Graduates of the Due in Aug Thread

[PinkTulips]

thought we should start a post-natal thread before we drive the expectant moms over the edge talking about our gorgeous little babies!

and yes i know i'm technically July thanks to Caleb popping out 2 weeks early but you're stuck with me girls

ronnie - as has been said before, the important thing is you and your dd being comfortable with your feeds.

Having a routine fitted in really well for us with ds, he was bottle fed, and I was comforted knowing pretty much exactly when he was to be fed (it ended up him wanting his bottle on the dot. Not early, never late, exactly on time!) and we always knew what would happen.

This time with dd it's blatantly clear when she needs feeding but as I'm breastfeeding settling into a routine isn't proving as easy. But we're coping, she's gaining weight, so I'm happy.

As long as you are happy, I wouldn't worry. The only thing I'd keep an eye on (if you are bottlefeeding? can't remember?) is if on one day her feeds all start creeping forwards... she might end up hungry during the night, or taking an extra feed, which is okay during a growth spurt but not every day iyswim.

hi everyone. not having a good day today. am coming down with a cold and feel really glum. dd has been awake nearly all day since 6.45 am and i'm exhausted. i have just managed to grab an hours sleep as dh took her out of the house and she has finally gone to sleep. she seems really unhappy all the time and it really upsets me.

i have booked an appt for her with a craniosacral therapist for thursday, as i've heard that it can be good for babies who've had horrible births. anyone any experience of that?
just want her to be happy.

on a more positive note, my mum is coming tomorrow for 10 days. never thought i'd say i was looking forward to her staying that long..........

Eeny, just to let you know you are not alone.
I had PND with ds1 and have been trying to fight it this time but i can feel it coming on. Only advice i have is to keep talking and make sure Sal is up to date with how you feel. It gets better, just take a bit of time for yourself.

been trying to settle dd for nearly 3 hours now, its nearly time for her next feed.

we appear to have been blessed with a 'non-sleeping' variety! dh has taken her out in the car.

snap Olivo , come 5am this ones eyes are like beacons despite feeding at 3am and thinking shes gone to sleep. Things are not good in my household because of this , as every night since last week I basically am up now from 2:40 when she starts stirring for her feed ,as dd1 starts her "Iwant my bum wiped", "I want my daddy" chorus at 6:30 - 7 .

As Im not sleeping , my milk seems to be dwindling, which means may be shes not having enough , which means SHES not sleeping and so the cycle goes.It took an hr last night nto express 2oz despite drinking and eating enough and its making me go CRAZEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. I'll take this to BF section as I sooo need some help ,as Im not feeling very loving towards my darling little child and then when she gives me a big lovely grin at 5 it makes me feel even worse and I do love her so much with all my being , but my being is dwindling !!!!!

hi everyone how are you all today?
Ronniemummy I like you only found out last minute with my previous pregnancy that I was group b strep I was supposed to have had a homebirth but thought my waters had broke a couple of weeks early. The midwife sent me for a swab and it was found that I had the group b strep. They automatically assume you are still a carrier for your next pregnancy so didnt bother testing me this time. During both labours I was given antibiotics intravenously and baby had obs for 48 hours. My midwife came out to see me yesterday and told me not to be complacent about the fact that she passed all her obs and to make sure that I inform my gp of the fact that Im a group b strep carrier if over the next few weeks or months Im worried about her becoming ill as they recently had a misdiagnosed cot death which when they carried out the autopsy was found to be due to group b srep cultures having grown for the last three months. She said it was the only case in twenty years she had heard of but to be aware of it.
Snowboo and Eeny I had postnantal depression after two of my girls and urge you both to talk about how you are feeling noone will judge you here and get professional help. I can remember standing at the top of the stairs wanting to throw my toddler down and waking up thinking the house was on fire. It is very difficult to explain how you feel to your husband but you have to keep trying
Sophie is doing really well I totally agree that you have to be flexible with feeding and try not to bog yourself down with strict routines.

