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Original poster

February '15 babies - appearing thick and fast!

999 replies

GeekyHybrid · 18/02/2015 12:44

Our first thread on the 'other side'. And may all our soon to be mummies join us in this adventure through the early days of parenthood as we continue to share exciting times.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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WhyOWhyWouldYou · 19/02/2015 14:41

Geeky I've got HV for first time tomorrow. I'm dreading it. Hated the one last time round, he was horrible.

donkir · 19/02/2015 15:15

Also one not keen on hv. I find myself hiding the dummies and the comfy cushion Logan likes to snooze on. The only plus is at least they give you a time they're coming unlike having to wait in like mw.

WhyOWhyWouldYou · 19/02/2015 15:59

Donkir - with DS the HV didn't even give us a day he was coming let alone a time. Then he told us off for not being in! I suppose this one tomorrow has at least given us a day and time.

freneticfox · 19/02/2015 16:19

WhyO, DS was 7% down at day six, hopefully will be better at next appointment, though I hear different ideas on what's healthy in terms of loss.

Emotional afternoon at BF clinic. Even with shields, he's not latching and any effort to encourage him causes distress on both parts. Sat and cried for a good hour and decided to let go and make the move to EBM with formula top up if needed.

I feel really sad I wasn't given the early support after birth, and I didn't know I would feel so desperate to try it until my milk came in. That said, lots of factors were against me so I need to stop beating myself up. Guaranteed to have a few more tears before bedtime though..

Honeybird · 19/02/2015 16:22

My hv just left. She was very sweet, gave me a day and time, and was controlled in her criticism of our co-sleeping.... Tomorrow I'll be waiting in all afternoon for the midwife... Not sure how I ended up seeing them so close together.

Honeybird · 19/02/2015 16:24

It's day 11 here and nipples are showing signs of healing, and mastitis is gone. Nasty sore throat though.

Congratulations kats and littlemiss!

Honeybird · 19/02/2015 16:28

Sorry to hear that frenetic, how do you find expressing? I have never been good at that, my boobs don't seem to respond well to anything other than a tiny raspy little tongue, I can only ever get piddling amounts which means no storing up a stockpile for when I go back to work...

Memphisbelly · 19/02/2015 16:49

Frenetic Please try not to feel too disheartened. The stress won't do either of you any good. Up to 10% weightloss in first 5 days is fine according to my mw.

The baby now focuses on things and loves his mat with the toys above him, he is 4 weeks old today and still so tiny, jealous of all the bigger babies I still feel so wary of handling ds as he is so skinny.
We have an issue with his clothes as his feet are so big newborn are too tight on toes but 0-3 are way to big, sainsburys and boots newborn are longer in the foot snd leg but as both have baby events on both are sold out of newborn

Original poster
GeekyHybrid · 19/02/2015 17:01

frenetic and why I was told by my mw that they've got 3 weeks to get back above birth weight so I wouldn't panic yet. memphis we're growing out of newborn too Shock There's the odd thing he's not even worn yet. We sorted through the 0-3 stuff as we figure it's a matter of days left in the up to 1 month bits. And probably up to the next size nappy. All in 2 weeks, yeesh! Time is flying by.

OP posts:
WhyOWhyWouldYou · 19/02/2015 17:09

Frenetic here they say 5-7% is normal, 7.1-9.9% needs a re-weigh in 2 days to ensure regain. 10% or more is a problem (not sure what action they take). - I was OK about the 7.7% loss until she didn't regain.

I know its upsetting that bf didn't work but at least you can express. I've never been able to at all.

BanglesSpangles · 19/02/2015 18:24

Don't beat yourself up, frenetic- there are a million and one ways to raise a child and none of them are the 'right' way, just the best for you and your lo.
(Ha, need to take my own advice!)

Last midwife appointment today, and we're in the hands of the health visitors now- when do they start coming? We're on day 10 now.

And a question for people in the know- is there anything you can 'do' with a tiny baby? i feel like I should be doing something with Sid while he's awake, but suspect he's too small to care- he doesn't seem particularly bothered with my singing or the bouncy chair or the play mat, but I feel bad just holding him and doing nothing!

Memphisbelly · 19/02/2015 18:57

Geeky our dilemma is everything bar his feet and long legs are tiny so 0-3 are massive we are only just out of prem nappies because of his scrawny legs and bum Shock i dont want to cut toes out of baby grows as they are all jojo or next and I plan on re selling them.....feels wrong cutting toes from somehing that cost £15.

WhyOWhyWouldYou · 19/02/2015 19:37

Geeky is it 3weeks when they worry if weight not back at birth weight then? I know NHS says 4 out of 5 healthy babies are back at birth weight by 14days and red book says "Most babies get back to birth weight by 2 weeks of age. This is a sign that feeding is going well and that your baby is healthy."

There's no way Alice will be back to birth weight by 14days - she's still 330g (11&half oz) below birth weight at day 9.

