October 2012 babies - over here nobbers!

[Smorgs]

This really will be the thread where all our babies start sleeping through the night... right?!

London I hope you have a fab time on Saturday and happy birthday. I had a night off recently so I could go to office Xmas party and baby cheesy stayed at PIL's house. Was weird to come back to an empty house as DH was on nights but I got a nice lay in!

First-time we have Uppababy Vista and have been using pushchair seat for last couple of weeks (suspect Huffle may be doing so as well, both our babies are on the large size). And yes!! to the snap-in bar thing, totally frustrates me! If you have a duff one then we do too. I also seem incapable of removing our Maxi Cosi career from its base in the car smoothly, and the only way I can get the pushchair off the chassis is to do it from the back, so I end up carrying mini yomping into the house in it but not being able to see her - not sure I've explained that very well...

Londonmrss, I think your feelings are totally natural. I feel the same when DH takes mini yomping out for a few hours - can't imagine a whole night away from her - although at the same time it would be lovely to have exclusive time with DH, I know part of my mind would be continually worrying and missing her. we're genetically designed to not want to be separated from them, especially for the first few months. I think you should go though, I bet you will end up really enjoying it, and the break will do you so much good.

Orenishii, sympathy on the TMI problems. What can you do about the prolapse? Love the info about Year of the Dragon, how cool!

Katla, same here with boobs - after 11 weeks of oversupply, it's freaking me out a bit! I have realised that sometimes there is security in something even if it's a negative thing... I mean, oversupply was a total pain and required me to feed in a certain way and take steps to manage it, but I was in a routine and used to it. Now that has changed and I feel a bit thrown by it! That's my inner control freak speaking though - I was in control of the problem and the control itself gave me satisfaction. No problem now means no control needed and it's a bit like having my security blanket taken away.

londonmrss
Totally empathise - though looking after baby is exhausting and I crave a break, I have found when I've arranged fun things to do (so far have been to a gig, to a spa for a morning and out for an evening meal, thanks to mum) ... I have found it really hard !!

I had a hen do in London to go to in February - I have cancelled
I have a wedding (irritatingly no babies) in March, a few hours drive away - I am going to that but I am not staying overnight - I haven't told bride yet (an old friend) and am dreading it. I keep pretending it's because of the bf/expressing issues, but it's really not, that's just a convenient excuse.
Boyfriend thinks I am a bit ridiculous but whatever. It's just the way I feel. I am surprised that I do, though.

ANYWAY - I hope you have a wonderful time on Saturday and a great birthday and it's all fine overnight, but if you end up adapting what you do slightly so you're happier - that's ok too, it's your birthday!

Hey y'all. Seems quite a positive mood on here today! Am feeling quite chipper myself, I'd forgotten that before Christmas things were getting a lot easier and now the chaos is over and the colds seem to be receeding it's all coming back to me.

DD now 3 months, she's sleeping 12 hours with 2-3 wakings but sometimes that first stretch is 5 hours which is a lifesaver. We've managed to bring bedtime forward to 8 so she has a quick bath and last feed and is settled by 9, still have to go in and out of the room a couple of times to get her off but it is much less soul destroying doing it then than at midnight when we're desperate for sleep. I then get up when dh does for work so usually get 45 mins for shower and brekkie before she wakes then we have at least one activity a day (baby yoga/group at the children's centre/baby cinema) in the am then lunch and a long walk round the park when she has an afternoon sleep and I get time to think and exercise. She usually gets a couple of sleeps in in the carseat, sling or sometimes crib as well so I get a chance to do stuff and she's having more and more awake happy time so she can entertain herself a bit on the playmat or bouncy chair as long as I'm in the room.

So could do with a smidge more sleep (I have the stupid cold as well and it's stopping me sleeping as much as I could be - gah) but generally very positive today. Which is good as DH's snowboarding trip starts Sat. I'm about jittery about it so I thought I'd write this down while in a positive mood and I can reread and remind myself how easy it's going to be without him...

And yes generally in RL I am convinced everybody lies about how much sleep they're getting....

