January Babies #5 - Are we 'glowing' yet?!

[millsbynight]

Welcome to Thread 5!

Thread #1
Thread #2
Thread #3
Thread #4

Current January babies due dates list:

Noodleaddict – EDD 24th December – team yellow
Alpanini - EDD 25th December – team yellow
Cookie22 – EDD 27th December – team yellow
MammyHester – EDD 29th December - team yellow
Mumoftheark – EDD 28th December - team yellow
Kilicat – EDD 28th December - team yellow
WLMcl – EDD 28th December - team yellow
MummyM33 – EDD 29th December – team blue
Pickledsausage – EDD 30th December - team yellow
Millsbynight – EDD 30th December – team pink
Newhere123 – EDD 30th December team yellow
DiveItLikeYouStoleIt – EDD 30th December - team yellow
MissMango – EDD 31st December - team yellow
SilverLinings2014 – EDD 31st December - team yellow
MarthaC – EDD 31st December - team yellow
GenerallyHappy1 – 31st December - team yellow
SJ1989 – EDD 31st December – team pink
HariboFrenzy – EDD 1st January - team yellow
JJenky34 – EDD 1st January - team yellow
Kirsty157 – EDD 1st January - team yellow
NoOneLikesACrispyTowel – EDD 1st January - team yellow
GruffaloSoldier – EDD 1st January – team blue
Emma2803 – EDD 2nd January - team yellow
Stripeyfish – EDD 2nd January - team yellow
Bunanarama – EDD 2nd January - team yellow
PurplePoppySeed – EDD 2nd January - team yellow
CharlieWeasley – EDD 2nd January - team yellow
Hanna87 – EDD 2nd January - team yellow
Ziggzagg – EDD 2nd January – team blue
StylishDuck – EDD 3rd January - team yellow
ALHCTPS – EDD 4th January - team yellow
Reetgood – EDD 4th January – team blue
BreadAndJam00 – EDD 4th January - team yellow
Owltrousers – EDD 4th January - team yellow
Loulou1286 – EDD 4th January - team yellow
LadyM0ndegreen – EDD 5th January - team yellow
Lenska999 – EDD 5th January - team yellow
Sophsta – EDD 5th January - team yellow
Dddddddddd – EDD 5th January - team yellow
Whoknows123 – EDD 5th January - team yellow
SpringChicken26 – EDD 5th January - team blue
Hotpinkangel19 – EDD 6th January – team pink
Rememberpurpleronnie – EDD 6th January – team pink
HariboFrenzy – EDD 6th January - team yellow
Laurelloves85 – EDD 6th January – team pink
Poppypopsicle – EDD 6th January - team yellow
ChocoMunchi – EDD 6th January – team pink
Coffeecoffeebuzzbuzzbuzz – EDD 7th January - team yellow
Ifeellikechickentonight – EDD 7th January - team yellow
Pebble82 – EDD 7th January - team yellow
Hutch2016 – EDD 7th January - team yellow
Usedtorun – EDD 7th January - team yellow
Kitcaty – EDD 7th January - team yellow
OutComeTheWolves – EDD 7th January - team yellow
Embo – EDD 7th January - team yellow
Hannah91x – EDD 7th January - team yellow
Spitzbergen – EDD 7th January - team yellow
MegRam – EDD 7th January - team pink
BELLAARA – EDD 7th January - team yellow
Ladybunnikinds – EDD 7th January - team yellow
Klc75 – 7th January – team pink
Rabbitstail – EDD 8th January - team yellow
MrsCorr – EDD 8th January – team pink
Ndo4000 – EDD 8thJanuary – team pink
GiraffesCantDoMentalArithmetic – EDD 9th January - team yellow
Usernamegone – EDD 9th January - team yellow
Tinywithtoes – EDD 9th January - team yellow
SummerHopin – EDD 9th January - team yellow
HeyBea – EDD 9th January - team yellow
PregoinKH – EDD 9th January - team yellow
Train1 – EDD 9th January - team yellow
Klaw87 – EDD 9th January – team blue
Serendipper – EDD 9th January - team yellow
Waitingonasmile – EDD 9th January – team blue
Briggs18 – EDD 9th January - team yellow
Chocolateshortcake – EDD 10th January TWINS!!!
Thingymaboob – EDD 10th January - team yellow
Jellypi3 – EDD 10th January - team yellow
Questabelletreetop – EDD 10th January - team yellow
