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... 😄

Final roll call
19 boys 17 girls 💖💙

@Sara7455 15/6/20 💙
@Bubble29 1/8/20 💖💙
@Lorna198 24/8/20 💙
@Laura1348 26/8/20 💙
@Piper1878 28/8/29 💙
@annie1994 1/9/29 💙
@ChipsAreLife 4/9/20 💙
@HugeAgeGap 4/9/20 💖
@Smilymami 5/9/20 💙
@UrsulaSings 5/9/20 💙
@Sunshinexx95 7/9/20 💖
@MostlyAmbridgeandcoffee 8/9/20 💖
@ShiningStarz 10/9/20 💖
@Roxy8203 11/9/20 💙
@glasha87 11/9/20 💖
@emma278 13/9/20 💖
@liquoricecravings 14/9/20 💖
@sianyflewog 15/9/20 💖
@LatteLover12 16/9/20 💙
@CookieBlue 16/9/20 💖
@CNovittBolden 16/9/20 💙
@Lazydaisydaydream 16/9/20 💙
@Miltonj 17/9/20 💖
@Chanel05 17/9/20 💖
@Lilice 17/9/20 💖
@Sunsage 18/9/20 💙
@Cox2020 18/9/20 💙
@flameprincess 22/9/20 💙
@Emmy2020b 24/9/20 💖
@WillowT 26/9/20 💖
@MooseWL 28/9/20 💙
@OrDis 2/10//20 💖
@Margo34 4/10/20 💖
@pangolin84 5/10/20 💙
@NeuroMama 6/10/20 💙

Thanks @Lorna198 wonderful not see 😊

To see!!!!

Ah how lovely @Lorna198 look how far we've all come! 🥰

Yes, @ChipsAreLife that's the same for me; they're combining he six week check with the 8 week inoculations so we don't see anyone now until the middle of November. They've even stopped the baby clinic so he won't get weighed again now which I find really sad.

I checked my scar again yesterday (and made DP have a look 🤮) and it's definitely improving but definitely still weeping. We're back at the hospital this week because baby needs blood tests as he's still a bit jaundiced so I think I'll mention it then.

Hope everyone is doing well. Lots of love 💕

Hi ladies, wondering if I could have your help! I'm really struggling. I've tried so hard to stay positive but I just feel like I'm failing. It's ridiculous, the health visitor on Friday said M was doing great...healthy and growing well. No concerns but I can help feeling I'm missing something vital and I'm going to fail her! It's really hard to describe.

It doesn't help that she is not sleeping on her own at night. We've tried everything but she has to sleep in one of us. My DH goes back to work tomorrow so god knows what's going to happen. People say she has to learn to sleep on her own and to leave her to self settle but she doesn't seem to and it gets unbearable...we're talking 10-15 mins, not just after 5 mins I gave up. I also feel I'm not doing enough when she's awake...what do you do to entertain them?

I think part of the problem is that I'm expecting perfection from both me and her yet she is only 2 weeks old. I would prefer we had a routine but I know it's impossible at this age. I just feel I know nothing, I feel there is little support and I'm just a terrible mother. 😢 Sorry, I just needed to say something

Oh @WillowT you are not failing! Charlie is about the same age and he won't sleep in his crib either! He much prefers to be on me and despite my best efforts that's where he goes.

He's my third baby and they've all been the same; trust me, it's not forever.

I think at this age it's easier to go with the flow and not worry about what other people say they 'should' be doing. You'd go mad if you didn't get any sleep! Have a google of the fourth trimester.

My DP is back to work now too and we don't plan to change anything. If it gets too much for him he'll sleep on the sofa but we're not there yet.

If you're feeling generally down then do speak to your HV, they've seen it all before (and worse) and they're there to help.

Keep talking to us, we're all just powering through (I'm mostly fuelled by coffee and chocolate orange tbh).

