December 2012 - the Christmas buns are coming out of the oven

[PurplePidjChickIsNotTheMessiah]

New fred...

[StaceymReadyForNumber3]

spotty I hope ds settles for you soon.

Well today hasn't been too bad. We got to bils almost on time, I have him ds when we arrived and he cuddled for around half hour. Mil (the amazing baby hog) was busy preparing dinner so ds slept and fed happily. We did presents and then dinner, Mil kept saying 'I still haven't had a cuddle I will in a minute'. After dinner ds fed straight away and mil went out of a cigarette when she came back in she tried to hint for me to hand him over but I ignored it, then got 'can't you take a hint?' spat at me! I asked her to wash her hands first and she took offence and stropped while cleaning the kitchen! About half hour later I said to dd 'I'll show you such and such while nanny has a cuddle' mil didn't respond, so DH said 'mum I think you're getting ds' and she snapped 'apparantly so!' wtf?! She then spent the rest of the day hinting that I should put him in his Moses basket rather than cuddle him (to the extent of taking him off of DH 'for a cuddle' and within 5 minutes was celebrating that ds was asleep in his Moses basket) tbh I couldn't give a fuck of I cuddle him too much. He's 17 days old and he's MY BABY!!!

Sorry for that epic rant and I salute you if you managed to get through all that! Other than that we had a lovely day. Just going to bed and tomo morning we have to drive home to hand big dcs to their dad until sat morning.

[Secondsop]

Hello all, hope you had lovely days. We had a really nice first Christmas with Zachariah - my family came over and my sister did most of the cooking. There was a lot of baby hogging - we were skyping my husband's parents (who live abroad) when my family arrived and my family each tried to take the baby while we were still on the Skype! My poor inlaws won't even meet him till next year and they nearly had ther Skype time cut short too!

[SpottyTeacakes]

Argh Stacey I would have made her change her top too!

I feel bad for saying it but I hate the whole feeding for comfort it makes me angry because I just want to sleep! I don't feel I could bed share safely so that's not an option for us.

[StateofConfusion]

Can I join? I was briefly part of the antenatal threads but lost track!

Baby Lily was born on the 19th weighing 8lb 3oz by elcs. I think she's wonderful!

[WillYuleDoTheFandango]

Ugh Stacey as if you'd allow dirty smoky hands on your beautiful baby? My MiL pulled a classic - she kissed DS all over and then said I didn't sleep at all last night. This cold is killing me I can't even breathe! why would you do that?

DS is very unsettled after a couple of days of being handled by everyone. I just want to hibernate and keep him all to myself. I understand that everyone loves a newborn but seriously he's not a dolly.

Yay we've had a break through! DS (tongue tie) is taking the bottle much better today. The catalyst? A dummy! It seems to have taught him how to suck. I was hoping to breastfeed but getting any food into him is the most important thing right now!

[StaceymReadyForNumber3]

willyule I'm so glad ds is eating better. As long as he gets fed one way or another, nothing else matters! Well done for getting as far as you did. I gave up bf with much less reason with dd and ds1. You've done amazingly well!

spotty see I thought I was being very lenient, I don't think mil saw it like that.

I had a chat with DH when he came to bed to check he didn't think I held ds too much and he said I'm a protective mum and he's happy ds has got me. Phew, aa long as me and DH are on the same page mil can go fuck herself tbh!

[StaceymReadyForNumber3]

Oh and welcome back state

[SpottyTeacakes]

Welcome back state

Well we had an awful night and ds has been wanting to feed every hour and not settling so I'm on the sofa with him in just a nappy and my top off. Have been feeding him for an hour, is this the right thing to do? I'm wondering if my supply is low?

[StateofConfusion]

spotty my dd had a night like that, I did the same, made a nest on the sofa and let her have free access, she's now snoozing in the crib (first time upstairs away from me but I was showering/getting dressed etc then didn't want to disturb her) I keep going to check her. I don't think its supply issues just a bit of cluster feeding in response to a more chaotic and noisy house.

