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?

@AnxiousAnnie94 have you tried being loud around your baby all day? I have always made so much noise since she was born and she napped through.

I try to meal prep in the day to help with witching hour (the slow cooker/instapot is my best friend) and then if she is unsettled my husband and I will take turns holding her while the other eats. I then take her up at 9pm, put her down to sleep with the white noise machine but the tv actually stays on until I sleep. She sleeps through all the noise.

It might not work but worth a try. I think our dog who barks loudly so so much really helped the most 😂

@GC2023 he naps fine around noise in the day, but I want him to know the difference between night and day and have lights off and minimal noise at night time as I need him to know he's supposed to be sleeping for longer periods. It's a tough one, but think I will wait until he is 4 months, only 3ish months to go, when the SIDS risk is supposed to be less and start putting him to bed and coming downstairs with the monitor for a little while.

Has anyone else's babies decided to shout loudly in the morning and evenings 😂???

I vaguely remember DS having that stage - finding their voice I think!

DD is 3 months today 😳 I’m never sure if the fourth trimester is the first three months or 12 weeks but either way we’ve come through it! Tentatively, we’re in a good place. Night sleep is good - she wakes once for a feed but is easy to get back down. Day sleep is becoming easier and more predictable although naps on the two days I have both children can be tricky to manage. I’m really proud I’ve managed to express milk for this long and while it’s a pain in some ways in others I have the best of both worlds. (I have recently bought a hands free pump which has changed my life!)

Just got to get through the four month sleep regression now 😅

Can the four month regression start early? DS is 15 weeks, technically 4 months on the 1st November but for the last 3 days has been waking up every 45 minutes - 1 hours. Even his longest stretch from 8:30pm- 12:30am has been cut to 11pm. I'm shattered. Don't get me wrong, I was tired with every 2 hours waking, but my body had kind of got used to that.

Hope you're all okay.

Naps in the day time are kind of predictable now. We are having about 5 short 30-40 minute naps and then go down for the night (or not) at half 8.

We're doing good in the night (she went 9 hours without a bottle last night!) but daytime is hit and miss. Sometimes she sleeps a lot and sometimes she's quite unsettled. I find it hard when my partner is at work on her unsettled days because I'm practically glued to the sofa.

Does anyone else's baby like their face pressed up against something to get to sleep 🙈 If she's on one of us, she presses her face right into us and currently she's on the sofa with her face against the cushion 🙈 I keep a close eye on her and make sure her nose isn't covered and move whatever object she has her face pressed against once she's asleep but it seems to be the only way she'll settle this last week or so.

@rach971 yes my DD also likes this. I've taken to giving her a Muslin to push her face against as they're breathable (I still don't leave her unattended). She will smush her face right into my chest and rub it in.

Someone at my baby massage group is having the same problem @AnxiousAnnie94 . It’s short lived though I believe.

We have COVID 😭
Well... I don't yet.
DH got 'a cold' at the weekend, he was quite bad but just assumed man flu. Did all the handwashing, not sharing towels best we could as didn't want DS getting poorly. DH didn't hasn't even cuddled him since Friday night.
Well this morning DS woke up with a temperature, coughing and a sniffle and very unsettled so thought I'd test him, didn't think it would be COVID but it came up straight away.
Somehow I haven't got it yet, but with him feeding on me, sneezing all over me and being on me all the time, can't see it being long :(

Anyone's babies had covid? Any tips please as he's really really sad and not well and it's making me cry :(

@AnxiousAnnie94 we’ve all just recovered from covid - sending hugs as it’s really hard.

We and DS1 had mild symptoms but DS2 (14 weeks) really struggled and is still symptomatic 2 weeks down the line. We’ve tried to keep him upright as much as possible as he’s so snotty and he has a little wheeze which the doc said is upper respiratory but it sounds horrid. Wet towels on warm radiators helps for humidity. For the cough, plenty milk. Cuddles constantly as so unsettled. It’s exhausting.

