Feb 2011- a bit late, but we're finally in post natal!

[debka]

Welcome everyone!!

Hey there

canoe

Were you with us in antenatal?

If so sorry I forgot

If not, welcome and tell us about your LO :)

Yes, but not very active, also trying to finish an MSc! Live in Botswana, if that prompts you?

DS Leo born 13th Feb 8lb 2oz.

How's your LO? Also poor memory sorry!

Thanks debka where's the vodka smiley if we're all having drinks

I remember you canoe Leo was my very favourite name had dd1 been a boy and Noah was my fave boys name had dd3 been a boy!! You and bensmum are both my boy name twins if you know what I mean.

Ledkr know what you mean re jeans, am looking quite nice in size 16 Primark jeans at the minute so fingers crossed its going in the right direction!!!

Thinking of Jane

I remember you, canoe. A fine name for your DS (I also named my DS Leo). :)

jane - I've been thinking of you this week but haven't had a chance to post. I hope you've had the best possible news today.

debka - I think the thumb thing is the most adorable thing I've ever heard.

It seems most of my life these days is spent getting L to sleep in his cot. He gets upset and flails around, manages to turn himself perpendicular, kicks the side and cries because he's knocked his head against the rails. He can manage about 2 hours during the night before he wakes up crying. Am quite of those with babies who go to sleep and wake up without crying. L was born screaming and hasn't stopped yet.

americanexpat I knew there was another name stealer about Anna wakes crying, infact we've had quite a lot of crying the past few days!!

americanexpat have you tried swaddling him? We've found that really good with our L. But i know some babies don;t like it... But it seems like the off switch for L, sometimes he gets himself in a state because he's over tired and he keeps punching himself in the face with his flailing arms (i had no idea babies arms and legs moved so much, and so out of control - clueless newbie!) And then I've wrapped him in his swaddle and you can almost see the releif on his face as falls asleep!

He normally manages to wrestle his arms free while asleep, but it definitely helps to get him asleep.

wiggles - another good reason to have number 4, maybe you can finally use the name.

canoe - we have tried to swaddle him but no luck. He lifts his legs up at the waist, falls over to the side then wiggles his top half in line with his legs (if that makes sense?). He does it when awake too, he flips himself 180 degrees on his baby gym, guess he wants a change in scenery.

Ha, ha, ha americanexpat, with dd1 she was my best sleeper but started to roll onto her front very early and slept on her front right through from about 10 weeks!! When she was a toddler she used to lie across the bed, side to side as opposed to up and down

Oh cool, we're finally here!

Hi ladies, lovely to 'see' you all again, and here in post-natal!

I have again not been on for a while. I don't seem to be able to find enough hours in the day, but I think of you all lots and have loved reading your updates today.

We are doing OK, lots of ups and downs still. Claudia has 'silent reflux' which means her stomach acid comes up her throat and burns her which makes her scream A LOT. I know it is one of those things that will get better with time, people are saying most babies are over it by about 6-8 months (and we've been advised by paed to try weaning as soon as she is ready after 16 weeks), that just seems like a long way off on a bad day! She is on treatment now tho, ranitidine (which is I think Zantac), so am hoping for an improvement, it's horrid seeing her in pain.

In between reflux 'episodes' (which are not every day, but just horrid when they happen), she is a delight, really good natured, smiles and giggles and 'chats' to us lots, is really kicking around a lot and was the other day on the brink of rolling on to her side but didn't quite make it. I feel sad that she can't be like that more, but the pain spoils it for her when she gets an attack.

I am doing a lot better, have not taken the ADs, and am doing OK on the whole, I get upset and distressed when she does, which I think is normal, but the rest of the time I am 'coping' after a fashion. I am very lucky that I have lots of help, which I'm really grateful for. I also...drum roll...feel I am finally bonding with DD, and miss her when I am not with her. I think this is one of the reasons I've not been on that much, because I have been one of those 'learn to love' mothers and I felt a bit cr@p compared to lots of others who obviously had the instant bond thing. I realise now tho that we're all different and I'm just taking a bit longer. Will get there tho!

Anyway, sorry for long post, I'm really happy to catch up with everything, and hope you're all having a good day.

Dx

Delia sounds like you're both doing fab apart from the reflux, poor Claudia!

