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!

Oh dear clstow Hope it's not mastitis. Try hand expressing extra milk of that side to make sure you've gotten all the mill off. I've only managed to express off 80-90mls today so hoping it's not that my supply is dwindling. Dd was a little piggy this morning. She fed off me for a few hours as usual, ,then had a bottle, then I expressed and she downed that too! So maybe part of it isn't necessarily my inability to feed her but some of it is generally that she's a hungry baby. Who knows.

Bf counsellor is off till Wednesday so when she's back I'm gonna get her to come round to watch me feed her etc again and to give me some help. I must admit that I'm not keen on feeding in public so it has been nice being able to give her bottles when out and about but I'm hoping if she feeds for a shorter amout of time then I might get used to public feeding.

The sleepless nights are catching up on me now. Feeling quite tired now a lot of the time. Felt alright initially but now I'm struggling. When she wakes in the night I want to imagine she's not really awake and roll back over to sleep but obviously she really is awake so I have to get up. It's much harder than I thought to wake up and feed her. I can't do the lying down and breastfeeding thing because she's too little in comparison to my boobs so she can't breathe in that position so if I fell asleep while doing it then I'd totally squash her. Maybe when she's bigger that will get easier.

Dozygirl I know what you mean. Slightly naive first time parent thing to say but I thought getting up in the night would feel more instinctive/natural but instead I find it really hard and just want to pull the covers over my head and go back to sleep.

Clstow ha ha so is my phone. Every time I am on my phone DH says 'what are we worrying about today'. I agree - imagine looking after a newborn without Dr Google.

Frolic welcome and massive congrats!!! Enjoy your first night at home. Hope it goes well. Agree. First night can be tough. So feel free to let it all out on here.

Nolonger good to hear it gets easier. I keep focussing on that.

I have to be honest but I'd forgotten just how hard it is to drag yourself awake to feed in the night but once they are going for longer stretches between feeds it is so much more bearable. My latest problem is not being able to sleep when the baby does - like now! Ds is snuffling away in the crib and I feel wide awake!

With you all on the googling too!

Thanks for the welcomes!
It's so far, so good in the frolic house. Ds slept all of the way home from hospital (1 hour journey) and then for ages in his car seat. I'm already glad we got a lie flat one.

Feeding is still going well. I think my milk may be on it's way as my boobs have got hot and heavier tonight. They are already ginormous and way bigger than his head. God knows what's going to happen to them when it does.

He's also settling well in between feeds and we all just had 2 1/2 hours sleep in the bedroom. He seems to like his Moses basket. The only slight worry I have is that he doesn't seem to be producing much wee. But we are having meconium most nappies still, so it's hard to tell. I'll have a word with the midwife tomorrow.

I think the mucus has all cleared now dozy. It frightened the life out of me when it first started coming up.
I hope you're having a good night tonight. I'm sure the waking a get very wearing, especially when all the initial adrenaline and hormones start to wear off. Don't be hard on yourself

I'm also amazed at how women did this without being able to just google the answer to every question clstow and kbro. It must have been quite frightening.

I'm having the exact same problem nolonger. Ds can be snoozing away and I've just been way to wired to stop looking at him and go to sleep.
We're you waitongfornumber2 on the ttc buses? I think I 'recognise' your name from then.

I hope you're all having good sleeps
Sorry for the epic post!

Dozy is DD doing plenty of nappies? The midwife told me that dirty and wet nappies are indicative that the baby is getting plenty of milk. So every time I change DS I try to see the bright side and think of it as good news about my supply. That said we've started doing formula top ups at night and it's just so lovely seeing OH give DS a bottle - plus it means I can get some more sleep

Don't think I have mastitis or thrush as symptoms don't fit, but one of my boobs is definitely not right. Planning to see the GP on Tues and have been expressing to give it a rest, fx it's nothing serious.

