Postpartum Weekly Chat - March 22 - 28

[xixstar]

So, perhaps we can get another weekly thread going to keep things shorter for those of us with only few moments of 1 or 2 hands to type and moments to read.

How is everyone doing?

[Juvysen]

Avery had some latch issues yesterday and chomped down hard on me a couple times, and now occasionally still does, so I'm a bit sore. I went to the chiropractor today to try and get myself all put back together post birth, which was great, and I picked up some cramp bark which helps with my afterpains s

I'm still so thrilled - still up on my birth high, I guess

[Sayward]

My sweet little boy has been plagued with gas, poor thing. It can be pretty rough on us too, especially at night. BUT, I just discovered Gripe Water and it is seriously saving my life. YAY!

I also finally got a proper carrier, a Babyhawk mei tai. I love it SO MUCH. After bed rest and birth and postpartum healing, today my son and I took the dogs for a walk - my first time in ~3 months!!!

fussing baby, gotta run, but yeah life is pretty much awesome.

[staceychev]

Sayward: I love my Babyhawk! I was so excited to get to start using it again...

So little Evie is nursing like a champ. She was down to 6-1 at her pediatrician appt on Friday (from birth weight of 6-8 on Tuesday), so they wanted her in for a re-weigh today after a few days with my milk in. Well, evidently, I make super-dooper baby milk--she was 6-11!!

[xixstar]

Jenna - I'm glad chiro helped... I think I'm going in tomorrow because I hurt, hurt, hurt still. It's funny that my last labor was hard and recovery was easy ... this one, labor was easy and I'm having a hard time with recovery.... not so much afterpains but just pain everywhere from my belly to hips. Really hope chiro helps me out!

Yay for recovered weight gain and getting out and about! My mw should be stopping by tomorrow and we'll see if dd lost any weight -- though I doubt it at this point because now that milk is in, she's content to cluster nurse but also cluster sleeps which throws my boobs out of whack when she's in a major sleep phase (most of the day).

[cocoanib]

She weighed 7 10oz at birth and at 1wk old is 8lbs. She's helthy and fabulous and I could'nt ask for more! I'm thanking God everyday for my healthy, sweet, beautiful baby!

My nipples are killing me!
They are so raw.
MW checked my latch and it sees to be proper. I think we just got started off bad, so now I have to heal. I am using lasinoh, breast milk and letting them air dry pretty much all day.
BFing would be so wonderful if I didn't feel like I was about to go through the roof everytime she starts feeding.
Any other tips would help me tremendously!

Still a bit burney down below when I go pee and who knew that doing number 2 would feel so weird. My post partum body certainly is something to get used to.

Sayward, how old is your baby boy?
I'm trying to figure out when Miakoda and I will take our first walk with the dogs. DH has been doing all the walking. It's nice with my healing perineum and all, but I do kinda miss that part of my day. I have a maya wrap and have only tried it out around the house so far.

I finished my last placenta smoothie yesterday and have started on the capsules today. I got about 100 from what was left. I know it's doing my body good physically. I hope it also keeps ppd at bay. I've had some downs since she was born. Just the finality of my pregnancy and all.

[Juvysen]

Originally Posted by xixstar

Jenna - I'm glad chiro helped... I think I'm going in tomorrow because I hurt, hurt, hurt still. It's funny that my last labor was hard and recovery was easy ... this one, labor was easy and I'm having a hard time with recovery.... not so much afterpains but just pain everywhere from my belly to hips. Really hope chiro helps me out!

It really did... and then i kept my binder on my hips last night, and woke up feeling way better than yesterday. It's extremely uncomfortable to lift my legs up, like to put on pants, though... hope that goes away soon.

Oh, and can I just say I totally forgot about postpartum night sweats... I keep waking up soaked. *sigh* It's getting old.

I think my milk is coming in, today, though - i hand expressed a little and it's starting to look milk-y.

[Deir]

Hi gals!!! I still need to write my birth story but I want to take my time!

Things are good here. I am having a bit of a rough time with my other 2 kids.
They are really actually great but my patience is so low for them! It's like some biological thing that makes me only want to take care of the baby. I feel bad. My little guy suddenly seems so big and like a bull in a china shop! I know it will even out soon.

Yesterday had some engorgement and soreness but YEAH!! that is balancing out already. It's amazing- I have nursed a total of 4 and a half years PLUS I am a certified breastfeeding counselor and I STILL have to face my fears and doubts.

Cocoanib- maybe you should see an LC? SOmetimes the midwives and nurses say everything is fine but there could be something little thatthye are missing that could help you? Or call a La LEche league counselor or other counselor.

Nora is so sweet- who knew such an angel could cause me so much misery inutero!!

[staceychev]

Originally Posted by cocoanib

Any other tips would help me tremendously!

