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Joined Nov. 18, 2013 8:12pm

Cattsmeow's Pregnancy

My Due Date: November 24, 2015
I have given birth!
Age: 37 years old

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Almost 6 weeks PP, Christmas, and updates
By Cattsmeow » Posted Dec. 27, 2015 3:43pm - 681 views - 8 comments

I have my 6 week PP appointment tomorrow afternoon, so I am finally able to actually speak to my doctor about my PPD face to face. It has gotten really bad, but I'm dealing with it. Knowing that I have my appointment tomorrow and will actually get some help is a huge relief. I also spoke with my SIL on Christmas Eve about my ppd, and she was a HUGE help. She went through it after her youngest was born, so it was nice to talk to someone who dealt with it. My SIL and I normally do not see eye to eye, so it was nice to bond a little with her as well.

Christmas went ok this year. As usual, we went to my husband's mom's house for Christmas Eve for dinner and a gift exchange. I really did not want to go (anxiety and ppd flare up), and the whole day wore me out, but it was nice to see family. They live 2 hours away so we don't see them very often. My sons had a ton of fun running around Mammaw's house and playing with their cousins. We spent Christmas day at home, opening the gifts we got the kids, and eating popcorn and watching movies. It was REALLY nice to lounge around in my jammies all day and not do anything except cuddle with my babies. The kids had a good Christmas, and that's all that matters.

Valerie will be 6 weeks old Tuesday. She has her one month appointment that day as well. She is growing like a weed, and eats like a little piglet. She's up to 5 oz of formula a feed now. It seems like a lot, but the kid can eat and she only eats every 3-5 hours now. She's just like her bubbies. She is also very colicky. Every night without fail, she starts screaming and crying at 7pm, and it will go on until 11pm or later. She has been like this for 3 weeks now. She is also very gassy. She is exclusively on the Munchkin Latch bottles now, and has been for 2 weeks. Those bottles have drastically reduced her gassiness, but the colic still runs supreme. I caved and bought her some of the Gerber Soothe Colic drops this morning to see if they help. She's on Gentlease formula, but I'm going to talk to her doctor Tuesday and see if we need to switch her formula to a soy based. She is also very aware for longer periods now between naps. She was awake for a 3 hour stretch this morning and was fairly content the whole time. I was giving her kisses this morning, and she was smiling at me after every one. She is very attuned to her brothers, as well. She loves it when they come up to her and give her hugs and kisses and talk to her. If one of them cries, she cries right along with them, which makes life interesting while my husband is at work. It is not uncommon to find me curled up on the couch with Valerie tucked into one arm, my youngest son Brandt tucked under the other, and my oldest snuggled up beside me. I live for moments when my kids are all cuddled up around me.

I'm attaching a picture of Valerie from Christmas day. She was snuggled up in her rocker with the blanket Mammaw got her, and her new vibrating, lullaby singing elephant that we got her. Those are her 2 favorite gifts she got. She will not sleep without either one of them now. She loves to snuggle up in the blanket with the elephant across her belly or under her legs.

Comments for this Journal Entry

Comment from Cattsmeow » Posted Dec. 28, 2015 10:09am
Kitten, I had ppd so bad with my oldest son, it started before he was born. I got it after my second, but it was manageable without outside help. But now it is ridiculously bad. I feel so emotionally numb, especially towards my kids. =/

And unfortunately, I had to reschedule my appointment for next Monday. The weather was really bad here this morning and I was not taking my kids out in it. I'm glad I didn't because my 16 month old woke up covered in vomit. =/

Comment from Kitten90 » Posted Dec. 28, 2015 7:01am
Sorry to hear about the PPD. I had it so bad with my first, and she was a VERY colicky baby which I think contributed to how severe my depression got. The sleep deprivation really does a number on you after a couple weeks! =(
My second baby is starting to get realllllly gassy and has a hard time pooping (it comes out pretty runny though lol) so I'm starting to think she may be lactose intolerant.

Valerie is so adorable! I hope your doctor can get you the help you need to make it easier to come out of the depression fog <3

Comment from Cattsmeow » Posted Dec. 28, 2015 3:58am
Pbc, I keep forgetting that as well! Lol. We use the WalMart brand of gentlease formula, since you get twice as much for half the cost. V did really well on it in the beginning (I have never used any other formula with any of my kids), but lately she's been spitting up a lot more and we're back to puking about 20 minutes after she's done eating. I'm lactose intolerant, so I'm wondering if maybe she is too. Or lactose sensitive. Which is why I am going to talk to her doctor and see if we should switch. I also have to reschedule my appointment for today. We only have one vehicle and it is storming pretty bad out. I am not taking my 3 children out into the storm to take my husband to work just so I can go to it. Plus, my 16 month old got really sick overnight so I can't send him to the babysitter in good conscience since her 2 kids will be at home. My appointment can wait a few more days until my husband is off again.

Comment from pbc910 » Posted Dec. 28, 2015 2:04am
Hard to believe it's been 6 weeks! I keep forgetting our babies were born on the same day! You are doing an amazing job and just remember to tell yourself that. I wish I had your type of Christmas...it sounds like heaven! Fiona had periods of fussiness each night and recently it just changed. She became rather easy and much more content and her brother has become much more fussy and high maintenance. The only change we made was switching to Enfamil Gentlease, well the generic brand (Target or Walmart). Not sure if it's related. I'm curious as to how a soy based formula would help as I was looking into that for Oliver as I think the new formula isn't working for him. I hope your appointment goes well and the doctor can help with the PPD!

Comment from Amanda_McDaniel » Posted Dec. 27, 2015 10:10pm
She's a doll. Hopefully you get to feeling better so you can really enjoy her.

Comment from Cattsmeow » Posted Dec. 27, 2015 9:23pm
Thank you, ladies!

Malpal, I did not bf my oldest, made it 8 weeks exclusively pumping with my middle child, and made it about 2 weeks with Valerie pumping. Pumping is never easy. I hated every minute I was attached to the pump, and it made my ppd so much worse. I ended up drying up right as I was about to call it quits. Breastfeeding is not for everyone. If bfing and pumping is stressing you out, there is nothing wrong with feeding baby formula. I know my whole family is so much happier now that we are formula feeding. The added bonus for me is that my boys can now help feed Valerie and it allows them extra bonding time with their sister AND I get to spend more time with them.

Comment from Summer0120 » Posted Dec. 27, 2015 7:28pm
Glad you guys had a good Christmas! Family is definitely the best part. Valerie looks adorable!!

Comment from MalPal85 » Posted Dec. 27, 2015 5:20pm
Valerie is so adorable. I'm glad you guys had a good Christmas. I feel like I may be dealing with some PPD as well and I hate admitting it but I'm glad I can reach out to other ladies out there that are dealing with it. I'm mainly upset about how I'm not producing while pumping and I'm just so nervous about doing something wrong with my baby since it's my first and I haven't a clue. I wish I could relax like my husband and just go with the flow.


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