December 2011 - Support tights time!

[BeeMyBaby]

Had no idea what to call it, sorry. Just googled third trimester and that was the recommendation...

Just to add in on the bottle convo, when I was trying to BF DD she didn't latch well as was incredibly sleepy and I wasn't producing enough colostrum/milk didn't come in for 6 days so had to give formula initially, and the HV gave me a syringe (then I managed to get more from boots) to stop any chance of nipple confusion, I then managed to avoid using bottles till she was 4 months (when I went back to work). So basically, I would really recommend syringes. Also like aethel pointed out, the breast pump came with a box to sterilise everything with so there was no need to buy a separate steriliser.

Re colostrum and milk coming in, milk usually comes in between days 3 and 5. A newborn's stomach is about the size of a malteaser so the small amount of colostrum we produce is the perfect amount to fill them up. A newborn should nurse a minimum of 8-12 times in 24 hours, waking them up if they go 4 hours is important especially if you have had drugs during the birth which could make the baby sleepier.

I second syringe feeding if you have a sleepy baby, having had two myself who took a while to get the hang of nursing. Syringe feeding does take forever, but doesn't interfere with their desire t suck so it tends to be easier to get them back to the breast. Of course, we're all going to have very co-operative babies who do exactly as we want them to so we won't need them though

I'm pretty sure that DD3 has turned head down now, well, I know she turned on Saturday as it was bloody painful and we had a good poke of her yesterday and she seems to have her feet up near my right ribs.

So msbuggy even though there's no real milk, the baby will be OK purely on the breast til the milk comes in at day 5 or so? And will still try to nurse 8-12 times per day? There's no need to supplement with formula?
And if latching is a problem, we should try and pump the colostrum by hand/pump and feed what little there is using a syringe?

OK. :)

New question of the day, slings - which do you all recommend?

My question of the day: cots.

How long can the baby stay in a moses basket?
Is it okay to move it into another room before 6 months?
What kind of cot should I buy?

Thanks for advice!

mopsy - depends how big your baby is! I managed to keep DD in her moses basket till she was almost 6 months but I've read about others outgrowing theirs at two months.

oimissus what would you be using it for? just walking around the house, dog walking etc? Last time I used a baby bjorn which was fantastic for dog walking but useless for around the house so I'm planning to try a mobywrap or kari me this time.

Morning mopsy - I have no experience, but from what I've read, most babies will grow out of their moses basket by about 4 months.
Someone, somewhere recommended that the baby should stay in your room til 6 months, but none of us did when we were babies! I guess the fear is SIDS - and the idea that if the baby is in the same room as us, we mums will have that bond that we'll suddenly wake up if we sense something wrong. I have no idea how I'm going to feel about all this... there are all kinds of fancy monitors with alarms these days that detect the baby's breathing and movement, but will these things turn us into bigger nervous wrecks?!
I haven't got a carrycot type of pram, so I've bought a moses basket for sleeps downstairs (they are really cute), and have been given a crib for in our room. the crib is quite a lot bigger so should last easily until 6 months.

I bought a cot for the nursery that should last until Gingerbaby is 5, or thereabouts. It's a traditional style, and the sides can be removed. Although if we have more kids, as planned, I think Gingerbaby will move on to a proper little bed.

bee I think i would want one for me for around the house. I'd use the pram for outside/lengthier journeys. And then I want a baby carrier that DH can use when out and about.
So a mobywrap or kari me? I'll have a look. Ta.

Oi Yes, as long as they are nursing frequently enough and producing the right amount of wet/pooey nappies (one of each on day one, two on day two up to 6-8 wet nappies a day at around a week old) they are getting enough milk. Evolution is a wonderful thing, colostrum is very calorie and nutrient dense, perfect for someone who is learning how to eat!

Yes, pumping and feeding what you get in a syringe. If milk isn't in, hand express as the amount is so tiny it will get 'lost' in a pump, but honestly, liquid gold is the best description. Even more fabulous, colostrum is even more dense in calories etc if a baby is pre-term.

slings Most people really like stretchy wraps (like the Moby) for newborns as you can tie on the sling then pop baby in and out as you need to without taking the sling off. A lot of people also like ring slings, which do have a longer life as you can do a hip carry with older babies and toddlers (I carry DD2 in a ring sling sometimes).

I have been given a baby bjorn but the moby wrap looks good too. I do like the idea of a wrap I have to say.

Morning Ladies,

I will be combination feeding this time - expressed milk and formula.

OiMissus I can't remember what sling I have - will check when I get home. tiz very comfortable tho.

Mopsy My DD was in her moses basket till she was about 8-9weeks old and then moved into a cot. Only because she was and still is a right little fidget and at 8mths old she was in a toddler bed.

Monitors I don't know which one we will be getting yet. I had a GroEgg with DD but these new monitors have room temp things included so will wait and see.

This is exactly why I'm so happy to be posting here and not on the first timers thread - experience from others who are mums already!! My head is spinning with all this information...so far I have gleaned from all your posts that it's a good idea to get:

• two 4oz bottles with newborn teats
• a couple of cartons of premixed formula
• a stretchy wrap and maybe a ring sling later
• a syringe or two
• a pump with a steriliser thing
• a crib as a moses basket could be outgrown as early as 2 months

I have no useful advice to contribute except that yesterday in Sainsbury's I discovered that prenatal/breastfeeding vitamins are 3 for 2.

