The posifrikentivity graduates thread - we did it!!

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Finally enough graduates (with more very imminently expected) to have our very own little thread. Yay. :)

Janie don't stress mama. Glad they found nothing wrong with Leo that's the main thing. To catch wee put a cotton wool pad in his nappy. Surprised they didn't tell you this at the hospital. Had to do it for DS1. Big hug x

Hi Anda and everyone else. Good question pink on the growth spurt !

Charlotte seems to have chomped Hal my right nipple today. It's very very scream kit loud painful anyway! Thought the worst of this was over! Meh!

kellymom.com/bf/normal/growth-spurts/

When your lovely, settled baby turns into a demon child who is clingy, wants milk all the time, and loses the ability to sleep. At it's worst in this one we went from one night feed to every two hours. They're awesome. However, knowing about them helps, and recognising it is good because you know it won't last long and that it's not their fault.

Oh and then there's the 4m sleep regression. That's a winner too. These babies should come with manuals!

Janie keep taking his nappy off and have a cup or small bowl ready. The cool air should trigger him to go and it's no bad thing for him to have a naked kick about (will strengthen his tummy muscles to bring up burps better)
Obviously do it in a reasonable warm room with a towel down.

Day 5 and my hormones are all over the shop. Had a weird shaky moment last night which must have been due to them (and Joss cluster feeding from 8-11pm)

Hey janie and lucky!
Nearly 28 weeks now- and still in shock/disbelief/denial about it all and have been feeling pretty crap but I've never known joy like it when I feel baby kick and move about.

janie I'm sorry you're feeling pants. Obviously I don't know much anything about weight gain other than to say that a few of my friends have been faced with the same situation and it did pass and was then forgotten. Crap that you feel you are failing because it sounds like you are a wonderful mummy, try not to be too hard on yourself.

This nipple biting/bleeding sounds awful...yikes!

Janie James lost loads of weight at the start and they put fear of god into me. But he is fine now. I think so
Sometimes it just takes a while to get established and as long as they are getting something and not ill wouldn't worry too much. Personally I think they are over cautious and end up bullying people into giving them formula instead of giving you a chance to get going. Like you said they couldn't find anything wrong
I wish I had given myself a chance and not. Rushed into topping up with firmly so soon.

Formula that is

Thunder 28 weeks wow!! Thats fab!! It'll fly in! Hope you are keeping well x

Thanks everyone for your messages. He's feeding like a demon today so I'm hoping this means he'll be a wee chubster when they weigh him next Monday. I did however have a complete breakdown this evening. I don't know why I'm crying half the time. DH doesn't get it and i don't feel he's giving me much emotional support. When I was in tears earlier, some if the lines I got included 'pull yourself together' 'did you think this was going to be easy or something' 'what do you want...sympathy?' Which obviously made me a hundred times worse. I think all I wanted was a hug and to be told I was doing great and being a good mummy. If I'm honest I was ready to just pack up mine and Leo's things and go to my mums. I feel terrible saying that but it's the truth. I'm not even looking forward to Christmas Day much.

Hopefully it's just that I'm tired and a bit upset after yesterday, but I am beginning to worry if it's something more than just that.

On the upside I did manage to catch some pee in the tube earlier. Naked feeding and the tube over his wee winky for what seemed like a lifetime! The paediatrician wouldn't allow me to so the cotton wool trick as she said it would get contaminated?!?

Sorry for my rant, but it feels good to write it down.

I want to wish you all a very happy Christmas with your little people (thunder you and your bump!!) and to thank you did being fucking awesome people and true legends, every single one of you xxxxxxxx

MERRY CHRISTMAS one and all, hope the babies appreciate their first christmas!

Hi Thunder fab to hear from you, and you too Anda

Janie if I had a quid for every time I felt like me n DP were destined to split after having DD1 I'd be rich! It really is hard adjusting to the responsibility of babydom. Don't give up, it does get easier. Promise. Glad Leo is well and munching again.

Right tit is playing up again. DP got me the best christmas present; Savoy cabbage...!

