Not so new and not so expert!

[broodysnoopstie]

Hello All,

I hope this works and we can carry on from Newbies and Experts!

X

Wow, sounds like it all happened relatively quickly for your first and that you did so well staying at home so long. I'm not surprised he needed a little help getting out given his weight and your petite stature! Interesting about the pool slowing your contractions down. And v glad to hear your thoughts on contractions!! It's one of those things that you just have no idea about til you go through it yourself, but it def helps to hear your take on it!

I still can't believe your boy is here, before his due date and everything, what a good lad. Give him a big hug from me please, and one for his clever mummy too

Oh, and I hope you manage at least a little sleep at some point!!!! xxxx

PS when do you get to go home?

I swear he has sent me into a big mushy mess. Seeing my OH with him is amazing. We got to come home yesterday at 5pm. He still wont sleep in his moses basket because of the bruise on his head from delivery so i am on shift 1 tonight then its my turn for some kip in a few hours!!

The community midwife came to see us today and she was pleased with everything!

Happy to answer any questions you can think of if i can for you!!

OMG OMG CONGRATULATIONS Wood!! Baby, baby, baby, I am so excited for you!!! Fab news, so pleased your little guy is here safe and sound.

Sounds like you had a slightly stressful delivery but so pleased all is ok and you are both home.

It's a roller coaster but an amazing one, enjoy every precious second because they really do grow up very quickly.

I walked into Mini V's room today to find her standing up in her cot smiling at me!! Almost had a heart attack, I did not know she could do that! So proud and so concerned at the same time.

Enjoy the lovely newborn snuggles, try and get as much sleep as you can and if you have any questions I'm here.

One, not long until your 20 weeks scan, any appointment date yet? I'd definitely push for it if not, should be done before 23 weeks I think? Oh and maternity tights, leggings and jeans are amazing, I can't believe I had never discovered them before :)

Broody, hope all is good with you and your little one

Haha thanks vicky. If you remember my instagram you can have a little sneak peak of my smiler

It was stressful but my oh keeps telling me how well i did and how unphased i was. The uncomfortableness i am going through now is worse id say. Stupid stitches

Questions!!! Where to start haha. His sleep pattern is a mess he wont sleep through the night unless one of us is holding him. Did you have any problems with this....he will stay down in the day for at least a few hours! Im trying to go with a light/dark routine to help him (us) but im also aware he is prob to small to have a clue about whats going on!!

Well done mini v thats so cute will you have to lower the cot now? I'd have defo had a heart attack!!

Also thinking of you broody. But I'm sure you are being much smarter than me and sleeping instead of chatting when you can!!

Hello ladies and baby wood

Wood, this may or may not be any help at all but the girls on the antenatal thread who are already mums have been speaking about the wonders of a cocoonababy, for those who had babies who wouldn't settle they seem to rave about it so it may be worth a look? Another trick I've heard is to try and put something you've worn in the day (i.e tshirt etc) into the Moses basket and try and put him in there when he is still awake but v sleepy, may trick him into thinking he's still snuggled with you???? Worth a shot! Good luck and wishing you sleep

Hi Vix! That's so funny about mini v standing, she was waiting to show you her new trick I am sure the time just flies by, how old is she now?

Yes I have finally heard about my scan, a week tomorrow so the countdown is back on, will be so glad to get this one under our belts. Obviously to know all is well....but then it also means I can start shopping!!!! But little one - ha! I like that name - is wriggling properly now though, definitely letting me know s/he is there which is still amazing every time it happens! Know they're too small at the moment but can you remember how many weeks ish you were when your DH could feel the movements? Can't wait for him to!

I might try the tshirt thats a good idea. The midwife at hospital didnt recommend swaddling though said it's bad for babies hips. We have the heating on a timer but it tends to be off when we put him down so going to mess with that too! Ooh thats exciting a nice early appointment i hope? If you get a student in the room its brilliant you get so much more info

i felt bean at 18 weeks ish and he couldnt properly for a while i would say 24. Once you have a bump that reacts to touch baby would always react when daddy blew raspberrys on my belly. Came in handy if he was quiet that day it woke him up!

