May 2009 - loved-up new mums and/or sleep-deprived zombies this way please

[pulapula]

Here's a nice new thread for us to share our experiences with our new LOs.

Just popping in to say hi!

Edith was total milk monster all of yesterday, feeding every hour. Am glad to say it calmed down during the night and she's back to normal today!

Just off to the docs for my 6 week check.

Hope to be back later.

x

Afternoon ladies, I am back from my first drive in 4 weeks- i took S to Meadowhall shopping centre (or should i say Meadowhell).

Managed to buy some summer clothes/hats for the older DCs in Primark (so cheap), exchange some baby clothes, and get me a pair of jeans, in betweem feeding S, pushing him round to settle him, and carrying him when he screamed. He wasn't very settled (not surprised as it was so noisy and hot) and screamed on the way home. I started to think maybe he needs feeding every 2 hours rather than 3, but then we got home, he had aquick feed and fell asleep so still not sure if the screaming was tiredness or hunger . Wish i knew what was bothering him- i feel bad that he's 4 weeks old today and i still never know (I usually feed him if nothing else works).

I just wrote a long post giving most of you a mention, clicked post and MN froze. Finally managed to get back on to check if the post was on, but it isn't. Will have go get back later to repeat what I said. It's time to feed C, to pick up the dcs and carry on to gymnastics for dd1.

Back later

hiya ladies. Things aren't very good here again. I got took in, in an ambulance again on Sunday, cuz of these stupid gall stones, and again I got sent home with painkillers again, and told that my operation will be a minimum of 8 weeks away. Me and DP tried to explain, when Ihave one of these 'attacks' the pain is absolutly excrutiating, and we have to phone 999, I have gas and air on the way to the hospital, they then put an IV drip in and pump me full of drugs, then when the pain goes, I get sent home. I can't do this, I really can't, how can I look after a 5 week old baby, and my 3 1/2 year old DD like this. I was in bed allday yesterday, and I'm only getting up to go for a wee, the pain all accross my stomach is still there, I can't eat cause I feel so sick, I can't drink either. When I have a period of thinking, I could manage a piece of toast, I'm too scared to eat, cause apparently that's what sets it off...I can't stay like this for 8weeks+, i can't look after my children, DP has had to take yesterday and today off unpaid, and we can't afford for him to take anymore time off, as he's the only one wrking, and I'm not getting Matterity pay or anything. I can't pay privately to have it done, it's around 5k. I just want to give up, i really do...I'm losing my bond with Jacob, as DP is having to have him so much, I can't even hold him I'm in that much pain. DD keeps asking me if I feel better, and I can't explain to her that I don't, and I won't until i've had the stupid operation. I really don't know what to do. I'm so sorry to come on and vent to you guys. Ijust needed someone to tell.

Jael,

So sorry to hear how miserable things are for you. Are you still seeing your HV? It's worth seeing her and getting some advice- I know there is a service available to new mums to get some kind of free home help? A friend of mine who had twins used this service- sorry can't remember its name. Your HV might also be able to advise on whether you might be eligible for some free childcare for DD given your circumstances (I know she doesn't get her "free place" until sept which is a shame). Sorry, don't know what else to suggest. I was ill over the weekend with mastitis and I realised how hard it is to take care of LOs when you feel so ill yourself- it was so depressing. Try not to get too down, and try and find out if there is any help available.

To those of you co-sleeping, do you simply latch and go back to sleep or do you wake up a bit?

I had a funny night last night as DS2 woke at 2.30, i latched him on and went back to sleep and he only had the one side and was awake again at 3.30. This time he fed longer, on and off til 4.30, waking me now and again. Then he was awake at 6 again, not particularly hungry just awake, but i fed him back to sleep at 6.45 as i wasn't ready to start the day! So in a way, although i slept through some of it, i felt like i hadn't had any solid sleep since 3.30 which made me think maybe its better to make sure he had a full feed from 2.30-3.30 so at least i might get more sleep in the end!

Jael OMG you are having such a sh1t time of it. I echo Pula's advice that your HV might be able to help you navigate the NHS to get some more help, as clearly the current situation can't continue. Can't really help much more other than to say please don't worry about coming on and venting. Take care of yourself.

jael You poor poor thing. I feel so sorry for you, not that that will make you any better off course. You come on here any time you want to off load and have a cry/moan about how things are with you, because I can imagine you will need to do that again in the future. I can only agree with pula. Are there any friends/relatives that can jump in to have your lo for you for at least some parts of the day? I would also see my GP again and get some dietary advice. It is my understanding that gall stone pain tends to get set off by certain types of food, especially fatty foods. So it would be useful for you to get some advice about what you can do to prevent an attack happening for now, rather than just being given some pain killers. Hope things will go better with you soon. Keep talking and try and cuddle your Jacob as much as you can even if you can't care for him as such. It will help with the bonding

co-sleeping It depends on how tired I am re feeding. Sometimes I stay awake for the whole feed and then I put C back in her crib. Sometimes I fall asleep and don't wake up until she wakes me for another feed.

