Hey Babyluv! Welcome to the group Congrats on your little girl. What is her name? I have been meaning to do a sig for myself but have no idea how!! Must work it out...
My recovery is going really well but I had a c/s so not sure if it counts! I have had pain but nothing unbearable. I'm just struggling with not being able to do a lot of things..I'm on such strict instructions to not lift, hang out washing, drive etc...but two weeks are down already so I'm sure the next four will fly!
Picketty - Sorry about the reply early this morning, I was writing from my phone so couldn't type too much! My heart goes out to you, I'm feeling very much the same way. Have you had little Connor weighed? I had my little man Jacob James on the 3rd December by c/s. He weighed 2730grams and was 46cm's long. He was only a little fella but he is fairly long! The pediatrician thinks his weight gain is a little too slow so wanted me to start supplementing him with formula..I'll tell ya, when I got off the phone to him I cried hysterically for twenty mins. I too feel very strongly about breastfeeding. I had no idea how difficult things could be, and having a small baby is making it even harder sometimes!! How long does Connor go through the day with his feeds? I'm getting 2-3 hrs out of Jacob. By afternoons - any time between 2 and 4 he starts to get really irritable and is on and off the boob every half an hour to an hour! and sometimes this can continue into the night. I had one night there that I was up with him until 3.40am!! Needless to say we were both over tired and cranky.. I've had to start supplementing just to try and get some weight on him, but am giving him boob, expressed milk and formula (as a last resort) he's only had three bottles of formula so far and that's over the last three days. Luckily he doesn't seem to fussed on it and is still happy to go on the breast. I figure as long as I keep expressing it'll keep my milk producing and we'll be able to establish breast feeding properly! I don't know if that helps you at all but I guess I just wanted you to know that you definately are NOT alone when it comes to how you're feeling. I've been told something different by every clinic nurse, know it all people and pedicatrician out there!! But at the end of the day, take the cues from Connor and you will work through it together and find what works for you both. One suggestion, just drink PLENTY of water and eat as frequently as possible. I have found this to help me. Oh, and with the dressing of them...I'm really finding this hard too! I was told to feel the back of their neck or their tummies to get a feel for their temps, they should feel a nice temp, not hot or cold. I've been dressing Jacob in mostly just a nappy, singlet and little onesie with a tiny sleeve that just clips up around his nappy. He started off LOVING being swaddled but loves his hands and legs to be a bit free so we've come across this thing called "angel wrap" maybe you can google it but I will try to explain...we fold the top of a muslin wrap down about five cm's and place him on the top, we put his hands up into the folded area and then swaddle as normal, their hands are able to be moved around but they can't scratch their face and they won't get cold if you have the a/c on. We were told by a clinic nurse to keep the routine the same through day and at night. So for instance...Feed, change, feed, and if he's awake then give him some time but if he's going to sleep then swaddle him straight back up the same way and put him in the same place he sleeps all the time. Maybe this wrap could work for you? We've been putting our a/c on 22 and he's in a muslin wrap with a thicker wrap made out of cotton over his tummy down..
Hopefully that helps you some...I find the more information you have the better cause then you can try different things and work out what works best for you. I'm here if you need to have a chat, if you want my email or fb then let me know. I'm feeling exactly the same as you and keep telling myself that it's a short time and it will pass, as their bellies get bigger and they get used to the big wide world! Take care and chin up, you sound like you're doing a wonderful job. xoxo
The early weeks with new babies are very, very hard. Little ones take some time to settle into life on the outside - try to think of the first 3 months as the 4th trimester. They often want to be held all the time. They dno't want to be alone. They are used to a constant stream of nutrients, and now they have to get their food from you.
So the best thing to do is whatever works best for you and your baby. Some people will insist you should leave them to cry or not feed them again or not hold them to sleep or whatever - never mind. You're mum you know best. Trust me when I tell you that you cannot spoil your child by holding them or rocking/feeding them to sleep or anything like that. If your baby doesn't want to sleep alone, then hold them or bring them to bed with you. It's often the best way for you all to get some rest.
Newborns feed very frequently - 8-12 times or more. They will typically have a fussy time in the afternoon/evening that lasts several hours where they will be on and off the breast constantly. Try a wrap or sling to carry them around at these times (or all day if you like). most babies really like that.
Don't worry about trying to interpret different cries - just go with your first instinct, what do you feel you need to do?
I watched Harvey Karp's DVD The Happiest Baby on the Block, and as he says, you're really not spoiling them by rocking them, holding them and letting them suck - for 9 months you have been rocking, carrying and effectively swaddling them for 24 hours a day, so really, the first 3 months is about easing them out of their comfy environment.
