So I lasted about 3 days before having a breakdown sob fest so I am calling that a win! Delivered my gorgeous baby Luna on Monday via RCS and everything was just perfect! Yesterday was a little rough with cluster feeding and the PP contractions. My right nipple is shredded and the contractions are sending super painful aches and cramps all the way down my legs. This is actually what my period cramps normally feel like so it isn't too bad, just super uncomfortable.
But today was a roller coaster. I felt awesome this morning and took a shower while Luna got her first tubby. When she came back, I immediately freaked out because she was totally yellow! The nurses didn't seem wicked concerned, but I was so I fed her like a madwoman! Her pediatrician came in and confirmed that she appeared jaundiced and ordered bili-labs STAT. Lu-lu came back "intermediate-high" so not so bad, but based on her number of wet diapers compared to the amount of time on the boob, we have to supplement. I was totally cool with it...until I wasn't.
We had a couple visitors so I was exhausted by the time MH, mom, and son came by to say good night. This was also when orders came in for formula supplementation. So my incredible nurse worked with me to set up the SNS tubing so Luna could still be at the breast while getting formula. My son wanted to help and started putting together the electric pump since I need to pump after each feed. For some reason, watching him put together the pump brought back every memory of how tough things were when he was born. It hit me like a tidal wave and for the first time I just lost it. Ugh.
And just now, I went to get labels for my expressed milk and said it was for my son, which thoroughly confused the nurse at the station. I had gotten so used to pumping for him in the NICU.
I was cut so my stitches are still causing pain and I had a lot of swelling down there. Also is color change normal? I have a dark bruise like spot and then my actual labia look very dark from what I've been brave enough to peek at. I'm only 4 days post partum but I didn't know what will stay or return to normal.
Some me of my swelling has gone down but not in my feet and ankles at all. Really hope this changes. My milk just came in the other day and I hope to start pumping soon. DD is latching well and eating often.. I just have super sore nipples.
Also LO will not sleep in her pack n play or even the co sleeper we broke down and bought yesterday. She will only sleep on our chest which I know has the potential to be dangerous but we are very conscious of her and usually whoever is holding her stays awake while the other sleeps. We are doing shifts but my SO is still working and I know he's exhausted. She won't sleep swaddled or unswaddled but yet she did in the hospital. Any tips?
DD would only sleep in her swing at first. We also got a white noise machine that helped a lot too. GL Non-sleepers can be rough!
Been married since 2009. Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter) Several MCs DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
I was cut so my stitches are still causing pain and I had a lot of swelling down there. Also is color change normal? I have a dark bruise like spot and then my actual labia look very dark from what I've been brave enough to peek at. I'm only 4 days post partum but I didn't know what will stay or return to normal.
Some me of my swelling has gone down but not in my feet and ankles at all. Really hope this changes. My milk just came in the other day and I hope to start pumping soon. DD is latching well and eating often.. I just have super sore nipples.
Also LO will not sleep in her pack n play or even the co sleeper we broke down and bought yesterday. She will only sleep on our chest which I know has the potential to be dangerous but we are very conscious of her and usually whoever is holding her stays awake while the other sleeps. We are doing shifts but my SO is still working and I know he's exhausted. She won't sleep swaddled or unswaddled but yet she did in the hospital. Any tips?
DD would only sleep in her swing at first. We also got a white noise machine that helped a lot too. GL Non-sleepers can be rough!
I was cut so my stitches are still causing pain and I had a lot of swelling down there. Also is color change normal? I have a dark bruise like spot and then my actual labia look very dark from what I've been brave enough to peek at. I'm only 4 days post partum but I didn't know what will stay or return to normal.
Some me of my swelling has gone down but not in my feet and ankles at all. Really hope this changes. My milk just came in the other day and I hope to start pumping soon. DD is latching well and eating often.. I just have super sore nipples.
Also LO will not sleep in her pack n play or even the co sleeper we broke down and bought yesterday. She will only sleep on our chest which I know has the potential to be dangerous but we are very conscious of her and usually whoever is holding her stays awake while the other sleeps. We are doing shifts but my SO is still working and I know he's exhausted. She won't sleep swaddled or unswaddled but yet she did in the hospital. Any tips?
DD would only sleep in her swing at first. We also got a white noise machine that helped a lot too. GL Non-sleepers can be rough!
Yes to white noise!!
