June 2023 Babies ☀️ (Thread Six)

[ireneadler101]

Thought I'd start a new one as the old one is full!

I'm 37w exactly and definitely starting to feel more Braxton Hicks (they woke me up last night) but they don't seem to be getting more intense/frequent. Also a bit of lower back ache and general bump tenderness, plus I think I've lost a small bit of my mucus plug. Think this is probably normal at this stage and just my body gearing up for labour but am quite nervous as have a c section at 38+3 and hoping to last till then! Second pregnancy but last baby arrived at 36w so feels like uncharted territory!

How is everyone else feeling?

@Ally1992 Yes like an ache and feels tight? That makes me feel better. I had to get my DH to look on week 2 (poor him ...he said not to worry but I'm sure it was grim!) And he said they're like a "T" shape and the one that comes down my inside leg a bit looked quite angry at the knicker line so maybe that bit will take a bit longer to heal.

Thanks for that re the bath I might use some of the sensitive stuff. She sometimes get milk in her neck and I think she needs a proper clean !

My little boy is 2 weeks old today and we've been struggling badly with reflux. He lost alot of weight at birth so we were told to top up with formula but he's so sick with it. It's scary as I worry he'll choke especially at night. We stopped giving him formula a few days ago as he was gaining weight nicely and I felt like my milk supply was improving but just had the health visitor visit and he's lost weight again. I'm really struggling with knowing what to do and how much to give him and when. He doesn't cry at all when he's sick, it just looks like so much whereas with the breastmilk it's more like a bit of spit up not actual vomiting. I really wanted to be able to exclusively breastfeed but feel like giving up already as I'm not making enough and have spent all day wanting to cry.

Can anybody recommend a baby carrier please? Looking something I can use when I want carry her without faff of the buggy ie supermarket, walk, quickly nipping somewhere etc.

We're on normal sensitive wipes and normal baby bath (but we aren't bathing her everyday).

@Ally1992 BIL's birthday this weekend and also on my period.. hoping to avoid the hangover though... Hope you had a nice time!

@Kelvie103 sorry to hear you're having a tough time. DS had reflux and I know how worrying it can be. As I think I've said further down I also now think our 4 week old has also developed it. If it helps re the spitting up and anxiety around that and whether baby is getting enough, I sent my friend a tiktok video a couple of weeks back as she said similar that baby was spitting up what felt like an entire feed. In the video someone knocked over a 4oz bottle feed across a kitchen worktop to show just how much the baby would need to bring up for the entire feed to be wasted. The spit up always looks a lot but I bet baby is still retaining a good feed. It's only if weight loss becomes an issue or its reflux which causes a sore throat / burning in the throat that I would be worried and ask for medicine. DS had gaviscon and omeprazole in the end. I hope this helps? I'll try find the video of the feed spill as it offered my friend some comfort.

@BobbySD345 yes that’s it! Fair play to your husband, my midwife offered to check on week 1 and I said no thanks too many people have seen down there now haha!

@toomanysausages hope you have fun too, we need to let our hair down, even if we’re knackered 😅

My DS has reached the peaked crying the health visitor was warning me about at week 7, he was awake twice in the day yesterday for more than 3 hours and could not settle
him, hoping he grows out of this in a couple of weeks.

It's so lovely seeing all of your lovely baby photos! My baby is now 7 weeks and 3 days and it's my eldest boy's 4th birthday today! I wish I could slow down time as it seems to be flying by. 😭

Sorry to hear so many of your babies are suffering with reflux - we're in the same boat too. My first never had it so it's I'm taking on board the advice given so far. Luckily weight gain hasn't been an issue for us, and he's following his curve nicely, so I'm pleased I've not got to worry about that.

@toomanysausages, I'm using the Cybex Maria tie (I think that's what it is called). I never bothered with a carrier with my first but have enjoyed using it for short trips and when I need to get jobs done around the house as baby is so settled in it. I've not used any others so can't compare but it's easy to put on once you've got the hang of it and supports healthy hips (which I don't think all do).

DD is now 15 weeks and weighs 8lb. She's delayed. Hasn't smiled yet, doesn't follow us around the room, doesn't focus on us. Consultant has asked a few times if her eye exam was fine which I said yes as they discarded her after it. They said if she's not smiling in another 2 weeks we should see GP. It's really stressful.

Her sleep is all over the place. Last night she slept until 1am then woke up until 7am. I'm trying to get her to fall asleep by herself in her crib which does sometimes work.

We're going to Legoland at the end of this month. We'll take her crib too so she has somewhere familiar to sleep.

Sorry to hear about the breastfeeding problems. I can't help sorry as mine don't work to begin with 😐

@BellaTheDarkOverlord, before the last couple of weeks I hadn't been on MN for a fair few months so was really out of touch with this thread - I didn't realise your baby girl arrived so early! That must have been really difficult and it doesn't sound like things are getting any easier for you both. I'm sorry she's a bit late hitting some milestones but I suppose that's to be expected with a preemie. Hopefully she's just taking her time and there's no other reasons for the delay. Fingers crossed that she gives her mummy the biggest smile soon!

