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.

[EmmalinaC]

Hello ladies - hope you're all getting on ok. I am shattered as Niamh seems to be most lively between midnight and 4am but she is feeding well and has gained over a lb since birth so she's doing really well.

Pula her belly button was exactly as you describe and a bit bleedy too. Midwife told us it was fine, to bathe it with warm water whenever we changed her nappy and it would soon clear up. And it did.

And I have only bathed her properly twice since birth 3 weeks ago! Both times she screamed the house down. Personally I think topping and tailing and milky neck creases are all you need to worry about with a newborn. We will try to start nightime routine when she is 6 weeks.

Dandy just read your post from yesterday YAdefinitelyNBA!

My mother-in-law is staying at the moment and has just taken Niamh out for a post-prandial stroll so I'm off to snatch a few minutes sleep!

[Belgianchocolates]

I love placentas. Call me weird, but I love checking placentas after deliveries. They're the most fascinating things, but I didn't particularly want to keep my own

I've bathed C 2x since birth I think, but I always forget the topping and tailing too. She doesn't look too dirty and doesn't complain about not being washed often enough, so I'm sure it's OK

crying I do think that you get to know the cries a little bit after a while. At the mo we're still working on that one, but it's not easy.

Well, C has been v. unsettled the last 2 days. Yesterday she fed every hour and just wouldnt settle inbetween. During the night she's actually OK, feeding and straight to sleep. This morning I finally feel rested for the 1st time in a week, because I slept during her feeds . Today she's a bit better, but still not brilliant. I can feel I've got more milk today after those 2 days of 1-1.5 hourly feeding. My feeling is that she wants to sleep, but can't settle herself, so wants to suckle herself to sleep, IYKWIM. Earlier today I managed to settle her after a good feed in the wrap sling and then put her in the pram for 2h. Just now she had a 45min feed (milk dribbling from her mouth) and I know she's tired, but if I hold her she wants to feed and in the pram she settles only for a short time. It's such hard work at the mo. Luckily dh is home and half term next week, but I'm really worried about the school run. If she continues like this I might have to give her a dummy, because if I put her to the breast she just comfort sucks for a few seconds and goes to sleep. For now I'll see how she goes while Dh is still at home.

[Belgianchocolates]

pula I forgot: your lo's belly botton sounds about right. Is it 1cm of skin or does it seem like there's something poking out of it? C's cord stump came off on sun and is looking a bit odd too, but more and more like a 'proper' belly button as the days pass. Like Emmalina said: wash weepy stuff away with some cooled boiled water.

dandy Yanbu. Announcing your baby's birth is your privilige.

[pulapula]

spangle- I like your routine

Think mine at the moment (he's still sleepy with the jaundice) is Eat - Nappy change to wake him up - Eat - Sleep (in a sling/on me/next to me) - Sitting on sofa watching TV with laptop on my knee.

Good job my cleaner came this morning and that DH is on pat leave. My older DCs have started playing up (their good behaviour didnt last long) and its a relief they are in nursery today and tomorrow .

[Momino]

placentas, ugh. sounds ugh. belgian, lol at you loving them and studying them .

those with girls, i know that sometimes the breasts are a bit enlarged after birth because of hormones, but for some reason I only noticed Harper's enlarged breasts this week. Is that normal? shouldn't they have settled down by now (17 days post birth)? was going to ask HV who's coming Thu.

[Jennster]

Momino Not noticed swollen breasts, but have noticed swollen genitals. Sorry if this is tmi, but her labia minora and clitoris are pretty (ahem) prominent.

DD2 has been pretty sleepy until yesterday afternoon. I decided to stop swaddling as it seemed she wasn't feeding frequently enough. All change thankfully, and although I couldn't tell you how often or for how long, it seems right now.

Sympathy to everybody with piles, I've not got a mirror, but suspect I might have some small ones.

I swear my pelvic floor is the best it's ever been post delivery. I have a nasty cough and not leaked once. Although I don't think I was particularly hypnotised, the practice of deep breathing and relaxing the rest of my body during contractions has meant I don't feel like I've been steam rollered, and all my energy was directed the right, most productive way.

Oh the ecstasy on her face when she's doing a pooh.

