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

Hope little one is ok ishop?

I so wish MiniPop was breastfeeding, it's such a pain in the arse having to sterilise bottles all the while, and if we go out for the day have to take four bottles with me to cover feeding :(

I would leave MiniPop's fingernails until they come off naturally, but he really scratches himself as I don't want to cover his hands up all the time. They're so sharp for a little fella!

Ham I do feel down in the evenings, because I really don't like the night time feedings, although I have to keep MiniPop upright for 30 mins after his feed, so I do like the extra snuggles we get alone. :o

The first two weeks after we got DMP home I really had baby blues, it was such a shock to the system just how hard work it is (especially as we have no family or support locally, and it's me doing 99% of the baby stuff), and also felt sad for my pre-baby/bump life that's long gone... sounds daft, but I didn't realise just how much things would change.

It's (not really but you know what I mean) good to hear you had the same feelings minipop I feel so freaked by the change sometimes but weirdly then guilty as anything because I am also so happy.

FYI just realised that co sleeping is a god send. Sandy never really settles at night in Moses basket seems windy all the time but turns out he just wanted comfort. Last night fed then slept 9 til 2 ( I know!) then fed and slept 2 to 4 and again 4to 7 now feeding. All this in bed with us must have only been awake in the night for an hour so 8 hours sleep seriously? Ok it's not deep sleep as aware of him etc but mega good going for a newborn I reckon. Plus the lying feeding is way comfy

Going to try and register his birth today hehe he exists!!

Another one with not much night time sleep here. All in all not that bad as ds feeds every 3 hours (ish) sometimes 2.5 but that's timing it from start of feed 1 to start of feed 2, by the time you factor in feeding time, some winding and the odd nappy change I think I'm lucky to get 2 hours straight sleep... so also finding nights a struggle but DH is being v good and helping out as much as he can (although he lacks the essentials boobs!) ... might express again in a few days time just to get 4 hours plus sleep!

DS is coping v well, poor lil mite. Hoping within a week he will have fully recovered.

Other c/s sufferers - are your lower tummies still numb?

I get very low in the evenings, Ham, I think it's mostly tiredness, plus Ben feeds a lot in the evening. Sometimes it feels like I'm just a milk-producing machine!

Nighttime sleeping is ok, he went for 6!!!!! hours last night between feeds. However, when I feed him at night he really struggles to latch on. A 20 minute feed last night took over an hour to do! I'm sure it's just because he's little, he'll learn to get the hang of it.

DH has taken my car to be valued this afternoon. We don't need it and I can't even fit the buggy into it, but it's still strange. A massive lifestyle shift is underway!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes - we celebrated by eating lots of food you can't eat while pregnant! Also managed to get back into my pre-pregnancy jeans today and put some make up on, so celebrations all round (not too smug, still have proper pot belly!)

Hello Mummies!

Ishop - yep, I have a very large area around my tum that is numb which really unnerves me and, so, I try not to think about it. Doc says it will heal at a rate of a mm a week! A very long process for me then!

Ladies - baby blues....Hmm, sleep deprivation, for me, is the cause. I would love to get back to normality regarding keeping on top of the house too but this is not to be - DH and DD1 Are off school and I am run off my feet with all 3 of them! Bea has colic as well which is soooo stressful!

Bea Is asleep on me now and, strangely enough, those blues drift away.....she is so worth all the work and this is my mantra!

Take of yourselves ladies x

Hey Tigger sorry to hear little one has colic, it's no fun is it. Me and my DP had to take turns at being a mattress yesterday to help sooth MiniPop, bless him. He's nearly 2 weeks corrected age, so we have an extended newborn phase...

He was awake every 2 hours for most of yesterday afternoon/evening and I am just SO tired today I actually feel sick :( Have family arriving soon so can't even grab an extra sleep...

the lack of sleep is just awful, I can't believe I have lasted so long on so little sleep...

Love the name Bea tigger, it was one of my favourites if we had had a girl. Hope her colic clears up soon.

Sorry to hear about the tiredness Poppy, can any of the family give you a hand so you can get a nap?

The midwife has just been to see us. Baby is doing really well and has almost regained his birth weight (10 days old now) and cleared his jaundice. He has a little bit of nappy rash which she recommended using sudocreme for.

Mum isn't doing so well. She thinks my tummy muscles have separated so I have to go to a physio. I'm also having intense pain when he latches on for feeding, lasting about 15 seconds. She checked his latch, and it's really good, so she didn't have any explanation for the pain, just said that it shouldn't hurt. She recommended going to a breastfeeding clinic at the hospital tomorrow, and to the breastfeeding support group locally.

