Postpartum check in/chat - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[RosieL]

Sfmb - are your hips back to normal? I really hope mine can shrink back...I really hate clothes shopping. I also hate the hip belt my friend sent me, and I'm skeptical of its claimed effects anyway. Fingers crossed. So I'm guessing you much prefer the VBAC recovery to the CS recovery? :

Tanya - I did the exact same thing after seeing some green poop. My MW then suggested I pay less attention to poop. but the block feeding was really important to reduce engorgement. Yesterday (after the engorgement ceased) I stopped looking at the time and now just nurse whatever side feels heavier. I rarely switch sides because he doesn't seem to need it. I am adjusting daily. This process is painful but fascinating.

SFMB - aren't you an LLL leader? If you have any advice, I'd welcome it.

Viv - One of my nipples was similarly ravaged. To the point where it would bleed. I focused on the latch...the first couple seconds were always painful but if it was a good latch it would stop hurting quickly. But I think the real solution to the scabs was diligently covering them in milk and air drying, then triple nipple cream. My MW called in a script for it and the stuff is INCREDIBLE.

Now I think we are latching well, supply is more regulated, positions getting more numerous and comfortable, but Jeebus my boobs feel like they have served as punching bags. Residual mastitis issues? Not enough support (been wearing tanks with shelf bras)? Ugh!


***all the above should be Qualified by the fact that I'm 13 days into motherhood. Lol

[flavorfull1]

Rosie you are a pro already!  Don't sell yourself short, that was some good advice! my hips went back by 6 weeks. took some time but i was surprised they went back. it takes a while for my boobs to feel normal after mastitis and yours are still figuring out the whole feeling of lactation.

chiro- wow you are working so hard!

viv- I agree, good latch is the number one thing. milk on them is also super healing. I am sorry, it is so hard when you cringe every time you get ready to feed your little one. has your LO been looked at for tongue tie?  I only suggest it because that is what DS has and it was super painful.

ashley- nice job, i bet it feels awesome to be in normal clothes. i am not there at all but i was back to pre pg clothes at 6 weeks w ds so i am hoping to by then. 

tanya- so glad you are feeling so good. any news on your dh coming home any time soon?

I am very impressed w you ladies going to work already and solo parenting. i have the luxury of at least one more week of dh being home. i sit on my butt and just nurse. dd was up a lb from birth wt at 1.5 weeks old.  my sister leaves tomorrow which makes me sad but ok too. i will miss her but i am looking forward to being just our family. it will be hard on ds bc he has had a constant companion to go to the park w every day.  we went to a garden/park today and i walked a lot. i got tired but it was only too much for the last 15 min. i seriously need to get back to the chiro bc my hips need some help. all in all, i really feel pretty good. i am wearing a postpartum support belt bc last time my back hurt a ton and i have been shocked at how much it has helped my belly go down. it is not super comfortable or pretty but not a big deal either so i fig i will wear it until i just dont want to. well i am naking and my hand is tired :)  i will catch up more later. i really think this thread is super impt for supporting each other.

[sunflwrmoonbeam]

Rosie: Yup, my hips are back to normal. I'm back to all my normal measurements, but + an inch or two on the waist. I'm amazed at how quickly I recover. My c-section recovery was ridiculously fast as well, but yes the VBAC is easier. Sitting up, side-lying nursing, laughing, etc. were all much harder with the c-section for obvious reasons, but this time around it's hurt to stand and laugh (or sneeze) and after too long of standing everything down there feels heavy. I'm just now able to stand for a long time without pain.

And yes, i"m a LLL Leader. :) It's pretty normal for antibiotics to work quite quickly, especially with mastitis. Block feeding is great  for reducing supply, managing an overactive let down, and helpful for later mastitis recovery. When you first get mastitis the last thing you wanna do is let your milk back up in your breasts even more. Rosie, I'm not sure what you're wanting advice on. Why your breasts hurt? I'd need more details about the type of pain, where in the breast and when it occurs vis a vis feedings before I could say anything intelligent on it.

