I know some of us showed interest in a postpartum board that we can talk in, so here it is!!
How is life with baby going??
I know some of us showed interest in a postpartum board that we can talk in, so here it is!!
How is life with baby going??
cherry / 234 posts
Life is going pretty good over here. My mom left early yesterday AM, and DH has been working. To be honest, I kind of enjoyed just the time with myself and LO.
She has started spitting up a bit. I'm wondering if she's getting too much milk? She nurses 20-25 min on one side and then when I offer the other she only sucks 5-7 min, but then spits up a good bit. So, I'm wondering if I should just start nursing on one side for each session. What do you guys do?
nectarine / 2148 posts
@MamaB: I am not breastfeeding, but am doing a combination of EBF and supplementing with formula. DS spits up as well. I read that spit up is normal as the valves in their esophagus are not fully developed so it can't hold all the food down. Does your LO still seem hungry after she spits up? Maybe only do one side or split up the time between each breast equally if you know she eats for about 30 minutes.
nectarine / 2148 posts
I am wondering how everyone's LO is sleeping at night?
DS has weird hours between 7-11 where he's fussy and eats really sporadically but afterwards he wakes at eats at about 1, 4, 7.
honeydew / 7909 posts
Today is my first day home with both littles and so far it's going well. My bottom is still SO SORE but I'm pushing through.
G has only been getting up to nurse 1x/night but she's been nursing every 2hrs during the day.
@MamaB: try to switch sides after 15 minutes
coconut / 8854 posts
@MamaB: My LO has been spitting up a little bit more now as well.
Sleep at night is really hit or miss. Some nights she will go 4-5 hours starting at 11PM, but other nights she is fussy and is up every 2 hours. She always sleeps really well in the morning though, and takes a nice long nap around 6-7, so then I am able to sleep in a little bit more after DH leaves for work.
I can't believe that it's been 3 weeks already, I'm starting to think about having to go back to work, and I just get really sad. I just really wish I could be a SAHM, but we just can't afford it.
nectarine / 2641 posts
We are doing well, other than big brother's fever. Compared to big brother, this guy is a champion sleeper! Probably because he's a pound and a half heavier. But breastfeeding is also going much better, for two main reasons: 1) I know what I'm doing/how to latch, so other than some early trauma due to a 22-hour nurse-fest when all I had was colostrum and that was clearly not enough, it's not very painful, and 2) I had a huge oversupply with DS1, so I took measures early (namely, feeding on only one side for at least an hour) to get that under control, which means we don't have hindmilk/foremilk imbalance, and while I'm often engorged, it's not quite as awful.
As for night time, little one generally goes down with me at 9, and then wakes twice or so before 6:30/7, when big brother gets up anyway. He's only had a few nights, though, so it's hard to establish a pattern yet. But WAY better than big brother And much better than the end of pregnancy, when I was getting about 3 hours a night.
Naps are awesome. We held big brother through his naps, which, while sweet and awesome, is clearly not practical with a toddler. So we're using a swing, and I think it's teaching him to sleep a bit more independently. I hope that pays off in the long run!
coconut / 8854 posts
@Jess1483: During naps for your LO and when you but him in the swing, do you always have the swing turned on?
nectarine / 2641 posts
@MrsBrewer: Yes, for now. Over time, I'll slow it down and then eventually put him in it not moving, then switch to the crib. I did the same with big brother, but didn't start until he was 3-ish months, so it wasn't quite as magical (I started using it to extend cat naps). The swing is (for now) in our living room, and I generally won't leave him without checking on him for more than 5-10 minutes, but it is a lay-flat swing.
coconut / 8854 posts
@Jess1483: Good to know! I have been putting LO in her swing for naps now lately too. I am able to actually get stuff done now! It's amazing! But I just dont want her to get used to always moving while she's sleeping. I have the mamaRoo, so it's not a lie flat swing, but she seems to be supported enough. We also have it in our living room.
nectarine / 2641 posts
@MrsBrewer: I wouldn't worry about her getting too used to it at this age. I mean, they were constantly moving for 9 months...to expect them to stop cold turkey is pretty rough (although awesome if the LO can do it). I'll probably start slowing the swing around 3ish months. I'll probably also start trying for occasionally crib naps around then, just to see how they go, and he also sleeps in a co-sleeper at night (or at least, that's the goal. For now, he's more often in the bed with me), so his sleep isn't always moving. I also sneak a cuddle nap in whenever possible, but it's tricky with a toddler.
