February 2019 babies - thread 1

[Celebelly]

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

I could have written the end of your post myself @Notquiteagandt. How do you do it with more than one? This morning I had the baby crying while I was trying to get the toddler ready for nursery. I started feeding him when toddler was more or less ready to go but we still had 10 mins. I had to end the baby's feed early to get out the door so dd wasn't late for nursery though. He always seems to want a feed at drop off/pick up/dd's meal time/dd's bedtime.

Thanks all, I was doing a Muslin that had been in my top so might try that. DS2 settles well in his bed after a feed if DH holds him for 10-15 mins, but he doesn't with me, so that may well help.

He's very different to DS1 at this age - who went on to be a fantastic sleeper but also was a sleep thief at this point - who would sleep for a bit longer (only 2 hours ish mind!) but would take an age on a feed and then AGES to settle back down. So I was probably still only getting an hour sleep in between myself. Whereas DS2 will literally feed for 5-15 minutes in the night and settles back easily (with DH, not me!). So it's pros and cons I suppose. Not sure which is harder!

We were always going to introduce one bottle of formula at 2 weeks anyway which is Sunday night. Might see how I feel later on about bringing it forward a couple of days.

It sounds crazy but I'm adamant DS2 gets the same, if not more, time of breastfeeding as DS1 did.

Leaving the house - everything prepped the night before if it’s a 10/9/8am departure. Otherwise, gradual getting ready and ensuring enough time - 20 mins before actual leave time to feed baby. And trying not to stress or flap - it makes everything worse!

Thanks all who replied to my post yesterday. I feel way better today. I think I'm just really bad at coping with a lack of sleep. Last night was much better - she did a three hour stretch, awake for 2.5, then asleep again for two hours. And I had a nap this morning too. Then got my sister to come and watch her while I had a shower (first since Tuesday 😱) and tidied up the kitchen. Feeling a bit more in control!

I've only left the house once by myself and that was to walk to the shops with the pram. Not sure when I'll dare take the car out! Thank goodness for online shopping!

DP is back to work on Monday after a month off and we have baby sensory class at 10.30am, so it'll be my first time driving since C section and first time going out properly alone with baby. Bricking it! Will have to get up at 5am to be ready in time

Emma is finally starting to latch on and feed! But it's really sore on my left boob, so we are just doing a mix of BFing from right boob and then pumping and bottle feeding. It seems to be working - she's getting too big for newborn stuff now!

A has had her tongue tie snipped this morning. Her latch was awful (nipple only), though she was gaining weight. We shall see if it helps improves her technique. I've been given some things to try.

I think we've been really fortunate to have it done on the NHS. It has only been 5 days since I asked for help with her latch. All the people I've seen have been really supportive and friendly.

@Celebelly I loved Baby Sensory with my eldest! It's the one class I'm adamant I want to do this time with A. I've been deliberating how soon to start it.

We got a three session free trial and had our first last week! I really loved it. Not sure how much Emma took in but she was gazing around a lot and it was nice to be out and around people. I think we will probably sign up after trial. We also have baby massage and baby sign language starting next month too so we will be busy bees!

That's the best way I think @Celebelly. I made it my aim to get out the house every day. Classes/groups were a good motivator for that goal. I'm not driving yet (11days PP) so will hold off signing up just yet. I've been research baby and toddler groups for the days my eldest isn't in nursery😱

I just know that if we don't have stuff that I've paid for and committed to we'll end up barely going out or putting things off to the weekend. This forces me to put my big girl pants on and get us out and about!

That's good news about tongue tie! Emma has an awful latch and a posterior tongue tie so going to speak to HV to see if we can get it looked at again and if it needs snipped as at the moment we can only do a little BFing a day as it hurts my nipples, so I'm pumping the rest of the time.

Any c section mums noticing their scar is pulling/hurting at one side?
It seems strange but my left side is sore and not the right!

Is greeny discharge from the baby's belly button normal? Just looking at her belly button it all looks totally normal and healed, but there is always green stuff on the inside of her vest. Her cord fell off more than two weeks ago now?

