Post Partum Weekly Thread May 17-23

[CookAMH]

New week! What's up ladies?

I just took a two hour nap, got a little less last night because of the timing of Ezra's wakings and getting up for church. I was just researching cloth wipe solutions since Ezra had a rash last week and we're not sure if it's the dipes or wipes or what.

Ezra just woke up, chat away!

[Kelly1101]

I've just been using warm water for wipes with Emma. She seemed really sensitive to the disposable wipes. I cut up some old T-shirts, and got a pump thermos to put beside the changing table, it keeps the water warm for about two days. She loves it and it's worked really well.


We've had the best day... my husband was off work this weekend, and today was all cloudy and rainy and cool, so we've been hanging out inside completely slacking off, playing on our computers and taking turns holding the baby. She's been sleeping on my chest for about an hour now. I swear, she gets more and more awesome every day. She's really started focusing her eyes more, and she'll sometimes (especially if we're laying down nursing) just study my face, and look into my eyes. It's pretty incredible. I found myself thinking today, I'm SO glad we did this, haha.

So, happy happy vibes today-- sending happy happy vibes out to all of you, too.

[lightheartedmom]

Originally Posted by Kelly1101

I swear, she gets more and more awesome every day. She's really started focusing her eyes more, and she'll sometimes (especially if we're laying down nursing) just study my face, and look into my eyes. It's pretty incredible. I found myself thinking today, I'm SO glad we did this, haha.

So, happy happy vibes today-- sending happy happy vibes out to all of you, too.

Same here!

I'm finally moved to this thread, hurray!!!

It's our second full day home from the hospital and we're just adjusting to everything still. Last night was much better sleep-wise, since my milk is in and Chloe is a very hungry little girl. We nursed every two hours, so I got 90 minute chunks of sleep. BM poops are in full force and she's been wearing her cloth diapers during the day. Woot!

DD #1 is great with Chloe, except she's still a little rough. It's affectionate-rough, but still rough. She's definitely acting out though...I knew the transition was going to be hard for her, she's directing her confusion at mom and dad though, not the baby, so I'm glad for that. We'll deal with the discipline and stuff as it comes. We're trying to be extra lovey with her, but it's hard because we're also having to correct her behavior a LOT around Chloe...we'll get it figured out.

Other than that...the weather's GORGEOUS here today, I wish I had a flat stomach to go with all the sunshine. So far, I"m down 15lbs from the night before I went into the hospital...or that was yesterday. I didn't weigh myself today.

I still need to write that birth story, before it gets too fuzzy.

Breastfeeding is going great. I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop since the first weeks were SO tough w/ DD#1, but so far, Chloe's latch is good (I think we hedged off some initial problems by getting some good advice from the LC in the hospital) and aside from the usual nipple soreness and a little teensy bit of engorgement, things are good. I'd forgotten how much I love breastfeeding a newborn. I seriously would like to just hold her and nurse all day...feel bad for feeling that in light of DD1.

So glad to be here ladies...more happy thoughts to all of you! It's good to be not pregnant, huh? :

[Kelly1101]

Originally Posted by lightheartedmom

I still need to write that birth story, before it gets too fuzzy.

Do it! Haha, I've been reading birth stories off and on all day-- it's so addicting.

So glad to be here ladies...more happy thoughts to all of you! It's good to be not pregnant, huh? :

Man, I'm so glad that I'm not pregnant anymore-- I can REACH things. I cleaned the whole house yesterday, it was excellent.

[CookAMH]

Originally Posted by lightheartedmom

Chloe's latch is good (I think we hedged off some initial problems by getting some good advice from the LC in the hospital)

Same here - despite the disappointment of transfering to the hospital and having surgery, I'm really glad we had the help from the LC. We may not have gotten off to such a good start with bfing otherwise, if we had gone home from the birth center after 12 hours and been on our own (though I could have called, but the hands on was what we needed).

[lotus.blossom]

I hate to be a downer but things are starintg to crash for me. Griffin is 3 weeks today. For the last 10 days or so ALL he does is cry. Its exhausting and mentally frazzling and I find myself wondering why I did this all over again. If I hadn him off to my DH or my mom he seems to calm down but when he is with me he just screams and screams. No matter how much I rock, sing, play, walk around, sling...... I nurse him as much as possible but when he starts spitting up large quantities I can't nurse him any more!
He is sitting next to me screaming his little head off and I can't do anything to soothe him.

