PP Chat Thread 7/29-8/5

[penstamon]

Typing with one hand...

Just wanting to check in to see how all the babes and mamas are fairing. Our little man is fattening up like a champ after the initial bfing problems and he seems quite alert and happy. He doesnt fuss much but he still likes to be up every night from 9-1am straight. We'll have to work on that. Unfortunately we are still using the nipple shield which is quite frustrating for me- my nipples are pointy and all but I am afraid that he is getting used to the stimulation from the shield. I need to be more diligent with weaning him off. Any advice?

I'm healing well- I had a 2nd degree tear which was mostly superficial but I blame it on having to push so quickly (not for any reason except being prompted- a whole different post though I think I keep having external yeast flare ups from having to wear pads and all the moisture and heat. I'm too afraid to use anything internally so I just use witch hazel and vinegar but its not helping too much.

Is anyone else already tired of their pp body? I have no idea how much I've lost (I gained 29 lbs) but nothing fits- mat clothes are huge and pre-pg clothed dont fit over my hips and butt. Plus the paunch of my stomach shows through all my shirts and tanks. Oh well- vanity can suffer a little considering what the prize was! I started to resume exercising on day 3 pp but I am still nowhere near a regular amount. With DH back to work I am lucky to shower and eat before he comes home.

How are all you mamas fairing?

[springbride]

I am holding up pretty well here. My mom stayed with us for almost the first 2 weeks pp. I am so glad she was here! I had a 3rd almost 4th degree tear that still has lots of healing to do (Fri will be 3wks pp) I could barely walk the first 3 days! But like OP said, what a prize to have!

At my 'stitch check' appointment 2 wks ago, I had lost 16 of the 29lbs and I have noticed more chub shed over the last week. Started going on short walks with DD in the moby/sling, it's really nice to get out of the house for a bit. Unfortunately it's been 113 as the high here the last 3 days, and by 10am it's already topping 90. So to the mall for walks for us!

I am amazed how automatically everything switched into 'mommy mode' everything seems to come so naturally! It's so incredible. How is everyone else? I miss our weekly chat threads, but DD takes up so much time it just doesn't seem as important anymore.

[LilMomma83]

We are fairly well adjusted over here, DS2 turned 1 month yesterday! I haven't posted much because I am sooooooo busy trying to finish up my distance learning class by Friday 7/31...still have more to do! I can't believe that after that I only have 2 weeks and then back to school full time.

I feel like myself for the most part...the bleeding is driving my nuts though, it is VERY light, but, there...why won't it just stop? I'm also having trouble eating and drinking enough which is making me nauseous especially while nursing. Oh, and my 2yo is teething, so he is waking more than the baby..I actually just gave him highland's teething tablets AND children's motrin (I NEVER give him Motrin).

My little one has grown a lot! He started at 8lbs 7oz and 21" and is now 9lbs 9oz and 22 1/2"!

How much exercising are you all doing? I really am not doing much, yet--some walking, but, I'd like to start going to the gym--I guess I'm not supposed to until 6wks and they can't watch the baby there until he is 6wks though, so it is sort of holding me back. I just so so badly want to get my body back...and where my regular clothes. I too feel my maternity clothes are drowning me and my regular clothes either don't fit at all or show all sorts of stuff I don't want them too.

[bajamergrrl]

10 days PP here and doing ok I guess. DS is a nursing machine! For a baby that started out as a weak sucker he sure has overcome that obstacle. Today he was extra clingy and I actually felt disabled by it. He wasn't happy if he wasn't being held or wasn't on the breast. Once DH came home I was able to get a break. Of course that's the moment when DS decides he can settle down without me. DH wrapped him up in a blanket burrito style and he's been asleep ever since.

In terms of healing, I had a first degree tear and some skidmarks that seem to be healing well. I am worried about getting a yeast infection from having to wear pads all the time, especially on days when DS is so clingy that I can hardly do anything but attend to him.

[eli's mama]

We're doing pretty well here too. It's nice to know you all are doing well.

DD is a very good fit here, she is very tolerant of her brothers constant kissing and touching (much more tolerant than I am). She sleeps a good clip at night but she hates to be wet. I've been thinking of using disposables for night time. I can't remember what I did with the boys but I have been changing her no less than 4 times a night on average. She is a great nurser, which i guess is why she is so wet all the time!

As for exercise and weight loss, the MW says no real exercise until 6 weeks pp but I am slowly adding activities back. today we went for a walk at a reservoir that the kids like to go to, but i haven't been doing much else. I am with you all on the maternity clothes too big, regular clothes not quite right either. My friends keep telling me i look darn good, but aren't they supposed to say nice things to the hormonal lady with a newborn?

[LilMomma83]

Originally Posted by eli's mama

She sleeps a good clip at night but she hates to be wet. I've been thinking of using disposables for night time. I can't remember what I did with the boys but I have been changing her no less than 4 times a night on average. She is a great nurser, which i guess is why she is so wet all the time!

