April 2012 newborns: the insomnia continues...

[LaTristesse]

Hello fellow April mums. Following on from our lovely ante-natal threads, here's the first of the post-natal ones. Join us as we work out how to handle nappies, feeding, colic, crying and all things newborn, or just to celebrate the joys of a new baby!

Hi I don't wake baby for feed, she wakes me normally every 3hrs! Ive just feed at 830/9 so she will go 12 3 and then 7 then 10, one day she did 12 then 6 and missed 3 o clock feed. Hubby does a expressed bottle at 12, or 3 for me. But i gave her one at 5 today. Im going do all the feeds tonight! She takes a bottle and boob which is good. She had a block nose for 2 days so brought some saline drops.she is feeding much better poor thing, was has pee off when latching on and drinking. Could breath through nose! Plus keeping me awake with all the sniffing.

I've lost a stone and half in weight, in 4 weeks i think its all the breast feeding. The weight did take 1-2 weeks to start coming off, i still have half a stone id like to lose to get back to normal weight of 11 and a half. Now at 12 stone.

Had a bit of crying breakdown the other day, didn't want to go out and leave her, cancelled meal and just stayed in. She is still on 5 weeks old plenty of time to go out when she is bigger.I think the lack of sleep is still getting to me, and somedays feel down and tearfull.

Ahh, I've just had a read through the LLL link and am wondering if I have oversupply too?! I recognise quite a few of the "symptoms" from when DS1 was young too, so seems I may have had it then too. DS2 gulps a lot when he feeds, and ends up very gassy. Will try some of the tips and see if it improves at all...

Just ordered my double pushchair, am very excited for it to come! :)

We all have colds here too btw :(

Think I may also have forceful letdown on my left boob - as F always chokes on that side. Nipple points downwards so have been trying to lean back after he's latched on but he always loses his latch when I do that then latches back on awkwardly leaving me with a misshapen nipple. Have our TT appointment tomorrow morning so will see whether they recommend the snip or not.

Anyone's baby wait till their nappy is being changed to squirt more poo everywhere? Without fail, if I'm changing a pooey nappy - out more comes no matter how long I wait to change it. I've quickly become an expert in using the nappy to shield my clothes from being sprayed!

digi yes! Francesca has perfect timing. Just as I remove one nappy POW, fresh poo all over the place!!

Francesca has a sacral dimple so I have to really bend over to make sure it's clean. Tonight while checking, she farted right on my face. Again, ahhh the glamour!

feel like the biggest loser, had such a horrible, horrible day. He's 6 days old and I'm not getting it.

Having had constipation for the last 3 days, it finally made it's way through and was so painful, I thought I faint. My scar is wetting and a little blood comes out and not sure if I did because of the above. I'm still in pain down there from the scar, from the back and from the middle.

Also read about your b'feeding experiences. I'm doing it all wrong but don't know how to fix it. Baby R is attached to my breast since 10pm, also for the last 3hrs, same as yesterday where he stayed like this till about 6am. Of course, I fell asleep in the middle but I can't put him in his basket. He's screaming his head of even if I go for the toilet for 2mins. How can you feed only every 2, 3 hours when my feeds are during daytime 2hrs and one long 6,7hrs one at night? Just crying now.

Next thing is that I was so cruel to my baby today, tried to put him on his back in his Moses Basket rather than the side for 30mins and he was screaming, screaming, screaming. Yes, I held him and did not let it go on for all the time but hubby put his foot down and said we won't do it when it makes him so upset. I feel so bad that I've tried for this long.

I just don't know how to fix this.

Spanner, I started block feeding a couple of days ago after the advice the other girls posted & looking at the LLL site. I'm doing 2 hourly blocks & did have some engorgement, but not enough to cause problems (so far). And really do think that I've noticed an improvement in Emily. Hopefully it works for you too.

thaleia Be Kind to yourself.

You are only on day 6, bit of baby blues might have hit you. I was v v sore still at that point after my c section. Ensure you are taking some pain meds regularly. Drink lots of water to help with constipation & get the mw to check your scar.

Re feeding, lots of babies do initially feed very often & forever, they are getting your boobs 'switched on' to produce more milk & also babies love to nurse. Get your latch double checked so you can be reassured all is well on that front. Is babies poo/wee/weight gain output as expected? It all seems endless initially but it will get easier.

As for the putting down that is very normal for lots of babies, mine too is one who must be held at all times or he cries & cries. Don't feel bad about having tried leaving your baby to cry, I expect most people have tried it & then felt just the same as you. It's v frustrating but don't beat yourself up over it, it's just bloody hard work at first. I had a right old sob to DP yesterday as I felt totally overwhelmed with the constant demand of holding/feeding & feeling sore. You are doing fine, really be kind to yourself.

jelly glad to hear you may be getting some benefits from block feeding. Well done.