[ladyhelenatealltheeggs]

Having a good day. R back to his birth weight. Which is a feat as he went from 8lb9 to 7lb on day 5 so to be back to 8lb9 on day 17, I think is pretty good. Which makes me think we are doing something right! Sticking with the topping up at the mo but as he has now gained a good amount of weight, it gives me confidence to perhaps try a bit more with the BF. At the mo he feeds from me for about 30 to 40 mins, and then has a top up of about 2 or 3 fl oz, every 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Its just a question of finding the time to feed him. Tomorrow we are at a funeral so am not going to find much time then, and thurs and fri DS1 is around and with DH now back at work, it won't be easy to find those big bits of time to feed. Will try though....

jennster good work on the pelvic floor! I only remember when am on the loo so stop my pee and hold and thats all the exercise the PF gets!

[SpangleMaker]

jennster I know what you mean re the poo face

The other week I realised I'd never given H a bath by myself - the nursery assistants had helped in hospital & since we've been home DH has done all the baths as he enjoys it. So I got everything ready, clean towel on my knee etc. H loved his bath & for once didn't even cry when I took him out, in fact I was just congratulating myself on what a lovely, contented baby I had when I saw the hugest, bright yellow poo splattered all over Harvey, the towel, my leg, the floor, even the wall... how I didn't hear it I'll never know!! I knew the explosive poo moment was coming I just didn't know when it would strike!

[Belgianchocolates]

Lol @ your pooye bath experience spangle I haven't been pood on yet this time around, but I know it's only a matter of time .

Well I just managed to get C to go 3h between feeds. 45min after her last feed she started crying. I knew she wasn't hungry so held and rocked and entertained her for a while. Then she got really angry, but I was determined to keep her going until there was at least 1.5h between feeds. Anyway, all of a sudden she just zonked out and slept for another 1.5h . Now she's just had a 30 min feed and as usual fell asleep at the boob, comfort sucked for a bit and when I took her away woke up and complained . She's now happily looking around on my lap watching me type away. In about half an hour she'll start crying again and then we'll have to try and get her to sleep again without boob, sigh. Hopefully she'll catch on what we're trying to do here soon...

[Belgianchocolates]

I really wished my mum stopped phoning me daily. She never did this time around while I was pregnant, so why start now. The most annoying thing about it is that she uses this annoying 'concerned mummy' voice that she normally never uses. V. irritating. I wouldn't mind her phoning half as much if she just used her normal voice

[Blottedcopybook]

Oh my GOD I am so tired. I sprung awake this morning and after DH got the toddlers ready I drove them to nursery - that was all I did other than wait around for the midwife and I am utterly floored. I really hope we get a decent sleep tonight.

Greer was weighed this afternoon and she's down to 7lb 3.5oz which isn't bad going considering my milk isn't through yet. MW is back on Friday so hopefully by then she'll have started regaining.

[pulapula]

I fell asleep this afternoon whilst cuddling S and we both slept for 2 hours- think i will aim for an early night still. We retire to bed between 10.30 and 11 with me aiming to do one last feed, and then he wants to feed til sometime between 12 and 1 . Although guess it works quite well as then he seems to wake again around 3.30 and then can sometimes then make it through til after 7.30am so i get a lie-in (DS1 is waking at 6.10 at the moment so DH has been getting up with him so he doesn't disturb DD as they share a room).

[pulapula]

blotted my MW didnt weigh S as she said he'll only have lost weight, so he will be weighed for the first time tomorrow (day 8). I am hoping he will only be a bit below his birthweight then.

Emmalina and belgianchocs- Sam's belly button is already retracting so thanks for the reassurances and looks like it is completely normal.

[Febes]

Hi I'm back from hospital with my beautiful boy. I've caught up with the old antenatal thread but will catch up with this new thread tomorrow.

[detsy]

Hallo mummies x

Sorry not posted yet but been a bit mad in this house with the adjustment from 1 - 2 sproglets

Great thread and good to know I'm not the only one who has been in tears about possibly not being pregnant ever again (are we really mad us females??) I started weeping abou this when I came home and have only really stopped in the last 24 hours - mad bat I know!! Robert was very interested in the condom aisle in Boots today....

My stitches are really hurting - they can't be infected (I don't think) as have been on antibiotics due to surgery but think will get MW to check them tomo - maybe just tightening up the old fanjo to its original state... My bum is hurting (a lot) I think I have the internal version of piles - still feels like a baby's head is there or that I need to go to the loo some more. My back is bloody killing me from the spinal block but other than that - i feel dandy

Archie is fab and Lotti adores him. BF is so much easier this time round altho I forgot to mention in my moan list above that my boobs are bloody agony (still a bit engorged and desperate for the next feed to empty my rh side a bit!!)

