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

[GeorginaP]

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

hi all had the milk guzzler weighed today 11lb 11ozs when will she calm down? Suppose it's better than her not putting on weight. Just bought myself some lilypadz, sound great will report how my boobs get on with them.

Eshay - good to see you, sorry to hear you were all ill but glad you are on the mend. How are you finding it with the two of them? Do you feel you are neglecting Thomas at all? Sometimes I feel I neglect Abbie as I have to feed Talia a lot although Abbie likes to be involved in feeds, she pulls up my top and snuggles up to my free boob. I had both of them asleep on me today it was very cosy and nice though.

In terms of sleep Talia is in with us and will be for the forseeable future probably until she stops BFing. How do others cope with the nightfeeds if they are in another room to you? I'm intrigued as I'm too lazy to get up go feed them, change them and put them back down. Talia starts off in her bedside cot then comes across for a feed then usually we both fall asleep. We have no routine either daytime sleeps as and when although she usually has a good sleep in the afternoon for a few hours (timed with Abbie's bliss) she's only been getting up once or twice in the night last night I had 6 hours uninterrupted sleep (heaven) think she cluster feeds in the evening to stock up.

Georgie - 8 months wow you poor things, now you can make up for it though is anyone else scared of getting pregnant again, I am last time wasn't that bothered but this time with 2 of them it's a bit different, think I will be getting the mini pill and using condoms. Think it's because Talia is the result of first unprotected encounter after Abbie was born although we were ttc it happened so fast eek!!

Iris - congrats about getting back in the saddle too

Have to tell you all this story left DP with the girls whilst I went to Asda's tonight was swinging the car into the drive and he was at the door screaming help. Both of them needed nappies changing Talia had done an explosive poo and needed changing DP couldn't find any clothes (OK ironing pile was huge) so Talia was in her moses basket in a nappy and a blanket, Abbie was in a vest whinging, DP fell over
Noahs Ark and hurt his foot, was very funny men eh?

Hope everyone else is doing OK with their little ones take care x

Rach69 - I started out using disposables for the first 3 weeks purely for convenience while I was getting over the CS then I started using my OneLife re-usables. Unfortunately I've found them too bulky for DD. She's quite a wee thing I think (she's about 9lb something at 6 weeks - official weigh in tomorrow), and the nappy just made her look like a weeble. Also she has a problem with being sick a lot after feeding and I found the nappy just raised her bottom up causing her tummy to be above her mouth when lying down which I didn't fel was helping the reflux. I've gone back onto disposables for a wee while til she's grown a bit.

On the subject of smears at 6 wk check, I'm still bleeding (not loads but enough to be noticeable), wouldn't that make it unfeasible?

So, is it just us or are any of you already discussing when would be a good time to start trying for another? I must add the result of the discussion was that I plan to try and lose 6 stone before we start to try again as I couldn't bear another CS with the weight of my tummy pulling on the wound.

Our Alex is a milk monster too. The HV was shocked to see how much he had gained in a few weeks. He has now jumped from the around 50th to the 85th centile! I'm afraiid to have him weighed again, they might tell me to put him on a diet! He doesn't look very fat yet. It's funny to think about the future, how Thomas will be tall and sporty and Alex will be fat and lazy. That's what it seems like for now anyway

SK, I don't do too well on the days when I have both kids by myself. Admittedly, I did have a CS to recover from and was ill afterwards but I did not feel it went at all. Not like I was neglecting Thomas, just that I had absolutely no patience and was not in control. This week I am feeling much better and am also more mobile. I am getting more rest and therefore have a much better time with Thomas when he is home. I even went to collect him from nursery a bit early the past two days. Hats off to you for having both of them at home.

I am slightly worried about getting pg again but have not done anything to prevent it... The other day in the supermarket I had a quick glance at the shelf with condoms but I was too embarrassed to get a pack! Too shy to mention it to DH! How silly is that? As if I'm a teenager! Will go on pill after check-up but that's not for a while. I didn't like the mini pill much last time though. You have to be so careful with it and take it at set times every day. Not much room for error. I might look into having an injection so I don't have to worry about it for a few weeks at a time. Have no idea about the details with that one but it just sounds nice and reliable.

Lisa, once the weather clears up, are you up for meeting up over a nice cup of coffee? I can do Mon-Thursday as Thomas is at nursery then. You can email me at estherhay at linenshorts dot com. Anyone else in the Farnborough area is welcome too of course. I forget who else was near us.

