Late December - Early January Thread 2!

[Bella1985]

Hi! We're on to our 2nd thread for babies due at the end of December/Early January. 3rd trimester is in sight...!

[Emz32]

Hi Guys. I completely forgot to check back. Life is manic with 2! Approaching 5 months & no idea where the times home. DD is so different from DS. We are still BF which has gone better than I had hoped. I don't want to give it up so will just start weaning at 6 months & as food increases then my milk should reduce. She was taking a bottle but this last month has refused. I have a hen weekend next month so we have had a stressful few weeks but finally found a bottle she will take. Think we have tried almost every one on the market!! Still not sleeping through. She goes to bed about 7.30, wakes at 1.30ish & then 6.30ish. Can't complain as it could be worse. How's everyone else doing?

[Admarks]

Hello everyone - hope you and little ones are all doing ok? We must all be reaching the 4 month mark - can't believe that H is no longer a newborn and close to rolling and sitting! We've had a few fluke rolls but nothing consistent.... it's wonderful to see her develop and show her personality but a little sad knowing that she's no longer a completely helpless baby!

After getting into a good routine I can see the sleep slipping away... has the '4 month regression' hit anyone else?

[stealthbanana]

How is everyone? Baby stealth was 4 months this week - can't believe how fast the time is flying!

[stealthbanana]

Hi everyone! Hope you're all well. Sorry this thread dropped off my list. Baby stealth is 14 weeks old and all is well after a horrid 2 weeks where he had a cold and then I had norovirus. He's definitely a daytime sleep avoider too - he's too social! Lots of talking and he's starting to grab things and has rolled over a couple of times. And well over 6kgs. Can't believe how fast the time is going!

[Bella1985]

Nice to hear things are going well. Things are good here too. DS will be 11 weeks tomorrow (where did time go?!) and he definitely looks less and less like a newborn each day. He's alert and watching things, smiles and coos! He can hold his head up and sit up straight (supported) rather than slumping so that helps a lot with wind. He's moved up to size 3 nappies this week as he's weighing around 14lbs and is long - I can't believe it!

A belated happy birthday emz! DS won't take a bottle so a sleepover is off the cards (sadly) but I managed 1.5 hours at the hairdressers by myself, much to their disappointment as they wanted cuddles but DH wanted father and son bonding time so he took him to B&Q!!

Sleep has improved massively for us, he's been consistently sleeping 5-6 hours from 11pm for about 3 weeks and last night he slept 7.5hrs from 11 until 6.30am. He still cluster feeds from 6pm-11pm so that he doesn't wake for a night feed and although I'm tied to him in the evening, it's a very small price to pay to sleep through the dreaded 3am feed! We have to be really careful for the first feed of the day though as his little tummy struggles with the large amount of milk he takes on and we often have a projectile vomit and he's terrible for avoiding sleep during the day. He will nap in the morning but will do everything to avoid any more naps so I'm on a mission to find what works for him as he needs to sleep more during the day.

[Emz32]

Morning Happylass. It has gone very quiet. Iv checked back a few times to see if Iv missed anything. The days do just blur into one. DD is now 8 weeks. She's had bronchiolitis & we all came down with a bad tummy bug over my birthday which was fun. Seem to be on the mend now! Phew. She had her first sleepover at my parents which luckily went ok. She's even been invited back!!

Glad to hear you are both doing well. Well done on getting to groups. We are venturing to our first one today. Iv been so busy with DS & being poorly that we haven't managed any yet. I am really looking forward to it though. You have also made me feel better about the jabs, they should have been last week but with her being poorly I postponed them. They are on Friday & im dreading it. Been through so many with DS (we have had a Few privately for him) that I should be used to it by now. He reacted to the new meningitis one that I thought DD might be poorly. Did you give calpol at all?

Good news on the sleep! We have got into a routine (ish!) of putting her in her bed at 10.30/11 & then she wakes 2/3 before going back down again until 6/7. It's helping me feel somewhat normal! We do still have the odd night where she wakes up more but thankfully that's more the exception now.

I love this bit where they start smiling & cooing. My DS was 11 weeks old when he started smiling (being 5 weeks early) and it was a long newborn stage. Those smiles at 3am make it a little more bare able.

