Recovery Thread

[Lucy]

Delivery Date / # Days Postpartum: 11/28 / 3 weeks PP today

Vaginal / C-Section: C-section

Limitations / Restrictions from OB/MW: Just no sex

When is your PP follow up visit? Any concerns you want to raise at it?: Jan 6th

How are you feeling physically?: Fantastic

Emotionally?: I'm an anxiety ridden mess. It keeps hitting me in huge waves. I'm not sure how much of it is holiday insanity/ having to deal with my MIL/ etc, and how much is actually PP related. I'm sure it's a combination of both.

What are your goals this week for a healthy mind/body?: Just surviving until next week! Trying to be patient with everyone, and trying to not allow my anxiety to bubble over an affect everyone else around me. I have Ativan if I need it, but I'm trying to avoid taking it because it makes me tired and I need to be alert when I wake up at night.

[requiressnacks]

Thanks for posting this @kc295905! I kept meaning to...and then forgetting. Glad you're lower regions are feeling better and I hope the weepy phase is short.


Delivery Date / # Days Postpartum: 11/8, almost 6 weeks!

Vaginal / C-Section: CS

Limitations / Restrictions from OB/MW: no sex, exercise

When is your PP follow up visit? Any concerns you want to raise at it?: 1/5....my incision is still open, but I think it's healing.

How are you feeling physically?: fine. The CS seems like a distant memory. I'm struggling with my new body and trying to muster the motivation to eat healthy and try to lose some weight.

Emotionally?: Eh....I'm all over the place. I wish I was more filled with love and joy when I'm caring for the babies. I often treat them like a "job" or a chore and I'm afraid I'm missing the little moments. I am going to try to be more mindful and aware that they won't be this little for long. It's just so hard with the two...

What are your goals this week for a healthy mind/body?: Give myself a break until after the holidays and try to go on a walk daily if it's over 30 degrees. (Not today!)

Questions/Comments/Rants/Raves: Anyone else take a while to "connect" with their newborn?

[requiressnacks]

Lucy, hope you're able to manage your anxiety. It's so hard with the holidays too.

[tbonequeen13]

Delivery Date / # Days Postpartum: 12/13, 6 days

Vaginal / C-Section: vaginal

Limitations / Restrictions from OB/MW: the usual

When is your PP follow up visit? Any concerns you want to raise at it?: 7 weeks (OB was out of town at 6 weeks). Nope.

How are you feeling physically?: My neck and back are sore from sitting around so much and I'm still pretty sore down below from the stitches

Emotionally?: Doing pretty well- I have moments where I get uncontrollably emotional, but I feel like it's better than it was with DD1

What are your goals this week for a healthy mind/body?: I need to work on feeding myself better/more- I tend to feed the kids and just snack myself- the only meal I've been consistently eating is dinner

Questions/Comments/Rants/Raves: We haven't had any visitors other than family this go round, and I am SO GLAD. We let people come over from day 1 last time and it was much more overwhelming- I don't have any desire to share my itty-bitty girl with anyone other than DH and DD1 right now - I don't even love it when family comes over because I don't want to share, lol.

[tbonequeen13]

requiressnacks, with DD 1 it definitely took us more time to connect- it was new and overwhelming and I'm sure having 2 at once is much more difficult. It's ok not to love this age- DH doesn't. It does get easier!

[Lucy]

requiressnacks, Cora is the first of my babies I really felt connected to from the start. I think it has a lot to do with her being the first one that I was really aware of coming out of my body -- I was put under for DS's birth -- then he was taken to the NICU and I didn't see him in person until he was 15 hours old. And I was too busy having a full blown panic attack with DD's birth, then the anesthesiologist gave me so-mething pretty heavy to calm me down after that put me to sleep. She was about 36 hours old before I was really able to have her with me because of the magnesium I was on after her birth.

I felt like I was faking it with both of them for so long. Like I had to pretend to be all enamored by these babies that I didn't really feel like were mine.

I'm sure having 2 babies at once and the stress of them being your first babies is all making it even more difficult. From what I've heard from several friends, it's not an uncommon way to feel. I think people expect new babies to be all sweet smells, rainbows and unicorns -- then they give birth to needy little milk monsters and it's hard to feel anything but overwhelmed.

[requiressnacks]

Thank you, ladies! I am so glad to hear that the way I'm feeling is normal. And don't get me wrong....I LOVE my babies. They just aren't super fun for me right now. And because there are two, we don't really get those quiet, snuggle moments that I hear about.

