Postpartum thread, 8/27-9/2

[amyrobynne]

Last week's thread

I'm up at 2:30 because I'm getting into the habit of falling asleep with the baby after supper and then waking up the next time he does. Although a couple days ago, I was so tired I just slept from 8:45pm-7am. Tim pretty much slept (waking every 3 hours to nurse and be changed) from noon - 10pm, so I'm glad I slept when he did this evening, but I hope I don't do this too often. He was awake for less than an hour and conked back out. I think he's going through a developmental spurt -- the day before he barely slept during the day and was a wreck. He's looking more intently at things when he's awake now. Anyone else have the Wonder Weeks book? The first leap is at 5 weeks, which we're hitting now.

I think my bleeding has finally stopped enough to stop using liners. I've been down to a bit of spotting this week, but that's pretty minimal now. Ahhh. I still feel a little weird when I wipe -- the CNM said the skin is irritated even though my tear is healed -- but that's getting better too. I'm hoping that stopping liners will help air things out down there. Geez, the things we go through as mothers! I have another couple meals people have given us but next week I'll be back to cooking. My older kids start school too. Time to start the new normal!

[miss_nikki]

I'm 6 days pp, today. Things have gone great. I've been able to get plenty of rest and down time. My new little guy only wakes up 1-3 times a night. I really hope that lasts haha. My bleeding is very light which is a great change from previous pp periods. All the older kids love the new baby and DS2 is adjusting really well. Sometimes he gets a little upset, because he wants to nurse and I tell him he has to wait, but mostly I try to nurse him when he asks.

We still haven't left the house yet, which is cool. DS2 has his first "check up" next Thurs with a family physician.

Hope everyone else is having a good recovery.

[somegirl99]

Glad to hear you are both doing well. I've stopped wearing pads this week, still occasional spotting but almost none. Stress incontinence (ugh) seems much better too. I've got my 6-week appointment with my OB on Monday. DS has his next appointment at 7.5 weeks (we missed the one month appt because of car trouble and couldn't reschedule until then).

This week has been lots of cluster feeding and fussing, guess it is the 6-week growth spurt, hopefully we will get through it soon.

DH goes back to work next week, I'll miss having him home but it's been nice to have him home for so long. It was too bad that my MIL's visit took up much of that time though, although she was trying to help out and really means well, she just ended up stressing both of us out. We were both so relieved when she left earlier this week.

[maciascl]

Any one dealing with PPD or baby blues? I was expecting it to be bad this times since I am prone to depression and anxiety, plus we are at a very stressful place in our lives right now (mostly with finances). I have my moments but over not as bad as I was expecting so far. It is getting a little worse in the last few days though. I am wondering what others are doing to handle it when it hits?

Taking Ian to his 1st dr appt today We don't do dr's much so it makes me nervous turning down vax and such. We are doing the PKU today which really turns my stomach. I just hope they let me nurse him and are gentle with my little guy. We can't afford to pay for the test or I'd just have my midwife do it like we did with the older 2.

[kimkim]

9 days pp for me and i'm having a rough time. i've been crying every day and feel like such a burden to dh. he's been doing everything for me and his mom is now with us for a week which is great but i'm having trouble nursing one side (cracked nipple) and am very embarassed to nurse and share my pain in front of her. so i'm spending a lot of time in the bedroom. i think dh is disappointed that his paternity leave is less of a vacation. we're not sleeping well, baby wants to nurse a lot (and i don't, the cracked nipple is a lot of pain) so we're in this grumpy haze. i had an unmedicated vaginal birth and i didn't think recovery would be this hard emotionally or nursing be this difficult. sounds like everyone else is doing pretty good (which makes me feel worse) where's this blissful baby moon phase? she has her sweet moments but dealing with the nipple seems to occupy my day. we tried to leave the house a few days ago and it was a disaster and we ended up coming back home. i know this is temporary but it's very frustrating.

[HaikuMommy]

Awww, kimkim, I'm sorry. I have had cracked nipples and severe pain with nursing before, and it sucks. Crying in pain while nursing really changes the mood from a "mommy gives baby food and bliss" thing to a "baby tortures mommy" thing. It is terrible. Poor mama!

Are you getting any help from a lactation specialist? I never did and now I regret it. I sat there in a painful, depressed haze instead, and they really could have helped with the baby's latch and ways of protecting my sore breasts.

I hope it turns around for you quickly.

[CrunchyChristianMama]

I know how you feel kimkim. I had some pretty rough baby blues with DD1 and it was rough. I also battled thrush at the same time and it was so painful to nurse! It did get better though, and it will for you too. Please seek out help though for the nursing and if you start to feel really down, for that as well. It's so much better than trying to just stick it out on your own. There's no need to be a martyr!

[lunarlady]

I, too, cry every day over something. We're at day 6 pp, and I went out for the first time. We went to McDonalds, then to a close friends house for a chat. It was nice to be out. I'm so tired all the time but can't sleep. I know it's baby blues, but I worry it will get worse and become ppd. Sigh. At least breastfeeding is going well, except the tandem nursing balance, which will hopefully come in time.

