August 2021 Babies - Running on Caffeine and Baby Smiles

[PurplePansy05]

Welcome to the chattiest post-natal club on MN!

We have welcomed 31 gorgeous new babies together 💖💙 ...

We have filled up several more like a hundred threads in the antenatal birth clubs chat...

...and now we have finally graduated and officially moved to the postnatal birth clubs chat! 🥳

Graduates of the August 2021 (and thereabouts) thread:

@Smurf123 & baby Sophia 💖
@wimbler & her baby boy 💙
@Jessicapebbles & baby Ebony💖
@Inmypjsagain & her baby boy 💙
@PurplePansy05 & baby Leo Alexander 💙
@WinterBabyof89 & baby Rosie 💖
@Winecoffeeteamum & baby Emily 💖
@Ready2020 & baby Rowan 💖
@Magik01 & baby Isaac 💙
@Hoares3 & baby Ellis 💙
@Daffodil21 & baby Elliot James 💙
@sarah13xx & baby Freddie 💙
@MrsB2019x & baby Ella💖
@biscuitcat & baby Rowan 💙
@Whatshouldbemyusername & baby Arya-Nyah 💖
@notinthestarsigns & baby Erin 💖
@Aaaaa1519 & baby Anum 💖
@Angelesque & baby Isaac 💙
@Millymay13 & baby Ethan 💙
@WolfMother326 & baby Alasdair 💙
@BertieBotts & baby Alex 💙
@RandomCatGenerator & baby Solomon 💙
@lucyrp & baby Evelyn Rose 💖
@HopefulB & baby Chloé 💖
@Mmr224 & baby Alasdair 💙
@Smallbean27 & her baby boy 💙
@Fran919 & her baby girl 💖
@Caz1226 & baby Dougie 💙
@Ava50x & her baby boy 💙
@dirtyfries & baby Frankie 💖
@ame88 & baby Lily 💖

Tagging @Dia12, @livingwithbees, @Sheisfee, @Alittlexmasmagic and @LottSE20 in the opening post so you know we're here as and when you wish to rejoin/share your updates 💐

Here we go!

Am I a snob for not wanting a chair to do a long time ?😂 I quite like all my dining chairs to go with the table 🙈

@lucyrp No, I guess it depends on how you want to use the chair. I kind of like the idea of ot becoming a desk chair for example if it supports the child's back and feet well as it's good for their posture. So from that point of view, spending more money now might work out cheaper longer term. But if you're only planning to use for feeding then I agree with what you're saying about getting rid of it as soon as you can and getting your normal dining chairs back in. I suppose TT is not an obvious feeding chair and easier to hide as well - I have a solid wood dining table and it would go well with it xx

Thank you all, that's really helpful! I just checked and it looks like ours is actually OK from 3 months, I had 6 in my head, so that's perfect 😊 I didn't really fancy paying for an extra insert

So I've just had to move Elliot into 6-9 month onesies 🙈 I knew the 3-6 ones were getting snug but I thought they'd last until we got back to Scotland 🙈 I had to buy some here and thought they would be a little big, but they're not!! Had to abandon the size 2 nappies and go for size 3s as well

@PurplePansy05 I have a small table that folds away as we don't have room for a dining room so it's just in the corner of our kitchen so one of the bigger padded chairs that folds away would be better suited for us so I can hide it in the cupboard when we're not using it 😂xx

@Daffodil21 wow! What a tall baby. I'm already getting nervous about the 0-3 size getting snug on Alasdair's torso at 8 weeks. He's still swimming in the arms and legs a bit though so not ready to try 3-6 yet, and we just graduated to size 2 nappies.

Two questions for everyone:

If you had a c section, when did you start gentle exercise? I'm having some nerve pain and twinges on and off in my incision. Nothing I need paracetamol for, but doesn't feel fully healed at 8 weeks. I have been walking a lot pretty normally, but I'd like to go swimming again. Worried about setting myself back though if I don't wait long enough.

Second question: how cautious are you being about covid/colds and flus with your babies?

@WolfMother326 You shouldn't really be having pain and twinges 8 weeks after CS. Is it definitely closed, have you checked? No redness around it or discharge? Just to make sure it's not an infection. The only other thing I can think of is if you had a slight nerve damage and numbness around the incision and the feeling is coming back now, but this would likely be pins and needles. If the wound is open or infected then you shouldn't go swimming with it and you need to have it checked over by a GP.

I have finally gone back to long walks now and regaining my physical strength slowly, at 9.5 weeks pp. I also have my women's physio later this week and will report back with regard to the recommended post CS exercises. xx

@WolfMother326 around my wound still feels tender sometimes. I asked my doctor and she said it was normal for it to feel tender for 6-9 months. However she also gave me the all clear to swim as the wound itself is nicely healed.

I would check with your doctor. Around the wound shouldn’t be red or irritated and proper pain would be bad- but it seems that some discomfort doesn’t necessarily mean anything is amiss bur best not to take the chance of an infection if you can easily ask a doctor!

DS has been awake for about 9 hours straight today. Such an overtired and distressed little boy! Week 7 has been HARD!

Thanks @PurplePansy05 and @RandomCatGenerator. It's not really pain, just occasional discomfort or twinging. And the wound is healing nicely. No discharge or anything like that. I'm seeing my GP this week and will have it looked at. Just curious about experiences.

Your situation sounds similar to mine then @WolfMother326. I hope alll is fine and you’re back in the pool soon! I’m gearing myself up to going this week I hope…

@WolfMother326 I waited until my 6 week check to go swimming, but I did feel able to before. I haven't had any twinges or pain in a while and I've been walking lots from very early on. I'm now nearly 9 weeks on and I honestly don't feel like I had surgery at all. I'm not sure if this is normal or if I'm incredibly lucky, but I would definitely get those twinges and nerve pain checked out.

