september edd new babies arriving come share the ups and downs here

[ssmile]

Hello. Think i was first to deliver off the September EDD thread so waving to see if anyone else out there yet to join me :)
Had my 2nd DD on 26aug by C-sec. We now home but struggling with BF and baby lost 10% body weight in 3days. Started to top up with formula in syringe to try give cracked. Bleeding nipples a rest, but milk is starting to drip out now leaking everywhere! Hoping for a better night tonight after 3nights of hourly feeds and snatching 2-3hrs of sleep.
Anyone else struggling too?

100, my niece was also born really early and was 3lbs 1oz when she was born; she was was another that you could hold in the palm of your hand. She's now 8 and an absolutely brilliant gymnast because she's got such a slight build. But it was a really tricky start for her so I hope your colleague's new family are all OK.

DD has been in size 3s for ages (must've inherited my fat arse ); I use Pampers at night and Nature Babycare eco-disposables or our reusables during the day. I can't use our proper washable night nappies yet as they have wool wraps that don't take kindly to being pooed on and she more often than not has a massive dump after her night feed.

Are any of the rest of you using washables? How's it going? I remember talking to people about them on the ante-natal thread but I can't remember who it was. It's taken ages for DD's legs to get chunky enough for her BGs not to leak when she pees and she still gets a bit damp if she day-naps in her carry cot for longer than a couple of hours.

Had a lovely time on the march in Truro in the sunshine yesterday; I'm obviously not properly striking as I'm not losing pay but I went along to support all my colleagues and show off DD

Sebs, Thanks. Glad your friends baby is now a fully fledged child :) There is someone else I work with who has a grown up son, and when I reached 30 weeks pregnant she liked to tell me that was when her son was born! Not something I really wanted to think about at the time, even though I knew she was saying it to make me think things would (could) be OK if LO was born that early. I watched a programme and I think the cleft palate thing would have happened a lot earlier in the gestation so I don't think that a full term birth would have made a lot of difference. I may be wrong though. Think it's a particular point in the first 12 weeks where the bits join up and if they don't join then, then there will be a cleft.

Minky, You are welcome. When we use wipes(as we use water and either cotton wool or washable wipes at home) we use the water wipes, however they are mucho £££££s, not cheap, but apparently the gentlest wipes there are.

feral, thanks :) it is nice to hear of stories of LOs doing well after an early start. :) We too use washables, we have Little Lamb nappies, and last night was the first night I had put her in them through the night, bit of a faff to change at 3am though, so I've gone for a disposable one tonight as I'm feeling lazy! We also use the Nature baby care nappies as our disposables. And have just gone into size 3s as the size 2s have no stretch and although they aren't too small, they are on the cusp of being too small, however the size 3s are massive on her! I still have some of the Aldi test ones left which are size 2 which fit really well, so I think she's kind of at that in-between stage. The Little Lamb ones are fab. We would have used them from very early on, but her skin was quite sensitive and the wrap rubbed her tummy a bit to start with so we waited till she was a bit older and bigger as she was small they also seemed to swamp her before, now they don't swamp her, you can tell it's a 'real' nappy but it's not a big massive thing on her now. They are lovely and she looks really cute in just a nappy!

LO has really started sucking her thumb this week, today she put it in, we took it out, it was straight back in, then out, then in, was a bit like the hokey cokey with a thumb! But this evening when putting her down in her cot she went down pretty much asleep, I stayed in there a while, she semi woke up, did a mini cry, sucked her thumb and fell back off and the thumb came out. I'm not sure what to do, I think trying to stop thumb sucking is really hard, but she obviously likes that 'comfort' going to speak to the HV tomorrow see what they say about it, whether they think it's a teething thing or if she is a sucker!

