August 2012 - sunny (ha!) summer babies

[ImissMiniPop]

they're starting to arrive, so here's our 'Due in August' post natal thread. To talk poo, pee, burping and everything else, too...

Here's link to antd-natal thread for those we'll be waiting for www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1511603-Due-in-August-Thread-Part-6

Have borrowed Needles list, which I'll start here, please feel free to add your details to it. I'm rubbish at list keeping, and hopefully Needles will be along to keep it updated :o

BIRTHS
tigger8 (?) DC? due 27/7/12, GIRL born 11/7/12
missjemima (?) DC2 BOY due 3/8/12, born 10/7/12
PoppySeed34 (34) DC1 BOY due 4/8/12, born 28/5/12

Evening everyone, hope you all enjoyed the sun today :) Looking forward to those nice crisp but sunny autumnal days when we can get out for a nice walk.

Been out with friends today who have a lovely 2yr old. Nice to be with peeps who've been through the newborn stage and come out the other side :)
They also know all the kiddie friendly places!

LO was v good, although unusually didn't sleep much in the pram, she seems to be getting much more alert these days. Have to start working on some entertainment!

Started with baby spots here too the last couple of days. I'll take the advice of just water and sudocream if necessary.

Have a good night everyone :)

Ok another update on Scottish meets (sorry non scots for this spam!)

We are doing both the 11th and 25th I'm edinburgh so all can make it. I will be going to both and then next month we will all get together unless everyone makes the 11th. No pressure come to either or both. Will update venue when I know but still 1pm at present.

Good day today feeling better thank goodness. Thanks for the sleepy help everyone it's good to know we are all doing similar ish. Today succeeded in another awake to basket transfer but again he had only had a snack feed so woke after half an hour. Thing is that he can do it though. Now just need him to do longer less regular feeds so any advice? I don't know If he is snacking because he is sick or what. Tends to feed longer at night. It's so hard to tell if he is getting enough you know? I'm not worried though lots of wet nappies and usually about 2 dirty a day thanks to the lactulose.

Four hours ham. Four?!?!

Well. I think I'm doing something all wrong here. Lo sleeps all day but not at night. Hates her Moses basket. Cries whimpers sleeps in 15 minute bursts eventually settling in bed with me which I don't feel is safe so still do not get any sleep. I'm on my knees

I love her to bits but bloody hell!! Today She has cried if she had not been on either my boob or asleep. She is clean, feeding fine, temp fine. I just don't know why she is crying so much. She has pretty much slept all day so I can pretty much bet on no sleep tonight again and I really can't take another night. I've been cheerfully managing on 4 broken hours a night for three weeks but last night I got half a hour. Half a bloody hour and only two hours might before.

Sorry for the moan. It's my first time and I'm just feeling really useless and overwhelmed at the minute.

Any ideas?

Does anyone in the South East/London want to arrange a meet up? I'm based in Surrey (well, only just!), but can easily get into London (Victoria or London Bridge).

Signet where does your LO sleep during the day? If its in a pram or similar that's safe for overnight sleeping can you bring that upstairs for nighttimes? Or reverse that and bring the basket downstairs for daytime sleeps to get her used to it? I've heard that lots of babies dislike the Moses basket though, so you are not alone - is there any chance that her cot would fit in your room and you can put her straight into that? Good luck tonight...

She sleeps on me nightfall. Occasionally settles in her pram but not for long. She just likes my chest or partners stomach but not his chest or my stomach. That just won't do it would seem.

How long do babies sleep. Is this normal or should I be taking her to gp she is 3 weeks old.

Sounds like she's might be doing the newborn 'I want to be held by mummy all the time thing' if she'll happily sleep on you and feeding well, no wind etc.

Hmmm, does she like to be swaddled so she feels like she's being held? I wouldn't worry that she's been asleep all day and so won't sleep at night - they need a lot of sleep! Or roll up blankets and have down either side of her in the basket and make sure its toasty warm.

Otherwise, it's a personal choice but if the only way to get some sleep is having her in your bed, I think its OK and do it a bit. I don't sleep quite the same but its better than nothing. Hang in there!!!

signet the other thing I've done is try and get out for an hour in the day. I know its hard but they start to develop their circadian (day/night) thing at 3 wks so I aim to get LO some daylight - even if just in the garden in the pram.

