August 2015 - Let the Sleepless Nights Commence

[nolongerwaitingfornumber2]

My DC2 was born on 5th August and I'm up in the wee hours feeding away. Anyone else with their August babies care to join me?

I still can't believe he's here and in my arms!

Joskar I've bought reusable nappies but not had the guts to try them yet. Plus I got given loads of disposables so using those up first. I can imagine they get addictive with all the different types and colours.

Frolic I have medala swing. It does the job. Haven't tried any others though to compare.

I have read back but can't for the life of me remember who said what and its too much like hard work to go back to the too if the page. Way too tired for that!
Anyways, my DS didn't look newborn for very long. To be fair though he will be 6 weeks on Saturday and he is already wearing 3-6 month clothes.
I suffer migraines too so sympathy for that,
And to those who lost family while pregnant.

My toddler loves the baby. I'm lucky as she is very gentle with him the same can't be said about her with her big brother, poor DS1 gets smacked, kicked, head-butted and bit she strokes him and kisses him and gives him his dummy (she never had a dummy so don't have to worry about her thinking its hers!)

Frolic - Glad you nailed the sling. I think they can be so handy. However, I still haven't mastered waking with it, two dogs and bending down to pick up poo!
Joskar - sorry your lo is feeling ill, that's crappola for a little person.
Nolonger - mine is defiantly changing into 'baby' rather than newborn, but she will be 6 weeks in Sunday so maybe not that surprising.

Also those with slightly older babies, are you finding that they now want to stay up for longer and like some play. My dd is definitely showing her interest in black and white book and captain calamari (a Lamaze toy!).

Fatty - our LOs are almost the same age. Is your still spitting up loads?!

As a FTM its hard to know what a normal amount is!?

We had our penultimate weigh in with the HV today, and she's 10lb 2oz now - woohoo! Got a grilling off of the HV for co-sleeping but again I said about her crazy reflux/silent reflux and she casually mentioned that I should have told her about it before (I have on every visit!) and that I should have got some baby gaviscon before now - grrrrr!! Anyone else using gaviscon? Does it work to stop the scary 'I'm choking on my own juices' sound when they're lying on their backs?!
When did sleeps on her front we have no issues at all, but I know it's risky, hence why I only do it for daytime naps. Although more and more at night she's getting herself into a face down position on me, as I guess she prefers it. Arrrrgh it's a toughie!

Right I'm off up to the doctors now for me, to have my wound checked out and to have fucking smear - eu ugh! I really didn't envisage having another internal type thing this soon. Plus I'm rocking a bit of a 70's bush

It sounds like the breastfeeding is coming together for you dozy. You definitely need to drink so much more, don't you. The thirst is really something else. I found cheap cartons of coconut water in home bargains. They are great for rehydrating quickly and kind of healthy too.
Sounds like you're really getting into the flings. I'm very envious of your doing library. The nearest I can find is an hours drive away! As much as I love the beach and countryside, there are definitely some downsides to being out in the sticks.
I've orderd an ergo from Amazon this morning. Hopefully I'll be able to try it on properly and send it back if it doesn't feel right.

I should have read your post earlier jockstar. I've just ordered a tommee teepee electric pump on a friend's recommendation. Maybe I'll do a bit more research before opening it.

Sling + picking up poo is going to require some skills I think mzzf! Maybe I'll stick to walking her after dh does her poo run first for the time being.
Well done minimzzf on the weight gain. Good luck to you at the gp. I also need a smear and will book one for my 6 week check. The joys!

I hope everyone is having s good day. We're off for our final midwife appointment now.

Oh dear - forgot to preview - dozy, obviously I meant into the slings, not flings

mzzzf he doesn't really spit up much. He's really greedy though. DD did though, she was still at it at 3 months ish.
I wouldn't worry about it as weight gain is good. I worried with DD as she dropped centiles. HV said it was fine though and she's now tracking between the 9th and 25th centiles for height and weight, whereas DS2 is 98th for both! He's nearly as big as his big sister

So, yeah, if she's gaining weight and is otherwise fine, then its fine. DS is definitely wanting to play more now. He loves being awake and coos at the lights and the parrot toy that dangles over his pram. I even just had a proper giggle! it was more of a chuckle but it was because I was kissing him, telling him lots of kisses. It's so sweet!

Such a cute little laugh.

Afternoon everyone. Hope you have all had a good day. I met up with a friend for lunch which was lovely.

