April & May 2008

[Mandy J]

Congratulations Kipatte on your little girl, strange that she turned after being engaged, I didn't realise that could happen!

I've still had no signs at all, no twinges just a slightly bruised feeling around my pubic bone....please....please.....let me be next, I am just so ready to meet my little one now!

How many of us are still waiting now? well I guess all May babies are still to come yet!!!!

Mandy
x

[Babyb]

Mandy: You are right around the corner from holding your little one. It can happen so quickly -- any minute now. I delivered much earlier than expected due to pre-eclampsia and contractions that developed out of nowhere.

When I left work at 34 wks, I was experiencing no signs of impending delivery. I wasn't even haven many Braxton Hicks contractions. My cervix was really long and closed. Everyone expected me to make it to 36-37 wks. Then, the night of my last day of work, in a matter of hours, I demonstrated signs of PE and started contracting every 3 minutes (totally unexpected by all parties, including the OB). Next thing I knew, I was in the hospital and on the operating table.

I look forward to hearing about the arrival of your little girl. Hang in there.

[Vlada]

Mandy,
You are almost there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pretty soon you will have your baby!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vlada

[woodcliff]

Kipatte, congratulations!
All of you lucky ladies and your babies...I hope all is well.

Still have the night nanny from hell...she is so bad with the babies! She keeps talking about 'sleep books' and how we are all doing it all wrong (she is the one the babies don't respond to, ironically)... Fortunately I have terrific daytime people (who the night nanny blames all her own woes on!)

I am hoping she leaves as of Friday. She's a nightmare!

XXOO

[kipatte]

Well it is 6 days post partum and I still can't get Stephie to latch on. The lactation consultants are here every day. We started a bottle in the hospital so I know this is the problem. I am pumping also but not enough coming out yet.

Baby b- I read your post on the weight loss. I am having the same problem. I have so much water weight after the C-section that the scale shows I only lost 8 lbs which means I have 20 to go. My stomach is still very distended and in fact they kept me an extra day in the hospital because of this. It is discouraging to look in the mirror but I figure it will just take some time. I am giving it six weeks and then I will know how hard I have to work to get the rest off.

I can't quick looking at my little girl. I still can't believe the love and joy that flows. I wish she would stay this little longer than she will. They are just so amazing.

Wishing everyone the best. Can't wait to hear about more deliveries.

Kipatte

[Kelley77]

Re: Losing the weight..

The first 5-8 days post baby, you probably will still look pregnant, and even have the belly..BUT shortly after, first you lose the water, then the rest kind of comes off pretty quickly. I am three weeks (today) post babies and have lost slightly over 50 lbs, and am at my pre-preg weight, (sadly though..I am not a tiny girl, and was overweight to begin with). Pumping/breastfeeding speeds the process dramatically (I think anyway) and one thing to take note..while I weight what I did pre-preg (and this same thing happened with my 1st preg..losing all of the weight quickly) I don't fit into my jeans, because my weight is dispersed VERY differently. I NEVER had a big belly on the top (always something on the bottom, if you know what I mean) but NOW, I have major muffin belly over my jeans! WTF..I weigh what I did before (and actually, a couple pounds less!)

So, give yourself a couple of weeks, and you should notice some major changes. If you plan on pumping/breastfeeding...you will slowly lose even more weight, if you just eat sensibly! With one baby, you need to eat an extra 500 calories, and if your feeding two..you need to eat closer to an extra 1000 calories (so said the lactation folks). Remember..each time you nurse you are burning approx 500 calories.

It will happen!! Be patient I know..easier said than done

Glad to hear everyone is doing so well, as are the babies. It has taken us all so long to get here..amazing isn't it?!