Look after each other - it will pass and he will then have some immunity.

@AnxiousAnnie94 we all had a it a few weeks ago. DD had to go in to hospital for the afternoon/evening but that was because she's being monitored for a blood disorder I have and it was a precaution. Her heart rate was quite high so had bloods etc taken to rule out infection but was likely just because her temp had spiked. Her temp came back down and it was fine again in hospital but the nurse recommended some calpol as she was likely in a bit of pain. She had calpol a few times and pretty much she just slept it off other than a sniffly nose and being a bit sad, she handled it really well and we had lots of cuddles! Hope you all feel better soon

@Hippomumma
Thank you! DS is 15 weeks and it's just so sad. He's crying all the time and even crying in his sleep. He's wanting to sleep loads too. He was awake lots in the night and felt hot then so I knew something wasn't right.

I'm hoping I escape it, but can't see it!
I can't see looking after DS whilst I have COVID all day whilst my DH is at work will be fun!
I am already exhausted and we are only half way through day 1!

I just feel so bad, as we were so careful. Like I say, we only thought DH had a bad cold, but took all the precautions we could. Poor DH hasn't even been able to hold DS or get too close to him as I wouldn't let him as didn't want the germs to spread. At least they can have a cuddle when he gets home from work!

@AnxiousAnnie94 I hope he's feeling better soon!

My 3 DDs have a bad cough, Torvi included. She's eating slightly less but still in good form. DD2 just coughing and a bit more tired. DD16 is really bad with it. OH is working nights at the moment and he's feeling crappy but hoping that's just because he's run down - he's just over an illness a couple of weeks ago that we think may have been Covid. I've avoided all illnesses so far 🫠.

Torvi going down for the night around 8pm these days but still waking at 11pm and then anywhere between 2 and 5am for feeds. Up for the day about half 7 or 8am.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a baby and a toddler sharing a room? Starting to think about it now as she will soon be out of the Next to me. Just more coordinating when they sleep is the challenge - neither go down without crying 🤣

@Rutennotou
He's slightly more himself today, but still not well. He's just been so sleepy (in the day) or screaming, we have had very few happy moments. He hates taking medicine so calpol is being spat out so he's barely getting a full dose. Night times have been awful, he's been screaming out every 30 minutes or so and doesn't want milk, just a cuddle, but then doesn't want to be laid down again, not even in my bed!
I can't wait for him to he better, but then I am sure I will get it as I have been dribbled on, sneezed on, coughed on and he even spat Calpol into my mouth last night...
Anyone have tips on looking after a baby when they are feeling really poorly? If/when I get it and I feel anything like when I had covid before, I am going to feel rough and I am feeling genuinely worried about looking after DS/ breastfeeding him when feeling so rubbish. He's not the easiest baby at the best of times due to his reflux and doesn't just like to sit. I have to be jiggling him around the house most of the day. Guess I've just got to get on with it and hope I don't feel too bad!

Hope your household feels better soon @Rutennotou

Sorry to hear that all your dc have coughs! My dd's sleep pattern is similar to your Torvi's except mine will sleep at around 6pm. The rest of the times are similar.

@AnxiousAnnie94 hope your boy feels better soon! You asked about how to look after a baby when you're also feeling ill. I have endometriosis and had a flare up recently and it is very tough looking after a baby when I'm also in a lot of pain! I don't really have any tips except you have to just get on with it 😭

@PinkPink1 thank you. He's having lots and lots of cuddles, not that they're really helping him, but helping me feel like I'm doing something for him :)

Poor you! That cannot have been nice at all and hope you're starting to be in less pain now!

Still here. Still struggling with PND. But watching the thread and wishing the best to all.

@AngryBirdsNoMore - sending hugs. We’re here if you want to chat. It’s such a tough time and PND is so hard. Hope you are getting the support you need.

