July 2023 babies

[Summermeadowflowers]

Hello everyone! So this is a continuation of the pregnancy thread(s) as we’re almost full.

DD was born by elective section on July 18th. Her older brother was born following an emergency section after a failed induction in December 2020 and I didn’t want to go through that again! It was a lovely chilled experience and I was a bit nervous waiting but felt like I was in good hands. I was also home the next day.

Feeding has been tricky for us. I really wanted to breastfeed but as with DS, DD hasn’t taken easily to it and struggles to latch. Nipple shields help to an extent although are not a cure all but she doesn’t get much milk and ends up frustrated anyway. I’ve mostly been expressing for her but realistically don’t know how long I can keep it up. It’s a shame as I do really want to breastfeed but it isn’t happening!

Oh and my wound is infected … lovely!

How is everyone else?

[Hippomumma]

Congratulations everyone on your lovely babies and sorry to hear about all the issues you’ve been having!

My little one has a query cows milk protein allergy. He’s on the special formula and I’ve cut out dairy since I’m mix feeding him. Seems to have a bit of reflux/colic too so I’m not sure if the no dairy is helping!

DS1 was much easier but maybe that’s just rose tinted glasses now he’s a 19 month old prone to a tantrum 😂

[PinkPink1]

Hi again! My dd was born near the beginning of July. I too also wanted to breast feed but that didn't work out for us. I was induced a week early but so scary that your induction failed and ended up as a c section!

[Summermeadowflowers]

Oh - that was with DS who was December 20! DD (who is the July 23 baby) was a much better experience

Breastfeeding is very hard and I do wonder if some babies just don’t take to it, or some breasts aren’t great for latching?

[Summermeadowflowers]

@habiller any breast milk will do him good and you’re amazing. I’m trying a 50/50 split at present but pumping … I hate it! Vowed not to do it after DS but here I am 😂

[BackOfTheMum5net]

I quite like pumping, in so far as I can go to a dark room by myself and listen to music I’vea podcast! It’s become my me time - is that weird?

Our trip to the feeding clinic confirmed my suspicion that baby had a tongue tie, which they swiftly dealt with. I think my husband was a bit traumatised to witness the snip, as he hadn’t anticipated them dealing with it there and then, plus they don’t use anaesthetic.

The midwife also gave me tips on my hold to improve baby’s latch, and some advice on nipple shields. I’m feeling particularly emotional, probably because I’ve been awake since 3am, and has a little cry in the clinic. Hopefully things will start getting easier now.

[Loveteathebest]

Hi everyone,
I had my little girl at home on 21st July but she made me wait! The day before I had contractions all day but not very strong or close together so I gave up and went to sleep at 11.30pm. Woke up at 3.30am to a strong one and she was born at 4.20, 5mins after the midwife arrived ! She is my 4th baby (3rd at home) and the first of my home births that was attended 😂 so a success.
She has been a bit fussy with BF, she likes to wriggle and shout at the boob but with a bit of patience and some butt tapping she gets there in the end. Sleep is happening in 2-2.5 hour blocks so I’m tired and DH is concentrating on taking our 19 month old off to burn energy when I’m napping or feeding the baby as that is all he can do at the moment. I do have to admit that I forgot how much trouble newborns are and didn’t appreciate how much more difficult it would be with a toddler, what were we thinking ?!?
hopefully we will all survive with our sanity intact! Our teenager is being mildly helpful but our 8 yr old is in full diva mode 🤣

[AnxiousAnnie94]

Hi everyone thanks for new thread.
Many of you will have see my problems I am having, slightly better today (cried at the boob once so far but has been feeding for longer). I don't know whether he is having a 'leap' or a growth spurt and the fussing at the boob is trying to get more milk?!
Anyway, he definitely does still have tummy troubles though as I can physically hear his tummy and feel is bubble before he screams, but not sure if that's the reason for the crying on the boob.

