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...

I have a new best friend Snuffle baby nose drops!!! If they're the reason behind my good night sleep then they're my friend for life! I can't believe how much DD slept. She settled back to sleep at. 3:45 and woke at 6. I actually feel human again Is this a normal night for everyone else? I guess it is.

Very quiet on here. I hope everyone is/has been sleeping

I tend to get a long stretch from about 9 till 1 or 2, then DS wakes up every hour or two from 4 till 7 but goes back to sleep quite quickly. He's got a cold too and have been trying saline solution plus snot sucker but he absolutely hates it!

That's brilliant sleep Pear. DD will typically be asleep by 8, wakes between 1 & 2, then another 1 or 2 wakes after that. So long as I go to bed early then I feel okay. But am well aware of how lucky this sleep is. DS was DREADFUL. My expectations were very very low this time around!

DH has just announced he's tired and has gone to bed. He has not done ONE night waking in the 7 weeks since DD was born yet he gets to go to bed at 7.30pm whilst I'm still downstairs sorting the house out. Ffs.

Oh Bella They just don't get it sometimes Can you tell him tomorrow that it's your turn. Are you breastfeeding or could you 'encourage' him to do an evening bottle feed so you can rest?

DS has his jabs tomorrow - any tips?

bella that's tough! I feel for you, I think that sometimes they can be insensitive and forget that you are exhausted too. Do you really need to sort the house? Can somethings be left until tomorrow? I've started just giving clear instructions to my DH. He's a bit grumpy about it but tonight units said, I need you to do the dishes, fold the dry washing and hang the wet washing while I feed DD.
He doesn't do night wakening because he gets up at half 4 for work. But he usually will take DD then if I've just fed her and change her bum and settle her back to sleep for me. Sometimes it doesn't work out timing wise and she's still feeding, those mornings make me sad!

Aww Bella that is super tough. Tomorrow you must make sure you pass him the baby, list of jobs and go to bed at 7:30pm with a secret smile on your face!

Sorry Sloth haven't had the injections yet. That is next week.

So, yesterday at the hospital I was told I will definitely have to have a c-section if I have another baby. That was hard to hear Also, was told that my "tone" is poor so I have to have treatment to help that Was a bit taken back because I went in there feeling super positive thinking I had recovered really well but apparently not The consultant tried to do a speculum examination but I had to stop her it hurt so much. When I drove home I realised that I didn't have to go through that the first time I had a 3rd degree tear so obviously I had bad luck and she was inexperienced. It's almost making me feel like I might ask for a second opinion because I don't trust her now TG I got sleep last night otherwise I would have been very low today. Instead I was happy and even managed to do painting with DS this morning Ironically I'm feeling all sorts of pains down below now but maybe that's just because I www poked and prodded

The sleepyhead has arrived. I'm nervous to put her down in it. Normally she sleep on her tummy but I am not convinced that would work with this arrangement. OK here goes...

Oh Pear, I'm sorry you had to go through that. How do you feel about an elcs? And yes, get a second opinion if you're not happy!

Thanks for the sympathy. He took (sleeping) DD with him and cuddled her in bed whilst he watched TV. I had to do the basics like wash up and a load of laundry. I'd much rather be cuddling and chilling! Somehow he managed to get her really wound up so by the time I got upstairs it took me an hour and a half to settle her enough to sleep. Of course DH rolled over and was snoring throughout.

When DS was a baby he was just as useless, I was so exhausted I ended up with pnd. I can see it going the same way again.

Just dropped DS at nursery and parked myself on the sofa with DD. Not going to wear myself ragged so he can go to bed at 7.30pm. He's going to have a shock when he gets home tonight!

Good for you Bella it's so so important to look after ourselves and so easy to forget to.

Been to weigh in today and DS has put on a lb in a week! He was 7lb 6 when he was born, just under 50th percentile and now he's 13lb and bang on 75th. I'm so proud of us both as breastfeeding has not been at all easy, but totally worth persevering with. Having lots of snuggles now ahead of injections in a couple of hours...

Ha ha Bella I hope he sees what a temporary plonker he's been when he walks in

Sophia well done you I'm in the same boat as I had my DD weighed today and she's now 8lb 15 which is a big jump. We can be very proud as BF is not easy by any means!

Had my 6 week check this morning. Such a waste of time and the Dr was an another idiot. She is worried that DD hasn't smiled yet at 8 weeks even though I reminded her that she is a prem baby so technically she's only 4 weeks old. What is wrong with these idiots. My HV wasn't worried at all when she weighed her and agreed that it is only a matter of time because she was prem. The dr also have me a massive lecture about sleeping on the tummy. I nearly suggested she came over tonight to see how distressed DD is on her back with reflux. I would like to see her settle a reflux baby. Idiot As if I'm not totally aware that it's not the best option. Still, one less appointment down. Only jabs and paediatrician to go.

Great news on the feeding and weight gain :) DH worked out today that if I feed DD for a similar length of time as DS (18months) that will amount to something like 4000 feeds

How did the sleepyhead work for you Pear? Grrrrr to dopey dr. Our developmental check should have happened at 2 months, but has been postponed until the 3 month jags because she was also 4 wks early. I saw an awful dr early on with DS and his reflux. She said 'babies do cry you know' and suggested that maybe he was just hungry. Errr no. After that we saw someone else who totally got it and told me not to see any of the other doctors (bar one)!

