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 know exactly what you mean about feeling like everyone else is enjoying their newborn - I was so, so jealous every time I saw photos of people taking trips out while I was stuck on the sofa with bleeding nipples. I'm only just starting to really enjoy it 8 weeks in but it's been so bloody hard!

If you need the sleep, definitely stay in today. Play dates can be rearranged. We're meant to be at a baby group 'bake off' this afternoon but doubt we'll make it. Tbh I'm getting a bit bored of mum chat. Is that awful?

Thank you very much Biscuits * At 6am when I got desperate for sleep I listened to you ladies and put her in my bed on her tummy. She then slept until 8:30. I cancelled my friend in the night. Definitely the right choice as I now feel like the pressure is off today and DS is very happy that he gets to spend the day with DH. Funny enough Biscuits* DS has woken up snotty again after clearing up so maybe you're right about DD having more cold even though she also looked better yesterday. I tried the nasal drops in the night but somehow it looked like she was bringing it up through her mouth...very odd. I hope it is a cold. Yesterday I went to the pharmacy and they told me I could up her dose from 0.7 to 0.8...not life changing. The doctor did tell me to give her Gaviscon on top of the Renetidine so I gave her a dose at 4am which could have contributed to her settling at 6 but it's all unknown again. In terms of changing her meds. I have to wait to see a paediatrician in Nov as the doctors don't want to help anymore as they have no knowledge. I hope it's not raining at your destination today? Mind you, there's always shelter at Centre Parcs somewhere. How are you feeling?

Sophia aww I'm so sorry you've felt that way too but glad to hear you can enjoy it all now. Facebook is dangerous for that sort of thing as those people were probably extra shattered when they got home and regretted going out?! Maybe. We can hope Mummy groups is definitely something to dip in and out of sometimes. It can be just as nice to do an activity that doesn't involve talking about poo, sleep and percentile graphs!

It's so hard when others seem to be finding life with a baby easier/more enjoyable. But appearances can be deceptive. Perversely I feel guilty because DD is more easy going than DS was at this stage. So I feel guilty for enjoying this time more than I did with him. Which is bonkers, I know.

I am feeling better every day. I still look shattered but I suppose a toddler + baby + pneumonia will do that to even the best of us.
Getting away has been good this week. DS is knackered though so we have come back to the lodge to rest for a while before going swimming. Weather is mostly sunny and breezy :)

Ahh, sounds like a successful trip Biscuits I can see why you would feel a sense of guilt. It's only human.

Well..as if this week hasn't been tough enough AF decided to turn up today I don't understand because I've had no cramps, bad skin or any feeling of AF arriving. Normal? I'm a bit surprised as it took much longer to return with DS (like 2 years). Does the first one not count as a proper AF?

This thread went missing on my 'I'm on' list so just catching up. Sounds as though people are still having a rough time. to you all.

We have had a week of a snotty unsettled baby waking choking from the congestion-horrible poor little man. Ds2 is settling into some pretty chaotic and challenging behaviour which I'm sure is just attention seeking but has been difficult to manage to say the least... Hoping that we have made some progress in the last 2 days but then it feels like we go back to square one in the blink of an eye.

Scarily have had return to work discussion this week; I'm currently on a temporary reduction in hours to 1 day a week which works very well from a family:professional balance perspective but I didn't think they would let me carry on (my actual post is 4 days a week) but they have which is great.

pear I think the doctor will have been trying to cover their backs as much as anything with their advice the sleeping-doesn't make you feel any better I'm sure, I hope you have a better night.

Good luck for a better nights sleep all.

Whattodo I know how that feels! DS is testing us big time. DH had Ds and DD on own this morning and really lost his cool. He later admitted that he doesn't know how I cope with just the two of them as its just so frustrating at times. In that instance DH had repeatedly asked DS to stop swinging his arms after they had been to the loo. DS didn't listen and ended up whacking DD making DH really cross. It's very hard to keep calm in that situation and not loose your cool. Especially as DS used to be such a good listener and well behaved! It's a real learning curve for us! How old is your son?

OK, just finished feeding, winding and settling. Now just waiting for DD to be upright long enough to put her down next to me on her tummy. Trying to forget about yesterdays events thanks to you lovely ladies reassuring me that sleep is essential. Feel a bit of a dumb dumb for spending a fortune on the sleepyhead but maybe she will use it soon...maybe?! This afternoon after my sleep we all went out for tea. Wow it was such a challenge to get out of the house just to go to a tea shop but we did it and spent a short time as a family. DS mainly being entertained by Paw Patrol and DH and I having to take turns to settle DD. Sometimes you think why bother going out but I think it's important we try. I've commited to seeing a good friend at the weekend with both children on my own Not sure what I'm thinking but hey ho! At the same time the thought of staying in also isn't relaxing as DS is so easily bored and just becomes a tornado by 11am if he's not out and about!

Does anyone have decent photos of themselves with their babies? I've been trying to ask my DH and sister to take photos when I'm out and about but the photos are terrible One lovely photo of my DD is ruined because my hair is a complete state. Like really bad I can't believe my sister didn't fix it for me before taking the photo but I kind of can believe it as most of the time she doesn't seem to care what she looks like. I definitely need to start carrying a mirror round with me! There I was thinking that I look okish when leaving the house

I'm usually really self conscious --vain-/ about me in photos but I'm making an effort to just be happy that the photos exist. I have one or two passable ones, the rest I look hideous but I figure when I look back, I won't think I look so bad I'll just see Younger Me. My daughter won't care, she'll just like having photos of her mum.

