Postpartum Mama chat thread - Page 8

[Carita]

gt - my mw suggested colace. i had bm this am - i am a new woman, lol.

anyone know how to best take floradix? i only have oj w/calcium & i don't want it to interfere w/absorption. i also have grape juice.

danielle - what helpful siblings

[Peace+Hope]

oh my goodness, healing and comfort and relief come speedily to all of you dealing with pain - lady bit pain, butt pain, breast pain, etc. i am so sorry.


greentea, thanks for that - berries turning poop green, huh? that's definitely a possibility. since i haven't been avoiding anything except for spicy and caffeine, i've had TONS of strawberries and raspberries the last few days. would LOVE to read your birth story once you write it. mine is going to be a book before i'm done i think - go figure

basically i'm cutting out pretty much anything the lists say can cause gassy baby for now, and trying one thing at a time i suspect back in. today it was kale.

charlie is sleeping with us at night, and sleeps in arms some naps, but also swaddled on the bed near me a lot. and.... he LOVES his kanoe, which we've only used twice, but with great success. because i've been so long recovering i haven't used any slings or wraps,but now that i'm leaving the bedroom, i really want to break out the moby so i don't have to put him down while he's awake at least, though he's fine with that too.

[jenfl]

I'm 2.5 weeks out and hadn't bled in 2-3 days. So I finally decided to give up the pads today.

And guess what? I came home to find I'd started bleeding again.

*sigh* Those were my only pair of comfy shorts.

And this is immediately after I bought some "Nipple Butter" at Target (never liked Lanolin) and the cashier laughed at the name. Seriously? Are we 12?

And I come home to find that the reusable breast pads I bought totally show through my clothes.

And DH is going out to a birthday party tonight, leaving me alone with DS during the evening fussy time. It's good practice for next weekend, when I'll have 3 days alone when DH goes back to work, but... still not looking forward to it.

Not my best day.

[crazyeight]

hugs jen. back to the wonderous world of boobs and their mishaps...we went out to dinner last night and i was just HOPING i wouldn't start leaking cause i didn't put in any pads.

[justamama]

Ok, mamas. I am trying this again...I had a long reply last night and my droid ate it.

I am better with newborns than preschoolers, too. Of course, Anna-Lee is 4 going on 16 so that's probably part of it. She does tell me I'm skinny, so points there.

No clue on birth control. We are probably doing charting and the sponge. We started having sex again just about a week ago, and while I know how incredibly unlikely pregnancy is at this point...not ready for that yet! Even though I know we aren't done. I'm not.

Nursing...ow! We hit the 3 week growth spurt a couple days ago. I'm sore, tired, and back to leaking. Which is good...I want her to chunk up! She was 6lb 13oz at birth and 7lb 5oz at 2 weeks.

We didn't go to Texas. My grandpa is being flown to a hospice facility about 30 miles from here. He'll be there Monday. I still wish we had gone. While there we were going to get to take the girls to the ocean, see a friend of mine, and visit my great aunts and uncles. Oh well, we will be going there to see them in a month or so.

LuLu got punched by Reese the other day during Reese's nap strike. She was fine, and my heart has made a full recovery from jumping out of my chest.

Lucy is staying awake longer...but mostly late at night. I love it when we're in bed with the big girls and its just LuLu and I awake nursing. The cuddles and kisses and smiles. So great.

Afm, I'm recovering great. Bleeding is gone, the soreness is too. And finally past the point where I get sore and wiped out if we do too much. In fact, today all 3 girls, my little sister, and I spent 3 hours at an Earth day festival (where I made friends with the owner of a new, local CD shop. DH works with her DH and they comisserate over their weird wives. she wants help picking sling for her store.). then after that we walked to the park with the dog. long day, but I still feel great. I really think having the placenta pills has been a miracle for me! I'm. on abx for a sinus infection right now, and they affect my mood. by taking an extra. capsule each day, its helped combat those. I will never have a baby without encapsulating the placenta again!

[sew_crafty_girl]

I think i overdid it yesterday. Uterus/abs are sore after walking around the neighbourhood with kids, wearing Anna. Bleeding is still moderate.

Anyone else have headaches? I've been having daily ones for a few days now. I'm just attributing them to the hormone drop. Speaking of, Anna had her pseudo menses for a good day and a half the other day. Freaked dh out a bit and I had to look it up as I had vague recollection of this happening.

[rhiOrion]

Originally Posted by sew_crafty_girl

I think i overdid it yesterday. Uterus/abs are sore after walking around the neighbourhood with kids, wearing Anna. Bleeding is still moderate.

Anyone else have headaches? I've been having daily ones for a few days now. I'm just attributing them to the hormone drop. Speaking of, Anna had her pseudo menses for a good day and a half the other day. Freaked dh out a bit and I had to look it up as I had vague recollection of this happening.

