Post Partum Momma's check in - Page 3

[kirstenb]

belltree-

Today is 14 days post partum and I am still bleeding- not too bad at all but still in need of a pad. I am still feeling good and ready to start walking every day. My mom flew in yesterday for 10 days so I am excited to be taken care of and have someone spend lots of time with DS1!

Breastfeeding is goind pretty well... I am parked on the couch 24/7 it seems like, but he is gaining weight and his jaundice is almost gone so I am very happy. My nipples are sore at the initial latch but it isn't horrible... I am having a much easier time this time around.

[belltree]

Thank you for the many hugs

Originally Posted by ExuberantDaffodil

belltree -- many hugs! Have you been able to see a lactation consultant? I went to one who wasn't overly helpful, so I went to another one who really helped adjust the latch so breastfeeding isn't as painful.

I saw two different lactation consultant. Each time I meet things improve a bit. But both say, that my latch looks great. Both of them mentioned a potentially short frenulum, which can cause a lot of nipple pain. Problem is, that he is biting with his gum on my nippel and cracks them. My nipples blanch and I get vasospasms after the feedings. Not fun.

I tried to learn how to feed him laying down, but it is just impossible right now. A feeding on one breast takes 30-40min. He does not sleep longer than 2.5hrs, often less.

Other parents are telling me, that their babies had a 4-5hrs right from the start, their feedings take 10-15min per side...

Anyways, I haven't given up yet, but I am getting there.

Kirstenb, I am glad to hear, that I am not the only one feeding like crazy and it is good to hear, that things change from child to child.

[Juliacat]

Belltree--I'm so sorry to hear about your grandmothers.

My crotch had started feeling better, but this morning I woke up with itchy stitches. Gross. I'm washing them with an iodine solution. I'm almost out of disposable pads and contemplating making the switch back to cloth since the bleeding is no worse than a menstrual period, although, I don't have that many cloth pads and I'm already using diapers as breast pads and don't really want to bleed on them.

My breasts hurt A LOT. OMG they hurt a lot. I am almost crying. I feel like if they would just stop hurting, we'd all be fine.

Dh somehow miraculously got 2 weeks off from work, which is fabulous, but today he is going to be out with friends almost all day (he did ask my permission, and I said yes because I want to save my nos for when they're really necessary). I am not ready to leave the house or take the baby out, so I have to find some way to keep my four-year-old from climbing the walls. And I am really tired. And did I mention my breasts hurt a lot???

[ExuberantDaffodil]

mine do too. Today i just kinda want to give up just say i tried really hard, but it isn't working. i might need to think of someone i can call to talk me out of quitting. ugh.

[Mizelenius]

PM'd ya, ED!!!!

[Mizelenius]

Originally Posted by Juliacat

My breasts hurt A LOT. OMG they hurt a lot. I am almost crying. I feel like if they would just stop hurting, we'd all be fine.

Is it nipple pain or engorgement?

[Mizelenius]

Originally Posted by belltree

Other parents are telling me, that their babies had a 4-5hrs right from the start, their feedings take 10-15min per side...

I've had 4 DD and NONE of them were like this, esp. not as newborns. No way!

[SunShineSally]

Today is exactly 7 days PP I am worried as DH goes back to work tomorrow and I will be here with both boys by myself nurseing is going good but if he wakes even for a moment he wants to eat so he is eating constantly and he doesn't have the best latch yet!

Glenn is a sleepy baby today was the first day he opened his eyes for more than 10 minutes total! But now he is zonked out! Today we are ventureing out to church I hope he does well!

I am feeling pretty good PP wise I only had a second degree so that is healing up well so far. I am getting a lot of headaches though. I am really watching my moods as I had prenatal depression and do not want to get to deep in PPD if it should arise. I have been weepy yet it only seems to be at night when I get that way

We are all so in love with him it seems like he just fit with us I still have that ohh that is what was missing! feeling whenever I look at him!

[Juliacat]

Originally Posted by Mizelenius

Is it nipple pain or engorgement?

BOTH. The only way to get relief from the engorgement is to nurse, which makes the nipple pain worse, and only relieves the engorgement for an hour or so anyway. I've had 3 different midwives check her latch and her tongue and they're fine. Today I just feel ROTTEN. Just--rotten.

