Due August 2021 - Welcome to the World!

[PurplePansy05]

Welcome to the chattiest birth club on MN! Newcomers always welcome 💐

14 gorgeous new babies have joined us already, welcome to the world 💖💙🥳

@Smurf123 - Welcome to the world, baby Sophia 💖
@wimbler - Welcome to the world, baby boy 💙
@Jessicapebbles - Welcome to the world, baby Ebony💖
@Inmypjsagain - Welcome to the world, baby boy💙
@PurplePansy05 - Welcome to the world, baby Leo Alexander 💙
@WinterBabyof89 - Welcome to the world, baby Rosie 💖
@Winecoffeeteamum - Welcome to the world, baby Emily 💖
@Ready2020 - Welcome to the world, baby Rowan 💖
@Magik01 - Welcome to the world, baby Isaac 💙
@Hoares3 - Welcome to the world, baby Ellis 💙
@Daffodil21 - Welcome to the world, baby Elliot James 💙
@sarah13xx - Welcome to the world, baby Freddie 💙
@Biscuitcat - Welcome to the world, baby Rowan 💙
@Whatshouldbemyusername - Welcome to the world, baby Arya-Nyah 💖

Counting down until we welcome 20+ new arrivals:

@MrsB2019x - Induction w/c 9 August, Girl 💖
@Dia12 - EDD 8 August, Girl 💖
@Aaaaa1519 - EDD 13 August, Girl 💖
@Angelesque - C-section 16 August, surprise 💛
@lucyrp - EDD 16 August, surprise 💛
@livingwithbees - EDD 16 August, surprise 💛
@BertieBotts - EDD 16 August, Boy 💙
@WolfMother - EDD 17 August, Boy 💙
@Caz1226 - EDD 17 August, Boy 💙
@Millymay13 - C-section 17 August, surprise 💛
@RandomCatGenerator - C-section 19 August, surprise 💛
@Smallbean27 - EDD 19 August, surprise 💛
@Sheisfee - EDD 19 August, Girl 💖
@Alittlexmasmagic - EDD 22 August, surprise 💛
@LottSE20 - EDD 22 August, surprise 💛 @notinthestarsigns - EDD 23 August (but likely to be brought forward induction/C-section), surprise 💛
@Fran919 - EDD 25 August, surprise💛
@Ava50x - EDD 25 August, Boy 💙
@ame88 - EDD 28 August, Girl 💖
@HopefulB - EDD 29 August, surprise 💛

It's officially THE month! Watch this space! xx

Congratulations Lucy :)

Ava I'm sure you won't be the last :)

Alex has gone through 5 nappies, 3 outfits, 2 muslins and one king size bed sheet this morning. We're going to have to start calling him the very leaky caterpillar :o

His brother Leo is named after 2 very special people - DH's dad who sadly passed away when I was 6 months pregnant with him and one of DH's best men at our wedding who died the year before in a road accident.

We had run out of significant men to honour with Alex though so we just chose a middle name we liked but weren't brave enough to use as a first name - Merlin :)

@lucyrp I think I wrote a congratulations yesterday then somehow managed not to post it! What a gorgeous name, and so glad you got the birth you wanted xx

@HopefulB lovely news! Welcome little Chloe 🥰

Rowan has been having some really tricky nights recently. I've had some wonderful support from a lactation consultant (would recommend to anyone struggling!), and am now feeding him without nipple shields, but it seems like overnight he's harder to settle than when I was using the shields and DH was doing one feed with expressed milk or formula - last night we hardly got any sleep. Does anyone know why that might be, or if there's anything we can do to help?

Congratulations @HopefulB !

@RandomCatGenerator we're just off out but I will post one later!

@HopefulB congratulations and welcome baby Chloe! So glad she's arrived safe and sound.

@lucyrp hope you get her to manage to latch at some point. Can you have a lactation consultant or someone check her for tongue tie? I had this with DS and he needed to have his TT snipped, he just couldn't latch without it... Hopefully won't be too long. Technically my due date today but according to my ovulation dates, I'm only due Saturday.

