December 08 - a few babies under the tree still need unwrapping!

[EffiePerine]

New thread ladies. I have a feeling I will be talking to myself a lot

Quick question girls, how much is your LO sleeping Lachlan spends the majority of his time fast asleep only waking for feeds apart from a couple of hours in the morning and arvo and the obligatory hour in the middle of the night. Not sure if this is normal as DS1 had alot of awake time during the day. He is now 2wks old. Oh and when he is awake he is very alert and spends his time really looking around.

Hatty , not sure if I already said this but mucho congratulations.

Re the BF Lachie seems to be quite efficient at feeding, every 3-4 hours for 10mins on one side with an occasional 2nd boob, but I am apprehensive about what will happen when DP goes back to work. I reckon cbeebies will make a very big appearence in DS1's life. And when it comes to mix feeding or FF or BF you do what you are comfortable with there is no right or wrong you do what you want to.

A Happy New Year to you all.

So -I'm back from the MiL's. Big love and congrats to Ice and Hatty! Sweet pics, Mibbes! Any news on your money, Verso?

Oli, Effie and others - you haven't got much time to shoehorn in December babies...the clock's a tickin'...

The flat is freezing and my hands are too cold to type the usual fourteen volumes, so I'm ending 2008 with uncharacteristic brevity. Bit my lip at the MiL's. Ghastly dinner party there last night - hands too chilly to bore you with the details - a bunch of Hyacinth Buckets in an Alan Bennett play. But I lived to tell the tale. A lot of Drambuie helped and now it's all behind me.

Staying in tonight and very glad about it. My treats are going to be a hot shower and a dvd. Who needs a glitzy party? If I had an invite to the Glitziest Party in Glitzville I would turn them down - a night in with DP and DD is all I want. There is talk of turning off our mobiles as well. Haven't done that since about 1973

Wonderful wishes to all. Didn't know any of you a year ago, don't know what I'd do without you now!

PS - I have only just seen all this stuff in the press about all those people leaving Mumsnet and setting up a rival site and only inviting certain people and vetoing others. My life, what a load of embarrassing guff all that is.

I am getting my money back! It's on its way back into my account, thank goodness. What a horrible scare that was.

The Moldies stuff is bizarre, isn't it? I haven't read all the details - and haven't had a chance to read a paper the past few days - but found a thread on it the other night when I was up feeding DD2 and idly clicked on the "last 15 mins" button. Got a bit bored reading it - sometimes think there's a whole other world out there on MN that means nothing to me!

Feeds here take anything from 15 mins to 45 mins, depending how hungry DD2 is - and then in the evening from about 5:30pm all bets are off and she FEEDSANDFEEDSANDFEEDSANDFEEDS. DH has taken her out in the car just now because I've been feeding for two hours and am an empty husk. I have been contemplating fenugreek to up my supply - but given the solid weight gain, I think it's more of a time of day thing than a supply issue per se. Anyone else get sucked dry of an evening?

Rest of the time she's always v milky and contented after feeds (love the milky drunk face ) so maybe I shouldn't worry (but I do!)

DS2 feeds for ages, normally about 45 minutes. MW says it's because he is a big baby. He also feeds more in the evening.

Yay on your money Verso!!!!

ladyT you say some lovely things... i find everyone amazingly supportive too - it really helps to bounce ideas off each other and to know that others are going through the same things - so thanks everyone [gushing emotional wreck emoticon]!

hatty - if you resolve the settling in the basket issue let me know! We resorted to sleeping her on her front last night (which worked a treat but breaks all the rules!)

As for my dd1 - she's a bit jeckel + hyde! she is adorable and more snuggly than ever, and also has reverted to toddlerdom - we had a full blown door-hitting, leg-kicking, teeth-clenching tantrum earlier today because she couldn't catch a star on the tweenies cbeebies website game! She's sucking her thumb (another new thing!) and is crying at the slightest thing. She's saying 'no' to us a lot and just plain ignoring us too, but has her delightful big sister moments, like when she bathed dd2 with me this morning. She's physically exhausted - she looks drained and i feel really sorry for her.she's had new baby, christmas (lots of attention from relatives) and finished nursery, and starts school next week, so basically no routine or familiarity at all, and i think we're not dealing very well with it all because she seems to be struggling such a lot. i'm hoping it'll settle down once she starts school [fingers crossed]

well my NYE will be an early night! DH is on the playstaion, I'm on MN (obviously!), dd1 is in bed and dd2 has just gone into her basket (on her front - eeek!), so that sounds like bedtime to me! Have a good one everyone...see you next year!

