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!

Hello and welcome! Congrats on baby jack!!

Our baby's took 12 days. It didn't bother him at all but I was really squeamish about it and couldn't quite get my head around the fact that something so painful looking was not hurting. Despite rationally knowing it wasn't.

Congrats Galaxy on your baby boy and welcome!

My ds lost his at 5 days but I think that was quite early.

We finally got the tongue tie snipped today so am hoping this is the start of better sleep and less colic. Fingers crossed!

Welcome over to the postnatal thread Galaxy :)

Nolonger yey for tongue tie being sorted. I had an appointment today but they decided it wasn't significant enough to snip. So it's back to persevering through the painful nipples and hoping she gets better in time. She recommended I top up after wach free with expressed or formula because I wasn't getting many dirty nappies but later today she had a big poo explosion and the colour is turning more yellow so I'm hoping shes turning a corner. I definitely agree I should probably be topping her up because after hours of constant feeding she never ever once settles so she's clearly not getting enough. If she settled after the mammoth feeding then I perhaps wouldn't mind doing them as much but to feed and feed and fred to no avail is quite disheartening. Desperately want to perfect it though so will carry on.

Welcome and congrats Galaxy It took about 8/9 days for DS's cord to come off, then afterwards it was a bit pussy for a few more days. Now looks like a normal bellybutton.

Great about the snip nolonger - have you noticed a difference?

I'm having the exact same thoughts about formula top up Dozy, am convinced my milk supply isn't massive as I never spray milk and DS often still seems hungry after feeds. Weigh in on Thurs and if he's not back up to birth weight I think we'll start on the night time top ups. Would be lovely for OH to give him a bottle as well.

Thanks ladies. I def think the snip has helped his latch and he doesn't seem quite so windy. Tonight will be the big test but the mw said it can take them a couple of days to figure out what to do with their tongue. Apparently he was 100% tongue tied and of 12 she had done today only the second so it was worse than I had realised. Poor little mite must have been struggling so much and in discomfort and I didn't realise .

How did Jack's check up go Galaxy?

Good luck Dozy and Clstow with your feeding. Have you been to any support groups? I am hoping to get to one tomorrow if I can make it work around my toddler's nap time. Even if they can't help much I think just meeting other mums in the same boat will be reassuring.

Hello!! Just caught up with all the posts, mumsnet has been really 'hacking' me off with the pw changes etc! Will be frequenting more often now!!

Galaxy: Welcome to the post-board!! :D Molly lost hers Day 6. Hope the check up went well!

Dozygirl: I had my first 'public' breastfeed today – in the car (so doesn't really count) in Sainsbury's car park! I have also bf in our garden and we have really low fences so i'm sure the neighbours would have seen! Like nolonger, I just threw a muslin over her and my shoulder

kbro79: We did the first 'bath' last night – I more or less made DH take control as I wasn't brave enough :)

nolongerwaitingfornumber2: Absolutely loved Inside Out!! What a beautiful film!! How long do the milk spots last for? Think molly has had a couple appear today...Hope the tongue tie snippage helps!!

Yay to the tongue tie snip. V pleased it seems to be helping. Hope it continues.

Went to a breast feeding group today. Was v nice and lady helped me reposition DS. Which worked like a dream in the class but as soon as we got home and tried DS was back to his 'tricky' self with the feeding. Sigh. But the group was good and made me feel more positive about it.

Clstow we give a bottle of formula at bed time to top him up. I find it really helpful and is nice for DH to give him a bottle and let my boobs have a much needed feeding frenzy breather. But know is a v personal choice.

Dozygirl I agree. If I felt that the endless feeding was getting me a full baby and a bit of sleep I think I would be a bit more motivated with it but is v disheartening to feed for hours and still be faced with screaming baby.

Fanby what did she make of the bath? Aidan hated it. My theory that he would enjoy as he must like the water after being 13 days late proved very wrong!

Ahh well done on the bf group Kbro! Do you think you'll go back? Practice makes perfect so I'm sure it won't take too long for him to get there!

I'm 50/50 as to whether she liked it lol! It was more of a quick dunk lol, her hair looks a lot better and shiner for it!!

Fanby, Inside Out is so lovely. Whenever ds is doing windy smiles we keep saying it is Joy and then Anger when he screams!

I think the milk spots are meant to go by about a month to six weeks. Ds is 3 weeks today and looks like a teenager bless him!!

Thanks Kbro. I can definitely see improvement in ds's latch and swallowing. Am so pleased it has finally been done.

I also popped into a bfing support group today to get positioning advice and have had exactly the same problem as you now we're home!!

Ah maybe she has more dry skin then milk spots (12days today)? I might google what they look like lol!

