Life Forum - Recent Topics

Planning for the week

PollyannaB — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 20:46:13 +0000

How do you go about planning your meals for the week and then finding the time to cook them? Currently a few weeks postpartum and the thought of having to think of recipes just feels overwhelming. I'm conscious I want to eat healthily but also don't want to spend £100s of pounds. Tips or advice?

Postpartum hair loss

PollyannaB — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 20:37:36 +0000

Does anyone have any recommendations for products that worked for their postpartum hair loss?

Thank you :)

Bonding with a crying baby

PollyannaB — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 20:34:49 +0000

My 13 week old has cried pretty much since he was born. I'm at the doctors with him all the time... he is now on amino acid based milk for suspected cmpa and has also just started omeprazole although he doesn't actually have cmpa symptoms or reflux symptoms, his only symptom is constant screaming. I try my best to bond with him, but I've started to realise it's not possible when all he does is scream. It's made me dislike his name now because I'm constantly saying his name trying to calm him down and I don't see holding him as enjoyable because it's always when he's screaming.

I've tried to book multiple baby classes to do with him but we never make it inside because he's screaming too much and im so embarrassed, its so upsetting when I see other mums with their babies all chilled and getting out and about. It's got to the point now where I openly admit I don't enjoy being his mum and I'm missing out on my three year old which makes me resentful.

I don't really know what else to do, I can't even comfort him so he doesn't seem to have bonded with me either. Anyone experienced similar?

Supplements for breastfeeding

Ria Watson — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 20:25:51 +0000

Hey! Any recommendations for supplements I can take, I am currently breastfeeding (and not sleeping!) so feeling very drained and depleted. There is too much choice so any recommendations would be welcomed!

C-section overhang

Ria Watson — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 20:21:19 +0000

Hey lovely mamas, I’m 3 weeks postpartum after having twins (still can’t believe I grew two humans 😅) and was just wondering if anyone has any advice or personal experience with healing from a C-section — specifically the overhang and stretch marks.

My tummy’s gone down a fair bit already, which I’m grateful for, but I’ve been left with quite a soft, saggy overhang just above the scar, and I’m struggling to imagine it ever going away 🫣. It’s still early days but I guess I’m just curious if anyone found anything that helped (creams? massage? time?), or if it naturally improved with healing?

Any tips, products appreciated

Feeling overwhelmed

Kylie Lee — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 20:14:22 +0000

Hey,
Just needed somewhere to vent and maybe see if anyone else has been through something similar. I’ve got a 5-week-old and honestly, I feel like I’m barely hanging on.

My milk just never really came in. So, after trying so hard, I had to move to formula and my baby has had bad reflux. He was being sick after every feed — sometimes just a little bit, other times the whole bottle. I was so stressed I took him to hospital. The doctor gave me the classic “Is this your first?” and said it was normal, but did give us something to help. That helped a bit… but then came the constipation. Then I mentioned the constipation to my neighbour and she laughed and said, “There’s always something wrong with him!” I know she probably didn’t mean anything by it, but it stung.

And now… I’m really struggling to bond with him. I didn’t feel like this at the start, but lately it’s been hard. He hates being put down, cries constantly, and I don’t even get 5 minutes to pee without a meltdown. I’ve tried everything — cuddles, singing, reading, walks — but I just don’t feel that connection right now. He clings to me and rubs his head into my neck (which I used to love), but now it just makes me feel drained and overstimualted.

Tried opening up to the health visitor and she said “oh babies can be fussy around this age” and suggested a mum-and-baby group. But honestly, the thought of sitting in a room full of people right now makes me feel sick. I’ve taken him to the shops a couple of times and when he starts crying, I panic and feel like everyone’s staring at me, judging.

I’ve only got a few close friends and no family nearby. One friend offered to babysit, but I don’t want to come across like I’m dumping him on people and as he is so difficult I just don't think he will setlle for her.

Earlier today I was holding him and trying to make a bottle, and he flailed his arm, knocked it out of my hand, and half of it spilled. I just snapped. Got angry, then cried. I know it wasn’t his fault… but I’m on edge all the time. I hate feeling like this.

Im not sure if this is postnatal depression or just the baby blues. Does this actually get better?

I feel like he picks up on my mood. He doesn’t really smile (unless he’s farting, lol), but he looks at me, and sometimes I can’t even look back — especially when I’m upset or exhausted.

I just don’t feel like myself anymore.
Anyone else been through this? Did it pass?

Thanks if you’ve read this far x

Co-sleeping

Kylie Lee — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 20:05:36 +0000

My 6mo Co sleeps and contact naps and has done since he was a newborn as it is the only way he will sleep. With the contact naps I've just started to put him in his cot (once already asleep) for at least 1 nap a day for my own sanity. If I'm luck he does 1 sleep cycle of 30-40minutes. I thought maybe I persevere he will get used to waking in his cot so it will be easier to keep him in it down the line?

I have no idea how to stop bed sharing as at night time he absolutely will not sleep in his cot. So I thought maybe, naps is a good place to start?

Just looking to hear others from experience of this.

What do you wish you knew?

Kylie Lee — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 19:57:36 +0000

Mums! What do you wish people had told you before you gave birth. Mine is, that everything just takes time/longer than you think.... recovery. healing, breastfeeding, sleep!

Breastfeeding

Kylie Lee — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 19:55:19 +0000

My baby lost 10% of his weight when he was born and I worry about his weight gain everyday, he got back up to birth weight and was signed off by the health visitor but im still worried he isn't getting enough milk from me. I tried pumping and hardly produced anything which is making me concerned he doesn't get enough either. Anyone experiencing similar?

C-section recovery

Kylie Lee — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 19:52:24 +0000

Hi, I had a c-section 7 months ago but an experiencing some tightness & tenderness around my scar. Has anyone had anything similar and any tips to help deal with it?