Postpartum thread Tuesday

[~Megan~]

So she's a week old today. Its going by quickly

I think the baby blues are kicking in too. I made sure to take my vitamins and motherwort yesterday. I also need to make some capsules with my placenta. I've only got that half done.

Yesterday, I overdid it with house work. Its hard to ignore the things I want done and I don't want to have to ask dh to do them.

I'm also really finished with hearing other people in my family tell me they are tired. If dh would go to bed before midnight or 1am then perhaps when ds wakes us at 6:30-7 it wouldn't be such a problem. This morning I asked dd1 to wake up and play with her little brother for a while in their room so I could get a little more sleep. She threw a fit that she was tired and wouldn't stop fighting with him. So I got up and told dh to stay in bed. I do get that dh is tired but I'm irritated that he's choosing to stay up late and then getting cranky that the kids wake him up earlier than he'd like.
I need a diplomatic way to discuss it with him.

[MySunflowerBoys]

Ella's a week old today, too!

I hear ya on the house work. DH is not helping with that at all. My mom came Sunday afternoon and went home yesterday afternoon. She swept my floors and ran the vacuum for me, so that was a nice help. She also got DH to take out the several bags of trash that were piled up outside to go to the dumpster. Yay, mom!

I can totally tell when I am doing too much (especially up & down the stairs) cuz my bottom starts hurting & groin muscles feel like I've been horse back riding. It's impossible to take it easy with 3 kids and a DH who only took 3 days off of work after the birth.

[hookahgirl]

Yeah hearingdh say he is tired makes my skincrawl. like we didnt just give birth. a little credit plz!

nak'in

[BakerALM]

Just got back from my 2wk appointment. Everything is going great and my babe has put on tons of weight! She was 7lbs 5oz at birth and 7lbs 1oz 2 days later now at 2wks 3days old she is 8lb 10oz!!!! am THRILLED! So great to see her gaining just from BM!

[~Megan~]

So I got up at 7:30 so dh could sleep in. I figure I can nap later but dh doesn't nap so he might as well sleep in. At 11 I was exhausted so I went back to bed. dh jumped up annoyed and wouldn't talk to me. I forced the issue and ended up crying. He left the room and started doing housework.

When he came back in the room I told him that I didn't want him to be upset with me (today is our anniversary). He said that he was mad at himself for making me cry. We talked a bit and I think he decided to adjust his attitude.
Now he's playing mario cart with ds. In a bit I'll reclaim my bed for a quick nap before the midwife comes for our one week checkup. I'll need to get in a shower first because I stink!

[MySunflowerBoys]

Baker- that's awesome that BFing is going so well for you this time! Good job, momma!

Megan- sorry to hear about your fight, I hope your dh is on the same page now and you can catch a nap later.

So has anyone gone out of the house with the baby solo yet? How about out with more than one kiddo?

I took E to the hospital by ourselves on Sat and it went well. Today I took her to DS2's enrollment while DH stayed home with the boys. Both times the errand took longer than expected because E had to get a diaper change and nurse inspite of just nursing/changing before we left. I need to make a grocery store trip soon, because DH only buys exactly what is spelled out for him & can't think up menus on the spot like I do. I'm not sure I am ready for that task yet. No place to sit & nurse or change a diaper in a grocery store. I also am overwhelmed at the thought of taking her and the boys somewhere by myself.

[~Megan~]

I went out for just over an hour on Friday with baby. Dh and the kids stayed home. It went fairly well. She did need a diaper and nurse but I expected that. The carseat went okay on the way there but on the way back she got upset a few minutes before we got home. I called dh and had him meet me outside so he could rescue her as soon as I pulled in.

[not now]

So far we're doing great. It's totally a learning process since this is our first. He won't sleep in a bassinet alone (I think he likes to hear us breathing) so we took our first trip to Target yesterday to get one of those co-sleepers that go on the bed. It worked really well and we all got a good sleep. We got the co-sleeper because the man is so paranoid about rolling over on him he cant sleep, the co-sleeper allows him to relax.

Breast feeding is going good. I have a clogged duct which hurts but I'm working with it. My milk came in yesterday and I look like I have breast implants.

Jack's first doc appointment was today and he's only lost one ounce. Our ped was awesome about not circing, his son isn't circed either.

My OB called us last night since he missed the delivery, which I thought was really nice. He heard about the delivery from the CNM that delivered and wanted the rest of the details. He said a two hour labor for a first time mom is practically unheard of and he's amazed.

What else? I can't sit still. When someone comes over to visit or the man holds Jack I just start cleaning. When the man gets back from the running errands I'm going to the grocery store. I'd send him but he gets overwhelmed, doesn't look at prices and I get frustrated.

How sleepy is normal? He hardly has any time when he's awake and looking around. I even have to wake him up too eat at least once a day, he goes into a milk coma as soon as he's done eating.

[MySunflowerBoys]

Originally Posted by not now

How sleepy is normal? He hardly has any time when he's awake and looking around. I even have to wake him up too eat at least once a day, he goes into a milk coma as soon as he's done eating.