Hi everyone can I join please? Baby L was born on August 19th weighing 6 lb 11 oz. Had a water birth which was amazing but had 2nd degree tears which are still quite sore but getting there! Had some problems BFing so am giving mostly formula with some expressed milk but can only get max 80 ml a day BM so think my supply is quite low.
Totally agree with you all about the moses basket vs being held - DS lobes being cuddled which is precious but also we need to sleep a little bit too! Swaddling has really helped us with settling him at night. Him and DH are fast asleep now as I express and catch up on here! We have been out and about quite a lot to try and avoid the trap of just doing housework and not having family time. DS is so comfy in his pram he just sleeps all the time though!

Welcome MaGra!! Well done you for getting out and about, I think I've become a bit of a recluse but I can't bear her screaming when I drive. I feel like a nasty mummy for taking her out of her lovely house!
Don't worry about the moses sleeping thing, did is 4 weeks now and still hates it. I've just ordered a Poddle pod to try and help!

Hi mzzzf! Congrats on your LO! I don't know what it is about the pram, DS sleeps as soon as he's in it!

clstow I'm getting plenty of wet nappies and dirty nappies are now gettingore frequent. She didn't poo for almost a week in the beginning but now she's getting more top ups she's pooing more.

Had a slight breakthrough last night with latching on. Nipple shields were just hurting me way too much because of the friction so I tried just latching on without them and she finally managed to do it. Still had to give her bottle top up but I feel it's progress. Still have too many people trying to 'helpful' and wanting to take dd off my hands so I get a break which I absolutely hate because it messes with my feeding issues but I struggle saying no. Anyway, fingers crossed we'll start seeing an improvement with feeding now the latch is better.

magrat welcome and congratulations. Think everyone seems to have a problem with babies sleeping in their moses basket. Mine manages it now as long as she has a full belly. She hated it to start with but doesn't seem bothered anymore.

Dozygirl DH and I had the exact same conversation. Am sure I wouldn't have made my self so sore if I could have breast fed more without having to subtlely i

Hi. Please can I join in?!

DD born 07 August - she is DC6 - born by c-section.

I thought after previously bf 5 DC it would be a breeze but the first couple of weeks were agony (cracked, bleeding nipples), however, it's now ok - yippee - feel like a new person! So to all of you in pain - persevere - it absolutely does get better.

DH is self- employed and has to work so unfortunately I had to get out and about and was doing the school run (Scottish schools back already) when DD a week old so totally back in the swing of it now.

DD loves sleeping in Moses basket in day but doesn't at night unfortunately

Argggg half post

Dozygirl DH and I had the exact same conversation. Am sure I wouldn't have made my self so sore if I could have breast fed more without having to subtlely do under a Muslin half the time. And yes other people taking him and helpfully settling him for me when I actually wanted to feed him. I feel mean saying this but think that is my lesson learnt for any other children we have. Be a bit more strict with amount and length of visitors. Also we could have done more skin to skin but obvs don't do that in front of visitors. But wonder if that would have helped. But hey ho. Really pleased to hear your latch is better though. Hopefully will help lots.

Magrat welcome and congrats!!!

The big news from us is we went out for lunch today and I breast fed in public for the first time. Felt a bit weird at first but kind of relaxed into it.

Arrrrghhhh I feel 'over-touched'. Dd was asleep on me all night, I've had her alone all day and only managed 5 mins twice out of my arms without going mental. How do I get her to like being solo in her moses or vibrating bouncer?! Heeeeeelllpppp
I hate letting her cry, she's only 4 weeks bless her... But won't settle away from me or DH. Balls

Ah mzzzf I honestly have no idea. DS hates not being on somebody. I feel really nervous about DH's return to work (on weds) as suspect will just be me sat on the sofa with him on my lap all day. Is she warm enough when yoy put her down? One of my nct friends reckons there baby settled much better since putting an extra blanket or 2 over him? We've not had much luck with it but could be worth a try? Does she settle any better in the pram? DS cries at first but once we get a bit of pace he settles. He won't stay in it when we are back home but I find mentally having a break from holding him and getting a change of scene helps. Sorry l can't be more helpful. I fear DS is going to be about 25 before he can be put down by himself

Hi everyone, I hope it's been a good bank holiday for you all.