Another question that I have that's unrelated to those issues...
At 5 weeks, should I be putting Arthur down awake day and night to sleep? I've tried it a few times today and he just is not falling asleep on his own, or if he does, he is asleep for about 10 mins and then crying.
Is it bad that I am rocking him to sleep and, if I haven't got anything else I need to do, still letting him nap on me? I will put him down asleep in the moses basket in the day if I need to do something and he can stay asleep on his own in the day for up to an hour, much much longer on me. Am I causing problems for us? Will this mean he's going to be clingy and fussy or at 5 weeks so they not understand self soothing etc?
After advice please.

[Summermeadowflowers]

@AnxiousAnnie94 i stressed so much about this with DS and I want to go back and shake myself. Honestly you will not create bad habits. Even if you did habits can be broken, just do what you need to at this stage!

@Loveteathebest congratulations! I hear you on the toddler … feel so guilty as I feel my toddler has barely seen me but I know he’s fine with his dad. Just mum guilt.

@habiller i have to admit I’ve just been filling DD up. It’s because breastfeeding is traumatic and frustrating for both of us. She’s having her tie snipped next week so fingers crossed!

@BackOfTheMum5net no not weird! I find it stressful as I’d rather be holding DD or tending to DS but I just have to SIT! It’s frustrating. I also have to wake up in the night to express and I’d definitely rather sleep!

I just had my wound cleansed and DD cried all the way through. I think she needs a nap.

[AnxiousAnnie94]

@Summermeadowflowers thank you!
I know I should put him down more, but I am just enjoying the contact naps so much and know that he will soon grow out of wanting to lie and sleep on my chest.
I am just worried about creating bad habits and don't know when they actually SHOULD be put down to fall asleep on their own or stop contact naps.

[Loveteathebest]

@Summermeadowflowers yes the mum guilt is real ! But I have the older two and my toddler loves playing with them as well as Daddy so I’m trying to just enjoy the sound of the giggles and not panic that I haven’t seen him very much today!

@AnxiousAnnie94 I am thinking the same about holding DD for her naps at the moment. She is only just over 2 weeks old but I really want her to sleep in her cot at night but I don’t want to put her down in the day lol! At the moment I am just doing what feels right at the time, I agree with @Summermeadowflowers just take it nap by nap and do what feels natural for you and Arthur. I was so stressed with DS1 (now 13) that I made a huge thing about sleeping habits and ended up in a mess. I must point out that I co slept with him until he was 2 yrs old and then tried sleep training, needless to say it was awful and everyone cried. Since then my DD1 (who is now 8) was sleep trained at about 7 months and was a dream baby, DS2 (now 19m) sleep trained at about 5months and sleeps like a dream for his naps and all through the night. So chilled out :) so I keep reminding myself of that and will sort out the sleeping for DD2 when she is 4/5 months old and not worry for now

[Summermeadowflowers]

I had my first nod to normality today and drove for the first time since having DD - it was amazing. Driving when heavily pregnant was awful as my bump was squashed against the steering wheel and I could barely reach the pedals. Such a novelty to drive normally! We went to the supermarket with DD in the sling and she was a huge hit with elderly ladies then picked up DS from nursery where I found DH dropped him off in his pyjama top, so I’m glad I’m feeling more like myself again!

[gg9320]

Hi everyone, I can relate to so much of what everyone’s said. Nice to know we’re not alone on all the twists and turns of newborn parenthood!

my DD also got her tongue tie snipped recently, hoping this sets us off on a better breastfeeding path. Glad to have formula in the house in case it doesn’t work out though!

I was reading one of my baby books (I think it was baby love by robin barker) and apparently there is no good evidence to suggest that letting babies sleep on you as a newborn affects their ability to sleep in the crib and recommended enjoying all those newborn cuddles.

[BackOfTheMum5net]

@AnxiousAnnie94 will confess I love letting him nap on me - it's the best bit right now! I'm trying to put him in his basket or bassinet occasionally, not least because spouse is back to work next week so I won't have anybody to bring me food/do the housework/hold him while I sleep.

But they do find it reassuring to be held and it sends them off to sleep, so no bad thing!

