October 2012 babies - we meet them at last!

[YompingJo]

Getting thread in place in readiness!

Crazy I am no help to you here - but having the same problem to a lesser degree Bean was 3 weeks yesterday and I am still bleeding reddish-pink blood, thought it would have been gone by now. I can get away with those Always Dailies panty liner things (does anyone else want to boke at the name 'panty liner' - so fecking twee!!!) but wish it would hurry up and stop! Let me know what they say. Oh - and mine stopped completely after about 6 days - only to return a few days later so maybe it comes out in its own time?! Elpis / Cwest / any other CS ladies from 3 weeks ago - want to share your lochia loss?! :)

Yomping your gift sounds lovely :) One really useful thing I have discovered is giant Muslins for swaddling - the one I have is by Weegoamigo, can get them online or at a baby shop miles away from us. It was about a tenner in the shop.

Orange we have bepanthyn (sp?!) too, it seemed to do the job when we got it. SIL got it for us.

Smiley did you try your sling yet? We have two second hand types - a kari me (basically same as Moby) and a Baby Bjorn. Had longish walk yesterday but couldn't manage buggy / carrycot yet as it's quite hilly here so MIL pushed. Was thinking about trying the sling but not sure how abdomen will take it...

Breast pump and 'Miracle Blanket' swaddle have arrived. Swaddling is our salvation - the only thing that brings the bean back from the nightly 'arms flailing, back arching, windy, colicy, agonised screaming' mentalist session It's like good voodoo!!! Swaddle, put her on side, do the ssshhhhh loudly in her ear while jiggling her a little - within 3 mins she is out for the count. MIL took her last night for us to sleep between night feeds and bean was hysterical so I went up and worked the magic. MIL couldn't believe it and this is a woman with nearly 50 years of baby experience. Magic I tell ya!!!

X-posted Orange glad it worked :) SIL got it for us and she has 3 kids so knows her baby potions...! I'd never even heard of it before!

marks spot and kicks somebodies cat out of babies Moses basket

Managed to get a few hours "sleep" tonight. Still having contractions about 8 to 10 min apart and feel a bit Crampy. Going to try and go back to sleep now and then go for a walk in the morning to see if I can speed things up at all.
Hope to join you all soon!

La la la, don't mind me, just restocking cupboards with biscuits and cake and having a quick dust and hoover, suspect some more might be joining you soon (not me, you understand, this baby is claiming squatter's rights on my uterus and is going to need an eviction order...)

Pops in, has a biscuit. Waves with cannula In my wrist and shows off lovely master Midget the singularly most chilled baby in the universe for now

Way to go, midget!

Product recommendations: In NICU (where I assume they REALLY know what they are doing!) they use:

Cotton and water for baby bottoms
Bepanthen for nappy rash
Medela breast pumps
Aptimel formula

Hope that helps!

Hey lovelies

I am still enjoying time with my mum who takes Jess every time she falls asleep - I am much better rested especially in the day. Jess sleeps beautifully most of the day and until about 2am and then ... she doesn't cry or anything, but she just loudly SNUFFLES and WAVES ARMS and WHINGES until about 10am... it is exhausting and I don't know what to do with her at that time. She wants feeding but only feeds for a few minutes before either choking or falling asleep very briefly... she really just wants holding and rocking but I am a bit exhausted after doing it for hours on end in the night... any suggestions or do I just need to sleep when she sleeps and accept I'll be getting up at 3am from now on??

We went for her hearing test at the hospital today and then for lunch in a cafe afterwards. It was four hours in the sling and she slept for the entire thing, so my carefully packed changing bag and carefully constructed breastfeeding outfit weren't even needed. I am a big fan of slings. (Though I think I probably need a pushchair as well and cannot face the research. Someone tell me what to buy... has to be lightweight, small, will only use it occasionally when sling not suitable... don't want to spend millions and will prob look for it second hand on ebay)

I am 17 days postpartum and definitely "on the mend". Managed a postnatal workout dvd yesterday (it was gentle), haven't bled for 24 hours (though like crazypaving bleeding did nearly stop at 10 days, but then re-started)... I could do my pre-preg jeans up this morning! My mum says I don't look like I've recently given birth at all... well all that healthy eating/exercise during pregnancy must have been good for something! I even, ahem, managed a wank this afternoon in bed, first one since giving birth (that is the longest I have gone without some self love since I was about 14!) Think I want to wait a week or two for sex though.

This has wandered into self absorbed TMI so I will stop and do a catch up instead.

Angelico you seem like the expert in soothing babies now! Does white noise bother you, can you hear it (sorry if stupid question). I was swaddling baby squid at first but then worried she was too hot so have stopped. Perhaps I could try with a lighter weight cloth though, I was using a fleece.

