JULY 2014 - WE HAVE BABIES

[justhayley]

Well it's only mid June but I hear we have our first July 2014 baby - congratulations MrsC, also hear there is one going to be joining us very very soon so thought it was time to start a postnatal thread! Wow can you believe it's that time already!!!

I hope to be joining you on this thread in the next few weeks - have no desire to get to 40 /42 weeks in this heat thank you.

For now congratulations new mummies xxx

[mixi82]

Hi all, just marking my spot.....hoping I can still be in the July babies!

So, for those who don't know(and because I LOVE telling people!!!) my little Oliver was born on 30th June weighing exactly 7lbs. Had a proper long haul delivery and still very slowly recovering.

I had a spinal block and it's left me with stupidly swollen feet and legs. Asked MW on first visit what to do and she said there was no need to keep stockings on but i think I may still stick them on anyway??? Did anyone else suffer from this? They're not painful, just don't show any signs of swelling going down. Apart from elevating, is there anything else I can do?

ps. how do I get on the FB page??

[dramajustfollowsme]

Congratulations on the birth of Oliver!
I had really swollen feet too after birth. I had no swelling during pregnancy but walking the corridor down to neonatal meant it was like treading on a waterbed.
I was advised to drink lots and keep my legs elevated as much as possible.
I gave birth on the 10th of June, the swelling had completely gone by the 17th.

[mixi82]

Thanks drama

Wondered if anyone else LO roots around a lot? Oliver feeds every 2hrs but sometimes he gets restless in between and roots looking for a feed, I've tried cuddles, rocking, winding, changing nappy but putting him to feed is the only thing that works. But then he'll only feed for 2-5mins. He settles quickly afterwards though. Could his rooting mean something else? I don't want to over feed him see

[ismarah]

Mixi To get into the FB group you need to PM MrsB your FB email address, if that makes sense.

Has your milk come in yet? If not, that might be why O doesn't settle to feed?

[Carks31]

Hi can I jump in with my newborn? DS born 2nd. Couple of issues in labour but we're here to tell the tale. First time parents so just after a little advice. He will only to go and stay asleep in someone's arms! Wakes immediately if you put him in his basket and only way to soothe him back to sleep is cuddles. Which is very sweet, but very difficult, uncomfortable and means we are massively sleep deprived! Any suggestions? Tried swaddling but it's too hot at the moment and he likes his arms up by his head. Also when lying on someone he much prefers to lie on his stomach, but up to now when when putting him downnin hia basket or pram I've been following guidance of on his back for sleeping. No issues feeding. Thanks!

[jbiscuits]

Hi carks, congratulations!

Ds was born on the 30th and until last night had only slept 2hrs in his crib and that was the first night. so I know where you're coming from!

The midwife told me off gave me advice yesterday about it. She said (that if you're bf) to feed him on one side, then wind him and change him, then offer the other side, then put him straight down. If he gets really upset pick him up and put him back on the breast, and repeat. Basically getting him as full as possible. We tried this last night and managed 2x 1hr in the crib, a sleep on DH, a sleep on me, and has now been in the moses basket since 8. So some progress. I'm going to try getting him to sleep in the moses basket more today to get him used to it (and I'm less tired to cope with the crying!)

Good luck! (and sorry for the really long post)

[ismarah]

Welcome Carks and congratulations!

We had a disastrous night last night after a cluster feed - after feeding bean for 4hrs we discovered that she was actually still hungry. In that state there was no way to settle her anywhere other than on top of someone (me). Maybe your boy is / was hungry? Your milk must only just have come in so might not be up to full strength / quantity yet so even though he appears to be feeding well, that might not be the case. Although I'm a first time mum too so feel free to disregard anything I say and wait for Zing to come along..

[Carks31]

Thanks for the advice! fingers crossed for an easier night tonight

[jbiscuits]

Well it's now 4am and Christopher has spent the whole night in the crib so far from about 7:30 last night Admittedly one stretch only lasted 45 minutes, but until just waking up to feed had been asleep for 2hrs I'm hoping he'll now go till at least six once he finished feeding. So it does get better.

Have also just realised that Christopher is now a week old! Feels like it's gone so quick help he'll be 18 before I know it

[icklekid]

biscuits that's amazing congratulations!

(Feels naughty sneaking into thread before baby is born but good to know what to expect. ..) will try and just read and not post but was too excited for you biscuits!

carks I hope last night was better for you...

[coco808]

Hi everyone!! Phew...finally found the thread

Baby Oliver was born on the 24th of June
still cant believe he is mine!!!

Reassuring to see that I am not alone in cluster feeding. I feel for you ismarah!

Well last night he was feeding constantly and I caved and gave him 2 oz of formula (something I swore I would never do so early on) and he slept for 4 hours!!

Does anyone know that if I give him formula after the late night feed (midnight), would it affect my milk supply??
also I bought the Aptamil hungry baby stuff, is that the right one?

[ismarah]

It'll be brilliant when we're all here on one thread again - and if my experience is anything to go by, peak time on here will also be 2-5am...

[dramajustfollowsme]

Coco - I haven't a clue about milk supply. A problem with my pituitary gland means I can't bf.
I wouldn't give him hungry baby milk though. I'd go with first milk. The hungry baby is designed to make them feel full without adding calories. It can also make babies constipated.
It might be ok because you are just doing one feed of it though.

Hope is 4wks old tomorrow and I have no idea where the time has gone. I managed to get her into a little dress today - first time she has worn anything other than a babygro.
I am beginning to know her little cries and habits. She is spending more time awake now and I've started putting her on the floor and playing with toys.
Seeing my girls together is just the best thing. The little one grabbing her sister's finger and looking into each other's eyes makes my heart melt.
Love them!

