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!

I've been up all this time since I last posted. Leo went back to sleep but his grunting and noises made my breasts leak and kept me awake 🙈 I'm exhausted and he looks like he's had the best night sleep in his life xx

I feel your pain @PurplePansy05! I’m FF but DS had his feed at 3am, so I’ll have got him down in his Moses basket at about 3.40. Then by 4.30 he was crying and straining to fart and only became calmer with either me gently rubbing his tummy or lying on me. So that’s what’s been going on since then 😆. He’s perfectly rested and I’m shattered!
I really wish he’d learn how to poo sometime soon because this is a cycle we go through every three days. It’s so horrible watching him struggle and not being able to help him.

@Smurf123 yeah she feeds well during the day and last weigh in went up a percentile. She's not been weighed in a bit though with next visit in a couple of weeks so we'll see how that goes. I've turned off the night light I had in the room and I think that's made her sleep a bit better. Helps that is getting a bit darker these days too. Wonder how easy she'll wake come winter darkness!

DD also had her usual grunting. She freaked me right out by coughing a few times like she was choking. Think she's a bit phlegmy maybe....

A couple of nights ago all I heard from 3am to 6am was DD farting in her sleep! Little toots.

Does this early morning grunting etc go away at all? When do they eventually have a deep sleep at that time?

@Millymay13 have you tried something called a windi? I'm a bit on the fence about them because it's a little hollow plastic tube that you put up their bum a bit (like a thermometer as it says on the box 😳) but it really does help. I've only ever used it twice when he's been really really uncomfortable for a while and can't do it himself, because I don't want to jump to using it and then he never learns how. But they do help get it out. He was really constipated the other day so I used it because his cry was a noise I'd never heard before. Cue massive poo explosion afterwards - it even went on the bed 🙈 but he was much better afterwards

Yes three times! 🙈 I’d never even heard of HFM before he started nursery. I think a walk is probably the best idea @PurplePansy05 as it just eliminates all the worry you’d be having rather than enjoying your friends company. Also on one of the occasions DS1 had it (the time he had it the worst) a side affect of it was that all the skin on his hands and feet began to peel! It was very odd.

HFM is definitely doing the rounds at the moment. My friends little girl caught it at nursery and her face looks horrific with it 😢 I’ve put off taking Freddie in to my work (school) because of it (and covid obviously).

We were at a wedding reception last night and he was a star! Slept through most of it (even the very loud band) then woke up near the end and I had him up dancing with him 😂 Slightly paranoid about his little ears when it was so noisy but he seemed to enjoy it 😳 Got a taxi back at midnight with him in his car seat, he slept the whole way bless him then went straight to bed when we came in. He woke up at his usual time (8am) this morning and was fine til 10ish then screamed the place down til we went out in the pram. Think that was him only just realising he was knackered 🙈 My eyes are stinging today! Waiting on him going for his lunchtime nap so I can join him

@Daffodil21 I haven’t heard of one of those, I’ll have a look. I’m imagining the poo and fart explosion 😱 with terror 😂

@sarah13xx that sounds lovely!

@Millymay13 I hadn't either until my friend recommended them. They're made by the same people who made those nose sucker things. The first time we used it he pooed straight away but the second time was delayed a little, but it was an almighty explosion 😂

I feel like I need to go to sleep for 3 days now. It's been 3 nights in a row now that I couldn't fall back asleep after the late night/early morning feed. DS is a loud sleeper but I also have too much on my mind.

I'm now exhausted and migraine is coming on, I feel it.

But the worst is DS just won't be put down. He will NOT. I mean not even for 5 mins. This child doesn't nap during the day unless it's on me. I've tried so hard, I soothe him, give him a dummy, speak to him calmly, sing, nothing works. He'll sleep for hours on me or be on the boob. He'll sit for an hour in the Bjorn in the morning and be happy when entertained. I can't get anything done, literally anything. I thought he'd be getting better, but he's getting worse. Today I took him to his sensory class and he wouldn't leave me alone, all over me like a kite or on the boob, didn't want to engage at all. Big shame as today was actually lovely and all other babies were enjoying it.

I hate to say it, but I'm not enjoying having him all over me all the time. It's not him, it's just that I wouldn't want anyone to be all over me all the time so I don't get 5 mins to myself for hours and hours. I just can't do it. I suck at this motherhood thing, obviously should have known this would be my reality and should have thought it through 😔

Does anyone have ANY tips on how to put a clingy baby down for a nap??? Please, I'll pay, paint your house or do up your garden!!! Anything!!! xx

@PurplePansy05 no tips, sorry, except have you tried using a sling or carrier around the house? At least then your hands will be free to do a few things. Just hopping to say, very loudly, that you DO NOT suck as a mother!

@Daffodil21 I packed everything up to and including the kitchen sink 😂 we had enough baggage allowance and so decided not to even try packing light!

@PurplePansy05 it's so hard when it's like that! Sadly my only suggestion is the same as Daff's, maybe a sling or carrier? DS is the same, wants to be on a person all day long, and it's the only way we've found that works. Or would he nap if you pop him in the car seat and go for a drive? Could put an audiobook or podcast on to listen to. You absolutely don't suck at motherhood - but it's so easy to think that, I know I have at times too, because it's really bloody hard having someone so totally dependent on you, and to have your life change so dramatically overnight xx

@Daffodil21 you’ve blown my mind. I had no idea this - or using a rectal thermometer to the same effect - was a thing. How does your child deal with it being used - does it painful? We had the painful poo strains all afternoon and evening here…

You know what, I tried that sling once and ot was fine, but I can't wrap it again since even with the YT video I don't know why!