BF clinics all round it sounds like. Although the intense pain was horrendous at start I'm definitely (I hope) ok now, no shortage in supply at least lol! Midwife is due on Friday really hoping she signs us off. Last time she came we were only 15g off birth weight so think she's eating enough. We have the hearing test today, goodness knows how we're going to get her there for her 10:30am appointment X

Great news about the snip working nolonger.

I'm gonna head for a bf support group tomorrow. I just find it so much work, I didn't expect to feel so trapped by it but sometimes I feel like I'm stuck in the same position for hours just feeding feeding feeding...

Got midwife appointment today so I'll find out if it's been working - also hoping to be signed off.

Good luck with the early start Fanby, we registered Alex yesterday and the appointment was 9:20 - was quite a shock to the system being up and out for that time! Had to go straight to Costa after to recover

Fingers crossed for the mw sign off todayClstow, let us know how you get on!

We're on our way to the hearing test centre place, managed to leave the house 5 mins ahead of schedule WOOHOO!! She is supposed to be asleep for this though, apparently it helps-of course Molly is wide awake contrary little monkey x

Clstow it is so much work and so hard and also feel so trapped by it!! And am sure am going to end up with a bad back from sitting hunched over.

Someone suggested to me that I give DS a feed at 8pm and express so that DH can feed him again at 11pm and I can get 3 hours sleep. Ha ha ha. 3 hours between feeds. In the evenings I am lucky if he stops long enough for me to have a wee!

I know exactly what you mean! Tonight he has been feeding almost non-stop since 5:30... And despite the feeding madness he's still not back up to birth weight Midwife said not to worry as he is gaining weight, just slowly, but as well as seeing the bf specialist we are buying some formula tomorrow.

How did the hearing test go Fanby?

Clstow and kbro all our babies sound exactly the same! Constant feeding and no time to do anything. I had a mega emotional day yesterday. Couldnt stop crying because of all the guilt I felt over struggling to breastfeed. I just find it so depressing that in spend hours and hours feeding and after all.of that she still needs topping up with a bottle otherwise she's not satisfied. And i worry that I'm not expressing or trying her at the breast enough because of going out for lunch and stuff and therefore giving a bottle so my milk supply probably isn't the best. It's all just a worry but I really want to crack it so I'm carrying on.

Last night she woke for a feed and wouldn't take the bottle after the breastfeed so I was able to put her down to sleep. She lasted an hour before waking again so I'm pleased with tha . She sleeps for longer when she's had a top up but usually she won't settle after just breast so an hour is better than nothing. I woke up to leaky boobs everywhere this morning which isn't like me so hopefully that means my supply is increasing. I missed out a breastfeed because I had a bottle of expressed that I needed to use up and I was tired so I just gave her that so that's maybe why they were leaking.

Hope everyone else is getting on OK. Not heard from mzzf for awhile. Hope you're ok.

Hey folks! I'm back

Got truly freaked out with the whole hacker gate thing so kept a low profile and had my friend come to stay for s few days which was lovely but now I miss her!!

Little mzzzf is still calling the shots, we're still following her pattern for food and sleep and there seems to be a routine emerging at nighttime of 3am and 6am feeds but not so much during the day. But I'm not going to press any regime until she's at least 6 weeks I reckon.

Plus I still have 'the fear' of putting her down to sleep since she's a silent vomit-er and refluxer and I'm freaked out that she'll swallow it! So she's mostly slept/co-slept with DH and me since she was born. I do get time out when I put her in her vibrating chair or when DH takes her but I'm too worried to lay her down to sleep in her moses properly.

I only feel comfy putting her down on her side in the moses, as I would if she was a baby I was treating in hospital but then the HV put the fear of God into me by taking about SIDS. Thank goodness I didn't tell her LO sleeps mostly on me!!

Oh and my CS wound has now stopped oozing and appears (touch wood!) to be healing up well and thankfully it also looks like the lochia is on its way out too!

Ooorrrff what an update/dump! And if not even started on the crazy emotional hormonal mess of it all

Well done all you ladies rocking the BF - I'm jealous that my boobs didn't play ball...

I swear these babies are psychic! Just made crumpets and a cup of tea then sat down to catch up with the thread as both children asleep and ds wakes up wanting a feed despite only having one an hour ago!

Mzzzf, I have a refluxy one too who only likes sleeping in me or sitting up. We get a few hours between midnight and 3/4am in the crib but after that all bets are off. We too found lying on side much better especially as the choking/gagging is so bad when he's on his back.

Mine never settles after a bf either so we do rocking or patting to get him to settle then sneak him into the bouncer on vibrate! During the day I carry him round in the sling so I can get jobs done or play with my toddler - who I have to confess has had more tv than I'd like.

Nolonger - I'm loving sling action, I've even mastered having a wee whilst wearing it!!

