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...

Oh Alfie that's super hard. When DS was like that, I used to find a way of propping myself up with lots of pillows so that I wouldn't slump over in either direction, and also make sure I was nearer the middle of the bed. DS would be asleep on my chest and I could doze. Granted it wasn't the same quality of sleep but it was better than nothing. It is hard though. Def make a fuss to get an earlier TT appt.

Dangle feeding sounds complicated! The pain in my breast has subsided a bit (I took paracetamol and ibuprofen a few hrs ago which may have helped). Will see how I am in the morning but maybe I have dodged the bullet this time??? Fingers crossed anyway!

Oh, and Pear that's a frustrating doctor appt. I wish there was consistency of advice re mother's diet impacting on a baby. It's perfectly doable to be dairy free and still eat well. There are surprising things that are still okay: I think jaffa cakes and hobnobs? Def ginger nuts. Oh, and After Eights!

Thanks Biscuits, I couldn't find plain hob nobs in the shop yesterday. It's not easy as chocolate is on the no no list and fatty foods!

I basically have had to give up onions, garlic, broccoli and all gassy veg, tomatoes, dairy, chocolate, peppers, spicey food and fish and chips...the list goes on!!

Alfie - Snap So, have you tried a dummy? The first NUK dummies are just so helpful to us in the night. I have been doing the pillow prop thing tonight that Biscuits talks of. Also, I've been letting DD sleep on her side in the position she was in my womb. I did try her on her front but she woke up after 20 mins. Ds only ever slept on his front...have you considered trying?

Thanks for the sleeping advice, that's what I've been doing (vest, sleep suit, cotton blanket in sleepyhead) so feel less anxious now. I knew I'd get anxious about something as a first time mum
How can I join the fb group?
I hope the gaviscon works for you pear and that last night was a better night. Hope the restrictive diet makes a difference.
Alfie I really feel for you, dd is really clingy in the evening/rub up to bed time and I find that really difficult to deal with, let alone if it was all night. Nothing I can suggest but hope you're ok.

Ahhhh I am so jeolous of you right now Sloth and well everyone else who gets to sleep in the night

Just been milk projected on twice. Perfect end to a long night I was just drifting off too! Why is this happening?!! Is this because of the stupid Gaviscon!! DS is about to wake up any minute.

Pear I also had a disbelieving GP, we were referred to a nutritionist purely because I spoke to our health visitor, who rang the GP and shouted at him. Is your HV any good?

How's the boob, Biscuits? Always err on the side of caution with mastitis, it can get nasty very quickly. Any doubt go straight to your GP .

DD slept for 5 hours last night! We're supposed to feed every 3 hours due to jaundice but she looks much less yellow now and actually seemed to feed a lot better for having had a decent sleep. She usually dozes off as she feeds if I wake her. Really tempted to follow her cues but don't want the jaundice getting worse again...

Boob is a hundred times better today. Bruised feeling has gone :) I wonder if having DD grazing on it at the cinema yesterday helped whatever it was pass. I feel better in myself, just left with a slightly washed out feeling - like when you've been unwell and are just starting to feel better. But fret not, if it returns, I will do something about it pronto!

Will take it easy today. DS is at nursery (with a zillion changes of clothes!) and DD and I are still in bed. We might make it to the shops for nappies but essentially it doesn't matter too much if we spend the entire day watching Netflix today.

Epic pukes at night always seem worse Pear. I have had one with DD so far (it pooled in my bra) but DS was a champion at full return-to-sender pukes. I stank for months I suspect. If the Gaviscon doesn't help soon then go back to GP. I think ranitadine is the next stage of reflux treatment. We found that better than Gaviscon (and easier to administer). He was put on omeprazol eventually due to no weight gain over a prolonged time but ranitadine made for an easier life before that.

Biscuits that does sound it was mastitis coming, feeding is the best thing for it so hopefully that's why you're feeling better. It doesn't always need anti biotics to clear.

Pear did you manage to get anymore sleep? I've gone dairy free before to bf and I think it takes 3 weeks for it all to be out of your system properly so after that you could see an effect. I had to stop in the end as it made me miserable, I'm vegetarian with a limited diet as it is.

