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 are in a newbuild too gro egg has been 21-23 last few weeks. Finally under 20 today, so I am trying a 2.5 tog sleep bag with a long sleeve vest and see how we go!
Anyone else's LO strain in their sleep? Sometimes it wakes him up, other times he is really noisy in the night with it.

We are currently sitting about 18 tonight though I think it feels cold. I think it's a bit cooler in our bedroom about 17 maybe as the window has been on the latch all day. I have put dd in 2.5 tog sleeping bag and vest and babygrow. Shes been a bit unsettled tonight so I've given up sitting downstairs and am now feeding her in bed in the dark with some white noise. I think she's tired but I am also convinced she has silent reflux and I think it's starting to really bother her. She will be sleeping and then suddenly it's like she gagging on something and wakes up with a sore cry. And chewing as if shes to eating. Similar to the reaxtion I got when trying to give her calpol or a bottle of room temp formula. When I mentioned it to gp before he was just saying well they grow out of it. But she seems really uncomfortable even though she isn't actually being sick with it.

@PurplePansy05 yes dd was exactly the same after her vaccines. By that evening I was starting to get worried shed slept so much and wasn't really as interested in feeds. She was a bit happier the following day after them though I felt she had a bit of a temperature the following evening so about 36 hours after jabs so have her more calpol then. She was back to happy self the following day.

We're in a new build too. Currently the nightlight reckons were sitting at 21 but it feels cold to me 🥶

I think we live in a sauna 😂 we have no heating on and our bedroom is 24 each night, it is today too, we’ve bought 3 thermometers to check because it doesn’t feel that warm but I suppose we’ve acclimatised! I’ve never had him in a vest, baby grow and sleeping bag as he’d boil! I was struggling to know what to take him out in today for a walk, I think I will get a pram suit because the blankets didn’t seem proper if that makes sense?

@Smallbean27 yes lots of straining here, goes on for ages but I’m not sure if it’s just normal active sleep and sounds like straining? He rarely poos overnight and it’s like he’s trying really hard to fart!

Today was the first day he’s been out in a pram suit. He looked soo cute in it 🙈 can’t wait to see him in all his winter stuff! I put him in the carrier but it was as if the suit was too rigid to let his legs bend out properly so he was just crying til I took him out. I have some that are fleecey material instead of like jacket material so they might be more likely to bend for in the carrier

@sarah13xx the winter stuff is too cute isn’t it! All the little hats and booties! Where was your pram suit from? There’s so many to choose from! I was looking at Mori ones? I’m also confused about pram suits and carriers because I saw a thread on here ages ago about babies over heat in them because they get so much heat from the wearer…. So what on Earth do you take them out in?!

As cute as the winter clothes are I think I’m already finding it harder to dress him!

I’ve got about 10 pages to catch up on but @wimbler I’ve just seen your post after the vbac, sorry to hear that it’s getting you down. You did an amazing thing, hopefully if you keep going with your pelvic floor exercises it’ll improve. Keep the faith

I had my mummy MoT earlier this week and I’d really recommend it to everyone. I’ve been given some exercises to do which are standard but they look at pelvic floor health and separation of stomach muscles. SHe had me doing squats and single leg raises etc to check core stuff and it was really good because it confirmed to me how I was feeling about recovery.(I was worried I was overdoing it because I felt fine!) She checked my scar too. Feeling confident about starting exercise again, I’m going to wait until I’m 12 weeks pp but I’ll get back to jogging. Joined a gym with membership starting from 1st October, I’m excited!

@Inmypjsagain there's a couple of metal fasteners on the front of my carrier so atm I'm hooking a crocheted blanket on them so it falls over his legs. My friend was telling me about little foot muff things you can get as well. Other than that we'll be using the cost over us both when it arrives

@Inmypjsagain it is! The one he had on today was a present from a local shop but he’s also got that same material type one from silver cross, mayoral and h&m (various sizes). The material ones are from the white company but I saw those mori ones today, I love them! The mori stuff is all so lovely. I have no idea what I’ll do about that in the winter. Today’s pram suit was very thin and more of a waterproof type material rather than padded but I can imagine the other ones would be too warm in there when they’re pushed so close into you. I think that’s where the jacket with the panel would be really good 🤔 thinking of buying the universal panel so I can zip it into a few of my jackets rather than buy a jacket. Saw a seraphine one I loved (with 20% off deal on) but it was £180 or something 🙄

@wimbler I had a prolapse with my first birth and it got better with pelvic floor exercises. I wish I could remember how long it took because it's come back again this time which I guess isn't unexpected, but I hate it! So uncomfortable and much harder to rest with a toddler and a newborn. Online I have only been able to find horror stories but honestly last time it went away to the point where I never ever noticed it and I was able to walk everywhere while carrying a toddler with absolutely no issues. In fact I had forgotten about it until it came back after this birth! Really hoping that's the case this time round as well, and hopefully for you too.

