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Post by unicornsparkles on Aug 22, 2017 9:50:01 GMT -6
I'm not sure if you all think this is a good idea but I was just thinking how it would be nice to have a PP mom check-in to talk about how we are doing post-birth. I know from experience that once the baby comes, the focus is all on the baby and sometimes mom can feel left in the shadows. Here we can talk about the good, the bad, the ugly.
ETA also adding this because I struggled with PPD twice before and this time I'm being very open about it in hopes to not struggle with it. In the past I felt like I couldn't talk about it and I don't want other new mom's to feel that way so I'm hoping that we can help support each other 💖
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Post by unicornsparkles on Aug 22, 2017 9:51:57 GMT -6
How long has it been since you've given birth?
Are you coping well with having a newborn?
How is your support system? Are they helping meet your needs?
What areas are a struggle right now?
What is your favorite highlight of this past week?
Anything else to add?
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Post by unicornsparkles on Aug 22, 2017 10:24:25 GMT -6
How long has it been since you've given birth? 6 days
Are you coping well with having a newborn? I love love love this baby so much. She was my rainbow baby and I feel like I appreciate her & this newborn stage much more than I did with my boys. On the other hands, my hormones are a disaster. I'm having the baby blues which I haven't had before. I'm so weepy & crying a lot over nothing. I'm hopeful that this will clear up sooner than later though.
How is your support system? Are they helping meet your needs? So far, pretty good. We have some amazing friends who have been bringing over meals, coffee & gifts. It's truly amazing. We have meals secured for all of this week & next week. I'm really glad we have a nanny helping us too so DH is still able to work (we operate our own business) though is schedule is very abbreviated from what it normally is.. DH is being great with the boys and making sure that I am able to properly rest and focus on the baby.
What areas are a struggle right now? Hormones! Actually resting like I should. Mentally, I want to be up and around and doing things but my body isn't ready. We went to the doctor yesterday and just that outing wore me out.
What is your favorite highlight of this past week? The snuggles, this baby is so sweet and perfect. I am soaking up every ounce.
Anything else to add? I am really trying to not think about what things will be like in a couple of weeks when I resume to my full mom duties. Eek! It's scary.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2017 12:52:35 GMT -6
Good idea unicornsparkles. Definitely try to rest when you can. I too try to do too much. How long has it been since you've given birth? 18 days Are you coping well with having a newborn? It's going well, it's definitely exhausting and hard though. How is your support system? Are they helping meet your needs? I've had so much help from tu very first day. It's been nice. I can't imagine how women do this on their own. They are super women! What areas are a struggle right now? Last night/this morning has been super rough. No sleep + drop in hormones= crying breakdowns. What is your favorite highlight of this past week? I went with A to visit a friend yesterday and it went well! My first time driving with the baby. Anything else to add? I'm trying to soak up every moment with A, but can't wait to fast forward a few weeks when we are moved in to the new place and I can relax without anyone at my house. I love the help, but there's no time for me to just recharge by myself. |
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jexxa
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Post by jexxa on Aug 22, 2017 13:43:01 GMT -6
Thank you for starting this unicornsparklesHow long has it been since you've given birth? 10 days Are you coping well with having a newborn? I would say so How is your support system? Are they helping meet your needs? My parents were here for a little while to watch DS while H and I were in the hospital, but they left the day after we came home. H has been absolutely wonderful though. He took off 2 weeks to be home with me, I'm definitely not looking forward to him going back to work next week. What areas are a struggle right now? Sleep, but even that I can't complain too much about. Also trying to take care of a toddler and a newborn at the same time. H has been handling the toddler while I handle the newborn, but I know there will come a time soon when it'll just be me and the kiddos and I'm already stressing thinking about how to handle that. What is your favorite highlight of this past week? All the baby snuggles ❤️ Anything else to add? I had such a rough recovery with DS (two 3rd degree tears that became infected, PPA, etc) and this time around has been the complete opposite. I'm amazed at how good I feel both physically and emotionally. I just hope things stay this way. |
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Post by mrshall1027 on Aug 22, 2017 16:20:03 GMT -6
