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...

Alfie how have you got on today now the tongue tie is sorted? Please don't feel guilty, it needed to be snipped and I've been told that it doesn't actually hurt them at all (maybe momentarily, but that's it - like the day 5 heel prick, they mostly cry cos they don't like people messing with them!)
pear you are actually superwoman. My cookery motto is basically 'if in doubt, put cheese on it'. Am in awe of you. It is doable though - my friend's little boy was severely intolerant/allergic to dairy and soya (really not helpful as most of the dairy-free stuff is made with soya instead!) she gave up soooo much stuff but bf successfully and is still going - he's 2 now and has actually mostly grown out of the allergy and can eat anything now! Sorry if you know this, but she found fb groups invaluable - do a Facebook search for cmpa, there are lots of resources, recipe groups, etc.
Oh and re babies sleeping - DS absolutely, categorically will not fall asleep on his own. Sometimes he'll go off in the car seat, but he usually has to have a good shout about it first so that we all know he's not happy about it. He fights sleep til he's exhausted and cranky, but the sling is my secret weapon - I stick him in that, jiggle about a bit and he's asleep in seconds! Once he's properly asleep I can usually put him down, but if he's awake he wants to be held or carried.
Glad everyone's surviving the sleep deprivation so far! DS has been amazing so far (DD was a horrifically bad sleeper so I feel a deserve a good one this time!) but it all went a bit Pete Tong last night - awake since 4 and then up for the day at 6 - normally none of us surface til half 8 at the earliest. Hoping for a better night tonight, DH has DD in with him so at least I won't have her kicking me round the bed all night like a cosleeping octopus.

Also, am I the only one with a fat baby?! All your little ones are so dinky! DS was 7lb13oz born, hasn't been properly weighed since day 13 or so but I hopped on my home scales with him last night and at 5 weeks he's 11+lbs! Feel like I've bred a beast! He is very long tbf but he looks bloody enormous - has already totally lost that wrinkly newborn look and gaining rolls by the day. He's changing so fast and it's lovely, but bittersweet. Still wishing I could slow time down - my tiny days-old newborn squish feels so long ago already!

coco I have been doing ok since it was shipped. We've switched to rugby ball old for the left st the moment as she's struggling to sort out her latch. Right hand side is amazing feels so much better. She's also sleeping for longer! By still only on me. She did sleep in her cot for s half hour today after being in the sling so she was in a deep sleep. My DD is a whopper also! She was 9lb6 when born so goodness knows what she is now! Apparently I make big babies.

pear well done for preserving with the dairy free! Did you try almond milk?

hg well done on the weight gain.

Hi to our new graduates!

I also have a chunk!! DS2 was 9lb 4oz born on Wed! Weigh day tomorrow. My milk isn't in yet but he is trying hard to get it there.

So different to my last one, 6lb 6oz and just so tiny! Kinda sad I have missed the absolute tiny stage but this boy decided to keep us hanging on for 2 weeks and I decided to grow a huge one for some reason! He is much easier to feed though, latch seems better although my toes are curling for the first 20 seconds or so!

Strange, 4am ish seems to be my worst hour with DD in pain. So tricky when I've been feeding since 2:45 Now beginning to feel irritable and tired. Still DH has tomorrow afternoon off so I just need to focus on that!!

Alfie no I haven't tried Almond milk yet but I will.

Four what a great idea to look on FB for non dairy groups. Thank you

Good to head that we have a mix of chunks and petites DD last weight in at 5lb 10!but I suspect she is close to the 6lb mark now as I've noticed she doesn't look so small in the "up to 7lb" sleepsuits.

I was given another gorgeous gift from a friend yesterday but it's quite large. I've googled the outfit and she got it in the sale. Shall I return it? I feel so bad for returning all these items. Here's the outfit... The leggins would probably be fine in the winter but they're quite thin. You don't get thick leggins though do you. I'm still getting my head around how you dress a girl! http://m.houseoffraser.co.uk/Polarn+O.+Pyret+Baby+Girls+Striped+Playsuit/233304639,default,pd.html

I should add that its size 1 month but given that my baby is small I can't see this getting any wear before October or am I forgetting how quickly they grow or could she wear this in October?

pear maybe have a quick look in the red book growth charts to see where she is predicted to be to help you make decisions on what to return?

Our chunk has put on over 2lb since birth 3 weeks ago...

My DS is also not titchy coco! He was 8 lb 9 at birth, he had returned to birth weight at 14 days - not sure what he is now. He is also 91st centile for length. He doesn't have any rolls of chub though, long and lanky like his dad I think! We are using 0-3 month clothes for length.

What kind of sling are people using? A friend lent me a wrap, but I was far too hot in all that material. I also have been lent an ergo sling, but I'm finding the newborn insert a bit of a faff.

lots in using a stretchy hana wrap. I am finding that I have to strip her down to a vest though as she gets so warm!
Nice to hear we have a mixture of teeny toots and chubby babies!

We've returned or swapped stuff more ruthlessly this time. If returning, then we make sure the credit is still spent on DD. Some people have included gift receipts - clearly for this purpose. We have also had actual duplicates so one of those went back. I do feel a bit bad but hate the idea of wasting clothes and am confident that the gifters would want their presents to get a reasonable amount of use.

Pear I would be a bit surprised if you got wear out of that outfit, but it also depends on weather and where in the country you are.

Clothes sizing is bonkers anyway. No shop is the same. DD is still in newborn/1month stuff and size 1 nappies. I reckon a lot of her weight is in her head though - like DS she is a bit lollipop-ish at the moment.