@WillowT you are not failing and I know exactly how you feel and felt the same in the early weeks of having W home. I’ve been lucky that he sleeps in his own bed overnight at least but I remember feeling the exact same sense of failing and not doing enough with him while he was awake (and crying to DH about it). Most days he was fed and in a clean onesie and that was about it - if I was fed and dressed too then it was a bonus! I feel like you imagine (or at least I did) that everyone else is doing baby sensory activities and tummy time and whatever else the internet suggests as tiny baby activities but in reality in the early days Like @LatteLover12 says we’re just powering through and keeping these tiny humans alive.
Definitely speak to HV if you’re worried but you’re doing a great job by the sounds of it! Keep talking to us - you’ll see we’re all just muddling through!

@willowT our babies are a couple of days apart and I haven't even thought about doing anything to entertain J when he's awake. (At the moment if he's awake he tends to be feeding tbh.) It takes us until about 11am to make it downstairs most days tbh, I've been having my breakfast about 11am when I realise I've been feeding a baby all night without eating for over 12 hours. My partner is also back at work tomorrow and I don't know what I'll do without the extra pair of hands! I think they're too young to need anything other than food/sleep until they get a bit more alert so don't worry!
I'm feeling anxious about him being weighed again tomorrow as they've not been since Thursday so I really hope he's gained weight. I've been trying to top up feed where I can but he's often unwilling to take the bottle after a boob feed which makes me think he's clearly full and there's not a lot more I can do!
I've been for 3 walks since he was born, and my only goals this week are to walk every day with him even if it's 15 minutes round the block.
Don't put too much pressure on yourself I'm sure you're doing a wonderful job on very little sleep! X

Also do you have any support network (friends/family) nearby that could come over in the day this week just to help out whilst you maybe take a nap?

@WillowT also echoing that you are definitely not failing! Our little girl is 5 weeks this week.
For the first 2 weeks we took turns to stay awake downstairs as we had to hold her all night!! I was literally watching films on Netflix all night!!! Now though that she is just over 4 weeks, the last week and a half have been better and getting better every time. Now she has progressed to sleeping in her next to me snuzpod for 2 hours at a time after a feed. Before she wouldn't even settle for 5 minutes before screaming the house down!
Re. Games / play non existent during the day first 4 weeks. It's only now I show her a baby first faces book with mirror and she will look at it for few mins. We try and do yummy time during day on our chests. She hates being on her own during day and won't stay in her Moses basket anymore than 15 minutes!!

At night I put her in snuzpod when I know she's asleep and that might help you? Rock her asleep after feed and then put her down.

You are doing a super job, please don't worry. I literally cried daily for first 3 weeks!!! I can't take her out on my own longer than 30 minutes as one time she cried I had to walk back holding her and pushing the pram. Take little one out after a feed and happy change and try short 15 min walk to begin with xx

Would anyone be interested in a private Facebook group to continue with our baby chat? Or everyone happy here? Just an idea as I find the mumsnet app quite frustrating 😊
Happy to continue here but let me know what everyone thinks

@MooseWL I’d be keen for a private Facebook group. Would be nice to keep having you ladies to chat to and Facebook is much easier than this.

@WillowT im sure you are doing a great job! Having a newborn is overwhelming. Eva is my third baby and im still finding it hard. She wont be put down at all during the day. She used to sleep in her moses or swing but now nada so i have to carry her all day long otherwise she gets upset. It's exhausting, i have to use a sling in the house, but I know it won't last forever and when it gets too much I ask my husband to take over. Your baby is too young to be learning anything. She'll sleep on her own when she's ready, dont listen to what others are saying. You have to do whatever works for you. Have you considered cosleeping?
@MooseWL good idea about the Facebook group I'd be up for it

Thanks @Lorna198 I cant believe all the babies are here now 🥰

Thanks ladies, it's what I needed to hear!! Glad to know I'm not alone

@MooseWL yes, I'd be up for that! Thanks

@Lorna198, lovely to see!❤️

@WillowT, my little lady is now sleeping in her Snuzpod (4 weeks) but she much prefers our arm - some nights she is keen to stay up and chat with us and if she happens to fall asleep awakes immediately upon hitting the Snuzpod mattress 😂

Both of us have had an interesting few weeks since she was born - I’ve been sick and she also had hospital visits - so I feel you with regards the maternal guilt, but all we can do is our best.

