babies and bumps mixed thread -May babies are coming!

[cantbelieveImquittingcoffee]

Here's the new thread, for bumps and babies before we all graduate together!

Yanbu can't! Send him back to work!

Ice sounds like my house except it's him trying to have a conversation with me about the EU and then getting cross when I'm not listening whilst I'm changing the babies nappy and answering a million toddler why questions whilst ask cooking dinner

Haha thanks both!! He did go at lunchtime and now I am wondering where he's disappeared to as he hasn't left work yet...
Not exactly sure what he expects me to do whilst BF as we also have a mobile phone ban near the baby insisted on by him... There IS a lot to love about him, honestly!!
In terms of how we are doing, I was asked by the health visitor yesterday how my mood is on a scale of 0-10 and I really wanted to say 10!! Of course there are tough moments and sometimes I feel so exasperated with breast-feeding/not having any clothes I can wear/DP making things more difficult than they need to be etc etc etc BUT - I can't quite believe how much I'm enjoying this time, it's pretty amazing really...and DD is doing well, gaining weight, super alert and (of course...) absolutely gorgeous! I hope everyone else is doing well too

Thanks for all the class suggestions. I hadn't thought of baby sensory but turns out there's a class just down the road!

Totally agree about DPs being around. Mine is brilliant but it is also quite nice when it's just me and the baby. cant a mobile phone ban near the baby is quite radical!

I'm feeling pretty good. We've had a lovely day today, DD was being super cute and cuddly and we were quite busy with appointments and lunch out with a friend, so I'm happy . Earlier this week though I was struggling a bit as life has changed soooo much in the past month. There are also some days where I feel quite lonely, if I'm honest. Can't wait to get started on baby groups and classes!

My lovely DH is doing the ironing - teeny baby clothes, toddler clothes, my sexy cover-all cardies and his work shirts. I'm a lucky lady.

The debate on the EU pikz? Yikes. Do you find that you will be doing a hundred things and you suddenly become aware of a noise and then you realise your husband is trying to speak to you... There's been once or twice I've cut him off mid sentence by saying "I'm really sorry, I'm not listening to you, I haven't heard anything you've said". At least it's honest.

How are you Frozen?

I keep completely ignoring DH too, but he's been fairly good about it!

My sister and PIL are coming up this weekend, then my sister and dad are visiting the weekend after to go to my cousins wedding, then DH is back to work and I'll have to stop watching boxsets all day!

Agh with you all on DH's disappearing for hours to do jobs that are no where near the top of the priority list. His current job is watering plants. We have a few tomato plants. It takes him an hour.

Had DD weighed today and she is 2lb over her birth weight at 3 1/2 weeks so feeling pretty proud of my boobs!

Almost at the end of my first week without DH and it has actually been easier without him. DS back to all his groups and we are back in our little routine and DD has slotted in nicely.

29 sorry to hear that you were feeling a but overwhelmed. Is this your first baby? I remember feeling exactly the same when DS1 was born. It was such a big change to our lives and it took time for DH and I to identify our new roles in our family. DS2 is only 2 weeks old but it feels completely different. We both seem to know what we're doing and although it's early days, it feels like less of a strain on our relationship.

ice impressed that your DH is ironing baby and toddler clothes!

Has been lovely having DH at home but looking forward to some time alone with DS2. He is changing so much every day. Feeding like a trooper and putting on plenty of weight.

tristan yes it's my first. I am enjoying it but it's just so...different! I think the main thing though is keeping busy and avoiding getting lonely. It's too easy to stay in the house all day and I find that makes me feel a bit down, so trying to get out and about with DD as much as possible!

I remember feeling like that 29 I found the days really long and the nights even longer. I remember sitting in the dark struggling to BF DS and thinking I was the only person in the world awake..then by chance I found mumsnet and a band of other mums who were up all hours struggling just like me!

It is a long day if you're in the house all day. Even a walk to the shops will give you a change of scene and perk you up a bit. We are lucky to have May babies, good weather for being out and about. I agree that classes and meeting other babies/mums in RL will help with the adjustment.

I was so overwhelmed with post natal issues that I desperately missed my job. (Management of a school) I often said that looking after one baby was harder than being responsible for the educational and pastoral care of nearly 500. But you do get used to the change, I've totally forgotten my life before children. My life is now just my life with them, doing their things and family things. Only thing I really miss is travelling and sometimes when I get tired I crave "alone" time, that's a massive luxury that has vanished. I try not to think of the red wine and expensive dinners, weekends away, spa days, spontaneous trips to the cinema or for a curry and a pint, long lazy lie ins, chilled bottles of pink Moët in a hot bath etc etc. It doesn't bare dwelling on!

