January 2013 - New year arrivals welcomed into the world.

[PricklyPickleInAPearTree]

As a few of us have popped early I thought I'd start us a post-natal thread.

Well the attempt to be upstairs failed miserably..

Dh brought dd up after her 12pm feed and the second she came in our room she kicked off, been trying to settle her in her moses basket since then but every time I put her down she screamed have given in and brought her back down stairs where she has fallen asleep on her changing unit and has made no noise atall since!!

I don't know what to do! Dh will be back at work on monday all I can think is I have to be up with dd1 from 7am!

Tinkle coud you use the moses during the day so she gets used to the smell?

tinkle I've been following advice from dr sears - wait for 20 mins AFTER you think they're sound asleep - this allows them to go into the deep rem sleep where they're not so easily wakened. It's been working for us. A bit of a pain in the arse, but not as much as trying to resettle!

We've been doing the same Bunty but I didn't know it was someone's advice to follow! We've just been doing it intuitively. If we don't make sure he's fallen asleep after a feed, he wakes up being transferred into his basket.

Leah didn't do so long a stretch last night, but seemed to settle better. I feel semi-refreshed today anyway. What a pity it's raining constantly outside. Mind you, I still haven't tried got to grips with the double buggy, I really must get DH to give me a demo (the past two weeks he's been doing all the lifting in and out of cars, buggies etc, but he's now back at work!)

I've received many lovely presents for Leah but most of them are babygros 0-3 months, which I don't actually need since I've got all DD1s already...Torn between returning the new ones not sure if I can be bothered or letting Leah wear them as they're gorgeous...

Mama - swap for the next size up. Most shops are good with baby clothes like that.

Yes, Bunty, I think I'll have to swap them. Not all have receipts but I don't suppose that matters if it's an exchange.

Hi everyone. I read an article in The Times yesterday about breastfeeding mums often being too quick to put baby on the boob at night. I've been feeding about every hour overnight but now baby has put on quite a bit of weight I thought I'd try and leave her a minute before I feed her. And it worked! She just makes a lot of noise in her sleep and now I realise it doesn't mean she's hungry.

Anyways, I sound like I have it all sorted but that's a long way from the truth! I just can't get her to settle anywhere but on me in the day. This makes it almost impossible to also look after DD1 who isn't walking yet so needs lifting. Anyone got a good baby swing or automatic rocker they can recommend?

Birdies my bouncy seat is a Fisher Price reclining one with a 'vibrate' button. The vibration has the most calming effect and can settle a baby when nothing else can. It worked a treat with DD1, my nephew, and now starting to use it with DD2.

Sympathies re dealing with a toddler and newborn at the same time. I am currently potty training DD1 - I was hoping it would have been done and dusted by now, but she's just not getting it. It's been nearly 3 weeks now. It's awkward to leave the house or go in the car, without putting a nappy on her which would detract from the training...grrrr just don't know what to do I hope she gets it soon!

Interesting re being too quick to put on the boob at night - can you link to it or can I not get past the paywall? I wonder if this is more likely to happen with co-sleeping?

I'm not looking forward to the potty training!

I can't find it online but it was in The Times 2 yesterday. Actually the main thing it was saying is that breastfeeding mums will get less sleep and more disturbed sleep than bottle feeding ones (though that didn't really surprise me). But they were saying that no one tells mums that in case it puts them off. Overall it's the combination of breastfeeding and being a bit too over-attentive as a mum and picking the baby up for a feed at every little squawk (something I'm guilty of). Didn't mention co-sleeping but I guess it's easier to pick baby up too quickly if they're next to you.

Ps Thanks for bouncy seat idea.

I'm not attempting potty training til the spring. No way can I deal with newborn+toddler+wet pants+winter all at once.

We have the fisher price swing seat bought for us by PIL. DS1 had similar as a little baby and loved it, bit early to tell with DS2 yet, nothing placates him bar being bounced on the ball in the sling.

Ditto, pascha. Summer at least they can hopefully run about outside nappy less and plonk on the potty when they need.

Hooray I've had a whole dinner without a baby strapped to my chest!

Yay! Mine had been settled, happy and not cluster feeding this evening. I am FREAKED OUT.

Hi all,

Brought a vibrating chair for dd today which she settled in for a good half an hour better than the 0 she has been doinf, poor dd1 is looking very sad that im unable to cuddle her without dd2 being on the other side.

The article in the paper about breastfeeding mums,

What complete tosh, i think regardless of how your feeding the baby the quickest way to settle is with boob/bottle/dummy so it goes for all ways.I am formula feeding and dd settles for not even 5 minutes..im just as attentive as a breastfeeding mum its tougher formula feeding as 9/10 times colic comes with it.

We've got a vibrating fisher price chair, what a life saver. Only thing is, ds finds it easier to sleep in but doesn't really like sleeping in his moses basket as much - aaagh!

Hope everyone has a good night's sleep.

Ok, I've written my birth story. What I can remember anyway. I still can't really talk about it without getting emotional but writing it out has been somewhat therapeutic. Reading it back though, I feel like a bit of a drama queen compared to what some of you went through.

