Due in June 09 - They think it's all over...

[lauraloo09]

here we go def last thread in ante-natal

quite surprise i can still type in between contractions

June ? feeling like you have been hit by a truck is a very good explanation of how I felt after I had DS and that was a natural birth with only a second degree tear so I can only imagine how much worse you feel that said, I don?t feel like that at all this time round I don?t feel any of the weakness in my joints and muscles that I felt last time. I am back in pre-mat clothes but then again I was still breastfeeding DS when I last wore these clothes last August and I wasn?t exactly my slimmest I do find a breast feeding wardrobe a challenge in this heat I have to admit, all the wrap around breastfeeding tops are just too hot and my hooters are way to big for the spaghetti strapped ones. My tummy is still sticking out quite a bit but I haven?t started any exercise yet funny reaction from the church, you would think it would be up to you whether or not you were ready to go sounds like you and your DH are besotted with your little one loved your ?the moment I found out? story I had only stopped bfeeding DS 3 weeks before but I had an inkling so did a test and was over the moon when it was positive, we had been trying a long time for DS and had hoped that a second one would be easier. I broke the news to DH over a G&T (just a T for me) he could hardly believe it as we?d only just started trying and after comments like ?are you sure?? ?is it mine?? he started boasting about his ?magic bullet? sorry to hear about the infection

Anyone recommend the best way to tone your tummy up??

Naat ? Aaliyah?s cold is much better thanks she is only snuffling and coughing a bit at night now, it?s a relief. DH went back to work today. We did manage to have a chat, he said he had been thinking about moving back to Scotland a lot, I managed not to show my horror but pointed out all the reasons why he is thinking that with rose tinted specs, it seems to have done the trick for now. I know it can?t be easy for him living away from his family and friends in a foreign country.

Ineedmore ? hope tomorrow goes really well and helps Emily I weigh less than I did pre-pg but I am still 2 stone heavier than I should be

Bigcar ? I hear you on sweaty babies, poor Aaliyah has soaking wet hair after a feed!

Worried ? welcome back to the internet I was given an induction date and the baby came the day after I was given it, I hope the same thing happens for you we are averaging 33c here in Spain at the mo which drops to about 24c by 4am, Aaliyah is wearing cotton dresses during the day and a short sleeved and legged vest at night. LOL at your announcement to DH I tried to make this one more dignified as last time round he got the stick in his face at 4am insomnia seems to be my first pg sign!

Ermintrude ? DH thinks I am making it up when I tell him that he?ll need to settle Aaliyah when she is over stimulated as she can smell milk on me but I think there is a lot of truth in it! Hope you don?t have much longer to wait

Zozo ? Day 1 without DH hasn?t been that bad but then again I hosted a play date for DS here this morning with 2 Mummies too so I wasn?t alone and my Mum has taken DS back to her house this afternoon for a couple of hours so I can rest DH is playing football tonight so I have to do the bath/bed routine alone, which should be fine if Aaliyah doesn?t choose that time for a feed might have to go and wake her to make sure that that is not the case!

Silk ? I read something about sneezing in newborns being down to excess amniotic fluid in their lungs but I don?t know how long that is valid for!

Hey Daisy I know what you mean about the clothes, I moved Aaliyah to her 0-3 (pink clothes) from the newborn (just white ones) last week. Lovely to hear that you and DD are so besotted with your little man. Your DH does sound like a born worrier! Mine is being very anti any more children though why he is even thinking about it when we have such a tiny and new precious bundle I don?t know. I am trying not to mention it but I still feel so strongly that I want more..!

Gorgeous photos Bunnymother I?ve posted a new one of my pink princess! Thank you for your kind words about my cat, she is chasing those mice up there I hope

Hello Tee, hello Laura

OK, Delie is asleep thanks to the Baby Whisperer's shh pat technique. Poor little mite, Mummy wasn't being strict enough on the naps and I think she was getting over tired.

Who asked about getting back into pre-pregnancy clothes and weight? I don't have scales, but the mirror tells me I am nowhere near my pre-pregnancy weight. Prob not surprising as I put on 20kgs . I am still wearing maternity jeans, under the bump, and can't wear my normal tops due to over inflated norks. I am wearing a new dress today and am up a dress size, but the buttons over my bazooms keep opening up. Not the look I was hoping for!! I will have to get some serious exercise in to get back to where I was. Which wasn't even that impressive to begin with!

