April 2013 - We've all had our babies now. Let the (hard work) fun commence!

[HadALittleFaithBaby]

Thought I'd take the liberty of starting a new thread since the last one filled. So mark your places, get comfy and prepare for a few sleepless nights!

In particular we think of Empress and little Sam - hoping and praying he's coming home! :)

Morning all! I'm quite cheery after so much sleep!

HV came this morning to weigh and measure Faithlet, she now weighs 8lb 6oz! She's gained 3lb 3oz since birth and I am bloody delighted! She's gone up another centile to the 4th (was 0.2 at birth!). Interestingly she's 75th for length - long and lean! She currently enjoying some time under her play gym.

I'd also go for Premier Inn in London. You get a consistent quality with them and get a king size bed!

Holiday sounds lovely Trish and you definitely deserve it!

Really pleased to hear Lucy is doing well ratbag! :)

Well it's sunny so I think I'll take her out for a walk!

Also recommend Premier Inn or we stayed in the travel lodge in Covent Garden last November. It's a reasonable standard but so convenient location wise. check out laterooms.com or booking.com - I have had good deals through them before.

S slept through till 3 this morning which gave us a shock - 6 hours straight so we thought we had missed a feed!

a month old today - unbelievable! Going to try and take some hand and foot prints later. Was going to do this in week one but nevermind. If they come out ok might do something creative for Fathers Day.

Aaah! Bless little faith she is almost exactly the same weight as C now who is 8 lb 8! How are you and DH feeling about the BF now? Do you think this will make a difference to how he feels?

Seems crazy to think some babies are just reaching 8lb 6 or 8 when dd was born 8lb 6 lol!
We are on week 8 and weighing 11lb 5
Taking up to six ounces every 4ish hours
Wearing vests plus sleepsuit or outfit and sleeping bag to bed (in the moses!)

I know num, she now weighs what I did at birth! She's nearly 7 weeks! Bless her. too I'm hoping it will encourage him. He hasn't mentioned formula since the weekend. We agreed to look at introducing some formula around 3 months so we'll see then. In some ways he was right in that she was rarely settled, always looking for food. However the answer was to treat the reflux/wind rather than give her formula. I wish I'd done something sooner because she's so much more settled now!

Had Henry weighed today and, at almost 7 weeks, he's 14.5lb. Checked DD's red book and that's how much she weighed at 14 weeks. He's gained over 5lb in six weeks

Posted in BF section as I'm not sure he's getting enough BM (although would he have gained that much if he wasn't?)

He's been gnawing his hands after feeds but he does sleep well at night, in 4-hour blocks and settles well.Tempted to offer top-ups but I'd rather not start messing with bottles if I don't need too !

The other option is he's sucking his hands for comfort. He doesn't seem particularly agitated when he's doing it, and won't take any more milk. It's just ingrained in me that hand-sucking equals a hungry baby!

Need to obviously

We've been home with Sam for a week now and getting the hang of it. I can't believe he's already 7 weeks old. He is so much chubbier as well. He's only about 8lb though (he was 7lb 6 at birth) so still a long way to go.

Getting a bit annoyed with all the local medical services. Took Sam into the doctor's surgery to ask about his mouth (it's not thrush or teething and is probably just 'one of those things'...) and they had taken me off their books as I had been temporarily assigned to a doctor in Bristol when Sam was in hospital there. So I had to re-join and sign Sam up. Despite the hospital sending a folder of notes nobody at the surgery had the faintest idea about Sam's condition or history. At present I am having to go back into Bristol a couple of times a week to collect medications and go for Sam's checkups. It's a 45 minute train journey with a 35 minute walk so not impressed! Thankfully, my parents are down for a visit and helping out lots.

HV came round today. She asked me for the elusive 'red book'. People are forever asking me for this and I have never seen it if it even exists. For those of you that have them what is in it that I'm missing as they all seem incredulous and most put out that Sam hasn't got one! Once HV had got over the lack of red book she had a rant at me about how I make up my feeds (though I am following instructions from the hospital which I was able to show her though she then said 'well, they are clearly behind the times'!!!) and she was horrified Sam hasn't had a hearing test. I felt like saying 'well, the doctors were probably too busy saving his life six times to worry about hearing tests and red books'. Let's just say it wasn't a hugely successful visit!

That's all for my update. Sorry for the rant. I actually feel much happier about life than this post would suggest!