ElleMcElle – EDD 10th January - team yellow
ChocolateMuffin595 – 10th January - team yellow
Kirst11 – EDD 10th January - team yellow
Bringmethechips – EDD 10th January - team yellow
LoobysMummy14 – EDD 10th January - team yellow
Banania – EDD 11th January - team yellow
JoeyR – EDD 11th January - team yellow
LadyFuchsiaGroan – EDD 11th January - team yellow
SandyAmazon – EED 12th January - team yellow
Maybebaby2 – EDD 11th January – team pink
Fattycowagain – EDD 12th January - team yellow
Auntym – EDD 12th January - team yellow
JB1983 – EDD 12th January - team yellow
DreamBigHaveFun – 12th January - team yellow
Isabeau1980 – EDD 12th January – team blue
Mrsb87 – EDD 13th January - team yellow
LinaBl – EDD 13th January - team yellow
Flossyfloss – EDD 14th January – team pink
Shaaan1329 – EDD 14th January - team yellow
SJP3 – EDD 14th January - team yellow
Asafemooring – EDD 14th January - team yellow
Purplechoc – EDD 15th January - team yellow
Maybebaby88 – EDD 15th January - team yellow
Isambardo – EDD 16th January - team yellow
ImBreakingBad – EDD 16th January - team yellow
Issywizzybelle – EDD 16th January – team pink
Wapphighwood – EDD 16th January - team blue
ElsaMars – EDD 17th January - team yellow
Ruthcarr1990 – EDD 17th January – team blue
FromHackneyWithLove – EDD 17th January - team yellow
AdorableMisfit – EDD 17th January - team yellow
Star1980 – EDD 18th January - team yellow
Winsones – EDD 18th January - team yellow
Victoriaaaaaaaa – EDD 18th January – team pink
Hobbs123 – EDD 18th January
Mummy87 – EDD 19th January
Kittykat89 – EDD 19th January
Moodybutmarvelous – EDD 19th January
Disinterested – EDD 19th January - team blue
Roseandbee – EDD 19th January – team pink
Sybarite85 – EDD 19th January - team yellow
Polkadotflamingo – EDD 20th January - team yellow
ForumUsername – EDD 20th January - team yellow
Fredthefrog – EDD 20th January - team yellow
Acquiescence – EDD 20th January - team yellow
Rosehyd2 – EDD 20th January - team yellow
NovaArt3mis – EDD 20th January - team yellow
DooWhaaDiddy – EDD 21st January - team yellow
Beachbaby2016 – EDD 21st January - team yellow
Peachgreen – EDD 21st January - team yellow
AmandaP86x – EDD 21st January - team yellow
Owl1011 – EDD 21st January - team yellow
UnicornsandRainbows1 – EDD 22nd January - team yellow
Ndt90 – EDD 22nd January - team yellow
Seven0fNine – EDD 22nd January - team yellow
Icantthinkofastupidname – EDD 22nd January - team yellow
Chubchub – EDD 22nd January - team yellow
Coragreta – EDD 23rd January - team yellow
Beanmp007 – EDD 23rd January - team yellow
Abbixxx – EDD 23rd January - team yellow
Gemxo – EDD 23rd January – team blue
StarTravels – EDD 23rd January - team yellow
MissyJones80s – EDD 24th January - team yellow
Lolly34h – EDD 25th January - team yellow
Flyingbaby – EDD 25th January - team yellow
BumbleBee1982 – EDD 25th January - team yellow
Kdd1980 – EDD 25th January - team yellow
KimmySchmidt1 – EDD 25th January - team yellow
RedPanda25 – EDD 25th January - team yellow
Supper16 – EDD 25th January - team yellow
Iamchanging – EDD 26th January – team pink
Haily123 – EDD 26th January - team yellow
MrsPayneworkingmummy – EDD 27th January - team yellow
Robindeer – EDD 28th January - team yellow
EekThreek – EDD 29th January - team yellow
Siarie – EDD 30th January - team yellow
Sureitsgrand – EDD 30th January - team yellow
Decaffstilltastesweird – EDD 30th January – team blue
Starsshinebright – EDD 31st January - team yellow
Dabarai – EDD 31st January - team yellow
Flamingoprincess – EDD 1st February - team yellow
Pickledprogress – EDD 2nd February - team yellow
Emzwell – EDD TBC – team yellow
Hobbitsy – EDD TBC - team yellow