Oh what a cutey Wood, he is adorable and looks like he's giving you a big smile :)

Ooh stitches, yep I suffered with that too. Try tea tree oil, cool water and sitting on a cushion or soft towel etc and take lots of paracetamol, it will heal.

Sleep, yes we had issues at the start. Think it is totally normal. Mini V didn't know the difference between night and day for a good few weeks, it was just an endless cycle of feed, sleep, cry, sleep, feed etc. try making a distinction between night and day so lights down low, reduce nappy change frequency (unless you know it needs changing) maybe use some white noise or soothing music at night. Mini V sleeps to music and has done since she was 6 weeks old. She will also always sleep to the sound of a fan. You can get apps with white noise for babies which are really good. It's v common for them to sleep on you though and then you have to do the dreaded transfer to the crib and just when you think you've nailed it they wake up and cry! I so remember that :) he will get into a pattern though.

You could try swaddling just at the shoulders, leave the hips free, but be minded that if you do go down the swaddling route you might have issues later on when you have to stop swaddling him. We managed without swaddling but did go through a few weeks when she would finally drop off only to wake because she bashed herself in the face :)

We used a Cocoonababy and I swear it helped, one of our best purchases and can definitely recommend it. And I agree the t-shirt idea is a good one too. I put the shirt I wore in hospital next to mini V's Cocoonababy thing when she was unsettled. They just want to know you are close.

That's fab you have your appointment One, and so soon as well :) good luck, will be so nice to see mini one moving around. Great you can feel the movements too :) I don't think my DH felt them until quite late, perhaps around 26/28 weeks but I've got a bit of padding so maybe that's why ;)

Mini V is 8 months and 1 week now and seems super keen to do everything she's like a little jumping jack

Thanks for the tips vicky all really helpful. He is tending to sleep a little better downstairs, i think the room is generally warmer so thats where we are now with a plan on relocating once he will settle long enough. We are currently rotating the nights to get sleep between us but i am a little worried about when oh goes back to work!

I am also in need of an inlaw rant. Our house feels so small with them in it and it really isnt. Its so claustrophobic! They are clumsy and break things. They have invited all their extended family round when we just want a bit of peace! And they arent pissing off till a week on Saturday. Ok I feel better now!!

I have been taking arnica for the stitches/bruising and i defo think its helping. Would recommend you packing some in your hospital bag onelife (that seems like so long away!!)

Rant away about in laws wood, it has to come out and this is the best place! I love mine and genuinely get on well with them...but I'm still slightly worried what they are thinking is going to happen after the birth as I've got a feeling they will want to move in!!! Going to speak about it with DH soon so we can come up with a bit of a plan to say to them in advance so it's on our terms...but we'll see how that one goes!! Deep breaths and hang on to the fact that it's one week to go And make sure they make themselves useful, put them to work!!!!!!

Hope you're getting some sleep but I know from what everyone says that this beginning bit is the tough bit in terms of tiredness, good luck and I'm thinking of you, it will improve (so they say!) xx

Glad we've got wise Vix to see us through all this

PS thanks for the arnica advice, can't quite imagine my nether regions needing something like that at the mo but I'm sure I'll be reaching for the bottle eagerly when it's needed!!!

I dont dislike them but i don't want them in my house for 2 weeks either haha. Today they went out shopping and we had no visitors this afternoon and we all had a 2 hour nap it was amazing!! Try and avoid your guests being over mid afternoon!! Defo make sure your on the same page as your partner it makes it a lot easier. He luckily dislikes it as much as i do!!

Loads of people told me to get arnica and i didnt have it ready it defo helped though. I'd just grab it next time you nip to boots and then forget about a baby ever popping out of your hoohaa for the next few months.