Biscuits yes you're right. I should try and return it. I don't have the gift receipt so I don't actually even know if this is possible. Worth a shot I think.

I can't use my Babybjorn sling yet because DD is too small. I have a caboo dx but never understood how to use it with DS. I should try and get it out this weekend and try again. I was planning to visit the sling library.

So, tomorrow Ds is out with DH so I've booked to go to the hairdressers. I am taking DD with me. Can't decide if this is bonkers or not. The apt is in the afternoon so technically she should sleep and eat. She likes hairdryers so it should be Ok right?

I have done a bit of exchanging gifts. Mainly things in 0-3 months as we have so much that nothing would get enough use, so I have changed them for 6-9 or 9-12 and we should have enough things for the whole year! We also got a couple of duplicates, so I have changed them too. I do feel guilty though, even when they included the gift receipt, and even knowing that I would want someone to change it if I was the gifter!

pear not bonkers re hairdresser! Like you say, theoretically it should be easy as she'll just sleep. Tbh would rather take a newborn than a toddler who'll run around finding sharp things. What are you having done?? Postpartum hair loss has started over here, it's coming out in clumps every time I wash my hair. Vaguely toying with the idea of having the lot chopped but not sure I'm brave enough!
Re dairy free, oat milk is another alternative to cow's milk which might be worth a try. Some unexpected stuff is dairy free - think Bakewell tarts is one, although don't quote me! And possibly Bourbon biscuits as well.

Glad I'm not the only one with a chunky chunk! Lots of fatties around
Dots we're using a wrap - it is absolutely sweltering at the moment but DS adores it and settles brilliantly in it, so still worth it for me. I figure it'll be nice when the weather gets cooler! Once he's big enough I'll switch to my connecta - used it from about 6mo with DD and it was bloody brilliant, she still went in it occasionally til she was coming up to 2! It's gone round 3 of my friends since then and still going strong.

Another terrible night here, feel like I've not actually slept at all. DS has lulled me into a false sense of security to make me love him I think, and is now revealing his true, non-sleeping colours. He's lucky he's so cute DH out all day doing some work for his brother, so will have to get out the matchsticks and crack on!

Great to hear about the weight gains from the babies. DD was 6lb 15oz on Thursday, so a little above birth weight. We're mostly bfing with the occasional bottle of formula, seems to be working for us!

I have just had to have Words with DH as he was still lounging around in his pants at 9am whilst I'd done all of the night feeds then up for the day at 5am. Lazy sod. He's done half of the washing up then offered to stay home with the children so I could do the weekly shop. Yes, because tackling sainsburys on a bank holiday weekend is soooo restful.

bella 2 words - online shopping.

Has anyone had thrush with a younger than 6 week old baby? Am treating me and him with micronazole cream and gel. Have the flucanazole pills too but apparently not recommended for breastfeeding younger than 6 week old as it can accumulate in their system. Don't know if I'll clear it with just the cream as I can feel it deeper in breasts.. The joy of breastfeeding continues! And doctors are utterly clueless and rely on Google it seems..

Lots d'you think I could get a new husband delivered?

Bella No experience of thrush, but might be worth asking your midwife / health visitor rather than your GP. They're sometimes more knowledgeable regarding newborns than doctors I find.

Another one here with a bigger baby, he was 8lb1oz at birth and was 9lb 6oz at his 4 week weigh in on Wednesday. I think that puts him at around 50th centile, so not quite the off the scale chunkster predicted by all my growth scans after all.

Has anyone else's baby not been measured for length at all yet? The health visitor mumbled something the other day about them only being measured at doctors surgeries but I'm curious to know whether I've got another tall, skinny one like DP and DS1 or short, tubby one like me!

Lots We're using an ErgoBaby and DS2 loves it - hooray! DS1 screamed whenever he went in it, so we never used it last time, but DS2 falls asleep within minutes as long as we're moving about. I'm not sure if we were given bad advice from the sling library last time - they told us to not worry about buying a newborn insert and to just roll up a muslin and use that instead, we splashed out and bought the insert this time.

Four Thanks for your vote of confidence I would never have taken DS because I was A) more nervous with PFB and B) he just screamed and screamed once leaving the house. I know there is a cut off point when you can't do things with them like this so I'm kind of thinking what's the worst that can happen at this stage. Ooooooo just thought of it.... Poonami!! That would be bad as they have the smallest toilet to change her in with no changing table ---- I have booked a full head of highlights and cut. Don't know when I will get the chance to return

Sophia DD came home from hospital with oral thrush. We did the gel that goes in her mouth and also on my nipples. It was fine. DS had it at c7wks, breastfeeding clinic had recommended the same treatment so this time I was quite clear what I wanted the GP to prescribe. The gel came in a massive tube so if it sprouts again then we can catch it quickly

What is the name of the gel for thrush? We've been prescribed a yellow liquid for DD it's nystatin? But it's making her sick I think. We've been using its week and I don't think it's getting any better.

Gel is daktarin. Have heard nyastin doesn't have high success rate. Some pharmacists won't give daktarin for babies as can be choking hazard but you just have to apply carefully.

longtimelistener My little guy hasn't been measured for length either.

It's a good job babies are cute. They have zero social skills. In the past half hr, DD has done a big wee all over me after her bath, burped in my ear, puked down my front and yawned in my face. And yet I don't mind! Nobody else gets away with that behaviour!