I think Iv finally decided about contraception after a near miss. I had to embarrassingly admit it to the dr too. Could have been having another baby at the end of the year! that would be too much! Iv lost count of the amount of times people have asked if I'm having more/ or assumed as I have "one of each" I must be done. Even random strangers comment! People can be so nosey.

Glad to hear you are doing so well Happy. Look forward to hopefully more updates!

[happylass]

Morning ladies. It's gone very quiet on here - I'm guessing everyone has their hands as full as me!! Be great to hear how everyone is getting on. All good here. DS is doing well. Had his first set of jabs yesterday and we seem to have come through it relatively unscathed!! Things have definitely changed over the last 2 weeks or so. He is far more alert and sleeping much less in the day. I hardly dare say it but he seems to have dropped a night feed and since Saturday has been waking just the once, around 3am. I'm well aware that this could change at any moment but I'll take all the sleep I can get for now!! He definitely doesnt doesn't feel like a newborn anymore and it's only when I see younger babies at groups that I realise just how much he's grown.
Hope everyone is doing ok hope to hear your updates soon!

[Emz32]

Yes. We had seen gp who told us if she got worse to go to hospital. He breathing was really rapid, then she would stop breathing. She was also really wheezy & struggling to breath. It was scary but thankfully she's getting better now.

It's nice when they start sleeping better. DD was up 3 times on Saturday night & would not sleep in her bed. Every time I put her down she woke & cried. I got 3 hours sleep, then lastnight she slept 11.30-5.30. I'm glad you got more sleep Bella. You start to feel more human don't you.

Fingers crossed the jabs go ok. We are only just at 6 weeks so have a couple more weeks before that. With DS he cried a bit but was soon over it. They have changed the meningitis part now tho & they can get a temperature I think. DS was a bit poorly when he had men B jab privately. Feels so horrible to be taking them for jabs. I want to take DD swimming too.

[Bella1985]

Oh no, you had to take her to hospital? Poor thing. Hope she's getting much better by now. That must have been so scary for you.

DS slept for 6hrs straight Thursday night and 5.5hrs Friday night! It was between midnight and 6am too so actually felt like a full nights sleep - it was amazing! We were back to shorter spells last night though

Going for 8 week injections this week - eek! Will be looking for swimming classes to start attending as he loves a bath so he'll probably love swimming sessions!

[Emz32]

Glad to hear you are ok Bella. We spent Valentine's Day in A&E with DD as her breathing was so bad she was struggling. She was also choking on mucus a lot so I couldn't lay her down. She screamed until 3am which was really unlike her. Drs were happy with her in the end & she perked up once there. She's through it now & is starting to cough it up. We were told she's got bronchiolitis. Now staying at home as much as possible to recover. Iv not had much sleep over the last few days. I'm solely breastfeeding, being poorly she's been feeding really often but small feeds. Very draining. Just got home from 6 week check. Just a chat with a dr really. (Didn't help I was late with both DD & DS with me!) contemplating the coil. Doesn't seem very important as the chance would be a good thing!

[Bella1985]

I'm surviving! There are good and bad days (bad days mostly linked to tiredness), thankfully DS has settled into a routine where he sleeps 3-4 hours around midnight and that is keeping me sane as it is the time of day when I desperately need sleep and to have that time in bed (like a normal person) is psychologically huge. I could never be a shift worker. I'm hoping that soon he will stretch it to sleep for 4-5 hours (I daren't dream of 6 hours straight yet).

Hope your DD is ok by now emz and everyone else and their babies are also doing well.

[Emz32]

Still suffering with colds in this house. DD has decided she doesn't want to sleep tonight so I'm still up hoping she'll go down soon. Can barely keep my eyes open. She's suffering quite a bit. Today she did a poo that was mucusy & had dots of blood in. The next 2 poos were green. Not sure if she's got a bug, an allergy or not getting enough fatty milk. Hoping it rectifies itself.

How is everyone else? Presuming that we are all busy surviving the never-ending nappies, feeding & nights.

[Emz32]

Bella, I always sit DD up after a feed for between 20-30 minutes before putting her down. It's force of habit as DS had severe reflux & never kept much down. It's so frustrating when you feed them & they bring quite a bit back up. You are never sure how much they have kept down.

