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!

And he's just done it again
I gave in and fed him some more, even though he'd already done some projectile vomming, only for him to do it again the second I moved him after finishing feeding...

I know how U feel teaandhobs this breatfeeding is hard work!

I'm real pleased with Lyra she when from 10pm-415am over 6hrs yippeee! I was real knackered from getting up at 1 or 2am, hoping she will stick to it now or go back to 10-5/530am! Then I could enjoy 7 hours sleep. Well I was lucky to have 6 last nite, boobs were really full though and expressed some after feed!

Lyra crying time seems to be between 6-7pm, just as hubby is getting home.She never seems happy :(
She still crys when had enough milk, or with wind but i did do all if the night feeds with NO WIND!

I try to give her a 8pm feed then one before 10pm, this help her go longer in the night. She sleeps lovely in the baby crib we have in our room.

Thaleia I've never made DS wait for a feed, whether it's been 3 minutes or 3 hours (BF on demand here). If he cries, I offer the boob. 9.9 times out of 10, he'll take it and eat. Sometimes that means I am on the sofa for what seems like hours but for me, that's the price I pay for BF. It's not forever, so for now I suck it up!

Don't forget, they suck for comfort as well as for nourishment so it may be that he's not hungry when he's sucking his hand (although of course, he might be!) - have you tried offering a dummy?

I agree, Fliss. The best thing I did was stop worrying about how long Bill'd waited between feeds. At the beginning I was very much of the 'but he can't be hungry, its only been 90 mins'. We've really noticed the difference in him. He cries less and is more alert. I still make a mental note of how often he feeds: 2-3h in day, more in the evening, and then a big old sleep overnight.

I read somewhere that breast milk is digested in 2h so I guess it's not surprising their little tummies get empty so fast.

Agree about not waiting. Apart from anything else, these baby days are so precious; everything else can wait. It won't be long before she won't want to sit and cuddle me, I'm making the most of every second of this closeness now!

Yes: I feed on demand too. I keep note (I have an App) cos it's helped me to be aware of DD's pattern & interpret her cries. It also reminds me which side I should feed on. She's been really grumpy today & fed lots then come off & HOWLED. But; I had a glass of champagne yesterday & wondering if her wind pains are worse today. She's vomited back quite a bit of curdled milk today (more than usual). But, Thaleia, I agree with Fliss; try a dummy. DD is a sucker. Oddly, not on me but her thumbs & fists & sometimes she just wants a dummy. She's not always able to get her thumb in & so a dummy does the trick. So, when she sucks on her fists it's not always for food...(I offer her the boob & she's v clear about when she wants it & when she doesn't!).

Hi all, long time without posting but have been lurking (hate one handed typing). Very proud today as managed to feed DS2 in a sling. Wasn't very comfy but can work on that as it will be useful. I also have a boob monster baby and also feed him whenever he asks. During a growth spurt this can be almost constantly at times. Snap with the feed until full then throw it up and ask for more. Its annoying, but some of the time i think he feeds to up my supply and that his stomach capacity will catch up once the spurt is over. Thaleia DS2's growth spurt started in wk5 and lasted a fair few days. Spurts can last longer if they don't get fed as often as they want. Don't think this causes any problems for the baby, but its a longer time for you with an unsettled baby.

BTW, whilst i'm sure most of you are getting a handle on what your LO wants, I thought I'd link this as I found it useful first time round decoding babies' cries

It took me a month or two to figure it out with my first. It's been quicker this time, but it's not infallible; Frankie 'oohs' for food as well as 'nehs' at times.

I feed on cue as well - it makes life a lot easier. Sleep has been a bit crap this week - she's only going for 2 hours in her basket before coming in with me. She sleeps ok til about 4am - but in my arms and I am sleeping sitting up and it's starting to tell on my back and shoulders - at that point I need to lie flat and she doesn't like that so she wriggles until we get up. If I put her in her basket she cries and wakes DS. I'm feeling a bit rubbish to be honest. It's awful to wish the day away because you want to go to bed but with a toddler (who doesn't nap any more) there's not really any rest until evening.

I feed on demand too, if ds cries I try feeding first.