I had migraines two days in a row earlier this week. I was scared it was going to continue like that! I only had one, *maybe* two, migraines during the whole pregnancy, I was hoping they were gone for good! Luckily my migraines silent- mostly visual with just a dull ache, not the excruciating type.

[aylaanne]

Originally Posted by sew_crafty_girl

I think i overdid it yesterday. Uterus/abs are sore after walking around the neighbourhood with kids, wearing Anna. Bleeding is still moderate.

Anyone else have headaches? I've been having daily ones for a few days now. I'm just attributing them to the hormone drop. Speaking of, Anna had her pseudo menses for a good day and a half the other day. Freaked dh out a bit and I had to look it up as I had vague recollection of this happening.

I had headaches after my c-section with DS, and learned that my red cell count was very low. Not low in terms of post-surgery, but lower than I usually lived. Up the iron and drink a lot of water.

AFM, N and I have gone on outings by ourselves twice so far, and it's gone pretty well. My bleeding does increase the day after, but it hasn't gone up past normal period levels, and I've switched from overnight pads to regular ones. I'm 9 days pp.

DS has been getting more interested in his little sister, which is wonderful. He's also gotten past most of his acting-out phase, though he still hits and bites himself, which makes my mommy heart hurt. He got a full-body rash two days after we brought DD home, and I haven't let him hold her yet, but it's mostly cleared up (I think it was fifth disease) and he's shown an interest, so I think he'll get to hold her soon.

I am really sick and tired of this yeast infection. I got four doses each of two IV antibiotics in the hospital because my lab work indicated an infection, and I forgot to ask for a diflucan while I was there, so I got a massive yeast infection a day after I got home. I called and got a diflucan called in, and I've taken the two doses that they ordered for me, but the stupid thing is still hanging around. Monday is a holiday 'round these parts, so I have to wait until Tuesday to call and whine. If it clears up by then, great.

Also on Monday, my dad is bringing his wife and three teenagers to visit and meet their new niece. They're planning on staying for five hours. I hope the weather is nice so we can all go outside.

Tuesday I go back to school to meet with advisers and teachers to schedule make-up work (I have one test at least that I have to make up) and then Wednesday is my first full day of classes. I'm nervous but excited at the same time; I miss school and all my friends.

[rhiOrion]

Just took L out in public for the first time. Just to meet friends who were dining outside at a restaurant, and then by the store... but it was still exhausting to me. I'm also amazed at how achy I am after. And I swear my various down-below girl bits are more sore than they have been since the day after I gave birth. I hope it's an indication that things are healing- not the other way around.

And that muscle in my leg that started hurting at the end of the first trimester STILL hurts. I swear it's going to hurt forever. It was part of what made pregnancy a bit miserable for me.

[crazyeight]

i'm really afraid my girly parts are not going to heal well...not in terms of infection but with dd i ended up having this...flap in the far back of my perineum and i HATE it and i think they sewed me up the same way. one thing about an OB is that their sutures and stuff seemed to be neater. like when you sew 2 things together with the MW they just pinch them together and sew but with the OB they do a seamless edge type thing. ugh....i don't want more flap skin and stuff to rub against! i want a seamless perineum! jeeze!

went to target with just reeve. the other kids are with reeves grandma for swimming and library and pizza and other assorted crafts.

my abusive ex gets released from prison in 8 days. i'm not really sure what to expect but his mom asked me if i was going to give her reeve for just a little bit to see his father. i said no and took the rest of the day freaking out. *sigh* i'm not ready for this yet....

[snoopy5386]

carita - i do the floradix in grape juice, I find it hides the taste best.
My MIL is here now and has been great with taking care of DD1. The 3 of them are at the mall now giving me and the baby some alone time.
Milk is in, still no engorgement, but my breasts are definitely full and I have a baby with milky smiles. I can't get over how weak I am - as long as I basically lay on the couch or in bed and just feed the baby and get waited on I feel fine. But any time I try to do anything like say take a shower or load the dishwasher I feel really weak. It will be a while before I go anywhere. Poor DD1 asks me everyday where we are going.....she is used to going somewhere everyday.

[Knitting Mama]

Sigh...I have SO many worries, and I am sure that these are normal for a first time mama, but I get so overwhelmed with concern sometimes, and it really brings me down. I don't think I'm in PPD land, but definitely in mild baby blues land. I cry pretty much daily, sometimes more than that, with worry.

