This thread is for parents who's baby was born in September 2009.
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There are many issues that you will encounter as a new parent. We have put together this list of useful articles and threads in order to assist you with some common questions or issues you may have, and to provide you with bit of extra support that we all need as new parents:
Please contact the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) or a Lactation Consultant if you are concerned that you may have breastfeeding and/or supply problems, and before the introduction of solids or formula.
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First to post! Quick one as my little girl is ready for a nappy change..
Isobel Elsie arrived 9 days early on 5 September 2009. Contractions started at 6am, waters broke at 7.30am and she arrived at 3.10 that afternoon. Was a tough posterior labour so we needed a bit of help from the OB to turn her then vacuum her out in the end. I'm so pleased with the labour and birth though, was an amazing and empowering experience. Will be sure to write my birth story soon.
Izzy weighed in at 6lb 8oz, was 49cm long and her HC was 34cm. She is a real cutie (of course) and besides having her days and nights a bit confused, she is a fabulous little baby. Breast feeding is going really well and I'm starting to catch up on some sleep now we're getting to know each other a bit better.
I never thought I could be so in love with something so much. Motherhood is amazing! Oh, and seeing my DH in daddy mode has just melted my heart. Yeah, life is trying now and so new but we're loving it!
A quick one from me too.... Due for a feed in a few moments. Thought I would follow in Taurean's footsteps and start with a quick birth recap....
Ava Jocelyn was due on the 15th September, but woke up to a trickle sensation at 11:30pm on the 9th Sept. My waters had broken, but I didn't get any contractions till around 3am on the 10th. We were stuck in pre labour for approx 14 hrs! At about 5-6am on the 10th my Ob did an internal and I nearly climbed the walls as I wasn't dialated at all and had an unfavourable cervix. (I'm lobbying for a pre requisite for all OB's to have small hands!!!) So he put in some gel and left me for 6 hrs to see how we would progress... and we got a whole centimeter in that time. So by that stage, and having no pain relief whatsoever... and being extremely tired, he suggested putting me on the syntocin drip to get things going and giving me pain relief in the way of epi... which scared the poo outta me at the time! Hubby encouraged me to get the epi and he was very right! I needed it. They ramped up the drip to max and I was still 1cm. Out of options, the Ob organised for an emergency CS and Ava was born at 7.28pm on the 10th Sept.
Turned out Ava was posterior and sideways, and her head was very mis-shapen on one side where it was being pushed. So I feel in one sense like I didn't experience labour, but also know I probably wouldn't have coped with the pain if I had gone through it!
Head circumfrence: 34.5 cm
Weight: 3230g
Length: 51.5cm
She has the fairest hair on her head, and looks more like her dad, which I'm happy about! And boy does she have a set of lungs on her!
Off back to hospital tomorrow, to a breastfeeding clinic. We can't get her to BF so, I am bottle feeding her EBM currently. The home midwife came to weigh her today and she has only put on 10g since being home but is healthy, so we are changing to 3 hrly feeds to see if that helps. So far since starting at lunch time, she has fed and settled really well, so I guess tonight will be the real test.
And Tauren, I so agree with you. Seeing Hubby in daddy mode is sexy! and it does melt my heart too.
He keeps telling Ava, that Daddy's are awesome, and I totally agree!
I am going to do the same and have a birth recap.....
We were 2 days post due date and I was determined that she was coming out. The next day was my 30th birthday so I wanted her to have her own day.
The first contraction happened as I was frantically breaststroking up and down a friends pool. They started out at 5 minutes apart and quickly progressed to 3 minutes apart. I stayed at home for a couple of hours until I figured out I wasn't going to be Miss Natural Birth 2009 and I wanted drugs! I had only been contracting 3 hours and was fully effaced and 5cm by the time I got to the hospital. She was also posterior and asynclitic (head on a tilt).
So i hopped into the shower on the birth ball with the gas and did well for about an hour until the contractions went to a whole new level of painful. I couldn't sit up straight, I was bent forward and when i tried to move i would contract. That was my cue for an epidural! They did a VE and at that point was 7cm.
