Mid June and July Firecrackers Group Due June/July 2017!

[DobbyForever]

Well I just read not to power pump if you don't have supply issues, and I don't think I do. I've pumped twice today (bit sloppy/lazy since we slept in) but this fair have about 2oz give it take. I'm storing them in containers of 20ml, which is conveniently about what each breast produces. That way he gets 20ml of breast milk and 10ml of formula at each feed . But at night he just gets straight formula for now unless I can build up a resevoir as I'm not pumping between 12am and 8am.

SO I'd out of town this weekend though so A and I are going to my parents, where I have been assured I can put my feet up and be waited on hand and foot lol. Also will be introducing the dogs to Aiden then bringing them home with me on Sunday.

Engorgement here was only bad the day my milk came in. I was in tears lol but once it came in and I started pumping regularly it hasn't been an issue

 

[Gagrlinpitt]

Peanut went to her first doctors appointment yesterday. She's already 7lb 3oz... She's got her daddys appetite that's for sure. I'm feeding anywhere between 2-3oz depending on the feedings. Dh and I have been taking shifts, I sleep from 8pm-12am and then I let him sleep through the night to get up for work and then he does the 6am feeding before going to work and then Im home with her during the day. My parents have been in town from Florida but they go back on Sunday and then my husband is taking off next week... Then after that I'm on my own during the day... I'm slowly getting the hang of this mommy thing although my anxiety is slowly creeping up as I worry about her all the time.. when she is napping I'm always looking to see if she is breathing or not..

 

[Weebles]

My anxiety has been bad too gagrl! I check to make sure she's breathing.. And I've been guilty of startling her just to be extra sure.

What on earth is power pumping? I pump twice a day, before and after it's my turn to sleep (we do shifts). I dunno, I almost wish I could pump during the day so I can build my supply even more for when I head back to work. A friend of mine had such a good stock that even after she weaned her kids still had bm she had stored for weeks. I've got about 150oz in my freezer so far, I'm sorta weirdly proud of it.

Congrats Girly!! Home births sound so amazing!

Not to be a downer but even though I love love love reading birth stories (I truly do!) it makes me sad I will never be able to have the birth experience I wanted. I didn't get immediate skin to skin with either of my children which was what I wanted most, even more than pushing and this time I didn't even get to do that. Obviously ensuring their health and safety was more important but I don't know why I can't carry to term. I was looking forward to DD's birth being better than DS's, more informed and in line with what I wanted, and it turned out to be worse. Oh well.

 

[DobbyForever]

I'm surprised my anxiety is in check. I had one attack within hours of getting home and was seriously thinking of getting psychiatric help, but I mentally slapped myself and have been... ok lol I still have moments lol. I don't think mommy anxiety goes away. I'm 28 with a kid and my mom still worries about me lol

Gag I'm glad to hear you've had s lot of support and are really getting used to it.

Power pumping is a technique to increase supply. It's meant to mimic cluster feeding. So you find an hour, preferably in the morning when your production is already at it's highest and you're producing the most prolactin. You pump 20m, rest 10, pump 10m, rest 10, pump 10. I only got an extra half oz out of it but I pumped 5 oz in 3-15m sessions later that day which is a lot for me. Dunno if the two things were related and msn it was exhausting and my nipples were not amused.

Staying overnight with my parents and omg they have so much junk food. The want is real but logic says don't do it. Also getting my stitches checked. One spot hurts and they smell like rotten amniotic fluid aka they smell like my son's umbilical cord, which the pediatrician says is starting to come off.

 

[Girly922]

Baby now has a name; Amelia Rose

My milk seems to be coming in sooner than I expected. I never knew you could get letdown tingles with colostrum, but I've been getting it since last night. Midwife said to expect it as I had such intense let downs last time, and A has obviously boosted my supply already where she's been cluster feeding since birth.
She's taking both sides every feed and is gulping well now I've got a good volume going. I have a feelin she's going to be a proper little boob monster.

 

[lesondemavie]

Haha that sounds just like Charlie Girly . We call her our truffle hog because she's constantly rooting for the nipple and she snorts a little at the same time. It's a bit exhausting, but I'm just thanking my lucky stars.

 

[DobbyForever]

Beautiful name Girly!!!

 

[Girly922]

Thanks Dobby!

Aww that's cute leson! DD1 wasn't this good this early, the first week was a real struggle with figuring out latching for both of us, and understanding cluster feeding. But A has got her latch perfected already despite having a slight tongue tie.

 

[lesondemavie]

Girly - Just goes to show you that every baby is different right? I feel like our success is all her and I'm just incredibly lucky. I think some struggles at first is more common than not. That being said I'm a bit jealous of this shift sleeping. I keep thinking I should start pumping, so we can do something similar. That was my plan anyway. Now though, I keep hearing in my head the nurses tell me to wait 30 days, I'm enjoying bfing more than I thought I would, and it seems like I should enjoy this time and be grateful that I can exclusively breastfeed.

Dobby - I hope the stitches are ok. I got a little hand mirror so I can check mine. They're a bit red in some spots, but I think that's just from irritation. Still keeping an eye on things in case it gets worse.