[ExuberantDaffodil]

Sunshinesally -- My husband had to go back to work after a week, too. Thankfully, my mom came in and was with me during the day his first few days back, but when she had to go back to work and I was alone all morning with the babe and then all afternoon with the boy AND the babe... yeah. Tough stuff. I, too, had prenatal depression. So far, I feel much better than I did while pregnant, so I am very thankful for that. The breastfeeding issues are really hard for me to wrap my mind around and deal with, and so far that's the only thing that has made me weepy, but both my husband and I are watching carefully for signs of depression.

Oh, and I'm getting headaches, too. What's up with that?

Guess what I did today.... I pulled on a pair of pre-pregnancy jeans. And got them buttoned.

They give me muffin-top, but I don't care

It feels like Annabelle has been a part of our lives forever at this point. I can't imagine my life without her, now. I can't wait for her to finally put on some weight so we can start cloth diapering. My ginormous stash of diapers are all WAY too big on her! She's got chicken legs. Like her daddy. hahaha.

[kirstenb]

Originally Posted by ExuberantDaffodil

Guess what I did today.... I pulled on a pair of pre-pregnancy jeans. And got them buttoned.

They give me muffin-top, but I don't care

Me too! I am wearing that one pair of jeans all the time. My belly band helps with the muffin top. My most comfy shirts are still maternity shirts... but at least you can't tell that they are maternity!

[Krystal323]

They give me muffin-top, but I don't care

I am 6 days pp here, and am beyond thrilled to be healing so quickly Apparently I hemmhoraged badly with my last birth and didn't realize. Amazing what a difference it makes to have proper iron levels and REST!

This is the first birth I've needed stitches for--only two of them, but OMG, why would anyone ever voluntarily want to pierce that area??!

I didn't get engorged this time, which freaked me out a bit. Apparently he's getting plenty tho, as I can barely keep up with the diapers

I bought a huge bottle of tylenol for afterpains, but they're already gone. I bought a new tube of lansinoh, but i'm already not using it much anymore.

I have not ventured out of the house yet, but I have been on my own with all the kids starting at like 36 hours pp. DH only got one shift off of each job for the birth, and needed to spend most of his time at home sleeping

He did manage to get off early and buy groceries the other day, cause i had a mini-breakdown about not being able to cook and do laundry and take care of myself on top of everything else, etc etc.

I am afraid to celebrate any weight loss just yet, as I actually gained a good bit of weight while nursing last time....but as of right now I'm 9lbs from my pre-preg weight (not that that was a good weight, but still ). I hope I keep losing!

[belltree]

Juliacat, my LC suggested soothies to calm the nipple a bit and hot compresses for the boops (I just microwave a wet towl and put it in a ziploc bag).

Mizelenius, I am just amazed how much "false" information is out there about nursing. I talked with my LC about it, and she said it, that LC usually make things easier and nicer, when they talk to pregnant mamas, to promote breastfeeding. Honestly, I wish people would have just been honest about their experiences, there are so many things I wish I would have known before. I just prefer knowing what I might have to deal with and than deal with it.

ExuberantDaffodil, don't give up yet. I gave myself 6 weeks (2 more to go) and hopefully things have improved by then....


Is anyone else fighting nipple vasospasms? Any tips how to help with that pain?

How long can I take ibuprofen? I am taking about 4 a day since 2-3 weeks now, just to be able to breastfeed him with out crying..

[Mizelenius]

Originally Posted by Juliacat

BOTH. The only way to get relief from the engorgement is to nurse, which makes the nipple pain worse, and only relieves the engorgement for an hour or so anyway. I've had 3 different midwives check her latch and her tongue and they're fine. Today I just feel ROTTEN. Just--rotten.

Soothies really, really help. http://www.soothies.com/products/soo...sinoh-gel-pads.

When she starts to latch, is her mouth open REALLY wide? Do not latch unless it is. If she starts to get "sloppy" when she latches, unlatch and start over. My 1st DD never did the really wide mouth thing, so I'd have to wait until she started crying to latch her on.

I also suggest doing breast compressions so that more milk gets into the baby w/o so much sucking. http://www.drjacknewman.com/help/Breast-compression.asp This will also help prevent mastitis.

Also, I would say that during this time, don't let her do too much non-nutritive sucking-- not until you heal more. Soothe her in other ways.

belltree-- very true about what LCs say. The thing is, I've had two difficult nursing experiences (one was just horrible pain for me for 8 weeks but the baby was fine-- next was a DD who could not transfer milk). Then I had 2 "pro" nursers and I realized, if moms have only had babies who knew what to do, they would have NO idea how hard it could be. BTW-- I think 6-8 weeks is wise for giving it a good try.

