February 2019 babies - thread 1

[Celebelly]

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

powkin how much is your baby having at each feed? Reflux can cause babies to seem to overfeed because they feed to relieve the discomfort of the reflux, just wondering if it's a possibility? Mine is just short of 6 weeks and we've not had smiling yet so far and he was born at full term so I wouldn't worry about that yet. He also isn't looking at his best atm despite me covering him in moisturiser, DH is complaining that he doesn't smell like a baby anymore because of the lotion!

@powkin sorry you're having a crap day but we are all allowed them! You are not failing your little girl at all it's just bloody hard some days! Re overfeeding my DS sometimes gets through 12 (!) bottles in a day which is more than twice what it says on the formula box but he's clearly hungry (and on the 99.6th centile!)

It does sound like your little one might have reflux. Vomiting and being agitated after a feed are classic signs and I had it with DS1. It was hard work I won't lie. Has your GP suggested this? They should be able to prescribe gaviscon or ranitidine without a paediatrician referral.

A dummy can help with reflux. It settles our DD right down after a feed.

An other one suffering with reflux. The ranitidine has neutralised it slightly so she doesnt scream blue murder each time shes sick now. But is still.v.v.v. vommy. She will feed. Throw up. Feed to fill the gap in stomach, soothe her throat and for comfort. So atm I feel like a milk cow. It is getting better though. Its vicious circle of eat to soothe but makes her sick.

7wks 3d here and yet to have full on smiles. Had the odd is it isnt it smirk. I am not worrying though. Shell get there in her own time.

I'm glad it's not just me who feels like a rubbish mum. My little girl has been so unsettled all day. Feels like I must be doing something wrong. And she's all over the place with her feeds. Wish she was more predictable!

Hang in there @powkin everyone says it gets easier 😉

My lo has been really fussy too, since this afternoon. She's asleep now but hardly slept since this morning! She seems to have eaten loads so not sure if it's a growth spurt or what? X

There's a big growth spurt around six weeks so might explain some of the fussiness. Emma has been fussy on and off for a couple of days and went from almost zero naps during day to really long day naps, so think her little body and brain are working hard!

My hv said to not use products and not bath baby as it can cause dry skin funnily and i didnt shes had 1 bath every 7/10 days until she gets a bit bigger and we hve had no dry skin no cradle cap and no baby acne! Unlike DD1 hmmm

I haven’t bathed my boy yet, and only used water and breast milk on his face... still covered in acne and dry skin 🤷🏻‍♀️

It’s honestly luck of the draw!

@Celebelly - is there another one at 8 weeks? My Emma is 8 weeks today. Thankfully she's slept better tonight than she has today.

It's my mum in laws 70th tomorrow / today so we're all out for lunch - my first outing with us all! Wonder how that'll go??? X

What a bitty / broken night (since morning feed). I'm shattered. Unfortunately my son is already awake so doesn't look like I can go back to sleep either! X

@Yakadee we went out for family meal last weekend and took our baby Bjorn bouncy chair which folds flat. If you happen to have one I highly recommend taking it!

My husband went back to work yesterday and it's as if the baby knew! She must have slept no more than a total of two hours all day and just wanted to be held all the time! She must have tired herself out though as she slept from 10:30pm til 4:30am last night . So happy! Haha

We bath her and use the aveno wash , her skin was dry before we started using it and has gotten better since we started (could be a total coincidence though) she has little spots on her face too and the odd little scratch where she has caught herself. I know how you feel @powkin but try not to worry as the others said you'll be doing an amazing job!! Babies are just funny little things!

@Leafy2018 - it's a nice pub just down the road so actually I'll keep her in the car seat as we won't be there ages (hubby is at work so popping out in his break so can't be too long). I'm more bothered about my 3 yo Haha x

Just checking in- we’ve also got a bit of cradle cap. Nothing like DD though - she had full on cradle cap and baby acne for weeks, but she also has v bad eczema and general skin issues. Deffo luck of the draw!

Has anyone started running again yet? I’ve not got my 6 week check till next week but contemplating trying. I’ve not gone near the scales but generally looking more like myself.

