May Babies

[GeorginaA]

Have we got enough that I can officially open this thread yet?

How are your little ones doing prufrock, twiglett, snowbird?

I think mine is going down with jaundice. Dh isn't convinced, but it's either that or he's got a lovely tan sigh. I remember all the stress associated with that last time with ds1... hoping ds2 doesn't get it as badly.

He's still being a very sicky baby, about a couple of teaspoons a few hours after each feed (which is odd - I'd have thought if it was a reflux type thing it would happen immediately after the feed?) Midwife seems to think it'll settle after the milk comes in but if not then we'll look at some sort of baby gaviscon. Poor little mite, can't be comfortable for him... and we're sure getting through a lot of laundry!

Feel so bloody knackered at the moment, fed up of bits leaking and being sore, and it's only day 2! How long is it before you start feeling human again? Please tell me that it's sooner than the 2 week paternity leave dh gets!!

suck bogies out with their mouths ---uuuuuuughhhhhhhhhhhh. if i'm desperate! will try the breatmilk idea, and get a sucky thing from the chemists. my friend used one in america on the children she aupaired, but didnt think could get them here. thanks twiglett.

kbaby, your dd sounds alot like mine, just reverse day and night. she has fed every 1 1/2 hours the last 2 nights. not wanted to be put back down to sleep at all each time, and it has been bloody hell. today she has slept all day with a feed at 11am and another just now at 2pm ish. why????????????? how can i reverse this? do i? hv is ringing tomorrow to see if she has settled. bless. have the baby whisperer book too. trying to read dd's cries, and think, EAT ACTIVITY SLEEP and it seems to be ok IN THE DAY!!!!!

as for bf. some of you are talking about dropping feeds..........dont know anything about this!? am just feeding on demand, which is 'demanding' at night, as said before. day is fine. how and when do you drop feeds?

oh, whats people's opinions/practices with having babies sleep in own room vs your room? dd is with us, and i know should be according to advice re cotdeath, but she is such a noisy sleeper/grunter/moaner, that i spend most of the time when i could be asleep waiting for her to escalate into a cry. if she was next door i think i could maybe sleep. what do you all do?

I don't know Egypt, I'm currently having that dialogue with myself too Ds1 was in his own room by 4 weeks (just got fed up one night, picked up the moses basket and dumped him in his own room - evil parents ), but ds2 is still in our room at almost 7 weeks. He sleeps in his own cot for day naps and just sleeps in the moses basket 11pm-7am to make night feeds easier for us, so I don't envisage a huge upheaval for him when he does go into his own room.

We're going to have to make a decision fairly soon now as he's not going to be able to stay in the moses basket much longer, and we can't fit the cot in our room (and even if we could, would be incredibly impractical for daytime for us), but I can't help feeling slightly guilty and panicky about the prospect.

Would be nice if he was sleeping through from 11-7 before we moved him though. There goes bacon airlines, flight 101...

Egypt, I'm dropping feeds because I'm stopping breastfeeding and putting dd2 onto bottles. to do this I'm dropping one feed at a time every three days. With dd1 I just stopped and put her straight onto bottles but I've found it much easier this time dropping a feed every 3 days. You don't need to worry about dropping feeds until you are ready to put your dd onto bottles.

We have dd2 in our bedroom with us. Mainly because of the advice that the baby should be in your room until they are 6 months old and also because her bedroom isn't ready for her yet. It needs to be decorated, used to be dd1's bedroom and it needs to be painted. We will do this over the summer at some point. Dd1 was actually in our bedroom with us until she was 17 months old. But that was because we moved house when she was 4 months old and the room that was to be her bedroom had been a junk room and we had to clear it all out and then decorate it etc and I was working full time as was dh and it took us a while to get round to it. DD2 should be in her own room by christmas if not before.

WE've had a really good day today. dd2 actually managed to go 4 hours between a feed, never managed that before. And she's been really well behaved as well and I managed to bath both dd's by myself as dh is working all day. Only 2 and a half days of school left and then I'll have both dd's at home with me all day, I'm looking forward to not having to be getting up and out of the house real early but also wondering how I'm going to cope with both of them at home all day for 6 weeks, eeeek, I'm sure it will be fine.

