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!

Mzzzf, Infacol didn't work for us either but I remember with my DD that Gripe Water was amazing. Can only give from 1 month though but going to give it a try from next week...can't actually believe DS will be a month old this weekend!! If it works as well as it did with DD then I'm going to ditch the Gaviscon as the constipation is almost worse than the reflux.

Fanby, how was day 1 flying solo? I hope you didn't make the same mistake as me and end up trapped on the sofa under a sleeping baby for 3 hours with no snacks or drink to hand!

Frolic, yes I think we can all blame the baby brain!! We are doing upright for 20 mins after feeds too and it does seem to be helping.

Clstow, I hope you succeed in your quest for the perfect latch. Please don't feel like you are crap though - I am sure you are doing brilliantly. It's just tough. I'd forgotten how tough it is in the first few weeks which proves that it def gets easier and I ended up bfing for over a year with DD as she was a bottle and sippy cup refuser and it just became part of everyday life. If it had been as hard as the early weeks the whole time I would never have been able to do it

Kbrow, clstow once you have over 3 DC it seems to get easier - I think because you become more confident and chilled - yes, my home is full of love, smiles and fun but also endless noise and mess!!

clstow don't ever think you are crap at breastfeeding - you are doing a great job. I wish someone had told me how painful and difficult breastfeeding could be before I had DD1 - I thought it was a natural, gentle thing not the agony it turned out to be. Each baby has fed differently - for the first 2 weeks with DC6 it was awful - bleeding, cracked nipples - but from experience I know it gets better so persevered - thankfully easy now. I hope all goes well for you today.

I managed to take DC5 to a toddler gym class yesterday and DC6 slept throughout - DC5 had a great time, was totally tired out and slept for an hour when we got home - don't have any plans for today other than cleaning! Have a good day everyone

Our first day yesterday went really well. Nighttime, not so much lol. It sounds really awful but I kind of expected Dh to do a little more interaction with her in the evening, i.e hold her to give me a break?! He's more than happy to put her down which results in tears and therefore I have to feed her again to soothe her etc. Around the 1am feed time I got to the stage after an hour i just didn't want to be touched, he could have taken her and winded her etc but instead just half heartedly rocked her and then passed her back to me for feeding. My rage was very high but managed not to snap at him…i'm going to suggest he takes her for a walk or something after work…
Off to a friends house this afternoon for a cuppa, she has a couple of her NCT pals going too, need to slap a smile (and some make up!) on my face and get ready to talk to new people!!

loveandsmiles: You sound like you had a lovely day yesterday, I can't wait until Molly is a bit bigger (not that i'm wishing time away!) and we can go to fun things like toddler gym!! :)

nolongerwaitingfornumber2: No snacks or drink to hand = my worst nightmare lol! Has the first month absolutely flown by for you?

Clstow: Glad the boob feels better. Good luck with the BF councillor - I had no idea green poo suggests bad latch?!

Fanby my DH is the same. Yesterday (his last day off) I basically fed and soothed DS from about 5am till finally getting him asleep to go for a shower at 11am. So 6 hours later!! Pass him to DH only to come out the shower to him screaming and DH trying but failing to settle him in his Moses basket. Seriously after 6 hours of having him in my arms is it too much to ask that you hold him long enough for me to get dressed in peace and maybe even make myself a cup of bloody tea. Took a lot of self control not to spoil our last day off together with a huge row.

Loveandsmiles sounds lovely!! Agree about confidence. Think a lot of my trouble comes down to now having no confidence with feeding. Clstow I feel exactly the same. Every day I hope will be the day I find it easier and start to enjoy but never is.

Nolonger we haven't used baby gaviscon so don't know about constipation in babies but do know when I took it in pregnancy it did the exact same to me.

fanby , kbro my DH comes in from work and immediately wants to hold baby unless she is crying - will lift her from Moses basket (when sleeping!) cuddle her for a bit then hand her back to me as soon as she cries - it's so frustrating. Then says I am only person she wants when she cries and he can't do anything to stop it. Agree that it would be bliss just to get a little time to yourself without holding a baby.