Great thread idea unicornsparkles! How long has it been since you've given birth? 18 days Are you coping well with having a newborn? Could probably be better. The baby is taken care of, but honestly it's out of obligation and not want right now. How is your support system? Are they helping meet your needs? My MIL is still here, which I was not looking forward to before birth, but now I am so thankful for her! She is helping so much, especially with the other kids. MH has also been great and helping a lot. What areas are a struggle right now? From my answer above, I'm obviously not doing well emotionally. I had my 2 week PP appt this morning and asked my OB for zoloft. I took it last pregnancy, but started it when I was 34 weeks so it was working when I had her. So, we'll see how long it takes to kick in. Lots of crying, anger, anxiety, and depression going on. Hoping the meds and getting out more will help. I'm meeting up with a friend on Thursday to walk around at the mall and then having a girls night on Friday. What is your favorite highlight of this past week? Yesterday meeting with the lactation consultant. We made some progress with breastfeeding, although we still have some work to do. Hopefully we'll be full on breastfeeding in the next couple weeks. Anything else to add? |
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Post by happyfeet9 on Aug 22, 2017 17:23:03 GMT -6
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Post by happyfeet9 on Aug 22, 2017 17:37:05 GMT -6
How long has it been since you've given birth? 2 weeks
Are you coping well with having a newborn? Having two newborns is obviously a huge adjustment. Their temperaments are also very different from my first and each other. Although I'm very sleep deprived because they are still not on the same schedule, I think I'm handling it pretty well.
How is your support system? Are they helping meet your needs? Support system is good, so far it's all hands deck which is really needed. My MIL is equal parts helpful and critical which I don't appreciate, but I try to hold my tongue.
What areas are a struggle right now?
- Keeping up with my diet. I'm losing weight really quickly breastfeeding these two babies and I worry about keeping my supply up.
- Making sure I'm keeping up with caring for my incision site. I have a visiting nurse and DH also changes my dressings, but I need to take it easy to make sure I heal properly.
- DS1 is a wildcard. Some days he's great, others he's impossible to manage. I wish I could give him more attention, but I'm limited by my recovery.
What is your favorite highlight of this past week? Seeing the twins grow bigger, even from their first week. They also got more quality time with big brother which was so sweet to see.
Anything else to add? I feel very content knowing that these are our last babies. It makes me feel more at ease with the challenges I've been experiencing in recovering.
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jexxa
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Post by jexxa on Aug 22, 2017 17:47:39 GMT -6
mrshall1027 lots of hugs. I really hope the Zoloft helps ❤️
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addymac
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Post by addymac on Aug 22, 2017 18:10:11 GMT -6
I love this thread idea 💛 Will post to it as soon as I finish my birth story haha
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jt2378
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Post by jt2378 on Aug 22, 2017 18:20:11 GMT -6
mrshall1027, hugs to you and hoping you feel better soon
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Post by thinkchocolate05 on Aug 22, 2017 18:53:49 GMT -6
unicornsparkles I love this idea. I had undiagnosed PPA with DS1 and I think part of the problem was I had absolutely no one to talk to about it. How long has it been since you've given birth? 6 days Are you coping well with having a newborn? Okay. This time dh and I have a system where I pump a bottle for night and then get at least 2 hrs to sleep, without messing up my supply. With DS1, I wouldn't let dh help and just didn't sleep which made my anxiety worse. How is your support system? Are they helping meet your needs? Dh and I had a big talk bc his brother with no manners came over on Sunday an hour later than they said they would and then stayed 4 hours through DS1s Naptime to watch a movie in our basement bc they don't want to pay for a Netflix subscription. I was livid!! Since then, we talked and I made a huge chart of things that need done each day and we read it over together. Dh is much better since then and his parents have been surprisingly helpful. My parents are coming for a week also, so I think that will help. What areas are a struggle right now? Cluster feeding, worrying my supply will be crap like last time, anxious thoughts, spending quality time with DS1. I know I will cry hysterically if he's lost a lot of weight at his appt Thursday. I so want breastfeeding to work this time although I know fed is best. What is your favorite highlight of this past week? He's just such a cute baby!! I can't believe he's here. Also, when Ds1 laughs at the baby's faces and says he's so cute. Anything else to add? No. I was kind of long winded Hugs, mrshall1027
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Post by unicornsparkles on Aug 22, 2017 19:10:11 GMT -6
thinkchocolate05 it seems we have similar BFing worries 😕 I'm trying to stay optimistic. Nursing is already going so much better than with my other two but since we came home it's hit or miss it seems. Baby girl is a lazy eater so sometimes she latches great and other times not. I have to stay patient and consistent. Since she was so big at birth though, she requires a bit extra milk so we have to supplement anyways, I just don't want it to be a crutch to keep me from doing my absolute best at bfing. My short term goal is to make it through this week. Then to the 1 month mark.