For carrying in winter pramsuits are no good (too hot and they can't bend their legs enough), an oversized coat or babywearing jacket is much easier and requires less putting on/off of clothes. Otherwise I use thick legwarmers and warm booties if I'm not wearing a coat.

The Mori ones are lovely @Inmypjsagain. I have pramsuits for DS from Next, in sizes 3-6 and 6-9 m. I also have a winter jacket for him in size 6-12 (gifted). I think it's the thick padded ones that are not supposed to be used with carriers, the material ones should be ok.

I might buy from Mori next year, I think this year he'll just grow out of them so fast that it wasn't worth a major investment. When he starts walking I'll definitely get him something decent. For now as long as he's cosy and comfy, I'm happy.

I wasn't going to start using the pramsuit till it gets really cold 😳 think I might need to reassess this 🙈

I have the Seraphine 3 in 1 parka @sarah13xx. If you did NCT I think they gave out a discount code for purchases over £100, £20 off from what I remember. Mine was bought on sale, it was down to £99 at the time. It's brilliant. I love it so much. DH's panel is made to measure by a local seamstress, I took his coat and the carrier, bought a zip off eBay following her advice, picked the material and she made it for him. It's brilliant. It's the same shape as the ZipUsIn but much nicer material to match his winter coat. xx

@PurplePansy05 aw that sounds lovely! That’s the problem with the zipusin or these type of ones, they just look like a black bag attached to the front of whatever nice coat you have 🙄 the seraphine ones look amazing! Would stretch to £100 I think but even with the 20% off coats just now it would still be £150. There are some other makes that look nice for about £100. Would treat myself to stuff like that usually but I’m very conscious of only getting 3 months full pay just now before it drops down and I’m having to use it for Christmas presents 🙈 but then I definitely would get the use out of it, especially as he gets bigger and I use the carrier more and I could always use it with a future baby/pregnancy.. decisions 🤷🏼‍♀️

On another note is anyone else just not missing work at all? I’m not planning to go back for quite a while, probably early summer next year, but I can’t seem to just put it to the back of my mind. I think I’m just realising how unhappy I actually am in my job. The girl who takes the class we went to today used to be a teacher and it seems like a great business she’s set up. I just always think there aren’t any other options really so plod on for another year at it 🙄 If I was to stay teaching after maternity I think it will only be for the stability of maternity leave with the next one and if I only want a 3 year age gap then I’ll go back one full year, then try to get pregnant again the following year then off on maternity the next year. Quite a sad way to live your life though, only staying for the security of the maternity pay and it’s not even great 🙄

@Inmypjsagain yes that sounds the same! I read it can just be them getting used to things until their system matures.
I bought a seraphine coat in pregnancy the Parker and it is great! It has the extra panel which I haven't used yet, plenty of room to put extra layers underneath. I will also wear it as a normal coat, it looks nice without a bump or baby!

@sarah13xx YES. I can't think of anything worse than going back to work. I really don't want to but I have to. We haven't purchased a house yet so I need to go back to build up our deposit but omg it's such an awful job. I mean it isn't in terms of pay, flexibility, bonus, location etc. but the people k enjoyed working with don't work their anhmore and our boss is just god awful and she's changed the work uniform policy to be ridiculously strict which rules our Anything I enjoy doing I.e no nails, minimal make up which rules out my lashes and jewellery et. and j just think what's the point in going to a job you hate which now rules your life outside of work too.. I'm not 12 I'm not going fo school anymore... I have fo return for 4.5 months so I don't owe my enhanced pay back but my god it's given me
Something to think about 😔

@sarah13xx yes I also really don't want to go back to my job but need to unfortunately. I'm trying to find a different one within the same place so I don't have to pay back maternity pay but my last applicant didn't even make it to interview. I guess doing job applications will 4 week old baby wasn't a good plan. Shame really as the job sounded good. I'll keep a look out though as jobs pop up often in my work (Scottish Government) so I'll hopefully find something more suitable.

DD chose tonight of all nights to do a cluster feed and my ear phones have ran out of juice and my glasses are at the other end of the room so I'm getting eye strain! O hope this is the snooze that will stick and can put her down.

I really wish you hadn't all said about the seraphine Parker because I just googled it and it is lovely!!!!

@sarah13xx I don't have a job to go back to...! But no, not missing it!