I started DS1 in the swing around 3 months, and I think he was a consistent crib sleeper by 7 months or so (and night sleep was in his crib in the other room by 4 months).
nectarine / 2148 posts
@MrsBrewer: I don't have a swing but DS naps in his RNP, which has a rocker to it. I only have the RNP rock when he seems fussy and needs help falling or staying asleep. Otherwise, he's out cold and I don't turn it on. More than half the time he sleeps I don't turn the rocker on.
pomelo / 5258 posts
DS had his 2 week appointment today. I thought things were going well but the doctor was not satisfied with the weight gain. He was born 7lbs5oz and today he was 7lbs10oz. She made me an LC appointment for tomorrow. I've been meaning to do that for my own comfort anyway. My boobs have been the biggest post partum challenge. Daily clogged ducts and sore nipples plus latch issues.
LO1 has been handling the big sister transition well. She loves "her baby". I hope she stays healthy because it is going to be hard to separate her and DS when she gets sick.
nectarine / 2641 posts
@Corduroy: That was the hardest part of DS1 getting his fever--he SO wants to be all over baby brother all the time. Which might explain why my usually-never-watches-tv toddler has now watched 5 movies in the last 36 hours. Sorry for the latching/weight gain issues. I had so many issues with DS1, and it makes the first few months so hard.
nectarine / 2148 posts
@Corduroy: sorry that the feeding has been difficult. The first week LO wasn't gaining proper weight and I ended up switching to EBF and then realized I needed to supplement as well since I wasn't producing enough. FX that it turns around for you and that everyone stays healthy!!
coconut / 8861 posts
@MrsBrewer: We have J in an RNP that rocks automatically. We'll wean him of it eventually. Sometimes I let it run its course and let him get used to it not moving.
coconut / 8861 posts
In terms of baby and newborn hood, it's going well overall. Last night, he slept like a rock star, but wouldn't nap at all today. I got desperate, put him in the Tula, and walked around the neighborhood for an hour. He slept in the Tula happily until he didn't. Our peds told us to let him nap 2-3 hour naps during the day and longer ones at night. We're sticking close to that.
coconut / 8854 posts
@cascademom: My LO is similar, she has been sleeping 4-5 hour stretches at night, then in the morning and during the day I will try and wake her up and make sure she's only take 2-3 hour naps. Although most of the time she is pretty alert, and I don't have to wake her up.
I didn't know you could use the Tula this early?! I have been holding off buying one because I didn't think you could use it for infants!
grapefruit / 4441 posts
@Corduroy: That sounds like a reasonable gain to me. My ped said they just want them back at their birth weight by 2 weeks old. That's good you are seeing the LC though for your own comfort and you can see what she says about LO's weight gain.
Things are going pretty well here. The first 10 days or so I was in a world of hurt due to my tears/episiotomy/hematoma. I also had super sore boobs due to latch issues. While I still have the boob pain, my bottom is feeling mostly better. Fortunately, my parents were here when I was in the most pain and they provided great emotional support and help with my 2 yo.
My LO is a great eater (I think she weighs over 10 lbs now!), but for the life of me, I can not get comfortable nursing her. I've had LCs look at the latch and they say it's okay though not the widest/greatest, but it is pretty painful. She might be clamping down or doing something else weird. I had mastitis around the 2 week mark... that is finally better thanks to antibiotics, but now I am having some other issues. I think I am going to take baby to an ENT to see what they say about her lip tie and slight posterior tongue tie.
Baby is pretty good in general... mostly very easy to soothe, though sometimes she will only calm down if I am holding her (which is fine, just makes it hard to get anything done)!
She went through a period where she was projectile vomiting 1-2x per day... it is still happening, but not quite daily anymore. Like today, she spit up once or twice, but no major vomiting. I have been trying to position her so that she is nursing uphill/against gravity because I think my milk comes out fast... I've also been stopping to burp her a lot, and taking a break before offering a second side to see if she's really hungry.
Her sleep is decent... she usually wakes around 8, 11, 1:30, 4:30, and 6:30 or 7. Usually she nurses for 20-45 min and goes back to sleep easily, but there have been 2 nights where she just would not go back to sleep and was up for 3 hrs+. It made getting my 2 yo to school rough!
J is doing really well so far as a big sister. So far she hasn't been jealous at all. Here are some pics of the two of them from H's newborn session.
J got to feed H a bottle of pumped milk for the first time today, and she was so cute... I heard her tell H, "Good job, baby sistah! Drink all your milk. You are going to grow big and strong, just like me!"
