Sleep is for the Weak Reunited

[gingerninja]

As we're officially not the weakest of other posters on the sleep boards anymore, it's time to move on. So, here is the new home for those of us that have been on SIFTW so long we can't bear to leave and who finally, can think about other stuff to talk about.

So my SIFTW sisters, this is where the kettle is always on and we can talk freely about sleep, no sleep or anything that takes our fancy.

Hello everyone? Has Ginger had her baby yet?

Report from the front: 2 DCs is more difficult but we got into a routine far more quickly than with DS and everything seems to be pretty settled now (DS2 is 2 mo). He isn't sleeping through or anything mad like that, but he does sleep for 3-4 hours at a time at night (woohoo!) doesn't spend all evening screaming and is pretty calm all round. Wishing you all similarly settled babies - all those in the know tell me 2nd ones are often more settled.

Oh, but be prepared for utter panic when you contemplate getting through your first day with TWO of them. I certainly haven't had the months of shell-shock I had with DS1 though.

(disclaimer: by 'routine' I mean getting us all out of the house, dressed and more or less clean before midday )

Audrey: congratulations!

Meg and Tibsy: hope you're getting on OK and not feeling too uncomfortable.

EP was just thinking of you this morning. glad things are good for you. i'm expecting bedlam for a little while when our arrival comes..... although looking forward to dp's 2 weeks paternity leave
it must be so nice to have a lo sleeping for 3-4 hrs at a stretch. i hope we're all that fortunate like your disclaimer!!!!!

audrey

I may have sopken too soon - an unsettled night last night but he's getting a cold (as is DS1, bah). Have great weekends everyone

Hello all, no news as yet have 2 weeks left and praying it will be early as I'm really not enjoying being pregnant. I'm increadibly hormonal at the moment and poor DD and DH are at the receiving end. DD has been somewhat of a challenge recently, I think partly she has the baby on her mind as it is mentioned every night before bed so I suspect she's a little anxious and partly because I've turned into a fat grump who can't pick her up and can't get down and play and have no energy to do anything so we tend to spend a lot of time in battle with one another at the moment. I know it's not going to be easy when the baby is here but hopefully the physical restriction will be lifted.

Good to hear that you're all well, hope your Morning sickness is easing Audrey and EP you're giving me hope. I've watch a friend recently get her fourth into a routine so quickly and painlessly and it makes me feel absolutely pathetic for moaning.

I've got the go ahead for the home birth which is quite exciting. Everything is ready and I've got a birthing pool all ready for blowing up. It's quite scary really as I had such a straight forward experience with DD that I'm worried that this time it will be horrible.

Anyway, DD has finally fallen asleep thank goodness, she was up early and she'd never have got through til this evening. Some days she naps others she doesn't. She is much easier to settle at night if she hasn't but it's a bit hit an miss at the moment. I must go and do some tidying up.

PS we've just got some chickens. They're busy digging up the garden at the moment but unbelievably they've given us eggs every day so far and DD absolutley loves them and is so funny wedging them under her arm and walking up the garden with them.

morning ladies
ep colds in the tibsy house too am sure you'll get back on track soon

ginger for your hormonal moods. i'm with you all the way and am feeling very sorry for my dp, ds and dd atm. theyve got another 14 wks to suffer yet too
good luck with your home birth plans. i'm sure it will go really well, i know i felt so much more relaxed at home.

hi audrey and meg

ginger been meaning to add, dont worry about 2nd labour, ime it was better than the 1st and even MW mentioned the other day that 2nd labours are usually the best. am sure you'll just sneeze and the lo will pop out
hope the chickens have been keeping dd entertained!!

any news from Ginger yet?

Still here. We're all getting pretty bored of my being pregnant to be honest. I just want to be able to bend again [wails] Scan due date was 19th, my date is today. Here's waiting and hoping..........

It is v boring, I was all of 2 days overdue and it felt like a lifetime... hope that baby gets moving soon

How's it going Ginger?

one handed typing so ill keep it short and write more when i have chance but I had DD2 on Thurs am at home didn't get the pool filled in time!. We're all doing well and she has been feeding really well so seems a bit more content than DD1 did. early days tho

Congratulations Ginger! That's my birthday too - an excellent day to be born . Do you have a name yet?

