November 2014 - the one where we all get a good night's sleep

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Here's hoping, anyway...

weeonion - what a lovely thing to do!

east - look out for oatly oat milk in the shops its dairy free & great for having on breakfast cereal or for use in cooking. Used to make pancakes for ds & could hardly tell the difference. DS moved onto koko coconut milk once he dropped his bottles as we found this 'looked' more like proper milk & were hoping he'd have it as a drink. He never did, but was good on breakfast tho rank in tea/coffee! His cmpi symptoms were explosive poo (tho not green), reflux, eczema from head to toe, facial rashes & he was generally unsettled. All of it improved once he was on hypoallergenic formula. At 4yo he has now pretty much outgrown it so long as he doesnt have vast quantities in one go. Stilk wont drink milk though!

ladydolly - sorry to hear your infection woes, I have total sympathy as my wound is also taking a long time to heal & still have a gaping hole at one end 7 weeks. I also got told to lay & air it - erm like I get the chance for that with 2 kids!!! It started to smell at christmas & was weeping so went back to docs but apparently a haematoma & not infected so just waiting it out for it to heal. It does finally seem to be improving but still darent do too much as dont want to make it open up further. Hope you turn a corner soon too.

Was feeling a tad jealous of all you getting longer stretches of sleep already - we usually get one 4 hr stretch from around 10/11 but then up every 2.5-3hrs after that. Though she's done her longest ever 4.5hrs tonight .

She is still only 9lb at 7 weeks old (arrived 3weeks early) so I guess she needs to grow a bit more first!

Omama, with you on the sleep front. DD is a similar weight at a similar age and also doesn't sleep more than a couple of hours at a time. I'm really struggling the last couple of days. She's got such terrible wind, she's hardly slept during the day for the last couple of days and is restless overnight. Very limited success with trying to get her in the cot because she wakes up and screams again within a few minutes. She also wants to suck all the time and only nipple will do, so she's also being sick a lot which I think is from overeating. I've tried every wind remedy going but nothing seems to work. Really hoping it's just that she's so small still that her gut is just not maturing very fast. Have given up dairy as an experiment, though not had any symptoms other than the above, but obviously will have to wait 2 weeks and see. The thought is exhausting!

Has my 6 week check yesterday and after checking my stitches apparently I'm 'healing beautifully' and I've got the all clear to DTD sssh, don't tell Mr WorkFree

Twiglet, my LO was exactly the same with wind and still is to some extent. I get different results with each of the different remedies. Gripe Water before or during gives a nice burp faster, but infacol doesn't but does stop the horrible wheezing reflux sound. Although the doc told me yesterday I've been infacol wrong. Its on the packet, but it should be given 5 mins before a feed so it has time to 'sink' in.

DS has developed a cough which might not be a cold as its worse after feedings, it doesn't seem to be bothering him but I'm worried it will get worse. Does anyone have any ideas on how to ease it as I don't want to take him back to the docs, for more meds?

WorkFree, comforting to have company in my misery but sorry to hear you're in the same boat! Is the wheezing a reflux symptom? DD is quite wheezy sometimes but didn't know that it could indicate a reflux issue? Am not giving her anything at the moment other than some fennel tea as nothing seemed to help. Wonder if it's worth asking GP about reflux - she does posset a little sometimes but not regularly. Hmm.

Still getting lots of sleep overnight (sorry!) - new issue seems to be my inability to say no to DH. Twice now he's said he thinks baby needs more boob and I've thought otherwise, fed him then got a massive vomit. Neither time have I pointed out to DH that it's blatantly possibly his fault. Hopefully he's made the connection himself or is that too much to expect?

Got my 6 week check (at 7+4) a week today but still had no word on a 6 week check on baby or jabs. I might chase this morning.

Amy, I saw HV at 6 weeks then she notified surgery to send me a card for 8 week checks and jabs, so maybe chase HV first?

Dd is 10 weeks tomorrow and we're back to.1.5 and 2 hour waking here after a few nights of 4.5 and 5 hour stretches. It's so annoying.

By day she is getting ever so slightly more settled though and is kicking and smiling on her mat for longer than 20 seconds which is great. Really need to get a bedtime routine going but I'm still a bit worried about her after her recent surgery so holding off til she's all healed.

Twiglet, the wheezing is a reflux symptom, but only my mum spotted it. He's been a wheezy baby since birth as he was born with lots of mucus on his chest. At first we thought it might be colic until I googled 'colic vs reflux' and found a website where you can compare the symptoms of both. The projectile vomiting started around 4/5 weeks Initially we tried to self treat with massage and changing his feed he's FF BTW which eased it, but recently it's got worse and we had to see the doctor. He's now been given baby Gaviscon which we will be trying out today.

