Due June 08: less of the hens hatching, more of the cows milking?

[bitofadramaqueen]

Lets hope it's not too long before everyone is hatched and milking season is in full swing!

This is a miraculous moment! Peter is asleep. DH and my father are watching the rugby. My mother is listening to the Archers. I have been allowed to get to the real computer, so for the first time in three weeks I am on Mumsnet proper rather than via the ipod whilst BF in bed (which makes posting very fiddly)!

Bit of a strange week here. On Tuesday the GP finally decided that I did have an infection from the c-section. My temperature had been up and down, and the scar was a bit weepy (if TMI apologies), but they had been waiting on some lab results. Since then I have spent the rest of the week either BF, or being banished to bed by my parents (who have been fantastic looking after me and Peter). I am on two sets of antibiotics, plus an iron supplement. The good news is that I am definitely beginning to feel better. I can handle a day of bed / sofa / wimbledon and BF. However I can't imagine how I am going to handle Peter when I am by myself. Reading your posts about you getting back into the outside world staggers me - especially Shakey concerts. Luckily DH has Monday and Tuesday off, and then my Mum is primed to come back and help out if needed. At some point though I am going to have to stand on my own two feet.

Peter is doing well. He sleeps well at night typically 11pm - 3.30am and then through to 6 or 7am. However in the daytime he feeds and feeds and feeds with maybe one longish sleep in the middle of the day. Its a pattern I guess but a long way away from any kind of 3 hourly routine. He will also only settle on the breast (so interested to hear how others with the same problem get on).

Enough for now. Its such a novelty to be able to type freely that I could go on for some time!

Afternoon all! Not got too much chat, feeling nervous about tonight (even though I know I'll be coming home again). House all tidied, just been doing last minute bits of shopping and tasks. Off to sort out a new broadband provider now - it keeps me occupied!!!

Good luck for later Laura - whinegums hope you dont go T+25 . Fingers crossed something happens for you this weekend too!

Hello to everyone else - too distracted at the mo to really follow the thread properly.

Hi all, looking forward to seeing some new baby announcements this weekend!

Deb, Jamie is still feeding every 2 hours or so but he only feeds for really short periods, 5-10 minutes at each feed. I have tried to make him go longer in the hope he'll feed for longer afterwards but he refuses to feed for any longer then that no matter how long he has spent between feeds. He gets really upset if I try to put him to the breast when he isn't ready, or when he has come off naturally (even if only feed for 5 minutes) and start screaming and pushing himself off me with his fists. It is quite distressing, so I guess I need to let him get on with it in his own way.

He is awful to feed/settle in the evenings. HE cries constantly but then screams and fights when I try to feed him, even if he seems to be hungry. Any suggestions? I would hate to stop bfing, but there is no pleasure in it when we are both so distressed.

Hi All,

It's a girl!!!!!!!!!!

This is a very belated birth announcement but we had a little baby girl - Emma Caitlin, born on 18th June weighing in at 7 lb 3 oz.

She's absolutely perfect despite our worries from the amniotic banding. The birth was pretty quick, about 5 hours of mild contractions, where we loitered in our local shopping centre with me leaning on the clothes rails in M&S hoping my waters might break and we would get lots of goodies, followed by 2.5 hours of full on, oh my god I remember what it's like now, pain!!!! We weren't really that sad that we drove to M&S once I started contracting but I had gone in for a sweep in the afternoon and I was already 3cm dilated and my cervix was 'extremely favourable' according to the registrar who was very excited and wanted to break my waters there and then as they couldn't believe I wasn't already feeling any contractions. Anyway as it was a 1.5 hour round trip minimum to go back home and then come back to hospital we decided we may as well stay near the hospital for a couple of hours to see if things were going to progress and they did but only after we had been thrown out of the shops as they wanted to close for the night! Anyway, the birth was all fine but about 10 hours after I started bleeding really heavily and passing big clots but the midwives weren't really taking me seriously so I opted to stay the night in hospital as I was concerned. So to cut a long story short I lost loads of blood - at least 4 pints and they eventually took me back onto the labour suite and the registrar found that some of my placenta had been left behind which meant my uterus wasn't closing so I was just bleeding and bleeding. It was all a bit scary really and I think it was awful for my husband as at least I was out of it sucking on the gas and air while they examined me and removed the bits that had been left behind. So after 2 blood transfusions and 4 units of blood I finally stopped bleeding so heavily and started to feel a bit better but it all meant that I had to stay in for an extra 3 days.

The good news is that we are all doing well and having lived on the diet of a queen for the last 2 weeks I am feeling a lot more like my normal self. Well as normal as you can feel when you are getting up and feeding a newborn regularly in the night!!

