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

We've used calma but only twice. Yesterday she took to it like a duck to water, today she got the milk in her mouth and spat out like she didn't like the taste?!

@savagehk no, not being able to drive and the fact it's only on once a month near me means I've missed it (or was still pregnant) but my problem is my core doesn't support my lower back which therefore doesn't support my shoulders and upper back so after about half an hour with her in the sling I have pains down the middle of my back as if I'd been slumped over a computer all day 😖

@RedBlu well done for carrying on so long! Sounds like you're making the right decision for both of you.

Didn't think about coconut oil for dry skin, I might try it the next time she has a breakout 😊

Reading with interest the bottle discussion... yet to buy any 😉

Why oh why when I have a silently sleeping baby am I wide awake at 12.30 am??? I'm not the slightest bit tired 😖 Tomorrow isn't going to be fun (well today really). 😳🙄😴

@uptown8617 we've used calma, avent and como tomo. The calma is odd but more like a boob with the need for baby to suck. However oh is convinced he takes lots of air with it. I'm not so sure? I like the como tomo but they're pricey.

@Rockyroad17 I tried sudcrem, Vaseline and am now on Johnsons, which cleared up the first bout of nappy rash really quickly. It's back now as we stupidly forgot to take cream with us out for a day... if this stays stubborn a friend has sworn by bepanthan (spell check!)

@RedBlu I hope you feel better very soon. Expressing is such a faff so I admire you for getting this far. Onwards and upwards!

@BouncingBlueberry do you think the neighbours will mind me hoovering shortly? If mini responds like that we're going to have some seriously clean floors 

@1004Rise I do hope you've conked out already! I'm just starting the king night shift after a stint in the spare room.

@EsmesBees The heat stresses me out too. We're in a vest suit and socks here- will pop a blanket on later if it cools down. Midwives said to me better slightly cold than too hot, and it's stuck with me!

@mightymouse76 We are vest, nappy and blanket tonight. Jacob is always warm. Not sure what we'd do if we got proper night time heat that you guys down south get.

@BouncingBlueberry I'm hoping he's inherited my 'always cold' genes!

Is anyone else here snacking terribly during night feeds? This late night biscuit and fruit munching can't be good for me..:but nuts just don't do the trick?

Hi all, we're still in hospital, it's rather warm so baby page was put down in vest and blanket but just feeding now and I think I'm going to leave blanket off for the rest of the night as he feels quite warm

I will join u in the bad snack through feeds, I'm averaging half a pack of cookies per night

Cannot wait to leave tomorrow and take our boy home!! X

Also hungry at night! I try to stick to a plain biscuit if possible. During the day I have the most incredible chocolate and cake cravings, which is very unusual for me but I think it's just tiredness and breastfeeding related!

I'm hungry all the time! I weigh less than I did before I was pregnant and I feel like I don't stop eating. 😣

I did finally get to sleep but we were up again at 4.30 and I haven't gone back to sleep.... thinking I'll hit a wall at about 2pm! 🙃

Glad you're getting home today @mrspage1985

I'm convinced baby Rise has inherited her dad's never cold genes, can't keep a blanket on her for more than five minutes. Thankfully not suffering from overly hot nights so sleeping bag is still the best option 😊

argh! im struggling to get much done today! everytime i put Isabelle down she will wake up 5 minutes later screaming like she is in pain but as soon as you pick her up she is fine so im pretty confident it isnt wind pains. so annoying i just want to wash!

have promised my children at work i woukd pop in with her today so as long as i can get dressed before 2 I'll be fine

@Walkerbean16 but she is gorgeous so you have to forgive her!!

Just had a mammoth catch up whilst bubba sleeps on me so here goes!

@Rustler74 my OH had also had MH issues in the past, and we were both surprised by how affectionate and emotional he has been with our chunk! He absolutely adores being a daddy, but struggled with going back to work and feeling like he was missing out. We got around that by making sure we do think where he feels like he gets to bond (like swimming classes at the weekend!). The main struggle for him is when the babies really inconsolable, and he feels like he just wants me more than him. But we've had a lot of conversations about how it's just the smell of milk can be comforting, and making sure he has lots of positive interaction rather than me just handing him over when I need a break. He did say the other day that there's no support for dads, but I get all the midwives/hv's etc so I'd be interested to see how you get on!
Had a bit of a knock the other night, as he's been having him with a bottle ever now and then while I go to the cinema with my sister, but on Monday night he wouldn't take bottle, wouldn't stop screaming and OH ended up ringing me to come home. When igor back he was so upset, and said it was because it was him and the baby hadn't bonded with him/didn't want him. Had to give him so much reassurance but the main thing that helped was when the baby did it again the next night with me, and was just as inconsolable 😂

