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Thanks ladies! I'm positive I'm having contractions but they are still fairly far apart, so I am just trying to chill at home. I wish I could sleep!

@daniellemybelle: Exciting!!! I tried to lay down and at least doze between early contractions.

I'm happy to report that at Alex has met and surpassed his birth weight (7 lb 12 oz) and has gained 12 oz since last week, bringing him to 8 lb 6 oz! Clearly the cluster feeding is doing what it needs to do

@Sadieloo: Look at you! Our October babies are so awesome

Contractions have petered out somewhat but I was able to take a decent nap so I didn't totally mind. We're going to go for a walk & see if we can get them going again!

Day 3 and all is not well in the world. Arthur wants to feed constantly. I already have dry cracked nipples. Creams not helping at all. Gel pads not helping. Pumping is tearing me to shreds. Lactation consult badgered me until I broke down into tears. we have two hours until we are discharged from the hospital. Seriously considering giving up the breast. It's stressing us both out so much we can't stop crying. And I'm sure DH is not enjoying the scene either.

@TFrances: day 3 was our worst day. Hang in there. First off, you do what's best for you and your baby. All that matters is that they get fed---whether that be boob, formula, or both. Second, your lc was a total B and that's uncalled for. She should be there to make you feel so good about what you are doing. You are a rock star for feeding your baby!!! What I did is similar to @evansjamie: my LC also suggested using heat to help soften the milk ducts to make it easier for baby to latch on and get the milk. She also had DH massaging my breasts while baby was latched on to help make it easier at first for baby. We also pumped and did some finger feeds with a syringe. We had the worst day possible and then it went up from there. It also helped just to have baby hang out skin to skin on my chest. One of my nurses said that dogs don't have someone to "show" them how to breastfeed, they hang out skin to skin and the dogs figure it out. It also helped me to walk outside the room for 5 minutes. Just to get out of that room and away for a few minutes. Hang in there!! Come to us if you need anything.

@evansjamie: you hang in there!!! Mm has started to pop and have it go up the back. I'm concerned we might have thrush too. My boob itches when she nurses, which I've read and heard from my mom that it's from the tissue stretching and going back after engorgement. Then, I have also seen where it could be thrush. I don't see white spots in her mouth and the creams make my nips feel better and they don't look shiny. Who are you calling--your OB/midwife or the ped????

@Jennimac: I called the ped. She has a white tongue, which I thought was milk tongue but then I saw a white spot on her cheek and I couldn't wipe it off. My nips have been sore and my boobs have been itchy, but not constantly. They aren't pink and shiny, but I decided to go and find out. I was on hold for 11 minutes trying to get in this afternoon, but I hung up so I can maybe nap while the baby is napping (finally!).

@daniellemybelle: Walk like you've never walked before!

@Jennimac: Of course, my husband calls and doesn't have to wait and gets an appointment today at 4:30. The spot was on the inside of her cheek. I think the blowout was a combo of a huge poop and growing out of newborn diapers. We are using sposies until her cord stump heals because the rise on my cloth covers is so high it rubs the area. I am starting to prefer them to cloth too, but am withholding my defection to full-time disposable use until she's big enough for her freetimes, which are a different material from the prefolds I have now.

@Jennimac: thanks! We've been working hard to make sure Alex is getting enough to eat. Total first time Mom anxiety. bi hope you get good news too.

@daniellemybelle: totally agree. The October babies rock! Hope the walking helps!

@evansjamie: I think we are through the cluster feeding, but Alex tends to chow a lot at night. I too love the rolls. If only mine looked so cute. Ha! That is quite a day your having. I suspect I will have one of those soon, once DH is back at work next week. I think A will outgrow the newborn diapers soon too. I hope we can avoid the blowouts. We had a week of pee up his back that sucked!

@TFrances: you are doing a great job. Try not to be too hard on yourself. Hope things turn around for you soon.

@Jennimac: Unfortunately, my mommy gut was right. We have thrush. On our way to the pharmacy to pick up her prescription now. I will talk to the pharmacist to see what I need to do to treat me (I want to do something so we don't pass it back and forth).

@Jennimac: I'm calling the midwife tomorrow. The pharmacist told me to put Lotramin on my nips, but I hesitate to put something on them that says "Don't Ingest" on the label.

@evansjamie: search on here. I think some say they have to wipe it off before they nurse. Some Suggest a vinegar rinse. Good luck!!!

We came home today and we're settling in. Lucy is nursing SO much better, which is a huge relief.

I haven't pooped yet, but I'm pretty sure tonight is the night. Not gonna lie, kind of terrified.

@abbylyn: Colace is your friend. I was terrified, but it was so easy (and also huge). I'm trying to wean off of it but I am terrified of pooping without it.

So.... We put another cloth diaper on Hyla, and she screamed until we took it off. I have a couple of Hemp blend prefolds that I will try tomorrow! but it will be a long day if she's going to scream every time I put one on her.

@evansjamie: after I went the find time, I stopped taking colace. Life has been good without it. That stinks about the cloth diaper!!! Hopefully she will soon relic how adorable she will be in them and will like them.

PSA: I did learn a valuable lesson-- I ate a fiber one bar and then had raisin bran to help 'move' things along. Well, that gave LO horrible, old man sounding gas. Nurse suggested to feed her, then eat that stuff so it won't pass on too much to her.

@abbylyn: The doctor started me on Colace as soon as I came out of recovery. Nothing, nothing, nothing, and then as soon I got home it happened! Such a relief. Don't force the situation. It should come naturally.

She's been feeding almost constantly for the last 4 hours. She can't possibly be that hungry or have that much room in her stomach! Every time I put her down, she starts fussing after 10 minutes or less. When I hoped she'd start nursing better, this is not exactly what I had in mind.

@TFrances: M has a super strong latch too. She visibly bruised my nipples. I have been pumping and supplementing with formula to let my nipples heal. I met with LC and we tried a nipple shield and I got a prescription for APNO (all purpose nipple ointment) but the best relief has come from exclusively pumping just to give the girls a break. We have been giving the formula at night and she sleeps better. I read that formula takes a little longer to digest so that may be why she sleeps longer when we supplement at night. It's also nice to be able to have others feed her sometimes. My supply was low and I think it was because every feeding session was so painful and thus stressful. Once I receive BF a break my supply increased.

Of course this is just my experience and every mom is different. Hang in there mama and do what makes YOU feel comfortable.
*hugs*

@abbylyn: It gets better. Our first night home was similar; we got maybe 4 hours of broken sleep, only because I decided that sleeping on me was worth it if it meant I got to sleep too.