Frolic, I have the Medela Swing pump and love it. It is so efficient and fast. I got 5ozs in 5 mins the other day!

Dozy, my sling is the Connecta and I find it so comfy and DS sleeps really well in it. It's not as fiddly as the wraps but gets baby into the froggy leg position which is better for them than the bjorn style ones where they hang from their hips.

Joskar, my toddler is equally rough with the baby and made him cry the other day by accidentally pushing on his tummy to give him a cuddle :(.

Mzzzf, I reckon DS would love some play now but I feel so guilty that when I don't have my toddler I just want to feed/cuddle/sleep or get jobs done round the house and when I do all my attention is on her so poor DS doesn't get much chance to play. I am sure it will improve once the sleep does though. Great news on the weight gain btw!

Love, you must be superwoman! I cannot imagine 6!!

Fatty, how amazing to have a giggle! I can't wait. It is the best sound in the world. Even now my toddler's laugh makes my heart melt.

Hi to anyone I missed!

Yuck smears!I literally just got my message through yesterday for one so it must have been 3 years since my last one. Don't think I can face it just yet with my tear still not fully healed.

Got an infection in it which isn't helping. Doctor appointment tomorrow to sort it out. Went to walk in centre at the weekend but they just gave me crappy antibiotics for a urine infection so now the results are back it's obvious they were the wrong ones.

Good news is dd has put in 7 oz in a week yey. So she's 8lb15oz now. Kind of like it that she's still not quite 9lb so she can be classed as a little baby for a little bit longer. As much as I want her to put on weight, I'm not ready for her to lose the newborn cuteness yet. It doesn't last long at all does it :( anyway all my hard work with the bf has paid off thank goodness. I'm feeling way more relaxed about it now. Now I know that feeding for a long time and often is normal I can accept it better. And I'm not needing to top her up as much anymore, mainly just once a day so hopefully I'll be able to wean her off that if needs be or if not, having one bottle at night before bed seems like a good thing to keep up with as it means dp can do that one and we get a longer sleep. I'm feeding her that often in the day that my milk supply should be good enough even if we carry on with that.

We're still on disposable nappies with the baby. Dd1 is in reusable though. I'll shift dd2 soon. She's through the meconium stage now so I'm safe enough. It's easy enough once you get going. I think we did washable through the day and disposable at night for a while to ease us in.

I've had dd2 weighed once so far but I doubt I'll get it done again for a while. She feeds fine. With dd1 they weighed her every few days and told me they'd take her back to hospital if she didn't track her centile. I now know that this is shite and babies don't gain in a linear way necessarily but at the time I used to be physically sick before the hv came. Dh used to come home from work when she was due because he was so worried about the effect she had. Thank goodness she's since retired!

I've also got the Medela swing pump Frolic, I really like it although I do find expressing a bit of a faff. 5oz in 5 min is amazing Nolonger, I just don't think my milk supply is ever that good.

That HV sounds awful Joskar, I really think they often underestimate how vulnerable new mums are and the effect they can have. Great work on your weigh in Dozy, so glad you feel the BF is paying off. I had a really disappointing weigh in as DS has only put on 3oz and still weighs just 7lb 4oz (he's 5 weeks). It means I'm officially starting formula top ups and am of course gutted that he's not getting enough from me. I feel like I've tried so hard at BF but I'm just not good at it Will keep going though and hope that the top ups make a difference. Ultimately I just want DS to be ok of course. He's a happy, alert baby and does plenty of nappies, he's just little I guess.

Know what you mean about the bush mzzzF, I was wondering today if I'll ever have a wax again... The glamours of being a new mum!

Clstow- if your wee one has plenty nappies and is alert then he doesn't need top ups. If you're feeding when he asks then he is getting enough. Topping up will decrease your supply. What you express is no indication of how much milk you are producing. I expressed for 9 weeks the first time and I never used to get very much. Some people just don't. Of course if you want to switch to ff there's nothing wrong with that but tbh it doesn't sound like you need to. Babies often put on weight in fits and starts. Especially bf babies. Babies come in all sizes and the idea that they should always follow a line in a book is such crap. Dd1 started out on the 70th and went down to the 2nd and now at almost 2 is up at the 80th. At no point has she been ill that's just how she's developed. Please don't be disappointed in yourself. You have done a great job.