My biggest fear is over feeding her. After my breast reduction, it was a crapshoot to see if I'd even be able to nurse. Well, I can, at least some, but I have no way of knowing how much milk I make. I'm right now supplementing her with around 4 oz a day of donated breast milk on top of what she nurses from me, spread out over a few feedings. She'll take anywhere from 1/2 to 1 oz of supp per feeding. She's just shy of two weeks old. At the doctor Friday she'd gained 3 oz in 4 days, so the doctor was happy. I guess I should be too but I am just so freaked out that I am going to starve her! It doesn't help that my breasts are...well, weird. They got engorged when my milk came in, on around day 3 postpartum, and they haven't been engorged at all since. I also don't feel a let down; I leak every now and again and the only way I know I do is if I feel the wetness or look down and see it!

She sleeps really well too, and that makes me worry too (what is wrong with me??)-- I worry that she sleeps too much! I worry that she doesn't eat enough and therefore just doesn't have the energy to do more than sleep. She naps for on average 2-4 hours every time she sleeps, and is awake around an hour when she's not sleeping before going back to sleep, and spends most of that time nursing/taking supplement. I'm insane, aren't I?

The other big concern I have is also over food, but it's my food. I am NOT doing well with taking in the extra calories I'm supposed to have as a breast feeding mama. I'm down to a couple of pounds below my pre-pregnancy weight already (granted I only gained 18 lbs total while pregnant), which normally would make me happy. But again, it goes back to feeding Cecilia. I worry that my milk won't be nutritious enough for her because I don't eat enough. I definitely drink a lot of water, so at least I'm staying hydrated.

Sorry to unload so much, I just can't help but be worried!

[rhiOrion]

Originally Posted by Cecilia's Mama

Sigh...I have SO many worries, and I am sure that these are normal for a first time mama, but I get so overwhelmed with concern sometimes, and it really brings me down. I don't think I'm in PPD land, but definitely in mild baby blues land. I cry pretty much daily, sometimes more than that, with worry.

My biggest fear is over feeding her. After my breast reduction, it was a crapshoot to see if I'd even be able to nurse. Well, I can, at least some, but I have no way of knowing how much milk I make. I'm right now supplementing her with around 4 oz a day of donated breast milk on top of what she nurses from me, spread out over a few feedings. She'll take anywhere from 1/2 to 1 oz of supp per feeding. She's just shy of two weeks old. At the doctor Friday she'd gained 3 oz in 4 days, so the doctor was happy. I guess I should be too but I am just so freaked out that I am going to starve her! It doesn't help that my breasts are...well, weird. They got engorged when my milk came in, on around day 3 postpartum, and they haven't been engorged at all since. I also don't feel a let down; I leak every now and again and the only way I know I do is if I feel the wetness or look down and see it!

She sleeps really well too, and that makes me worry too (what is wrong with me??)-- I worry that she sleeps too much! I worry that she doesn't eat enough and therefore just doesn't have the energy to do more than sleep. She naps for on average 2-4 hours every time she sleeps, and is awake around an hour when she's not sleeping before going back to sleep, and spends most of that time nursing/taking supplement. I'm insane, aren't I?

The other big concern I have is also over food, but it's my food. I am NOT doing well with taking in the extra calories I'm supposed to have as a breast feeding mama. I'm down to a couple of pounds below my pre-pregnancy weight already (granted I only gained 18 lbs total while pregnant), which normally would make me happy. But again, it goes back to feeding Cecilia. I worry that my milk won't be nutritious enough for her because I don't eat enough. I definitely drink a lot of water, so at least I'm staying hydrated.

Sorry to unload so much, I just can't help but be worried!

if you take out the breast reduction part, your worries sound just like mine. I've worried that my boobs weren't engorged enough, that they didn't leak enough, that she was too sleepy, that she wasn't sleeping well enough, etc....

And I'm not eating enough, either. I always laughed when people talked about forgetting to eat. I mean, how can you just forget to eat?! I love to eat!

Yeah, I am now having the problem of forgetting to eat until I'm STARVING and feeling sick. I'm also worried that I'm not drinking enough, because drinking means peeing, which means having to get up. and I still can't tell when I need to pee!

[jenfl]

Feelings on making this a weekly thread? There's just going to be more of us around here....

[rhiOrion]

Weekly sounds good. Those who are still pregnant seem to have a weekly thread, too.

But I'm kinda sad that we seem to have split up into the babies on the outside vs the babies on the inside.

[snoopy5386]

Originally Posted by Cecilia's Mama

Sigh...I have SO many worries, and I am sure that these are normal for a first time mama, but I get so overwhelmed with concern sometimes, and it really brings me down. I don't think I'm in PPD land, but definitely in mild baby blues land. I cry pretty much daily, sometimes more than that, with worry.

