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

Very interested in the GF chat and esp the GF-lite Turnip. I agree that there is no way I could be confined to the house ike that as we are always out and about but if I swapped the cot sleeps for pram/car seat sleeps that could work... I have been noting feed times and awake/asleep time too in order to see if a pattern emerges (not really !) - this was advised in the no cry sleep solution (which I have read a bit of so far - seems good). I also like the BW but haven't tried to keep DS awake after feeds, if he sleeps then I put him down (or just cuddle him ). I love Tracey Hogg's 'signal reading' section, am always referring to it to see what DS is trying to tell me.

Bisou thanks for the detail of your routine - good to hear what others are doing. We have also been lucky in that DS has only really woken once per night between midnight and 7-8am since a few days old - he was only 6lb 5oz when born but must have a big tum as he has put on a LOT of weight - almost 3lb in less than 5 weeks ! I am hoping to implement some sort of rouitne soon, just sifting through ideas and hoping we can pick the bits that suit us.

kayz good news about the night sleeping and the reduced FF - glad it is working out for you.

arti congrats on the successful expressing - well done you ! and where are you maybe heading to in the US ? How exciting !

Veggie it was me with the sore nipples - my DS has a small mouth too, any tips for encouraging him to open wider ? Given the problems we've had establishing BF in the first place I am very guilty of just putting up with the pain as am just so glad he has managed to latch on and is getting milk .

Turnip thanks for the latch advice and link. I reckon we need to sort the latch. Some ladies on BF thread seem to think my painful boobs may be due to thrush... I have no physical signs of this though, does anyone know if you can you get it without redness/cracked nipples ?

arti i read somewhere that newborns usually sleep about 17 hours a day so thats spot on!

arti under Gina they would actually sleep just about that much too, or thereabouts. It's normal (if you are lucky!) You sound blessed.

Mibbes yes, you can have thrush without sore or cracked nips. If its latch though, one test of a good latch is whether your nipples emerge from DC's mouth round like a jelly tot or wedge-shaped like a lipstick. If it's the latter I would say your latch could improve and it's the way babe is sucking and position of nipple in the mouth that may be causing the pain.

Apparently the pain of thrush would be described as " broken glass, cat's tongue, shark's teeth " during feeds. Also a shooting pain AWAY from the nipple can indicate thrush (towards the nipple is more likely letdown pains).

Chomping or biting sensation when feeding is baby not taking enough breast tissue (ie aerola), nibbling on the nipple - so could be down to bad latch.

HTH. What is the pain like?

Better go do tesco online shop or we will starve tomorrow. MiL going back to Ireland. Yikes!

Mibbes- I sometimes try to gentle press on ds2s chin to make his mouth open wider and then plug him in, otherwise if I see that he hadn't latched well I pull him off slowly he is learning he needs to open wider to stay on. But if you are willing to out up with the pain (it will pass as his mouth will be bigger) as long as he is growing and his poos are yellowy and curdy it is fine. Sometimes if they aren't opening there mouth enough and only sucking the nipple it may not encourage your met down and so may not give your LO the fatty rich milk.

I can't believe there is a thread on here that debates whether the great gatsby is any good. Apart from being a classic it is one of those rare books from those times that writes well for men and women.

Bisou I will have a look at what is good for thrush but phytollaca (sp) and belladonna are good general pain and mastitis treating remedies. I have found it really helps the pain I am getting from jordys small mouth.

The nystatin is the best for him but def make sure you take the acidophillus as he will get it in your milk so will counteract the nystatin effect on his normal flora. Also make sure you squirt the nystatin around the mouth as it works locally as opposed to being digested and absorbed and then having an effect.

am very of all these babes who only wake once in the night! We're still usually 2 hourly round the clock! I just keep reminding myself that she won't be feeding 2 hourly when she's 18 so there must be a point when it stops! Hope it spreads out soon...have even had the FF thought...but BF is so convenient I don't really want to start FF, but not sure my nips and my body can keep up with her at this rate for much longer. Having said that she slept on DH for 3 and a half hours this afternoon, so maybe it's a start?!!!

anyone any good with rashes? veggie maybe? Phoebe has red blotches with little white middles, which started on her legs and are now on her arms as well, and a couple on her face. She's not unwell as far as I can tell, but they do seem to be increasing. Any ideas? I think if I was at work I would just think it was normal newborn rash-type thing, but I find it hard to be objective about my own child!

oh and how would you know if you have thrush? My nips hurt (and usually come out flattened after a feed turnip - thanks for that advice) so could be a latch thing, and obviously with such frequent feeds it's going to get sore, but the let down really stings too and I get some stabbing pains in my boobarellas which are not let down pains I think . Phoebe's tongue is a bit white, but is that just milk?

Turnip thanks for reposting the link!

Still feeling like crap here. I can't seem to get the fever to go down below 100ºf/37.7ºc. I've been taking paracetomol every 4 hours too!! Guess I'll have to go to the GP tomorrow. My mom has also come down with the sickness as well. Does anyone know if she can be seen by a GP even though she doesn't live here?

Also... a bit about the local MWs. They've come by twice when we were here and we didn't hear them. They were supposed to come by today and called and cancelled and then wanted me to come out to them for a clinic tomorrow. But we've got a Moyle coming out tomorrow to circumcise the LO and then if I have to go to the dr.... it's going to make for a mad day! Maybe DH can make the run to the clinic. I don't really want to go out in the cold running a fever.

kim your mum should be able to register as a temporary resident and be seen at your surgery. Hope you're all feeling better soon. MWs have a lot to answer for - can't believe you have to go out to them after they cancelled on you!

trace: DS2 had a similar rash, the doc said it was summat with a long name, but basically an allergic rash and it would fade. If she seems unwell or you;re worried, I'd take her to the GP for a look.