Ladies I am hanging. Seriously hanging out of my arse with tiredness
I bored of sleeping propped up, I desperately want to sleep laying down. I want a break when I'm not worrying/supervising DH with dd as I'm afraid he'll fall asleep and squish her on the sofa. I want to be able to lay her down to sleep, off of me. I want her to feed without bringing it up afterwards and then cry in pain. I want her to nap longer than 30mins a time today. I want to be off antibiotics. Arrrrghhh! I'm just having a woe-is-me-rant. I probably just need a massive coffee (and an au pair!) or several today!!!

Hope everyone else rocks the arse off Friday!

mzzzf rant away
clstow you don't need to top up with formula if you don't want to, joksar is right. And it may not make much difference . my DD was ff and she dropped centiles and stayed there. She is nearly 21 months now and is only in 12-18 month clothes (and even they are big on her, but 9-12 are too short now!) She is just little. Some babies/children are.

Clstow weight gain is weight gain. Don't worry about how much. You're doing a great job. This tiny stage will soon be a distant memory so enjoy it.

Mzzf I'm so sorry your dd is still not sleeping on her own. I wish I knew what to suggest :(

5oz in 5 mins!! That's amazing. I've only once gotten 5oz but it took me an hour.

Mzzf I hear you! After one l better night last night was back to hour long feeds with feeding every 90 mins which once I've winded DS means it's pretty much constant. Every time he and I were almost asleep he'd start screaming some times for no apparent reason. He's finally asleep on me now but I daren't move him to basket. DH says sleep when he sleeps but I can't if he's on me! Arggh! He's so sweet all asleep and it's lovely that he wants me so much but I really need sleep! So glad we're all in the same boat and we have this forum to rant! Is anyone else's LO a ' sup 30 ml every 30 min' feeder? DS goes through phases of bigger feeds less often then we come back to this constant supping!

joskar I totally agree - babies don't follow an exact line for weight gain but when it's your first and you've no experience you can be terrified of the health visitor. It wasn't until I had my 3rd DC that I felt confident enough to stand up for myself - my DD2 was small and according to health visitor not gaining enough weight - she wanted to admit her to hospital - but as a mum I think you know if your baby is ok and I refused and just kept feeding her as normal - she was fine. clstow sounds like you're doing great.

mzzzf I sympathise - I too am a propped up sleeper - long to curl up on my side - from experience of my other DCs I know it does get better - that's the only thing that keeps me going........

Love - when did your Dcs start sleeping a bit Longer?!

Ah mzzzf I wish there was something I could suggest too. But am sure you doing it all. Sounds like your coping amazingly well considering how shattered you must be. Really hope it gets better for you soon. Come and rant whenever you need too.

Nolonger 5oz in 5 mins is awesome. I really can't get the hang of it. But going to keep trying so at some point I can leave the house without DS. Would love to go for a swim.

Clstow sounds like your doing really well. Try and not be hard on yourself. Breast feeding is just so much harder than I ever imagined it would be. I merrily imagined doing it for a year. Now I just take it a day at a time and see how we go. DS is being weighed today. He feels heavier so hoping he's doing well (although good to read everyone's comments about not stressing about it. When you think about it, it makes no sense that a baby would gain weight exactly as a line tells them too. But so easy to worry yourself silly over it)

Happy Friday to everyone.

Thanks ladies. I know you guys 'get it' so it's good to rant. DH gets to go to work so I feel like I'm the on duty one all the time. Anyway! Today is Friday, and in the words of D:Ream - things can only get better!!!
My current plan is to change back to the size 1 teats, as maybe these size 2 are just too much and that's why the spit up amount has increased so much. Annnnd I've also ordered some reflux milk, but I've had to get a different bottle to treat it with due to the thickness of the formula. That should arrive tonight so we can try it over the weekend.
A really good friend of mine said that every mum has a hill to climb re their babies, for some it's BF, expressing, weight gain etc for me it's definitely this laying down flat/sleep thing. I will conquer it!!!

kbro a swim would be awesome - I can't wait for my CS scar to heal properly!!

clstow that growth line scarred the shit out of me too. It was because of that 'dip below the line' last week that I moved up to faster teats and I'm wondering if that's now the cause of my extra loads of washing?!

Where do our logical, intelligent, independent thinking brains go when we have babies?! I have to make serious decision at my usual job so why can't I think straight with mini mzzzf?!
CAKE! I need more cake!

Good morning

How lovely to have proper giggles and smiles fatty. I really can't wait until ds becomes a bit more interactive. He is definitely staring a lot more intently at me now than he was. I really can't believe how much he's changed in just two weeks. He's almost too big for all his newborn clothes already.

