October 2014 // thread 3 // Maybe we'll get some sleep soon.

[MundayCakes85]

Last thread is full so here's a shiny new one

Hello

Is it ok if I join you? I've been lurking for a while but wanted to say hi. I've got a 4 week old DS.

I'm really struggling to be honest but it's nice to know it's not just me finding it tough. He's breastfed and I haven't expressed yet so I've done all night feeds and things - DH sleeps in the spare room. I actually prefer him to be rested really as he keeps the house running but I'm sick with envy that he gets a full night's sleep every night!

Sorry if I'm jumping in too late

Happy I'd get no cooking or housework done without the sling. She might sit in her Baby Bjorn bouncy chair for half an hour but only if well fed, when the wind is in the east, under a full moon, when I least expect it and generally when she feels like it. Though she sat and grinned and cooed at us when Jonas and I were playing on the piano for nearly 40 minutes today so she is getting better at being awake.

Today the sling let me do two loads of washing, make a goulash and a Caribbean curry so we're ahead on meals for the week, hoover and take J to the dentist. He's got all his teeth! So once these last three have fully erupted - no more stinky teething nappies and cranky nights.... until Lil starts. Gah 20 more teeth!

Fate my sisters XH was diagnosed with PND after their DD turned up at 27 weeks and had a traumatic 3 month stay in the NICU / SCBU, its rarer in men but does happen.

binky thats what i was thinking about retained products, but she said its completly normal to be bleeding heavy for first few periods, that periods can change each time after birth, she has gave me anti inflamatory tablet for the pelvic pain which she said should also help with the heavy flow?? I also got the pill which im going to start tonight & lactolouse for my wind issues poor dp, i have so much air in there waiting to be released

Haha munday ' that's what happened last night! Both in shock, resulting in her spending the whole night in my bed.

Yep happy, without the sling nothing would happen. We're getting there with the bouncy chair and the play mat thing, but she doesn't sleep during the day apart from in the sling or carrier.

stigz glad you are ok. Lactulose actually makes me more windy!! I find windeeze the best for getting rid of trapped wind. Lactulose is amazing for softening poo and helping to 'go' but does add to the wind on the process

Fab ladies thank you so much! Will start using it, also might help my back a bit, he is heavy! First day truly on my own apart from a quick visitor..coping ok so far!

splendide I've not got started with expressing yet either. Telling myself in waiting until after six weeks when hopefully her feeding patterns will settle a bit, but really I just don't like the idea of it. But I've got a few things coming up I need to go to sans baby so I'll have to get over it soon...

Hi Splendide welcome. Things get easier.

I'm thinking 6 weeks to start as well.

Thanks CJ, I hope so! I feel a big better than I did two weeks ago at least.

My poor DS has a bad cold & cough. I have him swaddled in a Woobie, in the cocoonababy inside the Bednest which is titled at a 30 degree angle. It looks pretty extreme but seems to be helping. Id better sleep I guess.

I've hit the wall- got DH set up with drink, chocolate, the remote and our screaming bundle of joy so that I can "f* off upstairs and have a bath for an hour" Today has been bad, tomorrow will be better.
Welcome Splendide come join the 3am club

Well this has been a fun evening. Screaming baby. Falls asleep for 5 mins then off we go again. Then DH tells me he's working late all week so I'm on my own til Friday but then he's on a stag do on Friday and then his work bloody Christmas do on saturday. Yes that's right, a Christmas do in NOVEMBER on a SATURDAY

Ugh another evening of inconsolable crying. So exhausted after a really crappy night with him last night. All he wants to do is feed!

Welcome splendide, I've just started expressing in the last couple of weeks, I'm struggling to find time more than once a day to pump though. I started just before 6 weeks and she's taken OK to bottles now but I plan to mainly bf (cuz I like it),and bottles for if I'm going to be away from her or planning to have a wee wine or two of an evening. I do night feeds too, I'd rather not skip them or my sore boobs would wake me up!
H has been a bit clusterfeedy today again

Ugh got in at 5pm and M attached himself to boob and fed solidly till 9pm when DH arrived with chips and took him off me. To make things worse I managed to clunk my poor baby in the face with my phone when I put him down for a mo on the sofa. His little face - looked at me in shock, lower lip turned down and he did a proper baby WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Evening all and welcome to Splendide.

Yellow how do you cook with bubba in the sling? Well carefully obviously but do you put a cloth over the baby so they don't get splattered?

Hugs to all of you dealing with a crying baby tonight. It's really not easy.
I think Bumboo is about to enter his 6wk growth spurt phase... Lots of clinging this evening & he would only settle on my chest.

He's now wrapped up in bed, in his dad's arms sleeping... Whilst I wait for him to wake to feed.

Thanks for the book suggestions - lots to keep me busy. Definitely keen on checking out the Kate Atkinson one.

Welcome to Splendide.

Those whose babies sleep in slings/carriers only - do they stay asleep? Our problem since about 2 weeks ago is that he falls asleep in it easily but wakes up very soon afterwards, unless we're on an actual walk. I was managing cooking etc. previously but anything standing remotely still just doesn't work.

kirsti same here can manage one expressing session if that and typically he will then decide he wants feeding sooner than I expected and I worry I have stolen his meal!

Exactly Happy! H decided to feed off my left boob for 50mins after I'd pumped only an hour before that, she now looks like she wants to match that time on my right so I'm feeling bad like I've stolen her supper. I've agreed to go to soft play with two friends and their kids tomorrow morning - at 10am...ugh I hope she goes to sleep soon!
On another note, my friend took her baby for his immunisations last week and said the nurse made her wake him up for them "so he wouldn't get a fright" , is that not a bit shite? My mum said my sister and I slept through ours, I was hoping H could do the same if I put her in her sling and dressed her appropriately?

Those of you expressing have you tried breast shells? I put one on when DS is feeding from the other boob and it collects about 1oz of milk each time. I also express milk when I get chance but adding the breast shell milk means I worry less about how much I manage to express in the little time I have my hands free for!

little no I haven't, ftm.. Do they only work if you are gushing? Some days leaking everywhere other days not! Presume they only end up collecting foremilk so hence adding to the rest of the expressed stuff. Any recommended make? Just had a three hour sleep stretch, yay!

I've got the madela ones too, they are comfortable and easy to use. No you don't need to be leaking/gushing, I think the gentle suction from the seal it makes around your nipple is enough to encourage the milk to flow a bit when you're feeding from the other side. Agree that I wouldn't feed just milk collected, I tend to express a couple of oz (throughout the day) after a feed - that way I know it should be hind milk, then add a couple of oz of collected milk. Just takes the pressure off a little for expressing I find.

Oh god, 4 hours of sleep, in a row!! After almost none Sunday night.
Anyone else's baby seem to have one shite night followed by a good one?
I used the shells for a while but think I was giving too much foremilk, even when added to the expressed amount. I only manage to pump 3oz once a day but hope this will increase as I get better.