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

[bella2012]

i wish I could take my boobs off and leave them in his moses basket so that he could just help himself.

[lisbethsopposite]

Llivvy bella it sounds like you need sleep. I really feel your suffering and i hope some of the advice on here helps.
Bella i think your pics on fb are fabulous. DS1 looks great , lovely rosy cheeks. You are doing something right.

Also 7 weeks here and while not as zen like as squid i am getting a few hours sleep every night. Poor huffle. Bummer re thrush. Night all

[Angelico]

Evening peeps :) Lovely, lovely day today (apart from ANOTHER blocked duct which thankfully cleared by lunchtime) and bean was angelic during our various adventures (alert, grinning, cooing, generally charming everyone around her) - but totally overtired tonight. Have just swaddled her for first time in weeks as her arms were doing the mad windmill thing waking herself up. Praying it will help as it's only 11.15 but feels like the middle of the night - think we both overdid it today!

huffle went to breastfeeding thing today and it was nice, everyone friendly and normal but helped that there were other first time mums. If you come up this direction I reckon we should just skip the bfing stuff and go straight to the ice cream shop...

Hugs to Bella, Livvy and anyone else shattered - am really tired tonight so feeling your pain... Love to all, here's to sleepy beans all round! xo

[Angelico]

And huffle sorry you had such a crap day - just saw the bit about the rash, ouch! :( Sod the first few weeks, it's pure survival (although can understand how people feel nostalgic afterwards, some v tiny babies at bfing thing this morning and they looked so small).

[YompingJo]

Think I have thrush. Left boob unbelievably sore and have had no signs of blocked ducts and it doesn't ease after feeding. Has come on quite quickly over last day or so after a few stabbing burning type pains which I stupidly ignored. Hurts to even walk, have to hold to stop painful bouncing. Feeding very painful. Have been feeling rough all day, cold and achey everywhere. Phoning docs in morning for emergency appointment. Feeling really, really miserable and sorry for myself, This isn't fair after crappy labour, hard recovery and bean with colic

[londonlivvy]

Thanks everyone. After blubbing on the health visitor on weds I was called by GP yesterday and am going in for an appointment tomorrow. Actually had quite a good day yesterday, with the awesome mat nurse. There was a screamathon and she showed me how to settle her ( it was due to evil wind) which was brill. This mat nurse isn't around next week which is a real shame as she is calm and so knowledegable but she has recommended a friend and some agencies, so I need to do a ring around tomorrow.

Top tip of the day is that little babies have poor circulation and sleep better when wearing socks under their baby gro. It has made a huge difference already. Much less disturbed sleep for her which disturbs me less and means she's more rested and feeds better.

Best news of the day is that my best friend just had her baby 5 weeks early but still 5lb15. Such a long awaited and long desired baby and I'm delighted for them.

Too hard to reply to everyone with one finger typing but special hugs to yomping and Bella and huffle in tough times and thanks to crazy re PND stuff.

My psrents are visiting tomorrow for the first time. An odd mix of feelings.i will no doubt be questioned heavily as they want to see I'm ok. And I'm not, really. But I am trying to get help. And it is nearly the weekend. Yay for that.

[bella2012]

just written mammoth post and lost it! Grr! Ah man, it was so long! Will try again soon. Really wanted to thank everyone for sjpport, esp anne, katla and lisbeth xx

[Beeblebear]

Good evening everyone.

Doing treatment for thrush now. Medicine for ds is so sticky and yellow and smells like bananas. Seems to make Ds tummy unhappy for an hour or so after. Day 2 of treatment for me, will update soon as to ifit helps my itchy burny tingly nipples or not.

Busy day today. First "play date" today. Friends son is 8 Weeks. Either my Ds was sleeping while hers was awake our vice versa. Lol. Oh well. Then visited my mom at her office and then to my parents for dinner. My grandma was visiting so i had to drive her home after. Parents live over an hour away so i left at 1030 this morning and didn't get home until 9. Sure throws off the demand feeding. Find i feed for much shorter bursts when trying to get in visits. My boobs are feeling it for sure.