Oh and she had a dirty nappy tonight after her bath, so I'm not worried about that anymore.

Linnet our hv said breastfed babies can go 4 or 5 days without dirty nappies! Ours is a great nappy dirtier now after couple of days off - 3 corkers a day, so her bowels must still be pretty inefficient.

We had corn on the cob this evening and I realised what those nappies smell of. Corn on the cob. what do your babies' poos smell like?

I can't imagine moving her out of our room until the night feeds have dwindled a bit. I find it hard enough sitting up straight in my knackered state let alone traipsing through the house.

Libb glad the horrible bits aren't totally constant. I do think the pressure on relationships is huge in this game;am rather scared by this myself. It's as if you're slowly but surely building a new relationship with this new wee person, while almost without you noticing the big relationship you thought you knew about and relied upon takes a swing and ends up somewhere somewhere quite different. In this household too the football has sparked the odd incident... tonight I threw my clogs at DH in all seriousness because he was lauging at me for wanting to watch Big Brother . I felt it was my right to watch what the hell I wanted while feeding the girl for the zillionth time WITH raggedy nipples... but the footy stayed on, the remote just out of my reach. Clogs were the only thing to hand. I am not normally a clog thrower (perhaps if I was my aim might have been better).really rather wanted to bruise him tho'.

lol spots re clogs. bless you.
linnet, glad your dd has had a corker of a nappy!
had a horrendous bedtime last night. thinking that praps we should not put her to bed until we go. she cried hysterically for 2 hours - 8.30 til 11.30. everytime we soothed her - and HAD to pick her up as thought she would cry herself to death if didnt, despite hv advice, she wailed when put her back down. hence she slept on my bed til 2am. finally went to sleep in her basket after that feed.
i dont know what i am doing wrong. she used to be so content. please dont say its colic!
am reading baby whisperer. think shall try to put her down when its dark. dont have blackout curtains in our room, only in hers. baby whisperer says try blackout during day to get them used to going down in the dark. other books say, teach them night from day, by putting down in the light at daytime - ggggrrrrrrrrrrrr. why is there no idiots guide to babies with one answer?

egypt you[re not doing anything wrong! Shedoesn't know about routines yet... babies are notorious for changing the goalposts just as you think you've got it sussed. if she's crying she maybe just wants something different to whatever you're thinking she wants, and if only you knew what it was she'd be 'settled' again. when mine dooes this it's almost always a feed that she's after... I'm not always sure that hunger is the reason for wanting a feed but feeding is her skill and her meditation and her cornerstone for life so I'm willing to let her 'comfort feed' if that's what it comes down to. I thought she might have colic until I realised how much she could chow through!

even if it's not feeding, don't let a change in her habits make you feel a failure.

Did you have an exciting wedding related holiday coming up? did you sort out how and where etc?

Thinking about holidays myself; desparate for some away time...

Egypt, please don't worry there are no rights or wrongs when it comes to babies it's all a guessing a game, well I think so anyway. After a while it does become easier. I have never bothered trying to put dd2 down to bed in the evening as evening is when she is most awake. I know that what I should do is try to keep her more awake during the day so that she goes to bed earlier but I know that I'll get round to that eventually.

At the moment I put dd2 into her moses basket after her last feed which she has at around 11.30pm-midnight. I don't mind having her up in the evenings as Dh is usually working and dd1 is in bed so I can concentrate on dd2 and have some lovely mummy and baby time alone. And when she sleeps through the day I can spend more time with dd1.

I'm now going to try and get some Ironing done as dd2 has gone down for nap so while I have the chance I'll catch up, hopefully anyway. I swear she hears me switching on the iron and usually wakes up. I typed too soon I hear her stirring and I didn't even get near the iron, lol

were going downhill... dd is getting less and less contented as each day passes and im resorting to all kinds of things i said i wouldnt e.g dummy, swings and car rides. last night we were up to 1am trying to get her to sleep. her eyes were wide open dp reckons i mustve slipped her something illegal a car ride was the only thing that eventually got her sleeping.
spots dp likes the smell of dd's poo. he says it smells all sweet!!
egypt we tried the baby whisperer but it was no good for us. I found that the activity after the feed always made dd sick. we have to wait 1.5hrs after a feed before we can do anything. then again gina ford didnt work for us either. so wereb back to having no routine

Kbaby, sorry to hear you are constant cuddle patrol. I have no advice but I hope it passes for you - DS was like this until a few days ago then it seemed like someone flipped a switch somewhere and (so far!) he has started to settle easily again. Although this morning has been a bit too cuddly for my liking as I've been trying to sort money issues out . . . never a good thing at the best of times.

