December 2011: Scratching, squeezing, hatching and latching...

[LittleMissHumbuggery]

...and those of us left are doing a fair bit of bitching:o

I wonder if we could get a [pompoms] going on? Do we have the energy for a campaign?

Right, come on! We're a third of the way through the month and Nickelbabe needs new recruits for her advent thread. Get squeezing:o

Yep, I meant in the morning. And yes, DH has normally taken him downstairs and I've slept, but this morning he's gone to work, and I had a pile of stuff to do. Yawn!
MW just been. I am discharged as the epidural headache is much calmer, definitely on it's way out. And (pom poms please) Alistair now weighs 9lb 5oz (5lbs more than original birth weight at day 17), which MW says is absolutely fantastic.
Other good news, we're moving on 3rd Jan to a rented house, removal plus full packing service is booked! Hurrah!
And we're going to Ma and pa's for dinner tonight. :)
msb no matter how settled Alistair is, he will always wake up at dinner time, meaning one of us has to cut up our tea into bitesize pieces and eat one handed. Always!!

Oh another thing, a question for all those with experience of reusable nappies: after 2 weeks impressed with disposables containing the liquids away from baby's skin, the bamboozles obviously just get wet. So they have to be changed more frequently. I don't like the idea of using boosters at night, as the nappy will just get wetter for longer. Are there any miracle liners that minimise the wetness? Or do I just have to ensure I change nappies every 2 hrs? I don't want him to be uncomfortable...

oi fleece liners keep moisture away from skin.

Y'know mmmm, that's just what I'm dreading- would be hugely ironic given that I've managed to avoid the majority of the health issues related to pregnancy/birth.

To aid things I persevered with the feeding on the side in bed thing that msb's got down so well, and was fairly successful last night. We got some decent sleep and gave my wrists a break. If it doesn't sort I'll head to the doctor's .

Aw, lmh, it must be rotten to still be (very) pregnant over Xmas, and still have a way to go. Congratulations on your forebearance and the fact that you're still on here and cheerful despite us all complaining about baby things!

We're still pretty similar with our LOs mopsy and Oi- I'm trying to get him used to his moses basket (he's in there at the moment- I can get SO MUCH done!!) but any periods of sleeping are relatively short- max two hours- and he favours the morning too.
It will get better . I too can forsee a day where I don't have to eat onehanded probably in 2013.

We're getting ready for the journey into the unknown. Part of the trade off for having two weeks' of peace is that tomorrow we have a five hour car journey to look forward to, so that we can go and see the family. There was no way round it given how disabled/ill our parents are, so we'll just have to grin and bear it. Just trying to really emphasise by violence if necessary to OH that we will need to set off EARLY, as LO tends to do his sleeping during the day and cluster feeding any time from 5pm onwards, and we do not want to be spending the evening in a service station car park...

morning - agree with those who are finding breast feeding hardest at night. Freya seems to want to feed all night and then DS comes in a 730am , just when she has had a feed and seems all settled. Last night I was contemplating ff but in the light of day it all seems ok again. Freya is currently flat out in the cot sleeping for 3 hours - a miracle for us!!

mopsy - we have had the falling asleep problem lots too and then she doesnt feed properly and then needs feeding more often. I have been letting her go longer between feeds by distraction, nappy changes and not rushing to feed when she first cries and think she is feeding better as a result (in the day at least!)

bee - I felt like that - after a week or so of feeling fine. I braved going to the doctors and so glad I did, as it was just an infection and antibiotics have helped massively (though pelvic floor still needs a lot of work!!)

mmm I am dreading exactly the same thing next week when DH is back at work - dealing with DS in the morning can be a strain even with 8 hours sleep! I might head to my parents for a few days for help. We also have our kitchen being plastered so want to move out anyway!

Right next feed coming up!

MASTITIS!!!

Good luck tomorrow Chinchilla! We've not gone out yet, but DH is probably going to take DS on a walk tomorrow in the sling.

Oi, pompoms out for weight gain!

