TTC buddies turned Mommies thread!

[Sideways 8]

rducky, is 4 months really early to get your period back? I'm 11 weeks PP and still haven't gotten mine, so I was wondering when it'll happen.

 

[SMFirst]

Just remember - you still may be ovulating even though your period hasn't shown yet, that's how a lot of women get accidentally pregnant again so soon after their first baby!

We finished our prenatal classes, and it seems like any combination of things that can happen, for labour and after birth, do happen.. So it actually helps me to know that I have little control over what to expect!

I am a little concerned about breast feeding, as it seems like it's theoretically so easy, but so many people have had struggles.. But again we'll just have to wait and see..

 

[flyingduster]

I'm not much help with the breast feeding I'm afraid, cos I found it totally easy and natural right from his first latch on 20 mins after birth... I know plenty of women who wanna slap me for saying that!!! lol.

THE single best resource for breastfeeding for me has been kellymom.com their articles and forum are great. And my local LLL is lovely, I've obviously not needed their help, but I have been along to their coffee mornings!! lol.

It seems the number one concern is a good latch. Lots of things influence baby latching on well, but if you can research what a good latch is like and how to combat common latch problems, I'm sure it'll help.

The next biggest worry seems a lack of supply. DO NOT rely on a pump to tell you how much you're producing!! A pump 'milks' you totally differently to a baby, and while you may only get a few drops in a pump, baby will be draining you. And resign the first two weeks, at least, to simply nursing and nursing and nursing. Don't worry about the housework or visitors or appointments. Let baby nurse non-stop for hours if it wants; cos THAT is how to get your supply up! And yes, you do spend hours and hours nursing. And that might be only one 'feed'...! lol. It does get better, and this is how natre meant it to be, so try and go with the flow.
DO NOT be coerced into 'topping up' with formula in those first 2 weeks. Weight LOSS is fine then, even if it's more than their '10%' cut off. Every 'top up' feed will be undermining your own supply.

You're so close now!! I'm excited for you!!



MissSazra, how is your wee Poppy doing!!???



Sideways, I read your journal, though I don't tend to post in it much!



AFM, my 'wee' guy is now 7.5 weeks old! I have NO idea how the time has gone by so fast!!! He's now 12lb 6oz (5.6kg). He 'talks' in baby-talk now, and he smiles ALL the time; it seriously melts me! He's started to chuckle a little with his smiles too!!! I am LOVING being a mum. I knew I'd enjoy it, but I had no idea just how much I love love LOVE it!

 

[MissSazra]

Hey everyone!

Good news at last! Poppy was weighed again on Monday and had put on 7oz in 5 days so she is now 8lb 14oz. Both the health visitor and one of the midwives seem to think the hospital messed up the birth weight. I can't say I'd be surprised after all the other mess ups they made. She definitely didn't look like a 9lb baby, and to me she weighs a lot more now than when she was born. It's just one of those things we'll never know.

When Sam is off work for Christmas we're going to try and get Poppy off the formula top ups, I really need his support to do it as I find the whole breastfeeding thing so upsetting. I hate having to give her the bottles, but she just won't latch properly every time, and now all the support groups have closed for Christmas (not that I got to go to any due to all the infections I've had). I feel like such a failure, but I will persevere as it's what I really want to do.

Flying - It's great that you've both taken to breastfeeding so well. Thanks for putting all that information, I didn't know a lot of it, and that really helps me. I shall do some more research based on what you've said and that may begin to help me and Poppy. It's all well and good having books and leaflets, but actually trying to get the hang of it is another matter. I just wish the hospital had given me better support from the start instead of introducing the formula top ups and we might not be in the situation we are now.

Xx

 

[SMFirst]

Hang in there Miss Sazra - it happens to a lot of people so you are not a failure, and it will get better!

 

[Sideways 8]

MissSazra, a lot of people have problems breastfeeding, so don't feel alone or anything. It does sound like Poppy is doing better! I'm very glad to hear that. And again I am so sorry you had a such a rough time at the hospital. If you have more babies, maybe I would consider somewhere else...

Well ladies, I haven't ovulated. Not in a while anyway, the last 4 days my temps have been pre-ov (low 97's). I've decided to personally give myself until January 15, if no AF or obvious spikes in temps I'm calling the doc. It will be kind of hard to NTNP if I'm not even going to be fertile!!

