The March-ers 2019 - Baby Talk #2

[Angelmiracle]

Thread 2 for all our newborns ❤🤗👣

[ballanj]

@WhatALearningCurve same as @kee80 in that I sent the form off and they wrote back in around a week confirming eligibility and back payment owing. Money was in my account for that payment same time the letter came through

[HidCat]

Thanks for the new thread @Angelmiracle

[Gronk27]

Thanks @angelmiracle

@assumeitwassomethingclever if it’s borderline, say 15 mins or an emergency like I’m out I push it a bit. Otherwise just follow the guidelines. It does seem very stringent compared to what people ‘used’ to do. I suppose it just minimises bacteria? And they have to be extra careful with their advice. Not that I’m lax but I reason A has to start dealing with the ‘outside’ world at some point?!

[Wineandchoccy]

Thanks for the new thread @Angelmiracle that was very organised of you to do the christening at 5 weeks old. We are hoping to arrange dd2 christening in the summer so she will be a similar age to when dd1 was christened and then she can wear the same gown. Need to decide on Godparents as well.

[BadBadBeans]

Checking in. Fell off the last thread!

@Gronk27 make sure you fill in the child benefit form soon as they will only backdate up to 3 months. We missed out on a few weeks with DS1 because we were too slow. Happy anniversary by the way!

How is sleep going for everyone? I'm finding J does one good 4-6 hour block most nights now, which is saving my sanity. Catch is that the block sometimes starts at 8pm so I have to be in bed promptly or I miss out! I'm averaging about 6.5 hours a night in total, usually in two hits but sometimes I manage three hits and get a little more sleep overall.

DS1 is loving J more every day. I expected jealousy but there has been none thus far. He kisses him, holds his hand and strokes him. It's lovely. Mind you he doesn't spend an awful lot of time with him - DH is only working 2.5 days per week at the moment which means DS1 gets a lot of daddy time (mostly being his sidekick on DIY jobs - thst child loves an impact driver) and doesn't have to spend much time bored hanging round waiting for me to feed J!

I've still got a big crack in my left nipple. On a cream that is a mix of canestan and steroids in an effort to heal it. I don't think it's thrush as there is nothing in J's mouth to suggest it, but this was the GP's first port of call. I've been using the cream for a week and have seen signs of improvement in the last twelve hours. I desperately want it to heal as I am too lazy to want to bottle feed before I absolutely have to! I just can't face the bottle feeding admin!

Very impressed with the ladies who are back on the sex wagon. I am so not there. I think I would be up for it were I not so bloody wrung out every time evening rolls around! I do feel bad though as we haven't had sex since I was 7 months pregnant. This was a huge issue for us with DS1 too as I had pain when we tried to have sex post birth so we ended up not having sex for nearly 6 months, and DH found that incredibly hard. But... All in good time. I need to be in a place where I can enjoy it too. I think (hope) DH gets that. We haven't talked about it actually - maybe we should?

[CaseofEllen]

I need to catch up and will be replying to everyone when I'm actually awake but just needed to put this out into the universe...

DS has had THE MOST unsettled night to date. Even more so than when he had his first cold. We've tried everything all night long, feeding even when he's not nearly due, 1000s of nappy changes, singing, rocking, tilting the crib, shushing, white noise...

We've just resorted to letting him have an hours sleep in the baby swing so we can rest. I know they're not supposed to sleep in the swings/bouncers but I think it's safer than none of us sleeping at all as we're all shattered. He's right next to us, I can hear and see him and he'll be up in an hour or so for another feed but I've got such mum guilt that I don't think I'll be sleeping anyway 😭😭 feeling totally frazzled 🥴

[Sheeni]

@caseofellen Sorry to hear about your night. Sounds like hell. Don't feel too guilty about letting him sleep in the swing - better than no sleep at all, I would say. Two weeks ago I was all "I would be too concerned to let my LO sleep on me". That was before the silent reflux started - last two nights he slept on me all night. If he gets too tired he can't even latch on and screams like a banshee. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

Getting the tongue tie cut today. Hopefully it will help a bit. He's got quite a nipple confusion from the dummy as well, so I'll have to work on that, too.

I was a bit saddened yesterday when I found out I might have to combi feed soon anyway. I have quite small boobs and while my production is apparently on the same level as any other breast size, my storage won't be. So I might never store enough milk to keep the baby happy for longer than a few hours, especially when he's bigger. Normally women feed from both breasts every feed, but with that not being an option for me either, I'll either have to feed him every hour or combi feed (if I want to get any decent night sleep).

[KarBB]

Thanks @Angelmiracle !

[kee80]

Just checking in

[shiny888]

Thank you all for you're support. I'm feeling like I can manage a lot better now Iv been getting some solid sleep and since DP has done a couple of night feeds he seems so mich more confident with her so I can actually switch off now when she's with him instead of waiting for him to ask is he holding her right or winding her right or is her nappy on correctly. Which I think helps a lot so I'm only thinking for 2 now instead of 3

@Gronk27 happy anniversary for the other day! Glad the wedding was a success!
Glad you've made a decision that so right for you and LO. I definitely agree with the BF guilt thing! It's a horrid feeling but we shouldn't actually feel like that. As they say a fed baby is a happy baby.

