Lists and listlessness, something for everyone in the Wagon

[KinderEggKayzr]

I have gone with Sorky's idea!!!

Goodness LBOT what a nightmare! Hope you get all the guff sorted soon.

Have responded Kayz, though not sure if I'm any good at it to be honest.

LB I'm so pleased it's all settling down

Afternoon! Just finished a 5 hour teaching slot and have a pounding headache, racing heart and very swollen feet!
LBOT, what a nigthmare you're had with midwife, although sadly quite typical of many people's experiences I'd say
GRUFF, must have a look at facebook - mini gruff sounds adorable! Looking forward to birth story!
SES,doesn't sound the best BF class Of all the topics, that's the one that has to 'grab' people even if they decide not to do it. Did a current bf-er come in to talk too? (the usual with NHS classes where we are - really helpful)
Oh and you lot are just really jealous of my Simon Have you no taste??!!

Hi ladies,

Remember me? Sorry I have been rubbish at getting on lately. One handed typing as lo is in my other arm asleep. Can't believe how much time DD consumes! Trying to sleep when I can as three feeds a night means not much sleep....am knackered..DH went back to work on Mon so it is day 2 solo and feel like I am getting nothing done....

Congrats Gruff on your cub! Love the name and look forward to BS. Hope you are recovering well.

Ses - top of the list! Not long for you now....

Sounds like I am not enjoying it but I really am - just shocked at how sleep deprivation is hitting me..

Experienced mums...when does it start to get easier sleep wise? She is only 3 weeks.

Will endeavour to catch up now on what I have missed. xx

Hey Cosmo - glad you are enjoying life with April. I can't comment with any real knowledge on sleep, as 1st time round DS was not a good sleeper, but then he had severe reflux and didn't put weight on properly until 9 weeks onwards. From what I've seen of others posting, it seems to get better from about 8 weeks on and all the literature tells you they'll sleep better by 12 weeks - depends what you mean by up 3x in night - if that's between 7pm and 7am that's great at 3 weeks ! DD settles around 9ish if I go to bed with her and wakes 3 times in night an then up at about 6.40/7am going by last few nights - she's 5 weeks.

Yay - DD has put on 9ozs this week, so moving back up to her original centile line (currently nearly 9th, born on 25th). So, seems my boobies are working this time round. But Boo - think she may have oral thrush - white tongue, squitty nappies and my boobies sting when (pains in them) when she starts feeding - worse in one than other. Am going to see GP to get it checked out - typically when I asked HV this morning, DD was far too content to cry, so she couldn't see her tongue!

Gruff - have sent you a friend request on facebook, I'm IG.

Who is SB on facebook? They have sent me a friend request, but don't know who they are - not on the list on the Wagoners group.

Sorky - your allotment veggies and fruits sound great. Really want to sort the garden out this summer and have a veggie patch to plant over next year.

Diege - hope your commute home is not too bad afte so many hours teaching.

LBOT - sorry for GP/MW experience - no apology needed, feel free to vent here.

Hope you're all enjoying sunshine.

evening all... have managed to get online for 10mins so just wanted to pop in.

Thanks for posting for me Kayz- will have a read through in a min.

As you've probably gathered i'm having troubles again... since adding another bottle into the day for Ruby my supply has been decreasing by the day, dispite expressing at the times when she has the bottle. Therefore she'll be getting the extra calories from the formula but barely anything from me, which just defeats the object of adding the formula to help her gain weight.

When i expressed this morning i only managed to get 10mils from each side, 20mils total... which is only a third of what she will take easily from a bottle... so i phoned the nurse and asked to loan an electric pump, and she said she'd pop round this afternoon with it, she only came at 4ish!! Either way i've now decided that once my milk supply is back up to what she needs/and will take then i'm stopping the formula. I never had any problem with the other 2 breastfeeding so the problem isn't my milk at all. And i've decided that the problem was introducing the bottle in the first place, i think if my supply was at what it was before introducing the first bottle then she'd have put on more weight by now than she has done while being on the formula!!