Hello everyone,

Great to see action on here it was a bit quiet

Sk - I have 2 kids when ds is not at nursery & don't really find it that hard, it depends on how ds is behaving & also how the day is going. Your Dd is younger than ds though so do you find it quite demanding? I am noticing that ds is playing up a bit & i believe its for attention, i like to give him one on one attention in the evening & for bed time as i do feel he gets a bit neglected in the day, but it can not be helped at the mo because of the feeding with dd.

Georgie - Thanks for worrying about me, i am ok have my ups & downs, feeling ok today, little bit down but not as bad as some of my days last week, i dont know what it is that makes me feel down cause i am over the moon with my kids i love having Dd & she has fitted in perfect i am not struggling or anything, but something seems to happen & i start to feel a bit down.

Well have taken dd to clinic today (blimey i ahte that place) she is weighing 10lb 1oz at 5 weeks she is on the 50th centile so she is fine & doing well. She is 55.5cmlong & her head was 37cm. She is now in her 0-3 months sleepsuits & vests but some of her clothes are still fitting her in newborn (think i am in denial & dont want her to grow)

Lisa - I will defo not be trying for any more babies for at least 5 yrs even know i am still broody now & would get pregnant again tomorrow but it just would not be a good idea, i want to concentrate or the 2 i have for now i have been through the terrible 2s with ds so i know it can be hard

I do feel like i dont want dd to grow fast as i think (yes i said think) we dont want anymore children now. I said this would defo be the last but i sort of have an open mind now..... not quite sure why! If we did have anymore it would not be for at least 5 yrs & i might have changed my mind by then anyway! Dp said he defo does not want anymore (i know i could persuade him though) but saying that someone asked him the other day are you going to have anymore & i listened for hes reply in which he said "no we are not, well i dont think so anyway"
I did pick him up on it & said hmmm think now is it, he just laughed bless him.

Sk - you made me laugh with your story about dp & the nappies, my dp would have been exactly the same, i think it is just men in genral bless em.

So whos family is complete? & who will be having more children? how many more? & if so would you have a preference of the sex?
I am nosey arn't i lol

If we did have anymore it would only be 1 more & i would not mind a boy or girl because i have one of each now.

anyway i have a busy day now got friends coming over for lunch & sis so i will pop back on later.

Take care all xx

Thanks for that info. I really don't know anything about it so all thanks for sharing your firend's experience.

mornin all
well i know its not am, but i have only just got dressed so it feels like morning! i am still living in the slow lane, despite alex being 6 weeks today. it's half term for my 2 kids and dh is off with us, so he's taking on lots of the driving them backwards and forwards to basketball camp - dd goes 9.30 - 12.30 and ds goes 12.30 - 4, quite a schedule! it finishes today, so we're hoping to have a day out tomorrow, maybe we'll go to Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire and have a walk by the canal and a pub lunch.

re. more children - i had planned to maybe have no 4 in a year or 2, but my labour and birth has really put me off, it was so horrendously painful, and so touch and go from the safety perspective. i just feel lucky to have survived it relatively unscathed. also practically, we live in a 4 bedroomed house and we'd struggle to fit another child in, plus i rather like the luxury of having time and space to enjoy my bonus babe without a toddler to make demands on me. i never thought i'd persuade dh to go for no 3, so i feel very lucky to have alex.

anyone put any more pics on the yahoo site? i think i will do that in a few mins.

it is a stereotypical manchester day here - raining endlessly, not exactly inspiring. hope it perks up for our day out tomorrow.

Lisa
much respect to you with your dieting plans, i will be there with you too, i have about 2 - 2 and a half stone to lose, but haven't started yet. maybe we can chat about it on the big slim whatever weight loss thread on here?

Hi all, good to hear from you! It's snowing here but not sticking... good as we are driving to Devon tomorrow.

Am having a very p**d off day - fighting with ex d over money as usual - have finally made a claim to the CSA, have a feeling I will end up worse off as usual, made new claim to child tax credit people although I already owe them £2500 . And.. I was in my pjs,house a mess when there was a knock at the door, decided to ignore it until kids came bursting in - they had let in the mw! She was supposed to sign me off (a week late!) on Tuesday but didn't turn up or phone even though I stayed in all day. So I told ds1 to tell her I was in the bath, she said could she speak to me through the door!!! No you bloody can't! Is there no peace in your own home? Can she not use the phone? End of rant..

