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 💖

We're still fighting to get her to sleep during the day. She's obviously tired so it's quite frustrating that she just wakes up a she nods off. I try not to get her to sleep in dark or too quiet during the day but it ends up with us back in the bedroom, curtains drawn. Even that doesn't always work. Last night was a struggle as she was obviously over tired.

She was asleep on me before I had to go to Dr so I felt bad trying to transfer her to the bassinet as I knew she would wake. She did of course and I just ran away and left her with OH!

Dr's gave me another antibiotic to try and a barrier cream. The tear hasn't healed and is right next to my urethra so every time I pee I irritate it. Check up next week again to see how it's going.

@dirtyfries I do feel that we've lost sense of any type of routine with just feeding her when she wants. I'm just going by her cues as to whether she's is hungry though I've often stuck a boob in her face to calm her. She's 6 weeks on Saturday and I notice a wee difference in her feeding and sleeping times as she begins to regulate.

I think at 3 or 4 months we'll start using the cot in the nursery for naps and see how she likes it.

You see we can’t limit wake windows, we can put him down to sleep and if he wants to stay away then he will! But if he wants to sleep there’s no stopping him either!! I’d love to get him to nap… having said that, he’s not usually overtired than I can tell- I often worry I overstimulate him but honestly he seems pretty good at regulating himself 🤷🏼‍♀️ this is why I don’t think we can follow a routine, we are sort of in one but it’s one he made himself and it just so happens it’s convenient for us…

@Ready2020 is it the startle reflex that’s waking her up when going into the bassinet? I’ve seen so many hints and tips for how to avoid this but I think it’s fairly inevitable that they wake, the only one we have found that helps is kinda lowering him in on his side and keeping a hand on his back, holding in that position before slowly rolling on his back and rubbing his tummy, the initial shock is sort of mitigated by keeping a hand there?

@Inmypjsagain I think we all share the pain of stuff being way too expensive and lasting way too short haha! That's just a beginning, I feel

We're already using the Snuza breathing monitor and will definitely continue. I still wake up several times a night to check on him, particularly if he stirs/makes piglet noises, I'm very tuned into what he does by now so Snuza is only a little, but a worthy helper.

I think I will buy a video monitor which I'll use for his daytime naps (if he's in the cot, not in the pram close to me) and overnight, again in addition to checking on him which I'm sure I will do anyway. I'm just thinking whether I need the Angelcare one with the pad which monitors movements or whether to just go for a standard audio video one. Some also come with an app. DH likes this idea but I am not convinced when would we ever use it? I envisage having my monitor with me wherever I go, minus toilet trips probably. But maybe it is more practical than I think?

@biscuitcat How are you all coping with covid? Are you feeling well?

I went to see my GP today and apparently my wound opening is superficial and nothing to worry about, so no restitching for me. He swabbed it today and omfg, it hurt! He switched me back to the previous antibiotics as the latest lot has done absolutely nothing. Swab results should be back by Monday, I really hope these antibiotics sort it out now.

We are yet to try baby Gaviscon, I've decided not to medicate him if not necessary. Some days he's good, others he projectile vomits twice a day and a bit more after each feed. I'll watch him this week and then decide. Is it really working for those of you using it? xx

And I've just survived an hour of inconsolable screaming 🤷🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️ Full belly, fresh nappy, temp all good, zero reason for this. Didn't want to feed more even though I practically shoved my boob in his face. I sang to him and he's now happily napping on my chest, cuddled up I'm a shit singer, btw. Pretty sure this is another growth spurt and he's overtired and doesn't know what he wants sometimes. xx

@PurplePansy05 we also have the Snuza. As you say we frequently check but it does give me a huge peace of mind. I genuinely don't think I would sleep without it! He doesn't wear it all the time, only when we're asleep too. Just one thing we found about the under mattress monitors - not all mattresses are compatible with them. Ours is from the little green sheep and is not compatible.

We have a video monitor that we will use when he's in his own room. It has two way sound so we would hear the Snuza monitor go off too. Our house is old and stone so you can't hear easily between the room. It's the BT one so it doesn't have the app, but you can take the screen around with you, which I think I prefer. But we haven't used it yet so no idea really!

I'm also a shit singer but DS doesn't seem to mind!!

