Postpartum Thread - Page 2

[Happiestever]

Man I am so behind in all things MDC. My son is now a week old today, and I am finally feeling semi normal. He is a awesome baby and fits right in. You hardly even know he is there. Which is perfect for me right now, since I am still feeling sore- mostly my pelvic floor. But I began kegels again and it has helped immensely.

I have to sub this thread, so I can read more and type. I only seem to get about 20 minutes computer time, and most of it is spent starring off into space- I think I have pp preggo brain!


And AMY- you belong here! Hugs, many hugs and healing thoughts sent your way!

[indigoscot]

everything is going great for us!! dp's milk came in on day 2 - much to the amazement of the nurses. our little guy is really laid back which is what we need with a crazy 2.5yo running around. even when his big brother is running around yelling and screaming, he doesn't bat an eye. besides a forceful let down, nursing is going great. at his ped check up yesterday at 5 days old, he had surpassed his birth weight already. i have to say that dp's milk coming in early is awesome! mine took 4 days and in that time our son got into the routine of nursing all.the.time. and we couldn't break him of it. already our wee man is only waking up once a night to nurse, woohooo! dp is already stashing milk in the freezer.

big brother is not happy about the change in his world but he is adjusting as best he can. the last few days i've had to lay with him in his bed at bedtime for him to go to sleep and he's a lot more clingy than he's been. we just keep reassuring him that we love him and that baby brother loves him too, and he has "helped" me change baby's diaper a couple of times. on that note, phew 2 kids in cloth is wearing me OUT!! lol! our washer/dryer are in the basement, so that's a lot of stairs for me.

i have one more week off work and then it's back to the grind. ugh. dp is off for 12 weeks so won't be back to work until april 19th. we're also working on our second parent adoption and have a meeting with our lawyer next week.

g

[Faliciagayle]

Originally Posted by jillmamma

I remember those days when I had my second...DS was 2.5 and still going too, and I felt a lot of the same stuff. The good thing is that in a couple of weeks, you can really start setting more limits and then things get MUCH easier. And just ignore the dumb comments...people can be SO insensitive! Even if they don't agree with how you parent, they are a guest in your home so they can just keep their mouths shut or leave the room themselves! I have to say I just love the bond my first two have from tandem nursing, especially when he would reach over and hold her hand, or make her laugh so both are giggling at once with milk running down their chins...

thanks for this.

[AfricanQueen99]

So we went to the Ped yesterday for our almost-one-week old visit. Finn was born at 8.12 and discharged on Monday at 8.7...by Friday morning he already weighed 9.2. Guess who likes to eat!!

A couple of questions for you guys:
1. I have constant engorgement. I pretty much never feel empty and it's just not comfortable. My first thought is to pump, but I don't want my body to keep making more...I just want to balance out Finn's needs. What to do? I seriously never had this issue with my daughter.

2. Today is exactly one week post birth and I have bad cramps stemming in my uterus. These are the first of their kind and have been going on all day. Is this something to consider calling the OB over? I *know* that my uterus is going back to its normal size, but why the cramps? Again, never an issue with my daughter.

[JayJay]

OoooOO this is the thread for me!

Well, Bella is 18 days old now - so she'll be 3 weeks on Tuesday and I can't believe how fast these days have gone! I've treasured every second. In some ways it's really odd because she is the spitting image of her sister Josie apart from that Josie had almost black hair, and Bella's hair is medium brown - but in terms of features, she is very very similar indeed. So often when I hold her, I feel like...I'm holding twins. Like Josie is kind of "there" as an extra soul. It's very strange and poignant but also very healing.

I am loving being a mom - LOVING it. Even late at night, nursing her when I could literally fall over sideways from tiredness, I just look down into her big, dark eyes after a feed and she stares back up at mine, and I am just so enchanted with her. I stroke her little warm cheek and feel overwhelmingly, heart-overflowingly grateful that she's here.

