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

Morning super mummas. Hope we're well from our night shifts/day shifts.

Question - are we supposed to feed baby every 3 hours so wake them up to feed them? I am doing that but am curious to see how many are and whether we're supposed to be doing it if baby has no health/weight concerns?x

@Magik01 it's hard with a toddler too isn't it. Ds asks me to give him a cuddle "with 3 hands " (he obv means 2) when I'm feeding dd.

@Whatshouldbemyusername if no weight concerns I wouldn't be waking every 3 hours.
With ds I to set an alarm and wake him every 3 hours on advice of consultant due to him being so small at birth. I think he was about 3 months when midwife said I could stop waking him, 6 months before consultant would discharge him from their clinic.
With dd there hasn't been any concerns about weight so I'm letting her tell me. She just feeds on demand, during the day that's every 2/3 hours , often the same at night too but last night she slept from 1030/11 - 3 fed 3-330 and then slept 330-8
That's the first she's gone so long though

Yes no need to wake them overnight if they are back to birth weight and there is no sleepiness preventing them from feeding well.

They say every 3 hours to give you an idea of what to expect rather than it being a minimum gap to aim for. Although some people like to nake sure they feed at least every 3h during the day to kind of tank the baby up and hope they are less hungry at night?

Good lactations consultants are absolutely brilliant. Worth their weight in gold!

Fenugreek and Fennel are galactogogues (stimulate milk production) so that should defo help. In Germany in hospital they always give me fennel, aniseed and caraway tea which is also meant to help milk production.

I have no idea what's going on with my boobs just now but they are so leaky. I'm sitting in the vaccine centre doing my 15 minute wait and my left boob has leaked through my breast pad,bra and dress! Thankfully it's a dark dress so you don't see the patch too much. Don't think I brought spare pads though. Might need to do an emergency feed in the car.

Haha it's so annoying when that happens! Push the heel of your hand into your nipple firmly and it should stop the leak. You could also go into the toilets and use a few paper towels.

That sleep link is good. It reminds me of Lyndsey Hookway's stuff. I have been reading her book for pregnancy - toddler sleep which is really good (Let's talk about your new family's sleep) and her instagram is really great as well. There is so much BS that circulates as "infant sleep science" but this is all evidence based and she looks at other areas surrounding sleep like how to maximise your own even if your baby's is crap, etc.

@Smurf123 @BertieBotts thank you for the clarification xx

@Whatshouldbemyusername I was feeding every 3 hours at first because that’s what they’d told me to do in hospital and I was scared not to 🙈 At 10 days when the health visitor weighed him and said he was gaining enough weight she told me just to leave him at night but not to let him go over 3 hours during the day. I’ve noticed at night he was going 4 hours or even more sometimes at first but now it’s like 3 hours on the dot. I really can’t complain because I think that’s still amazing and I usually do get those full 3 hour stints to sleep but I’m hoping he can maybe stretch to 4 (or longer) again

I don't wake him up every 3 hrs either. I know he feeds at 2 hr intervals roughly during the day and up until 11pm/midnight. Then he'd wake up once at 4/5am, then sometimes at 7am, but often he'd skip that and feed closer to 8-8.30am. It seems to be his natural rhytm.

However, today he just won't get off me and my boobs. He was fine in the morning, but from 1pm he wouldn't stop. I'm a bit frustrated cause I really need to swap my wardrobe to pre-maternity and warmer clothes which are all packed up since our move, and I didn't manage to even start. DS just wouldn't settle today without me and now DH gave him a formula top up cause my boobs need a break and so do I, and somehow DS still wants more

Question from my mum who is buying clothes for DS (she lives abroad)...do you think they'll need a prsmsuit for winter if we mostly use the carrycot and occasionally baby carrier (but only if it's going to be dry)? If so, should she buy two sizes, 3-6 and 6-9 to cover us till March? I have no idea if a pramsuit or just a warm coat are more practical. xx

@PurplePansy05 you're swapping your maternity wardrobe out for pre-pregnancy?!! Good on you! I am so far off this 😂

Pram suit is perfect for carrycot although I've always found them too annoying. A jacket is better if you have a warm footmuff on the seat of the normal pushchair.

Maybe pram suit in 3-6 and jacket in 6-9?