Off to the in laws later, may not survive...been lovely knowing you all

Have a wonderful Christmas with your babies ladies (and bump thunder!) I do hope it is a very happy one for you all x

Happy Christmas to all you lovely ladies, and your wonderful babies- what a wonderful gift we all have this Christmas. Xx

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas Day. Thought i would regale you all with Christmas Day tale.
The bambino hadn't poohed for three days and a pooh was imminent. However I was distracted by Fantasia on the tele and hadn't paid much attention to the fact my mum had stripped him down to his vest as he seemed hot and then handed him back to me for a feed. Sat In my lovely new jumper cuddling him after feed. Suddenly noticed my hands were sticky with pooh. The wee mans nappy had exploded without me noticing ( he generally smells of farts most of time so smell is not a major indicator) and I had managed
To cover my hair, my new jumper, my mums couch in poop!!! Queue screams of distress from me and traumatic changing/ bathing episode - it took two baths to get him cleaned up.

Hilarious Bod! Who'd have thought pooh could be so entertaining? My DP was most impressed(?) Christmas Eve when DS managed to pooh on his finger whilst he was changing him!

Have mainly been sleep deprived for 2 days as DS has the snuffles but remembered last night that I had some childrens olbas oil and have droppered in various strategic places which has just given me 2+ hrs sleep which is an achievement and a half after the last couple of nights. Just hoping he goes back down after this feed. Fingers crossed.

Hope everyone had lovely Christmas'

Oh bod that's so funny. Poor you. We have had some fairly explosive ones too- DH always looks so disturbed by it all.

Sorry to hear about the snuffles garden. Both me and DH have been sneezing so I think germs are on the way in our house too :( will bear the Olbas oil in mind!

We had a fab Christmas. Was so lovely to have our little family together at last, has been amazing. And we are off to inlaws tomorrow (today) for second Christmas!
Going to have to take Imogen to docs again though, her bum just looks worse and the cream should be working by now. Just don't know what to do, feel like such a bad mummy it looks so sore. Poor little mite.

Happy Christmas! For Christmas the babies have given me three consecutive nights where they have gone until 5am for their first feed. I've been playing 'dummy in, dummy out' since 3am on and off but still, it's encouraging. Another hour and I'll be delighted. However, it could well just be because they've been going to sleep a little later, although Charlotte was doing it last week too. 17 weeks yesterday. Technically they could have baby rice etc now (how did that happen so quickly) but I'm going to try and get as close to 6m as I can even though my life will be infinitely easier when they can be spoon fed and sit in highchairs!

The Christmas presents that have gone down most well with them have been Lamaze Stretch the Giraffe, some East Coast Sassy teething rings and lots of books! My favourite present was a text from my old cleaner saying she was starting up again. No more filth. Yay!

Hey mummies :)
Hope you are all currently rummaging through a big tin of quality street and having nice cuddles with your babies :)

Pink how is wee Imogen's bum? Did you get to see a dr as yet?

Bod that is so funny!!!

Anda I am so tempted to get a cleaner, especially when dh goes back to work. Our Hoover (and steam cleaner) hasn't been out since before Leo arrived over 3 weeks ago oops.

Garden how are the snuffles? Hope feeling better. You had said that Wolfie had got spotty? Leo is so spotty, honestly he's covered. I asked the midwife and she said its hormonal on bf babies. But still, where did his lovely soft face go :( His forehead is spotty and dry too...are olive oil or Vaseline the best thing?

The midwife weighed Leo yesterday and thankfully he has put on weight woohoo! Now up to a whopping 7lb9oz yay! Little fatty. Still feel really guilty about having to give him formula. I originally wanted to give him a bottle at night but we're also giving him one during the day. DH insists he needs more bottles during the day and anytime Leo cries, dh says 'let's give him a bottle' when actually he just wants cuddled or needs his nappy done. I'm aware I have to keep bf if I want to keep my supply up, but all DHs family are saying giving bottles is the best thing for an easy life and aren't very supportive of bf which is doing my head in!

I cannot wait to get our tree down! Mainly so I can go through all the lovely presents that Leo got! There's no room in our house for everything and a tree! Might take it down later bah humbug!

I got the nasty tummy bug on Xmas day boohoo, spent most of the day on the settee, thank goodness for mummies (or should that be grannies!) my mum was fab and really treated us to a lovely Xmas day. We stayed over and she was so sad to see us go home on Boxing Day!

Dh has been a bit better although I think it would be nice if he could sleep in our bedroom. Not really sure what routine will be best at night but it just gets a bit lonely and I begin to resent him a bit when I'm up during the night doing nappy and feeding and then in the morning again while he's snoozing away in the spare room. What do you guys find works best?

