December 2012 - Smiles all round!

[SpottyTeacakes]

And the one where Spotty's gang gets some sleep

Its not everytime but i'd say it was the majority of the time. Hopefully it'll just be an infection and some tablets will sort it.

Took DS to get weighted today, he's now 10lb 6 up from 7lb 15 at birth. He's also a total traitor and was flashing gummy smiles at all the helpers at the children's centre. I've not had a smile just for being here today.
I'm sure E is hooked up to the oven, food comes out and he starts screaming. My mum says its payback!
DP is starting to get proper food again but still more quick pasta sauces, the first week everything came out of the oven and I don't think we had vegetables!

Ha we all seem to be crossing posts i'm not sure about the implant either i'm going to go for the coil but only because if i ever change my mind about having another baby (which i hugely doubt) then fertility returns immediately it doesn't with other forms of contraception

Hospital was stressful spotty. Lovely psychologist but I'm not feeling too great after it and its a month until my next appointment

Hales implant is the same re fertility returning. Coil obv didn't work for me
Sorry to hear that honey is there no way you can get an appointment sooner?

Unfortunatly not - appointments should be fortnightly but she's on holiday in 2 weeks :(

Oh did u get caught on the coil? I don't like the idea of the implant its just the way they take it out.

Honey sorry your feeling bad how about some wine and chocolate to cheer you up?

Yes I had a mirena in when ds was conceived!

Oh honey that's rubbish. It'll go quick though

Honey it's more draining than you expect talking to psychologists.

I'm having my coil fitted on Friday, I don't want anyone down there :(

Must learn to use the slow cooker again, F sleeps really well midday, so would be ideal to prep tea then. DH starts work on Monday so I will have to start cooking again.

Am I the only one who really, really struggles when at home all day alone with the baby? Not struggling in terms of actually looking after him, I can do all the stuff, but my head is all over the place, I can't cope when he screams even for a second (it seems to hit a particular frequency that makes me scream but has zero emotional effect on my husband) and I just get so frustrated at being at home. Getting him ready to take him outside to give us both a break just seems such a performance, I've done it a couple of times but I can never quite face it. Will it be different when he's more responsive to what's around him - will I enjoy parenting more then?

I have a bit of a side effect fear of the implant or injection, a couple of girls in my family have trued them and gained weight/got bad complexion/generally felt miserable so its put me off. A close family friend died after complications from having the coil fitted-she ended up with an infection needing hospitalization which resulted in her tragic death. This was obviously an awful, rare occurrence but has made my family recoil in horror at the thought of having the coil fitted-its irrational, I know. Femidom/condoms are no no's, can't be bothered with the hassle and dh refuses a vasectomy which basically leaves the pill. However, my memory's shit and I haven't been on it for 9yrs so am struggling to remember to take it each day!!

Saw HV today, dd gaining weight nicely, she said not to sorry about the green poo and its likely due to my poor diet dehydration due to my illness. So, I just have to consciously eat and drink better from now on. Starting slimming world in Friday so that should help get my healthy eating back on track.

second do you not have any friends locally to visit or can you not go along to any baby groups with people in the same boat as you? Try and start a thread to see if any other mums are local to you (or check on dare I say it net mums shhhh).

Thank you chloe - I do have my NCT group and we do meet up but not that frequently. That's about it. I must try harder to pull myself together. My mum is moving near me soon which will be a big help as we can spend time together plus I'll feel more confident about going out and about with him when there's someone else to help. I didn't think I'd find maternity leave so isolating. I'm not sure what I did expect though. I find it hard not knowing what i'm doing; i miss being competent and using my knowledge and experience.

