Feb 2013 DDC Postpartum Thread « Back to Group Discussions

[Adaline'sMama]

Hi and welcome to the other side! Our journey throughout pregnancy together has been awesome, so let's keep it going as we deal with the changes and first issues that arise postpartum. Post here about how you are feeling, how your little one is doing, and post tons of pics for the mamas-in-waiting to ooh and aah over. I know there's an introduction thread that will link to our birth stories, but I wanted a place for PP support for the ladies in our DDC. 

Do you feel comfortable with/ are you happy with your birth experience?

How are things going with your LO?

How is nursing/feeding going?

How are you feeling, both physically and emotionally?

What's going on at home?

[Brambleberry]

Oh my word, Holly.  Your new avatar photo is the cutest ever!  I had to go check out the full-size version in your profile to be sure those weren't Ada's dolls.  A basket full of baby cuteness!

(sorry to be off topic!)

[Chloe'sMama]

Not on the other side yet, but wanted to say hi Holly!  Let us know how the twins are doing!!!!  

PLEASE post the scrumptious baby photos.  Since i now feel like this baby will never come (ha ha.... Still only 38+4 and both girls went right to 40 weeks), I need some baby love!

[Adaline'sMama]

Wendy and Callie, born Jan 4, 2013

Do you feel comfortable with/ are you happy with your birth experience?

I wish it hadnt happened so early -that they'd baked for a few more weeks :) I'm happy with my birth, but I do feel like I was a big, huge baby after birth. I should have just let my nurses and friend to a good fundal massage on me so that all the clots came out immediately. I really hate not being in control of every.single.thing, and it was hard for me to deal with my body having the upper hand on me for several hours after the labor and delivery was over and done with. 

How are things going with your LO?

Wendy has gained 1 lb, and Callie has gained 1 lb, 2 oz above their birth weights. They had both lost over half a pound at 4 days old, so their total gain has been around a pound and a half in the past three weeks. Wendy is weighing in at 5 lbs, 10 oz and Callie 5 lbs, 8 oz. So, they are both still teeny tiny. They are regulating their own temperatures now, as well as beginning to kind of "wake up" and look around a little more. They are both sleeping in their own cribs, with the apnea monitors that we were sent home with (we have had a previous SIDS loss), and that is going pretty well. Very few false alarms. 

How is nursing/feeding going?

Not too well. Both babies are still not really nursing. As preemies, they just could not latch at birth, and they are being bottle fed my pumped milk, which means Im spending hours and hours and hours at the pump every day. I hate it. I cant wait until they are weighing a little more and we can really work with them to get them on the boob. Right now, they are still so small and they get so exhausted trying to nurse, that they wind up falling asleep at the breast or burning more calories than they are consuming. So for now we are keeping them on scheduled bottled feedings. They are eating 3-4 oz of breastmilk every 4 hours, it's the same schedule they were on in the nicu. Since they are gaining weight at such a rapid rate, I cant really argue about it right now. 

How are you feeling, both physically and emotionally?

I had no tearing, and the babies were fairly small, so physically Im feeling great. I have some stretch marks on my belly that Im not crazy about, but it's a small price to pay, right?. I have lost all the pregnancy weight, but Im still holding on to about 20 lbs from my past two pregnancies that I want to get rid of. I still have a small amount of lochia, but nothing substantial for a couple of weeks now. DH and I have been able to be intimate, which was a huge deal for us, since the twin belly had really put me off my sexual appetite for the last couple of months of pregnancy. Yesterday was my late son's birthday, and it was hard to deal with that, but so much easier with the girls' than I thought it would be. Overall, Im much less of an emotional trainwreck than I'd anticipated. I can honestly say that getting pregnant immediately was the best thing I could have done after Charlie's death.

What's going on at home?

Home is awesome. The NICU was a 10 day stay, so now that we are home, we are being lazy and cuddling with our kiddos every day. DH is a landscaper, so he is home right now with me. We have a very small stream of guests visiting us (Espri, I know you are HUGE and it might be an uncomfortable drive, but you are welcome to come anytime!) and it's lovely. We've kept our house very warm with wood heat, and Ive been sitting in my undies a lot because of how warm we've had to keep it for the babes. DH has been a huge help, and DD is adjusting fairly well. All in all, it's pretty good, you know - for never sleeping :)

And, here are some pictures for you:

2 weeks old. Callie on the left, Wendy on the right.