Still have a Velcro baby though! Thank heaven for the sling 😂 I honestly don’t know how I’d cope without it. We also had our first evening out without kids on Saturday!! Was lovely! And I’m so much more relaxed this time round I didn’t worry at all. Didn’t leave DD1 until she was over a year old so I’m pleased I’m much better this time!

@Yakadee going out for dinner with DD who's 2 and 6 week DS! Second time we have done it, first was when he was a few days old so he's more awake now! Wishing us both luck!!

@Since2016 - I'm trying netball tonight, although we have enough players so I might just play a quarter or something? I'm going to be so rubbish, I feel really unfit!!

@bethfreyaisaac - I know, we're leaving at 12. I've just fed Emma so hoping she'll be nice and full and sleep the whole time so I can eat! Haha - good luck x

@Yakadee my dinner went well! Woke up after I ate and my 2YO was on her best behaviour- hope yours was as successful!

Hope the meal went ok yakadee? Toddlers are waaay harder than babies but much more rewarding I think! My 2.5 year old is very newly potty trained so l have to keep a very close eye on him in case he starts doing his wee dance when we are out

Was going to ask if anyone has any practical tips for getting out or generally coping alone at home with 2 children? Luckily DH has had extended paternity leave and is a very hands on dad but I'm going to have to cope with both children for a few days this week including one teatime/bedtime routine. Other parents manage somehow but it's really daunting to me!

Maxiflump 12 bottles a day! Already costing you a fortune, he's going to eat you out of house and home when he's a teenager!

@sunday38 I’m on my 5th week of solo parenting with a 3YO and DD (7 weeks Thursday). I’d recommend a sling, and starting everything v early. I do bed time solo most evenings; dinner at 5 - sometimes earlier and then use a bouncer (we have two) upstairs so I can put the baby down, then bath by 6. I give 5 min warnings and then a 5 second countdown and give the 3 YO jobs to do to help (and minimise the tantrums).

Getting out of the house - lay everything out in advance, get kids and bags ready first and get a game / tv show / book for the 3 YO while get ready or time with baby’s sleep. It’s easier each time, but my 3YO is pretty independent now and is getting better at dressing herself too (although she did put her jeans on back to front today 😂)

This is my third child... but it doesn’t really count as my older two are a fair bit older!
But.. there is less than two years between them, so I have done it... just a while ago!

Prep. That’s your main thing to focus on. And the realisation that no one is perfect. Honestly... as parents, we’re all blagging it.

Yeah my standards have definitely slipped since Feb 😂😳

Ooh yes, sling is a good idea. I've got a new one but it's got multiple ways you can put it on and I keep getting in a tangle. Must practice getting it on and off at home first otherwise I'll be stuck in public with the baby half dangling out!

It's meal times I reckon I'll struggle with most as R seems to want feeding at the same time but I could prepare things in advance. He gets fussy in the evening too when the toddler is going to bed and needs rocking to sleep so not sure if putting him in the bouncer will work. Trial and error I suppose!

@bethfreyaisaac - yes, actually went very well. My son ate his dinner with minimal fuss and even though baby Emma was awake, she was very happy! Result!!

@sunday38 - totally agree. Babies are lovely but my son is so funny, it's hard but he's a pleasure!

I agree it's all prep too. I've done bedtime on my own only a few times so far, but baby comes along too. Boucer or just on my knee etc. It's working out OK so far. Does seem quite busy though so I'm glad when my son's finally in bed! Haha x

So I've had two fairly bad nights and I feel absolutely shattered. So gutted as we seemed to be getting into a loose routine of 3x 3 hour stretches at night. But the last couple of nights she's been awake for hours on end. She's also started only having tiny feeds and then needing to feed again an hour later, and being really sick. A couple of times she's cried after a feed which is unusual. Really hope it's just a blip and am terrified about how tonight will go! I really don't deal well with tiredness.

Anyone able to shed any light on the feeding issues? She used to have about 100-130ml per feed, about every three hours (during the day) but now she's having 40-80ml and sometimes only an hour apart. Feels like I must be doing something wrong 😭