Due April 08- the home stretch!!

[moominsmummy]

Don't know if I'm doing this right but here goes.......

Phone number for April 08 news!
07963222741 - Peachy

Babies already here:

07 March: Ashton, a fourth DS for gemprincess, 5 lb 13 oz @ 34w6d
09 March: Ted, 7lb 14oz, a second DS for Daftmoo, @ 36w
21 March: George William, 7lb 2.5oz, first baby for KnitterintheNW, @ 37+3w
25 March: Olivia,7lb 2oz, second baby for TheMaskedPoster, @ 38+4w
?? March: Pablo, 7lb 14oz, baby for Vacaloca, @
30 March: A baby girl, 8lb 15oz for PortandLemon, @39+3w
02 April: A baby boy, JAK, 9lb for rainbowdays @39+1w
02 April: A baby boy, 6lb 14oz for bunyanvillas @37+5w
03 April: Aeryn Daisy, 9lb 8oz for Denny185 @39+3
03 April: Benjamin, 8lb 3oz for Micegg@39+4w
03 April: Roelof Grové, first DS, 7lb 5oz for Sal22 @ 38+5w
04 April: Matilda, 7lb for AprilsFoolsBaby@
06 April: Henry Peter, 7lb 130z for Sheds @ 40+4
07 April: Sebastian George, 8lb 4oz for Peachy @41+1

Babies still baking:

01 April: siameez, expecting a boy.
01 April: ThePFJ, 30, from Nr. Chesterfield, expecting a boy. This is her first baby.
02 April: Redmonster, 29. This is her first baby.
02 April: V1KK1M, from Hertfordshire, expecting a surprise. This is her first baby.
03 April: NoMoreHighHeels.
04 April: CeylonSapphire, from Twickenham. This is her first baby.
04 April: lorisparkle, 33, from Cotswolds. This is her second baby (already has 1 DS (15 months)).
05 April: bunnyrabbit. This is her second baby (already has 1 DS (4.5)).
06 April: paranoidmummy, 25, expecting a surprise.
07 April: Fleecy, 30, expecting a surprise. This is her second baby (already has 1 DD (14 months)).
07 April: Piccalilli2, 32, from Sheffield, expecting a girl. This is her second baby (already has 1 DD (2)).
08 April: Elfsmummy, expecting a surprise.
09 April: egyptianprincess. This is her first baby.
09 April: mummyofaprincess, 21. This is her second baby (already has 1 DD (2)).
09 April: siikibam, expecting a surprise. This is her first baby.
09 April: VictorianSqualor, 27, from Bicester, expecting a surprise. This is her third baby (already has 1 DD (7) and 1 DS (3)).
09 April: Bashboid, 33, living in SE London. Expecting a boy. This is her first baby.
10 April: Gangle.
10 April: MathairNua, 29.
10 April: Babywhiting, 30, expecting a girl.
11 April: scorpio1, 23, from Cornwall, expecting a girl. This is her third baby (already has 1DSS (5) and 2 DSs (5 and 2)).
12 April: Velbels, 28, expecting her first baby.
12 April: positive, 38, from N Ireland. This is her first baby. High risk baby has Down's.
13 April: Mollyfloss, 32, from Ireland but living in London, expecting a girl.
14 April: Jaq39, from Edinburgh.
14 April: SuzeM, 35, from Ireland but living in London, expecting a girl. This is her first baby.
15 April: Bainmarie, 30. This is her third baby (already has 1 DD (almost 4) and 1 DS (2)).
15 April: pad.
15 April: PippiCalzelunghe. This is her second baby (already has 1 DD (2.4)).
16 April: AussieDivaonaBreak, 33, Barnes. This is her second baby. (has one DD 3.10)
17 April: EllieG, 29, from Jersey. (already has 1 DSD).
18 April: christmaspixie. This is her second baby (already has 1 DD (nearly 3)).
19 April: dolly1, from London, expecting a boy. This is her first baby.
19 April: northeastmummy, from Aberdeen. This is her second baby (already has 1 DD (20 months)).
19 April: AttillaTheHan, from Preston. This is her second baby. Has ds 3 1/2.
19 April: soph28, 30. This is her third baby. (DS nearly 3, DD 19 mnths)
20 April: Ayomi. This is her first baby.
20 April: mumzyof2, 21.
20 April: munchkinmum. This is her second baby.
20 April: Toastaddict, 31, from Nottingham. This is her first baby.
21 April: Annieroo. This is her first baby.
21 April: littlemissturquoise.
22 April: BabyBratt, 30, from Manchester. This is her first baby.
22 April: rdk, from Manchester. This is her second baby.
22 April: Soph73, 34, from Gran Canaria. This is her second baby (already has 1 DS (5)).
23 April: Carey87, 20, from Orpington, Kent. This is her first baby.
25 April: loisstella, 33.
25 April: scampmum, 29. This is her second baby (already has 1 DD (18 months)).
25 April: moominsmummy, 1 DS already.
26 April: TLSM, 29, from Surrey, expecting a boy. This is her second baby (already has 1 DS (3).
26 April: eva07, 29, now from Cardiff, expecting a surprise. This is her first baby.
26 April: Sagitta, 34, from Suffolk, expecting a surprise. This is her second baby (already has 1 DD (21 months)).
26 April: meandbump, 21, expecting a boy. This is her first baby.
27 April: ShellySara, 30.
27 April: Lennsuey. This is her first baby.
27 April: jenniejennie, expecting a boy. This is her first baby.
28 April: Beeper. This is her second baby (already has 1 DS (8.5)).
28 April: honeybee10. This is her third baby.
28 April: Woollymummy. This is her second baby (already has 1 DD (17 months)).
29 April: Mum2b2babyRoo, 32, expecting a surprise. This is her first baby.
30 April: chipmonkey, 38. This is her fourth baby (already has 3 DSs).