No longer sad about lack of breastfeeding having read about lola and I am bonding much better with my little boy than I was. I think we just both needed time.

No passport pics yet Nicky! Need to get mine sorted first and change to my married name then will do H's! xx

Lovely to hear your update empress Sam and my little Celeste had the due date & she is 8 lb 8 :)

Red book is an A5 sized book with red cover that they use to record all of babies check up plus plot their weight gain on a graph, immunisations etc. your health visitor or GP surgery should be able to get you one. It does sound like your HV is a bit blinkered though

Hope you & your boy are enjoying the sunshine?

Lovely to get an update on Sam! Sorry you've had a few people be arsy with you tho xx

Glad the bonding is going well xx

Exhausted! Tonight P has just cried and cried- proper wails. He was fed, clean and winded- he often gets trapped wind but it didn't seem to be that tonight. He hadn't slept much in the day so I expect he was overtired. He's quiet now- not asleep- just exhausted!

We've talked quite a lot about night time routines, do you have daytime routines? How much does your LO sleep in the day?

Hi all, been trying to keep up with the thread but not had the chance to post myself! E is now 4 weeks old, seems to have flown by...

Things have improved since my last post, my injured nipple has almost healed completely - I've been expressing from that side a bit more, and used copious amounts of lansinoh! It's still not as comfortable to feed from as my left side, I may get the latch checked, but it's not unbearable.

E has had some unsettled nights, crying lots and trying to feed constantly but then pulling off after a couple of minutes to cry more, which has me wondering if he's got silent reflux. I'm finding that as long as I keep him upright after a feed for about 20 mins he settles back down to sleep ok. He does prefer to sleep on me, which is a habit I'm trying to break - but don't have the energy at 4am to argue! I'm going to take him to be weighed next week, so will see how much he's gained. He's managing to go roughly 3 hours between feeds overnight, on a couple of occasions it's been 4 hours. During the day it's more like every 1.5-2.5 hours, and he seems to cluster feed from 6pm to 9pm. Poor thing has come out in loads of spots on his face, it's like he's a teenager already! I'm hoping they disappear soon, from what I've read it's just hormones.

Had a read up on biological nurturing position, gave it a try last night & E fell asleep after 10 mins latched on. Seems more comfortable for night feeds, but I think I'll be sticking to cradle hold for daytime as it's not practical for me to go & lie down for each feed!

Empress - great to hear that you are home with Sam now, though annoying about the doctors & the HV's red book obsession!

Trish - Holiday sounds like it will be lovely, I got married last year & still haven't updated my passport, am waiting for it to expire next year as they will only add on something like 9 months to a new one when you change your name & I'm not willing to pay out any sooner for a new one!

Sneezy - Henry seems to be gaining weight nicely! If he doesn't seem agitated then I'd assume he was just sucking his hands for comfort.

Right, E wants feeding again so I'll have to go - will try to post a bit more often, although I've got an exam in 2 weeks that I should be revising for...

Thanks to bird, dysgu, faith and photo for all the London tips - I am getting excited now especially as our American friends have not been to the uk before.

Empress - sounds like you are doing really well despite annoying local health unprofessionals. Health visitor sounds particularly sensitive and empathic ... not!

Wishful - sleep is not a strong point in our house. He doesn't sleep much at night and getting him to sleep in thd day is almost impossible unless he is in the car or sling. T

Empress I think you're doing brilliantly :) I was given Faithlet's red book in hospital. They should have issued you one! I hope you get it all sorted soon.

wishful that sounds rough. We've had some issues with Faithlet only sleeping on people. Depends on how I feel as to how I handle it. Day time I generally just let her sleep on me. I've been trying to get her to settle in her Moses basket in the day. Today I popped her in while I did something in the bedroom, turned round and she was asleep in it! Miracle!

