In our 40s and due in January - Page 22

[veganmama719]

I had issues with my cloth dipes at first too becasue DD was so small (6lb 9 oz). I ended up putting her in 7th Generation sposies until she was 8 lbs becasue she leaked sooooo much. Once she was at 8 lbs, she was good in cloth.

[jrabbit]

refuse to use disposables

[juneau]

In principle I refuse 'sposies. In practice, however... Sigh. Her teeny tiny butt fits best in preemie 'sposies and I hurt too much to have patience to fold cloth right. Dh is using non-prefold cloth but we only have one cover tiny enough to fit! I think all her weight is in her head, 'cause it's certainly not in her butt.

I will use cloth when the prefolds and newborn covers fit, and at three months or so, will start EC. Dd1 pooped consistently in the potty from before she could crawl (at about 8 months)! That's my goal this time around, too, except I am determined to work harder on pees. (Dd1 STILL at almost age 4 has wet panties every day and it is SO vexing....)

[veganmama719]

I hate sposies too but I just couldn't handle all the leaking with absolutely no sleep.

[jrabbit]

i didn't mean to sound critical, sorry. i guess i'm just a stubborn mule about some things. Zoe weighe 8# on monday- day 11. The diapers definitely fit better this week. Still not perfect, but we're getting back into the groove! the funniest part is DD1's (9yo) obsession with changing them! She is always wanting to check it. and every single noise prompts her to check, too! she is so proud of being able to change them all by herself, too. (more or less) I guess she needs to learn how to wash diapers now.

we're planning to do EC this time, too. DD1 was in diapers til 4yo - and wet the bed til 6yo. DD2 woke up dry every day starting sometime really early, and she was mostly using the toilet on her own at 16 months. I always figured we deserved her early-readyness, and we were very grateful. Now, we just hope that we get lucky again! I figure since I'm not working outside the home anymore, I can handle EC "for real".

--janis

[juneau]

My dd1 (almost 4) is very attentive to the baby, too. She runs into the room, saying, "Mommy, mommy, come quickly! 'Fred' is hungry!" Or, "Papi, you have to come right now! 'Fred' needs a diaper change!" She watches every diaper change but hasn't taken part yet. She looks ecstatic, though, when she holds the baby (whom she still insists on calling "Fred" )

I will be happy when we can get into the cloth diaper stash. We've got three dozen small prefolds and a similar number of beautifully tie-dyed regular size ones. My mom bought a dozen new covers but none are tiny, even though half are labeled "newborn." I had given away all my infant covers after dd1 grew out of them and now I regret it!

My incision is infected, blast it. It hurts more and looks gross and I'm really bummed about it. The part that's not infected is healed nicely and not hurting and I would really LOVE to be off pain meds. But instead I am back on the darvocet, alternating with motrin.

On the up side, dd2 is an incredibly easy baby. She is nursing at night once after three hours and again after another four-hour chunk, so I'm actually getting a reasonable amount of sleep.

Juls, how are you?? Veganmama, how's your nausea and fatigue?

[veganmama719]

Wow Juneau, that's a reasonable amount of sleep. Good for you! Mine were both atrocious sleepers.

I am sorry about your incision, that sucks. I hear that's pretty common but I am sure it is no fun!

My nausea is fine if I take my meds. Still pretty exhausted at 14 weeks. Thanks for asking!

[jrabbit]

Juneau - how did you know you had an infection, other than the obvious way it probably looks. I don't hurt nearly as much anymore, but I am always convinced something is wrong because the pain is so incomprehensible to me. I'm not worried because my MW has been checking on me, but I'm sorry that you're having that trouble.

I can't look at myself, still. I feel sort of bad about the example I'm setting for my dd because she asked me, and I just said I can't look at the scar.

I have a follow-up with the doctor today. I haven't been out of the house since I got home from the hospital. Not looking forward to it. The whole family has to go, too. Have I said lately how much I love my husband?

--janis

[juneau]

My mom is a nurse and I asked her to look at my incision. She said it looked pussy, and to call the doctor. I called and they told me to come in right away. The nurse there agreed with my mom, cultured the pus, and started me on an antibiotic. When the culture comes back, they'll know if I can stay on the current drug or have to switch.

