IS THERE A SEPT 2005 CLUB YET?

[pooka]

Hi all fellow September mums. If I'm duplicating another thread please tell me. If not, would love to hear how everyone is getting on.
Tom is a week old today. All well - though has a slightly infected cord stump so am going to GP today.
I'm still madly hormonal, could burst into tears whenever I think about the impact all this has on my lovely dd (2y2m).

Just wondering, is it 'normal' for babies to vomit so much?? Elise will vomit about 3 or 4 times some days, not the whole feed, but sometimes looks like a fair amount. She does gulp her bottles down, so maybe it's just that. It's weird tho, cos sometimes she'll have 80mls in one go and keep it down, and other times she'll have less but vomit everywhere... any suggestions / thoughts / tips?

PS am very chuffed at the rate at which the flab is dropping off! Have lost 13kgs so far, only another 10 to go til I'm back to my pre-pg weight... and all whilst eating ice-cream, chips and chocolate! Definitely the best diet I've ever been on

LL - perfectly normal to vomit that much-in fact doesn't sound much at all!! Nell was v sick at first as so congested, but now just a bit after each feed.
V chuffed that I managed to get my jeans on this morning - had already lost one stone day after Nell born (just baby, placenta and fluid!!) Not quite done up, but a good start!
Boys still doting on Nell, but not so keen on us! Ds1 over excited all weekend, on a very short fuse, and ds2 threw the biggest tantrum ever about going to school this am. Only to be expected I suppose, but stressful all the same!!

thanks for all your best wishes everyone, it's not that dd1 is being bad, just over excited and over enthusiastic. i can't seem to explain to her why she can't wake mia all the time, she just starts sulking. she's great with her though.

Tom also very sicky at the moment. Also tortured by bad wind. May try colief if it doesn't ease though it involves expressing - maybe too much faffing about for me. Gripewater can't be used under a month, otherwise would give that a shot.
It's horrible when they're snuffly, isn't it KiwiKate. However - builds a healthy immune system too.
Re weightloss - had put on 3.5 stones. Now have 7 pounds to lose to get to pre preg weight. More like a stone and a half to get to pre-dd preg state. Feeling very chuffed. haven't dieted at all, but just don't seem to have TIME for blow-outs. But ... lost loads immediately after dd was born, then crept back up a bit as I became more relaxed and got into a proper eating routine, so we shall see.......

And does anyone else feel like they've turned inton the big bad mother with their elder children? Today I just feel like I've been too preoccupied with Tom throwing up and screaming all the time to be "nice" to dd. First day of dh at work and have cried twice already. But was reassured by phone call from friend with dd same age and 3 month old, who said she feels completely torn between the two of hers.

Pooka - have you tried giving Tom just a tea spoon of cooled boiled water? I remember doing this with DD1.

I was on my own with the two girls for the first time today and was such an ogre to DD1 who seemed sooooo irritating. I feel guilty now though. I did have some nice, patient moments with her too. We made chocolate krispie cakes. But, she's so bad at amusing herself.

Midwife has been in and seems to be happy with our progress. David has only lost 4oz which is apparently really good. She doesn't seem at all concerned that she turns up at lunch time and I am not allways dressed, hubby and the kids are but I tend to be that busy doing other things that I never seem to think about getting out of my PJ's unless we are going out.

Milk is starting to come in and I am able to express off 20ml at a time so he is having that plus formula top ups.

Feeling exhausted. Had a bad night with David then DD Woke up at midnight barking and wheezing, couldn't get her inhalers into her and subsequently got DH out of Bed to race her to A&E whilst I stayed here pacing the floor with david trying not to cry. Turned out to be croup and dr was a bit snotty about waisting time. Not that I care cause at the end of the day I would rather make a wasted trip to A&E than ignore an asthmatic child who is having difficuties breathing.

Am fighting hard not to become the mummy from hell but feel as though I am failing everytime DD gets told don't do that near the baby, can't you play a little quieter etc, etc.

Hugs to those struggling to breast feed, I can't get david to latch on but am glad that I can at least express a bit for him, after all anything I can give him has got to be good.

I am now going to see what I have in the freezer and then go to bed after dinner.

Hello ladies

Thanks for the advise on breast feeding. Sadly I don't think I'll be able to start again - I'm having a very bad time with a small part of my c-section scar that is weeping - the doctor is sure all is well and no infection - but I'm very worried and its delaying the healing - I notice little healing day to day and want to concentrate my time on my daughter not on worrying!

Don't seem to be able to get a moment to post here but if anyone's interested I finally got round to writing up the 2nd half of my birth story here . I'll be back

Just very briefly popping in - can't believe that Alice (who now has a middle name of Charlotte) will be a week old tomorrow .

Will read the rest of the thread some time soon.

