June 11....

[Bogeyface]

Have I missed the thread or am I starting one?!

DD was born on 01.06.11 and I could do with some mates :)

KOS, it depends I am afraid.

How is she fed? BF babies tend to go shorter times between feeds, particularly at first, as BM is easier to digest than formula. It could be that she isnt getting enough hind milk to fill her up, and is getting mainly foremilk, which is better for quenching her thirst but isnt as rich and filling as the hind milk. It might be an idea to get in touch with one of the BF support groups (La Leche League have a helpline and lots of info on their website) to make sure that she is getting the right amount of the right kind of milk.

Thinking of you, this stage is hard but it doesnt last forever.

xx

Thanks - she's breastfeeding - she's been feeding constantly for the past 3 hours, before that I had a 2 hour break but that was after a 4 hour feeding stretch!

I would ring the helpline just to see if there is anything they can suggest to help you.

Hope you get some sleep soon!

WiiUnfit - no oozing, bleeding or redness with my CS scar here either (according to the MWs and DH - I am not brave enough to look at it myself!) In fact several MWs commented on how neat it is and have told me that EMCS scars are often a bit wonky because the surgeon is more bothered about getting the baby out fast than leaving a neat scar, so they were especially impressed with mine! The only thing that I have is some numbness between the scar and my tummy button. The MWs in hospital told me that was due to nerve endings being cut and it could take several months for them to repair themselves and for the feeling to come back.

We have just got back from baby clinic and Ethan is now 6lb 12 oz (at 6 weeks 1 day) so he is more than 150% of his birth weight now and much closer to what I consider to be a normal newborn weight

Hi, can I join in? My DD1 was born 9 days overdue on 25th June by EMCV.
I am BF'ing and have noticed since yesterday that suddenly DD is feeding much less.. I might be feeding her every 2 - 3 hrs but she stays sucking only like 5 - 10 mins and then falls asleep. I try to gently wake her up but don't really succeed.. (plus it feels so cruel!) At night time she feeds a bit more but should I be worried?
After the first week she only lost 40g in weight and MW was really pleased.
I have had some trouble with BF, especially with the baby latching on properly but recently it has been better and now I am just worried about her not eating enough.. :(

ps. Sorry meant to say DD1 was born by EMCS! :)

Hi, can I join in? DS (my first) was born 25.6 assisted with forceps, I had a lot of complications during labour and it's DH's first day back at work so I'm feeling a bit lost today. HV has said I'm supposed to rest up as much as I can because of all the problems, so I'm stuck in the house too (not that I feel like I've got the energy to go out). It's really nice to hear other people saying that this stage is hard but it doesn't last forever... I never imagined how hard the sleepless nights and anxiety would be! Was feeling pretty awful this morning, felt like I couldn't cope with it all, but I feel a bit better when I'm feeding him and changing him, so I think it's just in my head. Our families live pretty far away so I feel quite distanced from loved ones, is anybody else in a similar situation? I realise I sound very moany today... sorry, I'm usually a lot more chipper than this!

Hi kat, my DH went back to work on Tuesday. I felt exactly the dame as you but with each feed and nappy change I've grown in confidence. Still very tired though and have given in to advice to try and rest when Kane is asleep rather than trying to keep the house spotless as I was trying to do at the start. I had a straight forawrd birth with just two lots of stitches but still feel sore and not up to travelling or walking far. It has surprised me as this is our first LO how much time it takes looking after him and even if I manage 4 hours sleep I still feel absolutely shattered.

Bump... this thread is so quiet compared to the Jue in June antenatal one, where is everyone? :)

We're plodding along ok, just really struggling with her regression in terms of times between feeds. There was a point where I would get 3-4 hours between night feeds, with DD accepting formula mainly, and I would mostly BF from 6-7 am onwards for the day which I found ok. Now she's refusing more than 3 oz of formula in one go most of the time (and often just has 1-2 during a night feed) and is demanding BM as a top up. She's also only sleeping for a max of 2 hours between these feeds at night, and I often have to stay up with her for well over an hour as she's a bit of a lazy, sleepy feeder. It's exhausting and am really struggling with it....

NoMoreHeels we're just waiting for word that the last baby has been born then all coming over together so that no one gets left behind.

