November 2015 newborns and neurotics

[Ladypug]

Hi all,

I can't see a group for babies born in November so I'm starting one! My DD is 2 weeks old and we've had 2 weeks learning curve - breastfeeding, nappy changing, sleep deprivation and learning what cries mean, on top of poor DD struggling to go to the toilet and manic bouts of meltdown crying! How is everyone else getting on?

Yuk that sounds tough abbey. I would try to relax about centile lines and so on, and focus on whether the baby is healthy and feeding well. Dd was always at the bottom of the charts and I spent ages fretting over a 1 oz gain or loss but now she is a little pudding and I wish I had relaxed a bit more.

Why is the hv worried about your ds not walking? That's a perfectly average age to take first steps. I think dds were at15 months.

We're trying swaddling ds tonight, I will report back.

Two is hard work but at least you have a vague idea what to do with a baby so you don't have to spend so much time figuring things out. It is harder, but not twice as hard iyswim. Although it will probably get harder when dp goes back to work.

Tonight has been better so far, this is only my second feed and she's settling well Inbetween (bet she doesn't now after this one!) on average I'm getting one 'good' night in three! A good night by the way is 6 hours of broken albeit blissful sleep. Never thought I would become the girl who fantasised about sleep but I have! Hope everyone else is having a good nights sleep!

Hi everyone, my DS was born on 15th November, at bang on 37 weeks - he was supposed to be a December baby but he had his own ideas!

He was breech so I had an EMCS. He had some fluid on his lungs when he was first born, which he was working very hard to clear, so he was taken to NICU at a couple of hours old. He was on a CPAP for a few hours, plus a drip to keep his blood sugar up, and his breathing was fine by the evening. I still didn't get him back for two days though because they wanted him to feed for 24 hours after being taken off the drip. I ended up getting wheeled down to NICU every three hours to BF, in between my strict schedule of IV antibiotics back on the ward (I had a fever after the surgery). It was a tough few days and I got pretty tearful (I made a thread about it in the postnatal health forum) but we finally made it home on Wednesday evening.

He seems to be pretty good so far - he's got the hang of BF easily, although his 'demand feeding' is getting more demanding every day! His biggest issue is wind problems but we've been using Infacol for a few days which seems to be helping - he's bringing up the wind a lot more easily now rather than howling after every feed. He also doesn't like being put down at night (fine during the day, weirdly - he's been asleep in his moses basket for an hour now after his morning feed but could I get him in there last night? Could I hell!) and will only settle if he's sleeping on someone, which means DH and I are essentially sleeping in shifts. MW has assured us it's normal and won't last but it's still hard. I'm very lucky though that DH will be around full time until after new year - he left his job at the end of October and isn't going to be starting his new one until January. I'd be absolutely terrified if he was going back to work in a week while I'm still recovering from the c-section!

Welcome Serenity it sounds like you've had a tough time. One thing that saved my sanity with my eldest Velcro baby was a stretchy wrap, then I could have him sleeping on me and get some things done, like making a sandwich!

Snozzberry the health visitor is just rather over cautious. I'm not bringing DD to the next weigh in as it's the same week as the 6 week check and she's grown out of clothes so I know she's gaining. To cut a long story short the HV sent us to emergency appointments at the doctor twice and hospital once and every time they've said DD is fine.

Life with 2 under 2 is crazy but like others have said the newborn bit is easier, and a term baby is easier too. Although she's a different baby so I'm still learning what she likes and doesn't. DS hopefully will settle soon. He used to sleep all night until the baby arrived, so if he gets back to that soon things will be much easier on the nights.

Congratulations serenity. Sorry to hear you had a hard time. My first baby was in Scbu and it sounds like a similar experience. When you feel up to it, I would recommend a birth debriefing appointment (if they are offered in your area) as it really helped me to talk things through.

Ds has been in the moses basket once and screamed till I took him out again. He prefers to sleep on someone, but I have managed to feed him to sleep lying on the bed, so I can sleep next to him.

