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

@karbb & @hermagestey ours must be about the same age then! The health visitor came today & said they have a growth spurt around day 10/11 so that could have been what the drama was about, but in general it's just been really hard getting him to settle at night so not sure if that's the only answer. Really glad to know that I'm/we're not the only one struggling... Your post could have been written by me, karbb. Had a good discussion about moving into formula or expressing today, although doesn't that make them even more burpy??

@jellybean023 I'll ask the midwife tomorrow about infantcol. I'm reluctant to start giving him medication as I don't want to get reliant on that from the word go but by the same token I don't want my thoughts about pain relief (ie: I avoid it at all costs unless I really really need it as I think it'll then be more effective) to mean that he's suffering needlessly. The HV also said she'd reccomend me for a baby massage course. We'd already put our name on the waiting list but she said I'd get a place quicker if she advised them I needed a place... Although she then started going on about how you can only go after the 6 week check (is this true, or have I just misunderstood?) so not sure how useful it will be in the short short term!

@wineandchoccy thanks!! I googled it and tried doing it this evening although not sure I'm doing it right as it has made zero difference. When it says massage their abdomen... Does it mean their tummy, like kind of under your arm??

I'm trying to sleep during the day as and when I can but it's hard as he wants feeding every 2 hours or so meaning again, I'm continually woken up & also I don't want to miss out on the day, as we've now been out on the buses and trains several times and into the local town etc & I need to get fully confident with public transport before husband goes back to work in a week or so. However got the milk pump today in the post from my friend so planning on trying expressing for the first time in the morning to hopefully mean that husband can take over some of the feeds in the long run.

@squirtlesmumagain sounds horrific, but you made it!! Interesting what you mentioned about the cord, as husband told me today that they mentioned that my cord was v short when they were trying to place him on my tummy.

@cardboard33 I'm glad it's not just me though wouldn't wish that exhausted feeling on my worst enemy. Hope you're having better night tonight. We've had 2 x 2 hour sleeps already which is a huge improvement on last night

So lovely to see all the new babies! Logan is 2 weeks old today and I feel like he's growing up so fast! His newborn clothes are getting a bit tight and it makes me sooo sad.

Logan is having some trapped wind issues as well. I don't think he's in pain as he's not crying. He manages to get it out after a lot of squirming and grunting. I might try some infacol today.

@squirtlesmumagain congratulations! I had a very similar experience after being induced I went from 4cm to 10cm in the space of 10 mins. Baby heart rate was dropping rapidly due to a knot in the cord and i almost ended up in theatres. My midwife had a look through my notes after and she believes I had preeclampsia that wasn't spotted because preclampsia can cause an accelerated labour.

@cardboard33 yes - DS is 11days Old today so might be having a similar growth spurt. Another night of non stop cluster feeding last night. My DH has moved into the camp bed our 4yo’s room so I can feed lying down without panicking too much about dozing off. Hoping it’ll improve sooner rather than later! He’s piling on the weight though which makes me feel at least the sleepless nights are helping him thrive - he was 7.14 when he was born and he’s 8.6 now, the little chunk!!

Hi everyone, I'm pleased to officially join after the birth of Melissa Rose yesterday morning. I hope everyone is doing ok? We've had a good first couple of days but are bracing ourselves for reality to kick in over the weekend.

@karbb yesterday was better than the night before but he's been more of a pain during the day today as we've been feeding since mid afternoon rather than early evening. So not sure what's worse ... Will see how tonight goes!! @hermagesty wow he's put on loads of weight. Mine is just shy of his birth weight again now (he lost about 9%) so can't imagine having them actually out on weight properly during this time, he must love your milk!

@harley888 can you let me know how you get on with the infantcol if you do try? We asked the midwife today and she poo'ed it saying that you've got to do it every time before a feed etc and that it's not overly effective.

