The posifrikentivity graduates thread - we did it!!

[IBelieveInPink]

Finally enough graduates (with more very imminently expected) to have our very own little thread. Yay. :)

[shellsocks]

Hey pink I'm not a grad yet (why oh why !) but wanted to say hi

Hows little Imogen? x

[IBelieveInPink]

Hey shell. You almost are. Not long now! She's good. We had issues with feeding the first few days, but I'm now expressing and we are getting much better. Actually managed to coordinate ourselves for a trip out yesterday! Only to the supermarket, but still, felt like an achievement!

Oh i do wish your little one would hurry up. You just be sick of this. Still though, the end is very much in sight!!

[BumpKitty]

Hi ibip thank you for the new thread? How are you doing? We are ok, lots of adjustments but we are getting there! Matilda is much more chilled out than DD1 was but maybe it's just me having more confidence. I had the midwife here on Tuesday telling me that my baby must sleep in the Moses basket and getting me to sign something to say I'd been told! Actually we are cosleeping as it means we actually get some sleep!

[BumpKitty]

And shell we are keeping your seat warm for you :)

[IBelieveInPink]

Bump - how odd! All the midwives I have had so far (post baby) have actually been fantastic. Didn't expect to say that, but they really have. Makes all the difference.
I do wonder how people do this with a toddler too! It has been such a shock to the system, I just don't know how we would function with another little person to look after!
How is dd1 coping with Matilda being around?

[BumpKitty]

My midwife today was much better, but then again we didn't get into the sleep topic!
The first one is much more of a shock I think . It's the overwhelming responsibility and never ending ness of it all! DD1 is being quite trying, she wants to sit on me a lot which is tricky whilst bf, she also has a cold so is generally a bit sorry for herself.
How are things with you. How long do you have your DH at home?

[IBelieveInPink]

Yeah that sums it up quite well I think! Plus the fact that we are learning all new skills, like, which order to do the whole feed/nappy/sleep thing in. I guess with a second you don't have to learn all of that.
Ah bless, dd sounds like she is asserting her place in the family! I wish they could understand more easily. She will get it though.

DH is at home for half of next week too, goes back to work on Thursday. In a way im excited to see how we cope. Then also I think we will probably stay in pajamas all day!! Feel a bit confined to the house because of the c section, wish I could be a bit more mobile, but it isn't to be. No matter.

[BumpKitty]

oh yes, don't worry about getting out, definitely just have lazy days - sounds like bliss :) you'll be up and about soon enough.

i have lower back pain and some weird clicking going on which is a bit worrying. MW said to see the GP if it continues.

[Pentagon]

Thanks for the thread ibip! Well done on getting out of the house with the baby so soon, if I remember well I didn't get round to doing so with DD1 till she was 3 weeks old. I have to agree with bump the first time is more of a shock - the transition from zero to 1 is harder than the transition from 1 to 2.

bump I could have written your posts! DD2 is so much more chilled out than DD1 but maybe it's me having more confidence. And DD1 has moments of jealousy but on the whole is good with the baby!

shell you'll be joining us in 4 days max! (right?)

[BobaFetaCheese]

Marking zee place.

Bump, weird that you had to sign something about moses basket! The 'going home' talk at hospital was much more focused on 'don't sleep with your baby or else' than it was 19m previous with DS1, so wonder if there's been an increase in sids deaths
I'm cosleeping with DS2.

Pink, we had a PJ week when DH first went back to work. Enjoy them...they're old enough to run away from your hugs soon enough

to Shell!

[BumpKitty]

Hi all, good to see more graduates - boba yes to there being an increased emphasis on NOT cosleeping since I had my first baby. There was some research a while ago (maybe 12 months) which found cosleeping did increase the risk of SIDS but it was pretty flawed as it included lots of unsafe practices in the cosleeping group such as sofa sleeping and people who had coslept as a one off as their child was sick (so weren't used to it and hadn't taken safe sleeping precautions etc).

Heel prick test today :( Matilda was very brave

[IBelieveInPink]

Ooh well done bump. We have had a few heel pricks so far as Imogen was a little jaundice. Poor things. They seem to little to be poked like that!

Can I ask about feeding? How us everyone getting on? We have been struggling a bit- just can't take the pain! I'm not usually a wimp but bleeding nips is my limit. So we are expressing at the moment. Does anyone know much about this?

[shellsocks]

pink I feel your pain...it really is toe curling and I cried a lot the first week or so with DS...I used nipple shields till my nipples healed and obviously the lanisoh.

