On the road again graduates

[Left wonderin]

Starry sounds like baby Hannah is settling in I hope her mum is getting as much rest as she can !

Topanga at least your a set ahead of me my oh just doesn't seem interested any more lol... He hasn't tried it on once since baby came ! Didn't stop him when I made the advances though !! Men are funny creatures !! I'm sure it will all come good after all its a big adjustment and my poor oh was in such shock at the experience of our little man coming into the world !! Still think he is recovering ,he would want to as I'm hoping he will need to experience it one more time lol ......

Skye its always so lovely to hear from you your such a lovely person I'd love love to meet you all for a coffee and maybe some cake lol....... I think I talk more sometimes to you guys than my real life friends !!

 

[Topanga053]

Starry- ahh that's too bad about the public health nurse. You do whatever you need to do. You shouldn't have to justify or explain your reasons to anyone! Breast feeding didn't work for LO and I at all. Nursing was too painful because she would always bite (ouch!) and I never got enough from pumping to make it worthwhile. The lactation consultants were frustrated, but thank goodness LO's doctor and my OB were really understanding. At any rate, LO has been on formula since day 1 and is doing amazing! She's double her birth weight (but still only 50% for weight... not overweight!), active, and doing just great as far as her milestones.

Left- Your OH will come around! It's a lot to process! My DH was the complete opposite though. About 3 days after the birth he was like, "sooooooo when can we DTD again???" Just the thought of it back then made me wince in pain!

My DH is a worrier. He was reluctant to TTC originally because he was worried that he didn't want a baby, that it would be too expensive, that he wouldn't get any alone time, it would be too much work, etc etc etc. Now he's completely obsessed with LO. I mean, COMPLETELY obsessed. So of course now when he says, "one turned out to be easy, but TWO would be too expensive, too much work, etc etc" EVERYONE just laughs at him, like, "we've heard that before!"

 

[skyesmom]

My god Topanga, when did Lauren turn 4 months old??? FOUR months!!!! this year is FLYING by!

i never thought nurses and OBs would be so invasive when it comes to breastfeeding/bottlefeeding, this is a totally new world for me. i don't know if it's the USA thing or what, but here on these forums i've seen so much things like: "you're gonna bottle feed? that's bad for the baby!" to "you're gonna breast feed? why do you need that for, your milk is not nutritious enough."... europe is much more chilled with what a woman wants to do with her own boobs.

as if new moms needed any additional reason to arm themselves with patience!

 

[Starry Night]

I think when people hear "combi feeding' they hear "I sometimes offer the breast and most of the time just the bottle". But I give her the breast at nearly every feed and then top off with formula. And I try to give her a good moment or two after the breast to see if she's full or not. She isn't. Combi-feeding really has taken the pressure off of figuring out BFing. I know she's peeing and pooping and getting nourished and so it's almost like I'm FFing and supplementing with BF. If I exclusively BF'ed she would be the baby who would be hanging off of me all day. I know there are those who see nothing wrong with that but I have fragile nerves and I could not live like that.

In fact, I have now officially been diagnosed with post partum anxiety. Had a full blown attack the other night where we even called 911. I felt like I was caught in a vice and that everything inside of me was swollen shut. I couldn't even swallow and I could hardly talk and my skin was clammy. But it was through that panic attack they discovered I was severely anemic. The local hospital went over my notes and apparently the hospital where I delivered had noted I had been anemic during labor and that I had bled A LOT during delivery. But they had never told us nor did they do any checks before discharging me.

I ended up needing two blood transfusions. But our local hospital had misspelled my name so hours and hours later they had to redraw my blood and send the second sample to the city where they could match it to the correct donor blood. It took about 15 hours to just start the transfusion. And this morning, just as they were about to discharge me, they found out my blood pressure has now skyrocketed. They almost kept me overnight for a second night but all my other tests came back clear...no protein in the urine, good reflexes, no headaches or vision problems and heart rate good. So they figured the high BP is from stress and they finally discharged me at about 5pm. But I have to do follow ups with the doctor every week until my official Post Partum visit with my OB.

