how is everyone doing? « Back to Group Discussions

[mae14]

So, how have things been going with everyone?  It's been almost 5 weeks and I'm am so glad that the initial hormone drop is done.  Thrush and plugged ducts are gone.  I've started venturing out of the house....today with all 4 to a friends house.  It seems that everyone is fitting in well with the new addition.  We've picked up the home schooling again as well.  I'm looking forward to chatting with my 2 best friends about the birth...they attended the birth as well and very glad to have had them there.  

I hope everyone is doing well.

[Dlynn918]

Im getting out of the house too and it feels great! I went for a hike yesterday with a mom friend and that was so refreshing! Baby is doing awesome with getting in and out of the car seat now that I have it adjusted properly. I already had to move the straps up a notch and take the bottom newborn pads out! I just got my new sleepy wrap (like a moby but more supportive fabric) in the mail yesterday and I love it! Too bad its pouring today cause I really wanted to go for a walk.

I just put this in the old DDC but I started reading this book..

http://www.mindfulmotherhood.org/

Its really awesome. You just have to go check it out for yourselves. :-)

Not many folks here, hopefully we will have more joiners! I really enjoyed the Sept DDC, especially toward the end of the pregnancy, and it would be nice to keep the connections going.

Hope everyone has a great rest of their week!

Deb

[mae14]

I have a Sleepy Wrap as well and love it.  I used it with my third up until she was about a year.  I love it!

[rareimer]

We are doing well, feeling almost "back to normal" recovery-wise, which is nice.  Haven't done a whole lot, just the requisite grocery shopping, school drop-offs and pickups, and errand running that having 3 kids requires, but Syd finally seems to be getting a little less angry about being in the car seat.  That's about the only thing she hates, otherwise she has been my easiest baby ever.  Think I have a bit of an overactive letdown again (not surprising, since I did the other times as well,) so she's a little fussier now than she was the first couple weeks, and has some green poo and gassiness issues.  But even with that, she is a dream baby!  The big kids are getting used to having her around, and my oldest (she's 8,) has been a huge help!  They just adore her.

[mama2eb]

Feeling great here at 3 weeks...  I was just telling a friend that in some ways this 3rd child is an easier transition than the 1st 2...life is so busy that we just have to keep moving along..  Of course, he is also my best sleeper and most laid back so far :)  Still have some stiiches and can't remember if that is the norm at 3 weeks....

Still relieved and happy every day that this babe is here safe and sound!

[Mommel]

Originally Posted by rareimer 

...Syd finally seems to be getting a little less angry about being in the car seat.  That's about the only thing she hates, otherwise she has been my easiest baby ever.  Think I have a bit of an overactive letdown again (not surprising, since I did the other times as well,) so she's a little fussier now than she was the first couple weeks, and has some green poo and gassiness issues.  But even with that, she is a dream baby!  The big kids are getting used to having her around, and my oldest (she's 8,) has been a huge help!  They just adore her.

So happy to hear this! Mattie has the same car seat issue, but he's been okay with it the last few days.

At first I was just horribly heartbroken every time I had to go anywhere with him in the car seat. I left him for the first time yesterday with my mother for three hours while I went to class and I missed him like crazy (I was not expecting that at all) and again today. He is doing great with taking the occasional bottle of expressed milk, which had really worried me at first. I am still really sore, but feeling stronger and more mended every day... everyone has been so nice to me, which has also surprised me. I am tired all the time though and between feeding myself and him, changing diapers, doing laundry (cloth diapers) and school work it's all I can do to stay awake for a second longer than all of that takes. I can't imagine actually getting used to this schedule, but everyone says I will...  talk about living in the moment! I don't really have time to get worried about anything... LOL

[redpajama]

Ingrid is 2 weeks old today, and I'm feeling really good.  I went to the grocery store this morning with my 2 youngest (my older two were at school) and it felt like quite an accomplishment (even though my 2-year-old was sort of a disaster the whole time we were there).  I kept thinking, I probably shouldn't feel *so* proud of myself for making a big grocery shopping trip with 50% of my children...but I did.  
Physically, I feel pretty well back to normal.  My bleeding more-or-less stopped several days ago.  My little one is sleeping quite well--she goes down around 10 or so (after a couple hours of cluster-feeding), sleeps about 7 hours, wakes long enough to nurse, then falls back to sleep until morning.  
How are everyone's kids doing with their new siblings?  My older kids are doing great with her--better than I imagined, really.  I knew my oldest two (6.5 and almost 5) would be great, but I wasn't so sure about my 2-year-old.  She's doing really well, though!  She's very sweet and gentle with the baby.  She's adjusting to having to "share" attention with the baby, and she certainly has her "moments," but overall, she's doing really well.