Seconds could you invite a friend over, maybe speak to your health visitor if you don't know anyone with similar aged babies, then you don't have to go out, but have company, and it may seem a bit easier. Plus going to someone's house, especially if that have the same aged kids, needs less planning then groups, etc as there is no time pressure, and if you forget something they will have it. Plus if you go by car then the need to get dressed up is less than going out for a walk.

seconds I know what you mean about feeling isolated. I go out for a walk every day no matter what the weather because DS and I both need the fresh air and a change of scenery. Also the whole drama of getting ready to go out is getting easier and it gives me a bit of routine. Even if I only wander in circles it doesn't matter. I often go and have a coffee and DS sleeps brilliantly once he is out.
I'm also taking advantage of people I know who know people with kids, IYSWIM. I find getting out feels like an achievement and makes me feel a bit independent again. Yesterday all I managed was a walk to buy cotton wool and breast pads but I did it all on my own (4km walk included)

I'm also hoping to join more baby groups when DS is older

seconds even though it's a hassle to get ready and get out, it is worth it 9/10 times. Go to any groups you can where you might meet some people - don't worry that lo might be too young - I run a rhyme time session and we frequently have newborns along. It will be much easier if you can make a friend to do groups/walk/coffee with. And yes, it will get easier when lo gets more responsive - I promise! Being on mat leave is a massive lifestyle change.
Def talk to your hv, she may be able to put you on touch with other mums who feel similar.

seconds being home with a baby is awfully isolating. If I didn't get out on the school run twice a day I'd very rarely see anyone (although obv my situation is slightly different as I'm working). Groups are good. I took my oldest (dd) to her first toddler group at 7 weeks. Ds2 went to his first at 7 weeks but it would have been earlier if we weren't on a waiting list for it! Ds2 loves it too, he stayed awake for the whole 2hours last week! Other babies slept the whole time but the mums still got a chat which is the important thing at this age!

Thank you all of you. Sounds like getting out of the house is going to be key. Even if I'm not meeting up with anyone I might try to go out just to have a coffee and a piece of cake in the afternoons.

Definitely agree with the others - even if it's just making up tasks that you could all do in one day i try to split them up to make me leave the house every day. Baby or not i think anyone struggles stuck indoors all day; also the walk will give you exercise which is a great mood enhancer!

Ds has just produced a neon green nappy, but seems happy and well and so do i. Any ideas?

Seconds i know exactly how you feel. Mornings are the worst when i'm trying to time it so i can shower without her screaming, and then dress myself before sorting out her changing bag. It feels like a massive chore but after going out i feel like i've achieved something. If i stay in the house for a day or two then i feel like i'm getting cabin fever. Plus now shes smiling back and cooing i'm enjoying being a mum. I third going to baby groups you'll meet people who feel exactly the same.

Utopian, i think Chloes LO has green poo but the HV told her it was ok. Maybe it was something you've eaten or drank. I drank alot of orange juice one week in my pregnancy and my poo turned green (TMI sorry).

Seconds i know exactly how you feel. Mornings are the worst when i'm trying to time it so i can shower without her screaming, and then dress myself before sorting out her changing bag. It feels like a massive chore but after going out i feel like i've achieved something. If i stay in the house for a day or two then i feel like i'm getting cabin fever. Plus now shes smiling back and cooing i'm enjoying being a mum. I third going to baby groups you'll meet people who feel exactly the same.

Utopian, i think Chloes LO has green poo but the HV told her it was ok. Maybe it was something you've eaten or drank. I drank alot of orange juice one week in my pregnancy and my poo turned green (TMI sorry).

My hv came today and said if baby is otherwise happy and well, green pop is nothing to worry about. She said some babies are green all the time, others here and there.

T weighed in at arm aching 12lb 8oz at 7 weeks and 2 days. Higgling that 91st centile curve nicely! Am now feeling quite relaxed about bfing - whatever we're doing she's obviously getting enough.

Hv did scare me about tummy sleeping though - I'm confident that it's right for T but she suggested thinking about getting a sensor mat like angel care - anyone got any experience?

Seconds, I'm finding it a bit isolating too. I try to have at least one thing on every day, which helps to get ms out of the house. And I walk for miles!

Little C slept a bit longer tonight before this feed, which means - ouch! I just hand expressed a couple of oz to get some relief, but it will be put to good use.

Iv got an angelcare monitor with sensor mat, and I love it! Find it very reassuring especially as we put him to bed upstairs a couple of hours before we go to bed. Also I am quite paranoid about our cats getting in the cot with him (they hide and sneak past me when I'm trying to keep them out!) so it helps with that anxiety.

Considering F slept most of yesterday (11.30-2.30, 4-6) he has made a brilliant effort at sleeping tonight (8-1.30, 2.30-5.30). We are off to a ball pit with a friend and her toddler today, goal set for getting out the house!