December 2011 - crying and grizzling (and that's just the mums!)

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FairyBayleaf DC1 EDD 6th Dec BORN 29th Sept Albert Elwyn 2lb 14oz
Tjuice DC2 EDD 21st November BORN 7th Nov Amaya Rose 3kg
Sevensevenseven DC2 EDD 20th Dec 25yo Southwold BORN 21st Nov Eva Rose 5lb 4oz
Girlwiththemouseyhair DC2 EDD 24th Nov Maggie Juliet BORN 25th Nov 8lb 9oz
YBR DC1 EDD 22nd Dec BORN 25th Nov (girl) 6lb 3.5oz
LittleBlueBoat(Cheeptrick) DC2 EDD 5th Dec 29yo S.Yorkshire BORN 26th Nov Hope Brynn Frances 8lb 9oz
Kri5ty DC1 EDD 13th Dec 26yo Manchester Boy BORN 29th Nov Saul Harrison 6lb 13oz
LauraSmurf DC1 EDD 3rd December Girl BORN 30th Nov
BeeMyBaby DC2 EDD 29th November 25yo Scotland BORN 1st Dec Safia Hawwa 7lb6oz
SoTiredOfTheWheelsOnTheBus DC2 EDD 7th December BORN 1st December Boy 8lbs5oz
Iggly DC2 EDD 2nd December South London BORN 2nd Dec (Girl) 8lb 1oz
Girlsyearapart DC4 EDD 6th December BORN 3rd Dec (Boy) 7lb 7oz
HoneyLovesCake DC1 EDD 2nd December Cornwall BORN 6th Dec Rocco Kaleb 8lb 14oz
Mmmmcheese DC2 EDD 25th December 32yo BORN 7th Dec (Girl) 7lb8oz
Itsybitsy08 DC2 EDD 6th December Boy BORN 9th Dec Kieran 8lb4oz
Msbuggywinkle DC3 EDD 13th December 27yo BORN 10th Dec Miranda 8lb6oz
OiMissus DC1 2 December, 39yo, Horwich, Bolton BORN 10th Dec (Boy) Alistair Jude 9lbs
jigglebum BORN 11 Dec Freya 7lbs
Pludophtherednosedreindeer (plupervert): DC2 EDD Dec 10 (Kent) BORN 12 Dec Helena 8lb 6oz (3.8kg)
NorthernChinchilla- EDD 19th December, BORN 12th Dec, Boy, 7lb 7oz
Jomouse DC1 EDD 2nd December 35yo London BORN 14 Dec (Girl) 5lb 8oz
Tyelperion DC1 EDD 3rd December 27yo Windsor BORN 14 Dec (boy) 9lb 8oz
KateM77: DC2 EDD Dec 10 34yo BORN 16 Dec Daniel James 8lb 6oz
BennyBenBear DC1 EDD 5th December Manchester/Bolton BORN 18 Dec Oliver Stephen Bolton 8lb 9oz
Kiteflying DC2 EDD 7 December 44yo Australia BORN 18 December (Girl) Lulu 8lb 14 oz
mopsytop DC1 EDD 25th December BORN 19 Dec 6lbs 11oz
AWomanCalledHorse DC1 EDD 22nd December BORN 21st December 7lbs 6oz (Boy)
Figgygal DC1 EDD 12 December 30yo Bath BORN 22 Dec Daniel James McMillan 9lb 4oz
Kitty5824 DC1 EDD 21st December 33 yo Manchester - Don't know BORN 23rd Dec, Boy, 7lb 14oz, Sebastian John
Aethelfleda DC3 EDD 27th December London BORN 3rd January, Albert Thomas William 8lb 10 oz
hawthers DC2 EDD 22nd December London 33yo BORN 28 December 7lb 4oz (boy)
LittleMissFlustered DC3 31st December BORN 6 Jan (boy)
hopeful1 BORN 6 Jan Noa Francie Kate 10lb 3oz
MissRee BORN 12 Jan 12 Freya Violet 7lb 7oz

figgy short-term solutions are that you could put him in a sling or baby carrier, go for a push in the buggy or a drive in the car. These generally settle babies and will at least give your wrists a rest. Longer-term I guess you want to work towards being able to put him down for daytime naps. You could try controlled crying. It's hard but does work and in not much time. I must confess I didn't try it in the daytime for DD until she was older though, and just indulged her desire for cuddles when she was small. DS is pretty good most days and will go down on his own - I think he's just got used to being put down as I have to give DD attention too and can't indulge constant cuddling. If he won't settle I usually bung him in the baby bjorn.

Great minds msb found those while randomly browsing ebay yesterday :) v. cute.

