August 2016 - early arrivals to the newborn cuddles & graveyard feeding shifts

[rumisyum]

So many August bus babies have arrived already! Anyone else fancy a chat during night feeds or wondering what to make of the contents of tiny nappies? Might as well get comfortable...

Hi everyone!

Just catching up with all the posts and marking my place. Congratulations on all the new babies and YY to the long, sleepless nights.

DS is 6 days old today. Overall it's going well. He feeds fine (despite a tongue tie - MW says if it doesn't cause issues they won't treat it), sleeps ok in his sleepyhead and in the car seat in the day time (only 1-2 hours at the time as I know they shouldn't!) and is generally very chilled. I have no idea if I've been really lucky or if he's still too young and things are yet to hit us.

My recovery has not been fantastic - got checked yesterday and apparently everything is healing fine, but I'm very sore and tight - possibly the stitches healing, not sure. Also have a very bad case of hemorroids - waiting for the GP to call back with a prescription for me. Still it's only day 6 and a 2nd degree tear probably just needs time.

DH at work 3 days this week - so today it's just me, DS and the dog who's desperate to do stuff but I'm not sure if I have the energy. DH has been amazing, doing the lion share of nappy changes, housework, holding the baby to give me an hour sleep here and there. I feel very lucky to have him.

I hope you all had enough sleep last night to carry you through the day!

Hi stranded! Sorry you're still in pain, hope things settle soon. My DD is really chilled too, but she was a little early and jaundiced so I'm not going to assume it will last! Just making the most of things.

What sort of dog do you have? We've got two labs, but DH is taking the young one to work at the moment as he was a bit stressed by baby at first. He seems much more relaxed now so will start having him at home too. It's going to be chaotic when I've got both children and both dogs on my own!

Bella re the Facebook group, it's a secret group so not sure, you can always private message me your name on here and what your profile pic is and I'll add you?
Also re early babes and wonkyness, mine was 2 weeks early, but was so convinced as my first she'd be late I was totally unprepared. Like you, half the decorating done (was even painting the night before I went into labour) and it's still only half done... But all hope of routine, order, and frankly even being able to be dressed and not just walking about the house with my boobs out, got up and left when this little lady rocked up!

Thanks Fizz, I've been let in!

I was painting the night before, too. DH built a cabin bed for DS. It needs another coat but he's sleeping in it now so no idea how I'll manage it!

Hi all, not posted in a while as I stopped receiving notifications for this thread for some reason so I thought you'd all gone quiet! On my phone so difficult to scroll through but congrats to anyone who I haven't already congratulated on the other thread / Facebook and unmumsnetty hugs to anyone who's struggling with sleep / pain at the moment.

So far we're mostly doing okay with sleep - DS2 a far better sleeper than DS1 so far, which I'm grateful for as we still struggle with DS1 some nights. He quite often cluster feeds until about 12/1am and then wakes up for an hour or two of feeding around 4/5 then goes back to sleep for another couple of hours. Which is fine apart from the nights DS1 decides to wake up and shout for 2-3 hours as soon as DS2 has gone back down!! Anyone else's toddler going through a shouty phase?

We're also doing our first full day of flying solo today. I've just whatsapped my OH saying I'll be amazed if I make it through the day without crying. I think I'm mostly doing okay, it's just DS1's shouting cuts right through me sometimes. In a way, it's better since DS2 was born as he'll magically calm down if I go over and give him a cuddle..although that's not always possible if for example, I'm on the sofa feeding the baby, in the shower or on the loo (all of which have already happened this morning!)

Think I'm going to try and get DS2 into the sling and get us all our for a walk. I tried the sling for the first time yesterday with OH's help, but not sure I'm flexible enough to do it on my own..wish me luck!

Omg. The man across the road just asked my husband if I'm breast or bottle feeding

That's quite a personal question Fizzy!

Does anyone have any experience of mastitis? One of my boobs aches and feels tender to touch, regardless of whether it's full of milk or not. When DD feeds from that side it hurts, but the engorged feeling if I avoid that side is even worse. I feel achy all over, but that might just be tiredness and the nursery germs that are doing the rounds at the moment... I've taken some paracetamol for now.

