February 2019 babies - thread 1

[Celebelly]

Let's go ladies! Share your tales of cluster feeding, cracked nipples, poo explosions and sleep deprivation!

@Yakadee anything other than a quick cuddle is totally off the cards. Too bloody tired and sore to even contemplate doing any stuff. DH hasn't even suggested anything but I think he knows what the response would be if he did! So no it's not just you and don't feel guilty. I think most woman struggle to feel sexy for quite some time after giving birth.

Thanks @maxiflump1. He'd obviously never pressure me etc he just doesn't seem to understand why I wouldn't be interested. To be quite honest, after a day alone with two kids (the older of which has had to bad nights with his asthma) I'm desperate to just chill on the sofa with an ice lolly!

I obviously still love him but my mind is just elsewhere at the mo. Plus, with putting our house up for sale it's been all go in general x

When would people say they were ready to be intimate with DP/DH's in previous pregnancies? Or anyone feel ready anytime soon? I had a EMCS 18 days ago, and everywhere just says wait until you've been given the all clear at 6 week post partum check but I was just wondering since it's in the discussion?

@bethandfreyaruby - with my first, I had a terrible labour and I took a LONG time to heal down below so I think it might have been 6 months or so. I've had a section this time so obviously that would be fine but just not on my mind.

X

Yakadee- oh gosh, I'm glad your recovery is going better this time then!
I feel like it's too soon being barely 3 weeks post partum as (sorry tmi) I'm still bleeding, but I feel once the bleeding has stopped, I would feel comfortable with sex, but I'm just worried about my scar! Argh, anyone else help!?

@bethandfreyaruby if you feel ready then there's usually no reason not to try (unless there's a medical reason). With my first I was 8 weeks pp. As well as feeling ready there's the issue of finding a time when your child is asleep for long enough!

Lanalawr- oh yes, we have a 2YO DD so know all about trying to find the time 😂 funny how you forget all this bits of post partum life until you do it all again!

Omfg....my little one hasn’t settled since 4pm this afternoon. It’s been a constant cycle of feeding, burping, soothing and changing nappies! She seems to snooze whilst cuddling but wakes up the moment I put her in her moses basket!

She seems really agitated so wondering if it’s trapped wind? I have been burping her after each feed but doesn’t settle her for long.

She also hasn’t had a dirty nappy since Tuesday so not sure if that’s part of the problem?

DH back at work today so I’m just getting used to it being me and the little one during the day!

@bubblybrit we had similar last night and it was definitely poop related. Tummy time on me with a light back rub for baby and cycle
Movements of the legs got us there eventually, he had pooed in the day so wasn't sure what it was until he had 'relief' I actually felt sorry for the boy boy!

Those in the BF know, do the poos settle down?

Had DS2 weighed for his 3 day check yesterday and he's only lost 7% weight which is great, he's feeding well, lovely colour and LOADS of wet and dirty nappies. I mean several poos a day. Midwife assured us they can't poo too much, but it's so different from my experience with DS1 who'd lost 12% by day 3 and didn't poo at home until he was a week old.

To be honest it's kind of annoying at night time as it means several nappy changes which disturb him, disturb DS1 etc.

Once his tummy grows naturally, will the gaps between poos get longer? Or is it completely baby dependent and he's clearly just a poo'er?! His poos are typical BF poos and sometimes I don't even notice until I check (unless I hear/feel him do it) as they're not even v smelly.

@babyp160. How long did it take your baby to poop after cycle movements etc....she settled for a few hours but that’s me up again....think it’s gonna be a long day!!

I'm wondering about getting a sling so that I can actually get myself fed and do washing up etc! I have no idea what to look for, any recommendations? Don't want to spend too much in case I don't use it much. Had a look on JoJo and wondered about this one? www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/d6748.html

@detachablehoof some of the holds in that carrier are worrying!

I would say the best sling for a newborn is a stretchy wrap like this one:
Hana BAMBOO Baby Wrap; Standard | Light, lush and breathable baby slings | BAMBOO-Cotton-Elastane | FREE SHIPPING (Dusty Navy - light navy) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00S17F3WY/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_SluECbJH1DKS7

Or a close caboo. Both use the same type of approved hold (baby's legs in an 'M' position) but caboos are less fiddly if you aren't confident tying your own wrap.

