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 💖

@PurplePansy05 sort of. We've set him up an account we can put gifted money for him in. It's with virgin purely because it's the only one on our high street. We have to give 30 days notice to access any money but there's an interest rate of 1.1%. We're not going to be regularly putting money into it for the time being

Yeah I know, Bertie, I was just being lazy and couldn't be arsed to look up having just gone through comparing insurance policies for just about everything! I think the point is more about the type of product first, not just the most attractive rates. Like @biscuitcat says there are various options out there (and some really good points about access to money later on). I might have a word with my old friend who's an IFA, trouble is he is ridiculously busy! xx

@sarah13xx I feel like maybe I should do more with her now hearing what you ladies are doing 🥴 I sing to her sometimes and talk to her when we're changing her nappy etc but if we're watching tv or whatever I don't sit there and talk to her although most of the time she's sleeping 🤣

@Magik01 she mostly falls asleep when we feed but when I burp her if she wakes then I'll always offer the other breast but 9 times out of 10 she'll stay half asleep 🙈

@PurplePansy05 like you well be opening an account for DD to put any birthday, Christmas money into and we're going to do a standing order a month of maybe even like £10 to go into the account. Every little helps!

Also my first experience in looking after a small baby whilst ill🥴 thought j may have Covid so done a couple of tests but all negative, my tonsils are all swollen and had to get a breast feeding safe spray from the pharmacy and then last night I had a terrible fever 🥶

Definitely, @lucyrp, every penny counts. That must be so hard, I fear looking after DS when ill. I've arranged flu jabs for me and DH and worry I'll feel rubbish again after it, it'll be so hard. Big hugs xx

@lucyrp hopefully not and you’re feeling better soon. Have you done a PCR test or lateral flow? I know so many people just now who have tested positive but their lateral flows all said negative

We have a cheque and some cash that’s been sent for him and I was planning to open him an account at the bank we’re with (bank of Scotland) but im now thinking I should really go for the one with the best interest rates. My friends work for santander and are always going on about how good their interest is but I don’t have a clue

My joints absolutely wreck today. Wrists and knees are so sore - knees when I knee down or move too fast, wrists basically all the time. Elbows also sore too.

Is anyone else having this? Apparently it’s more common if you’re breastfeeding or expressing breast milk. I don’t want problems to store up for future. :(

@lucyrp interest rates on saving accounts are so rubbish. I would recommend a stocks and shares ISA - I have mine with Nutmeg and have been really pleased with the returns having had it for about five years. You can opt for lower or higher risk depending on your level of risk appetite.

I’m not a financial adviser but thought I’d put my experience out there :) my savings account is so rubbish, it’s like 0.25%…

@PurplePansy05 even £10 a month will be a couple of thousand by the time they're 18. It was very hard last night, I feel slightly better today. I was gagging all day yesterday on my tonsils which was horrible. Hopefully be better soon xx

@sarah13xx no but I've booked a PCR now both lateral flows said negative but I know they can be wrong either way.

@RandomCatGenerator I've been really stiff and still am since giving birth, I feel like an old woman! Yeah my savings account is absolutely crap I think I got 1p in interest last year from it 😂

Bit of a gross one but has anyone else found their blood loss doesn't smell very nice at all?🥴 I'm nearly 4 weeks post partum and very minimal loss but I'm so fed up of wearing pads as I'm usually a tampon/ cup girl and so never notice the period smell as such but I can definitely notice it now 🥴

I've got the joint thing too! But in my feet/ankles! I'm so glad you said this (but sorry you have it too!)

My wrists have been sore but I think it's just carrying a baby around. I spent the last month of my pregnancy doing feck all then suddenly I'm bending and carrying and walking.

Had my hair cut now out for a solo lunch while OH has DD at a baby sensory class. I'm sad to miss her first class but it's so nice to have this time. I really hope they're getting on OK. I tried to get her down for a nap before we left but no joy. So when we're back in the house it's nap time whether she likes it or not. We can't repeat what happened yesterday!

My wrists are weaker but I think it's from holding DS during bf/naps. I should probably watch my calcium intake.

Stocks & shares ISA research will have to be done. I will also look into some alternatives like Wealthify, I think they do a children ISA. So fee up with rubbish rates, I'd rather my hard saved money was worth more once DS is given it, not less!

Re blood loss - tbh I've always used pads so used to the slight odour, however haven't noticed it being any different after the birth xx

Going to look at a car tomorrow and I have such anxiety about buying a car, especially just from a private seller with our history of luck with cars however it's all we can afford so we have to go with it. We will have been without w car for 3 weeks and its been horrendous. Not sure il know what to do when I get in a car again!

My physio who I saw today said the breastfeeding hormones make everything relax like when you’re pregnant. She said that it can take up to 3 months after stopping breastfeeding for that effect to stop too.

She says I’m in generally good shape though which is good. I’ve got a bit of separation in my abs but underneath that it’s strong which is the main thing. I have a very minor anterior (bladder) prolapse but it should get better with some exercises and stretches. She says every woman who has ever had a child has some grade of weakness in the pelvic floor and walls. She made me feel so much better about everything too. I’d really recommend getting a mummy mot if you can!