@Daffodil21 Yep. I still have a flabby tummy and some stretch marks, but that's ok. I'd like to tone down so they fit better, but taking it easy after the infection, definitely not starting any exercise until I'm more confident. xx

@BertieBotts I was thinking the same, thanks for this. Pramsuits can't be that convenient with car seats and going inside-outside, surely there's a risk of overheating? Can't imagine taking them off all the time xx

Is anyone doing any kind of routine yet? Rowan is 4 weeks on Saturday and I want to start some kind of evening routine at least. I find she can sleep long and deep during the day. Like today she slept from 11am to 3.30. I was reading that you shouldn't let them sleep that long during the day and should wake them as they are confusing day and night. But that just feels a bit wrong to me if she's sleeping.

I'm not quite sure where to start with a routine tbh. Anyone any good websites or books?

Yes exactly. You can't use one in a car seat because they are too bulky so you can't get a snug fit with the straps. And if you're doing walks in and out of heated places like shops they are no good.

Personally I just go with loads of blankets because I like being able to unlayer!

You may also want to think about how long the carrycot will last. DS2 was out if it by 8 weeks as he was too big.

Ready I won't be doing any routine yet as I think it's important to go with their flow at this age. I don't think they "confuse" anything as they aren't really consciously doing anything yet - they just don't have a circadian rhythm yet.

Some people do find a routine helpful even from birth. You are kind of training yourself, rather than the baby. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, BTW! But it's for your benefit, not theirs, so only do it if you think it would be helpful for you. If you find the idea stressful, just leave it for now. Babies get a bit more receptive to routine for their sake by around 3-4 months. But the big game changer IME is weaning once you start introducing meals - the routine kind of falls into place around that.

There is some info about routines here and in her book: www.instagram.com/lyndsey_hookway/guide/sleep-science/17904324214710196/?hl=en

@PurplePansy05 omg I could have written that myself, DD has been basically attached to me since dinner time constantly 🥴 I also need to get in the attic to get my old jeans out etc as I have no clothes. I've been living in my 2 pairs of maternity leggings but that's all I've got as I shoved all my trousers away. Also pram suits are great for carrycot, ones with zips are best as you can whip them on and off easier between car seat etc xx

@Ready2020 I read the infamous Gina Ford while I was pregnant and while I wouldn’t follow the bits of advice about putting baby in a different room to sleep etc, the idea of the routine does suit me and the type of person I am. I haven’t been following a routine yet (almost 4 weeks) but I keep meaning to go back and read certain bits of the book. I think at his age if he’s hungry he needs fed etc so I couldn’t exactly stick to feeds at certain times or anything but I think the idea is they fall into it by themselves. I’m waking him after 3 hours during the day but leaving him to wake me during the night. He’s really not managing to go over 3/3 and a half hours at a time at night which is fine because he is really good and generally just goes straight back to sleep but I just wish I could stretch both sleeps by half an hour even so I wasn’t doing a feed at 6 then going back to bed. I feel pressure to be doing stuff with him when he’s awake as well 🙈 putting him on his play mat, trying to sing songs etc but feel like I’m just making it up as I go along. Hoping to take him to some classes but it’s probably too early and I need to wait til I can drive at 6 weeks anyway. Just taking it a day at a time just now 🤷🏼‍♀️

Thanks @lucyrp @BertieBotts, I'll tell my mum. We're all thinking along the same lines here. I've actually been given a coat for him by a friend and just dug it out, luckily the size should be good for early next year, so that's helpful 😊

He's just fallen asleep. FINALLY. He only slept for an hour when we went for a walk and 10 mins here and there at my boob 🤷🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️ He looks so peaceful now, meanwhile I got a migraine and did sweet FA today! Oh well.

I am normally a very organised person, however I am finding with such a young baby it's far less stressful for me to go with the flow, otherwise I'd be stressing over not sticking to the plan all the time. That would be too much for me now. The only things that I stick to religiously is making sure we go out every day, even just around the block for 15 mins. I also make sure to have time to myself, be it 10 mins once a day or here and there few times a day if I can. Talk to other mums from NCT and friends and on here. It keeps me sane.

I'm so glad you've said that about the 3-4 month and then weaning periods, Bertie. That's what I had in mind so glad to hear it might just work to gradually introduce routine then so that we're all set for when I'm back in work xx

@PurplePansy05 my friend gave me a couple of lovely coats in 0-1 and 3-6. We ysed the smaller size one the other evening when we walked to the shop when it was quite late and she looked so snug in the carrycot. DD has just gone down and il probs get a max of 10 mins peace before she wants boob again 😭😅xx

Did anyone else find within the first 2 weeks post partum they still felt pregnant in regards to their fitness levels and the aches and pains etc ? When we've been for a walk out I've found I can't go for very long at all and still at the same pace I was walking almost when in 3rd trimester ?

