April 2011 - cake-offing, gin-guzzling, wine-sipping, dreams of sleeping

[fraktious]

Thread 3!!!

Oh cycle you are not a shit mother. Accidents happen and h is clearly ok if he is giggling. He was probably just shocked. Big hugs.

Cycle it was an accident, these things do and will happen. I've already lost count of the number of times I've cluncked S on the head! It's always a bit of a shock for us and then they sit there happily coo-ing at the fuss. And remember cat scratches always look worse to begin with, a bit like all the little scratches from baby finger nails!

Frak you've a very mean person for directing Buck to the FSOT, it's a very addictive website with lots of very pretty pictures, which ultimately leads to the loss of many, many hours! (and the purchase of new slings!)

Oh Cycle, accidents will happen, and hindsight is always a wonderful thing - which we do not possess!

When H starts getting mobile he will probably have a good collection of scratches - they always pull cats tails and get swiped at.

Buck - I hope you get some answers. Remember if you don't want to wean early then you don't have to, it is your decision. Listen to the advice given and then make up your mind what is best. If F is not putting on weight as expected, I would suggest that early weaning isn't a solution. Milk is more calorific than the foods you can offer a baby under 6 months. All food will do is make F fuller for longer, which means less milk, which means less calories, which means less weight gain. However, when they are 6 months plus you can offer them dairy, protein and carbs which probably would help with weight gain. Mind you, it's probably not long before F is 6 months is it?

morning,

Thanks for the link Frak! And yes, Beetle I did find myself cradling a sleeping post-feed F at 4am getting rather engrossed in looking at all the beautiful slings!

Cycle, I'm with Beetle in the multitudes of accidental bumps, and the cat used F as an intermediate platform on the way up to her cat tree when he was veeery little! Just one of those things.

ILTMI, you're right. I think it's just one of those things we'll have to ride out. Hopefully the sick will subside by the winter, or it'll be laundry-mountain at our house!

F's just had another long nap this morning, but woke up wailing and a bit distressed. He had his last jabs yesterday (he's 18weeks), and his little thighs look sore. No doubt he's feeling a bit rubbish too. A bit of calpol and a boob seems to be working for now. I think I'll bust the sling out for the day so we can have lots of cuddles.

Has only just woken after falling asleep about an hour after cat-gate. He's in a fab mood and is kicking merrily and attempting to blow raspberries.he's clearly fine, I need to get over it more I think.

Thanks ladies, as per usual I feel much better for a talking to!

Cycle glad you're feeling better and that ds is happy. These things wi inevitably happen. I've remember visiting a friend once and her baby had a big scratch on his cheek and the cat had swiped at him. I didn't think anything of it and I'm sure your visitors won't either.

L slept from 9.30pm to 7am.

I've now been in contact with DP (he left us sleeping in the bed this morning when he went to work), he didn't think it was my fault and has confessed he was snappy because he felt as scared and guilty as I did. I'm glad I reached out and cleared that up, we've never argued about events in the middle of the night before and it was making me feel even worse.

Anyhoo, enough wallowing! I'm not a bad mummy, it was an accident, that's today's mantra.

Cycle - been there done that, DS1 left sleeping on our bed, cat slept near him, he must have woken and kicked out at the cat which swiped at him, cat scratches on his foot. Was my 'fault' for leaving them too close together but these things will happen one way or another.
The only thing with cat scratches (which i'm sure you know) is to clean them properly as their claws can be mucky.
Otherwise, stay calm, and when people ask say what happened but not that it was you fault in anyway. the word accident exists for a reason :)

Trying to pack for week at my parents, leaving first thing tomorrow, M not helping

Awww cycle it's okay. These things happen. I scratched M with my engagement ring.

FSOT has seen me through many feeds. They are pretty pictures indeed. And ultimately result in quite expensive feeds. I've been packing my wraps for the move and I have invested way to much in them!

Oooh! My birthday present has just arrived! Well part of it anyway! I know its norty but I chose it ordered it and paid for it on my card so it's not a surprise!

Its one of these and one of these :o :o :o!

Cycle glad you are feeling better about it all. The budgie landed on B at mymums and left little scratches on his head and I felt awful. I wan't even there whenit happened! If we aren't worrying we feel guilty about something. I think thats how its going to be for the next 20 odd years!

