(belated) Postpartum Mama Weekly Check-In (Feb 22-28)

[Ficus]

I think the belated part to this speaks to all of us new Mamas--BUSY!!!

I just wanted to provide a space for any new mama musings. How is everyone?

We are surviving. First and foremost, my husband has a good prognosis with his oral cancer diagnosis (generally this cancer is not such a great one to have if you are going to have one). We are still so angry and stunned that a man who has never smoked, chewed or done anything unsavory was given this diagnosis. We have been through lots of tests and now are awaiting surgery to remove part of his tongue and dissect his neck. Yum. Good thing the boys will have no memory of this awful time.

In baby news, Felix is still dealing with tummy trouble (and every day his crying makes his unsightly hernia grow bigger and bigger. sad!), but I *think* it is getting a little better. We actually had a 3 hour stretch last night. I try to remind myself he is really 3 weeks adjusted.

I am getting better at doing tummy time. My kids hate it, but I know it is important. I also joined a breastfeeding support group, which gets me out of the house for non-cancer related business and although makes me feel at times like I am NOT the ace breastfeeder I thought I was, am learning a lot--even after BFing my other son for almost 18 months.

And, I am doing something I said I would never do--pushing the pacifier. I am just not a fan, and neither are my children, but it is something I am doing b/c I cannot find a way to get F to calm himself and it seems to slightly be working. Ugh, Mommy guilt.

Me, with all of the cancer drama, toddler drama (starting tantrums) and colic drama, I am lucky to get a shower each day--which I am forever grateful for.

But again, we are surviving. And when I wake up to these redonkulous milk cheeks, the world seems to be okay!

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink

Hope everyone is doing great!

[flavorfull1]

Glad to hear from you Ali, I have been thinking and praying for you and your husband. You sure are going through a very high stress time. I think you are doing a great job! Ah the pacifier. I think this can be such a hard decision but one you should make based on what needs to work for you, your family, and that kid at that time. Sounds like you are very attuned to your child's needs and not just plugging him up. I too have been going back and forth on this. Right now we are a no, but Malachi does not have a hard time self soothing and he has found his thumb
Recovery has been way longer than I think it should be. I have had mastitis and now am on antibiotics, still bleeding a good amount depending on activity and my stupid tailbone still hurts like crap. Seriously, can I please get done with this and move on to just life with baby? Malachi is adorable and I have to share, I found out a sure fire way to make him smile is to tap his hands rapidly on my cheeks while saying "dee dee dee" in an obnoxiously high pitched voice. Yes this is what results from too much time on the couch and not enough sleep. I so need to get out!
Here are a couple of pics of the cute one!
Tummy time
Talking to mom

[NicoleS]

I've been updating in the other thread, but here's our most recent pic:

http://img4.glowfoto.com/images/2010...010592894T.jpg

[Lillypop]

DS is 16 days old today and we are all doing well. The other kids all adore him (they like to kiss and pet his head) and I feel like I'm finally getting on top of the household chores. DP is almost fully recovered from his hernia surgery (which took place a week after DS was born). It was a rough couple of days following his surgery. STBXH was a total butthead and refused to bring my oldest DS home, so my mom had to go and get him and bring him here (lots of driving for her). Now it looks like STBXH is refusing to give me any of our tax refund (which he had the IRS direct deposit into his bank account). We got a total of $5400 back, $700 goes to pay his arrears (which I will eventually get) and we were going to split the remainder (and then DP and I would use it to buy a mini-van, which we desperately need now that we have 5 kiddos). Hoping STBXH just stops being terrible and gives me the money I'm supposed to have, and doesn't try to fight for custody in court of the new baby (we planned to work it out without court involvement, not starting overnights until 18 mos. like we did with our first DS, and only starting with 2 hour visits away from me at 6-9 months).

I feel great, still spotting a bit but it's mostly brown mucousy junk. I make a ton of milk (feeding a newborn and toddler is obviously not too much for my body to handle ) so much so that when my older DS is gone for his short days with his dad I have to hand express or break out the pump (and that's only 8 hours, when he has overnights every other week I definitely need the extra relief). I guess I will be donating milk again this time, after all...

[Fireflyforever]

Ali, I missed the end of the last thread so I had no idea about your DH. I am SO sorry to hear what you're all going through. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Felix is so scrumptious - as are Malalchi and Caleb. Such sweeties.

Here's a link to my own little man. (Usual blog warning: It's my loss blog but I've linked directly to Toby's post so hopefully not too distressing for anyone)

http://fireflyforever-onlyawhisper.b...hotoshoot.html

He's 5 weeks now and weighs in at 10lb. He's getting lovely and juicy and round.
I am SO enjoying him. Even though he's my fourth, it's like having a first again because the other two are at school during the day so I get a LOT of mama & Toby time. I think that's why he's pretty chilled - I'm able to respond to his needs pretty promptly most of the time. I'm loving seeing my older ones with him. They're completely in love and he loves them. His eyes follow them when they're near and a lot of his twinkly, almost smiles are especially for them! My only gripes currently are that my washing machine and my dryer are both on their last legs. My house is currently buried under mountains of damp washing that I just can't get dry!