[Kelly1101]

Originally Posted by lotus.blossom

I hate to be a downer but things are starintg to crash for me. Griffin is 3 weeks today. For the last 10 days or so ALL he does is cry. Its exhausting and mentally frazzling and I find myself wondering why I did this all over again. If I hadn him off to my DH or my mom he seems to calm down but when he is with me he just screams and screams. No matter how much I rock, sing, play, walk around, sling...... I nurse him as much as possible but when he starts spitting up large quantities I can't nurse him any more!
He is sitting next to me screaming his little head off and I can't do anything to soothe him.

*hugs* Sorry ya'll are having a rough time lately. Hey-- if he calms down when you hand him off to your husband... then hand him off to your husband. I realize that you can't do that all the time, but don't feel bad if it works. You've got a lot going on right now just getting better physically and parenting your other son, I hope that your husband and mom are giving you a lot of help.

And hopefully Griffin will pass through this phase soon, for your sanity.

[CookAMH]

Originally Posted by lotus.blossom

I hate to be a downer but things are starintg to crash for me. Griffin is 3 weeks today. For the last 10 days or so ALL he does is cry. Its exhausting and mentally frazzling and I find myself wondering why I did this all over again. If I hadn him off to my DH or my mom he seems to calm down but when he is with me he just screams and screams. No matter how much I rock, sing, play, walk around, sling...... I nurse him as much as possible but when he starts spitting up large quantities I can't nurse him any more!
He is sitting next to me screaming his little head off and I can't do anything to soothe him.

Oh April that has got to be a nightmare. I would fall apart pretty soon. Have you tried burping him REALLY good? Does he seem to be having pain when he strains or has a bm or gas? I wish I had more ideas. Does he fall asleep? Does it stop with a dim room or anything? many many

[lightheartedmom]

Originally Posted by lotus.blossom

I hate to be a downer but things are starintg to crash for me. Griffin is 3 weeks today. For the last 10 days or so ALL he does is cry. Its exhausting and mentally frazzling and I find myself wondering why I did this all over again. If I hadn him off to my DH or my mom he seems to calm down but when he is with me he just screams and screams. No matter how much I rock, sing, play, walk around, sling...... I nurse him as much as possible but when he starts spitting up large quantities I can't nurse him any more!
He is sitting next to me screaming his little head off and I can't do anything to soothe him.

Awww, I'm so sorry! I know with newborns it's really a day at a time...things can go bad pretty fast, but get better just as quickly.
With #1, I had a period like this...she would just cry inconsolably for (what seemed like) hours. It was awful and didn't help the hormone crash I was having. Eventually we figured out it was related to breastfeeding, she was reacting really badly to things in my diet...is it possibly he has some colic from what you're eating?
If he's happy w/ your DH though, hand him to DH...especially if it will help you take a breath and relax just a bit. I'm sure this part will be over soon.

[CookAMH]

Originally Posted by lightheartedmom

Eventually we figured out it was related to breastfeeding, she was reacting really badly to things in my diet...is it possibly he has some colic from what you're eating?

My mom read something interesting in my health book, that to ward off colic, mom's diet should be 80% cooked and only 20% raw. I hadn't heard that before. I've been taking a probiotic most days since I had abx with surgery.

Hope Griffin calms down soon April.

[lotus.blossom]

Thanks for the advice and support ladies! We burp very thoroughly and constantly. He likes to be on his belly across laps, actually. I think that I am just feelin insecure. My Dh is superdad right now because ds1 only wants him and now ds2 wants him and I am starting to process things about my birth. I guess you could say I have a touch of ppd. Just today anyway.

On the positive side he seems to be more efficient at nursing, and he is still a pretty great sleeper at night, only waking 1-2 times to nurse.

I have been eating pretty basic foods to try to avoid gassiness but I don't yet know what to look for really. So far I have eliminated tomatoes beans and onions.

Speaking of.....superdad just cooked an amazing cedar plank salmon on the grill so I'm off to eat dinner! Hope everyone has a lovely night!

[Kelly1101]

Hey, I'm sure you've had your supermom days... let him be superdad every once in a while.

Hope tomorrow is better.

