December Babies thread 5

[Em39ma]

@Scarletpig
@climbershell
@moo37
@theawkwardblonde
@pineapple87
@TreeRoad
@indigoJam
@HPMagic
@Lindzers83
@TinToms
@Elm98
@Sparklestars86
@AnonymousXXIX
Sorry if I missed anyone. Old page had filled up.

@Lindzers83 hope you and Ella have both fully recovered. Always horrible when babies are poorly but must have been particularly worrying for you. We’ve been very antisocial since autumn term ended and getting anyone we do see (basically core family) to test first. However my bigs have gone back to school today. Feels pretty pointless getting the few visitors we do have to test when I’m not going to get the kids testing every day.

As for bottles…. The experience I had with my two is one just took to the bottle (I breast feed 95% of the time but he didn’t seem to care how he got his milk, so took the random bottle feed) and the other one didn’t. We repetitively tried, wish we hadn’t as I was very happy bf and she hated the bottle, caused a lot of tears. Then randomly at 9 months she was happy to take.

This said, my tips would be to stick to one bottle type, give baby a chance to get used it rather then hop around the different makes. Keep trying every day, not randomly. And chose a “happy” feed to be the one to try at. So if she feeds particularly well at a certain time of day try them. Or seeing it’s a different way, don’t try at your and her most tired stage. So maybe earlier in the day? And maybe get it being your partner to try? You are going to smell of breast milk and feel comforting, which she loves, which will definitely make bottle seem 2nd rate. Where as if it’s the only thing there when she’s hungry she might (big might) give it more of a chance. Good luck.

Thanks @NightDreaming I will try and build it into our routine. We've been trying from 7pm with a bottle first at every feed. When she's taken it before it's been in the day but my husband is back to work now so may have to rely on visitors.

The problem with omicron is that you have it at least 2 days before you test positive and because so many are fully jabbed they aren't getting any symptoms. I was really glad that I'd had COVID before and had to vaccines whilst pregnant so stayed positive. X

Do just do an evening feed then, will be a nice (hopefully, at least once bottle feeding is established) time for your husband to have his one on one with Ella. 7pm rather then a later 10pm, or whenever your last feed before your bedtime is, would be better. Then once she’s accepting of the bottle you could always switch to it being the last feed of the day so you can be the one who can go to bed whenever they want and your husband can stay up to feed 😉

Funnily enough I just tried Dexter on a bottle of breast milk today. He fussed the first time I tried so I gave up and let him feed from me, then instead of letting him feed on my other side I tried again when he was less frantic and once he realised what he was supposed to do he guzzled it down in seconds! I think I'll keep offering him a bottle once every few days just to get him used to it so that he's able to do it when needed.

Anyone found any good baby websites to sign up to? Or anywhere doing good freebies?? Not that I’m a complete scrounger 😳😂. Just remember getting a few sample products with my other two which were nice to have/try.

@Theawkwardblonde how are you doing? Hope all is ok. Thinking of you. x

I'm currently bottle feeding pumped milk as baby has a tongue tie and killed my nipples! I really hope it's not going to cause nipple confusion : ( nhs can see us about it late next week and emphasised that's ridiculously lucky because they have a waiting list going well into Feb.

Hello everyone!

Baby girl arrived on the 6th after a long and non progressing induction, so we then had a c section. Wasn't seeming to progress past 4cm which was annoying! Hope you're all okay ☺️

@Theawkwardblonde congratulations.
I’ve had the same problem twice, ended up with a c section each time.
Take it easy, enjoy all the cuddles.

@Theawkwardblonde congratulations. Sorry it didn't go to plan but pleased you had a safe arrival. Hope you're recovering well and enjoying new born cuddles! Xx

Congratulations @Theawkwardblonde! I also dilated super slow. So glad your baby is here now : )

Quick question. Dexter is now 4 weeks and still hasn't slept more than 2 hours in a row! Are there any other babies out there the same and any ideas on when this might change or how to make him sleep for longer stretches? Is there even a way or am I destined for no sleep forever?!

