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?

CJ agree about the washing! When I had DD I only did about one extra load a week - since having DS my washing seems to have trebled! Thank god I did get a new machine before xmas (when my old one started playing up)

Matthew was as good as gold last night - I made it into bed before midnight which is quite an achievement here! However DD has taken to waking up at 6am (if we're lucky ) and then spends all her time wandering between her bedroom and our bedroom interspersed with her shouting for me (or DH when he's home) and making random requests and asking what the time is. Seriously unfunny when you're knackered. DH gave her yet another lecture when he got home this morning and has told her she won't be able to go to her cousins birthday party in 2 weeks unless she stops it. Her overall behaviour is back to normal (thankfully) but this is very draining.

How lovely to see some sunshine - one I've persuaded DD to get dressed, I'll get her out and about!

I have done four loads of washing today and got so much out on the line and dry though. Can't wait for more clear sunny crisp days like today.

Bea was a monster last night, she had DH up to 2 this morning then me from 7. It's not too bad friday/ saturday night as we can share shifts, but during the week it's not fair for him if he's out the door at 6.

She's having some tummy time at the moment and trying to scuttle along her playmat. Hopefully it will tire her out and work out some wind.

DD wanted to go to bed at 6pm - I wonder why???

Max :) sounds like she's taking it seriously, hope you had a good night.

Bea had a great night last night, i have cut out dairy and caffine for the last 2 days and no sign of colic. Will speak to HV if I havecto take supplements in lieu of dairy.

I even baked a cake to thank DH for his parience with us.

Bob has gone from 7lb 9 to 8lb 4 in a week. Despite me worrying like mad about breastfeeding everything has gone really well; I am one of those lucky people for whom breastfeeding is a doddle.

hope everyone is doing ok?

thanks kellestar DD stayed in her bed until her alarm went this morning, thank goodness! Glad Bea had a good night.

That's good news DF, I'm pleased you're getting on so well with bf. Matthew has put on 1lb 7oz in three weeks I knew he liked his food but still!

Hello all, and congratulations

Thanks for pointing me over here DF and maxpower
Finlay is finally asleep so will post birth story while I have the chance.

Woke with a start at 2am on 9th Dec, and felt a trickle of water, thought it was wee but when I got to the bathroom there was a huge gush, followed by a show then another gush. Had a few braxton hicks and a couple of big contractions but nothing regular.
Went to hospital about 10:30am once DC at school for monitoring, and was given the choice of having full internal and staying in or speculum exam and going home,chose the latter but m/w couldn't see anything due to all the water.
Got home about 1 and slept until was woken by a massive contraction at about 2:30, they kept coming every 5 mins so went back to hospital, by the time we parked they were every three mins and it took us forever to walk to labour ward.
Got into lovely room, but the midwife assigned was someone we knew and so we asked for another one.
At 4:10 new m/w came in by now I was in agony, she attempted to do paperwork but I couldn't talk through the contractions, all of a sudden I felt the need to push so I did, m/w said not to until she had examined me and gave me gas and air (finally), as soon as she moved the sheet she said "Oh theres an arm and the heads there , you were right it's time to push!"
Finlay was born doing superman pose just like DS1 at 4:30pm, weighing 9lb and half an ounce so glad he came two weeks early. He was bright purple and latched on straight away! Thankfully I didn't tear but was in shock due to speed of everything, and DH nearly fainted when he saw the placenta!

Had a night on ward then came home next day. Unfortunately were sent back in the following day as Finlay was jaundiced and I developed a DVT, then while on childrens ward I got the flu, then developed mastitis. On top of that had overstretched pelvis during labour and aggravated SPD so instead of it getting better after birth it was much worse.
Finn has been fine, apart from a bit of colic and has put on just under three pounds since birth!
Just starting to get back on my feet literally and getting used to being knackered, as he feeds every two hours.

Sorry for mammoth post! Hope all well today.

Wow, notso! that was pretty speedy and amazing you managed so well with just a little g and a at the end. Awful that you had the trouble since the birth though, catching flu must have been rotten. Good to hear you are recovering well now though .

