The babies are here! September 2020

[LatteLover12]

Hi all 👋🏻

Here's a new thread so we can keep chatting through the sleepless nights and the many outfits they've already grown out of... 😄

@ShiningStarz mine was born at 8lbs 8oz and barely any of his newborn stuff fits he's in 0-3 month vests already I'm glad I didn't get much newborn clothes.
@emma278 thanks for the tip I actually had some stool softener tablets I took a couple yesterday and had lots of orange juice and managed to go before bedtime and oh my gosh I nearly sent out another birth announcement afterwards. I feel like a new woman today the constipation was putting pressure on my stitches. How many days in are you? I'm EBF too and it's been tough having the feeding responsibility just on me. I have attempted to express but for some reason I had an easier time expressing before I had baby than I do after. I asked midwife and she said cuz I've just had surgery etc and body is exhausted it's normal to not be able to use the pump yet I just need to roll with it and keep feeding baby whenever he wants it. I gave in and let him have a dummy last night and it gave me a few hours (yes HOURS) peace as I felt he was just using me as one? Like he would motion to feed then be asleep within seconds on my boob so not hungry at all just wanting to suck. I know they say not to give them one as it can cause nipple confusion but I got some sleep out of it and he is feeding fine today - I won't give it him in the day time I just need a break sometimes. Fingers crossed you can find something that works for you and little one soon. Remember it's super early days and breastfeeding IS harder than anyone ever tells you - but we've just got to power through these first few weeks.

@emmy2020b congratulations 😍🎉 hopefully you can get home soon x

Awww @Emmy2020b another princess named Sienna 😃 congrats xx

@emma278 I find BF uncomfortable!! When she latches, sometimes she'll fall asleep and it's heavy holding their head for ages! I couldn't do it exclusively. I'm happy with 2 expressed bottles a day, 2 BF and the test formula. It's working for us.

@Emmy2020b congratulations 💐 glad it all went well 😊

@flameprincess im also ebf and sometimes giving the dummy. Im worried about nipple confusion but she's definitely using me as a dummy sometimes and my nipples need a break. when I leave her with my husband he needs the dummy to settle her to sleep, or if she starts crying in the car at the back with my other kids, we'll give her the dummy. With my first baby I was so worried about nipple confusion that I waited until it was too late and she wouldn't take it. I gave up bf at 6 weeks anyway as I couldn't cope anymore. She wanted the breast every hour night and day 😖. I didn't breastfeed my second baby at all and he slept like a dream from birth, feeding every 4 hours night and day and slept through at 3 months old.

Breastfeeding is definitely harder. I hope I'll manage to stick with it a bit longer this time but sometimes I wonder why I'm putting myself through this 😑🙄

Aaah it's so hard isn't it - we put ourselves through it because we know it's so good for them but there does come a point where you need to add up the pros and cons. I would like to go the full 6 months if possible but I certainly won't beat myself up if I can't make it that far.

What doesn't help is being surrounded by people who FF their babies trying to offer you 'advice' about 'getting baby into a routine' and I want to scream BF doesn't work like that - piss off hahaha I don't mind how anyone feeds their baby but don't try and give me tips when you had a different journey grrr.

I managed about 4 months with DS1 but he never latched properly unless I wore a shield and I stopped at 4 months for my own sanity was driving me mad putting the shields on, them getting wet and slipping off and us having to try get the suction going again. Thankfully DS2 has latched to me without them so we are off to a better start already

When is best time to start routine?

We are bathing little one 2 times a week (top n tail everyday). Was thinking I'll start the nighttime daily bath when she's a month old, Is that too soon?

We’ve already moved onto formula feeding, breast feeding just wasn’t working for us and she was screaming and screaming non stop. It’s so tough and it’s such a personal decision but I’m a very firm believer in fed is best.