Thanks so much. I just have nothing to base her on and I'm spending all my time worrying incase I'm screwing it up and it feeds a lot like I am at the moment

I'm going to start taking her for walks now it's been three weeks since my section and I feel fine so going to get back into life I think that will help. Dp is on at me to express so he can do a night feed but I've been told its too early yet.

You're not screwing anything up, she just needs and loves you so much she doesn't want to be anywhere else :) lovely but totally knackering!

if you think BF is well established, good latch and feeds well etc. I think it's fine to try with bottle. Again, up to you, I did a few times at that age and no adverse effects here, others might say differently, just don't leave it too long.

I'm no expect btw and only have a 6 wk old myself! Just sharing my experience and learnt loads from people on here :)

signet sounds like you're doing great, 3 weeks is still tiny. After about 8 weeks if you're still having the same issues you could try a gentle routine, waking her up at the same time ach day to encourage the difference between day and night but sounds like all is perfectly normal for a 3 week old (sadly for you and your sleep!). Although in my humble opinion (!) it's never too early to express - esp if it helps you get some solid sleep in. I expressed from a week and a half as my nipples were so sore!

poppy we're just about unpacked and in Surrey now so would be up for a localish meet up if pos.

was exact same here signnet and she still prefers people to flat surfaces at 5 weeks. i think it is all normal.

re: the eczema, doc prescribed double base... does anyone have experience with it?

signet sounds like you're doing an amazing job :) have you tired putting a piece of your clothing in the moses basket so it smells like you or putting something from the basket in tour top to get your smell on it?

Also, is the muses basket cold when you put her in it? You're could try gently warming the basket (I use my hand for a couple of minutes).

To be honest, she's so little its quite normal to want to be held I think (IMHO), she's secure & warm on you. And it does get better. Honest! Xx

ishop that sounds great :) a Surrey meet up would be good.

Signet, I was going to suggest getting her used to the basket during the day. As she's used to being on you, could you put one of those hot bean bag (microwavable hot water bottle thing - can't think how to describe them) but not too hot and wrapped in a t-shirt for your smell near her to comfort in the basket?
It's perfectly natural for her to settle on you as she hears the heartbeat she's known for all those months.

How funny Minipops- crossposted similar advice!!

Ambi = :) I had to put my top in Minipop's basinette at first, and the hospital let us have the sheet from his cot to use so it was familiar when we took him home (he was in NICU for 6 weeks).

Ok, so London/SE meet up 29th October, 11am, somewhere very near to St Pancras station for anyone who would like to come along.

Hey signet if you are worried about co-sleeping its ok if you follow the advice. Which is don't do it if you have been smoking or drinking, or are exhaustivly tired ie so tired yoy are gonna go right to sleep now. Don't put them under a duvet make sure they use there own blankets/sleeping bag if you are using a duvet. Ie my lo sleeps on me in his sleeping bag. Don't put anything on the edge of the bed to stop them falling off as this may cause suffocation or put the bed against a wall/object as they can get trapped between them not good! Put baby in the middle of the bed or on you. As long as you follow these guidelines co-sleeping is fairly safe and at least you are getting some sleep. Hope this helps. Also my lo decided not to sleep for more than an hour at time in his basket last night and is 5 nearly 6 weeks but it will pass.

minipop would love to meet up but london is too far for me I'm afraid as right down on the south coast st pancras would be a 2hr train ride :( hope you have a good time tho.

I've had sleep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lo one slept from 12 til 330 and then quick feed bum change and slept again til half six. Feel like a new woman!

I rolled blankets either side or her as suggested and made it a bit warmer with a fleecy blanket under her as well as blankets over. Fed her to sleep and then popped her in with some shushing and patting.

I bought a mam dummy yesterday out of desperation but didn't even use it last night Sje seems a lot happier too currently laid settled in her bouncy chair looking at the bar with toys on.

Thank you all do much for your advice

Yay Signet, great news. What is special about MAM dummy? I must have missed that memo.

Yay signet!

Ambi, MAM are very tiny for newborns plus orthodontic so in theory, don't ruin their teeth. My sister recommended them to me and despite being very anti dummy, caved in very quickly and now use to soothe as and when. He never has one on for hours, as often spits it out, but it does calm him down.

