May 2010: Final call for May babies - please exit the waiting lounge & head for the arrivals desk!

[cupcakefairy]

New thread to welcome some more new babies! Let's have a flurry this weekend please!

Congrats for new arrivals and sending positive vibes to those overdue.

Was trying to catch up on all the posts but DD2 is a caling again.

Having some terrible nights. She seems to want to feed constantly at this time. Last night she feed from 8 till 3.30 this morning. Don't understand how she can need so much. Although sometimes I think she is using me to suckle se just won't take dummy. Absolutely shattered and praying it all calms down before DH goes back to work.

Decided gonna try and express asap so i can get a bit of rest at this time. Do any of you have the tommee tippee manual breast pump. Comes in a box you can use for sterilising. If you do could you tell me the instructions for sterilising. There are no instructions in my box.

Thanks will try and catch up tomorrow

Hi All

Quick post whilst DD1 is [finally] asleep...

Pigley - worrying about your sister, I hope all is well there and she is out of A & E soon. It is brilliant news about the latch, and I am so impressed at you getting out and about so much! We have managed one trip to our local National Trust house to play in the park there.

Many congrat to James and Angel - love the birth story James, and much respect to doing it without the epi! Angel, I hope the birth wasn't too traumatic and pleased you are home so soon.

Sending labour vibes to all those still waiting, and hope any inductions/sweeps go well. Looking forward to hearing lots more birth stories after the weekend!

Struggling a bit here today - Sophie will not stop feeding! She is 14 days old today, and I can only think she must be having an early growth spurt. Pamelat - I can relate to your feeding pattern! She has been feeding for 1.5 hours at a time all through the day. I know she is getting milk all that time, because I can hear it flowing and when she finally comes off she has milk all round her mouth. Have been consulting the books, and they all seem to say just to keep feeding as often as she wants it, but my goodness it is hard work. Haven't seen DS1 all day, just been rooted to the sofa! She has just gone off to sleep so off to bed now, and hoping that she gets through to at least 1am to give my milk time to regenerate!

Also kateyjane/ML/anyone else who had OC - a quick question if you don't mind? My Dsis is 17 weeks pg with her first baby and has developed a red, raised rash all over her abdomen, tops of her thighs and behind her knees. Also itching on her bump and on her arms. She has been to GP today who has sent her for blood tests on Tues to test her liver function (which I am assuming is the test for obstetric cholestasis (sp??). However, itching is driving her mad. Can you remind me please what you used to help relieve the itching you suffered with? Also, I thought OC was related to itching in palms and soles of feet - is that right? Is there any treatment for OC or is it just going to be a case of living with it? Thank you for any advice! Feel so sorry for Dsis - first pg and she is really suffering.

Anyhow, off to bed. Sorry for not many personals but DH is practically ripping the laptop out of my hands to make me go to bed...! (Although only for sleep!)

Hi Gils, yes I've got the TT manual breast pump. Sorry to hear you're having a tough time, hope things improve for you...

Sterilising instructions are:

The sterilising box has been specifically designed to microwave steam sterilise all of your breastfeeding equipment quickly and effciently. To use:

1. Pour 100ml of water into sterilising box
2. Load upturned bottle, disassembled breast pump and any accessories
3. Securely fit box lid
4. Open valve on lid of box
5. Place sterilser box in microwave
6. Follow instructions according to microwave output
7. CAUTION: To avoid risk of burning, always ensure box is cool to touch before lifting out
8. Immediately fit valve on lid to make the box airtight and sterile.

Wattage -
Under 800w Full power 6 minutes Cooling time 3 minutes

Over 850w Full power 4 minutes Cooling time 3 minutes

Hope that helps

Hi everyone

Congratulations Angel - Lovely name. Hope you're feeling okay.

Sorry for no personals - I am shattered tonight, but just wanted to reply to Tomlin.
My experience of OC was intense itching on my arms and legs, which was worse at night. I did not have any kind of rash and apparently you don't usually with OC. Also it is usually something that develops in the third trimester, mine started at 25 weeks. In terms of treatment I was on ursodeoxychloric (sp?) acid, piriton 4X daily, vitamin K and when it was at its worse Temazopan (sp?) to sleep. I also had Oilatum bath lotion, used acquaes cream to wash with instead of soap, then acquaes cream with menthol. I think there are some other conditions of pregnancy which can cause an itchy rash. (Think it begins with a P? Is that what ML had??)I really hope your Dsis does not have OC because nothing really helps with the itching, it is definately more a case of learning to live with it. If I could have lived in the bath I would have done! The liver function test is to check for OC, however my LFT was always fine but my bile acid levels were really high. Doctors don't routinely do bile acid levels as they have to send the bloods away and they take a while to come back - so it is worth requesting this test if everything else comes back okay and she is still itching. Really hope she is feeling better soon - she really has my sympathy.

