February 2019 babies - thread 1

[Celebelly]

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

@LittleD0t he’s definitely having plenty of both so hopefully I’m producing more than I think I am. I would express and give him what I get out but it’s so painful for some reason when I’ve tried! Thank you 😊

@detachablehoof you aren’t a bad person at all. It is so difficult compared to what you were used to (getting yourself ready). I found it hard when my husband went back to work and getting out of the house to start with was impossible but you do find a new routine. It might be worth speaking to someone just to share how you’re feeling, no one will think badly of you. Does your mum work? Could she pop over to your house more often to give you a bit of a break?

Welcome to the group @Lily311.

@detachablehoof sorry you are struggling. I remember feeling the same with DS1: I just craved some time and space to myself and then found myself feeling guilty for it. On my worse days I wished I could send him back! He's now 4 and the most fabulous little human ever.

I think it's the sleep deprivation coupled with the relentlessness of it all that makes it all so overwhelming. You go from being carefree, being independent and working to being stuck in the house with this thing that is totally dependent on you. I found that once he started sleeping more and started to smile and interact it became a lot easier. It's nothing to be ashamed about and please speak to your health visitor. It doesn't necessarily mean you have PND. R kind on yourself and accept the offers of help. It will get better

@Lily311 Welcome back! Congratulations on the arrival of baby Nora, and I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of her twin.

My son hated the car seat and would scream non-stop the whole time he was in it. I hate to say, it lasted a full year until we put him in his forward-facing stage 2 seat. Sorry not to be more encouraging It was awful, especially the weekly round trips to my mum’s over an hour away! He doesn’t seem to have been traumatised though and now at 20 months he’s absolutely fine in the car.

What sling are you using that’s killing your back at just 5 weeks? Does it have a waist/hip strap or is it all on your shoulders? It shouldn’t be hurting you at this stage, could it be worth checking the fit and/or looking into getting a more supportive sling or carrier seeing as she’s happy being worn close?

@detachablehoof - I get what you mean about being proud. Dint burn yourself out though, I'm sure you're mum doesn't even see it as help. She'll probably see it as bonding time with her grandchild.

My husband struggled with our first to begin with. He has a lot of hobbies that meant he was out of the house a lot. He really missed his me time (he had some other stuff going on too, his dad died in a terrible accident and he hadn't really ever dealt with it) and went to see a therapist. It was honestly the best thing he ever did! He started his hobbies again (albeit less) and felt much better x

Totally normal to feel a bit overwhelmed at the beginning. It honestly does get easier - trust me! I can get myself out of the house with both for nursery run now and do bedtime with both solo - I’m currently sat in dD1s room rocking the bouncer with my foot while I wait for her to fall asleep 😂

It does get easier it’s just a huge adjustment to a new normal. And the sleep deprivation doesn’t help. It will settle down and you will get used to it / find new coping strategies. Some babies are also harder than others in the newborn phases. This one is deffo harder than my first in that she won’t be put down, so I work round it! Loneliness also doesn’t help. Have you got any local NCT groups? They’re fab and v welcoming.

Totally normal to feel like this - it’s just getting used to it! I promise it gets easier - otherwise no one would ever have another 😂

Back up hospital with my c section wound. Had a infection from day 5 and baby is a month old tomorrow and it's opening more.

Shitting myself

@babyp160 - poor you. I'm sure they're going to look after you xx

@Yakadee. How long did it take for the baby acne to clear up on its own?

I've forgotten to take my blood thinner Tinzaparin injections since we got away from our second stint in hospital. So taken as prescribed up to day 5, missed 6 & 7, remembered day 8, but then missed 9
& 10.

Has anyone sought advice for similar? I forgot to ask the midwife today. Not sure whether to just stop completely, or to take the remaining doses over the next few days. I was only prescribed 10 days worth.

@babyp160 hope you're ok. Have you been admitted?

@mummymummymummummum I think o would just continue to take them once a day until they run out just to be on the safe side. I have to take them for 6 week after birth and must admit I've forgotten a few times: I blame the baby brain!

Just got home. They're squeezed the infection out as much as they can and apparently it'll heal now. Bloody killed but on double antibiotics now so should make a difference. Also been given a load of dressings to actually change the and clean myself.

Wish I'd had this care from day 1

My god I'm so tired. DS2 is 11 days old and he's done maybe a 2.5 hour stretch of sleep at night once or twice, the rest of the time it's one measly hour.

I was going to wait until he was 2 weeks old to introduce a bottle of formula at night, like we did with DS1, but I don't know if I can cope with 2 more nights of this, especially with DS1 to entertain in the day! No chance of a daytime nap, not that DS2 sleeps for long in the day either!

Is anyone else still waiting for regular decent blocks of sleep? What I would do for just 3 hours once a night!

@bubblybrit - I actually can't remember? It wasn't that long I don't think? Maybe a month or something?

@babyp160 - glad you're home! Here's to a speedy recovery 🤞

@Lookingforadvice123 - no wonder you're shattered, you poor thing. You just do what you have to so you get through it.

Xxx

@Lookingforadvice123 I'm mainly formula feeding and it has made no difference to DS' sleep: he's still up every 2 hours in the night. I also have a 4 year old to entertain so I feel your pain!

maxiflump at least it means I can share the feeds with DH. Plus 2 hours is still twice as much as we're getting now! He's not done a single block longer than 1 hour tonight. I'm so tired.

Ah that’s not so bad then @Yakadee. I’m probably overly paranoid as I had bad skin as a teenager which took quite a while to clear up!

For those struggling with baby only sleeping for short spells....my little one was exactly the same until recently. I put an item of my clothing that I had worn that day in her crib (right at the opposite end to her and out of reach!) so that she still picked up mummy’s scent when trying to go to sleep. It seemed to calm her and allowed for a slightly longer block of 2-3 hours. I’ve carried on doing it and it seems to work (especially at night). Might not work for all babies but worth a try perhaps?

@bubblybrit - he has beautiful skin, don't worry! X

Thank you @Yakadee. That’s put my mind at ease x

We’ve had a slight improvement following the 3 week growth spurt - more blocks of 3 hours but still have the madness at 3am where she won’t settle. Hot water bottle in the crib helped for the first half of the night tho.

Question - does anyone have a baby that prefers one side? DD has a real preference for my right boob... to the extent she gets quite angry about being offered the left!

In fact it’s the other way round but I am obviously so sleep deprived I can’t tell right from left 😂

Lookingforadvice my ds was like yours horrendous cluster feeding all night .
At five weeks he has just gotten better and I am getting a 2 hour and 3 hour stretch. That’s it though cluster feeding until midnight and then ds1 is up at 6.30.
No advice but just solidarity and it probably will get a little better for you soon

Babyp I hope you are better soon. That sounds awful
I’m sure you will notice a big improvement once the infection has gone for good.

@bubblybrit bit gross but I use washable breast pads. I give these to baby end of day as they smell of me. A friend also got me a soother. Unsure name of it. Something friench. Mum sleeps with it then it traps smell and then you give it to baby. Both seem to help her.

5 wks today. Its gone so quick!

We had a block of 3hrs last night. Feel like a new woman. 😴 shes still massively suffering at night with reflux and wont lie down.

The 1st 2 weeks home (so weeks 3 and 4 for baby) we where out every day here there and everywhere. The last few days though we seem to be all over the place and struggling majorly to get out the house. Unsure whats happened. But its getting me so down. Feel claustophobic in the house.

Had a baby class booked this morning and looks like we wont make it now.

Mums with more than one. Pls give me your tips on how to get out the house before I get cabin fever.....