MSE Newborn to 1 year Club

cats2012

Hi all! I promise it does get better! Clara goes down about 8pm now and wakes up once about 1/2am then down again til about 6. So not perfect but I get some evening time with OH then sleep from c.10pm-1am then again 1.45-6am or what ever it works out as. So usually two stretches of at least 3 hours. I could get more by going to bed earlier if needed. We've just had our first family holiday of 5 days away at the seaside :-)

Don't worry about it being up to 1 year - that was sort of just because I thought the things to dicuss would change a bit at that point but I'm not actually fussed at all!!

euronorris

penguingirl wrote: »

We're bf-ing so unfortunately can't do that just yet- we've had some latch difficulties so keen to wait a few more weeks before trying expressed milk in a bottle, although I have just ordered a haakaa pump and some storage bags to start building up a stash. I think OH finds it frustrating too as he doesn't feel he can help. My parents have come over a fair bit too to 'help' but other than take him out in the pram or something to allow me to sleep for an hour or so there's a limited amount they can do. Ah well, we will get there! Nearly weekend so OH can pop him in the sling or pram and let me have a snooze (currently J is snoring in the sling, but I know if I take him out he will wake up and scream!)

I feel you! We did the same, and it is very rewarding, but very difficult/tiring in the early days as it's pretty much all on you with regards to feeding. It does get better. I promise. I remember some days feeling like they went on forever, because I was so tired, and I was always either feeding, or comforting her, or changing her etc, but, simultaneously, they whizzed by! Strange things happen to time when you have a baby.


I've heard great things about the Haakaa! I never got one as I already had a medela swing already, and the haakaa was out of stock when I was looking at it, but the ladies on the fb page raved about it! And I do think you're right, too early to introduce a bottle, particularly if his latch isn't great.


You could always get OH to do the housework, so you can nap, if he isn't already doing that. I know it's not the same as a long stretch, but it all helps until you can get a longer stretch.


The nap thing is very common/normal, though I appreciate that doesn't help and can be very frustrating, but just know that you're not alone. I had people telling me it wasn't normal etc, which just made me feel like cr*p to be honest, but it is normal. Of course babies want to be in our arms, it's safe, and warm and secure and cosy. You're doing great!


You all are!

penguingirl

Aw thanks for the lovely messages. OH is being fab doing all the cooking, shopping etc so I'm not feeling too stressed out, J just clearly seems to need lots of cuddles at the moment.

Cats- hope you had a good holiday. We're thinking of booking a few days in Wales in September- it's only a couple of hours drive, we know the area etc so shouldn't be too stressful

cats2012

It was actually really fine - really glad we took the plunge. We're going to do a full week in Wales in September.

Tiny tip - I know you've had latch issues so.probably now isn't right but don't wait too long to try a bottle. Advice says 8 weeks ish but a couple of friends of mine waited that long and baby was too used to boob and wouldn't take it. We started doing once a week from 4 weeks and she's been fine. Having said that, when you try it do also keep it up. We didn't do one for 2.5 weeks at one point and she got out of practice so we had to "retrain".

Re naps - enjoy the cuddles definitely, but try to start putting down when you can even just for a few mins. It's the one thing I wish I'd done a little early as it's been harder to get Clara going down now that she needs longer naps. But baby steps is absolutely fine of course! And feel free to ignore me it's just a thought based on my experience :-)

sweetbabu

Hi all

Jack is now 9 days old and, so far - we've been very lucky. He's such a contented little baby. He does like a snuggle with me though - we've eeked time out for me to have a shower with giving him the t-shirt I was just wearing.

Agree with the tip RE giving a bottle. DD was around 4 months before she had a bottle and she then wouldn't take one from me until she'd had a bottle maybe a dozen or so times. She wanted me to feed her, herself.

Toots14

We had a bad time with Catherine sleeping on anything but me or her dad until, and I know it's against guidelines, we put her on her tummy at about 4 months and she slept great.

She had such a massive startle reflex so every time she was put on her back and she drifted off the reflex woke her up.

She still sleeps on her tummy now.

penguingirl

Toots- J has a big startle reflex, I really feel for him sometimes.

Cats- I am trying to make the effort to put him down. He's not normally too bad with it, it's just when he's grizzly it's harder. Today has been a particularly bad day for it and we've had an awful bedtime with full on rage which we've not had since about day 5/6. Poor thing. He'd been down half an hour and woke up for a feed- fingers crossed I'll get him back down, but he seems more chilled now.

I think we'll do a bottle at 5/6 weeks, and find a regular time to do it. A few people have had the same experience so I think we'll try and do a couple a week. Funny I don't know anyone whose baby has rejected boob for a bottle despite all the stories of nipple confusion, but know lots who won't take bottles

Beckyy

I recognise a few names here! My LB is just over 8 months now, and it's flying by. He's still BFing well and we've been doing BLW. He's enjoying trying things but definitely eats less than the babies I know who were traditionally weaned with purees then finger foods.

penguingirl, I think a lot of people who end up with a bottle preference ultimately switch to formula soon after but tend to blame an issue with their supply or thinking their baby is not getting enough because a bottle preference can make them very fussy at the breast, or refuse it until they get a bottle.

Toots14

We did BLW Beckyy and up until I'd say 10 months C ate very littles. She's nearly 13 months and it's hard keeping up with her now. She's eating me out the house :rotfl:

I've loved BLW as DH and I are big eaters and love trying new things so C has had to go along with it and she's loved it. Broccoli the only thing she won't touch so far. Sardines possibly her favourite.

april87

Penguin I think J would be right bang on track in terms of leaps. I'm sure it said between 4.5-5.5 weeks for the first leap and it is based on due dates. Started on the Infacol today and it definitely seems to help but he just seems to be feeding more often. Still being quite fussy, but it is warmer again so hoping its just that. Put him in the sling just there for the first time and he seemed fine, so hoping with OH going back to work Monday that it has the same effect.

I really hate seeing him cry, I just feel so helpless.

Cats glad your trip went well, don't know if we'll brave a trip away any time soon We haven't really ventured far from ours, a trip to the great grannys at most. Also appreciate the tips on the nap situation we seem to be stuck in the same cycle right now. He was so good for the first 10 days or so and now jsut constantly wants to be in our arms.

I have an informal meeting and tickets for a show next week, dreading being away from the wee one.

Trying to read and catch up with whats going on, but I find that I am having to constantly scroll up/down to keep track so apologise for not picking up on things.