I hope your is boob feeling better clstow?

Glad the latching on is feeling better for you dozy.. The 'helpful' taking the baby away to settle would be driving me mad. I'm loving introducing ds to all the family, but a part of me winces if anyone but me or dh is holding him. I miss him if he's away from me.

Well done for the public breastfeeding kbro. I'm feeling really conscious about the size of my footballs and the fact that I'm pale makes them stand out even more.

That sounds really frustrating
mzzf. I've no advice, but lots of for you.

Hello magrat and love. Welcome and congratulations.

I'm scared of jinxing things by saying this, but things are still going really well here. Ds is feeding and sleeping brilliantly. He's also settling well in his pram downstairs and Moses basket upstairs. I think he likes it being dark to sleep. We even ventured out quickly to the coffee shop at the end of the road today because I was getting cabin fever. He slept the whole time and we discovered that 5 day old babies cause quite a stir!
My c-section scar is quite sore after the walk and a busy day with visitors, but is generally healing well.

Those who are breastfeeding, are you doing both boobs in one feed, or just one side? The hospital and community midwives have given me so much conflicting advice about it . Both ways seem to work well, but I can't work out which feels / is best.

Loveandsmiles DC6!!! Massive respect. And huge congrats.

Frolic am not sure and all the advice is v contradictary. We have been getting some green poos which can mean he is not getting enough hindmilk. So am trying to feed on one for a full feed and not swapping. But have no idea if this is the right thing to do. Also DS is a massive cluster feeder so he doesn't always have a distinctive feed, esp in the evenings. He will jump on and off all evening for hours (and hours and hours)

I hear you on the massive boobs and pale skin issue. But once I had started feeding I felt ok. Was more self conscious at the latching point.

Thanks kbro. I've tried offering him the other side after he comes off the first one for most of today and he seemes to like it. We've had a few green poo's as well, so will keep an eye on things. He poo's every single time I put him on the breast. He get's on, sucks frantically, does a big poo and then relaxes into a sleepy feed. Very cute - but we're getting through a lot of nappies in a day!

Congrats and welcome MaGra and loveandsmiles - love our DC have the same birthday so will be interesting to see if they cause us the same trouble at the same time

Well done on the public BF Kbro, I think it gets easier and easier and despite having massive boobs which I was pretty self conscious about I'm now happy to just whip em out in all sorts of places.

Great news about the BF breakthrough Dozy, my sore boob has improved heaps today - so much that I'm no longer thinking I need to go to GP tomorrow. Hurrah. BF is just such a rollercoaster isn't it!

Great to hear things are going so well Frolic - I love it when people ask about DS when we take him out and about. Feel like such a proud mumma.

MzzF my only tip would be to try a dummy? DS will settle in his chair if he's comfort sucking. Might be worth a try.

Hope everyone has a good night - I'm worrying that DS may have just started a cluster feed. Could be in for a long one...

How lovely to see the thread so busy today! We had visitors for the bank holiday so couldn't check in and now there is loads to catch up on.

Welcome and congratulations to Magra and Love!

Frolic, I wasn't on the ttc threads although that was my old username. I was on the overdue thread though. DS took a long 8 days to arrive!

Mzzzf one thing that seems to have helped ds settle is leaving the muslin I've been using for feeding near him in the pram or bouncer. I think the smell makes him think I'm close by.

Well done Kbro on the public feeding. Like clstow said it gets easier after that first time and the self-consciousness subsides a bit.

Re. feeding on one side or both, I just do one side to try and get the hind milk. This way I also know which side is next because it's bigger!!

