Fab Feb Thread: 22 on show........33 to go.......!!!!

[spottyshoes]

Ooo I feel all important now.

Message from Spotty from facebook:

My MN is brooooooken I keep getting a 'Error' msg when I try to log on. Couldn't even post PSW's baby news for her :-( Well my whole internet is knacked but when I can get on MN is still broken iykwim.

Just wanted to say I miss you all and Massive congratulations to everyone who has had babies in the last week or so since I haven't been on.

Baby is still bumpside (Am I the only one left on the ?still waiting list?? lol) despite all the MW's, Consultants and ME thinking I wouldn't reach my DD! Pre labour having now reached over 2 weeks - WTF is wrong with me?! On last examination I was 2-3cm and stuck but with baby trying to move down (feels soooo comfy - not) You?d think that would be a problem but apparently not as my body isn?t pushing down yet. Am pretty fed up with the whole thing really, at hospital again tomorrow to try and sort something out.

Well that?s me at the mo, hope you lot and babes are all ok and I can get back to MN soon, may go use the library computers or something :-S

Love to everyone
Spotty xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Good morning and congratulations to PinkspottyWellies (great that you had a nice fast labour!), Chilledmama (fabulously timed birth and am so pleased that you've had your little lady after all your waiting) and Lardy (wow, what a birth story and what a coincidence you had the same registrar this time round again! Well done you on having Owen - lovely name - but ouch re the tears. I got a tear to my labia too - take it really easy and you'll heal well).

THOM - am impressed at your early morning italian learning. I was up with DS2 too this morning at 5ish but no way I was leaving my duvet to get to the lap top, let alone learning italian! Hope you're getting some sleep in now. And its ok to feel teary - you've got tonnes of hormones rushing around your body and you've been through an amazingly emotional experience with the arrival of Tarran; your undercarriage will heal in time and you'll be back to running around loads with DS1 with DS2 in tow in his lovely cosy hugabub. Just take it easy and cuddle your little fellow. Danny is still quite a sleepy baby but is starting to be able to be awake for a bit longer - I had to resort to stripping him off to just his vest to wake him up during feeds to make sure he got a feed for more than a few minutes at a time for a few days after my milk first came in (it was that or explode!) but he seems to be getting the hang of waking himself up now: he feeds for 10 minutes, falls asleep, gets burped and wakes up then feeds for another 10 minutes, gets burped and then is ready for a kip again.

P.s. Welcome Heylittlelady - hope you stay with us now you're out of the lurking cupboard...

morning all,

Ive not managed to get on here for a few days, so just want to say a HUGE congratulations to everyone who has had their little babies, hope all is well xx

Its my first day on my own with Poppy today. DP is self employed so we could only afford the one week off. I had a few tears this morning as i was/am sooooo worried about being able to cope on my own.
So far the day is going ok, she is wide awake but quite content looking around & baby gurgling.
Im not sure how im supposed shower though?? I dont want to leave her on her own.

I have the midwife comeing around today to give me a bathing demo!! At the hospital they told us just to top n tail her until her belly button had come off. Well, its still not off, although it looks like it will be very soon.

Sory for the lack of personals, i last logged on at 19pages, so ive a huge catch up.

KT you'll be fine - it's scary but you and Poppy will muddle along together and get into the swing of things. I cried when DH left DS and I the first morning. This time I was shuffling him and DS out the door desperate for some peace and quiet and a break from the moaning

Do you have a little chair thing you could cart into the bathroom with you that she could sit in whilst you shower? Or leave her for 5/10mins under a mobile in cot ? or if you're using a moses basket how about putting that in the bathroom?......I left DD under her mobile this morning (first time) and she was looking around all dreamy and cute (thought she'd wail if I left her there !).....so wound it up for a few more minutes and hopped in the shower.

Pop in later if you need some company !! Do you have a local coffee shop. I used to spend my whole life in ours rocking the buggy to get DS to sleep. It was nice as I felt I had company even if I didn't really IYSWIM

Morning

Just a quickie as DS is stirring for a feed...

KT...re Shower.....I sit DC in bouncy chair in the bathroom so I can shower....

MY LO has a cold still....I thought he was going to choke last night and panicked...I woke up DH in tears as he couldn't cough properly or catch his breath ...eventually cleared, but he doesn't seem to be able to puke the phelgm up.... frightened the life out of me....went and sat in the bathroom with the shower on hot to get some steam...

