PP Weekly Thread 5/3 - 5/9 - Page 3

[ShineliketheSon]

Originally Posted by MelW

We've DTD a couple of times this week. Not having any stitches made my recovery and readiness much quicker

.

Lucky! I have the emotions to DTD but know physically it'll be a while! Are you all doing kegals even when it hurts??? Or should I wait till I"m more healed?

[fruitful womb]

Originally Posted by ShineliketheSon

Lucky! I have the emotions to DTD but know physically it'll be a while! Are you all doing kegals even when it hurts??? Or should I wait till I"m more healed?

I started doing kegals the first hour after birth. What I've found extreemly helpful is doing them during my afterbirth pains. The cramps start just as I'm nursing dd then I power kegal through out the nursing session. I feel a tremendous difference! Kegaling during cramps helped ease that pain and the cramps made kegaling effective. I'm already feeling much more closed than I did after ds was born.

So, I'd say do them when you can. Hold for 3 sec. at a time. In the begining, a few repitions is recomended as to NOT over tire your pelvic floor. When you feel like you floor has more strenth, then more reps can be added to the routein.

Nancy - I hope you're knocking out that UTI before it gets aggressive! I had one after my previous birth and it was NOT FUN! Each time I burned while urinating I had the urge to bare down. NOT GOOD for a weak pelvic floor. What happened to me resulted in a peaked cervix. Yes, my cervix (from baring down on weak organs) was starting to come out of my body. I had to have Physical Therapy to fix it. It took a year to bring my cervix back in. Its so important take care of that UTI.

[ShineliketheSon]

Originally Posted by fruitful womb

I started doing kegals the first hour after birth. What I've found extreemly helpful is doing them during my afterbirth pains. The cramps start just as I'm nursing dd then I power kegal through out the nursing session. I feel a tremendous difference! Kegaling during cramps helped ease that pain and the cramps made kegaling effective. I'm already feeling much more closed than I did after ds was born.

Wish I had known that helped with afterbirth pains!!! Mine were killer!!!!! I will start kegeling today. Thanks.

Nancy: are you taking cranberry capsules for your UTI...they are the only thing that truley helped me, I had to take them daily for about a month or two to be sure it stayed gone.

[michanders4]

Does anyone know when it's safe to DTD after a C section? I didn't dilate past 3 and didn't push so everything "down there" is in great condition for the most part. My incision still is sore at times though and I'm sure my uterus is not ready for DTD yet. Surprisingly, I want to . I just don't know when I'll be physically ready.

Kate - what did Eden do while you were at practice? Four hours must have been exhausting for you!!!!

[Sasharna]

Yeah, I wish I'd known that about kegels and afterpains as well!

Glad I'm far from the only one who misses DTD, btw. I actually miss it a little less than I thought I would though. I'm nervous about doing it. I didn't have sex for 2.5 years after I gave birth to DS1 (his bio dad was abusive and I left). So I just don't know what to expect at all.

I haven't bled at all for 36+ hours now. Wondering if maybe I'm done?

Baby is three weeks old today. I can't believe my luck with this LO's temperament so far. He would probably be more "difficult" if we weren't doing AP or breastfeeding (since he does cluster feed in the evening), but he just loves to be nursed and held/worn and he is so easy for me to comfort. I even feel like I'm STTN because at night he only wakes up briefly to nurse, then usually goes right back to sleep.

I'm glad I had my difficult baby first. I tried the same things with DS1... they just didn't work! I probably would have thought I was the perfect mother if I'd had this baby first.

DS1 is an amazing big brother. I was worried before the baby was born, because DS1 can be very impulsive/explosive. But he's done great. He's so gentle and sweet with his little brother. He doesn't seem jealous in the slightest. Maybe part of this is just due to how sick I felt during pregnancy. DS1 probably feels like he has a better mother now.