I think I finally figured out why Faithlet was taking so long to settle in the evenings - I think it was too light! I'd got some blackout fabric but it didn't cover the whole window (mis measured due to sleep deprivation when buying it!). Put a towel over the gap and she fell asleep after the next feed/boob. 9 is the earliest she's settled for as long as I can remember. I've got back up and am watching tv with DH!

empress my first HV visit left me quite upset as she questioned our feeding pattern. My dr said it was because they only follow protocols / standards. I also had to tell her how to make up a bottle properly! Our visits have got better though.

wishful we do sort of have a routine, although we feed on demand so it's still flexible. Feed about 7/8, I potter about/breakfast/shower/go back to bed and S will normally sleep, feed mid morning then go out if have chores, lunch feed then wash all my bottles and eat, afternoon feed then get dinner ready and maybe go for a walk. S is much more awake these days especially in the late afternoon / early evening. The rest of the day she still usually sleeps for most of the time between feeds (1 month today)

wishful nap wise here the boys are fed every 4hrs(ish)from 7am till bed at 7pm. every 4hr gap i try and get them to sleep the last 1.5-2hrs of each session, but i also pay attention to their sleep cues. apart from the last gap where i let them nap for hr max.
soon im going to start structuring it a little more by putting them in their cots for sleeps rather than letting them dose in bouncer to see if they are more refreshed. they are pretty good at going down at night so thinking worth a try soon.
(then i can do my davina DVD!)

Oh and I don't have much of a routine in the day but she tends to have two big sleeps for a couple of hours, usually when she's in the sling/car/pushchair.

oh and they are 12 wks today x

Thanks to bird, dysgu, faith and photo for all the London tips - I am getting excited now especially as our American friends have not been to the uk before. I am really a country gal at heart but love seeing the hustle and bustle and feeling the excitement of the city for a day or two : )

Empress - sounds like you are doing really well despite annoying local health unprofessionals. Health visitor sounds particularly sensitive and empathic ... not! I am glad you are finally home with your boy.

Wishful - sleep is not a strong point in our house. He doesn't sleep much at night and getting him to sleep in the day is almost impossible unless he is in the car or sling. Today he slept for an hour and a half this morning in the car and sling then woke up around 1 and is still awake now!! He is tired but crys when I try to put him down to sleep. He would happily sleep on me but don't want to create a habit.

I am reading the no cry sleep solution as I fear at 12 weeks old I need to start sorting this out before it becomes to ingrained. I have no idea how at this stage so need to get reading quick. DM suggests letting him cry for a few minutes but not sure if I can!

Night time only marginally better so its safe to say I don't have a good sleeper!! Having said that in the morning when he is rested he is very easy and content so if I can crack am afternoon nap maybe the nights will improve too. My friends from antenatal class came over today and said he was very easy compared to theirs but they are all getting more sleep than me. Having said that I wouldn't swap the little beauty!

Do people have a routine for naps and or any suggestions for a baby that is not one for daytime napping?

We also don't really have a daytime routine as Evan just has to fit in with the girls most of the time. During term time he does get 3 days with just me so there may be more of a routine in the coming weeks as he is managing to stay awake more and more during the gaps between feeds.

Today he went 5 hours between two feeds and has been fine and chirpy - until he got overtired this evening so we had 20 minutes of crying before he settled.

Empress is good to read that things are settling now you have Sam home. I would ask about red book when you are next in Bristol. I also tend to tell the HV what she wants to hear so may be flexible with the truth regarding making up bottles and sterilisation etc (and we have done it the same way with all our preemie children and they are all fine, fabulous and healthy). Now we are on DC3 she just lets me do my own thing and says 'I know you like to be independent.' She is great though and was lovely when we had DD1 as HV is an ex-NICU nurse.

Empress - here the HV hands out the red book (but I'm sure that's different from when I had DS), so just blame her! My mum is a retired HV, and I have to hold myself back from criticising them as a species now that I had practical experience!

Sneezy - I found it hard with DS to accept that hand sucking was mainly a tiredness cue - hunger is indicated by head turning and head bobbing...

Oh for a routine! First night time feed is before midnight tonight! Going to be a bad one me thinks!

It probably doesn't help but Lucy sucks her hands all the time, when she's hungry, when she's not, when she's tired, when she's not etc. it just seems to be a comfort thing, she even kicks out her dummy and shoves hands in she's going to be a thumb sucker, I can see it

trish don't you need a passport to go on hold to Spain with H? I ask as would love to go to Europe for last minute break but not got Bellas passport sorted yet...

First and hopefully last feed of night here as Bella didn't go down til 11pm- tried giving her expressed bottle and she still wanted boob to get to sleep !

Jo yes he needs one, just gona do mine first tho as his application needs both parents passport numbers.

Mine runs out in October and has my maiden name so I'm gona do mine first xx