Seeing this makes me REALLY glad I bought the white noise machine off my registry. DH kept saying we probably didn't need it and it was going to be a pointless purchase, which is funny bc neither of us can sleep without a fan going.
Yes to white noise! We use a fan for this purpose since neither nursery had a ceiling fan. It's calming even for me, and helps block out the rest of activity in the house.
@kp90our DD wouldn't sleep flat. Even in the hospital anytime we put her in the bassinet she would scream her head off. We ended getting a rock and play and that's what she slept in for longer then I care to admit but it seriously made our lives 100000% better. I think it was the combo of being on an angle and they sort of half swaddle them too - I think she just liked the feeling of being held. We're going to try the bassinet this time, but we have that rock and play ready to go!
Well, we had a whole night of cluster feeding. She was up every hour for more, which means I basically slept ten minutes the entire night. It's going to be a long day.
@mello13 we had two nights of that around two weeks and now she hasn't done it since. So here is some hope that it will be short lived!! Is anyone else dealing with extreme itchiness? My legs and stomach itch constantly, way more than anything I experienced during pregnancy!
So I lasted about 3 days before having a breakdown sob fest so I am calling that a win! Delivered my gorgeous baby Luna on Monday via RCS and everything was just perfect! Yesterday was a little rough with cluster feeding and the PP contractions. My right nipple is shredded and the contractions are sending super painful aches and cramps all the way down my legs. This is actually what my period cramps normally feel like so it isn't too bad, just super uncomfortable.
But today was a roller coaster. I felt awesome this morning and took a shower while Luna got her first tubby. When she came back, I immediately freaked out because she was totally yellow! The nurses didn't seem wicked concerned, but I was so I fed her like a madwoman! Her pediatrician came in and confirmed that she appeared jaundiced and ordered bili-labs STAT. Lu-lu came back "intermediate-high" so not so bad, but based on her number of wet diapers compared to the amount of time on the boob, we have to supplement. I was totally cool with it...until I wasn't.
We had a couple visitors so I was exhausted by the time MH, mom, and son came by to say good night. This was also when orders came in for formula supplementation. So my incredible nurse worked with me to set up the SNS tubing so Luna could still be at the breast while getting formula. My son wanted to help and started putting together the electric pump since I need to pump after each feed. For some reason, watching him put together the pump brought back every memory of how tough things were when he was born. It hit me like a tidal wave and for the first time I just lost it. Ugh.
And just now, I went to get labels for my expressed milk and said it was for my son, which thoroughly confused the nurse at the station. I had gotten so used to pumping for him in the NICU.
@laurenmdrn16 big, big hugs. I'm going through something similar. We were doing really well the first 3-4 days with output, etc, but then overnight DS2 just started refusing to latch and within 24 hours had dropped an alarming amount of weight. We did a weighted feed yesterday and I'm just not producing enough and was advised that I have low glandular activity, which explains some of the problems I had last time as well. I pumped for 15 min a few times and produced less milk than even one feeding so our pediatrician feels that along with the lack of appropriate dirty and wet diapers we have to supplement. We do anything it takes to keep our babies heathy but it sure does have an emotional toll when you hear something disappointing. You're doing what's best for Luna but please take good care of yourself too.
A side note, I had a first degree tear this time since I only pushed for 13 min vs 3 hours last time. Holy moly, I just coughed and kind of wanted to cry. I don't know how CS mamas do it.
Hey everyone. Been totally MIA since baby Adeline was born. So glad to see this thread. Addy is doing great but like a PP she won't sleep in her bassinet either. We have her in our bed for now. She still won't lie flat there either..she rests her head on my arm! We have propped up the end of the bassinet mattress too. We're just going to give it time.
Now...breastfeeding. I want to use so many horrible words to describe how much pain I'm in and how frustrated I am. My enormous boobs have made it really tough for Addy to latch so they're shredded. I'm using formula and pumping to top up. It sucks big time but I'm not giving up entirely yet. Getting some help today.
The good news...my vagina is nearly pain free today. Yay. I thought I would never be pain free again!