Breastfeeding is going nicely - had a week of varying levels of pain and cracked, sore, even bleeding nipples, but we got through that and now it's a doddle. Actually funnily enough, I now am dealing with an oversupply and nurse from one breast for extended periods - she had a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance which resulted in lovely green slimy poos! Now, we're back to wonderful yellow seedy poos - and an abundance of them! Earlier today we had a diaper blowout of monumental, earth shattering, atomic bomb style proportions - I mean it was out the sides, up the back...wow! The hilarious thing was, once I had her cleaned up from all the poo all over her (it was almost an under-the-sink/bath/shower situation) I put her on her changing mat, turned to get a diaper and she'd done a massive wee and was lying in pee from head to toe...aaaahhh vay!

So that's all going nicely. She is a cuddly baby - which is no problem for me - ideal really because I am a cuddly mama - I like to cuddle a lot! So I have no idea what kind of "needs" baby she is because we're always cuddling anyway! She is happy though - very smily already and has given us three social smiles for sure - two to me, while we looked at one another (I smiled, she smiled back while looking in my eyes - no gas!) and one to her Daddy as he was tickling her - she even make a little "ah!" laughing noise! That was pretty cool!

She did the whole "bottom lip jutting out sad expression" today for the first time and it was so darn cute that I almost fell out of my skin...

What else...well, she's gaining weight beautifully, we're co-sleeping, so we're both getting a fairly good amount of rest. She sleeps in a little sleep positioner next to me, on her side. She can sleep on her back, but does prefer the side because that way, she can easily nurse on demand and can fall asleep with a boob in her mouth or close enough that she can feel the warmth and smell it.

Here are a couple of links to a little newborn session we did about a week ago:

http://picasaweb.google.com/jeanne.b...eat=directlink

http://picasaweb.google.com/jeanne.b...eat=directlink

I think that's it for now... This time is so lovely I am tired, but grateful to the extreme and completely in love and very inspired!

XxXxX

[Faliciagayle]

Originally Posted by AfricanQueen99

A couple of questions for you guys:
1. I have constant engorgement. I pretty much never feel empty and it's just not comfortable. My first thought is to pump, but I don't want my body to keep making more...I just want to balance out Finn's needs. What to do? I seriously never had this issue with my daughter.

2. Today is exactly one week post birth and I have bad cramps stemming in my uterus. These are the first of their kind and have been going on all day. Is this something to consider calling the OB over? I *know* that my uterus is going back to its normal size, but why the cramps? Again, never an issue with my daughter.

1. Have you tried cabbage leaves? There is a compound in the leaves that will help with engorgement/over supply. Just wear a leaf in each bra cup till you are comfortable. OTherwise, I should think Finn and your body will figure it out soon. Scroll down the page here and they discuss cabbage compresses. They (kellymom) also recommend pumping to the point of comfort, but not over pumping as that can increase supply. You can hand express, too. Fun!

2. Afterpains. They generally don't happen with the first baby and become increasingly uncomfortable with each subsequent baby. I'm surprised yours waited a week to arrive - for that reason alone I might call your OB. Otherwise it sounds like garden variety afterpains.

[NSmomtobe]

Mulvah, I'll tell you what is helping me to bond with DS and maybe it will be helpful to you too. I kiss him a lot. It's funny because the first time I saw DH kiss him, I thought, "Huh. I wouldn't have thought of that myself." It took me a few days to get into the habit, but now I kiss him every time I pick him up and i kiss his head all the time while I'm holding him. I think it is helping me think of him as mine because I don't kiss other people's babies.

And as for weight, I am still 15 lbs over my pre-pregnancy weight. I didn't think that was too bad for 1 month pp, but the other people in this thread put me to shame. I'll have to work some physical activity into my life again. It's been a long time since I've been able to be active. I broke my ankle when I was 24 weeks pregnant and had to learn to walk again in my 9th month. I still walk lopsided even though my ankle is fine.

