-
@travelgirl1: stay away from Google! Reading about SIDS all night while I was up nursing Saturday turned me into mess!! I'm only just finally feeling better. My new rule is skip Google and call the pediatrician instead. It's really dangerous to my mental health.
@RLCeigh: I thought I wanted 3 kids, but after surviving these first 10 days, I'm feeling one and done!
Actually, your dancing in the kitchen technique sounds a lot more productive than my crying on the couch!@scg00387: I've been using the Laniosh ones too - I only change them when they get wet - but I have breast shells behind them. I have also tried the bambooies overnight ones - they are heavy duty and absorb a lot, but they slide around because they're flat rather than cupped.
Have any of you been brave enough to step on the scale? I gained 38 pounds and as of yesterday, have lost 18. I have a feeling that the other 20 are going to be much slower to disappear.
-
@Mrs. Tricycle: no plans to step on the scale for awhile, but I do feel like everything is tightening up nicely and quicker than I thought. Still can't get my rings on...I am so looking forward to that
How are things going between everyone and their SOs? I can't believe how much my love for DH has grown. I just adore him and can't imagine being without him now or ever again.
-
@MamaMoose: It sounds like you are having the same challenges as me (hyperlactation and possible reflux). I saw the ped last week and a LC this morning. Em has been spitting up forcefully but based on her weight gain is still getting plenty to eat. I was hoping the LC would have some good tips on how to control the fast letdown/oversupply and prevent the spit ups, but it sounds like it's the same things I have been trying. At the appt, she nursed for about 12 minutes and got over 4oz (and not including the oz or so that was spit back up all over my chest). Feeding her every 1.5 hrs and keeping her upright for another 1/2 hour afterwards is exhausting; and now they want me to pump a few minutes beforehand to relieve some of the supply. It really is a full time job....I'm not sure I have it in me to stick w/ it.
I was thinking about going to exclusively pumping so at least I could control how much and the speed of what she was getting, but after talking to the LC today, now I'm not sure if that would solve anything. I rented a hospital pump to try out for the next couple week just in case.
On the plus side, her weight gain has been awesome. She was 6 lbs 11oz when she was born (the 20th), 6.6 when we went home and the same a few days later at her first appt. Then, over the next 5 days (from Sat to Thr), she gained 13oz. As of today (since last Thr - 4 days), she gained another 8oz and is now a full lb above her birth weight.
She still has only a few outfits that fit her, but at this point, I am going to exchange any newborn clothes I have that still have the tags on. At this rate, I can't imagine she'll be in them for long.
-
@SLR: yeah the keeping upright for a half hour after feeds is KILLING me. It makes the middle of the night feeds so exhausting and I'm afraid I'm going to fall asleep during the 30 minutes and then baby won't be safe in the chair with me. I've made it a week and I've promised myself one more. If things don't get easier I will also consider pumping exclusively but I'm not there yet.
-
@SLR: @MamaMoose: I really want to move to exclusively pumping.
-
@highwire: my concern is that even with pumping I'll still feel the same burden of being solely responsible for feeding her. And I'll feel constantly tied to the pump. And then if I want to go back I'm in trouble if she refuses. Maybe try to set a short term goal for yourself (like my two week goal) and reevaluate then?
-
@MamaMoose: I feel like pumping means I can store up bottles so others can feed her and that would lessen the burden on me.
I also have a two week goal set for all this. Glad to be halfway there already!
-
Bah everyday at 5 I seem to have an anxiety attack. Any tips?
-
@Mrs. Tricycle: what are breast shells? I want to know my weight but we don't have a scale! Way to go on the first chunk lost though
-
@highwire: just execept it as normal. It scares me less when I realize it's part of the process. Sit on the couch and cry. Put the tissues next to you. If DH can sit with you, that's a bonus. Dont Google while anxious. You'll get through it. I've read hormone swings are th le worst days 7-10. At 11 days, today's the first day I haven't broken down at dinner time (ha, though I did have a nice cry after breakfast). So I'm thinking it will get better. Hang in there!
