October 2012 babies part 2: winding, yawning and grizzling, and first smiles?

[YompingJo]

Part 2: in which our babies learn to sleep through the night and make us tea in the morning

[lisbethsopposite]

Normally Paul sleeps the minute we drive off, that was tough Squid.

I don't think I would recommend ignoring 45 mins of scream. Once P screamed in car seat and when I picked him up - big burp. You are sure there is nothing physical wrong - comfort/hunger/wind. How about music?
If there was someone in the backseat to talk to her and that stopped her then I would think it was boredom

[squidkid]

I was on the motorway, and alone

She really hates the car - she screams every time - so I don' think it's physical - when we drive and there's two of us I sit in the back and stroke her and shush her

Quite grateful I live city centre and walk almost everywhere !!

[lisbethsopposite]

Will she settle then, once she has someone to talk to her?

Is she doing the baby equivalent of 'are we there yet'?

[squidkid]

It feels like she's panicking because she can't see me - or is that a ridiculous thing to think about a 6 week old...

I sing to her loudly and put music on and that usually helps a bit but not today!

[hufflepuffle]

Aw Squid that's a pity. Car always sends our little man to a deep sleep in about 2 mins!! No idea what to suggest!! Thanks for advice. Tbh I cannot believe how well body has healed, rather impressed! I am however still on double dose fibogel and lactulose and No idea when to start weaning off!!!! Hav GP apr on Fri to check haemoglobin, will ask then.

Yeah, laughed about the hypnobollocks during labour but I am still a fan!! I was petrified if labour pre preg and it got me thru 9 months confidently. Helped me relax and sleep and understand that whatever wud happen I'd manage! Didn't bother with post natal CD tho....... Meh!

[bella2012]

huffle thank you for responding to me. Just having a down day, but as you said 'it will get better'.

[Olivess]

Haven't managed to post for a while. Things have been very hectic. Baby olives is nearly 4 weeks, can't believe how quickly time is flying. MIL is staying this week which is a bit of a strain but I'm just trying to ignore the silly comments and get through the week.

Massive respect to those with breast feeding issues, we also seem to have a bit of thrush, don't think it's too bad but have got some drops and cream to try and nip it in the bud.

squid baby olives can also scream in the car. Sometimes she's ok but sometimes she'll cry for the whole journey, it's a bit of a myth I think that all babies fall asleep in the car, she's definitely cried for 30 mins coming back from my mums. I have just kept driving, tried singing and talking to her but it is very stressful I know, I am just hoping that as she gets older she'll get more used to it.

Just had a visit from the health visitor who made me feel very bad for co-sleeping. She looked at me like I was the worst mum in the world. She basically said that we should just let baby cry it out in the Moses basket or she will never get used to it, don't think I can do that though...I feel really upset about it, I didn't set out to co-sleep but it's the only way at the moment that I'm going to get any sleep. But at the same time I'm worried that something might happen. She also told me that research was favourable because it was all done with babies from other cultures where they have sleeping arrangements more conducive to co-sleeping so there aren't so many problems. Basically she was saying the research shouldn't be trusted to be accurate. Now I don't know what to think or do...the last thing I want is to harm her in any way but she literally hates the Moses basket! Doesn't help MIL making comments about how baby is spoilt! Feeling stressed and upset. Rant over.

[Woolybob]

squid does she like white noise? Could detune the radio maybe? Otherwise safest thing may be ignore it and concentrate on the road, it is hard to bear thou.

olivess no way you can spoil a baby that young. Your HV sounds like a nobber. They are a mixed bunch, mine is nice bit a mate was telling me hers spent the whole visit criticising the fireplace (on aesthetic rather than baby safety grounds). Anyway if co-sleeping is a definate no no then why do they publish guidelines on doing it safely??

[lisbethsopposite]

Olive I am sleeping with DS2 - I never did with DS1, because he would never close his eyes in the bed with me. We are doing fine this time round with DS2.
I am doing it because it makes sleeping and BF easier but as it happens I LOVE it - to look down at that contented face... wonderful,

So much of the day is busy, this is our together time and I would not give it up on one wrong (misinformed) opinion

[crazypaving]

marking place back later

[Elpis]

olivess I'm with lisbethsopposite. The HV is ill-informed. Co-sleeping is safe if you take the right precautions, the most important of which are not to drink or do drugs before bed. And God knows where any of us would score anything illegal right now. (On the other hand, a bunch of new grads have just moved in next door...) In fact, from what I've read the research is skewed negatively because a lot of it was done in deprived communities. I didn't co-sleep with DD and nights were a far, far more stressful experience than they are now.

My HV stayed a long time and at one point asked: 'How would you describe your childhood?'

'Challenging.'

'What do you mean by that?'

Grr.

[Elpis]

Midgetm Oh, am so of you seeing Skyfall. I can't go to mother and baby screenings because I always have to pick up DD from preschool at noon, and they invariably start around 11am. Would adore to have a Daniel Craig fix. Maybe if DH can be persuaded to take a day of his leave and not insist on working through it or rearranging mousetraps.