Oh and enjoy the nights out those that are getting them, have only been away from Dr twice and it is weird, a sort of 'I left my handbag somewhere' feeling all night and if you're not careful you find yourself randomly rocking. We went for tea with some friends yesterday and I caught dh absently rocking the empty car seat with his foot...

ps
londonmrss I did find my mum sending reassuring texts about jess being happy/asleep helped whilst out

Dr? DD, damn predictive text!

yomping yes yes to the security in the regularity of something, even if it's a negative thing. The extraordinary thing about this ever changing exploration into into parenthood is just how quickly things can change, and how unsettling it is.

Just like londonmrs and squid, i've wanted my own space away from DS and hated it when i got it, just like you and katia with leaking boobs settling into the supply/demand rhythm and freaking out over it...just when you think you know something because it's familiar, even if it's inconvenient, uncomfortable or relentless, the familiarity breeds a sense of security - so much do an improvement is almost rejected!

Re prolapse - just need to up the pelvic floor exercises and practice pausing mid flow on the loo. Nice!

Wooly that sounds like a pretty awesome routine!

DS hasn't gained any weight in a week. I know I shouldn't obsess, and i know age/weight wise, he's not small but - he's just so long and slim. I see pictures of some of y'all babies on the FB group and they have such wonderfully chubby faces...DS is just so slim! His face is so tiny - a tiny little double chin and tiny little chubby cheeks.

DH keeps telling me not to subscribe to such "downstream" guidelines but i can't help it :(

also what do I do about boobs on night off? guess I'll have to express whenever she would feed to keep my supply right, or does it not matter for one night?

Oren, babies fall within a bell curve. if your baby is alert, happy, looks healthy and is producing lots of wet nappies then you have nothing to worry about.

You should be fine in terms of supply for just one night Londonmrss. But you might have to express if you get uncomfortable (I did at spa, didn't at gig or meal out possibly alcohol meant I didn't care)

Sorry I keep talking to you about this, but my desire to do things/inability to leave jess has been a major issue in my life of late!

oren same thing happened a few weeks ago to us, makes you feel rotten doesn't it? some babes are just tall ans thin thou, they have catch down growth to get where they're supposed to be. Are you bf? There are ways of increasing the milk taken like switch feeding and breast compressions. You can get some really good advice on here but worth getting RL support from the bf groups/peer supporters. If it's just one week maybe just sit tight and see what happens thou?

Thanks wooly and londonmrs i know you're right, i just worry. I think ultimately he's a little lazy - in the first weeks we had to syringe feed him hand expressed colostrum/milk and he wouldn't wake up for feeds.

Plenty of wet, pooey nappies, feeds every couple of hours or so - sometimes for 15/20 mins per side, other times for 3-5 mins. When he fusses after a few mins, I just switch sides. He is long - 61cm - with very long limbs. He is very happy generally. I posted a pic on FB - he's 10 weeks and 11lbs 7oz, so not little by any stretch of the imagination. He's taller than average but his face is just so tiny!

Orenishii He looks gorgeous - if he's feeding, wet nappies, alert, developing and you as a mum know he's ok - he's ok.

I don't really agree with this weighing weekly malarky. There are going to be quieter weeks and growth spurts - that's the way of it. I haven't had jess weighed since 6 weeks. I know she's little, but whatever. She's clearly fine. I might take her on wed for a weigh actually - but only out of curiosity. She's fine.

Week by week growth means nothing - babies fall off growth charts over a matter of months and years, not days.

I tell a lie - it was 10 weeks and she was 10lb 6oz.

Hells bells! Have been trying to catch up since Friday for the last 24 hours. I was sitting here huddled over my desk at ridiculous-o?clock last night with a large glass of red and a baby monitor reading all your posts and still have some more to go. Much to name check on so I guess I'll do the classic 'several posts' thing.

Had a lovely day today which started meeting some of my Stavanger October 2012 group (from ante-natal class) and their babies for coffee and lunch. Had a great discussion about when/if to start trying again and then me, DD and 'Scottish mamma' and her DD went shopping and pram power-walking (unintentionally) around town. DD napped 30 mins on arrival, then 1 hour in the cafe, then an hour around town and in the car home then an hour here at home after a feed! Clearly going out and about is the key to successful napping (for DD anyway). Now she's sitting next to me at my computer in her Stokke baby seat 'helping' me post on MN. This may be the way forward... :) I feel so lucky...I've made 4 really good friends out of that group and 2 or 3 really nice acquaintances. It has really helped me both not feel isolated as a new mummy but also feel 'at home' here in Stavanger. So to weigh in on this discussion of baby groups, I'd recommend everyone to go for it. Maybe I was lucky or we all have being some kind of expat in common but it's been a godsend for me. Have been to baby massage with the same lot, now baby music (starting next week - with our ante-natal teacher) and we have a weekly informal coffee and are starting to go for walks out together and (those who are up for it) gym sessions.