Janis, yes, it is quite an adventure to make it to the doctor, isn't it? At least my folks are still here and could take care of dd1 while dh and I and dd2 headed out. And dd2 was great on the journey. It's about a half-hour drive, and she slept through getting put in her car seat, the whole drive there, the whole visit at the doctor, and just started to wake up when we went to lunch. After lunch, she slept again the whole way back and for an hour or so after we got home. Easy baby!!

It's hard for me to look at my incision now because it really looks so gross. I'm so glad my mom is a nurse! Today she was cleaning out the yucky part when dd1 came running to tell me that "Fred" needed milk. I didn't want her to see my gross-looking belly so we tried subterfuge to keep her out of the room. She retreated to her room and started crying. I felt so bad -- she was just trying to help out her baby sister and her timing was just bad.

In regard to my scar, I did a lot of talking to dd1 about how and where she came out of my body, and where "Fred" was going to come out. I let her look at the incision at every stage -- except for now, I don't want to scare her! I'm sorry, Janis, that you're having such a hard time with yours right now.

Veganmama, I hope your nausea subsides soon. I started feeling better at 13 weeks and almost completely so by 15 weeks. You're almost there -- I hope the same holds for you.

I miss being pregnant. I miss feeling great. I don't miss heartburn. I love nursing. I am so emotional right now it's crazy.

[hockeylover]

Finally time to catch up while I have two babies nursing.

Janis, I'm sorry for all that you're going through. Yeah, I know you know it's all about happy, healthy baby and you've certainly got that but even though were you so opposed to having a C, what you went through was above and beyond all expectations. There's nothing I can say obviously other than I hope it all gets better for you and you can move on from this eventually. I'm thinking of you.

Juneau, I hope your infection is clearing up as well. What an annoying side effect. I know you're moving slow enough as it is so to add this on top has got to be awful. Sounds like everything is going well though and that's wonderful.

Veganmama, glad you're on the upswing as well. I'm sure the exhaustion will be over any minute and you'll really be able to enjoy being pregnant again.

As for me, I'm doing well although tired. DH was out of town a week ago and is out of town again until Feb 3. I have help most nights, but this isn't one of them. The girls are doing a great job of tag teaming. When one is up and screaming the other is quiet. When one starts to calm down, the other ramps up. Thursday night we were up until close to 5AM. THankfully, DH was here but we both got less than 2 hours sleep. Last night I was on my own and they tag teamed until about 2AM and then I had to hold Maya just to get any sleep. I was so over exhausted at that point that I was nauseous. It'll be a long 10 more days.

They're nursing well but I'm still not sure how much they're getting or if they're gaining enough weight. I want to stop doing formula the one bottle a day but not sure I can do that yet. I have a call into my LC to talk to her and see what I can do to try and increase my supply. I've had to feed every 2-3 hours (still) so I haven't been able to pump lately. There's so little time between feeds that there's no time for more milk to come in. I'll figure it out I'm sure. I've been taking fenugreek and drinking the mother's milk tea although drinking the tea as much as I should. And the occasional beer tastes good at least.

The girls turned one month old yesterday. Can't believe that it's been a month already. Holy cow. I'm still losing weight which is a plus. I'm at or slightly below my pre-pregnancy weight which means I've lost over 50 pounds. It took me a year to lost the 41 I gained with DD#1. I guess nursing double and not having time to eat helps in the weight loss cause.

I too miss being pregnant although that last week was super uncomfortable for me. I don't miss the heartburn at all. I miss feeling all the movement in my belly. That's still the most amazing feeling in the world. I'm not feeling too emotional other than when the exhaustion sets in. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed because I'm getting nothing done. I have a ton of thank you notes to write and I have a project for DD's school (the yearbook) that I haven't had time to start. I don't have one uninterrupted hour to get any of those things done. Like now, I finished nursing and one is back to being awake. It's after midnight. Go to sleep child. Oy.

Okay, off to try and get Hayden to chill before it's time to feed again...