I'm right there with you ladies with the breastfeeding troubles. My guy was late preterm (born at 36+2) and spent 6 days in NICU because he was having some breathing problems, so I definitely expected to have some troubles. That said, I didn't expect that things would back slide. He has had an amazing latch from the start but we've been forced to begin supplementing because of his weight. Since we started supplementing 2 days ago, he now only latches about half of the time :-( I don't know what to do and the lactation consultants at my hospital are booked until Tues. Also, he is so hungry all the time even with the supplementation, he is 6.0lb and is eating 70ml every 2 hours. I'm pumping ALL the time but having trouble producing enough. I'm so frustrated :-(
@tripledaggerWed95976 I'm sorry that you're having difficulties. I had a rough time with DS's latch and pumped to supplement at the breast for a while. What really helped that may be worth trying was putting him to the breast before and after bottle feeds even if only to work on his latch for a few minutes each time. I'd readjust his mouth as needed amd when he got a good latch and was suckling, I'd compress my breast to give a bit extra milk for his efforts so he got the immediate reward and would persist. Eventually, he drank more and more from the breast so I was able to phase out pumping. As far as increasing pumping output, try playing with the speed/suction settings (higher isn't always better), relax, try compression while pumping, drink lots of water/Gatorade, eat plenty of calories, do skin to skin time (I doubled this with tummy time often and would have DS lay belly to belly on me) and consider working in a power pump either daily or a few times per week. Power pumping is pumping for 10 min, resting 10 minutes in a cycle for 1 hr. It simulates cluster feeding, so it will increase supply. Regardless of what you choose to do though, you're feeding and loving your baby, so you're being an awesome mama!
@tripledaggerWed95976 I'm sorry that you're having difficulties. I had a rough time with DS's latch and pumped to supplement at the breast for a while. What really helped that may be worth trying was putting him to the breast before and after bottle feeds even if only to work on his latch for a few minutes each time. I'd readjust his mouth as needed amd when he got a good latch and was suckling, I'd compress my breast to give a bit extra milk for his efforts so he got the immediate reward and would persist. Eventually, he drank more and more from the breast so I was able to phase out pumping. As far as increasing pumping output, try playing with the speed/suction settings (higher isn't always better), relax, try compression while pumping, drink lots of water/Gatorade, eat plenty of calories, do skin to skin time (I doubled this with tummy time often and would have DS lay belly to belly on me) and consider working in a power pump either daily or a few times per week. Power pumping is pumping for 10 min, resting 10 minutes in a cycle for 1 hr. It simulates cluster feeding, so it will increase supply. Regardless of what you choose to do though, you're feeding and loving your baby, so you're being an awesome mama!
Thank you so much, I'm definitely going to try this at his next feeding!!!
@kbrands7 so I have now been feeding him half of the bottle (30ml), then letting him breastfeed for a few mins, then I give him the rest of the bottle, and finally I offer the breast again and let him feed until he's no longer hungry and it seems to be working!!! Thanks so much for the suggestions!! im going to try power pumping today
does anyone know the brand of smaller maxi pads the hospitals offer?? They are so much softer than any of the OTC pads I'm finding. The normal OTC pads are sticking to my stitches and KILLING me!
@tripledaggerWed95976 I don't know the name but both times I've found that most pads are irritating to me so I just got some greener options without chlorine and the fragrances from whole foods. They're really soft.
@tripledaggerWed95976 I don't know the brand but I will say I had the same issue with standard pads both times PP. I found Kotex Natural Balance are a good substitute.
@mello13 we had two nights of that around two weeks and now she hasn't done it since. So here is some hope that it will be short lived!! Is anyone else dealing with extreme itchiness? My legs and stomach itch constantly, way more than anything I experienced during pregnancy!
Some narcotic meds will make you reeaallly itchy if you're taking any of those.
Been married since 2009. Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter) Several MCs DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
@ayeshaohara when you say in bed with you, you mean just straight on the bed between you two? That's how our LO sleeps best and bundled in a warm blanket. However she still ends up on her side which makes me nervous. We also bought a co sleeper but it takes up a lot of room and she wakes up crying a ton when in that and in a regular swaddle blanket. She sleeps best in bed with us and in soft warm blankets but it makes me nervous. Ahhhh. Stressful.
@kp90 Have you tried swaddle sacks? Per my hospital, blankets are a major no for newborns, but sleep sacks obtain the same results without the SIDS risk.
@kp90, sorry it took so long for me to see your original post, but I've been in the no sleep club too. LO had slept exclusively on my or DH's chest since he was in the hospital and would turn tomato red and wail so loud that he'd stop breathing anytime he was put down. One night DH fell asleep while holding him and I woke up to find his face buried in DH's side after he'd slid off his chest.