Original poster
GeekyHybrid · 19/02/2015 20:00

why I was told that in this area if they loose > 10% body weight it's back into hospital and a feeding plan. Then they don't worry about lack of weight gain until 3 weeks.
memphis it's not just the feet here, it's his shoulder to crotch length. Once the poppers on his body suits are done up on the newborn stuff it causes his nappies to dig in Sad I'm reluctant to cut feet off too!

OP posts:
Memphisbelly · 19/02/2015 20:05

Geeky like the incredible hulk he will stretch and all his poppers will pop undone Grin

loopsyloup · 19/02/2015 20:51

Geeky and Memphis you could always just leave the feet sticking out and put some socks on instead - or try some vest and tights combos. Nobody will mind a baby boy wearing tights and makes more sense than cutting feet off.

My little beastie has been pooing and farting like nobody's business today. Wonder if she's taking in too much air cod her nose is a bit bunged up...

Bangles - I'm not sure but I don't think there is much to be done with tiny babies. Enjoy not having to endlessly dangle toys in ring of them while you can - I've been dying to catch up on a box set but my dd1 would rather watch Sesame Street!

Memphisbelly · 19/02/2015 21:13

I picked up some boys tights in h and m but they had no little tops that small in stock, we only have sleepsuits will go scout out something tomorrowGrin

Amyone elses baby have an hour a day where they are unsettled each day. Ours is tea time ish, nothing settle him he doesnt want feeding or anything but he just wont settle

freneticfox · 19/02/2015 21:23

honey I expressed on day one in hospital, so I've never had a problem, plus my milk supply appears to be somewhat plenty. It's like my body realises it produced a chunker!

Still feeling tearful over the BF, but like a weight has been lifted. I'm now looking for ways to make time for bonding. Not that I placed too much stock in BF, but I'd like to make an extra effort to help myself.

Memphis, I know my DS is only a week old but he seems to have quite a few episodes a day where he just grizzles..

Memphisbelly · 19/02/2015 21:35

Frenetic glad its not just mine that has grizzles for no reason.
Regarding bonding I feed very close and I feel a great bond, now his eyes focus more too he really scans my face, I talk gently as I feed as he recognises my voice.

purpleteapig · 19/02/2015 21:35

Don't know why mw can't give a time to do their visits; even a 4 hour window would be good. I've waited in all day for her and she just arrived at 5.30. Angry
I'm finding breast-feeding quite challenging - when he latches on it's still really painful for about 20 seconds so by the end of the day i've really had enough. Hopefully it'll get better. Frenetic, I expressed last time around as had trouble getting baby to latch. Don't put pressure on yourself - as everyone says, as long as baby is fed and loved, it doesn't matter what form the feeding takes. Just do lots of skin to skin as I found that really helped with bonding.
Memphis, yes i'm finding he's unsettled late afternoon when there's no obvious reason...

BanglesSpangles · 19/02/2015 21:36

memphis yip- its whenever we try to come up to bed. Even if he's asleep downstairs its like he knows when we want to go to bed and we get an hour of 'well, i dont know what i want, but its not my moses basket'. Am awaiting said hour right now!

BanglesSpangles · 19/02/2015 21:38

loupsy i did 2 episodes of sherlock with him in my arms today! Sure im going to be kicking myself for not getting more in in a few weeks/months!

Memphisbelly · 19/02/2015 21:56

Purple the mw said to me morning and it was gone 6pm in the end I was climbing the walls.
Bangles Grin @ its not my moses basket! Mine is I don't know what I want but let me stuff my face in your cleavage/armpit while you giggle about the house humming. He is currently being changed after barfing in protest to the moses basket.

JacktheLab · 20/02/2015 01:24

Hello, anyone else up?

I'm slowly persevering with the Moses basket, phoebe is hanging out in there at the moment after her feed, so time to check in and say hello whilst she hopefully drifts off to sleep, might kill my DH who sounds like the swamp monster next to me with his snoring though.....

Frenetic, eye contact, skin to skin and just generally cuddling will help with bonding, I find even with a bottle you still cozy in the baby when your feeding so bonding shouldn't be any issue. Glad you are feeling better about your decision, it's so hard when you really want to breastfeed and it doesn't go to plan, I know, so I'm hoping that expressing works out well for you, I did six weeks with my ds but I don't have the time to do it this time sadly.

Bangles (I think - this app should let you scroll back to check names) there's not much you can do to play with babies at this age I think, I was tickling p's tummy after she'd calmed down when I was changing her nappy, which I think she found mildly amusing, certainly she didn't shout at me ;) a little bit of tummy time is good for them too, I've been putting her on my chest whilst I lie down and letting her raise her head.

We are starting to have more awake times during the day and some sort of waking routine at night, definitely following the times she was most active inside me, so I'd expect that she'll want more milk about half three and then fiveish, which I can live with.

freneticfox · 20/02/2015 02:09

I'm up!

Someone clearly swaps my baby over from 11pm..during the day he's great. Feeds well, then eventually does off. At night however, no matter what we do.. Feed, change, soothe, cuddle... He just grumbles noisily and won't settle. I feel useless.

I can't turn over to DH either, he let me sleep a few hours earlier because my section wound was hurting after being out. Wish I'd asked for longer, still so in pain and exhausted with a baby I cannot comfort.