July 2011 - Feeding, sleeping, burping!

[Eglu]

Hi all,

I thought I'd better start us a postnatal thread, since it's now September.

Think we should have a list of babies.

Eglu - DD - 26th June

[Eglu]

Button sorry to hear about your Grandma, you have enough on your plate without that too. :(

Want2be I'm glad daycare is going well for you and that your trip to England went well.

I saw my Dad at the weekend. He is making more of an effort, hopefully he will keep it up and we can rebuild out relationship. I've always been a Daddys girl, even though he never deserved it, and I've really missed him. He has split up with his partner of 12 years, which is good from my point of view as I never liked her.

DD is doing well, very happy and smiley now. I am thinking of taking her to baby swimming lessons next week as a few Mums that I have met take theirs along. She is still not sleeping through, boo! We have the occasional good night where she is only up once, but it is mostly 2 or 3 times. I know at 16 weeks she is still young, but my DSes slept through from 8 weeks, so it's a struggle.

She also still won't take a bottle so have deicded to give up on that front for now. It's really not that important to me.

[nicolamumof3]

eglu good to hear about your dad. Isla is unpredictable at night sometimes sleeps through, sometimes doesn't you never can tell! But like your dd she is so happy and smiley so easy so we don't mind

[SpannerPants]

Well our trip to London was hard work - noone would help me with the buggy so I had to dismantle it and carry it in one hand and DS in the other over the footbridge from the carpark to the station. The journey there was ok (even managed to feed on the train ) and the hospital bit was fine, even the blood tests weren't as bad as I thought they'd be. He's been randomised to the control group so will be exclusively breastfed for 6 months.

The return journey was hideous, got to the station with 5min to spare but got stuck behind someone who had lost their ticket at the ticket barrier and then wasn't allowed to walk along the platform to the carriage our seats were booked in (I'd got 1st class so we had more space). I couldn't fit the buggy and DS up the aisle of the train and noone would help me so we ended up standing outside the toilet for the whole journey (80 mins). I was so angry I kept crying . DS was good as gold and spent the whole journey cooing and smiling at me, just as well he didn't need feeding on the train! I'm thinking about writing a letter of complaint to the train company because not one of the 4 train staff would help me :(

[buttonmoon78]

Oh spanner - your journey was way worse than mine Write the letter while you're still angry

I'm rapidly approaching the end of my tether with this reflux. He's still being very very sick - but just the watery acid, even if it's minutes since his bottle which I really don't understand at all. But it probably accounts for the fact that he's not losing weight as it's only water. And his pain seems to be increasing too - lots more arching and fussing and the screaming! It's beyond acceptable now. Most days we both end up in tears - him because he's in pain and me because I can't do anything about it.

I rang the paed to say about his dry nappies and the pain etc. She sent a message back through her secretary that there was nothing else she could do - we had to wait until we saw the other dr. So the next day I rang the other dr's secretary the next day only to discover that she had not even had the referral yet. When she realised how upset I was she offered to get it faxed to her so she could expedite the appointment but I still don't know what that means. I think I'm going to ring again tomorrow to see if there's any news. Each day feels like a lifetime and I feel like I'm losing the plot here.

Everyone's got some advice to give, both professionals and others alike and I know they're well meaning but I just want to shout 'don't you think I'm trying everything already?!' I mean, we're a little beyond the stage of feeding him sitting up and propping up the cot etc. And then I feel mean because they're only trying to help.

Rant over. I guess I just needed a little vent.

[buttonmoon78]

And wine. On a school night before I teach

[nicolamumof3]

oh button i really don't know what to say, im so frustrated on yours and ds's behalf that you're not getting the help you need.

My first was a poorly baby and I had 7weeks of screaming day and night before he was diagnosed with urinary reflux, once diagnosed treatment was quick but it was hell on earth those early weeks. So I feel for you must be a struggle im sorry

Sppanner I cannot believe that, well yes i can actually this country is so damn crap with helping parents, well with helping anyone really. Grrr on your behalf yes do complain thats awful xx

DD is 3months old tomorrow where has that time gone?

[buttonmoon78]

Oh, it gets better

My grandad died last night. He died in his sleep so the best way to go. He was 91 - a grand age - and had dementia so the last few years it's not been 'him' anyway, and when he was lucid (rarely) he's been distressed so it's a release for him and TBH for my grandma. Logically it's what we've all been waiting for.

But he was my grandad dammit. He used to save all his coppers to take us the the amusement arcade. He used to let me caddy for him. He took me to the beach with a brand new pair of shoes and brought me home with only one. He used to make animals in our palms out of shaving foam. He never lost his love of football. Or whisky. Or Last of the Summer Wine. And he was a hero - a Polar Bear in the war, but never ever spoke about it.

Life's a bit pants right now, to be perfectly honest

[nicolamumof3]

im so sorry button xx

[buttonmoon78]

Thanks Nic. I think I thought I'd written him off as gone a long time ago because of the dementia. I'm still a bit shocked at how upset I am.

That sounds really heartless. It isn't - I just mean that I thought I'd done my grieving already. Turns out not.

[nicolamumof3]

I know exactly how you feel my nanna died 13years ago well think it will be 14 years actually next week. I still miss her

[SpannerPants]

I'm sorry for your loss Button x

[Eglu]

Sorry for your loss Button. Having DD made me think about my Grandparents who have missed her arrival.

[JimmyChoo17]

Oh button, I'm so sorry to hear your news xx

[buttonmoon78]

Sorry - it's a bit me me me at the moment.

