Post-partum check in

C

cyclinggirl

Cathlete
Hey Moms,

It's been a while but I thought I'd attempt to re-start our check-ins. I've been doing some mellow workouts, trying to do SOMETHING everyday. So far not much progress in the weight department but from what I've been reading fat cells are tough to budge in the first 12 weeks post-partum. So I have 2 more weeks.:)

Here's last week's records. I ran for the first time tonight - it felt great to sweat and really push myself again!


MON-fluidity - 00:40:00
TUE-walk - 00:35:00
WED-walk - 00:40:00
WED-JB hot pants - 00:10:00
THU-walk - 00:40:00
FRI-walk - 00:31:00
FRI-int fluidity - 00:40:00
SAT-walk hills - 00:40:00
SUN-walk hills - 00:45:00
SUN-bosu/ball ab floor work - 00:15:00

Total: 05:36:00


Manmohini, congrats to you on getting back to your pre-preggo weight so quickly! You're actually smaller if your weight is the same, nursing accounts for 2-4 extra pounds. You're amazing, I'm officially jealous that it's been so easy for you. :)

I hope Tamal grows out of his colicky time soon. Sienna still has a tough time at night (4-10pm is the window) but it's livable, we've learned some good coping techniques to quiet her. Still, we'll be glad when she grows out of it.

Are you back to work soon? I'm supposed to go back on the 19th. Bummer....

Steph
 
Steph,
You are the incredible one! I still can't find the time to exercise--and my husband has been staying home helping out this whole time. I went to two classes at the gym and I did two videos--that's it in the whole ten weeks! I miss exercise so much. I really can't account for the quick drop back to pre-pg weight. The other day I asked my husband if maybe I had a disease or something, but other than being tired from lack of sleep, I feel fine. My husband chastised me not to joke around like that. You know, when I wake up to nurse Tamal in the middle of the night, I am starving sometimes. That never used to happen. I have to go into the kitchen and eat a bowl of cereal or something. I don't understand it--I have been eating like a pig really. Maybe it will catch up with me.

I know how you feel about going back to work. I start teaching again on March 10. I wish I lived in France or Canada or some other humane place where women get decent maternity leave. I can't bear the thought of being away from Tamal for 2 hours even. Luckily, my DH will pick up most of the childcare slack. There's only 5 or 6 hours we need to figure out. It's remarkable how I trust almost no one with my son. Now if his two grandmothers lived in the state, that would be a different matter. Like, you I have no desire to go back to work. If the workplace were completely child and woman-friendly, I'm sure I wouldn't feel this way.

Tamal just came down with his first cold last night. I remember your saying that Sienna had one early on. That must have been terribly frightening. I was panicking last night when he woke up with all of that congestion and labored breathing. But within one day, I've grown proficient with the saline drops and snot snatcher. Still, the poor little guy is miserable when he lies on his back. I'll be glad when this passes. I was hoping he could get through his first three or four months without getting sick. Apart from the cold, he is growing into a happy baby. Let me know if you have any tips for dealing with the cold. The only other approach we're taking is a vaporizer and a thorough removal of dust or other pollutants.

How is Sienna's weight these days? I imagine she started to put it on at some point. She is such a cutie. Please send a recent picture if you have one.
Manmohini
 
Hi Steph and Manmohini,

I am glad that all is well with your little ones. I hope Tamal gets better soon. I can imagine it must be tough with a sick baby. I know I would be worried if L.J. was sick, even if it was just a cold. I will send him get well hugs.

Steph you truley are amazing to be able to work out everyday. I have been trying to do an every other day thing. I got the 4 day split so i have been playing with those. I have to say that my endurance and stregnth is getting better than it has been. The first time I worked out after I had him I felt sooo out of shape. My DH watches him for the hour I am in the basement. Its nice just to have that time do work out and be in that zone.

I go back to work on March 3. When i think about it I want to cry. I at least get to leave him in the hands of his grandma, which makes me feel better. I wish i didnt have to go back , but its only 4 days a week. It makes sense just to get the health insurance. I think that they should provide women with longer maternity leaves. Every baby needs their mommy. But, now a days its tough to live on one income.

I would love to see pictures of both of your little ones. :)
LJ is going for his 2 month check up this week. when your little ones went what vaccines did you give them?
My DH and I are so confused as in what we should do

Melissa
 
It's sad to go back to work especially with your first child.
The postive is you have your child's Grandmother, peace of mind!!!
In my opinion the first few weeks back were tough. I felt like I
should be home so I took a few more days off but when I was at home
I felt guilty about how much work I was missing. It does work out
once you and your baby get into a nice rountine, which you will!!!
I went back the first time and this last time @6 weeks. Was that too
soon? Probably, yes. I still was hormonal and although people were
being kind asking about my new baby I would hold back from crying.
Then the days turned into weeks and now Taylor sleeps all night
making Mama function so much better! My office moved not allowing me
to workout at home w/Cathe at lunch. I joined a gym and do my
one hour every day at lunch. I guess you fit it in where you can
and not feel selfish. I was told by a good friend/Doctor that you
have to take care of yourself first. It was hard for me to know
I could get my hair cut, nails done without feeling guilty like so
many Mom's do.