I'm still slightly anemic but the doctor thinks iron pills should be enough. Though she is kind enough to say to hold off until my post-birth constipation has cleared. I have to say that this situation is where combi-feeding paid off. DH stayed with me the first day so I could try to nurse Hannah but I was so weak that I nearly passed out after 5 minutes. So he was able to bottle feed her and then today, when he couldn't find a sitter for DS, he was able to stay home with the both of them.

My parents should be arriving any moment now (they rented a car so we wouldn't have to drive the 2 hours into the city to pick them up). Their arrival is very much needed now! Especially since DH is "letting me" do the dishes, laundry and all the picking up. Vacation time is over, I guess.

 

[Topanga053]

Starry, I am so, so sorry you're having such a difficult time. That's so scary. I really hope that everything is better now. We're always here for you if you need us!

Skye, I don't know if it's a US thing either, but we certainly are very serious right now about breast feeding. I know it's generally better for baby, but formula isn't bad. It's too bad they're not a little more understanding. At the same time, there's a big debate here about BF in public. (I don't know if that's a thing over there or not.) There's the "never do it" camp, the "do it, but cover up" camp, and the "whip it right out and show everything" camp. I don't mind at all when women do it in public (kids need to eat, if that's how you're feeding!), but I do find it a little uncomfortable when they make NO effort to cover up. There's nothing to be ashamed about, but I also don't need to see (or for my husband or daughter to see) a stranger's nipple, you know?? No offense to anyone who feels/does differently; that's just how I feel.

Anyway, afm, LO had her 4 month check up today. She's a big baby! 26 inches long (95%) and 16.2 pounds (83%). Poor thing had some shots and screamed her little head off, but is healthy and doing great!

How's everyone else??

 

[Topanga053]

Oh, I realize it's been awhile since I shared a picture of Lauren. She's getting so big! And I can finally put her hair up.

[URL=https://s927.photobucket.com/user/darcyamitchell/media/10302034_808541419704_2881979365186680464_n_zps2cd74a42.jpg.html][IMG]https://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad119/darcyamitchell/10302034_808541419704_2881979365186680464_n_zps2cd74a42.jpg[/URL][/IMG]

 

[Left wonderin]

Awh Topanga what a cutie pie !!!! She will be a heartbreaker ! And those eyes !!!
BF here in Ireland is pushed forcefully but like that not really supported in public. Some changing rooms in shopping malls now have facility to bf ( a chair at least ) lol and I agree with you about at least making the effort to be discrete !!

Ok here is one of Sean

 

[Left wonderin]

Not sure why they ALWAYS post upside down !!

 

[Starry Night]

Aw, Lauren is so precious! Those cheeks!! And I love the teeny pigtails.

And Sean is as adorable as always.

I'm also in the "try to cover up" camp. I know not all babies take to covers and blankets, but I think it's possible to find a quiet corner or booth in a restaurant, etc. Just whipping it out and not caring that others may be uncomfortable is a little rude. I think we aren't islands and there needs to be understanding going both ways. Babies need to eat but we don't need to be cows about it either. Besides, using our babies to "make a statement" seems a little unfair to the child.

I still find being discrete very awkward so I prefer to just bring bottles out in public. Hannah can switch between bottle and boob very easily so combi-feeding is really working for us. And I probably will go formula only at some point. I honestly hate BFing. It's working fine from a physical perspective but it makes me anxious for some reason. There are perks so I'm keeping at it for now but I can't see myself doing it for a year.

This evening I've been having some bleeding from my stitches. So hard not to freak out about it though my mom is telling me to relax and that it's normal. It's only at the spotting level and seems to go away as long as I don't agitate it but I can feel the anxiety build. The public health nurse comes by tomorrow so I'll have to ask her about it. Just frustrated as earlier today I was finally starting to feel more normal down there. I could sit down without wincing. But then had a huge BM and I guess that put stress on the area.