[Smurfy]

I want another one!!!  Is that wierd?  I had my last midwife appointment yesterday, I refused to focus on it at the time so I didn't cry or anything but I've been thinking about how much I'm going to miss them ever since.  Plus everytime I look at Sydney I can't help but think how fast she's growing and how I'm not ready to be done with having a newborn baby yet.  When she was born DH said absolutely no more, we're done, in the past 6 weeks I've gotten him to say he'd keep an open mind and revisit it in a year or two, and the other day when I said something about her being the last baby he said "well you never know, anything is possible".  Working on it, baby steps but it's progress.

We're doing really good though.  I've gotten rid of the eczema that was tormenting me right after she was born.  My midwife checked me yesterday and said I'd healed perfectly, which I was really worried about, 2nd degree tear and no stitches just seemed super scary to me.  Sydney took an expressed bottle so if I can figure out how to get more when pumping I'll be able to go out occasionally without her.  Anyone have any tips on that, right now I get about 1 ounce, total?  What does the green poop mean?  We've had that too quite a bit.  She feeds well though and is gaining weight nicely, though she's still in newborn clothes.  I'm running errands and going shopping and taking DS to preschool and gymnastics and all that normal stuff.  He's taken well to her, absolutely loves her, but I feel like we're having some behavioral issues, they don't seem to be related to her but nonetheless I find myself yelling at him a lot more than I'd like to right now.  Potty training is about to start, he's finally ready, I'm not, but he's cooperating for dad so we figure we'll let dad do the training whenever he's home and I'll try to reinforce it during the day. 

Next week DH is leaving on business for a few days, my first time alone with the two, we'll see how it goes, chances are I'll be a mess by the end. 

[time4latte]

Smurfy - green breastfed poop and gaining more than 1oz/day is usually an indication of oversupply. They used to say it was a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance, but as I learned in August at my CLC training foremilk/hindmilk is a myth that has been debunked - milk is just milk, so it's said to be an oversupply. It's not a bad problem to have, but it means that you shouldn't have a problem pumping extra for when you're out. Try pumping after you feed or if she's not feeding from both breasts pump from one side while you feed from the other. Pumping isn't really an indicator of supply, stress alone can hinder let down and pumping volume. Remember your baby is much more efficient at removing milk than even the best breastpump. Enough advise...

DS2 was three weeks old on Wednesday. It's gone by so fast. I ended up overdoing it early on, so I spent last week in bed. This week I've been up and about. I went to work yesterday (WIC peer bf counselor) and the other ladies in the office were thrilled to see the baby. They kept telling me how good I looked. I gained 50lbs this pregnancy and when I stepped on the scale this morning I'd lost 30 lbs. I was floored! Physically, I'm doing well. I still can't pick up my toddler without my pelvic area getting really sore. My mom came to visit for a week during what was supposed to be postpartum and I was still pregnant for her entire visit. I really didn't have the postpartum support I really needed. DH has been great in terms of letting me rest last week, but he's really stepped back from helping out. Now I feel like I've got to do everything again. He also doesn't seem to get that there are emotional adjustments and changes that new mamas go through, not just physical ones. That's been kind of rough, especially when I really just need a good cry.

The MW I had with DS1 had me go in for a 2 week and a 6 week postpartum appts. My MW for DS2 is only having me go in for a 6 week postpartum appt, so I don't really feel like I have the all clear until that 6 week appt. Anyone else only have a 6 week appt?

[borobaby]

I am feeling good! the two week mark was a little rough for me. I think my hormones were out of wack and the whole taking care of a newborn really sets in and is tiring!!! DD is four weeks on Monday. I don't like saying she is an "easy" baby, because it isn't "easy"! but...she is a dream of a baby! That is a really good thing because we were a little surprised with DS's (4 yrs) adjustment to her coming home. It is settling down now and has gotten tons better. It was just LOTS of fake crying and falling on the floor crying over the slightest thing. Which is so not how DS usually is! We totally knew to expect it to be hard for him. But even with us expecting, it was still a little bit of a shock! Thankfully he wasn't mean or mad at baby. He just wanted to do EVERYTHING for her (pick her up, hold her, give her toys...). Needless to say I found it pretty tough to go from one kid to two.

Glad to have just read about the green poop! DH changed her diaper this morning and said "she had green poop. Is that okay?" I was like..."I don't know, I'll google it when I wake up"!!!!!!

I am just having a four week postpartum doctor visit, which will be this week.

DS is the ring bearer in our cousin's wedding today, so it is a very busy day!

[Smurfy]

Thanks time4latte!  I find I pretty well suck at pumping.  No matter when I pump I can't seem to get more than an ounce.  I'm going to try to get up and pump before she wakes up to eat tomorrow morning, I'm not a morning person so it'll be a challenge, but I can't seem to get any milk any other time of day.  I'd like to pump and freeze a few bottles just in case.  When I was nursing DS I got super sick one night, I could barely get off the bathroom floor, luckily I had a few bottles in the freezer and DH was able to give him one rather than me feed him. 

