Welcome, June babies! Life w/a babe chat...

[cymbeline]

:

well, out first week pp is going fairly smoothly. we're on day 6. ellie is a strong nurser, is starting to sleep off of me, pees and poops often, and is generally easy-going.

i'm ready to recover already! i had forgotten about:
- sore, aching muscles all over, esp my back --ow!
- engorgement! sore breasts -- ow!
- poor latch, cracked and bleeding nipples -- ow!
- post-partum migraine -- ow!
- afterpains fom hell -- ow!!!
- sleepless nights
- bored days

I started bleeding heavily again today and (TMI) had a couple of clots, one the size of a ping pong ball. Yesterday I had an attack of the baby blues, so I am hoping that is all it was.

We don't have family in town to help, so I am so grateful that dh is here for another 12 days. he's maxed out, tho. i'm trying not to think about life with 3 kids when he goes back to work on the 5th.

how are ya'll holding up?

[Amys1st]

Originally Posted by cymbeline

:
- afterpains fom hell -- ow!!!
- sleepless nights

W dd1 the afterpains were like ohh a slight contraction. W/ MAggie yowwwwww!!! They were quite painful. Thankfully that ended quickly

[BelgianSheepDog]

Checking in here one week one day postpartum! Aurora is a pretty easy baby so far, frankly, despite her early health problems (which seem to be a LOT better now!) She sleeps most of the day other than fussing when she needs a change or a nursey, and she has a couple of really charming awake periods where we get to look at her eyes for a while before she cries to be fed and goes back to sleep. She gets fussy in the middle of the night, usually about 4 am, and that can be frustrating because she'll want to nurse but keeps using her little fists to push the breast away, or she'll latch and unlatch, argh. But since she's so easy to care for during the day I feel like a troll complaining too much about that.

I'm having kind of a rough recovery. I had a major setback this weekend because I had to be up and around so much. My bleeding really picked back up and I was in bad shape. I actually left the hospital in a wheelchair, the ultimate irony after having successfully delivered my 9 lb baby at home a few days earlier. I'm feeling better today, physically, but emotionally I feel like I am starting to lose it. Are "baby blues" normal within the first week, as long as they go away pretty soon? Because I am just so anxious and weepy, I can hardly stand it.

[cymbeline]

Originally Posted by BelgianSheepDog

I'm feeling better today, physically, but emotionally I feel like I am starting to lose it. Are "baby blues" normal within the first week, as long as they go away pretty soon? Because I am just so anxious and weepy, I can hardly stand it.

IME, the blues last as long as the bleeding (3wks or so, in my case), and the worse the bleeding, the worse the blues (and vice versa).

At one week, I plan to still be in bed. I got mastitis both times with 1 & 2, and it was awful. This time, I'm trying to take it SUPER EASY--even though I am bored to tears. I have a stack of magazines and a couple of books.

I hope you recover soon

[coco4cloth]

My baby is 12 days old already! Can't believe it. She is doing well. Like all my children she likes the boob. Sleeping is going really well. She is sleeping with me Cloth diapering is going very well. She hasn't had a disposable touch her bum yet.

My other children are going on like nothing ever happened. Our homebirth was amazing and I still can't believe it. My bleeding was pretty much gone by day 8. Just a little bit here and there. I did tear but healed really well. I was better by day 5. My mental health is great too I'm already thinking I could do it again:

[MyLittleWonders]

We are doing good - Elliot is 8 days old already, nurses like there is no tomorrow (I think we had a major growth spurt yesterday - he was latched I think about 95% of the time!), and is just adorable. I'm recovering slowly ... I had two tears, both of which required a couple stitches ... I forgot how long it takes to get past that. I've started putting comfrey poultices on the whole area and following up with some nice calendula/plantain salve (which I keep refridgerrated so it's nice and cold!). But, in the middle of healing from giving birth, my earring hole on my left lobe (which has been closed for years), got infected and landed me in bed with a fever. Oh man was I miserable - to the point that I gave in and got antibiotics. So, now I'm taking those with massive probiotics and garlic and echinacea ... hopefully it will all heal up soon and I'll feel like a million bucks! On a happier note, my bleeding has really started to slow, which is really good. I definitely notice a difference between post-pardum having been given a shot of pitocin following delivery (two hospital births and having no pitocin and allowing my body to contract and heal on it's own.

Originally Posted by coco4cloth

I'm already thinking I could do it again:

You're nuts! (In a completely "I'm in awe that you could even think about doing all this again so soon" sort of way. ) Before Elliot's pregnancy, I thought we'd probably end up with 4 kiddos, but I seriously think I'm done now ... three boys are perfect for me. (And I so cannot think about doing any of it again yet ... from the getting pregnant part to the giving birth part!

