August 2010 - new thread ladies!

[Chulita]

New thread cos we've nearly filled the last one!

:( poor you dogwalker. Don't feel too bad though, I know several people who have done that, cutting their nails is really difficult!

That sounds grim gya. Hope T gets better really quickly.

I fed J in my sleep last night! I went to bed at 10.30 and next thing I remember is waking up sat up in bed with him asleep on my lap and my bra half open at about 1.30. No idea how long I'd been like that. He wasn't at all keen on going back in his cot after that so I ended up spending quite a lot of the night that way. DH worked from home today as I moaned so much about not being able to cope

Hi girls, how is everyone doing?

dog love to you, I'm sure it will heal just fine and he won't remember. You are not a bad Mum. xxx

gya sorry to hear T is ill again. Hope she is feeling much better soon.

hector sounds like you're having a tough time too. you're not a bad Mummy, you're just tired. love to you xxx

Things here plod along. STILL no results for DH. I'm at the end of my tether with it, but we are promised they are being chased and shouldn't be too much longer.

Our rose spent a lot of time inside during the horrible snow and as a result is flourishing! Its back outside now, but looking lovely and green. I can't wait for a flower!

I've been suffering all this week with a horrendous bout of tonsillitis, but feeling a bit better tonight so I hope I've finally turned a corner with that! which is just as well, because we're actually in the middle of our first proper 2ww since ttc again. Such an inconvieniant time to be ill, and I've been feeling massively guilty of all the antibiotics and painkillers I've been taking "just incase" but right now I needed helped to get better. if there is something there and its meant to be I'm sure it'll stick through the illness anyway. reassure me!!

I've recently start planning Belle's first birthday. in 5 months it will be Anabelle's 1st angel birthday, I can't believe where the time is going and we cannot let her 1st birthday pass us without marking it in a significant way. As well as celebrating my daughter's short life we also wanted to raise awareness of stillbirth and neonatal death and raise money for the Sands charity and highlight their Why 17? Campaign. www.why17.org/

On the 17th June we will be holding a "17 themed" sponsored walk - honouring the 17 babies that die every day. I'm hoping for a group of 17 (or two, three groups whatever) people, each wearing 17 different things, e.g. hats, gloves, badges etc. to do a walk for a set distance/time. Its not set in stone yet, but you get the picture.

and then on the 18th June the main event will take place in the form of a fete (like schools do!) with a raffle etc. We've provisionally booked a hall (same place we had our engagement party, will be 4 years exactly when we hold her party, I like happy memory connections like that!) and we've had two ace raffle prizes already confirmed. Hilton Cardiff has donated afternoon tea for two and Cwrt Bleddyn (hotel where we got married) are donating dinner, bed and breakfast for two. Now I have venue confirmed I will be working hard contacting lots of companies for their input in the form of more raffle prizes or a stall at the event. All stalls will be required to give all proceeds to Sands and cannot be in it for any profit. A good advertising their brand opportunity though, especially for small local business' if I can get them on board.

So I just wanted to give you an update on our lives. I needed to do something positive in the run up to her birthday, and I can't think of a better way than marking it like this. I'm feeling really on fire about it all at the moment, I'm determined to make this the best 'party' in Belle's memory ever!
www.justgiving.com/anabelles-angel-day

Anyway, I hope you are doing ok. I like popping by occasionally and seeing how you're all doing. Isn't it amazing how time goes on, there is already a Aug 2011 group now!! x x x

That all sounds lovely and positive Caz

You could try to get local radio / paper involved? X

cazandbelle we love having you pop back and update us, Annabelle is the first 'August 2010' baby so you always belong, and I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking of you often. Good luck on the 2ww :) How exciting! And I'm sure you'll be fine taking stuff, you've got to get over the tonsilitis. I took anti-biotics early days pg with L and there were no ill-effects. Belle's birthday plans sound lovely. If I manage to make 16 friends by the 17th June I'll try and get a walk going (actually counting the 4 of us I only need 11 friends - in my defence we have just moved here, I'm not a hermit!)

Hey CazandBelle I second what Chulita says. No harm done. You need to be well yourself, so definitely take the medicine. Exciting times! And, oh my days, can you believe there's an August 2011 thread? Time really does fly. And keep us posted on your birthday plans for Belle. Sounds beautiful.

Nights still feckin' horrible here. Wandering around like a crazed zombie. Took E to baby yoga with some other NCT mums that I still see and he was absolutely freaking out with tiredness the whole time. Yoga = torture. Who knew??

Oh, he's just woken up. Better go.

