October 2012: onwards, upwards and rolling over?

[YompingJo]

Is this part 5 already? Where did that time go?

Zara how long ago did you stop BF? Babies really are weird!

that is odd Zara. hope it wasn't upsetting?

More bizarre than upsetting. DH is very worried it would upset me but I'm more worried about DS! Is he ok? Why did he want to do that? I don't mind being a human pacifier if it helps him feel better when he's sick, but he's never really shown any interest in my boobs before! All I can think is that he was feeling so upset this evening that he reverted to basic instincts.

Well DS never really latched - the last time he had a session at the breast was when he was about 7-10 days old. Jesus Christ I'd better not be having a bottle-refusing FF baby on my hands, lol.

Right off to finish packing for tomorrow, and then bed! I have been checking in on DS every 30 minutes, I'm so worried about him and confused by the weird boob-attack. Weird weird weird.

I suppose it does show that those problems that meant he couldn't feed- respiratory problems, traumatic birth etc- are problems that he has now completely completely recovered from which is great. I'm glad it hasn't upset you- a few weeks ago, you would have been devastated so it's great that you've finally accepted that you are doing the right thing for your little one and you're both healthier and happier for it.

We still struggle. She's just a terrible feeder. She has still never latched without the use of a nipple shield. Some days she feeds constantly, others hardly at all. But she's healthy and somehow we manage! I would love to do this for the full year they recommend but it's just not getting any easier.

smorgs that thread is brilliant! Carseat tortoise is a classic...

yomping I had a virtually identical conversation with my DH after he was holding DS who was crying, and DH was saying "Hey, hey, hey!" at him. I completely over-reacted and almost snatched DS away from him. A huge row followed, with DH storming off into the spare room and me and DS going to bed crying. I lay awake all night and came the same conclusion as you - I have these terrible thoughts and images like a film flash through my mind - what if in a moment of madness, one of us shakes him? I have found motherhood to be the biggest test of my life - before i was selfish, self-indulgent, impatient, intolerant, easily stressed. I now spend my days battling and forcing myself to soothe a crying baby who needs me to be calm. But these thoughts...they just pop in my head and so like you, I think if I am so afraid of these thoughts in my own head, I am ultra sensitive to anything other than what I perceive to be total calmness towards my son.

Also like you, DH and I had a chat and were honest about these feelings, and have come to a much better, more compassionate place with each other.

Think we are entering the 14/15 week "stormy" phase, as squid puts it - excellent description! DS unsettled, pooing vast amounts in the middle of the night, doesn't want to sleep of an evening pre 11 etc etc.

bora my love please please please just eat lots of protein, lots of veggies and good quality fats such as avocados and "count" those things...those things that make amazing milk for your DD. And trust the weight will come off. I don't think any of us feel good at the moment :( Meeting other mothers will help put things in perspective - when we meet up you will see I am short dumpling at the moment!

london just one little thing - massive props to the continuing to feed when it's such an intense struggle. you are a better woman than me :)

cherry waaaah rowing about rows is rubbish - hope you get some sleep soon.

Where has my exercise mojo gone? I was so dedicated in December and early January, running or workouts every day almost... now I am just shattered in the morning and can't face the idea of it. Sigh. I haven't done a proper workout since Saturday now. I am sleeping ok so it's not that, I just feel physically drained every morning when I get up. Jess has a mega-feed between 4am and 6am each morning so maybe it's that... she always has though, it's just the last few weeks I've felt like a zombie getting up.
I was just beginning to look/feel normal again too...

I have pushed Jess's 4 month jabs back 2 weeks because I've been invited out for coffee etc with two mates when she was supposed to be having them. Woman at the surgery made me feel like a very bad mum. But they only do them on monday afternoons, and I really didn't want to turn down a chance to see two of my best friends.

She's had her 2 and 3 month jabs all up to date fine so I'm sure it's not a problem. Still feel a bit bad though.