Pigley - for your sister, I really hope everything is okay for her.

Hi everyone

lovely reading more and more arrivals, hope the rest of you ladies in waiting have your news soon.

Again this is a rush post but perhaps next week when DH back at work I will actually feel upto speed with the thread and how everyone is doing.

MDM I would wait until after the wedding to establish a routine, at the moment you could start an event routine e.g bath, massage, feed, bed but you might be really disrupted when you away in which case seems pointless unless you are craving some order!

SK glad Jacob is doing better, his sleeping sounds fab. Hope you shake off the bug soon. A friend of mine told me the Baby Bjorns are not good for baby's hips because they are unsupported and so their legs and swish freely which puts pressure on their hip joints. However I used one for DD1 and DS for a couple of months and touch wood their hips are fine.

Any advice greatly received.... DD2 is now 4.5wks old. She settles in her moses basket during the day (in saying that we aren't in much of the day, she is often in her swing/car seat/pram) but not from bedtime onwards so I now put her to bed in our bed and give her last feed lying down (no idea when the last feed is I just keep feeding her then keep trying to leave her and often she fusses after I leave and needs another quick feed, I am starting to feel like her dummy). Am unsure if I am starting a bad habit by letting her settle to sleep in my bed (instinct tells me she is still so young it doesnt matter), also unsure if her sleeping next to me and therefore when she stirs in the night I give her a feed lying down and often doze off mid feed so I am never sure when or how long she fed for (which also means she isnt winding after a feed and is then posseting a lot more).

Its really late now but I have been to bed earlier when DD2 went down, then woke up and finished my chores! DH is out tonight so I best get to bed now since I will be up with DS at 5.30 ish (any advice on how to get him to sleep later also greatly received!)

booboo I was doing an even more exaggerated pregnancy waddle with the added concern of not being quite sure what was about to fall out so being able to do that at home was preferable.

pigley really hope everything is ok for your sister

Tomlin isn't there a growth spurt round the 10 day mark? DD2 is 8 days today but hasn't fed that much over the last 36 hours so I think I might be being lulled in to a false sense of security and she may well kick in to feeding overdrive over the next few days...

brb we tried the moses basket on the floor last night instead of on the stand as someone suggested that to us - DD2 lasted about 2 minutes instead of her usual 30 seconds but we then decided just to bring her in to the bed with us. She had a brilliant night, only waking once for a feed so I sctually feel quite refreshed today (I still get up to feed as I'm still too cack-handed to do it completely in the dark). I am wondering whether she would just be happier if we moved her straight in to a cot bed and gave up on the moses basket. DH isn't too keen on her being in with us long term as he's convinced he's going to squash her but I'm just so happy that we're actually getting some sleep!

Hi Ladies,

CONGRATULATIONS to James and Angel!!!! So happy for you both!! James, I also found the feeling of the baby's head crowning not as bad as I had feared - well done doing it without the epidural working properly! You and I were definitely in agreement on being keen on the epidural!

Pigley I hope that everything is ok with the pain in your sister's (was it SIL?)side. How worrying!

My experiment of trying to feed DS2 (oh it does feel weird to type that, doesn't it?!) every 2 hours during the day in hopes that it would fill him up and he'd feed less at night sort of worked I guess - he doesn't feed much when I wake him in the day, just falls right back to sleep on the breast. But last night instead of the marathon over an hour feeds during the night (we had the marathon feeding in late evening before bed), we had about 15 mins at midnight, 15 mins at 2, 15 mins at 4 and 20 mins at 5:45, and then he slept until 9:30 when DS1 came in with a big parcel we'd received from their uncle. I got a lot more sleep last night. After the 12, 2, and 4 (the 4 am feed was a bottle of expressed milk DH gave him) feeds I put him in bed next to me with my boob right at his mouth so he knew he could have more if he wanted, but he just went right to sleep. At 5:45 after his feed, we laid him in the bed inbetween us and then when he was asleep we put him in the moses basket, and he slept there the rest of the morning.

