Postpartum Support Thread - How Are We Doing?

[Baby_Cakes]

I know it's early in October yet but with the recent births of so many babies I was hoping to get a PP thread started so we can sort of support each other with each of these milestones. It might be a slow thread since we've all got our hands and hearts full of love right now, but I seriously need a place to just sort of dump all my concerns and joys. And plus, I think since I'm a 1st time mama, I could use the support of other mama's who have BTDT.

Nursing is so much more difficult than I thought it would be. I'm terrrified that her latch isn't "right" even though everything I read tells me it is. Nora is definitely using her entire jaw, opening wide, gulping, etc, but my nips are so sore that I'm just worried it isn't first week soreness but bad latch soreness. I had my midwives look at our latch and they said it was good. Why am I questioning it, then? Geez.

Nora is 5 days old today, her cord stump is just about to fall off. It hit me today and already I'm crying about it! I can't believe how quickly 5 days went by! I definitely have a touch of the blues, but am able to realize it and try to just breathe through the emotions. The hormones are definitely something to get used to!

Also, I'm proud to say that this morning, after much fear and anticipation, I had my first PP BM. Whew, am I glad that is OVER! And you know what? The fear was the hardest part. It wasn't bad. It didn't hurt one freaking bit, and my tummy feels so much better!

We got good sleep last night. So now I'm like, is she sleeping too much?

I'm questioning EVERYTHING. I didn't realize at all that I would feel so full of doubt! It's such a odd thing - please tell me that it's normal!

Overall though, things are going great. When I'm not being a paranoid booger, that is, and when we're all just hanging around chilling and enjoying each other, being on this side is absolutely fantastic.

So, how is it going for you?

[casemnor]

Great idea on the thread....I didn't know where to put this stuff.

I'm a second time mama and can tell you I feel a lot more confident on the nursing stuff (not so worried about it being "right" etc.)...and even so, there is no way around it...the nipples are sore for the first few weeks. It will get better every day as their little tiny bird mouths get bigger.

I've had my emotional wreck moments. I'm convinced I'm the world's worst mother to my three year old because I feel all I do is grouse at her or feel cranky about her three year old energy. I especially feel awful when she's snugging up withher sister (who she calls "my gorgeous") and I think...how can I even be so annoyed with such a sweet girl? It's tough balancing between the two girls right now, and I know rationally Nell doesn't notice my guilt like I do. Sigh.

I'm also feeling the blues about the pregnancy being over. As much as I don't love being pregnant (it's tough for me with the 9 months of vomitting etc.), I am pretty sure that was my last pregnancy. So, I mourn never feeling a little body inside me again....but then again, the end product is pretty fantastic so I don't dwell on it too much. I know life will carry us away to new adventures and new things to do as a Mom (even second time around).

My husband is, as usual, just great about it all. He's kept me on an even keel more or less.

Lilith (aka. Midge, Pidge, and Lily Pill) is one week old today! How is that possible? She's waking up more and more to the world. Her little yellow skin and eyes are starting to look less yellow. She's actually starting to focus when she looks at you...and trying to use her little hands. Too cute. She also smiles and giggles in her sleep just like her sister used to do....it slays us. I remember with Nell, every milestone is so bittersweet...

Hang in there with the nursing...your nipples will make it!!!! With every day, it will get easier and you guys will figure out your nursing relationship.

[LemonPie]

I'm doing good. Just still recovering from my c-section, so I'm taking it easy a lot of the time. Dh has the entire month off : and he's very supportive, so I feel like I can just relax and enjoy my babymoon!

I hear you on the PP BM thing. . . that has NOT successfully resolved itself here yet, but I'm hoping soon. Surgery plus narcotics really does a number on your guts! Emotional-wise I'm doing really well. Better than I did with my other two. I just find myself getting really emotional over odd things and at odd times. I'm having a hard time with the fact that DH has had to help me with some really intimate personal care stuff, like changing the dressing on my wound. I don't know why it bothers me so much, but some of it is the fact that he's supposed to find me sexy and attractive (he reassures me that he still does) but he's seeing me at my grossest and worst right now.

Baby_Cakes--my baby arrived with a textbook latch this time and I didn't have any soreness for the first several days, but then it started anyway. Really some of it is just hormonal and will get better on it's own. Does the pain go away after the first 15-60 seconds of nursing? Or does it hurt the entire nursing session? Any nipple damage or trauma?

