July 2016

[primarynoodle]

Hopefully this works...

So we can keep in touch and pass on words of wisdom!

Perhaps someone clever could link to the stats?

sock that picture is brilliant, what a sweet, slightly bemused, little face. Not a dirty protest then?

Goodness beaut you have so much to deal with, please be fair to yourself. Monty-Beau needs a happy mummy so you have to do what is right for you. Bf is hard work and I get so cross at the pressure that is on ladies to carry on at all costs, it's not right. Sending all the things

Hi fifi, Luca is a handsome chap and sounds like a very typical 2-3 week old baby. I only noticed more activity and more looking interested at 4 weeks. Good to hear that you're home and hope the two of you are finally enjoying some 1-1 time.

Today has been one of two milestone moments: Huey stayed awake for a massive six hours and apart from a few short burst of grouchiness, was happy to just look at stuff - we went to a friends' birthday thing at 4pm and he didn't fall asleep when passed around to be cuddled! Slightly freaked out about it, so used to having a very sleepy baby.
Then... DH took him home at 6.30 and... (drum roll please)... I stayed out, without a husband, not pregnant or looking after a baby until 8pm!!! Couldn't work out if I was happy or guilty. Now on sofa with sleeping baby, biscuits and DH has gone back out to get drunk, normal life has resumed, was it all a dream?!

Thanks Becks it's amazing to be home (although some of the nurses would be handy sometimes!)

Ruby thanks for reassurance. Can't wait to start seeing him develop (although he has now learnt how to grab my hair... ) well done you on having some me time!

Tams - we went to a sling library the other day to try out some carriers. They recommended a stretchy wrap as Luca's so small so we're using a brand called Kari me. Although I only realised when I got home it is identical to one I bought off amazon called funki flamingo (someone else on here is using it too). But the library had lots of the types you've mentioned to try out, I paid £10 for a month loan.

Socktastic - interested in what you said about collapsing teats, I've been noticing this recently on some of my tommee tippees when giving expressed milk. What does it mean?!

Cheery - I feel for you with baby feeding all through baby massage! We're starting in a few weeks and I'm worried that will be us. Did you still pick up the techniques etc?

Beautician - don't beat yourself up about giving up BFIng, you've done brilliantly. If you're still undecided, have you thought about trying BF in a sling?

Cookies I spotted one of your older posts about nipple shields in thread. How long did you BF with them? I use them with Luca as he was tube fed until about 3/4 weeks so couldn't establish direct feeding until then. He won't take breast without them now and I feel like I should try and wean him off them but don't really know why?! Speak no words - also spotted your post about latch assist, hadn't heard of that before so have added to my Amazon basket thank you!

Ladies who have a Sleepyhead - is it really worth it??? I have been looking at the babymoov which seems to be the same thing? Unsure whether to invest

Hi all, I'm hoping there's room for me and baby Elliott join? He's 3 weeks now and my first DC. Currently breast/formula/expressing feeds as my milk supply never established due to me being unwell after a difficult birth. Tams I think you are also frustrated with low supply? I'm only getting 20mls per session and thinking of stopping the expressing as it doesn't seem worth it for such small volume but I'm desperate to give E as much breast milk as I can.

On a positive note I dug out my non maternity jeans for the first time today and I'm chuffed they fit well. Just gotta get used to undoing the zip and button again when going to the loo!

Thank you for all the supportive messages with regards to bottle feeding. I'm feeling a little better about it now. I think I just put too much pressure on myself.

Tams sorry breast feeding didn't work out for you. My other three were all formula fed. Try not to beat yourself up about it.

Cookies DH is recovering fine from the snip. He is very bruised and just takes painkillers of it gets too much. His hernia op recovery is bothering him more.
I think you often have different let downs with boobs. My right boob is leaking like mad now that I'm trying to let it dry up and it was the one that always sprayed everywhere. My left one is hardly leaking at all.
Yes I sold the Bugaboo on. I got the same price as I paid for it which was good. We took the Phil & Teds out yesterday and although it's a bit of a beast it was so much easier. Teddy even had a sleep in it. So it was definitely needed.

Anna agreed men definitely struggle more. DH has been OK with Monty-Beau but obviously can't do much anyway due to his double op recovery. He does struggle with the older boys sometimes due to lack of patience.

Fifi Luca is adorable. I can't believe he's still so tiny. At 2 weeks corrected his routine is perfectly normal. Babies are a little boring until they get older. Make the most of it as you can do so much with them now. When they reach the walking toddler stage it's
more difficult to get things done.

I love our sleepyhead. We are taking it when we go away next week rather than a bulky Moses basket. We have to raise it at the head end though as he can't lie flat.

Ruby thank you and yay for a few hours to yourself. We went on a date night last night and spent most of it yawning at each other

Sunday congratulations and welcome.

Diet still going well here but we will see how well on Wednesday. It's so hard not to reach for the cake but I'm determined to get fit as quick as possible. I'm sick of being a fatty.

fifi I'm not 100% certain as to the reason for the collapse but I think it's because he's sucking so hard and just not getting the milk out at the rate he's sucking at if that makes sense? We tried the next teat up on one of his avent bottles yesterday and it seemed to be fine - although he was then finished his feed much quicker! Still to try it out with the tommee tippee bottles as they're the ones that collapse most often. What a wee cutie Luca is!

