December 2013 - sleepless nights & lots of cooing

[Stom91]

Our very first Thread :)

Thanks all, bloomin' docs weren't answering the phones yesterday so I got to try again today.

froub and others, I am just feeling pressured by people (FIL & his partner and a couple friends) that it would make my life easier if I expressed so that I could leave DS for a bit. I am not going to wake DH up in the night to do night feeds as I am of the mind that he cannot nap in the daytime but I can. But I feel like expressing is just make extra work for myself (cleaning, sterilising, etc) My sister told me the only way she was able to express enough for a whole day was to do a little bit each day and save it in the freezer. It honestly just feels like way too much effort when I'm really not that bothered about leaving him. But froub I think that is a good idea to use the odd formula, then I could always express and save that for later.

Anyone else having a lazy day today? It is still dry out which is making me wish I would have gone out for a bit but it is mega windy.

mogz I'm doing really well thanks, he's been like a completely different baby the last couple of days. We think he might have had a bug because the last part of last week he started being sicky and explosive pooping but alls back to normal and he's being fab!

crispy do whatever is best for you. You could always pump to freeze in case you're ever ill in the next couple of months (the amount of colds flying around at the moment is ridiculous!) and need some extra sleep at night or if in the future you want a couple of hours out with friends. But don't do it because of everyone else only do what you want to do.

Thanks I gave them a call and they have a walk in immunisation clinic every Tuesday so I just turn up

You know that 'rush if love' that every one goes on about, well I never had it, not at birth or anything, kept thinking something is wrong with me. But I think I've finally had it. Everyday this week all I've felt is this huge love for Amelia. She's asleep in her bouncer atm and im just sat here thinking about her and my heart goes all funny and all I can think is how much I love her.

She seems to be sleeping a lot last couple days but I guess that's her trying to get over her cold.
Had her weighed. She's 5 weeks old tomorrow and weights 9lb 8oz and is on the 50th centile.
They seem pleased with her. One HV said cor she's big for a 5 week old which scared me thinking she'll be like 12lb or something lol but she's quite long. She has long legs lol

Hello all
Just marking my place, Sofia was born on 28th dec at 38+1 8lbs 1. Coming up to 6 weeks it's been up and down, but now feeling more recoveredfrom pregnancy and birth and more confident with soothing her when she's upset.
The smiles have started too which make all the exhaustion worthwhile!
Went out earlier to a breastfeeding group with her I the sling - umbrella broke on the way - awful wind and rain was terrible!
Hope everyone is cosy indoors today or enjoying better weather x

Crispy just tell them you have tried and it made your nipples sore so won't be trying again. Should shut them up.

They do bottles of ready made formula with a separate already sterile teat. That's what I will be using. Probably once every month or so unless I want to go somewhere and can't take him.

Hey do you think it's worth me buying a baby swing? She's 2 months old now, how much use would we get from it? I was thinking it mite help for her to nap in as she does like to be rocked etc. But what if she doesn't sleep in it well? They aren't cheap so I see, ranging from £60 to £130 I've seen. Is it another of my wasted purchases for baby?

I think we're in the middle of a growth spurt here - Hannah's been very unsettled today so I have upped her feeds. She usually has 5oz but had 6oz this afternoon and has just downed 7oz in no time!

Hope that keep her happy for a while as I am knackered after two nights flying solo while DH is away with work. Have never been so excited for him to come home!

Lleyton is 10 weeks on Saturday but due to the broncolitis his appetite is less and we are struggling to get 3oz down him on the other hand he's feeding more often so I guess it's evening out that way.

Welcome quacko

lis ds has 7oz every feed now, 6 feeds a day. He drinks anything I offer, never seems to get full. I don't think I can offer him more than that though, it's already way more than guidelines. I feel a little mean as he would prefer to feed every 3 hours I think but then it's every 3 hours at night, if I make him go 4 hours in the day with bigger feeds he goes 4 hours at night. Really an 8 week old bottle fed should be ok on 6 feeds, guide on box says 5, but he grizzles a bit waiting for the feed sometimes.

stom I think it takes most people a while but no one likes yo admit it. I didn't feel much at the birth as was so exhausted and shocked that he arrived early. They definitely make the hard work worth it when they smile and giggle all the time

hotcross looks like we've got greedy babies! Hannah was definitely doing more than grizzling before her bedtime feed tonight - think she was ravenous!
She has been going 3hrly in the day so having 5 feeds between getting up and bedtime, at roughly 7, 10, 1, 4, 7, but going longer stretches at night after the 7pm feed (12 then 4), but not sure what she'll be like tonight now she's entered this hungry phase!

