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

@lucyrp oh bless you, I’m also close to tears as I’m that tired. They joys of newborns eh?! Is co sleeping an option for you, DD might settle somewhat if she’s lying directly by you. Or if your OH is able to take her just for a bit and walk around the house to settle her while you get a cat nap. I totally understand it’s so so hard though, it might just be a case of catching up with sleep tomorrow.

We've got resurfacing going on outside for two weeks. Tonight they're right outside the house with their loud fucking vehicles that constantly beep. Going to have to close the window again as it absolutely stinks in our room and I only re-opened it 5 mins ago because it was starting to get stuffy 😡

To clarify I mean it stinks of whatever they're surfacing the road with

@lucyrp I hope your little one and you get some sleep soon. It is so hard when they won’t settle. The day/night my DS cluster fed all afternoon and then again all evening and night until 5am was horrendous and I felt so desperate. Try to take comfort in the fact it will end even though it feels like it won’t. And tomorrow will be different, it is not going to be like this forever. That said, I started giving bottles after the cluster feeding day/night so I didn’t persevere very far from where you are now! For me it was the nipple pain which stopped me rather than the sleep deprivation, I really hope you’re not in too much pain right now. You are doing amazingly and your LO is lucky to have you xx
@Magik01 hugs coming your way and hoping your LO starts sleeping a little longer soon.
@Daffodil21 that sounds like a nightmare. I hope they move on from outside your house quickly so that the noise and stench are reduced xx

I also thought he was stirring because he was about to wake for a feed so I went downstairs to make him a bottle up as it's about the right time since the last feed. He's doesn't want it at all so I'm sat here prodding the bottle against his lips in hope he'll wake up and take it 😂 so bloody annoying as he will need a feed soon so I either have to wait for him to be ready (currently pumping) or go back to bed only to be woken up again soon 😒

DH of course is snoring away next to me getting his 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep as usual. He has work tomorrow and I don't so I know that's how it should be, but it's still annoying! Bring on Sunday morning when he can do one of the night feeds

@Daffodil21 oh that’s a nightmare. We had that last summer when it was 30 degrees overnight. So noisy and smelly! White noise can help with the sound?

Seems like we are having a few dh problems between us today! Mine went to play golf of all things! He also keeps complaining that he’s really tired. I know it’s not a competition but really?! When you don’t do any night feeds?! I’ve sent him to the spare room tonight so he can get an uninterrupted nights sleep in the hope that it will curb the whingeing 😂

@lucyrp bless you the cluster feeding days and nights are brutal but as others have said, it won’t be forever. Do you use a dummy? Might be worth a try to see if it will settle her as she might be also doing it for comfort rather than hunger?

@wimbler oh yes my OH complains of being tired despite not doing night shift and it pisses me off. Also he often hands DD over for the night shift then goes back to the lounge to play his bloody PlayStation. Despite knowing I'll be handing over at 7am. I do occasionally point out that he gets the opportunity for 7 hours solid sleep or sometimes more he just says its not a competition.

I got really upset today as twice I bumped DDs head. Once on the car door and other on the wall! Second time she cried so I know it was a proper bump. Total guilt and fear I've brain damaged her! She's fine but still have thoughts of internal damage 😔

@Daffodil21 that sounds horrible! Hope they finish soon. I had the window closed as I thought it was too cool for DD but after an hour it was so warm and close so I opened it again. It's hard to judge temperature for her.

DD didn't settle after both boobs at 1am so we're back on boob again. Or she had one of her very active active sleeps until now.... I'm feeling a bit out of sorts from my second jab so just trying to get through to 7am to hand over then have my other long nap. We agreed if I'm feeling bad tomorrow OH will just bring her up for feeds and I can snooze.

@lucyrp hope your night has settled a bit. Dummies definitely help me when I've fed her so much that she can't possibly be hungry so is just after comfort.

Think I'll dig in to some biscuits after this feed. Hungry!

The beeping is still going on! It's so bloody loud! I've got the tv on with my favourite show though which is helping.

DS has only just woken for his first feed of the night! It's been almost 5 hours! I definitely could have got a good stretch of sleep in had in it have tried to anticipate his first feed at 130am!

Urgh it would drive me crazy if DH moaned he was tired! Thankfully he knows better 😂

😂 it sounds like there’s a lot of tired DH’s about! Mine is the same, he’s back at work so I’m trying to do the night shift as quietly as possible but then he complains of being tired. He probably is tired because no matter how quiet we are, it’ll definitely disturb him, but still I feel he doesn’t need to tell me about being tired!
Poor DS has a cold and as he’s only 2 weeks only the only thing I can use is saline drops or spray. It’s so horrible to see and hear him being snotty and his cries sounding a bit hoarse, I really wish I could give him some medicine to help.

