Due in june - 42 down and just the 2 to go

[moomin156]

Thought we'd better start a new thread until the last two are here and then we can move to post natal.........

Best of luck Supersunny! Thinking of you and hoping things get going soon and you have the wonderful labour you're hoping for xx

good luck supersunny

Is it halloween? [hconfused]

The velcro baby is finally asleep in the Moses basket, so can catch up. DS is busy having a snack.

Confessions - sorry to hear DH is in hospital but hopefully he is getting the help he needs and giving you some respite. Do you have anyone around who can help you?

Clarkiee - think you are wise on night time use as we were disturbed many a time when DS dropped his dummy! I have had another go at offering DD a dummy as today she would not settle at all and it was so hard trying to deal with her and spend time with DS, poor thing is a bit neglected as DD just would not be put down. She didn't seem very interested in the dummy, in the end had to leave DD to cry a few times while I did stuff for DS which I hate doing :(
BTW you are not being at all precious about Ciara being picked up, I wouldn't dream of picking up someone else's baby without permission!! Even pre kids!

Supersunnyday - thinking of you, hope you will be snuggling your newborn very soon!

Millie - that is crap that no-one in your family thought of Kiera :( I have had lots of cards, but it is more the lack of visits/phone calls. Although have now heard from my other friend and will be meeting with him and his DP as well as our other friends in Sheffield

Nurse - I feel for you, I too have difficulty making friends. I do have some close friends but they all live very far away, my closest friend (emotionally) lives in Sheffield (it is her and her DH I will be seeing) so 90mins away! What about checking out your MN local and seeing if there are other Sheffield mums wanting to meet up? Hell, next time I come down to Sheffield to see my friend midweek, perhaps we could meet up for a coffee or something? My friend has a 2yo (a boy) so you can see what you have let yourself in for Sorry to hear your exP is being crap, is he at least making an effort to see you and your dd?

8rd at your ds eating cucumber and smoothies DS won't eat veg, is living on baked beans, pasta and pasta sauce, cheese, sandwich meat, sausages, yoghurt and of course chocolate He too has been having the most awful meltdowns as well. Definitely a reaction to the new arrival. Definitely agree co-sleeping helps us get more sleep, but wish I could nap during the day but inevitably DD never sleeps when I have the opportunity to sleep as well. Oh well have been watching lots of TV when DS is at nursery!

Misshoohaa - DD, like DS, seems to prefer my left breast to my right, I think my flow on the right is much faster for some reason. I don't think it causes any problems, did have blocked ducts with DS in my right breast but very infrequently. LOL @ your random Colin!

Tinyk thanks for sharing your birthstory, what a marathon! But the main thing is both you and baby are okay.

Crumble - sounds like your dd is just like mine, it is hard on the older dcs, isn't it! DS is soooo sweet though but he does get frustrated hence the meltdowns.

TTL - wonderful birthstory! It sounds like your bfing is going well, the dark brown poo miht just be a last bit of meconium. The constant feeding is probably her building your supply out, I have had some days like that. There are few growth spurts as well to look out for.

Couriselle - I have a similar issue with right boob which is why I think DD prefers the left. She still feeds off it but sometimes it makes her cough and splutter,plus I sometimes squirt clear across the room If I remember rightly although I had this problem with DS it did settle down after a few weeks. Hopefully you will get some good advice.

Hey nurse if you cant find anyone to meet up with there is always me coz im in sheffield and obviously have my lovely little newborn Maisie who is only 4 days older than Jasmine!

Fingers crossed all June babies will be out soon. Am on phone so can't post too long a message.

Yay supersunny! Bummer about the contractions fading out but you're more than welcome to my labour - take it and go! You'll be holding baby supersunny before you know it :)

Thanks for the advice on the poo front ladies. We had the heel prick test today and I asked the lovely midwife who saw us (she also came round the day after the birth and I wish I'd had her all the way through - he's fab). She said the baby is possibly now getting a bit more foremilk than hindmilk and to double up on feeds from each boob before alternating and to use breast compression, which she taught me how to do. Did it when I got home before putting the baby on and milk went everywhere. Everywhere! All over the cushions, the couch, my t-shirt and the baby's face So that's good. She also must be feeding well in general because she only lost 2.4% of her body weight since she was born. Yippee :)

nurse definitely take up kara on her suggestion to meet for coffee. You are a lovely girl and should not be afraid to make as many friends/acquaintances as possible. Go to as many bumps 'n' babies, etc, as you possibly can. Even if you don't make long-term friends it'll have you out of the house and meeting people and gaining support. You're going to do an ace job :)