Anyway. Dinner is ready now. Got to go and eat as ds has beavers in 20 min better hurry!

glad to hear you and LO are home grumpy

Had 6wk check today so can now legally drive again - Yay!
Matilda has got an umbilical hernia tho as I suspected so we have an appointment with Paed Consultant on 23rd July.
Doctor seems to think its large enough to warrant surgery

Apparently fatty food and fried foods can set off an attack. Both times I've just been sent home from the hospital with no advice on what to eat at all. We generally eat what i thought was really well anyway, with the odd takeaway like most families. I haven't ate anything since Sunday, I'm too scared really...I've been told not to google as at the best of times I'm a hyperchondriact, but I'm supposed to eat no fat or very low fat...I have no ideas of what meals DP can do for me, so I'm eating nothing...I feel so crap, I just want to give up. all i need to feel like my old self again, is this stupid operation, If i had 5k i'd be spending it on it, even though I don't see why we should have to, when we pay our taxes and are entitled to operations and stuff, I can't wait 8+ weeks though, I won't cope, so I really don't know what to do X

Jael- you really need to eat- not eating will make you feel rubbish too. Worth seeing your GP as belgian suggests to see what foods you should have.

ohjael so sorry you're having such a sh*t time at the mo - hope u can get some help soon

Matilda made the doctor laugh today. She has just commented on how pretty she was and went to examine her hernia - as she pushed in M's b.button she gave the loudest/smelliest fart! (M that is-not the doctor)

Just back from the hospital. I felt absolutely awful handing him over but DS was v brave and it was all done v quickly. I was feeding him again within 5 mins.
It's difficult to say for certain if there's any improvement but he certainly seemed to feed better and seem more satisfied. I also don't seem to be feeling as sore when feeding - I think he has been clamping his gums against my nipples to stimulate flow instead of using his tongue. I guess I didn't know that it wasn't meant to feel like it did!

Here's to it working for Friday's weigh in!

Jael - please make sure you have someting to eat regularly as you'll feel worse otherwise. It is best to have low fat stuff though so fruit, veg, lean meat and fish. Take care.

Ses- although S is gaining weight, i'm not happy with his latch sometimes (he slips off easily) so i think i will ask the GP at his 8 week check (shame its another 4 weeks away ) whether his tongue-tie can be snipped too. Will be interested to see how much of a difference it makes to your nipple pain and his weight gain.

looby- sorry to hear M's hernia might need an operation. I know of one baby with a hernia where his belly button stuck out a few cms and i think that went down over the first year and didnt need operating on.

pula - I'll keep you updated but if you think it will help, it is worth getting HV or GP or feeding advisor to have a look sooner.

looby umbilical hernias are quite common. They do often resolve themselves, but it's definitely good to have a specialist to have a look at it. That will give you a better idea as to how bad a hernia it is. Hopefully she'll be OK.

Ses I'm crossing my fingers for you and the weigh in on Friday. Sounds like you can already feel some difference.

Jael Do eat something. You can't go without for another 8 weeks if that's how long it is before your surgery. How about a light vegetable soup or something? Nutritious and easy to digest

My C is definitely settling now. She's still got a time of day where she wants to feed a bit more, but today went once for 3 hours and once for 4 hours and inbetween she did have a 1.5 hour gap too. Somehow she managed to time her feeds perfectly around the dcs school run, gymnastics and beavers She also seems to be getting into a real pattern for nights and it's a good one too: 11, 3.30, 6

Ses- good idea- I'll ask my HV as i'm due to see her a week tomorrow.

Belgian - great that C is getting a bit more settled

co-sleeping - meant to say, I sit up and feed O in bed at about 11pm for 20-30mins before lying down and latching him on again. We then both gradually fall asleep. He fully wakes around 3am when I get up and change his nappy before sitting up feeding and then lying down around 4am and latching him on again. Occasionally he latches himself on during the night too. We then wake up between 6 and 7am.

Ses I think S latches himself on sometimes in the night, as i often wake up with a damp bra and he has a wet chest so i assume he's latched himself and dribbled milk everywhere! I might try and be a bit more conscious of his feeding, as some nights we just have the 10-11.30, 2.30 and 6am feeds and i don't want to get into snacking all night. I wake up with quite empty breasts and sometimes he's not bothered about his wake-up feed.

Ses I think S latches himself on sometimes in the night, as i often wake up with a damp bra and he has a wet chest so i assume he's latched himself and dribbled milk everywhere! I might try and be a bit more conscious of his feeding, as some nights we just have the 10-11.30, 2.30 and 6am feeds and i don't want to get into snacking all night. I wake up with quite empty breasts and sometimes he's not bothered about his wake-up feed.

Pula - that sounds a similar pattern to us!

thinking of going to a Bf workshop tomorrow, there's one in town I can drop-in to now I can finally drive just hope I don't get a lecture about the formula top-ups I give M

Have just been looking on ebay for a lightweight buggy to take on holiday when we go in Sept. We have a quinny buzz which won't be suitable.Have found a Petite Zia Star which looks good - the reviews on here are quite good for it too. Any one have any experience of these?

looby- don't worry about the formula top-ups. It's good that you are still BF given all the troubles you've had along the way. I am sure if you wanted to reduce these you could drop an ounce from one bottle every few days, and put M back on the breast to stimulate more milk production. Then do the same for another bottle. I'm sure it would work. I used to give my DD a FF once a night, and then sometimes in the day if we were out and i was uncomfortable BF. I have given DS2 a bit of formula but think it unsettled his tummy.

Pula re: overnight feeding, I think it would be worth trying your plan of a fuller feed rather than letting S snack. The reason I think it might be worth a go is that last night G was snuffling / grunting (as they do!) a couple of times in the night but because I was too tired I didn't bother feeding him until he made a bit of an effort to cry (I figured if he was really hungry he would yell properly ). I then woke up later on realising he had gone back to sleep and hadn't fed at all, and had slept loads longer than ever before.

Also wanted to thank you guys (can't remember who it was ) for reminding me to start using sleeping bags - they've really helped me put G down to sleep. I think he was nice and snuggly warm after feeding and then got cold getting into his crib.