@dirtyfries We were advised the same as you and don't wake for night feeds. Very much like most of you describe, DS gets fed whenever he wants and sleeps whenever he needs to. We stimulate him during the day and then wind down gradually and his routine generally suits us. Everything is however baby led atm, I'd love him to nap more during the day to have some breaks, but then he sleeps well at night most nights. Can't have it all, I guess xx

My thoughts exactly re monitors, @Daffodil21, glad you said that xx

@PurplePansy05 totally right that it’s just the beginning! I also can’t bear to get rid of his newborn stuff so I fear I’ll be hoarding little baby clothes forever! Glad Leo has settled now and wound looking okay. Gaviscon didn’t do much for us apart from constipate him (properly, the poo was hard and pellety) we go better at giving him anti reflux formula before bed- he’s still pretty sicky though and we make sure we keep him upright but that doesn’t always help- sometimes he projectiles 1.5 hours after a feed 🤷🏼‍♀️ Am hoping as his system matures he gets better.

Hmm, I think I like the idea of an app and a screen if that exists, I like the idea that I could not be home and checking in on him (I don’t mean leaving him home alone btw, I mean when you go out baby free lol) and a screen for round the flat? But some of these monitors seem all signing all dancing, telling you quality of sleep and all sorts

Well we're resorting to a drive in the car. While she's not crying just now she's also not asleep. Still. She's had the odd doze since 6.30am but that's it.

@Inmypjsagain as much as he's my precious first born, I haven't gone mad to check quality of his sleep on a baby monitor 🤣🤣🤣 marketing gimmicks know no boundaries, right??

See, I'd rather not become a prisoner of the app. When I'm out, I'm out and don't want to keep looking at it every 5 mins.

I can't use that special formula, HV said it's specifically for FF babies and it would make his reflux worse after BF. It's a shame as I'd gladly use it if he needs a formula top up. xx

Each day seems to be completely random for us but nights are very much the same every time. He can either not sleep at all (apart from the odd 20 minute nap in the car etc) or he can have one big sleep after another and yet when he gets to bed he still sleeps the same and the build up to it is still as traumatic with the screaming, it’s so strange!

Been out for a walk with a friend and her 1.5 year old today and as hard work as a newborn is, I’d definitely rather be in my boat than hers 😂 Her little boy is just constant and doesn’t nap at all. He was trying to climb out the pram while we walked and I was just looking at Freddie innocently snoozing away in the pram, not a sound out him the whole walk, thinking I have it easy here 🙈

Drove today with him in the back for the first time (until now every time we’ve gone in the car I’ve sat in the back with him 😂). It was one of those moments when you realise you’re an adult! Driving along looking in the mirror at my baby sitting in the back. Even though I’ve seen him plenty of times in the house, pram etc and not felt like an adult, something about driving him somewhere did it 😂

@Inmypjsagain Elliot is now out of 0-3 and in 3-6 month clothes () so yesterday I decided we need to put away all his 0-3 clothes but I'm going to just put them in the bottom drawer we're not using atm - still haven't actually put them 'away' though! I'm going to get my favourite onesie made into a memory bear for him 🥰 I can't believe I'm already packing away clothes he's grown out of!!!

@sarah13xx I though that too yesterday when I drove with him for the first time!! Even though I'm 30 YO, when I was driving and checking on him in the back, I was thinking 'wow I feel like an adult now' 😂

Yep being able to put them down and know they'll be where you left them, even if they do scream is a bonus of this age for sure :o

We had to replace our monitor and I have one from Lionelo now. Would recommend if you're looking for video on a budget. They are a polish company, there are hundreds of Chinese no brands on Amazon and we used one of those, lent from a friend, and found it awful. But this Lionelo one you can tell it's cheap but it's not diabolical cheap if that makes sense.

I've been to see my friend today and it was so lovely to have a conversation! She has two children so it was great to talk about how she found it coping with newborn and toddler.

@PurplePansy05 right 😂 also my Fitbit often tells me I’ve had a great sleep where I wake up feeling awful, so I’m dubious anyway! one of the nct girls got the snoo: happiestbaby.co.uk/products/snoo-smart-bassinet it rocks the baby for them and does all sorts!

@Ready2020 hope the drive does the trick!

@sarah13xx I was thinking this earlier, at the moment we’re going on nice walks and I can chill out when he naps watching rubbish tv and scrolling my phone. When he’s more interactive that’s going to change and some of the toddlers I know/have seen, look totally exhausting!!!

@Daffodil21 aw that’s a lot of clothes to be putting away! We’re lucky we’re still in 0-3 apart from onesies with feet as he’s generally too long for those, so tops and trousers are okay as long as his ankles and feet can stick out! Memory bear is such a good idea but I think I could end up with 100 of them. I got a bit sad when he went into size 2 nappies! I can’t believe how quickly they grow 😭

It's good though because intense as newborns are in a way you're being eased in slowly. It would be mad to be dumped in it straight away with a toddler!