Am finding cleaning baby boys bottoms so much harder as I have been peed on so many times in last few days. I can't seem to get the hang of haolding a cloth over willy whilst trying to get poo from all the dangly bits and stop Archies feet from paddling in his nappy. Had to take duvet to launderette today as a result of too many middle of the night accidents (only been home a couple of days...)

Is everyone using cotton wool and water then??

And last question, when is it supposedly ok to start expressing? I need some relief but don't want to bugger up supply for the next feed....

Sorry mega post..

[detsy]

Huge congrats Febes - we got there in the end - so nice and unusual that we have 2 sproglets the same ages and same sex

Placentas - Yuksville - saw my first one, yes agree amazing thing but YUK. Obv didn't see this last troublesome one

[detsy]

Oh and belly buttons - Archies was bleeding and smelly yesterday - minor panic ensued but app nothing to worry about, hospital told me its gangrenous and so will smell??! Never heard that before??!

Dropped off today but his belly button still looks weird - CMW tomo so they can check it.

Nice to see that I am continuing the thread of chatting merrily away to myself on here as well.

Spangle when we getting together for post birth celebrations, champagne and cakes somewhere - the chaps can drive

[detsy]

Dandy def def def not BU - bloody families and smirking a lot at your plans to FB his own birth announcements soon - see how he likes it - fair play

[Tummum]

Morning ladies

Well, we are planning to go to the coast in the caravan this weekend and I am starting to think it's a bloody daft idea because G will wake up the DDs because we will all be in such close proximity. What do you think; are we mad??

Dandy - sounds like you have your fair share of niggles ! Aren't boys bits silly?! Luckily G has stopped weeing every time fresh air hit his bum, but the cleaning up operation is very different for boys than girls.

As for bathing, I've bathed him twice so far so will make an effort to do it again today. I have switched to using wipes, because I can't be arsed with all the cotton wool paffing and it doesn't seem to have affected him [bad Mummy emoticon]

for Dandy and the medical advice. It must be horrible to be told that rather than making your own decision on it. I also think the FB plot is the way to go... could you blame forgetful new mummy hormones on the mistake??!

My biggest problem at the mo is piles . They are making paying a visit really really painful. I'm just eating loads of fibre and hoping they go away because I don't want to visit the Dr about them. I feel messed about with already and could do without more poking about... albeit in a slightly different area

Gotta go and sort DC out. Have a good day everyone

[Reggiee]

hi FEBES and welcome to this thread.

DETSY pmsl at your experience of changing a boys nappy. It's exactly the same as me. I had to ask dh to tell me how I should 'handle' his willie when trying to clean round it. I used to forget to shift the scrotom to one side to get in the fold there in the first week . I also have a supply of big cotton wool pads and I always bob one on his willie when changing, and this has been successful at avoiding pee in eye.
Am still using cotton wool and water. I heard you can use wipes from 4 weeks (tomorrow for us ), and may do for big poos.

TUMMUM v brave to consider going away - but then I'm a home comforts kinda gal. We've only started bathing B this last week as mw told us not to as he wasn't putting on enough weight (until last week). Would really recommend the doctors for piles btw. I got some FAB prescription stuff which worked wonders.

Gotto go, I think we're due another feed.

[SpangleMaker]

Quick post as I need to get H & I ready to go to the GP for our 6-8 week check.

Detsy any time for champagne & cakes as far as I'm concerned (now? ) Would have to be a Sunday if I am to be chauffeured tho. Hope your various bits make a full recovery soon!

Boys bits still don't have an answer for this one. You can put a clean nappy underneath first, then undo the dirty one & fold it under & if he wees use the front of the clean nappy to 'catch' it. Sometimes works. It's funny when they get themselves in the face.
Does anyone else find that whenever there is a wee accident to occupy your attention they manage to do a big sneaky load of sick down their neck & clean clothes??

[SpangleMaker]

Still using cotton wool & water here as H got nappy rash when I tried using wipes. It's less of a pain now I've realised he isn't bothered whether the water is warm or not

[pulapula]

I mainly use cotton wool and water (spangle- we have also quickly found DS2 doesnt care about water temp ) but have used wipes when we couldn't be arsed fetching water/top and tail bowl. Luckily DS2 doesn't seem to pee very often when his nappy is off (DH has had 2 fountain wees and I've had none) and no explosive poos either whilst on his mat (touch wood).

Spangle- can't believe you are at the 6-8 week check already- time flies, and it's a real milestone to reach - well done you.