Do you have a sling library near you? You could hire one and get advice before spending out. Our library hires carriers for £5 a fortnight

This is a list of the sling libraries. You can put your postcode in and see if there's one nearby. Not sure if it has all of them though so you might be better off with google

www.babywearing.co.uk/local/

Thanks both for the tips. I'll see if I can find an online library I think!

@detachablehoof I'd recommend going to a sling library. You could ask on your local Facebook page if you don't know of any libraries locally. Online ones are good but if you go to a local one you can try a few carriers and be shown how best to use them then hire one or two to test for longer. I didn't feel comfortable tying my own wrap with dd so borrowed then bought a close caboo for when they're little (using it with ds now). I then borrowed and later bought a buckle carrier (beco Gemini). I didn't know about that one until I tried it. I also discovered at the sling library that the carrier I would have automatically bought without trying I actually find really uncomfy to use. They're all really personal so it will be what fits you and your baby best and what you feel confident in using.

Exactly what @lanalawr said. I have a stretchy wrap for now. Will get a new soft buckles (integra) in a month or two. I also ended up with something I’d never have chosen otherwise and had a baby Bjorne to start with - would not recommend.

4th feed of the night. Well. Since 11pm. I forgot what the cluster feeds were like!

DS2 is feeding A LOT in the night too, although I don't feel I can complain too much as the last couple of nights the feeds are short, 10-15 mins, quick settle for 5 mins on my chest then he's straight back in his snuzpod, no fuss.

Tonight he slept for a 2 hour block, fed, a 1.5 hour block, fed, then thereafter it's been a 1 hour block of sleep between each feed. He's only 5 days old so I'm quite happy tbh as it's the relentless attempts at putting him down, him crying, having to feed/settle again etc that I find difficult. I just hope the blocks increase as I find once you're getting 3 hours sleeps between feeds, it's 100% manageable and you don't even feel tired.

@Lookingforadvice123 that's similar to here. Every time I put him down in the Moses basket her stirs. I managed 2 hours with him on my chest so may just cave and sleep that way for a while. Partner worries about it but he's been asleep since midnight!

Avoiding this is exactly the issue we’ve been having! In our case it’s me who’s nervous about chest sleeping/bed sharing but we are managing with a combination of the above plus repeat attempts at putting her down in the Moses basket (without success so far). But you’ve got to sleep!

Avoidingmarking he was like that his first 3 nights at home but the last 2 he's totally happy to go down, makes such a difference. My DS1 was the same the first couple of nights so we just tried all the tricks: hot water bottle on mattress before putting him down, he's in a Woombie blanket so his arms aren't flailing, and we have the Ewan deluxe who is amazing in fairness. We've also been putting him down in the Moses basket in the day, which is hard as I'd love to just hold him asleep in the day! But worth it for the better nights.

So tonight I've technically had 6.5 hours sleep, ha. Certainly doesn't feel it though when it's that broken!

Same here with feeding. 20 day old managed nearly 3 hours then been up every hour since for minimum of half an hour. Think he's struggling to poo too, so he's crying out and stopping feeding. Hard work but luckily my DD is out at grandparents so I can try sleep after he's gone down again! (hopefully!!)

@detachablehoof I have a Boba. We went to a lovely lady called Mel that runs a sling library called Wrap A Hug - she has a Facebook group with videos of all the slings. We tried quite a lot but the boba felt the most comfortable and I found it easier that the caboo. It’s a bit tricky to learn but have been for a few walks with her now. I’d worry about longer trips just in case she’s super upset and then I couldn’t put her down in her pram but it’s nice for the park. I haven’t worn her much at home yet though.

Is anyone who is FF feeding more than the guidelines on the packet? Erin seems to be ahead of the curve. She is 75th percentile but I’m worried we are overfeeding her.

@powkin dd was formula fed. Sometimes she was having more than the packet suggested, other times less. It's just guidance. How is Erin's weight gain? Are you feeding on demand?

How long did it take for your babies to get back to birthweight (particularly if they were on a feeding plan)? Ds lost 14% by day 5 so we're on a feeding plan. He started to put weight on but is now losing again despite increasing the number and volume of top ups. He's almost 3 weeks. I don't know what to do now but will go to bf clinic on Tuesday again.