And we're back for another boob. This is the most unsettled night we've had for a while.

@Millymay13 aw I can't imagine my DD with a cold yet. Must be hard to see them all snuffly.

Those who are co-sleeping - how are you doing it safely? Sorry if this is a really basic question.

On sleep, @BertieBotts thanks for the Lindsey Hookway recommendation - her Instagram looks really interesting, will have a proper look.

My understanding is that you can’t reverse their understanding of night and day, you just have to sort of wait for it to happen. Is that correct? I’d love to do a bed routine of bath-book-bed but it’s completely impossible now (2 weeks old) - he’s wide awake from 9pm-midnight (ish), and baths often happen in daytime if there’s been a poonami and two a day would be overbathing…

@BertieBotts forgot to say thanks re leaking boobs. A lovely nurse gave me some pads to use at the time. I've now leaked through on my other boob as I feed DD

@Daffodil21 nothing more annoying than making a bottle and they change their mind 🙈 Freddie does that then wakes half an hour later to a cold bottle and isn’t happy it’s cold 🙄

Very jealous of my husbands full nights sleep too because he’s working. He usually does an 11pm feed, when I’m meant to already be asleep but so far I haven’t been. Last night he wouldn’t settle so I had given him a feed at 10pm and just put him down for the night at that point, saving my husband from even having to do his one job 😂 He came in from work the other day and was telling me the guys at his work are amazed he’s not sleeping in and being knackered all day. He was really proud of himself telling me this. I’m like yeah that’s because you’re not up during the night?! 😂

Roll on tonight when he does the night feeds and I’ll have my one big long sleep of the week!

@Magik01 I’m with you as my DD wakes every 2 hours. She’s just over 4 weeks old and EBF - I’m exhausted.
A routine will come and we are feeding on demand. DH suggested trying to get her into a routine at 2 weeks old - I said he had my blessing to try it but I would be sitting that one out haha.. shock horror he didn’t try.

Loving your DH stories!! Makes me feel like I’m not the only one who wants to rehome him. I have a DH who says he tired - we’ve argued about it a few times actually because it’s really insensitive! One night he declared how easy having a newborn was whilst gazing lovingly into her eyes - then we had the worst night and he went on about how tired he was the next day. How I didn’t leave him then and there I will never know haha. He’s got a lot better recently though.

I’ve snoozed too many times and now I have major regrets but I’m sooo tired :( . The school run with two kids and a newborn keeps me on my toes thats for sure. Baby wanted feeding as we left yesterday, and feeding when we did pick up. It’s like she knows it’s the most inconvenient time haha. I didn’t get back to school pictures of my two DSs as just getting out the house was a miracle.

Hope some LOs got some sleep last night for you all

Oh what a pain with all these tired husbands! DH is away at work now for the first time since baby arrived - I was terrified to have him on my own for three nights but luckily my sister and mum are staying over with me until he's home which is amazing. In particular for the evenings as like some others that's Rowan's fussy time and I really struggle emotionally when he's upset.

Also in terms of sleep, I've been using the Love to Dream Swaddle Up the past two nights and it seems to have made a huge difference! Not so much in terms of length of sleep, but he settles back so so much quicker after a feed when he's in it. I was trying to swaddle with a muslin but he's so strong that it doesn't hold long.

Much love to you all. Yesterday was hard going for many of us, with clingy babies and/or frustrating DHs. Sometimes a good moan is needed to get things off the chest.

I woke up and my migraine has eased off despite having broken sleep with lots of shorter feeds last night. I also feel guilty because my DH is doing his share overall. He gets things wrong and cuts corners or pretends he doesn't see some things that need doing, but he is trying and I wouldn't cope without him now. I have so much respect for single mothers now, even more than before.

Today is a new day and hopefully better for us all xx

@Daffodil21 That smell is the worst! I can nearly smell it now having read your posts. It always makes me nauseous. Were they working overnight so close to your house? xx

@PurplePansy05 yep outside the house! There's a little square with a car park right outside our house and then the A road they're resurfacing is the other side of the (small) car park. Got to be done I suppose it was just so noisy! And same again tonight I expect.

Those who are bf or pumping - I've noticed a few of you saying about squiring. I would not be able to squirt if I tried so I'm wondering if this is why he can't latch? Is there anyone bf/pumping who can't squirt?! I'm actually finding pumping/formula is working well for us so I'm not too bothered finding a solution, just curious!

Ready don't worry, DS2 has already clonked DS3 on the head with a hard toy at least once and with his hands a couple of times. We keep looking at each other and reminding of the mantra "Younger siblings survive older siblings, look at how many we know!" I've heard so many stories of how the parents looked away for a second and the toddler/4/5/6 year old has "helpfully" done something potentially harmful to the baby!

biscuit we are using a sleeping bag now and it's so much better than blankets that he just kicked off. I think it's technically minimum 4kg (the label has worn away, it's on its 5th child!) but it doesn't ride up over his face.

