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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 · 22/04/2013 09:49

ratbag I'm sorry you had such a bad night. Keep badgering the professionals for support until you find a solution.

I am starting to feel like we're getting there. Last night I felt so much calmer and it seems she picked up on that. We had regular feeds but she (and therefore DH and I) slept for long periods. Got him to take her from 7-9 so I could properly rest but she's been great and I feel like DH is really supporting me now :)

Re screaming when being changed - I have worked that Faithlet hates a cold surface. It's why she wouldn't settle in the Moses basket and why she screamed being changed. If I lie her on a blanket for either she is generally fine. Worth a try!

LikeCandy · 22/04/2013 11:22

mama & sneezy I have a cosleeper cot too, but after the first feed of the morning (side by side) I've kept her in with me - DH is awake by then and keeps an eye on us.
He's not a fan (for the reasons num3 mentions) so I'm trying to keep putting her back in the cot.
I'm in 2 minds really, I know the UK advice is not to, but globally SO many culture do, including in HongKong where they have the lowests instances of SIDS.
I know I'd never forgive myself of something happened, but are we missing out on this fantastic bonding opportunity?!
I'm not expecting anyone to advise me either way, I know it's a personal thing, but it's interesting to hear what you guys are doing - thanks!

ratbagcatbag · 22/04/2013 11:27

If you co sleep just make sure you set up properly, the other night I was doing my usual propping up of Lucy, when I fell asleep, I woke up to find her face down in duvet and pregnancy pillow, luckily I am 99% certain I woke up straight away and all was fine but it could have been worse.

Mama1980 · 22/04/2013 11:35

7lbs 1oz!!!!!GrinGrinGrinGrin My clever boy Grin

Likecandy- I don't have a co sleeper cot, I use no cot at all. Ds1 when he first came home I literally sat up all the time just to check he was breathing! Then my dr advised me the correct way to co sleep ie. no duvet, use blankets no pillows use towels instead etc. for me it works I breast feed every two hours and Alex howls if he can't touch me. I sleep with my hand on his stomach. I did a lot of research and if done correctly Think it can be beneficial to everyone As you say for hundreds of years this how baby's slept and in Asia SIDS deaths are much lower than here despite co sleeping being usual. It is a very personal decision and I think it really is to the individual as to what they feel comfortable with. I would never do so with a partner in the bed nor if I smoked and have stopped taking all painkillers to be certain they have no effect on my sleep or instincts.

Off to the hospital now to have my body poked, prodded and tested! Here's hoping for good news.

Mama1980 · 22/04/2013 11:37

Ratbag, how are you feeling this morning?

num3onway · 22/04/2013 11:42

Well done to Alex on the weight gain!

SneezySnatcher · 22/04/2013 12:30

Well done, Alex!!!

birdbrain17 · 22/04/2013 13:57

wow mama that is fantastic news!!!!

I'm sort of co-sleeping, it wasn't the plan but she settles best when being held and I'm too tired to get up every half hour to resettle her. Last night she slept next to me not on me so we might be making progress but not even a week old yet so I'm not concerned that she won't settle without me...

lutrinae · 22/04/2013 17:53

I am sometimes co sleeping, sometimes putting him in his basket, tbh usually because I fall asleep while he's feeding and/or can't be bothered to lift him back in, or because he won't settle. He sleeps on his side and I sleep with my arm and knees round him. I think it's fine.

Having a bit of a shift day, he's feeding constantly and won't settle or sleep AT ALL. I feel like my breasts are empty ns he's still not satisfied.

Also had horrible news, my brother's ex wife killed herself last night. She had four kids including the youngest my niece, who is only 3. It's very complicated and she was an alcoholic, but it's just horrible Sad

HadALittleFaithBaby · 22/04/2013 18:26

Oh gosh that's so awful lutrinae :( thinking of your family at this time.

ElliesWellies · 22/04/2013 18:40

LikeCandy - not co-sleeping entirely, but if too tired to sit up and breastfeed in the night, I get DH to bring her in the bed on my side and I breastfeed her lying down and she normally stays as we all fall asleep!

BonaDea · 22/04/2013 19:26

Yay Alex! Amazing progress.

Anyone have any tips for speeding up an early morning feed? DS is only up once between 12 and 7am but the feed, nappy and resettle takes 1.5 - 2 hours. He is not a super fast feeder the rest of the day but an hour usually does it.

I have been advised to try switching breasts each time he gets lazy to keep him awake and effectively feeding, but I'm finding that exhausting as I have to rearrange all the pillows etc each time (having to use rugby ball hold at the mo because of latch issues!).

If I try to get him off sooner he simply wakes again in 10 minutes looking for more!!

LikeCandy · 22/04/2013 19:38

Thanks for all the cosleeping info.
ellieswellies & lutrinae that's pretty much what we do, unintentional cosleeping! (lutrinae sorry to hear your tragic news, how awful)

bona have you tried feeding lying down, side by side? babycandy usually feeds 15-45mins at a time but feed/burp/change/settle still takes an hour or so, I'd also be interested in advice to speed it up!

BonaDea · 22/04/2013 20:46

Like candy - haven't been able to feed lying down. We have had latch probs and I really need to guide boob and baby to make it non painful. Lying down makes that v tough.