All going well and much better than last time (although I had forgotten how it felt to have waht must be cannon balls strapped on to my chest )

Had a lovely cuddly bath and bedtime stories with dd this evening, so feel less of an ogre. Will try the cooled boiled water - had forgotten that used to do that with dd with she was suffering with wind. Have to keep reminding myself that it does pass eventually, and that Tom wont remember any of this when he is older. I have to admit that I didn't really enjoy the newborn stage with dd, and I think that it's the same this time as well. I love the settled baby stage though, so have plenty to look forward to.
One relief is that b/feeding going just as well now as it did last time thankfully.

Hmmm - I spoke too soon re the stitches. They felt a little irritable yesterday and I also feel like my perenium is swollen. But, it may be because I am constipated. Yuck! It's actually pretty painful. Anyone know what I can take whilst breastfeeding? It's a new arena for me.

DD1 is at Pre-school this morning. What bliss. It was funny to have just DD2 in the car on the way back. We got stopped at a railway crossing and I found myself saying "Oh look, a train!" like I would for DD1. As if 7 day old Alice gives two hoots about that.

Alice was weighed yesterday and she's 7lb 9oz so just 2 or 3 lbs off regaining her birthweight. Midwife said they're supposed to do that by day 10. Alice had her heel prick, PKU test. Poor baby. I fed her as it was done and hope it wasn't too traumatic for her.

PicadillyCircus - Here's a funny coincidence. Not only was your Alice born on the same day as my Alice but my dd1 and your ds1 share a birthday - only one year apart as my dd was born in 2002.

Beatie, you can take metamucil for constipation while bf. It is pure fibre (which you mix with water). It has no addatives or harmful substances in it. Otherwise speak to someone at your local chemists - they should be able to help. Try and get something as soon as possible (otherwise you increase your risk of getting piles - or making existing ones worse!)

Hope everyone with stitches feels better soon.

Bf going so much better than last time around. I am really pleased (if exhausted).

All going well here. Nell feeding every 3-4 hours pretty much day and night, but biggest difference to the boys is that she is happy to be put straight down between feeds if necessary - with ds1 I felt like I spent the first 4 months walking around strapped to a wailing baby! During the night a feed only seems to take half an hour from start to putting her back in her cot - bliss!!
Feeling tearful today. Dh is meant to be off work until Thurs, but keeps making work phone calls and checking emails, so I lost it this morning and pointed out that this was meant to be his time for bonding with Nell without the boys around, and pampering me!! I think he got the message, although he is now mowing the lawn - probably to get away from his hormonal wife!!
Got lots of presents in post this morning - a sea of pink frilliness which I'm trying to adjust to!! Best present has been a huge tin of muffins, brownies and cookies from some posh bakery in Hampstead, from dh's work - sadly they had to be eaten within 2 days, so had to oblige.....Those jeans won't fit for long at this rate!

DH asleep on sofa, David asleep in basket, DD at nursery I should be resting but have been scrubbibg the kitchen again.

I really must learn to relax. however am going to do the nursery run cause I want some adult company other than DH and our parents.

Beatie - I found I had an almost allergic reaction to pink and frills when dd wasborn and ended up dressing her as neutrallly as I could. I'm having the same with blue now...
Feeling very tired today - Tom had a much better day yesterday having slept for a 6 hour stretch the night before. As my mother says - sleep breeds sleep. Last night he slept from 8pm til 1am, then was windy and a bit fretful from 3 - 4am.

Same here! Alice was windy and fretful between 3 and 4 am! Before that she fed at 11:30am. For some reason she woke again at 5am but went back to sleep after a little snack (of milk).

She'll sleep now until gone 8am. It paisn me that I had to be woken up at 7am to look after dd1 whilst DH goes to work. I could still be sleeping. dd1 has pre-school later so I will have to sleep then.

When dd1 was born I resisted pink and girly clothes and dressed her in reds and neutrals for the first 3 months. As soon as she was mistaken for a boy - out came the pink. Now, with dd2, I feel I don't want to dress her in those neutral clothes and want her to wear recognisibly girl clothes but there is more pink around than ever! Why can't they make obviously girly clothes without using pink?!

DH had our first post-natal argument last night. I was very tearful and hormonal yesterday evening. I am still annoyed he isn't at home with me for a second week of paternity leave (even though I get him home for half term in 4 weeks) I feel I need him now. My stitches started to irritate me and Alice sometimes fusses and cries before she latches on. I did not feel like I ate or drank enough yesterday. The day went OK but was still overwhelming.

Then DH comes home with a backlog of marking and then he watched the football - which was fine - but not whilst I sat there with a screaming baby struggling to get her latched on. All I needed was a hug. So, later on we argued.

We're going to register Alice today. I have to get both girls into town, park the car and somehow transport the two of them from the car to the registry office. DH is meeting me there.

Had a bad time of it yesterday, nearly passed out because I didn't eat properly and must of beeen over dong things.

With DH off work you would of thought that he would do a bit more to help, all he does is the occassional feed and DD's nursery run. Other than that I am the fool trying to get the meals on the table, washing done and cleaning up after DD, DH and baby.

