Due Feb '06 but they couldn't wait that long!!

[TicTac]

Come on Feb '06 girls....

Teuch - I hope you find me here. Really short stats list but here you go

TicTac - due 3rd Feb '06, Peyia was born 23rd Jan '06

Hello all in baby land

Is very quiet over on there waiting for our babies to come so I thought I'd crash and say hi to you lot

Due today so really hoping to join you soon.

Hello!!

I think today people can honestly look at Emrys and say "ooh, so you had a boy" rather than "Isn't he gorgeous!" Poor little mite came out pretty scratched up anyway, now his face is peeling too so he looks half raw, half flakey, and he's got a gunky eye to top it all off!!! Very happy little man though

Long night - likes his food apparantly!

Been comparing stats with DD and it turns out he not only weighs the same (in lbs and oz... 20g difference in silly numbers), but is identical length and head circ .

DD still staying with gran while we get settled in... probably back home tomorrow night. Scared of being mum of 2, but DH off for two weeks, so hopefully it should be slightly easier to settle down. Hoping to start her pre-school a week tomorrow (depending on my recovery ).

Quick question... anyone's ex-bump/stretchmarks really itchy for the first days afterwards??? Or am I just odd???

Flame - not odd, perfectly normal - well unless I am odd too as I had really itchy skin for a couple of days but sorted itself out fairly quickly
First day at home with dd and ds2 who has finished nursery - keeping up with the pair of them has been challenging but very enjoyable.
Maisie has been great over the weekend which was fab because it was also my 30th birthday so we were able to go out for a meal with all of the kids - best pressie ever!
The advice given below re the blocked milk ducts worked for me - hope everyone suffering is feeling a little better today.

Hi girls,

Took ds to doc today as he was still really bunged up so thought I'd try and get him some of those drops some of you suggested, doc was happy to oblige so hopefully he should start clearing up again now.

Flame, yes I can't believe how much my stretchmarks itch, particularly the ones at the bottom of my stomach, I look like a mad woman unable to satisfy the itchiness sometimes! It's been over 2 weeks and they STILL itch!!

Having a bit of a moral dilemma too. I am currently bf and after a bad start it is going pretty well now - thing is I am so not enjoying the bf experience but it is not because it is uncomfortable or what not I just don't get the 'bonding' thing that is meant to be happening. I am also a little bit resentful about being constantly used as a milking achine - God, that sounds absolutely awful and I realise that as I am writing this. What I mean by it is that ds is a big boy and it seems whenever he is awake he is looking for a nipple to latch onto, it can be literally every 20mins sometimes, other times he'll sleep for a couple of hours but never much more. I'm pretty sure I am producing enough milk as he literally falls off the boob when he has had enough and it is dribbling out of his mouth. I just feel a bit like I can't have any time to myself because I am always in demand. I understand that this is the role of the mother etc etc but I am just getting a bit bogged down with it all.

Thing is I know breast is best and would like to continue to give him my milk but I am seriously thinking about switching him to the bottle. Does anyone know whether it would be possible to express enough milk for him to go on the bottle? Have spoken to mum about it today and she is behind me 100% if that is my decision as she says that I need to be happy with things too but I know DH and particularly his family will seriously frown upon me giving up giving breast. I know he is our baby and it is our decision but not sure if I'm strong enough at the moment to take the comments or looks I might get.

Oh I just don't know what to do. I feel so guilty because there are so many women who want to bf and can't and there's me wanting to jack it in when I have no medical need to. Sorry for the essay, just don't know what to do. Don't know if I am jeapadising my son's health for my convenience

Anyway, hope everyone else is ok.

Chloe55 - don't beat yourself up about the feeding thing. I'd start up a new thread asking for advice - mind you mners probably won't be impartial.

Don't worry about the bonding experience thing - everyone is different. I can't really offer advice about giving expressed milk - I had a friend who had twins and she did so it can be done - I'm sure someone like Tiktok could give advice. HTH

At the moment, my concerns re feeding are am I feeding enough as dd2 is another sleepy baby and I have to wake her up - apart from during the night when she can wake herself up - strange that!

Mw is coming on Weds to weigh dd2 so hopefully she has got back up to her birth weight or I will be on here - wailing!

Thanks hotmama - think I will start a new thread and no doubt wait for all the sh*t that I will inevitably get by some people!

Hope your little one has gained weight when the mw comes, I think mine has gained about 3 stone!

Chloe, I can't find your other thread so I hope you manage to pick this up from here.

Whatever decision you make is 100% right for you and Oscar and there is nothing or nobody who can argue with that. You have done the BF for a couple of weeks which is far more then some woman do. The problem is there is so much of an opinion out there about what you should and shouldn't do but the fact is the decision you make, whatever it is, is right. I had the same dilemma but because DD was not gaining weight so after many tears and me feeling like I had failed, I introduced a comp bottle feed. I BF as usual but I only do it every 3 hours so if DD is hungary after her initial BF then I top up with a bottle...and this has worked very well for us. It can work well to breast and bottle mix and some would argue that if you can master it, your life will be much easier in the long run (for example if you are not well, you DH can take over with ease and leave you time to recover).