Hello & welcome newcomers that I?ve seen whizzing by when I?ve had the odd moment to look at the feed!

Bella ? so sorry to hear about the chicken pox! A double dose must be hard work. Hope they're both better soon!

Mikyahrose ? next baby ? I?m starting to think of it too but have a feeling there's some medical reason I'm supposed to wait a bit. Should find out by next week... Glad your DS got on ok with his jabs. DD?s got hers on Tuesday .

Yomping - I feel for you I really do. I was where you are in the first 6 weeks and now I?m not, but that doesn?t mean it?s easy street. I?m here at nearly 3am writing posts for MN because it?s the first moment of the day I had to myself without her to answer to. I was suffering badly from stress this last week but I am enjoying her a lot of the time and for that I?m very grateful. There but for the grace of god go any of us. Don?t stop feeling like you can emote as much as you want to here. I also feel almost guilty for crowing on about DD's good nights when there are so many others still struggling to get theirs to sleep through. I do appreciate how lucky I am but it wasn't always thus. Your DD will find her stride sooner or later I'm sure :).

DD is also a fully paid up member of the grubby hands gang. She gets breastmilk all over them and sweats then clenches them tightly resulting in long black strands of yuck that get wedged between her fingers & run along her palm. I?m afraid I mostly take a wipe to them, dry them on a muslin and deal with her nails with my own nails when she?s relaxed enough at the breast (rare ? she?s a flailer).

squid - that sounds like an amazing plan. I?d come to your café (if I could afford the airfare from Norway!). I keep brainstorming what I might do too. Think it will take a long time to get enough English language editing clients to pay my share of the bills. Congrats on the running. I?m a little bit in awe! :)

meepsmum - didn?t see your original post but I?m convinced the only way to get to an earlier bedtime is to work backwards from their ?natural sleep time? in increments ? perhaps waking them a little earlier than they usually wake in the morning starting bedtime routing 30/45/60 mins earlier and so on backwards until eventually they will go down at an hour that allows an evening. I?m still not really getting an evening with DP (but I have DSDs half the time too so we?re hardly swimming in coupledom anyway!) but we get an hour or sometimes 2 and we?re working on it! :)

Huge congrats for getting through 1st day back at work smiley.

Right...DD now grumbling for next feed...next epic catch up post when I can get back on :)...

So I have developed a new reflex... whenever I hear/see/think 'pelvic floor' I squeeze! It's useful at least I guess

DH got a husband of the year award last night for listening to me rant about how sick I am of sleep battles with bubba without getting all 'well what did you think babies were like' on me... TBH he probably wasn't listening, but even so

Londonmrs hope you enjoy your night off, you totally deserve it and will be like anther present seeing DD afteer a night away

squid yup cloth naps do need changing more than sposies (mainly cos most people leave sposies on too long tho!) but can increase the time by putting extra padding in! Bamboo good because it absorbs heaps and holds onto it well, but takes a little while to absorb so is even better in combo with a microfibre insert (which absorbs fast but also lets go easily) if that makes sense? i have used cloth since birth... mainly cos I hate the thought of spending $2000 on disposable nappies over the next 2 years , and also cos i hate all the waste . But I don't use them at night at the moment... have to stuff them too much, but might start soon (although 1 sposie a day's not too bad!) Good luck with them though... they take a little bit of working out but are awesome

Zara sounds like you need to come to the south island... definitely not many impossibly skinny and tanned women pushing buggies down here... all far more normal looking and grrrr on the UTI.... especially without it being caused by sex!

first I think it's about 1hr 30mins awake time by 3 months, but some babies are better with more or less. DD's (also 14 w today )first awake time of the day is usually only about an hour (how can she be so tired again after sleeping all night???) but after that varies 1.5 - 2. I just watch for tired signs (her current tired sigh is this totally wired look... kinda like someone on P!)

