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!

Debs - not that I've done anything about my own jellybelly, but isn't there a cream that claims to help? Mamamio tummy toner, I think.

My sister kindly arrived with a present for the baby and a Cindy Crawford get your figure back after birth dvd... Actually, it's sweet because she's very keen on fitness etc, and that's her thing, something that's important to her.
Amazingly, we hadn't spoken for a long while due to a strange falling out and she was ill etc, but since Iestyn has arrived, there seems to be a patching up! She's offered to come once a week and cook/watch Iestyn while I sleep! So happy because it was getting me down.

OK, no more posts, am going to attempt to wash myself in a sink with boiling water from the kettle...

congrats PP

Thanks for the tips about the reusables only have about 5 at the moment as they were free from the council, but we are off to the big mothercare superstore next week to get some more supplies so will look out for some fleece boosters and have just had a look at the eco disposables

Had a very restless night last night - I have the same problem with Isaac straining after feeding and DH doesn't like hearing him all distressed so keeps waking him for reassurance but it means I am feeding him hourly, Think I'll have to have a word about leaving him a bit just to settle

Just a quick post to check in. Hedgehog - you might want to check out internet for reusables, unless you know mothercare def have what you want. Their choice is a bit limited (and probably more expensive than you'd get online). If you're buying a stock of reusables here offers 20% off orders over £100. I bought mine from there so happy to recommend them.

Laura, love the thought of you doing your own stitch up job... Hopefully you won't need it doing by anyone though.

Yes, July is a nice month! I also think our babies are waiting for some better weather before emerging - which could take a while here! I have to admit, I've got tickets for Leonard Cohen at Edinburgh Castle on the 15th (got them in a wildly optimistic moment months ago) and I'm desperate to go - I can feel it slipping away now . I am sure Leonard Cohen will be the least of my worries once monster finally shows up!

Deb, enjoy your day off, and get yourself the magic pants - why stress over your tummy right now, when super elastic can hold you in!

Am off to bake some scones in improved kitchen - still a bit of a guddle, but at least everything is in the right place now.

Congratulations PP! Sounds like you had a tough time being kept in hospital for so long.

No baby here yet, am hoping it won't be long as back is aching more and more and walking about seems to be harder work in the past few days. Waddled round Tescos this morning and now feeling worn out!

Glad kitchen is improved whinegums - I'm going to bake muffins this afternoon, maybe there's something in the water

deb agree that you should just go for the magic pants - if they're good enough for Gwyneth Paltrow and the A-list celebs then they are certainly good enough for you!

Debs, my stomach muscles have separated and mw gave me some stretchy material to wear to hold them until I see the physio, and I have to say - it is very flattering on the jelly belly front! Maybe you should consider getting something similar.

Also, I had similar problems with lumpy breasts. Even after feeding the other two for over 13 months each it doesn't get easier does it? I used a hot flannel and hand massaged the lumps gently and they have just about cleared. Jamie has started fighting and struggling at the breast which is awful and making me sore. He doesn't like the letdown and starts pulling away and pushing me and screaming while still sucking which is agony and buggering up my nipples. I am trying to remain calm and be philosopical that it will pass but it is actually really upsetting that he is rejecting the breast (and me)! I would hate to give up but he is upset and feeding less so I guess we will see how it goes.

sybil sorry to hear you're having feeding problems. Have you tried expressing off the first teeny bit? Seems to help Storm as she doesn't get a face full!

DH fed Storm for first time today with 5oz of expressed milk . Was lovely to see him do it and such a relief to have a shift off after four weeks! Off to express again now as going out for a drink with old friends later and need it as back up. We're planning to do one expressed feed a day - the 10.30pm feed, so that I can get a solid stretch of sleep from 7/8 til 2.30am. Yay! Fingers crossed she continues to like it - it wasn't as easy to burp her afterwards and she was a bit unsettled this afternoon.

essie re routines - I've read a few books which describe various routines but I don't see how they can be followed right from the start - newborn feeding patterns are so unpredictable and IMO it's not right to make them wait very long. After four weeks Storm seems to be settling into her own routine of a feed at 7/8am, 10.30am, sometime between 12.30pm and 2pm, 4.30pm, a snack at 6.30pm, 10.30pm and nightmarish 2.30am feed which takes two hours to get into her between burping and griping! But HV says not to assume it'll last as their patterns change so much. You could keep a diary for a few days and see when Iestyn feeds?

congrats to the newly hatched - and please post your birth stories!

Greenfairy only 5oz? Oh, sweet little thing. God, I really am producing milk at Jersey cow rate - I managed 1 minute on the pump with the left breast this morning and produced 60oz. Can't wait to start giving him a bottle, but mw wouldn't tell me how - they really are keen on bf...

Routine - I agree with you on the newborn feeding pattern. He has a bit of a pattern, every 3 hours ish, but I really don't think that waking him in the afternoon/leaving him if he's hungry after 2 is productive. Well, even if it is, it makes him cry in a way that breaks my heart. I find it really helpful when others here post their babies' feeding times etc - helps put things in perspective!

