Jan 06 babies - no sleep til....!

[GeorginaP]

Hi there. Anyone feel up to joining me from Jan 06 ante-natal thread?

btw that's dd2 at daycare for 1st time this week!

Hi there

I've missed you guys. Loved catching up on the thread thou.

Libby got full blown cold now. really snotty nose and has therefore been sleeping on my chest for the last 2 niughts. Not a lot of sleep here. Haven't a clue what to do for her. Poor mite. Come 2am she's beside herself. Soooo snotty. Can't breathe, can't feed v well. But she's not a howler (thank god), just mithers and can't settle. We'll get thru it. DH on sofa to get some kip and I@m propped against the headboard....

Talking of which, I've been thinking that it might be time to re-visit some adult pleasures. Poor DH, we haven't even been able to consumate our marraige as I couldn't have sex in Sept due to stitch in cervix . Now that I've stopped bleeding and my bits are back to normal size I guess I should get back into the saddle.

Lyra - did naytihng happen re: DD? Can't beleive that dinner lady made such a fuss. I would fight DD's corner and let teacher now what a good child she is.

Iris - I've bought some Pampers changing mats. Disposable things that you can put on the floor and they absorb pee and poo. Libby has bare botty time kicking around on them. She also managed to do a HUGE poo on one as well, much to Mollie's disgust!!!!

SweetKit - I have sooooo been there. Rocked up to sometihng and found that I@m late/wrong day et c etc. it's sleep deprivation..... slow form of torture really isn't it!

Tickle and Rach - once again I am in awe that you manage to get dressed in the mornings with so many kids to care for. I'm having to shower at night as haven't got time in the morning. And Rach, am soooo jealous of your w/e away. Hope you have a lovely, lovely time.

Lilstarry - Libby so greedy that she's on about 3oz of formula after every BF apart from at night. Don't sweat it honey, if that's what they need, that's what they need

Am still eating, eating, eating. Mollie still coughing, coughing, coughing. And poor DH wondering what on earth he's done to get a house full of knackered, stroppy women!!!!

Am taking Mollie to see Chicken Little this arvo. DH home with Libby for some daddy and daughter time (and the rugby). I give myslef 10 mins in the cinema before I conk out and start pushing out the zzzzz's

Libby is smiling away sometimes and has even been having a few 'chats' with me. She's got a strong neck on her and always wants to be 'up' and looking around rather than looking around. Time does go quickly doesn't it.

Right, better get on.

Who's going to be first to break their bedroom embargo??? Might ease in gently with a snog.....

G xx

morning all

full of milk here but alex asleep with dh in bed. dying to take advantage and have a lovely hot bath, but no hot water . turned hot tap on, then wandered away and forgot, and ran the tank cold.....

i have ordered some lily pad breast pads which come highly recommended on this site. they're not absorbant, but stick on your nips to give gentle pressure and prevent leakage (in theory!). hope they work.

i have also ordered some nuk orthodontic dummies as i can't buy them locally, they have a specially shaped teak that's better for their teeth and tongue.

half term has started here, dd is booked on a basket ball camp, so she'll be busy mon - thurs. we're hoping to get away overnight for thurs night, maybe in a hotel if i can find something on lastminute.com, it would be nice to have a bit of luxury. dh has the week off, so that will be good.

dd's school problem has resolved. i phoned and spoke to her class teacher who was 100% behind her and said he thought the dinner lady has overreacted. so all's well there, phew!

breakfast calling - coffee and pain au chocolate, very healthy, not.

laters

sweetkit, i used to have a peugeot 306. good car, reliable, ok boot space and cheap insurance. or what about an audi? can get some good deals now. go to www.carsource.co.uk and have a look.

