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...

Just when I was feeling in the right track I've gone and got the cold! Worried DD will get it so manically washing my hands, seems inevitable when I'm the only one here today and breastfeeding. Any tips?

Oh no Alfie! You might find you pass on the antibodies in your breast milk so fx she doesn't catch it.

How did people get on last night? We had a slightly better night (after 2 really awful ones). We Co slept after the 2am feed which seems to work well for us. DH has proclaimed our mattress too uncomfortable and is sleeping on the sofa anyway so it's just me and DD in a superking bed. Need to sort out some warmer pj's though, I was freezing with no duvet!

DH is planning to take DS camping for the weekend so it'll just me me, DD, and chilled our GirlDog. I'm imagining a very relaxed weekend and hoping the boys don't change their minds!

DD managed okayish last night. We propped her crib up at one end which helped a bit. DS had a brief but intense strop at midnight...I think he must have had a bad dream or something.

Alfie the only thing I'm finding that helps while DD and I have colds and coughs is keeping my fluid intake up. That, and paracetamol (for me). I've not tried a snot sucker (eeeeeeek) but every time DD sneezes she releases a flow of snot anyway

Biscuits we've had to wedge a towel under the rocker of DD's moses basket because she kept waking herself up with the startle reflex whenever it rocked! It really helped with DS' reflux though.

I recommend the Wedgehog. It's helping my DD sleep for tiny amounts. It's not a miracle cure but I can see it does help. It's safer then making your own blanket wedge and it works well if like us you've got a babybay that is attached to the bed so you can't put anything under the legs to make it tilt. I wish I had known about this with DS but still happy to know about it now!

Oh and make sure you measure the space you want it to go in because you could order the wrong size!

I don't even want to talk about my night last night TG DH had this morning off work...that is all.

Bella - Oooo a weekend by yourself would be bliss I've called for help on Sunday so my mother is taking DS swimming whilst DH is away with work. Although it's never a break... It does help.

Sorry to hear about the sick babies. Can you use the Calpol plugins from newborn? If you can then that will be your godsend!! They sell them in Boots, chemists and Sainsburys and maybe even Co op!

Oh and Sloth I am very of your chocolate croissant

Cheese are you feeling any better now?

I had a bad weak spell yesterday and I'm bleeding much more again I think the lack of sleep in the night and stress of trying to make DD is the fault of it though. Nothing I can do but try and look after myself as best as I can. I haven't had a chance to shower yet and it's 1pm

'Trying to make DD feel better'

Bella try sleeping in your dressing gown

Pear have you been to the gp/spoken to the midwife about the increased bleeding, you may have an infection. (And I'd send you some chocolate croissants but I ate the lot )
What are the signs of reflux everyone's having? Dd has colic according to the health visitor but it's happening during the day as well?
We managed a better night last night. Wide awake between 2-4.30 but managed some sleep either side. Having a very relaxed day today. Walked the dog and sat on the sofa. Much needed!

Pear I'll give the steak a miss, not on my list being a vegetarian , I do think the spatone is helping though; I'm taking 2 a day. I did notice after reading your post that I've been eating less and losing weight, so I've upped my calorie intake again. I'd been missing breakfast/lunch and not snacking at all. At first I was even eating in the night! I'm now eating as much as I can and drinking lots of water. No naps in the day as the other children need looking after too, my 2 and 4 year olds don't nap anymore and I also have a 9, 12 and 14 year old. Great news about your dd's weight gain. I never liked the almond or soy milks, they were really disgusting I thought. Do you think it's making much difference? I hope you have a better night tonight.

Biscuits Sorry you have ill ones, hope you're all feeling better soon. I'm sure the bf will help little one but it will definitely be draining you. Make sure to keep your fluids and food up.

Coco I've seen the midwife and HV recently when they came to weigh the baby and check on us. I did mention the bleeding again and apparently it's all normal and no worries about an infection. My 4 year old starts reception Thursday but it's a gradual start over a few weeks, so mornings, then after lunch and building up to full time. What sling are you using? I have an ergo and a close caboo but haven't used them yet, still a bit sore, but I intend to. I envy your seaside trip, I love the sea but we're about 90 mins away from the nearest one. Did you have a good time?

Alfie yes I'm taking 2 a day, I do think it's helping. We had a good night last night and I'm feeling more bright today. How was your day with just you and baby?

Lots Cinema sounds fab, I had a look for ones nearby and they do some 15's here. I want to see suicide squad but that wasn't one sadly. Glad Dd1 didn't break her thumb, hope she's ok.