[smokeylo]

Angela, I had terrible engorgement with my first baby. Cabbage leaves do feel amazing! I also made sure to massage the sore spots whenever I took a hot shower. Alternating hot/cold compresses can be good, although you don't want TOO MUCH heat since that could end up making it worse. This should pass in a week or so. I have some discomfort but so far nothing like the rock hard boobs I had with Robin.

Holly is a dream. She is nursing extremely well. We are still working out the co-sleeping arrangement.... right now I'm in one room with the baby and DH has our toddler. I hope we can figure out a way to bedshare, but right now that isn't looking very good.

I'm nervous about being on my own with both girls next week. I'm trying to keep my hormones from going into overdrive and totally freaking me out. I'm also trying not to feel too resentful of DD1. She's being great with the baby but pretty irritating in every other way which is totally understandable, but I would really love to just sit in a chair and stare at Holly and Robin is being soooo demanding and tantrum-y. I hope this passes soon. Ah well...

As for my recovery, it's going really well. I feel pretty good overall, despite slight engorgement and the attendant boob pain. My hemorrhoids are horrible, though!! UGH!!

[NaturallyPeachey]

It's nice to see how every one is doing. Emily was born Monday and things are okay. She's been generally easy going except yesterday after having some visitors that included toddlers she didn't seem to be able to settle down all night. She was nursing every three hours now we're down to every 2-2.5 or so. Last night she slept 4 hours after we put her in the bed with us.

My mom is here helping out and as tired as I am I'm ready for her to go so we can be a family and get settled. Not to mention as much as she "helps" she huffs and puffs the whole time she's doing it. I try to tell her I can do it myself but that just sends her off. I swear.......it would be much more enjoyable if she would keep her annoyances to herself.

Physically I feel so much better than I did with DS. I went into labor naturally and it lasted only 8 hours. With DS I was induced and it took two weeks to feel even somewhat normal. I loved being in labor naturally and even though Emily was 10 pounds her birth was so much easier! No one can believe I gave birth to a 10 pound baby "normally" and am walking around LOL

[jillmamma]

Engorgement...yeah, I have it now too! Milk came in yesterday (she was born Wed). That is one thing I miss about tandem nursing...last go around I hardly had to deal with engorgement at all with a toddler to help out! DD(4) has not nursed at all since the baby was born, so I am not sure if she is officially weaned or not. Marissa does not seem to mind the extra milk...she is taking it in well.

I have a house full of sick people, what fun! DS came down with some awful stomach throwing up/diarrhea/fever bug the day after Marissa was born and they visited us at the hospital and it has steadily affected just about everyone else in our house since...and we have my mom and dad, brother and sister all staying with us now...not exactly what I originally planned, but okay. So both older kids, DH (milder case thank God), mom, dad, sister have all had it and so far (knock on wood) baby and I have escaped it. Thank God for the immunities from breastmilk! My sister left today, and my parents and brother go home tomorrow (they are on the mend). It will be nice to have it just us again (they have been some help, but not as much because of being sick) till next weekend when MIL and FIL show up. I am tired, but have a pretty easygoing baby girl, and my older kids are having some rough moments adjusting (partly due to being sick too), but are doing okay. Tomorrow I get to "get back in the routine" of getting people off to school and work, and driving 3 kids to get DS to therapy and Sunday school. Marissa went to church for the first time with us today and did awesome...slept through the whole thing. As far as being on my own with them...I am kind of looking forward to it as then I can find my own groove without all the helpful "advice" (even though I would think I would have a clue by now being on the third kid).

[AfricanQueen99]

Thanks for the tip about cabbage leaves. I completely forgot about them after I used them to wean my daughter.

[jillmamma]

Anyone still out there?

Q for all of you...are you still having pp bleeding, and if not, how long did yours last? I can't remember how long it took with my first two...probably one of those things you just block out. What are you using for it? I am still doing the mesh underwear from the hospital with those extra long and wide pads they supply, but if it slows down more, I will probably soon switch to regular underwear and cloth pads.

AfricanQueen, how is the engorgement? Is it getting any better? Mine has over the last couple of days as I think my milk supply is finally regulating itself.