Vicky i have my first health visitor visit on Monday...he said it would be an hour and a half...what do they do?

ladies ladies ladies. I'm so sorry I haven't been on in 6 weeks. Time just races. There's sort of so much happened in the blur that is a newborn baby I don't know where to start... in a nut shell labour horrific, recovered physically but still think about it a lot, breast feeding but had to do combination feeding until 2 weeks ago as mini snoopstie was jaundiced and we were back in hospital a couple of days after her birth for light treatment. She's piling on the pounds now though and we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. She's my whole world I love her so much it hurts!
WOOD CONGRATULATIONS I'm so happy for you hope you are doing good.

ONE hope you are doing really well too can't believe you are nearly at 20 week scan.

Vicky, standing already Eeek!
Thanks for all your nice messages I keep seeing as I read back.

xx

Poor snoopstie!! And you it doesn't sound like you had the best start at all!! Is there any help you can get with dealing with the labour? I hope so you get asked all these questions from people coming in and out of your house when you are knackered its hard to know what's what. The last thing you want is the trauma of birth ruining your start! Feel free to talk to us a problem shared is a problem halved and all that!! Im glad things are going in the right direction! How is her sleeping? I am obsessed with how other peoples babies sleep!

Is your scan tomorrow one? Good luck and enjoy it . Weirdly i miss my pregnant belly even though he is currently snoozing on my belly!!

Aw Broody, great to hear from you. Sorry you have had such a time of things, very glad things seem to be on the up now and so lovely to hear how much you love her! I know some people have a very rough time of things, if you find its preying on you lots don't be afraid to speak to someone, could your Health Visitor help maybe or point you in the right direction?

Yes I had my scan yst, all fine thankfully, it was so lovely to see little one again Asked not to be told the sex and even though no attempt was made to hide the screen me and DH couldn't make head nor tail so we're happily none the wiser! Wood, that's so funny you typed that about missing your pregnant belly, I was going to ask you that very thing! I already love feeling all the wriggles so I'm sure I will miss them when s/he is out. Lovely that he snoozes on you though, sounds wonderful!

Completely cannot believe I'm over the half way point now....how has that suddenly happened?! But now we're here and the scan was all ok it only means one thing.....let the shopping commence!!!!!

The health visitor did ask me about how i was feeling but i presume you had that appointment a while ago? I hope they are being helpful.

So glad everything went well one! Its amazing isnt it. Baby one musnt have been on show otherwise im sure they would have turned the monitor. Otherwise they are just not very considerate!!!

Oooh what are you going to buy first? They are more expensive but i am preferring mamas and papas sleepsuits! Also im scared of cutting his razor sharp nails and they dont recommend you do anyway so built in scratch mitts are a must! Also, however many bibs you think you need...its not enough!!

I think i miss the belly more because now its just left over wobble that i cant even breath in and i am still too sore too exercise it away! i have never wanted to exercise before!! Well we have colds in our house. Its a lot of fun!!

Thanks for the tips, I'm not entirely sure where to start tbh! Started googling pushchairs/travel systems yst, there's so many! Think we're bit more restricted choice wise because we're both tall, but the ones everyone seems to recommend for taller parents seem v expensive! What have you got? I'm hoping the grandparents-to-be may help us a little!!!!

That and the cot are the two big purchases I suppose. I'm just starting to make a list of stuff like changing mat, bag, clothes etc and it's already getting long! I clearly remember having a conversation with DH where I said babies don't cost that much

And being where you are now Wood are my thoughts of maybe considering giving cloth nappies a go complete madness?!

Off for a girlie weekend later as DH is away. Hope everyone has nice weekends (and you get some sleep Wood)

Just noticed your comment about your colds, oh no, that's rubbish! Hope everyone picks up again soon, not what you need when you're knackered already x

PS don't even think about your belly, this is yours and baby's woods special time, they'll be plenty of time later to think about starting to exercise. These celebs who 'pop' back into shape (with the help of a full time nanny and eating nothing but lettuce) have a lot to answer for! IMHO

Its hard with push chairs theres just too many. I went for the mamas and papas zoom i thought it was a great price and had good reviews about lasting a long time instead of changing to a stroller that a lot of people do. My friend is short and her boyfriend is tall so they ended up with a stokke as the handles adjusted. They are expensive though. :(

I got the cot and mattress from precious little ones online for 300. It was the tutti bambini jake cot. I was lucky that i only needed the cot and not the furniture as well. The cot ended up coming with a mattress even though it wasnt advertised so i have 2 now!