Also: took the infant insert out of my car seat this morning. WAIL, my little girl is growing up already!!!

squid i feel like i am never going to feel normal ever again. so many things wrong - feel like an old woman, everything is tight, clothes still are either massive maternity or too-tight pr DS clothes. i desperately want to get up to mini-triathlon fitness but there's a TON of hard work to put in first - not least regaining flexibility in my knees and ankles just to do a fucking squat :(

Wah. This dreary weather does not help. Just like phases with our children, this too shall pass.

Also going to try DS on some baby biotics - DS has eczema which might be related to his ethnicity but could also be due to his digestive system.

Oren there's some that you can take as a bfer here: www.optibacprobiotics.co.uk/shop/for-your-childs-health.html
I tried them for a couple of weeks but didn't find they made much difference to be honest.

No. No, I would never put DD in front of CBeebies with her rabbit toy so I can read through that hilarious thread Smorgs posted. Nope, not me Did anyone else get to the bit about the mad naked elf mother playing panpipes in a changing room??? Still have tears in my eyes even typing about it :o :o :o All the baby groups I've been to are normal

Squid 4 month jabs?! We don't even have them here - so don't feel guilty about not taking Jess to them! :o Nothing more here until she's a year thank God!!!

In case you missed the link here Thank you Smorgs :o

wooly I know it's hilarious, my favourite is the naked pan piper?!
squidsorry you're feeling rubbish, could it be pmt?

Gah cross posted angelico I know, so disappointed with the ladies at my group now. I want to do the Congo with the vicar!

I'm feeling pretty gutted about my baby groups too. everyone is just boring and normal

had a shocker of a night last night - ds2 up every hour for at least half an hour and refusing to feed. he's fed once since midnight and it's after 2pm!! babies, eh, who'd have 'em. stupidly I went ahead with my food shop plan, god that was madness. it was topped off by ds1 insisting on 'helping' me put everything away while ds2 screamed blue murder in his carseat. my nerves are shot!

I hear ds1 stirring - back to the fray. give me strength.

Bella hope you're ok x

Squid I was doing the 30 Day Shred and enjoying it but my knees started playing up. I had a bad case of house-maid's knee when I was 18 from working with kids and sitting on the floor all day and since then excercise can make them hurt again, so I've had a break for a few days a feel like shit! It's amazing how quickly my body got used to enjoying some excercise and now I cant do it I feel drained. Might try and fit in some swimming. I wanted to do the couch to 5k too but really dont have time.

Are you permanently hungry too? DD is 17 weeks and having a growth spurt I think. All I can do it eat junk.

Zara glad it didnt upset you. They are funny little creatures.

My strange creature is currently miserable unless she is naked . Just sitting here next to her on the floor, she's butt naked and playing with her hands. I wonder if realises her hands are always naked?

She's rolling from her front to her back now, and can get from her back to her side.

she just rolled from back to front!!!! Proud mummy boast.....

right who stole my self settling baby? she's now doing everything she can to fight sleep every time I put her down. I know she's tired because she keeps almost drifting off and then trying to force her eyes open and then waking up. I'm getting really stressed.

london thanks for the link. We're looking at a few dairy and gluten free ones - specifically GAPS. Did you put it in a bottle of expressed? I think I read somewhere you can make a paste and put it on your nipple - hahaha omg the things you do! - but since DS takes gripe water from a spoon, I might just do that.

want that's amazing!! i was just reading today about how it's a six month milestone so all of you with rolling babies are awesome

I'm reading Playful Parenting. It's really...reassuring and lovely and warm and protective and lovely. It's making me cry a little bit.

Londonmrss snap. Have resorted to feeding then holding her for 20 mins until she is completely asleep before transferring her to the cot. It was a much better night last night because of this, trying not to see it as a huge step backwards!

Funny day today. Mini yomping either all smiles and chatter (albeit irritating monosyllabic "aaaaaa" sound) or screaming with pain, either teething or cold related. Her bath cheered her up until she swallowed some of the water while trying to catch the rubber duck in her mouth . But I gave her a massage afterwards, am proud of myself, I've only done it once before and find it a bit nerve wracking for some reason, but she seems to really like it. I used some coconut oil on her legs, thanks for the tip Orenishii, hope it helps the eczema. Also reassured to hear you have the same issues with crying, glad you talked to your DH too. Never mind babies being weird, we're definitely weirder! I have Playful Parenting on my Kindle, have only read a bit so far but I like what I've read.