Still, think we should all be v proud of our bodies - they are more than decorative, they are miraculous machines producing these amazing babies! I have so much respect for my bod now. Am dismayed at the stretch marks, but have Bio Oil in the hope they fade pronto.

MrsMcJnr - are you Spanish or Scottish? You are very brown!! Aaliyah looks adorable!

Ermin - hope the waiting isn't bothering you too much!

June - am also about your church's antiquated ideas on mother's staying away. LOL at the idea of "scarlet woman" sitting at the front breast feeding - priceless!

Right, off to try and do at least 1 non-baby thing today while darling DElie sleeps.

BTW, isn't this just London for you? got the pram out, headed down the street, Delie starts yelling for food. Whip out formula in bottle that I packed just in case and feed her. It rains on me, so before I am even out of the street have to turn back . Deep breaths!

bunnymother I think bio-oil is great, I have put it on my belly from day one because of my scar, and I was really worried about it stretching. It has helped to make the scar really elastic so that I don't have any stretch marks around it, which is pretty impressive considering it is scar tissue and I assumed it wouldn't be very elastic! It has also made my scar nearly disappear!! You can only see it now by the way it pulls my belly in slightly, and obviously it is a bit raised too... but colourwise it is the same as the rest of my skin (which is casper-esq white... not the healthiest looking skin!!).

mrsmcjnr- you do very impressive catch-ups, you are obviously far more practised at this than I am!! I just can't remember more than 2-3 posts back and spend the whole time flicking through!! As this page only has about 4-5 posts on it, I am rather limited with how much I can catch up!!

Hoping the lack of ermin today means things have moved along for her!!

I am so bored at the moment... If I have to see one more interview with David Gest or Uri Geller, I think I will scream!! Have rearranged the baby's wardrobe a million times, have washed and ironed all his cute little outfits, and went to Mothercare today to buy some more hangers, as it is rather scary how many clothes this little unborn baby has!! And my sister has had to tell my mum to stop buying clothes for the baby now, as apparently she has bought loads (although I haven't seen any yet as she won't let me!!). I'm still getting quite a few bh, and quite a lot of pressure down below, but that has been the same for about a week now, so I am not getting my hopes up that it actually means anything!!

I do have a couple of little questions for you new mummies though if anyone could help me out...
How long was it before you gave your baby their first bath??
For you ladies with little boys- how do you go about washing their little willy?! Do you just wash over it, or do you need to pull the skin back (I know this may sound like a weird question, but it is something neither me nor DP have any experience of, if you get me!! )
Do you wash them with soap or just warm water to start with??
How often do you bath them??

I was wondering all this in the shower today, and just made me think how much I do not know!! I don't want to be constantly asking people stupid questions!!

worried Adam had his first two baths at 1 week 1 day and 1 week 2 days old while in SCBU. Since then he's being getting a bath every second or third day. If he pukes up a lot on himself (and on me ) then I just wipe him down with a warm cloth.

As for penis washing...just wash over it, between it and his scrotum and under his scrotum. Do not pull his foreskin back when he is a baby. It will detach when he is a toddler and then you can do so.

I use a little bit of Simple Baby Wash in his bath water. Not even enough to foam up, just enough to make me feel like he's getting clean!!!

And ask all the questions you want! That's why we're here!!

Arthur Joseph was born at home at 8.29 this morning after a brutal but effective 4.5 hr labour, weighing in at 10lb precisely and completely gorgous. No stitches!

ABOUT BLOOMIN' TIME!

No time to catch up with you ladies; will try tomorrow - the boy is built like a rugby player with an appetite to match.

Mooooooo xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

worried I waited for two weeks to bath DD, but I bathed DS as soon as the cord dropped off (about 3-5 days after birth, I think). DD was nearly term so she was clean as a whistle when she came out, whereas DS was covered in gunk as he was 3 weeks early. I was desperate to wash it all off.

WRT his willy, you just wash it in the bath like the rest of him. Don't pull back the foreskin at all, you should never do this. I find it easier to keep him clean than DD who seems to have so many folds and creases to get poo stuck in!

Just use water to wash them to start with (tho I put a dash of infacare bath stuff in to smell nice - but we have no history of eczema in our family so it isn't a problem) and I bought one of those little soft sponges to wash her with.

DS has a bath everyday and has done since he was a couple of months old as it's part of his night time routine. Before that it was a few times a week. He was bottle fed and was quite sicky so it was nice to wash behind his ears and neck which was quite 'cheesy' from milky sick (yuck!!). DD is much less of a puker so not so much of a problem.