Anyhow, gonna dash and post on the BFing thread Kayz started probs wont get on for a few more days now... between feeding, expressing and generally looking after all 3 kids i've barely got 2mins to myself!!

Star - SB is IDOB

Glaskham - sorry to hear of your struggles. I've had a brief read through the thread Kay started and hope that helps.

Diege - 5hrs teaching!!! Hope you can put your feet up this evening?

Cosmo - LOL at us not being able to remember you! I think I've gathered from everyone that those first few weeks are v involved and hands on with not much time for anything else. Glad to hear everything is going well though!

LBOT - sorry your experience with appointments hasn't been great. I'm lucky in that our MW appointments are at my GP surgery and each surgery locally is allocated one MW so you always see the same one (except the time she was on holiday!)

I was at the hospital this afternoon and all was well. Thyroid levels still not quite as they should be (between 1.5 and 2.0) at 2.38 but much better than the 4.5 I had 5 months ago. They were happy to sign me off and I need to get my levels checked 6-8 weeks after the birth. Obstetrician was also quite happy and lo definitely head down although not sure how far engaged.

My moan of the day though is still about last night...
Firstly the BF session. The more I think about it, the more disappointed I am with it. I don't know whether the NCT counsellors get a payment or whether it's purely voluntary. She certainly meant well but really did not help. The session had no structure and all our questions were met with referral to MW or HV. I will not be phoning this lady if I have problems!!

Secondly, I'm still really p**ed off with DH. His sharing of my split with ex feels v embarrassing and an invasion of privacy tbh. I could understand if DH had said "Ooh, that's Ses's ex over there" but he went into the full detail of the split as if for amusement purposes.
I know he doesn't know quite how much it affected me as I didn't know him at the time. Also, what will come of me making a fuss about it now? Not a lot, except he'll probably get annoyed with me and tell me I'm making a big deal of it. Aaarrgh!!!

gruff - glad all well
lbot - cheers 4 advice glad mw went ok
lb-glad ostepath helping
cosmo - hi
st - hi
glas - hope it works out both my girls r fussy eaters sure u r doing your best
ses-glad all well with thyriods

we have had a good day enjoying the sun

Ses - I'm so sorry your DH did that to you. Hopefully the guys he was with won't remember much of it. Have you told him how you feel? Has he apologized?

I actually have been seeing the mw at my GP, and same here, it's supposed to be the same one every time! I'm not sure if it would be better if it were - maybe she would be more up on what's available to her in her room at any given moment and would therefore know when to call down for forms, etc? I don't have as much issue with the care, as they just seem really scatty administratively.

Just ordered some fenugreek like Kayz recommended, and have also bought a ring sling as i couldn't breastfeed her in the premaxx as she's too tiny, and can't do 'kangaroo hold' which should increase my supply... so now have a premaxx sling for sale if anyone here is interested before i put them on the main for sale boards? also have some maternity clothes too if anyone (being the still-pregnant wagoners) is interested, mostly size 14 & 16... email me at [email protected] if you want me to send any pics?

Will try and pop back on asap to catch up and let you all know how we're getting on!!

Evening,

Ses - sorry you had such a rubbish BF session last night. It seems such a tricky thing to manage for the first few weeks/ until it is established you would think that session would be carefully planned. It's lucky we have the experienced ladies of MN to turn to for advice .

Glask - no advice here but I hope you manage to ditch the bottles soon.

Star - yah for weight gain, boo to oral thrush.

LBOT - that sounds really frustrating . I have been really lucky at my GPs and see the same midwife each time. She is great and is the main reason I am refusing to look outside York for a house to rent as I don't want to change midwives.

I am looking for a new house to rent in York but I'm not really sure exactly what I'm looking for. Luckily I'm not in a big rush so I can wait for something nice to turn up - we just need somewhere a bit bigger, less damp and with less lethal stairs once DP moves up and the bean arrives.

evening everyone !

IDOB- hope u find somewhere good to rent in York, glad your MW is good.