Tried expressing this morning and got literally a drop which was v demoralising as I thought it'd be the answer. I know that it takes practice etc but don't have the energy for it. Can't decide if I want to start on formula for the nights as of this weekend, as it's simply not sustainable to continue doing this long term and the amount he's feeding will mean that I'm literally either feeding him or pumping, without even the time I get now for sleeping. I feel sort of like I'd be giving up though if we do do this but then the other half of me thinks we were going to do this in a month anyway so we are just starting a little earlier than planned.

@cardboard33 infacol worked for DS - really easy, you just put the internal dropper in to get a dose then pop it in their mouth and bingo, dose given.
What pump have you got and just because you don't get anything with the pump doesn't mean you won't. Ultimately if it will give you peace of mind there is no harm trying formula. Feeding at first is a full time job and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that - I fed DS every 45 mins for the first few days of his life pretty much (Day and night). You do need the support of your partner though really to ensure you are hydrated and comfortable, as well as a bit of moral support. You do have to grab naps when you can but it does get easier and the feeding pattern changes.

Just done another 2 hourly top up feed with DD. She still isn't suckling properly at the Boob so we have to prove somehow she is getting better tomorrow and hopefully they will say we can go home. Not holding out much hope - I cried at the midwife earlier about it, but she was so lovely!

@squirtlesmumagain thanks... I hope you're able to prove you're feeding, that sounds really hard particularly with a tiny baby - do they keep more of an eye on that kind of thing?

ATM it's fine(ish) as whilst he's feeding at least once every 90-120 mins (for 10-30 mins) I've got the husband around to do burping, food making, life whereas once he goes back to work in a week's time I will lose that and need to do it all myself for 12+ hours a day which isn't sustainable so we are looking for solutions now. I've got a Philips Avent electric pump as it was one that someone from work lent to me but if we were picking we'd get a Mandela swing one. I don't know if a manual one would be easier? Or those Hakka ones that essentially collect drips from the other side? I'll try it again in the morning but I just didn't have the energy or time to do it again today as am also worried that if I express then it will mean baby won't be able to have it as he seemed to struggle to get milk after I did it this morning as he won't go as long as advised in the instructions (around 3 hours) between feeds. But maybe I'm also pinning my hopes on formula and that also won't work and maybe this is just something that we've got to cope with somehow as everyone else manages it. I'm also concious of the fact that exhaustion makes me more susceptible to seizures so need to look after myself a little more due to this aspect. They've given me some meds to take if I feel awful & like I can feel a seizure coming with the advice of "then just sleep it off" but don't know how they expect me to do that when I've got a baby that only I can feed.

Progress tonight: he slept in his crib for about an hour in between feeds earlier which he hasn't done since the v early days, but then I couldn't sleep as was ensuring he was sleeping!!

Work out what actually needs doing when he goes back to work - you may find it is less than you expect, and you can balance that with a number of naps during the day which help no end.

Do what you need to to keep yourself healthy!

@cardboard33 I'm dreading DH going back to work too as hrs doing everything right now except boob, including at night. He's got one more week off but after that he's told me he won't be able to get up in the night so I feel like I'll be doing all day & all night & am going to go mad. We are currently discussing food to order so that I can feed myself with minimum effort while he's out. I don't know how other people cope with this exhaustion. I actually got quite a lot of 2 hour sleeps last night but I'm still getting night sweats & I kept waking up to check baby was okay or to see what DH was doing - I guess this is the new normal. I can feel my anxiety levels going up too - I'd been managing it well during pregnancy but I think the hormone crash is affecting me quite badly & I'm getting tearful several times a day... is anyone else out there a fellow anxiety sufferer with a newborn? The amount of things to worry about is endless & quite overwhelming... !

@ive got a Haaka but haven't tried it yet. I've read that it's good to try & hold off giving a bottle for as long as poss to get BF properly established. Ideally 6 weeks which is what I'm aiming for.... (one day at a time).

@cardboard33 not sure if it’s the infacol or just good luck but we’re now giving her 3 doses a day (morning, lunchtime and night) and last night she slept 11pm to 3am straight and then again from 4.15am to 6.30am. She’s now 3 weeks and 2 days so maybe things are just improving too but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that she can do that again and will keep going with the infacol for now.