Caz so lovely (as always) to hear from you. I don't believe i know of anyone more devoted to their children than you and your DH. You really are doing Belle proud.
The 2ww - torture! Good luck, and really do not worry about the cold drugs, you need to be well

I think F is doing better now for lots of reasons. One thing i have found that has helped a lot is when he wakes for a feed around 6am, instead of feeding and then tryng desprately to get another 30/60mins sleep, i turn the light on and get him up. Change his nappy, talk to him etc reguardless of how much we have been up through the night. He is then ready for a nap around 9am and i started taking him out at that time so he would sleep, but he now is used to feeding and napping at that time so will do it at home, which gives me half an hour to get some washing on, give DD some attention etc. He then naps again in the afternoon for about 2hrs, but he is much better now he has started sucking his thumb, so even if he wakes, will suck his thumb and go back to sleep again. Now that the naps are sorted, dare i say it the nights have been better too (jinxes self) and he is a much happier baby, where as before he was just so grumpy all the time.

Just telling you all this in case it is of use really. He was 5m yesterday, and last friday was a real turning point. The afternoon was horrendous. He was napping in the car while i did the horses (as usual) it was chucking it down and windy, so not wanting him to come outside if i could help it. He woke up and was screaming, i tried to settle him, but he wanted to just stay with me, but was so tired and fighting his nap. As it was friday, DD was at preschool, so i had to get the horses done and be there to pick her up on time, so decided that he would have to cry it out while i got done asap and then he could have as much attention as he wanted, but i couldn't be late. Took 20mins but he fell asleep, but i felt awful. Decided the horses should go, was mentally trying to find homes for them and working myself up. Texted friend to see if she wanted to go for a drink. Went out after both dcs in bed. Was just what i needed, being away from both the dcs, with a friend who has 2dcs a bit older so was very sympathetic. Got quite drunk but came home feeling a lot more optimistic. F actually slept from 7.30-4am that night after weeks of 5-6 times a night to feed, and has been great since.

It will pass, your babies will sleep through at some point, life does get easier and none of us are bad mums because we sometimes have to leave our babies to cry, or catch their fingers while cutting their nails (have done that) or choose to co-sleep/have them in their own rooms etc. Parental guilt apparently doesn't go though

Alice, I meant to post the other day, that my DC have always slept better at night the more they sleep in the day (within reason - though actually, not really within reason...). Last weekend we went to DSIL's for lunch. S had a nap around 9ish, then slept for an hour and a half in the car around 12, then had a nap in the pushchair going round the park at 3ish, then slept all the way home for 1.5 hours from 5 until 6.30. DS1 (who doesn't usually have a nap) also slept the whole way home. I put them both down as usual at 7 (S) and 7.30 (DS1), expecting the worst. They both crashed out immediately and slept without waking until 7am, which S hasn't done for a month or more . Shame that the car is the only place he'll sleep well during the day....

Caz, it's lovely to hear from you. I read through some of the SANDS information you linked last night - very sad and very thought-provoking. Thinking of you as ever, and very best of luck with your 2ww. xx

Elusive DD used to have a good 2hr nap morning and afternoon, then sleep all night, but because F fights his sleep so much, i assumed he just didn't need the same amount. This i think is where i have been going wrong. As soon as i decided to work on the daytime naps, everything else has improved dramatically.

Doing well this morning so far....

Just goes to show how different they all are - Samsonito's night sleeps bear no relation to the amount of nap-time he gets. He tends to have anywhere from 40mins to 2hrs for the first nap and then the same range for his second and depending when he wakes up he might have a 3rd nap (very, very rarely). He's almost always in bed at about 6pm and then wakes every 2 hours from then til about 5 when he wants to be up for the day. He will sometimes do a 4 or 5 hour stretch but there's no pattern to it at all. I've tried setting a bit of a routine but cos we're out with L it doesn't work. I can't keep her in all day just so he can sleep in his bed when I think he needs to. ARGH!
How long do your LOs stay awake for between naps?
Sam's not gaining well either, he's plummeted from the 75th to below the 25th. Bearing in mind he's feeding 8-12 times a day and having bits and bobs of food, what is he doing with it? Just frustrating...

God, i bet that is frustrating Chulita it is one thing feeding all night and DC gaining weight, but for them to be dropping My friend's DS is nearly 4, was dairy and soya intolerant (quite severe) until he was 2, then has got gradually better, but still needs to keep amount to low levels. She said with her first DS he had lots of cheese, yoghurt, milk etc when on a growth spurt, but with ds2 because she couldn't give him these things, she would give him sausages, chips, baked beans qite regularly as a way to get enough fat into him. It is so easy to take a healthy child for granted isn't it.

I'm another one who believes in the more day sleep the better the night sleep very weird isn't it?!

Alice alcohol is a lovely thing every now and again though hangovers + small children = torture!

T went to bed last night at 7 and woke at 945, 2 and 5 which is worse than normal..

But she only had a total of 3oz of milk in that time so must be the illness waking her up.