[Amydoula]

to April

things are still going well here. no sibling adjustment issues and baby is a nursing champ. still very little sleep which is definitely rough but that is my only complaint

[major_mama11]

s April! I hope it's a (very) short phase he's going through.

My DH is totally superdad around here too. DD (3.5) wants nothing to do with me and is constantly saying "I don't like/love you anymore". I know she is just working out her sibling issues, but it kills me anyway to hear her say that stuff. Especially since she refuses to ever do 1-on-1 stuff together the way we used to do, when I offer to do things w/ her. Sometimes I feel like I totally betrayed her by having another baby.

Lightheartedmom, my DD is also doing a lot of that affectionate-rough stuff, acting out. Always hugging Eli, which is sweet, but always pulling on his head "accidentally" whenever she hugs him, no matter how many times we remind her to be gentle.

The baby himself is pretty easygoing, I guess it's just all the sibling stuff that I'm struggling with...

[surprisedmama]

April Liam went through a cranky phase around 3 weeks isn't it 3weeks ,6weeks ,3months ,6months... that they go through a growth spirt. Just a thought.

Siblings: I am lucky because mine are big 5 and 8 but I find myself annoyed by them a lot. They are always trying to change diapers and "help" him when he cries. I know later it will come in handy but right now I need space. I get short then feel bad... ahhh parenting.

I am on my way to having intimate relations again honestly I am a little scared. I know once it has been done it will be fine but it is still scary and I didn't even tear ( 3lb babies have small heads )

Baby is great he is waking up and more like a regular newborn. He is now 6 lbs 6oz and gaining almost 1 lbs a week! I hope it doesn't stay that way or I won't be able to pick him up.

hes up ttfn

[Kelly1101]

Originally Posted by surprisedmama

I am on my way to having intimate relations again honestly I am a little scared. I know once it has been done it will be fine but it is still scary and I didn't even tear ( 3lb babies have small heads )

nak

yeah, tried that tonight... not a success, rotl, i'm so disappointed... but as soon as i tried it was like "wait, stop" maybe give it another week. oh well, would have been awkward anyway b/c jason is totally scared of hurting me still...

*sigh* this sucks

[jeliphish]

Hey April,
I've heard the week after mom coming off of pain meds can cause extreme fussiness.(I could totally be suffering from lack of sleep but I thought I remembered you mentioning somewhere that you had just finished medication. If not... Ignore me lol). I thought I was going to litterally jump off of a bridge with DD1 after I went off of meds for an extreme case of mastitis at 4 weeks. I bet things should calm down for you in the next few days.

[RomanGoddess]

Originally Posted by lotus.blossom

I hate to be a downer but things are starintg to crash for me. Griffin is 3 weeks today. For the last 10 days or so ALL he does is cry. Its exhausting and mentally frazzling and I find myself wondering why I did this all over again. If I hadn him off to my DH or my mom he seems to calm down but when he is with me he just screams and screams. No matter how much I rock, sing, play, walk around, sling...... I nurse him as much as possible but when he starts spitting up large quantities I can't nurse him any more!
He is sitting next to me screaming his little head off and I can't do anything to soothe him.

I hear ya! Joshua was three weeks on Saturday and colic seems to has started. He twists and turns and cries at the breast, especially when the breast is not full. Nothing I can do will console him. Then when he is not feeding, he cries if he cannot suck something. I started giving him a soother yesterday.

[RomanGoddess]

Originally Posted by CookAMH

I just took a two hour nap, got a little less last night because of the timing of Ezra's wakings and getting up for church. I was just researching cloth wipe solutions since Ezra had a rash last week and we're not sure if it's the dipes or wipes or what.

What had you eaten prior to the rash? Josh had a rash a couple of weeks ago and I'm pretty sure it was due to the entire pineapple that I had eaten the day before. Citrus and pineapple can cause diaper rash.

[Smithie]

I keep a pile of dry baby washcloths and a spray bottle of water with a few drops of tea tree oil at my "upstairs" diaper station. Downstairs, a wipes warmer full of washcloths premoistened with the same stuff.

I really think washcloths do a better job cleaning little butts than any form of sposie wipe. Even if you are using sposie diapers, I think washcloths are awesome. And if you don't have dipes to wash, you can just run a rinse cycle with the wipes and then toss in your regular load for the wash.