Can't wait to hear if your lilypads work Lyra - I leak gallons every time I feed Dom/hear him wimper/have a shower...
Dom's bum is soo much better after a few sessions au naturelle with the hair drier btw - thanks for the tip.
Why is it that every time I log on he wakes up????...... bye for now x

Hiya folks

Just a quickie catch up post, will deffo try to get fully caught up on all the posts this week! From a quick glance through I'm glad to see we're pretty much all doing OK.
Lola's still a wee angel who hardly makes a sound, but the whole BF thing is driving me up the wall. She still won't latch on, I'm beginning to wonder if it's got anything to do with my size. At the moment I'm wearing a 44F and her wee mouth seems dwarfed by the nipple. On the plus side the doc prescribed Domperidone (Motilium) which I've been taking for 3 days in conjunction with double expressing on a Medela Lactaline lent to me by the hospital and my supply is improving. Gone from 5ml after 30 min single expressing, to 30ml after 20 min double expressing this morning. Hoping it continues upwards and that might tempt the wee yin onto the breast.
Did I read right there, did someone mention breaking the bedroom embargo?? Hell no! lol
I've got my 6 wk check on Friday and have been promising DH that I "might" be up for it after that, but right now it's the furthest thing from my mind. My CS wound has fully healed but am still getting a lot of SPD pain.

Right, gotta move, got a birthday party to make an appearance at tonight and I gotta express, shower, get me n DD dressed, feed her etc etc. Where has my life gone???

L x

Hi all glad to see everyone seems ok

Blimey everytime i leave this thread it seems to move on so so fast! I remeber the days of loggin on everyday & catching up (of course before dd was born) i never seem to have much time these days, only late at night, but i seem to have to fit everything in at night in between feeding dd is well.

Well its been half term this week so Ds has also been home, its not been to bad actually everything seems easy & i feel able to cope the only thing that gets on top of me is the sleep i have not had a whole nights sleep for 4 weeks & it seems to be taking its toll now.

Ds is great with DD he can be a bit heavy handed so i do need to watch but he is beginning to understand that she is little. Funny thing happened when we went shopping to sainsburys on Friday, they were both sitting in the trolley ds in toddler seat Dd in baby seat, dd is alaways sleeping but she was wide awake so i said to ds look sophie is awake, carried on with my shopping, then turned back to my trolley and ds was poking dd's eyes, i said what are you doing you can't do that darling it will hurt her, to which ds replied but mummy she has to go to sleep lol he was only trying to close her eyes but poking her in them, bless his heart.

Starting to feel a tad down the last couple of days, not sure why i cant put my finger on it, i am happy with ds & dd & i am not finding it hard & seem to be coping, but just feel down hmmm any ideas? I know i am down & a bit depressed because i seem to be reaching for the food my appetite is very big & i feel its because i am unhappy. certain personal things in life are getting on top of me so maybe a combination of stuff.I will mention it to the doc at 6 week check if i still feel the same.

I have my 6 week check in 2 weeks & am feeling scared, this sounds silly but i have to have a smear & i am a wimp i am starting to panic about it now & the closer it gets the worse i am feeling

I am still breast feeding but seem to be doing half & half now, well half & half through the day but i breast feed all through the night, dd is having a growth spurt though because she seems to want 2 breasts & some formula on the odd feed, i have thought about giving up the breast feeding but i just feel i am not ready to give up yet, i said to dp as soon as i am ready i will stop but that time is not yet.

Going to register sophie on 28th as dp has day off work as he has to go & have a heart monitor fitted as he has been having few probs.
Still not sure about her middle name, the choices are probably Sophie Ella, Sophie Mia, Sophie Elise, Sophie Hannah, hmmm not sure yet though but wont have a choice on the 28th it will have to be decided, will let you all know the outcome

So how much are all babies weighing now? Sophie has not been weighed since day 10 so i have no clue, i have to take her to clinic on Thursday to be weighed & measured by my health visitor (dont feel like going there)

I am starting my diet tomorrow ideally i would like to lose 2 stone still as i still had not lost all my weight from ds, i was doing well with the weight loss i have lost 11lbs but i seem to have stopped & seem to not be budging anymore at the mo?

Anyway i am going to have to go now as i have rambled on and on but i will come back as soon as i get a chance

oh forgot to add Sophie is smiling & she loves a little chat too, she struggles to chat & gets a little frustrated & the odd cough comes out, she is a very happy contented & quite forward little girl

iris

a bit disappointed with the lily pads so far, although sleeping bra - less was wonderful last night. they don't prevent leakage entirely, but i think they help to reduce it. they are like a thick film that rolls onto the nipple and sticks, they are slightly tacky. but they do say that some women with a very strong let down or excessive leakage (all those women who would resort to using lily pads presumably!) may still leak a little, and i guess i'm one of those. without the lily pads i normally leak about 1-2 oz on the side i'm not feeding on, but it's less than that with the lily pads, a bubble of milk builds up within the lily pad and occasionally leaks out (rather noticeably this am when i was singing in the gospel choir at the front of church!!! luckily i had my coat on, so it wasn't too obvious, i hope!)

