December 2010 - Merry Christmas new babies!

[Chooster]

Hi, I couldn't see a post-natal thread but as we grow in numbers we'll need a place to chat!

All good here... Jude is now 5 days old and such a wonderful good baby. Mind you he must think he's been born in the Arctic as it was -16 outside this morning in Edinburgh. Brrrrrrr - Its not always this cold Jude .

How's everyone else getting on?

I think it's colic and wondered if anyone here uses infacol? He's quite calm now and since it started he's always slept well after all the screaming. It's just heartbreaking not being able to do anything to help him when he's really upset.

We've had a really good day, he smiled and I met up with the nct lot, but it all seems to go to pot in the evening.

Hi, I'm still here just lurking mostly as not getting much sleep. Nancy is now nearly 4 weeks and has now made back her birth weight, so I can relax about feeding and start joining the rest of you on worying about routines and colic. Actually I think she has reflux but don't know if I need to se someone about itor just try to keep her upright as much as poss.

DF I feel so bad for you when they cry like that you just feel miserable, I hope it doesn't last long. When they smile it is heartmelting, though.

I also have the Close baby sling - I thought the X at the back went in the middle of the shoulder blades and the rings were tight enough that the baby was positioned high so as to kiss te top of their head?

I used the Baby Whisperer technique (quite loosely) with my 3rd baby and it worked really well for him. It took a little while at first, but since I went back to work when he was 4m it was a relief to hav a good routine sorted and know it was easy for the nursery staff to put him to bed or soothe him. I haven't got as far as looking up the book yet for this one!

It is quite a good routine for those of you who want DH to be a bit more involved- he can do the Activity or the getting baby to sleep part, and can't get away with the "no breasts" excuse. I must admit though, when my 1st baby projectile vomited all over his snoring daddy's face after yet another lonely nightime feed, it was pretty satisfying. :)

I'd forgotten how fast babies develop- I am still missing having a bump and want time to slow down so I can enjoy every minute of her :)

Hope everyone is getting some sleep right now.:)

Hi, I'm still here just lurking mostly as not getting much sleep. Nancy is now nearly 4 weeks and has now made back her birth weight, so I can relax about feeding and start joining the rest of you on worying about routines and colic. Actually I think she has reflux but don't know if I need to se someone about itor just try to keep her upright as much as poss.

DF I feel so bad for you when they cry like that you just feel miserable, I hope it doesn't last long. When they smile it is heartmelting, though.

I also have the Close baby sling - I thought the X at the back went in the middle of the shoulder blades and the rings were tight enough that the baby was positioned high so as to kiss te top of their head?

I used the Baby Whisperer technique (quite loosely) with my 3rd baby and it worked really well for him. It took a little while at first, but since I went back to work when he was 4m it was a relief to hav a good routine sorted and know it was easy for the nursery staff to put him to bed or soothe him. I haven't got as far as looking up the book yet for this one!

It is quite a good routine for those of you who want DH to be a bit more involved- he can do the Activity or the getting baby to sleep part, and can't get away with the "no breasts" excuse. I must admit though, when my 1st baby projectile vomited all over his snoring daddy's face after yet another lonely nightime feed, it was pretty satisfying. :)

I'd forgotten how fast babies develop- I am still missing having a bump and want time to slow down so I can enjoy every minute of her :)

Hope everyone is getting some sleep right now.:)

whoops sorry

DF I would say avoid Infacol like the plague!!! DD was quite colicky to start with, had a few recommendations of Infacol from mw's. After about 3 days on it she started bringing up every feed. She went from being generally really settled, feeding every 3hrs with a spell at night whgere she was in pain to very unsettled, wouldn't go down on her own, fountaining her feeds, so feeding almost constantly. It didn't particularly help the wind either. I continued for about a week on it but there was no improvement in any of it so took her off. It took about a week to get out of her system but she was then back to normal. I started using very small doses of gripe water as she wasn't a month old and that did the trick much better. I did google "infacol making baby sick" and there were lots of forums with people having the exact same experience as me.

