MACA Pregnancy and Baby Buddies!

[Leeze]

just dropping in to say hi - hope everyone's doing well! we're both doing well, time seems to be going so quickly at the moment!!

Yazzy, I bought a bottle and a carton of formula just in case but luckily haven't needed to use it. For me, after a bit of practice and some support from the midwives, breastfeeding has been pretty straightforward. I'd say trust yourself and your baby that you can do it, and get any support you can!

SBB - I'd recommend baby cinema although it might be more difficult now that Sammuel is walking because the idea is that it's films for the adults to watch and the babies just feed or fall asleep!! Mind you, we went to see War Horse and I couldn't get Kia to sleep because there were really noisy guns in the film so we ended up leaving early!! The Odeon cinemas often do it - if you fancy checking out if they do it near you - they call it Odeon Newbies. That's fab that Sammuel is walking, must be so lovely to see (or is he starting to get into mischief?!!)

Kia is suddenly taking more of an interest in things: people, toys etc. It's very cute to see. And she's so smiley all of a sudden. I think I love her a little bit more everyday!!

 

[yazzy]

Thanks Leeze, my friend recommended buying a couple cartons of ready made formula for an emergency if I had any trouble feeding so like you said I will have some to hand but I am definitely going to try my best to bf for the first 6 months...i'm ready for the first few hard weeks!

Glad to hear you are doing well and loving every minute with Kia.

I can't believe how the time is flying by! Bit achy today but it must be how i've slept or how baby is laying. My hips and lower back are sore ouch!

I got my form so have handed in my maternity leave dates....I am using my holiday from March 9th and then start maternity leave on April 19th....soooo 5 weeks and counting yay!

Ordered my bridesmaids dresses yesterday....getting excited, less than 3 months until my wedding!

How is everyone else doing?

 

[Linny]

:wave: girls

Sorry its been so long, hope you all had a good xmas & new year

Hows the preggo's doing? And the mums of course?

I am struggling with Maisy at the moment and with going back to work next week. i'm gonna end up a wreck at this rate.

Sparkle....do you still give Isla a bottle on an evening? I tried 1yr plus with Maisy but she won't drink it so ive gone back to follow on. She has only slept through once since the night before we left for Scotland for xmas. That was after she was sick and i didn't give her milk.....i guess i'm just clutching at straws cos i'm desperatly trying to work out why she cries out so much in the night

SBB....how does Sammuel sleep?

Maisy will got to bed pretty easily at between 6.30-7pm but will wake up several times throughout the night, sometimes every two hours. Sometimes its only for a couple of minutes but other times i could be in and out for an hour or two to settle her. Sometimes she's tired but can't seem to fall asleep without me sitting there then the minute i leave she wakes and cries again. Other times she will talk, babble and play, constantly sitting up and i'm getting to a point where i don't know what to do anymore.

I know she's been unwell, teething etc but i don't think she is now and she's still waking I try everything when she won't settle....bum change, milk, calpol, dummy, head stroking. Ive even left her for a few mins to cry from frustration but that makes her so much worse she can be sick!!!!

Any advice?

Right off to read back the thread

 

[Linny]

Yazzy......oh how exciting your nearly done with work I left at 34 weeks but had maisy at 38 weeks so glad i left early. Lola was one of my names too but with OH surname (Little) would have sounded funny so we had to stay away from L names. My fave boys name was Noah but OH hated it. We liked Brody & Lennon too. Girls i loved Ella, Aleah, Leah, Laila! I bought bottles & formula, i had great support from my mum with BFding but not so much with OH. When he saw how much i struggled he would pressure me to give her a bottle, don't think he meant anything by it, thinking of me really but if we had another i'd be more determined to find outside support. I did 14 weeks but think i could have done more

SBB...I LOVE Benny & Piper, so cute. Its funny but before i was pregnant i liked so many names but when i was having Maisy i couldn;t decide. She didn't have a name till she was a day old

Leeze, well done to your LO for sleeping them hours No advice on you sore boobies cos maisy never went longer than 2 hours. I had a really fast letdown though and Maisy would choke the first few mouthfuls at first but as she got older she adapted!