Lainey Hope you're ok today with Ds1 at school, I'm sure I'll be similar next week when my 4 year old starts. We did manage to get Freya registered yesterday, I felt ok but it was literally out of the car, inside the building and then almost straight in. I didn't have to walk much at all. Freya Rose and yesterday was also her due date, so that was a lovely date to go; we hadn't realised until then. I'm feeling better today, I'm sure we're all the same in that some days are harder than others depending on how the nights go.

Bella I tend to co sleep once they are a bit bigger but I'm wishing I could now as I do love it. I'm still not that great after my section, just the turning and twisting and not laying on my side yet. Once I can then I may also co sleep.

Sloth I love chocolate croissants, dh has been popping to costa for vanilla lattes for me recently and I always get a chocolate twist too, they're yummy. Glad you had a better night last night. Makes such a difference.

I'm feeling ok today, definitely brighter and more with it due to a better night with Freya. I managed to get a couple of chunks of sleep inbetween the feeds. We had a chinese takeaway last night to celebrate Freya being official and it was really nice.

Better run, dd3 and dd4 are argueing again, sigh.

Well I have had a great day, managed my first bit of decent exercise in like 6 months due to having bad SPD.

Power walked with buggy for a hour, also thought I'd brave the scales and I'm
Back to my pregnacy weight so lost the 1stone 10lb is put on.

So feeling good about myself and finally starting to feel normal again thank god. I hated being pregnant

Also baby is exactly 1 month today and finally it seems his older brother who is 2 this month has finally accepted him

No more trying to hit him just try's to kiss him

reappearing from the darkness
Sorry I've been MIA but just been so busy and had so many visitors and appointments and feeds and urgghh! I'm sure everyone's experiencing the same so hope you all understand. I'm gunna have a read through now and catch up with everything I've missed (maybe not everything..there's 21 pages I've missed).
I don't know if you've all done birth stories but thought I'd write mine and give you all a read.
So I was 7 days overdue when I went for my midwife appointment and had a sweep. Well attempted a sweep but the midwife couldn't reach anything so it seemed like we were a lifetime away from the end. She checked my blood pressure and sent me to hospital for a second opinion and possible induction as she feared I had preeclampsia. Was sent from one hospital to another as they also believed I had preeclampsia but didn't deal with labour, induction, delivery or anything. So we got to the main hospital and was monitored and had my blood pressure checked there, I was having contractions that I noticed on the little monitor (very very small little twinges every now and again, nothing major) so based on my still raised blood pressure and swelling I was booked to return at 8AM the next morning to be induced. Went home and had dinner with the intentions to get everything ready, have a good nights sleep etc. But felt leaky during dinner and when I went to the toilet was leaking a greeny/browny coloured liquid so rang the hospital and they told me to go in as they were concerned the baby had pooed in the waters. At hospital I was examined and had a lot more waters come out during the examination which was what made it clear she had infact pooed. I was given the gel to speed everything along and it certainly did. After a few hours of very intense contractions with only gas and air towards the end I was examined again and was at 7cm, the doctor decided he was going to scratch the babies head to test her blood and see she was okay & guessed another hour or so until she arrived.. Before he could even get his equipment together and at 7cm still I HAD to push, despite being told to fight the urge and that I wasn't ready, I really was! I pushed for about 10 minutes (felt like 1) and she was here! She came out with the cord wrapped around her neck twice and was purple so was quickly taken away for help but before they even got her onto the table they were heading for, she had started crying and was fine. She was brought back into the room with a very worried daddy following closely behind and was handed back to me. We got to the hospital at about 10 or 11PM on the 18th and she was born at 9:30AM on the 19th. 8 days late but only 7lb 2oz. We stayed in hospital until 2PM on the 20th (due to her pooing in the waters and being observed and my high blood pressure). Alice is 2 weeks old today and I'm so in love

Congratulations Donna goad she is here safe and well

Cluster feeding with nipple thrush and a growth spurting fretful baby - yay!

This thread disappeared from my "I'm on" list. I'm sure I have posted on it. This time two weeks ago I was in labour. Feels like a different life.

Hope everyone is ok. I struggled hugely emotionally last week- wasn't prepared for the buffeting by anxiety, fear, guilt, sadness, joy, just generally overwhelmed by emotion. Hormones, eh?! Feeling a bit better this week although today has been hard again. Not sure why.

E has done nothing but sleep and feed all day. She has just fallen asleep on me now. She's been OK-ish about going down to sleep in her crib (as long as she's not hungry/windy etc) but that seems to have changed today. We'll see.