[LindsayK]

Sorry to hear you are having a rough time of it, kimkim

Have you seen Kellymom's page on cracked nipples? There are a lot of good suggestions there. Also, have you tried Soothies? I really liked these during the first week when I was so sore. Have you considered pumping on the injured side, and bottle feeding the expressed milk? Then at least you could separate the painful activity from your interaction with your baby. So sorry you're going through this!

AFM, we are managing. Our new house closes on the 15th, so trying to figure out packing and moving. That's going to be fun with a newborn DD takes every opportunity to tell us she likes her green house, and not the new house! Fortunately only one of the kids is old enough to object!

My bleeding is basically done, but the stress incontinence is really bumming me out. I am not noticing much of an improvement at all!

[somegirl99]

Originally Posted by LindsayK

My bleeding is basically done, but the stress incontinence is really bumming me out. I am not noticing much of an improvement at all!

I still have issues with sneezing while standing.

[limette]

I'm a week pp today and recovery is going to be long and slow. I had a forceps assisted delivery and a 3rd degree tear so it's been rough. If it wasn't for the pain everything would be great.

Thankfully dh is on parental leave and has taken over all the household jobs.

[jorona]

Kim, I had an awful time with PPD with my first son. I kept thinking things would get better but by the time he was 3 months old I finally got some help with it. I hope it gets better for you, but if it doesn't, there are lots of options to help you get back on track. That's the reason I had my placenta encapsulated this time, I was willing to do anything it took to not go back to that place again. I think I will be going back to counseling anyway to deal with some issues I'm having from how the birth itself went, I'm just waiting for DS1 to start his Mother's Day Out program next month.

I can't believe my baby is a month old already. I've had a hard time adjusting to being the mother of 2, my oldest is still practically a baby himself and we've had lots of acting out to deal with. It's been really hard to work the baby into our activities and keep things somewhat normal for DS1 but we try. I only recently have found time to get online or do anything for myself again, but I'm keeping faith that it does get easier with time.

[MammaB21]

Kimkim - I had really sore nipples this time (and last time) as well. I used vitamin E oil on them and it helped a lot. Is your DC latching properly? I have one side that always hurts worse (I think the nipple is shaped differently and it's harder for him to latch on that side) but the football hold always feels better on that side. Try different holds until you find one that feels a little better. The baby blues should get better as well. I hit a wall right around days 8-10 and I thought I should be feeling better by then. Honestly, it hasn't been until recently (week three) that I've really felt like my emotions are evening out. Hang in there, it will get better.

DS is still a little fussy but we're really starting to learn what he needs and how to comfort him. His night stretches have gotten shorter so sleep is scares right now but we're managing by taking quick naps during the day. My bleeding has been reduced to just spotting and now seems to be over completely. I think I have a yeast infection from wearing pads for so long, so I'm happy to retire the pads and try to get things less itchy. I'm really over the post baby belly flab the last couple of days. I know you're advised to wait 6 weeks, but I'm thinking of starting some light work out right now. I gained about 40lbs this time and I have about half of that left to lose. I know it will take a while but it's making me depressed. I want it gone now.

[CrunchyChristianMama]

Originally Posted by MammaB21

. I know you're advised to wait 6 weeks, but I'm thinking of starting some light work out right now. I gained about 40lbs this time and I have about half of that left to lose. I know it will take a while but it's making me depressed. I want it gone now.

I'm with you on that! Most of my weight that I'm still carrying around is in my thighs and butt. I can't even pull my big jeans (you know the ones you keep for just such an occasion) up over them to see if they would button!

I've started doing some light walking. Mainly just taking my DD to the park that's about 8 blocks away and a little bit around the neighborhood in the evening with DH.

The weight practically fell off of me with DD1, I don't think I'm going to be so lucky this time!

[amyrobynne]

Originally Posted by Evie's Mama

I'm with you on that! Most of my weight that I'm still carrying around is in my thighs and butt. I can't even pull my big jeans (you know the ones you keep for just such an occasion) up over them to see if they would button!

I've started doing some light walking. Mainly just taking my DD to the park that's about 8 blocks away and a little bit around the neighborhood in the evening with DH.

The weight practically fell off of me with DD1, I don't think I'm going to be so lucky this time!

I lost 20 lbs in the first week postpartum and have sat at the same place (about 8 lbs to lose) ever since. Maybe I should stop eating constant ice cream, but who wants to do that? I'm hoping to start biking a bit and walking more with the baby when the bigger kids go back to school this week. Well, I can't bike with the baby, but I can walk. I'm just finishing up bleeding so I haven't wanted to do much until that's done. I'll be six weeks next weekend.

[HaikuMommy]

I gained 60 lbs with this pregnancy (I have gained 57-60 lbs with each of my 3 pregs). I went from 185 to 245. My normal weight is 155/160 but I hadn't lost all the weight from my 2yo yet when I got pregnant. I am 3 weeks pp and have already lost 33 lbs, since a lot was swelling weight. My weight is now 212. So I still have 52 pounds to lose to get to 160! Ugh. My butt and thighs are huge.

