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...

Pear - we were exactly the same last night. The only sleep she's had is when we were walking the dog. She'll go down for about 2 minutes and then wakes up screaming, back arching and stomach crunching. I was in tears at 6am. Dp works away so it's just me. No idea what I can do to fix this?
We're also swaddling with a swaddle wrap thing. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't! Fuss pot baby!

Hg what a cutie!

Sorry so many are struggling with feeding. It is hard. I'm lucky that thrush aside, we mostly manage okay. DH was holding DD the other day and she was hungry so latched onto his bicep in the hope of getting some milk. Obviously she was disappointed but DH has been left with a whopper mark on his arm! He now has extra respect for breast feeding women ;)

I wish babies could say what was wrong, so much is trial and error.

We have a close caboo too, and love it. It's helped with the continual snot flow too. I really want the lurgy that hit us to sod off now. It kept me awake more than either child last night :(

So mad at dp! Me and little one went for a nap and as I was falling asleep he came in even though he knows I'm a very light sleeper, even lighter now we've had baby, plus our bedroom door makes noise when you open it which I can never sleep through. Since I'm bf I've been doing all the feeds did I mention baby has gained 6 oz on her 5 day check, bf is going so so well, apparently I'm a natural. He's been sleeping all through the night, the other day he slept for about 10 hours and was up for about an hour during that. So I've come to rant and ask for recommended punishments? Lol, I get mean when I get tired he deserves it

Mine tries to nibble DP's nose Biscuits!

Have got a fretful vomity baby tonight (more than normal posseting). Debating whether to try him on the infant gaviscon - doc prescribed it today when I described his symptoms but am second guessing myself now - maybe he's just having a growth spurt and the spit up is normal. Hate seeing him inconsolably crying though :-(

sophia I think you should give the gaviscon a try. It won't harm him and if it works then bonus!

sloth have you tried some massage? This link is really good internationalmidwives.org/assets/uploads/documents/30th%20Triennial/ICM%20Massage%20Poster%20FINAL.pdf try the water wheel.

pear sounds like it's all still pretty tough for you guys. With a Velcro baby myself i know how hard it is! Keep going, you are amazing.

lots is if yiuvwhonisbusing reuseable nappies? We've just started and I'm struggling with them. They make DDs bum look huge and her clothes not fit and it's making me really sad. My DH is adamant that we are using them but I don't really want to. Does it get easier? And do you use them out and about too? How often do you change?

Omg OMG breakthrough!! DD has slept in my bed for 2hrs!!!!! I have had an amazing 2hrs sleep during the night. This is exciting stuff! This has to be down to wearing the Caboo sling for 6 hours yesterday so she got decent naps for the first time instead of constant pick up and put down crying spells. If anyone else is struggling then this theory is soooo worth a go... That's if your baby is also struggling to nap during the day!

Hurrah! So good to hear pear Sleep makes everything else more manageable. My Boba sling hopefully arriving today - think being uprught more will help with reflux ...

Yay pear! Hopefully it's the first of many better nights to come. My DD slept from 11pm-6am last night. How crazy? That seems unheard of for her age (2 weeks+5 days) (although I'm not complaining)

Alfie, yes. How old is your DD now? I gave myself 3 weeks before I started using them, as the frequency of changing before then was too much. We have a mixture of types and some are more bulky than others, I find just embracing the Big Bum look is the way forward! Some makes of clothes are better than others for fitting with washables - next are good, h&m too. We use them out and about, but also use disposables occasionally. Don't make your life too difficult! It definitely gets easier and when they get a bit bigger the bulky bottom gets more in proportion m! At the moment we are still changing pretty frequently as A is still pooing with every feed and feeds frequently!!

pear yay!!!

sloth - I'm in the same boat with reflux. I just called the surgery to see if they would send a prescription for an antacid without seeing the baby (I still can't drive). It started a couple of days ago with him being really windy, then I noticed he was arching his back after feeds, and last night he threw up everywhere after a feed. I've ordered some probiotics, but the thing keeping me sane right now is a rock n sleep - he slept for a 4 hour stretch last night, I think because he's at a 45 degree angle in there. He can't lie on his back at all. My oldest DD had the same issues, so I'm really hoping we can get some gaviscon today and see if that helps. Poor wee soul is so uncomfortable.

I'm getting frustrated with how long its taking me to get back to normal post c-section. Baby is now 2 weeks old, and although I've been off pain meds for a week, I just feel exhausted and sore.

Pear that's great! Seems like you're getting somewhere with the sleeping now, fingers crossed for a good night for you tonight!

Shan I'm 3 weeks post section now (I can't believe it's been 3 weeks already!) and am still sore, although it's not as bad as it was, but still sore and tender skin. I'm also lightheaded a fair bit, I think because of the low iron.

Hg lovely photo :)

Christine wow that's a long stretch, you must feel better for that.

Lots we are getting lots of poo but it's just in the past couple of days started to not be before/after every feed.

So, we were having really good nights, she's been going 2-3 hours between feeds and last night she was up at about 4am for the day. Can't complain though as she's such a content and sweet little baby.

