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

@melissa112 also regarding shopping I do the same as @Gronk27 put in pram basket or if I need quite a bit I get one of those trolleys with the baby seat on and put her in that. Always clean it with an antibacterial wipe first

@Gronk27 thats good to know and that you're able to get stuff done! It's hard trying to steal a minute here or there to eat or wash his bottle. Ah why didn't i think of the pram basket!! Thanks!

@kee80 glad you know what it is at least, should hopefully clear up quickly for you with the tablets. I didn't actually realise they did trolleys with babyseats! Only those ones for toddlers, must pay more attention!

@melissa112 I worked out that putting the shopping basket on the carrycot works as it balances nicely on there and then use the pram basket too! I also have some carabinas (sp?) so can attach shopping bags to the pram handle!

@Sictransitgloria thanks for the tips, will try that too. I feel a bit mean on DP always having to go after work as it means less time for him with the baby.

Does anyone else find it a real battle to burp their baby? George hates when you stop the feed to burp him. I try sitting him on my lap with his back slightly forward and supporting his head/neck but he screams every time and goes stiff, stands up and pushes back which makes it impossible. I try over my shoulder which means the planking is ineffective but he still screams. Im starting to dread feeds as he just seems to hate it. If i dont burp him til the end i find he brings loads of it back up later. If i do get him to burp despite the fighting it's a big one so he definitely needed it.

Feel guilty as today hes carried on the screaming after his bottle has done even though hes burped and left a bit of his bottle so I know hes not still hungry. Instead of doing any play I've just given him his dummy and put him upright on my chest and hes falling asleep. Which makes me feel bad as we've done no talking/singing/silly faces etc and hes just gone from asleep to crying for food, bottle and now back asleep but he just wont settle enough for me to interact in any kind of fun way.

Is anyone else struggling with feeds like this?

@melissa112 I have exactly the same thing with DS screaming when I try to burp him but bringing up milk later on if I don't. We are 7.5w post Partum & my book says crying peaks now& should start going down, so am hoping it's just a phase.
I feel guilty for saying this but I'm already getting a bit bored of the very few activity options we have - face making, tummy time, bouncy chair & baby gym ... thank goodness for podcasts & radio4 or I'd be going mad! DS spends most of the day boobing or sleeping on my lap...

@shiny888 god you must have been terrified, but please don't beat yourself up or think you've bought it on baby by thinking about it happening as it's likely we will all end up in a&e at some point with our babies. Hope you're all doing as well as you can be at this time.

@gronk27 sound scary too but glad they're getting less concerned (by the sounds of it?) and I guess you could use your hypnobirthing mind for this as well, particularly the brain stuff.

@melissa112 is online shopping an option? We did away with a "big" shop a few years ago and now get staples delivered so just go to the shops a couple of times a week for bits and also for the reduced stuff. I either put what I'm buying on top of the pram or just hold a basket as the pram is light enough to be managed with one hand. We get ours from Tesco and just pick a timeslot when it's cheap, usually midweek in the evening, and it's £1-2 for them to pick, pack and deliver. So much less hassle even without babies!

@cardboard33 true! The breathing has come in handy several times.

Baby is 5 weeks Sunday. He has been so unsettled this week. Today is the peak. Last night staying awake between 12-2.45 then 4-6am. Then 7-11am with a 30 min nap. Hes just gone down for 40 mins now but is awake again 🤦🏻‍♀️ Is this a growth spurt? He doesn’t want the dummy either after exhausting all the other options. I thought he might settle after a poo but he hasn’t. Feel like he wants to feed all the time which wouldn’t be a problem but he is taking 4oz every hour or two 😬 also feeling the same re: interaction @melissa112 . I worry I’m not doing enough with him and maybe he is bored?! He is a very wriggly baby as well. At this young age, what on earth is he going to be like as a toddler! @karBB i find respite with the radio too. Love a bit of womens hour.

@melissa112 I think you need to remember that your little one is a person as well. (That's sounds SO much harsher than I mean it but I didn't know how else to word it!).

What I mean is - after you've eaten, sometimes that's fuel for you to get up and get on with stuff, sometimes we'd all love a nap after a meal.

Babies are the same, but to more extremes I think!

In hospital one of the midwives said to me when Emerson was literally drinking 10 ml of a bottle at a time "sometimes you want a massive meal, sometimes you just want a snack - that's why at one feed baby can gobble a bottle down, at another have barely 10 ml and be done!" To stop myself going insane I've just kept reminding myself of that and following babies cues for when he's awake and wants to play, or awake and wants to be in his crib or when he's sleepy etc.

If you weren't interacting enough with the baby then I think they would soon let you know. If what they want is to snuggle into your chest then let them and have a cuddle on the sofa!

shiny888 Sounds like a scary situation to be in. Did you get an explanation from the doctor?

Gronk27 hope it works out with the antibiotics and it doesn't end up in surgery. It must be hard not knowing what is going on.

