Ttc first baby catch up with our babies!

[Fivebyfive2]

Just putting this on in case anyone wants to catch up? We're all at different stages, so might be able to help each other out?

@Delilah7 @RanchoRelaxo @MrsR16 @thumper59 @trashkitten10 @Bostonfern @crossfitgirl sorry I know I'm missing people, I'm blaming newborn brain!

I'll leave the link on the 'pregnancy' catching up thread xxx

[TrashKitten10]

Good luck @Fivebyfive2. Hope Joe has a fab night in his big boy cot :)

[Lemonysherbet]

I feel so much calmer and happier today. Thank you all for your support yesterday it really does mean a lot and really helped me. This hormonal rollercoaster is not as fun as thorpe park for sure;

[TrashKitten10]

Ahh, 2x2hr naps, 6:30-6 sleep and only 5 minutes and no tears going down, yesterday was the perfect sleep day. Which means today will likely be awful to make up for it 

@MrsEG I know how you feel about being worried to go out. I think our little lockdown life has become so familiar it seems strange to think of doing anything else. I've also become pretty obsessed with Daisy's sleep and routine as there isn't much else to do. Think it will take us all a while to adapt. I went to my mum's the other day and Daisy had about ten minutes broken sleep in the car seat on the way back and it completely threw her nap out and took an hour and a hell of a lot of fighting to get her to have a proper rest once we got home. Got me a bit disheartened thinking how one trip out left us in chaos, how will I manage days out? It's going to be hard going from a very structured routine which is working really well to going back to naps out and about in the pram or car seat and having a much looser routine.

[thumper59]

@mrseg I'm super excited about going back to work actually! It will be nice to have some structure back to my days! Also something to get my brain back into because I find 7 month old toys don't work my brain too hard 😛. Hope you enjoyed the weaning course! Weaning is honestly the scariest thing I've had so far with Freddie. We've been doing it since 5.5 months and I still bloody hate it!!

@Lemonysherbet sorry I can't be of any help as I don't have experience with pnd, but it is all normal and you are doing fabulous, and also (although I know it doesn't feel like it now, and you'll want to cyber punch me) but it honestly goes so fast. Those newborn weeks do pass in the blink of an eye, but they're hard when they're here xx

@fivebyfive hope joe had a good night!

@elw85 aw please don't beat yourself up over sleep. I know its hard when they're not sleeping well. For what it's worth, I had pretty much no routine with Freddie until very recently where he has fallen into one himself ( he is 7.5 months now!) he used to sleep when he was tired and eat when he was hungry. I tried and tried to force routines onto him but it just wasn't what he wanted, I got worked up that he wouldn't sleep when I wanted him to and he got frustrated I was trying to make him sleep when he wanted to play. Now he has a morning nap ( which Is usually on me) and recently has been having an afternoon one either in his pram if we are out or yesterday in his cot ( for 2 hours!). Your doing fabulous. Xx

[Fivebyfive2]

@thumper59, I think we're quite similar with Joe, we have a rhythm rather than a routine and his 6 months! It's good you're excited to go back to work, new challenges and all that 🙂

@MrsEG, thank you for all the weaning info! Starting tomorrow we're trying Joe on lumpy mash instead of smooth, wish me luck! He had creamy banana porridge this morning and loved it, we have to be careful on portions; we only started at the weekend so he's only having really small amounts, but I think if we let him he'd just keep going 😂

Last night was... Not great, but we've had worse, so not bad for the first night of big change. He went down really well at 8, woke at 10, settled with a boob cuddle... 10 mins later he's awake and I'm thinking 'aaaaaagh'!! But dh settled him, he just needed a burp and a fart! Awake at 1.30...till 3 🤦‍♀️ Asleep till 5, I brought him in with us (in snuzpod) and he slept until almost 7.30! We'll see how tonight goes...

