August 2021 Babies - Final evictions and the fourth trimester

[BertieBotts]

Time for a new thread! :)

29 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 💙
@MrsB2019x - Welcome to the world, baby Ella💖
@Biscuitcat - Welcome to the world, baby Rowan 💙
@Whatshouldbemyusername - Welcome to the world, baby Arya-Nyah 💖
@notinthestarsigns - Welcome to the world, baby Erin 💖
@Aaaaa1519 - Welcome to the world, baby Anum 💖
@Angelesque - Welcome to the world, baby Isaac 💙
@Millymay13 - Welcome to the world, baby Ethan Benjamin 💙
@WolfMother326 - Welcome to the world, baby Alasdair William 💙
@BertieBotts - Welcome to the world, baby Alexander 💙
@RandomCatGenerator - Welcome to the world, baby Solomon 💙
@lucyrp - Welcome to the world, baby Evelyn Rose 💖
@HopefulB - Welcome to the world, baby Chloé 💖
@Mmr224 - Welcome to the world, baby Alasdair 💙
@Smallbean27 - Welcome to the world, baby boy 💙
@Fran919 - Welcome to the world, baby girl 💖
@Caz1226 - Welcome to the world, baby Dougie 💙
@Ava50x - Welcome to the world, baby boy 💙
@dirtyfries - Welcome to the world, baby Frankie! 💖

Counting down until till they welcome their munchkins:

@Dia12 - EDD 8 August, Girl 💖
@livingwithbees - EDD 16 August, surprise 💛
@Sheisfee - EDD 19 August, Girl 💖
@Alittlexmasmagic - EDD 22 August, surprise 💛
@LottSE20 - EDD 22 August, surprise 💛
@ame88 - EDD 28 August, Girl 💖

@lucyrp just because something seems to be making him uncomfortable and we can't work out what it is. I've read that the TT machine isn't recommended because it doesn't use boiled water, so thought it's worth trying without to see if that makes a difference

@Ready2020 OMG I am constantly thirsty, I'm starting to wonder if I perhaps have undiagnosed diabetes??

@Daffodil21 what I used to do was to basically recreate the perfect prep machine so put 1-2oz of freshly boiled water in the bottle then add the formula to sterilise it then have cooled boiled water to add to it. You’d need to pre measure the remaining amount of cool water needed as the level in the bottle isn’t accurate once the powder is in there but it worked for me. Bit of a faff but it’s what I used to do when I was out and about. I had the containers for portions of powder then I’d use a medela pump bottle for the cool water and a thermos for the boiled water. Takes a bit of practice with the ratios so it’s cool enough to drink though.

The constant thirst is a hormonal response to breastfeeding. My pelvic health physio explained that breastfeeding basically causes your body to become peri menopausal . You dry out a bit which is why you feel so thirsty, can get a dry nose, itchy eyes and also why sex can be painful. Basically any part of your body that has a natural lubrication to it can be affected.

Got my mummy mot with her on Friday. My pelvic floor is definitely traumatised, didn’t realise until a couple of weeks ago when i couldn’t stop mid wee 😳. Never had anything like this after my CS so this is a whole new experience for me. Once again making me regret my decision for a vbac but hey ho.

That's interesting about the peri menopausal state. That explains the hot flushes then!

Re 70 degree formula, I always read it as the water needs to be at least 70 deg, not necessarily exactly 70 deg. Also, the 30 minutes is based on a full kettle (!) cooling down to 70 degrees, if you've put less water in then it will be at 70 much quicker. So when we did formula with DS2 I used to just make them up with freshly boiled water or kettle 5-10 minutes old as I hadn't filled it to the brim anyway, who can be arsed to wait for a whole kettle to boil?? Not to mention the environmental impact...

However, we did tend to make them about an hour in advance of when needed and would then let it cool down on the side as it would be roughly body temperature when we wanted it then. This is probably not best practice (meant to avoid unnecessary time in the "danger zone" of 5-60C) but I gave up and let DH decide.

If I was doing formula all the time I think I'd make a bottle immediately after a feed, then put it in the back of the fridge to cool down. That way you always have one ready to go.

@wimbler that's really interesting about the perimenopausal state! I guess that explains the extreme thirst, hot flashes and sweats!

Re your pelvic floor, doing your PF exercises should restore the muscle tone but it can take time.

@BertieBotts hope the cream works for little Alex, must have been concerning to see!

@PurplePansy05 😂 should have known Leo would like it after my one was so keen! I pop him in it for reflux too! Also you say the noises they make, I think active sleep can sound like bad trapped wind and mucus, because I’ve thought the same. I got trapped in an Instagram reel-hole of baby advisers a few nights ago and it popped up. (Theres so much useful free info on insta!) hope you managed to get more antibiotics!

No swaddling here, we tried once and he kicked off- clearly not a fan so didn’t bother.