Amazingly out of my DH and DCs it is my 7.5 year old DD that will happily sit with baby cuddling and singing to her no matter how much she may be screaming and surprisingly she always soothes her - if she can do it why can't DH try?? Everyone always wants to hold the contented baby but no one wants them when they start crying

Hi all, I have a four week old baby please can I join?! I've read some very familiar posts on here :-)

I'm bf and finding it a bit tough (sleep deprivation) but it's getting easier and I bf dc1 so know it should all come together soon!

Ive been feeding laying down for some night feeds, but dd keeps waking and crying half hourly from 3am, I'm wondering whether,she's getting wind from laying down feeds? I may feed her sitting up all of tonight's feeds and see if she gets on better. I'm cosleeping

Sorry had to stop typing due to baby waking...my dp is similar in that i don't think he 'gets' babies very well. So he'll accept being passed her to hold whilst he watches TV but that's about it, as soon as she wakes or cries she's back to me. He's much better with my older dc though, so here's hoping some of you find the same as they get older.

Hi penny - my DD is 4 weeks tomorrow! I co-sleep too - I find I get much more sleep this way - basically DD just lies on top of me and feeds whenever she is hungry and I doze on and off - when I physically have to get out the bed I wake up whereas if I am lying there all night I feel I am getting some rest.

Like you, my DH is great with the older DC just doesn't seem to know what to do with a baby - despite this being his 6th

Glad your first day flying solo went well fanby. Dh is taking some leave as well as paternity, so I don't have to think about that for another few weeks.
I can understand your disappointment in your dh. Passing her back to you as soon as things get tricky isn't very fair. Especially when you've been with her all day.
I hope you had a good afternoon with your friend.

My midwife never mentioned anything about a bad latch when I asked about green poo clstow. I'm so confused about all the conflicting advice out there. I think I've fried my poor, sleep deprived brain trying to work out what's going on with ds.

loves, I love the image of your 7 year old baby whisperer. Maybe you could rent him out to us all when needed?!

Welcome penny and congratulations

We've had a good day today. Yesterday turned into a bit of a feeding frenzy from the afternoon on. I think he's tired himself out because he's barely been awake today. He's still having some explosive dark green poo's. I've been worrying about them a bit too much I think. Dh suggested ever so gently yesterday that o step away from Google and look at the facts - ds is really happy and content, he doesn't seem to be in any pain, he only lost a small percentage of his birth weight and he's feeding like a trooper. So I'm trying to relax and not obsess. The midwife will weigh him again on Friday and I'm really hoping he'll have put on weight.

I hope everyone is doing ok today. I can't believe that this time last week I was stuck on that drip, feeling like he was never going to be born. Now I feel like he's always been here

Oh no so much to catch up on!!! I'm gonna struggle to answer everyone because I've not been on here for a couple of days.

Clstow I also feel rubbish at breatfeeding. I keep on trying and trying so damn hard hut everytime i think I might have cracked it, it all goes back.to square one. Seeing the breastfeeding counsellor tomorrow so will see what she says. Dd just clearly doesn't get the milk from me. Everyone keeps saying it's ok for them to use you as a comforter etc but if she's that hungry she's screaming then that to me is not ok. I've succumbed to a bottle this evening again and she downed 4oz after spending four hours sucking on me. Just feel like .getting nowhere fast and sick of sounding like a broken record. I really don't mind her feeding for hours if it actually satisfied her eventually but to see her get so worked up despite the hours of feeding is really upsetting and depressing.

Since dp has gone back to work I decided I could fully dedicate myself and her to establishing the feeding but not doesn't seem to have made a difference yet.

Anyway, I'm so bored of talking about my breastfeeding issues now lol. I need something else to talk about.

Jeez her trumps truly stink as well! She doesn't poo regularly but I can always tell that shes building up to one because of how stinky they get. I hope she does one soon. She hasn't been in 4 days. She's not a regular pooper really which is probably partly to do with her brestfeeding issues but also might just be normal for her.

Anyone else desperate for a full nights sleep? I don't mind the 2 o'clock in the morning feed but the 6ish one kills me for some reason. I really struggle to wake myself up for her.

I am loving it all though heehee. Had a pyjama day today. It was great. No pressure to go anywhere.