raspberry sorry to hear that you don't feel you are coping! I felt exactly the same but it did lift after a few weeks so fingers crossed for you! You know this group is always here to listen 😊

claire your hv sounds awful! Our children centre has a breastfeeding support group (run by my hv) and when I went there were two women who were formula feeding for various reasons, and they fit such good advice and reassurance!
Hopefully you have something like that you can use.

Whoever mentioned the mum and baby coffee group, how did you find out about that?! We just have baby music classes etc that the chunk is a bit too small for still, I think he gets a bit overwhelmed!

@1004Rise congrats on the house offer! So excited for you. We've also been getting dry skin on chunks face but it's clearing up now 🙂 if hv isn't worried just give it some more time!

We have tommee tippee bottles which seem to mostly go down well 🙂

I know while the babies asleep I should go and get stuff done but he's so warm and cuddly I don't want to move just yet!

Also I am loving all the baby pictures 😍😍😍

Morning (again!)
Seeking advice again- last two to three days have been tough tough tough- baby freaking out squealing after feeds, and for quite a while in between. Feed durations in the day are becoming shorter- he's been rooting despite finishing a feed a boob feed an hour ago.
He is doing a lot of swallowing when we lay him down, but very little posseting or puking. He squirms and cries when having a poo or farting, and can be really inconsolable.
A bit like what you describe walker but even when we pick him up he doesn't stop.

Thinking this might go beyond wind now....maybe silent reflux?? We will have our 6 week check up next week but even that feels a long way away as he seems in so much pain during the crying...he roots for comfort I think, too, hence the feeds coming closer together. Either that or I'm not making enough milk? I have him in the sling now and he is still freaking out...

Hello everyone....
Mammoth catch up after a 2 week break from the threads!
I tend to find gripe water helps too end and anything else helps bottom end. And with gripe water being so thin it's much easier to give on a medicine spoon. Baby will drink it.

I have a stretchy wrap that I tie every time. Found it easier to get on than a caboo, but def recommend a library if you can get to one. I also didn't know they existed before this thread- managed to find one and have now purchased!

Baby wish is now almost 8 weeks old - with DD I didn't drink at all when BF. With this one I have already had three separate occasions where I've had a drink. It hasn't affected DS at all and I'm EBF. I've only had one drink each time though.

Tickyboovicki - I had mentioned the mothers and baby coffee session, which was really nice. The mums were really welcoming and we all stayed to have lunch, as the session is run in our local pub. Definitely think I'll be going to the session on a regular basis.

Just out of interest when you ladies attended your ante-natal classes through the NHS, did the midwife make a list of everyone's email address so people could stay in touch? Am hoping to meet up with some of the mums from my ante-natal class next week.

I'm trying to make sure that I get out of the house with baby nate most days because I know it will keep my spirits up, as am conscious (fearful) that I might experience the depression I had after dd was born.

Another sunny day where I am and just gonna chillax before heading out for my physiotherapist referral session on divarification to see what state my abdominal wall (and umbilical hernia) is in after having baby nate. Don't suppose any of you ladies have had this referral session?

Hope you're all well xx

@mightymouse76 it could be, I would formerly have labelled that a growth spurt although the Wonder Weeks stuff says it's growth, developmental leaps and needing you more. Sometimes you end up trialling reflux medication like Gaviscon or ranitidine to see if it makes any difference. I doubt it's not having enough milk, are you EBF or mixed feeding? If they're cross and rooting after a feed you can just keep switching sides, even multiple times, it's crap because you can't get anything done but it doesn't usually last longer than a few days.

@jennymac31 I did with DD1 it was quite good. They assessed the gap and showed you the exercises to do to close it up.

@mightymouse76 baby rabbit does that too, it's colic for him. He gets in such a state with the pain and there's nothing I can do to console him. Gripe water seems to be helping.

Oh, I missed some thread!
We have tommee tippee bottles. DD last year wouldn't take them so we used a free mam that we sent. Turns out she was just being picky and day 2 of being at nursery used the TT's without issue. DS has had 2 expressed feeds in a TT with no problem.