Yeah, I haven't bought any sposies, but, some people gave them as gifts and I'll admit to using them at night--it seems to help a little, but, not as much as I would like..and the funny thing is that I think they leak more (from the legs). My DH just always changed DS1 and we only used cloth, by 6wks or so he stayed dry all night-we EC'd in the beginning; this time DH really doesn't do anything with the baby at night, he does tend to our 2yo though.

[LilMamiBella]

I'm 4 days pp. Its a little tough around here..I'm tandem nursing for the first time ever. Plus I'm engorged! Caroline has her first checkup with our ped. He's a great doctor, doesn't give us any problems when we refuse to vax. I'm hoping he'll sign a paper saying he's seen the baby so I'll be able to get her birth certificate. I have to explain to him that this was an unassisted birth. Caroline is nursing really well. She really likes to sleep though and so I have to wake her up almost every time for a feeding. My two year old has been very whiny. She wants to put her fingers in the baby's face all the time. She doesn't mind sharing the breast with her. Oh and she's nursing as much as the baby!

eta: I'm not doing any exercising at all until probably 4 weeks. For now I'm wearing a belly bandit and trying to watch what I eat.

[alicewyf]

5 days PP here. Last night was the first night I feel like I got any quality sleep...Lily is doing so much better in her co-sleeper. I wish we could co-sleep for real but DH is a pillow-lover (he sleeps with 5) so it just isn't possible.

Breastfeeding is going almost unbelievably well...I'm afraid to say that since I might jinx it!. Lily saw her pediatrician yesterday morning and is already 3 oz. above her birth weight!! The ped was very impressed. She loves to nurse, she is such a sweetie.

Cloth diapering is going really well, and is easier than I thought it'd be...the first few days of meconium poop were gross (and we ended up using a few sposies before realizing they dried out her skin), but now that we're at the breastmilk poop and pee stage it is fine. I've been waking him up to do diaper duty at night time, and he is doing really well. He's even done a load of dirty diaper laundry. I feel so lucky to have a helpful DH. I am not looking forward to him going back to work in a week and a half!

I guess I feel like I spend most of my time wondering how I got so very lucky. Lily is such a good baby and such a blessing.

[lindsayjean]

Hey mamas! This is day 5 PP for me. Going really well. Yesterday was OKAY... but my husband was gone for a work thing from 8am until ike midnight. ICK. Luckily my mom was here for most of that, but I seriously had a mini meltdown at night because I had to try to get my 2 y.o. ready for bed while holding a baby. I think it was the hormones.... lol. But he is home all day today so hopefully I can get this raging headache to go away by eating actual food and not just random junk.

I can't WAIT to get back to exercise! I'm really trying to take it easy per my midwife... but it's hard!

[ATruck]

Louisa will be 9 weeks old tomorrow. We are doing pretty well, though I am pretty tired some days. She is pretty fussy at night, though I doubt it would meet most people's definition of colic. She does well once she finally goes to sleep, and I usually get a 4 hour stretch.

I am also frustrated about the exercise thing. It's really hot here, and I am just finding it hard to walk much. There is one weekend postnatal yoga class (where you bring your baby) that I can go to-- can't go during the week b/c I have a 2.5 year old. I know I should do yoga on my own, but I feel so disorganized and don't make the time. Last night it was almost 11 pm before both kids were asleep, and I am just done by that time.

I have been getting a little time away (with the baby, of course-- but at this point only having one child feels so easy!) which is really great. I tend to use it for yoga, or going to a coffee shop and sitting, relaxing while the baby sleeps. Tonight I am actually going out to dinner with a bunch of mama friends.

I think that currently, my biggest challenge is being patient and kind always to my 2 year old. I have to keep reminding myself that she is still so little, and going through so much hard stuff herself. Some days I want to just get in the car and drive far, far away....

[tracymom1]

Originally Posted by ATruck

I think that currently, my biggest challenge is being patient and kind always to my 2 year old. I have to keep reminding myself that she is still so little, and going through so much hard stuff herself. Some days I want to just get in the car and drive far, far away....

This is my big challenge too. I am finding it a little hard - okay a lot hard -to try and figure out how to balance having 2 very small children with very different needs. DS is 22 months old and is starting to test us almost every second of the day... I know he is trying to find his boundaries but I am finding it very hard to be the same kind, loving mama that I always have been.

Every time I start exercising or doing a vigorous activity my bleeding picks up again and goes back to bright red. MW says this is an indication that my body is just not ready yet no matter how good I feel. I really, really want to go for a jog. I am more motivated to loose the weight this time around because I was sooooo miserable while I was out of commission after DS was born.

I can feel the hormones ruling my life, still. I am weepy and over emotional about just about everything. Hopefully that will pass soon.

[Ianthe]

I'm still wearing maternity clothes, or PJs. I was able to barely fit into my 2-sizes up jeans, bu couldn't button them I think I need to join a postpartum yoga class.

I am about 15-20 lbs heavier than my pre-preg weight.

[Ianthe]

I am also having a hard time with my 2 yr old. I feel really bad for him and it seams like every 5 minutes I'm screaming "time out!" I try to make sure he gets some one on one time everyday.