[ismarah]

Drama love the name! Well done on getting into an outfit - we're strictly pyjamas here although the adults have gotten dressed on occasion - bras are a must though, oh yes they are.

[elliejjtiny]

Glad I'm not the only one cluster feeding. My mum keeps telling me there must be something wrong with DS5 because he shouldn't be feeding that often. DS1, DS2 and DS3 all fed like that too though so I think it's me who's right .

Also having a jealous moment as mum is looking after DN again and hasn't seen DS5 at all yet.

[AuntieMaggie]

Morning. Finally home with Freddie born 27 June weighing 8 lbs 10 oz. He is lush even if I do say so.

Breastfeeding going ok but he's very impatient and gets really cross if he doesn't latch straight away and I'm struggling with what I'm supposed to do during the night so going to try the advice above from jbiscuits.

Coco just be warned that giving him formula/bottle may upset the breastfeeding - the mws had to give a couple of bottles last week as I was receiving medical treatment and it put us back a bit

[ismarah]

Yay Maggie and Ellie are here and well!

Re cluster feeding - my bean is clearly not getting enough in BF as she never comes off the breast voluntarily. At most she sometimes falls asleep during feeding and refuses to be nudged to start again. Although BF babies are supposedly 'hungrier' than FF babies so maybe I'm worrying about nothing. I fail to see how a hungrier baby is a good thing though .

We need to figure out how to duplicate whatever we did Sunday night and also how to wake bean so we can shift her feeds / hours around a bit.

Ellie your mum sounds lovely, just like my mum sometimes. I hope she occasionally redeems herself - mine does surprise me now and then. Mostly when she's nice, supportive and not judgemental. I'm lucky though (depending on how you look at it) in that bean is the first grandchild on both sides, so there's no rivalry. Just an awful lot of pressure..

Maggie our NCT BF session said even if you don't BF at all for a while you can still work on it and slowly shift the balance from only formula to mainly formula to half and half to some formula to none, if that's what you want. Although it will take time and patience and it won't be easy.

[elliejjtiny]

ismarah my mum is like that, sometimes supportive and other times not so much. Someone at breastfeeding group today said that babies slept more in the 1980's because gripe water had alcohol in it then . Actually that makes a lot of sense as MIL put brandy in DH's bottle when he was a baby and DH's aunty used to drink wine and then breastfeed to encourage her dc's to sleep more.

Maggie glad you're home. Hope you're feeling ok, if I remember rightly you had a traumatic birth too? I had a horrible failed induction, emergency C-section and 3 days in HDU. DH watched the paediatrician try for 30 mins to resuscitate DS5 in theatre while I was too out of it to realise he'd been born. If you want to chat to someone who's been there feel free to pm me.

[ismarah]

Ellie your poor DH! He must not have known where to look - at you out of it or at baby. I hope the birth was the worst of it. Unmumsnetty hug!

[AuntieMaggie]

OMG ellie I feel like a wimp now it wasn't as traumatic as that! I hope you and baby are ok now.

DP is struggling to feel useful though I couldn't be doing this without him :(

[jbiscuits]

Hi ellie and auntie. Sorry to hear your births weren't great. It puts my sore stitches into perspective! Glad you're doing well now though.

How's everyone getting on with night time feeds and sleeping? Christopher has now spent 2 whole nights in the crib, and has just slept 10:15 to 00:45 feel like doing a little dance keep at it ladies, it does get easier.

[Sparky321]

This time of night does seem to be a popular time to hang out while feeding. I'm hoping tonight will be easier than the last 2 nights. Cluster feeding for 2 hrs to wake up 1hr later for another feed. I find it really difficult to get back to sleep after 5 when the sun has come up. Isobella is 3 weeks old now and is becoming more of a personality time is storming on :(

[coco808]

Re cluster feeding - my bean is clearly not getting enough in BF as she never comes off the breast voluntarily. At most she sometimes falls asleep during feeding and refuses to be nudged to start again. Although BF babies are supposedly 'hungrier' than FF babies so maybe I'm worrying about nothing. I fail to see how a hungrier baby is a good thing though confused.

ismarah...my thoughts exactly!! I know he is still hungry straight after a feed sometimes and sometimes within 45 mins so how is that a good thing??

[ismarah]

Coco babies have growth spurts too - which means there will be occasions where your supply will have to really work to catch / keep up. For us, FF has been a godsend. It may sound awful but a) we know she's being fed enough because the table on the formula says what is an appropriate amount b) Bean was weighed today on day 9 and has already caught up the 150g she lost post birth and put on another 150-200g so she is now heavier than she was when she was born c) she is no longer jaundiced d) she wees and poos like a trooper and approximately often enough per day e) she is fed approximately 8x a day as MW suggested they should be f) I still BF and keep up supply but DH can feed her too g) we actually get 2-3hr blocks of sleep at night, feed her and then get another block of sleep - which makes everything else easier to cope with.

We are not that sleep deprived which makes us happier, more balanced, able to work (DH) and able to deal with a screaming bean or me being ill. DH has completely changed his mind about FF - he was quite anti it because BF does have health benefits - but insomnia and stress also affect your health - particularly if it's long term.

Do what is right for you - allow things to develop as baby starts to have opinions, so to speak - and be prepared to adjust your ideal if reality is different from that ideal.

Jaysus, I sound like an FF evangelist. Not my point. Mixed works for us. You do you. I won't judge.

[ismarah]

After a fairly calm and rational pregnancy, I've now turned hormonal and occasionally weepy. This annoys me. Thankfully, being annoyed seems to mostly stop the weeping..