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September 2012 babies - warmest welcome!

996 replies

Macaroons · 14/09/2012 21:50

Here's the new thread for September babies fresh from the oven!

I'm a first time mum and I'm struggling with breast feeding at the moment, my 6-day old DS always seems to be hungry (a feed every 2-3 hours, each lasting roughly an hour), and when he's hungry he's very aggressive towards my nipple Sad it really hurts! Any tips out there? And how often do you feed your baby and for how long? how do you teach your baby to be gentle on the nipples? Envy

Good luck to those still waiting for their babies to come out! Will be watching out for more baby news!

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
HeffalumpsAndGoldenWoozles · 05/10/2012 09:50

We're definitely still in baby grows and lovely woolly cardis, but then she is only 6 days old still. I kept DD1 in baby grows until about 8 weeks and will do at least the same with DD2, partly because its so much easier and partly because I think they must be much more comfortable on little tummies than a waistband and a top that rides up all the time. We have plain ones for nighttime and pretty ones during the day.

Pickles77 · 05/10/2012 10:00

Oh good!!! I want to stay in babygrows Smile

HeffalumpsAndGoldenWoozles · 05/10/2012 10:30

There's something so snuggly cute about them in baby grows isn't there :)

Rachel130690 · 05/10/2012 11:08

It depends on how the morning has gone pickles but usually he is in some sort of outfit during the day and in a fluffy sleep suit at night, but sometimes I just put him into a colourful sleep suit during the day.

Today where is fluffy dungerees and a long sleeved vest. He's just do cute. :)

Pickles77 · 05/10/2012 11:47

I suppose most of her outfits are still too big at the moment even though she's three weeks she's in new baby things. Up to three months drown her

Rachel130690 · 05/10/2012 12:31

pickles where the same. Up to 3 months is massive on him, but some newborn is tiny. So some times it's a struggle to find some thing to fit him.

How is your lg getting on pickles?

Can someone post a link to a good sling? I'm thinking I might get one but not sure which one..

leelteloo · 05/10/2012 14:06

Hi Pickles, babygrows day and night here and as for going out, not been doing very much of that as still can't drive and if I do any walking or lifting the bleeding and pain comes back, so still taking things v easy.
On the plus side have found a good herbal tablet that's helping me sleep enough so I can sleep through Euan's grunts and groans but doesn't sonk me out so I can't get up to feed him. Got good few hours if sleep last night, yea!! Grin

MadMonkeys · 05/10/2012 16:58

Anyone else got the dreaded mastitis? It came on in the night, and breastfeeding is excruciating. I feel very rough, like the worst bout of flu you've ever had. Cracked nipples don't seem to be healing. I've just ordered some Kamillosan to try, as I've been plastering Lansinoh on and it doesn't seem to have worked. Anyone tried Kamillosan? Saw the GP this morning as my episiotomy wound is still infected. It's not exactly a barrel of laughs in the MadMonkey household!

Smallgreenone · 05/10/2012 17:18

Outfits by day and sleepsuits by night here. Today he has been in his jojo maman cords with a petit bateau stripey hoody - I am addicted to buying stupidly priced but gorgeous baby clothes! Can't decide whether to keep them for the next baby if there is one or sell them on eBay to fund excessive shopping habit. We will be bankrupt by Christmas at this rate!

Smallgreenone · 05/10/2012 17:19

Sending you a hug madmonkeys- sounds rotten with the infection and now mastitis, hope all clears up soon

HeffalumpsAndGoldenWoozles · 05/10/2012 17:27

madmonkey that sounds horrible poor you, I hope it clears up soon. I've heard lansinoh is the better if the two but I don't have much experience as DD2 not reached the week mark yet, although lansinoh seems to be ok for now. With DD1 I just used to express a couple of drops at the end of a feed and rub them on then let air dry and I was lucky enough that it seemed to be enough to keep the nasties at bay.

The poo production line is still in full flow, we are on 4th complete change of clothes since 4am :( Her poos are turning that greeny yellow mustardy colour now but they look a bit lumpy/stringy too, anyone know if that's normal?

Moominsummermadness · 05/10/2012 17:52

Oh no, madmonkeys! Poor you. Mastitis is horrible, I had it with DD3. Hope you feel better soon.

Heff, DD has lumpy bits in her poo too. I think it's quite normal. DD has a habit of waiting til I've just changed her nappy, then doing the mother of all poos.

Loopyhasanotherbean · 05/10/2012 20:07

just a quick posting, sorry for not name checking!

re outfits, babygrows day and night, with a vest underneath, way too young for faffing with outfits, don't bother until they are old enough to be far less wobbly and less likely to need umpteen changes per day.

Re nipples, lansinoh is miracle stuff. I apply it after shower each morning and after every single feed. It really does stop me feeling at all sore, and i fed DS1 until he was 15 months and never had cracked nipples or anything else.