[ELW85]

@Fivebyfive2 - how cute does he look on his crib?! I think that’s a decent night for such a big change😀
And thank you for the support! I ended up cuddling Finn to sleep last night and then boobing him at 4am when he’d been up for an hour and thought it was playtime!! I then wanted cuddles when he woke up at 6am as I’d had an awful dream about him. This morning he wouldn’t feed to sleep and wanted rocking. This kid!! 😂 xx

@thumper59 - thank you lovely! I took a step back last night and decided to relax. I’ll continue to try to gently break the feed to sleep habit and commit to proper sleep stuff in 6-8 weeks, trying to form better habits in the meantime!! Xx

@MrsEG - I’m so sorry bedtime was crap. You’re doing a wonderful job and I still don’t know how you do it, Wonder Woman!
I stuffed my face with Malaysian food instead of wine, but I hope you managed a glass?

@TrashKitten10 - I think this lockdown has a lot to answer for! It’s so tough when everything is focussed on you and baby. A second wave probably won’t help but we’ll get there.

Well ladies, new nursery place acquired closer to home as our company is WFH for the foreseeable, and I’ve decided to take another month off.
To be honest, I really don’t want him going to nursery in the current climate but work are being pretty decent and understand that some days I’ll be making my hours up at weird times. Just feels so odd?!

[ELW85]

@Lemonysherbet - forgot you say; so glad you’re feeling better. Don’t beat yourself up or worry about a peppering of low days here and there going forward. Progress definitely isn’t linear, and as you say, hormones are awful!!

[thumper59]

@fivebyfive that's not to bad for his first night in the cot! Freddie was super unsettled on his first night. Think we had 1 bad night, 3 maybe not great nights and he's been fab since minus the random early wake up here and there!! Yeah that's what we have that's well put a rhythm not a routine x

@ELW85 the mum guilt is a real thing isn't it and they couldn't care any less! X

[TrashKitten10]

Quiet on here today! How have all your days been?

@fivebyfive2 Hopefully Joe will be a bit more settled tonight, but sounds like it wasn't disastrous for his first night in the cot :)

@ELW85 Eek, well done getting a nursery sorted. Makes it all seem more real the prospect of finishing maternity leave doesn't it :)

Our day has been pretty good. 2x90minute naps which gave me time to bake some sugar free banana muffins. Surprisingly nice! (I ate 4 😂) I've been trialling giving Daisy a solid breakfast before her bottle to help her sickness. Everywhere says that's the wrong way around but the constant flow of milk sick first thing in the morning was driving me mad. It definitely seems better this way and we are getting 1 or 2, instead of 10 or more, episodes of being sick after her first bottle now. So now I need to get batch cooking and freezing some easy breakfasts I can give to her :) Banana muffins were a hit, think I will try making some pancakes next :)

[MrsEG]

Morning ladies!

We had our monthly check with the HV yesterday (they still see us every month given how poorly the boys got as newborns) - it was just the best visit! Conor is how 9th centile after initially dropping below 0.4th, and bloody Ruairí is now 75th centile! He’s 17lbs!! She was just so pleased with how they are both doing and we now only have one more monthly review to go and they’ll be fully discharged! I’m just so proud of how well we’ve all done as a little family. It was hard work getting here but we’ve done it!!

@Fivebyfive2 How has Joe been doing in his own room?

@TrashKitten10 Sounds like she’s doing great!! I reckon with weaning definitely just do what works for you guys, whatever way round it is! Banana muffins sound amazing!! We’ve been having some great naps the last few days too. Makes all the difference to your day, doesn’t it?!

@ELW85 Malaysian food sounds great! How are you feeling now? The boys will start nursery in December. I’m not too worried as my niece and a few friends children are all back now and I’m just sure they wouldn’t be doing it if it wasn’t safe! So I’m trying to think of it like that when I think of the boys starting!!

@thumper59 Great you’re so excited for work again! Yeah I’m scared for weaning too; I think we’re gonna do a day on a day off the first few weeks for the boys - so Ruairí on a Monday, Conor Tuesday etc to ease us all in to it!!

@Lemonysherbet so glad you’re feeling better!!

[ELW85]

Morning all

I don’t know if it’s a coincidence or not but since we’ve not fed to sleep this week, Finn’s sleep has really taken a hit. His nap hours are still getting in there as I’m holding him but his nights have slowly gotten worse. Last night was a 4 hour stretch then 2x2 hours when I had to bring him in with us at 4am as he woke up screaming. I mean primal, something is trying to kill me screaming.
I took the sleepyhead away last night so not sure if that has something to do with it but I’m just really conscious that he can’t use it forever so wanted to get him used to his crib again. Keep going I guess.

