October 2006

[Bronze]

Am I the first one here or have I completely missed the thread? If this is the only thread please come and join me
Bron

emzickle - sod the house it will only get dirty again and lo will grow up soon then you can tidy

Wish me luck ... tomorrow is the first day Ihave to get dd1 up and ready for playschool along with lo, for 9 am ... by myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!! how sad am I, I'm really worried how to organise it all! As it stands, lo generally needs her feed about 8ish!!! What a crap time!!!! ! Today I managed a shower without dd1 smothering or pulling lo off changing station! What a performance that was! In the end managed to pursuade her to get in shower with me giving lo 1 mins peace! Gingeme - you are my hero!!!

morning

am very impressed with those who can get out with their older children for a set time - haven't had to do that yet and dreading it when I will!

Both sets of parents have been and gone - it is lovely when people come to stay, but lovely when they leave too!

DS2 has been having a feeding frenzy in the last couple of days - do they have a growth spurt at 3 weeks?? Seem to remember they do. Anyway, very sore right nipple, although boob no longer engorged. There is a drop in breastfeeding clinic at 10 am today, so think I might head over there to get some 'back to basics' advice. I really would like to breastfeed a bit longer this time.

Someone mentioned a tongue tie - my ds1 had this and we never got it treated and his speech is absolutely fine - he was actually talking at a very young age - even speech therapist was amazed! Think that did contribute to feeding problems last time, as we didn't know about it, but think you can work round the feeding if you know about it- if that makes sense?!

only have one pair of maternity trousers that fit - all other mat clothes are too big and my clothes (well, the one pair of jeans I bravely tried on) are just too small..... am not going to get uptight abut it but tell myself ds2 is only 3 weeks old, not realistic to expect to be back in my clothes just yet.

no routine as yet for us. dh has next week off so we are planning to be out and about most afternoons, as a family of four! Then after that I hope to start spotting any sort of pattern - bet you there will be another growth spurt that will throw it all out!

Have good weekends everyone, hope little ones sleep well and feed painlessly!

By the way, any news from DogMum? Just had a quick look at the ante-natal thread and couldn't see anything.

Catgirl thanks for views on tongue tie, our feeding has really taken off....and I mean really......he wanted to feed 6 out of 8 hours last night can you remember whether there is a hunger surge/growth spurt at 7 days (I think there is one around 3 and 6 weeks too) am just hoping it isn't the start of things to come.

Sammy celebrated his 1st week birthday with an all night drinking session good lad

So far nips are holding up (just) Lanisoh seems to be the way forward if expensive, I think I had mastitis by this time last time but I have to do some deep breathing on latch on.

Def spurt at 3 weeks - may be one at 7 days as well, but I can't remember that far back!

Another bad night last night - tried W is grobag but he had problems settling, so I think he may have been too hot. Back to blankets tonight - and lots of activity today to wear him out!

No news from Dogmum - hope she's OK.

Lansinoh is great, but I've lost mine - must be under the bed somewhere. Reluctant to buy some more as you use so little. Nips seem to have toughened up, though.

Is anyone else getting a bit claustrophobic? Must get out more - and further afield - despite worries about feeding and changing facilities.

Went to the doctors yesterday and my blood pressure is up again and my wound is infected. I feel really down today. On top of all that DH is away in Europe all next week. My mum is taking 2 days off to help me but I'm not looking forward to it, night time is lonely at the best of times.

One stupid q I've been meaning to ask is what do you do about car seats in taxi's? I'm desperate to go out and not be reliant on DH but I don't know what you do with 2 kids and a buggy can you just wheel the buggy in the black cabs or do they have to be in proper seats now?

Also was just wondering how much all your DH's do to help out night feeds etc? My DH has decided he can't do any of the night time stuff now as he's too tired (bit of a row this morning and currently not talking to each other)He had been really great up til now and I really appreciated it as I still find it difficult to get in and out of bed after c section, was I expecting too much?