I'm finding bfing exhausting at the moment; don't know why but it feels like DS is sucking my energy out >_< I decided to stop taking my iron tablets so maybe it's that? Thought I'd be back to normal by now

figgy imho I don't think you can ruin a baby in the first few weeks; they do need lots of cuddles to feel secure so give yourself a break you've been doing everything right & have done a great job. I second Kate's sling idea; Rocco still won't nap during the day unless he's in arms but I know he needs the sleep as he'll go for hours if I'm holding him so the sling is very useful when I have jobs to do. I'm hoping he'll grow out of this stage; I figure they change their habits so frequently there's no need to try anything else unless it becomes a long term problem. Good luck!

thanks for the advice and link msb the thing is i can't find a time when it wouldn't be replacing a bf.

i'm not letting him go more than 2 hours in the day or 3 hours overnight between feeds so there really isn't a time when i'm not bfing or sleeping... i thought giving him the formula around 9pm could be an option and i'd express at the same time so that would sort of solve that issue but then last night he fed much less at teh feed after that from me because he was full most likely from the formula. the other thing i'm not clear on is if i'm expressing during the day and night to try to boost my supply, can i use this as part of the extra feed rather than formula? i'm thinking yes then at least it is more from me than from the powder so it should effect my supply less on the basis that my bm and the formula have similar calorific values. or is it possible that my bm is poor quality and that is why f isn;t gaining weight. have a call into the consultant to check this point.

just wish something would work now.

had the day from hell with ds1 who had an almighty 2 hour tantrum which culminated in him biting me on the bum (almost amusing in hindsight - def not at the time). i nearly completely lost it and had to call my mum to try to calm down as i was just being hit and pinched by ds1 (my previously angelic child). was utterly hideous and all because he was hungry but wouldn't eat. he eventually calmed down and he is having a nap but i'm slightly dreading him waking up.

def leaving a bigger gap between dc's next time - was trying to bf f at the same time with all the drs advice ringing in my ears of not to get stressed out - pah as if!

oh and the formula feed at 9pm is after he has had a bf. he is usually sleeping on the boob at that point so i figure it will be an additional feed as he is usually a-kipping

hawthers unless you are literally starving to death the quality of your milk is fine and you are right that as bm and ff contain the same amount of calories you should be fine to do part of the top up as expressed milk. I assume that the consultant is wanting to use this as a way to diagnose wether supply is the problem or not. a lactation consultant might be helpful, no one is better qualified in breast feeding, than a LC. Even a phone consultation might sort things for you. You are doing wonderfully, it is so disheartening when a LO doesn't gain as the charts demand, but you are working so hard, I know you will both get there!

Timing sounds good!

already have an lc on hand and we've been trying lots of things to increase my supply including expressing after every feed. am hoping if i can stuff this in as well then we might finally see a suitable gain. think the problem is that f falls asleep during a feed so never really 'finishes'/ tanks up as much as he could. i've tried stripping him off, tickling, picking up and winding, swapping sides etc but nothing seems to get him to that drunk on bm look. oh well onwards and onwards. just need to remember that he is well and home with me which is the important thing and more than i had with ds1.

Sorry this is not a "full" catch up, but I have to stasrt somewhere!

Re making up formula: when DS went onto growing up milk after12/13months, I kept a thermos of hot water ready outside his room, with the clean bottle (with some cooled boiled water in it) and measured-out powder, and that was generally cool/warm enough at the correct time; I could adjust the temp by ,ixing. Is that practical, for anyone interested?

figgygal, we had a stress this w/end, with DD not wanting to sleep st all, and spending lots of time sxcreeching asa result. I ended u "enforcing" mlots of sleep on Sun (2 car journeys, and a sling at aparty), and the sleep seemed to make her calm enough to sleep some more (over-tiredness is v disruptive to sleep!)

hawthers, that's a hoirrible situation with the tantrums. It;s not nice ot be made to feel incompetent (sorry, not calling you that, but it comes though clearly from your post, and I am also familiar with the sensation!), especially by such a small child. However, you're really not alone.

Teething and trying-to-poo thrashing going on here, too. No mastitis, though (touch wood), thank goodness. DD is sucking all the milk she can get, in her attempts to poo...

Mmmcheese, do you think the night problem could be the longer stretches in the day? I was doing some calculations this week, trying to work out why DD keeps feeding every 2 hours or so (and once you factor in the fact that a feed can be half an hour, plus winding, there's not much time left!). However, she's giving it longer at night - much longer, up to 7 hours, once! By contrast, DS was "better" in the day and was a right bugger at night (frequent wakings). Yet they both do/did 8 feeds in a day!

Freya had here first lot of jabs today , bless her, she shrieked the place down on the second needle. It was the loudest she has ever cried and she sounded so upset it made me cry too. I fed her after and she has been asleep ever since but I dont want her to sleep too long and miss a feed as she did so well last night and went from 945pm till 5 am and then 6-8am. I hope she does not react badly to the jabs, her brother always got ill afterwards.

Anyone else flipping pancakes shortly?! Ours will be done on our camping stove as kitchen still in pieces! Did manage to choose paint and flooring for it today though - getting there slowly

Flipping here later, too, jigglebum! I hope the camping stove works well: at least it is gas, so nice and controllable, not like induction heaters or electric hobs, which I am extremely incompetent with!

