August 2012 - sunny (ha!) summer babies

[ImissMiniPop]

they're starting to arrive, so here's our 'Due in August' post natal thread. To talk poo, pee, burping and everything else, too...

Here's link to antd-natal thread for those we'll be waiting for www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1511603-Due-in-August-Thread-Part-6

Have borrowed Needles list, which I'll start here, please feel free to add your details to it. I'm rubbish at list keeping, and hopefully Needles will be along to keep it updated :o

BIRTHS
tigger8 (?) DC? due 27/7/12, GIRL born 11/7/12
missjemima (?) DC2 BOY due 3/8/12, born 10/7/12
PoppySeed34 (34) DC1 BOY due 4/8/12, born 28/5/12

Another one here not considering any more.

I had a lovely pregnancy but the birth alone has put ms off. Not knowing if she was going to make it and constantly watching her little heart fight for 13 hours broke my heart. Neither I or dp can stomach the idea of that 13 hours again. Especially when we don't know for definite what happened x

ham, it starts off effecting a few feeds then maybe 3 then more and more. It might progress over months if i remember rightly with my first. I can't call it if Sandy has it or not but im just giving you a heads up incase he does. My biggest nightmare was the first 4.5 months of DS's life, going to doctors, health visitors,, feeding groups and not knowing why the hell my baby was screaming and not feeding properly and it getting worse and worse.

ham and minipop. Today I want to smash into a million pieces. Charlie was diagnosed with reflux at the docs and given omeprazole. Here I go again . I watch other mums feed there babies then just put them down.
I have only just been able to put him down for the first time today since 6am around an hour ago. He is only down because he is so exhuasted.
Im gutted, why me, why all 3? Is it my breast milk? Does it have battery acid in it?

I thought id loose my mind with DS 1, then my DD had it 10 times worse and I also ended up exhausted and ill and diagnosed with an under active thyroid.

It's hard to even tell myself this today but YOU DO FORGET. You totally forget and you WILL enjoy your baby soon enough. They get easier and easier and you fall more in love with them as they grow and give back more and more.

They are sooooo cute from 6 months on especially. Im not saying it takes 6 months but it is a milestone in how different things are by then. Sitting up, no more wind, screaming for no reason, breastfeeding every bloody minute of the day. You don't even have to change a nappy for hours - imagine that!

You may not believe it but I bet by the time they are 1 you will be sad the baby year is over and start thinking about number 2!! If I can after the shit time I had then you will too.

I also had terrible touch and go pregnancy and emergency section with my first and I was NEVER having more. By the time he was 2 I was dying to get pregnant again .

I have to admit, Charlie was an accident and Ive struggled to get my head round it but I know I will never look back in time.

signet The feelings you are having are so so normal and you will calm down - in about a year . It's your normal protective instinct. I used to have thought about people dropping him/her on concrete then get reallly anxious if anyone else was holding them [nuts]!

It's funny how the birth can totally affect you. I met up with an NCT friend today, and we'd both 'invested' a lot of energy into preparing for a natural birth - G&A and water birth being our ideal. She ended up having an emergency CS and I ended up with ventouse and repair surgery. Both children were absolutely fine.

Both of us were really upset at how different the births had been from our ideals, and I wonder if we put too much emphasis here on aiming for a more natural birth. I am planning on having more children, but will definitely be going for a more medicalised birth - bring on the epidural!

Nightfall It sounds like Theo is coming up to his growth spurt - the constant feeding is a real pain, isn't it? I don't know about formula feeding so can't really advise you.

Ben went to bed 30 minutes ago and there hasn't been a sound over the monitor since. I'm on my own tonight so I'm hoping it'll be a quiet one!

Quickchat what is omeprazole meant to do?

MiniPop has reflux, well GORD/GERD whatever you want to call it.

He's been on Gaviscon (did nothing), Ranitadine (absolute horrendous experience due to dr overdosing him and giving the poor mite three times what he should have been on, causing severe stomach cramps), he can't stomach it now (no pun intended!), so we stopped it.

He's now on Domperidon, which helps but he has trouble pooping, so it just causes him discomfort there as it speeds everything up, but he can't get the poop out, and he is also on omeprazole - but just sicks this back up as soon as I give it to him.

Hey everyone. We are doing good here. Sorry to hear everyone is having a hard time. Not had any real problems with jacob. Except last night I kept feeding him and falling a sleep myself so waking up a couple of hours later with him on me still all achey cos I was sitting up. Must be tired with two little ones.