Has anyone else got a baby on Gaviscon? If so has it caused constipation at all? DS hasn't pooed since 5am apart from really small ones and I noticed the consistency has been thicker since giving the Gaviscon. Is this normal or should I go back to the doctor?

Hope everyone gets some sleep!

Thank you for the welcomes

clstow - oohhh same birthday - what was your DS weight? My friend had baby 3 days ago and my DD looks big next to her - no longer new born - time goes too quickly.

I am taking DC5 (age 2.5) to a toddlers gym class today - praying baby DD sleeps throughout and DC5 behaves. Trying to make the effort to do activities with DC5 when all I really want to do us snuggle on the sofa! How are others managing to keep toddlers occupied during the day? It's easier when other DC are home from school (in Scotland so schools went back 3 weeks ago) as they entertain each other.

Grr to the app not working on my phone! Dug my laptop out so I can have a catch up!

Dozy - well done on being signed off by the mw! Hope that rose was the best tasting wine you'd had in a long time :D

Clsow - how's the boobage today? Any less painful?

Frolic - Jealous that your DS likes his moses basket - any tips?! Hope if your milk has come in that your boobs aren't too hot or painful. I literally did not know what to do with mine when it happened - again thank gawd for Google ;)

Congratulations and welcome to LoveandSmiles and MaGratgarlik1983!

DH has gone back to work today so Molly and I are riding solo!! :D xx

Thanks for all the feeding advice. The midwife thinks he might be a bit colicy and that's why the poo's green. We're going to try keeping him upright after feeds. And I'm going back to one boob at a time to encourage getting to the hind milk.

We're just back from his heel prick test. Dh and I nearly cried but ds barely winced, just fed straight through. I had my stitches out and everything is looking good with the wound thankfully.

I take my hat off to you on dc6 loves. I'm just about functioning with 1. I bet your home is very full of loves and smiles and fun. I was always envious of children who had lots of siblings when I was little.

I must be confusing you with someone else, sorry, nolonger. can I blame baby brain?! I went 6 days overdue. Bloody awful.

I'm really enjoying the proud mama moments clstow. Ds charmed everyone in the waiting room when we saw the midwife today.

No tips on the Moses basket thing sorry fanby. I think we just got lucky. Although I do think he seems better in the dark. Our pram carry cot (which he sleeps in the day) has a black hood and our bedroom is very dark. I hope you're managing to get her down a bit more today and that your first day flying solo goes well.

Oh well done on braving the heel test! I think it's definitely worse for us parents. Fortunately around here the mw comes to your home so that's one less thing to worry about. Sounds like your DS was an absolute star!
Our day has continued to go well, lots of nappies and feeds this morning and a very chilled afternoon - hopefully it stays like this!! :D xx

Boobage much better thanks Fanby but my quest for the perfect latch continues tomorrow when I go to see another BF councillor... DS did a green poo today which againsuggests bad latch. Argh. I feel like I'm just so crap at breastfeeding. Glad you're having a good chilled day.

Love - DS was 6 pounds 13, surprisingly lightweight considering he measured 54cm head to toe! Does it get easier by the 6th DC? I can't imagine looking after any more than one

No gaviscon here Waiting, we're using infacol for wind which I think is working. Hard to tell really.

I tried infacol in my desperation and ditched it after 2 days. No real positive gains just lots of the side effects which are surprisingly regurg and vomit!! Also did some research on it and it's not even been proven to help ease wind, only something like a third of users have improvement but they can't pinpoint it to infacol, most likely due to the digestive tract maturing on its own BUT if you feel it's working for you that's awesome!

Mini mzzzf has terrible wind after evening feeds so we feed upright, keep upright for 20mins after feeding and burp by firm back strokes rather than jiggling, seems to have helped her for now, along with some baby massage.

We're holding out for the magical 6-8 weeks when things should start all coming together - god I hope that's true!!!!