The March-ers 2019 - Baby Talk #1

[Angelmiracle]

Congratulations to all the mamas with their new babies 🌸

Now the fun really starts 😄

@toastfiend - baby boy - 28/01/2019
@TheWanderlust - Baby girl - Althea - 7lb6oz - 16/02/2019
@PurpleFlower1983 - Baby girl - Matilda - 17/02/2019
@Wineandchoccy - Baby girl - Lois - 6lb12oz - 19/02/2019
@Harley8888 - Baby boy- Logan - 7lb4oz - 01/03/2019

@SquirtlesMumAgain I'm so sorry to hear that - what a dreadful thing to go through, and even worse at this sensitive time. Sending condolences & love

@SquirtlesMumAgain I'm so sorry about your loss. I can't imagine how difficult this must be for you. My heart goes out to you and your family.

Thank you all for your kind words.

At least a baby rather forces you to carry on in many ways.
We went to weigh in and DD is happy growing, and has put on 200g this week, so that was great news.

@melissa112 we leave a small lamp on all night, under my nursing chair. The bulb is quite 'warm'. DH & I both sleep with eye masks (mine is a headband that I pull down over my eyes !)

@Jenfur @Gronk27 my arm is sore too. It was damaged by the cannula & has got worse, probs from holding baby (& spending all night on MN'). Have been referred to physio & given pain relief gel too.

@Jenlou1992 I think @cardboard33 makes a pretty shrewd point that if you had surgery to your finger you would still be dealing with the baby. I hope you can find a way to get your DP to alleviate some of your load. I do feel lucky to live with my in laws; they are being so helpful while DH is out at work. I honestly don't think I could have got my 2 year old to bed tonight without my MIL, as baby J was near relentlessly feeding from 3.30pm till 7.30pm. I am going to have the world's most engorged breasts at some point tonight I reckon!

@melissa112 we live in the middle of nowhere and don't have curtains on our bedroom window. During the hours of darkness there is a nightlight on in the landing (so I don't walk into walls on my way to the toilet - genuinely did happen before I got a nightlight). Doesn't give much light in our room so I turn my bedside lamp on to feed. I can get away with this because DH has currently decamped to the spare room! Then after the light is out again I tend to feel for vomit / blanket. If the blanket is really worrying you and George is big enough then do switch to a sleeping bag. I used them with my eldest until he was nearly 2.5 years old. They are such a good idea!

@Jenfur oh well done with the cradle hold! We managed a few today as well but I damaged my nipple on the last go so I'm returning to rugby hold overnight as we seem to have cracked that. I'm noticing he latches on much faster and better as a rule now - amazing what a week's growing and practise will do for you!

@SquirtlesMumAgain that is an amazing weight gain! I won't be able to get DS weighed until I can drive again now, as the weekly weighs are when my family are all busy.

Speaking of which... when can you drive after a Caesarean? Is it 6 weeks? Anyone know?!

@BadBadBeans general guidelines are when you feel able to do an emergency stop. I'm 5 weeks post c section and been driving for about 2 weeks. You need to check with your insurers as well though as some won't cover you till 6 weeks post op

@badbadbeans glad your feeding is going in the right direction, that must be really pleasing and like you say will give you some motivation to get out and about with baby if you've got some less obvious "look at me breast feeding" positions that are comfy.

@melissa112 we have the en suite light on and door about an inch or so ajar, although husband is also still sleeping in the other room. Then to change him I go upstairs to his room and we've got the landing light on up there. You can get newborn sleeping bags that go upto 13lbs if you think George isn't big enough for the upto 3 month ones yet. Again we just got them in a charity shop, I see loads of them around for a couple of pounds each.

@squirtlesmumagain great news about the weight gain, and also that your mum got to meet baby - those memories can't be taken from you.

Also for the people who were talking about peeling skin, I think that's what just happens at 2-3 weeks as they shed their "in the womb" skin. Our baby looked like he had sun burn that had peeled really badly but the midwife said it was normal to use olive oil on it for a few days until it cleared up.

@WhatALearningCurve thank you - I will give the insurers a call and see what they say. I feel like I could drive now and as we live in an isolated place it would be really nice to be able to taste a bit of freedom again! When DS1 was born I lived in a small but busy village and could walk to the shop, post office, pharmacy, health visitor etc. Living here is quite a different experience!

@cardboard33 haha yes it will be lovely to be able to feed out without having to make a performance out of it! Your charity shops sound amazing by the way. Our local ones are not so treasure trovey!

I'm sorry to say this when so many of you are struggling with sleep but I have just had six hours in a row. I am gobsmacked. Handed baby J over (awake) at 8.30pm and got him back at 2.40am! Obviously it was worth enduring the cluster feeding this afternoon if this was the result! Even more impressed that although my boobs were obviously v full, I haven't soaked my bed with milk in the meantime. With DS1 I would have had to change bra, top and possibly duvet. Although I am worried that J went 6 hours without a feed - is that okay for a breastfed baby at this age? DS1 didn't do that till he was 3 months I'm sure.