@MissyJones80 I've just had my appointment and it was very routine. My DH came with me because I thought he might like to hear the heartbeat but he was a bit underwhelmed by it all! If your hubby wants to come then there's no harm. I was told the birth plan would be done at 36 weeks but could be different in different places.

@MissyJones80s You should get to hear heartbeat but that's the only interesting part. My last appointment with DS (before I had him) was 34 weeks and midwife hadn't mentioned birth plan, so think you'll probably have another few appointments to go** for that.

If anyone is buying wipes do not buy Huggies. They are awful! I was caught out and bought a whole box with DS and still have them.

Thanks for the welcomes !
I agree about that waitingonasmile , Tey fall apart!
I can't remember the 24 week appointment with my first ( no midwife appointments between 16 and 28 weeks for this one as it's not a first ) but I also think birth plans may be later on. I'm also wondering when the right time is for all of that though - when to ask to look around midwife led unit etc.

Yes @MissyJones80s huggies wipes are rubbish! I hate the texture and the pack/wipes dries out super quick and just disintegrate after that. Rubbish!

Is anyone else planning on using cloth nappies? I'm trying to be environmentally conscious and sustainable this time around.

millsbynight yes I'm planning on reusable nappies, not sure which brand yet though! First time parent here so full of hope that they may work for me but also realistic that I may have to use some disposables along the way!

Yes heard that they recommend cotton wool and water over wipes at first and then non frangranced wipes...any opinions on that?

Yes cotton wool and water. Did it for about 4 weeks or so from memory but I don't think there's a "rule" as such. Gets tedious pretty quickly though! Especially in the night.
I think I then switched to pampers. This time around, in keeping with my eco theme, I might try Fifi And Friends organic wipes. Also have no idea what brand of reusable nappies to buy!

I used cotton wool and water in the hospital because I was too scared of the nurses not too. I started using wipes as soon as I got home and never had any problems. There's so many nappy changes when they are tiny it was just easier to use wipes.

Have people thought about bottle or breast feeding yet? I'm going to try and breast feed again but really struggled with it last time.

@waitingonasmile I'm pretty determined to breast feed, I have nothing against bottle feeding as long as the baby is fed but is really like to breast feed unless there's a reason I can't once baby is here so getting some bits in for bottles as a precaution but that's it

I’m hoping to breast feed too
Have been reading loads and am expecting it to be tough for the first 4-8 weeks
Fingers crossed it gets easier after that

I won’t be trying to use reusable nappies, it would be lovely to do it but I doubt I’ll be able to

Think I’ll be using cotton wool and water for the first few weeks while at home. Probably will use water wipes when out and about though.

I'll probably take cotton wool to the hospital along with water wipes and then probably use water wipes mostly from then on to start with, nappies wise I think I'm going to go for the Aldi ones- they've been recommended to me by so many people!

Feeding wise, I'm going to give breastfeeding my best shot, but equally don't want to put too much pressure on myself so will buy a few bottles (I'm thinking mam bottles?) and a few pre made cartons of formula for if I get stuck.

And yes.. it's 2.40am and I'm awake for no reason 😕

@klaw87 I could have written your post exactly!