BRB and Carikube I suspect that my DS2 doesn't want to settle in the moses basket at night partially because he doesn't like it when it's too dark in the room. When it just starts getting light outside he's able to settle in there - not sure if it's coincidence, though! Now that it's cooler I'm going to try swaddling him up tight in a blanket, that always worked with my DS1, so we shall see!

Carikube my DH is also concerned about rolling over on the baby, but we did this in the first few weeks with DS1 and had no problems getting him in his cot at around 8 weeks, so I'm not worried about developing bad habits so early on. Whatever gets you sleep!! I do sleep with my arm over the baby's head and around him as a little "wall" just in case, so when DH reaches my arm he knows not to go any further! Also we're careful not to put the baby under the duvet as they can overheat so easily.

BRB those pads you sent to me are coming in handy already!!! Thanks again!

SK hope you feel better soon. It must be miserable to be a feeding machine as well as looking after you DDs when you're feeling poorly!

MDM I wouldn't worry too much about the routine until after your trip. I found that when we took DS1 to L.A. when he was 3 months, he adjusted really well mainly because he was still sleeping so much. It gets trickier when they're older and the effects of jet lag are more evident!

Schipo and others overdue, I distinctly remember that feeling of missing the due date so I must not be having a baby anymore! Hope things are happening with the induction Schipo! Anyone having a sweep, it worked for me this time, don't know if it was combined with DTD, so may be time to recruit your partners!

Ali My DS1 is going to be 3 on 3rd June! Before the baby was born I was also feeling a bit anxious that I'd go overdue and they'd end up having the same birthday!

Alle I hope things get better for you. I am finding the sore nipples really hard with the frequent feeds as well, and I've done this all before! I thought it would be a bit easier than this second time around, but hey ho! The thing I'm doing that is helping is that I'm keeping a wide pinch with my fingers around my nipple as DS feeds to make sure he gets the whole thing in his mouth, even when it starts feeling better I just keep holding it and it seems to be helping. Also Lansinoh on the nipples after EVERY time, I was getting a bit lazy with it.

Carikube asking to borrow money on your birthday?!? LOL, but !!

My Nichols Rule due date would have been 25 May, so Eric was a bit early I guess, but my cycle was all over the place before I conceived, we were trying for nearly a year before we got lucky!

My DS1 is being so lovely with the baby. Thanks for your compliments on the photo I added of my boys to the FB group. DS1 had been waking a bit in the night and calling for me a few nights ago, so I had a chat with him yesterday. I think his anxiety is manifesting in his sleep. I told him that if he's worried or sad about anything he can talk to me about it. Also that even though I'm not available to do things for him all the time, I will still help him and that I still love him and will make sure that if I can't help him that someone will, and that sometimes he will just have to wait a bit for me to be able to help. He said "Mummy I don't want you to go to hospital again" and I told him that I probably wouldn't as I don't plan to have more babies. Then he said "I miss you Mummy" and I had to stop myself from just blubbering like a baby! The guilt I feel is a bit overwhelming, but I know giving him a brother is a real gift. I have to just keep that in mind!

Looking forward to more birth announcements and stories! Sending out good labour vibes to all those waiting!!

Carikube My DH isnt keen on baby being in with us either but thats more because he has been pushed out into the spare room! Last night he didnt need me as a dummy which was great but I fed her sitting up in bed as I was more refreshed as I had had some zzzs before "nightshift" she went 9-1-5-9 but is struggling to settle this morning.

pigley any news on your sister? Hope she is ok

very quick post as I have to go to work..yes work..painter has phoned in sick..

re itching..I had puritus of pregnancy..similiar symptoms to OC but not..

treatment was piriton and menthol cream...really hope your dsis doesnt have OC Tomlin..but she will be well monitored if she has

Gills- Sorry your having bad nights... im sure they will improve soon.

Tomlin- I have read about the 2 week growth spurt. Lucy seems to scoffing alot at the mo too and shes 14 days today.

