January 2014 Thread 16 - More babies arrive or we make delicious lasagnes whilst we wait

[enormouse]

Here you go - New thread! (Procrastinating wildly)

I'll try her with the scratch mitts, thanks guys. toby am v jealous of you managing to latch Meredith without using a hand. I need both hands and sometimes my teeth (to hold the muslin). I guess it's a matter of practice!

little and enormouse good luck! Hope this is it!

Had my NCT group round today, well, the ones who haven't popped. We had such a lovely catch up and ate brownies and flapjacks DH made, it really cheered me up. Alex was angelic the whole time, having given DH a miserable three hours before they arrived refusing to burp or settle. Mischievous child.

Who was it who said about piles? Mine are still hanging around and the cream isn't doing much. I'm going to mention to the GP I think. Bit squeamish about such things, in a way that I'm not when it comes to other areas.

Oh and altered, that is fab. Apple scented baby.

Oh and frizz I never know when to bath Alex. She is either asleep, feeding, being burped or screaming. None of these seem opportune times.
We bathed her yesterday and I held her wrapped in just a towel afterwards to feed/comfort her. Of course she weed on my lap. But I win because this morning I was feeding her when I was just out the shower. I managed to leak enough out of my left boob to soak her bottom half. I win.

Ha ha humpty made me chuckle :) you sound more positive which is nice

What are you doing with the muslin, Humpty? I'm confused!

Did you not get your hydrocortisone pile cream from the GP?

And lol at the weeing. Meredith wees every time we change her!

Lara wees too when her nappy is off!
At least it just goes down with a girl. Had far too many sprinkle accidents with DS. Luckily we've moved as lots went down the back of the changing unit!

Glad I'm not the only one with piles. Do they ever go? Think I need some cream! They gave me lactulose which has helped as it felt v sore each time and almost like I was having another baby.

First day on my own was surprisingly good. Toddler group broke up the day. Managed to get a quick nap when both were sleeping. DS was v good too which makes a change. Tired now though.

Hello all,

Not caught up yet so hope all are well and I haven't missed any exciting new birth announcements.

altered that did make me giggle.

humpty I am guessing that the muslin is for discretion when feeding? I used to use one tucked into my bra strap, get them latched on then pull it over. Now I just wear a vest top under another top and get my boobs out.

toby if you can prise the Moby wrap off DH you can breastfeed on the go quite easily in one (). I have managed it this way with a newborn dd2 whilst watching dd1 on the climbing frame in the playground. Works well with nursing tops or vest plus top over for discretion. With a newborn you don't have to loosen so much to get baby to the right position, by dropping the fabric slightly off the shoulder of the side you wish to feed on you can get them in the right position without too much trouble.

I have been lying low as what with the school run, dd1 getting injured at school and having delayed concussion, dd2 refusing to go to bed/waking up in the middle of the night and Mason's incessant feeding I am exhausted.

On the bright side DH is still being lovely and helpful as usual and Mason's feeding has meant he has put on a whole kg in two weeks He is 4.2kg now which is massive considering his due date was only yesterday.

Not quite sure how I am going to manage everything post-surgery with three under five when DH goes back to work. I think I will just have to accept that our flat with look a state for the next few months, there aren't enough hours in the day.

Finally managed to find some time to log onto the computer to have a proper catch up whilst Olivia has some Daddy cuddles.

Pidgy your birth story sounds amazing! and incredibly scary!! Hope you are all settling well.

Altered your Dh made me chuckle with the wipes!

I'm glad I am not the only one that spends the day having cuddles! I'm giving myself some time just to relax at home before starting to worry about housework or anything as we only got out the hospital a few days ok, and as it was quite a scary first few days and I missed out on any proper contact during that time I am using that as an excuse to catch up! Can't believe that Olivia will be a week old tomorrow! The time has flown by!!

Angel I really do think the hypnobirthing worked. I had been listening to the CDs from about 25 weeks I think. I didn't use the visualisations so much but just concentrated on the breathing exercises (and the ones I learnt at pregnancy yoga). I think it helped that Dh came to the classes with me as well as he really helped me concentrate and focus when I was struggling trying not to push as it was too early. Also I think the hypnobirthing helped me relax and just listen to what my body was doing which I definately think helped when it came to pushing. The MW was very impressed with how relaxed I was at that point, and considering Olivia had a compound presentation (came out with her hand over her face just to make things trickier!) I only had a small graze at the end of it.

Good luck to anyone who may be meeting their babies soon.

