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...

What's a sleepyhead?

Considering buying a swing, anybody have one? Reccommend?

Will that make me a lazy mum?

Carol

A Sleepyhead is basically a glorified cushion Well, it's a small mattress with a cushion around it, and it's meant to help small babies sleep because they feel more cosy and secure. I didn't see the point at first but DS would wake up every time we put him down, until we got the Sleepyhead and put him in that. Now we stress out if he's sick on it or leaks wee from his nappy and we can't use it while we're washing the cover! (And I refuse to buy a spare one as they're hideously overpriced too.)

I don't have a swing but if you get one you are most definitely not a lazy mum! If you feed, change and generally care for your child you can't be a lazy mum

Interesting name. Does the magic cushion work better than just swaddling? Tbh I would gladly throw money at the problem if I thought it would help.

And carol of course you're not lazy! Looking after a newborn is so intense. We need all the help we can get.

Good question Daphne, we didn't even try swaddling him We probably should have done that before forking out for a Sleepyhead!!

We were unsure about swaddling as DS seems to like being able to move his limbs, but I suppose that's often what wakes them up isn't it?

Also decided to buy a sling carol , I'm buying one off a friend who never used it . It's a Mamas and Papas Morph baby carrier . I was reluctant to pay a massive amount as I'm not sure how much I will use it . Just worried about pushing the pram for the school run with the stomach issues .

We had a baby moov cosydream but she didn't seem to like it.

Might go swing shopping tomorrow

Why not I say

I think it is but it's internal so until I get the scan I'm not sure . I hate going to doctors and hospitals and get really scared . Hoping it's not something that involves being opened up again .

Wow that's really good (bar the 5-9 bit) I think we can get 4 hours straight sleep at night sometimes but other times it's 2.5 .
Ah your DCs sound lovely . I'm not too patient either tbf my eldest has always been good really.

I don't think ds would ever sleep without being swaddled. The sleepyhead sounds good though because I think he'll soon be breaking out of the swaddle.

mother I have a stretchy sling it's an absolute lifesaver

I have a swing that a friend gave me. DH put her in it when I had to take dd1 to the dentist last week and she loved it.
Friend that gave it to me never used it as her dd didn't like it, but they didn't try her in it till about 3 months.

Started my DD on Infacol today, she was curling up screaming in pain this morning, then she let out a big trump and settled then a few minutes later she curled up again, went on for about 30 minutes

Was considering getting the sleepyhead but I don't think it'll help cut down the night feeds and that's what's difficult??

The feeding schedule is erratic

Saturday
10.15pm - 5oz
Unsettled / no nap
12.30am - 2oz
Nap
3am - 5oz
Unsettled
5am - 2oz
Nap
8.15am - 5oz
Slept
12pm - 5oz
Nap
3pm - unsettled
4pm -5.30pm - 5oz
Nap
7pm - woke crying / hungry
7.40pm - 5oz
9.30pm - 11.30pm woke crying / hungry - 3oz
12am - still unsettled 3oz
1.45am - hunger cues in sleep but not awake
4.10am - 3.5oz
Nap
8am - 3.5oz
Nap
10.30am - 2.5oz
Nap
12pm - 2.5oz
Nap
1.30pm - 2oz

I don't know whether I'm coming or going, sometimes I'm making too much milk and other times not making enough, when i think I can get a nap in and nod off he awakes straight away and other times when I expect him to get up soon so I don't bother going to sleep, he sleeps for longer.

Finding it really difficult.

That's sounds really frustrating and tiring purple

Hope your LO can get into some sort of routine for you

x

He had a few nights where he was just feeding and settling and although the feeds were every 3 hours (so say napping for 2 hours) and it was exhausting, it wasn't exhausting as this!

He takes on average 20-30 mins to feed but the problem seems to be wanting to feed small amounts more frequently. We started offering 5oz because he always finished the 4 and sometimes wanted more, but now he is having 5oz sometimes and dribs and drabs other times. Do you think we need to go back to offering 4oz and he might revert back to having 4oz 3 hourly? Maybe the 5oz is throwing him? Difficult to say as each few days the routine just changes!

Sorry for the self obsessed post, felt at the end of my tether before! Mother I hope you are feeling better with the wound. I tried the post partum belt for the first time yesterday which you recommended, it felt quite nice. Do you put it on as tight as it can go?

Carolann, no swing. Glad the infacol seems to be helping, long may it continue ! It has a progressive effect so do give it at every feed.

Since giving her a dose with the past 2 feeds she seems a lot more comfortable and has had full 5oz both times. So will be something I continue

Hope your LO has settled a little for you today purple

Mother when are you back at the docs/hospital?

purple
No need to apologise at all, you weren't being self indulgent, and this is the perfect place to vent as we all understand! It's so tough isn't it? Big highs and lows. Hope things get a bit easier for you (and anyone else who's struggling) soon.

DS is 5 1/2 weeks now and seems to have slept more over the last couple of days, fingers crossed that continues! But he is still very unsettled from about 3.30-4am onwards, needing frequent feeds and cuddles and barely sleeping, and then doesn't have a decent nap until late morning, so that's hard work.

On the up side I was brave enough to take him into town by myself for the first time today - desperately need nursing bras and wanted a fitting to make sure they're the right size. DS was awake but calm for most of the time which was a pleasant surprise!

Thank you. From what I posted does it sound quite familiar to you guys or not? Just trying to gauge what's normal and what isn't. Dm keeps telling me this is normal, she has been helping loads. But if this is normal then when will it end?? Can't even think about going home yet and managing it all by myself when dh is at work. At the moment dh is off on annual leave and either he or dm have been helping at nights / doing the nights to allow me to sleep. A friend whose baby is 4 months said he has ONLY just stopped the 3 hourly feeds during the night. I'm trying not to think
Ahead and not going to put myself through forcing myself to go home until I feel either better able to cope with the lack of sleep or LO has some sort of manageable routine. There is such a big difference between 3 and 4 hourly feeds. I envy those who say that the LO goes for longer during the night, maybe 5 hours but is maybe still 3 hourly during the day.

5 weeks old tomorrow.

Has anyone read the Gina ford new contented little baby book? Thinking of getting it. Any other recommendations?

I think I would get comfort from reading something. I'm not good with the 'unknown' and although dm has lots of experience with children and tells me he is very small yet etc I think reading a guide would help.

Sorry purple the only book I read regarding pregnacy/baby was dummys guide to pregnancy

I'm looking forward to a 4 hour sleep as well, think I've got a wait though LO 3 and 1/2 weeks

purple I've read it. She has a lot of good advice so it's worth a look, but I'm not sure how feasible her routines really are. They're very regimented so not doable at all if you have older dc.