Twiglett, am I right in thinking that you are feeding on demand? I ask because I have been reading the baby whisperer book and she advocates routine - I understand you like this book too so wondered what approach you took. I liked the body language guides and the lessons on how to stop and think about what baby is trying to say, seems to have helped all of us so far! (touch wood). Thanks for asking the BF question too, I have pretty much the same feeding routine and DS seems to be gaining weight well so wasn't concerned - more puzzled!

Spots, clogs sound a bit harsh but if they work then maybe I should have a go - I just resorted to some choice words at the time!

Hope everyone is doing well despite all the wobbles, I think we're all doing really well xxx

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Twiglett, that does sound exactly like my routine! even down to the Moses basket going upstairs at night and downstairs during the day without blackout curtains. He sleeps from 9/10 until 3 most nights so can't grumble really. The only routine as such is a nightly bath at 6.30 ish, he loves his bath and it chills him out. If only I had the quiet DP!

I have the what to expect book too - I think they are really handy to see what should be going on. Nearly started ticking off the "milestones" but DP said I would only start worrying if I couldn't tick one off! He has a point . . .

The health visitor doesn't think I have PND at all but just a case of the blues - I think she may be right. She asked what major changes have occured in the last year apart from baby and there wasn't much that didn't happen! new house, new job, new partner, divorce and then along comes baby . . . . enough to challenge the sturdiest of people (and that isn't me!)

Hope you are all having a better day today xxx

libb your ds sounds like an angel and u are doing fab considering all that u are going thru.

thanks for your kind words all. things seem so much better in day, when she sleeps! even in moses basket. hv phoned and says she is prob just wisening and playing us up. she said to get some infacol just too see if it helped. just rushed to tesco leaving dd with neighbour, came back, and feeding - just realised havent given her the bloody stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!

kbaby, know how u feel. i think its doublt hard as first time mums too. keep us posted, but remember when u are having screaming ab dabs at night, we are too!

Kbaby by the way meant to say the Gaviscoon isn't prescription drug you can ask for it over the counter if you wanted to try some for your sicky girl. It's the ionfanyt version, comes in sachets of powder. We were told to only give ours half a dose; you need a little syringe to squirt it into her mouth with. It tastes of nothing (I tried) but expect a twisty face!
Having said that, I had 6 week check at GP to day and asked if the medicines were really necessary as they don't seem to make that much difference. GP said as long as she's gaining weight and isn't so sick it upsets her (which she is and she isn't respectively) we needn't bother. So you're welcome to use all my leftover supplies if you want to pop by for them...

I don't think babies getting less settled counts as going backwards or downhill by the way. It's really a good thing because it means they are getting more alert and interested in the world. Just a shame that it doesn't suit our adult timetable is all... I had an hour with dd last night trying to persuade her that night is for sleeping in.

... for 'ionfanyt' read 'infant' !!!

Thank you Egypt, my "angel" has his fair share of arsy moments and sick though! Cat82, if you get a chance to look in then please don't think I've forgotten you - I will text you asap. I will be coming into Cambridge sometime this week so maybe we can meet then? I don't feel overly confident I must admit though, an hour each way on the bus and an appointment with the bank to sit through. Great.

DS managed to give himself a little lovebite on his arm! I knew he was hungry but that is just crazy! Its gone now so I know DP won't believe me when he gets home . . .

Here is a cheering thought, Gwyneth Paltrow is probably having exactly these kind of conversations with her babied up friends too . . . but with a very swanky pushchair!

What happens at the 6 week check up?

I made my appointment today, dd2 is actually 6 weeks old this Friday but could only get an apopintment for next week. Is fine by me and I know I should have phoned last week to make the appointment but I'm a busy person.