@TrashKitten10 - I 💯 do not want to go back to work! Even if it is WFH... I don’t know how they do it in the US with next to no Mat leave!

@MrsEG - I’m sure he’ll be fine but then I saw the thing about the baby on the news and it freaked me out. At this rate, DH will end up quitting his job to look after him as it’s under threat with a no-deal Brexit.,,
Go boys, that’s awesome! We’ve got our 3 month HV visit at midday. She’s freakin’ useless so I really CBA!

[ELW85]

Sorry forgot @thumper59 - I swear the way Finn looks at me if I’m a second late with his bottle or I’m not feeding him to sleep kills me!

@Fivebyfive2 - how’s Joe doing in his big boy room? 😊

[MrsEG]

@ELW85 Have you tried a swaddle? If he isn’t rolling over yet you can swaddle and I’d guess gives the same ‘tightness’ feeling of something like a sleepyhead (I never used one of those though so can’t comment if it’s the same if you know what I mean!) we swaddled when they were in with us and for naps and that helped a lot, we stopped when they were in the nursery I think, kinda weaned them off with one arm out if that makes sense.
Yeah I saw that on the news, hideous - those poor parents. I literally sat here watching it and saying ‘it’s so rare, they just got so unlucky, the boys have more chance of being hit by lightening’ over and over again. It’s super personal and everyone has their own right to worry but I just think if I worried about everything that could potentially harm a baby I’d never sleep haha!
Oh rubbish you’re HV is no good! I can’t stand the checklists and I literally don’t even care about what they do and don’t do now, couldn’t care less that they’re tummy time isn’t ‘good enough’ yet it just goes over my head now. But the clinic nurse who weighs them is just utterly lovely!! She’s just so reassuring and really makes me feel like I’m doing okay!! Hope all goes well with Finn!
I’m also another one like thumper who does want to go back to work haha! I’m only doing 3 day’s a week and I really love my job, and colleagues, and adult conversations haha. It’s helping that I’ll be off with them more days than I’ll be in working! Also my niece came on leaps and bounds at nursery, particularly socially. So I’m really looking forward to that so they know they aren’t the only two babies in the world that exist!!

Any hopes on the next announcement from Boris?? I want to go to a pub!!!

[ELW85]

@MrsEG - we used to swaddle to be fair so I’m sure we could give it a go again.
I think nursery will be amazing for Finn to be fair, I just totally didn’t expect to feel like this about work; my career has always come first and I’m always seeking out promotion etc. It’s kind of taken me aback, but nursery and the mortgage need paying so better crack on, haha!
Oh is Boris doing another announcement? I saw the stuff on the news about the student nurses so he needs to address that, IMHO!
I think the pubs are back from early next month though!

[MrsEG]

@ELW85 Swaddling really saved nap time in particular for us when they were younger, it stopped that reflex with their arms that kept waking them up!!
It is weird - I used to be exactly the same always gunning for the next biggest event, wanting more management responsibilities etc and now I feel like I’m just going back for a break from the boys haha! I do really enjoy my job which helps but I just am looking forward to the fact I’ll have a few days ‘off’ from being Mum; I think for me personally it will just be so helpful for my sense of self! This lockdown especially has made me feel like JUST mum, no gym, no nothing basically to do for me outside of them. It’s been a very weird adjustment!
The nurses thing is shocking isn’t it. Yep I saw something that said on the 25th Bozza will be making a big announcement. I’m wanting a wine bar and the gym to open - and more family contact for a spot of babysitting!!