Hiya Celtic.....how do you manage with FIVE!!!! I can barely manage with one little maisy. Thanks for sick advice btw

 

[SBB]

Hey girls :wave:

Yazzy it's so exciting that your wedding is so close
My friend tried to push me into buying formula before birth, but I just felt that it undermined my confidence in breast feeding and I was almost expecting to have problems. You can always express and if the situation is really that urgent the hospital can provide formula or donor milk... So I didn't get any, but did get bottles and a pump which turned out to be helpful with his tongue tie! that's just my experience though!

Linny Sammuels sleep is up and down! He actually sttn for the first time ever the other night! But it didn't last
Have you tried getting your OH to settle her instead?
Re the follow on milk - is she still on formula all the time or just cows milk? As she's one now if you wanted to switch to cows milk that's fine. Follow on and toddler milk was only invented by formula companies to get around advertising laws!! She won't actually need it if she has a varied diet

Sammuels sleep is v similar - he goes down fine, but then he wakes up in the night, but because we co sleep I just cuddle or feed him and he's back to sleep so it doesn't bother me too much - but I am starting to feel really tired and need to get him sleeping well before the new baby comes! I have read a plan but it's really aimed at co-sleepers and I don't have the link to hand so I won't bother posting
I think CIO only works in something like 50% of cases, and for lots of reasons I wouldn't ever do it personally.
But I'm not sure what to recommend! There's a good (apparently) book called 'e no cry sleep solution' that I know quite a few mums have had success with. Maybe give that a go? I know with going back to work you'll needy your sleep!!

X x x

 

[SBB]

Sorry about all my typos!! Xx

 

[SBB]

Leeze I that's so cute she's starting to do stuff! Aw it does just get better and better and I love Sammuel more every day too!

X x x

 

[Linny]

Thanks for your input SBB, I'm glad I'm not alone. I defo don't want to resort to CIO, it not something I've ever been comfortable with and the only time I've left her has been when I'm literally at breaking point and don't want her to see me upset or frustrated, it's just been at most a couple of mins and by time i go to her she is beside herself so I don't think it's for us! I'm just hoping she will eventually sttn. She actually did for a few weeks and was waking at nearly 7, it was bliss ha ha!

As for the milk, I started her on cows milk gradually at around 11mths, just on cereal as HV advised. Then when I started to increase it she started all the not sleeping and came out in a rash on her forehead so I stopped. Starting again with it on cereal and so far no rash so I'm hoping in a week or two to be done with formula! She eats pretty great so I'm lucky on that front. It's funny cos someone told me when I was pregnant whatever I craved she would want as a baby and it's soooo true! She loves oranges and cheese ha ha!

Are there not cots or something that you can attach to your bed and then gradually move them away from your bed? My friend has a really small age gap between her two, she got pregnant when her LO was 10 weeks old. They co slept till new baby came along and apparently just went to her own cot no problem! You never know x x

 

[SBB]

I think we'll keep Sammuel in our bed (he sleeps between us) then have the newborn in the cot attached to the bed...

Would you consider co-sleeping? She might sleep better but I can understand it might be hard given you don't already do it and she's 1 now!

I didn't mean you'd done CIO - sorry if that's how that came accross I know we all get to snapping point and sometimes its def best to walk away! I am exhausted at the moment... The other night I had to hand Sammuel over as soon as Danny was finished teaching and go slam a door and scream into a pillow!!

I just wanted to make sure you knew about the formula I saw 3 people buying the toddler one the other day and I was desperate to tell them it's a con
Hopefully she'll stop reacting to the cows milk!