Hubbard I meant to say, great news that Freya's hips are now normal. It's a shame that she still has to wear the harness for a while but at least the end is in sight! She sounds so cute with her brother . Lottie is like that with DD1. It's lovely isn't it!

I'm all excited cos I started the thread and it's going well! (very sad...)

Sorry canoe , I ought to remember Botswana, one of my favourite books is the Number One Ladies Detective Agency. I have Sabine, 8th Feb, 10lb6 but only about a pound more now! I had GD.

delia good to hear from you, must be hard having a LO who's in pain . V glad to hear you're bonding with C, I think it can creep up on you a bit.

Do you think we ought to do some stats for the thread so rubbish people like me can look up about other people's LOs?

Lol at your thread going well Debka!

Actually stats would be good now we've moved to p-n. Have no idea how to do them tho (assume someone had a clever spreadsheet somewhere?).

The bonding thing has crept up on me, I have gone from feeling like a very unnatural unmaternal person, to suddenly not wanting MIL to take her out for a walk (when I used to look forward to the blessed relief/peace etc.). I think maybe this might be an upside to her being a bit poorly, every cloud and all that.

D

We did have a stats list didn't we, that Sbf used to do but she's gone AWoL. I hope she's ok!

We could just start a new one? Write down our names, birth date, baby's sex, name and birth weight.

Or we could do a separate stats thread?

I guess you could just copy and paste the list from the previous person's post and add your own? [clueless]

O dear o dear the incredible shrinking baby continues to shrink- she's lost another 2oz in 3 weeks . She's now only 11.4, gone from the 99th to the 25th centile. HV seemed v sensible though, asked about her weeing and pooing and alertness and said not to worry. HA!! AS IF!! She does seem happy and healthy, although she never cries for food, and is a bit sick but not every day. HV said I could take her to dr, but dr would advise to top up with formula which I'm not going to do, so no point taking her really. May go to breast feeding group and see if they have any suggestions. I've started doing breast compression which seems to be helping.

Then I think of jane and just feel so thankful I have a LO to worry about :(

How did it go jane?

Right.

I'll start the stats list.

debka; Girl- Sabine; 08.02.2011; 10.6

Debka; Girl- Sabine; 08.02.2011; 10.6
WanderingSheep; Girl - Charlotte; 22.02.2011; 8lbs 3.5 ozs

I'm sorry that you're so worried about S, Debka. You can't help but worry can you? Perhaps after such a big birth weight she is just finding her centile? DD2 hasn't lost weight but has dropped quite a bit on the chart. The HV said that it wasn't a problem and that she is still finding her centile and will probably be petit and dainty instead of being chubby like you would think.

Ahem-ill have you know im off the wine at the moment and am currently enjoying a brew!!
Deb it didnt help dh that i was also earning good money so keeping us all.It got so bad that i would fill the kettle for tea and when he came in to make one id pour it away i also didnt want my dd to grow up thinkin this is how men behaved.I wonder what will happen?I started to make my own life and got my affection from friends.It served me well in the end cos when he left i was able to cope,i had my own bank account,car etc.He is stil pretty much the same now,his gf was posting on face book that he got her no mothers day pressie-i had diamonds from new and improved dh.
I am loving the thumb story,so cute and resourcefull too.
I remember canoe-hi there. I was swaddling untill 2 weeks ago,we have progressed to a bag now and she loves it.
D has just had her jabs and didnt really bat an eyelid,dh came too and id told him how upset she was before,i think he thinks i lied.

I dont know how to do the stats but
ledkr Girl-Delilah Ivy 27.1.11 7lbs 13oz

Debka; Girl- Sabine; 08.02.2011; 10.6
WanderingSheep; Girl - Charlotte; 22.02.2011; 8lbs 3.5 ozs
slowangels1; Girl - Alice; 25.02.2011; 8.13

delias meant to say,Delilah has severe silent reflux,has done form birth,is on ranatidine and gaviscon and now omeprazole too,she doesnt scream she grimaces and wiggles but she cant lie down after a feed or she is sick and i have had to adapt my parenting style.If you want any of my tips pm me or ask on here,i was very slow to bond with her properly because it was all such hard work.Totally in love now tho.