April 2011; springtime arrivals - blackbird, song thrush, mistle thrush, nipple thrush, nappy thrush...

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

Here we are, our new thread and this time we all have our babies !

I thought we were getting thrush again, but then realised I had let ds's latch get sloppy. He was constantly clicking and tutting at the breast but I was too distracted to notice.

Ds and I made butterfly cakes together this morning, ds got to choose the colour of the buttercream icing ..... It is a very lurid shade of pink and they are covered in sugar strands. You can never have enough sugar!

Thanks for the reassurance. He had another feed, and a reasonably large poo, and is now kicking away in his baby gym, talking to the animals!

I was really worried for a bit there.

Well we're in the thrush club officially.

Lis get an infant toothbrush, put the liquid on it and rub it over the white patches.

M strains to poo as well but he isn't happy until he's changed. We're half considering elimination communication.

I seem to have quite a sleepy boy today. We went 10-1.30, 2-5, 6-7.30, 8-9, 10.30-12 and now we're asleep again. Does anyone else worry when they sleep too much?!

frak - yes. T slept for hours and hours yesterday and I started to get worried. I needn't have, he was awake until 1am as usual

Another one here with a sleepy baby! But tbh I'm making the most of it as we've had a screamy last few days, a growth spurt I'm hoping. R still hasn't gotten into the routine of taking a full feed and then waiting a reasonable amount of time for the next one. She keeps taking 2 or 3 ounces, sleeping for an hour and then wanting more. There's a lot of milk wastage going on!!

Other than that, night time routine is going quite well, she goes down at 11.30, sleeps til about 4, feeds and then goes down again until 7.30, so I can cope wth that.

Nice thread title by the way, hoping to try and keep up a bit better now that internet is workiing again but keyboard is still playing up! Gaaaah!

Lis I hope that he gets better and I hope all those with thrush get rid of it promptly.
I've just read through my post and realised that it is huge....sorry! I'll understand if everyone skims over and offer an endurance badge to anyone who makes it to the end of the post about attending hospital yet again.

Spent another evening in the children's hospital last night, this time with both of them. Pin-prick rash, not eating, constant crying, temperature and really awful smelling runny nappies. Rose is mostly recovered from the symptoms apart from rash, but Fraser was in a horrid i'm-a-toddler-and-i-don't-understand state.

After his nap yesterday the symptoms hit him from nowhere and was rapid so i called nhs24, they told me that due to the time of day they wouldn't send a Dr out but that i needed a Dr sent out today and so i was to convince my own gp to come....half an hour later after a long conversation with gp's receptionist who said the gp would not do a house call full stop and would i consider bringing him tomorrow at 10am as she has a free slot then i got politely cross. The result being that she told me to bring sick Fraser out in a thunderstorm (which had cleared by late evening but we got stuck in it running to the car with a sick child, alongside his tiny sister and she will see if the gp could find time today between patients....
What choice did I have? I wrapped them both up very warm and sat in the waiting room for 40-45mins with Fraser crying constantly. Dr saw the rash and wrote a letter referring directly to the hospital, drove over there several tests later turns out it's the same virus as his sister and that although he's sick as long as i can get 400ml of liquid down him a day i am ok nursing him at home as it didn't fall into one of the dangerous virus' catagories, thank God.
I am however at home really understanding why he is crying as I now have said virus myself. The joy! I know I said I wished to drop the baby weight but ladies this is not the way I wanted that wish granted! I've shed 4lb in a day and a half, mostly useful stuff like water and muscle no doubt. Looking after them both whilst having the stomach cramps is no fun for anyone but I know it'll pass.