-
@scg00387: an LC gave them to me. Breast shells force your nipple to poke out, which in theory helps make latching easier. I don't love them because they collect milk and then if I forget to empty them regularly they drench my shirt when I bend over.
They look like this:
-
@Mrs. Tricycle: @highwire: it definitely does get better. I didn't have the night time anxiety so many people experience but I did cry lot. I felt guilty about everything and was always in tears. For example, I convinced myself her suspected hip dysplasia was my fault because I didn't have the turning procedure at 37 weeks. I was heartbroken over that. But now at 4 weeks pp o hardly cry at all. I feel so much better, you won't feel like this forever.
-
@Mrs. Tricycle: I ordered these online and they are being delivered tomorrow. Hope it helps our nursing out.
-
@highwire: I feel like that about my husband too. I think this past month since W was born had been probably the best time we've ever had together. I love seeing him as Weston's dad.
-
@SLR: My LO was just over 8 pounds at birth and wore NB clothes for the first 3-4 weeks. At 4 weeks he was 10.5 pounds. Thankfully we didn't have too many NB clothes, just about 8-10 onesies, a few pajamas, and like 2 pairs of pants.
-
@highwire: I'm surprised no one at the hospital gave them to you. They definitely make my nips poke out way more, but it makes hugging DH a little awkward when hard plastic hits first
Hope they help you!
-
@travelgirl1: it helps so much to hear that other people struggle the first few weeks! I spent an hour this morning reading old HB threads about how much it sucks in the beginning - I guess misery really does love company. So helpful for me to hear that what I'm struggling with is normal.
-
@Mrs. Tricycle: I just wanted to chime in and agree that the first few weeks are not exactly what I'd call enjoyable! My LO is now seven weeks old and it's really only in the last few weeks that I've started to enjoy motherhood!
I remember my Midwife telling me that everything is normal when it comes to newborns, both Baby and Mum are new at this and learning and that having expectations will only lead to anxiety!
Hang in there, it will and does get better and you're doing a wonderful job!
-
@Mrs. Tricycle: I might have to order some of those nipple shell things. Our may breastfeeding issue has been latching, which is made more difficult by my kinda flat nipples. I'm glad to hear they are helping.
-
@Mrs. Tricycle: i was the first to have LO of the November mamas and i remember feeling so terrible for the first month because it was so hard. i had the baby blues and i felt alone and miserable and hated bf-ing, and i was so terribly guilty about the way that i felt. and i didn't want to say anything because i didn't want to scare you ladies all waiting for your LOs. but i did search all the archives on HB too and found that there were tons of other bees that went through the same thing and that made me feel normal. i think between 4-6 weeks it starts getting better. bf-ing is easier, hormones regulate and you get into a routine and sleep gets a tiny bit better. and then your LO really smiles at you (not a gas smile) and coos at you, and your heart melts. i won't lie though, there are still tough moments! but it just gets more rewarding i guess.
anyway, i think we might be nearing the 6 week growth spurt...lots of fussy latching, unlatching during nursing sessions and nursing a lot more often. blerg. just when i thought i almost liked bf-ing. Anyone else have the Baby Connect app? i find it so interesting because it will total the amount of time spent breastfeeding. i'm at something like 84 hours of breastfeeding since LO was born and 240-something bf-ing sessions. scary!
-
@scg00387: i use the lanisoh nursing pads too - i change them twice a day. once after my shower at night and then when i get up in the morning...so its like 12 hours. my right boob always leaks way more than my left, so sometimes i will change that one an extra time during the day. but i'm worried about thrush too! LO is on antibiotics, so i'm like paranoid about it. eating yogurt, rinsing my nipples with a vinegar/water solution. aghh! i wonder if the leaking ever stops.
-
Yeah I really underestimated the difficulty that this period would be. I guess there is no way to know until you are in it.