Not many pear. DH isn't that fussed about photos generally so doesn't often remember to take any. I take a weekly photo of DD (did this with DS for the first year, then monthly until he was 2). But I will try and get some. I tend to forget about photos with myself in them!

Oh and AF... I have friends whose periods returned at 6/7 wks despite much breastfeeding. And a friend who has had two children said that it was different each time. So yes, I suppose it is possible. Bummer though!

Don't think I've had a photo taken of me with DD since the day she was born. DH can't be arsed. I didn't have a reasonable photo of me with DS until we had a proper photoshoot when he was nearly 3.

AF returning so soon is rubbish! The birth control I take seems to stop AF completely - at least it did for me last time!

Very little sleep here last night (compared to 7 hours straight the night before!) so I'm going to be mainlining coffee I think!

A friend of mine is getting married today... Her mum died a few days ago. really feeling for her today.

I feel like I'm absolutely useless at reading DS's cues now that he no longer just sleeps and eats. I keep trying to feed him when he's not interested cause I don't know what he wants and I'm not entirely sure what I'm meant to be doing when he's not eating or sleeping.. Have bought a Tiny Love mobile which is very popular, but don't know what else to do except chatting and smiling at him. Keep getting emails from Babycenter etc suggesting ridiculously over the top games I should be playing with him.. or that he should be in a routine by 8 weeks. Feeling very clueless..

sophia it is hard to entertain a baby all day as at this age they don't interact too much, mine is being carted around all over the place doing drop offs and pick ups from school when his older brothers are home he gets loads of stimulation just from them tearing around. In hindsight I realise I was really bored in the early days with my first son despite getting out and about to baby groups. I like the structure my day has now and ds3 seems happy to come along for the ride. I think what I mean is you don't have to feel any excessive pressure to stimulate your baby all day every day, do things you enjoy and they will come along too. I wish I had done more galleries etc with Ds1 as I just don't have the time now.

Oh yes I second what What says! If you have a baby who is happy in their pram/car seat then browse shops, visit places, have coffee...because you'll never be able to do it again! Well, maybe with no2 when no1 is at nursery but it's not the same at all as all you'll be thinking about is keeping time so you're not late for pick ups. Both my babies hate the pram/car seat thanks to reflux so I can't even pop into the village without a screaming baby so if you CAN do these things...take full advantage! I watched Wimbledon when my first was born and DH and I took two days off catching up on Downton. We indulged in a lot of tv since DS didn't like going out

sophia I'm starting to have same issue! E like music and me singing at her, so I put on music I like and sing along.

I think having a place you can put them down where they can see stuff is helpful. I got a 2nd Stokke trip trap newborn thing but any kind of bouncer chair would do. She just doesn't like being on her back in a cot etc. I may try her on a playmat soon (the kind with an arch of toys above her)

The Lamaze wrist rattles are good.

Otherwise, just TV (!!) or walks in her pram chatting either to her or to a friend if I can persuade someone to meet up.

Well, we've had a rubbish day. DD has screamed all day, unless I have her latched on. Can't even unmatched her when she falls asleep as sue just wakes up. Poor DS has had a whole day of screaming and me basically being useless. All 3 of us have been crying at some point. And the dog stole the potatoes I'd peeled and chopped for tea.

It'll be better tomorrow, right? Hate these long days home alone with both.

Aww Bella. Tomorrow will be better for sure Lets hope that all that feeding equals a good nights sleep!

I've just been one big cow machine today so this better mean I get a good night Probably won't though. Probably setting myself for a big fall. In massage class today I managed to massage one leg before the screaming began. Massive progress The lemon drizzle passed around the class helped a lot I was even offered an extra piece as I was the last one left due to the mammoth feeding session. Now I remember why I put so much weight on post birth I don't enjoy seeing all the other babies loving their massage

I miss sleep

pear how often is your DH taking your DD for a chunk of vertical sleeping? It's not sustainable for you to do it all/the vast vast majority.
and more for you today xx

And while I'm at it, for you too Bella. Those long days are hard. Today is a new and hopefully better day

Biscuits probably every 2-3 days he will take her in the evening if she's unsettled. The problem I have is she's waking every 2hrs for feeds and he can't help with that as I stopped expressing after she had the second tongue tie treatment. She is sleeping in my bed for about 1.5hrs (always take at least 30 mins to wind) and then of coarse I have to take a few minutes to nod back off too. She's feeding so much in the day too. I'm either not producing enough or it's a growth spurt?

Oh and I haven't been able to pass her to DH at 4:30am for a while now as he's working early starts to London again

Hard Pear. Did you not say she put on oodles of weight? I guess your supply is fine. Growth spurt is entirely possible! DS used to feed frequently day & night. I think it comforted him, despite the puking and pain. I can't really remember how we managed it sleep deprived haze but I think DH used to take him in the evening for a spell so I could snooze for 2-3hrs. Basically we were doing whatever it took for each of us to get some sort of block of sleep, albeit unequal lengths.
Can you push to see the paediatric folk sooner? Fair enough if the gp isn't confident in managing it but it's not really fair to make you wait an age because of that.

Who else has the Wonder weeks app? I've just downloaded it and it says that we have 6 days left in the thundery leap 1. It's quite good that it goes by due date and not birth date as this is what I keep forgetting. Technically DD is only 4 weeks. I keep expecting so much The app says that she may ask for the boob a lot more in this leap so at least I know this is normal. Hope this isn't hocus pocus!