October we have a mountain buggy +one (but no +1 child )... was recommended by people with 2 DCs and we were future planning (not too crazy as just looks like normal buggy until you put the extra seat in!) Is fantastic, but huuuuuge! I always thought the phil and teds looked a bit unsteady with that weird seat combo... I'm sure it's not though . There's also a new mountain buggy side by side double (duo or duet???) that's only as wide as a normal buggy. Friend has one and loves it.

ouch crazy hope that's just a one off!

katla glad erin is feeling a bit better I reckon mini me's also just decided she can go more than 2 hrs without feeding too! Must be something in the air Also with you on the supply thing starting to balance out... (and the slight sagginess ) but at least i've been able to wear underwire again for a few afternoons and evenings. feels like heaven!

I agree with squid about weighing, once a month is plenty. it is bound to go in fits and starts.

I had a whole keeping in touch day at work today so babyfunch had 8.30 to 4 at the childminder's. She texted me at 3.15 to say dd was distressed and I might want to come early. Luckily I was already en route having got away early anyway and when I got there she was fast asleep. I felt absolutely terrible though .

It has made me realise that to return to work on feb 25th as I am planning to, I have to be able to leave her, and she has to be reliably taking bottles. And I have to get at least some sleep! DH is becoming the SAHP so I have decided to only bottle feed (but ebm unless expressing that much becomes too difficult) as she has taken bottles fine all day from the cm. So we have given her two bottles tonight which went really smoothly (normally she refuses completely or just chews the teat!). I am hoping this will enable DH to take over lots of feeds and reduce her preference for me, so that it is not a horrible shock for her the day we switch.

So, any advice? And please please let me know of flaws in this plan that I haven't seen! Feeling a bit sad but hope to do one or two bf feeds per day once she is really reliable with the bottle, so it may not be the end of bfing.

I would LOVE a night away at a hotel! I love babyfunch but I would give anything to have a few more glasses of wine than I currently can, and I would sell my grandma for a full night's sleep!!!

Sorry, totally distracted day, will weigh in On uppababy question in while..........

Hi bean tenders (I guess that's what we are now we are no longer baking?!). Haven't been on for ages but am enjoying the FB and finding it much easier to keep off.

Will comment properly soon but I have a specific q for Squid our resident runner. Did you have any probs with your pelvic floor when you started? I tried today and wee came out, just a bit but I couldn't stop it and I didn't even need to wee! Have been doing my exercises when I remember and don't have this problem when I sneeze, etc. Just really worried cos was looking forward to running.

Have a book recommendation which I picked up in a library sale. It's called Baby Secrets and just seems to make sense to me. Similar to Baby Whisperer but with more of a routine which I liked plus an actual plan to help your baby sleep through the night which I really liked. Can go into more detail if anyone's interested.

Better go and do many more pelvic floor exercises!

Lost you all again.. you and your prolific posting

I will try and catch up as best I can!

Yomping Please don't feel bad for posting when you feel shit. In my experience its always best to talk about these things, and not bottle them up- A problem shared is a problem halved an' all that, yeah? Huge hugs for you though. I think the fact that you are trying to do so much to combat all your problems shows that you are a fantastic Mum, and lets face it, no baby is ever perfect- how would they learn?
(I hope that made sense to you, it did to me!)

I hope your days at work went well Smiley and.. Huffle? Was it you going back? And Funchum.
Funchum Glad that your DC is taking bottle well. I've found that DD seems to take bottles better from other people than me, because she can smell me if you know what I mean? She can smell me and so wonders why I'm shoving plastic in her mouth rather than a giant nipple. Generally DP will give her bottles and she will breast feed from me.

For anyone having trouble with getting DC to take to a bottle, has anyone tried the "Breastflow" bottles? The teats work just like nipples.. These ones I started using them as the teats on the tommee tippee/avent ones just seemed to pour out so fast and was choking her.

Londonmrss I have had two nights out since DD born. I felt just like you- but then I went out had too much wine and just managed to enjoy myself. The second time I went out with DP (for our christmas present!) and we had a great time. Did feel like I'd left my handbag at home, but it was good fun. My mum was great and texted me every now and then or answered the phone when she didn't text me back quick enough to let me know DD was ok.

Londonlivvy I frequently don't hear DD crying, although this is due to my deafness. I have a special alarm which vibrates (oo-err) under my pillow when DD starts crying. But even then sometimes I'm half asleep so I roll over to turn it off and forget why I have it. Then it goes off again and I realise! But unfortunately DP is awake by then... Good thing he doesn't get too grumpy with me though really. It will be better when DD is in cot in her own room.