Thanks @Angelmiracle for the welcome!

I'm still in disbelief I made and pushed out a human! Probably delirious with lack of sleep!

We had our first night indoors last night. Still finding our feet but it will all come together. I think my OH underestimated how exhausting it would all be. He is currently snoozing, as is little man who is going through spells where he doesn't like being put down so I've ordered a sling off amazon to arrive tomorrow!

Congratulations to everyone on here, we are all heroes 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

@HidCat- baby girl - Melissa Rose - 7lb 3oz - 14/03/2019

@Elizabeth134 - Baby boy - 15/03/2019

@firsttimemumjess1- baby girl- Freya- 6lb4oz - 08/03/2019

Congratulations mummies 💗💙

Hi guys! Had a brief skim through posts but will catch up properly later. Anyone else here had a C-section? Ours was planned and we were home in just over 24 hours. I wasn't expecting this as I was in for 5 days with my first! I am really really struggling with mobility. I don't think I noticed so much in hospital the first time round because I had that lovely up down hospital bed to help me get from lying to standing. But this time I am finding it so difficult. And I can't get comfortable sitting - it makes my back and bum hurt a lot. I don't know if that is to do with the spinal or if it is because I can't use my tummy muscles so my back is over compensating? I feel pretty miserable about it. DH is not very sympathetic which isn't helping! He is suspicious that I am exaggerating I think. It's not that I'm in lots of pain exactly so I sort of get what he means, but I don't think he understands how strange and horrible it feels and how bloody impossible it is to do simple things like sit up from lying or stand from sitting. I have retreated to bed but I'm not comfy here either. And I'm too scared of the wound pulling / slumping to try lying on my side, even though I want to as I feel that would give my back a break.

@cardboard33 sorry to hear about the exhaustion and the feeding. Honestly, you are the most important part of this equation because you need to keep yourself in good shape to look after babe. If you need to stop/reduce feeding a month early, so be it.

On another, more positive note, I am astounded by how much easier breastfeeding has been this time round. DS2 has a massive gape and latches beautifully - not always immediately, but usually within just a few minutes of trying, and then he stays latched and sucks properly for ages. DS1 was dire and it was so so so hard to get him to latch. @melissa112 I feel this is my proof that it was nothing to do with me and my breastfeeding skill and all to do with the anatomy of my two different babies!

Hi all

Been meaning to check in and keep up with everyone's posts. Had an awful few days/nights with baby George and just spent the entire time holding either a feeding or crying baby. Finally turned a corner the past 2 days and hes only lost 3% of this birth weight so all my tears over him being starving were for nothing

I'm going to sit down later and have a read from the beginning and catch up with you all properly!

@ballanj Congratulations! It's a surreal feeling isn't it! Hope you're doing okay ...

@melissa112 whoop! Great news...

@melissa112 sorry that was meant to say great news about 3%.

Hi all, I thought I'd join you over here now DD2 was born yesterday morning and we came home yesterday afternoon. Labour was harder than last time but I only had a couple of grazes and didn't need stitches so recovery is feeling a bit easier.

Now we just need to start figuring out life as a family of four!

Exhaustion has really kicked in today. I think I was riding such a high and running on adrenaline until now but we’re 11 days in now and DH went back to work on Tuesday so I feel like the broken nights have really built up... Been really snappy with the older kids - and with DH (although TBF he was more deserving of it!!) On the plus side, we had a first “day out” as a family of five to a museum in town and just about lived to tell the tale!

Hi everyone.

Will try and read through later to!
@BadBadBeans yes I had a c section (sort of semi scheduled the day before it happened) feel a lot worse than I expected.
My spine and bum seem worse than my stomach at the moment so totally with you.

@Elizabeth134 @BadBadBeans I had a c section but mine was an emergency and then both me and little man had infection markers in our bloods so were kept in for 5 days. I felt awful the first few days but by day 4ish I felt a lot better. I'm not sure how I would have coped without that hospital stay

@MistakenHoliday- baby girl- Bridie- 15/03/2019

Congratulations 💗