I did save some of DS2's clothes and put them in a multi picture frame from IKEA.

All the stuff they need definitely mounts up but it's kind of front loaded as they grow so fast in the first few years. We haven't really bought DS1 anything due to outgrowing it except clothes and shoes since he was ten and needed a new school bag! He'll be 13 in a couple of weeks.

@Daffodil21 so ridiculous how moments like that seem to do it 😂

@Inmypjsagain yeah this was, he was non-stop and I only saw him for an hour 🙈 they just scream and have a tantrum when they don’t get what they want too, at least if he cries just now I know it’s either hunger or nappy and I can fix it quickly. He can just stay small for a while longer thanks 😂

I got given a voucher as a present to have his clothes made into a bear. Breaks my heart that things don’t fit him anymore but the only positive is thinking I will probably use these tiny clothes again one day, I can’t imagine the feeling if it’s your last baby 😭

It is so strange to think that this time when he was super tiny is gone forever. It makes me sad. And that I might never go through this again. I'm undecided about having more DCs, I sometimes feel maybe this is it, I've finally hit the jackpot with him and maybe best not to jinx it in case it just won't happen for me. Deep inside I'd like more though. It's a sensitive topic for me, I find, somewhat unexpectedly. I need a lot more time to consider things.

On a brighter note, @Inmypjsagain you've given me a laugh of my life after I've opened that link 🤣🤣🤣 Honestly, I can't stop giggling, who the hell would buy this, at this price???

Confession of the day, DH and I had sex last night. First time in 26 weeks (I was worried about the pregnancy). It was...interesting! Has anyone else tried yet?? xx

@PurplePansy05 thanks for asking lovely - we're all well! On the worst day it was like a medium-bad cold, now feeling totally recovered apart from the odd little cough, though lateral flows are still positive (less positive though - at first it was a super dark line that came up before the control!)

We've not had sex yet but only because my scar opened up a tiny bit and I didn't want to risk it! We've not waited so long though, last had it on the morning I went into labour! Hopefully be good to go in the next week or so...

We have a video monitor, but went for one that doesn't have an app or use internet as our wifi signal at home is appalling so it just wouldn't work I don't think.

@Inmypjsagain the Snoo looks amazing! One of my NCT friends bought a second hand one. When I win the lottery that's the type of thing I'll definitely buy

@dirtyfries we don't wake to feed, but sadly for us he very rarely goes long without waking himself up! We don't have much of a routine, but he seems fairly consistently to wake at 2:30 and 5:30/6 for night feeds (no matter the time he goes to sleep 😓) - otherwise we just follow his lead. Today has been a very sleepy day, but other days he hardly naps at all.

I’m glad I’m not the only only predicting that the Snuzpod won’t last beyond four months. I’m quite irritated given it isn’t a cheap piece of kit and promises six months!

For daytime naps, DS sleeps in the Sleepyhead - so DH or I always supervise as they aren’t approved for safe sleeping. During daytime naps we keep usual daytime noise going - hoover, music, TV, talking. Sleeping isnf a problem - not during the day! I’m listening to a little grizzly baby in the snuzpod beside me however at night…

What are people thinking for going away overnight or for weekends with babies? I’d like to go away for a long weekend next month but not sure if it’s foolish

The car did not work. She's slept around 2 hours since 7am. She's exhausted. I've ran out of options so just going back to the start.

@PurplePansy05 it’s a lot isn’t it, pre baby we were looking into you know! But it just seems so OTT but it works for some, the nct friend would recommend it but I think the babies need to be weaned off it, because it rocks and plays white noise and stuff, going into a bog standard crib seems a bit rubbish after that. Anyway our babies hate the swaddle so the snoo would be out on that basis! When you say it was interesting…?! We haven’t but we’re always with the baby!

@biscuitcat how’s your friend getting on with it? I’m not sure I’d buy for the reasons above but if it works it’s probably great! glad you're feeling okay

@RandomCatGenerator I think a lot of people have moaned the snuzpod is small which is a shame because it’s £200 isn’t it? We’ve booked a long weekend away, it’s about a 2 hour drive. Think we’re being a bit optimistic but I’ll report back. I think we just have to take alot of stuff with us and hope he naps in the pram because I don’t want to stay in all day while he sleeps… but let’s see!