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

[toobreathless]

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.

Welcome kitten.

Love and thoughts to you empress and your fighting champ!

I have just woken after 4 hour sleep, DP gave DS his last feed via expressed bottle and I feel more human already but I've just come from our spare room back in to our room and DS was being particularly grungy and wriggly but still sleeping but being selfish I thought I'd feed him now while I'm awake and he's soaked through, DP didn't change at 'dream feed' as instructed to avoid waking him but if this is nappy after 5 hours how can he ever go all night? Do people use different nappies?

Essex... With the nappy thing we perfected the art of dream nappy changes at 10pm and 2am for DD. we are hoping the same for Wilf.

Too... I feel that too. DD plays up if I don't pay her enough attention, but also trying to keep on top of the housework and do everything with Wilf. I've been so shouty at DD and I really hate it too, but just at the end of tether with her. I am abusing tractor ted dvd's and play doh for BF sessions. Also not puttin Wilf to bed until we go at 10, but I go up at 8.30-9ish to feed and because he is often alert, I play with him too. I don't get enough quiet time with him really.

Wow, Teapiglet went to bed at 10pm and woke up at 2.30am! Over four hours sleep in one go feels amazing!

too and kelle, don't be too hard on yourselves. I think you're amazing coping with newborns and toddlers. As a first timer coping with one seems hard enough, hats off to you.

Welcome aboard kitten.

too and kelle I agree with the others - you're being v hard on yourselves. Probably the fact that you even worry about being good mums means you think about it enough that you are doing the things that good mums too. Make sense?

It's good to know that there is a whole army of people up at 3am - makes me feel normal. Hurrah for the Internet!!

Incidentally we seem to hav forgotten how to latch on...

Hello 3am-ers

Just finishing burping Mr and hopefully back for another 4 hour stint at least! He's been going 5 hours quite a few times xx

Any pointers for working out when baby is actually done feeding? I have been caught out several times thinking she is done (fallen asleep, not sucking, refusing to wake) then put her back and just as I get comfy under my warm duvet...she wakes up chewing her fist like she hasn't eaten for hours.

Anyone up at 4 am? This is usually the time dd refuses a second boob but then doesn't really re-settle and I have and up feeding her again in half an hr . kitten sound familiar? Maybe your dd is overcome by sleep but not quite full so wakes easily?

empressso sorry your little sam is having such a tough start, so hard for you too. You sound like you're doing an amazing job of caring for him. I'm praying for you all, and love the fact you've given him a fighting middle name! A friend does online marking or something, is that an option for you? I can ask her for details.

I too have a toddler, it's so hard giving them enough time at this stage but breathless and the other mum don't beat yourself up. Can you get some cleaning help for these early crazy weeks? A friend said she made a loit of use of TV but that stage passed. Another friend had a good idea, she has a 4 month old baby and offered to take hers and mine out in my dbl buggy while I spend some time with ds1. I also think it's not bad for the first to share attention and time, probably good for them to a point. Ds1 loves to help me pump for milk bless him!

Dd was losing weight beyond 5 days but she's almost back at birth weight, will be so glad not to have to keep seeing midwives and hvs every few days to check her over! The HV has been very nice mind you.

Lovely to hear from you empress

kitten welcome and I know it sounds harsh but did you try stripping to nappy then move dd away from your body slightly, let her cry then re offer boob? That was method breast feeding support showed me. Also try reoffering after winding?

No idea how you cope with more than one child, it must be so hard.

For the mums wanting to increase supply, certainly 2 years ago, Fenugreek was the herbal supplement of choice. I used it, and it seemed to help, but I stopped using it when I got a blocked milk duct (did massage in hot bath to clear it, so not a long term problem), so keep an eye on yourself to assess when to stop. I picked up my bottle from holland & Barrett, and one bottle was enough (had bought two, do gave the second bottle (bogof) to a friend of my SIL.

Kitten I've always smiled quietly at the forums threads from first timers complaining about people telling them how tough it will be! It is completely life changing, and you can never be prepared until your little one arrives! With the second, I'm realising that actually the newborn is quite easy, but that's because I've worked out that children are for life, the breastfeeding is much easier this time, and I know how all the gadgets work! It's still blinkin' tough second time round, just for different reasons! And of course, well meaning people warned me about that too!

Empress as always sending positive thoughts your way for Sam to stabilise enough to get home.

Morning all very unsettled night here! She settled early evening but fed at midnight and then from 2am onwards she wanted to feed about every hour and would only sleep next to me! Every time she went in the Moses basket she woke looking for food. We have no plans for today so I am thinking duvet day. Washing is up to date so I'm going to chill with her and sleep when she sleeps!

Hello to kitten - DD does that a lot - I often wind her then offer her the other side but clearly last night wasn't so good!

too you're being too hard on yourself! You have a toddler and a newborn and you've just moved house! If everyone is fed, clean, dressed and fairly contented you're doing fine. This stage is only for a few weeks and you'll find the balance with them.

Me again! Can anyone tell md what to expect at 6 week check up with GP. Thanks in advance! X

I think I have ds1 virus, my throat is awful and I'm all hot and shivery, and what's worse is I know I'm going to pass it on to ds2, I just hope I can make some antibodies for him so if he does get it, it won't last so long or be as bad as what ds1 had.

Trish, you can actually by donperidone over the counter, it's also known as motilium, but obviously the non trade name version is cheaper, but I would want a dr to prescribe it as I would want them to know what I would be using it for.

Empress I often think of you and Sam, my prayers are with you x

Thanks for they giddy! Roughly how much? Xxx

Morning everyone!
seem to be stuck in a change, feed, settle cycle these last 24 hours! put her in my wrap sling just now and finally some peace tho she is still not asleep. She is slowly slipping down me - should have tired it tighter but it's nice and comfy!