I wondered about this, too, as E sleeps way more than my boys did. I was told it is totally normal for them to sleep over 16 hrs a day! Wow! As long as you are getting enough wet/poopy dipes and weight gain is good, it's fine. Jack must be an effiecant nurser!

[Klynne]

Originally Posted by MySunflowerBoys

I wondered about this, too, as E sleeps way more than my boys did. I was told it is totally normal for them to sleep over 16 hrs a day! Wow! As long as you are getting enough wet/poopy dipes and weight gain is good, it's fine. Jack must be an effiecant nurser!

Totally butting in here, but I can't wait to join you all on the other side

Just had to say that sydney slept so much and so hard the first months, i was a little freaked out. We had a terrible time waking her for feedings. Like she would be super drowsy, suck a little and sink back into a deep sleep. They told us at the dr. office to take her cloths off so she would get a little cold, no good. We tried baths... no good she slept right through them.. I would tickle her lips with my nipple... no good. Would you believe that some people actually suggested that we squeeze her nose tight so she would wake up???? (the thought of doing something like that still makes me sick) Anyways we just gave up!
She only gained even though she wasn't eating close to the norm.

How I miss those sleepy days now!

[AKA_PI]

Kendall refuses to sleep in his crib. Ive moved him to bassinet and he sleeps for 4 hours in there. My grandmother suggested we let him sleep in there until he's at least a month to 6 weeks old and transition him. Breastfeeding still sucks. I haven't tried pumping today but I plan to attempt to put him on there tonight. *sigh* Fingers crossed. I'm going to give it one more week or two.

I brought up the lack of touching thing to DP last night and he said that he hasn't touched me because I seemed fragile.: Fragile? Dude, I understand this is a first for us both but a little spooning and some hugging would be great. Kiss me like you used to kiss me and take my breath away. He's over an HOUR late getting home now and I haven't heard from him. Not to mention his ex still keeps texting him. *sigh* I hate to be suspicious but his track record isn't the greatest.I just want him to come home so we can spend some time together. I even got up and fixed his breakfast for work tomorrow and everything! WTH is he?!


On a positive note. My employer called and they are processing my short term disability pay so i should have some money in the next week or so. Yay! Bills for Sept will be paid early. Whoo-hoo! Thankyou Jesus.

[Audreysmama]

I was wondering if there was any time restrictions about driving? My CNM didn't say anything...

[~Megan~]

during the first two weeks your baby needs to nurse at least every 2 hours and stimulate the breast for 10-15 minutes to ensure good milk supply and hydration.

All my newborns were incredibly sleepy the first several weeks. I'd say dd2 sleeps 20 hours or so. She has 2-3 periods in which she is awake and alert for an hour or so with a few minutes of awakeness in between.

[~Megan~]

Originally Posted by AKA_PI

Kendall refuses to sleep in his crib. Ive moved him to bassinet and he sleeps for 4 hours in there.

That's how we ended up cosleeping. dd would wake constantly, as soon as we put her down. It hurt so much to get up and down after the c-section I just kept her in bed.
4 hours is a pretty long stretch for a newborn. He should be nursing at least every 2 hours but its ok to have one long stretch up to 4 hours. If he goes too long in between then he's at risk for dehydration and its won't stimulate you enough to keep up your milk.
I'm sorry breastfeeding is still a problem. Often after a c-section it can take longer to get it down. Is latch still a problem?
I found that nursing with loads of pillows all around and using the football hold to be the most comfortable.

Originally Posted by Audreysmama

I was wondering if there was any time restrictions about driving? My CNM didn't say anything...

If you had a regular delivery and aren't taking any drugs then you can drive when you feel up to it. But of course resting for the first few weeks is best.

[robertandenith]

oh Megan you really need to get those pills going... is there a possibility to have a teenager (who you could pay a few bucks) while you are there, to watch or play with your kids? You don't have to leave them alone with them it will only help you to give you an extra arm, kwim?

Monique, imagine the baby sleeping/growing in your belly (a really small/dark space) for 9 months then one day he finds himself in this bright huge area to sleep with no mom near him? You could try swaddle him in a blanket, that's how I get my babies to sleep longer periods of time but yes the bassinet seems like a better idea since it's smaller. But I recommend to swaddle your baby like a little tamale http://family.webshots.com/photo/230...r?vhost=family OR buy those swaddle me blankets, you can get them at babiesrus. http://www.kiddopotamus.com/p_swad.php

As far as how we are doing... we are doing great, I feel like myself again (almost), using my support belt and in need of another chiro adjustment. Roberto is pooping less and peeing more, but wow, he won't stop one or the other

My best friend came to visit us, I convinced her (she is preggo with a boy) to do her placenta into capsules and I offered myself to do it for her! : I showed her videos of circ and it seems that she won't be doing it, I was bawling when showing her those videos Now that my baby boy is born, they seem too disturbing and make me want to cry