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?

Hi, how is everyone else coping with BF? It is day 3 here and milk is coming in and nips are now a bit bloody so I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself. Right, off to read more on latching techniques I guess...

Hi all,

Have migrated over from November 2010 as Thomas turned up six days late on 1st December.

All well so far, and he is putting on weight nicely and even sleeping quite well. Is anyone else experiencing the two-week growth spurt which seems to require feeding all the time?!

93pjb - Thomas has always fed well and no problem with latch (had it checked) but still had sore and bleeding nipples for a few days. I think they don't like to tell you that this can happen as it can be offputting. Also asked my mum who breastfed two babies without problems and she said yes, normal, just takes a week or two for the nipples to toughen up. I found that keeping them exposed (whenever no visitors!) helped, but that nipple creams just made it worse.

What a great birth story crazykat I love the name you've chosen.

It's so difficult picking a name CherylAnnTweedy. I really love the name Caitlin but DP vetoed it. Anyone find it strange saying their baby's name, After calling her "the baby" for nine months? Then the other day I thought she looked more like a Sophie?! Hormones, eh?

Welcome to the world, Thomas. Hope you're well cocopopsaddict

93pjb I'm finding breastfeeding inconsistent. One feed will be great. Then the next feed, it can take five minutes to latch properly. Hannah just won't open her mouth wide enough. Right nipple is in shreds - had to self express from it yesterday. I've tried nipple shields but, again, she loved it on one feed and then refused it on the next feed.

Anyone finding the night feeds the most difficult?

But the good news is that Hannah is sleeping in her basket well - yay!

Can't wait to see who joins us next!

Thanks for the comments re bf. I am definitely finding night feeds hardest I think because I'm too tired to take much trouble over latch but will try harder tonight... Saw a friend who's just finished bf her third and she agreed that first few days were tough each time but that didn't mean there was a long term problem so hopefully we will get it together soon.

Names are very tricky aren't they, ds's (Malcolm) is on the dod about names that will never be popular but we love it and it really seems right for him.

Morning all just up feeding so thought I would try and catch up! Baby Hugh is doing well, seems much calmer than his sister was but then I think I am more chilled and going with the flow! BFing is still sore here as he won't feed on the left side as I have a semi inverted nip and he is too lazy, having to express that side but means right nip is very very sore!!
Trying cosleeping this time and it is great, few sleep interruptions and he is warm and snug in this chilly weather. Boiler failed again yesterday luckily they were here in 2 hours to fix it! Tree up most cards and presents done, most food shopping done - really looking forward to quiet Christmas with just the 4 of us!! Just have to hope my mother gets off to Canada to see my DB as she can't come here (previous history) and I am not sure where else she could go this late in the day!!
Hope you are all coping ok!

ooh, MrsSL I'm very jealous about having Christmas just the four of you - not that I want to join in your Christmas you understand, just would rather prefer it if my mum didn't come round and expect to be in charge of it all!
She thinks she'll be taking the 2 eldest DC's down to the band stand for a Christmas Day concert - pphhhh, fat chance of that, as I'll be placing a foot firmly down on that one!

BF going very well here, (sorry! ) as Reuben's managed to put on nearly a pound in a week! The m/w said he was trying to go for a record! He does sometimes not open his mouth wide enough though, and has started to suck, and stop and wait until the milk comes down before starting again - lazy bugger!! Still, I only stopped feeding Oscar (DS3) a month before I fell pg with Reuben, so I think my boobs are still in feeding mode!

However I can't quite work out how to stop Oscar from screaming - can anyone give me any advise on this? He does this high-pitched squeal that really pierces your ears - doesn't seem to be for any particular reason, he just does it as he's running around the house. Is it a typical toddler thing? (He's 22 months)

The older two DC's are off to their dad's later, and aren't coming back until Thursday morning - gives me and DH plenty of time to get all the wrapping done! Quite excited about Crimble now, and I'm a lapsed pagan!

Hope you guys are all well and enjoying the snuggles!