Hi there - can I join? Sophie was born on 27/6, fast labour (4hrs compared to 29 for dd1) but paid the price with 3rd degree tear. Found the first couple of wks really hard and very emotional. Baby stuff has not been that much easier 2nd time round and finding having a 3.5 yo in the mix really challenging too. Up now trying to settle a very unsettled little one, she's on formula (whole other story about trying to bf, feeling guilty etc) and seems to have a lot of wind. Really hoping she's tired herself out and we'll have a good second half of the night!

hi can i join? Molly was born on June 27 - already have a DD1 (7 yrs) and DS1 (5yrs). had elcs but was anaemic and lost a lot of blood during surgery. upshot was - i breastfed for the first 6 days and when they weighed her, she lost 13 pct of her weight as it became apparent i couldn't make enough milk due to low (and continues to be low) iron levels. Soooo, we have a situation where i breastfeed 10 minutes on each side and then offer a top up of formula (she usually takes about 2 oz for each feed) and she has regained her weight and seems to be very happy with it. Our routine seems to be - feeds at 7.30 am, 10.45am, 2.30pm, then i give breast feed at 5.30 - then give her a bath, then give her the formula top up around 6.30pm. Next feed is around 10pm. Then in the night, she still wakes up at 1.30 or 2.00am and again at 4.30 or 5.00am - then we start again at 7.30/8 am. Her poos are mustardy yellow so midwife thinks that's a good indication she's still processing a lot of the breastmilk but just really need that top up as my blood test shows my iron has not improved despite a combination of floradix, spatone in orange juice and pregnacare tablets! Unlike my 2 kids before, she will let herself be put down awake to go to sleep. she seems quite content though with the 2 other kids and summer hols, it would be nice to get a longer stretch of sleep than i am getting (2-2 1/2 hours x 3 in the night). but hey ho, i knew this was always going to be the deal!

I hope everything feeling ok. Can't believe she will be three weeks tomorrow!
Oh, and just to simplify things, we're in the middle of a house build and moving in 3 weeks!

I envy that you sound sorted with a routine already Page62! We are still very random, even though dd2 is on formula. Also hats off to you for the mixed feeding, I did this too for the first 2 wks but struggled with doing breast & bottle at every feed, the length of time each feed then took and keeping her awake long enough to take enough to last any length of time. She also seemed to get increasingly worse at latching on and the top ups got bigger and the time she stayed on the breast or even went on at all decreased until we've ended up giving just bottles. Tried to keep up expressing but it's so hard to fit it in with another dd and husband back at work!

What I'm finding hard at the moment is when she wakes about 2 hrs after a big feed and does quite a good hungry impression but i'm really not sure if she is or not, sometimes if we feed her again she brings lots back up!
Still after an unsettled period like this (eg 8pm -2 am yesterday) she'll then go a 5 hr stretch though last night dd1 woke in the middle of it!

Hello and welcome to all joiners!

I feel positively ancient on here as I gave birth on the 1st of June :o

Perrinelli, it could be that if she is screaming and being unsettled over earlt evening that she has colic. Does she draw her knees up and squeal or cry really suddenly then settle again for a few minutes before doing it again? colief or Infacol can both help with that, but you do need to give it at every feed as the effect is cumulative. They do grow out of it usually by 3 months, so the end is in sight!

Nomoreheels, how are you feeling? Have things been any better since you posted?

perrinelli yes, she seems to have fallen into a pattern for now but I am sure she will throw me off as they do in a few days time! The mixed feeding seems to be going ok with just 10 mins of breast each side because she is such a sleepy feeder! After about 6-7 mins, she is almost just kissing it! That's why I change her nappy after the breastfeed and then I put her in a chair or a bed to just have a look around for 15 to 20 mins before offering tue formula top up. By the time she finishes that, she normally falls asleep. I am sure your lo will fall into a pattern soon - hope she is more settled. Are you giving her infacol before feeds - that might help?

Hi there, yes maybe I should start with the infacol. Last night was similar, she fed at 1945 and never settled properly to sleep so fed her again at 2130 but she was still unsettled. Dd1 had evening colic I think but this little one wasn't doing full on crying in the same way, just fussing squirming and dropping off for 5mins then waking again. I was just about to offer her more milk at about midnight when she finally went into a deep sleep. She wouldn't go down in her basket but slept in my arms til 330 so a really good stretch between feeds. She settled really quickly after that one and I just woke her at 0740 for a feed. Thankfully dd1 also slept through last night. It's not very pleasant but I think I can endure evenings like that if I know there's a good lo g stretch coming after! Still maybe infacol wouldn't do any harm? She also arches her back a lot after feeds and pushes her legs down - does anyone know what that could be a sign of? Hope everyone else's night was ok.

Afternoon Ladies!

monica, my scar is also very neat & has been commented on by MWs, DP & DM! Although my surgeon was introduced to me as Dr ___, Head Honcho so I think I got lucky there! No numbness here, scar is still healing well & I'm starting to feel much better, 5w+5d on now so getting there! I still can't bear anything pressing on my scar though so I'm still in big pants & maternity jeans!

We had Lucas weighed last Wednesday, he weighed 8lb 8.5oz so after losing 4oz of his 5lb 8oz birth weight he has gained 3lb 4.5oz in 5 weeks! The HV was so impressed & even more so when she realised I was bf'ing, so that was nice. There's nothing more confidence-boosting! It's still strange to think a lot of newborns are much bigger than him though! He's been suffering a little the past few days with colic I think, we have tried Infacol but he seems to detest it, he frowns like crazy & spits it out? :( Does anyone know if any of the other remedies are tastier?!

