January 2007 Mamas Welcome to Life with a Babe! - Page 3

[doublesnap]

Originally Posted by Kierdan'sMom

Finally joining this side. DD will be 1 week tomorrow : Nursing has been SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better than with DS (who did 5 days in NICU and was never going to be able to nurse since I had BR surgery....yeah, sure, okay....). My milk was in at 48 hours and she's nursing every 2 hours pretty much round the clock though last night we had a 3 hour stretch twice (but not back to back LOL). DS is in love with her as is DH (his first NB since DS was 11 mos. when we stopped being just friends). I am almost over PP bleeding, my sex drive has returned fully : and things seem to be working out....Oh, except eating...No appetite and very little time to eat. HOw's everyone doing with weight from PG and such??

I hear you on the no appetite and very little time to eat! I've steadily been losing weight and each day I'm shrinking. My clothes are starting to swim on me!

Nic is now 2 weeks 2 days old, he's nursing really well although pumping afterwards is a bit of a problem for me right now, just not enough milk coming out. Nic was born early at 35 weeks and weighed 5lbs. Last week at the doctors he weighed 4 lbs 11 oz and we go back on Tuesday for another weigh in.

He's such a tiny guy but so funny! He has longer alert/awake periods now and it's so funny to see him looking at us and all around. His sleep grins are too adorable and we're definitely enjoying parenthood. Dad and I are both so exhausted but it's worth it, we've had our share already of "omg, this is too cute!" moments and each day brings something new.

[eli janine]

Originally Posted by leximom

I can't nurse in my sling either. I just figured that it was because she's still little. She won't nurse lasying down yet either. I don't remember whe Lexi first started....

I just learned how to sling nurse today! What really helped was to get his feet out of the sling on the opposite side, so we could get the nice side-lying tummy-to-tummy position, and then to get him all latched and settled in a loose sling, and then just tighten it all around him with his little feet hanging out the side. HTH!

[jilly]

Aaron is 4 weeks tomorrow, and doing great. He was born 8lbs 13 oz and at our dr's appt on Wed he was already up to 11 lbs, and I've had to adjust his car seat straps one setting higher. He is starting to be more alert and interested in the world -- on Monday he was super fussy and I was trying to nurse him, hold him, change him, burp him, and then I had to go to the bathroom and I set him down on the floor and he was super happy -- he just wanted down to look around. He also likes kicking his legs, punching stuffed animals left within his reach, and peeing on mom. I swear this child is a garden hose. But at least that means he's getting enough to eat.

Aaron likes to sleep in 2 - 3 hour chunks and then wake up for an hour or two and look around, nurse, poop, nurse, poop, nurse, doze, nurse, get really fussy, poop and then finally go to sleep. At night he usually goes right back to sleep lately, since there's nothing going on, but during the day he stays up until he's so overtired he's screaming.

He loves the sling as long as his feet are sticking out the bottom and his head is in the crook of my arm -- he doesn't like it tucked in the sling, esecially the ring sling. I can nurse him in the sling, but he doens't really like it, so I usually sneak the sling around after he's latched on and well into nursing.

I am finding myself more frustrated than sad most of the time. Aaron is just SO different from Andrew that I feel like I'm starting all over again, its just as confusing. And he usually has a fussy time in the morning, which really bothers Andrew, who is used to mornings being his time to play with mommy. So that's quite hard, but I'm sure he will even out in a few weeks.

Leomom (hi) -- I have also been guilty of not changing diapers in the middle of the night with Aaron. He doesn't complain, and goes back to sleep, so it makes it hard to be vigilant when I'm so tired.

swpeg -- my ds1 was like that -- always fussy or nursing. IT took him 5 weeks to get back to his birth weight. With him it wasn't his latch, it was a milk intolerance (he couldn't digest the proteins coming through my breastmilk from me drinking milk), so he had a really sore tummy, and a plugged nose, so he couldn't breathe and nurse at the same time. I've also discovered with Aaron (he is much calmer, so I can figure out what's going on) that I have a really forecful let down, so I tend to choke him when my milk first lets down, and then he curls his bottom lip in to stop so much milk coming, and then it hurts to nurse because he's trying to suck and clamp down on my nipple at the same time. So I would check babe's latch after a bit of nursing time as well as the initial latch, and see if curling the bottom lip out with your finger helps. It is really frustrating when you feel like you are stranded in your rocking chair all day unless you are pacing the floors. Ds1 also proved to have a really sensitive temperment, so everything effects and affects him more deeply. I know its hard right now, but don't give up. Keep trying to find the answer, and don't be hard on yourself. Its hard enough to understand and meet the needs of someone when they can TELL you what they need, nevermind when you have to guess.

[hannah8ball]

Originally Posted by jilly

Its hard enough to understand and meet the needs of someone when they can TELL you what they need, nevermind when you have to guess.

