October '04 babies

[Toots]

Wow. Can't believe it's me starting this thread. Eyelash, where are you? Get any sleep last night?

Finding it hard to find any time to get on the computer at the mo'. DS still taking up to 1.5 hours over each feed, which only leaves 1.5 hours until next feed, during which time at the moment he pretty much just cries . He seems to be permanently hungry even after 1.5 hours feeding he's still rooting and is hardly sleeping. Probably because he is dozing for most of his feeding time.

Had day from hell today as dd also turned into nightmare child and spent all afternoon whinging and whining for one reason or another. Trying not to tell her off too much as I know it's probably a reaction to ds, but hard when you've had hardly any sleep and ds is crying at same time. Hopefully it's just one of those days to clock up to experience and tomorrow will be better.

Toots - glad you MIL and FIL staying went so well, as can be hard having visitors at this time. Must have been really nice for your dd.

Like you I'm trying to eat as much fibre as poss. - my stiches are getting more painful and they bleed when I open my bowels Hope I'm not also going to get infection - did spend 2 x 10 minutes or more 'airing' yesterday but haven't had chance today. Will do when I go to bed before sleep, but hasn't helped so far. Also switched to skirt, but only have 1 that fits!

Distracted - sorry things aren't great .

Have you got any tea tree oil? It's good in the bath, or get a reccommendation - because, hey, what do I know, I'm the one who had an infection . I really strongly advise you to get something to avoid this - call in one of those favours and get a friend to go to the chemist.

I don't know how you feel about dummies, I snuck one into dd2's mouth when no-one was looking in the wee small hours the other night when my nips were about to fall off. Felt like the secret lemonade drinker 'I've been trying to give it up, but it's one of those nights'. Didn't use them with dd1, but what the merry hell, sounds like you've got it up to here, db obviously loves sucking and we can help them kick it together when they're three months!

DP and I are ratty today. I expressed some milk late last night (hard work) and forgot to fridge it, it sat on the kitchen counter by some very polleny lillies. The way he said it should be thrown away was not sensitive, of course I knew he was right, but he just didn't get that it might be a kid glove issue. Personally I think he should treat EVERYTHING as a kid glove issue!

Well today dd1 is poorly and dp is going back to work so I will be left with a grumpy tired and slightly jealous 2 year old and a week old who won't sleep by herself. Why oh why did I have 2 children???

just lurking around wondering what it's like to have a baby hmmm sounds like hard work.

Cazzybabs me thinks it will get much easier for you.

Distracted you have a lot on your plate now, wish I could help - but I am sending you a big hug now.

Toots as always you put a smile on my face and look at the bright side sorry about the expressed milk - you lost a few brain cells remember!!! so you are allowed to do things like that.

Hope to be with you all soon on this thread.

Hi everyone. DD sleeping and DH gone off to pick up DS from nursery - so a few moments before madness starts. DS is so hyper it's hard to cope - he demands to do everything for the baby, including feeding it (pretend, Mummy!) and woke up at 5.30am demanding to see baby. Meanwhile, poor DD screamed all last night and is totally zonked today - was very needy and wanting to suck ALL the time. Should I wake her up?

One nipple sore but OK, one blistered - keep experimenting with latch but will have to wait for midwife to confirm as everything is a bit sore. How did I do this last time? Hoping milk comes in soon as at least DD should sleep a bit then.

Bring me my Twink bar!

Sorry it's tough Florence, good luck with DS losing interest in dd. Personally, I would wake her up after three hours to feed, it will help your milk come in, and if she's going to have a long sleep you don't want it when DS is bouncing on your head.

BTW HUGE CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!![GRIN] Well done you, marvellous work.

Cazzybabs. If she's had a feed and been up for a couple of hours, then I would put her down for a kip and go and make yourself something nice to eat. You need some time to yourself, and PLEASE, no guilt.

I have been in tears, although fortunately dp (now lovely again) came home before it got out of hand. Reason being, was really excited about having dd2 weighed and signed off by midwife, was sure she'd have put on loads of weight. But she's still not back to birthweight. mw suggested going to see bf counsellor this afternoon, like it was some kind of emergency, but I fronted it and said I wasn't worried, I'm sure she's on the way up as she has been feeding really well since yesterday. But when she'd gone I wept and wept. I'm fine really, and I'm sure she is. I'm going to try and work another daytime feed in somewhere, as she has done some quite long sleeps at night and I know the next suggestion will be to wake up to feed her more then. She is summoning me now, so I'll go and stuff the poor little scrap to the gills

Oh god - we will all look back at this thread and laugh in about ten years. I am so glad you are all here to share the good/bad times..

anyway enough hormonal talk - on a positive note we are about to exchange contracts on our new house and will move a week on Monday

Jeepers Cazzybabs - what with the exam and now moving, you've got one full plate girl. We'll all be here to help you through. You must do NO CARRYING. You will hurt yourself.