My DS1 is 11 days today, and so far so good!! He sleeps good and breastfeeds approx 4 hourly - definitely the easiest of my 3 DCs!!!

Thaleia definitely get the scar looked at - are the stitches out? My MW was v strict that I should take more rest so I have been trying to make sure I have a couple of hours a day on my back with the scar exposed to fresh air to help it heal.

On the feeding - we had similar issues with feeding for hours but DD never seeming full & that's when the MW said we should introduce top up formula feeds; (because her weight was dropping) that might not be what you want to do right now but mixed feeding is working for us at the moment.

Only other thing I can suggest is trying to initiate more evening feeds to try and fill baby up before bed? I feed on and off most evenings from 6.30-10 ish and then do a bottle feed about 11ish which is usually enough to send DD to sleep.

Thaleia, I echo Buns advice, the frequent feeding sounds really normal, their tummies are so tiny they get full and then empty again really quickly, and he loves the reassurance of being attached to tiu! Don't beat yourself up- its hard enough work! It will get better though as LO gets bigger and his system matures. Maybe try getting a sling so he can be close and you can get stuff done, don't worry about 'making a rod for your back', your baby is tiny and he's not manipulating you, you're taking care of his needs.

Holly, my DS has a sacral dimple and I never knew that was what it was called! You learn something new... !

My ds has a sacral dimple too. We didn't know what it was. Googled it & it made me a bit concerned though think ds is ok. Will ask gp to check it a 6wk appoint. As I see it mostly they are inconsequential but will still like to get it checked. not more bloody things to worry about Has anyone else had their babies checked?

Mm, maybe mine doesn't... I've googled it now and his is part of his bum crack really, much lower down. DH has the same thing so I just assumed it was an inherited thing. Like you say, like I need something extra to worry about!
Had our 6 week check last week; a complete non-event!

Yes LaTris from reading it looks like if it's within the bum crack then it's ok. The closer to the bum hole the better. Also that it is shallow & blind ended without a hair tuft.

The paed noted her dimple as soon as she was born and then had a senior paed check it out and he's not concerned. They want to see her again in 6 weeks for a follow up. I'm not worried, it's closed and really close to her bum. I'm not worrying about it until I'm told to worry about it!

Went to see HV at the clinic today, Frankie is now 7.9, up from 6.8 and she's 2 weeks old today, seems she's a little chunk like her mum!!

thalia please don't feel like a loser. Francesca fed hourly for bloody ages when she was really new. Then she settled down. Breast feeding was really stressful and I was sure I was doing it wrong but she's putting weight on at a rate of knots and she's happy and sleeping so I'm going to take a chill pill and stop stressing. Re the basket, Francesca hated hers and the mw gave me a great piece of advice. Put rolled up towels either side of the baby so that she can't move too much and wake herself up - they sit under her arms so that she can't roll on to them. She also likes the warm so when I feed her I put her on a muslin and then lay her on that in her basket so it's not cold on her back. She still wiggles but not nearly as much...

Can I ask those of you who are expressing a feed how much your LO takes? I need to start expressing so I can leave DD with grandma while I go to the dentist at the end of the month. She takes a bottle fine but I'm not sure how much milk to leave to cover a feed... Any ideas?

Also interested in the amount of ebm for a feed. Was such a rare occurance with ds1 I can't remember.

Got F's tongue tie snipped today. Couldn't watch - but he fed immediately afterwards. Nips still a little misshapen after a feed but I think it'll take a few days before he discovers his new tongue stretching capacity.

thaleia I'm a huge fan of breastfeeding clinics - I felt completely overwhelmed on days 4-6 - especially as F's latch was destroying my nipples. Going to the bf clinic and seeing a lactation consultant gave me more confidence to keep going. I went everyday for a week - then once a week for the next few weeks.

holly I was just concerned as the paed at my hospital didn't notice it so just want someone to take a quick look to be sure. They are apparently very common, I obviously haven't seen enough bottoms

