Due August 2021 - The Final Countdown continues...

[Daffodil21]

Continuing the previous thread!

I'll let @PurplePansy05 post the updated list

@Daffodil21 jealous at the sleep you got but not because I don't have the opportunity, I'm just finding the transition to sleeping with a baby in the room difficult and lay awake. Like I've done since 4am today. I'm a light sleeper anyway and am always on the listen out for something she needs. I punted OH out the bed so he can get a proper sleep and I'll nap later.

No advice re the sleeping in cot. That's what we've always done with Rowan from the start but if she can't settle I either feed her to sleep and she sleeps next to me on the bed (no covers /pillow etc obvs) or she will go to sleep on OHs chest then transfer to cot with lots of shushing and white noise and soothing. Doesn't always work of course.

For those boob feeding at night, do you always burp? I would always wind during day but at night if its a stealth feed to comfort and get to sleep you don't want to then wake them with burping.

Midwife said you don't need to burp a breast fed baby at all, let alone at night but I've stopped listening to her!

Great to hear how everyone is getting on and all the advice around feeding etc, really helpful to have in the back of my mind.

I need to sort bags out again today and add in some items for baby seeing as the weights been estimated quite small (appreciate this isn’t accurate) however for those who have ever been induced, do I need to pack anything else than the standard? I’m thinking of taking a spare bag to leave in car as I’ve heard induction can take up to 4/5 days and although husband can leave he can also stay throughout as well have our own room so don’t want to pressure him to have to come home etc. I’m thinking just a few more snacks for him and some extra clothes for me if I’ll be there a while but equally don’t know what the ‘norm’ is of what to wear whilst being induced.

@Ready2020 I was in our bedroom alone - DH was downstairs with the baby so I wasn't on the listen out. It was lovely. I'm a light sleeper too but DH isn't, and he snores. So while we're settling I think we'll take it in turns with one of us getting a proper sleep alone. Hopefully we'll have figured out something better by the time he goes back to work 😂 normally I sleep with earplugs and an eye mask so trying to sleep the night before on alert for DS while DH was snoring was just impossible. My mum had gone home now so the spare room is free which gives us another option at least.

midwife told me you don't need to burp after bf too. Any non FTMs shed any light?!

I thought we only bought minimal newborn outfits and expected to have t go out and buy some more, but there's already quite a lot that will never get worn because he's so big!

@Daffodil21 Yes I told DH to take him for a test considering he’s the reason he needed one. It’s already come back negative which I knew it would, but he’s not at nursery until next week now 🤦🏼‍♀️

Also in terms of sleeping in the cot next to the bed, Isaac doesn’t like it either! He only likes sleeping on someone. But downstairs he sleeps in the Moses basket fine most the time? I don’t get it! And well done with your BF break through.

@BertieBotts totally understand, to be honest I’m just doing it because I remember the midwife and health visitor asking how many times he feeds and I’d be clueless in a sleep deprived state! I like how this adds up the time as well, but I’m totally playing it by when baby is hungry or showing cues.

@Ready2020 I always burp at night but I haven’t managed a stealth feed yet 😂

@BertieBotts I didn’t know that about huckleberry! Fuming as I loved it with my daughter for sleep. I’ve re downloaded it so it will be the new version I’m sure. So annoying!!

I always burp after feeding but was also told its not necessary which i think is a load of bollocks quite frankly!

Oh @Magik01 I feel for you, your DH didn't think, did he! Bless you. FWIW I felt shit last night too. DS was really grizzly in the afternoon which is not like him. We fed a lot, lots of cwtches, but I am getting pretty convinced it's something to do with his digestive system, reflux or colic, or both, and it makes him uncomfortable. DH is much better than me at burping him but in the eve he went to bed and I was still feeding DS. We did well, I settled him in his cot but half an hour later he was screaming his head off and wouldn't really take the boob, he was pushing it away wriggling lots and looking uncomfortable when lying down which tells me it's his tummy. He's still so, so hiccupy as well.

So anyway I was at my wits end and just shouted at DH for leaving me with all this and prioritising his own comfort and I refused to continue on my owm, told him to use my expressed milk and settle him and leave me alone. I was obviously upset, but also honestly so tired and hit a brick wall.

Woke up at 8 today typically not feeling more rested and more upset that I didn't look after DS. Then they casually strolled in, DS in the deepest sleep, apparently had all the burps then all of my expressed milk and then he was asleep for 4 hrs in the carrycot which he LOVES Seems it's only me who gets to deal with the shit times.