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Post by mrshall1027 on Aug 22, 2017 20:52:35 GMT -6
I'm with you on setting short term goals for breastfeeding unicornsparkles. My goal is to get through the next couple days, then the next week and each week after that. Eventually, we'll figure out was is best for both baby boy and I. |
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Post by thinkchocolate05 on Aug 23, 2017 1:58:53 GMT -6
Totally agree with setting short-term breastfeeding goals. Anything else seems so overwhelming.
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yoshijo
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Post by yoshijo on Aug 23, 2017 5:41:10 GMT -6
How long has it been since you've given birth? 6 weeks
Are you coping well with having a newborn? I'm ok. My dad is very sick and on hospice. He started hospice the same day Alexa was born. It's really hard coping with such a sad thing and what should be such a happy thing at once
How is your support system? Are they helping meet your needs? My H is amazing, doing house chores, taking the baby when he comes home and weekends so I can nap. He's also wonderful to my parents
What areas are a struggle right now? Reflux. A spits up so so much, especially when I BF. Pumping is also really hard when she's awake I'll go 6 hrs without a chance to pump
What is your favorite highlight of this past week? A interacted with her piano gym and it was really cute. She also turns her head to where I am during tummy time
Anything else to add? I'm diagnosing myself with PPA 😕
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Post by unicornsparkles on Aug 23, 2017 9:34:21 GMT -6
yoshijo are you able to see a doctor or therapist? I'm setting up a visit with a counselor for myself at 1 month PP just to be on the safe side.
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cwbh928
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Post by cwbh928 on Aug 23, 2017 13:08:03 GMT -6
happyfeet9 I am right there with you with DS1. Although I know your hands are a little more full! Hunter is being a trooper, but it's killing me I am stuck to the couch feeding Hudson nonstop it feels like. Some days hunter is great about it and sometimes he pushes the boundaries. I get mad at him and then I feel bad becuSe I know he just wants to play with mommy.
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cwbh928
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Post by cwbh928 on Aug 23, 2017 13:17:18 GMT -6
Great idea! How long has it been since you've given birth? Tomorrow will be 3 weeks. It's going quick!! Are you coping well with having a newborn? Good! It's taking sometime to get back into he swing of newborn land. I am constantly worrying if he eats enough, does tummy time enough and sleeps enough. I will say breastfeed is much better this time around although this kid eats like he has a tape worm. How is your support system? Are they helping meet your needs? My support system has been great. For the first 2 weeks my DH was home with me and really stepped up with DS1. He also gave me breaks and I was able to get out of the house. He also listened to me and pushed me to get checked out when I was panicking about my health. My mom is down now for 2 weeks and she has been a big help too. What areas are a struggle right now? My biggest struggle is keeping my Ds1 entertained while I am breastfeeding/dealing with baby. They get along great, but I know DS1 is wondering why I can't play all the time like I did. He is being a trooper, but does act up too. It's hard becuase I hate screaming at him for being him, but at the same time I have much lower patience right now. I am hoping I figure out how to keep them both at bay! I know it will get easier, but I feel so bad. What is your favorite highlight of this past week? Hudson has been much more alert and awake so it's been great seeing him interact more! Also I saw a cardiologist and found out that I am completely healthy - minus my BP a little high, so I finally stopped worrying about dying. Anything else to add? This post partum has been so different than my first. I felt things and anxiety i didn't the first time around. It's was nerve-racking and I certainly have a much better understanding of how hormones can affect your healing. Read more: howeverithappened.proboards.com/thread/5268/postpartum-check-8-22?page=1#ixzz4qbhMGWf7 |
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Post by violajack on Aug 23, 2017 16:55:03 GMT -6
How long has it been since you've given birth? 8 days
Are you coping well with having a newborn? I forgot how brutal the not sleeping at night can be. At least this one isn't a screamer, which helps. But this one falls asleep at the breast easily, transfers to the bassinet well, then starts grunting 2 minutes later and escalates until he's back on the boob. The constant up/down/up/down and having to get up just as I'm falling asleep is killing me. I've switched to side-lying nursing overnight, which is actually better for his latch and way better on my back, but I have to be very careful about staying awake as our matress is way too soft to be safe unsupervised. Reading on the phone has worked so far, and DH understands the situation and also stays up with me to make sure one of us is up and ready to move him when he's done. At some point, I may give in and move to the futon in the office as it's firm enough to be a safe bed-sharing surface. But I'd rather just stick it out and keep moving S back to the bassinet.
