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Original poster

It's April 2013, the time is now & HERE ARE OUR BABIES!

999 replies

toobreathless · 15/04/2013 22:10

Our first post natal thread!

Cooking & Cleaning can wait till tomorrow
for children grow up we've learnt to our sorrow
So wipe away cobwebs and dust go to sleep
I'm cuddling my baby cause babies don't keep!

A thread to celebrate the highs of life with a gorgeous newborn and the lows of sleepless nights, stitches, feeding traumas & Baby blues.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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HadALittleFaithBaby · 28/04/2013 10:07

It was so good, you should do it! :)

num3onway · 28/04/2013 10:34

I settled on a cup of tea! Just had a bath and don't wanna smell like bacon lol

JoRich77 · 28/04/2013 11:21

Hi all, thought I would join you. Baby bella is now 9 days old and things were going surprisingly well the first few days at home - she was feeding and sleeping regularly. But this morning had mini meltdown after she was up feeding on the boob almost constantly from 11pm to 4am. Worried I am not producing enough milk or something. Spoke to midwife and she said its normal for this to happen around this time as they go through a growth spurt. Doesnt make it any easier though ! Going to express today and get bottle ready for OH to feed her if this evening goes the same way as just too tired.

I have a question, how do you all get baby to sleep. I read that you shouldnt get them used to rocking or falling asleep on the boob. Those are the two methods I use , not sure hoe else you get a baby to sleep ?

num3onway · 28/04/2013 11:56

With my first born he would go in cot/basket awake and go to sleep on his own, second was a nightmare he had to be cuddled and rocked - was one of them where you have to slowly slowly move away from them. Dd goes to sleep best on me, she has a couple of times nodded off ON her own but generally needs holding.
My point is all babies are differnt, you need to do what works for you and your baby at the time!
Plus in my opinion rocking a newborn to sleep is different to rocking a 6month + baby to sleep. Once they get bigger you can usually get them out of the habit (just don't wait til they are too big). I used controlled crying with ds2 from 6 months and it worked well, he was going to bed awake within a week and sleeping all night.
In the early days honestly just do what you need to do!

birdbrain17 · 28/04/2013 11:59

can't remember who said it but I agree it's much harder to deal with the tiredness in the night, DH doesn't normally hear me get up to do feeds, but wakes up half way through them to find me sobbing over nothing Hmm

Just need a quick moan I complained about my mum before on the an thread, well after birth I was so out of it and over the moon that I agreed to her coming to visit without really telling her how I felt, but now 12 days later I'm really regretting not having told her before she comes as I don't have energy for an argument but I'm really stressed about her coming, she's not sleeping here (thank god) but she's going to drive me crazy anyway, I'm really not feeling up to long visits from anyone yet especially not her, I'm feeling so stressed!!and when I spoke to her on friday she had to go have a rest as she was very tired from shopping for baby things, I never asked her to we have everything we need and last thing I need at the moment is to hear people say they're tired!!!!sorry for the moan I'm just so Angry at her for being so selfish all the time

wishfulthinking1 · 28/04/2013 21:43

Hi all-
Sorry I've not posted much- I do catch up on the thread every feed so I know what's going on with everyone, I just don't get around to posting!

Sorry to everyone going through a hard time- I completely agree that everything seems worse and darker at night time!

Things are going well here- cant believe Peter is over a week old- and I can't believe just how much I love him. He's so precious.

Feeding is going well- no routine or pattern to it yet, but he feeds well and usually settles well afterwards. I don't know whether to start expressing a bottle a day so DH can do a feed, or so I can leave him with my parents for an hour or so. Right now I can't leave him at all- what if he gets hungry? And to be honest, I'm just as happy not leaving him- but how long will I feel like that for? We have a wedding reception evening do next Saturday - I could spend this week trying to get him to have a bottle feed a day and then leave him with my folks- but I'm more inclined just to not go to the wedding. He's only so small once, and does it really matter if I don't leave his side for 6 months or so?
What do you think?