Can I just say that I LOVE co-sleeping? We didn't with our first because we were afraid of "starting bad habits" and he preferred his own space anyway. We did it out of sheer desperation with our second baby. This time around I'm doing it out of pure convenience. Really, I don't know how anyone EBFs and doesn't co-sleep (even though I did it the first time around)! I feel like I'm getting a good night's sleep even though I wake up a few times a night to pee/take some pills/latch her on/etc.

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by Tiger Lily

Baby_Cakes--my baby arrived with a textbook latch this time and I didn't have any soreness for the first several days, but then it started anyway. Really some of it is just hormonal and will get better on it's own. Does the pain go away after the first 15-60 seconds of nursing? Or does it hurt the entire nursing session? Any nipple damage or trauma?

It's the most painful at the initial latch, then it's fine once she gets like 10 or so gulps out of the way. Then I can breathe. Then I can sort of relax and it doesn't "hurt" - it's just not comfortable. But no nipple damage at all, maybe some redness. No blistering, no bleeding, no cracking. Just sore.

That and she's really having trouble latching on my left breast. I have been using a shell since the first day b/c I had a feeling my nipple was flat, and when she couldn't latch on that side but did wonderfully on the other, I figured that was the case. Well, she gets on maybe 1 time out of three. My boob is so engorged, and I keep trying to nurse her on that side, but she gets so frustrated when she can't latch - either b/c it's flat or too big. I'm going to post about it in bf'ing challenges and see what people say. Any advice? I'm thinking about pumping on that side just to get some milk out and possibly make it easier for her to latch?

The other big deal right this second is that we took her to the ped today. Ugh, I'm not sure I like this ped anymore. She is pushy. Anyway, she thought Nora looked too jaundiced and sent us to the hospital to have her billirubin checked. We're waiting on results now. It was such a freaking ordeal to go to the hospital and wait and poor Nora had to have her heel pricked and didn't like it. And I'm terrified her levels are going to be too high and she'll have to be admitted. Hopefully she is ok. Hopefully she is fine.

ETA: Her level was 16.1 - so we have to go back tomorrow to have her levels checked again. She's hanging out in the sunshine right now. Wish us luck guys! We want these levels going down...

[casemnor]

Carrie re: your left boob...have you tried different positions? We were making fun of Lilith earlier this week and calling her zoolander b/c she would only latch on if she were laying on her right side...plus she (like her big sister) hated my right boob....I tried a football hold on the right side and "tricked" her into thinking it was my left boob...sort of.

Today, suddenly,my boobs aren't as sore and the intitial pain when she first latches is either gone or very brief. Additionally I was able to stand the shower on my breasts for the first time in days.

I am currently really liking the sprayable lanolin vs the ointment...I try to keep that liberally sprayed on and am wearing breastpads to provide additional protection of any rubbing against the nipples.

Wow...I've never written in such detail about my breasts before...

there you go!

[casemnor]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes

ETA: Her level was 16.1 - so we have to go back tomorrow to have her levels checked again. She's hanging out in the sunshine right now. Wish us luck guys! We want these levels going down...

Bummer! Lilith is still looking pretty yellow herself...though now my milk is well and truly in and she's peeing/pooing like a champion...so we are expecting we'll be able to keep nursing through. Lilith's pedi was pretty positve about it as well...hope Nora and you can do the same.

[Baby_Cakes]

Oh I hope Lilith is ok, too! It's just, jaundice was the last thing on my mind until my midwife mentioned yesterday at our checkup that she was looking a little yellow. Honestly, I don't know that it even crossed my mind prior to that. Now I feel bad that I wasn't sunning her for the first 2 days, maybe that would have helped - but I didn't know.

Another thing that pisses me off about this ped that we went to see was that she said that she would never interfere with nursing but if Nora's levels don't drop that she would recommend formula. WTF? I would never do that. What happened to encouraging a mama to nurse, nurse, nurse? My milk just came in on Saturday. She's 5 days old, and her attitude made me feel like my milk wasn't good enough when I KNOW it is. ARGH.

I was able to hand express quite a bit out of my left boob, and Nora latched on like a champ and nursed for a good 15-20 min. AHHH - relief. Chris also picked up my pump for me today and I'm going to get that charging up and cleaned so that I can pump a little off if need be.

