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Graduated elderberries - 30+ and looking forward to DC1! (Thread 6)

999 replies

HazleNutt · 20/07/2013 16:52

Oh, looks like I wrote the last post! So new thread here where we will see more berry babies and hopefully loads more graduates as well.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
MotherOfCleo · 08/08/2013 09:01

well after saying that we dtd last night.

Had such a stressful morning, OH used the car last night then hid the keys, I spent 15/20 mins looking for them this morning, found them in the draw with the dogs lead....what the hell were they in their for?!? Angry

Alexandra6 · 08/08/2013 09:16

2 weeks mother?! My DH hasn't got any since March and unlikely to until the new year! To be fair it's all the cervix stuff although I do think he would find preggers sex a bit weird, where's the baby's head etc, so it's actually not affecting things between us - how nice will it be when we can dtd again without it being about ttc!

Sorry about your stressful morning, mine has been a bit as the loft extension work starts today, plus DH put a wash on overnight and left a huge pile of my knickers randomly lying on the kitchen table which I didn't realise when I brought a load of builders in and had to chat to them over it! He also put one of my delicate summer dresses on a hot dry so it's gone all funny. Is this how women end up doing more of the housework Wink On the plus side, he has offered to buy me a new dress and I'm working from home most of August Smile

BelissimaLol · 08/08/2013 09:35

I had sex twice during pregnancy Confused. It freaked both of us out. Now I'm bleeding so not allowed. My plan is a shag date on the 6th as its dh's birthday and that gives me plenty of time to get ready for itGrin
Mummies I have a few questions this morning after another night of constant feeding Shock

  • when did you start expressing?
  • how much do you try to express daily - how much is enough for a feed on average?
  • when do you use that bottle? Daily or are you freezing it?

And one question for hazle our fitness master! I used to Zumba 1/2 a week up until about 34 weeks and I am keen to get back on it or I will never shift the extra 2 stone I'm still carrying do I have to wait until 6 week check? Someone said on another thread I need to find out if my stomach muscles have separated? BlushBlush. Can you give me some advice oh master???

BraveLilBear · 08/08/2013 09:49

Morning all.

Lol the advice is not to express before 6 weeks or so as dropping feeds can hit production and there's the issue of nipple confusion.

However. I started expressing in the first week and we found that a big load of milk at once was perfect for knocking him out if he was fussing. I'd get about an ounce at a sitting to start with, and he'd take between 1and a half and 2ounces at a time.

You can keep it in a fridge at less than 4 degrees for up to 4-5 days.

We also experimented with one formula feed last thing at night which I felt guilty about but really needed. I kept production up by pumping.

Having said all that, we've not used any bottles since the weekend as I'm coping ok at the moment... tho that's also down to the fact that DP has been back at work and he was doing the bottle feeds. As he won't help during the week, I see it as pointless to use the bottle myself iyswim?

Good luck with it. I have a tommee tippee hand pump which is great for us- the teats are supposed to be most like nipples too so switching is doable but that could just be marketing bluster!

MotherOfCleo · 08/08/2013 10:49

Haha, so maybe I don't feel so bad then ladies. Wink My OH gets very very grouchy if he doesn't get laid, in some ways it is in my best interests to keep him happy in that way. Sex doesn't seem to bother the baby at all, if he was moving around then that would be odd but he seems to ignore it, the first 3 or 4 months were fine but now I have a bump the angles are a bit tricky. it's such a romantic time isn't it!

I have been awful with exercise since getting pregnant, I did one cardio class which was huge amounts of bouncing, the huge boobs did not enjoy, even thought they were pinned down by 2 sports bras. I do walk the dog for 30/40 mins a day and have been doing squats and things but no actual exercise classes, I hope to start swimming once or twice a week but currently I am so busy each evening I just haven't got around to it. I am going to be such an unfit budda by the end of this pregnancy. Sad Blush

Alexandra6 · 08/08/2013 11:38

I'm not doing any exercise so you won't find inspiration here! Just the odd walk and a couple of laps on holiday, plus a bit of shopping! Haven't put on much weight though (although haven't weighed myself so that could well be denial!) Weirdly I'm quite looking forward to a post birth shaping up plan as I do quite like a mission! clearly my head is still firmly in the sand about how tired I'll be on mat leave

My little stepsister was telling me about the sports activities she does with her mum and it's made me want to be really active with our child. Seems to be a really good thing to bond over and keep the child busy/not bored. However I'm not sporty at all! (Luckily DH is!!) I'm now wondering if I can be a sporty, active mum and whether I have it in me! Shame gyms are so expensive as would love to do that with my child/ren, I do like a fancy gym!