I have a co sleeper cot and had visions of just pulling DS over, feeding in the dark and popping him back. Ha ha ha! Lights on, pillows everywhere, everyone awake.

lutrinae · 22/04/2013 20:57

Thanks for your thoughts Faith and Likecandy

EssexWelsh · 22/04/2013 20:58

Bona ha ha snap, my vision of my co sleeper bed is in fact just a resting area for nappies/pillows/breast pads and we place the Moses basket on it, may be one day it'll be used for its intention!

lutrinae so sorry to hear your news, very difficult to deal with when you already have a lot to contend with, hope all ok for your family.

Original poster
toobreathless · 22/04/2013 22:00

My only real suggestion for speeding up night feeds is to forego the nappy change if they are not dirty. I only change dirty (not wet) nappies between about midnight & 6 or 7am and they are never that wet in the morning. This also has the benefit of nit waking baby up as much as you are ultimately aiming for nice quiet night feeds then straight back to sleep (ha!)

OP posts:
HadALittleFaithBaby · 22/04/2013 22:12

My gosh this baby is so hungry! Been feeding pretty much since 8pm! Every time she comes off she's chewing her hands/my neck. My nipples are getting sore! Buying cream tomorrow. MW did say she was having a growth spurt. Don't I know it!!! Shock

ElliesWellies · 22/04/2013 22:56

Very sorry about your loss lutrinae - how terribly sad it sounds.

Faith same here, DD has been on and off for a lot of the day, had one three-hour sleep in the afternoon but otherwise... Hopefully will settle down soon!

I am TIRED this evening!

EssexWelsh · 22/04/2013 23:57

LO has been awake pretty much since 4pm, has fed for last hour and is still WIDE awake! Only surviving on the fact that surely he MUST have to sleep soon?!

Mama1980 · 23/04/2013 08:28

Morning all, how is everyone? Alex has been feeding pretty much all night but when he gains weight like yesterday it s all worth it. I can't believe he's over 7lbs finally at nearly 5 months! Grin Going to take him and ds1 out today enjoy the sun.
My check up yesterday didn't go great apparently my weight gain is crap and my bp still very low, plus it is looking more and more like the paralysis is permanent I have another MRI next week, and f here's no improvement still we are going to start discussing other options. But you know what I really don't care Grin my boy is over 7 lbs!!

Lutrinae - so sorry for your families loss, thinking of you.

I hope everyone gets some sleep x

Trishstar · 23/04/2013 08:34

Sadly I've decided to stop expressing :-(

After getting 1200-1500ml in hospital every day I just thought I'd carry on at home! However the tripleness of everything is too much!

i.e. putting him to breast/expressing every 4 hours/bottle feeding him the EBM

I'm not getting much quality time with Hunter or DH :-(

I've decreased my pumping to 4 times a day and will take it down to 2 eventually. We have about 6000-7000ml of frozen EBM in the freezer so will use all that and see what happens.

I feel sadness, guilt and a whole load of other things. H just seems so lazy with the bf and it was my dream (will keep persevering obviously and could always increase pumping if he took to it).

I'm just thinking happier mummy will be happier Hunter! Xxx

Oh and my wound came open in 3 places, midwife checked it yesterday when she came to house but she wasn't concerned just said id been doing too much xx

HadALittleFaithBaby · 23/04/2013 08:47

Oof Faithlet had a feeding frenzy last night! Fed for about 2 1/2 hours and I had to top her up with expressed milk from a cup to settle her. Then she was on/off for hours but finally fed well about 5 and then slept til 8! MW did say she thought she was having a growth spurt. Don't I know if? Off shopping today - I need nursing bras and nipple cream!

So glad Alex is thriving Mama!

num3onway · 23/04/2013 08:52

Morning ladies! We are 3 weeks old today!

Dd taking 4-5 oz evry 3 or so hours. She was awake 6.30-8am but has now nodded off.

To those using formula, how are you making up your night feeds? When I had ds2 you were allowed to store cooled boiled water in a bottle and add powder when needed. Current guidelines state not to do this as water needs be over 70 degrees to kill bacteria present in milk powder. I've been keeping a kettle up stairs but it is a pain to make and cool feeds as she needs through the night! I just keep thinking it didn't do either of my other two any harm to use cooled boiled water. But then I feel bad as if she is like them she will only have night feeds for a couple more months anyway.

SneezySnatcher · 23/04/2013 09:58

Morning all.

Trish that sounds hard but, like you said, if you are happier then your family will be too. Having to do all of that work must be a massive strain.

Henry slept well last night and is asleep now, so I have left DH in charge of him and DD. I'm in the bath MNing and colouring my hair!!! By this point with DD I doubt I even bothered washing my face. DH and I have decided second babies are more physically tiring (have twice as much to do) but less emotionally tiring (been there, done that)!

Must say that, despite a good latch, my boobs are sore. Henry just gulps down the milk. Luckily he's only feeding for thirty minutes every two/three hours, so they are getting a bit of down time!

He's getting weighed on Thursday when the HV visits, so DH and I are taking bets on his weight. He was 9lb 4.5 when he was born and 9lb 9oz at five days. DH thinks 10lb but there's no way!!