We’ve also given in today with the dummy. I was a bit apprehensive about giving her one, I remember nights with my older DD where I would be up and down putting the dummy back in whenever she would lose it but this little one definitely needs that sucking motion to get to sleep. We’ve been having to make her bottles just so she could have an ounce or so and fall back to sleep. I’m so exhausted so really hoping the dummy helps tonight 😴

Hi ladies, sorry to hear some of you have been struggling with breast feeding. Baby and I are still going with it but it is relentless. I was up for 4 hours last night 😴 I think because I fed my other two for about a year each I can see the longer term when it doesn't hurt and we are in a routine - that's what keeps me going!

I'm just back from a return trip to hospital. The community midwife came out this morning and found I had a temperature. She tried to remove my staples but it was so painful I cried and she stopped.
I had to have them removed with gas and air (and a lot of tears) but at least they're out now. On top of that, because I had a new temperature I had to have another Covid swab just to add insult to injury!

Anyway, I'm home now, it's much less painful and we're going to light the fire for the first time when our take away arrives. I'm just exhausted by it all & cant wait to be pain free.

Totally agree @flameprincess ,
yes fed is best definitely @CookieBlue 🤞 the dummy works for you tonight
Sorry to hear you've been in pain lately @LatteLover12 i hope you'll be painfree very soon. Have they given you something for the pain?

@ShiningStarz ill be starting a bedtime routine at around 1 month i think

Hope your ok @LatteLover12 sounds awful but so glad she stopped and you went to the hospital. We did takeaway and lit the fire last night too! Bliss!!
@CookieBlue you have to do what works for you. My little girl sometimes latches and sometimes doesn't. So frustrating cause hate hearing her hunger screams!! My DP hid the dummy from me lol knowing fine well I'd prob give it to her! He wants to wait until she's up a bit.
Thanks @Lilice I thought 4 weeks would be good time to start too although I'm reading & weeks prob better!

Hi everyone, and congrats to those who've had their babies already and good luck to those that haven't. I had an unplanned section on Thursday and little one arrived safely. We've not been able to put him down for naps as he seems rather full of mucus, which I think is due to the section. Is anyone else having this problem please, and what did you do? Struggling to get 2-4 hours sleep each at the moment as he doesn't like lying down and worried about him choking on the mucus.

Also, so worried about taking the wound dressing off/getting an infection/general recovery. Eek!

I feel like a new woman @ShiningStarz! Still got general abdo pain but it was like instant relief to have them out & ive been much more mobile since coming home. Phew!

Hello @Josvie all my babies have been section babies and I know what you mean about the mucus (it is totally normal). When my DS was born he had it quite bad so we bought a nasal sucker. Sounds as disgusting as it is I'm afraid.

You can get them on amazon or in Boots and it just helps you to clear anything that's in their nose. Definitely worth a try!

@Josvie I brought this up with the health visitor and midwife. Wev been having house calls as soon as we were home from the hospital.
They suggested saline drops, I brought the calpol ones from boots suitable from newborn. Put them in twice a day. I was going to try bouncing her in my gym ball to help clear it.
Also put our snuz pod next to me on recline position to help her breath - health visitor said you can put towel under the sheet to create same effect in any baby basket etc
Also take little one into bathroom and close door and run hot shower and let them inhale steam. Haven't tried this yet as our little one is definitely better. She's sneezing too so hopefully shifting it on her own. Hope that helps x

Thanks so much for the tips @lattelover12 and @shiningstarz I'll try those. It seems to be more in his throat than nose so I'll ask the midwife about the drops. Definitely the towel, I keep reading conflicting info about propping them up but he's definitely not comfortable flat.

Hope your stitches pain is now a distant memory, sounds horrible. Thanks again x

Glad you’re in less pain now @LatteLover12 sounds horrendous you poor thing!

@Josvie hope it doesn’t last too long for your little one. The nurse who visits us also recommended having them in the bathroom while you shower for the steam but I haven’t tried it either - I wear glasses so am blind coming out of the shower pretty much and didn’t want to risk accidentally stepping on him or something! I tripped over the dog when I was leaving the bathroom just this week and he’s much more visible than the baby!

Thanks @Sara7455 that's an easy one to try today, thanks!