Random I think so, although apparently making sure they experience some daylight can actually help them develop a circadian rhythm so that's good to know. Some people say about being more stimulating/chatty/playful during the day and just being quiet and calm and minimal talking at night, to help the baby associate playtime with daytime. We only put a dim red light on overnight (we have a smart bulb) unless there's a huge poo that I need to see the colour of yellow vs skin. But I have to admit if the baby is awake and chatty during the night I don't ignore them. They are just only little for so long and I have really special memories of DS2's night time chatty sessions! This one doesn't seem to do that (yet) maybe he likes his sleep more. I don't tend to think that night waking is conscious or habit based but I know a lot of people disagree with me on that.

Cosleeping - we have a bedside cot, so that acts as a kind of bed guard. I sleep on my side facing him, facing the cot in sort of the recovery position, my arm is between him and the pillow, and my top leg is bent so I don't roll forwards on to him and he doesn't wriggle down. DH sleeps on my other side. Neither of us smoke, drink or take any medication.

He's sideways facing me with head at boob level. I feed lying down in the way I was taught with DS1 - pull their body in close to yours and lower than you'd think. Sometimes after a feed he rolls back onto his back. Otherwise I leave him on his side.

He wears a vest, sleepsuit and sleeping bag, not too thick as my body heat does get to him. They need less covering than if they were sleeping alone. I have a duvet up to my waist and then the top half of it behind my back. I wear a long sleeved button up or stretchy or loose top, to keep me warm. Sometimes the duvet covers his legs but doesn't go higher than his waist.

Our mattress is not the firmest but this is probably the most risky point. We did just change our bed base which has firmed it up a bit but it needs replacing. It doesn't sufficiently concern me to make me stop co-sleeping. I just have to be careful about the join with the cot so there isn't a gap created.

Here is a bank of images showing safe co-sleeping practice:
www.basisonline.org.uk/co-sleeping-image-archive/

Lullaby Trust's advice including a PDF guide and video:
www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/co-sleeping/

And Lyndsey Hookway's bedsharing related posts:
www.instagram.com/lyndsey_hookway/guide/bedsharing/17883710231035795/?hl=en

I can't squirt either. No idea why as I seem to have plenty of milk. Maybe it comes later.

Right so, the midwife has been to see me this morning and DDs weight has dropped again. She was 3750 when born, 3460 on day 3 and 3520 on day 6. Today on day 10 she's dropped to 3400. 🥺 I have to continue breast feeding as I am until Sunday when they will weigh her again then see what we should continue doing. The midwife has said she is a mystery as she is content, not jaundiced, feeding well and often with plenty of wet and dirty nappies. The health visitor has also been to introduce herself and weighed her to double check the measurements. She has also said this is a mystery. She did however check for w posterior tongue tie as I still wasn't sure the midwives were right about it. She said she would say she's about £1000 sure that DD has a posterior tongue tie as her tongue is quite flat when crying. She said the wait list on nhs is quite long and I'd probably be better going private. She did say she doesn't think the tongue tie is anything to do with the weight gain but that I obviously don't want to feed with shields forever so it would be worth getting it done for that reason.

@PurplePansy05 your closest to me in geography. The lactation consultant you saw were they cardiff/Swansea area or not ? The health visitor said a lady she goes to went to one in cardiff for her baby's tongue tie to be snipped and they were really great. Going to do some research into where we could go. X

@Magik01 I was very lucky after I wrote that message OH took DD and was bobbing around the bedroom for quite a while with her at which point I fell asleep and I think he managed to settle her as she didn't wake from then until 5am so I got some sleep which was lovely. The cluster feeding was just so much. Hoping we don't get the same again after dinner today 😰

@Millymay13 I'm fortunate for the fact my nipples have healed more so than they were a couple of days ago so the pain is manageable it just feels like you're trapped when all they do is either feed or scream when they're not feeding 😓😓

@wimbler yes we use a dummy but she wouldn't have that at all yesterday, it was straight out even with encouragement to keep it in. It was tiring 😅

@Daffodil21 I can't squirt either. It just drips or flows out.

@Ready2020 mine doesn't flow out either 😂🙈

Had a massive fail today. Went on the shorter weekly group walk I go to which is 20 mins. We were running late and I didn't bring the changing bag. Decided to go for coffee after and he peed through his clothes and I didn't have a change for him. He was not impressed and I felt so bad! My mum hadn't put the side tabs down in the nappy which didn't help ('what tabs?' She says) 🙈🙈 mum of the award right here. Lesson learnt to always take the changing bag!