@wimbler your comment about the vbac is interesting, if you don’t mind me asking, with hindsight would you have gone for another c section?

Hope everyone is doing well. I can’t believe how quickly time is going, I feel like between naps and feeding and baths and normal life I’m never sitting down! It’s good for the diet though, it got to 4pm yday where I got into the kitchen and saw the bowl I got out to have my breakfast in….!

Has anyone considered going to a chiropractor with their baby? Or has anyone gone before? Wondering if it’s worth it…

@Daffodil21 - funny you should mention the PP machine, the HV told me to try the old fashioned way but I did that before getting the machine and she was still unsettled and with the premade formula, I’m now just putting it down to the 3 week growth spurt. However, they want to assess the feeding Wednesday because she does have a mild tongue tie which can be causing her to take too much air. I said this within the first week to the midwife when I was struggling with BF latch but she dismissed it because it’s mild and ‘shouldn’t impact’ so if they say it does now, I’ll be a little disappointed because I’ll always wonder if I could have continued with BF!
@wimbler, mines not great either and I swear it’s a prolapse 🤦🏻‍♀️ It’s got me thinking We won’t be trying for another, feel traumatised by the whole experience!

@Inmypjsagain is that like cranial osteopathy? I’ve thought about it when struggling to BF but gave into formula if I’m honest. I’ve heard great things though if it’s cranial osteopathy!

@Daffodil21 I use the tommee tippee machine and feel like I really rely on it now 🙈 I did manage to make a bottle at a friends house at the weekend but I just did what the machine does. I put a shot of boiling water in first then had pre boiled water cooled in another bottle to add to it. You can keep the bottle for 2 hours at room temperature or if you make it in advance and put it in the fridge for an hour before going out you can put it in a bottle bag with freezer blocks to keep it cool and it lasts 4 hours. I don’t think I could cope without the tommee tippee machine 🙈 which bottles are you using?

@Inmypjsagain I could have written your post word for word, again 🤣 Leo hates swaddles too, never liked being restricted, so now I'm selling them brand new on Fb 🤦🏼‍♀️

Thanks for this re the noises, I thought this was normal with reflux, I think I'm just overcautious about the choking risk.

Totally second your question to @wimbler regarding VBAC. If I ever have another baby, this would be my first choice, however subject to GD which I'm likely to have again and I know now that things can change so quickly if complications arise. Wimbler, if you don't mind sharing your thoughts, if it's not too personal to ask xx

@Inmypjsagain definitely helps the diet when you don’t have a spare hand to put food in your mouth 😂 when I was pregnant I’d have cups of tea and biscuits all day long but I don’t even have a chance to get lunch most days now!

On the topic of diets.. if you don’t mind saying how much did you put on when you were pregnant and have you dared weigh yourself to see what you’ve lost so far? Obviously without trying as I doubt many of us are at the exercising stage yet 🙈

I had gained 3 stone! A stone came off after the birth then another half a stone has came off since, I think that was extra fluid. Now lost another pound or two more than that I think so just under a stone and a half left to lose! Went a 2 hour walk today and thinking if I could do that most days it would definitely help 😅 Used to run but going to hold off til 12 weeks to attempt any running again, would rather it took longer and I was 100% healed and not going to do myself any damage

@Fran919 it's put me off having any more too, not that we're planning to have another.

Rowan has taken to really fighting day sleep. She's only gone down on me at 4.30. Before now she's had 2 45 minutes nap and that's it. I've had to take her into dim room to get to sleep and any noise is disturbing her. No idea what is up.

@Ready2020 back in the fighting sleep boat again today 🤦🏼‍♀️ He went back to sleep after we got up this morning so we didn’t properly get up til 10 then between 10 and 4 he only slept for one half an hour nap, if that! We were out a long walk and he cried a lot of the way 😩 I even stopped out in the middle of nowhere and gave him a bottle but that didn’t seem to stop him crying! My poor dog was looking at me like does that baby of yours ever stop 🙄😂

Thanks @wimbler I'll give this a go.

@sarah13xx we rely on so much too!! I have to admit I haven't actually tried the old fashioned way yet today. I went to a friend's house and took a pre made with me, and he didn't make a squeak so maybe I'll try that formula for a bit (but not expensive pre made!)

We are using the NUK glass anti colic bottles.

@BertieBotts yeah I read that too about it being at least 70, so I guess you could use pretty much freshly boiled as long as mixed with cooled boiled after.

@Fran919 I only mention it because I'm running out of ideas!!

Ah, weight. I put on 2.5 stone (more really as I didn't weigh myself for the last couple of weeks). Now I'm 1.5 stone heavier and have been actively trying since last Wednesday. Stood on scales today and no change though so don't know why I bothered!!!

