Post-Partum May Mamas - how are you feeling?

[~*max*~]

Hey PP may mamas. Just wondering how everyone is feeling these days, physically & emotionally. Perhaps we could share some pp recovery/coping tips.

Physically, I am just starting to feel a lot better. My PSD is getting better each day. I can do most basic things now, like roll over & get out of bed, lift one leg to get dressed, etc. And peri-wise, that is a lot better too. I think once my stitches disolve (I tore in an old scar site) I will feel great. Anyone know how long this takes? I cannot remember from my other births. When I get a decent nights sleep I feel on top of the world. When I don't, I just try to get by.

Emotionally, I am so happy & relieved that my stressful pregnancy & delivery is over. Having another baby seems like a piece of cake - except when I have all four little ones alone, the baby is crying, the 2 year old is demanding, the 4 & 6 year olds are fighting, etc. - then it gets a little hairy. But for the most part, life is good!

How 'bout the rest of y'all?

[Throkmorton]

I'm feeling surprisingly well for 8 days post-c/s, although frustrated that I am still limited in my activities. I feel kinds useless sitting on the couch while DH gets home from work, throws a couple loads of laundry on, cleans the living room and empties the dishwasher.
DS is doing well too, and isn;t showing too many signs of jealousy towards his little sister, thank goodness.

[ecoteat]

I've had a few weepy days, but overall I am blissfully happy. My weakest times are during the couple of hours between when I want to sleep at night and when Phoebe wants to. Sometimes I feel lonely when I'm the only one who can get her to REALLY fall asleep since the only thing that seems to work at that point is nursing. Walking, rocking, and bouncing will soothe her and get her almost asleep, but in the end it's the boob that finishes her off. The past couple nights, though, now that I've come to expect this, I'm trying to have a different attitude and appreciate the special time we have together. Everyone always says they grow up to fast, so I want to cherish every little thing about her before she changes.

Physically, my stitches seem to be healing OK and are only sore when I'm too active. The MWs said it would be a couple weeks before the stitches dissolved. I'm tired, of course, but slowing down to a baby's pace and taking naps helps with that. Breastfeeding is going great, so my nipples are pretty happy right now, although the MW stopped by today and noticed some thrush in Phoebe's mouth. I'm hoping we can squash that before she passes it to me!

[Peppamint]

We're doing well, like you said Max... it gets overwhelming when all three kids want something at once, but that's to be expected. Neither of the older children are showing signs of jealousy, so that's a relief- and I hope it lasts!

Physically, I feel great. I'm 10 days pp and I think I may be done bleeding, but maybe not :. I bled for 2w6d after ds' birth and bled/spotted for 6 six weeks after dd1's birth... seems like recovery is a lot easier after my gentle births vs. the hospital induction! My PSD is bothering me a tad bit today, we went to the mall and walked around plus ran errands at a couple of stores so did a lot of walking.

Emotionally, I'd say I'm doing pretty darn good considering the circumstances. I haven't had any help except one meal brought by a friend (well, my parents are buying us dinner tonight! ), in addition to the fact that dh is doing some extra work and isn't home until late in the evenings... I get frustrated with the older kids mostly, when they intentionally make big messes- things like that. My mom had intended to help me more, but has been busy with a sick grandma who just got out of the hospital with a botched surgery and my sick great-grandma in the nursing home.

Life is good though, I have three beautiful children and a fabulous dh!

[momz3]

Physically I'm doing suprisingly well 2 weeks later. After my c section, my incision is doing well. If I do feel pain, its mostly in my back from the spinal I was given. Emotionally with the death of my daughter, its been hard. Some nights I cry myself to sleep, but I know that its okay to express myself in that way. I'd say all in all I'm doing ok.

[Marylizah]

I delivered on May 12th and felt almost back to normal 3 days later, once the sore muscles were gone (my mw gave me a sheet to pull while I pushed, and my arms and back were sooooo sore afterwards!).

Once my two stitches came out on the 17th, I was almost 100%.

Now, two weeks later, aside from my sensitive nipples and occasional engorgement when Geo sleeps late (oh, and the stretch marks!) I would almost swear I never had a baby!

[Peppamint]

Originally Posted by momz3

Physically I'm doing suprisingly well 2 weeks later. After my c section, my incision is doing well. If I do feel pain, its mostly in my back from the spinal I was given. Emotionally with the death of my daughter, its been hard. Some nights I cry myself to sleep, but I know that its okay to express myself in that way. I'd say all in all I'm doing ok.