Re driving - he'll sleep in a car like a dream. The moment we get out, he'd be awake and off we go again. It never ends!!! xx

@PurplePansy05 another vote for a sling or carrier. Today it was the only way to get DS to sleep. And he gets so sleepy in it - especially the carrier (Baby Bjorn Mini) - that he can often be put down from it and remain asleep.

If not, at least you have your hands. Sorry you’re having such a tough time.

I wouldn’t recommend the Baby Bjorn Mini by the way - it hurts my back. I have a new carrier due to arrive tomorrow and have high hopes for its lumbar support…

@PurplePansy05 I have no advice but you have my sympathy! DD is exactly the same. We're currently away with the in-laws and I'm camped out in the dark in a bedroom blasting white noise with DD on the boob.
They keep asking if she's fallen asleep yet so they can have a hold. 🙄

She will only contact nap in the day and only on me. Some days she won't even nap really, just wants boob constantly and will close her eyes for 10 mins here or there when feeding.

It's so hard

DH keeps telling me off for snapping at him.

@PurplePansy05 I found this video amazingly helpful! she has millions of them for different slings and carriers too, and she's really clear - it's how I learned to do mine up and I can now do it without the video!

@dirtyfries oh that would annoy me so much! She's not a doll to be passed around. My MIL (who is mostly lovely) really hacked me off today, DS had fallen asleep nicely on SIL and she kept saying 'oh mummy's redundant now' - I had such a job not snapping at her. I know she didn't mean it in a nasty way, but what a stupid, thoughtless thing to say.

@PurplePansy05 pram? Check out little love blankets.co.uk we have one of the car seat blankets for dd. We got gifted one for ds when he was little and we put it in the pram rather than the car seat and it was the only thing he would sleep in. Literally! One day my mum decided to wash it. She couldn't understand why he was fussy all day and refused to sleep. She put it back in when she had dried it and he instantly snuggled in and went straight to sleep.

@RandomCatGenerator ah I meant it goes up their bum like a rectal thermometer would, I'm not sure if a thermometer would do the same thing though! The windi is a hollow tube and it whistles when you put it in if there's gas then poo will follow is there's some in there! DS was totally fine with it being used. You have to put coconut oil or something similar on it before using it. It's so quick. It says the thermometer thing on the box so I think they're trying to make you feel less weird about it, but it really does work.

@PurplePansy05 I honestly have no idea how people get on with those slings. I tried it and it was soo much hassle! I use the carrier instead now and it's so much easier, and I can use it on my own easily. I could not have done my monster train journey without it either. I really recommend the infantino. Super cheap too. I can't remember if you already have a carrier?

I also still do the bath seat thing I mentioned a while ago when I want to get a few things done. He still loves it and will sit in it happily kicking his feet around. He's alway really smiley in it too - I have no idea why but I'll go with it! He doesn't sleep in it though.

His immunisations have been postponed by another week. I delayed them for a week because we were away (which they made me feel really bad about) and they've delayed them by another, so he'll be 10.5 weeks by the time he gets them. They've said it's not ideal but ok as long as before 12 weeks. So we're staying here another day as we don't have to rush back for those. I've carted him around lots since we've been here so tomorrow we are just going to chill before getting the train again on Wednesday. Hoping for a smooth journey!

My sister is up today for the night and said something that made me a bit sad. In that light sleep DD has during the early hours and she's arms flailing and head turning, it's her looking for me and I'm leaving her in the cot alone. It made me feel so shit. My sister is very big on the co sleeping though... and never had a cot for her 3 babies. It's made me think I'm leaving DD to feel slightly abandoned!

Yes, rectal thermometers definitely make them poo and or fart :o we had to use them all the time in German hospital, I am not a fan.

DS2 brought home a tummy bug and now DH and the baby have it luckily it seems mainly combined to the nappy area but I haven't been able to put him down all day.

I had to do an emergency run on the tram to get DS2 from kindergarten and put DS3 in the bigger sling so I took some photos to show you legs in (as they fit better like that) but I'm not sure they end up very clear.

His head looks like it's falling out because the sling is supposed to be from 4 months so he's a bit little for it. I just held it most of the time.

@RandomCatGenerator oh I love my baby bjorn mini! Think its great!

@Ready2020

My sister is up today for the night and said something that made me a bit sad. In that light sleep DD has during the early hours and she's arms flailing and head turning, it's her looking for me and I'm leaving her in the cot alone. It made me feel so shit. My sister is very big on the co sleeping though... and never had a cot for her 3 babies. It's made me think I'm leaving DD to feel slightly abandoned!

I'm all for cosleeping but this is total bs! If she wants you then she will cry. She doesn't have the understanding to be looking for you. This is ridiculous putting adult interpretations on a baby's movements. She's probably just practicing moving her head, practicing moving her arms, enjoying the experience of either of those things or making complete random movements. If she wanted you, she would cry as that's the way she knows to get you. She wouldn't have any understanding that turning her head helps her see objects or people she can't immediately see, in fact at this age they don't even know that you're a separate person, so that's not what she's doing. Don't worry! If she's happy trust your judgement!