March 2011 - we made it!

[Muser]

The waiting is over, the babies are arriving. March 2011 mums, come on in your time is up.

Me too! I go to lots of groups and meet with NCT friends to ensure I get some adult contact. But a lot of it is just talking babies which isn't quite the same. I would love to go on a night out but right now it's just not possible due to the feeding lark.

I do try to make sure I get some time to myself at the weekend. I recommend sending dad and baby out together for as long as you can. I got my hair cut on Saturday which was lovely, although annoying at the end as I got a text asking me to come straight home as he'd ignored my advice and left getting out of the flat too late so she was overtired and screaming and wouldn't nap. It was a very useful lesson for him though and he now has a new appreciation for how hard it is.

Usually, I send them out and I get an hour or two to myself to go back to bed, have a bath, whatever. Not exciting but it does help. Next step would be expressing enough to go out for an afternoon. Nights might have to wait until she either starts going to bed earlier or is mostly weaned.

Having a bath is a new level of luxury isn't it! Or my new favourite: Sitting on the sofa in silence for half an hour when DS is napping and DD is taken out by OH. I remember when I was little I used to see my mum sitting down quietly sometimes and thinking, "What is she doing ??" Now I know!!

This has reminded me I have to work harder on getting little missy to take a bottle so I can go out.... one day....

Catherine, its definately normal I think we all feel the same, makes me feel a little guilty sometimes to wish for time on my own but you definately need it. thats one reason I've perservered with the 7pm bedtime....although it doesn't always work! But most evenings I get a couple of hours with DP if he's at home to feel like a couple again, or if he's at work I get a couple of hours to myself to watch a film and have a glass of wine....bliss!
Do you go to any mum and baby groups? I know its not for everyone but I make an effort to go every Monday even though it takes over an hour to get there, a few of us always go out for a long lunch afterwards and I take a potter round the shops, I would be lost without those girls' chat to look forward to every week!

Am planning an 8 hour road trip with Angus to go and see my family in Wales for a couple of weeks, leaving on Saturday.....am I mad?? Am planning on stopping at a friends house half way for a couple of hours and couple of motorway stops for nappy changes / feeds / coffee!! Anyone else done any long trips yet? Am dreading it but soooooo excited about seeing my whole family!

Hope you all had a good bank holiday weekend!

I've done a 5 hour trip to the inlaws and a flight up to Scotland to visit my dad highland. The trip to inlaws was ok, we went on A roads rather than motorway to make it easier to stop. Although I wouldn't recommend stopping to comfort a screaming baby in a lay-by as it's a bit scary.

Have you done any long car journeys yet? We did a practice one just to see what she was like as she'd not really been in a car before. I have learnt that babies like to be driven fast, so pray for no traffic jams! If you're lucky they just fall asleep and leave you in peace.

Afternoon ladies ? supposed to tidying the spare room while E sleeps, but bored now?.

Congratulations highland on your engagement fabulous news ☺

Hippo hope Beth gets back to sleeping at night to leave you refreshed for the Shred

Edeluna and others am shocked you are thinking about no 2 already ? very brave. It took me 3 years to be ready to try again and then it took about 5 moths to happen (has 1 v v v early MC in this time). We have 4 years 2 months between DS and DD ? seems ok as an age gap. Plus? no need for double buggy, only one in nappies and I will be on mat leave for DS? first term at school.

All of that said though (and I think it is just because I am really enjoying the little baby stage this time) I could be tempted with a 3rd. DH is adament not though so probably won't do it.

Katie strangers touching babies ? uggggghh hate it and seems to happen too often. Why is it that it is always the most horrid people (always stink of BO or fag smoke) that try and do it also. I also hate isn?t he lovely when obvious she is a girl wearing pink and comments on E?s hair which does stand completely on end.

QQ ? if I stop expressing (not that I manage to express much ? 1 feed a day?s worth) will my periods likely come back straight away? Will I lose or gain weight when I give it up ? hitting the point where I might give I up, but still very much in 2 minds.

tummy time did it when remembered with DS he didn?t mind it. Mind you he rolled early, crawled at 6.5 months and walked at 11 months which was nice in some ways but a pain in others (didn?t want to childproof everything that early). E is less keen on tummy time, but we still do it now and then and at yoga where we all prop babies up on a cushion and in a small circle so they can see each other ? v cute.

Muser what?s slimming world like. Have done WW before and once we get back from hols I need to take serious action ? just deciding what though. Only got 7 pounds to go to get to pre-preggers weight, but was too heavy then so I reckon about another 2 stone after that ? groan.