Hi All

Nic - my DH has never contributed during the night. He takes her and gives her as bottle after her bath so that I can go for a bath with a G&T in peace - heaven. He also changes her nappy, although he hasn't bathed her yet. He really needs his sleep and as I am bf he can't really do any night duties.

Now that my Lo has got back to her birthweight and slightly above she is actually sleeping a bit during the day, which means I can get a few things done. She has been great during the night the last few nights too. I am feeling much more human now thank goodness.
Am very due to my fatness - I now have a fat back! Have been trying to cut down on sugar intake the last few days and increasing our pram walks. Trying to lose a stone for Christmas.
We are hoping to have a family day out tomorrow and go for lunch!!

Hope you all have a good weekend annd plenty of sleep!

Nic forgot to say hope you are feeling better soon.Maybe you mare feeling down due to exhaustion and body fighting infection. Have some cake and chocolate - it is good for the soul if not the waistline.

nicand2- my DP was good at night feeds for the first 2 weeks. Now I think he has selective hearing or a tendency to ask me the next morning if LO had slept through the night as he hadn't heard her!

We had the car seat question in mum and baby group the other day- it is more a question of you are probably not able to lift that weight alone yet? Taxi's we thought do legally need to carry every child with appropriate car seat.

LO slept from 10pm to 5am last night the longest ever. My sleep was interupted though wondering if she was ok.

Anyone elses DP make them feel bad about not getting things done around the house?

Good evening ladies. Well what a day weve had. Was woken by step son bringing ds3 in to our room at 8 am because hed been sick in his bed. dh got up and dealt with it while i fed lo in bed. Layed listening to them all and ds3 was sick in the kitchen and living room. My dh not good in a crisis and was making a real fuss. I reluctently got up and put bed clothes in the wash and gave ds3 a bath while dh washed the floor. All settled and lo washed and dressed. Made a fuss of ds3 all day with lots of cuddles and stories and way too much cbeebies. Mw came at 1 wieghed lo and hes lost more weight so she told us to take him to a&e to get him checked over. She rang ahead so we met the peadatrition who asked loads of questions and weighed lo and listened to his chest ect. In the end he suggested i express some milk to give lo in between his feeds. OH well atleast its nothing serious. Mw coming next fri to weigh him again. My other ds's will be here soon. Phew Im knackered already. Have a good one ladies xxx

Gingeme - what a crap day. Hope your Ds's are now recovering/feeding/keeping quiet as appropriate.

Re night feeds, I'm bfing so DH can't do much. When prompted (i.e. kicked) he will get up and do an early morning nappy change if needed, but he gets v grumpy if woken too early.

Housework: it bothers me more than DH! If I get stressed cos cleaning needs to be done he is genuinely puzzled . I'm trying to relax about it and do only 1 thing a day (no time for more) so today tidied bedroom and sorted laundry, Bathroom tomorrow.

Keeping a note of when DS awake/asleep/feeding and guess what? We appear to have a routine of sorts...

Just seen on antenatal thread: Dogmum had a little boy - another Edward - born by c-section last week.

Hi ladies,sorry some of you having bad time,sick children and infected wounds etc,hope all is getting better now.
Lexie being v gd at night,she sleeping between 7-9 hrs now,but i keep waking to check her and in the mornings my boobs are so engorged is like having a couple of bowling balls strapped to my chest.The worst of it is she feeds almost all day as if to make up for the missed night feeds so i dont get a minute to myself,DH away next wk so me and older DDs will be living on takeaways and toast as i cant cook with a baby attached.House is a complete tip and no one has anything to wear as i never get time to iron.Oh well at least i get sleep.

Message withdrawn

oh milliee you have just made me laugh out loud - sorry . My dh had a similar accident last time round - funny now of course!

re dh's helping out - we kind of say i will do the night stuff Sunday to Thursday and will get dh to help out on Friday and Saturday - although currently just nappies, but that is a help. Confess to kicking him out of bed some nights during the week too though.