I used to undress DS to feed as he got too comfortable and warm and would doze off halfway through

PFJ - don't beat yourself up about it all - you have just been through a v traumatic time - emotionally and physically - and now you have a new LO to look after - you are doing a great job

((((hugs))))

PFJ, ounds like you are doing a great job! A few comments...
-- feeding for an hour at a time is normal at this stage (have just been feeding DD for 90 minutes and hoping she might drop off soon, maybe..). It doesn't last and will get better, honestly.
-- afterpains should go pretty soon now
-- you ought to be able to have cocodamol. Why does midwife say no? Did they send you home from hospital with some?
agree with moomin if your breasts are too full to get a good latch then express off a little just to soften up a bit
-- neither of mine have opened their mouths particularly wide (and DS wouldn't open his at all for the first week or so) but it get as much areola as possible in and they seem to get a fair amount of milk; DD has put on 19oz in two weeks on top of her birth weight so is clearly getting enough.

(update: DD is now asleep... ha!)

just give in to the sitting down, you are doing SUCH a great thing.

-hugs-

might try the undressing thing.

thanks PAL and scorpio.
MUST try not to let this BEAT ME.

I'll let you know how I get on tomorrow.

also get a local BFing counsellor around to check latch etc...try your local childrens centre.

its been ages since I have been on here, its been great seeing so many babies have been born!
Any tips for getting this baby going???? She's huge, and kicks all the time... how do I let her know its okay to come out now?

Yes, the annoying thing is normal! I would TRY and steer clear of formula as you're probably establishing supply right now and I promise it will settle down and get easier. They just don't know their arses from their elbows (or nipples from noses) at this point.

I know (and this is just me, I don't know you at all so can't possibly judge!) that if I didn't get through the irritation bit that would always be a retrospective opportunity for me to blame myself for giving up. I'm not for a second suggesting anyone should feel guilty for giving up, but if you think you might have any inclination to then I would persist - though IMHO, as I said, you have done incredibly well even to establish feeding after your birth experience and to give him that all-important colostrum.