I just really need to work on my confidence with this. I never thought I would be so full of doubts.

[casemnor]

Carrie: you can do it!!!!! REmember YOU are the mama, and YOU know what is best for your girl and your family. Just let her nurse like mad and then see what happens....

I was a yellow baby, my first was a yellow baby, so no surprise that Lilith is as well. Both girls got dad's blood type and were coombs positive...and I'm sure Lilith will nurse through just like Nell did.

Nora will too....just nurse nurse nurse....which will be great for establishing your milk supply anyways.

[ibusymomto5]

Jumping in here real quick before ds wakes to nurse again. He's sleeping in the bouncy seat next to me but is starting to grunt and squirm a little. Don't ya love those little newborn sounds they make?

I was so glad to see this thread! I can't believe tomorrow ds will be a week old. Where did the week go? I'm right there with the weepiness. It hasn't been too bad really, just here and there. I feel overwhelmingly joyous and blessed mostly but still get weepy too. Last night as I was nursing I had this flood of sheer happiness wash over me and thought of how awesome the birth was, and the next thing I know my eyes were welling up with tears and I was feeling sad that the birth was all over. Yes, I'm actually sad about the painful hard labor being over. How crazy is that? I keep replaying it in my mind and thinking how awesome it was, yet at the same time I'm ecstatic that I have my sweet healthy baby to cuddle and so very relieved to be on this side of it all. I also miss him being inside of me squirming around. What a whirlwind of emotions pp is.

Nursing is going pretty good for us. He had a good latch from the beginning, but we did have a couple of days(4 & 5) where it was hard for him to get a good deep latch due to engorgement. Now that the fullness is easing up a bit, he's doing better again. I still have to occasionally relatch him if he slips down on the tip, and yee-ow does it hurt when he does that! FWIW, I always have soreness even with a good latch. Like pp mentioned, the main thing is to make sure the soreness subsides after the initial latch. If it continues into the feed, then you know the latch isn't good. For me, the soreness usually lasts a week or two then goes away completely.

Co-sleeping is going good for us too. Ds took to side lying nursing right away, so I'm actually getting a decent amount of sleep at night though last night was kind of rough. He decided for his sleepy spell to be in the evening and then didn't sleep as long at a stretch all night long so it was lots of quick nursing sessions with catnaps in between. Hoping tonight will be better.

Anyone else using cloth diapers? I planned on using them from birth like I did with my last few babies, but I was so tired after this labor that I went for the disposables instead. Then I decided I'd just wait till the meconium cleared, then I decided I'd wait for the cord to fall off. Well, he lost his cord yesterday, and the site is looking nice and healed up so I'm ready to switch. I think I'll put a snappied pf on him when he wakes up.

Carrie, I hope your lo doesn't have to go back after tomorrow for more checks. I know that has to be stressful. Hopefully the sun and lots of nursing will help. Several of my babies have gotten really yellow but none have ever needed treatment. I'll be thinking of you!

Ds is waking, so I'm off to nurse him and try out a cloth diaper on him.

Hope you all are having good evenings!

[ibusymomto5]

When I picked ds up out of the bouncy seat I discovered he had a major poopy blowout in his disposable. I put a snappied pf on him and an x-small Thirsties cover(kind of big on him), and he promptly pooped about 10min later. I then put a Kissaluv 0 with a BSWW on him. I think the pf fit him better, but we'll see. I still have x-small Sandys to try too. I forgot how fun it is to put cloth on a nb! I need to snap some pics now.

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by ibusymomto5

I feel overwhelmingly joyous and blessed mostly but still get weepy too. Last night as I was nursing I had this flood of sheer happiness wash over me and thought of how awesome the birth was, and the next thing I know my eyes were welling up with tears and I was feeling sad that the birth was all over. Yes, I'm actually sad about the painful hard labor being over. How crazy is that? I keep replaying it in my mind and thinking how awesome it was, yet at the same time I'm ecstatic that I have my sweet healthy baby to cuddle and so very relieved to be on this side of it all. I also miss him being inside of me squirming around. What a whirlwind of emotions pp is.

Anyone else using cloth diapers? I planned on using them from birth like I did with my last few babies, but I was so tired after this labor that I went for the disposables instead. Then I decided I'd just wait till the meconium cleared, then I decided I'd wait for the cord to fall off. Well, he lost his cord yesterday, and the site is looking nice and healed up so I'm ready to switch. I think I'll put a snappied pf on him when he wakes up.