[TrashKitten10]

Well Daisy decided 3:30am was a wonderful time to wake up this morning. Took 1hr15 to fall back asleep but to be fair to her I didn't need to go in, she just chatted, fidgeted and rolled around, having a little cry out every now and again, falling lightly asleep and waking back up until she finally properly nodded off. Unfortunately it took me until probably 6 to fall back asleep but I thought she might let me off by having a lie in. Wrong. 6:30 she was back up ready to properly start the day. Monkey 🤦🏻‍♀️

@MrsEG I know what you mean about looking forward to a little break. I'm going back 2 days a week from September and I'm really looking forward to being something other than 'mum' for a couple of days, but still having plenty of time to be with Daisy. Mind you, I'm an early years teacher so I'll be having a break from arse, nose and tear wiping to go back to work and do arse, nose and tear wiping 🤔 Never mind 😂

[MrsEG]

@TrashKitten10 Ha oh god!! You’re a hero to do that all day for a living! It’s a break from all the bums I’m most looking forward to! I don’t go back until December and dear god I hope there’s been some normality before then but it’ll be nice to have a few ‘grown up’ days!
Oh Daisy! It’s crap when they do that isn’t it, just at random - like you’ve been sleeping so well, what happened?! Ruairí was up at 3 thrashing about but he wasn’t crying so I left him to it, but luckily he drifted off after about 20 mins. I’m the same though by that time I was bloody wide awake!! These babies!

[Fivebyfive2]

Hi ladies, didn't want to post this morning because last night left me feeling really deflated! Took an hour to get Joe down and he woke every 2 hours! At 3am I gave up and he was in his snuzpod, I just didn't have the energy to keep going and settling him in his room. Felt like it was a Mum Fail 🙁

But I chatted to my mum and she totally gets it, basically Joe is exactly how my bro was for sleeping, made me feel better! Plus, today has been nice, dh has had loads of time with him, he even did a big poop for papa while I was out buying about 47 birthday cards 😂 He ate his peas like a champ, took his baby vitamins really well and even attempted crawling again earlier! He is currently napping on me and I love it 😍

All this back to work talk... I'm dreading it!! I've really surprised myself, thought I'd have the year and maybe go back early if I wanted... No way now!

[TrashKitten10]

@Fivebyfive2 Aww, bless you. Did he settle in his snuzpod? Did your mum have any tips for what worked with your brother? That's the downside to them being in their own room, it feels like an awful long trek to see to them compared with rolling over to the snuzpod doesn't it :) Are you going to try the cot again? It's not a mum fail at all, all babies are different and they all have good days and bad days and things they find easy and difficult. Try to focus on the things that are going really well, like his eating. The sleep will come :)

@MrsEG Haha a break from bums :) The bodily functions of small children is indeed my specialist subject. I used to go home to have a break from uttering such phrases as 'Whose is this poo on the carpet?!' 'We don't wee behind the tipi' and 'My dress is not a hanky' God help me when I've got it at work and home :) Are you taking the full year? God I do hope things are more normal by then, it will be pretty bleak and depressing if not 😩 hoping that working part time means being able to do some of the classes we have missed out on so far when they eventually start up. Yes, how come they can get back to sleep so quickly but it takes us forever!

In today's news, Daisy did her first little crawl! Immediately went back to tummy shuffling when I tried to video her but it definitely happened and DH was chuffed that he'd just got home to see it. He's jammy like that, I'm with her all day whilst she whinges then she performs for him 😂 she did exactly the same with her first roll, waited until he was home haha. Also she has started clearly saying 'mama' which is melting my heart even though I know it's just meaningless babble 🥰

[Fivebyfive2]

@TrashKitten10, go Daisy, get going and they'll be no stopping you!! My mum just rode it out with my bro, he's still an awful sleeper now at 35!! It's nice to just be told that it's not necessarily something I'm doing wrong. Yeah we're trying the cot again tonight, I'm determined to at least start each night in his room and hopefully gradually he'll get used to it 🤞

[Fivebyfive2]

Happy weekend all! Another awful night was had here 🤦‍♀️ Joe was awake 6pm until 9.30 and then woke at 10.15, although thankfully went back down after 15 mins or so. From around 8ish he was yawning and rubbing his eyes, alternating between crying and laughing at us?!! He was then awake 2 till 3, during which dh woke to find Joe crying in his bed and me crying on the floor, so yeah, no drama here at all, everything is fine. Sigh. Got him back to sleep and dh took him down when he woke at 6 so I could rest a bit. He's napping on the sofa with me now.