MrsS - Hope your mum gets away ok... Your christmas sounds lovely!! We are hopfully heading to my mums in Northumberland which is a 2 hr drive for us, but its all weather dependant. Hopefully we'll make it though as they have a lovely big open planned house which is great for the kids and their presents. We'd all be tripping over each other in our place! More snow fall yesterday but hoping for a break soon!

Steno - I still find it odd saying DS's name, I really love his bane but its doesn't quite flow off my tongue yet . Had the same with DS2's name though...

Speaking of names we just realised that I've only got 3 days to register him according to the legal limit! I'd forgotten with all the snow and school closures etc up here. Must get that appt booked.

BF is going well here but Jude has been a little unsettled at night the last 2 nights. He does well from about 10pm to 3am but then he just seems to doze for about 45 mins and wake up crying. Think it may be trapped wind so am giving infacol a go from today. He's great in every other way though and so laid back during the day.

I've also had a few emotional moments recently - I thought baby blues were earlier than this? I cried at sports personality of the year last night . Especially when I saw posh spice crying... Whats that about?? .

Right, MIL looking after DS2 so am going to try to get my head down for half an hour with DS3.

Yes everyone please pray my mother gets to Canada otherwise I am not sure what we will do!!! Can envisage her coming here and DH leaving to go home to his parents!

mamathulu my DS is the same age and also does the high-pitched squeal, usually when DD has something he wants. Unfortunately I haven't found anything that stops him though he will sometimes stop when we ask him to, but it's very rare.

I've had to start mixed feeding with Kira, I really wanted to BF this time but it seems I don't produce enough milk as she lost 11% of her birth weight in 5 days. I know it's the best thing for her to make sure she's getting enough but it's making me really sad that I can't do the most basic thing for her and feed her enough.

Meant to say MrsS, I'm trying co-sleeping for the first time. Never did it with the other DS's, but I need all the sleep I can get these days. I know its very early days but do you worry about them getting too used to sleeping right next to you?? Is breaking the cycle going to hard further down the line.

crazykat, don' t eat yourself up about the bf, I think it's far too easy to be harsh on yourself about it, everyone's so pro-bf, it can seem like a real problem if it doesn't happen, but I really think it's better for Kira to have a mum who's relaxed and happy in the knowledge that she's getting enough food. There's enough stress in parenting without worrying about it - and yes, you sound like you've made the right decision for you. And growing her in your tummy and giving birth to her created her, so don't feel like you're a failure, because that's so far from the truth!!! It must be worrying when she's not putting weight on, but hopefully that'll start to sort itself out now.

chooster and MrsSL I co-slept with all of mine, but am trying to get Reuben to get used to being in his crib a bit more - simply as I think I'll be needing to leave him on his own so I can deal with Little Bear/Hobbit/Elf a bit more. I do sleep with him at night though, and I have to say it really helps the bf and the sleep! I did find it hard to get Little Bear to sleep on his own though, but then, he ALWAYS went to sleep on my chest, until he was about a year old - yes, I know, bonkers!! :)

Hi all, having graduated yesterday, I thought I'd share my story...

Birth story coming up...

Sunday night, about 7.30pm, I was lying in bed just ready to go to sleep when I heard a pop and had really intense pain that lasted about 15secs. I had the sense that something must have happened. I went to the loo and felt my waters leaking. Called out to DH who rang my M&D so they could look after DD, but due to the bad weather, it took them about 45mins to do a 5min journey! Longest wait of my life.

After waters went, 10 mins later my contractions started. They were in a pattern almost straight away, about 1 every 2 mins lasting about 30-45secs each. Rang the labour ward who said to come in so we left as soon as M&D arrived.

Went straight into delivery suite - it was about 9pm by then. was hooked up to ctg and the midwife was fairly insistent that I had to stay on my back which was really uncomfortable. She examined me and said I was about 7cm dilated. Almost straight away I felt the contractions change and began to get the urge to push. MW was doing her best to control the progress but it was virtually impossible not to push as the urge was overwhelming. After a few more contractions, she said baby was ready to come. I pushed him out in 3 contractions (about 9 pushes altogether). 2h11mins from waters breaking to delivery!