I also think I've had a hard time going from career woman to mom. Again, another transition that many of you experienced moms already dealt with.

[requiressnacks]

@kc295905, according to my super scientific good research( sarcasm font), babies less than 6weeks shouldn't really be outside below freezing. (Aside from to and from the car)

[requiressnacks]

Dec 19, 2016 17:07:18 GMT -5 @kc295905 said:

Dec 19, 2016 16:59:23 GMT -5 requiressnacks said:

@kc295905, according to my super scientific good research( sarcasm font), babies less than 6weeks shouldn't really be outside below freezing. (Aside from to and from the car)

But what about babies under 6 weeks and above freezing temps?! I'm thinking 40 degrees, all skin covered. Maybe. I forgot to ask the doc today, but I think a short walk would be good for all of us and I'm excited to try out the new double stroller.

I've taken walks at 40 degrees. My littles are still alive to tell the tale.

[requiressnacks]

Dec 19, 2016 17:05:34 GMT -5 @kc295905 said:

requiressnacks maternity leave is hard. I remember with DS1 I was like, I should be at work, it's much easier than taking care of this baby. One of the reasons I'm taking 2 less weeks this time. But then I hated leaving him when the time came. There's no logic, it's just survival.

THe thought crossed my mind to shorten my leave.

[littlelion]

Dec 19, 2016 17:07:18 GMT -5 @kc295905 said:

Dec 19, 2016 16:59:23 GMT -5 requiressnacks said:

@kc295905, according to my super scientific good research( sarcasm font), babies less than 6weeks shouldn't really be outside below freezing. (Aside from to and from the car)

But what about babies under 6 weeks and above freezing temps?! I'm thinking 40 degrees, all skin covered. Maybe. I forgot to ask the doc today, but I think a short walk would be good for all of us and I'm excited to try out the new double stroller.

In Norway, & other scandinavian countries, it's a thing for babies to nap outside in freezing temps...even as young as 2 wks old! Just a fun fact I thought to share.

[dream2be3]

Cool thread @kcnumbers!

Delivery Date / # Days Postpartum:Nov 21

Vaginal / C-Section: Both

Limitations / Restrictions from OB/MW:none

When is your PP follow up visit? Any concerns you want to raise at it?: Jan 5. I'm almost certain I bruised or sprained my tailbone during delivery. Sitting and getting up from a seated position hurts like a mofo so I will ask about that if I'm still in pain.

How are you feeling physically?: Other then my tailbone and being tired I feel really good.

Emotionally?: Really good!

What are your goals this week for a healthy mind/body?: This may sound stupid but making sure I take time for myself each day to shower and eat. I find that I'm generally eating only once a day most days.

Questions/Comments/Rants/Raves: The Temps have been below zero almost every day for the last week + making it impossible to get out of the house for even a short time. We get out about once a week. I'm going a little stir crazy!

[dream2be3]

Dec 19, 2016 16:55:22 GMT -5 requiressnacks said:

Thank you, ladies! I am so glad to hear that the way I'm feeling is normal. And don't get me wrong....I LOVE my babies. They just aren't super fun for me right now. And because there are two, we don't really get those quiet, snuggle moments that I hear about.

I also think I've had a hard time going from career woman to mom. Again, another transition that many of you experienced moms already dealt with.

Definitely normal! I think that having a baby spend time in the NICU doesn't help those feelings. I love my twinkies but what do you do with them besides feed, change diapers, and put them down for a nap??? It's super hard to be carting 2 babies around the house/snuggle with them.

[littlelion]

Delivery Date / # Days Postpartum: Nov30 / 20 days pp

Vaginal / C-Section: csection

Limitations / Restrictions from OB/MW: no sex, tampons, or lifting heavy stuff

When is your PP follow up visit? Any concerns you want to raise at it?: I have 3 more weeks to go. Atm no issues.

How are you feeling physically?: ok. I still get this pulling sensation/pain from the right side. My tubes healing? No idea.

Emotionally?: Better. My breakdowns lately are when dh acts like an insensitive jerk.

What are your goals this week for a healthy mind/body?: drink more water and get more sleep.

Questions/Comments/Rants/Raves: My bp this past weekend was really low for me. At todays follow up, dr tweaked my pills again. And told me to keep monitoring my bp esp if I feel lightheaded. Can't wait until my bp normalizes plus I get rid of this cold.