I am having trouble distinguishing between hungry baby or windy baby? he's on the dentinox now but hates it compared to the infacol, however not sure if it takes a while to get in the system like the latter? if it's not wind, he's certainly doing the wind actions with drawing the legs up etc, but he also does the rooting for nipple thing which gets confusing!???
Anyway, now that family has gone, and DH back at work from Mon - anyone who wants to brave getting together in the SW of London let me know!

well good bye early night. dd2 NOT settling, even on her tummy tonight so looks like I'm up for a bit longer yet! It's daft because when she sleeps it's only for an hour or so till the next feed anyway so it's no great loss to stay awake till the next feed, but I get a bit obsessive about counting how many hours sleep I've had each night!! It's depressing when it adds up to about 3 in total!

KMP - have you tried a dummy? Phoebe does the 'i'm starving' routine, then pukes if I give her too much, but will often be fooled by the dummy - worth a try?

think she's hungry again. Hmmmm. One of my nips is at the cracked and bleeding stage now. grrrrr.

Yes KMP, my DD thinks the taste of Dentinox sucks but it is quite good stuff. I have worked out that giving it to her in little teeny tastes rather than one big slug means she doesn't screw up her face and spit it all out. As to a meet up, I think I have to come to London next week for my six week check. I think I am going to have to bring DD in on the train in a sling, which is a bummer. I will let you know which day I will be in just in case anyone wants to venture out for a coffee. I am also in London on Saturday for a big wedding. Naff all to wear again. Might wear my Primark dress again, it did for the Ivy, but I need something to cover my fat arms A question for the sartorially savvy: the wedding is at a London hotel and starts at 4pm. Can I wear a black dress? Wouldn't normally wear a black dress to a wedding but it's black tie. Thoughts?

ladyT i will try that, Dentinox in small doses.... I think black is fine to wear to the wedding (but i'm Australian so perhaps not a good person to comment!) I've found the answer..... put him in the papoose / carrier (not sure what it's called here) and he was asleep before I finished strapping it on! Will cook dinner with this on in future!

Hi everyone. Congratulations to everyone who has had their babies and good luck to those still waiting.

I'm sorry I have been away for so long. I have not been able to catch up with the old threads but have read through this one.

LadyT I am sadly sartorially challenged so can't help with the dress question but second trace's comment that you do say lovely things.

kmp my ds was having long periods of inconsolable crying day and night which the doctor said was colic. I was desperate until I tried him in the sling and found that he would calm down really quickly and go to sleep. My problem now is getting him to sleep anywhere else!

trace I'm pretty sure ds has reflux too and i agree that being on his back seems to be worse. He vomits a lot and sometimes I can hear him gulping and swallowing in the night which is horrible and he seems so much more comfy sleeping face down on my or dh's chest. but I am too scared to sleep him on his front. We have an Amby nest for night time sleeps as well as a Moses basket and I would say he sleeps a bit better in the nest but it's definitely not been a miracle solution for him. Sorry not to have any advice, just wanted to say you're not alone and if you find the answer, let me know....

Kayz I'm also wondering about ff, I am exclusively bf at the moment and really want to carry on but I'm so shy about bfing in public. I've not done it at all yet because I can't seem to find a way to latch him on discretely. It means I've not real been anywhere except for brief trips to the shops, the doctor or the park since he was born and it's getting me down a bit.

Happy NY to everyone. xx

Been pretty hectic with my 3 the last 13 days or so but wanted to check in on the last day of the month and year to say hi to everyone still waiting for their December deliveries. Hope you're all keeping well and not too fed up.

Things here good, our older two are totally besotted with their new sister - it's a on-going comp to see who can give her the most hugs and kisses. Having a quiet Hogmanay curled up on sofa with dh and baby Miriam, wandering how much sleep we'll get tonight and if we're be asleep on the sofa long before 2009 puts in an appearance!

link here to birth ann - still need to post properly re: details but was a real improvement on my previous sections! Miriam - will also try and get some pics up on profile when I get a sec.

Happy New Year all!

Pixsix I have been worrying about that too. I even BF DS2 in the bathroom at my mums Xmas day as I couldn't BF infront of my family and I'll probably do the same at MILs tomorrow.

Twiga Miriam is a really lovely name.

Happy New Year to everyone!

Congratulations to Simmo, Bisou (another Christmas baby!), Indith and Icecube

I think I?ve caught up on the last thread and this one, but apologies if I miss anyone out.