Sweetkitty - fact - men can not find clothes/nappies/wipes unless they are put in a pile in front of them. Strangely they can find about 7 unecessary sports channels on freeview and all the crisps.

Re smears - I was told 12 weeks? I think if you are bleeding you shouldn't have one, confuses the results etc.

Re contraception - I will probably go back on the mini pill for a bit although I don't like it. I'm a big fan of the mirena (progesterone) coil although I know lots of people hate it. It has less hormone than the mini pill and I got pregnant within two weeks of having it out. I won't have it yet because I'll have to put up with the intital bleeding allover again (although I then didn't get any periods the whole time I was on it).

Lyra - I'm sorry you're put off another baby. It's hard not to be by a crap birth and I know, I've had 4 now! I do have 4 kids though... Dp would love another one and part of me would love to give Finn a playmate but it really isn't feasible, we don't have the house space or the money. Part of me also feels like I'm pushing my luck...

Diet - I am so with you all, thinking about new f-plan/gi diet because I need to eat!

Nappies - honestly with 6 of us in the house we have enough towels/bedding etc for a 60deg hot wash every day so I've just chucked em in together (breastmilk poo being relatively inoffensive stuff and the website says its fine to do this - or to wash at 40deg with some napisan). They only take an hour or so to dry in the tumble - we do nearly 2 loads a day now.

Glad to see things are ticking along.
I think ds is the wee tot here at 8wks and just reaching 9kg on Tuesday. He is 58cm long too.
We are on washables too, with dd in them it seemed mad not to throw his in as well. A mix of bumbles for night, fuzzibunz and snazzipants and cutiebums both NZ brands.
Still finding it hard with the attention they both need and ds is feeding every 30mins I swear can't wait until our house is finished and I might be able to have some completely child free time.
Well better go, ds is screaming.

Good Morning fellow mums! Happy as always to hear things (for the most part) and moving along nicely! It's 4 weeks to the day that I went into labour, and I can't believe how quickly time has passed! Labour seems so long ago! Beebe has grown so much, the first time we found an outfit she couldn't fit into both my and DP felt rather sad.. I think the first growth spurt is probably the hardest to deal with!

rach69 I can't believe how invasive your midwife was . It just reiterates how fortunate I've been, although tbh the midwives were almost TOO relaxed iykwim..Anyways, hope you are having a better day today! I think I've accepted that lil 1's all have their off days, Beebe had two the day before last, she was just so upset and inconsolable.. It was particularly difficult, fortunately I was still at my mums house so there was lots of support, and I now feel more confident in dealing with it the next time it happens!

Glad to see all the milk guzzlers Bee isn't too bad, she seems to require regular feeding during the day (sometimes she goes 3/4 hours, sometimes only 2).. in the night we can manage to placate her temporarily with a dummy.. sometimes I think it's more a comfort thing than a hunger thing, plus she seems to be suffering from terrible wind! Have now started her on Infacol and it seems to be helping, but she still wakes up in obvious discomfort!

I have so much respect for all you Mums with 2+, although I've recently realised that I want Beebe to have a sibling, I hope I don't offend anyone but I think lone children are at a disadvantage, there's just so much that can be gained from having a brother/sister....it's a rather big realisation because Beebe was completely unplanned and although I wouldn't change anything she came much sooner in my life than I had anticipated (I'm only 21 and 2/3's of the way through my degree!). I need to think seriously about when would be the best time to try for another, but in the meantime I'm focusing all my energy on enjoying Bee.

Having started DD on re-usables, she's suffering nappy rash at the moment so I'm intrigued to see if they help/hinder the situation. I'm keen to use them as much as possible but not naive enough to believe I won't still use disposables when out and about for the first few months!

Right, it's almost 11 and I'm still in bed/in my Pj's... Going to drink my spearmint tea, get the LO dressed and go for a walk, DP returns to work on Monday gulp so I'm enjoying our last few days together! Might even try and initiate something on the bedroom front tonight, I think I'm just about healed and ready for some intimacy. Shall see how it goes.
Have a good day xxx

Eshay - I'm definitely up for a coffee sometime. Would be great to have a reason to leave the house right now!
M2 - We definitely want another but don't care if its a boy or a girl. I've got my wee girl, which was all I was bothered about, so now I don't mind.
Lyra - What kinda diet you planning to follow? I've always found in the past I tend to do best with plain old calorie counting, that way I can eat whatever I want as long as I make allowances elsewhere.
Has anyone else been having reflux probs with baba? Lola's been puking LOADS for weeks and I've been at my wits end trying to keep her upright for at least 2 hours after feeds. HV got the doc to prescribe Infant Gaviscon yesterday and it's worked wonders. She's still sicking up a bit but nowhere near the amount she was.