Right, he's screaming now....later x

Oh LMN - how terrifying. I hope your little man gets better really soon - he seems to have been suffering from a cold for ages now.

KT - you'll be fine. It is scary being home alone for the first time with your baby but also great as you'll get to know them so well you'll be picking up on their cues/body language without realising it. Re the shower - if Poppy is happy gurgling in her bouncy chair, take her in the bathroom with you so you can talk to her (and she may even like the noise of the shower - DS1 did ocassionally when he got past the having to be held lots and lots phase); if she's a baby who wants to be held lots, then try and get a shower in while she's napping. I'm generally getting up with DH at 6 while both boys are sleeping to shower so I can then have quality time and do breakfast with DS1 when he gets up at 6.30 while DS2 sleeps.

Ahhhhh congrats to everyone who has had babies!

I managed to get both my children dressed, fed and out the house by 8 this morning and walked dd to school. I feel very proud of myself.

However, yesterday at 6pm I gave dd her dinner and realised she had not had anything to drink since BREAKFAST. The poor poor child. I still feel guilty about it now.

DD didn't mind, she hates me making her drink, I swear she's a camel.

Oh and meant to add....

Yesterday some visitors popped round to see us, I had been mid-way through folding some clean laundry.

I put the laundry to one side and made my guests tea. Was sat drinking tea with guests when they started looking uncomfortable.

I turned round to find DD had snuck behind me, found a pair of my enormous beige maternity knickers in the laundry basket, was stretching them to their full glory and sniggering with a face like this

Lardy what a story, so glad it all turned out beautifully.
Congratulations to Chilled and Pinkspotty too.

I'm finding it so hard dealing with a toddler and a newborn, but thankfully DS is back in nursery today so just DD to worry about. I'm finding feeding so hard - she feeds for up to 2 hours and then still screams for food 5 mins after coming off the boob - perhaps my boobs are defective ....I have had to give her formula a couple of times but she sicks most of that back up. Please tell me it gets easier? I wasn't able to bf DS as I was separated from him for a couple of weeks after he was born and by then he was well and truly hooked on the bottle.

Hope everyone is doing OK today. I has posted a couple of photos of DD on my profile page.

Hi all.

Just realised I posted spotty's message, but didn't add one of my own!

MS I love your DD - although I bet you didn't yesterday!!

KT I know what you mean. John is back to work tomorrow, and I'm quite scared, but my sister with be with us most of the day, and my mum has two weeks worth of days and half days where she will be with us. I'm hoping we can get out and about, plus she can help with laundry and housework!! I've also lined up lunches and coffees with friends who have kids of their own, so I think for the next 3/4 weeks I won't be be myself with her for a whole day (at least I know I'll be able to have a pee break!).

LMN Merry does the choking thing as well. Bloody scary. But she did it from birth as she was so mucasy, so I feel a bit used to it now (at all of 2 weeks!!!

We have friends coming round tonight who are bringing a sling, so at least I can do more around the house without leaving madam to her own devices!

Calico - it does get easier, I promise. Danny does the rooting thing too after feeding - however I've found its generally either a sign he has wind or he's tired and ready to sleep and needs a quick suck or a cuddle to get him off to the land of nod now. If your DD is feeding for 2 hours it may well be wind - or it may just be that she's a very sucky baby. Either way, it will settle down soon so hang on in there.

Markstretch - your DD is hilarious! Well done too on doing the school run...

MrsY - great that you've got your support network all lined up for when John goes back to work; hopefully you'll be able to catch some day time naps while your mum/sister are round. Honestly, do sleep during the day where you can - I didnt much with DS1 (too worried about him) and once you have a toddler you'll never get the opportunity for prime day time naps again!

Looks like Newsockson is on labour (thread in childbirth about it) - the babies are arriving thick and fast now...

So good to hear I'm not the only neglectful parent! It's also odd second time around because there's no steep learning curve with the baby and most of it is second nature but it feel slike any benefir is outweighed by juggling the (not inconsiderable and decidedly vociforous) demands of a 3 year old. Ho hum!

Am in a much better mood today despite being knackered as we've just found out DH is entitled to 2 week's paternity leave at full pay. This is great as with the redundancy we thought he'd only be able to take a couple of days of the holiday he's owed so now we get 2 weeks and the holiday pay when he goes and his firm have said he doesn't have to take the 2 weeks consecutively, which is even better as MIL arrives next week to help out (and busy compiling a very thorough To Do List for her...) Hooray!