To those worrying about sleeping baby on their front I can pass on a recommendation on going with it from my friend. Her DS wouldn?t settle on his back at all and her HV suggested she let him sleep on his front with the logic that my friend and her DH both were put on their fronts, as was the advice at the time, and they both survived to adulthood. Her DS is now 2 ½ and still sleeps on his front, and is an adorable little boy (although that is nothing to do with it!). As so many of us have said, the lack of sleep is making us a little unhinged, then surely it must do something similar to the babies? I second whoever suggested one of those monitors with sleep mats, if you need reassurance.

I have also have read Tracy Hoggs EASY routine and liked the sound of it, although that was before DD arrived. I?m trying to take a bit of time to learn DD?s own habits and then work out my own version of it ? I did read somewhere of someone who had successfully implemented an ESAY routine and I liked the fact it can be flexible and you can swap the elements, so will be dipping back into the book. So far we seem to be making a relative success of the feeding (within a week DD was back at her birth weight, I?m so proud!) but I haven?t worked out how best to settle her, so whoever it was recommended her sleep tips, I?ll go back to that chapter.

Veggie ? I love your DS2?s middle name and how it was worked out. It just fascinates me.

Well, we?re having a night in ? we?ve just had a tasty tea and I?m having a whole glass of rose and have settled down in front of the telly, with DD on her Daddy?s knee watching the world ? I actually wouldn?t want to start the new year any differently this year and just feeling very content right now. Happy new year to you all, I wish you and all your families the very very best of years with the new babies (whether babies or bumps at this time). Lots of love xx

kmp I am having exactly the same problem when DS starts crying about an hour after a feed - I assume he is not hungry and he exhibits all of the signs of wind so I spend ages winding him then he'll be sucking his hand and shaking his head from side to side, so I feed him and he is happy... is there any way of telling as am afraid of overfeeding him ?..

verso hurray that you are getting your money back

We are also having a very quiet Hogmanay - I am astonished at the rubbish that is on TV - I had always thought NY Tv was good, shows how drunk I usually am ! .

Anyway Happy New Year to you all when it comes lovely ladies

Oh yes pixisx I am the same with BF as I need my cosatto pillow and am also useless at being discreet. If there are any men in the house apart from DP I go upstairs and cannot imagine doing it in public yet ! It does make life very constrained as I always stress over when the next feed will be when we go out. I pack a carton of formula and bottle or some expressed milk just in case... life would be so much simpler if I just had to guts to get them out !

Message withdrawn

I wish I had dared to put DD1 on her front to sleep as I'm sure it would have helped (she only slept for about 35 minutes at a time for the first eight months - maybe 1hr if I was lucky).

kmp I would be up for meeting up. I'm hoping to get the all-clear at my six week check next week and so will be able to drive again!

pixsix even though I BF DD1 I find I'm quite shy about public feeding this time round too. I have done it (Carluccio's - twice, a restaurant on Northcote Road, Marks & Spencer cafe, Sainsbury's cafe - the glamour!), and it's been fine, but I've found it more anxiety-making than I remember from last time. I think it's because the midwives kept pulling the curtains round me at the hospital this time whenever they saw me feeding . Made me feel embarassed. Also had inlaws here recently and they are uncomfortable with breastfeeding, which didn't help. They stoically 'coped' with it but I felt awkward.

LadyT I think it depends on the dress! (Very helpful ) - and how you accessorise it... but basically, yes it's fine to wear a black dress.

trace I count the hours too . I wish I didn't! Just waiting for DD2 to wake for her bedtime feed right now... and then wondering whether she will settle back down or not. The thing I find hardest is listening to DH sleeping happily beside me . I have been considering decamping to the nursery to avoid the stress!

I asked DH tonight if he'd consider doing the 10:30pm/11pm feed from time to time (with DD1 we had a mental arrangement where he did 8pm-11pm and I did the rest of the night and day, which sounds fine, but given her erratic sleep patterns and nonexistent daytime naps meant NO sleep for me at all!). I thought it was a good idea as DD2 is reasonably predictable and will do quite good chunks of sleep. He said he has a fuzzy head and needs to think about it in the morning , which is code for "no thank you" I think .

Finally - Happy New Year everyone! You've all been such a support and I'm really glad I know you. (((soppy hugs)))

Verso Your DH really should do at least one feed for you. Its only fair really. DH does DS2 night feed just to give me 5 minutes of peace.