My mood is generally fine, except when a particularly bad night robs me of sleep. Then I can start getting negative and down. But some sleep fixes me right up again.

My nipples are a little raw and breastfeeding hurts for the first 30 seconds. Then I'm fine. But it feels like I'm breastfeeding 24/7 since both my babes are tandem nursing! It's like I'm a cow, or a milk machine.

I'm still bleeding, though not as much. My tummy gets sore from uterus contractions after a lot of nursing. And my hips/pelvis are still very achy, as well as still having carpal tunnel in my right hand. I'm SOOOO glad to not be pregnant anymore though!

[bendmom]

With the first birth my weight came off in the first few weeks. By month 3 I was down to a size 2, less than before I got pregnant. The second took about 7-9 months before I I got down to my pre-pregnant jeans. I remember at month 4 post partum with #2 I put on a pair of jeans and was SO freaked out happy! Then I sat down on the couch and split open the bottom of the jeans. After that I went on a no sugar diet for 2 months (one day at a time) and lost the last 15 pounds.

This time around all the weight is def. in my thighs and butt. I can get my jeans on up to my thighs, and the button is a good 2-3 inches out on my biggest pair. Sigh, my mw says it's because I'm getting older and the fat deposits in dif. places now. As long as we nurse day and night I'm burning 2000 calories a day, that's what she said and that's what I'm going for!

I am def. going a little stir crazy! I know it's only a week, but I hate hanging around the house all day waiting for bleeding to stop. No sex till the bleeding stops as well since it's possible to get an infection while the uterus is still open. D loves hanging out with her and everyday mentions I should go do something so he gets her to himself. It's so sweet, but I can't really go anywhere, since even just walking around makes me cramp and freak out that I need to be near her, and my milk might leak all over, etc. etc. etc.

I've also started the crying over nothing phase! The first 3 days I was euphoric and kept saying "I feel great! No crying or depression or anything!" Now I cry over over nothing and I think D feels a bit like I'm a kill joy right now. He knows its hormonal, and is good about it, but I think he can tell I could use a shot of endorphins through excersize or something. Time, time,time.

[MammaB21]

Originally Posted by bendmom

.This time around all the weight is def. in my thighs and butt. I can get my jeans on up to my thighs, and the button is a good 2-3 inches out on my biggest pair. Sigh, my mw says it's because I'm getting older and the fat deposits in dif. places now. As long as we nurse day and night I'm burning 2000 calories a day, that's what she said and that's what I'm going for!

I am def. going a little stir crazy! I know it's only a week, but I hate hanging around the house all day waiting for bleeding to stop. No sex till the bleeding stops as well since it's possible to get an infection while the uterus is still open. D loves hanging out with her and everyday mentions I should go do something so he gets her to himself. It's so sweet, but I can't really go anywhere, since even just walking around makes me cramp and freak out that I need to be near her, and my milk might leak all over, etc. etc. etc.

The first bolded part, I think you mean 200 calories a day? I think it can be as much as 600 but definitely not 2000. That would be fantastic though!!!

The second bolded part is freaking me out because DP and I DTD just the other day for the first time. I thought my bleeding had stopped but apparently I'm still spotting. We actually have DTD twice now. It's WAY earlier than I expected to be ready, but with minimal tearing I felt all healed and ready to give it a try and boy am I glad that I did. Non pregnant sex is SO MUCH better!!!! But now I'm a little nerves reading this. I hadn't really thought about the possibility of infection. What do you guys think? Reason to worry? Should we hold back again until the 6 week mark? I'll tell you, DP and I have both been MUCH happier people since we've been able to say we're done with the 'no sex phase'.....lol.

ETA: Does this just go for if your cervix is still open? Because I could totally see that as being the case, but I checked mine and it's closed and back to normal. What about just bleeding can cause an infection?

[smerkin]

Originally Posted by jorona

I can't believe my baby is a month old already. I've had a hard time adjusting to being the mother of 2, my oldest is still practically a baby himself and we've had lots of acting out to deal with. It's been really hard to work the baby into our activities and keep things somewhat normal for DS1 but we try. I only recently have found time to get online or do anything for myself again, but I'm keeping faith that it does get easier with time.

I could've written this myself. Its been hard for poor DD1 but I do see some improvements. Whenever we talk to anyone Lib immediate draws attention to the baby and acts like a proud big sister. I do think it"ll get better. Ok, gotta go make a late-night run to Target!

[DreamsInDigital]

Originally Posted by MammaB21

The second bolded part is freaking me out because DP and I DTD just the other day for the first time. I thought my bleeding had stopped but apparently I'm still spotting.

I'm a little worried too cuz my DP and I attempted to DTD the other night. I hadn't had any red bleeding for a few days, just some brown spotting but right in the middle we realized I was bleeding all over the place. I've been bleeding bright red since and that was almost a week ago. I hope I didn't do any damage.