Arti: DS2 sleeps a lot as well, it;s more counting when he is awake! Haven;t checked times or anything yet, he's chaning all the time at the moment. The move to the US sounds great BTW.

Kayz: if he;s happy waking once at night don't try to change it! We tend to have two wakings between 11ish and 7ish which I can cope with

Kimberley - tell them you have flu, that will stop them wanting you to be seen at clinic. Tell them they have to come out. Your mum should get a GP appointment easily as a temp resident. The only thing to think about is that GPs are asking patients with suspected flu to stay away. They can't help the flu and it is so contagious. Maybe call in the morning and ask to speak to the duty doctor?

Hello >waves<

Just popping on to say hello and that I won't be around much in the next week or so. I found I was getting more and more stressed about DD2 and whether she was sleeping enough/eating enough/in a routine etc - reading this thread was making me compare and worry and fret even more than usual! I've been a bit more relaxed the last couple of days, just going with the flow. So... I'll be reading from time to time but not posting so much for a while.

If there are any meet ups though please let me know by email1

Hello all! Had a busy few days with visitors and an all-day singing workshop yesterday ayt which she was of course an angel - we need to hire permanent guests for the house as she's alwways well behaved when there are people around and stores up the crap for when it's just us...

am running a bath so catch up tomorrow but just to say [trace] I love your cheery outlook, we're pretty much every couple of hours too and as you say it has to end at some point...!

also Effie go you with the expressing! I had a try today and got 2 oz which dd guzzled down in 3 minutes

kmp coffee withdrawal symptoms - absolutely! DH tried giving up coffee for Lent one year and made it til 11am when he had a thumping headache and headed to the kettle not quite understanding the idea of self-denial there!

love to all, fingers crossed for a crap-free bath with dd today..!

Trace sounds normal. It could be the rash that newborns get when their skin is cultivating it's flora (normal skin bugs).

B* gger - can feel the start of mastitis on its way. Anyone got any top tips other than what's on Dr Jack?

And am on my own with all 3 tomorrow...

Kimberly, where did you find out about your Moyle? We had DS1 circumcised but we were living in Tower Hamlets at the time so it was pretty easy on the NHS but it seems here in deepest darkest Essex its not poss so we are looking down the Moyle route but have no idea how to find one.

Verso completely understand looking forward to you returning when you can.

Turnip may the force be with you and remember there is always cbeebies And feed feed feed to help clear the mastitis & paracetamol and if you still feel rubbish get yourself to the doctors.

Turnip as I said there are a couple of homeopathic remedies for prevention and treatment but as Jam has said don't leave it too long to get yourself to you GP can you be seen tomorrow? In the meantime lots of water rest and lots of full feeds with a good wide mouthed latch. Goodluck.

Turnip thanks so much for your help. The pain is just a stinging/nipping on my nipple during the feed (but not always). I have noticed today that even when the nipple does not hurt much during the feed it burns for a good while after the feed. I am going to see my GP to try and get an emergency appt tomorrow as if this is thrush I want it treated asap so that I can start to enjoy feeding and stop the agony. Also my nipple is often more lipstick shaped so I guess we do need to work on the latch too - Veggie I'll try that with the chin to encourage a wider mouth - thanks. Oh and Turnip hope you can catch the mastitis before it gets too bad.

Verso completely understand, be easy on yourself and hopefully you will be feeling up to joining us again soon xx

Kimberley, hope you get to see a GP soon, I can't imagine trying to cope with a newborn while ill {{big hugs}}.

Kimberley def tell the MW to see you and I would even go as far as getting a GP to come out to see you at home he could see your mum at the same time. It might sound a little unnecessary but you would surprised how exhausting it would be for you to make the trip to the clinic and you really don't need that right now. Please consider it.

Mibbes it sounds like the latch but it's best to rule out the thrush first.

Despite trying to get an early night tonight as I am feeling a bit ill and knackered, I am up again with colicky baby. I thought we had it sorted as she has been really good for the last 3 nights. Oh well, back to pacing the floor. Going for cranial osteopathy tomorrow, so hope that helps. Hope others have better nights.

morning all, have had a quick skim through. We had a nice weekend at my parents, nice to be able to get some proper rest!

It was definitely the thrush that was making Sean so unsettled. Since we started the treatment he's been much happier & is sleeping a bit more. He does pull the funniest face though when he gets the medicine!

Sorry I can't do any personals, my course starts again today so need to go get ready. Will catch up properly later.

Morning. We had a great night last night. And decided in light of feeling grim to call my Nanny and cancel the day off that she had wangled at the last minute (today was supposed to be her first day back at work after a 3 week (paid!) Xmas holiday!!).

I just thought it was a bit much that she had texted me sunday afternoon to ask for the next day off when L is not even two weeks old and am on my own with 3. Of course now the boob feels much better - think it was a night's rest that did it.

Katie sorry your night was tough. Hope the Cranial helps tonight.

Rosmerta back at your course - wow that is impressive! What are you studying? I know you said before but can't recall...

turnip its Antenatal Education! The tutorials are only once a month & its a nice day off for me really

Don't blame you for cancelling your Nanny's day off, it was a bit late notice of her.

katie will keep my fingers crossed that the cranial oesteopathy works

verso will miss you but completely understand why you're taking a break.

kmp & arti shall we arrange a meet? I'll email you both (and verso as well!). Of course, anyone else is welcome to join us!