Desperate and terrified, I started searching for help online and found a YouTube video for this technique called the Super Swaddle. That paired with the noise from the BabyShusher app has bought us 2.5 to 3.5 hours of continuous sleep before the next feeding or diaper change. The halo sleep sacks and white noise machine from our registry did absolutely nothing, but the combination above continues to work. Maybe it can help you too!
Recovery has been really hard but it really does all fade to the background everytime I hold my baby girl. Yesterday was especially rough because they took out my epi and switched to pain meds, I got my first real taste of what it feels like after a major surgery - not good! I did not do well on oxycodone, it made me feel very loopy and emotional and not like myself. They switched me to tramadol and it is so much better.
My milk is starting to come in today and it feels different than I expected but exactly like how everyone says it does - like my boobs are filled with rocks.
@ayeshaohara when you say in bed with you, you mean just straight on the bed between you two? That's how our LO sleeps best and bundled in a warm blanket. However she still ends up on her side which makes me nervous. We also bought a co sleeper but it takes up a lot of room and she wakes up crying a ton when in that and in a regular swaddle blanket. She sleeps best in bed with us and in soft warm blankets but it makes me nervous. Ahhhh. Stressful.
She sleeps on my side of the bed. They say not to put between 2 parents. One person should be solely responsible at night. My husband takes sleeping tablets so she's not allowed on his side. If she sleeps in your bed she shouldn't be swaddled and definitely no blankets. I pull our covers well away from her. They get warmer with you than when on their own. Overheating is a SIDS risk. She generally sleeps curled up at my side with her head on my arm/in my elbow. She sleeps on her side, even during naps. Not a fan of being on her back...she is her mothers daughter. Google safe co-sleeping/bed-sharing for some good info. It's not as dangerous as people think. My concern is just her getting too attached to being in our bed so we do try her bassinet every night before putting her in our bed. Sometimes she'll be happy for almost an hour, sometimes 5 minutes!
Edit to add: most people will not be impressed when you tell them your baby is in your bed...but the best advice we've been given so far is, you have to do what you have to do. The first 6 weeks are survival mode. If she will only sleep curled up with you, then do it. You can't spoil them with too much love and attention right now but you can cause anxiety by forcing separation when it's not necessary
@ayeshaohara when you say in bed with you, you mean just straight on the bed between you two? That's how our LO sleeps best and bundled in a warm blanket. However she still ends up on her side which makes me nervous. We also bought a co sleeper but it takes up a lot of room and she wakes up crying a ton when in that and in a regular swaddle blanket. She sleeps best in bed with us and in soft warm blankets but it makes me nervous. Ahhhh. Stressful.
She sleeps on my side of the bed. They say not to put between 2 parents. One person should be solely responsible at night. My husband takes sleeping tablets so she's not allowed on his side. If she sleeps in your bed she shouldn't be swaddled and definitely no blankets. I pull our covers well away from her. They get warmer with you than when on their own. Overheating is a SIDS risk. She generally sleeps curled up at my side with her head on my arm/in my elbow. She sleeps on her side, even during naps. Not a fan of being on her back...she is her mothers daughter. Google safe co-sleeping/bed-sharing for some good info. It's not as dangerous as people think. My concern is just her getting too attached to being in our bed so we do try her bassinet every night before putting her in our bed. Sometimes she'll be happy for almost an hour, sometimes 5 minutes!
Edit to add: most people will not be impressed when you tell them your baby is in your bed...but the best advice we've been given so far is, you have to do what you have to do. The first 6 weeks are survival mode. If she will only sleep curled up with you, then do it. You can't spoil them with too much love and attention right now but you can cause anxiety by forcing separation when it's not necessary
AGREE!! SAFE co-sleeping is actually not dangerous and has many protective qualities for baby, it's not just less dangerous than people think. Safe being the key word. So many of the horror stories that get attributed to "co-sleeping" are actually unsafe co-sleeping (i.e. under the influences of sleepy meds or drugs/alcohol, in a home with a smoker, with other children in the bed, without the right precautions to fill in gaps between headboard, couch/chair sleeping, etc.). Dr. McKenna has tons of great information and guidance for safe co-sleeping. https://cosleeping.nd.edu/ and I'd highly recommend reading up on it for those who are considering it/open to it if it's what their baby needs.
As for your concern @ayeshaohara I worried about this with DS as well. For us it was a non-issue. About 8 months in he was restless in bed with me and clearly needed his own space. It was still a process to get him to sleep in his crib but I knew when it was time for him to make the switch.