Mil is down from today till monday but its my sisters birthday on sat and we had a crazy deliema about where and when we were going to go! And if mil amd sil were coming as well! Got very stressful and I thought I was going to cry but it was stupid cos its just cos I'm really tired! Feel like I upset my mum but I'm sure its fine really?

Would like to say yay! Am back to my pre pregnancy weight and have been for about a week an achievement after 4ish weeks I'd say! Still have a wobbly tummy and can't fit into my pre pregnancy jeans as my hips seem to be wider or maybe because I now have more fat around the belly area rather than elsewhere. Tho don't get too jelous as am still over weight. Come on bf help me lose my spare 2 stone.

That's amazing Suzie, I've still got 10lbs to go to hit my goal weight (but only 5 until my pre-pregnancy weight). Have my post-natal check today so hopefully they'll give me the go-ahead to do some exercise - although I'm not sure when I will get the chance and time to do it.

I feel like my ribs are wider than they used to be, and I've definitely got a lump of cartilidge or something just at the bottom of my breastbone that I definitely didn't have before. Will it go back to normal?

Ooops, baby waking up, better go!

Hmm not had a good night poor jacob is all snuffly with a cold which I seem to have and ds1 and dh but its not a bad one thank god just a bit sneezy and runny nose can still breathe through my nose and so can jacob sort of otherwise bf would be difficult!

Thanks gnomi I'm getting pleanty of excersise pushing a toddler and a baby up a massive hill. Live 5 mins from town down the hill but 10 mins or 15 with a double buggy back up the hill! Have not waited for my post natal check. Glad I didn't have a c-section or I think I would be stuck in the house with a toddler and a baby! Not good!

Hi everyone,

Sorry to hear some of you having a rough time wit LO's dont really have any advice im afraid, hope you manage to get some help though and start to enjoy this early stage.

Well done suzie for getting back to pre pregnancy size, im not sure what I weigh now as didnt weigh myself while pregnant or just after but I feel comfortable and can fit into my Topshop skinny jeans so im happy, not putting so much pressure on myself to lose weight this time as im just enjoying BF and sitting down alot :) belly went down more quickly this time but it's still all jelly like and not very attractive but oh well :) Cant stop eating atm either it's ridiculous.

Noah's 5 weeks old now I cant believe how quick it's going, had him weighed on Monday and he was 10lb 8oz! He's so adorable though with his little podgey face He's started smiling aswell which is so lovely and makes all the sleepless nights seem worth it. He's very clingy to me aswell which I expected with bf and is constantly gripping my hair, clothes or hand it's hard to get things done but I keep reminding myself that this stage doesnt last forever so just enjoying all the snuggles :)

Been out alot on my own with Noah this week which has been nice, stops me from pulling my hair out indoors and Noah just loves lying in his pram, thinking of going to a baby sensory class next Wednesday as feeling abit lonely sometimes as my friends babies are much older and there busy getting on with life at college and work etc and I would love to meet mums with babies the same age and bf etc feel very nervous though as im very shy but just going to force myself to go. Anyone else the same?

Hey guys glad it's not just me thinking of only having one. I guess it depends how everything pans out...will have to be mighty broody and I might note that the magic hormone that wipes all memory of Morning sickness didn't wipe it all out for me ;)

Good to hear you are well and enjoying being mums gnomi susie and bears

Thankfully the plot has been advanced for us as it was getting dire. Yesterday he barely pooed and he has been a poo after every feed kind of boy til now. He was screaming on the breast still and not feeding enough so went to the out of hours gp who referred him to the children's hospital just incase. He was fine and they prescribed lactulose for his constipation which was keeping him from sleeping and possibly causing the feeding issues. Also think he may have reflux but decided no point I giving something for that at the same time so they can work out if the lactulose works first. The good news is that I gave him it at 12 last night and he did a big poo lunch time and again just there. Funny.. He actually did the poo then started grinning like mad!! He has been more himself too has slept for 3 hours alone ths afternoon and feed twice with no fussing. He is feeding fussily now but it is the colicky time of day so hoping that will go later and he will be back to how he was just a bag of wind but at least getting things out and feeding properly!! I guess our feeding persistence has paid off though as he is now 11lbs 4oz! he definitley wasn't getting enought though as his fontanelle dipped a few times again. Was told if that happens I can give some water, which will help the constipation too so will do that this evening probably. It annoys me that if you say your baby is crying everyone is just like oh colic nothing unusual... I guess you have to trust yourself and know if your baby just isn't acting normally for him.