Welcome to all the new people

Hello can I join? I was on the July antenatal thread but DS decide to go ten days overdue and was born on the 1st of august weighing a whopping 10 lb 10 oz.

Welcome Penny and Fatty - I was on the July antenatal thread too but DS was 13 days late. Did you have a slightly different name? There were two Fattys there I think...

Thanks for the BF support nolonger and love - it's only the idea that it gets better that is keeping me going to be honest.
Dozy and Kbro I think we're all feeling the same, it's such a slog, but at least we know we're trying our bloody hardest. BF group was good today, got some helpful advice about different holds, and spoke to some other mums as well. It's weigh-in day at the midwife again tomorrow and again I'm desperate for him to be back to birth weight and for us to be signed off.

I know what you mean about the trumps as well Dozy, DS did one so awful earlier that my cousin who was holding him looked like she was gonna puke! Hehe

Hey clstow I was fattymcfatfat.
I can't help with any bf advice as I ff all of mine from birth (this one is DC3) but I can relate to horrendous farts! My superchunk is really trumpy, he also poos.. A lot. probably because he eats so much
And he doesn't sleep well either. He's much more interested in cooing at the light.

10lb10 fatty wow!! Was he born naturally? And welcome :)

Frolic I started off feeding from.just one breast per feed, but now I try to feed off both at each feed. But then seeing as she feeds for hours on end it's easier to switch and try each one. If she fed quickly I'd probably just stick to one.

Hi Penny and Fatty, welcome and congratulations on your babies.

We has a lovely day today as DH had the day off so we went out for a walk and to a local coffee shop and to get DS weighed. He's now 9lb 10oz from just under 8lbs at birth so I'm absolutely thrilled that the hours of feeding stuck on the sofa are paying off.

To reassure others again, he's now 4 weeks old and the improvement in feeding is noticeable every day so I think we are turning that corner. By 6 weeks I'm hoping that it will feel much less relentless and become enjoyable.

I'm hoping to dye my hair tomorrow too as I feel very frumpy but can't see how I can spend 3 hours at the salon having my highlights done with a baby in tow! Anyone else yearning to look human again?!

Wocka wocka, morning!! Had a really lovely day yesterday, so pleased I went to my friends, it was really good to get out of the house. Molly's first time on the bus went well too ;)! She obviously felt very comfortable as she did the most OUTRAGOUS poo which went all up her back, through her vest and sleepsuit, MORTIFIED, thank goodness her changing bag had a spare outfit etc etc! Think we're going to have a PJ day today, really can't be arsed to do anything!

Nolongerwaitingfornumber2: Awesome job on the weigh in!! That's amazing growth for 4 weeks! Well done you! I had my highlights done a week before Molly arrived thank the lord otherwise no idea how i'd do it – I usually spend 4-5hrs in the salon (I had a lot of hair – literally got it all cut off then too!) - I think those days are long gone lol!

Clstow: Good luck for the weigh in!

FattyNinjaOwl: Oh wow Fatty!! Congratulations!!

Dozygirl – good luck for the bf councillor today. Do you think it could be worth taking her for another look at the tongue tie? I also hear cranio osteopath is supposed to be good?
I'd love a full nights sleep, Molly wakes every two hours for food, coping ok though, I think pregnancy insomnia was a godsend in disguise?

Frolicacid – wise words from your DH! If baby Frolic is a happy chappy then i'm sure he's fine, he's probably just getting his bowels in order, are you having a few dirty/wet nappies regardless of colour? I bet come Friday when he's been re-weighed your anxiety will diminish!!

Welcome Penny!! How was your night last night? I still haven't mastered the lie down position for feeding...

Oh kbro79, are our DH the same person lol?! To be fair last night went a lot better! I said to Molly, 'oh look daddy's home, he's going to hold you for the next two hours!' and he did pretty much! It meant the night feeds were so much smoother, he even got up to do the nappy around 3:30am which was much appreciated!