Wantanorange congrats on wellfed, sleeping baby! i agree the reusable nappies comment seems very stupid. I have a stash of reusables to try but still on disposables at the moment, only attempting to learn one skill at a time. Also the reusables look too big for a newborn, though baby is rapidly growing (now too big for her dino-suit which fitted her perfectly at birth, sob! how is she growing up already?)
Glad the creams advised on here worked for you.

crazypaving I have not had a day alone yet either (monday will be the first, am very scared!)

HI MIDGETM!!

Has anyone heard from fjordmor? Am worried about her :(

YompingJo Bath soak? What's one of those? Oh, the things I give DS and DD. Chocolate good. Any food good, especially M&S food hall variety.

midget Congratulations! Pic soon?

Angelico I bled for six weeks last time - GP said that was normal. I too bleed on and off. Read somewhere that if lochia became redder and heavier again it was a sign you were doing too much and should slow down. As if I have a choice! Did preschool drop off and pick up today (four buses, all with DS in a sling), took DD to playground, queued in post office with them both, cooked lunch and breakfast, did laundry load, sorted out newborn hearing appointment, cleaned out revolting food waste bin, breastfed every half hour or so, stroked and patted colicky DS for two hours, will make dinner tonight for us all - seriously, how do I 'slow down'?

Here endeth the complaint...

squidkid I've had some success with holding both DCs on my chest, tummy down and head tilted to one side, when they get fractious for no apparent reason. Obviously it's cosy snuggled in a cleavage and you can stroke their backs and nap a bit yourself, or read. Top-quality sleep obviously impossible but it sometimes halts the flailing.

Squid I find reusables can be bulky on newborn. I have a few called Lil' Joeys which are actually designed for prem babies but good for the first few weeks. I see no reason why GP would assume they are the problem.

DD is growing to fast, they dont stay squidgey long enough!

I've dug out my pre pregnancy clothes and they fit! I just need some warm tops that are suitable for BF now. I really feel the cold wuss.

Quick check in - congrats to Midget on DS!!! :o

Squid I use a muslin swaddle which is nice and light - the Weegoamigo one mentioned upthread. Only put a single layer of crocheted blanket over the top even at night and just set it on her rather than tucking it in. Keeps her just perfectly warm but then it is quite cool here being oooop north. Do swaddle - it will really help as the arm waving is what keeps our bean awake and the swaddling stops it. She screams bloody murder while being swaddled, then as soon as it's done she lies in a happy daze! White noise - I can hear it even through earplugs so tend to use it more during day time or before we are in bed to let her get to sleep. At night I just do the ssssssshhhhhhh loudly 6 inches away from her ear. Great that your mum is helping out :) Ask her how I can make bean less windy, will ya?! She is RIPPLING with wind again today Thought BFing was meant to be better. Honestly don't know if it is how she latches or what.

Elpis good to know about the 6 weeks for lochia - thanks! MW had me worried it was abnormal!

First day alone for me tomorrow!!! Aaarrrggghhhhhh!!! Friday am cheating and have a friend calling. Had visitors today and it really does throw Bean out of routine It is lovely to see everyone so happy when they see her but then we are left with bad-tempered baby for rest of the day. She is totally exhausted now so going to swaddle her this evening so she can catch up on nap time, she has just cat-napped on and off all afternoon. How are you all handling visitors? Is it normal to feel like just locking the door and keeping the world away for a few days?!

Oh - and friend posted this link on my FB - very funny! Apologies - it's a Daily Mail link - but taken from a parenting blog so not the usual mixture of bile and hatred: New Parent Test: are you ready to be a parent? Might post it on AN thread too...

Yay I can join! Imogen Rose born at 4am this morning. Very happy! Feeding well but nipples already sore- any tips?!

Congrats again lizzie :) If you are still in hospital get MWs to help you as much as poss with breastfeeding and make sure bean opens her mouth really wide and grabs loads of boob rather than just nipple. Our bean is a great feeder but I have noticed she gets lazy especially when she's sleepy and just slurps on the nipple so I always open her mouth and relatch to save later agony. Good luck! :) ps ask for lansinoh sample if you need it - I haven't used it since but did use it in hospital - seems to help some people.

Congratulations lizzie and midget! Brilliant news!

DS2 is 2wks today, and the sleepless nights are starting to feel like a bit of a grind. And we've still got months to go! Struggling not to snap at DH Poor DS1 is still wandering around looking like a miserable zombie - totally exhausted. Not sure if it's cos he's going through a growth spurt, a massive language expansion, an emotional upheaval, not sleeping well, or a combination of all of the above. Anyway, enough of my guilt...

Angelico interesting to read about all the S's. I've been doing the swaddle, side, LOUD SHHHHHHH and bounce/pat with DS - it works more often than other stuff. Seem to remember doing it with DS1 too - never knew it had a name!

