I had to drive to LO's appointment 3 days after we were discharged, DH went back to work. NBD, just slow getting in and out to mind the stitches and swollen parts! They did recommend not driving for two weeks but I also had surgery the day before, so YMMV.
I had a c-section and was told not to drive for 2 weeks.. At exactly 2 weeks, my husband had to drop his car off for maintenance so I had to drive, which was a bummer cause I enjoy being chauffeured around
@mnkenned personally I wanted to be comfortable as soon as I could so I was glad I brought pajama shorts and my robe (both black, just in case). I was also glad I brought my own pillow. Oh and my tablet! It sounds silly but on the second night when he was nursing NONSTOP I was glad to be able to watch Friends to keep me awake. Oh and shower supplies, that first shower was DIVINE.
Yes I love being the pasanger but I think I feel well enough now to drive at least to my parents house to go visit and distract myself from the house lol @mnkenned I second your own pillow and shower supplies the pillows they had at the hospital were horrible I could not sleep on them I had my husband bring a memory foam one from home and it was so much more comfortable to lay on and for some back support.
@mnkenned I'm bringing two night shirts, nursing bra, hair ties, phone, robe, support belt, word searches, toiletries and the onesie I'm bringing LO home in. We only live 15 mins away from the hospital and it's in a busy area with lots of food and shops so I have the luxury of packing light.
@mnkenned I brought a sports bra and shorts to labor in, hair ties, my own shower stuff, eye liner and mascara(that I didn't use), a couple different outfits to bring E home in (different sizes just in case), crossword puzzles, and DH's laptop, which was really nice for music and Netflix.
@mnkenned This may be obvious, but I didn't need any of my own pads. Hospital also gave me some stool softener when I requested (which was a HUGE help...) so I didn't need my own that I brought. Don't need any diapers or wipes or anything for the baby, everything is provided, except a going home outfit. And nail clippers/nail file if his/her nails are long.
I was happy I brought my own underwear and PJs. The bleeding slowed down after about a day / day and a half so I was able to wear some granny panties I had laying around that I didn't mind throwing out if need be (didn't need to). Also I went to walmart.com and bought some really cheap nursing clothes.. like $10-15 an outfit. Cheap enough that if they got ruined I wouldn't feel bad throwing them out. (didn't need to either) After the first day I changed out of the hospital gown and it felt much better to put on more normal clothes.
I used the adult diapers I brought. Best recommendation ever, didn't have to worry about bleeding on my clothes or leaking pee when I waited too long to get to the toilet. And my PJs were nice to wear for visitors. Other than that and the obvious phone chargers and such I really didn't use most of the stuff I packed.
Black robe, shower supplies, and iPad were my absolute most used and appreciated items. Agree that the first shower is absolute heaven!!! Beyond that I didn't need too much of my own stuff until we were leaving, which I needed an outfit for me and baby. I used the mesh undies from the hospital the whole time and took as many home as I could!
Married 6/1/13
BFP #1 7/2013 MMC 9/17/13
BFP #2 5/2014 MC 6/15/14
BFP #3 11/13/14 (Found in ER with ruptured cyst) Diagnosed MC 11/15/14
BFP #4 4/2015 MC 7/1/15
BFP #5 10/21/15 EDD 7/3/16 Praying for our rainbow!
@rakel88 I haven't because I was curious to know if I should/others were. I'm only 3 weeks pp and wasn't sure if I should wait until my 6 week appointment to ask my doctor.
I broke the rules and drove within a week as well, but I wasn't on the meds at the time. I had to make it to a pediatrician appointment while DH was at work. Also, I was bored out of my mind staying home all day.
BF mammas, how are your nipples doing? hah. I struggled with a bad latch in the beginning, but it's gotten about 85-95% better. It doesn't hurt when LO is feeding, but when he is not feeding, my nipples are soooo sore. He's 2 weeks old now. Wondering if this will let up in its own or if I'm still doing something wrong. May go see a LC again soon if it doesn't improve, but wondering what everyone else's experience is.
@kellz14 my nips are killing me! So sore. I'm going to a breastfeeding support group tomorrow and if that doesn't work I have a one on one with a lactation consultant. I think our latch needs some work. My baby is a week old. I don't feel like he sucks, he chomps! I hope it gets better!!!
I call my baby Sharknando!! I believe it will get better tho, @Kellyj103! I remember wanting to cry every feeding right around that time but now at the one month mark I really don't feel any major discomfort.
Does anyone use those Halo sleep sacks? Are you still swaddling each night? I'd love to give them a try. We have a few and she loves the swaddle. I just feel like it's so hot to have her in that, plus jammies, but she's outgrown a couple of the other sleep sacks we have for her that are more the newborn size!!