My midwives actually had me come in for a 2 week, 4 week and 6 week.  I probably only needed the 6 week but I liked the opportunity to have someone reaffirm that everything was going well and to weigh her and make sure she was gaining well.  The prenatal group I was in was a bit of a mess for them, two of us delivered early, putting our delivery dates in August instead of Sept., they lost one baby only days before the due date (I took this incredibly hard as it happened only days after I gave birth), and another contracted meningitis during labor after a GBS swab showed up negative.  So I'm thinking they were happy to be overly cautious. 

I must be low on my vitamins or something because I'm having a particularly emotional weekend, eventually I'll have my breakdown and sob moment and get it all out and then I'll feel better, until then I'm just trying to hold it together. 

[bignerpie]

Dlynn918- Thanks for the book recommendation. I got the sample on my Kindle, so hopefully I will find time to check it out!

Smurfy- Not weird at all because I am ready for another one, too! But realistically, I know we have to wait at least another year or else I will end up in the looney bin... lol. BTW, I am so glad you got rid of the eczema. 

time4latte- I haven't heard that yet about the foremilk/hindmilk. Did they give you any research? It's not that I don't believe you so I don't mean to come across like that. I'm just interested in reading about it,  Also, what is it about having an oversupply that makes the poop green?  I've had this with both of my kids, so I am curious.

We are all doing well. I took the kids to the pumpkin patch last Saturday. It was my first time out with them by myself. We met my friend and her daughter there. We were only there for 2 hours, but it felt like 8 hours! I was so exhausted by the time we left. My grandparents' house was just a few minutes away, so I stopped there and laid on their couch for a while before driving home. 

[time4latte]

Smurfy - From what I understand early morning is when you're body actually produces the most milk, which is why those night time feedings are so important and usually the last to go when weaning.

Bignerpie - I really don't know why the poop turns green.  I'm sure one could come up with a few good educated guesses....  The green poop should still look like that seedy BF poop just green or partly green instead of mustard-y yellow. With my first, I asked the pediatrician about it and he said it wasn't anything to worry about. The CLC training is purely evidence based, which means everything that is taught is based on research studies. That also means that things like herbs aren't recommended because there hasn't been enough established scientific research on it. Anecdotal information isn't research, so that is stuff that not taught and is technically out of the scope of practice for trained breastfeeding professionals (i.e. CLC, IBCLC, etc.). I hope that makes sense.  I will dig out the training manual and see if I can find the studies that statement was based on for you.

 

[time4latte]

Here's some of the info you may have been looking for:

• green frothy stools are caused by a lactose/fat imbalance (meaning the baby is getting higher volume, higher lactose content milk - i.e. oversupply)
• fat content of milk varies throughout the day - when volume is high, so is the lactose content and when fat content is high volume tends to be lower
• fat content of milk can vary throughout a feeding, but it isn't determined by beginning or end, but how fast a baby nurses - in other words a speedier nurser will get higher fat milk than a slower nurser - the baby determines the content of the milk in a given feeding
   

This information is based on studies published in the Lancet between 1988 and 1990, and 1999 in the Journal of Human Lactation: Official Journal of International Lactation Consultant Association. So it's not really new information, it's not information that has really been corrected. The idea of foremilk and hindmilk is that the foremilk is higher in lactose and the hindmilk is higher in fat, so the idea that the baby is getting more milk that is higher in lactose and volume isn't wrong, it's that the makeup of the milk changes throughout the feeding and it's determined by the baby's feeding pattern rather than the mom's production pattern.  You could still call the milk at the beginning of a feeding foremilk and the milk at the end hindmilk, but the composition is completely different than previously thought.

Block feeding will help relieve oversupply, but as the baby gets older and becomes a more efficient nurser the green stools should resolve itself.

I hope that answers it. I was confused at first and it was something I had to sort-of relearn during the training.

End of highjack - these questions should really go into their own thread - breastfeeding questions and support ... which I'll start after I eat dinner that DH just made.... yum....

[Sukhada]

I'm glad to have found this group. I was following (although not posting much) in the old group when I joined mothering.com in my last trimester. I posted a little about my birth there recently http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1335865/birth-story-of-suri-davina#post_16743592

My babe is now 6 weeks old. I had an easy birth with no tears and recovered quickly. I had difficulty breastfeeding though - latch and supply problems. I desperately wanted to EBF, but I ended up supplementing with formula when my babe lost a lot of weight and wasn't regaining it. I took my babe to cranial sacral therapy - which has done wonders for her latch and have been trying to increase my supply. I am just starting to wean her off supplements. I have my last MW appointment next week and I am a little sad about it. I'm already dreaming about a second baby.