Oh no curiouselle! I really hope the BFing counsellor is helpful. The midwife today was brilliant but we went to a counselling session yesterday at our SureStart centre, just to see if there was any way of calming down my nipples and encouraging a better latch. It was utterly bloody useless! Luckily Isobel and I seem to have got a better knack now. Mainly because I'm now not afraid to use her mammoth yelling sessions as a latch-on technique, and because Lanolin is clearly made of magic . Good luck stemming the flow!

millie that sucks. We're inundated with cards and flowers and well wishes and so on, and it is indeed our first. I wouldn't be surprised if it was much less next time (yes, there will be a next time - suddenly I want about six children LOL ) but I would still be a bit miffed if there was no interest at all. At least you'll get lots of time to get to know your LO without annoying 'helpful' visitors :)

Am trying to catch up and failing badly. Good luck Lisa and Supersunny
I'm finding it funny how many of us are trying to type one handed/hurriedly between boob munchings/snatched naps...what a long way we have all come.
Is anyone else embarrased by wet t shirt patches whenever a baby cries, ie any baby? I have quite leaky boobs anyway but have noticed a gush if there is a baby crying nearby...quite a funny primeval experience!
William is still an angel and has managed to put on 6oz in 5 days ....am going to have to get some Weightwatchers breastmilk in. Good escuse to go shopping for some more adorable outfits though.
Stay well everyone x

She, not he, is fab :)

jasmine when you find out the weightwatchers breastmilk can you let me know please coz Maisie is putting on loads of weight - she was 8lb 11oz last thursday and then when she got weighed this thursday she was 9lb 5oz - a 10 oz increase in a week!!!

Thanks for kind words everyone :) Have looked up a bumps and babes coffee morning thing so will try to get to that in a week or so. Kara and Crazy it would be lovely to meet for coffee at some point if you were free :)

8rd and Kara Hope your dc adjust to their new siblings soon. I'm finding it hard to nap during the day as well Kara. "Sleep when they sleep" sounds so simple doesn't it [hhmm]

LOLing at your wet patches jasmine. It is shocking how quickly you can soak through an entire breast pad isn't it!

Glad you're getting the hang of bfing TTL. I do the "stuffing nipple into little wailing mouth" thing as well, it's quite funny how she goes from SCREAMING to nomming in .5 seconds!

I find I tend to leak on the boob that DD is not feeding from, or if it has been more than 2-3 hours since her last feed. Got up at 7am this morning, last fed her at 5am, she was still zonked so took DS downstairs and did notice then I was starting to leak!
I don't bother with pads at night, as I sleep topless, I just put a folded muslim underneath me. I just found it too hot to wear a nursing vest plus the pads never stay in permission!

I've discovered the best thing about not having DH in the bed at night. DD can throw up all over me, the pillows and sheet and rather than having to stay lying in the resulting wet patch, I can just move over.

Hello all

So sorry for lack of posting of late, and now I just need your help...

I think I may be suffering PND. I'm very anxious, especially when DP has her, and can't sleep (taking Nytol at 9 every night so I get a few hours kip). I have this terrible anxiety in my stomach which just builds as the day goes on. It got worse a week or two ago as a colicky period started (usually begins at around 7pm). I'm formula feeding as breast reduction a few years back has made things too difficult. This was a bit of an issue at first but I think I'm mostly over teh guilt now. DP not back at work full time yet, so usually I sleep 9-3 then take over from him until late morning then we do the rest of the day together. Mostly DD is very little trouble, though that evening patch of restlessness and crying mostly means I'm going to bed anxious, leaving her with DP and worrying if she'll be ok/if he'll cope ok with her. He has history of depression and I worry it will push him over he edge. There's no real evidence of this happening but...

That's it in a nutshell. And sometimes I just think 'God, where has my life gone? When will it be normal again?'

How normal is this? When will we have a more normal life? When will her digestive stystem develop so she won't have the colicky stuff? Can anyone give me any encouragement? How can I calm myself and sleep better? Help!!!

Thanks all so much.

Hi BPrincess Just wanted to say I'm so sorry you're feeling like this. I'm sure someone more experienced will come along soon but all I can suggest is to get as much RL support as possible, as well as on here.

Have you got an understanding MW/HV/GP you could speak to? Also if you're able to be open with your husband/friends/family it might help, don't try to hide what you're feeling.

((((Hugs))))

PS I think colic tends to improve around 3 months. Have you seen doctor/pharmacist about different things to try e.g. coleif?

Thanks nurse - we are using Infacol and gripe water and I've spoken to GP, who is monitoring me, and HV too. My mum, sister and DP also know what's going on (more or less) though I don't want to worry DP too much because of his depression.