I just feel that I was so careful during pregnancy - I watched how i got up and used my stomach muscles, I did the perineal massage, I feel like I've done everything they've told me to, and I've still ended up in an absolute state. DH has gone to the gym and I'm stuck in the living room which is boiling hot (the builders are still working in the kitchen), can't even go out to get a glass of water because I've been crying. Sorry for the moan, need a bit of TLC!

I have been away from the thread last few days so just popped in to catch up.

Baby turned 2 weeks old on Sunday. We have had a few walks in the park to show her off to friends. She is generally good baby I guess, she sleeps in 4 hour chunks and then is awake for around an hour or two in between. She feeds really well between 10 to 30 minutes from each boob.

HOWEVER, the initial sucks she does to get the milk to come down are agonising. She kills me. And it is worse on one boob. She also refuses to let go of the boob. So if she is latching on wrong I just have to let her feed and be in pain because there is no way she will let me get the boob out of her mouth and get her to latch on properly. If you know how to ease the initial latching on pain or how to get her to leave the boob mid feed for me to get her to latch on properly, do let me know please.

2 weeks after the C section, I have been painkiller free for last 3 days. I am not feeling any pain whatsoever. I am on antibiotics again because of a uterus infection. My lower belly and the fanjo are both nicely numb. I can feel my belly itch but when I scratch it I don't actually feel it. It feels really really odd, hope this goes away sooner rather than later.

About baby blues....I felt quite emotional for few days and I am fine now. My moodiness coincided with the increase in the pain because of the infection. Now I am alright. Holding the baby and looking at her pretty eyes really helped.

In the heat I have noticed that the baby feeds for shorter periods but frequently. Is that the same for your babies too?

Hello all, I am now just marking spot :)

William George was born on Saturday night weighing in at 7lb14oz :).

I shall post more soon when I'm not using my phone and can read the thread fully but wanted to say hi and introduce my lovely little boy :).

You are doing so good to still technically only be two weeks into the newborn phase minipop I can't believe our boys are technically a similar age. Hopefully he will sleep better and better now he is growing bigger.

gnomi sounds tough... Get your DH back to look after you! Or someone else to help just fetch you stuff. Don't be upset all alone :( we are here regardless.

Not sure as your baby is a little older than mine warzone but the pain from feeding I had just went of its own accord. I think ishop had the same pain for the first 10 days. Maybe yours will go soon too. Sandy was always latched well it just just due to the amont of feeding he was doing. Have you tried feeding lying in bed? I find it really relaxing and easier you can rest while feeding so even if still sore at least the rest of you is comfy.

Has anyone else found that every single midwife/bf counsellor/health visitor they meet tells them different advice for feeding? Ive been told to hold the breast, to not hold the breast, to hold baby's neck, to not hold baby's neck to use pillows to not use pillows argh... What's the point in all this conflicting advice? Hmmm

Hi vino and William :) hope you are doing well!

Anyone taken their baby in the car seat properly yet? Took sandy to Dh work today 30 min trip each way but it was no fun as sandy seemed to have his chin on his chest and found the trip uncomfy and was very windy. He also was sick on the way there and I had no change for him (should have but didn't as he hasn't been sick yet I never even thought to) so he was just in blankets. Found the whole thing so stressful he just seemed upset the whole time :( going to have to be more confident going out all I want to do is stay in where he is safe.

Going to go to nct baby and bump group tomorrow. Was meant to go to the last one with bump but went into labour instead! Just hope he is ok in sling to go there as he fussed in it last time and again stressed me out argh! I can't bear to let him cry which I know is unreasonable but aw poor wee guy. Anyone got any plans tomorrow? My DH is back to work for 3 days before next week off so we are flying solo eek!

ham my DP is back at work tomorrow after three week so of working from home on a huge project. It's been really handy having him home so he could keep an eye on sleeping MiniPop while I get on with stuff, or getting him to burp while I eat, but tomorrow we're back to flying solo too - double eek!

Hey Vino, nice to see you over here. :)

MiniPop has been in his car seat,we've got the maxi cosi cabriofix as our car is so old it doesn't have isofix. I was paranoid the first few times he went in it as seemed to slump, and he was so tiny in it, but now he's much bigger and fits in it a bit better, so now I feel a bit more confident taking hin out in it. He really likes it too. Do you have a bear view mirror? Very handy.

Gnomi that sounds awful, hope you managed to get a drink and you're feeling a bit better, and have people around for support?

Warzone glad you are recovering ok.

Argh! I want my baby out so I can be here!!