Don't worry about asking questions. I knew absolutely NOTHING before I had DS and had to learn everything. I was constantly ringing my friend with seemingly random questions. Also, another bit of advice, pick a couple of people that you are going to get advice from and just stick to them. If you ask questions to everyone you'll hear so much conflicting advice it'll make your head spin exorcist-style!! xx

woohoo ermin!!! Congrats!!! woohoo for avoiding your induction, and woohoo for 10lb baby with no stitches !!!

(feeling kinda lonely now!!!)

x-post - congratulations ermin!! fab name too x

thank you for answering my bath questions too tee and ineed !!

Go ermin congratulations and welcome to not so little Arthur Hope to hear more soon!

MrsMcJnr, I don't think it's been far off that temperature here today, it definitely hit 30! Poor Edward was soaked and bright red in his car seat when I took dd3 to nursery at lunch time, had to make sure he got a good feed as soon as we got back, I was a little worried about dehydration. He seems a lot happier now it's cooled down a bit!

worried, we're all still here no reason to feel lonely

june, hope the infection clears soon and that you can still take the painkillers!

Well done and congratulations Ermintrude fabulous!! can't wait to see photos

Bunnymother - I'm neither Scottish nor Spanish, I am a bit of both but am really just a mixed bag!

It's funny, I am really nervous about washing Aaliyah's girlie bits as I am so used to boy bits with DS, DH thinks that is odd as clearly I am a girl but somehow it's different!

just a wee quick post as Sarah has had me busy today with projectile poo and sick...at least she is finding ways of getting the trapped wind out of her system lol

erm congratulations on the birth of Arthur Joseph, he took is time but sure he was worth the wait! Hope mum and baby are well xxx

Ermin - congratulations on Arthur Joseph - 4.5 hours, you are efficient!! Hope you are both feeling OK - he is a little whopper! Great that you don't need stitches! Looking forward to seeing photos when you are able to post them

Laura - I bought a big red apron in case Delie projectile poos, so that we could change her nappy while protected. Perhaps if little Sarah turns out to be quite the flame thrower that would help? I can't believe how comfortable I have become w poo. Doesn't seem to bother you when its your baby, does it?

MrsMcJnr - love your description of your heritage! I just always "pictured" you as Scottish w the full accent. Am also a mixed bag, but then so are many Australians.

June - my stitches from the lady snip are infected and taking anti biotics, but was also encouraged to keep up w the paracetamol as a pain killer. Which is what they were giving me in hospital, along w an anti-inflammatory (can't remember the name). Hope that helps!

Last one!

Worried - thanks for the Bio Oil endorsement - am sitting here w a big glistening stomach and crossed fingers that it sorts me out! Hopefully not long for you now!

Erm - congratulations and hello to Arthur - very @ no stitches

Worried- I'm sending you baby vibes

Lovely photos Bunny and MrsM.

I'm sensibly going to bed now and will do a catch up tomorrow

Hello ladies!

(This post has taken me since yesterday, so apologies for the old news )

Mrsmc, glad to hear Aaliyah's cold is much better. Oh, I completely understand what distance feels like sometimes, but well, one always has to think about one's family and wellbeing first, no matter how much one misses everyone. Glad Tia is chasing mice in cat heaven and not suffering here (((hug)))

Bunny, yeah, I felt exactly the same re. everyone's speech about how easy BF should be They should know and say that for some it's not that easy, that it can be hard work and that it needs perseverance and time, instead of making us feel all useless. Lovely pictures!!! at the apron idea! I'll copy it, as the other day a pillow and the duvet went down after a projectile poo

Ermin, yay!! Congratulations on the birth of baby Arthur!!! Oh, lady, 10lbs and no stitches!!! You're amazing Hope to see pics soon!

Worried, birthing vibes! birthing vibes! birthing vibes!!

June, hope the infection goes away soon with the help of those AB. It's been so so hot I can only imagine how hard it's been to keep the scar "fresh".

Daisy, at Fraser being such a calm and mellow baby! Mila screams bloody murder every time you try to change her nappy or her clothes She's a feisty little girl... and impatient! Glad to hear everything's going great

Laura, how's Sarah? The colic any better?

Ineed, yay! Today you have your cranial ost. appt!! Do tell us how it goes

Silk, hi! Mila sneezed the first five days almost all the time. MWs said it was normal, because of all the mucus they had to get rid of now... I had no idea.