I will say that it is taxing to care for two kiddos though! My husband hasn't been doing well lately, so I have been doing 90% of the caregiving/100% of taking care of the house. It's okay now, since I am off from work, I just hope he will be doing better by the time I go back.
grapefruit / 4355 posts
Yay postpartum thread! E is doing really well; she seems to be a really easy baby overall! She's sleeping in mostly ~3 hour stretches (day and night) and eats like a champ! I can't wait to find out what she weighs at her 1 month appointment on Monday (we don't have a weight since 5days old).
As for me, I found c-section recovery to be a breeze and have felt great from day 1 in that regard. I'm going to be playing my first tennis match post-baby on Tuesday (just over 1 month postpartum). I'm still being medicated for some residual BP issues from the pre-e but the OB doesn't seem too concerned.
My one frustration have been exclusively pumping. We had to supplement from day 1 because my milk wasn't coming in and she was starving (I was fine with doing this). We were never able to get her to latch so I started EPing (which I actually was happy with because I liked not being the only one who could feed her). I was pumping more than she could eat so I was quite happy with my supply. Then I got mastitis followed by clogged duct issues and my supply has completely tanked. I can only pump enough for ~2.5 breast milk bottles a day. So we're having to supplement a lot. I don't mind supplementing but it is annoying that my supply was so good and has just disappeared.
nectarine / 2148 posts
@78h2o: glad to hear that things are overall getting worked out! Definitely sounds tough caring for both while DH is sick. It's interesting to hear about the projectile vomiting. W started vomiting about a week ago and over the past 24 hours we are trying not to burp him to see if it helps, which so far has! Feels almost counterintuitive not to burp but W actually farts A LOT so I figure he's getting the gas out that way.
@Mrs.KMM: sorry to hear about your supply but glad to hear your recovery is going so well! Have you tried taking anything yet to increase it? I'm just starting to try a couple things myself.
honeydew / 7909 posts
@Mrs.KMM: if continuing to give pumped milk is something you want to do, there are some things you can try to boost your supply. Power pumping, mothers milk tea, lactation cookies, oatmeal, drinking plenty of water and eating plenty of calories. I'm sure other mamas have more tips...
honeydew / 7909 posts
@78h2o: my bottom has made taking care of 2 very hard but each day is better than the day before. Glad you're doing better!
grapefruit / 4355 posts
@Eko: and @Ash: I've tried power pumping and hydrating but I'm not interested in taking supplements and such. I'd rather just give formula at that point.
grapefruit / 4441 posts
@Mrs.KMM: if you keep pumping, I bet your supply will recover. Mine tanked with mastitis, but it's really come back now. You probably want to be pumping 8-12x per day at this point (as frequently as your baby eats)...are you pumping that much? If you pump for 5 min after the milk stops flowing, that should make a big difference after 48 hrs... It's not an immediate effect. Good luck!!!
coconut / 8861 posts
@MrsBrewer: I have an infant insert. For carriers, the starting weight is 8 lbs. J just barely fits, so we walked the neighborhood yesterday to get him some sleep.
cherry / 103 posts
The second time around has been much easier. She is a pretty easy going baby. She only cries when it's taking too long for me to get ready to nurse she's nursing for 10-15 minutes every hour and a half to two hours with some longer stretches in between.
The repeat c-section was way easier than my first. I was able to go out with both kids a week after. I still have my bottle of painkillers because I never felt I needed it! i do have some nerve pain in my back where I got the epidural but I'm hoping that will go away
grapefruit / 4355 posts
@78h2o: I was pumping 6x a day (DD usually eats 7-8 times but 6 sessions was getting me more than enough for her to eat plus freeze some). And I always pump for 5-6 minutes after all milk flow has stopped.
grape / 77 posts
@mrsbrewer thank you for starting this board. I feel like I have been really up and down in my pp experience. Recovery from my c section was really hard and took two full weeks to feel more or less normal. I still get sore easily but it's a lot better now. Baby blues was rough, especially when my dh went back to work and C started cluster feeding. She still only sleeps 2-3 hrs at a time with occasional 4 hr stretches. Today it's been less than 2 hr between feeds (bf) which means I'm totally exhausted. On the plus side I lost all 30 lbs of my pregnancy weight by 3 weeks pp.
coconut / 8854 posts
@badwolf: oh man! I hear you on the cluster feedings. She just started that a few days ago. I'm sorry it took you so long to heal from the c section :-(. I'm with you though on the weight loss. Last time I checked at 2 weeks PP I was just 2 lbs over my pre-pregnancy weight! I haven't weighed myself lately, and I was definitely overweight before I got pregnant. So I still have a ton more to lose!
coconut / 8854 posts
@cascademom: that's awesome! I had no idea the Tula had an infant insert! I've been using my Moby wrap lately, and Jana adores it, and falls asleep instantly. It's just kind of a pain to put on.