[augustmom]

Hi, Dawson is almost a week old! He's doing great, loves the breasts and is an avid nurser. My nipples hurt so I put lansinoh and calendula ointment on them rubbing off before latch because I don't know if calendula ointment is safe for baby to digest. It helps sooth the nips.

I've cried on and off since day 3 post pardum but I feel like it's letting up a little. DH has been really helpful with dd though I've been crabby and tired and I feel pretty guilty about that.

Bleeding is pretty light so far. My incision is healing well but still feels sore.

[mcimom]

12 days old here

Mikey is a jewel. Just a few times he's actually done the "trying to talk" noises - you know those coos? He's been really alert from the start and no problems, not even a touch of jaundice! Surprises me b/c dh is A and I'm O+ so all of my girls have had mild jaundice...

He's a great nurser, a lazy latch sometimes, but nothing too awful. The first few days of dry nursing b4 the milk came in - yes - youch! but since my milk came in, much better! I've been really surprised at my milk, I'm always "full," but I rarely leak and with all 3 of my previous children, I leaked on the side that wasn't being nursed while they fed from the other breast. That's been nice for sure! Makes up for the fact that the nursing pads I ordered weeks ago still haven't come...sigh.

The bleeding hasn't been too bad, pretty much nil now 12 days later. I too drop clots the first few days. I didn't tear, but yes, youch again! How quickly you forget how tender the bottom can be! I tell you what though - two things made this time around heal much more quickly.

1) Herbal baths the first week postpartum: Calendula/Comfrey/Uva Ursi/Garlic/Sea Salt/Shepherds Purse/Lavendar. I filled a knee high nylon with the herbs. Boiled them on the stove for an hour. Added the water to the bath and squeezed out the nylon and then while I was in the bath, I sat on the filled nylon tube like a compress. Sweet relief. The herbal bath really helped Mikey's cord fall off and heal quickly too.

2) I got these feme pads - a perfect pad size insert that you can keep in the freezer and then I inserted them into my post partum pads - again sweet relief!

i'm ready to recover already! i had forgotten about:
- sore, aching muscles all over, esp my back --ow!
- afterpains fom hell -- ow!!!

These two - yes!! I couldn't believe how much my neck, head and back hurt afterwards! My lower back - that made sense given he was posterior, but the upper back/neck/head pain was a surprise! And it lasted for days.

Afterpains - ugh. They say they get worse every time. Double youch! These were easily the worst yet - hurt just as bad, if not worse than labor did.

What else? Oh - he loves the bath! I take a bath with him almost every night. He's just so quiet and still and looking around - then I take him out, and wrap him up in his cozy cacoon http://store.naturalbabies.com/store...t.asp?One=2611 and nurse him and then - yikes! dare I jinx it! - he sleeps for about 5-6 hours. He's up to nurse and diaper change just twice in the night usually.

So - I am in blissful baby bliss here. He is really an angel. And my older 3 girls are doing beautifully with him (as I expected). I just have no complaints.

Especially after the couple days of really shaky recovery after hemohraging and the resulting week of weakness due to anemia - I just feel hugely blessed to have things going so well now. God is sooooo good to me!

[mcimom]

Originally Posted by augustmom

My nipples hurt so I put lansinoh and calendula ointment on them rubbing off before latch because I don't know if calendula ointment is safe for baby to digest. It helps sooth the nips.

This is what I used the first few days - it was great - saved me from actual bleeding - they did get a little cracked, but no blood this time!

http://store.naturalbabies.com/store...t.asp?One=2535

[coco4cloth]

Originally Posted by mcimom

This is what I used the first few days - it was great - saved me from actual bleeding - they did get a little cracked, but no blood this time!

http://store.naturalbabies.com/store...t.asp?One=2535

yes that stuff is awesome!

[mountainsun]

We are 12 days old here, too. Things are going relatively well! I had forgotten how much newborns nurse - Avery has turned his nights and days around though so I have been getting goods chunks of sleep in at night, though. He loves being curled up next to me in bed and wakes 2 - 3 times (for the past few days).

Ds1 is having some adjustment problems.....HE is still nursing, and I am on the fence about weaning him, I don't think he is happy sharing, at the same time, I was pretty dedicated to CLW, but now, I am not so sure - so I am kinda waiting and seeing.

Avery has taken solace in the bounce seat - he really really loves it! I am hoping he takes more to being worn, but it is so dang hot here (even with the A/C on), it is just not comfy! And the few times he has slept in the hotsling, he has broken out in horrible heat rash

I am just adjusting to life with a newborn! Loving it, trying to savor it, having 2 kids is SO MUCH MORE then having one. WOW!

[augustmom]

Originally Posted by mcimom

This is what I used the first few days - it was great - saved me from actual bleeding - they did get a little cracked, but no blood this time!

http://store.naturalbabies.com/store...t.asp?One=2535

You rock!! I ordered it. Can't wait to get it. Thanks!

