Jeremy Paul arrived at 10:50am Saturday 25th July!
He was 4.2kgs and 58cms long!! MASSIVE!! His older brother was 3.740kgs and 52cms at birth!
I achieved my VBAC that I had hoped for but did suck down FOUR tanks of gas and BEGGED my midwife for an epidural numerous times and also for a c-section as I was having severe leg cramps at the end of every contraction when I was pushing and that pain was WAY worse then the contraction pain.
I had hoped to birth in the bath with this baby but towards the end there was meconium so they dragged me (literally since I couldn't bear weight on my right leg) out of the bathtub and I ended up giving birth on my right side on the floor which ended up being VERY comfortable for my right leg.
My contractions started at about 9:30pm Friday 24th July, we were admitted to hospital just after 3am Saturday morning, and Jeremy FINALLY arrived at 10:50am! DS #1 was WAY longer (first contraction at 8:30pm Saturday night and he wasn't born until 12:15am MONDAY morning) so I was relieved!
We were discharged about lunchtime on Monday and I came home to AMPLE help as we had both my parents and both of my husband's parents around to help.
Jeremy is settling in VERY well. I had MAJOR feeding problems with DS#1 (attachment issues which then caused cracked, bleeding nipples) which didn't resolve until about 8 weeks of age so I was a bit nervous about how things were going to go second time around. However, from the FIRST feed in the birthing centre Jeremy seemed to have the idea of what to do and latched on perfectly and fed well. My milk came in on day four (as opposed to day 8 with first son) so that helped as well.
He lost the usual weigh in hospital (about 400 grams) but by the time the midwife weighed him when he was 10 days old he was up to 4.6kg!!! So he gained back his birth weight and another 400 grams on top of that!! AMAZING! He never wore 0000 and won't be in 000 very long either. In fact, I'm not even sure he'll wear all his 000 clothes before he outgrows them as well!
My parents headed back to the states on Thursday and my mother-in-law goes back to Brisbane on the 25th so then the boys and I can finally work on settling into a daily and weekly routine that will work well for us. Thus far I've returned to mother's group but haven't been brave enough to go to playgroup yet. I think I might wait a couple more weeks for that as we have a busy few weekends coming up and playgroup is on Monday.
My MIL turned 70 yesterday and we are having a surprise birthday party for her on the 16th and then we are having a dedication service for Jeremy at church on the 23rd followed by a luncheon!
I am hoping to be a part of this group for a long time as I think the information we can share with each other will be helpful!
Oops, Jeremy is awake from his nap - I had more to say but I'll save it for my next post!
I am mum to Alannah May who was born on 27 July at 4:30am. She was 6lb 12oz and was born fairly quickly. I was induced and went from the first 'real' contraction at about 1am, waters breaking at 2am and fully dilated at 4am. The pace of it all took everyone by surprise.....I had an epidural because we thought I was about 3-4cm and I was getting to the limit of what I could handle and assumed I was still a few hours off being ready to push. Turns out I was actually 10cm and had a fresh epidural just in time for pushing
Everything is going pretty well for us so far, feeding is getting better. In the first few days after getting out of hospital my nipples were cracked and bleeding and quite uncomfortable but a post natal clinic appointment with a lactation consultant got us on the right track and it is much better now.
Alannah is proving to be a pretty good sleeper so far. Every now and then she has trouble with wind and takes awhile to get to sleep but mostly she drops off pretty quickly.
I hope you girls that are having BFing trouble see an improvement soon - it is not easy but everyone tells me it gets easier! Thinking of you.
Well, DS#2 is having a feed at the moment and DS#1 is out with daddy so I have a few minutes to write again!
I just want to encourage those of you who are struggling with the b/f! I had a very rough time with DS#1 but stuck it out (had cracked, bleeding nipples due to poor attachment) and we enjoyed two years of breastfeeding! I hope everyone in here who is having a rough start sees lots of improvement very soon.
I'm starting to wonder if some of the things I am eating could be upsetting Jeremy's tummy. My MIL put some chilli in two of the meals she made recently, then my FIL bought Subway yesterday and there were jalepenos on the sandwich (I didn't realize until I ate one) and last night we went to a thai restaurant for dinner to celebrate MIL'S 70th bday. Jeremy was awake for two solid hours last night/early this morning trying to feed, grunting, groaning and finally he did two big poos and after that I settled him back to sleep by rocking him and giving him a dummy and then he slept for three hours.
What kinds of foods do people find most upsetting? I know the big culprits tend to be onions, garlic, chilli, chocolate and caffeine but are there others I may be eating and not considering?
In a totally unrelated topic... anyone else's babies starting to get very dry, flaky skin? I know it is normal... just wondering what people are using? if anything? I was thinking of putting some sorbolene on him after his bath tonight.
Yes, B has flaky skin, as you said, totally normal! Nothing to stress about - we just moisturise it after every bath, and occasionally during the day if it irks me enough lol!
Our feeding situation is what I refer to as controlled chaos he he...I still express, and actually have found this second batch of lactation cookies to have increased supply slightly. We have really cut down on the b/f as B just seems so unsettled afterwards, but when we give him a bottle of 'top up' he's fine afterwards, and attachment has improved too. So it's kind of a mixture of everything - but as long as he is gaining weight I'm happy.
I must ask...was anyone elses bubs born with teeth??? B was born with two lower ones.
