April 2011-kicking back drinking lactulose cocktails and riding the maternity surfboards

[Petalouda]

Post-natal thread for all the antenatal April 2011 Family!

Share the birth stories, the baby blues and everything else.

Ouch ,ouch, ouch lis hope you get your boobs sorted out soon! [frown]

Crap night here too. Feeling like a zombie. Need sleep. DD doesn't go to nursery today so I've got her and G. Just got to get through the day but feel guilty wishing away the day until DH comes home.

Another one wishing the day away too. I've tried to get DS a place in nursery just a few mornings a week but there's nothing until September and all of a sudden it seems more urgent than that!

Our DHs' sound uncannily similar with the snoring and sleeping through the night feeds. Mediocre night sleep last night with S, not too bad to settle her and good going until about 3am then many, many little wake ups after that.

Lis did you get to see the GP? Hope the boobs didn't explode in the night.

Hi ladies - please can I join you? I'm new to mumsnet but have got a lot of reassurance from reading this thread.

A little about me - DD is 4 weeks today. Born after traumatic labour which ended in c-section and me losing 3.5 litres of blood. Been told I'm lucky to be here- trauma wearing off finally but placed by parenting anxieties!

I hate to admit I've always been a but of control freak and thought I'd be a strict routine type mum but that has gone out the window now my LO is here. I'm breaking every rule for a peacful life- DD is currently sucking on dummy and will only go to sleep by being held- I have to transfer her to Moses basket (which she hates) once in deep sleep. Everyone tells me I need to put her to bed awake so she can self settle but she Just cries and I don't want to leave her (I did try for 2 nights I'm ashamed to admit but she cried on and off for an hour before I gave up- it feels cruel at not even one month). I'm really worried I'm creating all the wrong sleep associations but I'm desperate for sleep and holding her is the only thing that will send her off- it's not v practical at 3 in the morning tho as takes over an hour. Surely she will gros out of it eventually? Can anyone give me any reassurance?

Sorry for mammoth post - I know I'm probably just being over-anxious. Wish I could relax more and enjoy the cuddles but these GF types have made me feel like I'm creating the biggest rod for my own back.

Sorry also for any typos! Am typing from iPhone whose autocorrect has a life of it's own.

Hope everyone has a peaceful day today :) xx

Hi ladies - please can I join you? I'm new to mumsnet but have got a lot of reassurance from reading this thread.

A little about me - DD is 4 weeks today. Born after traumatic labour which ended in c-section and me losing 3.5 litres of blood. Been told I'm lucky to be here- trauma wearing off finally but placed by parenting anxieties!

I hate to admit I've always been a but of control freak and thought I'd be a strict routine type mum but that has gone out the window now my LO is here. I'm breaking every rule for a peacful life- DD is currently sucking on dummy and will only go to sleep by being held- I have to transfer her to Moses basket (which she hates) once in deep sleep. Everyone tells me I need to put her to bed awake so she can self settle but she Just cries and I don't want to leave her (I did try for 2 nights I'm ashamed to admit but she cried on and off for an hour before I gave up- it feels cruel at not even one month). I'm really worried I'm creating all the wrong sleep associations but I'm desperate for sleep and holding her is the only thing that will send her off- it's not v practical at 3 in the morning tho as takes over an hour. Surely she will gros out of it eventually? Can anyone give me any reassurance?

Sorry for mammoth post - I know I'm probably just being over-anxious. Wish I could relax more and enjoy the cuddles but these GF types have made me feel like I'm creating the biggest rod for my own back.

Sorry also for any typos! Am typing from iPhone whose autocorrect has a life of it's own.

Hope everyone has a peaceful day today :) xx

Whoops - sorry for double post!

Hi ladies,
it sounds as if many are still struggling for a nights sleep.
We are recovering from a weekend with the inlaws and a ridiculous round of pass the baby , which i can safely say isaac was not impressed with.
So we are chilling out today and sleeping and feeding when we want rather than when your told to feed him !!!!!
daisy I is exactly the same as your DD, he doesnt sleep in his basket unless he has been asleep in your arms for a good half an hour, or on our bed.
I had a dummy at 2 weeks which broke the fattest rule in my book.
but we do what we have to to get a bit of quiet , dont be so hard on yourself.

Well ladies i hope you have a lovely day, im going to try and hope that the weeks worth of building works to the flat next door wont disturb too much sleep .

cookie thank you. Think I do need to stop being so hard on myself. Glad to hear I'm not the only one. I keep telling myself it's normal so good to hear other mums experiences.

I hate pass the baby- had that yesterday with Joy. It makes her v grouchy but the relatives don't seem to worry about that!

Another one with a crap might here, nothing to do with dd though who has been a little angel. Woke up at 3am with horrendous stomach ache which was then followed by sickness and diahorrea! Needless to say feeling pretty rubbish today.

daisy welcome! I'm a firm believer that nothing you do when they are so tiny creates problems later. I think it's totally normal that they want to fall asleep on us or with us next to them, they have been inside us for 9mths afterall, and they don't want the lions to get them . Your DD will eventually learn to settle herself, don't worry about it for now. Just do whatever you need to for you both to get sleep, I say! I'm sure there are others who disagree but if this is what feels right for you then go with it and try not to worry about what others say.