Sorry for the length, and also if it doesn't make any sense. As I said, I still can't really talk about it so its all a bit hazy.

On Thursday 17th, DH had gone into work for a few hours at 3. I watched One Born Every Minute that I'd recorded the night before and the second it finished I started getting an uncomfortable feeling in my back, which then went round to my stomach. It wasn't really painful, but it was definitely 'there'. It felt like a belt of slight pain going all around me, and I thought I just needed the toilet. Went to the toilet and it still didn't ease, but still I didn't think it was the start of anything. I text DH to say I was going to bed for an hour because I was having some pains but didn't think they were anything.

DH finished work just after 6 and we had some dinner and watched some telly. All this time I was still getting waves of slight pain. I told DH I thought I was just constipated. We went to bed at about 11ish.

I didn't manage to get any sleep as the pains were coming quite often. Still thought I just needed the toilet!! At about 1am I thought 'hmmm I'd better time these'. I used an app on my phone, they were coming every 4-5 minutes and lasting 60 seconds. I woke DH up and then phoned the hospital who said I should come in.

I wanted to have a shower before we went, and as I looked out if the window I saw it had been snowing a bit. Had shower and got dressed etc while DH went and got the car running.

Driving to the hospital was a nightmare, there was so much snow! When we got there, we were taken to a room and I was put on a monitor. Everything seemed fine. Midwife said I was having strong contractions but they still weren't feeling too bad. She discovered Nancy was back to back so that explained the back pain.

Then, Nancy's heart rate dropped. I'm not sure to what exactly, DH says about 70? The midwife got me to lie on my side and it went back up for a few minutes, but then dropped again to (DH says) 40. The midwife pressed a button and then suddenly there were about 10 people in the room. A lady examined me and said I was 2cm and then broke my waters. There was meconium in my waters.

They then moved me to another room just in case I had to go to theatre. Nancy's heart rate wasn't increasing so they told DH to go and get changed and that I'd have to go for surgery.

They gave me some gas and air, I'm not sure why, and after one inhalation of it I was sick.

As I was being wheeled down to theatre, I kept asking if my baby was ok. Obviously they couldn't tell me, so just didn't say anything. I've never been so scared in all my life.

When they put the drip in my hand in theatre, goodness knows what they did but there was blood everywhere. I don't really remember much between then and when Nancy was born. But I do remember DH saying 'you're not lazy', because that's all I used to say when I'd go for an afternoon nap.

Next thing I know, Nancy was being cleaned up and I could actually see my baby. The midwife said she was absolutely fine, her cord had been wrapped around her neck. She was given to me and we had some lovely cuddles while they sewed me back up.

As soon as I saw her, I fell so in love with her. She's the best thing I've ever done.

creepy that is a great birth story, thank you for sharing. It must have been scary not knowing whats going on with the little one. I am still waiting to pop (40+4) and feeling quite miserable (also back to back) but your story has reminded me theres something precious to come at the end.
Well done all you new mummies, hope ill be posting on here soon...

Thank you bunny. It was terrifying, and I cry everytime I think about it. But, as you say, there was something so amazing at the end of it. She's beyond perfect and I'd do it all again now.

I was 40+4 when it all started, so good luck. I hope everything goes well for you xx

creepy your birth story sounds ree really frightening. for a lot of us it seems like the worst bit about giving birth wasn't the pain, but not having any control of the situation.

I left did for the first time last night, just for 15 minutes while I dropped something off at a friend's house. I panicked the whole time-and drove like an idiot cos I was so distracted-- but when I got back dp said she had slept for the whole time and didn't know I was gone.

we had a dreadful night,my baby has turned into a monster

I'm not usually one for doing this but OMG!!!!!! Bailey has just gone from 10pm-5am without a feed!! Just fed him and he's settled straight away. I can't believe it I suspect he might be like a hungry hippo for the rest of the day to make up for it though...

Went to the pub last night which was lovely for making me feel normal and less like I was hibernating! Felt very strange sitting there having dinner though whilst my 15 day old baby was at home with my mum...

Creepy, your birth story sounds like you had a bit of a rough time and I can understand

Damn phone!

I can understand why you find it difficult to talk about. Just remember that the birth is a very small part of the whole process. It's built up to be a massive thing that can detract from the miracle of pregnancy and the fact that you now have a beautiful baby. Don't let it get to you down too much - you have SO much more to look forward to now with your little one. Xx

It's really tough going overdue; I was stretching to 2cm at both sweeps but still nothing was happening and I was feeling very fed up at the prospect at not getting my home water birth. On the day of induction (40+12) I was 2cm so they broke my waters at the birth centre and Sophie was born 4 hours later! It was a really positive experience and I now don't mind one bit that I didn't get to go into labour spontaneously or get my home birth.... And so far Sophie is a little angel! Hang in there ladies, not long to go now

Creepy hope u ok now n getting over the traumatic birth, big hugs

Well DP told me last night that he had booked a romantic night away for my birthday in 3 weeks time said although it was a lovely gesture there is no way I can leave Charlie overnight just yet, having trouble trusting anyone with him half an hour thankfully he understood and cancelled it

Congratulations Ceejay