What's a sleepy head?

Sunday welcome!

Ruby Great job in having some time to yourself - bet that feels amazing. I've felt guilty too when the wee one isn't strapped to my side but learning not to be.

We tried the side sleeper last night so dh and I could actually sleep in the same bed. He went back to wanting 2 night feeds rather than 1 and grunting all the way through the night. Probably because he'd had his bath earlier in the day and then expelled a lot of his milk over me before bed and refusing to take more. Ended up telling dh just to go down to the spare room - no point both of us being useless! Whoever coined the phrase 'sleeping like a baby' needs a slap round the head.

This is a sleepyhead Ruby

It's good as they are cosy in it as obviously the sides are higher. The foot end opens up to make it last a little longer.

Sorry I meant sock

They are £100 from John Lewis or you can get them for £50-£70 on eBay. They hold their resale value so you wouldn't lose too much.

Sleepyheads are amazing! Dd1 loved her and Grace seems to be too! They are expensive but worth it to get some sleep!!!
I was lucky enough to be given one but I would def pay for one if needed.

cookies supply can reduce if you don't use one side but expressing that side usually keeps the supply going fairly happily.

fifi Luca is looking great! Dd is basically just sleeping, crying and weeing at the moment but she has started to stare around at things (usually the plain white sides of the inside of her pram and Moses basket). She is more alert than she was and happily awake for a bit longer but doesn't really do anything other than look around or look at me/dh. The sling library sounds fab - where was it? I found an NCT one that non members can go to but it isn't until September. Hope you're getting on ok with your wrap.

Sorry I didn't mean to make it sound like I'm anti-formula. I'm not at all and planned to introduce formula after 4-6 weeks for a feed or two anyway. I'm just pleased that dd is feeding now and seems to be growing. We haven't been weighed for a few weeks though. I'm just frustrated that I only managed to bf for three days before my nipples were so shredded that midwives told me to stop and wait for them to heal. Expressing seemed to go well when mixed with formula for about a week and a half but then my supply dropped. I was happy that she was still getting 100ml of ebm over the day (three separate pumping sessions and feeds). I just don't understand why my boobs decided to completely pack in randomly when I was still expressing. That's what frustrates me - I don't understand and the choice was taken away. That said, dd seemed to prefer the formula to my milk and is happy and fed so I'm happy with that. Give it a week or two and I won't mind at all about my on-strike boobs!

fifi hi! I thought about you lots towards the end of pregnancy, I'm really glad you came back! Luca is soo cute, he looks like his preemie photos that you posted all those weeks ago (but bigger obvs). He must seem huge to you now compared to then but he still looks so tiny! What a cutie, hope you are doing well.

indians I do the same thing for her 5am feed - gets me another couple of hours in bed! I sleep Annie on her back all night but I prop her on her side when she's side lying feeding and we doze like that, gets her right back off to sleep.

Well we just tried Annie with her first bottle and although she didn't spit it out like the dummy she wasn't taking it any tips? We gave it at room temperature, should I try heating it a bit? Was dh that fed her and I wasn't in the room either so not sure what to do now!

Also just manual pumped for the first time - good god my arm aches now!

sock so funny!! At least it was good for something!

Welcome back fifi Luca looks so sweet. So diddy next to my monster! His routine sounds totally normal ! I used shields on and off for a few weeks in the early days when my nipples were in shreds post tongue tie. If you have no problems I don't think there's anything wrong, I just found it a faff personally. If you're happy then I would carry on! I did find I had to try a little harder after with latch but we got there! And we haven't used them since. I do struggle as I don't think my nips are very 'prominent'!

beaut great news on selling the bugaboo. I agree the P& T is heavy and bulky but saves my arse with a tantruming over tired 3 year old! Hope your boobs aren't too sore. You should definitely be proud of how long you managed to BF for during a challenging and demanding time. I'm persevering with the 'bad boob' and seem to be making teeny progress.. But it's progress! Well done on the healthy eating front! Let us know how you get on on Weds. I lost 2lb last week which I'm really pleased with. I went to my first proper class today I went to body pump and feel great for it. Unfortunately I then had a few 'Sunday treats'

Welcome Sunday and baby Elliot!!

tams I've been expressing and offering it loads and I think we are making teeny progress . Some things just aren't meant to be and I would really try to be kind to yourself about the whole thing. DD will grow and thrive no matter how she's fed. Far too much pressure and a lot we put on ourselves. We are silly humans

indians I've been wondering the same about less full feeling boobs but I think it's part of supple settling down etc?good luck at your 6 week check. Ours is Weds. From what I remember it was really quick and just asked about contraception, I think they do some checks and weigh baby?! I always get a visitor to mummy's bed post 3am feed. And often kind of on his side too. Are you managing to feed lying down comfortably? If you are do you have any tips? Or was it primary ?

