Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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April 2012 newborns: the insomnia continues...

999 replies

LaTristesse · 07/04/2012 10:55

Hello fellow April mums. Following on from our lovely ante-natal threads, here's the first of the post-natal ones. Join us as we work out how to handle nappies, feeding, colic, crying and all things newborn, or just to celebrate the joys of a new baby!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
laughingGnomette · 14/06/2012 17:17

Hi ladies!
I'm finding that a vest below a tee shirt (pull tee shirt up and vest down) is working best for me (and my 36H whoppers!). I got an Isabella Oliver BF top from an NCT sale for a tenner and it works well but I find layering up just as good.
On the subject of breasts I think I've got a blocked duct. My left hand boob has suddenly become lumpy, hard and warmer than usual. I've massaged it with a hot pad and let DS feed for a bit. I then started pumping and I've got less than 1oz in an hour and it's feeling sore and still lumpy and swollen. Has anyone else had this? I hope I'm doing the right thing and it clears up quickly! Ouch!

marshmallowpies · 14/06/2012 17:28

I tried the pull vest down, pull top up technique but the boob was too big to pop out of the vest top, I couldn't squeeze it out of there!

Having breastfeeding cafes to go to nearby makes me feel I can feed in the open with more confidence. Also fed in the park under a tree...outdoors can be quite liberating if you can find a quiet corner!

HollyPockett · 14/06/2012 17:36

gnomette I had a locked duct a few weeks ago and got some great advice on here. I massaged my boob loads and repeatedly cvered it with a hot flannel, did this for ages. Also fed DD and pumped, found that I had to squeeze different parts of my boob to really get the milk moving. Went to bed and woke up back to normal

I also do the vest under top job. Can be a bit of a faff but as long as I'm comfy where I'm doing it, I don't notice

laughingGnomette · 14/06/2012 17:54

Thanks Holly! I'll keep at it! I've put DS back on the boob and he is suckling like a trooper (probably out of frustration). He's even giving it a bit of a massage with his hand :) hehe!

Bunsouttheoven · 14/06/2012 18:13

gnomette I've had mastitis & blocked ducts. Advice is the same for both basically.
-feed from sore side first

  • try & aim babies chin at the red spot if the is one
  • warm compress (soak a disposable nappy in warm water & apply to boob. It stays warmer for longer than a flannel & is soft.
  • take some ibuprofen
  • express a bit to make boob more comfortable if you can
  • feed feed feed as much as your baby will accept

If you start to feel unwell/fluey or get a fever you may need antibiotics.
Good luck

Another vest combo person here. I have bf anywhere & everywhere. Most people avert their eyes, if they don't like it look away.

Once an ex male colleague of mine was talking to me for about 15mins at a BBQ whilst I was bf my dd. Suddenly he realised & couldn't look at me. Said 'omg I didn't realise you were feeding, I should go'. I replied 'you have been openly checking out my tits at work for the last 10 years, why stop now?'Grin

UniPsychle · 14/06/2012 19:54

Grin buns i like your style girl! Wish i was witty enough to think of things like that, but they only come to me 2 hrs later.

Another vest down/top up feeder here. Hennes do some fab cheap and stretchy ones that you can adjust the straps on to help get your boob out. I like the boob tube idea tho, fliss as i am also concerned about tummy not nips.

Can i ask a daft question? What is the facebook group for? Is it different to this in some way? Sorry, i'm a bit stuck in the 20th century as far as social networking goes....

Thx for that link LaTriss, amazing how quickly their vision improves.

Flisspaps · 14/06/2012 21:23

Uni the difference really at the moment is that you can see pictures. What you'll find is eventually people will hardly post here as time goes on - maternity leave ends and RL takes back over, but Facebook means you all still stay in touch, and have more regular contact.

It's nice to have MN as somewhere completely private still though, although the FB group can only be seen by us, it's sometimes easier to ask about 'TMI' stuff (if there's such a thing!) where your photo isn't next to your question IYSWIM?

MumOfTheMoos · 14/06/2012 22:51

Hello,

I've just found this thread; my ds was born on 4th April and was 10 weeks old yesterday.