Xx

LikeCandy · 29/04/2013 05:27

wishful everything I've read suggests not to give breast fed babies a bottle for as long as possible (at least not the first 6 weeks) to prevent nipple confusion. However you could syringe feed (we did this for top ups for a few early days) or cup feed (not tried this but I'm sure others on the thread can advise) or risk it and use a bottle with a slow teat! There's load of info on kellymom/llli that should help you decide.
I don't think anyone can tell you when you'll feel ready to leave Peter, I'm sure it's a very personal thing and everyone will be different. I have been -enforced to be away from baby for an hour or so occasionally when I've slept/showered and DH or my Mum have had her in another room. It was bearable as I could still hear if she cried! I don't feel ready to leave the house without her yet though.

Tonight BabyCandy wants to eat almost constantly / does not want to sleep in her cot. I've put her down and she's jiggling /wrestling with her sleeping bag and I'm hoping she'll tire.
In 3.5 hrs DH goes back to work so it'll just be me and girl. Plenty to do this week, but will start small with short journeys out and build up to going shopping in the city.

Oooh she's closed her eyes - going to close mine quick!!

HadALittleFaithBaby · 29/04/2013 06:14

jo I think ATM it's getting baby to sleep any which way! Faithlet generally falls asleep on the boob/ being rocked. It's totally normal. My MW said try not to introduce a bottle til at least 3 weeks which is our plan.

Rough night here. Settled on the earlier side but woke and fed for short periods. I Woke a couple of times with Her asleep on me. Just took a good 15 mins for her to latch on, was worrying! Definitely need DH to take over so I can nap! 5 days without poo too so calling the health visitor later. Nothing but worry is it?!

Mama1980 · 29/04/2013 10:11

Hi all hope everyone had a good weekend? We did went to see my grandad yesterday and out to the park. 'twas lovely Grin Alex is feeding every two hours and pretty much awake otherwise, he has a hospital check up on Wednesday, so fingers crossed but he seems fine. He is never still wriggles like a little worm Grin think he's sick of being still! So far the novelty hasn't worn off for ds1 or dd they adore him he only has to open his mouth to cry and they come running, its lovely to see. I've managed to doze a little really but then I can't resist waking to watch Alex sleep anyway! Grin
Am still having milk excess issues but 4 tomee tipee pads seem to work for a few hours, will try the other brand whoever suggested it thanks.
Num3 - I'm a single parent none see their father my dd is mine by sgo.

Mama1980 · 29/04/2013 10:13

Jo- I use cuddles and boob! Did so with ds1 right up until he stopped bfeeding at 3 1/2 had no issues at all stopping. Think at this point you d whatever works. X

Mama1980 · 29/04/2013 10:13

Faith- I don't think so but always worth checking with your hv anyway. Hope you sleep Grin x

Mama1980 · 29/04/2013 10:14

Dygsgu- glad to hear Evan is doing so well! Ad the tongue tie is sorted x

AmberLav · 29/04/2013 10:26

"Wishful" - I was reading a thread on the breast & bottle feeding thread last night, where a mum was suggesting introducing a bottle at 2-3 weeks, if you wanted to avoid bottle refusing at a later date.

I know from my son that he had no problems with nipple confusion (didn't get breast feeding sorted till he was 17 days old, so had to mix feed) and we kept up one bottle a day even when he got it, as my supply always ran low in the evenings due to the initial problems.

We used the TT closer to nature bottles.

Also meant we had no problems at all when we started to cut back on the breast feeds before I went back to work at 9 months...

I need to decide if we'll do the same this time, but I'll probably decide when tiny is 2-3 weeks, and I'll see if my supply can cope with expressing this time...

AmberLav · 29/04/2013 10:28

Oh, that's how you bold a name! Trying to read it all on a phone screen is tricky!

HadALittleFaithBaby · 29/04/2013 11:29

Have left a message with the HV team about the lack of poo.

We plan to introduce a bottle next Sunday at 3 weeks using breast milk I've expressed and see how it goes. I'm really hoping she'll take it in the evening because the incessant feeding/not settling in the Moses basket is taking its toll!

Trishstar · 29/04/2013 12:21

Ladies is 140ml too much for Hunter? He's feeding 4 hourly and he's now 4 weeks old xx

num3onway · 29/04/2013 15:05

140 about 5oz which is fine

Dd is 4 weeks tomorrow and takes 4-5 oz every 3-4 hours

Although by this age my boys were both on 7oz! Pigs!