Yesterday whilst in the hospital waiting I was feeding Rose with one arm and cuddling in a sick crying Fraser with the other behind the curtains and I had a few silent tears myself thinking that I must be an awful mother how did both my children end up ill. Then later in the evening there was a very young baby brought in with a girl who looked like a child herself. The baby had not be been breathing properly and had stopped breathing and gone blue earlier in the day which the girl causally mentioned to her HV in the afternoon. The girl also had a toddler. HV sent them over to hospital. The nurse was taking the medical history and it put things into perspective. The girl's eldest child's father had died in "suspicious circumstances" and after not calling for help earlier when her youngest had stopped breathing she was then arguing with them to take her home as "someone was waiting on her". They started the ball rolling with social services. It really put my case in perspective. It must be awful for the medical staff in the hospitals to go from cases like that to cases like my children where I'm asking weird questions like "can I eat anything to make my milk more antiviral and should i give Fraser a cup too?"
With a full ward it must be quite disorientating and hard work. I'm very glad we've got such a service in place available to all (apart from the GP receptionist part) and so relieved that my two crying babies are going to be alright after a week or so. I wouldn't risk not getting it checked over though and I don't mind looking like an overfretting mother if it means that something dangerous is ruled out.
Mammoth post..well done to anyone who made it to the end! *blushes

Gosh Arch, how frightening! I hope you feel better soon and I'm glad that although you're all unwell it's nothing too dangerous x

I've been grateful to the A&E staff at my local hospital many times. They've stitched up a really nasty wrist cut for my older sister (smashed Perspex, ouch), stitched my younger sister's lip and on another occasion rehydrated her after a horrible virus, dealt with my dad a few times including when his heart stopped after a spider bite, strapped my mum's ankle, glued DP's face and X-rayed his neck twice (rugby), seen to my broken wrist and checked my back when I fell at seven months pregnant.

Last time I went in a baby was rushed in by panicked parents and the staff were fab. They took charge, calmed mum and a much healthier looking little one left at the same time I did.

Yes, we love Ealing Hospital A&E, understaffed but the staff they have work their bottoms off.

Oh no Arch :( Hope you all get better soon.

I used to work in Ealing's paeds A&E occasionslly. So, so hard. I couldn't have done it as a FT job (bank staff) and I couldn't have dealt with the responsibility doctors and nurses have. Hats off to them.

Did you give birth at Ealing, cycle? I did MCA bank work there too.

Arch - scary stuff and hope you feel better soon (though keep off the weight lol! Every time i've wanted to lose weight i've started by being ill - not intentionally obv but once it came off i got stubborn about not putting it back on again).

Had HV today, she's nice enough but i'm glad to reach the end of her appts for a while, we have too many medical appts in this family. Have to try and remember GP 6wk check next week.
M is now 13,11 :) still on the 98th line, a big lass!

right she's happy dozing off in her vibrating chair so i best have some lunch.

I did indeed Frak, I am in fact the uncredited Mumsnetter that the Daily Mail quoted in a recent article as my after care was pretty horrendous. I have complained but only because I'm angry the PCT are saying they have enough staff, they don't and it is not fair on those they do have! If we go for DC2 I'll go there again as the midwives who actually handled the birth were fab.

Rant over!

Hello all,

Arch you poor thing, that sounds horrendous. And how bonkers of you for blaming yourself that they were ill. You silly sausage, you sound like you did an amazing job with it all. Hope you feel better soon.

I have just finished beating myself up as I finally decided to mention to the doctor that I think C might have reflux and the first feed with infant gaviscon went like a dream, so now I feel awful for waiting this long to do something about it. I didn't think he had it as he isn't massively sick and sometimes feeds fine, especially at night, but there have been so many times when he's feeding and then just cries mid feed and won't take any more. I thought it was to do with wind but the doctor said it's cramping. I would be so delighted if this solves the issue as I sometimes think he doesn't eat enough because he is uncomfortable rather than full.

And I've ended up with mastitis, which is a right giggle isn't it?! Holy cow.

Oh Arch, doctors receptionists are mini Hitlers sometimes. Hope you all make a speedy recovery.

I'm very sad to say my FIL lost his fight this morning. It wasn't unexpected, he'd been ill for 3 years and recently it had been on thing after another. He is better off wherever he is, but we are all comforted by the fact he got to see Blair before he went. DH has been away all day making the arrangements with his sister. I feel utterly useless sitting here with B on my own.

I thinkthe thrush drops aren't argeeing with him. 3 times now after a feed he has projectiled it all back up. Generally all over me. I've done 3 loads of washing since we got here on Monday night. Frak thanks for the tip I'll get one tonight at Asda.

Needless to say we are only expressing just now. There's just too much going on to BF, plus my parents house is like Picadilly Circus, there is always someone going about, usually my brother, and I'm sure they don't want to see me with my norks out.

