July 2015 - the very beginning, what's going on!!

[MissTwister]

Hi all

I couldn't see a July 2015 thread so thought I'd start one. My daughter was born on the 6th and the last two weeks have been fun and tiring - with not much sleep!

Anyone else around?

X

Hi all, just found this and checking in! DD2 was born on the 9th July, dream birth but we've had a pretty rough ride since then with severe mastitis that led to being rushed to hospital in an ambulance, sirens blazing with sepsis, a 3 day stay in hospital on IV antibiotics etc etc. On the mend now though and starting to feel semi human!
Baby was diagnosed with reflux yesterday so hopefully sleep will start to improve (up until yesterday she'd never slept longer than 2 hours, usually much less and often awake all night in pain, straining and grunting and crying).
Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying new baby cuddles!

I think we're going to try expressing for bottle feeds so dad can help. I'll still feed through nite tho as OH is up for work at 5am. I just wanted to wait a few weeks.

Hi everyone, can I join you. Lovely to see familiar names from the antenatal club waves

Baby Theo, my first, was born on 24th July so is one week old today! I had an EMCS and DS ended up in the neonatal unit for a couple of days. So a bit of a rocky start, but we're doing well now.

Settled in at home. DS sleeps really well in the day but is awake, feeding, fussing most of the night!

Charlie (& others saying about BF), u can't say I'm loving breastfeeding, but just getting on with it at the moment. Nights are hard with the constant feeding and not wanting to be put down. I'm considering expressing so DH can do a night feed, but feel I need to read up on it first... I keep reading things about nipple confusion and reducing milk supply so I don't to jump into anything. My other issue is public feeding; I've got a big chest I'm managing at home by propping myself and DS up with pillow, but I can't imagine how I would BF discreetly out and about. In the middle other night when I'm least enjoying BF I just keep thinking if I can stick at it for 4 week's

Sherbet my aim has always been 4 weeks. If when I get there I feel I can go longer I will. But if I don't I won't feel like I've failed.
I'm not too fussed about feeding in public, yesterday I fed I Drs. I was with sil who was going to see midwife so no issue. For big feed we sat in the car, it was the closer place to sit. I'm happy to argue that he needs to eat like anyone else but we always have a blanket that will cover a bit.

I find it hard to BF in public due to very large breasts - it's not that I'm particularly embarrassed but it's actually incredibly hard to hold the baby and my breast (which I have to do) without a pillow to support baby underneath. I only tried once and got crippling backache and thought I'd drop baby!

Have started trying to express to counteract this but if anyone has any other tips feel free to share!

MissTwister that is exactly the issue im having. I can cope with feeding in public, I always planned to have a scarf handy if I felt I needed to cover up. But it's the practicality of it, I'm propping baby up with a pillow and holding my breath with one hand. I've tried holds without a pillow and either I'm not comfortable or baby won't settle to latch on. Charlie I feel much better aiming for 4 weeks and then like you say, longer if possible. I'll feel like I've given DS a good start in that time

Breast not breath!

I think if you set small goals they're easier to keep to. Tho to be fair we shouldn't feel bad at all if we change to formula. Yes breast is best but if mam isn't 100% well that's no good for anyone.

In only slightly related baby news we get a new car tomorrow. 7 seater zafira. 5 weeks of no car I can't wait for some freedom. DC's1&2 go away on Monday for a week too. X

Goodness Gotto, that doesn't sound good, glad you are okay now.

I am not able to feed discretely yet but remember that with my first it just sort of clicked whilst we were out. When I was shopping I made use of the feeding areas in Mothercare and John Lewis.

We survived our first week at home after DH returned to work! Although my parents have been great and have popped a few times to entertain 4 year oldDS.

I did our first public bf yday - ever so classy on a park bench. V proud as it took me four weeks with dd1 but this was just six days with dd2

Blimey gotto never realised mastitis could be so serious! Glad you're on the mend.

Broody love both your dh names,two of my favs for a girl.

I'm all ok with bf at mo and will at some point express so I'm not the only option in case of needing additional help. When we've ventured out several times I'm all ready to try (discretely if I can - ummm) bf in public but then he stays fast asleep! Letting him set the pace for feeds. And yes it's let it all hang out at home and one boob holding too for me!

Charlie think I'm still getting odd mild after pain (uterus contracting) when bf yesterday - which was day 16 here.

So yesterday was interesting, seems our little man has started to get some trapped wind pain and doing less poo nappies for last two nights. Colic? He's 17 days now. Fussed and cried from 5pm til 11ish last night which so isn't like him. Was bringing legs up, arching back etc. It made me cry a little.

as ftm it's horrible not knowing what to do to soothe him. Any tips from those already experienced this?

Started giving him infacol before feeds, keeping him upright for 30mins afterwards (by leaning angled on our bed pillows til he's asleep then move to moses aside bed), will wind him in the day (not at night though as will wake him up too much - so we do the upright thing before putting him down). He only woke at 1am, 4am and 6.30am for feeds. But was grumbly 4am til 6am odd!

