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

[teainbed]

Sometimes you just have to do that @Paige84 and then everyone ends up better rested and less frantic. Glad things are more settled now.

[MrsJW15]

@Paige84 parenting makes you question everything. I'm constantly worrying or wondering if we should do something differently!

Successful trip to Westfield today - although everything takes ages when you need to get lifts up and down and have to stop twice to breastfeed and nappy change. Londoners, Westfield (I was in Stratford but I'm sure it's the same in white city) has a wonderful parent room with changing tables, feeding areas, somewhere to heat baby food etc. I was very impressed!

[crazyzooo]

@1004Rise I am very small of boob so the slightest bunching of fabric acts as camouflage!

@paige84 I find the articles on kellymum, le leche league and the milk meg really helpful when I am having a "doubting myself day"! Basically, as far as I understand, babies sometimes suck all day to up-regulate your supply, if they need more for a growth spurt, minor illness etc. So chances are it's perfectly normal (if somewhat limiting what else you can do) if he is otherwise well with normal nappies etc.

[Paige84]

Thanks crazy I'd not heard of the milk meg. Loads of brilliant info on there!

[mightymouse76]

Morning all! Hope everyone got some sleep? Any sleep? Ok yep thought so

Thought I would post observation re wind and infacol. We've been using it religiously for about 3 weeks (we're 5 weeks tomorrow), and son has been farting like a windy old man when he wakes up from sleep.
We went out at the weekend for a day and forgot it- within 24 hours we were back to the bad old days of inconsolable red faced squirmy crying and a distinct absence of farts, despite much straining. We spent yesterday winding him furiously and got back on the infacol, and he's been trumpeting away in a more relaxed state since. Not perfect, still cries a little and grumbles when farting, but he's consolable during this and at least it's coming out. So I think infacol does seem to work here if given before every feed, or every 2 hours during a cluster session. Now we're old enough for gripe water I may give it a go as well- any experience of it here? Never got to grips with coleif due to prep (I'm not that organised yet)

[newbieho]

@Paige84 you have my sympathy. I would agree with @Rabbitykins55 and suggest a visit in the breastfeeding group pr seeing BF consultant. They have helped us a lot.

Baby newbie has got a tongue tie snipped yesterday and my nipples are in less pain already. Now we need to follow post op massages advice and keep an eye on the latch as the baby forgot how to open his mouth wide.

Has anyone got an experience with lip tie treatment? The NHS consultant at Kings said they don't do it.

[1004Rise]

@crazyzooo I used to be small of boob too.... I think part of my problem is not know what to do with all the extra 🤔

We had a really hard bedtime last night with proper screaming, that I couldn't do anything about except hold her and wait for her to calm down a bit. I never knew something so small could make so much noise. I just felt so helpless 🙁 She eventually did a mahusive burp and fell asleep like someone turned her power supply off and then was fine for the rest of the night. Because she's only really windy in the evening I only remember the infacol halfway through, thinking I may need to set an infacol alarm for about 8.30 🙄

It didn't help that my back was killing me, I think I had her in the sling too long in the morning, I don't have the core to carry her in the sling for any length of time, so if I can't get her to sleep in something this morning she's going in the pram and we're walking somewhere...

On the plus side she did sleep for more than 4 hours.... parenthood is definitely swings and roundabouts! 😣😣😁

[Rabbitykins55]

@mightymouse76 some sleep! please send more!

We've just started on gripe water. Seems to be doing the trick, he burps just by moving him now! Proper old man ones! We've been syringing it in, I got two from the pharmacist in boots. It's much easier than expressing fur colief. The bubbles in his tummy are less noticeable too.

[Walkerbean16]

hi all! i love that this group is still going so strong and reading about/seeing all your little ones! we are on day 10 now and Isabelle is just perfect! sleeps well, feeds well etc! she doesnt really burp much but gets painful wind down the other end so have been trying infacol which seems to settle her.

i have been looking at slings/wraps but I'm pretty clueless! was looking for something for the school run (DH has gone back to work already as ge os self employed :( ) so would need something i can do up on my own easily. has anyone got any recommendations?

hope you are all well!

[teainbed]

@Walkerbean16 gorgeous pic, what a cutie! I have a Hana carrier which doesn't need any wrapping or anything, but I do have a stretchy one too that does.

Hmm sleep, maybe next year.

Felt really exhausted at one point during that night and was worried I was going to drop off whilst burping BabyTea. I actually gave him some expressed milk last night as a top up and whilst he guzzled the lot it didn't actually result in any more sleep. So it was a useful exercise in reminding me that if nothing else!

Reasons to be cheerful, he's getting up at the same time each morning and is fairly happy for a few hours awake time which means I can do breakfast, shower and make packed lunches. He mostly goes back to sleep in the night after being fed. We not have much wind or tummy problems except a bit of possetting. He's putting weight on and seems happy mostly. He doesn't cry much. All fine for 8.5 weeks.

But being impatient I would like to stretch the night sleeps a bit longer, have some consistent naps and a slightly earlier bedtime for him.