As some of you might remember, I was hoping for a successful vbac this time, which is exactly what I got The sense of achievement and euphoria when she placed DS on my chest was unbelievable. I had a second degree tear which needed stitching but although it's a bit uncomfortable (and coughing and sneezing from the lurgy isn't helping!) for me it was such a positive experience, I can put up with that!

DD is chuffed to bits with her new brother and is planning on going out with DH tomorrow to buy him some Christmas presents

We were home by noon today. DS doesn't have a name yet but weighs a good 7lb 1oz, very contented little baby (so far )

Lovely story max, really pleased for you.

Crazykat, if you're mix feeding then she's still getting all the antibodies etc from the bf part so you are giving her what she needs. It is so hard not to get upset about bf when it is a struggle, but it isn't the be all and end all. Completely agree with mamathulu about her needing you to be relaxed more.

My dd ended up in scbu very seriously jaundiced because she wasn't feeding. Although we did get bf sorted in the end it was so stressful because i blamed myself for it. It's so hard to get things in perspective when you're hormonal and sleep deprived but please go easy on yourself.

Hi all,

I would love to join this group, due date is tomorrow, so fingers crossed but there is a chance i might have to join the next group.

Congratulations on all your lovely December babies x

Hi all,

Hope you don't mind me jumping onboard. My LO was born 9th december 15 days early (so glad as a xmas eve birth would not have been ideal!)

She was so good the first week - waking up every 4 hours on the dot, feeding, change of nappy then back to sleep - adorable! She's having a bit of trouble with colic this week tho, poor little thing - was up from 330 till 730 last night, agonising when I could see her pain but not do anything to help. Got her some infacol today which seems to be making her a bit better so far.

She's not took to bf - latches on but does 2 or 3 sucks then stops so I'm expressing and topping up with formula at the mo - bit of hassle but at least shes still getting the breast milk.

Anyone else finding their LOs nocturnal?? We feed Lily at 10pm and she often wont settle after till its time for the next feed - I asked MW who said its normal for them to be more alert in the evening and guzzle more milk so think she's ok, I just need to adjust my sleep pattern now!

Hi all. My little one was born 4 December, 18 days early.

We struggled with the bfing to the extent that we needed to go into hospital. A combination of expressing, cupfeeding and encouraging staff did the trick and now I rarely have free hands. So it can happen.

She is definitely more nocturnal. I'm still trying to adjust to sleeping or the lack thereof. Still, when she opens her blue eyes or makes her contented noise, it is all worth it.

DD has suddenly come over all teary this morning, ignoring me, having a sit down tantrum lots of "I want mumma" Probably a reactions to DS arrving. It's difficult as my instinct is to maintain normal service so to speak so I wouldn't let her get away with this behaviour but my heart wants me to cut her some slack. She's obviously tired so that's probably the cause of most of it.

I'm feeling quite woosy - DH has diagnosed anaemia so he's going out to get some iron tablets.

DD asked if I was going to work today

DS has done a record number of poos in his first 24hrs!

max we had a few similar episodes with DD on new arrival but now day 13 things are more settled.

Hi everyone, congratulations maxpower.

DD is just amazing, from being the hardest pregnancy and birth of the 3, she is so far the easiest baby by far, BF has been almost too easy, milk came in on 2nd day, virtually no engorgement and none of the pain or soreness that I experienced with the boys. We registered her yesterday so Caitlin Cheryl 'Tweedy' is now real! The ds's have been absolute stars, they have been amazingly well behaved this last week, ds2 keeps randomly stopping playing just to come and give her a kiss, they both totally adore her and she's certainly going to be looked after by her big brothers when she's older.

I drove the new car today for the 1st time, and I need to get a job now so I can get an s-max, or somehow figure out how to make our mondeo wider inside so that it can fit the 3 seats in it. I feel so bad having been lent the money for it, but it's a horrible car.