Dh and I are getting settled into parenthood. Had a few days at home without any visitors which has been lovely. Olivia doesn't like her moses basket though, and I'm not too keen on it either as our bed is quite low and you can't see into it without sitting up which is a pain (it is from my sister so we hadn't bought it), so we ordered the bednest yesterday and Dh will pick it up tomorrow. Hoping it will work as we are co-sleeping at the moment, which while it is lovely and is giving us sleep, I am concerned about rolling on her in the night. Am hoping the bednest will be a happy compromise.

So we had a trip out to town yesterday which went really well. Was out for about 3 hours in total. Olivia slept through the whole thing, so haven't tackled the feeding in public yet (although did feed in front of the in-laws today! Although FIL hadn't even realised I had just fed her so thinking I must have been fairly subtle about it!)

Had Olivia weighed yesterday and she has only lost 6% body weight which I am really pleased about considering we didn't start feeding straight away. Olivia has taken to the breastfeeding really well. Is feeding about every 4-5 hours at the moment, so is letting us get lots of sleep which is amazing. Hoping this continues and isn't just a side affect of all the blood she had taken for her tests.

Humpty glad you are sounding more positive today.

Sorry if I have missed anyone off, blink and you miss a ton of stuff on this thread!!!

Oooh, I'm definitely going to watch that video for when DH goes back to work, another. Thank you!

I have no qualms about feeding in public, and the vest top method is the one I use. I've done it in front of the mirror out of curiosity and I couldn't see any boob! A muslin would probably attract a bit more attention, but I suppose if it gives you full coverage and makes you more comfortable it doesn't matter who notices.

Sorry you've had a bit of a hard time, another. Is DD1 ok now?
It all sounds very knackering, you poor thing! Hope you can get some rest at the weekend. Excellent weight gain by Mason!
Meredith hasn't managed quite that much, but she never lost any and has gone from 6lb 10oz at birth to 7lb 14oz on Monday (she's 3 weeks old today). It's already sad seeing her get so much bigger and outgrowing clothes already, especially as the cloth nappies make her need roomier clothes.

She's still got a sore bum, though. We've tried everything, and the mw on Monday said to take her to the GP if it's not improving by the end of the week. So I'll make her an appointment tomorrow.

I know what you mean about boys weeing, pidgy :o I thought we'd avoid that with a girl! I don't remember it happening with DD1.

Hey all,
Has been busy on here today...lots to keep me entertained while spending the day on the sofa feeding and watching daytime tv. Am slowly getting in to a routine which starts with Wanted Down Under and currently ends with The Jump which is so bad it's good.... altered that story about wipes made me laugh so much I woke up Emily who was having quite nice post feed cuddles on my chest until I started shaking...

humpty we have the same problems with hands during feeds. At boob club last week the advisor showed me how to pin the bottom hand when rugby ball style feeding her by lying her on Her back and putting the bottom hand down the side of her body (like a soidier) before rolling her on to her side so her tummy is against mine. Her weight basically then keeps one hand out of the way while you are sorting out the latch. I am probably not explaining this well, but a good advisor will be able to give you some top tips if there is anything near you?

Local boob club has been a godsend for me as feeding is still a challenge and my nipples are wrecked. Emily has a tongue tie and not sure how much of a problem this is compared to frankly shocking positioning but we have an appointment at Kings tomorrow who will assess and then probably snip the tongue tie. Am excited that it might make feeding easier, but really scared that they might say there is no need to snip it as it isn't that bad, and then the feeding problem won't be magically fixed. Will see....

Didn't have a good night last night as Emily didn't settle let alone sleep until gone 2.30am, and got through about 5 poonami nappies while waiting. Hoping tonight will be better but I do start to dread what might happen from about 8ish, which I'm sure doesn't help as I am tense and biting DH's head off in advance. Good luck to others who have unsettled LOs for later.

Also good luck to those still waiting, thinking of you all and hoping things go well. Waiting is the worst right?!?

I was going to suggest the rugby ball position too for the handsy babies! When I was bf Sylvie I found it easy to tuck her arm under my spare tyre(s) round my side haha!

Because I've had baby cuddles all day as she's not settled, I had a really long time between expressing this afternoon and now my right boob is really sore I've had a look and it's not red or hot to the touch but it hurts. Im worried about getting mastitis after reading how ill a couple of you have been with it. Is there anything I can do to try and prevent it getting any worse?