X x x

 

[Linny]

Oh I totally appreciate you taking the time to give me some advice, I didn't think you were implying I was doing the CIO at all! I feel guilty about those times I've had to walk away, especially as within a couple of mins she's been sick from upset but i also know most mums have to do that an regroup! Oh i've done the screaming into the pillow too I do know people who claim it worked but like you I just don't think it's for me

Yeah I know the formula is a total con, it smells awful too! I'm defo gonna crack on with cows milk!

She's a little behind the other babies we know with development, only really in the last month been pulling herself up but since she started she wants to do it on everything, I'm wondering whether her brains too busy and that's why she's not sleeping! We had enough classic last night, 11, 1.30, 3, 3.45 at which point I gave in an slept on her floor, she continued to wake every half hour! Maybe she is teething though

I'd love another baby but I'm not sure I could go through all the sleepless nights again! We can't co-sleep, I would be OH has really bad problems trying to sleep and sometimes struggles with me being in the bed, if she were there too he wouldn't relax

Now you are having baby number 2, cos you've been through labour before are you more relaxed about this one?

 

[yazzy]

Linny - just a thought but if she is reacting to cows milk have you thought about trying her on Goats milk? It is much kinder on our bodies and people tolerate it a lot better. I know this is completely different so please don't laugh but with the dogs they only ever have goats milk as pups and would never have cows milk because they just can't digest it and as humans we can be similar. Anyway food for thought! Or even try a lactose free milk?

Oh my friend wanted two babies close together because she thought the same about not wanting to do it again with all the sleepness night...so she had another baby and after sleepness nights with the first her next little girl goes to bed at 7.30pm and she wakes her up around 8.30am lol...completely the opposite of the older one!

SBB - yes exciting about the wedding getting close, really starting to look forward to it and getting everything organised and in place.
I must start looking into those cloth nappies and buy some in, so no doubt will email you with help on a shopping list!

Yes with you on the BF, I am determined that I can and will feed our baby but have bought the bottles just incase because I have known people who's milk came in and went again within a few days....however I am sure all will be well.

And wow 26 weeks today!

 

[SBB]

Woohoo 26 weeks!!

I think it's good to know a little about how a breastfed baby behaves... And we're not really told. We've been fed all these myths about how a baby 'should' go 4 hours between feeds etc and i think that's why a lot of people give up, because they're not prepared for those first few weeks when sometimes the baby needs to feed ALL the time! People often think they're not making enough but actually baby is just hungry! But its actually nice cos while he's feeding you can chill with a cup of tea
I know you're determined and prepared though so I think you'll be just fine
Have you thought about getting a sling? I can post a link to one if you like - its a ring sling and you can put baby in it to feed and then you're free to get on with stuff. I had a different type with Sammuel and it was SO useful!

Linny I'm going to do it all differently this time! I'm going to have a home birth and do hypnobirthing (breathing techniques to manage the pain) and generally be much more prepared! I can't have another birth like last time I may even get a doula to keep me in track!

I have also heard that about goats milk so worth a try!

X x x

 

[Linny]

SBB....home birth sounds like a fab idea. I was looking into hypnobirthing with Maisy but at he time I couldn't afford it. It's supposed to be a brilliant help from what I've been told! I would love a home birth if there's a next time, the thing I hated most was being stuck at hospital on a ward of chavs. I'd had maisy in the morning So was there for aaaaages!

Yazzy...... Are you getting married before baby or after? Sorry my brain isn't working! Thank you so much for the tip on goats milk, I am not sure whether a possible intolerance to the milk is whats upsetting her so much. It's something I will defo keep in mind

 

[SBB]

Ward of chavs I had to stay the night as he was born at 10.46, I hadn't slept for 48 hours and 27 of those I was in agonising back labour... And the frigging woman next to me snored RIDICULOUSLY loudly all night, so I got a total of half an hours sleep!!

Yeh I am going to struggle to afford it as money is really tight at the moment, but we'll find a way as I really want a totally positive experience this time!