All I can say is you don't have to exclusivly feed one way or the other, you can mix feed if that makes you feel better. But it is your choice if you switch to bottle and I would argue that nobody else has any business in your decision.

Good luck, I hope it works out for you, whatever you decide! XX

Hello, I'm butting in even tho my baby is never coming out

Want to echo what tictac said chloe, it really is up to you. I breast fed ds1 for 11mths and loved it it was wonderful and I was one of those annoying people who thought that everyome should do it as it had been so good for us. But then I had ds2...... I really struggled with feeding him, topped up from a few weeks (felt guilty) and had mastitis(sp?) 5or 6 times and couldn't stop feeding as everytime i tried to drop a feed it came back.
With ds1 I felt really close to him and had all of the bonding feelings but it just wasn't the same with ds2, I felt none of the lovely warm fuzzy feelings that I had first time, I blamed a lot of it on the c-sec but I don't know why really.

I guess I'm trying to say you are not alone, it is as normal a feeling as loving it.
I would add tho that the first few weeks can feel like it is constant but they do settle down into a routine, ds1 was constantly feeding for about the first month, then fed all evening for the next couple but he slept through from early so it worked for me.
You have to do what works for you, Oscar needs a happy mummy and don't worry what other people think.
I am intending to try again with this one as when it's working for you both it is wonderful, plus hate the idea of getting out of bed to warm bottles, even ds2 never had bottles in the night, much too lazy

Sorry such a huge waffle, hope a little helpful:)

Chloe - just want to say -whatever you choose will be OK for you and Oscar - with dd1 I gave her 1 bottle of formula per day from about 6 weeks - that meant dh could feed her and give me a break. Lots of people will say that it affects your supply etc etc but we did it until she was about 8 months old and it worked for us - so that may be another option.
It is a hard decision - I have to say that for me switching to bottles was a relief - I was in serious danger of turning into a complete wreck - and I wasn't going to be able to look afer any of the girls. Now that dh does some feeds when he is not at work makes my life so much easier.

Hiya Chloe - pretty much what the others have said... you being happy is the most important thing. I know there is at least one mum on here (kicking myself for forgetting her name) who's child has only had breastmilk... always bottlefed though. It can be done.

Hormones have kicked in nicely and I'm having a tearful day :( DH seems to be of the opinion that because I am at home, I don't need looking after at all... with DD I was still in hospital at the moment, people feeding me etc - at home its a case of feed myself unless I ask, and then it sounds like i'm nagging, the kitchen is always covered in tea (wiping surfaces seems to be impossible??) . I just feel a bit unloved.

Hi girls,

Thanks for your kind words, spoke to Dh last night about how I was feeling and he has been very supportive. We have decided to take just one day, even one feed at a time and see how I feel. I have expressed today and put the milk in the freezer (3&1/2oz) ready for a rainy day - I will keep doing this everyday to build up a supply. Does anyone know if that amount of milk is sufficient for one feed - I know it is hard to tell as all babies are different but just not sure about measurements etc seeing as though I have no idea how much ds takes from the breast.

Mum mentioned I might be producing enough milk but it may not be strong enough hence the amount ds demands it, that happened with her and my bro - she then had to top up with formula, I might have to consider that as an option if this is the case, does anyone know if there is any way to tell?

Flame - on about my 4/5/6 day I was practically in tears all the time, I think sometimes it gets quite lonely because although you have visitors galore everyone seems to be interested in the baby and you get pushed to the side. DH was excellent at helping out with housework etc but sometimes I just felt so sad but happy and overwhelmed at the same time, it was worse than PMT and such a weird feeling. I still get a little like that but not as extreme now, hopefully your emotions will start regulating in a couple of days. Keep your chin up

Hi guys!
Please tell me it's normal for newborns to spend awake times happily gazing around and being adorable, then all night waking themselves up crying?!

Does it get better when proper milk comes in?

\link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1370&threadid=150978&stamp=060301012534\birth story here}

PS Think I forgot to mention she was 8lb 13oz

Huge congrats Thell - sounds like a good birth all in all.

The night thing sounds about right - it does certainly get easier when milk comes in and you feel you have enough to satisfy them.

Flame - i know what you mean re dh - the other day mine came in with his own lunch but nothing for me and then asked looking surprised if i wanted some!! He did make some for me but only once he'd eaten his own. He has only changed one nappy too this time - with ds he did lots!

Am feeling a bit down at the mo - think it is just being rather house bond with all the feeding and having to look after ds too - who is being good,thank gopodness for five hours of school per day but on Thursdays i have him at home on our own as ds had Thurs/Fri weekend and dh Fri/Sat - don't ask it's a middle eastern thing! and we can't leave the house until the pm with the feeding and sleeping of dd and as it still takes 45 mins to an hour for the feed i can't really do it when i'm out with ds i don't think he would stand for waiting for me and also i leak a lot out of the other side so use the breast cups and you can't really do that in public! Am meeting a friend for an early lunch today before we pick the children up from school when dd should be asleep so that will be nice ( as long as dd does sleep!). Sorry for long whinge.

feeling very proud of myself - yesterday I managed to get all 3 girls dressed and into the car and into toddlers by 10.15am!! and had managed to time feeds so I didn't need to feed the babies whilst we were out! Emily was very good and slept all morning and Jess woke up to join in the singing!
Have had acuple of not so great nights - feeding every 3 hours and not setling very well or waking up wanting cuddles - not very helpful for a mummy and daddy who want to sleep. On the up side dd1 has slept until 6am for the last 2 mornings - much more civilised than 5am!
Congratulations Thell - what a beautiful name! The waking sounds normal - but it should get better!
Flame - I spent the first 2 weeks in tears for one reason or another - usually wondering how I would cope when dh went back to work.