This is DP's first day back at work. He didn't really have time off, but he telecommuted for the first three weeks. Three weeks with Daddy at home seemed perfect to me. He got to be with the baby during those first few weeks, and now that he's back at work I'm mostly healed and able to do the chores and such. I'm really grateful for how he kept up w/ the housework but I know he feels worn out now. It's hard to get him to relax though. He feels bad about playing a video game or something if there's anything left that he could be helping with. I feel incredibly lucky that he's so sweet ... I just don't want him to burn himself out.

Baby's rash is better but he is still very gassy and obviously uncomfortable, especially when lying flat. I'm not really sure whether to do an elimination diet. I stared out for a few days last week, then realized I'm still on colace and I think that might screw it up? There's a strong family history of food intolerance on both sides... but I know newborns are supposed to be gassy anyhow. I dunno.

Originally Posted by dawncayden

For bed wetness I put 4 towels down to sleep on at night and remove the top one as they get wet.

Thank you! I've set up my bed this way now. I don't leak much anymore, but this baby tends to spit up at night. I had towels -under- the sheet, and one towel on top... which meant I pretty much had to strip the bed every time there was a mess made. I never thought of layering a bunch of towels on top!

[nancy11]

Originally Posted by fruitful womb

Nancy - I hope you're knocking out that UTI before it gets aggressive! I had one after my previous birth and it was NOT FUN! Each time I burned while urinating I had the urge to bare down. NOT GOOD for a weak pelvic floor. What happened to me resulted in a peaked cervix. Yes, my cervix (from baring down on weak organs) was starting to come out of my body. I had to have Physical Therapy to fix it. It took a year to bring my cervix back in. Its so important take care of that UTI.

Ya... it's intermittent, but there. I'm trying to flush it out and am taking in straight cranberry juice. That, plus some general soreness down there appear to be my only lingering issues. I'm trying to avoid antibiotics.

[bodhitree]

Originally Posted by michanders4

Does anyone know when it's safe to DTD after a C section? I didn't dilate past 3 and didn't push so everything "down there" is in great condition for the most part. My incision still is sore at times though and I'm sure my uterus is not ready for DTD yet. Surprisingly, I want to . I just don't know when I'll be physically ready.

Based on what my MW said, I'll get the okay to DTD at my 6 week PP visit. I wish it was sooner. Same for tub baths, which I really miss.

[MelW]

Check out some guesses we made about our births and babies in December.

I was right about the date, wrong about a boy, length of labour is still debate-able, weight guess was over by 6 oz. And right about my perineum. Not to bad on the guesses (especially since I changed my though to girl later in the pregnancy, and guessed only 2 oz. over her weight the day before she was born).

I swear by kegels- throughout the pregnancy and starting pretty soon after. I kegel while I breastfeed, so I remember to do them *often*.

Nora is going to take her first plane trip at the end of the month. My husband was asked to do another reading, book launch and book fair across the country (this time in Ottawa), and he told them that he couldn't leave his family again. So they offered to fly Nora and I along with him. Neela is going to stay here with my mother-in-law, since a three day whirlwind trip would probably not be very fun for her.

[lilgreen]

Wow! I haven't been around in ages! We had two weeks straight of beautiful weather which made me feel a little more invicible than I should have felt. I did too much and now, finally, I've hit the wall and crashed. That's ok, though. I've realized it and am taking it super easy now. Ds1 is in school and we're keeping ds2 in daycare until the end of June, so I might as well take advantage of this quiet time!

Luke is fabulous except for his gas problems. Neither of my other two had gas problems, but poor 'lil luke just grunts and groans all day and night... especially from about 3am until we're off on our morning jaunt to school/daycare at 8am. Any ideas of what to do? My diet is already so limited I can't imagine trying to restrict it any more. My m/w suggested to wait it out since it's most likely just his intestines that need some more time to develop.

I'm allowed to say that my baby is funny looking, right? I think he's absolutely adorable and I love his funniness, but dh says that, as his mother I can't say that, lol.

I love not having to dtd. I take full advantage of the recommended 6-week break. I'm not much of a dtd-er, obviously. Poor dh.