I have mastitis, joy of joys! More antibs. Doc was really sympathetic, but I don't think he had much choice as i was wobbling the whole time i was in there. He also told me to do nothing other thjan look after B and myself. Cleaning could wait!! He speaks the truth!

Bienvenue daisy - all comers welcome! Babies don't know about cause and effect yet. Even if you succeed in settling them after 1 feed and they go to sleep the lesson won't be retained next time. Some babies go down fine on their own, others need contact - at this age it's luck of the draw. It does make it easier when you accept it, although it's tough when you do have to put them down and they get upset. You might have read the books but the baby hasn't.

cookie we had pass the baby all last week. M was so unsettled but seemed to go back to normal quite quickly. Got it all again next week, although thankfully my mother won't be clamouring for cuddles and my dad will probably just plop baby on chest and sit there. My brother will ignore the baby and go scuba diving so it's only my sister to watch out for. She tells me she's got him his first designer outfit (DSis is a bit of a label addict) and lots of other cute stuff so I may need to persuade her that we only change him when he needs it - which is every other hour at the moment so she should be happy!

Of course now Mummy has work to do (hello! maternity leave anyone? no?) M is being fussy, sicky and grouchy. Currently sleeping in his sling, which will need washing, with a dummy in while I write evaluations and reference letters for students who want to go on Erasmus/American exchange programmes. Why this couldn't have been done either before I went on ML or before baby arrived I don't know. I don't want to refuse though as these are outstanding students who really deserve the chance to go and it would benefit them hugely but GRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

WIBU to buy yet another sling so we don't risk being slingless after he's vommed all over it? I'm currently sporting this season's latest 'ecru with patches of baby sick'....

Sorry to hear about the unsettled nights and lazy arse DP/Hs. M is very good at night, gives us 3 hours and then another 2,5 or 3 pretty regularly, but I'm starting to feel the strain. And DH had the temerity to have a go at me last night because I got exasperated with his 100000000 decibel coughing. He refuses to believe that coughing into a tissue or muslin would a) mute the sound and b) stop spreading germs. Poor M gets startled every time he's peacefully on the boob and DH coughs. I know he can't help it and I'm not asking him to stop, I just wish he'd do it quietly. Cue big argument about how he feels under-appreciated and I'm not affectionate enough. That would be because I have a bloody velcro baby attached to me! At least he can offload velcro baby when he needs to go to the loo/wants to do something - I never refuse to take DS - but the courtesy apparently doesn't go the same way.

Blimey - I was only away a night, so many posts!
Well, our night away went well- it was my cousin's wedding reception, so loud disco and a mega pass the baby with my family but M just quietly gazed at everyone for 2 hours, then wanted a bit of a feed. We didn't stay too long as we worried about the noise and she got her usual evening grouchiness crying and comfort sucking back at the hotel but 11-12 went to sleep in her carrycot til 3.30, then feed and back to sleep til 6 after which i sat and had baby cuddles with her. Pretty good i feel. She was also brilliant in the car seat, even though she must have been getting hungry, but I quite like arriving and sitting to feed while DH does all the unloading :)

I also had bleeding last week at 7 weeks - assumed it was my period and was disappointed as I though breastfeeding delayed the return, however it was incredibly light.

Thanks for all the extra changing olympics events

I got some breast shells yesterday as I can be very leaky from the other side when she's feeding. Have collected 30ml over 3 feeds and thats without a real gusher. No wonder it was too much for the washable pads.I'm finding it fascinating for some reason I'm curently topping up a 60ml pot in the fridge with each collection - is this right? I'm thinking I'll then pour it in a bag and freeze.

Best get sorted - we're off to baby weigh in soon.

Morning (ish) all! got G back to sleep for a bit this morning so feeling a little more human and he just lay contentedly cooing in his pram for a good 10 minutes - long enough to load washing machine and dishwasher and make tea and toast - so that has put me in a fab mood!

Was feeling somewhat stressed about having a baby who won't be put down yesterday especially as he wants bfeeding what feels like constantly so feeling a bit claustrophobic - as even though DP will happily take over when he gets home G normally wants to feed all evening anyway. I think the beautiful weather makes it worse as I'd love to be outside but G cries in his pushchair/pram. However, tried the sling out yesterday so and he fell straight to sleep so will try and take him for a walk later in that.

We went into town for a bit on Saturday and I am shocked at how physically under par I feel! Just walking round town was exhausting felt like I had lead boots on so definitely need to get walking!