I think you are right about how high up the little one should be in the close sling Franken... i'll check the positioning on my back again. I tried Jude facing forwards in it yesterday as he has good head control. He liked it but not sure I did it right. It looked like he was wearing a mankini like sasha baron Cohen!

Good to hear your dd is back to birth weight - as you day now for all the other worries.

Sorry to hear that about bob Df... sounds like colic. I still use infacol on Jude and he's very settled now. As its not absorbed by him I'm happy to still use it. It has the highest level of the active ingredient out if the other brands so good idea to start with it. Gripe water is also good but you need to give more of it so its a bit of a pain. Other things to try, lie on front, bicycle legs, paddling, dummy for the comfort without causing more problem. Also may see if the is an Oesteopath near you that does babies. It was only 30 pounds and she found tightenings in his spine that she was able to loosen. Whatever we've done had had an amazing effect on Jude, he's such a happy relaxed baby now.

Ooooops, swaddling not paddling! Prescriptive text!

Thanks for responses about feeding. I tend to leave DD on til she falls off/asleep. Just a wee bit concerned due to lack of weight gain; she has reached birth weight but only 2oz since and now 5 weeks. However, i have read lots of old threads on here about slow gain and have been quite reassured .

Although, i do think she has a small amount of silent reflux; has most of the symptoms. I'm seeing HV tomorrow so will ask then and perhaps book her in to see GP (not had appoinment for 6 week check yet). In the meantime, I have tilted her bed by 30 degrees, keep her upright for half an hour after feeds and am cutting down on the caffeine . I must say, after doing all this, she went in her own bed twice yesterday for a decent sleep (2 hrs each time). It may just be a coincidence though??

Chooster / Steno That routine looks quite good. Not planning to do anything for the next few weeks though but it seems managable. I didn't have a routine with DS and he found his own routine after about 3 months. However, feel I need something a little more organised as I didn't have a 3 yr old running around, demanding my attention last time!

Franken I do like your thoughts on getting DH more involved. I sometimes wonder how well he is bonding with her or if he feels left out? When he's not at work, he's with DS , cooking, ironing, cleaning etc (I know, I am very lucky ). He does 'play' with DD but after a few minutes she's rooting and he's passing her back.

Anyway, hope you all have a good (stress free) day!

Hi all. Sorry to hear of difficulties with crying/unsettled evenings df. William's sometimes unsettled in the evening - last night he wantd the boob constantly which was a bit of an issue as I've just fought off another bout of mastitis :( His latch is still not great. I thought he was draining the breast sufficiently, but clearly not unless it is to do with me not resting enough.

As for routine we're just going with the flow at the moment and seeing if he settles into his own routine like CJ. He was stretching feeds out a bit more but the last two days he's wanted to feed a lot. I'm wondering if it is the 6 week growth spurt.

Getting quite a few smiles now, even some spontaneous ones which is lovely. He's also just been weighed and measured and is on 75th centile for both and just under 12lbs! Thought he was feeling a bit heavy.

I am going to look up the no cry sleep solution as William seems very similar to DD who slept really badly until she was 10months, although was sleeping 7-6 by 12 months. I want to gently encourage his sleep sooner rather than later though. He sleeps in bed with us and as long as he is contact with someone he pretty much goes straight back to sleep after feeds - generally between every 2 and 4 hours overnight.

just had a friend to visit who encouraged me to put Bob into the moses basket awake. I prefer to get him to sleep and then put him in. Arrghhh, I only went ahead and tried it but then felt really judged! ah well, it had to happen some time.

DF have you tried dentinox colic drops? they worked wonders with DD1 who had really bad colic and screamed for an hour after every feed. You could also try lying Bob on his front on your leg and patting his back when he's crying or rubbing his tummy in circular movements. It might take a while but this used to calm DD1.