I also tried putting him wedged into half-moon bf support pillow to keep him upright (seemed more secure than resting on pillows) but then get super paranoid bout safe sleeping and him not breathing.

Had some more poo nappies overnight and when bf him just it's back to one in one out (does mega fart / poo when feeding ), which I'm hoping is good sign for today...

MrsF it isn't usually, I just left it untreated for too long (hazards of having a newborn and a 20 month old and no time to go to the Dr!) and the infection got into my blood stream causing sepsis. That will teach me!

MrsF there are a few July babies having wind issues at the moment. I started using infacol but have switched to dentinox colic drops. I've found these are much more effective for us. I was also struggling a bit with the infacol dropper (couldn't tell if I was getting the right amount in!) but the dentinox syringe is easier for me. We had one day where we gave the full dose but he is much more settled again now so I'm only giving it every other feed or so now.

Sat here watching The Inbetweeners Movie with a leaf of Savoy cabbage in my bra. Yep, mummydom sure is sexy!

Feel like a cow today. Franky's fed feels like constantly since Friday nite. Last nite was very long. Struggling today. He's just had hour n half-2hours awake cuddling dad hoping for a nice nap I can join in with.

Hi ladies,

Congratulations to you all. Hope your all settling in well with your gorgeous LO's

My beautiful DD was born on 15 July, she has been bottle feed since day 1 she has been having wind problems since then really so we started using infacol Wednesday just gone seems to of helped slightly but no major difference. However she hasnt had a poo since Friday morning. Should i be concerned? I'm presumming this could be down to the infacol? I have read may be try giving her cooled boiled water after a feed to try getting things moving. Has anyone done this? Also is there another product on the market you recommend for wind that we could try? I've heard about gripe water (which cant be given until their a month) or Colief but dont know much about these.

Ta x

holly from what I've read infacol can cause constipation which is why I switched. Dentinox colic drops can be given from birth and work in the same way as infacol. Coleif is meant to be really good but is expensive ~£13 a bottle. But it needs adding to the bottle about 30 mins before a feed so seems a lot more faff. I've been looking into this earlier this week and that's the info I've found. Everything else isn't suitable for under 1 month olds.

i hit the low point yesterday and have given Franky bottles. I'm still breast feeding but going to give bottles as well. I'm think bottles through the day breast at night. Even some breast for comfort through day if needed.
I just couldn't do it, physically I couldn't produce enough milk, he was taking both boobs on each feed every 2 hours, feeds lasting an hour or more.

My daughter has had wind after feeds so we used Infacol for first time this morning. 15 minutes later loads of wind came out and she was very happy!

Charliej86 - mine is going through periods like this. Yesterday evening she screamed every time she wasn't on the breast and would only calm if there - although half the time she didn't even suck. Stopped about 10:30 and she slept as normal waking a few times to feed...

First day of being on my own with DH back at work. Morning went well and we got out of the house to the bf clinic. But things went downhill in the afternoon as she would not settle for a nap so I could not nap either. She has been unsettled and crying herself stupid since about 3pm and still don't it now. The only time she settles is when she's on a nipple and during a short walk in a sling. Can't decide if this is a growth spurt (16 days old) or the result of the slight change in routine. Fed up and exhausted.

Also having to do everything myself - I think I've upset my c-section scar a bit. Hope it settles tomorrow. Finding the recovery from c-section really boring and annoying. Desperate to get out and be more independent.

Quickly marking my place. DS born in the early hours of Friday morning, 31st July, so now 5 days old. So in love with him but oh my the nights are hard. Due to a CS my milk isn't in yet (as far as I can tell - I'd know, right?) and he just feeds all night. And if he does fall asleep he won't stay asleep in the Moses basket, only on us. Sigh. Trying to use the basket a bit during the day to get him used to it.

But we are so in love. I can't believe how total obsessed we are! Will catch up with everyone soon

These babies eh? It's comforting to know other people are going through the same things though as according to all the books etc my little one should be feeding 8 times a day (try 20) and starting to understand day/night (ha!)

Aaah that's the problems with babies and books, you see, misstwister - babies can't read so don't know what they're "supposed" to be doing They're helpful as a guide though, I just found it a bit distressing when I had dd because if she didn't do something she was supposed to do by a certain week, I'd be wondering if there was something wrong as I was a totally neurotic ftm back then

Aargh mastitis!!! Franky latched on this mornin felt like he was chomping down with teeth. Didn't help that he wasn't keen on that side so kept pulling off n latching back on. Swapped sides n he was fine. I know ur supposed to feed through it but it was agony and he wouldn't.
I'm feeling ill today as well, not sure if related, my legs ache, head ache and feel a little sick.
Anyway since we're using bottles through the day, I know probably reason for blockage, I'm gonna try express to release but having to use hand and there's hardly any coming off. Does a manual pump hurt as much as baby???

charlie, have you tried changing your bfing position? I have severe pain on one boob when dd latches on and I was thinking it could be tongue tie but on a whim, the other night dh suggested trying a different hold - she found it easier and I wasn't in so much pain! Darn dh being quite clever!