Newborn support thread anyone?

[Icloud54]

I've got 4 week old DS and just wondering if any mums out there with similar age DC would like a support thread for this tiring stage?

My DD spends so much time on Roblox and watching YouTube. I feel awful but we’ll all get better at juggling both children soon.

I’m also expressing milk. We tried BF but we got the latch wrong and the pain was excruciating. I now express 3x a day but started doing it every two hours. That was exhausting and just not manageable. 3x still feels like a lot but I really want to keep it going until at least Christmas (hopefully longer) to try and get DD through the cold and flu season.

@BeingATwatItsABingThing yep I feel like DS is on YouTube constantly. I expressed for DS and I remember how hard it was. I’m breastfeeding DD which is definitely easier but she’s developed allergies (suspected cmpa) so it’s been horrible seeing her uncomfortable and I’m having to exclude a lot of things from my diet to try and stop her reactions.

@OneIsAWorldOfBooks

Oh bless her! Hopefully changing your diet will help her feel better.

I expressed for 3 months with DD1 (she had a tongue tie) so I know I can do it but it’s still exhausting.

Not sure how everyone’s coping with toddlers as well as new borns. I’m already feeling guilt for my 11 month old dog who is getting significantly less attention since baby arrived!
@BeingATwatItsABingThing I’m expressing too but despite being only 5lb 14oz she is currently eating more than I can possibly pump! Had to do a bit of power pumping yesterday evening just to get through the night. I try to top up with formula but she doesn’t like it!
I use the haakaas which suction on and I can wear them while I feed her. Then I use electric pump 3x a day too. I feel like a cow 🐮

@booandbumpp

I too feel like a dairy cow. We’re doing a combination of formula and expressed milk. I wouldn’t be able to keep up either. DD was 8lb 2oz when she was born and 9lb at her most recent weigh at 2 weeks.

@BeingATwatItsABingThing @booandbumpp

DD was only 4lb 4oz and on NICU when she was born so I had a bit of a head start on the expressing front — my supply outstripped her demand by a long way for a long while. She’s catching up to me now but I have a stockpile in the freezer so after I stop she can still have my milk for a few weeks. Have started to offer her a formula feed a day now though to get her tummy used to it because of trying to wind things down. I pumped every 3 hours from when she was in the NICU so I think my boobs think I’m feeding some very hungry twins... 🤦🏼‍♀️ Going to take me a while to stop, I’ve already had one bout of mastitis and I’m pretty sure I have another blocked duct developing... Eek!

I’ve rented the Medela Symphony because I used it in the hospital and was blown away by how efficient it was. With DD1 I bought the Phillips Avent one and it was nowhere near as effective as this one.

Do your babies suddenly wake up screaming for a feed at the same time as you sit down to pump too?!

I am also feeling guilty about eldest - he is 7 and has started to cry at drop-off, asking to stay home with me and it is heart breaking...

It feels crazy that I am finding this stage so hard, having done it before I thought it would be easier!

to everyone else having a tough time too.

@milknapplayrepeat yes she does! Fast asleep and as SOON as I start pumping she’s rooting. Think she can smell it.
I am giving her one formula feed a day too to give me time to get ahead but she just doesn’t like it as much and it takes aaggeesss to get down her. She can drink 100mls of breast milk no problem but formula if I can get 40mls down her it’s a triumph. I want to try to get 8 weeks expressing I think but we’ll see what happens ha.

@milknapplayrepeat

You’re doing really well! I have the Medela Swing pump that we bought when DD1 was about 2 weeks old. I ended up being hospitalised with mastitis for a week with her and we bought the pump to help with that. I had the beginnings of mastitis again this time but managed to pump it away before it got too bad. I get 1-2 feeds each time I pump now. Luckily DD2 takes formula quite happily so we’re alternating.

Can I join too, not sure if we still count as newborn any more? FTM to a 9 week old girl. We are struggling with PND, colic and reflux.

You can definitely join @Superscientist

• reflux, colic and PND sound like an extraordinarily tough combination. And are you getting good enough help for the reflux and the depression?

Welcome to the sleep deprived club @Superscientist

It sounds like you’ve had a really tough start with your DD. Hopefully it starts to get better for you.

Welcome @Superscientist!

How's everyone's day going today?
My little one has had an ok (ish) day but I'm soooo tired, I'm plodding along though, also not looking forward to this evening when things usually notch up in the crying department.

@Icloud54

I feel almost human today. I managed to do some washing and did DD1’s homework with her. We’re now sat watching Mary Poppins together as a treat for her.

I have a very sicky baby today! He can’t take a bottle without vomiting some back up eventually! Although he hadn’t done a poo at all yesterday & he’s just done a massive explosion so hoping that’s why he had been sicky & we’re not going down the reflux route

Welcome @Superscientist! Sounds like you’re having a really rough time, sending big hugs your way ❤️ I hope you’re talking to someone about the PND? It can be so isolating.

@Icloud54 Our day has been okay! Well, aside from one dramatic half an hour when my DH decided to take DD1 with him to Tesco to “give me a break”... Cue DD2 having a meltdown for milk so I got her a bottle and no sooner had I got it in her mouth than she does a massive poo explosion and then spilt a whole glass of Dr Pepper down the sofa. Then, when I put her down to deal with the spillage and change her, she sicks all around her neck and into her hair... I mean, come onnnn! Needless to say I’ve treated myself to a glass of red this evening. Cheers, ladies! 🍷 Here’s to the joys of motherhood!

Thanks for the welcome. I'm seeing the perinatal mental health team and getting extra support from the health visiting/early development team for the pnd. Due my history I had a high chance of developing pnd so there was a predetermined plan in place as soon as I started getting symptoms. Unfortunately the planned medication changes hasn't had the effect it usually has, so waiting to find out what the next plan is.
The gp has prescribed some gaviscon for the reflux and I have an appointment on Friday with the infant feeding team.

I'm just treading water at the moment trying to get through each day. My partner took over most of the night duties at the weekend so I could get some better quality sleep after a bit of a meltdown last week. It already feels like a distant memory.

@milknapplayrepeat that sounds like a well deserved glass of wine!

@Newmama29 there are some baby massage routines that are good for constipation. We have been doing colic relief one as part of a baby massage course which works for colic, gas and constipation. We are doing it three times a day and getting some good results from it!

@Superscientist oh thank you! I’ll give that a try & hopefully that helps

Anybody pumping and freezing, please read up on excess lactase and do a test frozen sample before freezing a massive batch. I lost litres of milk which became inedible after freezing due to excess lipase. Literally broke my heart If you do have it, you can scald the milk quickly before freezing to resolve the issue. I really wish I’d known this before freezing so much.

I jinxed it!! DD2 was wide awake 4:00am to 6:30am. Feel like a zombie now.

@Superscientist

I’m glad you’re getting the support you need. Hopefully things will start to improve for you.

Hope everyone has a decent night!

Today has been beyond tiring, baby didn't want putting down much today and has slept in my arms for most naps.

Hope everyone has a decent night tonight also!

We’ve had a terrible night over here! Think I’ve seen every hour since 3 😭 he’s not finishing his bottles then wanting fed 2 hours later rather than the 3/4 we normally get! Just seems very restless tonight ☹️