@sarah13xx we are loosely following Gina Ford. He does go for a nap in another room mainly because we are at my parents house with 2 dogs and they seem incapable of being even remotely quiet. We use a monitor and it’s working well. He’s a sleepy boy though and it’s a really struggle to keep him awake during the day. I feed him when he needs it and don’t follow it too closely but as this is our second child, he has to fit around our schedule. So we are out the House at times when he is supposed to be awake but because we are in the car/walking the buggy, he just falls asleep.

I managed my first complete solo outing with two kids today. Usually I meet a friend with another toddler at least but this was hard work! Baby had to go in the sling while I pushed the toddler in the double buggy. We managed lunch in the cafe though. I’m finding feeding in public so stressful this time round as he has a tongue tie and I’ve got oversupply. My milk was spraying across the table 😂

Tongue tie is being snipped tomorrow and DH can’t get the time off work so I’ve got to go alone 😭

Lucy yes and it's very important to take it easy. You have a big open wound inside your womb still, your hips are looser than normal and your stomach muscles are separated and need rest to go back together. So it's absolutely fine and a good thing that your body is making you slow down. If you get too active too quickly after birth you can end up with problems like distasis recti.

@wimbler good to know other people follow it. Every time I hear it mentioned people seem to slate it so much that I’m scared to say I’ve read it 🙈 Finding the same as you with baby falling asleep in the pram/car if I’ve been loosely following the times that day but I’m just appreciating how well he sleeps at night so the during the day part can come later. I’m finding the 7-11pm part of the day isn’t really working because instead of putting him in a dark room alone like it says I’ve been putting him in his Moses basket after a bath then he comes downstairs while we have dinner and watch tv. I think it would be a way better routine if he was going into his crib in a dark room after his bath but I’m just too scared to leave him all the way upstairs if we’re downstairs having dinner.

He’s a sleepy baby too but today randomly he has been awake almost all day, other than the odd 20/30 minute nap. He hasn’t had any really long sleeps all day and has just been crying like he’s over tired and wanting held. I got us both ready this morning then he projectile vomited all over the pair of us and in my freshly washed hair 🤦🏼‍♀️ It’s just been that kind of day! Finally got him down at 10pm there and had been doing the last feed at 11pm every night but we’re forgetting that tonight due to the nightmare of a day we’ve had.

That’s an achievement 👏🏼 I went my first outing with him in the sling today too so I could walk the dog myself. Haha oh no, I can just imagine it! 😂

@lucyrp Spoke too soon, I put him down and it lasted all of 10 mins again...and DH is not a 'D' H tonight after he left me this eve having worked all day, he went to see a friend for 40 mins on his bday. Apparently he told me, but I couldn't remember. Certainly didn't tell me what time he'd be going. DS is at his worst in the eve and today was a hideous day and I'm exhausted...so I feel he either should have postponed or at least not have bloody gone without making something to eat for me first, which I can't do myself whilst having DS attached to my tits non stop. I am not impressed. We just had an argument also because he was going to clean the house this eve and guess what, he's not done it after I finally left DS with him to calm down. I'm so annoyed as we have guests tomorrow and DH will be in the office and rushed in the morning so he won't do anything.

Why are men so bloody blind and stupid at times! I've just shut myself off in a spare bedroom in silence, away from it all. Felt all day like my migraine was due to come on and it just has. Arrgh. Rant over. I need some sleep and silence for an hour, not an annoying DH and a crying baby 🤦🏼‍♀️ xx

I think DD is cluster feeding and I'm an actual wreck. I can't stop crying I feel like I've been feeding but not feeding non stop since dinner time and it doesn't look like it will get any better throughout the night. If she's jot feeding she's constantly screaming. She hasn't slept for an amount of time since last night so she must be very tired too and I definitely won't be getting any sleep tonight either. Poor OH doesn't know what to do eithrt and we both are just here really upset🥺

I’m so jealous of all your sleepy babies!! DS2 doesn’t sleep longer than 2 hours at all throughout the day or night. Safe to say I’m now finding it very mentally and physically draining and I’m becoming quite irritable.