Pancake day last year was my last alcohol before I discovered I was pregnant. I gave up alcohol and coffee for Lent (bloody awful - it was a proper sacrifice, keenly felt at any time of day, for 40 days!) and was a bit gutted to realise that the alcohol ban would have to continue considerably longer!

Oh God those neckfolds! I wanted to die (OK, slight bit of hyperbole, but still) when I passed DS to my Mum, his neck 'lolled' slightly and exposed a pile of white gunk and rather red skin in one of those folds. A wipe and a bit of cream and it was fine, but I'm now neurotic about trying to get in there with DS' daily clean, to which he vocally objects.
So you lot rate those neckties then- should I also let some fall into my basket?

Sadly figgy I think it's entirely normal.
< rubs aching wrists and reaches for the paracetemol >
Our DS only goes to sleep when he's fed/bounced/carried/driven, which I think is pretty usual at this age. Re. putting him down, we found that DS was happiest on his change mat; if your DS is, or there's another place (in front of the TV even?!) then try leaving them there for slightly longer each time, 'bobbing by' and/or talking to him to reassure him you're still there?

And- white noise. We have a 'Prince Lionheart' bear bought by DMiL. The bear is 'orrible, and I have ditched am not using it, but the white noise box is fantastic. It reacts to touch and sound as well, so if they start off, so does the box. DS is using it as we speak!

9pm sounds good hawthers. So sorry you had a nightmare with DS1, you've done well to be already looking at it with slight amusement....hope he's not left a bruise there .

After his not sleeping at all during the day on Sunday, we've had two good days, albeit yesterday's painful interlude was not fun for anyone. At least when the analgesia had taken effect he ended the night sitting contentedly on DP, having his snack and watching Misfits! Today he's had TWO naps here, slept in the pram on the way into town, and has now gone down for another nap in his cot < swoons with delight >

Am I the only person who can't stand pancakes ?!

I don't like them, only doing them for the kids. Prefer a Yorkshire pudding any day of the week:o

Pancakes with cheese sauce and spinach currently being munched by the DDs. DP has a late night at work so we will have ours later, if I don't go to sleep first!

Oooh yes, a bowler's cap- a giant Yorkshire filled with mash, sossies or roast beef, boiled veg and gravy, dribble....

figgy DD was the same at one point, we just couldn't put her down at all. I think at one point she went 3 days without being held for l

figgy DD was the same at one point, we just couldn't put her down at all. I think at one point she went 3 days without being held for longer than 10 minutes. We had a random transformation at 12 weeks and she's like a different baby now, yours could be the same.

mopsy those of us that don't have to do night feeds are very fortunate, DS didn't drop his until 5 months, it's perfectly normal for her to still need one.

northern I just use a normal boots tubigrip support bandage, around £3! If I combine using it with taking high strength ibuprofen it normally clears up within 2 days.

Will try to catch up more later, DH thinks I'm getting ready to go out.

Pancakes no, but you can't beat a good crepe.

figgy Freya was the same but now I'm able to leave her in her jungle swing for extended periods of time as she coos and stares at the animals movings around on the mobile. I also wedge her sat upright on the sofa with a v-pillow for up to half hour or so before she gets bored. Perfect for doing some ironing etc in the living room!

I had the formula preparation conversation with my HV and she said that making formula in advance is fine provided you use it within 24 hours!

Ta seven, will go and invest.

And my little stoic potato of a baby, who smiles perhaps twice a day, has reserved his best, giggly, cheerful smiles for.........

......himself.
Lying on his playmat, with the mirror bit over him, happy as Larry.
Hmph, narcissist!

We are grump central this evening (well, DS is).

I've been cooking cloud pancakes one-handed while bouncing DS about to stop constant complaining. Cloud pancakes are like cloud gazing: swirl batter randomly about pan then try to guess what shape it is. Today we had moon pancake, puddle pancake, duckies and jellyfish.

Pancakes done for another year. They're dead easy but so very unfulfilling:/

Big spawns are in bed, feeding the small one then on with the prep for tomorrow. Taking them to eureka. If you hear of volcanic activity in Halifax, that'll be me blowing what's left of my fuse :o

I made all the pancakes, now husband is making the filling. Spinach, bacon and mushroom I think. Nom nom nom !

Pancakes for lunch here since DH had to go out before 1800 and I don't expect him back until after 2200. I'm winding up to telling him how beautifully well behaved she has been for me (fibber, moi?!) since I'm out tomorrow night.

plu it could be the longer stretches in the day that's the problem but as I'm ferrying DS around she ends up sleeping when we're in the pram or car or when I need to carry her around in the sling. DS was at the childminder today so have shoved boob in her face at every opportunity all day! Will see if that makes any difference to the night.

She's only doing small poos at the moment. I hope that means she's preparing to change to one poo a week which is what DS did at around 3 months!

We're doing pancakes tomorrow as ran out of eggs and couldn't be bothered didn't go shopping today.