[Vlada]

Hello ladies,
I am there with you about the weight loss, it is hard to look in mirrow
My belly is going away really fast,( it has been one week today since i had my baby girl) but the overall feeling is pretty bad, i am not as firm as i used to be, plus i still have to loose quite a bit of weight . i will know on Friday at my OB's office how much i've lost so far.
I have to agree with other girls, Bfeeding helps a lot with weight loss.
Kipatte, i am sorry you girl is not taking the breast, some babies are just like that, hopefully if you keep pumping you will get more milk with time.
I am also planning to go back to the gym after 6 weeks ( i guess it is a standard time for post c section) and getting my body back!!!!
The worst part is to be fat for the summer time , but it is all worth it, right
Our kids are so special to us, that it is a small price to pay!!!!
Vlada
PS Mandy, any news yet???

[woodcliff]

You ladies sound svelte and sexy! Give yourselves a break, or two or three...you just had babies! Some had twins!

Enjoy your bundles of love...
xxoo
PS: Cocoa ... you out there? OK?

[kipatte]

woodcliff... you make me laugh. You are right. We should give ourselves a break!

[Mandy J]

Well, no news from me yet! I had a midwife appointment today, my blood pressure has gone up a bit and the baby hasn't grown in the last week....so I get rechecked on Sunday if the baby hasn't arrived by then.

I have asked if I can have a membrane sweep on Monday morning, as my sister returns to USA on Tuesday, it will be such a shame if she doesn't get to meet my little one before she goes home. They don't like to induce here in the UK until you are at least 10 days overdue!

It is my grandma's 85th birthday on Saturday, so as baby has decided not to arrive early...or on time.....I have had a quiet word and asked if baby would mind coming on Nan's birthday instead!

WC: Sorry to hear about your problems with your evening baby minder, hopefully you will get that sorted this week, it must generally be so good to have so much help with your little ones, for the rest of you with Twin babies coping on your own you must be totally exhausted.

Re: weight gain, come on girls, I'm still like a fat beached whale...have a heart!!!! Remember it took 9 months to put it all on, we are not celebrity Mums starving ourselves to wear our LBD's either!

Keep well ladies

Mandy
x

[Cocoa]

Hi girls...

Yes, I am out here and exhausted!!! My little sweet ones have decided that they like to be awake from 10PM to 2AM and THEN awaken at THREE or THREE THIRTY to EAT!!! Every feeding is an hour and they also awaken at SIX or SIX THIRTY... I sleep about 4 to 5 hours every night and its kinda catchin' up... SO... tonight they get a bath at 9PM and then fed at 9:30 and then we ALL GO TO SLEEP!!! You see I have to get up for my older son at the latest 7 and then I am up... And don't suggest that I sleep when they do because I have NEVER been able to sleep during the day (except for when I have been sick) - besides with all these people required to be here I feel like I have to take care of everyone... I don't mean to be a bummer but I am dsilly tired right now but wanted to say...

CONGRATULATIONS to all my lovely ladies... BabyB I still cannot believe how fast it all turned around on you...

BTW - I have my echo tomorrow but my follow-up isn't until the 8th so I will tell you how I am when I do find out...

love to you all - Michelle and Lisa (pa) PLEASE check in and let us know how your cycles are going...

xxxCocoa

[Babyb]

DITTO on the TOTALLY EXHAUSTED FRONT. I'm getting a couple of hours of sleep if I am lucky. With Asher still in the NICU, I am driving back and forth from the hospital. I feel so guilty with one of my boys left at the hospital, but he needs to grow a little more before he can join us. I allow the NICU to bottle feed Asher most of the time as I cannot leave Halen until the night nurse arrives. I am pumping breast milk for him though. I can only imagine how difficult it will be once both are home and I am juggling both!

Halen is inconsistent in his breastfeeding. THe other day, he latched on like a champ and wouldn't let go of the boob. Today, I haven't been able to get him to eat much of anything. He keeps falling asleep, whether at the boob or the bottle. I'm beginning to think that the Percoset is making its way into my breast milk and making him very very sleepy and lazy.

Dad and I are equally, if not more so, lazy today. It's a struggle just to keep the eyes open.