Thank you to everyone who helped out with wrap advice. We've sussed the upright carry in my Ellaroo. Toby loves it and I love being able to drop sneaky kisses on the top of his head!

[aramat]

nak, as always...

Juju is up to 6lbs,11oz, from birth weight of 4lbs,3oz -- finally gaining w/supplementation of ~200mL (~8oz) of formula per day. My supply is still low.

Tummy time -- I don't believe in it!

[NicoleS]

Originally Posted by aramat

Tummy time -- I don't believe in it!

What do you mean?

[aramat]

Originally Posted by NicoleS

What do you mean?

Just referring to Ficus's post about thinking she was not doing enough 'tummy time'. I don't know how necessary it really is... I'm thinking it's more for babies who lay on their backs in a bassinet all day, no? Cuz I think my babies get the same 'exercise' naturally while upright in the sling or in my arms or on my chest.

[NicoleS]

Originally Posted by aramat

Just referring to Ficus's post about thinking she was not doing enough 'tummy time'. I don't know how necessary it really is... I'm thinking it's more for babies who lay on their backs in a bassinet all day, no? Cuz I think my babies get the same 'exercise' naturally while upright in the sling or in my arms or on my chest.

I thought it was for arm/upper body strength as well, not just the head/neck? Plus preventing flat spots, though that wouldn't be as much of an issue if they are worn a lot...my second DD had torticollis and she had to do it to help with stretching...plus practicing things like rolling over as they get older...

[hadassah]

I feel like such a goof because I have four kids now and I have never heard of "tummy time"........

[jul511riv]

Originally Posted by aramat

Just referring to Ficus's post about thinking she was not doing enough 'tummy time'. I don't know how necessary it really is... I'm thinking it's more for babies who lay on their backs in a bassinet all day, no? Cuz I think my babies get the same 'exercise' naturally while upright in the sling or in my arms or on my chest.

yea, dat.

(((hugs))) to all who need it.

[Ficus]

Thanks to all the well wishes for my DH. Kinda living in a haze; like this doesn't happen to 29 year old men in supreme health.

Re: tummy time. I am not sure if it is emphasized in all areas of the world the same, but here (and I am in Georgia), it is like shoved down your throat. My first son HATED it, and Felix doesn't seem to love it, either. Even in my BFing support group they all were espousing the virtues. It is a neck, head support thing. I also think it helps babies with reflux. Oh, and like Nicole said, head shape (since the back to sleep campaign--which we don't have a problem with b/c he sleeps on me most nights!) And then some mother at group was all, "well, I think it is essential for proper speech development, too." I don't know where she got that, but because my older son isn't huge with his expressive language, and hated tummy time, and I'm hormonal, I just about pounced on her.

Love all the pics of the newbies! And hooray for juju gaining weight!

Okay, here's a poop question. My first DS pooped at the mere thought of nursing. This one poops every few days, but has that terrible gas in between. I don't think he is constipated b/c when he poops, it is this malodorous ORANGE goo. Not hard at all. But I think he might be relieved if he could poop mor often (or maybe I am just creating this in my mind). Have any of you done anything to get your kids to poop more frequently? I still am convinced my infant's gas is worse (in frequency and perhaps odor at times) than any other infant in history.


Lillypop--hope all the rubbish with the STBXH (not quite sure I know that acronym) works out. It's such a pain to have to deal with stuff like that when you have a newborn!

FireflyForever--thanks for the link to the blog (I hope you don't mind I added it to my google reader to follow!) I cried reading through much of it. My blog has turned from a focus on pregnancy/my babies to my husband's situation--so I know how therapeutic it can be to have a space to write all of your intimate thoughts.

flavorful1--SO sorry to hear about mastitis! I hope the abx work soon and that you aren't in pain for too long. I am going to try your "smile" trick with my son. He does lots of smiles, usually while watching our ceiling fan turn. I try to get at his neck, but the rolls of chub are too mountainous!

[Lillypop]

STBXH = soon to be ex-husband (if he would just pay his attorney so she'll finish filing the divorce...)

[aramat]

Originally Posted by Ficus

Re: tummy time. I am not sure if it is emphasized in all areas of the world the same, but here (and I am in Georgia), it is like shoved down your throat. My first son HATED it, and Felix doesn't seem to love it, either. Even in my BFing support group they all were espousing the virtues. It is a neck, head support thing. I also think it helps babies with reflux. Oh, and like Nicole said, head shape (since the back to sleep campaign--which we don't have a problem with b/c he sleeps on me most nights!) And then some mother at group was all, "well, I think it is essential for proper speech development, too." I don't know where she got that, but because my older son isn't huge with his expressive language, and hated tummy time, and I'm hormonal, I just about pounced on her.

