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!

Registration was lovely fanby. I may have shed a tear on the way out. We walked there and stopped for a coffee and cake on the way back. My scar feels a bit sore now, so maybe it was a bit too far. But, I really enjoyed getting out of the house so it was worth it. Ds seems to love the pram and has slept every time we've gone out so far. Long may it continue because I'm feeling really conscious of the sheer size of my norks and I'm not ready to feed In public yet. I'm laughing at you opening the door with your boob out. It won't be long before I do something similar I'm sure.

All my clothes are covered in sick fatty. I've given up on changing when he barfs because I know it will happen again as soon as I put something clean on.

I think I'm experiencing my first cluster feed this afternoon. He has barely stopped feeding for the past 3 hours. He's not distressed at all, so I'm taking it as a good sign. We've also had some yellow poo today - yay!

Yey for the yellow poo and registering his birth frolic. Welcome to the cluster feeding. My boobs are humongous too so not looking forward to attempting bf in public.

Fanby glad you had a good day at your friends yesterday. Heehee at the poonami. Guess we'll have more of those tales to come in the years to come. Glad you're having a pj day. They are defo needed sometimes.

With this being dd1 I cannot imagine doing all this with school runs etc to deal with as well. I can barely get up and ready for the day before 12. My mum's been great and been coming round in the morning to do some general tidying and watch baby while I have a shower. I don't mind leaving her to have a shower if she was happy and settled but she was in a grump this morning and I had to go out to bf lady so I was very grateful for her help.

I'm desperate for new clothes. I need lots of tops that I can wear with jeans so I can pull them up if bf in public. Got a maxi dress on today that has quite stretchy bits over the boobs so I'm able to pull it down to feed but it'll be getting colder soon enough so it'll be no good then.

Also could do with a hair cut but not sure when the best time is to sort that. Even if it's just my fringe that's sorted.

Well the plan from the bf lady is to try and increasey supply. I explained that while dp was on paternity I hadn't always been able to feed as much as I wanted to because we were going out a lot while he was off. So now he's back to work she wants me to concentrate on increasing my milk. So plan is to feed every 2-3 hours, 20 minutes on both side, then express for 15 means on both side. I can then use the previous exprested milk to top her up with after the breastfeeding. It's going to be a lot of work but I'm spending hours on end attempting to feed her anyway so it's not much difference. She watched me latch her on without the shields as I'd forgotten to take them and although sometimes she gets a good latch she doesn't always manage it so she recommended continuing with the shields for now. She's coming back tomorrow to watch her feed with the shields. After a rubbish night, she's actually done ok the rest of the day. I did skin to skin with her again today to help increase it. I only get about 1-2oz when I express after feeding so it's not much but if I keep doing it, it might increase. She said it takes about 72 hours to establish the right amount of demand for milk so I just need to stick at this as best I can.

I must admit that already doing it in 3 hourly intervals is going to be hard because it takes time to get her latched on, changing her nappy mid way through and sorting out expressing etc so it doesn't give me much time in between but I'll try my best. She might actually just be sorting herself out anyway as I've been bf more lately so I might not need to do all that.

Great that you have a plan Dozy, sounds like hard work but will be worth it I'm sure.

Congrats on registration Frolic, it's a lovely feeling when you get the certificate and have an "official" baby.

Bet the postman didn't know where to look Fanby I'm jealous of your asos order, might do the same, I'm back in one of my five breastfeeding appropriate t shirts today, nothing glam about being a new mum.

Soo it looks like waking the baby to eat has paid off (love I do it by changing his nappy, he hates it and is happy to eat after) - he's finally over his birth weight and we've been discharged by the midwives. Hurrah! So happy I'm no even complaining about this evening's cluster feed!

Yay for yellow poo Frolic!! :D Isn't it amazing the things that now make us happy! :D Hope the scar feels better this everning. It sounds like you had a lovely day registering. I'm hoping DH will be able to go into work late on the day we have ours so we can do it altogether :)

Oh Dozy well done you! Sounds like a really good plan! I feed Molly every 2-3hours (maybe go a bit longer during the day) and i'd say my feed time is about 20mins, it's time consuming but doable! I do have absolutely no idea how long it takes to express though?! Fingers crossed it works for you, I think you're doing incredibly well so far and really being patient with the the perseverance!

Yay for being signed off Clstow!! Amazing news! Can I ask what the next step is for you? We got signed off last Friday, and the health visitor said we don't have to go to clinic for weigh in until middle of september – seems really long to wait? Is that normal?

