October 2013: The Fourth Trimester - the bit no one warns you about!

[roxvox]

Stats sheet here

New arrivals here

Key:
SC - still cooking (pre EDD)
SFW - still f*ing waiting (post EDD)
OWT - on way to theatre (CS)
IP - induction in progress
SWIL - somewhere in labour
LIT - lost in transition

redlips have you been added to FB yet? I can help if not

I have thanks, Bronze figured it out for me :)
Loving all the baby pictures!

Woop woop we have been discharged from the midwife! Thomas went from 7lb 1 down to 6lb 3 and now up to 7lb 14. So pleased with my chubby little man. The midwife was very grumpy so I was quite pleased that Thomas weed rather spectacularly all over her floor.

Now we are going to try to reduce the expressed bottles and breastfeed directly we can't just play at breastfeeding for a few minutes, serious feeding time begins now. Boobs at the ready!

How are you feeling today smitten? I hope a rest helped a little bit and you were able to stay home.

I'm feeling exhausted Orange, but glad not to be in hospital again.

I had a lovely midwife come round and showed me how to feed properly as I was doing it all wrong and Baby Smitten really wasn't getting anything. Much better now though although he's making up for lost time and wants feeding constantly. Argh.

Why is something that's supposed to be so simple so hard?

Glad you got some useful support smitten and have been able to get to know each other at home.

I know, I don't understand how humans have survived as a species when feeding seems to be so hard for so many of us.

About piles: the mw this week got me a prescription for scheriproct and I wish I'd asked for it earlier. It's made a difference in one day. It contains prednisolone so I doubt it's available over the counter. For anyone with piles I definitely think it's worth talking to the GP.

I hear you orange. I was thinking earlier that cuteness must be an evolutionary trait developed to stop people just giving up and not bothering.

Evening all. Hope everyone's had an okay day. Thanks for all the education re cluster feeding...I shall be prepared for that now. I have a new query this evening for all those with experience(yes gt this is my 1st!). I am having an internal battle with how strict I should be with making sure Cyrus does most of his sleeping during day in basket or pram rather than on a person. He sleeps well in basket at night between feeds but often there's so many visitors that I don't end up getting him down by himself much during the day. I'm worried about making him clingy and difficult about sleeping. He's such a good baby, I do worry I'll change this if I don't get the balance right. Do you think it's too early to do lasting damage re sleeping habits? I'm so sorry , I know this is so minor compared to the challenges that some of you are facing but some times the responsibility of getting it right for him is slightly overwhelming. Xxx

I think it's a problem that we are led to think bf will be simple when we have almost no experience or knowledge if it beforehand. My mom bf her three babies but when my parents heard my milk had come in and I had established bf they were overjoyed, because they know how hard it can be. Why hadn't they told me how hard it can be?

Ready, this is my first baby too so I don't know really, but we are holding Thomas almost all the time in the day, occasional time in his bouncy chair while we eat, Moses basket in bedroom only at night when we are there, that's what feels right for us. I don't feel we are spoiling him. I think some parenting guides recommend not letting them fall asleep feeding and putting them to sleep in their beds in the day - my best friend attempted that - but I don't want to. I think others say if they spend lots of time with you they build secure attachments they will be more confident and independent do less fussy sleepers... I haven't read any of the books myself yet and am making it up as I go along doing what feels right for us. I don't believe you can ruin a child by letting a visitor hold them while sleeping though, they are hardly awake for long, no visitor would ever see them!

I just topped up Baby Smitten's breast feed with formula milk. I can't believe the difference. He's having a nap now and not screaming uncontrollably and rooting desperately around at everything.

Felt a bit sad that I couldn't give him that, but it's amazing to have free hands and a quiet baby.

The midwife said it's fine to top up as long as you put him on your boob first otherwise you might have supply issues.

Also, piles. Mine feel terrible, in my notes they say 'mild'. I'm Shocked by them, I've never had them before they're ick-ing me out. Bleurgh.