@millsbynight I definitely want to do reusable nappies--not least because it saves a lot of money, particularly with multiple children! I had no idea where to start (there are so many options, don't be put off by what they used to be like years ago), so I went to the Nappy Lady website and did her advice form. Should hear back soon! Might be useful for you too. For the first few weeks, until umbilical cord falls off and meconium is passed, I will use newborn disposables as the reusable ones are a bit fiddly to fold over at the front I think. Also planning to use Cheeky Wipes, which are reusable and can go in the same wash as the nappies, except will use eco wipes when out and about.

I'm definitely going to breastfeed if at all possible (and it's possible most of the time, with help). Northern Ireland has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in the world, so we get a lot of support and training before baby comes to encourage it. Comparatively, women in the US get basically a few weeks of maternity leave and the breastfeeding rates are still much higher, so I'm not sure what the reason is for such low rates here (considering formula feeding is such a recent invention).

klaw87 I feel your pain, I woke up at 2 this morning and just couldn’t sleep again. Tried not touching phone, then wind was really noisy, then baby started kicking (which I love so find it hard to switch off from)...just started to feel tired at 5:55- 5 minutes before my alarm. Suppose this is good training for next year!

Thanks for the advice on reusables and wipes etc. I’m the same will def have some disposable eco nappies on hand in the first couple of weeks and also want to try a couple of reusables before I go and buy a whole stack of them to see if they suit.

Thanks also on the notes on 24 week appointment I will say to DH no point coming unless he happens to be working from home that day.

So glad breast feeding has been brought up as I'm having a hard time deciding on what to do.

I'm completely conflicted over it. I'd like to for at least the first week or so because I did with ds. Unfortunately I had problems with him latching on so stopped after about two weeks, but he did get the colostrum. This time around I'm worried I'll have problems again.

I'm also very uncomfortable with the idea of feeding in public, that also includes at home with any visitors or extended family around.

I'm scared what'll happen to my breasts as last time wasn't good because I just stopped, so they went massive and then deflated like balloons!

I'm worried about DH feeling left out of feeding as it is a bonding time. Would I then be the only one to be doing night feeds? I know I can get a breast pump but I can't decide between hand pump or motorized etc and I feel like I'll spend my whole time either feeding or expressing.

I don't know how long expressed milk stays fresh for or anything like that so really need to do some reaseach.

Also I worry there might be issue with alternating between using a bottle for expressed milk and then breast feeding. I don't know if it will be better to just do one or the other, as in just express and feed by the bottle?

Totally confused and overwhelmed by the whole thing and I feel really crappy that I'm not more confident about it!

Maybebaby2 don't feel rubbish it's all so confusing and totally understandable you feel overwhelmed with it. I think in some areas/hospitals women just aren't supported with breast feeding.

DS was 5 weeks early and pretty small so I was told to supplement BF with formula in hospital. He also had latching problems and they were never resolved even after attending breast feeding clinic. I continued to try but mostly used pump to combination feed until 3 months and then gave up. I was miserable I had failed and struggled to get over it.

I had an electric and a manual one and personally preferred manual. The downsides I found to expressing were: having to offer bottle every feed then express and then wash breast pump and bottles. This every 3 hours was exhausting. My milk supply was never really established properly and didn't produce much. Short term for me it was worth it so DS got some breast milk but I couldn't have kept going.

I think people should do whatever works for their family and not feel any guilt about their choices.

@MissyJones80s I was exactly the same last night from about 12ish til 4 something 😩 trying desperately to keep my eyes open at work!

Funnily enough I had a dream I was breastfeeding after writing in here - must have been on the brain!