We had visitors over tonight (bought the best gifts - nappies and wipes!!), lovely to see more friends after having a break last week. Molly did some more projectile com though, it seemed quite thick, hope she's not turning into a sicky baby? :( x

Do not, and I repeat, do not attempt to walk around a city centre for an afternoon 4 weeks after an emcs. I can barely hobble now, must sleep!
Will do proper updating-thingies tomorrow but just wanted to give you all a weary 'howdy'!

Hi everyone! Busy thread today but fab to hear all the updates.

We've had a poonami here this afternoon too...it came out front and back right up to his armpits!! I actually didn't rinse it until after DH got home as it was worth sharing .

Loving the idea of an ASOS order too. I accidentally wore a dress and leggings the other day and then realised I couldn't possibly feed in it. Definitely need some outfits that feel comfy, look nice and hide my tummy. I also think maternity bras are incredibly unflattering.

Good luck Dozy. It sounds like a tough plan but one that will help.

Fanby, I hope Molly is ok and not too sicky tonight.

Frolic, yay to being official! It is such a lovely feeling.

Clstow, congratulations on being signed off. Hope the cluster feed is over now though.

Fatty, wow that is quite a weight. Well done you!

Fingers crossed for decent nights all round!

My DCs dad is amazing. He's been round my house (we live apart) working his arse off clearing 4 and a half tonnes of crap from my garden, then digging it over and levelling it ready for turfing tomorrow, (been at it all week) then came into the house after finishing before, sent me to bed, tidied the house ready for hv coming tomorrow to weigh Nathan, and left me there for 3 whole hours of absolute heaven!

Ooh Mzzzf it took me so long to write my post I missed your update. Hope you feel better tomorrow and get some rest tonight x

Cluster fed till 11 and is now back up and feeding. Zzzzz...

Argh sorry half post again. Crap phone.

Fanby - I think mid-September sounds about right. I was told to bring DS to a baby clinic to be weighed once a fortnight so two weeks from now (scarily) is mid-Sep. They said I can more frequently if I'd like to though, or if I have any questions/issues. It's drop-ins from now though, rather than appointments which is just so much easier. How's the puke situation now?

Hope you're getting some sleep MzzzF, sounds like a tiring day.

Your OH sounds lovely Fatty - would he like to come and clean my house?!

Sounds like the bf lady was really helpful dozy. Great that you have a plan in place. I really admire your dedication and the effort you are putting in to make this work.

Yay to being discharged clstow.

I hope Molly hasn't been sick again fanby. We've had one projectile vomit. Unfortunately it headed straight for frolicdog who is now scared to even look at ds. I suppose I should be glad she didn't eat it.

Ouch mzzf. I hope you're feeling better tonight? I'm only a week in, but even a little trundle to the registrars office today hurt like hell. A whole afternoon would have killed me. Pj day and lots of rest for you tomorrow.

Can you send your dp here when he's finished at yours fatty? I have plenty of jobs to keep him busy!

Ds has slowed down on the cluster feeding thankfully. We gave him his first bath tonight. Not a proper dunk as he still has his cord. He really didn't like it and did the loudest screaming protest. He then slept for 3 hours.
Does anyone else's baby have dry skin? And of so, what are you putting on it? Ds has developed a bit of dryness today. I was thinking olive oil would be best, but wandered if any of you have any good tips.

Morning!
mzzzf take it easy tomorrow/today
dozy I hope you're not too tired, that's a lot of effort, well done you for persevering.
frolic I was told to use olive oil by the mw

Hi all, DS just slept for 4 5 hours. I feel like a new woman!

Fanby, your DP sounds great. Send him my way once he's finished at Frolic's!

Frolic, mine had really dry skin and hv said veg oil. I just used baby oil though and did some baby massage after the bath. Skin is now beautiful although he is still prone to spits on his face. Mini teenager!

He's also starting to lose his hair. It literally rubbed off at the front after his bath earlier and now he is bald to halfway up his head. He looks like he has a huge forehead like Ant from Ant and Dec!

Spots not spits of course! The spits are usually down me not on his face

I didn't manage to get up to express in the night. Just couldn't bring myself to do it after I'd settled dd in her moses basket. But I can do it in the day time so I'm sure it'll be ok. Have still had to top up with formula on occasions but hoping I can wean that off her as time goes on.

There's new research out there that olive oil is actually damaging for the skin despite the many years that it has been used and it is best to use sunflower oil. I've been using coconut oil on dd skin, it's become quite dry too. When I'm feeding her I can't help but sit and pick bits off her! It's therapeutic haha. Not having regular baths but just bathing in water when I do give her one. I bathed her when she had her cord as I didn't know you weren't supposed to but it still dropped off at 5 days and didn't go manky.

I bathed all of mine with the cord on. As long as you dry them properly it should be fine, none if mine have had a manky cord.
Baby fatty weighs 12lb 12 now. He will be 5 weeks tomorrow, time flies!

