New Mommas

[alias]

All you mommas with new babies, how are you feeling physically?  Emotionally?  Lots of hugs to you!

And, if you haven't already, share your birth stories!

[shevacc]

Thanks for asking! I'm only new to having 2 kids so I kind of count, but we're getting used to our new life as a family of four. Physically and emotionally I'm doing well. I'm trying really hard to not overdo it now that my parents have gone home. Right now G is in daycare fulltime and in comparison it seems pretty easy just taking care of one baby all day. Emotionally I was sadder than I thought saying goodbye to my parents and otherwise more teary than usual. But nothing unexpected. I still need to write up A's birth story but will try to do that soon.

Right now the hardest part of adjusting to 2 kids is working through G's strong emotions. When she's sad, it's like a knife to my heart. I want to be able to hold and comfort her and make sure she feels loved. But then I can't leave A to cry when he needs to nurse or be held. Having to choose which child to hold/comfort sucks. I'm also used to G being a lot more helpful/less defiant so I have to dig deep to find patience.

So, overall a long winded version of things are good but adjusting is still a work in progress.

[toratoratori]

Physically, I'm doing well, though I am having supply issues which we didn't catch until C was 11 days old due to some bad information we got from the family care physician she was seeing as well as a lactation consultant at the hospital.

She's finally on formula and doing really well, and I'm supplementing with what little milk I've been able to pump. But I had a very rough week - lots of guilt about not being able to feed her like I want to, as well as guilt about her being hungry for so long and me not realizing it. (She dropped more than 13% of her weight in that first week and a half, and is now playing catch-up.)

I think I've finally turned a corner in terms of dealing with this emotionally. She's finally gaining, she's happy and healthy, and she won't remember this. And things could be A LOT worse. But it still breaks my heart that we didn't catch it sooner.

[cdmay]

Aug 29, 2014 10:18:46 GMT -5 toratoratori said:

Physically, I'm doing well, though I am having supply issues which we didn't catch until C was 11 days old due to some bad information we got from the family care physician she was seeing as well as a lactation consultant at the hospital.

She's finally on formula and doing really well, and I'm supplementing with what little milk I've been able to pump. But I had a very rough week - lots of guilt about not being able to feed her like I want to, as well as guilt about her being hungry for so long and me not realizing it. (She dropped more than 13% of her weight in that first week and a half, and is now playing catch-up.)

I think I've finally turned a corner in terms of dealing with this emotionally. She's finally gaining, she's happy and healthy, and she won't remember this. And things could be A LOT worse. But it still breaks my heart that we didn't catch it sooner.

We had to supplement (starting with all formula) till J was 3 wks and have been ebf since. I obviously don't know your situation, but wasn't too encourage you that just because things started off this way doesn't guarantee they'll stay that way.

[alias]

Hugs toratoratori. I went through a similar start and felt guilty and bawled the first few weeks. I know it's hard. But, she will be fine with formula and you are doing the best you can.

[toratoratori]

Aug 29, 2014 12:52:29 GMT -5 cdmay said:

Aug 29, 2014 10:18:46 GMT -5 toratoratori said:

Physically, I'm doing well, though I am having supply issues which we didn't catch until C was 11 days old due to some bad information we got from the family care physician she was seeing as well as a lactation consultant at the hospital.

She's finally on formula and doing really well, and I'm supplementing with what little milk I've been able to pump. But I had a very rough week - lots of guilt about not being able to feed her like I want to, as well as guilt about her being hungry for so long and me not realizing it. (She dropped more than 13% of her weight in that first week and a half, and is now playing catch-up.)

I think I've finally turned a corner in terms of dealing with this emotionally. She's finally gaining, she's happy and healthy, and she won't remember this. And things could be A LOT worse. But it still breaks my heart that we didn't catch it sooner.

We had to supplement (starting with all formula) till J was 3 wks and have been ebf since. I obviously don't know your situation, but wasn't too encourage you that just because things started off this way doesn't guarantee they'll stay that way.

Thanks. I'm not optimistic, unfortunately. I'm taking Fenugreek and drinking Mother's Milk Tea, and I'm still only getting about 0.5 oz. from both breasts at each 20 minute pump session. If it doesn't pick up in the next few weeks, I'm just going to give up and EFF. It doesn't seem like a good use of my time or energy to be pumping around the clock to get what is now less than a full feeding for her

[toratoratori]

Aug 29, 2014 13:04:05 GMT -5 alias said:

Hugs toratoratori. I went through a similar start and felt guilty and bawled the first few weeks. I know it's hard. But, she will be fine with formula and you are doing the best you can.

I remember you posting previously about supply issues, and actually brought it up in the birthing class we took, and basically got told "that's not a thing unless you're doing nursing wrong." Now that it's actually happening to me, I'm more pissed than ever about that comment. I really feel like I was set up for disappointment by everyone who made it seem like breastfeeding was the easiest thing in the world.

[alias]

Aug 29, 2014 14:49:21 GMT -5 toratoratori said:

Aug 29, 2014 13:04:05 GMT -5 alias said:

Hugs toratoratori. I went through a similar start and felt guilty and bawled the first few weeks. I know it's hard. But, she will be fine with formula and you are doing the best you can.

I remember you posting previously about supply issues, and actually brought it up in the birthing class we took, and basically got told "that's not a thing unless you're doing nursing wrong." Now that it's actually happening to me, I'm more pissed than ever about that comment. I really feel like I was set up for disappointment by everyone who made it seem like breastfeeding was the easiest thing in the world.

Totally agree. I knew it would be hard, but everyone talks about it like if you push through and can tightly it out, it will be fine. And, that's true for some people. And other people just have supply issues no matter what. It makes you feel like you are broken and feel guilty b/c you are supposed to be able to do this, so either you must be doing it wrong or not trying hard enough or there is something wrong with you. It's BS. I saw a LCD multiple times, pumped constantly for weeks, tried supplants, etc. and my milk never came in and I never pumped more than 1/2 ounce in 40 minutes and my weighted feeds at LCD, with a good latch showed 0 transfer. Obt beat yourself up, there are a lot of ways you can fuck a kid up and formula is not one of them. Just look at my little cutie! But, beating yourself up will affect your kid b/c unhappy mama is no good. Lots of hugs!

ETA: holy typos! A cookie to you of you can decipher this mess!

[alias]

Apparently LC auto corrects to LCD...

[mrslefty]

toratoratori ygpm related to the above...

I'm counting myself as new even though babylefty is almost 3 months old. Hold me!

I feel pretty good, if a little pudding like. I plan to start going back to the gym next week. I had lost so much weight and gotten so fit before I got ktfu and I am struggling with my new body...which is a lot like my body before I started losing weight. Frustrating.
Emotionally I am okay. I'm already struggling with the idea of going back to work and I have 10 more weeks! I didn't expect to love him like this...
Also I'm becoming a nice person and I hate it. I keep thinking "they have a mommy at home that loves them like I love babylefty" and I get all mushy. Not cool.

[shevacc]

Aug 29, 2014 21:31:02 GMT -5 mrslefty said:

Also I'm becoming a nice person and I hate it. I keep thinking "they have a mommy at home that loves them like I love babylefty" and I get all mushy. Not cool.

Lol, don't worry, soon enough that other kid will push babylefty on the playground and will make it back on your list