[Cherrychopsticks]

Very interesting about the socks Livvy, thanks. None of the Japanese baby clothes seem to have feet in them and whoever designed baby socks obviously never looked at baby feet, but DB and his partner sent us some Sock-ons, so DS finally has warm feet! Maybe we'll get more sleep...
It's great you can say you're not really ok, and getting help is the only thing you can do. You're doing brilliantly, your parents should be proud!
Congrats to your friend.

Katla, very of your horse. I love horse riding and used to go loads in the UK, but it's not a big thing in Japan so I haven't been for ages.

Loopy, thinking of you. I haven't been out for a couple of days either because I just can't be bothered with the hassle. Could you ignore the screaming for a bit, and continue with the walk? DS falls asleep as soon as we get going in the pram, maybe yours would too? I'm currently on the sofa, feeding DS, who keeps falling asleep but won't let go, whilst starving for my lunch.

Welcome Meepsmum!

Hope you get your rash sorted at the docs today Huffle.

Yomping, that sounds so painful, and like you say, not what you need on top of everything else. I hope the doc can sort you out ASAP too.

Congrats on the hot tea Smiley, I've been using a travel mug which is great for hot tea, but then I keep forgetting to put the cosy on the teapot so it's cold before it even gets in the mug. Baby brain.

Not much news here, things go up and down but I feel like I'm a bit more equipped to cope lately, and everyday DS seems stronger and more alert, so gradually getting more rewarding.
He still doesn't fit into his 0-3mnth stuff, I'm getting really bored of the 4 outfits he can actually wear. The other day I had a dream that he got his foot caught in the neck of his sleep suit because it was too big, and was strangling himself - horrible! and very unlikely
The white noise is still working wonders, but I wish they made little baby earphones!

Right, off to try put this little bundle of joy down so I can finally EAT!
Hope you are all having good nights and getting some much-deserved rest.

[Cherrychopsticks]

Cross-post.
Hi Beeble!
When we're out and about I also feel like we feed for a shorter time, and DS is a bit distracted/stressed so doesn't concentrate properly. They'll get used to it, I guess. Sounds like you had a good day though.

[Twobuttonsaway]

Hey all, just a quick note to send hot chocolates and millionaires shortbread to everyone who is having a difficult time this week or is sleep deprived.... Possibly us all!??

Repeat after me... It will get easier .

Taking one day at a time helps me. Love to all and the beautiful babes.

[londonlivvy]

OMG. Tonight, with the assistance of socks, DD has fed at 1830, 2145, 210 and 0550. This is incredible. Normally it is more like 1830, 2200, 0030, 0330, 0500. Proper starving feeding at ea ch feed rather than lots of sleepiness and falling asleep mid feed. Wow.i went to bed at2015, so in total I have had 6.5 hours. I love the maternity nurse. Even if this is a one off, and obv I hope it isn't, it is very very welcome.

[hufflepuffle]

Yay Livvy!!!!!! You will feel so much better after that. Here's hoping u turning corne. Glad u starting to get help too, I see light at end of your tunnel! Hugs x

Yomping ouch...,.. Could Be mastitis too? GP will sort you whatever it is, fingers crossed relief is quick. I've had 6 days treatment, still feels rotten but think rash is aggravating. My apt not til 4.30, wishing hours away and wishing to take some bloody antihistamine but not risking drug interactions! Calamine it is.

Sorry, thought lots to reply to and thanks for support RE group and my latest discomforts .,,,,,! But I'm nodding off here. Another 6 hr sleep. Good good good boy for mummy!

[Smorgs]

Bella - have been meaning to reply to you but just couldnt put bubs down for long enough, then in laws arrived. I wish I could give you a big hug. This is so hard. I just keep telling myself its a blip in the grand scheme of things and try to picture what it will be like in the future when he can smile, talk, hold my hand, run about, ride a bike etc. I've also found trying to laugh or joke about things helps but that's not easy when the screaming has gone on for hours. Keep talking about how you're feeling and don't be afraid of getting help.

Huffle - sorry you've been having a crap time too

Livvy - the maternity nurse sounds great, interesting tip about socks ill try that. I hope things go ok at the gp today and you get some talc from your folks. Try and let them do as much as possible even if its just holding the baby so you don't have to.

Yomping - that would suck if it was thrush thanks for the new thread by the way.

Welcome to the new folk - sorry not to name check everyone.