Good Luck!

Jennifer Claire 12/24/05
Taylor Elizabeth 08/22/07
 
Hi Ladies,

Thanks for the compliments. :) I think Arancini is working out even more than I am. She's been able to 1 hour a day. So big Kudos to her!!

Melissa, I agree, there's just not enough leave for moms in the US. We could use a lot more time with our babies. I'm transitioning Sienna a few hours this week in daycare and I'm suffering from my own separation anxiety in advance, it's so hard. She's combo fed, but I think I'm nursing her more than usual for my own reasons -- knowing I won't be able to have that closeness during the day. I don't want to share her with strangers...she's my little buddy and so much fun! But deep down I know she'll be fine, it's all me. :-(

About the shots, Sienna got really sick. She had 4 shots and one oral vaccine. I'll have to look at the records to give you the exact names. One was definitely hep B, which I didn't have to give her. I wish I had spent more time doing research. I had to switch pediatricians with new insurance on Jan 1st, I knew that the new Pediatric office frowned on people who skip shots so I chose not to skip any at the first visit. But since she was so small, still under 9 lbs, we feel it was too much for her little body. So I'm getting the Sears book that someone mentioned and plan to space out the shots from here on out when it makes sense. If we have to change pediatricians we will. She was sick for close to 2 weeks.

As a nurse I'm sure you know and understand much more about this than I do, so maybe a good book will help if no one chimes in here. Let us know if you find anything out have any advice moving forward. And good luck!! :)

Oh, I'd love to see your baby too! I'll send some shots your way and we can exchange.

Steph
 
Hello everybody!

Nico slept for 9.5 hrs. last night!!! Whoohooo! He normally only sleeps 6 hours a day total (up from 5, with a 4 hr. stretch at night). Hopefully we have turned a corner! He did sleep 7.5 hrs. once before, but that was weeks ago ... I'm crossing my fingers - now that he's 12 weeks old maybe he will start sleeping :)

DH watches him for a couple of hours in the evening so I can workout. The past few days Nico has sat in his bouncer for an hour while I used the elliptical (as long as there is a movie on the TV and lots of noise, he's very happy). When it's nice out I take him in the front carrier for a 60-75 minute walk. Soooo ... bascially, I walk for an hour during the day and then workout for an hour in the evening. Yesterday Nico let me have 2 sessions on the elliptical, so 1.75 hours on that with some abs afterwards. I'm doing MM and PUB and free weights, too. Usually one body part per day plus abs, after my evening cardio.

Nico is very demanding, and I am so tired, but the more I workout, I find the better I feel. It's starting that's tricky on some days ...

I think I am high from having a full night's sleep. And he's actually asleep AGAIN right now ... an actual nap is taking place!!!

I think I will take advantage of it and try to do some laundry :)

arancini
 
Wow!!! You're getting in lots of activity, that's way more than I thought. I'm sure the nice weather helps too. You go girl!

Did Nico sleep again? A friend of mine said to try bottom swaddling (no arms), her son slept an extra 4 hours -- 12 hours total at 14 weeks.Not sure if that will work in the swing, but it's worth a try.

Good luck!

Steph
 
WOW !! talk about a trooper. I couldnt imagine trying to get that much excercise in. I dont think it could be possible. I would love to just get an hour sometimes. I usually have DH watch him so i can at least get to work out uninterupted. When he sleeps I have all i can do to just try to pick up the house never mind work out. It sucks that the weather is cold and yucky otherwise i would take him walking. I cant wait for warmer dryer weather. It makes being cooped up in the house terrible.

We always swaddle LJ at night and put him in the swing. We find that he sleeps much better there. Usually leaving one hand/arm out that he likes to suck on. I cant wait for the day he decides to sleep through the night.
 
Hey Mommies,

Well I don't know what's going on, but Nico slept for 10 hours last night, then took a nap this morning for an hour and is asleep again (it's been 30 minutes and counting) now! Maybe he's catching up for the first 3 months? He seems his usual self otherwise, so I'm not worried that he's sick or anything, but wow ...

For the past 2 months he has been sleeping in the swing almost exclusively. Pretty soon we will be switching him over to his crib though, since he weighs close to the limit for his bassinet. Swaddling worked during the first month or so - to get him to sleep those 5 hours a day - but now he is so long it would take 2 blankies, even the swaddle designs type which are extra large. He seems pleased just to be in a fleece sleep sack now.

