November 2012 - the birthplosion (thanks Peaky)

[StuntNun]

Previous post-natal thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/1579907-November-2012-babies-are-here-at-last

Stats list: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1485512-November-2012-Stats-List

tits that sounds hard, my nights aren't much better, LO now had to sleep with her head on my arm because she's got reflux and brings up wind/ milk all night otherwise.
Don't have much good advice just that because I know it doesn't last long in the grand scheme of things I'm just battling through it atm.

Does anyone know how I can get hold of the newborn bounty pack? I didn't get one at the hospital.
I've managed to find the child benefit form online so that's sorted but I don't want to miss out on the freebies (even though they're not v exciting!)

Other ideas for christmas play pen, lightweight buggy for in car, promise of first pair of shoes, next size car seat, high chair, travel cot, travel high chair, trunkie, money etc.

I have gripe water and I am not afraid to use it. Two hours sleep last night. Not good.

Oh nos to everyone who had a tough night. Fingers crossed things get easier soon. We seem to be over J's manflu and are going to brave a trip to town before the gales hit tomorrow (after a week of gales, sigh we have to make the most of weather windows). I'm going to buy some of those saline nose drops to keep in the medical cupboard for the next time he gets a cold - ta for the tip. On the bathing - GT we were told to only bath once every other night not nightly so you're not the only one not bathing the baby every day.

Also (and just writing this is going to put the total kibosh on it) - but we seem to be falling into a routine other than when his majesty is ill. And it seems to be a routine that includes 6 hours sleep for Mummy - which is making me feel pretty lucky to be honest. He just seems to be pretty chilled out like his Dad - I know it's nothing I'm doing as I'm following what my sister did and her first was really highly strung which, now he's 3 just seems to be him. My DH was a bastard of a teenager though as well as being an easy baby - eeeeek.

pass I am a heartbeat away from giving up too, but I will not. It is not an option for me. I know I do not have the same latch problems as you, but the lack of sleep and physical exhaustion is crippling. Take it one feed at a time. That is all I can do. Please take every opportunity to nap when she does. And eat and drink well, and get DH to help as much as poss. Good luck. The first few weeks are hard but it does get easier I promise. It is still the best thing for me about being a mummy.

tits your children will always need you, even when they are parents themselves. Take care x

My Morrck wrap blanket for the car has arrived and it is gorgeous. I am so pleased with it. Strange night here too. Managed to do a 10pm feed, then he woke up at 3 which was great , but then he woke at 5 too, it didn't want a feed. I wonder if he was cold, but I am always worried about over heating.

I hardly bath at all at this stage I don't want to wash the newborn smell off!

pass I know how u feel. I still feel guilty. However a tiny bit pleased that night feeds take 20mins not the constant sucking I hear from some of u ladies, N that DH can do the 4am feed.

dh21 bounty pack was pants. Only thing I kept was the sudocream tester. Everything I threw away at hospital.

Yw I had to go bk n remind myself what I was going to say to u. I'm bathing LO every few days haha. It's not like he is sweaty.

For Christmas my parents have got DS one of those activity things they sit in. I told them not to bother as he'll only be about 5 weeks old and won't have a clue it's Christmas but they weren't having any of it. Other people keep asking what he needs but there isn't really anything we don't have. How about clothes in bigger sizes or rattles?

We had the best night so far last night. We got out his playmat and DS layed there for 40 minutes in the dark watching the lights and listening to the music. We then gave him a bath and his bottle and he slept from 10.45 to 2am. Fed him and settled him again and he slept until 6.30. Then he came in our bed with us and slept again until 9.30. Bliss. If only we could do that every night. Here's hoping.

gt lol maybe I won't bother then, sounds like the only important but was the benefit form which I've done.

We've made it out the house to the horror of soft play, for ds obv lol. Dd sleeping in the car seat while dh gets dragged around :)

How old are babies when they start smiling?

Around 6 weeks, but they are all different.

Between 6 and 8 weeks I'd say.

6 to 8 weeks as the others have said. I can't wait. I missed DD1's first smiles last year (at around 5 weeks) as I was in hospital from 3 to almost 6 weeks. The first person she smiled at was my MIL. I don't want to miss anything with DD2.

Who, incidentally, doesn't have a temperature today.

Good news petite. I bet that grated that MIL had the first smile. My mum reckons she got a smile yesterday. She did not. It was wind. She will not be told.

DH is convinced that P smiles already at 10 days old.

I cried all over the midwife again. P was on the breast when she came in so she was all full of congratulations. I burst into tears saying that she had been there already for an hour and would suckle only when actively encouraged. Midwife was lovely - said my positioning an lath were perfect and that there was nothing else I could do. Long chat and lots if encouragement. I will continue to express and put her to the breast for another week or so. DH could not be more supportive.

VQ your situation sounds much more challenging than mine. You have 2 other DC and a wee boy who hasn't been 100%. I take my hat off to you completely. I so hope that the gripe water works and that you get some sleep. No sleep just makes everything 1000 times worse.

And petite I am so glad that LO is on the mend. What a relief.

Apparently newborns do reflex smiles in the same way they do other expressions, so it's not always wind - but it's not a 'true' smile either. Mine chuckles away in his sleep especially if he has dozed off with a nipple in his mouth! It's amazing to see. Yesterday he did a massive smile just as DH passed him to me and we both nearly burst into tears, but I think it was just coincidence.

My proper midwife came today and said definitely olive oil for dry skin, she has seen it used many times, I trust her advise! Tommy is now 1oz above birth weight at 10 days old so I've been discharged, that's 6oz in 5 days the little fatty :)

Hugs to everyone feeling rubbish, I've got the 10 day growth spurt, so closed my eyes for the first time at around 5am this morning. Luckily hubby still off so he can take the other 3 to school. Dreading next week though!

I'm just asking for clothes in the next size up, only got newborn hand me downs and I'm starting anew with Tommy. May ask for ebay vouchers too, but don't want to sound cheeky.

Why do babies always sleep for hours when you're out?!

Q had been asleep nearly 3 hours, at home I'm lucky to get an hour. Could really do with a nap now.

Im having a shit UGLY day. My stomach looks awful n saggi.

It's my 30th bday n DH has booked a evening out with family. He wants me to wear a sari. How can I wear a sari with a saggy stretch mark covers stomach . Feeling really shit about the way I look.

Very tempted to look into tummy tucks

Calendula oil is good too for baby skin.

Valium it did grate. And still does 18 months on. Especially when she reminds me.

Another reaon new borns smile, I have read, is a kind of reflex to make themselves endearing so we're more likely to look after them. Nt sure where I read that, probably on here.

Happy birthday GT. You can't be expecpted to expose your tummy at a few weeks post birth. It will get better though, but it takes time. I'm sure it's not as bad as you think mine

Aww petitwhat a cute idea, that our babies are trying to look cute for us so we look after them lol. Can our LOs keep this in mind during 3am feeds when they are screaming their hearts out.

Happy Birthday GTrnjoy your evening out

Happy birthday gt hope you have a nice time tonight and wear whatever you feel comfy in!

I hate my clothes atm, only one pair of jeans fit. I'm at that shit stage where mat clothes are way too big but my pre preg clothes are way too small.
Also even though I want to bf it really limits what tops I can wear. No warm jumper, it has to be strap tops that pull down and cardigans.