I never do things by half....actaully I just do everything badly!

Oh Toots you poor thing - when do they normally come back to their birth weights anyway? Can't be that unusual I'm sure.

It doesn't take much right now though to open the floodgates does it. I spent a lot of yesterday fighting back tears and trying not to let dd see. She did see but just thought it was funny 'mummy you're crying (giggle)' 'no my eyes are just sore' 'you're crying, the tears are falling off your face' 'my eyes are just watering' etc. Didn't seem to affect her, which is the main thing. (She's no empath )

Thanks for the tip about dummies, I had been wondering, considering ds is such a 'sucky' baby, which dd never was. Might get one tomorrow to try to settle him between feeds.

Cazzybabs - glad you've exchanged contracts, always a milestone, but boy you know how to make things tough on yourself . Hope you've got the removals company doing your packing and extra people lined up to help?

Florence - glad your ds is taking such an interest, I'm sure he'll calm down soon. My dd was a bit hyper to begin with (although at the same time shy of baby, she hasn't really touched him yet, just likes talking about him and what he's doing). She was bouncing off the walls the first few days.

(this post is probably out of date now, started typing it Friday night but interrupted, so just finished off this morning!)

My nipples are STILL sore - it's really bugging me. I have a day when they're much better and I think I'm getting through it and then they get worse again - why? One side is now bleeding again. Could it be because of milk coming in and therefore my shape changing? Although wouldn't have thought it has changed much last day or two as I'm now on day 7. . Has anyone else had this soreness coming and going?

MW did check my latch again yesterday and as ever it's fine (always has been - DEFINITELY not true that you only get sore due to poor latch). She did tell me to try to angle my nipple up when he latches on as thinks they're quite long or something and therefore he is chafing on end (it's the tips that bleed). I did try this twice and each time I pulled nipple up in way she suggested it really hurt, didn't feel right at all.

Still using Lanisoh and maybe will have to try nipple shields after all (have just had them sitting handy so far with psychological benefit of knowing they're there, not used them though).

Toots - my midwife told me they expected them to get back to their birthweigh in the first two to three weeks - your midwife has surely put you under alot of pressure. Sounds like you won't have any worries in any case.

For you all (esp distracted) - this time around I have invested in a Graco swing thing (kiddicare £40). He doesn't stay in it for long but the 10 - 20 minutes he is in there rocking means I can eat, sort out ds1/2 or even just go to the loo . I wish I had used this with the older two.

We also have the the boys trying to kiss baby, etc and always when he is asleep. But what can you do. And I have had a few bad mother moments when boys have ended up watching alot of cbeebies, I have shouted at them all, cryed, etc but I justify it by reminding myself it is only for a shortish period of time (hopefully). Our house is also an absolute tip and the only thing I am managing to do is stay on top of the washing (but not the ironing).

Glad that is now off my chest - apologies again for moaning and hope everybody has a calmer weekend.

Distracted - one thing I find that helps with the latch on (my nips really sore when he latches on) is to flip his upper and lower lips so they are in the right position to take the whole nipple in. I am sure any bf councellor would have a fit but it works for us.

My midwife suggested rubbing milk over sore bleeding nipples to encourage them to heal and not exposing them to the air because that means they dry out and crack even more!

No we are doing the moving ourselves as we don't own much stuff (well apart from lots of toys)...and another think to add to my stress level we need to choose a date next Aug. for our wedding!

Thanks for all the tips. I did actually buy a secondhand Graco swing a couple of weeks ago, have washed the cover but not the plastic yet, so not quite ready to use and thought maybe ds would be too small, but maybe not if you're using one already Eyelash. Will try to get it washed today at some point so can try it (mother has taken dd out for day).

Interesting, I have tried rubbing milk into nipples but was told to air them (not had much chance to). Maybe not a bad idea.

Decided to take more definite action on stiches too today as they're still driving me mad (or one in particular is). Had a bath in salt water this morning and also added tea tree oil. Read on bottle that can be used specifically to help heal up after childbirth and can even apply direct to skin. Not so sure about that, but have put a couple of drops on pad. Also have a feme pad, which hadn't used as didn't think had any gauze sleeves for it, but found 10 in box, so have put that in freezer.

Toots - how are your stiches after your infection? Has everything healed up now?

How often are you lot feeding?

Last night ds stretched out to about 3 1/2 hours from beginning of one feed to beginning of next (altho' still taking an hour or so over each feed, so no more than 2 hours sleep for me between). He was then asleep when next 3 hour period up, so 3 1/2 hours again and latest feed was due 12.00 ish (last one started 9.00 ish), but was crying at 11.30 when I was in bath so dh has taken him for a walk and not come back yet. Now I'm getting paranoid that I'm making gaps between feeds too long and he won't get enough during day now to go 3 hourly (or ideally 3 1/2 hourly at night).