Can I just have a mini semi boast of my skills please. I have managed to now get LO asleep in her cot by 9:30 for 5 nights (possibly 7 but I can't quite remember the times from those other 2 days) and tonight she was asleep at 9:15 :) A total of 45 minutes from bedroom to sleep tonight. Granted last night she woke when we went through at 11 and was awake for just over half an hour feeding off and on, but I have managed to get a bit of routine going :) It has been hard work, and I don't envisage it getting 'easy' any time soon, but I'm sticking with what I'm doing for now and fingers crossed. Going to slowly every few days bring bedtime earlier once that is settled bring it a bit earlier again. I reckon she might wake this evening when we go through again as she didn't take a huge huge feed before sleep, but I'm in the front room on the computer, OH is playing on the wii and we are both just chilling. :) Tomorrow is growth spurt time and jabs day, so I'm hoping that the fact we are now a bit more settled into bedtime it won't mess it up too much, but if we have a bad night and it throws it off then I know by sticking with the same thing we will get back into it, even if it takes a few days again.

Swimming was today again and OH came along and watched as he had the day off work, so it was nice for him to see her do it and by him seeing her do it, it's made him see how good it is and will be as she grows and so we will continue with it, as it's an expense, but it's so worth it. :)

Thanks for all the lovely comments about my milk donation :)

Had a 'long' sleep in bed this afternoon. LO had an hours nap in her cot next to me, then I woke feeling a bit off so asked OH to take her through and give me a bit longer, I had another 90 mins and felt so much better afterwards :)

Feral - I'm only using disposables - thought about reusables but dh said it wasn't a good idea as I am quite OCD about germs and cleaning and straightening things and he thought it would add more stress into things for me - well dine though for giving it a go. I can never work out if you end up saving money doing it the natural way but it's definitely saving the planet. Doing the breastfeeding I kept thinking I would save money but so far ihave had to buy 5 bras and several breastfeeding suitable tops plus pumps, shells, pads etc - probably just as pricey as milk powder but I am trying to focus on the health benefits. Still, it's my baby sisters 21st in two weeks and I have to see my ex step family after about ten years - I wanted to look amazing but will be in breastfeeding suitable clothing ! Not great !

Minky, I've not got any specific breast feeding suitable tops, I just hook up the top I'm wearing. I have a few really nice tops too and they just get lifted up. I know of people wearing a vest underneath to cover their belly and only lifting the top only as much is needed to expose the nipple. I hope you have a nice time at the do. I definitely believe we are saving money on washables, I won't go into the specifics as I'll look all weird but I did a huge spreadsheet on it! Plus the fact these nappies will work for number 2 (and 3 if we go for 3) so that's a big plus.

I've been doing some thumb sucking research and I've decided to go with the flow for now and not worry, the time to worry will be when she is getting her adult teeth if she is still doing it then, I have read a lot and most say that they stop naturally by about 4 years old. It looks dead cute and it's very funny watching her put her thumb in as she does this head turn, arm in the air, bring it down kind of strokes her face (it's just her finding her mouth) and then thumb in mouth.

Hi my Lo. Loves sucking her fist its been really helping her self settle with no tears. Few times now for daytime naps we have just put her in cot and she has gone to sleep 20-30mins drifting of by fist &thumb sucking no tears. Hoping to try this more at night time this weekend too. She 14wks now and last night was first whole night she slept in her crib, I fed at 12.30,3 & 6am but she settled back into her crib after. Alas tonight she is not! But she was off colour today as had jabs 36hrs ago and kept sicking up after each fed in afternoon and had red cheeks. I tried giving her meds but she just spat those out too!

I've just been terribly organised at 3am booked Xmas grocery delivery for 23rd Dec :o

Fab milk donation 100 I've been using the vest under top method of feeding, its become second nature vest wearing now, kept me warmer at home I've hardly had heating on :)

It was fab frosty morn ere and DH had day off so I asked if he would take DD1 to school...yes...would you take babe too in pushchair....yes. oh fab so with my golden half hour to myself what did I do...bath...lie in...Nope power cycled along river 8.30am was glorious vcold morn but felt fantastic :o 30mins cardio work out I felt like me instead of mummy, best drug in the world!
We tried to.make most of our free time later for bit of dtd but babe woke up from nap the minute I put her down, we left her for a bit but she wouldn't settle picked her up she vomits all down my front it kinda killed the mood. She is now asleep on my chest whilst DH fast asleep beside me.:) hohum try again another time.