Rachel- Glad your night was abit better
Bless DS1 Its such a change for them isnt it. Must be alittle unsettling.
Since coming home after having Lucy, DD has little stroppy but could be just cause shes 2mths off turning 2! Nothing major and nothing we cant handle with a few sturn words

Thanks for the wishes for my sister. They seem to think its all ok and has been sent home with painkillers. Dr just said it was common to get more pains with your second?!?
Not sure if she was scanned or what as Im getting everything second hand via my mum as I cant get hold of my sis on her mobile and she doesnt have a land line. My nieces 2nd birthday today and my DD enjoyed watching Cebeebies and seeing a photo of her on a bithday card sent in by my sis. Pointing to the screen, grinning and saying her name.

Lucy has spent ages asleep this morning! and only woke once last night- fed at 11 then 3 then 6.30 Love watching her asleep as she pulls the oddest faces

Miserable grim day here today pouring with rain so just pottering about doing little bits of housework.

Huge congrats to James and Angel. Great news. Hope everyone is doing OK.

My mum has arrived so I have some backup and boy am I ready for it! Matilda not sleeping very well at night. V tired but situation normal I suppose.

V quick post from hospital. Five hours after gel applied conttractions kicked in. Nine hours later fully dilated, two and a half hours and a small cut in by then bruised perenium baby was born. 7lbs 13oz I'm told. 4.40am today. We are in love of course and can't believe our luck. Have to stay in hospital for 24 hours because baby had poo on way out. Will catch up and post fully later but just wanted to add my news. Had lovely midwife btw. would have had an epidural at one point but there was a 3 hour queue so was done by then. Good luck moggmum, cupcake etc x

Hi all.

Sorry for a very me post but only have half an hour before I'm going back into hospital

Anyway, had contractions every half hour all day Monday, went into hospital at 9pm and Grace was born at 00:07am on Tuesday 25th May weighing 6lb 11oz. One stitch and feeling great in myself.

Unfortunately she had an exomphalus minor which was previously undiagnosed and so blue-lighted by the tiny lives team to the RVI in Newcastle from our local hospital. I was discharged after 4 hours and we drove over to the RVI to be with Grace. her exomphalus has already been pushed back into her abdomen by the time we arrived and she seemed to be well. Unfortunately she didn't pass any meconium in the next two days and started vomiting and had no interest in feeding. On Thursday afternoon the consultant decided after an x-ray she needed an op and she was rushed off to theatre. Carrying her down there and handing her to an anaesthetic nurse was the worst moment of my life . Anyway, she came back to intensive care after three hours, she had a gap in her colon which had to be sown back together.

Since then she has had four dirty nappies (so exciting we videoed the first one) and had 10ml of expressed milk via a tube. Fingers crossed she is on the mend.

I feel absolutely drained and wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy, not helped by the fact the op came on the day my hormones dipped and my milk came in. Missing dd1 () like crazy but thankfully we have loads of family who are happy to take her so we can stay on the ward with her. I have to live in as one parent is expected to and I'm expressing every three hours.

Congratulations to all the new mummies and babies, hope everyone is well, enjoy those cuddles.

Oh, only positive to all this stress is that I'm back into my jeans

Hello ladies.
I'm still pregnant 40+10.

Had sweep this morning. Was a bit uncomfortable but fine really. MW said straight away 'well I don't think you will be having this baby today' I almost cried
Apparently the head isn't quite resting on the cervix but she did manage to insert one finger into the cervix even though it was quite posterior.
She said to walk lots to get the head turned slightly so dh and I have been on long walk; I am exhausted!
Have had a bit of bloody mucus since and cramps but nothing that seems significant. Will try dtd again tonight as it's apparently more effective after a sweep (rachel it probably did help you go into labour then) honestly, dh & I have dtd more in the last 10 days than the previous 8 months but it is blummin hard work with this bump!

I've been booked for an induction on Wednesday which I desperately don't want. Just praying baby comes before then. Will have another sweep Tuesday first though.
Got a bit weepy on phone to my Mum after who gave me the usual speech about doing what's best for baby but I just feel so let down that I haven't gone naturally

schipo, newmomma, homebirthmummy, racquel and all other overdueys...how are you doing??

rachel I actually teared up at what your ds1 said, bless him! He must have been a bit frightened for you going to hospital. Think it's fab you've had that chat with him; he'll know you still love him just as much!

lucky hope your Mum can give stern Grandma-type treatment to naughty Matilda and that you get more sleep.

pigley glad your sis is ok.