[Sydnee]

Originally Posted by momz3

Physically I'm doing suprisingly well 2 weeks later. After my c section, my incision is doing well. If I do feel pain, its mostly in my back from the spinal I was given. Emotionally with the death of my daughter, its been hard. Some nights I cry myself to sleep, but I know that its okay to express myself in that way. I'd say all in all I'm doing ok.

Hugs, and MUCH love to you, mama

[luckylady]

momz3 --- for you.

Physically I feel great - bleedings comes and goes, nursing is going great. No signs of PPD...

I do feel overwhelmed trying to meet everyone's needs. the transition from 1 to 2 kids is so far, really hard. I know I am only 17 days in - by 6 months when teh baby is out of the "in arms" phase it will be easier. I hope. There are just some things I can't do in a sling.

*sigh*

[strawberryprincess]

Originally Posted by Marylizah

Now, two weeks later, aside from my sensitive nipples and occasional engorgement when Geo sleeps late (oh, and the stretch marks!) I would almost swear I never had a baby!

this describes me too (esp the stretch marks: )
i can't believe how well i feel 10days PP. i tore just a tiny bit and didn't need any stitches, and except for the bleeding, i feel completely healed down there. i really feel ready to go back to the gym and start exercising...i think i should wait a few more weeks though--no sense in rushing things.

as far as transitioning to two kids, it's been going very smoothly so far. ds is a pretty easy baby, and i feel like i understand his patterns fairly well so far. dd has been incredibly patient for a 21/2 y.o. i do feel some guilt that i can't spend more time with each child individually. i hate that ds has to cry a little longer before i can get to him, while i'm in the middle of helping dd with something. she is really trying to get involved with the caring of the baby. it's so sweet how she tries to help out with diaper changes, and she's offered to nurse him on a few occasions

[JayGee]

Physically, I can't believe I gave birth only 6 days ago. I didn't even have a skid mark and you'd never know anything came out down there. No pain, nothing. I'm still amazed as I tore quite badly with DD. My belly is still looking about 4 months pregnant, but I totally expected that. And, don't hate me, but I've lost the 14 pounds I gained during pregnancy. Now to lose the additional 20 I was sporting when I got pregnant!

Emotionally, the breastfeeding issues are totally draining me. Pumping, and nursing, and bottlefeeding is a never ending cycle. And every once in a while it just hits me that she may NEVER breastfeed fully, and my dreams of finally self-weaning a toddler will never come to fruition. And then I burst into tears until DH brings me back to the reality that I'm doing the best I possibly can for her, right now, and it's not my fault that she's having these nursing issues.

My two older children are doing well overall. DS (4) has been a little testy. DD (2) LOVES her Baby Kirsten so much and is constantly singing to her and trying to maul her face !

Meanwhile, I'm paralyzed with terror just thinking about the day my Mom and Dad head back to NH and DH goes back to work! AGGGGG!!!!!

[Smithie]

I'm one week PP as of today!

Things have been fine, but only because dh and our postpartum doula have been so on the ball. I had some tearing and have needed to spend a lot of the day sitting down, and my 2 y.o. ds has been a real terror these past few days. I know it's a normal response to the massive change in his life, but it's been hard to see him so stressed out My dh has been putting massive energy into parenting him.

My dd is sooooooo easy to take care of, it's amazing how difficult I found it to learn to take care of ds when he was new. I had a lot more pain in the weeks after ds was born, both from nursing and from my tears.

I'm probably only 5 lbs. or so over my pre-pregnancy weight, but still pretty darn flabby around the midsection. It's going to be another depressing swimsuit season - why do I always give birth at the beginningof the summer??? I really want to exercise, but I don't think that will be a possibility for several weeks.

I am not going to feel comfortable wrangling ds and dd by myself until I am fully healed, so lucky for me my mom is coming for 2 weeks when dh goes back to work, then I'm going back with her to visit my family for 3 more weeks. Surely the bleeding will be over and the stitches will be healed by THEN.

[Snowdrift]

Pretty good, mostly. We haven't really figured out nursing in bed yet, I *always* sit cross-legged and am finding that a hard habit to break and I've had to go back to classes, so predictable, I'm still bleeding a bit and am still pretty sore.

But no bad emotional signs so far, which was a big worry. I'm down below my pre-preg weight by about five pounds, which is a good thing. Heck, if I lose another thirty or so, I won't even be overweight! Of course a bit of a floppy belly, but nothing big. I definitely don't look 12 days post-partum.