Hopefully I'll get a piccie up on my profile soon. Now I'm off to catch up on some of the gossip.

Hope you are all well and enjoying your little babes - aren't they beautiful!

COngratulations JOsie . Lovely name and glad you're recovering well.

Congartulations Josie

9/05/08 - neenz, Esther and Theo
18/05/08 - makecakes, Cecily Jean Olivia
20/05/08 - Goingfor3 Harvey
24/05/08 - Katyjo Mia Joanne
29/05/08 - pyjamrama William James Frederick
30/05/08 - Paromapu, Fleur
01/06/08 - greenfairy - Storm Josephine Frances
04/06/08 - Josey - Olivia Margaret
05/06/08 - ernest - Adele
05/05/08 - tassisssss - Rebecca Grace
07/06/08 - Aberdeen Hiker - Fraser
08/06/08 - Lorrettah - Harry
11/06/08 - Sybilvimes - James Dominic
11/06/08 - Kif - boy
11/06/08 - Lazylou - Daniel Simon
11/06/08 - systemaddict - Caitlin Rose
11/06/08 - Needahand - SJ
11/06/08 - Emotionalwreck - Sophie Louie
12/06/08 - Basilbrush - Rose Madeline
14/06/08 - Dymansluckymum - Anwyn Crystal Anne
15/06/08 - Rolf - Theodora
15/06/08 - spongebrainbigpants - Alexander
15/06/08 - Amberc - Luke Joseph
16/06/08 - Essie - Iestyn Seiriol
17/06/08 - Debinaustria - Ethan
17/06/08 - Alipalli - Peter
18/06/08 - wigeon - Eva Judith
18/06/08 - Josie57 - Emma Caitlin
19/06/08 - Looneytune - Joshua James
19/06/08 - Peartart - Girl
19/06/08 - Sophiewd - Sebastian Wilfrid Joseph
20/06/08 - Jules43 - Louie
21/06/08 - Pedilia - Layla
21/06/08 - Puddock - Peter
07/06/08 - mellymel -Thomas
23/06/08 - Libralady - Luke Thomas Jacob
23/06/08 - PregnantPenguin - Ryder Henry
24/06/08 - Hedgehog1979 - Issac John
24/06/08 - Caprocirnqueen - Ava
26/06/08 - Poppy34 - Edie
28/06/08 - Upsidedowncake - Dorothy
02/07/08 - Fungle - girl
02/07/08 - ktpie - boy

Still waiting:
06/06/08 - nettiehay -(first baby)
16/06/08 - xxgemmalou22xx (first Baby
20/06/08 - whinegums - (first baby) BOY
21/06/08 - HeyBaby07 -(First Baby)
21/06/08 - Hoggle -(First Baby)
22/06/08 - bitofadramaqueen -(first baby)
24/06/08 - allnew - (first baby)
25/06/08 - Bun2 (DD 5 yrs) Girl
26/06/08 - LauraT (first baby)

Congartulations Josie

I have taken HeyBaby off she hasn's posted since November. Slightly concerend about Gemma, Hoggle and nettiehay, all frequent posters until middle of May.

9/05/08 - neenz, Esther and Theo
18/05/08 - makecakes, Cecily Jean Olivia
20/05/08 - Goingfor3 Harvey
24/05/08 - Katyjo Mia Joanne
29/05/08 - pyjamrama William James Frederick
30/05/08 - Paromapu, Fleur
01/06/08 - greenfairy - Storm Josephine Frances
04/06/08 - Josey - Olivia Margaret
05/06/08 - ernest - Adele
05/05/08 - tassisssss - Rebecca Grace
07/06/08 - Aberdeen Hiker - Fraser
08/06/08 - Lorrettah - Harry
11/06/08 - Sybilvimes - James Dominic
11/06/08 - Kif - boy
11/06/08 - Lazylou - Daniel Simon
11/06/08 - systemaddict - Caitlin Rose
11/06/08 - Needahand - SJ
11/06/08 - Emotionalwreck - Sophie Louie
12/06/08 - Basilbrush - Rose Madeline
14/06/08 - Dymansluckymum - Anwyn Crystal Anne
15/06/08 - Rolf - Theodora
15/06/08 - spongebrainbigpants - Alexander
15/06/08 - Amberc - Luke Joseph
16/06/08 - Essie - Iestyn Seiriol
17/06/08 - Debinaustria - Ethan
17/06/08 - Alipalli - Peter
18/06/08 - wigeon - Eva Judith
18/06/08 - Josie57 - Emma Caitlin
19/06/08 - Looneytune - Joshua James
19/06/08 - Peartart - Girl
19/06/08 - Sophiewd - Sebastian Wilfrid Joseph
20/06/08 - Jules43 - Louie
21/06/08 - Pedilia - Layla
21/06/08 - Puddock - Peter
07/06/08 - mellymel -Thomas
23/06/08 - Libralady - Luke Thomas Jacob
23/06/08 - PregnantPenguin - Ryder Henry
24/06/08 - Hedgehog1979 - Issac John
24/06/08 - Caprocirnqueen - Ava
26/06/08 - Poppy34 - Edie
28/06/08 - Upsidedowncake - Dorothy
02/07/08 - Fungle - girl
02/07/08 - ktpie - boy

