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!

yes, when they spurt, they need to eat more.. its generally only afterwards and they've either grown or start doing/saying something new that you realise thats what it was at the time!!! Blardy nightmare. There are a few sort of documented ones, if you look at the babycentre/kellymom sites. I know there is one between 4 and 6 weeks, but to be honest, every baby is different, and if for example you have been eating less or drinking less, or the baby has been suckling less, your milk may be down and so they'll feed a lot to up it again. H has been fab so far, just doing about a 15 min feed every two hours until today, when its been a marathon and I've carried him around the house attached to the boob. Must find my sling as its very wearing otherwise and you feel you can't move anywhere!

Lenni and spink, PMSL at the biological nurturing approach. Last time I had the NCT breastfeeding lesson, made sure at every feed I sat bolt upright, my lap was flat, the nipple pointed at the baby's nose, and delatched her if anything wasn't perfect. Even in the middle of the night. I also did the baby whisperer thing where after every feed, we did a nappy and made sure she was awake when we put her back in the cot, just to make sure she learnt to sleep on her own.

THIS time... well... its put his head somewhere in the region of my nipple then carry on doing what I was, eating, reading, m'netting, sleeping. He is doing very well and has a determined latch .

and anyone who hasn't mastered breastfeeding lying down... its worth it as they also take in less air so you can pretty much dreamfeed them when you go to bed. wonderful.

Is it normal to have sore nips the first few days? I am pretty sure latch is good... but then just read that i shouldn't feel any pain.... bloody confusing!

Have just put a pic of Jude up on my profile

he is gorgeous! yay for little boys. and a lovely name!

Yes, your nips can hurt, especially if they are feeding a lot. the latch can hurt initially at the beginning but it shouldn't continue to hurt throughout the feed. Then again, if you have a cut nipple or something like that, its going to hurt, especially if its the bit they are cupping their tongue against, and its worth trying another hold, like the rugby one, so they cup the other side of the nipple iyswim. do try and get that cream as it makes a huge difference!

Thanks FLF! Have got some Lansinoh. Think its getting better. Will try the rugby hold too. Milk is defo coming in so trying to get Jude to empty these babies! Seems to be settling to feeding a bit more regularly, so that's good.

Right...I can hear snuffling coming from beside me....

i agree about breastfeeding lying down, it is so relaxing, and can be a lifesaver at times - like 2am!

never mastered doing it lying down. boobs so big i had to hold it up otherwise i would smother the poor child. def not relaxing.
stanley been asleep all day so no doubt in for a looooong night. even though he is 5 weeks he still behaves like a newbie. think the 3 weeks ealry has made a huge difference. my babycentre page says he should be noticing his hands and feet. he has to open his eyes first!!
ds2 had the mother of all tantrums today which lasted over an hour. thank god dh here as don't think he would have believed how epic. tried ignoring, moving to another room, cuddles, nothing worked. he cried so har dhe could breath. and no idea what caused it! thinking brother invasion might have something to do with it though.

qumps, I've heard that about big boobs, what a pity. DD has started being incredibly demanding and naughty. fortunately, I'm finding I can deal with it so far, its DP thats getting very wound up!

books hope that, come Tues you either have your baby already or have a totally relaxed, exciting and joyful section. A few of my friends have had brilliant planned c-sects, wonderful experiences they've loved, could be that way for you too!!

hkz - I've been told that it is pretty normal, for the first few weeks, for there to be some pain on feeding. If you have cracks/sore patches though, it is worth getting your positioning and latch checked so you avoid longer term problems.. diff positions a really good idea, so diff bits of your nips get munched!

MsSparkle - i had (am having) the same thing with my bleeding and have been reassured it is totally normal - I'm now getting a few days of nothing, then a day or so of really heavy, bright red blood. usually when I've been lulled into a false sense of security and am wearing piddly panty liners. leaktastic. fun fun fun!!

Spink thanks, that's reasuring to know the red blood is normal

Drama last night here. Yesterday, Finley was very off. He is ff and only had 1oz at 10.30am, 2ozs at 2.30pm and just over 2oz at 6pm. I had to wake him for those feeds and he and really didn't seem interested. He was sleepy and lethargic all day, kind of lifeless, not what you expect from a newborn. Then at 5pm and again at 9.30pm he was sick and it was bright yellow so i rang the midwife who said to ring the out of hours doctor. We ended up down the hospital until 2am with him. At first the doctor wanted me stay there over night with him just in case, him being so young and all but when we were there he took 3oz and kept him down and he had two poos, he hadn't been all day. So we were able to go home after she checked him out and was happy. We have had a bug going round the family this week so i was worried he might have it.

He had a 3oz feed at 7.15am this morning but doesn't want anything now and it's been 5 hours so i am worried again.

hi ms sparkle, has your little one taken more food today?

Hi MsSparkle - just saw your post. Hope you've had more success with feeding this afternoon and DS is back to himself. If he still isn't feeding or doesn't seem himself then I'd go back to the hospital. Better to have the reassurance and I'm sure they would be happy to see you again. Scary stuff for you, hope you've had some time to rest today.

