Due January 2026 - Thread 4

[dubkitten]

Other thread is full already! Ive to head out but feel free to tag others, if not I can do it when back

Just back from my GP check up - all looking good. I’ve really bad back pain the last few days and he reckons I might have pulled something. Recommended exercises and a birthing ball

@curliegirlie congratulations! Nora had bad jaundice too and also hated phototherapy - we ended up with a light over the bed and her
laying on my chest for a few days. Absolutely hated seeing her with the eye shield and little face mask on too. Definitely not a sight to ease you into having a new baby. She’s 7 weeks and the yellow has finally just about faded from her eyes. Perks of being a winter baby I guess!

@Sunshinemoom I’ve been lucky to have no issues breastfeeding all three of mine (lucky because I don’t want to have the faff of sterilising bottles) but definitely echo what others are saying. You don’t get an award for how you decide to feed your baby and it’s got to be something that works for your own circumstances. Try not to feel guilty for what works for you. As long as Atlas is getting food in his bell I don’t think he will mind too much

My mam went to Smyths the other day to get baby stuff for her house for when the baby is down. Got a bouncer and a high chair - the guys said I’ll just get them from the back for you. They put them in the van and went home. Mam went to put the bouncer together when we were down yesterday - she opened the box to find he had given her a box of 3 bouncer chairs instead of just the one 😂😂

Thank you everyone. I feel a lot better this morning with my choice. I’m going to reduce my feeds down gradually so I don’t give myself mastitis. I need to do what works for me and my family right now and my boys have a happy mum.

I still feel guilty as he took to it so easy and we haven’t had any issues to start breastfeeding which I’m grateful for, but it just doesn’t work right now and that is ok. Atlas is still going to be fed regardless of how I do it. And he’s going to thrive either way.

Totally agree im sure in the future the boys wont be arguing who got breastfed the longest!

Its just mum guilt thay no dout we get with everything for the rest of their lives!!

Im glad you've come to your decision and personally I would of done the same!!

You will feel a massive relief soon and look back and think yes I was 100% right xxx

Totally understand the guilt, I’m kinda with you there too at the minute. I was so set on EBF this time (even though BF didn’t work with my DD) but lo and behold same pattern, baby dropped 11% despite cluster feeding every night. We were referred to the infant feeding leads who did an assessment, turns out I have mammary hyperplasia which means I dont have enough of the tissue needed to make enough milk to sustain him. Just hearing that has helped, as in it’s nothing I’m doing wrong. Im pumping to get supply up but realistically I would always have to combi feed and I’ve always said I wouldn’t do that as you’re effectively doubling your work load so working out when to phase the pumping out. He has a cold at the minute (the joy of having a toddler at home) so will keep going until he’s over that.

as you said, he’ll be fed regardless and thrive - and sure they all end up eating food off the floor eventually 😂 x

Sorry @Jadeypie I read this yesterday morning went to reply and got distracted by the baby 😅 yeah, they’re not even gonna care in the future how they were fed and not fed!

Yeah, once I get over this Mum guilt, it’ll be something else, but I’ll feel guilty about the joys of motherhood.

yeah, I went to my mum’s yesterday and I felt so much better having somebody else there who could help feed if I just needed five minutes. I just have to get used to making bottles in the middle of the night cause right now I’m still just turning over and whipping a boob out 😅

@Nynm23 honestly, it’s so hard not to feel guilty, but I know I just need to do what’s right. I’m happy they’ve been able to help the infant feeding team and it’s good to have a reason why and that you’re doing nothing wrong. How are you finding pumping? Yeah, it definitely feels like you’re doubling your work, but if it’s working out for you and baby, that’s good. Yeah, that’s the same as me. Atlas is full of cold so I’m gonna not completely stop until he’s over that and I have been pumping for a couple of feed just to build up a freezer stash that if he’s ill in the future I’ve got some breastmilk.