Magik re Haakaa type pumps, I know what you're saying about attaching to the other breast. I only do it when feeding in the rugby position which I do a lot. Otherwise the pump rests on DS's legs or body and it's either difficult to attach as you say or we run a risk of him kicking and detaching it. It works beautifully in the rugby position, slightly resrs on my bf pillow which helps keep it in place. It is also 100 times better when attached to the other breast during BF than otherwise (collects far more), must be the oxytocin. xx

@PurplePansy05 it’s so hard when they’re grizzly. We get that in the evenings which is pretty typical witching hour stuff. He gets a really sore tummy too but I find doing bicycle legs and pushing his knees against his tummy helps. He was farting up a storm this morning 😂

Re burping breastfed babies- I've never heard of not doing it! I think all babies need burping, sometimes multiple times, and that has been my experience. I think in the very early days you do need to burp them in the night but if they are feeding when they are fast asleep, they are very relaxed and take in very little air, so won't need burping. Once they are a bit older they definitely don't need any burping in the night.

@wimbler Yes, DH does these tricks too, they work wonders on DS! They have a special burp and shart bond 🤣

Don't listen to the MWs telling you not to burp, it's utter BS, sorry!

Leo doesn't like his next to me either. He is good sleeping in the carrycot though. Much prefers being cuddled up and held or snoozing next to me on a flat mattress when I'm awake. Which isn't helpful 🙄

The swaddles didn't work at all. He hated them and somehow managed to wriggle out of them and cover his face with one of them even though DH and I both tried swaddling him exactly as per the instructions 🤦🏼‍♀️ Off to sell them on Fb Marketplace...

But we have some progress. I've just given up and put him in the John Lewis 0-6 sleeping bag and actually it's not too big and he loves it! He's fast asleep in his next to me ❤

I think I mentioned before that have the Snuza Hero breathing monitor. I know there are mixed views generally re monitors but I found it works very well and does give me peace of mind. It has a green light which flickers if the baby's breathing is fine. It helps to open one eye every now and then and see it through his clothes in the night. It's sensitive, it's gone off a couple of times for us when DS managed to wriggle too much and the sensor couldn't detect his breathing, but it's not like a smoke alarm going off, it's gentle but loud enough for you to hear. And it is attached very well, it's just that my son is very, very wriggly. I still check on him regularly throighout thr night, but found the Snuza very helpful xx

@PurplePansy05 my husband was definitely giving of vibes of thinking he can settle DS in his crib and I can't (because he managed it once!). But he spent his night shift awake the whole time because DS wouldn't settle in his crib 🙊 I think he thought he'd be able to sleep on the sofa but he didn't 😂 now he knew why I've been awake the two nights before!

Tried DS in a sleeping bag, I think he likes it but I was hoping for a proper settle in it and in the crib.

I also have the snuza hero but haven't used it yet because his cord is kind of in the way. It seems a good one and much less gimmicky than a lot of others

@Ready2020 I try to burp every feed but mostly I don't get any burps up 🙈🙈

We are currently using the owlet sock, we got given it to test for a month to see what we thought.. I love it and definitely get more sleep with the reassurance of it monitoring her.. I'm not quite sure I'll be sure to give it back 😂

@Daffodil21 🤣 DHs are on a steep learning curve, aren't they!

We've used Snuza from day one, just attached it to left side of the nappy so it didn't touch the cord. It works perfectly fine as long as it touches the little tummy xx

@Smurf123 I heard fab things from two of my friends about the Owlet, so expensive though aren't they! xx

@PurplePansy05 I have to say I do really love it from the couple of weeks we have been using it so far! But it is an awful lot of money!! I'm not sure what we will do when the trial ends .. I wish it had been around with ds, at least if I was using it for more than one child I might be able to justify the cost more, in saying that I am incredibly grateful of the sleep it's currently allowing me so it's almost worth it's weight in gold for that!

Totally hadn’t considered baby monitors for this early stage! Good that they are giving you piece of mind 👍

We’re going to need a new thread soon! So many changes since this one started!!

Anyone else who's still pregnant finding it difficult to know what to do with themselves ?🥴

@lucyrp it's so hard waiting! I'm trying to rest and rewatching fav films but also baking a lot and taking walks. We went out to dinner last night as won't be able to for a while and that was lovely. Hope you find a way to pass the time!

@WolfMother326 I've spent the whole morning just sat watching tv but then I felt guilty I wasn't doing anything, got up and had some dinner now trying to drag myself out on a walk

@lucyrp it is hard waiting isn't it. I was doing a cross stitch for my sister. I didn't get to finish it though unfortunately 😂

@Ready2020 such a weird mindset to be in, it honestly feels like they're never coming out even though this is the closest we've come to meeting them. Feels like im stuck pregnant forever 😩🤣

Hi Ladies! Feels like I'm a little late to this party :) I only just discovered this August babies club. Im 39wks today (first pregnancy) and really hoping my contractions begin soon so I can meet my baby boy! This final leg of the journey sure does seem to stretch out

Also, did anyone manage to harvest colostrum? I've been trying on and off for the past week but haven't managed to get a single drop! I wonder if I should try after the baby is out and maybe take some syringes with me in my hospital bag. Any suggestions?

Welcome @MK0411 - @PurplePansy05 is your woman for harvesting colostrum!

No idea how you managed it Pansy - I tried in the hospital and couldn't get the stuff in the bloody syringe so gave up and had DS suck it off the nipple instead