February 2019 babies - thread 1

[Celebelly]

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

@mummymummymummummum that's sooo helpful. Thanks for sharing. I'll contact the head of midwives.

I'm not sure whether to complain about the Dr or not. She hurt me so much and I felt so out of control when I was begging her to stop and she didn't. And she was so rude and condescending to me. But I realise that she had a job to do and I probably wasn't being very reasonable (in my defence, I had been in labour for about 55 hours by that point!!)

They were lovely lanalawr. Not judgey at all. They weighed DS2 again and he's put on 3oz since his weigh in Friday and is now back to birth weight, despite having only put on one ounce in the previous week. So that was a bit of a boost.

In terms of how much he's feeding though they basically just say it's normal/he's just comfort sucking some of the time, and to take him off if he's not swallowing, try a dummy etc. We've been managing as DH is still off (although I'm barely having time to shower etc!) but it'll be a different story when he's back in work next week as it's not fair on DS1 for me to have a baby attached to my boob 24/7.

We're going to give him a second bottle today, at bedtime, and see how we do from there. I'm taking the pressure off a bit as I've spoken to a few people who BF and their babies seem to be similar ie wanting to be attached to the boob all day. Even when they're older!

since2016 I have a great pair of transition "jeggings" which I bought last time and wearing now! They're the Eden ones from Dorothy Perkins, where I never normally shop, but they're cheap and comfy and do the job. Just buy the next size up!

detachablehoof that sounds horrendous, I would definitely request some kind of debrief/reflection as it may play on your mind otherwise.

I'm glad they were good today @Lookingforadvice123. They said the same to me about the comfort sucking/feeding. Fab news about the weight gain too!

@mummymummymummummum is there a reason you can think of that they would refuse to let you see the notes while still in hospital? If it makes a difference the notes I asked for were my labour/delivery ones from when I was on the consultant unit but I asked when I was on the midwife led unit postnatally. Sorry for hijacking!

@lanalawr If nobody was available to go through them with you then that would be an issue. Also they may need to go through and check and see if anything needs redacting first, depends on their procedures.

Thanks @mummymummymummummum. I didn't necessarily want anyone to go through them with me but I guess they might not have realised that I was happy to read them alone. I know it wasn't busy at the time though. I'm going to request a meeting anyway because I kept having flashbacks of ds being taken off me and having oxygen but I don't feel like I know why things happened.

@lanalawr They wouldn't be able to leave you on your own with your records. Partly so you can't amend it or remove anything.

Random one....

Those who have their hair dyed

And are only breastfeeding

How!?!

I was very sensitive when pregnant so had a allergic reaction to the test patch when pregnant but my roots are soooooo long now!!

Our hospital give you your notes as standard on discharge.

I have had a debrief abd been offered trauma counciling also. Well worth it if anyones looking for answers. I also got told shoukd I wish to have more children they will counsil me through tbat also.

I have been breast feeding all night and all day! She is finally asleep on Daddy.

So we introduced a bedtime bottle of formula as well as the middle of the night one last night, DS2 slept 10pm until gone 2am and then 2:30am until 6am, his best night yet. Don't think I believe that it's a coincidence

babyp160 yes good question! My roots could really do with doing and I'm BF only in the day. Think I'll just wait until DS2 is having more bottles a day. Could you find a mobile hairdresser maybe?

I forked out for two Elvie handsfree cordless pumps that go inside bra seeing as I'm still pretty much exclusively expressing, bar a breastfeed or two a day. Game-changer!!! I can pump while getting stuff done around the house and even when out and about. Cost a bloody fortune though - so much for breast milk being free

DD slept last night from 11-4:45. She will never ever do this again I can guarantee it. But it was amazing (unless of course I fed her at some point and forgot 🤪)

Re hairdresser- mine comes to my house thank god. Game changer!

@Since2016 and @Lookingforadvice123 there must have been something in the water last night! Mine also did his longest ever sleep: 10.15-02.00 and then 02.30-05.30. Probably a one off and not expecting a repeat tonight!

@maxiflump1, @Since2016 and @Lookingforadvice123 you guys are so lucky. I'm getting ready for bed now to get a head start before the cluster feeding behind again. Wish me luck.

It's not going well so far; I changed her happy and she peed mid change. I picked her up so she wouldn't get wet and she pooed. Ok got the nappy on and she pooed and now she's feeding. 😣

This auto correct is stupid I know I spelled the words right and it still changes them! Happy = nappy, behind = begins

Oh dear @DeliberatelyGinger! Wishing your night gets better! My DS is now nearly 7 weeks and the sleep has gradually increased. Cluster feeding is tough though: make sure u have lots of tea and snacks lined up!

Oh feeling for you Ginger. DD cluster feeds all evening usually on and off. I’m in bed now and DH is at the gym. I’m expecting anhideous night now! Hope things improve xx

Hello all, wondering if I could join you?
This is Rowan, born 13th Feb by ELCS weighing in at 6lb 14. I've also got a 2.5yr old and I enjoyed chatting on his MN postnatal group during night feeds back in 2016.

Hats off to all of those persevering with establishing breastfeeding, I did the whole bf/top up/pumping routine with DC1 and it nearly broke me! Hence why this time round baby R is having formula.

Glad some of you are starting to get a good stretch of sleep at night, it makes such a difference. R was doing similar stretches up until a week ago but he's started having reflux issues so it's taking about 1.5hrs to settle him after a feed and it's really upsetting to see him distressed with it. Serves me right for telling people that this baby is much easier than my first! Am taking him in for weighing tomorrow so hopefully he's keeping up with weight gain.

Detachable I got copies of my notes after a difficult birth with DC1. I had to pay about £30 but it was easy to do by emailing medical records and they posted out a form to send back to them. I just had to send copies of my ID and babies birth certificate. Some of it was difficult to read and it helped me fill in some of the blanks but there was lots that I remember that wasn't documented anyway. Didn't give birth at LGI but am also in West Yorkshire! Are there a few of us in this neck of the woods?

Anyone else feeling really run down post birth? I'm on my third cold in 6 weeks and the lack of sleep isn't helping so feeling generally bleugh. Looking forward to some sunshine soon.

deliberatelyginger DS2 cluster feeds all evening too, well to be honest he would all day too if we didn't leave the house. He starts early in the evening, 4-5pm, and then will feed up until 9-9:30pm, including having a small bottle of expressed milk in that time (whatever I've been able to express that day. Usually 1-3oz), and then just before bedtime he will have 3-4oz of formula! So that shows how hungry he is in the evening.

Last night he slept 10pm-3:30am though. Heaven. I think he then slept 4am-7am which is brilliant. He doesn't seem to settle back down after though which is different to DS1, and a shame as it would make life easier in the morning!

@sunday38 - hi - your lo is gorgeous!

My lg has been great but last night was a little unsettled so wondering if I've jinxed us too!

You sound in a similar boat to me, I have a (just turned) 3yo and I'm ff too.

Also, we've all had this stinking cold! Defo looking forward to the better weather x

Got the HV coming out today for DD 6wk check. What can I exspect? Unsure whats the HV domain and what to leave for dr for our postpartum check next week. (& the dredded needles too 😢 that im not looking forward too tbh)

@Notquiteagandt - they pretty much just had a chat about how we were doing, how much she was eating etc then weighed her. X

Welcome @sunday38 Rowan is gorgeous!

@Notquiteagandt HV will probably weigh baby and talk to you about feeding etc. They will also want to talk to you about how your feeling and signpost you to services such as children's centre and local baby groups. As with everything some are better than others! When I asked mine anything specific she told me to raise it with the GP at my check up. You may get a more knowledgeable one though!