At two weeks we were doing nothing but feeding and changing her, she was very sleepy too so not much room for entertaining but it was pure survival!

At the moment she is loving her playmat - I’ve popped it on top of the Dihult pouffe from IKEA so it’s more comfortable and she’s so content lying there - mind you, her favourite part is looking at the baby in the mirror 😄. I bought the Disney Baby Finding Nemo one as it’s quite relaxing - under water noises and blue and green lights. I even felt bad putting her there for a few minutes as I felt like I wasn’t doing enough myself to entertain her 😐 - we really beat ourselves up unnecessarily.
Anyway, at two weeks they are perfectly content with having their basic needs met and looking at you 💕
Does anyone have any tips for introducing a soother to a baby who spits it out? I may have to try a few other brands - we bought a Nuk and Mam ones but I hear Philips Avent and Tommie Tipee are good?

Facebook page would be great! ❤️

@glasha87 no tips on the soother I’m afraid but will say that W used to spit out his hospital issue one all the time and we gave him a Tommie tippee one I had in the house the other day and it was almost a struggle to get him to give it back. Every baby is different though unfortunately so I guess it’s trial and error but no guarantee she’ll like any of them.

Hope you’re feeling much better now!

There was a Facebook page from the beginning but not sure if the organiser is accepting new people. @Roxy8203 would you know?
If not I'd be up for joining a new private group :)

I got this as a gift, suitable from 3 months. I know other people who's little ones love this! Can't wait to try it

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jestilo-Inflatable-Tummy-Time-Water/dp/B08C7QM7N9/ref=mpssa112_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=tummy+time+water+mat&qid=1602472385&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExRlNMM1dJUk9STFY0JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzkwMjI2MjEwVFNIUE9VWU8yRyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNTQ1ODc2MzU0WFZXMlpTQjJGNSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX3Bob25lX3NlYXJjaF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

Thank you @Sara7455 ❤️ All good now, hope you guys are too.
I reckon she might just not be that into them but I’ll try out a few other bands and admit defeat if they aren’t successful! I used to love mine, think I had it until I was four 🙈

@ShiningStarz, I’ve heard good things about those - it looks a bit more fun than just being plonked on your tummy too. Must get it!

Woke up to full on smiles this morning! So exciting! We’ve had mini practice smiles about a week but this morning was like his whole face lit up when I fetched him out of bed!

@glasha87 I had mine until I was about 4 as well- ha! See how you get on with her I guess, there’s so many brands out there to try but, same as with the bottles, I Feel like they all make the same marketing claims and I can’t really tell which is true!

@Sara7455, that’s so cute and exciting! I really can’t wait until she’s doing the same - you can’t beat those gummy smiles ❤️😍 My girl has just *fallen asleep having looked at me quizzically for a while 🧐

*In my arms, it’s been a night/morning of not being fond of the Snuzpod!

That’s very true. I’ll have to set up a little tasting menu of soothers 😂

@glasha87 love the idea of a soother tasting menu 😂

He’s also currently refusing to go back in the snuzpod - unclear why it was fine overnight and isn’t now. He’s asleep on my leg instead. Hoping to make the transfer so I can shower and look like I’ve got it together before his hospital appointment this morning 🙈

@Sara7455 they never sleep where you need them too!! It's like they know. We call M the little dictator as we are totally at her whim where she sleeps and what we can do! Hope the hospital appointment goes well :)

@Sara7455 sounds so lovely, can't wait to see those smiles