@kellz14 if his latch is pretty good then I'd be inclined to say it gets better! Our latch was pretty good after the first week, and since then my nipples have gotten much better. It hurts a tiny bit when he first latches on for a feeding but as soon as he's on it doesn't at all. I feed him side lying sometimes and typically fall asleep..
Anyone live somewhere where the temps are really high right now? Any issues with your babies getting really hot in the car seat? We have AC on in the car, and windows open to get some ventilation in the back seat, but he's almost always clammy and crying when we take him out
Almost 3 weeks pp and my nips are pretty sore by the end of the day. She likes to slurp my nipple in which is painful. She also struggles to open her mouth wide enough so I often have to wait for a cry to shove her on. I'm alternating using lanolin and nipple butter. It seems to help.
@TiffRox81 the sleep sacks are really good but we did use them with our first DD in the winter. Haven't done it this time yet. If you do it now you might just do a onesie under?
@TiffRox81 lol! Sharknado! Hoping it gets better!!! We are obsessed with the halo sacks! I thought my swaddle game was on strong but baby was always breakout of the swaddle! The halo sacks keep him tightly secure no matter what!
@kellz14 only 3 days PP so I may not be much help but today I noticed my nipples really started to hurt with her feedings and they were starting to crack. They were throbbing when I wasn't feeding her too. I started rubbing some breast milk on them right after and letting them air dry. Then using the lanolin oil before I cover. Seems to be helping a bit and now the initial latch is still painful but the rest of the feeding is a heck more tolerable.
Eta: add info
Me: 28 | Husband: 39 Married March 2016 DD: born 7.22.16 DS EDD: 6.23.18
We used the miracle swaddle for 4 weeks then I noticed he was still trying to get out and he loved his hands up by his head, so now I have him in a ergo swaddle where he can move his hands around inside the sack. He seems to like it!
Its super hot for us right now I've just been starting my car and letting the AC run a bit before putting him in, seems to help a bit and he's been rocking just a diaper on the super super hot days,
i used lanolin cream cream before and after every feed for the first week it REALLY HELPED
@TiffRox81 we're still swaddling at night but since it's been hot I've been foregoing pajamas and just putting him in a onesie and then using a muslin swaddle. If I don't swaddle him he tends to wake up a lot sooner.
As far as the nips go, mine have been sore after periods of cluster feeding but I've found air drying or at least patting dry before putting them away seems to help. I need to be better about using the lanolin, I just haven't gotten in the habit.
How's everyone doing with outings so far? I'm going stir crazy! I've taken him to my mom's house a lot and my husband and I have taken him to the grocery store, the pediatrician, my midwife, and on walks with the dog. Tonight we went to concert in the park which ended up being a lot of fun! And we had our first public breastfeeding session (three actually, because he eats like crazy in the evenings) and it was a success.
Awesome, @stellaluna14!! I love the park concerts. I try and get out a couple times each week. Even if it's target, Starbucks...I go crazy staying in too much! Unfortunately with this heat wave it makes doing the free recreational stuff impossible!!
@stellaluna14- I love outdoor concerts! We were supposed to go to one last week, but DD got sick.
Having 2 kids definitely has gotten me out earlier than when DD was born. We've gone to story time at the library 2 times, the grocery store, 4 parks, family member's houses, 4 houses to look at to buy, walks around the neighborhood plus doctor appointments.
We went to a 4th of July party two days after she was born and it has been nonstop since. I have gotten really good at breastfeeding in public. Honestly, I am looking forward to not going anywhere for awhile once my family leaves. It's exhausting.
When my husband was off work we tried to do a bunch of stuff to get me comfortable with being out with LO. On the last day of H's leave we got a wild hair and drove an hour and a half into the mountains (I live in CO) and walked around our favorite resort town all day. It was my first time BFing in public and I had to do it 5 times! I got thrown into it but now I feel more comfortable for sure! Since H has been back to work I have only taken LO to the store by myself, but I plan on being more active with him once I adjust to this whole sleep deprivation thing.
We have been out and about with Aubrey since about 5 days after she was born. She's been to every family members house and the grocery store, target, my work (a child care center) and various other places. I think this weekend we will attempt the mall with my mom and sister. I go crazy when I'm forced to stay in.
I've been getting out of the house a fair bit. The first couple of times were daunting but then it got a lot easier. We like to at least go for a walk every other day. I'm feeling so lazy this week though! I wonder if it's the hot weather?
July BMB Siggy Challenge: Weird Hot Dog Situations
@kellz14 My nipples are also sore when R is feeding! He is three weeks today. I have a blister on my left nipple which has caused a lot of pain. I've been wearing t-shirts with no bra around the house and the rubbing of the shirt on the nipples is sooo uncomfortable. I saw a lactation consultant and she helped with his latch on my bad side and basically said the blister will eventually go away on its own as long as he is latching right. But it's been two weeks with the blister. Ugh.