Re mastitis, i had it this week, think was brought on by DS2 changing his sleep/feed pattern, i started to get a bit engorged and then that meant bra was too tight...i felt uncomfortable tuesday evening when eating tea to the point i unclipped that side of my bra, and was hit by sudden shivers as i walked into our bedroom, DP ended up bringing me a hot water bottle, i then had fevers in the night and burned it out of me by the morning, fed DS2 more from that side, eg fed right, right, left, right, right, left (was right side affected). Since Wed AM the only symptom i had was the redness which gradually faded/shrunk, and its completely gone by today, so i think i was lucky. I'm by no means an expert but a few people i know have had it, and i think if you have cracked nipples you are more likely to have the infectious type of mastitis rather than the non infectious type. Infectious one needs anti biotics and there is a risk of getting an abcess which means hospital and surgery - a friend had to have that 2 years ago, ended up being in for a few days as she'd ignored it and left it quite a few days before going to her GP.

Lumpy bits is normal in poo, they often describe it as being like seeded mustard. Green isn't quite as normal, it can mean they are getting too much foremilk and not enough hind milk - might be swopping sides too soon. I remember HV saying that with my DS1 - but issue there was he had reflux and wouldn't always have as big a feed as he needed and so had lots more feeds, so more foremilk than if he'd have had less feeds but bigger ones... if that makes sense?

Re grunts, another one here with a grunty baby, does it when trying to fart, and then wakes himself up eventually.

Re baby slings, highly recommend trying them on before buying, we have 2 that seemed what we wanted pre baby, but didn't get on with either of them. The Ergo baby carrier is highly recommended, doesn't harm their hips like the baby bjorn ones and similar, i'm going to one of their legitimate stockists next Weds to try one on and see if it suits me or not (i'm short with v big boobs and a iffy back so not sure if it will be any good, despite knowing how fab a product it is meant to be, as my body shape does not conform to the norm!!)

Pickles77 · 05/10/2012 21:05

I haven't felt like I love my little one as awful as that sounds but i think just now something clicked.
She's asleep in her basket, and I'm sat weeping at how beautiful she is and just want to cuddle her!

Macaroons · 05/10/2012 22:30

I love watching my little one too! Love his facial expressions - so adorable!

Re clothing it's sleep suit day and night for me. DS is starting to out grow the new born / up to one month clothing and moving onto 0-3m! I remember reading somewhere thy they are supposed to be wearing one more layer than us, how many layers do you dress your little one in?

Quick question on breast feeding - how long does it usually take to empty one breast, and how do you know it's empty? Ta.

OP posts:
Macaroons · 05/10/2012 22:32

Had anyone tried using ring sling for holding baby while breast feeding? My hands and arms are getting sore coz DS is getting heavy (and he's not even one month old...)

OP posts:
funchum8am · 06/10/2012 01:08

Hi everyone, I hope I am allowed to stay on the Sept thread! DD finally arrived at 42 weeks on Thursday so is an October baby but I'd hate to leave you all after we've come this far together and you have helped me so much through pregnancy!

I was induced on Tuesday with a propess (prostaglandin) tampon thingy and thank goodness since I was started at 3pm and contractions had become unbearably painful by 3am. They wouldn't give me anything but codydramol as my cervix had not developed at all; waters went at 4:15 but still no cervical changes yet contractions got so bad I sounded and felt like I was in labour, but technically wasn't even close. I was in a shared room on the antenatal ward, DH wacn't allowed in outside visiting hours, there was only one hot shower and no baths or proper pain relief and I felt really scared. Staff were sadly both scarce and unhelpful :(

However I begged and threatened got them to remove the propess in the end since it wasn't progressing my cervix, and contractions continued naturally since my waters had gone. I then got to 6cm by about 11am with no pain relief save tens machine, and was transferred to the delivery suite. There I had a completely fabulous midwife and trainee plus a medical student who were with me at all times til 8:30pm. Got to 8cm quickly with gas and air, but then my contractions got painful so asked for an epidural and got it when fully dilated at 8pm. Sadly then started pushing but failed to progress due to DD's position so did 2 hours then had to have a syntocin drip ramped up high, and DD was safely delivered with forceps just after midnight on Thursday. Weirdly the worst part of labour for me was the first stage and I am never going near induction again, but the rest was actually a great experience.

Postnatal ward was lovely during the day and horrific at night so will also leave hospital asap if I ever do this again!

Now enjoying a third sleepless night but at least this time I am in my own home with DD and DH. So happy to be joining you all on this thread and if you have read this far you are a real trooper! Think I just needed to get it all out, apologies!!!

HeffalumpsAndGoldenWoozles · 06/10/2012 02:34

Hi funchum being induced isn't much fun is it but so glad your DD is now here safe & well. Sounds like you had a hard time though, your first stage especially. What a difference a good midwife can make, and its good you can think of it as a positive experience overall.