How is your support system? Are they helping meet your needs? MH has been much more helpful this time around. He's taking more time off. And it helps that the older two are in school now. I'm also doing a better job of not doing too much too soon. I had a pretty bad run with PPD last time, so I'm being really careful this time, and MH seems to understand and support me being so protective of my recovery time this time around too.
What areas are a struggle right now? See the not sleeping thing above.
What is your favorite highlight of this past week? I manged to get out with the baby in the ring sling today to walk my oldest to his first day of kindergarten, then walked my younger down to his preschool to see the newly renovated school. I walked more today than I have in the last week and still feel okay. Although I think I forgot to take my noon Motrin, but since I can't remember, I didn't want to take double. I have to wait until 6:00 now.
Anything else to add? I also forgot how hard nursing a newborn is. Getting a decent latch takes a lot of effort, and I'm not always willing to fight for it overnight. I remember beign able to stealthily lift a shirt and pop the kid on as I unclipped the bra, then switching arms around to a comfortable cradle, with basically zero exposure. Now I'm all nested in my pillow, boob way out, waving it in front of him, waiting for the big open mouth, smashing him on, and then freezing in the hopes of keeping him there. Everytime I try to switch from cross cradle to cradle, he slips. He's so gummy too. And he's so inefficient right now. It takes forever. I'm so looking forward to head control.
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jt2378
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Post by jt2378 on Aug 23, 2017 18:35:01 GMT -6
How long has it been since you've given birth? 9 days
Are you coping well with having a newborn? Eh so so. I'm still dealing with my own health issues and then the csection that was unexpected so it's been tough. She is another one who wants to be attached to the boob which I forgot how exhausting it is. My first was the same.
How is your support system? Are they helping meet your needs? MH has been truly amazing. I feel bad because I have minimal patience with the toddler so he is doing most of the work with her right now but that's to be expected I suppose at least in the beginning. He has been doing the cleaning, cooking, shopping pretty much everything.
What areas are a struggle right now? My patience mentioned above. Lack of sleep and just being in pain and trying to heal with this ass problem. It truly couldn't have been worst timing. I know time will make things easier but I'm definitely feeling a little depressed
What is your favorite highlight of this past week? Watching how sweet DD1 is with her. She smiles and talks to her and blows kisses so it's pretty adorable 😍
Anything else to add?
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Post by elliecat17 on Aug 23, 2017 19:01:52 GMT -6
How long has it been since you've given birth? 40 hrs (so I'm a little early to this).
Are you coping well with having a newborn?
I think so. We are tired, but she's been pretty easy so far.
How is your support system? Are they helping meet your needs?
H has been amazing! The first 6 hours after her birth he took over all the cares so I could get some sleep. He slept when she did too, but he was faster then me go get to her. He's also been soo amazing with her. She loves him. When he talks she looks at him, and she calms down faster for him then for me!
What areas are a struggle right now?
Breastfeeding. She was latching well for the first 18 hours, then she got mad at me that she was having to work for it and wouldn't latch on the left. So they gave us a nipple shield and she hates it, but we use it and it works for the left. The right side is a little different. Often she will latch without the shield. But we will figure it out!
What is your favorite highlight of this past week? Watching H with her. I knew it would be adorable, but sometimes it's just so amazing.
Anything else to add?