Catherine I think it is normal to feel a bit lonely ? I def did after DS. Less so this time as have friends from having him that are around on some days. Still get it a bit now ? the week can loom long on a Monday. So trying to get out to baby yoga, arrange a bit of lunch/coffee etc. Did you go to NCT? Round here playgroups often have ?baby bits? which I think tbh babies are probably a bit young for , but great for you as opp to get out and meet other mums. Have found since discussing with a couple of friends that we all felt like this after no 1 and were desperate for someone to say ?fancy a coffee? after playgroup or something.

long trips ? in the car we have been to my parents (about 3 hours) ? she slept most of the way. Those mirror things so you can see them from the front seat are quite good.

Ask me again after 2 plane journeys to and from the US in a few weeks. Although what I am most dreading about that is 9 hours in a confined space with DS (4 yrs 5 months) ? hopefully Grandad will entertain him. We travelled long haul when DS was a baby (4 months) to see SIL. Plane travel with him was pretty easy once you accept you can?t ever travel light with small children.

Right must get back to tidying.

x

Jupiter - Where was E when you managed all those words?! :)

Glad it's normal to feel lonely as I expressed this feeling to OH who replied with "Well I've got to work" and "How do you think I felt when my family went back?" - it's fair to say he hasn't a clue how I'm feeling and rather than talk about it he's turned it into a my family vs his family again. Due another meet up with the NCT girls and I usually go to the local Monday morning baby cafe and it sure makes me get out of bed!

RE Long journey - I did take Anya up to my parent's via train to avoid the long drive with her and that was nice as I could attention her whenever she needed it (with the exception of transfers in London). Interesting that Muser pointed out her LO liked the car moving fast as Anya seemed better if I was constantly moving. Moving slowly was better than moving quickly then having to stop for traffic - this is also better for your fuel consumption . My only advice would be to check your route and know your stops. I know when I drive to my parents via motorway there are certain places where there is about an hour between the service stations. I would make it a point to stop there regardless as luck would have it that the second you pass it your LO gets hungry or just really really needs a mummy cuddle.

Catherine in Moses basket which is in cot to avoid itbeing tipped over by DS. She slept for 2 hours unheard of normally unless we are onthe move - perhaps a breakthrough??

I also type fast ( result of having to when concocting extensive sales material bullish** at work.

Am loving the fact that we're all having more time to write!

Catherine, it's amazing how some of our DH's are completely clueless, or is it just from mere exhaustion (on both our parts) which is making us all sensitive and sometimes insensitive? I actually had a nice chat with my MIL about it, and she shared her experiences when her children were young, which made me feel better. (I think she also spoke to my DH to ask him to be a little more mindful of how he helped and spoke to me b/c he was loads nicer after they left).

We have a trip to the US scheduled for mid-July, which I'm nervous about (b/c we may need to visit 3 different states!) so I suggested we take a short weekend trip to Germany in June to visit in-laws as a practice run. Am mostly nervous about the heavy baggage, as Jupiter points out, and the fact that I'll be returning from the US on my own.

Fz had a very strange night/day. After 2 weeks of 8 hour sleeping (I knew it couldn't last), he woke up ever 1.5 hours last night after 2am. Then he was actually crying and kicking today whenever he wasn't napping (his temperament is usually calmer, he's more of a winger). Worry about his belly and digestion. Thought it would be better by this stage (12 weeks tomorrow)! Hope the HV is of help tomorrow, and that he doesn't break down with his immunization! :(

Lozario, I loved your sitting on the sofa in silence image. Will try it! :)

That sounds like the 12 week growth spurt you have there. It passes. I recommend chocolate.

Yep, I definately thought that sounded like the 12 week growth spurt....am dreading ours in the next week or so!! Chocolate sounds like a good plan Muser :)

oh, and thanks for the advice for the journey ahead...you girls that are planning long haul flights are much braver than me!! We have one of those mirrors to see what he's up to and its fab for peace of mind, and I regularly drive for 2 hours ish with him and he always sleeps or looks around quietly so fingers crossed we'll be fine, just take my time and plan lots of stops on the way, will let you know how I get on!!

Chocolate IS always a good plan...I made a choccie sandwich yesterday to ease some of the stress. (It was "healthy"-ish, with 80% dark choc).

Highland, I'm sure little Angus will enjoy his adventurous trip! :)

ckny1 Good luck with the imms today. 12 week growth spurt doesn't sound like fun! Hope you had a better night last night. Also - choccie sandwich??! Like, choc spread or actual chocolate??! Either way sounds delish! I'm addicted to maltesers at the moment.

highlandbird the only time we used a dummy with DS was long trips to Devon. (He was rubbish with a dummy so I had to sit next to him and hold it in for him!) We also had a lullabies CD in the car but that had the added danger of sending DH to sleep as he drove!!