@kee80 my LO has this, my HV said to pop some breast milk on them. I did they they were pretty much gone the next day, could have just been a coincidence but worth a shot if your breast feeding.

@Angelmiracle Thanks for the new thread

[Angelmiracle]

DD has a very milk coated tongue. HV was out for a weight check on Thurs and I asked if it might be thrush. She thought not. But my cousin is a HV and seen DD at weekend and thought it was thrush. So she's got an appointment with GP this afternoon. I'm just not completely sure?! Any experience on babies with thrush?

[cardboard33]

Thanks for new thread @angelmiracle can't believe you've had baby christened already, I thought we were organised with getting him booked in for July!!

@caseofellen sorry to hear about your night, that sounds hellish. Hopefully it was a one off and baby will be tired enough by tonight. We've also been using the rocker chair more than we should for sleeping but he loves it as it's upright and it's a very padded chair with a newborn insert so he looks comfy in it. Some nights he sleeps on the crib until about 6am but then other nights he's out after his feed around 4am as he's got slight reflux (no where near as bad as @shiny888) so really doesn't like being on his back and the alternative is us staying awake holding him upright which we've decided is more room for error than the chair. @shiny888 glad you're doing better, it's great having the men involved as I think it's a win win for everyone as then baby gets more "quality" time with dad too. Please don't be afraid to ask for help though with your GP/HV or just on here as you're not alone.

@badbadbeans we are in the same boat as you wrt sleep. We get a chuck of 4-6 hours then sometimes he will settle immediately after feeding (which now takes the best part of an hour) or sometimes he will fuss then we will move him to the chair and then he will sleep better. The chair is on my husband's side of the bed so when he goes over there I sleep better so part of me is relived when we decide to move him but I know we need to keep pushing with the "in the bed for the whole night" issue as he has got better over time.

[shiny888]

@Angelmiracle same happened here, HV so not thrush but the doctor said it was, started on thrush medicine and it's beginning to clear up.
Can the layer of white be whipped off easily by your finger? If not then more than likely thrush. Hopefully the doctors sort it out for you!

@cardboard33 glad you're managing to get blocks of sleep I bet you feel more human again . How's your LO's reflux now? Any sign of improvement?
Yeah definitely is beneficial for everyone when the dads are more involved. It's nice to see her smiling and cooing at him last nignt for the first time. I just felt like he was missing out aswell because of how unsure he was with her.
I'm under perinatal for my anxiety during pregnancy so if I feel I'm slipping again il ring them. But I think it was more sleep deprivation as I sort of feel back to my old self. Thank you for you're support! X

[Angelmiracle]

@shiny888 thanks hope they can decide if it is thrush and treat her. I can't get near her tongue. She has such a small little mouth and gags when I try to wipe her tongue. But she sticks her tongue out a lot. Certainly not with hunger but perhaps discomfort.

Yeah it's quite a tradition in our parish and family circles to have them baptised very early. We were offered the Easter slot but she was only 3weeks!! Everything was organised last week- guests cake restaurant shawl bonnet and candle. Outfits for us all - Next next day delivery!

[melissa112]

Checking in, thanks for the thread @Angelmiracle how lovely to have your DD christened already. Hope GP can give some advice on the milky tongue this afternoon

@Gronk27 happy anniversary for the other day, sounds like you had a lovely day!

@WhatALearningCurve the money for child benefit went in about a couple of weeks after i sent the form and i got the letter the next day.

@BadBadBeans your DS1 sounds adorable with his baby brother, how lovely! Hope your nipple heals quickly, that sounds really painful! No advice on the sex conversation front, i was lucky to have no tears and only bled for 2 weeks pp so felt ok to DTD just after that, maybe if DH is showing signs of finding it hard it might be worth talking about but if not then maybe leave it a while?

In terms of sleep we tend to get the first stint of 5 hours after his last bottle, no matter what time he has the last bottle. Because we're feeding roughly every 4 hours its awkward as that 5 hour stint moves the bottle an hour each day so his last bottle before his 10pm bedtime can be anywhere from 8-10. Not sure whether i should put him to bed with his last bottle no matter the time but then I don't want to go to bed at 8 and dont want to leave him alone so we've been adjusting bottles in the day to try and get a consistent last bottle around 10pm and then hopefully as he gets older we'll move the whole bedtime bottle and changed into sleeping bag etc earlier. Anyway, sorry i think im just thinking out loud! After the first 5 hour stint he normally takes an hour for his middle of the night bottle then goes another 4 hours so can't complain!

@CaseofEllen sorry to hear you had such a bad night, that sounds exhausting. I think as you say its better to let him sleep in the swing for a little while so at least he and you can get some rest instead of running on empty and him becoming more overtired and harder to settle. Hope you have a better day today.

