Hi girls!

Georgi - thank you so much

I'm sooo very sorry I haven't literally had the chance to get online since yesterday morning!! Ava just loves to be held.... she's a very clingy bub and I suppose being a newborn that is quite normal too. She needs alot of help getting settled and rocking to sleep. It can take from one feed to the next just to settle her down especially with wind pain. She isn't sleeping much during the day but I suppose that means she will sleep better at night! Just got her down now after a BIG feed on both sides. So it's "ME" time now!!

The LC that Barb gave me to contact, is excellent! She came over at 12 yesterday in time for the next feed and she showed me a new way to attach. Cradle and lying down. For now, I am just lying down for each feed to help heal my damaged, cracked nipples. They are slowly feeling a bit better.... she could tell by looking at them that the pain would have been a 10. And she was right. Now the pain when attaching is about a 7.... hopefully will continue to get better if i stick to what she shows me. She is calling me morning and night to see how it is going so it's wonderful having that phone support...she is visiting again Thurs to check my attachment is still correct and to show me cradle position hold attachment.

LC weighed her yesterday and she only weighed 3560g which is what her weight was on Monday prior! So she hasn't gained or lost in a week. That was disappointing to find out however they are different scales too. Anyway at least we are onto it now.... not later.

If i had my time again, I would have called a LC in to see me in hospital on day 2 rather than just letting the midwives help me...... but never mind!! We learn don't we! turns out the way the midwives have shown me is sooooo different to how I'm now attaching.....I found out by the LC that her head bobs around because it's looking for the nipple and I was waiting and waiting for this big wide mouth (special K) and tongue down before I would put her on the nipple and i found she was getting so frustrated with me and her hands would get in the way etc. Midwives told me her head bobs around cos' she is fussy and impatient baby! however thats not the case... the LC has now told me thats just what newborns do!!! Now, I just bring her to my nipple and as soon as she lines up with the nipple, she's on. No mucking around. and somehow she knows how to get her mouth around the nipple. Its simple. before, there was too much thought put into it....iykwim? the LC is teaching me that there isnt a great science to it. Babies know what to do. Follow babies lead.

I am more relaxed when feeding lying down and I find like last night, I can drift in and out of sleep a bit while she's feeding so I'm resting aswell.... I'm not dreading each feed like I was before I saw the LC. It was so bad each time she was due for a feed I would cringe and get so worked up before she even got on and that wasn't helping!

I am no longer expressing as my milk appears to be up again (phew!!) and I just have to keep religiously waking her to feed every 3-4hrs.

Had a close friend visit me today and Georgi visited me yesterday (thanks Georgi ) so I have plenty of support around me. You girls have been so wonderful thank you for surrounding me with your support and help and encouragement as I sure need it..... and I still feel I have a long way to go but each day will get easier.
Will hopefully touch base tomorrow let you know how it is going!

eta - no dirty nappies yet today still waiting.....