Anyways, I hope you're all well and having fun with your babes!!!

[Sasharna]

Originally Posted by lilgreen

I'm allowed to say that my baby is funny looking, right? I think he's absolutely adorable and I love his funniness, but dh says that, as his mother I can't say that, lol.

Of course. DP and I both crack up because the LO makes this face that looks like the gopher from the "Dramatic Look" video on youtube.

Also, sometimes he looks like Doctor Evil. There's some Harrison Ford in there, too, though. I swear.

[EdnaMarie]

nak

m2b (OP) which nursing pads are you using? i find lansinoh pads really nice. pumping will up your supply even more so be prepared.

[emmaegbert]

Originally Posted by ShineliketheSon

Speaking of menstral...I"m praying I get to be one of the lucky ones this time and not have mine till I"m done nursing. Last time I nursed strictly and still got it 6 weeks pp. :

[...]

DD1 has been playing so nice lately which is GREAT, but her tone of voice towards us has not been so hot...she sounds like a teen (where do they get that from???)

ditto on both of those things. I got my period pretty much immediately after the lochia ended... despite exclusively breastfeeding a 90th percentile-sized and extremely active baby, co-sleeping and free access to nursing all night... oh and I was also one of those lucky ones who can keep all that extra weight on while nursing like crazy and exercising. Go figure. Would have been great back in the ice age or something.

My 4 1/2 yo has been pretty "fresh" with us all week but I am trying not to take it too seriously, chalk it up to him acting out a bit w/ all the changes he is dealing with. I did manage to do some puzzles with him WHILE I nursed LO... (sodoku, his choice, I wouldn't have picked it out for him...) This baby is a night owl and its sooooo hard for him to go to sleep when he can hear DH and grandma playing and talking to the baby! It doesn't compute to him that she slept all day long and so she's going to be up for a few hours. And we live in a small apt so its not like we can go somewhere else in the house. I know we'll work it out and come to a new balance but its hard on everyone, especially a little guy like him.

[inky leeuhhh]

Originally Posted by Sasharna

Of course. DP and I both crack up because the LO makes this face that looks like the gopher from the "Dramatic Look" video on youtube.

Also, sometimes he looks like Doctor Evil. There's some Harrison Ford in there, too, though. I swear.

we tease about dd just having one huge chin and no neck. for being a month old, this kid is down right PLUMP!

[emmaegbert]

our son got totally ugly when he was a few weeks old. he got a fat face in a weird way, he went bald but only on the top, and he got pimples. and, oh my, his farting was prodigious. (excessive flatulence, while humorous, is not exactly an attractive attribute). it was temporary, he became a beautiful, chubby, cherubic looking thing shortly afterwards (phew).

I fully expect the same with this girl, but so far her main flaw is being orange (she has jaundice). she kind of looks like she has that fake tanner stuff.

[dawncayden]

I compare ds2 to Danny Devito

[EdnaMarie]

Lochia for me is bright red again. God forbid I leave the house! It all starts again. Probably will have another 8 weeks of it. :sigh:

[Peony]

I think DD2 has finally realized that this thing called her baby brother isn't leaving to go someplace else. She has been quite demanding all day. No itching here but what I'm guessing is ligament pain around my uterus. I get really sore and painful after doing too much, and at the end of the day.

[secondimpression]

Originally Posted by fruitful womb

I remember when I had my first I was stitched from a 4th degree episiotomy. IT SUCKED! I couldn't poop, and everytime I cough it felt like my bottom was ripping apart!

Did you tear or did you have an episiotmy?

I had 2 second degree tears from an OB who decided that Xander needed "help" while crowning because my "skin won't stretch far enough!" I'm convinced I wouldn't have torn if he'd just gotten his darned hand out of the way. This was all after having a 15 minute debate with him over my right to choose the possibility of a tear (he really really really wanted to cut me)....but um....let's not talk about my birthrape, there are ladies here who are still pregnant and I don't want to scare them. My labial tear has healed up great....wish my perineum looked as good

Originally Posted by wobblykate

that's why i like the zip hoodie & nursing bra...warm w/ easy access!