just had a couple of hours in bed with lo, he fed lots, but we also managed to nap quite a bit too, so that will do me good. we are getting quite a good no of hours sleep at night, but not all in one stretch. last night it was 11, 3, 5, 6 and 8am, and feeds are shorter than before, so probably 7 hours sleep in total, it would just be so good to get it all in one go. i'm amazed at how well i seem to cope with broken sleep, long may it last.

my nipples STILL haven't healed yet, they are both cracked in the middle, but they are less painful now, as long as i keep on with the lansinoh. i also get shooting pains quite often under my arm, it feels like there's a scratch there, but there's nothing obvious on the skin, so i'm not sure what that's all about. i'll be glad when it all finally stops hurting.

alex has had 2 sessions of pediatric (mainly cranial) osteopathy now. he does seem more settled since we started with it, but tbh it's hard to tell as he wasn't that unsettled to start with. the osteopath is working on his jaw and tongue to help with the tongue tie problems, and to try to make feeding more effecient and shorter, and that seems to be working.

ds just handed alex back to me so i'll say gb and go and attend to him xx

Hey all, geez it is hard to keep up.
No action in the bedroom here, I still don't feel as though my bits are back to normal still feel a bit flappy if that makes sense. It only took 10days last time after a c-sec so dh is hanging out for my go ahead.
ds is really wheezy but has seemed quite a bit more settled in the last couple of days, I've not had hardly any wheat or gluten and his screaming seems to have improved.
We are mix feeding bf all day and night but bottle before bed gives me a good 4hr break which I need.
ds was under 9pounds last week is due to be weighed in tomorrow so will let you know, he is still a wee chap at 8wks old can you believe it.
ds now being bathed with dd(22mth) he is in a chair thing and she washes him and pours water on his stomach and he seems to like it and it keeps her busy.
Well better go, just to note the domperidone worked for me Lisa apparently it peaks at 10days so you sound like you are doing better than I did. Supply didn't really improve alot until close to then. Good luck!
Take care all!

Yes v.hard to keep up with everything I want to respond to these days!

Re: bottoms - I don't really find anything I eat makes any difference to my breastmilk - me n ds1 accidentally made a red hot chilli the other day and didn't seem to bother Finn. I do really recommend cotton wool and just water or baby lotion for changing though - I think wipes can be a bit astringent IYKWIM for newborns. Fresh air and a dab of sudocrem afterwards is brilliant as well, of course the real nappy rash hits with weaning, I've known bleeding bums with my other 3

Lyra - thanks for the dummy info, I remember the name 'nuk', not sure he will take anything though. The good news is that the mummy dummy has put a whole pound on Finn last week - he is now 11lb 13oz! nearly out of 0-3 clothes! A waitress in a coffee shop asked me how old he was the other day and when I said 4 weeks, two tables of mums turned round and said in unison '4 weeks!' so I guess he's a bit of of a pudding! I think it's because I am fatter and producing double cream! and because I am more rested due to the other kids being more independent and also the c-section.

Lisa- well done to you (and Chuffed) for perservering with bf - I am anything from 38-42 E and I think if you get engorged it can be difficult for babe to latch on.

Iris - I am very naughty and will be punished by having boobs to my knees eventually but my underwired bras are just normal ones! they are the seamless t-shirt type (like Glossard glossies?) and dead easy to pop boobs out of (in fact I forget when wearing bf bras to unclip them sometimes! I do believe Blooming Marvellous? do an underwired bf bra but it was too small for me. I also don't wear one at night because they annoy me - I just sleep on a towel.

Georgie - it's the dog not the kids that fills the house with slobber and hair! Seriously they are very independent this time round, although simultaneously combing for headlice and algebra homework whilst bf gives a whole new meaning to 'multitasking'!

Mum21 - I think it is normal to be up and down emotionally - we are all bloody sleep deprived! My poor dp gets the worst of it- poor dab. Do mention it to your gp though. It's part of why I want a weekend away - getting out of the house and away from the mess does wonders (as does inviting visitors over and having to superfically clean whole house in 60 mins - certainly gets it out of the way - I swear by it!)