Iv just expressed for the first time. Iv been avoiding it as I had to do it from the moment DS was born, the noise of the pump did bring back horrible memories of expressing for DS but I was intrigued how much would come out & I also want to see if DD will take a bottle. I'd like to have an emergency stash in case I can't feed for some reason. Plus it's my 30th in a few weeks & I'd like a glass or 2 of champers without feeling guilty. I obviously won't be getting drunk with the night shift looming!

Colds are still here in our house. DD is only waking up once at night generally but I'm waking coughing a lot so not seeing the benefit yet. Had a Drs app today as DD was really struggling with her breathing from this cold. Told to take her straight to A&E if it worsens at all. Poor thing. Horrible seeing her struggle.

I need to get out for walks more. Seem to just be chasing DSs routine of classes & when he's at nursery we enjoy some quiet time at home. We have ventured to the park which is nice.

[Bella1985]

DS is ok emz - we've raised the bedside cot even further and I keep him asleep in my arms for about 30mins before I transfer him to the cot and sometimes he's fine and other times he's not. He's gaining weight along the curve as he should be so HV wasn't worried.

A lot of people are struggling to get rid of their colds, the one very bad thing abour winter. I'm loving cold wintry walks with DS though, and lovely cups of tea and cake in cafes along the way!

Hope everyone is settling in well with their babies.

[Emz32]

How is your DS now Bella? Reflux is horrible. My DS was exactly the same as your DS. It was so draining trying to cope with it & the endless feeding.

Iv got a few options of classes but haven't got organised yet. DD is still sleeping a lot during the day. Nights are hit & miss. Feeling pretty rough with this cold still.

[Bella1985]

DS is 6 weeks old tomorrow - can't believe it!

He came out of the growth spurt and was sleeping well (not as well as baby stealth and baby happy but well for baby bella standards so I was happy) and then yesterday reflux seems to have hit with a bang. He didn't sleep at all last night in the chicco next2me, everytime I put him on his back he would scream and squirm and arch his back and then vomit. He's had the odd bout of this in the past but its been 24hrs now and so far he's only slept on my chest and has vomited and cried everytime he's on his back We're stuck in a vicious cycle as he's hungry after vomiting and won't settle to sleep but once he feeds again there's more vomit. And he squeals in pain when trying to poo which also wakes him up. HV is coming tomorrow so will see what his weight will be and if she has any advice. I'm not hopeful for much sleep tonight. in a flask by the bed to keep me going...

Have only been attending breastfeeding support group. Thinking of going to a sing with your baby session when he's 8 weeks old as I will be back driving and he seems to be staying awake a little more now so by then he should appreciate the singing and new surroundings. At the moment he's enjoying taking in our home surroundings!

[Emz32]

Great news Stealth & Happy. This gives me hope that we might get into a pattern at some point. Sleep is very hit & miss. DD finally went to sleep at 12.45 lastnight (having had a poo explosion, sicked all over me & peed all over my duvet). I was awake at 2 coughing so much I then woke her. She then woke again at 4 & then 7. This cold is driving us all mad. Iv started looking into groups to go to, mainly because I want to slot them into the 2 days that DS is at nursery. Haven't signed up to anything as yet. I couldn't have done with not driving, but I haven't had the long recovery from a c section. I'm still bleeding very slightly which is driving me nuts. Enough to have to wear something but not enough to wear a proper pad. We try & get out every day but sometimes it's just too much & we stay home.

[stealthbanana]

Hi all! Sorry to hear you're all suffering with colds. Hopefully they get better soon!

All good with our little munchkin. He is still clusterfeeding in the early evenings, but the trade off is that he's sleeping really well overnight - he does 10pm-4am and then 5am-730am. Fingers crossed it lasts! He had his 6 week check last week and all was well - he weighed in at 5.2kgs and head and length are both on 90th percentile. So he's a big boy!

I had my 6 week check and also everything was fine. My pelvic floor is still pretty weak but my stomach muscles didn't separate so swings and roundabouts! I've been cleared for exercise so went for a swim yesterday - took it very easy but it felt good!

happy I haven't started going to any groups yet. I'm not sure how much he really will get out of them at 6 weeks? I've just been meeting friends for lunch etc and we do go out every day but not to baby stuff yet.