Now I'm really not trying to brag, but is it actually normal for DD to sleep so much? She's 7 weeks yesterday. I know she hit a huge growing week last week, she literally slept, for nearly 72 hours. In between feeds obviously. She still seems pretty tired today, but has been awake for a fair few hours in between naps. I wonder if I should do more to try and keep her awake but truth is she just gets grumpy, and I don't think it will help. Do I just let her sleep? It doesn't seem to be interuppting her nighttime routine.. She still only wakes up once or twice- I take her upstairs to bedroom, usually around 10ish. Change her bum and usually put her in a new vest and sleepsuit. Low lighting, silence and I feed her to sleep.. Or if she doesn't seem to want food I give her a dummy, which usually sends her off. Then I swaddle her. She seems pretty good at self settling though, the last few nights I've put her in her basket with dummy in awake. She watches me (!!!) get into bed and turn the lamp off. She must go to sleep fairly quickly but she doesn't get fussy or anything.

When did all your DCs start to become more interested and touching toys and stuff? I tried laying DD in baby gym earlier.. it was OK for a while but I don't think she enjoyed it much. She prefers being in her swing chair looking at the things hanging off that. But they're too far away for her to reach- not that she's reaching out to them yet.

She's properly smiling now. and cooing. She grins her head off at the sound of my voice and I think, think, she may also be trying to laugh. She started making funny screeching sounds the other day too, hehe!

Me and DP will have been together two years on the 15th Jan. :) I'm loving all your how you met DP stories. Wantan Yours especially made me smile. Thats so lovely. Like you say, most teenage boys would run a mile, so yours sounds like a champ.

I have physio tomorrow for my third degree tear debacle. Pretty sure I was supposed to have a 6 week review with the consultant but that never came through... So I've just crossed my fingers and hope everythings OK. My sex drive has returned Hooray!! and DP reckons everything feels alright Its a bit sore when we DTD but not unbearably so. Everythings definately wider though..
Sorry. TMI. I'll stop now

Waves at everyone else I've missed. Squid and Yomping, you need to crack out that leather, you'll look great. Loving those boots! Hope everyone is recovering from christmas. Only another 14 days until my best friend comes over from Oz. Woohoo!

Still catching up...

Midge - you have 2 lovely children :). Actually was having this very convo today with my local mum-buddies. I considered stopping at one as I almost feel like I just want to give DD my undivided attention until she?s in school but I?m already broody (gadzooks! Must be ?cos my periods have restarted?) and having just lost the only parent I had an emotional relationship and remembering how unbelievably lonely and bereft of a sense of ?family? I felt (and sometimes do if I think about it too much...thank heaven for the marvellous DP who is stuck with me forever ;)), I would have killed for a sibling and, being an old biddy, don?t want to deny her that chance. She has her 2 much older sisters, one of whom would probably be there for her but I?m stuck in this ?biology and hormones driving my brain? thing that makes me feel the need to give her another sibling with my blood (IYSWIM).
My sympathies at the tooth coming through. DD has top front right coming through (not down yet) and is purple screaming at the start of every other feed. Yesterday and today she has totally refused the left breast (angle with breastshield??) and only taken from the right with a lot of fussing. Which is a bit stressful. But this too shall pass I guess. (must pump left breast...) Is your lovely DD still being adoring to her little brother and helpful to you? I think of her ?cuteisms? often and hope my little girl will grow up to be like her ? horse-feeding ?n?all! ;)

yomping - if it?s any help, 150ml is 5oz more or less exactly. Probably wouldn?t help to tell you how much mine takes in as she has breast and bottle and is only feeding 4/5 times in a 24hr period. However, I was informed that they need 150ml ? 200ml per kilo of weight per day. Therefore at 5kg/11lb they need minimum 750ml; 5.5kg/12lb minimum 825ml and at 6kg/13.2lb they need minimum 900ml. Then just divide that by the amount of feeds per day and you have your approximate per feed amount (sorry I haven?t converted into fl oz ? brain fatigue).

wantan/livvy - I?m at the hair coming out in clumps stage. Glad it?s ?normal?. Was just starting to enjoy my once in a lifetime thick hair