Re the sex thing - I think I'm missing the intimacy as much as anything - it's difficult to even cuddle properly with 3 in a bed full of milk! I had a comedy moment getting some condoms in Boots - I had no idea what to get and quite ridiculously embarrassed! Chuffed - with the other kids I only ever did the deed the night before my postnatal just they had sewn me up properly! Probably best to mention it to someone. Anyone had their postnatal yet? What do they do these days? Apparently I am to book a smear at 12 weeks.

IRIS - You were asking about underwire nursing bras. You can get them by Anita but so far only seen them in single size up to D cup. I think blooming Marvellous stock them but they're about 30 or 35 quid.

I've never posted on this thread but have kept abreast of everyone's news. My lo is now 5 weeks and really not any trouble, up 1 or 2 times at night but must be used to sleepless nights cos it doesn't really bother me. Into a bit of a routine through the week now thankfully.

Glad to see everyone else is doing good too. But RACH do you not have a soaking bed/towel by the morning?

hi all

Re the soaking thing woke at 5am this morning Talia was cuddled up to me I was soaking and so was she right though cue full change for her and bra/top etc for me. So who has tried those lilypads then, I'm thinking of ordering a tap for my boobs anyone know where to get one

Rach - re postnatal check last time it was a 5 minute talk to ask if I was depressed although cow of a HV said this time I will be having an internal and a smear test (was told last time it's better to wait until 6 months after before a smear test as it can take a while for your cervix to calm down, I had one at 6 months last time but it was rubbish as I had an irritated cervix never went back as I moved and was pregnant again!

Chuffed - nice to see you too I got Talia to take a bottle on Friday and have another one for tonight, as she is such a gannet I can express 5mls in 5 mins (handy when a toddler is trying to get at the pump) I will get DP to give her it tonight and hopefully should settle her a bit.

Also underwire bras I started wearing them to go out at about 5-6 months (normal ones I mean) as she was taking less feeds by then, am really interested in an underwire one for feeding though, boobs need a bit of an uplift I don't mine the lovely white ones indoors but you need a bit of a lift when you go out.

Mum21 - with you on the sleep deprivation, what I wouldn't give for 12 hours uninterrupted sleep right now. Talia is quite good 2 feeds usually about 1 and 5am but the 5am one is a long one and Abbie is up at 7am. Am trying to have a nap when Abbie goes down for her nap by taking Talia to bed with me and feeding her usually we both drop off. But it's far more difficult when you have a toddler too keep thinking why mums with one newborn complain, can't imagine anymore than 2 how do you others cope?

Had Talia weighed on Wednesday 11lbs 2ozs not surprised the way she eats, everyone comments on her being big for only 3 weeks old. Abbie is 22lbs at 19 months bless her. Have packed away all the newborn clothes and we are on the 0-3 month ones now not sure for how long though, luckily have tonnes of 3-6 months.

Totally hectic weekend MIL came up to see us for the first time (she doesn't do public transport and had to wait for SIL to be available to taxi her) she drives DP and I mad though, the song and dance she makes about having to go outside to smoke, she thinks it's OK to smoke in front of a newborn baby and she doesn't like the name we have chosen for Talia (oh what a shame)! DP was looking after the 2 of them yesterday whilst I was in the shower and Abbie fell off the sofa and landed on her pram, I heard him shouting then heard Abbie screaming and blood gushing out her face, the fright I got, it wasn't bad she has just scrapped her face a bit, DP felt absolutely terrible had to spend more time consoling him than Abbie.

Talia just wants to sleep next to my boob right now which is hard as DP has no way of consoling her when she is upset, hope a bottle of EBM will help a bit, I know it's a phase and she will grow out of it but it is so hard, tried my Corry and Carry sling she hated it and I couldn't get on with it, tried the baby bjorn today and she fell asleep in it but wow it hurts my back after a while.

Hope everyone else is doing OK with their little bundles.

Hi Mrs Pitt - yes Anita bras are the ones I think, £30-35 is a lot when your boobs are constantly changing size. I just use the towel as a huge breast pad! I have a mattress protector under the sheet but the towel adds another line of defence against changing the sheet every day. My problem is really with 'let down' from one side when I feed from teh other - breast shells are good for that but not practical in the middle of the night. I hold a breast pad over the other nipple and press hard - usually does the job and stops the flood.