Right, I gotta go get showered, 6wk check at 2pm.

Hi all, Barrelrider is back!!

I might change my name actually, it makes me sound like a drinker which I'm not. Anyway my name's Clare so might just go for something with that in it!

Quick update: Dominic James born at 10lb 9oz after 9 hour labour. I had a pretty horrible time of it with internal tears, infected stitches, very bad and painful bruising, big post partum haemorrage (sp?) and a load of horrible unhelpful/critical family visiting for 2 weeks!! Plus dh didn't take proper paternity leave as evidently work is more important (hence not so 'dear' as he was, perhaps - anyone else questioning their choice of husband these days??!!) After the pain of the stitches etc started to wear off (and I was begging for something stronger than PARACETAMOL for god's sake!!) I started to lose it mentally and ended up pacing the flat at all hours of the night, washing my hands/staring at mirrors all the time, hearing voices (yes really) and getting 'paranoid episodes'. The doctor came and said I was suffering from post traumatic stress and gave me lovely sleeping pills.. it's been a constant barrage of medical personnel in our flat! this is NOT what I was expecting!!!!

ANYWAY it's a sunny day, my baby boy is beautiful and extremely well behaved, my mind has calmed down and all is well today. I'm very weepy but seeing this as a good thing - at my worst I could hardly speak, let alone cry.

So here are some questions for you girls:
Is Dominic a Catholic name?? (Iris, I see you've chosen this beautiful name too) - everyone asks me about catholicisim (no thanks) but I love the name!

Anyone else suffering from non-breastfeeding guilt?

And where do I meet other mums like me, who want to be a mum but talk about stuff OTHER than motherhood and housework! I tried an NCT coffee morning but felt out of place shall we say.

Hope all are well,

Barrelrider (Clare!)

Hi all

I had 5 hours solid sleep last night after a few days of virtually none so I'm feeling bright and breezy again for a change. I can see why they use sleep depravation as a form of torture - it's murderous isn't it!!

Dominic is 11lb now and at the inbetween stage with clothes. I've been keeping him mainly in babygros so far but he's grown out of all the littlies now & all the next size up clothes he's got is just too big and look ridiculous so I'm hoping all the feeding he's doing will give him another growth spurt. Plus we're just about to launch into using washable nappies so the huge bum should put him up a size He's got terrible milk spots all over his cheeks though. How long do they last and is there anything you can do to treat them? (I've been wiping his face with plain water)

Sweetkitty - your nappies arrived today - they're fab ( & thanks also for the liners) How much vinegar do you use in the rinse for cloth nappies btw? I've seen comments ranging from a couple of tablespoons to cupfuls so I'm a bit confused.. Hope Abbie has recovered from her bump and PMSL at your Asda story. Makes me laugh that men never seem to wonder how we cope on our own! Your MIL sounds like a right old bag!! Thank goodness it was only for a day eh!

Eshay - your experience sounds a lot like mine - v emotionl. DH kept me pretty much at arms length whilst I was pg. I felt like I was totally repulsive to him and couldn't even persuade him to do anything for natural induction purposes. I missed the intimacy so much but after biting the bullet, so to speak, it was really worth it as he's so much more tactile & loving now.
As far as sleep goes, Dom seems to have a couple of sleeps during the day of 2-3 hours but is awake all evening on a constant colicky feedfest which can last from about 6-7ish to anything from 11 to 2am. He's going to stay in with us until he's sleeping more through the night. I tend to shush him to sleep & if he stirs which seems to settle him back if he's not actually hungry (saves me getting out of bed!) so once I don't have to do that very much he'll be put in his own room.

Rach / mrspitt - thanks for the bra info. They are so expensive aren't they!! I think I'll take your advice & wait until my chest decides what size it's going to average at before buying.
PMSL at your comment re: blokes inability to find baby stuff Rach - soo true!!
though at your problems with ex and good luck with the CSA - you'll probably need it unfortunately. It took me over 10 years to get any joy with them (if you can call it that!) we get less than £10 per month Can you still do the normal court order route?