Amber I'm also taking fenugreek as suggested my our breastfeeding support midwife.

thinking of you empress - you are amazing x

Just noticed that under hunters left nipple it feels really hard compared to his right, left the HV a voicemail x anyone know what it could be? Xx

Also, anyone else's LO suffering with hiccups? We seem to have them several times a day!

Photo hunter has hiccups every day or so and can have them for 30-40 mins xx

Lots of hiccoughs here!

photo I put a grumpy Faithlet in the sling while I had breakfast and she's finally sleepy enough to go down in her Moses basket! :)

Good plan faith!
just glad it works - DH back to work tomorrow and I will be flying solo!

Photo my ds has hiccups every day at least once. He also has them whilst still in my tummy, I could feel then which very bizarre
Both health visitor and GP friend of mine say hiccups are not a bad thing, unless they go on for hours obv.

Hi all,

We are doing ok here; Baby has been cluster feeding each evening until midnight, but then sleeping until 5-6am ish, so not struggling too much for sleep at night, although getting her to sleep in the day is difficult - she definitely gets overtired and will only fall asleep on me, but then wakes up if I put her down in the day.

Although last night she slept from 8pm ish, and I was expecting her to wake up at any moment, so I hardly slept. I then got her up at 2am, for a feed and change, but she then woke up at 3, 5 and 7 so a bit zzzzzzz here today. I wondered if we have come through the otherside of cluster feeding? Will have to see what tonight brings!

essex I ordered a Ewan sheep online, but it was faulty when it arrived, took it back to John Lewis, but they had none in stock so I just got a refund. I would be interested to see how you get on with it, as I'd like to get her one.

We DTD last night, I was scared but it was fine. We stopped at 22 weeks after a bleed, so it had been a while. We used a condom, but need a long term solution. Might have coil, but I have heard horror stories. DD is a result of having to come off the pill so can't do pill. Anyone have the coil?

Re: BF,HV came last week, DD was 1lb off birth weight, although she is happy/healthy/lots of wet and dirty nappies. I damaged my nipples in the first week, and showed her these, she then said I wasn't BF properly, asked me to show her, I got my BF cushion ready and she told me off for using a 'prop'. She said to practice not using a cushion at the weekend. I spent the weekend struggling, I told DH that people are happy to tell you that you're doing it wrong, but no-one shows you how to do it right and I end up doubting myself.

She said she would get a BF counsellor to visit me, I missed a call on Monday, which I returned and asked for a call back, but have heard nothing back since. A friend came to visit yesterday, she had done a BF update on Monday (she is a SCBU nurse) and said I was doing it correctly! I was happy with this, but my confidence had taken a knock after the HV visit...it is so hard and confusing! I then read a comment on a thread from a BF support worker, saying use cushions to help you achieve the correct position...!

I am managing okay at home, but would struggle to feed DD out and about without a cushion, has anyone had this issue?

We don't have a nighttime routine yet, but DD is 4 weeks tomorrow, so I might start one next week.

Today's aim will be to have a shower (!) and hopefully a walk in the pram if it doesn't rain.

angel sorry you're being bossed around a bit it's not nice when professionals knock your confidence. A mW almost told me off for a small trip while carrying my baby to the scales, as if I did it on purpose! Like you my dd has been slow gaining weight.

A bf counsellor advised me to use a flatter cushion but I find the one I use so comfy ( it's actually the dream gen I pillow!) So I reckon do what works for you so long as baby's position and latch are fine. I have a smaller beanbag like cushion which I take out with me, it ties round your waist which is fab. Personally my back gets strained unless I can rest did on something so I totally get what you mean!

angel I don't like any of the HV I see either, don't let yourself be bullied! Have confidence!

faith dreadful night here too, the worst in weeks. I wanted to post at the time but baby wouldn't settle for any less than 100% of my concentration. I was walking her around the house for hours whilst DH snored in bed!

emmie I have my 6w check on Friday (at 7w 6d!) when is yours? Also have her first jabs on Monday, eek!

After a couple of recommendations for the daisy baby mai tei (thanks to whoever that was, sorry not to namecheck!) I ordered one last night! V excited for it to arrive, went for the hooded one - £25.99 inc delivery, so about a third of the babybjorn, oh well I think DH will keep using that!

We started using reusable nappies yesterday, she soaks them through in about 2hrs so will have to stick to disposables for nights/journeys out. We have the little lamb nappies (cotton/bamboo and microfibre versions) and they look adorable! Also have the one size fits all, but she's way too small for them at the moment. Any ideas how I can improve absorbency?

She started smiling at about 6 and a half weeks, not at everything, she's very picky, you have to work for a smile!! And as of this morning (almost 8w) she lay under her (ikea) baby gym and gave it a good old look for about 10mins!!

I'm sure I've missed a tonne of people to reply to, sorry about that. empress you and Sam are still in my thoughts!
I hope everyone is keeping warm/dry and making the most of the indoor time with lots of baby snuggles!

Hi All, just wanted to say hello since i have been shamelessly lurking for a few weeks but not had the mental energy to post. Had DS2 on April 6th (already have Ds1, 8 and dd, 5).

Finding it kind of okay. Waking every 3 hours at night to feed but settles quickly. Exclusively BF at moment.

Reading all your posts is so comforting. Is nice to know there are lots of us going through similar issues.

Haven't even contemplated DTD! Think have forgotten how to ;-) Will wait till Ds2 sleeps longer at night.

Reading about Sam's progress is very humbling. Stops me feeling hard done by when Ds2 decides to play up.