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

@hidcat definitely getting odd pains but not sure if it is the latch with the nipple shields (which is definitely nowhere near as good as I can get without) or second time feeding pains

@SquirtlesMumAgain not pumping yet - got the kit but somehow can't quite pluck up the courage / energy. How are you getting on with it?

It was back to the tongue tie clinic today for second referral. We then went on our first proper outing to a cafe & I did my first public bf, so it was quite a big day for us! I'm still weak from all the blood loss so having to pace myself activity-wise.

@squirtlesmumagain that’s interesting re the Medela, I had a tomee tippee with the last two and never had much joy expressing so am considering investing in something better this time...

Is anyone Co-sleeping or thinking about it? I had a long chat with the HV about it as DS is still not great at going in his own bed in the middle of the night. Her take was that it was better to Co-sleep properly than to get so exhausted I fall asleep with DS on me accidentally so might give it a go...

@Hermagsjesty I'm not a fan of co-sleeping but had the same problem so we did it on the midwife's recommendation and had a really good night. Went from constant feeding and crying for cuddles to 3 blocks of 2-3 hrs sleep! I wouldn't do it all the time but it's helped us and she then slept in her cot last night (I put my t-shirt under her for scent as well as using the same grobag she's slept in with us.

I am very of the do whatever works for you (two) school of thought!
Much better to do it safely than accidentally fall asleep with them on you, but that does happen too!

I managed to get proper let down with DD tonight on the shields. Was very exciting!!! Until now my boobs have just been throwing milk at her!

@KarBB the pumping is fine. This pump isn't painful at all (which I have a feeling the Tommee Tippee was), though it is an odd sensation. I ended up having to pump 8 times a day on an electric pump at the hospital so my boobs are kinda used to it now I guess!

@Hermagsjesty I'm not a fan of co-sleeping but had the same problem so we did it on the midwife's recommendation and had a really good night. Went from constant feeding and crying for cuddles to 3 blocks of 2-3 hrs sleep! I wouldn't do it all the time but it's helped us and she then slept in her cot last night (I put my t-shirt under her for scent as well as using the same grobag she's slept in with us which may have helped).

@Hermagsjesty we're going to give it a go tonight to see if it helps. DD has a snuzpod but that's still too far away for her at the moment, even when I practically lie in it with her I did it with DD1 when she was a baby and it worked pretty well - she absolutely refused to go to sleep without human contact.

@HidCat you're really selling it with those block of sleep! Complete luxury!

Well, DH has just brought him up to me after him snoozing on him for the evening while I caught up with some sleep, so we’re going to try it tonight...

Hello everyone, hope some of you are currently sleeping right now!

My little girl arrived on 15/03/19. She’s currently enjoying a nice snooze on me, not sure it’s worth the effort to put her down as she’ll only want to be picked up again within 10 minutes! Nightimes eh?

@lovelyfishy we are awake feeding atm, he's currently about 2.5 weeks and over the last few days he's gone from cluster feeding with no feeds really above 10 mins to extended feeds of 35-40 mins but still every 2 hours. Not overly sure which is worse!!! He has however slept NOT ON US DURING THE NIGHT for the first time between 1am and 4am. It's only a small victory though as was in his rocking chair thing rather than in the crib which husband says we don't want to promote/need to persevere getting him into the crib whereas I'm of the mentality that if he's sleeping at night and we can also sleep then I'll take that ATM but don't know if husband is right and we should persevere with the crib as otherwise he will never sleep in it?

@HidCat well having said I found it easier, I have been reduced to tears several times overnight because DS's latch was just so bloody painful! I have to really hang out for him to be wide awake / crying so that he opens his mouth properly, otherwise I just get that horrid boob munching pain for the whole feed. I know it's latch because I managed three almost pain-free feeds this morning - all where he had opened his mouth wide enough. So that resolves me to take him off it is hurting in future.

@cardboard33 argh I don't know, I'm kind of with both of you! Is it okay for him to be in his rocker for long periods? I would be tempted to mix it up a bit for now so that he is getting the experience of the crib but you are still getting some sleep?

Bloody awful night again here. I think I have had just over two hours. Spent a lot of the rest of it either feeding or girding my loins to feed because I am so sore now I am finding it hard to just jump to it! He's now in his basket asleep and I am of course wide awake because it's dawn! He woke up DS1 at about 5.30am too. Luckily big brother was in an excellent mood and has brightened the last bit of the night for me.

Congratulations @LovelyFishy - hope you’re enjoying those brand new snuggles!

Sorry to hear you had such a bad night @badbadbeans. It’s constant one step forward, two steps back, at this age, isn’t it?

We had a much better night because I went for the Co-sleeping after 1am. He just woke once for a feed which I stayed lying down for, and then we all woke up at 6.30ish - which is when the big kids get up anyway. So, would definitely co-sleep again if needs must.

Off to register his birth today and DH and I are hoping to have a nice lunch out in town while we’re at it (although Sod’s law he’ll wake up for a feed just as the food is served!)

I know what you mean about the painful latch. Got new shields yesterday which are better but still agony if she isn't quite right!