Lyra - hope you're getting on better with the lilypads now. Did you ever get any bf tops? I've just discovered that if I wear a vest top (shoestring strap stretchy type) back to front, underneath my normal t-shirt & tucked in, I can lift my top to b/f without exposing acres of wobbly flesh - result!! - women have probably been doing this for years but I was really impressed with my ingenuity M&S have got an offer on stretchy vest tops at the mo so I'm going to get a couple next week.

Mum2One - Another child... oooh yes I'd would love a playmate in a couple of years for Dom but I'm not sure it'll happen. DH is talking about redoing his vasectomy however he's not exactly organised so I've probably got a few years to change his mind!!

I'd completely forgotten about contraception . We've never used any as DH had a vasectomy & then it was reversed last Nov. I've got my 6 week check next week so I'll ask then.

DH is away again for 4 days & DD is off partying for the weekend so it's just me Dom & the dog. All the snow we had yesterday has melted but it's really cold so I'm planning on monging around in my pjs for the entire w/e & sleeping when he does to do a little catchy uppy (may rename myself waynetta & order pizzas too)

forgot to add (because my post took me 4 hours!!!!

barrelrider - congratulations on chosing such a fab name for your beautiful boy! - no idea of it's origins but I'm not catholic. You sound like you've had a really rotten time!! Tears are a good thing - I believe they help you let go. IOnwards and upwards now eh!!

diet - FWIW I was using the low GI approach to control my diabetes (hence being 1/2 stone lighter post pg than I was pre) I've now put the whole lot on - despite bf- because I've been pigging out on all the things I wasn't allowed then so I may join you in the dieting!

Lilstarry1 - I was 21 when I had DD and really wish I'd been able to have a sibling for her then (sadly my then DH left when she was 13 months old!) She has often said over the years that she'd wished she'd had brothers/sisters but recognises the huge benefits too of being an only child.

Ahh bliss. Got my glass of Guinness and Dh giving grumpy Libby her bottle before bed. She's had her bath and smells lovely!

Libby doesn't really have a routine as yet. last couple of days she's not really slept during the day. Just had cat naps. But today she slept for a couple of hours in the morning and a couple this afternoon and a cat nap for 15 mins at 5pm. She seems to like being in the pram and sleeping so looks as if I'mm be tramping around Wimbledon Common (looking for Wombles?!) when the weather gets better to try and get her off to sleep.

I had 6 hours solid sleep last night. Fantastic. DH gave Libby her bottle. She went down about 9pm, slept until 2am, guzzeled 3oz, straight back to sleep and the DH bought her into me at 5am for BF. Feel like a new woman.

Good to hear from everyone. Glad that we all seem to be going thru the same stuff. Makes me feel as if I'm not a complete failure as a mum. You know what it's like. Some days nothing goes right and you feel as if you've spent the entire day with a screaming baby and stroppy child.

Anyway, today was a good day, so I want more like this please

B-Rider: jeeze my love you've been thru the mill haven't you. Are you sure you're OK now? If it's any use at all, my advice is to talk to your DH sooner rather than later. if you start to bottle up resentment everything gets blown out of proportion. Sorry to sound as if I'm lecturing. And you can tell me to b@gger off, but I went thru same thing and let things build up so much between me and ex-h that the marriage broke down. I@m NOT saying this will happen with you guys, but communication is key. Gyus really are hopeless sometimes at spotting when women need help. Sorry, lecture over.

And I do hope you're not feeling guilty about not BF. It does make me mad that women are made to feel guilty about how they feed their baby. it's not a frigging competition. Most important thing is to get milk into the baby and make sure it's thriving. Whether it's by boob, bottle or a bit of each. Grrrrrrrr. There's enough guilt surrounding motherhood as it is, we don't need anymore for goodness sake.

Do GP's have a stock pile of mini pills? have been prescribed them too. Not sure how they will suit me as combined pill makes me depressed. Will give it a go. if not then will try Mirena coil.

Rach - did you have any side effects from it?

DH being pretty cool about the whole thing and not pressuring me. it's just finding a time when we're both concious and in the same room!!!!

And yep, I think we'd like a little sibling for Libby. Won't even think about it for another couple of years though. Ideally I'd like a 3 year gap. And maybe a boy.... poor sod will get dressed in fairy outfits and high heels by his sisters.....but also quite fancy having 3 girls....but then there's the hormones and the tantrums that doesn't appeal.....maybe we'll just get a dog instead

Think I'll hit the gym to get back in shape. And try the GI diet. I like my food too much to rstrict what I eat. We're off on hols at end of June, so need to be bikini-tastic by then....or at the very least raise my ass by 2 inches so it's not skimming the back of my knees!!!!!