Me, with the girls. Wendy on the left, Callie on the right. (taken today)

Adaline with her sisters the day they came home (the day she met them). 

Callie on the left, Wendy on the right (two weeks, three days old)

Wendy on the bottom, Callie on the top

And Brambleberry, just for you:

This is Wendy, the day she was released from the NICU with Adaline's 12'' Corolle doll next to her in the carseat to show how little she was. Needless to say, we've only left the house twice since they were released and both times were for doctor visits. 

Edited for poor grammar and the wrong birthdate. Sleep is hard to come by, forgive me. 

Edited by Adaline'sMama - 1/27/13 at 7:58pm

[rachieface]

Holly, those pictures are beautiful. The doll one is pretty crazy. I'm glad you are all babymooning at home now, and I hope you'll be able to get them to the breast soon enough to get rid of the stress of pumping.

Good thread. I'm very much looking forward to being able to answer those PP questions....

[etsdtm99]

thanks for the update Holly!! LOVE the pictures, your girls are adorable!! that doll picture is amazing! (we have several of those dolls)
 

[kat216]

The girls are so beautiful! I have a twin sister myself, and it is such a wonderful and unique relationship. I hope you continue to enjoy this time!

[loveandgarbage]

Loved reading your update, Holly. Your daughters are all so precious! And glad to hear you're doing okay emotionally.

[Gillmoro]

Holly, thank you so much for the update. It's nice to see what we all have to look forward to. You and all your girls are looking so beautiful! I'm glad the girls were able to help you through your son's birthday. Hope you can BF soon and forget about pumping! Hugs and happy babymooning!

[Brambleberry]

Thanks, Holly, for all the pictures and the update!  This inspires me to start thinking of good photo props too.  I'm sticking close to home these days, but we'll definitely have to get together once my babies are here too!

[sweetestday]

Do you feel comfortable with/ are you happy with your birth experience?

Very. Labor was so easy and peaceful until the last hour. Even though Joel's shoulders got stuck, the midwife was able to reach in and turn him to get him out before there was too much oxygen loss. I'm so very glad she made it to this birth! 

How are things going with your LO?

He's a complete sweet heart, and very loved by his four brothers. Each baby gets so much more loving than the baby before it, because there are more kisses and snuggles to go around. :) Even nights are going well. The toddler has made an easy transition into the 7yo's bed, and co-sleeping with Joel is going great. He almost sleeps too well at night for my liking. I'm afraid my period will be back very soon.

How is nursing/feeding going?

He didn't latch on until hours after birth, but thankfully caught on quickly after that. He's very efficient, just like the other four were.

How are you feeling, both physically and emotionally?

Recovery has been pretty easy. My MIL stayed for a week after birth, and I took full advantage by resting as much as possible. My dad has come almost every day for an hour or two to spend time with the boys, or play with the big ones while I nap with the little 3. At 2 weeks pp, I'm hardly bleeding, and feel great. 

What's going on at home?

 Homeschooling is going on as before. Joel sleeps a lot which makes for plenty of time to spend on school. The 16 month old is a different story, but we still get it done. :) Winter has been rough... very cold with hardly any snow, so it's not the best for sending boys outside. I'm looking forward to spring so they can burn energy and I won't be so tempted to use computer and TV as a time burner for the boys. It just makes it worse when they are done and have all the more energy to burn. Soon we can take the baby out more and go to the YMCA to play in the gym, or go swimming.

Birth day... Joel Walker 9lb 15oz, 22 1/2 inches

Two weeks old. Holding his head up a lot and getting more observant.

[sweetestday]

Holly, your twins are amazing! So tiny <3

[Adaline'sMama]

Wow, he is beautiful!!! And huge- almost 10 lbs, that's awesome. He looks great!
I'm so glad you've been able to get rest, it seems like it would be hard o come by. Have you taken Joel anywhere yet? I'm so anxious to get out, but I'm pretty home bound with preemies.

[sweetestday]

It's been VERY cold here, so we've only ventured out three times in the past two weeks. I haven't attempted it with all 5 myself, but with my husband it's easier. Weekend drives is all, but it sure helps cure cabin fever.

[MaybeJ]

Great updates Holly and sweetestday!  Holly, I'm so glad you're doing well emotionally.  And I hear you both on the cold weather and not wanting to go out with the baby.  Our little girl is less than a week old, though.  We probably won't go out before our first out of home midwife appointment, even though I'm a bit antsy!  Sweetestday - that's great you're getting some rest!