Lis sorry to hear about the mastitis - poor you :( You do seem to be having a rough time of it. Chin up x

Daisy I too have a baby who doesnt like to be put down so asked for some advice.. the answers might be of interest to you too

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/behaviour_development/1220604-If-youre-baby-wouldnt-be-put-down-when-did-they-grow-out-of-it-and-what-if-anything-did-you-do

Also, I'm getting a bit fed up with sitting on the sofa all day (I know I shouldnt complain!) but it doesnt feel very healthy! Whats a typical day/ week for you? I'm after ideas about G and I can do... (enquired this morning about baby massage)

Lucieloo and Daisy (another one, hello!) - brilliant thread, Lucie, thank you, I have been having exactly that melt-down today with my little limpet, and it was so reassuring to read those answers. Am going to have a chocolate biscuit and relax now....

yep the answers were pretty much what I was most hoping for! Am just enjoying a sleepy DS tucked into the sling and typing with 2 hands :) The sling is like magic.. he sleeps even better in it than he does just being held in my arms - if you don't have one already it's worth every penny.

Lucie - we're only in week 3 but I'm also getting a little bit fed up of being stuck in the house. The only time and we're getting out is when I walk P up to the shops in the pram. The problem is that everything seems like such a mission at the moment and I'm not sure what we could actually do. I suppose it is still early days...

I'm still very worried about feeding in public though, which means that I'm pretty limited about where and when I can go anywhere. I really need to start trying to express. Think that once we've mastered that and bottle feeding, I'll be more confident about getting out and about.

Actually not having a bad day today though. The little one had a good night's sleep and has had a few naps today. I fear this will mean a bad night ahead though!

frakk - YWNBU to get another sling I'm planning to. The black Kari Me I have is lovely, but because it's black T and I get very hot in it! I can see it will be fabulous come October, but I'm planning to get something else to use over the summer. Maybe another Kari Me in a different colour, or perhaps something else.

Lis - you poor thing. I had awful mastitis with DS1, I remember well that feeling of not being able to lie down or move your arm - bloody agony. I hope that the drugs do their work swiftly!

Well I seem to be getting slightly better already. Lefty is beginning to drain a bit more now so some of the pressure has been lifted. I really thought my boob was going to explode last night. My peer supported called today and has given me some tips to get over the mastitis.

I'm sorry some of the DP/DHs here aren't stepping up, but I just have to say my DH has been brilliant. Even though we have found out he doesn't do well in the middle of then night on the thinking part of functioning (he woke me one night saying he thought B was so hungry he couldn't cry :o) he does far more than his fair share. I really didn't expect him to be any other way.

Off for a snooze as DH has B in the man room!!

Ouch lis

Those of you using lilypadz have you got any tips. Do u use their wipes?

Oh goody. What shall I get? Have a natya ring that I'm not currently too keen on and a stretchy wrap. I'm thinking either a woven wrap or a soft structured carrier.

Also anyone got any tips on ring slinging? I can't see where I'm going wrong!

Glad you're feeling better lis

kitty I don't use the wipes but maybe I should have as they seem to be losing their stickiness.... That said I suspect I have thrush so I'm not using them at the moment and they may have regained their stick with a bit of a break.

DH has come home, cuddled DS and popped him in his bouncy chair all with NO TEARS. DH is now watching a movie and rocking the bouncer with his foot while DS coos in delight. Why can't I do that?!

Because you have THE MILK, and therefore your baby will never be entirely calm around you except when actually latched one

I have the same problem DS2 will be yowling away, DH will come and pick him up and DS2 will immediately fall asleep on DH's chest.

Glad you're feeling better lis

Frakk my DP does this sometimes too.. very frustrating (even if it is a relief!!)

Can I enter my son in the Nappy Olympics too? Event:Long Dump. PB:Projecting long stream of poo over the edge of the changing table accross the nursery, out the door and halfway accross the landing.. Am and at the velocity.. and somewhat proud!!

well the chilled out day that was planned has turned into a feel sorry fpr myself day
feeling like im coming down with something, sore throat , ear ache, headache and general feeling pooh !DS has been ridiculosly clingy today, has not slept on his own all day and just to make matters lovelier her is feeding every two hours , so very sore boobs alert
frak that is not being inadequate at all !!!!
they must just like the change of scene seeing DH, I is an angel when DH comes home , sods law.

Lucie - pmsl!

Frak - you know Ali is right, dh can do the same here. Hours (or feels like) of mithering/feeding/whinging/etc, then he picks her up and off she goes.
I have got her to sleep in my arms a couple of times recently so am persevering with that.

A nappy olympic event here is a 'Biathlon' or 'doing the double' when one DC needs a change, then straight away another one does

Keep forgetting something i was going to ask/say, been bugging me but brain is obv a sieve, will hopefully remember in the middle of the night!

DH away tonight - so my first night with all 3 DC, eek! have successfully fed us all, no bath planned, so just bedtimes to do, then i may reward myself with a sip of wine & lots of chocolate :)

Oh I have a Nappy Olympics event, the nappy off endurance test. How long can you let your LO kick nappy free without and wee or poo! I have a feeling B will not win this one!