Well we didn't quite stick to the bw's easy routine yesterday as in laws arrived and dh turned into his bossy teenage self But after an evening meltdown I resorted to infacol again and he slept from 11-3.40! Another feed at 6.30 just now too. I bloody love infacol.

[Smorgs]

Bah! I hope you get some TLC from your folks livvy not talc. Although talc is a lovely gift too sorry!

[Smorgs]

Cross posted - yay for sleepy babies livvy and huffle!

[cheesymonster]

Meepsmum I was going to ask about getting petrol too! I am planning on using the "pay at pump" option at tesco. Baby cheesy has great timing so will wake up and scream blue murder if I leave her and run into the shop. Although this weekend I only have cash so will wait for DH to come with me .

So much to think about logistically !

[cheesymonster]

livvy do you mind if I ask for your mat nurse's winding technique please? Sometimes I can't settle DD after a feed (she's ff) and I'm worried I'm not winding her enough. Sometimes she lets out deafening burps but other times she wriggles when I'm trying to wind her and it's quite stressful!

[Cherrychopsticks]

Awesome sleep Livvy! I know it's not a fix-all, but it's bound to help.

Quick question - what do you all think about hoods on baby clothes? I've avoided them so far because I just can't figure out where they go/what the purpose is, but I've just been given a really cute romper, that might fit him now, and it has a hood. Are they even safe?

[londonlivvy]

Oof. An hour of winding and soothing and then gave up and resorted to the sling so I could have some breakfast and do some jobs. Worked a treat though I haven't mastered the tightness and she was definitely lower than she should have been.

Re winding

Either on your shoulder with baby arms over the shoulder and stroke upwards, esp on left hand side under ribs.

Or tiger grip. Right hand between baby legs from underneath and your hand on baby tum. You can feel the wind. Left hand supporting. Then step slowly forwards and back with a slight bob in your step. Slowly does it. Too vigorous will just overstimulate.

Hope that helps.

Cherry I'd have thought hoods must be safe or they wouldn't be allowed to sell them. The problem is that if hood is not up, then it will be bunched up at back of neck which might notbe v comfy for baby.

Huffle well done to your boy. Great sleeping action.

[squidkid]

Eurgh, not a great night, jess sleeping fine but waving her arms frantically in her sleep all night making masses of noise. She seems rested but I'm not!

Prescribed myself day of rest but sun is out so might pop to a cafe for a coffee and read a book or something - that feels like I'm playacting "mum" but whatever!! Now I just have to try and remember whether any of the cafes I like have babychanging toilets, or sofas... a sofa would be good

Everyone be nice to yourselves and give yourself a treat today if you can

[smileyhappymummy]

Hello everyone
squid excellent advice on fitting in a treat of some sort each day, it's the little things that keep me going!
cherry hoods fine I think (and v cute especially if they have little ears on them!). Wouldnt leave her sleeping with a hood up inside though just to avoid overheating.
livvy hurray for better night. Sleep makes sooo much difference. Have found when tying sling for small babies that doing it as tight as possible works best. Might have a go at the winding tips too, thank you!
To everyone thinking they want their old life back and then feeling guilty, this was me with dd1. Doesn't mean you don't love them or that you're a bad mum, and it will get better, as I've said before my children are now the absolute centre of my life and having children is the best thing I've ever done. All it is, is a natural response to intolerable stress - don't forget, sleep deprivation is a method of torture! Worth keeping an eye out for pnd though......
Well, yesterday I took baby smiley to my book group! She slept all through it snuggled up in her sling and was admired by everyone. Felt lovely. Today will be my first time putting dd1 to bed without dh who's working till 11ish. Sure it will be fine......
Love to all.

[cheesymonster]

Thank you livvy will try that

[londonlivvy]

Oh and yomping I hope you get answers on sore boobs.

Smorgs I shall hope for tlc. I'm told by our NCT lady that talc is bad. I forget why. Smiley, can you tell us?

[Cherrychopsticks]

Thanks Livvy and Smiley, think I'm a bit paranoid!

Very jealous of everyone's sling escapades, will have to have another go with mine later. Would make my life so much easier

They can make so much noise, can't they Squid? A constant source of amusement except in the middle of the night. DS squeals in his sleep sometimes, often sounds like an animal foraging for food, and occasionally reminds me of a guinea pig.