Vivica: YOW! Lansinoh or moist gel pads should help with healing the wound. Usually wounds like that are caused by a shallow latch or a problem with pumping. Also ibuprofen is totally fine for breastfeeding and can help take the edge off the pain.

[piratemere]

Back in pre-pregnancy clothes?!?!  Not a chance for me for MONTHS!  Seriously.  I weighed myself two days after I had the baby and was still 50 lbs over my pre-pregnancy weight.  Given, my milk had come in and my boobs were the size of watermelons, so likely heavier than the baby was, but still, 50 lbs!  Baby has had a terrible rash all over his body since day 2 as well. At first I just thought it was a reaction to the world - I've got terrible skin too, but it's gotten better and worse each day, and I think it must be what I'm eating. Tomorrow I'm going on a dairy/wheat/egg/soy/processed food free diet to see if I can help him out. That should help me out with the 50 lbs, too!  I'm going to try to do completely raw, (which I did for the 6 months before I got pregnant) but I'm guessing that I will need to supplement calories to accommodate breastfeeding. 

As far as recovery goes, I am still blown away by how good I feel after this birth compared to the first two.  Besides being tired and moving a little slower than usual, I feel better than I have in ages.  My pelvic floor feels fantastic - gone is the heavy painful feeling I've had since DS2s birth.  I have honestly had no pain at all.  I have really had to make myself take it easy.  I am 10 days out and going to keep close to home until baby is 2 weeks.  I may be crazy, but now that I finally know how wonderful it can be, I'm already excited to have my next baby.  Good thing my period never comes back until well past a year, or I would have two babies very close in age!

Breastfeeding is a little weird this time. Baby starts out just sucking once, pulling off, sucking again once, pulling off.  I think he's trying to get past my letdown, because once that slows down he latches on just fine and goes for it.  It's annoying though, especially at night, because I have to really pay attention that he gets a good latch with all his off and ons.  It seems worse on my right side, and it definitely hurts more on that side, too.  Now that my milk has settled, I think it is getting better.

Baby still has not name.  We are still debating between three, and I have no idea how to decide. I guess that we just need to do it and move on... but it is such a huge decision, I just can't do it with out being perfectly sure, and I'm not sure if I'm going to get there.

DH only took three days off work - the day baby was born and then the Thursday and Friday of that week.  I'm jealous of you who have had your SOs home for longer than that.  Luckily my sister lives down the street from me and was happy to take my boys off my hands for a bit every day this week. I got a few naps in with baby and feel pretty good.  I had one really bad day with my boys - lots of yelling on both our parts - but that night I talked it through with them (mostly the older one) and we decided that we would both try to be nicer to each other, and the rest of the week has been really good. I think it was a little bit of the "baby blues" coming out of me, and adjustment to the new little one from them.  I hate days like that...

[RosieL]

Ashley - I guess I didn't have anything really specific, just thought "I could be soon really dumb things that will affect me later one, I hope others feel free to jump in and make suggestions even when not specifically asked."

Last week I started nursing one side for a few minutes then switching, to make sure he got both sides. I'm pretty sure this self imposed switching (instead of baby-led) led to my engorgement and mastitis.

Jenny - eek! Sorry about the rash. What does it look like? Let us know how raw goes.

I second flavirfuls's notion; I'm really impressed with those of you doing this alone, and with other kids around to care for! I would NOT be capable of that at this juncture.

[RosieL]

Uhhh, side note. I noticed a bruise on my areola this morning. Looked a little closer and realized its a pint-sized hickey!!! No idea when that happened, but wtf Odin?