I actually tried that but the zipper drove me insane. Haven't tried a button-down since Xander wakes every 1-2 hours and buttons are just too challenging when you're so tired that you try to put baby's diaper on backwards I've been sleeping with the nursing tank under a tshirt and it's working just fine.

Originally Posted by fairymom

Heard from the WAHM yesterday who is making the bulk of our CDs- our order is only half done (ordered 36 aios) and will be mailing out that half soon. A little disappointed in the whole experience and have decided not to use her agian (unless the dipes are exceptional and only ordering a few). Ordered them mid Feb was told there was no problem w/doing a big order and would take 6-8 wks. Ok fine by me. So alloted time went by and got an email that she was just starting the order. So now another 6 wks and only half is done! Glad to be getting some soon but really don't want to wait another 6 wks for the other half. That would be like 18 wks when I was told 6-8. Trying to be patient. I know life happens but this just doesn't seem like good business to me espically when people are putting out lots of money for my goods!! Sorry about the vent!

Wow, I sure hope you didn't buy your CDs from the same WAHM I got mine from (was it a too-good-to-be-true $5/diaper deal?). Mine told me 4-5 weeks and it wound up being 7. She also used super cheap velcro that shredded Xander's poor thighs I just shipped mine off to a WAHM with a better reputation to convert the velcro to snaps. Hope your diapers wind up being well worth the wait!

Originally Posted by emmaegbert

OKAY-- I also came in so late in the game here that I missed out on these early conversations. Can I ask about baby poop? Do any of you have infrequently pooping babies during their first week? My baby is NOT pooping anywhere near what the MW said she should. (She had a whopping FOUR meconium poops the first day, and then really not a lot since then... a total of 4 in the following 6 days). We're hoping she just cleared herself out well that first night. And its nowhere NEAR what DS did by this age (he pooped every time he nursed once my milk was in). My full milk came in slightly more than 48 hours after she was born, and she loves to nurse. She pees A LOT and I think I have tons of milk. But, very infrequent poops. She's also yellow from jaundice (MW also assures me this is very normal) so I am extra anxious for her to start pooping and clear that bilirubin out of her system. Sigh. She is not at all lethargic, has great alert periods during the day, nurses vigorously, etc, so MW says not to worry too much, that w/ babies behavior is more important than counting poops or something. In any case, MW is doing a 1-week PP home visit today so I'll talk to her about it, and she'll also weigh the baby and see if she's gaining weight, which will give us more info to go on regarding her nursing intake.

After the meconium poops, I think Xander only had 2-3 poops that first week...TONS of pee-drenched diapers though. We've found out that he's a cluster pooper. We'll get tiny skidmarks at every diaper change but he seems to save it all up for poopsplosions. His pattern is something like 20 pee diapers followed by 3 overflowing poop diapers I'd second what your MW said, if she's peeing she's getting milk and the poops will come soon enough!

Originally Posted by lilgreen

I'm allowed to say that my baby is funny looking, right? I think he's absolutely adorable and I love his funniness, but dh says that, as his mother I can't say that, lol.

My grandmother loves to tell me about how my father looked like Mr. Magoo as a baby


DTD-Anyone who's already back in the swing...I am SO jealous of you! I just screamed in pain at an OB today when she tried to open the speculum...and she actually warned me in all seriousness not to have sex!

[goodmomma76]

this llo likes to poop in clean diapers only, thank you very much!!! lol

[inky leeuhhh]

Originally Posted by goodmomma76

this llo likes to poop in clean diapers only, thank you very much!!! lol

mine likes to poop as soon as i get the diaper off. lol.

im excited because i just ordered a mei tai for gwyn. im just not loving the sling as much as i used to. are the mei tais pretty easy to work once you have a little practice?? nak.