April Babies

[MrsDoolittle]

Well there had to be one...
Thought I might as well start it at Fennels suggestion.
You have all read enough from me how about you?

Hell! What a week! I'm afraid I am whining.
I have been sick. My cold either got worse or I picked up something else but I became really sick. My tonsils became large and spotty, my throat felt like I had swallowed glass and on Saturday I stayed in bed because everytime I moved I threw up . Thankfully, I was staying at my parents so dd was looked after for me and fed formula. I was hoping to feed her exclusively for six months but thats not going to be the case I am afraid. My milk supply dropped dramatically (although it's improving now) and I have started to try feeding with a soft rusk. Very messy business!!
The other thing is, my gleefully long nights of 8pm-6am are now interrupted by a chattering baby at either 1 or 3am. My cold or 'illness' are still hanging around and I am feeling very tired.
Still I should be very grateful that dd hasn't become ill herself (touchwood)

Poor you, MrsD . It's awful trying to look after a baby when you're feeling ill, isn't it - good job you were staying with your parents when you felt really bad. Have you been to the doc's?

Hello April it's Spots from May just popping in and can't resist saying hey to Fennel, we are also doing some camping in N. Scotland this fortnight. Thought we must be mad but we only have one (baby) dd. shall look out for likely fennels !

mrs d all sounds very stressful.

spots - where are you going? if you see a purple camper van loaded down with windsurfers and very small girls, that'll be us. you'll be able to locate us by the amount of yelling we produce...

Mrs D - sending a hug and sympathy your way... We all got colds a few weeks ago and I was so worried I ws going to get really ill - fortunately it wasn't a horrible one, but it's a nightmare looking after a child when you feel lousy yourself.

We're in our own hell here - ds has taken to his carrot - and pear for tea - like a duck to water - loves his pear at tea time especially, but it's affecting how he settles down for naps - i.e. he isn't any more... He has always gone down like a dream at 7pm, but even that's out of the window now. I think it's 'cos he's got wind after his tea, but it's a nightmare... Just hoping it'll settle down in the next few days.

Meanwhile my Mum is being really helpful and supportive (NOT) by saying that it's 'cos we're rushing the weaning process - which I don't think we are at all - 1 ice cube of carrot for lunch and 1 cube of pear at tea - does that sound too much??

I don't think it does sound like too much dot1. It sounds like your ds was ready for weaning if he was drinking 9oz bottles and having a breastfeed. I thought as long as you increased the quanities gradually it would be OK.

I haven't started weaning ds yet as he is only 14 wks. He seems to be quite happy on my milk so far. In fact he is still spending a good 45mins to an hour feeding. I reckon I must have a very slow flow of milk as I can't even express that quickly either.

Spots and Fennel I think you are very brave to do camping. I would not even do it without kids!

Hope you get beter soon MrsD

Dot1 - sorry to hear about your ds not settling well. Kepp us posted on how it all goes - my ds is 17 weeks now and we're still trying to keep him just on milk but i'm very interested in your progress for when the time comes!
MrsD - sorry about your cold. My ds is also waking up once a night, usually 3am-ish and chattering to himself, and sometimes crying a little bit, but then getting himself back to sleep. I peer round his bedroom door to make sure his feet aren't stuck in his cot but don't let him see me! He's just learnt how to roll on to his side, but not onto his front, and seems to like practising that in the wee hours. it's so cute it's hard to feel cross, just very tired

Another 3am baby here - I always feed ds when he wakes though - hadn't occurred to me that he might not be hungry and might be able to get himself back to sleep...

We went to a work summer social yesterday lunchtime - several people were asking when I'd be back. Fennel - you've gone back part-time, haven't you? Are you finding it ok?

Hi HD. I found it a bit stressful going back, it did feel too soon really (I went back last week, 3 days a week at present) but actually have done 3 office days and 3 days from home in 2 weeks and am about to have 2 weeks holiday so it's not been too traumatic. I don't feel very enthusiastic about work yet, but it's been nice working from home and feeding and cuddling dd3 while working.

we're packing today for 2 weeks in scotland, it's raining here and I am not keen. DP's choice of holiday this year...

Hmmm, that would be dd I always feed (not ds!). Those 3 am wakenings are obviously getting to me...

Fennel, I'm impressed you manage to work and cuddle your dd - hope you enjoy your holiday!

so sorry to hear hat u r not feeling too good Mrs
all quiet here at the mo ( fingers crossed ) dh has nxt wk off work an't decide if this is a good or bad thing !!
why is it that the little darlings do things while u r not looking was doing the hoovering went in 2 check that ds was ok to find him on his front for the 1st time do they all pratice @ 3am ?

Hi everyone. Fennel - hope the weather improves for your hols! Dolbear - we had to go into my ds's room 3 times last night because he'd rolled over but couldn't roll himself back again. And today he fell asleep under his play gym on his front. Are we meant to roll them back at night even if they aren't crying? I was worreid last night because it's been so humid and sticky at night, I didn't think ds should be sleeping with his face into the mattress. I gave him some baby rice this morning as he has been really grumpy during the day these last 2 days and crying when his bottle is empty. I'm not sure how much he had though, he didn't know what to make of a spoon in his mouth!!

Hi Ladies,
Thank you all for your lovely messages. I think I am sorted now - 110% better! Dd, the little darling, has now resumed her full nights sleep so I assume my milk is adequate (thanks to some advice from MNers). The knock on effect is, ofcourse, I am getting enough sleep Dd still seems to feed strangly though and I have no idea why. She seems to keeps pulling at my nipple, coming off then, crying then latching on again. I assumed this meant that I didn't have any milk left but she often has a mouthful of milk. Anyway, we get there is the end because she does seem to fill up somehow.
Dh is off now for the next two weeks and we are looking forward to having two weeks off together with our little cherub. She really is the best thing that has ever happened to me - I feel so blessed

Hello all, my ds was born on 30th April, so has just turned 3 months. I want to take him swimming for the first time, but am not sure whether I should buy armbands / floats of any kind, and what 'kit' I should take with me.