Lets hope today is better, managed to get some sleep between 11pm and 5am thats the longest uninterupted sleep we have had in ages and it was DD that woke up screaming, got her settled and David woke up for a feed. Worked out quite well but I couldn't get back to sleep so i unloaded and reloaded the washing machine, tumble dryer and dish washer before popping down to Asda for some bread and milk.

Midwife is comming in today and my aunt and uncle are comming up from oswestry so not much chance of a rest today.

Mummyhill - it really does sound like you're overdoing it - give your dh a kick from me!
Beatie - I'm pretty sure that 2 weeks paternity leave is statutory so you dh's school has to let him have another week off - half term or not!!
As predicted, Nell is becoming less settled - up all evening, v windy, but night not too bad. Am feeling v tearful about dh going back to work tomorrow - he will take the rest of his paternity leave in dribs and drabs. My parents are coming up, but suddenly I feel very needy. It must be the hormones as looking at it rationally, I can easily cope as the kids are at school all day, but I just feel v vulnerable on my own. Might try driving for the first time today....

andif - I feel the same way. I feel in real need of some TLC. I'd love a whole day in bed, with Alice by my side, and with someone bringing me cups of tea and meals to my room. Obviously the needy hormones are coming out. I just don't think this is historically the way women were supposed to do it and it is hard not to have more hands on support - even though we can cope.

DH's school has no written policy on paternity leave. All the new dads take a couple of days only. It's all very ad hoc. It's not that they can turn around and say no, but they can be very disapproving. If DH hadn't just got a promotion I would have made him be the one to fight the system and take the two weeks off. I doubt they'd have not paid him his regular salary. But, what can I do? DH wasn't prepared to rock the boat.

To make it worse though - he has to go into work on Saturday! There's an open morning and he's one of the only teachers from his department 'available'. What on earth made them think that a family with a brand new baby were 'available'? It's not so bad. My mum is taking dd1 Friday night so I'll be able to have a lie-in and cuddles with Alice on Saturday morning.

Franch - wow to your birth story!!
Think we are getting on ok here. Being firdt timers we have nothing to compare it to! Havent really got any routine yet. Did read Baby whisperer but dd seems to 'snack' more than Tracey Hoggs 'E.A.S.Y.' routine - its more E.S.E.A.E.S.Y. !! Any one else got a routine? My only concern is that she seems to like to eat before she sleeps - is this a bad habit to get her into? LadyL - I think you read TBW.
And are babies supposed to make so much noise when they are sleeping? Mine sounds like a pack of seals at times!!

Babies can be very noisy sleepers. With dd1 I used to wear earplugs so I could sleep and rely on DH waking me up if she cried and I did not hear.

I'm not a very routiney person in my day-to-day life so it did not suit me to get dd1 into a routine. I just fed her as and when she wanted to be fed. Sometimes I'd impose a feed on her if I was wanting to go out at a specific time.

It is a good habit to get into to try and put the baby down to sleep when they are settled but still awake. Winding Alice usually rouses her out of her drunk-on-milk stupor and then I put her down semi-awake.

Hi all. Those with dh problems - remember that they aren't the most intuitive creatures in the universe. I just ask mine for help, and he is only too happy to help. If I don't ask, he does not realise I need help. So rather than fuming, I just ask. This takes the stress off both of us, because he does not have to try and figure out what I want him to do, and I don't waste emotional energy being cross (and still not getting the help I need), and he feels useful because he can do something that I need.

Agree about noisy babies. My ds was so noisy we had to sleep him on the other side of the house when he was little!

With ds I never worried about him eating to sleep. it is a natural thing. It did not form any bad habits. At 2.5yo he is a great sleeper and goes to bed easily and without a fuss (sleeps 10 to 11 hours at night, and 2 to 3 hours every afternoon). It was only at about a year old that I put him to bed wide awake - and he has not had any trouble learning to get himself off to sleep from that age.

I think you need to do whatever you are comfortable with. I am letting dd eat before sleeping. Am not worried about bad habits. I believe that at this age they act purely on instinct (that is why controlled crying is not recommended at such a young age, because you can't actually teach them not to cry at sleep time, because they are crying out of instinctive need for their mums). I am not a routiney type person, and only started a bedtime routine with ds after a year as he started being a bit unsettled at bedtime. I think that you have to find whatever rythm works for you and your child. Personally, I prefer to feed when the child is hungry and let them sleep when they are tired - you will soon be able to tell the early hungry/tired signs and not let them get over hungry or over tired. Others swear by strict routines - as it really helps them cope. For me a strict routine with a baby would just stress me out and make me a basket case.

Remember that they go through various stages. So what works one week may not work the next! Follow your instinct about things like routines, and remember that you may need to do a bit of trial and error. Whatever makes you feel relaxed and comfortable is likely to have a good effect on your baby. What works for you might be quite different from what works for others (or from what you thought would work for you)

Sorry to gate crash as i'm not with child yet...but i'm being induced on Saturday night and was jsut wandering if anyone has tried that labourade stuff...did it help?