Got the epi and was in heaven, my contractions had become incoordinate so they put up some synto to kick them back off. The positioned me in a great position for her to spin.
About 2 hours later we were losing her heartbeat on the monitor so the midwife had a look under the sheet and low and behold we had a head on view. Or should I say a lot of hair on view! Action stations....they called my Ob who had to drive in. The midwife thought she would get me pushing.....unfortunatly my pushing was a little more effective than we thought and so we had half of her head sitting on my peri.....but i was trying to wait for my ob. We called him again, he told me to shut my legs and hold on he was almost there. We waited for about another couple of minutes and the midwife had to deliver as her heartbeat had dropped. One push and she was out - and my ob walked in aout 10secs too late.
Violet Francesca born 10/09/09 at 9.09pm. 1st stage 7 hours - 2nd stage 20mins
3098g (6pd 13oz), head 33.5, length 48.5cm........oodles of dark hair.
She had to go into a Von Rosens splint due to bilateral dislocatable hips, she will wear it 24/7 for 2 months and then she will be good as gold.
I had an OB appointment the day after my EDD and my worst fears were confirmed. I had been having headaches for the last two days, swelling in my legs had increased and my BP was high. My OB confirmed I had PE.
So the next morning we head to hospital nice and early for induction. First lot of gel put in at 8am then I started walking! Had some minor niggles at lunchtime which persisted until 3pm when the second lot of gel got put in. Then the action started! Hopped in the bath then the shower for a while and by 6pm contractions were 3 min apart and very ouchy! At 6.30pm my membranes ruptured and I started sucking back on the gas.
Had a VE at 7pm and was 4cm dilated. Here is where it gets full on and a bit scary. Went from 4cm to 10cm dilated in less than an hour and the gas was getting a good workout! (ouchy!!!!!!). But Ethan's heartrate was dropping and he was in distress. I kept getting told to change positions to try and help him out. Tried all fours, leaning over a bed, on my back, on my sides but nothing was helping. Was told to get him out NOW or I'd have to have a c/s. Four pushes later he was crowning and out. He was very purple and not breathing and rushed to special care. I only got a glimpse of him
Thankfully after a night in special care he was discharged. Poor little man just got a big shock by the quick progression of labour.
Stats
Name: Ethan David
Birthdate: 09/09/09 at 8.14pm
Weight: 3441g
Length: 51cm
Head circumference: 34.5cm
Started having tightenings around 10pm but they were irregular and more annoying than painful so I assumed they were just Braxton-Hicks. About 1am I finally concluded that they weren't going away and I was in labour. I got out of bed and watched a bit of telly and then took a couple of panadol and tried to nap. Had a long shower which was excellent for the contractions, then got out to pack my labour bag. Got DH up around 4am, had another shower and timed a few contractions to find they were about 2-3 minutes apart.
Called the midwife and she dropped by the house to pick me up (DH stayed at home with DS). Was 6-7cm dilated when I arrived at the birth centre and got into the bath straight away. The water eased the contractions so it was only like bad period pain. Each time one hit I swayed my pelvis and breathed though it, napping in between. Eventually there was a pressure feeling and I told the midwife I had to push or go to the toilet. She left the room to get things ready for the birth, then my waters broke and I felt bub come down the birth canal and crown. I gave a little push and the head was out. The midwife came back in and was rushing to get her gloves on, one more small push and Amelia was out.
Joshua Willhem arrived by c-section at 7:31 am on Friday 11 September 2009. It was a planned c-section due to mummy's diabetes issues and his estimated size of 4.9kg. His EDD was 25 September 2009.
Joshua weighed 4.4kg (9lb 7oz) - length 53cm and head circ 38cm.
He is handsome just like his daddy with a nice crop of dark hair and already has enough length in it to 'spike'.
He is a wonderful little man - feeding and sleeping well.
The casesar went as well as could be expected- spinal block used - did not feel a thing- relatively little pain killers afterwards - healing quickly. After having my DD vaginally, I must admit I was quite apprehensive about the experience that was to come. It was a strange feeling to one hour having a bump and the next a baby without all the labour pain etc, a really different experience to say the least, but given Joshua's size am glad I went with the ob's advice.