100years - well done on getting LO settled at night - my LO is generally getting better at sleeping but still get odd night when it all does pear shaped! And, my LO also sucks her fists and mainly her index finger (rather than thumb)... she even goes for it when she's got the scratch mits on (or the ones that are integrated with the sleepsuits). I wouldn't worry about it for now, I think it's a good comfort factor. I sucked my two two fingers rather than my thumb, and now my middle finger is slightly bent!!!

Minky - hope you have a good time at party... I'd go with any top and maybe just get one of these scarf/slings to cover up?

Ssmile - Well done on grocery order... that is mega organised! And, yes, can see how throwing up all over you can kind of kill the mood :) And, another well done on the power cycle... think I'd have gone back to bed!!!

Got sandblasters coming over the weekend to sandblast the outside of the house, so going to have to get out of the house as much as possible in the day. Got OH's Aunty and Grandad coming Sunday so Sunday lunch at the pub is called for... the Grandad is 91!!

Going out with work tonight - my first meal out in a while! It's fairly local and as I'm knackered will probably be back early but nice to get out. Think OH likes having LO to himself too (as kids go to their Mum's about 6.30ish).

Have a good Friday night everyone...

100years, well done on sleeps, am very jelous as last night was first night with no colic screaming fits but thin he was too knacered as only slept for 1 broken hour durng day think he is a bit poorly.
Ssmile, have also found it hard to find time to dtd and we are both put off with LO in our room and he doesn't have very long naps in the day!
Are people putting LO in their room or babies room for day naps as mine is still in living room with me?
He is now 11 weeks so wishing next 2 weeks away to see if colic will go at 3 month mark and will then start getting firmer about sleeping in crib or cot especially at night although I quite like him being with me it would be lovely to sleep facing DH sometimes without worrying about LO. I was holding him the other night and woke up to see empty space next to me, looked to see if DH had him or he was in cot before realsing he was in my arms - think I need more sleep! Hope everyone has lovely weekend, we are putting decs up as I think he will really like the twinkly lights (and so do I )

candr I keep asking DH if we can put up some lights this weekend as I like them especially on these dark dull eves but he wants to wait to do all of it next wend. If I get DD1 on the case she will nag him into submission heehe. She came from school today said mum I've got to whisper this in your ear "mrs x (her teacher) has been asked by father Xmas to be one of his elves" she was SO excited arrh its great being 4sometimes :o she has been quite a madam last two weeks felt like we've had 16yr old in the house then some comes out with these little gems and I remember she is still vsweet.

Whispering.....we did manage to dtd on 3rd attempt this arvo as Lo eventually went to sleep but 15mins before we had to leave to collect DD1 from school was vnice but we felt like teenages hurrying to get dressed and out the door after :o

Oooh I wanted to do one of these and
Cool.

sorry I said 'cool' in my head it also sounded like a Mr Tumble Cool from ceebeebies oh dear those with older Lo will know what I'm talking about I think the exercise, sex,and glass I've had this eve have gone to my head tonight. I shall retire graciously to bed now....hope u all have gd eve

ssmile, your morning yesterday sounded fab :) well done on eventually getting a did session in, even if it was a real quickie!

Yeah sebs, I've stopped worrying about it now, thanks :) Did you have a good night out?

candr, sometimes I'll put LO n her cot, other times I'll just put her in the moses basket which is in the front room. I hope the colic disappears quickly for you.

Well as I predicted last night's going to sleep went to pot, she settled and was pretty much asleep just before 9:30 as she had been, but woke up when I moved off the bed next to her (she is in her cot) she needed feeding again, so I fed her which she promptly threw up on herself and me a bit, so change of clothes for her and she was awake, settled her down, put her down in her cot she was just lying there sucking her thumb, not fussing, eventually OH turned off the light, much to my protests "she's not asleep yet? I'll only have to sort her out in x minutes?. what if I've just dropped off and she cries then I'l have only got 20 mins of sleep" that sort of thing, he said well she's fine at the moment, see what happens and you might get some sleep while you wait, I think she was asleep within 10 mins of the light going out and I didn't pick her up! Then only woke a few hours later for a quick feed! Crikey, so that'll be the first night of her dropping off to sleep in her cot from eyes wide open awake (she's dropped off when almost asleep before) I'm not sure what time it was exactly, probably around half 10. I'm hoping that tonight she'll go back to the 9:30 sleep.