By the way I have finally started using my cloth nappies (mainly because Finn has grown out of mini disposables) and I am very impressed so far! I have a mixture of nippa (not so frightening) and aplix tots bots - unbleached and rainbows + motherease (airflow and rikki) wraps (rikki with velcro better as the poppers are a bit fiddly). The unbleached tots haven't leaked at all overnight - but yet the wraps and his skin are dry. The fleece liners are almost dry too - I can't believe how well they work. Am chasing down fleece wraps for overnight on ebay now. What does everyone else think of theirs?

Oh yes and it's ds1's birthday today - my baby is 12! Makes me feel v old as I wave him off to hang round town all day, feels like yesterday it was me!

Hello Everyone,

Glad to see everyone is doing ok

Sweetkitty - Sorry to hear about abbie's accident hope she is ok, toddlers are always falling off things, it's something that just can not be helped my ds is a walking accident he is forever falling over or banging his head.

Everyone seems to have such big babies, Sophie has not been weighed since day 10, HV visited last week she did not weigh her though because she says they do not weigh them that much anymore unless the mother feels there is a problem, she said they weigh once a month, was not to impressed as would have liked to know how sophie is doing as she is still pretty small i think. She is nearly 5 weeks & is still fitting in newborn clothes.....
I am taking her to clinic on thursday & hv said she would weigh her then & also measure her so i will let you all know. Finding it weird her being so dinky as ds just flow up he was over 11lbs in about 3 weeks.

Not feeling so down today just feeling tired, dd is not to bad at night now, she woke at 3am & then 6.15am i am breast feeding all through the night as it's so much easier & she really gets comfort from it.

Rach - I could not go to bed without my bra & pads for my breast otherwise i am sure i would wake in a puddle.
My boobs have got that big that my back really starts to ache now, just praying i will not have backache like this forever as it really hurts its all across the top, if they don't go back to a managable size i have told dp he will be needing to pay for a breast reduction & a life while they are there

Oh & i must add there has been no bedroom action here as of yet! Dp is getting quite desperate but is full understandable that i am not quite ready, think i will wait till after my 6 week check i have it booked for the 15th march (not 6 weeks about 7 i think)

While people are on the subject of smears, i am due one, well i am very overdue one but they could not do it because i was pregnant. When is the best time for me to have it at 6 weeks check or wait 6 months, will everything be back to normal by 6 week check? I just don't want to get an abnormal result as i am such a wimp anyway & a smear is a big thing for me let alone if anything is wrong

Ds is still trying to understand that his sister is very little & he needs to be gentle etc, he is quite good with her but is very confused as to why she can not have food & only have milk!
He also finds it wuite amusing that she has milk from mummys boob & asked is he could try it lol bless his heart.

I am waiting for the weather to pick up as i can not wait to go walking, its just so cold at the moment that i dont really feel able yet.

I better go as ds is calling but i will pop back soon take care all xx

Oh & Rach - HAPPY BIRTHDAY to your ds1 i hope he is enjoying himself did he get any nice presents?

Hi Gals

had my 6 week check today. GP just checked blood press, urine and tummy to check uterus gone back. Also checked that stitches healed OK. he said to have smear 3 months after as you get too many false positives if you do one at 6 weeks. Had chat about contraception and am going to try progesteron only pill.

Rach - am same as you, I miss the intimacy. had brill snog with DH last night though. Am actually really really nervous about 'doing it' again . It's been about 8 months - gulp.

Sweetkit - Hope Abbie is on the mend.... and DP. he must have been distraught.

M21 - glad you're feeling a bit better. Was worried about you. I second what Rach said. Having had PND, its much much better to speak to someone about how you're feeling rather than bottle it all up and do the British stiff upper lip thing.

I think you guys must have a load more milk than me. I sometimes wake up with leaky boobs, but not often. Then again, Libby does seem to be able to suck me dry in about 15 mins flat!

Had a disasterous night last night. Libby just so congested with cold that she couldn't settle. She was up at 11.30, 3, 4, 5...think we finally dropped off about 6ish and then Mollie was up and about at 7. Am pooped today.