I am so in love with my son, and am so far enjoying and looking forward to getting to know him a whole lot better.
What a perfect way to complete our little family.
I am looking forward to sharing this "baby journey" with all you lovely ladies.
Hello All, I shall continue the birth stories with a quick recap of mine.
At 37 + 6 I was induced after being in and out of hospital for a week with suspected PE. My cervix was nowhere near ready so the 24 hr tape was inserted at 9.30am and I was told they'd check it the next day to see how my cervix was. By late afternoon the same day I started to get contractions, quite regular. Was taken into birth suite about 7pm to see how my cervix was, only to find out It was still closed for business. I think that scared me off and my contractions slowed right down and practically stopped so I was sent back to the ward for sleep. By 11pm they had started back up and was unbearable and very regular so back to birth suite I went. cervix checked again and I was only 1cm. The MW was not very nice and told me I had to go back to bed. I told her I wasn't going back to bed and I wanted my MW called in NOW (she was on call that night). My MW arrived about 12.30am at which time I was in so much pain and she suggested I try the shower and fit ball for relief. I started on the gas in the shower and found it to take the edge off initially. The pain ramped up to a whole new level and I felt I couldn't stay on my hands and knees any longer so I went into the bath. Whilst in the bath my waters broke and I honestly felt like I couldn't handle the pain anymore. I demanded an epidural, c-section, and wanted to go home NOW lol. At about 2am she checked my cervix and told me I was 6cm... I was devastated! I all of a sudden felt the need to push (well actually to be honest it felt more like an overwhelming urge to do a number 2, lol) and I started pushing.
At 3.18am Wednesday 19th August Emily Grace was born, 3550gms, 47cm long with a head circumference of 34cms. I had a 3rd degree tear.
She is gorgeous, as they all are and we're so in love with her. She is feeding beautifully and has put on over a kilo in the last 4 weeks. Her night and days are a tad confused but we are dealing with that. My stitches feel good as gold now and besides the occasional teary when I'm exhausted and she's unsettled i'm coping fine. The real test is now as my DF has returned to work in Mt Isa and isn't home every second week.
I look forward to hearing about everyones new bubs and continuing on this motherhood journey with you all
I have told my birth story in the other thread but will do a recap.
I had a c-section planned for the 4th Sept because of 2 previous long and hard labours that ended in c-sections. But even though my dates by scans were a due date of 09/09/09 I knew I was going to go earlier.
Woke approx 330am in labour on 01/09/09 went to hospital at 550am and Indigo was born by a semi-emergency section at 735am. Weighing a tiny 5.5lb. There were a few issues but nothing to dramatic and because of my previous experiences I didnt and havnt let it affect me as much as it could have if it was my first baby.
I am seem to be recovering well. Indigo is bottle fed by formula and expressed breast milk from my electric pump (medela swing) and is gaining a good amount of weight.
Life is very busy for me at the moment with 3 under 3 and Im not sure exactly how it is all going to go but we will get there.
Ummm, yeah. Am a bit hesitant on sharing my birth story as I am dissapointed to say most of it is quite hasey because of what happened post birth but here we go.
After my last Aquanatal session, acupuncture the following day and a nice long walk with Mum, my waters broke (or maybe I should say “gushed”) at 1.30am Saturday 5th of September (2 days early!!) while my husband was at work down the coast, which I thought may happen. Mum drove me to the hospital, still gushing, and hubby arrived about 3.30am to nothing much happening, I was having tightenings and as I was hooked up to the monitor I actually knew when they were happening as I hadn’t experienced Braxton Hicks before. About 8am I agreed to have the Syntocinon drip to get things going, rather than go home. I was only 1 ? cm dilated before the drip and then 3cms after about 3 hrs with the drip. So things were progressing and I decided to go the epidural as the contractions were coming hard and fast.
