February 2016 - our babies are here!

[IslaMann]

New group for those graduating the ante-natal thread

Hi handbag. Ds is 10w3 and 13lb when we weighed him at baby massage today (hv runs the class and brings her scales). He is following his curve pretty steadily.

We switched to size 3 avent Teats last week (which say from 3 months on packet). He was sucking the previous size so hard he made the teat go flat and restricted the flow. Dont worry about the age guide on packets too much and go with your instinct. You can always buy bigger size to try and if he isn't ready, keep them in cupboard.

I know what you mean about nappies. I've got another 2/3 weeks supply of size 2 and hoping he doesn't go through his next growth spurt til they're finished! Wishful thinking though as he has picked back up to 6 bottles a day from 5 for past few days so think spurt is imminent!

Thanks Clara. We have a mixture of bottles but I don't think he can collapse the test on a Dr Brown bottle, and the Tommee Tippee ones collapse all the time, always have done. It's a bug bear of mine! I guess I'll iust get some medium flows and give them a go!

Very jealous of 5/6 bottles a day though! We're on 7/8 depending on nighttime. Means if we're going out somewhere I need to take at least one bottle of expressed milk with me in case we get delayed/ stuck in traffic etc. Sure it'll change as he gets bigger and starts to drink more in one go...

Thanks Northern I'll ask the HV tomorrow... How do you know when it's time to change nappy size?

DD is around 10lb at 13 weeks... I'm currently loving the Gro Bags for sleep, I've ordered the thinner one too, DD loves having her legs free to kick around and just a long sleeve vest for bed. Her hands do miss the sleep suit glove food over things though!

I think we are about to head into 3-6 clothes - looking forward to all the cute new things in that size - although have hardly used the clothes in 0-3 as its SO much easier in a babygro!!

Better day today with DD and she went down a treat, DM sent me to bed at 3pm and back again at 9pm - I'm typically wide awake and unable to sleep now ahhhh!!

I'm finding that accepting my families help makes things loads easier and dare I say it fun! My cousin is an amazing mummy and is in love with my DD - so we are off to their house Saturday for a bouncy castle BBQ - looking forward to that and having some fun social time along with DD. It's been a blur of sleep deprevation, taking care of DD, hitting a brick wall and falling into bed as soon as I get an offer of a few hours off, scrambling around to keep the house clean, fridge full, moderately good diet, work emails (own business so not strict with mat leave).

Does that sound like how it is for anyone else? Just kind of "managing" - when do things change or settle into a routine?

RE years, we use Dr Brown wide neck bottles and I changed DD tears to size 2 at 3 weeks old as she's a guzzler and the slow flow meant she was swallowing lots of wind, it really helped.

Also, does anyone else use gripe water? I used it a bit last week and DD did almost double the number of poo's - just not sure it was that or she was a bit off generally - she seems to have 30 mins of being really grumpy, looking like she has stomach pain and crying when she passes a poo which is usually early evening, does that seem normal?

Xx

newmamatobe - On nappies, if you're getting leaks or the tabs aren't able to be pulled to overlap (or st least touch) then it's time to go up. There's also a weight guide on the packet but that's dependent on the baby. There's overlap on the weights on the sizes so you might find you skip one altogether.

Can't believe how tiny your baby is! Mine's becoming a bit of a chunk despite being relatively light for his length.

On routine, I have started to feel like things are more under control but it helps that he eats and sleeps well and is happy most of the time. A little routine is starting to form, led by him,but I don't want to tempt fate. Honestly as long as they're happy and you get through the day I think you're doing pretty well. This baby thing is really hard!

It is hard!! Omg she is SOOO cute today, she has a blocked nose and is coughing, and just lying on my chest... My heart strings are being pulled massively - such a cute poorly bear..

We are a long way off the sides not touching for the nappies so I'm sure we'll get through the 5 packs I bought.

I've managed a quick wash/dress, tidy round, wash on and dishwasher emptied - if that's the summary of today and being a mummy that shall have to do!

Praise for nasal saline drops :-)

DS just rolled over on his play mat! I'm sure he is too little for this!

Clumsy that's FAB - clever little one ;-))))

My and DD off to GP, HV thinks a blocked tear duct and sore throat, best to get checked out :(

Oh no mamma hope the go can sort you out and dd feels better soon

*gp

Wow clumsy! Well done little one! How many weeks is he? Dd1 was rolling all over the place at 3 months but dd2 is nowhere near.