I'm so sorry for those experiencing a spike in anxiety and/or baby blues. My anxiety is surprisingly non-existent, but I know first-hand how awful it can be. I'm thankfully just in this place of total contentment. I mean I watch for things...like the swaddle riding up too high etc, but there's no associated panic. It's just an oh we don't want that let's fix it. I was much more concerned about how she was doing before I could see her and hold her. That being said, I did a ton of work on managing my anxiety with mindfulness a decade ago, and since then I haven't really felt panic. I was wondering if the hormones crashing would bring it all back, but nope not at all. The social worker at discharge seemed surprised at how well we were all doing, and we commiserated a bit about mental health and the field in general. On one of the toughest, most heart-wrenching journies of my life, so glad to be so lucky in this regard.

 

[lesondemavie]

Oh we've also decided to ditch the swaddle! Our little girl seems to like her hands up by her face instead, and she kicks and punches up a storm whilst sleeping. We tried just a sleeper last night and it worked beautifully. Also going to start using noisy background sounds and lights during the day to see if we can get her circadian rhythm on track as early as possible.

Newborn photo shoot this afternoon!

 

[DobbyForever]

Hf st your shoot! Mine is on Monday. The photographer was kind of a b* about rescheduling (we have a death/memorial service) and if I hadn't already given a deposit I wouldn't go.

Ty it turns out no infection just one spot is healing in an uneven fashion causing the pain.

Leson I agree mindfulness really helps. We used to do mindfulness twice a week at mybold school with a trained coach. It was so relaxing.

Anybody else's babies breathe super hard as they fall asleep/in lighter sleep?

 

[PrettyInInk42]

Dobby - Not really. Alex generally breathes really softly, to the point that BD and I will both lightly poke or stroke him to get some kind of response to make sure he's still alive. I'm so friggen terrified of SIDS.

So, Alex's umbilical cord stump fell off this morning. Anyone else's baby lost theirs too?

And BD gave me a key to his place.

 

[DobbyForever]

Aww Pretty!!! That's awesome about the key!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah I think it might be a low birth weight thing. I'm noticing the only friends who say yes also had babies at 5-6 lbs.

Aiden lost his yesterday morning thank god the diaper folding was annoying lol

 

[Mummafrog]

Oh no dobby I have a massive baby and she does the rapid heavy breathing thing as she falls asleep hehe it's normal don't worry x

Kayla is a week old today, her cord fell off two days ago and we had our first bath together last night which was very special.
She's having longer periods of being awake every day, it's lovely and it feels like she can focus a little better with her eyes.
She's got very gunky eyes which is gross haha but otherwise she's perfect, her jaundice has passed now, yay.

My tear has been a bit more sore the last day or so, my midwife said when the initial swelling goes down it can actually feel worse because the swelling sort of protects it, she says it looks healthy so phew. It's weird having a tear that's not stitched, even though it's small.

My breasts and nipples are much less sore now so i think I'm passed the worst of that. I thought exactly the same when my first was 7 days, it only gets nicer from here only other complaint is my back can get really sore, I guess there are no muscles to support it!

 

[lesondemavie]

Thought I had responded here but must have been interrupted . My baby does rapid breathing too, and she's over 50th percentile for weight.

Charlie still has her stump for now.

Newborn photos were fun but baby definitely wasn't happy about it at times. She was not a fan of the little costume a friend gave me, but we managed one shot, and she pooped on DH during some of the naked baby shots. Overall though she did great and our photographer was so good with her. We loved the few shots she showed us. Can't wait to see the rest! I think she got a bit overtired too as she was quite cranky that night, but she's sleeping so well tonight. She's dozing on me right now. Just waiting for her to hit deep sleep before I put her back in her crib and catch another nap myself.

 

[DobbyForever]

Does it really get nicer I have a fussy baby and SO left for work and the exhaustion is real

 

[Weebles]

I dunno Dobby.. My baby is still fussy and she's two months. I started crying when it was time to get up for my turn tending to her last night, I'm just that tired.

Can't wait to see the newborn photos leson! We had a lot of fun at our shoot too.

Things sound like they're going really well with BD Pretty.

Mumma, my DD has one very gunky and puffy eye that I have to use a warm compress on and massage every day. It's finally improving but she looked a little silly for weeks.

 

[Catalyst]

I am so sorry girls that I have been MIA, but been soooo busy with the twins! been bit fussy and also not always awake at the same time, lot of rocking in our arms some days and having two other childrens that are on sommervacation it is not much time I have to brows. So I have not been able to get up to date with everything.
So congratulations to all that have their babys hope everything went well during birth and that everything is going well
Our girls are now 6 weeks, they are just breastfeeding unless I am not home (not often) then they get bottle of formula. They are gaining good weight and also growing alot, 1,2-1,3 kg since birth and 6-7cm grown
I am on my computer for the first time in 6 weeks! just been on my phone and didnt find a way do share any pics.
But here are few ones first are the first pic from birth and the last is few days old

 

[DobbyForever]

They are gorgeous!!!

Fed A his first all boob meal. Now that my supply is up, the nipple shield seems to work. So we met the final lc (I was gonna quit after today this was consultant #5) and he's up to 5 lbs 9 oz! His two week check is a week from today, so we'll check on his weight at that appointment to be sure he is still growing.

 

[Weebles]

They are beautiful catalyst! I've always wanted twins but I can't actually imagine having two! You're basically a superhero.

So glad that bfing is starting to go more smoothly Dobby.

DD had her two month appt today which means she had her shots. I hated seeing her in pain, it made me cry too. She's all sleepy and cuddly now though. She's growing good, 8lbs 11oz and in the 50th percentile for preemie babies.