Carrie, I hope your lo doesn't have to go back after tomorrow for more checks. I know that has to be stressful. Hopefully the sun and lots of nursing will help. Several of my babies have gotten really yellow but none have ever needed treatment. I'll be thinking of you!

I can totally relate to the emotions being all over the place. I am so weepy, usually out of sheer happiness, but sometimes it's just being overwhelmed that makes me tear up and sob. These hormones are just absolutely crazy.

I actually put cloth on Nora for the first time tonight! How funny! I had the same thoughts - first 'sposies for the meconium, and then waiting for her cord to fall off - which it did today! I was a little sad when it did. It was sort of like our last connection to pregnancy (I'm welling up as I type this) and it was hard to realize it's over. But then I have this gorgeous baby here and it's just a flood of happy emotions! Anyway - so yes, I put on a CPF and a purple Thirsties cover and OMGoodness she is ADORABLE! And it held her poop so well, I was impressed. I think it held it better than the 'sposies did.

I hope she doesn't have to go back after tomorrow too. We're shooting for a 14. Anything 14 and under means she's good, the levels are going down. We'll see - as long as they decrease I'll be happy. I don't want to admit her to the germy cruddy hospital. We've made it so far, it would feel like 2 steps back, and I want her to be home with me!

[ibusymomto5]

Oh, I always get a little sad when the cord comes off too for the same reason you stated. How do you like the Thirsties? The x-small seems to swallow my 8lber, but the pf and cover didn't leak the poop so it's all good.

Here's to hoping that number is 14 or less!

[janasmama]

Thanks for starting this. I'm doing well. Annalise is not even two days old yet so this is my first time on.

I'm doing good but feeling slightly emotional this evening just thinking about all the changes that a new one brings. Both of my kids love her so much but it is hard with a little toddler...he's such a boy and doesn't quite know how to be gentle.

I didn't get much sleep last night but hoping some will come soon.

[LemonPie]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes

It's the most painful at the initial latch, then it's fine once she gets like 10 or so gulps out of the way. Then I can breathe. Then I can sort of relax and it doesn't "hurt" - it's just not comfortable. But no nipple damage at all, maybe some redness. No blistering, no bleeding, no cracking. Just sore.

That and she's really having trouble latching on my left breast. I have been using a shell since the first day b/c I had a feeling my nipple was flat, and when she couldn't latch on that side but did wonderfully on the other, I figured that was the case. Well, she gets on maybe 1 time out of three. My boob is so engorged, and I keep trying to nurse her on that side, but she gets so frustrated when she can't latch - either b/c it's flat or too big.

Yeah, it's probably mostly hormonal stuff then. Just make sure she gets a good, deep latch. Some babies want to start with a shallow latch and suck the nipple in like a spaghetti noodle and that can really sting as well, so watch for that!

As for the engorgement--I saw that you updated and got her to latch to that side, but for future ref (or anyone else who might run into this), Reverse Pressure Softening might be helpful.

Hope her jaundice gets better too!

Originally Posted by ibusymomto5

Anyone else using cloth diapers? I planned on using them from birth like I did with my last few babies, but I was so tired after this labor that I went for the disposables instead. Then I decided I'd just wait till the meconium cleared, then I decided I'd wait for the cord to fall off. Well, he lost his cord yesterday, and the site is looking nice and healed up so I'm ready to switch. I think I'll put a snappied pf on him when he wakes up.

I'm planning to, but with the c-section I haven't been up to it physically yet. Plus, she's so tiny, I think she'd swim in even the XS Sandies and Swaddlebees I have for her. We're using disposable at the moment, but will probably switch over in the next few weeks.

[sonshine_rae]

Hey girls... anyone else stuck up tonight with a fussy babe?
I've been up most of the last two hrs... sigh He slept all day of course.......

I'm so happy to see this thread too btw!

We've been using cloth from day one, our midwife requested it.. I had sort of wanted to but DH was afraid to LOL! But once the midwife chimed in.. I got my way .

We just threw away our fleece liners (home made) during the meconium time. But he got that stuff all out in the first two days.. so it didn't last long at all . Now we are on the soft seedy breastmilk poopies .. easy to rinse out. Funny thing DH told me after the first couple of days, that the cloth was as easy if not easier then disposables LOL! He had just never tried it on a newborn before, but we've been CD'ng our older boys for over a year and a half.. so he's really quite experienced with that stuff now.