I think the green tinge was as we were changing from meconium to normal poos as a few more dirty nappies later although the lumps are still there (whole grain mustard is a good description!) it's now all yellow so thanks for putting my mind at ease.

Gosh I've talked about poo a lot today Confused

Thali34 · 06/10/2012 03:52

funchum congratulations on your baby and for getting thru your labour. I also had a very drawn out one, I'm proud of achieving what I did, tho can't call it a good experience.

heffalump I talk about poo every day! :) I panicked when we had a trace of green in nappy. Was told was fine and normal. A day or two later had some very green nappies, once in front of MW but again she also said completely normal. the lumpy texture I was told is a very good sign as it means she is getting to the fatty hind milk in her feeds...

Poor baby is at the spotty and flaky stage. I think it's normal but sad to see on baby skin. DH keeps wanting to postpone her first bath til her skin settles a bit. I know they're not dirty like us adults and she gets a good top and tail / wash at changing time but I really want to bath her! Anyone else holding out? Have heard or using olive oil or other oil in/with bath instead of anything soap-like. Better for their sensitive skin? Any thoughts?

Thali34 · 06/10/2012 03:56

pickles I didn't feel the love straight away either. Long ordeal of a labour and also I was convinced I was carrying a boy so was thrown when it was a girl! Amazing how the instinct kicks in tho (given time if necessary)! Also helps that they are so helpless and dependent on you! For daddy, it was love at first sight tho and they had lovely bonding time at first. (he finds it hard that she mostly wants me now, for feeding!)

Mikyahrose · 06/10/2012 04:32

Hey everyone. Can I join too? My little boy was born Monday, so technically an oct baby, but was 2 weeks late.

We're doing we'll so far. I'm having the same problem with night sleeping, that he'll only stay asleep on me, as soon as I try to put him in his crib he wakes. Means I'm not getting the best sleep, but he is. I'm actually not feeling too bad for it yet either. DP is being great and we've started a routine where he takes DS at about 7am for as long as possible so I can get a couple of hours of sleep.
Clothes wise, we're in vests and baby grows, and plan to stick with this for a while.
I think my milk is in/coming in. His pop has changed colour and when I've had a squeeze its more white than clear now.
For the peeps that are expressing, are you both bottle feeding and boon feeding? I want to express but am worried about introducing it too early. Also does anyone use a dummy? We think our DS really liked sucking and are sure he'd settle for longer with DP if he could suck, but again are worried about bringing it in too soon.
I think the bf is going well, he's latching ok (although me says I need to get more boob in his mouth) and my boobs aren't that sore. They're not dry, but have felt a bit more tender today. But actual feeding isn't painful.
Think that's all my worries and concerns so far.
Thanks for your help in advance ladies. :)

NightmareWalking · 06/10/2012 08:46

Mikyah I'm expressing when DD has formula (as advised by paed at hospital) -so we're using bottles as well as boob. We use Tommee Tippee closer to nature bottles and so far no nippple confusion. Not using a dummy though as I'm afraid that will be too confusing for DD - I think you are meant to wait until 6 weeks for that (and bottles, but we had no choice there).

Rachel I have a sling ike this and love it! [[http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/290722549041?var=lv

NightmareWalking · 06/10/2012 09:01

Also congrats funchum! I think we were due the same day and DD is 4 wks tomorrow - weird how it works out!

We're having a lovely morning here - impromptu skin to skin after a wee incident on the change mat necessitated a removal of DDs pjs, DH has brought me a lovely cuppa and the sun is shining so we're going for a long walk later. Smile

HeffalumpsAndGoldenWoozles · 06/10/2012 09:01

Thanks thali that's reassuring to know re lumps and the hind milk.

Hi mikyah I was totally useless at expressing last time, have dug the pump out but not thought much yet about when or if I'll use it. I'm in awe of the ladies who manage it regularly it must be such hard work. I think with dummies in the early days you have a risk of affecting baby's latch, although there's bound to be someone in here with more helpful knowledge!

Re baths baby Lump is a week old today and so far we've not bathed her. I top & tail each day (and following every explosive poo she pretty much gets a full wipe down anyway!) and rub a little olive oil into her dry skin on wrists & ankles. DD1 hated baths when she was tiny so we're putting it off as long as possible as the thought of upsetting little Lump isn't appealing!

Moominsummermadness · 06/10/2012 09:32

Hello funchum and mikyah!

funchum, I'm sorry to hear that you had such a horrible induction. But glad that your second stage was a positive experience! Some postnatal wards are terrible. I couldn't wait to get home, was glad that I could have a 6 hour discharge. One of the reasons for me wanting a home birth was to avoid the postnatal ward altogether! I still feel disappointed that we ended up in hospital, I really should be getting over that now.

pickles, I didn't feel the rush of love for DD2 straightaway. I cared about her, but it took a while to fall head over heels.