Am giving my right boob a rest today and just feeding from left side, so after ds2 feeding approx every 2 hours, I have given him a bottle of formula too - plan is do then do left boob as it will have 'filled up', then next feed a bottle and so on, until morning. Got good advice from breastfeeding support bods today (not about the formula, but OK to feed from one side for a day).

Gingeme: hope your day improved.
Nicand2 - hope next weeks goes ok.
re car seats and cabs - think you can wheel a buggy into a black cab - most take wheelcars - same idea? - and the newer ones have booster seats in the middle seat (hidden in arm rest - very cunning!), not sure about minicabs.

Another long one from me - sorry - off for dinner now. Enjoy your weekends!

Nicand2 hope your infection has got better - I had a uterine infection and it was blooming agony - couldn't sit up properly or get up off the sofa and even walking upstairs was painfull, but after 10 days of antibiotics it cleared up and feel much better now. It did smell very bad too - even OH said what't that smell after walking into the bathroom after I had changed my pad - sorry if TMI but if you have got an infection there is no doubt about it!!
Purpleuce - Ellie had her tongue tie sorted on Wednesday, OH held her while they did it in the room next door and then they brought her straight through to feed - wasn't as traumatic as I had thought it would be and if it helps the feeding it is worth a go. My HV referred me to the consultant, but apparently not many of them can, and they will only tend to do it on the NHS if you are breastfeeding. I had lots of the symptoms - sore nips, not latching on properly, lots of wind when feeding , (her not me) ;) fussiness at the boob, and the wind was making it really difficult for her to settle unless she had had a big clearout, it does seem to be better now, and she seems to be settling alot better and having proper feeds rather than lots of little ones.
Does anyone know where I can get nursing tops from? I remember seeing them before I had her but now can't remember where, and am getting fed up with having to hoist up t-shirts.
She still hasn't regained her birthweight yet (as far as I know) so am really hoping that the tongue tie thing will help this out a bit. And she does have lots of milk spots - hopefully they will go soon as I want to take some really nice photos of her to send to people - we still think she is the most beautiful baby ever and keep telling her so on a regular basis!

Must also tell you that OH had a bath with her the other night - she is much calmer when she is in the bath with him, I think she feels safer, and shw did the hugest windy poo - he just held her up out of the water and said can you take the baby please through gritted teeth - which of course I did after I had stopped laughing x wish i'd been videoing that one!

jcm and milliee you made me laugh with your poo stories. thank you, v cheering after a knackering day.
had to go back in to the hospital with the infection. turns out theres still stuff left in there so more antibiotics and something to contract the uterus. the dr described it as squeezing a tube of toothpaste!
dh will be getting up tonight and tomorrow night whether he likes it or not. it makes a big diff. if he does the nappies and winding at the 2 and 5 feeds. unfortunately he's shattered and operating like a zombie already so don't know how much use he'll be. do feel like losing it though when he says how tired he is, after all, haven't asked him to do any night duty all week. still, suppose he is bringing in the cash.
catgirl hope the bf improves a bit, horrible when you have to grit your teeth through every feed.
totally, we had one of those nights where dd didn't wake from 11 til 5 and i spent whole night checking she was breathing etc. have to say am deeply envious yours is doing it every night.
gingeme, nothing like a bucket load of vomit to challenge an overstretched parent. sounds like you're doing amazingly well. as miliee said, one is a handful enough.
good news re dogsmum, i was beginning to get worried. will go and read now

Just remembered another question for all you fantastic mothers - when it says you should 'play' with your baby - what exactly do they mean - i think Bridge or Monopoly is out of the question for a while, but does letting them gaze at the TV contentedly while the adverts roll past or singing the theme tume to CSI count? Any ideas grestly appreciated

jcmugwump, my DS is now 5 weeks and I 'play' a bit, that is to say just sing and talk to him, put him under the baby gym and say 'look at the octopus' and dangle it etc, play with his toes etc. nothing too major. I also try to give him time just being awake and on his own (I'm only talking 10-15 mins at a time!), then say 10-15 minutes of me singing to him (would be enough for anyone I guess!)