I remember trying to get my first to put himself to sleep as an infant - me and DH literally spent the ENTIRE night trying (and failing), so well done to you both for sticking with it. I'm taking a more relaxed approach this time and just doing what I need to do to get some sleep myself! 🙈

@toomanysausages we have a close caboo which I love for diddy babies! So much so I have 2 😂 not entirely sure why!
Then we have a connecta which I tend to use when they're a little bigger.

If you've got a local sling library or sling consultant I'd highly recommend using them! I used them 6 years ago with my first and am still so grateful I can sling this little one with ease, she's so comfy and settled in there which makes looking after the other two much easier!

@BobbySD345 thanks that's really helpful to hear. My mum keeps telling me it probably looks more than it is but it's just scary when it just seems to erupt out of him rather than be a bit of dribble. He doesn't seem bothered though, even when it came out his nose too the other day!

@toomanysausages I have a mamaruga zensling and it’s fab, my favourite so far!

Thank you for suggestions! I bought two different ones. I'm using the ergobaby 360 (with newborn insert) and I'm giving the other one (Stokke mycarrier) to DH.

How is everybody getting on? Dd has spent the entire day unsettled and the evening on off crying, it had me wondering how everybody else is coping?

Last few nights have been rough... awake for 3 hours and wouldn't settle, went through 3 sleep suits so washing on this morning 😂 grandparents are coming by today to take her for a walk but the house is a top so I know I won't get any rest 😫

@C1umsyGiraffe leave the housework. Take a nap yourself. It is much more important.

@DrinkingAllTheGin thank you and I would say that to anyone of my friends but it's a lot easier said than done :( especially with the projectile poo we had this morning! Can curtains go in the washing machine? Asking for a friend 😂

@C1umsyGiraffe worth the risk!
Just do the bare minimum to get by.
I'm just coming off a 5 day straight of DH being away with work and I have never been so tired!
DD is sleeping well but when you are ghe only adult it's impossible to fully relax!

Matthew was finally back up to his birth weight at his last midwife visit on Monday. 9lb 12oz now, already grown out of his 0-1 month clothes at 3 weeks old! We had a couple of really bad nights with him this week where I got literally no sleep. He would only fall asleep on my boob then wake up as soon as I put him down. Ended up having my mum come and stay over last night to look after him so we could sleep as it got to the point I was so exhausted I couldn't even talk or walk straight and was crying all the time.

I think I've had to make the decision to give up trying to breastfeed. I wasn't making enough milk anyway and was topping up but recently he's been struggling to latch. I think part of him not sleeping was I was trying to persevere with breastfeeding at night and he was hungry all the time. I feel bad but at the same time there's no point giving myself extra stress and making him unhappy too.

@C1umsyGiraffe chores aren't a priority atm!

@Kelvie103 Have your nights/sleeping improved? Are you feeling more positive now you're bottle feeding? I really like the "fed is best" phrase. I do like the convenience of bottle feeding too as anybody can help out!!

So from 5lb to 9lb 6, matilda is now 7 weeks old and actually went 5 hours straight last night ( I kept waking up to see if she was OK though 😂), we got our first smile today to on my little girls 8th birthday 😍.

Hope all other mummas are going well?

@toomanysausages I've been exusively formula feeding now for the last week and baby is so much more settled and I'm happier too without all the stress of is he getting enough. He certainly eats alot and is gaining weight nicely. I felt so guilty at first but it was the right decision for us in the end. We're even getting 4 or 5 hour sleep stretches most nights now which is amazing at 4 weeks and I'm no longer a zombie!

Hope everyone else is doing OK. I found the first 4 weeks so hard and kept thinking we've ruined our lives having a baby but it feels like I've finally turned a corner and we're starting to enjoy having him. Even booked my first baby class yesterday for september 😀

I've been looking at baby classes for September too! DS was a COVID baby so we missed out on those. Also looking at swimming for her too.
We get some 4 hour stints at night but it's hit and miss. She does much better if I express around 8pm and give it to her before bed as I can get around 4oz and she devours it. I bet she doesn't get as much on the boob so it makes her sleep longer. Definitely feeling the 6 week leap - she seems fussy and unsettled and definitely feeding more in the day ! We haven't had her weighed in a couple of weeks but she's too big for newborn and first size now. Definitely better in 0-3 now.

Feeling slightly jealous of the babies sleeping 5 hours, my baby is 9 weeks and will sleep 4 hours only between 8pm and midnight and will then wake every 2-2.5 hours for the rest of the night. He only takes 30ml on the 2am feed so I’m hoping he drops that one soon, think he just loves the milk too much 😅

Hi all, hope everyone is doing good! I’m wondering at what weeks you are planning to take your babies to groups? My local library do story time and rhyme time every week but I’m not sure if I will have the youngest there with an 11 week old, I think I will join a couple of groups you pay for at the beginning of September

I'm doing baby massage with my NCT group but not started any others. Seems pointless with DD only 9 weeks old. But we do try and get out the house every day for something. Stops the cabin fever!

We're also doing baby massage - our local library does story time too and I'm going to go with a friend this week. She started taking her baby at 5 weeks :) think it's just nice to see other adults!

We're also going to start swimming lessons when dd is 3 months.

How is everyone's partner finding it? DH is struggling as she clings to me so much and he's finding it hard not to take it personally no matter how much I tell him!