We managed a weekend away to attend a family wedding & see family this weekend, we took far more stuff than we actually needed & used - New Mum syndrome? But hey, we got there!

I still can't believe Lucas is 6w on Wednesday, where does the time go!?

Hi Everyone, Im new to this website, my friend recomended it, so im still getting used to how it works. My DD was born on the 10th June weighing 6lb 13, 11 days overdue and a 7hour labour and a 3rd degree tear later. I have formula fed from the start, and she sleeps 8 hours at night already, very proud of her.

Have had a touch of the baby blues and it so nice to see im not the only 1 stuggling to adjust to a new baby. Luckily my DH is in a position at work where he can take time off and help me out at home coz i get very down in the daytimes at home alone. I dont sleep well coz im always listening out for the baby (at this moment DD and DH are both asleep im enjoying some quiet time), this has turned out to be a bad thing coz i fell down the stairs with DD and dropped her on the floor, she was fine and i was an absolute mess thank god for that night with my DH or would probably still be crying now.

But other than that i love being a mum and feel so lucky to have a gorgeous, healthy baby girl.

Hope everyone is enjoying being mummys to.

Wii - DD hated the infacol at first but she is used to it now, so persevere! I remember new mum syndrome well, at one point DH suggested we just buy a caravan fitted out as a nursery to take with us :o

Hi Toya, welcome to MN! So sorry to hear of your fall, you must have been beside yourself :( Thank goodness she is ok, and that you are too.

I too can't believe how quickly time is going. Kane is 4 wks on Thurs. I am BFing, anyone else who is BFing find that they have a day every now and then when LO has a feeding frenzy, feeding every hour to hour and a half? Those days are tiring but he only seems to have one of those once a week.

Toya - I had taken Kane downstairs and was on the second trip with his change mat etc and twisted my ankle on the last step, it upset me enough thinking I could have been carrying Kane, can't imagine how you were feeling.

We are moving house next Friday, I got a lot of packing done when I was pregnant thank god, got no time to do any now. It has surprised me how much time it takes up looking after a newborn! I am getting the removal men to pack the rest, well worth £100 extra. Relieved to be moving as the council are compulsory purchasing our house for demolition as part of regeneration. Will be a very tiring day though.

Page62 your LO seems to have exactly the same routine as mine, he also rarely manages more than 10 mins each side of proper sucking, but will then happy down 40-50ml of formula straight after. I have been speaking to quite a few RL friends with young children and found that quite a few also had the same issue as me about not producing much milk (though none of us have low iron levels so I'm not sure what the reason is). Unfortunately we have all found that the HVs and local BF counsellors are very well meaning but don't have much practical advice on increasing milk supply. My friend and I were both told separately to stop all formula top ups in order to increase our supply. I didn't because DS is so small already and also because he is so passionate about his milk that I knew that he would be furious straight away. My friend tried it for 24 hours and her baby screamed and screamed so she went back to her previous routine.

Does anyone else think that it is strange to make infacol orange flavoured when it is only going to be given to babies who are too young to be weaned and so will never have tasted orange before?!

ToyaJane - sorry to hear about your fall, I have nearly done that a few times, usually when I am wandering around in my pyjamas because my legs are so short so my PJs come over my feet! I am always scared of tripping over when I am out using the babybjorn sling because I would end up landing on him and squashing him. I'm so glad that I have a summer baby not a winter one and so I don't have to worry about walking on snow or ice while carrying him.

DS had his 8 week check and first set of jabs today. He was getting on really well with the GP and was very contented when she was examining him and then was very shocked and upset when she injected him. We had lots of real tears and GP said that she felt really guilty too . The good news from the appointment is that he has finally reached the 0.4th centile for his weight as he is now 7lb 13 (still less than my friend's baby who was born this week though!)

The Jue in June antenatal thread girls have started a post natal thread here. Should we all join up on one thread?

Too late to join? Dc1, a girl, was born on the tenth of june, 16 days overdue! Was induced but went quite well. She was 9lb 8oz and I had only a tiny cut which seems to have healed.

Am bf-ing, I love it but wow, tiring! No routine in the day re naps and feeds - any advice on this? Nights better,

Oops, posted too early!

We have some sort of a night routine, apart from last two nights but I think she has hit the six wk growth spurt.

Aloha31 16 days late wow I was going crazy with 11 days. Our girls are the same day. I was meant to be induced on the saturday but thankfully she came on the friday.

My DD slept 10 hrs last night you all know this is a 1 off (let's hope its not). Would love to say how she is sleeping so well but I suppose with bottle you can just feed them up and they sleep so well.

Aloha, I feel your pain! My DS was born 8th June & is also hitting the 6wk growth spurt, he wanted to feed pretty much continuously yesterday & today apart from the past hour or so when he has actually settled in his moses basket! Exhausting! I'm at your sort of night routine, DS still seems to do as his pleases!