[babycowbell]

Delivery Date / # Days Postpartum: 9 days

Vaginal / C-Section: vaginal

Limitations / Restrictions from OB/MW: just the usual

When is your PP follow up visit? Any concerns you want to raise at it?: 1/17, nothing I can think of. I think I'm healing well.

How are you feeling physically?: exhausted, I had no idea I'd get so little sleep

Emotionally?: mostly good but sometimes really overwhelmed and emotional. My husband made fun of my pajama pants and I started crying. I know it's lack of sleep and hormones but I hate that feeling of being bordering on crying so much.

What are your goals this week for a healthy mind/body?: leave my condo a couple times. Talk about my feelings more so my husband doesn't feel so in the dark.

Questions/Comments/Rants/Raves: How strictly do you guys follow the safe sleep rules? In the 7 days we've been home the baby has only slept in her crib for three hours total spread out over multiple attempts. All the sleeping she does is in a less than ideal safety scenario so one of us just stays awake with her ALL the time. It's so hard in the middle of the night in the dark to stay up to watch her sleep. I feel like other people aren't doing this, so what do people do??

[littlelion]

babycowbell how is baby sleeping? When mine doesn't stay asleep in the crib, I go to the living room and sit in the recliner with him on my chest. I don't do that in bed since he can roll off me. It's the only way I can get a couple hrs of sleep on those tough nights.

[babycowbell]

Dec 20, 2016 3:06:04 GMT -5 littlelion said:

babycowbell how is baby sleeping? When mine doesn't stay asleep in the crib, I go to the living room and sit in the recliner with him on my chest. I don't do that in bed since he can roll off me. It's the only way I can get a couple hrs of sleep on those tough nights.

She sleeps well on me, or while being held, or laying on the Boppy Lounger pillow. Like 4-6 hours for long naps, or a couple hours for short ones, so she's a good sleeper, just sleeps in the wrong place so then I feel like I can't sleep too because I need to watch her. If she can't sleep in her crib soon I think we're going to have to just sleep while she sleeps on us or with us. I know the Boppy Lounger is only safe when supervised but I feel like I could safely do cosleeping. The current method is not sustainable!

[mrsp121308]

Delivery Date/# days postpartum: November 1...7 weeks today

Vaginal/C-Section: Vaginal

Limitations/ Restrictions: Got the all clear to exercise and have sex at my PP appointment last Monday

When is your PP follow up? Any concerns you want to raise at it?: it was last Monday

How are you feeling physically?: Fine, but I didn't tear at all with Hazel so I've really felt great since day 1.

Emotionally?: I'm still all over the place. Still struggling with delivering her early and missing so much of my pregnancy. I just wasn't ready to be done and I feel like my body just failed us. It's silly, I know.

What are your goals this week for a healthy mind/body?: I'm honestly just in survival mode from now until the big girls go back to school on 1/4. Having all 3 home all day is exhausting.

Questions/Comments/Rants/Raves: I've got nothing

[littlelion]

Dec 20, 2016 3:24:12 GMT -5 babycowbell said:

Dec 20, 2016 3:06:04 GMT -5 littlelion said:

babycowbell how is baby sleeping? When mine doesn't stay asleep in the crib, I go to the living room and sit in the recliner with him on my chest. I don't do that in bed since he can roll off me. It's the only way I can get a couple hrs of sleep on those tough nights.

She sleeps well on me, or while being held, or laying on the Boppy Lounger pillow. Like 4-6 hours for long naps, or a couple hours for short ones, so she's a good sleeper, just sleeps in the wrong place so then I feel like I can't sleep too because I need to watch her. If she can't sleep in her crib soon I think we're going to have to just sleep while she sleeps on us or with us. I know the Boppy Lounger is only safe when supervised but I feel like I could safely do cosleeping. The current method is not sustainable!

Maybe she likes to be slightly upright? There's a wedge you can use in the crib safely. DS1 also never slept in the crib. We coslept with him. Hope you figure it out soon.

[requiressnacks]

Dec 20, 2016 3:24:12 GMT -5 babycowbell said:

Dec 20, 2016 3:06:04 GMT -5 littlelion said:

babycowbell how is baby sleeping? When mine doesn't stay asleep in the crib, I go to the living room and sit in the recliner with him on my chest. I don't do that in bed since he can roll off me. It's the only way I can get a couple hrs of sleep on those tough nights.