I tend to do rugby ball on the left side, as that's the less good boob, she doesn't like to latch onto it so much, and it is easier. I shall try using it both sides tonight, thank you, and see if I can get the hands under control. Thank you for the advice!

sunshine hope the tt gets snipped and things improve.

toby muslin is for privacy if feeding in front of visitors or sometimes if I've skipped a feed (DH takes a three -four hour morning shift where I miss a feed and she gets a bottle, and I get sleep) I need it as she pulls off a few times at first, and is covered in milk, presumably as she gets a bit inundated!

nature feeling much more positive today! thank you. Hope you are too.

Oh, and another hell yes to the allowing your flat to be a state. You will have more than enough on your plate! I'm in awe that you are so calm at the prospect, and it gives me hope that one day I won't be totally overwhelmed by just one baby!! Kudos.

toby poor Meredith. Can you leave her nappy off and put her on a towel for a few hours? Not that it will cure it, but might help? Must be miserable, poor darling. I'm sure you've already thought of it, but just in case.

God, my brain is shot to shit. Piles.
toby cream was prescribed at hospital, and pidgy mine are shrinking, but slowly. I hate the bloody bastard things (I thought I had one, but it had a friend hiding underneath).

Can't sleep as really angry. Nothing new has happened just led in bed getting angrier and angrier about the things dh hadn't done in the house yet and with induction on Sunday and he's made plans to go out tomorrow night for dinner and also go into work on Saturday. Is irrational anger a sign labour is close?? I've had to get up as I'm do angry

Oh MrsV :( best thing to do right now is eat something, watch some of then try lying down again and doing your labour slow breathing. Tomorrow you need to have a heart to heart with him about how you feel, better that than you bottling it all up and exploding on him.

mrs definitely sit down and talk to him tomorrow. I find it helps if i explain exactly how I'm feeling, so give him all the crazy. Good luck!

I'm up feeding Henry. He's just fussed for about 45 mins. I tried winding - nothing, cuddling - still fussing, changed his nappy - totally pissed him off but still fussy, offered a bottle - just let milk pool in his mouth before spitting it back out. Now he's fallen asleep on my lap. I'm so tired! We co-sleep normally but I'm reluctant to move him because he'll wake up.

spoke too soon, fussing again and complaining with his dummy in. Sigh

Feel your pain frying. Scared to move as little miss has finally dozed off. Can a baby get overtired in a few hours?!

Toby could it be a yeast/thrush type infection making it worse? Doctor can prescribe caneston if so. DS has something similar under his chin which cleared v quickly with caneston/hydrocortisone cream.

Nature very jealous of your 4-5 hour stints between feeds. Lara only goes 2-3 hours Max. And the 3 hours is day time. But, I know it will get easier bloody soon I hope.

humpty laughing here at your 'friend'. !!

Another are you making jersey cream?! Great weight gain! Lara was up to 8,11oz so 9oz gain by day 12. I was v happy with that. Don't stress about the flat. 3 under 5...just an achievement to get everyone dressed and fed I'd say.

Bit random but does anyone else's baby sleep with their eyes open sometimes? Sylvie does what I call her 'freaky dream eyes' where she's dreaming with her eyes open and they flit around and roll in to the back of her head sometimes she falls asleep with them wide open and I can't tell if she's asleep or not. It's weird!!!

Been awake for a while with a super-itchy bump (Bio Oiling at 4.30am... Depressing) and now have one squirmy bump - must have woken him up itching, oops! Lying here wide awake with tummy out, swatting off DH each time he tries to cuddle me in his sleep as I'm too itchy! I'm such a tolerant wife...

Nature that's brilliant news on the Hypnobirthing - even if it just helps in the earlier stages that would be brilliant. Must do more practice today!

Excellent work on just the minor graze. DH kept joking about how the baby's going to come out waving, and I had to explain why that wouldn't be ideal and that he was freaking me out each time he joked about it...

Humpty, we leave M with her nappy off for a while every time we change her, but it doesn't seem to have made a difference, sadly.

pidgy, it's definitely not thrush. I asked the mw after Google suggested it. I have no idea what it looks like, but apparently this isn't it.

I agree, MrsV. Talk to him.

Angelesque, I miss my squirmy bump :(

Felix, Meredith does the 'eyes half closed, rolling back in her head' thing. Usually after a feed. It's when she does her biggest smiles :)

Thanks everyone (and for the link another). Unfortunately we have talked about it and its made no difference. I resorted to sending him an email last night of things that must be done before induction on Sunday (like putting curtains up as we live on a busy road and want privacy breast feeding) and have accepted the house won't be finished for a long time :( just feel really low about it all