@Pinkypieohmy The left end of mine was most sore/susceptible to hurting when I moved. I was advised it was from the stretching and tugging when they were getting baby out (which was a struggle apparently, they did have to stretch a lot).

Randomly my right end started hurting too a couple of days ago. Obviously it felt left out!

So baby Ava is 5 days old today! We've had a few mixed nights - first night went well fed at 12, 3 and then 6:30, second night my milk
Came in and we managed about an hours sleep and she wouldn't settle at all!, night 3 11,5 and then 7:45am and she settled straight away, last night I went to bed a bit earlier so she fed 10:30, 1:30 and 5 settled welling, needed dummy and me to rub her head a bit. I definitely think she is sleeping better than my others did, I have to keep remembering she's not even a week old! We invested in a snuzpod and a sleepyhead and I think the sleepyhead is fab as she definitely seems more comfy in it although we have a Moses basket downstairs and she does okay daytime in that too without the sleephead (as it doesn't fit!!)

DH went back to work yesterday and today as he had a project he couldn't get out of! Managed the school run, got quite a good
Morning routine, it helps the kids are old enough to sort themselves out to some
Extent so I get ready while they have breakfast (I make it for them) and brush teeth/get dressed and then I do DD hair and then quickly feed and dress the baby and off we go!! Evenings are a bit more disorganised even with DH home as baby is a bit more fussy in an evening and trying to sort the other three and cook etc etc is a bit of a task but I am sure we will get there!!

@detachablehoof - my girl's belly button is the same, I'm hoping it's normal! I took her to get it checked out a few weeks ago and was told as long as it's not red and smelly it's fine. She's going to have an 'outtie' too because of how they cut the cord x

For those struggling with showering / getting ready etc I’d recommend a bouncer upstairs - I have a baby Bjorne one upstairs and the sound of the shower / hair dryer settles DD instantly - worked the same last time! Only way I can get myself and 3 year old dressed and ready!

Re classes. Not sure I’ll bother tbh. We’ll see. DD is only in nursery 2 days and I have so much to do on those days I don’t know when I’d fit it in! Defintely need to look into other classes or activities for DD1 though as the park is a bit limiting! Just adjusting to sleep deprivation I think! 4 weeks yesterday / it has FLOWN!

So Margot loves those black and white books. She will focus on them for ages. So feel they help her eyes. So I thought I would see if the library had any (it did. Lots of them so we joined and borrowed some) but the lovely lady there gave us a bookstart pack. Worth grabbing one as its a little book bag full of board books to keep and free. Librarys and health visitors clinics have them.

She is becoming way more alert and awake more. Feel like I should be doing more with her now to stimulate her.

We also had weigh day today and she is now looking to be consistantly gaining and following her 2nd percentile line. Which is such a relief! Feel like each time shes weighed a huge stress is relieved. Finally growing out of some of her tiny baby clothes.

@yakadee I keep anxiously sniffing her belly button, but it doesn't smell! Fingers crossed it's all OK then!

@detachablehoof - ask your hv. Mine is coming next weds so I'll check with her. High temp is a sign of infection too so watch out for that too x

detacahblehoof it was the smell that told us something wasn't right for DS2, but after what happened to us I wouldn't take the risk, could you see out of hours?

Anyone else can’t stop eating?!!

I’m EBF and sleep deprived and I literally cannot get enough sugar! My poor hips teeth

Meeeee!!

But the breastfeeding support midwife on NICU made sure we ate at least 3 homemade chocolate brownies at our support meetings each week. So it must be ok!

Me! I just ate a whole share bag of Haribo. I did not share.

Are any of you with older children struggling with their behaviour since baby arrived. My normally laid back sweet natured 4 year old has turned into a tantruming back chatting monster over the last few weeks. Think he is so used to having me to himself he's struggling to adapt. I feel bad that I can't do what u normally do with him as usually trapped under a baby so can't play as much etc. I feel so sad for him but also find myself telling him off what feels like all the time. He's really loving toward the baby though it's just us that's getting a hard time!

Maxiflump1- I am in the same boat! DD who is 2 is doing pretty much as you've said as well! I can only imagine how hard it is for them to understand the concept of it all!

Hopefully they settle down, and it passes for both of you!