Duh, , I don't know the difference between mls and ozs... I produced 60ml, not 60oz (=1.7 litres!)

Bloody hell Essie I was worried when I read 60oz! Ha ha!

At the moment all I can manage is 2 oz after 5 minutes on each breast. I am trying to express each hour during the evening/night until bed so I can get a reserve in for night time feeding and then I express again when Luke wakes me during the small hours so I have something for the morning.

MW said I should be giving him 4oz feeds now but I'm not producing anywhere near that much so am having to top up with formula.

He has lost some of his birth weight (120g) and MW not worried in the slightest. She did day he has red jaundice and again not too worried, just need to get him in the sunlight more to help reduce this. Has anyone else had any experience of red jaundice? Only thought it came in the yellow form.
Also Luke had the Guthrie's heel prick test today. It broke my heart as she had to prick him twice as the first time hardly any blood came out despite having his foot in a bowl of warm water for 10 minutes beforehand.

Took Luke over to see my Nan earlier (she's 100 in 5 weeks) and she had a little cuddle. I got a bit upset as although I was there she spoke to my Mum about me as if I wasn't. 'Oh she's producing a family of boys then to continue the family name'. Then we had to explain yes, but it's DH's name not hers.
Bless her, she does have dementia and the number of times she asked how old he was and who's baby he was I lost count of. She also wanted to know where her family were as she thinks she's the only one left.

Also introduced Luke to the wonders of Cricket this afternoon. Got the captain to let us know when our side were batting so we could pop over and see the guys and they could admire Luke. The Captain is to be one of Luke's godfathers and he takes his responsibilites very seriously. Even thanked me for having Luke on his payday, so he should always have money when it comes to having to buy him a birthday present.

Sorry for the long post, but DH has gone out and there is nothing but crap on the TV.

I'll try and catch up of the rest of the thread now. Has anyone else had their babies yet?

Essie I'm in Greenwich which is south east london and if I'm a bit more recovered from the c section I don't mind meeting for coffee when you are down in London.

Just comne back from NHS walk in clinic as Luke wrenched his cord stump and it was bleeding (as well as the normal goo that comes out of it). Nice. Thought it might be infected. He's been as good as gold today other than that and since he did it he's been a real grump - I'm sure it must be uncomfortable and itchy which is why he went for it. He's not like a normal 2 week old - he's massively alert, doesn't sleep loads and seems to be able to see everything even though he is meant to be able to only see blurry things 8 inches away. - he loves wimbledon on TV and seems to be in a trance over it! He's also amazingly strong and pushes bottles away when he's finihsed and grasps everything - really weird (but good though!).

Amber, does your Luke still have his cord stump then at 2 weeks?
My Luke's fell off yesterday when he was 4 days! Found it in his Nappy and his 'would' is virtually healed.

Should say wound!

Paro - Fleur sounds just like Esther. She has bad nappy rash, where the skin is just red raw. I have used Belanthen and it cleared up a bit, but then the HV said it could be thrush and I was putting thrush cream on it for a week, but it didn't clear. I am now using Metanium, and I think it is getting better.

Esther also makes straining noises a lot, even when she is asleep! I just leave her. Unless she is properly crying I let her be. My theory is if she is really upset/uncomfortable/needs me then she will cry properly!

Aberdeen =thanks for the tips. It might be DH's lucky night (or might wait till next weekend!)

Essie - your baby is probably just building up his supply. Yes it would be better if he did that in the daytime but it is common to happen at night. Theo did it too - although he has been much better since I took him to Osteo.

Essie - I am doing Gina Ford routine, and found it no good until this week (7 weeks old). They need to take enough food in the day to sleep better at night and IMO newborns just can't. I have heard good things about Baby Whisperer.

Libra - are you expressing with manual or elec pump? I have used both and have to say elec is so much better. Are you sure you need to top up with formula? You won't produce the milk you need unless you keep the baby sucking or express. sorry if I have missed something - have not had time to read all posts properly!

libralady Luke has still got his cord 2 weeks later - you are lucky as it stinks to high heaven! Also the GP told us to put a thin bandage round it to stop Luke
wrenching touching it and it has become glued into the wound by blood and pus - how revolting at 5am on a Sunday morning!!

Has anyone come up with a cure for Jelly Belly yet - I can't remember who asked. Mine is horrific with no BF to help get rid of it!

Neenztwinz,

I'm using a medula electric pump and over a two hour period I am managing to express about 3 oz. The MW has said he is a hungry baby so should up his feeds to 4oz, and despite expressing every hour for 5 minutes on each breast (the breast is completely drained) I can't manage the 4oz for his feeds.
I've been given some advice re fenugreek which is known to help lactaction upto 900% so will investigate that at the health food shop on Tuesday after speaking to MW tomorrow.

I was prescribed domperidone with DS1 and that didn't get things going at all, so at least I am managing to give Luke some of my milk which has got to be better than nothing.