@Maybebaby2 this is my first and I'm currently clueless about breastfeeding and expressing etc - I've been given an electric pump which is great so I'm going to get some bottles etc so that I've got all options covered. I'm going to nct classes later this year which will cover breastfeeding and my hospital also offer classes about breastfeeding too - would your hospital offer anything like this so that you can go and get some more info? If not I'm sure the ladies on ere that have done it before can offer advice - my only advice would be to ultimately do what makes you feel most comfortable - baby will get fed one way or the other so please try not to put too much pressure on yourself xx

Any one else feeling light headed? A couple of times in the past few days I've had to cling onto a door frame or sit back down after getting up from seating or out of bed. Also generally feeling light headed during the day so getting up very slowly from my work desk etc. Feel slightly detached from my body feeling. I think it is just due to tiredness as had 4 bad nights with my toddler and a very busy weekend. Planning on very early bed tonight and hoping for a better night sleep

Wapphighwood, yes and not sure whether to ring the MW as I feel really rough today. Was certain I had the bug that's going round but thankfully was able to go back to bed do a bit this morning and am a lot better so suspect I was very tired.
I think low blood pressure can cause the symptoms you said about so may be worth ringing and also anaemia?

wapphighwood I felt light headed a bit yesterday (spaced out) back to normal today thankfully. Yesterday I had a Mars Bar and felt much better but will mention it to MW on Thursday when I go.

Also light headedness over here. I had a dodgy tummy yesterday about 3 times so thought that maybe it was just a result of too much time on the loo and resulting dehydration. However I then couldn't lie down in bed without feeling like I was being hung upside down so I had to sit up for a bit leaning against cushions.

Thanks waitingon and klaw the daft thing is I know I'm over thinking it and I shouldn't pressure myself but I can't help worrying so much! I need to do some reaseach and probably will be best getting stuff in for both bottle and breast and see how I go. I didn't want to waste money buying things if I don't end up using them, but if it'll help me to not stress then it's probably worth it. I'll also ask at my next midwife appointment if there is any more info or support on it than I've had so far.

Those feeling dizzy it could be blood pressure or low iron so probably best to get checked out just to be on the safe side.

Regarding breastfeeding I'm feel really low about that at the minute.. I'm only 22 and all alone in this pregnancy and will be with a newborn so there's no guarantee how I would have got on breastfeeding but I went to the doctors this morning and have been told I can't breastfeed :(

I've always suffered with bad eczema and the last couple of years (tmi) has been on my nipples/areoles. Since becoming pregnant I have been advised to stop using my steroid cream it's got worse. As I won't be able to return to using steroid cream while breastfeeding and the sores weep, they've said I can't even attempt to breastfeed :(

Shaaan I can completeley understand how you feel because my 1st pregnancy (which was 16 years ago) I was in exactly the same position as you are now. I was 22, alone, struggling to stay strong and when the breast feeding didn't work out I was extremely upset about it. I think that's why I'm scared now even after all these years (and completely different circumstances) because I don't want to feel like I failed at it again.
I'm really sorry they have told you that you can not try. I know it must be a huge dissapointment to you but in one way it will make things easier because you know for definite now how you will feed dc when they arrive. There's not the possibility of trying and it not working out which can be very upsetting.
For what it's worth when I changed ds onto formula he was perfectly happy, thrived and has grown into a lovely healthy young man, and I did it all by myself till he was 10.
Hope you feel a bit better about it all soon and also the other thing is your health is very important too, so the sooner you can start your eczema treatment again the better

@Maybebaby2 with regard to getting a pump and bottles etc - maybe its worth waiting til right near the time to buy them and then if you don't end up using them you could take them back to the shop?

It's easy for me to say as I haven't been through it yet, but it is NOT failing if you can't breastfeed - I can't stand all this pressure that is put on us, I know that if possible then breastfeeding obviously has its advantages over formula but I would say the majority of my friends children have been formula fed for one reason or another and they are absolutely fine and thriving! I'm a big believer that if mum is happy and comfortable then baby is more likely to be too - yes it is important to do as much as we can for our babies, but it is also just as important to keep ourselves happy and healthy too x

@maybebaby2 I'm really glad you mentioned feeling uncomfortable/nervous about breastfeeding in front of family/friends (although not glad you have this worry too of course!)

I can't imagine just getting my boob out to feed in front of my Dad! Or even worse, my father in law.

I was adamant I was going to breastfeed from the first time the midwife asked (at my booking in appointment, only 8 weeks!) but as more time passes I'm more and more unsure