grapefruit / 4770 posts
Silently checking in from time to time. Doctor confirmed M is colic, and said it can start as early as two weeks. She cries for 6 hours straight every day starting at around 4pm. Breastfeeding is hard because I still have an oversupply and she won't take a bottle even if I leave the room. So, she chokes and screams and cries because she can't drink. I've tried block feeding, laying down, modified, etc.. So, I pump to relieve the milk, and then it causes more milk to come in so I'm constantly engorged. Then, DH tries to give her a bottle, and she won't drink and there goes my breastmilk down the drain. I've tried Tommee Tippee closer to nature, joovy boob, playtex, and most recently avent naturals, which she did take down two ounces from last week. It's wearing on us all. It has to get better sometime right? She's finally sleeping, so I should get in a nap. I hope all is well with you gals!
grape / 77 posts
@MrsBrewer: I was overweight before getting pregnant too, so I have a long way to go before I'm happy with my total weight loss. Right now I' just relieved not to be stuck 30 lbs heavier than I started, but still a long way to go.
@dcyogabee, that sounds really rough! Have you talked to a lactation consultant about managing the oversupply? I've heard cold compresses can be helpful, and expressing gradually less and less before a feeding. Feeding in a more upright position is also supposed to help the baby have more control if you have overactive letdown. Wishing you luck with the colic, I can only imagine how difficult that is given how frustrated I get with her crying for even a few minutes.
coconut / 8854 posts
This might be a stupid question. But is block feeding used to just deal with over supply? I think I have an average supply, but J regularly ou eats from one side at a time then completely passes out. I just don't want my supply to tank!
grapefruit / 4441 posts
@MrsBrewer: no, I think that's fine. However, that does give you the opportunity to pump and freeze the other side if you want.
grapefruit / 4441 posts
@dc yoga bee: maybe you could try to reduce your supply? Maybe you could take an antihistamine or drink the no more milk tea?! Just brainstorming... Sorry to hear your LO has colic... That's must be so rough. Do they think it's reflux? Is she on meds?
Oh, with the bottles, maybe try to switch from boob to bottle mid-feed and also when she's sleepy... Babies tend to be most accepting of bottles when they're in the mood to eat, but not super starving or when they're too tired to care! Lol! We use Avent Naturals too. I always start with just one ounce to make sure she's going to take it before I add more. Actually, I usually just put 1-2 oz in the bottle at a time, then stop to burp, add a little more, etc. that's easiest with freshly pumped milk that doesn't have to be warmed.
grapefruit / 4441 posts
I am jealous of everyone's awesome weight loss! I am still up about 25 pounds! ugh! (I ended up gaining 45). That puts me about 35 lbs above my happy weight, as I just barely had a normal BMI before I got pregnant. I have my work cut out for me. I work at a weight management center, so I definitely feel pressure to come back at a reasonable weight. Too bad breastfeeding and lack of sleep make me starving! I'm trying to make good choices, but need to do better.
grapefruit / 4770 posts
@badwolf: Thanks! Yep, I've met with a lactation consultant three times now. I'm doing all the things she recommended
@78h2o: I've been taking claritin (for my allergies more than anything), I haven't noticed any reduction. But, I'm afraid a reduction in supply could cause it to tank. That would be ironic lol. Thanks for the tips on the bottles! I will definitely try it! And don't beat yourself up about the weight. You are doing an amazing job momma!
I lost 33 of the 37 pounds gained in the first 4 weeks. Cra-zy! But, my clothes definitely do NOT fit the same. My umbilical hernia has healed whew hew!!! I feel ready to start working out again, but know I need to take it slowly. Also, I have a baby attached to my breast all day, so it's not like I can do a whole lot lol. I'm going to try to do a 30 minute dvd today. I don't want to buy all new work clothes for when I go back in three weeks, because we just put a contract on a house to build! So, we need to save save save!
Today | Monthly Record | |
---|---|---|
Topics | 0 | 0 |
Posts | 1 | 0 |
Ask for Help
Make a Suggestion
Frequently Asked Questions
Bee Levels
Acronyms
Most Viewed Posts
Hellobee Gold
Hellobee Recipes
Hellobee Features
Hellobee Contests
Baby-led Weaning
Bento Boxes
Breastfeeding
Newborn Essentials
Parties
Postpartum Care Essentials
Sensory Play Activities
Sleep Training
Starting Solids Gear
Transitioning to Toddler Bed
All Series
Who We Are
About the Bloggers
About the Hostesses
Contributing Bloggers
Apply to Blog
Apply to Hostess
Submit a Guest Blog
Hellobee Buttons
How We Make Money
Community Policies