[sunflwrmoonbeam]

Rosie, it sounds to me like you're doing fine. Still adjusting and learning, but there's nothing you've said that's made me think you'll have any long term problems. I've had the hickey on my boob before too. If they don't get the nipple the first time they latch and try to latch onto anything else (arm, boob, areola) you get a hickey. It can be really funny sometimes :)
 

[piratemere]

Day 1 of Raw Food, and I made it through breakfast!  No, I'm not complaining.  I'm actually excited to have some motivation to do it.  Baby's rash is little white hives all over his body.  It's not like baby acne, which are hard and usually just on their face and head, they are tiny, but full of puss, and easy to pop.  They don't seem to bother him, but what would when all you do is sleep?  Two days when it was particularly bad I had eaten something with MSG in it the night before - so I think that may be one of the culprits, but I'm guessing dairy  and wheat are in there too. My plan is to do raw for two months regardless, and then introduce things back in and see if he outgrows some of the sensitivities. 

Rosie, it sounds like you're figuring things out, just like all new moms do!  Good job on listening to your body and your baby and doing what feels right.  You'll do beautifully! 

Question for everyone - let's say I have absolutely no vaginal pain or discomfort - it there anything wrong with using tampons instead of pads?  I absolutely hate pads, and hate the yuck inside of me.  I was thinking of using some slender all natural cotton tampons with just a panty liner to catch anything else. My midwife was appauled when I suggested it, but couldn't really come up with any reason not to, besides that it would be uncomfortable, and that I should take it easy on my parts.  I don't think it will hurt in the least, so is there anything wrong with it?  Let me know what you think. 

[sunflwrmoonbeam]

Tampons are more likely to cause infections, which I believe is part of why it's not recommended after a miscarriage or birth. Also I figure anything internal won't work since the vagina's all stretched out. I'm SO sick of pads too, but I'm too afraid to use my divacup right now.
 

[Thursday Girl]

yeah, i  thought of using my cup but wasn't so sure it was a good idea. pads were so uncomfortable and were causing pain, i guess from rubbing on my stuff. i am wearing just underwear now, all ones i don't mind staining.

[rik8144]

Wow, Chiro! You are making me feel lazy over here. 

Nipples...well, mine were in a bad state until I got her latch corrected. She is too anxious and won't open very wide. This of course lead to a clogged duct that took up a wedge of my right breast from the 9 o'clock to 12 o'clock position. It just started to clear today after I started Lecithin last night. I tried everything before that. I turned the corner today while sitting here topless with a heating pad and wet compress on my boob. I look down and milk is leaking out of a part of the nipple that previously saw no action. I was so excited I called my DH just to tell him! LOL!

Hip belt, yep, I have one. I just remembered it and put it on a few min ago. It seems too cumbersome to wear out of the house but I guess I could wear it around here. I will give it a few days. If it helps I will be super happy!

I took her to DD1 soccer game this morning. I used my new Moby D wrap and I love it! She is so comfy and her head rest right on my chest. No one can touch her or breathe on her. It's great! I am getting antsy sitting around the house, but with this plugged duct thing I'm not ready to NIP.

The big kids are so in love with her. I think the only phrase they ever say to me anymore is "Can I hold the baby?" 

Annnd, she still has no name in my head. I mean, she has a name on paper but it is three names. One I liked, one DH liked, and my middle name. I was all set to call her 'my' name but I am giving DH's name a chance. So, she gets called beautiful and baby a lot. 

I can't believe it has already been 6 days. I'm not ready for time to fly. 

[rik8144]

Oh, Post partum pads....yes, I hate them too! I am so sick of leaking anyway. I wish I could use my diva cup.

[usagi629]

Well, I'm doing pretty well... now. I'm on day 6 pp. Still sore where my stitches are (2nd degree tear) and not sleeping super great yet (no surprise there!), but I definitely feel like some things are easier with this one. Afterpains were a h-o-r-r-i-b-l-e this time around, but that's mostly all over and done with now. DD is nursing well. My milk came in between day 4 and 5, so there were some adjustments on her part, getting accustomed to the change. No serious engorgement so far, or issues or serious pains. My left side is a little tender from all the use, but that's a bit to be expected I think.