Biscuits I had mastitis 3 times with DS and I'm afraid that sounds a lot like it. Sometimes you can see a red wedge shape on the affected breast but not always. GP first thing for you I think. In the meantime keep feeding, it's the best way to clear it. Hot compress, or face down in the bath (well, chest down!). Savoy cabbage leaves in the bra are also supposed to help. for you.

what to do with No, I haven't done more walking but yesterday I did a lot of sitting on a hard chair with friends visiting so I think that is what sets it off when I don't lie down or put my feet up. I had also stopped taking paracetamol so I've started to take it again today (my fault).

Thanks ladies for reminding me that paracetamol is still necessary. I don't know why I had it in my head that I needed to self wean when I'm clearly not ready. I guess I'm just very impatient!

Great news fizzy everything sounds v positive at your end and what a healthy weight! Well done on finding the Lasinotch latch thing. I've never heard of it but it sounds good! Urghhhhhhh the guilt a MIL can manage to pass on without even speaking with them. I feel guilty for keeping mine at arms length at the moment...it still bugs me that she never said congrats or acknowledged DD arrival with a card etc. I know I'm definitely feeling hormonal but her questions are just too annoying for words to deal with right now! So, good for you for protecting your LO in a cold free bubble!

Bella I too feel like I've had a month stolen from me lol I keep thinking it's September and it's so annoying that we didn't get to finish the nursery and still so much hasn't been washed etc. I'm sure we will both catch up soon but I know how you feel! I am taking one day at a time now and that helps a lot. Family keep asking me if they can help but I am now saying I can only handle one day at a time but thank you very much for offering!

Biscuits I am in awe of your ability to leave the house once let alone twice in one day!! How did DD react to the cinema? Awww just read about mastitis. Have you tried pumping to fully drain it?

Quick question about FB. If I join the group does that mean you're friends with every person in the group?

Oh god pear! Your MIL sounds awful! And I thought mine was the pits! As for the FB group, no, you're not friends with anyone in the group, they can't see your timeline, you can't see theirs, you can all only see what you post on the group page.

Biscuits yes! A bit blummin personal! He needs to know why?! The worst bit is, my DH fecking told him!

biscuits I had mastitis a few weeks back and sounds like you have it. Keep feeding/pumping as much as possible. Heat and massage are helpful and if you're expressing try leaning forward to let gravity assist you. Rest up and take paracetamol/ibuprofen if you can. Hope it clears up soon!

Fizzy ha ha! She's not the worst by any means she's just really really not into children which makes it tricky and very unhelpful. She's very naive and clueless and has no understanding on what's OK to ask me and what's not. It appears to an outsider that she is really enjoying being a grandmother but she's very like "children must be seen and not heard" approach and when it comes to interacting with them she's useless... I wonder how DH ever survived!

Bella we have a cockapoo. He's very needy and has a bit of only child syndrome, but he's been amazing around the baby. He runs to the room if he hears him cry, he's very patient all around and has actually stopped the constant moaning he used to do when we were pottering in the house. It's like he knows he needs to wait for things to happen on the baby's schedule. I hope your young dog gets used to the baby soon!

Humph. I was hoping that you would all say 'no, that's nothing like mastitis'. Will see how I feel and how the breast in question is in the morning. I'd always expected mastitis to feel more like a worsened version of blocked ducts. This feels v bruised & tender.

Pear it was easier than it sounds. We went out once DD was sleepy & well fed. She slept in her pram while DS and I walked. It was at a country park, we drove there. DD fed in the car between that and cinema - and we were with friends there. DS is reliably good at the cinema. DD slept or fed all the way through.

Ahhhh I love cockapoos! Pup dog has been good, although he did steal some naan bread from DS tonight. He goes on his bed on his lead when we eat to prevent such shenanigans, however DS decided to muck around and waved it under the pup's nose...

The unhelpful MILs sound really trying, huge sympathy! Mine was an absolute star, we're missing her very much at the moment (she died suddenly in June). She was fab when DS was newborn.

I managed bedtime with both of them on my own!

Oh, sorry Biscuits! No, that's nothing like mastitis.

biscuits unfortunately I agree, the achy all over bit sounds exactly like how I felt when I had mastitis. Antibiotics cleared mine up quickly though.