Tomato plants are very time consuming

I can relate 29 DD is also my first and I'm feeling pretty trapped in the house and lonely even though DH works from home so is around all the time. I'm looking forward to being able to get out and do groups and classes soon. I'm not very confident in taking her out yet though. Earlier we went into the garden to try and enjoy the sun and she just screamed and we had to come back inside!

I had my midwife discharge appointment yesterday but they've not discharged me yet as I mentioned my low mood and that I feel like I'm struggling so they're keeping an eye on me and I'm going back next week. Thankfully DD has put on just over a pound above her birth weight at 3 weeks, despite all the feeding issues. I've finally seen the health visitor too and she's also keeping an eye on my mood.

A bit worried about DDs gassiness. She's started waking up around 5 am and spends hours squirming, writhing, groaning and grunting as if she's trying to do a poo. She's not constipated so not sure what's going on. She's also got quite fussy when feeding and keeps popping on and off the breast and getting frustrated. Finding this all so exhausting and I've broken put in a big rash all over my body.

Hi frozen, been thinking of you!

It's not uncommon for babies to be fussy at that time. DS1 was and DS2 is too. At about 4/5/6am he grunts and snuffles and writhes but he just wants held upright for a bit. I pop him on my chest or prop him (kinda sitting him up) under my arm then he falls back deeply asleep. Or sometimes I give him to DH for a bit and he carries him around for a bit then he resettles.

About your mood - don't hold anything in, it sounds like you're doing great being honest with your health professionals.and remember we are here too, it's anonymous, be as brutally honest as you need to be, we understand

Posted too soon - poonami here - did you see a doc bout the rash?

DD is the same early morning frozen was DS. I think it's because they spend all night laying and get a bit windy. Takes be well over an hour of winding/feeding/holding upright to her DD back to sleep when she wakes between 3-5am, by which time DS is waking up. It will pass.

Glad midwives and HV are keeping an eye on you too.

I remember feeling like I had made a massive mistake when I first had DS, even though I loved him, I mourned my old life. You adjust and come to love your new life. It just takes time.

How was the weekend for everyone?

We visited ILs yesterday (3 hour round trip in the car ) Busy day but really lovely - MIL just coos over baby. DS1 had a bar of Milky Way and episodes of Shaun the Sheep so he was blissfully happy too. Today I played with toddler at soft play while DH watched baby in the cafe. Lunch at Subway - yum! Then DH took toddler out for the afternoon after nap refusal and I was just too tired to deal with it. (Baby woke every 2 hours for milk last night. 12am, 2am, 4am - 6am wide awake, 6.30am toddler up) So managed half hour nap with the tiddly one then washing and changing beds, dusting and tidying. Gave up to BF and put on Bridesmaids

We have HV and weigh in tomorrow.

Hi everyone! Disappeared off the radar for a week or so! So many visitors and events....just got back from the school run and feel like this is the first time I have just sat with DS2! (Well he's still asleep in his car seat and I am expressing)

I have come out in a rash too! Well it's more eczema than a rash but unusual as I haven't suffered this bad since I had DS1 so wondering maybe if it's something to do with the hormones after giving birth? How is your rash now?

I felt really overwhelmed after my first too, I remember sobbing after about a week leaving the house for the first time and saying to DP that I felt like I didn't love DS, I had bottled it up for days....felt like I was just existing with him but as soon as I said it out loud it felt like a massive weight had been lifted and I realised how stupid I sounded to myself, of course I loved him! Well done you for not bottling it up and telling your midwife and HV that's the best thing to do. I do feel completely different this time round.

DS2 was great the first week but then started to suffer from constipation so didn't settle for a couple of days and was held constantly day and night and now won't be put down of a night! But on the other hand DS1 (5 and a half) seems to have randomly started sleeping through in his own bed!

Glad babies are put in weight on....well done boobs waiting for my midwife discharge app and hoping they will also weigh DS2, he had put 4oz after 9 days but all of a sudden a week later seems to have doubled in size!!

Thought I had lost my milk supply after not expressing enough but started leaking so tried again a couple of days ago, taking me around 6-7 goes at expressing a day to get an ounce!! Really got my fingers crossed it starts coming through quicker soon!