I am at exactly 1 week after having my sweet Marissa. Took her to the ped this morning for a newborn/1 week checkup, and she is now up to 6 lb 15 oz, so up 5 oz since Friday (born at 7 lb 4 oz). She also grew 3/4 inch since birth to be exactly 20 inches now. I take her back March 17 for her next checkup.

How are your big kids doing? Seeing any regression behaviors? My 7yoDS is having some behavioral stuff going on at school, I think partly due to changes from the baby, and also because he went back after being off for 4 days (sick 2 days last week). Other than that, he loves his baby sister, and is acting a bit anxious/clingy, but not too bad. My 4yoDD is having more potty accidents again, wanting mommy to "help me" a lot, sit on my lap, etc., but is all over her baby sister. I guess I am officially tandem nursing again, because she asked and I let her nurse for a little bit last night for the first time since the baby came. I think she is pretty close to weaning though, as her requests are getting further apart. I bet these kiddos will figure things out and adjust okay soon...just these first few weeks are a bit hard.

[AfricanQueen99]

Originally Posted by jillmamma

AfricanQueen, how is the engorgement? Is it getting any better? Mine has over the last couple of days as I think my milk supply is finally regulating itself.

MUCH better. Thanks. We're now at 1.5 weeks and I feel like I won't explode.

Afterpains are also over. Thank god!

I never had a ton of PP bleeding so I'm just in regular pads or cloth pantiliners for the discharge.

Oh, yeah, Corbin is all over the regression. I *know* she's jealous of someone else getting all the attention so today we played all the games she wanted while Finn napped. It seemed to help - especially since she had to stay home sick from school today. Then she puked this afternoon. Poor kid. I can't complain though as she's almost four and this is the first time she's ever been sick.

[lilith1]

Lucas is 4 weeks today.
24 hour active labor, a few complications, he was born vaginal sunny side up with his arm around his face.
We spent 9 days in the hospital. My 16 month old had adjustment issues, a stomach bug, resentment towards me for leaving so many days... a lot at once. The family is out of country.

Things are settling in nicely. Breastfeeding had a rough start, I had to supplement due to Meds given to him i.v., we prevailed and he is a champion nurser now. For whatever reason, one side only. The other side is met with sheer refusal. My freezer stash doesn't mind.

My glucose levels are still borderline, no more insulin needed though as of now. I think with exercise, weight controll and dietary modifications I should be able to escape meds. Another GTT scheduled in 2 weeks. Can hardly wait...

Lucas is starting to wake up a bit more, still sleeping a lot. I love having a Ergo, so helpful chasing a 16 month at the same time. He hates the sling although I keep trying.
I'm happy to see everyone's adorable babes. Too cute. Have a lot to catch up on....Congrats everyone.

[Mulvah]

I can't believe people enjoy breastfeeding.  I'm not enjoying it. DS is feeding for hours on end; it's exhausting and formula would be muuuuuuch easier for me.

I've come to believe this is why I'm not feeling as bonded. I do love him so much, though.

Originally Posted by AfricanQueen99

...Finn was born at 8.12 and discharged on Monday at 8.7...by Friday morning he already weighed 9.2. Guess who likes to eat!....

Wow, that's great!

Originally Posted by JayJay

...She is a cuddly baby - which is no problem for me - ideal really because I am a cuddly mama - I like to cuddle a lot!

...She did the whole "bottom lip jutting out sad expression" today for the first time and it was so darn cute that I almost fell out of my skin...

Love the photo updates.

Originally Posted by NSmomtobe

Mulvah, I'll tell you what is helping me to bond with DS and maybe it will be helpful to you too. I kiss him a lot. It's funny because the first time I saw DH kiss him, I thought, "Huh. I wouldn't have thought of that myself." It took me a few days to get into the habit, but now I kiss him every time I pick him up and i kiss his head all the time while I'm holding him. I think it is helping me think of him as mine because I don't kiss other people's babies.