Lady six hours sleep sounds great right now!

Ds just weed on his own face

Morning all,
Serenity I'm sorry to hear you had a tough delivery, I've heard of this 'birth debriefing' that Snowberry mentioned - sounds like it would be beneficial for you, at least he's cracked the BF.

Snozzberry -hehe! you mean your DS weed and it arched upwards? Bet that woke him up!!
I gave my DS a lovely lavender evening bath tonight, DH helped, as DS was lay on my lap being dried he weed all over me. Couldn't have done it in the bath, eh sweetheart?

Can I join? DD is almost a week old. She is lovely but refuses to be put down and likes to feed all night. I'm managing ok but I'm sure it will catch up with me soon.

Hi tiredmummy, fully sympathising
My DS is week and half and does the same so friend gave me a couple of tips - warm baby's bedding (we're using a moses basket) with hot water bottle, take it out before putting baby in. And 2nd tip was to put used muslin cloth in with baby -make sure it's got your smell and milk on it (dry obviously).
I also then try and get him to burp after every feed and sometimes rock him a bit in my arms before putting him down.
Following these steps he'll go down straight away 80%of the time -rest of the time he just wants more boob!

Hi everyone congratulations to u all on ur bundles of joy! My DS is 11 days old today we seemed to have sort of settled into a routine of sleeping for 3 hours, feeding, winding & changing then back to sleeping. My LO seems to have gotten a sore throat sounds hoarse when he cries anyone else's? He's feeding well and going to toilet the only thing he had a bit of trouble with is a bit of trapped wind but not every time.. midwife is coming today so will see what she says

Hello everyone, place marking as I'm 40+8 so hopefully will be meeting the baby soon. Dh is due back to work on Monday which is a bit pants. Glad to see lots of new and old faces on the thread, the antenatal thread was so busy at first but sort of dwindled by the end.

Thanks everyone. I'll definitely look into birth debriefing when I'm back on my feet a bit more.

Snozzberry lol - DS has peed in his face twice! Didn't seem bothered either time, just a but surprised!

Welcome TiredMummy and HopeFull and congratulations to you both! Annatha good luck, I hope you get to meet your baby soon.

DS has got better at being put down. He's happy to do long feeds during the day and then sleep for three hours but at night it's more small feeds every half hour, so I've become nocturnal! DH had been brilliant, taking on burping and changing duties during the day so I can get some rest. DS is so lovely though, I'm enjoying these quiet moments where it's just the two of us.

Hi hope you're all enjoying your little bundles! Mine in 7 days old today and night times have been very difficult. She is feeding and sleeping really well during the day but constantly wants feeding during the night I've been up since 1 when she was last fed (formula). She cried for a while and we thought it may be wind/constipation. She didn't stop crying and I ended up giving her another bottle at 3. She still didn't settle. Constantly cryinf/winging. Still no poop. Had enough and gave another bottle at 5 which she drank quickly. I've been told to give her 70ml every 4 hrs but she's wantinf about 50ml every 2ish hrs. Could this be a growth spurt? Is that normal at around 7 days?

To all mummies with frequent night time feeds - mine is 2 weeks old tomorrow (where HAS that time gone?! Kind of glad though because I'm all healed so feel better and happier) and every night has been different in terms of feeding times and length. The one constant in the past week though has been that he'll have a large feed (am BF) around 9.30/10pm and then sleep until midnight. From then he'll feed, fuss, nappy change until about 2am and then this is where he's sleeping longer - this morning he woke around 5ish and carried on feeding until gone 6. DH got up for work and in the end I got up. I don't mind getting up early (5am) so long as I can grab a nap in the day. But then middle of the night feeds are hard when DS fusses and won't then re-settle.

wispywoo1 My DS fed more around day 5 but I am BF and my milk had come in then so midwife said this would be the reason. But I'd say a growth spurt it quite likely.