Hi everyone
SnowBoo and Eeny, you aren't on your own. I've been feeling iffy too.
Tbh, its not so much depression but anxiety. I ended up begging my mum to call in sick at work yesterday morning after she stopped over.
I felt so anxious and sick. Its so silly but I just can't get my head round things atm. Its probably alot to do with tiredness too. As I'm doing every night feed now whereas the first 3 weeks, dh did every other night. I have got a night off on Thursday though
Going for a night out on Saturday too, I'm gonna be zonked!

Hope everyone is ok

Hi all. I have an appointment with my psychologist on Monday so hopefully that should help. I'm sure if i get more sleep i'll feel better. I'm fine with the boys it's dh that is copping it. I keep telling him he does nothing and is really lazy but he is trying. I have to accept that he is no good with handling small babies. And that obviously he is more tired than me as he gets a full nights sleep....We actually worked out what i do to what he does and he looked a bit embarrassed so we have re-instated my cleaner. It has helped but i still have to run around after two demanding boys!
When does the night feeding stop????

Ronniemummy, my niece had Strep B and it took til she was 4months to realise how ill she was. Sis in law is a carrier but never got tested and when niece got sick they put it down to her being prem. Luckily Sil stood her ground and they found out just how sick she was. She got taken back to hosp and on Antibs. She a very happy healthy little girl now but just keep an eye on baby.

Im glad you are getting help snowboo and have been sensible enough to go to see a doctor It is exhausting doing the night feeds I know and to be honest if I have to stay in my pjs for the next two months to make sure I get my rest I will

Well done SnowBoo. I hope it helps and I'm very of you having a cleaner. Out of interest do you mind telling how much you pay for her? Wouldn't mind one myself!
I feel alot of my anxiety is through lack of sleep. Roll on Thursday night!

Can anyone help me out with how much babies should be feeding approx at each feed? My baby weighs 9lbs 6oz and is two and a bit weeks old- how much should she be feeding a day? Her feeds vary from 85-125ml.I just want to make sure I am not under or over feeding her.

Also, when do they start to sleep through the night and how can I help her to do that? At the moment she wakes twice for a feed- around 2am and around 5am.

Hi everyone. Just thought I'd drop in whilst both lo's are asleep. Molly still waking in night - this morning had me up from 2.30am until she finally settled at 4am! Then dh got up for work at 5am! Will she ever sleep through? I was hoping by 4 weeks old she would start to go longer than 3 hours between bottles, but no.

Had HV this morning. Is very pleased with Molly's progress. She is now 10lb 3 1/2oz - 2 weeks ago she was 9lb 1oz. She has moved up a centile??!??!?? but nothing to worry about (whatever that means).

On a lighter note, have been asked by teacher at Jack's nursery school if I will take Molly in tomorrow and show the class how to give her a bath! Have said yes, so will let you know how it goes. I've asked Jack if he'll be my helper and he said 'yes mummy, because she is my sister!' He seems to have taken to her lovely as every time we go to school, he takes me over to his teacher to 'show Molly to her.' Poor woman must be getting bored!

Sorry to hear some of your are starting to feel signs of PND. I had this with Jack but feel OK this time around. I am more relaxed this time (apart from the sleep deprivation!) Make sure you have someone to talk to about it. This can be your partner, a family member or a friend. Make sure you don't isolate yourselves - you will feel a lot worse. I could never talk about my problems to anyone, but when it all came to be too much, I suddenly started ranting and shouting at a family dinner one day then burst into tears over something as trivial as dh not passing the gravy quick enough!! Once people are aware of how you are feeling, offers of help seem to come flooding in. Keep talking girls, it does help.

Anyway, think I'll go and snatch 1/2 kip before the little monsters awaken! Talk to you all soon.

Hi everyone hope your all ok!