[juneau]

Oh Juls, how exhausting! I feel for you, mama. I'm sorry that they're not in synch with each other and even sorrier for you that dh is gone for so long! I don't know how you do it (though it sounds like you're struggling a lot). I can't give you any advice, just a virtual hug.

The best way to get your milk supply up is to nurse, nurse, nurse. Which it sounds like you're doing. Way to go on losing weight -- I've lost all but the last six pounds (scratch that -- 2 1/2 lbs!) and I'm not even two weeks out.

I hate to say this, but Eliza Jane is making things REALLY easy for me. She is a mellow baby, hardly ever fusses, and sleeps long stretches at night. I have been taking a late afternoon nap, and then staying up until 11 or so. She nurses to sleep then, goes for a three-hour stretch, nurses once during the night, sleeps four more hours, and then we are up for the day. So I only get interrupted once -- amazing! And although at first she wanted to be awake some during the night, now she is just going back to sleep. I am so thankful.

She seems to be getting plenty of milk; when the pediatrician weighed her on Wed. she was over 7 lbs, and had gained 11 oz in just five days. Dd1 is tandem nursing (not at the same time, yet) two or three times a day. My breasts are HUGE -- as I imagine yours are, too! If you can get a weight on your girls, it'll probably go a long way toward reassuring you that they are getting enough milk. I hope you don't worry too much about pumping for now -- you've got enough to do already!

My infection sucks. It is so painful. And the part that healed normally is pain-free now. It's only about a three-inch section that is infected but it seems like it's going to take a LONG time to heal. Blech.

On the up side, my neighbor dropped off her newborn diaper stash -- a ton of teeny prefolds and a LOT of tiny fitteds; at least a dozen covers and half of those are the tiny Prowraps that are the only ones that fit now. I am so happy! So long, 'sposies!

[jrabbit]

juls - I've been using an herbal concoction from Mother Love: http://www.motherlove.com/

It's expensive, but I can really see a difference. I have been using the tincture that I mix with water 2-3 times a day (or as I remember). I used fenugreek with previous babes, but this seems to work better. I don't have a supply issue, but for some reason, i just feel better about it when i can 'feel' milk.

If you're not eating enough, that will definitely affect your milk supply. and drink lots and lots of water and take prenatal vitamins. If your babes have lots of wet diapers, then you're making plenty of milk - it's just harder because you're nursing 2 who are on different schedules.

[veganmama719]

Tee hee, I love that you both miss being PG. I do know what you mean though, even thoug it is hard, it is neat knowing there is a new life inside of you.

Right now I am just so tired and nauseous all the time. The fatigue lasted the entire PG with DS (Of course I did have a toddler at home too) and the nausea lasted until 20 weeks with DD.

Work is very stressful and tiring right now too AND we are on Day 48 of a transit strike. Everyone in the city is tired from that and everyone in my business is tired from how terrible the market has been since June.

I am glad that you are all doing well. Isn't it funny that you all had girls? I wonder whether I will too.

I am not looking forward to the sleep deprivation.

I do wonder how Vicki and Erika are doing, I wish they'd check in.

[juneau]

Hi Veganmama, sorry to hear about the transit strike on top of everything else. How are you getting around?

I hope your nausea and fatigue don't last as long as with your other pregnancies. Are you going to find out the sex at your anatomy scan, or wait? I'm so glad I waited. During the first trimester, I was sure dd2 was a girl, but still entertained the possibility of being completely surprised. I'm glad I did.

My incision is healing faster than I thought. It's not as painful today and seems to have knit some new skin over the open part. I was planning our first outing for tomorrow -- other than going to the doctor -- but now it looks like we're due for over a foot of snow (on top of the snow and ice we already have). I love snow, but I was REALLY looking forward to getting OUT. Sigh.

I've now officially lost all of the weight I gained during the pregnancy.

[veganmama719]

Wow Juneau, you've lost all the baby weight already?
I am glad to hear your incision is healing well now!

DH is driving me to work and I am either running home (takes 35 minutes), getting a ride with a colleague, or taking a cab early enough to miss traffic and working the rest of the afternoon at a bank branch near my house. Today is a big snowstorm though so I am getting a ride home with a colleague. I ran last night.