Bigcar, Hi!!

Zozokat, hi!!

Hi to all the rest of the Juners!!!!

Right, Mila is being quite naughty... during the day she sleeps in her moses without a problem but at night she lasts about 10 mins only Please someone tell me some tips!!! She only sleeps either on top of DH or next to me and I KNOW that's not right (please don't hit me) I know she's only 16 days old but I'm beginning to worry Any advice, more than welcome.

Off to Leeds to register her in the police Yes, that's another nice little thing we have to do The joys!!

Have a lovely day everyone!!!

(((waves)))

naat, same problem here with calypso:
she will fall asleep everywhere and anywhere but wakes up the minute you put her in her basket.
I swore i would never co-sleep but after the early morning feed we're knackered and the only way Calypso will sleep is if she's put next to me in the bed. sometimes with a pacifier. probably setting oursleves up for hard habits to break here...

She also does not like being changed and screams as well, the screaming stops the second the nappy is back on.

Got my ABs and painkillers, it's a bit restrictive to have to keep the scar uncovered, clean and dry...i spent most of yesterday lying down holding my belly so the skin wouldnt touch the sscar. i really hope it clears up soon.

Another one here whose baby sneezes a lot

She is also hard to wake up, someone else mentionned that heir baby barely open their eyes the other day. We have to change her, put water on her face and body, stick her in front of the fan, you name it we've tried it... the other day we actually gave her a bath...
someone mentioned waiting their REM/light sleep when their eyes move a bit and they're stirring. that should help too.

right, time for the next feed

Adam also does the asleep anywhere but his cot thing. Although once he went down into his Amby last night? He was out until 4:30! He slept like 6 hours. Feel free to hate me.

He doesn't sneeze a lot...but he hiccups! And he usually also hates having his nappy changed.

ermin! Yay! Glad arthur has finally appeared! Well done!

Naat and June - We've been co-sleeping with Alex mostly as it has just been simpler with feeding and getting him back to sleep. As he starts sleeping for longer then I will be stricter about getting him back in the basket. He usually sleeps firstly in the basket and then when he wakes for first nightfeed ends up in with us. I don't think it is a problem in the early days (or at all but obviously if you want your bed to yourself it is!) as everything is so all over the place. As sleeping patterns start to settle down (hopefully by 7/8 weeks) then I will put Alex in basket more and more and use calming techniques if he won't settle. Like bunny I used a bit of baby whisperer (when dd was a couple of months), I wanted to get dd into a bedtime, however unlike bunny I did not find the pat shh technique helpful! (Bunny you obviously have a very calm relaxed baba ). However I just adapted it and happily picked her up when cried and put her back... repeat... and it eventually worked.

RE weight gain/loss. I am about 4Ib over pre-pregnancy weight which I can't complain about! However I am eating like a horse, seriously, (I blame the breastfeeding) so I wouldn't be surprised if I gained weight! Still, now is not the time to worry about girls! Knackered and recovering from birth... this is time to rest and relax.

Alex is now a bit more wakeful at night, which is not great. Last night only woke up twice but was awake for longer and quite whingey. Sigh. However I have reminded myself that with dd everything got better after 6 weeks and so hopefully in less than 3 I'll begin to wake up! Soooo tired.

Gosh I must be the worst with the weight, I've still got about 30 pounds to loose to be pre-pg (and I've already lost 22 pounds, I can't beleive I actually put that much on ). It seems to be dropping off fairly quick so far though, I guess everybody's different. Can't wait to hit the treadmill but the c-scar has other plans.
I wonder if I'll eve be able to catch up properly with everyone!

Personally, the last thing I am worrying about is loosing the weight. I haven't even really been on the scale.

Although I didn't want to do it, dd would not sleep anywhere but beside me in bed. She became calmer and it was easier all round than trying to make her sleep where she didn't want to. DH moved into the other room as she woke a lot. Day naps started in the chair and moved into the cot, firstly raised and then lowered. By 2 months a mix of cot and with me and by 3 months she was just sleeping in the cot.

I think she loved the contact and closeness of those cuddles and the move to the cot wasn't such a big deal.

Fraser is doing a mix of sleeping in the cot and with me. If I cant get the wind up, then he sleeps with me for the next 3 hours, slightly raised, with his head on my shoulder, tucked between my arm and body. He hates swaddling and is happily in a grobag which is good.