[CoxsOrangePippin]

@walkerbean16 we have a normal stretchy wrap (a yogabelly one I think is the name) and I'm surprised to find I can actually get baby into it fine solo. I flop him onto a shoulder while I put him in so that all his weight isn't in my hands. But like @1004rise I don't yet have the strength to keep him there long.

[CoxsOrangePippin]

I wanted to share something I'm finding useful -
NatureBond Silicone Breastfeeding Manual Breast Pump Milk Saver Suction | All-In-1 Lid, Carry Pouch, Air-Tight Vacuum Sealed in Hardcover Gift Box. BPA Free & 100% Food Grade Silicone <a class="break-all" href="//www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LZ2ZVCY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_z35pzbATE8CSG?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">//www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LZ2ZVCY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_z35pzbATE8CSG?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

This little pump/cup thing, you sucker it gently onto a boob eg on the other side while you are nursing. I like it because it isn't a machine and it doesn't require work like a manual pump, you just stick it on. So I just use it now and then while nursing and collect a couple of ounces each day so DH can do a feed while I nap

[newbieho]

@CoxsOrangePippin thank you for sharing the link, looks interesting. I have saved a link and have a look.

@Walkerbean16 gorgeous baby 😍 Have you got sling library in the nearby? It may be worth paying them a visit and trying different slings with the baby before buying anything. I have stretchy hana wrap that baby newbie is getting used to.

@teainbed Sleep my preciousss, where are you

[Walkerbean16]

thanks tea and cox i will have to try some out. we have a preloved baby shop in our village and i noticed they had some close caboos in so i might try that first to see if i get on with it.

i have breast shells which are similiar to that pump cox they collect the milk but can be fiddly to get out without spilling milk all over baby! so that one looks fab. im also getting about two ounces off the other side every feed. i have a full bottle in the fridge, a full ice cube tray and a bag of decanted cubes! i dont know what to do with it all!

[Walkerbean16]

newbie i had never heard of a sling library! we have one in my city but they are only open monday mornings for two hours so i have missed them this week! but thanks for the tip i might pop along next week.

[Tickyboovicki]

@Walkerbean16 I have a caboo and love it! Baby is super comfy and I have free hands! Loaned one from my local sling library and brought one super quickly after

[MrsJW15]

@Walkerbean16 we have a close Caboo which is pretty easy to put on once you get the hang of it. Miriam loves it and falls asleep in it pretty instantly.

@CoxsOrangePippin that looks good. I often leak from the side I'm not feeding from!

Baby W is great in the day and fine once she gets to bed but evenings are terrible! Last night she fussed and fed from 7pmish until about 1.30am! I got about an hours sleep around 11.30 while DH held her with his finger in her mouth. Then she did another mammoth feed and fell asleep on me about 1.30 and I was eventually able to get her into bed. Makes us actually eating pretty difficult plus I'm ready for bed before she is! I don't know how to get her to sleep in the evenings!!

[Rockyroad17]

So... fathers day coming up. Anyone got any imaginative and clever ideas (preferably something online) of gifts that I can steal to save me from having to dig my creativity out of the box it's been in since around April?

[1004Rise]

@Walkerbean16 if you haven't got a sling library near you (or you keep missing it like me) you can also try this website www.itsaslingthing.co.uk/ they hire slings out and will post them to you. So far we tried two stretchy wraps (preferred the joy & joe one, less stretchy material) and the close caboo. Think we'll buy a close caboo in the end just because it's quicker to fit 😊

@Rockyroad17 I just bought this www.notonthehighstreet.com/creategiftlove/product/personalised-the-day-you-became-my-mummy Not on the high street has lots of things, I think my creativity went in a box on January so I needed inspiration too!

[teainbed]

BabyTea has randomly decided to have a decent morning nap for once. Twiddling my thumbs here....

[mightymouse76]

@teainbed quick!! dive into bed!!!! That's what I'm doing
Eye mask going on straight after this post!!

[MrsJW15]

Rocky I bought a first father's day babygrow from notonthehighstreet. Loads of stuff there!

[jennymac31]

Afternoon ladies.

Just when dh was getting over tonsillitis, he's managed to do something to his knee and can barely walk. We were planning on going to the zoo later on this week and he's supposed to be going to a stag do on Saturday so not sure what's he's gonna be like over these next few days.

Baby nate is doing OK. We went to a baby & mums coffee session this morning and ended up having lunch with some of the mums, which was nice. Think I'll probably be going to a few more groups this week just so dh can rest.

Hope you're all doing OK.

[1004Rise]

I know it's often said, but sanity does lie in fresh air! Went out on my own with baby rise in the pram for about two hours, she slept for most of it only getting grumpy in the last 15 minutes. Must walk faster! Think I might be hitting the painkillers later... just don't tell DH or I'll get in trouble!

She's definitely more windy today so had the infacol out a few times 😕 What's the difference between infacol and gripe water? Is one better than the other?

[1004Rise]

Today's random question, for the first time I feel like having a glass of wine.... what's the advice on alcohol when breastfeeding? I've found too much confusing info by googling 🙃