Eurovision tonight I thought I'd be watching it cuddling my little bundle but apparently not!
Dh has bought a 1000 piece puzzle to keep us occupied tomorrow instead of just waiting for baby

Wow, cross-post...schipo fantastic news and well done on doing it without epi!

hollyoaks sounds terrifying it's similar to what my dh's cousin is going through with her newborn at the moment. Glad she seems to be pulling through though and well done for getting through it!

THE NEW ARRIVALS

11 April LuckyC, GIRL MATILDA, 14.47
15 April ForcesSweetheart, GIRL, MOLLY, 10.27, 7lbs 6ozs
16 April Littleowls, BOY JOEL, 14.40, 4lb 8oz
16 April Memorylapse, GIRL, OLIVIA GRACE, 6.17pm, 6lbs 11.5ozs
23 April Sophie2008, BOY, COREY DREW 7lbs 2.5oz and GIRL, MIRIAM ELIZABETH 7lbs 4oz
27 April Brightredballoon, GIRL, 10am, 7lb 12oz
27 April Pagen, BOY, JACK JOHN, 7.30am, 9lbs 2ozs
29 April littleonemum, GIRL, LUX EMILIE, 9.40pm, 7lbs 7 ozs
04 May fiveisanawfullybignumber, GIRL, FLORENCE MARGARET GRACE, 6.14pm,
04 May hormonalmum, GIRL
05 May sweetkitty, BOY, JACOB DAVID JOHN, 4.52am, 8lbs 5ozs
05 May Mustbemadno3 GIRL, LILLIA VICTORIA SOFIA, 05.05am 6lbs 8ozs
06 May Alle, BOY, OSCAR, 12.20pm 6lbs 8ozs
06 May alexw, GIRL, JULIA MAUD, 7lbs2oz
07 May TwentiethCenturyHeffa, BOY, CORIN, 7lbs1oz
07 May sheepgomeep, GIRL, JESSICA, 9lbs 12.5oz
08 May Lizzie9442, GIRL, LOUISE, 9.01pm, 10lbs
10 May Hobnobfanatic, GIRL
11 May 30ish, BOY, OLIVER JAMES, 10:05am, 9lbs 7oz.
12 May kateyjane, BOY, THOMAS EDWARD, 11.29am, 7lbs 12ozs
13 May MarquiseDeMerteuil, BOY, FELIX BENJAMIN, 5lbs 15oz
14 May itshappenedagain, GIRL, FLORENCE ELEANOR, 5.22am, 8lb 6oz
14 May TomlinTowers, GIRL, SOPHIE MAE, 8.43am, 9lbs 7oz
15 May pigleychez, GIRL, LUCY OLIVIA, 9.30am 7lbs 12oz
15 May slipperthief, BOY, DANIEL HENRY, 7.28pm, 8lbs 4oz
16 May Wibblela, GIRL, REFAELLA, 12.22am, 8lbs 4oz
17 May pamelat, BOY, ALEXANDER, 12.14pm, 7lbs 8oz
17 May Morph2, BOY, JACOB ANTHONY, 7.50pm, 6lbs 11ozs
18 May squirtsmum, GIRL, REBECCA LOUISE, 1.37am, 9lbs 14.5oz
18 May MinnieMummy, GIRL, 8.31am, 10lbs 11oz
18 May KatnKankles, GIRL, AVA ROSE, 8lbs 14oz
19 May Sweetpeasmum, GIRL, SOPHIE ELIZABETH, 6.38am
20 May Sassles, BOY, SAMUEL, 9lbs 4oz
20 May KaffaCakes, BOY, ALBERT STANLEY, 1.09am, 7lbs 8.5oz
20 May Den26, BOY, RIAN ALEXANDER, 7lbs 13oz
21 May Carikube, GIRL, ALICE JANE, 2.17am, 8lbs 5oz
21 May peakyispreggers, BOY, FINN, 2.47am, 7lbs 12oz
21 May Gils, GIRL, MELISSA ANNE, 3.38am, 8lbs 10oz
21 May Rachelfruitloop, BOY, ERIC DAVID, 3.48am, 11lbs 2oz
23 May newmomma, GIRL, 6.34am, 8lbs 12.5oz
24 May Mollycuddles, GIRL, MOLLY LETITIA ROSE, 2.24am, 8lbs 3oz
24 May LuckyMiller, BOY, IRA JACOB, 8lbs 2oz
25 May Hollyoaks, GIRL, GRACE ANNABEL
25 May JamesandtheGiantBanana, GIRL, 7lbs
25 May Nimk, GIRL, 6lbs 8oz
27 May myfirstbump, GIRL, DARCEY ELIZABETH, 2.18pm 8lbs 15oz
28 May AnAngelWithin, GIRL, WILLOW, 00.34, 8lbs 15oz
29 May schipo, BOY, 4.40am, 7lbs 13oz