Anyway, my Dr finishes on Wednesday for a Sabbatical sp? and could be off for up to 6 weeks so I have to go to another dr, the one who is replacing mine. It's another female dr so I'm happy with that but what exactly do they do?

I can't remember from last time as it was so long ago, what I really want to know is do they give you an internal examination? I don't think I got one last time but should I be prepared for one just incase?

Onto other things, DH's birthday is tomorrow and on Wednesday night there is a joint night out for his birthday and a guy at his work who is leaving. Should I go on Wednesday night as well?
I can't decide if I should go or not. I'd like to go haven't been out for ages, will only be for a few drinks but can I trust mother in law to look after my girls? I know that she'll be ok with dd1 and she's ok with dd2 but I'm not sure if she'll cope alone with both of them. Oh decisions decisions. dd2 is now on bottles as of today, wasn't satisfied after her breastfeeds today so I've decided that she'll only get bottles tomorrow no breastmilk, this was my plan anyway just happened a few days ahead of schedule.

Has anyone else taken their baby into their place of work yet to show them off?

I haven't. we meant to go in last week but dd1 was ill so we didn't leave the house, hoping to go sometime this week.

Sorry, but I just HAD to tell someone... like the whole world.

I GOT A SMILE!!!!

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am I supposed to take the baby with me? thought it was just a check up for me.

Thanks everyone for the support, We actually had a fairly good night last night. DP bathed her and then took her upstairs in her moses basket at 8, it took swaddling and rocking but she went down at 9 and didnt murmur until 1am for a feed, she was a bit fussy after but not too bad, she then woke at 5am for another feed and then at 7am. DP's mum has her this morning for 2 hours and my mum is having her this evening from 6pm to 11pm. She offered to have her over night but i'm afraid to replace her feeds with too much EBM encase she likes the bottle too much. I noticed after I gave her EBM last time her suck was a bit off at the next breast feed. Ive expressed milk ready so hopefully it will go smoothly.
I took DD into work when she was 2 weeks old and she was a angel and slept the whole time I was there. Thank God, I dont think they wouldve been happy with a screaming baby in the office.

whey - much better night. dd took just 12-15 'good girl' pat pats to go to sleep last night instead of 3 hours worth! improvement. tried the infacol and she fed every 3 hours like clockworkm which was great. went straight back to sleep after and woke up on the dot at 8.30 at which point thought, best get up then! phew. thank the lord

wondered too about 6 week check. dont know about internals but made sure i got a female doc.

as for contraception - havent even dared attempt THAT yet. anyone with stitches tried it before 5 weeks? i don't think i could - EVER. still feels kind of sore and certainly different down there. my friend also said 'its like waving a pencil around in the albert hall', so that should be fun

great news kbaby. your dd certainly sleeps good stretches.

am supposed to be going out on friday night with work's end of term meal. have tried to EBM this morning so can get dd to practise with the bottle this eve, but can get only 1 oz out and that 10 mins worth of trying. this is with a medela electric pump which did the job perfectly when i was engorged. now it leaves my nipples looking purple and bruised. uh oh. am i not going to be able to EBM? praps i shouldnt go out at all friday. maybe should try the aventis hand pump and see if thats better.

HV has been round and weighed dd2 she's now 9lbs 11 and a half oz. All fine and dd2 is doing great. She said that I don't need to take dd2 with me to my 6 week check up as it's just for me and dd2 will get her check up at 8 weeks when we go in for the immunisations. I'm going to make sure that I take dh with me that day so he can hold her while she gets her jabs.

dd2 went to sleep last night at 10.30pm. I was a bit worried as the last time she did that she woke at 1.30am and didn't go back to sleep until 5am. But...this time she was an angel, woke up at 3am, had half a bottle and then went straight back to sleep until 7am. I was able to get up at 7am with her then see to dd1 getting ready for school, first time I've managed that and of course the schools finish tomorrow, lol Oh well will just have to keep trying to follow it through the holidays so that we're ready for when we go back in August. WE let Dh sleep late, since it's his birthday and I took dd1 to school by myself, first time I've done that as well.

well got to go have lunch then go get dd1 from school, going to buy daddy a birthday cake, for dd1's sake of course, dh doesn't like cake, I told him it was ok dd1 and I would eat it, lol