November 2011 - early birds, just in time and late to the party, all welcome!!

[TwoJackRussellsandapumpkin]

Hi all,

just starting up a post natal thread for all the due in November peeps on the antenatal forum and anyone else who would like to join in too, hoping to see my arrival by the end of the week, so officially an early bird I hope :)

[freeangel]

Sorry to hear re sprout Hope shes doing ok today.

Wanted to ask you a few questions re Max, hes two and half weeks old and sleeps lots during the day. I know they like to sleep lots at this age, but apart from waking him every 2-3 hours to feed is there anything else i can do. (But falls asleep again) Why i would be crazy enough to want to wake a sleeping babY? He has spent the past two nights crying from 7-11 pm ish, not sure if he had tummy ache. He is on infacol and wasn't bring his legs up, but didn't really poo last night. The only way to settle him was to rock him with a dummy at angle walking around and keep feeding him. Is this normal for newborns to sleep most of the day and then cry lots at night?

[Poppet45]

Free yep that sounds v normal indeed. DS was just like that - slept a fair bit in the day then had a really, really unsettled evening, then tended to flake out knackered around 10pm, or on a bad night as late as 2am. If they cry for more than three hours a day, three days a week and it starts around about three weeks of age (as it did with DS) its officially called colic. Woo :(
Katie? I think it was you, you were asking how long do BFs take? I've found it varies with each child. DS was a 35 minute feeder apart from bedtimes when he like to feed for 55 minutes - but then he was a whopper. DD appears to like to feed for 15-20 minutes but can be much longer overnight - like 40 or so. DS fed every three hours, DD is feeding every two hours or so. Some babies take much longer but I knew twin girls who could literally take a feed in 5 minutes!!

[cep]

evening ladies. Another sore nip member, even with the shield my nipples are sore, i figured i just need to get used to it and they'll toughen up, also assuming that thirsty feeling will fade after a while. (please someone confirm both of these for me.)

cali i'm sorry about sprout, please don't be to tough on yourself as the others said accidents do happen.

freeangel if you don't wake him how long does he sleep for? the reason i'm asking is my mw said not to wake ds for a feed to let him wake up for it. Could it be colic? i'm not sure when colic kicks in though. hope things are better tonight.

[KellyKettle]

free my DD is 5 weeks now and has been doing the crying thing for about 3 weeks. The worst night last week was 9pm - 3am on and off (you think they've settled and then they kick off again). It's hell isn't it?

It does pass though (DD1 was colicky too but much worse). Last nights was just an hour and she's already had a go tonight and it last 20 mins - I hope that's it.

It is a bit hit and miss as to what works. I've just read it could be linked to caffeine consumption so I'm cutting out tea, chocolate & fizzy drinks to see if that helps. I'll let you know.

[Poppet45]

Passing on my sympathies to the colic crowd, if it's any consolation it was hands down THE hardest part of DS's life so far for us to deal with. Talk about a baptism of fire. So if you can cope with this you can cope with anything.
There's lots of things with DD where I don't know if it's her actual age, or corrected age that will count.... so I'm not sure if we've escaped colic, or if we have to wait another couple of weeks from her due date this week before I can say it. Hum. Oh god I hope we escape it...
Thinking of Cali and Sprout today. Hugs for both of you girls.

[freeangel]

Morning and Thank you ladies, i was feeling all smug last night as he had a snooze and wasn't crying. Then he started later and cried for around an 1hour and half, so it wasn't as long but was hard to settle again. Then in the middle of the night hes ok, shouldnt complain about that part. But his am he seems fretful again, i think he does suffer from sort of wind problem.
cep if i dont wake him he will sleep for around 5 hours and takes a long time to wake. I was reading up on websites re breastfeeding and waking a sleepy newborn. Yesterday daytime i woke him after 2-3 hours to change his nappy and feed him, but he went straight back to sleep.
Hope everyone had a good night!

[PamSco]

Hi all, not even getting to lurk at the moment. Sweet William is now 5 days old yet he seems to have been here for ever! And he has stolen our hearts.