I'm feeling a little bit like I want to sit in a big massive comfy armchair, have hot chocolate, cake and a big fluffy blanket over me in front of a log fire today. I want someone to wait on me hand and foot, bring my baby to me when she needs feeding and generally do nothing. Alas we have no big comfy armchair, I can't drink hot chocolate, I have no cake, we have no log fire and I think my OH would laugh if I asked him to brin me LO when she needs feeding every time!

We bought a nice rug yesterday from John Lewis for the floor as we only have laminate in the apartment and would like something to put her down on to play on as opposed to just her play mats, got it home to discover a few 'pulls' in the rug :( went to take it back this morning, but the queue for the car park was ridiculous and I wasn't prepared to wait or traipse through town carrying a rug with LO in her wrap so I came home and so I still have that to do, I'll probably go on monday to do it.

Need to shake myself up a bit as I'm a bit meh just now. Think it's tiredness to be honest, but the chance of getting the sleep I need/want is not going to happen, which I don't mind, but it's harder to jolly yourself up when you just want to go bleurgh.

100 I loved your nice fantasy wish I could do the same. I do set aside time on Mondays after full on family wend to just sofa sit with my hot chocolate for couple hrs watch catch-up tv :). I felt bit bluegh last week too, think its combination of exhaustion, winter evenings setting in and grey days. Exercise is the best pick me up after my chill out minimal house work monday. I keep telling myself when else will I get time in my life to just sit with a warm snuggley sleeping baby on my chest...so what if I've not sorted dinner out enjoy the cuddle time it passes ooh SO quick and you never get it back again. Hope u get your rug sorted out.
We having gd wend as DH is in lovely helpful chill out mood. Last wend it was his turn for the grumps so he kept snapping at our vlively 4yr old, but this weekend he been SO patient with her as she been gd as gold in return :)

If I can't have fairy lights yet in RL at least I can twinkle here

Ooh, goody. We're doing Christmas names. I will now be...

Today was DS's third birthday and we had loads of lovely stuff planned but DD was pure evil last night; she woke for a feed and poo at 12.30 then just snacked every hour from 3.30 onwards, ending in a massive puke all over her bed at 5.30. Fed her again after changing the sheets and, at 6.30, I finally just decided to get up and dose myself with coffee to give me strength for the day. So I now feel guilty as hell for not having been 100% for DS all day, although I doubt he really noticed, but I certainly didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to.

Good effort on the cycling and the DTDing Ssmile; I'm v on both counts although I feel so fat and gruesome atm that the idea of DTD isn't very appealing really. The diet has completely done to pot the last week or so which makes me feel even more rubbish.

100, grr about your rug, that must've been really irritating; you could phone John Lewis and pretend to be absolutely outraged, tell them that you have a very young baby (you could even lie and say she's ill) so you can't make the journey in the cold and the Christmas crowds and demand that they send one of their delivery vans to pick up the faulty one and deliver a replacement free of charge? I bet a store like them would do it as well coz they're dead hot on customer service.

On the subject of BFing tops, I too don't own any proper ones, I just go with the vest underneath and the smock-type thin on top. It works really well but does mean that my wardrobe is a bit restricted.

haha @ ssmile being Mr Tumble. I frigging hate Mr Tumble and I really don't understand why it is that DS thinks he is a comedy genius!