Epidural went in like a dream and was so effective it took about 1 minute to work. Apparently that is rare and should’ve taken longer to work but I wasn’t complaining.
Contractions were coming consistently and bubs had moved head down and engaged yay!! By 3ish the midwife did a kinda “last check” of my cervix and it was either gonna be dilating nicely or if nothing was happening it would be c-section here I come. Unfortunately it looked like I was going to follow the curse of the women in my family and have a caesar as my cervix hadn’t budged at all. I was always told that I was "all baby" and was scared of pushing out a huge bub and though I would’ve loved to given a vag birth a go, I was kinda relieved that I really didn’t have much choice and that bubs would be out soon anyway.
So away I went, the epidural had worked so well I didn’t need a top up before surgery and our little boy Frazer Kenton entered the world at 4.45pm that afternoon weighing a hefty 9pnd 8oz, HC= 36cm L= 53cm I had guesstimated 9pnd 4oz, so I wasn’t far off.
Anyway, this is where it all gets a bit yucky.
The following Monday I started to have a really bad headache but was keen to get home and get into the swing of things and just assumed that I was sleep deprived. After a shocking night unable to stand up for very long and being extremely nauseas and vomiting while breastfeeding and trying to look after my bub, Mum rang hospital Wednesday morning and I was readmitted with a suspected Post-dural puncture headache. Basically means that there was a leakage of spinal fluid into the epidural space which causes nausea, and a severe headache when you are upright and stand but goes away when you lie down.
After being pumped full of fluids and under observation bedridden for 2 more days in hospital, I was finally given a blood patch (of my own blood) into the epidural sight to “plug” the leak. This procedure works instantly and I felt the pain in my head vanish within seconds of them starting but then you need to stay lying down for 12 more hrs to make sure it seals correctly. Unfortunately being able to look after Frazer was more detrimental to my mental health than anything and I found myself extremely distressed and alone in hospital and feeling utterly useless. For my well being, we decided to bottle feed as me getting better was my main priority at that time.
Long story short I finally got to go home on Friday 11th and am perfectly fine and healthy. Lucky for me, my family have been a god send and was so very supportive to my husband and I during my stay in hospital. He did a fantastic job doing everything without me for a couple of days. Absolute super Dad. We are all settled in now and are slowly getting there.
Pooley . I shed a few tears reading your post. I can imagine how disappointed you were, and the trauma of being separated with your new baby is awful. It is nice to hear you are both doing so well now - and Congrats at having the biggest bub! WHOPPER!
Taurean - Bathing is no problem in the brace - it is a little problematic trying to dry her really well though because you have to dry really well the inside of the brace and usually shes wriggling and it is hard....we usually take her out in the sun for 5 minutes after a bath to try and air dry! The hardest part is now with explosive poos, the nappy goes over the top of the brace so often there is poo all over the brace....not pretty! Easy material to clean though which is a godsend. We see the Orthopaedic guy on Tuesday and I think we will get an appointment to have an ultrasound to make sure that the brace has her in the right position.
Well it is noon and I have just managed to have a shower and get myself ready for the day. Must say is quite depressing that i still am having to wear my maternity pants as the weight apparently doesn't leave your arse immediately .
I am still bleeding a moderate amount - even though it is old blood it is getting a bit tiring and wish it would stop. I am not sure if it is coming from my uterus or from the labial grazes i have. ?
The haemarroids have hit an all time painful - could barely sit down yesterday...i tell you this birth business is not glamerous at all!
The breastfeeding is going ok......am wondering when your boobs stop feeling like rocks are in them when they are full.....when do they go soft? It is still painful when she attaches....would like that to stop as well!
Pooley what happened to you is what my main fear was with getting an epi. Big hugs to you, and I'm glad things are going better now. How did you cope with the MW putting in the catheter? I lost all dignity with that procedure, especially as I had a student MW doing the procedure. It really is awful when you have a MW ask loudly in the room, "does someone have a torch? I'm having trouble seeing...." Then the OB walks in and says... "well while your in that position... I will do an internal."