She keeps startling today which is new. Every day is very different!

four go you on getting back on the horse! Very jealous, I feel like because I know I can't (bleeding) is what's making me want to so much more! Forbidden fruit. Although I'm even surprisingly up for just giving so it may be a real urge. Has anyone put any thought towards contraception? I feel like the second I stop bleeding I'm going to need to pounce! And don't want contraception to get in the way.
lots I never knew about the cinema rules! Hadn't even crossed my mind tbh as I don't think a noisy cinema is something my little one would appreciate, plus the fear people's judgment if she started crying! She cried at a big open beach yesterday and I felt like all eyes were on me.
daytona well done on being back to your pre pregnancy weight! You must feel so proud! I don't even remember my pre pregnancy weight but I know it was not this. How old is your little one? (Praying there's still hope yet for it to fall off me!) we went for a 3 hour walk yesterday including a MAJOR hill, at one thought I was going to fall back down it and considered making a home at the bottom as I was all out of energy!
pear how is the bleeding now? I think (correct me if I'm wrong) it's very touch and go with starting and stopping and that's normal but definitely shouldn't be intensely heavy once it's lightened. Id consider talking to your GP/HV if it's a lot more than normal and you're concerned..but like you said, I'm sure it's down to you needing to take it easy (haha, as if that's possible!). Try and fit in a nice bath when you can!
alfie I don't have any tips regarding keeping a cold away from little one, like you said it seems quite inevitable when you're in such close proximity. Obviously wash your hands as much as possible..although not nice, it can only be good for a growing immune system.

CDonna he is exactly 1 month today

Born 2nd August

Well done you for 3 hour walk that's awesome I'm defo not up to that today I managed 1 hour today and I'm feeling stiff through my hips tonight , I've been doing strengthening exercises in the house , just like legs bums and tums type things slowly building up , as not to agravate hips too much as they can sometimes hurt quite a bit but then it goes away again

Well I'm having a different night. DD was screaming at 10pm and woke up DS. Ds is now in bed with me. DD actually slept in the babybay from 11-12:30 hurrah!! She woke up really congested so she's now sleeping on my chest. I'm surprised she's not woken up for the next feed! I might try and put her down now to see if she wakes for the feed. As for the congestion I've just read that you can get Calpol saline drops so I'm going to trot off to boots in the morning!

This is day 2 on Renetidine and DD is definitely responding better today. She didn't get sick after taking it like the first scary day so that's good. I'm keeping everything crossed that this medication will be enough! After joining Reflux UK on Facebook I have seen that actually my sons case of reflux and DD's is incredibly mild compared to others and that I have to be thankful for!

Christine thanks for asking. I've done some googling and apparently it's v normal at 4 weeks to increase when you're more active. I don't feel it's an infection as I've not got any pain, smell or discomfort. If it is still the same at the 6 week check up then I will definitely flag it! I'm more surprised if anything as I'm pretty sure it only lasted 2 weeks with DS!

Cheese ha ha now why didn't I see that you're a veggie with a name like that Do I think the diet is working? No! It's week 2 and I haven't seen any difference. However, I found out today that the turkey slices I have been eating has diary in it I'm really with myself for not checking but seriously... Who would have thought deli Turkey slices would contain milk and butter!!! I'm still going to give the diet plan one more week so that I can be sure...even though I've messed up with the Turkey!

Sloth Reflux signs for my DD.... Often does head bobbing when I put her to the breast along with arching of her back in pain and discomfort, frequent hiccups, leg crunches along with yelps, very strong suck which makes the latch painful, requires a dummy at night to relieve pain, I did hear gurgling in her tummy a lot but that seems to have disappeared since we started on Gaviscon, hard to burp, very hard to put down to sleep as the discomfort wakes her up and she needs constant winding or comforting in our arms. Responds well to little and 3hr breast feeding to help with digestion. Sleeps when she's upright. Hope that helps! There is a really good Facebook page calling "living with reflux". Lots of members posting questions to each other and giving support. Might be worth posting your LO's symptoms to see if anyone is experiencing the same to determine whether its reflux or colic.

Sloth for our DS, the reflux signs were that he was always at his most miserable after a feed. His cries then were different to hungry or tired baby cries, they were more pained. At its worst I would dread feeding him. He did the back arching that pear describes. Once on a cocktail of reflux medication he was a different baby. We had to keep that going until he was 2, but many people find reflux starts to improve once baby can sit and/or walk. DS was unlucky it went on for so long.

Re bleeding - I think it's quite norm to bleed for 4+ wks, and for that to vary in heaviness. This time mine stopped altogether at around the 4wk mark. Last time I was definately still bleeding at the 6wk check and the gp wasn't concerned because it wasn't smelly or clotty.

Pear dairy is hidden in so many things some bread & cereals will have it too. It's a pain in the arse to check all the labels...easier once you know what's safe for you.

Oh forgoodness sake Just checked bread Biscuits and my bread contains Soya flour