Still waiting:
06/06/08 - nettiehay -(first baby)
16/06/08 - xxgemmalou22xx (first Baby
20/06/08 - whinegums - (first baby) BOY
21/06/08 - Hoggle -(First Baby)
22/06/08 - bitofadramaqueen -(first baby)
24/06/08 - allnew - (first baby)
25/06/08 - Bun2 (DD 5 yrs) Girl
26/06/08 - LauraT (first baby)

greenfairy (for Penguin too) totally with you on the breastfeeding. I feel exactly the same, and only got this far with DH's support (and his regular suggestions that I give it 1 more night...and so here I still am!) I'm also worried about my boobs being ruined. Anyone able to confirm/deny this?
My body conscious sister told me not to worry, if I was really depressed, I could consider surgery. Which I'm reassuring myself with.

Rolf yes indeed, next week is my lecture (16th, I think - exactly a month as Iestyn was born on the 16th!) The paper was written, and I'm still keen to give it although a little bit in denial that it's going to happen... I have, however, borrowed a suit from my sister (she's been v. ill and lost a ton of weight - terrible for her, but good for borrowing clothes as I don't fit into my own ones. Actually, I do fit into my jeans but it's not a good look and there's rather too much faith in stretch fabric involved ). DH is still uncertain - his case might settle - but a good friend offered to babysit, and is keen to take the afternoon off to spend with Iestyn and me. It's all dependent on feeds, really - I might express and attempt a bottle, but I'm not sure how it will work. (Any advice, folks? When did you start expressing and how did it work?) I suppose if the Selden Society have to wait for a small baby to finish feeding, then so be it... I have a suspicion I'm the first woman ever to present their annual lecture.
Rolf also, where is your cottage? (Rain depends on where you are - Anglesey is drier than Bangor. I swear!)

Amber - it's sunny in Tooting now. I swear we have a special microclimate!!

Iestyn is not screaming! Hurray, I'm alone as DH has gone to get some basics for the fridge. I was expecting mad screaming until he came back. I'm dreading this week!

Oh, big post. I should get me a blog. I always was wordy - my book is really fat!

Hahaha, Selden Society is very male orientated and so they have a woman with Jordanesque boobs giving a paper. I doubt it matters what I actually say...

Sitting here with Fleur in my arms and she is laughing and smiling away. im sure shes tierd but she doesnt seem to think so, hopefully she'll sleep well tonight and wont be overtired Any one elses baby suddenly really woken up lately Fleur really recognizes us now and gurgles away to us.

have decided to ignore little old ladies from now on!!!
AMberc- this book The baby book i have gives you a set routine ive found it very simple to read, not too pushy and got good structured routines. Im trying to get Fleur to follow one but sometimes she isnt interested and decides to feed every hour one afternoon but hey some kind of structure is good at mo at least.

To all those with inductions good luck and i had an induction at 38 weeks with no dilation, non favorable cervix , high blood pressure and corioamniocentisis and it all ended really well, and although it was long i had a really good labour

allipalli sorry to hear of your infection and peter's marathon feeding - but he is only two weeks old and may well get easier to settle. Storm (five weeks) will often settle on the breast but I am now confident enough to then stick her in her cot and resettle her - at two weeks old I often ended up sleeping on the sofa with her lying on my boob! Am sure it will get better.

I found the first two and a half weeks really hard. Since then it's (mostly) just got easier - I do hope you find things look up soon.

sophie bizarrely jealous of your hangover!

debs do hope your feeding 'window' gets better soon.

amber re the moses basket - storm often falls asleep on a cushion on my lap. I now transfer her to the cot, but can't say I blame you for your method.

essie I started expressing when storm was 4 weeks old. Wait till a time in the day when your boobs are really full - I express during my night feed at 3am. Then just stick it in a pre-sterilised disposable bag in the freezer - you can get them in mothercare and boots. You can defrost it in a bowl of warm (but not boiling) water in about 15 mins. Then heat to blood temp or a bit lower. We've got an Avent bottle warmer (from freecycle) but they're £15 new and I think would be worth every penny as no need to use a microwave (hotspot danger) or hold in pan of hot water with tongs (and no doubt drop it). I've tried manual and electric pumps and find the manual one kinder to the poor nipples!

paro yeah, my HV is all for going with your instincts and saved my sanity re BF - telling me to feed Storm when I thought she needed it rather than the five different opinions I'd received so far. Storm's currently fast asleep in a nightie and socks on her fleece, when she should be in at least one other layer and a sleeping bag. Mummy knows best!