[StacyL]

nak

Day 23 here. I had bad afterpains too. Had to have dh hold my hand and I had to vocalize thru them. They were equivalent to an active labor ctrxn - ouch!

Gabriel nurses great, no problems there. He was having a lot of pain trying to poop, so I cut dairy alomst completely out and it has helped a lot. He does want to be held most of the time in the daytime. He wakes to eat at about 11pm, 1 am, 4 am, then 7 am (up for the day). I am a little tired.

I was UNbelivably sore at first in my back, but the chiro has helped SO much. Bottom is almost all better, and bleeding has essentially stopped.

I was weepy a few times during the first week when we had no help, but no baby blues like last time.

Ds has been testing me a lot. He loves the baby but has been unruly in other ways. It is really hard keeping them separated.

[mcimom]

Originally Posted by mountainsun

I am just adjusting to life with a newborn! Loving it, trying to savor it, having 2 kids is SO MUCH MORE then having one. WOW!

That was by far the hardest transition for me. Having the first was certainly an adjustment, and I got vertigo for the first 6 postpartum weeks after dd1, but STILL it was nothing compared to adjusting to two.

The good news IME and IMO is that going from 2-3 and beyond is a piece of cake compared to that 1-2 transition. It really does throw you for a loop, doesn't it? Or at least it did me!

: Baby Blues...hmmm, I'm doing alright there. I did have a few days when the anemia was still rocking my world that I would get weepy at all I couldn't do and all dh was doing to help me out. What I have now is the baby crankies : I am SO irritable sometimes! And of course the older kids just know when you can't get up from your chair b/c you're nursing and they will totally act out and I've actually threatened to throw things at them : b/c I know they are just being obnoxious knowing I won't upset Mikey to get them under control. Yeesh.

The two oldest are gone to NYC as of this am though. SIL eloped in January and the big reception is this weekend. DH took them with the ILS. I hope they have fun - I'd love to have gone, but I don't want my first visit to NYC to involve a non-stop nursing infant and a somewhat whiny 3yo so home we three have stayed.

I have a benefit auction for my dd's school to go to tonight and I'll take the baby while my parents watch dd3. I'm so excited. I had Mikey the day after school let out so I know all the nuns (school is run by a Dominican order) are going to be jazzed to see the baby! And I'm excited to show him off

Then tomorrow we're leaving with them to commence an almost 2 week vacation "up north" on Lake Michigan where my parents live. My two sisters (from CA and SC) are coming and dh will bring the girls up when they return from NYC. I just can't wait. I'm so going to savor this vacation. I feel so blessed b/c I'll have so much family around to help, not to mention being able to see them and just hang out. The beach at Lake Michigan is my most favorite place in the ENTIRE world (granted, I don't get around too much ) so I'm just salivating at the thought. I tell you what...THAT is probably what is helping me so much to fend off any "baby blues" yk?

I'm so glad to chat with y'all! Who is CDing? I am loving fitteds and prefolds with a wool cover on Mikey. Three things I have not used before. I have a TON of fuzzibunz and a few other pockets and he just seems to pee right out the side of them (or they were hand-me-downs so I guess I could have a repelling fleece issue). It's amazing how true it is that different 'systems' are better for different babies and there really isn't a one-size-fits-all. I loved my FBs with my dd3, but they just aren't that great with Mikey right now. Bummer is that I can't really afford anything new ATM and I can't sell off any of the FBs b/c they are being borrowed to me. Hmmmm....what to do...maybe I should ask her if I could trade the FBs for some wool covers and fitteds...she might not care as she likes those too...something to ponder.

Okay well I've long enough. The younger two are sleeping and I'm enjoying the unencumbered computer time I have to admit!

[SoCaliMommy]

I still can't believe Ryker is already 3wks. I'm really starting to feel despressed and blue: , not sure if it's trying to handle my almost 3yr old also or PPD, so i finally agreed to let my mom and stepdad take Alexandria for the weekend so i can just spend time with Ryker and see if i still feel : when just taking care of him.

PP Bleeding~ It stopped at 2wks PP but i'm still spotting off and on very annoying.

Cloth Diapering~ I'm really hating prefolds blah i regret them being the bulk of our stash. I ordered a BumGenuis daiper to try and if i really like it i'll try and talk dh into lettin me buy more so that will then be the bulk of the stash and the few bumkin aios we have in small and medium.

Nursing & Sleep~ Ryker sleeps great, lately we nurse to bed around 9pmish he wakes at 1amish back to sleep til 4amish then back to sleep then wakes up again around 7amish.


off to see what Alexandria is gettin into since im nak'ing

[luv2bmommie]

Baby Dylan is now a week old (time passes so quickly) and he is a wonderful nurser and sleeper. My daughter was colicky so this is quite the blessing second time around.