I'm loving being off and it's been a great time for it to be able to settle ds into nursery school also but I do miss work. I miss my colleagues and am eager to meet my kids and check in on my returning couple. I don't miss the planning or paperwork though. I'm sure I'd probably want to be back off again within a couple of days of returning though. And I'm not particularly looking forward to dd having to go to creche so young (my mum took ds when I went back last time so that wasnt a worry as I knew he had her undivided attention!) but it is what it is we can't afford for me to be on statutory maternity pay only when the time comes.

Is this the magic of co sleeping? DD was very unsettled tonight and was actually proper waking up after feeds. I relented and brought her into the bed next to me and fed her lying down then she fell asleep. I must have dozed a bit and woke up with her in a proper deep sleep. So much so I think I've disturbed her with checking she was breathing

I guess her being next to me has comforted her enough to sleep better. I really didn't want to go down the road of co sleeping but I can see why it's done. It's pretty cosy. I really want her to go into her own room when allowed. Will co sleeping make that transition harder?

I think my period is on its way - how can I expect it to be? Is it likely to be just as normal or worse..? I had a CS if that makes any difference? My cycles were longer than average pre-pregnancy, sometimes up to 43 days so I naively thought it would be ages until my period returned!

Really, really bad timing as I'm getting a train for 10.5 hours on Monday, and then spending the week at my mum's and going to meet various people so they can meet Elliot for the first time. Of all the bloody times! Excuse the pun 😳

Thankfully I have loads of maternity pads left and also some of those underwear pad things as my post birth bleeding wasn't too bad. Think I'm going to be needing them!!

Still can't stop thinking about that beautiful coat 😂

@Ready2020 glad she's settled!!

@Daffodil21 she did just wake herself up with an almighty scary cry that I've never heard before. Like she was proper freaked I out. Didn't like that at all!

Also looked up the coat and it's lovely!

@Daffodil21 I doubt CS is relevant to periods returning early, that will be to do with BF hormones possibly - I read periods tend to return later if you BF which would tie in with having better protection from pregnancy during that time (although it's not guaranteed).

Re the parka, the baby panel is completely removable so it can be used as a normal coat. I needed a nice parka anyway as my previous one wasn't waterproof, so made an investment in the Seraphine one. I think mine was originally £159, I bought few months ago though, not sure if they have these exact ones anymore and they've probably put their prices up before winter. Not a cheap brand anyway, and this parka is actually the first product I'm happy with from them. Be careful that they send it to you with the baby panel if you order - I bought another lighter 3 in 1 from them and it wasn't nice and clearly it was a return and someone has taken away the baby panel I've had several bad experiences with Seraphine 🤣

Re work, I love what I do and have a great team and I miss my job actually. I could do it for a day per week to have a break and intellectual stimulation. I find parenting full time much harder than my day job, I suppose I've had enough experience in it that it comes easy to me now. It's demanding, but I have a new perspective on what "demanding" means since having DS 🤣 I will definitely return before a full year, we can't afford more than 9-10 months off and I too only get 3 months enhanced. But I will be changing jobs by the end of 2022, 100%. I have constant approaches from recruiters and they all pay more, so I need to pull my finger out and get myself out there. I have a new found motivation not because I'm ambitious and doing it for me anymore, I'm doing it for DS. Also need good flexibility, but I think this has really changed for better after the pandemic anyway which is great. xx

@Ready2020

Is this the magic of co sleeping? DD was very unsettled tonight and was actually proper waking up after feeds. I relented and brought her into the bed next to me and fed her lying down then she fell asleep. I must have dozed a bit and woke up with her in a proper deep sleep. So much so I think I've disturbed her with checking she was breathing

I guess her being next to me has comforted her enough to sleep better. I really didn't want to go down the road of co sleeping but I can see why it's done. It's pretty cosy. I really want her to go into her own room when allowed. Will co sleeping make that transition harder?

Yes definitely related to cosleeping in my experience!

I don't think that putting them in their own room after cosleeping is harder necessarily, except for the fact that you have this knowledge that they will go back to sleep so easily and stay asleep if you give in and bring them back in, so it's really really tempting to give in.

I think a lot of the time as well cosleeping is associated with a parenting style that encourages doing it for as long as possible so you often don't find there is much overlap between cosleeping and transitioning to another room before say a year or two. In theory it can be done! In my experience I just didn't want to because I like cosleeping and it gets me sleep so I had no reason to move them out earlier. I don't personally want to do sleep training so I don't expect them to be sleeping through at 6 months and for me the idea of walking back and forth to another room is a bit silly (and IME doesn't magically make them sleep through by itself). If you had a baby who sleeps well anyway or you are happy to do sleep training then maybe it makes more sense. We did move DS2 to his room for the evenings when he was about 1.

@PurplePansy05 the seraphine parka is still £159 and they actually have 20% off coats at the moment with the code COATS20 which makes it about £127 I think ! Xx