Hey all, nay I join too. DS born 9 days ago after a somewhat traumatic birth (hospital, forceps and episiotomy instead of planned home birth) but he's healthy so that's the main thing. You all seem to be coping better with the breastfeeding than me. I've given in and changed to bottles after 9 days of pure agony with latch problems and DS always being hungry. He's settling much better now he has a full tummy which is a relief. DH goes back to work in Monday which I'm dreading in some respects because he's been my godsend at 4 am when I need sleep and DS won't settle. But also looking forward to being mummy at home and going out and doing what I want with the little one.

Even made it out to a great baby group on Monday, which I felt very proud of since DS away only a week old!

Hi all, long sleepless colic-fuelled nights here! Going to first baby group tomorrow and v nervous that DD will have a melt down and I will have to leave (the crying is THAT bad). Finding it hard as so sleep deprived but hoping it gets easier at some point (although ppl generally say 12-16 weeks and I really don't think I can cope till that point!) not without copious amounts of alcohol anyway!!!

Ps welcome to all the newbies :-)

Hi Lady, has your midwife or doctor advised about the colic? I read interesting article a while back (sorry I don't have it to copy to you if I find it I will) that was basically saying colic-y babies was due to then being frustrated and over-stimulated and not wind. It advised taking them to a calm, neutral environment to calm down. Wonder if baby massage would work/help your DD?

Welcome HelenSim don't dread your DH's return, you'll be fine and he is still there at night, ok you may not want to disturb him but if it happens it happens! My DH went back after a week and is off again for a bit next week. I'm currently breastfeeding in bed now and DS is being SO noisy! Think he has a stuffy nose so makes breathing difficult. DH is tired but we're new parents, he's still getting more kip than me!

Hey Sophia :-) HV has said the usual - massage, cycle legs, colief, baths etc. Tried everything. Don't think it's over stimulation as we aren't doing anything - lots of skin to skin, cuddles and calming. She can't stand massage, goes up an octave! Just got to get through it, trust me there is nothing written about colic that can prepare you for it - it's like training for the SAS, designed to break you!

Ladypug sympathies on the colic. If none of the hvs ideas work then you could try swaddling and white noise, these are both supposed to soothe babies as they remind them of being in the womb, and they helped DD when she was small.

It sounds like we're all in the same boat with babies waking in the night. Ds is 7 days old now and is waking for feeds frequently. However we have just cracked the art of feeding lying down, and he is now sleeping in our bed so I don't need to fully wake up to feed him, so I don't feel too bad for it. So far he only wakes for feeds and goes to sleep again afterwards (although not if we try to put him in his Moses basket, which is why we are cosleeping). Dp is getting a full nights sleep most nights and in return is getting up with DD so I can have a lie in too. Fingers crossed this will last!

Good luck annatha!

Hello all,
Dd2 is three weeks today, it's gone so quickly but also feels like she's been here forever.
Our nights are all over the place! Sometimes she'll sleep up to 4.5 hours between feeds and happily go back in her bed afterwards, other nights it's an 'all you can eat boob buffet' and she won't be put down!
Dd1 has got bronchitis too which means she's up and down half the night and is very clingy! All fun and games!
Loving all the cuddles though and the weird old lady faces she pulls!

Ds arrived this morning weighing 9lb 12. He's a gorgeous snuggly chunk.

Congratulations annatha enjoy those snuggles!

Congratulations annatha, 9lb 12 oz

Aww congratulations annatha!! That is a nice and healthy weight! Hope you and baby are well.

Haha, Brioche you made me laugh about the old lady faces -we often say our DS pulls grumpy old man faces!

I've had a tough eve (resulting in a massive headache) -DS fed constantly from 4pm to 7.30pm, wide awake and not settling. It's almost frantic feeding too -boobs feel bigger. Is this a growth spurt? He eventually fell fast asleep for 4hrs! Is feeding again now and I'm exhausted!