KT and MrsY I remember how awful it was when DH went back to work when DS1 was born. Luckily I had a ready made group of ante natal friends all within walking distance and we really kept each other going. I thoroughly recommend getting out and about as much as you can. Many playgroups do actually welcome newborns and it's a great way to meet other local mums (as is your local Starbucks!)

Calico, I promise the feeding gets sooo much easier and you'll be really glad you stuck with it. A newborn baby's tummy is about the same size as a walnut so it is incredibly unlikely you aren't making enough milk and will explain the throwing up of the formula. Tarran also feeds and fusses (though he's not on for long) but he's put on 9oz in the past 5 days since he was born and is weeing and pooing so I know it's going in. So chances are you LO is uset about something else. It is normal for newborns to feed alot as they need to stimulate your supply at this stage. Introducing formula will only have a negative effect of the amount of milk you produce so if you can I'd steer clear of it. I know I keep saying this but this site is like an online bible of all things breastfeeding related and is a real life and worry saver.

We have a boy! Arthur was born on Wednesday 18th at 8lb 13oz.

I developed a temperature in labour which they took as a sign of infection. My pulse was very high, as was his so they whipped him out fairly pronto with a ventouse. We were both absolutely fine but had to stay in hospital for 5 days so we could complete a course of antibiotics. So dull to be in hospital when there's nothing actually wrong with you and was going stir crazy by the end.

On the upside, I had 5 days to do nothing but cuddle my baby and read Grazia. DH was in charge of DS1 and at one point said it was far harder than going to work . So every cloud etc etc

On the downside, the little baggage now won't allow himself to stop being cuddled and refuses to sleep in pram or crib. DH is doing a marvellous job of baby holding whilst watching Sky plus but gallantly hands him back at midnight and tells me he'd like him to go to sleep now thank you very much .

Congratulations to all the other new arrivals and good luck to those still left to go ............

Congratulations Fruitstick!

Congratulations Fruitstick! Sorry to hear about the hospital stay - it's so frustrating being laid up but not ill... Lovely that you and Arthur got some 1-on-1 time, though.

New Arrivals

TinkerBellesMumandFifi2 - DD Sîan Anne Denise, 4lbs 8.5oz, 02.01.09
Dinkymum - DS Isaac Christopher, 5lbs 8oz, 19.01.09
Ooogs - DS Luke Daniel, 8lbs 6oz, 20.01.09
Herbgarden - DD Amy Hannah, 5lbs 14oz 23.01.09
idontbelieveit - DD Freya Rose, 6lbs 8oz, 26.01.09
laidbackinengland - DD Mabel Lucy, 8lbs 14oz, 29.01.09
tinasan - DS Enrico Marco, 6lbs 10oz, 29.01.09
onwardandupward - DC2 [I'll put name on fb], 8lb exactly, 30.01.09
stacysmom - DD Tabitha Rose, 6lbs 15oz, 31.01.09
MsLucy - DS Stanley William, 8lb 7 oz, 02.02.09
LittleMissNorty - DS Ewan Scott, 6lbs 13ozs, 02.02.09
swampster - DS Jacob, 7lb, 02.02.09
Jelliebaby - DD Olivia, 7lb 3oz, 02.02.09
MarkStretch - DS Frankie, 7lb 15oz, 03.02.09
Pempe ? DS Harry, 03.02.09
Nkweto - DD Alexandra, 8llbs 11oz, 04.02.09
MamaGoose - DD Indigo Norah Rose, 4.15kg/9lb 1oz, 04.02.09
littleboysblue - DS Luke Alan, 7 lb 13 oz, 04.02.09
fgpl - DD Phoebe, 8lb 9 oz, 05.02.09
McDreamy - DD Abigail Louise, 7lb 1/2oz, 06.02.09
Rosieposey - DS Milo John, 8lb 1oz, 06.02.09
mumoverseas - DS Harrison William, 3.1k, 08.02.09
Questionkid ? DS Alexander George, 08.02.09
PinkTulips ? DS Aaron Matthew, 8lbs 2oz 09.02.09
Dinkystinky - DS Daniel Nikhil, 8lbs 6oz, 10.02.09
MrsY ? DD Meredith Lilian Faith, 7lb 7oz, 10.02.09
Givethedogahomebirth - DD, 8lbs 15oz, 11.02.09
KT1983 - DD Poppy Louise, 6lb 80z, 13.02.09
Pluto - DS Albert David Magnus, 10lbs 10oz, 13.02.09
JenniferTurkington, DD Harriet, 9lb, 15.02.09
KazzaL - DS Benjamin Hector Douglas, 8lbs3oz, 16.02.09
Astarte - details to follow.
winemakesmummyclever - DS Issac Alexander, 7lb 4oz, 17.02.09
TheHouseofMirth - DS Tarran James, 7lb 2oz, 18.02.09
Fruitstick - DS, Arthur, 8lb 13oz, 18.02.09
Mentalpup - DS Harry, 7lb 10oz, 20.02.09
Neerly3 - DS Charlie, 7lb 8oz, 20.02.09
Calico1 - DD Lilian Helena, 7lb 4oz, 21.02.09
pinkbabybump - DD Eleanor Catherine, 6lb 14oz, 21.02.09
lardybump - DS Owen Francis, 8lb 12oz, 21.02.09
Catstar - DS Samuel James, 9lb 1oz, 22.02.09
chilledmama - DD, 8lb 5oz, 23.02.09