DH told me this morning that the baby was kicking him in the back last night I can feel baby toes curling into my ribs at the moment!

Good morning everyone. I stepped on the scales this morning and got quite a shock - apparently I've put on 3lb in the last 3 days. I know you can't always trust the scales but it is quite worrying. I guess all the laying down nearly all day is starting to take its toll.

DS was 5 months when he outgrew his Moses basket and he was tiny. If you can borrow a Moses basket I'd highly recommend having one to keep downstairs, much easier than having to carry the baby up and down the stairs in the basket then having to go back to get the stand!

mopsy I would not move baby into their own room before 6 months; peak age for SIDS deaths is 2-4months if I remember rightly but my mum lost a boy before me to SIDS at 5 months & she's always said she'd never put a young baby to sleep in their own room. I just don't think it's worth the risk.

I'll be using a co-sleeping crib for the 6 months & then bedsharing; it's interesting to note that in cultures where bedsharing is the norm SIDS is virtually unheard of. I appreciate that this isn't for everyone but Three in a Bed is a really interesting read even if you wouldn't consider bedsharing as it makes it clear why room sharing is so important in the early stages. Being close enough to your baby for their brain to be aware of the exchange of oxygen & carbon dioxide helps trigger them to breath normally.

Re: monitors & alarms that detect when baby stops breathing; I did a lot of research into them because of my family history & they seem to me to be a massive waste of money. From what I've read they're either over-sensitive & constantly go off (sleep apnoea is more common in babies than you'd expect) which drives you crazy with worry OR they're not sensitive enough & don't pick up on the problem until it's too late. Saying that; my SIL has one & it gives her great comfort...if it puts your mind at ease & you can afford one I think there's nothing as good for a baby as an unstressed mum :)

Ooooh, long post sorry

honey so sorry to hear about your mums baby boy. :(

I meant to ask a question about bf. Do breastfeeding babies dribble and get reflux as much as bottlefed babies? ie do I still need bibs and millions of muslin cloths? I've got 9 muslin cloths already as I know it's handy to have some but don't know whether I'll need to get any more if I bf.

Honey I always said I would get a co-sleeping crib but they are so expensive and I am so broke :( I just think over £250 for a few months is crazy ... but our bedroom is tiny so a normal cot wouldn't even fit I think, so once it grew out of moses basket would have to go in a different room. It's hard to know what to get.

Re: moving the baby everyone says different things. Some friends say they'd go mad if it was there until 6 months as they would never get any sleep, others say keep until 6 months. There is so much different advice out there, you know? Maybe I should just suck it up and buy the co-sleeping cot as that's what I know I want, really.

We had a moses basket with a stand for DD. Moved the basket around the house during the day and had it on the stand next to our bed at night. I know the advice is to keep them in your room for 6 months, but we moved her to her cot in her room at 11 weeks. She was getting quite big for the moses basket at that stage, and I read something about babies being quite noisy as they transition from light to deep sleep. As she was right next to me I was going to her as soon as she made a noise. Once I'd moved her to her room I wasn't going straight away and immediately she started sleeping for longer periods of time - bliss for all of us! We have a BT monitor and I'd recommend it. It has a good long range, reads the temperature and has a built in night-light and plays tunes if you want them.

seven I BF'd DD and didn't use any bibs until I switched her onto bottles as she didn't dribble. I did have 12 muslins though and permanently had one over my shoulder as she would often bring a bit of the milk back up.

mopsy I'm broke too & couldn't afford the Bednest if FIL wasn't paying for it but have you tried ebay? Bednests & Babybays are still £250ish but Arms Reach cosleeper sell for £25-£150 on there.

Oh thanks Honey will take a look.
My birthing ball just arrived and I blew it up. It's really comfy but it's too low for my desk :( was hoping to be able to work sitting on it.

Glad to be of help mopsy best searches I've found are bedside crib or cot & cosleep* crib or cot (the asterisk allows different endings to the word)...if you manage to find one pick up only nearby you can get some real bargains. :)

Bought a BirthEase ball on ebay last night & I'm crossing my fingers it'll be high enough to work on!

Just wondering why people are buying co-sleeping cots/nests?

We've just stuck all of ours in bed with us from day one, providing you sleep safely (firm-ish mattress, baby doesn't have duvet or pillow) it is as safe as a bed nest or co-sleeping cot.

The way I work it is...baby goes on the outside (they won't fall out, you'll sleep curled around them naturally) with appropriate covers, I sleep with my duvet over my body and tucked between my legs so it can't escape. Baby sleeps at breast level with one of my arms around the top of her head so can't wriggle up to the pillow. Sounds more complicated than it is!

seven In general bf babies are less prone to reflux and being sicky, hard to say whether your particular baby will or won't be though! My two were both very rarely sick (once a week-ish), I'm assuming it is a general trend with my babies!

Just pumped it up bigger and it's high enough now! I had it at 60cm but now it's 65 and it's fine. yay!

Woohoo! We'll all be bouncing around on them soon :o

Oh no mopsy what a shame - can you lower your desk at all? Or inflate it more than you think it needs? I'm sitting on mine and have had to blow it up a couple more times over the last few days because I think the rubber is stretching and each time it gets a bit bigger/higher - I was going to get my desk lowered but I don't think I have to any more because the ball is bigger now than when I first inflated it.