:

I was just commenting on this to my friend the other day. Trying to interpret baby coos, gurgles and cries is enough to drive me : especially when it seems like the meanings change almost daily.

I can say that at 7 weeks (eek!) nursing has started to be more calming than painful and DD has started to lengthen out her nursing needs. I just keep telling myself that just like with the pains and aches of pregnancy, this too shall pass. We won't be breastfeeding forever, and they will learn to talk sooner rather than later. Now if we can just get her to bunch a few of her sleeping times into at least one 6 hour stretch it'll be perfect!

[moonbeam7627]

I made that poiny to my 12 and 9 year olds the other day too. But my issue is that when we ask them whats wrong, or why something happened they just say "I don't know". But trust me its just as frustrating (if not more because its been going on that long) to try to guess what they need as it is to try to guess what the baby needs.

[tempestjewel]

Well techinically I have a December '06 baby but I don't want to lose touch with all of you from the January DDC as we watch our babes grow!

Hannah will be 8 weeks tomorrow. I cannot believe 8 weeks have gone so fast. She doesn't look so much like a newborn anymore and looks more like an infant. I don't know what she weighs, but I've already packed away almost all of her newborn stuff and had to get out some 3-6 month old clothes. Mostly for torso length though because her cloth-covered bum is large- her poor little legs are several inches too short for most 3-6 month sleepers so she looks like quite a site Oh well, she only wears them to sleep! Lately I've REALLY been liking two-piece outfits because they don't look as ridiculous!

I finally think I'm finding an ebb and flow in our daily life. Things feel more patterned and more routine.

However, I really, REALLY screwed up and accidently missed my 6-week post-partum check-up with my midwives. When they called and I realized I had the wrong week in my head I cried for like an hour : Now I have to wait until March 1st. I feel terrible because they are the LAST people I would want to no-show for and I was really looking forward to the appointment to have closure- kind of the last thing to really seal up all my birth memories and move forward. On top of that the US military decided they need my DH that day so he won't be able to come to the appointment and we are both : about that- but I didn't want to call and postpone it anymore.

On a happier note, Hannah smiles not whenever we talk to her and really coos and gurgles back and my heart just melts!

[ryleigh'smama]

Hi Everyone! Zachary is 3 weeks old today, he is a super chunk, and nurses a ton. Usually in spurts though, so I get some 3 hour stretches of sleep at night occasionally. Fortunately I have a two year old that just decided that sleeping through the night was okay (why she couldn't do that BEFORE baby so I had a few nights of uninterrupted sleep is beyond me: maybe she just knew I shouldn't get a taste of it...) at least some of the time. Zach had gained 1 lb 4 oz at his one week appt, and since he was 10lbs 6oz at birth, that makes him BIG now. He has grown out of most of his 0-3 month clothes already.

We still have NO schedule, I am completely dependent on the fact that my dh is still home in order for us all to survive and be happy with a newborn and a 2 year old. I don't know that I believe I will ever be able to handle both of them alone, but hopefully. For now I am super happy, recovering well, starting to lose some baby weight, and trying to enjoy my family a ton before we have to return to "real life".

[wendyk]

Originally Posted by ryleigh'smama

We still have NO schedule, I am completely dependent on the fact that my dh is still home in order for us all to survive and be happy with a newborn and a 2 year old. I don't know that I believe I will ever be able to handle both of them alone, but hopefully. For now I am super happy, recovering well, starting to lose some baby weight, and trying to enjoy my family a ton before we have to return to "real life".

That's how I feel too. My older DD is 4, though (same b-day as yours!). I am starting to get some glimpses of things smoothing out and being more doable- but only here and there. Mostly it still feels very overwhelming to do this alone.

[hannah8ball]

There IS light at the end of the tunnel!

I just have to send out some encouraging words to you mommas... DD is now almost 8 weeks old and we are just now starting to get into some sort of routine where I can get a shower, eat, and get other things done (besides feed and play with my baby) Yes, its taken us all of this time to get there, but, it does come! to all you mommas who are working through these first several weeks... it gets more manageable (not necessarily easier though... )

An update on us: BF is STILL somewhat of a challenge... yes STILL. It seems like every time we need to latch on there is much crying and frustration on both our parts. You'd think after 8 weeks we'd have gotten the hang of it... its not like the rules keep changing, but sheesh, getting her to open her mouth wide enough, and then stay on when we have a good latch, but NO, it takes us at least 5 minutes or more to get a good feeding going... its enough to drive me : Is it just us, or is this something all babes and mommas go through? (Is it something I can fix?! - someone please say yes... )

[leximom]

hannah8ball, it's not something that you can fix, but maybe the reason she keeps pulling off after you have a good latch is because you have an overactive letdown. Emma does that because there is just too much milk coming out so she totally chokes and gags on it. It's so annoying, especially when I'm out and trying to feed her. It may not be though just thought it sounded familair!