Ready whilst I was in hospital (6 days) so lots of time on my hands I read loads of literature that was around in the hospital. They had a big thing about skin to skin contact with babies in the first 8 weeks of their life, it said that lots of skin to skin contact is the main thing that develops their brains so I think you can't spoil a child this early on.

ready I have read/heard from various sources that you cannot spoil a baby this young. And like other people have said, it's actually meant to be beneficial to them to keep them close during these early weeks.

Tonight JellyBaby was lying on the floor having a wee kick after the other two went to bed. He then lets out this blood curdling scream. The silly boy has pulled his own hair and wouldn't let it go and was howling in pain - he will learn I guess.

I am about to put on all my baby weight again as I can't stop eating the kids Halloween sweeties. All in the name of saving their teeth I have to add

Jelly my lo did that a few weeks ago. Mase worse by fact he actuallyalot of long hair. Only did it once tho.

Ready the reason I asked if it was your first was its alot harder to just park yourself in front of the tv and feed for hours if you have other kids.

smitten glad you are finally getting some rest. Once you know how to feed properly, your milk will come and things will get so much easier. My milk came today and Conrad has been sleeping pretty much old day, totally knocked out by his first proper food. I'm preparing myself for a sleepless night though!

red I second what everyone says. My mum used to say I was spoiling DS by holding him too much when he was only a few weeks old. All midwives and HVs told me you can't spoil such a small baby. They need love and cuddles. Different story once they are older than 6 months and are beginning to understand more. I'm planning to cuddle and hold my LO as much as I can!

MrsH 2.5 weeks may be a bit early for the dummy. The general advice is no dummy for BFed babies for the first months. I waited until 3.5 weeks with DS1 and am also targeting 1 month with this one. And don't worry - he will just spit the dummy out and will continue to cry if he wants to feed. He will let you know!

Day 3 and I'm looking like a Pam Anderson. A new level of hunger here - can't stop eating... no signs of any baby blues yet. Fingers crossed!

Can someone remind me when I should expect growth spurts please? I completely forgot after 5 years...

hope everyone has a good night

Don't worry ready you can't spoil babies this young. It's very good for them to be held and reassured and comforted when newborns.
Hoping to get some sleep tonight...........not looking forward to two hourly feeding....... Not wanting to wish his little life away but I can't wait for his tunny to be a bit bigger and stay fuller for longer!

PS. meant ready not red in my earlier post!

and orange glad Thomas is doing so well! Good boy for weeing on the grumpy MW's floor!

clapham think the first one is one week, then 2-3 weeks then 6 weeks. Basically all the time when newborn!!!

LoL - thanks shooting!

Yessss!!! I have finally caught up to date! What a marathon that has been. I am not hanging around now as baby has just gone to sleep after basically obsessively cluster feeding since midday & i am hoping she will now sleep for more than 20 minutes,but no guarantees! She is amazing. In fact I don't think I ever actually announced on here that she had been born,I know you knew because I put it on Facebook,but I will add birth announcement/story to my.list of jobs...

Congratulations to all the new mummies,and dilation & easy labour vibes to those (notyomomma,anyone else?) SFW. I know how frustrating it is,I remember it well & I won't attempt to make you feel better about it at least your boobs/fanjos are intact at this pointjust one thing I will say - you will not be pregnant forever... It just feels like it.

Ok,will try a better post tomorrow,now though,sleep.xxx

Clapham there is defo a growth spurt at 2-3 weeks, Alexandra has been on the tit all day long and yesterday, I'm so happy though because it's finally coming together for us (this breast feeding malarkey)

Met my Nct friends today, had a lovely time. My mum is coming to stay next week for 3 nights mums rock!!

Happy Saturday night feeding everyone

Woo hoo - milk is officially in. He fell asleep while feeding then woke with a startle and loads dribbled out of his mouth!

He seems to want to feed every hour though, but today I'm just glad I can manage it even if I'm a zombie.

Is this our last ante natal thread !
Think we should move over at the end of this you know how I like a finished thread.

Lo has slept for 5 hours. My boob is rock hard!

Bk to sleep