it’s a boy!
As promised, some baby snaps.
Well after 42 weeks and 27 hours of labour, our son Hugh was born on the 4th of March at 3.92kg / 8.6 pounds and 55cm long. Bub came out facing the wrong way up (head first though) so he was vacuum assisted out, but was a little trooper throughout the long labour. The senior ob said he really thought we’d end up having an emergency c-section, (we had every other intervention they could throw at us – despite me being generally quite anti-intervention, I’m very thankful for it!), but because Hugh was such a strong little fella, we made it through without one.
We’ve had a little drama since: two days after leaving hospital, we were back in. My milk hasn’t come in so Hugh had lost a fair bit of weight (but it’s all back on again now). At the moment I’m taking all sorts of milk producing medications, expressing what little I can and hoping each morning I wake up looking like Dolly Parton. I never thought I would have to worry about formula and sterilising and bottles and breast pumps and routines and all that paraphernalia, but that’s exactly what we’re doing…every three hours. It’s such a hassle, so I’m hoping that breastfeeding will still be an option eventually (sooner rather than later).
Intellectually I knew beforehand that I wasn’t going to get much sleep or have much time to myself, but you don’t really know until afterwards. Also, I thought I was pretty prepared beforehand…we’ll be more prepared if there is a next time round.
I’ve still got plenty of posts scheduled for the next couple of weeks, but I will be taking a bit of time off during that time to catch up on some sleep! Thanks for dropping by to read and leaving comments, I haven’t replied to any yet, but I’ve read all of them. Will catch up soon.
SAVE MONEY AND TIME ON THE GROCERIES
Congratulations! Hugh is a gorgeous little boy. Hope you are enjoying all those lovely newborn moments
Been there myself with the feeding troubles both times, but we got through them. The ABA is a great support and a bunch of wonderful women who are great to get together for a chat.
He is so gorgeous. A big congratulations to you and your hubby, you did a fine job!
I know how devastating it is with the breast feeding. I had many difficulties and was constantly in tears for the first few weeks. I felt like a failure and was too embarrassed to feed him a bottle in public because I felt everyone was judging me. You probably know about all the support networks and breast feeding groups in your area. Whatever you do, please be kind on yourself, because whether he is breast milk or formula fed, he is getting the nutrition he needs to grow big and healthy. I ended up hiring a hospital grade breast pump from Pink or Blue (delivered right to my door at the most stressful time of my life) and it was a saviour because I could see how much milk I was producing and was reassured that at least part of his diet was breast milk. These work a lot better than the hand held pumps.
The first weeks/months are incredibly hard but at 6 months onwards they’re eating carrots and potatoes, starting to crawl and they’re a barrel of laughs. Can’t wait to hear more news about your little man. All the best xo
Congratulations! Good luck with the feeding, too.
Congrats!
I had problems with my milk production too. I dont know if it had anything to do with me being induced. My milk didnt come in til day 6. I started formula feeding on day 3 cos there was just nothing happening and my little girls jaundice was getting really bad. She took to the bottle really well and got well quickly from then on but when I tried to get her back on the breast she didnt like it one bit!
Shes nearly 6 months old now and I am expecting the next bub in 5 months. I hope I will do better next time.
Congratulations on the arrival of Hugh! What a Cutie!
I tried unsuccessfully to breastfeed my boy but he is perfectly fine having been bottlefed. Just do what you can and dont stress.
Congratulations to you and hubby Melissa, Hugh is just gorgeous!!
My third daughter was born 9lbs (induced at 38 wks!) and I had all end of trouble with milk supply. The Nursing Mothers (ABA is it called now?) were fantastic. I used to part comp with formula and part breast feed using a small line. I continued this for six months. There was also milk I would express in between feeds to give instead of comps. I unfortunately had a very limited supply with this bub. She had quite bad jaundice and was not keen to “work for her meal” In the end I put her fully on formula and although at first I had felt I’d failed (fed my other two for 12mths and 24mths respectively) by only getting her through for 6 months I now see she has thrived (now 10 yo) and whatever you have to choose you do adjust to. Keep positive Melissa, as having a non-stressed Mum works wonders whichever feeding choice you choose. Having a healthy happy bub and Mum is a great mix.
Take care
Kind regards,
Kaye
Thanks for all the support re the feeding!
It seems that having trouble feeding is quite common. It’s a bit demoralising when I was so bent on breastfeeding (there have been a few tears), but at least bub is getting enough to eat and he’s getting a little of mum’s goodness!
We’re back on the breast (now that they have healed from being bloodied and battered) but he has to do a lot of work for very little. We top up with formula and express for extra also. We’ll see the lactation consultant again and probably end up doing the supply line also, although there are times when I feel like giving up. DH was formula fed and spent most of his childhood in hospital with asthma (which may or may not be related) so I want to give our fella the best chance against asthma that I can. And it’s so much more convenient than bottles!
Thanks again for the comments, they are always well received!
Might want to check out an osteo who specialises in babies. I had a fairly high intervention birth with my first which resulted in an emergency c-section after a failed vacuum extraction. All that pulling and shoving really messed up my little girls head. I was told early on to take her, but I was getting so much advice that I was overwhelmed. It was not until she went into full on breast refusal, screaming and could not turn her head properly that I finally took her. It made such a difference. Poor little thing was struggling to open her mouth really well due to it all and it was also affecting her reflux. She was a horrid feeder and both breast and bottle. So even formula was not the answer.
I had my moments in the early days where I would go to sleep crying hoping that my milk would dry up so I would not have to do it anymore, but thankfully it did not. Went onto feed her till she was over 2 1/2
Hi
What a cutie!! Congratulations!
I didn’t realise that the breastfeeding thing would be so hard either when I had my daughter. I had seen my two sister in laws do it without a problem. My time was terrible. I was trying the breastfeeding but she lost weight so I did the expressing thing. I was spending all my time expressing, then sterilizing, then feeding and trying then to get enough for the next feed. DD cried all the time. I was told by my health professional to keep going but it was nearly killing me. Then about 5 weeks the little old Dutch lady(probably about 80yo!) from the house behind us came over because she hadn’t seen me walking with the baby etc and she had been waiting to see the baby. (We only had a waving relationship till then) I told her that I was really busy trying to keep up with feeding. She told me that maybe it was time to think about myself and that I would know what to do. That day I decided to start formula and 3 days later my husband and I woke up in a fright because we hadn’t heard DD and rushed to her room. She was in her cot playing with her fingers and she wasn’t screaming. We were amazed and relieved and I had my sanity back. She has thrived since. Not a health problem at all from being bottle fed.
So whatever happens just remember that it is your decision and you will know what is right for you and bub.
Chris