 

[flyingduster]

Miss Sazra, if you're able to read articles online while nursing or something, spend time reading through the kellymom website. I sat here, with Caleb propped up on a pillow in my lap/against the computer desk while I read and read and read; cos I can then still use my hand/s to help feed him without having to try and hold a book or magazine or something when it's all on a screen in front of me! lol. I learned soooo much from that site about HOW my body produces milk and stuff, that even though I've had no problems, I found the info awesome! I'm a bit of a geek though, and learning new stuff is fun. lol! Well, as long as I'm interested in learning it any way.

I'm sorry you've had problems, but the fact you are still feeding her is GREAT, cos it means you have far more chance of being able to get back in to it properly. You're not a failure, but I CAN imagine how totally heart wrenching it must be to feel that way. Try not to focus on the problem though, and set your heart and mind on to researching as much as possible to arm yourself with the SOLUTION! And then, if it really truely doesn't work out, then you can rest your heart knowing you really did try your best. But just don't do what so many others do; give up first, and then find out later, lots of other ideas they could have tried! And then they live in regret for not researching for help first...

 

[Sideways 8]

hey guys, hope everyone is doing well!!

rducky, I was wondering what age your LO started having full belly laughs? I have a few friends on my FB feed who have babies that are Bonnie's age and they are laughing already and have been for a while. Bonnie hasn't yet...

 

[flyingduster]

Sideways, I have a friend on here who's LO just started doing full on belly laughs this week; he's just over 15 weeks old. Caleb chuckles, but no real full on laughs yet...

 

[Sideways 8]

Bonnie is 15 weeks today. I've thought for over a month now that she was about to burst out laughing! She sure does look like she's trying. Those humongous gummy grins followed by some kind of sigh/squeal combo... I love them. LOL. But you know, I think I've still been stricken with the "first-time mom paranoia" of sorts. Comparing her development to other babies her age. I know I shouldn't, but I am just nervous about all that stuff!! LOL

 

[Sideways 8]

How is everyone doing?

 

[flyingduster]

We're good here. Caleb is now just over 4 months old, he's laughing and rolling lots, wanting to pull himself up all the time now too! Everything he gets his hands on, goes into his mouth, and failing that he'll just chew his hands. He has teeth moving in his gums at times, evidenced by a bright red flushed cheek, but it hasn't caused any problems, nor shown itself yet... He has been cranky lately as he hit a developmental stage/growth spurt, but seems to be coming out of that now.

We are still exclusively breast feeding, which is going awesomely; he's never once had a bottle yet. I'll start offering him food after he's 6 months old. He's still sleeping in with us too, but we do have the cot as a side-car to the bed so we all have more room! And yup, I still carry or wear him almost all the time. And I love it.

 

[MissSazra]

Hey everyone!

Sorry I haven't posted for a very long time, I've been more of a lurker of late and haven't posted much anywhere!

I hope everyone's doing ok?

I just have a quick question for the ladies who have gone back to work (I don't know how many that is) but how do you cope with leaving lo every day?

We're in a bit of a dilemma here, as I'm the main breadwinner it makes so much financial sense to go back full time, especially as we want to have another baby in a few years time, and the money would really come in handy. I was considering going back full time for a couple of years, then when Poppy is 2/3, take a year off with hopefully a second baby and have some wonderful time with her when she's toddling around. But that doesn't help the overwhelming guilt I feel at the thought of leaving her for 7 hours a day.

Part time jobs in teaching are like gold dust and none have come up at the moment, but I have a job interview for a full time post with management which means the money would be fantastic. But I can't put money above spending time with my wonderful daughter.

Sorry, I'm rambling here! I'm just worried that if I leave her every day, we'll lose that special bond, that she'll prefer someone else other than me (selfish I know!) I'm worried she'll forget who I am, and that I won't be so important to her anymore.

Does any of that make sense, or am I losing sight of things. I love Poppy more and more each day, and am very attached to spending all my time with her. I'm rarely away from her, when Sam says he'll look after her for a few hours to give me a break, I rarely take him up on it.