Started expressing too. Went out and got the medela mini electric it's great. I think my friends lactaline she lent me was done as it had no suction. So have manged to get about 1.5oz in about 10 mins a few times. Tell me those who do express, is that what your got at the start and how much is a full feed for a baby at this age?? I.e. how much do I need to get so I can go for a run without worrying this weekend.

Sandy spent his first time ever away from either me or DH as his gran took him for a walk in the sling for an hour. Im knackered from last night but just as sandy went to sleep today I got a tension headache matching my back to back labour in pain intensity. I think it's stress from all this as my face has broken out like a teenager too. Hoping to have a good weekend and get back on track now.

Sorry for the massive post, hope everyone has a great weekend

Glad things are back on track ham, interesting advice about giving some water. My Mum has always said to do that but other advice is bf babies don't need it. Don't think a bit of boiled water would do any harm so pleased your hospital agree :)

PS - there's a formula for the amount per feed. I *think its:

Weight (in grams) × 120 ÷ number of feeds per day.

If it was 8 feeds it would be about 80ml for Sandy's weight (you should check that though).

I think they advised it for if he was dehydrated, not feeding and constipated rather than just generally. Thanks for the formula lois I've no idea I'm terms of how many feeds a day as he has been all over the shop feeding up to every half hour at times eek! I'll make sure I'm only out for an hour or two so even if he has that and wants more I won't be long

ham I feel for you. I hope Gran takes him for lots more walks then .
Brilliant stuff sandy with the big poo. I hope he has had a tummy issue and that helps.

Charlie only poos every two days and considering how he feeds constantly im amazed at how little comes out. My DD had an explosive nappy after every feed - not fun either! I was swithering as to weather this was part of the problem too.

As I was saying yesterday, Charlie fed at 6am and apart from 2, 15 mins sessions of sleeping in the sling, he didn't sleep until 10pm that night . He screamed aaaaall day and night. Olivia, my 2 yr old DD is acting up big time too. She is so intense and demanding and never lets up. Im frazzled.

I gave him his first dose of Omeprazole yesterday tea time, although he screamed until 10pm he then slept until 2am, fed quickly (never happens) then fell straight back asleep again until 6am. I think it was exhaustion rather than the medicine working that quickly but fingers crossed. He has been screaming today and I still can't put him down but definitely less upset than before.

minipop Omeprazole is the best drug for reflux - and most expensive. It basically shuts down the amount of stomach acid being produced - which is the culprit causing all the pain.
As a baby with reflux can't hold their stomach acid down and it is coming up and burning the gullet, it stops the pain. It doesn't stop them being sick. It just means when the sick comes up it doesn't burn, it's harmless.

Domperidone is meant to stop them being sick. I didn't rate it with my other two, it didn't stop the sick and it also has more possible side effects.

Persevere with the omeprazole, it does work. Im sure some is still getting into his system but make sure they are increasing the dose with his weight, they tend to forget about that, you need to keep follow up appointments. He can have a surprisingly large dose. My DD was on 40mg by 3 months and I had to give it twice a day as the effects run out over 24 hours. So id give 20mg in the morning and 20 mg at tea time and that would make life so much easier.

I've had to put all of this into perspective today. A friend's husband dropped dead of a heart attack yesterday. They have a 5 yr old boy in my DS's year and a 10 yr old girl. My DH is very upset too as he has known him for 24 years and worked with him for 12.

Just in shock today and can't stop thinking about them, all of them. Apparently she still hasn't been able to tell the 5 yr old boy yet.

Im always a miserable cow on this, sorry. I am usually a cheery person but I seem to be using mumsnet to vent.

Ham, just a quickie as on phone but I aim for about 120ml or 4oz expressed for a feed. But suspect that will go up as E is v hungry. He weighs approx 8lbs 8oz-ish. I get about 50ml per boob in about 20mins (more in morning). Hth! X

Ham, Minipop has between 5-6 ounces per feed. I could never express that though, so well done. I gave just got all my running gear back from storage and can't wait to go for a run

Thanks quick I will stick with it, we are back at the hospital on monday so hopefully they can help us out. I just hope the drugs aren't doing any permanent damage to his stomach.

ham I agree with mrsmiggins 4oz always seemeed to be what ds1 had whenever I expressed. It doesn't seem to change with bf babies but depending on how long you are leaving lo if its for one feed I would provide 2 small bottles the 4oz ones. So you have ezxtra just in case.

Thanks all I've got 2 bottles of 3oz each stored. I've been expressing a bit, putting it I bottle in the fridge, next time expressing adding it to the original bottle. Is that ok? Was all sterilised. It seems to separate a bit is that normal? Not much just the thicker stuff goes to the top iyswim... Worrying myself now!