primary I would say warmer than room temp! Boob milk is warmer than that.. And my BF babies as a result have been very fussy about the temperature (my formula fed baby would take it cold out the fridge!!) try popping the bottle into a bowl of hot water? I did do the first few bottle feeds before DH did? I've no idea if it made any difference?

fifi Lucas looks gorgeous and that sounds about right for that age. Grace doesn't do much really but I do try give her s kick around on the playmat for a bit each day. I need to get do tummy time but she's always feeding!!

primary we had issues with dd1 and bottle. In the end i left her with mum for the day and she took when she was hungry enough. Not ideal but it worked!

indians I've been sleeping with Grace as she only settled cuddling me. I'm of the opinion that everyone needs sleep and as long as you do it safely it's fine! Midwives told me off in hospital for doing it but she just cried every time we put her down. In the end they let me get on with it. Millions of women do it everyday!

I've managed to go out walking for an hour yesterday and today with the girls. Feeling so unfit though. Going to try get out for an hour each day to get fitness levels up a bit. Going to start watching my carb/sugar intake tomorrow too!

Is anyone else have probs with a clingy baby? Grace will only really sleep on me and wakes up after five mins is her basket. I know she's only really little but with a toddler I can't have her on me all the time. Going to give a sling a try but any other advice?

Just checking in as DH has some time off and we're trying to make the most of it -will catch up properly in the week!

Hey fifi! Lovely to hear you're doing so well x

anna - if you're BF (sorry if you're not, I've lost track a bit) try putting the vest you're nursing in under Grace in her cot. The smell is soothing - works a treat with Mo! Also warming cot mattress with hot bottle works too. There's an article on here about settling babies - really helpful x

Thanks cookies. I'm starting to agree that there's now too much pressure on new mums to bf. I feel like I will be judged by strangers when I'm out and bottle feeding. A lady in the hospital cafe started chatting to me last week and had heard me mention that my sister is excited about having a neice and had been talking about coming to help. The woman made a comment about it saying that other people can't really help because they won't be able to feed the baby. There's just this assumption that everybody can and will bf. Dd is happy with a bottle and seems to be putting on weight nicely now (we'll see how much after the hv tomorrow).

anna even if you aren't bf, you could try putting one of your tops in the Moses basket with Grace. If she'll only sleep on you she'll be aware that the basket doesn't smell right when she's there. They say to put ticking clocks wrapped in a blanket in a basket with a puppy or kitten to mimic a heartbeat but clearly that isn't a good idea with a baby. She's so used to your heartbeat though that it might take time to adjust to sleeping or resting without it.

anna the other thing a midwife told me was to wrap dd in a blanket when we rocked her to sleep or just have one under her if it was warm. Then put the baby down in the basket with the blanket. That way, they're put down on something warm rather than having the shock of being in warm arms and then being left on a cold mattress. That's just a low tech version of cheery's hot water bottle idea though.

I was having problems with clingyness last week and in the end my mum suggested I put her in her sleepyhead and let her have a sniffle for five mins without picking her up straight away.. It worked! Took five mins for her to settle and ever since I've been able to put her in her sleepyhead or bouncer. I think I was being too quick to pick her up the minute she stirred and she got used to it. She also sleeps with my smelly cardi over the sleepyhead.

primary Annie might take a bottle better if you try feeding her. I read it can help when switching between breast and bottle because mum smells of milk. Also could try a different brand of bottle, E seems to have taken against one of our bottles but gets on well with tommee tippee best which are marketed as being very breast-like in shape.

Tams I definitely feel the same worries about bottle feeding in public although I haven't actually done it yet. I think part of the way I feel is because I haven't yet come to terms with the fact I can't breast feed. I have a supportive health visitor tho and it helps to see him putting the weight back on. Hope your DD does well at her weigh in too x

Hi Anna, I agree with trying the hot water bottle idea and also making things smell familiar - we did about a week of warming up the Moses basket and also putting the sheets up our tops and it seemed to work. I also make sure H is in it sometimes when he's awake and happy, so that it's not a strange place when he does wake up.

primary we've only used the Medela Calma teat, but for the same marketing reasons! Talking to friends beforehand, I think it is just a case of finding the one and the way that works for your baby. Expensive hobby, these small people!!

Also getting weighed today, it's been two weeks, so really interested to see where he's up to.

How are people finding out about baby groups? Am feeling like I'm ready to try a couple (and really need some weekday company now), but not sure where to look - did a quick internet search but that only came up with term time groups, or is that mainly the case everywhere, do I need to wait until after the hols? And when does term time start?

Ruby baby groups here are term time only too :( annoying when baby arrived right at start of the holidays! Only a few weeks to go. But if you have a mothercare nearby they have groups in their "mumspace" areas that should still be on. I'm looking to go next week.

What nappies are everyone using? Sick of poo escaping down little legs!

Hi sock, were using Aldi nappies. Ben was 11lb 5oz and I was using size 2's. Not had any leaks of wee or poo. 2 weeks later, not sure of his weight but we're moving up to size 3's now. I used Aldi nappies with DD who was a great sleeper sometimes 12-14 hours overnight. Never had a leak with her either.