THE WAITING LOUNGE

06 May - DorotheaPlenticlew, 35, #2, GIRL, Edinburgh
08 May - Asparagusaddict, #1
12 May - Haribolicious 36, #2, BOY
12 May - LivsHannah 27, #2, BOY
13 May - Cith, 30, #1
13 May - TinyVeins, 29, #1
13 May - Mummymunchkins, 40, #3, BOY
14 May - CornishSAMum, 33, #1, Cornwall
16 May - MoggMum, 38, #1
16 May - Vicky204, 34, #1
17 May - first1, 22, #1, GIRL, Surrey
19 May - cupcakefairy, 25, #1
20 May - LolaAnn, 22, #1, BOY
20 May - Aim, #2, BOY
20 May - homebirthmummy4, #4
21 May - Suey2, 39, no2, GIRL
21 May - Mumofeag, 34, #3 BOY
23 May - RacquelWelsh, 38, #1 BOY
24 May - Yorky, 31, #3
26 May - booboomonster, 35, #2 GIRL, SW London
26 May - AliMouse, 40, #3 BOY
26 May - Glastocchick, 34, #1
31 May - ande, #4
31 May - thegauntlet, #1

schipo and hollyoaks congratulations - hope your little one recovers soon holly.

Congratulations schipo I'm so pleased for you and of course!

hollyoaks sounds like you've had a very traumatic time - hope things settle down for you now.

cupcake I know how you feel - I'm 40+13 today and still no sign . Have so far refused induction but time is running out. Going to Hosp for check-up & possible sweep tomorrow but because it's a Bank Holiday weekend I've got to wait until Tuesday for scan to check placenta blood supply etc.

Think I must be the most overdue lady on the thread now and will be having a June baby at this rate!

mogg we can both be disheartened together! Why do we have such shy babies well done on refusing induction. I so don't want it but everyone (inc dh) keep saying it's what's best & end result is what counts etc but I just think I would feel so cheated and a bit resentful not to have been on the MLU and to need more intervention than I want

Hi ali you're still hanging in there with us too then!

cupcake I feel the same re intervention but it's a difficult decision and only one that you and your DH can make. They would have induced me yesterday but we decided to give this baby the full 42 weeks before going down that route and my family & friends have been very supportive. There's still plenty of time for your baby to come naturally before your planned induction on Wed. I suspect I'll be having an induction on the same day if nothing's happened by then!

In the meantime try and relax and not worry too much (easier said than done I know!) and let's see who pops first!

Hi Cupcake, I'm still hanging in there (40 + 6 today). Midwife coming tomorrow to do a sweep and if no sign of baby by mid week then will be booked in for induction by the weekend. Am in 2 minds about it still, feel the same way as you, I really want to go to the MLU. Hope the mucus and cramps turn into something more exciting for you .

Like Moggmum, would rather wait for LO to appear than be interfered with! Am no longer answering the phone so constantly hear DH saying "No, nothing yet. we'll let you know!". Went into town today but had to cut it short as after the 6th person had said "Oh, you're still pregnant then?", I was at risk of screeching profanities

Am finding it difficult to do much, don't want to go too far from home.

Hollyoaks wishing you and Grace all the best, what you've been through sounds awful.

Well done Schipo - congratulations!

Hollyoaks thinking of you and Grace at the moment and hope that you'll get to take her home with you soon.

Congratulations Schipo and well done!

Cupcake if you want to still go to the MLU then ask if you can just be monitored on a daily basis - as long as this shows that baby is still happy there is no need to induce you and that way you can hopefully still get the birth you want regardless of how overdue you are (someone I know recently went to 43 weeks and wasn't induced).

I'm going from the sublime to the ridiculous here - I'm now getting concerned about how much DD2 is sleeping and the fact that she is only feeding about every 4.5/5 hours and doesn't seem to be taking as much at each feed as she was a couple of days ago. I missed the MW's call today so will keep an eye on things for the next 24 hours until she calls again....