Pear likewise I wonder how my DH made it out in one piece! She was only just 15 years old when she had him, and she's just pretty odd.. I hadn't actually seen her for about 3 years before I got pregnant I found her such hard work, don't think I'm gonna be able to pull that one now sadly

Ok for some reason I find dressing dd for bed really stressful. How many layers/ what blankets if any? Don't know why but I get to this time and feel overwhelmed. What are you all doing?

Vest + sleepsuit + cotton blanket or swaddle thingy here (still deciding which one he prefers). The blanket gets tucked under the Sleepyhead and I leave his arms out. He seems to keep to a nice temperature - not sweaty, warm hands and chest - so I'm sticking to this!

Sorry I've been a bit MIA but our internet went down so I ha dot entertain myself for the day without Netflix!

biscuits sorry to hear about the mastitis- have you tried dangle feeding?

pear and bella I also had s reasonably quick labour of 3 and a bit hours so I tend to agree that maybe all the fluid isn't out yet. Although your HV sounds a bit potty about weaning bella

fizzy glad to hear your DD is doing so well despite her issues. It must be a bit stressful toing and froing to London. I think you are doing the right thing re colds - I've made all visitors wash their hands anyway!

I feel about the same as DD was a week early and we were still decorating about half an hour before I went in for the scan and then was offered induction. Still jot finished! It will have to wait.

I got my tongue tie referral today - not until September! Going to phone and see if I can't be seen sooner.

sloth DD seems to be s wam baby so we have vest/sleep suit and then one cotton blanket only.

I'm thinking about joining the fb group if we can't see each other's timelines - just that I'm a teacher so try to keep my page secure as possible. Nothing against you lovely ladies!

Hope we all get some sleep tonight - my Velcro baby is perma attached to the boob!

Did I update you earlier? I can't remember. So, I marched into the doctors as I said I would and pretty much demanded Gaviscon. Eventually got my Gaviscon for DD. She's just had dose no4 but we haven't seen a difference yet. I can't remember how quickly it took to kick in with DS started. Maybe it was a few days! Anyway, I managed to express 2oz. My milk supply has dropped but that could be because A) I am probably eating less calories thanks to this stupid dairy free diet and B) today I made her eat every 2hrs in hope that she will have enough milk by tonight to have a better night!!

Oh so I mention the whole Dairy free diet to the doctor and ask to see a dietician. The Dr feels like it's a myth and that I don't need to go dairy free Great. How helpful! So I'm completely on my own with the dairy free diet quest and on top of it my mum is texting me to say how worried she is that I've gone dairy free...of all the things to worry about! She should be worried that I'm not getting sleep!!!! At the moment I only plan to go dairy free for a couple of weeks and then re introduce it and see if it makes any difference. I don't know how that will work with the medicine. I feel like I'm moving forward.

Biscuits is your achey feeling in your upper back? Just that I had a real achey feeling in my upper back for a few days that seems to have gone now. It was accompanied with heavy boob pain like my boobs were not draining (thanks to DD not feeding enough). Since I've been feeding every 2hrs and pumping once in the eve alongside paracetamol, I've noticed a difference. It's worth you making a doctors appointment ASAP just so you know for sure!

Alfie absolutely shocking that you have to wait but I'm not surprised. I was told I would have to wait 6 weeks with DS so we found a clinic that did it privately and ended up paying for DS to have it done. TG we didn't have to pay this time. In my experience I am finding that if I am really assertive and tell everyone very firmly that I have not had any sleep at night in 2 weeks then midwifes/Drs seem a bit scared of me and almost want to get rid of me If I was you I would speak up and say something has to be done sooner as you can't survive on zero sleep! What have you got to loose!

Oh and just to make you smile... After pumping 2oz I went downstairs to hand over milk to DH. I caught him staring at my chest. I said, what are you looking at? He replied, your boobs look smaller. Thank you so much for pointing that out DH!!! Now I feel so much better

I left s message with my HV saying I wasn't happy waiting that long and in going to call the clinic and the infant feeding team tomorrow as well, hopefully they will help.

I'm really struggling st night. DD just will not be put down at all, even cosleeping isn't working and I'm not that keen on it anyway. Right now she's asleep on my chest but in too scared to go to sleep and if I try to move her onto the bed she will cry. Any suggestions? Or is this just the way it will be?