Calling all Nov/Dec 2003 babies (well, their mums really).......

[StripyMouse]

Just wondering how we are all getting on now that the first three months are over/nearly over? Any surprises out there? Easier/harder than expected? Just being nosy I guess but always nice to hear how others in a similar boat are doing
My little one is much much easier than her big sister was and is now 16 weeks. As a bigger baby she seemed more content, happier feeding and takes more food so sleeps longer. Can?t say it is a total picnic, and am no supermum, but I am enjoying this baby much more than my first as I am not jumping everytime there is something slightly amiss. Just started weaning her and enjoying seeing her get so excited over a bit of mashed carrot - just magic.

ds is 15 weeks today! he's a joy, but like elliot, I don't think that I really know him as well as I know dd, I don't know why he's so smily, the poor boy seems to be ignored when dd is around, although I try not to. I'm relieved that he's not the only one who'll only take about 5oz in a feed, dd fed for hours, ds for only minutes! Glad that so many of you also have lovely, smiling happy babies.

I thought ds was really underfeeding taking only 5oz per feed so it is a relief that others are the same. Dd was on about 8 ozs by now! Tried him on a bit of babyrice yesterday but he was not too impressed!

My dd is only taking 5oz or sometimes 6 ina feed - hadn't occurred to me to worry about it! so I'm sure we shouldn't.

Interesting about how much our babies are feeding - it is so frustrating reading books when they can only give averages and non commital statements about how they are all individual and there is no fixed amount...
My dd is just 17 weeks and was a larger baby (9 and a half lbs). She is now having 5 feeds in any 24 hours and each feed is roughly 6/7ozs with a lunch feed combined with about 2 tablespoons worth of mush (carrot, pear or baby rice etc.) Is this normal/too much/too little? who knows - works for me Before I started weaning her she would gulp down her milk starving hungry, have about 10 ozs or more and then bring the lot up, now it has calmed down a bit - soemtimes having only 5 oz, sometimes finishing a whole 7 oz bottle.

Hi. Evie is 17 weeks this week She is gorgeous, a real little chubby thing now, put tons of weight on recently.
Very alert, always looking around. Smiles at me and her daddy, but quite fussy and prefers being under her baby gym to being held, she can stay there for ages (guess where she is now!) Blows raspberries and is very vocal. Plan to wean very soon. She sleeps from about 7ish to 1 and wakes up for a feed then goes back to sleep again until 5 or 6. And i fall more in love everyday.

I have no idea how much DD is drinking, as she point blank refuses to take a bottle. I can't get the hang of expressing at all and she hates formula - I'm at a bit of a loss actually as I never had this problem with DSs.

I've no idea how much ds2 drinks either, although when he has a bottle I usually leave 6oz and that seems to be enough - he has about 7 feeds in 24 hours. I don't think anyone should worry about it if their babies are happy - after all, breastfeeders are in complete ignorance about how much they are taking!
I'd be interested in any tips about how to sneak some quality time in wiht ds2 while ds1 is around - I find it really difficult to give him any attention at all apart from the odd smile at feed times and nappy changes, or sometimes I talk to him and disguise it as a conversation with ds1 (e.g. - look ds2 - there's ds1 eating his lunch/playing with a car etc etc).
Are any of the breastfed babies going through the night yet? If so, did you do anything active to drop the night feeds or did it just happen? I'm getting a little frustrated at the continued broken nights, mainly because he is so nearly there! I have tried not to feed so much at night insofar as its possible to limit a breastfeed, and also try not to go to him immediately (sometimes he will go back to sleep) but have yet to try 'cool boiled water' a la GF - a bit sceptical about that one. Or maybe I should just work on being patient....

ps lydialemon - I have put in an inordinate amount of time and effort to make sure ds2 has a bottle of ebm every few days - sometimes I think its a ridiculous effort to go to just to eventually have him take a bottle - the wise voice of mears would no doubt tell you not to worry about it, she will eventually take a bottle if it is absolutely essential, or you could just not bother and go straight to a cup instead

I tried her with a cup, and whilst she'll drink water from it, she immediately spits formula back out. Its not that great a problem except I feel a bit trapped as I can't leave her for long periods. I go back to work next week, and I've had to cut my hours so I can give her a feed at 7.30pm (she'll go down about 8.30). I'll get back around 12.30am, but I've been cutting out that last feed anyway. I'm just worried incase she has a bad night, and DH can't feed her whilst I'm not there.

With regards to dropping night feeds whilst BFing, I tend to play it by ear. I was 'dreamfeeding' DD at 12ish but I'm dropping that - shes not demanding it. I find they gradually stop waking up for them, and I try to settle them back to sleep before feeding them IYSWIM.

elliott - I know what you mean about trying to give quality time to one child while the other is still around. Easier to give the olderst QT when the baby is having a nap but not so easy the other wa round. I wouldn?t feel right just plonking her in front of a DVD just so I could play uninterupted with DD2. TBH, I have given up trying and just muddle through with both at once with better QT given whien DD1 is at playgroup 2 mornings a week and when she is with her grandparents/auntie now and again. I try and get my DD1 to help me play with DD2 and at almost 3 yrs she does like this (singing and playing "row row row your boat" etc.) but only ever lasts 2 mins. Too often I find I am doing some brilliant art work or gardening on jigsaw with the eldest only to feel like I am starting to rush her through it so that I can wash my hands (for the messy games) and pick up bored and dsigruntled baby - frustrating for all of us. No answers - will keep an eye on the thread to see if anyone can help us.

Hi just found this thread! I'd been wondering myself how everyone was doing.
My dd2 is 16 weeks today and is doing great - much better than me! She's a great sleeper, a great eater, much better than either of the others (3rd time lucky ). She's very very smiley and friendly, goes to anyone and tolerates everywhere we go and the people we see, including a week in hospital with me last week! (where she was spoilt rotten by the nurses).

I'm not so good - had BAD PND, was almost hospitalised and am now making some progress towards getting better. I'm also still coping with the kidney stones I had while I was pregnant, though things are slowly getting better. Looking forward to the summer, when I should be OK again!

sorry to hear you haven?t been feeling too great susanmt - sounds like you have had a rough ride recently. Hope they can sort out your kidney stones once and for all really soon and that your progress battling PND continues to be successful and you come out the other side really fast. Sounds like you have loads of luck coming your way really soon if you believe in karma - I would buy a lottery ticket as it sounds like it is definitely your turn !!

hey, I can see no ones posted on here in a while but just incase... im new to MN nd thought id say hi my DS bday is nov 2003. Here for a chat if anyone wants.