How often are you all feeding and what weights are your babies (as I suppose that is partly relevant)? Ds is approx 7 lb 9oz (that is his birthweight, which he has pretty much regained as he is such an incredible guzzler - dd never regained birthweight anything like so quickly, but then was terrible at feeding and I gave up with her after 3 weeks - hope to do better this time).

Distracted - just popped into say that it is perfectly safe to directly apply tea tree oil and may help. I have bought some more this morning, just in case I need it for the very same.

Thinking of you all - this is another world to be and I'm about to join it... but not yet it would seem!

(Shuffles off back to permamently pregnant strand).

Eyelash - me too with the lip flip! mw saw me doing it and said 'cheat'. Whatever gets you through I say

When you say 'flip' - how do you do it? I try to do that with my nipple to some extent - bring it down from his nose sort of thing. Is that what you mean?

Sounds like you are all doinfg well, hope to be joining you soon, Toots I wouldn't feel under too much pressure as regards the birth weight thing, DS still hadn't regained his at his 6 week check! I did then have to supplement but it gives you a far amount of time to sort things out.

Thanks everyone, Geogteach, ds birthweight thing must have been a bit anxious making. Btw I'm getting your seat warmed up and be-cushioned as we speak -very excited, hope you're coping and getting through labour OK. You might even be a 3rd time mum as we speak.

Eyelash - my 'flip' is that after she's attached I sometimes kind of flange her lips out, so it looks more like the pictures . Some feeds are better than others and some are lovely. So sorry for everyone having pain with feeding - I find the way it makes me feel so tired and intolerant (not a good mix with family life) bad enough. Oh and I had my first real shout at dd1 today, and flung her Gingerbread man book across the room To make up to her we made a monster head out of some cardboard. It's amazing the feats of creativity that come out of pure parental guilt!

Distracted - thank you, yes, I've healed really well now. Feel almost normal down there (although not to the touch!) And in answer to your question, we're feeding roughly every three hours, sometimes less, sometimes more, with the last two before bed a bit closer together. dd2 was 7lb 4oz.

I binned a couple of vases of flowers yesterday, and am coming out of the coccoon of new babyness. She'll be two weeks on Tuesday, dp back to work Wednesday. Feeling slightly flat after all the highs and crazyness. kind of 'this is it then, is it?'

Thanks Toots and Beansprout by the way for the tea tree oil tip. I put tea tree oil (and salt) in my bath yesterday and today plus tea tree oil on my pads and a tiny bit direct to skin and today my stiches finally are starting to feel better, which is wonderful.

Still fed up with the sore nipples - one side was particularly sore and is now better but the other side is now excrutiating. Just don't seem to be progressing, keeps getting better then worse again and I dread each feed.

Toots I wouldn't feel guilty for shouting at dd1 - especially if you have managed not to until now. You're doing much better than me, as I'm finding it really hard not to snap at my dd - she goes off the deep end v. easily at the mo' (understandable, I know), and I don't cope with it well at all, with all the sleep deprivation etc. I'm not even having to cope on my own yet either as dh is at home and will be for another week (plus she will be at nursery Mon-Wed). I don't know I'm born yet, I know! Love the sound of your monster head - bet she loved that.

Hello all - and especially to the new arrivals.

Yes - my flip sounds just like Toots description and it works for us.

Not much to report except baby is slotting ion really nicely to our family and the boys are still besotted. Here's hoping it lasts.

Distracted - sounds like you are having a nightmare. I have always found the first two weeks murderous and then they slowly get better. Hope it gets better for you soon.

Just saying hi while I get a minute. Had a pants night, plus horrible dreams about dp leaving me (in just his underwear) and my mum having died without me realising Felt really wobbly but dp took dd1 out to the shops, and I tried to have some lovely one-on-one bonding time with dd2, but she just wanted to grizzle! Still, she went to sleep and so did I then I read some of my lovely book, and now I'm eating lunch, and a friend sent us (me) some fabulous chocolate brownies through the post.

Well, I'm horribly engorged and sore, and feel a bit like a truck hit me - still groggy. DD spending inordinate amount of time awake and I'm afraid we've already resorted to dummy. I think the longest stretch she's gone is 1.5hrs so far. I'm hoping once my engorgement goes down I'll be much much better and I can begin trying to sort out my latch a bit. Lansinoh tube is emptying quickly! DS still a bit hyper and trying to cope with very grumpy mum and sleep-deprived dad - poor thing.

Toots, sorry but had to laugh at thought of your DP heading off in his underwear! DH and I have already had one major whinge session at each other as to who is suffering most...