Freya has been going 2-3 hours, settling ok, and feeding really well. She is such a content little girl. So hot here today! She's a week old today but doesn't feel it as we only came home a few days ago. I'm feeling amazing, no need for pain killers most of the time now and I can get around so much better than I expected after this section. I've just actually painted my toe nails too

My issue now is low iron. I only lost 300mls blood but I was already low so after that my levels are 7.9. I'm doubling up on spatone and eating foods with iron but I do feel quite dizzy at times and a bit breathless. Mostly ok though and hoping it brings my iron up quickly.

Bella wow 5 hours! That's a great sleep. Get plenty of natural light, that will also help with jaundice.

Alfie that does sound difficult. I've always co slept with mine, so I do think you need to do what works for you. You can most definitely do it safely.

Forgot to add Freya is 6lb 8 now, so she lost around 6%. She was weighed yesterday and midwife happy so not coming back until Friday.

cheese I'm sure you know this but I remember hearing that vitamin c really helps with iron absorption so maybe chase your spatone with some orange juice too.

So tired. DS has decided that today is the day to feed all day and only nap for 20 mins max. Coupled with an overnight feedathon interspersed with poos which woke him up 10 mins after falling asleep, requiring further feed and repeat, I am broken...

cheese you should be on iron tablets with iron that low, mine went to 7 and they were discussing the possibility of transfusions. Maybe chase up with the Dr? And yes to vitamin C.

lots I hear uiu! Broken lady over here. Have you tried a wrap? Keeps them close but gives you a break from feeding.

Whattodo I have the apple spatone which comes with vitamin c.

Lots we've had the opposite here today. The heat has knocked her out and she slept all day waking to feed, had a few short waking times and that's it.

Alfie I've had iron infusions during pregnancy when my levels went to 7.4 but I refused the tablets as the body doesn't absorb them as well. Spatone is better as it's better tolerated.

It's 30 degrees here and I'm so irritable with it. Least the kids have been in and out the garden playing today, so they've had some fun.

Also, I'm a wuss and struggle to swallow tablets. Those iron ones are huge! Between that and the side effects I just didn't want to

Glad you are feeling better biscuits, the feeding has obviously helped to drain it.

You should all move to Scotland. Definitely not 30 degrees here! Still an ongoing feedathon. I tried a wrap the other day Alfie but I was too hot and worried that DS was too. He genuinely seems to be hungry rather than just wanting held - is a nearly 3 week growth spurt a thing!?

cheese yeah the tablets are not great, I'm managing to tolerate two a day but have to eat a shed load of fruit too!

lots I think they go growth spurt st 3weeks. We have been stuck cluster feeding about 7pm - I'm hoping this means she won't be up until 2am tonight.

Morning! I've got the health visitor coming later and I've got a lot of questions for her!! Last night was a blur but I think I got 2x 1hr stints of sleep somewhere in the night with DD sleeping on her side in the baby bay. She now has gunky eye so I've been wiping her eye with good old miracle working breast milk. It is better buy it hasn't completely cleared yet. Now interestingly DH didn't give DD a bottle last night so I just wonder whether that helped her sleep better because maybe the way he's feeding her gives her a lot of wind or it could be the bottle!! Or maybe he's not winding her enough. Or maybe I just want to blame him

Biscuits great news about your boobs returning to normal!

Cheese that's interesting that you say it may take 3 weeks for dairy to leave your body. I've only read that it takes 2. Thanks, I'll keep it in mind. However, I too am miserable on this dairy free diet so I don't know how much longer I can keep this up!

Tongue tie appointment moved up! Getting seen tomorrow - hope this sorts us out.

Fingers crossed for you alfie

Glad they've brought it forward Alfie, hope it is helpful.

Bracing myself for the night shift - could really do with increasing my average nightly hours of sleep for the week please, wee guy!

Woohoo Alfie great news!

I'm not ready for the night shift to begin

Happy news...DD has put on 8oz so now weighs 5lb 11

That's great pear well done!

Thanks Lots.

I had such a lovely positive day today. DH had the day off so we took it in turns to spend quality time with DS and it was just LOVELY. Our routine went out the window but it was so just really good to feel a bit more lighter about everything. Plus DD was awake for about 10 minutes in the day so I managed to film her a bit on my phone.

The HV recommended Dr Brown bottles. Has anyone else got them? I'm hoping DH can find one to buy on his travels tomorrow. I think he will be near a Boots but it's not a big one.