I hope someone can help me out, as I just don't know what to do for the best. In an ideal world, I'd get a part time job and everything would be wonderful, but if I wait for that I could be left with no job come September and that would leave us in a really bad situation.

Sorry to be so depressing! Xx

 

[Sideways 8]

Hi MissSazra!! Aww what a cute pic of you and Poppy in the avatar She loves mommy cuddles!

I went back to work, and did when Bonnie was 3 months old. I was stir crazy, so it wasn't that bad, but I did call like 5 times to check on her lol. Gradually it does get better, I promise! You'll think about her all the time though. Even after it does get better. I've turned into one of those people who shamelessly touts baby pics and videos, lol.

And you're not being depressing! I was actually pretty nervous before I left her the first time. What seemed to help was, letting grandma spend a few hours with her while DH and I went and ran errands or whatnot. We did that a couple times before I went back to work and I think that helped. We FF so not sure how that would be when you BF.. is she taking a bottle?

 

[MissSazra]

Thanks Sideways.

The picture was taken at our baby group, Poppy had fallen asleep on me after all the excitement of the group and she just looked so cute, I couldn't resist a pic!

My mum and dad have looked after her a couple of times when I went to get my hair done, and we went to a concert so we left her with them for a good 5 hours or so and it wasn't so bad, but then it wasn't every day. It's all so confusing.

Poppy's been bottle fed for the past 8 weeks now. The combination feeding just wasn't working for us, it was so stressful from my point of view, having already felt like a failure. It took me a good long while to stop feeling guilty about it, so I kind of just let the breast feeding go gradually, without making a really conscious decision to do it (if that makes sense?) Poppy is happy and healthy and that's what matters the most.

She's still not putting on as much weight as she should be, but the health visitor isn't worried. She started off on the 75th centile line, and is now just below the 50th. It worries me, but only on weighing days, the rest of the time I just enjoy being with my happy little girl.

I can't believe Bonnie is 6 months already. The time is just flying by. Poppy is 4 months today, and it seems like only yesterday that I was pregnant. It's mad that the pregnancy seems to go so slowly (cos you're just so keen to meet your baby) and when they're here, the time goes too quickly.

Xx

 

[flyingduster]

Aww hun, I can't help (I was totally intending on going back to work..... right up until I couldn't leave him behind. I quit my job and we now live on one income from DH...) but I can offer loads of cyber hugs!!


Time flies by hu!! It's scary....

 

[MissSazra]

I wish we could do that Flying but sadly my job pays an awful lot more than my husband's otherwise I'd be doing the same. I envy you so much to be able to do that, you're so lucky! Thanks for the hugs though, they mean a lot! Xx

If I do go full time Sam would have 2 days off to look after Poppy, my Mun would have her a couple of days and she'd probably go to a nursery for the final half day (as I'd get half a day for planning).

I just don't know whether to go for the interview I have after Easter or decline it and wait for a part time job to come up.

Too confusing, I just want the best for Poppy! Xx

 

[Sideways 8]

Look at it this way, Poppy will grow up learning that it's ok to be a working woman and support her family That's what I tell myself. And I do plan on having 3 more kids. But who knows what I'll think by the time that's done.

You are right, though. Time is FLYING BY. The pregnancy did drag on, and on. I told so many people that I was freaking pregnant all year!! LOL I kind of was though.
I think this time last year I was still coping with horrid morning sickness. Ahhh I'm rambling now!!

Time for bed. MissSazra, I also wanted to let you know that you shouldn't feel guilty about BF/combi feeding not working. I can understand having your heart set on something and it not work out.

 

[MissSazra]

Thanks again Sideways.

3 more? Wow, I don't think I could do it 3 more times, although I have come round to having one more, even though Sam wants 2 (although he's certain we're going to have twins next!!!!) I know what you mean about feeling like being pregnant all year, it seemed to last forever!

I think I'll just have to use the Easter holiday to figure out what to do about the interview and where I go from here with regards to work.

Thanks again! Will try and post a bit more regularly and keep up with everyone! Xx

 

[Sideways 8]

It is good to hear from you MissSazra. I think everyone else (besides flying) has fallen off the face of the earth I miss talking to rducky, turtlebeach, and the rest...