I think some women just have an easier time than others, but...

...make sure you're not using soap or anything but water on your nipples when you wash.

[Right of Passage]

cocoanib: for your nipples makes sure her hips are turned in toward you as much as possible. I made the mistake of letting Bram roll away from me a bit and he'd end up slurping my nipple yeeouch! So I'm dealing with some soreness now, you'll get it! I keep having to remind myself that he's still learning and he's just days old (10) it's goingto be a bit longer before everything is running smoothly.

[welshwife08]

Originally Posted by cocoanib

BFing would be so wonderful if I didn't feel like I was about to go through the roof everytime she starts feeding.
Any other tips would help me tremendously!

Woo hoo! My first post partum chat post!! But, yes, this! He's latched on properly, but holy cow, when he starts sucking, it's painful. He is a super strong sucker and we know when he's ready to eat. DH calls him the rooting monster. He needs to suck constantly it seems.

As for me, I'm dealing with the tears--had a 2nd degree tear and a deep, internal vaginal tear called a salcus tear. So, lots of lying down and soaking in the tub with epsom salt. Witch hazel pads. Just the usual remedies, I think.

I was worried about my parents being here after the baby was born (my mother, in particular. We have issues.) But they have been GREAT. My mom is more concerned with taking care of her baby (me) so she has been really supportive. I am so relieved. Granted, it's only the first week they have been here (they are planning on two more), so hopefully this peaceful, calm environment will last!!

AND--I too have night sweats. Totally was not expecting that!! I thought something was wrong until I read about it in one of my pregnancy books.

Is anyone else having crazy post partum dreams? I've had some weird ones, the weirdest one being discovering that my father was a midget porn star. Yes, I know. Crazy. He is neither a midget nor a porn star. Last night, my DH rolled over and I freaked out while asleep because I was convinced the baby was in bed with us.

But, mommyhood is fantastic!!!!! I love just love looking at him and tracing his little ears and stroking his little head.

[VegMomma]

Hey mamas!

Things are going great around here. Guthrie seemed to have his days and nights confused for the first couple weeks, which was exhausting, but he seems to have it all sorted out. Couple that with the fact that DS2 has realized that sleeping in our bed isn't quite as restful as it used to be, and things are looking up!

Having DH home has been a dream come true. He is here until April 19th, and I am already dreading him going back! It's so nice to just hang out and be mellow all day. Right now? He's got wee Guthrie in the ring sling, and is cleaning the kitchen. Awesome. Baby G is sweet and mellow and lovely. Really, a pretty easy baby. Seriously, I finished knitting a sweater last week, and am half done a second one. (Adult-sized, even.) I have a stack of yarn waiting to become tiny spring sweaters, booties, and hats... (He made the important trip to meet the ladies of the yarn store last week. )

I'm still bleeding, but I bled for almost the full 6 weeks with the older boys, so that's normal for me. Other than that, and a bit of a flabby tum, I'm feeling pretty darn good! Loving this sweet, beautiful boy!

[Right of Passage]

I had my one week post partum today. Bram is up 14oz in 6 days! We talked about the baby blues, my post partum SPD, and all that good stuff. I loved the visit!

Vegmomma I'm dreading DH going back too. EEP

I'm also having crazy dreams, I can't remember them but I wake up think "what the heck was that?" haha

Last night we went out to the store, and I kept reminding myself that the reason I can't feel the baby move is because he's in his carseat.

[Sayward]

Cocoanib, little Waits will be 3 weeks old tomorrow. Walking feels SO good, but I wouldn't have been able to even a week ago. Had to let myself heal and all.

[judybean]

Cocoanib -- Wish I could offer more advice... but sometimes it just takes a while. I certainly would not want to discourage you, but with dd3 (my first nursling... I failed twice before, due in huge part to lack of support and TERRIBLE information from nurses, etc)... anyway, with dd3 it really did take 6 weeks to get things right, but then.. they TOALLY clicked! It was PERFECT suddenly! And then she went on to nurse until she was 40 months ... This time around with dd4, things seemed great at first, but then that first night she wanted to be latched on ALL NIGHT LONG.. and I was *exhausted* from being up all night the night before, a HARD labor all day.. and while my intentions were great at first, I think I started slacking off on checking her latch and things got painful -- fast. There was some cracking and bleeding, then scabbing on my nipples (and spit-up after she's been on a nipple that was cracked/bleeding is quite unnerving at first -- seeing blood in spit-up sets you up for a freak-out, but it's just due to the latch issues and actually harmless)... things take a while to heal with that because it's not like your baby takes a break from eating ever! Hazel is 17 days old now and nursing is going a lot better.