Boys: 24

Girls: 17

WHO'S NEXT.....

Munteria - DC2, due: 11.02.09 (age 37, Putney)
Ranirani - DC1, due: 13.02.09 (age 35, Herts)
Justme84 - due 14.02.09
Littlesez ? DC1 (a girl), due: 15.02.09 (age 28, Manchester)
Bunsen - DC2 (girl) due 21.02.09 CS booked for 16.02.09 (age 32, Leeds)
America - DC2 (a boy), due: 16.02.09 (age 32, London)
Scubagroover - DC1 (a boy), due: 17.02.09 (age 31, London/ Kent)
fruitstick - (a suprise), due: 18.02.09
DizzyBrummie - DC2, due: 20.02.09 (age 36, Berkshire)
Spottyshoes - DC2, due: 24.02.09 (age 28)
eejaykay - DC1 (a boy), due: 24.02.09 (age 34, London)
katieblirdsnest - DC2 due 24.02.09 (age 39, London)
ihavenewsockson - DS2, due: 26.02.09 (age 25, Surrey)

Thanks for the cpox advice.. now I am prepared, hopefully it means I will never be faced with it

Swampy glad to hear you had a good time..

Herb my DD grizzle/guzzle time seems to be 9pm - 2 am... we really, really need her to understand her days and nights !!

Heylittlelady .. Congratulations and welcome to fabfebbers.. hope you join us on the post natal threads.. I lurked on the
equivalent Feb thread for DS.. but never 'delurked' and kind of regret that...

Congratulations pinkspottywellies.. glad to hear that labour sounded not too bad (hope the speed was not so fast it
was traumatic..)

Chilledmama .. Congratulations.. and WELL DONE on the home birth, am so very impresed !!

lardybum... what and amazing,scary and in the end all wonderful birthstory.. Congratulations and very, very well done !

*Fruitstick! .. Congratulations !! great weight.. great name, wow our 'ladies due' list is getting very short now..

THOM DD is also losing out on the nappy changes.. a bit of a case of OMG we havent done her nappy!! .. unless she very clearly
has filled it ..

lbb guilt is NOT your friend.. dont worry about not holding luke all the time.. i love holding DD, but there have been times,
where dinner is being prepard DS is begging for attention.. or i just need to eat..when i have had to leave her for a bit
even if she is grizzly...

poor spotty .. hope her MN gets fixed and LO comes soon..

KT .. i do the same re showers.. or sometimes, just leave her in the cot (away from DS's curious reach) as long as she is
comfortable and safe.. i am happy to shower..you will be fine flying solo ..

LMN hope your baby gets better soon.. sounds scary

MarkStretch .. I was reading your posts and just comtemplating how efficient you were.. and then you made me splutter and choke
on my tea with the maternity pants sory.. v. funny

Calico .. DD sometimes does that.. i just feed until she finally falls asleep (hence the 9 pm - 1pm stint last night).. not
sure if that is useful info at all.. re-reading that. i think the others have more useful advice! But definately
found BF got easier with DS first time round as he got a bit older..

We are all fine here.. a bit sleepy, but my mum is coming to stay with us for a few weeks at the end of this week, which will be a great support.. i can't wait

nkweto What a difference a 'b' makes... Don't think lardy will appreciate the slur!!! !

Hi all
KT hope you got your shower and have had a lovely day with Poppy being a yummy mummy and showing off your bundle to the world !...

MS - at DD. You do make me laugh.