Our little lady feeds a LOT. She is also a really sleepy feeder, and it's not unusual for me to change sides 6-8 times in the one very long feeding session, thinking she's full, only to find that 5 minutes later she is rooting around on my shoulder. We don't really have a day time routine - if she looks like she needs feeding, then I feed her - and in the morning she is pretty much pinned to the boob for 2 hours straight. After feeds I keep her upright for 20-30 minutes, by which time she is either rooting around for another go, or noodled out to sleep. The last two days she has started to have some up time after feeds and it's lovely. We try and get her outside for a bit of a walk every day, even if it's just around the block - she seems to feed and sleep much better on the days that we do.
In the evening we have a little bit of a pre-bed routine: Lovebug starts a long feeding session at around 5 or 6 (sometimes earlier, sometimes later, we play it by ear) so again, pinned to the boob for an hour or two. Then daddy takes her downstairs for a bath, and I have a shower, and get in my pjs. He dresses her, and then I give her one more top up feed and we go in to bed. DH wraps her, for some reason it works way better when he does it, and then the two of us go down together, and he comes to bed when he's ready. Through the night she wakes around about every 3 hours, and I feed her and pop her back in her co-sleeper bed (or sometimes I don't) but we don't turn on any lights or anything at all between 8pm and 4am, when it starts getting light here anyway.
For bedclothes, we go with the rule of however many layers we have +1. So it's usually a singlet, a bodysuit and a beautiful organic cotton wrap that we were given. If it's really hot, then just a bodysuit. If it's "cold" (by Brissie standards) then maybe a wondersuit.
My ILs are obsessed with "getting the wind up" and she is usually forthcoming with a nice big belch, but it doesn't seem to bother her whether or not she does it. As long as she gets that upright time after feeds, she's fine. She is a total farty pants though, and loves having a wee with her pants off.
She's a little bit of a velcro baby - there are times when she just wants to be cuddled or on me, and the sling is great for that OR I use the time to just lie down with her, I find that really good for my own recovery.
As for my recovery - it's been going quite well. I had three stitches after a vaginal birth. I was induced, but only with gels, and then my water broke on its own, so I got to do my own thing. I'm pretty sure the stitches have dissolved now, and the swelling is right down. I'm so glad, because I can't wait to start being more actiive.
Hope you guys are going well. Sleepy vibes to you all - except at feed times!
I've got some time to sit and try and catch up with you. I can sit here and read sometimes throughout the day but to sit and type anything decent is difficult. You may find i get to have a good chat to you all on a Mon or Tues when the boys are in day care. I'll do my best to keep up with you all though.
Audax lovely to have you in our group. Love your little ones name, it's very similar to what our girl name was when pregnant with DS2, he was going to be an Elleana (never ended up confirming spelling) if he was a girl. How is she going? Sounds like she's a very content little one.
Butterfly how are you going? The NICU journey is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, i hope all is going well for you. It would be lovely to have you join in with us so pop in as much as you can to let us know how you little Matteo is going.
Hi Pickety, Connor Matthew sounds like a beautiful little man, things will settle soon i'm sure. Our little girl is called Harper Elsie Mae, she's doing really well and it still feels so strange to be looking into the eyes of a little girl. I'm loving it though.
Jules i just have to say if you keep the attitude you have at the moment, the way you take in the wealth of information (sometimes useful, sometimes not), how you figure out what it may be that you're little one is trying to tell you, how you go out there and seek your own information... all of it, you are going to do a fantastic job at bieng a mother to your little one and help many along the way also. I wouldn't say i'm an expert in anyway even after having three children and i'm sure my Little Miss Harper will have to put up with me still learning things as she grows but that's just what being a mother is, learning and doing what you think is best for your child.
Hi Babyluv congrats on your little princess. Sounds like she was a wonderful size for 39 weeks.
Jules and Pickety, i'm not an expert in any way but what you're describing i remember going through with DS1. Also with DS2 and on occasions with Harper but with DS1 it was this crazy whirlwind of questions, sleep deprivation and frustrations at not being able to settle your bub for me too. Just like there is no instruction booklet out there for us that could ever really prepare us for motherhood i think it's the same for the little ones. They're thrown into a world of lights, noise, clothing on their bodies, warm, cold, empty feelings when they are placed in a bassinette, all these strange things that they too were never told about before they entered the world. So there is so much settling in going on for the both of you right now. So as hard as it can be in the moment what you are going through is something that i have found passes with time. It may be that your little one is cold, hot or hungry or it could be that he/she just needs to be with you to feel safe. I've had my nights with Harper where she'd have nothing to do with her bassinette and i have had her fall alseep with me in bed and then i trasfer her when she's in a deeper sleep. One thing i was told by someone was that you can't establish any 'bad habits' (if that's what you want to call them) in the first few months. So do whatever works and when you do find your doing something you'd like to change some gentle persuasion over a few nights will generally work.
