March 2017 babies

[purpleviolet1]

So my 9 day old baby boy was delivered by emcs at 37+5 gestation due to presenting breech (waters broke and contractions started). First baby so lots to learn!

Currently giving him expressed milk and formula topup. We tried breastfeeding but there was latch issues, he got very frustrated as he wasn't getting satisfied and my nipple was cracked and bleeding within a couple of days. I then got blocked ducts and the whole thing was a disaster really. I feel like a bit of a failure and did get help from bf clinic for the latch but it was little too late. With the c section recovery I just feel too exhausted to have him on the boob constantly and least with formula he is getting some decent sleep (although I'm usually expressing during this time so don't get a proper rest).

Oh and his fussy time is between 10pm -2am. He tends to feed and need winded on repeat between this time. It's exhausting but tonight I had a nap from 7-10pm in anticipation.

Come and join me for some chat...

She actually reduced me to tears with the distress in her screaming

Ahhhh Carol I get tears in my eyes too with the screaming sometimes . My LO def has colic and odd evenings screaming like she is in agony it's so upsetting .
Has she settled now and are you feeling more calm ?
Purple I feel your pain , I am surviving on an excess amount of caffeine atm!
Hugh I work from home and yes weirdly in the last couple of days I have tried doing bits and bobs work related . I don't even know why , maybe it actually relaxes me .
I seem unable to chill out and stay in the house . I think I am avoiding the cleaning ?! I do the basics but wow to the cobwebs!

Yeah she finally settled at 9:20 Just woke up screaming at 11:20 for her next feed, she's had 9 feeds today midnight to midnight 920ml in total.

Went straight back to sleep after feed, nice and warm in her sleeping bag. I've made up 4 for the night. Preparing myself for a busy night.

I know it's silly to get upset, i normally just let it wash over me but when she gets herself so worked up she can't catch her breath it gets to me. I know I'm not doing anything wrong, she's fed, clean, warm and safe, it's just her only way of communicating (wish she could tap dance lol)

Sorry to hear your LO has colic, I've been reading up coz I thought she might have it but not too sure.

I'm cleaning as I go. Not done a big clean since before she was born I have however gutted my wardrobe 3 black bin bags waiting to go to the nearest charity shop next week. Bagged up all my maternity stuff for a friend who has just found out she's expecting.

Ahhh good for your, hope it's not too restless .
I feel the same when we get the early evening screaming bouts, it's so upsetting . I do think it's improving a bit though .
I did the wardrobe thing too , must be a new baby thing ! Gave away all mat clothes except my dungarees and a pair of black skinnys to my sisters friend . Had a big clear out too . Doing the basics in the house though .
Is everyone keeping their baby clothes in case of another ??
Would love to do what you did Hugh and not find out the sex but if it was a boy there would be so much to buy !!

Your night ( not too restless ) obviously Carol xx

Well my DB is getting married at the end on May and I know they are trying after that so was going to ask them if they want me to save anything. I know we aren't having anymore so if they don't want anything there's a preloved baby shop in our town centre I could give to.

We haven't had that many screaming sessions just today really so hope it's not going to be a daily occurrence

Yes I'm keeping the baby clothes in case of another, even though I declared "never again" on the day I'd given birth! DS is my first and I've always said I want two.

I will keep my maternity clothes too, apart from one or two bits I didn't wear much and am unlikely to wear again.

Impressed by those of you who have cleared out your wardrobes... I've been wanting to sort my clothes for a while now (I'd put away the clothes that didn't fit while I was pregnant and want to get them out again to see what fits and is suitable for breastfeeding) but haven't got around to it!

Hehe it really must be !

Hugh I just did a couple of hours while she was sleeping in her bouncer . It was ok to be fair I'll prob try keep on with doing that for now but long term I'm unsure .
You don't want an even number then

Also I know what you mean it's quite smothering isn't it just children and people everywhere .
My house definitely isn't MIL clean I know that much and I don't know when I can do the bits that make it that way !

Keep wearing tight jeans which aren't the best for tummy but struggling to think what else to put on which is weird because I lived in tights and dresses while I was pregnant .

0-3 also snug lengthwise here too I can't believe it ?!

Hi everyone, feeling better today after a solid sleep from 1am - 7am. Feel like a brand new person! Dh had him overnight.

Really in awe of all of you getting on with cleaning and thinking of working from home etc! My day is mostly spent with LO, trying to catch up on sleep and spending time with visitors. We have had a LOT of visitors, taking up several hours almost everyday. Yesterday for example from 5pm - 11pm. It was close family who came from England though and I felt really comforted by hearing others experiences.

I think I have a little anxiety when LO cries so know where you are coming from. I feel helpless and like I should be able to stop him but sometimes we just can't. I've always been quite a structured person with routines and planning so I find the Unknown really quite difficult. The response feeding for example if it's not quite every 3 hours etc. I just need to relax and go with the flow and stop putting so much pressure on myself!

Can I ask how people do the night feeds?