Alasdair arrived on 11 August at 37+4 7lbs 11oz after a 5 day induction due to large scan at 36 weeks and gestational diabetes/hypertension issues. After all that he was much smaller than predicted! He is perfect and has settled in so well to our family

@HopefulB congratulations!!!!! Hope you’re doing okay now and enjoying snuggles with Chloe 🥰

@lucyrp congratulations to you! I am so happy you got the birth you wanted and she is just gorgeous! How you doing now? Has she eaten? 💜

Thank you everyone about the carriers, I didn’t realise the 8 week rule either so we have time before I get one. I just put him in the bouncer as I do stuff and that seems to be working fine at the mo (@PurplePansy05 I remember 😂 I still don’t know if it’s worth it and I only have it because I was given one! And @Magik01 he weighs about 7lb 5oz now- perhaps a touch more? But he’s quite long, if that makes any difference- though I feel like everyone says their babies are long so I can’t tell if he actually is! I want to get him another bouncer too but it makes me smile because he looks like this little old man in an armchair 😂)

@Ready2020 I am awful for giving constant attention when his eyes are open because I read he’s too little to self settle, but I feel like I’m making a rod for my own back with this. If she seems happy enough then it should be fine to leave her, and I’ll take my own advice….!

@BertieBotts I read what you said to my husband- tbh he didn’t need it cos he’s great but I like to remind him because I do think it’s easy to forget? I’ve said this so often but you should really write a book 😂

@sarah13xx I understand! I got a bit grumpy that
My husband managed to drink his coffee hot… but he was on a work call on zoom and had made me the coffee… no logical for reason for me to be cross. Think it’s just tiredness and hormones!

@Whatshouldbemyusername sounds like you are doing great and she’s settled in well 😊

@Jessicapebbles she is just gorgeous! Sorry to hear about the reflux, makes me wonder about baby who’s a bit sicky and late afternoon seems very unsettled. I guess you need to speak to the dr before trying gaviscon! How’s your older daughter doing with the new addition? She is just so cute!

@purplepansy I missed Leo going to get checked, must have been so scary, no signs of a cold or anything now? So glad he’s okay, poor little munchkin! ❤️

@Mmr224 congratulations on little Alisdair!

@Ava50x oh I bet you can’t wait, really hope you get some movement soon so you can meet baby! Hope you’re not too uncomfortable though, I didn’t go beyond 39 weeks and that was painful enough on the pelvis!!!

I think we need to slow down with guests coming, we’ve had so many people round, I feel like I’ve only just recovered from the weekend and it’s Tuesday! I’m surprised how well I’m feeling post c section, I feel normal and really like I could exercise so I’m getting a bit impatient to get going.

Baby only had 2 wakes ups last night so I’m feeling far more rested, he even let me sleep til 9am! My eyes look less purple now 😂

Hope you’re all well (sorry for long post!) xx

@Inmypjsagain me too post c section. I genuinely feel like I could drive and go for a swim. Obviously not going to yet though! Need to check with the insurance company to see when I can actually drive again!

@Inmypjsagain no she hasn't latched on yet😫 been trying to express colostrum onto a teaspoon still but gave her a couple of mouthfuls of formula before as I just wanted her to have had something. I'm feeling really anxious today and don't know whether its ro do with the gas and air, the fact I haven't eaten much or that I'm struggling to feed or all 3🥺

@Ava50x I had a midwife out last night who stayed for an hour trying all sorts. No tongue tie noticeable atm, she sucks fine if you put your little finger in too🤷🏼‍♀️ I would defo go by your own dates!

@biscuitcat thank you! Xx

@PurplePansy05 aww that's lovely 🥰xx

@Inmypjsagain @Daffodil21 I'm well too and dying to do some HIIT to strengthen my core! I feel I actually have the energy to exercise despite the obvious tiredness. I miss exercise sooo much! Walks just aren't enough for me now. But we all have around 3 weeks left now till we can go back to normal, it'll fly by. Can't wait! I booked Leo in to attend newborn sensory classes next month once I can drive. It's early but I'd like us to get out a bit and try it in case we get locked down for winter again (I hope not).

@BertieBotts I said the same as @Inmypjsagain before, you could write a book or run a YT channel. You could be on MN expert panel testing baby items and writing reviews. There are regular MN review threads and pages on here. How does one go about submitting your candidature??

Leo is well, thankfully. Been a very good boy for me today, DH is working away which I was a bit anxious about after what happened earlier this week, but we're good 💙 xx

@lucyrp you're not alone in not being able to feed. I had to give formula at the hospital too because he wouldn't latch. Oddly enough he managed to get a bit straight after CS but hasn't ever since. He still won't latch so I'm expressing and combi feeding with formula. We're all happy this way, but if you do want to EBF then take all the support that's offered. If it doesn't work out it doesn't mean you're a failure at all!!

