September 2010: windy bums, weaning starts to loom!

[comixminx]

A starter for 10 on our Sept 2010 babies as their first Christmas comes nearer! Can't believe we're there already; I was barely pregnant last Xmas!

Good job I like white walls too Beadit! Everyones entitled to their own opinion but there's no need to be quite so rude!

I've ordered my new sling! Its a tai mei custom made by the lady who made my wrap sling! she's posted a pic in her wall pics gonna try and do a link!

www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/photo.php?fbid=183291168352930&set=a.170252232990157.46547.154164161265631

Thanks melly!!

beaditali Take no notice. Some of us don't like unusual names and some do. I like biblical traditional names but that doesn't mean I think unusual names are awful. Each to their own.

bananastew I think that you have to put the -- before and after each word. (i think)

I've not posted properly for a few days because i have been having a really bad time.
I have just not had enough milk for them both for some reason. (i haven't ff fed them since last time i tried, so it wasn't that) I have tried eating more and drinking more and i read on some blogs that it happens a lot at 4 months but you've just got to push through it. Well, I tried but it just came to an head yesterday when they were crying after every feed. Rang my mum up at 6.15pm with the babies crying, me crying and just said 'i can't cope'!! (if you knew me, you'd know that i would never say this) She was here by 7pm with 2 lots of different formula for them and ice cream for me. God bless her. I feel guilty and relieved in equal measure. I was going to write a big post about it on sunday, but felt too bad about it. (Thought it might come across as me trying to justify giving them formula, which i know is ridiculous, but it was how i felt)
Anyway they have had 2x formula today. (well, jacob has, Isobel's is made but she's nnot showing any interest yet. Not sure what to do- whether to give formula after breast, or to alternate or whether to give bottles during the day and breast feed at night. DP is back tomorrow for 3 weeks and i'm going to go and get myself a one months membership for a local gym, so purely for my sake and DP's (cos he will be minding them) they will need bottles. I think i'll just see how the next few days go.

I'd love them to have it watersprite but here only babies who's parents are from a country with a high incidence of tb get it, eg polish but British children don't get it at all at anytime as they are protected by the people coming into the country getting vaccinated. Tried to get ds1 vaccinated but couldn't even pay for it .

beaditAli so sorry your feeling down. Sounds like jack is doing very well and imo has a fabulous name!!! How often are you feeding him? Luke has slept through 3 nights and has been feeding closer to every 2 hours but I really don't mind. I agree with bananastew that he may just have a small appetite and may not do better with solids. I am a late weaner personally. Waited until almost 6 months with ds1 and he eats so many things and is not afraid to try things. A friend if mine says waiting makes them fussier but I haven't found that myself and I think she just wanted a reason to wean her kids. I find it really exciting to wean so it's quite hard for me to wait!!!

Sorry sassy34264 x posts. That's really sad, you should have posted sunday!! Thank goodness for mums. I've read a lot about 4 month growth spurt, didn't have any problems with ds1 but then I didn't at 6 weeks but really did with Luke- he had 3-4 days of feeding what felt like all the time. Can't imagine with 2, you don't need to justify anything to us or anyone else. Look after yourself otherwise you'll be in not fit state to look after your babies. Hope Isobel comes round to your way of thinking soon

mellymooks I still get pain in my pubic bone but I did with ds1 for 6 months after he was born. Nothing anywhere else though.

Glad you can smile about it mammyG, sounds like a terrible night!!!

Sorry about several posts am on my phone and the text disappears after a while and it's easier to do it in several bits. Been shopping with my mum today, boys have been sooooo good, ds1 has eaten loads of sweets and we had lunch at pizza hut, where the waiter wanted to know what Luke wanted to eat . When I said he's only 3 months he just has milk he offered me juice for him!!!

I can't strike out either bananastew never works for me. Should be -- before and after words but it doesn't do anything when I try.

Just to let you all know the PC is broke! Catch up when I can!

Chelle.x

Oh sassy. Have a virtual hug. I'm so glad your mum is nearby, and the kind of mum you can call on.. I'm so impressed with how you've been doing. It's no surprise that you need a bit extra support every now and again - we all do, it's just for most of us DP/DH comes home at the end of the day. And you have TWO of them ffs! (Babies, that is, not DPs )

I don't have much experience with formula, but maybe you should try giving it if they're still hungry after they've drained you, as it were, if you want to have minimal impact on breastfeeding. That way hopefully your milk production will slowly increase, but maybe you can avoid some of the tears. I think if you regularly replace a feed then your production will drop in line with the demand. (And of course odd feeds when you're at the gym etc)

sassy I admire everyone on this thread, everyone has different circumstances and no one has it easy by any stretch of the imagination but I personally don't know how the hell you've managed to get so far breast feeding 2! I think you're a fantastic mum, even though I've never met you & you're 3 dcs are very very lucky!! God that sounds so corny Yey sassys mum! I did the same to my mum with ds1! she took the day off work to sort me out! Hope you're feeling better soon & remember none of us will ever judge you!