BTW, I know baby blues is supposed to be 3 days/milk coming in but mine was definitely around days 8-11 - so could well be a bit of that. I alternated between crying inconsolably and finding everyone and everything pathologically irritating. Boy, I must have been fun to be around .

Argh, I keep taking too long to type!

I hated sitting down, too. Didn't help that the forceps had totally fucked my coccyx! Have you tried feeding lying down? That was a great discovery...

Try all your chairs and find the comfiest. Have you got a pillow? Have you got a radio/telly/DVD box set/magazines to entertain you? Is DH well trained at getting water/tea/biscuits?

Scampmum -hugs! I do find things irritating... and I do cry alot.
You arent slow.. I stuck around for more pearls of wisdom so thank you very much.

I love you GIRLS. I dont know what I would have been like without you since I started mumsnet for the first time in FEB this year.

Thank you THANK YOU.
xxx

PFJ, formula is more difficult to digest, so will make some babies feel fuller, so don't feel that it's preferable to your milk, just can make them feel more "stuffed".
I will say, that when I had ds1, I really didn't know what had hit me. I was completely unprepared for the hours and hours of sofa-sitting, and OMG, I got to know Oprah, Geraldo and Sally Jessie Raphael extremely well! But after about 6 weeks, he settled into a more manageable routine, I managed to get dressed!! and take him out in the pram. I used to go to our local pharmacy and buy loads of things he didn't need, just to talk to the staff!
Bunyanvillas, I'm afraid my ds1 did spend a lot of time watching Barney videos when ds2 was born but one thing you can do which would be a bit better is to have a "bfing-box" of small toys and games to bring out only when dc2 is being fed. That way, the older child is occupied and also doesn't feel that he/she is being left out. The other thing to bear in mind is that when bfing you have one hand free while if bottle-feeding you need both hands so have no free hands for the older baby.
Having said all that, your babies have had a fantastic start, even just colostrum is a brilliant thing to have had, so don't feel bad whatever you decide to do re formula.

Hi Chipmonkey - thanks, some good ideas there for sibling entertaining! Am trying to hang on in there. So, do people generally think that my 10pm "top-up" bottle is a bad idea? In terms of my milk supply? Am feeding for Britain the rest of the time!

Oooh PFJ, hang on in there, you are doing a BRILLIANT job after your traumatic labour experience!! And the first few weeks are tough in every respect, and the weepy fairy comes to visit a lot, jsut like you've said.

If it's any consolation, IME after the first tough few weeks of BF it gets decidely easier than formula- no bottles to prepare, milk on tap where ever you are- feeds settle down to about every 3/ 4 hours and last about 10 mins (well did for me). YOu can dash out of the door without any worries and you can feed half asleep lying down. It also made all my weight drop off. Hope it helps to see that this bit is SUCH a short phase, while the milk gets established, and Jack gets the hang of it.

There's great advice on here, but don't beat yourself up...you have to do what's best for you. x x x x

OMG, completely missed that VS has had her baby!!!!!!!! {Reminds self to read thread before posting}
Congratulations VS!!!! And wow, what a big boy!

Chipmonkey, great idea about the box of toys-been worrying about how to entertain 3 yr old while BF.....

Not sure Bunyan about the top up bottle....maybe someone else will know? Not sure if it will interfere with your supply or not. It's a long time since I last BF! But you're doing great to be doing it at all (loads of people don't even try it!)..Hugs ....

OK, bunyan, I would think in the early days any top-ups don't help supply and CAN lead to stopping bfing sooner than you wanted to. I personally am quite die-hard about bfing so have never given formula in the first 4 months and ds3 never had any formula at all. However, I know everyone is not like me! I am actually not that bothered about a tidy house or predictable routine and can survive on minimal sleep so bfing suits me just fine.
Also I think, having gotten past all the obstacles with ds1, I knew I could do it with ds2 and ds3 so felt less likely to give in to formula.
But hey, I am all for sanity in mothers so if that top-up is the only thing between you and madness, don't let me talk you out of it!