Oh, and with nursing... how long until you master the art of side-lying nursing? This was my saving grace with dd3, but I can't for the life of me remember when she got good at it or we could make it work! .. I've tried with Hazel, but I really can't get her latch to be that great yet, so we'll have to wait a bit more I think... Not a huge deal, but something that makes life SO MUCH EASIER

Post-partum body-wise... I'm great. Really. I feel AMAZING. So amazing that I actually have to stop myself from doing everything.. because I feel good enough to do so. My body looks pretty darn good too... I mean, I have no tone (thus, "the jigglies") in my belly region, but .. heck.. I wore my normal jeans home the day after birthing Hazel at the midwife's place!! I've been in 'normal' jeans since.

So.. now that there are more postpartum mamas joining on the 'other side' of things... what diapers are you using? Do you like your system? Thinking of changing? FInding things that work/don't work? Or maybe what you liked with a previous child just isn't working with this new babe? (ugh, I'm such a cloth diaper nerd )

Oh, and one more thing... I'm *so* glad that Hazel's cord stump fell off one week after she was born -- I was SOOOOO excited to take her in the shower with me! It's one of my favorite things to do with little babes -- take them in the shower! (baths too, but I think our tub is already too small.. ugh).

[Juvysen]

I'm using our kissaluvs size 0s until his cord falls off... with wool, this time!! the wool longies I made are awesome and sooooo cute, though aren't gonna last that long b/c he was such a big babe. *sigh* Speaking of, I gotta get going on the next size up - and some shorties/soakers, i guess...

[Right of Passage]

Diapers: Since he was such a peanut the first 3 days all I could use was preemie prefolds and a snappi. Even the covers were too big. He's just starting to fit into the nb bummis covers, I love thirsties covers with kissaluv 0s. His cord fell off at 4/5 days then I was able to start using covers. I wish I had some newborn longies it would have made thing easier.

I think in the future I might invest in more fitteds and wool soakers/longies/shorties, it just seems easier for the diaper cover to be pants too.

[catchthewind]

Originally Posted by judybean

Oh, and with nursing... how long until you master the art of side-lying nursing? This was my saving grace with dd3, but I can't for the life of me remember when she got good at it or we could make it work! .. I've tried with Hazel, but I really can't get her latch to be that great yet, so we'll have to wait a bit more I think... Not a huge deal, but something that makes life SO MUCH EASIER

Fiona has been side-lying to nurse since night one, which is so nice. Meredith didn't until she was 3 or 4 weeks old. I think it really depends on the baby.

Post-partum body-wise... I'm great. Really. I feel AMAZING. So amazing that I actually have to stop myself from doing everything.. because I feel good enough to do so. My body looks pretty darn good too... I mean, I have no tone (thus, "the jigglies") in my belly region, but .. heck.. I wore my normal jeans home the day after birthing Hazel at the midwife's place!! I've been in 'normal' jeans since.

I feel this way too. I didn't do anything after Meredith was born but bled a lot and got tired easily. This time I've been pretty active and walking, but actually feel pretty good. Besides lack of sleep but that will come lol. My prematernity pants are still all put away so I've been living in yoga pants instead.

So.. now that there are more postpartum mamas joining on the 'other side' of things... what diapers are you using? Do you like your system? Thinking of changing? FInding things that work/don't work? Or maybe what you liked with a previous child just isn't working with this new babe? (ugh, I'm such a cloth diaper nerd )

We're trying prefolds this time. I loved fitteds with Meredith, but decided they were too expensive for the newborn stage. We have some preemie ones and some infant ones. Haven't decided yet if we're going to switch to fitteds once she outgrows infant or stick with prefolds. I wonder if prefolds would still work if she goes through the phase Meredith did of wanting to stand while being diapered. We use wool and fleece covers or go coverless (as we EC).

Anyone else trying EC? We started with Meredith at 3 weeks old, but started day one this time. I can't believe how much easier it is with a brand newborn, who still has a hard time pushing those poops out so signals so clearly! It's going great for us so far.

Oh, and one more thing... I'm *so* glad that Hazel's cord stump fell off one week after she was born -- I was SOOOOO excited to take her in the shower with me! It's one of my favorite things to do with little babes -- take them in the shower! (baths too, but I think our tub is already too small.. ugh).

I haven't had a bath or shower with Fiona yet, but I was thinking of having a bath with her tonight. I'm really excited to get her back in the water (since we had a water birth). Not sure if she'll even notice but I will lol.

[catchthewind]

Oh, meant to add that we got some pictures taken yesterday (9 days old). Anyone else getting pictures done? http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...0&l=09916b0e46

[Juvysen]

I wanted to EC... Avery doesn't seem to signal much, yet, but he's not going a lot, yet, either. Sophia had strong clear signals - wish I had EC'd her in the beginning... we started at 9 months. Oliver didn't have real strong signals and I was overwhelmed so I didn't do anything - he's still only partially potty using.