And Clare, not sure where you can go to met other mums that won't talk about kids and housework. Pretty much goes with the territory. it's a bit hit and miss. Gym? Mother and Baby groups? 1 o clock club? We are out there....just cunningly disguised!!!

OK, I've banged on enough. Sweet dreams to your LO and lots of love to all you delicious scrummy mummys.

G xx

hi all

Iris - glad you got the nappies wow that was quick, I just always used a spolsh of white vinegar in the final rinse if I remembered, works a treat at getting that residual pee smell out. I still feel a bit sad at not using reusables but Abbie pees so much it was getting ridiculous. I tend to keep Talia in babygros if we are indoors as well much comfier for them when they are tiny.

Barrelrider/Clare - hiya I think Dominic is thought of as a Catholic name up here in Scotland. It's a lovely name though. I'm still getting mmms off MIL for not naming DD2 after a saint! So sorry to hear of the hard time you had having your Dominic too but I bet you it's all worth it now? What I would say is keep in mind that this is the hardest it gets, thats what I have been saying and it's gets easier as they sleep more and get into more of a routine. Also remember the first year of having your first baby is supposed to put the biggest strain on your relationship, it sounds like you have been to hell and back the only way is up now, Iris has given you great advice.

Yesterday was pretty hard work felt a bit stressed but managed to have 2 hours sleep in the afternoon, today was much better feel like I spent some really good quality time with Abbie too. My lilypadz arrived today am wearing them just now seem quite good so far will have to wait til I'm bursting with milk to test them fully, DP burst out laughing when he saw them. Still haven't jumped back in the saddle so to speak, again it's timing we are always too knackered or I'm feeding Talia.

On the subject of other babies, we have said we will have at least one more but our limit would definately be four. I'm so happy we have had 2 little girls with only an 18 month gap as hopefully they will be really close. It's hard though not to try and rush Talia through being a baby so they interact more, like I cannot wait until Talia's walking and running after Abbie (although ask me if I feel the same in a year when they are both being naughty I don't know). We are not bothered about sex although having a boy would be nice but I hate the whole concept of trying for a boy. We have said we will think about it when Talia is 2 as then she would be at least 2y 9m and Abbie 4y 5m (if my maths is right) so they would be a bit older and independent.

Today has been very sad for me too, one of my best friends had a little girl one year ago today, she had an undiagnosed placenta previa and their was a massive cock up at the hospital and her DD died after 3 days. The hospital have admitted medical neglect but it doesn't help my friend. I have to admit to keeping my distance from her as I do feel guilty that I have 2 DDs now. I feel so angry that she has been deprived the chance to see her DD grow up.

On that note I will go sorry to bring everything down a bit. Makes you realise how lucky and priveleged we are to have beautiful, healthy babies.

iris
alexander was plagued by milk spots too, which have just started to clear up over the past week and a half (he's 6 weeks now). the cranial osteopath did a procedure to stimulate his lymphatic system (called a 4th ventricle pump or VE4 or something), maybe there's a reflexology point that would have the same effect? it really seemed to make a difference for alex, although it may be that he was just about to grow out of it anyway. his skin is now really dry, i've decided to stop bathing him so often and to oil and massage him at bedtime every day to try to help with that.

re. the bf tops, i bought one from blooming marvellous for a christening as i wanted to look smart - pic with rest of family on yahoo, what do you think? - but i'm also using the layering vest approach too, they have good long ones at matalan for £4 each.

he went for his first swim yesterday, and unfortunately the pool was a bit too cool, so he tolerated rather than enjoyed it i'd say.

clare
sorry to hear about your experiences post birth, and i'd echo what georgie and iris say re. talking to your partner about how you're feeling, it is really easy to let these things build up. i'd say just take each day as it comes, try not to pressure yourself to be a "perfect" mum, and try to have some time out now and again if you can, i.e. go for a swim by yourself, or go for a coffee to a local cafe and read the paper, just have an hour to yourself now and again if dh will have the baby to let you do this. i sufferred badly from pnd after ds1 and found having some time to myself was really important to help me relax.

rach
can't believe the mw wanted to talk to you through the bathroom door, mad or what? was she desperate to sign you off i wonder?

georgie
hi there, glad things are going well for you. we don't have a routine either, the supplementary bottles approach doesn't seem to work that well with alex, he's thrown up the last couple of bottles of ebm, maybe dh was giving them when he wasn't really hungry.

dh is in the park with pram and dog now, and as i had a bad night last night, i should go and have a luxurious bath and get back in bed for an hour or so, so i'll say goodbye for now.

