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...

Hi All , not posted for a while but had a rough one so thought I would pop in ....
feeding routine pffft I need to establish one . She's still doing mostly 3 oz every 3 hours but then is having 1/2 oz here and there when she wants ! It's like I can't get her to drink 4 oz straight off but then an hour or two later she needs more . My eldest DD had feeds every 4 hours like clock work and I really want to get some more stability .
So apparently the midwife said I have a hematoma under my cut . She said it should dissolve but I don't know if I did too much and the fact I wore tight jeans yesterday did something but I was in absolute agony last night . Had to get DP to lift LO out of her crib etc and it's still not much better today . Feeling quite sorry for myself .

My LO is the same, half a day of 3 hour feeds then the odd feed after 1.5 hours! But then she doesn't have a full feed. Thought we had a routine down but then she changed it when she needed more than 3oz. So if she waits the 3 hours she will have the full 4oz.

Might it be worth making up 4oz bottles in case your LO will take the extra with her feed? We were finding that our DD was needing a tiny bit extra and so made up the extra ounce, which she started to take with every feed. She's on 6oz now, at 3 1/2 weeks old!!

We are having similar issues. Usually 4oz every 3 hours but sometimes needs an extra ounce in between and other times doesn't drink the full 4oz and so needs little and often so it messes the routine up. Takes a few feeds to get back to the 4oz 3 hourly. Think all we can do is just go with it

Had an unsettled night/ early morning after a few good days. Exhausted and just planning to stay in bed today. Got an infection in the c section wound which really isn't helping.

Wow lottie I wondered where my little one put 4oz I don't know where she would put 6oz!

I do make 4oz but she rarely finishes it same here Carol I can't imagine 6oz going in one either haha .
I agree purple we have to go with it I guess but it's bloody hard isn't it ?! Sorry you are having wound issues too , it's so frustrating isn't it !
This thread gives me hope because it's so good knowing that everyone is having similar / other issues it stops me worrying too much .
Thanks Hugh and haha about your toddlers I can't even imagine bless you

Hello all hope you don't mind me joining your thread. My dd was born on 2nd April but she was due on 20th March so there are a lot of familiar names here :)

It's been very reassuring to read all of your posts

Yes mother very hard!

Hugh how old are your other dc? I can't imagine having a newborn and other children! Hat off to you. I've been staying with my mum since the birth and can't even imagine going home yet. It's still been exhausting even though she has been looking after us cooking meals and doing the laundry etc and helping out too. I'm hoping I'll wake up one day and just feel so much better and able to manage myself

How are everyone's tummies looking? Mine is wrinkly and jelly like! Not as bad as I thought though.. I was 9 stone pre pregnancy and was up to over 12 stone by the end. Just stood on the scales and I'm 10 stone.

I still have stretch marks below my belly button and have a bit of a wobble but I'm 4lbs below my prepregnancy weight which I'm quite pleased about I gains 16.5lbs during pregnancy and lost 20.5 since giving birth

Hi troodie!

Mother and purple Sorry to hear you're both having trouble with the c-section recovery, hope it gets better soon.

Hugh Yes I've been looking at newborn/family photoshoots and they're expensive aren't they?! I do understand there is a lot of time, skill and expensive equipment required... just not sure whether we can justify it.

purple I haven't weighed myself at all (don't think I've been weighed since I had my bloods taken for the combined screening at 12 weeks!) but my tummy doesn't look great... it has shrunk down but still a bit of a bump and it's very squishy and wobbly! Plus it's covered in stretch marks I'm sticking with the maternity trousers and leggings for now, to hold it in!

I have to say I had a little chuckle to myself at the discussion about feeding routines... it's my own choice to breastfeed of course but it would be a great luxury to have a 3-4 hour break between feeds! I guess whether breast or bottle fed, newborns won't always stick to a routine and might need an extra snack from time to time

I finally tried out my electric pump today and I'm kicking myself for not doing it before! Got loads of milk really easily and now have two bottles worth for DH to give me a break... very much looking forward to the extra sleep!

Hi name my electric pump came today I'm going to give it a whirl tomorrow. Did your LO take the bottle OK?

Yes he didn't take the first bottle we tried but he did take the second one. I advise trying when baby isn't too hungry as my DS gets frantic and upset. And try a different bottle/teat if baby doesn't like the first you try.