Wishing my milk supply would regulate, since nursing isn't nearly as exhausting as trying to keep myself free of puddles of milk everywhere. It is a bit draining always having to worry about something dripping somewhere. It may take a while though since I'm pumping daily in addition to nursing.

I'm frustrated about the bleeding and soreness though. I feel fine, but am trying to take it easy since the bleeding started getting heavier again a couple of days ago. It's hard to slow down when I've got so much to do and really feel fine. I can't do much about the soreness though. The only solution would be to spend more time in bed and less time sitting, but with both of us more comfortable nursing sitting up and with classes and commutes and all that ther'es just no way. I guess it'll get better eventually.

[Smithie]

I've been using Lily Padz for the leaking. They are awesome.

[~*max*~]

tie-dyed, just a few thoughts regarding your soreness, do you have a donut pillow to sit on? I got one from the hospital, but you can also get even better ones from medical supply stores. They make a world of difference. I couldn't sit at all initially w/out it. How about peri-care? Is there anything that helps alleviate some of the pain? I do this routine where I use a peri bottle w/warm/hot water and a couple drops of lavendar EO for cleaning & healing, then witch hazel pads for cooling & shrinking swelling, lastly hydrocortizone cream for swelling, itch & pain. It really makes a big difference. I do it at least several times a day, more if I am still uncomfortable. I am also taking prescription ibuprofin for pain. I have heard homeopathic arnica works quite well if you want to go a more natural route. Also, I am taking extra vitamin C, as it promotes healing as well.

I hope you are feeling better soon. (I can't imagine sitting in class after having just given birth. Kudos to you!) Take care.

[~*max*~]

Just wanted to share another "pp survival tip" - Rescue Remedy is incredibly helpful for those times when you are feeling really stressed & overwhelmed. It works great for children as well.

(Rescue Remedy, for those who are unfamiliar w/it, is an herbal tincture or mouth spray that you can buy at your HFS. It is safe & all natural.)

[Peppamint]

Originally Posted by Smithie

I've been using Lily Padz for the leaking. They are awesome.

: I used them last time with great success. I've been using them intermittently, but it seems like my body has finally figured out after three babies that I only need milk for one baby.

[mamacatsbaby]

nak

5 weeks pp and I feel pretty darn good. Still trying to figure out all my babe's cues and such. I do a lot of zigging when I should be zagging. I feel terrible about his tummy issues, though I think it's harder on me than him a lot of times. I'm going to try eliminating or limiting dairy to see if that helps.

Michelle, I noticed your post on the Reflux Mamas thread in Life With A Babe. Does Audrey still vomit when you burp her? DS has thrown up about 5 times in the last 5 weeks. Maybe he overfills his little tummy?. : Milk will come out of his nose when his food comes back up too. He doesn't cry or appear to be in pain and doesn't really have reflux symptoms.

I'm trying so hard to be a good mama for him you guys and some days it's great, I know all is well, I'm . And other times I just don't know what the hell I'm doing.

But all in all things are just lovely here.

[calendulamama]

Originally Posted by ~*max*~

Just wanted to share another "pp survival tip" - Rescue Remedy is incredibly helpful for those times when you are feeling really stressed & overwhelmed. It works great for children as well.

Ya- rescue remedy has really helped here- for me when i'm overwhelmed and for dh when he's had a hard day with breastfeeding or this nasty diaper rash i rub a little into his feet or hands and it really seems to help.

I'm feeling pretty good pp, recovery was way easier than i expected, especially after the marathon labour... and my baby is nursing now which makes everything feel sunny and bright!

[Peppamint]

Originally Posted by mamacatsbaby

Michelle, I noticed your post on the Reflux Mamas thread in Life With A Babe. Does Audrey still vomit when you burp her? Sayon's thrown up about 5 times in the last 5 weeks. Maybe he overfills his little tummy?. : Milk will come out of his nose when his food comes back up too. He doesn't cry or appear to be in pain and doesn't really have reflux symptoms.

She's only thrown up once more (for a total of five times in 13 days) and hasn't spit up at all since since I posted in that thread. She doesn't have any reflux signs that I see, except for the restlessness and throaty noises, both of which go away if I get a good burp out of her so I think she just needs to be burped mid-feed or anytime she pulls off to get a good breath. Last time she threw up she was just lying in my arms and it was spurting out of her mouth like a fountain.

My OAL and oversupply are not nearly as bad as they were with the first two babies, and I'm quite thankful for that because if it was as bad as before I don't know what poor Audrey would do! Maybe Sayon is the same as Audrey and just gets overfull... :