Thaleia: it's normal to feel like you do at the moment; you're not doing anything wrong. It's completely overwhelming to have a LO who wants to be held all the time. Is this your first baby? My first had silent reflux and WOULD NOT be put down. My L shoulder was the only place she was happy. Eventually we worked out that she needed to be upright, so spent lots of time in her carseat & we then bought an Amby hammock. It was the most stressful time of my life. Sometimes you have to have a break from it; can you share the carrying with DH/other family? & yes, a sling is a great idea. Also: swaddling is great & I also admit to letting my 1st LO sleep on her tummy when we worked out that this eased her pain (not while swaddled though). I have read about parents letting LO Sleep on their tummies with an Angelcare baby monitor under the mattress (I know this will be controversial though & may not be s'thing you want to do). But; many newborns are like yours for the first few weeks. It doesn't mean there's anything wrong. Get your latch checked just in case LO isn't actually satisfied after a feed. Like Marshmallow, I gave my DD top ups for 3 nights in a row in her first week (day 4-7 I think) cos she just didn't seem satisfied & after 12 hours of non stop feeding & crying day 4 my DH insisted we try. She took 3oz formula the first time & 2oz both subsequent night's so I do believe she was hungry. I havent had to since & I don't think it affected my supply doing this & it caused no nipple confusion here. You absolutely need to get some sleep to be able to cope & to allow your body to make milk & heal after CS. Can your DP try a formula feed for you & let you rest?

buns defo get it checked at 6 week check to put your mind at rest if nothing else. I'd never heard of it before but 10/100 babies have one apparently!

laTriss my MW sad about 3oz which is about 90 ml I think?

Just dropping by to say hello

DS is now 3wo, was 11lb 11oz last week. No feeding problems yet other than eating most of the time (much easier than DD was) BUT I have had to get antibiotics for an infection in my undercarriage; vast amounts of green lochia anyone?

He too is a must-be-held-to-stay-asleep baby, almost every attempt to put him in the carrycot is met with instant waking, and the babasling that was going to answer my problems has not been given his approval

Thaleia to add to those saying be kind to yourself, the first weeks are the hardest. A CS seems to make the arrival of milk slower for some women as well. It is almost non-stop feeding as well, I have no idea how long DS goes between feeds in the day, and remember the gap between feeds is from the start of one to the start of the next, not the end of one to the start of the next (so if baby feeds 12-1 and then 2-3 that's counted as two hours between feeds, not one!) If you have concerns about your wound get it checked ASAP, don't leave it to get worse

Hey Fliss, we missed you! Sorry to hear about your infection, eww!

I never seem to make it near a computer these days, but belatedly want to add our new addition to the thread.

Now a week old, I had a baby boy on May 1st after a 4 hour labour. All was well until my waters went, full of meconium which put them in a panic, and then his heart rate dropped dramatically and dangerously low. They gave me about 20 minutes to push him out myself before they intervened with cuts and forceps. Luckily LO obliged and all was well with the world and I was stitch-free! He weighed in at a dinky 6lb 14oz and was just so little and cute :)

A week on and he is up to 7lb 1oz and feeding well. The only problem is we still can't name him :( We are just STUCK and can't agree!!

I hope to read all your recent posts soon and catch up with how you're all doing.

Bananna1 - CONGRATS! Our baby boy was also born on May Day and I am sure you'll agree soon especially with his personality coming through. We picked Raphael and he really is a little angle.

All thanks so much for your words of wisdom. I certainly take on board to be kinder to myself and also remind me that there are a lot of hormons floating in my body and the big bad B might be shining a little bit through. After tonight I can honestly say, it's DH who'll be the hardest to cope with. He loves me to bits and all he wants is my and DS best but he's got too high expectations. You must think I'm not for real but ...: it's our first baby and my one knowledge is babysitting my brother's twins when I was about 12. Re b'feeding, DS is a natural, he was latching on quite good and quickly, I had sore and cracked nipple in hospital as I can only feed across my breast and you need to be upright to do so and it just didn't work. The nurses didn't have the patience and after the stuffed my nipple in his mouth and said yes and fine to everything. It's a lot better at home and I am actually leaking milk all over the place.

Tonight, Raphael did not settle after his feed finished at 10.30pm, would not sleep, would not feed more, had a bit of wind which just wouldn't come out. His next feed was at 1pm. During this time, he cried for about 30mins while we tried to figure out what to do. He has a healthy set of lungs!! He didn't even cry in one go, however, after 10mins or so DH said he wanted to go to A&E because it's not normal that he's crying so hard with such a red head. I said no and he settled, he started crying again and DH said, ok, that's it, we bottle feed him in future, he can't stand a crying baby???

It's 3pm and I settled him down in his Moses basked and for the moment, he seems happy. He's only sleeping on his side, hates his back and at the moment, I won't force at as DH again put his foot down, saying that it's not normal that the baby is crying so hard.

Has the world gone crazy? I don't want to jinx it but it seems that we might, just might, really have one of these Angle babies and it's still not good enough?? I said to him that we'll speak about it in the morning. We only have a one bed flat so there aren't a lot of options in terms of sleeping arrangements so that his peace and quite isn't or max by 9mins.

Sorry, it's a bit long and prob should not post it but I am really annoyed at the moment!!