May 2017 #16 Sleep deprivation, mumnesia and first smiles

[crazyzooo]

New thread to celebrate the small things (like first smiles and eating steak with one hand), commiserate over the less fabulous stuff (poonamies, vomit eruptions and wind spring to mind) and someone to talk to at 4am

[1004Rise]

@dreamofhungarianlanterns good plan on eBay for dresses, I keep looking at my wardrobe trying (and failing) to work out how I can feed in any of it 😖 My DH has had the same confused look with the nursing tops I have.

@mrspage1985 he's gorgeous, I can't believe how small a new baby looks and baby Rise is only 4 weeks 😱

@Sonnet18 good luck with being that functioning person today, that sounds like a hard night!

@Rockyroad17 baby Rise had those white spots too, they went away on their own she only has one or two left.

@MissMooMoo cord stump came off within the first week or so, if it's not leaking or smelling I guess it would be ok. Guess it's just more proof that they're all different!!

Hope everyone has a good Monday, hoping for no rain!! 🤔😊

[Acorncat]

Thanks for the poo info, as I suspected I think we're heading down the road of food intolerances 😫. After 2 years of having a restricted diet while feeding DS I had everything crossed that this baby wouldn't be the same. Oh well, it's less daunting this time round.

We also have the squirming and grunting after a feed at night. I have her cuddled in next to me and rub her back which helps and she does stay asleep which makes me wonder if it's sore or not.

[Sipperskipper]

missmoomoo baby sipper's cord stump came off quite late - she was over 3 weeks old (she is 4 weeks today). MW & HV weren't worried at all.

Here's a pic - she smiles all the time now!

[mightymouse76]

Awww love the pics!!
@MissMooMoo mini's cord stump only came off at around week 3. We were keeping it totally dry but the midwives said it was important to wipe it (we use water wipes) to clean it daily, then ensure it's dry before dressing. Apparently It's the wetting and drying that encourages the separation. It fell off about 3 days later once we started this

[Rockyroad17]

Thanks all for the comments on the spots - little rocky (pebble?!) seems to have fewer today.
Seems to be one problem after another though. When sitting up LO's fontanelle has been slightly sunken on two occasions. Drinking regularly and is doing lots of wet and pooey nappies. Should I be worried? At what point do I worry? I know they naturally should be concave but it's hard to know what isn't right!
@sipper what a cutie... those smiles definitely make it worthwhile, eh?!

[savagehk]

1004 there's a fb group called can i breastfeed in it.

For me at first special bf tops are great, later on when feeds shorter and you're more confident it's easier to hack feeding in most clothes. At the moment I'm wearing a top where i can pull a boob out the top, but i feel far too exposed to do that in public (except perhaps with a scarf/muslin/etc as well). I prefer something that keeps me clothed above and below the nipple!

[savagehk]

1004 there's a fb group called can i breastfeed in it.

For me at first special bf tops are great, later on when feeds shorter and you're more confident it's easier to hack feeding in most clothes. At the moment I'm wearing a top where i can pull a boob out the top, but i feel far too exposed to do that in public (except perhaps with a scarf/muslin/etc as well). I prefer something that keeps me clothed above and below the nipple!

[crazyzooo]

@1004rise I use my normal tops with a cheap Primark vest top in a size larger than normal underneath (in a matching ish colour). Then I pull one up and one down and that covers almost of my boob even when feeding in public.

@rockyroad as a first time mum who is making shit up as I go a long I am probably not one to offer advise. However, spots+fever (or just a fever) would make me go to the GP just in case. Hope It's nothing to worry about.

[MrsJW15]

@MissMooMoo baby W lost hers on Friday I think so day 15. Midwife was very relaxed about it. We haven't been discharged either as she's not yet at birth weight.

Baby W does quite a lot of squirming and grunting at night too!

Currently loving the H&M nursing vests. My boobs aren't massive and I'm wearing them with just pads no bra. Haven't been out much though!

Although we are out today - baby W has had her first tube trip!

[Tickyboovicki]

rocky could also baby acne which Freddie had, cleared up pretty quickly though!

Congrats mrspage! I second the request for newborn pics, my boy seems huge already!

Northern that is a gorgeous picture!

Another one with a very gassy breastfed baby here! Huge old man burps and farts, loud enough that I regularly ask my husband if it was him or the baby!

[1004Rise]

@crazyzooo I cannot master the one top up other down, I end up with too much boob out 🤔

I've got a few floaty nursing tops which I like cos I can hide in them, however if they all seem to end up in the wash at the same time and then she's sick on the last one.... there is on in particular that I think she has taken objection to because every time I've worn it there's been a disaster! I think it's the impractical part of my pregnancy brain that thought oh I can wear all my non fat clothes again without thinking about boob access issues.

Thanks for the steer on the Facebook group @savagehk I've asked to join 😁

[teainbed]

That's a lovely smile @Sipperskipper !

I also do the vest top thing although my sister gave me a few nursing tops too. Though I find them complicated with the holes and flaps of fabric to try and poke your boob out of.