My biggest fear is over feeding her. After my breast reduction, it was a crapshoot to see if I'd even be able to nurse. Well, I can, at least some, but I have no way of knowing how much milk I make. I'm right now supplementing her with around 4 oz a day of donated breast milk on top of what she nurses from me, spread out over a few feedings. She'll take anywhere from 1/2 to 1 oz of supp per feeding. She's just shy of two weeks old. At the doctor Friday she'd gained 3 oz in 4 days, so the doctor was happy. I guess I should be too but I am just so freaked out that I am going to starve her! It doesn't help that my breasts are...well, weird. They got engorged when my milk came in, on around day 3 postpartum, and they haven't been engorged at all since. I also don't feel a let down; I leak every now and again and the only way I know I do is if I feel the wetness or look down and see it!

She sleeps really well too, and that makes me worry too (what is wrong with me??)-- I worry that she sleeps too much! I worry that she doesn't eat enough and therefore just doesn't have the energy to do more than sleep. She naps for on average 2-4 hours every time she sleeps, and is awake around an hour when she's not sleeping before going back to sleep, and spends most of that time nursing/taking supplement. I'm insane, aren't I?

The other big concern I have is also over food, but it's my food. I am NOT doing well with taking in the extra calories I'm supposed to have as a breast feeding mama. I'm down to a couple of pounds below my pre-pregnancy weight already (granted I only gained 18 lbs total while pregnant), which normally would make me happy. But again, it goes back to feeding Cecilia. I worry that my milk won't be nutritious enough for her because I don't eat enough. I definitely drink a lot of water, so at least I'm staying hydrated.

Sorry to unload so much, I just can't help but be worried!

I have been holding back the tears since we have had visitors nonstop and I feel weird crying in front of friends/family, but with DD1 I was bawling all the time.

My fear is that DD2 is not getting enough to eat. She wasn't making her wet/dirty diaper counts and we've already been back to the pediatrician on Friday to see if she was dehydrated or ok. She was down another 1.5 oz from her 1st visit on Tuesday where she was down 14 oz (but I'm thinking there was a scale issue there - 9 lb 15 oz at birth and 9 lbs 1 oz 36 hours later). My milk came in on either Thursday or Friday but I've still had no engorgement. I've been taking More Milk Plus but haven't seen a difference yet. We go back tomorrow and we need to see a gain or else the formula pushing will begin.
I went through something very similar with DD1 and we got through it and she was totally fine - super fat baby in the 90% for the whole 1st year and nursed for 3 years but that doesn't make me feel any less paranoid this time around. FWIW, I have never felt a let down and never leaked a drop of milk either.

As for the sleeping, all they do is sleep at this point - totally normal. With both girls I've found that they tend to have two active alert awake periods a day, usually one in the morning and one in the evening lasting for about 30 mins - 1 hour or so.

I'm still up almost 30 lbs from my PP weight, so not happy about that. My stomach is all flabby and gross and I have this weird flap of fat/skin at the bottom of my belly that I don't remember from DD1. I barely fit into my maternity jeans! Granted I wasn't able to wear them for the last couple of months in my pregnancy but still! The baby I grew in my butt hasn't seemed to go away quite yet!

[sew_crafty_girl]

I'm down 1/2 of my pregnancy weight. Went out today and got a new pair of shorts and yoga pants so i have a very limited wardrobe.

This morning I sprung my first leak but normally she's eating so often I don't get engorged.

I look at her and cry with happiness that our long waited for angel is finally here.

[Carley]

Does anyone else have a house that resembles an earthquake? Because um... yeah I should be in bed now, but man. It's been a week!

Yesterday I woke up to words a mother never wants to hear, especially on a day DH is out golfing: "Mooom... somebody used too much toilet paper & there's poop all over the potty!"

Awesome. Then over the course of the day I proceed to not clean my house as I dreamed, take the coldest, quickest shower ever (HOW did we lose all hot water without even running the dishwasher? No fair!) and set my microwave on fire! FYI bagel bags from the store are NOT microwave safe! I don't know how the day slipped away like it did, but man. It was a bad news day! No more housefires, ok?

My bleeding stopped a week ago so we pounced on the chance to DTD, at which point bleeding returned in full force. NO FAIR again! SO jealous of those of you who are getting some. Rawr.

All you first time moms - the first time there is a HUGE learning curve. As long as you are getting wet diapers & poop diapers, your baby is doing well, no matter what your anxiety is telling you The sooner you can get out of the house & share with other REAL LIFE mothers the better!

I'm also feeling quite portly but I cannot get a handle on my hunger! RAVENOUS I tell you! I cannot wait to hit the 6 week mark & get into a good exercise program... not for weight loss, per say, but just to feel fit again and get started on pulling these abs back together! There's a cool mom/baby fitness program by my daughter's school & I can't wait to join! I know it will be invaluable to my sanity & patience level. Mmm... endorphines

Sending everyone love!

[jenfl]

Weekly thread started before this one gets too unmanageable for all the new mamas........