DS asked if I was putting a plaster in my pants the other day when he caught me with the pantyliner with wings.

at everyone else.

Have just got back from lunch with old work friends, nails done and a trip to buy clothes for poor DS whose trousers are flying half mast and who frequently gets stuck in his t-shirts whilst I'm trying to get them off as they're too small....Granny did a great job and DD is looking cute asleep next to me. I feel very indulgent.

Calico - it is hard - I dread Wednesday coming round again after my two days with just DD as I know I'm going to be knackered for the next 3 days til Saturday comes and there are two pairs of hands again.

DD will often feed (admittedly formula) but then half an hour later if she's on my shoulder bobs her head around looking like she's rooting for more. If offered, she sucks madly only to stop quickly - I think it's wind........she's managed to headbutt my lip before now when I'm not paying attention...

Anyway, have to now go and get DS from nursery - first time I've visited with DD so DS will be very excited to show everyone his new little sister !

LOL... lardybump...sorry .. must learn to proof read !!

Thanks for feeding advice. Midwife just been and Lilian has dropped 12% of birth weight so something isn't working..... she is going to be weighed again in 24 hours and if it hasn't gone up or at least stayed the same we are going to have to be admitted back into hosp. I'll check out the breastfeeding site link - thanks THOM

Well done fruitstick! love the name too!

Calico - just keep feeding, feeding, feeding Lilian and try not to worry too much about her weight loss (nothing you can do about it other than feed her when she demands). As you didnt BF last time round, may be taking your milk abit longer to come in - though given how much Lilian is suckling when it does come in fully, you'll have milk in abundance. I really hope she puts on weight for you in the next 24 hours - though you're doing a great job and she will put on the weight, just a case of when...

Fruitstick - congratulations on the arrival of little Arthur. Fantastic news. Bummer about the 5 day stay for antibiotics (I had that too with DS1 - though he needed ABs for 3 days intravenously and the buggers tried to keep me in longer for my ABs - I absolutely refused on the basis as an adult I was able to take ABs on my own at home as prescribed!) - it is horrible having to stay on a postnatal ward with so many other people and their babies when all you want to do is get home, eat proper food and try to sleep in your own bed with your little man - but glad you're home. Am sure Arthur will chill out soon (DS1 was the same); if you havent tried it yet, swaddling is brilliant for getting "hold me all the time" babies to settle (as is white noise). I know Herbgarden has mentioned it before, but if you have trouble swaddling, the miracle swaddle blanket (mothercare sell it) is good. Otherwise if your baby isnt a mini houdini like DS1 was, a cellular blanket can be used to swaddle (what I'm using with DS2 until he figures out his hands are not for hitting himself in the head with while he sleeps)...

Nkweto - great to hear your mum is coming over. Will make a huge difference - hope you get lots of naps in while she's over.

THOM - fab news about your DH's full pay on paternity and also being able to take it in chunks. Good news at last! Glad you're feeling abit better today and great news about Tarran's weight gain - your milk must have come in very quickly.

Midwife came today to discharge us - Danny has gone from 3.75kg last week to 4.05kg today Think he's going through his 2 week growth spurt though as all he's doing is feeding and sleeping at the moment today (with humongous poos twice a day). HV came today too - though she spent most of the time asking about DS1 rather than Danny and telling me about sibling rivalry horror stories. Lovely.

THOM - brilliant news about your DH. Big relief I'm sure.

Dinky - Our midwife discharged us on Saturday and complained that most people are only seen once or twice over the period of a week, and that I'd used up too many resources. Then said HV would be in touch in the next two weeks. Seems like a long wait.

Am v. pissed off as the midwife told me to up my iron tablets to three times a day, which means I run out tonight, but my stupid GP surgery won't let me book appointments in advance, and by the time I get round to calling on the day, the appointments are gone. Hoping I can get one tomorrow, or I'll go back to looking like Caspar the friendly ghost!

We went off to Bluewater for the first time last night to order a new car seat for Merry. The one we have now was my sisters (goes with the pram) but doesn't seem to fit my car very well, and John's parents saw us struggling with it at 11pm the other night and offered to buy us a new Isofix one, so we have ordered the Recaro - looks really comfy, and seems great for safety - anyone know the brand? I think they're German...

We had friends round earlier who have a 1 yr old and we now have a pile of clothes plus 4 new sleeping bags and a sling! Hurrah! Forgot to put dinner on before they arrived, so we just ordered a pizza!

Hope you all have a good evening...