What does everyone do all day?? I'm feeling like a really bad mummy at the minute cos I seem to just stick olly on his gym & toby in front of the tele! He had an hour long bath this afternoon just for the hell of it!

gonna try this strike out thing again--

sassy you were right it is -- directly before and after every word!

sassy, sorry things have been rubbish! As others have said, it's so amazing you've got this far - you mustn't feel guilty about it. Do what you can! What mapletrees says about giving it after a bf feed sounds sensible to me but see what works best. And yay for calling in your mum!

Poor old Aphra is grizzling at the moment - she's often a bit unsettled at this time of night but it means that DP gets more of her crying than I do. She's also had a slight nosebleed a few times, in just one nostril not both - a small dribble of blood rather than anything more drastic, but it's a bit worrying to see! I've checked on the internet and all I can find is that nosebleeds are unlikely to be the sign of any real problem (and as I say it's hardly even a proper nosebleed, just a small bit of blood coming out and then drying up right away). Has anyone else had this ever? I could try seeing if the docs will see her before Christmas if it seems worth it but all the internet advice seems to indicate that it probably isn't necessary.

Aphra 15 weeks today

sassy - your mum sounds the bizz, I now see where you get it from! Try just topping up for a while and see how that goes. And dont hold off next time you feel low - thats what we are here for - support! BTW have started saying kiss to Phoebe before I kiss her now in the hopes that she will react too!!
Jodey I think I may have no choice but to wean. Phoebe really isnt feeding well on the breast anymore. she only gets two bottles and the rest BF but the morning Bf is the only one that goes well. She took so little at her lunchtime bf she was cranky not long after. She just keeps hopping on and off and sounds like she is struggling to swallow. I keep saying everyday - this is it going to do whats best for her yadayada Then I miss feeding her and on she goes again! Will just have to bite the bullet me thinks. I cant believe I still feel like this and this is my third!
Re early bedtime. Phoebe doesnt nap after 4pm. and she doesnt really nap for long periods during the day so she is well tired by 7. Both boys went to bed at 7pm as well. Just kept at it until they got into the swing of it. I darken the room, hold her and sing to her - she closes her eyes straight away!
beadit I would say its way too early for solids. DS1 was v hungry and was recommended to wean him early - he was 18 weeks but big for his age etc and even at that we weaned very slowly. sounds like you have a grazer on your hands. you will just have to keep stretching him little by little until you get to proper feeds. Mind you at this stage i wouldnt worry to much about the percentiles. If they are gaining weight and happy thats all the matters. Phoebe is positively average by comparison to her monster brothers. Most days she really doesnt take much in one sitting but I would wait til she is closer to 16 weeks before I start trying to do anything about it.
Watersprite BCG offered here in hospital when they are newborns. Phoebe has hers. Nasty angry mark still but no other side effects
Monster post sorry -am a natterer by nature tho so would never be short! People even commenting on what a chatterbox Phoebe is as she is always engaging and cooing! Chip off etc!
Made xmas cookies and marshmallow snowment with boys today. Max had a bakers hat on! Will post photos to FB tomorrow. Was nice to chill with boys but then had to down tools for 20 mins to satisfy a hngry girlie. They had such fun - i should really play more

Thanks mammy. I wasn't really considering putting him on solids just yet just wondering when people do start really as my Mum seemed to have all of us 3 on solids at 4 months. Anyway...... Jack sank 4 oz at 9pm then went off to sleep again so hopefully he'll take more than 2oz at his mid morning feed tomorrow. We'll wait and see.
Can't believe it's after midnight! Just logged on to check that there are no more last minute orders today as it's the last day for them tomorrow and tonight folk are obviously panic buying jewellery. 19 orders in about the last 3 hours. I'm zonked yet the thought of sassy doing what she does keeps giving me new energy! Forever grateful my lovely
banana I rely on the play gym sometimes for a 20 minute rest. Jack only has about 2 20 minute naps some days despite my efforts otherwise so needs a lot of entertaining. It's exhausting so don't feel guilty about plonking him in front of the magic box in the corner for a while. At this age it's good stimulation..... just not so great if they end up hooked by 5 i guess!
Anyway, I think 4 hours sleep and a marathon of jewellery making needs to come to an end so I'm taking worzel gummidge myself to slumber.
Nighty night xxx

I can't believe people order on 16th an expect it to be made and with them by Christmas beaditAli! The recommendation used to be starting weaning at 4 months until quite recently, I think sassy34264 said it was with her dd1? My mum was weaning us by 4 months and with weetabix, when now even if you start earlier than 26 weeks they say you should wait to give gluten until then definately because of the permeability of the gut before that age. You should have been given some info by your health visitor though and I went to groups about weaning, teething, first aid etc with ds1, which were really great.