DH's aunt died on Sunday night. The cancer was mercifully swift at doing it's job and she was spared the weeks of agony that many others go through. I just can't stop thinking about her girls, 17, 15 & 7.

I hope all are well.

[SpannerPants]

:( I'm sorry to hear that, although as you say at least it was quick. How is your DS getting on with his reflux btw?

We're ok here, had his 2nd lot of jabs today (couple of weeks late, oops) so I'm hoping he won't be as unsettled as last time. He's not cried as much which is a start!

[buttonmoon78]

It's all up and down really (no pun intended). We're still getting lots of dry nappies but no one but me seems really concerned which I suppose I should be happy about.

I spoke to the hospital again this morning to ask where we were at with his referral but the consultant's secretary said although she now had the ref, the clinic co-ord was on leave this week. I almost cried so she said if I got the gp to say it was necessary then they could expedite it. I spoke to the gp's receptionist but it's only just dawned on me that she didn;t ring back as she said she would.

Its def been a My Hyde day rather than Dr Jekyll, which is just what I didn't need but hey ho - babies are always unpredictable, no?

S is having his 2nd lot of jabs on 8th November when he'll be 16 wks

[Want2bSupermum]

button hope things start to improve for you. Between the deaths and dry nappies I admire you for carrying on and chasing up the dr's. I weigh DD's wet nappies and the peadiatrican calculates from that what the output is. I don't know what they do if too much/little but given that they monitor it so closely I would think they would do something.

Spanner your trip out sounds similar to the nightmare I had in Manchester. I don't understand why it is considered safer for my baby to travel in a bus outside of her car seat.

Those who have babies should be given priority seating and there should be an employee of the train company on the train to ensure people are properly seated. My dad is a train safety expert and he designs the energy absorbtion systems and has said that babies must be in their buggy to have a chance of surving in an accident. He told me not to take her out her car seat and to have her in a rear facing seat. He said that there should be at least one employee from the train operator on board and that I must speak to them if no one gives up a seat. Also said mothers who are breastfeeding should get the seat next to the rear facing seat that infant is in as best place for an unsecured baby in an accident. He has been lobbying the UK government for 20+ years to have regulation brought in to ensure young children are safe.

[buttonmoon78]

Not had a chance to follow up with the gp - it's been mega busy here today. G'dad's funeral is on Monday, dh's aunt's is on Tuesday so next week should be a barrel of laughs. And my grandma seems to be slipping away quicker than any of us expected so I think there'll be another funeral in November some time.

Thank you all for your good wishes. Thank you for being understanding that I simply don't have the energy for following up everyone else at the mo.

[WinterLover]

Hello there, was wondering if I can join you, DS was meant to be an August baby but he came 4 weeks early making him a July baby!! He's 14 weeks now...I took him to a baby group on Tuesday and noticed how 'behind' he is on milestones. He will apparently catch up over time but its still not nice to see.

[buttonmoon78]

Hi there Winter - nice to have another recruit. It's not always this gloomy, I promise!

Don't forget - there's a huge band of 'normal' anyway, and sometimes the milestones are reported wrong. If I listened to what the bounty book said, I'd be thinking that my ds was a genius! Which of course he is. But then, all 3 of my others didn't walk til 18m so it's all swings and roundabouts really.

Feeling a bit better today. I think it's the feeling of being in limbo at the min. I guess by Sunday evening I'll be all wound up again, but hopefully once the funerals are done with I'll be able to move on a bit. I'm really not looking forward to the one on Tuesday. The fact she was so young and had young girls means it seems far worse than grandad's death, who was, let's face it, old and ready to die.

Oh, stop me now or I'll get all maudlin again.

[Eglu]

Hi Winter and welcome, I really wouldn't believe the baby books either. Most books say they will crawl at 7 mths, mine didn't crawl until 11 mths and they were by no means the oldest babies to crawl.

Just wanted to point out that there is now a July 2012 antenatal thread. How cool is that. Can anybody even rememberthat far back for us and how we felt then? Seems a lifetime ago.

[Want2bSupermum]

Hello winter! My friend had her baby at 32wks. Her boy is still a little behind the curve but ahead if you add 8 weeks. She has been very proactive about getting help for him and he still goes to a medical professional who gives her exercises to do with him (when I say medical prof. it is because I don't know what they are called!).

Eglu I can't believe it has been almost 3 months already. I did a second round of portrait pictures today at Target. Can't believe my DD is 3 months old. She did another first today which was to roll from her back onto her tummy. She did it twice!

[NewGirlHelenMumsnet]

Hi there - sorry for butting in but I come with the offer of goodies! We're working with a company that makes something very useful for babies and we're trying to recruit MNers with newborn and very young babies to take part in a product test - am being cryptic and vague on purpose because we can't say on site who it is yet...

Are any of you interested in taking part? All you have to do is try the product out (which is loads of freebies BTW!) and add your feedback to a thread on MN - should only take 10 or 15 mins max. If you're interested in finding out more (no commitment required!), please can you email or PM me? If you email, pls send to [email protected]

Thanks all - as you were!

[buttonmoon78]

I've said I'll do it - I could do with a pick me up! Grandma slipped away an hour before Grandad's funeral today so once dh's aunt's is out the way tommorrow I'll have another next week.

I know my dad's in his 60s but he was orphaned today. And he looked like a little lost boy

[Eglu]

I'll do it too.

Button so sorry for all of your losses. It must be particularly difficult for your Dad. It is very hard when both parents go. I remember my Dad finding it tough, and it wasn't so close together for him. My thoughts are with you and your family. :(