Your brave thinking of 'going there' with DH later (or even next weekend). That's what got me into this predicament in the first place

Right, Luke's just woken for his next feed.

Hi all- I'm the DH of Upsidedowncake. She delivered a lovely, healthy, petite baby girl yesterday. Both are fine, although Bells is slightly anemic. She's looking forward to getting home and doing her own posting to you very soon. In the meantime- watch here for updates: parkandpark.blogspot.com/

congratulations upsidedown and dh on the birth of your little girl - lovley name btw, and she looks gorgeous and like alittle doll next to Ethan!

Allipalli - E was 10lb 1oz and takes some filling too!currently going 2 hours between daytime and nightime feeds and on one occasion has managed a 4 hour stretch at night - but that is very rare!

thanks for the advice re magic pants!

E's cord fell off quickly but now has scabbed over as though it's been bleeding - does that sound ok?

Dad has gone home so we now have 2 weeks without family or guests here - great. we've had family staying for over a month now, it's nice to get back to normal - or get used to this new life with ethan here too!

Congratulations upsidedowncake - Dorothea is a beautiful name. Hope you're doing well, and looking forward to hearing from you soon. ktpie there's hope for us 22nd June folk yet!

It's been pretty quiet on here this weekend, hope all you new mums doing ok.

I've been enjoying a fairly lazy Sunday as with induction booked for Saturday this will be my last lazy Sunday for some time one way or another! Still not the slightest twinge here - how are the others in the overdue club doing?

Well done UDC! Small, but could still beat Iestyn in a fight! I wonder what the average weight is on here?

Another nightmare night with Iestyn - he's good as gold in the day, but come 8pm seems to go mad, refusing to settle. We tried everything last night, I fed and fed - and then he vomited and vomited (so not hungry then...), and eventually DH got him to sleep by around 1am by braving out the screaming (mine and Iestyn's ) and making positive little sounds. He woke again for a feed within about an hour, but then slept again for around 5 hours.
I really was desperate, though, because he covered me in sick and we have no hot water until the plumber comes tomorrow .

But I think people are right - neenz - I just don't see how I could get him into a Gina Ford routine right now. Well, not without starving him, or force feeding. Also, he's a bit red around the bottie, so I've started putting baby bottom butter on him - naughty me. It's all because we don't change him often enough, I think, but changing him at night will wake him and distress him.

Cord - Iestyn's came off last Monday, a week old. He was in hospital and I didn't have to deal with it, thank goodness!

Libralady I'm also using the medela electric pump. It's brilliant. But so ashamed at my weights and measures mistake - can you imagine me sitting in a bath of my own breast milk producing 60oz in a minute !!

Amber - I'm more portable not having had a c-sect, and I also have a car. So see how you go, but we can arrange somewhere convenient I'm sure. Penguin is also a Sarf Londoner, but sounds as if she might have had a c-sect too.

And as for jelly belly - I keep being complimented on losing the weight, but I have no muscle tone at all. Never has the word jelly been so appropriate...

Congratulations Upsidedowncake!

DQ surely it must be our turn soon! I had a really lazy day today as well.
No twinges here either, having another sweep tomorrow so fingers crossed that might get it going.

Congratulations Upside downcake and yet another faboulous name,

29/05/08 - 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
19/06/08 - Looneytune - Joshua James
19/06/08 - Peartart - Girl
19/06/08 - Sophiewd - Sebastian Wilfrid Joseph
21/06/08 - Pedilia - Layla
07/06/08 - mellymel -Thomas
23/06/08 - Libralady - Luke Thomas Jacob
23/06/08 - PregnantPenguin - Ryder Henry
24/06/08 - Hedgehog1979 - Issac John
28/06/08 - Upsidedowncake - Dorothea

Still waiting:
06/06/08 - nettiehay -(first baby)
15/06/08 - Jules43 -(1st baby)
16/06/08 - xxgemmalou22xx (first Baby
17/06/08 - fungle - (2nd baby)girl(got DD4)
18/06/08 - Josie57 -(ds1 13 months, mc sep 07)
20/06/08 - poppy34 -(2 m/c, one ds lost at 21 weeks) (GIRL)
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)
22/06/08 - ktpie -(first baby)
24/06/08 - puddock -(first baby)
24/06/08 - allnew - (first baby)
25/06/08 - Bun2 (DD 5 yrs) Girl
26/06/08 - LauraT (first baby)
26/06/08 - Claphamkitten -(first baby)

Hi everyone, nothing happening for me either in the overdue club. Wonder where Laura is.

Congratulations Upsidedowncake!

I'll be having a sweep on Tuesday so have high hopes for that working. If not, I'm going to ask for monitoring/management before going down the road to induction. All you 22nd Juners, I will be most very miffed if you beat me to it - it MUST be my go next!!!

I'm watching Glasto at the mo - intrigued by Neil Diamond's eyebrows... And Amy Winehouse was pure car crash telly last night.