Now I know it's early, but I'm sure Freya smiled at me last week when she was 2 weeks and 1 day old. I've waited to make sure and she's smiled again since then a few times! It's been real grins and definitely not wind. I'm so pleased as my last baby, and the one before, both smiled later than 6 weeks and also at other people before me.

Very tired still but getting on ok. Dd3 starts school tomorrow, reception, I can't believe it's gone by so fast.

Hooray for improved sleep Pear :)

DD is doing pretty well at the moment. Darn sight better than DS and I anyway. DS was sent home from nursery with a temp of 39. I think my cough is now a chest infection. I feel horrendous unless I take the max dose of paracetamol and ibuprofen.

We are all camped out on the sofa watching the Hungry Caterpillar. Needs must...

Fingers crossed it continues for you pear I don't know how you are functioning at all with such broken and limited sleep.

biscuits sounds like you need to get back to the doctor to check, rubbish looking after a newborn being ill let alone older ones too.

Ds1 started reception today and ds2 started preschool in the afternoons, so proud of them both as they seem to have settled well-huge relief.

My iPhone health app is telling me I've walked nearly 8 km today and I'm feeling it now, did one of the drop offs in the car as well! Haven't walked that far for weeks... Good for my post natal body though surely?!

Apologies for limited responses to others on phone with unhappy baby under other arm...

pear glad you got a bit of sleep, my DD also slept for 2 hours in her cot. Was bliss not having a baby attached to me.

sophia sloth and shanster my wee one doesn't like lying flat either so I ordered a wedgehog which arrived today- basically a wedged pillow which will keep her at an angle in bed.

lots yes maybe I just need to embrace it. I think I just want her to be little and cute for as long as possible. She also hates being wet in disposables and twice today she has screamed when reuseable was wet. She's five weeks today and my DH is on holiday so we've started then this week, I promised I would give them a reasonable go before making up my mind.

biscuits sorry to hear you are feeling so rubbish! GP for you!

what that's pretty good going! Well done.

christine that's amazing you just feel so good today! Mine has never slept more than 3 and a half at a time and she's five weeks now!

Wow Christine that is awesome. You must feel like a new women!

Biscuits poor you :-( Hope you get some decent sleep tonight to aid recovery!

Alfie how are you finding the wedge? I don't think ours really makes a difference. Its good to have though.

So, today was a turning point me for. I saw a lactation consultant (the one I saw with DS and she's amazing). Right away she told me that Dd's tongue tie hasn't been done properly at the hospital and I will need to have it done again to fix our feeding issues. She said I must be in so much pain. Ahhh yes!!!!I've been trying to tell everyone that I want to rip my boobs off because they feel like they're on fire but nobody has listened or they just nod sympathetically!! So, I've booked a private clinic who have a cancellation tomorrow and off I go to spend £140 because the NHS once again have failed me Still, I am very relieved to have an answer as this looks like the cause of reflux and my severe lack of milk. Things should improve after tomorrow.

For those of you with possible reflux issues...I suggest you go to a lactation consultant at your nearest breastfeeding class to get your Dc suck looked at and latch looked at because that could be the root of your problem too!

Pear I'm so sorry you and DD have had to go through this. I remember that feeling of relief of being listened to, though! Such a wonderful feeling. I hope tomorrow goes well and things improve quickly.

What a kerfuffle Pear & poor you that it has dragged on so long. Hopefully tomorrow (today?!) is the start of an easier time for you.

Sleep for me is happening in fits and starts, and only if I sit bolt upright, propped by all the pillows. Still coughing horribly and out of breath so will phone the gp first thing and try and get seen asap.

Pear I'm glad something is finally being done for you. Hopefully it's going to be much easier for you now.
Having had the day from hell earlier in the week dd seems a lot more settled (touch wood). Given up caffeine, dairy and anything spicy just in case they were irritating her so we'll see how it goes.
Christine I can't believe you managed a sleep like that! I couldn't be more jealous.
What well done on the 8km. That's much more than I've managed so far. Need to step it up a bit though as my post natal body is really getting me down. I knew it would be bad but wasn't expecting to be so overweight all those biscuits I ate coming back to haunt me.

Thanks ladies

Nearly 4am and I still haven't been able to put this little lady down

pear last night I would have said it made a difference because DD slept in her cot. But tonight we are back to not being put down again so who knows. Glad to hear you are getting DS sorted.

We are still working on latch over here too. Back to boob holding for her again, which is tough because she's so heavy to hold with one arm and I need millions of pillows so not practical for out and about.

For those having problems with latch, I've finally found that holding baby vertically (tummy to tummy) has helped him get it after 5 long weeks! They do need a degree of head control to do it though and it's not incredibly practical for out and about but it's a step in the right direction.

Another way of latching I've found helpful is if I sit on a rigid chair in front of a table and wedge a pillow on my lap, supported by the edge of the table at an angle. I then lie DD on the pillow and it keeps her body completely in line and supported. That gives me one hand to support the boob and the other to mn

Has anyone heard of lactose overload? www.babycareadvice.com/article/detail/Lactose_Overload?/article/detail/18 Caused by oversupply and giving symptoms like colic or reflux? Sounds exactly like what my little guy has- especially the 'grunting in the early hours' and the fact he is gaining weight really well which wouldn't be the case with I lactose intolerance...