On the swimming thing, ds has been having water baiex swimming lessons (with dh) since he was 5.5 weeks old - there is something about very young ones needing a certain tmoteture of pool but no concerns re jabs etc.

I've been going along for dh moral support every week so far but have persuaded him to go without me this weekend - I'm going to use the time to sleep! :)

MumOfTheMoos · 14/06/2012 22:53

So sorry about the typos - using an iPad plus sleep deprived!

Jellybellyrbest · 15/06/2012 00:22

Buns; way to go!!! Bet he was REALLY uncomfortable then!!
I'm a feed wherever I have to woman, though ordinarily quite a modest no-cleavage or much skin on show woman. When I'm feeding I seem to be able to detach myself from the prudishness I'd normally feel. Am glad I can, cos b'feeding can be socially isolating otherwise. I know s'one who expressed every feed for the first few weeks & bottle fed her two babies with that milk cos she dreaded having to feed in front of anyone. She managed it for 5 weeks....v time consuming & difficult to do.

Laughing; hope the pain from that blocked duct is easing! Ouch.....

DH goes away Tom for a couple of nights for the first time since DD3 was born. He's usually away frequently & am used to it. However, typically our older DDs have a busy schedule over the next few days & am stressing about managing all of it on my own....shouldnt really feel daunted by 2 kiddies competitions & a birthday party, but there you go! Oh; & Fathers Day too!! (which the girls will want to celebrate with daddy, otherwise I could happily 'forget'. DH hates these commercialised celebrations & would also happily forgo it, but DDs would be heartbroken). Hayley & Vintage I take my hat off to you!

Hope all the LO having vaccines are ok. (can't check back as am on phone, but one LO having BCG :-(. Hope that wasn't too painful). Emily's had 2 upset evenings since & has sore raised lumps on her thighs (one on each), but ok otherwise. She could've been upset as she's overtired. Happy to report that she's slept 5-7 hours the past 4 nights (am almost afraid to write it down & tempt fate). This has affected her daytime sleep though; she's catnapping only in the day & by evening is KNACKERED. Could all change again next week.....am so grateful for the sleep though. Neither other DD slept through till after weaning...

HollyPockett · 15/06/2012 06:04

sleep related boast alert

Frankie has only just woken up after going to bed at 8pm. Yes, my 7 week old daughter slept for 10 hours! She woke up with the biggest smiles and is now guzzling her milk. The joke is that I went to bed at 10 and woke up at 2 and 4 to check on her! But good grief, I'd forgotten what 8 hours sleep feels like

I have no doubt that this is a fluke and I'll be back to a middle of the night feed tonight, but today I'm doing a victory dance :)

VintageNancy · 15/06/2012 06:19

Wooooo go Frankie! What's your secret Holly?

DH got home this evening after his week away so we're very happy Smile.

HollyPockett · 15/06/2012 07:04

She had a bath, massage (!) and feed then went down at 8. She's been doing the same all week but waking up at about 2am. She's also been really active in the daytime, really receptive to playing and chatting so I think I knackered her out. We did also spend 4 hours in Bluewater yesterday Blush

Hurrah to DH being back vintage

I'm dreading her having her injections, I've made DH take the day off so he can come with us. However, he's scared of needles so not entirely sure what help he's going to be ;)

Once these are done I really want to take her swimming. Just need to fins somewhere close that does baby lessons!

Jellybellyrbest · 15/06/2012 08:07

Brilliant Holly!! Vintage, am sure you're glad to have him back: it's a lovely feeling being back together again. Bet he sees a change in Emily-hope she giggles for him!

Irish Emily slept 00.00-06.45! Am really chuffed, and think she'd go down to bed for the night a little earlier if I was a bit more switched on. She still tends to be unsettled around 8/9 though so not as early as 8 Holly-that's amazing!

Has anyone noticed their LO getting clingy? It seems early for it, but DH convinced that Em gets upset when I leave the room & even when she's crying hysterically with him, if I take her she calms v quickly. Poor daddy's been v hands on with cuddles from the start & is feeling a little put out by this! I have notices it a bit during the day too; she gets upset if I'm not in sight.

Can't check back, but thx whoever put the vision link on-it's fascinating. Going to show my 2 older DC so they cab see what their little sister sees!