Any advice please? Ta!

aarrgghh! Ds is now on 3 meals a day - now on about 2 ice cubes per meal, plus his 9 oz bottles, plus breastfeeds and is still waking up at night - even more often if anything... I feel completely flummoxed! He's asking for more food -always still has his mouth open when he's finished and cries when there's no more - same after a 9oz bottle, which is why I then top him up with a breastfeed... What's happening?? He's calmer during the day which is lovely, but now isn't settling at 7pm, and is waking up at 1am (but I don't feed him - just try to settle him) and about 4am, when I feed him. He's now in 6 - 9 months sleepsuits and he's not even 4 months old...!

HELP!!! Any ideas on settling him would be much appreciated...

Blimey , sorry no idea !!! ompletley useless as a newby and never had that problem ( so far )

Mrs D - my ds does the same with his bottle knocks/ spits it out and then cries , i think that they are just playing in a bizar way !

re armbands etc , was going to ask the same question I suppose that as you are going to hold them all the time , maybe just a little pair of armbands?

all quiet this wk so far

Hi peeps. Feel like a social leper as you've all managed to find time to post and I haven't. Such a failure ... . DD now 16 weeks and thinking of weaning her. Had been fantastic - sleeping from 8.30pm till 5am until the last few nights when she's wanted feeds at 1am-3am and then wakes at 6am. Definitely time for food!

The first month was terrible - thought she had reflux as she screamed whenever she fed and was feeding for hours and hours all through the night. Then at about 6 weeks I had a terrible fever and couldn't feed her and she had to go on the bottle and was immediately fine so I suppose my milk wasn't enough. Now just bottle fed and as I am on umpteenth vodka and tonic as I type am jolly glad she IS on the bottle!

DS is 21 months and still not sure about having a younger sister - does tend to chuck things at her and get a bit silly around her, but we're getting there. He's always been a brilliant sleeper but for the last week had been taking hours to settle and I think DD is part of it.

Other than that just so thrilled to be a mum of two though a night away at a health spa wouldn't go amiss!! (You wish, says DH who's next to me as I type)

don't worry Bluecow - sounds like you've got your hands full!

Meanwhile I've started my period - first one for 13 months . Seems weird - like the whole pregnancy thing's finally over - which I know it is, but it's still strange...

Meanwhile ds is still eating for England and loving every minute of it! I'm sure he wants more but I'm still not sure whether to increase his food - going to the health clinic this afternoon to see what HV says.

Dot1 - your ds2 sounds fab and hilarious! Boys do have such appetites though. I weaned ds at 14 weeks and he was the same as your ds2 - just loved food. Give him what he wants - sounds like he needs it. Parsnips were a big hit with ds as a first food.

Honestly Bluecow - he's starting to look like a mini rugby player..! He's not fat, but certainly on the big side! I had him weighed yesterday and he's put on 2lbs in the last 2 weeks - he's now almost 16lbs... But actually it's a joy being able to feed him and see that he's getting so much happier now (makes me feel bad that I wasn't feeding him enough before though..). He's getting to be a really giggly baby (when he's not screaming - but that's getting less now!).

Yes I felt dreadful when I realised dd's screaming and desperation when feeding were down to hunger. Have tried her on second milk but seems to give her constipation so weaning soon I think.

Incidentally, I seem to remember you have/had PCOS. I've been referred to see a doc in October and am hoping to go on metformin for my PCOS. Also have to go in for an op some time soon as thyroid/thyroid lumps came up after daughter born. Bit scared but trying not to worry. Hoping it's a pregnancy related thing as I know that can happen. Mostly worried what sort of scar I might be left with...

Hi bluecow I was wondering the other day where you had got to when I was watching Storymakers with dd.

I haven't weaned ds yet. I keep wondering if my breastmilk is good enough as ds is long and skinny. But I think he must be happy as it reguarly goes 3-4hrs between feeds and only has 1 feed between 7pm - 7am. I must admit I am not looking forward to doing all the pureeing and sterilising that comes with weaning.

Its ds's christening tomorrow and I have DH's family over so I am currently running around like a headless chicken trying to get things organised. I've been going to bed at around midnight too so 've been very tired.

Oh - and I realised a new Anyone due in April thread has started alrady. Can you believe it - a year ago we all found out that our little treasures were on their way

ds is honestly a different baby since he's been eating - is so happy and just lies on the floor rolling and squealing and giggling!

Bleucow - Yes, I've got PCOS - I need to go back to the docs as I came off Metformin when I got pregnant and was told it's best to go back on it and stay on it - reduces the risk of getting diabetes apparently. I also had Thyroid problems - had Graves disease and had radioactive iodine so I'm now permanently underactive - take thyroxine. I hope you're OK - do you know what op. they're suggesting - I don't suppose you could have the iodine instead??

Metrobaby - it really is scary how the months are flying by - makes me sad when I see next year's April thread - how can it all be going by so quickly?!

PS - he's also having 2 x 2hour naps a day now!!! Has turned into perfect baby (apart from the 4.30am breastfeed - that's next to go!!)

hello bluecow nice 2 C U ( so to speak )
well ds got me up @ 7 this moning dh having a lie in, ds then promptly fell asleep on the lounge floor so have been trying to find quiet housework to do for the last 2 hrs
dot , don't feel bad , bless u
metrobaby - hope the christening went ok we are have our christening without a christening next week will prob rain!