Sarahlou thats a lovely idea about taking Molly into the school and bless jack he sounds like he's dead proud of his little sister. Does she enjoy her bath? Jackson squeals in the bath and whenever we change his nappy...hope he starts to enjoy it soon!

Well Jackson got weighed by HV this morning and he's now 9lb 8oz so am chuffed he's still putting on weight as i always get panaoid by BM isnt enough for him. Bought my Avent IQ Uno and have been expressing the last few days and it takes me about 40 mins to express 2oz..and today I expressed whilst feeding on the other boob, felt tricky at first but kills 2 birds with 1 stone.

Dreamy your Sophie is a little dream. I thought Jackson had mastered sleeping through but it must have been a fluke as only happened the one night lol.

Sorry to hear some of you are suffering with PND, it must be awful to be feeling that way. Hope things perk up for you soon and make sure you talk it through as keeping it bottled up will only make it worse!

Melsy what did you drink to get your milk flowing - just water? As the other afternoon I could only manage to express 1oz and it can get you mad as we only want the best for our babies and trying to express is bit mind numbing isnt it? I have to keep changing position as can see the squirts stopping after doing it for few minutes.

Well it was my 2nd wedding anniverssary yesterday so me and DH went out for a lovely italian meal and even had few glasses of vino. It was the first time in 4 weeks I have been without my LO and it felt so wierd. My sister babsat for us and he was golden for her which was a relief as kept thinking maybe without us there he would cry or get upset but he was a star!

Question for you all..can you really spoil your baby? Everyone tells you to treasure this precious time while they are still so tiny but my mom keeps saying I shouldnt pick him up every time he cries as it will only spoil him and he'll expect this all the time? I leave him to cry for 10 minutes then feel a need to pick him up as he soon stops so obviously needs a cuddle or a feed? What do you lot think? I think its a load of Bllcks tbh!

YOU CAN'T SPOIL A NEWBORN BABY!!!!!

sorry but i hate people that spout that crap! nature intended us to repond to their crying, it's the only way they have of communicating, and what's wrong with just wanting a cuddle from mommy? i still need lots of cuddles and i'm a grown woman! grrrrrr!

sorry, pet hate of mine, how dare anyone make a new mom feel bad for reponding to her infants needs

Well said Pink - I totally agree. Newborns need lots of cuddles and contact with others. You can't spoil them by picking them up too much. However, I believe that once they are past the newborn stage (about 4-6 months) and they start to hold their arms up to be carried, you should not respond every time or you'll be permanently attached to them! I know I keep harping on about them, but I have found a sling to be a perfect way to keep baby close and comforted, whilst at the same time allows you to get on and do something else. Re crying, you soon learn to recognise what is crying for exercise and crying because they are in pain or have wind, etc. If Molly cries just to be noisy, then I let her for about 10-15 mins before I go and pick her up. Mind you, if I am at my parents house, as soon as she whimpers, grandad is there, picking her up and cooing at her!

Right. Need to vent. My dh's friend has been plumbing in a new bathroom suite for us and has also laid a new slate floor. Thing is, he has made a right mess of it all and laid the floor first which is now covered in crap and has chips out of it from god only knows what! He has put in our new shower screen which dh told him was more expensive than the bathroom suite so he goes and covers it in bath sealant. There is grout all over my house, even found it in my bed (WTF!!!!!) and i just want to cry. To top it all off ds1 has been a beast today, i'm knackered and dh has buggered off down the pub. Want to go to bed but baby is due a feed anytime soon. And i keep forgetting to call my hairdresser so look like a complete vagrant on the school run.
Sunday was our 1st wedding anniversary and dh bought me a nice white gold heart necklace but insisted we spent the day sorting out clothes and tidying house, then looked really confused when i got all stroppy. (We did go out for dinner on Sat, in his defence) then we had to go for a meal with our families as his mum wanted to celebrate our day with her......

Rant over. Ahhhhhhhhh.

