quote:

Originally posted by shake:

quote:

Originally posted by MrsK:
For a start Shake, not to be rude, but I'm guessing you've never actually been heavily pregnant.. and I was teasing.. Like, the running joke at the moment in my real life is I swear I will get more sleep once he arrives than I am the moment (eg, surely he can't wake up as often as my bladder wakes me up?? *lol*)

I'm actually finding it a little tough at the moment, and humour is keeping me sane!

You're right on that one. I'm going by my wife's words. She said the pregnancy and birth was actually the easy part, and she had a tough birth, episeotomy and emergency C section after some 16 hours of labor. Picked up a case of colostridium difficile form all the antibiotics. The work really is just beginning.

*covers ears*

lalalalalala, I'm not listening.. lalalala!
That sounds like a seriously tough one..

Feeling better today though.. just was SO tired last night but finally had a better nights sleep.. I'm achey, huge, swollen, morning sickness has returned, peeing every 10 minutes. but, I wouldn't bloody swap it for anything 1 month to due date today!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Pauline:
Mrs. K, two words:

Cluster feeding.

I'm not even gonna google that one *lol* I think I am probably very happy in my ignorance

Had lunch with a couple of the old gang from work. I miss them both, but the one guy especially. He's the kind of guy who's a born comedian; he just riffs nonstop on one topic or another keeping everyone around him in stitches the whole time.

Fun lunch! (And tasty too--a nice salad topped with seared Ahi tuna steak.)

MrsK: Bank on delirium for some weeks. Line up some folks to wisk the Kradlet out of earshot. You're going to need the respite. Sleep gets shot in the early days. Your body's download of milk, the kradlet's crying, plus your sleep cycle could be fucked. Get others around, if loved ones, trusted ones, and grab sleep when you can. You will be the source and exhausted at the same time. Imhofe.

Heh, sorry about that. I noticed that it is almost a competitive sport to break out the birth stories. I apologize if I caused you stress. I'm a light sleeper, so I got up for every feeding for however long that went on. Anabel is right about the delirium. I would actually hallucinate that I accidentally used the baby as a pillow and smothered it. Still it was sort of fun sitting up with my wife, commiserating. Got a lot of laundry done at 2am, since I would be up anyway.

Advice I give to all my moms:

Sleep when the baby sleeps. That way, if s/he sleeps all day, you'll both be fresh for wakefulness all night. Also, learn side-lying BFeeding so you can nurse while comatose.

Hey, I just noticed, you're in 'sconsin now?? Welcome to the dark side.

My wife had a hugely difficult time feeding, but kept at it for the whole first year. Luckily there as a lactation consultant at the local hospital which was close by that we made full use of. We must have been there a dozen times. It was good because they weren't those LeLeche nazis that blame you for your problems.

quote:

Originally posted by Pauline:
Advice I give to all my moms:

Sleep when the baby sleeps. That way, if s/he sleeps all day, you'll both be fresh for wakefulness all night. Also, learn side-lying BFeeding so you can nurse while comatose.

I know my girlfirend's baby was in the nicu for three months after she was born. One positive thing is that the nicu got her on a cycle for four hour sleeping. Frankly the baby learned that she could cry as much as she wanted to but nobody was going to come to her for four hours unless she was in distress. Now THAT was a positive thing as once she was home it was easier to transition her to sleeping the full night through. The downside of the NICU is that she has night terrors from her experience there.

Oh yes, bad birth stories are a HUGE competition.. I have to admit, I have stopped listening mainly now, and am very chilled and relaxed about the whole thing. I'm having him in one of the best hospitals in the world, and hoping for a very low key, relaxed birth.. but if that doesn't happen, so be it.. what will be will be!!

We have lactation midwives at the hospital too.. but we only get support from them for up to 28 days - after that its LaLeche! But, having done a 3 hour class with one of them, she was really quite scary *g* Again, when it comes to feeding, I would like very much to feed my way, but what will be will be.
Stories of cracked bleeding nipples are also as frequently told to me as the bad birth stories *lol*

quote:

Originally posted by Pauline:
Advice I give to all my moms:

Sleep when the baby sleeps. That way, if s/he sleeps all day, you'll both be fresh for wakefulness all night. Also, learn side-lying BFeeding so you can nurse while comatose.

That's good advice from Pauline. Also don't fall into the trap of sitting down to eat whenever there's an opportunity to do it in peace - it's a good way to retain the weight gain from pregnancy.

[rant]And for god's sake don't carry your baby in your arms while pushing his buggy/stroller. It's alright that the baby cries as long as you verbally try to comfort him if you need to go somewhere. If the baby is really upset stop, take him up comfort him/feed him/change him, and then put him back in the buggy. It's silly to carry a baby and push a buggy at the same time. You might as well have left the buggy at home. [/rant]

Yes, I'm here, in the land of cheese and brats. And cheese brats. hallelujah.

LCs are awesome. We've two IBCLC's, plus a whole whack of lactation counsellor RN's. I'm on deck for the certification course for early next year.

I could go on and on about BF and BF issues. First thing to do is to ignore your mom's and friends' advice and horror stories.

I saw someone with their baby in a sling pushing a pushchair just today and wondered why *l*
Though saw one poor lady.. a baby of about 18 months in pushchair, a toddler around 3ish running beside and a baby in a sling.. she looked exhausted! This was while me and mum lunched fabulously at the riverside in her local small town!

Breast feeding was easy peasy for me - no horror stories to tell. Just so you know that it can be easy and convenient.

Your email is in your profile is it Pauline, for when I panick? *giggles*
My mother didn't breast feed any of us *l* And neither did my mother in law, so thats two areas of, um, advice I don't need to worry about *l*

MrsK:

You need not panic. 28 days of LC care is lots of help. Initiating BF (first week or two) can be tricky--it's a learning process-- but once you get it, you've got it. Most women can do it, given encouragement, education and support!

Dang, I love my job.

As a single male with no dependents, I hesitate to comment on the current topic, but I think the mums/mums' to be will appreciate the following video (if they haven't already seen it).

Childbirth Song

Ha, that's brilliant.

I spent most of today on-call for labour ward. Lots of normal deliveries with happy babies and happy parents.

One of the great things about this job is getting to see all the cute babies, but have no responsibility for them whatsoever.

Burglars trespassed my brothers property and almost entered his house. Alarms kept them outside.