The only "issue" I'm having is DD falling asleep at the breast after only nusing a super short period. Especially at night, but also during the day. She'll nurse less than 10 minutes and pass out. Sometimes less than 5 minutes. I'll burp her and try to rouse her, but sometimes it's of no use. So then shell wake up an hour after we sat down to nurse and want to nurse again, so then we end up nursing every hour on the hour sometimes for several hours. It's not a problem for me to nurse her that often, although it can be pretty frustrating at night when this happens. But I'm thinking there must be a solution to keeping her awake or to getting her to nurse until full before she passes out. :-?

[Aletheia]

Originally Posted by Rasa 

Emotionally I feel pretty good though had some hostility/sadness with my mom just before she left, which really tarnished an otherwise wonderful and supportive visit.  

Rasa- I'm sorry to hear this.  My mom comes on Thursday, and I'm already getting anxious about her visit.  I'm having such a nice babymoon, and I don't want it to end with emotional ick.

ThursdayGirl, you mentioned you had a very painful hemorrhoid appear after labor.  I had a couple appear- had one small one before labor, and after labor, yowsers.  They are bothering me more than my stitches.  What are folks doing to get some relief?

I'm going into PP day 5, and definitely feeling the hormones toy with my emotions.  I am lucky to have DH here with me, and yet I seem to be inventing and looking for ways in which I can say that he is not being as helpful as he could be.  It's true that he isn't the most nurturing of people, but if I need something, I can ask and he'll get it for me.  I mainly find myself wishing he could help me feel like less of a burden, but I think feeling that way is my job, not his.

[Aletheia]

Originally Posted by usagi629 

The only "issue" I'm having is DD falling asleep at the breast after only nusing a super short period. Especially at night, but also during the day. She'll nurse less than 10 minutes and pass out. Sometimes less than 5 minutes. I'll burp her and try to rouse her, but sometimes it's of no use. So then shell wake up an hour after we sat down to nurse and want to nurse again, so then we end up nursing every hour on the hour sometimes for several hours. It's not a problem for me to nurse her that often, although it can be pretty frustrating at night when this happens. But I'm thinking there must be a solution to keeping her awake or to getting her to nurse until full before she passes out. :-?

I think this is worth trying to change, even if you are up to the challenge of nursing every hour.  :)  Even if she is a super efficient nurser, 5 minutes hardly seems like enough time to reach the fattier hind milk at the top of each breast, and getting too much foremilk can make for a gassy and unsatisfied baby.  Some things that are working for my own sleepy little guy are jiggling his arms while he nurses, scratching gently in his palms with a finger nail while he nurses (more like tickling, really), playing with his ears, nursing where there isn't too much bright light or noise to cause him to shut down, nursing in the bath tub, and nursing skin to skin with me.

Good luck!

[piratemere]

Originally Posted by usagi629 

The only "issue" I'm having is DD falling asleep at the breast after only nusing a super short period. Especially at night, but also during the day. She'll nurse less than 10 minutes and pass out. Sometimes less than 5 minutes. I'll burp her and try to rouse her, but sometimes it's of no use. So then shell wake up an hour after we sat down to nurse and want to nurse again, so then we end up nursing every hour on the hour sometimes for several hours. It's not a problem for me to nurse her that often, although it can be pretty frustrating at night when this happens. But I'm thinking there must be a solution to keeping her awake or to getting her to nurse until full before she passes out. :-?

There's lots of advice out there to keep babies awake: stripping them down, tickling their toes, etc.  but the best I've found is "breast compression."  I've referenced him twice in the last few days, but Jack Newman has a great page on it: http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=doc-BC  Basically you just 'milk' yourself while you nurse, which puts more milk in baby's mouth, which keeps her awake.  If you have questions, let me know, but Newman's page is pretty good. Hope that helps!

[Thursday Girl]

aletheia- witch hazel, I was putting it on my bottom after I went to the bathroom each time. Also you can soak cottonballs in it and put them in the freezer, then after you go to the bathroom clean off and then put one of the cold cotton balls between the cheeks and just leave it there. i didn't get it but my midwife also said they had some hemorroid stuff at the birth center but I don't remember what it is...that last bit was helpful, huh? Mine had come out but now it has gone back in and my butt feels much better.