Hooray!

Congrats and glad you got your home birth, can't wait to hear all about it!

hi ginger, big congrats, so happy for you. let's hope this one is a fab sleeper then!!

ahhh ginger thats great news. well done you!!! glad you got your home birth and that all is going well

Hey girls, thanks for your best wishes. DD2 still being a little angel although is struggling to latch since my milk came in due to football style breasts so it's a bit frustrating for me and she's getting herself into a pickle about it.

I've written the birth story here for anyone interested.

PS called her Emily

Emily is lovely , i hope the feeding sorts itself soon for you lovely.

ginger i had goosebumps and teary eyes reading your birthstory. how lovely and what a lovely name. hope the feeding sorts out soon. hugs

Thanks Tibsy, I may eat my words at some point but DD2 is a dream baby. She sleeps and feeds really well, isn't at all whingey and happily puts herself to sleep without being rocked or fed for hours. Such a difference to DD1 that we're convinced it can't last. I have managed to have almost every meal with two hands and she seems more than happy to lay awake for a while without being bounced or stimulated.

So far, she has changed my entire perception of babyhood and it has been so much easier to bond with her [big guilt about DD1 emoticon] However, she has made me fall in love with DD1 all over again and I'm really enjoying watching my big girl grow up before my eyes.

Tonight was priceless, I was laying in DD1's bed, reading stories and feeding DD2 who was in the middle. DD1 cuddled up to DD2 and fell asleep with her arms wrapped around her. It was a really mushy moment.

Hope you're all well, Meggy, how long now?

Aw Ginger, that's made me feel a bit weepy... Love the name Emily.

I keep hearing about these angelic second babies, hope I get one of those!

Two weeks to go for me, though I've a feeling this one is quite comfy and won't be rushing out... DS was 10 days late so I wouldn't be entirely surprised to end up with a May baby.

I feel fine although a bit fed up of being huge, it's so impractical with a 2yo. And because it's Easter DS's nursery and playgroups are all shut, so I've been feeling a bit cooped up. At least the weather's been nice...

Hope everyone else is well...

Ginger: DS2 is still a much calmer baby, we've had our moments when he's going through a growth spurt/teething/had his jabs but last night he slept from 7:30pm to 3am . On a good night he usually wakes twice (between bedtime and 6/7am) which is v good as far as I'm concerned. Of course, we're coming up to the massive 4/5 month growth spurt so I may be eating my words soon!

The main difference seems to be that a bad night for DS2 is waking every couple of hours. That was DS1's default setting, when he had a bad night it was more every 1/1.5 hours which was a killer.

Oh, and DS2 is capable of waking up and muttering for a while, no immediate railroad screams! And naps in his chair/moses basket so we aren't pounding the streets three times a day. Really is a massive difference.

Have you done anything different to help DS2 sleep in his basket? This would make a HUGE difference if we could manage it!

I think for us Meg, and it's still early days so I know this may change, is not immediately jumping to DD2's attention, purely because I can't. I have to prioritise DD1 else we're liable to have lots of upset and tantrums which has meant DD2 gets fed and then plonked down and has, on a couple of occasions re settled herself after waking. I never would have done this with DD1 but with the second you just cant be in two different places at once. On the whole she seems more contented though, feeds better than DD1 ever did at this age, doesn't tend to struggle with wind which always troubled DD1.

The last few nights DD2 has fed very frequently so either she is making up for the lack of attention during the day or she's on a growth spurt!

I'm sure your second will also be much easier.

Well, I am two days late and no sign of baby... bring on all your labour-inducing tips please, ladies!

Congratulations Ginger. I am so glad to hear you and the family are doing so well. How is your DH these days?
My life has improved significantly since DS2 has become more independent and I have come to the conclusion that as a parent you can have some influence over your baby but ultimately they are who they are. DD was a very happy and content baby after her colic and DS2 has been totallty different which I have come to realise has a lot to do with his independence and determination to do the things he sees his big brother and sister doing.
Long may your contented little girl continue.