 

[RedWylder]

Left- when you take the picture with your phone, try flipping the phone the other way with the button on the other side and see if the pictures still upload upside down.

Topanga- she's adorable!

I'm sort of in between the whip it out in public and be descreet about it. I personally am just shy and prefer not to whip my boob out in public but I'm not against others doing it. I did feet openly in the grocery store but I was able to get Piper latched discreetly and after that it's easy to pull your shirt right down to baby's face so no boob is actually showing.

Here's two of Piper:

https://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr25/lbkaiser/Piper-194-Edit_zps5364dd98.jpg

https://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr25/lbkaiser/Piper-130-Edit_zpsad92fee8.jpg

 

[skyesmom]

wow girls!!! your pictures look amazing!!

Topanga, Lauren looks so so so much like you!!!

Left, Sean is super super sweet (and even sweeter when i turn my laptop upside down so i could watch his pic normally )

Red, those are amazing pics!! you guys must love photography, can't tell which one i like more!

Starry, great to hear Hannah is feeding like a champ! i hope your body recovers soon and you can at least ease off at that worry of stitches bleeding and so on.

can't write more these days as the work has got me down (but all very positive outcomes!), but i'll should be able to breathe more from monday on and get back to you properly!

rayray, we're missing you! send us an update on Sloanne pls!

 

[Topanga053]

Red- those are amazing! I LOVE the shirt she's wearing in the top picture and I'm pretty sure Lauren has that exact same headband in the second one!

Skye- work has been crazy for me too, so I hear you! I can't wait until you can slow down a bit and update us properly! I miss hearing more from you!!!

xoxoxo ladies!

 

[Left wonderin]

Red wow beautiful photos I love the second one , purple is her colour !

Skye I'm with Topanga I miss your updates too

 

[rayraykay]

hi hi hihihihiii!!! I am so incredibly sorry I have been absent for so long.

Wow, so much to catch up on. I just read all the posts.

Skye- I am so happy to hear you have an OBGYN that's willing to go the extra mile for you.. with the blood work. It's so important to have a doctor that you trust and understands your journey and can cater to you. Your rainbow is coming soon. I am sorry work has been busy but! positive outcomes? that's so good! What's going on?

Starry- CONGRATULATIONS on your rainbow and I am so sorry I am late to the party. I am so happy for you. I am also sorry things have been tough.... its kinda odd... in the US postpartum anything (depression, anxiety..) is talked about and mentioned but still so taboo. It's like, people want you to talk about it but then you're a black sheep if you do. (like so many things in America.) I definitely have felt down some days... just isolated at times. I am 25 (26 in July), and most of my super close friends don't have babies yet. Some are so into Sloane and wanna see her, others like are "babies.. what a complication.. no thanks..." I do have a cousin in the area with a baby girl who's exactly a month older than Sloane and now that I am not working we hang. But yeah. Postpartum issues are tough, but you are NOT ALONE Starry.

Left, Topanga, Red... GORGEOUS BABIES. Gorgeous. Man, rainbow babies are just the best. I love the pigtails Topanga.. Lauren rocks them. Piper's photo shoot is priceless Red, the purple flower headband!!! Precious. Left.. Sean is such a handsome boy. His expression melts my heart.

Breastfeeding in public. Tricky subject for me. On the one hand, I'm thinking "dude, she is feeding her baby. If a woman's breasts make you uncomfortable.. that's a personal problem. They aren't sexual when being used to feed a baby." But on the other hand, I am like Red. When I have breastfed in public I might fiddle to get my boob out and to get Sloane latched properly.. but once she's latched I used my shirt to cover my boob. I have tried the whole blanket to cover up but it went over a lot better when she was younger. Because now, yep, Sloane is one of those babies who literally WILL NOT eat covered up. She hits the cover away. Will not concentrate. It's not worth it. I mostly just bring pumped bottles or half formula half BM in public and do a bottle. Or now that she is eating solids, I will bring a puree and she eats that instead if she's hungry while we are out.