Already starting to get a little nervous about this evening and what it will bring, but we're just about to head out for a little walk. I need to do this to help my fear of anything new. If it was up to me I'd stay indoors where it's 'safe' all day long!

nurse, has your HV given you a list of local mums clubs etc? How are you getting on?

No but I've looked up some nct groups online and am planning to go week after next. Eeek! I am also trying to get out of the house once a day at least. Have you gone to any groups?
I'm ok, trying to remember that even when one day is hard it won't necessarily be the same the next day.

Look into coleif. I read that some babies have trouble digesting lactase which causes the colic and coleif contains the enzyme that helps them digest it. Dunno if that's right but might be worth a try. Baby constantly crying does fry your brain after a while!

BPrincess so sorry you are feeling so bad! (hugs)
I agree with nurse that you need to find as much rl support as possible in many different guises. It is a hard time - I think sleep deprivation makes it 100x worse. I was just commenting to my DH that if I didn't have him and family around me it would be easy to feel low and want to just hide away.

I am recovering from a c-section on Tuesday so tomorrow will be my first day out, but my personal plan to keep on top of emotional things is -
get fresh air every day even if it's in the garden,
do something none baby, house related every day (for me this is checking and replying to some work emails, it reminds me of normality, we will find a new normality soon)
make some progress with something: washing, booking classes, keeping in touch with friends, even catching up on facebook.
I am also going to make sure that I go back to my diary, it helps me to get perspective.

If all else fails then ask your midwife or doctor for help, the worst thing would be to suffer in silence! I spoke with my antenatal teacher about feeling anxious about breast feeding and the birth itself, simply talking it through with someone who understood lifted a massive weight off my shoulders!

BPrincess - I second everyone else, please seek some help. PND is pretty common and it is great you recognise that you aren't feeling right and that you do seek help. As I understand it during breast reduction the milk ducts are often cut and/or damaged, so no way to transmit milk to the nipple, so please don't feel bad that you are unable to breastfeed, you are still a wonderful mummy to your lo!

Princess I suffered from mild PND last time and have days I feel I am bordering on it again. You need to speak to a HV or someone qualified to help. Also getting out and about and making some new friends helps. They might not be friends for life but will help you get through this stage. I got better once DS started sleeping and I stopped reading books and went with my instincts. Not sure if that helps you at all but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

BPrincess can't help you with the PND part, but fully empathise on the anxiety/ other half front (remembering my DH is currently in hospital and all!). I do wonder how much having the baby has contributed to his current anxiety issues and was trying to take on to much by myself to give him space. Cue major melt down on my behalf last Wedsnesday. The support we've been given since then has been amazing. So really make sure you keep talking to you MW/HV/GP and anyone else who will listen. Maybe talk to your HV about Home Start for some help. I haven't started using them yet but several people have recommended them to me in the last few days and my HV is contacting them for me.
Take it easy on yourself, and a huge hug for you.

PS, we went and saw DH yesterday and he is looking much better and sounding positive. All going well he'll be home on Friday.

Confessions I'm not in the loop, do tell what happened.. are you ok? What is Home Start? I've not heard of them. Thanks so much for the support.

Halle how are you feeling? What happened with you last time? Did you get help? Did it all sort itself out?

Thanks everyone for the support. I'm hoping we'll get through it. They say first 6 weeks are hardest don't they. DD will be six weeks on Thursday, so we'll see. What milestones can I look forward to? How will things improve?

Thanks again.

Nurse sorry if someone else has already mentioned this (once more I'm rushing between boob munchings) have you googled for Childrens Centres in your area or checked out the notice boards in your local MLU? I was getting really worried about finding suitable groups in my area as I have a tendency to isolate myself anyway and this can easily spiral into depression - the HV mentioned these places, and whilst I am not really into 'mother and baby' cake eating groups (unless Mother is making the cake!) I have found some really interesting activities eg buggy and backpack walks, mother and baby yoga, some singing groups etc...all more 'me'...well, except the singing...think that might traumatise William but hey, will give it a go.

Anyone with existing DC give me some advice? 2 issues - William will not sleep on his back and will not sleep for long on harder surfaces like his cot or the moses basket in any position. At night I can get him into his cot on his back if he is swaddled and already asleep so I catch him out, but he does wake up and fret after a couple of hours. However he will sleep happily for hours on a soft pillow or on our duvet, especially if he is on his side. How can I make his cot softer so he settles there better, either on his back or on his side? - I put a small duvet underneath his fitted sheet but its obviously not cosy enough and I dont want to make it too plush in case he rolls over. I wondered whether a sheepskin under his sheet would be an option..but again am nervous that he might roll. Has anyone got any other tricks or 'real life' ideas (rather than the line my HV gives which is 'on back, in his cot and let him cry it out if he doesnt like it')
x