[StateofConfusion]

willyule my ds was like that, a dummy really helped him to feed more efficiently, he struggled to even suck a bottle thanks to a tongue and liptie. I felt like I was forcing it into him, but he soon got there at around 4wks I think, he's 5 now and just as fit and healthy as my bfed dd, he's pretty damn clever too :)

How's everyones older dcs coping with the new additions? My big ones are 4 and 5 and I'm not sure if its christmas/no school or Lily but they are being very challenging!

Had my staples out today (c section) and now feel like I can move, the relief was instant.

[StaceymReadyForNumber3]

spotty I think you're doing the right thing. He's probably growing and trying to boost your supply (not that it's likely to be low, more that he's just needing more now). Ethan did this the other day, it felt like he was constantly on the boob. And now I'm leaking occasionally again do he must have boosted my supply.

Enjoy your skin to skin, try not to worry I think it's completely normal.

I got DH into the wrap sling today and sent him out for a walk with his dad, brother and Ethan. Very sweet seeing the 3 generations going for a stroll. [sappy emoticon]

I hope everyOne is enjoying the Christmas season!

[SpottyTeacakes]

I wouldn't mind but we've got to go to MIL's in a bit! Also we were home all day yesterday with no visitors so he shouldn't be unsettled. Might keep him in the sling at MIL's!

[StateofConfusion]

I had Lily in the sling yesterday so I could wash up and do lego with ds, and she slept for ages.

[pmgkt]

Hi guys. Edward arrived on the 20th after I spent 2 weeks in hospital. All fine. So day 5 and my boobs are still hard, not so bad after he has fed but still not soft as I remember. Is this normal.

[SpottyTeacakes]

I think I will start using it more indoors. Plus roll stop all the family getting their grubby mitts on him

Dd has settled down a lot with Felix in the last week she seems used to him now and his crying she still tries to wake him though and always steals his blanket

[SpottyTeacakes]

I think so pmgkt mine were hard until gone two weeks but I was expressing exclusively for a week and a half... They will probably settle down soon

[EggNogMichelle]

My boobs still go hard, especially at night when it's been a while between feeds. Having a fussy day today, think he had too much attention for the last 2days and just wants to be cuddled. I'm sure one day of frequent cuddling wont do any damage!

[HoneyMumandSon]

My faulty boob seems to be working again after a few days of expressing and massage :)
Am still worried that we're not really getting eye contact much - not even during feeding as he just gazes at the boob. Is this normal?

[StaceymReadyForNumber3]

honey he's a boy they just love the boob! I think it's normal, what's his adjusted age?

[HoneyMumandSon]

Adjusted is 2 weeks now. He does love boob. I am sick of the nipple tweak he's mastered though!

[WillYuleDoTheFandango]

Thanks State and welcome back. He's like a new boy! He wakes himself every 2.5 hours like clockwork wanting his dummy. He sucks it for 30 mins, then spits it out and guzzles down his 2oz. I've now got the breast feeding consultants stalking me and I still haven't decided whether to persevere or if it's all too much. Think I'll ask to speak to someone tomorrow and talk it through

[StateofConfusion]

How awake are all the babys? Lily occasionally has a half hour awake but mainly its eat sleep blink through being changed and repeat, I can't really remember much from the big two and was wondering if I should try and keep her awake at all?

[WillYuleDoTheFandango]

Jamie (10days) is awake a little bit more now State. He hates being changed so will be awake for that and will wake up 30-60 mins before each feed. He's zonked as soon as he finishes it though, if not during.

[StaceymReadyForNumber3]

honey I think that is completely normal then. Ethan is 18days now. He doesn't do eye contact but does look at me/boob/tv. He has also started grabbing my nipple, it's great fun!

state Ethan is 18 days and is now staying awake for 30-45 minutes once or twice a day. We just came back from bils house and earlier bil turned round and said 'they really do just eat sleep and poo don't they?'. And yet me and DH have been commenting on how much more awake he is these days! Lol.

[HoneyMumandSon]

Thanks stacey we have just had our first smile