Trishstar · 29/04/2013 15:20

Thanks num! Xxxx

Teapig · 29/04/2013 15:38

Hello ladies, I keep meaning to catch up but just haven't found the time to get on the internet since Theola arrived. I'll read back over everyone's news so I'm up to date but for now I could really use some advice.

Breast feeding went well for the first couple of days but by Friday night my left nipple was cracked and beyond painful. I hadn't got the latch right on that breast initially, though I know how to do it now as MW visited Friday morning. As I was in agony I switched to using the right breast only but I was getting enough supply to fill little one up so we turned to formula.

On Saturday it was still painful so I did a little breast feeding but mostly formula via a bottle. Sunday I was feeling much better so tried getting her on the breast but she doesn't want to know. Even when she gets the nipple in her mouth she doesn't latch properly but does a lot of head banging against the breast which is a feeding signal but she won't feed from me.

I feel terrible that I've confused her and now she will always be on the bottle and having formula. I'm expressing as much as I can so she still has my milk but I'm not getting enough. Milk flows freely from my right breast but virtually nothing comes from the left though it's much bigger than the right so seems to be swollen with milk. It's pretty uncomfortable and I'm freaked out at having one huge breast.

I'm really sorry for the me, me, me post but if anyone has any advice on how to get baby on the breast or how to increase milk flow from a breast that's engorged I'd be really grateful.

Will catch up on everyone's news now.

SneezySnatcher · 29/04/2013 15:47

Wishful we're going to try H with a bottle next week (at three weeks). We left it too late with DD and she never, ever took one (which was a real pain). Hoping that he'll take to it so I can have a bit more time alone with DD out of the house!

KelleStar · 29/04/2013 16:07

Teapig, sounds like left is engorged and is hard to feed from, have you tried expressing some off and then attaching her?

Lopsided boobs don't last, it can settle down and be more balanced.

Have you spoken with your local NCT breastfeeding expert? You don't have to be a member to use their services and they can sometimes spend a bit more time helping you get it right.

Don't feel like that's the end for you, it's early days and it can be very hard work, but it's worth it.

EssexWelsh · 29/04/2013 16:10

Teapig what expresser are you using? May be worth investing in a good electric one to relieve to enforced breast?

enjay0811 · 29/04/2013 16:32

Hi all! Jst checking in. Baby enjay has now been named Fleur is an absolute angel, feeding, sleeping and generally a laid back baby. Have had probs with latching on as ebf but fingers crossed this seems to have settled down in the last 24 hrs and it hurts much less. Have had great mw support and bf counsellor has foned to see how things are goin and will chk in again later in the week. The last week seems to have been a bit of a blur but feels like we're gettin bk to normality and routine now. First trip out of the hse for me and Fleur since she was born (homebirth) and it was lovely!

Fleur is now 6 days old - has anyone else had a bit of baby blues? I had a melt down on day 3, milk came in, visitors had been, dh was playin candy crush instead of bathing dd's and generally felt overwhelmed but since then jst feel a bit 'low' around tea time? I know I have nothing to feel crap about compared to those who have been in hospital, sick babies and having a hard time, but from those who are a little bit further along, are you feelin 'normal' again?!

AmberLav · 29/04/2013 16:52

Teapig - as Kellestar says, you can fond your way back, it does just take tome and effort, sadly...

First, take the pressure off yourself, and try to be as well rested and supported as you can when you try to get things back on track. I seem to recall taking the edge of DS's hunger with a little bit of formula, so that he wasn't starving, and that way we could spend a bit longer trying to sort the latch.

Nipple shields might help you, as it's a bit easier for baby to get her mouth around - I used medela ones - they do mean baby sucks less milk, so they can help to decrease supply, which is why they are generally only used for short time. Same advice on eliminating them, take a quiet afternoon with no distractions...

Also Kellymom website is a godsend... Good luck

AmberLav · 29/04/2013 17:06

Oh, and Teapig, if you do end up moving to formula, or mix feeding, you have not let your little girl down! She needs a mummy that is healthy and happy, and often that is incompatible with breastfeeding...

I remember deciding that I was going to ignore all the guilt trip info out there, and focus on the simple fact that breastfeeding was more convenient than bottles, and that was my incentive for spending two weeks really working on getting breastfeeding working