To everyone asking about shopping, I have decided after today that shopping is a nightmare and should be avoided, especially with a pram and another child in tow who is prone to walking slowly and not looking where he is going. I walked in to town with them both today, as I wanted some exercise to shift the baby weight, but regret not taking the car. I was one of those stressy mum's who bark at their children to hurry up. I looked like a right grumpy bag lady! Thankfully DC2 slept through the whole time and didn't want a feed. Other times I have had DC2 screaming in a changing room of a charity shop while some old lady was talking through the curtain offering help, and other times I have finished getting all my items in the supermarket and DC2 has needed a feed, so I have had to trudge to the changing rooms to feed him and hope that my shopping left outside the changing rooms is still there when we've finished. In some ways being at work is less stressful!

@Gronk27 hope you're bleeds slow down and stop soon must be horrid for you!! But good they arnt too concerned. I hope the scans go ok!!

@Wineandchoccy @melissa112 @Gronk27 @kee80 @cardboard33 @MyMumDimensionJumps
Thanks for you're messages! She's got a severe case of silent reflux so the milk is just sitting in her oesophagus instead of actually being sick and to stop the milk from going into her lungs the valve bit there is shutting off so we are now to expect her to go blue quite often now. Been home 2 hours and we've already had 2 cases of her going blue and breathing funny and her gagging on her sick that's trying to come up.
Fun times ahead!!

Hope all is well with everyone!

@KarBB i know what you mean. We dont even have the play mat as an option as he hates being put down on it! We keep trying as I'm sure eventually he'll love batting the toys etc but just no interest yet. We have found a lamaze toy dragon which flaps its wings which he loves and another that looks like a dragonfly which we hang off his bouncy chair which he has almost started to try and bat. I don't know how doable this is for you but if hes alert enough we sometimes just walk to the bottom of the street and back with him in my arms and i point out things, i.e. theres a red car, oh can you hear that bird?he has no idea what I'm blathering on about but keeps me entertained haha and he seems to like being outside. Just thinking of something if you want any more options of things to do

@cardboard33 I've been thinking about online shopping. That's probably the best option actually and will probably force us to meal plan a bit better. I don't know about the rest of you ladies but I'm finding it hard not to reach for the easy, mostly unhealthy food options at the mo.

@Sictransitgloria i have the wonder weeks app and 5 weeks is around the time they have their first development leap and it says they can be fussy and unsettled around this time and i definitely found that to be the case too. Could be your little one is going through this?

@WhatALearningCurve don't worry about it sounding harsh, I didn't take it in a bad way at all
You're right in what you say. After the bottle I mentioned he definitely just wanted to sleep but after the 3pm one he was alert and very interested in everything so we had a play.

@MyMumDimensionJumps oh no, that does sound really stressful, good on you for persevering and still going though!

@shiny888 oh bless her, that must be so scary. Is there anything they can give you to help her with the reflux?

We're leaving the baby with my mum tomorrow. Will be the first time we have left him but the new Avengers film is out and I'm so excited so we're going to watch that! Hoping i dont spend the whole time worrying but i know hes in good hands.

@melissa112 they have said to try to hold out on medication as she's on medication atm for thrush and try cutting dairy out and keeping her up right for 30 mins after a feed and lots of burping. And if no improvement in the next couple of days then they will give her gaviscon.
Ooo that's exciting that you're going to go out babyless! You may worry but I bet that feeling will be incredible just to have some coupes time just the two of you!

@shiny888 ah that makes sense, hope the suggestions work for you and for her and you see some improvement soon

It's exciting but also a bit nerve wracking. I feel bad for going out without him but i dont imagine I'll be leaving him again any time soon so will try and make the most of some us time.

@melissa112 we’re going to call on Nanny to babysit for Avengers

@Gronk27 glad I'm not the only one, i think its going to make me a bit teary!

@melissa112 Do the Wonder Week leaps literally take a week? My LO is 5 weeks today and he's been a major PITA for the last 2-3 days. He's super fussy on the breast, too. Poops a lot today?? Seems to be struggling with reflux. I'm just so worried about him (and my sanity).
How long will this take and how do I know this is a leap, not a new normal?!

@Sheeni i do think they last around a week from what i read. Ive attached some screenshots from the first leap off the app if that helps. If you are worried I'm sure your health visitor can offer reassurance but i definitely noticed a difference in George around that time.

@melissa112 Thank you for the screenshots. I think I can survive a week of this. Today has been exceptionally challenging, to be honest. Just now it took him around 10 minutes to latch on the breast - he only managed once my let down started (from all the frustrated crying and thrashing on the boob probably). And that was not even our first attempt tonight. He's so out of sorts and it's breaking my heart (not to mention the lack of sleep, which is making me so much more emotional). And I'm slightly worried my DH will run away - he doesn't get any of the good hormones I'm getting, I guess.

Hi everyone,

Just been catching up on the thread. So much happening with us all and lots of things you're all saying resonate with me and my little one right now. I'm just struggling to keep up with the thread and reach out to you all!