Do you feel comfortable with/ are you happy with your birth experience?

Very!  I'm still on a high from it all.  It went quickly, smoothly and I felt very in control.  And I'm healing really well.

How are things going with your LO?

Pretty good!  She's smaller than DD1 was and lost 7% of her birth weight when checked at day 3 but her weight was up 2 oz. on day 5 so we will just keep doing what we're doing!  She has a very calm demeanor so far.  I'm hoping that persists as DD1 was quite "spirited" starting at 3 weeks until 4 months.

How is nursing/feeding going?

We had a good latch going by day 2, much better than with DD1.  Isla only nurses between 5-10 minutes at a time though.  DD1 was always like that as well.  When she got bigger, she still only nursed about 10 minutes at a time. 

How are you feeling, both physically and emotionally?

Physically I'm healing well.  Emotionally much better than with DD1 (there is a theme here!) but I get weepy in the evenings.  DD1 is adjusting very well to a new baby in the house but I still feel guilty when I'm with one girl or the other.  And sleep isn't great right now.  Working on that.

What's going on at home?

Sadly DD1 is quite sick.  She has had a fever for the last couple of days and today she seemed particularly miserable and she just screamed and thrashed around this morning until my DH could get her to go back to sleep.  She's been sleeping most of the day away.  If she still seems miserable later this afternoon, I think I'm going to get DH to take her to a walk in clinic.  I'm worried she might have an infection of some kind.  She's never had anything like this or antibiotics in her 2.5 years.  Bad timing but what can you do!

[Adaline'sMama]

MabeyJ- I hear you on hoping for the calm demeanor to stick around :)

Bumping for newly pp mamas!

[odinsmama]

Originally Posted by Adaline'sMama 

Do you feel comfortable with/ are you happy with your birth experience?

How are things going with your LO?

How is nursing/feeding going?

How are you feeling, both physically and emotionally?

What's going on at home?

Okay I'm not holding a baby at the moment, so I'll type as much as I can.  :)

Birth was good.  Labor was 12 hours total.  The easiest, gradual progression to 10 cm I've ever had, but then baby was still at zero station.  So I did some gentle pushing to bring her down during contrax.  Once she was lower things got super intense.  It was by far the most difficult pushing phase I've endured.  It was really nothing like my other births at that point.  I felt like I couldn't push effectively.  Kept pushing vaginally even though I know I'm not supposed to and it's doing nothing.  Had to force myself to bear down correctly and it was HARD and painful and felt really impossible.

DH was a great support, helping me in the several positions I had to try to get through it.  My mw was great coaching me through the very last of the pushing, telling me to do little pushes through the burning so I could keep stretching and not tear.  It totally worked.  I tore with my boys and didn't this time.  

Baby wasn't breathing when she came out but the cord was still pulsing.  Mw did some suction and baby took a breath but only one.  Mw turned on the oxygen and just held the tubes under her nose and she was all good after that.

Baby is doing really well at 5 days old.  I don't want to get my hopes up that she'll be an easy baby but she's been easy so far.  

Nursing is going well.  Had a plugged duct and DH went out and got me some lecithin. Did all the hot compresses and massage in the shower.  But I think what really helped was using a vibrator (I used a small bullet type, you can also use an elec toothbrush) on the hard area.  I did this before and while she was nursing and just press it in and roll slowly toward the nipple.

I'm feeling pretty good emotionally.  Had a little breakdown one night that felt like exhaustion plus pain (the afterpains plus hemorrhoids) and have felt fine since getting a bit more sleep.  Physically the only problem I'm having is the HFH (hemorrhoids from he'll!).  I was really feeling the afterpains radiate into my rectum so I'm hoping that the HFH will heal now that the pains have gone.  I'm trying all sorts of stuff but it's very slow going and hard to see if they're getting better or not.  Ouch!!!

At home everyone but the baby and I are sick.  So I'm not getting the help I really need, but we're surviving.  My MIL will be here any minute now and she'll be a great help.  So now we're just praying the baby, my MIL and I don't get sick. 

Dh may have strep.  The test came back "possibly positive", whatever the hell that means.  He's been on the abx over 24 hours and feeling worse.  He didn't sleep at all last night from the pain.  I'm trying not to freak out at the possibility of mono (he had some major fatigue the week before baby got here) and just see how he's doing tomorrow.

and baby's awake.  :)

[Adaline'sMama]

Odinsmama-

what's the word? Did your DH have strep?

