February 2019 babies - thread 1

[Celebelly]

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

Thanks everyone. Yes it’s just such a difficult time isn’t it as we are all still exhausted from birth and adjusting to our new lives. I think I’ve probably not been feeding enough as I’ve been needing to catch up on sleep and have had a lot of pain in my stitches. I’ll do a lot more waking to feed tonight.

I have been pretty tearful and weird today. At Boy 1’s nursery pick up they told me he is being rough and when they ask him not to he cries and says he wants his mummy. He is quite unsettled by all of this and is a lovely boy really and it has just tipped me over the edge. Normally I’m quite a level headed person so I find this stage quite hard. But it’s good to know I’m not alone!

Ds lost just under 10% by day 3 and just under 14% by day 5 so we're also on a feeding plan. Toddler is being clingy to her dad and also very defiant and prone to meltdowns. It doesn't help that she's also teething.

I haven't managed to get ds down in the Moses basket or crib yet. It's been ok while we've had help but dh is back to work tomorrow. I can't believe it's been a week already.

@lanalawr - my hubby is back tomorrow too 😩

Mine is back on Thursday... agh!!

@powkin and @Notquiteagandt not had my baby yet but just checking in to say please remember that babies are much more efficient at getting milk out than a pump is so just because there doesn't look like there's much in the bottle doesn't mean you aren't producing much.

It is such a worry though, especially as you can't tell how much they are having and when they've lost weight and you are recommended top ups.

Also @Since2016 be careful as pumping can cause over supply if started too soon before your supply is settled.

Hope I don't sound patronising, just a few things I've picked up in my BF peer supporter training.

@avoidingmarking - no I know! Hence the concern! She’s getting better at feeds now though so am reducing down and trying to just pump enough to reduce engorgement!

@avoidingmarking I think my issue now is that her latch has deteriorated due to the bottles, so it’s a huge struggle to get her to latch on properly. Lactation consultant coming back tomorrow morning so we’ll see what she says. My nipples are now so sore from attempts at BF and pumping :(

@Since2016 hope it settles soon. Glad she's getting better at feeding.

@powkin hope the lactation consultant has some good advice. If you're ready to stop that's one thing but I've met a lot of women who stop and wish they hadn't or who stop and then feel guilty about using formula so I always try to use what I know to help women go as long as they feel they can to try to ease that.
Bottles are easier for babies to get milk from sadly so it can make some lazy or develop a preference. You could try nipple shields- for some women they are a god send and they always use them and for some women they use them until feeding is settled/nipples are healed and then try to wean off. It depends how much you want to keep trying. No judgement in deciding enough is enough though. Newborns are tough!

I have used nipple shields with all 3 of mine at the beginning. Managed to stop using them after a few weeks with each but without them I doubt I would have continued BF as my nipples were causing me so much pain x

@powkin please don’t beat yourself up on the breastfeeding front. Hopefully the lactation consultant can help you today. I was dehydrated when my little one was 3 weeks old and my milk temporarily dried up so we had to use formula and as my milk came back he didn’t know what to do with my boobs instead of a bottle, someone said that nipple shields can help with the texture but I didn’t manage to get out to buy any so just kept on persevering. I think it must be so confusing for them but I’m sure you’ll get there. I also hand expressed slightly to get the milk flowing before putting him on the boob so he didn’t have to put as much effort into sucking as I think when it didn’t come straight away like the bottle he gave up trying. Good luck with everything today and don’t lose hope if breastfeeding is what you want to do. X

Hope you all manage to get sorted with feeding, it sounds so tough xx

Anyone else's lo totally snuffly? Emma is 3 weeks old today and the last week now she sounds full of snot, poor kid. I have nose drops and she's elevated in bed but not sure what else I can do to help her? Anyone have any ideas? Thanks xd

Sorry to de-rail but is anyone else still waiting impatiently for their baby to arrive?
I've got 1 week 1 day to go & for some reason have woke up feeling really crap today like I just cba to do anything (not an option as DS is home from nursery today) I've been really busy the past 2 weeks since I left work but have now done all my nesting so am wondering if I'm having a little hormonal 'crash' ? Just wanted to vent really... congrats to everyone who's babies are here

@HugoBearsMummy

I think the other thread will have more people waiting - this is the one for babies that have arrived so I think most people still waiting are on the other thread still: February 2019 - more babies! www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/3508671-february-2019-more-babies

Hope your little one is here soon! X

Anyone else exclusivey FF? Would be interested to know how often and how much your baby takes.

I’m another using nipple shields. My milk monster was fed from a bottle as she had a tongue tie but settled straight onto the breast using the nipple shields. I also have flat nipples so that hasn’t helped.

In terms of feeding in public I actually quite like the cover I’ve got. It’s like an apron so I don’t have to worry about it slipping, but the central bit also has a curved bit of plastic in it which holds the fabric away from my body and means I can see baby by looking down. I found that reassuring and means she’s not got any fabric resting on her face either. Hope that made sense, it’s difficult to describe!

@maxiflump1 hello! She came 5 days early on the 30th - apologies if you were in S’mead at the time, I wasn’t the quietest 😂 hope you’re ok and settling in x

@Celebelly thank you I've found it

Omfg third night in a row. 2 hours of won’t settle / boob / burp / cuddle / cry plus Older DD in bed with us as she was woken by her crying. I’m exhausted!!!!! It’s the same every night - about 2/3am until 5. 😫 otherwise a dream throughout the day!!!

@Since2016 I feel your pain. We have had three evenings of non stop crying, fighting the boob, wanting the boob, unsuccessful winding. It's exhausting!

@detachablehoof - we are! It depends but usually has about 8 bottles a day. Usually around 4-5oz. Emma is 3 weeks old today. How about you? X

Hi all,

I'm also using nipple shields due to tongue tie latching difficulties. I feel a bit self conscious using them in public as they can sometimes be a bit faffy. Has anyone got any tips/recommendations of BF cover ups?

DD is now 10 days old but won't settle in her crib or bassinet. She will only sleep in our arms so me and my partner are having to share shifts in the night so we get some sleep between us. Any advice? Worried as partner is due back at work next week.

@yakadee I reckon we are also doing about 8 bottles a day, around 3-4oz. Feels like a lot for a 4 day old!

@LittleD0t I don't have any advice but we are having the exact same issue with our little girl only sleeping in our arms 😖 and are also taking it in turns to hold her through the night. Although last night I got so upset that my husband had her from 12:30 onwards, and my mum came and took over in the morning so he could have some sleep! So I'm feeling well rested.... but like a really crap mum. Done lots of crying about it!

Oh dear, that sounds really rough! I think us being in the hospital for longer and Emma having to be in crib under lights has got her used to sleeping in cot, but well aware that could change at any point so trying to make the most of it!

Have you thought about co-sleeping? I was really against it but we did it our second night home from hospital (safely) and it worked quite well. Emma settles in her Next2Me fine for the time being but if/when she doesn't, I think I would give co-sleeping a bash. We have a super king bed and DP is sleeping in spare room at the moment so plenty of space.

Glad it’s not just us! DD wasn’t like this at all until much later - a week in NICU probably made the difference. It’s just the middle of the night. I’ll be honest - I gave up in the end and let her sleep on me while I dozed and fed lying down co-sleeping. Needs must! But it’s nerve wracking.

@detachablehoof - babies aren't greedy. They only take what they need so sounds good to me!