Hi folks, stand by yer beds Tree's on her way over!

MsSparkle, we were going through a similar, although less dramatic thing here yesterday. Elizabeth just wouldn't wake up all day, not even for feeds. She did feed but only in her sleep and I had to keep tickling her etc to keep her going. In the end we decided to give her a bath to see if she'd wake up and she did, for a whole half an hour! Then last night she seemed to start waking every 2 hrs for food again all through the evening and then went 4 and a half hours between her last 2 feeds of the night! I panicked when I realised the time, and she still took ages to wake up, but she did take a feed when I offered it. She's been sleeping literally all day again today and am having to wake her to feed again - I'm assuming she'll cluster her feeds this evening again to make up for it.

On top of that, because her cord stump fell off at 7 days her tummy button started to bleed yesterday and that caused a bit of a panic. Thank god for the internet though, a bit of googling and mumsnetting later and I was suitably reasurred.

Has Finley been any better since your last post? Am I right in thinking he's the same age as Elizabeth (born on the 15th)?

I have a vague recollection of going through this with DS1. The midwife wasn't worried and told us to strip him down to his vest and leave him to kick on his changing or playmat for a while to wake up. We can't do that with Elizabeth though as she has a problem maintaining a good body temperature. As I remember it we used to do it regularly before a feed or halfway through a feed if DS1 was particularly sleepy.

Hello,

Finley was fed at 7.15am this morning, i tried him again at 11am but no joy then again at 12.45pm of which he took 2ozs but it took ages to get him to take that. Dp is feeding him now and again he is taking ages and has had 2oz. He doesn't cry for these feeds, i have to just give them to him.

Moose, yes he was born on the 15th. His belly button stump fell off on Monday! So soon!

DS's came off after just a few days too (5 I think) and it bled for another 9 days after that. Only finally healed when he was 2wks old - mw didn't seem concerned at all and just told me to leave it bloody if it bled as eventually the blood would scab and it would heal. Are you still under the midwives MsSparkle or hsve you been discharged? Can you call the post-natal ward and ask for advice? We can here until we've been discharged.

MM and MS, hope the beans wake enough to feed. Its difficult as its so tempting when they are asleep to just leave them! Mines been doing his best to road test the Lansinoh. I thought my nipples were pretty tough, but the two hourly rasping is beginning to get to them, and he is only just a week old. Last time the only real crack I got was from putting the breast pump on sloppily, then ignoring it as I was engrossed in my novel. very stupid as those things can be more lethal than little newborn lips if wrongly applied! Not looking forward to reaquainting myself with it as the last few months were spent pumping in the disabled loo at work. hideous.

keep meaning to mention pelvic floors... those of you a couple of weeks ahead, can you feel yours? mines like a wet flannel that I can barely locate. frightening!

Yep, can feel pelvic floor ...just

FLF - Remember that feeling very well from after DD though - luckily this time I didn't seem to do the same damage... or perhaps the damage was already done

My nipples have now recovered from the sans milk days (feel for those of you who are waiting for/have just had milk come in, that really is the worst bit). But still a bit on the pink side from the frequent feeding. Don't seem to be having any trouble with latch now though - DS seems to know what to do now so might brave lying down to feed tonight (that was what caused the damage in the first place). Trouble I find is I half drift off and he knaws me to bits when I'm not paying attention

Does the initial discomfort as they latch on ease eventually? It isn't painful anymore (prob cos nipples are now intact) but I still find the super-suction first few gulps before he settles to rhythmic feeding gulps a bit uncomfortable.

Yes, super suction gets a lot better... does take a month or two little while though!

Sitting here with cabbage on my boobs...mmm...lovely smell. Have been expressing a little as milk has come in in a big way, but Jude won't take a bottle,,,have only tried avent one so far? Any recommendations? I used nuk last time, but haven't seen them for sale in uk...

Miss S - I hope finley is feeling better..Its horrid watching your baby when they are not well and all you want to do is make them better.

Pelvic floor is just about there...have started doing my exercises... oh I hate this ouchy bit when everything is sore and tender.

Feeling all loved up every time I look at Jude and at DD...

Think my nips are sorting themselves out...latch seems to be better...now just general soreness.

Keep getting covered in pee every time I change Jude..not used to willies yet.

basically I am a physical and emotional train wreck

yay... i'm now welcome here!

Will post more tomorrow.

Esme Mae born 8.45 fri morning. 6lb 6.

congrats ray! well done for making it across!

hkz, I know what you mean. I keep veering from hyper (when I forget to eat) to spacey (during and after a feed). also very bossy and demandind. between me and DD, poor DP doesn't know where to put himself. also keep having mild panic attacks when I try and go out, which isn't great. guess I should stay in for now , though am considering oxford street on monday !

flf- i am the same! So far this a.m. have changed all beds, done a ton of laundry, cleaned, kitchen, fed baby, had bath, felt like crying and applied more cabbage to my boobs! Feel like there are a million things to do, but know I am going to be exhausted again by about 10!
Don't go to oxford street! That's crazy talk!

Hopefully all these hormones will settle down soon...