[happylass]

Morning ladies. Hope those of you feeling ill make a speedy recovery. DH currently has a cold so I'm praying he doesn't pass it on to the baby, or me for that matter!
Nothing much to report here. All going fairly smoothly (touch wood!). DS seems to have settled in to waking every 3 hours through the night for feeds and then is straight back to sleep. I can live with that and am praying it continues (though I know I've probably jinxed it now!).
DH is away with work for the next 3 weekends so I'm dreading that. Not flown solo overnight as yet so not sure how that's going to go 😬
Has everyone started going to groups? I've been to baby massage but am still limited by not being able to drive. I've not got my 6 week check until the 16th but I think I may get back behind the wheel this week as I feel fine.
How's everyone else getting on?

[Emz32]

Nothing worse than then complaining about sleep. Ha! Yesterday was quite painful & I was very short tempered with DS. Feel awful about that.

Bella, I had to do that the night before as DD couldn't breath once I laid her down. It scares me as my cousin ended up in A&E with his son (at a few months old) as he fell asleep with him on his chest & he rolled off & hit the floor. They were made to feel so bad but I think most parents have done it so I just went with it. DD is so comfy lying on my chest. It's so nice & snuggly.

[Bella1985]

I frequently tell DH I hate him! Especially when he complains he's tired eventhough he slept 11-7 in the spare bedroom

I am fighting a cold now too. DS slept really well last night (12-3, 4.30-6.30, 7.45-9.30) so I slept well, but due to the cold, I still feel rough today. Those kind of hours would have normally had me bouncing all day with energy and happyness. But I let DS sleep on my chest this afternoon against all guidance whilst I slept on the sofa and we both had 3hrs which was very much needed. I'm hoping all this sleep is keeping the cold at bay rather than it developing to full blown lurgy. One can hope.

On the plus side DSs mucus seems to be bothering him a little bit less so that's good!

[Emz32]

Turns out a 4 week old baby with a cold isn't much fun. We are all still suffering, DS is pretty rough but still full of energy. Every time I tried to put DD down she sounded like she was choking, would struggle with mucus & then projectile vomit so would need feeding again. I got 1 hours sleep 4.30-5.30. DH has just caught the lurgy & went to bed early sleeping from 10-6.30 & has gone to work feeling not too bad. It's perfectly acceptable to hate him right now isn't it . How's everyone else?

[Emz32]

DD decided to be up most of the night. I think I managed 3 hours of sleep. DS is now full of cold too. Fun times ahead. I'm a bit sore too from all the feeding. Great news of the boots Bella.

Iv been appreciating the small things, I can now put my socks & shoes on! I can also pick DS up without worrying & sit with him on the floor more comfortably. I had got to the fed up stage of pregnancy this time.

[Bella1985]

I've been wondering about a growth spurt too emz. He'd been doing so well for a week and seemed to be settling in to a routine. My nipples are a little sore too, I need a short break for them to recover between feeds but this fussing stage isn't providing sufficient time! Ouch! Get well soon

I've just put on a pair of boots I haven't fit into since September - I'm so pleased my feet have gone back down in size! I have my skinny ankles back too! only skinny part of my body Now that I stop to think about it, I haven't had a chance yet to fully appreciate the things I can now do since I'm not pregnant. Am looking forward to having 20mins to paint my toenails now that I can reach them comfortably! I walked up a steep hill yesterday and I didn't have to stop for a break or immediately sit down at the top And sleeping on my back and rolling over easily in bed

What little pleasures are you enjoying?

[Emz32]

Feeling pretty rough which is hard going. Just hoping I don't pass it on. DD was exactly the same as your DS was Bella. She fussed all night & then all day yesterday. Then slept amazingly lastnight. Doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. Wonder if it's a growth spurt maybe. Hard when she just wants to feed all the time. She made me quite sore yesterday & barely slept. Hard work with a horrible cold & DS. I used to look forward to bedtime, now I almost dread it in case I'm up all through the night. Oh well. It's only for a short time (hopefully).