Forgot to add last night I saw someone using a Belly hugger to BF once and they have them on the site I bought my lilypadz from will try a link
belly hugger

Didn't use the lilypadz last night but the disposable usual ones woke up at four drenched in milk don't think the lilypadz would have coped.

Note to self: don't write emails when you're half cut on a glass of Guinness. It just comes out all wrong.....

Have got off the soap box now....

And, ITS A BLOOMING MIRACLE..... Libby slept from 8pm to 4am. Of course this is just a one off, but my god I feel good today.

I think Libby has milk spots too. Are they little reddish spots, sometimes have a small bit of white in the middle? Just seems to have them on her cheeks and chin where sticky milk goes? Have been making sure to wash her face with water after every feed. They are'nt too bad, but does look a little bumpy sometimes.

Will love you and leave you as we're off to my folks. My bro has new job and we're celebrating by watching the rugby (Eng vs Scot - it's going to be a good one) and drinking some champagne .

Sweetkit - may the best team win!!!!

Have a great weekend everyone

G xx

Sorry, forgot to say Sweetkit.... sorry about the news re:your friend. What a dreadful thing to happen to your friend. Can't even begin to imagine how I would deal with something like that. And yes, I echo your sentiments, it does make you feel v priviledged that one has healthy kids.

This is just a quick post to relay the events of yesterday.. but firstly sweetkitty what happened to your friend is absolutely tragic, but don't feel guilty.. I'm sure that's the last thing your friend would want! Sadly it's just one of those things, it'd be sad to let a friendship slip..

Now for my amusing tale, the HV came for the first time yesterday (thankfully she's lovely), did all the normal HV things (Beebe weighs in at 9lb 4ozs!) I then told her about Bee's gas problems (it upsets her greatly and causes obvious and great discomfort!) ... HV then told me I needed to amend my diet... to include less fruit and veg and to swap from wholemeal pasta/rice/bread to white products! DP says my face was a true picture! I can't believe I was told to me less healthy . I can appreciate the point but it still amuses me greatly!

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else's LO is suffering bad gas and if so what they've done to help?

Off to make dinner, DP's parents are visiting and I thought it'd be a sane idea to invite them for dinner..
Love to you all!

Hello everyone how are you all getting on?

SK- Thanks for the link for the belly hugger that looks good not sure if i should purchase it as not sure how much longer breast feeding is going to work for me, was doing odd bottle but now it seems to be half & half have told HV i am thinking of giving up as finding it very hard to do, as its quite time consuming & also i am having major problems with ds & his jealousy of Dd right now

Life not to good here i am starting to feel very very down, ds has been totally out of control he is very very jealous of dd & has started doing really naughty things to get my attention, i can not help but feel sorry for him caus ehe is so used to being number one & now he has to share everyone with dd, he is struggling with this.
I put him to bed early the other night cause he was toally out of control he done a wee in the hallway & thought it was really funny (he has never weed on the the carpet)i put him on the naughty step but he kept getting off & laughing, in the end i put him to bed at 6pm instead of 7pm, he went to sleep, then later in the evening i went to check on him he was all innocent & fast asleep, i kissed him & walked out & burst into tears, i am starting to feel sorry for him cause i have to share my attention now, i am blaming myself & feel like i have failed ds

To top everything else off i am fed up with dp he does not help me hardly at all, he gives dd the odd bottle & chases ds round the house, i fed them bath them put them to bed, take them out (he4 never takes ds anywhere) i cook for him do all the washing, the shopping,i have done every wake up with dd since she was bron apart from 2 & she is 5 + weeks, i am with the kids 24/7 if not both then always one! I feel a bit of a mug & wonder why i am sitting here allowing it?
Like now dp has been golfing since 8.30am this morning, i dont mind him golfing but then he will just come in,sit in a chair & watch sky all day!

At the moment i fee like running away sure i will feel better soon, i am going to tell dp tonight to buxk his ideas up or i am leaving, i am drained!