As for me and Miss Harper i do feel pretty relaxed this time, i feed her whenever she wakes or seems to be wanting it. I take no notice of the clock at all. She has heaps of pooey botts so our little routine seems to be she fills her nappy when she wakes up, i feed her one side, change her bott and then feed the other and as long as she doesn't fill her nappy again she's good to go back to bed. Sometimes she goes down really easily sometimes not and that's when i get DH to help me. We bath every second night and the last one she had we had hardly any tears which was nice, we do a bit of a massage with some moisturiser as her skin is so dry and flakey at the moment. We're in Melbourne and the weather really isn't that crash hot at the moment so she's wearing wondersuits and a singlet to bed and sometimes sleeps with a hat on depeding on the warmth in the house. Wrapped in muslin and one or two blankets on top. The MCHN said to me the other day put one more blanket on than you'd think necessary. During the day she's still pretty much in all in one suits, she's got some cute little summery suits that i do hope she gets some wear out of. I was having issues with attachment and still do at times but we're working on it, the main thing is i know she's getting the milk even if she's hurting me and she's 'thriving' from what the MCHN said. During the day she seems to be waking a little longer and looking around with her beautiful eyes, taking in the sights and sounds of her noisey brothers.
I've just seen that Marcellus and Audax have said some very similar things to me so between us all it sounds like we're on a similar page. It really does get easier girls xoxo
I could keep going girls but i'm so tired and i need to get into bed before Harper wakes again, DH is out at his work dinner tonight so not sure what kind of condition he'll come home in. More snoring for me to listen to i'm sure...
Sweet dreams all and hope you have a good night xoxo
im a bit slow to join up in here but DH and I welcomed our first DD Summah on the 14th December.
She will be 3 weeks tomorrow and its gone so fast!!!
Looks like we have scored a placid baby, she only crys for a feed or if she is tired so im feeling pretty lucky. we seem to get 4 hour blocks at night once she is settled for the night, sometimes 5 hours which i love! pity they dont happen all night every night..... yet!!
im a first timer so im hoping ill be able to pick up heaps of tips and advice from those of u 2nd,3rd,etc timers!!
best get some lunch so i can squeeze in a nana nap this arvo seeing DH is back at work today and im on night feed duty till the weekend!!
Welcome Crumpet That's great with the new bubba - congrats, she's gorgeous!!!!
Well have come to the conclusion I need a star chart or summat to keep track of tablets, I don't know where I'm up to Waiting for DH to finish his burn-off so we can go to the shopping centre and get the ingredients for the lactation cookies from the health food shop - there's brewers yeast and something similar to flaxseed oil that we need to get from there. Then I'll camp downstairs until it's time to eat tea, I'll make the cookies and do more loads of washing. I thought today was supposed to be nice and warm? We're all in jumpers!!!! And that makes BFing hard!!!!
Anyone else feeding while lying down at night? How long does your bub stay connected? And how do you disconnect them? and do you fall asleep next to them?????
OMG, trying to get through to DH that he is to hang out shirts by the shoulders, not the hem - he's hung out (thankfully only) his singlets by 1 hem only, and they are now all mis-shapen I love him helping, but .... ! Also have a sneaking suspicion that he didn't pull the washing in before burning off - doesn't matter I guess, given that my neighbour was burning off first. Oh well, it's only the baby stuff
Welcome Crumpet, look forward to muddling out way through parenthood with you. Your little lady sounds beautiful and i love her name
Kaz we feed lying down regulary at night time when i'm too tired to sit up. Depending on how hungry Harper is it could be a really quick feed which sends her back off to sleep quickly or she could stay connect for a while. I am falling asleep though so not exactly sure. I dont' tend to move when she's in bed so she's safe. I do find that she struggles to attach when we are lying down though because of her way of attaching. Thankfully i have no pain anymore but she can still be a little slack on the attachment side of things.
Your cookies sound similar to the ones i make. With the brewers yeast and flaxseed meal, i have some in the fridge from when i was making them with Charlie (flaxseed meal that is). They really do work!! I find them really yummy.
Best day i've had with Harper for a few days, she's sleeping quite well. Been using the hugabub a lot, she loves it in there.
PP it's pretty exciting when you start to find a bit of a groove (like you put it) and can actually pick up a few things that you were doing pre-baby. I'm yet to pick up a book but glad you've been able to pick up your patchwork. You will be able to make a masterpiece by Amelia's first birthday. I have to apologise as i was spelling her name with an E instead of an A, still not certain i've got the spelling right but i hope i have
PP - I often wonder the same thing, I worry about making Jacob overtired and having him cranky - he has more than enough awake time already... I generally just sing or put him in his bouncer and talk to him while giving him a little rub on his chubby little legs Hope you find something that works for you both.
MadB - Glad you're on the mend!