I'm gearing up for a visit to the in laws later, fully prepared to be ripped to shreds for not letting him cry / still breastfeeding / holding him too much / my existence in general 🙄

Sorry to be such a downer. In the day I actually feel OK, I keep thinking 'maybe tonight will be better' or I'll look into things that could help etc. I can look at Joe doing so well in other areas like feeding, his babbling, etc and think 'he's just a baby, he'll get the hang of sleeping when he's ready, just like he's picked up other stuff, it's just taking him longer'... But at night I just can't shake this 'failed' feeling 🙁

Anyway, enough of me and my pity party! What's everyone's weekend plans? Everyone sorted for fathers day? I've got dh a personalised book about him and Joe and a giant box of chocolate biscuits 😀

[ELW85]

Morning all!

Swaddled Finn last night which I think helped although he’s definitely waking up and putting himself back to sleep at night. At one point he was just lying beside me (snuzpod) chatting away.
Then snoring, haha!
He had a better night of a 6 hour stretch then 3 taking us to 6.30. I even got him to put himself to sleep with a dummy for a nap yesterday but he’s absolutely not having it today. I’m gutted!!

HV went well yesterday; basically he’s ahead developmentally and his weight is tracking in a line but he doesn’t do enough tummy time.
She had no tips for me on sleep other than go for a drive or let him “have a radgie” which is Geordie for CIO.

@Fivebyfive2 - I am so, so sorry that you’re having a rough time. I really hope your outlaws don’t rip you to shreds as this shit is hard and you’re doing a fantastic job. Joe is gorgeous and happy and he has you to thank for that.
And never apologise. We all have our really low days, and we’re all here for each other.
We’re going to see my Dad in their garden tomorrow and then I’m getting an afternoon tea delivery for DH from Finn.

@MrsEG - I know what you mean about being more than just Mum and I feel the same; I just honestly never thought I’d feel this way.
Probably going to coast in my career for a bit 😂

@TrashKitten10 - go Daisy!! That’s awesome! I bet you’re so proud.

[MrsEG]

Morning ladies,

Had a very new night last night! Both boys can roll on to their fronts now; but last night Conor kept doing it in his cot and then couldn’t roll back; he’d wake me screaming and I was in and out rolling him back! At about 5 I figured it was useless trying to get back to sleep and got up. Had all the downstairs floors hoovered and mopped before half 6 haha. I’m so tired!

Ruairí is also teething very, very badly - he’s been so upset since he woke up so I’m dealing with that today. Send coffee!!!!!

@Fivebyfive2 I honestly thing the reason sleep issues affect us as much as they do is because it causes you utter sleep deprivation - remember, sleep deprivation is used as a form of torture!! We need our rest and when we’re being prevented from having it we can’t think clearly at all. Joe will get there - think about what your mum says! He may just need a bit of time! You are not failing at all - Joe is doing amazingly well!

@ELW85 Glad he had a better night! It doesn’t matter if he’s waking - all babies do, the good thing is he’s settling himself back to sleep which is great! I get told the same about tummy time all the time. I can’t remember who told me if it was someone here or one of my NCT friends but she reminded me that none of us did it and we don’t all walk around with our necks slumped forward so they’ll figure it out in their own time haha! The boys just hate it so I don’t force it on them. I do most of theirs on my chest where they seem much happier!

@TrashKitten10 yaaay Daisy!! She’s off now there’ll be no stopping her! Get baby proofing the low shelves!!

[ELW85]

@MrsEG - oh god, what a night!! And poor Ruairi. Do you have those frozen ring things? Can’t remember what they’re called!
Definitely sending you a virtual coffee. I’ve taken to driving Finn to the Starbucks drive through to try and get an independent nap in...and get a toastie and caffeine 😂
That’s what I said about tummy time! We all crawled etc without it!

[ELW85]

Morning all!

Happy Fathers Day! Hope you’re all having a lovely day so far?
We’ve had Starbucks in bed and getting afternoon tea delivered later; woo!
Here’s little Finn in his Father’s Day best 😊

@Fivebyfive2 - I hope yesterday went well and you’re feeling a bit better today?

@MrsEG - did you get enough coffee to survive yesterday?