@badbadbeans DD often does 6 hours for her first overnight stint without issue. Obviously the health professionals might suggest otherwise but I need the sleep to be able to function, so as she will allow me to I'm taking it!

It's DS's birthday today - not sure I am going to cope with this but have to push through somehow!

DS2 fed at 9ish last night then slept until 11:30, got changed and fell asleep again before his feed. I just assumed he'd be awake for a feed again very shortly after but instead he slept until 4:30. He has a horrible sounding cold so assume he's feeling tired from that. He didn't want to wake properly so had to strip him down to get him to feed. Changed him after, he fell asleep again then threw up soooo much milk. He's not a sicky baby so assume this is due to his cold as well. Obviously hard to tell if he's actually got any milk down - should I be worried? He's fast asleep again and I was planning to try waking him soon to see if he'll try feeding.

@SquirtlesMumAgain I hope your DS has a good birthday and that you can enjoy it given the circumstances.

@jenfur Adela has a cold and is being sick more, think it’s the mucus. I phoned 111 last nightvand they’re not worried unless they’re getting less than half their feeds, less wet nappies, temp or rash. Although they ask if it’s milk or vomit, as a FTM I don’t really know but it’s after a feed and milk coloured!

@SquirtlesMumAgain Happy Birthday to T, I hope he has a lovely day it’s going to be so hard for you today x

It’s my dd’s 4th Birthday today as well she is very excited my living room looks like a toy shop.

@Gronk27 thanks for that, I did wonder whether to call 111 so good to know what we need to look out for. He doesn't have a temp and woke up earlier for a 45 minute feed which is much longer than usual so catching up I guess.

Also it was definitely milk when he was sick earlier as was straight after a feed but I also wouldn't know if it was vomit instead if it had been a while since the feed.

Does anyone co sleep with baby on chest? We always said we wouldn't but he would not settle last night so ended up sleep on DPs chest all night. We made sure it was as safe as possible and DP and I woke up as soon as he made any movements but I feel so so guilty this morning it was the only way any of us would get any sleep though.

@jenfur no worries. I feel bad my baby has got her first cold at only two weeks :( poor thing. At least she doesn’t have a temp and is still having feeds, etc.

@caseofellen we’ve had to co clerk since this cold as come on but A is next to me and seems to settle for just being closer by. She has slept on DH on the sofa and he nods off but I feel like a have to watch her. Needs must and if you’re being careful. We all have to survive! I guess there’s always a small chance they can fall off?

@Gronk27 does she sleep in anything next to you? Like a sleepyhead?

@Jenfur sometimes my LO brings up something that's more like cottage cheese - midwife described this as partially digested milk in contrast to possessing which is bringing up milk after a feed.

@caseofellen no, we do have a Pur Flo for her next to me but it’s been in the wash. Her next to me is behind her so she can’t go anywhere. I lie on my side facing her with my arm under my head so I can’t roll forward. Sometimes I cuddle her onto her side towards me to help her with the congestion/sick or she lies on her back just barely touching me. I am a light sleeper too.

@kar88 is cottage cheese actual vom then?

A has little white spots round her eyes. Guessing they’re milk spots?!

Jenfur my little one has a slight cold at the moment and often possets/vomits with little yellow dots of mucus in it. Guess at this age their little tums can’t really handle anything other than milk. Mind you she possets a lot anyway. I have a very fast letdown and I think she gulps down a lot of air as she tries to keep up! Still getting plenty of wet nappies, no temp, so I’ve not been worried. Getting her officially weighed this afternoon too just to double check all’s good but I know she’s defiantly getting bigger! Had to pack away the smaller newborn outfits already.

CaseofEllen I did a little only for a bit in the first week as she was completely nocturnal and there’s only so long us adults can go without sleep! I was literally nodding as I sat so I figured I might as well get into a good/safer position. I wedged myself into a corner of the sofa so I literally couldn’t roll or move and baby slept on my chest.

SquirtlesMumAgain I am so so sorry to hear about your mum. It’s been said before but we’re all here for you. Hope your DS has a good birthday. My DD1’s is coming up soon so we’re trying to prepare early this year.

Wineandchoccy Happy Birthday to your DD! I know what you mean about house looking like a toy shop! Hope you all have a lovely day.

@caseofellen Have you tried sleeping with your LO right next to you instead? That's how we sleep half of the nights. I would worry about him sleeping on one of us, but I understand sometimes you gotta do what keeps you sane.

We're still struggling quite a bit with Mr Fartypants. Well, he's struggling to fart, we're struggling to get him to sleep, especially during the day. He's supposed to sleep like 14-17 hrs every day, but I don't think we manage more than 12 (and that's an optimistic guess). I'm back to crying from exhaustion and loss of appetite.
Our chiropractor recommended probiotic drops for the LO. Does anyone have any experience with these? Did they work? How long did it take to show some improvement?