Purplemonster · 08/08/2013 11:59

Ugh I really need to start doing some exercise to shift this baby weight but I hate exercise at the best of times and with my bad back and pgp meaning I couldn't be very active during pregnancy I'm sure I'm really out of shape so it's going to be even more horrid.

Cavort · 08/08/2013 12:30

I'm not doing any exercise and I'm nearly back at my old weight. It must be the BF.

I started expressing at 3 weeks and get 3-4oz per session. Elodie currently takes 2.5-3.5oz per bottle feed. We're giving a bottle of expressed every other day to keep her familiar with it and I pump every day to build up a stash in the freezer.

janey1234 · 08/08/2013 12:35

I haven't done any exercise and was looking forward to my six week recovery post elcs to be over so I could lift something other than Miles start getting in shape... Only to find that exercise wise they say to wait 12 weeks?!! Confused Sod that. From Monday I'm going on long daily walks and doing the odd gentle exercise DVD. I just won't go to the free nhs run classes until 12 weeks after!

Expressing wise I've been doing it since day one (as Miles was in intensive care and I couldn't even touch him, let alone feed himHmm) and have kept it up. I now express a bottle each morning which we give him before bed. This morning I got 120ml from one boob in about ten mins....

HazleNutt · 08/08/2013 13:06

lol well I'm just back from gym, did LesMills Grit Plyo (brutal!) and did bodypump yesterday, and still alive, so I personally didn't see a reason to wait til the check. You should be ok too, if you feel fine and especially if you are not massively fat and desperate to slim down slightly nuts like me and start with some more gentle classes.

However, you do need to be careful with ab exercises if your stomach muscles have separated, and should do some specific exercises to target that problem. To determine if you have diastasis, lie on your back with both feet on the floor and your knees bent. Place the fingers of one hand just below your belly button, lift your tailbone toward the ceiling, at the same time lift your shoulder and neck of the floor. Holding this position, gently press down to feel the gap between the abdominal wall. If that gap is more than two fingers wide, it is diastasis.

As for expressing, I usually do it at least once a day, the amount I get varies depending on when he last fed, usually can get 2-4 oz. We've only tried the bottle once and he ate 4 oz then. At the moment the plan is to use the bottle only when I'm not here, I'm building up the freezer stack with the rest of milk.

I have Ameda lactaline double electric pump and Medela Calma teats.

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BraveLilBear · 08/08/2013 16:53

I'm not exercising yet- I honestly don't feel up to it yet due to stiches aching. None of that stinging people talk about, just a heavy dragging ache if I'm on my feet for more than 15 minutes.

It's actually very similar to the pain I had after that abscess op, except now I'm sleep deprived too!

(Usual disclaimer for pg berries it's really not that bad!)

What are you using to freeze milk in? Bottles or special pots?

Cavort · 08/08/2013 17:06

Brave I've got the Lansinoh bags so I can store them flat and take up less room in the freezer.

Alexandra6 · 08/08/2013 18:36

Random question but is anyone planning to go to baby classes and which ones? I've heard baby sensory is good and aqua baby. Mummy berries let me know if you try any good ones (not sure what age you can go to these classes?) I know they're a bit cringey but I'm thinking about how I can keep busy and have stuff to do on mat leave.

janey1234 · 08/08/2013 18:40

I'm going to a baby class next Thursday in the library. No idea what it will involve! Lots of them are for babies a bit older than Miles but the health visitors have given me a whole booklet filled with local free activities for babies and children....

Alexandra6 · 08/08/2013 18:59

I googled quickly and saw a few ideas like baby yoga, someone also recommended rhyme time. Let me know how you get on at this one!

janey1234 · 08/08/2013 19:46

I'm also on the list for free baby massage classes. There is loads of stuff locally, loads. I think I will wait a few more weeks for the other stuff in the hope his feeds are more spread out!

