No, really, it's perfectly normal - Page 2

[MissE]

Originally Posted by meredyth0315

Maybe it was just me, but the first few letdowns were a bit uncomfortable, borderline painful... anyone else have this?

I didn't feel my letdown until about 6 weeks after giving birth. Then I could really feel it, kind of a stabbing sensation from your armpits all the way to your nipple...hard to explain but you definetely feel it.

[cameo]

Same thing for me, with the letdown, kind of the prickly feeling, not necessarily a good feeling, but then you know the milk is coming out!

[kochanyk]

I think PP bleeding was the scariest thing for me too- first time was wicked awful- 2nd time was like nothing. Also prolapse of pelvic organs- it's something that no one talks about it seems but it's pretty normal PP. If you can see/feel your cervix or any strange bulge call your doc or MW but don't lose your mind or sleep over it (I was told a lot of bull about this and really wish it was something more readily discussed with women before delivery! I really thought my uterus WAS falling out and that I could never have kids and one OB even told me I may need a hysteo : serious misinformation).

[bettie cracker]

I had a c-section with DD, and had no idea about the terrible swelling and super painful gas I would have afterward. Both, totally normal for a c-section - but awful!!

[foogoomomma]

just wanted to add that it's perfectly normal to feel massive contractions when nursing your baby. I didn't feel it for my firstborn, but my cousin warned me that 2nd borns are different. Oh my lord if I hadn't known better I would have thought I was in labor all over again.

[Vancouver Mommy]

Not in your ddc, but I was terrified on day five of dd's life when the meconium finally started coming. I expected one big tarry poop, not five in a row after each feed. I thought she was dying. By the time the midwife got there I was almost hysterical.

[Surfer Rosa]

Originally Posted by foogoomomma

just wanted to add that it's perfectly normal to feel massive contractions when nursing your baby. I didn't feel it for my firstborn, but my cousin warned me that 2nd borns are different. Oh my lord if I hadn't known better I would have thought I was in labor all over again.

I felt them with my first-does that mean they will be super-brutal with the second? Yikes!

[Maagpie]

Baby oil on baby's bum helps at diaper changes so the meconium doesn't stick. Then you aren't scrubbing baby's bum so hard to get it off next change.

Both breast let down even though you are only using one (I didn't know this the first time). I keep a burp cloth to soak up the milk from the unused breast.

My let down is a prickly feeling but I also feel nauseous for a moment during let down. My midwife says this is normal for some women. Oh, and yes, let down after orgasm has gotten my husband's chest wet LOTS of times

Baby girls can have a few drops of blood from the vagina in their diapers as a result of mama's hormones still circulating in their bloodstream right after birth. Boys scrotum will be swollen for the same reason. Both sexes may have drops of "witches milk" from the breasts.

Vernix is like baby cold cream. Just rub it in to baby's skin. Don't let anybody try to wash it off, it's not dirty. It is in all of the little creases and will re-absorbe without nurses trying to painfully scrub it out.

Some babies want to nurse every hour. Breastmilk is digested so easily and a one day old baby's tummy is the size of a marble. But, babies want to nurse for lots of reasons other than hunger too. It can be frustrating but baby just loves mama and wants to be close, or is cold, or scared, or frustrated, or lonely, etc.

[goldfinch]

Both breast let down even though you are only using one (I didn't know this the first time). I keep a burp cloth to soak up the milk from the unused breast.

I found this out the hard way -- with no change of clothes on hand -- when the babies were in the NICU!

That was going to be the "one thing I wish I'd known."

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by Maagpie

Both breast let down even though you are only using one (I didn't know this the first time). I keep a burp cloth to soak up the milk from the unused breast.

And it's also normal not to leak and it doesn't mean you don't have milk or anything scary like that. My mom says she never leaked when breastfeeding and I nursed to age 3.

[lil_earthmomma]

Nurse your babies how ever often they ask for as long as they want. Sometimes this may be 15 min after a feed. This can only establish a great milk supply and good technique in both of you. Don't let anyone tell you to feed on a schedule or that you might not have enough. Trust your body!

Cabbage really is wonderful for sore nipples and aching breasts. I thought this was the weirdest advice ever, but it's like heaven. Just rip a leaf of chilled green cabbage off and stick it in your bra/shirt against your skin. It feels SSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOO good.