Very clever but I don't think I have the brain cells to work out a Christmas name or how to change it on mnet .
Feeling rotten tonight. Have had a throat virus now for three weeks and have a really bad cough that is driving me insane - I kept lo awake last night rather than the usual arrangement. Not sure how much sleep I will manage tonight and I am so tired.
Lovely to hear all your news. Off to cough and splutter land for me

See - I didn't even manage a Santa hat ! Mind you I am on iPhone so maybe we don't get that option ?

minkyj could be MinkyjsMincePies . Name change option is in 'my mumsnet' registration page, festive smileys just need to write with f in front. Hope u feel better soon, sounds like a nasty throat thing, have you been to Drs? I'm taking that Floradix vit&iron stuff daily really think its helping me this time. Right DD1 has just woken late so have gd Sunday

Just to say helloooo in my new christmas name :)

Off to bed shortly as last night we had 2 hours of chattering by LO in the middle of the night!

Thanks smilewith fairylights - can't do that on iPhone as you only get limited options - will try to arrange on pc soon - thanks for the tips. I have been on antibiotics and still not getting better - into week four already with it - the tiredness and breastfeeding are probably not helping but hey ! Vitamins are probably the way forward.
100 - hope you get a good night.
Well busy weekend as usual - ridiculous amounts of totally pointless time wasting homework (don't get me wrong, I agree with homework and my daughter has extra tutor at weekend plus we do extra work when we can with oldest two kids but I really resent having to spend all weekend making sodding costumes and cat masks etc). Apart from ds1 having a friend round for a play date, the weekend flashed past with school Christmas fete, homework, cooking, eating, washing and tidying and church - so busy at the moment with Christmas commitments it would be nice to relax a bit but hey ho ! Hope everyone did something a bit more enjoyable with theirs. Good news is I only have 2 more Christmas presents to buy and managed to wrap all other presents ready to disperse and also nag dh into designing and ordering our family Christmas card which he always designs and creates with the kids photos - now have the most amazing black and White photos of the kids which were a little added bonus ! Manic week ahead sp best get my head down now while lo sleeps - night all

Hi Minky, hope you feel better soon.
Had awful night with DS, we went out yesterday and he slept from 10 till 12 and another half hour nap after that, he then did not sleep again and cried loads - we tried everything. I ended up going to bed with him at 8 where he fed but then the second my boob left his mouth he screamed and cried. He nodded off for 10 min every now and again till 3.30am had one hour sleep then nothing till 8.30 this morning (am typing quietly as really don't want him to wake) God I hope he sleeps lots today to make up for it but seems really windy and is struggling with it.
Can't think of a Xmas name - suggestions welcome
100years, we use our waterproof picnic rug for no nappy time as he has quite a range and seems to enjoy 'free peeing', legs go 19 to the dozen when he has his nappy off.
Have decs up, he looked at tree and cried but seems to think it is ok now, prefers the twinkly window lights I think.
Have done some cute pics in frames of him for family gifts then realised we had none for ourselves so need to sort that - noticed that I am in only about 3 pics with him (and wearing grotty flopping at home clothes) so need to sort that too.

'Fraid I could only come up with this name...
Minky - hope you feel better soon and Candr hope LO sleeps better today.

Rubbish weekend... having house sandblasted - thought they would make sure house was sealed before starting but it seems they just started blasting... clouds of dust in the house pretty quickly. We left to do some shopping, came back and decided could stay there it was that bad. Ended up staying at my Dad's, but then had OH's 90year old grandad coming up to see us - it was a three hour journey for him to cme for a pub lunch as couldn't take him home - felt awful but he (and OH's Aunty) seemed really happy to see LO. Came back, blitzed house and got ready to leave early this morning but seems they are not blasting today but coming back tomorrow. At least it's not snowed as promised...

Yikes, LO screaming for food... got to go...

Having frustrated Monday had a few tears just feel like I can never get anything done and my to do list gets longer. Lo last couple days just permanently hungry every time I put her down she crys, won't go to sleep in daytime unless ON me and I can't lug her around as back can't take it so just end up sitting down getting frustrated. My DH asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I said only the things money can't buy....a full 10hrs in a row deep sleep, a 'day off' from being mummy, a bath in peace.....I think I'm just very vtired... ok rant over.

How about candrCandles or candleStick