Dd1 slept through from 9 wks on and dd2 from 8wks until the excema took a hold and she didn't again until wr started wet wrapping her.

T has also dropped through the centiles but as long as they are gaining weight it's apparently not an issue.

Dd2 is on the 2nd centile for height and below the 9th for weight as she can't eat dairy or egg amongst others. Sausages chips and beans are one of her favourites too

GYA hope your DD gets better soon.

I chopped the end of Theo's finger off when he was a baby! It's kiind of a rite of passage for a new parent - don't be too hard on yourself dogwalker you're doing a great job! [[[hug]]

Alice so what were you doing that Mn made you feel bad about? If it was routine I am a big advocate and I am glad it has worked!

I find it hard to keep daniel in a set routine cos we are out and about with the twins but if he has about 45mins in the morning, a couple of hours midday (not necessarily in one go) and a nap around teatime he is pretty happy and sleeps well at night (one wake-up per night now)

Elsuive I often get to the end of the day and get shouty with Theo cos he can be a bit demanding sometimes eg if you don't hold his hand and count up the stairs he will just sit at the bottom and scream "counting! counting!" I just want to shout "shut up and get upstairs!!".

Caz your plans for the 17th sound lovely.

Anyone noticed their LO go off BFing since starting weaning? Daniel doesn't seem so bothered now but I wonder if he is just getting super-efficient at taking the milk. Cos its not as if he is eating much - I can hardly find the time to fit it in actually! I'm alright at teatiome but breakfast and lunch we are either out or he is tired. Managed some banana for breakfast this morn (10am!) He is a lot better at eating now though, he doesn't spit it out now and is actually not too messy

Sorry that was supposed to be (((((hugs)))) for dogwalker!

alice yea, L lived off dairy for a long time but now I'm a bit stumped, especially cos I have a sinking feeling he may well have gluten/wheat intolerance too :( what on earth do I wean him onto that'll fill him up? I was told yesterday to hold off weaning til we've seen the dietician but it's at least a 6 week wait...erm...I think not. The HV knew he was dairy intolerant and didn't bother letting me know there's a 'special way to wean' til I asked yesterday about Oat milk so I'm not waiting for their permission to wean especially as he's pretty keen on rice and peas. Just frustrating that he feeds all the time and yet isn't putting on weight but as gya says they don't worry as long as it's a gain, no matter how small.

neenz I find tea the easiest to do as well cos there's no time limit apart from bedtime. I think a routine would work well for Sam but I'm not sure how to get one going without driving L up the wall!

chulita, try sweet potato for filling him up, it used to be my fail-safe with the twins! Its really filling and tastes lovely so they eat loads of it!

dogwalker just a quick post especially for you as S is being v demanding!
My DH did that to S. She had a wail, but it healed quickly and we've just been very very careful since (OK so we've been reluctant to cut them resulting in a boobyful of scratches....). S clearly has no memory of it whatsoever.....
It's so hard I know. We're obv v accident prone because I fell down the stairs and hit S's head but she was absolutely fine (in fact, I ended up with a cracked coccyx and couldn't sit down for weeks, but hey ho!!).
Must have been a shock for you. I prescribe one of Alice's delicious sounding muffins and a nice big hot chocolate with more cream......

Oh S is behaving herself...
Alice lovely to see you back....
Hector buy those trousers!!! So far in recent weeks I've bought a Lulu Guinness Bag, McQueen scarf and umm some other stuff that I'm going to pretend I didn't! My excuse is that I'm down to a size 12 because of bfing my monster (and hoping to get to a 10 before she's fully weaned, is that bad?!.....

Thank you all for your kind words, T has been fine today and the cut is healing already . I am definitley more scarred than him.

Neenz, I think our LOs become more effecient when feeding. T can drain my boob in less than 10 mins, I can rememebr when it took over an hour!!!

Chulita what about natural oat porridge. I know that might be considered early, but I feed my T natural oat porridge, only a tiny amount mixed with stewed organic apple, which sweetens it. It is filling but no gluten.

CaznadBelle so lovely to hear from you and I echo what Chulita says that Belle is our first August baby and you are more than welcome anytime. Great that you are finding things to do which all sound so positive, good luck for the 17th.

Hope everyone is having a great friday. Take care and I wont be cutting my T's nails anytime soon.

dogwalker what liquid do you use with it? I haven't expressed for months so I won't get anything if I try...maybe I ought to start trying again cos he can't have milk...mind you water works doesn't it [not scottish emoticon]

Hello chums - another baaaad mummy here who has nicked bits of DD's finger when cutting nails. She has got proper talons now and I am scratched to bits as I haven't had the courage to cut them again lately.