@TiffRox81 we use the halo sleep sack. We have one that is fleece and one that is lighter weight. We've used both with just a onesie underneath and R doesn't seem to overheat. I'm in WI and it's ranged from mid 80's to 90's with miserable humidity. We were making the mistake of not swaddling tight enough and he was busting his arms out and waking all night. So we started making it tighter and now he's sleeping a little better. I was worried in the beginning the swaddle was so tight we would cut of circulation haha!
Those mama's who delivered vaginally and tore, how long until the burning sensation when you pee is gone? It is absolutely awful! I also haven't pooped in 4 days and am terrified to do so because I'm afraid I'll rip my stitches.
@nikkimarie159 The burning sensation only lasted a couple days for me. The more water I drank, the less it stung. Also, using the peri bottle while I was peeing helped a lot to dilute it. The first poop wasn't that bad! I took the colace they gave me and just took as long as I needed.
@nikkimarie159 the burning feeling for me lasted closer to ten days but I had a tear right by my urethra which made it worse. The peri bottle is your friend! I used it while peeing for the first two weeks and it made such a difference. I also used it for those first few poops, I would just spray it on the perineum to soothe and it made it feel less like my stich were going to reopen. Don't force anything, it will be over soon. I'm still a tiny bit sore (3 weeks, 5 days PP) but for the most part I feel much better.
@nikkimarie159 What everyone else said!! I also second the stool softener.. The hospital gave me a pill which was a stool softener/laxative combo (forgot the name) and it worked wonders. I don't think pooping will affect your stitches (everything I've read says it won't, even if it feels like it) - but after pushing out a 7 and half pound baby I zero enthusiasm about trying to push anything else forcefully out of that area. The stool softener made my intestines a bit upset - but it was well worth the zero effort it took to poop...
Re: Newborn/Postpartum Thread
@mnkenned I second your own pillow and shower supplies the pillows they had at the hospital were horrible I could not sleep on them I had my husband bring a memory foam one from home and it was so much more comfortable to lay on and for some back support.
@mnkenned This may be obvious, but I didn't need any of my own pads. Hospital also gave me some stool softener when I requested (which was a HUGE help...) so I didn't need my own that I brought. Don't need any diapers or wipes or anything for the baby, everything is provided, except a going home outfit. And nail clippers/nail file if his/her nails are long.
I was happy I brought my own underwear and PJs. The bleeding slowed down after about a day / day and a half so I was able to wear some granny panties I had laying around that I didn't mind throwing out if need be (didn't need to). Also I went to walmart.com and bought some really cheap nursing clothes.. like $10-15 an outfit. Cheap enough that if they got ruined I wouldn't feel bad throwing them out. (didn't need to either) After the first day I changed out of the hospital gown and it felt much better to put on more normal clothes.
July16 JULY siggy challenge
Does anyone use those Halo sleep sacks? Are you still swaddling each night? I'd love to give them a try. We have a few and she loves the swaddle. I just feel like it's so hot to have her in that, plus jammies, but she's outgrown a couple of the other sleep sacks we have for her that are more the newborn size!!
Anyone live somewhere where the temps are really high right now? Any issues with your babies getting really hot in the car seat? We have AC on in the car, and windows open to get some ventilation in the back seat, but he's almost always clammy and crying when we take him out
Also here is another good swaddling solution:
July16 JULY siggy challenge
Eta: add info
Married March 2016
DD: born 7.22.16
DS EDD: 6.23.18
Its super hot for us right now I've just been starting my car and letting the AC run a bit before putting him in, seems to help a bit and he's been rocking just a diaper on the super super hot days,
i used lanolin cream cream before and after every feed for the first week it REALLY HELPED
As far as the nips go, mine have been sore after periods of cluster feeding but I've found air drying or at least patting dry before putting them away seems to help. I need to be better about using the lanolin, I just haven't gotten in the habit.
Having 2 kids definitely has gotten me out earlier than when DD was born. We've gone to story time at the library 2 times, the grocery store, 4 parks, family member's houses, 4 houses to look at to buy, walks around the neighborhood plus doctor appointments.
I've been getting out of the house a fair bit. The first couple of times were daunting but then it got a lot easier. We like to at least go for a walk every other day. I'm feeling so lazy this week though! I wonder if it's the hot weather?
@TiffRox81 we use the halo sleep sack. We have one that is fleece and one that is lighter weight. We've used both with just a onesie underneath and R doesn't seem to overheat. I'm in WI and it's ranged from mid 80's to 90's with miserable humidity. We were making the mistake of not swaddling tight enough and he was busting his arms out and waking all night. So we started making it tighter and now he's sleeping a little better. I was worried in the beginning the swaddle was so tight we would cut of circulation haha!