Apart from that she's a lovely lovely baby. But I wish she would sleep a bit more

Am feeling guilty that I seem to be snapping at Mollie a lot. Think it's just tiredness.... and the fact that she's more like a teenager at the moment than a four year old . She can do a really good impression of 'Kevin the Teenager' and it drives me to distraction. Oh, and the selcetive hearing drives me round the bend as well.

Anyone else feeling guilty about their older ones? Or is it just me that?!

Hey ho, tomorrow is another day.

Happy Birthday to your DS Rachy. Hope he had a lovely day.

Love and hugs to all

G xx

Did you know that if you accidentally press ctrl & W it closes your window...along with the huge message you were just about to post?

Dom's calling so will have to leave it until tomorrow. Smiley sleepy baby vibes to you all x (ps - am now officially "back in the saddle" - much better than expected - go for it!! )

Hi all,

How is everyone doing? I've been so busy recently, it feels very strange not to be on Mumsnet every day checking for exciting news. We've had a few too many visitors and they all need to stay at our houde, inthe baby's room! My last visitor is coming tomorrow so I am looking forward to Monday when I can start sorting out my new life with baby Alex. Last week we were all ill and Thomas spent most of the week at home. I got so exhausted and incredibly impatient with him. He is making the most of my being less mobile and is testing my limits. You won't believe how glad I am that the new week has started and we're all where we're supposed to be.

Upon having a quick glance down the thread I saw some people were talking about bedroom action. I was so amazed two weeks ago when DH suddenly decided it was time. He had not shown any interest in ages so I felt very loved and even had to cry a bit. I wonder if knowing that now there's no bump and no pressure to create a bump has anything to do with it. I'm not complaining! I did turnhim down earlier this week because I was much too tired and I am still feeling very guilty over that.

Baby Alex is doing well. Gaining a bit too much weight, in 2 weeks he jumped from the 50th centile to the 85th!! He is just always hungry. He sleeps a lot too, maybe once he starts being a bit more active he won't pile on the pounds so quickly. Most nights are okay, we even had one night with only one feed but last night it was not quite as good. He gets trapped wind and sometimes gets very uncomfortable.

Does everyone still have their babies in the bedroom? I can't remember when we moved Thomas out into his own room. It was definitely a lot earlier than the recommended age. We would love to move Alex as soon as his room becomes available next week but I'm not sure if I should. Then again, I never slept in my parents' room at all and no one did back then.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Ds1 had a v expensive psp for xmas so only cash/clothes/a basketball(!) on the day. Ended up feeling guilty about him not having a 'proper' party so let his friend stay over and were making pancakes at midnight!

Eshay - you must be knackered! I could not put up with visitors in the house, I have certainly done my share of not answering the door/hiding in bed/in the bathroom. I was really touched about what you said about your dh - it isn't all about sex, it is more about being loving.

BTW put the baby in his own room whenever you feel ready! I couldn't wait to get my space back when I had ds1 but perhaps I feel a little differently this time and I can sleep better.

hello

Alex has been asleep since about 12.30, so this probably won't be a long one, as he'll be calling soon i expect. ah awake already so back 2 1 handed typing.

rach
big respect 2 u with the cloth nappies. dont no how u get thru all the washing. i'm struggling as it is. have tried the bumble nappy twice and was v impressed.

happy belated bday to ur ds. sounds like he had a gr8 time.

lo has gone back 2 sleep in my arms with the help of his dummy. his milk rash is finally clearing, thanks to a "4th ventrile pump" that the osteopath did yesterday. its supposed to get their lymphatic system working properly.

we've been to baby massage this am. a major struggle 2 get there for 10am tho! alex enjoyed the massage andi enjoyed seeing friends.

oh o time 2 bf

How much are people's babies sleeping during the day? I had dreams of sliding into a great (GF) routine but the little fella is just always wanting to sleep. Well, not always obviously but it seems like an awful lot. It's defintely impossible to keep him awake for as long as Gina suggests.

alex usually has 1 long nap at some point during the day 2-3 hrs long. the rest of the day he cat naps up to an hour at a time and feeds about every 1-2 hrs depending on sleeps.

hi gals - just sending one handed hello!!!

Theo on the boob (every eve, all evening!!) but sleeps during the important bit of the night with one or 2 feeds

sounds like you are all doing brilliantly - gd luck with 6 wk checks... not the checks themselves - just getting to the surgery on time
t xx