Hehe mammy I've started saying "give mummy a kiss" like sassy too!!

cinnamon When Orlaith was 10 weeks PIL's had had her for the day and later the whole family met at a restaurant. DP and I arrive to find a high chair with a plastic plate and cutlery on it. I went over to a waitress and said they could take it as she was too young and someone else might need it. She said "I thought she might be too young but the lady on your table asked for it"!!! I'm still not sure whether it was MIL or one of SIL's, but they should all know better!

beadit I love the name Jack. It was my grandad's name and I wanted to use it if I had a boy. And every Jack I've known has been lovely/kind/funny/good-looking so I think you chose well!

cinnamon My mum weaned us when we were a year, and she says we were always more than willing to try new foods after that. The only thing I worry about with weaning is the gluten. I have coeliac's disease which I develpoed when I was 15 after having glandular fever and I desperately don't want Orlaith to have it. I'm struggling to find definitive advice on what to do about it.
PIL's and one SIL are DESPERATE to give Orlaith food. I've told them I'm certainly not weaning her yet and want to wait till 6 months but from what they keep saying, I really think they'll give her food when I'm not around. They've even been saying how it's not harmful to give her meat at about 6 months. I really hate the idea of that, not to mention I'm vegetarian! They do a lot of things I ask them not to when they have her, like adding an extra scoop of powder to her formula. GRRR! (doesn't deserve a festive hat!)

So Orlaith went to bed at 11 after having 2oz, then woke at 4 and just wanted to suck on the teat and not drink. After 40 mins I tried a dummy but she didn't like it and it took another 20 mins to get her back to sleep. Then she woke at 7 and had 2oz, then woke at 9.15 and only wanted feeding again at 10 when she had just 2oz again! What's going on?!

Ooh I forgot to say, DP took my car yesterday morning and when it came back it was a different car! I now have a fiat multipla (it's like a people carrier but has 6 seats, 3 in front, 3 in the back). My mum had one years ago and we all loved it so DP decided that now I'm a mummy and constantly seem to have at least 2 adults, 2 babies, a buggy, shopping, random shit and sometimes a dog in my car, I deserved a new car. I'm really excited, especially as it has a radio with CD player and MP3 player, and I've been driving around in silence for years. BUT, I'm really scared of driving it. Apart from my mum's car once, I've only ever driven my car and DP's car. I don't even really like driving DP's car because it's a fast mercedes and it's automatic, I just had a little 11 year old fiat punto.

Wish me luck for my trip out (in the snow) today!!

Grr saoirse. How dare they do things that you've asked them not to. She's your baby so whatever you and your DP say goes, even if they disagree. It's a matter of respect for you if nothing else.

I'm veggie too, but DP isn't so we've agreed that Louis will be 50% veggie until he shows a preference and then we'll go with that. I think there are quite a few veggies on here. Is anyone planning on bringing up there LO totally meat-free?

I've read that lots of little feeds can be a sign that they're a bit under the weather, or that they're thirsty?

Yay for the new car though .

Thanks everyone for your kind words and support. My mum defo is the bizz! I don't know what i would do without her.
Laughing at you all saying 'give mummy a kiss' Brilliant.
Regarding weaning- I have IBS (caused by stress whilst being with DD's dad but it doesn't go away once the stress has gone.) Had it over 10 years now and it was a nightmare in the beginning but i know roughly everything that has wheat in now, and i never eat pre-processed food. I can tell you which crisps do/don't, which ketchup does/ doesn't etc!!! So i definately won't be giving mine weetabix. Plus you have to be very careful, don't know if any of you remember but a few years ago a baby died cos the parents where feeding it ready break, cos of the high salt content. I started chloe on baby yogurts (they are made using formula milk) and then baby rice cereal, again using formula milk. Don't think they are surposed to have cow's milk till they are at least one. (feel free to correct me if i'm wrong)
saoirse I would hit the roof if someone was deliberately doing something they knew i was unhappy with behind my back, with my child. My god, i'm getting angry just thinking about it. They would be told (nicely) that if they were going to do stuff i wasn't happy with, then i won't be leaving her alone with them.