He's been mega unsettled today, cried so so much, like his evening crying but ALL DAY. Wouldn't feed & when he did pulled off & cried as soon as the let down came. I hate not being able to console him. Also it makes it hard trying to hear my other two dc when there's constant crying. Not sure what's been wrong. Maybe unwell but seems more colicky.

Hoping tomorrow is better, we are going to a BBQ at my inlaws. Dreading it anyway, will be even worse if ds is crying like today.

Have any of you read Wonder Weeks? Apparently babies go through big developmental leaps (sometimes at the same time as physical growth spurts) at certain weeks which can be accompanied by more fussing and crying and less sleep for a few days. The first two (after the newborn days) are at 5 & 8 weeks. Might explain some of the changes we're experiencing?

Oh and the wonder weeks are based on due dates not birth dates by the way.

UniPyschle glad I'm not alone. Today he has managed to vomit on my nipple and into my armpit! I was telling myself last night that at least the constant feeding should be upping my supply - I couldn't express anything this evening (bad time to be doing it I suppose), so I hope my boobs might start to catch up tomorrow.

I wish I could enjoy breastfeeding more. I do when he is actually feeding, he is just so cute and adorable - but afterwards I can't cuddle him without him rooting manically (because he can still smell milk) or crying because of wind / impending vomit. It makes me so

Buns DS has been very unsettled today too, more so than usual. I don't know if this could be classed a wonder week though, as although he is 5 weeks old, he is minus three weeks corrected?

Love the Wonder Weeks book: helped me keep my sanity with DS. I always found I didn't need to adjust for his age though... So far DD is following the same pattern.

I just order the Wonder Weeks from Amazon - should be arriving in a couple of days. Another book to add to my ever growing collection of Baby Books.

Ooh a Wonder Weeks App... Let's give that a bash!

Oh an app? I like a good app .

A new app? mad dash to amazon.com

While we're on th subject of books, can anyone reco a good child development book. Something along lines of milestones etc?

The Wonder Weeks book is great. I bought it for a couple of friends as well. I signed up for the email alerts. We are in the midst of Week 8 'stormy period' - I keep telling myself it will pass.

Holly Your Baby Week by Week is good, but only goes up to 6m and has weaning info from 17w (the very earliest recommended time) but we found it very useful with DD. Past that MN was all that was needed!

Thanks Flisspaps will have a looksee :)

I think weaning is one area I will be contravertial (sp?) in. DS1 had to be weaned at 4 months (but he was on hungry baby milk and loads of it) as he really needed food.

Unless Aaron is really content on his milk, I can't see us holding out until 6 months. I really think its a ff thing though as with bf it's totally on demand and it's not AS possible on ff to do that (you get told to but unless you are chained to your house containing kettle, all bottles, sink and steriliser you can't give the odd oz here and there which is why most ff babies are on 3-4 hrly routines).

It's just yet another reason bf is amazing - wish it had worked out for us.

I had my hair cut yesterday and it was so relaxing to have something done for just me. We go to my SIL to get it done so DH and DSs were in tow but it still felt like a break (but without my weird anxieties as I knew where everyone was).

How is everyone else's bank holidays?

Bank holidays are ace...baby is asleep, OH is playing on his Playstation, dog is napping and I'm shopping for baby clothes!

Holly I bought 'what to expect in the first year' - which is a great reference book for milestones and anything you might be concerned about. What I loved about it was it's very factual, non-judgemental tone. It's quite detailed, but you dip into bits that interest you as and when. Still flick through it now, second time round.

DS2 must have finished a growth spurt as last two nights I've leaked milk all over the bed. This never happened with ds1. So many differences beyween them already.

17w is seen as ok to wean Kat if you need to, so it's not particularly controversial. However it's worth bearing in mind that the most calorie dense thing you can give is milk, so if you've got a hungry baby, the quickest and best way to fill them up is more milk! That might mean extra bottles or hours and hours with a baby stuck on the boob though! Solids may offer temporary bulk but they don't keep little tummies full for long

Personally I'm too lazy to be doing with purée and ice cube trays and spoons, DS will have to learn to feed himself at 6mo like DD did, I'm not feeding someone while my dinner goes cold

Lol, I quite like cooking up things like that but we will see, I'm in no rush and would like him to stay a baby as long as possible as it's the last time I do this and as much as it's very hard work I will miss this time when it's gone.