[odinsmama]

Yep, DH had strep and it did finally get better.  He went back to work yesterday.  He wasn't much help here anyway, since he was so tired and in pain.  Then once he got well my MIL was already here and she's been a great help.  

DH ends up helping in ways that are very great, but not exactly helpful to me right now.  Once he was rested up he built a shelf for the living room to store blankets and our books which had been living in our bedroom.  And he started on a shelf for our art/sewing room.  So it's great, and much needed, but doesn't fill this nursing mama's belly!  So once my mil leaves I'll have to go back to my very specific requests for help.  :)

I'm feeling pretty good but had a sudden bout of sciatica as well as hemorrhoid pain last night.  Only thing I did differently was to sit in the office chair for 15 minutes to pay bills.

and now I'm sick with, hopefully, what the boys had.  Baby is a little bit stuffy but only at certain times, so I'm not sure if it's just normal, getting used to breathing in the dusty world, stuff or not.

[HouseofPeace]

Do you feel comfortable with/ are you happy with your birth experience?

I can honestly say that my birth was one of my hardest- it was long, and painful, and not at all what i expected on a 5th time baby with great positioning.  that said, my midwife was amazing, my husband was a great support.  and afterwards i really was grateful for all the choices and decisions we made in this birth.  my baby came out strong and healthy, and my recovery has been so easy i'm afraid to jinx it by saying now amazing i feel.  today my midwife came out and she showed me that according to her notes on the birth, i was pushing for 9 hours.  not directed, hospital pushing, but naturally pushing the baby down w/ transition ctx and fully dilated for 9 hours.  that is a hard birth.  but the baby's head wasn't even molded, and when he finally did come out, it was quick and my body handled it all very well.  So, as soon as the baby was out, i decided that it was a hard but blessedly healthy birth.   and my first birth, which didn't end up w/ me holding and snuggling a new little baby for weeks, was far worse!!!

How are things going with your LO?

he's an ANGEL.  he sleeps on my chest most of the day and night (or on my lap so i have hands), nurses like a champ, and is such a blessedly chill and easy-going little man.  so blissfully happy and dazed.

How is nursing/feeding going?

great- my left boob thinks it's going to solve world hunger single-handedly.  it's not milk yet, but the colostrum i just pumped off to ease the engorgement was 4 full oz... and it was still going.  he slurps a bit, so i have to pop a finger in to adjust his lips sometimes, but he glugs happily and i'm happy to have such a dedicated little eater.

How are you feeling, both physically and emotionally?

last night had a full-on melt-down around 11:30 when i was basically just passed into deep sleep and baby woke up yet again to nurse.  hubby just laid there, and was saying 'well what do you want me to do?' and i was just so tired since all my sleeping since birth has been cat-napping w/ baby on belly.  i really would love a session of deep sleep, but don't forsee one for a while....but got a nice 2 1/2 hour stretch last night (sitting up on couch w/ baby nestled on my chest) and felt more human this morning.  i'm tired, fat, floppy, engorged, and afraid to be too nice to my husband for fear that i might cause frustrations w/ him.  but i'm so happy to have my baby, and feeling totally euphoric in between times of feeling totally like a useless lump.  physically- my lady parts had a blessedly easy birth, my hemorrhoids (which spent 9 hours being pressed way out) have mostly recovered, and the pushing was so quick and w/out any tearing so that peeing and going to the bathroom have stopped being painful.  i feel hormonal and achy.  but considering how i felt for those 12 hours, it's really not bad!

What's going on at home?

Hubby has been cooking for me, and i need to be gentler on him.  kids left the house today, so i had quiet time and laid down w/out baby which i desperately needed.  i cleaned all the toilets (birthing at home has some downsides) and am putting away laundry today.  we're having a houseguest starting tomorrow, but i'm not the hostess.  in-laws will be here to help out Monday.  basically, i'm on baby duty and that's all, which is all i can handle.  i keep sending hubby out to work-out, and just get out b/c he's not a stay-at-home and needs his time to DO things that he can't do around here w/ small people demanding his soul at all hours.  but he goes out during naptime so theoretically, it's still just me and baby.... i need to rest better, but have a hard time unwinding.  in fact, i'm pretty uptight and need to just ease up on myself and husband more, but feel so responsible for things!