Hi all, just checking in, will catch up and post properly tomorrow. Absolutely shattered. People with windy babies.. drinking fennel tea can help them if you are B/F'ing. In Germany they actually teaspoon feed them fennel tea in the postnatal wards!

thanks tree. i guess the longer it does work is longer than him getting no bf at all so all good even if only a week. def milk there as thought i would explode last night. next problem to tackle is the 2hr feeds at night. does go straight back to sleep though and so do i so not too worried.
dh back to work today so no doubt that will kill his sex drive.
hey flf. looking forward to hearing all your news.