Hope all nipples heal magically and colic flies away! I've been a bit smug with myself about how well he feeds and sleeps but now having read this far I see this may change. Forewarned is forearmed.

One problem that has happened - started last night, my right nipple is only eleasing milk on the underside from 1 spot which squirts the milk due south. He won't latch at all when hungry as he is getting bugger all. No pain, hard boob but no major swelling - what could it be?

Can't keep running on 1 cylinder! :(

Cali hope DD is healing quickly - don't beat yourself up love.

[alicat10]

Pam blocked milk ducts maybe? Give the areola a good massage and see if you can feel any lumpy bits & if so gently work them til they clear - warm flannels should help. Will be messy business so may be worth sitting in a warm bath

[freeangel]

Yes trying massaging, ive been told to massage down wards, ive tried that when feeding him too. If in doubt ring the midwife or contact numbers you have! I went to the baby clinic this am and they think he may have colic, so keep up with the infacol as it takes a week for it work properly and go back next week if hes no better! Im starting to dread the evenings now. They gave me a worksheet on baby massage moves so will give that a go as well! Hmm this reply has been sat here all day!

[hadak]

Hi ladies reading with interest re colic and wondered if anybody can offer any advice. My son is 5 days old today and so far is sleeping probably 20-30 mins - 1 hour amximum slots, apart from one big sleep usually about 3 hours during the day. He is feeding well and often (bf) however he is really struggling to bring wind up or down for that matter. He appears to be more comfortable sleeping on his tummy on our chest or if he does go , on his side. He has a dirty nappy every feed ususally fed between 2 and 3 hourly.
My first son was intolerant of dairy gluten and eggs but we had a real problem getting the gps to take us seriously for ages.
I have been giving infacol at every feed but it doesn't appear to be helping. Is there anything else I can try as I am already worrying about OH going back to work in a week as this little one doesn't appear to want to be out of our arms!!

[Staceroo]

Hi all! Finally arrived! Tilly Alexandra born 16-11-11 8lbs 7oz at home after 3hrs 50 mins in labour.

Getting on very well all in all!

Tilly latched on to bf really well form the start - but no one told us we were supposed to feed her every 4 hours (we thought it was just when she wanted it) so after letting her sleep for 7.5 hrs the day before she was weighed her weight was down just a little more than they liked, so tried to get me to express on top of bf for 24 hrs which was ridiculous as she was feeding sooo much herself and draining me dry there was nothing to express! 2nd weight check showed her gaining 140gms in 24 hours so all happy now!

Milk is in and we've lovely chicken korma looking nappies!

Sleeping is going pretty well - had 8 hours sleep last night - 2 three hour stints and one 2 hour stint. But I woke up myself before Tilly, and each time she was just starting to stir and ready for a feed and change before going straight back down! Hoping for the same tonight! Fingers crossed!

Love getting wrapped up and going out in the pushchair or the car with Tilly and DH!

Hope everyone is doing well - especially glad to here Willow is getting on nicely! And 12 weeks old now! Crazy!

I'm not really able to offer advice to anyone on bf and sleeping etc as we're first timers here, though I'll share one observation we seem to have made re sleeping.

On saturday Tilly had a really unsettled night, wouldn't settle in her moses basket, but fine when with us. But all day saturday we were inundated with visitors so she spent all day cwtched up to grandparents and great grandparents, rather than spending anytime in her basket sleeping. So we presume this is why it was unsettling to then go in there at night. As such Sunday we made sure she spent plenty of time laying in there throughout the day - both asleep and awake. It may be coincedence but this seemed to work as she slept really well Sunday night. Hoping for the same tonight!

(sorry really long post!)

[freeangel]

Im a first time mum, so im making up Max's life as i go along, but have you tried swaddling Hadak The first night home from hospital my ds just cried but the 2nd night i swaddled him and he was much better. Now he just likes to be tucked up in blankets as he likes his hands by his face!
Congratulations Staceroo On your baby boy. Sounds like you had a quick labour.