Hey Janie :)

Yea we went back to the docs, Imogen has a new bum cream. The doc had to google what to do next!! Still, this one seems to be helping which I am so pleased about.
She also gave me that tablet that was mentioned for my nips, but told me to keep up with the cream for another week before taking it... Not sure why I am tempted to just take it now get this all sorted.... Why wait? Anyway at least it's progress.

Yay for Leo putting weight on! Don't beat yourself up over the formula, important thing is he is happy and healthy and so are you. I've had to give Imogen a couple of bottles now, I'm just not keeping up with her. I'm a bit sad I didn't last longer, but not the end of the world.

Me and DH are still in the same room. I wake up to do the feeds, and take her into the nursery to feed and change so he can sleep. Seems to work well. He was getting a little disturbed by her snuffling (noisy creature!) so now has earphones to hand and listens to music if it gets too much. But I guess earplugs would do the same job.

... Only thing is, I would sometimes prefer him in the spare room! We haven't dtd in ages (he didn't really like to when baby cooking) but he seems to have now realised I'm not pregnant any more..... But I can't bear the thought of it at the moment. I feel so minging... Like some sort of fat milk machine.... I almost wish he was in the spare room so I wouldn't have to see the hurt puppy face when I turn down his advances. Poor DH!

Hello ladies.

Oh I would love a de-clutter fairy and cleaner. We are a bit squished here. I took our tree down yesterday Janie! No room for Christmas in this 2 bed cottage with 4 of us . We are tentatively thinking of moving but where we live is bootiful and we couldn't afford a bigger place in the same area. Hmmm. Main problem is that we still haven't unpacked fully from our trip to my folks before Christmas and that was followed by a zillion Christmas presents for DD and DS.... I need to get all Scandinavian and remove half of our belongings.

Wolfie still has thick snot, mainly at night which is incredibly helpful when you are trying to sleep. V tired now. Yawn. His spots have gone though, think they lasted a week or so but now he is back on top photographic form with his peachy skin. Hopefully Leo's will do the same.

DP is still in the same room (well it's either that or DD's floor!). Even if we had a spare room I wouldn't want him in there for the very reason you said Janie - I'd want to kill him for getting a good nights sleep! Also if/when you go back to work you will realise how bloody easy work is compared to looking after your children. Sorry but IMO they can be sleep deprived like me as they actually have an easier time of it by going into work! Saying that DP sleeps through everything so I end up having one way conversations rants in the middle of the night about him not waking and ultimately dig him in the ribs if it gets too bad and tell him to take over, especially as the little man is still suffering with the snuffles.

Ooh has anyone tried cranial osteopathy for babies? Thinking of giving it a go as DS is a bit out of sorts, can't really put my finger on it but it's not that he's ill, just doesn't settle well, cries for no apparent reason, wants to be held 24/7 etc and I wondered if it could be to do with the rapid exit via induction and even possibly me driving him over the two ditches and through the hedge into a fence at speed whilst he was still indoors. Would be interested to hear of anyone's experiences if they have any?

Oh and any of you on fbook? I'm not a major fbooker but am there - wondered if any of you fancied friending? Sound like I'm 7 years old

Hello ladies! Thought I'd poke my head round the corner. Have read the last page but will try and plough through some of the other posts! Hope everyone is well and bums have healed etc!

My girl is a week old now and has settled in beautifully. So happy however the hormones and sleep deprivation are raging I'm fine all day up until about 4 or 5 pm when it all becomes a bit much! On the one hand I'm looking forward to getting into s lovely routine when dp goes back to work but on the other hand I'm rhunkng how am I going to cope with three little ones?! Eek!

I fully intend to enjoy every second of this little one's babyhood though as she's my last baby. On new years day 2013 I had the first of my two mc and new years day 2014 will be spent holding my girl. Feel very very very lucky!

Anyway enough mindless blabbing! Hope you're all well this morning xxx

Pink you're thinking of DTD ooh you're braver than me. I'm like you...we only DTD twice during pregnancy but since the birth and having stitches and them going gammy and no waxing since (and turning into monkey fanjo) I'm scared to even look down there never mind allow dh down there. Although it would be nice... if only I could get my torn up fanjo image out of my head!

Yes I'm in two minds now about the whole spare room situation. If Leo wakes in the night for a feed, on my own I can watch catch up tv on my iPad or listen to music without faffing about with earphones and being quiet. Pink I'm impressed that you get out of bed to go to a different room. However it would be nice to have a cuddle...I think it's maybe half the reason I'm feeling a bit distanced from dh at the minute...we don't really have a relationship under our current living situation and have no time for anything during the day! I think I need to make a list of things that need sorting and put that one at the top.