I've been reading all your updates ladies, normally in bed on my phone during Jude's last feed of the day, but never hvae the time to post before he nods off and I want to sleep myself! But he and I are doing great. Schools went back today up here - hooraayy!!! I am now in a peaceful house and can spend some good quality time with my wee one. Although this morning he wasn't playing ball - We got back in at about 10 and I'd planned a good hour sleep (if not more) with him as he always sleeps well when we are out and about... but he groaned and moaned his way through the hour with some dozing in between... little monkey. So I gave up and went downstairs popping him in his swing and he's still asleep now! Oh well it was a nice idea . Generally he is doing much much better - far less colicy / refluxy. I think the ostepath helped and also just getting bigger has helped. I also feel that he and I have really got to know each other. I know his pattern now and what he likes... I just feel I understand him. Its such a lovely feeling when it clicks into place. He's a smashing little guy . So lucky.

I took him into work yesterday as I had my am I redundant / am I not meeting with my manager. He was so well behaved and I kept my job - so a good day all round... I'm going to put a piccie of Jude up on my profile in a mo. Does anyone else have a pic up?

Hope everyone is doing OK

notso gosh that was quick, sorry to hear your SPD is still bad, glad to hear Finn is putting weight on well.

chooster i have a picture ofBea and DH in my album.

We have builders next door laying a new drive, they start as soon as it is light with the jack hammers. Bea sleeps through it, but my head is pounding. Gave up and watched one born every minute. Ralph really grated on my nerves until the end.

Blimey notso what an entry. Loving the superman comparison. Sorry to hear it's been tough sincethe birth and hope you are recovering well.

chooster great news about the job. I have an early photo on mine from when Bob was in the NNU - should update it really. DH has posted one on his facebook with Bob 'holding' his XBox control pad thing. typical.

I think Bob is suffering fromm wind. He really gulps at the breast and in the evening gets really irritable.

kellestar hope you manage to get some sleep. I watched a bit of OBEM and thought the young guy was a bit of a knob but probably it was just his youth which made him so.

Time has flown for a nap, an early night sounds impossible as DH has work that needs issuing and I help out to make it go quicker.

HV has just been Bea has put on 9oz in the last week, she now weighs 7lb 3oz at 3w3d. It's nerve wracking BF as you just can't tell how much they are taking from a feed unless you express.

notso sorry you've had problems since the birth - I have great sympathy as I came down with the flu 2 days before DS was born -can't say giving birth with the flu was that much fun

congrats on the job front chooster

Good news - William did have a tongue tie which was divided today with instantaneous improvement in BF. It is much better now, although still a little sore as he is half feeding ok and half still in the habit of chomping, plus my nipples are quite badly mashed. They should heal pretty fast now and we have some exercises to help him learn to use his tongue properly. So glad it is sorted as couldn't have carried on for much longer.

Is anyone elses' baby still a touch yellow? William still looks a bit jaundiced and he is 4 weeks now. Seeing HV tomorrow in clinic as they wanted to check him and a bit worried about what they will say. DD was jaundiced too for quite a bit, but I can't remember if it was as long as 4 weeks. DH's grandmother who is ex-midwife looked at him over weekend and thought he was fine.

notso wow, that was fast. Sorry you've had the dreaded mastitis, total nightmare. HOpe your SPD starts to ease up soon. I was a bit sore for a few days after the birth but now my pelvis feels fine.

kelle that's a great weight gain! Best thing is to watch the nappies and baby's behaviour as if they are weeing and pooing lots and seem settled they are probably fine - you know it's going in if it is coming back out the other end! I remember with DD getting her weighed every week and being really anxious. They seem to actively discourage weekly weighing now in my area, although we have to go and get William's weight checked because of all the issues we've been having with feeding.

hullo all!

by the sounds of it things are going ok for most of us?

DD gave us a lovely night sunday - two four hour stretches either side of her 2am feed. glorious! not so great last night but we do seem to be getting there. shs's now fully settled into four-hourly feeding which gives me a break when she naps between feeds.

HV here on thursday for hearing test. anyone been through this?!

p.s. hotmilk bras - expensive but worth every penny!

rudbekia Bob had his hearing test while in the hospital. I wasn't there though so don't know what they do. I vaguely remember reading a leaflet they gave me and it seemed pretty straight foward and I know there was something on there saying if there seemed to be a problem it may be nothing and not to worry as they would do another test to be sure.

wholelottalove good news about getting the tongue tie sorted.