Am EBF btw

@burtle4 so far baby (1 week old) has only had breast milk, but 80% pumped due to tongue tie. When we give around 30 ml baby sleeps an hour, on 60 ml baby sleeps 2-4 hours. (Not a clue if that is normal or recommended amounts!) I really want to go back to only bf by next week and I am a little worried about getting 60+ ml at a time!

I'm doing great on 2 hour stretches of sleep though. Did four in a row last night so nearly 8 hours between 8pm and 8am : o The killer nights are the ones with 30 min-1 hour naps.

@AnonymousXXIX that's really helpful, thank you! I think I might try pumping tonight and see how much he's actually getting to see whether it's enough. He's a really hungry baby and weighs 12lbs already so I'm wondering if he wakes to feed so often because I can't give him enough each time to satisfy him for longer.
I actually find 2 hour stretches through the night ok if he's quick to settle, but when he isn't I only get to sleep for about an hour each time and that's tough!!

Does anyone know if you can take caneston oral tablet whilst breastfeeding? Xx

How is everyone? I have an odd concern. Baby is either asleep or crying. And sleeping quite ok so that's not the worry ... Shouldn't a 5 week old also be awake and play a bit? I mean awake .. quietly?

@AnonymousXXIX is this a new thing? I only ask because he's 5 weeks old and this is when they are due to go through their first wonder week. If you haven't heard of wonder weeks just Google it. Some people don't believe they're a thing but I've always been able to set my watch by them in terms of when I can expect to have a particularly fussy or unhappy baby. It's basically specific weeks that they go through developmental leaps and it can make them fussy/clingy/miserable for a bit.
If it's not a new thing and he's been like that since birth I would suggest trying cranial osteopathy. I just went with my 7 week old who has been struggling with bowel movements that were waking him up and causing him pain, and a few days on from the treatment he's like a different baby and is pooing far more easily, which in turn makes him much more content and settled! Hope this helps!

@burtle4 baby's always been like this. But happy and healthy! All checks have been fine, midwifes are happy. Nappies are fine, feeding fine. The crying is always for a reason: needs nappy change, needs to be burped, or needs to eat. So I am not worried baby is struggling with something or in pain or anything. Just doesn't seem to chill & play.

@AnonymousXXIX my baby is 6 weeks today and has had awake spells yesterday and today where we could play but up until yesterday he seemed to be either feeding, getting a nappy change or sleeping with no awake time for play. He has only just figured out his days and nights last night was the first time he wasn't awake most of the night and sleeping all day.

Thanks @Scarletpig1 : D

@AnonymousXXIX
I’m finding my nearly 7 week old is the same.
Although he mostly drinks 5oz bottles, some nights/mornings he’s so fussy with drinking his milk has an oz or two & sleeps. Sometimes takes 2hrs to drink a bottle or sometimes just doesn’t finish it, so it’s hard to predict when he’s hungry as he bits n bobs.
I’ve said to my husband he’s either asleep, or crying but he’s changed and fed. I’ve wondered if it’s the milk I’m using but he does drink it (aptamil)
Not sure if to mention to the health visitor.

@AnonymousXXIX we've just had a spell of S being like this. Health visitor put it down to a growth spurt. S was literally only taking an ounce or 2, fussing and crying, then sleeping, then repeat. Honestly thought something was wrong with her. Now she's a bit more chill and will play.

@Foreverboymumma have tried going up a teat size. If they are taking that long to feed it can be because he’s using to much effort to get the milk. I’ve just moved Arthur on to the size 2 at 7 weeks

@Em39ma he’s always been on size 2 teats because of his size when he was born, the hospital moved him to size 2 although he’s never ate like a hungry hungry baby. He bits and bobs around 1/3/4oz usually around 2oz and falls back to sleep.
This morning he woke at 530am, had 5oz, slept until 9am, had 2oz and slept until 11:45ish and had 1oz and is only just having a bottle with dad now so il see how much of that he drinks. Nobody seems concerned. He weight 10lbs6.5oz at birth, went down to 9lbs13oz at 5 days, was the same at 10days and was weight again at 6 weeks he was 11lbs13oz and he’s being weighed again on the 23rd.
Because he was born on the 95th centile I think he’s now following the 75th they aren’t too worried but just wanted to recheck him on the 23rd so he will be 8weeks2days old x