Amy, my DH and Mum are both guilty of constantly thinking the baby is hungry. Don't worry, it will click soon.

7weeks old today generally down at 7.45 for bed after bath n feed n wakes between 11 and 1, then it's mostly hourly waking - bloody reflux.been referred to a specialist feeding clinic to see the infant for specialist health visitor n got an app for next clinic which is Wed is half hr drive. Hoping she will be able to advise about tongue tie n get us seen quicker at hospital.

Husband at hospital today having knee OP it's day surgery n should be able to walk on it today but not drive for 3weeks.

That's tough on you east with all those appointments. Hope your Dh isn't out of action for too long, I'm sure he's much needed as mine is!

Dd was very refluxy initially but it has calmed down a lot in the last couple of weeks. I'm hopeful she's growing out of it. I did also wonder about cmpi - we had explosive poos and unsettled ness and reflux but no eczema or rashes so I haven't gone dairy free. Dd1 was the same and certainly not allergic or intolerant to dairy so I dunno. I wonder is cmpi over diagnosed now after being under diagnosed in past? I rarely hear about ff babies with cmpi signs but it seems like every second breastfed baby has it these days!

Amy my DP always thinks the answer is food. I hit a wall the other night when I couldn't settle her and I just got upset being so tired as it was 3am and we hadn't even made it to bed yet. I told him she wasn't hungry as she had just sunk 5 ounces and struggled with the last little bit but no he knows best, I did have a little chuckle to myself when she vommed all over him then when he changed her nappy ( he always does it before she's really finished her poo) she pooed all over him and halfway across the room hahaha.

Doing okay here, desperate to get out and about but my car is off the road till its fixed. Sadly we live on top of a massive hill and I'm no way fit enough to push a buggy back up it yet. Hoping to go to the local bumps and babies group next week though. Very nervous about going, I don't know any other new mums locally! Do you just sort of... Turn up and introduce yourself? Argh!

Last night DD went down at 9 and I got her up to change her nappy at 10 hoping it would wake her up to have more grub so we could have a good nights kip following a 5am bedtime the night before but she was dead to the world. Managed to change her nappy with her still totaly zonked!! So put her back to bed and had a lovely early night with DP and a much needed chat and cuddle so feeling much better today! She woke up for a feed at 12 and again at 7 but then went back down till 10 so feeling quite well off for sleep!

Ark when I had my first I knew no other mums and at 8weeks decided I had to brave some groups or would go mad, my tip is arrive 5 mins early n people will say hello when they came in rather than walking into a full room of chatting people. I made 2 v good friends from one group.

I went to bf group yesterday was good to get out n was ok

Thanks green husband is a v hands on dad n our 4yr old is going to find it v hard that daddy cannot run around n play rough n tumble games.

eastmids hope it goes ok with your DH's op. Have you explained it to your older DC? My DH is having chest surgery at the end the month. He will be away for a few days but we don't know exactly how long as he is having the op in London and we live hours away from London. Then, will be in pain, not able to do all the usual things and not able to drive for a whole ( again, he doesn't know exactly how long). DD1 is a complete daddy's girl, who won't do anything for me if he is there and is still probably a bit put out by the arrival of her sister. I don't know how we are going to manage, both practically as I can't drive and emotionally as she has to cope without him. I'm not sure how we can prepare a 3 yr old for this.

Ark my experience has been that people at baby groups are pretty friendly and having the babies makes for easy topics of conversation. I've been surprised how easy it is to find people to chat to and have coffee with, and I'm not normally the sort of person who likes doing that kind of thing.

DD had her jabs yesterday. She did not take it well - some seriously outraged screaming, and she was so angry she wouldn't even close her mouth to feed afterwards. She then fell asleep for about 3 hours and was furious again when she woke up, but she now seems to have forgotten that she has a treacherous mother.

Greenstone I still don't know if Ds really has CMPI. We've had brilliant nights since but also some terrible nights. Even last night everything was great up to 6.30 am and then he was in bits.

So who knows? His farts have become a bit more "ladylike" as opposed to the window-rattlers of old, and of course the formula has sorted his acidic diarrohea so now he's pretty normal and healthy bowel-wise, but the writhing to pass wind seems to continue off and on. I'm trying Gripe Water this week (hit and miss).

Honestly we may never know. It was basically diagnosed with a 5 minute conversation with the GP.

