January 2016 - Hello babies!

[Nousername2015]

Thread to share our experiences and also have a chat to someone also dealing with lively babies at 3am!

Maybe and sleep is imprtant when they have those. We've had a settled day today but no two are the same.

My bab is little older than all yours so I'm trying to be led a bit more by her own sleep patterns now. Don't know If I'm doing right or not though with regard to feeding. X

I get fed up with clock watching and try to just follow the baby's lead for sleeping and eating. It seems unlikely that you should ever have to wake a baby to feed unless there are unusual circumstances but then maybe I'm doing it wrong as ds2 isne gaining as much as I'd like (though hope that will improve with tongue tie snip).

cheese surely it's the tongue tie holding your LO back on weightgain.

No two days are the same are they! After sleepless 48hours I got the midwife out yesterday (day 8) gave me confidence more than anything that I was doing the right thing, and advice on how to improve a few things. Anyone struggling please ask for help. (I'm well aware one better night/day means nothing in the grand scheme, but makes a world of difference in a sleep deprived world!)

What did they tell you.

I agree one good night helps

Weight has gone up, she's 7% down on birth weight now rather than 11% so progress! Midwife was super unhelpful about cracked nipple - didn't suggest anything to help - am waiting for nipple shields to arrive from mil who is out shopping and hoping they help - anyone used them? Xxx

Liberty, I used nipple sheilds, they were handy.
I'm feeling sorry for myself. Was feeling better a few days ago but have been readmitted back into hospital with mastitis! Its hurts so much. I'm switching to formula. I can understand why people use formula now, I was judgey before this happened, and I'm ashamed about that, but really its sooo hard for some people to breastfeed (like me clearly..) Just glad stitches have cleared up. Back in hospital like returning tona really shit holiday. At least readmitted patients get private rooms.

I Wish you all health and happiness and cuddles with your babies! (I can't cuddle mine, boobs too sore!) You can laugh or cry, I'll try and laugh..

rpj don't feel like that it's not your fault - you can only do what's best for you and your baby at that particular moment!! Nipple shield seems to be working well for me ATM - hoping to avoid getting any sort of infection in the weepy sore wounds - any tips??

Do you mean stitchwise? Just rinse with a jug of water when/after you pee. Oh child birth... They don't tell you everything horrible that comes with it do they! I've got a thing in my arm!!! Eeeeew.

Rpj my best mate beat herself up about not being able to breastfeed, but it is so tough!! No one ever tells you... Don't feel bad- breastfeeding can suck!! And formula is great. There is simply no difference.. (Imagine a line up when the kids are all 10.. Could you tell..? No.)

Look after yourself..

Rpj I meant on cracked nipples but thanks :)

Have you tried lansinoh before and after every feed. It worked for me when I was in pain. Slap it on

firsttimemum yeah I've tried that but thanks xx

rpj this is not your fault, you've done the absolute best that you can do for you and your baby and you sound like a great mum. I hope the mastitis clears up soon so you can come home from hospital.

I think I'm a bit delayed in getting messages.

Don't beat yourself up you've done everything you can to get this far. You've done the best for your baby and it's important that they are fed and happy. You've made the best decision you could.

Keep smiling and enjoying her and keep going. Hold your head high know you made the choices. X

Thank you so much for the support, he's had 2 weeks of my milk (actually more as I had done frozen!) And he put on 1lb 1oz since birth - he's 2 weeks and one day now.

I've had to be firm in hospital about breastfeeding as they try to encourage it. But they understand now.

Been advised not to touch my breasts or simulate them in any way, just got to wait it out for them to dry up. Cocodamol and ibuprofen is getting me through.

One of my friends said that that lanisoh cream is the best - I know you keep hearing it - but really smear it on very thick, all over. This is what she did.

I used sheilds to help with the latch rather than cracked nipples. X

Major breakthrough last night.. DS2 slept for 4 hours straight.. And I did too! (Miraculous as I'm chronic insomniac).. I'm sure tonight will be a 'mare, but today I feel human!
Can't believe I'm celebrating such a tiny amount of sleep..!! But I'll take what I'm given at the moment!

Yay feels amazing. We're the same x

Can I ask what your babies wear at night? Ds2 sleeps for ages during the day after the school run and it just occurred to me that maybe it's because he is warmer than at night. He wears a long sleeve vest a sleepsuit and a grobag but it's not that warm in our bedroom at night (18 degrees) and I wonder if he could do with an extra layer but am a little paranoid about overheating.

Short sleeve vest. Sleep suit. Swaddle blanket (v thin) small sheet and cellular blanket my heating is quite high coz I warm blanket on radiator and don't know how to turn radiator on without upping thermostat.

Sometimes I don't use the Swaddle blanket.

X

cheese that sounds fine to me. We've been using a grosnug with ds although he has outgrown it now and the guide that came with it said for a room that is 18-20 degrees to dress in either a long sleeve vest or a sleepsuit. The grosnug is 2.5 tog.

If we are using the swaddle blanket we dress him in a short sleeve best and sleepsuit, or long sleeve vest and pj bottoms and then the swaddle blanket. No extra blankets on top.

Which gro snug do you use is it a sleeping bag type? I was looking at those but was unsure. Mine is jusy a blanket to make swaddling easier. I stopped using it completing and was just using sheet and blanket but someone said she may sleep better if I used it. Worried she may also be too warm now. HV said don't swaddle. Nct said swaddle. Midwives seemed fine with swaddle. Although I don't do a traditional am swaddle. I don't put arms in or do it tightly.

X

The grosnug is the one by grobag, expensive for what it is but has given me peace of mind about temperature. Is only suitable up to 12lb though so you may be better with a sleeping bag. We also use a swaddle blanket if not using grosnug, I wouldn't swaddle in a normal blanket because of temperature but the specific swaddle ones are thinner.

We had to arm swaddle last night too as ds kept waking himself up with his flailing arms. I've read not to use extra blankets if swaddling as they are warmer through the swaddle.

In mother care they have sleepingbags with extra bits at top tobswaddle baby. They are quite expensive, but I wish we had one. Also there's those star baby wrapsbthat looks lovely. Ours wears a sleepsuit and a couple of blankets really tucked tight around his middle. House is quite warm. Sleeping amazing last two nights - think he's at home here in hospital!

Terrible sleep here - as in none!! She just wants to feed all night, seems to have terrible wind from about 10pm and become really unsettled - any ideas? Xxx