Loveandsmiles – your DD sounds amazing!! How cute is she to have the patience with a screaming bubba! What a lovely young girl you have there!!

dozy yeah, he was a vaginal delivery, had a 38 and a half cm head too! It hurt, a lot. Thank God for gas and air

It's going to take a while before I'm back to my old self. I had two pregnancies in less than two years and now have 2 under 2 and a 6yo. I had severe SPD and was literally housebound so have put on loads of weight these past couple of years

Wow a ten pounder with just gas and air - well done you Fatty, and nice to see you again.

Nolonger I so know what you mean about feeling frumpy. My breastfeeding wardrobe of jeans and t shirts is so ridiculously boring already. I miss wearing dresses! Not sure when I'll manage to go for a wax again either

Sorry, half post...

Have a lovely pyjama day Fanby, gotta love those poonamis. Did you have to throw the vest away?

Hope everyone had had a good night? I actually had to wake DS up for a feed. Wonder how long he'd have slept if I hadn't...

Best of luck with the BF expert today Dozy, here's hoping today is the day we all crack it.

fanby I wish I was having a PJ day it sounds like heaven. Unfortunately I had to do the school run, after being up since half 3 (baby fatty is a night owl)
I feel like a zombie.

I don't dye my hair, never have, though I may need to start when these children send me gray! I usually get my mum to cut my hair for me, I don't trust hairdressers with it. I know that probably makes me a but mental!

How is everyone? All good?

Oh wow fatty - well done you managing a natural delivery ! I am like you - school run to do - by the time I've dropped them at school I feel like it's about lunchtime - school mornings are very stressful! Home to tidy up the aftermath....

clstow can't believe you had to wake a sleeping baby - hope that continues for you - how did you manage that?! How is the bf? He must be lovely and content to have had such a good sleep.

fanby - DD is usually the 'naughty' DC but she seems to have really taken to the baby and is enjoying the praise of being so good with her

Tried DD in a baby sling yesterday to see if I could get some housework done but she didn't like it - screamed and screamed - will keep trying - gorgeous as she is I really can't sit cuddling her all day

I hope it goes well with the bf counsellor today dozy.
We've got into a bit of a routine now of sticking to the same side for each feed, but having a break in the middle for a nappy change. Ds is a bit of a snoozy / lazy feeder and this wakes him up a bit and hopefully helps him get the hind milk. My boobs definitely feel better this way than swapping each time. I'm trying to keep him upright and burp him lots too because he's still quite windy.

Hi fatty. Another "wow" from me at delivering such a big baby. 2 under 2 sounds like hard work. Go easy on yourself.

That's great weight gain nolonger. And nice to hear that things do get easier as the weeks go by.
I desperately need to trim my fringe. I will make a mess of it if I do it myself. The hairdressers is only around the corner, but I'm scared to make an appointment in case ds needs feeding and I can't go.

Glad you had a good day yesterday fanby. We're having a pj day today, but have to move in a bit to go and register ds. we're all still in bed at the moment
Mr frolic can indeed be very wise at times. Ds is doing plenty of wet and dirty nappies. And plenty of projectile wee's and poo's every time we take his nappy off! It's just the bright green that's worrying me. Hopefully he is just sorting his system out. I can't wait for him to be weighed tomorrow so I can know if he's putting weight on.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who has to wake baby up for the occasional feel clstow. I only do it if he's gone over 3.5 hours and starting to stir, otherwise he wakes up in a frenzy and can be difficult to latch.

I hope you all have a good day.

Thank the lord for PJ day, we've had projectile poo and vom today-what a treat! Doorbell went and I opened it with my boob out, turns out it wasn't even for us, a package for next door! GREAT! Ordered £100 of 'breastfeeding' clothes from ASOS :S! Obviously won't be keeping most of them (ordered double sizes), just needed some retail therapy! Molly is currently asleep on me, gagging for a cuppa and biscuits – dare I move her?! :)

Clstow: wow! Envious that you had to wake your bubba up (although never wake a sleeping baby right? ;)). Haven't had to throw any clothes away YET, am soaking everything in a bucket of napisan pre wash...

Frolicacid-I think I feed similarly to you – the mid nappy change definitely helps! How was registering?!

I'm still very of your PJ day.
I just picked DS1 up from school with baby sick on my boobs! I don't think any one noticed and quite frankly I'm too tired to care.