Cavort · 08/08/2013 22:58

I've got a brochure of local baby classes but there are only a few which are suitable for newborns and I haven't tried any yet. Most are for babies who've had their first vaccinations, which I think is about 16 weeks? I am hoping to book a Water Babies course soon though. I have also been to a breastfeeding support group a few times at the Childrens Centre, which is good for a cuppa and a natter with other Mums, and you can use the baby sensory room for free while you are there.

BelissimaLol · 09/08/2013 01:10

Thanks for the advice ladies. Think I will wait another couple of weeks before I express and go Zumba. Lets see how I feel.
Had HV today (well, yesterday) and it was overall pretty useless. Was told not to drink juice or lemonade, to change her on the floor in case she jumps off changing unit, to try and space her feeds more and not give in and feed her as soon as she asks for it, and to use a dummy to settle her. Angry

Cavort · 09/08/2013 05:38

Space feeds and don't give in to her as soon as she asks for it? Ah yes, at a few weeks old she's definitely manipulating you, much better to show her who's boss and let go hungry. Confused And ignore NHS advice to feed on demand.

Elodie had been up since 4am, fed, changed, but wide awake and intent on keeping herself awake by waving her arms and legs around. After 4 hours sleep and now 1.5 hours of constant thrashing this is wearing a bit thin. Angry

janey1234 · 09/08/2013 06:07

What the hell? Yes, I'm sure it's a really good advice to deny a teeny tiny baby food Confused Urm why shouldn't you drink juice or lemonade though - am I missing something?

You have my sympathies cavort. Miles has been up since 4.30 doing much the same. And the irony is that DP swapped sides of the bed with me last night to be next to the cot and give me a break - yet he's snoring next to me whilst I type with one hand a rock a baby with the other. Bless him, he tried - just sleeps too well!

In other news Miles' belly button has gone a bit weird and sticky outy. Dr.Google tells me that it could well be an umbilical hernia - which is apparently very common, harmless, and usually resolves itself quickly - but it does look a bit yucky!

Cavort · 09/08/2013 06:24

Janey I gave in and got up for gallons of a coffee thinking sod's law would make her sleep as soon as I got up.... nope, still wide awake. Angry It's typical she does this when I can't go back to bed as I have to take my car for a service at 8.30. Sad It's going to be a loooong day. And good on your DP for at least offering help even though it failed - DH is currently living in the spare room on school nights but he will pay the price on weekends. Grin

Alexandra6 · 09/08/2013 07:24

Wow you can tell the mummy berries by posting times! How do new mums sometimes go back to work early with these sleeping patterns?! To give you and me hope, I spoke to someone yesterday whose baby has slept from 7ish to 6/7am from around 8 weeks old! not sure whether she is just really jammy

lol is the lemonade/juice thing because of sugar content or the taste of the citrus? I'm def having a proper drink now and again when BF so don't mind being goody goody about lemonade as long as I'm allowed a beer! Wink

janey1234 · 09/08/2013 08:17

Cavort - he's taken this week off hence the offer! Ordinarily I creep around so as not to wake him...

Alex - incredibly jammy from what I've heard. My niece and nephew still don't also through and they're 5 and 2 - every night one or other of them kicks off!

HazleNutt · 09/08/2013 08:45

Victor does that waving and trashing after night feeds as well now, keeping himself awake. I actually have to either hold his hands or roll him on his side til he falls asleep. Of course, even if he looks like he's asleep, the minute I let go, he starts wiggling again. My DH sleeps like a log as well and hears nothing.

Luckily Vic then slept until 8, so I should not complain too much, but indeed it will be difficult to go back to work, as I would have to get up at a reasonable time no matter what his schedule has been. Of course, theoretically DH could to the nights then, but I don't think my boobs could manage without a night feed or expressing anyway.

lol that is um..interesting advice. She didn't tell you to just put her at the bottom of the garden so you won't hear her scream?

I am so sore from the gym that felt like 9 months pregnant again, could barely get out of bed.

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Alexandra6 · 09/08/2013 08:51

I feel bad for you having to go back to work so soon hazle Sad - at least you're superwoman Wink

How are the cat people finding the cats with the baby? Mine has been really aloof lately but suddenly decided she wanted to get into bed with me for a cuddle just now so wondering how I'm going to keep her away from the baby cot - especially as she can open doors!