I think that for small babies the main thing is talking and singing to them nicely while patting or cuddling..

On another note: is anyone putting LO in the big cot yet? I had a moment yesterday where I thought how crap the moses basket mattress was, and that it didn't support his back, so put him in the big cot with him firmly tucked in at the sides, he didn't seem to mind, what is everyone else doing? It's just that the big cot has a much better mattress. Think I'm just paranoid..

oh, I'd heard that under 2s should not be exposed to any TV at all, but not sure where I heard that, something about it not being good for their brain development or something.. But then I am very anal and will worry for hours over every piece of parenting advice..

I think blooming marvelous do nursing tops.

sorry to hear about those of you with infections - can't be pleasant at all.

re big cot - lsat time ds1 went into it at about 9 weeks old as he was getting too big for the moses basket and settled wonderfully, suspect ds2 will be a little bit earlier than that as he is bigger than his brother! I know someone who put her dd in at 2 weeks old and didn't have a problem. Re the TV - think it is a matter of everything in moderation - before 2 they can't concentrate for long enough to watch hours at a time anyway (I seem to remember!) and it does become very useful in giving 5 mins peace!

had a very disturbed night last night, but at least it is Saturday and dh is at home! must get back to sorting out the piles of washing now - all done, but needs putting away.

I am thnking of getting DH to make up cot in our room this weekend as lo is looking very squashed in moses basket - he does weigh over 11lb so I guess it's about time. He is in his sleeping bag at night which is great for night time feeds and I worry less about him slipping under the blankets.

My 2 yr old has watched loads of tv this year due to me being pregnant and now house bound I think we both would have gone mad without c beebies. I do worry about it but ds seems happy enough.

gemmitygem-LO is 5 weeks today and this will be her 3rd night in her cot. I too thought the moses basket mattress was now not good enough for her as she is growing fast. I also think because her hands touch the sides of the basket when she flinches and jumps in her sleep she was waking herself up. Think it depends on LO's sizes. Samantha is sleeping in her grobag now- they are good if you are worried about covers slipping over them and if they don't like being swaddled!

Foolish question here: do you change your LO after each night feed? I tend not to as it wakes him up, but not sure if it makes him wake more often as he' uncomfortable (still waking every 2 hrs at night). Tried changing at 3am and 6am last night, but didn't seem to make much of a difference...

Tried grobag but W kept slipping down in it and didn't look comfy, so back to blankets for the time being.

Managed a quick clean of bathroom this morng while W was napping - it's been a while since it was last done . I can usually count on a quiet period in the morning to get stuff done, but I wish it was at night instead! Seem to be adjusting to broken sleep, tho.

W also good at axplosive poos, generally going up the back of the babygro. Found that changing to a larger nappy size helped.

ah, that's reassuring that others have also ditched the moses basket..

swizzler, I only change him in the early hours if I think he's done a poo (smell the nappy! (yuk!), or if there are any wet patches on his babygro because it does wake him up, having said that they have such a short concentration span I don't think it really matters..

Darius vomited up his entire 7 am feed this morning which was a bit worrying,and it went EVERYWHERE! Must have been about three quarters of a pint (or seemed that much), but had another feed at 10 which stayed down so it can't be too bad...

hope everyone is having a good weekend with their little ones. haven't heard from wuzzlefraggle, hope she is Ok

We are still using the moses basket as she hasn't put on any weight - although she hasn't been weighed for a week and a half and now she is feeding better we are hopeful - she has definitely got longer though. She was really grumpy the first time we put her in the crib, I think she was a bit scared because it was so big, but that was 4 weeks ago - might give her another go in it now she is a bit more settled.

Went out with her on my own for the first time on Thursday - in some ways is easier as only have to worry about getting her and me ready and not have to wait for OH, although how small are all the parking spaces are we supposed to take the car seat out of the car and leave it on the pavement while we get in the space?? (I wouldn't actually so that btw)