@Sheeni hope the tongue tie snip goes ok today! Sorry to hear you're feeling sad about the prospect of combi feeding, when you say you found out yesterday, were you told that? Hope you can find a way around it if you aren't keen, or could combi feed for the night feed maybe so you can get a good block of sleep and baby will be full from the bottle?

@shiny888 im glad you are feeling better, I've not had chance to go back and reply to the last bits in the other thread but glad you feel more yourself after some decent sleep, we're here to chat if you need us x

[melissa112]

I know a few others were talking about their holiday plans for this year so was hoping you may have some advice with the logistics of it all. We normally take DSS away each summer to Cornwall camping or previously Wales camping for a week with me and DP going away to Cornwall for a week ourselves at another point in the year. However now me and DP can't go alone and won't go with the baby without DSS as we would never want him to feel left out. With a baby we can't go camping at least this year and apartments/cottages in the summer are nearly £1000 when we can take DSS so had decided not to go this year and save up for next summer as I'm on SMP only from this month. However i do really want to go and the only cheaper time we could go this year when DSS is off school is the October half term. Baby will be around 9months by then but just wondering whether a 6 hour drive is just too much even at that age? He would be eating food by then so less worry about bottles etc even though we would have to still take the steriliser but we would just use premade formula for the few bottles he would have at that age. Also wondering where the baby would sleep as the snuzpod would probably be too small by then? I'm terrified of flying so going abroad isnt an option for this year at least til i have gather the courage.

I haven't booked anything yet but would like to this week. Do you guys think a long drive like that is doable with a 9 month old? Is it a silly idea?

Speaking of driving, does anyone know when they can go in a car seat longer than 30 min?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[ballanj]

Hi everyone,

So my latest is that child benefit is successfully claimed, finally back on the sex wagon (which wasn't too bad, actually was lovely to have the intimacy after weeks) and little one is now nearly 8 weeks.

One issue I'm having with feeds is that religiously after the 4/5am shift (he tends to feed around 11:30/midnight before that) he will only go off to sleep for 45 minutes/1 hour tops afterwards. And the only way I can get him back down to sleep after that feed and before his 7:30/8am breakfast feed is to have him sleeping on me. He's very good after his 8pm feed and the midnight shift, it's just that one where I'd really like him to go through until the morning. Any advice? Really want to break the habit of taking him into bed for that last couple of hours. I guess I should be grateful he is sleeping well otherwise!

[ballanj]

Also, do they have another growth spurt between 7/8 weeks? How do you guys know when to up feeds?

[melissa112]

Actually just realised George will be 7 and a half months in October half term not 9. Lost my counting ability!

@ballanj i think they have a development leap around 7.5-9.5 weeks according to my app but not sure on growth spurt. My little one is 8 weeks and a day and used to only go an hour after that 4am ish feed until we upped his milk from 4oz to 5. Now he goes 3-4 hours say 60% of the time after that one unless he needs a poo and then he'll be really unsettled until after his next feed. We've had him on 5oz every 4 hours ish since 6 weeks as he was draining 4 and wanting more and HV said once he starts draining 5oz at most feeds and keeps it down then to move him to 6. He's just started the past few days draining the bottle 95% of the time and apart from normal spit ups keeps it down so i think in a few days we're going to up him to 6. He's on the 25 percentile and has been for the last 2 weigh ins. We have our GP check tomorrow so hoping they weigh him and he's still following his curve as initially i thought 5oz was a lot but he seems to want it!

Sorry not much advice on the sleeping after 4am but sure others will have some x

[WhatALearningCurve]

@melissa112 The half hour thing is for newborns. At that age they say no more than 2 hours with at least 15 minute breaks in between each 2 hour leg

[WhatALearningCurve]

@melissa112 just realised you might have meant it more "can you keep them in longer than half an hour now". I think so - I've just finished an hour long journey - little one will be out of the car for about an hour now and then it's an hour back

[AssumeItWasSomethingClever]

Checking in.

[ballanj]

@melissa112 yeah he's been on 5oz for some time now and during the day he does drain generally so now going to up to 6oz. At night (either midnight or 4am feed) though he only tends to take around 3-5oz, more often than not the lesser amount.

Wondering if he's having more during the day it will carry through to keeping him asleep longer in the evenings. It's just that 4am feed 😭😭

[kee80]

Hi all. Those talking about feeds was wondering how much and how often does your little ones feed? My baby is 7 weeks today she's just started drinking full 4oz of formula so I've now put her on 5. She's been going every 2 hours through the day. Was wondering when she would go longer if anyone has any advice

[CaseofEllen]

@ballanj we are having the same problem so no advice just sympathy 😭 during the day he feeds 6oz and usually goes 3/4 hours but at nights he's only taking around 3oz at a time and is waking up every 1.5/2 hours. I feel like we're moving backwards with his feeding and sleeping at the moment x