Loved the mother and baby group thread, have bookmarked it for some light relief during night feeds. Also a bit disappointed not to have any good stories to relate.

Zara, hope ds is ok, and glad you are taking it in your stride.

Wantanorange, I'm waving pom poms for your dd and her rolling!

smorgs loved the thread I'll have to find some more interesting playgroups!

orenishii Is DH getting any confidence back with DS yet? I guess this stage is quite tough for them as we do spend so much more time with the bubbas than they do (and have boobs!), I think it's a lot easier for them in a few months when DS is delighted to see dad when he gets home My BIL couldn't hold either of his 2 sons without extreme screaming until they were quite old, now it's only dad they want!

cookie how did the long car journey go?

yomping how's DD been the past couple of days? I've often wondered if I'm the only one who worries that they will shake their baby as a reflex... before the brain can stop it. Totally terrifies me, even more so thinking 'what if I had a really unsettled baby?' And you are far from the only mother to have put DD down a little roughly, or patted her too hard. I've been in floods of tears with guilt over just the same. Hope you haven't given up the and icecream It is just a phase, I think we were there a couple of weeks ago, so it will be over and forgotten soon.

cherry how old will DS be when you fly to UK? I am contemplating a trip back in May and just wondering if I'm nuts to fly longhaul with 7 month old! And on a letter of permission to take your DS out of the country!

angelico My DH is also much better at settling DD when she's overtired, and if she wakes up crying, he's the only one that can get her straight back to sleep!

Sympathy for all the ongoing sleep issues, we appear to be over the worst of it. And I think the website was right about the whole sleep maturation thing... DD has decided she doesn't like being held to sleep anymore, and has twice fallen asleep randomly (on floor and in buggy). I'm actually quite sad as, despite moaning about it for months, I now really miss my velcro baby . DH is sad too as they often used to have a lunch time nap together

Has anyone else got a thumbsucker? DD is so obsessed with her thumbs at the moment she doesn't want to feed . Yesterday was 31 degrees and she didn't feed form 2pm until 10pm. I was quite worried she'd get dehydrated, but she just got really upset every time I took her thumbs out and gave her a boob!

zara for the fanjo imrovements and on your DS boob attack. Did he do it again? And hope the trip back isn't too terrible leaving sunshine for snow is madness

squid we do 3rd jabs at 5 months rather than 4 so I don't think you need to worry at all.

Oren that is one that you take and then you're baby gets the benefit through the milk!

I've had a little lightbulb ping above my head on the feeding struggle. I've suddenly realised that she will only ever fed when she's just woken up. never ever at another time, even if it had been shits and she is definitely hungry. every night this week I have tried to feed her at 7pm before bed. she has refused every time no matter how long it has been since the last feed. she then wakes up half an hour later for a feed.

she refuses if I try any other time. she is a baby who needs a lot of stimulation and I can't just cuddle her and relax or she gets frustrated in seconds- I have to entertain her. so I'm wondering if when she's awake, she's so excited and interested in everything that she can't tell she's hungry- she only notices hunger when she totally relaxes which is only when she is asleep. I'm starting to think she will be better when I can hand her bottle and she can crawl around with it so she doesn't have to stop having fun in order to feed.

but of a bugger because I can't feed to sleep.

has anyone else noticed anything similar or is it still just that my baby is a bit rubbish when it comes to feeding?

[grins] She suprises me with how wilful she is. DS was so chilled out he was months later at doing any of this stuff, and he's still away with the fairies, love him.

I still feed and rock DD to sleep. If it works, do it. There's no sense in making life hard for yourself.

I've read about half of Playful Parenting and think it's lovely. It's the kind of parent I would love to be, but rarely am.