And as for weight, I am still 15 lbs over my pre-pregnancy weight. I didn't think that was too bad for 1 month pp, but the other people in this thread put me to shame. I'll have to work some physical activity into my life again. It's been a long time since I've been able to be active. I broke my ankle when I was 24 weeks pregnant and had to learn to walk again in my 9th month. I still walk lopsided even though my ankle is fine.

Thanks for the suggestion!   I have come to feel the lack of bonding has to do with breastfeeding, but I'm still working on it and I hope we will get through it.

I'm sorry to hear about your ankle.

Originally Posted by jillmamma

...I have a house full of sick people, what fun!....

Ugh, I'm sorry you have to deal with that.

Originally Posted by lilith1

...I love having a Ergo, so helpful chasing a 16 month at the same time. He hates the sling although I keep trying....

I'm sorry to hear you had complications.
 

Edited by Mulvah - 10/16/11 at 11:06am

[Astraia]

I am REALLY REALLY exhausted. Orrin nurses for 2 hours, falls asleep for 10 minutes and then nurses again for another 2 hours. I can't lay on my side to nurse him any more (after staying in basically the same position ALL night last night to nurse him) or my legs instantly fall asleep, so this whole "cosleeping to sleep better" thing isn't working. Nigella isn't sleeping well, I think she's cutting some more teeth so when Orrin is sleeping Nigella is up and keeping me awake. Jeff doesn't understand how tired i am and keeps being like, "when Nigella goes to bed, do you want to help do dishes and tidy up??" Ummmm, NO! My bleeding had almost finished entirely, but now it's back. It feels like my milk supply has tanked. Not sure how true that is, but my breasts are always soft and squishy, even if it's been awhile since anyone nursed or if I'm too tired to roll over in bed and only feed off the same side for several hours. So now I'm freakign out that he's not getting enough to eat (diaper output is fine, though). Nigella is super whiney and clingy and I'm too tired and shakey to deal with her. I'm dehydrated and not eating much, but so tired that eating/drinking anything makes me feel like I'm going to throw up. Bleh. Sorry for the run on paragraph, my enter key doesn't work...

[mamakims]

Sophie is 12 days old (I think, lol) and we're doing great. She's up about twice a night to nurse and hardly cries at all. She grunts to let me know she wants something and if I don't respond to that quickly enough then she'll cry. It's super cute.
Having a newborn has been super easy which is a huge change from ds as a newborn. He had such bad reflux and was just a miserable little bub (still is) that life was just hard so having a baby who is content with life and has an easy going nature is absolutely a joy! I told dh though that he's in trouble because Sophie might just make me want to have another one.
PP bleeding here is still kinda heavy. It varies between light and then gushes. I'm in regular undies and overnight pads still and expect to be for another week at least. I had heavy bleeding each time afterwards and after ds I had bright red bleeding until just after 6 weeks.
My kids are adjusting pretty well. I've noticed some changes and regressions but nothing at all like I thought it was going to be. DS has been kinda angry with me and more attached to his dad which makes me a little sad so I'm trying to spend more one on one time with him. He's also having more tantrums then usual over little things but luckily their quick to end with a hug or a kiss. DD1 is loving up her baby sister which I'm liking as she was never a fan of babies before! She's super helpful!

[akat]

Hi, everyone. It feels too overwhelming to respond individually but I have read the whole thread and really appreciate everyone's sharing and am sorry for everyone who's suffering in any way. Especially Amy! of course you belong here! so sorry you've had to go through so much...

I wanted a VBAC and ended up with a C-Section, but I'm actually feeling so happy with my experience. I mean, I wish I was one of you who had 2 hours of painless labor and then joyously plucked my babe from between my legs and that was it...but considering the reality of my body and who I am, I just feel grateful to have an incision in my belly instead of a million stitches in my perineum/labia. And completely happy that I never was separated from Ben, that there was no trauma to him - so different from my first. That's all I wanted, and I got it. We even got to let our cord finish pulsating!

I think having 3 days in the hospital before coming home to my spirited 5yo was a blessing, too. We came home today and his energy is overwhelming and chaotic.