[Mama2ChicknLil]

I just want to comment on you mamas who are ready for another baby already...you are my heros.
I'm ready to go back to work. No kidding. I think I may have nailed an interview this past Friday and am hoping to hear something next week, but even if I stay at my current position, I'm ready to go back. I love DS, and I fully expect to be an emotional mess for a while, but I am ready.

As for another baby, I really disliked pregnancy (although I loved feeling him move around), partially because of the physical discomfort and partially because it was weird coming to grips with the fact that I was never alone and won't really every be again. In fact, trying to my yoga class last week and that interview on friday was so nice, just me, NPR, and a coffee. I never realized how introverted I really am. I just don't know how to be ON all the time, and I feel like a terrible mom for it, but I guess honesty is still the best policy?

I really couldn't imagine having another baby, though I'm sure there is some weird psychological stuff going on that I will hopefully work out soon for DS's sake, and I couldn't leave him without a sibling, but I'm thinking when he's 3 or 4 we could start talking about it.

[kitchensqueen]

It's good to hear everyone is doing so well! Alexander is nearly two months old now, and I cannot believe how quickly time has gone by. He's starting to hold up his head a little bit and babble when he's awake. I never expected this time to go by so quickly...

He's had the green poop a bit from time to time too, and has a tendency to get gassy in the evenings, especially if we can't get him to give up a good burp after eating. But I exclusively pump for him, so is that still an indication of oversupply? We feed him on demand, so I don't think he's eating too much...? I pump about 8-10 ounces more than he eats every day, but that goes into the freezer. I guess I'm just confused about this green poop business! Other than the gassiness, and a little fussiness in the evenings, he's perfectly fine - no other indications of him being uncomfortable or sick. 

I've gotten out of the house twice solo, and it was nice! I only stayed out for two-three hours each time since I'm tethered to the pump/feedings, but it was great. It was a little difficult to kiss him goodbye and go, but once I was out I did okay and enjoyed the time to myself. The first was to my six week post partum appointment, with a stop at a couple of bookstores. The second excursion was just yesterday, out to an old school butcher shop and my foodie book club. So awesome! 

My husband and I also attempted - and failed - at date night this past weekend. We ended up coming home not because we missed Alexander (though we did a little bit!) but because the restaurant didn't have a table free and we didn't have reservations. :-( But we went back the next night with the baby in the sling and had a great time. 

Speaking of the sling... it's hit or miss for us. Sometimes I can get him in there so he's comfortable and breathing well, and sometimes I just can't pull it off. Anyone else having trouble with slings?

[Gracecody]

I can totally understand the sentiment of not wanting another at this point even though I now have three...after my first baby I didn't feel ready until he was about 18 months old and it was literally like one day, the idea just became appealing.  And then I started to yearn for another. And that was, not coincidentally, around the time the baby started sleeping through the night and I was finally feeling well rested and just generally really good.

DH and I have not even had sex since Luke was born (he's 7 weeks today) because I feel so strongly that we are done (DH does as well) that I said I would not have sex again until he had his vasectomy. The same vasectomy he had agreed to when we found out we were pregnant with Luke. Luke is amazing and I love him to pieces but I was also really, really happy with two and ready to be done. So that's where I am on that issue at this point in time. ;)

Kitchensqueen - just throwing this out but sometimes the green poop can indicate a food allergy or intolerance. My son had tons of green poop and for him it turned out to be a problem with digesting milk protein - casein, not a true food allergy but an intolerance that he outgrew by age 2. After the green poops we started seeing bits of blood in there which was due to intestinal bleeding because it took us so danged long to figure out what the problem was; he was 6 months old. :( I won't get into all the details but we immediately started looking for a new pediatrician. It was an allergist who diagnosed this and I had made the appt with the allergist despite our ped saying it was definitely not a food issue. So research is important, I would say.

[kitchensqueen]

Originally Posted by Gracecody 

Kitchensqueen - just throwing this out but sometimes the green poop can indicate a food allergy or intolerance. My son had tons of green poop and for him it turned out to be a problem with digesting milk protein - casein, not a true food allergy but an intolerance that he outgrew by age 2. After the green poops we started seeing bits of blood in there which was due to intestinal bleeding because it took us so danged long to figure out what the problem was; he was 6 months old. :( I won't get into all the details but we immediately started looking for a new pediatrician. It was an allergist who diagnosed this and I had made the appt with the allergist despite our ped saying it was definitely not a food issue. So research is important, I would say.

I hope not. :-( My husband and I are already lactose-intolerant, so I hope he doesn't have that or something else. We see our ped this week for his two month visit, so we'll definitely be discussing this with her. 

[tjjazzy]

green poo can be overactive letdown if you're BFing. not sure about pumping. kellymom.com might help with that answer.

i can't wait to get to about 6 months to get past this infant stage. it's so hard on me. but at 6 months i want time to go slowly bc i know she's going to be so cute and fun.