[Midgetm]

Elpis I had to make an emergency call to get someone to collect dd from
School . Film started later than expected. (bad mummy emoticon)

[Midgetm]

My health visitor asked if I was a victim of domestic violence and also dropped in a question about PND but didn't give me time to answer. Guessing if I had PND this may not be an effective way of finding out. She also made me feel bad for co sleeping. Said even if I have one glass of wine at 5pm I shouldn't co sleep.

[Beeblebear]

Huffle so glad you got your birth story down. A lot reminded me of my own. Luckily i only had second degree tear... But also had stitches in where they put catheter in and where one of my fissure split too. Ugh. 3weeks and 4 days now and all the stitches r gone but still not feeling 100. Seems when i flex my pelvic floor (like ehen i stop peeing) i get an odd tugging sensation that is a little painful about where my stitches were in the front. Going to mention it at the dr tomorrow.

Also, what tipped you off initially with the thrush? My mil said something about ds bum rash, then my mom said someyhing about ds mouth (but i dont see any white spots) but then my nipples have been tender and itchy. Thought i was alergic to my breast pads so i boight a new brand, same thing. So my mil (LC) said to go to dr and tell them i have thrush.


TBC...

[YompingJo]

I have found the white noise app on my phone great for car journeys. Start app up, turn volume to max. Stick in carseat next to baby. Most of the time it settles her right down.

Had weigh in today. 24 days old. 10lb 11oz . Monster baby!

[Beeblebear]

Loopy, i have gathered pieces of info from here or there. Google "sensory play by age" someone here had sent some good links a ways back probably around thread 3 or 4.

Squid: re trips in the car. Are you using a soother? Ds will scream in the car until eith he gets thw soother, or i reach behind the passenger seat and let him suck my finger for 2 minutes and then he falls asleep. This usually means he scrrams intil i am driving aomewherr i feel is safe to do this.

[hufflepuffle]

Beeble and any others, first symptom thrush really was pain after feeding but I thought this was due to cracks. MW and HV ummed and ahhed. Friday morn had some little red spots on areola, thought it was DS sucking too hard...... By fri eve entire nipples and areola bright red. Struggled to sleep with pain. Sat AM went to out of hours. No white spots on me, that does not really happen apparently. DS had v slightly white tongue but no spots. Intense pain due to thrush bring in ducts. Deep boring, gets worse as hour goes on post feed.

So if u hav pain after feeding be careful!! Had I got this few days before I realised, would hav cleared up faster!! Nothing like thrush down below, and that is bloody back too!!!! Aargh!!

[hufflepuffle]

Oh and that sounds uncomfortable Beeble. Def needs checked out, maybe something too tight? Hope u get some help with. X

[lisbethsopposite]

can i mention 2 things i bought

water wipes 99.9% water .1% fruit - i have been using since birth with no problem.

quilted babygro- next and mothercare do them. i don't use sleepbag with baby in my bed and keeping covers lowish

[hufflepuffle]

Oh and that sounds uncomfortable Beeble. Def needs checked out, maybe something too tight? Hope u get some help with. X

And I too thought it was a reaction to breast pads. Cross as were fancy lansinoh ones!!

[lisbethsopposite]

www.mothercare.com/Mothercare-Tractor-Wadded-Walk-In-Sleeper/LW5565,default,pd.html#q=wadded

www.next.co.uk/g659572s1#760247g65

[hufflepuffle]

Another Monster Yomping*! Def sure my little monster even heavier...... Arms are exhausted!! Going to BF drop in group tmrw, apparently they might weigh him for me! Was 10 8 last Weds.

[lisbethsopposite]

beeble huffle

[crazypaving]

Evening all. Had a bit of a hectic day - have read through thread and sympathised with lots of things but it's all exited my brain immediately. Sigh. On the plus side, getting more smiles and funny little "ohh" noises from DS2 which are so unbelievably cute.

huffle that's quite a birth story. Not surprised it's taken you so long to process. Glad you feel like you're coming out the other side - well done you, seriously.

midget also of you at Skyfall! The only day they have baby cinema on round here is a day I have both DS's, booooo.

olivess your HV is a massive nobber. IME nearly all HVs are (apologies to anyone this offends in any way). I've never had any good advice from any of them, so I now avoid them like the plague.

squid both my boys have been car screamers. No lovely peaceful driving babies to sleep in this household. It sucks. Just concentrate on driving and try not to let it turn you into a nervous wreck - easier said than done. We taken Ewan the Sheep on car journeys which does help, but usually when DS2 falls asleep DS1 will scream or shout and wake him back up

bella hope tomorrow is better.

Have spent all day on my feet, either entertaining DS1 whilst slinging DS2, or bouncing DS2 to stop him waking DS1 during his nap. I now dread DS1's nap time, and it used to be the highlight of my day!

DS2 has fed almost hourly today - hoping this is the 6 week growth spurt (5+5, could be, right?) and that it is over soon if it is! Also wondering what tonight may bring....eeeek!! Have yet to successfully give DS2 a dummy - persevering intermittently...

DH currently trying to settle DS2. As soon as he's asleep we're hitting the hay!