[swtpesq]

Originally Posted by hannah8ball

it takes us at least 5 minutes or more to get a good feeding going... its enough to drive me : Is it just us, or is this something all babes and mommas go through? (Is it something I can fix?! - someone please say yes... )

I don't know the answer, but I am definitely in the same boat - and I think I do have an overactive letdown. It makes me wonder how I could ever NIP...I'm not worrying about it for now, and giving myself (and Piper) a bit longer to try and fall into a routine of some kind. Things are definitely getting better, though!

[Zaxmama]

Hi All!!

nak.
sorry I have been MIA....
things are going great. DS1 is amazingly sweet to baby,however he has been having some "meltdown issues" with Mama and Daddy... which is to be expected.

DS2 (Baby) is doing great and even (co)sleeping nearly straight through the night..we do the wake/pop boob in mouth/go back to sleep thing.
however he is a VERY high touch baby. hates bouncy seat, and tolerates a swing for a few minutes if tightly swaddled with a paci after a Dipe change and with a full belly ONLY. otherwise he is marathon nursing/napping in the sling on Mama or just crying. I am going to take stock in gripe water. it is a life saver for my gasmaster manchild.

as for babyweight... I gained 47lbs. and as of this week 7weeks PPD I am 1lb under prepreg weight. I am doing WW nursing plan and its awesome! also walking alot, nursing a bunch and chasing a 4 year old around. Don't worry..I still have 57lbs more to go to hit my real goal though.
well....guess thats all for now... sorry again it took me so long to post...I don't usually have a free hand to type...but I do read alot.

[leomom]

Well.....

we're in the 7th week and I am so tired. My 2 year old is so whiney and needy that I want to scream. She only wants me and wants me anytime she sees me touching the Isabella..which is most of the day, it seems.

The evenings are so rough...Isabella seems to get sleepy around 7 or so but fights it until 9 or 10...so I dread those hours. They used to be my time to relax b/c Kate goes to bed at 7 or so, but now my day just keeps going until I fall into bed.:

I'm really stuggling with how to work my day. Like this morning, I have to drop Kate off at Montessori at 8:30, get bagels, go to a breakfast at 9:30, and be back to pick Kate up at 11:30. How in the world will I be able to nap Isabella? I told myself I wouldn't be one of those moms who totes dc #2 around and doesn't allow them to nap at home, but here I am. I am hoping that by the time she has a set nap I can figure out how to get Kate to school and pick her up without having to wake Isabella...wishful thinking I'm sure.

I feel like such a baby, but this is so hard. Hard. Hard. Hard.

[leomom]

Also...

what is gripe water?

Hannah8, I find that Isa does the pop off/on thing when she's not hungry, just fussy and I'm trying everything I know to soothe her. When she's really hungry she does better, though I also have a strong let down that gags her sometimes. Is it everytime you feed? Sorry, Mama, but I believe it will get better. We have to believe that, right?:

[Shazer]

I can finally join all of you Jan moms again, although my baby came over two weeks late on 2/8. Everything seems ok, except yesterday I almost lost my mind over Eowyn not sleeping for the entire day. Every time I set her down when she fell asleep nursing, she awoke and began fussing. The one time she stayed asleep, the phone rang. : Yesterday she wanted to nurse the whole day. I'm serious when I say the whole day. She must have nursed at least 30 times. I felt like my nips were going to fall off. Today, she is somewhat sleepy. I hope she makes up for yesterday because I am exhausted.

[ryleigh'smama]

Originally Posted by leomom

Also...

what is gripe water?

Gripe water can be given for gas/upset stomach. It contains fennel, ginger, and sodium bicarbonate. It works like a charm for ds, but my dd1 could not tolerate having it put in her mouth, she'd projectile vomit it back at you.

[moonbeam7627]

Shazer, my baby is 6 1/2 wks old and still does that every day. I have to hold her, does not like being in the sling at home (mommy! your arms are noy around me!) She is starting to take a pacifier to ease some of the need to suck because she would nurse constantly (not really eating every time), But I figured she's not a puppy, if she gets full she will stop. Anyway, we have less constant nursing days but every day is don't put me down day. I thankfully have a 12yo who gets home at 330 that can take her if I haven't eaten. I am also getting pretty good at typing one handed. Then on the weekends daddy likes to spend time with her. Today i had to hold her even while going pee and brushing my teeth. Usually I can set her down long enough that I get half a shower before she starts crying. But I wouldn't trade this time for anything.

It was warm enough today that we got to go outside and go for a little walk to get the mail. First time shes been out for more than 30 sec. since she was 2 or 3 days old. Plus she was able to look around.




does anyone know if the rate that milk comes when you pump is the same rate of flow as when the baby is nursing? I use a manual pump and would like to know if that is a good indication of how much she is eatins. Like if I pump for X min that is what she is eating in the same amount of time.

