mamas with babies - Page 13

[Birdie B.]

Hugs to those with breastfeeding issues - it's very frustrating at first!  A lot of these things get better over time (the engorgement, intense feelings at letdown, and shallow latches) as the baby grows and can open her mouth wider and take in more milk at a feeding.  The first few weeks are hard, but they will be a distant memory soon!

Stormy

We have thrush too, apparently. 

[*Jessica*]

I am so sorry to not respond to individual posts!  We've started back to homeschooling and life is so busy that I barely have time to read posts, much less respond to them.  I just wanted to let you all know that I'm still here and think about you all every day. 

I find it much easier to respond to posts on Facebook, so if you're there and want to keep in touch and I haven't added you as a friend send me a request!  I have a hard time matching usernames with real life names, so I have no idea who from the FB post I have added and who I haven't!  lol  This link to my profile page should work.  https://www.facebook.com/#!/just.raising.cain

Have to run.....someone just spilled milk on the kitchen floor.  (Does anyone else feel frantic at least half of the day?  And does anyone have a semi-clean house?  I sure don't.......everything is a disaster in my house!  I am continually hoping that nobody just drops by for a visit!)

[ursusarctos]

At first mine had a shallow latch too. One of the nurses suggested that I get the nipple (and aureola) hard before I put it as deep in her mouth as I could shove it. Making the nipple hard first means that it all gets in her mouth in "condensed" form and then when it "relaxes" her mouth is already around it. It did seem to help somewhat for us and then she got her technique down (and her mouth grew) and it's not an issue anymore. Good luck to everyone dealing with that.

SouthernStormy, I agree with the PP who mentioned that it's the attentiveness that really counts. As far as I can see, what kids really thrive on is love and attention more than anything else... and you are giving that to her in abundance. I hope things get easier for you soon

DD has yellow eye goop in one eye. I am assuming it is a plugged duct. She had it when she was just born and then it cleared up with breastmilk "drops" so I'm hoping that works again.

[*Jessica*]

I just got a visit from the mailman with a certified letter from the hospital.  It turns out that the blood specimen for the newborn screening test was unsatisfactory for accurate testing.  That test was excruciating for my baby!  I do NOT want to do it again.  And yet, how can I skip it knowing that it could potentially catch a serious illness?  It takes for freaking ever to milk that much blood from an infant's heel, though!!!  Just when I thought my hormones had leveled out I'm sitting here sobbing. 

[Baby_Cakes]

nak...
 

Originally Posted by *Jessica* 

Have to run.....someone just spilled milk on the kitchen floor.  (Does anyone else feel frantic at least half of the day?  And does anyone have a semi-clean house?  I sure don't.......everything is a disaster in my house!  I am continually hoping that nobody just drops by for a visit!)

Originally Posted by *Jessica* 

I just got a visit from the mailman with a certified letter from the hospital.  It turns out that the blood specimen for the newborn screening test was unsatisfactory for accurate testing.  That test was excruciating for my baby!  I do NOT want to do it again.  And yet, how can I skip it knowing that it could potentially catch a serious illness?  It takes for freaking ever to milk that much blood from an infant's heel, though!!!  Just when I thought my hormones had leveled out I'm sitting here sobbing. 

  1ht...Make sure her foot is really really warm.  It helps the blood not clot.  Im so sorry poor baby has to endure the heel prick again, but youre right that its worth it.

stormy - you are doing the best for your sweet baby!!  Pls dont beat yourself up.  Motherhood is so much more than how you feed your baby, and i say you are a fabulous loving mother bc u care so very much!!  Vent, be angry, be sad.  Cry.  We are here to listen.  Much love to you.

[Baby_Cakes]

OMG - minutes after I replied, my MIL texted me that she's stopping by.  House is a mess, I haven't showered, Finn won't let me put him down AT ALL today, I'm covered in spit up and breastmilk, and just got back from a 2 mile walk.  I'm in a very snappy mood for some reason (prob just lack of sleep and feeling crabby) and when DH came downstairs to "check" on us, I bit his head off and told him I don't feel like being bothered right now, but I have things under control.  Whyyyyy can't I ask for helpppp???  I make MYSELF crazy sometimes.  I feel like I have to do it all myself, and if anything is off, it's all my fault.  UGH.  I don't have to be perfect!!  Why can't I remember that when it's important???