Re: Life After LO's arrival/Recovery/4th Tri Symptoms
But today was a roller coaster. I felt awesome this morning and took a shower while Luna got her first tubby. When she came back, I immediately freaked out because she was totally yellow! The nurses didn't seem wicked concerned, but I was so I fed her like a madwoman! Her pediatrician came in and confirmed that she appeared jaundiced and ordered bili-labs STAT. Lu-lu came back "intermediate-high" so not so bad, but based on her number of wet diapers compared to the amount of time on the boob, we have to supplement. I was totally cool with it...until I wasn't.
We had a couple visitors so I was exhausted by the time MH, mom, and son came by to say good night. This was also when orders came in for formula supplementation. So my incredible nurse worked with me to set up the SNS tubing so Luna could still be at the breast while getting formula. My son wanted to help and started putting together the electric pump since I need to pump after each feed. For some reason, watching him put together the pump brought back every memory of how tough things were when he was born. It hit me like a tidal wave and for the first time I just lost it. Ugh.
And just now, I went to get labels for my expressed milk and said it was for my son, which thoroughly confused the nurse at the station. I had gotten so used to pumping for him in the NICU.
Been married since 2009.
Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter)
Several MCs
DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
Married: Oct 20, 2013
BFP 1: Aug 31, 2015
EDD 1: May 12, 2016
DD1 Emma born May 12, 2016
An Honest Account of New Motherhood (with Postpartum Anxiety, Depression, and OCD)
BFP 2: October 07, 2019
EDD 2: June 20, 2020
Is anyone else dealing with extreme itchiness? My legs and stomach itch constantly, way more than anything I experienced during pregnancy!
A side note, I had a first degree tear this time since I only pushed for 13 min vs 3 hours last time. Holy moly, I just coughed and kind of wanted to cry. I don't know how CS mamas do it.
Now...breastfeeding. I want to use so many horrible words to describe how much pain I'm in and how frustrated I am. My enormous boobs have made it really tough for Addy to latch so they're shredded. I'm using formula and pumping to top up. It sucks big time but I'm not giving up entirely yet. Getting some help today.
The good news...my vagina is nearly pain free today. Yay. I thought I would never be pain free again!
im going to try power pumping today
Been married since 2009.
Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter)
Several MCs
DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
@kp90, sorry it took so long for me to see your original post, but I've been in the no sleep club too. LO had slept exclusively on my or DH's chest since he was in the hospital and would turn tomato red and wail so loud that he'd stop breathing anytime he was put down. One night DH fell asleep while holding him and I woke up to find his face buried in DH's side after he'd slid off his chest.
Desperate and terrified, I started searching for help online and found a YouTube video for this technique called the Super Swaddle. That paired with the noise from the BabyShusher app has bought us 2.5 to 3.5 hours of continuous sleep before the next feeding or diaper change. The halo sleep sacks and white noise machine from our registry did absolutely nothing, but the combination above continues to work. Maybe it can help you too!
Super Swaddle:
Baby Shusher:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.babyshusher.android
Recovery has been really hard but it really does all fade to the background everytime I hold my baby girl. Yesterday was especially rough because they took out my epi and switched to pain meds, I got my first real taste of what it feels like after a major surgery - not good! I did not do well on oxycodone, it made me feel very loopy and emotional and not like myself. They switched me to tramadol and it is so much better.
My milk is starting to come in today and it feels different than I expected but exactly like how everyone says it does - like my boobs are filled with rocks.
Edit to add: most people will not be impressed when you tell them your baby is in your bed...but the best advice we've been given so far is, you have to do what you have to do. The first 6 weeks are survival mode. If she will only sleep curled up with you, then do it. You can't spoil them with too much love and attention right now but you can cause anxiety by forcing separation when it's not necessary
As for your concern @ayeshaohara I worried about this with DS as well. For us it was a non-issue. About 8 months in he was restless in bed with me and clearly needed his own space. It was still a process to get him to sleep in his crib but I knew when it was time for him to make the switch.
https://www.amazon.com/Natracare-Mother-Natural-Maternity-Count/dp/B0010XCJ1E?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage
Married: Oct 20, 2013
BFP 1: Aug 31, 2015
EDD 1: May 12, 2016
DD1 Emma born May 12, 2016
An Honest Account of New Motherhood (with Postpartum Anxiety, Depression, and OCD)
BFP 2: October 07, 2019
EDD 2: June 20, 2020