[NCMtnMama]

Originally Posted by Aletheia 

ThursdayGirl, you mentioned you had a very painful hemorrhoid appear after labor.  I had a couple appear- had one small one before labor, and after labor, yowsers.  They are bothering me more than my stitches.  What are folks doing to get some relief?

I too got some hemorrhoids and a 2nd degree tear - the tear wasn't nearly as uncomfortable. I did ice packs and colace, and then finally on the advice of my MW bought some Prep-H (Witch Hazel really didn't offer any more relief to me that the ice packs). The Prep-H helped so much - made them unnoticeable within 10 minutes, and helps shrink the tissue. It's an embarrassing trip to the drugstore, but one that I feel was well worth it. :)

Originally Posted by usagi629 

The only "issue" I'm having is DD falling asleep at the breast after only nusing a super short period. Especially at night, but also during the day. She'll nurse less than 10 minutes and pass out. Sometimes less than 5 minutes. I'll burp her and try to rouse her, but sometimes it's of no use. So then shell wake up an hour after we sat down to nurse and want to nurse again, so then we end up nursing every hour on the hour sometimes for several hours. It's not a problem for me to nurse her that often, although it can be pretty frustrating at night when this happens. But I'm thinking there must be a solution to keeping her awake or to getting her to nurse until full before she passes out. :-?

Mine does this as well, it's very frustrating. And last night she started screaming with gas pains, I'm sure because as Aletheia notes, too much foremilk can make them gassy. It was awful to see my baby in such pain. It lasted about an hour before we were able to get her calmed down. Poor kiddo. So now I'm trying to keep her semi-uncomfortable and kind of upright while she nurses so she doesn't conk out. 

[flavorfull1]

My DS was a very sleepy nurser for a long time. I had to strip him down and keep touching him to keep him awake to feed long enough.  I didn't watch a clock though and just burped him a whole lot, which he really needed.  He ended up being a frequent and short nurser anyway in the long run so it was a balance of figuring out how he liked to eat and what was a good amount. the frequent nursings are draining though.

as far as hemmis ago, what gives? i had none in pg, didnt really push that much, and now at two weeks pp it seems like i might have an internal one? painful bms and blood in stool and wiping. so annoying. i am just trying to up the water and fruit and probiotics for now but seriously stupid.

[RosieL]

Originally Posted by sunflwrmoonbeam 

Rosie, it sounds to me like you're doing fine. Still adjusting and learning, but there's nothing you've said that's made me think you'll have any long term problems. I've had the hickey on my boob before too. If they don't get the nipple the first time they latch and try to latch onto anything else (arm, boob, areola) you get a hickey. It can be really funny sometimes :)
 

Thanks. The hickey is indeed really funny. 

Originally Posted by Aletheia 

I'm going into PP day 5, and definitely feeling the hormones toy with my emotions.  I am lucky to have DH here with me, and yet I seem to be inventing and looking for ways in which I can say that he is not being as helpful as he could be.  It's true that he isn't the most nurturing of people, but if I need something, I can ask and he'll get it for me.  I mainly find myself wishing he could help me feel like less of a burden, but I think feeling that way is my job, not his.

My DH went into super DO STUFF mode. Not nurturing, but just getting stuff done. He would say "tell me what you need" and be annoyed if I asked him for a favor instead of just telling him to do it. I think sometimes the partners forget we need to feel nurtured in addition to stuff getting done...

Originally Posted by Thursday Girl 

aletheia- witch hazel, I was putting it on my bottom after I went to the bathroom each time. Also you can soak cottonballs in it and put them in the freezer, then after you go to the bathroom clean off and then put one of the cold cotton balls between the cheeks and just leave it there. i didn't get it but my midwife also said they had some hemorroid stuff at the birth center but I don't remember what it is...that last bit was helpful, huh? Mine had come out but now it has gone back in and my butt feels much better.

Tucks pads? That's what my MWs recommended. Haven't tried them yet.