Hello!

Thought I'd better hunt this thread down and join in A big to my former Belly Buddies and I look forward to getting to know some new names too!

For those who don't know me my name is Sam and my baby girl Ruby was born last Saturday morning 29th of November. She was 5 days post dates which was the same as her brother Angus!
She is my fourth (and last!) baby and first girl so I feel like I've BTDT and a newbie all over again...especially when it comes to nappy changes rofl!

I haven't done a birth story yet but will get cracking on it soon. This birth was fast after lots of prelabour in the last couple of weeks. It was also my best birthing experience!
Unfortunatley I had a secondary PPH about 2 hours after she was born so that spoilt the day, but the birth was so positive that I'm trying not to dwell on the negative.

Her stats at birth were 7lb 10oz (3.450kg) 50.5cm long and HC 34cm.
We're breastfeeding and it's going well besides a few grazes which are quite sore and one has been bleeding so I'm going to get some nipple shields today. My milk is in big time and my nipples have been flattened a bit which makes it hard for her to latch on without me expressing off a bit first.
She feeds every 2 hours mostly. Overnight she is having a 3 - 4 hour sleep which doesn't help the engorgement but she loves the gutfull of milk she ends up getting from it

Skyeblue many women express fulltime if that is what you want to do. Have you tried using a nipple shield? They have kept me breastfeeding my others as I have had cracked nipples every time and been close to giving up. They don't stop the pain but they lessen it enough for you to get through it enough for a few days for your nipples to heal. I know how agonizing it can be but the rewards are worth it if you can ride through this time
Ruby has her wakeful time around midnight too (she also does a few poos so must have tummy pain) so I've been having an afternoon kip when she has one. Also try not to let her sleep too long during the day as they generally only have one long sleep cycle in 24 hours so if she has it during the day you will probably be up more at night.

Better go shower while she is still napping!