-
Hi there, mamas! I'm so glad there's a new thread
Even though I haven't been responding all that much, I've been reading everything and I have to say, it's so amazing to know that we're all going through such similar things right now. I have been having some trouble typing while bfing and have so much to write and say. It helps to bring some additional normalcy to this new phase for me.
@highwire: for the first 2 weeks, I really struggled with feeling down around the same time of day. For me, it was in the morning, right as I woke up from our morning sleep. I felt so disoriented and lost and I didn't know how I would make it through the day. I'll be honest that even though I do have tough moments now still (3.5 weeks pp), the awful feeling in the morning has lessened significantly. When this feeling struck, I would try as hard as possible to get my day started, even though it was so hard. Just breaking the day into smaller pieces helped so much and I was able to "bite off" an hour at a time. I hope things start looking up for you soon as you continue to adjust.
-
@Mrs. Tricycle: they weighed me when I went Back in the hospital. I gained 38 lbs in 41.5 weeks and according to the hospital 10 days later I have lost 28! I chalk it up to lots of water weight and feeling too sick and tired to eat. Now that last 10 lbs!
@highwire: I also am so amazed by my husband! It really is amazing watching him be a father.
-
@Meggo5: that's good to hear. I tried deep breathing and reached out to a family member for some support.
I do have to say that I cried less today than in previous days. Woo!
-
I thought I'd done so well today while DH was at work... I got a shower, did my makeup, managed to fit into my winter boots and a top from before pregnancy -my rings even almost fit! Got us both ready to go out and I ate breakfast, I was so proud of myself. Then I just realised I haven't cleaned my teeth all day and my boobs are now leaking over said top. epic fail - slummy mummy.
-
@JessLC: oo i need to try the vinegar and water!
@highwire totally the same here - i absolutely love seeing my husband be a dad! makes my heart hurt!
@mrstricycle wow sorry about my choice of phrase! I did NOT mean chunk, as in chunky, I meant as in "bit". d'oh! i'm going to check out those shields too! thanks!!
off to hopefully catch zzs... baby fussed and fed from about 8-11. hoping this means a long stretch of sleep now!
-
@highwire: last week i think i cried almost every night around the same time. i have been trying to keep my mind distracted from all those thoughts by just watching the office or how i met your mother. just something mindless so my hormones don't take over. and i try to stay in the same room as DH so i don't feel "alone".
and i agree, seeing DH as a father has made me appreciate and love him even more. i was actually surprised at how helpful and supportive he has been and how much he loves our daughter. that has helped with the post partum blues too.
@Mrs. Tricycle: i stepped on the scale 2 days postpartum and was happy to have lost half of what i gained. now i'm about 9 lbs away from prepreg weight. the flabby stomach is gonna take some work to get rid of tho..
-
@travelgirl1: I think that sounds like a really successful day, leaky boobs and stinky teeth included. It's 1:40 AM and I still have t brushed my teeth for the day...
-
Wow you girls hardly put on any weight! I think I put on a shocking 5 stone, have already lost 3 so 2 more to go. Most of my pre preg stuff I'd small or x small so these thighs have got a way to go yet!
How you're all having peaceful and easy nights!
-
Uhhhh I think I have to break the doc's every 4 hour feeding rule at night. Last night I fed LO at 6:30 and then ate dinner watched tv and took a nap. Hubs woke me up at 10:30 and it took both of us a LOT of effort to get the baby woken up to eat. She was so lazy with her feeding that she didn't get a full belly and I knew it. So after feeding her, keeping Her upright for 30 minutes, and then fighting her to go down I ended up having to feed her gain at midnight (with no sleep in between). Hubs finally got her down at 1. Then I had to wake up at 4 to start the process over (feed, upright, fight sleep, feed again, upright again) and hopefully finally just got her back down at 6:30. I feel like It's a waste of time and effort to feed her when she's not hungry enough yet to wake herself up....
@highwire: I'm cranky every day when the sun goes down. I get teary eyed from worry, stress, and exhaustion. I agree with the others who said that being in the same room as hubs makes a huge difference for me.