Pink hope the new cream is working? Strange that they make you wait to taker the tablet?! I'd also be tempted to swallow it if they didn't give you any good reason not to. Or maybe ask in the chemist? Preferably a female pharmacist who might sympathise with painful nips rather than a nasty man making you suffer and wait for relief!?

Garden I imagine your house to be like the pretty cottage in that movie 'the holiday'. Sounds lush! Dh didn't let me take the tree down yesterday. I think mainly because he would've had to go to the attic to get all the boxes etc! Oh and have you got a snot sucker? Apparently they're the bollocks for an little babies, and very very satisfying when you retrieve the little offenders from the sniffly noses!

Tell me ladies...what's the longest you would leave your little people sleeping at night. When Leo was born I was advised not to leave him more than 6 hours at night and I would set my alarm in case he didn't waken. He was still out for the count this morning when the alarm went off at 7am (he finally went down at 1am) so I rebelled and woke him at 7.30 so he was asleep for 6 and a half hours (yes I do feel like a new woman). Is it the law not to let them go for longer than 6 hours at night. Some people think I'm mad for weakening him if he's happily asleep. He had fed on the boob like a demon all evening yesterday, had a bottle at about 10pm and hoovered it. Was still sucking his fists at midnight so dh suggested another bottle as I'd expressed my tits dry and he then hoovered another bottle as well so boob and 2 bottles before bed so he can't have been too starving during the night.

Oh and garden I'm on Facebook. I think Anda said her post natal gang had a group on fb which was great for sharing pics too. I'd be up for being in your gang :)

Oh avd I'd love to know if the cranial osteopathy actually does anything. Leo can be screechy for no apparent reason..more so at night..but I don't have anything to compare it to so don't know if it's normal or crazy behaviour.

Janie- how old is Leo now? I'm pretty sure after all that milk you wouldn't have needed to wake him. Don't they just recommend waking them when they're tiny to avoid jaundice as it makes them sleepy so they don't feed and feeding is what clears jaundice up so then it gets worse? Not sure how long that stands though, thought it was just fir very new newborns?

I second what Blackholes said about jaundice. I don't think you need to worry about waking. As long as is feeding well and putting on weight. Which he is, so sounds like he is just a very clever baby!

With dtd, remember I had a c section. Don't think I would be that brave if my foo had been through all that drama.
I did say to DH- we can't at the moment as not got any contraception sorted. He said..... That's okay we want another one don't we..... Wtaf?! Not yet!!! Staying well away from him for now.

On that subject - black holes how do you cope with 3 little ones? We eventually would like 3, but I can't see us getting past the first at the moment!

Janie- definitely try and have some you and DH time. I know easier said than done, but I feel so much better after just having a hug (emosh moment). It can be so hard, especially with sleep deprivation setting in, and we find things get said it done than aren't meant. So finding 2 mins for a hug and reminding selves why we do it is so worth it.
For reference, we aren't usually this soppy! Romance isn't a word that usually comes in to our relationship, but at the moment we seem to be doing well at 'appreciating' each other if any of that makes sense!!

Hello everyone. Lots to catch up on! I've had a bad week. Had a blocked milk duct on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and was in the most pain I have ever experienced! Worse than childbirth! Was at the end of my tether as the Drs was closed bit didn't really want to miss the childrens Christmas sitting in A and E! Saw the dr on Friday who gave me some cream and also cream for thrush in DDs bottom. I'm on the mend bit still not right and feeding had been really hard. I've nearly quit so many times! DDs bottom looks Tedder than before and now she had spots on her face so may not use the cream any more!
Those of you who have sleeping babies I would let them sleep! I'm so very jealous! I'm every 2 hours and it's hard work! Think she went 3 hours once which was a treat! Hey ho! With regards to rooms and sleeping DH has been in spare room since I was about 7 months pregnant! Just seems a bit daft for us both to be tired and loose sleep when he had to work. Also means when he is off he gets up in the morning with DS and I stay in bed with dd. Is working for us at the moment.
I am not liking this wind at the moment! I quite fancied a walk today but have been put off by the weather! I feel so fat and saggy tummed. I so need to loose weight! 2 babies has def ruined my figure! I am also making the most of DDs baby days as this is out last baby too. I have been feeling quite horny the last week after a 3rd degree tear I'm not letting DH near me just yet. Not worth mote damage down there!

Ou yes I'm also a face booker