So, Yellow, my cleaner charges £8p/h. Slightly more than most but she is good and i trust her. Well worth the money tbh. Less for me to worry about. I think.

Bad day Pinky?

RM, Every baby is different. Atm I'm making up 5oz feeds which is about 160ml. He fafs about with his feeds so its very rare he'll take a full feed. According to my HV she reckons anything from 3oz up.

Sarahlou, cute about ds's school. That will be nice to go in.

HV came today and weighed Ellis again. He's put on 5oz in a week so is now 8lb 13oz but still on 25th centile. HV is happy with that as he seems to be sticking there now. Shame when he was on the 75th when he was born. One nice thing though is that he's still really tiny at 4 weeks old. I like that

hello all. absolutely shattered, have come down with a cold and only 4 1/2 hrs sleep last night!

good news is that dd has put on 11oz in the last week so i'm pleased and relieved as was getting disillusioned with bf but will try and keep going.

still finding it really hard to settle dd, day and night, but we'll get there i suppose. better go, she's shouting now.

hi girls im so sorry to all feeling blue personally apart from still resenting chris's freedom but he's gave me his card to go and buy the pump i been on a bout for ages yeah

also as you know i had to go into my section on my own and had to have my epidural with jst my mum due to chris's gore phobia then on sunday cj had to stay in hospital over nite due to viral rash [but no problems ] and he nearly ran out the hospital its really getting to me and it upsets me that i had to face these things alone unreasonable iknow but its rewally bothering me

otherwise im still out aND ABOUT every day which im loving and my bfeeding is going really well

im off to bibs breat is beast support today and we'll get my 6 week certificate lol and my friend and the psycho nurse are round but gonna try and get some sleep and some point

are we still thinking of meeting up before xmas

hi everyone. Sophie still being a little angel only woke once in the night for a feed at 1 15. murmered at 4 15 but went straight back off after bringing up a load of wind so didnt feed her. Ive also been asked to take her in to be bathed at my sons school this friday but woke up this morning with really painful ear infection so will have to see. My dd started nursery school this afternoon and looked so grown up in her little uniform. I hope we can meet up before xmas I was thinking of hiring a hall or hotel conference room and having a xmas party hoping sal wont mind being santa. I have family in Birmingham which is fairly middle of the country for everyone so could ask them to recommend some halls and some cheap but good b and bs/ hotels what does everyone think?

I'm happy with birmingham...

sarahlou, what sling do you recommend? I need one for dd but have no idea what to go for.

As she loves lying up my tummy I was thinking of a hug a bub wrap. Was told pouches might not be so good as it won't hold her securely there. I have a ring sling (huggababy) but not keen on it.

i can recommend my coorie sling from brightspark slings. its really good.
another thing thats great is my seat to go it arrived yesterday. i got it off ebay, brand new £24.99! better still, dd loves it!

i'm up for a meet up but not sure if i could make it. it would depend on travel and childcare etc. it would be lovely to meet you all though.

Hi Luna. I have a ring sling (well I have 2!) which I bought off a lady on ebay. It's not a huggababy one, it's called Freedom. I've also just bought a premaxx one off ebay which is more like a pouch as dh can't get on with the other one! Molly loves the ring sling although you have to juggle at bit at first until you get used to it!

Well, Molly had colic last night and didn't go to bed until 2am and then she was up again at 5am. To say I am shattered would be an understatement. To top it all, today would be the day that I had said I would go into school with her and bath her. Didn't have the heart to let them down so have been in. Managed to catch a couple of winks at my mums afterwards whilst Jack was playing with his train set and grandad had Molly. Thank god for grandparents!!

The meet up sounds good. The only thing is dh works shifts so it depends on whether or not it fits in with these and his days off!

Hope everyone else OK.

Snowboo -

if you look in members... dds first smile!

well one of them, the first was actually monday but haven't managed to get it on camera.

rather early!