I had my first slightly negative comment about his name today. Ah well.

hello everyone :)

glad william's tongue tie is sorted wll must be such a relief

rudbekia my DD had the hearing test last week, its fine you are asked to sign a consent form as they keep the data on file. It's best if the baby is asleep, you put them on their side and the HV puts a little earphone in their ear which plays a noise like static, the machine measures if there is a clear message back from the cochlea, if it isn't clear they check again a week later. If it is clear the next hearing check is at age 5 at primary school. My DD didn't even wake up during her test

Life is quite tough here, DD is 3 weeks 4 days and has a cold :( it's so sad to hear her snuffling and grumpy, she's still feeding ok - i'm just praying it doesn't get worse, she sounds like darth vader at the mo :( we've been trying saline drops, and clearing the snot - I may take her to the docs if she isn't improving by tomorrow

hi all
i was an occasional poster on the antenatal thread.

my little girl was boen 28/12 - 6 days late. evelyn mary grace- (QoD - great minds think alike aye??) 6lbs 4oz. she lost 9% in first 5 days and slowly putting it back on. bf fairly well.

settling to sleep can be an issue - she seems to prefer nestling in my cleavage a lot - where she is now!!!

have some ups and downs - a few dayswhere i think i cried more than she did!!

have been really interested to read about other peoples experiences - has reassuredme lots , so thank u.

right hand about to drop off

wishing you all some sleep xxx

Hi all just popping in as don't get much time atm- baby likes to sleep on/with me too much! Have had mastitis and painful nips from BF, now thrush from anti-b's, would have given up by now if hadn't done it before and know its all worth it. Have been on an emtional rollercoaster too, hormones, being ill, mixed feelings about the birth and knowing this is all the last time for me is making me v tearful. Haemorrhoids from hell just the last straw. Lucky I have had loads of support from DH and my mum and Dad, even the other kids are happy to help and so sweet with her.

Wishing you and me all some sleep also .

morning all, and thanks for comments, feeling physically much better now though have been really weepy this week.

franken glad you are getting plenty of support, can sympathise with mastitis,hope you start feeling better soon.

Congratulations kiwi ,lovely name andhope you get some sleep too.

kitty sorry to hear your LO is poorly, hope she gets better soon.

DF sorry to hear you had a negative name comment, i had one before Finlay was even a day old from my own Mother too! I think Bob is a fab name was on our list actually but doesn't go well with our surname.

rudbekia thanks for the tip for hotmilk bras, am really struggling to find a comfortable bra.

wll great news about tongue tie. I think Finlay is still yellowish, can't see it myself but everyone keeps commenting on his good colour.

maxpower poor you labouring with flu.

kelle great news with weight gain. I dread to think how much Finlay takes in one sitting, I proudly expressed 4oz for DH to feed him and he drained it in about three minutes and wailed for more!

Chooster great news about your job. Glad to hear you are feeling settled too, you sound v. happy.

Have a good day Mummies off for a nap now, after typing my first post while BFing.

Hi all, sorry haven't been on much, been getting used to school run without dh and inundated by visitors!
Anyone else keep doing silly things with their sleep deprived brain? I have thrown wet wipes in the laundry. thrown tomatoe tops in the salad instead of compost, tried to use car central locking for house front door - to name but a few!
Caleb is growing well (now has middle name Finley - like yours QoD) but still have trouble settling him in his moses basket, can sometimes get him in it for a daytime nap, and when he first goes to bed, but then hes usually back in with us, doesn't worry me but dh worries that he'll squash him.
Have tried reusable nappies but they leak around his thighs, he's still only 7lb10 so I think he needs to get a bit bigger. I've got little lambs, wee notions and minki huggles, the lambs are new to me but had the others for dd and loved them.
Must go now as my dad is coming to visit at 2 - i'm looking forward to tomorrow, I have a whole day without visitors! Its nice to have company but we need our own space too!

WLL glad the tongue tie has been sorted, lets hope it's plain sailing for you and William from now on

kitty sorry your LO isn't well, if she's very bunged up, have you tried raising the head end of her crib/cot when she's sleeping - you can either put something stable under the feet to raise the head end or fold up a towel and put it under her mattress

congratulations kiwi

DF as always I'm shocked that anyone has the front to comment on someone else's name - don't let it worry you. Not that anyone's ever said anything to me, but I'm sure my DD's name gets lots of raised eyebrows

ff hope you're feeling better soon

wow notso sounds like Finlay is feeding really well - Matthew doesn't always finish 4oz of feed, let alone demand more!

rudbekia the hearing test is just as straight forward as kitty says - it won't hurt your DD - they don't even notice it. But it doesn't always work first time so don't be too alarmed if they have to try again in a weeks time.