Kaz - What purpose does the cookies serve? sorry, I could do my own research but that's what we're all here for!! I've never heard anything about them... Gosh, what a pain about the baby clothes!!! I hope he re washed them to freshen them up without too much trouble!
Crumpet - Welcome!! Great to have you on board... Summah sounds just wonderful, and what a gorgeous name. Congratulations. Look forward to sharing this special time with you...another first timer here and I find this site such a lifeline...
Hope every else is doing well. We're having a good few days here, Jacob doesn't scream any more - he cries but nothing over the top, it's wonderful!! Still having a bit of trouble putting him to sleep though, he can be fast asleep on me but the minute I lay him down he opens those eyes and looks at me as if to say "hey!! what you doing!! pick me BACK UP!!!" Oh and exciting exciting news!!! last night I was changing him and mum and I were talking to him and mum was touching his face and talking and he smiled!!! We were sooooo stoked. I was thinking 'maybe it was a fluke' but this morning I was about to give him his dummy and was talking to him and he gave me the biggest smile. Made my heart melt!! It's definately easy to see the difference between a genuine smile and wind.
Kaz I am so pleased that your LC visit went well, and I think it's awesome that you are working so hard to achieve so much with your BFing relationship. Brewers yeast can be bought at the supermarket, in case you couldn't find it at health food shop. Or brew shops. My DH is a brewer, and has offered to grow a batch for me, but I don't think I need it, and at any rate, cannot stand the thought of the oven being on. was good to hear the suggestions. How are you doing your tummy time? Just on a mat?
We feed lying down at night, she detaches herself when she's ready. I usually stay awake for the whole feed, then go back to sleep.
MadB - erk on the mastitis. What a bummer.
Myboys- glad you're going a bit better now! The only book I am reading is a travel guide, because I can pick up and put down as required, usually when someone is asleep in my lap like right now!
Might have to finish this later. we're at the start of a screaming fit.
I can't believe anyone's in jumpers at the moment - it is stinking over here. And burnoffs, at this time of year? my goodness.
DD is not keen on sleep today, unless in arms, but it's too hot child!!! Horrid, horrid horrid.
Anyway, I'm trying to feed lying down but attachment is a problem still. It's great when it works though, I can just sleep while baby feeds - best kind of multitasking for a new mum.
I've heard different thigns about those cookies. Some people swear by them, others reckon there's nothing in them to boost supply. I've heard they're delicious though. If they work for you then where's the harm right? (well, maybe to your waist)
Hi Crumpet, hope you're settling in well. Are any of those January girls actually still pregnant...?
Hope tomorrow goes alright for you Myboys (DH's first day back, right?). I'm not looking forward to that. Have to say, despite needing to feed all the time, DD is a lot less work than DS right now.
And it's hot here, did I mention that?
ETA - I've put my birth story up. I think I've probably forgotten a bunch of stuff, but never mind.
Last edited by onthefly; January 3rd, 2011 at 05:56 PM.
well cookies are made, quite yummy. they also have choc-chips!!!guessig its the brewer's yeast - i also have to drink a coopers beer (ultra light, in the lemonae aisle of woolies) each day. And the oats - i unpacked my work box and found my porridge, so munching that for brekky. caved and bought a dummy for the boy, hopefully he will settle without my boob!!!! and for something different, i'm expressing Over the past day I've expressed 45mls so DH will give that to Will for his first feed overnight at 2ish while I express again. Now having 10 fenugreek tabs / day and it's making Will's poos stink. (TMI WARNING!!!) had a biggish bleed today, we were out shopping, had to buy new knickers & pads & wet wipes to clean myself up Thank goodness it didn't get to my trousers, would have been very embarrassing. Haven't had a bleed like that since 3 days after delivery. Seeing MCHN tomorrow, will mention it to her.
Audax - yes, sorta - Aldi had some mattress pads on special a couple of months ago, we bought one in case my waters broke, and also for when Pip TT's overnight - it's 150cm squareish, so using that.
Jules - you're doing so well! So confident!!!!
MyBoys -
Anyhows, expressing finished, time for some sleep before next feed/expressing session. (hehehe, DH is getting stuck into the cookies. Oh dear.)
Congrats on your little girl. What is her name? I have been meaning to do a sig for myself but have no idea how!! Must work it out...
hi everyone!!
pity they dont happen all night every night..... yet!!
Waiting for DH to finish his burn-off so we can go to the shopping centre and get the ingredients for the lactation cookies from the health food shop - there's brewers yeast and something similar to flaxseed oil that we need to get from there. Then I'll camp downstairs until it's time to eat tea, I'll make the cookies and do more loads of washing. I thought today was supposed to be nice and warm? We're all in jumpers!!!! And that makes BFing hard!!!!
I've heard they're delicious though. If they work for you then where's the harm right? (well, maybe to your waist)
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