X x x

 

[Linny]

Yup ward of chavs, sound so judgemental but the girl next to me kept opening my curtain and telling me she was going out for a smoke like she wanted me to watch her baby too!

Wow that is a long labour no wonder u were so tired. I was in labour all night, had her at 8am, then had the whole day and night till the following afternoon on that awful ward. I didn't get a wink of sleep that night either cos maisy had slept all day and decided she would feed all night, guess i should have known she'd be a horrible sleeper from then.That second day I couldn't even have any visitors and OH was at work! Was very happy to leave

Well I really hope you get the experience you want this time around

 

[SBB]

Ugh Linny that's gross! And you can imagine if she was smoking 5 mins after birth she probably smoked through pregnancy too

I was so happy to leave too! They tried to make me stay another night and I was at the point of just discharging myself and leaving!!!

X x x

 

[yazzy]

SBB - I want to do the hypnobirthing classes aswell....if I wasn't getting married then i'd go for it as the classes round my way are affordable however with the wedding in less than 3 months I don't think the classes are going to happen for me. My sister is a qualified hypnotherapist (not in hypnobirthing though) so I am going to buy some books and cd's and get her to help me and go through all the techniques. I will have a hospital birth but mainly because it is my first but will be doing everything as naturally as possible.

Yes my mum was telling me (because I was bf) that I fed every 2 hours for a few weeks but she loved the experience and it was just a shame she couldn't feed my brother and sister - circumstances beyond her control. My thought is I am going to be home, I haven't got to be rushing around so baby can have all my time feeding if need be. The sling idea sounds great, I have looked at a few because I love the idea of using a sling in general. If you could let me know of a good one I can put it on my list of things to buy.

We have been so lucky, another person has just offered all of their baby things...basically whatever we need plus loads of clothes because it has all been stored etc, it means we can use our money on things for the baby further down the line when we'll really need it.

Linny - no problem at all about the milk, my mum and sister only have goats milk. I do have cows milk but very rarely have any because I don't tolerate it well. I have already decided when our baby is older he/she will have goats milk instead of cows.

Oooh and we are getting married 11 days before the baby is due lol! Going to be an interesting time

Only another week and I will be in 3rd Tri, just cannot believe where the time has gone. I'm not sure baby has got much of a sleep/wake cycle yet but get some good kicks and lots of wiggling around. I have been sooo hungry this week, not sure if its normal around this time for that to happen but am trying to be good and just stock up on more fruit and veg!

 

[SBB]

Yazzy I'll post you some links later on for some slings that I'd recommend. You need to buy them online as unfortunately high street slings are awful!

That's great you'll do a bit of hypnobirthing too. I wish I could go back in time and do it with Sammuel! It's good to do whether you're in hospital or at home or even with a section apparently.

Wow 3rd tri already! I'm sure baby is growing and needs extra food!

X x x

 

[SBB]

I think the hypnobirthing is usually only about 4 or 5 sessions by the way, and you'd start about now...

X x x

 

[Leeze]

Quick one as I'm on bus to go to visit my work so am doing this on phone. Linny I'd recommend the Tracy Hogg book about sleep. I think it's got stuff about older babies too. What really helped me was the shh pat method, but she also talks about a pick up put down method you can do after they're about 3 or 4 months. Also, one thing I've found with Kia is that if I wind her again before bed she's often got extra wind and that will stop her sleeping well. Hope any of this helps, you might have tried this already. Re chavs in hospital, I had to stay 2 nights after c-section and it was awful. A fight nearly broke out between a family and the staff, then the woman opposite me was on her mobile phone all night while her baby cried. Then she told the midwife the next day that her baby didn't stop crying and she'd tried everything! Yazzy, I appreciated just knowing the bottle and formula was there even though I never used it. Mind you, I've only just started expressing and maybe should have done it sooner. 26 weeks already and a date for maternity leave. How exciting. Oh got to go bus suddenly terminating xx