[cat13]

Jessica, sorry your LO has to get the heel prick again.  We dealt with jaundice issues, so my guy had to get pricked about 5 times total (including his newborn screening). It's all about who the lab tech is.... ask for someone who is good with babies.  We got to a point where River would barely flinch if I was nursing him, I just had to wait a few minutes until he was completely latched and distracted.  Good luck!

[Italiamom]

Originally Posted by *Jessica* 

(Does anyone else feel frantic at least half of the day?  And does anyone have a semi-clean house?  I sure don't.......everything is a disaster in my house!  I am continually hoping that nobody just drops by for a visit!)

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

OMG - minutes after I replied, my MIL texted me that she's stopping by.  House is a mess, I haven't showered, Finn won't let me put him down AT ALL today, I'm covered in spit up and breastmilk, and just got back from a 2 mile walk.

To make everyone feel better, BEHOLD!  My kitchen --

I am also hoping no one stops by...  'Cause I'm sure not answering the door!  Not that I could find it through all this mess

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by Italiamom 

I am also hoping no one stops by...  'Cause I'm sure not answering the door!  Not that I could find it through all this mess

You are my hero!  I'm not brave enough to post pictures of my kitchen on the internet!!  

[Jbouck5]

I would love to reply individually but like everyone else, I'm too busy! I am sending love to all of you with bfing issues, the most important thing of all is your love for your babies, and that above everything else will nurture them and make them healthy and happy.

Michelle I love that you shared this picture with us. I think we are all in the same boat with having a crazy house right now. I only have the new LO to look after and my house still gets crazy messy even after one day! If I turn my attention to cleaning one area of the house, another just gets messier!

AFM: DD has been sleeping for much longer stretches at night! Last night she slept from 12:30am to 5:30am! I hope this lasts, I feel soooo much better now that I have been getting a reasonable amount of sleep!

SEX: We DTD for the first time yesterday, and yikes, it hurt way worse than I was expecting it to. I am 5 weeks pp, haven't had any bleeding for about 2 weeks, so I thought I would be good to go. Well, I woke up today and was bleeding again! I'm not sure why I am bleeding, we took it really slow. Has this happened to anybody else? Please tell me this will get better and easier! I just want some kind of a normal sex life again!

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by Jbouck5 

SEX: We DTD for the first time yesterday, and yikes, it hurt way worse than I was expecting it to. I am 5 weeks pp, haven't had any bleeding for about 2 weeks, so I thought I would be good to go. Well, I woke up today and was bleeding again! I'm not sure why I am bleeding, we took it really slow. Has this happened to anybody else? Please tell me this will get better and easier! I just want some kind of a normal sex life again!

We havne't done it yet this time, but yes, last time it was just like that.  In fact, the first time we tried neither of us finished, it was more like, lets see how it goes -- and I called it off within minutes!!  LOL!  It definitely gets better and easier as you heal.  I'm sure you did, but make sure you use LOTS of lube whenever you try.  Like more than you really think is even remotely necessary.  And hats off to you!  Congrats on your first postpartum romp!!  

And Im totally jealous of your 12:30-5:30 stretch!!  I hope to have that someday!!

[earth-mama]

I've been reading everyone's posts, but haven't had time or enough hands to reply.  As it is I am using one hand.  

Stormy:    I don't really have any advice, but did want to tell you that I have a co-worker who ended up not being able to breastfeed her son (something she really wanted to do) and had to feed him formula.  He is now a very healthy boy who is very well bonded with both his parents.  You are doing a great job, so don't beat youself up and know that you can vent here all you want.

Those of you working on shallow latch issues:  I often have to hold both my breast and DS's head in the proper position.  I get him to open his mouth wide then shove the nipple/areola into his mouth.  As he nurses I will often have to hold/kind of pinch the breast area to keep it fully in his mouth--this seems to need to be done less often now that he i getting bigger.  