I think we probably will find out the gender. I have some gender neutral clothes but it's mostly boy and girl stuff. I wouldn't mind having all that ready beforehand since I'll have 3 kids (argh!). Buit the real reason is that DH can't wait.

[jrabbit]

Juneau - wow! It took at least 9 months with my previous pregnancies. I don't expect anything faster this time. But when I weighed myself on Friday at the doctor, I had only lost 15 pounds. What the hell? My belly is flabby in a very odd way - from the incision, I guess. I still can't look at me in the mirror, though.

Zoe weighs 9#5oz now!!! I'm clearly making good milk

Veganmama - we had no desire to find out the sex - we're just weird that way!

Have fun in the snow, y'all! It's in the 50's here. : Brrrrr. My kids are in footed fleece pajamas - I'm snuggled under the covers in bed - nobody wants to get dressed. Our house is so cold! I've lived in northern Wisconsin, I don't mind "this" cold one bit.

--janis

[juneau]

at the idea of freezing when it's 50 degrees out...!

It's probably 20 degrees F here, snow falling fast. I don't know how much is down but at least a foot on top of the foot that was already on the ground. Dd1 has gone out to play. I am trapped inside. I would LOVE to go out but I don't dare because there is solid ice underneath that gorgeous white stuff. It would really hurt if I fell now. (My incision is healing but still VERY tender...)

Today is my mom's birthday so dd1 and I are making cupcakes.

I only gained 20 lbs with dd1 and it came off very quickly. I lost another 25 lbs by one year out, although I had gained all of that back by the time I was pregnant this time -- I weighed exactly the same as before dd1. This time I gained 25 lbs and expected it to come off easily but not that fast!

I don't know how much dd2 weighs now but she is noticeably heavier and has cheeks now! And a double chin!

Veganmama, I can't believe you are running!

[veganmama719]

I have run for years so it's no big deal. I ran until 7.5 months DD (then had sciatica) and 8 months with DS (got too fat) and switched to swimming (I used to compete). Worked out with both up to and including the Friday and went into labour on the weekend.

I have you both beat for winter weather. I live about 4 hours northeast of Toronto. And it's snowing like crazy today. And we are on day 49 of the transit strike! tee hee.

I don't have a newborn or an incision however!

I might be imagining it but I think everyone at work was staring at my belly today. Methinks the gig is almost up!

[juneau]

Oy, Veganmama, my belly hurts just thinking of running while 8 months pregnant! (Not to mention my knees and hips!)

I am (was) a long-distance open-water swimmer. Well, before I had kids, anyway. One of these days, I'll get back to it. My heroes and heroines are the master's swimmers in their 80s and 90s who are still competing.

I can make it to Toronto in about five hours by zig-zagging around two Great Lakes. My last great pre-kid vacation was a long weekend in Toronto just over four years ago now; maybe we'll make it back there one of these days.

I am tired of being an invalid. All I did today was make cupcakes and I could tell I was on my feet too long. I guess it's a good thing our outing was canceled due to the weather. I guess I'm not ready yet.

I don't know how much longer my mom is staying and I'm afraid to ask. My dad went home on Sunday but I really can't imagine getting by without my mom for a while yet. We have friends who could bring us meals but I can't even carry anything up or down stairs yet; I can't imagine how I could do laundry, and I hear the machine running in the basement all day long.

Juls, I honestly don't know how you are managing with twins! And Janis, are your folks still around?

[jrabbit]

my parents went home on the 11th ... day before i went home from hospital. they stayed til the last possible minute, since my mom is an MD and had to get back to work. DH took vacation til last week but has been able to work from home this week, with daily conference calls.

My kids' rooms are upstairs, so that's all I'm missing. I'm still eating in bed, and I hope we'll still have some generosity with food for awhile yet. I've tried to be helpful in kitchen and with laundry, but Zoe needs me or I'm hurting too much. I'm ging stark mad not being productive! I'm a serious workaholic - this is cruel.

We finally found a part-time nanny today. She's a college student, and I hope she works out.

best wishes
--janis