@Mrs. Tricycle: The one benefit of the constant stress and total lack of sleep is that as of yesterday I was 7 days post partum and down to 1lb over pre pregnancy weight. I'm assuming some of the weight will come back once I feel well enough to eat like a normal person but for now I'm enjoying having my figure back!
-
@travelgirl1: i gained exactly 50 lbs...not a modest gain by any stretch lol.
today i am finally seeing tge swelling go down in my legs and feet...it has been about 4 months since they have looked normal
-
@ChelseaRose: That's great to know what to expect. I'll def. be exchaning the rest of her newborn clothes.
-
Man, last night was ROUGH. After being a perfect little angel all day yesterday, she sure made up for it at night. Another inconsolable stretch of crying, acting hungry, fighting me to nurse, sitting her upright, and then nursing again.
I had hoped to crawl into bed early to get an extra hour or two of sleep in, but she had other plans. Fussed from 8:30 - 10:30, went to sleep, up from 1am - 2am, sleep, up from 3am - 5am. She is finally napping now and I had to make the tough choice b/w sleep and shower.
Shower won...
I'm jealous of everyone who is getting back to their pre-preg weight so fast. I gained about 28-30lbs and have 9 more to lose (but would really like to lose another 10 on top of that). It doesn't sound too bad, but I feel like my belly is so gross.
To make me feel even more frumpy, I don't have a ton of clothes that are good for nursing, and really don't want to buy a bunch of stuff that I likely won't use for more than a few months.
-
@SLR: clothes? You mean you wear something other than pajamas? Unless I leave the house for a pedi appointment, I wear PJ bottoms, a nursing tank and a zip up hoodie. I'm jealous that you're putting real people clothes on.
-
How often does your LO poop? I feel like he lets one rip (boy do they reverberate!) at least once an hour!
-
At day od delivery I weighed 38 lbs above pre preg weight. But id also beeb 8-10 lbs heavier than normal before bfp so my goal is to lose all of it. Haven't checked scale since last wk when I was down ten.
Haven't put on prepreg pants...n at home it's pjs shirt n zip top... thi I do shower or bathe or both every day for my me time!
Lo had a fussy night two days ago but slept n ate well last night... roller coaster! Nips are sore but for the most part bfing is going well ...
@nrs. Tricycle: lo has stretches where he poops or pees every 30-1 hr usually at night before nighttine sleep. So annoying n so much wsste!!
-
Nursing is still mostly a disaster but I fi.ally see lactation consultant tomorrow and hope she can save this for us. There is a breastfeeding support group later that day at the same place so I'm going to stay out and attend the group.
The breast shells that I ordered are set to arrive today also. Hope we can finally get good nursing underway now...
Mom us coming over today with groceries and Im hoping she will help me get in a shower, nap, and a walk
-
@Mrs. Tricycle: I think it's once per feeding for us! And very loud, projectile poops!
@highwire: good luck with the LC! I'm going to the breastfeeding group tomorrow as well. Hope your mom can help you get some rest.
-
@mrsjyw you were going to do cloth, right?? we started when we got home.. i am SHOCKED how many diapers we go through! hoping some of our one-size fit soon
@mrstricycle we get about 5 or 6 poops a day - i was worried for a while when we were only getting 2 or 3 but pedi said as long as he's gaining weight & over 3 a day we're good. I also am only wearing real clothes if I leave the house!!
I have a lactation consultant coming to our house tomorrow.. I feel like I have a bunch of questions I want a straight answer on and would like help with latching.
Last night was rough, he just couldn't get full enough and now today he's so tired I can't get him to stay awake for a full feeding! Oy!
@mamamoose I think I saw you post about Milkies on an other thread... have you used it? I hate it!! I don't know if it's my boob shape or what but it completely does not fit in my tanks and is so uncomfortable
I don't know what to do with it.
Actually, your dancing in the kitchen technique sounds a lot more productive than my crying on the couch!
I don't know what to do with it.
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite2
1690 comments