Aarg, wrote you a huge post on nappy liners
oi, and the phone ate it! I'd recommend you try some paper disposable one way liners, they come In rolls Of 100-200 and there are several makes, I found that for me they were more convenient than fleece and seemed to keep baby drier. Do use some barrier cream too (Inlike sudacrem as it smells of lavender). We went 4 hours between changes and 12 hours at night without botty rash in cloth using paper liners and sudacrem.

You can buy paper liner rolls (called flushable liners but they don't always flush: pop used ones in a nappy sack and bin when used: pick up the 4 corners to contain poo. Simply place one in the nappy nearest to babys skin and the wee goes straight through and stays in the nappy. If you're using a little nappy you may only need half a liner: snip it in half rather than folding as double layers dont let the wee through! )
You can buy PHP ones (I like them)in big mothercares, and Ultra liners (a bit thick but my!friend likes them) in bigger Waitroses.
A good online supplier is here (though you can use amazon ebay too; these guys deliver quickly and sell several makes);

kittikins liners

Or google "flushable paper liners" for lots of other sources. PM me if you want any other info.

Oh no, ARCH, sorry to hear that.
Take the drugs (and don't forget some paracetamol), rest, feed feed feed like crazy on the sore side first to get it clear, and get well soon!

Hi all. Wrote a HUGE post but somehow it got eaten-gah!

Anyhow, will echo others in saying it is so reassuring to hear that many of you experiencing same problems as I am re constant BF, sleepy babies while BF etc. Gives me strength in the dark of night when I've been feeding for hours on end...

mrsb just wanted to thank you again for your tips on keeping feeding babies awake. The head circling, feet tickling and compression are really helping.

Has anyone experienced baby choking on milk at all? Mini P has started choking sometimes when I BF, particularly at night. It's so scary as she really gasps for breath - I've been in complete state and tears and am already dreading when DP goes back to work next week as I'm scared to be on my own in case it happens and i panic. Does anyone have any advice on how to avoid?

Belated merry christmas to all (my disappearing post covered that!). Stay strong fellow BFers x

so i'm 5 days overdue and booked in for a cs tomorrow as they can't induce me BUT i think i'm having contractions. i don't know for sure as never gone into labour so anyone got hot tips for knowing if they are false or proper ones. starting to think it is all in my head....

No pointers Hawthers other than that of they are, you'll soon know it. Mine kicked in stealthily both times so I didn't notice until they were already regular. for either eventuality:)

If you think they are contractions, see if they are coming regularly (look at the clock each time you feel one). Also note how distracting they are: if they are painful, stop you talking midsentence, make you feel very uncomfy or "odd" then more likely to be the real deal: but ultimately they are probably braxton hicks ones that are preparing your body and cervix: unless they aren't! It's really hard to tell sometimes as different people get differet intensities and the only way you really know is when they end up with a baby, ie in retrospect! Eg I had tightenings through last night, they woke me a few times, were quite uncomfy, but then they all tailed off and stopped at about 10.30 this morning. Now I've got backache and feel rather "odd", but that's not labour!

If you do get uncomfy/regular tightenings/pain or are worried, ring the labour ward, they can always get you in for a check, but if its not too bad they will probably advise paracetam

Paracetamol and they will check you tomorrow when you go in. Either way WELL DONE baby is nearly here, and good luck! Xxx

Thanks girls. That is what I thought - figure I'll know by tom am anyway - either way mini h should be making his/her appearance tomorrow eek!

Hey Ladies,

Sky is a very good baby, let's us sleep at night. wakes every 3 hrs for a feed and then drops right off back to sleep - helps that I'm co-sleeping with her like I did Darcie.

A friend of mine gave birth to a baby boy today after a horrendous labour which resulted in c-section, but mum & baby doing well.

Hope everyone had a good Xmas

Pompoms out for you Hawthers, get plenty of sleep tonight! My first lot of contractions felt exactly like BH, so not much help to you (plus, I was induced, so sort of guessed they were real)

TMI; the scabs have fallen off my boobs, so DS got his first breast feed in 2 days! And it didn't hurt! Feeling more positive today, although will ask MW to refer me to a counsellor/whoever it is that I'd have to see for help getting over the birth, as I can't think about it without crying.