Sorry for marathon post, and congrats josie

essie - I've always found it easiest to express first thing in the morning from the breast that you didn't feed off of. (It'll be full again by the next feed).

To everyone having trouble breastfeeding - I promise it does get better! greenfairy if you keep breastfeeding you might find you miss it - I was really sad when I stopped breastfeeding DS1 as by then it was easy, comforting for both of us, and a very special quiet time. However, breastfeeding a newborn is a totally different story - I think I didn't find it easy last time until DS1 was over 2 months old. (And Fraser and I are still learning and struggling with it).

Fraser is currently in his evening grumps - fortunately my father is taking a turn to settle him. When we were at the hospital getting my stitches looked at F was grumping and the doctor said "is there something wrong with him" and both DH and I felt like laughing - she's obviously not a parent if she thought a bit of fussing at 7pm at night meant something was wrong. If he's not actually screaming I think we're doing something right!

Hi All, a brief rundown of a super speed birth...
At 14 days over and very worn out and a bit of a wreck to be honest I was finally induced at 6pm on Tue eve. I say finally, the goalposts kept being moved which was very upsetting. I was given a timescale between 10 an 14 days and would only be told on hte morning if I where to be called in. The morning of day 14 Iwas told they where too busy, I almost broke down.
To cut a long story short the lead midwife eventually got me in to the hospital and after much hanging round I had a dose of prostin at 6. My Bishops score 5, which is ok I gather.
Had mild 'tightenings' straight away, then up to the ward to settle in.
Was put on the CTG monitor at 10.30, all good.
11.30 tried to get some sleep.
12am the beginning of several loo visits with lots of 'show' and the need to poo.
12.30 Contractions every 5 mins of so, was examined and was 2cm.
1am, asked to have a bath.
1.30 out of the bath in a lot of pain, Contractions 1 min apart lasting 45 secs, asked to be examined as was sure Id progressed quite far and wanted them to call DP in so he didnt miss it. Was 5cm!
Into a delivery room, was very much left to own devices which was what I wnted, just paced the bed and kneeled over it and begun on gas and air.
DP arrived at 2.45am. Thankgod.
Waters went 3.15.
Begun pushing kneeling on the bed at 4pm.
DD2 Isla Rose born into a beautifully calm delivery room with just me, DP, and two very chilled midwives standing looking on. Very different from high drama !st birth with medics everywhere. Isla had hiccups on the way out which was quite comical!
7lb 7oz and perfect.
Have popped a pic on profile.
I expect you will hear a lot more from me now shes out, Im already constantly reading up on how people are getting on with BF sleep solutions etc.
Hope all ladies being induced this weekend have a positive time too

Good luck to all the inductees this weekend.

Isaac is currently sleeping after screaming at Granddad (FIL) this morning.

DH and I braved bathing him this morning, as so far my mum had done it twice (she went home on Thursday) and I had done it once with her help. It was an interesting experience for us and him, although he didn't scream.

In hindsight prob should have fed him after bathing just to calm him a bit but DH was desperate to get to his parents - think FIL was a bit shocked when I said 'morning, I need to feed him' he kept disappearing - to hang the laundry out, make tea, offer us biscuits etc.

Thought Isaac was full and offered him to FIL for a cuddle - little tyke screamed, so DH and I took turns pacing the room for him to calm down, until DH's phone went and it was MIL asking where we were (dh's parents are divorced) as she needed to pop out.

We got to her house and she had gone out, luckily we have a key and so managed to settle him in the car seat until he fell asleep, when MIL gets home and demands a cuddle - was so proud of DH who told her that if she cuddled him and woke him she would have to settle him again - kind of put her off.

And now - DH has gone out with his best mate to 'wet the babies head' and I am wondering whether I will get a phone call at 11.30ish asking to be picked up!!

Happy days

Congratulations Josie - Emma certainly looks beautiful on your profile

And congratulations to Fungle - sounds like a great birth but what an awful long wait. I thought I was going mad at 40+10. Unfortunately can't see Isla as I can't see your profile!