@Inmypjsagain @PurplePansy05 I don’t mind you asking at all. I’ll start off by saying I think hindsight is a wonderful thing and this is a case 100% of me wanting my cake and eating it too. When I had a csection first time round it took me a long time to come to terms with it. I had envisioned a water birth, did hypnobirthing and felt when dd was breech that was all taken away from me.

I was determined for a vbac this time round. I’m so proud that I managed to achieve it with only gas and air to birth a baby that weighed 8lb14. However, I really was not expecting the recovery to be as tough. He arrived quickly, 2hr 40 and so I think it was the speed rather than size that gave me a second degree tear.

I will say it’s possible I’ve forgotten the extent of my csection recovery but now knowing it both ways I actually think the csection was easier. BUT i also have a toddler this time around. I thought a vbac would be easier to look after her but for 2 weeks I could barely do anything.

It’s really 6 of one and half a dozen of the other and you can never know how it’s going to go. If I had a Crystal ball or was to have another j would probably lean towards an elective cs. Dd was 6lb 10 as well. I assumed I was having a similar sized baby. If I’d known he was going to be 1kg heavier I might have considered a csection too.

Hope that helps? Sorry if it’s garbled! It’s hard to put into words

@Fran919 yeah the same (I think!) I’ve heard it’s good for reflux and fidgety babies so wondering if it’s worth a try but I don’t think I know anyone that’s used one before. Bet it’s pricey…

@PurplePansy05 ha, that is so funny! think the noises are even normal for non reflux babies but I get the worry, I end up watching him in his cot the whole time paranoid! My husband can sleep through it which is mind blowing!

@sarah13xx I stopped weighing myself! So I went from a size 6/8 to I think a size 12- potentially 14 on top (have gone from an F cup to a K cup so my boobs are too tight on some tops)I think that’s a 3 stone gain. I’m not sure how, my diet was the same as pre pregnancy from 3 months on and I had morning sickness right Up to the day I had him! I’m walking as much as I can and dieting but it’s been a few weeks and I feel no different at all, but I’ve never really thought about food or dieted before so I don’t know how long these things take. I’m not enjoying it though. I’d love to get back to running but I don’t feel I can just yet, definitely not as fit as before because I get tired walking and I’m much slower.

How is everyone’s bleeding? It’s 6 weeks for me and it stopped entirely at week 4 but has now
come back, but I’ve upped my exercise, 2 hour walks on Friday and Saturday and 3 hours yesterday. I notice it most when I walk a lot so I wonder if it’s exercise related?

For crying/fighting sleep babies, do any of you use a dummy? I didn’t want to use one but goodness it’s magic, don’t use it all the time but if he’s crying and I can’t help it stops him and a few sucks can really send him off to sleep- it’s saved my sanity I think!!

@sarah13xx I lost a stone first trimester, then put on 2 and a half ish and I'm back to my pre pregnancy weight slightly less already. My belly doesn't look like it though 🤣

@wimbler that does make sense, thank you for your perspective. From what I’ve gathered is that a vaginal birth recovery can be just as bad/worse as a c section. When I met with the obstetrician to sign off my c section he said 9/10 unassisted deliveries at that hospital end in a tear. 1 in 4 had emergency c section, 1 in 4 also has ventouse/episiotomy/forceps. I was very sold on the c section after that. Speaking to friends prior to my birth they all, with the exception of 1, said they’d go for a c section, which is interesting. I’m glad you got your vbac because I know it’s what you wanted and hope you're feeling more recovered now. Gas and air with a big baby is amazing and I can’t imagine a toddler and a newborn…!!!!

@lucyrp HOW are you less than pre-pregnancy?!

I had a really odd thing happen in the last few weeks of pregnancy - my legs got really smooth and my cellulite disappeared!! It's unfortunately back now though 😭

@Daffodil21 I don't really know considering I've been craving sweets all day every day and have eaten enough to fill a sweet shop🙈 but then I haven't eaten a great deal otherwise

@lucyrp wow you’ve lost 2.5 stone since birth?!! Tell me your secrets, I’m so jealous!

@Daffodil21 wow how odd that it got rid of it? Actually my cellulite has gone so I figured it was water? Pregnancy is odd isn’t it. I really hate what it’s done to my body :(

@sarah13xx I put on 12kg when pregnant. Pre pregnancy I was 58 kg and I’m now hovering around 60kg. I’d say I’m pretty much back to looking the same, I’ve not tried my pre pregnancy jeans yet because they’re packed away amongst the building work but I’m back in my gym leggings. My tummy is definitely squishier and my skin has stretched quite a bit. To be expected after 2 kids i suppose! I feel fairly body confident though which I’m pleased about but I’m very unfit!

@Inmypjsagain I know, it made no sense at all! My diet wasn't brilliant at the end of pregnancy either!! Yeah mine is totally ruined too. It wasn't brilliant pre-pregnancy but it was salvageable. Not so much anymore!