May Babies... part 2!

[GeorginaA]

... just because we can't stop yammering on

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aww... her poor little belly button Sounds a bit icky - I hope it heals up quickly.

Early 12 week spurt perhaps? (I remember there being a 12 week spurt but nowhere near as frantic as the 6 week spurt!)

Hello everyone

Cat it sounds like you had a really scary time but glad to hear that dd is ok now. Are you ok?

Egypt, I think it was you who asked about how much milk baby takes in bottle. My dd takes 6oz in her bottle at every feed except the one in the middle of the night when I give her 5 oz this is because if she has anymore she's not hungry enough for the breakfst feed and that throws us for the rest of the day. Hv said that was fine. I know you're still breastfeeding but just thought I'd let you know.

got d2 weighed again today and she's still 10lbs 15oz, last week she was weighed in her nappy and vest and this week she was naked so HV said that was probably why, must have been less last week but vest and nappy made it more.

Dd2 seems to eat roughly every 4 hours, sometimes she'll be hungry after 3 hours or 3 and a half so she gets her bottle then. Even if she eats funny during the morning she always seems to sort it out by afternoon and eats at 4pm then again at 8pm, or round about those times and then she goes to bed at 9pm. On a good day she'll feed at 4am, 8 am, 10am, 12pm, 3.45/4pm, 8pm goes to bed at 9pm. doesnt always have the 10 am feed and doesn't always stick to on the hour feeds but it has been known.

dd2 has also discovered her hands. when she wakes in the night she murmers around and I wake up but then I can hear her sucking her hands then she gets a bit more noisy and I feed her. But she does suck her hands during the day. I think she's looking for her thunb and once she finds it she won't need the dummy any more. Also she has finally embraced the bouncy seat, yipee, I can now sit her in it for a good while and she's very happy. There is a bar that goes over the front that has 3 balls hanging on it, one jangles, one squeaks and the other makes a crinkly sound. she likes to hit them, well waves her arms about and hit them by accident I don't know but she hits them and makes the ball jangle, can't work the other two yet but dd1 does those for her. Also getting loads of smiles. And the past few nights when we've been to visit my granny she's either slept in granny's arms or given her lots of smiles and tried to tell stories. Granny now knows that dd2 does like her after all
dd1's favourite thing to do is call her name and wave at her and dd2 does this funny arm jerk thing that looks as though she's waving back, dd1 is very impressed that her baby sister can wave. lol

how cute linnet

i am very impressed with your website georgina. how do you find the time?!! ds is gorgeous.
dd was babysay by nanny last night again and had another good night. this time she went to sleep at 9.30pm and woke at 1am!!! longest stretch ever at bedtime. then fed at 3.30, 5 and 7.30. hoping the later half of the night will soon sort it out.

linnet, dd had 6oz before bed so thats good she is normal! am wondering if this is more than she takes from me...what do you think? she seems to sleep much better and for longer after a bottle, where i can see that she is getting 6oz. wondering whether to start her on a formula bedtime feed for this reason. could give her a ebm bedtime feed i spose, but its a nightmare expressing all day. what do you think? shall se hv today and ask

Hi all

Linnet- yep it was very scary. We had another slight moment yesterday afternoon when her temperature suddenly went up to 38.2, but calpol seems to have worked miricals again
Georgina- wow I'm also very impressed with your site- and you have more than one! I can only just find the time to go and post on mumsnet with one seven month old!
Libb- how'd it go today? hope all's well with you, give me a call tonight if you'd like
Egypt- unfortunaly i never got the bf thing but i must say that since i stopped i felt a lot happier knowing what she was getting from the bottle. I would say that if your dd is lasting longer and you feel happier at night knowing she's had a good feed and will settle, then do it.
eek- time for the post natal group [scared smiley] i think i've forgotton how to talk to grown ups! Very nervous for some reason, wish me luck!
xx

How do I find the time? Well my children are horribly neglected.... Seriously, dunno really. I'm not a big TV watcher so most of my leisure time is spent on the computer. Even if I only write a few lines then I at least feel like I've achieved something in the day, and it's cheaper than therapy

What a day . . . couldn't get the jabs done as we haven't had our 6 week checks. Doh! I was told the hospital would be doing the checks because of the stitches, hadn't heard from them and had been meaning to chase it. I feel like such a muppet and feel very neglectful of DS - we have both been ticking along so had vaguely thought about chasing, the HV didn't mention it at her last visit (at 7 weeks) and I completely forgot to check with her. For some reason I thought I would get an invite (if you see what I mean?) why am I so stupid? poor DS doesnt stand a chance! Also 2 different people have now commented on him looking a little yellow still, it had gone shortly after birth but perhaps it is coming back? - now worried about that too. HV did comment that strictlt BF babies can look that way, anyone heard of this?