Allipalli - I'm jealous of your night times, Peter may have been born on the same day as Ethan but they got different messages about day and night I think!! He's currently flat out but will wake up when we want to go to bed later!!

Rolf - occasionally have the pains but not always and actually today has been better - worrying about nothing I think.

Ernest - are you lurking? Hope you're OK now it's the summer hols.

Essie - I had an interview for a new job when ds1 was about 3 weeks old, I was absolutely paranoid about leaking boobs and stupidly wore a white blouse, what are you wearing?
And I'm sorry to say that my experience is that yes my boobs have never been the same since breastfeeding and what they'll be like by the end of my time feeding hungry Ethan I dread to think. Dh used to compare them to deflated balloons - nice eh? BUT it's still worth it for me.

Paro - people here don't seem to comment on blankets, clothes etc apart from a Greek friend who was concerned it was cold today for Ethan and he wouldn't be able to breathe as it was slightly windy!!

AH - you're so right about it being different bfeeding a newborn. I was really sad when I stopped bfeeding the boys at 1 year but like you say by then it was easy we'd survived the newborn stage, the fussing, teeth and mastitis and come out the other end. I know it will get better but I had forgotten how hard it is at the beginning. Having done it twice before doesn't seem to make a difference.

I don't understand why my boobs are still so enormous now that I don't produce milk. When will they go back to normal?

whinegums thanks or the book suggestion - will have a proper look. Is it true Gina Ford doesn't have kids?

Essie Hope you are enjoying your stay in 'sunny' Tooting! Hope you'll get the sarf londoners together for a coffee but won't it be weird meeting people in real life and knowing our real names (although clearly I was too lazy to think of anything and just used my name but I'm sure Rolf's not really a Rolf and the Green fairy etc etc....)

Went to look at cars today - anyone got a mercedes A class - any good?

I got a sheepskin today for the baby's bed - Someone on here has one - who was that? Will stop me putting a pillo in his moses basket! it's lovely anyway, wish I could find a sheep large enough to have one for my bed!!

Right, a nighty night message - Iestyn tends to be awake around now and DH is cuddling him in an attempt to prevent screaming. (He did sleep all the way through Dr Who though, thank god (DH can't deal with it when he screams through that!) and slept whilst we ate. Hurray.)

Amber, yes, I think it will be a bit strange finding out about real life people! Especially the names! There's some good ones - my fave is Spongebrainbigpants (hi Sponge!). Mine isn't actually very original - I am called Essie affectionately by one friend because I had a hairdresser's appointment and they asked for my name on arrival, and for some strange reason I gave my initials - S. E. - and they called me Essie throughout. I also sign off e-mails as SE. I'm dead nosy though and want to know people's real names. I feel like I know anyone.

BTW - mercedes? Swanky! VW Golf, and wouldn't change it for the world. My neighbours, who are millionaires (!! it's their third home, after Nantwich and Vermont...) drive Audis (several...) and 'only buy German cars'. Loved the way that sounds!

p.s. neither Gina Ford nor Supernanny (?Jo something) have kids. But I like Supernanny, and she clearly loves children.

OK, I'm really going to bed in just a minute. But a question.

I want to have Iestyn's handprint. I've managed a footprint, but so far, the handprints have been disasterous. He prefers to make a fist. First attempt went everywhere (traces of blue paint look disturbing on a sleeping baby). Second attempt was when he was sleeping, but he woke up and bawled for over an hour.

Has anyone done this, and if yes, how? Or any suggestions where I should post this question? (Please don't say 'cruel mothers' website'...)

Nighty night!

Quick post - all went well at hospital, had one dose of gel, home for the night, back in first thing tomorrow!

Go BDQ!!!!!!! Work that Prostin!

Essie/SE! Mercedes A class - about 6 grand second hand - bit of a mercedes light for me who hasn't passed their driving test yet!! Waiting for the 6 weeks after section (must start calling it a c section as I'm sure people think i've been sectioned under the mental health act!! )before I resume my driving lessons. How nice to have a nickname. I alsways wanted one but never got one (does gobby cow count?).

My DP let Luke sleep for 5.5 hours last night from 8 - 1.30am. Lesson learned - he was up all night and has only just gone back to sleep at 7am. DP was meant to do night shift until 7 this morning but he brought him in at 5 through exhaustion! Bugger it. Will have a nap through the men's single final - nice and quiet!

PS Hayfever gone mad this morning

I am so tired, another lot of no shows last night, so we are changing our booking policy.

Breakfast and then back to bed for me, DH can snooze this afternoon.

Oh dear Sophie! How inconsiderate - tossers!