November 2012 - come on stragglers, we're waiting for you

[StuntNun]

Previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/1622007-November-2012-hurry-up-to-graduate-were-running-out-of-November

horsey I hope you are feeling ok. It is always hard to adapt to new baby, no matter how much you wanted it, as it really does change everything. Like detective says, you can go back to work whenever you like, and maybe going back part time for a bit might help, if you don't want to leave him for too long. I planned to take the full year off with DD1 and ended up going back after 8 months - I love her to pieces but I'm just not cut out to be at home all day. I went back part time as that is the best of both worlds for me, but DD loves her nursery and would love to go more I reckon! Also, I know it probably seems a long way off, but when it starts getting lighter in the evenings would you be able to ride mid week as well? Winter sucks for the limited riding time, and there is nothing like it for clearing the head. I miss it :(

I have the sleep pillow app - it's great! I've used it to help me sleep before now - of course, now I could sleep on a washing line, if only I had the opportunity!

Kirrin - yes I can ride when lighter we just have no school. Once Xmas is here I'll start running again too. I planned to take 9 months but will see how I feel at 5 months.

I'm ok it just suddenly hits me really hard how this is the new normal and I guess I get scared.

Feel much better today because he hasn't been feeding ALL the time thank god!!!

Becoming a Mum is a seismic change horsey its normal to take time to adjust. You do what you need to do to keep things on an even keel.

Need new bras. When should I go shopping? A is only 4wks & my supply is bonkers...

Horsey you shouldn't feel bad. Like detective said its a huge change going from routine and only yourself to think about to having some so dependant on you.

DH goes back to work tomorrow, I'm a but worried about how we'll get on and how ill cope on my own all day. It'll be fine I hope I'm sure.

Does anyone else's baby sometimes seem to choke on the boob? M sometimes chokes/forgets to breathe and has to pull off a gasp and then it sounds like her breath is stuck until she coughs and gasps again. I'm presuming its the fast flow from let down but it worries me a little. She's always fine though, has a little rest and then goes back on

Oh horsey it is scary isnt it? And its ok to feel like this, having a baby is such a huge change. I must say i was a much better mum when i went back to work after ds1. Just remember it gets a little bit easier every day. And im sure the sleep deprivation etc is catching up with you now which doesnt help. Take care of yourself, you can get through this and tomorrow is a brand new day.

Fatima, ds always chokes on one of my boobs, I have a fast let down on that one. Sometimes i hand express a little off before feeding and that helps.

horsey I think you are possibly a bit bored of this part of motherhood. It gets better. I do not particularly like the first six months. They get a lot more interesting, and fairly soon. When you can do things with him, communicate with him etc you will love it I am sure. I too have to work, and miss my work. I wish I could go part time as I do not see enough of the kids as it stands. Sorry, busy, will post more later x you are a fab mum, and it is all about you learning and growing together x

fatima, he chokes throughout feeds - on and off the boob several times!

i'm currently covered in my breast milk . It is very sticky.

Fatima Jonas does that - I feel awful that I'm drowning him :(

MM can you not just give her a great big slap and blame the hormones? Equally tell DH to set her straight. Selfish is her wanting you to FF so that she can give bottles and no doubt tell you off for NOT BFing. Silly Moo. As for the sleep - Jonas has slept in 4-5 hourly bursts since he was a week old and still does unless he's ill or on a growth spurt. I however was warned by the MWs for the first 10 days when we were mix feeding to get up and pump more regularly to encourage my milk and ensure my supply didn't disappear. As Tilly is feeding solely off you that shouldn't be an issue - so don't worry about it - but do avoid going six hours or more at night in the early days as it's at night time that your milk supply is most effectively built.

Horsey I think we all get those OMIGOD moments. Maybe being freelance I'm a bit out of the Sunday night 'getting ready for work' vibe as the kitchen table was my workplace so it doesn't feel so odd being at home in front of Jeremy Kyle - or Radio 4 if I'm being virtuous.

As to your earlier post about sleep and naps - Jonas is MUCH more sleepy than Etienne but he was 4 weeks early - and also, I have a feeling that I'm a little lots lazier than you - it's likely that E has his Mamma's energy and get up and go! I don't think there is a right amount of naps at this age.

I had to laugh yesterday when she came off the boob during let down, milk was squirting out and she just looked up at me with a face covered in milk, all over her cheeks and eyelids

I don't think we have a feed without all of us covered in milk! He is quite a considerate vommer though... small mercies?

Muslins don't stop the soaking of everything, I am considering a nappy under me for feeds!

DH and FIL have had a word with her. She's stopped the 'helpful' comments and we had a lovely meal out - Matilda was a wee star and slept the whole time we were out while lots of people cooed over her! Only one small snipe from MIL since ("oh, I didnt realise you were THAT young..." when she knows the age gap between dp and I to the last day). Grr ! Definitely confirms our feelings about moving over to NI next year are crazy - I would kill her . Ho hum, she's shut up now. In small doses when I'm not feeling sensitive and gnarly she's fine. And FIL is lovely. 23 hours till their flight home .