[voodoomunkee]

Wooo I finally made it! Feel like I've graduated lol!
Sophie Martha born 20/11/2011 weighing 8lb10oz. Just for those that had t seen on ante natal thread. Hi all!
Cali, I hope you and sprout are doing ok. Can't offer more than words of comfort but like others have said accidents do happen and you are in the right place for some help.
Well bf going ok. Sophie is a bit unsettled and only settles when feeding. OH is only allowed 2 days pat leave with him starting new job so he's back to work tomorrow. Praying he's going to be allowed some unpaid leave. Not getting much rest. It's fine though just difficult and will work on some methods to try and let her rest. She must be shattered!
Poppet poor willow re the reflux - must have been awful. Hope things are better. Sorry not to namecheck, hope all are well and I'm looking forward to catching up! x

[cep]

yay congratulations voodoo and staceroo

[MooseyMoo]

Congratulations voodoo! Your little girl was waiting for a cool birthday date . Congrats to staceroo too. Hope you are both ok.

Interesting day today. Been peed on 6 times by ds. His aim is either getting or my reactions are getting slower. Did manage to save hv and mil from being peed on though. Also major poonami this morning which leaked through nappy and clothes.

Hv was actually very nice and helpful. Ds has awful tummy ache hours before doing a poo. V unsettled and hates being put on his tummy (I normally put him oN my tummy after winding). She suggested trying a comfort version of the formula I'm using. So will do an Internet order to get some in. Anything is worth a try to help him and us.

She also weighed him and he is now 9lbs 10ozs at 2 weeks old. Some impressive milk drinking going on!

Nearly time for next feed and then bed.

[PamSco]

Welcome new babies!

Thanks Ali and free I think you are right. I tried expressing by hand and keeping him to that breast and it seemed to work. He is a complete fuss pot on the right one and a dream on the left.

He is a crazy feeder - I'm feeding now, he started at 19:10h! 2 hours! I was concerned that my flow was slow but he is dribbling it when he pauses, gulps are definitely full ones. The upside is he sleeps for 4 hours at a time.

Off to bath him now. And have a little sloe gin to celebrate registering him.

[voodoomunkee]

Little breakthrough, think my milk came in yesterday and sophie settled in her cot and fell asleep! So we had 4 hours unbroken sleep. Beautiful. Fed her a couple of times and she was really not willing to latch on. Was panicking. However she had one hell of a nappy and voila feeding well again. She's now asleep on the settee and self settled herself to sleep. My boobs are like rugby balls. OH had to save me from a major leakage which he found quite funny.
Got to say he's been a legend. Brill when I was in labour and fab since. Apparently as I overheard in his whispered conversation with Sophie it's his job to look after the babies and the mummy! Was lovely to hear as am such a control freak normally.
Sorry totally tmi question but due to my stitches have found it a little difficult nay impossible to erm 'go'. Anyone got any tips or solutions?
I'm going to venture out to asda today. Wow. I think my beautiful dd2 needs a new outfit....

[cep]

voodoo they tend to suggest holding tissue against the stitches whilst you're going.

ds2 is cluster feeding at night, he's always on off the boob from about 8/9 to after midnight. he finished at 20 past midnight last night, but then thankfully slept through to 6.30, normally he sleeps till about 4-5 i then normally have approx 2 hrs of cluster feeding again. during the day he can go for hours between feeds.

[voodoomunkee]

Cep, I'm going to try that. Can't believe I'm even having problems! Gutted.
Soph cluster feeds too, both sides then 45 mins later again. She has a big gap in the afternoon and then feeds again for about 3 hours. Good on him for 6 hours sleep though! Makes the world a better place doesn't it :)

[PamSco]

voodoo or anyone else that has managed to get their DC into a crib - HOW? DS won't go near his moses basket or crib.

He falls asleep at the breast and the furthest I can get him away from me is sleeping between us in the bed. It's a huge bed and he has thin bolsters around him with his own bedding so he is safe.