Have not had time to read back all the messages so my apologies again!

Congratulations to everyone who has had their new LO.

I've had three internals now with no real luck getting to the cervix for a sweep. MW say it is too far back and it really hurts so I say stop. Have to keep in mind that it will help baby along and is not as bad as labour pains but I hate pain!

Well to top things off DS1 is now poorly with high temperature and just wanting to sleep. Maybe DC2 is waiting for him to recover so that we have a little more time. Hopefully baby will arrive before next Thursday morning though.

Have been booked in for the c-section on Thursday. They are going to do another internal and if they can break my waters then they will but if not then another c-section it is. It will be a real pain with trying to look after DS1 as well but at least my mum lives near by.

Just to say about BF. I found it really hard with DS1. He used to feed for 1 1/2 hours every 2 hours during the day for the first few weeks. I found the BF counsellors on the phone really helpful and asked for as much help as I could. Once he got established it was so easy and I am glad I battled through. However you must do what is best for you and your family and not feel guilty about decisions you make. A happy mum who ff or bf and ff is better than an unhappy mum.

Peachy - sorry to hear about your DS3 - have you asked school for a copy of the accident report?

Well I hope all you mums to new babies are doing well and all you still pregnant are keeping your feet up! Hopefully I'll move from near the top of one list to near the bottom of the other list pretty soon!

Morning all,

just had a quick flick through the last few pages, sorry haven't been around much. Like some of you I've had great problems with BFing. it stems from my post section bleed, I lost that much blood/liquid ididn't have anything to give him. From then on he has never latched on properly. My only savign grace is that he got all of my colostum and a bit of expressed milk for the first week.

I do feel guilty about not BFing but think my body has refused to comply with further feeding

Wow VS that is a fantastic weight , huge congratulations

Wow! Quite a lot of babies here now but loads still to go!

Am due on Friday buto sign yet. I never get BH though.

With ds I had a sweep, then a show, then contractions started. MW broke my waters in final stage.

Went into nesting overdrive yesterday, washed all bed sheets, gutted my bedroom and finished (ish) packing hospital bag - probably should get that done.

My two are both sitting watching 'I love my JCB' DVD! Am off to have a shower and get dressed while they are occupied!

Congratulations VS, another porker, hope you r both well and home soon.

BF - Ive been using the shells which help with engorgement (but save the hassle of expressing) some of your milk leaks into the shell making it easier to get as much in their mouth as poss. If youve sterilised the shells you can also feed at at the end of the BF instead of formula top up. I leak a couple of ounces at a time so it saves soaking my top as well.

Def really hard work, if I hadnt dont it before and know it gets better id be throwing in the towel, I find the nights hardest theres so little time to get some sleep inbetween feeds. On that note going to love and leave you all again DS out and DD2 back asleep so going to catch a bit of shut eye.

Sebastian seems to be bF well- but we won't know until he is weighed, the others all had a genetic tendency to slow weight gain so we will se if he has inherited it or not. He hasn't had any jaundice though, and the others all did. So fingers crossed!. I have had tot ake pain relief a few times, but that's because he has two partially emerged teeth which make great nippers.

HOOOGE congrats VS for your new FABULOUS bundle of joy (wonderful name too).

Take care and enjoy xx

I am ever so tired today as DD2 spent ALL night grunting and whining (even in her sleep) so I probably snatched about 2 hours maximum of sleep for myself. Am off to the docs this am. as I think I may have thrush in one of my boobs and that is unsettling DD2 too ... . Am just glad I know this stage doesn't last forever cos it is tres tiring.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz

PS - hope everyone else ok too (too tired to read everything properly - soz)

Fortunately Sebastian seems to be getting in a routine- sleep in mornings, eat all afternoon / evening, three good feeds overnight with 2 hor sleep batches in between. Fortunately, as I have until may 2nd to do dissertation [sigh], then exams and study module- BUT after that all free! Yay! And phew, too.