Well, although I am getting in a lot of exercise, my house is a mess - but I feel really good :)

I just wanted to share the joy of having a sleeping (finally!) baby.


arancini
 
I'm happy for you, Arancini, that Nico is sleeping much, much more. You must be relieved that you no longer have to rely on the swing. I too have relied less on swaddling as I find the startle reflex that wakes him up when he's on his back is starting to diminish.

Tamal sleeps about 11 hours a night, but he wakes up every three to eat, and he wakes up at 4 or 5 a.m. every morning grunting loudly and thrashing about for about 10 minutes as he passes his biggest stool of the day. So while I do get sleep, it's broken up all night. Also, he's gotten such that after he's done feeding and I pull my breast away, he cries for me to put it back. So I might lie on my side for an hour letting him comfort suck. Unfortunately, I can't get comfortable enough in this position to sleep. Lately, too, he's had a few days where he has gone a sleep strike. On Super Tuesday, he stayed up for 14 hours straight! He did this again yesterday. Go figure. Has anyone else dealt with a sleep strike? Arancini, it sounds like you've been dealing with one long continuous one from the start.

Tamal fell asleep spontaneously and by himself in his swing, his Boppy, and his car seat. That was a first. Usually, it takes so much effort to coax him to sleep. Hopefully, we'll be seeing more of this. Next week, he gets a couple of shots, however, and last month he was really cranky and out of sorts for 4 or 5 days after. Ladies, it looks like soon most of us will be enjoying a little more sleep at least! That 4-month mark is fast approaching.
Manmohini
 
Maybe Nico finally got the memo that he's a BABY and his main job should be to play and SLEEP!! Good for him and great for you! I hope he keeps it up. Was it straight through or did he wake up in the middle? Eventually they go straight through, I can't wait for that.

Manmohini, your night sounds rough...broken sleep is difficult on your system. We've had sleep strikes here too...just had one a few days ago. Such fun.

Sienna has been doing well with her sleep in general (9-11 hours). It takes us a lot to get her there, she's colicky between 4-10pm every day. I get up once or twice for about an hour each time, so I get 5-6 hours unless I try to sleep as soon as she falls asleep in her bouncy (and lately her swing). I stay up a bit and make sure she's settled and then bring her up to her bassinet. Before, I was falling asleep in our family room and barely making it up to my own bed for a while there but DH missed us both and I missed my real bed!

So do you guys let your babies sleep in their swings and keep it running or do you shut it off? So curious...

Sleep well,

Steph
 
Steph,
Do you actually manage to transfer Sienna from the bouncy or swing to her bassinet without waking her up? I have not mastered the transfer yet, so if anyone has tips that would be great. Whenever we try to move a sleeping Tamal from one place to another, he wakes up.

In fact, the little guy is up right now staring at his mobile. It's 2:30 a.m. Hence the late night post.

Tamal's colicky period is 6-9 these days. Once we get him past 9, things are pretty safe around here. Have you found, Steph, that Sienna is starting to mellow? I remember reading what the Chinese call it--the hundred days crying. 24 more days to go for us! In the beginning, I never thought we'd make it.

Yes, sleep, unbroken sleep would be nice. You are blessed Arancini. Tamal is such a voracious eater that he wakes up every three hours like clockwork to dine at the "brestaruant." This guy loves to eat. In fact, lately he acts like he owns my breasts. I guess he does during this period.
Manmohini
 
Hey Manmohini,

I bring her up 2 flights of stairs, but when it has taken her a LONG time to go down I bring her up in the bouncy (hand underneath). We were letting her sleep in it b/c it's upright and she's been so congested. The humidifier is in our room, so that's added incentive to get her there. I'm sure I won't be able to do it when she's bigger, we're lucky that she's tiny. She's just 10lbs 9oz now and still only about 21+ inches. If she were a typical size for a 3 month old I might not be so adept and doing this.

Last night I had a tough time getting her out of her swing but she didn't wake up. Then again I was up for 1.5 - 2 hours waiting for her to settle into a deeper sleep. I turn down as many lights as possible, hold her very closely and tell her its okay...lots of shushing while I walk. With her, as long as she doesn't encounter brighter light or get jostled she generally doesn't fully wake up. She makes some noise after I put her down, but I've learned that that's her thing and I let her work it out and settle herself in. She's quiet after 3 minutes.

The 100 days thing sounds magical, something definitely happens around 3 months or so. In some ways she's mellowing, but maybe she senses it coming b/c she's been a lot worse lately in the p.m. I took her to the doctor yesterday b/c we were sure she was teething early. All my nephews began very early and had a full mouth of teeth by age 1. She's gumming everything we hand her and she's drooling and seems to cry out with sudden pain. She hasn't been quite herself so they've told us to keep an eye on her but didn't confirm the teething -- it's ridiculously early but our doc says she's seen babies born w/teeth, so who knows.

Thanks for sending the shot schedule!

Steph
 
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