Namechange bf is extremely difficult you are doing really well!

Not sure if anyone else found this but I find formula feeding gives babies so much wind compared to breast milk. Although 3 hourly feeds sounds like a luxury trust me sometimes a few feeds just run into each other because he gets windy. He was up from 4am - midday today just feeding, being unsettled and being changed. We were both utterly exhausted (given that he had a similar period from 9pm - 2.30am Just prior) so he had only really slept 1.5 hours last night. He isn't always this bad but does have some sort of episode each day!

Thanks for the tips :)

Poor you purple that sounds hard going. The night feeds are exhausting. I keep reminding dh that when I was pregnant he kept saying he was "actually looking forward to the sleepless nights"

purple my LO has had a couple of nights like that. Last night she woke at 3:25 for a feed then wanted to stay up for another feed at 5 then again at 7. She finally went to sleep at 9 gave me just enough time to have breakfast, a brew and sort out her bottles before she woke again in time for nana visits so I missed my opportunity for a nap. Then the night before was the same

Thank you purple that's really kind of you to say Every time someone in real life has told me I'm doing a great job it's made me cry, maybe the hormones or just the exhaustion?! Anyway FWIW I think we're all doing a great job It is really exhausting when they have a long period of feeding on and off, not sleeping and generally being unsettled... I usually have a bit of a meltdown just before he has one last feed and FINALLY goes to sleep! Anyway hope you have a better night tonight. I'm feeling weird because DH is on duty with expressed milk so I am officially free to sleep until DS has finished it all... I wonder how long it will last!!

Purple you describe my life ! My night / morning were like that last night . Today I made LO take at least 3oz per feed by either changing her or putting teet in her mouth even if she's nodded off part way through . She seems so much more content tonight ! Still couldn't get her to do 4oz though .
Hugh i really wanted a newborn shoot but kind of decided it was too expensive ... plus if I'm honest I would just want my DD's not the DSC so that would be awkward ! I've taken some good ones by laying her on a muslin on the bed though .
Hi troodie gosh you had a wait for your LO congrats !
Well done with the expressing Name ! My pump was a life saver last time round .

Mother - we had a similar night in that he was only taking 1 or 2 oz at a time and so I was pretty much up all night.

When he has 4oz in one sitting ( let's say it takes approx an hour to feed burp change) he sleeps for 2 hours before waking up again and seems much more settled that way. As soon as he has lesss than a full feed it takes a good few feeds to rectify it I've tried changing and also changin feeding positions but when he is deep asleep there is no waking him.

What's everyone's days looking like? Are people getting out and about or just muddling through the days and nights? We've only been out to appts really and maybe 1 or 2 other outings but each day just rolls into the next. We've had lots of visitors though everyday (just the odd day where no-one has come). I've managed to get out for a walk one day only so far so really want to make effort with that. Could've easily gone out today but he was settled for a bit but I just wanted to lie in bed. The stitches/ infection is still sore so that isn't helping.

Should add that he is 4 weeks today.

Purple - I just want to say you are doing amazing. Everyone is!

I don't know if it may help you but I use Tommee Tippee bottles and changed from the number 1 first teet to the variflow teet. Before that, feeds took an hour plus and she would fall asleep as she was working so hard to get the milk. Wind was awful too and she'd end up throwing the feeds up. Now feeds take roughly 20mins (6ozs) and she is rarely badly sick anymore, just a little possetting. I don't know if it might be worth going a different teet a go?

We've managed to get out and about a lot but I think I've been extremely lucky with sleep and healing. My LO tends to only wake for one feed overnight, usually around 4-5 am so I get some rest.

One thing I promised myself while pregnant and stuck to is that if something doesn't work I give up and look for an alternative. I don't know if it will help anyone but I want to say it - have confidence in yourself to change things / make different decisions even against other peoples 'advice'. You know your LO the best.

Eat sleep poo repeat lol that's how my baby's day goes. Trying to get out for a short walk most days. It's not easy is it!

We've been out quite a bit, timed outings after feeding so I know she's full and normally change her half way through a feed so I know she's got a fresh bum when we go out. She loves her car seat, normally asleep within 5 mins of being put in it. Same with her pram if we walk anywhere, I just make sure I keep her wrapped in a blanket when we have cuddles then that goes underneath her in the pram so she doesn't feel the cold on her back