He hasn't been napping recently either so the last two days we have had a very cranky bub who wouldn't settle and was overtired. However, after a very full on day yesterday, he finally went down at approx. 10.30 (having averaged an hour of nap during the day, not sleep), he then woke at 5 and fed, then went down again until 9 when I had to wake him. Didn't stop me from waking every hour or so to check he wasn't going to. So nice to have a civil night, but I don't really want it to be at the expense of daytime naps which is why I am glad he decided to nap at midday today, not only napping right now but in his bouncer!

Now I feel like I am worried about jaundice, DS not napping and not being vigilant about checkups - please tell me I am not a pants mum? I feel like one. Sorry, having a one of my tender days . . . tell me to belt it!

libb you are so not pants. It is often normal for HV/doctors to send you an appointment for 6 week check - HV should at least have told you to book it if they weren't going to do it automatically. And tbh, apart from checking the hips work and testes have descended, the doctor doesn't seem to do much other than ask you if everything is OK at the 6 week check, so it isn't a problem that you haven't had it yet - we had ours at 10 weeks!
Breastfed babies are more likely to be jaundiced than bottle fed babies, but it will be worth asking doctor if you are at all worried. It's more important that he is feeding well and having wet nappies though.

Libb- of course you're not pants.
My HV told me to make a 6 week check for me, but dd didn't have hers UNTILL we went for the jabs and then she was 8 weeks. I didn't actualy make an appointment for it either, we were just sent straight in to see the doc, without me knowing why!
Basicaly honey, if you're not concerned about anything, apart from the jaundice, and ds seems happy and healthy that's the only thing you have to go on. The hv keeps an eye everytime they come anyway, and they would have said if there was anything to be concerned about. Mine noticed that dd's head looked a little small and made an appointment to go and get it checked (luckily it's fine)
Like prufrock says, they only check hips and a few other bits and pieces, and you would have noticed if there was a problem with them anyway!
As for the naps, DD hardly ever naps in the day for long periods of time anymore, (even with GF) and then sometimes she'll just zonk out for an hour. it's all different for different people, and everyone has days where their d's are grumpy and overtired, it sorts itself out eventualy, from what you just said it already is!
At the end of the day you're just the cleaner, the feeder and the rough guide- babies will do whatever they want to do!
You're a great mum, and you're doing a brill job.
Don't be so hard on yourself!
xx

libb you're doing a fantastic job! All the important things are getting done - the check will wait. As others have said, the HV has been informally checking anyway. My 8 week check (they do it at 8 weeks here) was so quick, it seemed more a formality anyway.

hugs

If it's any consolation I've been a knackered, ratty and shouty mummy today. Ds1 and I have kissed and made up though

bless you libb, you are doing great. my dd has started calling off the naps during the day too. i'm lucky if she goes down for an hour. my 6 week check was literally verbal 'how are you?' no physical at all! your baby's will wait til 8 weeks easily. they just do a few little man-handles and thats it. dont worry.

you are lucky you got a really good night's sleep from him. you must be doing something right - i am jealous!

hi all..and sorry 4 not posting in days!..Just been so busy..last week of term so something is happening at school everyday..sports day, fashion show and today it was ds1's graduation ceremony..aahhh..it was so sweet..

Lots of house viewing too..we may purchase a 3-bed semi to let out..i haven't found my perfect house yet..

ds2 is fine and feeding is much better now..since yesterday i switched to medium flow teat and he is fine on that..plus he's not taking an hour to finish the bottle..30-40min tops..

linnet, seems as if i'm settling into a routine now..and its sounds pretty much like urs..though on mon i purchased the GF book (Contended baby one) and on tues followed her routine...and guess what?????...ds2 slept thro until 5.30am after going down at 10pm..today has been different..after his 5.30 feed GF says he shud have another feed at 7.30..i gave him that but he was not interested in taking it..i wish i;d stuck to the 4 hour schedule from 5.30am..

twiglett, ds2 also has a slight black belly button but no oozing stuff..i think its normal, but will get it checked at his 8 week check..which is in 2 weeks (when he';ll b 11 weeks old)

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Cat - cleaner, feeder and rough guide - true indeed.

Goddammit and dagnammit, I think the DD's bum is nappy rashed. Poor (ar) soul (dad joke, sorry). But have never known nappy rash before so how to tell for sure? I don't understand how it can be a reaction between poo'n'pee because it's mostly on the front up over her bladder area. Even her most forceful poos don't travel that far. Could it be excema or heat rash or something? Also is worse in the morning.

I have about 3 different kinds of fancy barrier cream but not using any as it sort of goes against my instincts to seal a tender area in - 'Let the air get at it' is my mantra and will be written on my gravestone ...

(oh what a horrible thought.)

twiglett, perhaps it's just his colouring, but in comparison to the rest of his body the inside of his belly button is darker..

the GF routine has gone out the window 2day..its an interesting book though..

spots, if i see even a little redness i always use sudocrem as a barrier to prevent it from getting any worse..it worked with ds1 as he only had nappy rash when he was teething..for some strange reason??!!