I don't get out of bed to feed and don't take food into the bedroom - I find this helps with nighttime snacking! I make sure there's water to hand though.
I also HAVE to have chocolate each day. I go a bit sad if I know I can't have any! Need to find something healthier but nice to eat!

DSs umbilical cord fell off within the first week. We had bathed him already by then though too!

We went shopping last Sunday as I broke a pair of my well loved jeans. Next have some new high rise (sit on my actual waist) relaxed skinny fit Lycra jeans. They fit amazingly and I feel fabulous. They are £35 but have made me feel so much better! Advertised as 'figure'

For those of you worried about feeding enough - there was a post shared in the fb group about hands - if baby's hands are still bunched up into a fist after feeding (even if fed to sleep) baby is probably still hungry. If baby's hands are loose and relaxed baby has had enough milk and is probably just looking for comfort. I'm sure whoever put it up can pop it on here?! I thought it was fab.

My 6 week check was also pointless. With the exception of confirming my future contraception.

There was something else I wanted to say but I've forgotten.

Hugs to all. xx

Mighty I was at the gp this morning for silent reflux, with similar symptoms to yours. Though it's linked to food intolerances for us so I'm hoping it'll go once I cut out dairy and soya (😫). She's started on ranitidine which I hope will help, didn't bother with gaviscon. The gp wasn't very clued up unfortunately, she just went along with what I was saying.

Very unsettled here, spent all day yesterday in the sling so my back is killing me now. Feeding endlessly with screaming in between.

For nappy rash I use Weleda Calendula cream. It's gentle but seems to work.

mighty, acorn, rabbity, teainbed I hear you! This baby likes to do snacky short feeds to cheer himself up because his wind is painful, I think. I know I have lots of milk so it isn't that, my guess is that his gut is a bit messed up by the multiple antibiotics I was on - he has had slight diarrhoea for days poor thing.

Jealous of you guys with hot weather. It's decidedly chilly here. My heating is still coming on morning and evening to keep the little pickle warm.

Is anyone else struggling to come to terms with their post-baby body? I just feel like it's not improving (and I'm somehow gaining weight) whilst others I know from my antenatal class look amazing already! I've even considered stopping breastfeeding so my boobs will hopefully start to shrink so I look less like a blimp (they ballooned from 34C to 36GG) 😳

I'm also struggling to get DH to understand what it's like for me, day after day, with interrupted and limited sleep and no choice over what I do as baby and his needs come first. For example, I've been getting DH to do a formula bottle at bedtime so I can get a bit of an earlier night and he has to deal with settling the baby. I then do the rest of the nights feeds so he get uninterrupted sleep when at work (even if it's only 6hrs of it). Tonight he got in a grump because I didn't want to stay up after baby has had his bedtime bottle and have a glass of wine. He will also do things like come home from work and just potter around doing whatever takes his fancy eg weed the garden, rather than help me with the baby. Or if he does have the baby he's constantly asking for my help to do things I'd have to manage on my own, e.g. The baby pee'd on the changing mat so he asked me to clean it as he was holding the baby. I'd have to do both on my own during the day! I've tried talking to him about it but I feel like he doesn't grasp how much life needs to change, mainly because I've had to change my life so much it hasn't impacted him directly as much.

Sorry - guess it turned into a bit of a vent. It's just hard to come to grips with it all.

@jennymac31 that sounds amazing! Haven't heard of anything like that around here 🙁

@Barnes79 my relationship with my body is a weird one at the minute! I've lost some weight so am back to what I weighed in May last year (before I lost weight for my wedding) but my body is totally different which I am struggling to come to terms with! Trying to focus on improving my self esteem and fitness as I know that will help, so once I get the all clear from the doctor that it's ok I'll be going back to pole fitness, and I've persuaded my sister and cousins to run tough mudder with me (I was registered last year then found out I couldn't run as I was pregnant!) so it gives me something to work towards!

Also my other half is exactly the same, wants help doing things that I feel like he should be able to do alone, and doesn't seem to have the same priorities (coming home and choosing very random diy jobs that aren't hugely beneficial). But I have to just keep reminding myself that he hadn't had as much practice at baby jobs, and is just trying to make the house perfect for us all now we've moved on. Also need to remind myself to talk to him rather than bottle it up!