Are there any other mamas struggling?

Hey guys, I’m from south wales and I have a beautiful daughter who’s nearly 3 and I’m finding it really tough. I’m trying to do it all, be a single mother, work part time and in part time education trying to get a good career but most days it all feels like too much. My daughter is in a phase where she just doesn’t listen and no matter how fun the activities I try to do with her are I end up wishing I never did them. I lose my patience really quickly some days and I often feel like people are watching me if I’m shopping etc and think I’m a horrible mother and honestly some days I feel like I’m a bad mother because I don’t feel like I’m around enough and when I am around I’m often stressed. I love my daughter more than anything but sometimes I wish I had my career sorted out before I had a child and I feel so much guilt and shame for feeling this way. My family often make comments about my parenting even though sometimes I don’t think they mean much by it but it still hurts when i genuinely am trying my best. I don’t have any mam friends or many friends in general who I can talk to about anything and I guess I’ve come here in hopes there’s at least one person that feels my struggles or have done in the past. Any words of wisdom would be much appreciated 🙏🫶

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Advice! Blood in babies poo!

Looking for advice!!!!

Hi, I’m looking for advice and wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar.

My little girl is 14 weeks old and exclusively breastfed. She went 3 days without pooing, during which she was straining a lot and screaming in pain when trying to go. I tried belly and foot massages, and eventually, on day 3 (Tuesday), she managed to go. She completely filled her nappy and then went another 6 times that day, 4 of which contained fresh red blood.

On Wednesday, she pooed another 5 times, with blood in one of them. I took her to the doctors, who said blood in babies’ poo can sometimes be normal. Doctor said she looked well, she also had no temperature or vomiting, and they didn’t suspect an infection, but sent off a stool sample to rule it out. This has since come back negative.

Yesterday she seemed more settled but wasn’t feeding properly, frequently unlatching. I also pump twice a day, so I tried offering expressed milk in a bottle, but she wouldn’t take that either.

Today has been much the same. She’s been really unsettled, still not feeding properly from either breast or bottle, skipping feeds completely or latching and unlatching constantly. This morning she was screaming in pain, then pooed and settled a little. However, this evening she’s had another small poo with some blood in it. Her poo has also been really mucusy, almost like snot.

I’m planning to take her back to the doctors on Monday, unless she gets worse or things continue like this tomorrow the I will take her to hospital.

I’m already struggling with postnatal anxiety, so this has been really worrying me. Has anyone else’s baby experienced anything similar?

She’s had plenty of wet nappies but despite this I’m still concerned as she’s not feeding good at all.

Also not sure if it’s linked but the other night 3.5 hours after a feed, whilst she was sleeping she started choking/gargling really quietly, I picked her up, patted her back and it resolved but no sick or anything came out.

Sorry for the long post and the pics, just desperate for advice.

Toddlers when outdoor - control?

Hello,

Does anyone else’s toddler want to roam free without holding your hand when in public. I.e outdoors/ shopping centres etc. mine refuses to hold my hand and when in the pram will literally scream and continue screaming even if it’s for a full 30 minutes straight. Oh boy, the stares I get are unbearable and make me feel like I’m a shit mum. I have no idea how to help her or with this situ. Any advice or tips greatly appreciated.

Colostrum

How many sessions a day of colostrum harvesting have you done? First session and just over 2ml which I was expecting 0 when I started. Advice on how many times and how much is too much? Any tips and tricks?

Feeding

I have a 5 week old and he feeds almost every hour and I feel like he is empty quicker and mostly doesn’t take a full feed. I have heard that the milk at the beginning is watery and digests quicker than the milk that comes later. My question is if I want him to get the thicker milk to keep him stay full for longer how much should I express out before feeding him?

Nappy Cream

My daughter’s nursery have requested we keep a nappy cream in their bag that doesn’t contain any nut oil (I usually use bepanthen but that contains almond oil so isn’t allowed). Any recommendations, don’t want sudocream

2 year age gap is hard

Anyone else with babies with a 2 year age gap finding it so hard. My boys are 26 months apart. My toddler is at such a hard age, I feel like 2 under 2 would have been so much easier. My youngest is only 4 weeks old so maybe I’m just struggling with finding new routines.

My 2 year old isn’t very gentle with his little brother, he battles me with every single thing. When I’m busy feeding or changing the baby he takes it as an opportunity to do something he’s not supposed to (like pulling food out the fridge; or emptying soap bottles onto the floor). It’s never ending

And juggling everything is so overwhelming, I thought my eldest being potty trained before the baby is born would make it easier but I think it’s actually harder

Just want to know if anyone else is in the same boat or if it gets easier 😩