How much do babies sleep? Baby been awake since 12 noon until just now but being increasingly crying and twisty since 4 only settling on boob. Do you think she is over tired? Finally managed to get her to sleep now but she seems unsettled not sure if it's just because she was in a bit of a frenzy before dropping off. Bit of a shock this crying business last two days as she has been peace itself until now.

Doesn't help that when dp picks her up she stops crying immediately after a hour plus of me trying to calm her. Makes me feel just great that does

Still loving it though. Her little face makes my day

ham separating milk competely normal is the fat floating to the top this would happen with cows milk but its all homoganised these days which stops it happening.
Not sure about the adding I always managed to express 4oz at a time.

signet defo sounds over tired. Don't worry about your lo being calmer with dh this happens to me as well and its cos you smell of milk so they sometimes work themselves into a frenzy even if they are not hungry just cos they can smell the milk and want the boob for comfort.

ham it's fine to add expressed milk to the same container - but - it must be the same temperature, so you'd need too but the freshly expressed milk in fridge for a bit until it's the same temp, and then transfer. Before you do this, you need to swirl (not shake) the milk to mix the Fat back in before pouring into storage container.

expressed milk lasts 48hrs in fridge (store in back of fridge not in the door), so if you're adding to a big bottle it will only be as good as the oldest milk

Ie if you add milk that was expressed at 9pm tonight. To a bottle with milk from an expressing session at 9pm yesterday, it will count (storage wise) as from yesterday.

Hope that makes sense? :) sorry if you knew all of that - 6 weeks of NICU training for you there. Lol :

signet deffo sounds over tired. We're the other way round here, daddy is fun & play time so whenever my DP is trying to get Minipop to sleep it doesn't happen.

I went out the other night, Minipop cried non stop for 4 hours, I got home & had him fed & asleep in 30 mins - DP wasn't amused. I must just be boring & no fun..!

Hard day today, moan coming on...buggy tipped over whilst shopping today, tipped forward with car seat on it, she was asleep and her head fell forward and she stayed asleep so presumed she was fine. Day went well, fed, played, slept, etc, but now she has screamed from 5ish till DH drove round with her for 15 mins to get her to sleep at 9.30ish! V stressful. Hope she's ok, think if she wasn't she'd have displayed some other signs? She's had long happy periods today playing and think if she was in pain she wouldn't have done that?

Anyway, so sorry for all the reflux babies, it's horrid.

Thanks all. She is still flat out now laid on my chest cuddled up in a blanket. I think I'll be a regularly come running onto here in a panic for some words of wisdom !

tash oh dear how scary, it sounds to me like it's probably unrelated but I suppose it could be a sort of delayed reaction - like when you overdo something and it doesn't hurt till the next day? I'm sure you know this but keep a close eye on her and if you are worried take her to the doc/ a&e. Fingers crossed its nothing.

I gave Theo a dummy tonight (mam -from Asda) because I was hoping it would help with his constant need to suck (formula fed) and it worked a bit too well! He didn't suck it for a bit and then let it drop out of his mouth like I was expecting, he just keeps sucking! He didn't even wake for feeds (but we've woken him every 3hrs as normal) - does that sound odd?

On a separate note, after failing to breastfeed (official diagnosis: low milk production) I now feel like I'm failing to express. I express about 3 times a day and once in the night. I get maybe 80ml in a day which is just one feed for Theo, and he doesn't seem to find it satisfying so I wonder if is mostly fore-milk but can't seem to do anything about it. I just wonder if it's worth it? Maybe it's just 4am blues but I feel like I'm clinging on to the hope of breastfeeding in the future but clearly my milk is not increasing and it's quite depressing! Sorry for the moan, 4am blues...

Nightfall If you're exclusively expressing (and not bf, too) you need to express at lease 8 -10 times a day regular every three hours -especially overnight - to keep your supply going. There's lots of advice on www.kellymom.com it really helped me when I was trying to express for Minipop, especially this page - kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/supply-worries/low-supply/

Do you have an electric pump? That will help, too.

I had a nightmare with trying to bf, so minipop was fed expressed breast milk vua a bottle & I kept this up for 14 weeks before my milk supply vanished (I didn't get enough time to express)

I was put on domperidone for six weeks & also took fenugreek to help.

Good luck, I stopped expressing three weeks ago and Minipop is now fully FF.

Tash that sounds awful! Hope little one is ok, if she seems any different at all call NHS Direct or go to a&e. Poor thing, what pushchair do you have?