I have slept with his sheets, I have breast pads in the basket, it is tilted a bit. I can get him there awake and he stays awake, if he is asleep he'll wake up after about 20 minutes.

I know he is only a week old but I don't want to have to sleep with him until he goes to Uni!

And bathtime was harrowing, I can still hear his screams. I sobbed all the way through it.

[TwoJackRussellsandababy]

Morning all,

Pam, have you tried to wrap him in his blanket before you put him in the crib? It might be too cold for him, or he might need more bedding to keep him warm whilst he is there? I would try swaddling him too, might be more comforting?

J hated his bath too, screamed and shouted the house down, but I figured out that he was too cold and sitting him in the water and splashing it over him would warm him and the shouting stopped, also, much easier if one of us is in the bath with him to give cuddles if he gets too upset. Hope things get better soon for you guys.

Welcome to all the new guys and gals and their Mum's, glad to hear that my boy is not the only pee monster Moosey, have you tried putting a muslin over his bits when you change his nappy to avoid the fountain effect? It seems to work well for us and avoids him shouting at me when he has pee'd on himself - how it's my fault I don't really know!!!

[voodoomunkee]

Pam Sophie was exactly the same. Now we noticed that she would settle on OH but NOT if i was in the room! Babies can smell us from quite a distance. So I fed her and OH changed her nappy, snuggled her and I lay her down in her cot with the mobile on. Kept the lights low but not dark and whilst I pottered about in the bedroom she settled. Please bear in mind it's only been once! However this morning I lay her on the pillow I use to bf her and she's dropped off no problem.
She hates her Moses basket. I've tucked a muslin in my bra too and tried lying that in the basket but so far it's not made a difference.
Oh my OH has noticed as soon as i am heard or close enough to smell she wakes or twists. Think even though she isnt really hungry she's overwhelmed by the closeness of a feed, wants it then when I offer she isn't interested but will suckle for comfort. Hope that helps Pam, I was starting to feel like inwas going to have to sling her and was worried I wouldn't ever be able to go for a wee in peace!
I second the blanket being warm or the basket as well.

[voodoomunkee]

And I avoid bathtime and top and tail unless it's desperate. Then I get in!

[Katiebeau]

Oh God. We are dying here from a lack of sleep. DS screaming for 3 hrs at night starting from 9pm or later. DH back at work tomorrow so he won't be able to take turns with the screaming baby. He's so loud compared to DD and sounds so bloody cross. No sign of wind and HV and I both suspect reflux as if we put him down flat straight after a feed he howls within minutes. But this late night crying seems to be something else. Can't work it out, can't fix it . Sob sob sob so so bloody tired. Sorry for self involved post.

[Staceroo]

Oh Katie that doesn't sound fun, I'm sorry I can't offer any advise!

voodoo I had pretty serious stitches, and took about 5 days untill i went to the loo. But I only really felt like I needed to for the one day before. It was hard work (iykwim) but it didn't cause me any pain in my stitches. I found it helped to sit in a little warm bath for a while just to soothe everything a bit - i then hopped on to the loo and back in to the bath again a couple of times! Once the first one is out of the way it's so much easier I promise! (Though - TMI ALERT I did block the loo with the first one!!!!)

While I'm being gross and way to personal, I'm going to carry on!

Does anyone know when I should expect the blood loss to stop? It's not loads now after a week, but still stopping me being away from home for more than a couple of hours, as I like to use my own loo for the pads, witch hazel and jug of water combination needed to keep my stitches clean! Hope it doesn't last much longer!

Think my stitches are about to sart coming away too, as theyve really started to get sore now, was told to expect a tightening sensation after 7 days which is I think what I'm getting. Can't wait for them to heal so I can begin to manouver a little easier, will make sitting up and feeding in the night much easier. Also getting up and down with Tilly in my arms is tough whilst they hurt as can't push on my bum to lift myself up, and don't have any free hands!!

Midwife came yesterday and suggested they could leave us for a week now, but after seeing my face (i must've looked worried) she said that they could come back Friday if I wanted! So said yes please!!!