[AnxiousAnnie94]

Currently battling to get Arthur to sleep. Why is colic worse at night? 😭 he naps fine during the day...
Had his breast milk bottle at half 8 with DH, didn't want to finish it tonight, fair enough (left 1oz) and immediately started arching his back, red face and screaming in pain. DH put a baby lullaby YouTube video on which I am currently sat staring at fish swimming around, actually very relaxing...
Arthur screamed for 35 minutes, did not know what he wanted, couldn't get him in any sort of comfy position and he didn't want to be held or lay down. Eventually with the help of Euan the sheep and the lullaby he fell asleep, I lifted him into his moses basket and he immediately woke up and started crying again.
He is now laying on my chest fighting sleep.

[Summermeadowflowers]

I wish I had amazing insights to help @AnxiousAnnie94 but I think this is one only time sorts. It’s so stressful. It quickly becomes a bad memory but I know that’s no help in the moment. Does Arthur like baths?

[SkyBlue20]

thanks for the new thread! I’ve been very AWOL, sorry 🙈

After my waters breaking (but not going in to labour) at 35 weeks, baby girl was born on 5th July, at 36+5, a healthy 6lb 4oz and luckily didn’t need any extra care. She came in to this world via an emergency csection, during which I had a major haemorrhage, lost a lot of blood and needed transfusions - I was in theatre for two hours after she was born and didn’t get to properly meet her/hold her until she was six hours old as I was just too out of it/being treated. Despite all of that, we’ve both recovered really well physically and strangely, I’m less traumatised after that birth than I was with my previous one! I do have a birth debrief booked in for this week though as I need to know why everything happened as it did (no shade on the hospital, they were incredible and literally saved our lives).

I’m sorry feeding is tough for so many - I really struggled with my first and found doing formula bottles, trying her on my breast and pumping EXHAUSTING so massive kudos to those of you doing it. I gave up after six weeks of it making us both miserable and it was 100% the right thing for us at the time, though it’s hard not to feel guilty about it, isn’t it?! Turns out my DD had CMPA so I’m glad I’d stopped and we could just do the dairy free formula. I’m combination feeding this time round and the whole experience has been much easier (in part thanks to being in hospital for a while after the birth, I think - I got a lot of support that I didn’t get last time, giving birth during covid lockdowns!) - I really don’t take that for granted!

Having some issues putting baby down at nighttime as she just grunts and writhes around and then cries, so we’ve not been getting much sleep. Saw a slight improvement last night so hopefully we’re getting there 🤞🏼 Not worrying about bad habits or a routine for now though as she’s still so little - she basically sleeps all day anyway! Will probably think about it more closer to three monthsish.

[Summermeadowflowers]

@SkyBlue20 that sounds really scary but I’m so glad all ended well for you.

I am having similar nighttime issues, the next to me crib is a bit redundant. I have been sleeping with her which isn’t ideal really. I don’t think she likes being on her back, she’s happier on her side, but obviously this isn’t the safe sleep guidance.

[PinkPink1]

Dd is so congested. The poor thing cries a lot more than usual. I don't know what to do to help her :(

[SkyBlue20]

@Summermeadowflowers seems like such a common problem 😭 Hoping she’ll grow in to it soon as her digestive system matures 🤞🏼

@PinkPink1 we’ve just had this, too - DD had a cold for like two weeks. Saline drops, a nasal aspirator and an air humidifier were what worked best for us. Hope it passes soon, it’s horrible them being so bunged up!

[rach971]

Anyone else have a baby who's good as gold in the daytime and turns into the child of satan at night time? 😫 So exhausting.

[Summermeadowflowers]

It’s hard - we had a tough evening. I was bathing and reading stories to DS and could hear DD screaming on DH downstairs. He just keeps feeding her and I don’t want to tell him off but he lays her flat on her back so she gulps a load of air, then needs winding but he just gives her more milk!

Apparently trying to get outside late morning and/or early afternoon helps with their natural rhythm, I’ll definitely try that tomorrow!