[LindsC]

Graysen will be 5 weeks old tomorrow and things are going pretty well. She is up to 8lbs 6oz from a birth weight of 6lbs 6oz so I am very happy with that. She still nurses every 2-3 hours around the clock for the most part. She has had a couple of 4 hour stretches at night, but they are few and far between.

DS (26 months) is also really testing us. He loves his sister to death and gives her kisses and cuddles, but he is constantly pushing our buttons and seeing what he can get away with. I try to make sure we have some one on one time everyday, but somedays it is hard when the baby is needing the extra attention and Dh is at work.

[ATruck]

oh- we had her 2 month well check today, and she is 12 lbs, 3 oz... growing, growing, growing!

[Angelorum]

5 days PP. I'm still tired a lot of the time, but otherwise feeling pretty good. My 4 stitches felt a lot better starting yesterday, I can almost sit normally all the time now . Also (tmi alert) celebrated yesterday when I finally had a postpartum bowel movement. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but it would have gotten a lot worse had it waited any longer .

The babe is getting better at latching, he really had it down until my milk came in, causing my just barely there nipples to all but disappear. The nips are tender, but I don't think it's going to get any worse from here. And we slept a lot better last night, with 3 hour stretches instead of waking to feed every hour like the night before.

Hope everyone else is recovering well.

[learnlovebe]

Oh, I've missed you ladies!

I'm 10 days pp, and dh went back to work last Monday (5 days pp). He just doesn't have much vacation left for the year, and we have to save some for a trip to his parents' house for Thanksgiving.

Mostly, I'm doing well. The recovery this time is so much better than it was w/ ds. I'm still a little sore, but I'm trying to take it as easy as I can w/ a newborn and a 2yo.

What is messing me up are the hormones. Any little thing makes me cry. I was trying to schedule Mary's 2 wk appt the other day, and the scheduling lady was rude to me, and I ended up hanging up the phone bawling. That set me off for the rest of the day. The funny thing is, I'm not sad...I'm just super emotional. Like I just look at this little precious baby, and I'm so thankful she's mine, I get teary just thinking about it.

For the most part, my 2yo is adjusting well. He's VERY sweet w/ the baby, whispers to her, and uses his best "gentle touches" to touch her (4,000 times a day). He's a bit more mischevious though, a word I would have never used to describe him 2 weeks ago. I'm *trying* to remember to be patient with him, but w/ the lack of sleep, my patience isn't what it usually is either.

Exercising and getting my pre-pregnancy body back is not a priority w/ me at this point. I just don't need another thing to worry about. With nursing, the pounds will come off with a little time. Not having much choice for clothes, however, is a bit annoying.

[Angelorum]

Holy porn star boobs, batman! I woke up engorged!

[LilMomma83]

Originally Posted by Angelorum

Holy porn star boobs, batman! I woke up engorged!

lol my DH loves it, but, they hurt so bad I won't let him touch---not even a close hug lol. It wasn't so bad with DS2, but, I remember with DS1 waking up and not being able to fit my boobs through my nursing nightgown slits lol.

So I just want to know....how do you ladies get anything done without help? I do ok when my little sisters are over and can help me with the kids or the housework etc...but, when it is just me I feel so overwhelmed by it all! I just feel like I have something to run out and do every day too...I don't even understand how life is so busy--my calendar doesn't look that busy! At least I finally finished my summer class and have 2wks of school.

Oh yes, I just ordered a swimsuit...I could not figure out what size to get because my chest, waist and hips did not match up at all...I went for 1 size bigger than I usually wear, but, I think it might be to small...oh I hope it fits! I had to order online because it is so much cheaper.

And today...I am going contra dancing (social dance, similar to square dance but in lines--super fast paced and fun and lots of crunchy company!) for the first time in almost 2yrs! Yay! Hopefully I will have lots of hands to hold the baby and maybe my dad will watch my 2yo..oh, and it is even better because my best friend who moved really far away came into town to surprise me and my sister for my sister's birthday! Which reminds me it is time to cook up a yummy treat and dress the kids for her party...today should be a good day (but like I said, BUSY!) Oh, just because I'm thinking of it here is a pic of DS1 when he was about 5-6mos and I wore him dancing--the last time I went, he loved it! I'm not sure I'll wear DS2 though..maybe for a waltz, he I think he might be too young for the quick movement.

[Mama_Michelle]

I am two weeks pp. And we are doing pretty well. Neela got another cold (or her first one seemed to get better and than came back) and she has been really congested since Tues. It is stressing me out a bit. She isn't sleeping well unless I hold her upright, so while I was feeling pretty good last weekend this week has exhausted me. I am feeling pretty overwhelmed and emotional too.
My MIL has been here this week and she leaves tomorrow so then I will be on my own. My DH doesn't really get anymore time off. He took almost a week and then has taken some time with his mom here to hang out with her. So I am curious (maybe, more like stressed) to see how things go with 3 kiddos. I home school DD1 and I am not sure how that will work either. I keep telling myself everything will be fine but with the hormones, I am having a hard time believing myself!

On the flip side of the stress, I am so in love with Neela. I am so overjoyed that she is here. And DD1 & DD2 are doing a great with her. Hard to believe I am the mom of three little girls!

I hope everyone else is doing well.