[meggles]

checking in...

molly is now 5 weeks and things are going well for us. she sleeps 4-7 hours for the first part of the night, wakes up and nurses for 30 min to 1 hour and then goes back to sleep for another few hours. dh and i are actually pretty content with the amount of sleep we're getting. she nurses well, and is up to 10+ lbs (from her birthweight of 7 lb 10oz). we will find out exactly how much she weighs this friday at our last mw appt (right now we're just using the bathroom scale to weigh her). i'm feeling bittersweet about saying goodbye to our mw. i need to write her a thank you note and think of a gift. as for the babyweight~ i gained 50-odd pounds and i've lost about 37 lbs so far. my tummy is getting smaller every day, it seems, which is nice. i missed my non-pregnant figure! my pre-pregnancy clothes don't really fit yet, so i'm waiting on that. i'm not trying to lose weight, rather i'm focusing on eating well and healthily and getting in some good walks. i started postpartum yoga last week, which is wonderful. it's so nice to be with other mamas and new babies. i have a mom's group, too, which has been a LIFESAVER! if you don't have one, find one or start one. we see eachother a couple of times a week.

[OldFashionedGirl]

Originally Posted by swtpesq

Please tell me I'm not the only one who feels like I'm getting this all wrong... :

Oh good heavens, no! You're not alone! I'm getting it all wrong, too!

At least you're still bfing. I gave up. That's all there is to it. I'm simply could not/would not do it. We did relatively fine in the hospital, but when we got home, it was like he thought, "Eh, I'm sick of this." After a couple very frustrating days of him howling, me wanting to howl, and everyone but me feeding him w/ a bottle, b/c he couldn't/wouldn't nurse, I just couldn't take it. I probably should have gotten a LC or gone to LLL, but I just didn't/don't have it in me. I'm still going to try it again with the next kid (and will have a pump rented and waiting when I get home from the hospital!), but for Darren, it's just not happening. (I feel like a bit of an outcast here for even mentioning "forumla.")

And everytime we go over to Ryan's (my boyfriend, his dad) house, Darren's grandma "kidnapps" him and I don't see him for 2+ hours. She says she knows I need a break. And I'm too much of a push over to say, "Maybe I need a break, but I need to take care of my son more." In the mornings, Darren "disappears." I don't even get a chance to hear him fussing. I think she comes down stairs at 6 am and sits over him, waiting for him to wake up, so she can take him away. I know she's just helping, but I feel like she thinks I'm incompetent and don't know how to properly care for her grandson. Long story short, Ryan and I need to get a place of our own, soon. We were going to wait until he was done w/ school (in May), but I hope we find something sooner.

Of course, Ryan doesn't see anything wrong w/ what his mom is doing. It means he gets to sleep in, so he's okay with it. I guess there's nothing "wrong" with it, per se, it's just frustrating for me.

In general, we're doing well. He was 9 lbs 8 oz when he was born, 8-13 when we left the hospital and 10 lbs a week later. 22" long when he was born...the nurses were sure he would shrink. A week later....22.75"! NOTHING is long enough for him

He finally seems to be getting into a sleeping pattern at night. He usually wakes up 3 times after 10, every 2-3 hours, which I can handle. I'm still exhausted, but at least I'm getting some sleep. I can't complain too much.

(Formula talk ahead : )
Oh, we did have some problems finding the right forumla for him. Enfamil made him horribly fussy and constipated, but since we switched him to Similac, he's been doing great.

All in all, everything is going well.

But, like swtpsq said, I still somehow feel like NOTHING is going well.

[RoadWorkAhead]

moonbeam - Don't think I saw any one answer your question, but the answer is no! YOu don't love your pump like you do your b aby so why would your body want to nourish it as much LOL I know DD gets milk a lot more quickly and in greater quantity than when I pump. I also letdown less overactively to my pump than to DD> DD can also nurse just after I pump and get plenty of milk out quickly.

As for us, we're now 3 weeks out and last check I was down 10 lbs. from my pre-pg weight (I gained 11 during pg and have lost 21 so far)...I seem to have plateau'd at this point...possibly b/c I now have time to eat LOL BFing is still going great. After struggling with DS, this time around I have an opveractive letdown multiple times during each session and can pump 5 oz. at a time in between nursing sessions/directly after. DD seems to have a touch of a cold that my dad had, but not too bad....just enough to totally stop her sleep schedule (the one she set, not us)...Or maybe its just that she's hit a 3 week growth spurt and needed to get up very unhappy every 1-1.5 hours last night. I still feel like we're managing well and it's all going to work out so thats good. Now if we can just manage to find Dh a job so we can move, life with a new babe will be perfect!