Sanchez I'm so over the bleeding too! As I'm expressing milk, I find that about an hour after expressing it makes it ramp up with fresh new blood. So you just get into the frame of mind that things are finally settling down and getting light, then BAM... Massive bleed. I checked with the MW and she said that is it common and normal, as long as it slows down again.
As for the boobies with rocks comment. You may have a blocked duct? I find massaging the lumps when expressing helps get rid of them... Perhaps when your feeding you can try and see if that helps?
AFU - We had a weigh check with the hospital today and Ava has put on 180g in 3 days! Thats a whole weeks worth of weight. So we have discussed demand feeding at night and 3 hourly feeding during the day, so hopefully we might get a better nights sleep tonight! I was finding waking her up for a 3 hr feed, she wasn't settling back down... especially during her 1:30 - 2am feed and she was usually awake till her next feed.
We sometimes bring her to bed with us, but are trying to limit that as much as possible. I love having her in our bed if it gets us more sleep, but think in the long run, teaching her to love her own bed is better, as I like cuddle time with hubby and I don't get that if she is between us.
My CS scar seems to be healing well, and I'm slowing down on the pain killers. Its hard not to do a few naughty things at home like lifting and reaching etc when your trying to keep the place clean. I hate asking hubby to do it all the time. And my mum and dad have been a great help, but there is only so many times you can ask for help without feeling a little useless and guilty... or is that just me?
Hubby's parents are due to arrive tonight/tomorrow... so it will be interesting having a full house. May be having a whinge on here soon to you gals... if things don't go as planned... (hey, its the in-laws. Its a given isn't it?)
Sending sleep vibes to you all. I'm sure most of us are wanting more!!
Pooley, good to see you. Amelia was too big for the 0000 wondersuits too, but it didn't matter because they aren't warm enough for here anyway.
Sanchez, yip, we really do live in the shadow of Mt Doom - Mt Ngauruhoe is about 1/2 hour away and was used in the movies. It is a bit of a pita that we live so far from shops, by the time we make a trip down there is usually a massive shopping list!
Kosi, I feel guilty asking DH to do things for me, then he gets in a poop because I haven't lol. Best of luck with the IL's
Who was it that had the demanding SIL over right around the due date? How did that go?
Getting mixed up from the other thread, but someone asked about rock boobs? I think they have usually settled down by the 6 week growth spurt or sooner. I didn't even have hard boobs this time, maybe because I only stopped BF 5 months ago?
DS seems to be over the worst of his issues, today he was back to his normal self and it was so nice to spend time with him again rather than battling though the day.
Amelia is doing well. She seems to fit in nicely, very settled. She does like to be held (all the time!), but I can put her in the sling during the day and still get a bit of stuff done. The test will be tomorrow when DH goes back to work and I have to manage both of them on my own.
I must be getting the hang of motherhood as I've managed to find the time to post in here again! LOL.
Izzy had a really good day yesterday and today. She has been demand feeding during both days (about every 3 hours) so I haven't had to wake her which is a step in the right direction. She had a couple of hours of awake time last night (just in DH's arms staring at him - so cute!) but then fed at 8.30 and slept until 12.30 so that was great. She fed again at 4 then again at 7 then we slept in until 10! She has been brilliant again today so hopefully we'll have a similar night tonight, I could handle that!
DH is back to work tomorrow so a little nervous and worried about how I'll cope by myself but I guess all new mums do it and survive so I'm sure I'll be the same. I'm sure the day will fly by anyway - I have no idea where the time goes now that we have a baby in our lives.
Sanchez - are you draining a boob at each feed? My boobs haven't been engorged since my milk came in and have been pretty soft and back to normal since I've been home. I have had a couple of tender spots which I just apply pressure too while she feeds and it sorts them out (must be slightly blocked ducts). I also feed Izzy on one boob per feed. If she's finished on one side but still wanting more, I offer her the other side but find she'll only do 10 mins max before nodding off. I start on that boob for the next feed as I know it's not drained after only 10 mins. Hope that helps.
Oh, also on the sore nipples. Mine still hurt a bit when Izzy attaches but then it's fine. I think it's meant to settle down a bit within the first month. Ouchies though, hey!
