Caroline is here ...

Hi all! I was scheduled for C/s on 1/26 but little Caroline Avery had other plans and came (still by C/S though I labored all day waiting for the OR to clear ... ARGH) on 1/23. I was gone from the girls from Sat-Tues. They came up to see me and didn't really know what to think but they ended up coming over and sitting in my lap for a bit (and mainly watching Spongebob b/c I don't let them watch it at home but I couldn't find another cartoon on the TV =) They did OK Wed and Thurs though we were gone a lot with bili checks for the baby and I went back to the OB for spiking a fever. Friday AM I had a massive and terrifying hemmorhage in my kitchen (like someone poured a pint of warm water down my legs). My husband is an Anesthesiologist who is the most chill person you have ever met ... well he freaked out and threw all the girls in the car and was like "in the car, NOW!" to me (though I did take the time to change my clothes b/c I didn't want to mess up my new car We flew to the ER and long story short, I ended up with a uterine infection and had to have a D&C and so was gone all day again. I think that the girls were a little aware but not so that they were traumatized. Well, they are understandably clingy and having just a really hard time now. They throw fits when I breastfeed (usually one or the other ... not both) but are pretty interested and gentle with the baby (they think it is hilarious when she burps or poops =) ... and they have a tough time with me being unable to pick them up (though they do a good bit of sitting in my lap) and they are fighting with each other every minute it seems. We have done big sister gifts and I try to spend a good bit of time with them. I try to think of ways they can "help" like putting her paci in her bouncy beside her or bringing me diapers ... Any other tips for helping them adjust? I feel terrible b/c my fuse is so short with them even though I know the past few weeks have been very hard on them ... any tips for me for dealing with the fits? TIA!

 

Congratulations! Sorry about the hemmorage... I bled heavily in my last pregnancy at one point, and I know how scary that can be!
It'll be a tough adjustment with your little ones... I don't have too many tips other than to make sure they have snacks available, and maybe a special set of toys/books they can have only when you are bfing. Cry with them! That's what I did when I had 3 of them all under age 2!!

 

Just want to say Congrats and wish you luck

Scary stuff w/ the bleeding!! Yikes! Glad you're okay!

GL!

 

I agree with special things while Bfing - even tv if you have to! You just need to get through the next few weeks until everyone recovers from all the events and settles in. Do you have anyone helping for the next few days or weeks? Maybe you could set up a few special activities - painting, games, etc. - while someone else handles non-feeding issues with the baby.

Also, my SIL told me to do this and it worked - even though you feel ridiculous announce to the baby that they can't participate in certain things that the big girls can. It makes them feel super special. ie. "Sorry baby, but we are painting now, and only big kids can do this!"

Congratulations and good luck!!

 

Congrats on the birth of your daughter! I love her name. It took awhile for the twins and their 3 yr old brother to adjust to their new baby sister. There was a few months in the beginning where they literally destroyed the room while I breastfed. Now that she's 6 months, and doesn't take forever to breastfeed things have calmed down, that and the fact that the boys know she is staying and is a part of the family. Your girls will adjust, it might take a while. I like the idea of talking to the baby and telling her she can't do big girl stuff, cute!

 

Congrats on the birth of your latest little joy! What a story! Thanks for sharing... I'm sure your little girls will adjust eventually... terrible twos are pretty rough. Good luck

Marta

 

Just keep telling them how awesome they are and how lucky they are to be big sisters. It's hard at first, I had four on my own for a while, but it will get different. (I will spare you the easier cause you get new challenges with age.) If you need any help besides that you can message me...I am actually more worried about baby #5 since the age difference will be greater than any of my previous pregnancies.