Morning girls,

ds decided to get up at 5am this am too, decided to go against the 'proper' thing to do and let dh give him the expressed breastmilk via bottle, i had been told to wait til he was 4 weeks but what the hell. Anyway, pleased to say that he took to the bottle instantly and guzzled the lot. Didn't really help with my sleep though as i had to top him up on the breast - guess i just need to express more, i have such a greedy baby!

Sally is gorgeous Thell!

Morning everyone - and congrats to Thells!

Re: the sleeping. Dd2 was a nightmare last week and was awake from 12 to 3 for 3 nights on a trot - hopefully was just a growth spurt. However, she fed really well yesterday and slept .... wait for it .... from 11.30 until 6.30 - a night of sleep - what bliss! I have already fed her twice this morning so if she wants to feed all day and sleep all night then that is just fine with me!

I'm waiting for the mw - so hopefully dd2 has got back to her birthweight - will post later to update.

My nips no longer seem to be shredded - thank the Lord for whomever invented Laninsoh!

I'm with you re taking every day and feed at a time - some are better than others aren't they?

Hopefully, we are beginning to get a bit of 'normality' back into our lives so we can start posting again.

Blimey it's hard finding time to post these days!

Quick update on us...
H/v visited Monday - weight up to 9lb 9oz, so she's gained 7oz in a week - fab! Still slightly jaundiced though, so spent Monday afternoon at hospital so that incompetent new SHO could stab her lots of times in attempt to get blood to test. Results back yesterday and she's fine :).

Colic still bad, but after last night am planning on selling shares in Infacol in favour of colief! Bit of a faff having to mix with EBM, so she'll get a mixture of this and infacol, but just one dose before bed last night seemed to help us have the best night in ages. Fingers crossed it wasn't just a coincidence!

Group hugs for all those who are feeling down at the moment.

Thell - things likely to change when milk comes in, but if she gets colic then the adorable days and screaming nights will continue, so recommend getting some infacol in just in case!!

Hi all,

I have finally posted a birth annoucement...\link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?rn=21588&topicid=1370&threadid=151062&redir=21588\here}

Hugs to all those not feeling so good or not getting much sleep! Just think...teething will be on the way in a few short months and we can not sleep even more!

hello chaps.
sally really wouldn't settle last night - i was beginning to get really frustrated, as hadn't had much sleep since the birth. dh agreed to take her for a bit - and discovered she was quite content sucking his little finger! at about 6 this morning i boiled a couple of the newborn dummies i'd bought just-in-case, and we bought ourselves several hours of much needed sleep! phew!
she keeps making herself jump in her sleep still, but the dummy means she can comfort herself instead of getting upset (or endlessly tugging at my sore nips!)
absolute magic.

Thell - just a little tip - your milk will come in more/faster if you can grin and bear it and let her suckle on the breast for these first couple of days.

thanks tabs - i don't mind her suckling lots, and suspected it would be a good thing in the long run, but last night was ridiculous! she was on and off half of the night.

Well, seen the mw and dd2 has only put on 3ozs in a week but is only 1oz below her birth weight. I mentioned to the mw that dd2 is very snuffly especially in the evenings and that sometimes she gasps for air - worse when feeding. At this point, dd2 decided to be very snorty so the mw could see for herself.

Mw told me to contact the GP to get some saline drops to help dd2 breathe a little easier. Been to the GP to get the drops and they do seem to make breathing a little easier and she has fed quite well.

GP says that this often happens to babies born after a section as the mucus isn't squeezed out IYKWIM. Also, dd2 had her nose squashed against my pelvis - which couldn't have helped - poor little mite.

So hopefully, we will be having some more effective feeding before the hv sees dd2 on Monday etc.

Hotmama, my ds is having the same problem (?very quick delivery has a similar effect). Did I mention that he choked on it and started to turn blue shortly after we got home on Monday? Very scary! Took him back to hospital ( just glad I'm a third timer, and not a panicer), and he's fine now though.

Thell ds spent his whole first night gazing around him in wonder, (as did I) It was lovely... he not a screamer (so far) but doesn't sleep when I want him to yet.

I've posted the rest of my birth story \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?rn=39842&topicid=1370&threadid=151119&redir=39842\here}. When we give him a name, I'll let you know, but for now, he's boy.

I probably won't be back 'til next week now, as I have a house full this week, but if boy stays as settled as he has been so far, I should be able to check in regularly!

My milk came in last night - How long does it feel like you've got rocks on your chest for??????