Oh and the selfish feeding thing is defs because she wants to give her a bottle. She actively bragged about the fact she fed our niece formula against SILs wishes for this very reason. Bitchy MM1 very vocally announced in the car that only DH was to give her her bottle of EBM when we get home (so she gets used to taking it from him you see)

Crumbs it is fun here tonight. I am feeding J so helpless to go to DD2 who is coughing and puking. DH is having to sort her and I have said I would sleep in with her if I could. We have SIMs and sleeping bags in the room his mum is staying in. It is like he is ignoring all my suggestions just to be difficult. He is insisting on lying in bed reading just listening to the little mite on the monitor and getting angry when she is sick. If he was in with her it would be so much easier. If it were not my child suffering though it could be quite funny. It is going to be a long night.

horsey some of this could be ongoing issues from the birth. I think it is important to talk things through with HV, here, DH, other mums, whoever. You say you work three days. That sounds just right to me. Remember there are rules about notice periods for returning to work, and also that he will only be this wee for a short time, and never again will you have the opportunity to spend so much time with him. I am trying to enjoy my mat leave. I am hoping in a few more weeks I will begin to.

Inlaws brought some lovely gifts for us all, and we agreed to do the swapping gifts this afternoon once the meds kicked in for DD. It was lovely.

Bugger. Feedathon again! I have to be up early! Registering his lordship tomorrow. I can see it being stressful .

Gets better. DS vommed entire feedathon milk. Now frantic. DD pissed the camp bed and all over carpet as woke and did not know where she was. DH is now in with DD which is a bonus. Grr!

Eeeek.

Errrrm, good luck with that one VQ!!!!

I am trying to see the funny side! I am gonna have to sleep in a milk puddle. If I get any sleep. Ho ho!

Doesn't sound particularly funny VQ you'll just have to soldier on. I think I would be turning to drink about now.

I caught my wretched cat drinking out of J's top and tail bowl which hadn't been emptied after his last nappy change. That's a risk for toxoplasmosis isn't it? God I hope that was the first time she has done it. I assume I can clean it with Flash and hot water. The OCD part of me says it is contaminated and I should throw it away. The practical part of me says the cat has been killing small squeaky things for years so she probably doesn't have toxoplasmosis.

Is it a full moon or something? Wee p hasn't slept more than 30 mins since 6pm. She is now frantic with overtired ness and even when she does drop off it is light and she wakes herself up. I have never heard her shriek like that before - what a racket! I am sure it is over tiredness - fussy, arching her back, screaming.

Right, off to try Moses basket again! I think this might be a looooong night for us all.

Argh. Every time I use the app on iPad or iPhone to view this thread the app crashes! N closes Wtf
Other threads r fine!

Oh well off to watch homelands. Will catch up later.

Oh vq, Things will get easier for you soon.. If you can get through everything that has been thrown at you so far then you can get through anything.

Well, L has been a bit better tonight than he was the previous night. He was pretty happy until about 9pm (and even managed his first smiles), but started crying at 9. After a while of bouncing and attempted feeding it became clear he was uncomfortable and not able to be settled so we tried gripe water which worked instantly! I did nearly choke him when administering it but once he got over that he went straight to sleep.

I also made sure I used infacol before each feed (having said that, I just forgot to now) which definitely seems to e starting to help get the wind up.

Oh VQ that sounds awful, poor you & your DCs. Why is it DHs seem to always know better (until you're proved right & suddenly they're of a different opinion)??!!

fatima yep. A does that. Not sure why, because I don't squirt but I still end up drenched.

rowing that sounds much better.

A was really difficult during feeds earlier - crying & pulling off, seemed in real pain. Think it must have been wind cos he's fine now & spent that feed, puking, burping & farting.

I think I might have a blocked duck, my left boob round the side is so so tender and sore it hurts to touch and that side is quite rock hard, I've tried to express some thinking taking a bit off might help but I could hardly get a drop off, anyone know how I unblock it? If that's what it is

Why is pregnancy/birth so horrible to our bodies?! If sleepless nights, sore bits & bobs, bleeding, leaking boobs, not to mention the pain of labour weren't enough, I have developed what can only be described as itchy red welts all over my tummy. I said before, my tummy was itchy the last few weeks of pg, thought it was just stretching. Well in last couple of days it has become this angry, red, lumpy huge rash over my tummy which is unbearably itchy, and is now spreading to my chest, back, arms and legs. Arggggghhhhh!! And last thing I want is to have anything touching my tummy, like oh I don't know, a hot feeding baby for hours at a time...!!!! Dr Google tells me it's polymorphic eruption of pregnancy (PEP). Anyone experienced it? I've got calamine cream to put on and took some piriton before bed, but just as itchy. I'm wondering if the hot baths with tea tree oil are not helping, but I need those for my epis healing!! Why does my body have to make things even more difficult?!?!?!??

Finally marking my place BBL to read and post.