Ses, sorry for crap BF class. Its annoying when you paid money for it. Though if its any consolation, my mind was blank straight after birth when they thrust Dd at me and said feed! I did loads of Reading in first few days to remind myself of the mechanics of it which helped. Hopefully your MWs will support you too. I'd be annoyed about Dhs comme t about ex too! Anyway, hope you arent feeling too in comfy as the weeks go on.

Glask, good to hear from you. Sorry about feeding issues. Hope you can sortit with the pump , hang in there.

Diege, sorry about the swelling. how is the heartburn going? Really is one of worse bits of pregnancy I think.

Gruff cub!! That's so cute! Hope your doing ok.

Went to the osteo today as the small giraffe has quite a stiff neck. Afterwards, she was mega unsettled and cried afternoon. Hoping things will imporove with time. Anyone else have this experience?

Right time to wind DD and then hopefully back to sleep.

Crap, late night brain can't remember anymore. Hi everyone else!

Morning. I was up most of the night as dd fell out of bed and so came in our bed.... I was kicked, slapped and finally she weed the bed.... Kids who would have them . We are off to Leeds castle today then to friends so wont be on until this evening...

Hope you all have a lovely day...

We're just chillin' today
Sun is shining again here

Morning,

Thanks for the advice Star. Sadly it isn't 3 times between 7 and 7, more like 3 times between 10.30 and 6...I think I need to try and get into more of a routine but at 3 weeks it is prob a bit early. She seems to be very unsettled in the evenings and wants to feed a lot...maybe just a growth spurt. Managed quite a bit of sleep last night so feeling a bit fresher this morning.

Ses - yes, first few weeks are extremely involved - I think intense is the word I'd use to describe it! I stayed in hosp for a couple of days after the birth to get help with breastfeeding and would highly advise it if you can. When you get home the real work begins!

LB - sounds like you've got a lovely day planned. Enjoy.

GYo - hello - hope things are going well with you and DD. Crying fit sounds hard. I hate it when dd cries, no matter how I try not to get stressed it is really difficult not to. We have tried infacol a couple of times but I'm hoping she doesn't have colic.

Right, off to grab a nap x

Hi Sorky, also glorious sunshine here today. Has been gorgeous all week. Am going to attempt a walk into town with the pram later I think....bit nervous going on my own. What do I do if she wakes up and cries??...Haven't braved supermarket alone yet either - all such new experiences!

Morning,

Hi Cosmo, you sound like you are coping very well. Most people say sleep gets better at 6 weeks but it varies from baby to baby. DS1 slept through from 8 weeks and DS2 still isn't sleeping through every night at 18 weeks.

It is gorgeous here so think we are going to walk to the garden centre, I need some more seed trays.

Hope you are all well.

Morning all!

Cosmo - interesting to hear you recommend staying in hospital for support for a couple of days. I'd been thinking of spending as little time as poss there but you have a good point! The tour we did on Monday was v good and I just hope the unit is always as calm and chilled as it seemed then!
Good luck with your trip into town.

Great to have the sunshine - I'm going to try and finish clearing out my car of work stuff today (it's probably 90% done already) and then take it into town to get it cleaned whilst I go shopping! Would also be good to dead head the daffodils but there's so many!!

I did manage to explain to DH last night why I was annoyed with him and although he didn't apologise until I asked him if he was sorry at bedtime, he was quite attentive all evening so things much better.

Hi everyone!

things are going good. we went out for our first family outing yesterday to the big marks and spencers and tesco extra that is near where we live with Grandma and Daddy. Gruff cub slept the whole time and Daddy hogged the buggy all the way round Got some boys clothes from tesco in newborn as havent got that much as though baby was going to be huge but 0-3 is a bit on the large side! I struggled a bit walking towards the end and went a bit pale - queue my DM force feeding me cola at the checkout before we had even paid for it !!I was fine though, just had enough. My mobility is pretty good considering and I really enjoyed getting out and about finally.