She sleeps well on me, or while being held, or laying on the Boppy Lounger pillow. Like 4-6 hours for long naps, or a couple hours for short ones, so she's a good sleeper, just sleeps in the wrong place so then I feel like I can't sleep too because I need to watch her. If she can't sleep in her crib soon I think we're going to have to just sleep while she sleeps on us or with us. I know the Boppy Lounger is only safe when supervised but I feel like I could safely do cosleeping. The current method is not sustainable!

My littles sleep in Rock n Plays. Maybe try something like that?

Also, we swaddle at night, which seems to help.

[dream2be3]

babycowbell ditto to what snacks said. The rock and plays have been a life saver! We like the ones with music and have different speeds of rocking AND that plug-in. The sleep slightly upright in them and they don't have all the empty space around them like a crib. Babies are used to being in tight quarters inside us so I think it can be hard for some to transition to a big crib right away. I also swaddle the twinkies. The twinkies are 4 weeks old now and we're starting to alternate sleep between the RNP, PNP, and crib to try get them used to sleeping in a more open space.

[babycowbell]

Thanks for the suggestions! Makes me feel better. Maybe I need a RNP. We just got a Mamaroo as a gift yesterday and another cosleeping type bassinet thing that we would put in the middle of our bed, so hopefully one of those will help.

[requiressnacks]

Dec 20, 2016 18:51:50 GMT -5 babycowbell said:

Thanks for the suggestions! Makes me feel better. Maybe I need a RNP. We just got a Mamaroo as a gift yesterday and another cosleeping type bassinet thing that we would put in the middle of our bed, so hopefully one of those will help.

The mamroo looks awesome! Let us know how it works out.

[lola]

We have the Mamaroo, and so far she likes it! We're having her take naps in there and on flat surfaces like the couch (with supervision). At night, we're in the bassinet part of the PNP, with a half swaddle because she likes her hands out. We're getting mixed results so far, so she gets held a lot. I need to get our RNP out so I can try that out too.

[achromia]

What a good thread! Thanks for starting!

Delivery Date / # Days Postpartum: 12/14, so 8 days pp

Vaginal / C-Section: vaginal

Limitations / Restrictions from OB/MW: The usual - sex, tampons, heavy exercise.

When is your PP follow up visit? Any concerns you want to raise at it?: It'll be at 6 weeks pp; no concerns on my part yet.

How are you feeling physically?: Not bad! My tailbone is super sore and every once in a while my stitches sting a bit, but generally pretty okay. My nipples could probably use some TLC.

Emotionally?: I just wish this kiddo would eat a little more. I don't know if it's her lack of hunger or a low milk supply on my part, so I feel a little guilty all the time that she's being under-nourished.

What are your goals this week for a healthy mind/body?: Start eating regularly again! I've been so busy/stressed that I usually forget, and I'm sure that doesn't help with my overall state of being.

Questions/Comments/Rants/Raves: I'm taking fenugreek and eating lactation cookies... anything else I can do to get my milk supply up over an ounce per pumping session? I feel like we would all be so much more settled if I could just fill baby girl's tummy a bit more!

[Lucy]

Cora sleeps in her bouncer chair at night. It's at the same angle as the RNP, but somehow she ended up in that one night and slept a 5 hour stretch. She typically sleeps a 4-6 hour stretch in it each night, so I'm afraid to move her to the RNP until she's too big or wiggly to sleep in the bouncer.

[achromia]

Dec 22, 2016 12:40:00 GMT -5 @kc295905 said:

achromia definitely make sure you're eating and drinking enough, super important for milk supply. Are you nursing too, or just pumping? Pumping output doesn't always correlate to what baby is able to get out of breast, you usually pump less. Also, if you're pumping AND nursing 1 oz sounds normal.

These are all good points. Thank you for the reassurance. I am nursing as well. I'm just paranoid because we did an in-home visit with a lactation consultant, and she determined our girl was only taking in ~1/3 of the volume she needs during nursing due to a slight tongue tie/lip tie, so I want to make sure we have plenty to supplement her.

Today actually seems better - the baby seems to be nursing more effectively AND my pumping output has increased a fair amount. Call me relieved!

[achromia]

Dec 23, 2016 22:17:31 GMT -5 @kc295905 said:

achromia how did they determine that she's only getting 1/3, did they do a weighted feed?

Yep, exactly. The consultant weighed her, had me feed her, and weighed her again.