I haven't got any smile and giggles yet :(
Looking forward to when I do get them :)
Rather annoyed at the fact that due to stupid pregnancy weight none of my dresses fit me and I have a wedding on Saturday with no budget to get a new one. I've got one but it's really tight. I think it makes me look really fat :(

Stom that feeling is lovely isn't it? I think it comes at different times for everyone. My mil said when she had my DH and his brother (identical twins) that she felt a huge surge of love for twin1 but it took about 6 weeks until she got it for twin2 and she was so relieved when it did happen.
Hi quack, Sofia is a lovely name. Welcome to the thread.
Hannah must have hollow legs lis and your DS hotcross, what great little eaters!
Alyssa is Lleyton recovering well?

Holy cow, Genevieve just made The Cutest noise in her sleep, almost a proper laugh! DH now going into full strutty proud dad mode, he's such a sappy bugger, I think he got the big rush of love for her before I did for sure and he just keeps topping it up. Our girl is going to have him wrapped around her little finger for sure.

crispy I express about 100ml every morning and DH gives it in the evening to keep DS quiet while I have a bath and/or wash dishes etc. It works well for us and if I have engorgement sometimes I pump at night and freeze that. Much less comes out at night than morning.
I only have a couple of bottles and wash them then chuck them in with the pump parts to some Milton (I use the tablets) and leave them overnight, takes a couple minutes. I keep the pump parts in the fridge during the day after using in the morning cos breastmilk is safe (contains antibacterial) for up to 2 days refrigerated. Best to sterilize once every 24 hours,tho.
Spent time on playmat with DS and got some smiles, wriggles and happy noises in response to my goofing around but he doesnt initialize if u see what I mean. I or DH have to work him up and he has to be in the mood and not sleepy or gassy which narrows the window a lot...

mogz he's a lot better thank you, I just wish he would feed more than 2oz

alyssa glad he's s getting better- Joshua isn't taking as much with his cold- but he's not feeding more frequently - I'm having to wake him for most feeds doc said he doesn't have bronchiolitis and told me what to look out for but it doesn't stop me worrying- he's so congested and has a horrid cough. This is my main reason I wish I'd had a summer baby....

Me too mum ds2 never had these problems.
He's drinking 2oz about every 3/4 hours since last night, when he would normally have 4oz every 3/4 hours so I'm starting to panic now.
Hope Joshua feels better soon xx

snowqu33n - Thanks. I've expressed a little bit - a few ounces I think. I think I might try your suggestion of expressing a bit every morning and thanks for the tips in general - very helpful.

stom - I definitely know, when the put this slimey, purple baby on my chest after delivery I was worried as I didn't immediately feel that rush. DH was stood at my side crying and I felt like I should have cried too. I got more emotional seeing him being emotional! I think for me it was a gradual building up and the realisation that I was so protective of him.

I thought we were having a good night last night, slept from about 9:30-1, but then after 1 Thomas fed until 2 and then only slept until 3. Then he was nursing pretty much constantly until about 6. It was exhausting. Luckily we had a really good day today and had a lovely nap this afternoon.

Hello. I posted occasionally on the ante natal thread. Dd was born on 8th January. Hope I can keep up with this thread better than I did with the ante natal one as I really need to virtual company!! Feeling very low about breast feeding at the moment - still in masses of pain as dd not latching properly, I feed for hours at a time and she's still not satisfied. Anyone else struggling with feeding?

Sorry you're feeling that way qumquat James went on boob strike with me very early on and did the same with the nipple shields once they started working so I expressed for 6 weeks and now we ff. I admire everyone who can bf and perseveres with it!

Ps alyssa my weigh in at SW was tonight and I've lost 4.5lbs

Hi mrs shrubs. I'm actually reassured there are so many formula feeders in this group- makes me realise it's not the end of the world! Congratulations to everybody on their lovely little ones, very jealous of the smiles and giggles- can't wait! X

qumquat bf was too painful for me! ds had tongue tie but by the time we'd figured it out my nipples were shredded. I cried through every feed then when I finally gave up I cried every time I bottle fed as I felt like a failure. Well done for keeping going but also it's ok to stop if it makes you miserable. I've rented a hospital pump, it costs about the same as the formula it saves, and I feed about 50% ebm, it would be a higher % if ds didn't drink everything in sight. It's a compromise I'm ok with. Maybe you could express for some feeds to give yourself a break in the night?

Yup she'll be in her bouncer & I'll get a gooey and be like I miss her I need cuddles lol she's only 2 foot away lol
Don't know how I'm going to leave her this weekend :(

Yah mrs that's brill, well done you xx