I am doing the following :
As soon as I hear him stirring in his sleep, getting restless and it's approaching 3 hours since last feed I make up his feed. As soon as it's cooled (less than 10 mins later) I pick him up and feed him. Note: he does take the milk but is still sleepy (doesn't open eyes).

My question is that if he isn't ALWAYS finishing the 4oz should I be leaving him until the hunger signs get stronger? Until he is potentially crying and opening eyes and awake?

If so then I guess I should just stay in bed myself until a bit more time passes and then make the feed / cool it and get him up that bit later?

At night I find it a bit more overwhelming when he cries so I've been trying to get to him before he starts wailing. If I make the feed at the earliest cues then I'm wasting precious time sleeping whilst I wait around for him to get more hungry.

After writing this post I think it's pretty obvious - I need to wait that bit longer before getting up myself after I've heard him stirring. I really hear every single noise though and find it difficult to get into a deep sleep.

I've been making up the feeds and putting them in the fridge in advance. Sometimes I hear her stir others I don't so if I do hear her stir I go get the feed and warm it a little under hot water tap just to take the chill off. If I don't hear her til the cry stage I will still go get the feed and put in a jug of hot water to take up with me, then I'll change her as a bit of a distraction while it's warming a little.

I'm the same I don't like night time cries they always seem louder.

I also find if I change her before or during each feed she sleeps a lot better at night. She has a better night routine than day routine TBH. Has a feed 12-1am then sleeps til 3-4am them sleeps til 6-7am feed

Am still a bit worried she's still on 8-9 feeds a day. I know it's just a guide but the formula says average 5 feeds of 4oz a day

purple
I think it's a good idea to feed them before they start really crying but I know what you mean, it's a tough balancing act at night especially, and I can imagine it's harder to time it right when you have to prepare a bottle. Maybe give it just a little bit longer?
Also if it's any consolation there is absolutely no chance of me doing any cleaning or work (ha!) DS doesn't sleep much and when he does I take the opportunity to eat, shower, express milk, nap, or maybe do some laundry (put a load on, hang it out to dry or tidy away clean laundry). DH has done a bit of cleaning but not loads - thankfully we have found a cleaner who's starting next week! I realise we're lucky to be able to afford one. We've had one before and they're worth their weight in gold

Ah Name that's brilliant I'm so jel haha ! Purple I think just go with the flow , they know how much they want . My LO will not take 4oz yet in one sitting for love nor money so I'm literally following her lead for now as I can see she is gaining weight etc . I know what you mean about hearing every sound at night though , I'm the same .
Carol my DD is no where near that sort of routine, I'm just logging how many oz she has per day to get an idea !

Thanks ladies! Carolann we are still feeding every 3 hours too so 8 feeds of 4oz a day. He is 4w 4d old. It doesn't take long to prepare the feed as I am using the thermos and mixing and then running in cold water/ sticking in jug of cold water to cool it which doesn't take more than a 3-4 mins really. I've made it a goal (silly one) to see if I can get through the night with no cries , how ridiculous!!

Namechange cleaners are the best! We have one at home but staying with my mum at the moment so the most I've been doing is a bit of laundry. Having a cleaner for even 2 hours a week really keeps on top of things. Fully recommended!

I should say the last few nights have been thankfully better in terms of ds being awake / unsettled. He has been up for feeds and straight back down - apart from an unsettled period after the 10pm feed until the 1am feed but this isn't every night now.

I would love a cleaner, think I would have to tidy up first lol!!

Currently shopping for a washer dryer as we only have a washer and no room for a dryer.

DD is unsettled again this evening, think she is a little colic-y not screaming tonight though which is good, still fighting going to sleep

DS has wind, not sure I'd go so far as to say colic, but he's been unsettled over the last couple of days, is clearly uncomfortable and struggling to fart/poo, and prefers being upright or on his tummy. It's hard work because there's no quick solution is there?! You can only try and comfort them and get them in a more comfortable position. It's tiring at night though - breastfeeding is so much easier because I can do it lying in bed!

I've ordered some Neuner's Baby Stomach Tea in the hope that it helps - we shall see...

Is anybody using a baby tracking app? I'm crap at remembering anything, what time I last changed her nappy, when she fell asleep, what time she woke, when she last fed and how much etc....

I use it to see how much sleep I'm getting as well especially during the night OH always asks me did I get much sleep today/last night and I would never know which my app lol

Carol
Yes I'm using the "MyMedela" app to track breastfeeding and nappy changes. It's a bit of a faff, but as you say it's really useful when you don't have the mental energy to remember! It's also useful for DH and I to see if and when the other person has done a nappy change - we both have the app installed and use the same account.

Oh and actually the app was invaluable for getting his tongue tie diagnosed. Because I was tracking the time spent breastfeeding, I could put a number on it (7-9 hours in a 24 hour period) and when I told the breastfeeding counsellor she said that was more than usual and then checked him for tongue tie. It was good to see the time reduce after we got the tongue tie divided because we could tell it had been worth doing.

I love my tracker, can even put milestones and activities on it, i.e bath nights