Yeah, they’re gonna be eating off the floor soon. It’s really not gonna matter. 😅 x

I think these kids were really sent to test us - watched a movie last night full of gun fights etc and she slept right through it. When it was over I said to my friend I was gonna bring her up and try get an hour before she wakes for a feed and her eyes instantly popped open 😂😂😂

I premake a batch of bottle (6 at a time as that’s what fits in the steriliser) and then when she needs a feed I pop one in the bottle warmer while changing her nappy and then it’s usually done by the time I am finished. Bottle warmer is a good send as not waiting on kettle to boil.

One month today 💕

Stop!!! Her little outfit how cute xx

Im glad you've decided what to do, as for bottles of a evening i take the prep machine upstairs and a little bag with my bottles and use the little Tommie tippe tubs with my milk measured in haha, I have a full on bottle making station in the room haha no way am I going up and down the stairs when im half asleep ahha xxx

@Jadeypie which prep machine do you have? I’m the same about going up and down the stairs at night. At the min we take hot water upstairs in a flask, with formula, sterilised bottles and use the nuby cool, but defo now considering a prep machine for the night times x

That’s such a good idea. I literally ordered a prep machine earlier so I’ve been doing my daytime bottles using it. I didn’t think just to bring it upstairs. 😅🤣 xx

Late to the party but baby Iris was born yesterday morning. 9 days overdue but the day before my induction was booked. Very fast labour for a FTM they told me, 4 hours. No time to fill the pool or even put my nightie on! Struggling with feeding, she's been so sleepy, but hopefully we're getting there and have had so much support from the midwives. Still feels very unreal she's actually here.

Congratulations 💕

@WildFinch congratulations 💕 I love her name 😍 Wow 4 hours! X

Congratulations ❤️ love the name!

We use this one ive attached a pic.

I need a nub cooler thing for when im out xx

@WanderWalkernot sure if you have a smyths toy near you. It’s on offer there atm xx

@Jadeypie @Sunshinemoom thank you 😊 I’ll have a look x

@WildFinch congrats! Iris is a beautiful name 💕

A huge congratulations on baby Iris @WildFinch!

Re. feeding, is there anything else going on? Freya was very sleepy and having too quick feeds and it was probably caused by the unfortunate combination of a 90% tongue tie and jaundice. We had the tongue tie separated when she was 9 days (probably managed to queue jump due to the jaundice) and after two readmissions and stints under phototherapy, Freya finally shook off the bilirubin so I’m hoping the feeding - and weight will now improve very soon.

Re. Feeding methods, agree with everyone that you have to do whatever works for you. I find breastfeeding so much less faff than formula or expressing, as you can just plug them in, without worrying about making up bottles etc etc, and for me that’s a bigger win than being able to share the load. I’m currently trying to express to give Freya top ups (she wouldn’t touch formula when I offered it in postnatal 😂) and I’m feeling it pretty stressful working out when to fit it in, to be honest!

And we’re all booked in to start nursery 3 days p/w in February 2027 😭

I saw a thing on Facebook that a childminder near me (wrong way for our commute and dont feel like childminders are right for us anyway) was booked up until September 2028 so closing their waiting list - how bonkers! Remember talking about childcare when all the babies were womb dwellers but have this as a prompt if one is needed!

Thanks @curliegirlie Iris has no jaundice and glucose levels are fine. All her checks have been good. We stayed in the hospital overnight last night and the infant feeding team were very helpful. I'm expressing colostrum and she is taking formula but still really have to prompt her to and it's slow going. We're back home now and will continue trying breast then bottle. Have to set an alarm every 3 hours otherwise we'd all sleep through feeding times she never cries. Maybe she's just a chill baby!

Oh the alarms! I had to do that with DD1 (along with formula top ups) and it was no fun, especially when she was not remotely interested in feeding when I woke her up. But we got through it (she went onto bf until she was 2.5, and is now a 10 year old who will eat anything!)