Hi all,
Me too with the sleeping on the front thing, DS will not sleep on his back AT ALL, we had been getting by with him in his sling in the day and on top of us at night, and occasionally next to us in the bed. But finally we have given in and let him sleep on his side in the Moses basket as just couldn't go on any more. Sent DH out to get him one of the monitors that goes under the mattress and that has set my mind at rest. Also my midwife said she couldn't recommend doing it officially but she had allowed both her children to sleep on their front.

However, DS is feeding consistently every evening from 11pm to 3am!! I am so tired. in the end I have no milk left, and gets all angry and grouchy so I have to sit there and push the edges of my boob to try and get some out. Obviously not constantly in that time, but I feed him and he goes sleepy and put him down and he wakes up max 5-10 mins later. And sometimes DH takes him to see if he can get him to sleep and he never can and I always have to feed him again. I'm hoping it doesn't happen again tonight. What am I doing wrong??? HELP!

I saw the stuff about the "moldies" or whatever it is. Some people just spend too long on the internet. I cannot believe it's in the press?! How can this be interesting to anyone normal? A similar thing happened on a mountain bike forum I used to go on in that a bunch of regulars got fed up of it being moderated and all sodded off and set up another forum though I don't think it was invite only. Bless, I just can't understand this spending hours on the internet, and arguing with people you don't know lark! some people must literally spend their whole life doing it! It takes me long enough to keep up with you lot vaguely.

LadyT I would've thought a black dress would be fine for evening winter wedding. Espeically if you add a bit of colour with accessories/shoes etc. But I am not a fashion guru

Oh jumpjockey don't worry about helping me out, I can send DH to get anything, he is my personal slave . But we should meet up in the new year. I can now get out for a pootle down mill road so should be fine for lunch next week. Summer Lightning yummy. I have made it to the kingston since the birth, but not partaken of the ales. Perhaps I shall send DH to get me takeout!

Also are people expressing and if so when did you start? And at what time of day do you do it?

Summer I am expressing from time to time but I had no choice initially as BF didn't work out (it is working fine now). I have found that DS has no problems with nipple confusion or whatever they call it. I was advised to do it after a shower as the warm water stimulates the milk, I guess it is a bit like a breast massage which also helps the milk flow. I am using the avent Isis and find it excellent, a bit sore initially (much like the latching on pain) then it is fine and as it is manual you can control the pressure and therefore the pain

Hi there - I think I've finally caught up! Many congrats to all those with new babies. Bisou - that sounded a lot like my experience with DD - its exhausting, but glad you made it!

Quiet NYE here also - we did get a last minute invite to go to some friends for dinner, but it somehow seemed too complicated to try and get DD settled for bed in a strange house, as well as probably trying to juggle breastfeeding DS through dinner...

SL - I did try and express for DD from about 6 weeks or so, but turned out to be a bit futile as she refused to take any! Will try again this time, probably from about 4-5 weeks. Best time to express for me was probably in the morning, but I think the main trick is to try and do it at roughly the same time every day.

Oh and happy new year everyone! Its going to be quite a 2009 for all of us one way or another...

Summer, how old is your ds? My ds did that constant feeding for a few nights at around 3 weeks I think but then went back to having a bit more of a gap between feeds. I read that it can be because of a growth spurt and he is nearly 6 weeks now and he's done the constant feeding again this week. I think this is another growth spurt time. Maybe they are doing lots of growing?

I expressed for ds in his first week when he was in intensive care and he was tube fed but I haven't expressed since we came home.

Sorry to hear other people are having the same problem with public feeding. I sort of think i just need to go and do it and it won't be that bad but i just have a bit of a mental block about it.

Verso I sympathise with how you feel, my dh is the world's deepest sleeper and manages to snore away peacefully through whatever noise ds makes in the night .

Pixsix and others thinking abot feeding in public: do give it a shot, I was never able to feed dicreetly due to hge norks and wriggly/noisy DS, bt no-one ever commented or even noticed as far as I could tell! A vest top you can pull down underneath a loose top is a good idea, you can also drape a muslin over any other exposed bits. Starbucks is a great place to try feeding in public, if you look closely other women will be doing so and they usually have baby changing (as well as comfy seats). DS fed so often that I had to feed in public or never leave the flat, so I became a bit of a pro by the end!

Think my waters may be leaking a bit, just had a gush, but no proper contractions as far as I can tell. Am waiting to see if owt else happens, if not am back to bed! I've officially missed having a Dec baby but might be able to slip a New years one in