Took DD1 to her second nursey session today and thankfully she was better than last week and joined in almost from the beginning. I'm a lot less worried about her starting full time after easter now. Still can't believe she's old enough.

Kira seems to be a water baby and would quite happily stay in the bath for an hour, it's a good thing really as she's sick at least once a day and always when I've just put her in her moses basket or bouncer so her hair gets covered.

Who wrote the book about the EASY method, I know it's further up but I can't seem to find it - a mix of sleep deprivation and baby brain.

crazy Matthew enjoys being in the bath as well, whereas DD hated it (and still does!) I'm sure your DD will settle in to nursery in no time. As long as you feel positive about it, she'll be reassured.

Took DD to her first tennis session this afternoon, she looked like she loved it but promptly fell asleep in the car on the way home - bless her

Matthew's belly button is now staining his clothes a sort of yellow colour so we've booked him an appt at the GP's to make sure he's ok.

DH was home today and did the school run so I stayed in bed dozing with Matthew until nearly midday I can't remember the last time that happened!

max that sounds like heaven, I could do with that today as Kira decided to be a little monster overnight and I've had to bring her down so DH can sleep as he's got to leave for work soon and it's his birthday too.

I was really daft yesterday and got the idea of walking into town while the two oldest were at my parents. Thought it would be nice to take Kira on a nice walk and do some shopping. Forgot that pushchairs get heavy when loaded with shopping, then bought some big bottles of juice for sunday's birthday party which wouldn't fit so had to carry them on my wrists. It wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't 3 miles to get home and had too much stuff to get on the bus and have to unload and fold pushchair. My legs are bloomin kikkin.

Good to hear the news of the older ones settling into nursery, tennis etc.

Thanks Chooster and Franken. I'm finally there with the sling. Tightening it forward rather than down made a huge difference. I had DD in it for quite a while around the house yesterday and felt really good.

She's sleeping brlliantly at night, I can';t believe how lucky we are, she went from 10-4 last night and then back down straight away after feeding and I got up with her about 20mins ago. I'm moving her tonight into the cot but still in the moses basket as the mattress shoul be here soon and I don't want it to be too much of a shock moving to the other side of the room. Hopefully it won't disturb her sleeping pattern. Wish me luck!

DF Isadora is going through the same thing has been crying constantly - I want my happy smiley baby back! Last night we went to bed at 8 and she woke up at 10 and that was it whole night of crying and feeding until 6am and then slept until 11 I am shattered today. I feel awful as know its wind and she sounds in pain with it but I cant seem to do anything, have tried all the positions and nothing seems to work. When she is asleep she is really restless moaning and moving around. Have been using infacol but not during the night and she has been sick a few times thought perhaps i was giving her too much. I looked at the detinox drops yesterday maybe will switch and see if any improvement. Its heartbreaking when you cant do anything. We have six week check on Tues and have a list of issues - umbilical hernia, possible positional talipes (hv scared me senseless about this and then turned round and said not an expert and not qualified to say anything after telling me surgery might be needed!) and now been told she has Haemoglobin S a carrier of sickle cell - oh the worries of being a mummy I feel as though I need constant reassurance!

crazy I've been out walking for about 3 hours altogether today - (what's left of my) abs are already aching so I'm dreading tomorrow!

cheryl at your DD's wonderful sleeping. Good luck with the cot move.

frenchfries sorry you had such a tough night. Hopefully your GP will be able to address your concerns. Being a parent is such fun at times

Just learned a lesson. Curry no matter how mild is not a good idea if you are BF, had a lovely Korma DH cooked and Bea is full of wind and explosive poo, changing a nappy every 10-15 minutes and they are very full. This feels like the start of a long night.

Snap kellestar... korma here too, Jude is very gurgly. hope tonight is as good cheryl

hey all. I was supposed to be going out for a curry tonight but have decided not to now!

Bob hasn't been too bad the last few days; we only had 2 days of really heartbreaking crying. He still gets wind but we seem to be coping with it better. phew.