I've booked myself the flu jab and so has my husband to hopefully shield him a little from it. I didn't take the flu jab in pregnancy so he doesn't have any protection from that 🙈 I'm generally trying to keep my distance from others, except a handful of households. Having said that I did get on a train the length of the country last week, and I went to central London. I avoided tubes though and walked instead, and I did manage to keep my distance. None of the trains were busy either which was a relief. I feel like Covid isn't going anywhere anytime soon so trying to find the balance between living life but not being careless I guess.

DH and I had our flu jabs last month. Both had covid jabs too. I had the latter and also last year's flu jab in pregnancy. Some antibodies will be passed through that and bf. The rest is just good hygiene really, don't know what else we can do? Luckily we're done with first round of visitors, only took nearly 10 weeks 🤦🏼‍♀️ From now on I'll be trying to meet up for walks/quick coffees preferably outdoors. We will only be meeting closest friends and family indoors for the next few months and do the usual sensory classes. Covid, flu, RSV and super colds are a bad mix this winter from what I'm reading and it's all starting now, so we'll be taking extra precautions going forward, but of course we can't shield him or ourselves completely regardless of what we do. xx

Any insight as to why DD would prefer the pram to go down in at night rather than snuz pod? We are persevering and putting her in it at first every night but it just turns into a hot mess and we end up putting her back into the pram. She sleeps in there with OH in the lounge until she wakes for next feed (12 to 1am) then I put her in the snuz pod and she is generally OK, though is in her lighter sleep.

Anyone's back just killing them now? We walk/rock DD to sleep most nights and it can take up to an hour. I'm generally sweating by the end of it if it's me doing it. OH also gets a sore back.

I took a photo of DD in the 2 carriers I have and if you don't mind will post them here for feed back.

@Ready2020 maybe because snuz pod has see through sides where as in the pram they aren't ?

I've had my flu jab and also had flu and covid jabs in pregnancy, so he'll have some protection from that. But honestly we're otherwise not doing anything differently than we would have in pre-covid times.

@Ready2020 could it be that the smaller, more enclosed space of the pram is nicer for her? DS slept in the pram last night as we're away and don't have a cot, and it was his best night ever

@biscuitcat how did you find packing in the end? I definitely slightly overpacked for myself a bit

I can try to help with the sling pics but to be honest I'm probably not very in practice with it. If you're on Facebook there are probably groups which are better for that kind of thing.

Whilst we're at the topic of illnesses, DS has been sneezing a lot for a couple of days, but no other symptoms. He's feeding well and is generally in a good mood. Temp slightly raised, 37C this eve. Could this be a start of a cold? I have no experience with newborns, obviously!

I also have a couple of friends whose kids recently had hand foot mouth disease, they say the kids are fine now but it's not even been a week. When is it ok to see them do you think? xx

@PurplePansy05 have the kids spots gone? HFM is passed through bodily fluids like coughing and sneezing, I think they are still a little contagious after the spots have begun to clear but it’s mainly contagious when the spots first come. I think if you just watch what they touch and practice good hygiene you will be fine. DS1 had it the other week and DS2 never caught it. I’ve never caught it in the three times he’s had it either.

@Ready2020 my back has been agony ever since he was born 😩 think your posture completely goes when you have a baby to hold all the time, feel like I’m always so hunched over him!

I rock him if it gets the desperate stage where he’s screaming and nothing else will work but I try not to do it every night or id just have to do it every night. Even if he goes down and cries, I get him back up, have a walk up and down with him then put him back in either awake or when his eyes are starting to go rather than when he’s fully asleep every time. It seems to mean he doesn’t need to be held til he sleeps every time, although sometimes I do just want to hold him 🤷🏼‍♀️

@PurplePansy05 my daughter has been the same, lots more sneezing and sounding quite wheezy at night time. My health visitor said its usual for babies between 4-8 weeks (not sure if that she tallies with the age of your little one) but it's often to do with the development of their nasal passages and the growth of their tiny hairs there.

I was on the brink of ordering all kinds of air purifying products as I'd convinced myself she was allergic to something or there was too much dust in the air!!

I'm a lurker on the thread but the advice and support is such a great resource so thank you to all of you x

Thanks @EJT89 & @Magik01 and good morning to the 5am club if you're reading this 👋

My little boy is 10 weeks tomorrow so not far off that. It definitely seems like something iritates his nose so could be the hair.

Magik, that's helpful. I'm definitely not having them over here then, their toddlers are unstoppable, they'd touch hundreds of things around my house before I'd even look and I've no time to disinfect the whole place straight after. They invited over to theirs too, but I might suggest a walk in a week or so instead. Three times??? I thought it's one of those once they have it's done kind of things?! I've a lot to learn 🙈 xx

Hmm it won't be easy putting DD in her own cot in the nursery if she likes the enclosed pram!

I'm finding DD doesn't cry out for feeds at night recently. She's 9 weeks old SG and gets fed 7pm, 1am then I just feed her at 7am as I think she needs it rather than her asking. Would you be worried about that? Doesn't seem enough to me.

@Ready2020 honestly id just go with it. Some babies just sleep. I truly believe it is just luck of the draw whether you get a sleeper or not.
I'm assuming she feeds well during the day? And isn't dropping centiles in weight when weighed?
Dd is 11 weeks old and is currently feeding after sleeping through since 945 last night. I feel it is really early for her to be going that long but she feeds lots during the day and is active and alert so I'm following her cues.
By comparison The photo of ds holding his milestone card for sleeping through the night recently came up on my fb memories - he was 18 months. We haven't done anything different this time