Is anyone else’s little one who is on omeprazole for reflux really struggling with terrible number 2s? Mine has such a bad tummy after increasing the dose due to his weight. It coincides with covid, increased dose and then the rotavirus vaccine so all 3 could have affected him but it’s still awfully watery 3 weeks down the line! Doc not worried yet but it’s hard to deal with. I’m jumping up at night to get him upright if he goes to try and avoid dirty clothes and sleep bag but not very successfully as it just comes straight out the nappy!

Cuddles help our babies even when they are crying. You will be making him feel safe❤️The pain dulled down today but it's honestly like being in labour. Doctors don't care about women's health!

@Hippomumma
I wish DS could poo on omeprazole! He goes every 8 days and is in so much pain in between. He also has extremely painful and smelly wind too! He can't always get it up and the wind plays him so much problems at night times and keeps him awake lots in the night. He's on lactulose but that seems to have stopped working now 😭 I'm not sure if his dose needs going up as his wind got worse before when he needed upping, but could also be covid related 🤷

@AngryBirdsNoMore hope you are ok! Sending lots of hugs

@AnxiousAnnie94 we went to the doc this morning who decided to try him on gaviscon rather than omeprazole. We haven’t tried it so far so willing to give it a go but we did have his reflux under control so I hope it works as well but without the bad tummy! So far, he seems a bit more grumpy but he’s overtired so might be that. Your poor little one. Constipation is no joke!!

@Hippomumma
We were on gaviscon originally and then it didn't really do anything, we ended up in A&E as we had a day where he basically screamed in pain all day and the final straw was when he wouldn't take is expressed milk bedtime bottle, which he usually loves, the A&E paediatrician prescribed omeprazole and lactulose but told us to stay on gaviscon too. Worst mistake; DS didn't poo for 10 days, it was awful. So we took him off of gaviscon and kept him on lactulose two times a day and the omeprazole and he was going every 2-3 days which was okay, but for the last 3-4 weeks he has been going every 7-8 days and he is just in so much pain. Drs won't put his dose up yet as he hasn't gained 1kg since he was last upped, however I know he can be on higher as when the paediatric nurse came to our house to review him, she said he was on the lowest dose for his weight and he could be on a much higher dose at the weight he currently was and he's gained since then, so definitely can be on more! I just don't know what else to do for him, bless him. He just struggles with wind and pooing and I question of the omeprazole is even worth it. Or is his reflux better now he's older?
I started him on a probiotic today after doing extensive research on how I can help. So fingers crossed in a week or two he might be a bit better.
He seems a bit better, covid wise today, so if covid has been hurting his tummy as well, hopefully it should settle.
He has been waking crying/ screaming every 45 minutes - 1 hour at night which isn't like him. He is usually every 2 hours, but usually just wakes up and I hear him kicking his legs about, he won't cry and I give him his dummy, if he doesn't fall back asleep, I feed him. But for the last 4 nights I haven't had the chance, he just immediately cries and only cuddles settle him.
I'm hoping it's the covid and will get better and not a sleep regression!

@AnxiousAnnie94 oh what a time he’s had! Poor him and you. It’s tough to watch them struggle and not know how else to help!

Ours also has a milk protein allergy so I think it’s a bit of that too for him. He has been sleeping 10 hours straight but is obviously waking covered in poo when he goes in the night and is then fully waking up as it’s a big job to get him clean…. Horrid.

Poor DS1 is just getting over a UTI too so I’m looking forward to them both just being well and settled!

Are you considering early weaning for the reflux? Dr today and a few weeks ago said it’s the best thing they’ve done for their kids as they both had refluxy babies too. I’m considering it at 17 weeks.

@Hippomumma
It's just so horrible for them isn't it :(

The health visitor mentioned it at his 6 week check, but I haven't seen her since. She did say to contact her if he was still suffering at 3-4 months. He is now 16 weeks.
I don't know what to do for the best really!