So sad to hear about your fil lis thinking of you all. Hugs

Lis I'm really sorry to hear about your FIL, lovely that he got to see B though.

Jo - have you got drugs? Get lots of rest and I hope you feel better soon!

arch - how scary! Look after yourselves.

So sorry to hear that Lis Thinking of you all.

Sorry to hear that Lis, hope you and family are ok x

Sorry to hear about your FIL Lis

Oh dear, DD is very restless tonight. We've normally managed to get her down by about 8ish but she's fighting it tonight. She's absolutely hysterical about something and we've got no idea how to make it better - she's not hungry, she's been winded and cuddled, her nappy is clean and she's slept more today than usual, so can't believe it's overtiredness. Arrrgh - just don't know what to do . DH is currently cuddling and rocking her but nothing seems to be helping...it's so hard when you don't seem to be able to help them.

On the bright side, she did take some expressed BM from a bottle earlier today. Only an 1oz as a top up following a normal feed but at least it's something. It means that I can begin expressing in earnest and hopefully start to build up a little bit of stash so that we can have a night out at some point. Yay!

Sorry to hear your sad news Lis - hope that you and your family are ok.

So sorry to hear about your FIL Lis thinking of you and your family.

Starshaped The other random things that have made G cry are being too hot and if his babygros are too short. Just a couple of ideas! G only has to be a tiny bit too warm to result in uncontrollable crying.. likewise if his toes touch the bottom of his gros he stretches and cries hysterically till we put him in some that are too big (fusspot!!)

Hows Dd now starshaped?

Q. Is it normal for a 4 week old to go 6.5 hours between feeds? He has been going 3. Then yest he did a 4.5 and a 3.5, then I fed him at 8 and s slept so we we went to bed at half ten thinking we would be woken any minute, and he slept til half 2!!! He sicked up a teeny bit a couple of times yest but was v chilled out all day.

And he just returned the first 5 min of his next feed and didn't take much else.

He may be sleeping off a growth spurt or you may just be lucky and have a chilled baby!

I figure they wake when they're hungry and feed but it is scary when they sleep for a long time.

Lisa really sorry to hear about your FIL. Hope things are okay.

Arch that sounds horrible but honestly, please don't bear yourself up for them being ill. It's not your fault and it sounds like you did everything right.

Sassy please, please don't beat yourself up about nipple shields. It won't kill your supply and equally, if this is how you need to get your milk into your baby then it's right to use them. I'd second maybe offering your nipple at every feed but don't sweat it if it's refused. Just carry on with the shields and he'll get used to the idea. You can only do what you can, right? And if trying without the shield at every feed doesn't work (and I'm sure it will - might take a few days to get there) and your baby will only feed from you with nipple shields then that's still fine. It's still your milk and whatever we all manage - breast/formula/expressed in bottles/shields - is right and good. We're all doing our absolute best by our babies.

Tired at this end. The boy was up every couple of hours in the night with discomfort. There's a big poo brewing....

Jo I feel your pain - literally! It's a laugh a minute isn't it? Have you got the antibiotics? You need to start taking them quickly to swerve the thrills of an abcess. And drink loads of water to flush everything through. Really hope you start feeling better soon.

I will join you on the couch for people waiting for poo Kits!

H didn't poo yesterday and we're still waiting. A very restless night of trapped wind and straining. He's a bit mire cheerful this morning but there is still on off distress. Come on baby, poo for mummy!

Well, after a couple of horrible evenings, P has had a couple of really good nights. She's slept for five and a half hour stretches (11.30pm -5am) both last night and the night before! Brilliant for my energy levels but not for my boobs! Woke up with wet PJs having leaked through my breast pads. If (and it's a big if) she starts sleeping this long regularly, will my boobs adjust the amount of milk they produce accordingly?

Moley - babies are funny creatures aren't they?! Laughing at G's fussiness about slightly short babygrows! P was in a big one last night, so definitely wasn't that. She might have been too hot though. I'll try stripping her to her vest to see if that helps to chill her out if we have a repeat performance this evening.

P's pooing habits seem so different to everybody else's. We're still at the five or six explosive nappies a day stage. I can't wait for a reduction in nappy changes!