Had no probs getting off the shields and no pain once they had healed as we were down to 3/4hourly feeds by then and the cracks/bleedingetc. was down to the constant feeding in the early days

[IBelieveInPink]

Glad to know I'm not the only one shell! I think, as we are getting on well with expressing, we might just stick with that.
I tried latching her on again yesterday, and ended up in the same burning pain as before. Then she had a really unsettled night, which I don't know, but I think it could be down to that. But I can't find anything which says whether expressing is just as good for her as boob feeding. Does anyone know? I just want to do what's best, but if expressing is just as good but doesn't leave me in crying pain, we are going with that!

[IBelieveInPink]

Sorry - didn't mean glad you were in pain too- just glad I'm not alone!

[shellsocks]

Sorry pink wasn't suggesting you should switch from expressing to shields but to reassure you that once you are healed you should hopefully to get back to bf if that's what you want

I would think the only probs would be supply in these early days, I was told not to express till 6w with DS for that reason, but it seems to be working fine for you....or maybe bonding would be a issue but again you will know whether you have a prob there and it doesn't sound like it

I think you've done the right thing, I remember a feeling of dread (before I used the shields) knowing that he wanted to feed and how much it was gonna hurt and you have to be so careful of PND in the early days. Glad you are working it out

[shellsocks]

And hats off to you expressing btw...I found it so much hard work, we never got on with it really

[IBelieveInPink]

Oh no I'm happy to take any hints at all! I'm just not sure where we are going wrong, I think the latch was a bit off to start with, but when I tried feeding again a couple days ago that seemed to be fixed. It was only afterwards I realised it was all worse again.
If it is just supply - I'm hoping that doing it every 3/4 hours will be enough. I don't think I can manage more than that. And bonding isn't an issue - we are going to get on much better if I am not sore all the time!
Thanks for the help - not many of my friends have babies yet, it's so nice to talk it through with someone who understands!

[shellsocks]

I don't think you're doing anything wrong based on my experience it is so sore because of how often they need to feed in the first week or so, then you need to let your nipples completely recover otherwise it is just aggravated each time

I totally agree re bonding, it would suffer much more if you are unhappy rather than using a bottle/shields etc.

Good luck

[BumpKitty]

ibip yeah it hurt like mad with DD1, I can remember sitting in hospital crying at the thought of her feeding again :( do you have breastfeeding councillors where you are? The midwife should be ale to put you in touch with one, im not sure with expressing as like shell I never really got on with it. Maybe go on a site like kellymom, I found that really useful last time. The only thing that would concern me is knowing if you are giving enough as all the formula amounts are calculated for that formula and not for breast milk.

[IBelieveInPink]

Ooh bump thanks for that site! Give fab info, exactly the sort of thing I was looking for! Much appreciated.

[LuckySocks13]

Marking place.

[Pentagon]

ibip I was in excruciating pain for the first 3 weeks of breastfeeding DD1. I cried every time she latched on and despaired of her wanting to feed so often. I used lansinoh and ordered some breast shields online but by the time they arrived I felt a lot better and actually started to enjoy breastfeeding. Now, with DD2 the pain only lasted 10 days. I express milk but mostly when I want to go out and need DH or my mum to look after the baby - I find sterilising bottles and heating up milk a bit of a faff that's why I don't do it more often. I started at 4 weeks with DD1 and 2 weeks with DD2. I have the Medela Swing and have found it very easy to use - which breastpump do you have?

Today we had our first day - and lunch - out as a family of four! It went smoothly so I'm quite pleased and relieved. Elsie was asleep most of the time - I had to breastfeed her twice but I recently bought an extra large muslin cloth so I feel confident doing it in public. I used a shawl with DD1 but it wasn't very big so a bit tricky to use at times. I have to go shopping to get some presents later this week - me and the baby - I hope I manage!

Welcome to the other side lucky! Does anda know we're here? (maybe you messaged her ibip?)

[jmf294]

Hi there,
Well I'm joining you all with a 13 hour beautiful boy in my arms. He looks like his big brother but he has so much more really dark hair.
Can't quite believe I have a baby!! Silly thing to say but it never felt real.
My wonderful husband paid for me to go on the private postnatal ward so I have my own big room and it's very peaceful .
My other children loved meeting him- very special moment indeed.

With feeding I had cracked blistered nipples last tine. Already a bit sore now.
I recommend lots of Lansinoh and getting a breast feeding specialist to have a look at the latch.

Hope you and your little ones are all well.
Xxx

[IBelieveInPink]

Thanks for the tips ladies. I had anither midwife visit today - she corrected our latch (again) and I managed to have a pain free feed. Only thing was she was hungry again within less than an hour!
I'm now struggling to know whether to make the switch back - she seems to be doing well on express milk. A little too well if anything - only 11 days and has out on almost a pound?! Is it possible that I am over feeding her? Goodness I just worry about everything now- so conscious about not 'getting it right'

Yay for getting to the other side lucky and jmf! Whoop! Jmf a private room sounds wonderful, how nice!