Anyway i hope all your bubbas are ok i will pop back when i can.

sorry for the rant i just needed to tell someone xx

hey there mum21. sounds as if things have got to a pressure point with you. are you feeling depressed? or just really really knackered and fed up? if its the former, I would recommend that you see your GP, or speak to your HV. You really don't want to get PND and let it go undiagnosed. I really feel for you. And you're right to speak to your dp. they are his children too and he needs to share in their care and up bringing. could you maybe try and do it in a way that isn't confrontational? men hate thinking that they are being 'nagged'. try and boost his self esteem by saying what a good dad he is, and how great it would be if he could spend more time with the kids so they can benefit from his brilliant parenting skills etc etc etc. tell him how bad you're feeing and how much you need his help (appeal to his male ego).

can your mum come and help for a couple of hours? let you get out of the house, even if it's just for a coffee and read the paper.

as for ds. don't give yourself a hard time hon. it's so difficult going from one to two. there's always prbs with the first being jealous (apprently I was a cow to my little bro ). I get days where all I seem to do is snap at mollie, give her a hard time and in return all she does is play up. have you tried a sticker chart with ds? it worked wonders for mollie (she's 4 btw). his treat for being a good boy could be time with you or dp on his own (swings, swimming, cinema?). and although its really hard and you're knackered you need to make sure that your treatment of him is consistent. he's prb pushing the boundaries to see how you react.

tanya byron has written a great book called little angels that is fantastic for giving advice on parenting. best thing she says os to reward the good behaviour and ignore the bad.

anyway, i've banged on enough. i really really hope that things start to look up for you. and do go and see someone if you feel dreadful. i got pnd after i had mollie and was prescribed prozac. it helped me immensely.

g xx

Evening all

T under the playgym so I have 5 minutes!!!

M2OA1M - so sorry to hear you are having a hard time, please feel free to have a rant anytime. Must be difficult for your DS, what age is he again? Luckily Abbie isn't too jealous as she's too young but I think it's more me feeling guilty about spending enough time with both of them. Think you should have a good chat to your DP the two of you have signed up to be parents and with 2 littlies you need him more than ever. My DP works long hours and although he has his faults he is always there ready to help out. I think you need some time to yourself (I know whats that?) maybe next weekend take a few hours to yourself and leave DP with the both of them?

lilstarry - pmsl at your HV what are they like? I'm sure mine thinks I'm slipping T some formula as she always says "and your still only Bfing" despite T's weight gain. Sorry you misunderstood me I'm not letting my friendship slip with my friend just giving her some space and not going on about babies all the time. She's ttc at the moment so fingers crossed.

Georgie - won't mention the rugby T has a few milk spots too but hers aren't around her mouth but by her eyes, I use just water to clean her. I think their skin is so sensitive when they are so young I remember Abbie had bad skin for a while too.

Both girls have colds too poor wee T is snuffling whilst feeding don't know what to do to help her. Abbie just runs around covering everything in snot doesn't seem to be bothering her much though.

Well better go take care everyone x

Evening all, or should I say morning? My sleep pattern is so messed up!
DH looked after DD today so that I could get caught up on sleep, which I did til 4pm, so now I am probably going to be awake all night! Knowing my luck this'll be the one night DD decides to sleep!
Had my 6 week check the other day. GP wanted to talk to me about Anti-depressants coz the HV had told her I scored 17 on the Edinburgh test, but I managed to convvince her I didn't ned them. The only thing depressing me at the moment is our failure to BF, so if I don't dwell on that too much I'm fine.
Lola's still a wee angel who never cries. She's having a bad day if she cries for more than 10 minutes over 24 hours, just wish she'd learn the difference between night and day. She's still tending to sleep most of the day then want to interact all night. I try to keep it dark all night and not stimulate her too much when I feed her but she just doesn't seem to get it yet. Things have been a lot easier with her the last few days since we started on the Infant Gaviscon for her reflux, she's sicking up MUCH less.

barrelrider - SO with you on the non-breastfeeding guilt trip. Still trying desperately at 6 weeks plus but neither baba nor my boobs are playing ball. Am taking prescription drugs to try and boost my supply, double expressing for what feels like a huge chunk of my day and trying DD to the breast before every feed with no success. Just thinkning about it makes me blub uncontrolably. Saw one of my GPs the other day and she tried to reassure me by telling me how both of hers were bottle-fed from day 1 and how she feels its more bonding to bottle feed coz they can look into your eyes more easily etc etc but I'm afraid it didn't wash and didn't make me feel any less guilty about my failure to get it going.

GeorgieGirl - Mini Pill here too, prescribed at my 6 wk check on Friday!