Things are going well. She is SIX FREAKIN MONTHS on the 17th! I can't even believe it. She is definitely teething now, she is a little fussier during the day which is weird. She's usually very relaxed. I weighed her this morning by stepping on the scale without her, then with her and she's about 16.5 lbs. I dunno how long but I will find out at her 6 month appt. For the most part she is still sleeping great at night but getting her to nap during the day is tough. I am gonna have to talk to the doctor or something. Sometimes I can get her to nap in her crib in the AM but in the PM we end up just taking a walk and she sleeps or I run errands and she sleeps during that. When bedtime rolls around at 7-7:30.. she goes down like a brick in water. Blah. I need to figure nap time out.

I love you ladies, and once again I am sorry for my absence. I have been thinking of all of you... much much much love.

 

[Left wonderin]

Rayray I wouldn't sweat nap times once she is sleeping at night . Sean is the same ! Cat nap 20 mins but nothing more ! He is now sleeping from 7pm to 12 , dream feed and back till 7 . Its so nice to have some time back even if it is to do laundry

 

[RedWylder]

WELLLL Piper has no issues sleeping during the day. She often takes 4 hour naps during the day but at night...we still only get 4 hours max. I dream of the day I'll get more sleep. I think the midnight sun might be throwing her off. Maybe when it gets darker again she'll start figuring out a proper sleep schedule.

So nice to hear from you ray ray!!

 

[Starry Night]

Some babies just don't nap well during the day. My mom said my siblings and I never did at all so she never was able to give me advice. My DS was 3 months old before taking a daytime nap and even then I could only get 3 half-hour naps out of him. And those I could only get by doing all his physiotherapy exercises beforehand. By the time he was a year we had gone to 2 one hour naps but he was a year and a half before we got the one, long nap in the afternoon. Hannah will doze between feeds but nothing substantial and definitely not in the bassinet. She will sleep in 6 hour blocks at night but it takes an hour and lots of lots of feeds to get her to go to bed. I generally need to combine a nursing session PLUS a full bottle feed to get her to settle. 12 to 6 is her usual sleeping time.

We've been out and about today (church then lunch to celebrate Father's Day) so that was a lot of bottle feeds compared to normally mostly BFing and my breasts ache so much right now. I also just slept through the last feed so DH just gave her bottle. I tried to pop her on the breast for a BF "top off" but she won't take it right now. Her 2 week appointment is in the city tomorrow so that's more bottle feeds. Still way, way too shy to BF in public. It's the getting her latched part. I don't want to flash anyone. Once she's on it's easy to cover mostly everything (I don't like to completely cover her head out of fear of smothering her)

Red - I love those photos! Piper is really chunking out and such a beauty! And you have such an eye. I wish I could take photos like that. I have no nice photos of my kids.

Speaking of which, I really need to get my photos onto the computer so I can share one of DD.

 

[RedWylder]

I've spent a lot of time and way too much money on photography equipment. At one point I considered becoming a photographer but realized that it's not something I could do for a living. I still do it for friends and for myself. I honestly thought I would be taking lots of nice photos of Piper but it tool 3 hours just to get the set I showed ya'll. It was exhausting and I don't plan on doing it any time soon. I've got about a thousand crappy ones on my phone and that is just fine. The point I think is to take photos.

 

[Left wonderin]

I take at least 2 everyday lol... I'm afraid ill miss something and he will grow while im not watching lol..... Its so hard not to keep snapping !! Especially since now we all carry cameras everywhere with us on our phones !

On a soppy note I CANNOT believe just how much I love the little man , I know people tell you but nothing has ever come close ..................

 

[RedWylder]

Left, I hear you. Yesterday I was just hugging Piper and it dawned on me just how much I love her. It's overwhelming at times.