I've discovered work is launching a consultation period next week wrt redundancies . It's been looming in the background for a while now. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

This baby and toddler together lark is knackering! My house is in chaos and I am trying not to get grumpy with DH but I seem to be doing ALL the cooking, washing and what little clearing up is getting done, plus the majority of the nights so I am going to have to have words with him. We went through all this after DD, I'm shocked at how fast it has all slipped back again.

William is 10 lb 2 now, another huge weight gain this week. I'm still sore, but the latch does seem better so hoping to see real improvements over the next week or so. I can tell the feeds where he chomps as opposed to the ones he sticks out his tongue.

DF I am also amazed anyone is rude enough to pass comment on the name. FWIW I think Bob is a really sweet name.

max sorry about looming redundancies. I am trying not to think about work.

littleB we still haven't put William in cloth as he is still reaosnably small and all my wraps from DD are medium. He's chunking up nicely now so may have a look when he wakes up.

Congrats to kiwi

I can hear DD so better go, hope everyone is ok.

I feel like a rubbish mum :(

I was supposed to meet up with the NCT people and all their babies today. Managed to park the car round the corner from where we were meeting and then Bob decided he wanted food. So I sat in the back of the car and fed him for ages, then he refused to get into his sling. Well... I tried and he hated it. Then he wanted more food so i sent a text saying I was round the corner and be there soon. By now I was an hour late. I stupidly didn't take a push-chair, thinking I could just walk with him in the sling. It was pissing down so I tried to park a bit closer but then as soon as I did he filled a nappy. In the end I sent another text saying i couldn't make it and so now I feel like I have really let him down.

I'm supposed to be meeting people tomorrow and Friday - what if i am so useless i don't make it?

I am a bit worried as he seems to want to snack constantly from about 2pm but I am not sure if he is getting enough as my breasts while full in the morning seem so empty and soft by mid-day and he doesn't give me enough time for them to fill up again. He grizzles a lot in the afternoon and cries until he gets food then cries again :(

Apart from feeding him and changing him I don't really know what else I can do to keep him happy :(

Sorry - very self indulgent post. He's pretty much a chilled baby but today has just made me feel a bit rubbish.

Great news about the tongue tie WLL - that must be a relief that the feeds are getting better... Good weight gain though! .

Rudbekia - will take a look at those hotmilk bra's - I'm not getting on well with mine, I find they dig in a bit and the ones from mothercare I got are just plain uncomfortable. Thanks!

Max - Sorry to hear about possible redundancies. I really hope your outcome is the same positive news as mine. I'm so relieved as well paid part time work is like gold dust even in the major city I live in. Fingers crossed for you!

DF - Honestly, everyone has days like the one you've just had especially in the early days with number 1 baby. I had a similar trip to the zoo once when I never actually made it to the zoo and I had been so looking forward to it. I remeber crying because I didn't seem able to manage such a simple trip out. But it will get so much easier and you'll look back on today with a smile once you are dashing about with your little Bob in tow (I LOVE the name Bob by the way). Its still such early days... You'll know Bob best but is there any way you can think to stretch out his feeds? i.e any magic way of getting him to sleep in between feeds or at least pacified - would you try a dummy? They can be a real life saver although I know not everyone wants to use one. Jude will always sleep in his car seat when out and about so I can guarantee getting at least an hour sleep out of him if he's out with me and I bring his car seat into the house. Anything to stretch out the feeds and stop this constant snacking because as you say your boobs needs a break to recover and he needs to build up his hunger so he really goes for it when the time comes. Am sure you're thinking of all this already, but just want to reassure you your day today is totally normal, and you've not let anyone down, especially Bob... There'll be loads more NCT meet ups .

thank you chooster I have been reading about cluster feeding on Kellymom and it seems like it's pretty standard behaviour. I have a good friend who uses baby slings/wraps so I am hoping she can show me how to use them better on Saturday as I think wearing Bob will make things easier for me and for him. Bob had a dummy when he was at hospital but he never seemed to like it much and really I want to avoid using one.

I've had a bit of a cry and feel loads better now.