DD did 2.30 and 5.30 last night so thats moved on half an hour so I'm hoping we can keep pushing it back and get down to one a night soon. She's exactly two months today and after an awful weekend I've been much more positive this week. She too likes her bouncy chair - just so long as I am in view. I was mopping the hall floor and dragging her along as I did it!

Am now trying to pluck up the courage to tell DH that I plan to go out on 12 Aug.

Bozza lol hall floor scenario - might have to try it myself...

Sandi it's not exactly redness, more like little spots... does that sound familiar to you?

ds2 loves bouncy chair too..but had a fright the other evening..i was in the kitchen..ds2 begins to cry whilst he;s sitting in his bouncer and I ask ds1 to talk or play with him..ds1 starts to bounce the bouncer and as i enter the room he's boucing the bouncer so hard, poor little ds2's head is banging against the bouncer..i got scared and shouted and started to cry ..thinking ds1 had damamged ds2's head...but all was well thankgod!!..when ds2's behaviour didn't change and looked well..

spots, have u tried leaving her out of her nappy for a while? give plent of air..r u using wipes cuz sometimes that can irritate the rash even more..try cotton wool and plain water 4 a few days..i don;t know what the spots cud be..r they red too..or do they have a white head?

dd2 went to be bed at 9pm last night and slept right through to 6.30am this morning, wow. Tried to put her to bed again tonight at 9pm as usual but she wouldn't go down, just put her to bed just now as she seemed more sleepy, so we'll see if she stays down.

Libb of course you're not pants. We get an invitation to go for our immunisations. I thought everybody did, but obviously some surgeries are different. I got a 6 week check up with a gp asked how I was and prescribed the pill, very exciting, not. didn't get an internal as the gp told me that they don't do them anymore, pretty sure I didn't get one after dd1 either. dd2 gets her check up on the same day as her immunisations haven't had the invitation through yet but HV told me it will be on the 28th.

Egypt the thing with breast feeding is you can't see how much milk they are taking, but if your dd took 6oz that was obviously enough for her, if it had been to much it would have all come back up again. You could start introducing a bottle before bedtime, it might help her sleep longer but in the end it's all a learning curve. What did your HV say? I didn't manage expressing last time and didn't even bother trying this time around, sometimes think that I should have but dd is happy and thriving on formula so I'm not to worried.

Spots like the others if dd1 had any redness I would put sudocrem on her and it usually cleared up right away. So far dd2 hasn't had any redness but have some sudocrem in the house just in case. It could just be a little heat rash from the nappy if it's only at the front, try putting some sudocrem on it and see if it helps and during the day leave her for a while lying on her mat with no nappy on, with a towel under her in case of accidents, to help the area breathe so to speak.

Twiglett sorry to hear that your dd had to have her belly button cauterised, poor little baby. Is it getting better now?

Twiglett - hope little one feels better soon.

I got an invite for the jabs okay, but didn't chase the 6 week check-up - what a fool.

DS seems to be making up for his mad two days of wakey wake and has been dead to the world since 8ish - will no doubt suffer for it at approx. 2am tonight. Tomorrow I am getting a weigh in and a visit from a friend so hurrah for me! and DS . . .

Thank you yet again for all your kind words - I feel that snivveling (sp?) woman in Alien who doesn't stop and so eventually gets her just desserts! Guess what we're watching right now? not hanging on until the end though . . .

Forgot, we had the spotty nappy rash and used Metanium - he hasn't had it since and just apply the weeniest bit to keep it away, we also let DS go commando for about half an hour before his bath each day . . . seems to help so far. Have also stuck to Pampers Sensitive wipes as the cheap ones given by a mate made it flare up again . . .

Another vote for Metanium - very good at clearing up nappy rash. Wish I'd known about it for ds1!

great, I knew there was a recommended one I'd forgotten its name... thanks all.

very broken night last night: bedtime still works well but after initial 8-11.15 sleep she woke every 2 hours for a feed. Seemed genuinely hungry too, tho' in the daytime she can easily manage 3 hours.

However the feeding's been so much better that I will Not be crying at this week's breastfeeding support group.

Linnet, did your little one sleep tonight? remind me, are you doing GF?

gave dd a bottle last night at 8.30. she only took 3 oz because i'd fed her at 7. but she stayed down again from 9 until 1am. which is longer than last night on a 6oz bottle (9.45 - 1pm). she woke at 4.30 and 6 when dh's alarm went off. went back until 7.30. think there is a definite pattern emerging touches wood

yes the hv said try the formula at bedtime, see how it goes. she certainly seems sleepier after it.

twiglett, hope the belly button sorts itself out now. should be ok.

spots, as soon as dd gets any sign of spots (little red ones, mainly just near her bumhole!) i put sudocrem on and they went extremely quickly. TBH i put sudocrem or tescos's nappy rash cream on most times i change her. think it just gives them a barrier from the wetness.

hope you are ok today libb