New Baby (1 Viewer)

[dancers lance]

Apologies if this is a little self indulgent, but this morning my partner gave birth to our first child; a little girl. She came two weeks early and with very little warning, so it’s all very surreal at the minute. And obviously incredibly exciting!

Any tips on anything baby related would be greatly appreciated?!

Congratulations pal, having had 3 myself the best bit of advice I could give you is the following. Don't allow you or you partner to be pressured into anything, I know that friends and family members can be desperate to get involved, they are excited about the new arrival and mean well, (but all the attention can get a bit overwhelming) try to spend as much time as you can as a trio for the first few weeks. It's a massive change in your life but it will come naturally. And most importantly, support each other, you are still the same two people you where before you had the baby, just with loads of baby sick on your clothes

 

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[Great_Expectations]

Thanks again everyone, I do really appreciate the well wishes, kind words and advice. Plus it’s put this forum in the good books with my partner, so when I’m on it in future I wont get the same moaning as before!

The breastfeeding is the most stressful bit so far, and I really feel for my partner! The baby has a tongue tie which makes it more difficult. Although I have to say the support so far from the midwives and support team has been brilliant.

Sleeping wise on the whole we have to wake her for a feed as she’s so chilled! Which in some ways is harder but others better. And either way I’m definitely getting the sleep deprived feelings!

It also hopefully means I can make the next home game, as she was initially due that weekend!

 

[Great_Expectations]

It goes unbelievably quickly, my little boy is coming up to 18 months old now and I just can't remember what having a new born is like. Hence I've got another one cooking at the min...

Congratulations!

 

[richnrg]

I couldn't have put it any better myself.

stop comparing yourself to Macca

 

[Houchens Head]

As a dad of 8, grandad to 17 and a great grandad to 1½ (the ½ is 3 months preggy), I would say just as Astute said earlier. To keep you both happy, you really need to share the baby chores. It's really great feeding a little one. (unless she's going to breast-feed, then if that's the case, probably be better to let her do the feeding eh?!) Take loads of photos and make an album for he or she to look at in later life. I would have loved to have had loads of photos of growing up, but owning a camera back in my day was for journalists and rich folk! And best of all, bloody well enjoy your life together! Congratulations!

 

[Badger]

Congratulations.

If breast feeding is not for you - make sure that neither of you feel ashamed it is not for everyone although it is pushed as though you have failed if you don't do it. If it is a problem then express and bottle is another option, my daughter did this which meant we could take turns feeding as well as the dad.

Remember that advise is just that, all babies are different.

Try not to wish her life away, it is easy to fall into the trap of I can't wait until ...they sleep through, crawl, walk or whatever while not making the most of now. Mine are in theri 30s now and it has flown by. Take time to just appreciate her, even if it can be hard at times.

 

[Great_Expectations]

Congratulations.

If breast feeding is not for you - make sure that neither of you feel ashamed it is not for everyone although it is pushed as though you have failed if you don't do it. If it is a problem then express and bottle is another option, my daughter did this which meant we could take turns feeding as well as the dad.

Remember that advise is just that, all babies are different.

Try not to wish her life away, it is easy to fall into the trap of I can't wait until ...they sleep through, crawl, walk or whatever while not making the most of now. Mine are in theri 30s now and it has flown by. Take time to just appreciate her, even if it can be hard at times.

There is definitely a strong push towards breastfeeding and I understand the benefits, but as you say it’s difficult and a lot of people can’t for a reason. We’re doing the same re expressing when it’s too painful and even the odd formula during the night if there’s no other options. She seems healthy either way which is the main thing!

 

[ajsccfc]

I think people are moving away from YOU MUST DO IT THIS WAY with regards natural births and breastfeeding thankfully, we had the NCT pre-natal course and were worried that it'd be a bit preachy in that regard but it was completely fine, ended up having an elective caesarean and are now breastfeeding but with formula as an option should the need occur. The main thing in pretty much all of it is that the only concern you should have is for the three main people involved, however you find things to work for you is the right way to go

 

[Great_Expectations]

My partner wants her first ‘proper’ glass of wine tonight, so it’ll be the Tommy Tippee machine to the rescue for the night feed!

Still, cheap night for me, one large glass and she’ll be done!

 

[dancers lance]

stop comparing yourself to Macca

Sorry Rich, I didn't realise you two had a thing, I wouldn't want step on any toes.