Signet, glad you had a better night. We definitely found a warm bed helps a lot at night, as does rocking, back patting and general soothing. We also slightly raised one end of the basket with a small book to aid digestion.

We've got a new issue in that LO is becoming worse not better at feeding and it's really upsetting me (not to mention that DH is getting stressed out of his tree with all the crying). He starts off ok, then pops off, cries, I burp him, he goes back on, feeds for a few more minutes, repeat repeat. We're now giving gripe water and some infacol in the hope that it may help any wind, but yet to see any real results (only been using for a couple of days). I worry that he's not getting enough food (although nappies seem fine) but I can't work out the problem. Is he just getting much quicker, so cross at me trying to latch him on when full? Is my milk too fast? Does it taste funny? Agh, espas some feeds are fine! Have just ordered on recommendation The Food of Love, but also going to ring a BF counsellor too, as am getting bit worried about all the fussingwhen previously, he was ok. He's currently asleep in the sling since the last feed was such a nightmare, I popped him in to calm down and he's been asleep ever since. So maybe just not hungry? Wish he could just tell me!

Hope everyone else has a nice day; we've got DH's uncle and young daughter coming round soon, and tbh, could really do without it, as am tired and can't cope with more people when LO is so unsettled. Hey ho.

x

mrsmiggins I had/have this with lo so started using infacol on thurs and now seems much better at the boob. Tho now appears to be fussing for some other unknown reason?? Not at boob tho just in general. Mine was partly wind and is partly milk flow cos sometimes he shoots off boob and then my milk squirts in his face/hair everywhere have to keep a close eye or we both get soaked. Now when he comes off cos of that I just press on nipple to stem the flow and he is fine again. Just takes time for infacol to work but are you sure is ok to use gripe water and infacol they might be working against each other?? I would only use one or the other. And maybe he is more over tired than hungry hence sleeping if he was hungry surely he would be awake and fussing??

signet another advocate of cosleeping here I'm afraid. Read the UNICEF leaflet on safe cosleeping and also there are some good things on it if you search for attachment parenting which is also helpful in explaining and making you feel more ok with the reason why your LO wants to be with you all the time. Personally I love cosleeping. I never planned to do it it just made sense. If I can feed lying in bed that's time when I would have been wide awake spent resting, if not dozing or sleeping. Also as sandy sleeps way better beside me it makes sense for both of us. At first you may feel you are not getting much sleep and its very light sleep but as you do it more and both get used to it, your baby gets less small and fragile seeming and you adapt to a new way of sleeping. My best move is feed lying down, when baby comes off wait 5-10 mins til she is fully asleep then pull your top up and move slowly away from her a little. Then you can move slowly onto your back and put your arm nearest her above your head on your pillow. At 8 weeks now I can noisily flip onto my front beside sandy or sleep a good bit separate from him and he is happy. Do what feels right at the end of the day though, hth. And so glad you did get some sleep in the end :)

Just booked a holiday in January to fuerteventura when he will be 5.5 months old... Is all inclusive with everything on site though so no pressure if we don't feel adventurous! Good deals to be had for non holiday times like January! Any travelling advice mums?

Wondering what you think of this. I reckon I have become very precious about feeding sandy to sleep and also too quickly going to settle him. Example, if he won't fall asleep at the breast I feel like he will never sleep again. I am remedying that by putting him down awake and it seems to be working. Also, if he goes down and then wakes up I assume he is hungry but then if he fusses I get frustrated he won't feed. Now I am trying to just let him sit in his cot if he isn't actually crying. Wind wakes him all the time so I hope to just give him his dummy and soothe him back to sleep. Also need to ignore all the grunting and noises and stop hovering near the cot. It's like I see his eyes open and think oh that's it no sleep better get him up. Aim not to pick him up unless he is crying or genuinely distressed looking. Also trying to curb a snack feeding routine he has in the daytime which is causing hourly feeds and a lot of fussing so going to try and not feed him if its been less than 3 hours unless he is giving a lot of cues.

I love the idea of co sleeping. It's just with dp been a coma sleeper, us both been bigger side of normal there is not much room and I'm worried she will either fall off the bed or get crushed by one of us. Love the idea though.