So we are 6 weeks and a day today. This week has been up and down, mainly due to tummy issues, wind, bringing up milk and uncomfortable feeds. So we've been trying to work through that. And have purchased more bibs and muslins as a result! We've had lots of possetting and bringing up milk in somewhat spectacular fashion between my legs onto the floor from the feeding chair. Thank god we have wooden floors! The tummy troubles always seem worse from around 6/7pm through to the last 'current day' feed anytime from 10pm.

The weather has also been a thought this week and we need to buy more summer friendly clothes after a very warm bank holiday. I bought LO a hat today and some rompers. Also, clothes are now being grown out of.

For me personally, stitches have now (finally!) fully healed and I've got my first period. It's lighter than usual but definitely a period. Anyone else have there's this soon after birth?

Also trying to get to grips with my postpartum body. Not much weight left to lose but my belly is jiggly and didn't notice a pregnancy line while I was actually pregnant, but it's very much there now I can see all the way down my stomach! It's a toss up between some maternity clothes and a handful of my normal wardrobe. I'm starting running again next week after a couple of successful walks this week. I'm just so happy my stitches have healed and things feel normal down there.

It's all such a rollercoaster and I don't know what I'd do if it wasn't for this group and being able to draw on your advice and experiences xx

Hi all I'm still floating in the background trying to keep up with you all.

DD is 26 days old and doing well. A windy little thing but managing it ok so far. Cluster feeds mainly throughout the day which I can live with but it is tiring and we've been getting 6 hour sleeps at night which feels great. BFing going well and using the haakaa pump and have over 2500ml in the freezer!! Highly recommend. I've only used my double pump twice.

@shiny888 I am so sorry to hear your DD has silent reflux. It is so painful for them. DS had it really badly too. It sounds like your DD is severe I cannot believe they are holding out on the Gaviscon for her!!! It was first thing DS got and I was livid with GP for not giving ranitidine (zantac) we went to A&E 2 days after getting it. They couldn't believe the pain he was in and were given the ranitidine no bother. Whilst he improved on it 3 weeks later he needed Carobel and the combination of the two were a total game changer he was like a new baby so content it was unbelievable he could ever be so settled and he remained on the meds for 12 months!

Definitely get back to GP and try the Gaviscon but I think it only works for mild cases. Your DD may need ranitidine or Omperazole (Losec) if she's stopping breathing with it!! Do not doubt yourself or be afraid to advocate for good medication.

I also had to combi feed when the Carobel was prescribed as DS dropped below his birth weight at 6 weeks old. Talk about guilt and feeling a failure!! But it was nothing I done or could have prevented. Good luck I hope she gets the help she needs.

I have been looking through MN and came across this thread, hope this is ok to join in! Baby boy born on the 24th of Feb, a month early (DD 20 March), and I seem to be facing very similar issues / questions to the ones discussed in this thread.

In the last couple of weeks I have been struggling with baby's catnapping during the day. He seems to fall asleep at the breast, but then sleeps for a very short time (can be 10 mins!) when put down and wakes up, eyes wide open, seems to be happy for a bit but then quickly becomes fussy as he's clearly not had enough sleep. The only solution that seems to have worked for me so far is letting him sleep in the pram (has to be on the go though) or in a sling (this way I can actually do something in the house). He is still mostly falling asleep at the breast, not sure if this is what's causing the habit? I've also started using the dummy with him for day naps, which helps him to settle initially but has no effect in helping him stay asleep. Hoping someone has found a more effective way of settling a baby back to sleep and can share their wisdom!

Welcome @Chyrsalis2017. I'm having the same problem as you. He falls asleep on me and cries as soon as I put him down. It's not unusual for him to get as little as 2 hours sleep between 9am. and 8pm. Hopefully someone will come along with some useful advise for us both! X

The struggle is real today....Charlie is suffering so badly with his wind that we're struggling to know what to do for the best. It's just a vicious cycle of feeding, winding, not getting the wind up, crying/creating and then no sleep leading to overtiredness and not settling. It's been non stop the last few days and is really really hard. We've been using infacol since day dot and tried some gripe water tonight which hasn't done anything really. He's just so tired where he hasn't slept because of the discomfort which makes it all worse. I had around 2 hours sleep last night in 24 hours and these days I'm basically sleeping on the sofa as I want my OH to sleep through as he drives a lot for work. Being selfish on my own part I miss my bed and I miss my partner too at the same time. I just can't face traipsing back upstairs after a late night feed when it's taken so long to settle him at risk of waking him.

I think I'm going to call the HV on Monday to see what she has to say as there's only so long we can continue this cycle. Tonight was the worse as we tried to give Charlie a bath to settle him and he was so uncomfortable and tired that he just screamed and screamed and the sounds were just awful. Even my OH who is usually so calm and collected struggled with the sound. There was very nearly tears from me.

Please someone tell me it gets easier!