WC so sorry you have the night nurse from hell. I am happy to report that my Doula is absolutely amazing. Don't know what I'd do without her. I know we will be very spoiled by her and it will be difficult to let her go in 6-8 wks (unfortunately, can't afford her long term. I'll have to hire a cheaper nanny

On the weight front, the water around my arms and ankles is starting to diminish. My stomach is still pooched (as if 4-5 mos prego) and I'm sore from the c-section 7 days post partum. I think I've really been pushing myself.

Mandy: Wishing you a wonderful delivery.

OK, already falling asleep at the computer as I pump away. Speak to you guys later.

[Vlada]

Hello everyone,
I am so very tired as well, my little one screams at night like crazy between 11 and 2 am, thank God she sleeps after that. My Mom is coming on the 6th of May and she will be staying untill July 16th, i am soooo excited about that, it will be a tremendous help.
First pediatrician appointment went really good, she is back to her birth weight and i had my first OB appointment since the c section. So far i have lost 20 pounds out of a little over 40 that i have gained. I guess it is not bad, considering it has only been 10 days since the surgery.
So, how do you guys calm your little ones down at night? The only thing that works on Tesa is my breast, but i can't breasfeed her every 20 minutes, and nothing else works including rocking her , vibrating chair, ect. What do you do ?
Vlada

[Mandy J]

Just an update from me:

I went to the hospital today for a recheck, my blood pressure is back to normal again. She did a membrane sweep, but doesn't think it will do any good as I am not at all effaced yet, so she reckons it will be at least another few days.

So it looks like my sister won't meet the baby until Christmas, which is a shame, but as long as baby is healthy when it does finally decide to make an appearance is all that matters!

These last few days have felt longer than the last 10 months, but now I have resigned myself to the wait so I am going to pamper myself, just trying to persuade DH to take me out for a meal tonight!!

Hope you are all having a good weekend

Mandy
x

[Babyb]

Mandy: Just checking the board to see if you delivered yet. Yes, the last few days does tend to feel longer than the last 9-10 months. When my OB checked me into the hospital at 34 wks and told me I would be there for another 2-3 wks until my scheduled C-Section, the few days I was there felt like an eternity. As circumstances turned out, I was only in the hospital a week before delivery, but I do know how slow time can pass when you are DONE and eagerly awaiting the birth of your new ones. HANG IN THERE!

OK, so the weight thing, I'm about a week post partum and the swelling has left my feet and ankles (thank god!). I'm told by my night nurse that my face is looking thinner as well. I've lost about 15-20 lbs so far (I didn't weigh myself on my home scale for the last 2-3 wks of the pregnancy and my OB scale is different from home so I can't quite tell exactly how much I've lost). My stomach is still pooching out (a couple of people thought I was still pre-delivery. wanted to KILL THEM) and I have about 20-25 lbs to go!!!!! If I knew this weight would come off as easily as the first 15-20 lbs, no problem. HOWEVER, we all know this isn't typically the case and probably reflects a chunk of the baby FAT gained (chunk -- no pun intended. LOL).


Twin update. Halen is home doing well. Asher is still in the NICU, but starting to feed like a champ. He took the bottle all yesterday and last night (no more gavage feeds). I think/hope this means he will be able to come home in a few days. He still needs his circumcision (OUCH ).

Vlada: So sorry you are having trouble with crying baby. Thankfully, both Halen and Asher are VERY CALM (so far) and cry very little. You are probably well aware of all the standard tricks -- swaddle, shooshing, holding the baby on her side while swaddled and you are shooshing, etc (all from the book "Happiest Baby on the Block"). What about sound machines (we have a lamb that plays rain/ocean/heartbeat sounds). Also, are you tracking what you eat? Is it perhaps a gas issue? Whatever you do, get her on a schedule for the boob. She needs to know YOU ARE THE BOSS. If you give her the breast to calm her, she will cry in order to get it (having the opposite effect you desire). This will exhaust you over-time. My night nurse has Halen on a strict 3 hour feeding schedule. He gets NO CHEATS in between.

WC/Rebecca/Kipatte/Croella/Robinsonpr: How are you and your little ones doing?

OK, back to my daily grind of boob and pump. I feel like by TTYs are on display for all to see. I don't even get to walk around with a top anymore.