Art - glad DS has returned to his old self. I need to practice using our sling as I tried it for the first time at the shops the other day and stuffed it right up. Izzy was in tears and I wasn't far off it too! We have a Bubba Moe sling which is brilliant when the parents know how to work it! I'm sure we'll all love it as soon as we get the hang of it.
Kosi - great news on Ava's weight gain! Izzy is getting weighed on Tuesday so I can't wait to see if she has gained any - fingers crossed. Oh, and good luck with the ILs! Feel free to vent in here if need be. I'm sure I will be when ours visit in November. MIL means well but is so overbearing at times.
Pooley - thanks for sharing your story and big hugs to you! I would have been distraught if I was you too! You did a stella job and so did your DH by the sounds of things. Can you post the link to your FB photos again? The last link didn't work for some reason. You may need to make the photos available to 'Everyone' - in the privacy settings of the album.
Nicola - had to laugh at your last post - Groundhog Day. Hearing you loud and clear!!! Although I did manage another walk today so that has made me feel a little more sane. I'm also nibbling on cheese and pate at the moment and sipping on a red wine. Yay!
Sangie, Janine and Leanne - hi girls! Thanks for sharing and please share some more - any tips, stories, teary and happy moments!!
Little Isobel is sound asleep so it's time for a bit of adult time with DH. All we seem to talk about is our DD though.
Disaster night. I'm exhausted and so emtional. Izzy has been unsettled since 130. It's now 530 and im attempting to feed her again. Praying she nods off after this feed. Nothing is more upsetting than having no idea what is wrong and no idea how to fix it. I'm a wreck
Taurean Sometimes it is nothing you can fix - this morning A was cranky and kept waking every 5 minutes with a big cry, turns out she had a massive poo on the way lol- now she has been in bed for over an hour. Does she have wind? Have you tried lying her down with nappy off and rotating her legs like cycling? If you push the legs reasonably firmly into her tummy on the up rotation it can help get out farts. Someone also mentioned Infants Friend, that works quite well for some bubs to help get the burps out. Hope she settles for you soon.
Don't be so hard on yourself. We are all still learning. I hate not knowing why Frazer is unsettled but we'll all get the hang of it in the end. Probably doesn't help that you're most likely worried how you'll cope with DH back at work. DH spent Saturday/ Sunday night away from home and didn't get home till 3 this morning. I wont say you'll be fine, but you will cope as you have already shown that you can.
Fingers crossed that you can get some sleep sometime today.
Taurean - It sux when nothing seems to work. You may need to try out different settling techniques and find one that works for you. Are you swaddle wrapping??? I find a tight wrap with both arms inside and then picking up bub and holding them in tight and doing a light rythmic pat on the bum (apparently this simulates the heartbeat in utero) can work, also rocking and rubbing the back. There is nothing wrong with rocking bub to sleep...as they get bigger and heavier it can be a problem..but I read somewhere when someone once complained about having to rock their baby to sleep, They are only little once and when they are big you will look back on your baby days and realise how quickly they went even if they did go by in a hazy fog!!!
Most babies (well all of mine anyway)seem to be the most settled when they are in your arms and being cuddled and then as soon as you put them down they start crying etc so its about finding a way to put them down and keeping them there without crying
N.B - Im using the grobag swaddle this time around - as opposed to muslin and Im finding it great as its harder to get out of.
Babies born~September 1st-15th 2009 #1
And boy does she have a set of lungs on her!
and we're so in love with her. She is feeding beautifully and has put on over a kilo in the last 4 weeks. Her night and days are a tad confused but we are dealing with that. My stitches feel good as gold now and besides the occasional teary when I'm exhausted and she's unsettled i'm coping fine. The real test is now as my DF has returned to work in Mt Isa and isn't home every second week.
. I shed a few tears reading your post. I can imagine how disappointed you were, and the trauma of being separated with your new baby is awful. It is nice to hear you are both doing so well now - and Congrats at having the biggest bub! WHOPPER!
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