B is not even two weeks old and already DF is talking about number 3 for us!!
I hope everyone is keeping well and enjoying these early days in our precious babies lives!!
Is anyone else doing birth announcement cards? Or am I over the top!
Hi everyone,
Hope you are all doing well and are getting some sleep.
Well on the b/f front things are just getting worse. Even though I am on motilium I am slowly drying up. Have done everything the lactation consultant told me to do but nothing is working. I am supposed to be expressing an hour after each feed but have to admit I am not good at this. I have a toddler and an unsettled newborn, by the time everyone is sorted I need a rest. Anyway am doing it as often as I can. I was really upset about my supply yesterday but am feeling better today. I will b/f until I completely run out and then just full time bottle feed. For all of you who are struggling with sore nipples etc, I am feeling for you. Hang in there. It will be worth it in the end.
Dry skin - Daniella has that too. Yes perfectly normal. I am using some Johnsons naturals moisturiser. Used it with my first as well and it is nicer than sorbolene. Ella loves it when I rub her back with it. It really settles her.
I too will be doing a birth anouncement card for friends and family. Not too over the top. The birth of a bubba is so special so I want to share it with everyone.
Anyway, better go Ella is almost due a feed. Have a great night everyone.
DS#1 is asleep and DS#2 WAS asleep!
Which brings me to my big question for tonight...
How often do all your babies poop in a given day?
Jeremy has hardly slept all day long...
total of 2hrs 45 mins in the last twelve hours
and it is mainly because he poops EVERY time he feeds.
I do remember that James pooped every feed as well and perhaps that is why James was such a bad sleeper and Jeremy is seemingly turning into a bad sleeper.
What do people think about this???
Should I alter my diet and see if anything changes? Or is his gut just seriously active? I feed him and he falls asleep but then as soon as I put him in bed, with in about 15 minutes, he wakes up crying and does his poo and sometimes a big burp as well (though only if I forget to burp him which I did tonight)!
I'm just wondering if I should do a semi-elimination diet. I know Dr Sears has a SERIOUS elimination diet (which I went on for about two weeks when James was about 14 months old) but I am not sure I want to go that strict again. When I am on that diet I can only eat turkey, rice, pears, zuchinni, and sweet potato (if I remember correctly).
So what do you all think? Any thoughts, comments, ideas would be greatly appreciated! I would love to write more but Jeremy is still crying (DH is doing the nappy change) so I need to go see if everything is okay.
Hi everyone... wow, it got busy here! Congratulations to you all on the arrival of your little ones.
alz, sorry to hear of your supply problems. I had supply issues with DS1, he was fully ff after 8 weeks. DS2 I fed for 14 months. I don't have any supply issues atm but I do worry about it. I think the best you can do is all you can do to... we are giving them a great start As for wind, I think pretty much what you mentioned, cabbage... I have some Brauers colic relief, I haven't used it yet but am thinking about trying it soon!
lilprecious, we had the same thing with Arleas clothes! We had to sort through what fit her & get rid of a bit. Thankfully we had an idea she would be bigg-ish, so we didn't have too much 0000 stuff. Dry skin.. I am using the Gaia products. Arlea had very dry skin due to being so overcooked, she is still peeling. I think the best cure is time, in the meantime a bathoil or moisturiser. Poos... I think for BF babies anything goes really. A doesn't do it much, she doesn't have any problems like constipation, just doesn't need to. I do think anywhere from 3-5 a day is normal. A usually has one every 24-30 hours though. That diet does sound very strict! Is it to identify what gives bub wind?
Sagres glad to hear the BF & sleeping is going well for you! Those LCs are great aren't they... I had serious attachment issues with DD1 & it totally killed BF for us. It's so good to get it sorted early.
Leesa i can't believe your bub was born with teeth! In answer...nope none of mine ever were. I imagine this is fairly rare? Lol at your DF talking about number 3 already! Nice that he's obviously enjoying it Birth announcement cards... I am planning on it. I had already started designing them before she arrived, thinking a headstart would be good. So far I have done nothing more - there is just no time! But yes I am planning on it. I am going to make it a combination announcement / thankyou card.
AFM...still expressing, I have plenty of milk, the freezer is filling up. I am being very careful as I am so worried about my supply (having lost it with DS1) - BUT I am spending about 7-10 hours a day expressing I am sick to death of it! Can't wait to get her back on the breast. I am determined to stick with it though... I know from past experience a bit of effort now does pay off in the long run .. it does get easier.. but OHH it's so hard right now!
My fluid has all gone I think, I lost 12kg in a week and I feel pretty good - apart from sleep deprived! The time spent expressing when I could be sleeping and she is getting harder & harder to settle to sleep too.
Dh goes back to work tomorrow & I'm a bit worried how I will manage all the expressing without another set of hands to help feed & settle her. I need to be doing more skin-to-skin but there's just no time! Well, we will see how we go I guess.
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B was born with two lower ones.
As for wind, I think pretty much what you mentioned, cabbage... I have some Brauers colic relief, I haven't used it yet but am thinking about trying it soon!
Birth announcement cards... I am planning on it. I had already started designing them before she arrived, thinking a headstart would be good. So far I have done nothing more - there is just no time! But yes I am planning on it. I am going to make it a combination announcement / thankyou card.
and I feel pretty good - apart from sleep deprived! The time spent expressing when I could be sleeping 
and she is getting harder & harder to settle to sleep too. 
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