WhenDoISleep · 15/06/2012 08:55

Goodness me, it has been an age since I was on the post-natal thread!

As I posted on the last ante-natal thread, DS2 was born on 4 May - he is six weeks old today, making him the youngest of the April-due babies.

My labour started exactly the same as DS1 (show and massive contraction at 6am) but then DS1 got up and started having a massive tantrum, so my body shut down completely. At this point I was so tearful and fed-up (had also had some promising contractions the previous night that stopped due to a careless comment by a family member the it wasn't convenient (for them) for me to have the baby the/the next day), that I considered phoning the maternity unit and asking if I could go in to be induced.

Anyway, I calmed down/DS1 calmed down and I suddenly had a couple of really strong contractions 10 mins apart. Thought I had a good while to go, thought I would deliver that evening (was currently around 1pm), when I had a contraction 6-7mins after the previous one and a strong desire to sit on the loo. That was a position that had really helped when labouring with DS1. Anyway, whilst stitching on the loo I felt really funny and thought I was going to be sick. Later realised that I was going through transition, but at the time just thought I wasn't going to cope. Made it back to the bedroom, but contractions were now coming thick and fast every 2-3mins (everything had suddenly just gone to warp speed).

DH was downstairs with DS, keeping him calm. Unknown to me he was timing things and had spoken to the maternity ward and had been told to bring me in - the only problem was that we were waiting for someone to come and look after DS1. Once they arrived we set off, but what I didn't tell DH was that I had felt the baby drop at the top of the stairs tried to get down to go to the car and that I felt I could push him out - he is a new driver and really was nervous enough without that knowledge! Anyway, managed to hang on without pushing for the 20 mins journey and then the 5 mins that it took to get to the maternity unit from the car (were lucky enough to park right outside) but it was a seriously close thing. I made it to a room in the MLU, got my shoes and jeans off, two pushes and DS2 was on my chest.

He weighed in at 8lb 4.5oz. We stayed on the MLU whilst waiting for a bed on post-natal (DS2 had passed meconium so hospital policy was we needed to stay for 24hrs, otherwise we would have gone home the same evening). During the evening before we moved there were concerns about DS2s breathing, so he was taken to NICU. It turned that he had an infection, which meant he needed ABs, which led to a 6 day / 5 night stay on post-natal for the both of us.

WhenDoISleep · 15/06/2012 09:22

(posting this in two parts before I lose my previous post).

Post-natal was as bad as I had thought it would be - we tried to arrange a private amenity room, but there were none available, so i was on a 4-bed ward. MW / MSA care was variable, breastfeeding advice was dire (listening to what was said to others) and formula was really pushed if the baby seemed hungry. This was on a ward with higher levels of care than standard post-natal ward, as everyone needed extra care - either babies due to infections etc. or mums due to CS or instrumental deliveries. I was really upset one evening by a support worker suggesting I was failing my son as he had lost 8% of birth weight on day 3 - my milk was only just coming in at that point and he was fighting an infection and jaundice.

DS2 had ABs every 12 hours but got sicker before he started to get better - he had a couple of trips back to NICU, lots of blood tests and, at one point, the doctors thought he might have meningitis, so he had a lumbar puncture. Through it all he was so good. Thankfully the ABs worked and we managed to escape home at 8pm, 6 days after he was born. I was thankful to get out at that point as I had not been able to see DS1, as he had been really ill since the day DS2 was born, and had only been able to see DH briefly twice a day over the weekend/BH and not at all until the evening on the Tuesday as we have no local childcare.

My labour was officially recorded at 2hrs 4 mins with a small 1st deg tear, but if I had pushed when I wanted to at home I suspect we would only have just hit 1hr! I ended up with some of the things on my birth plan (but by accident rather than design) - stayed mobile walking around at home, no pain relief, and delivered on MLU. Everything else, birth pool, DH to cut the cord, etc went out of the window.

DS2 is thriving and probably weighs about 11.5lbs (hasn't been weighed since 2weeks old, apart from with me on the scales), and is generally a calm baby, apart from when dealing with wind. I'm also wondering if he may have a touch of reflux as he brings up quite a bit after every feed.