Congratulations Hollyoaks,Angel and Schipo..

Hollyoaks..so sorry to hear about Grace..how frightening for you..sounds like she is in good hands and hopefully she will be home soon..I cant begin to imagine how hard it must have been to hand her over to the anaesthetist..

Olivia is now 6 weeks old (where does the time go???) and we had a slight scare on weds when the consultant paediatrician phoned to say her guthrie test had come back showing possible underactive thyroid (I have it too)..so we had to go back to hospital on thursday to repeat the test..thankfully the result came back normal..she was weighed as well and is now 9lb

sadly she is not settling at night and we are having some really bad nights with her..she seems to have colic and spends the night, grunting, fussing and straining...she doesnt really cry but has the abilty to keep the whole house awake by grunting loudly

had to go to work today as one of my staff phoned in sick..thank fully it was local but spent the entire time feeling anxious and phoned DH repeatedly at every chance to check DD was ok..expressed before I went..but of course my boobs filled up which was rather uncomfortable..

my friend from school had her baby deleivered by e-c-sec on thursday 5 weeks early..hes doing fine but has a kidney problem so is in scbu..

I sympathise with everyone whose babies are not sleeping..I do feel as well that Olivia uses me as a dummy..she actually lets out a sigh of contentment when I latch her on sometimes..no way round it really I guess..this stage goes so quickly and doesnt last long..I feel I could collapse from lack of sleep though! DM comes over on thursdays and does nothing..doesnt even offer to push a hoover round..never mind..weve given in and employed a cleaner for a short while..one less stress..

had to rush DD2 up to the doctors again last night with tonsilitis..the gp is making noises about them coming out..

Hi All

Congrats Schipo - have you decided on a name yet?

Hollyoaks - that sounds traumatic. I'm so glad you have a lot of help so you can stay with Grace, and that her op seems to have worked. You are all in our thoughts.

Kateyjane/ML - thanks for the advice for my DSis, especially as you were tired and going out to work! I have copied your replies to her so she can investigate a bit further.

Pigley/Carikube - I did what I always promised myself I would never do after DS1, and I read one of the breastfeeding help books (they totally depressed me with DS1 when BF didn't work) - they said that the growth spurt happens at 21 days, but I think Sophie is having her growth spurt now. She fed non-stop for 48 hours, but today has gone back to her normal feed patterns - no monster feeds, loads of sleep, normal rooting for food. So I think she has had a growth spurt and we are hopefully back to normal. It appears that she has not read the books!!

Carikube - as long as DD2 is settled and not crying then she is probably just catching up a bit on sleep. Always worth discussing any concerns with the MW though.

Cupcake/Moggmum/Ali/Racquel and all other ladies in waiting - thinking of you!

Pigley - hope your sis can relax a bit now. I have to say I didn't get any extra pain in 2nd preg, but I didn't have any pain with 1st preg either.

Rachel - glad you got the night feeding better last night. I wish I could feed lying down with DD in bed with me, but I can't get the hang on it - and I worry that DH is such a heavy sleeper that he would roll on to her!

Lucky - glad that reinforcements have arrived! Grandmas are (usually) brilliant!

Had a lovely day today, as I could finally get up off the sofa. DD1 slept for three hours this morning so managed to tidy out all the cupboards and drawers downstairs which had become a total tip because we had just been shoving things in any old how so now feel much more in control. Have also done a weekly planner with a list of all DS1's activities and all the jobs I need to get done during the week so I can work out when I am going to try and do things when DH goes back to work next week. Hoping that DD1 will read the planner and plan her sleeps round it . Then went swimming at the gym with DH , DS1 and DD1 - DH and DS1 went in the pool, DD1 stayed asleep in her car seat for the entire time, and I sat on the sofa occasionally waving at DS1 through the window, drinking a HOT decaf latte and reading the papers. Was bliss!! Taking DS1 to Harrogate tomorrow to sail his new remote control boat on the boating pond there, and hoping that similar thing happens because there is a lovely tea room right next to the pond that has a comfy chair with my name on it...! At this rate will be back in my maternity trousers!

Am typing this whilst watching Eurovision [sad but brain is mush emoticon] - have just seen three women dressed as butterflies - standard Eurovision I guess! I hope we don't get null points again!