 

[Gazolba]

Apologies if this is a little self indulgent, but this morning my partner gave birth to our first child; a little girl. She came two weeks early and with very little warning, so it’s all very surreal at the minute. And obviously incredibly exciting!
Any tips on anything baby related would be greatly appreciated?!

Here's a couple of book recommendations:
"Child Potential" by Theodore Isaac Rubin M.D. pub by Continuum ISBN 0-8264-0546-0
"The Wonder of Girls" by Michael Gurian pub by Pocket Books ISBN 0-7434-1702-X
These are both fantastic books on parenting and fulfilling your child's needs.
I only wish I'd followed all their advice when raising my two daughters.

 

[tommydazzle]

Congrats GE

Some advice - don't name her Chelsea or Paige, don't give her a well known name but spelt in an unusual way in an attempt to be different, encourage a love of books and reading as this is one of the most significant factors in educational attainment, development of imagination, critical thinking and fluency. I agree with encouraging her to be a Sky Blue fan as a lifetime of hopes dashed and disappointment are valuable life lessons in teaching resilience in the young generation.

 

[Gazolba]

Congrats GE
Some advice - don't name her Chelsea or Paige, don't give her a well known name but spelt in an unusual way in an attempt to be different, encourage a love of books and reading as this is one of the most significant factors in educational attainment, development of imagination, critical thinking and fluency. I agree with encouraging her to be a Sky Blue fan as a lifetime of hopes dashed and disappointment are valuable life lessons in teaching resilience in the young generation.

All excellent advice.
I'll add that if you want to encourage her to learn a musical instrument or a foreign language, start her off as early as possible.

 

[skybluetony176]

Thanks again everyone, I do really appreciate the well wishes, kind words and advice. Plus it’s put this forum in the good books with my partner, so when I’m on it in future I wont get the same moaning as before!

The breastfeeding is the most stressful bit so far, and I really feel for my partner! The baby has a tongue tie which makes it more difficult. Although I have to say the support so far from the midwives and support team has been brilliant.

Sleeping wise on the whole we have to wake her for a feed as she’s so chilled! Which in some ways is harder but others better. And either way I’m definitely getting the sleep deprived feelings!

It also hopefully means I can make the next home game, as she was initially due that weekend!

Stick with the breastfeeding if you can. Both mine were completely breastfed and for my wife it’s left her with a great sense of pride. The other benefits is the health benefits. If you look into it it’s amazing to see how the rise in certain conditions and illnesses mirrors the decline in breastfeeding. For the woman also, there’s a train of thought that a raise in breast cancer also has something to do with the decline in breastfeeding. I understand though it’s going to be more difficult for you with the tongue tie.

 

[covcity4life]

Congratulations! We're ten weeks in now with our first and the main things I would advise is to snap up any help family and friends offer, be aware that you might feel you're going slightly mental for the first week or two but that's ok and will pass, and someone else's way of doing things that worked for them may be the completely opposite way that works for you, essentially you just learn as you go how to get into your rhythm

Apologies if this is a little self indulgent, but this morning my partner gave birth to our first child; a little girl. She came two weeks early and with very little warning, so it’s all very surreal at the minute. And obviously incredibly exciting!

Any tips on anything baby related would be greatly appreciated?!

very happy for you both

 

[Malaka]

Routine at night: Bath, bottle, bed. Once they get into this routine you will get more sleep at night

 

[richnrg]

Routine at night: Bath, bottle, bed. Once they get into this routine you will get more sleep at night

i'm still following that routine myself

 

[Malaka]

i'm still following that routine myself

Bottle of what?:joyful:

 

[ajsccfc]

Routine at night: Bath, bottle, bed. Once they get into this routine you will get more sleep at night

Exactly this. 13 weeks now and we're starting to settle into this routine (with one extra B - book. By the looks of it Julia Donaldson has written every children's book ever made) and are slowly trying to bring it earlier in the evening too, it seems an absolute lifetime ago that I was chuffed with myself for finally getting her off to sleep at 3am which seemed nice and early.

 

[Great_Expectations]

We haven’t tried a routine specifically yet, as she’s only two weeks old and we’re still in finding our feet phase. But the plan is for her to have a set routine and even now we follow a rough plan. And she tends to wake up at similar times, the 2/3am one is the worst!

Breastfeeding is still an issue and we’re still waiting for the tongue tie referral, but persevering where possible. We do end up using a bottle after either constant back to back feeds or the 3am one!

It’s scary how quickly time goes and I’m dreading going back to work and leaving them both here - I’ll be missing them every second I’m there!