My recovery from a cesarean delivery (failed vbac although I know it was necessary so I do not feel like I failed this time) has been very quick, much quicker than the first, not sure why. I am already up and moving around, doing laundry and have no more pain. Yea!

Mama to Alexis 8/1/03 and Baby Dylan born on 6/15/06

[cymbeline]

Ellie slept for 4 straight hours last night! YAY! I can't believe how good I feel today. I had no idea I was so sleep deprived. Of course, she had a four-hour nursing marathon right before that and was actually cranky and hard to get to sleep (I was able to rock her in the IKEA POANG chair and she was out in minutes), but once she was down, she was out. Soooo cute.

Of course, I'd love another 4 hours tonight, but who knows if she'll grace me with another good night's sleep?

I'm having a little trouble sleeping when she sleeps. Like right now, she's taking a good nap. My boobs are so engorged that lying down is a bit uncomfortable and keeps me up. I've got a cabbage in the fridge...

I think the new latch we're using (cross-cradle) is helping a bunch, it just means that I can't nurse lying down. I can't wait for that to begin--I know we will both sleep a lot better.

We CD'ing too. I got a huge pkg of Mother-Ease from my SIL who had given up on CD'ing. OMG, they are awesome! I used prefolds with my first two, and having snaps is just so cool. It makes the middle-of-the-night-exhausted-diaper-changes so much easier. We're using Bumkins covers, which are fine during the day, but leak at night. I think I need to get a couple of wool soakers. Are Aristocrats still around? Those worked so well for us in the past.

mountainsun - I'm also avoiding the sling right now, it is just soooo hot. And I am sweating like a prize pig. Gotta love those PP hormones

mcimom - I totally want to have another baby, but the PP achiness and killer afterpains are making me think twice! Glad you're feeling better, tho!

coco4cloth - You go, girl! As soon as we were all nestled in bed together, I immediately wanted to do it again. Then the afterpains hit, YOW! Now I'm rethinking #4,

uh oh, gotta feed the babe!

[mountainsun]

I'm so glad to chat with y'all! Who is CDing?

We are! It is going well...except little pee-man is already soaking thru our KL 0s So I think I am going to sell off the good ones on the TP. Also the smaller nb covers that I got are too small. So I will prob get rid of those as well - I have been mainly using prefolds and I really like them! Someone that lives in my neck of the woods is selling off her FB and happy heiny stash, so I am going to get those from her, I am really excited! Poor baby has been waking up from his 2 or 3 hour stretches just soaked through! So I think our system will be mainly prefolds & wool and fb/ hh for night and outings......

Hey Mcimom....what kind of wool covers are you liking?? Looking for some recs.....I have him m a Biobottoms wrap right now that I didnt think I would like, but I LOVE it! Dont like the Stacinator that I got.

And I am sweating like a prize pig.

Yeah, I am pretty stinky

[Amys1st]

going from 1 -2 is an eye opener. I am glad we waited a few years. But sadly this is our final baby . I am 34 (closer to 35 this week) and since I had that nasty c section cut- one line scar but had to do a t line cut in my uteris, I cannot conceive for at least another 18-24 mos to let my body heal. Then I am 36 closer to 37. It took us longer to conceive Maggie and one weekend to conceive Liz so it will take longer at 37 than at 29. That puts me about 40 for the 3rd. And I always have to have a csection so we are very blessed w what we have. Also the chances of another premature birth are in its favor and we would rather just enjoy our girls than do another rollar coaster.

But, cding here. What fun! We do the kissaluvs 0s w a prowrap and x small fuzzi bunz. Maggie will be outgrowing them very soon. I have smallss in the fbunz and kisslvs in size 1 as well as some bumkins in leopard and pink nova. I also have some fitteds in meds and some awesome covers but that will be a while. Leighann- what are you looking for??

Also- slinging in the new native. God I love it! Its like a part of me now. I just ordered another one in the natural color. I have a navy one now and I see it heating up w the heat.

[MyLittleWonders]

cd'ing here ... we do prefolds (my first love in cd's), contours, tie-nappies (so dang cute coverless), Kissaluv 0's, and VB aio's the I made him. For covers, we have Disana wool pull-on, a little soaker I knit, Bumpy days, Bumpy wool, Stacinator stretch wool, Sugarpeas fleece, Nikky's, and Bummis ... we use them all and don't have any preference except he's in wool at night because we tend to not change at night (unless he poops, which is very rare). Ds#2 had just pl'd a couple weeks before, so I only have to deal with c;oth for him and ds#1 at night ... still it's an amazing amount of laundry (though it took a while to catch up on linens following the hb). And I'm using cloth too ... lots of cotton and hemp in the wash!