Can I check who is EBF? I'm still going but it's tough. My nipples still hurt and every day I have to chose to do it over again.

How are you getting on with it?

@Ready2020 I'm ebf and finding my breasts are a lot more sore this time round, not really nipples here but the rest of it is just sore or achy I don't know why. I really struggle to express at all so I won't try anymore I use what I catch in breast shells from let down for adding the colic drops to in a bottle but dd takes a long long time to drink it even though it's never more than about 30ml at most so I'm reluctant to change to formula incase she struggles taking the milk from a bottle. Plus I keep reminding myself how much easier it is for me to just latch her on during the night rather than go downstairs to make formula several times a night. I'd ideally like to get to 6months ebf, ill be honest too part of that is because we have booked flights to visit the inlaws at Christmas and if she is still ebf there are no arguments over how much milk, how often to give a bottle, what temperature the bottle will be, why she won't just drink regular milk, why she isn't eating solids yet - (I anticipate I'll still get that one mind you) but at least they won't be able to criticise the reason why her first solid food isn't Rye bread with pate or the like.

@PurplePansy05 I did baby sensory with ds from 4 weeks as I'd won a set of sessions off a fb competition at the time.. he enjoyed it (though he slept through a lot of it - despite sleeping through a lot of it if he was upset outside the classes if we played their opening song he would calm down almost instantly!) I want to take Sophia too but I'm not sure I'll be able to fit it round ds preschool session though

@Ready2020 I am. Hard work. Nipples hurt too, I use Lansinoh cream after every feed and their breast pads (very soft), I couldn't go on without them. Circular massage with warm water helps too, I do it every time I shower. Sometimes breasts feel heavy and uncomfortable even though I use Haakaa a lot. Electric pump still doesn't suit me at all, HV couldn't make it work on me either. So I'm doing feeds around the clock atm, DH tops up with whatever I expressed using a jug, but it's not much. DS still not back to birth weight like I said earlier. If it doesn't improve, I'll have to top him up with formula for a few weeks from next week. It's a tough adjustment, I'm having to plan when to go out, have guests or do stuff when he's not feeding which is a big change. Hormones all over the place and it shows in all sorts of ways, from sweats to taking the feelings of tiredness and hopelessness as to DS not putting weight on fast enough/me being constantly needed and feels like never enough sometimes, out on DH. Luckily he doesn't take this to heart.

I am only perservering because I love the actual bf when DS cuddles up and stares at me, it feels so special and I forget about the difficulties! xx

@PurplePansy05 I know what you mean about the app. I think I’m going to stick with it until he’s a few weeks old, it’s just handy to have to tell the health visitor what feeds he’s having etc and I think I do get a bit obsessed with tracking things once I start so I secretly quite like it I think 🙈 It doesn’t tell me anything he ‘should’ be doing or anything so far so it’s purely for feeds, nappy changes and sleeping times.

@Inmypjsagain 😂 no way, how dare he haha

@Smurf123 rye bread and pate! Oh my. That is true about during the night. I've never done formula so I can't appreciate the work it takes. The damage to my nipples seems to have gone but the nips themselves just are sore all over with any sort of touch. Even clothes on them can be sore. It's really getting me down.

@PurplePansy05 gosh that sounds tough. I couldn't do without my pump. I tried the hakkaa but it just didn't suit me. I found my sweats have improved but that feeling of hopelessness and overwhelming feeling of being unable to cope hasn't improved. But then it depends on how well I've slept or how grouchy Rowan is being. She's started to be grumpy for no reason I can work out and I'm hoping it's not the start of colic.

If you do start formula let us know how it goes. My poor OH has to deal with my moods too plus my accusations of how he seems to be dealing with it all better than I am. But then he doesn't need to do night times!