Speech development, wha?! How possibly?

Originally Posted by Ficus

Okay, here's a poop question. My first DS pooped at the mere thought of nursing. This one poops every few days, but has that terrible gas in between. I don't think he is constipated b/c when he poops, it is this malodorous ORANGE goo. Not hard at all. But I think he might be relieved if he could poop mor often (or maybe I am just creating this in my mind). Have any of you done anything to get your kids to poop more frequently? I still am convinced my infant's gas is worse (in frequency and perhaps odor at times) than any other infant in history.

I've only done it two or three times, but when Juju has been a little cranky and hasn't gone in a while, I'll rub across her tummy below her belly button, from [my] left to [my] right (never the reverse direction), and then downward (toward her leg) a few times on the right side. The few times I've done it, she's pooped shortly afterward (30 minutes or less, I think).

Could also try some 'leg exercises'. Holding the feet and bending the knees kinda motions.

Then there are glycerin suppositories, but they would be my last resort and only if I was sure baby was actually constipated (stools would be dry/hard, which doesn't sound like Felix's issue).

[NicoleS]

Originally Posted by Ficus

Okay, here's a poop question. My first DS pooped at the mere thought of nursing. This one poops every few days, but has that terrible gas in between. I don't think he is constipated b/c when he poops, it is this malodorous ORANGE goo. Not hard at all. But I think he might be relieved if he could poop mor often (or maybe I am just creating this in my mind). Have any of you done anything to get your kids to poop more frequently? I still am convinced my infant's gas is worse (in frequency and perhaps odor at times) than any other infant in history.

Sounds like he has typical BFd baby poo to me. Have you tried gripe water for gas?

[beccabus]

Originally Posted by aramat

I've only done it two or three times, but when Juju has been a little cranky and hasn't gone in a while, I'll rub across her tummy below her belly button, from [my] left to [my] right (never the reverse direction), and then downward (toward her leg) a few times on the right side. The few times I've done it, she's pooped shortly afterward (30 minutes or less, I think).

Could also try some 'leg exercises'. Holding the feet and bending the knees kinda motions..

This is exactly what I did with my first! Evan is starting to have major gas lately that Christopher never had, so I'm sure I'll be busting out these moves again soon

[Ficus]

Oh, we are like lance armstrong with the times we are bicycling...and have done the "I" "Love" "You" belly massage (following the colon, but avoiding his gonzo herniated belly button). He draws his legs up so much, so both are hard to do.

I REALLY don't think it is constipation b/c of the poop that does come out, but just think perhaps if he could clean out his colon a little more, he might have less gas?

I just went to Whole Foods and am trying gripe water. Mylicon drops are a joke.

Please let this gas pass (literally and figuratively). Middle school will be a beast if he keeps it up the way he is doing it.

NAK--never heard that one before, either. looked it up. With you on that--pretty much living my life with one hand working the boob and babe, and the other one dealing with life!

[NicoleS]

Originally Posted by Ficus

Oh, we are like lance armstrong with the times we are bicycling...and have done the "I" "Love" "You" belly massage (following the colon, but avoiding his gonzo herniated belly button). He draws his legs up so much, so both are hard to do.

I REALLY don't think it is constipation b/c of the poop that does come out, but just think perhaps if he could clean out his colon a little more, he might have less gas?

I just went to Whole Foods and am trying gripe water. Mylicon drops are a joke.

Please let this gas pass (literally and figuratively). Middle school will be a beast if he keeps it up the way he is doing it.

NAK--never heard that one before, either. looked it up. With you on that--pretty much living my life with one hand working the boob and babe, and the other one dealing with life!

We love the gripe water here! Magic stuff - never had any success with Mylicon either. If you haven't bought it yet, we got a formulation with ginger, fennel, and chamomile. We've also gotten some that was just ginger and fennel, but for whatever reason the one with chamomile always worked better for us.

[Nicole730]

Ficus - have you tried or considered a baby probiotic powder? You might want to look into it or talk with your pediatrician. Mine suggested it for DS when he was 8 weeks and it worked wonders.

[marcib28]

Ficus-that sounds exactly like our poop situation here, so thanks for the question...

I haven't been on really since babe was born. He's doing alright. At 1wk he came down with something that the ped says is just a cold, but it sounds so bad my heart breaks every time he coughs or when I listen to him breath. He's still recovering and that's definitely thrown a different situation into the mix.

So I guess my stitches are dissolving...ouch! I thought I was past that pain and then was sadly surprised to find that I can't do ANYTHING without horrible pain (sit, stand, walk...ANYTHING ). I guess that's normal though. The itching is pretty bad too. I thought I had a yeast infection at first, but my mw says both the pain and itching are normal right now. Kind of wish I'd known to expect this...

Because this is my first, I'm just loving having time to spend with him. I know that I may not get as much cuddle time with my future babies since I'll have this one running around by then.

I've never heard of tummy time either...

Glad to hear everyone's doing pretty well