Sounds like a lovely weekend!! I am very jealous!! My cold seems bad but the lack of sleep might be making it seem worse. On a positive note its bye bye inlaws tomorrow. I think ill celebrate first by peeing with the bathroom door open!!

Also cloth nappies...i can defo see the appeal, but we have settled on pampers! We had a try of aldis (were very short i thought but a lot of people like them!) And boots own gave him nappy rash!

Hello Hope you are basking in the bliss of a pil-free household Wood
How are the colds? Hope they are either gone or on the way out. Sadly though the lack of sleep won't be helping will it, colds are always worse when you're feeling run down and low on energy. How are you feeling in general about the whole having a baby thing? Is time going fast?

Yes, I'm still debating the cloth nappy thing. I'm not sure, and I've heard that the amount you need to use your washing machine may kind of detract from the environmental pluses of using them....we'll see, the debate rolls on! Bigger fish to fry at the mo with the pushchair research. Think we're just going to have to bite the bullet and go shopping to try some out as there is only so much the Internet can tell you. Then we just need to win the lottery to pay for the chosen model...

Getting loads of wriggles now, DH has even felt a few wallops! The weight seems to have started to pile on too I seem to have gained a kilo just from the weekend (though I'm sure that has nothing to do with the ridiculous consumption of food&puddings that went on over the weekend oh no!)

Pil gone = BLISS there is nothing more to say on that subject!!

Colds aren't gone but defo on the way out. Dad escaped it so at least one of us made it!!

Time is flying by even with even less sleep than usual :( he is 1 month old on wednesday!! Trying to set the groundwork for a proper routine but he's so young he doesn't have a clue! We have bought a sleepyhead pod to replace the moses basket he won't sleep in and today i bought a Ewan the dreamsheep! It's amazing how much you will pay in attempt for sleep! Ha! Both things though probably would have been even better if i had them from day 1. The pod is brilliant for co sleeping which I was never planning on but it helps a little!

Seeing the prams will defo help. It made my mind up! So far i am liking ours. I have to take a wheel off for it to fit in the boot but it's easily done!

I wouldn't fight the weight gain. You're going to be so uncomfy at the end if a bit of something yummy makes the day better just go for it! Deal with it after ;)

Right, dad and baby are watching the football. Mummys having a well deserved nap!!

Lost the thread so just a little update to keep me in the loop!

Sleepyhead pod/dreamsheep are defo working we have slept between feeds the last 3 nights and it makes a massive difference! We need to keep this up then drop the night feed and we are onto a winner! Has your little one started sleeping through yet Broody?

Hello all

Hope everyone is well?

Hoping the sleepyhead contraption is still working and you're getting a bit more rest, I think anything that lets you sleep is worth the cost!

23 weeks here, currently on the countdown to 'viability' week next week and Midwife appt. All ok, only gripe at mo is backache at night, other than that feeling pretty good so hoping that lasts! Pregnancy yoga is HILARIOUS! Not sure it's supposed to be but it sure makes me laugh so it's good for that reason anyway! I'm sure if my husband could see us all he would wonder what the hell I was spending our money on!!! BUT, after last weeks session I had NO backache that night, unlike every other night since, so it must be doing something.

Give all your babies a cuddle from me please

The sleepyhead is good i would highly recommend. He generally sleeps between feeds at night now and will go down in his bouncer during the day for small stints! Poor bugger is more bunged up more than ever though! He struggles with his first bottle of the day as he is so snotty!

Yoga sounds funny! Hopefully its not too expensive for the laughs. But if it works it works!!

Weathers picking up we have been on a few walks this week! Roll on spring!