March 2018 newborns

[blinkineckmum]

Not sure if a thread exists already. If so, point me in the right direction.
Here's a place to celebrate our bundles of joy and find support for everything from stitches to breastfeeding, partners and sleep and anything else we may come across in the early days to challenge us!

Great news about the 5 hours! Mine did 4 hours which was great but rest of the night was crap with an early start this morning.

Dd is sucking her hands too, had forgotten this starts around now. Slobber everywhere.

I'm starting to get a bit fed up with EBF. I know it will all get a lot easier once she's on solids but just feeling a bit fed up today.

My turn today. I'm fed up! No sleep last night, baby's jabs today and I am fat! There's another mum at preschool who had her third baby at the same time as me and she is super skinny in vest tops and shorts. I still look pregnant and can't find anything to wear!

Blink...I'm totally with you. Sleep has been very patchy these last few nights...did wonder if dd is teething as I can clearly see two bottom teeth coming up. Likewise, dd has also got her jabs today and dreading it...I know it is the best thing to do but still it's not pleasant at the time. Also, third dc for me and I am very conscious of my weight (I am about two stone overweight); it doesn't help that I cant stop eating and I am blaming it on breastfeeding but also think I am going for instant energy rushes due to lack of sleep and like you, I am very limited on what I can wear.

I've got myself into a bit of a pickle. For me, when I am tired and stressed, I am prone to health anxiety. I am not down exactly, though it can make me feel low because of the worry. I feel like I'm existing in my own little bubble now...I know what's instigated it...it's just unravelling it now and I plan to see GP shortly. Really want to continue breastfeeding up to the 6 month mark (2 months in) but I must admit I am finding it all a struggle. A light period has kicked in also which has aggravated the above...believe it or not, I still feel happy despite all of this, happy that my little dd is here safe and sound with us.

Also, feeling a bit isolated. Popped in at the local baby and toddler group recently. There were loads of toddlers but no small babies, felt quite conspicuous not having a toddler to chase plus everyone seemed paired up/in clichés which didn't help - I think they knew each other through having older children in the same class etc. I did have a chat to one or two people there but it was obvious that I was there for me and not for baby (i.e to get out of the house and eat cake) so don't feel as if I can go every week. My friends in rl have older children - all 8 years plus, not that this is a bad thing but they're obviously not experiencing what I am and have found themselves part-time jobs etc/new routines so not easily accessible and I have no extended family...going out for a walk in a moment, fresh air would be good. Too late baby has woken up for feed!

Jabs today here too! Hope they all get on ok tonight.

lavendar I'm a bit the same with the health anxiety I think. It's definitely linked to not getting enough sleep. I worry about dd's reflux and am constantly planning all school runs etc so as to minimise the chances of her waking up and screaming!

I went to a breastfeeding group last month. It was fine but I'm not too pushed about going again. I'm not that great with groups tbh.
Food wise I'm grabbing what I can, freezer stocks of soup etc finally run out! I'd say I've about 7-8 pounds to lose, not too bad but don't really feel like myself either.

Anyway we are all entitled to moan when we're so tired, we're all working damn hard!

Planning to lose the weight when I finish breastfeeding in 4 months if all goes to plan - hoping to get a bit more exercise in then too. I lost 2 stone pre-pregnancy so I know it can be done - it just takes a lot of willpower I currently don't have.
dd is tetchy following her jabs today she likes being close to me in her sling at present.
Would like to have attended our local breastfeeding support group but cant face the 25 minute drive or the relatively early start at present but would probably feel better for going...we'll see.
Glad this thread is here...the ante-natal thread was immensely supportive.

I’m fed up too! Had another physio appointment today to check my mummy tummy and she thinks gap between my and abdominal muscles may have closed a bit but only about 1 finger less so still 5cm wide gap at navel. I’ve been doing the exercises every evening which isn’t easy with two dc. I’m still looking 5 or 6 months pregnant, tummy all bloated. Getting fed up with only fitting into maternity leggings and dresses. Normal Jeans (even 3 sizes bigger) cut right across my tummy bulge and it’s too sore to wear them. I’m annoyed at looking so pregnant and having nothing to wear! I know it’s vain but urrgh.

I keep having to tell myself that baby makes it all worthwhile!

I did finally get around to registering the birth today, literally at 6 weeks exactly! The registrar said that we were the last baby born on that day to be registered! But is nice to have that all sorted and we even had lunch out, me Dh and baby after we’d been to registrar so that’s nice.

Hope all your babies are ok after their jabs x x

Probably one of the worst nights on record with baby last pm, not helped by an awful nightmare. Feeling sort of spaced out today...as if I'm going through the motions but not entirely with it. My pre-schooler was there at my bedside this morning..."Come on mum, time to get up," etc. I have a sense that the world is happening around me today but I'm not properly part of it. Sleep is so important, I can function much better with it!
But yes Vicky, I tell myself that baby does make it all very worthwhile and there is no way that I would be without her.
Having two older dc's makes it much harder to have a break but nevertheless, at least I don't have to do the morning school run yet! (Older dc is independent and my pre-schooler does afternoons, plus dh does 2x morning school runs). The afternoon school run forces me out for a walk which I do enjoy.
So much I should be doing today but kicking back instead...hope tonight brings a bit more sleep...

Sorry to hear about the sleepless nights and tummy troubles.
I had my follow up appointment after my bad tear today. All healed well but they were very concerned about my lack of pelvic floor muscles. I didn't know they were that bad. I thought I'd been exercising them but I must be doing it wrong.
Now I have been referred for physio as they said I'm at real risk of prolapse... scary!
Hope everyone's well.

VickyLou, what help are you getting for the tummy muscles? I still look pregnant so googled this problem. Just done the home test and I have 2 finger gap below naval and 3 finger gap above! Really worried now...