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Post by thinkchocolate05 on Aug 24, 2017 0:29:16 GMT -6
I'm so bummed. My mom had tickets to come visit us from tomorrow to next Wednesday. I was really looking forward to it and had already told ds1 to get him excited too. She texted late tonight (when I was catching an hour of sleep) that she's postponing her travel due to tropical depression Harvey (they live in a southern gulf state). I have all the feels about this. Storms are nothing new to them and this is a small and weak one. I think my mom doesn't want to leave my twenty-something sisters in case there's flooding but it seems like an over-cautious decision with a history of them almost never coming to see us. They haven't brought up any date when they might come in the future either.
Sorry. Rant over. In other news, is anyone else about a week post partum still having weird hot and cold flashes? I'll be so cold that I'm shaking and put on extra clothes and then 2 minutes later, I'll be completely drenched in sweat and just so hot. I guess it's still hormones, but it's such a pain. I also have a deep ache in my back and uterus that just won't going away. I'm going to call my Dr if it doesn't stop soon. Sorry: I'm so cheerful tonight!
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cwbh928
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Post by cwbh928 on Aug 24, 2017 2:52:03 GMT -6
thinkchocolate05 I am not a week post partum currently, but I wanted to tell you that I had the hot/cold feelings for about a week and a half. It sort of freaked me out becuase I didn't remember feeling that with my first. I even got the shakes and tremors for a week too which was even more scary! As for the pain in back and uterus, I also had that. However, mine was due to the fact that I had two nurses and my midwife basically sit in my stomach and out their entire fist and arm in my uterus to get the clots and blood out since I was hemorrhaging a little. I definitely think hormones play a huge rule, but I also agree that a call to your ob/gyn wouldn't hurt for peace of mind in case it is something that needs to be looked at.
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Post by elliecat17 on Aug 24, 2017 3:15:40 GMT -6
thinkchocolate05 I'm so sorry to hear about your mom's travel plans being detained. I understand how storms can affect so much. My patches are coming from Hawaii in the middle of hurricane season, and my mom is freaking out about getting everything set up so that if there is one nothing gets damaged while they are gone. Maybe just ask her when she moved the tickets to?
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yoshijo
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Post by yoshijo on Aug 24, 2017 4:00:11 GMT -6
yoshijo are you able to see a doctor or therapist? I'm setting up a visit with a counselor for myself at 1 month PP just to be on the safe side. Yup I see a therapist and am on zoloft |
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Post by mrshall1027 on Aug 24, 2017 4:11:41 GMT -6
Sorry your mom isn't coming thinkchocolate05. Hopefully she can come soon! As for the hot and cold flashes, they totally suck. I'm not getting them anymore, but they've been replaced with night sweats. I'll wake up soaked, it's so gross. I don't remember it lasting too long with my daughter, so hopefully it goes away soon. |
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Post by mrshall1027 on Aug 24, 2017 4:18:03 GMT -6
So I'm seriously considering just exclusively pumping. Throughout the whole pregnancy, I was so determined to breastfeed this time but I'm finding it to be so damn frustrating. I'm just not seeing the joy in it like I was expecting to. Even when he is latched, I'm so anxious about keeping him on, making sure he's drinking enough, trying to keep him awake, etc. Plus, it takes forever! If I could just pop a bottle in his mouth, we'd be done in half the time with half the effort. I just don't know if I'm thinking rationally right now so I don't trust myself to make a decision one way or the other.
Am I the only mom that is hating this whole breastfeeding thing?
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jexxa
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Post by jexxa on Aug 24, 2017 6:03:34 GMT -6
thinkchocolate05 I'm still getting them, although not nearly as intense as the first few days PP. These night sweats can go F themselves though. 😒 mrshall1027 I don't hate BFing, but I don't get all the warm and gooey feelings a lot of moms say they get. In terms of quitting BFing, someone once told me not to make any decisions on a bad day. The first few weeks are so hard 😔
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kristyw
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Post by kristyw on Aug 24, 2017 6:29:49 GMT -6
mrshall1027 I didn't enjoy breastfeeding DS. But I hated pumping more. The beginning is so so tough. I'd say take it one day at a time but don't feel bad if you decide pumping is better for you.
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