Lovely presents Lis, I did laugh at the name of the company though. Hairy Growlers? I associate that name with something else entirely!

Oh, and what is a peenj?

Lol I was just about to ask what a peenj was too ILTMI it's a new word on me!!
The page didn't load straight away when I clicked the link Lis and I was wondering what you had bought from a page called Hairy Growlers! I obviously have the same dirty mind as ILTMI!

Anyway, no I never had the pleasure of going to Amadeus! Am sure I did try a few times but never quite made it, I'm sure if memory serves me correctly it was a quite a way from Union Street and I could probably never be arsed!
I spent most of my late teens in Flicks, the local night club where I live, it's a derelict building now but was very popular in the 90's and drew a lot of "celebrities" Dieter Brummer from home and away and Gina G but to name a few!! It was also featured on The hitman and her if any of you remember that! Clearly I was too young to be going at the peak of it's fame but it was alright to see me through my uni years, it's a pity it went down the tubes as I think it probably brought a lot of business to the town.

Buck and ILTMI I am interested in the dropping centiles/early weaning convo you are having. Think I'd posted on my other postnatal thread that I was concerned about Robyn not feeding as well and dropping centiles and was wondering what the solution might be. Is it likely that the HV might suggest early weaning?? Am so naive about the next stage!! She'll be 4 months on the 25th of this month but tbh I wasn't planning to start weaning as early as that.

Peenj is the same as a gurn really! But more whiney!

MrsW I think I've been to Flicks! Was staying at my friends caravan in Edzell, we hitched a lift back from the farmer in his land rover. Took weeks for the bruises to go away! I'm sure I have photos somewhere!!

DH had to tell me what a hairy growler was

Anyway, must get on B is peenjing!! :)

Just quickly in reference to the centile dropping. It is v.normal for babies to stop gaining weight so rapidly around the 4-5 month mark - especially if they have been big babies and gained weight rapidly. It is especially prevalent in EBF babies because their milk intake is more self-regulating.
Crossing 2 centiles is considered cause for concern, but Buck you pretty much know it is the puking, it's more a question of what is causing that.
Did you say you were seeing someone next week? Might be worth keeping a food diary yourself in advance of that to see whether he is better or worse depending on what you've eaten? Has anyone suggested to you that he might be intolerant to something?

MrsW - it is highly likely that the HV will suggest weaning, they seem to view it as a panacea at this age. Whether or not it would do any good is another matter! I agree totally with ILike on this issue, milk is the most calorific thing that you can put into a baby at this age. If weight gain is an issue then milk is better than a few bits of carrot and rice - which when you give it to adults is called a diet!!

If a baby is struggling with reflux then there is an argument for introducing food sooner than you might otherwise (although still not before 17-18 weeks), because it can help settle the stomach and keep the milk down.

Lis those are lovely! Happy birthday!

MrsW - the HV just said for us to ask the doc. We've got an appt for next thursday, so I'll update then. F's feeds are shorter now, he only takes about 5 mins, unless he's sleepy. But he seems to take a good amount in that time. It's just that about half makes a reappearance!

F is 18wks (& 4 days!) - DSis introduced solids the day before her DS was 18wks. And my boob-group friend who I was out with today introduced solids at about 4 months too. Both say it worked for them, and seemed to spark an improvement in their DS's. I really want to do the BLW route (hate how that sounds 'trendy', but I'm thinking of it in a more traditional/lazy option!), so we couldn't rush that if we tried! (although I read a thread on here yesterday which suggested including some purees was better.... I'm so confused!)

We'll see what the doc says.

We've had a good day in the end. F perked up nicely, we just had lots of giggles before I put him down for a very late nap about 20 mins ago. Got to make sure he doesn't sleep too long now, so we can have another play & bath before bedtime.

Ali - no-one's suggested an intolerance of something in my diet. If they do suggest I cut something out, I'm going to want to see peer-reviewed research first, and a detailed explanation of how things like cows-milk protein can get into my milk. [scientist strop emoticon]

Hahaha at hairy growler. I have the same dirty mind. Love the bracelet lis

cycle glad u feel better

Oh crap, I've found actual scientific papers on cow's milk protein allergy in EBF babies. (Although still no concrete explanation of how the protein gets into human breast milk)

but how will I survive without coco pops?!

Worst. Night. Ever.