Big hugs to everyone who had a tough night / sore boobs....
We're going to test out the car seat (& mum's sanity) by taking a trip to IKEA today, in search of a comfy chair to feed in.

@Hermagsjesty yes exactly that! I got nearly three hours nap in this morning which has helped significantly, and then while DH napped I did my first proper stint alone with both boys. I did utilise half an hour of Cbeebies as an entertainment tool, but I also read books to DS1 while feeding baby J, then managed to cook lunch (well ok, make toast and heat up soup) AND then eat lunch while holding the baby. Feel like a champion!

@KarBB I have a gliding nursing chair with a gliding footstool and it is absolutely brilliant. They can be quite pricey new but I got mine on preloved for a bargain. Hope you find something that works!

@SquirtlesMumAgain it's hard isn't it? I keep reminding myself that the baby's mouth will grow as he grows!

Yep! It's so funny when I try to latch her without the shields, she just looks at me so confused!
Just sitting at the hospital... Again! Had calf pain since saturday so they have sent me to check it isn't a clot. Now being referred to the dvt clinic. Feels like I spend my bloomin life here, but to give them their dues I have been seen in less than 2 hours and am nearly ready for discharge!

cardboard33 I know what you mean. During the night she’ll sleep on me but not in her basket. I don’t want to make it a habit but at the same time I’ll take the brief rest in feed/change if I can get it at this stage! I remember doing the same with DD1 and she sleeps beautifully now so I’m hoping we’re ok.

BadBadBeans I get you on the painful latch! We went through a stage where I was biting my lip and counting to 10 every time we started a feed but it is getting better. Just so hard to get that perfect latch when I’m trying to stop little octopus arms flailing around!

Hermagsjesty glad the co-sleeping worked out, hope you enjoyed your lunch!

KarBB I’ve got a rocking arm chair with footstool that I love but I’ve seen serveral in Ikea that I’ve always thought looked good. Hope you find a nice one.

SquirtlesMumAgain poor you! At least you’re being seen quickly. Hope you get home soon and more importantly some sleep!

@LovelyFishy thanks, we bought the Ikea Vedbo which I am sitting in as I type. It has armrests & a firm, straight back and is a huge improvement over what I was using before so I'm really chuffed. And it looks nice too

@SquirtlesMumAgain Oh no! Are you okay? Have you been taking the blood thinning injection? Hope you're ok & back home.

@LovelyFishy - Baby girl- 15/03/2019

@MyMumDimensionJumps - Baby boy - 19/03/2019

@kee80 - Baby girl- 7lb14oz- 19/03/2019

Congratulations mummies 💙💗😊

@LovelyFishy @BadBadBeans How on earth do you do this with 2 kids? It's tough enough with 'just' the one - I'm totally in awe with anyone who survives a second or third one!

KarBB I’m finding it easier this time with my 2nd - while DH is off work anyway! It’s crazy what you get used to, and with DD1 running about there’s no stop so you just keep going!

@Squirtlesmumagain oh no! So does the clinic referral mean another trip to hospital? Hope all is okay.

@LovelyFishy yes it's finding a balance between them being hungry enough to open their mouths but not so hungry that that they're throwing shapes while you're trying to latch them on! Tricky.

@KarBB glad you found a chair you are happy with. In terms of doing it with two - firstly it's easier because you're not learning it all for the first time! Secondly, I live with my in-laws! They are helping with cooking evening meals and laundry, and when DH goes back to work they will chip in with child care for DS1 until I feel ready to go it alone again. It's not a living situation that would suit everyone but I genuinely love it. We will eventually have a separate kitchen so will be sort of semi-detatched, but right now I'm glad that our kitchen isn't quite finished as the extra support at meal times is incredible!

@badbadbeans no idea!! We've got it back as far as possible but he's not flat on his back which is why husband says no, but he's a stickler for the rules AND doesn't do the night shift.. what he doesn't know won't hurt him! You're right and I should try to convert him to the crib but it's literally the only thing we've put him in where he looks comfortable (we think he's got slight reflux & had hiccups continually, particularly at night and it's obvious he finds it really challenging sleeping flat) yet it's also ironic that we got the rocking chair thing for £10 from a charity shop and then we've got a next to me crib which he's barely been in although appreciate it's v early days yet! He also prefers Aldi nappies to any of the other brands so is obviously one for a bargain like me.

@squirtlesmumagain sorry to hear you're back in the hospital again!! Can't be fun! But sounds like they're taking good care of you and in many ways more is better than less when it comes to this kind of thing.

Can I also ask about how everyone is dealing with the admin side of BCG jabs? We were told by the health visitor to phone the hospital as they will do it before he's 28 days old so we called them and they eventually told us to email (which we haven't yet done...) but concerned we will run out of time if we've only got a week or so left. What happens if you miss the 28 days, do you just go to the doctor's for it? Just seems like an awfully convoluted way of doing it, surely it'd be better to ask you when you were at the hospital if you wanted it doing and either give tt there and then or book an appointment at that point?