Do you know much about the mechanics or have any friends who do? I would take them with you.That's what we would do if we were buying a second hand car. We are totally clueless.

Just wondering if any of you have any knowledge/advice.

So I'm pumping one feed per day, the rest is formula fed. I'm thinking of stopping the pumping. DS is 6 weeks old on Monday. Is there a certain week that I should aim to get to before I stop pumping so he benefits? Is one feed per day even that beneficial? We've been out most of the day today and I haven't pumped enough, so he's not actually going to get a BM feed today. He didn't the other day either for the same reason (I feel I may as well wait until there's a full feed to give him). My boobs look like they've shrunk back to normal size now and I'm wondering if I should just call it a day

@lucyrp Change of smell can mean an infection so get it checked out if you get any more symptoms or if it doesn't go away. I've had it twice, once after a missed miscarriage and once after DS1 was born. 😕 Antibiotics cleared it up really quickly both times.

Had a terrible night last night, couldn't get back to sleep after the 3am feed/change until about 6, and then DS1 woke up twenty minutes later. So exhausted, and I can't even blame the baby as he was sleeping peacefully in between, it was just me that couldn't sleep. 😖

Just saw your message @Daffodil21. Any amount of breastmilk is beneficial in the first few years, but that doesn't mean you have to keep pumping if you'd like to stop. I absolutely hate pumping so in my opinion you've done really well getting so far! Have you had your covid vaccinations? If you were still due to get them then that might be one reason to keep pumping as then baby would get some antibodies from you afterwards. If you did want to keep going I think @BertieBotts recommended Lucy Ruddle for mixed feeding suggestions and help with increasing supply. Also I'm pretty sure breast size doesn't correlate to reduced supply, mine aren't as big as they were post-birth but definitely still producing lots. Someone else might be able to confirm/deny though.

@afictionado I have had the Covid vaccine but I also had it while I was pregnant so he should still have some immunity without breast milk I think.

How big are your houses? I'm feeling a bit claustrophobic in our house just now. We have a 3 bed new build but it's a fairly small 3 bed. The bedrooms are fine but the downstairs space just stresses me out. We have a lounge/diner with French doors to the garden, a loo, hall and small kitchen where 2 people can just about stand together.

Me, OH, DD and 2 cats live here. I think my issue is we don't have another room downstairs to put DD when she's in her bassinet so we have to be so quiet in the evening. Plus one of our cats is testing us to the absolute limit. He's 14 and deaf and food obsessed. If you go near the kitchen he will start meowing his head off. If you have food then he'll follow you about yowling. He's always been like that, it's not new but when you have a sleeping baby it's so stressful.

The lounge isn't huge and needs to fit sofa, table, cat tray (milo gets shut in at night as he's so loud) plus clothes horse if it's rainy, plus the baby things now. It just feels small!

Small win today in that I managed to get DD down without boob. Seems small but I always rely on boob all the time so feel like I'm failing a bit by not being able to sooth her myself.

@Daffodil21 He should have some immunity then. 🙂 Good luck deciding what you want to do! You've done really well to get this far pumping.

Sorry @afictionado I just caught my last message and it read a little short! I certainly didn't mean it to! In my head I'm maybe thinking to persevere until he's at least had his vaccinations in a couple of weeks, although im sure the two aren't really linked.

@Ready2020 we live in NE Scotland, so thankfully our house is quite big (lower house prices!) . The house we sold in south(ish) England was a small 3 bed and I definitely would have felt claustrophobic in it with a baby, DH and our two cats. We also don't have to be quiet around DS when he's sleeping thankfully. That must be a pain!

@BertieBotts can I ask a car seat question? Do you know much about the cost n safe xcalibur? It would be for ds so he's 3.5 though not using it until December time so he would be 3y9momths - I don't think he's mature enough for a high back booster. I want to bring a seat with me when we go to in-laws at Christmas the baby seat they have i don't believe is safe. They got it second hand off fb from someone they don't know and it even looks old and worn. They also bought a highback booster which they say is for ds for this trip with the other seat for dd. The high back booster I'm ok with his using when he is a bit older as at least I know who it came from and that it hasn't been in an accident and how old it is.
Dd will not be using the car seat under any circumstances, I'm planning on bringing her infant carrier for this trip so I am hoping to find a 1,2,3 potentially so that ds can use it this trip and then dd can use it on future trips and ds can have the highback.
But then the xcalibur is forward facing online which is fine for ds but not so good for dd as she will likely need it from either a year or definitely around 18months. I would prefer not to spend too much as we are talking a car seat that is going to be used for approx 4 weeks per year. Ds currently in a joie 360 but he's close to outgrowing it, borderline too tall already and about 17kg(it's hard to get a 3 year old to stand still long enough on a bathroom scale!)
I know you had a blog but I can't find/remember the link for it? Sorry for the long waffly post 🙈