I have been reading and hope to catch up with how the rest of the mums/babies are doing by the start of the next thread!

laughingGnomette · 15/06/2012 09:49

Buns - thanks so much for taking the time to provide the advice on the blocked duct. I had a hot shower after DP got home and gave it a good massage, then DS had another suckle. About halfway through the feed, he came off the boob and I noticed that the milk was spraying out - even got DS in the eye(!). By the end of the feed the lumps had gone so I think I must have solved the problem! :)

Holly - wowee!!! That's amazing! Congratulations :)

WhenDoISleep - my DS was also born on May 4th! (was due April 28th). Happy six week birthday to your LO. I'm so sorry you went through such a hard time after the birth, its great to hear that he is now doing so well.

I'm off to get DS weighed this morning. I've started dressing him in some 3-6 month vests and they don't look too ridiculous so I'm expecting he has put on a fair bit!

digitalgirl · 15/06/2012 09:57

Wow whendoisleep that is an incredible birth story. Sorry the post-natal side of things wasn't too great, but glad ds2 has recovered and is thriving now.

F managed to hold on till 3:30 last night after we both went to sleep at 9:30 (shame ds1 screamed the house down at 1am). He's also a brilliant self-settler, which again ds1 isn't (still). So feeling quite refreshed today. Smile

Flisspaps · 15/06/2012 11:30

Gnomette thank God I'm not the only one dressing a baby in 3-6 month clothes. DS is filling them rather well, but that's to be expected I suppose. Might stick him on the scales in his carrycot later, get an idea of what he weighs...

katieelh · 15/06/2012 12:44

Whendoisleep, that is quite a birth story. I'm glad he is ok now.
Wow doesn't time fly so fast with a baby, Francesca was 10 weeks yesterday and I just can't believe it. Im finding it really exhausting with all the other children's after school activities, I nearly cried with joy when ds2's speech therapist called to pp today's app- it means I get a whole evening off!! Which is a total bonus as we have a football tournament tomorrow to prepare for, dh is the manager so we have to get all the stuff together.
Is anyone worried their babies are putting on to much weight? Francesca's 3-6 month vest are getting tight but I can't get my head around moving her on the 6-9 clothes at 10 weeks but she is just so big and gaining close to half a pound a week.

Jellybellyrbest · 15/06/2012 13:38

Also in 3-6mths stuff here...Emily is weighing in similarly to what her big sisters weighed at 3 mths! The first thing people say when they see her is 'ooh she's big isn't she?'. I love the rolls around her elbows & thighs! It's not worrying me ATM Katieelh, except for when she refuses to be put down (3rd day in a row...). My back's beginning to protest.
Good luck with the football organising BTW!

I'm also baulking at the after school & school stuff..our LO finish school 29th June, so Sports Day/non uniform days etc are looming. So much out of routine I'm panicking I'll forget things! Tonight we have gymnastics display & thk goodness DSIL has volunteered to take DD 1 & 2 to their dance comp Tom (it's 1.5hrs away Inc a ferry trip). A bit gutted cos I'd love to see them dance, but DH away for w'end & just don't know how I'd manage ATM, as Em won't be set down at all. Also: the weathers awful & would rather us all just cosy up in front of the fire TBH!

When; what a short labour..glad all ok & DS got over his illness. Tough start for you all. Horrible being away from your older DC too am sure. Was your first labour fast??

LaTristesse · 15/06/2012 14:49

Holly not sure how far it is from you but we did baby lessons at Cropk Log in Bexleyheath. Loads of different time slots to choose from and small class sizes. DS really enjoyed it.

OP posts:
kat1885 · 15/06/2012 15:20

When I thought my 4hrs was short, wow that was quick. Sorry to hear you lo was poorly after though.

A is still in 0-3 at the moment but don't think he will be for another 6 weeks! Maybe baby clothes are getting smaller its nothing to do with the fact he is guzzling 6oz milk each feed.

Went to the children's floor of our city library today. Loads of mums bf and I had a pang of jealousy and sadness that it didn't work for us (not that I could on my medication now anyway).

Flisspaps · 15/06/2012 15:40

We need a new thread, we can only have 1001 posts!

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