Wow! Go clumsybaby
Hope your little one gets better quickly mama

All fine here but tired again. Bad night with the toddler a couple of days ago has really floored me... but I did make it to zumba today followed by picnic then friend over for coffee so it's been a bit nonstop. And probaby not helped by a grumpy baby. Not sure what's up with him, probably just getting overtired with lack of naps but we've had lots of sick today as well. I suspect it's wind and fussy feeding but not much fun!

Dh has gone off on a cycling trip today until Tuesday. Really hope the kids are on good form... wish me luck in surviving solo. I have no idea how single patents do it, they have my full admiration!

Ds here keeps rolling onto back when we try tummy time as he wriggles about so much. Doesn't roll from back to tummy yet though. Not even sure the rolling he's doing is intended! Daftie....

Thanks everyone, we seem to be learning lots of new things this week. He stole the teaspoon out of my hand when I was eating a yoghurt with him on my lap, it's a good job he is so adorable no one messes with my food! troika he is 14 weeks old.

Good luck cud! Not that you will need it I am sure.

DD randomly rolled onto her side at about 8 weeks and has since shown little inclination to do anything similar again

Enjoyed my first night out last night in 18 months, just food in pub and drinks but was marvellous. But dear God my engorged boobs, the pain, the leaking! And a shelf collapsed in a kitchen cupboard taking various wine glasses with it.

Good luck cud, I don't know how single parents do it either, especially with more than one and/or when they're tiny.

How did it go mama?

Breaking our silence again!

Hope everyone had a good weekend. We had a bba at the in laws yesterday and sitting in the garden with DS I realised it was the first time he's been outside! Not in his pram or in his car seat, just in my arms. How sweet is that?

Bbq not bba! What is wrong with my phone???

Love it handbag I spent most of yesterday trying to cool the house down, it was still 27 degrees at 2am this morning!

Handbag. Dd wore a dress for the first time yesterday and it was lovely seeing her kicking about on a picnic blanket outside with her legs out.

Feeling fed up. Just had her weighed and she's dropped a centile. I don't know why breastfeeding isn't being so successful this time, my other two piled the weight on.

troika how many weeks is she and what does she weigh? My DD lost a lot at the beginning (11%)

Liberty she is nearly 11 weeks. She lost 15% in the beginning as milk didn't come in. She weighs 9lb 13 now, has gained weight but not enough, has now dropped from just under 25th centile line to below the 9th.
If I hadn't already successfully fed two babies I think I would have given up by now.

On the plus side the Hv has agreed to refer for possible posterior tongue tie which is good as 2 midwives and the gp dismissed my concerns.

troika are you exclusively breastfeeding? I had to top up my DD, got to about 9oz Max of formula top up (I'm a rubbish pumper!) and then at 11 weeks she started to refuse it, she's now on on bottle a day, 3-4oz and tbh only has that because I'd like her to continue taking a bottle! DD was born at 10 pounds 2 and when last weighed at 12 weeks was 12pounds 2 - so on 50th centile! So not actually put that much on but I think she was water logged at birth (that's a whole other thread) - just telling you this in case you're scared topping up will lead to stopping breastfeeding.

Yes exclusively breastfeeding (I pump as well so she has a bottle of expressed milk most days -4oz normally)

She had a few formula top ups in the beginning to get her gaining weight and I was then topping up with expressed milk after each feed. Haven't done this since she was 2 weeks old though.

Thing is I really don't think it's a supply issue as she is pretty content and goes decent amounts of times between feeds. I think she's possibly not that bothered about food but also both dp and I were small skinny children and neither of us gain weight easily it's unlikely she'd be big.

I just hate how I now feel like I'm failing due to a stupid line in a book

troika I'd say just try and ignore the red book then! Have you heard the phrase look at the baby not the weight/line? Ie if she's hitting milestones, wet/dirty nappies, content etc it's not so important!

I got myself into such a state when she started on the top ups and then again when she refused them...but then I realised, she's fine, she's not going to starve herself! If she's gaining, she's gaining. All babies are different and the red book/hv's don't always seem to get this! My DD looks like she's going to be tall and slim, even now everyone always says she looks small and is surprised by how much she weighs! Think it's cos her head is neat too, but she's literally average so she must be ok!

troika ignore the line, every baby is unique and special and does not need to conform to a line in a red book. You are not failing!

what liberty and clumsy said!

Here's a wee pic of DS enjoying bathtime, sort of!