BIRTHS!!!!
PoppySeed34 (34) DC1 BOY due 4/8/12, born 28/5/12

ByeBabyBatshit (35) DC1 due 11/8/12 TWIN BOYS, born 21/6/12

tigger8 (?) DC? due 27/7/12, GIRL born 11/7/12
missjemima (?) DC2 BOY due 3/8/12, born 10/7/12
Loupee (26) DC1 BOY due 28/7/12, born 24/7/12
ontheedgeofwhatever (?) DC2 BOY due 25/7/12, born 25/7/12
ishopthereforeiam (32) DC2 BOY due 27/7/12, born 27/7/12
warzonemummy (?) DC1 GIRL due 4/8/12, born 29/7/12
ontheedgeofwhatever (?) DC2 BOY due ?/8/12, born 25/7/12

hamncheese (24) DC1 BOY due 11/8/12, born 2/8/12
ChicBabyP (?) DC1 GIRL due 5/8/12 born 6/8/12
Gnomi (29) DC1 BOY due 7/8/12, born 4/8/12
vinolover (29) DC3 BOY due 11/8/12, born 11/8/12
McBaby (31) DC1 due 7/8/12, born 13/8/12
PictureThis (38) DC2 BOY due 27/8/12, born 14/8/12
Littlelamb1980 (31) DC1 BOY due 6/8/12, born 7/8/12

So I posted at my low moment! DH came back with lunch and helped me sort myself out, then we went out for a drive, a walk and coffee! It made me feel a bit more human .

Warzone That is exactly the same pain I have! I'm on day 10 so I'll let you know how I get on. I'm going to a BF support group on Friday and will go to the clinic on Wednesday if there's still pain.

Congratulations Vino, gorgeous name!

Right, time for a nappy change and then bed.

Glad you're feeling a bit better gnomi. The stomach muscles does sound v uncomfortable tho.

Thanks war zone yes my tummy is still numb In the lower area, I can feel pressure like tapping but not if I gently rub it, just odd more than painful. I've also stopped the painkillers, think I had about 10-14 days worth so far so good touch wood, although I do feel it pull if ive overdone it a bit.

Re breastfeeding mine was like ham said, for first two weeksish agonizing then just hurt for the first ten secs of latching on. Mw said he's latched on fine and dd was the same, it didn't last forever with dd - can't remember how long it took but we def reached a time where even the latching didn't hurt.

vino welcome! Hope william's settling in well?

In other news got some quotes in for removals and the first one is EXTORTIONATE... At this rate I'll be lifting the boxes myself once the c/s has fully healed!

How have things been without DH minipop ?

Sandy has decided that mornings are now for four hour feedathons... Least it's not in the night! Makes going out hard though cause he Is all unsettled just wanting food which is stressful out and about, then if I go out in the afternoon he isn't getting a good sleep. It's tougher without DH as he is so windy between feeds I don't get a break. At last he is sleeping well at night so I really shouldn't complain. Hoping the feed he is on now will send him off for a sleep.

Does anyone else's baby seem only to want to sleep on their side? Sandy is much more settled like that even tough your not meant to let them. He has angel care monitor though so worries me less.

Hope everyone else is having an ok time at the moment :)

Glad you're feeling better gnomi,it's such a roller coaster of emotions at the moment.

I think I may have to offer William a bottle :( . He latches on really well and my nipples are nowhere near as sore as they were yesterday so I presume all is well with that but I'm just not sure he's getting enough. He has literally spent all night feeding and will not settle. He falls asleep at the breast and when I put him down he wakes up and screams to be fed again.
Is this a common occurrence which just requires perseverance do you think?

wanders into thread in vain hope that Baby C will decide to come 8 days early<

Vino from my memory I recall DS was like that. It passed and I bf him for 11 months. :)

William is feeding that much to equip your body to make more milk - not that you aren't making enough atm, but just that your body needs to get in sync with how much he wants.

Think of a little newborn puppy, spending all its time at its mother's side. Is totally natural for human babies too.

I know it's scary and unsettling for us when our babies aren't settled, but in a week or so you will be a dab hand at bf and so glad you stuck with it.

If William is falling asleep at your breast then it shows he's fed and is comfy beside his mum whom he loves loves loves! The waking up when you set him down is natural, DS used to do that. At the time it drove me batty, but looking back on it it was so cute.

DS is now 2.5 years old and sometimes when he wakes at night he will settle if myself or DH cuddle him... then as soon as we set him down again he wakes and cries. Is all about wanting comfort.

You're doing a fab job!