Thanks so much everything, ODog, tristan and ice for sharing your experiences from first time round. MN is great for stuff like this. In a weird way it makes me feel less overwhelmed to know that it's normal to feel overwhelmed!

We had a great weekend. Went to a sling library and learnt how to tie a stretchy newborn sling. My attempts to put DD in it at home previously were disastrous and she just screamed. Now I know how to do it properly she actually seems to like it and even naps in it!

Also think I've had a bit of a breakthrough with feeding ( I've probably jinxed it now...) I was assuming that every cry meant DD was hungry, but I'm starting to learn that sometimes she does want the breast but actually sometimes she just wants to be held/put down for a nap. It means I'm spending a little less time with my boobs out at least.

everything great that you're still able to express. If you want to increase the supply I think some of the breastfeeding helplines are able to advise on that.

29 It always feels like an accomplishment when you work out their cries.

BabyGrouch is in her third sleepsuit of a very vomity day. We went out this morning so naturally she puked down my top and all over herself 5 minutes before we were supposed to leave. At least DD2 didn't dirty her nappy at the same time.

She'll be three weeks old tomorrow and DH goes back to work so I'll be entirely on my own with the three girls. Not looking forward to it, to be honest, but I'm going to get dinner prepared in the morning (mornings are easier) so hopefully it won't be too bad.

Oh, everything, I meant to say that the amount you express doesn't necessarily indicate how much milk you have. I have loads of milk but can express very little. Have you tried putting your DS on the breast again to see how he gets on?

29 that's great. A sling that suits you both is a godsend. we have a newborn boba. the wee man loves it but it's a pain to tie, miles and miles of material (that my toddler thinks is some kind of road/ tent/ nest/ trampoline)

And well done about the crying - I think it's a huge battle won! It's about confidence isn't it? I used to whip out my boob at every squeak but now I look for other cues. I can tell when DS is actually hungry because his movements become quick and jerky, he twitches and flails in an agitated way. It's hard to explain but fed and content is a slow baby and a hungry baby is a fast baby. Does that make any sense to anyone??

Nice to hear from everyone else x

Oh dear...after feeling smug that I was beginning to recognise my DD's cries we had an awful afternoon!!! I took her to see my friend and she cried and cried and cried, nothing I could do would calm her down. Poor little mite! I felt like such a rubbish mother. Feeding, rocking, changing, nothing worked. It was awful.

I think maybe she could have been overtired as eventually she feel asleep. On the way home of course . My poor friend doesn't have any kids yet and I fear I have now put her off for life!

Sometimes the more we try, the more annoyed they get!! It's like they get furiously tired and they're so angry that they can't fall asleep, it's such a shame.

No one has good days every day....some days are just a disaster for no reason at all! They're best left behind and forgotten

Sorry to hear about your rash everything.

grouchy - I have found it all so much easier since DH has gone back to work. We have slipped back Ito our old routine and DD has just slotted in.

29 - stretchy wraps are great and I would be without mine. They are a little hot in warm weather though so I switch to a ring sling those days.

Also looking back I think a lot of DS's constant crying/grizzling was down to overstimulation and tiredness. He is very prone to it still now at 2yo and will be a nightmare going to sleep if too muc has gone on in the day.

Starting to get frustrated with my limited wardrobe. Hate being this in between size and then being limited because of bf too. Especially after months of having only maternity clothes to wear. just want to wear a nice halterneck dress in my usual size!

I feel like I'm starting to realise feeding DD isn't always the answer to tears too, last night the second time she woke up I gave her the soother instead of feeding her and took her into bed with me and that was the answer! So down to one night-time feed seems like a good win
But then today I tried to find a YouTube video of how to feed hands-free in the sling and cleverly waited to do it when she was starving hungry so she SCREAMED like crazy! She did eventually feed in the sling but it didn't look very pretty (or that secure) so it needs more work! But then she did start to scream again so I'm not entirely sure if she will tolerate it - anyone have any good tips though? I've got a close caboo which I'm using most but also a simple stretchy fabric sling which was what I tried it in today.

Oh and DD has started getting a boob preference. DS did this too and I think it's the same boob. She latches horribly on the non favourite and it's started to get sore, so I've been unlatching her until she does it properly which is angering her more. What's wrong with poor left boob ??

cant - my baby wearing consultant and expert bf friend doesn't fully recommend bf in a sling. They are two separate skills that need to be mastered individually before they can be done together. I also would imagine it's a lot easier 6m+ when they can support their own upper bodies. Sit down and feed your baby. If you have another you won't always have that luxury!