DS is doing really well. He is only waking once in the night, usually 4am then sleeps til 7.30 then goes down again after feed. I am waiting for it to all change though. Im sure he is just lulling us into a false sense of security! He does keep getting awful hiccups which made it harder for him to go down after his night feed. He is also trying to roll over already and is reaching out to touch things. My mum cant believe it but DH was just the same according to MIL.

MW coming today and have some visitors too so will be a bit busy.

Gyo - sorry to hear about DD and stiff neck but I am sure she will be ok, osteo will sort her out im sure!

Cosmo - well done on venturing out alone! I cant wait to push the pram around town and show off the little cub sorry to hear about wakeful nights, hopefully it will sort itself out. Im waiting for them to kick in, am a bit worried as DH is struggling with lack of sleep and its not even that bad, could be so much worse and he really doesn't cope well with no sleep - eek! I on the other hand have never been a good sleeper so seem to be ok (ha! Ive only been at it a week -- ask me again in 2 weeks!)

Ok I cant really remember anything else so I might go back and reread!Its also coming up for my second breakfast of the day so need to get that my mum is cleaning my house at the mo and DH and DS are in bed. Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine!

Cosmo, I find my supply is lower in the late afternoon and early evening if I rush around doing too much.
Around 3-4pm I force myself to stop and sit down with a drink and relax because I know I won't have enough milk to satisfy her hunger.
For me this has been a pattern for all four of them.

Breastfeeding is very hard work for the first 6 weeks, I'd say until a good supply is established and baby has more obvious sleep & feed cues.
I reckon sleeping gets better after about 8 weeks. Some will sleep straight through, others not until they're 2.

You might find it easier to give a bottle of formula at the last feed (around 10.30pm) and express the BM at that time. The formula does help them to go through a bit longer during the night and your supply shouldn't be affected as long as you express from both sides.

I have done this from 6 weeks onwards with my first 2, who didn't co-sleep and went they both through the night from 8 & 9 weeks each.

DON"T give any more formula though unless you intend to stop BF'ing because it will affect your supply.

Are you breastfeeding Gruff-cub?
How's the recovery going?

Where's that BS? I could do with a cuppa here!

Gruff - that sounds fab You're doing really well

Morning Sorky

And just another for the sunshine...

Just had a half chat, half row with DH. He doesn't want me to relactate as he likes feeding DS2 and likes his sleep.

How I feel doesn't seem to matter.

V frustrating Kay... Maybe ask him what he thinks is right for all of you rather than just him and see if you get a different answer...
Btw, meant to ask has he started back at work now? Hope it's going ok.
Any more news on your MW course too?

He starts back tomorrow thank f*cking god. I might kill him soon.

He just wants to FF so he can sleep.

Hi Sorky,

due to Gruff cub's traumatic birth he swallowed amazing amounts of mucous and also after failed forceps pain which made it difficult for him to feed. he was able to latch on but got so distressed that he wouldnt feed. Eventually, his blood sugar dropped and he got the shakes and wouldnt feed at all. Not even formula. He then got a temperature and he was rushed away in the night to have an IV put in his hand for antibiotics. Basically, I was so drained from birth/no sleep/not eating that milk wasnt coming in fast enough so we had to give him formula as he was getting so distressed and after so much stress on him already I was beside myself with worry. Paediatrician said if he didnt get formula he was going to get very ill. So anyway, I keep latching him on (not when hes starving as he still gets distressed as milk only just coming in now.)we express and feed what I have and formula feed the majority, but as my milk comes in mw said that he will latch on and when milk is plentiful he will feed better as he is used to have his hunger quenched immediately and we will decrease formula hopefully and then increase milk. He does seem to be very hungry baby too I latch on at every feed to keel his latch strong. I just hope it works. If the worse comes to the worse I will just keep expressing and feeding if he loses latch. mw is very positive and encouraging. Its a matter of building up milk supply now. I am feeling a bit sensitive about it of course as I really wanted to exclusively BF so now I feel a bit like I am failing him. But at the end of the day I feel I did what was righ for him and not really much else I could have done except risk his health further.