Thanks for all the advice about oil. I've put a tiny bit of baby oil on him as we had some in. Will get some almond oil if it looks like that irritates him. His skin is already better.

The midwife has just weighed him and he's up over his birth weight now. Not bad for day 8. I'm going to try to stop obsessesing about the colour of his poo now. It's ridiculous how emotional I feel to know that he's getting what he needs from me. Someone pass me the tissues?

Have a good day everyone

Morning

dozy. I am on DC6 and have never been told not to bath a baby when cord still attached?! - my little one gets bathed morning and night and In-between if she does an explosive poo!!

nolonger - 4.5 hrs - amazing

frolic. I use baby lotion as I find oils stain all their clothes - use it to give DD a massage after her many baths

clstow congrats on being signed off - it's like you've passed an exam - great achievement !

It was my 5 year olds Soft Start at school this morning - parents go in and do activities with them for first half hour - had baby DD and toddler with me - baby in pram but toddler on the loose - trying to do activities with 5 year old, keep eye on toddler and stop the whole class touching baby and wanting to pick her up - stressful

It was just on the facebook group everyone seemed to be saying that now the cord had dropped off the were gonna bath their little ones and I was like oh I've already bathed her a few times with the cord on. I don't have the time yet to bath her often with all the excessive feeding and expressing we're doing but hopefully once that is all sorted then we can get into more of a routine.

Mzzf Hope you're having a rest day. Sounds sore doing so much!

Wow lots to catch up on. I do love this thread.

Nolonger 4.5 hours! High five for that. DS is not sleeping great at night still but my mum is here at the moment and is great at settling DS (much better than me and DH) so getting chance to have an afternoon nap. Really helping.

Frolic we use sunflower oil on DS. Helps loads with his skin (although he was no fan of it)

Dozy we waited 12 long days for DS cord to fall off before bathing him. Since then literally everyone I know has said they didn't wait. Should we ever have DC 2 I wouldn't bother waiting again.

Clstow congrats on the weight and being signed off. We were signed off earlier this week too. Hurray.

Fatty congrats on your massive baby. DS was 9 lbs 8 but came out via the sunroof. Every health visitor or midwife we see always goes 'he's a big baby'. But too me he just looks like my tiny newborn.

We've had a couple of better days with the breast feeding. The cluster feeding has eased and he seems to feed better when he does fed. He also has had more yellow poos and less green (although am also trying to obsess about this less).

Hope everyone gets a good nights rest!

Oh and mzzzf hope you are feeling better. I think it is really easy to over do it with the c section. I keep thinking am totally fine now but if walk too much get sore again.

That sounds like a busy morning loves! I hope your little one enjoyed it at school.

dozy, I also thought you couldn't bathe babies until the cord had come off. That's what they told me at the hospital. My midwife said today that it's fine. Ds' cord then promptly fell off.
All the conflicting advice is so confusing

Yay to yellow poo's kbro! We've had lots more today. not that I'm obsessed or anything

I hope everyone has had a good day. We have a bit of a fractious ds this evening. A combination of being over tired and cluster feeding I think. It's a bit of a shock to the system as we've got quite used to having a very quiet and chilled baby. Fingers crossed he's tired himself out and will have a good sleep now.

I love this thread too Kbro, it's the first thing I Iook at during night feeds Glad you're having a better time with the BF.

Another vote for sunflower oil here Frolic, DS had lots of dry skin as he was very overdue and it worked a treat. Also, great work on being back over birth weight already, it's fantastic that you've cracked the BF so quickly, well done you.

Sounds like a v busy morning love, hope your DC settles in ok.

Hope you're feeling less sore MzzzF.

I had a crap night last night and therefore a lazy day today. I left OH with a bottle and the baby and went to bed at 11 but DS has had me back up since 1:30. Hoping he'll stay down for a bit after this feed though... Fingers crossed! Sending you all sleepy vibes as well.

Ow ow ow. I've spent the last two hours walking up and down the landing to settle baby fatty. My back wrecks!

Yawn!! What we'd do for some proper sleep eh?! Bad night here too. Must have jinxed it after my comment yesterday! DS us still struggling with wind and can't get comfy after that first wake up. I let him settle on me from 4.30 onwards bit now have a massive crick in my neck and couldn't sleep myself in case I dropped him!

Kbro so pleased the feeding seems to be getting better.

Clstow I hope you managed to get your baby to sleep for a decent stretch.

Ow Fatty that doesn sound like much fun. Hope you have a bit of a break today.

My DH was meant to get up with the DCs but instead has gone back to sleep and the toddler is in our bed watching Cbeebies while I try to ease the baby's wind and catch up on this thread. Grr....