Well big hats off to all you Mummies with more than one LO - I am currently looking after my 3 year old niece as her Mum just had twins yesterday and crikey, I am exhasuted! Good practise for when we have #2 I guess.

DD is a nightmare these days (nights actually), 4/5 wakings a night and tonight she has been howling her head off since I put her down at 8. Still whimpering now and doesn't seem to be soundly asleep yet. Teething? She's going nuts for my boob each time I offer it but she can't be hungry all the time...can she? She's 21 weeks now and I haven't offered any solids yet. She is hypnotised by us eating but hasn't made to swipe any food from us yet so I don't think she's quite ready. I've pinned all my hopes on weaning helping us all get more sleep so please don't disappoint me baby rice!

sending you all lots of zzzzzzs

Well, I was hoping to start weaning S tomorrow, but not so sure now. He's been really off his milk today (only taking half a bottle at some of the feeds), so I suspect he may be coming down with a cold (DS1's got a cough, too). We'll see what he's like in the morning. FWIW I've bought some baby rice to start him with, and also some of the Plum four grain porridgey stuff (which is so poncey it's ridiculous, but never mind; I mean, I consider myself a foodie, but I had no bloody idea what amaranth was until I googled it yesterday ). I'm going to see how well he takes to the concept of solids, and then I'll move onto fruit and veg pretty quickly.

Re naps, it's so frustrating, because I know that what S needs is more daytime sleep, but I just can't get him to have it. Partly because he always wakes up after 30-40 mins and refuses to re-settle, and partly because he's always catnapping here and there while we're out and about with DS1. And if I let him get that little bit too tired, he'll just lie in his cot and scream and scream, and totally refuses to drop off. In answer to the question, he starts getting tired about 1.5 hours after he last woke, and if he goes much more than 2 hours he gets pretty stroppy. Though he's happily lasted a bit longer than that on the (very) rare occasions that he has a really long sleep.

On the plus side, DS1 is just a model child at the moment. After all the difficulties we had with him while he was ill and over Christmas, it's just so lovely to see him like this. Every bedtime at the moment, our little goodnight chat is about how incredibly good he's been that day, and I really mean it . I know it won't last forever, so I'm trying to enjoy it while I can .

So last night having gone down at 7.30, S woke at 9, 11, 1, 3, 5 and now we seem to be up at 6.30. I am beyond broken. She had 3 short day time naps yesterday of about 45 minutes each. In the calm light if day, I reason that this too will pass but during the night, tears come to my eyes when I her wail after I've barely been to sleep. Just don't know what to do, I feed her at each waking as I can't bear the crying but she can nurse for about 3 mins then dozes off so I feel I'm getting these night times all wrong. For me, getting into pjs and under the covers us just a big old pantomime and a waste of time

that sounds very like my night LCR although we made it to 6.45! Grim and just doesn't seem to be getting any better. When he woke at 9 i tried to settle him without feeding but he just got hysterical so i gave up. At least he spent the whole night (apart from feeds) in his cot which is an improvement on some of our recent nights.
Sometimes life feels rather depressing. I know it won't go on forever but i can't see an end to it at the mo.

However I did have a lovely child free 2 hours yesterday at my breastfeeding peer supporter course with free creche :) The ladies looking after him said he was very lovely and smiley [proud mummy emoticon]

Sympathies to all the sleep deprived. One day they'll leave home and then we'll be able to stay in bed all day on a saturday!

Will she take a dummy or another type of comforter lcr?

We didn't have a great night either.

Went out for a birthday dinner for friends last night got to sleep about 12. Woken by dd1 at 1230,230,330 and my the baby at 230, 5 and 645

Made a deal with Dh that if I did the night and the morning I could go to my gym classes at 9 and or 10.

Did he get up? Did he heck.

Grr

Hi all

Chulita yes I use water, it's just so easy that way. I make porrdige for myself and save some for T and then add the apple. He loves it and its filling, yum yum.

LCR and GYA I don't know how you are mananging, you are doing such a great job, I am in awe. My T is full of cold and so is waking through the night to grumble, but after 10mins or so he falls back to sleep. That is disrupting my sleep and so I don't know how you are coping. I wish you luck in getting some rest soon and sending you lots of sleeping vibes

lcrlcr I know exactly how you feel about the bedtime pantomime. I spend all day looking forward to going to bed and then it's just a waste of time. Last night started off well - S slept 10-3 but was awake from 3 onwards, only dozing for 20-30 mins before wailing again til we finally got up officially just before 7. I feel so drained but he's not eating solids properly so I can't even count on that to fill him up!

gya I asked DH to get up first this morning as I'd been up all night. He's been struggling all day with tiredness and I can't help but think that usually I'm up all night and then from 5.30 onwards and yet still survive the day...

My dad said something that's quite true I think: men are strong but women are tough. The sleep deprivation thing proves it imo!