Darcies, it sounds like Sky is all settled! Really good to hear. DS manages a few 4 hour sleeps a day & the rest are an hour or two....feeling a bit bad as I've not actually woken up any of the times he's been crying when I'm asleep (I'm blaming the mastits)!

Arg, relatives are driving me crazy...mad auntie in law has rung for the third time in 10 days to ask if we are visiting them in 2 days time at a family Christmas get-together. I have already told her twice we are not coming, that we will tell her if baby gets here (in which case DH may take the DDs), but if not there is no way I'm letting him drive down the M4 with or without me! And still she rings up "just in case we're coming"....
And this is my third day of intermittent braxton hicks with no concerted progression. Boooo hiss.

reindeer, for a whole week I've bawled crying every time I've thought or spoken about the birth. Yesterday was first time I managed it without bawling. It's hard :( hope talking to s

someone helps

Happy belated christmas wishes to all. Hugs to all the sleep deprived mothers.

Booked in for a section tomorrow quite nervous but also happy it's nearly the end. Fingers crossed for a straight forward experience. Will update in a few days.

hawthers good luck tomorrow, hopefully you will get the birth you would like beforehand.

for fusam and Hawthers

Will it just be Aethel and I left after you two? I'm losing track >_<

EDD Thursday for me. Nary a twang or a twinge in weeks for me. Thoroughly fed up:o I'll still be camped here waving my pompoms dejectedly in February at this rate :o

hope all goes well fusam and hawthers.

Midtwife came today and minimopsy has lost all the weight she'd gained. really upset as thought bf was going ok even though she's so sleepy on the breast. have to top up each feed with a bottle of expressed milk but don't think will have quite enough so will have to use. formula for at least on e feed. bf counsellor back on tomorrow after Christmas so will call her. feeling quite upset. I know rationally it's not my fault and am doing my best but it is hard not to feel I'm doing something wrong.

mopsy sorry to hear that, don't really have any advicw but ((hugs)) and hope the bf counsellor can help tomorrow.

Having said I am chilled out about the whole sleeping thing I am now nearing the end of my tether! I've had 1 hour sleep tonight and that was only because DH took DD for an hour to let me sleep and she still wouldn't settle. She has fed from 11-1 and then 2.30 to now. I have been winding loads but she still seems so uncomfortable and grizzles and squirms all the time with wind. She won't evem settle on my chest which has always nbeen a failsafe up to now. I'm worried as I seriously can't survive on 1 hrs sleep, especially having to look after DS as well. I can't feed her lying down as she can't seem to cope with it and the milk comes out of her nose! Am getting her tongue tie snipped on Thursday so hoping that will help. I don't understand why she's so much windier at night than in the day. Argh! Just want to cry from tiredness :(

Mopsy - the only advice i would give is for you to go to bed with LO for a whole day and leave the baby on the breast all day so that she can have free rain of the milk. Even if she is asleep leave her on the breast. Swap breast after an hour so you are alternating each hour. Do this for a day or two and then get her weighted again to see if its working. Good luck and it does get easier.

MMM - with you on the tiredness. Hope has a fussy time from 4 - 6am every day and then again at 8pm - 11pm and then she will wake 2 times inbetween 11pm and 4am for feeding

Hope had not pooed for a day and a half so i sent DH out for a bouncy chair that vibrates (commonly called a poo chair) and DH and i was doing our baby needs to poo song and forgot that Aaron would copy us so we now have a all most 3yo singing "Baby needs to poo, go poo, go poo. Hope needs to poo" and then when she did he changed it to "Hope pooed, go hope,go,hope. Daddy poo, Daddy poo" running around the livingroom

Its 6.15 and Hope has fallen asleep in my arms so i'm off to bed.

Have a good day everyone xx

Mopys - i think its called dream feeding. Even if she is asleep she will be stimulating the breast so it will make more milk.