Peony:  I'm sorry your babysitter is quitting, that really sucks.

We haven't DTD yet, but I have been thinking about it.  I'm still bleeding a little and want to wait till there is no more blood.  I second Carrie's advice about lube--use lots of it and know that DTD gets better after some time. 

[Italiamom]

I'm trying to remember when the night sweats stop? Anyone else? I wouldn't mind them so much if I were losing some freaking water weight, but as it stands that doesn't seem to be the case. I'm just roasting and sweaty all night...

[karalynnskies]

Originally Posted by Italiamom 

I'm trying to remember when the night sweats stop? Anyone else? I wouldn't mind them so much if I were losing some freaking water weight, but as it stands that doesn't seem to be the case. I'm just roasting and sweaty all night...

I had pretty bad night sweats too and it started getting better about 2 weeks out for me. He was 3 weeks yesterday and I still occasionally wake up roasting but not nearly as bad as it was. In the beginning I could literally wring my shirt out I was so soaked, and the extreme leaking of breast milk didn't help either..

[nald1]

Originally Posted by Italiamom 

I'm trying to remember when the night sweats stop? Anyone else? I wouldn't mind them so much if I were losing some freaking water weight, but as it stands that doesn't seem to be the case. I'm just roasting and sweaty all night...

I cant remember either - I dont seem to have them as bad this time- but then again i feel hot and wet from a baby body- and constant wet diapers anyways!  

PS- Any tricks for those of you with boys re: staying dry? If i "tuck it in" the pee comes up his back- i nurse and change all night long and im wiped out!!!!

[nald1]

Originally Posted by Italiamom 

To make everyone feel better, BEHOLD!  My kitchen --

I am also hoping no one stops by...  'Cause I'm sure not answering the door!  Not that I could find it through all this mess

that's NOTHIN'!!!  Wish i knew how to upload photos- my kitchen would make all feel  better these days :)

[Tear78]

Originally Posted by nald1 

that's NOTHIN'!!!  Wish i knew how to upload photos- my kitchen would make all feel  better these days :)

lol...um, YEAH. Me too.

[Beckily]

Originally Posted by nald1 

I cant remember either - I dont seem to have them as bad this time- but then again i feel hot and wet from a baby body- and constant wet diapers anyways!  

PS- Any tricks for those of you with boys re: staying dry? If i "tuck it in" the pee comes up his back- i nurse and change all night long and im wiped out!!!!

http://www.howtofoldadiaper.com/

We do the Angel Wing fold and only have problems when we've done something wrong :) I don't even fuss about the penis much - if it's aimed up, it's right into the front fold.
 

[Lynann]

I use prefolds with DS, and I do the newspaper type fold thing. I have never had a huge issue with the cloth, and never even had to fuss with pointing him down much either. With the prefolds I still have a little fold over on the front, and like Beckily that seems to catch anything that might come up the front. I think experimenting with different folds to see what works for your particular baby is the best bet. The thing to remember with the fold that shortens is that it goes to the back for girls and front for boys. I do also still use a snappi fastener, and always have since the beginning and it gives a nice snug fit around the hips which helps with containment too in my experience.

Hope you find something that works for you soon.

[Italiamom]

Nald, have you checked your diapers just to make sure they aren't repelling? Hold the prefold very briefly under a light stream of water, and then remove. If ANY of the water beads up, and isn't immediately absorbed, then your dipes are repelling and that would explain the leaking.

On another note, I just am hating people today. I wish I could make folks just disappear for a few more weeks. I'm trying not to be intensely neurotic about visitors, but even a 20 minute pop in gave me a panic attack today. On the flip side, I'm excited about our DDC turning into a social group. There was a troll post in the FB thread that was downright mean! I don't know about y'all, but I need as much sensitivity as possible right now!!

Also, has anyone heard from Emerging Butterfly? I was nursing DD this morning and she popped into my head...
Edited by Italiamom - 9/3/11 at 2:50pm