Hi all. Thought I'd try and catch up. Just put William in sling for first time and he is fast asleep leaving me hands free to MN!

Sorry for those having BF troubles - we are too. I did a big post in the breast feeding section but basically he was/is like your LO emza78 and ended up in hospital after losing just over 10%. He has now put on 160g in 2 days and is feeding like a demon from bottle but I really want to get him back on the breast.

crazykat - I know how you feel about the BF. I fed DD for 10 months and couldn't imagine not BF William, but it is so tiring expressing then bottle feeding and trying to work on his latch. I feel so guilty we ended up in hospital, espeically after we had such a lovely home birth with him.

The midwife who came today did say that nearly all babies will eventually get it, just keep supply going and be patient and don't try to force things. I have rented a hospital grade pump from the NCT for £20 for the week which does both boobs at the same time. I would highly recommend it for anyone else expressing, just phone your local branch.

So not ready for Christmas. DD is a bit unsettled too, epseically since we disappeared for two nights.

max lovely birth story, although what is it with them making you lie on back immobile to be monitored? I had that with DD and as it was posterior labour was agony.

CAT Catilin is a lovely name.

Weirdly, William wasn't on our shortlist, but when he came out he wasn't a Joseph at all and as I was talking to him that evening, William just slipped out! It felt really 'right'. DD's name was picked out in advance and to be honest, sometimes I still wonder if it is the right one although it is lovely (IMO!)

Right, better go as DH and DD will be home soon and need to express again.

Welcome to those who are new to the thread :)

Thanks WLL & cheryl I was a bit at the lying on my back bit as the wonderful vbac mw I'd had to see while I was pg was really positive that I would still be able to remain upright or on all fours despite the monitoring. I asked the mw if I had to stay on my back - her compromise was I could lie on my left, but tbh the only vague relief I had had from any pain was to get on all fours so that wasn't a great deal of help. DH was brilliant the whole time (as I knew he would be) except he kept finding it necessary to start asking me questions whenever a contraction started to begin with, until I told him in no uncertain terms to stop it!

My stitches have started to feel sore today dspite paracetamol and ibuprofen - any ideas when they might start to ease up?

MrsS thanks for your reassurance regarding your DD - mine had a couple of 'moments' today but still seems smitten with her brother. I can cope with it as long as she only takes it out on DH and I rather than DS.

Poor DS is still nameless. I'm beginning to get the sense that some of my IL's are a bit as to why we haven't decided yet. I told DH I wasn't going to be pressured into making such an important decision. I'm toying with Matthew or Jack at the moment - any thoughts? I think he might look a bit more like a Matthew, but I'm fairly sure DH prefers Jack (although he likes both andhe'll let me have whatever I decide because he's lovely like that).

I'm really fed up with the lurgy now though. I have no voice - I'm sure the women on the postnatal ward must have thought I'd been screaming like a banshee in labour and lost my voice (which wasn't the case!). The coughing makes my stitches hurt and I've peed myself twice today because of having a massive coughing fit when needing the loo.

DS has slept all day so I expect I'll be up most of the night - he's a little nocturnal at the mo and prefers to sleep when cuddled up with DH or I which is so hard to resist. He's the spitting image of DD and I'm totally in love with him!!

Hi all, just a quick one to say that I think today was cheeseandgherkins' due date. Scarlett's funeral will be on 29th. It looks like she is still posting on the bereavement thread occasionally.

Does anyone know cheese's real name? We will be lighting a candle for her family at church tomorrow and I feel a bit of an idiot saying it's for someone I " know" from the Internet called cheese&gherkins!! Please pm me if you do - I know she isn't replying to pm just now but yes she is still posting on bereavement. Hope everyone else is ok today.

maxpower - my stitches have only really started to feel better today, day 14 - I found taking 2 salt baths a day helped, looking forward to having a bath with something other than saxa soon though!

MrsSL, just emailed you