June 2013 (3) - teething & not sleeping!

[rrreow]

I broke the old thread! Step this way, step this way.

When the HV visits you in the first couple of weeks they give you a leaflet inviting you to the next group- one a month. Runs for six weeks. Group based discussion on whatever we want to talk about. Now we meet up weekly, go to rhyme time etc.

I like the fact I've met people I normally never would. One girl came here from Russia to meet a bloke she met on the internet, married, had a baby. Another was working in a bar in Sofia when a guy came in, got chatting, hooked up, moved to London. Had baby. Makes for interesting chat!

I don't go to the HV either. First baby I did go once to get him weighed. But after weird advice (give my breastfed newborn baby water...) I just thought I better stay away. As long as a baby is well in themselves I don't think you need to bother stressing about weight, eating etc. We all know our babies well enough anyway to know when something is a bit off. I did go to the 2yo check though, we got a free toothbrush

On that subject, anyone with a baby with teeth actually brushing them yet?

I saw the same midwife throughout pregnancy. She was a community midwife in my local area, as I had a low risk pregnancy; maybe if I'd had to go to hospital for checks I'd have seen a different one every time. I didn't see her in hospital as I had an ELCS and she does home births but she visited after the birth for a while afterwards. She was amazing, and very supportive when baby lost weight in the early days of bf. She also arranged for a bf counsellor to visit to help with different feeding positions after my section, something else I'm grateful for as I've read that other people have to pay for 'lactation consultants' to visit. She also did the antenatal classes (which were great) so we got to know her quite well.

The HV support here is great too; here there are guidelines that in the first few months they like to weigh every two weeks, then once a month up to 6 months, then every three months up to a year. I don't know what happens if you don't go but I like the HV so I go! And it's fascinating to see how they (eventually!) follow the line when you feed on demand. She was also supportive when I had mastitis etc, visiting me rather than expecting me to go to her when I was often having to go to the hospital, and then praising me for continuing to bf.

Weaning is going well; despite thinking it would be a while before DD could use a spoon, she managed to pick one up, put it in her mouth and eat food off it yesterday. Ok, so the spoon was upside down, but still!

If you're back at work and the baby is at nursery you wouldn't go to the HV, so I don't think it matters if you go or not really.

I think if they're concerned about you they'd probably make contact to make sure you were seen though.

That's true, MrsBri. I don't think it's compulsory. This is not an area where there'd be many concerns so I think they get bored - the midwife even told us it isn't very challenging (has high bf rates etc)!

Am at hospital for pre-admission appointment for knee surgery.... made sure to tell booking-in nurse I just had a baby, before I got on the scales. Lied about his age. Am not stupid, just fat.

Don't be hard on yourself Oli, you have just had a baby. Nine months on nine months off and all that. Hope it goes ok.

I also tiptoed on the height measure to improve my BMI.

Hedgehogy's right Oli; it's bound to take time for our bodies to adjust again. Don't be hard on yourself. But at tiptoes!!

I'd need levitation skills to help with my bmi! Have they decided what op they are doing to help you oli?

I am sat with Charlie and Lola on in the background, dd has been asleep for about an hour...

Oh it's all good - once they fix my knee I can exercise and it'll be fine. Dreading 6 weeks on crutches (3 weeks non-weight-bearing) - it'll be....well, interesting, looking after J.

Do you have many people who can help you out? When is operation? I am happy to come visit one afternoon and do some joe entertaining. Would like to see him and his big smile again!!

Hmmm not really but think we might put J in a local (overpriced, posh but thus v nice) nursery for the first month post-op....I can't say I'm looking forward to it!

J is a bit disconcertingly smiley...!

How much bathwater is it legal for a baby to drink?

Depends on the ABV

Olimoss, on the bright side, they aren't crawling yet, or else they are slow, you'll be back to full strength before that's an issue!

Sunny - jealous - DD also has had a cold, but she's been awake for hours screaming each night for over a week with it last night she was finally a bit better, woke up once for about 5 minutes (just wanted a cuddle) in the middle of the night, then slept until DS jumped on her...

she's also not really liking food. I'm not sure if it's the cold, but she's not a fan of being fed. i was talking to a friend who's a midwife today who said just stick with keeping up the number and quantity of milk feeds, offer finger food and reassess in a couple of months. DS was such a piggy in comparassion! (Or perhaps my cooking isn't as good as it was...)

I go to the HV about once a month, even then it's really just because I feel a should so I can tell my mum/MIL what DD weighs, not because I think I should to keep the HV happy...

Morning oh wise ones.

A question about logistics and cleaning if I may?

We've been doing 2 meals a day and are about to increase it to 3. Breakfast she is still in her PJ's which I strip off afterwards because they are covered in porridge. Dinner she is in her day clothes which I also strip off her afterwards to change her into pj's because they are frankly minging.

So how do I give her lunch without having to change her clothes again??? Do I strip her down to her nappy? It's December in Scotland so not convinced by that one. Or is there some kind of fancy baby washing/food protecting gadget that no one has told me about?

Help me ladies!

We use large bibs that cover her front and shoulders. We've been given lots of small bibs which aren't suitable at this very messy stage but we got some large ones from Sainsbury's. The high tray chair gets the rest of it, and her face can easily be wiped. She does get some on her wrists but we can just roll her sleeves up and wipe them afterwards. I have seen bibs that cover their upper body and arms but putting on one of those seems a bit of a hassle, you might as well just change their top.

We have those bibs with sleeves. Cheapie ones we've been using with DS1 for years, and I just got a Bibetta for DS2. The Bibetta is expensive but I'm very impressed with it so far. They're great for BLW as I find that they just rub their arms in their food otherwise.

After being fobbed off the other day by the gp, took dd back today and have finally being given some antibiotics for her so fingers crossed the poor little lady and mummy can start getting some sleep in a few days!!

Oscar is six months today !
saw hv and she told me blw isn't recommended so I nodded and smiled and will carry on doing what works for us. I will buy vitamin drops though. she kept banging on about protein and how important it is so I probably need to try meat soon ?

we use bibs with arms and a small bib underneath, however DD is still not really eating although odd success today, pesto on bread, taste sensation it seems...

It is a mess isn't it Sunny? I think I've decided never to eat a meal out as it's such a disaster zone. We currently double up on bibs, but have got a full arms one for her Christmas stocking.

I can't say I'm loving weaning. With DS it was all fun and exciting, now I just think about the cleaning/time/hassle. bad mummy

What I am loving is that she finally gave up the 2 hourly wake ups at night and has gone back to sleeping from 6pm-3/4 am, and then back to sleep till 6ish. I think the day time routine is definitely helping as she's getting more sleep overall. For some reason despite actually having a good sleep last night I'm still shattered today.

AlohaMama - you're body will be catching up, I always feel worse after a good nights sleep following a few bad nights.

oh and last time round, DS hit 6 months in the summer, so he was outside, wearing very little and no long sleeves, jumper dresses for DD have cuffs that poke out of the long sleeved bibs and still get messy/soak up all the mess.