[Krystal323]

How long can I take ibuprofen? I am taking about 4 a day since 2-3 weeks now, just to be able to breastfeed him with out crying..

I dunno about how long, but I remember my mws ok'ing me to take 4 ibuprofen every 4 hours round the clock to deal with afterpains for my first babe. i did that with my next two babies as well--but FYI ibuprofen is a blood thinner, so if you're having bleeding issues, don't take it!

I don't know what vasospasms are, exactly...I should google that...

[belltree]

Originally Posted by Krystal323

I dunno about how long, but I remember my mws ok'ing me to take 4 ibuprofen every 4 hours round the clock to deal with afterpains for my first babe. i did that with my next two babies as well--but FYI ibuprofen is a blood thinner, so if you're having bleeding issues, don't take it!

No bleeding issues here. My lochia stopped after 2 weeks.

I don't know what vasospasms are, exactly...I should google that...

My nipples cramp after each feeding, when cloths rub, when they get exposed to cold air or just air, they turn white and blue and burn/throb and just hurt; probably because of the trauma done to them.

[Cellist]

I must also chime in and say that I really do not enjoy breastfeeding in the least. It HURTS. My nipples hurt. Engorgement only is slightly achy at times, so I don't think I'm really having a problem there.

Sometimes after breastfeeding, well, actually, most of the time, my nipples just BURN and throb. The LC at the hospital said that I have a good latch. I have been making him relatch when it's not good enough. Sometimes he de-latches on his own, over and over and over until he gets frustrated and starts crying. What is THAT all about? Other times, no problem and no pain right from the start. WTF.

I have started pumping sometimes and giving him a bottle of fresh breastmilk when I just can't take the idea of having him latched on anymore. He is equally accepting of the bottle or breast at this point and I have been powering through and trying to use the breast most of the time.

It just sucks, no pun intended!!! I think I would have no problems if I didn't have the breast pain. I don't mind getting up in the middle of the night to comfort the baby or change diapers or any of that; I just get to the point where I dread feeding him from my breast.

belltree - I am so so sorry to hear about your grandmother who died and the one who is ill. It's too much right now, I'm sure! Best to you and your family; it's rough.

ExuberantDaffodil - I put on a pair of pre-pregnancy pants this weekend and they also gave me muffin top, but I also did not care whatsoever! LOL

[mcgee]

Originally Posted by CarrieCo

How are you doing?! How are you feeling? How are you handling motherhood? What's the best thing about not being pregnant anymore? Are you thinking of another baby yet?

I am feeling pretty good, minus the yucky cold I have. This is my second baby, and mothering him is very easy. He is a very laid back, mellow little guy. Our 3 year old DD is honestly more difficult. I feel bad saying that because she has been WONDERFUL where her little brother is concerned. She's just a high needs kiddo and so very different from DS.

Best part about not being pregnant: being able to move comfortably! I measured 46 weeks at 39 weeks, and I was HUGE! I was so uncomfortable, and it was such a relief to be able to get up from the sofa easily, to reach my feet, to have clothes that fit again, etc.

Thinking of another baby? Oh yeah! Definitely! It took DH two weeks and one day after Alex's birth to decided that he'd like to have more. This, after months of him insisting that he's way too old to have another baby.

All the baby weight is gone, and I'm down 10 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight. That's what happens when you only gain 16 pounds during pregnancy and 11.5 of that is baby.

[Krystal323]

no more babies here! four is rather more than we can handle, LOL.

congrats on the weight loss tho--WOW!

[Mizelenius]

Originally Posted by Cellist

It just sucks, no pun intended!!! I think I would have no problems if I didn't have the breast pain. I don't mind getting up in the middle of the night to comfort the baby or change diapers or any of that; I just get to the point where I dread feeding him from my breast.

I understand! I had tremendous pain when I nursed my 1st DD for several weeks. Ugh . . .I still remember watching the winter Olympics with her, nursing while in agony . . .bad memories! I had the same thought, that if only nursing would be easier, everything would be great. (Which isn't exactly true!)

The good news is, it DID get better. Much better! While another DD of mine had severe BFing problems, I never again had to go through the agony like I did with DD1 of the pain.

I am so jealous of you mamas getting back into the pre-pregnancy clothes! It takes me a good year!