Congratulations on the brilliant weight gain dozy. You've worked so hard.

Nothing to add to the good advice you've already had clstow. The important thing is that you feel able to do what's right for you and the little one without feeling pushed into anything either way.

mzzf and magrat for you today. No wonder you're feeling tired. I can't sleep at all with ds on me. i don't have any advice, sorry, but will offer plenty of sympathy.

Sorry so many of you are having bad experiences with hv's. I'm very lucky that mine is a good friend, although she is also on maternity leave at the moment. I work in the same building quite often and know all the ones covering and they seem very nice as well.

I hope everyone has a good Friday. So far, so good in the frolic household. Ds and I have been out for lunch with a friend while dh does some work. Cake and nap time now I think

Feeling rubbish today. Urine infection ramped up today so been in agony. Already had doctor appointment because results had come back from swabs I'd had on Sunday. Doctor was useless though. Urine results had gone missing so just had results from swabs which said I needed iv antibiotics but he decided that I don't need those and given me some different oral antibiotics that weren't on the list from the microbiologists so I just have to hope that these work. I'll give it till Monday and go back if I see no improvement. Not that I want iv antibiotics but I don't want to be ill either. This infection has been lingering for ages so it was gonna get worse seeing as it's not been treated properly. He also said it was just a urine infection not a wound infection even though the results he had were from swab of my wound so quite clearly it is an infection there. He was quite dismissive really. My doctors surgery has gone down hill in the last few years so I'm seriously considering changing surgeries. Especially now I have dd to think about.

Anyway dd had been really hungry this morning despite feeding her all night and all morning so she had a bottle which meant i could express and go to sleep while dp watched her and give her the expressed milk. I slept for quite awhile.

Other thing is my boobs don't get that feeling that other people seem to get when they've not fed for a few hours of feeling full and heavy and start leaking. I don't know whether that's normal or whether it means my milk supply is low despite all the feeding I do which explains why I have to give top ups after her mammoth bf sessions. Who knows. But I've never had to wear breast pads yet which I think is unusual? !

Magrat is there anyway you can 'encourage' little one to take more than 30mls at a time? I'm quite good at encouraging (/force feeding) babies to take more milk when you think they've given up. Harder to do with bf but with bottle feeding you can get more down them even if they look like they're done. Then they'll be less likely to keep waking up every 30mins for a little but more because they will be more full.

My boobs never leaked last time and they aren't this time either, Dozy. Don't think it means much. I'm feeding two so I'm pretty sure I have plenty milk!

Hope you get your urine infection sorted. I'm really prone to them so totally sympathise. Drink at least a pint of water every hour and serif you can flush the bastard out. Half teaspoon of baking soda in a little warm water is good to take some of the sting away.

My best friend arrives tomorrow. So looking forward to seeing her. Also I'm making a chocolate pie to celebrate her new job so it will be a fab weekend!

Ah dozy that sounds horrible. Hope you feel better soon. Go back to GPs and throw your toys out the pram if you need too!

In terms of leaking I wouldn't worry. I only leak very occasionally and never wear breast pads either. I was worried it was a sign I have low milk but apparently it doesn't mean that at all. And DS just had a good weigh in too.

Am feeling the tiredness today. So pleased is weekend so DH around to take some of the strain. Hoping I can have nice long nap. DS still on sleeps on someone during day so sleep when baby sleeps during day not easy. But he is getting better at night so can't complain.

Mzzzf how has today been? Hope your doing ok.

We had the health visitor today. I mentioned that DS feeds v badly on one boob. So she got my to latch him and feed. Bloody DS latched perfectly first time, feed well for a nice 15 mins then rolled off and fell asleep. Am sure she thinks am making a fuss over nothing. Of course his next feed (when she'd gone) he was back to pulling on and off, getting frustrated, hurting me and screaming. Grrrr.

dozy straight back to the gp on Monday if you're not feeling any better. I second the pint of water every hour advice. Glad you managed some sleep. You must be feeling rubbish with that on top of a newborn. Take care of yourself.
I'm another one who doesn't have leaking boobs, despite having plenty of milk. I really don't think that leaks mean anything.

Have a lovely time with your friend jockstar. Chocolate pie sounds fab.

I hope everyone has had a good day. We have a very fussy / colicky ds this evening. He's been mostly awake and upset for about 3 hours now. I'm hoping it will pass and he'll be exhausted and sleep well after.