I feel bonded, but I think I made a conscious effort from the beginning. I second the kissing suggesting, and rubbing noses and cheeks. Also, I try to get him awake and stare into those little eyes. He looks a lot like his big brother did. My 5 yo is being very loving and is very excited and sweet, but I expect jealousy to surface...hope it's manageable. I'm gonna try really hard to give big brother lots of love and attention.

BFing is going pretty well - nipples are sore but I guess I just see that as a fact of life. My breasts are somewhat alarming. I'm gonna try a compress tonight. My 5yo asked if there's any way he can nurse again now that Ben got my milk going again. Awww, sorry sweetie...

I alternate between feeling great, and feeling tired, grouchy, and sore.

I'm swollen up like Aunt Marge in Harry Potter 3. Like, all the way up my legs and I think even my butt a little. My pubic mound looks like a cartoon.

I have unexplained postpartum high blood pressure. It's making me a little worried but I'm hoping it will just pass...I had it for a few days after my first was born, too. They gave me medication for it. I think it's from the stress of being in constant pain and sleeplessness for so long. Then in the hospital, they respond by waking me up to check it every 2 hours - um, hello, you're making it worse? Let me sleep one damn night and maybe it will get better. My iron is very low, too.

I'm also having afterpains when nursing - they told me to take Motrin for them.

My first son's birth was so hard and emotionally painful and then he was such a high needs baby - I feel so much better this time, hope it lasts!

I was feeling a little stressed, thinking about this and that negative thing, so I wrote each thing down - that way I could look at the list after a nap and a meal and see that it's just hunger and tiredness, not real problems. That helped a lot.

[Gray's Mommy]

Originally Posted by mamakims

My kids are adjusting pretty well. I've noticed some changes and regressions but nothing at all like I thought it was going to be.

I'm not postpartum yet, but this is so reassuring to me!

Originally Posted by akat

I think having 3 days in the hospital before coming home to my spirited 5yo was a blessing, too. We came home today and his energy is overwhelming and chaotic.

My 5 yo is being very loving and is very excited and sweet, but I expect jealousy to surface...hope it's manageable. I'm gonna try really hard to give big brother lots of love and attention.

I have unexplained postpartum high blood pressure.

I'm also having afterpains when nursing - they told me to take Motrin for them.

I had horrible afterpains with my 2nd & took Motrin too. It helped so much.
The HBP stinks...hopefully it will go down quickly. My oldest had just barely turned 6 when we had his brother. It was a bit chaotic at first & then he realized exactly what babies can "do" and was totally cool with everything.

Originally Posted by jtrt

My recovery has been very slow.
Amy

I hope things are getting better Amy. I think about you all the time!!

Originally Posted by Astraia

Jeff doesn't understand how tired i am and keeps being like, "when Nigella goes to bed, do you want to help do dishes and tidy up??" Ummmm, NO!

I'm dehydrated and not eating much, but so tired that eating/drinking anything makes me feel like I'm going to throw up. Bleh. Sorry for the run on paragraph, my enter key doesn't work...

Do you all have the extra money to hire a postpartum doula?? I found mine who is going through DONA postpartum certification training right now...she is charging me $40 for a full 8 hours. I am going to need the extra set of hands so I can focus on me & the baby.

[nola79]

Emma is 6 days old today. I am adjusting...it has been awhile since I've had a newborn, trying to get used to the not sleeping at night is the hardest.
I have no idea how much weight I've lost, I don't own a scale and don't go back for a checkup for 6 weeks.
My 7 year old is coming around. The first few days he wasn't very interested in her but these last 2 days he is wanting to be around her and help with her, which is cute.
Emma is sweet, but LOUD! She was born screaming, and she definitely demands attention. But she is seems fairly laid back, so that's good.
DH is just wonderful with her and me and ds so that is really a lifesaver, I don't know how I could do it without him.
I have read the whole thread and I hope that everyone who is having trouble feels better soon. This postpartum time is short and we will get through it, I am trying to remind myself of that as well.