EBF here. I think I've been really lucky this time though as touch wood, no problems at all this time. Nipples are feeling a bit sensitive but not sore and although I blagged some lansinoh samples from the midwife before I left hospital I haven't actually used them. He hasn't been weighed since leaving hospital but he's now doing so many wees, poos and little possets that I'm in no doubt he's getting plenty of milk. I don't think I've done anything magic to make it easy though - possibly I've been a bit more firm and confident about correcting the latch from the start than I might have been first time around. I've been quite proactive with putting him to the breast in terms of if he wants to suck I feed him, no matter how recently he last fed. We are using a dummy but I tend to use that either at night when he's just delatching constantly and annoying me, or during DS2'S bedtime when I'm not there or if DH has taken him so I can get some sleep (but normally if I want a nap I bring him and cosleep). I don't swaddle or cover his hands because I read these things interfere with bf signals - but as I said I doubt any of these things are having a huge impact and I'm probably just lucky. He is feeding a lot, probably at least every hour or two, which is fine/expected. I get some stretches of sleep during the night with him laid next to me sometimes latched on.

The other thing with feeding frequently is I know if I do need to hand him off to somebody to do something then I can, because he doesn't NEED to feed straight away. But if he's been sleeping for a while and I want to do something then I will try and offer to tank him up a little bit first just to keep him going if that makes sense.

I would and do feed in front of other people and in public but I've done it before so I'm over any embarrassment about that. It does get easier and you get more confident.

Anyone who's formula feeding - I definitely recommend the Tommy tippee prep machine. I can't imagine doing it without it.

Just did my first nappy change out of the house - it was like a constant volcano while I was changing him - all I could think was please don't pee on me so I'm definitely putting a spare t shirt for me in the changing bag!!

@sarah13xx the midwife and HV just got blank looks when they asked me how long ago his feed was 😂 I couldn't remember!

Just to add - he definitely feeds enough. He's such a hungry monster but I couldn't remember the exact time 🙈

Hahaha yes Alex has been a volcano today and with his wonky willy it goes in such random directions, bless him.

@Ready2020 It's definitely a change but it probably sounds worse than it is. I am very aware that DS is already 3 weeks old and it's only few months of mine and his life that we can EBF so in a grand scheme of things it's not too bad.

I feed in front of others too if necessary, but inside I sometimes feel flustered because DS goes from 0 to 100 in a matter of seconds if he's hungry and I miss the early signs or if he only shows them for a minute. I then feel it's all systems go, you know, and under pressure. Our friends have commented how well I'm doing and that he's feeding lovely etc., but inside I feel calmer if we feed before or after being out or people visiting. I think it's my own confidence issue. xx

Before I forget for all those mummas with boys esp the tip I saw on YouTube is just before changing rub a wet wipe across their belly. Wait atleast 30 secs and then open their nappy. This wet gush will have made them go.

@Ready2020 I'm EBF. It's gotten better in terms of nipple sensitivity. So I pump in the morning. I'm using the Lola and Lykke pump and I love it. In half hour in the morning I can get upto 120 mls on a good day. I just pump once a day for 30-45 min depending on breast heaviness. DD has a good appetite so rest of the day she's on the breast which also increases supply. Definitely EBF is hard but I do intend to do this for 6 months. It does get better.

Like @BertieBotts I don't feel embarrassed whipping the boob out in public

I meant volcano poos 😂 thankfully he didn't pee while the nappy was off!

Congratulations @lucyrp and @HopefulB on the birth of your babies!
Rosie’s middle name is Evelyn :) lovely name and nice to know the meaning behind it.
We chose it because of the names meaning as that had special meaning for me :)

@Ready2020 EBF here too. It’s a slog at times isn’t it and has different challenges to FF. I’m thankful for how quick it is when baby needs feeding, but not being able to be away from baby without preparation is frustrating. Thankfully it’s going well as I’d pack it in at the first sign of difficulties (more power to those who’ve struggled through and kept on!).

@BertieBotts @Whatshouldbemyusername I’m confident at BF in my own home and with visitors, but not yet in public. Having to feed her in front of strangers freaks me out!

DD won’t take a dummy - tried NUK and MAM. Going to keep on with all the brands haha

@Inmypjsagain @lucyrp thanks for the encouragement. I literally feel like i'm in the wrong place here, everyone busy with their babies and i'm just this big fat pregnant hulk!

My DC have been acting up today, been rather impossible actually and I feel I can't cope. I need a good cry and I don't even have privacy to cry in peace with them bouncing around me!! :(

Also I have a question about growth scans. How accurate was your predicated weight? I know there is quite a large margin of error- the sonographer told me up to 25% but i'm very curious how much your babies weighed vs predicted weight from scan. Go on, humor me, i'm a fat, depressed, tired and almost overdue hormonal female!