He's started smiling which is just lovely. Also very into holding his head up and having a good look round. He's also sleeping for ages at night - between about 10pm and 3 or 4 am! I decided not to wake him but just see how long he can stay asleep for.

hope everyone is well ? x

hullo all!

hope everyone is coping with various trials and tribulations.........

back home after a weeks R&R with my mum after a boob crisis - wasn't eating enough, milk diminishing and having mega dizzy spells, not good :( amazing what doubling calorie and fluid intake will do!

DD down with a really nasty cold, the poor thing. she's all snotty and bunged up and grizzly. saline nasal spray defo helping and she's still feeding ok so fingers crossed it doesn't last too long. its so heartbreaking listening to her trying to breathe at night, and her cry is so pitiful :( she is more clingy and is happiest resting on mine or DH's chest.

not much else happening apart from being sick of the cold and hoping spring hurries up. anyone planning on getting their DC christened? am a bit torn on the idea as am a confirmed anglican (but am rubbish about going to church), DH the same but know it would mean lots to the g'parents...hmmmm...

Hi everyone. Sorry to hear your DD has a cold rudbekia. William has one too, although it doesn't seem too bad. He started with a gummy eye yesterday, but I cleaned with coll coiled water and put some breastmilk on it and it seems better today.

Although I am confirmed, I don't currently attend church. DH isn't religious at all so we won't be getting DD or DS christened. However, I do like the idea of a civil naming ceremony.

frenchfries hope things have calmed down for you. We've had a couple of very unsettled nights again this week. All our babies are still so little though, I think it's normal.

kelle and chooster hope you had ok nights after your curries!

DF smiles are great aren't they? :o :o

Well, I am not doing great again. Over the masititis but both nipples are really raw. Not sure where to go from here as William's latch is just crap again TBH. I don't know why it improved after his tongue tie division but has then gone downhill again this week unless it is the cold he has. I am considering moving back to bottles and expressing. I know the first 6-8 weeks is the hardest and I keep thinking if I can just make it a little longer it will all come right like it did with DD, but it is hard when I'm so sore.

Erm, I cleaned his eye with cool boiled water, no idea what coll coiled water is! I really need to proof read my posts

WLL could you try nipple shields for a while? I know they are not always recommended but if you've got this far perhaps they could be used until your nipples are healed? I have some you can have, unused and still in the packaging. happy to send them to you.

I second the use of nipple shields, WLL - my MW recommended them to me and she was clear that the traditional concern with them (reduced supply) is no longer an issue. I've been using since day 3 and seem to have no supply issues. DD does struggle to cope without it sometimes, but as long as I have one with me at all times there's no problem.

Any ideas how we can reset DD's clock? Her awake and needing attention and 2 hour feeds is between 9pm and 2am-it's exhausting. Rest of the time she's on 3 - 4 hour feeds and is content in her cot or sleeping? At what age can you you start getting them to have a sensible bed time?

I would love to know how people are getting babies who sleep for 6 hours at night- or even 4 hrs! Mine is on the same nightshift as WWSB's DD, but will not sleep in a cot or lie contented for more than 10 mins.in the day either.

All of my kids have a cold/virus just now- buts its especially horrible to hear a new baby snuffling and choking.

WLL I had a touch of mastitis and then red raw nips for a couple of weeks- they are just starting to feel OK but one is still sore. So I can say with some feeling I don't know how you are managing to keep going! Hopefully it will ease soon. I found Kamillosan rather than Lansinoh more soothing and not covering the boobs up whenever possible really helped - but I have never tried shields- sounds worth a try.

DF those smiles re just wonderful, aren't they .My DD has a little dimple on one side and coos and aahs for us when she is smiling- I daren't tell her dad she does t for the tedy next to her change mat too .

Well that is my 10 mins up- better go see what Miss Bright Eyes wants at this hour (yawn)...

I hope everyone's babies and boobs all get better soon.