Don't worry about the fontanelle in a well baby that is alert, feeding, weeing etc,

BabyTea is doing ok, am breaking out the age 3-6 month clothes now. He's not chunky but so long! He's desperately trying to suck his thumb which I think will be a good thing when he can manage that.

[Rockyroad17]

Thanks for the reassurance @tea - good to hear! I have a long baby too - already looks big on my lap when I'm feeding!

I find the maternity bump covers to cover your belly are useful too - kind of like having the camisole but no need to pull it down iyswim.

[Paige84]

4+1 with this gorgeous wee mite today and don't know if it's just hormones or lack of sleep or that I really am a bit pants at the whole mummy thing but I'm finding today a struggle. He's only just fallen asleep for the first time since 6am, he's gaining weight well (6,9 born and 8,6 currently) but he wants to be attached to a boob constantly and screams (actual blood curdling screams!) if I try to distract or soothe him to sleep another way so I'm considering giving up breastfeeding as I'm sure I can't be filling him up bless him. I'm also still not allowed to put him down to sleep so find that on days like today I realise it's mid afternoon and I've not had anything to eat or drink yet today as the entire day has consisted of feeding, burping (quite windy), changing, pacing, crying (both of us!), singing, bouncing and then a moment of relief when he drops off. Has anyone else had to stop bf as not able to satisfy the tiny ones needs??

[MrsJW15]

@teainbed baby W constantly has her hands in her mouth and has got Judy her thumb in a few times. I think she'll be better at self soothing when she's mastered that!

[BouncingBlueberry]

@Paige84 I feel your pain re feeding. My milk doesn't come quick enough for my chap so we do a mix of formula and expressed. He has the formula first then has expressed for pudding. I wish he could have all breast but as long as he is growing and thriving then that's all that matters.

[Rockyroad17]

@paige don't give up. Your body produces enough as shown by how much weight has been gained! I have had a day very much like yours. I'm just telling myself it gets easier. Maybe he's at the point where he's feeding for comfort? My LO hasn't had a decent sleep today so I am off for a walk hoping a buggy trip will get baby sleeping.

[Rabbitykins55]

@Paige84 I keep having similar thoughts/issues. Yesterday I felt like all I did was feed. I feel like I have a major wobble every week. Today I was so concerned that I wasn't producing milk that I expressed a tiny bit just to prove to myself that I was. Have you tried seeing if there are any breastfeeding drop in/support sessions at children's centres? There are quite a few near me that I've found on Facebook, might be worth a try? Hope you feel better soon!

[Sipperskipper]

paige baby sipper was attatched to me for 48 hrs straight - screamed if attempted to put her down! I was about to give up bf too but mw suggested she was comfort sucking and to try a dummy. We did and problem solved! Hasn't caused any issues with bf and means I can actually put her down sometimes / other people can cuddle her!

[teainbed]

@Paige84 there's no problem with formula if that's what you want. But as others have mentioned plenty you can do if you want to continue breastfeeding. It's worth mentioning you could end up with other issues if you make the change, constipation for instance. The problem is you never know before you do it! You might have a full, happy, contented baby on formula or a windy, constipated misery! Sorry that's not much help.

[teainbed]

@MrsJW15 that's impressive! I wonder if BabyTea has actually managed it a few times as I've heard him start to stir in the nights and then some chomping noises and we've woken an hour later.

BabyTea is also a bit of a milk monster as I've described before. Essentially breastfeeding is 'working' because he's feeding well, putting weight on etc no issues with latch or anything now. But it still doesn't mean it's easy.

[savagehk]

Doesn't sound like you're not making enough. If that were the case he'd be complaining when latched. So perhaps comfort (ie dummy could work) or just wants closeness and you smelling of milk triggers the desire for a nipple! Will he settle in a sling for his dad or on his dad?

[Paige84]

Thanks ladies. I think I'll try a dummy. Before he was born I was certain I wouldn't give him a dummy (but what the hell sid I know at that point?!) he does seem to be there primarily for comfort at times. After my post earlier I gave up on trying to put him down to get things done and just gave in to it and thankfully he slept on me for a full 3 hours and he's woken up in a much more jovial mood :) he's had a normal feed for about 40 minutes and is napping again so fingers crossed! Again, thanks for the input, this parenting thing makes you question everything hey!

[1004Rise]

@Paige84 I'd definitely try a dummy, works well for us (now I worked out when she's just looking for comfort) saved our sanity in the car at the weekend when she was objecting at the top of her lungs to being strapped in and stopped at a red light. 🤔 I definitely find that when she's over tired me cuddling her doesn't help because she looks for boob as comfort, if I give her a dummy she settles quite quickly. Then (because I don't actually like dummies) once she's solid gone I take it out and she stays asleep 😊

Whatever you try it will get better and if you decide to switch to formula remember that's ok too - fed is best!! 🍰☕️

[1004Rise]

@Paige84 ooo cross post, glad he's calmer now!