@Josvie my little one was full of mucus. He had breathing issues immediately and had to go on oxygen and have suction to get the mucus out. The first night midwife told me to put him on his side to help him breath. I know they don't generally advise it but maybe worth trying in the day when you can keep an eye?

I'm sorry been off the thread. Ed has awful reflux and I've struggled to put him down for Days. We've got some gaviscon from GP which is helping thank god! I'm still expressing, his latch is too painful still. He's a very hungry boy but I'm keeping up with him for now. May start a bottle of formula at bedtime though so I can get a break from my milking machine!

Managed an hour walk at the woods today with the carrier. Was lovely and now I'm hoping to keep up with so walking each day! Maybe to the coffee shop!

Hope everyone is ok? X

Thanks @ChipsAreLife a midwife visited today and was really helpful. She said to give it a day or so and it should pass, so we shall see. It will be so much easier once we can lay him down flat. Glad you've been able to get out walking - how old is Ed now? That sounds promising! I have a sling but unsure when to start using (not now, day 3 only so very sore still).

How did the 10 daily injections feel for people? My arm aching from them, I think I need to switch to the stomach site. Ouch!

@Josvie my injections are in my stomach and I'm finding the whole area so sore where DH is doing them. My section scar is healing well though.

@ChipsAreLife hope your little one is much better now with the gaviscon. Poor little thing. Walk to coffee feels amazing!! Wev done it a few times now and it's bliss!! Can't believe how far I can walk without needing to pee!!! Haha I forgot what that was like lol
How much are you getting each time you express?? I get a good 120 ml (15 mins per boob) first express but then half that for the others in the day. Although Iv only managed 3 per day! She won't let me put her down and if my partner isn't here it's hard to express anymore. Also need hands to do washing, bottles, cook lol

@Sara7455 I'm blind too!!! I was actually just gunna turn shower on and Stand with her in bathroom as opposed to actually being in the shower ..

I'm unsure when to use sling too, wev the ergo baby which is supposed to be suitable from newborn as it has the insert. How does your little one like it? Wev had her out in pram few times and some times she's fine and other times she'll cry and not settled! When she's taken out and held she almost smiles lol like she knows she's being a rascal!!!!!

@ShiningStarz that’s a sensible idea, I blame baby brain for not thinking of it myself, ha!

We’ve started Wren in his ergobaby carrier now (basically as soon as he was over the 3.2kg minimum weight). Our nurse said to try it in the house or on a short walk (20-30mins) first and that as long as they can adjust their head if they want to so it’s not trapping chin to chest and cutting off the airway (More a premature baby problem I think than term babies anyway) they should be fine. Wren screams a bit being wrestled into it sometimes but once we’re all strapped in and on the move he falls asleep and I’m free to do non buggy friendly walks or just get on with things. Can’t pump with him attached but at least you can cook etc if you want to!

@Sara7455 that's great to know. Our little girl was 7lb 2oz at her last weigh in a week ago so all good to go with the carrier! Might give it a go as soon as figure out how to put it on lol

HI Ive been reading along in the background. Really struggling today. Last night was a tough one with not much sleep, he seemed to have a sore stomach. I ended up propping him up on my pillow and rubbing his stomach for half an hour until he pooped and then he seemed to calm down a bit.

Just feeling quite distant from my husband - when we had our eldest it brought us so close together, like we were a team. But this time it feels like I end up dealing with the baby while he sorts the toddler and it's like we are living separate lives in the same house. Think hormones aren't helping but it's really getting me down today

I had a bit of a hard time yesterday evening too as my baby girl wouldn't let me put her down in her moses basket. She would be fast asleep on my chest after a feed and would wake up 5 minutes after being put down.
I know how you feel @Lazydaisydaydream as my husband is the one looking after my other two at the moment. He does the school run, the baths, dinner, bedtime, basically everything while I look after the baby or sleep. I miss spending time with him and my children but it's just a phase and before we know it, we'll be back to normal. I also miss my bump!!! Anyone else??