BIRTHS!!!!
PoppySeed34 (34) DC1 BOY due 4/8/12, born 28/5/12

ByeBabyBatshit (35) DC1 due 11/8/12 TWIN BOYS, born 21/6/12

tigger8 (?) DC? due 27/7/12, GIRL born 11/7/12
missjemima (?) DC2 BOY due 3/8/12, born 10/7/12
Loupee (26) DC1 BOY due 28/7/12, born 24/7/12
ontheedgeofwhatever (?) DC2 BOY due 25/7/12, born 25/7/12
ishopthereforeiam (32) DC2 BOY due 27/7/12, born 27/7/12
warzonemummy (?) DC1 GIRL due 4/8/12, born 29/7/12
ontheedgeofwhatever (?) DC2 BOY due ?/8/12, born 25/7/12

hamncheese (24) DC1 BOY due 11/8/12, born 2/8/12
ChicBabyP (?) DC1 GIRL due 5/8/12 born 6/8/12
Gnomi (29) DC1 BOY due 7/8/12, born 4/8/12
vinolover (29) DC3 BOY due 11/8/12, born 11/8/12
McBaby (31) DC1 due 7/8/12, born 13/8/12
PictureThis (38) DC2 BOY due 27/8/12, born 14/8/12
Littlelamb1980 (31) DC1 BOY due 6/8/12, born 7/8/12
eightieshopaholic (32) DC1 BOY due 12/8/12, born 15/8/12
capecath (29) DC2 BOY due 15/8/12, born 14/8/12
Stinyminkymoo (35) DC1 GIRL due 11/8/12, born 15/8/12

Yes vino sandy was exactly like that in the first week or so, keep going if you can! He would have feed and wind cycles with no sleep that went for hours it was really tough but now he is much better just had a nice nap and having a feed again. I think as you go on the milk gets more filling to suit them too. If you are getting way too tired try feeding lying in bed as you can doze. If it makes you uncomfortable the idea of sleeping next to him have DP keep an eye on you least you get some rest. So far for me it's been hard but worth it so much, it just instantly soothes him to feed and means lots of cuddle time.

Thank you do much needles and ham. I feel so much better now and not quite so overwhelmed and your experiences have really helped.

The Mw has just been and his weight has dropped to 7lb 4oz, so he has lost 10oz but she said that's fine and is why he's feeding so much now. She also said to put him in his moses basket as much as possible during the day to get him more used to it.

needles I really hope your baby decides to join us all very soon!

Ham and Vino we've been through some feedathons as well - 6 hours of pretty much non-stop feeding on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, lasting until 2am. My poor nipples! But it's totally natural, they go through a growth spurt around 7-10 days and this also helps to stimulate your milk production. Last night he fed at 11, slept until 5, fed and then slept from 6-10am! I'm feeling much more human!

I've just rung a BF Specialist about the latch-on pain Warzone. She recommended putting baby on a pillow and, if he's feeding from your left breast, putting only your right hand behind his neck and shoulders to guide him. Your left hand shouldn't touch him at all. I've just tried it, and the pain definitely didn't last as long.

Going to try him in the Moby wrap today. Hoping for a tear-free day!

Morning Mummies..

Had to take MiniPop to the doctors yesterday as he's still having trouble with his tummy. Dr's think it might not be reflux but a problem with the special premmie formula MiniPop is on. I'm so upset as I feel awful that I've not been able to successfully breastfeed and I'm only expressing a small amount each day, supply was never very good in the beginning, and it's even worse now, so Minipop is on 75% formula and 25% EBM.

The poor little thing has such problems with his tummy it kept him awake from 5pm yesterday and he only slept for two hours last night, he was so tired and so hungry but in so much discomfort I could only get 40mls of milk into him between 3am and 9am this morning, ended up having to hold him for most of the night as it was the only place he'd settle, he had a huge poo this morning and after that I was able to feed him and get him off to sleep, although he's still moaning and straining in his sleep now.

Feel so helpless, Drs don't know what to do and I can't get a neonatal appointment until end of September, in the meantime poor MiniPop's eating and sleeping are properly disturbed

Sorry for moaning, but I feel so sad about it all, it's horrible seeing him scream and cry in so much discomfort and not being able to do anything apart from hold him.

Hope baby arrives soon Needles, and hope you're all faring a bit better than me today :o

Poor mini pop :(. It's so upsetting to see them suffering, especially when you can't help them.

How come you can't get an appointment until the end of September? It's terrible that he has to suffer until then!

Glad to read someone else having huge feeding sessions gnomi. It is certainly very reassuring!

Hey minipop, looking back at DS1 now, we had a really hard time bf'ing him and combination fed for 6 months. He always got a formula top ups right from the start being a premmie (33 weeks) and had issues with him latching on, feeding for hours on end, bad reflux for 10 months... a life saver for us was SMA Staydown formula which really worked wonders and we wished we had found it earlier. Please don't feel bad about the formula. You've done so well to get in the breastmilk that you have already and that is great.

Full termer seems to have made a huge diff for us (may just be a diff baby thing though) and so far DS2's feeds are shorter and he is latching really well. He's been sleeping hours on end during the day so far though and cluster feeding during the night altho I think this is pretty common...

About to be a busy time here with family visiting but I am keen to keep in touch with you all on this thread so sorry if not a lot from me during this next week, but watch this space!! Love to all x