Hi - new joiner

[Guest guest]

Hi,

just to introduce myself as I have just joined:

my name is Siobhan; I have a new baby, Lucas - coming up to 3 weeks old. This

is my second child - I have a daughter, who is 7 & 1/2 yrs. SO is Tim

and we live in East London.

My first birth was quite traumatic so I was increasingly panicky towards the due

date - plus it was discovered at 29 weeks that I had gestational diabetes, which

threatened to make the previous complications even worse - so he was induced a

couple of weeks early. So I had a short but " extreme " labour - the first stage

was excruciating but fast, the second stage (where I was half expecting the

previous nightmare to begin again) was over in 8 minutes without any problems

and Lucas was fine immediately - 7lb 13 oz. The whole birth (from established

labour) was less than 3 hours. It was such a positive experience compared to

the first time.

We're doing quite well now. I had diamorphine this time as the contractions

were so intense so quickly - plus it was too quick for me to sort out the most

comfortable position or get into any rhythm or control my breathing, and he was

born well before it wore off, so he was pretty sleepy at first. I had to bully

him into his first feed as he only wanted to sleep - there was talk of giving

him a bottle... but since then he has become a real guzzler. I had a couple of

stitches which are now pretty much healed and I'm feeling well but tired

(surprise!).

Breastfeeding has been harder than I remembered - he was feeding for hours in

the evenings and I got so sore I was in tears every time he latched on. I've

been using shields now, and that's much better. I got a homeopathic remedy for

his colic - that's also much better, although he is still definitely less

comfortable in the evenings. He's good natured and doesn't cry much otherwise.

I can't wait for his first smile.

Generally things are getting easier and I feel like I'm emerging from the fog.

Well - that's me. I'm looking forward to being part of this group.

TTFN,

Siobhan