Dashing through the snow... One escaped early, which December baby is next?

[HoneyMum21]

Getting the thread ready when all the Christmas puddings start making appearances...

He's been feeding two hourly since

Oops since one this morning and often is wide awake after

Me too spotty.

I've been awake since 1 feeding and have had no sleep on between. Third night in a row like this. He was at least better during the day yesterday, so I did het some sleep.

Having real trouble with latch on one side too, I'm in pain all the time and no matter what I try, it won't come right.

FOD, ds3 was the same as he came so quick, the mucous was very scary.

kate it's so hard when you have other ones too isn't it? Dp goes back to work tomorrow so I'm not sure what I'm going to do! Dd is up at six and doesn't nap, and cluster feeding puts a stop to an early night!

spotty do you wake him to feed during the day? A lot of what I've read says if you wake every 2 hrs in the day to feed then they sleep a bit longer at night. Ethan has been sleeping better at night since I started this, so it might be worth a try?

Was anyone else still feeling quite tearful at 2 weeks? I don't remember it lasting this long the other times. I feel like I'm making a huge mess of everything. DS will not settle in his cradle at all so he's been in our bed every night since birth. He's been sleeping between us on his side which is apparently dangerous.

It's 6:30pm and I've been feeding solidly for 4 hours, I can't spend any time with the DCs! He just yells if I take him off and won't settle to sleep. His gut is really bothering him too. I'm overwhelmed.

spotty good luck tomorrow. I hope you get a better night tonight.

We do three hourly in the day if I did two I would never get out the house and I've got loads to do next week not sure how I'll manage

Seymore it sounds tough maybe you could look up some safe co sleeping positions? It doesn't have to be forever? Also I think they have a growth spurt at two weeks so the feeding night settle down in a day or two. Sure how you're feeling is completely normal but maybe talk to your mw or doctor (do you have HV out there?) just for reassurance?

Oh spotty I hope someone else has better ideas to help you.

seymore we haven't got to 2 weeks yet, but I hope things get better soon.

R is still in with us, screams in his crib. I don't know how to teach him without letting him sob.

And now the feedings falling apart, it takes longer and longer to get him to latch and milk goes everywhere.

Sat here crying pondering formula

pidj I think I know you (as best I can on an Internet forum ) and I don't think formula is what you want. If you need a break give him some so you can sleep but don't give up all together and first thing tomorrow get on the phone/go to a group for some support I also recommend a doughnut/muffin/bacon sandwich. I think the sleep deprivation makes the feeding all that more difficult

pidj deep breath. I know I sound like a broken record but seriously, try the nipple shields. I can link the amazing ones again if you need me to. It gives you both a chance to relax, get some food into him had then you'll both be in a better frame of mind. You're doing so so well.

(My turn to shake pompoms today!)

Bad night here too - cluster feeding all through the evening until 2.00 am, followed by waking up at regular intervals for a shout and a half-hearted attempt at more feeding. Now he finally settles, but DS1 is full of beans and needing attention too. Have got friends coming round this afternoon which I was really looking forward to but now just seems like too much effort - feel really bad for saying that .

Sorry so many other people are having a bad time too. I'm just trying to remember that it will get easier, and keep chanting "this too will pass."

Bad night too - more cluster feeding from 2-6 just wouldn't settle. Never thought I'd struggle so much with little sleep. Everything is such an effort! We're taking Isla on her first outing to MILs for a roast and I just want to get into bed and sleep

Just want to second what Honey said about the nipple shields - they have seriously changed our lives and I'm not exaggerating. Feeding is now a pleasant experience & no longer teary & upsetting (for either of us). Evidenced by the fact I'm typing this while she is feeding away (not possible before!!)

I wasn't able to get the Medela ones (I was too impatient!) so I just got Philips Avent ones at the pharmacy but they have been GREAT too.

Obviously it doesn't lessen the cluster feeding...but it makes it much more bearable!

Pidj

He can, just sometimes doesn't iyswim. Most of my posts on here are typed one handed while feeding - including this one. I get frustrated when he appears to be choosing not to; dropping the nipple, refusing to latch while crying from hunger etc. Deep breath taken, kitchen clean, pump sterilised and 1oz expressed.

Dp may receive stern words when he gets back. Left me in tears to go running (best place for him he needs to destress) but, having asked what he could do to help left me to load the dishwasher, wipe the surfaces and put the nappies in to wash. He's normally very good so Eyebrows Will Be Raised

PS, all the above acheived thanks to the sling (proper mei tai, not crotch dangling hip hurter BabyBjorn)

Dash can latch perfectly well but when he's screaming and frustrated and won't the shields just help

I can't even get pads in my arse end of nowhere, but I'll try Boots tomorrow

I think Honey said that the Kiddicare website had the Medela ones & did free next day delivery

They don't take advantage/nectar points as payment, though

Ah good point!

pidj I hope things get better soon. Ethan spends a lot of feeds dropping his latch and head thrashing etc. but he's draining my boobs eventually and getting plenty of wet and dirty nappies so I'm trying to stay cool about it. Is R taking eventually? Or is he flaffing around do much he doesn't get any milk?

We just had our second strip wash, Ethan does not like getting naked so I haven't braved giving him a bath yet! I'm such a wimp! He's slightly less jaundiced today so hopefully we're coming out the other end of that. Oh and i haven't made it out of the bedroom yet today lol, making the most of the time the big kids aren't here!

pidj another voice for the chorus of approval for nipple shields. They're the only way I can get Z to consistently latch on my left side, and they also seem to make the milk flow well too. Give them a go.

It seems all our babies are conspiring against us - z fed from 1am - 6am in half hour stretches with breaks of 15-20 mins in between, falling asleep at each feed but then crying as soon as we put him in his carrycot, and did 3 poos. Perhaps he's going through a growth spurt - I hope so. My mum is staying with us and in the end at 6am I took her to him and asked her to feed him a bottle top-up (he still gets the odd formula top up, at least until his growth is on track) and to take him for a bit because I just couldn't feed him any longer.

seymore I'm 2 weeks 3 days now and I was definitely, definitely still feeling weepy at the 2 week stage - it's only in the last couple of days that I have started to feel better. I was seriously worried about myself and that I wasn't bonding with the baby or feeling the "rush of love" (about which I've been reassured doesn't happen to everyone immediately by any means). I've also found that I am struggling to handle the fact that it feels like every part of the old "me" has now been supplanted by someone who I don't know, namely someone whose existence is now about feeding and caring for a tiny vulnerable brand new human. I had a good chat with the health visitor about things though and she was great - she said I'd been through a lot and that I should remember that, and that it takes time to physically and mentally recover from my pregnancy and birth (my pregnancy was complicated and i think it'll take me a while to get over thr absolute confusion, fear and lack of control and empowerment i felt at the birth), let alone to get settled into such a completely new life.

I think it can be quite lonely once you've had your baby and been discharged. I really miss my diabetes team (who I've been seeing every two weeks for the past eight months), I miss the midwives and I miss the nurses and doctors from SCBU. I guess it feels like you've been so well looked after and now there's no one looking after you