Will keep on the hypoallergenic formula though as its on prescription (i.e. Cheap) and certainly won't do any harm. I'll stay dairy-free as its become fairly easy this week, but won't be quite so anal about minute amounts of milk products, I think.

BTW, just bought a "Love to Dream" swaddle. Google it, its an odd looking thing. DH is humouring me but clearly thinks I'm mad. I'll buy anything that helps Me DS sleep though!

ark - Forced myself to a breast feeding group before Christmas because I needed help with latch and position. It was a bit scary at first but the mums were lovely.

Went to baby bliss today. £1. Lots of sensory play, songs and actions and a bit of baby massage. Nice group of mums too. DS liked it. Conked out for 2 hours afterwards. Think it was lots of stimulation for him. X

East, all the best with your DH's op. Hopefully he'll be back up and running no pun intended in no time.

Green, I hope your DD is recovering well, must be a difficult time for you both

Ark, I very much agree with Cat. I also went to a local BF group. Everyone there was lovely. Although it took me a while to get over everyone sitting there with their boobs hanging out

First 2 feeds with Gaviscon in the milk earlier. Went well although he projectile vomited the first lot. It might be down to DS not agreeing with infacol. I switched bac to that from gripe water yesterday based on the doctors advice and he's been vomiting since.

weeonion I offered my milk too and was told my hospital already has too much! I had no idea, great for them though.

I went to a new baby group today, babydolly loved it again but not really my scene, there was a lot of staff, I think its in a high support area. Really extensive programme of classes and support groups. At 35 I was also the oldest there by far!! All very friendly though arc, the standard opener is how old your baby is and its easy from there on in :)

HV tomorrow, they don't give a time so you have to wait in all day. Of course they'll arrive just as dd has a paddy, when tesco shop comes and before I've had a chance to wash up...

DD now been screaming since I first tried putting her down at 7:30. DP blissfully sleeping on the sofa while I sit in the bedroom with her, splitting headache, runny nose, sore throat and so tired I can't see straight. I want to kick him in the balls.

Poor DD is full of wind again and is now overtired too. Am hanging info the mantra 'it will get better' with all of my remaining sanity.

Well husband has had to stay in overnight as when they got him up walking he collapsed/passed out so couldn't then be discharged.

Happy yeah we explained to ds before hand but wish we hadn't said daddy will be home that night as then had to explain he was staying in which actual he took quite well, think he has been good about it as we had explained my c section before n he knew I couldn't lift him or carry stuff etc.

So yeah yesterday eve ended up getting the boys over to see him in rush hr traffic hospital is half hr away visiting 6-8 so left home at 5.15 n baby screamed on n off in car ad we were stop start n hit every red light, stayed just over an hr at hospital n came home got back at 8 luckily 4yr old fell asleep in car so quickly changed into pj n into bed no fuss.

Baby changed. N fed down for 9 but then awake 11.45 n 1.45 feed now for 10mins n sleepy head n will be in our normal hrly waking now I am sure.

Ark - there's a poster over on the pregnancy board who's just found out she's pregnant at 29 weeks - thought you might have some wise words for her. Or at least give her some hope thats it's possible to find out at that stage and live to tell the tale, in fact be doing great!!

Got a question to other BF mums. Are you taking any vitamins for BF?
I started to take Pregnacare for BF few weeks ago based on HV, but I start to suspect that it makes me and DD windy (TMI...). Been thinking about different foods what could cause it, but seems I get lots of wind after meals with which I take the vitamins.
Will try to stop them to see if this makes changes. Been thinking maybe should just try an ordinary multivitamins instead?

Oh twiglet it really will get better. Everything always feels worse in the middle of the night. Did u give him a kick & get him to take over for a while so you could get some sleep?

We have a similar situation here - my DH is usually zonked on the sofa all evening while I feed & pace the floor with dd & then I do the lions share of night feeds too. He keeps saying how tired he is & I think 'try being me!'

I asked him to do the 4am feed this morning as I'd had her all evening while he did some painting, then I'd been up at 1am for an hour too & he moaned he'd only had 3hrs sleep. When I look confused he admits he sat up til 1am watching a film. I ended up feeding her so he had enough sleep before work, but felt really pissed off about it esp as he never even said thanks. Think he realised though as he did apologise this morning.

It took me an hour to feed & wind her then she wouldnt go back in her bed so ended up in with us - needless to say I didnt get much sleep as ds got us up at 6am & so I feel waspy as hell this morning & just want to cry.

DD hasnt pooped for 3 days either & she is just vomiting everything she eats as I think otherwise she may burst! Needless to say she's not very happy this morning either