maple my DP is FAR from being veggie too and we've talked about whether she'll eat meat. I don't really have a problem with it as I think it should be each person's choice, but I just don't think it's necessary for her to eat meat until she's a bit older. There's nothing in meat she can't get from other foods.
My friend has a 4 year old who she has brought up veggie. It started more because she's veggie herself and is a single mum but it's just kind of lasted, much to her family's disapproval!

sassy Orlaith opens her mouth when I say it but I think it's just because she thinks she's about to eat me!
I find it really difficult with the in-laws. I'm quite a quiet, shy person and they're all really bolshy (sp?) and make me feel uncomfortable to say anything about anything. (I've found that difficult with being their employee too). It has made me feel like I don't want to leave her with them so they're the ones who will lose out in the end. I've also always felt that they see Orlaith as their granddaughter/niece rather than our daughter and I got really annoyed the other day when MIL made some serious freudian slips. She referred to herslef as 'mum' to Orlaith, then corrected herself, half an hour later she referred to PIL as 'dad' to Orlaith, then corrected herslef, then she referred to one SIL and Orlaith as being her babies and then corrected herself. One slip up is one thing but 3 in the space of an hour!!!

That's not on saoirse86!! if you are too shy/imtimidated/ worried to say something then dp should, they are his family!!! My mum refers to my boys as her babies but wouldn't call herself mum. She also doesn't agree with everything I do but wouldn't go behind my back other than giving ds1 a few more sweeties than I would which is fine.

Cows milk is fine sassy34264, after all formula is cows milk. It's just that it doesn't provide enough vitamins and minerals as he main source of milk until a year. You can use it in cooking from 6 months and I started giving ds1 yogurts from about 8 months, although the petit filous/ little stars ones made him very sick so I just mixed chopped up fruit into Greek yogurt which he loved. He had weetabix for breakfast at about the same age but everything else was home made including the stock I used in cooking.

Is it wrong to make Arlo think it's nighttime so he'll nap for longer? Want to get some housework and Xmas prep done! Normally I leave curtains open for daytime naps so he can differentiate between night and day, but he tends to fidget and wake himself up after half an hour. I've made the room dark now though in hope he'll go a couple of hours, as he sleeps well at night generally. Do you guys keep daytime light/noise happening for naps? I'm trying to get into some kind of routine, and implement an early bedtime but find that his last nap of the day ends up being the longest and late afternoon, so bedtime at 7 makes little sense. Been waking him and trying to get him tired again for 10.30pm!

Arlo 10 wks 4 days

saoirse86. You need to get dp to stand up for you and orlaith. They might think it's cute to refer to her as their child but I'd find it really distressful. she is your daughter and it is like they are sub-consciously pushing you out. Have a word about the food issues as well. you should be able to choose her food and when to give it. There's nothing wrong with being veggie and you can easily wean her veggie.

Saassy i hope the extra ff's help you get back on an even keel. dc3 had a growth spurt at 4 months and bf did get harder. It was hard to 'push through it' with 1 baby so can imagine it is 10 times harder with 2.
Get yourself out in your new car, I'm sure you will enjoy it once you try it.

Day 3 of cot and she spent 0 minutes in it. we are thinking of getting her some blankets as she does like to be tucked up rather then to wriggle in her gro-bag.

4m +3 days

debs have you tried a swaddling blanket? I use one for Orlaith and I think it helps. It also stops her putting her hands in her mouth, which I think often makes her think about feeding. They're often expensive but I've found them much cheaper in tk maxx.

DP doesn't really say anything. It's not that he can't stand up to them because he does it all day at work. It's just annoying that it always seems to take an argument before he'll support me.

I've been out in the car. The stupid seat belts in the back seat aren't long enough to go around the car seats so I've had to put them in the front. And I only stalled about 5 times !

dixie Orlaith just sleeps through noise/light but I might start trying turning the lights off too. Let us know if it works and if it affects night time.

sassy nobody on here will judge you for any decisions you make and you certainly shouldn't keep yourself from asking for help, especially as your mum's obviously so caring! You're doing a fantastic job and don't you forget it!

My sister and I just compared her DD's weight and Orlaith's weight. Imara is 10lb 6oz at 3 months (today) and Orlaith is 13lb 6oz. Imara is now the same weight that Orlaith was at 5w+3d!!

Orlaith 12 weeks

I spoke too soon, as soon as I finished posting, Arlo woke even though it was dark in there. Managed less than an hour, usually does 6 at night, so he must have been able to tell it was daytime! I managed to clean kitchen and eat lunch - rest of house and Xmas wrapping will have to wait!

Met my step sister's new LO yesterday, she is tiny and incredibly long blonde hair!! Made Arlo look like a giant [;)]

Oops I mean