Oh no, sorry to hear about all the tummy muscle issues, no idea if I have this issue or not...nothing was said at my 6 week check...

Google nhs diastasis recti. There is an easy test you can do at home to check.

Oh no @blinkineckmum sorry to hear that you have diastasis recti too! I was referred to physio by midwife when I was pregnant as I already had it from my first and I knew it had separated even worse by about 25 weeks pregnant. I was in a lot of pain with my tummy. Now since the birth I’ve seen physio twice and she’s given me exercises I do every evening to try close gap. I’ve another physio appointment in 2 weeks time.

If I were you I’d ask GP to refer you for physio and see a women’s health physio/specialist for the pelvic floor issues. Thankfully the pelvic floor exercise also helps the DR and vice versa. Be careful not to do any sit ups or planks etc. Running also big no no.

Good luck!!

Thanks for that. I will have physio for weak pelvic floor so will ask about it then. Not sure how long I have to wait though. I think I'll phone the docs I saw yesterday and as their advice.

How is everyone doing today? Dd is 11 weeks today. She seems quite hungry so maybe approaching a growth spurt? Also not interested in napping more than 30mins a pop and we still have no bedtime routine. Usually it's 10.30 or 11 by the time she's asleep for the night. That said she slept 11-4 last night which was super.

How are you all feeling?

Halfstar 11-4 is fantastic. My ds is 11weeks and 3 days. He had a couple of really unsettled days and nights where he fed every 2 hours. Last night was a little better - he slept from 11-2 then to 540 then 815. Hoping it was a growth tandem he might sleep a bit better now.
It is warm here and ds is definitely not a huge fan of the heat. He is living pretty much in vests atm. Or short sleeve rompers.
I feel like I am just feeding constantly atm. I go back to work in just over 4 weeks and wondering if I should try and give him more bottles to get ready. He gets about 1 bottle every couple of days.

Hi Halfstar

I feel envious of your 11-4 sleep - the most dd will do is a 3 hour stretch and I feel grateful for that! But I believe dd (at 9 weeks) is teething as we can clearly see teeth in her gum line. Sometimes she sleeps for a while during the day but by this time. if I have had a rough nights sleep, I feel too shattered to function very well and usually end up taking her out for a walk in the pram so at least I get some fresh air.
Don't want to wish time away but it all feels very intense at the moment mainly because I am breastfeeding...I plan to do this up until the 6 month mark but I can't say it is a complete joy. I know things will get easier (dc3 for me) but I have also felt the change from going from 2 dc's to 3 and dividing my time etc. and this is taking a bit of getting used to.
I had a C-section and I think I over did things a bit today - I am having a few twinges which are probably muscular - didn't realise how slow recovery would be, I am so used to lifting and carrying etc.
Other than that, I am happy to have dc3 here, no more pregnancies for me and I have a lovely family that I thought I wouldn't have at one point x

Hi Lavender. Well dd didn't repeat her good stretch- just got 2 hours there tonight! It's all very random. I'm breastfeeding dc3 too, it's so full on. I think maybe we might try a nightly bottle from 3.months. thing is, I've said this with each dc and then it's not happened because it's easier not to/we get lazy. But I feel it would add some structure so want to do it. I fed the others for over a year, I'd like to do a year (or close to) again. Dd3 loves breastfeeding but yeah it's constant.

I'm guilty of wishing the days away a bit but I'm not going to beat myself up about it. I find things much easier once they're on solids.

Smurf, you're back to work very soon!

I go back full time for a week but then I'm off again for another 6 weeks (I'm a teacher) although I am going to go in a few days or prepare stuff from home during that time so I am ready for the new term beginning. By the time I go back properly age the summer ds will be 5 and a bit months. Unfortunately we cant afford anything else.
But I am lucky in that my mum is a child minder so ds will be going to her

Another 2 hour stretch for me last night. It feels relentless but yes, it does get better at 6 months when they start to take on board solids...it's easier knowing that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Smurf...that's great that your mum will be looking after your dc. I gave up work mainly because of lack (well no) family support and I do miss the social interaction and mental stimulation but there are positives to being at home too. My hobby is writing - I have written a novel but need to edit it and it is time consuming...not getting much time to get on with it lately...tiredness is not helping apart from the time issue, so missing that a bit too. It is lovely to see my girls together though...it does bring a lot of happiness x

Wow Smurf, good luck with the return to work! I'm also a teacher but am requesting 15 months this time!
All ok here. Baby sleeping quite well. Last night I went to bed at 7.30pm and got up at 7.30am!
Realised I must be doing pelvic floor exercises wrong as I simply can't stop my wee on demand! Really worried now, but at least it's been picked up so looking forward to getting help! Sorry, not very glam!

It's been a while since I've visited this thread but will catch up when I get time (!).

Quick question though - how often/how long are your babies sleeping during the day?

I'm concerned mine isn't sleeping enough in the daytime. Nights are fine, I can't really complain about them. I just can't get him down in the Moses basket in the day. If I do it's only for a very short time and I have to resort to turning the hairdryer on to get him to sleep - a habit I don't want to rely on. Does it matter if they don't sleep much in the day?

Forgot to say, he's 8 weeks old.

@Clevs I have the opposite issue and worry my DS sleeps too much. He does a 6 hour stretch in the night which is great but he also sleeps about 2/3 hours between each feed in the day. I think all babies are different and need different amounts of sleep but as long as your LO doesn't seem overtired then I would just go with it. One thing I would say is that I started putting mine in his nursery for naps and that made him go for much longer stretched, 2 hours the first time I did it.

Sorry posted too soon. I think napping in the basket downstairs with me was disturbing him and he was only sleeping for 20 mins at a time.