From 1.30, P has woken every hour and been a nightmare to resettle. She refused to sleep full stop between 3-4 and 5-6.20. God knows what was wrong with her but she was screaming so loudly that the neighbours must have thought we were trying to kill her just before 6ish!

She's been up for an hour now and seems as happy as larry. Unfortunately I don't feel the same! She's 13 weeks. Could the feared sleep regression be coming early?

Hope you all enjoyed more restful nights.

Bucks Hope you get some answers next week, it can be so stressful when they dont do what the charts say.

Lis Love the self bought presents, I should have done that this year as my DP or perhaps just P in this case just got me a card ! His excuse busy with new baby !!

Mrs Wajs I use to be in love with Dieter Brummer, being an Aussie girl he was in all the mags at home when i was younger ! woo woo

Cycle Glad ya feeling better, ive bought these www.softpaws.com/ for my 2 cats as they have jumped across me numerous time, including across my face while watching tv and nearly scratched my eye out ! They come in lots of colours and are super funny on the cats, only good for house cats tho !

We really need to sort out house for when DI starts crawling as im sure it is so accident prone at the moment.

Frak Yay, love the link, more shopping for me !!

My teen days where filled with a collection of everyones variest alcohol stolen from parents cupboards, mixed together with coke added in or a VB (Beer) it was disgusting and i cant stand beer but back then anything to get ya drunk was in order. When i actually was of age, i became a cocktail and champers girl which is still my drink of choice, or was my drink of choice before i got pregnant. Now im really not bothered about a drink and enjoy a coffee even more, yes sad i know !!

Im also in the no change at night, especially as the past 10 days DI is now doing 12 hours each night, 10pm-10am & it is bliss !! She also yesterday had her 1st long nap of 2.5hours in her moses in the room alone, i actually kept going in to check her as it freaked me out ! Im still getting up during the night to express, not sure how long i should keep up the night expressing, my supply doesnt seem to be increasing, im taking Fenagreek tablets, 9 a day, expressing every 2hours with mhy Medela Symphony but still only getting about 2 oz per pump except for morning where i get abot 4oz, any other suggestions ? or can some people just never pump much ?

Arch I am so jealous of your party, especially the food ! You have similar taste to me, it sounded like a great party apart from MIL

Well after 4 days of top up's for DI as advised by Dr, she gained 300gm in 4 days !!, she is taking about 15-20oz of top-up, mostly BM but about a quarter formula as i cant make enough milk, it seems excessive to me but they say if she wants it give it to her, she might be a lazy feeder but she still seems to want to spend about 20-30mins on the boob ?!

We then went back a week later and no weight gain again !! back 2 days later which was Friday and she had gained 200gm so they think it just hadnt hit plus i made sure for the 2 days she took 20oz extra of top up and did half BM & half formula.

So we are getting there, she is now 9lb 4oz at 15 weeks and almost back to the .4th centile !! so getting there slowly ! and have next check up in 2 weeks.

After everyone talking about their little ones rolling about ive been doing extra nappy free time, the other day i left her while i went to wash her bottle and when i came back her head was on the opposite side so had done a half circle !! woo hoo, she is also when having her tummy time attempting to crawl like crazy, feet going, muscles in her back flexing, she goes for about 5 mins till she gets fustrated and crys ! Its so cute, little bum wriggling.

Is everyone else's babes, chatting like crazy, lots of high pitched noises, mouth stretched open trying to form words (i tell myself) long arrrrrrr's, it is so cute, i love it, im constantly saying ma ma, to encorage it to ber her first word, fingers crossed, i could listen to her for hours, and her face is so expressive, its hilarious !! We have about 100 videos already, dont even ask about photo's, we passed 1000 quite a while ago, yes we are slightly over excited new parents !

Anyway mammouth post from me, just finished expressing and off to shower before DI awakes with her beautiful smile,DP wants to enter her in "The Sun" baby comp, is that creepy ?

Morning all. Brilliant night here! T went to bed at 9pm and didn't wake until 7.30am. I woke him actually because my boobs were leaking all over the place and sooo painful. He was awake for an hour and a half, fed twice and now he's back in bed.
I went to bed at 9 when he did so I feel brilliant this morning - best night's sleep in about a year! :)

star - teeth? That inconsolable screaming is often pain IME.