I've got a lovely friend who came on Tues and is coming again on Fri to help with both the boys. She is amazing (has 4 boys of her own, eacha year apart ) and is really helping BUT she wears really heavy perfume and when she holds the baby he stinks of her. That probably sounds incredibly petty and ungrateful but my sense of smell is off teh charts at the moment and his smell is really important to me. Can't bear him smelling of her realy strong perfume! Need to just get over it... She bought DS1 an amazing train set which he loves, and consequently thinks she's the best thing ever. Just wish we had a bigger house so I wasn't constantly tripping over the damn thing...anyway, enough moaning crazy!!

Taking DS2 to the feeding clinic today to try to sort out his windy clicky latch. Damn wind, the bane of so many of our lives! Still, the noisy sheep (as DS1 calls it) seems to soothe a lot of that away - still loving teh sheep!

Squid, for bfing related stuff, check out kellymom - it has lots and lots of really really good info. Used it a lot in the past.

Crazy I would love to get to feeding clinic to see if they can help with wind - any tips pass them on please! I still can't drive there

Bad night last night - think I overdid it yesterday and was quite sore so when it came for time to settle bean after 5 am feed I just couldn't swaddle her and do the jiggly bouncy thing to settle her. DH tired and can't do it properly so she lay in basket fussing and whimpering for an hour and a half till I was crying with tiredness and terror of managing today alone, sore and exhausted :( Redeemed herself slightly by letting me doze from 7.30 till 9 but am fucking knackered. She is now asleep in living room after morning feed so I am going to try and wheel her into bedroom and go back to sleep.

MIL away home and I will really miss her, she is so kind and helpful. Here's to all fab PIL

My mum goes home to Australia in an hour!

WAAAAAAAAA!!!!

(In all seriousness, I am well upset. Crying everywhere.)

Joining in on the amazing mothers front.. mine has been here since Monday... is leaving tomorrow, wail! Last night she took baby at 3am, managed to soothe her to sleep and let me and boyfriend sleep/snuggle till 7.30am with just one waking for feed! Then she cleaned my whole flat. Claims she enjoys doing all this. Keeps gving me time to have baths, do exercise dvds, cook, feel human! Then when I do go back to baby squid I love her rather than feeling desperate and useless! I DON'T WANT HER TO GO!

Completely forgot to say: Elpis you are either a. superwoman or b. utterly bonkers. Can't believe how much you're managing to do, lots of respect from me.

Failed to go to bfing clinic today because I simply couldn't be bothered DH won't be impressed - he was trusting in it to sort out our nights of baby with sore tummy. I did however manage to get to the shop with baby in moby wrap to get milk. Baby screamed in house, quiet outside and in shop, and screamed again when back home. What's that all about? Was really hoping to use the moby at home so I have hands free for DS1, but it ain't looking good....should i just persist?

Not sure whether I should tell you this. Breaks my rule on separating RL and Mumsnet. But I may well be on C4 News tonight. They wanted someone prepared to breastfeed on TV. Hope I was discreet enough. DD loved the studio...

Thanks crazypaving - so sweet of you! Can't believe I did the TV thing WITHOUT ANY MAKEUP (because I was in a hurry and looking after DD and DS) or that I told you ladies about it... They wanted me to bf DD too but I said no - I don't really do it in public any more and anyway viewers probably not ready... And I didn't want to flaunt her on TV - too much like that US magazine cover that caused so much upset. Anyway, main achievement would be to come across as vaguely normal and not a fundamentalist... and I am not going to watch it.

Commiserations to all those with mums going home... You'll be fine - sleep when baby sleeps and don't take opportunity to do housework.

Thanks Angelico and wow Elpis! Wish I'd read in time to watch your channel 4 bit!
Thanks for the breast feeding advice. I did get quite a lot of advice in hospital. Day 2 of Imogen's life and she's feeding we'll which is good - no pattern though eg just had random 2 hour feed twice on each breast. Got the Lansinoh, too. Fed on and off all night last night so hoping for a bit of sleep tonight.
Oh and she hates having her nappy changed! Poor thing must feel the cold- get very angry indeed! Midwife told me to put my little finger in her mouth to calm her earlier, but hello!, I can hardly change her then can I with one hand otherwise engaged! Made me think about dummies but I'm sure you're not supposed to go near them till at least 6 weeks.

Evening peeps. Elpis sorry I missed that! :) Lizzie glad feeding going well x

Crazy how did you get on with the sling thing?

Big hugs to Planktonette and Squid - I feel your pain although in our case it's MIL going home :( You'll be fine though - probably a bit more tired initially but fine.

Just swaddled bean so I can get some sleep. DH got home earlyish from work think he was afraid I was going to chuck myself in the sea with sleep deprivation...

Have any of you had a UTI before? I never have but think I might be getting one :( Haven't been drinking enough with BFing I think. Getting crampy pain in abdomen, lower back ache and twinges down below. Also hardly peeing and was feeling really cold in bed earlier. Does this sound like a UTI? Can't even drive to GP tomorrow if it is Can I defeat it by just drinking litres of water?