So far I'm just using prefolds and covers, with a snappi.. they work great.

Well he's hollering again.... SIGH ...... gotta go....

man this stinks.. since my two older kids are up early in the morning.... at least DH is off work till the 15th.. but still I rarely get to nap when all three are up .

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by Tiger Lily

As for the engorgement--I saw that you updated and got her to latch to that side, but for future ref (or anyone else who might run into this), Reverse Pressure Softening might be helpful.

Hope her jaundice gets better too!

Thanks for the tip. We really haven't mastered the latch on the left breast yet. I mean, when she does latch on that side, I'm afraid to breathe or move for fear we'll lose it. I've been able to pump that side though to keep the milk coming while we continue to work on the latch. I'm freezing everything I pump out (which is about 2 oz each time) so that we can use it once we start bottles in a few weeks. If anyone has any advice as to how to deal with the horrible guilt I feel about not being able to nurse on this one side, please let me know. I'm having a lot of trouble with this. I feel so inadequate, even though I know I'm doing everything I can to make sure she gets enough to eat, one way or another. When I pump I feel like I'm stealing her milk, and taking something away from her. I cry sobs just thinking about it. Ugh.

Anyway, we went back for her billirubin check today and she was a 14.1! Yay! We do not need to keep going back for checks! Thank goodness! We're still putting her in the sunshine a few times a day, just to ensure she gets rid of this jaundice, but she's already looking less yellow. Her eyes aren't yellow, at least not like they were yesterday. I'm so glad that she is okay and didn't need to be admitted or go under the lights.

As far as dipes go, the Thirsties XS covers fit her beautifully, and she is small (she was 6 lb 10 oz yesterday). Also, I put Kissaluvs 0's on her today and they fit great, and held in a whole mess of bf poop. The Thirsties covers are working GREAT at keeping everything dry. I swear, I had more messes with the 'sposies for sure.

[farmerjess]

Carrie, just popping into say that it sounds like you are doing awesome! Just think, you are making enough milk for her out of just one breast (which I have read is totally doable). That makes you Super Mom!

[ibusymomto5]

Yeah Carrie on the bili count! It sounds like you're doing great with breastfeeding and pumping to keep your supply up. I promise it'll get easier with the latch as she gets a little older. It's amazing what even a week can make at this stage.

My ds had trouble latching on in the middle of the night last night. He'd gone too long between feeds, and I was engorged when he woke up. I finally had to sit up and football hold him to get a good latch, but not before he screamed and screamed. Today, though, he's latched on great at every feed which was nice since we were out of the house all day. I went to the mall to get another sleep bra and to get him a couple more newborn outfits. He's 8lbs, but the 0-3mo outfits we have are huge on him right now. Then we went to see my mom afterwards since we were already out. I had a chance to use my nursing cover which I LOVE!! I like it so much better than the one I had with my last baby.

Cloth diapering is going really good so far. I think my favorites are just the plain old snappied pfs in the jelly-roll fold. The Kiss 0s fit him good too though and are kind of nice for nighttime when I'm too tired to fiddle with folding and the snappi. I still haven't snapped any pics of him in his cloth but hope to tonight or tomorrow.

Has anyone else not bathed their baby yet? This is the longest I've ever waited before, but he hasn't seemed dirty. I had read where the vernix helps protect them against several different bacterial and viral infections because it's high in antibodies. Since I opted out of the GBS test I decided to hold off on bathing. Anyway... I'm thinking tonight I might bathe him for the first time. Need to make sure the video camera is charged first.

Tiger Lily - Hope you're having a speedy recovery. My first 2 were c/sec, and I still remember that soreness from the incision. Both times I got nervous when I was at the end of my pain pills, but it worked out that the pain went away at just the right time.

[ibusymomto5]

Originally Posted by Tiger Lily

As for the engorgement--I saw that you updated and got her to latch to that side, but for future ref (or anyone else who might run into this), Reverse Pressure Softening might be helpful.

I just saw this the other day from another thread and tried it, and it really does work! I had never heard of it before.

[sonshine_rae]

Count me in the 'not bathed baby yet' group.... I am considering bathing him tonight maybe.. lol

Samuel's cord fell off last Saturday night.. anybody else cordless already?