Aussie - I could never pump much when I was expressing with DS1, 2-3oz was my maximum. It isn't a very good indicator of supply, but just the act of pumping will be helping your supply. The problem is that the formula top up won't be helping, because DI is getting milk from elsewhere so she will take less BM at feeds. You are in a vicious circle though because she is so tiny, so I'm certainly not suggesting that you try and eliminate the formula or anything. It is really good news that she is gaining weight :)
When she feeds, do you keep her on one side or do you switch feed? She will get more milk over a 20 min period if you swap sides every 5-10 minutes, and it is also a brilliant way to increase your supply. Especially if you suspect she is a lazy feeder, it may prompt her to be a bit more enthusiastic!

Morning! The hangover fairy is here! Went to one of my new mummy friends last night. Rolled in at 4am oops! Woke B up! I'm now main lining black coffee to try to get me going before my parents arrive! They were meant to be coming down last night, but on the way my dad filled their diesel car with £50 of unleaded [doh]. So they are now coming down in his works van! classy!! Maybe he'll do the jobs I have for him! BBQ is looking like it might be a wash out.

Sorry for no namechecking, brain can't hold information!:o

Aussie - yep, pumping just doesn't work for some people. No machine can access milk like your baby can, so it's not a reflection of your supply, it's a reflection of the machine not working for you. And yay for the weight gain!

Baby I is very chatty, the chattiest of ours by a mile. I think he feels he has to compete with us all to be heard - well that's my theory anyway!

MrsW - disclaimer, I am not medically trained, so anything I say is from what I have read and what makes sense to me. As Ali said, the majority of HV seem to think that weaning is a cure for bloody everything, and most of the time it isn't tbh. I feel there are various things that need to be weighed up when it comes to early weaning ( ie before 6 months), for me the biggest thing is risk of life long allergies.

To put it in a rather crude and simple way, it is believed that a baby's digestive system isn't mature until 6 months. There are small holes in the stomach lining that close over months and it's believed that this is complete by the time they a 6 months old. There is a theory that if a baby is weaned before the stomach lining is fully developed, the food leaching into the body is what causes allergies to certain foods. Which is why if you wean before 6 months the is the no wheat, meat, dairy and gluten 'rule'. So, if you wean early they suggest you only give veg and fruit puree's with baby rice.

If it is suggested you wean early it is often because of slow weight gain, however milk (formula or breast) is the most calorific food you can offer them. So to my mind early weaning makes no sense

I also don't believe in the theory that big babies need weaning early nor that it helps them sleep for longer, but that's just my experience.

Medical issues aside, if you wean at 6 months they can have all of the food groups (there are exceptions like honey, shellfish etc), they can sit unaided, they can feed themselves, they no longer have the Tongue thrust reflex, there is no need to puree if you don't want to.

I've now bored myself so I'll shut up!

morning. we had 3 night feeds between 2-5am. When he woke at 6:30 DH stepped up (voluntarily ) and got him up etc.

Aussie, your 300g in 4 days is impressive. I've just looked at F's weights and between June & July he only put on 400g in a month, but then managed 300g in a fortnight. But he is a bit bigger in general at 6.9kg (18wks)

He's increasingly chatty too. Just started making a sound like the Welsh 'Ll', with LOTS of dribble! Also been doing the high pitch squeals for a couple of weeks.

Hairy Growler is hilarious name for a shop! Lovely stuff though.

Bucks keep us posted on what the doc says next week. We're still not really 100% sure what the reason is behind S's weight drop and vomitting. Long story but thought it was reflux. Gaviscon not helped so saw a paediatrician Friday who prescribed Ranitidine and Domperidole but so far no improvement. Her symptoms don't fit perfectly reflux as she's not sick or upset at night at all and not after every feed, just some randomnly. She's not as sick after a bottle of formula as EBF which suggests it's not cows milk intolerance either . I have the feeling we won't ever know exactly what it is, she'll just outgrow it and hopefully gain more weight when she has been weaned. I'm not weaning early though as I'm in the lazy BLW camp and think the same reasoning as ILTMIMI about early gut development too.

MrsW Dieter Brummer used to come to do his exams at my school as some of H&A was filmed in my suburb . He had an extremely high opinion of himself! He was quite short but hot though!

Ali Hoorah for good night's sleep!

4am Lis - my god, you have stamina! I don't think I could last past midnight these days and I would be a very grumpy cow the next day if I did.