Ah crud, L just woken up - that was a 5 min nap, does that count???! (Erm NO)

xxx

urgh just got back from our "jabs" appointment but not had any jabs yet - apparently getting an appointment card telling you to attend at 1.30pm is not an actual appt . oh and he can't have his jabs until he's had his 8 week check and they posted the appt time to me yesterday (for when he'll be 10 weeks) so fark knows when they actually intend to vaccinate him. I'm so cross because i wasted an hour and missed bf group (and therefore adult company!).

rant over!

mmmm chocolate sandwich!!!!

petty - no wonder you are ranting - that is crappy.

I have been on a longish journey today - just over an hour to the cotswolds and back to meet a friend who is home from Oz. Was ok (although explosive yellow seedy poo in the services - grim).

Am a happy bummy as we have got £238 of London 2012 tickets - who knows what for though

x

Petty, how annoying and incompetent!!! I've had similar experiences at our GP, calling or showing up many times and receiving conflicting info. Now I'm on the verge of harassing them until I get info confirmed. Hopefully he'll get his jabs soon and you'll have your adult company! :)

Our jabs and check-up went well today! He napped after the jabs, then got weighed and is 13 lbs 8 oz, which is in the 50th percentile but seems low to me (I suppose I'm a whimpy mum by thinking he's heavy!) He slept well last night again and is taking long naps today, and quite smiley so I'm happy.

Lozario, Maltesers sound good, too! It was pieces of chocolate which I smooshed between a fresh roll! When I lived in France at age 10, during recess they used to give this to us (choc pieces w/ baguette). The REAL pain au chocolat! :)

Congrats on the tix, Jupiter! Hope you enjoyed the Cotswolds while there.

....oooh, ckny you have started something now, am gonna have to go and make myself a choccie sandwich.......

We did the 150miles or 2.5-3hour journey to my parents last weekend. She was OK for most of it - we had a longer stop half way to feed, and she was calm until we hit rush hour traffic in my home town and it was stop-start for 5.5 miles and she bawled the entire way. I jumped in the back to soothe her, which helped a little.

Is constant hand sucking normal? Not me ofc - Anya constantly has her fingers/fist in her mouth. Keep worrying she's hungry and when offered the boob she takes it but occasionally throws it all back up again. She's bring a little screamer today.. must go again...

catherine Arthur has just started this and I think its because they are starting to discover their hands and fingers (arthur hasn't figured out yet that they are his fingers!)

catherine Hannah does this too. Aparently the hunger sucking and the "i have hands" sucking are different but I can't tell yet. As a result sometime H starts crying on the boob rather than being comforted by it.

Am so tired today. Over the last 2 (3?) nights H has been waking every 1-2 hours. I fed at 12, 2, 4, 6, 7 & 8 - finally dragging us up at 9. I am so jealous of those of you getting 5 plus hours sleep without a break. I really struggle to be a good mum when i'm tired.

This better pass..

I think i'll help myself to some chocolate too (without the bread) Diets can wait for when i'm more awake.

halo does H need to feed each time he wakes? I know you will know him more than anyone so please ignore this if he does! It's just that I was feeding Elijah every time he stirred in the night. Then when I read that other people were going 5/6 hours straight through the night I just chatted to him and eased him back to sleep when he stirred (easier as we use a dummy) and in actual fact he's in a routine now of going 4-5 hours between feeds. He's getting plenty as filling his nappies and doesn't cry in the night so isn't hungry when he's stirring. Feeds about 10-15 mins per feed.

Really feel for you if he does need to feed that much still. You must be exhausted.

E also tries to ram his hands into his mouth all the time- it's nothing to do with hunger with us- it's a suckling comfort thing. I'm really hoping that he will soon learn to suck his thumb so we can do away with the dummy but at the moment he's trying both hands at the same time!

catherine Ollie pretty much has his whole hand in his mouth, so much so he nearly gags on it - just the usual learning to control hands but also babies will put anything they can into their mouth as their mouth is the most sensitive bit they can employ to leartn about things!
Think Ollie is going to be a thumb sucker!

Izzy is constantly shoving her hands in her mouth. In fact all I can hear down the monitor is slurp slurp slurp!

Had a fabulous night out last night. Feel part of the human race again!

Completely O/T - any of you watch Coronation St?? I was traumatised by tonight's episode!!