Nolonger if we could get our babies to swap sleeping tips we'd have a great nights sleep. DS is convinced 3 or 4am is the perfect time for a 2 week old to go to bed. So is just heading off as yours gets up.

Dozygirl the guilt is awful isn't it. I think mine is esp bad as too be honest my main issue with breast feeding is I just don't like it. Had v emotional day the other day including using a v ratty tone with DS when he wouldn't latch. I felt terrible as of course is a much steeper learning curve for him than me but I was so frustrated.

Mzzzzf I know what you mean and DS doesnt have reflux or colic but he sleeps so much better on our laps as he doesn't have to lie on his back. He has also done a bit of co sleeping when I was exhausted but didn't tell the HV that....... At the hospital they put him to bed on his side and he sleep so well.

Clstow hope the formula helps. If nothing else it massively put my mind at rest when was obsessing DS wasn't getting enough food.

Ha Kbro it sounds like they should...although knowing our luck they would just both end up staying awake all night!!

I might try putting him down on his side if that seems to help. We raised the crib mattress to create a slope but he just rolled into the bars and woke himself up!

BFing is hard but it definitely gets easier and if giving formula gets them to settle better then you shouldn't feel guilty. All we're doing is the best for our children and that is caring for them whichever way works for each of us xx

Mzzf I'm sure it's fine for baby to sleep on her side even if not recommended. I tried side lying with dd to help her settle but it didn't work. Don't worry about not breastfeeding, I sort of want to give it up because it's so hard but I also want to carry on because it's free and supposedly easier in the long run. kbro I'm not enjoying it all that much either. Still feeding her for hours on end, just to then have to top up with a bottle to satisfy her. Feel like I'm wasting my time trying because the breast is never enough for her. She can take up to 4oz's post breast feed which is probably all she needs so the 2-3 hours of bf prior to that was completely pointless. She looks like she's taking in milk when she's feeding off me but she mustn't be if she needs such a large amount afterwards.

Discharged from midwife today anyway because her weight gain was good. Probably because of all the extra milk she's been having. Anyway I'll preserve a bit longer but if it's no better in 2 weeks I'll have to pack it in because I cannot spend hours on end feeding. I'll never get anything done or be able to go anywhere. I've been able to get out and about because I've given her a bottle before we've gone out so she's slept. I'd bf in public if she fed quickly but again I can't sit feeding for hours while out and about. It's just not practice

Wasn't going to whinge anymore about bf but I just couldn't help myself!

In other news, I've enjoyed a lovely glass of rose tonight when we went out for tea. We're making the most of still being able to go out for dinner before we have a bedtime routine. I would love to drink a few glasses of wine but I've only had the one so I could still express my milk for her when we got home. I'm not a huge drinker but I have missed it while bring pregnant and now coz of bf I still can't enjoy it fully. I felt pretty tipsy after just the one glass lol.

Good morning!
Can I join?
Babyfrolic (ds) was born almost 48 hours ago on 27/08/15. I had an emergency section due to failure to progress after induction.
We're still in hospital at the moment, but hoping to go home after lunch today.
Things are going well so far. We had a terrible first night with ds constantly throwing up mucus. Last night was much better and he slept well in between feeds. BFing seems to be going really well, touch wood. I'm looking forward to being at home, but a bit scared about how I'll feel not having the midwives support on hand.

I hope everyone is ok and waking up from as restful a night as possible.

First night at home can be difficult but it gets easier. I wished I'd stayed in one more night after I got discharged but I think I would have felt like that no matter when I'd gotten discharged. You'll be fine I'm sure. Glad bf is going well for u. Hope he's cleared out all the mucous now. It cam be quite bad especially with c section babies

Congrats and welcome Frolic! Dozy is right that the first night at home is tough but gets easier. I stayed an extra night but wish I hadn't as the ward started to feel really claustrophobic and I just wanted my home comforts!

Dozy, I'm sorry you are having such a hard time feeding. I am finding it harder this time but certainly not feeding for hours like you and do get some respite in the day to go out and see friends etc until the cluster feedathon in the evenings. Try not to be too hard on yourself

Congrats Frolic - welcome to the madness Great to hear the BF is going well and as the others have said the first night can be daunting but that's what Mumsnet is for - I don't know how people coped with newborns before Google... My search history is all baby related at the mo!

Dozy and Kbro - I am so with you both. I was saying to my OH on Wed that when I was pregnant I thought I would love BF and it's come as such a shock that I not only don't love it, I don't even like it very much and find it much harder than the sleeplessness that everyone warns you about.

DS had his first formula last night (so relieved that he'll take a bottle!) and today we got an electric expresser. I think just giving myself a break each evening when OH can give a bottle and then settle DS will make a huge difference. Only problem is that one of my boobs is really hurting today, praying it's not mastitis.

On my way to the pub now - I also miss drinking! Sorry for mega post - hope you're all having good days.