Bella I hope you're doing okay today and you managed to get some rest.

Center Parcs is great with littlies. I love it.

Those of you who have gone from 1 to 2 children - how do you find the transition? I feel like I am still learning how to be parent to both, particularly when they are having contrasting needs.

Biscuits the transition from 1 to 2 has been vastly easier than I expected. DS is 3.8 so able to entertain himself to an extent. DD has also been quite easy which helps. I do feel guilty a lot though, especially when things aren't going so well. The last 3 nights I've had both of them for bedtime and poor DS has had to put up with DD either feeding or crying whilst I try to read to him. Tomorrow I've told DS he needs to not faff around after work and come home in time to take DD so I can focus on DS. DS has been a trooper though and adores his sister.

DH needs to come straight home, not DS!

Wow that's a lot of feeds Biscuits! Goodness me I never thought of it like that. So far the sleepyhead hasn't helped at all She's been sick on it a lot. Tonight we have used cushions to prop it up but I'm not convinced that this is safe I personally don't think it's any more safe then having her on her tummy so I don't feel like we've got anywhere Feeling extra anxious too thanks to the doctor making me feel guilty about it all.

I do love Centre Parcs! Pre kids I thought it was a place that should be in room 101 but now I praise it for making life easy! I won't be going when the kids are older due to the expense of all the activities but it's great when the kids are small.

I don't think I can comment sensibly on the transition to 2 children. Just because I feel having a reflux monkey makes life so much harder then the average family. She screams all day unless she's in the sling or in my arms and this has made the transition very hard as my DS reacts badly to her crying all day (can't blame him). He becomes hyper, craves attention and now tends to get over excited which results in the naughty step Ask me again in 6 months when reflux will hopefully be a thing of the past

Pear I think that sleeping on stomach is most dangerous for babies who have never done it before and then get placed like that because they're not used to breathing in that position.Babies who are used to sleeping like that are safer I think.

The Dr at our 6 week check said 'when was his first smile?' - phrasing to make mums worry! I'm not convinced DS has smiled as it always coincides with wind or pooing but everyone else thinks he has..

Yes that's what I've heard Sophia - the big risk is babies who are put on their front occasionally. Pear You also have to factor in the risk of you being too knackered to care for the DCs and your own mental health. It's not as straight forward as the Dr has made out. We all have to make the best decision for us and our families and what's right me might not be right for you.

Aww thanks Bella and Sophia xx I felt really awful trying to fight my case to the doctor! I had to interrupt her three times!! I just couldn't let her preach to me after everything I've been through these last 8 weeks. I even told her that if I could lie her on her back I would be the first to do it...she just wasn't believing me I even told her that reflux babies have really strong muscles because they spend so much time arching from day 1. Even the osteopath has commented how strong my babies head control is and that was at 5 weeks old. Oh but you should know that they've found evidence that there is a link between tummy sleeping and cot death she said I know it's the right thing for my baby but when I doctor fights you it doesn't feel right I have not heard of the fact that babies who're used to sleeping on their tummy are at less risk..:sounds very sensible to me if that's true!

Sophia how did the jabs go?

That's so sad that your doc was so unsupportive Pear. What's already been said is true though - and we all do what works best for our own needs. Sleep is an important need! DS slept in a beanbag for a couple of months (he was late to roll) because it propped him up enough. Would it have been supported by the SIDS folk? Of course not. But it was right next to me on the floor, he was atop a couple of cellular blankets and it meant I got some sleep. Thankfully our sensible dr just looked a bit surprised!

Well he didn't get too upset pear do I thought I'd been lucky but I haven't slept yet today/tonight as he is waking up and howling when I try to put him down, even next to me. Going to be a long night!

Pear - when my DS silent reflux was really bad I slept in a really cushioned chair, semi reclined with him in a sling. I spoke to a healthcare professional about it who knew how little sleep we had been getting and they said 'you have to sleep so do whatever you need to do'. Don't let the GP make you feel bad.
I think my DS is going through a growth spurt, he is hungry after an hour to hour and a half at the moment during night and day!

Aww Sophia poor you and your little one

I haven't been able to sleep much. This whole SIDS speech has really got to me and I keep waking to hear if DD is breathing When I did eventually fall aslep DD woke up doing the weird choking thing on her back so back to square 1 She sounds so congested..:starting to wonder now whether she has a food intolerance like DS but I just can't work out what it is. Or is it just the acid or the medication. Urgh the whole thing is just beyond frustrating I just want to be able to enjoy this special time like I feel like everyone is doing that I meet. I'm meant to be having a play date over tomorrow morning but I think I'm going to have to cancel. DS has already announced that he doesn't want to share his toys which makes me feel nervous from the start and ironically DH is off work tomorrow so I could be catching up on sleep!

Oh pear. Hugs &
The doctor wasn't telling you anything you didn't already know, it's her delivery that was particularly unhelpful. So the choices you've been making are still just as valid.
Please try not to feel guilty about not enjoying this stage with her - it's so bloody hard with reflux and I'm not sure that there's much to enjoy about it.
Might her congestion be a cold?
But also, if you feel the ranitadine isn't hacking it then maybe a different dose or a different medicine is required?